Spotlight on biotech company founder, Madhu Cherukury

Spotlight on biotech company founder, Madhu Cherukury

2022-11-22

Immigrants from all over the world come to Taiwan where they find work, start families, and contribute to making the island so special. In today’s installment of “An Immigrant Story,” we meet Madhu Cherukury, an Indian man who founded a biotech company in Taiwan. The company’s specialty is developing drugs to treat diseases that affect the eye’s retina. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Cherukury about being a founder in Taiwan and some of his latest projects.

This is Madhu Cherukury, the founder of a biotech company in Taiwan. The company develops medicines that treat diseases affecting the eye’s retina, a thin layer of tissue on the inside back wall of your eye. The team currently has two projects undergoing clinical trials. One is an eye drop for dry eye disease.

Dr. Madhu Cherukury
Biotech company founder
A small molecule in-licensed from Allergan for treating dry eye disease. It’s also quite an exciting molecule. We are conducting clinical trials and testing safety and efficacy of these molecules in dry eye patients for treating for a three months period. We are expecting key clinical results this year in December.

Another project involves developing a drug to treat retinal diseases, such as diabetic macular edema and neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Dr. Madhu Cherukury
Biotech company founder
Biologics is a protein program. A single molecule with two targets. Anti-VEGFs and anti-integrin. The anti-integrin portion of the molecule was in-licensed from NCKU in 2015. This molecule was designed to treat unmet medical needs in retinal diseases such as such as diabetic macular edema and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This molecule is expected to improve the vision in retinal patients and prolong the effects and stop the disease progression. Currently, this project is in clinical trials. Testing the safety and efficacy of this drug. We are expecting the clinical trials in the end of the first quarter, in 2023.

Cherukury was born and raised in India. After receiving his PhD, he went to the University of Kansas Medical Center in the U.S. to complete his postdoctoral training in pharmacology and toxicology. After this, he joined the pharmaceutical industry. He then spent over 30 years developing new drugs for ophthalmology and central nervous system diseases at global companies. He first came to Taiwan in 2014, where he served as a director at a pharmaceutical company. He then founded his current biopharmaceutical company where he currently serves as the CEO. He leads a research and development team to develop medicines to treat retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, dry eye, and diabetic macular edema.

Dr. Madhu Cherukury
Biotech company founder
I came to Taiwan in 2014. At that time, I was kind of concerned about Taiwan, and the language barrier. Fortunately, many Taiwanese speak English so it was not the case. Afterward, it was quite exciting to work with scientists here. I am very happy to develop the medicines, what we have today. I am quite excited about drug development. Taiwan has an excellent pool of scientists, an ecosystem and strong government support to increase new innovations. I felt I can take the advantage of Taiwan ecosystem and create a new drug development company in Taiwan and achieve the goal.

Cherukury says he hopes to continue to work with his team in Taiwan to develop new drugs to help treat more patients around the world.

人物系列: 專訪生技公司執行長馬渡談新藥開發

2022-11-22

台灣有來自世界各地的移民，在這邊工作、建立家園並發揮所長。今天帶您來認識來一個來自印度，在台灣從事生物科技業的馬渡博士。他成了了一間生技公司，專門開發治療視網膜疾病的藥物。一起跟著英語新聞記者的腳步，一探馬渡的築夢之路。

馬渡是台灣一家生物科技公司的創辦人，公司開發治療視網膜病變的藥物，視網膜是眼睛內側後壁上的一層薄薄的組織。他們目前有兩個項目正在進行臨床試驗，其中一種是治療乾眼症的眼藥水。

[[生物科技股份有限公司執行長馬渡]]
"一種從另一家製藥公司獲得許可的小分子，用於治療乾眼症，這是令人振奮的。我們正在進行臨床試驗，並測試這些分子在乾眼症患者中的安全性和有效性，為期三個月。我們期待今年12月的臨床結果。"

另一個項目是開發一種使用蛇毒蛋白治療視網膜疾病的藥物，例如糖尿病引起之黃斑部水腫和老年性黃斑部病變。

[[生物科技股份有限公司執行長馬渡]]
"生物製劑是一種蛋白質程序。有兩個目標的單一分子，抗血管內皮生長因子和抗整合素。抗整合素的部分已經在2015年從成大獲得許可。主要是治療視網膜疾病，例如糖尿病黃斑水腫，和新生血管型老年性黃斑變性。這可望改善視網膜病變患者的視力，防止惡化。目前，這個項目還在臨床試驗階段，測試藥物的安全性和有效性。我們預計在2023年第一季後期臨床試驗。"

馬渡在印度出生和長大，獲得博士學位後，到美國堪薩斯醫學中心完成藥理學和毒理學博士後培訓。接著，他加入了製藥行業。在多家跨國公司工作了30多年，為眼科和中樞神經系統疾病開發新藥。他在2014年首次來到台灣，在一家製藥公司擔任董事。之後，他創立了現在的生物製藥公司，目前擔任執行長，帶領研發團隊開發治療老年性黃斑變性、乾眼症，和糖尿病黃斑水腫等視網膜疾病的藥物。

[[生物科技股份有限公司執行長馬渡]]
"我是2014年來到台灣的，當時有點擔心在台灣會語言不通。幸運的是，許多台灣人會說英語，所以還好。在這裡和科學家合作非常開心，我很高興能夠開發我們現在的藥物。台灣擁有優秀的科學家、系統和政府大力支持，增加創新技術，我也藉著台灣的這些條件，創立開發藥物的公司，達到目標。"

馬渡表示，他希望在台灣繼續與他的團隊合作，開發新藥，造福更多患者。

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DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate Cheng Yun-peng promises to continue work on MRT

DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate Cheng Yun-peng on Tuesday talked about taking over work on Taoyuan’s MRT system if elected. Cheng said that large infrastructure projects span different administrations, and said projects may be halted if incoming mayors have different ideas. Meanwhile, KMT Taoyuan mayoral hopeful Simon Chang accused Cheng of emotional blackmail, and said voters wouldn’t fall for it. Let’s hear from the two candidates.

President Tsai Ing-wen passes through the ticket gate and hops into a train carriage. Tsai joined Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan Tuesday to lend support to mayoral candidate Cheng Yun-peng’s campaign. While in the city, Tsai inspected work on an extension to the MRT Taoyuan Airport Line at Laojie River Station, which is expected to open in July.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan told us that with Cheng Yun-peng’s help, the city received a lot of subsidies for the airport MRT from the central government. Cheng Yun-peng has also proposed an idea, which I think is pretty good, and that’s the idea of a NT$1,200 intercity monthly transport pass. I was thinking that, when I retire as president and get on with my life, I could buy this pass and go wherever I like.

Tsai endorsed the proposed monthly pass, and expressed praise for the mayor and mayoral candidate. Meanwhile, Cheng Wen-tsan expressed his hope to see Cheng Yun-peng continue work on the airport MRT system, if elected.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Taoyuan mayor
I really hope that that Cheng Yun-peng can finish the second half of the six planned MRT lines in the city, which cover three key centers. The first half I have already put my best effort into finishing. I think he is the best choice for completing the second half.

Cheng Yun-peng
DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate
Large infrastructure projects are always the work of successive administrations. You can look to Kaohsiung four years ago for an example. That’s a really classic example. At the time, Han Kuo-yu took office as mayor, because the people of Kaohsiung gave him a chance. However, as you can see, when he took over the previous administration’s light-rail project he tried to change the routing, and the whole project came to a halt.

As Cheng Yun-peng was bringing up former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu to make an example, Han’s wife was with KMT Taoyuan mayoral candidate Simon Chang in the city canvassing. Chang also hit out at Cheng Yun-peng while on the campaign trail.

Simon Chang
KMT Taoyuan mayoral candidate
They say that if you vote for me, this will happen, or that will happen. This is totally a form of emotional blackmail. I don’t think that voters will fall for something like that.

Campaigning continued for the Taoyuan mayoral race on Tuesday, with one candidate emphasizing transportation-related issues. Saturday’s election results will show whether he’s driven his point home.

2022-11-22

Candidates across party lines canvass in campaign trucks with three days to go

Taipei mayoral candidates were out canvassing Tuesday, accompanied by top former and current officials in their parties. DPP candidate Chen Shih-chung called on voters to vote with their hearts, while KMT hopeful Chiang Wan-an promised to help young people chase their dreams. Independent candidate Huang Shan-shan meanwhile said she had the support of young people, and that she expected many young voters to turn out. Let’s hear from the hopefuls themselves.

Vice President Lai Ching-te and former Vice President Chen Chien-jen hold hands with Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Chen Shih-chung and chant campaign slogans. With only a few days to go in his campaign, Chen Shih-chung is out in force canvassing for votes.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
I’m here to show Chen Shih-chung my support, and to celebrate three more days of smooth campaigning over 12 districts. I’m here to help usher in the final victory.

Chen Chien-jen
Former vice president
In four days, Taipei will welcome a chance for real change.

Chen Chien-jen boards a bullet-proof campaign truck – a first for the former VP. He follows Chen Shih-chung through the streets of Taipei’s Beitou District, and then on to Shilin District.

Chen Shih-chung
Taipei mayoral candidate (DPP)
All 12 districts are equally important, and we will visit each in order, one by one. I believe the city’s residents have sharp eyes. I hope they will all follow what’s in their hearts, and vote based on what they themselves hope for.

Meanwhile, KMT hopeful Chiang Wan-an was also out canvassing on Tuesday. Chiang set out from his own constituency as lawmaker, accompanied by KMT Chair Eric Chu.

Chu is optimistic about the KMT’s chances in Saturday’s elections, and is reportedly eyeing nominations in April for the 2024 presidential election. A source in the party has claimed Chu wants to block New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih from nomination, but the chair has denied the rumor.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
What a base rumor, what a low thing to say. Is it even worth responding to such nonsense?

Separately, in the city’s Wanhua District, independent mayoral candidate Huang Shan-shan was busy canvassing with city councilor candidate Wu Yi-hsuan. Huang has said she will also be out in a campaign truck.

Huang Shan-shan
Taipei mayoral candidate (Independent)
We’ll do that in the last two days, so we are making plans. We have to apply with the city and register our route.

Things are heating up in the final push for the Taipei mayoral election. This year there will be 45,000 first-time voters in the city, and candidates are clamoring for their votes.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayoral candidate (KMT)
We don’t have very flashy packaging, but we have something very solid. We can help our young voters achieve their dreams in this city.

Huang Shan-shan
Taipei mayoral candidate (Independent)
When I was out canvassing just now I heard a child tell their mother to vote for us. There was also one voter who said their son had returned from Germany just to give us his vote. Young voters are not going to miss out on these elections.

Candidates across party lines are out in full force in the final push for the elections. Whatever happens, all eyes will be focused on the final results this Saturday.

2022-11-22

Councilors, students urge public to support amendment to lower voting age to 18

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Railway services on East Coast to resume fully ahead of schedule on Dec. 28

Train services along the East Coast could resume in full before the end of the year, as repairs progress faster than anticipated. Work on heavily damaged areas between Yuli and Fuli are nearly wrapped up and passenger services are scheduled to resume on Dec. 30. That’s 20 days ahead of schedule. But for a while after reopening, speeds will be capped at 60 kilometers per hour.

With a measuring tape, the worker marks the tracks. Using a variety of tools, the engineering team straightens out the railroad.

Heavy machinery was also brought to the scene to move materials around. Repairs are underway on the railroad between Hualien and Taitung, which was damaged in an earthquake on Sept. 18.

The tremor damaged several areas of the tracks between Yuli and Fuli. They include 15 spots along the Siwkolan Bridge, eight piers on the Laklak Bridge, two train platforms, as well as connection points and electrical equipment along the line.

The transport ministry had not expected trains services to resume until next year. But the Taiwan Railways Administration says repairs have moved forward ahead of schedule, meaning services could resume as early as Dec. 28.

Wu Chin-tien
Taiwan Railways Administration
Under orders from the minister, and having taken all safety precautions, we hope to resume services on Dec. 28. Tickets could start going on sale as early as Nov. 30.

The worst damaged part of the tracks was the Siwkolan Bridge. After a discussion among engineers, the repair team decided to use a removal and restoration technique that had never been used before in Taiwan.

Train passenger
Of course it’d be good if it opens soon.

Train passenger
I think it’s been very hard work for them. So I understand. The issue with the bridges is that safety should be the top priority.

Chen Chin-kuang
Ruisui Township head
Transport on the east coast is quite tricky. The railway is an important transport link here. The tourism sector in Hualien and Taitung depends on it. I hope they can resume services soon.

The repairs were done in accordance with seismic preparation guidelines. Speeds will be capped at 60 kilometers per hour for a period after opening. Still, that’s good news for residents in the area, who will finally be able to take the train after more than three months.

2022-11-22

Black-faced spoonbills spotted hunting beside national greenway in central Tainan

Biologists are celebrating the spread of black-faced spoonbills in the wetlands of Tainan. A new national greenway in the Haiwei Road area of central Tainan City is attracting spoonbills. Conservationists say the fish farms on both sides of the greenway draw the birds. Now, for the first time, a flock of about 30 spoonbills has been recorded hunting for food in the area, in a sign of growing ecological health for the city.

More than 30 black-faced spoonbills are hunting on the wetlands. A scene like this once appeared only at nearby Qigu wetlands. But now these images have been caught in Tainan city’s central Annan District, by Taijiang river basin volunteer Hu Chin-wei. Here at the fish farm by Haiwei Road, there’s an abundance of wildlife. You can see egrets and ducks – and now, even black-faced spoonbills. Flocks of spoonbills were once confined to the Qigu area; now, they’re also gracing the Mountains to Sea National Greenway.

Miss. Yeh
Member of public
I’m so happy that animals, plants and humans can co-exist in the city. It’s rare to be able to see so much wildlife.

Voice of Wu Mao-cheng
Tainan Community University
Black-faced spoonbills, ducks and lots of waterfowl all fly over here and you can see all of them.

This area is a historic site, one of the first centers of urbanisation at the Taijiang Wetlands. Over 200 years, the geography here has gone through big changes. Now fishponds on both sides of the greenway are potential habitats for the black-faced spoonbill. The bird comes to Taiwan to overwinter. In recent years, its numbers have grown. A survey from Taijiang National Park, carried out in November, found 4,119 spoonbills across greater Tainan, Chiayi and Kaohsiung – a new record.

Chiu Jen-wu
Tainan Eco Protection Society
This time we found almost 2,000 spoonbills in the Tainan area. On the Chiayi coast we found 1,847.

That’s almost twice as many birds as they found last year. The new greenway at Haiwei Road has preserved the fishpond and wetlands on both sides, giving spoonbills ample space to make their homes, and allowing the public to get closer to the birds. Conservation groups are optimistic, and local people have a greater connection to nature on their doorstep.

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Analysts says TSMC expansion in Arizona will not affect Taiwan operations

An analyst says that TSMC’s planned expansion in the U.S. will not be detrimental for the firm’s plans in the Southern Taiwan Science Park. On Monday, the founder of the chipmaking giant stated that the firm’s planned fab in the U.S. state of Arizona will eventually produce 3-nanometer chips. That’s the same advanced processes planned for Taiwan, which have given rise to speculation that the firm could reduce the scope of its Taiwan plans. The analyst says there is no need to worry. He says that by the time the Arizona plant is capable of producing 3-nanometer chips, the fab in Taiwan will have already moved on to more advanced processes, like 2-nanometer chips, or even chips under 2 nanometers.

TSMC is expanding in the U.S. state of Arizona with a plant to produce 5-nanometer chips. The firm’s founder has confirmed that the second stage for the plant will be to make 3-nanometer chips.

The company itself has not made any comment on the matter. Reports say that, if the firm does move production to Arizona, that could bring changes to the firm’s plans in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, which was expected to become a production base for 3-nanometer chips. Production capacity for about 20,000 chips could potentially be transferred to the U.S., making the Taiwan plans smaller. That could have a knock-off effect on real estate due to the transfer of workers to the U.S. TSMC has not rejected or confirmed the reports. An analyst says there is no need to worry.

Ray Yang
Industrial Technology Research Institute
By the time the plant in Arizona starts mass-producing 5-nanometer chips, Taiwan will already be producing 2-nanometer chips. So by the time the Arizona plant produces 3-nanometer chips, I think Taiwan will already have entered 2-nanometer-chip production. Or even chips under 2 nanometers.

The expert says that although TSMC is subject to much geopolitical pressure, its R&D, as well as its upstream and downstream supply chains are all in Taiwan. With production costs being much lower in Taiwan than in the U.S., it’s unlikely to abandon Taiwan. Over on the stock market, investors are optimistic about the chipmaker. TSMC shares on Tuesday continued rallying to close up NT$9 at NT$491.

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