15-Nov-16 The Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology in Korea has developed a contact lens for glaucoma treatment that improves drug delivery efficiency by adding vitamin to soft contact lenses. Fat-soluble vitamin A and vitamin E lump with each other in the inside of a contact lens and form a concrete surface which absorbs and maintains more glaucoma medication. [image: Business Korea]

11-Nov-16 The Taiwan government plans to invest NTD11 bn (USD374 mn) in the biomedical industry in 2017 to develop large-scale healthcare firms, new drugs and new medical devices. The project aims to relax investment and recruitment regulations to lure and retain foreign capital and talent, and to encourage local businesses to acquire international companies and develop foreign markets. [image: CNA]

08-Nov-16 The cost of sequencing a human genome has plummeted over the past 15 years USD1,000. In Singapore, the Centre for Big Data and Integrative Genomics, part of government agency A*STAR, is supporting the Platinum Genome Project to construct reference genomes for the Chinese, Malay and Indian populations in the country. [image: Pixabay]

26-Oct-16 To reduce its dependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of drugs, the Prime Minister’s Office has instructed the NITI Aayog along with the ministries of health, commerce and industry, and chemicals and fertilisers to draw up a comprehensive plan to produce APIs in India. [image: The Indian Express]

24-Oct-16 With the increasing demand for TCM in Singapore, the integration of three important aspects - education, clinical practice and research - is seen as essential. To kick start research efforts, Singapore's Ministry of Health has ring-fenced SGD3 mn (USD2.2 mn) to encourage collaborative clinical research in TCM. [image: Yahoo! / Singapore Business Review]