15-Sep-16 The Australian government has announced it will speed up the approval process for new medicines so that Australians can gain faster access to drugs. Currently, Australians are forced to wait up to two years longer than in other nations, but the new rules will allow drugs to be "fast-tracked" if approved by a regulator such as the USFDA. [image: News Corp Australia]

02-Aug-16 Malaysia’s medical devices sector is expected to contribute MYR11 bn (USD2.7 bn) in exports in 2016, with revenue from the health tourism and pharmaceutical sectors expected to reach MYR1 bn (USD248 mn) and MYR800 mn (USD199 mn) respectively. Malaysia is the largest surgical gloves manufacturer in the world and also makes beds, dental chairs and orthopaedic implants. [image: Free Malaysia Today]

29-Jul-16 Allergan Optive Fusion eye drops have shown rapid and continued improvement in dry eye in a study presented at the 2016 Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress in China. Allergan’s Ophthalmology director, Damon Cooke, said: “Dry eye disease is impacting increasing numbers of people as we spend more time looking at screens and living in air conditioned environments.” [image: Allergen Optive Fusion]

29-Jul-16 Chinese conglomerates Fosun and Alibaba are betting big on the country’s reforms of the healthcare system. But so far the country’s rigidly-regulated market is proving a more bitter pill to swallow than expected, say experts. Ali Health's plans took an early setback in Jun-16 when the government unexpectedly halted online drug sales by third-party platforms. [image: SMCP]

14-Jul-16 US multinational drug maker Pfizer is laying down a new foundation in Russia, with a JV to produce pharmaceuticals domestically. Pfizer’s announcement is a plus for Russian businesses, and for sentiment, insofar as it shows the country is still open to Western-backed multinationals. [image: Don Emmert / AFP / Getty Images]