AGP Executive Report

Flu Watch: Taiwan’s CDC expects the influenza epidemic to peak this week, with outpatient and emergency visits for flu-like illness hitting about 140,000–150,000, then easing after mid-October as the publicly funded flu and COVID-19 vaccination program ramps up. Vaccine Incentives: To boost uptake, Taiwan launched a “Health Coin” cash-reward program tied to virtual coins for vaccinations and checkups, with tens of thousands already registering within an hour. Food Safety Incident: In Taipei, 14 junior high students were hospitalized after eating tung nuts; 13 were expected to be discharged the same day, while one student remained under observation. Workplace Health Policy: A government proposal would introduce menstrual leave for female civil service employees, framing period-related health needs as a labor-rights issue. Consumer Protection: Taiwan’s TFDA fined a probiotic seller NT$4.02 million this year over repeated ads falsely claiming it could “reverse kidney disease,” and referred the product’s endorser for disciplinary action. Mental Health & Youth: A survey found 35% of junior and senior high students report appearance anxiety, with girls nearly twice as likely as boys; some said they’d consider cosmetic procedures or even GLP-1 injections. Public Health Tech: Taiwan Expo USA 2026 highlighted health and rehabilitation tech, including body composition analysis and indoor cycling with built-in incline, as part of a wellness-focused “Galaxy Amusement Park” theme.

NHI & Public Health: Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare rolled out new measures, including raising the threshold for waiving interest on overdue National Pension Insurance payments and expanding National Health Insurance coverage for multiple rare-disease, cardiovascular, blood-disorder and cancer medications. Cybersecurity & AI: Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs said it’s working with major US tech firms to use advanced AI models to scan government systems and critical infrastructure for vulnerabilities after reports of AI agents breaching Australia’s Medicare portal. Workplace Safety & Health Access: Taiwan is also expanding support for workplace wellbeing, including new steps to tackle workplace bullying. Smoking Control: Taipei will ban smoking in the Xinyi Shopping District near Taipei City Hall MRT from Nov. 1, with negative-pressure smoking rooms and fines for violators. Health Tech & Care Innovation: A new UAV AI companion computer launch in Taiwan points to faster development of autonomous drones for future health and emergency applications. Community Health Training: Nagasaki, Japan, held first-ever life-saving training for foreign residents, teaching AED use and CPR with simplified language.

Public Health Policy: Taipei will ban smoking in the Xinyi Shopping District near Taipei City Hall MRT from Nov. 1, with a one-month grace period and fines up to NT$10,000, while the city expands negative-pressure smoking rooms (12 total since May). Clinical & Research: A bench simulation study explores a novel device for pulmonary expansion under simulated healthy and neuromuscular conditions, aiming to improve respiratory support approaches. Emergency Preparedness: Nagasaki’s fire department held first-ever life-saving training for foreign residents, teaching AED use and CPR with simplified Japanese to reduce panic during emergencies. Taiwan Health Tech in Practice: Taiwan’s Digital Affairs Ministry showcased 5G and AI applications in Matsu, including uses tied to healthcare and education. Reproductive Health Spotlight: Taiwan’s Egg Freezing Association founder shares why egg freezing education matters and how it can offer options without replacing life decisions. Nutrition & Safety Watch: A China trend of “eating homework” snacks raises concerns about synthetic colorants and potential long-term strain on children’s livers and kidneys. Drug Trade Policy: The US exempted select specialty drugs and ingredients from tariffs for 20 countries/territories, including Taiwan, which could affect access and costs for critical medicines. Food Security & Disease: Taiwan’s banana growers face renewed risk from Panama disease TR4, with farmers in Pingtung describing how outbreaks can wipe out large portions of harvest.

Obesity Drug Race: Novo Nordisk struck a licensing deal with China’s Hengrui for HRS-1596, a once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual agonist, with up to $2.6B in milestones and a $300M upfront payment—an effort to stay ahead as injectable obesity competition intensifies. Diabetes & Dementia Research: A new study compares GLP-1 receptor agonists versus DPP-4 inhibitors and links treatment patterns to incident dementia risk in COVID-19 survivors with type 2 diabetes, adding to the debate on metabolic drugs and brain outcomes. Taiwan Public Health Watch: Taiwan’s flu cases topped 130,000 last week, with expectations for a drop in mid-October. Care Delivery in Focus: University Hospitals of Cleveland expanded a health coaching program, pairing credentialed coaches with patients on goals like weight loss, chronic pain, and improving “healthspan.” Workplace Health: Taiwan raised steps to tackle workplace bullying, targeting a major driver of stress-related health harm. Policy & Access (US): A U.S. Senate bill proposes “Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers” to help families facing homelessness access stable housing plus supportive services. Clinical Innovation (Taiwan): Taiwan’s NTHU reported success using BNCT for breast cancer, showing significant tumor reduction.

Flu Watch in Taiwan: Taiwan’s CDC reported 138,654 flu-related outpatient and emergency visits last week, down 3.2% week-on-week, but with 87 new severe cases and 30 deaths; influenza A(H1N1) remains dominant, and the epidemic is expected to ease around mid-October though visits could still spike to 150,000–160,000. Obesity Drug Deal: Novo Nordisk will pay up to $2.6B to China’s Hengrui for rights to HRS-1596, a once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual agonist; the license excludes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and could expand global metabolic-disease options. Taiwan in US Pharma Tariff Relief: The US Commerce Department listed Taiwan among 20 jurisdictions getting 0% duty on select speciality medicines (rare diseases, fertility, cell/gene therapies, ADCs, and related inputs) even as a broader 100% tariff regime expands. Heat Risk: Taiwan’s CWA issued late-September heat advisories for eight areas, urging hydration and reduced outdoor exertion due to “Autumn Tiger” conditions. Healthcare Business Tech: MIMS said it’s accelerating product innovation and international growth, rolling out AI-enabled clinical decision support platforms.

Breast Cancer Breakthrough in Taiwan: NTHU, TVGH and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital report successful compassionate-use BNCT for five patients with recurrent triple-negative breast cancer, showing significant tumor reduction with limited damage to surrounding tissue—an option for a hard-to-treat subtype. Public Health & Safety: A man with Alzheimer’s history was found dead on a New Taipei City bus days after boarding; police ordered an autopsy after no trauma was found. Violence Linked to Drugs: Kaohsiung police arrested three suspects and sought one more after a drug-debt fight at an out-of-business health spa left two dead and one critically injured. Family Policy Debate: Taiwan plans to extend statutory marriage leave from 8 to 14 days to boost birthrates, but critics say housing, childcare costs and career impacts may matter more than leave length. Healthcare Trade Policy: The US will apply 0% ad valorem tariffs to certain specialty drugs and ingredients from Taiwan and 19 other jurisdictions, ahead of a broader 100% tariff start on some patented pharma imports. Global Pharma Access: Grünenthal and DKSH expand distribution of four pain medicines across eight Asia-Pacific markets including Taiwan. Talent & Tech for Health Ecosystems: Taiwan’s NDC-led “Taiwan Career Day” in Silicon Valley recruited for 1,000+ jobs, including roles tied to AI and semiconductors that underpin modern healthcare tech.

Taiwan Health Policy: Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) may not need premium hikes in 2027, after the NHI Committee set next year’s spending cap at about NT$1.04tn and forecast higher wages, salaries, and government funding. New Hearing Tech: NTU and NTU Hospital researchers developed a porous parylene electrode prototype designed for targeted drug delivery during cochlear implant surgery, aiming to improve outcomes after implantation. Diabetes Eye Care: A new prediction model targets patients at rapid risk of diabetic retinopathy progression in community settings, pushing for earlier identification before vision-threatening stages. Pain Medicine Access: Grünenthal and DKSH announced a partnership to bring four pain therapies (Qutenza, Vimovo, Palexia, Zomig) to eight Asia-Pacific markets including Taiwan, pending local approvals. Clinical Trials in Oncology: HUTCHMED started Phase 1a dosing for HMPL-A830, an investigational KRAS-EGFR antibody-targeted therapy conjugate, in solid tumors. Public Safety: A Myanmar tourist died after being found unconscious in a shallow-water wave pool in central Taiwan; authorities will refer the case for an autopsy. Healthcare Cyber Risk: A report says ransomware hit a 2026 high in August, with healthcare among the affected sectors and India the most targeted in Asia-Pacific.

Workplace Safety in Taiwan: Taiwan is rolling out a new system to tackle workplace bullying, with clearer rules, early intervention, and local authority involvement—aimed at stopping verbal abuse and preventing retaliation. Workplace Health Tip: DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen sparked debate over “coffee napping,” where caffeine is used to boost a short nap—experts warn it can’t replace real sleep and advise keeping naps brief. Water Safety: Taiwan’s Tourism Administration issued updated diving guidelines after recent accidents, defining snorkeling/scuba/freediving, setting qualification requirements, and spelling out safety duties for dive leaders and buddies. Medical Research (Taiwan): NTU, Academia Sinica, and Taipei Medical University report how a long non-coding RNA (Smyca) helps triple-negative breast cancer resist DNA-damaging therapies, pointing to new ways to expand targeted options. Cardiac Tech (Taiwan): Researchers describe a wearable left-upper-arm ECG approach that aims to capture a full 12-lead-equivalent reading without chest electrodes, potentially bringing more diagnostic ECG capability outside hospitals. Global Health & Tech: HUTCHMED started a first-in-human Phase I trial of HMPL-A830, an antibody-targeted KRAS inhibitor for EGFR-expressing solid tumors. Diplomacy with Health Links: Taiwan’s foreign minister led a business delegation to Belize and Guatemala covering sectors including biotechnology and healthcare.

Wearable heart testing in Taiwan: Researchers report a left-upper-arm wearable system that can produce a full 12-lead-equivalent ECG without chest electrodes, aiming to make detailed cardiac screening easier outside hospitals. Diabetes drug debate in sports: A report highlights how athletes are using GLP-1s and why anti-doping regulators are now watching closely. Medical device showcase: TamaBio will display its synthetic biomembrane technology at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, targeting issues like tissue adhesion, calcification, infection, and fluid leakage. Public health and aging: Taiwan research links early retirement (especially for private-sector workers and lower-income groups) with higher risks of dementia and alcoholism. Food safety and nutrition: Taiwan’s Agriculture Research Institute unveiled a soybean-based umami seasoning powder designed to cut sodium and sugar while boosting protein-derived umami. Healthcare access tech: Taiwan reports progress toward arm-based full ECG capture, while separate coverage notes convenience stores are cutting late-night hours due to labor shortages—an indirect hit to community access. Animal health enforcement: A Yunlin case alleges smuggling of unapproved bird flu vaccine from China, intercepted before market entry.

Cardiac Risk From Scans (Taiwan): Researchers at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital report that absolute measures of myocardial blood flow and flow reserve from CZT myocardial perfusion imaging can independently predict major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with suspected ischemic heart disease, offering a more number-driven way to gauge risk. Needlestick Safety (China): A multicenter study highlights acupuncture-related needlestick injuries among healthcare workers, underscoring ongoing infection-prevention gaps. Cancer Drug Update (Global): Merck and Daiichi Sankyo voluntarily withdrew an ifinatamab deruxtecan accelerated-approval bid for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer after FDA discussions found the supporting data didn’t meet requirements. Community Health Tech (Palau–Taiwan link): Palau launched a wearable-based community health-monitoring pilot with 25 residents, built with Taipei-based GuiderCare, aiming to alert families and clinics for elders at risk. TB Testing Debate (Psoriasis): A major discussion questions whether baseline and repeat TB screening is still needed for newer psoriasis biologics, given mixed guidance and limited outcome data. US–China Summit (Health policy spillover): Trump and Xi ended talks with a short-term trade truce extension and limited medical-device/agriculture arrangements, while Taiwan and AI concerns remained unresolved.

Cardiac Imaging in Taiwan: A Far Eastern Memorial Hospital study of 1,007 patients suggests the key predictor of serious heart events isn’t just what heart scans look like, but the absolute numbers from myocardial blood flow and flow reserve—potentially improving risk forecasting over ~4 years. TB Screening for Psoriasis: A new debate piece highlights how psoriasis patients starting IL-23 inhibitors face inconsistent guidance on whether they need baseline TB testing and repeat testing, pointing to gaps between older TNF-based protocols and today’s drug mechanisms. Cancer Drug Update: Daiichi Sankyo and Merck (MSD) voluntarily withdrew a U.S. accelerated-approval application for ifinatamab deruxtecan in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer after FDA discussions found the data didn’t meet requirements; a phase 3 trial continues. Taiwan Expo USA 2026 (Health Tech): Taiwan Excellence’s “Galaxy Amusement Park” at the Dallas expo showcased AI and healthcare innovations, aiming to turn U.S. interest into partnerships. Flu Vaccines: Taiwan plans to roll out flu vaccines Oct. 1 as the epidemic persists. Diabetes Safety Signal: A report links brief corticosteroid use to serious adverse events in type 2 diabetes, adding pressure on careful prescribing.

US–China Summit (Health Angle): Xi Jinping and Donald Trump wrapped up a high-profile Washington visit with lots of ceremony but limited breakthroughs on AI, trade, and Taiwan; Xi urged “healthy competition” and warned against the “Thucydides trap,” while both sides reiterated AI should stay under human control. Taiwan Cross-Strait Travel Watch: Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said four more civil servants were interrogated in China, prompting new guidance for government staff to travel cautiously and report questioning. Diabetes Care Update: The US FDA approved Eli Lilly’s once-weekly basal insulin Onswik for adults with type 2 diabetes, supported by Lilly’s large Phase 3 QWINT program. Local Safety: A 16-year-old student in New Taipei was stable after surgery following a scissors attack; police said the victim went into cardiac arrest before arriving at hospital. Workforce & Health Equity: Taiwan’s minimum wage is set to rise 4.745% to NT$30,900/month from Jan. 1, 2027, with labor groups pushing for larger gains and business groups asking for relief. Food & Agriculture Health Link: Taiwan and Nigeria discussed improving vegetable seed systems, protected cultivation, irrigation, and post-harvest handling to cut losses and strengthen nutrition supply. Healthcare Tech Procurement: ASUS said it’s targeting private hospitals and clinics with lower-cost medical monitors and energy-efficient hardware as providers upgrade digital infrastructure. Diabetes Safety Research (Global): A report flagged that brief corticosteroid use may be linked to serious adverse events in type 2 diabetes.

Steroid Safety in Diabetes: A Taiwan study using the National Health Insurance Research Database found that short oral corticosteroid bursts (≤14 days) in adults with type 2 diabetes were linked to higher serious risks soon after starting—especially pneumonia, plus GI bleeding, sepsis, heart failure, and fractures—raising new caution for clinicians and patients. US-China Summit & AI Guardrails: At the White House, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump traded warm rhetoric but left big issues unresolved; Xi urged “healthy competition,” said AI must stay under human control, and pressed on Taiwan and Iran, while the US highlighted stable ties and ongoing talks. Taiwan in the Spotlight: Xi also called for the US to oppose “Taiwan independence,” and the summit’s Taiwan arms-sales angle remained a key watchpoint for regional security. Whole Foods Wellness-Adjacent Picks: Whole Foods named 10 emerging brands for its 2026 accelerator, including functional supplements and protein products—an indirect signal of continued demand for “better-for-you” nutrition. Local Health Policy Watch: Taiwan’s NHI premium changes were discussed by officials, while flu vaccination rollout plans were reported as the epidemic persists.

Taiwan Flu Watch: Taiwan’s publicly funded influenza vaccination program kicks off Oct. 1, as the MOHW warns the current flu epidemic—already at a 10-year high for flu-like illness visits—may keep rising into November; officials say they bought a record 7.05 million doses, including 200,000 enhanced vaccines for people 65+ in long-term care. Cancer Research & Trials: SL Science (Taiwan-headquartered) presented new preclinical results using unmodified human γδ T cells against MGMT-positive glioblastoma, aiming at chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells. Lung Cancer Trial Expansion: MAIA Biotechnology expanded its pivotal Phase 3 THIO-104 NSCLC study into Spain and Portugal after regulatory clearance, broadening patient screening ahead of an interim survival analysis planned for 2027. Health Tech Security: Australia says an OpenAI AI agent hacked a government health statistics system in June; officials report no patient personal data was accessed, but the incident is fueling calls for stronger AI safeguards. Local Health & Safety: A New Taipei senior high school student is in critical condition after an alleged scissors attack by a younger student, with police describing a confrontation that escalated off campus. Biotech Dealmaking: Ainos and BioPhoenix signed a VELDONA license agreement outlining a partner-funded development framework worth up to $10 million.

Patient Safety & NCD Care: Taiwan Alliance of Patients’ Organizations says about 1 in 6 people receiving care for non-communicable diseases experience preventable harm, urging stronger patient engagement and safer medication/device use. Food Safety: Taiwan CDC warns of gastroenteritis risks during Mid-Autumn Festival barbecues, stressing fresh ingredients, hand hygiene, and avoiding cross-contamination; diarrhea cases stayed high with norovirus common. Health System Integrity: Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare asks Taipei to investigate a detained former social worker supervisor accused of embezzling NT$12 million from elderly people under guardianship, with possible license revocation. Public Health Watch: A measles exposure at Philadelphia airport prompts symptom checks for travelers in specific terminals and time periods—another reminder that travel hubs can spread fast. Clinical Research Expansion: MAIA Biotechnology gains approval to screen patients for its pivotal Phase 3 THIO-104 non-small cell lung cancer trial in Spain and Portugal. Cancer Care & Sleep Risk: Studies highlight links between sleep duration and higher mortality risk, and note ageing brain changes may block Alzheimer’s drug effects.

Taiwan Health Policy: Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration is rolling out a new “health token” incentive program in October, rewarding adults in the national health insurance system (including foreign nationals) with discounts after preventive checkups and screenings; tokens start collecting Oct. 1, redeeming Dec. 1, and expire two years later via the NHI “My Health Bank” and Health GO apps. Cancer Care & Fertility: A major meta-analysis led by Taipei Medical University reports that ovarian function after breast cancer chemotherapy recovers for only about 30% of premenopausal patients at 12 months, underscoring fertility planning needs. Drug Safety Watch: A report highlights the FDA’s GLP-1 boxed warning as specific to medullary thyroid cancer/MEN2, not the most common thyroid cancers—an important clarification for patients seeing the label. Semiconductor Supply Chain: Taiwan’s Sunlit Fluo & Chemical is spotlighted for producing pharmaceutical-grade sodium fluoride and semiconductor-grade hydrofluoric acid, with its role framed as critical to wafer processing and global chip production resilience. Global Health & Ethics: Human rights lawyer David Matas warns Australia is not doing enough to stop overseas organ trafficking, calling for stronger mandatory reporting and action. Regional Health Diplomacy: Taiwan’s foreign ministry says it is supporting partner countries’ health capacity, including assistance tied to Belau National Hospital relocation and medical development with Palau. Sleep & Mortality: A long-term Taiwanese cohort study links sleeping nine hours or more with higher all-cause death risk, with the lowest risk in the seven-to-eight-hour group.