Record number of women make Stars of Science Shortlist
Qatar Foundation’s (QF) edutainment reality TV show Stars of Science has concluded its Season 10 auditions – and the competition has just begun. The jury has selected the top nine innovation masterminds who will now fly to the workshops at Qatar Science & Technology Park to transform their ideas into products and compete for the show’s ultimate title of ‘Best Arab Innovator’.
Four of the top nine innovators are women. From the Information and Communications Technology episode, two innovators survived the auditions. Sylia Khecheni earned her ticket to enter the prototyping phase with an intricate Home Privacy Drone Blocker, a device that stops video transmissions without damaging the source of the intrusive signal. Meanwhile, fellow contestant Rooda Al Qebaisi welcomed the opportunity to put her Dynamic VIP Seating Manager to the test.
Anna Malek’s business-savvy nature fuels her passion to ensure her Smart Car Seat not only protects newborn children, but also gives parents peace of mind; while scientific researcher Nour Majbour will work on her Parkinson’s Early Detection Kit, and is keen to find a binary way of detecting signs of the disease.
The largest pool of contestants this year came from the biomedical rounds, with 10 contestants in the shortlist, and five making it into the top nine. In the upcoming episode, neurosurgeon Walid Albanna will work on his Neurovascular Google Analyzer, designed to aid doctors in detecting early signs of recurring strokes. Ahmed Zahlan, the youngest innovator on the show, has high hopes that his Contactless Gluten Detector will ultimately be used by those who struggle with gluten-related allergies. And driven by his zest for measurable results, Abdullah Al Sairafi will be seen aiming to perfect his Sports Performance Patch.
With only two places remaining after these rounds, five hopefuls from the energy and environment episode competed for their final chance to book their spot among the show’s top nine. Artist Salim Al Kaabi has been selected to work on his Safe Frankincense Varnish for Artists, a product that nullifies the harsh side effects of varnish while retaining the ability to make timeless paintings. Meanwhile, Ghassan Oueidat stood out with his novel idea of using a Dry-Ice Cleaner Bot to autonomously clean tower blocks. Viewers can tune in on October 20 for the action-packed prototyping episode.
SYDNEY, Oct. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA; NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused biotechnology company, is pleased to announce the completion of a placement of KZA shares, primarily to sector-specialist institutional investors in Australia and internationally, at a price of A$0.38 per share. The placement will raise approximately A$3.4 million (exclusive of costs).
In addition, Kazia will launch a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) to allow eligible existing holders of KZA securities the opportunity to acquire new fully-paid ordinary shares on the same terms as the placement. The SPP will open on Tuesday 23 October 2018, and documentation will be separately mailed to eligible shareholders at that time.
Key Points
High-quality specialist institutional investors lead this investment and strengthen the Company’s registry, motivated by corporate transformation, quality of management, and significant potential of pipeline
Capital raised secures Company’s ability to progress GDC-0084 and Cantrixil programs through four critical value-driving inflection points during calendar 2019
Placement of $3.4 million, at a small discount to market price of 11.6% and with no warrants, strengthens balance sheet while safeguarding interests of existing shareholders
SPP provides opportunity for existing shareholders to augment their holding at the same price as the institutional placement, and directors intend to participate
Kazia Chairman, Iain Ross, commented, “The ability of the Company to now command the interest of professional institutional investors is a powerful endorsement both of the quality of our pipeline and of the work that has been done over the past several years to move it forward. The next twelve months or so is a tremendously important period for Kazia, and today’s placement positions us to advance GDC-0084 and Cantrixil through their phase IIa and phase I studies respectively, providing four important data read-outs across the two programs.”
He added, “The Board has been determined to respect the support and commitment of existing shareholders and, to that end, today’s modest placement has been conducted at a small discount and without the issuance of warrants. In addition, we have signaled our intent to provide via a Share Purchase Plan the ability for existing shareholders to enjoy the same opportunity as institutional shareholders. Each of the directors have indicated their intention to participate in the SPP.”
Over the previous twelve months, Kazia has secured orphan designation from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead program, GDC-0084, which was followed by successful commencement of a phase IIa clinical trial in the United States. The phase IIa trial aims to provide safety and efficacy data supporting future use of the drug in glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer, which is estimated to represent a commercial market opportunity in excess of US$ 1 billion. The mechanism of the drug is well-validated, given two approved products already in the class, but GDC-0084 is uniquely differentiated by its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In September 2018, the Company announced a clinical collaboration with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States to explore GDC-0084 in the treatment of an aggressive form of childhood brain cancer.
Institutional Placement
Under the terms of the placement, approximately 8.9 million new ASX-listed fully-paid ordinary shares have been allocated to institutional, professional, and sophisticated investors at a price of A$0.38 per share, representing an 11.6% discount to the last closing price on Friday 12 October 2018(A$0.43). Settlement and issuance of shares is expected to occur in several tranches during the week beginning Tuesday 23 October 2018, and will be fully disclosed to the ASX at that time. The placement has been led by WG Partners, LLP.
The proceeds from the placement and SPP will be used to fund the Company’s R&D activities and provide working capital into 2020, yielding four critical value-driving data read-outs across the GDC-0084 and Cantrixil programs.
No shareholder approval is required for the placement. The placement shares will be allocated using the Company’s available placement capacity under its 15% limit in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and its additional 10% limit in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 7.1A. The placement shares will rank equally with the Company’s existing shares on issue. The placement will not be underwritten.
Share Purchase Plan (SPP)
Following settlement of the placement, the Company intends to offer an SPP to existing eligible shareholders.
Under the SPP, eligible shareholders of ASX securities, listed on the Kazia register at 7:00 pm (Sydney time) on the record date of Wednesday 17 October 2018, will be offered the opportunity to apply for up to A$15,000 of fully paid ordinary shares in Kazia without incurring brokerage or other transaction costs. This will be subject to certain eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions of the SPP which will be set out in the SPP booklet and dispatched to eligible shareholders. The indicative timetable is as follows:-
Record Date for Eligible Shareholders
Wednesday 17 October 2018
SPP Opens
Tuesday 23 October 2018
SPP Closes
Friday 16 November 2018
SPP Shares Issued
Friday 23 November 2018
SPP Shares Commence Trading on ASX
Tuesday 27 November 2018
The issue price of shares under the SPP will be equal to the Placement price of A$0.38. Shares issued under the SPP will rank equally with the Company’s existing shares on issue. The SPP will not be underwritten. The Directors have not set a cap or a target for the amount to be raised under the SPP, however under Listing Rule 7.2 Exemption 15, the maximum number of shares issued under the SPP will be 30% of the Company’s issued share capital, which at the issue price of $0.38 amounts to $6,533,297.
Not for release to US newswire services or distribution in the United States
[ENDS]
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 (i) registered under the US Securities Act (which the Company has no obligation to do) or (ii) 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.
HSINCHU and WUHAN, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — JHL Biotech announced that the National Medical Products Administration of the PRC (NMPA) has approved JHL’s Phase I and Phase III Clinical Trial Application for a proposed bevacizumab biosimilar, JHL1149, to treat several forms of cancer, including advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic kidney cancer, advanced cervical cancer and recurrent ovarian cancer.
Racho Jordanov, JHL Biotech, Co-Chairman and CEO stated, “We are very excited for our second biosimilar to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. This marks the second NMPA approval we have received in just four months and puts us another step closer to our vision of manufacturing biologics of the highest quality from China for the world.”
About JHL Biotech JHL Biotech, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded by a group of industry veterans with deep experience in biologics development and operations. With a mission to provide the world with affordable medicines of exceptional quality, the company is focused on research and development of new protein-based therapies and biosimilars and providing contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services to global pharmaceutical clients. JHL Biotech is uniquely positioned to be a leading global supplier of high quality biologics because of its experienced leadership team, ongoing global clinical trials for its pipeline of biosimilar candidates, and two Asia-based world-class biologics manufacturing facilities built in accordance with United States, European Union, and ICH cGMP regulations and standards. JHL Biotech is backed by premier financial firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Biomark Capital, Milestone Capital, Fidelity and the China Development Industrial Bank. For more information, please visit www.jhlbiotech.com.
Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are generally statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “will,” “outlook” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. JHL undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in light of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of either company. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements.
BEIJING, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The 26th World Congress of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS 26th World Congress) was held in Los Angeles on October 10. Li Xingdong, the hair transplantation expert and Beijing-based hospital group Kafuring chairman; Zou Jianhong, the Kafuring hair transplant technology research institute president; Both of them were invited again as participants to discuss and promote the healthy development of the global hair transplant industry with industry leaders and experts from all over the world.
During the event, Mr. Li delivered a keynote speech entitled “Scalp Expansion Combined with Hair Transplantation in the Treatment of Large Area Cicatricial Alopecia” and shared his thoughts on and experience with clinical therapy for intractable cicatricial alopecia. It was followed by several alopecia patients who came up to the podium and demonstrated their results in 10 days and 14 months after having received the transplant surgery at one of the Kafuring hospitals. The results received recognition from leading international experts, serving as further testament to the contribution that China’s leading implanter pen technology has made to the sector.
Chairman Li Xingdong delivering a keynote speech
Mr. Li explained that the implanter pen technology initially applied in China had been brought from the US. Kafuring now holds granted patents for four iterations of the technology. The salient features of the technology and procedure are the smaller size of the incision combined with the high density and natural direction of the transplanted hair. Dr. William Rassman, a world leader in hair transplant technology, once confirmed that Kafuring is one of the best hair transplant organizations in China as it provides patients with the minimally invasive solution developed with its leading technologies and equipment in full compliance with the US and European standards.
Group photo of the leading international experts in the hair transplant industry
Thanks to its leading implanter pen technology and proven excellent results, Kafuring was invited as the sole medical company based outside of Europe to attend the recent Business Triumph Festival organized by the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) in Cannes, France. At the event, Karfuring garnered the 2018 EBA European Quality Award in Healthcare.
Kafuring has initiated the roll out of its global strategy with the opening of its US flagship office. The office is the first overseas operation established by a Chinese hair transplant organization. Kafuring plans to next expand into Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
MENLO PARK, Calif. and TOKYO, Oct. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Taiho Ventures, LLC, a strategic corporate venture capital arm of Taiho Pharmaceutical, Co., Ltd., announced on October 16 that Taiho Ventures increased its investment pool by US$250 million from the initial US$50 million to US$300 million. The increase in the investment pool illustrates Taiho Ventures’ strong commitment to its continuous support of innovative biotech start-ups pursuing cutting-edge drug discovery activities based on state-of-the-art science. Taiho Pharmaceutical also aims to accelerate its open innovation through these investment efforts.
Taiho Ventures is actively searching for opportunities around the world to invest in promising start-up companies that conduct innovative first-in-class drug discovery and establish unique platform technologies, primarily in the oncology field, leveraging the resources that Taiho Pharmaceutical has assembled as a pioneer of oral anticancer drugs. Since its inception in 2016, Taiho Ventures has built an innovative investment portfolio that includes Arcus Biosciences, PACT Pharma, Harpoon Therapeutics, Storm Therapeutics, ORIC Pharmaceuticals and Quentis Therapeutics.
With Arcus Biosciences, the first investment from Taiho Ventures, Taiho Pharmaceutical entered into an option agreement in September 2017 to in-license exclusive development and commercialization rights of product candidates in Arcus pipeline programs in Japan and the rest of Asia (excluding China). In July 2018, Taiho Pharmaceutical exercised the option on their adenosine receptor antagonist AB928.
“Taiho Pharmaceutical aims to be a global oncology company,” said Masayuki Kobayashi, President and Representative Director at Taiho Pharmaceutical. “We conduct innovative R&D into new drugs originating in Japan based out of our drug discovery research facilities in Tsukuba, Ibaraki. This has brought many compounds to clinical study.* In addition to its mainstay in-house drug discovery, Taiho Pharmaceutical will also continue to access groundbreaking innovation, primarily in the oncology field, through Taiho Ventures, in an effort to further strengthen its drug discovery capabilities.”
Taiho Ventures, LLC is the strategic corporate venture capital arm of Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a Japanese specialty pharma focusing on oncology, allergy and immunology, and urology. Taiho Ventures is looking at early-stage preclinical oncology companies as well as platform technology companies for our core therapeutic areas. Taiho Ventures will review the wide variety of modalities for both biologics and small molecules. The company will also consider the option type of investments and spin-outs, in addition to the pure equity investments.
About Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Taiho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. (https://www.otsuka.com/en/), is an R&D-driven specialty pharma focusing on the three fields of oncology, allergy and immunology, and urology. Its corporate philosophy takes the form of a pledge: “We strive to improve human health and contribute to a society enriched by smiles.” In the field of oncology, in particular, Taiho Pharmaceutical is known as a leading company in Japan for developing innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, a reputation that is rapidly expanding through their extensive global R&D efforts. In areas other than oncology, as well, the company creates and markets quality products that effectively treat medical conditions and can help improve people’s quality of life. Always putting customers first, Taiho Pharmaceutical also aims to offer consumer healthcare products that support people’s efforts to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. For more information about Taiho Pharmaceutical, please visit https://www.taiho.co.jp/en/
SUZHOU, China, Oct. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — CStone Pharmaceuticals (“CStone”) today announced the recent approval of investigational new drug (IND) application from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CS1001, a fully human anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody independently developed by CStone. This marks CStone’s first drug to gain IND approval in the United States, and henceforth the company expects to make further IND filings with the FDA for other self-developed pipeline drug candidates.
“We are very happy to gain approval to begin clinical trials in the United States, which marks the entry of CS1001 into fully global development.” Dr. Frank Jiang, CStone’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “CStone already had three products entering Phase I clinical trials in Australia during the first half of 2018. CS1001’s IND approval further demonstrates our global clinical capabilities and aspiration. “
CS1001 is China’s first fully human and full-length anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody. The US clinical trial is a bridging Phase I dose-escalation study, designed to confirm CS1001’s recommended Phase II dosage (RP2D) in US patients with solid tumors.
Dr. Jason Yang, Chief Medical Officer at CStone, said, “CS1001 has already successfully completed a Phase I dose-escalation study in China. The safety and preliminary efficacy data set a solid foundation for starting clinical evaluation in the US. We aim to accelerate CS1001’s global development to provide patients with a new treatment option as soon as possible.”
About CS1001
CS1001 is an investigational monoclonal antibody directed against PD-L1 being developed by CStone Pharmaceuticals. Authorized by the U.S.-based Ligand Corporation, CS1001 is developed by the OMT transgenic animal platform, which can generate fully human antibodies in one step. As a fully human, full-length anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, CS1001 mirrors natural G-type immune globulin 4 (IgG4) human antibody, which can reduce the risk of immunogenicity and potential toxicities in patients, a unique advantage over similar drugs.
Currently, CS1001 has completed a Phase I dose-escalation study in China, which showed the drug to be well-tolerated and produced sustained clinical benefit during the Phase Ia stage of development. In addition, two pivotal Phase II studies have been initiated in China: for natural killer cell/T-cell lymphoma (CS1001-201) and classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (CS1001-202). Meanwhile, Phase III studies are under way or being prepared both in China and globally for various serious tumor indications.
About CSTONE
CStone Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company devoted to the development of innovative drugs. With a broad pipeline, the company engages in the development of cancer therapeutics with a special focus on immuno-oncology based combination therapies. All members of the management team are seasoned executives from top multinational pharmaceutical companies. CStone has successfully built up its core competency in clinical development and translational medicine. The company is backed by prestigious VC/PE funds via two financing rounds to date, raising $150 million in a Series A round in July 2016, followed by $260 million in a Series B round in May 2018. With an experienced team, a rich pipeline, a robust R&D model, and substantial funding, CStone is well positioned as the partner of choice for multinational pharmaceutical / biotech companies to develop drugs in China and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about CStone Pharmaceuticals, please visit: www.cstonepharma.com.
The Arcadier Defeat-NCD Marketplace development team
Arcadier has created more than 7,000 marketplaces in over 130 countries since its inception by Australians Dinuke Ranasinghe, Paul Cascun and Singaporean Kenneth Low in 2013.
The Defeat-NCD marketplace will enable the cost-effective and efficient provision of essential NCD supplies to national NCD programmes in low-resource countries. NCDs claim more than 41 million lives each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally[1].
Set to launch by end Q1 2019, the Defeat-NCD Marketplace will be made available to pre-approved buyers, including government agencies and non-governmental groups, who will be able to source for NCD supplies. Having these supplies in a global, private marketplace will allow multiple countries to pool their buying power; resulting in lower prices from greater efficiencies in planning, manufacturing and supply chain.
Arcadier aims to deploy the marketplace in 100 resource-poor countries over the next three to five years. A pilot list of six countries representing Southeast Asia, Africa, Central Europe and the Americas, will be able to purchase pre-approved supplies and undergo training from Arcadier on the use of the system. The company will be opening offices in Europe and Africa to support this initiative.
Dr Mukesh Kapila, Chief Executive of the Defeat-NCD Partnership, said: “The world is moving towards digitalization and the UN is constantly seeking new technology to solve major world issues. We are excited to partner Arcadier to create the Defeat-NCD Marketplace, which will reduce barriers and costs in the distribution of quality-assured NCD medicines, diagnostics and associated equipment to where they are needed most, speedily and reliably.”
Speaking of the announcement, Dinuke Ranasinghe, Chief Executive Officer of Arcadier, said, “This partnership adds a powerful operational capability to our team and effectively moves us from a marketplace provider to a technology company that manages and operates global, online marketplaces, with potentially thousands of SKUs from hundreds of sellers that will impact the lives of millions of people around the world. We’re confident that the experience we have working on commercial marketplaces around the world will lead us to success in this project.”
The Arcadier Defeat-NCD Marketplace development team
The online marketplace will enable the cost-effective and efficient provision of essential NCD supplies to national NCD programmes in low-resource countries. NCDs claim more than 41 million lives each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
Set to launch by end Q1 2019, the Defeat-NCD Marketplace will be available to pre-approved buyers, including government agencies and non-governmental groups, who will be able to source for NCD supplies. Having these supplies in a global, private marketplace will allow countries to pool their buying power; with lower prices from greater efficiencies in planning, manufacturing and supply chain.
Arcadier aims to deploy the marketplace in 100 resource-poor countries over the next three to five years. A pilot of six countries representing Southeast Asia, Africa, Central Europe and the Americas, will be able to purchase pre-approved supplies and undergo training on the system. Arcadier will be opening new offices in Europe and East Africa to bridge efforts between its African operations and the UN.
Dr Mukesh Kapila, Chief Executive of the Defeat-NCD Partnership, said: “The world is moving towards digitalization and the UN is constantly seeking new technology to solve major world issues. We are excited to partner Arcadier to create the Defeat-NCD Marketplace, which will reduce barriers and costs in the distribution of quality-assured NCD medicines, diagnostics and associated equipment to where they are needed most, speedily and reliably.”
The marketplace is based on Arcadier’s platform, which has been in development since 2013 and used to create more than 7,000 marketplaces in over 130 countries.
Speaking of the announcement, Dinuke Ranasinghe, Chief Executive Officer of Arcadier, said, “This partnership adds a powerful operational capability to our team and effectively moves us from a marketplace provider to a technology company that manages and operates global, online marketplaces, with potentially thousands of SKUs from hundreds of sellers that will impact the lives of millions of people around the world. We’re confident that the experience we have working on commercial marketplaces around the world will lead us to success in this project.”
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.
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
