• GE command centers are proving to be a breakthrough capability for patient and staff experience, outcomes and efficiency. 
• Centers combine artificial and human intelligence to predict risk, orchestrate complex care activity and support evidence-based medicine; and provide a center of gravity for cultural integration and continuous improvement
• GE’s command center technology drives action by applying AI to constant real-time data from machines, devices, EMRs and other software. 

SANTA CLARA, California, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Based on its recent analysis of the global hospital command centers market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes GE Healthcare Partners with the 2018 Global Visionary Innovation Leadership Award for offering clients a holistic command center solution to optimize patient care operations. GE’s solution helps hospitals and hospital networks improve outcomes and efficiency and by employing the most advanced technologies such as prescriptive and predictive analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision in a new “command center” department in a purpose-built space manned by newly empowered staff helping front-line caregivers 24×7.

GE_Healthcare_Partners_Award

“Unlike competing command centers that serve specific objectives, GE’s solution is holistic and custom-fitted, covering the entire hospital or health system’s operations and targeting multiple tasks based on the facility’s needs,” said Siddharth Shah, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “The GE approach is technology-agnostic, but relies on the data collected by various technologies implemented in the hospital. This makes the command center scalable, and expands its application scope to cover patient access, patient throughput through the length of stay, clinical pathways, clinical imaging, patient discharge, and even telehealth and population health initiatives.”

Command centers employ a slew of advanced technologies to ensure optimum workflow efficiency. GE Healthcare Partners, for instance, employs a digital twin of the hospital to simulate patient arrivals, discharges, and other parameters to make predictions. A second component is the ‘ongoing discovery service’, wherein GE’s team members brainstorm with the hospital’s team to design and develop frameworks to tackle the next set of challenges. This makes the command center a continuously evolving organic entity, instead of a one-time deployment.

GE’s command center information system delivers a range of benefits such as:

• Drawing data from various software systems and machines;
• Persisting an integrated, real-time data model that fuses data from all sources;
• Employing artificial intelligence, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision;
• Being independent of any single transactional or source system;
• Being as much as possible predictive and/or prescriptive;
• Allowing retrospective searches of the information-rich data model for continuous learning and improvement.

“Hospital departments typically work in silos, but GE Healthcare Partners’ co-location approach promotes synergies as well as facilitates future technology adoption of tele-ICU, telehealth services, home health services, and population health efforts,” noted Shah. “One of the reasons for the success of GE’s command center is the company’s decision to not disrupt the front-line care team members, but rather empower and support them in their daily duties. The combination of human and artificial intelligence has proved a winning move and positioned the company for further growth.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan bestows this award upon the company that demonstrates excellence in growth and customer value. It recognizes the superiority of the product/service, as well as the overall customer, purchase, ownership, and service experience delivered, which has resulted in the recipient company seeing above-market growth and greater share of wallet. The award lauds the growth, diversification, and sustainability strategies of the company.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About GE Healthcare Partners

As the global management consulting arm for GE Healthcare, the GE Healthcare Partners team is dedicated to becoming the leading provider of outcomes-based solutions in healthcare via Performance Partnerships, Command Center Partnerships, and Consulting Solutions–three areas primed to drive transformational change in healthcare organizations. 

GE Healthcare Partners creates value for clients by leveraging the power of GE Healthcare to solve the most challenging problems in healthcare through the delivery of client problem-back solutions, long-term strategic partnerships, and advanced analytic capabilities. By connecting with clients to define and prioritize their critical challenges, the Partners team designs the best strategies and activates impactful solutions to create sustainable outcomes to enable them to transform and succeed.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Samantha Park
P: 210.247.2426
F: 210.348.1003
E: samantha.park@frost.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/747155/GE_Healthcare_Partners_Award.jpg

HAIFA, Israel, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Round includes leading international investors, further solidifying MeMed‘s leadership in host-based diagnostics  

MeMed today announced the completion of a new round of financing totaling over $70 million, with participation from new and existing investors including Ping An Global Voyager Fund, Foxconn, Caesarea Medical Holdings, Clal Insurance, Phoenix Insurance, OurCrowd, Social Capital, WTI, Horizons Ventures, and high-net-worth executives renowned for early investments in industry-changing companies.

MeMed will use the proceeds to advance in three areas: (i) Market adoption of MeMed BV™, a breakthrough immune-system based test for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections, while continuing to generate an unprecedented level of clinical evidence validating test performance; (ii) Complete development, upscale manufacturing and clearance of MeMed Key™, a pioneering point-of-care (POC) protein measurement platform; and (iii) Expand its pipeline of innovative tests that integrate machine learning and immune-based measurements to tackle big clinical challenges.

Dr. Eran Eden, MeMed’s co-founder and CEO said, “The overwhelming enthusiasm to participate in the latest round reflects the vast clinical challenge and huge market opportunity our technology addresses. For nearly a decade, with leading academic and commercial partners, we’ve developed MeMed BV™, and then generated high quality double-blind clinical evidence to validate it. When measured on MeMed Key™ and on other platforms, MeMed BV™ has the potential to serve as a valuable tool in the fight against resistant bacteria – one of the biggest healthcare challenges of our time. The additional funds, and the significant support we are receiving from the U.S. government and EU commission, solidify MeMed as a global leader in the space of host-based diagnostics of infectious and inflammatory disorders.”

“These resources will expedite the final development phases, clearance and manufacturing of the pioneering MeMed Key™ platform, which will run the MeMed BV™ test in minutes,” said Dr. Kfir Oved, MeMed’s co-founder and CTO. “Importantly, the MeMed Key™ platform opens the way to central lab precision at the point-of-care. It will allow measurement of multiple other proteins and signatures, both conventional and new, that currently are only measurable in the central lab. This unlocks enormous value in diagnosing and managing patients across a wide range of other diseases.”

Dr. Marco Huesch, Chief Medical Officer, Ping An Voyager Fund, and former Assoc Prof. and Chief, Division of Radiology Innovation and Value Enhancement at Penn State Medical Center, said, “This exciting innovation will greatly enhance diagnostic and therapeutic confidence among physicians and their patients when faced with distinguishing bacterial from viral infections. Beyond profoundly benefiting individual patients, this groundbreaking technology will address antibiotic overuse within the broader population and contribute to reducing the growing burden of antibiotic resistance.”

About MeMed 

Our mission is to translate the complex signals of our immune system into simple diagnostic insights that transform the way we treat infectious and inflammatory diseases – at the right place and the right time. Over nearly a decade, with collaborators around the globe, MeMed has developed and validated a pioneering immune-based protein signature called MeMed BV™ for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections – an indispensable tool in the fight against resistant strains of bacteria – one of the biggest healthcare challenges of our time. An ELISA format of MeMed BV™, called ImmunoXpert™, is cleared for use in the EU (CE-IVD), Switzerland and Israel and is currently in pilot distribution in these territories. MeMed is also developing MeMed Key™, a groundbreaking platform that opens the way to measuring multiple proteins and signatures, conventional and innovative, with central lab precision at the point-of-care. MeMed Key™ will measure MeMed BV™ within minutes. Today, we are expanding our network of partnerships with internationally renowned academic, commercial and government stakeholders to advance, validate and facilitate global availability of our platform and tests. For additional information, please visit http://www.me-med.com.

Company Contacts:
Tanya Gottlieb, VP Scientific Affairs, MeMed
Phone:  +972-4-8500302
tanya.gottlieb@me-med.com

Kfir Emmer, Director of Finance, MeMed
Phone:  +972-4-8500302
kfir.emmer@me-med.com

Media Contact:  
Kirsten Thomas, The Ruth Group
Phone: +1-508-280-6592
kthomas@theruthgroup.com

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Canon Medical System Corporation (Canon Medical) completed the acquisition of the majority shares of ACTmed – a joint venture company established with ACT Genomics (ACTG), a Taiwanese molecular diagnostic company. ACTG will transfer its clinical NGS technology to ACTmed, making ACTG the first Taiwanese biotech company to transfer technology to a major medical company in Japan. ACTG will also help ACTmed to operate cancer genomic profiling service in Japan and be the provider for analyzing the sequencing data generated by ACTmed.

Through this partnership, ACTG and Canon Medical will utilize caner genomic testing to provide cancer treatment selection and disease monitoring with better precision to patients in Japan.

Founded in 2014, ACTG is the Asia leading DNA cancer solution providers and transforms science into actionable solutions empowering clinicians and patients with evidence-based information to fight cancer. The Company’s mission is to provide every cancer patient with personalized genomic information–based treatment plans through the cutting-edge Next Generation Sequencing (“NGS”) platform, Asian genome database, leading professional bioinformatics and biomedical team in Asia, medical report, and integrated services.

ACTG’s flagship NGS panel, ACTOnco, investigates 440 cancer-related genes by incorporating a signaling pathway design. ACTOnco provides optimal treatment suggestion to clinicians, including targeted therapies, hormonal therapies, chemotherapies, and immunotherapies, for all solid tumor types.

Currently, ACTG operates in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.

About ACTG

Founded in 2014, ACTG provides optimal cancer treatment plan, cancer relapse and drug resistance monitoring as well as cancer risk assessment and immunotherapy evaluation. The company achieves precise cancer genetic variants detection with minimum tumor samples, and delivers to every cancer patient personalized genomic information based-treatment plans through cutting-edge NGS platform, medical report and integrated services. The company also provides comprehensive data analysis on cancer genomics applying Artificial Intelligence and integrates genomic databases information with Asia specific genome profiling.

ACTG’s comprehensive portfolio received the 2017 Asia Pacific Molecular Diagnostics Product Line Strategy Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan.

Media contact:

ACT Genomics
Phone: +886-2-2795-3660

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canon-medical-system-corporation-partners-with-act-genomics-for-precision-cancer-medicine-service-in-japan-300715982.html

During the combined exhibition of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) and the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA), ZEISS presents its cross-platform ophthalmic digital portfolio which aids doctors in disease management, allowing them to help their patients more efficiently, every step of the way — from assessment, diagnosis, to treatment. 

• ZEISS showcases the next leap in multi-modality care with the Integrated Diagnostic Imaging platform (IDI), an advanced digital solution helping doctors make optimal and individualized diagnosis-to-treatment plans.
• ZEISS presents its latest innovations for Astigmatism Management: the new IOLMaster^® 700 with Total Keratometry (TK) will allow cataract surgeons to replace assumptions with precise measurements of the posterior corneal surface; while the AT LARA^® Toric EDoF IOL adds a new category of toric IOL for patients with active lifestyles.
• The company is also celebrating a laser vision correction milestone with 1.5M SMILE^® treatments to date, performed by refractive surgeons in over 70 countries worldwide.

VIENNA, Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Medical Technology business group of ZEISS will present its newest digital diagnostic solutions for retinal diseases and glaucoma, along with new astigmatism management options in cataract surgery, this week at the ESCRS & EURETINA exhibition.

“Digitalization of eye care provides doctors integrated and data-driven solutions, allowing them to help patients every step of the way,” says Jim Mazzo, Global President Ophthalmic Devices at Carl Zeiss Meditec. “Our comprehensive portfolio provides a connected, multi-modality approach to patient data that spans across assessment, diagnostics, and treatment,” Mazzo said.

Making its debut at ESCRS, the Integrated Diagnostic Imaging (IDI) platform is a digital solution that integrates and transforms data from diagnostic devices by combining modalities to develop simple individualized assessments helping doctors make optimal treatment decisions, quickly and efficiently. IDI works with ZEISS gold-standard instruments such as CIRRUS OCT, Humphrey^® Field Analyzer HFA3, ultra-widefield retinal camera CLARUS^® 500, and the new VISULAS green therapeutic laser.

According to retina and vitreous physician and surgeon Peter A. Karth, MD, MBA, this integration is crucial in detecting, diagnosing and treating retinal disease. “One of the biggest challenges in retina practices today is viewing and integrating multimodal imaging to efficiently and fully assess macular disease in busy clinics,” says Karth. “I consider the ZEISS Integrated Diagnostic Imaging platform to be a key part of patient management, giving me the data integration that I need to make the best decisions for my patients,” he added.

Also featured at ESCRS is ZEISS’ expansion of its Astigmatism Management portfolio for cataract surgeons. The Total Keratometry (TK) release for the IOLMaster^® 700 Swept Source Biometry offers cataract surgeons the opportunity to replace assumptions about the posterior corneal surface with precise measurements which can help improve outcomes. In addition to its proven monofocal toric (AT TORBI^®) and trifocal toric (AT LISA^® tri toric) IOLs, ZEISS is now launching the AT LARA^® Toric IOL in the Extended Depth of Focus (EDoF) category, thus giving surgeons a new option for astigmatic patients with an active lifestyle and a need for spectacle independence in distance and intermediate vision.

Lead Surgeon at Augentagesklinik Rheine, Florian Kretz, implanted the AT LARA on one of his staff members. Having been one of the first users, Kretz said: “The AT LARA toric was my first choice for my refractive manager, as her daily routine is dependent on perfect vision.”

As part of the company’s efforts to deliver digital solutions to support clinical workflow and decision-making, ZEISS is expanding Astigmatism Management with the new online IOL calculator, Z CALC. This new release updates the algorithm to account for posterior corneal astigmatism, making it compatible with the new IOLMaster TK measurement, and ease of use, adding the possibility to calculate post-LASIK eyes.

“Digital solutions can help doctors address many of the challenges and emerging issues they are facing in daily practice,” says Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec. “Digitalization integrated throughout the process — at every step of the way from diagnostics to treatment — can help doctors increase clinical efficiency and performance to better help their patients.”

Continuing their leadership in laser vision correction, the company is also commemorating 1.5M small incision lenticule extraction procedures to date, performed by refractive surgeons worldwide. Using the VisuMax^® femtosecond laser from ZEISS, SMILE^® provides refractive surgeons an additional proven laser vision correction option to offer their patients. A new clinical trial has begun outside the USA for SMILE in hyperopic patients. Over 1700 surgeons in 70 countries currently perform SMILE^®.

ZEISS will showcase its comprehensive portfolio in Hall B, Booth 401 at the 2018 exhibition of ESCRS & EURETINA in Vienna from September 21 to September 25. Additionally, ZEISS will host hands-on IOL and SMILE Experience theaters and wet labs, along with an impressive line-up of renowned doctors sharing their expertise and insights during “Meet the Experts” sessions.

For the complete line up of ZEISS educational programs, activities, and events, visit www.zeiss.com/ESCRS.

Not all products, services or offers are approved or offered in every market and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another. For country specific product information, see the appropriate country website. Product specifications are subject to change in design and scope of delivery as a result of ongoing technical development.

www.zeiss.com/press

Brief profile
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE 0005313704), the Medical Technology Business Group of ZEISS, is listed on SDAX and TecDAX of the German stock exchange and one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. The Company supplies innovative technologies and application- oriented solutions designed to help doctors improve the quality of life of their patients. The Company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to diagnose and treat eye diseases. The Company creates innovative visualization solutions in the field of microsurgery. With approximately 3,000 employees worldwide, the Group generated revenue of € 1,189.9 million in fiscal year 2016/17 (to 30 September).

The Group’s head office is located in Jena, Germany, and it has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. The Center for Application and Research (CARIn) in Bangalore, India and the Carl Zeiss Innovations Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, strengthen the Company’s presence in these rapidly developing economies. Around 41 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG’s shares are in free float. The remaining approx. 59 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world’s leading groups in the optical and optoelectronic industries.

For more information visit our website at: www.zeiss.com/med   

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/747491/Integrated_Diagnostic_Imaging_for_Retina.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/747492/LARA_ID.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/546786/Carl_Zeiss_Meditec_Logo.jpg

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — DiFusion Inc, a developer of advanced medical polymers utilizing novel zeolite technology, announced today that the ZFUZE® PEEK Composite has been recognized by Orthopedics This Week as one of the Top Ten Best Spine Technologies for 2018.  ZFUZE features DiFusion’s patented microporous, hydrophilic PEEK (polyetheretherketone) technology, a microporous negatively charged surface that decreases fibrotic encapsulation of the implant while simultaneously increasing osseointegration.  

Orthopedics This Week annually recognizes the engineering teams and inventors who develop and successfully translate innovative products into clinical use to treat spinal disorders. The winning technologies this year were selected based on creativity, innovation, the capacity to solve a critical clinical problem as well as their potential long-term impact on improving spine surgery. 

While Porous metal and porous metal-coated PEEK implants have been used for some time in spine fusion applications, ZFUZE stands out as the first and only bona-fide new biomaterial. Because it has a negative charged, micro-porous, hydrophilic surface instead of an inert hydrophobic surface, ZFUZE is able to provide a bone implant interface that supports bony ingrowth while retaining the mechanical properties and imaging capabilities of traditional PEEK.  “ZFUZE is a new biomaterial capable of being injection molded, 3D printed or machined.  Surface treatments, such as laser etching and nano-surfacing can be imbued to the material in any form,” added Derrick Johns Founder and CEO of DiFusion, “thereby giving the ZFUZE platform a broad range of clinical and financial advantages for potential strategic partners.”

ZFUZE was considered a viable recipient of this year’s Spine Technology Award due to the extensive animal research presented on ZFUZE Composite PEEK. The new biomaterial’s immunochemistry showed a statistically significant drop of Interleukin 1-Beta (IL1-B) Cytokines (well-known markers for fibrosis) and increased in vivo bone response, which will be presented the North American Spine Society meeting on September 27^th in Los Angeles. The studies were performed by researchers at the Neuroscience Institute at the Allegheny Medical Center. Results of the studies show that ZFUZE microporous PEEK composite elicits an elevated in vivo osteogenic response while simultaneously reducing the fibrotic immune response when compared with inert hydrophobic PEEK.

“This is the first biomaterial we have independently tested that was engineered for a decreased immune system response.   This novel approach to rethinking the material response resulted in less fibrosis and a greater degree of osseointegration  we have not seen in other new biomaterials to date,” Boyle Cheng, PhD., Director Neuroscience Institute at the Allegheny Medical Center.

About DiFusion Inc:
DiFusion, Inc. is a privately held advanced biomaterials manufacturer located in Austin Texas. DiFusion has developed multiple internationally patented MITA Technologies (Metallic Ion Therapeutic Agents) for bone growth, tissue regeneration, antimicrobial, cellular repair, scaffold construction and increased angiogenesis. Our first product ZFUZE™* was developed as a load-bearing osteoconductive biomaterial platform for orthopedic applications, proven highly successful in 2 large animal studies. ZFUZE™ is currently being scaled up for commercial launch in early 2019.

www.difusiontech.com 512-284-3338

ZFUZE biomaterial will be submitted to FDA in early October 2018. 

ZFUZE and MATERIALS MATTER are registered trademarks of DiFusion Inc.

ZFUZE_STRAIGHT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — On September 13, YOFOTO (China) Health Industry Co., Ltd. organized a 7-day study tour to Canada for more than 200 of its employees. YOFOTO (China) wants to better understand the Canadian market and seek opportunities to work with local businesses via this tour.

Group photo of business heads from Sansheng (China) Co., Ltd.

During the tour, they visited main attractions in Calgary and Vancouver, and held a study tour seminar at UBC University to help the marketing heads comprehensively understand the history, economic development, etc. of Canada. In addition, Mr. Ye Zhan, CEO of Canada NH Resources Ltd. under YOFOTO (China), introduced a globally oriented salmon oil product researched and developed by the Canada subsidiary of YOFOTO. Made from the most valuable and rare raw materials from the Arctic Circle in Canada, the product is expected to be available before long.

As for organizing this group of more than 200 people to Canada, Assistant Chairman of YOFOTO (China), Mr. Liu Aifeng, said at the celebration dinner in Trump Hotel, Vancouver, “The reason why YOFOTO invests a lot of money, manpower and material resources in arranging overseas tours is that it hopes every staff who travels could improve themselves in the travel, expand horizons and bring thrilling, vibrant and positive energy into their career.”

YOFOTO (China) Health Industry Co., Ltd. is a Chinese company delving into the health industry field from a global perspective. With the aim of presenting itself as a “Chinese sample” for the global health industry, YOFOTO built a closed loop in the whole ecological chain which covers health monitoring, scientific nursing, exclusive guarantees, targeted medical treatment and healthcare for the elderly, and will provide health management services including targeted health assessment, prevention, health care, health maintenance, medical care, rehabilitation, provision for the aged and insurance to benefit consumers around the world by integrating global superior resources in the future.

photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/746787/YOFOTO_Canada.jpg 

Source: YOFOTO (China) Health Industry Co., Ltd.

SINGAPORE and LONDON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In a humanitarian effort, PULSUS Group – in collaboration with Anbu Kochi – is responding to the calamity of the recent, unprecedented floods in the Indian state of Kerala by providing contributions to aid relief and rehabilitation measures. PULSUS Group took initiative to extend a helping hand in donating clothes, food items, medicines, sanitation, hygiene products including edibles (baby food, ORS packets/electrolytes, rusk, biscuits), and non-edibles (anti-septic lotion, bleaching powder/lime powder, baby diapers, adult diapers, sanitary napkins, toothpaste, tooth brushes, body soap, washing soap, clothes old/new, water cans, candles and match boxes). PULSUS Group and Anbu Kochi are collecting daily essentials and other relief materials to help Kerala flood victims. PULSUS Group and Anbu Kochi stand for Kerala in helping the flood victims with necessities and donations.

In addition, all the employees at PULSUS Group have generously raised funds for the cause. Dr. Srinubabu Gedela, CEO, Pulsus & Omics International, addressing the issue has said, “What Kerala has experienced today is unparalleled by any of the disasters that the state had suffered in recent times. We take social responsibility to stand by them. Rebuilding the state can take years to come. Every rupee and contribution donated goes towards the wellbeing and uplifting of the state. Our thoughts and prayers are with flood relief victims, displaced, homeless families and the needs of the hour require our call of action to address their immediate needs to provide shelter, livelihood, and non-food items.”

About PULSUS Group: PULSUS Group is an internationally renowned peer-review publisher and conferences organizer operational since 1984. Headquartered at Singapore, PULSUS Group has its offices in London (UK), Ontario (Canada) and Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad (India). Endorsed by the medical associations and scientific societies, PULSUS promotes peer reviewed medical journals in association with international medical associations and scientific societies. PULSUS organizes 500+ global meetings per year across the world, enables physicians and industry professionals to convene together and form conclusive strategies towards advanced therapeutics and treatment aspects. PULSUS Group strives to reach out to broad range of target groups and market leaders across diverse spectrum of research fields, providing high quality information across USA, Europe, Asia Pacific and ME. 

For media queries, write to: contactus@pulsus.com Ph: 650-268-9744

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/544592/PULSUS_Logo.jpg

SHANGHAI, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — I-Mab Biopharma (“I-Mab”) announced today that it has been recognized by Forest & Sullivan, the global leading growth consulting company as well as the biggest growth consulting company in China, with the “2018 Best R&D Innovator (Biopharma Category)” award.

The “2018 Best R&D Innovator (Biopharma Category)” from Frost & Sullivan is in recognition of I-Mab’s significant achievements and outstanding capabilities in the areas of biologics R&D and innovation. After in-depth interviews, industry analysis, and secondary market research, Frost & Sullivan team nominated a group of competitive and outstanding companies to an independent panel of reviewers. The panel, composed of third-party investment experts, financial experts, investment bankers and well-known entrepreneurs from publicly listed companies, conducted a rigorous review of the nominated companies and decided to give the “2018 Best R&D Innovator (Biopharma Category)” award to I-Mab.

I-Mab is dedicated to developing transformational medicines to address unmet medical needs and improving the lives of patients. As an innovative biopharmaceutical company, I-Mab has an exclusive focus on biologics with first-in-class and best-in-class potentials. Since its establishment in 2014, I-Mab Biopharma has quickly demonstrated its research and development advantages in the therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The advantages result from the application of I-Mab’s efficient R&D model, which relies on its own in-house core discovery and development capabilities and is complemented strategically and effectively by CROs of global standards. I-Mab’s R&D core competencies cover the whole R&D spectrum, including discovery, CMC, pre-clinical development and clinical development stages. I-Mab has successfully established a diverse set of antibody platforms including antibody-cytokine fusion proteins, bi-specific antibodies, Hy-Fc proteins and monoclonal antibodies. After four years’ development, I-Mab now has more than 10 biologics assets with global or China first-in-class and best-in-class potential, of which 4 globally in-licensed products have entered clinical phase II/III trials, and other 3 global products will enter clinical trials in the U.S.

I-Mab adheres to China’s innovation-driven strategy by continuing to invest in R&D and talent acquisition. I-Mab’s outstanding R&D and innovation capabilities, as well as the corresponding achievements, have received endorsement of many top-tier investors.  From mid-2017 to 2018, I-Mab has successfully completed the Series B and C financings, raising a total of US$370 million. The Series C financing raised US$220 million and is one of the largest Series C financings in the history of China biotechs. The current investors of I-Mab include well-known strategic and venture capital institutions such as C-Bridge Capital, Tasly Capital, Hony Capital, Hillhouse Capital, CDH Investment, Hopu Investment and Ally Bridge Group. The diversified shareholder base demonstrates the investors’ recognition of I-Mab’s experienced management team, innovative capabilities and globally competitive biologics pipeline.

“With pursuit of genuine innovation built into its genes, I-Mab has been focusing exclusively on potentially first-in-class and best-in-class biologics to improve the rate of survival and life quality of patients. I-Mab has clearly differentiated itself among its peers with the ability to innovate as its core competitive advantage,” Wang Xiaojing, Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan China noted.

Dr. Jingwu Zang, Founder of I-Mab, expressed sincere appreciation for the strong support of Frost & Sullivan. “Frost & Sullivan’s award validates I-Mab’s independent R&D capability and our track record of global strategic partnerships. It also serves as a strong encouragement for I-Mab to pursue more globally competitive innovative medicines.”

Relying on its internal discovery capability and integrated R&D platforms, I-Mab has developed a competitive biologics pipeline comprised of a risk-controlled and “fast-to-market” China Portfolio and a transformational Global Portfolio. Currently, I-Mab is rapidly advancing the China Portfolio of late stage clinical assets towards market launch in China and pushing the Global Portfolio towards new clinical milestones in a short period of time. I-Mab is moving toward an end-to-end integrated biopharmaceutical model at a steady and swift pace.

About I-Mab

Facilitated by a merger between Third Venture Biotech and Tasgen Bio, I-Mab has rapidly built a highly experienced team with world-class R&D capabilities. The company focuses on discovery and development of first-in-class and best-in-class biologics in the areas of immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation.

I-Mab has already submitted several IND applications and is prepared to submit additional INDs in order to initiate clinical trials in China and the US, including multiple Phase II and Phase III studies. I-Mab is on a fast track toward becoming an end-to-end fully integrated biopharma company.

In June 2018, I-Mab successfully raised US$220 million in Series C financing, which represented one of the largest amounts ever raised in Series C by an innovative biotech company in China.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan is a global leading growth consulting company as well as the biggest growth consulting company in China. The company is uniquely positioned and qualified to help your team create transformational growth strategies to survive and thrive in a business environment experiencing disruption, collapse and transformation. Frost & Sullivan invests considerable resources each year to analyze best practices in innovation and the company brings this knowledge to its client partners.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-mab-wins-frost–sullivan-2018-best-rd-innovator-award-biopharma-category-300715263.html

• OUE Lippo Healthcare to acquire a 10.63% stake in SGX-ST listed First REIT;
  OUE Lippo Healthcare and OUE Limited to acquire 40% and 60% respectively of the shares in Bowsprit Capital Corporation Limited, the manager of First REIT;
• Proposed Acquisitions are consistent with OUE Lippo Healthcare’s Pan-Asian and asset-light growth strategy; being earnings accretive and cash flow generating, Proposed Acquisitions are also expected to enhance shareholder value; and
• Proposed Acquisitions by OUE Lippo Healthcare are expected to be funded by proceeds from a 1-for-1 renounceable underwritten rights issue by OUE Lippo Healthcare of approximately S$150m, which is supported by major shareholders OUE Limited and ITOCHU Corporation.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — OUE Lippo Healthcare Limited (“OUELH” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), the healthcare subsidiary of OUE Limited (“OUE”), today announced the proposed acquisition of approximately 10.63% of First REIT’s total issued units (“Proposed Units Acquisition”). The Company has also proposed the acquisition of a 40% stake in Bowsprit Capital Corporation Limited (“Bowsprit”), the manager of First REIT (together with the Proposed Units Acquisition, the “Proposed Acquisitions”). The Proposed Acquisitions’ total consideration will amount to approximately S$142 million. OUELH’s parent, OUE, will concurrently acquire the other 60% stake in Bowsprit.

Listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange Trading Limited (the “SGX-ST”) since 2006, First REIT is the SGX-ST’s first listed healthcare real estate investment trust. It currently has a portfolio of 20 high quality healthcare-related properties with stable cash flows and long lease terms across Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea.

With First REIT’s significant presence in key Asian markets such as Indonesia, and owning diverse yield-accretive healthcare-related real estate assets throughout Asia, the Proposed Acquisitions of stakes in First REIT and its manager, Bowsprit, fit into OUELH’s geographical expansion plans. The Proposed Acquisitions will also position the Group to ride on a business eco-system of growth through investments, operations, asset management, and capital recycling for reinvestments.

Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Chairman of OUELH said, “The Proposed Acquisitions will bring three key benefits to OUELH’s long-term strategic goals. Firstly, they enable the Company to diversify into a key healthcare market such as Indonesia. Further, they fit well with our asset-light growth model and thirdly, they are earnings accretive, which enhances shareholders’ value.”

Based on the audited financial results of First REIT and Bowsprit for FY2017, the Proposed Acquisitions are expected to contribute earnings of 0.26 cents per share and distribution of S$7.1 million to the Group.

Major shareholders OUE and ITOCHU to support Rights Issue

To fund the Proposed Acquisitions, the Company is launching a renounceable underwritten rights issue to raise approximately S$150 million in gross proceeds (“Rights Issue”). The Rights Issue will also strengthen the Company’s balance sheet.

The Company is proposing to issue 2,221,564,603 new shares (each a “Rights Share”) at an issue price of S$0.0675 per Rights Share, on the basis of one Rights Share for every one existing ordinary share held by entitled shareholders as at the books closure date.  

Demonstrating their support for the Proposed Acquisitions and commitment towards OUELH’s future growth plans, OUE and ITOCHU Corporation have given irrevocable undertakings to fully subscribe for their entitlements under the Rights Issue. As at 18 September 2018, OUE owns a 64.35% stake in OUELH through Treasure International Holdings Pte. Ltd., while ITOCHU Corporation owns a 25.32% stake in OUELH through Browny Healthcare Pte. Ltd.. The placement to Browny Healthcare Pte. Ltd. of its shares in OUELH was completed in February 2018 at S$0.140 per share.

OUELH will be seeking the approval of its shareholders for the Proposed Acquisitions at an extraordinary general meeting to be convened, and the circular to shareholders will be despatched in due course. ITOCHU Corporation, through Browny Healthcare Pte. Ltd., has given an irrevocable undertaking to vote in favour of the Proposed Acquisitions at the extraordinary general meeting.

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited is the sole financial advisor to the Company for the Proposed Acquisitions, and the manager and underwriter for the Rights Issue.

About OUE Lippo Healthcare Limited

OUELH is a subsidiary company of OUE Limited. OUELH provides high quality and sustainable healthcare solutions through the acquisition, development, management, and operations of healthcare facilities. The Company currently owns healthcare and related facilities in Japan and China, and continually seeks to expand its portfolio across pan-Asia.

For the latest news from OUELH, visit www.ouelh.com.

This Press Release is to be read in conjunction with the announcements dated 18 September 2018 by OUELH in relation to the Proposed Acquisitions and Rights Issue. All capitalised terms which are used in this Press Release but are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the aforementioned announcements.

This Press Release has been prepared by the Company and its contents have been reviewed by PrimePartners Corporate Finance Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”), for compliance with the SGX-ST Listing Manual Section B: Rules of Catalist. The Sponsor has not verified the contents of this Press Release.

This Press Release has not been examined or approved by the SGX-ST. The Sponsor and the SGX-ST assume no responsibility for the contents of this Press Release, including the accuracy, completeness or correctness of any of the information, statements or opinions made or reports contained in this Press Release.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Ms Gillian Goh, Director, Head of Continuing Sponsorship (Mailing address: 16 Collyer Quay, #10-00 Income at Raffles, Singapore 049318 and E-mail: sponsorship@ppcf.com.sg

Logo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180918/2240793-1LOGO