JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — With a strong determination to produce brave, intelligent, and emphatic Health Diplomats in the global arena, Indonesia One Health University Network (INDOHUN) in collaboration with USAID and One Health Workforce (OHW) will hold an intensive health diplomacy training program at the Grand Bidakara Hotel Savoy Homann, Bandung, West Java, August 25-29.

GHD 2018 will be held at the Grand Bidakara Hotel Savoy Homann, Bandung, West Java, August 25-29, 2018

This health diplomacy training has a mission to create a superior generation in Indonesia that is able to play an active role in global health diplomacy with a target of producing 150 reliable health diplomats in 3 years period. This health diplomacy training consists of 40% theory and 60% practice. All training materials are prepared by the national and international level trainers from England, the Netherlands, United States of America and Africa.

This Health Diplomacy Training or Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) training is attended by young health-related professionals with minimum work experience of 3 years. Participants consist of various disciplinary backgrounds, such as public health disciplines, medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, defense diplomacy, pharmaceutical microbiology, international relations, and public administration.

The presence of health diplomats is important in relation to health issues that always arise in the realm of global politics, so that a comprehensive understanding is not only about political diplomacy, but also a deep understanding of health. Health diplomats are expected to be able to complement the colors of the global political realm with their knowledge in overcoming various health problems, resolving conflicts, and building collaboration to improve the quality of life of the global community.

In its implementation, the GHD provides scholarships worth IDR 7,000,000 or USD 800 for 30 selected participants. This scholarship includes accommodation, consumption, modules, training kits, and training costs (exclude transportation to/ from venue). The selected participants will be able to experience international networking session and world-class negotiation simulations free of charge.

GHD also provides practical education to hone participants’ skills. Each participant is required to follow a whole series of activities including practice of diplomacy and negotiation, political communication and lobbying, and the official international trial simulation or multi-stage negotiation simulation (MSNS).

In this MSNS the participants will conduct a diplomatic session simulation and act as diplomats who must be critical of foreign policy, national and regional security, have tactical response to the development of global health problems, as well as quick and appropriate attitudes in making strategic decisions.

Professor Wiku Adisasmito as a global health expert who is also the coordinator of INDOHUN stressed that the application of MSNS in this GHD training aims to give participants realistic diplomatic simulations. In the simulation, they are required to be able to be Indonesian Health Diplomats with high integrity for the nation and state.

“Not only through MSNS, the participants were also provided with training on diplomatic strategies and table manner training which is very important for global health diplomats” explained Wiku who is also Professor of the University of Indonesia’s Health Faculty.

This Health Diplomacy Training also answered instructions from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during the opening of the International Conference and Table Top Exercise for Global Health Security at the State Palace last year. At that time President Jokowi emphasized that to prevent global health threats, cooperation between health practitioners, across sectors and across countries is needed. President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of investing in human resources in various fields, one of which is investment in health human resources.

Like the tit for tat, President Jokowi’s statement was then responded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Center for Multilateral Policy Study and Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) through the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) activity “Indonesian Health Diplomacy Strategy in a Global Context” held in Depok, March 2018 ago.

The FGD reaffirmed some of Indonesia’s achievements in the health sector, including Indonesia’s success in gaining access to the H5N1 vaccine in 2008 and the role of the Bio Farma Indonesia industry which currently supplies 60% of the global polio vaccine. In this FGD also noted the importance of collaboration between government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in addressing various health problems both at national, regional and global levels.

This GHD training is the second GHD training that INDOHUN held. Previously it was held in Jakarta in 2017. It was participated by 30 young health professionals who were selected through a very strict selection. There were at least hundreds of people who registered in 2017, and that number doubles this year. High interest from the registrants shows how important GHD activities are for health professionals who want to get education to become a reliable Health Diplomat. This year’s GHD activities will be very different from the quality of the programs that continue to be improved from the previous year. This GHD participant registration is still open for non-scholarship programs. This training registration form can be accessed through THIS link.

“Our focus this year is the health system in the current era, of course this theme will be dissected by national and international trainers through various diplomatic materials and practices that we prepared specifically,” explained Fiqhi Rizky as the GHD Program Officer this year. (*)

Register and find out more here: http://globalhealthdiplomacy.id/index.php#contentExecutive

Media Contact:

Syayu Zhukhruffa
Communication Manager
Indonesia One Health University Network (INDOHUN)
G Building 3rd Floor, Room G316
Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, West Java
phone/fax: +6221 29302084

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Alternate Health Corp. (“Alternate Health” or the “Company“) (CSE:AHG) (OTCQB:AHGIF), an international leader in software solutions for the medical cannabis industry, announced today that the Company signed a binding contract on August 6, 2018, to provide laboratory services for a large multistate laboratory provider.

Alternate Health Corp.

Alternate Health expects to begin testing samples in August and is targeting a ramp up to a monthly sample rate of 25,000 – 30,000 by December 2018. August is forecasted to begin with approximately 5,000 to 6,000 samples monthly with an increase of 5,000 to 6,000 additional samples per month. The assumptions on sample volumes, both to start in August and the December projections, were made after carefully reviewing the current needs and future growth projected by the referring entity.

Regional fees per sample run between US$50.00 to US$250.00, with averages falling into the US$130 to US$150 range. Costs and expenses associated with performing the tests certainly vary with volume, with Alternate Health’s historical numbers falling between US$35.00 to US$70.00 per sample.

“This is a major step forward for the Company and Alternate Health Labs,” says Dr. Michael Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Alternate Health. “This deal represents the culmination of all the hard work and dedication we have put into our laboratory strategy.”

In late 2017 through 2018, the Company completed a program of upgrades at Alternate Health Lab’s San Antonio facility. As a result, Alternate Health Labs now has the capacity to run blood, toxicology, allergy, pharmacogenetics, respiratory pathogen panels and women’s health panels. 

“With this agreement, Alternate Health will benefit from the investments we have made in our laboratory business,” says Dr. Murphy. “We are excited to build a stable financial foundation to move forward with our mission to be the technology leader in the international cannabis industry.”

Company Updates

Dr. Michael Murphy will also provide an update to the last CEO Report in the next week as promised.

For more information about Alternate Health, visit www.alternatehealth.com.

About Alternate Health

Alternate Health Corp. (CSE: AHG, OTCQB: AHGIF) Alternate Health has established multiple arms-length operations within the medical cannabis industry, each of which drives consumers, data and strategic opportunities to the Company’s other verticals. This sophisticated cross-integration of the company’s enterprises has positioned Alternate Health as one of the only cannabis companies that delivers consistent revenue and intellectual property without growing, manufacturing or distributing the cannabis plant. Through its software solutions, data analytics, and patented delivery systems, Alternate Health’s goal is to be the global authority on scientific and clinical support for cannabis in regulated markets. Alternate Health is well positioned to reinvest internal operating cash flow in its platform over the long term, creating an attractive investment profile for its shareholders.

Alternate Health resides in the cannabis sector along with companies like GW Pharmaceuticals, AXIM Biotechnologies Inc., Canopy Growth Corporation, and Aphria Inc. Alternate Health is differentiated from other cannabis companies by its focus on ancillary services for patients, healthcare professionals and regulatory providers rather than selling a commodity.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “expects” and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company’s future operations, business prospects, anticipated lab sample increases and potential revenues, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

For Further Information: Investor Relations Contact: Nancy Goertzen, CPIR, 1.604.512.7122 | n.goertzen@alternatehealth.ca; Jim Griffiths, Director, 1.416.607.5757 | j.griffiths@alternatehealth.ca

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Source: Alternate Health Corp.

SHANGHAI, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — On August 8, 2018 Beijing time I-Mab Biopharma (“I-Mab”), a Shanghai-based biotech company focused on innovative biologics in oncology and autoimmune disease, and German biopharma company MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; NASDAQ: MOR) announced today that I-Mab has Submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to China National Drug Administration (CNDA) for TJ202/MOR202, a human monoclonal antibody directed against CD38 for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer worldwide. The patient number has gradually increased in China in recent years due to an increasingly aging population. Yet there are no effective biologics approved in China for this indication and current therapies have been associated with serious side effects and limited treatment efficacy.

TJ202/MOR202 is a monoclonal antibody derived from MorphoSys’s HuCAL antibody technology. The antibody is directed against CD38 on the surface of multiple myeloma cells, and, according to its suggested mode of action, recruits cells of the body’s immune system to kill the tumor. Scientific research suggest that an anti-CD38 antibody may have therapeutic potential in other cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases.

China recently issued a new round of reform initiatives to accelerate clinical trial approval for new drugs, especially in oncology. “The IND submission was done after a successful pre-submission consultation meeting with Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of CNDA, which is required under China’s new drug regulation, unless waived,” said Dr. Joan Shen, Head of R&D at I-Mab.

“CNDA has endorsed the overall clinical and regulatory strategy, as well as the study designs, which should lead to the biologics license application (BLA),” said Dr. Joan Shen.Through a licensing agreement with MorphoSys AG in November 2017, I-Mab gained exclusive rights to develop and commercialize TJ202/MOR202 in Greater China territory, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

After observing patient responses in an interim analysis from an ongoing Phase I/IIa trial in patients with relapsed/refractory MM in Germany and Austria, MorphoSys decided to support I-Mab to lead clinical development of TJ202/MOR202 in Greater China. MorphoSys will continue to evaluate additional other suitable indications for further global development of TJ202/MOR202.

Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG commented: “We are delighted that our partner I-Mab has taken this important step in advancing TJ202/MOR202 into clinical development in China. We look forward to supporting I-Mab in developing this investigational compound with the goal of helping Chinese patients in multiple myeloma, an indication with a high unmet medical need”.

“With a fast-to-market strategy under the new drug regulation, we hope to bring this innovative treatment to patients as soon as possible,” Dr. Shen commented. “MorphoSys and I-Mab plan to continuously evaluate the potential and further development of TJ202 in other indications.”

About I-Mab Biopharma

Having built a world-class R&D capability and highly experienced team, I-Mab focuses on discovery and development of First-in-Class and Best-in-Class biologics in the areas of immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation. The company 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. The company has been well recognized by capital market by successfully raising US $330 million within two years, the recent Series C financing was representing one of the largest amounts ever in C round by an innovative biotech company in China. http://www.i-mabbiopharma.com

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is a late-stage, biopharmaceutical company devoted to the development of innovative and differentiated therapies for patients suffering from serious diseases. Based on its technological leadership in generating antibodies, MorphoSys, together with its partners, has developed and contributed to the development of more than 100 product candidates, of which 29 are currently in clinical development. This broad pipeline spans MorphoSys’s two business segments: Proprietary Development, in which MorphoSys invests in product candidates for its own account, and Partnered Discovery, in which product candidates are developed exclusively for a variety of Pharma and Biotech partners. In 2017, Tremfya^® (guselkumab), marketed by Janssen, became the first therapeutic antibody based on MorphoSys’s proprietary technology to receive marketing approval for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in the United States, the European Union and Canada. MorphoSys is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the U.S. stock exchange Nasdaq under the symbol MOR. For regular updates about MorphoSys, visit https://www.morphosys.com.

HuCAL^®, HuCAL GOLD^®, HuCAL PLATINUM^®, CysDisplay^®, RapMAT^®, arYla^®, Ylanthia^®, 100 billion high potentials^®, Slonomics^®, Lanthio Pharma^® and LanthioPep^® are registered trademarks of the MorphoSys Group. Tremfya^® is a trademark of Janssen Biotech.

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies, including the partnering expectations in connection with MOR202 and expectations regarding the further development of MOR202 in multiple myeloma in Greater China, including the intended targeting of CD38, potential additional indications such as autoimmune diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus, potential future payments to be made to MorphoSys under the licensing agreement for MOR202, assumptions regarding the submission of an IND application to China National Drug Administration (CNDA) for MOR202 as well as expectations regarding the current clinical phase 1/2a development in multiple myeloma by MorphoSys. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which might cause the actual results, financial condition and liquidity, performance or achievements of MorphoSys, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions and liquidity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, even if MorphoSys’ results, performance, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with such forward-looking statements, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Among the factors that may result in differences are MorphoSys’ expectations regarding the partnering expectations in connection with MOR202 and expectations regarding the further development of MOR202 in multiple myeloma in Greater China, including the intended targeting of CD38, potential additional indications such as autoimmune diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus, potential future payments to be made to MorphoSys under a licensing agreement for MOR202, assumptions regarding the submission of an IND application to China National Drug Administration (CNDA) for MOR202 as well as expectations regarding the current clinical phase 1/2a development in multiple myeloma by MorphoSys, MorphoSys’ reliance on collaborations with third parties, estimating the commercial potential of its development programs and other risks indicated in the risk factors included in MorphoSys’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 and other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. MorphoSys expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, unless specifically required by law or regulation.

For more information, please contact:

MorphoSys AG
Alexandra Goller
Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR

Jochen Orlowski
Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR

Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Investor Relations Officer

Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404
investors@morphosys.com

I-Mab Biopharma

Raven Lin, Vice President of Corporate Development
raven.lin@i-mabbiopharma.com 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-mab-biopharma-and-morphosys-announce-china-ind-submission-of-tj202mor202-300693659.html

Journal reaches new heights for readership and impact rating thanks to expanding content, including new studies, panel insights, and NCCN Guidelines® 

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Aug. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Today, JNCCN — Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network introduced new associate editors, who reflect the journal’s growing focus on original research designed to improve the quality of cancer care delivery, worldwide. The expanding focus on original research is led by Editor-in-Chief Margaret Tempero, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of the UCSF Pancreas Center at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. This vision has resulted in an all-time high impact factor for the journal. According to InCites Journal Citation Report data from Clarivate Analytics, articles from JNCCN were cited 5,143 times in 2017, resulting in an impact factor of 6.471 for the year, which places it in the top quartile for all oncology journals. This upward trajectory is also illustrated by rising readership rates in print, a half-million jump in page views online, and research submission rates increasing 500% over the past four years.

“Our greater focus on original research helps us build on the strength of the NCCN Guidelines we publish, and furthers NCCN’s mission to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of care so that patients can live better lives,” said Dr. Tempero. “JNCCN is a key source for new information about health services, outcomes, comparative effectiveness, and quality improvement. The studies we publish are changing the way people with cancer receive treatment by drawing attention to where we fall short and highlighting how we can do better.”

In order to accommodate continuous growth, JNCCN recently restructured the make-up of the executive editorial board. After an extensive national search, the journal invited eight accomplished health services researchers from various NCCN Member Institutions to help oversee content. That group now includes:

• Sara Javid, MD, University of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
• Ticiana A. Leal, MD, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
• June M. McKoy, MD, MPH, JD, MBA, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
• Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh, Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Oxana Palesh, PhD, MPH, Stanford Cancer Institute
• Jeffrey Peppercorn, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
• Kanishka Sircar, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Grace L. Smith, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

In recent weeks alone, JNCCN studies have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Physician’s Weekly, Everyday Health, and numerous other outlets. Studies have featured topics such as: breast cancer survivor mammogram rates, the “weekend effect” on emergency colorectal cancer surgery, and the importance of communication around end-of-life care.

Every issue of JNCCN also includes the publication of a recently updated edition of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®).

“The NCCN Guidelines provide the foundation which all of our work is built on,” explained Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. “JNCCN is one of the ways we share the latest updates in cancer care standards from those guidelines. The journal also provides an essential platform for disseminating the kind of high-quality research that leads to people with cancer receiving better care.”

JNCCN publishes 13 issues every year, with select content available for free online at JNCCN.org for three months after publication. NCCN Guidelines Panel Chairs serve as members of JNCCN‘s Guidelines Editorial Board to provide additional oversight, topic suggestions, and feedback on editorial decisions.

About JNCCN — Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
More than 25,000 oncologists and other cancer care professionals across the United States read JNCCN — Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This peer-reviewed, indexed medical journal provides the latest information about best clinical practices, health services research, and translational medicine. JNCCN features updates on the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®), review articles elaborating on guidelines recommendations, health services research, and case reports highlighting molecular insights in patient care. JNCCN is published by Harborside Press. Visit JNCCN.org. To inquire if you are eligible for a FREE subscription to JNCCN, visit http://www.nccn.org/jnccn/subscribe.asp. Follow JNCCN on Twitter @JNCCN.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 27 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers.

The NCCN Member Institutions are: Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH; City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA; Dana–Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center | Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, and Rochester, MN; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO; University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; and Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT.

Clinicians, visit NCCN.org. Patients and caregivers, visit NCCN.org/patients. Media, visit NCCN.org/news. Follow NCCN on Twitter @NCCNnews and Facebook @National.Comprehensive.Cancer.Network.

Media Contact:
Rachel Darwin
+1-267-622-6624
darwin@nccn.org 

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Source: Adlai Nortye Biopharma Co., Ltd.

Mundipharma joins forces with Singapore HealthTech Startup Biofourmis developing painfocus™

SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Mundipharma has announced the development of painfocus™, a revolutionary new end-to-end pain management solution that significantly increases the objectivity of pain measurement, something that has been historically difficult. This has the potential to completely transform how caregivers and doctors manage their patients’ pain.

Leveraging on Biofourmis’ biovitals™ analytics engine, painfocus™ uses advanced machine learning that combines multiple physiology biomarkers captured using wearable devices to calculate the presence and severity of pain.

The app can capture, monitor and analyse data generated by patients in an inpatient or outpatient setting, and share with caregivers an accurate picture of health including level of pain, quality of life and general physiology in real-time via a web-based dashboard.

It also enables digital patient-caregiver communication, which is particularly significant for patients who don’t have the ability to verbally explain how they’re suffering.

painfocus™ has been tested in an early feasibility study conducted in multiple hospitals in South Africa from January to May 2018 that continuously monitored the physiology of knee arthroplasty patients using Everion® physiology monitor. The study found significant correlations between patient-reported pain scores and the results calculated by painfocus™ in an ambulatory, real-world setting.

“Pain affects up to 1.9 Billion people globally[1], with massive associated healthcare costs,” says Mundipharma CEO, Raman Singh. “Currently there’s significant room for improvement in how pain is evaluated, and we’re working to address this through the innovative use of machine learning.”

“The ability to objectively assign a value to pain has the potential to transform how clinicians assess and manage their patients, resulting in a more optimal care pathway,” he added.

Mundipharma’s latest digital healthcare solution was developed and tested in partnership with leading digital health technology company Biofourmis, which specializes in augmenting personalized care with digital therapeutics. 

Founder & CEO of Biofourmis, Kuldeep Singh Rajput, said “To be able to measure pain has always been a challenge in the medical field. Many tests are too one-dimensional and only measure pain at one point of time, mostly determined by the physician. Using painfocus™ to continuously measure pain in an ambulatory setting will revolutionize how clinicians treat and manage their patients.”

painfocus™ will further be evaluated in an investigator-initiated study in multiple public hospitals in Singapore, on how this solution can augment clinical care for patients in treatment. The study is being funded by Mundipharma.

painfocus™ is the latest in a series of digital initiatives developed by Mundipharma out of its Regional Head Office in Singapore, which also acts as an innovation hub where digital ideation and content creation takes place. In the last two years, mobile apps and digital initiatives have been developed for all our therapy areas. Mundipharma have been early adopters of innovative technology including, virtual reality, augmented reality and gamification. These initiatives have been primarily focused on medical education for both doctors and patients and have been developed in response to ongoing unmet needs.

About Mundipharma

Mundipharma is a network of independent associated companies, which are privately owned entities covering pharmaceutical markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The headquarters for these territories is in Singapore. Mundipharma consistently delivers high-quality medicines while standing by the values it represents. Its 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.

For more information, please visit: www.mundipharma.com.sg

About Biofourmis

Biofourmis is a healthcare data analytics company that provides patients with affordable, effective health management solutions that personalizes and improves their experience and quality of care. Using mobile technology and wearable biosensors, their AI-empowered health analytics platform, Biovitals™ continuously personalizes user experience to optimize engagement and predicts exacerbation days in advance before a critical event. This dual-edged diagnostic precision and early intervention results in improved health outcomes, lowering the healthcare burden and costs.

For more information, please visit: www.biofourmis.com

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SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday 3 August by Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)’s Centre for Asian Nursing Studies (CANS), the Wound Healing Society of Singapore (WHSS) and Zuellig Pharma to launch a Wound Care Programme to promote excellence in wound care and management in Singapore and the region.

(L-R) Frederick Fong, Zuellig Pharma Regional Marketing Director, George Eassey, Zuellig Pharma SVP Commercial Solutions, Dr Chew Khong Yik, President of the Wound Healing Society of Singapore, Assoc Prof Tan Bien Keem, Dr Eugene Fidelis Soh, CEO Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Yong Keng Kwang, Chief Nurse Tan Tock Seng Hospital

(L-R) Dr Chew Khong Yik, President of the Wound Healing Society of Singapore, Frederick Fong, Zuellig Pharma Regional Marketing Director, George Eassey, Zuellig Pharma SVP Commercial Solutions, Assoc Prof Tan Bien Keem, Dr Eugene Fidelis Soh, CEO Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Yong Keng Kwang, Chief Nurse Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Members from Zuellig Pharma, TTSH and WHSS

Based on the Woundexpert ICW programme by German certification body Initiative Chronische Wunden (ICW), this wound care programme is co-organised by CANS and WHSS, and led by ICW-certified trainers Dr Chew Khong Yik, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Singapore General Hospital and Ms Diane Eng, Nurse Clinician at TTSH, with support from an international pool of wound care experts. The programme covers topics such as management of wound infection, coordination of care for patients with chronic wounds, and multidisciplinary approaches to wound management. There will also be two days of observational clinical attachments.

The ICW certifies wound care professionals and their hospitals and clinics as wound management trainers and centres in their respective countries. Over 30,000 healthcare professionals have been certified by the ICW across Europe.

In the treatment of wounds, the goal is to accelerate the wound healing process towards full wound closure and promote the well-being of patients. Ageing populations and the rise of non-infectious chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia have been contributing to the growing prevalence of chronic wounds in Singapore, i.e. wounds that last more than eight weeks and with an underlying cause. If not seen to properly, infection and other complications can set in, affecting the patient’s healing.

The management of chronic wounds is multifaceted and complex. As such, different specialities may adopt various approaches in treating these difficult problems. With the rise in chronic wounds, there is a need for greater education and training for healthcare professionals in the treatment of such wounds, in order to deliver consistent and continuous care and management.

Mr Yong Keng Kwang, Chief Nurse of TTSH and Director of CANS, said, “CANS aims to be a platform for transforming nursing practice in Asia, and we’re excited to give regional and local nurses the opportunity to form a Community of Practice in advancing wound management especially targeted at an Asian patient base. TTSH sees more than 7,000 wound cases a year, and on top of their daily work, our four wound nurse specialists have been conducting research studies in order to advance wound care for our patients.”

Dr Chew Khong Yik, who also serves as President of the WHSS, commented, “WHSS represents all healthcare professionals and allied health professionals who are passionate about wound care in Singapore. To this end, the new ICW standard aims to provide a common platform for all wound care practitioners to come together and contribute in the education of chronic wound care, to raise public awareness and to help combat the increasingly common problem of chronic wounds.”

George Eassey, SVP Zuellig Pharma Commercial Solutions commented, “Supporting the training of medical professionals and making innovative solutions available in the treatment of wounds are critical to improving access to quality healthcare. We are proud and very eager to bring necessary attention to wound care and help patients accelerate their recovery through this partnership.”

The Wound Care Programme will be launched officially in October 2018.

About Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Tan Tock Seng Hospital is one of Singapore’s largest multi-disciplinary hospitals, with more than 170 years of pioneering medical care and development. The Hospital has 43 clinical disciplines and three institutes that are spearheading care, research and innovations in geriatric medicine, infectious diseases, and ophthalmology. Powered by 9,000 healthcare staff, TTSH sees over 2,700 patients at its specialist clinics and some 450 patients at its emergency department every day.

TTSH is part of the National Healthcare Group, providing holistic and integrated patient care. With a strong quality culture steeped in patient safety, TTSH constantly challenges itself to provide faster, better, cheapter and safer care for patients. To achieve this, the Hospital keeps abreast and believes in investing in its staff, facilities, medical technology and system improvements.

More information is available at www.ttsh.com.sg

About the Centre for Asian Nursing Studies

The Centre for Asian Nursing Studies seeks to become the first dedicated Asian centre to strengthen nursing’s contribution where regional and domestic partners can better collaborate to grow competencies, transform practice, and promote thought leadership through nursing education, research, and innovation. More information is available at www.ttsh.com.sg/nursing/cans

About Wound Healing Society Singapore

The Wound Healing Society of Singapore seeks to represent all doctors, nurses and allied health professionals involved in wound care. As an association, we form partnerships with our counterparts in Asia and beyond. We strive to promote active collaboration among all practitioners in tackling the increasing problem of chronic wounds by providing a platform to share ideas on the epidemiology, prevention and management strategies.

About Zuellig Pharma

Zuellig Pharma is one of the largest healthcare services group in Asia. We provide world-class distribution, digital and commercial services to support the growing healthcare needs in this region. The company was started almost a hundred years ago and has grown to become a US$10 billion business covering 13 markets in Asia with over 10,000 employees. Our purpose is to make healthcare more accessible. Our people serve over 320,000 medical facilities in Asia and we work with over 1000 clients including the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the world.

More recently, we launched our Zuellig Health Solutions Innovation centre to develop new services and address some pressing healthcare needs in Asia. Since then, our teams have been focused on creating data, digital and disease management solutions, supporting patients with chronic conditions and helping payors manage healthcare costs.

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• Advances in research and development
• Half-year net sales of 8.6 billion euros
• Satisfactory currency-adjusted growth in all businesses
• Major investments in sites in Germany and France

INGELHEIM, Germany, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In the first half of 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim made important advances in the research and development area and thereby further strengthened its basis for developing new medical breakthroughs for patients. Of some 80 development projects, 65 per cent have the potential for a therapeutic breakthrough or to be the first active ingredient in a new class. Good study results for empagliflozin in the treatment of type 1 diabetes in addition to insulin therapy, and the US Food and Drug Administration’s fast-track designation (i.e. a faster approval process than usual) for nintedanib in the treatment of systemic sclerosis, are seen as important milestones.

“We concentrate on diseases for which there is currently no satisfactory treatment or prevention for people and animals. We are affirmed in our strategy and the focus on new, innovative approaches,” said Hubertus von Baumbach, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors. “We will also in future be able to offer patients innovations that provide a significant improvement to the therapeutic options – even the only options in some diseases.” The focus in human pharmaceuticals is particularly on the fields of cardiometabolic diseases, oncology, respiratory diseases, diseases of the central nervous system and immunology.

In the first half of 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of 8.6 billion euros. Currency-adjusted net sales growth in both of the most important business areas — human pharmaceuticals and animal health — was in the mid-single-digit percentage range. Services for Sanofi provided and accounted for last year in conjunction with the business swap have now been largely completed, which has a negative impact on group net sales. For the current financial year, Boehringer Ingelheim continues to expect modest growth in net sales on a comparable basis.

“In the first half of the year, we have grown in all our businesses, as expected, a little less strongly than in the extraordinarily successful 2017 financial year,” explained von Baumbach. “One reason, which we took account of in planning, is the increased generic competition in the important Japanese market for the blood pressure medicines MICARDIS® and TWYNSTA®.”

With human pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim’s largest business area, the company achieved net sales of 6.1 billion euros in the first half of the year. This corresponds to a currency-adjusted increase in the mid-single-digit percentage range. The business thus contributed around 71 per cent of total net sales. Diabetes medicines in particular continued to be growth drivers. JARDIANCE®, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, increased by a currency-adjusted 68 per cent to 664 million euros. Boehringer Ingelheim markets its diabetes medicines together with Eli Lilly and Company. OFEV®, for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), also registered significant growth: net sales increased by a currency-adjusted 35 per cent to 531 million euros.

“We are also very pleased with the development of our animal health business, which is growing satisfactorily, despite extensive integration work,” said Michael Schmelmer, member of the Board of Managing Directors responsible for Finance. “We expect that we will grow in line with the animal health market in the 2018 financial year.” Boehringer Ingelheim generated around two billion euros of net sales in animal health in the first half of the year, which corresponds to a currency-adjusted increase in the mid-single-digit range. This business thus contributed nearly a quarter of total net sales. The best-selling products were the two antiparasitic medicines NEXGARD®, at 331 million euros, and FRONTLINE®, at 215 million euros.

Net sales in biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing increased to 298 million euros and thus contributed about three per cent of total sales.

Furthermore, Boehringer Ingelheim gave special focus in the first half of 2018 to major investments. “A few days ago, we approved 200 million euros for a new plant for veterinary products in France in order to meet global market demand and 230 million euros for a new biological research center in Biberach, Germany,” Schmelmer said. “In addition, there are numerous further investments in various countries.”

Boehringer Ingelheim

Improving the health and quality of life of patients is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.

Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2017, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of nearly 18.1 billion euros. R&D expenditure, exceeding three billion euros, corresponded to 17.0 per cent of net sales.

As a family-owned company, Boehringer Ingelheim plans in generations and focuses on long-term success. The company therefore aims at organic growth from its own resources with simultaneous openness to partnerships and strategic alliances in research. In everything it does, Boehringer Ingelheim naturally adopts responsibility towards mankind and the environment.

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found on www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: http://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

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BANGKOK, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) has agreed to expand seven additional sites as “Food Innopolis”, aiming to create value-added agricultural products nationwide through research and development. Moreover, incentive packages for investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) will be extended to cover those investing in science parks across the country while the EECi remains under development.

Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)

Ms. Duangjai Asawachintachit, BOI’s Secretary General, said after a board meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha that the meeting agreed to include seven more sites that the Ministry of Science and Technology classifies as Food Innopolis projects in the BOI-promoted area, in addition to the existing Food Innopolis located at the Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani province.

The new measure will allow investors in the aforementioned areas to be eligible for special incentives offered by BOI. The move is part of the government’s plan to remake Thailand into a global food innovation hub and also promote the Food Innopolis projects initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology and now operated by the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Office.

“Targeted activities — such as agricultural and food research and development, biotechnology, animal and plant breeding, and scientific laboratories, which will be established at the eight Food Innopolis sites — will receive both normal and additional tax incentives,” Ms. Asawachintachit said. “These activities will be eligible for obtaining 5-10 years of corporate income tax exemption depending on the type of business. Additional incentives will also be available, such as a 50% corporate income tax exemption for five years or additional years on corporate income tax exemption. The Food Innopolis network will be located nationwide, such as the Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani, Kasetsart University, Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi in Bangkok, and Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University and Prince of Songkhla University in the provinces.”

Encourage more investments in innovation in EECi

According to Ms. Asawachintachit, the meeting also approved the Ministry of Science and Technology’s request for the BOI to provide incentives to investment projects in the science parks nationwide while the EECi is under development.

The meeting set a condition: to be eligible for EECi investment incentives schemes, applicants will have to be operating businesses in the targeted industries, such as research and development, scientific laboratories, production of automation machinery system and high-valued software development. Applications must be submitted by 30 December 2019 and the project must be relocated to the EECi by 30 December 2023. In addition, these projects must work in collaboration with educational institutes or research institutes to provide science and technology trainings for Thais, according to pre-set terms.

A 22% increase in project applications in the first half of 2018

According to Ms. Asawachintachit, 754 projects applied for investment incentives during the first six months of this year, amounting to an increase of 22% over the same period last year. The investment applications’ total value during the period was 284 billion baht, which is similar to the same period last year. Out of all applications, 316 projects (46%) are in the targeted industries, totaling 224 billion baht (82% of the total investment value).

The total applications in the EEC area were 142 projects, totaling 1830 billion baht, a significant increase of 122% compared to that in the same period last year. BOI is confident that there will be more applications in large-scale projects in the second half of this year.

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment
Email: thailandinvestmentyear@gmail.com
Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111
Website: www.boi.go.th

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