The Asia Corner - From the Editors of PharmAsia News November 25, 2009
In this BioPharma Today feature, the editors of PharmAsia News take a closer look each week at the most important biopharma developments from
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The Asia Corner - From the Editors of PharmAsia News November 25, 2009
WASHINGTON – Happy Thanksgiving to all of our U.S. readers. Try not to overeat, and make sure to wear good sneakers to dodge the crowds if you dare venture out to shop on Black Friday. There’s no rest for PharmAsia News’ ex-U.S. staff, so make sure to check out PharmAsia News for important news impacting the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in Asia.
German firm Merck KGaA launched a $223 million R&D research hub in Beijing, which will join the company’s network of R&D hubs in Germany, Switzerland and the U.S. The Beijing branch will, already with a 50-plus staff, will hire another 200 employees over the next four years (PharmAsia News, Nov. 24, 2009).
Pfizer’s President of Established Products Business David Simmons sat down for an interview with PharmAsia News’ India bureau chief to discuss the company’s deal with Aurobindo and the company’s interest in biosimilars (PharmAsia News, Nov. 23, 2009).
PPD will acquire Beijing-based CRO BioDuro just weeks after finalizing its acquisition of China’s Excel PharmaStudies. The back-to-back moves substantially increase PPD’s presence in China, and it now is one of the largest CROs in the country (PharmAsia News, Nov. 20, 2009).
U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to South Korea brought up discussion of the countries’ free trade agreement, and it appears the current pharma provisions will remain intact, despite possible changes to auto industry and beef industry provisions in the FTA. South Korean companies are bracing for a tough sales environment under a ratified U.S.-Korea FTA (PharmAsia News, Nov. 23, 2009).
- Daniel Poppy
We welcome your feedback on stories we have covered as well as story ideas you would like to see. Email the editors at pharmasia@elsevier.com
