Articles (Page 1) | Meridiano

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CanSino gets Russia’s approval to start Covid-19 vaccine trials on humans after snubbing Canada

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-02 11:31)

CanSino Biologics has received approval from Russia to begin Phase 3 human trials for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, Ad5-nCoV. The company will partner with a Russian firm and plans to recruit 40,000 volunteers across several countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.

This development follows CanSino's unexplained termination of a vaccine cooperation agreement with Canada's National Research Council. The company also plans to build a facility with an annual production capacity of 200 million vaccine doses.

The main topics covered are CanSino's international vaccine trials, the end of its Canadian partnership, and its production plans.

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Chinese biotech sector is blowing hot as M&A and IPO deals surge amid Covid-19 pandemic

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-09 11:15)

The Chinese biotech sector is experiencing a significant surge in mergers, acquisitions, and IPO activity during the Covid-19 pandemic. IPO deals in the healthcare sector have already surpassed the total volume for all of 2019, driven by high investor demand and a reallocation of capital from cyclical industries.

M&A activity is also intense, with data showing a sharp increase in deal value and volume in the first half of the year. Investment interest is exceptionally high, with reports indicating an average of five buyers competing for each available M&A target.

The main topics covered are the booming investment and capital market activity in China's biotech and healthcare sectors, the surge in IPOs and M&A deals, and the intense competition among investors to fund these companies.

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Baidu, investors said to be in talks to raise US$2 billion for biotech start-up using AI technology

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-10 01:30)

Chinese tech giant Baidu is in discussions with investors to raise up to $2 billion for a biotech start-up. The start-up will focus on using artificial intelligence for drug discovery and disease diagnosis.

Baidu is not expected to be the controlling investor in this venture, according to sources. The fundraising effort reflects a broader trend of increased investment in the healthcare sector since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This trend has seen many tech companies expanding into digital health services, including online diagnosis and medicine delivery apps.

The main topics covered are Baidu's fundraising plans, the application of AI in biotechnology and healthcare, and the increased investment in the digital health sector post-pandemic.

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Sci-tech minister welcomes talent to ‘China opportunity’ as restrictions are tightened in the US amid tech war

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-11 05:34)

China's science minister has promoted the "China opportunity" to attract global tech talent, contrasting it with tightened U.S. restrictions on Chinese students and scholars.

The minister pledged active measures for international collaboration and protecting the rights of talent, both domestic and foreign.

The statements were made at an international professionals conference, which highlighted increased scientific and technological cooperation with Russia.

The main topics covered are the U.S.-China tech war, talent mobility, and China's international tech collaboration efforts, particularly with Russia.

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Mainland-listed Hybribio involved in Hong Kong’s Covid-19 mass testing scheme eyes expansion

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-17 01:30)

Hybribio, a mainland biotech firm involved in Hong Kong's mass Covid-19 testing, plans to expand its operations in the city despite the testing volume being lower than anticipated. The company will hire more staff and move to a larger office, with its director stating most diagnostic work was handled by its experienced Hong Kong team.

The mass testing program identified 42 Covid-19 carriers from 1.78 million participants, a number far below initial government estimates. The director also clarified that DNA samples from the tests were not sent to mainland China.

The main topics covered are Hybribio's expansion plans, the results and scale of Hong Kong's mass testing program, and operational details about the testing process.

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Yifan Pharma’s unit, eyeing US$5.5 billion post-chemotherapy treatment market dominated by Amgen, considers IPO in 2021

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-18 01:50)

Yifan Pharmaceutical's subsidiary Evive is considering a 2021 IPO as it develops a drug candidate, F-627, targeting a major post-chemotherapy treatment market. Its lead candidate has shown promising Phase III trial results and aims to become the first novel biological drug from a Chinese company approved for sale in the US.

The drug is positioned as a competitor to Amgen's established product Neulasta, seeking to capture a share of its multi-billion dollar market. Evive's leadership expresses confidence in their lead, noting they are ahead of potential Chinese competitors in the clinical trial process.

The main topics covered are a potential IPO, clinical drug development and competition in the pharmaceutical market, and a strategic investment by a parent company.

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China’s largest e-cigarette brand Relx to study health effects of vaping amid regulatory crackdowns

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-18 08:30)

China's leading e-cigarette brand, Relx, has established a new bioscience laboratory in Shenzhen to research the health effects of vaping. The lab will study the short- and long-term impacts on systems like cardiovascular and respiratory health, using models and animal testing, aiming to scientifically assess if e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

This initiative follows recent Chinese regulatory crackdowns, including bans on online sales of e-cigarettes across various digital platforms. The company states its goal is to provide scientific evidence and offer smokers a potentially reduced-harm alternative.

The main topics covered are Relx's new health research laboratory, the scientific study of e-cigarette effects, and the context of increased regulatory scrutiny on e-cigarettes in China.

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Gene editing: Chinese scientists bring safer pig-to-human organ transplants one step closer to reality

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-23 05:07)

Chinese scientists have genetically engineered pigs to have cells more compatible with the human immune system, advancing the potential for safer pig-to-human organ transplants. The modified pigs showed normal health and were able to pass the edited genes to their offspring. This research addresses the critical risks of organ rejection and viral transmission that have historically limited such cross-species transplants.

The main topics covered are xenotransplantation (pig-to-human organ transplants), the use of gene-editing to overcome biological barriers, and the progress toward alleviating the global human organ shortage.

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GeneHarbor plans Hong Kong IPO to fund new medicinal products, widen anti-ageing supplements line

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-23 06:05)

GeneHarbor, a Hong Kong-based producer of anti-ageing supplements, plans an IPO before June next year to raise capital. The funds will be used to diversify from supplements into developing medicinal compounds, particularly for treating neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.

The company recently invested heavily in a new production facility in Zhejiang province to manufacture NMN, a compound it claims has anti-ageing and potential Alzheimer's treatment properties. This listing would be notable as Hong Kong's market has been dominated by mainland biotech firms since regulatory changes in 2018.

The main topics covered are GeneHarbor's IPO plans, its business diversification from supplements to medicines, and the expansion of its NMN production capacity.

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Inside China Tech: Is that TikTok deal happening or not?

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-25 21:30)

The proposed deal for TikTok's US operations is mired in conflicting statements from ByteDance and Oracle regarding ownership. ByteDance claims it will retain an 80% stake in the new entity, TikTok Global, while Oracle asserts Americans will be the majority owners and ByteDance will have no ownership.

Separately, Huawei states it has sufficient chip supplies for its communications equipment business, but not for its smartphone division.

The main topics covered are the status of the TikTok-Oracle deal and Huawei's chip supply situation.

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US-China tech war: can China’s chipmaking drive save it from US technology embargo?

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-28 15:30)

China is aggressively investing in domestic semiconductor manufacturing to overcome its heavy reliance on imported chips and to counter US technology sanctions. This national drive involves significant state backing but faces criticism for tolerating inefficiency and involving inexperienced newcomers.

The urgency stems from US sanctions, which have severely impacted major Chinese tech firms like ZTE and Huawei by cutting off access to American components. Recent US export restrictions on China's leading chipmaker, SMIC, further intensify the pressure on the country's tech sector.

The main topics covered are China's semiconductor self-sufficiency drive, the impact of US sanctions and export controls on Chinese tech companies, and the challenges within China's domestic chipmaking effort.

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Mergers afoot for China’s biotechnology industry as suppliers become attractive targets for Big Pharma

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-29 04:40)

China's outsourced drug discovery services market is poised for consolidation, driven by strong annual growth of approximately 20% fueled by the biotech boom. These service providers are attractive and resilient investment targets, as they profit from drug development projects regardless of the eventual success of the drugs themselves. The market is forecast to grow significantly, reaching US$4.1 billion by 2024, as drug developers increasingly outsource for cost savings.

This trend is exemplified by Advent International's merger of Shanghai-based Sundia MediTech with its BioDuro unit, creating a top-three preclinical contract research organization in China with over 2,000 employees.

The main topics covered are industry consolidation, market growth, the investment rationale for service providers, and a specific merger example.

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Artificial intelligence expert Zhu Songchun to return to China from US

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-09-29 12:34)

Leading Chinese AI researcher Professor Zhu Songchun has left UCLA to join Peking University. He will lead its Institute for Artificial Intelligence and help establish a new Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with authorities.

This move aligns with Beijing's strategic goal to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. Zhu is an award-winning expert specializing in computer vision and cognitive science.

The main topics covered are a high-profile academic's career move, China's national AI strategy, and the establishment of new AI research institutes.

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Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s biotech unit hopes for new cancer drug approvals, expands sales army in China amid stock rally in London

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-10-01 10:30)

Hutchison China MediTech (Chi-Med) expects regulatory approval in China for its cancer drugs surufatinib by year-end and savolitinib by mid-2021. The company plans to triple its sales and marketing team to over 1,000 people by 2023 in anticipation of these launches.

Chi-Med's stock has rallied 70% in London over the past six months, significantly outpacing the benchmark index. The company's in-house drug discovery team currently has nine candidates in clinical studies.

The main topics covered are: drug approval timelines, sales force expansion, stock performance, and in-house research and development.

Image for Hong Kong scientist behind artificial ‘mini-hearts’ takes Novoheart closer to China with facilities to quicken drug discovery process

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Hong Kong scientist behind artificial ‘mini-hearts’ takes Novoheart closer to China with facilities to quicken drug discovery process

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-10-02 12:03)

Novoheart, a biotech firm known for creating artificial 'mini-hearts,' is expanding its presence in Hong Kong and mainland China with new facilities. The company's CEO cites access to talent and the large Chinese pharmaceutical market as key reasons for the move, with total spending exceeding HK$200 million.

The new Hong Kong laboratory will focus on heart tissue engineering and aims to produce clinical-grade materials. The location also provides easier access to biological materials from Chinese patients, which is advantageous for researching diseases prevalent in Asian populations.

The main topics covered are Novoheart's strategic expansion into Hong Kong and China, the commercialization of its heart technology, and the advantages of accessing the regional talent pool and pharmaceutical market.