Cancer cases are rising in China, with larger increases for certain types including thyroid and pancreatic. To combat the rising tide, the government will implement zero tariffs on imported anticancer drugs  from May.

AstraZeneca expects to invest $90m over five years to shore up its footprint in India – a market where the Anglo-Swedish major has introduced a string of new products but has also had a fair share of challenges.

Pfizer is pushing ahead with legal action in India to ward off an alleged infringer of its patent on Sutent - a product that has had a checkered patent journey in the country.

Hanmi is set to focus on other assets in its innovative drug pipeline after it ends development of novel lung cancer drug olmutinib amid ZAI Lab’s recent cancellation of a licensing agreement with the South Korean pharma.

Human antibiotic consumption globally jumped dramatically between 2000 and 2015, with India posting the biggest rise, reports a new US study, which calls for a radical policy rethink to prevent antimicrobial drug resistance soaring.

Herbal-derived drug development on the Korean peninsula is poised to get an initial boost once the relationship between the North and South improves, although it is uncertain how the possible easing of tensions between the two countries will broadly affect South Korea's pharma sector.

Sanofi will have €1.9bn to add to its war-chest when it concludes the sale of its European generics business.

Mylan has acquired commercial rights in Europe to Kyowa Hakko Kirin's biosimilar adalimumab, paving the way to an early market entry through the product, which could be approved in the second half of this year. But might there be a shift in the commercialization outlook for its partnered adalimumab with Biocon?

Essential Health Group President Angela Hwang, Biosimilars President Richard Blackburn and US Biosimilars General Manager John Kennedy discuss the early challenges Pfizer has faced with Inflectra and optimism for the US biosimilars market over the long term.

The Swiss developer of a Phase III potential first-in-class antibiotic for Pseudomonas infections plans to list on the Swiss Stock Exchange, SIX, underlining the unmet need for better drugs for nosocomial pneumonia, and also the upturn in the bourse's popularity for European IPOs.

 

USV is building on its play in Europe with the acquisition of Juta Pharma in Germany – a market that has been fostering generics alongside supporting innovative medicines.

Both healthcare and financial systems in Europe are fragmented national entities. For financial backers of early life science ventures, this lanscape adds risk to new business that do not exist in sectors unified by operational standards. And for those running start-ups, their choice of experienced, life-science-savvy capital suppliers is restricted.

Reversing an earlier decision, FDA accepted Alkermes' new drug application (NDA) for ALKS 5461 for review, with a target action date of Jan. 31. But the company could still face a tough FDA review.

As a simmering trade dispute between the US and China looks set to continue worsening, many companies in the pharma sector are closely watching what's coming and getting ready for any disruption. But what is the actual and predicted impact on exporters and producers in China, India and the US?

Essential Health Group President Angela Hwang, Biosimilars President Richard Blackburn and US Biosimilars General Manager John Kennedy discuss the early challenges Pfizer has faced with Inflectra and optimism for the US biosimilars market over the long term.

Brachial plexus indication for long-acting bupivacaine liposome will launch in US with combined 2,000-rep sales force under copromotion with J&J; although Pacira did not get the broad claim requested, company sees significant commercial opportunity for an indication that is expected to encompass 60% of all nerve block procedures within the next two years.

AbbVie, for the second time, has resolved a Humira patent dispute that protects the drug's US commercial exclusivity until 2023. The latest deal with Samsung Biopesis follows a similar agreement with Amgen, giving Amgen a five-month head start with its biosimilar. 

CEO Richard Pops called FDA's letter for ALKS 5461 "surprising and troubling." Alkermes had been ramping up to launch the depression drug later this year, though some investors had remained skeptical.