Jointly Builds All-round Chronic Disease Management System

SHANGHAI, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — China’s leading one-stop healthcare ecosystem platform, Ping An Good Doctor (the “Company”, stock code: 1833.HK), today announced the strategic partnership with Tianjin Zhongxin Pharmaceutical Group Corp. Ltd. (“Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals”). The two parties will integrate their respective superior resources to jointly build an online cardiovascular disease management center in China. They also agreed to collaborate in areas such as chronic disease management, AI+ family doctor, pharmaceutical new retail, product marketing and insurance, etc., to improve the medical services for both parties, and to build the emerging business model of “Internet + Medical” together.

Ping An Good Doctor Establishes Strategic Partnership with Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals

Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals is a core enterprise of Tianjin Pharmaceutical Group. It is characterized by innovation in traditional Chinese medicine and has a complete industrial chain, product mix and talent base. It is also a recognized national, high-tech enterprise. Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals was listed in Singapore in 1997 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2001 (stock code: 600329). After years of development, Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals has accumulated unique advantages far ahead of its peers. Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals owns a well-known brand portfolio, has a good reputation in the pharmaceutical industry, deep industrial and commercial integration and a strong innovation capability.

Ping An Good Doctor is the leading one-stop healthcare ecosystem platform in China. The Company employs more than a thousand medical personnel in its in-house medical team and has contracts with 4,650 renowned external doctors. This in-house medical team, empowered by its proprietary AI technology, provides users with 24 x 7 online consultation services. In its offline partnership network, Ping An Good Doctor collaborates with approximately 3,100 hospitals (including more than 1,200 Class III Grade A hospitals) to provide services such as hospital referral, appointment and inpatient arrangements. Ping An Good Doctor also partners with more than 2,000 healthcare institutions, including physical examination centers, dental clinics, cosmetic surgery institutions and more than 12,000 pharmacy outlets, to provide relevant health and wellness services to its users. By integrating its AI-empowered medical team, external doctors and offline network, the Company has established a closed-loop healthcare ecosystem which enables the users to enjoy online consultations and online drug purchases, as well as online consultations and offline follow-up treatment, thereby providing convenient, high-quality and efficient family doctor services.

Developing an all-round healthcare management ecosystem for chronic disease

According to the agreement, Ping An Good Doctor and Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals will collaborate to develop an all-round healthcare management ecosystem for chronic disease patients. The ecosystem will be based on Ping An Good Doctor’s data of over 300 million online consultations and AI medical technology, and integrate with Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals’s competitive edges in product R&D. In the future, it will establish a closed-loop chronic illness healthcare management system which enables services, including daily heath measurement, healthcare management planning, online consultation, online drug purchasing and 24-hour tracking, to effectively improve the service experience and quality of life of patients with chronic illnesses.

Relevant data shows that chronic diseases seriously threaten the health of Chinese residents. According to “China’s chronic disease management market and the development trend in 2018″ by Qianzhan Industry Research Institute, China now has more than 300 million chronic disease patients and deaths related to chronic diseases have accounted for 80% of the illness-related deaths in China. The cost of chronic diseases management has accounted for 70% of the total cost of disease in China.

Cardiovascular disease, one of the chronic diseases that is a serious threat to health, will be the key service area in the chronic disease management system built by Ping An Good Doctor and Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals. Taking advantage of Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals’ cardiovascular disease product R&D, Ping An Good Doctor’s leading AI medical technology and its large user base, the two parties will start by establishing China’s online cardiovascular disease management center. By linking the offline hospital network and academic resources, the center will provide users with scientific knowledge of cardiovascular disease, instruction in drug use, online and offline referral, post-operative rehabilitation, psychological intervention and other services.

Establishing an in-depth cooperation in various fields surrounding “Internet + Medical”

In addition to jointly building the all-round chronic disease management system, the two parties will also carry out in-depth cooperation in various fields such as AI+ family doctors, pharmaceutical new retail, product marketing and insurance, etc.

In the service cooperation of “AI+ family doctor”, the Company will leverage the powerful offline network of Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals and transfer its mobile medical service capabilities to the network. By integrating the Company’s AI-assisted in-house medical team, external doctor resources and medical network resources, family doctors are expected to provide services to more offline users. The service not only provides users with advice on taking medicine, but also provides 24 x 7 online consultations, referrals and registrations, inpatient arrangements, second treatment advice and health management, providing a more comprehensive medical and healthcare solution.

In the area of pharmaceutical new retail, the two companies will jointly promote Ping An Good Doctor’s “One-minute Clinics” in pharmacies, clinics inside enterprises, communities, insurance policies, etc., and establish a closed-loop from doctor consultation, prescription, product to delivery, providing a comprehensive online and offline medical service experience for users of both companies.

In addition, the two sides will also cooperate on the online and offline marketing, facilitating the cooperation between Ping An Group’s insurance business with Zhongxin Pharmaceuticals, poverty alleviation programs and pharmaceutical charitable activities.

About Ping An Good Doctor (1833.HK)

Ping An Good Doctor is the leading one-stop healthcare ecosystem platform in China. By combining “mobile health + AI technology”, the Company strives to provide every family with a family doctor, every person with an e-health profile and everyone with a healthcare management plan. Ping An Good Doctor has established a comprehensive, one-stop healthcare ecosystem covering family doctor services, consumer healthcare services, a health mall as well as health management and wellness interaction.

As of the end of June 2018, there were 228 million registered users and the Company’s MAU reached 48.6 million. Ping An Good Doctor is today the largest mobile medical application in China in terms of user scale. Ping An Good Doctor employs more than a thousand medical personnel (Assistant Supervisor Level or above from Class III Grade A Hospitals) in its in-house medical team and contracts with 4,650 renowned external doctors. This in-house medical team, empowered by our proprietary AI technology, provides users with 24 x 7 online consultation services. In our offline partnership network, Ping An Good Doctor collaborates with approximately 3,100 hospitals (including more than 1,200 Class III Grade A hospitals) to provide services such as hospital referral, appointment and inpatient arrangements. Ping An Good Doctor also partners with more than 2,000 healthcare institutions, including physical examination centers, dental clinics, cosmetic surgery institutions and more than 10,000 pharmacy outlets, to provide relevant health and wellness services to our users. By integrating our AI-empowered medical team, external doctors and offline network, Ping An Good Doctor has established a closed-loop healthcare ecosystem which enables our users to enjoy online consultations and online drug purchases, as well as online consultations and offline follow-up treatment, thereby providing convenient, high-quality and efficient family doctor services.

In April 2015, the App “Ping An Good Doctor” was officially launched. In May 2016, the Company completed an A round financing and raised US$500 million. In December 2017, the Company completed the pre-IPO financing from Softbank Vision Fund, during which it raised US$400 million. On 4 May 2018, Ping An Good Doctor became the No.1 listed internet health-tech company in the world when it joined the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code 01833.HK. Our IPO cornerstone investors include Blackrock, Capital Group, GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Swiss Re and CP Group.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181011/2265024-1

TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Canadian scientist Dr. Andras Nagy, Senior Investigator at Mount Sinai’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, is announced today as the inaugural recipient of the Cedric Ritchie Fund to Cure Blindness, a new $1.5 million initiative made possible by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Canada’s largest charitable funder of vision research.

Barbara Ritchie and Dr. Andras Nagy at his lab during a recent tour.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness – Canada is proud to launch the Cedric Ritchie Fund to Cure Blindness on World Sight Day, a day that raises awareness about the 253 million people around the world who are living with a severe vision impairment or blindness.

A pioneer in the field of stem cell research, Dr. Nagy has been studying the intricacies of stem cells for thirty years and is world-renowned for discovering a method to create stem cells from other cells in the body, a breakthrough in regenerative medicine. “In many ways this is the culmination of decades of work,” said Sharon Colle, President and CEO of the organization awarding the grant, the Foundation Fighting Blindness – Canada. “Dr. Nagy is leveraging years of experience and research to develop a revolutionary approach to treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. Dr. Nagy aims to cure AMD by combining approaches in stem cell and gene therapy, two of the most promising therapeutic strategies in vision science.”

“Our hope,” continued Colle, “is that this grant will enable him to transition his approach out of the lab and into clinical trials, where it can be tested as an experimental treatment for people living with AMD. It’s a journey that will take five years, a very short period within the often-plodding timeframes of scientific discovery.” Clinical trials are an essential step in the development of potential treatments, and many scientists struggle to get that far. “Some refer to the gap between the lab and clinical trials as ‘the valley of death,'” said Colle. “It’s where excellent but poorly funded science goes to die. Considering what’s at stake in Dr. Nagy’s work, we couldn’t let that happen.”

Approximately 1.4 million Canadians are affected by AMD, and though treatment options exist for those with its most severe form, “wet-AMD,” these involve frequent ocular injections of “anti-VEGF” drugs. “VEGF” refers to “vascular endothelial growth factor,” an essential protein responsible for stimulating the growth of new blood vessels. In AMD, VEGF is overexpressed, leading to irregular blood vessel growth and, when left untreated, the leakage of blood into the eye—the “wet” in “wet-AMD.”

“We’re now able to genetically program stem cells to deliver anti-VEGF proteins on their own,” explained Dr. Nagy. “It’s a cutting-edge realization of the dream of regenerative medicine: rather than inject the protein into the patient’s eye, we program stem cells to do the work for us. An added benefit, and one with enormous potential, is that these stem cells could also replace the retinal cells that are damaged in advanced AMD, restoring vision for patients who have lost it.”

“This is an important stage,” continued Dr. Nagy, “in the decades-long quest to treat a disease that robs far too many of their sight. Laser surgery was the only option decades ago, then photodynamic therapy emerged as a viable means for removing abnormal blood vessels, and more recently anti-VEGF injections became the standard of care. But I really think that combining stem cells with gene therapy is the next step: it’s a new paradigm, a ‘one-shot’ therapy or cure that treats the condition while reversing vision loss, all without subjecting patients to regular discomfort and the barriers associating with repeated injections.”

“The advancement of this work would have been impossible without support from the Foundation Fighting Blindness,” said Dr. Nagy. “In Canada, funds earmarked for science are dwindling rapidly, so connecting individual donors to the best science possible has never been more essential.” The $1.5 million initiative is the result of an individual commitment from Barbara Ritchie, whose late husband, Cedric Ritchie, lived his final years without sight due to complications from AMD and glaucoma. Mr. Ritchie was a renowned entrepreneur and Canadian banker who rose from teller, then president and CEO, and finally to chairman of the Bank of Nova Scotia. “Cedric never let vision loss get in his way,” said Mrs. Ritchie, “and insisted on getting work done, regardless of the difficulty. I know that if he were here today, he’d want a similar principle applied to Canada’s vision science. He’d want the best science to be supported, and he’d want it maximized to impact as many people as possible.”

Contact Information: April Watts, Communications Manager, The Foundation Fighting Blindness – Canada, 1.800.461.3331 ext. 231, awatts@ffb.ca

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/767801/Foundation_Fighting_Blindness.jpg
 

DARMSTADT, Germany, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ —

Not intended for U.S media 

• Merck-sponsored survey developed in collaboration with IACO and Eurocarers reveals lifelong effects of caring for a loved one with MS 
• #MSInsideOut documentary film, executively produced by Shift.ms, provides artistic take on the experiences of those impacted by MS 

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the publication of results from a global Merck-sponsored multiple sclerosis (MS) carer survey, as well as the premiere of the #MSInsideOut documentary film, Seeing MS from the Inside Out, executive produced by Shift.ms, a social network for people with multiple sclerosis, at the 34^th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), in Berlin, Germany.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8411851-merck-survey-and-film-multiple-sclerosis/

The ‘Living with Multiple Sclerosis: The Carer‘s Perspective report was developed in collaboration with The International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) and Eurocarers to examine the experiences of 1,050 multiple sclerosis (MS) carers across seven countries (US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain). The survey found that almost half (48%) of those surveyed became MS carers when they were below the age of 35, and nearly one in three had been caring for somebody for 11 years or more.

Additional key findings from the carer survey included:

• 43% and 28% of carers surveyed reported an impact on their emotional/mental health and physical health respectively
• 34% said being an MS carer impacted their financial situation, more than a third (36%) stated they had to take time off work, and as a result, 84% of those carers reported their work and career being impacted
• Only 15% of carers surveyed connected with other carers or patient organisations to help cope with the challenges of their role

“MS can be a devastating disease for both patients and carers, with the responsibilities assumed by carers over an extended length of time and intensifying as the disease progresses. Carers can experience a profound impact on their physical and emotional health, finances, and employment,” said Nadine Henningsen, Board Chair, IACO. “Not surprisingly, the survey results reinforced the large number of young people who are becoming carers – often in a formative time of their life.”

As part of the #MSInsideOut campaign, an initiative aimed at providing a deeper understanding of MS, the MS Inside Out documentary film, ‘Seeing MS from the Inside Out‘, will be premiered. Developed with Shift.ms as executive producers, it is the first global documentary film to pair artists and people from across the MS community, with a view to interpreting the experiences and perspectives of those impacted by MS through art.

“In line with our broader mission at Shift.ms, the aim of this documentary is to highlight the individual stories in a unique and innovative way across the MS community, digging deeper into the elements of MS that remain under-represented with a view of interpreting the unmet needs of those impacted by MS through art,” said George Pepper, Co-founder and CEO, Shift.ms. “By bringing these stories out into the open we will be able to address those challenges that remain, opening lines of communication and ultimately raising awareness of MS.”

The documentary follows three stories: Maria Florencia, a person living with MS from Argentina, Jon Strum, a caregiver from the US, and Dr. Luigi Lavorgna, a healthcare professional from Italy. Each was paired with a local visual artist to bring their stories to life through an emotional interpretation not bound by words but through art, reflecting the often difficult-to-explain nature of MS.

The premiere will take place at 18.00 – 19.30 CEST today on October 11, during ECTRIMS 2018 and can be accessed through a livestream link here: http://www.touch-stream.com/MSinsideout

“At Merck, we are extremely proud to highlight the unmet needs in the community through our work with Shift.ms, IACO and Eurocarers which expose the experiences of different members of the MS community, including the perspective of MS carers, whose voices have traditionally not been heard as strongly,” said Andrew Paterson, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Neurology and Immunology, at the biopharma business of Merck. “Forming part of our ongoing company-wide commitment to carers, and connecting with the broader Embracing Carers initiative, the outcomes from both the survey and documentary film highlight the need for additional support and awareness. We therefore encourage and call upon the MS community to take these findings and identify ways in which they can better assist both MS carers and patients.”

All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to http://www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Multiple Sclerosis 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic, disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms can vary, the most common symptoms of MS include blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsing forms of MS are the most common.

Merck in Multiple Sclerosis  

Merck has a long-standing legacy in neurology and immunology, with significant R&D and commercial experience in multiple sclerosis (MS). Merck’s current portfolio includes two products for the treatment of relapsing MS, with a robust pipeline focusing on discovering new therapies that have the potential to modulate key pathogenic mechanisms in MS. Merck aims to improve the lives of those living with MS, by addressing areas of unmet needs.

About Merck 

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. More than 53,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2017, Merck generated sales of € 15.3 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.  

About Embracing Carers  

Embracing Carers is a global initiative led by Merck KGaA in collaboration with leading caregiver organizations around the world designed to increase awareness, discussion, and action about the often-overlooked needs of caregivers. Given that caregivers need support and often do not know where to turn for help, Embracing Carers was created to help fill that void.

About IACO 

The International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) is a global coalition of 15 member nations committed to building a global understanding and respect for the vital role of family carers. Recognized as an official NGO by the United Nations, IACO works to improve the quality of life and support the needs of carers, through international partnerships and advocacy that strengthens and honors the voice of carers. To learn more, visit http://www.internationalcarers.org.

About Eurocarers 

Eurocarers is the European umbrella organisation representing informal carers and their organizations, irrespective of the particular age or health need of the person they are caring for. Eurocarers works to raise awareness of the significant contribution made by carers to care systems while ensuring that all relevant policies across Europe take account of their needs and preferences. To learn more, visit http://www.eurocarers.org.

About Shift.ms 

Shift.ms – http://www.Shift.ms – is the social network for people with multiple sclerosis. Founded by MSers, for MSers, the charity supports many thousands of recently diagnosed people across the world as they make sense of MS. It’s independent and it’s free.

About #MSInsideOut 

#MSInsideOut is a campaign supported by Merck which focuses on understanding the journeys people living with MS face and telling the inside story of the disease. For more than 20 years, Merck has been relentlessly focused on understanding the journey people living with MS face to create a meaningful, positive experience for them and the broader MS Community. With the #MSInsideOut campaign Merck aims to better understand MS and, importantly, enable others to do the same.

TOKYO, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Mundipharma has launched ISODINE^® Throat Candy in Japan. It comes in 3 flavors — Fresh Lemon, Honey Kumquat and Peppermint.

Mundipharma intends to launch to ISODINE^® Throat Candy in other markets. Outside of Japan, ISODINE^® is widely known as BETADINE^® — Mundipharma’s flagship consumer healthcare brand.

It is an original formula that contains zinc and hesperidin, which are considered good for the throat. It moisturizes a dry throat, which makes it less likely to pick up viruses and bacteria that cause infection.

Mundipharma CEO, Raman Singh said, “It’s very exciting to be launching a candy range that tastes great, because while it has healthcare benefits, it’s a slightly different type of product for us. It doesn’t replace the need for our existing BETADINE^® upper respiratory treatments and it’s an excellent complement to our portfolio.

“I’m excited to see this rolled out in other countries as we continue to build the BETADINE^® portfolio,” he added.

About Mundipharma           

Mundipharma is a network of independent associated companies which are privately owned entities covering pharmaceutical markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. The headquarters for these territories is in Singapore. 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 and to substantially improve their quality of life. Mundipharma is dedicated to bringing to patients the benefit of novel treatment options in fields such as pain, oncology, oncology supportive care, ophthalmology, respiratory disease and consumer healthcare.

About BETADINE^®   

The BETADINE^® range of products is trusted by hospitals around the world for over 55 years to prevent and treat infections. It is a trusted brand among consumers at home to treat small wounds and grazes, sore throats, feminine infections. This stops minor problems from escalating into big issues. In-vitro studies show that BETADINE^® medicines that contain povidone-iodine kill a broad range of bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause infections, including antibiotic-resistant strains. BETADINE^® has four main categories of products in Wound Care, Throat / Oral Care and Feminine Care. BETADINE™ Daily Gentle Protection range does not contain povidone-iodine.

®: BETADINE and ISODINE are Registered Trademarks of Mundipharma

Logo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150302/8521501264LOGO

PALU, Indonesia, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Indonesian Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise, made a visit and had a direct dialogue with earthquake and tsunami survivors yesterday (Oct. 9). Deep grief saw the condition of the hammer community, especially the condition of women and children after this earthquake. “I am very saddened by the disaster that has hit us today, but we must not be discouraged, we still have to struggle to maintain our lives in the future,” Minister Yohana said, strengthening survivors.

Indonesian Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise, when visiting the children of Al Kautsar Foundation in Palu, yesterday.

She also stressed that the community must remain vigilant of the potential for sexual violence that can occur to women and children. “In a situation after a natural disaster like this, indeed we are struggling with various limitations, but all women and children here must be vigilant to avoid violence that might occur. Don’t be afraid to report to those who protect here,” she said.

In addition to sexual violence, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA) also appealed to all elements of the community involved in the recovery process of the community and the Palu & Donggala area to protect women and children from the threat of trafficking or illegal adoption. “Many children are separated from their parents, I ask all parties involved to record and try to find their families, at least their extended families, as these children should not be taken by irresponsible parties,” Yohana concluded.

The Ministry of PPPA will also seek female and child friendly posts that are expected to be useful to prevent and reduce the potential for physical, psychological and sexual violence, as well as trafficking in women and children. Minister Yohana also expressed his gratitude to the Central Sulawesi Provincial PPPA Office for assisting in coordination, the Children’s Forum, volunteer psychologists who have helped in the process of Recreational Therapy to refugees and all parties who have helped reduce the burden on the survivors.

The Al Kautsar and Petobo Foundations also joined the visit, storytellers and singers were invited by the Ministry to entertain children in hopes of reducing their sadness and anxiety. In addition, Kemen PPPA also provides a number of specific assistance for women and children such as baby equipment, story books, crayons, sanitary napkins, masks and more. Previously, similar assistance had also been given to refugees in the city of Makassar.

Kemen PPPA

Telp.& Fax (+6221) 3448510
e-mail: publikasi@kemenpppa.go.id
www.kemenpppa.go.id

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181012/2266129-1

Source: Indonesian Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA)

BALI, Indonesia, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In Nusa Dua, the largest AIDS organization in the world, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is highly concerned about the declining international funding for HIV/AIDS treatment in developing countries, including Indonesia.

Marie Ko delivered a campaign about Raise the MIC during a press conference in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.

As a matter of fact, the ability of the Indonesian government to deal with people with HIV/AIDS is inadequate. “Of the approximately 360 thousand people with HIV/AIDS, only 290 thousand people can be handled,” said AHF Indonesia Country Program Manager, Riki Febrian, at Santika Siligita Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, Thursday, October 11, 2018.

Riki said that international funding for HIV/AIDS treatment in developing countries, including Indonesia, was recently reduced. This happened because the World Bank imposed a new classification on Middle Income Country (MIC). The World Bank sets a country where people earn US$ 2.73 per day, or about as much as the price of a cup of coffee in many countries, is not included in a group of poor countries.

“In fact, donor agencies or institutions, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, uses the World Bank income scales to determine the countries eligible for their funding,” said Riki.

Considering Indonesia belongs to the MIC category, Riki added, international aid for Indonesia has shrunk and this has worsened the handling of HIV/AIDS in this country. All this time, as much as 80% of funds for handling HIV/AIDS in Indonesia come from outside. “Because we are now considered to be rich, other countries and funding agencies stop their support,” said Riki.

Therefore, during the Annual Meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Nusa Dua, Bali, 8-14 October 2018, AHF calls on the World Bank to change its policy regarding the classification of middle income countries (MIC).

AHF, among others, pursues creative ways to campaign for the need to change the country classification by distributing “World Bank Coffee” for free around the arena of the annual meeting of the World Bank – IMF in Nusa Dua. In the cup is written “$ 2.73 per day is not middle income“.

“AHF is asking the World Bank’s attention through coffee, because 2.73 US dollars is equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee,” said AHF Asia Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Marie Ko.

The reduced funding for handling HIV/AIDS in Indonesia is indeed a big concern, considering the fund needed for HIV/AIDS treatment is quite large. According to an activist of the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI), Muvitasari, this year Indonesia needs Rp 4.2 trillion to deal with HIV/AIDS. The funds come from the APBN, APBD, CSR, various aids and fundings   from international donor agencies.

“In 2023, the required funds will increase to Rp. 11.6 trillion,” said Muvitasari.

Therefore, AHF continues to urge the World Bank to rectify its classification method regarding MIC. “The World Bank must re-calculate about MIC,” said Riki.

AHF is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, United States. AHF currently provides care or medical services to more than 1 million people with HIV/AIDS in 41 countries, spread across the US, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, and Eastern Europe.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181012/2266101-1

VIENNA, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — YITU Technology was featured at the 3rd “Bridges for Cities – Belt and Road Initiative: Developing Green Economies for Cities” in Vienna to showcase its advanced smart city solutions as one of the leading companies representing a case city: Shanghai.

The “Bridges for Cities” event, jointly held by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC), aims to deliver concrete outcomes to facilitate the implementation of sustainable urban-industrial development projects in cities across the Belt and Road and beyond. Over 188 cities from 88 countries attended the event.

In Vienna, YITU shared its insights and practice of AI technology on how the company is engaged in Shanghai’s urban intelligent development, as well as demonstrated a use case in the form of AI-enhanced healthcare as part of Shanghai’s smart city exhibition. YITU’s intelligent healthcare solutions are currently adopted seamlessly into clinical work flow by over 100 top-ranked hospitals in China, showing great potential for a future intelligent healthcare system.

“AI will play a crucial role in the progress of building smart cities by automating essential functions and aid city planning. To accomplish such a goal, AI companies shoulder great responsibilities to find a commercial use for the technology so that cities can be more intelligent and convenient for their inhabitants,” said Fan Jingyan, Vice President, Government Affairs of YITU Technology. “Over 30 countries and regions have been benefited from YITU’s state-of-the-art AI technologies to contribute to create a better, smarter and more convenient world.”

Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, UNIDO’s director of Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation commented, “it’s impressive to see how much AI is changing human society. We look forward to seeing YITU share its experience to more cities around the world.”

Shanghai is one of the four case cities to demonstrate their urban industrial solutions at the event, chosen specially by UNIDO for their potential to adopt new technologies for positive change. These pioneer cities introduced the projects they have currently implemented and discussed the trends and challenges for future smart urban cities. Shanghai’s planners are banking on smart city development and intelligent manufacturing to further enhance the city’s global reputation. As one of the companies representing Shanghai and an avid participant in Shanghai’s intelligent city development, YITU has been sharing its experience and expanding its cooperation with cities across the Belt and Road region and beyond.

In September, YITU and UNIDO ITPO Shanghai (Investment and Technology Promotion Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization) signed a strategic cooperation agreement for promoting the growth of developing countries assisted with AI technology. YITU has always been committed to helping more cities around the globe with its leading technologies, and strategic partnerships with international organizations including UNIDO will accelerate this vision.

Along with working closer together with UNIDO, YITU is widely acknowledged for its AI capabilities and efficiencies that contribute to higher and bigger international platforms. It not only shows technology innovation has become mainstream in sustainable development, but also that Chinese companies are becoming a significant and leading force in global sustainable development.

About YITU Technology

YITU Technology (YITU) is a pioneer in practical artificial intelligence (AI) research and innovation that provides advanced AI-based business solutions to build a safer, better and healthier world. YITU owns a world-class R&D team that drives industrial development to find comprehensive solutions in the areas of machine vision, speech and language understanding.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yitu-showcases-smart-city-solutions-at-unido-event-to-enhance-global-urban-livability-300729236.html

FLORENCE, Italy, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ —

• Expands on existing commercial and co-development agreement for delafloxacin  
• Consolidates company’s strategic focus on infectious diseases

The Menarini Group, an Italian biopharmaceutical company present in 136 countries worldwide, and Melinta Therapeutics, a US company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibiotics to treat serious bacterial infections, have announced an agreement under which Menarini will acquire the exclusive rights to commercialize meropenem/vaborbactam (Vabomere^[TM] in the US), oritavancin (Orbactiv^®) and minocycline IV (Minocin IV^®) in 68 countries in Europe, in Asia-Pacific including China, South Korea, and Australia (Japan excluded), and in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) including Russia.

This agreement builds on Melinta and Menarini’s existing commercial and co-development agreement for delafloxacin – announced in 2017 – in the same 68 markets.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with the Menarini Group and significantly increase global access to our dynamic antibiotic portfolio,” said Dan Wechsler, President and CEO of Melinta.

“We at Menarini welcome this opportunity to continue our collaboration with Melinta which will further strengthen our presence in the infectious disease market,” declared Pio Mei, General Manager of the Menarini Group. “The addition of meropenem/vaborbactam, oritavancin and minocycline IV to our current portfolio bolsters our high-value antibiotic platform in support of our mission, “Infection in Focus,” aimed at fighting life-threatening bacterial diseases which are an increasing global concern.”

The marketing authorization application for meropenem/vaborbactam is currently under review by EMA. On 20 September 2018, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) expressed its positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product  intended for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia, bacteraemia that occurs in association with any of these infections and infections due to aerobic gram-negative organisms where treatment options are limited. Orbactiv, a long acting lipoglycopeptide, has been approved by EMA in the treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible designated gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

About the Menarini Group  

The Menarini Group is an Italian pharmaceutical company with a turnover of 3.6 billion Euro and 17,029 employees. With 16 manufacturing sites and 7 R&D centers, Menarini has a strong presence in 136 countries.

http://www.menarini.com

Source: Menarini I.F.R.

SYDNEY, Oct. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA; NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused biotechnology company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of Part A, the dose escalation component, of its phase I study of Cantrixil in ovarian cancer. 

After discussion by the Data Monitoring Committee, the study has determined a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 5 mg/kg, and it is expected that this dose will be used for subsequent clinical investigation. Preclinical data suggests that this dose should be sufficient to detect potential therapeutic effects of Cantrixil.

The study will now move into Part B, a dose expansion cohort, which is designed to seek preliminary evidence of efficacy. Part B will recruit a further 12 patients, all of whom are expected to be dosed at the MTD of 5mg/kg. The company expects to be able to conclude Part B in calendar 2019.

Kazia CEO, Dr James Garner, commented, “We are delighted with progress in the Cantrixil study. The first hurdle for any drug in development is safety, and so it is highly encouraging that we have achieved in Part A of the trial a dose for Cantrixil towards the upper end of the range that we set out to explore. The study will now immediately transition into Part B, which will provide important insights into the potential efficacy of Cantrixil, building on the preliminary data that was announced in June 2018. We are grateful to the clinicians and patients who have driven the study forward so far, and we look forward to seeing further progress in due course.”

To date, 14 patients have been enrolled in the Cantrixil phase I study, all with ovarian cancer that has failed at least two prior lines of treatment and, of these, 11 have been well enough to receive treatment with Cantrixil. The most common side effects seen with Cantrixil administration have been abdominal pain, fatigue, and vomiting. Several patients continue to receive study drug at this time and as a result no further interim efficacy data is available at this point. The company is planning opportunities for publication of emerging safety and efficacy data with participating clinicians, and looks forward to sharing a comprehensive analysis in the near future, within the context of a suitable academic forum or publication.

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.

Logo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171120/1996749-1LOGO

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Oct. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ —

AnyScan (SPECT/CT/PET) triple modality system

Breakthrough scientific collaboration between National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Mediso Medical Imaging Systems Ltd. has begun in the United Kingdom after installation of a newly procured triple modality AnyScan (SPECT/CT/PET) system.

The new triple modality system provides the benefit of much higher sensitivity and resolution compared to conventional SPECT imaging. The excellent SPECT image quality is a direct result of the novel three-headed SPECT detector technology and the applied multi-pinhole collimation. Enabling image quality levels that are comparable with those normally seen in PET. This unique multimodality imaging system enables SPECT, CT and PET studies to be performed in one room. A feature that will benefit a number of customers and their patients.

“The AnyScan system will deliver major new capabilities at NPL as part of our new Metrology for Medical Physics Centre (MEMPHYS), supporting rapid acceleration for the development and implementation of innovative early diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, for conditions such as cancer, dementia and heart disease into clinical practice,” said Dr. Andrew Robinson, Head of Nuclear Medicine Metrology, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex UK.

“It had great significance to equip NPL with our state-of-the-art appliance,” said István Bagaméry, Managing Director of Mediso Ltd. “AnyScan is our flagship equipment which brings nuclear and molecular imaging expectations to the limits. During our collaboration we will incorporate the findings to our imaging products. It is crucial for us to utilise the results from the NPL project and make them accessible for other users as well.”

The AnyScan camera will allow NPL to develop unique measurement capabilities and deliver the first SPECT/CT/PET scanner in the world directly calibrated against primary standards of radioactivity, providing clinicians and pharmaceutical developers with confidence in their medical image decision-making and progress of clinical drug trials.

Mediso introduction  

Mediso Ltd. works in the field of nuclear and molecular imaging focusing on development, manufacturing, sales and servicing of multi-modality in-vivo imaging systems. The AnyScan® family is the first triple modality choice for clinical imaging. The system was sold, installed and supported by Bartec Technologies Ltd. Mediso’s exclusive representative in UK and Ireland.

NPL introduction

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK’s National Measurement Institute, and is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, science and technology available.

Contact: Mr. Zsombor Nagy, zsombor.nagy@mediso.com , +36-30-242-5308