Health spending in emerging markets is expected to generate 70 per cent of of global pharmaceutical growth by 2016.
And Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Company is banking on its research and development activities to tap into that.
It ranks 12th in the world and is well set to expand its drug pipeline in Asia.
Drugs for hypertension and diabetes are among the seven new drug applications Takeda has embarked on this year.
Dr James Garner, General Manager of Takeda Global Research & Development Centre (Asia), said: "We have a number of drugs moving through development here which are destined for global registration, and the work we are doing supports that as well as our local product launches here in Asia."
Its Singapore research centre began clinical trials in 2009.
Singapore's efficient logistics base, tax structure and strong government support makes it a top research base destination.
The government has committed S$16.1 billion to support research activities between 2011 and 2015, according to Singapore's Economic Development Board.
In 2011, the biopharmaceutical sector grew by over 30 per cent to contribute about S$22.8 billion in manufacturing output.
Takeda's base is one of four regional R&D hubs which include the US, London and Japan. Today, it has 42 staff in Singapore that work alongside research teams in China and South Korea.
So far, only four per cent of Takeda's sales in the first quarter of 2012 are from Asia, but there's room for growth.
Sales of pharmaceuticals in Asia is expected to reach US$386 billion in 2016 - up from US$214.2 billion in 2010.
The region's greying population, changing lifestyles and reforms in healthcare are key drivers.
Mr Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research & Consulting, said: "There is serious healthcare reform underway in China, this will increase the total demand for drugs. In Indonesia, similar announcements have been made and the country is moving in that direction. In India, the private healthcare space is growing very rapidly as a result of domestic demand and to a lesser extent, medical tourism."
While Spire Research does not see an uptrend for pharmaceutical for the rest of 2012, it says a pick-up is possible next year.
And despite competition posed by generic drug producers, it says more foreign pharmaceuticals are expected to set up in Asia, particularly in China, India and Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment