There is a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, with signs showing that a mutant strain of the Bird Flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond, warned Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. According to the World Health Organization, the H5N1 virus has infected 565 people and [...]
Robot-assisted therapy (RAT) has measurable benefits for patients with a weaker arm following a stroke, reported a Taiwan study in the August issue of Clinical Rehabilitation. The study, jointly conducted by the National Taiwan University, Chang Gung University and Taipei Hospital, enrolled 20 patients with mild-to-moderate upper limb impairment six months after a stroke. They [...]
Following the recall of GlaxoSmithKline’s antibiotic Augmentin® (amoxicillin clavulanate) in Hong Kong, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) is instructing its agencies to collect samples of the drug to test for plasticiser content. The DAV has also requested GSK’s office in Vietnam to work with its distributors to collect Augmentin® samples being sold in the [...]
CEL-SCI Corporation’s Taiwanese partner, Orient Europharma, has concluded the site initiation visit for the first Taiwanese clinical centre in phase III clinical trial for Multikine®, CEL-SCI’s flagship cancer immunotherapy. The first centre, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, is located in Taipei, Taiwan. Patient enrolment is expected to start soon. The goal of the phase [...]
Japanese health regulators are granting marketing approval to several major pharmaceutical products. AstraZeneca (AZ), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Merck and Novartis each got the nod for key drugs that are already marketed elsewhere, but still awaiting launch in Japan. Daiichi Sankyo has signed on to co-promote and distribute Nexium®, a drug indicated for the treatment of erosive [...]
Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Hanwha Chemical Corporation have entered into an exclusive global agreement to develop and commercialise HD203, a candidate biosimilar form of Enbrel® (etanercept) developed by Hanwha. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will conduct clinical development and manufacture. In addition, upon marketing approval, Merck [...]
American Medical Systems® (AMS), a provider of devices and therapies for pelvic health, has received clearance from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) to market and distribute its GreenLight HPS® laser therapy system for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Japan. AMS’ GreenLight provides treatment with fewer side effects than [...]
Urgent coordinated action is needed to avoid millions of preventable strokes, according to a new report ‘How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis in the Asia-Pacific Region?’ launched during the 18th Asian Pacific Congress of Cardiology (APCC) held in Kuala Lumpur on May 5-8. The report, launched during the congress by Action for Stroke Prevention, [...]
The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer per year in the seven major markets is forecast to increase by 13 percent over the next decade, according to independent healthcare analyst, Datamonitor. However, in Japan, breast cancer incidence rates will rise by approximately 24 percent, from 45,600 cases in 2010 to 56,400 cases in 2019 [...]