Healthcare & Life Sciences News & Trends: Nov Week 5

Healthcare & Life Sciences News & Trends: Nov Week 5

Healthcare & Life Sciences News & Trends: Nov Week 5

 

1. Market

i. Shanghai Overtakes New York in Global Science Rankings

For the first time, Shanghai has surpassed New York to claim the second spot in the Nature Index Science Cities rankings. The rankings are determined based on the cities’ contributions to high-impact natural sciences research, including the volume and quality of publications in leading journals. This shift is driven by Shanghai’s strengths in biopharmaceutical research, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence. Other key highlights include:

  • Beijing remains in the top spot, marking its eighth consecutive year at number one.
  • Half of the top 20 science cities in the 2024 rankings are now in China.

Takeaway: The rankings reflect China’s growing leadership in scientific research as the country pushes toward innovation-driven growth, supported by initiatives like Made in China 2025.

 

ii. KPMG Survey: Life Sciences CEOs Optimistic About Workforce Growth

A recent KPMG survey of life sciences CEOs reveals a positive outlook for the industry. The key highlights include:

  • Growth: 79% of respondents are confident their companies will experience growth over the next three years. This marks a 10% increase from last year.
  • Hiring: In contrast to the recent trend of layoffs in the biopharma sector, 94% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce, with 37% anticipating a growth of at least 6% in headcount.
  • Outlook: Despite the optimism about their own companies, CEOs’ confidence in the overall health of the life sciences industry has declined from 80% to 67%. Economic uncertainty (57%) and geopolitical complexities (53%) are cited as major concerns.
  • Focus and Challenges: 60% of CEOs prioritise investment in generative AI to enhance R&D, although data readiness and staffing for AI adoption remain challenging.
  • ESG: Only 43% of CEOs are confident in achieving net-zero goals by 2030, with sustainability playing a key role in strengthening customer relationships and brand reputation.

 

2. Business Moves

i. Sanofi Invests S$800m to Build Plant in Singapore

Sanofi invested S$800 million to establish the Modulus plant at Tuas Biomedical Park, Singapore. The new facility is able to rapidly reconfigure between technological platforms in just a few days—an advantage over the traditional process, which can take months or years. This modularity positions Sanofi to adjust production to meet urgent global needs quickly. Set to be fully operational by mid-2026, the plant will create 200 skilled jobs and can simultaneously manufacture up to four vaccines or biopharmaceuticals.

Takeaway: The plant’s construction aligns with Singapore’s broader strategy to bolster vaccine manufacturing capabilities and solidify its position as a key hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The facility complements similar investments in biopharmaceutical manufacturing by other major players like AstraZeneca and Novartis.

 

ii. Roche to Buy US Partner Poseida for US$1.5b

Roche agreed to acquire its US collaboration partner Poseida Therapeutics in a deal valued at up to US$1.5 billion. Roche will pay US$9 per share in cash, with stockholders eligible for an additional contingent value right of up to US$4 per share based on future milestones. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2025.

Takeaway: Roche’s acquisition is a move to bolster its oncology pipeline. It adds allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies for blood cancers and potentially autoimmune diseases to Roche’s pipeline.

 

iii. Kelun’s Merck-Partnership Advances with Sac-TMT Approval in China

Kelun-Biotech and Merck jointly secured the first regulatory approval in China for its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT), marking a significant step in the TROP2 ADC race. The approval, based on the OptiTROP-Breast01 phase 3 trial, is for the use of sac-TMT to treat advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients who have failed at least two prior therapies. The results showed significant survival benefits over chemotherapy, with a 47% reduction in the risk of death and a 69% reduction in disease progression.

Takeaway: This approval positions sac-TMT as the second TROP2 ADC to gain marketing approval in China, following Gilead’s Trodelvy, which was approved in 2022. Kelun is now focused on advancing sac-TMT into earlier treatment settings, with trials exploring its combination with Merck’s Keytruda and use as a first-line therapy. In addition to TNBC, sac-TMT is under review for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), an area also targeted by competitors.

 

3. People Moves

AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca appointed Bob Li, a prominent scientist from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSK), as the Global Head of Medical Affairs, Oncology. Li has served as a physician ambassador for China and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region while working in MSK. He also collaborated with Chinese medical organisations like the Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group.

This appointment aligns with AstraZeneca’s strategic focus on oncology, which has driven strong growth in the company’s oncology division. In China, AstraZeneca’s oncology drugs, including Tagrisso and Enhertu, have been key revenue drivers. Notably, Enhertu was recently added to China’s national insurance list, further expanding its reach, especially for HER2-positive breast cancer, the second most common cancer in Chinese women after lung cancer. Given Li’s established ties to China and his experience in public health and policy, his appointment is seen as strategically significant as AstraZeneca continues to navigate its operations and growth in China.

GPG: Li Xiaojun was appointed as the new chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group (GPG) following a close to four-month vacancy. Li Xiaojun previously served as the Party Secretary and Chairman of Guangzhou Public Transport Group, where he led the company to achieve over 10 billion RMB in revenue in 2023. He takes over from Li Chuyuan, who was removed from the position earlier this year. GPG operates over 30 subsidiaries, including established brands, and was the first traditional Chinese medicine company to enter the Fortune Global 500 list in 2021. The appointment is seen as a strategic move to drive GPG’s next phase of growth, particularly in enhancing the market presence of its key brands and accelerating its diverse business segments.

 

Discover More Industry Trends with JC

For the latest industry trends or to explore new career opportunities, connect with our life sciences recruitment consultants for a chat. With executive search firms in Singapore and China, and operations in key business hubs like Hong Kong, you can count on our team for timely access to regional insights that can create synergy for your career and operations.

For employers: Beyond the healthcare and life sciences industry, we also have dedicated desks for several sectors that enables us to meet your varied recruitment needs:

Image Credits:

  • Straits Times
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