Dr Il-Sup Huh led Korea-based Green Cross, established in 2009, to become a rapidly-growing pharmaceutical company with double-digit growth rate. Currently the vice-president of Korea Tuberculosis Preventive Association, Dr Il-Sup Huh has played multiple roles in the Korea biotechnology industry to help it mature.

Dr Wilber Huang, president & CEO, Abnova, Taiwan, took two years to set up the company. The mission was to become a leader in high-throughput antibody and protein production. Abnova has evolved as one of world's largest antibody manufacturer with the capacity to generate 300 mouse monoclonal antibodies and 200 rabbit polyclonal antibodies per month. It has produced more than 16,000 recombinant proteins, 11,000 MaxPab antibodies, 12,000 monoclonal antibodies and 15,000 polyclonal antibodies targeting the human genome.

This year, two products were selected for the Product of the Year Award: HypoMon by AIMEDICS, Australia; and ACHNIL by Venus Remedies, India. AIMEDICS, an Australian medical device company, developed HypoMon as a nocturnal hypoglycaemia monitor and alarm to provide safer sleep to people with type 1 diabetes. The product has already received an Australian International Design Award for its design and innovation excellence.

The other product by Venus Remedies is based on a radical innovation, Aceclofenac, of Venus Medicine Research Centre. Achnil is a ‘single shot' injection launched in July 2011 in India. This novel formulation based on novel drug delivery system technology addresses the demand for better pain management therapies, especially for the aged population. It not only reduces the number of pricks, but also drastically reduce side effects.

Winners of Editor's Choice Awards

(Emerging Companies of the Year)

LegoChem Biosciences, South Korea
HistoIndex, Singapore
Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, Australia
SimuGen, Malaysia
TaiMed Biologics, Taiwan
Mitra Biotech, India
Biobot Surgical, Singapore