Industry Trends

March 2023

See what has been happening in Asia’s pharma and personal care industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?

What has been happening?

Turmeric is a spice with multiple skin benefits, The top global skin concerns in 2022, New York woman appears cured of HIV after stem cell transplant, and more. See what industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Industry Articles

From acne to wrinkles and dark circles, turmeric is a spice with multiple skin benefits
The Malay Mail Online

Well-known in many traditional medicines, including Ayurveda, turmeric is beginning to make its way into the cosmetics industry. The ingredient is now used in creams, masks, cleansers and hair care products, for example, and is making its way into DIY beauty recipes in the form of a hydrosol, powder, colorant or essential oil.
Wrinkles, fine lines and eye bags top global skin concerns in 2022
CosmeticsDesign-Asia

The biggest skin concerns amongst both male and female consumers last year were wrinkles, fine lines and eye bags, according to data from Finnish tech firm Revieve.
New York woman appears cured of HIV after stem cell transplant
CBS News

In a breakthrough in the fight against AIDS, a New York woman appears to have been cured of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists say the patient — a middle-aged, mixed race woman — received a transplant of stem cells from umbilical cord blood to treat her leukemia. The woman, who has been living without HIV since 2017 and is no longer taking drugs to suppress the virus, could be the first woman to be cured of the virus.
World Leaders Denounce Pharma Pandemic Profiteering
Business Wire Health

Nearly 200 prominent leaders from around the world—including several presidents and prime ministers—have signed an open letter calling on governments to make a “never again” pledge and renounce pandemic profiteering and vaccine nationalism. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) supports the letter and echoes its conclusion, “It is time to embed justice, equity, and human rights in pandemic preparedness and response.
High Normal Weight in Youths Linked to Hypertension Risk
Drugs.com

High normal weight above the 60th percentile of body mass index (BMI) for age is associated with an increased risk for hypertension among children aged 3 to 17 years, according to a study published online March 14 in…
Less Postmortem Alzheimer Disease Pathology Seen With MIND, Mediterranean Diets
Drugs.com

Less postmortem Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology, mainly beta-amyloid load, is seen with the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and Mediterranean diets…
The blue effect: Ultramarine blue pigment enhances foundations for North Asian complexions
CosmeticsDesign-Asia

Ultramarine blue pigment can fully replace black pigments in foundations and provide superior cosmetic benefits for North Asian complexions, suggests a new study by Japan-based L’OrÃal researchers.
Dead Sea water has ‘great potential’ for cosmetics applications, but challenges remain
CosmeticsDesign-Asia

Dead Sea water (DSW) has considerable potential in cosmetics application, but compatibility issues in formulations need to be resolved before it can be safely applied, say researchers.
Smoking Independently Tied to Higher Risk for Psoriasis
Drugs.com

Smoking is tied to an increased risk for psoriasis, but may not be a cause of psoriasis, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in Frontiers in Immunology. Charlotte Näslund-Koch, from Copenhagen University…
Health Ministry revokes notification of six cosmetic products found to contain poison
The Malay Mail Online

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of the Health Ministry (MoH) has revoked the notification of six cosmetic products because they were found to contain scheduled poisons. Health director-general of Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said four of the products were Flashhskinzz Moist Sunscreen, Serene Treatment Cream, Tempias Hawa Master Recovery Skin Rskin and Karisma Preventing Day Cream, which were found to contain mercury.
How to win over… Beauty consumers in China’s ultra-competitive e-commerce market
CosmeticsDesign-Asia

We reveal what it takes to achieve success in China’s cutthroat e-commerce space – from building a solid foundation to maintaining longevity – with exclusive insights from brands that have thrived in it, including Atelier Rebul, Evenswiss and G&M Cosmetics.
Singapore start-up targets personalised cosmetics opportunities with ‘organ-on-chip’ tech

CosmeticsDesign-Asia

Singapore spin-off REVIVO BioSystems is targeting personalised cosmetics opportunities using its tech.

Crown Bioscience Opens Singapore Laboratory and Establishes Local Commercial Partner

Business Wire Health

Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organization (CRO) and JSR Life Sciences company, today announced the opening of a new site in Singapore to expand the company’s capacity to support both global and local biotech and pharma companies engaged in preclinical and translational oncology drug discovery and development.

China government focuses on public wellbeing with new regulations roll out

Global Cosmetics News

The Chinese government is focusing on public wellbeing and rolling out a new set of regulations this month, according to a report by china.org.cn. THE DETAILS The National Medical Products Administration is required to conduct sampling inspections on children’s cosmetics and other products on annual basis, as well as build a national cosmetics information system based on the inspections.

Philippine patients unable to find opioid oxycodone

BusinessWorld

Filipino patients who deal with severe pain have found it difficult to buy oxycodone, a strong semi-synthetic opioid used medically to treat moderate to severe pain, because it has been out of stock in many local drugstores. Oxycodone brand Oxycontin Neo in 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg doses have been out of stock since December. Oxynorm 5 mg hard capsules are also nowhere to be found. Oxynorm 10 mg is available in select Mercury Drug store branches.

Eligible Singaporeans of Healthier SG programme to get S$20 worth of Healthpoints, subsidies for chronic medication

The Malay Mail Online

Eligible Singapore residents will receive S$20 (RM66.48) in Healthpoints, while Singaporeans will get more subsidies for chronic medication as part of the Healthier SG programme, said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung today.

Filipino biologist makes case for medical cannabis

BusinessWorld

A Filipino-Canadian cellular biologist who claims to have saved her son from deadly seizures using cannabis therapy is pushing its use to treat certain diseases. Texas-based Annabelle Manalo-Morgan has developed a pure form of cannabidiol without fillers that she used in 2016 to manage her son Macario’s severe seizures when he was just two days old. Named Masaya (Filipino for happy), the product is under clinical trial in the United Kingdom…

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