The firms’ partnership goes back to pre-merger Celgene, and BMS still has Dragonfly candidates in its pipeline. Ji Xing gets hypertension candidate from Phase Bio.

Hyundai Bioscience’s niclosamide-based oral antiviral moves into Phase II, joining other Korean COVID-19 treatment candidates in the pivotal trial stages, while SK Bioscience’s Phase III recombinant protein vaccine gears up for global market entry.

While keeping its policy focus mainly on controlling the pandemic situation, South Korea is also increasing R&D grants to support the development of innovative drugs with global blockbuster potential through the launch of renewed and better funded Korea Drug Development Fund.

South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare is continuing along the path of offloading assets that no longer fit into its strategy, using the proceeds to pay off its substantial debt pile and reinvest in areas of greater strategic focus. Half-a-dozen products currently offered in its local market are now on their way to Switzerland’s Acino.