Industry news

Promise of iPS-based research set to reach patients, Nobel winner says

EJ Lane / FeircePharmaAsia

Japan's deep research bet on regenerative medicines from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) is set to move from the lab to patients soon for some of the most vexing medical ailments, a noted expert in the field told Nikkei Asian Review. 

South Korean startup biotechs gain government, banking funding lift

Ben Adams / FiercePharmaAsia

New life science firms hoping to get off the ground in South Korea will be able to receive extra funding help as the government has announced plans to boost more startups.

Antibiotics get a boost from stabilizing frog foam delivery

Michael Gibney / FierceDrudDelivery

Scottish researchers have turned to an unlikely source to deliver antibiotics: the protein-based foam produced by Trinidadian frogs to nest and protect their eggs. As part of a presentation at the Microbiology Society's Annual Conference in Liverpool, the team announced that the nontoxic substance could help prevent infections.

World’s older population grows dramatically

U.S. National Institute of Health

The world’s older population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Today, 8.5 percent of people worldwide (617 million) are aged 65 and over. According to a new report, “An Aging World: 2015,”  this percentage is projected to jump to nearly 17 percent of the world’s population by 2050 (1.6 billion).

India's pharma firms expand globally as M&A heats up

T.V. Padma / BioWorld

Medium- to large-sized Indian pharmaceutical companies are aggressively pursuing international acquisitions to strengthen their market presence across developed and emerging markets, and to gain a foothold in markets they are currently not strong in, according to new analysis by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and Hyderabad-based Sathguru Management Consultants.

Biopharmas still seeing values slide despite market recovery

Peter Winter / BioWorld

We are only a few days away from the end of the first quarter and it will certainly be a period that the biopharmaceutical sector will want to quickly forget. Year to date, the new BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index, which combines group members from the BioWorld Blue Chip Biotech Index and BioWorld Pharma Index, has tumbled 23 percent – probably the sector's worst start to a year for almost 20 years. 

South Korean team developing graphene-based patch for monitoring and treating diabetes

Varun Saxena / FierceMedicalDevices

Researchers at South Korea's Institute for Basic Science are developing a drug-delivering glucose monitoring microneedle patch made of gold-doped graphene. It showed promise on diabetic mice, according to a just-published paper in Nature Nanotechnology.

China, in typical fashion, arrests dozens as drug oversight draws attention

Eric Palmer / FeircePharmaManufactoring

In a typical response to publicity that its pharma supply chain has been breached, China has rounded up dozens of suspects as it investigates an operation said to have illegally sold vaccines that may not have been safely stored or shipped.

Pharma's doctor payments do pay off, with more money yielding more scripts: ProPublica

Tracy Staton / Fierce Pharma Marketing

Doctors deny that speaking fees, free meals, entertainment and other pharma incentives actually change their prescribing habits. They're independent, objective, too high-minded to be influenced by money.

Marketers aren't spending enough on ads, researcher says. And yes, that includes pharma

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharmaMarketing

The political-season barrage against pharma advertising contends that drug companies are spending too much money on ads. But according to one researcher, they're not spending nearly enough.