MONASH UNIVERSITY

Seaport's Glyph platform aims to enhance drug efficacy and reduce side effects, leveraging research from Monash University. The company raised $325 million, led by General Atlantic and T. Rowe Price, to develop better psychiatric drugs. CEO Daphne Zohar, co-founder of PureTech Health and Karuna Therapeutics, highlights Glyph's potential to revive stalled therapies. Seaport's pipeline includes SPT-300 for depression, SPT-320 for anxiety, and SPT-348 for mood disorders.

Seaport Therapeutics, a PureTech Health founded entity, closed a $225 million oversubscribed Series B financing round led by General Atlantic. The funds will support key clinical milestones in Seaport's pipeline of first and best-in-class neuropsychiatric medicines.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit joined the NeoGASTRIC trial, aiming to understand feeding methods for premature babies. The study, running in the UK and Australia, seeks to determine if measuring gastric residual volumes affects feeding progress. Funded by NIHR and coordinated by NPEU CTU at Oxford University, it aims to recruit over 7,000 babies by 2026.

Samsung Biologics launches S-HiCon™ platform for high-concentration biopharmaceutical development, enhancing stability and reducing viscosity.

The Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium Limited (VPCC Ltd) is established with $35 million from the Government and $10 million from the Children's Cancer Foundation, aiming to develop safer therapies and treatments for childhood cancer. Led by Dr Udani Reets, the consortium includes partners like Hudson Institute, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and the Children's Cancer Foundation, focusing on enhancing collaboration and delivering a childhood cancer survivorship program.

The Allan Labor Government establishes the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium with $35 million, aiming to transform childhood cancer research through targeted investment, earlier diagnosis, and better treatments. The Consortium, led by Dr Udani Reets and supported by $10 million from the Children's Cancer Foundation, unites leading institutions to advance paediatric cancer research and improve outcomes for affected children worldwide.

Australian researchers developed a novel cancer-specific array to detect circulating antibodies against tumor antigens, showing promise as early melanoma biomarkers with AUC values ranging from 0.857 to 0.981. A top marker achieved 99% sensitivity and 82% specificity in validation cohorts, with plans to explore prognostic value and pan-cancer diagnostics.

Asia is rapidly becoming a biomanufacturing powerhouse, with countries like China, Singapore, South Korea, and India leading the charge. These nations are investing heavily in infrastructure, fostering innovation, and improving regulatory environments to attract global biopharma investments. The Asia Pacific biopharmaceuticals market is projected to grow significantly, driven by government support, skilled workforce development, and strategic partnerships. Key initiatives include Singapore's BioPIPS, South Korea's Bio-Health Industry Promotion Plan, Australia's RNA Sector Development Plan, and India's BioE3 Policy, all aimed at enhancing biomanufacturing capabilities and positioning Asia as a global leader in the biopharma industry.

The FDA approved Cobenfy, a new schizophrenia treatment combining xanomeline and trospium, representing a 30-year collaborative effort involving Monash University researchers. This marks the first major advancement in schizophrenia treatment in decades, offering a more targeted approach than traditional dopamine-focused drugs.

Researchers at Monash University have made a breakthrough in developing a hormone-free male contraceptive pill, significantly increasing its likelihood of becoming a reality.