Legal & Regulatory > Asia-Pacific

An insight into digital health in Indian Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75. 151. Is the term ‘digital health’ defined in your jurisdiction? If no, how is the term generally understood? The term digital health is not specifically defined in India. It is generally understood to include tools and services that use information and…

An insight into medical devices in India. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Who are the regulatory authorities governing medical devices in your jurisdiction? The following regulatory authorities have jurisdiction over medical devices in India. The Drugs Controller General of India (“DCGI”) The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (“CDSCO”) State drug licensing authorities…

The legal framework for regulatory reforms in Vietnamese Pharma. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare system? The MOH published a draft version of an amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment dated 12 October 2019 to collect public opinions. Once adopted, the new…

All about patents & trademarks in Viatnamese Pharma. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? PATENT To qualify for patent protection, an invention must meet the following basic conditions: Be globally novel; Involve an inventive step; and Have its subject matter capable of industrial…

The low-down on the situation regarding product liability in Vietnamese Pharma. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? The following types of liability are recognized under Vietnamese laws: disciplinary liability, administrative liability, civil liability and criminal liability.   2. How do these types of liabilities apply…

Want to know more about traditional medicines and OTC products in Vietnamese Pharma? Read on! Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices? The Law on Pharmacy and its implementing regulations are equally applicable to modern drugs and traditional and herbal drugs.…

The key facts about marketing, manufacturing, packaging & labeling, advertising in Vietnamese Pharma. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS Under Vietnamese law, pharmaceutical products or drugs are defined to cover all modern…

A brief overview of the situation regarding preclinical and clinical trial requirements in Vietnamese Pharma. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? By law, clinical research documentation for the purpose of obtaining the MA must conform to the…

An intro to the legal situation for regulatory, pricing and reimbursement in Vietnamese Pharma. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Vietnam, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Vietnam, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country? In Vietnam, pharmaceutical products (including drugs and biologicals) and medical devices are under the overall management of the…

A brief overview of the situation regarding biosimilars & biologics in Singaporean Pharma. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are biosimilar medicines considered the same as generic medicines in your country? Biosimilar medicines are not considered the same as generic medicines. According to the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore (“HSA”), biologics are medicinal products with large complex molecules produced by living…

The ins and outs of orphan drugs & rare diseases in Singaporean Pharma. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the definition of Rare Diseases in your country? As at the date hereof, there is no legal definition of rare diseases in Singapore. In a press release dated 2 July 2019, the Ministry of Health of Singapore (“MOH”) defined a…

Cannabinoid drugs, medicinal cannabis and opioid drugs in Singaporean Pharma – a legal guide. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   Cannabinoid Drugs 1. Are Cannabinoid Drugs authorized in your country? In general, Cannabinoid Drugs are not authorised in Singapore. The Misuse of Drugs Act (Chapter 185) of Singapore (“MDA”) prescribes that it shall be an offence to traffic, manufacture, import or export,…

On February 19, 2019, by amending the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522, Thailand caught the cannabis industry by surprise and became the first Asia-Pacific country to legalize medicinal cannabis. While hemp had been approved for use in industry since 2018 (see here), the amendment of the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522, providing for a Thai FDA registration pathway for medicinal cannabis, was largely unexpected.     While the amendments create the foundation for a cannabis industry in Thailand, the true viability and future…

On March 30, 2020, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) enacted the Amended Drug Registration Regulation (DRR) as part of its efforts to strengthen and streamline its regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. The DRR seeks, on the one hand, to further confirm a series of changes made in drug evaluation and approval in recent years, and, on the other, to implement in full a series of processes proposed in the Drug Administration Law (DAL), including who is authorized to…

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has taken top priority for almost every country in the world. In Thailand, even though the strength of the country’s health security measures has been ranked sixth-best globally, COVID-19 has hit hard, and the number of confirmed cases is steadily increasing each day.   In the early stages of the outbreak in January 2020, only passengers who had visited mainland China were subject to close monitoring by communicable disease control officers. By late February, South…

The ins and outs of orphan drugs & rare diseases in Japan. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the definition of Rare Diseases in your country? In Japan, there is no fixed definition for Rare Diseases, although the concept is included in the definition of Orphan Drugs (refer to Q2). It should be noted…

Keen to learn more about cannabinoid drugs, medicinal cannabis and opioid drugs in Japan? Read on! Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   Cannabinoid Drugs 1. Are Cannabinoid Drugs authorized in your country? No. In Japan, usage of cannabis (all kinds) is severely restricted by two acts. The first is the Cannabis Control Act, under which “Cannabis” is…

Cannabinoid drugs, medicinal cannabis & opioid drugs in India – a comprehensive legal overview. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   CANNABINOID DRUGS Global Comment: For the purpose of this chapter, we will assume that Cannabinoid Drugs are preparations made out of extract or tincture of Cannabis. If a drug contains cannabinoids which have been…

An insight into biosimilars & biologics in Indian Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are biosimilar medicines considered the same as generic medicines in your country? Biosimilar medicines are not regulated in the same manner as generic medicines in India. While biosimilars and generic medicines are classified as drugs under the Drugs…

The key facts about the localization in Indian Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are there any rules or regulations requiring and/or encouraging localization in your country? What is the legal framework defining these localization rules and policies? There are no specific legislations or regulations requiring and/or encouraging localization in India. The…

Want to know more about orphan drugs & rare diseases in India? Read on! Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 99.   1. What is the definition of Rare Diseases in your country? India does not have a definition of rare diseases. The National Policy on Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2020 (“NPTRD”), which is currently in…

Regulation of medical devices in India has speedily evolved in the preceding two years. Before the introduction of the Medical Device Rules, 2017 (“MDR 2017”), the regulation of medical devices and drugs was inextricably linked. In the 18 months since the MDR 2017 has come into force, the biggest challenge has been evolving unique enforcement protocols for regulating medical devices. In 2019, the Indian Government is stepping up to this challenge. By constituting a special vertical at the apex drug…

2019 so far has witnessed a lot of activity in the pharma space, so much so that the e-pharmacy saga – a pressing development towards the close of 2018 – has taken a temporary backseat this year. Instead, the new stars of 2019 so far have been price regulation and regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems. 2019 also saw a significant piece of legislation introduced – the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019 – which has already begun making…

The Indian Government has had a busy 2019 so far with respect to healthcare regulation. From passing the controversial National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 through Parliament to releasing a digital health blueprint, the Indian Government has had a very clear vision for the future of healthcare in India. That vision largely focuses on health services being controlled and administered centrally, with states playing supporting roles in this process. The Government is also encouraging and regulating alternative forms of medicine such…

Biosimilars and biologics in Thailand – a legal guide. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are biosimilar medicines considered the same as generic medicines in your country? No. At present, a “biosimilar” is not the same as a generic drug. Previously, some biological marketing authorization licenses were obtained by using the same registration pathway of generic…

An intro to the legal situation for orphan drugs and rare diseases in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the definition of Rare Diseases in your country? Neither the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand (MoPH) nor the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) has prescribed a definition for “rare diseases.” However, the…

The low-down on the situation regarding cannabinoid drugs, medicinal cannabis and opioid drugs in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for USD 99.   Cannabinoid Drugs 1. Are Cannabinoid Drugs authorized in your country? For the purpose of this chapter, cannabinoid drugs are drugs containing a cannabinoid, which may be extracted and purified from a cannabis plant or synthesized by other…

Keen to learn more about regulatory reforms in Thailand? Read on! Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare system? The Patent Act The Patent Act is currently under review and final revision by the Department of Intellectual Property, and is expected to be passed soon. The…

A brief overview of the situation regarding patents & trademarks in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? Patent The “subject matter” contained in a patent application may be patented if the following requirements are met: Novelty: Before the filing date, the subject matter must…

The legal framework for product liability in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? The laws of Thailand provide for civil, criminal, and administrative liabilities. Fundamentally, product liability is recognized as part of sales and contract law wherein the seller shall be liable to the buyer for…

All legal aspects surrounding traditional medicines and OTC products in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices? In April 2019, the Thai FDA published and implemented the Herbal Product Act. This is now the main act regulating herbal or traditional medicine in…

The key facts about marketing, manufacturing, packaging & labeling, advertising in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? Pharmaceutical Products The authorization processes for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products…

Key legal info on preclinical and clinical trial requirements in Thailand. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? No, the clinical trial does not need to be conducted locally in order to obtain marketing approval. The Thai FDA only requests…

Regulatory, pricing and reimbursement overview in Thailand – a comprehensive legal overview. Prepared in association with Tilleke & Gibbins, a leading law firm in Thailand, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Thailand, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country? In Thailand, drugs, biologics, and medical devices are regulated by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA), under the…

Fangda Partners’ Josh Shin gives an overview of recent regulatory upgrades affecting the Chinese pharmaceutical industry.   On August 26, 2019, China enacted the Amended Drug Administration Law as part of its efforts to strengthen and streamline its regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. The amended law seeks to address prominent problems in the pharmaceutical industry, such as counterfeit drugs, substandard drugs and high drug prices. To address these problems and to accomplish other goals, the Amended Drug Administration Law will…

Cannabinoid drugs, medicinal cannabis and opioid drugs in Malaysia – a comprehensive legal overview. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   CANNABINOID DRUGS 1. Are Cannabinoid Drugs authorized in your country? The Malaysian regulatory authority does not authorise the use or sale of any specific drug per se, i.e. cannabinoid drugs, rather it regulates the registration of products which may…

An insight into regulatory reforms in Malaysian Pharma. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare system? The followings are some of the regulatory proposals and reforms in the pharmaceutical industry in Malaysia: online registration system. In 2017, the NPRA, MOH officially launched the upgraded online registration system, QUEST3+…

The key facts about patents and trademarks in Malaysian Pharma. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? The Malaysian jurisprudence on patent and trade mark protection is derived from the United Kingdom’s common law and mainly codified in statutes. Thus, there are similarities between the two jurisprudences, including…

All legal aspects surrounding product liability in Malaysian Pharma. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? Violation of laws and regulations may result in civil liabilities, administrative penalties and criminal liabilities Civil Liability discontinuance of infringements; restitution (restoration of original condition); specific performance; compensation for loss; payment for breach of…

A brief overview of the situation regarding traditional medicines and OTC products in Malaysian Pharma. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices? Alternative medicine is regulated by the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Council (“TCM Council”) established under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (“TCMA…

All about marketing, manufacturing, packaging & labeling, advertising in Malaysian Pharma. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? Although it is common for the marketing authorisation of medicines and devices to vest in the PRH, this is not necessarily…

The low-down on the situation regarding preclinical & clinical trial requirements in Malaysian pharma. Prepared in association with Skrine, a leading law firm in Malaysia, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Malaysia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? Malaysia is actively developing its capability in all phases of clinical trials and there is currently no mandatory condition for clinical…

The key facts about regulatory reforms in Japanese Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare system? There is no significant reform or change to the healthcare system in Japan. However, there are small changes every year. For example, changes due to technology, telemedicine, apps as…

The legal framework for patents and trademarks in Japanese Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? The Patent Act stipulates that an invention must be novel, non-obvious and have industrial applicability. The Trademark Act allows any trademark unless the mark is the same or similar…

All legal aspects surrounding product liability in Japanese Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? Liability under contract and liability under tort law are two basic civil liabilities. The liability under tort law, in principle, requires intention or negligence. However, there is a Product Liability Law, under…

A brief overview of the situation regarding traditional medicines and OTC products in Japan. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices? Traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices are subject to the PMD Act.   2. Can these traditional, herbal, complementary, or…

Marketing, manufacturing, packaging & labeling, advertising in Japanese Pharma – a comprehensive legal overview. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? To obtain marketing authorization for new drugs, biologics and medical devices, submission of application to PMDA is…

The low-down on the situation regarding preclinical & clinical trial requirements in Japanese Pharma. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? Under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act (PMD Act), in general, clinical trials for application of marketing authorization approval…

An intro to the legal situation for regulatory, pricing and reimbursement in Japan. Prepared in association with Nishimura & Asahi, a leading law firm in Japan, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Japan, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country? Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)   2. What is the…

The low-down on the situation regarding cannabinoid drugs, medical cannabis and opioids in Indonesia. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   Cannabinoid Drugs 1. Are Cannabinoid Drugs authorized in your country? There is no definition of “Cannabinoid” under the Indonesian law. In general, under Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics (“Narcotics Law”), all substances which are categorized under Class 1 Narcotics…

Patents and trademarks in Indonesia – a comprehensive legal overview. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? In order to obtain patent or trademark protection, the applicant must register them with the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (“DGIP”). Trademark registrations are valid for 10 years and may be extended for…

Product liability of drugs in Indonesia – a legal guide. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? In general, product liability in Indonesia is governed under the Indonesian Civil Code and Law No. 8 of 1999 on Customers Protection (“Customers Protection Law”). The liabilities of the business enactors can be divided into…

The ins and outs of regulatory reform in Indonesia. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare systems? There are number of proposals of laws and regulations that may affect the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry in Indonesia, including: Bill on Drugs and Food Supervision Law The Bill has been submitted…

Key legal info on traditional medicines and OTC products in Indonesia. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative drugs and devices? Traditional drugs are mainly regulated under MOH Regulation No. 006 of 2016 on Traditional Drugs Industries and Business (“MOH Regulation 006”) and MOH Regulation No. 007…

The ins and outs of marketing, manufacturing, packaging & labeling, and advertising in Indonesia. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? Drugs Any marketing of drugs (including biologics and over the counter medications) within Indonesian territory require…

Preclinical and clinical trial requirements in Indonesia – an overview. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? No, clinical trials do not have to be conducted locally for applying for MAs. The applicants must provide clinical trials results to prove the…

The key facts about regulatory, pricing, and reimbursement of drugs in Indonesia. Prepared in association with ABNR, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Indonesia, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country? The regulatory authorities with specific jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in Indonesia are: a. Ministry of Health of the Republic of…

The market for ­pharmaceuticals in Vietnam is developing rapidly, in step with the country’s growing and aging population, rising per capita income, and increasing awareness of foreign ­brand-name drugs, which many ­Vietnamese consumers consider to be more reliable than generics and local brands. ­Naturally, Vietnam has ­become an attractive ­investment ­destination for ­foreign pharmaceutical companies eager to ­target new ­customers.   The government is doing its part to encourage this investment, as seen by its participation in international free trade…

Upcoming regulatory reforms in Singaporean pharma. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare system? PROPOSED HEALTHCARE SERVICES BILL Currently, hospitals and private medical clinics are regulated under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (PHMCA), which was first enacted in 1980. Since then, there have been significant changes to the healthcare…

What you need to know about patents and trademarks in Singaporean pharma. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? The relevant applications must be filed with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) in order to obtain protection for patents in Singapore. It is not compulsory to register a trade mark…

Key legal info on product liability in Singaporean pharma. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? In Singapore, product liability in relation to medicines can arise under an action in tort, contract and/or breach of relevant statutory provisions.   2. How do these types of liabilities apply to the manufacturers of medicines and…

Want to know more about traditional medicines and OTC products in Singapore? Read on! Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices? Chinese proprietary medicines, traditional (Indian and Malay) medicines, homeopathic medicines and medicated oils and balms are regulated under the Medicines Act (Chapter 176), the Medicines (Advertisement and…

Everything you need to know about the marketing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling and advertising of pharmaceuticals in Singapore. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS For therapeutic products, marketing approval may be obtained by making an application to the Health Sciences…

The key facts about conducting preclinical and clinical trials in Singapore. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? No, there is no such express statutory requirement under Singapore legislation.   2. How are clinical trials funded? Clinical trials may be funded by pharmaceutical companies, hospitals,…

All about regulation, pricing and reimbursement in Singaporean pharma. Prepared in association with Drew & Napier LLC, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Singapore, available to purchase here for USD 99.   1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country? The key regulatory authority with jurisdiction over drugs, biological and medical devices in Singapore is the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). It was established on 1 April 2001 as…

Anay Shukla leads the pharmaceutical, life sciences, med-tech and healthcare practice at Nishith Desai Associates, a leading Indian law firm. In this article, he examines the benefit of the recent policy changes to price controls for innovative drugs in India.  Unlike many other countries, India controls prices of all drugs sold in India.   Last month, India announced two key policy changes: First, that all patented new drugs would be exempt from all forms of price control that exist in…

Upcoming regulatory reforms affecting Indian pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1.     Are there proposals for reform or significant change to the healthcare system? E-pharmacy regulations The Government has recently released draft regulations that propose to create a streamlined system of licensing e-pharmacies and governing the sale of drugs online. The rules grant legal recognition…

Vital info on patents and trademarks in Indian pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? India’s Intellectual Property Law is TRIPS compliant. The Patents Act, 1970 and the Trademarks Act, 1999 provide protection and regulate patents and trademarks in India. PATENTS The requirements to…

An insight into product liability in India. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What types of liability are recognized in your jurisdiction? Manufacturers, distributors and retailers can be held liable either under D&C Act or under India’s penal laws. Generally, manufacture, import, sale of drugs and devices that are spurious or of poor quality or…

A guide to the legal requirements for traditional medicines and OTC products in India. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices? Traditional medicines are categorized under the D&C Act broadly into Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (“ASU”) drugs and Homoeopathic medicines. Ayurveda, Siddha…

An essential legal guide to marketing, manufacturing, packaging & labelling and advertising in Indian pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? For information of the marketing authorization process for new drugs, investigational new drugs, investigational…

Preclinical and clinical trial requirements in India. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. Are clinical trials required to be conducted locally as a condition (stated or implicit) for marketing approval? If the drug or biological satisfies the definition of new drug (see Chapter 1 Question 3 above for definition), or if a notified medical…

All about regulation, pricing and reimbursement in Indian pharma. Prepared in association with Nishith Desai & Associates, a leading law firm in India, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: India, available to purchase here for GBP 75.   1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country? The following authorities are responsible for the regulation drugs, biologics and medical devices in India: (i) Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (“CDSCO”),…