The Asia Corner - From the Editors of PharmAsia News July 14, 2009
In this BioPharma Today feature, the editors of PharmAsia News take a closer look each week at the most important biopharma developments from China, India, Japan, and the Pacific Rim.
Read today's features...
WASHINGTON – Here in the capital beltway, all eyes are on the hearings on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. We, of course, at PharmAsia News, spread our gaze a bit more to the East.
In the first of a three-part feature, Yuriko Nagano examines the decline of Japan-based discovery research facilities of multinational pharma. She talks with GSK, Novartis, Pfizer and others about the shift in Japan to partnerships with local research firms (PharmAsia News, July 13, 2009).
Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo is drawing unwelcome attention in India from Zenotech Labs, of which Daiichi holds a 47 percent equity stake. Zenotech, alleging Daiichi of destroying the emerging Indian biotech's value, is claiming $20 million in damages at an Indian court (PharmAsia News, July 13, 2009).
[Editor's note: PharmAsia News will host the PharmAsia Summit Oct. 26-28 in San Francisco to discuss best practices and case studies for companies looking to grow R&D pipelines in Asia. Featured speakers include former U.S. FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach and Dr. Reddy's CEO GV Prasad. Click here for more information.]
Trying to capitalize on the rising diabetes population in China, Bayer Schering inked a deal with Bioton to market the Polish biotech's human recombinant insulin SciLin in China. PharmAsia News' China bureau talks with members of Bayer's board about the partnership (PharmAsia News, July 10, 2009).
In South Korea, the government is weighing the pros and cons of requiring doctors to include the generic name in drug prescriptions. The government's measure would encourage generic substitution. Shockingly, big pharma is not amused (PharmAsia News, July 13, 2009).
- Daniel Poppy
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