Latest news with #LEKConsulting
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Precision Era to Redefine Treatment, Drive $450B Economic Investment and Change Lives Across Asia Pacific
SINGAPORE, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Precision Era of medicine is arriving in Asia Pacific, driven by the arrival of a critical mass of innovative therapies that will redefine treatment, attract investment and improve lives, a new expert-driven report finds. Released today, 'On the Cusp of a Cure' White Paper examines Asia Pacific's readiness for the Precision Era – the current, transformative period where generically prescribed and regularly administered treatments are increasingly giving way to potentially curative therapies tailored to individuals and their disease. Treatments called precision therapies. Across the four markets over the next 10 years, the new research by L.E.K. Consulting and an advisory committee of 16 Asia Pacific experts using a proprietary 'whole system benefits modelling' approach found that the Precision Era has the potential to: Drive direct economic investment of approximately USD 450 billion.[i] Create almost 1.2 million highly skilled jobs[i] in R&D, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. Drive USD1.615 trillion in broader[i], indirect economic benefit via a multiplier effect across adjacent industries. Save healthcare systems across the four markets USD 39 billion[i], alleviating intense pressure on resources. Increase workforce participation for 24 million patients and caregivers by improving their ability to return or stay in work.[i] "The Precision Era is being driven by the arrival of a critical mass of some 4,000 innovative cell and gene therapies that will redefine treatment, attract investment and improve lives. Never before have we had such a clear view of the huge potential that this new era holds for Asia-Pacific. Healthcare systems stand to save billions, and patients could potentially live healthier for longer. The broader economic impact of this new era medicine is equivalent to South Korea's annual GDP, and the potential for new jobs greater than the entire population of Adelaide," said Stephanie Newey, Managing Partner, Head of L.E.K. Consulting Australia. Precision therapies put us on the cusp of a cure The 'On the Cusp of a Cure' research assessed data from more than 1,000 clinical trials across four novel technologies – gene therapies, targeted antibody therapies, drug-device combination therapies, and diagnostic technologies. These precision therapies are considered part of the Precision Era because they provide enhanced health benefits through a more tailored approach, represent a paradigm shift to how care has been provided previously and are the focus of significant research and investment. Critically, some experts suggest we may be on the cusp of a cure for diseases that have previously been considered incurable and represent Asia-Pacific's most pressing health challenges, such as many cancers and genetic disorders. "Asia disproportionately carries the largest cancer and rare disease burden in the world. It shoulders nearly half of all global cancer incidence[ii] and is home to 258 million people who are living with rare diseases[iii]. Worse still, these numbers are only expected to grow, fuelling calls for sustainable, scalable and effective solutions. Precision therapies are stepping forward to meet this critical need and represent a new standard of care for many of Asia-Pacific's health challenges," said Professor Baorong Yu, from the University of International Business and Economics in China. One of the most groundbreaking examples of these treatments is chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy that modifies the body's own T cells (a type of white blood cell) to target and destroy cancer cells[iv]. It is commonly used in the treatment of blood cancers, which has a 50% survival rate for over a third of patients. Currently, these patients are mostly treated through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but many do not respond or will relapse. "With increased access to innovative treatments such as CAR-T therapy, particularly earlier in treatment regimes, patients could live longer with a better quality of life," said Naomi Sakurai, Advisory Committee member and Founder and CEO, Cancer Solutions. "Rather than going through multiple rounds of chemo, they would have a therapy tailored specifically to their condition. These precision treatments are now offering hope by potentially curing once-incurable diseases and giving people the priceless gift of more time with their loved ones." What's holding back the adoption of precision therapies? The Precision Era brings fundamental change to the way disease is approached and how patients are treated, and requires an equivalent rethink from regulators and policymakers. While each market has its own, unique policy environment, 'On the Cusp of a Cure' series found that Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea all exhibit similar barriers to precision therapy adoption. Rules remain unclear for evaluating the reimbursement of new precision therapies, there is limited awareness among patients and doctors about these treatments, and better healthcare infrastructure is needed to support access. The 'On the Cusp of a Cure' research presents a number of regional solutions to unlock the potential benefits of precision therapies: Establish streamlined regulatory and reimbursement pathways specifically tailored for these treatments Increase education for providers, patients, and the community to enhance understanding of the Precision Era Enhance public-private collaboration to foster innovation and equitable access to precision therapies. Improve access and affordability through pricing strategies, reimbursement frameworks, and insurance initiatives for treatments and diagnostics alike. Through clinical guidelines and knowledge sharing, empower HCPs to make informed decisions about precision therapies, and assist patients in complex treatment paths. By backing local industry investments in therapies and diagnostics, and nurturing expertise, joint efforts can drive sustainable progress towards transformative innovations. "With this new era of precision therapies, we stand at the threshold of transforming healthcare across Asia-Pacific," said Sakurai. "But for the full potential of these medicines to materialise, regulatory systems as well as knowledge and infrastructure must keep up. The goal of precision therapies is to ensure the right patient, right timing, right treatment and right dose. We all have a role to play, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare industry leaders, to remove barriers for patients to these potentially life-changing therapies." "On the Cusp of a Cure White Paper Asia Pacific Series is made up of four local market white papers evaluating barriers to precision therapy adoption, providing recommendations for improvement, and assessing the value of widespread adoption in Australia, China, Japan, and Korea. Notes to Editor: On the Cusp of a Cure White Paper Series and Advisory Committee Members The On the Cusp of a Cure whitepaper series was supported by an advisory committee of 16 pre-eminent regional experts in precision medicine, economic and health policy, and patient experience across Australia, China, Japan and Korea. It was also sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. Australia China South Korea Japan David Thomas, Chief Scientific Officer, Omico Jaala Pulford, Chair of the Board, MTPConnect Christine Cockburn, CEO, Rare Cancers Australia Baorong Yu, Professor and market access key opinion leader, University of International Business and Economics Andy Mok, Head of China, Guardant Health Kevin Huang, Founder and president, China Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) Caicun Zhou, Professor and lung cancer key opinion leader, School of Medicine, Tongji University Paul Lee, Former GM, Gilead Sciences Korea Jin-Ah Kim, Advocate for rare diseases, Seoul National University Hospital, Department of Genomic Medicine, Rare Disease Centre Prof Jeonghoon Ahn, Professor of Health Convergence, Ewha University Teruyuki Katori, Representative Director, Special Appointed Professor, Future Institute Wolong, General Incorporated Association Graduate School of Social Sciences, University of Hyogo Daisuke Sato, Professor. Fujita Health university Manabu Muto, Professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Masahiro Miyake, Professor, Kyoto University Hospital Naomi Sakurai, Founder and CEO, Cancer Solutions Keisuke Shimizu, Leader, Lung cancer HER2 "HER HER" About L.E.K. Consulting We're L.E.K. Consulting, a global strategy consultancy working with business leaders to seize competitive advantage and amplify growth. Our insights are catalysts that reshape the trajectory of our clients' businesses, uncovering opportunities and empowering them to master their moments of truth. Since 1983, our worldwide practice — spanning the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific — has guided leaders across all industries from global corporations to emerging entrepreneurial businesses and private equity investors. Looking for more? Visit [i] L.E.K Consulting. On the Cusp of a Cure 2025. [ii] Huang J, Ngai CH, Deng Y, Tin MS, Lok V, Zhang L, Yuan J, Xu W, Zheng ZJ, Wong MCS. Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Asian Countries: A Trend Analysis. Cancer Control. 2022 Jan-Dec;29:10732748221095955. doi: 10.1177/10732748221095955. PMID: 35770775; PMCID: PMC9252010. [iii] IQVIA. Rare Diseases in APAC: The Unmet Potential. Available from Accessed April 2025. [iv] American Cancer Society. CAR T-cell therapy and Its Side-effects. Available from View original content: SOURCE L.E.K Consulting
Japan Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
China biotech's stunning advance is changing the world's drug pipeline
The biotechnology industry is experiencing a tectonic shift, driven by Chinese drugmakers who have come a long way from their copycat days to challenge Western dominance on innovation. The number of novel drugs in China — for cancer, weight-loss and more — entering into development ballooned to over 1,250 last year, far surpassing the European Union and nearly catching up to the U.S.'s count of about 1,440, an exclusive Bloomberg News analysis showed. And the drug candidates from the land once notorious for cheap knock-offs and quality issues are increasingly clearing high bars to win recognition from both drug regulators and Western pharmaceutical giants. The findings, gleaned from an analysis of a database maintained by pharma intelligence solutions provider Norstella, show a fundamental shift in medical innovation's center of gravity. With U.S. President Donald Trump already threatening tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector, China's biotech advances — the scale of which is slowly coming into view — risk becoming another realm of superpower rivalry like artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. "The scale itself is not something we've seen before,' said Helen Chen, managing partner at LEK Consulting in Shanghai, who has advised healthcare companies on their China strategy since 2003. "The products are here, they're attractive and they're fast.' This shift has occurred at an unprecedented pace. When China began to overhaul its drug regulatory system in 2015, the country had just 160 compounds to contribute to the global pipeline of innovative drugs, or less than 6% of the total, behind Japan and the U.K. The reforms helped streamline reviews, enforced data quality standards and improved transparency. The government's "Made in China 2025" plan to elevate manufacturing in 10 priority sectors also helped spur a flurry of investments in biotechnology. Altogether, they unleashed a boom led by foreign-educated and -trained scientists and entrepreneurs. "Not only is it now almost at parity with the U.S. but it has that growth trajectory,' said Daniel Chancellor, vice president of thought leadership at Norstella. "It wouldn't be sensationalist to suggest that China will overtake the U.S. in the next few years purely in terms of numbers of drugs that it's bringing through into its pipeline.' Bloomberg News' data analysis focuses on innovative drugs, excluding generic combinations, reformulations and biosimilars. Numbers aside, the more stunning leap is in the quality of Chinese biotech innovation. While there's constant debate in the pharmaceutical industry on whether Chinese firms are capable of producing not just effective but needle-shifting new therapies, there's growing recognition on multiple fronts. The world's strictest regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, increasingly view Chinese drugs as generally promising enough to justify devoting extra resources to speed up their review, handing them coveted industry designations such as priority review, breakthrough therapy designation or fast track status. The country is now slightly ahead of the EU in earning such expedited reviews as of 2024, the data shows, a remarkable edge over a region that previously produced drugs like Wegovy. One of the early exemplars of Chinese innovation is a cell therapy that has shown promise to potentially cure a deadly blood cancer. First developed in China by Legend Biotech, it is now marketed by Johnson & Johnson — having won a few expedited review designations along the way — and considered superior to a competing U.S.-originated therapy. Still, the absolute number of China-originated drugs winning these designations trails their U.S. counterparts by a large margin. Risk aversion remains a factor holding back Chinese pharmaceutical innovation: So far, top companies tend to focus on making better versions of existing therapies or new iterations of older ideas, and few are pioneering novel treatment approaches that have never been tried before — an endeavor that comes with a high risk of failure and is still led by the U.S., Europe and, to a lesser extent, Japan. Nevertheless, the biggest Chinese breakthroughs are increasingly being snapped up by pharmaceutical giants for record sums, a sign that the perennial competition for the next blockbuster drug is also shifting East. A novel cancer drug from Akeso, which came out more effective than Merck & Co.'s Keytruda in a Chinese study last year, has been likened to China biotech's DeepSeek moment, spawning a new wave of global interest. The promise of topping Keytruda, the world's top-selling drug, also swelled the valuation of Summit Therapeutics, which in 2022 paid $500 million upfront for the development and marketing rights in the U.S. and other regions. Other multinational players like Merck, AstraZeneca and Roche Holding have also scooped up Chinese assets. In May, Pfizer set a new record as it announced a $1.2 billion upfront deal with 3SBio for a cancer drug similar to Akeso's. These deals are increasing in both value and frequency, according to biopharma deal database DealForma, signaling confidence that China-originated drugs are competitive internationally and can bring in substantial revenue. The volume of potential candidates coming out of China means multinational companies, which have a constant need to add new products to the mix, can "cast their net wider than ever before,' Norstella's Chancellor said. A key advantage that has fueled the rise of Chinese biotech firms is their ability to conduct research cheaper and faster at every step of the way, from lab experiments and animal testing to human trials. Technicians work inside a production laboratory for CAR-T cell therapies at an IASO Biotechnology facility in Nanjing on June 9. | Bloomberg Creating a new drug from scratch is notoriously time-consuming and expensive, and China's massive patient pool and centralized hospital network have become a significant accelerator. An analysis of the time taken for drugs to conduct various testing stages shows that doctors in China can recruit for trials much faster — for early trials for cancer and obesity drugs, they can complete patient enrollment in half the time compared to the U.S. The difference in costs means Chinese companies can afford to run multiple trials simultaneously to find a winner, or quickly launch new projects once a scientific idea is validated by other groups. Since 2021, China has become the top location for clinical research, initiating the largest number of new trials globally, according to GlobalData. "They can leapfrog competitors in other countries,' said Andy Liu, head of China at Novotech Health Holdings, which helps companies run clinical trials. To be sure, clinical data in China is just a start. U.S. regulators have made it clear that China-only trial results, no matter how positive, are not sufficient to support drug approvals. Chinese biotechs with ambition to sell their drugs overseas must prove that their treatment benefits can be replicated in non-Chinese patients, through complex and slower-moving global studies. It may still be a few years before a critical mass of drugs sourced from China wins U.S. and EU approvals — the gold standard for high-quality treatments — and becomes widely used in the Western world, but many in the industry believe that's inevitable. China's innovators comprise both cutting-edge biotech startups founded by foreign-educated entrepreneurs, and old-guard Chinese pharmaceutical companies like Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, which used to be one of the country's biggest generic drugmakers. The company poured billions of dollars into shifting to innovative research and development after Beijing's campaign to lower generic drug prices made that sector less profitable. It's now the world's top-ranked pharmaceutical company for the number of new innovative drugs added to the research pipeline in the period of 2020-2024. Of the 50 companies that generated the highest number of innovative drug candidates between 2020 and 2024, 20 of them were Chinese, compared to five in the five years before. "As we move forward, the fact that there's high quality innovation in China in terms of biotech will no longer be a novelty,' said Ali Pashazadeh, founder and managing director of healthcare advisory firm Treehill Partners in London. "It'll just be an accepted part of the norm.' At a time when China and the U.S. are engaged in renewed geopolitical spats, the growth of China's biotech ecosystem is causing alarm among some American politicians and business leaders. A congressional commission warned that the U.S. risks losing its leadership position in yet another industry critical to national security. "Biotech is one of the forefronts of the U.S.-China tech rivalry,' said Jack Burnham, research analyst at the think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. In addition to economic implications and possible military applications of biotech, China's leverage on innovative therapies may be weaponized in a future conflict, he said, if Americans become dependent on those medicines. The perception of threat has spurred calls for the U.S. government to stymie China's biotech growth — through restrictions such as export controls on scientific equipment and barriers to investment — and boost the domestic biotech sector, including by changing the regulatory environment to emulate countries where clinical trials are run more quickly. Robert F. Kennedy, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, recently pledged to "Make American Biotech Accelerate.' Despite the risks of the newly combative relationship between the world's two biggest economies, Chinese drugmakers like Akeso have set their sights on bringing their therapies to developed Western markets. "The pharma industry is the best industry in the world,' Akeso CEO Michelle Xia said in an April interview. "At the end of the day, what we do benefits patients in China, in the U.S. and all around the world.'
Arabian Business
03-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai student boom as 29% surge in international enrolment signals new global education hotspot
With new universities, a major rise in foreign students, and world-class infrastructure, Dubai is rewriting the rules on global higher education. Dubai is making bold moves on the world stage — not just in finance or real estate, but now as a rising education superpower. Latest data from Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) reveals a 29 per cent spike in international student enrolment, with more than 42,000 students now studying across 41 licensed institutions. Four new international campuses opened this year alone. Dubai student growth These insights were highlighted during a briefing, hosted by L.E.K. Consulting 's Global Education Practice in Dubai, which convened senior stakeholders, policymakers, and higher education leaders to discuss Dubai's accelerating transformation into a world-class higher education destination. The event featured key perspectives from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). According to L.E.K. Consulting's research and analysis, Dubai presents 'one of the most compelling growth markets globally for higher education,' driven by key factors, including a growing high school student base, increasing demand for transnational education, the presence of globally recognised university brands, student-friendly infrastructure, and strong post-study employment pathways. Latest figures from the KHDA highlight this strong growth momentum across the sector. More than 42,000 students are now enrolled across 41 private higher education institutions in the emirate that are licensed and regulated by the KHDA, with an increase of around 20 per cent increase in overall student enrolment in the 2024-25 academic year. International student enrolment has surged by 29 per cent compared to the previous year, now representing 35 per cent of total enrolments in the city's higher education institutions, which are licensed by the KHDA. Meanwhile, Emirati participation in international universities has also grown by 22 per cent, underscoring Dubai's dual appeal to both domestic and global learners. Four new international institutions opened in the current academic year alone. The strong growth supports KHDA's Education 33 strategy, and specifically its City of Students initiative, which aims to raise international student enrolment to 50 per cent by 2033, transforming the emirate into a world-leading destination for quality higher education. Dr. Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said: 'Dubai's continued growth as a global hub for higher education is testament to our leadership's vision and the ambitious goals of the Dubai Plan 33 and its social and economic agendas and driven by our Education 33 strategy. 'We are creating new opportunities for transnational education, strengthening Dubai's position as a city where learners, educators, and institutions from around the world can connect, collaborate, and thrive. 'Through E33, we are building a future where Dubai is not only a destination for quality education, but a centre of knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.' As the demand for transnational education, upskilling, and reskilling intensifies, the emirate's blend of strategic policy, global connectivity, and education quality continues to position it as a top-tier alternative to traditional study destinations. Ashwin Assomull, Partner and Head of the Global Education Practice at L.E.K. Consulting, said: 'With a growing pool of graduates from our wonderful array of international schools in the city, Dubai presents a significant opportunity for international universities to meet the evolving needs of both local and international students. 'Amid increasing regulatory restrictions in traditional anglophone markets, Dubai's world-class higher education infrastructure, global connectivity, favourable cost structure, and reputation for safety present unparalleled opportunities for students, operators, and investors to capitalise on this transformative growth.' Key stats behind Dubai's higher education boom
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Let drug companies see NHS patient data to save lives, former cabinet minister urges
A former cabinet minister has called for drug companies to get easier access to NHS data. Greg Clark, who was the business secretary under Theresa May, has backed a report that says it would save lives and give the country's finances a multi-billion pound boost. It calls for firms to be able to see anonymised raw details - that would not reveal patients' private information. But the call will prove controversial, amid warnings the data could fall into the wrong hands. Mr Clark said the UK 'cannot hope to compete on the international stage without… the right policies'. The NHS has access to some of the most comprehensive sets of health-related data in the world, with more than 60 million registered patients. Pharmaceutical firms believe its sheer size could allow them to uncover patterns that could potentially open up new types of treatments. Making NHS data easier for commercial researchers to use could add more than more than £10bn a year to the UK economy and create new medicines, according to new research by LEK Consulting, commissioned by science charity SCI, previously known as the Society for Chemical Industry. The SCI's chief executive Sharon Todd admitted the idea would provoke 'controversy' but said it could be 'transformational for the UK economy'. Mr Clark, who is also the chair of the board of trustees at the SCI, said the organisation knew 'first-hand the extent of our country's considerable potential in life sciences… with world-leading academic institutions and a swathe of start-up potential, the UK has all the ingredients it needs to be a global leader in the sector. 'However, we cannot hope to compete on the international stage without first having the right policies in place. Our research highlights meaningful action that policymakers can take to realise the future of UK life sciences.' But Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity advisor at ESET Internet Security, said: 'Sharing your health data with pharmaceutical companies has the power of helping advance medical research but it also carries worrying privacy and security risks for people to be vigilant of. 'Unfortunately, even anonymised data could raise privacy concerns as there's the risk that your information could be used for commercial gain without clear benefit to you, or even shared further without your knowledge. 'Ethical issues around consent, transparency and data security mean it's incredibly important to understand who will access your data, how it will be used and what safeguards are in place before agreeing to share it. All of which is often an afterthought for those whose data it is. But as with encrypted communications, even limited access can be exploited leading to much bigger problems in cybersecurity and privacy.' It is not the first time the idea has been suggested. In 2023 the boss of GlaxoSmithKline called for drug companies to get easier access to NHS patient data. Dame Emma Walmsley called on the then PM Rishi Sunak to 'do more' as she argued that handing over anonymised files on millions of Brits would 'prevent and treat disease more effectively'. Some NHS data can already be shared with other organisations, if it is 'necessary and proportionate', according to NHS England.
