Nichi-Iko seeks Japan nod for Remicade biosimilar; Benitec hires Lonza for production help;

> Japan's Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical has applied for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency approval for a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) Remicade, a spokesman for the agency said. A biosimilar version of the drug is available from Nippon Kayaku now in Japan. Website

> U.S.-Australia device firm CliniCloud raised $5 million from two Chinese investors, Tencent and Ping An Ventures as it works to further develop options for a home medical kit that includes a non-contact thermometer and a digital stethoscope. Report

> Advanced Pharmaceutical, the Hong Kong unit of Boston Therapeutics, said it has completed clinical trial enrollment for diabetes treatment candidate BTI-320, that will be supplemental to an on-going separate clinical trial being conducted in mainland China. Release

> Dual-listed Benitec ($BNTC) has signed a contract with Lonza to develop a production process for its TT-034 aimed at treating hepatitis C. Release

> Aurobindo Pharma said it was set to raise $300 million in a share sale to institutional investors, the Economic Times said. The company has hired Citigroup and Bank of America for the sale which is expected to happen before the end of October. Report

> Global pharma giant AbbVie ($ABBV) remains committed to the Chinese market and will continue to expand its research team, said Scott Brun, vice president of the company's development and research development, on a recent business trip in Shanghai, the Shanghai Daily reported. He also said the company will increase the input in clinical development "to get closer to Chinese patients." Story

> Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will set guidelines for English package inserts as part of an effort to ensure new innovative drugs and regenerative medicines of Japanese origin have more widely accessible safety information. Website

> Japan's Meiji Seika Pharma has started Phase II and Phase III confirmatory and Phase III long-term clinical trials in Japan of Parkinson's disease candidate ME2125, safinamide, as an add-on therapy to levodopa. The candidate was developed by Newron Pharmaceuticals. Release

> India's Unichem Labs denied it plans to its domestic formulations business, the Economic Times reported after citing sources who said preliminary stage talks were underway with investment bank Jefferies with a valuation of $1 billion to $1.2 billion possible. Report

> Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) has an eye out for new medical research partners at AusBiotech 2015, the organization's website said. Report

> Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has launched a biosimilar medicines awareness campaign, investing A$20 million in the next three years for information to reach the public and medical professionals. Release

> Myanmar aims to eliminate malaria by 2030, shifting its focus from control as the country looks set to meet a millennium development goal of cutting malaria-related deaths by half this year, Xinhua said, citing the Yangon Region Public Health Department. Report

> China FDA has issued new guidelines for device manufacturing and inspections as part of efforts to strengthen supervision. Release

> Abbott Laboratories ($ABT) has presented positive 1-year results of its Absorb heart stent trials in China comparing the dissolving stent to Xience that enrolled 480 people at 24 sites. Release