BSA-AUG 2016_Raj Gunashekar

An MM Activ Publication | www.BioSpectrumAsia.com | June 2016 | BioSpectrum 3
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BioEdit
4 BioSpectrum | August 2016 | www.BioSpectrumAsia.com | An MM Activ Publication
A
Deloitte report
has predicted
that in 2016 life
sciences com-
panies will have to face
challenges emanating not
only from increasing global
market place but they will
also have to address region
specific issues. One such
issue that is expected to
have an impact on the sec-
tor is Brexit. Its outcome
is expected to multiply the
challenges for life sciences,
healthcare sector in APAC
region in the near future when UK will actu-
ally move out of European Union.
Among the various repercussions one is
related to regulatory processes and market
authorization of drugs. With UK withdraw-
ing from EU after two years what would be
the procedure for drug regulation and mar-
ket authorization. For companies export-
ing drugs to EU this assumes significance
since they may have to acquire two market
authorisations, one for EU and another for
UK, instead of the present common one,
complicating the procedure, which may re-
sult in delay.
Another important issue is related to pass-
porting rights among EU member countries
which allows companies in one member
country to sell services in any member state.
But with UK parting company from EU the
companies cannot use their passports in
other EU member countries. This will be
problematic for companies from Asia Pacific
region which enter Europe through their UK
subsidiaries. They will have to set up estab-
lishments in one of the EU member coun-
tries in addition to UK.
There is possibility that as a part of Brexit
negotiation passporting rights will continue.
But it is all unclear. Much depends on the
type of relationship UK maintains with EU
– if it joins European Economic Area (EEA)
or joins European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) or completely distances itself from
EU. Clarity on the issue will be visible when
UK parts away from EU.
The third issue relates to free trade agree-
ments that several Asia Pacific countries
have or are negotiating with EU. South Ko-
rea signed FTA with EU in 2010, Australia
and New Zealand are in initial stages of ex-
ploring FTAs with EU. For New Zealand,
EU is one of the largest trading partner and
for Australia EU is the second largest trad-
ing partner. With UK out of EU the existing
FTAs will have to be renegotiated and the
ongoing negotiations may be delayed and
independent FTAs will have to be negotiated
with UK. China too would have problem on
this front as UK was strongly backing China-
EU FTA. But, now with UK out of EU, China
does not have supporters with EU members
for the FTA. The new, renegotiated FTAs
will certainly have impact on trading in
healthcare and life sciences sector.
However, on exit even UK would have to
negotiate separate FTAs with Asia Pacific
countries. This is likely to benefit Asia Pacif-
ic region and its business as UK, which will
be isolated from EU, may like to have strong
trade relationships in the region.
This has added additional level of uncertain-
ty for business in Asia Pacific and in turn to
life sciences and healthcare sectors. This un-
certainty, which is caused by developments
in European region, may pose some chal-
lenges for Asia Pacific for some time. BS
Milind Kokje
Chief Editor
milind.kokje@mmactiv.in
U ncertainty Ahead

BioMail
An MM Activ Publication | www.BioSpectrumAsia.com | August 2016 | BioSpectrum 5
Cover Story
Your July’s cover story on APAC Life
Sciences outlook painted a real big
picture of the industry. The country
analysis section gave a detailed infor-
mation about major Life Sciences mar-
ket in the Asia-Pacific. No wonder Chi-
na and India are racing ahead, giving
major competition to its rivals including
Singapore and Malaysia. Company
analysis were extensively covered. Well
done!
Priya Salve, Singapore
Start-up Ecosystem
We are a Biotech start-up and Dr Renu
Swarup’s interview was a great eye-
opener. We were able to grasp the
happening trends in the start-up sec-
tor and plan ahead accordingly. Inside
happenings of BIRAC gave an exclu-
sive peek into the organization’s future
dreams and how it intends to go about
achieving it. A big thank you for bring-
ing out this interview.
John Jonathan, Australia
Digital Pathology
Technology advancements in Digital
Pathology are disrupting the whole di-
agnostics scene in Asia and around
the world. It was heartening to wit-
ness innovative products in the market
which has changed over the years as
a result of relentless innovation by the
biggies as well as start-ups. Thought
the West has adopted this technology,
some APAC countries are yet to catch
up with this trend.
Kim Wu, Taiwan
Vol 11; Issue 7;
July 2016
Publisher and Managing Editor:
Vijay Thombre
Editorial:
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Executive Editor: Srinivas Rasoor
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Vol 11; Issue 8; August 2016

FASTEST
50
FASTEST
50
FASTEST
50
14 CoverStory
‘WE ARE COMMITTED
TO IMPROVING
PATIENT OUTCOMES’
‘WE CAN HELP
SHAPE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICES’
Zenobia Walji
Vice President, Southeast
Asia, Medtronic
Sir Malcolm Grant
Chairman, National Health
Service (NHS), UK
2908
BIOTALK
BioSpectrum Asia presenting Fastest 50
companies. The Fastest 50 companies are
evaluated based on their annual revenue and are
running close to enter into BSA Ranking club.
BIOSCIENCE
COMPANIES
IN ASIA PACIFIC
‘CIPLA’S INVESTMENT
WILL HELP CREATE
FIRST BIOCLUSTER
IN SOUTH AFRICA’
Chandru Chawla
Head, Cipla NewVentures
12
BioContents

32
BIOCLUSTER
A GATEWAY TO EUROPEAN MARKETS
Deep insights and happenings in Ireland’s Life Sciences sector, and why
Indian Pharma and Biotech companies should consider investing more in
Ireland than ever before.
REGULARS
BioEdit��04
BioMail��05
BioNews��36
BioSuppliers��43
49
BIOSPECIAL
INDUSTRY REPORT ON
PM’S AFRICA VISIT
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s four-nation African
tour this past July went on to
grab most of the industry’s
attention.
27
BIOCOLUMN
GLOBAL BUSINESS
SERVICES A NEW
WAY FORWARD
FOR LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANIES
Ajay Sanganeria
Life Sciences Partner,
KPMG in Singapore
Juvanus Tjandra
Management Consulting Partner,
KPMG, Singapore
47
BIOPRENEUR
PAPERLESS CLINIC
is an electronic medical record (EMR) solution provider in Singapore that has
developed a solution to make medical clinics free of files and storage concerns
VAULT DRAGON

BioTalk
I
n June 2016, National Health Service’s (NHS)
Chairman Sir Malcolm Grant was in India and led
a world class delegation which exhibited and show-
cased its expertise in Delhi and Mumbai. This is said
to be a leading, high-powered healthcare trade mission
in the form of smart healthcare demonstrator featuring
the very best of UK companies in modern healthcare, spe-
cifically chosen for their ability to support India’s smart
healthcare initiatives.
This delegation is a part of the agreement between UK-
India during PM Modi’s visit to the UK where the two
Prime Ministers emphasized the potential to increase
investment and co-operation in health and related sec-
tors. The UK’s healthcare sector is a thriving ecosystem
of researchers, scientists, engineers, designers, National
Health Service clinicians, and an unrivalled database and
network of healthcare professionals.
In his exclusive interview with BioSpectrum, Sir Grant
shares the NHS’ inside innovations, Indo-UK Smart
Healthcare collaborations, India’s opportunities, the or-
ganization’s strategy and investments in India, and its
growth plans for the next couple of years.
Give us a glimpse about the innovative
happenings in the UK’s smart healthcare sector.
A It is hard to give just a glimpse: there is so much to
say! One of the most innovative things about the
NHS is that it provides a complete healthcare system for
all its citizens, it is the embodiment of Universal Health-
care in practice. Through our Five Year Forward View, we
are now taking this to new levels with our unique New
Models of Care programme where services will provide a
fully-integrated service across primary, secondary and
tertiary care.
Our RightCare programme aims to address deep seated
inequalities in health and healthcare and ensure patients
get the right treatment at the right time. This will involve
patients even more in their own care, improve health out-
comes and make the system more cost-effective.
‘We can help
shape Indian
health services’
Sir Malcolm Grant
Chairman, National Health
Service (NHS), UK
Interview
RightCare programme aims to address deep seatedinequalities in health and
healthcare and ensure patients get the right treatment at the right time.

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BioTalk
Our NHS digital programme promotes self-management
apps and systems for patients and confidential sharing of
data between professionals to make care more effective
and efficient. Our 1,00,000 Genomes Project puts the
UK in the forefront of developing personalised medicine
where genetic technology will mean patients get exactly
the right treatment they need and are not treated unnec-
essarily.
What is most exciting about the NHS is the day-to-day
innovation that goes on across our services: we see inno-
vative ways of keeping people from unnecessary visits or
admissions to hospital, reducing delays when a patient is
in hospital, or systems to ensure the right staff are always
in the right place. The UK offers one of the widest range
of tax incentives and specials funds to incentivise invest-
ment in our vibrant life sciences industry. Our industry
is at the forefront of discovery and innovation in, for ex-
ample, genomics, cellular biology and imaging physics.
This has given us 77 Nobel prizes for contributions to bio-
medical science.
What opportunities are available for the Indian
smart healthcare sector in the UK?
A We want to encourage Indian companies to work
with the NHS in solving the challenges faced by all
healthcare systems. One example of this are our NHS
Test Beds where innovative companies from across the
world will work with frontline NHS staff to pioneer and
evaluate novel combinations of interconnected devices
like wearable monitors, data analysis and ways of work-
ing to help patients stay well and monitor their condi-
tions at home. Five Test Beds have been announced so
far.
We welcome investment by Indian smart healthcare
companies into the UK, and provide incentives for them
to do so.
How do you think the UK can contribute in
shaping the Indian healthcare sector?
A In five main areas of building design and manage-
ment, effective clinical practice, top-class training,
specialist digital applications and whole system manage-
ment.
The UK has some of the best designers and engineers
for creating and managing healthcare buildings and fa-
cilities. These promote health and recovery for patients,
well-being for staff, and efficient for the funders. They
are sustainable buildings that reduce energy use and will
adapt to changes in climate and medical practice.
The UK is known for the highest quality clinical practice
informed by world class research, training, equipment
and systems. We can help shape Indian health services
to give the best outcomes and highest satisfaction for pa-
tients.
We also have top-class universities, colleges and train-
ing companies that can provide specialist post graduate
training for all professional staff in every speciality. We
can provide this online and face-to-face in India and the
UK.
The UK has innovative digital systems that collect rel-
evant data for managing the quality of clinical services,
and uses big data to ensure the right diagnosis; treat-
ments are given and services are efficient. Whilst India
has great digital innovations, the UK has some niche ap-
plications, for example, in telemedicine and creating safe
facilities.
We have experience in managing services for whole pop-
ulations of insured patients: whether behavioural inter-
ventions to promote health or systems, to ensure consis-
tently high standards of care are maintained.
What collaborations do you think India and
the UK healthcare sector needs to immediately
work upon?
A The UK can help design smart city health systems
that ensure people live and work in a healthy envi-
ronment and live a healthy lifestyle. We can show how
providing a range of accessible services reduces ill-health
and unnecessary use of hospital services.
We can work on systems to make hospitals top-class in
both quality and efficiency. We can partner with Indian
digital companies to bring specialist niche expertise to
make healthcare work better.
We recognize that most of the new investment is going
into the private sector and aim to work with investors,
developers and operators in this sector whilst maintain-
ing our supportive role with National and State govern-
ments.
According to you where do you think Indian
We welcome investment
by Indian smart
healthcare companies into
the UK

BioTalk
Raj Gunashekar
I am impressed with the
energy, innovation and
splendid facilities in some
of your best hospitals
healthcare system lacks or can further improve
upon?
A I am very impressed with the energy, innovation
and splendid facilities in some of your best hospi-
tals. But this is not the case across the system and we
think we can bring our experience of one of the most cost-
effective health systems in the world in a wider range of
existing and new hospitals and healthcare services.
What would be your strategy in India? How
do you intend to work in the Indian healthcare
landscape?
A We will continue to work with the Union govern-
ment and states to support India in major challeng-
es such as healthcare education, the development of pri-
mary care, and anti-microbial resistance.
We believe in developing and maintaining trusted rela-
tionships with major healthcare providers and develop-
ers to ensure NHS organizations, UK universities, and
companies can do business in a healthy partnership: as
PM Modi says, an unbeatable combination.
What challenges do you foresee that may need
to be addressed while collaborating?
A We have a challenge in demonstrating just how
much the UK can offer. So for example, in June
2016, I lead a delegation which exhibited and showcased
its expertise in two venues in Delhi and Mumbai.
We know that UK prices are not sustainable in the Indian
markets, so we encourage our suppliers to develop cost-
effective methods in partnership with Indian suppliers.
And we have to continue to convince UK suppliers that
India is a great place to do business and that concerns,
for example, about trustworthiness in business and the
distance from the UK can be overcome.
What can the Indian healthcare system learn
from the NHS?
A Fundamentally, we can help produce what the US
Commonwealth Fund has named (in 2014) as the
most effective healthcare service in the developed world
in an Indian context. This may be a privately funded sys-
tem or if required, a government system.
Any newer implementations that can we can
anticipate from NHS in the next couple of
years?
A We expect to see the first of a series of new Indo-UK
Institutes of Health come up in the next couple of
years. This is a partnership with Kings College Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust in London and other UK suppli-
ers to create UK standard hospitals and training insti-
tutes.
We also hope to see UK companies who normally work
with the NHS working with partners in India to respond
to government tenders as we have done in the Maharash-
tra ambulance service.
There are also some exciting collaborations, in particular
specialities, and in training programs which are happen-
ing between major Indian hospitals and the NHS, and UK
private healthcare sector which I hope will be announced
in the coming months. BS

BioTalk
A
lthough currently small and focused on few
diseases, the biosimilars opportunity is all set
to grow, thanks to the unprecedented patent
cliff and rising healthcare costs. Biosimilars are
a clear potential for players in emerging Asian countries
as there is a need to broaden healthcare coverage with
limited budgets.
Several Asian companies have been increasing their focus
on biosimilars, terming it a long term prospect. Recently,
Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla announced that its
proposed biotech subsidiary in South Africa will invest
just over R1.3 billion into the country’s first state-of-the-
art biotech manufacturing facility, for the production of
biosimilars. As per the company’s release, the facility will
have the necessary design capacity and capabilities and
will seek regulatory approvals to supply both to the local
market and to export into the rest of Africa and Europe.
The factory, which will be located in the Department of
Trade and Industries Special Economic Zone of Dube
Tradeport in Durban, will manufacture biosimilar drugs
made from living organisms and used in the treatment
of cancer and other diseases. At full capacity, the facility
will create up to 300 jobs, primarily in the engineering
and biological science fields. This facility will run inde-
pendently.
This is not Cipla’s first foray in the African market. In
2013, Cipla had acquired South African drug firm Med-
Pro, one of its first large foreign acquisition and has been
ramping up presence in the African nation since then.
Last September, Cipla had made an announcement that
all its biologic business will be consolidated under Cipla
Biotech, which will focus on drug development in cancer,
respiratory, and diabetes treatments.
The company also said in its release that, in South Africa,
people without access to private insurance cannot afford
biologic medicine due to the very high prices of the in-
novator molecules. Currently about 1-in-50 patients in
Africa have access to biologic medication. Cipla further
added that with this new venture they are striving to re-
duce this number to about 1-in-5 cancer patients through
‘Cipla’s investment
will help create first
biocluster in
South Africa’
Chandru Chawla
Head, Cipla New Ventures
Interview
BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Chandru Chawla, head of Cipla New Ventures, to
elaborate on Cipla’s plans for its new South African facility, the biosimilar
opportunity, challenges and their expansion plans for future.

BioTalk
the production and supply of biosimilar medication at an
affordable price.
Cipla is strengthening its base in Africa with
its new biosimilars facility. Please tell us more
about this facility.
A This will be a modular facility supporting our strat-
egy of small footprint, distributed manufacturing
and will cater to international markets as well. The facil-
ity will be located in the Department of Trade and Indus-
tries Special Economic Zone of Dube Tradeport in Dur-
ban and will manufacture biosimilar drugs made from
living organisms that would be used in the treatment of
cancer and other diseases. Construction is scheduled to
start in early 2017, with full operations expected to com-
mence in the third quarter of 2018. The manufacturing
base here in South Africa will allow opportunities for sup-
ply chain partners and related companies to get involved.
With this investment we aim to create the first bio-cluster
on the African continent.
In your opinion, how important are biosimilars
for the South African market?
A Biosimilars are affordable option for healthcare
across the developing world, and mainly in coun-
tries like South Africa the penetration of biologicals is
generally is 2-5 percent. This offers enormous opportu-
nity for those who take a quantum leap to bridge this.
Biosimilars are a clear potential for players in developing
countries as there is a need to broaden healthcare cover-
age with limited budgets. The growing demand for af-
fordable biosimilars by patients will see it grow exponen-
tially not only within Asia but across the globe. The
affordability factor has to come down by a factor of 5 –
10x in developing world for a significant breakthrough.
What are your key initiatives for the Indian
and the African market for the next few years?
A Our products will start being filed in Africa from
2018 onwards and this unit will cover some other
markets as well.
What are the major challenges that you forsee
in commercializing biosimilars in the African
market?
A Unlike generics, commercialization of biosimilars
poses many challenges. The development of bio-
similars is a long process that is fraught with risks and
costs. In Africa, mainly, we will have to target the demand
and supply points for better commercialization. At de-
mand level, we will need to create appropriate levels of
awareness. At supply level, we will endeavour to work
with public, private and NGO stakeholders to create an
appropriate eco system that can influence access to these
affordable medicines and benefit many people, thus re-
ducing healthcare costs.
Please share your thoughts on regulatory
hurdles in the biosimilars space.
A Lack of harmonization poses significant challenges
in front of biosimilar developers, however now the
world is harmonizing towards a regulatory culture that
will recognize strong characterization efforts and smartly
designed clinical trials and encourage indication exten-
sion.
In your opinion which are the most prominent
countries in Asia poised to ride successfully in
the biosimilars wave?
A Currently, South Korea and India are attractively
poised. Former is a bit ahead in terms of learning
curve and talent.
What makes biosimilars an attractive
investment option?
A There is a wide gap between the numbers of pa-
tients who need these and the numbers of patients
who can access them today. Also most of the developed
world can save billions of dollars in health expenditure
through use of biosimilars.
Could you please talk about your product
portfolio in depth?
A In this facility, our focus will be initially on cancer
medications. Our first product, cbt 124, is a bio
similar of avastin.
Globally which are the other emerging markets
that you plan to target? Throw some light on
your expansion plans.
A We think globally – one product, one quality. Our
focus is global – in wave one we plan to target India
and other emerging markets of Asia, Africa, South Amer-
ica, followed by Europe, the US and Japan. BS
Aishwarya Venkatesh
Our products will start
being filed in Africa from
2018 onwardsn and this
unit will cover some other
markets as well.

FASTEST
50
FASTEST
50
FASTEST
50In the July issue, BioSpectrum Asia covered the top performing
companies of pan Asia region and we are now presenting
Fastest 50 companies. The Fastest 50 companies are evaluated
based on their annual revenue and are running close to enter
into BSA Ranking club. The companies are selected from India,
China, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore
and Hong Kong. China and India based companies are among
the front runners whereas Korean companies also exhibited
success in commercializing the products. Australia’s Heartware
and Singapore's Luye Pharma demonstrated good strategies to
pump up their revenue to get going in the competition. Here is
the complete list:
BIOSCIENCE
COMPANIES
IN ASIA PACIFIC
CoverStory

1 DABUR, INDIA
Dabur India is one of India’s leading FMCG Companies and is a world lead-
er in Ayurveda with a portfolio of over 250 Herbal/Ayurvedic products.
Dabur operates in key consumer product categories like Hair Care, Oral
Care, Health Care, Skin Care, Home Care and Foods. Dabur's products also
have huge presence in the overseas markets and are available in over 120
countries across the globe.
Revenue: $898 Million
2 TORRENT PHARMA
Torrent Pharma is a dominant player in the therapeutic areas of cardiovas-
cular, central nervous system, gastro-intestinal, diabetology, anti-infective
and pain management segments, nephrology, oncology gynecology, and
pediatric segments. Recently Torrent Pharma acquired the branded do-
mestic formulations business of Elder Pharmaceuticals in India and Nepal.
Revenue: $831 million
3 CK LIFE SCIENCES, CHINA
CK Life Sciences International is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong. CK Life Sciences is engaged in the business of research and devel-
opment, commercialization, marketing and sale of health and agriculture-
related products. CK Life Sciences is a member of the CK Hutchison Group.
4 WOCKHARDT, INDIA
Wockhardt is a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company headquartered
in Mumbai, India. The company has manufacturing plants and subsidiar-
ies in India, UK, Ireland, France and US. It produces formulations, bio-
pharmaceuticals, nutrition products, vaccines and active pharmaceutical
ingredients. Wockhardt Hospitals is a subsidiary of the Wockhardt Group.
5 PHARMANIAGA
Pharmaniaga is Malaysia’s integrated pharmaceutical group, a provider of
healthcare products and services. The company provides logistics and dis-
tribution, manufacturing of generic pharmaceuticals, sales and marketing,
as well as distribution of medical products and hospital equipment. Draw-
ing upon the synergies of these activities, Pharmaniaga has expanded its
reach to Malaysians through the establishment of community pharmacy.
Fastest50

6 CHENGZHI
Chengzi is engaged in the production and distribution of chemicals, life
science and pharmaceutical products. The company’s products portfolio
consists of biological products, including D-ribose, L-glutamine and oth-
ers. The company distributes its products in Jiangxi province, Beijing, Lia-
oning province, Hebei province and Guangdong province, China.
7 CELLTRION
Celltrion Healthcare is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in
Incheon, South Korea. Celltrion Healthcare conducts worldwide market-
ing, sales, and distribution of biological medicines. The company’s prod-
ucts are manufactured at mammalian cell culture facilities designed and
built to comply with the United States FDA’s cGMP, and the European
Medicines Agency’s GMP standards.
8 JEIL PHARMACEUTICAL
Jeil Pharmaceutical is a Korea-based company mainly engaged in the man-
ufacture and distribution of pharmaceuticals.
9 COCHLEAR
Cochlear is an Australian biotechnology company that designs, manufac-
tures and supplies the Nucleuscochlear implant, the Hybrid electro-acous-
tic implant and the Baha bone conduction implant. Cochlear was formed
in 1981 with finance from the Australian government to commercialize the
implants pioneered by Dr Graeme Clark.
10 FISHER PAYKEL HEALTHCARE
Fisher Paykel Healthcare is a manufacturer, designer and marketer of
products and systems for use in respiratory care, acute care, and the treat-
ment of obstructive sleep apnea. Based in New Zealand, their products and
systems are sold in around 120 countries worldwide.
11 SHANDONG XINHUA PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANY LIMITED
Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical is in a leading position in the manu-
facturing technology and capacity for antipyretics and analgesics in China
Fastest50

and is an important manufacturer in China for central nervous system, ste-
roids, cardio cerebrovascular system drugs as well as finished dosage forms
and pharmaceutical intermediates.
12 SHENZHEN SALUBRIS PHARMACEUTICALS
Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals is a professional pharmaceutical en-
terprise rooted in China and devoted to improving health worldwide. The
company focuses on the new generation of specialty medicine, and it has
nationally approved modern GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing facili-
ties, advanced equipment and testing instruments, producing tablet, cap-
sule, and injection formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients,
with subsidiary branches and marketing network throughout China.
13 PIRAMAL HEALTHCARE
Piramal Healthcare forayed into the health care space in 1988. The compa-
ny has manufacturing bases across India, UK, Scotland, USA and Canada
through subsidiaries. Piramal’s critical care products are available in the
emergency rooms of hospitals across the globe and the company’s products
are available in over 100 countries. Piramal is presently the third largest
player in the global Inhalation Anesthesia (IA) market, and the only com-
pany in the world with a complete product portfolio of Inhalation Anes-
thetics drugs.
14 CHINA GRAND PHARMACEUTICAL AND
HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS
China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings is an investment
holding company, its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the devel-
opment, manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical preparations, medi-
cal devices pharmaceutical intermediates, specialized raw material and
healthcare products. We aim to become one of the largest pharmaceuti-
cal and healthcare manufacturers in the PRC through organic growth and
acquisitions.
15 JINLING PHARMACEUTICAL, CHINA
Jinling Pharmaceutical manufactures and markets pharmaceutical prod-
ucts. The company's products include the Mailuoning injection for the
treatment of arteries and veins, as well as traditional Chinese and western
pharmaceutical preparations.
Fastest50

16 SIHUAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
Sihuan Pharmaceutical has emerged as a recognized pharmaceutical
company in China’s prescription drug market as one of the recognized
cardio-cerebral vascular prescription drug franchise by market share. The
company’s product portfolio includes medical therapeutic areas in cardio-
cerebral vascular system, central nervous system, metabolism, oncology
and anti-infectives. The company has over 70 new drugs under various de-
velopment stages, including 14 innovative patented drugs.
17 ILDONG PHARMACEUTICAL, KOREA
Il Dong Pharmaceutical develops and manufactures over-the-counter
drugs, such as vitamins, antibiotics, and antifebriles. The company also
produces air fresheners, detergents, and water antiseptic solutions.
18 BLACKMORES
Blackmores is Australia's most trusted manufacturer and distributor of vi-
tamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements. Blackmores was
founded more than 80 years ago by naturopath Maurice Blackmore. The
company has a strong range of more than 250 vitamins, minerals, herbal
and nutritional supplements that are developed by its in-house experts
that exacts the requirements under the international Pharmaceutical In-
spection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme
(PIC/s) standards of good manufacturing practice (GMP).
19 ALEMBIC PHARMACEUTICALS
Established in 1907, Alembic Pharmaceuticals is a leading pharmaceutical
company in India. The company is vertically integrated with the ability to
develop, manufacture and market pharmaceutical products, pharmaceuti-
cal substances and Intermediates.
20 LG LIFE SCIENCES
LG Life Sciences is a Korea-based company mainly engaged in the phar-
maceutical business and fine chemical business. The company operates its
business through two segments: pharmaceutical segment, which engages
in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, espogen,
cardiovascular remedies, anti-infective drugs, hyaluronic acid products,
growth hormone substances, arthritis drugs, infertility drugs and others,
as well as animal drugs, such as milk production stimulants for cows, and
fine chemical segment, which provides synthetic drugs raw material, ag-
ricultural pesticides raw material and others. The company distributes its
Fastest50

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products within domestic market and to overseas markets.
21 IPCA LABORATORIES
Ipca is a fully-integrated Indian pharmaceutical company manufacturing
over 350 formulations and 80 APIs for various therapeutic segments. The
company manufactures and supplies APIs from the basic stage at manu-
facturing facilities endorsed by the world's most discerning drug regula-
tory authorities. Ipca is a therapy leader in India for anti-malarials with a
market share of over 34%.
22 JW PHARMACEUTICAL (FORMERLY KNOWN AS
CHOONGWAE PHARMA)
JW Pharmaceutical Corporation develops and sells anticancer, gastroin-
testinal, rheumatic arthritis, renal, antibiotic, amino acids and TPN, car-
diovascular, respiratory, and many other products. The company produces
medical appliances, such as digital X-ray, LED astral lamps, incubators,
etc. It has operations in Japan, Europe, Germany, the United States, the
Middle East, and South Korea. JW Pharmaceutical was founded in 1945
and is based in Seoul, South Korea.
23 GLAXOSMITHKLINE PHARMACEUTICALS
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals is an Indian subsidiary of GlaxoSmith-
Kline. It is one of the oldest pharmaceuticals companies in India. Its prod-
uct portfolio includes prescription medicines and vaccines. The company
also offers a range of vaccines, for the prevention of hepatitis A, hepatitis B,
invasive disease caused by H influenzae, chickenpox, diphtheria, pertussis,
tetanus, rotavirus, cervical cancer and others.
24 EMAMI (FORMERLY ZANDU PHARMA)
Emami is an Indian producer of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), en-
gaged in personal care and healthcare businesses. The company's health
products unit offers tonics for colds and coughs as well as nutraceuticals.
In 2008, Emami acquired Zandu Pharmaceutical Works. The company de-
merged Zandu FMCG into Emami and raised Rs.310 crore through QIP.
The company became debt free within 2 years of the Zandu deal.
Fastest50

25 ABBOTT INDIA
Abbott India is part of Abbott's Global Pharmaceutical business in India.
Headquartered in Mumbai, Abbott India, a publicly listed company and a
subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories, enjoys strong brand equity in multiple
therapeutic categories such as Women's Health, Gastroenterology, Neu-
rology, Thyroid, Diabetes Urology, Pain Management, Vitamins, Anti-
Infectives other therapy areas.
26 ZHEJIANG XIANJU PHARMACEUTICAL
Zhejiang Xianju Pharmaceutical is a Chinese company manufacturing ste-
roid drug products, steroid hormone medicines, and medicines for birth
control. The company’s main business is focused on the development, pro-
duction, and sale of raw material and preparation of pharmaceutics for ste-
roid drugs. It has built a long-term partnership with more than 20 famous
scientific research institutes and universities in China such as Shanghai
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chinese Pharmaceutical University.
27 ZHEJIANG HISOAR PHARMACEUTICAL
Zhejiang Hisoar Pharmaceutical is a Chinese company engaged in the
manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical raw material and pharmaceuti-
cal intermediates. The company’s products comprise antibiotic drugs,
fine chemicals, antiviral drugs, hypoglycemic series, psychotropic series,
preparations, deworming series, cardiovascular drugs and other series.
The company distributes its products within the domestic market and to
overseas markets.
28 BIOCON
Biocon is an India-based company that manufactures pharmaceuticals,
medicinal chemical and botanical products. The company is engaged in
developing biologics and biosimilars for addressing chronic diseases, such
as cancer, diabetes and autoimmune conditions for patients across the
world. The company offers Insugen, which is a generic insulin brand. The
company's subsidiaries include Syngene International, Biocon Research,
Biocon Pharma, Biocon SA, Biocon SDN BHD, NeoBiocon FZ and Biocon
Academy.
29 SSY GROUP
SSY Group (formerly known as Lijun International Pharmaceutical Hold-
ing) is one of the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in China and is
principally engaged in the research, development, manufacture and sale
Fastest50

of a wide range of pharmaceutical products mainly intravenous infusion
solution. The group went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in De-
cember 2005.
30 LUYE PHARMA GROUP
Luye Pharma Group is a research and development focused enterprise
with a strong profile in oncology, cardiovascular system, alimentary tract
and metabolism, and central nervous system. The company facilities in
Yantai, Nanjing, Beijing and Luzhou; as well as overseas branch offices in
Hong Kong, USA, Singapore and Malaysia. The company currently sells
approximately 30 products and over 80% of its total revenue is attributable
to patent-protected products. Luye Pharma currently has seven product
candidates for overseas markets of which one is preparing to submit NDA
application and three are undergoing clinical trials in the US.
31 SANOFI INDIA (FORMERLY CALLED AVENTIS PHARMA)
Sanofi, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, and its 100%
subsidiary, Hoechst GmbH, are the major shareholders of Sanofi India and
together hold 60.4% of its paid-up share capital. Sanofi engages in the re-
search and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuti-
cal drugs principally in the prescription market, but the firm also develops
over-the-counter medication.
32 PFIZER INDIA
Pfizer India is headquartered in Mumbai. In India, Pfizer instituted the
first ever Disease Management Program -- Healthy Heart in Cardio Vas-
cular Disease in partnership with Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad and Apollo
Hospital, Chennai. It has a manufacturing facility at Thane, Maharashtra.
33 CSPC PHARMACEUTICAL GROUP
CSPC Pharmaceutical has three major business segments including inno-
vative drugs, common generic drugs and bulk drugs. The group focuses on
the manufacturing, researching and marketing of medicines and pharma-
ceutical related products. The company has nearly 1,000 finished drugs
products including antibiotics, cardio-cerebrovascular drugs, antipyretic
analgesic drugs, digestive system drugs, oncology drugs and traditional
Chinese medicine. Bulk drugs developed by the company include antibiot-
ics, Vitamin C and caffeine series. The manufacturing facilities of CSPC are
mainly located in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China.
Fastest50

34 CHINA SHINEWAY PHARMACEUTICAL
GROUP
China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group is a Chinese medicine injection
and soft capsule manufacturer in the PRC. The company’s shares are listed
on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Shineway’s products are
primarily categorized into three major types: injection, soft capsule and
granule.
35 SHANGHAI RAAS BLOOD PRODUCTS
Shanghai RAAS Blood Products specializes in the manufacture of plasma
derived medical products for therapeutic use in the areas of immunology,
hematology and intensive care medicines. Its subsidiaries and partner
companies produce vaccines and Recombinant DNA pharmaceuticals.
36 HEARTWARE INTERNATIONAL
HeartWare International develops and manufactures miniaturized im-
plantable heart pumps, or ventricular assist devices, to treat patients suf-
fering from advanced heart failure. The HeartWare Ventricular Assist Sys-
tem obtained US market approval in 2012 from the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) as a bridge-to-transplant therapy for patients with
advanced stage heart failure. The HeartWare System has been commer-
cially available in other global markets including Europe and Australia,
since 2009.
37 NECTAR LIFESCIENCES
Nectar Lifesciences is a pharmaceutical company in India that manufac-
tures generic products for EU and USA. The company manufactures oral
and sterile cephalosporins. Its facilities are approved by USFDA, the Euro-
pean Union and Japan. The company is also in business of providing lead-
ing pharmaceutical organizations with contract research and manufactur-
ing services. It also manufactures empty hard gelatin capsules and exports
natural menthol and allied products.
Fastest50

38 3SBIO INC
3SBio Inc is a biotechnology company located in China. The company fo-
cuses on mammalian cell-based biopharmaceuticals in the biotechnology
industry. 3SBio also develops, manufactures and markets biopharmaceu-
tical products globally. The company has a pipeline of 20 product candi-
dates, 14 of which are being developed as National Class I New Drugs in
China. The company has several product candidates that target auto-im-
mune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and refractory gout.
39 AJANTA PHARMA
Ajanta Pharma is an Indian company engaged in development, manufac-
ture and marketing of pharmaceutical formulations worldwide, with its
headquarters in Mumbai. It has a robust business of Branded Generics
across India and about 30 emerging markets. The company has presence
in fast-growing specialty therapeutic segments of cardiology, dermatology,
ophthalmology and pain management apart from serving many other main
line therapeutic segments like anti-malarial, premium anti-biotic, anti-al-
lergy etc.
40 GUANGDONG ZHONGSHENG
PHARMACEUTICAL
Guangdong Zhongsheng Pharmaceutical is engaged in the manufacture
and distribution of Chinese patent medicines and pharmaceutical chemi-
cals. It provides proprietary Chinese medicine preparations such as cap-
sules for thrombus, pellets for upper respiratory tract diseases and granu-
lar for sunstroke, among others. Through its subsidiaries, it also engages
in the wholesale of active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and
Chinese medicines.
41 GRAPE KING
Grape King is one of the top manufacturers in the health food biotechnol-
ogy industry of Taiwan and is also a cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing
Practices) certified pharmaceutical manufacturer. The company was estab-
lished in 1991 for research and development as well as production of drugs
including Antrodia camphorata, Antrodia salmonea and antibiotics. The
company has been awarded one US patent, two China patents and six Tai-
wan patents via working with national academic and research institutions
to develop and improve products through cooperative research.
Fastest50

42 ANHUI FENGYUAN PHARMACEUTICAL
Anhui Fengyuan Pharmaceutical is engaged in the research, development,
manufacture and distribution of biological medicines, Chinese medicines,
as well as chemical synthetic medicines and preparations. The company
offers ibutilide fumarate injections for the treatment of cardiovascular
diseases, cilnidipine tablets for the treatment of hypertension, aspirin-DL-
lysine for injection reducing fever, Ruzengning Jiaonang for the treatment
of hyperplasia of mammary glands, paracetanmol pseudophedrine sulfate
and clemastine fumarate tablets for the treatment of influenza, diclofenac
sodium patches for relieving pains, naftopidil tablets for the treatment of
urinary obstruction and zalepion tablets for the treatment of insomnia.
The company operates its businesses mainly in China domestic market.
43 GRANULES INDIA
Granules India is an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing company based
in Hyderabad, India. The company manufactures tablets, Pharmaceutical
Formulation Intermediates (PFIs) and APIs which are distributed in over
50 countries. Granules manufactures several off-patent drugs, including
Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Metformin and Guaifenesin, on a large scale for
customers in the regulated and semi-regulated markets.
44 DONGWHA PHARM
Dongwha Pharm is a Korea-based company engaged in the manufacture of
pharmaceuticals. The company’s products consist of ethical drugs, includ-
ing digestive system remedies, antibiotics, cardiovascular and metabolic
disease treatments, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, respiratory
remedies, muscle relaxants, nervous, etc.
45 HUALAN BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Hualan Biological Engineering is a China-based company principally engaged
in the research, development, production and sale of blood products and vac-
cine products. The company mainly provides human albumin, intravenous
immunoglobulin, influenza vaccines and other products. The company dis-
tributes its products in the domestic market and to the overseas markets.
46 CENTRAL LABORATORIES
Central Laboratories was established in November 1959 as Zhengshi Phar-
maceutical and was mainly engaged in the production of capsule and tablet
Fastest50

formulations. In 1996 the company was renamed as Central Laboratories
and its main products include liquid and tablets for oral medication.
47 DAEWON PHARM
Daewon Pharm is a Korea-based advanced pharmaceutical company hav-
ing its own new medicine development ability and is developing various
modified new medicines and natural drugs such as hepatitis medicine.
48 ZHEJIANG JINGXIN PHARMACEUTICAL
Zhejiang Jingxin Pharmaceutical is a China-based company engaged in
manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals. The company provides raw ma-
terial of chemical drugs, chemical preparations and Chinese herbal prepa-
rations, including quinolone drugs, drugs for cardio-cerebral-vascular
diseases, cephalosporin drugs, antidepressant drugs, anti-inflammatory
analgesic, anti-allergic agents, traditional Chinese herbal medicines and
other drugs. It distributes its products principally within domestic market
and to overseas markets.
49 GUILIN SANJIN PHARMACEUTICAL
Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical was founded in 1967. It is specialized in re-
search and production of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and natural
medicine, and is also one of the earliest enterprises that produces contem-
porary TCM preparations. The company’s watermelon frost is a well-
known throat medicine with 200 years of history.
50 MINDRAY MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL
Mindray Medical International is China's largest medical equipment man-
ufacturer that develops, manufactures, and markets a variety of medical
devices, equipment and accessories for both human and veterinary use.
The company is currently organized into three key business lines: Patient
Monitoring Life Support, In-Vitro Diagnostic Products, and Medical Im-
aging Systems. Mindray possesses 41 subsidiaries and branch offices in 31
countries in North and Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, as
well as 32 branch offices in China. To date, Mindray has around 8,200 em-
ployees around the world. Its North American headquarters are located in
Mahwah, New Jersey.
Fastest50

BioColumn
Global business
services a new
way forward for life
sciences companies
G
reater uncertainty in the
global macroeconomic
environment is prompt-
ing companies around the
world, including life sciences firms,
to take a closer look at their opera-
tions in a bid to improve operational
processes and derive greater cost
savings. One of the means of doing
so is through outsourcing, which has
been going on for a long time, though
it was done previously in a fragment-
ed and decentralized manner.
Now, companies – particularly those
with operations in many different
jurisdictions – are adopting a more
holistic approach in how they deliver
services like IT, finance, account-
ing, human resources, procurement
and other business services across
an organisation. As international
life sciences companies seek ways
to transform their operations in the
midst of wrenching change, they are
establishing global business services
(GBS), which is a cross-functional,
globe-spanning model that inte-
grates resources, capabilities and
systems throughout the entire enter-
prise. GBS includes centres of excel-
lence, shared services centres and
outsourcing, extending operational
improvements considerably further
into every corner of the organisation.
A key element of GBS is the focus on
processes that span the entire enter-
prise. The orientation of end-to-end
processes as part of GBS can enable
the enterprise to adopt new technol-
ogies more rapidly and benefit from
them faster. An example of this is
cognitive automation, a continuum
of technologies that companies can
use to automate business processes
and operations.
For instance, cognitive automation
can help to monitor the supply chain
continually to ensure that a pharma-
A key element of GBS is the focus on
processes that span the entire enterprise.
End-toend processes can enable the
enterprise to adopt new technologies
Juvanus Tjandra
Management Consulting Partner,
KPMG, Singapore
Ajay Sanganeria
Life Sciences Partner, KPMG in
Singapore

BioColumn
gressive with the increased aware-
ness of tax planning ideas and flow of
information to them. As such, a full-
fledged GBS model is critical for tax
function so that information can be
provided to tax authorities in a more
coordinated manner rather than in
a fragmented manner by different
shared service centres which may not
have full visibility of the business and
operating models. It will also help
to create a Tax Risk Management
framework to proactively identify red
flags and effectively manage compli-
ance.
Despite these benefits, many compa-
nies have not yet taken full advantage
of the effect of establishing GBS for
their organisations. Once they see
the wide-ranging gains from GBS
and implement it fully, they will be
able to realise the value. But they
should not underestimate the scope
of the changes required and the de-
gree of resistance that might be met
with in the company. The roles and
responsibilities of many people at all
levels of the organization will be af-
fected, as one would expect with any
profound alteration in governance
and processes.
Company leaders then, should com-
municate the benefits of GBS to the
entire company and build support for
behind the structural change. They
should also ensure that GBS imple-
mentation is closely aligned with the
company’s overall strategy. With the
right preparation, the journey to-
wards GBS can bring about the gain
while lessening the pain. BS
ceutical company and its suppliers
comply with the anti-bribery and
corruption regulations around the
world, by combining databases to
look for outliers.
There are many other benefits of
GBS, which are outlined in a report
by KPMG International, Global Busi-
ness Services in Life Sciences: A
Window to the Future. The report is
based on years of advisory work by
KPMG subject matter experts who
advise companies on how to imple-
ment GBS to transform their opera-
tions.
Among the benefits of GBS highlight-
ed in the report is first and foremost,
cost savings through the centralisa-
tion of core functions. Companies
can continue to extract savings long
after they have exhausted other av-
enues for achieving efficiencies. For
example, a study by KPMG in the US
has found that when cognitive auto-
mation is part of GBS, labour costs
can be reduced by 40 to 75 percent,
more than double the savings de-
rived from shifting the operations to
cheaper labour markets.
Another benefit of GBS is stronger
compliance, as organisations will be
able to build more robust structures
and standard processes to comply
with growing demands from regu-
lators around the world, for better
business conduct.
In addition, there can be faster imple-
mentation of corporate transactions,
where the completion of mergers
and divestitures can be accelerated,
shortening the time-to-market and
time-to-benefit. In one case, a phar-
maceutical company bought 11 busi-
nesses within two years and its GBS
organization was able to help disen-
tangle and integrate them into the
central organisation.
Increased flexibility is also another
advantage that GBS organisations
can look forward to, as they will be
able to be more responsive to busi-
ness needs than a regionally-focused,
siloed structure of shared services.
As corporate transactions in the in-
dustry pick up speed, there is a need
for a flexible and adaptable platform
for the back and middle office. This
in turn helps the organisations to
scale up quickly to meet new busi-
ness needs.
By incorporating all key services
worldwide into a single GBS organ-
isation, companies can fully realise
economies of scale. For example,
multinational corporations that have
offices in various regions would have
different cultures and languages to
contend with. By standardising pro-
cesses globally, it makes it easier to
implement the changes.
Business impact is also greater when
GBS is fully implemented, as it can
become an independent operating
unit providing fully integrated end-
to-end services ranging from trans-
actional activities to strategic analyt-
ics and insights. It can then leverage
on digital and innovative solutions to
acquire new customers and increase
revenue.
Improved tax risk management is an-
other benefit for GBS firms. What is
seen now is that tax rules worldwide
and particularly in the Asia-Pacific
region are changing faster than ever
before with the adoption of Base Ero-
sion and Profit Shifting guidelines
by Government authorities. Tax au-
thorities are getting increasingly ag-
Disclaimer: The views and opin-
ions are those of the authors and do
not necessarily represent the views
and opinions of KPMG in Singa-
pore. All information provided is of
a general nature and is not intended
to address the circumstances of any
particular individual or entity.
Many companies
have not taken full
advantage of the effect
of establishing GBS for
their organisations

BioTalk
Zenobia Walji
Vice President, Southeast Asia, Medtronic
Q What are the expansion plans of Medtronic
in Southeast Asia for next couple of years?
A
Like many parts of the world, healthcare in South-
east Asia, faces many challenges. The developed
portions of Southeast Asia have an aging popula-
tion with rising costs in a tight economy. The emerging
portions of Southeast Asia face a higher demand for
healthcare, but with inadequate infrastructure and clini-
cal capability to serve the needs of the population. This
places a heavy toll on patients and their families, as infra-
structure development will take time to catch up with de-
mand. At Medtronic, we recognize the constraints of the
developed and emerging markets and are committed to
improving patient outcomes, optimizing costs and ex-
panding access to care to counter these growing demands.
With Singapore as our regional hub, we are well placed to
play a central role in solving these issues. Our scale and
breadth of resources now enhanced by the acquisition of
Covidien, enables us to stretch further and reinforce our
dedication to help lead a transformation in healthcare,
not only across this region but throughout the world.
We believe that there are unlimited opportunities to
transform healthcare in Southeast Asia. A key driver of
our strategy focuses on instituting new ways of working
and collaborating with like-minded partners. These ap-
proaches will help Medtronic to strengthen health sys-
tems and improve delivery of innovative treatments and
therapies across the region.
For example, we recently signed two MoU’s, one with
National Neuroscience Institute to establish a Center of
Excellence for deep brain stimulation to advance treat-
ment for patients with Parkinson’s Disease, and another
with SingHealth to set up a Center of Excellence in dia-
‘We are
committed
to improving
patient
outcomes’
A key driver of our strategy focuses on instituting new ways of working and
collaborating with like-minded partners.

BioTalk
betes treatment and management
in Southeast Asia. Through these
efforts, we are educating physicians
and patients about advanced life-en-
hancing technologies and therapies,
while also working to make them
more accessible in the region.
Q
What is the share of
business generated from
Southeast Asia?
A
Southeast Asia represents an
exciting, sustainable growth
region for Medtronic. As part
of the Asean Economic Community,
this is a region that is getting better
organized to capitalize on growth,
with the region evolving from being
the 7th largest world economy to ex-
pecting to become the 4th largest by
2030.
With over 650 million people, this
region therefore has the potential to
be in the Top 3-4 highest growth con-
tributing regions.
Q
Singapore considers med
tech an important
industry for economy
growth. Are other Asian
countries keen enough to
invest in med tech sector?
A
In a McKinsey report in Febru-
ary 2016, it was reported that
by 2020, Asia Pacific is expect-
ed to surpass the European Union as
the world’s second largest med tech
market after the United States. The
demand for med tech in Asia Pacific
is growing rapidly, and we anticipate
that many Asian countries will con-
tinue to invest in this sector to ad-
dress the growing demand for medi-
cal devices and patient needs.
Q
How can new medical
technologies revolutionize
the healthcare system?
A
Asia Pacific, including South-
east Asia, faces serious health-
care challenges such as ineffi-
cient care delivery, rising costs, an
aging population and the burden of
chronic diseases, among others.
We are focused on helping patients
with certain chronic and complex
medical conditions, including but
not limited to diabetes, stroke and
coronary artery disease. We real-
ized that these types of conditions
are high volume, high cost, well-
studied medical conditions and dis-
ease states with significant variation
in treatment costs and outcomes. By
focusing on them, these are the types
of conditions that can result in mean-
ingful improvements in cost and out-
comes.
This is why, beyond focusing on de-
veloping technologies and services,
Medtronic is looking at new ways
and avenues to improve healthcare
delivery and systems to drive better
patient outcomes.
For example, by signing the MoU
with SingHealth in June 2016, we
hope to advance joint efforts to ad-
dress the needs of people living with
diabetes, especially in terms of de-
veloping and deploying innovative
products and integrated solutions to
improve quality of care and patient
outcomes.
In 2011, Medtronic built a manufac-
turing facility to meet the expected
growth in the demand of cardiac de-
vices in the region. It allows us to re-
spond more effectively and efficiently
to the needs of customers and pa-
tients with cardiac rhythm disorders,
improving standards of care in this
region. We also built an education
center to provide hands-on training
for the latest technologies.
Q
Can you share some new
innovative products
developed by Medtronic?
A
Medtronic strives to offer prod-
ucts and services that deliver
clinical and economic value to
healthcare consumers and providers
around the world.
We have recently announced new
results from the Medtronic Micra
Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS)
Global Clinical Trial in a late-break-
ing trial session in Europe.
The Micra TPS is less than one-tenth
the size of traditional pacemakers
and the only leadless pacemaker ap-
proved for use in both the US and Eu-
rope. It is attached to the heart with
small tines and delivers electrical
impulses that pace the heart through
an electrode at the end of the device.
Unlike traditional pacemakers, the
Micra TPS does not require leads or
a surgical ‘pocket’ under the skin, so
potential sources of complications
related to such leads and pocket are
eliminated-as are any visible signs
of the device. New clinical data con-
tinues to show the safety benefits of
the Micra TPS for patients enrolled
in the pre-market Micra TPS Global
Clinical Trial.
In collaboration with leading clini-
cians, researchers and scientists
worldwide, Medtronic offers the
broadest range of innovative medical
technology for the interventional and
surgical treatment of cardiovascular
disease and cardiac arrhythmias.
Q Can pharma and med tech
companies work more
closely to bring
integrated products for
healthcare?
In 2011 Medtronic
built a manufacturing
facility to meet the
growth in demand

BioTalk
Amrita Tejasvi
A
In a region as diverse and com-
plex as Southeast Asia, no sin-
gle entity in the healthcare eco-
system can solve patients’ challenges
alone. Only by working together with
a variety of stakeholders from aca-
demia, medical institutions and gov-
ernment bodies, can we create far-
reaching advancements in healthcare
that patients around the world need
and deserve.
Q
How is regulatory in
Southeast Asia evolving
in the med tech sector in
accordance to the new and
innovative technologies?
A
ASEAN countries have come
together as early as 2005 to
form a Medical Device Product
Working Group (MDPWG) and have
developed a uniform system of regis-
tering and assessing medical devices
across all members states. This is
called ASEAN Medical Device Direc-
tive (AMDD) which was signed by the
10 member states in August 2014 and
for transposition into their national
regulations in January 2015. Thus,
these member countries have started
to draft, finalize and implement their
medical device regulations in accor-
dance to the provisions of AMDD.
With the regulations being defined
clearer and technical requirements
being harmonized in the region, it is
expected to have an increasing num-
ber of medical device companies en-
tering into the ASEAN market with
their most advanced and new genera-
tion medical technologies.
In 2015, this Medical Device Product
Working Group had their last session
and formed a new group called ASE-
AN Medical Technical Committee to
discuss the detailed implementation
plans of AMDD and challenges of
each member country, to present new
areas of discussion (e.g. refurbish-
ment, medical device nomenclature)
and to obtain technical assistance
with dialogue partners. With the con-
tinued capacity building program for
both ASEAN regulators and indus-
try to support the implementation
of the AMDD under the ASEAN-US
Enhanced Partnership, it is expected
that efficiency and proficiency shall be
achieved in the assessment of medi-
cal devices, thus ensures faster regis-
tration approval for ASEAN countries
resulting to faster and greater access
to new technologies.
Q
Is Southeast Asia an
important region for
clinical trial of new
technologies?
A
Most definitely! Southeast Asia
has over 650 million people
and is a region that is fast grow-
ing in numbers and wealth and an
aging population.
We know that many conditions such
as vascular diseases manifest them-
selves differently in this part of the
world due to a variety of factors, in-
cluding anatomy, disease progres-
sion, patient age, lifestyle choices
(nutrition, compliance, etc). So there
are important clinical insights we
could obtain here that are not avail-
able from Europe or the US and that
will enable better product develop-
ment, treatment and diagnosis pro-
tocols that are better suited for the
Asian population. In fact, because
European or US data does not apply
to Southeast Asia, it has slowed down
the adoption of new technologies.
The collection of local clinical data it-
self is a powerful tool to raise disease
awareness among governments and
make stronger reimbursement ar-
guments that open up access to care
for more patients. In Southeast Asia,
Singapore is a great market for trials
and registries because of its infra-
structure and credibility around exe-
cuting high quality research. We also
have the advantage that we have so
many regional ethnicities. Thailand
also has good potential for research
given their bigger population base,
physician skill, comparatively good
infrastructure, and more reimburse-
ment which provides for greater ac-
cess to care.
Q
What are the challenges
of conducting clinical
trials in Asia?
A
The main challenges are around
experience in conducting clini-
cal research, access to enough
(paying) patients in some markets,
and infrastructure in some countries.
The competition among centers to
become part of research efforts or the
disappointment of not being selected
is stronger here than in more mature
markets where certain therapies are
more broadly adopted. There is also
less experience in writing peer-re-
viewed articles and conducting the
analysis. This means that we either
need to pair centers up with Western
KOLs to write the articles or we need
to invest in providing training for
this. Writing these articles is difficult
and requires a lot of experience. I
have had numerous discussions
about this with Western KOLs who
had SEA physicians attached to them
and most felt that research and writ-
ing experience is lacking. This is part-
ly due to language barriers and partly
to a predominant focus on clinical
practice versus research, which is
very understandable. This also closes
the door on access to premium jour-
nals, which Medtronic and Western
KOLs can help with. BS

IDA Ireland (Investment Development Agency) is Irish Government’s investment and
development agency responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland.
The country houses tech giants including Facebook, Sanofi, Intel, Yahoo, Adobe, Microsoft,
SAP, HP, Apple, LinkedIn, Deutsche Bank, Google and Amazon among others. IDA is in
business since the 1950s, and has offices in Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and
Singapore. It employs over 300 people and half of them are from overseas.
Based in Shanghai, John Conlon is the EVP and head of APAC Operations at IDA Ireland.
He recently visited India on a business trip, and spoke exclusively to BioSpectrum providing
deep insights and happenings in Ireland’s Life Sciences sector, and why Indian Pharma and
Biotech companies should consider investing more in Ireland than ever before.
A gateway to
European markets
BioCluster

F
or Ireland, 70 percent of its
business comes from the US,
20 percent from Europe and
the rest from APAC. In the
next two to five years, the country
aims to accelerate its business to the
next level.
With a population of 5 million, the
country is a host to 2 million work-
force.
Ireland’s GDP stands at €215 billion
and its exports are worth €200 bil-
lion. The country’s pharma exports
amounts to €64 billion, and medtech
alone is about €15 billion, totaling
the Life Sciences business to a value
of €79 billion.
Thriving ecosystem
Decades ago, Pfizer was the first
pharma company to invest in Ire-
land. The country now boasts of hav-
ing nine out of top 10 global pharma
companies including Novartis, John-
son Johnson, Sanofi and AbbVie,
except AstraZeneca.
In the medtech industry, out of the
top 15 global companies, 13 of them
operate in Ireland. Its Life Sciences
sector alone employs 50,000 profes-
sionals and mainly focuses on novel
drugs and generics.
Ireland produces 30 percent of the
world’s contact lenses and 25 percent
of the global injectables for diabetes.
It also manufactures 75 percent of
the world’s orthopedic knees and 90
percent of Botox.
“In 2015, Ireland encountered over
200 major investments. Fifty per-
cent of those companies which in-
vested have never done business in
Ireland before. Pharma and Biotech
alone have seen investments worth
10 billion Euros in the last 10 years.
Between 2012 and 2015, we have had
4 billion Euros worth investments in
this sector,” said Conlon.
providing best quality of services and
products. “India is strong in gener-
ics, and its quality should meet the
EU standards. If Indian companies
want to access the EU markets, then
Ireland would be the place to start
with,” Conlon held.
There are many fundings of differ-
ent varieties offered by the Irish
Government to international com-
panies. Science Foundation Ireland
(SFI) funds basic research in the Bio-
pharmaceutical sector in the areas
of cancer, auto-immune disease and
Alzheimer’s.
Recently, SFI signed a deal with Pfiz-
er for a jointly-funded Biomedical re-
search, helping Pfizer’s drug discov-
ery efforts in and out of Ireland.
The Irish Government provides capi-
tal grants, employment grants, and
for existing companies it offers train-
ing grants, RD development grants,
and RD tax credits which is about
25 percent.
“There are many financial mecha-
nisms which depend on the budget
and the relevancy of the companies.
John Conlon
EVP Head of APAC Ops, Investment
Development Agency (IDA) Ireland
Manufacturing excellence in Bio-
pharmaceuticals is a hallmark of
Ireland’s success in the sector. The
country has now developed 18 manu-
facturing sites till 2015.
Clinical trials
Major Indian corporates in Ireland
include Wockhardt, Infosys, Tata,
Wipro and Tech Mahindra to name
a few.
Ireland is more known for its excel-
lence in managing clinical trials than
running them.
“The population is very small. If you
want to run clinical trials Europe
would be the best place. But we are
more on the clinical trials manage-
ment space,” stated Conlon.
Ireland is the gateway to the Europe-
an markets, he said. Indian compa-
nies in Ireland face the same market
challenges as elsewhere. The Irish
Government has become cost-con-
scious and it controls the healthcare
spends.
Irish fundings
Indian companies are expected in
In the medtech
industry, out of the top
15 global companies,
13 of them operate
in Ireland. Ireland
produces 30 percent
of the world’s contact
lenses.
BioCluster

Finished Pharma
Abbvie
Elanco
Stiefel (GSK)
Charles River
Allergan
Sligo IT
Athlone IT
University, Institute of Technology
Speciality Research Centres
Limerick Universities and
Institutes of Technology
• University of Limerick
• Limerick IT
• Biomedical
Environmental Sensor
Technology Centre
• Biomedical Electronics
Centre
• Solid State
Pharmaceuticals Cluster
Ranbaxy
Cork
AmerisourceBergen Abbvie
Cara Partners Gilead
GE Healthcare GSK
Janssen Pharma Hovione
Janssen Biologics McKesson
Leo Pharma Novartis
Pfizer Recordati
Pharmaceutical Companies
Airports
Waterford IT
Institute of
Technology
Tralee
Carlow IT
Dundalk IT
Letterkenny IT
Dublin’s Universities and
• Trinity College
• Dublin City University
• University College
Dublin
Blanchardstown IT
• Dublin IT
• IT Tallaght
Speciality Research
Centres In Dublin
• National Institute for
Bioprocessing
Research and Training
(NIBRT)
• Biomedical Diagnostic
Institute (BDI), DCU
• Clarity, UCD
• Molecular
Therapeutics
for Cancer, Ireland
Overseas Owned Pharmaceutical
and Biopharmaceutical
Companies in Ireland
Dublin
Allergan Amgen
Aspen Alexion
Astellas BMS
Clarochem Covidien
DiaSorin Gilead
Helsinn Ipsen
Jazz Pharma MSD
Leo Pharma Mylan
Niche Generics Pfizer
Perrigo Shire
Rottapharm Takeda
Regeneron
Forest Laboratories
Alltech
Athlone Pharma
MSD
Suir Pharma
Wockhardt
Alkermes
Eli Lilly
Astellas
Aenova
SAFC
Servier
Beckman Coulter
Roche
Rowa Pharma
Takeda
Merck
Pfizer
UCB
Abbvie Allergan
Alltech Arkopharma
Astellas Forest
GSK Gilead
Helsinn Hovione
Leo Pharma MSD
Pfizer Servier
Stiefel (GSK) Takeda
Astellas Abbvie
Alkermes BMS
Cara Partners Clarochem
Eli Lilly GSK
Ipsen Roche
Janssen Leo Pharma
MSD Novartis
Pfizer Recordati
Rottapharm SAFC
Takeda Temmler
UCB
Abbott
Beckman Coulter
Biotrin (DiaSorin)
Covidien
GE Healthcare
Allergan Alkermes
Abbvie Aspen Pharma
Alexion AmerisourceBergen
BioMarin Bayer
Eli Lilly Gilead
GSK Jazz Pharma
McKesson MSD
Novartis Perrigo
PPD Pfizer
Quintiles Regeneron
Shire Warner Chilcott
Lancaster Labs (Eurofins)
Allergan Amgen
BioMarin Eli Lilly
MSD Genzyme (Sanofi)
Mylan Janssen Biologics
Pfizer Reliance
Regeneron Ethicon
Jazz Pharma Alexion
Elanco [Animal Vaccines]
Athlone Pharma
Mylan
Norbrook
Teva
Temmler (Aenova)
Ranbaxy
Rowa Pharma
Suir Pharma
Wockhardt
Randox
Norbrook Labs
PPD
Queens
University
UU Jordanstown
UU Coleraine
Mylan
Reliance
MSD
Warner Chilcott
Bulk Pharma DiagnosticsCorporate Functions GenericsBioPharmaceuticals
Lancaster Labs (Eurofins)
Genzyme (Sanofi)
Arkopharma
GSK
TEVA
Galway Universities and
• National University of
Ireland
• Galway Mayo IT
• National Centre for
Biomedical Engineering
Science
• National Centre for Laser
Applications
• Regenerative Medicine
Institute (REMEDI)
Cork Universities and
• Institute of Technology
• University College Cork
• Alimentary Pharmabiotic
Centre, UCC
Merck
Ethicon
Regeneron
Jazz Pharma
BioCluster

Organizations will not get all of the
grants but it will a combination of
grants, which makes sense. Grants
are provided as an assistance to setup
in Ireland and not a reason to setup.
Companies are there for talent, track
record, ability to run facilities and ex-
port products,” emphasized Conlon.
Ease of business
He also pointed about the excellence
in Ireland’s education system and the
ease of doing business.
“One can easily setup companies in
Ireland. The ease of doing business
is excellent. English speaking tal-
ent, access to the EU market, being a
member of the European Single Cur-
rency, exceptional talent base includ-
ing engineers, managers, sales and
RD professionals, and excellent
University system all add to Ireland’s
great business ecosystem,” noted
Conlon.
The National Institute for Bioprocess
Research and Training (NIBRT), cre-
ated from a €60 million investment
by the IDA, offers practical training
to thousands of people every year.
Start-up ecosystem
Enterprise Ireland is the Govern-
ment organization responsible for
the development and growth of Irish
enterprises in global markets.
“It helps grow Irish companies.
They fund three start-ups per week.
Ireland is one of the entrepreneur-
ial countries in Europe,” expressed
Conlon.
The country has a concentrated clus-
ter of electronics, IT and Biotech
companies. “We have Pfizer, Micro-
soft, Google, eBay, Yahoo, IBM lo-
cated next to each other. It leads to
interesting collaborations giving rise
to hybrid products,” he highlighted.
Conlon advises companies to first
hire the best general manager while
setting up in Ireland.
“A good general manager can man-
age a bad business. But bad general
managers can mess up a good busi-
ness. It’s worth spending good mon-
ey in hiring the best personnel who
come with great experience, network
and culture, and can build business
better,” he advised.
RD activities
The Irish Government has commit-
ted €8 billion to research funding to
further bolster Ireland’s reputation
as a growing hub for RD.
“A lot of pharma RD takes place
at companies’ headquarters which
house large labs and facilities. Very
little happens in Ireland,” he added.
“In Ireland, it is more of process de-
velopment when it comes to cost and
drug delivery. However, a lot hap-
pens in the medtech space in Ire-
land.”
Companies entering Ireland can reg-
ister their patents in Ireland and can
use the same registration to patent in
Europe.
“In IPs, Ireland is very similar to In-
dia. The process is straight-forward
and clear. Companies will see patent
protection as an advantage,” Conlon
said.
Global economy, economic crisis and
politics – all of them affect invest-
ments in Ireland.
“There are many commonalities
between India and Ireland start-
ing from our national flags. Indian
companies and professionals do well
in Ireland. We look forward in en-
gaging with Indian companies,” he
concluded. BS
Raj Gunashekar
 9 of the top 10
world’s pharmaceuti-
cal companies oper-
ate in Ireland
 7th largest exporter
of medicinal and
pharmaceutical prod-
ucts in the world in
2014
 €39 billion in annual
exports of pharma,
bio and chemistry
produce
 75+ pharmaceutical
companies
 33 FDA approved
pharma biopharma
plants
 12.5% rate of Corpo-
ration Tax on trading
activities
THE BIG PICTURE
BioCluster

BioNews
Bangladesh’s Beacon Pharma
produces generic Hep C drug
As per a recent report, Bangladeshi
drug maker Beacon Pharma has be-
come the first generic drug company in
the world to produce copycat versions
of Gilead’s newly launched Epclusa (So-
fosbuvir + Velpatasvir) -- a drug used to
treat all types of Hepatitis C infections.
As per sources, the drug Epclusa has a
cure rate of 95 percent.
The report further said that the drug
has a very high price tag of $75,000,
however, Beacon, will look at pricing the drug 10x less than that of its originator.
“Our brand will be known as SOFOSVEL, this will be the first generic launch of
this drug,” said Monjul Alam, senior vice-president, Beacon Pharma.
The USFDA had approved this combination as a path breaking therapy to cure
even the harshest genotype of patients suffering from the disease. The report fur-
ther mentioned that Beacon is hoping to reach out to patients from 45 countries
across the world, including India, through its patient support program which
allows patients to directly purchase the drug through the manufacturer. Beacon
manufactures more than 200 generic drugs and 65 oncology products. In each
year, Beacon is introducing more than 15-20 Hi-Tech new products. By virtue of
strong RD team, Beacon has introduced a number of global first generic, which
makes Beacon popular to the pharmaceutical arena of the world.
Sanofi begins
dengue
immunization
program
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines di-
vision of Sanofi, has launched
the first public dengue immu-
nization program in Parana,
a densely populated state in
South of Brazil.
“The world finally has a clinical
prevention tool against dengue
that has been shown to be effi-
cacious in the Brazilian popula-
tion, as well as endorsed by the
WHO,” says, Michele Caputo
Neto, Minister of Health for
Paraná State. “With our strong
disease surveillance and com-
munity mobilization infrastruc-
ture in Paraná State, we are
well-positioned to introduce the
first public dengue immuniza-
tion program in the Americas to
significantly reduce our disease
burden.”
The safety, efficacy and public
health value of Sanofi Pasteur’s
dengue vaccine has been inde-
pendently endorsed by the Stra-
tegic Advisory Group of Experts
on Immunization (SAGE) to
the World Health Organization
(WHO). This positive WHO rec-
ommendation for use of the vac-
cine in endemic countries like
Brazil as part of integrated den-
gue prevention efforts is based
on extensive clinical documen-
tation for the vaccine involving
over 40,000 individuals from
15 countries around the world.
In these studies, Dengvaxia
demonstrated consistent safety
and efficacy across a diverse
ethnic, geographic and socio-
economic population.
Sun Pharma pact with Spainish firm
Sun Pharma and Almirall announced a licensing agreement on development
and commercialization of tildrakizumab for psoriasis in Europe. Tildrakizumab
is a investigational IL-23p19 inhibitor currently being evaluated in patients
with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Under terms of the license agreement, Almirall will pay Sun Pharma an initial
upfront payment of $50 million. Phase-3 studies of tildrakizumab have recently
been completed. Sun Pharma will be eligible to receive development and regu-
latory milestone payments and, additionally, sales milestone payments and roy-
alties on net sales, the terms of which are confidential.
Almirall will be able to lead European studies, and participate in larger global
clinical studies for psoriasis indication subject to the terms of the Sun Pharma
- Merck agreements, as well as certain cost sharing agreements. Sun Pharma
will continue to lead development of tildrakizumab for other indications, where
Almirall will have right of first negotiation for certain indications in Europe.
“Sun Pharma is committed to growing our dermatology franchise, with tildraki-
zumab as our lead investigational compound. We continue to build our pipeline
and capabilities in this important therapeutic area of significant unmet need,”
said Dilip Shanghvi, Managing Director, Sun Pharma.

BioNews
China launches nationwide
inspection of vaccines
Ahead of a huge recent vaccine
scandal racket revealing China’s
vaccine black market in March
this year, Chinese health authori-
ties have now appointed a special
investigation team to look into
the nation’s vaccine distribution
chains. The announcement came
after a scandal broke involving
nearly $90 million (S$122 mil-
lion) worth of illegal vaccines that
were suspected of being sold in
dozens of provinces.
In a statement published online
by the country’s National Health
and Family Planning Commis-
sion, authorities said that the
investigation aims to track pur-
chases as well as the distribution
of vaccines and vaccination re-
cords, to ensure they are legally
traded and properly handled and
used. Random checks will be con-
ducted at 20 percent of hospitals
and clinics providing vaccina-
tions, while all disease control
and prevention agencies nation-
wide will be inspected, it said.
In March, authorities pledged to
crack down on the black market
sale of vaccines after a mother
and daughter in Shandong prov-
ince were found to have illegally
boughtvaccinesfromtradersand
sold on to hundreds of re-sellers
around China. The police in
China also uncovered a $90 mil-
lion black market scheme which
involved the illegal purchase and
distribution of non-refrigerated
vaccines treating meningitis, ra-
bies, polio, mumps, hepatitis B,
encephalitis and other illnesses.
The investigation later revealed
that the vaccines were made by
licensed producers, were not
kept and transported in the re-
quired cold conditions, which
could mean that patients taking
them could suffer severe side ef-
fects or even death.
With these measure the admin-
istration aims to reveal unsafe
practices within the vaccine
market. Vaccines that are not
properly refrigerated, for exam-
ple, can be completely ineffective
in children or can cause the pa-
tient to develop toxicity associat-
ed with bacterial contamination.
China’s Fosun
Pharma to
buy Indian
Gland Pharma
In a first, China’s Fosun Pharmaceutical
Group is all set to acquire 96 reports stake
in India’s Gland Pharma for $1.3-1.5 bil-
lion, a leading daily reported. Hyderabad-
based Gland Pharma is backed by global
private equity firm KKR Co.
The two companies will ink an agreement
where Fosun will acquire 96 percent of
the stake including shares held by found-
ers of Gland Pharma Ravi Penmetsa and
family and private equity giant, KKR Co
LP. However reports also suggested that
Gland will initially buy 86 percent of the
company while Penmetsa may retain a 10
percent stake. The deal may need FIPB
approval.
Established in 1978, Gland Pharma devel-
ops and manufactures generic injectables,
primarily for the US market. It also sells
its products in India and other semi-reg-
ulated markets. Its manufacturing facili-
ties are approved by the US and UK drug
regulators. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceuti-
cal (Group), is part of Fosun International
group, the flagship company of billionaire
Guo Guangchang, one of China’s best-
known entrepreneurs.
With wide presence across business seg-
ments in the healthcare chain - drug
manufacturing, distribution and retail
to high-end diagnostics and medical de-
vices, Shanghai-based Fosun Pharma has
grown rapidly through acquisitions. The
company has a Fosun’s portfolio covers
liver diseases, diabetes, tuberculosis and
diagnostic products, and it’s also the lead-
ing provider of anti-malaria medicines
globally. This agreement, on closure, will
be first significantly large foreign direct
investment (FDI) from China in Indian
manufacturing.

BioNews
India continues to lead
China in pharma exports
India has maintained its lead over China in terms of phar-
ma exports, according to a statement by the ministry of
commerce and industry. The country’s pharma rose grew
7.55 percent, from $11.66 billion in 2014 to $12.54 billion
in 2015. China’s pharma exports rose 5.3 percent from
$6.59 billion to $6.94 billion in the same period.
India maintained its lead over China in all the major
markets including the US, European Union and Africa.
Exports of pharma products to the US increased 23.4
percent from $3.84 billion to $4.74 billion while China’s
exports to the US rose from $1.16 billion to $1.34 billion
in the same period. India also maintained its lead with
pharma exports to the European Union and Africa both
growing to $1.5 billion and $3.04 billion respectively.
India continues to be a hub for low-cost production which
in turn aids manufacturing for exports. Sun Pharmaceu-
tical Industries, Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Lupin,
Zydus Cadila and Wockhardt, which between them ac-
count for 33% of the country’s total exports, have emerged
as world leaders in low-cost innovation and production
of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Contract Research
and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS), Formulations and
Biosimilars.
Vietnamese pharma to
reach $6.6 bn by 2020
The company’s latest report states that the increas-
ing elderly population, widespread preference for im-
ported branded drugs, rising government support for
the healthcare sector and the impending gains from
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will be the main
drivers of growth for the Vietnamese pharmaceutical
market during the forecast period.
Vietnam signed the TPP, a trade agreement between
12 countries, on February 4, 2016.
It is expected that, once implemented, tariffs on phar-
maceutical imports will fall to 0%, and patents on
foreign pharmaceutical companies’ drugs will be ex-
tended from five to 10 years.
While the Vietnamese market is seen as attractive for
pharmaceutical companies, drug prices are high com-
pared with average incomes, which may hinder pa-
tient access to medicine.
However, foreign pharmaceutical companies are able
to generate more revenue not only due to patent pro-
tection, but also because locals believe imported drugs
are much more effective and tend to prefer them over
generics.
Domestic pharmaceutical companies focus mainly on
generic drugs, with very low expenditure on RD.
This restricts the scope of domestic companies’ op-
erations, forcing them to establish themselves either
within Vietnam or through exports.
Dr Reddy’s launch
Omeprazole capsules in US
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories announced that it has launched
Omeprazole and Sodium bicarbonate capsules,
20mg/1100mg and 40mg/1100mg, a therapeutic equiva-
lent generic version of Zegerid (omeprazole/sodium bi-
carbonate) capsules in the United States market, having
been approved by the US Food Drug Administration
(USFDA).
The Zegerid brand and generic had US sales of approxi-
mately $306.7 million MAT for the most recent twelve
months ending in May 2016 according to IMS Health.
Dr Reddy’s Omeprazole and Sodium bicarbonate cap-
sules 20 mg/1100 mg and 40 mg/1100 mg are available in
bottle count size of 30.
Zegerid is a registered trademark of Santarus, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Salix Pharmaceuticals.

BioNews
Scientists discover
pathways leading to
cancer progression
Scientists from A*STAR’s Genome
Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the
Cancer Science Institute of Singapore
(CSI Singapore) at the National Uni-
versity of Singapore came together
to understand how EZH2, a cancer-
promoting gene which is known to be
involved in many types of cancers, is
activated in breast cancer and lym-
phomas. The collaborative discover-
ies have been published in the jour-
nals, PNAS and Blood, respectively.
The new findings pave the way to de-
velop more effective treatment strat-
egy for aggressive cancers associated
with EZH2.
Identifying new pathway of tumour-
promoting EZH2 may lead to tar-
geted therapies for aggressive breast
cancer.
It is known that Polycomb repressive
complex 2 (PRC2) and its catalytic
component EZH2 are often over-
expressed in multiple human ma-
lignancies, which promotes cancer.
Interestingly, EZH2 or PRC2 also
has a protective role against tumour
formation in certain cancer types, in-
cluding solid tumours and blood can-
cers. However, it is unclear how this
paradoxical role of EZH2/PRC2 - as a
tumour-promoting and tumour-sup-
pressing gene - is regulated in cancer.
Researchers at the GIS, led by Prof
Qiang Yu, found that the paradoxical
role of EZH2/PRC2 in breast cancer
can be switched when tumour cells
are in hypoxic condition, a situation
when fast growing solid tumour cells
have been deprived of oxygen. The
researchers found that when the tu-
mour cells are supplied with suffi-
cient oxygen, EZH2/PRC2 acts as a
tumour suppressor.
Biocon, Fujifilm launch
Insulin Glargine in Japan
Marking a major achievement in Indian biosimilar history, India’s Bio-
con announced that close on the heels of receiving approval for its IQsulin
Glargine from the Japanese regulator last quarter, its partner FUJIFILM
Pharma (FFP) has launched the product in Japan recently.
Insulin Glargine BS Injection Kit (FFP) has been developed manufac-
tured by Biocon, and is being commercialized by FFP in Japan. The prod-
uct is a ready-to-use, prefilled disposable pen with 3 ml of lOOIU Insulin
Glargine. It will provide a high quality, yet affordable, world-class long-
acting biosimilar basal Insulin Glargine for patients of diabetes in Japan.
There were 7.2 million people with diabetes in Japan in 2015, according to
the International Diabetes Federation. The company through its partner
aims to capture a significant share of the Japanese Glargine market of $
144 mn, which is the second largest market outside of North America
Europe and is largely dominated by disposable pens.
Speaking on the launch, Biocon Chairperson Managing Director, Kiran
Mazumdar-Shaw said, the launch of our biosimilar Insulin Glargine in Ja-
pan by our partner, furthers our mission to provide affordable access to
high quality biopharmaceuticals for chronic diseases.
Samsung’s Humira biosimilar
accepted for review by EU
Korean drug giant Samsung Bio-
epis, recently revealed that it is
seeking regulatory approval in Eu-
rope to sell its copy of AbbVie Inc’s
rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira.
The company, in its press release,
said that the European Medicines
Agency (EMA) has accepted for re-
view the company’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for SB5, a
biosimilar candidate referencing Humira (adalimumab).
The Marketing Authorization Application for SB5 was based on a 52-week
Phase III study which showed SB5’s comparable efficacy and safety to
Humira among different treatment groups, including those who switched
from Humira to SB5. If approved, SB5, a biosimilar candidate referencing
Humira (adalimumab), will be Samsung Bioepis’ third anti-TNF-α biosim-
ilar in Europe.
As per reports, Humira is one among the world’s best-selling drug that
generated $14 billion in sales last year. “If approved, SB5 will join Benepali
and Flixabi in Europe, which have already started to increase patient ac-
cess to high-quality treatment options.

BioNews
Merck buys Brazilian animal
health company Vallée SA
Merck Animal Health (known as
MSD Animal Health outside the
United States and Canada) an-
nounced it has executed an agree-
ment to acquire a controlling
interest in Vallée SA, a leading
privately-held producer of animal
health products in Brazil.
Vallée has an extensive portfolio of
more than 100 products spanning
parasiticides, anti-infectives and
vaccines. The company’s portfo-
lio includes products for livestock,
horses, and companion animals.
Vallée was founded with the mis-
sion of producing a Foot and Mouth
Disease (FMD) vaccine for Brazil
and has expanded significantly,
with distribution centers in Brazil
and operations in Paraguay, Ven-
ezuela, Mexico and Bolivia.
“Merck Animal Health has a broad
portfolio of products to protect
against some of the most important
pathogens affecting livestock,” said
Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Ani-
mal Health.
“We are pleased to complement our
portfolio with products from Vallée,
which will further strengthen our
presence in Latin America and help
us respond even more quickly and
effectively to the region’s needs.”
The agriculture industry is an im-
portant driver of the economy in
Latin America.
This region contributes 11% of the
value of the world food production
and a significant number of the cat-
tle in the region are vaccinated with
Vallée SA vaccines.
Cipla to build
biotech facility
Indian drug major Cipla recently an-
nounced that its South African sub-
sidiary will invest R1.3 billion into
the country’s first biotech manufac-
turing facility, for the production of
biosimilars. This facility will be the
first that Cipla establishes outside
India and the company said that the
move will help yield cheaper new-
generation cancer drugs that even
the state sector will be able to afford.
The firm further said that construc-
tion of the plant is scheduled to start
in early 2017, with full operations
expected to commence in the third
quarter of 2018. The investment fol-
lows Cipla’s 2015 launch of an R185m
distribution centre in Cape Town
and a R400m upgrade to its exist-
ing manufacturing site in Durban. As
per reports, the new venture is to be
located in the Department of Trade
and Industry’s special economic zone
near the Durban airport, the Dube
Tradeport.
At full capacity, the facility is ex-
pected to create up to 300 jobs (up to
180 high skilled jobs and 120 indirect
jobs), primarily in the engineering
and biological science fields.
“It marks the entrance of Cipla sub-
sidiary, Cipla BioTec, into South Af-
rica and will be run independently of
the pharmaceutical’s existing manu-
facturing division, Cipla Medpro
Manufacturing (CMM).”
Steven Lehrer, Director of Cipla Bio-
Tec, said in the comapny’s press re-
lease that Biosimilars are important
to enable access to advanced cancer
and autoimmune treatments. These
treatments are only used by about
8 percnet of patients who should be
treated worldwide mainly due to the
high costs of these drugs.
Pfizer invests $350 mn to
build a biotech hub in China
Global drug giant Pfizer has recently announced plans to invest $350 mn
to build a Global Biotechnology Center at the Hangzhou Economic and
Technological Development Area (HEDA) in China. The firm said in its
press release that the biotech hub will produce high-quality and affordable
biosimilar medicines for China and the world, and serve as the home of
Pfizer China’s biosimilars and biologics quality, technical service, logistics,
and engineering divisions. The site will also be used for process develop-
ment and clinical supply.
The Hangzhou facility will be Pfizer’s third biotechnology centre globally
and the first in Asia. HEDA is located in the eastern urban area of Hang-
zhou City, on the north bank in the lower reaches of the Qiantang River.

BioNews
India free of neonatal tetanus, yaws: WHO
Marking a new milestone in Indian
health system, the World Health Or-
ganization has presented India with
certificates declaring elimination
of yaws and maternal and neonatal
tetanus (MNT). The certificate was
received by the Health and Family
Welfare Minister J P Nadda.
Earlier this year, in May, WHO had
certified India yaws-free after a team
of experts verified interruption of
disease transmission in the country.
India is the first country under the
2012 WHO neglected tropical diseases (NTD) roadmap
to eliminate yaws, a disease known to affect the most un-
derserved population.
Receiving the citation, Health Minister J P Nadda called
the occasion a ‘proud’ moment and promised enhanced
surveillance to eliminate major infections to prevent child
mortality. MNT occurs in newborns
through infection of the unhealed
umbilical stump when it is cut with
a non-sterile instrument. Maternal
tetanus is considered eliminated once
neonatal tetanus elimination has been
achieved. The elimination of yaws
is also important with India being
certified as the first yaws-free nation
among the ones than continue to re-
port the bacterial infection of the skin.
The Regional Director of WHO for
South-East Asia Region, Dr Poonam
Khetrapal Singh, described India’s achievement of ma-
ternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) as a mo-
mentous public health feat, as until a few decades ago the
country reported 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 neonatal tetanus
cases annually. Reducing maternal and neonatal tetanus
to less than one case per 1,000 live births in all 675 dis-
tricts demonstrates India’s strong commitment.
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Singapore scientists develop
‘mini brain’
This creation is a key breakthrough for studies in PD, which affects
an estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide.
BioNews
S
cientists in Singapore have
made a big leap on research
on the ‘mini-brain’, an ad-
vanced mini versions of the
human midbrain that will help re-
searchers develop treatments and
conduct other studies into Parkin-
son’s Disease (PD) and ageing-relat-
ed brain diseases.
These mini midbrain versions are
three-dimensional miniature tissues
that are grown in the laboratory and
they have certain properties of spe-
cific parts of the human brains. This
is the first time that the black pig-
ment neuromelanin has been detect-
ed in an organoid model. The study
also revealed functionally active do-
paminergic neurons.
The human midbrain, which is the
information superhighway, controls
auditory, eye movements, vision and
body movements. It contains special
dopaminergic neurons that produce
dopamine, which carries out sig-
nificant roles in executive functions,
motor control, motivation, reinforce-
ment, and reward. High levels of do-
pamine elevate motor activity and
impulsive behaviour, whereas low
levels of dopamine lead to slowed re-
actions and disorders like PD, which
is characterised by stiffness and dif-
ficulties in initiating movements.
Also causing PD is the dramatic re-
duction in neuromelanin production,
leading to the degenerative condition
of patients, which includes tremors
and impaired motor skills. This cre-
ation is a key breakthrough for stud-
ies in PD, which affects an estimated
seven to 10 million people world-
wide. Furthermore, there are people
who are affected by other causes
of parkinsonism. Researchers now
have access to the material that is af-
fected in the disease itself, and differ-
ent types of studies can be conducted
in the laboratory instead of through
simulations or on animals. Using
stem cells, scientists have grown
pieces of tissue, known as brain or-
ganoids, measuring about 2 to 3 mm
long. These organoids contain the
necessary hallmarks of the human
midbrain, which are dopaminergic
neurons and neuromelanin.
Jointly led by Prof Ng Huck Hui
from A*STAR’s Genome Institute of
Singapore (GIS) and Assistant Prof
Shawn Je from Duke-NUS Medical
School, this collaborative research
between GIS, Duke-NUS, and the
National Neuroscience Institute
(NNI) is funded by the National
Medical Research Council’s Transla-
tional Clinical Research (TCR) Pro-
gramme In Parkinson’s disease (PD)
and A*STAR. Other collaborators are
from the Lieber Institute for Brain
Development, the Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, and
the Nanyang Technological Univer-
sity. BS

BioSuppliers
Columbia Asia receives $101mn
investment from Mitsui
Columbia Asia has announced it is
receiving $101 million in investment
from Mitsui.
Columbia Asia, part of Seattle-based
Columbia Pacific Management, has
27 hospitals and one clinic in India,
Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia,
built with an innovative busi-
ness model focused on serv-
ing Asia’s rapidly growing
middle class with modern
and efficient multispecialty
hospitals located close to
where patients live and work.
Tokyo-based Mitsui, already
a major healthcare investor in
Asia, said it saw tremendous
growth potential in the Co-
lumbia Asia platform, which
is the only healthcare provid-
er in Asia to operate hospitals
in so many countries under a
single brand, and one of the
few large, multinational providers in
Asia to build the vast majority of its
hospitals itself.
“Columbia Asia has proven over
more than 20 years that it can enter
new markets across various coun-
tries and develop international, high-
quality hospitals that meet the needs
of the emerging middle class,” said
Koji Nagatomi, Managing Officer and
Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare
Service Business Unit, of Mitsui.
“The company has also established
a firm presence in countries where
healthcare spending and insurance
coverage are going up at a very rapid
pace, which positions the firm well in
coming decades.”
Columbia Asia will use the proceeds
from the Mitsui investment to con-
tinue to expand its network of hos-
pitals across Asia, including
several current development
projects. In addition, the
company will open its first
facility in Africa next month,
a multispecialty clinic in
Nairobi, Kenya under a new
brand, Columbia Africa. Since
opening its first hospital in
Malaysia in 1996, Columbia
Asia has focused on provid-
ing high-quality, affordable,
standardized care in hospitals
built on a single design.
The company currently has
10,000 employees serving
more than 2.5 million patients a year,
with 2,200 beds across 27 hospitals
and one clinic.
Fujifilm presents latest digital radiography
innovations at AHRA 2016
Fujifilm Medical Systems
USA, a leading provider
of diagnostic imaging
products and medical in-
formatics solutions, will
have a major presence at
the American Healthcare
Radiology Administrators
(AHRA) annual meeting
held from July 31-August
3, 2016, at The Gaylord
Opryland Resort Con-
vention Center in Nash-
ville, TN.
In addition to showcasing
its comprehensive portfo-
lio of digital radiography
products and women’s im-
aging solutions, Fujifilm
sponsored the keynote pre-
sentation on Tuesday as
well as led an educational
symposium on DR and the
impact of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2016
on Wednesday.
“Our participation at
AHRA 2016 extended well
beyond the walls of our
booth, offering radiology
professionals valuable in-
formation, insights and
experience that they could
take back to their facilities
to improve department
processes and patient out-
comes,” said Rob Fabrizio,
director of strategic mar-
keting, Digital Radiogra-
phy and Women’s Health,
Fujifilm Medical Systems
USA.

BioSuppliers
Agilent launches New Triple
Quadrupole GC/MS Instruments
Agilent Technologies enhanced its
line of scientific instruments with
two new models of the company’s
7000 Series Triple Quadrupole Gas
Chromatography/Mass Spectrom-
etry systems.
Agilent showcased the new quadru-
pole GC/MS/MS instruments - along
with a new analyzer for pesticides
and environmental pollutants - at
the North American Chemical Resi-
due Workshop, a four-day gathering
for scientists interested in develop-
ing better analytical methods, in St.
Pete Beach, Florida.
“Increasingly, laboratories that test
the safety of our food and water are
turning to triple quadrupole GC/
MS systems because their selectiv-
ity makes them better able to handle
complex matrices than standard sin-
gle quadrupole systems,” said Monty
Benefiel, vice president and general
manager of Agilent’s Mass Spec-
trometry Division. “Both of our new
instruments - the 7000D and 7010B
- include enhancements that not only
improve analytical performance but
make them easier to use than any
previous triple quad GC/MS system.”
Benefiel noted that Agilent’s exten-
sive single quad GC/MS installed
customer base, who want to run sam-
ples on their triple quad, can open
existing single quad GC/MS methods
with a single mouse click using Agi-
lent MassHunter software. “Nobody
else makes it that easy to distribute
your total workload among all of
your available Agilent GC/MS sys-
tems, adding greater capacity to their
laboratory,” he said. “This capability
also streamlines the transition from
SIM on the single quad to MS/MS on
the triple quad.”
The 7010B includes Agilent’s exclu-
sive high-efficiency ion source, which
enhances the instrument’s sensitiv-
ity by a factor of 10. Both models are
also available with Agilent’s patented
JetClean self-cleaning ion source.
Using a carefully controlled hydro-
gen flow, the JetClean source readily
removes matrix deposits, which can
build up over time.
Melanoma Institute Australia to
exploit IBM’s cognitive technology
IBM Research in Australia has an-
nounced plans to undertake research
with Melanoma Institute Australia
to help further advance the identifi-
cation of melanoma using cognitive
technology.
This planned research builds on
IBM’s existing research agreement
with MoleMap, which uses advanced
visual analytics to analyze more than
40,000 data sets including images
and text. IBM Research plans to ana-
lyze dermatological images of skin le-
sions to help identify specific clinical
patterns in the early stages of mela-
noma. The Australian research aims
to help reduce unnecessary biopsies
and help clinicians more accurately
understand skin cancer, which could
help to improve patient care.
Using advanced visual analytics IBM
Research will conduct retrospective
analysis on de-identified data, which
will include access to more than one
million images from 9,000 Austra-
lian and New Zealand patients, as
well as text based clinical notes in an
effort to improve the accuracy of its
machine learning algorithms. IBM’s
cognitive technology would aim to
learn to understand skin cancers
such as melanoma, basal cell carci-
noma and squamous cell carcinoma
using lower resolution clinical imag-
es, with a goal of similar accuracy to
what can be achieved with dermos-
copy images.
The planned research aims to scale
and test this performance. Melano-
ma Institute Australia and MoleMap
will help IBM Research to further
train and validate the algorithms.

BioSuppliers
Servier Canada to sell
Daiichi Sankyo’s Factor
Xa Inhibitor Edoxaban
Japanese drug manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo has
entered into an agreement with Servier Canada.
The agreement allows Servier Canada to market
the oral, once-daily anti-coagulant edoxaban in
Canada, if approved by the Canadian Health au-
thorities.
Daiichi Sankyo filed a new drug submission for
edoxaban with the Health Products and Food
Branch (HPFB) of Health Canada in August 2015.
Edoxaban is an oral, once-daily anticoagulant that
specifically inhibits factor Xa, which is an impor-
tant factor in the coagulation system that leads to
blood clotting. The global edoxaban clinical trial
program includes two phase III clinical studies,
Hokusai-VTE and ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 (Effec-
tive aNticoaGulation with Factor XA Next GEnera-
tion in Atrial Fibrillation).
The results from these trials formed the basis of
the new drug submission in Canada for edoxaban
for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolic
events (SEE) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fi-
brillation (NVAF), as well as for the treatment of
venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep
vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism
(PE), and the prevention of recurrent VTE.
“We are pleased to partner with Servier Canada, a
well-established and respected organization with
extensive expertise in marketing cardiovascular
products in Canada,” says Ken Keller, President,
US Commercial, Daiichi Sankyo, who is responsi-
ble for commercial oversight of the partnership in
Canada. “This partnership will further broaden the
availability of edoxaban to patients in need of this
important oral, once-daily anti-coagulant.”
Under the agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will receive
an upfront payment, payments based on regulato-
ry and commercial milestones, as well as royalties
on net product sales. Further financial details were
not disclosed. Edoxaban has been approved in the
US, EU, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
and Hong Kong. Edoxaban is marketed as Savaysa
in the US and as Lixiana elsewhere.
UPS expands clinical trial
logistics capabilities
UPS announced a significant global expansion of its health-
care-specific capabilities to support clinical trials.
UPS’s investments in a range of specialized solutions will
help pharmaceutical companies and clinical investigators
move sensitive material and specimens globally, particu-
larly in and out of complex geographies.
Building on its expansive, integrated network, UPS has
made improvements specifically targeted to meet strict clin-
ical trial logistics requirements.
Enhancements include: development of an easy-to-use
shipping system for clinical investigator sites; an expansion
of the healthcare control tower network, package intercept
and re-icing capabilities; and upgraded operations to move
temperature-sensitive biological specimens in and out of
more than 60 countries more efficiently.
Making these investments, together with utilizing an estab-
lished network of local specialty couriers, helps UPS serve
the clinical trial research community by providing efficiency
in the transport of specimens without sacrificing service.
Given the global reach of clinical studies, streamlined logis-
tics are an increasingly important component of successful
trials.
UPS is well-poised to serve this expanding market, with ca-
pabilities that cover many geographies, from San Francisco
to Sao Paulo, or Bangkok to Berlin.

This allows GSK and Verily to combine forces and have a huge impact on an
emerging field and provides an opportunity to further Verily’s mission.
BioSuppliers
G
SK announced an
agreement with Ver-
ily Life Sciences
(formerly Google
Life Sciences), an
Alphabet company,
to form Galvani Bioelectronics to en-
able the research, development and
commercialisation of bioelectronic
medicines. GSK will hold a 55% eq-
uity interest in the new jointly owned
company and Verily will hold 45%.
Galvani Bioelectronics will be head-
quartered in the UK, with the parent
companies contributing existing in-
tellectual property rights and an in-
vestment of up to £540 million over
seven years, subject to successful
completion of various discovery and
development milestones.
Bioelectronic medicine is a relatively
new scientific field that aims to tackle
a wide range of chronic diseases us-
ing miniaturised, implantable devic-
es that can modify electrical signals
that pass along nerves in the body,
including irregular or altered im-
pulses that occur in many illnesses.
GSK has been active in this field since
2012 and believes certain chronic
conditions such as arthritis, diabe-
tes and asthma could potentially be
treated using these devices.
The agreement to establish Galvani
Bioelectronics represents an impor-
tant next step in GSK’s bioelectron-
ics research. The new company will
bring together GSK’s world class drug
discovery and development expertise
and deep understanding of disease
biology with Verily’s world leading
technical expertise in the miniaturi-
sation of low power electronics, de-
vice development, data analytics and
software development for clinical ap-
plications. Initial work will centre on
establishing clinical proofs of prin-
ciple in inflammatory, metabolic and
endocrine disorders, including type 2
diabetes, where substantial evidence
already exists in animal models; and
developing associated miniaturised,
precision devices.
Moncef Slaoui, GSK’s Chairman of
Global Vaccines, who was instru-
mental in establishing GSK’s invest-
ments in the field of bioelectronics,
will chair the board of the new com-
pany. He said: “Many of the process-
es of the human body are controlled
by electrical signals firing between
the nervous system and the body’s
organs, which may become distorted
in many chronic diseases. Bioelec-
tronic medicine’s vision is to employ
the latest advances in biology and
technology to interpret this electrical
conversation and to correct the irreg-
ular patterns found in disease states,
using miniaturised devices attached
to individual nerves. If successful,
this approach offers the potential for
a new therapeutic modality alongside
traditional medicines and vaccines.
“This agreement with Verily to estab-
lish Galvani Bioelectronics signals
a crucial step forward in GSK’s bio-
electronics journey, bringing together
health and tech to realise a shared vi-
sion of miniaturised, precision elec-
trical therapies. Together, we can rap-
idly accelerate the pace of progress in
this exciting field, to develop innova-
tive medicines that truly speak the
electrical language of the body.” BS
GSK, Google to establish
bioelectronic medicines firm
BioSuppliers

Biopreneur
T
seng Ching-Tse, after grad-
uating from National Uni-
versity of Singapore, kicked
off a venture of bringing
innovation in logistics and storage
management. He incubated Vault
Dragon in 2013 as a record manage-
ment enterprise focusing on logis-
tics and storage and handling clients
from all verticals. Soon after the con-
ception of the idea, he realized that if
there is one segment that desperately
needs storage and space manage-
ment, it is healthcare sector.
Doctors and clinicians have to main-
tain record of all the patients and
the files need to be easily accessed as
well as securely managed. Doctors in
Singapore have to pay high rentals
for the clinic space and the need of
storing all the patient’s file is an ad-
ditional cost to them.
“We realized that if there could be a
solution that could remove all the doc-
uments on site and still allow doctors
to retrieve information in a simple
and secure manner and that too any-
time and anywhere on mobile devices
like smart phones, it could bring sig-
nificant change in the way storage is
managed today. We found that small
clinics are the ones who face this prob-
lem in a day-to-day basis and the doc-
uments at these clinics are generally
managed by the nurses. There could
be security issues in the way the files
are managed currently,” says Ching-
Tse, founder of the company.
In private clinics, doctors are the de-
cision makers, service providers and
the payers. Looking at the challenges
that doctors have to go through in
managing the clinics space, Vault
Dragon started designing electronic
medical record (EMR) solution that
could digitally record all the files at a
clinic and provided warehouse space
to store their hard copies.
“Different sectors have different re-
quirements, such as for the law firms
the legal rights of a contract usually
belong to the client. It is not that sen-
sitive after the case is over and it is
stored just for record keeping. More-
over, the files need to be stored for six
to seven years by the client itself and
not the audit firm. But at clinics, all
the medical records are active even
if someone consults a doctor after a
gap of two to three years. The doctor
still needs to keep all the records and
this is where security loopholes may
Vault Dragon is an
electronic medical record
(EMR) solution provider
in Singapore that has
developed a solution
to make medical clinics
free of files and storage
concerns
VAULT DRAGON
Paperless clinic

Biopreneur
occur. I realized that it is very hard
to maintain medical records as the
office space required to manage and
store these records are expensive and
the rate of space rental is really ex-
pensive in Singapore.”
Vault Dragon has developed a solu-
tion for scanning and digitizing the
documents and got credibility cer-
tificate from the concerned author-
ity in Singapore that declares all
the scanned copies to be treated as
original hard copy. This means that
after the documents are scanned and
stored, the hard copies can be shred-
ded and disposed and the scanned
documents would be considered as
accurate, original and reliable.
In 2013 Vault Dragon joined JFDI,
a start-up accelerator program, and
raised seed capital of SGD1.3 million.
For Vault Dragon, getting the first Amrita Tejasvi
contract was the toughest one. “Be-
cause the doctors generally operate in
a close knit network and data security
is an important concern for them, it
was very challenging to crack the first
contract. Also, we were the first tim-
ers in this solution and winning the
trust of doctors is not an easy job. For
doctors, cost of error is much higher
than the cost of inefficiency therefore
it was very difficult to convince them
to try a new solution, that too from
young group of people,” he said.
It took Vault Dragon almost six
months to get the first contract and
subsequently, it took 12 months to
get next 50 clinics on board. “We con-
vinced the doctors that the price to
stack all the files within clinic is much
more expensive than the solution that
we are offering to scan all the docu-
ments, store all the hard copies in a
warehouse and retrieved anytime.”
The start-up firm is in the process
of expanding its services to include
insurance module and claim authori-
zation module within the healthcare
sector. BS
Tseng Ching-Tse
Vault Dragon, Singapore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-nation
African tour this past July went on to grab
most of the industry’s attention. His five-day
visit to the African continent started with
Mozambique, and then over to South Africa
and Tanzania, and ended in Kenya. During
his visit he met with key state heads of the
four African countries, including political and
business leaders. Agri-Biotech, innovation,
science and technology, and medical
equipment space were on the PM’s cards.
INDUSTRY
REPORT ON
PM’S
AFRICA
VISIT
BioFeature

“
…… the economic agenda
of the visit was high on the
priority of my delegation
and I. In all the 4 nations I
went, ways to deepen our
economic cooperation and
improve trade ties were comprehen-
sively discussed,” Modi wrote in his
official LinkedIn blog.
The Prime Minister’s first visit to
Mozambique ended in a fruitful cul-
mination, with Modi seeing ‘a great
scope for wide range of economic co-
operation’ between the nations.
He said India’s needs and Mozam-
bique’s strengths perfectly comple-
ment each other. He emphasized the
need in fast-tracking cooperation
between the two countries in the
area of agriculture and food security.
Modi also pointed about possible col-
laborations in the healthcare space.
“There is a rich potential to deepen
cooperation in skill development and
healthcare as well,” he said.
In his visit to South Africa, agricul-
ture again, took the centre stage be-
tween the 2 countries’ economic and
collaboration opportunities. Clean
energy and greener ways towards
progress was also emphasized. Modi
stated, “India with its huge domes-
tic market offers massive opportu-
nities for food processing industry.
Our collaboration in this sector will
bring value for our farmers and our
villagers.”
According to World Trade Organi-
zation’s (WTO) calculations based
on UN COMTRADE data, there has
been an increase in the share of
high technology exports to Africa to
13.8% in 2011 compared to 10.9% in
2001, led by exports of pharmaceuti-
cals, electronics and communication
equipment.
The President of the Republic of
South Africa Jacob Zuma met with
the Indian Prime Minister empha-
sizing on intense collaborations be-
tween the 2 nations in the area of in-
novation, science and technology.
With respect to the pharma industry,
President Zuma requested Modi to
relax India’s norms on Foreign Di-
rect Investments (FDIs) and lift caps
on them. This will be seen as a major
announcement by both Indian and
African pharmaceutical companies
and is expected to have high-impact
in terms of business investments and
trade. India now has the opportunity
to leverage African FDIs and further
bolster its traditional ties with the
once Dark Continent.
The leaders also took pride and con-
gratulated both the countries’ De-
partments of Science and Technology
for their vibrant scientific research
and collaborations in the last twenty
years. India has been extensively
supporting South Africa in health-
care projects related to the burgeon-
ing Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR)
threat.
Both ministers also approved the
new call inviting research projects
focused on HIV-TB in healthcare.
Both the nations have also agreed to
support 14 new collaborative initia-
tives in Agri-Biotech and Indigenous
Knowledge Systems.
Thirdly, Modi visited Tanzania,
where the scope for opportunities
and collaborations were laid out in
the areas of agriculture, energy and
natural gas.
He added that India as a nation
would be happy to meet the health-
care priorities of Tanzanian Govern-
ment, enabling supply of required
medicines and healthcare equip-
ment. This good news comes just in
time for Indian companies eying ex-
pansion in developing markets like
African and Eurasian markets.
Modi’s Africa visit positively ended
in Kenya. According to him, India
is Kenya’s largest trading partner
and second largest investor. “India
and Kenya are both young countries
with their workforce in great demand
worldwide… We can work together to
nurture and train human capital,” he
held.
Trade between India and Africa has
significantly risen from $25 billion in
2006 to $70 billion today. Both India
and Africa represent one-third of the
planet’s population.
Modi recalled India and Kenya holding
a favourable global position in Medical
Tourism. He explained, “The health
sector is another area of great inter-
est to both sides. We are happy that
thousands of Kenyan patients have
returned from India after successful
treatment. I understand that Kenya
would like to replicate the Indian ex-
perience in medicare and become a
medical hub in the region...” BS
During his five-day
visit to Africa, the
following MoUs
were signed:
 MoU on ICT
 MoU on the
Establishment of
Grassroots Inno-
vation in Science
and Technology
 MoU on Tourism
 Programme of
Cultural Coop-
eration
BioFeature

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