AstraZeneca plan hefty investment in South Korea’s biomedical sector over next few years, signaling multinationals' improved sentiment over the government’s recently announced plans to nurture the bio-health industry as a major growth engine.

Roche’s tumor-agnostic drug receives first approval globally in Japan following an expedited review, giving the Swiss group a lead over its rival in this market. But sales may be limited.

Ex-AstraZeneca executive Sanjay Murdeshwar will lead Novartis in India. The incoming head faces multiple challenges including balancing profitable growth and access in a largely self-pay market.

China has officially unveiled its newest stock market for pre-revenue high-tech companies, already attracting ChipScreen and marking a new rival to similar bourses in the US and Hong Kong. But some are cautioning that local regulators and investors will need to step up if the so-called China Nasdaq is to gain traction.

Upsher-Smith has acquired US and other territory rights to two specialty product assets of Dr Reddy’s, which appears to be tweaking the commercialization approach of its proprietary products business.

Tetraphase's plan to downsize may put the company on the same path as now-bankrupt Achaogen. Also, Bain raises $900m for its second life science fund, Provention calls off post-ADA offering and Oncologie raises $80m series B.

South Korea is stepping up the adoption of artificial intelligence to speed up drug development by selecting discovery, repositioning and smart drug surveillance as three initial focus areas for new AI/big data platforms.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is monitoring its Indian healthcare financing initiative with Dewan Housing Finance Corporation amid simmering concerns over the liquidity position of the mortgage lender.

Participants at a recent policy forum in Seoul stressed the need to secure appropriate technology and expertise, unify government support and draw up a joint cooperation plan between industry and government as key factors in advancing AI-guided new drug development in South Korea.

Sun releases what it says are promising interim data from a Phase II study on Ilumya, its flagship first novel biologic, in the additional indication of psoriatic arthritis, where the antibody met the primary endpoint in its first trial in this setting.

The topical version of Jakafi will move into Phase III later this year for the autoimmune disease after a strong Phase II showing.

The US biotech’s product becomes the first glutaminase inhibitor to show proof of concept. Calithera now awaits data from a larger registrational study next year in renal cell carcinoma.