BioSpectrum Asia March 2022

www.biospectrumasia.com S$ 5.00

Volume 17 | Issue 3 | March 2022

Breaking down

DISPARITIES

“Women must follow their Psychedelic Trip to Wellness - 29
passion and take on any
opportunity that presents itself” How E cacious are
- Eva van Pelt, Digitalised Supply Chains? - 36
Co-Chief Executive O cer &

Chief Commercial O cer, Eppendorf AG - 25

MCI (P) 014/06/2021

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4 BIO EDIT

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Dr Milind Kokje EMBRACING TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Chief Editor People, including medical practitioners, are displaying a renewed faith in traditional
medicines, whether it is for common ailments or serious ones.
[email protected] Recently, doctors discovered that a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is
effective in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) – cancer originating from the nose
and throat. Radiation is often the main treatment for NCP due to its unique position,
making other treatments complicated. Moreover, some NCP patients are resistant to
radiation therapy. This radioresistance can be controlled by radiosensitisers, a compound
making cells more vulnerable to radiation, and the traditional herbal medicine Shengmai
Yin is an effective radiosensitiser, a recent study by Nan Fang Hospital and Southern
Medical University, published in Journal of Pharmaceuticals Analysis has found.

This is not the only example of people turning towards traditional medicines. Across
Asia, health experts are looking at traditional medicines for treatments as well as for
prevention. Two Asian giants, India and China are firmly rooted in traditional medicines.
The Chinese traditional medicine system is not only well known, but it has obtained
world recognition as a traditional Chinese doctor received a Nobel award in physiology
a few years back. In addition to herbal medicines, Chinese methods of acupuncture and
acupressure are also well-known.

Although the numbers of public TCM hospitals in China stayed between 2004 and
2016, the number of private TCM hospitals grew from 294 to 1560 in the same period.
The number of TCM physicians, pharmacists and revenue increased marginally in the
vicinity of 0.3 per cent. In Singapore alone, there are 2,000 active TCM practitioners
and several local hospitals offer TCM treatments, indicating the growing acceptance
of traditional medicines both by doctors and patients. Like TCM, India has its own
well-known traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha etc. Of these,
Ayurveda goes back over 5,000 years, the oldest known form of traditional medicine.

Many in India prefer these traditional systems over allopathy. Ayurveda is already
well-acclaimed (along with the practice of Yoga) beyond the country’s borders. Along
with India and China, other Asian countries like Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam,
Cambodia and Indonesia, too, have their own respective brands of traditional medicines.

The increased reliance on traditional and herbal medicines is expected to grow this
market segment. The herbal medicine market, which was at $110 billion in 2020, is
expected to reach $178 billion by 2026.

People are increasingly looking to traditional medicines, either as a complementary
approach, or as a replacement of allopathic medicines altogether. This could be, in part,
due to the vague treatment protocols notified to healthcare professionals in the initial
phase of COVID-19. Logically, though, people were rightly concerned about improving
their immunity, rather than wait for any allopathic ‘sureshot’ solution.

People consuming medicines or using treatments on their own without any expert
guidance is one important problem concerning traditional and herbal medicines. The
Health Science Authority (HSA) in Singapore recently alerted people against two types of
herbal and slimming capsules following reports of adverse effects. They have been found
to contain banned potent medical ingredients and banned substances. During COVID-
19, Australia had banned one TCM which was developed during the SARS outbreak in
2003. Since then it has been widely used to treat common cold in China without the
requirement of any prescription. In fact, several such medicines are bought by people
across the counter or from online shops, making it difficult to plug their misuse.

In September, 2021, at the Techno Innovation Conference, Singapore, ‘Trends,
Opportunities and Clinical Support for the Future Development of Traditional Medicine’
was discussed. Two important points emerged from that were building an evidence base
for traditional medicine and standardising traditional medicines. These are the same
two issues related to India’s Ayurvedic medicines. This is essential to further enhance its
credibility and to take us closer to our roots.

BIO MAIL 5

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Acknowledgements

We’ve had a wonderful opportunity to work with BioSpectrum Asia. It was a
great and seamless process. Aik Jin at Zebra Technologies was extremely pleased
and honoured to be featured on the February 2022 issue’s cover page. The final
published article on print and online looked amazing.

- Jasmine Lim, Singapore

Envirotainer content was delivered and processed effectively to the readers of
BioSpectrum Asia in the New Year edition and we believe it to be an appropriate
platform.

- Leila Hrycyszyn, Singapore

The New Year special article in January was an absolute joy to read! So
informative and interesting! Hope we collaborate together on other future stories.

- Jamie Kar, Singapore

Vol 17; Issue 3; March 2022 MM Activ Singapore Pte. Ltd. Taiwan
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6 BIO CONTENT

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

WOMEN SPECIAL 18

BREAKING DOWN

DISPARITIES
Women continue to sustain the quest to make a mark in the workplace and balance their personal
life. Pandemic or not, woman power has not diminished one bit, and it shows in their exemplary
achievements in India and the rest of the world. On the occasion of Women’s Day, BioSpectrum Asia
salutes 20 inspiring leaders of the life sciences industry in the APAC region, for motivating others
around them, breaking the glass ceiling and paving their own paths in 2021. These 20 women are
powerhouses in their respective fields, inspiring not just their employees and the people around them,
but other women and the next generation of women leaders.

20
to
24

25 26 28

“Women must follow their Call to Action for Addressing gender gap
passion and take on any Gender Diversity in in changing workplace
opportunity that presents itself” Sci-Tech & Innovation
Sylvia Hii,
Eva van Pelt, Dr Renu Swarup,
Founder & CEO,
Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Former Secretary to Government of India, DAP E-innovative solutions
Commercial Officer, Eppendorf AG Department of Biotechnology, (DAP Group of Companies)
Ministry of Science &Technology

BIO CONTENT 7

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com SPEAKING WITH

MENTAL HEALTH 38

29 “Our COVID-19 Vax Efficacy
is Promising; Lyme disease &
Psychedelic Trip to Wellness Chikungunya Shots in pipeline”
SUPPLY CHAIN
Dr Juan Carlos Jaramillo,
36 Chief Medical Officer, Valneva

How Efficacious are Digitalised Supply Chains? 40

REGULARS “Innovations in APAC have
become cornerstone of
BioEdit.........................................................................04 future development of IVD”
BioMail........................................................................05
Policy and Regulatory News...................................08 Kyon SoonPil,
Company News........................................................10 Vice President and General Manager,
Finance News............................................................12 PerkinElmer, Korea, Oceania,
Start-Up News...........................................................13 South East Asia + Japan, (KOSEA+J)
World News...............................................................15
WHO NEWS...............................................................17 41
People News..............................................................43
R&D News..................................................................45 “We are expanding our
Academic News........................................................47 capacity across Asia”
Supplier News...........................................................48
Lets Talk Health........................................................50 Jean-Marc Cappia,
Head of Cell Line,
Media & Testing Solutions, Sartorius

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8 REGULATORY NEWS

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

NVI of Thailand strengthens partnership with Korea

The International Vaccine study, Dengue vaccine research vaccine trials, Johnson
Institute (IVI) in South and clinical trials, an Oral Cholera & Johnson COVID-19
Korea and the National Vaccine (OCV) Phase II clinical vaccine clinical trial with
Vaccine Institute trial, and studies on Shigella Mahidol University. These
(NVI) of Thailand have and Japanese Encephalitis (JE). programmes have been
signed a Definitive As of 2022, IVI is conducting conducted in collaboration
Agreement to strengthen several clinical trials in Thailand, with local partners in
the collaborative including Phase II/III clinical Thailand, including the
partnership between trial of Chikungunya vaccine, Thai CDC, the Ministry of
the two organisations. SK bioscience COVID-19 Public Health, and NVI.
This agreement will strengthen From 2002 until 2019, over 70
the collaborative relationship Thai scientists and physicians
enjoyed by IVI and NVI since have received training in IVI’s
NVI’s establishment in 2018. annual International Vaccinology
IVI has been working on several Course held in Seoul, South
vaccine R&D programmes in Korea. In 2021, NVI supported
Thailand since 2002, including IVI’s 20th International
an HPV single-dose study, a Vaccinology Course, which was
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine held virtually, and 182 registrants
(PCV) country investment case were from Thailand.

Singapore issues Australia invests
$15M to establish
guidelines for cancer genomics lab

booster vaccine doses The Australian government is investing $15 million
to help establish an innovative cancer genomics
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore has laboratory in South Australia, which aims to improve
announced that for individuals aged 18 years treatment options for Australians with cancer. The
and above, their full vaccination status after new laboratory will be established in SA Pathology,
two doses of mRNA vaccines and three doses of an organisation providing diagnostic and clinical
Sinovac/Sinopharm vaccines will lapse after 270 pathology services
throughout South
days. This policy is effective Australia for the public
from February 14, 2022, to health sector. It will
give individuals sufficient strengthen South
time to receive their boosters Australia’s capacity
and extend the validity in genomic diagnostic
of their full vaccination testing, which is key to
status. As recommended by finding new pathways
the Expert Committee on for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
COVID-19 vaccination, it is The government has invested more than $150 million
safe for persons who have across 40 research projects as part of the Medical
recovered from COVID-19 Research Future Fund’s $500 million Genomics
to receive a booster dose. Health Futures Mission. In addition, the government
The government has also has also invested $50 million for Omico, a nationwide
stated that if one has seen a doctor when he/she network of cancer research and treatment centres to
was infected or was detected to be COVID-19 develop genomic testing, which will improve medical
positive when travelling into Singapore, and care for Australians with cancer.
a record of the infection is reflected in the
respective medical records and one can choose
not to take the booster dose.

REGULATORY NEWS 9

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Korea holds training Taiwan approves
programme on
vaccines and biologics treatment for

The International students’ professional advanced RCC
Vaccine Institute (IVI) capacity. Accordingly,
has been designated by the new programme will Eisai Co. has announced that LENVIMA
the Ministry of Health include offline and online (lenvatinib mesylate), the multiple receptor
and Welfare (MOHW), courses on biologics tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by
Republic of Korea as the development and the Japanese firm Eisai, in combination
operator of 2022 Global manufacturing and on with Merck’s KEYTRUDA (generic name:
Bio-Intensive Training standard practice (GxP), pembrolizumab) has been approved in
Courses’ to provide plus onsite training and Taiwan for the first-line
workforce training in consultation. Funded treatment of patients
vaccine and biologics with a KRW4.3 billion with advanced renal cell
R&D and manufacturing won ($3.6 million) carcinoma (RCC). The
for students from low- grant from MOHW, the approval is based on results
and middle-income programme will provide from the CLEAR (Study
countries (LMICs) and 450 trainees (including 307)/KEYNOTE-581 trial
Korea. The training 300 from LMICs) with evaluating the combination
courses, the first of its comprehensive education for the first-line treatment
kind global programme designed to equip them of patients with advanced
supported by the with necessary skills RCC. Worldwide, it is
Government of Korea, in the development estimated there were more than 430,000
aim to provide essential, and production of new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and
practical knowledge biopharmaceuticals. more than 180,000 deaths from the disease
through an intensive Online courses will also in 2020. In Taiwan, there were more than
short-term programme be made available to 1,400 new cases and more than 600 deaths in
designed to strengthen additional trainees. 2018. Renal cell carcinoma is by far the most
common type of kidney cancer; about nine
out of 10 kidney cancer diagnoses are RCC.

Gujarat, western state in India announces new biotech policy

Chief Minister Bhupendra mega/large projects with a capital up to a maximum of Rs 200
Patel has unveiled the new investment of more than Rs 200 crore. This assistance will be
‘Gujarat Biotechnology crore as well as special projects provided in the form of 20
Policy 2022-27’ with a like ecosystem empowerment, quarterly instalments over
commitment to promote emerging technologies in a period of 5 years. The new
rapid and inclusive growth challenging areas and of strategic policy will further strengthen
in the biotechnology importance will be given the ecosystem by providing
industry in Gujarat, a assistance of up to 25 per cent support to the special
western state in India. Jitu of the total capital expenditure projects such as pre-clinical
Vaghani, State Minister of testing, genome sequencing
Education, Science & Technology, in private sector, plug and play
accompanied the Chief Minister facilities, private sector BSL-
during the launch of new policy 3 lab-vaccine development,
at Science City, Ahmedabad, and manufacturing, testing
India. According to the new and certification laboratories.
policy, MSMEs with a capital Gujarat’s biotechnology sector
investment of less than Rs 200 has more than 200 biotechnology
crore will be given maximum companies and a thriving startup
assistance of Rs 40 crore and ecosystem.

10 COMPANY NEWS

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Korea offers inhaled China expands
COVID-19 antibody
cocktail therapy collaboration to develop

Celltrion Group, based in South Korea, has submitted an COVID-19 vaccine
Investigational New Drug (IND) application to conduct
a global Phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic
and safety of an inhaled COVID-19 antibody cocktail Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has
therapy for patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms of announced that it will expand its collaboration
COVID-19; the trial is expected to enroll 2,200 patients with Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology and its
globally. The inhaled COVID-19 antibody cocktail is a parent company Walvax Biotechnology, a
combination of monoclonal antibodies with regdanvimab public company listed on the Shenzhen Stock
(CT-P59) and CT-P63 and has been developed to target Exchange to advance the development of a
newly emerging mutations of SARS-CoV-2, including the COVID-19 variant vaccine. CEPI will invest
Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). The global Phase III clinical up to an additional $8.15 million to support
trial proposed in the IND is designed to evaluate the safety a Phase I/II clinical trial in Mali which will
and efficacy profile of the inhaled COVID-19 antibody evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of
cocktail. The muco-trapping antibody platform used for Zerun Bio’s prototype and multi-variant
the inhaled COVID-19 antibody cocktail directly traps the vaccine candidates. This will be the first
virus in airway mucus, preventing the local spread of the clinical trial of the multi-variant vaccine, which
infection, and quickly eliminates the virus from the lungs has the potential to provide protection against
through the body’s natural ability to clear mucus. a broad range of COVID-19 variants. Zerun
Bio’s commercialisation plant for COVID-19
vaccines in Daxing District, Beijing, China, is
expected to be put into use in 2022, enabling
Zerun Bio to produce commercial volumes of
COVID-19 vaccine.

Glenmark launches FabiSpray for COVID-19 in India

Glenmark nasal spray will be used for the accelerated approval process.
Pharmaceuticals treatment of adult FabiSpray, Nitric Oxide Nasal
and Canadian patients with Spray, is designed to kill the
pharmaceutical COVID-19 who COVID-19 virus in the upper
company have a high risk of airways. It has proven anti-
SaNOtize progression of the microbial properties with a direct
Research & disease. Glenmark virucidal effect on SARS-CoV-2.
Development earlier received NONS when sprayed over nasal
Corp have manufacturing mucosa acts as a physical and
launched its and marketing chemical barrier against the virus,
nitric oxide nasal approval from the preventing it from incubating and
spray (NONS) Drugs Controller spreading to the lungs. A Phase
under the brand General of India 3 clinical trial was conducted in
name FabiSpray (DCGI) for NONS adult COVID-19 patients across
in India. The as part of the 20 clinical sites in India.

COMPANY NEWS 11

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Zimmer Biomet drives medtech transformation in Singapore

US-based Zimmer Biomet facility that showcases Zimmer and surgeons in Asia Pacific
Holdings, Inc. has Biomet’s latest technologies – region, the CEC aims to offer
announced the ROSA robotics, mymobility digital a collaborative environment
opening of the health platform, OrthoIntel that will enable Zimmer Biomet
ZBEdge Customer intelligence platform, OptiVu to partner with healthcare
Experience professionals, academic
Centre (CEC), Mixed Reality along with the associations and relevant
a unique facility company’s legacy orthopaedic institutions to develop impactful
located at the company’s healthcare solutions and to host
Asia Pacific regional implants. Serving healthcare surgical and clinical trainings
headquarters in Singapore. professionals, leveraging on Zimmer Biomet’s
The ZBEdge Customer connected technology ecosystem.
Experience Centre business It is Zimmer Biomet’s first such
is a state-of-the-art partners centre in the region.

Beroni Group sets up new Illumina collaborates
R&D centre in China
with National Cancer
Beroni Group, an Australia-based diversified
biopharmaceutical enterprise focused on the research, Center Japan
development, innovation and commercialisation
of therapies and products for treatment of global Illumina, Inc. and the National Cancer Center
diseases, has signed a contract to build a new Research Japan have announced an international
& Development (R&D) centre in the Zhuhai National joint research project that will use Illumina’s
High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in China. high-throughput DNA sequencing to
Beroni aspires to build a state-of-the-art facility with analyse the blood-based genomic profile and
new preclinical research labs, manufacturing process clinical information of patients living with
development labs, and a GMP pilot manufacturing Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. The study will
be known as a part of the Asian Multicenter
plant. The new Prospective Study of
R&D centre, the Circulating Tumor
first R&D site for DNA Sequencing
Beroni, will help (A-TRAIN). The
the company to A-TRAIN study led by
develop new drugs the National Cancer
and medicines Center Hospital Japan
to cater for the will be conducted as
vast needs of the part of an international
Chinese market. collaborative study
To start with, the under the Asian clinical TriaLs network
company will occupy about 4,000 square metres of office for cAncerS (ATLAS) project. In this study,
space for setting up the GMP plant and laboratories. genomic analysis of blood samples of up to
Construction of the new R&D facilities is expected to be 96 patients with nasopharynx cancer will be
completed towards the end of the second quarter, and the analysed using Illumina’s TruSight Oncology
entire R&D centre is expected to be ready in the second 500 ctDNA. Over the next year, the resulting
half of this year. Beroni intends to commit $10 million to data will be used by the Japan-led initiative
support the clinical trials in the new R&D facility. A new to establish a platform for international
company, Beroni Pharmaceutical (Guangdong), has been collaborative trials with Malaysia, Thailand,
established for this new venture with Beroni owning 80 the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam,
per cent of the entity’s shares and a local investor owning which are actively promoting cancer
the other 20 per cent shares. treatment development in the Asian region.

12 FINANCE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

GenScript Korea’s Samsung Biologics
invests $15M acquires Samsung Bioepis
in Singapore from Biogen for $2.3B
facility
South Korea-based Samsung Biologics has reached an agreement
GenScript Biotech Corporation with Biogen for the buyout of Biogen’s stake in the Samsung Bioepis
has announced the opening joint venture for $2.3 billion. The transaction is expected to boost
of a new facility for highly earnings growth of Samsung Biologics on a consolidated basis, fully
automated protein and gene capitalising on Samsung Bioepis’ growth outlook. Biogen initially
preparation services, with $15 invested in a 15 per cent stake in Samsung Bioepis when it was
million investment. Supported established as a joint venture in 2012. Under the terms of the original
by the Singapore’s Economic agreement, Biogen had the right to purchase up to 50 per cent less
Development Board (EDB), one share of Samsung Bioepis, which it exercised in June 2018. The
the new production site will deal will further deliver Samsung Bioepis’ sales growth and operating
support the Asia Pacific region margin improvements with streamlined operational efficiencies,
and complements the current budget surplus, and cash flow generation. Samsung Bioepis has
production sites in the United successfully launched five biosimilars globally, three in autoimmune
States and China. The new and two in oncology. Additionally, one product is about to be released
manufacturing facility occupies in the market, and four biosimilars are in Phase 3 clinical trials.
over 30,000 square feet space at
Solaris@Kallang building. The Japan’s Fujifilm introduces life
cutting edge facility in Singapore sciences strategic investment fund
features a high throughput
platform and proprietary FUJIFILM Corporation has announced the launch of its life sciences
technology of GenScript’s protein strategic investment fund managed by the Life Sciences Corporate
production to provide higher Venture Capital (LS-CVC), a newly established group within the
yield with a shorter turnaround Fujifilm’s Life Sciences Strategy Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
time. The capacity of the new Fujifilm is initially investing 7B¥ to start the fund, targeting cutting-
facility could also be expanded to edge biotechnology primarily through partnerships with early-stage
strengthen other business units companies around the world. In addition to this new fund, the
to support cell and gene therapy LS-CVC is also taking the company’s prior life science investment
and vaccine development in the
region. In addition, GenScript portfolio under management,
and A*STAR Diagnostics which had been already made
Development Hub have signed a in the fields of regenerative
memorandum of understanding medicine, cell therapeutics
(MoU) to explore the possibility and drug discovery research
of collaborations for the purposes products. The company is
of building manufacturing considering a wide range of
capabilities in Singapore. new and innovative business
constructs in order to cultivate
and foster relationships with
emerging biotechs to create
new, and strengthen existing,
businesses. In April 2021, Fujifilm established the Life Sciences
Strategy Headquarters to plan and promote a comprehensive,
integrated strategy to accelerate business growth in the life sciences
field. The Headquarters currently manages several business divisions
within the fields of biopharmaceutical contract development and
manufacturing, iPS cell-derived products for drug and discovery
research markets, and industrial cell culture media.

START-UP NEWS 13

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

BiomeBank & Hudson India’s Bugworks
Research secures $18M to
Institute accelerate advance work in AMR

‘Microbiome Indian startup Bugworks Research, with operations in US
and Australia, has announced the financing of $18 million
Medicine’ in Australia Series B1. This round will support the clinical development
of BWC0977, a novel broad spectrum anti-bacterial agent
The translation of research into the available in both IV and oral forms, and the pre-clinical
development of innovative and life-saving development of its best-in-
microbial therapies is set to transform class Adenosine immuno-
in Australia through a partnership oncology asset. Bugworks
between Hudson Institute of Medical will continue to invest in its
Research and BiomeBank, a clinical stage proprietary drug discovery
microbiome therapeutics-based startup. platforms GYROX (for
A Memorandum of Understanding anti-microbial resistance)
(MoU) between the two organisations and DARE (for immune-
has been signed, enabling BiomeBank to oncology), and identify
bring its experience in the discovery and new drugs for serious,
development of microbial therapies to underserved indications.
enable translation of Hudson Institute’s Bugworks’ lead Antibacterial
microbiome research. The partnership asset BWC0977 continues
strengthens Hudson Institute’s business to be supported by CARB-X,
case for an Australian-first National Centre the global non-profit
for Inflammation Research (NCIR) and partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to
will initially focus on the development of tackle the global threat of drug-resistant bacteria. The Series
defined and targeted microbial therapies B1 financing was led by Lightrock India and included existing
to treat unmet medical need for patients investors. The University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC)
with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Japan, Global Brain Corporation in Japan, 3ONE4Capital
BiomeBank, which has recently launched India, Acquipharma Holdings S.A, I.M Holdings B.V. and
its Series-A funding round, has signed a Featherlite Group India. Tejasvi Ravi, representing LightRock
four-year collaborative agreement with India will join the company’s Board of Directors.
Hudson Institute to translate current
and future microbiome research into
microbial therapies.

Hong Kong’s Pluslife Biotech launches
first handheld COVID-19 nucleic acid test

Pluslife Biotech, an programme, distributing testing results can go to the testing
enterprise based in the kits and allowing the residents stations to get additional
Greater Bay Area in Hong to test themselves for COVID-19. confirmatory qPCR tests. The
Kong, has launched the Those who need to confirm the Diagnosis and Treatment
first handheld COVID-19 Protocol for COVID-19
Nucleic Acid Test to help (Trial Version 8), jointly
with epidemic prevention released by the National
and control. In response Health Commission and
to challenges including National Administration
the lack of manpower for of Traditional Chinese
pandemic prevention and control, Medicine, clearly states that the
and the limited testing capacity, positive result of nucleic acid
the Hong Kong SAR government test is the primary criterion for
has rolled out a universal COVID-19 diagnosis.

14 START-UP NEWS

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

AHH secures NZ’s Formus Labs raises $5M

$170M from Founded from within Auckland Bioengineering Institute in
New Zealand (NZ), Formus Labs has raised $5 million and has
Singapore’s GIC announced the public launch of its orthopedic surgery planning
solution which provides surgeons with unprecedented insight into
Asia Healthcare Holdings the pre-operation planning process. The investment was led by VC
(AHH), a platform backed by firm GD1 (Global from Day 1), with participation from Punakaiki
TPG Growth, has raised $170 Fund, Icehouse Ventures, Pacific Channel, and Flying Kiwis. The
million from Singapore-based company will use the funds to accelerate product development
sovereign wealth fund GIC, in and its expansion into the US. Formus Labs also announced its
one of the largest investments partnership with Zimmer Biomet, a global medical technology
made in the Indian single- leader committed to the co-development and commercialisation
specialty healthcare sector. of Formus Hip in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), as well as to
Incubated by TPG growth in the investigation of international markets for global expansion.
2016 under the vision of Vishal With Formus Labs a surgeon can get automated, specific plans that
Bali, AHH is South Asia’s largest are personalised to each patient. The software is able to deliver
single-specialty healthcare plans in an hour and can be updated in real time making same day
delivery platform following an 3D planning a reality. Formus Labs will officially launch the Hip
umbrella-issue approach for product offering in Australia and New Zealand this month, to be
helping various single-specialty followed by focused and strategic product evaluation in the United
enterprises to grow and scale States after expected FDA approval in mid-2022.
effectively. AHH has invested
more than $200 million across
various verticals like oncology,
mother and childcare, alongside
establishing market leadership
in all such segments. With this
partnership, more entities are
expected to be added to this
network. AHH’s most recent
acquisition includes Nova
IVF, which it gained in 2019,
facilitating its growth from just
19 IVF centres to almost 50
centres in India and South Asia.

Korea’s Seegene to supply 4M COVID-19 tests to Brazil

Seegene Inc, South Korea’s cases of COVID-19 have recently quarantine efforts, there is a
molecular diagnostic startup, exceeded 280,000 cases, which growing demand for COVID-19
has announced that it has signed is the highest figure since the first tests as well. In response, Seegene
a supply deal with the Ministry outbreak of the pandemic. While will deliver a shipment of four
of Health of Brazil to deliver the country has been seeking to million Allplex SARS-CoV-2/
four million COVID-19 FluA/FluB/RSV Assay, capable
tests. Since January accelerate of identifying respiratory viruses
2022, Brazil has battled its
a ‘twindemic,’ a rapid including COVID-19, Flu A/B
surge in both Flu A and as well as RSV in a single test.
COVID-19 infections This assay is expected to be the
due to the rapid spread optimised solution in Brazil
of the Omicron variant. where they are experiencing a
More seriously, new daily rapid surge in both COVID-19
and Flu A cases.

WORLD NEWS 15

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

CEPI lays focus on developing heat-stable vaccine technology

Norway-based to vaccines and, in turn, reduce accessible to low- and
Coalition for Epidemic potential vaccine wastage. middle-income countries,
Preparedness Technologies must be applicable and the innovation
Innovations (CEPI) has to current or future vaccines and should not affect other
launched a new ‘Call for key vaccine criteria
Proposals’ to improve such as costs, capacity,
the thermostability of and ease of use. CEPI is
vaccines against known particularly interested
epidemic and pandemic in hearing from vaccine
diseases like Ebola, developers and tech
Lassa fever, MERS, as companies with new or
well as COVID-19 or a existing innovations that
novel Disease X. The aim of the could support the development
Call is to minimise the need for of one or more infectious disease
complex cold-chain requirements vaccines that are both heat-stable
in order to improve global access and freeze-stable.

CAS launches major US urges
biology expansion
action to reduce
CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specialising in
scientific information solutions, has announced the launch of a burden of RSV
major expansion of the CAS SciFinder Discovery Platform into
life sciences. The enhanced platform includes over 2 million The National Foundation for Infectious
modified biosequences, 60 years of patent literature, and one Diseases (NFID) has issued a Call to
of the largest collections of journal information including Action urging stronger public health
PubMed’s biomedical and life science data. The CAS SciFinder focus and increased awareness of
Discovery Platform expansion unlocks human-indexed insights respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in
from journals and patents in over 50 languages dating back to the United States. The report, Call
1957 and 70 million biosequences curated by CAS scientists. to Action: Reducing the Burden of
The collection also includes unique biosequences not found RSV across the Lifespan, addresses
elsewhere in electronic resources. The launch is the culmination the underappreciated impact of RSV
of an 18-month effort to curate over 600 million additional and outlines key strategic priorities
proteins and nucleotides and integrate BLAST (Basic Local to drive progress in RSV surveillance,
Alignment Search Tool), CDR (Complementarity-Determining diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Regions) for antibody and T-cell receptors, and motif search RSV is a common respiratory illness
capabilities into the platform. that can pose a serious public health
threat for all age groups. While RSV is
usually associated with mild, cold-like
symptoms, it can be serious and can
lead to severe illness, even in otherwise
healthy people. The NFID Call to Action
highlights the understated burden of
RSV across the lifespan and includes
strategies to address gaps in diagnostic
testing and surveillance, existing
health disparities, lack of currently
available treatment and prevention
options, and the potential impact of
new interventions on the horizon after
decades of limited innovation.

16 WORLD NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Global experts Africa accelerates
strengthen self-testing for COVID-19
focus on primary
healthcare in The African Union Joint
Africa
Continental Strategy for
The European Investment Bank
(EIB) has announced commitments COVID-19 endorsed by Africa
to support impact investing, in the
context of a new tripartite initiative Health Ministers and the
(World Health Organisation-
EIB- European Commission), Bureau of Heads of State and
established to support countries
across Africa to close the health Governments of the African
funding gap, building resilient
health systems based on a solid Union (AU) aim to implement
foundation of primary healthcare
(PHC), to help them reach health- well-coordinated actions
related Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). The EIB President and strong partnerships to
announced € 500 million made
available with the aim of mobilising strengthen the effectiveness and social measures. The AU/
€ 1 billion of new investment to in Africa CDC recommends the
this partnership supporting resilient of COVID-19 response across implementation of COVID-19
health system strengthening based Ag self-testing in AU Member
on PHC. WHO is joining forces Africa. To continue to combat States as an adjunct strategy
with African partners, the EIB to improve access to COVID-19
and the European Union to marry COVID-19 in 2022, the Africa testing. Africa CDC working
this significant investment with through the continental
WHO’s experience and know-how Centres for Disease Control laboratory technical working
to build resilient health systems. group will publish an interim
Innovative financing schemes such and Prevention (CDC) will guideline on the use of
as this would bring together the COVID-19 Ag self-testing very
work of WHO and the EIB, in a focus its efforts to supporting soon.
broader and systemic partnership
combining grants, WHO technical member states in four priority
assistance and impact investments.
EIB has contributed significantly areas: scale-up of vaccination;
to the global response to the
pandemic, particularly by means advance COVID-19 rapid
of investments on vaccines
development, supporting local antigen Self-Testing; ensure
manufacturing, and health system
resilience. access to COVID-19 treatment;

and promote public health

Malta introduces training
programme for dementia caregivers

Malta became the first country to introduce iSupport, an online
training by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for caregivers of
people with dementia. The training launched in Malta is the result
of a two-year collaboration between the Ministry for Senior Citizens
and Active Ageing, clinicians, academics, civil society organisations
and carers of people with dementia, to adapt the original version

developed by WHO to the Maltese
context. This launch is the latest
show of commitment by Malta
to recognising and addressing
dementia as a public health issue;
the country has been working with
WHO for many years on initiatives
to reduce the burden of dementia
and is one of just 50 countries with
a national dementia strategy and
plan. iSupport provides advice both on preventing and managing the
physical and psychological difficulties associated with being a carer
for someone with dementia, and also on providing effective care. In
addition to the online version, the training is available as a hardcopy
manual, with easy-read reference posters (iSupport Lite), and a short
video with practical tips also available.

WHO NEWS 17

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com France, WHO

WHO prequalifies first mAb reinforce
‘tocilizumab’ to treat COVID-19
health systems
Aiming to increase access to recommended treatments for COVID-19,
the World Health Organisation (WHO) has added tocilizumab, a to combat
monoclonal antibody (mAb), to its list of prequalified treatments for
COVID-19
COVID-19. To date, six COVID-19 treatments have been
prequalified by WHO, including the three presentations The Government of France
(three vials, each with a different quantity) of the and the World Health
product prequalified recently. The three prequalified Organisation (WHO)
have announced a new
products are manufactured by the originator company, €50 million contribution
Roche, but the listings should pave the way for agreement that will help
more companies coming forward to seek WHO countries’ health systems
prequalification, thereby increasing the number of overcome bottlenecks in
quality-assured products and creating competition the COVID-19 response and
leading to potentially lower prices. The prequalification speed up equitable access
of these products will also facilitate low- and middle- to testing, treatments and
income countries’ authorisation of them as COVID vaccines. The agreement
treatments. Tocilizumab is a mAb that inhibits the aims to support the work
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor. Interleukin-6 induces of WHO and co-convener’s
an inflammatory response and is found in high levels work in the Health Systems
in patients critically ill with COVID-19. WHO recommends tocilizumab and Response Connector
only for patients diagnosed with severe or critical COVID-19. It should (HSRC) of the Access to
be administered by a healthcare worker in a monitored clinical setting COVID-19 Tools Accelerator
along with the current standard of care for COVID-19, which includes (ACT-A), aligned with
oxygen, corticosteroids, and other medications. the WHO’s COVID-19
Strategic Preparedness and
WHO survey investigates how Response Plan (SPRP). The
influenza burden influences policy HSRC works to ensure that
countries have the technical,
The WHO has surveyed authors of influenza disease burden studies to operational and financial
learn if and how these studies have informed policy-making. The results resources to acquire and
show that while most authors share their findings with government efficiently use vaccines
officials, more work is needed to include disease burden estimates in and other COVID-19 tools.
vaccine policy forums. Robust estimates France’s contribution will
of the burden of influenza are essential help accelerate equitable
for decision-makers to set appropriate access to all COVID-19 tools,
seasonal influenza vaccine policies. by looking at each country’s
Through the Pandemic Influenza health system’s bottlenecks
Preparedness Framework Partnership and identify the right
Contribution, WHO’s Global Influenza responses and solutions to
Programme (GIP) supports the generation them.
of representative national, regional and
global disease burden estimates and
promotes the communication of these
estimates to national and international expert bodies to further evidence-
based decision-making. WHO tracked the literature of influenza disease
burden studies between 2018 and 2020 and surveyed authors to learn
how these studies have informed policy-making. The study identified 40
articles from 29 countries reporting influenza-associated hospitalisation
or mortality rates.

18 WOMEN SPECIAL

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

BREAKING DOWN

DISPARITIES

Women continue to
sustain the quest
to make a mark in
the workplace and

balance their personal
life. Pandemic or

not, woman power
has not diminished
one bit, and it shows

in their exemplary
achievements in
India and the rest

of the world. On the
occasion of Women’s

Day, BioSpectrum
Asia salutes 20

inspiring leaders
of the life sciences
industry in the APAC
region, for motivating
others around them,
breaking the glass
ceiling and paving

their own paths
in 2021. These
20 women are
powerhouses in their
respective fields,
inspiring not just their
employees and the
people around them,
but other women and
the next generation of
women leaders.

WOMEN SPECIAL 19

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Women’s representation has improved is 14.7 per cent. There is a low share of women in senior
across all levels of the corporate roles in Japan. Although 72 per cent of women are in
pipeline in 2020 and 2021, despite the labour force, the share of women working part-time
COVID-19. This is an encouraging roles is almost twice that of men. The average Japanese
sign and worth celebrating after an woman’s income is a whopping 43.7 per cent lower
incredibly difficult time across the globe. As a result than the average Japanese man’s income.
of which, the theme for International Women’s Day,
on March 8, 2022, is- ‘Gender equality today for a Large gaps also remain in terms of labour force
sustainable tomorrow’, recognising the contribution participation as well as in terms of senior roles in
of women and girls around the world to build a more China, where only 11.4 per cent of board members
sustainable future for all. According to the ‘Women in are women and 16.7 per cent of senior managers are
the Workplace 2021’ report by McKinsey, women are women, corresponding to a gender gap of 80 per cent.
rising to the moment as stronger leaders and taking on Coming to the role of women in the science technology,
the extra work that comes with stress and exhaustion. engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce in
Compared with men at the same level, women are the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, the challenges have
doing more to support their teams and advance increased owing to the pandemic. Women in STEM
diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. have less secure employment at senior levels and are
more susceptible to job loss due to the pandemic.
Compared with men in similar positions, women COVID-19 has exacerbated existing gender inequity
managers are taking more consistent actions to and disparities in STEM, including productivity
promote employee well-being including checking-in impacts and barriers to women progressing in their
on their team members, helping them manage their STEM career.
workloads, and providing support for team members
who are dealing with burnout or navigating work– Moreover, the overlapping of home and work
life challenges. Over the past 18 months, companies spheres has had a significant impact on productivity
have embraced flexibility. More than three-quarters and the capacity to produce research, as women in
of senior HR leaders say that allowing employees to STEM face competing priorities.
work flexible hours is one of the most effective ways
out to improve employee well-being. However, many But, the good news is that the APAC region
companies seem to have overlooked something very is strengthening actions to support women’s
crucial - that without clear boundaries, flexible work participation and growth in STEM. The Australian
can quickly turn into ‘always on’ work, which is Academy of Science has announced the development
affecting a lot of women lately. Maybe even leading of STEM Women Asia in 2021, an online searchable
them to leave their jobs, since they are unable to devote platform featuring women working and engaging
enough time for family. in STEM in the Asia region. It aims to increase the
visibility of women in all areas of STEM and provide
Closing gender gap in APAC a valuable resource for promoting gender equity in
STEM, by showcasing the breadth of scientific talent
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the region. A new programme aimed at encouraging
report, by 2021, 68.9 per cent of the overall gender gap more women to pursue their studies and careers in
has been closed in East Asia and the Pacific. If progress STEM was launched in 2021 in Singapore, named
continues at the same pace, it will take another 165.1 POWERS (Promotion of Women in Engineering,
years to completely close the gap, almost 30 years Research, and Science).
longer than the global average. On the other hand, lack
of progress on women’s labour force participation is Such initiatives present an immediate, tangible
hindering economic opportunities for women in the support mechanism for women in STEM to connect
South Asian countries. For instance, in India only 22.3 and collaborate within individual countries, as well
per cent of women participate in the labour market, as across the region. On that note, BioSpectrum Asia
translating to a gender gap of 72 per cent, while in brings to you a list of 20 inspiring leaders of the life
Korea there is 60 per cent of women participation in sciences industry in the APAC region, for motivating
the labour force. An additional challenge is the gender others around them, breaking the glass ceiling and
gap in senior and managerial positions in the private paving their own paths in 2021. These 20 women are
and public sector alike. The limited presence of women powerhouses in their respective fields, inspiring not
in senior roles translates to a persistent ‘glass ceiling’ just their employees and the people around them,
even in some of the most advanced economies. For but other women and the next generation of women
instance, in Korea, it is 15.6 per cent while in Japan, it leaders.

Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

20 WOMEN SPECIAL

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

KIM DONG-HEE PROF. CAROLINE HOMER

Vice-President, Health Systems Chair, National Health and
Market Leader, Philips APAC Medical Research Council,
Australia
Growth driver
Distinguished servicer
Ahealthcare professional with long-term
experience in specialised medical devices, Professor Caroline Homer AO is a
Philips Korea’s Chief Executive Officer leading midwifery researcher in
(CEO) Kim Dong-hee got promoted in 2021 Australia and has an international
to run Philips Asia Pacific’s health systems reputation as a scholar and leader in
business division. At Philips Korea, Kim has maternal and newborn health care and
abolished in-house titles and supported the service delivery. She obtained her PhD
work-life balance based on the slogan of ‘Design in 2001 and since then has led research
Your Day’. Before joining Phillips, Kim led the and development projects in Australia
transcatheter aortic heart valves business and internationally especially in relation
in the Asia-Pacific region at Edwards Life to health services delivery, reproductive,
Sciences and held various positions at Boston maternal and newborn care. She has been
Scientific, proving her competence in business appointed as Chair of Australia’s National
management and marketing. Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC) in 2021.
“WITH A FRESH PERSPECTIVE, I HOPE TO
BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE COMPANY “THE HEALTH AND MEDICAL SECTOR
AND STRENGTHEN CUSTOMER TIES TO HELP HAS A HIGHER PROPORTION OF
THE COMPANY GROW AND FORGE NEW WOMEN THAN MEN, ALTHOUGH FEWER
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.” WOMEN ARE IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS.”
HONG CHOW
DR NITA PATEL
Head of China & International
for Healthcare, Merck Executive Director, Immunology,
Vaccine development, Novavax
With global experience
Determined & diligent
Hong Chow has stepped into Merck’s
healthcare business sector as Head of One of the lead vaccine scientists
China and International in 2021. In this role at Novavax, a US-based biotech
at Merck, Chow is leading China, Japan as well company that has developed a
the regions Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, India-born Dr Nita
and Middle East, Africa and Russia, the franchise Patel often works for 18-hours a day in the
of Cardiovascular Metabolism & Endocrinology lab. Now based in Maryland, she worked at
(CM&E), and the Global Business Innovation MedImmune for almost 25 years on various
team. She is also serving as a member of the projects including tuberculosis. She later
Healthcare Executive Committee, and is based in moved to Novavax in 2015 where her team
Shanghai, China. Chow holds German citizenship has been working tirelessly to develop the
and was earlier serving as the Chief Executive COVID-19 vaccine.
Officer of Roche Pharmaceuticals in China.
“THIS IS THE FASTEST THAT I HAVE
“I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT BUILDING WORKED FOR ANY VACCINE
BRIDGES ACROSS CULTURES AND MARKETS, THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. ONE THING
AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO MAKE A I KNEW WAS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE
MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH MUCH TIME THAT NORMALLY IT TAKES TO
AND SOCIAL PROGRESS.” DEVELOP A VACCINE.”

WOMEN SPECIAL 21

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

DR JANICE JIN KIM EUN-MI

Senior Director, GenScript President & Chief Executive
Corporation Officer, GE Healthcare Korea

Self-motivated Loyal & professional

Dr Janice Jin, Senior Director of Kim Eun-mi took charge as
GenScript Corporation, is currently the new Chief Executive
heading the business and operational Officer at GE Healthcare
activity of Life Science Group in the APAC Korea in 2021. Kim has held various positions
region. With her leadership, the life science at GE for more than two decades. She
business of APAC has been growing with started in 2000 as the operation analyst
double-digit numbers for years. In 2022, of GE Healthcare and completed GE’s
she together with her team, opened the Financial Management Programme. She
GenScript production facility in Singapore then joined Corporate Audit Staff and
with over 30,000 square feet space in developed leadership ability in Korea,
Solaris@Kallang, to alleviate the pressure of US and Taiwan. In 2012, Kim rejoined GE
global logistic unexpected disruptions. After Healthcare Korea as the financial planning
receiving her PhD from Cornell University, analysis manager. Later, she served as
she has practised her leadership in multiple its chief financial officer and operating
areas. officer, leading its growth into a sustainable
commercial organisation.
“SINCE I AM WORKING IN A GLOBAL TEAM,
CONNECTING WITH TEAMS IN DIFFERENT “MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL MAKE
TIME ZONES REALLY PUSHED ME TO BEST EFFORTS TO HELP DEVELOP THIS
WORK AROUND THE CLOCK.” COUNTRY’S MEDICAL INDUSTRY.”

JULIE KIM DR GAGANDEEP KANG

President- Plasma-Derived Professor, Department of
Therapies Business Unit, Takeda Gastrointestinal Sciences,
Pharmaceutical Christian Medical College

A Multi-tasker Force to reckon with

Julie Kim, who is currently President of the Voicing out her opinion and expertise on
Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit, the development of COVID-19 vaccines
has been appointed President of the US and monoclonal antibody therapy
Business Unit and US country head in 2022. In throughout 2021, Dr Gagandeep Kang has
this role, Julie will focus on continuing to grow been at the forefront in tackling the pandemic.
Takeda’s business in the US, a key market for the An elected Fellow of the Indian Academy
company’s success. Based in the US, Julie joined of Sciences and the American Academy of
Takeda in 2019 through the acquisition of Shire, Microbiology, she became the first Indian
where she held a number of diverse roles such as woman to be inducted as a Fellow of the Royal
Global Franchise Head in different therapy areas, Society (FRS) in London by joining the likes
international market access, country and regional of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin to be
general management. elected to the almost 360-year-old scientific
body.
“WE NEED TO MAKE SMALL, BUT IMPORTANT,
CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR TO BE INCLUSIVE, “THERE IS SO MUCH STILL TO LEARN ABOUT
NOT JUST WITH OUR COLLEAGUES BUT IMMUNE RESPONSES AND PROTECTION
ALSO PATIENTS, PARTNERS AND OTHER FROM DISEASE, BUT THERE HAVE NEVER
STAKEHOLDERS.” BEEN OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS BEFORE.”

22 WOMEN SPECIAL

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

JULIA WANG MINYOUNG KIM

Chief Financial Officer, General Manager,
BeiGene Antengene South Korea

Deep expert High performer

With extensive global finance Ahighly respected industry leader in South
experience across the biotech, Korea with over 30 years of experience,
pharmaceutical, medical device, Minyoung Kim has taken charge as
diagnostic, and consumer products the General Manager of the Korean arm of
industries, Julia Wang got elevated as the Chinese firm Antengene in 2021. Prior to joining
Chief Financial Officer at China and US-based Antengene, she was General Manager of Ipsen
firm BeiGene in 2021. She joined BeiGene Korea and during her tenure, she led significant
in June 2020 as Senior Vice President, business growth through new product
Enterprise Optimisation and Deputy CFO, launches and organisational transformation.
based in the company’s US office, and has Minyoung has also worked with Eli Lilly Korea
been instrumental in driving value creation and Asian regional operations in diverse
through partnering across the organisation leadership roles.
and optimising resource allocation while
elevating the leadership of the finance “THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR KOREAN
function. PATIENTS IS THAT THEY CAN HAVE NEW
TREATMENT OPTIONS IN AREAS WHERE
“WE LOOK TO TRANSFORM THE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.”
BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY BY CREATING
IMPACTFUL MEDICINES THAT WILL BE SUMUKHI SREEVATSAN
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.”
General Manager,
PENNY WAN IMAPAC

Additional Director, Smooth Sailor
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Sumukhi Sreevatsan is the General
Articulate executive Manager who oversees day to day
operations of IMAPAC. She was also
Indian drug major Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories elected as a Director of the company in 2021
has roped in Penny Wan as an Additional by the board for her exceptional contribution.
Director, categorised as Independent, on Sumukhi has been instrumental in introducing
the Board of the company for a term of five COVID-19-resilient measures to keep the
consecutive years, effective January 2022. company’s three business units – life science
Based in the US, Penny was most recently market intelligence, partnerships, and digital
Amgen’s Vice President of the Japan and solutions, profitable -- which prevented IMAPAC
Asia Pacific region. With over 20 years of from laying off any of its staff in the COVID-19
experience in the biopharmaceuticals crisis. She has also been hiring and mentoring
industry, she led Amgen’s geographic Singaporeans to develop them into world-
expansion efforts in the region. Prior to class life-science market research experts, and
Amgen, Penny was General Manager of Roche business leaders.
Pharma China, which became one of the
fastest growing multinational corporations in “IN LIFE, I BELIEVE WE ARE CONSTANTLY
the country. CONFRONTED WITH UNFORESEEN
CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE TO REMAIN
“I AM BLESSED - MY CAREER IS QUITE POSITIVE AND ANALYSE THE CHALLENGES
LITERALLY ALIGNED WITH MY PERSONAL FROM ALL ANGLES.”
MILESTONES IN LIFE.”

WOMEN SPECIAL 23

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

DR ALMIRA CHABI SOHN JI-YOUNG

Chief Medical Officer & General Manager,
Chief Development Officer, Moderna Korea
HanAll Biopharma
Seasoned leader
A leading figure
Sohn Ji-young became the first
Dr Almira Chabi has joined HanAll General Manager of the Korean arm
Pharmaceutical International (HPI), of the American pharmaceutical firm
a US entity wholly owned by South Moderna in 2021. Sohn is an industry expert
Korea-based HanAll Biopharma as Chief with more than 20 years of experience in
Medical Officer and Chief Development global pharmaceutical companies. She
Officer in 2022 to strengthen its R&D started her career in the pharmaceutical
capability. Dr Almira pursued her career industry at Pfizer Korea and moved to
working on an array of projects at global Roche Korea and Roche headquarters.
biopharma companies such as Merck and Before joining Moderna Korea, she worked
Genentech. Prior to the role at HanAll, she as the CEO of CSL Behring Korea and led
served as a Vice President, Global Therapeutic the establishment of the company and the
Area Head for Glaucoma & Neuroprotection, launch of new products.
as well as Lead for Artificial Intelligence
Programmes at Santen. “I AM DELIGHTED TO JOIN THE
COMPANY AT A TIME WHEN MODERNA
“THERE IS MUCH MORE ROOM TO IS EXPERIENCING INCREDIBLE GROWTH.
DEVELOP TREATMENTS FOR GLAUCOMA, KOREA IS A VERY IMPORTANT MARKET
ESPECIALLY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR MODERNA.”
COMING IN.”
JANET ANDERSON
DR ARADHANA SARIN
Commissioner, Aged Care Quality
Chief Financial Officer, and Safety Commission,
AstraZeneca Australian Government

Effortless navigator Setting new standards

Adoctor from India, and an MBA from Australia’s Aged Care Quality and Safety
Stanford Business School, Dr Aradhana Commissioner Janet Anderson has
Sarin stepped in as the Chief Financial been reappointed for three more
Officer (CFO) at AstraZeneca in 2021, a years in 2022, owing to her extraordinary
company that has a market cap of $175.54 leadership during COVID-19. She was the first
billion. Dr Aradhana was earlier serving as aged care quality and safety commissioner,
the CFO at Alexion before it was acquired by tasked with leading the independent Aged
AstraZeneca in 2020. She has also served as a Care Quality and Safety Commission that
Managing Director at Citi Global Banking in launched on 1 January 2019. Janet has an
New York, where she advised clients in the life extensive background in the health sector and
sciences and biopharmaceutical sectors. She management experience. She has also held
has relocated from the US and is now based in leadership roles in state and territory health
the UK. departments.

“THE CHALLENGE IS ALWAYS BALANCING “THE COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO
THE SHORT-TERM NEEDS FROM INVESTORS REVIEW AND UPDATE ITS REGULATORY
AND STAKEHOLDERS AND INVESTING LONG- APPROACH TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS
TERM IN THE BUSINESS AND TAKING THE RESPONSIVE TO EVOLVING PANDEMIC
RIGHT RISKS.” RISKS.”

24 WOMEN SPECIAL BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

CHERRY HUANG ANURADHA GUPTA

Area Managing Director, Deputy Chief Executive Officer-
Janssen North Asia Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Accomplished chief Vision maker

Stepping in as the Area Managing Anuradha Gupta, who is more than
Director for Janssen North Asia in a little invested in India’s COVID-19
2021, Cherry Huang is responsible for vaccination journey, having spent
delivering long-term sustainable growth long years strengthening public health in
for operations in Korea, Taiwan and India before she joined Gavi, has played
Hong Kong. Previously Vice President for a key role to ensure equitable access to
Finance, Janssen Asia Pacific, Cherry was COVID-19 vaccines across the world through
instrumental in setting business strategy the Vaccine Alliance in 2021. Prior to Gavi,
and overseeing financial stewardship Anuradha served as Mission Director of the
to drive accelerated growth across the National Health Mission of India, where she
region’s pharmaceuticals business. Prior ran the largest, and possibly most complex,
to this, Cherry was Senior Finance Director public health programme in the world with
of Johnson & Johnson Southeast Asia. an annual budget of $ 3.5 billion.

“IT IS AN HONOUR TO LEAD JANSSEN “THE PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE
KOREA OPERATING IN A COUNTRY NEED TO MAKE HIGHER AND LONGER-
THAT RECOGNISES THE VALUE AND TERM INVESTMENTS. THERE HAS BEEN A
NECESSITY OF PHARMACEUTICAL LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT IN INDIA
INNOVATION.” TO INCREASE PUBLIC FINANCING FOR
HEALTH.”
EUN-JU RYU
YIN XIE
President,
Samyang Biopharm USA Chief Executive Officer,
Revotek
Leading developer
Regenerating ideas
Eun-Ju Ryu has joined as President of
Samyang Biopharm USA, a global Working as the Chief Executive Officer
biotech subsidiary of South Korea- of China-based 3D bioprinting startup
based Samyang Holdings Corp in 2022. Ryu Revotek, Yin Xie is spearheading the
brings over 30 years of experience in the world first clinical trial for 3D bioprinted stem
biopharmaceutical industry to her leadership cell vascular grafts for patients with Peripheral
position at Samyang Biopharm USA. Prior Artery Diseases (PADs) in 2022. After receiving
to this appointment she held a series of the National Health Commission of China
escalating management positions in various approval, Yin Xie and her team are all set to
companies, including 12 years at Pfizer provide regenerative therapies for a range of
Inc. (USA) and 6 years at Pfizer Korea. Her chronic diseases. She has 15 years of public
career started as a regulatory manager, then agency experience and 8 years of executive
expanded roles in clinical trial management experience, with 4 years of experience in
team, business development and global international business project operation and
marketing. brand management.

“I HOPE THAT 2022 WILL BE A YEAR “I BELIEVE THAT IN THE FUTURE, A LARGE
OF OVERCOMING THE PANDEMIC AND NUMBER OF CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC
RESTORING DAILY LIFE BY COMBINING THE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS WILL
EFFORTS OF MANY RESEARCHERS.” CONTINUE TO BE PRODUCED.”

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“Women must follow their passion and

take on any opportunity that presents itself”

Celebrating women leadership across the life «
sciences sector, BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Eva
van Pelt, Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Eva van Pelt,
Commercial Officer, Eppendorf AG, in detail about how Co-Chief Executive
FY21-22 can be summed up and what new plans are Officer & Chief
in store for the company this year. Edited excerpts; Commercial Officer,
Eppendorf AG
How did the company perform in 2021?
What strategies are in store for 2022?
Eppendorf has managed to break its record of 2020 once
again and to exceed the threshold of one billion euros We want to continue on our current successful course
in sales for the first time. Such a result would not have & are highly motivated. For this year, we have put a
been possible without the unparalleled commitment of number of important topics on our agenda such as
our employees. We know that the past year has often product launches, the work on our digitisation efforts, the
been very difficult, especially against the backdrop expansion of our worldwide capacities & we are further
of the pandemic and its impact on professional and strengthening the support of our customers holistically
private life. That’s why we, in the Management Board, with products & services. To ensure this, we implemented
are incredibly proud of these great colleagues and their digital tools, e.g. our brand-new CRM system, enabling
boundless commitment. us to understand our customers even better & adapt even
more quickly to changing market conditions.
What key leadership decisions taken by you
made a significant impact on the company’s How are the investment plans coming along
performance? within the APAC market?

The outstanding performance achieved by Eppendorf Eppendorf considers the APAC and China markets as
in 2021 is a joint effort by all employees of the corporate highly attractive, fast growing and very innovative. And
group. In the past fiscal year, a number of important since we have started to invest in these regions we are
measures of the Management Board were undertaken experiencing tremendous growth. We will continue to
to ensure our future success, such as organisational increase our investments in Asia, not only in our Go-
adjustments and investment decisions. For example, to-market-strategy, but also addressing local R&D,
we have realigned our supply chain to better serve our production and innovation capabilities and capacities.
customers in these challenging times and expanded our
global locations. The same applies to our production What would you like to say to all the women
capacities worldwide, which we have scaled up, as well achievers in the life science sector?
as investments in the digitalisation of the company,
such as the expansion of our e-business activities. Eppendorf stands for solidarity, tolerance and diversity
– these are important cornerstones of Eppendorf’s
What were the major challenges faced in 2021- cosmopolitan culture and the basis for our company’s
on the professional and personal front? success. Female achievers are still rather rare, especially
in the life sciences. I can only encourage all women to
The past year has probably pushed us all – professionally continue on their path unwaveringly. Whatever your
and privately – even more to our limits than 2020 personal vision and motivation is, follow your passion
did. For me as Co-CEO, it is very important to instill and take on any opportunity that presents itself to you.
confidence in our employees, to motivate them to carry Authenticity, openness, collaboration, networking and
on and to be a good role model for them. In times when actively seeking for feedback, in my experience, are
you can’t meet in person and often have to rely on crucial cornerstones to move forward.
collaboration via remote meetings, this is sometimes a
challenge. From my personal perspective, it has become Dr Manbeena Chawla
clear that face-to-face contact is something we all miss a [email protected]
lot. It is important to overcome this challenge in order
to still work together effectively.

26 WOMEN SPECIAL

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Call to Action for Gender
Diversity in Sci-Tech & Innovation

« it comes to women in leadership positions especially
in future technology sectors. The concern is the
Dr Renu Swarup, representation of women in National Academies
- even in biological sciences which has a higher
Former Secretary to representation, globally it is just around 15 per cent.

Government of India, In India it is heartening to note that we have
had a fairly good representation and India has also
Department of had Women as Presidents of Academies. We are
also seeing an increase in numbers of our Women
Biotechnology, achievers – from Nobel Prize globally to the Shanti
Swarup Bhatnagar Awards in the country to other
Ministry of Science awards and fellowships, a marginal increase in
numbers is being noted. It is however imperative, to
&Technology see how these numbers translate to an increase in the
number of women in leadership positions.
Gender Diversity is critical for
Science,Technology and Innovation (STI), Key actions required
as for nearly all other sectors. It is today well
recognised that complete inclusivity and gender It is important to institutionalise Gender Equality
parity are essential to make economic progress and Policies at organisational, national and international
drive the developmental agenda. In recent years there level.
has been a special focus on Women Empowerment
and on women led development in our Policy and We need to focus on Policy, Programmes and
Programmes. Globally also there has been a special People. We need to frame the right policies to help
focus on trying to address the issues related to us to implement the key strategic decisions. Once the
Women In STEM (science, technology, engineering policies are in place, we need to develop a strategy
and mathematics) and framing key policies which to implement these - for this a set of well designed
support the development of world class talent in programmes are a key to success. Then of course we
STEM to reduce this Gender Gap. need the right people to help us achieve our targets
and goals.
The recent UNESCO Science Report 2021
has highlighted some very important matrices What we need to do is create a level playing
for assessing the progress countries make in field for women and girls in research and
mainstreaming policies and programmes on Gender
Diversity, some key ones are - number of women
researchers especially in future technology sectors,
number of women inventors in Patent applications,
number of women entrepreneurs, access to Venture
funds by Women entrepreneurs, number of women in
academics, number of women in Science academies,
number of women in Corporate Boards etc.

Globally numbers are progressing, with women
researchers moving to ~33 per cent in 2018 from ~28
per cent in 2015, in India the percentage of women
investigators across sectors is approx 30 per cent. We
also see more women entrepreneurs - in India, it is
today over 35 per cent. Globally over 60 per cent of all
patent applications in Biotech had women inventors,
although in Engineering it was less than 15 per cent.
There is however a major gap in the numbers when

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entrepreneurship. The key to success is three- In India it is heartening to note
pronged: that we have had a fairly good
representation and India has also had
The first is to build a strong base of women in Women as Presidents of Academies.
science for the nation’s success, by providing access We are also seeing an increase in
to science education for our girls at all levels specially numbers of our Women achievers
focussing on the remote districts, tier 2 and 3 cities. – from Nobel Prize globally to the
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards
The second is to build a vibrant ecosystem that in the country to other awards and
encourages the girl child and women scientists to fellowships, a marginal increase in
constantly up-skill themselves, build their leadership numbers is being noted.
skills, and evolve as leaders in driving scientific
innovation and progress. other educational options.
From KIRAN to BioCARE, a number of grant
The third is to empower them financially and
socially – we need to ensure that we have Policies schemes provide opportunities to women scientists
which enable gender participation at the workplace who have had a career break to come back into
and handle the socio - economic, cultural and the mainstream. Alternate career options from
behavioural aspects. This is imperative for sustained Intellectual Property (IP) management to Science
and long term careers of women in science. Communication to Legal affairs are opportunities
which are made available through Technology
We still have a significant distance to cover. We Information Forecasting and Assessment
need to build a strong foundation and ensure equality Council (TIFAC) and other organisations.
in numbers at the base — we cannot have an inverted Women Entrepreneurship is promoted by DBT-
pyramid, a strong base is essential to tap the potential Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance
of our girls in science education, and this requires Council (BIRAC), DST-Technology Development
consistent and concerted effort from a variety of Board (TDB), NITI Aayog-Atal Innovation Mission
stakeholders - including families, school systems, the (AIM) and other agencies which provide access to
corporate sector, and of course, women themselves. mentorship, finances and technical resources, special
incubators, awards etc. We have some very vibrant
Government of India through Ministry of Science Women Incubators and Parks which are nurturing
& Technology, (Department of Biotechnology (DBT), women startups and entrepreneurs.
Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Women scientists and entrepreneurs have
has created some very important enabling policies demonstrated their strong presence, and we have
and programmes to attract young girls and women many success stories. We should now work to
to science and empower them – special science
education programmes for young girls – Vigyan ● Create policies and partnerships which harness
Jyoti and Vigyan Pratibha which gives the girl the economic potential of women for sustainable and
students a level playing field to take examinations for inclusive growth.
engineering colleges and builds their skills to take up
● Attract Women to Science Research and
develop a sustainable framework to retain them for
long term research.

● Scale up women entrepreneurial activities to
take it from the informal to formal sector.

● Overcome internal and social barriers to market
access to bring women entrepreneurs to the center
stage of economic development.

As countries frame STI Policy, it is imperative
that the issues of Gender Diversity continue to
occupy centre stage, with National and International
partnerships also explicitly including this in their
agreements. It is imperative to continue this
momentum to ensure that we succeed in this very
important Global Challenge of Gender Equality.

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Addressing gender gap
in changing workplace

« better levels of staff retention, which saves money on
recruiting expenditures. Providing employees with an
Sylvia Hii, inclusive and equitable space to be creative is ideal for
Founder & CEO, innovation. A diverse workforce brings a unique set of
DAP E-innovative ideas and perspectives to the table, and an inclusive
solutions (DAP Group culture that allows those voices equal opportunity to be
of Companies) heard is great for creating new solutions. The key to this
is being both inclusive and diverse. A work environment
Despite women having nearly closed the gender that is not only diverse but inclusive is an integral part
gap in the workplace, men continue to land of reducing the gender gap. Studies show that increasing
most high paying jobs. Increased discussions the number of women working in IT could bring an
and publicities also play little or no role in closing the added £2.6 billion a year for the UK’s economy.
gap. It requires a tremendous amount of work. Many
firms aren’t focused enough on their female talent. Gender gap in tech startup funding

In a recent Mercer survey of more than 1,000 A recent Womenterprise report shows female-led
companies in 54 countries, 81 per cent said it was companies perform better, female-led teams produce
important to have a plan for advancing gender better returns on investment, and year over year
equality—but only 42 per cent actually did. The female-founded startups show 100 per cent+ increases
McKinsey study showcases that women are less likely over broader startup exits. Despite data suggesting
to be hired into entry level jobs than men, even though that female-led businesses are more stronger,
they currently earn more bachelor’s degrees and have investment in female entrepreneurs is persistently
the same attrition rate and as the employees move lower. Many future female technologists or innovators
up the corporate ladder, the disparity increases. For simply walk away before any founder dream turns into
every 100 men promoted to manager, only 14 per cent founder status. What we all need to do is to support
women accomplish the same position. Because there them, invest time in them, provide equal tutelage and
are fewer suitable women to promote from inside due opportunity for them. We should come together and
to a shortage of entry-level female hiring. start offering equal opportunities for development and
investment in our female startup founders.
How companies benefit
from bridging the gender gap Women constitute the vast majority of the
worldwide health workforce. Within the United
According to a SurveyMonkey Workforce Survey States, they contribute $3 trillion to the healthcare
about workforce happiness revealed that nearly 80 economy by making health decisions for themselves
per cent of respondents believe diversity and inclusion and for their families. There is a profusion of data to
are important in the workplace, nearly one-quarter demonstrate why women are required in healthcare
of workers say their employer is not doing enough to and the pharmaceutical workforce; nonetheless, men
solve these issues. A diverse and inclusive workforce hold the majority of leadership roles in global health,
encourages higher levels of employee engagement, insurance firms, and pharmaceutical corporations.
which may lead to higher financial returns and market Despite outnumbering men in the worldwide pharmacy
share. Engaged employees tend to feel more energised workforce, women continue to be underrepresented
and connected to their organisation, and they are often in senior and leadership roles in pharmacy. The
willing to go the extra mile to maximise productivity. International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
High employee engagement is also associated with predicts that by 2030, more than 70 per cent of the
global pharmacy workforce would comprise women.

By addressing gender prejudice, pharmaceutical
firms have the potential to make the world a healthier
place. Empowering women in drug development and
medicine access policies can pave the road for truly
equal healthcare.

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Psychedelic Trip to Wellness

Psychedelics have been used throughout history for medical purposes before being classified
as illicit drugs in the 1960s. But that’s changing now, psychedelic drugs are gaining widespread
attention as rigorous clinical trials have demonstrated their potential as a treatment for unmet
needs in mental health. What explains this renaissance, how soon we will see psychedelic drugs in
the market and most importantly where does big pharma stand in this? Let’s find out.

The US Food and Drug Administration (US period in the last few years resulting in key data,
FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) proving its potential to treat a wide range of mental
approved Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato health indications, including cancer related distress,
(esketamine) in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, addiction and many more.
depression, the first approval of a psychedelic
treatment for a psychiatric disorder in both the US ‘‘People often forget that more than five decades
and the European Union. Esketamine is derived of psychedelic research has already taken place.
from the anaesthetic ketamine. This opened the This research has been conducted by world class
floodgates of interest in psychedelic space. To institutions, including US’ Johns Hopkins, NYU,
date, two psilocybin-based drugs have received UK’s King’s College, University of Toronto, Canada
FDA breakthrough designation – UK’s COMPASS and Imperial College,UK. Recently, there has been
Pathways for treatment-resistant depression and US’ increased attention on research in this field for
Usona Institute for major depressive disorder. several reasons. First, the issue of mental health -
which was already huge - is now at epidemic levels,
This, along with the fact that mental health exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. Second,
disorders, have risen exponentially but the attitudes towards mental health have evolved
development of novel medications has not and matured to the point where it is now “Ok to
kept pace. Drugs such as use of MDMA (3-4 not be ok”. More people are seeking treatment
methylenedioxymethamphetamine), psilocybin, and and are interested in alternatives to traditional
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) are traditionally pharmaceuticals - whether it’s because they are
considered to be recreational but are increasingly worried about side effects from medication like
being used in medical research. weight gain or sexual dysfunction, dependency, or
other undesired consequences. A third driver is the
A report from Research And Markets says that the evolving of public policy in this area. We’re seeing
psychedelic drugs market size is projected to reach a push for decriminalisation of certain restricted
$10.75 billion by 2027, from $4.75 billion in 2020 compounds in various jurisdictions. We’re seeing
growing at a CAGR of 12.36 per cent during 2021- the demand for more compassionate use - especially
2027. with respect to end-of-life exemptions for psychedelic
assisted therapy. We’re even seeing the Drug
‘‘The whole field is advancing in industry
and academia, with many new groups in
neuropsychopharmacology around the world
developing and using techniques from animal models,
to human studies with MRI to map neural networks
in order to better understand the mechanisms of
action. Add to that psychotherapy research and
training to better apply these methods in combination
with psychoactive compounds to achieve outcomes
that exceed use of the drug alone. I think that the
R&D is reaching a critical mass and really impactful
innovations are not so far out,’’ said Dr Nathan Bryson,
Chief Scientific Officer at Field Trip Health Canada.

Unleashing potential of psychedelics

The research and development of psychedelic
medicine and therapies has seen a renaissance

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LATEST DEVELOPMENTS “We expect MDMA
to be approved for
● In Febraury 2022, UK’s Small Pharma announced
positive phase I result of World’s first clinical trial treating PTSD by
for DMT-Assisted therapy in major depressive 2023, and addiction
disorder.
by 2025.”
● In January 2022, US’ PsyMed Ventures, - Anthony Tennyson,
announced its new $25 million investment
fund. The money will go to early-stage startups, CEO, Awakn Life Sciences, Canada
primarily those working on psychedelics, to help
treat mental ailments. pursuing standardised extraction of psychedelic
compounds for the creation of API.
● In January 2022, Australian government
announced $15 million grant for psychedelic For the last several decades, psychedelic drugs
clinical trials to treat mental illness. were the subject of multi-decades research led by
select academic researchers and a small number of
● In January 2022, Canada’s Awakn Life Sciences not-for-profit groups with the goal of establishing
and US’ The Multidisciplinary Association for the safety of psychedelic drugs, along with some
Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) partnered for preliminary efficacy data demonstrating their
MDMA-assisted therapy for treatment of alcohol potential to treat neuropsychiatric and mood
use disorder in Europe. disorders.

● In November 2021, Cybin and the University of ‘‘In the last few years, investment capital has begun
Washington started a Phase 2 trial of psilocybin to flow to for-profit ventures that were formed with
for COVID-related distress. the goal of developing psychedelic drugs into approved
therapeutics by advancing them along established
● In September 2021, US’ Johns Hopkins regulatory pathways. These efforts have mainly
researchers received federal grant to study focused on formulations of known, public domain
psilocybin for smoking cessation. psychedelic drugs. On the back of these research
efforts, MDMA and psilocybin have made significant
● In July 2021, US’ Harvard Law School’s Petrie- progress towards gaining FDA approval for use in the
Flom Centre launched research initiative to treatment of post-traumatic stress and treatment-
advance evidence-based psychedelics law and resistant depression,’’ said James Lanthier, Chief
policy. Executive Officer (CEO), Mindset Pharma, Canada.

● In June 2021, German startup Atai Life Sciences Mindset Pharma was formed in order to discover
announced its IPO and raised $200 million. Atai and develop “next generation” psychedelic drugs
became the third biotech company focused on that are chemically novel and have been optimised to
psychedelic treatment for mental health disorders address some of the shortcomings of “first generation”
to list on a major US stock exchange after psychedelic drugs. In January 2022, Mindset
Canada’s MindMed and UK’s Compass Pathways, partnered with Japans’ Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, which
both went public in 2020. is the first entrance of a global pharma player into the
new psychedelic drug space.
● In May 2021, US’ MAPS announced the positive
results from world’s first Phase 3 clinical study on The most advanced programmes are American
MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress not for profit Multidisciplinary Association for
disorder. Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)’ successful Phase III trial
for MDMA in Post traumatic stress disorder and UK’s
Enforcement Administration in the U.S. increase Compass Pathways COMP360 (psilocybin) with a
limits on the quantity of these compounds that positive Phase 2b in treatment resistant depression.
researchers can hold. These forces have led to the
“Shroom Boom” with many new companies pursuing “We expect MDMA to be approved for treating
various indications, including anxiety, depression, PTSD by 2023, and addiction by 2025,” said Anthony
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance Tennyson, CEO of Awakn Life Sciences, Canada, a
abuses. These companies have attracted investors, biotechnology company, researching, developing, and
and new capital has flowed into the psychedelic delivering psychedelic therapeutics to better treat
research business resulting in an acceleration of the addiction.
number of studies underway,’’ said Tim Moore, CEO
of HAVN Life, Canada.

HAVN Life Sciences is a biotechnology company

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‘‘People often forget that ‘‘Most psychedelic
more than five decades of companies are not in a
psychedelic research has position of producing
already taken place. Recently,
there has been increased revenue as they are
attention on research in this engaging in clinical
trials to prove that the
field for several reasons.’’ compounds work on
- Tim Moore,
specific ailments.’’
CEO, HAVN Life, Canada - Dr Bob Dagher,

Chief Medical Officer, Enveric Biosciences, USA

Apart from this there are 13 other candidates in ‘‘The whole field is advancing
Phase II trials and 12 in initial stages of the trial (I). in industry and academia,
Most of these compounds are being researched for with many new groups in
treating different categories of depression.
neuropsychopharmacology
Where’s big pharma? around the world developing and

In January 2022, Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical using techniques from animal
inked a deal with Canada’s Mindset Pharma to models, to human studies with
support the development of psychedelic medicines. MRI to map neural networks in
This is the first ever deal by a big pharma firm in this order to better understand the
space. While big pharma has wholeheartedly invested
in the cannabis sector in recent times, it hasn’t shown mechanisms of action.’’
the same interest or investment in psychedelic drugs. - Dr Nathan Bryson,

‘‘The “big pharma” industry is currently in the Chief Scientific Officer, Field Trip Health, Canada
process of evaluating the merits of the biology,
science and quality of ongoing research at academic ‘‘In the last few years,
centers, non-profit and commercial organisations. investment capital has begun
A few advanced programmes are currently leading
the way to demonstrate significant benefits for to flow to for-profit ventures
patients and value for investors. Most psychedelic that were formed with the
companies are not in a position of producing revenue
as they are engaging in clinical trials to prove that goal of developing psychedelic
the compounds work on specific ailments. Once drugs into approved
positive data is generated, big pharma is expected
to take notice followed by investment action, which therapeutics by advancing
has recently been the case with Tokyo-based Otsuka them along established
Pharmaceutical,’’ said Dr Bob Dagher, Chief Medical regulatory pathways.’’
Officer at Enveric Biosciences, USA. - James Lanthier,
CEO, Mindset Pharma, Canada
Enveric Biosciences is developing next-generation
mental health and oncology supportive care moment for psychedelic medicine, as it paved the way
treatments, along with a clinical discovery platform, for safe and legal treatment in the space.That being
leveraging psychedelic-derived molecules for the said, it is clear that there is interest from big pharma,
mind and synthetic cannabinoids for the body. however, we should expect gradual adoption as new
and positive research is published,’’ said Dr Dagher.
While the cannabis sector had a head-start,
both the healthcare industry, as well as the general Despite the promising early research into
population are now embracing psychedelics as psychedelic drugs, their regulatory status has meant
the next generation of mental health treatment, that big pharma had few incentives to undertake the
with growing acceptance and a change in public necessary research to develop psychedelic drugs into
perception. medicines. This along with the fact that the molecules
that are most advanced clinically like psilocybin are
‘‘In 2020, US’ Oregon passed Measure 109 – a non patentable.
ballot allowing regulated use of psilocybin in a
therapeutic setting. This served as a landmark “This makes those compounds less attractive
to big Pharma. Typically, big pharma will wait for
clinical evidence before entering into a partnership.

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PSYCHEDELICS DRUGS UNDER CLINICAL TRIAL

S. No Company Drug/Type Condition Phase
1 Multidisciplinary Association for MDMA Post traumatic stress disorder
2 Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), USA COMP36/ psilocybin (PTSD) III
3 Compass Pathways, UK psilocybin treatment-resistant depression
Usona Institute, USA major depressive disorder IIb
4 MDMA anorexia nervosa, binge eating II
MAPS, USA disorder and social anxiety in
5 LSD autistic adults II
6 MindMed, USA ketamine anxiety and cluster headaches
7 ketamine acute suicidal ideation and II
8 Seelos Therapeutics, USA psilocybin behavior (ASIB)
alcoholic relapse II
9 Awakn Life Sciences, Canada noribogaine alcohol use disorder
B. More, USA IIa/b
10 Cybin/psilocybin opioid abuse disorder II
11 DemeRx, USA ELE-Ket+ and ELE-Psilo+infusion therapies using Ketamine Phase I
12 and Psilocybin, major depressive disorder complete.
13 Cybin, Canada PEX010/psilocybin to start ph II
14 DMA-facilitated cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) major depressive disorder II
15 Eleusis, UK psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy
16 GH001, an inhalable version of 5-MeO-DMT, persistent depressive disorder II
17 Filament Health, Canada DMT. PTSD in couples
18 MAPS, USA DMX-1002/ibogaine PTSD II
19 Mydecine, USA 18-MC, an ibogaine chronic depression II
20 GH Research, Ireland PCN-101, an arketamine infusion depression II
21 Small Pharma, Canada psilocybin opioid use disorder Phase 1/2
22 DemeRx, USA NYPRG-101 a non-hallucinogenic analog of LSD addiction disorder Phase 1/2a
23 MindMed, USA SYNP-101, a synthetic form of psilocybin Phase 1/2a
24 Perception Neurosciences, USA ELE-LSD ronic short-lasting unilateral I
n AP-188, a sub-hallucinogenic formulation of DMT neuralgiform headache attacks I
25 Beckley Psytech, UK migraine and cluster headaches
26 DMT migraine,cluster headaches and I
Ceruvia Lifesciences, USA Ayahuasca obsessive-compulsive disorder
neurodegenerative diseases I
Ceruvia Lifesciences, USA
stroke I
Eleusis, UK
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc., substance use disorders I
Canada
Entheon Biomedical Corp., safety of ayahuasca tea I
Canada
Sacred Medicines, USA I

phase1a

Source: Compiled from companies’ news reports, Yahoo finance and Psilocybin Alpha

The patent protected second generation molecules, (psilocybin and MDMA are unpatentable). So, it
such as ours at Bright Minds, have yet to reach is difficult to understand the pharmacoeconomic
those milestones. However, big pharma is on the model that leads to profitability. I think it will be the
sidelines and have started to dip their toes in. arrival of better tailored NCE molecules, designed
Expect this to accelerate as more clinical data comes for purpose, with safety and efficacy, convenience
in,’’ said Josh Blacher, Vice President, Corporate and most importantly patent exclusivity and which
Development, Bright Minds Biosciences, a Canadian ultimately can be priced so as to be ROI positive that
biotech company that engages in the development will make Big Pharma pay attention.’’
of serotonergic therapeutics to treat mental health
disorders. The regulatory system for psychedelics is still
patchy and most of these compounds are restricted
“I think there is still a bit too much risk in the to use and classified as controlled substances but
delivery and economics” said Dr Bryson. the USFDA and other regulatory agencies around
the world are working towards creating a strong
He added, ‘‘Today, therapy is a modern version regulatory network.
of traditional shamanistic practices, with guided
sessions to achieve drug-induced introspection a Psychedelic medicines offer a promising new
catalyst for therapy sessions. This delivery model is treatment paradigm and will open a new frontier in
still in its infancy. In addition, very durable outcomes mental health treatment.
appear to be achievable with “generic” molecules
Ayesha Siddiqui

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AGILEX STAFF

This year, we at Agilex Biolabs celebrate A Reflection on
our 25th year supporting Biotechs’ drug 25 Years Well Spent:
development programs as they champion Building Our Reputation
safe and effective therapeutics through as Australia’s Premier
preclinical and clinical testing to bring relief Bioanalytical and
to patient populations around the globe. Toxicology Provider
This rewarding journey has allowed us to
refine our expertise and establish a deep A winding journey from
and rich well of experience to draw from as academia to industry partner
we provide our clients with critical regulated
bioanalytical methods and toxicology studies In 1996, at the University of South Australia
for even the trickiest of novel drug candidates there was a research lab, and in that lab were some
and biomarkers. Together we appreciate and of the brightest bioanalytical chemists in Australia.
reflect on our first quarter century as we set In addition to academic pursuits, their expertise
our sights on what lies ahead. was sought after by pharmaceutical companies
hoping to understand the pharmacokinetic (PK) and
“If you would have told me back in 1996 pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of their products
this group of driven academics at University of and meet ever-tightening safety criteria established
South Australia would become the 150-person by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the
regulated bioanalytical powerhouse Agilex United States, and other regulatory bodies around
Biolabs has become…, I dare say I would have the world. Out of this symbiotic relationship between
believed you. We are so fortunate to have the University academics and industry, the Center
such talented scientists dedicated to scientific for Pharmaceutical Research (CPR) was born. CPR
excellence and the spirit of relentless problem- was a first-in-class clinical trial contract research
solving— success follows passion. Having organization (CRO) and bioanalytical laboratory. Drug
been with this incredible team every step of developers around the globe could depend on CPR
the way, I am proud to celebrate our 25th to conduct their early phase clinical trials, develop
anniversary and reflect on everything we have regulated methods for bioanalysis, and process the
achieved. I look forward to a bright future; our samples in house.
mission is to deliver bioanalytical excellence
and defendable toxicology data you can rely
on, over the next 25 years and beyond.’’

- Jason Valentine, CEO

34 PARTNER VOICE

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Jason Valentine in the lab with the Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall the pharmaceutical companies who held so much
of the world’s hope for a cure. We invested over
Soon our status rose to the attention of the world’s $3.5 million in a 30% capacity increase to bolster
leading regulatory agencies. In 2011, we welcomed our support: more instruments, new technology,
the FDA for an on-site audit, and steadily built increased headcount, and additional laboratory
support relationships not only with drug developers space. We were able to add top talent from all over
in Australia but all over the world, including United the world and establish a full suite of services for
States, Asia-Pacific, and European regions. regulated bioanalysis. To our fleet of Sciex API 4000
LC-MS/MS systems we added: Sciex API 6500+™
After two decades of operating together, the LC-MS/MS technology; Gyrolab™ Xplore; Luminex
regulated bioanalytical division of the business MAGPIX xPONENT™; MSD Quickplex 120; and
separated so clients conducting nonclinical studies BD FACSymphony™ A3 20 colour flow cytometry
and clinical trials outside of CPR could work with analysers.
the bioanalytical experts. We decided to establish a
fully independent bioanalytical laboratory with room The pandemic introduced new challenges and
to grow and establish direct relationships with the highlighted inefficiencies in international relationships
clients along with global and local clinical CROs. and communication. In response, the Agilex
Biolabs team launched the world’s first bioanalytics
After two decades of operating together, the client portal. GALEXITM enables secure and
bioanalytical half of the business was separated so enhanced communications, allowing real-time study
clients conducting nonclinical studies and clinical management and transparency across time zones so
trials outside of CPR could work with the bioanalytical international clients can access information exactly
experts. We decided to establish a fully independent when they need it and avoid delays that tend to
bioanalytical laboratory with room to grow and accumulate with traditional means of collaboration.
establish direct relationships with the clients along
with global and local clinical CROs. In 2020, toxicology studies were added to our
arsenal with the acquisition of TetraQ’s NATA-
Agilex Biolabs Expansive growth accredited, GLP-compliant toxicology facility from
the University of Queensland. Nonclinical studies are
Thus, 2019 marked the genesis of a new critical in evaluating a drug candidate’s safety profile
identity—Agilex Biolabs, the first laboratory in and suitability for FIH studies, and now our clients
South Australia focused on providing quality can avoid the time and administrative investment
bioanalytical support for drug sponsors aimed at of coordinating tox work and bioanalytical support
market approval. With a new, independent status between separate providers along with taking
and a focused mission, Agilex Biolabs blossomed. advantage of the Australian 43.5% R&D tax incentive.
Equipped with the full complement of top-of-the-
line bioanalytical tools and a fast-growing team of We are committed to evolving our support to
experienced scientists, we set out on our path to address growing areas of therapeutic research and
become Australia’s number one partner for trusted accommodate up-and-coming modalities so that
bioanalytical excellence. our clients can continue to rely on us for different
types of novel therapeutics and biomarkers, from
In 2019, when the global COVID-19 pandemic small molecule to large. Last year, The Premier of
struck, we doubled down on our commitment to South Australia launched our $1.5m Vaccine and
Immunobiology state-of-the-art laboratory. This new
laboratory focuses on new and emerging areas of
biotherapeutic modalities, including RNA vaccines,
siRNA/miRNA clinical targets, and gene therapy.

The powerhouse lab we have become

Agilex Biolabs now stands tall as Australia’s
largest and most technologically advanced regulated
bioanalytical laboratory for clinical trials.

Our recent additions of toxicology study capabilities
and cell and gene therapy analytical techniques
have us poised to accelerate our growth as a trusted
partner to drug developers worldwide as more and
more sponsors turn to Australia as their First-in-

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“When I think about Agilex Biolabs’ 25 years
as a company, this team—the people I work
with every day—have laid down a legacy,” says
Holly Stefl, Vice President at Agilex Biolabs.
“There is so much value in the collective
experience of our scientists. They have worked
on therapies that have gone on to change
patients’ and their families’ lives. Agilex Biolabs
scientists don’t balk at the challenge of new
modalities and difficult matrices, adaptation
and growth are really where they thrive. I am
so proud to be a part of this incredible group
and I can’t wait to see what our future holds.”

- Holly Stefl

Vice President of Business Development at
Agilex Biolabs

The Premier of South Australia launched Agilex Biolabs $1.5m Vaccine and Immunobiology state-of-the-art laboratory.

Human clinical trial destination for new molecular acquire Agilex Biolabs.  With Healius by our side, we
entities (NMEs) and novel vaccines. Unique to will set our sights and align our resources to provide
Australia is a remarkably efficient regulatory pathway reliable, high-quality support to the biopharma
to FIH studies and the Research and Development industry as they broach new frontiers with safe and
(R&D) Tax Scheme, which encourages international effective therapeutics. Healius’ network of pathology,
biotechnology companies to conduct their studies in diagnostic imaging, and other healthcare entities are
Australia by offering a 43.5% cash rebate. aligned in our mission to improve health outcomes
with quality support services.
The Agilex Biolabs team is primarily comprised
of scientists (85% of our headcount!), and alongside With all the additions to our team and service
our dedicated management and support staff, we offerings, we’ve outgrown the current digs. Our
are proud to carry the reputation we’ve earned Adelaide headquarters will soon be doubling in size
as Australia’s premier partner for biopharma. Our with the addition of a second building. This campus
growing experience spans nearly a thousand studies is set to become the bioanalytical crown jewel of
so far: nonclinical and clinical, proprietary compounds Australia, with dedicated buildings and teams for
and biomarkers, GLP and non-GLP, large and small large and small molecule projects.
molecules, with top biopharma clients in the USA,
APAC, and EU. We anticipate that this is the first of many
additions for our Adelaide facility as we continue to
What’s next for the team at Agilex Biolabs expand and add capabilities to best serve Australia’s
growing life sciences sector and our international
As we enter into 2022, we are excited to move biopharma clientele. Our Brisbane campus is set to
forward in lockstep with our new parent company. expand also, increasing our animal study capacity
In late 2021 Healius entered into an agreement to 500% by the end of 2022.

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How Efficacious are
Digitalised Supply Chains?

Situated at the confluence of major trade routes with $3.4 trillion of global trade passing through
each year, Southeast Asia (SEA) has been a focal point for cooperation and tensions among regional
and global powers. The region had a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion in 2019, making it the fifth-largest
economy in the world. While favorable factors present myriad opportunities for businesses to
expand their manufacturing operations in SEA, gaps must be addressed to help build resilient supply
chains that can withstand unexpected disruptions.

In the face of the pandemic, the vulnerabilities helped to boost the growth of its manufacturing and
of traditional supply chains were exposed, with service sectors.
certain critical industries being caught off guard.
A recent Ernst & Young (EY) study report, ‘Investing At the same time, Industry 4.0 is transforming
in Southeast Asia: Reimagining manufacturing and how entities optimise their manufacturing processes.
supply chains’, revealed that with the manufacturing Manufacturers in SEA are leveraging digital
sector looking to be the growth driver for SEA post- technologies such as advanced manufacturing
pandemic, companies in the region need to reimagine methods, human-machine interaction, advanced
and optimise their supply chains. analytics, and intelligence to overcome low
productivity concerns and further strengthen their
“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations position as “factories of the world”.
(ASEAN) Economic Community, or AEC, has been
integral to such growth and greater intra-ASEAN While the traditional approach saw companies
collaboration. Multiple free trade agreements tapping on the just-in-time methodology to optimise
between SEA nations, along with loosening tariffs their supply chain through reduction of inventory and
in the region, attract cross-border trade. Initiatives work-in-process, organisations are under pressure
such as the Southeast Asia Manufacturing Alliance to redesign their supply chain with a focus on
and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership responsiveness, reconfiguration, and resilience.
connect companies with a network of trusted
partners to navigate and grow in the diverse region “While dependence on a single source of supply
with confidence”, explains the EY report. enhances reliability, it hampers flexibility. As we all
observed in the past 22 months, the pandemic and
Among many, some sectors like health care trade tensions globally have forced companies to
equipment, electronic manufacturing services (EMS), identify alternative, lower risk and local suppliers
agri-tech, and consumer goods are expected to see for diversification. Proximity to consumers will also
strong growth in the post-pandemic era. Further, result in faster time to market, lower logistics costs,
SEA is enjoying strong growth in telehealth, digital and allow companies to better adapt to local demand”
therapeutics, diagnostics, remote patient monitoring, explains Atul Chandna, EY Asia-Pacific Supply Chain
and analytics. Countries like Singapore are among the Leader.
fastest-growing innovative production hubs of this
sector. A favourable business environment, strong “With evident cracks in the just-in-time model,
intellectual property laws, an expansive research reverting to the just-in-case model for critical
network, and incentives provide conducive reasons components is the obvious solution. While companies
for companies to pursue new opportunities in the look to reconfigure their production and supply
country and region. processes to prevent any supply shocks, they should
strive for a balance between just-in-time and just-
Transforming global supply chain environment in-case models by maintaining inventory levels for
components that do not have a diverse source or are
According to the EY report, despite a contraction critical in keeping the supply chain running, even in
in the real GDP of SEA in 2020, the International disruptions” adds Atul Chandna.
Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the region’s growth
to remain at 3-5 per cent in 2021–25. Notably, the For companies that are rethinking their regional
region’s growing trade and strong fiscal policies have supply chain strategies, they must consider eight
critical factors – namely, customer collaboration and
order fulfilment; regional trade and tax value chain

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optimisation; footprint, assets, and investments; “The attractiveness of Southeast
supply chain visibility, intelligence, and traceability; Asia predates the pandemic
product innovation; supply chain resiliency and global geopolitical
and sustainability at different stages; workforce disputes that have disrupted
restructuring and upskilling; and digital enablement. the business landscape. The

Regulatory boost supports manufacturers growing consumer population,
broad talent pool, government
The EY report also highlighted regulatory
incentives and initiatives to support manufacturers support and availability of
to set up operations in SEA. For example, Singapore free trade agreements make
has invested in port infrastructure and terminal Southeast Asia a desired region
development through the new Tuas port, which will for expansion of manufacturing
ramp up the country’s cargo capacity and improve and supply chain capabilities.”
productivity to support the supply chain in the
region. - Atul Chandna,
Asia-Pacific Supply Chain Leader and Partner,
Similarly, Vietnam has a seaport master
plan for 2021-2030 to enhance infrastructure Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, Singapore
connectivity, reduce logistics costs and promote
marine economic development, while Malaysia’s agritech, are expected to see the strongest growth.
Industry4WRD National Policy on Industry 4.0 will Between 2015 and 2020, the consumer goods
support the adoption of digital technologies in the
manufacturing and related services sectors. Other and health care equipment saw a compound annual
regulatory interventions to improve the supply chain growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9 per cent and 7.8 per cent
include free trade agreements such as the Regional respectively, and are forecast to see a CAGR of 7.6
Comprehensive Economic Partnership to facilitate per cent and 9.0 per cent between 2020 and 2025.
trade and reduce tariffs. The electronic manufacturing services sub-sector
is expected to see a CAGR of 5.0 per cent while
Citing the example of the Singapore+ Model, an agritech is expected to grow at a rapid pace given
initiative by the Singapore Economic Development the increased focus on healthy food options and
Board, Enterprise Singapore, and private sector sustainability, says the EY report.
companies to position Southeast Asia as a gateway
for manufacturing, Chandna says, “Business Governments in SEA continue to reform legal
can combine the synergistic advantages of dual and trade frameworks to improve the ease of doing
locations in SEA with the ‘SG + 1’ twinning model, business while investing in infrastructure and
tapping on Singapore as a hub for innovation and sophisticated manufacturing capabilities. Incentives
corporate activities, while being a short flight away such as tax holidays and cash grants are also
to manufacturing locations. Such arrangements available for companies seeking to relocate their
can help manufacturers build a more resilient manufacturing or supply chain hubs to SEA.
and efficient supply chain by leveraging the
complementary strengths of the SEA nations.” Other favourable factors include technological
advancements and their rapid adoption,
Potential growth areas continuous improvement to provide state-of-the-
art infrastructure facilities and development of a
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into sharing-based economic model. Together, these
ASEAN have taken a hit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 make SEA an attractive location for expanding
pandemic, with manufacturing being the biggest manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.
contributor to the decline, falling by 55 per cent from
$49 billion in 2019 to $22 billion in 2020, according “With its geographic, regulatory, economic and
to the ASEAN Investment Report 2021 by ASEAN demographic advantages, SEA offers favourable
Secretariat and UNCTAD. opportunities for manufacturers expanding into the
region. However, they must be mindful of pitfalls
However, the EY report found that the region as they navigate the diverse market and redesign
is poised for recovery, with manufacturing being their supply chains for resilience against unexpected
a driver for post-pandemic growth. Within the disruptions. Incorporating advanced digital
manufacturing sector, the consumer goods and health capabilities into the supply chain is also critical
care equipment segments, together with the emerging to address shifts in the marketplace with agility”,
sub-sectors of electronic manufacturing services and concludes EY report.

Hithaishi C Bhaskar
[email protected]

38 SPEAKING WITH

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

“Our COVID-19 Vax Efficacy
is Promising; Lyme disease &
Chikungunya Shots in pipeline”

« whole virus particles of SARS-CoV-2 with high
S-protein density, in combination with two
Dr Juan adjuvants, alum and CpG 1018.
Carlos Jaramillo,
Chief Medical Officer, What’s the technology being deployed?
Valneva
We have successfully developed and manufactured
Headquartered in France, Valneva, is an another inactivated vaccine – our FDA/EMA-
established European specialty vaccine approved Japanese encephalitis vaccine – and
company that has already commercialised we have leveraged the manufacturing technology
the Japanese encephalitis vaccine IXIARO/ used for that vaccine to produce our inactivated
JESPECT and the oral cholera vaccine DUKORAL. COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001. Inactivated
It has recently developed VLA2001, a COVID-19 vaccines are a well-established technology that
vaccine that stimulates an immune response has been used over the last 70 years to vaccinate
to target the entire virus, rather than just its billions of people – for seasonal flu, polio, and
spike proteins. With such claims, VLA2001 rabies. In an inactivated vaccine, the virus is
could become the top-choice as booster shot for killed but the whole virus envelope is preserved
Asian countries, in addition to providing overall so compared to vaccines targeting only the spike
protection as the primary two-dose schedule. protein, inactivated vaccines have the potential
BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Dr Juan Carlos to provide an added benefit by boosting T-cell
Jaramillo, Chief Medical Officer, Valneva to find responses against additional SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
out more about the new vaccine.
Edited excerpts; We reported positive Phase 3 results for
VLA2001 demonstrating that our COVID-19
What are the unique highlights of the vaccine candidate induced broad T-cell
COVID-19 vaccine- VLA2001 under trial? responses against multiple viral proteins (S, N
and M proteins) while showing a significantly
While different companies have taken various better tolerability profile compared to an EMA-
approaches to developing vaccines against approved COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, our
COVID-19, such as using viral vectors and first homologous booster data showed that a third
mRNA, we have developed a whole virus, dose of VLA2001 significantly boosted immunity
inactivated, adjuvanted vaccine. VLA2001 in participants who had received two doses of
is the only inactivated, adjuvanted, whole VLA2001 as primary vaccination; and in January
virus COVID-19 vaccine candidate in clinical 2022, laboratory studies confirmed VLA2001’s
development in Europe. It is produced on ability to neutralise the Omicron and Delta variants
Valneva’s established Vero-cell platform, and its potential for broad-spectrum protection
leveraging the manufacturing technology for with 100 per cent of tested serum samples
Valneva’s licensed Japanese encephalitis vaccine. presenting neutralising antibodies against the Delta
Furthermore, the vaccine consists of inactivated variant and 87 per cent against the Omicron variant
(B.1.1.529 lineage).

When do you plan to launch the vaccine in
the market, and which countries are you
targeting?

Valneva believes its inactivated vaccine can
make a significant contribution to the ongoing

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BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

fight against the pandemic and is pursuing We are making significant developments
opportunities to provide VLA2001 in different and recently reported further positive
markets, subject to regulatory approval. Phase 2 data for our Lyme disease
vaccine candidate, VLA15, as we look to
Following positive Phase 3 trial results for proceed with a three-dose primary series
VLA2001, Valneva remains focused on achieving vaccination schedule in a planned Phase
regulatory approvals; reviews are underway with 3 clinical trial in the third quarter this year.
the EU’s EMA, UK’s MHRA, and Bahrain’s NHRA. For our single-shot chikungunya vaccine
So far, we have signed an Advance Purchase candidate, VLA1553, following positive
Agreement with the European Commission to Phase 3 results in adults, we initiated
supply up to 60 million doses of VLA2001 over Phase 3 trial in adolescents to support the
two years; and with the Kingdom of Bahrain to label extension in this age group.
supply one million doses.
one in clinical development worldwide and our
Do you foresee any regulatory challenges? chikungunya vaccine candidate is the only one
that has demonstrated efficacy and safety in Phase
Regulation is essential to determine whether a 3 trials.
product is effective, safe, and patient-centred.
At Valneva, we produce our solutions with the We are also making significant developments
highest quality and standards and will continue and recently reported further positive Phase 2
to work closely with governments and regulatory data for our Lyme disease vaccine candidate,
bodies to ensure that VLA2001 is effective and VLA15, as we look to proceed with a three-dose
safe for all to use. primary series vaccination schedule in a planned
Phase 3 clinical trial in the third quarter this year.
What are the specific plans of launching
the vaccine in the Asian market? For our single-shot chikungunya vaccine
candidate, VLA1553, following positive Phase
Discussions with potential customers are 3 results in adults, we initiated Phase 3 trial in
commercially sensitive and so we cannot adolescents to support the label extension in this
comment on those. However, following age group following a potential initial regulatory
VLA2001’s positive Phase 3 trial results, Valneva approval in adults from the US Food and Drugs
remains focused on securing regulatory approvals Administration (FDA). It is also expected to
and providing VLA2001 in different markets as support licensure of the vaccine in Brazil, which
we believe that everyone should have access to would be the first potential approval for use in
the technology best suited to protect themselves endemic populations.
against the virus.
What are your views on the COVID-19
How could VLA2001 be a top-choice vaccine wastage, and how can that be
booster shot for Asian countries, in addressed?
addition to providing overall protection as
the primary two-dose schedule? Unfortunately, millions of vaccines have been
discarded, lost, damaged, or destroyed. A certain
The duration of protection induced by current amount of waste is expected and is something
vaccines suggest that repeated doses will be that is beyond anyone’s control, such as spillage,
needed to maintain higher levels of antibodies. expiration and global supply chain constraints.
Valneva’s first positive homologous booster
data showed excellent immune response after VLA2001 is expected to have a two-dose
administration of a VLA2001 booster dose seven regimen and conform with standard cold chain
to eight months after the second dose of primary requirements (2 degrees to 8 degrees centigrade),
vaccination. Valneva also launched a booster making it easier to store and distribute.
extension to its Phase 3 study which is intended to Ultimately, Valneva’s goal is to get as many people
provide both homologous and first heterologous vaccinated as possible so that they have the
booster data. necessary protection against COVID-19.

Are you planning to develop more Dr Manbeena Chawla
vaccines for infectious diseases in the [email protected]
future? If yes, what are the launch plans?

Valneva’s Lyme disease programme is the only

40 SPEAKING WITH

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

“Innovations in APAC have become
cornerstone of future development of IVD”

« libraries down to a small number of candidates, which are
then characterised on low-throughput biosensors. The
Kyon SoonPil, Carterra LSA platform turns that model on its head by
Vice President and allowing the rapid & high-resolution characterisation of
General Manager, entire antibody libraries for binding kinetics & epitope,
PerkinElmer, Korea, thereby combining screening and characterisation into
Oceania, South one step. This saves significant time, money, & precious
East Asia + Japan, samples. It also reduces the risk of missing a potential
(KOSEA+J) blockbuster candidate.

PerkinElmer has made a number of acquisitions How are you strategising investments to
in life sciences and diagnostics as well as R&D
investments with accelerated innovation across accelerate collaborations in APAC?
the board. In 2021, PerkinElmer also ramped-up
focus on technological innovations around SARS- PerkinElmer Ventures (PKV), an industrial fund set
CoV-2 diagnostics, including PCR test kits. The pace up by PerkinElmer, is focused on investment in life
of regulatory changes, cross-border transactions sciences and healthcare industries. In 2021, PKV made
and restrictions on people mobility have accelerated investments in four life sciences and IVD companies
PerkinElmer’s efforts on digitisation internally and in China that see high potential in the next generation
externally, especially in the APAC biotechnology sector. biotechnology in clinical and medical applications,
Kyon SoonPil, Vice President and General Manager and lab automation. In China, as well as the rest of
of PerkinElmer, Korea, Oceania, South East Asia + APAC, innovation capabilities have increasingly
Japan, (KOSEA+J) shares further insights on the become the cornerstone of future development of
accomplishments in the COVID era. Edited excerpts; IVD and life sciences companies. By investing or
setting up strategic cooperation with these innovative
Could you shed light on PerkinElmer’s latest companies, PerkinElmer is better positioned to seize
venture at digitally accelerating therapeutic opportunities and serve customer needs.
antibodies discovery in APAC and Oceania?
What’s been the impact of COVID-19?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
strategies are propagating quickly in the antibody PerkinElmer continued to deliver record results in 2021.
discovery space. The digital design of thousands of The company’s reported GAAP revenue for 2021 was
antibodies is the perfect proof point for a platform $5.067 billion, as compared to $3.783 billion in 2020.
like the Carterra LSA that enables the rapid discovery GAAP operating income from continuing operations
and characterisation of antibodies in this digital for the year was $1,332 million, as compared to $979
age to empower scientists to speed up & optimise million in 2020. GAAP operating profit margin was 26.3
their drug discovery workflows. PerkinElmer has per cent as a percentage of revenue, as compared to 25.9
entered into an exclusive APAC and Oceania region per cent in 2020. Despite unprecedented challenges,
distribution agreement with Carterra, under which we have learned a lot from the pandemic and area
PerkinElmer markets, sells, & services Carterra’s LSA emerging faster, stronger and more resilient than ever.
high-throughput surface plasmon resonance (SPR) 2021 was another year seeing positive transformation
platform & software used for accelerating the discovery for the company, which we accomplished through
of therapeutic antibodies. We couldn’t be more pleased agility, teamwork and perseverance. Thanks to these
with the opportunity to promote the platform throughout efforts, I believe we are better positioned than ever to
the region as the only way to characterise full libraries serve as a trusted, strategic partner of choice for our
of antibodies. Traditional antibody discovery relies on customers, while ensuring we create an inspiring and
low-resolution screening techniques to triage antibody engaging place to work for our employees.

In 2022, our acquisitions and innovations will help
the team better serve customers with new solutions and
expertise from the broader PerkinElmer portfolio.

Hithaishi C Bhaskar
[email protected]

SPEAKING WITH 41

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

“We are expanding

our capacity across Asia”

The life science company Sartorius, through its «
subgroup Sartorius Stedim Biotech, acquired
cell culture specialist Xell AG headquartered in Jean-Marc Cappia,
Germany, in 2021. To discuss the latest developments Head of Cell Line,
in the company following this acquisition, Media & Testing
BioSpectrum spoke to Jean-Marc Cappia (J-MC), Solutions, Sartorius
Head of Cell Line, Media & Testing Solutions, and
Stefan Northoff (SN), Head of Product Development
for Cell Culture Media, Cell Lines & Testing
Solutions, both at Sartorius. Edited excerpts;

Are there any changes/new trends to be to grow and expand production globally, including
establishing new production sites in Germany, Puerto
seen within the bio-supply market that the Rico, Israel, and South Korea. Additionally, there is
a growing requirement for greater control over raw
company would be leveraging? materials. To address these concerns - as well as
creating a more robust and higher performing product
J-MC: The main trends across the industry are in - we are developing leaner formulations with fewer
gene therapeutics, and there has been huge progress components, contributing to reduced risk and more
in the market within the last three years. Xell has secure access to the necessary raw materials.
been developing solutions for HEK293 cell culture to
support these special applications for over a decade Are you planning to launch any new products
and - now with Sartorius - can offer high-performing this year, or any other major announcement
HEK293 media and suspension adaptation services is likely?
to maximise titers and overall production efficiency.
SN: Xell has always been a leading innovator in the
If we switch gears and look at the trends from a field of cell culture media, and with Sartorius, we
supplier perspective, a significant business driver is intend to keep up this pace. With the integration of
an increasing need for assurance of supply, influenced Xell into the Sartorius Group, we will have a diverse
by the availability and tight control of raw materials. portfolio of products and services available through
The high production capacity of Sartorius allows us
to offer customers a more secure supply chain and a
greater variety of products. Sartorius is also continuing

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‘‘Xell has always been a scale up production to five-ton batches.
leading innovator in the field
How has the company performed during FY
of cell culture media, and 2021-22, globally and in India?
with Sartorius, we intend to
keep up this pace. With the J-MC: Both Xell and Sartorius experienced an
extraordinary 50 per cent growth in 2021. This
integration of Xell into the significant expansion was driven by the protein-
Sartorius Group, we will have based therapy, gene therapy, and vaccine industries.
a diverse portfolio of products The biggest increase within Xell’s cell culture media
and services available through portfolio was in the uptake of off-the-shelf media, and
the Sartorius portfolio in India the majority of this growth came from our CHO and
HEK293 products. Our service offering, including
by the end of the year.’’ bioanalytics, media development, and other cell
- Stefan Northoff, culture-related services such as spent media analysis,
also contributed to our double-digit growth.
Head of Product Development for Cell Culture
Media, Cell Lines & Testing Solutions, Sartorius SN: In India, Xell´s business area is relatively
new and has primarily developed from 2019 onwards.
the Sartorius portfolio in India by the end of the However, India’s thriving vaccine industry gave us the
year. This year we are launching a full range of media opportunity to contribute our products and services
to complete our CHO offering and cover all CHO to COVID-19 vaccine production processes. This
DG44, CHO K, CHO S, CHO GS applications. These accelerated our growth across the region in the last
products will be available through the Sartorius year, as vaccine production transitioned from pilot
portfolio in India by the end of the year. This launch runs to larger-scale manufacturing within 2021.
is combined with our latest cell line development
platform (CLD), which speeds up the timeline from What’s in store for the Indian market in 2022?
14 weeks to 9 weeks. We have also launched a full
range of HEK293 media to a total of four types to J-MC: As part of the Sartorius Group, Xell has been
cover gene therapy, gene-modified cell therapy, able to increase production capacity, allowing us to
and viral vaccine applications, as well as a selection better serve our customers in the Indian market in
kit that allows customers to trial and evaluate our 2022 and beyond. Our initial focus is on bringing the
products. Of particular interest to the Indian market, HEK portfolio to North America and Europe. But by
we will also introduce Vero powder media to continue the end of 2022, the integration of all Xell products
our support for the vaccine industry. We will also into the Sartorius portfolio will be complete, meaning
launch a GMP version of our Nutri-T media for T-cell that the Indian market will be fully supported by the
applications in gene-modified cell therapies to further Sartorius team.
enrich our portfolio. Finally, we aim to increase our
service offering this year by establishing new media SN: We are currently increasing the production of
services, including media development, spent media both powder and liquid media. Systems are in place
analysis, and media shelf-life studies. to boost our powder production capacity from 250
kg to 1 tonne in the short term and 5 tonne in the
How does the company plan to strengthen future, and we are now growing our workforce and
‘technology and automation’ in the long run? carrying out validation works. We will increase our
liquid production capacity in 2022 to 220k L. Further
SN: The Sartorius and Xell portfolios integrate developments will come later in the year, with
seamlessly to maximise and leverage advanced products available in 2023.
technology. Harnessing technology & automation will
be essential as we improve our production capabilities J-MC: Finally, we are expanding our capacity
and diversify our portfolio. We are currently across Asia, including the development of a new
establishing new methods, hiring more data scientists, cell culture media production facility in Songdo,
& finding software solutions for better data mining. South Korea. Having this additional site for media
production will help secure the supply of CHO,
J-MC: Sartorius cell cultivation platforms such HEK, Vero, and MDCK media to our customers.
as Ambr are automated, high-throughput tools The location of this additional site also improves our
that allow us to innovate and develop new media, production network in Asia and allows us to secure our
including providing custom-media development distribution channels across the Indian market.
services for our customers. As well as diversifying our
offering, we will certainly rely on automation as we Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

PEOPLE NEWS 43

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com Solve.Care

India’s vaccine makers to appoints
receive Padma Bhushan for 2022
Dr Uhn Lee
Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman of Poonawalla Group which includes
Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by as President
number of doses produced and sold globally, has been conferred with Padma
Bhushan award for 2022 for the work on COVID-19 vaccine- Covishield. for Korea
In 1966, Dr Poonawalla founded SII which launched its first therapeutic
anti-tetanus serum within two years, and began producing anti-tetanus Solve.Care, the Estonia-based
healthcare platform company
vaccines. Since then, Dr Poonawalla has that utilises blockchain
contributed immensely towards the field to streamline the way
of vaccines in India. Alongside, Bharat healthcare is delivered and
Biotech’s Dr Krishna Ella (Chairman & managed, has announced the
Managing Director) and Suchitra Ella appointment of Dr Uhn Lee
(Joint Managing Director) will also as the company’s president
be receiving the prestigious Padma in Korea. Dr Lee has more
Bhushan award for tirelessly working than 35 years of experience
on developing India’s first indigenous as a neurosurgeon. He
COVID-19 vaccine- Covaxin. Under currently practices at Gachon
Dr Ella’s leadership, Bharat Biotech University, Gil Medical
has grown to become a global leader in Center. Specialising in
innovative vaccine. These awards will Artificial Intelligence (AI)
be conferred by the President of India at and the future of healthcare,
ceremonial functions which are held at Dr Lee is also Director of
Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. This year the AI Healthcare Platform
President has approved conferment of 128 Padma Awards. Padma Awards Research Lab at Gachon
- one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three University, as well as
categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Chairman of the Metaverse
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Doctors Alliance. Prior to this
‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ appointment, he served as
for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the an advisory board member
occasion of Republic Day every year. to Solve.Care. Apart from
managing the operations
TriNetX names Shogo Wakabayashi and expansion of the Solve.
as Japan Country Manager Care presence in Korea, Dr
Lee’s main responsibilities
TriNetX, the global network of healthcare organisations driving real- will be to oversee the
world research to accelerate the development of new therapies, has creation and launch of Care
announced that Shogo Wakabayashi has joined the Networks for the Korean
company as Country Manager for Japan. Wakabayashi, and Asian market. He will
a business leader with extensive global experience also build partnerships with
bringing new offerings to market, will be focused on government agencies and
expanding the TriNetX network among healthcare entities in the healthcare
organisations in Japan. Wakabayashi has succeeded sector such as hospitals,
in senior-level positions with Philips Japan and with a pharmacies, insurance and
Japanese IoT startup. As the Senior Programme Manager device companies.
for Connected Care Informatics with Philips, he led the
company’s launch of its EHR business in Japan, as the
first foreign EHR to enter the world’s second largest EHR market. He also
successfully delivered multiple new businesses in Online-Merge-Offline
(OMO) commerce as a hands-on consultant at Nomura Research Institute.

44 PEOPLE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

OBITUARY PharmaBlock picks
Dr Zhengtian Gu as Sr VP of
Pioneer of palliative Quality & Regulatory Affairs
care in Singapore
passes away PharmaBlock, based in China, has announced the
appointment of Dr Zhengtian Gu as Senior Vice President
Dr Cynthia Goh, an Emeritus Consultant in (VP) of Quality and Regulatory Affairs, responsible for
the Division of Supportive & Palliative Care corporate quality management and regulatory affairs.
at the National Cancer Centre Singapore Dr Gu has more than 20 years
and Associate Professor at the Duke-NUS of R&D and management
Medical School, passed away recently experience in pharmaceutical
due to pancreatic cancer. She was an development. He has worked
accredited specialist in Internal Medicine at Proctor & Gamble, GSK, 3M,
and Palliative Medicine, and has a PhD in and Theravance Biopharma in
Molecular Biology. Dr Cynthia was one the fields of analytical chemistry
of the pioneers of hospice in Singapore, and drug metabolism and
starting as a volunteer at St Joseph’s Home pharmacokinetics. Prior to joining
in 1986. She was the Founding President PharmaBlock, Dr Gu served as
of the Hospice Care Association (now HCA Vice President of Analytical Development & Quality Control
Hospice Care). She was Medical Director at Theravance, spearheading critical efforts for new drug
of Assisi Hospice from 1994 to 1999. She development and management. He led the CMC team for
received the national award, the Public the Vibativ (Telavancin for injection) project from Phase II
Service Medal (PBM), in 1997 for her to regulatory approval and commercialization in US, EU,
contributions to hospice care in Singapore. Canada, Russia and other countries. Since 1998, Dr Gu
Dr Cynthia started the Department of has participated in or led over ten new drug development
Palliative Medicine at the National Cancer projects, with five of them achieved market approval.
Centre Singapore in 1999, the first in a
government re-structured hospital, and Dr Bijoyesh Mookerjee
headed it till 2011. This led to palliative steps in as CMO- Oncology
care services being established in all for Simcere Pharma
public sector hospitals in Singapore, and
Palliative Medicine to be recognised as China-based Simcere Pharmaceutical Group has announced
a medical subspecialty in Singapore in the appointment of Dr Bijoyesh Mookerjee as the Chief
2006. She helped establish the Chapter Medical Officer (CMO), Oncology, of the company. Dr
of Palliative Medicine at the College of Mookerjee will be responsible for Simcere’s oncology clinical
Physicians Singapore in 2011. She chaired pipeline strategy and development, enhancing the global
the Palliative Medicine Subspecialty research capability, as well as advancing the company’s
Training Committee of the Specialist international development. Dr Mookerjee brings over 30
Accreditation Board. years of oncology, clinical, and medical experience
in both academia and the biopharmaceutical
industry. Most recently, he was Vice President
& Senior Global Programme Clinical Head at
Novartis Oncology. Prior to this, he held the
role of Executive Director & Global Clinical
Programme Head at Novartis Oncology, where
he oversaw the clinical activities for multiple
cancer programmes during development,
franchising, regulatory submissions
and interactions, reviews, external
acquisitions, and partnerships.

R&D NEWS 45

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Japan discovers host Korea proposes
immune-dependent novel ultrasound
anti-coronavirus antibody stimulation
as effective
The National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and therapy for AD
Nutrition (NIBIOHN), in partnership with Shionogi & Co. in Japan,
has successfully identified a novel antiviral antibody for severe acute A viable treatment strategy for
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), its variants,
and closely associated coronavirus species. The newly identified Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) involves
antibody binds to virus spike
proteins displayed on the infected reducing abnormal protein
cell surface. The bound antibody
supports the immune response of accumulation in the brain with
infected individuals to attack the
infected cells via antibody-dependent gamma waves. However, studies
cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Unlike many other antibody drugs, validating its therapeutic effects
the newly identified antibody’s
binding site (epitope) resides in a using non-focused ultrasound
specific part of the spike structure
poorly susceptible to mutation. with gamma entrainment are
Therefore, the antibody reacts with
various virus variants, including the Omicron variant. Moreover, lacking. Now, scientists from the
because the epitope structure with few mutations is common among
many other related coronaviruses, the newly identified antiviral Gwangju Institute of Science and
antibody is expected to show efficacy against a broad spectrum of
coronaviruses, including potential variants in the future. In current Technology in South Korea have
clinical use, antibody cocktails and other neutralising antibodies
target individuals with mild infection. demonstrated reduced protein

accumulation in the brain by

synchronising brain waves to

external ultrasound pulses at

gamma frequency, opening doors

to a non-invasive therapy. Overall,

the promising results of this study

could pave the way to innovative,

non-invasive therapeutic

strategies for AD without side

effects, as well as help treat other

conditions besides AD.

Australia offers better outcomes for
new born cardio-respiratory health

Researchers at Monash University value in low to middle-income babies. This crucial information
in Australia have developed new countries where health resources can enable timely assessment
software which delivers advanced may be limited. The software will for signs of serious health risks,
sound quality of heart and lung be trialled in conjunction with new potentially improving neonatal
monitoring for preterm and full digital stethoscope hardware at survival and reducing long-term
term babies, and can be used by the Monash Children’s Hospital. morbidity risks.
parents at home. The software, It is expected to be available
used in conjunction with digital internationally from mid-year.
stethoscopes, delivers state-of- According to UNICEF, the neonatal
the-art screening and monitoring period is the most vulnerable
capability and more accurate time for a baby’s survival with 1.7
diagnosis of respiratory issues in per cent of live births resulting
our most vulnerable babies and in mortality. Stethoscope-
children. It can be used in hospitals recorded chest sounds contain
or at home and offers better important cardiac and respiratory
diagnosis and real-time monitoring information that informs clinicians
for babies. This is also of particular on the health status of new born

46 R&D NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

India identifies Singapore develops method for
COVID-19 RNA creating sulphur-based medicines
variations and
implications A key technical challenge in creating new sulphur-based medicines
has been overcome by scientists at Nanyang Technological University,
A multi-institutional team, co- Singapore (NTU Singapore), leading to the prospect of many new
led by the Indian Institute of therapeutic ‘weapons’ in the fight against disease and illness. Every
Technology (IIT) Jodhpur, has successful drug has a part of it that physically fits into the exact
used state-of-the-art genomic biochemical pathway it is trying to disrupt. This part of the drug is
sequencing methods to known as a ‘pharmacophore’ and generating new ones is a key goal in
identify variations in the RNA drug discovery. Sulphur-based pharmacophores are highly versatile
of the COVID-19 virus. The and seen as very promising to drug developers but are rare due to the
scientists have also studied challenges of synthesising them. Now, scientists at NTU Singapore
the fixation of these intra-host have designed a method to generate sulphur pharmacophores using
variations into extra-host a catalyst specially developed by the scientists themselves, known as
variations and mutations that pentanidium. Their method could be used to synthesise a broad range
lead to variants. The research of new pharmacophores that could be paired with different types of
team studied intra-host molecules to form new drugs. They also showed that the new sulphur
Single Nucleotide Variations pharmacophores could be used to modify and repurpose existing drugs,
(iSNV) using a sequencing potentially leading to new therapies.
platform called Illumina.
The identification of iSNVs Eastern Asia’s lung
can help in the identification cancer incidence, mortality
of key sites in the viral highest in world: Study
RNA that are important for
its survival and spread. It Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the most common cause of
also helps in the design of cancer death in Hong Kong. Researchers from The Chinese University
therapeutic protocols to treat of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) and the
COVID-19 infections, and Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) conducted a study to
to know the differences in
individual and population investigate the distribution, risk factors
responses to the infection. An and epidemiological trends of this lethal
important distinction of this disease. The results showed that the
research study is that it was incidence and mortality of lung cancer
conducted primarily by a team were the highest in Eastern Asia, and were
of computational graduates associated with the Human Development
from across distant locations, Index (HDI), Gross Domestic Product
proving that the pandemic has (GDP) and prevalence of smoking at
generated novel cooperation, a country level. There was an overall
sharing, and resource-sharing increasing trend in females but a decreasing
modes for innovative research. trend in males in lung cancer incidence
and mortality over the past decade. The researchers suggested tobacco-
related measures and early cancer detection for high-risk populations
should be implemented to control the rising numbers.

ACADEMICS NEWS 47

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

BBC collaborates with Cytiva for IISc to set up
bioprocessing training in India
Postgraduate
India-based Bangalore driving industry-academia
Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) linkages and eventually, Medical School
and Cytiva have agreed to work enhanced research. According
together to support the startup to the Cytiva Biopharma Indian Institute of Science
ecosystem and academia in Resilience Index, the talent (IISc) will be setting up a
the field of biopharmaceuticals pool is the weakest link in the Postgraduate Medical School
by providing a platform global biopharma industry. 65 along with a multi-speciality
for skill development and per cent of Indian respondents hospital in its Bengaluru
industry-oriented training in the Biopharma Resilience campus. The academic
in the field of bioprocessing Index say that sourcing talent centrepiece of this initiative
(upstream, downstream and in technology, manufacturing, will be an integrated dual
analytical characterisation). and R&D is a substantial degree MD-PhD programme
The collaboration aligns challenge. Thus, the demand aimed at creating a new breed
well in giving impetus to the for the collaboration is of physician-scientists. The
innovation ecosystem by expected to be high. key enabler of this endeavour
would be the not-for-profit,
Sydney University, 2U 800-bed multi-speciality
to offer online PG degrees hospital, catering to the
clinical training and research
Sydney University in Australia will offer postgraduate students activities of the academic
online Master’s degrees in high-demand fields such as data science programme. To construct the
and data analytics beginning February 2023, in partnership with hospital building, designed by
2U, the parent company of leading online education platform edX. Ahmedabad-based architects
Archi Medes (I) Consultants,
By offering high-quality online IISc inked a partnership with
degree programmes in these philanthropists Susmita and
fields, 2U and the University of Subroto Bagchi, and Radha and
Sydney will help expand access NS Parthasarathy. The couples
to these in-demand careers. will collectively donate Rs 425
Sydney University’s academics crore (equivalent to about $60
will work with 2U to develop million) for the project. The
the online postgraduate degree hospital will be named the
programmes, using 2U’s digital Bagchi-Parthasarathy Hospital.
infrastructure that combines a The ground-breaking is
comprehensive set of technology, planned for June 2022 and the
data and people-based services to deliver world-class online education hospital will be operational by
and learning outcomes for students. 2U has already partneeds with the end of 2024. The Bagchi-
multiple overseas institutions on full degree programmes including Parthasarathy Hospital will
UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Yale University, Tufts University, University of have advanced facilities for
London and London School of Economics. diagnostics, treatment and
research.

48 SUPPLIER NEWS

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Catalent expands temp-controlled
clinical supply capabilities in China

US-based Catalent, the secondary packaging capabilities. meters), which will double
global leader in enabling The facility will be expanded by the clinical storage capacity
biopharma, cell, gene, and approximately 30,000 square and allow the installation
consumer health partners feet (approximately 2,800 square of additional refrigerated
to optimise development, (between 2 and 8 degrees
launch, and supply of Celsius) and deep-frozen
better patient treatments (between minus 70 and
across multiple modalities, minus 90 degrees Celsius)
has announced that it plans storage. The expansion
to expand its Waigaoqiao and commissioning are
Free Trade Zone (FTZ) expected to be completed by
facility in Shanghai, mid-2022. The Waigaoqiao
China, to increase capacity for facility is one of two clinical supply
temperature-controlled storage facilities that Catalent operates in
and distribution of clinical Shanghai, the other being located
supplies, as well as additional in Tangzhen, outside the FTZ.

Eurofins enters Agilent acquires AI tech
to enhance lab productivity
clinical genetic testing
Agilent Technologies has acquired advanced artificial
market in Vietnam intelligence (AI) technology developed by Virtual Control,
an AI and machine learning software developer that
Eurofins Scientific has announced that its creates innovative analysis solutions in lab testing.
subsidiary, Eurofins Clinical Testing Lux Agilent will integrate the software, known as ACIES,
Sarl, has acquired Genetic Testing Service into its industry-leading gas chromatography and
JSC (Gentis), a pioneer in genetic testing in mass spectrometry (GS/MS) platforms to improve the
Vietnam. The acquisition will further enhance productivity, efficiency, and accuracy of high-throughput
Eurofins’ expansion in Asia and complement labs the company serves around the world. With the
its global network of clinical diagnostics acquisition, Agilent obtained the intellectual property
laboratories focused on specialised and and other assets associated with ACIES. As part of the
advanced genetic testing. Gentis is the transaction, core members of the ACIES team also became
market leader in specialised genetic testing Agilent employees. ACIES automates the labour-intensive
in Vietnam and was founded on the principle task of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data
that the technological advancements in analysis improving efficiency in the laboratory workflow,
DNA testing should be accessible and from sampling to reporting. Agilent will integrate the
affordable to everyone. The company provides technology into its MassHunter software package for LC/
comprehensive specialised DNA testing MS and GC/MS instruments.
services including obstetrical genetics;
genealogical DNA tests; oncology; and
COVID-19 testing services. Gentis delivered
revenues of around EUR 10 million in 2021.
This acquisition will accelerate Eurofins’
strategy to expand its presence in South
East Asia more broadly. Gentis has a highly
successful test and product menu, which will
benefit from the Eurofins network’s broad
menu of genetic and genomic tests and its
access to additional markets.

SUPPLIER NEWS 49

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

BD expands cancer Waters buys charge
detection mass
diagnostics portfolio spectrometry technology

with acquisition Waters Corporation has acquired the technology assets
and intellectual property rights of Megadalton Solutions,
of Cytognos Inc., an early-stage developer of Charge Detection Mass
Spectrometry (CDMS) technology and services. Megadalton
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has Solutions has developed CDMS instrumentation that makes
completed the acquisition of Cytognos, it possible to analyse extremely large proteins and protein
a privately held company headquartered complexes, such as those used in cell and gene therapies, that
in Salamanca, Spain, specialising in flow would otherwise be difficult to analyse with conventional
cytometry solutions for blood cancer mass spectrometry. Waters became a strategic investor
diagnosis, minimal residual disease in the company and in 2021 brought Megadalton’s CDMS
(MRD) detection and immune monitoring technology into the Waters Immerse Cambridge innovation
research for blood diseases. The acquisition and research lab for advanced testing and development.
of Cytognos accelerates BD’s strategy to Large molecule mass spectrometry with CDMS offers
support chronic disease management by an important tool for the characterisation, analysis and
expanding its portfolio of blood cancer quantification of next-generation biologics, such as cell
diagnostics, immune assessment tests and gene therapies, which is an area of high interest among
and informatics to address patient, biopharmaceutical and biomedical research customers.
clinician and care provider needs to better
understand the immune system, immune
response and MRD. By monitoring for
MRD, lab managers and physicians can
detect low levels of cancer cells following
treatment that alerts them if the disease
is still present or if there is a signal of
recurrence. This is a key element of
the patient care continuum that helps
clinicians and physicians recognize when
cancer recurs and aids in the timely
treatment of patients.

Thermo Fisher invests $40M to expand
single-use technology manufacturing facility

Thermo Fisher Scientific is number of biological drugs and needed to assist in developing
vaccines, creating unprecedented new vaccines, cancer treatments
investing $40 million to expand demand for these products. The and breakthrough therapies for
Millersburg site expansion will add other conditions. Thermo Fisher
its single-use technology (SUT) significant capacity to continue acquired the Millersburg facility in
providing the biopharma industry 2015, and over the last two years
manufacturing facility in with the technology and materials has expanded and modernised the
warehouse and clean rooms. The
Millersburg, US. The expansion second phase of the site expansion
includes a new, 47,000-square-foot
is part of the company’s $650 warehouse and creation of 100 new
jobs at various levels. Once fully
million multi-year investment, renovated by mid 2023, Thermo
Fisher anticipates that the site will
announced last year, to help ensure employ more than 1,000 people.

flexible, scalable and reliable

bioprocessing production capacity

exists for critical materials used

in developing new and existing

biologics and vaccines, including for

COVID-19. Single-use technologies

enable development of a growing

50

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2022 | www.biospectrumasia.com

Focused Efforts for Malaria-free APAC
According to the World Health
Organisation’s (WHO) most recent World India, one of the region’s highest-burden
Malaria Report 2021, there were 241 countries, reported a drop of close to 45 per cent,
million malaria cases and 627,000 malaria deaths from 338,494 in 2019 to 186,532 in 2020.
worldwide in 2020. This equates to approximately
14 million more cases in 2020 compared to Dr Sarthak Das, Chief Executive Officer,
2019, as well as 69,000 more deaths. During the APLMA pointed out “We must continually remind
pandemic, approximately two-thirds of these ourselves that malaria has been eliminated from
additional deaths (47,000) were attributed to 40 countries in the world, many with fewer
disruptions in malaria prevention, diagnosis, and tools and interventions than we have available
treatment. today. Malaria elimination by 2030 in Asia
Pacific is still within reach provided we sustain
Despite the pandemic’s disruptions, the political commitment to malaria elimination at
Asia Pacific region demonstrated remarkable the highest levels. In addition, we must make
resilience. Over the last decade, Asia Pacific sure programmes (and the funding that support
countries have more than halved the number them) remain agile in adapting and integrating
of annual malaria cases and moved closer responses to evolving threats while fighting
to eliminating the disease. However, as the malaria.”
pandemic spread across the region in early
2020, countries were quickly confronted with The complexity of malaria epidemiology
unprecedented challenges. across the Asia Pacific presents a challenge for
elimination. Achieving malaria elimination in
But, challenges like humanitarian crises the Asia Pacific will depend on strong political
that erupted, such as those in Myanmar and leadership, renewed investment in research and
Afghanistan, exacerbated these burdens. development, and targeted approaches tailored
However, when comparing experiences from to specific areas and populations. Maintaining,
across the region during the pandemic, three core and indeed strengthening, efforts to fight malaria
areas of remarkable resilience emerge: strong in the context of a public health landscape vastly
leadership commitment, timely adaptation of altered by COVID-19 will be challenging, but
malaria interventions, and successful integration critical for achieving elimination goals.
of COVID-19 and malaria responses.
According to a Burnet Institute report, the
Nonetheless, while most countries were annual investment in malaria research and
able to pivot their strategies and make timely development (R&D) is slightly more than $600
adjustments, a few countries in the region million, with slightly more than 20 per cent
experienced an increase in malaria cases due to invested in vaccines. In comparison, more than $9
competing priorities and insufficient resources. billion has been invested in COVID-19 R&D since
Malaria cases in the Solomon Islands and Papua January 1, 2020, with more than half of that going
New Guinea, for example, increased by 7 per cent toward vaccines. The massive global investment
and 16 per cent in 2020, respectively, compared in COVID-19 vaccines has clearly paid off, with
to 2019. several vaccines now approved for use in multiple
countries. The success of intense investment in
According to the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria vaccine development should serve as an example
Alliance (APLMA) report 2021, China managed of what is possible in the fight against malaria.
to attain malaria-free status in June 2021.
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, DPRK, the Lao There is no room for complacency: 2.5 billion
People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Nepal, people in Asia Pacific are still at risk of contracting
the Republic of Korea, Timor Leste, Vanuatu and malaria. We need to maintain momentum against
Vietnam all reported zero indigenous malaria malaria to ensure lives are saved, health workers
deaths in 2020. Many of these countries also are supported, and progress is not lost— and that
exceeded the WHO’s Global Technical Strategy we stay on track to eliminate malaria by 2030.
(GTS) targets of reducing malaria cases and
deaths by at least 40 per cent by 2020. Even Narayan Kulkarni
Editor

[email protected]