Recap | ‘Promising’ steps to HIV vaccine, Trump tariffs threaten Chinese profits: 5 biotech stories
Discover breakthroughs in the biotech world, from a potential HIV cure to China’s booming drug market and innovative coronavirus treatments, in some of our latest stories
1. HIV cure on horizon? Hong Kong firm Immuno Cure unveils promising vaccine, ICVAX
“We may be on the brink of a breakthrough,” the company advisory board chairman said as the biotech start-up reported promising results from clinical trials. The vaccine, designed to be administered after infection, could offer a potential cure for HIV, the virus that causes Aids.
2. Trump tariffs threaten Chinese biotech profits, medical device makers brace for impact
Chinese biotech firms are facing a double whammy of US funding restrictions and tariffs after Trump proposed import duties of 60 to 100 per cent on Chinese goods. Efforts to expand high-value product sales within China and alternative overseas markets outside the US may mitigate the impact.
3. China’s pharmaceutical boom sees market surge past US$13 billion with 113 new drugs since 2021
China’s pharmaceutical industry is booming, with 113 innovative drugs approved since its 14th five-year plan began in 2021, exceeding the previous five-year plan by nearly three times. This surge in innovation has driven the market scale to US$13.8 billion, making China a global leader in drug development.
