Taiwan Today
Date: April 29, 2016
Taiwan and mainland China recently recognized for the first time the results of clinical drug
A researcher at a Taiwan biotech company conducts a test on a new locally developed drug. (Staff Photo/Huang Chung-hsin)
tests conducted by four hospitals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, paving the way for local pharmaceutical firms to further tap the growing mainland Chinese market.
The four Taiwan facilities are Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou District, New Taipei City, and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Tri-Service General Hospital, all in Taipei City, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
This breakthrough eliminates the need to conduct another set of clinical trials in mainland China, cutting considerable time off the approval process for drug-makers developing new products. It is an important part of maximizing a pharmaceutical’s profitability before the removal of patent protection.
The development was made possible by the Cross-Strait Cooperation Agreement on Medicine and Public Health Affairs concluded in December 2010 by Taiwan and mainland China. Under the pact, the two sides agreed four years later to mutually recognize clinical data so as to avoid duplicating trials. [FULL STORY]
