In Depth 19 Dec 2024 After decades of stagnation, is Japan’s biopharma industry set for an upswing? Discover the history of Japan’s biopharma industry and whether it is now set for an upswing after years of stagnation from economic troubles. December 19, 2024 - 12 minutesmins - By Willow Shah-Neville Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Best in Biotech 27 Feb 2024 Japan’s ten hottest biotech companies in healthcare While Japan historically lacked foreign investment the field is becoming more dynamic. Discover ten essential biotech companies in Japan. February 27, 2024 - 12 minutesmins - By Jules Adam Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Best in Biotech 14 Nov 2023 10 biotech companies leading innovation in the Asia-Pacific region Asia-Pacific is now establishing itself as a global innovation hub, with China, Japan, and Korea leading the space in overall innovative pipeline assets in the region. The life sciences industry is thriving, and there has been a shift in the region from predominantly producing generics to developing innovative technologies, with several Asia-Pacific biotech companies leading […] November 14, 2023 - 11 minutesmins - By Willow Shah-Neville Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Jul 2023 FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to NS Pharma Inc.’s NS-089/NCNP-02, an investigational candidate for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy amenable to exon 44 skipping therapy. The breakthrough designation is based on results from a first-in-human, investigator-initiated clinical trial conducted in Japan. In June 2023, NS-089/NCNP-02 was granted Rare […] July 28, 2023 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 20 Jul 2023 Sosei Heptares hails ‘transformational’ acquisition Sosei Group Corporation is set to acquire all shares of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Japan Ltd (IPJ) and Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Korea Co., Ltd (IPK). The strategic transaction also includes the Japan and APAC territory rights, with the exception of China, to a pipeline of medicines from Idorsia’s portfolio, with lead product PIVLAZ (clazosentan) already commercially available and […] July 20, 2023 - 5 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 9 Jun 2023 Astellas developing new gastric cancer drug Astellas Pharma Inc. has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for zolbetuximab. Zolbetuximab is a first-in-class investigational Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-targeted monoclonal antibody, for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors are CLDN18.2-positive. If approved, […] June 9, 2023 - 4 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 2 Jun 2023 New approach improves cancer treatment and minimizes side effects Scientists at Tohoku University in Japan have discovered a new approach to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) – a novel form of cancer treatment utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) – while minimizing the associated side effects. They demonstrated that using ICIs to target tumor-positive lymph nodes generates a robust anti-tumor response against […] June 2, 2023 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 18 May 2023 New epilepsy study could lead to new treatment options The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by excessive electrical activity in the brain, remain unknown. Now, using a novel radiotracer, researchers from Japan have been able to offer insight into the role of AMPAR trafficking in epileptogenesis. The radio tracer is [11C]K-2, the first technology to visualize and quantify α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole […] May 18, 2023 - 4 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 9 May 2023 Can tumor bacteria kill tumors? Japanese researchers say it may be possible to treat cancer using bacteria that naturally reside within tumors to trigger a powerful anticancer immune response.In recent years, interest in bacterial agents as anticancer therapeutics has grown, due to the ability of some bacteria to selectively grow inside hypoxic tumors, i.e., these cells do not receive rich […] May 9, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 2 May 2023 Single-molecule valve breakthrough could lead to early disease diagnosis Molecules are incredibly small – around one hundred millionth the size of a softball – and they move randomly in liquids, making it difficult to manipulate them in a single form. To overcome this challenge, “nanofluidic devices” that can transport molecules in extremely narrow channels, similar in size to one millionth of a straw, are […] May 2, 2023 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 26 Apr 2023 LincRNA discovery could lead to targeted treatments Our genetic code includes more than 15,000 specific sections that can be made into molecules called lincRNAs. Some of these sections can occur in coiled-up sections of our genome called topologically associating domains, or TADs. LincRNAs derived from TADs appear to act as markers indicating the specific kind of tissue they are within. When something […] April 26, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 4 Apr 2023 Discovery could lead to cancer drugs with fewer side effects Many anticancer drugs have serious side-effects in clinical practice. Kinesin inhibitors block kinesin motor proteins required for cancer cell division, and are promising anticancer drug candidates with minimal side-effects. However, their association with kinesin proteins remains unclear. Researchers from Japan have addressed this by solving the crystal structure of the complex formed by the kinesin […] April 4, 2023 - 4 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email