Asia Policy And Regulation Bulletin

A regular roundup of stories from our Asia-based editors.

Below are highlights of policy and regulation-oriented developments in Asia over the past couple of weeks, reported by our sister publication PharmAsia News, whose multilingual team of regional experts provides authoritative business intelligence focused on the Asian marketplace.

Look for updates every other week in “The Pink Sheet” DAILY. [Full stories can be accessed by clicking on the story title (subscription required).]

New China Innovation Policies Having Unintended Consequences?

Recent media coverage of “failed” drugs being given a second life in China has raised a raft of issues, including whether preference should be given to the domestic industry, with its poor quality record and scant innovation, and if the impact of the recent official redefinition of a new drug is really spurring innovation or just driving new types of licensing deals.

‘Stable’ Indian Pharma Outlook Seen Despite Challenges

One-year returns for investors in the Bombay Stock Exchange's Healthcare index may be down over 13%, but in what may bring some comfort to shareholders, the outlook for India’s pharmaceutical companies is "stable," according to an independent credit rating agency. This is despite a string of problems ranging from tighter US generic competition to intensifying regulatory scrutiny to emerging market currency volatility.

HPV Vaccine Makers Facing Japan Legal Action

A group of plaintiffs and their lawyers is planning to bring legal action in Japan against the government and manufacturers over claims of side effects linked to the administration of HPV vaccines.

China Vaccine Scandal: Hundreds Demoted But Root Causes Remain

In a high-profile gesture of showing no tolerance towards poor product quality and management, China has arrested over 200 and punished 357 officials, but root cause of the scandal is much harder to root out in a short term, observers say.

Google Rolls Out Online ‘Health Cards’ In India To Tap Vast Potential

Google has teamed up with a major Indian hospital chain to launch online "health cards" to help people obtain information on diseases ranging from the common cold to dengue fever, and to pursue its strategy of helping digitize India.

MSD, Novo Nordisk On Accessing Korea’s Innovative Momentum

At a recent biotech convention in Seoul, MSD and Novo Nordisk talked were both bullish on accessing innovation in Asia-Pacific, with the US firm in particular stepping up its business development and licensing activities in South Korea to access what it sees as the innovative momentum in the country.

New GHIT Funding Supports Novel Malaria, TB Treatments, Diagnostics

Japan's GHIT Fund has made substantial new allocations for malaria and tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment that include extensive pharma industry participation in collaborative research projects.

DNDi Adds Affordable Ravidasvir Combo To Asian HCV Trials

DNDi is progressing its five-year initiative to improve access to affordable combination therapies for hepatitis C through new agreements for ravidasvir, which will be tested in trials in Malaysia and Thailand.

Progress For Asian Associations As Regulatory Roadmap Recognized

An industry-led grouping of research-based pharma associations from across Asia has held its latest annual meeting in Tokyo at which it reported modest but steady progress across initiatives in the regulatory and drug discovery areas as it seeks to get novel medicines to patients faster.

Turkish Manufacturing Policies Attract Servier To Local Alliances

Turkey’s policy to promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing has produced one of its first concrete results in the form of French company Servier’s partnership with two local companies.

Incentives Attract MSD To $100m Vaccine Investment Plan In Turkey

Attracted by new policy incentives, MSD has disclosed plans for a new vaccine production investment in Turkey totaling $80-100m over several years and involving a local partner.