27-Nov-15 The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAVN) launched online public services 'Level 4' in Nov-15, to help pharmaceutical firms register drug and medicine prices. The system enables companies to submit documents, pay fees, check the progress of document processing, and receive results online, from the beginning of 2016. [image: VNA]

19-Nov-15 Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the opening of a new GMP facility in Singapore. The new site is intended to meet growing demand for clinical supply services in the region. It will provide pharma and biotech companies with a one-stop service for clinical supplies – including GMP storage, labelling, packaging, comparator sourcing, handling, distribution and returns management. [image: Thermo Fisher Scientific]

18-Nov-15 According to the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council, Malaysia attracted 880,000 medical tourists in 2014 and wants to boost these numbers by 10% in 2015 and eventually cross the 1 mn mark by 2016. The MHTC is now focusing more intensely on “halal health treatments” to entice medical travellers from Muslim countries, such as those in the Gulf Cooperation Council. [image: Global Health and Travel]

18-Nov-15 The Brazilian São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and UK pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that they will be working together on the creation of two clinical research centres at educational and R&D institutions in the state of São Paulo. This project will require BRL88 mn, of which the FAPESP and GSK will share BRL35 mn. [image: GSK]

16-Nov-15 Japan, with sales of USD115, accounts for 10% of the global pharma market, compared with 38% for the US and 21% for Europe. Lupin is the only Indian company in Japan's generics market. But now Sun Pharmaceuticals is planning to acquire Novartis' Japanese drug portfolio. Other Indian generics makers, including Dr Reddy’s and Glenmark, are also exploring options. [image: Bloomberg]