World-renowned cartographer of the brain, Scientia Professor George Paxinos AO, from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) has announced the discovery of a hidden region of the human brain. The region is found near the brain-spinal cord junction and Professor Paxinos has named it the Endorestiform Nucleus.
Professor Paxinos suspected the existence of the Endorestiform Nucleus 30 years ago but has only now been able to see it due to better staining and imaging techniques. Commenting on this discovery, Professor Paxinos says it can be likened to finding a new star.
“The region is intriguing because it is absent in monkeys and other animals that we have studied,” said Professor Paxinos, adding, “this region could be what makes humans unique besides our larger brain size.”
The Endorestiform Nucleus is located within the inferior cerebellar peduncle, an area that integrates sensory and motor information to refine our posture, balance and fine motor movements.
“I can only guess as to its function, but given the part of the brain where it has been found, it might be involved in fine motor control,” says Professor Paxinos.
The discovery of the region may help researchers explore cures for diseases including Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease.
Neuroscientists researching neurological or psychiatric diseases use Professor Paxinos’ maps to guide their work. Professor Paxinos’ brain atlases are heralded as the most accurate for the identification of brain structures and are also used in neurosurgery.
An increasingly detailed understanding of the architecture and connectivity of the nervous system has been central to most major discoveries in neuroscience in the past 100 years.
Professor Paxinos is the author of the most cited publication in neuroscience and another 52 books of highly detailed maps of the brain. The maps chart the course for neurosurgery and neuroscience research, enabling exploration, discovery and the development of treatments for diseases and disorders of the brain.
HONG KONG, Nov. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Fitbit has launched the new Charge 3 in time for the holiday season. Fitbit is the industry-leader in connected health and fitness — empowering people to lead. Whether it is the newly launched Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Versa or Fitbit Ionic, these are great choices to gift to loved ones this holiday season. Equipped with a new Fitbit, users will able to share their latest progress with family and friends. Fitbit’s leaderboard allows users to feel more motivation to collectively move more, to stay connected and to act on their fitness goals.
Fitbit Charge 3 from left to right Black/Graphite Aluminum (HK$1,298), Blue Gray/Rose Gold Aluminum (HK$1,298), Frost White Sport Band/Graphite Aluminum (HK$1,498), Lavender Woven Band/Rose Gold Aluminum (HK$1,498)
Charge 3 for those who want a fitness tracker and keep their watch Having just launched in November this year, Fitbit Charge 3 features superior health functions like 24/7 PurePulse heart rate technology and SpO2 sensor, Charge 3 allows users to track their health anytime anywhere; advancement in sleep tracking and analysis, Charge 3 gives users a better understanding of their sleep patterns and lifestyle habits; choosing from 15+ exercise modes, Charge 3 helps users to set goals for calories burned.
To highlight, female health tracking and swim tracking are the biggest upgrades from previous models. The former lets the user gains a deeper understanding of the menstrual cycle by recording the symptoms and compare cycle trends over time; the latter allows users to wear in the shower, rain, pool or ocean and tells the duration of their swim in the pool.
Fitbit increased the touchscreen display by 40% while still maintaining the slim design; having an inductive button to be more user-friendly while still being 20% lighter than before as well as crafted from premium, lightweight materials with a variety of strap choices that provide a trendy look for different occasions. With up to 7 days battery life and the smartphone notifications like calls, texts or calendar reminders, Charge 3 keeps users to stay connected to everyone. With all personalized insights, Charge 3 gives an improvement to users’ health with new dynamic insights about their activity, heart rate and health metrics.
Fitbit Versa for the fashionista on the run With all the accessories that come with the Fitbit Versa, there is a match for all the personalities of a fashionista. Having praised by the Business Insider as “the best smartwatch ever used — yes, even better than the Apple Watch,“ the Versa is both lighter, thinner and with 3 days more battery life than the Apple Watch. With a wide selection of accessories to choose from, it is the best-looking smartwatch Fitbit has made to date. Personal Fitbit Dashboard and sleep tracking & stages help users know more about themselves and their health with more analysis; guided breathing session, as well as reminders to move, provides an easy way to improve users wellbeing. Designed to be a personal wellness and fitness companion, Versa does more than telling the time. With the unisex design also makes it a good gift choice for partners during this holiday season.
Ionic for the bionic being Fitbit has exceeded all expectations with their first Ionic Smartwatch. The main difference of Ionic from the aforementioned Charge 3 and Versa is its built-in GPS. Get going with industry-leading GPS which allow users track specific workouts like weights, runs and rides. Also, dynamic personal coaching, provide a choice to exercise at home when raining cats and dogs, is designed to give users more guidance, serves up personalised workouts that play on screen. Loaded with a 4-day battery life (essential for tracking sleep patterns), jam-packed with new features and apps, the sleek and very smart watch is a thoughtful holiday gift for any athlete.
Getting healthier, fitter and stronger are often at the top of most New Year’s resolutions list so take a look of the options above to give the gift of motivation. Because a little motivation can go a long way, and a little Fitbit box can hold a lot of love.
Pricing and availability Fitbit Charge 3 (from HK$1,298), Fitbit Versa (from HK$1,798), and the Ionic smartwatch (from HK$2,598) are available at major retail partner stores including Sounds and Vision (at the Hong Kong International Airport), @E-lifestyle, Fortress, Broadway, Chung Yuen Electrical, LOG-ON, Lane Crawford, GigaSports, City Chain, WilsonHK and Weareready.hk concept stores. The new Charge 3 will also available for sale at Fitbit.com and major online retailers in black with a graphite aluminum case or blue gray with a rose gold aluminum case; accessories range from HK$238 to HK$388.
About Fitbit Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. As the leading global wearables brand, Fitbit designs products and experiences that track and provide motivation for everyday health and fitness. Fitbit’s diverse line of innovative and popular products include Fitbit Charge 3™, Fitbit Alta HR™, Fitbit Alta®, Fitbit Ace™, Fitbit Flex 2®, and Fitbit Zip® activity trackers, as well as the Fitbit Ionic™ and Fitbit Versa™ smartwatches, Fitbit Flyer™ wireless headphones and Fitbit Aria 2™Wi-Fi Smart Scale. Fitbit products are carried in over 39,000 retail stores and in 86 countries around the globe. Powered by one of the world’s largest social fitness networks and databases of health and fitness data, the Fitbit platform delivers personalized experiences, insights and guidance through leading software and interactive tools, including the Fitbit and Fitbit Coach apps, and the Fitbit OS for smartwatches. Fitbit Health Solutions develops health and wellness solutions designed to help increase engagement, improve health outcomes, and drive a positive return for employers, health plans and health systems.
Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fitbit, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found at www.fitbit.com/legal/trademark-list. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to share your Fitbit experience.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — As an extension of P-MEC brand and a world famous pharmaceutical machinery exhibition in China, P-MEC China hosted by CCCMHPIE and UBM EMEA and co-sponsored by UBM Sinoexpo has taken place in China for 13 years. It has developed into a top event of the pharmaceutical equipment and engineering industry in China and the Asia-Pacific region. It enjoys a reputation as the “weather vane of China’s road of pharmaceutical manufacturing”.
P-MEC China and the concurrent CPhI China 2019 will take place at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) on June 18-20, 2019. Together, they will build an important platform for people engaging in pharmaceutical production and procurement from all over the world to understand the latest technological developments of the industry and seek exchange and cooperation.
Building an exhibition platform of the whole industry chain of pharmaceutical production
P-MEC China has been following the development hotspots of China’s pharmaceutical industry and combining with the global development trends in the past 13 years. It has successively expanded thematic zones in relevant areas like automatic systems, storage equipment, pharmaceutical cold chain, pharmaceutical environmental protection, clean technology, pharmaceutical packaging, and laboratory instruments, to truly realize the full coverage of exhibits from pharmaceutical factory design, pharmaceutical factory construction and pharmaceutical production to pharmaceutical product ex-warehouse.
New and regular exhibitors have actively responded since the exhibition registration for 2019 started. Over 450 quality suppliers including Shinva Medical, CHNSUN, Truking, IVEN Pharmatech, Tofflon, Canaan, Saideli, Nantong Highfine, Chunguang Pharmaceutical, Rommelag, and De Dietrich have confirmed their participation as of August 2018. The exhibition scale is expected to reach 70,000m2 in 2019, creating the strongest lineup in the history of the exhibition.
P-MEC China 2018
Establishment of “Pharma Automation & Information Zone”with discussion on intelligent pharmaceuticals future by industry experts
The scientific and technological progress in the pharmaceutical mechanical equipment field energizes the entire industry. The “intelligent manufacturing” technology constituted by manufacturing and intelligence will drive pharmaceutical equipment enterprises to move towards the fast lane of development. China has formed a complete preliminary intelligent equipment industry chain, from automation and digitization to intelligent industry production. With this, some Chinese pharmaceutical equipment enterprises are striving to build an intelligent equipment industry of their own.
China is now in the initial stage of intelligent manufacturing exploration, and has problems like insufficient innovation and weak technical capacity in terms of internet-based collaborative manufacturing and intelligent plant development pattern. Under these conditions, the exhibition host specially opened the “Pharma Automation & Information Zone” in 2018, and held the P-MEC China Intelligent Factory Summit. Managers of intelligent manufacturing pilot and demonstration projects from enterprises, such as Jiangzhong, Tasly, and Kelun, were invited to share their practical experience on site, and pharmaceutical equipment enterprises were furnished with an exhibition and exchange platform for idea collision.
In 2019, the “Pharma Automation & Information Zone” will be relocated to Hall N1 and co-located with the overseas exhibitors. By showcasing productivity improvement after automatic equipment transformation, intelligent production supported by complete data, the new business format of interregional production under the internet-based collaborative manufacturing, and risk control models after cloud manufacturing system establishment, the zone will enable visitors to enjoy the experience of world-leading intelligent pharmaceutical equipment.
KT Signs Agreement with Ghana Health Service for Disease Prevention
Korean Telecom Leader Brings Technology to Help People Around World
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — KT Corporation (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT), South Korea’s largest telecommunications company, reached a milestone deal with Ghana to fight epidemics last week to help people in Africa and other parts of the world with the company’s innovative technology.
Officials from KT Corporation, Ghana Health Service (GHS), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other related agencies are photographed during a signing ceremony between KT and GHS on the use of Big Data in preventing infectious diseases on November 16.
The Korean telecom leader signed an agreement on the use of Big Data in preventing infectious diseases with the Ghana Health Service on November 16. Attendees at the signing ceremony in Accra, Ghana, included Yoon Jong-Jin, KT’s senior executive vice president in charge of public relations and Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, director-general of Ghana Health Service (GHS).
Other key figures are Kim Sung-Soo, Ambassador of Korean Embassy of Ghana, Michael Melchior, Country Director of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ghana, Dr. Owen Laws Kaluwa, Ghana Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Fiachra McAsey, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Ghana, and Mr. Yukyum Kim, Country Director of KOICA Ghana.
KT Corp.’s agreement on disease control, its first with a public health agency, has drawn attention from the international health community, especially because of Ghana’s location in West Africa. In 2014-16, the region suffered the most widespread Ebola virus epidemic in recorded history, while there is no confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in Ghana to date, according to the WHO.
“We will help Ghana take the initiative in healthcare in West Africa,” KT’s Yoon said. “We will go beyond Africa and push for disease prevention in other parts of the world where the infrastructure for healthcare and education is still developing.”
KT’s disease prevention system analyzes location-based information including roaming data that it collects, uses the data to guide its customers on preventing epidemics, and builds a monitoring system that helps health authorities assess infection risk at the initial stage of an outbreak.
KT started working on the system in 2016 with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency to demonstrate how Big Data can be used in disease control. The project came a year after MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) hit Korea. Now it is regarded as a showcase of collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Based on the project’s success, KT is seeking collaboration with foreign governments and international organizations on the use of Big Data and information technology in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. To that end, the Korean company suggested a Global Epidemic Prevention Platform at the World Economic Forum’s annual conference in January this year.
As a global leader in ICT, KT is also calling on Asian countries to participate in its project. Among the target countries is the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). KT will seek to launch an epidemic prevention project with both the Lao Ministry of Health and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), a public affiliate of South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare.
KT dispatched volunteer IT workers to Laos together with the KOFIH and KT Group Hope Sharing Foundation, the company’s social contribution organization, from November 11-17. The KT employee volunteer group provided IT equipment for quarantine stations at Wattay International Airport and the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.
The IT volunteers trained officials of the Lao Ministry of Health’s Department of Communicable Diseases Control on using computers, smartphones and software to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. KT volunteers visited an elementary school in Vientiane along with the Africa-Asia Development Relief Foundation, a Korean NGO, where students learned about IT, VR (virtual reality) and other subjects.
MEDIA CONTACTS
For inquiries, please contact our Foreign Media Relations Team at kt.fmrt@gmail.com
ABOUT KT CORP. (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT)
KT Corporation, Korea’s largest telecommunications service provider reestablished in 1981 under the Telecommunications Business Act, is leading the era of innovations in the world’s most connected country. The company leads the 4th industrial revolution with high speed wire/wireless network and innovative ICT technology. After installing 20 million fixed lines in just 12 years, KT was the first telecom provider to introduce 5G broad-scale trial service in 2018. It is another step in KT’s continuous efforts to deliver essential products and services as it seeks to be the No.1 ICT Company and People’s Company.
UPPSALA, Sweden, Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Using the synthetic and fully resorbable TIGR®Matrix surgical mesh (Novus Scientific AB, Uppsala — Sweden) improves the outcome in breast cancer patients undergoing immediate reconstruction, as published in the Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery.
The TIGR®Matrix and other surgical meshes aim to support, and hold in place, breast implants to improve the aesthetic result with decreased risk of capsule formation. However, traditional meshes such as the biological acellular dermal matrices, have been linked to severe complications including seroma, necrosis, and the loss of implants.
Lead author Hakan Hallberg and colleagues reported the first study using the TIGR®Matrix in a prospective series of 49 consecutive patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction with a tissue expander or permanent implant. All patients were non-obese, current non-smoker, and not scheduled for postoperative radiotherapy.
TIGR®Matrix resulted in a low incidence of complications. The rate of implant-loss was similar as reported with other matrices. Furthermore, TIGR®Matrix showed a 3.1% incidence rate of seroma and a 1.5% risk of infections. For comparison, the reported incidences of seroma and infection with other matrices are up to 15% and 30%, respectively.
Immediate breast reconstruction with a tissue expander and TIGR®Matrix surgical mesh has a low complication rate, concluded the investigators of the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden.
About the TIGR®Matrix
TIGR®Matrix is the first long-term resorbable, 100% synthetic, surgical mesh. Its unique technology consisting of dual-stage degradation and full resorption, paired with ease of use, is a significant step forward in surgical mesh technology.
The fast-degrading part improves the meshes’ flexibility and stretchability, provides extra strength during the immediate healing phase, and gradually absorbs during the first four months. The slow-degrading part of the mesh provides optimal strength for up to nine months with complete resorption in approximately 3 years. TIGR®Matrix uses 100% synthetic polymers that are well documented, clinically proven, and commonly used in medical devices since the 1970’s.
About the Novus Scientific
Novus Scientific AB (www.novusscientific.com) develops, manufactures and markets resorbable implants that help the body’s own healing.
The headquarter, research, and production facilities are located in Uppsala, Sweden.
HONG KONG, Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter “Ping An” or the “Group”) (HKEx: 2318; SSE: 601318) announced that the Group has appointed Steven D. Winegar to the role of Overseas Company Lawyer and International General Counsel. In this role, Mr. Winegar will have responsibility for legal and compliance matters globally.
Steven D. Winegar
The appointment of Mr. Winegar reflects the Group’s commitment to attracting top international talent to enhance the Group’s corporate governance practices as a listed company and to accelerate the international transformation of the Group.
Mr. Winegar has over 24 years of experience in law firm and in-house positions. Mr. Winegar began his career in the United States as a corporate attorney at Shearman & Sterling and Goldman Sachs. He moved to Hong Kong with Goldman Sachs in 2005, becoming Managing Director and Senior Counsel at the bank before returning to private practice in 2010 when he joined Paul Hastings. He served as Partner and Chair of Paul Hastings’Hong Kong office before joining Ping An in September.
IP So Lan, the Group’s Senior Vice President and head of internal control noted that, “Mr. Winegar has a strong reputation with extensive experience in the legal sector in Asia and globally. We are very pleased to have him as part of our leadership team.”
“I am thrilled to join this incredible company, which is building on its strong foundation as a diversified financial institution to develop many technology-driven businesses that are transforming markets,” said Mr. Winegar.
SYDNEY, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA; NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that the Share Purchase Plan (SPP), as described in the SPP booklet dated 23 October 2018, has now been successfully completed.
The SPP achieved subscriptions from eligible shareholders amounting to approximately A$0.8 million, bringing the total proceeds of this financing round to A$4.2 million (before costs). The final figure is subject to clearance of cheques. All of the directors of Kazia participated to the full extent of their entitlement. The new shares will be issued on 23 November 2018 and will be freely tradeable on the ASX from 26 November 2018.
The SPP offered eligible shareholders the opportunity to apply for up to A$15,000 worth of new fully paid ordinary shares in Kazia, without incurring brokerage or other transaction costs. Shares under the SPP were offered at a price of A$0.38 per share, which was equal to the price under the institutional placement announced by Kazia on 18 October 2018, in which A$3.4 million was raised primarily from sector-specialist institutional investors.
Kazia Chairman, Iain Ross, commented, “We have been delighted to receive applications to participate in the SPP from 130 shareholders, ranging from members of the top twenty investors to holders of just a few hundred shares.
“The proceeds of the SPP, when added to the recent institutional placement, will strengthen the company’s balance sheet considerably, and leave us confident of being able to complete the ongoing phase IIa GDC-0084 study and the ongoing phase I Cantrixil study. In addition, the new monies from the SPP will allow us to contemplate additional collaborations and partnerships such as those recently announced with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.”
He added, “This is a challenging market for biotech at present, and the SPP has significantly exceeded expectations. We are grateful as always for the very substantial support of our shareholders. The funds raised through the SPP put the company in a strong position to deliver significant, value-driving clinical data read-outs throughout calendar 2019.”
About Kazia Therapeutics Limited
Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA, NASDAQ: KZIA) is an innovative oncology-focused biotechnology company, based in Sydney, Australia. Our pipeline includes two clinical-stage drug development candidates, and we are working to develop therapies across a range of oncology indications.
Our lead program is GDC-0084, a small molecule inhibitor of the PI3K / AKT / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, GDC-0084 entered a phase II clinical trial in March 2018. Initial data is expected in early calendar 2019. GDC-0084 was granted orphan designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in February 2018.
TRX-E-002-1 (Cantrixil), is a third-generation benzopyran molecule with activity against cancer stem cells, and is being developed to treat ovarian cancer. TRX-E-002-1 is currently undergoing a phase I clinical trial in Australia and the United States. Initial data was presented in June 2018 and the study remains ongoing. Cantrixil was granted orphan designation for ovarian cancer by the US FDA in April 2015.
Summary Information The following disclaimer applies to this announcement and any information contained in it (the Information). The Information in this announcement is of general background and does not purport to be complete. It should be read in conjunction with Kazia’s other periodic and continuous disclosure announcements lodged with ASX Limited, which are available at www.asx.com.au. You are advised to read this disclaimer carefully before reading or making any other use of this announcement or any Information contained in this announcement. In accepting this announcement, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions including any modifications to them.
Forward Looking Statements This announcement may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Kazia’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Kazia, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Kazia makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this announcement, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of this announcement.
Not for release in the United States This announcement has been prepared for publication in Australia and may not be released to US wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. The securities referred to in this announcement have not been, nor will be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Accordingly, such securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to any US person (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) or to any person acting for the account or benefit of a US person, except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and fresh pumpkin pie are synonymous with cherished childhood memories of the Festive Season. A Christmas Carol or two from Bing Crosby probably completes this picture.
But what if these nostalgic recollections of rockin’ around the Christmas tree are negatively impacting our food choices – namely an excessive consumption of indulgent food like sweets, biscuits and cakes.
As indulgent food consumption continues to be regarded as one of the top contributing factors to growing rates of obesity in the USA and across the world, a researcher from Monash University in Australia is attempting to understand how the combination of nostalgia and social interaction leads to poor food choices.
“The desire to reminisce about good times had in the past is part of our human nature. We may have not realised it at the time, but these recollections have shaped our preferences for music, movies, cars and holiday destinations,” Professor Hean Tat Keh said.
“All of us have a fundamental need to belong and food is one of the biggest social lubricants. These tend to be memories we want to relive time and time again.”
Along with two collaborators from China, Professor Keh from Monash Business School’s Department of Marketing conducted original empirical research on the links between nostalgia, social connectedness and hedonic food choices. The results from a set of experimental studies were recently published in the International Journal of Consumer Studies.
“Collectively, our study results show that a person’s preference towards indulgent foods is strongly influenced by nostalgia and their longing for social connectedness,” he said.
“That is, nostalgia triggers their preference for indulgent foods that are embedded in their shared or personal social histories, and this effect is further strengthened when they are dining with friends and family. In essence, our findings explain why people tend to overindulge during the Festive Season, including Thanksgiving.”
The first study examined how nostalgia affected the ice cream preferences of 155 participants from the USA. After being encouraged to think of positive memories of yesteryear, nearly 80% of these participants chose the full-fat option despite recognising that fat-free ice cream was “better for them”.
Similarly, among 101 participants from China, those who were shown images of life scenes in the 1970s were more likely to choose ‘sachima’ (a Chinese sweet treat made of fluffy strands of fried dough bound together with stiff sugar syrup) than the healthier option (i.e. oatmeal biscuits). In contrast, those who saw images of contemporary life scenes had higher preference for the oatmeal biscuits.
Using the same methodology, Professor Keh recruited 146 participants for another study in Australia to see if this impacted their food choice between fried potato chips and mixed nuts. One group was subjected to nostalgic manipulation while the other was in a ‘controlled’ environment.
Results showed that nearly 70% of participants from the ‘nostalgic’ group chose fried potato chips – justifying the decision as a form of connection to memories past – while 65% of people from the ‘control’ group chose mixed nuts.
In the final study, 310 people were asked to imagine that they were having dinner in three separate scenarios – with a group of friends, with strangers and alone – and then asked to choose between a fresh fruit platter and a rich chocolate cake for dessert.
“This particular study really drove home the influence that social connectedness has on our food choices. About 74% of people preferred eating the chocolate cake when surrounded by friends, however only 31% of people selected this indulgent option when dining alone,” Professor Keh said.
Beyond the theoretical contributions, Professor Keh said the findings had significant implications for policy makers and consumers globally, when it came to health promotion.
“Health problems, such as obesity and eating disorders, can be partially affected by the same social influence process that explains the effect of nostalgia on food preference,” Professor Keh said.
“Government health agencies may consider using themes that focus on the present or the future rather than the past in public health advertising. Similarly, consumers could focus their actions on the present or future instead of using past experiences – as positive as they may have been – to reduce their desire for indulgent or comfort foods which are less healthy.”
Multi-year Invossa® deal signed for up to USD 600 million
Mundipharma will be responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Invossa® to medical professionals and hospitals in Japan.
TOKYO, Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In a multi-year agreement for up to USD 600 million, Mundipharma has acquired the exclusive rights for Invossa® in Japan from Kolon Life Sciences.
Invossa® is a non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis pain with long-term efficacy that has been hailed as the world’s first cell-mediated gene therapy for osteoarthritis,[i] which is the most common form of arthritis.[ii]
A study in Japan found that in men and women aged over 40, the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was 42.6% and 62.4% respectively, and that more than 31 million Japanese people could be affected.[iii] The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age[iv] and Japan has the oldest population in the world.[v]
This massive unmet patient need made it a priority for Mundipharma and Kolon Life Sciences to extend its partnership into Japan. The two entities first signed an agreement for Invossa® in Korea, where it was first approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2017.
Mundipharma CEO, Raman Singh, said: “We are always looking to identify areas in which we can make the most difference. While we will go through the rigorous process of conducting clinical trials and getting Invossa® registered in Japan, it is very satisfying to think of the millions of patients who could benefit from this revolutionary medicine in the near future following this agreement.”
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Kolon Life Science. This is a prime example of how our partners can effectively leverage the strength of our network capability and experience to ensure that hospitals, GPs and patients have access to new breakthrough treatments such as Invossa®,” he added.
Invossa® is an intra-articular injection that is a non-surgical treatment option, which demonstrates sustained pain reduction and functional improvement of articular joint for one year following a single injection — based on a US phase II clinical trial and a Korean phase III clinical trial.[vi],[vii]
Under the terms of the partnership, Mundipharma will be responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Invossa® to medical professionals and hospitals in Japan.
“Mundipharma’s global R&D, sales and marketing capability in the area of pain management makes it an ideal partner to establish successful pathways into new markets,” said Woo-Sok Lee President and CEO, Kolon Life Sciences. “They are an ideal partner to help establish Invossa® in Japan as we look to scale this breakthrough therapy as a global standard treatment option.”
®: INVOSSA is a Registered Trademark in Korea of Kolon TissueGene, Inc.
Invossa® is composed of a 3:1 mixture of normal human chondrocytes (hChonJ) and human chondrocytes transduced with the human TGF-B1 gene (hChonJb#7). The hChonJb#7 cells are irradiated prior to dosing to render them replication incompetent. Invossa® polarizes macrophage to M2 macrophage. M2 macrophage has an immune-regulatory function by producing Interleukin-10. Therefore, Invossa® reduces pain and improves the articular immune environment to contribute to self-recovery of an articular joint.
About Kolon Life Science
Kolon Life Science has been developing innovative cell and gene therapies including Invossa® the world’s first cell-mediated gene therapy for osteoarthritis, since its founding in 2000. In addition to its biopharmaceuticals business, the company is also engaged in the business of providing active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API), eco-chemicals including antimicrobials for personal-care and industrial applications, as well as water-treatment solutions. For more information, please visit www.kolonls.co.kr/eng.
About Mundipharma
Mundipharma’s independent associated companies are privately owned entities covering the world’s pharmaceutical markets. Mundipharma is a prime example of a company that consistently delivers high quality products while standing by the values that represent the company. Our mission is to alleviate the suffering of patients with cancer and non-cancer pain and to substantially improve their quality of life. Mundipharma is dedicated to bringing to patients with severe and debilitating diseases the benefit of novel treatment options in fields such as pain, oncology, oncology supportive care, ophthalmology, respiratory disease and consumer healthcare.
SUZHOU, China, Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — CStone Pharmaceuticals (CStone) today announced that a first patient has been enrolled and dosed in a Phase I clinical trial in China for the recombinant humanized anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) CS1003. This multi-center Phase I clinical trial is assessing the safety, tolerability and preliminary anti-tumor activity of CS1003 in Chinese patients with advanced cancers, led by the Beijing Cancer Hospital.
“CS1003 is an important IO backbone in CStone’s pipeline and together with our PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (CS1001), is essential to our combination therapy strategy,” said Dr. Frank Jiang, Chairman and CEO of CStone, “We are happy to see Phase I trial get under way in China. We plan to carry out global development for this promising drug candidate as monotherapy and in combination with internal and external therapies to benefit cancer patients in China and globally.”
CStone’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Yang commented, “CS1003 is a humanized, IgG4 monoclonal antibody that has already generated strong preclinical data, with the unique advantage of recognizing both human and murine PD-1. A Phase I trial for the drug candidate is currently ongoing in Australia, while investigational new drug (IND) approval was received in the United States in recent weeks. We will continue our worldwide efforts to develop CS1003 in order to maximize its value for cancer patients worldwide.”
About CS1003 and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway
PD-1, or programmed death-1, is an inhibitory checkpoint receptor expressed on T cells. Under normal circumstances, it binds with its ligands, programmed death ligand-1 or ligand 2 (PD-L1/PD-L2), inhibiting T cell and cytokine activation, serving to dampen the immune response in order to prevent damage to healthy tissues. However, studies have shown that PD-L1 can be abundantly expressed on the surface of many solid tumors as well as hematological malignancies. Cancer cells can therefore make use of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to successfully avoid immune system recognition. Targeting of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint by anti-tumor drugs can block this “tumor immune evasion mechanism” and restore anti-cancer immune ability in patients.
Unlike other anti-PD-1 mAbs, CS1003 recognizes both human and murine PD-1, providing a unique competitive advantage during efficacy testing in syngeneic mouse tumor models, particularly for development of effective combination therapies.
About CStone
CStone Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative immuno-oncology and molecularly targeted drugs to address significant unmet medical needs for cancer patients. Founded in December of 2015, CStone has assembled a world-class management team that has a full spectrum of complementary skillsets from preclinical research to clinical development and commercialization. Through a dual source of innovation, comprised of internal research and external partnership, the company has built a rich oncology pipeline of 14 drug candidates with significant mono-and combination-therapy potential and synergies. CStone’s business model has a clear focus on clinical development, while at the same time the company is rapidly developing its commercial and manufacturing capabilities. The company is backed by prestigious VC/PE funds with record-breaking amounts of equity investment, raising a combined total of USD 412 million in two financing rounds to date. With an experienced team, a rich pipeline, a robust R&D model, and substantial funding, CStone’s vision is to become globally recognized as a leading Chinese biotechnology company by bringing innovative and differentiated oncology therapies to cancer patients worldwide.
For more information about CStone Pharmaceuticals, please visit: www.cstonepharma.com.
