Prenetics Acquires ACT Genomics; First M&A Deal since IPO, Set to Expand Footprint in Cancer Genomics

HONG KONG, Dec 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Prenetics Global Limited (NASDAQ: PRE) ("Prenetics" or the "Company"), a global leader in genomic and diagnostic testing, is acquiring a majority stake of ACT, an Asia based genomics company specializing in precision oncology with operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the UK, for an upfront consideration consisting of 19.9 million shares of Prenetics common stock and US $20 million cash (the "transaction"). That is the first M&A deal Prenetics is to make since its listing, which will expand its footprint in the cancer genomics space, bringing it closer to realizing the vision of building an end-to-end health ecosystem. With the acquisition well underway, effective from January 1, 2023, Professor Tony Mok, Chairman of ACT, will join Prenetics Scientific Advisory Board.

Boasting cutting-edge technologies in cancer genomics and bioinformatics, ACT has a multi-diagnostic technology platform and offers a comprehensive range of products in clinical services with high pan-Asia coverage. In November 2021, ACT merged with Sanomics Holdings Limited ("Sanomics"), both of which were awarded the Elite Program funding by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation ("HKSTP"), where the strongest technical ecosystem is provided locally to its park companies to grow and thrive. HKSTP is home to over 200 health tech related start-ups and several international research clusters in healthcare.

With the continuous support from HKSTP and the government, Prenetics will have an extended reach to the healthcare technology market in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. Financially, ACT's revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 60% between FY2022 and FY2026. Prenetics expects ACT to contribute revenues of approximately US$25-30 million in 2023.

When the acquisition is completed, leveraging ACT's R&D engines which specializes in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics in both tissue and liquid biopsy, Prenetics will have the scientific rigor to offer tests to patients throughout their cancer journey. This will also position Prenetics solidly within the US$80+ billion global precision oncology market.

Danny Yeung, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Prenetics, said, "This is a significant move for Prenetics, as it is our first M&A deal since listing and is set to enlarge our footprint in the cancer genomics space. It is our goal to democratize testing and make cancer genomics accessible to all. With Professor Mok and the ACT team on board, we believe Prenetics can deliver the information needed to enable best-in-class personalized cancer care and make new heights. Lastly, we are actively n close discussions on additional M&A opportunities which we believe will be in the interest to Prenetics and our shareholders."

Professor Tony Mok, Chairman of ACT Genomics, said, "We are very pleased to join forces with Prenetics. ACT has pioneered and made breakthroughs in cancer prevention and diagnostics since it was founded in 2014. Our flagship ACTOnco+ has provided oncologists and cancer patients with valuable biomarker information for therapy selection. I believe this transaction will give both companies enhanced financial strength and commercial and R&D capabilities to drive significant growth."

Mr. Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, said, "We are thrilled to witness this milestone, which is a clear vote of confidence in Hong Kong's ambition to become a biomedical technology center of excellence. It was only last year when we saw the merger of two health tech pioneers from the Hong Kong Science Park, ACT Genomics and Sanomics. The acquisition by Science Park incubatee, Prenetics, is a testament to the high-quality innovation ecosystem and translational research infrastructure that have been established at the Park over the past 20 years. Backed by government support and its unique advantages, Hong Kong is open to innovators from around the world who want to come and accelerate their future success."

Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Prenetics has agreed to issue 19.9 million shares of Prenetics' class A ordinary shares and pay $20 million in cash. Upon closing, Prenetics will hold a majority stake in ACT. More details about the transaction can be found under link: https://prenetics.gcs-web.com/static-files/fd50a409-45b7-4827-96e0-1c207ccca5aa

About Prenetics

Founded in 2014, Prenetics is a major global diagnostics and genetic testing company with the mission to bring health closer to millions of people globally and decentralize healthcare by making the three pillars – Consumer Health, Clinical Care and Medical & Cancer Genomics – comprehensive and accessible to anyone, at anytime and anywhere. Prenetics is led by visionary entrepreneur, Danny Yeung, with operations across nine locations, including United Kingdom, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Prenetics develops consumer genetic testing and early colorectal cancer screening; and provides COVID-19 testing, rapid point of care and at-home diagnostic testing and medical genetic testing. Prenetics is listed on NASDAQ with the ticker PRE. To learn more about Prenetics, visit www.prenetics.com.

About ACT Genomics / Sanomics

ACT Genomics is an innovation-driven cancer solution provider with offices in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and UK. With our Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, CAP-accredited laboratories, experienced bioinformatics team, and proprietary AI algorithms, we provide optimal cancer treatment planning, immunotherapy evaluation, cancer relapse & drug resistance monitoring, as well as cancer risk assessment services to medical professionals. Together, we "Turn Genomics into Action". To learn more about ACT Genomics, visit www.actgenomics.com.

Investor Relations contact:
investors@prenetics.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Data Shows 50% of New Trials Have Sites in Asia Pacific

SYDNEY, AU, Dec 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Novotech, the Asia Pacific centered biotech specialist CRO said the latest industry research publication by GlobalData and Novotech found almost 50% of new trials had sites in Asia Pacific.

According to the new publication titled "State of the Global Biotech Landscape: Where the Opportunities Lie", demand for Asia Pacific trial sites is strong with almost half of the more than 27,000 clinical trials initiated in 2021 having sites in Asia Pacific. The data shows almost 12,900 of the new trials had sites in Asia Pacific.

Download the report here https://novotech-cro.com/whitepapers/state-global-biotech-landscape-where-opportunities-lie

The report also noted that the Asia Pacific region, which has more than 6,772 trial sites each with access to an average of 2,136 million people, has considerable underutilized capacity presenting an opportunity for growth in multinational trials in the region.

In addition, analysis of trial growth trends found that Asia Pacific has also seen high phase-level growth over the 5-year analysis period to 2022.
– Phases I and II were dominated by Asia Pacific, which served as a trial location in 57% and 49% of trials, respectively.
– US and EU remained stable at approximately 20% at phases I through III.
– RoW representation is low in phases I and II but on par with the US and EU in phase III.

Novotech this month was awarded the Frost & Sullivan Company of the Year Award 2022 for Best Practices in the Asia-Pacific contract research organization industry. Novotech has been a recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Best Practices awards since 2006. Frost & Sullivan identifies companies that consistently develop growth strategies based on a visionary understanding of the future, and effectively address new challenges and opportunities.

Frost & Sullivan said: "Our approach involves the deployment of best practices and strategic analytics across a value chain. Against this backdrop, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Novotech for its valuable achievement. Novotech addresses the global drug development market's unmet needs with a strong leadership focus that incorporates client-centric strategies with best-practice implementation. From feasibility assessments to regulatory submission support, data management, medical monitoring, and project management, the company provides a 360-degree approach to drug development for its biotech clients."

In response to the Company of the Year Award announcement, Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said this award is a credit to our entire global team which has decades of biotech drug development experience. "Our global clients benefit from access to our expert teams in Asia Pacific, which is the fastest-growing clinical trial region, due to its vast patient populations and sophisticated medical research infrastructure. Our consistent investment in advanced training and technology systems combine to deliver a specialist full-service biotech CRO solution."

Novotech also recently produced a new publication for biotechs considering China for their clinical research, and the relevant processes required for global regulatory approvals. The report details regulatory requirements for biotechs including NDA and IND processes as well as ex-US research guidance for a successful US FDA approval pathway. Novotech provides the relevant regulatory knowledge and drug development pathways specifically designed to support the US FDA approval process, avoiding delays and additional costs.

Download whitepaper here https://novotech-cro.com/whitepapers/china-biotech-landscape-opportunities-china-and-path-usfda-approval

Novotech has also recently been benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the world's leading CROs, is a finalist in the prestigious Scrip awards, and has just been awarded the Gene & Cell Therapy Excellence Award. In Asia Pacific Novotech has more than 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements with major medical research institutions delivering exclusive benefits for sponsors.

About Novotech – https://novotech-cro.com

Novotech is internationally recognized as the leading Asia Pacific centred contract research organization (CRO) with global execution capabilities. Novotech is a clinical CRO with labs, phase I facilities, and drug development consulting services. It has accumulated experience in over 3,700 pre-clinical and clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. Novotech is positioned to serve biopharmaceutical clients conducting clinical trials in Asia, the US and globally. Novotech has over 2500 staff working across our offices in 13 geographies. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contact

Media Contact
David James
communications@novotech-cro.com
AU: +61 2 8218 2144
USA: +1 415 951 3228
Asia: +65 3159 3427

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Preventing Strokes and Heart Attacks Doesn’t Have to Come with the Risk of Life-threatening Bleeding

FREMONT, CA, Dec 14, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Verseon is delighted to announce that the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry has published a paper (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523422007577) describing the company's groundbreaking research that led to promising novel drug candidates for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the world. Hundreds of millions of patients worldwide need anticoagulants to prevent clots that lead to life-threatening events like strokes, heart attacks, and pulmonary embolisms.

However, currently prescribed so-called novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) carry well-documented risks of major bleeds, which in many cases require hospitalization and can be life threatening. Developing drugs that prevent unwanted clots while preserving the body's ability to stop excessive bleeding is the "Holy Grail" of anticoagulant drug programs. Verseon is developing a new generation of anticoagulants called PROACs (Precision Oral Anticoagulants) that address this significant unmet medical need.

The peer-reviewed paper documents how Verseon's medicinal chemistry team optimized various physicochemical properties — including potency, selectivity, and in vivo stability — of compounds from a novel class called N-acylpyrazoles. The resulting reversible covalent thrombin inhibitors are highly effective at preventing clots in vivo. Yet unlike NOACs, they do not inhibit thrombin-mediated activation of platelets, a critical step to stop injury-induced bleeding. Because of their unique mechanism of action, Verseon's drug candidates have demonstrated comparable efficacy to NOACs but with far lower bleeding risks in animal tests. The first lead candidate from this program is currently in clinical trials.

"We are pleased to publish the discovery of this novel class of direct thrombin inhibitors with unique pharmacology," commented Dr. David Kita, Verseon's Chief Scientific Officer. "We look forward to describing further work behind the development of our first PROAC clinical candidate (VE-1902), which we expect will address a significant unmet medical need affecting a very large number of cardiovascular patients worldwide."

The scientific paper, entitled "Discovery of novel N-acylpyrazoles as potent and selective thrombin inhibitors," is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114855.

About Verseon

Verseon International Corporation (www.verseon.com) is redefining delay, prevention, and treatment of disease. Using its unique physics- and AI-based molecule-engineering platform, Verseon is rolling out a steady stream of life-changing medicines. Each of the company's drug programs features multiple novel candidates with unique therapeutic properties. Verseon's pipeline currently includes seven drug programs spanning major cardiometabolic diseases and cancers.

Verseon's precision oral anticoagulants (PROACs) are potent, highly selective, reversible covalent inhibitors of thrombin. PROACs have shown excellent efficacy in multiple preclinical studies. The fact that PROACs do not disrupt platelet function and demonstrate correspondingly low bleeding risk makes them excellent candidates for use in long-term combination anticoagulant-antiplatelet therapy. The first development candidate, VE-1902, is currently in clinical trials. Among other unique properties of PROACs, VE-1902 has very low renal clearance, a highly desirable feature for patients with impaired kidney function. Verseon also has a second anticoagulant development candidate, VE-2851, which is expected to enter clinical trials at a later date.

Contact:
Walter Jones
mediarelations@verseon.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Polymer protection for vaccines and drugs

TSUKUBA, Japan, Dec 9, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – A biocompatible polymer could help deliver vaccines and drugs with reduced risk of the rare dangerous adverse reaction called anaphylaxis. Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan have developed the polymer and performed preliminary tests, which they report in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

A liposome (left) containing a vaccine is commonly coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) but it can trigger an allergic reaction to some recipients. A newly developed lipid (right) could serve as a safer, alternative liposome-coating while retaining the vaccine longer in the body.

Until now, the polymer of choice for encasing and delivering vaccines has been poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). This synthetic, flexible, water-soluble material has been used to surround some COVID-19 vaccines carried within the tiny spherical packages known as liposomes.

Unfortunately, some recipients have suffered an anaphylactic reaction to PEG, in which the immune system mounts an allergic response to the foreign material. Symptoms of anaphylaxis range from minor skin irritations, to breathing difficulty, nausea and, in the worst cases, unconsciousness and sudden death.

The alternative polymer is a form of fatty biomolecule called a lipid, and is conjugated to 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer.

This new substance spontaneously binds to the outside of liposome particles when mixed with them in water. Crucially, the polymer is not recognized by the antibodies that the body can generate in response to PEG, and tests suggest it does not stimulate any other antibodies that could cause an allergic reaction. This should allow coated liposomes containing a vaccine to be retained in the body for a longer time without being cleared by the immune system, in addition to avoiding anaphylaxis.

"We have also found that the polymer avoids other interactions with proteins in the blood that might otherwise interfere with its effects, and it also prevents liposomes from aggregating together," says molecular engineer Yuji Teramura of the AIST team.

Tests confirm the coated liposomes can remain stable in storage for 14 days, sufficient for real clinical applications.

"All the indications suggest that our technology should be suitable for delivering vaccines into patients who develop anaphylaxis in response to PEG," Teramura concludes.

The polymer must now be thoroughly tested in various real vaccine applications. The team is moving into this next crucial phase of the development process, prior to eventual clinical trials in humans.

Provided the animal and subsequent clinical trials go well, the technology should offer opportunities for delivering drugs into the body, in addition to vaccines. Delivery systems such as liposomes are sometimes needed to protect drugs from biochemical processes that might degrade them. This can ensure that they reach the target disease tissues while remaining in their active form.

Further information
Yuji Teramura
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Email: y.teramura@aist.go.jp

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM)

Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM

Dr Yasufumi Nakamichi
STAM Publishing Director
Email: NAKAMICHI.Yasufumi@nims.go.jp

Press release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Led by Legend Capital, GS Biotech Completes Nearly CNY100 million Pre-A Round Financing

HONG KONG, Dec 9, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Recently, Zhongke Guosheng (Hangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "GS Biotech") officially announced the completion of its nearly CNY100 million pre-A round financing, led by Legend Capital. The proceeds will be mainly used for the capacity expansion of core pipeline products 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and 2,5-tetrahydrofuran dimethanol (THFDM), and the continuous development of downstream derivatives.

Founded in 2021 with the vision of "Biomass Change Lives", GS Biotech is a bio-based material and R&D company dedicated to building a bio-based material industry chain. The members of its founding team graduated from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and have nearly 20 years of research foundation and industrialization experience in the fields of biomass catalytic conversion and furan-based material design and development. At present, the R&D team building has also been completed from biomass, derivatives to polymers, which ensures the cutting-edge of the company's product development and the availability of end products.

According to Dr. John Zhang, CEO of GS Biotech, the company has taken the development model of promoting the "two-wheel drive" of the dual track as an important strategic direction. On the one hand, the company has completely solved the problems of HMF cost and raw material sources; its original HMF continuous production process, which completed the verification of multi-dimensional cost reduction measures, has greatly reduced the production cost and effectively improved the efficiency, and it is expected that the production cost of HMF will be controlled within RMB10,000 per ton in the future three years from the extraction of non-grain raw material sources to the iterative path of the production process and to the planning of expanding production capacity. Meanwhile, the company has also reserved more than 20 kinds of high-value-added monomers and is simultaneously promoting the verification of the application of each monomer in the terminal market. Moreover, GS Biotech established a joint venture, Xinshengtai Materials, with an AI-powered drug R&D unicorn company XtalPi Inc to focus on using AI technology to accelerate the reverse design of derivatives and improve the development efficiency of downstream derivatives to further accelerate its high-efficiency and accurate market development process.

On the other hand, the company has also made significant progress in the design, R&D and industrialization of degradable new materials. The new biodegradable plastic PEOX, another important pipeline of the company, has completed the 150L pilot scale experiment and obtained market terminal verification. The performance indicators of PEOX can be compared with PGA and the price of the terminal product will be approximately RMB10,000/ton after the large-scale production. With the special performance of the product and the support of policies, many leading enterprises in the industry are negotiating with the company to sign an underwriting agreement to apply PEOX in the field of disposable packagings such as agricultural mulch, plastic bags, straws, and lunch boxes.

Legend Capital said: "Under the background of China's strategy in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and the pursuit of sustainable energy development, petroleum-based chemical materials will gradually be replaced by bio-based materials, which are produced from sustainable resources. HMF is an important bio-based platform compound with great potential for downstream derivatives. GS Biotech has pioneered the HMF continuous production process globally and realized the large-scale and low-cost production of HMF. It has opened the entire industry chain from upstream core monomers to terminal applications and innovatively introduced AI and high-throughput machine synthesis technology into the development of downstream derivative products. The core team of GS Biotech graduated from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. With nearly 20 years of research foundation and industrialization experience in the field of biomass catalytic conversion, GS Biotech has shown strong capabilities in continuous R&D, production management, and resource integration. Legend Capital has long focused on technology investments linked to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and we look forward to working with GS Biotech to promote technological change in the field of bio-based materials."

As an interdisciplinary subject of information science, life science and material science, synthetic biology and bio-based materials have always been the direction that Legend Capital has paid close attention to in the field of carbon-neutral technology investment. Legend Capital's investments in the carbon-neutral field focus on energy decarbonization, vehicle electrification/intelligence, synthetic biology, etc. Energy decarbonization includes photovoltaic, wind power, and smart grid; vehicle electrification/intelligence includes lithium battery vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, battery recycling and others; in the field of synthetic biology and bio-based materials, Legend Capital has invested in many outstanding companies such as Giant Biogene (02367.HK), GS Biotech, Huili Biotech, and Tidetron Bioworks Technology.

About Legend Capital

Founded in 2001, Legend Capital is a leading VC&PE investor focusing on the early-stage and growth-stage opportunities in China, with offices across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Seoul, Korea.

It currently manages USD and RMB funds of over US$10 billion in commitments, and has invested in around 600 companies, covering technology, healthcare, consumer, enterprise service and intelligent manufacturing sectors. Rooted in China, Legend Capital participated in the rise of many world-leading companies by solid investment coverage and systematic post-investment value-add. Over the years, Legend Capital has also become a widely recognized name in bridging key resources in China and overseas through cross-border activities, and a valuable partner to Chinese and overseas investors.

Legend Capital values long-term sustainable investment and incorporates ESG into its long-term development strategy. As a UNPRI signatory since November 2019, Legend Capital is among the first group of top VC/PE firms in China to join the initiative.

For more information, please visit www.legendcapital.com.cn/index_en.aspx and follow us on LinkedIn @Legend Capital (https://www.linkedin.com/company/legend-capital).

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Global pharma giants partner Singapore researchers to boost innovation in biologics and vaccines manufacturing

SINGAPORE, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Leading pharma companies GSK, Sanofi and Takeda will partner with research communities from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); National University of Singapore (NUS); Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and its innovation and enterprise company, NTUitive; and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to boost Singapore's biologics manufacturing capabilities.

BioPIPS MOU signing ceremony

Their partnership will be formalised through the Biologics Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (BioPIPS), a consortium initiated by A*STAR with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

BioPIPS seeks to use research and innovation to grow Singapore's manufacturing capabilities for biologics, which include recombinant therapeutic proteins, and vaccines. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, biologics and vaccines played a critical role globally in preventing severe disease and saving lives.

The consortium will bring together leading industry experts and Singapore's research ecosystem to enhance manufacturing productivity, improve operational efficiency and achieve sustainability goals. The consortium ultimately aims to make Singapore's biologics manufacturing capabilities best-in-class and well-positioned for the introduction of new products and novel manufacturing technologies.

"New opportunities will emerge as the biomanufacturing industry undergoes major changes brought about by the rapid pace of digitalisation, Industry 4.0, and the need for greater sustainability. As Singapore makes biopharma production a priority area in its Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan, A*STAR aims to contribute our R&D capabilities through BioPIPS to help make the local biomanufacturing industry become more agile and better positioned to benefit from new products and technologies," said Professor Lim Keng Hui, Assistant Chief Executive, Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR.

"Riding on the success of PIPS, BioPIPS aims to enhance Singapore's innovation capabilities in biologics and vaccines manufacturing by leveraging the strengths of our leading pharmaceutical companies and institutes of higher learning. The programme will develop highly productive, sustainable and advanced production technologies and solutions. We look forward to deepening partnerships with like-minded companies to strengthen Singapore's position as a global biopharma manufacturing hub," said Mr Tan Kong Hwee, Executive Vice President, EDB.

Specifically, BioPIPS will have three workstreams.

– The Sensing and Modelling workstream aims to harness machine learning and mechanistic modelling technologies, together with smart sensors, to enable simplified and faster workflows. Data analytics will enable the effective translation of process knowledge gained into performance improvements, which in turn benefits the overall manufacturing process.

– The Sustainability workstream focuses on tackling sustainability challenges in biologics and vaccines manufacturing, which typically utilises single-use (disposable) equipment due to the extremely sterile environment needed for product purity. This workstream will explore the use of novel materials and circular economy approaches to address this challenge, as well as models to promote more sustainable and resilient supply chains.

– The Compliant Agility workstream focuses on the removal of manual tasks to achieve greater productivity in the manufacturing facilities while maintaining compliance status, by using solutions like robotics and advanced analytics.

BioPIPS is in line with Singapore's Manufacturing 2030 vision, which aims to anchor leading manufacturing activities to grow the country's manufacturing value-add by 50 per cent from 2020. The solutions developed through BioPIPS will also enhance Singapore's capabilities to meet the growing global demand for biologics and vaccines, as well as equip pharmaceutical companies here with the resources to scale up and respond more rapidly to future pandemics.

"By collaborating to tackle common challenges, we can leverage diverse skills and capabilities to create a sustainable manufacturing environment in Singapore. We also look forward to developing new ways to monitor and control our processes and automate our manufacturing operations," said Chan Siong Wan, Site Director, GSK.

"Sanofi is building a next generation manufacturing site, the EVolutive Facility, in Singapore, which will bring advanced digital and modular vaccine production capabilities to the Asia region. The BioPIPS programme's focus on transforming biologics and vaccines manufacturing through pre-competitive partnerships is aligned with Sanofi's vision for the EVolutive Facility, to continuously push the envelope of innovation for biopharmaceutical manufacturing," said Mr Koh Liang Hong, Site Head, EVolutive Facility, Sanofi.

"The objectives of BioPIPS are aligned to Takeda's ambitions of being net carbon zero in our operations by 2035 and how we can tap on data, digital and technology to transform our manufacturing site. We look forward to this partnership with Singapore's research ecosystem to further strengthen our capabilities, and discover new and sustainable ways to develop and manufacture innovative medicine to deliver on Takeda's commitment to Patient, People and Planet," said George Lam, Site Head, Takeda Manufacturing Singapore.

BioPIPS builds on the consortium model established by the Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS), which was set up to boost Singapore's capabilities for manufacturing of small molecule drugs made of chemical compounds.

"NUS is delighted to be a member of BioPIPS, contributing our capabilities in areas such as biocatalysis, reactor manufacturing, and digital factory. By leveraging the complementary strengths of A*STAR, EDB, the academia and the pharmaceutical industry, we can create a strong technology foundation for innovations that will bring about compelling improvements in productivity, operational efficiency and sustainability practices in Singapore's biopharma manufacturing sector," said Professor Thorsten Wohland, Director, Research Governance and Enablement, Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology), NUS.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for the biomanufacturing industry to be innovative and agile when dealing with challenges, including future pandemics and disease outbreaks. At the NTU Smart Campus, our scientists have been pioneering advanced solutions such as breathalysers that can detect Covid-19 in two minutes and a semi-autonomous robot that can disinfect surfaces. Such groundbreaking research underlines our commitment to the NTU 2025 strategic plan that aims to solve some of humanity's grand challenges, including addressing the needs and challenges of healthy living and ageing. With our strengths in interdisciplinary research and innovation, we hope to play our part to bolster the sector's manufacturing productivity and operational efficiency in a sustainable manner. We look forward to achieving meaningful results with our partners through this national consortium," said Professor Peter Preiser, Associate Vice President (Biomedical and Life Sciences), NTU Singapore.

"SIT is excited to be part of BioPIPS, which will inject next-generation process innovation into the local pharmaceutical industry. This partnership will allow SIT to strengthen its applied research capabilities in sustainable biopharma manufacturing technologies. Under this initiative, SIT will explore opportunities to work with manufacturers to apply digitalisation for process optimisation and better regulatory oversight while incorporating environmental considerations to progress production processes for the pharmaceutical industry," said Associate Professor Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research), SIT.

Image https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_astar20221206.jpg
A/Prof Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research), SIT; Prof Thorsten Wohland, Director, Research Governance and Enablement, Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology), NUS; Prof Ng Huck Hui, Assistant Chief Executive, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR; Mr Chan Siong Wan, Site Director, GSK; Mr Tan Kong Hwee, Executive Vice President, EDB; Mr Koh Liang Hong, Site Head, EVolutive Facility, Sanofi; Mr George Lam, Site Head, Takeda Manufacturing Singapore; Prof Lim Keng Hui, Assistant Chief Executive, Science & Engineering Research Council, A*STAR; Prof Peter Preiser, President's Chair in Biological Science & Associate Vice President (Biomedical and Life Sciences), NTU Singapore; Mr David Toh, Director and Chief Executive Officer, NTUitive [L-R]

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Owen Sia (Mr)
Assistant Head, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6517 7866
Email: owen_sia@hq.a-star.edu.sg

Fabius Chen (Mr)
Senior Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications
Singapore Economic Development Board
Tel: +65 6832 6125
Email: fabius_chen@edb.gov.sg

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry. A*STAR's R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

Follow us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASTARSG/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astarsg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astarsg/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/astartv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/astarsg

About the Singapore Economic Development Board

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), a government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is responsible for strategies that enhance Singapore's position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent. We undertake investment promotion and industry development, and work with international businesses, both foreign and local, by providing information, connection to partners and access to government incentives for their investments. Our mission is to create sustainable economic growth, with vibrant business and good job opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans. For more information on EDB, please visit www.edb.gov.sg.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Novotech Awarded the Asia Pacific CRO of the Year 2022 for Best Practices in Clinical Trials

SYDNEY, AU, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific biotech specialist CRO, has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan Company of the Year Award 2022 for Best Practices in the Asia-Pacific contract research organization industry. Novotech has been a recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Best Practices awards since 2006.

Frost & Sullivan identifies companies that consistently develop growth strategies based on a visionary understanding of the future, and effectively address new challenges and opportunities.

Frost & Sullivan said: "Our approach involves the deployment of best practices and strategic analytics across a value chain. Against this backdrop, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Novotech for its valuable achievement. Novotech addresses the global drug development market's unmet needs with a strong leadership focus that incorporates client-centric strategies with best-practice implementation. From feasibility assessments to regulatory submission support, data management, medical monitoring, and project management, the company provides a 360-degree approach to drug development for its biotech clients."

In response to the Company of the Year Award announcement, Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said this award is a credit to our entire global team which has decades of biotech drug development experience.

"Every day our team supports biotech companies in their drug development programs with unparalleled regulatory knowledge, vast site and investigator networks, technology-driven clinical data management, and a project management approach focused on problem-solving, ownership, and flexibility. Our global clients benefit from access to our expert teams in Asia Pacific, which is the fastest-growing clinical trial region, due to its vast patient populations and sophisticated medical research infrastructure. Our consistent investment in advanced training and technology systems combine to deliver a specialist full-service biotech CRO solution."

Novotech regularly produces expert reports on East-West strategies. A new publication is now available for international biotechs considering China for their clinical research, as well as China biotechs conducting research in China, and the relevant processes required for global regulatory approvals.

The report details regulatory requirements for biotechs including NDA and IND processes as well as ex-US research guidance for a successful US FDA approval pathway. Novotech can provide the relevant regulatory knowledge and drug development pathways specifically designed to support the US FDA approval process, avoiding delays and additional costs.

Download whitepaper here https://novotech-cro.com/whitepapers/china-biotech-landscape-opportunities-china-and-path-usfda-approval

Novotech has also recently been benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the world's leading CROs, is a finalist in the prestigious Scrip awards, and has just been awarded the Gene & Cell Therapy Excellence Award. In Asia Pacific Novotech has more than 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements with major medical research institutions delivering exclusive benefits for sponsors.

About Novotech

Novotech is the leading Asia Pacific biotech specialist CRO. Novotech has integrated labs and phase I facilities and provides drug development consulting and clinical development services across all phases. It has been instrumental in the success of approximately 4,000 clinical trials across a broad range of therapeutic areas. Novotech is well-positioned to serve biopharma clients conducting clinical trials in Asia-Pacific and the US. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contact

Media Contact
David James
E: communications@novotech-cro.com
AU: +61 2 8218 2144
USA: +1 415 951 3228
Asia: +65 3159 3427

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Prenetics Announces US$20 Million Stock Repurchase Program and Inclusion into the MSCI Global Micro Cap Index

LONDON AND HONG KONG, Nov 30, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Prenetics Global Limited (NASDAQ: PRE) ("Prenetics" or the "Company"), a global leader in genomic and diagnostic testing, today announced that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program, and that it has been included as a constituent stock in the MSCI Global Micro Cap Index (Hong Kong), with such inclusion to become effective after the U.S. market close today.

Board Approval of Share Repurchase Program

The Company's board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase its class A ordinary shares with an aggregate value of up to US$20 million during a 24-month period (the "Repurchase Program").

Under the Repurchase Program, the Company may make repurchases from time to time through open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, in block trades, and/or through other legally permissible means, and the Company may enter into one or more trading plans. The Company plans to fund the repurchase program using existing cash and cash equivalents or future cash flow. The timing and amount of the share repurchases made pursuant to the program will be decided by the Company based on its evaluation of market conditions and be subject to various factors, including the Company's capital position, liquidity, financial performance and alternative uses of capital, stock trading price, regulatory requirements and general market conditions. This repurchase authorization does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares or securities and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

Inclusion in the MSCI Global Micro Cap Index (Hong Kong)

Effective after the U.S. market close today, Prenetics will be included as a constituent stock in the MSCI Global Micro Cap Index (Hong Kong).

Following the inclusion of Prenetics, there will be a total of 17 HK-headquartered companies included in this Hong Kong index. According to MSCI, the entire MSCI Global Micro Cap index includes a total of 299 constituents in 22 developed markets (with Hong Kong included). Please visit the below link for more information.

https://www.msci.com/our-solutions/indexes/market-classification

MSCI is a leading provider of global equity indices. It is widely recognised as a benchmark for global institutional investors to optimise their investment portfolios especially passive index funds. It covers companies with good operation results in particular and assessments are based on some objective factors such as market capitalisation, free float and liquidity, foreign inclusion factor requirement and minimum length of trading requirement etc.

Danny Yeung, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Prenetics, said "Our announcement today of our share repurchase program demonstrates our commitment to deliver long term value to our shareholders. We believe the recent volatility not only in the global market but in particular of our shares, driven by the expiry of our lock-up, which are now trading below our net book value of US$207m has provided us with an opportunity to generate strong returns for our shareholders.

Our business fundamentals remain strong with a very healthy balance sheet of US$250m in net current assets, and are on target to deliver an uplifted financial forecast in the range of US$270-280m in revenue and US$47-53m in adjusted EBITDA for FY2022. We remain committed to a disciplined and flexible capital allocation strategy in conjunction with other opportunities such as organic growth, M&A and other forms of accreditive capital deployment.

In addition, Prenetics' inclusion in the MSCI Global Micro Cap Index (Hong Kong) represents a key milestone and reflects the confidence of stakeholders in the Company's long term growth strategy. This is the first index in which Prenetics is included and we look forward to being included in additional indices in the short-term future."

About Prenetics

Founded in 2014, Prenetics is a major global diagnostics and genetic testing company with the mission to bring health closer to millions of people globally and decentralize healthcare by making the three pillars – Prevention, Diagnostics and Personalized Care – comprehensive and accessible to anyone, at anytime and anywhere. Prenetics is led by visionary entrepreneur, Danny Yeung, with operations across 9 locations, including United Kingdom, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Prenetics develops consumer genetic testing and early colorectal cancer screening; and provides COVID-19 testing, rapid point of care and at-home diagnostic testing and medical genetic testing. To learn more about Prenetics, visit www.prenetics.com.

Enquires:

Investors:
investors@prenetics.com

Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future financial and operating performance, including our outlook and guidance, and our strategies, priorities and business plans. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements by our management or the Board regarding expectations for the repurchase of our common shares, including the aggregate amount, timing, and manner of such repurchases, and statements of plans, objectives, and expectations of us, our management or the Board. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could impact our actual results include, but are not limited to: changes in applicable laws or regulations applicable to Prenetics; developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic; the regulatory environment and changes in laws, regulations or policies in which Prenetics operate; Prenetics' ability to successfully compete in highly competitive industries and markets; Prenetics' ability to continue to adjust its offerings to meet market demand; Prenetics' ability to attract customers to choose its products and services and grow its ecosystem; political instability in the jurisdictions in which Prenetics operates; the overall economic environment and general market and economic conditions in the jurisdiction in which Prenetics operates; and Prenetics' ability to execute its strategies, manage growth and maintain its corporate culture as it grows. In addition to the foregoing factors, you should also carefully consider the other risks and uncertainties included in Prenetics' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") from time to time. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decisions based on our estimates or forward-looking statements. Prenetics does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

Website

Prenetics intends to use its website as a distribution channel of material company information. Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible through the Company's website at https://www.prenetics.com/. Accordingly, we recommend you to monitor the investor relations portion of our website at https://ir.prenetics.com/ in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about the Company when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Request Email Alerts" section of our investor relations page at https://ir.prenetics.com/. However, the additional information contained on our website is not part of our SEC filings.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Malaysian Genomics Sees Rise in Profit Margins for 1Q

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Nov 23, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad, a leading genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, today reported a revenue of RM3.81 million for the first quarter ended 30 September 2022 (1Q 2023) versus a revenue of RM9.32 million in 1Q 2022, as the Group refocuses on immunotherapy and cell therapies under the biopharmaceutical business and pushes for organic growth of its genetic screening business.

Independent Non-Executive Chairman, Dato' Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min

The Group recorded a 254.16% increase in profit before tax (PBT) to RM0.85 million for 1Q 2023, compared with RM0.24 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year, on higher profit margins and revenue contributions from the new biopharmaceutical business.

Earnings per share for 1Q 2023 stood at 0.68 sen compared with 0.20 sen in 1Q 2022.

Dato' Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min, Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Malaysian Genomics said, "The Group's pivot to immunotherapy and cell therapies from vaccine distribution continues to pay off as PBT improves on higher profit margins. We expect more improvements to the biopharmaceutical business as the Group's expansion of its distribution network and footprint overseas in the Middle East and Southeast Asia takes shape."

"We are pushing the genetic screening business as the Group continues to reach out through business-to-consumer channels for a wider market reach. We believe better awareness and education is prompting more people to take action on how they can enhance their health, and the Group will leverage on this through catering to the different needs and groups from our suite of healthcare-related solutions. We are also seeking to acquire assets or invest in businesses that will support the expanded market reach of our products and services."

"The Group is well positioned to be a leading provider of genetic screening, genome analysis, and biopharmaceutical products in Southeast Asia, as we are equipped with a high-throughput sequencing lab, an advanced microarray facility, and a new state-of-the-art cGMP cell processing lab for cell therapies, including immunotherapy for various types of cancers. We are confident that we are in a position to provide patients with better access to the latest precision and personalised healthcare solutions."

Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad: 0155 [BURSA: MGRC] [RIC: MGRC:KL] [BBG: MGRC:MK], http://www.mgrc.com.my/

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

American Journal of Gastroenterology Publishes Data from HighTide Therapeutics’ Phase 2 Study of HTD1801 Treatment in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

ROCKVILLE, MD and SHENZHEN, CHINA, Nov 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – HighTide Therapeutics, Inc. ("HighTide"), a globally integrated clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel multifunctional therapies for metabolic and digestive diseases, today announced the publication of the results of their Phase 2 study of HTD1801 in adults with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

This study met the primary endpoint and multiple key secondary endpoints, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of HTD1801 in treating PSC. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a key biomarker of PSC disease severity. Data show that compared to placebo, both low and high doses of HTD1801 treatment could significantly reduce serum ALP levels. In addition, HTD1801 significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), further supporting the beneficial effects of HTD1801 in treating PSC. HTD1801 was shown to be safe and well tolerated at the doses studied in PSC patients. No severe adverse event related to HTD1801 treatment occurred.

Professor Kris Kowdley, M.D., Director, Liver Institute Northwest and lead investigator, said, "There is a significant unmet medical need in treatment for PSC. The improvements in ALP we observed in this study, along with the excellent safety profile of HTD1801, are promising. In addition, the results of this study lay the foundation for future studies that will potentially prove the significant role of HTD1801 in the treatment of PSC."

Dr. Liping Liu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HighTide Therapeutics, said, "We are pleased to share the news of this publication. The results of this study encourage us to further study HTD1801's effects in treating PSC. We believe the long-term treatment of HTD1801 will lead to more clinical benefits for patients with PSC, who suffer with a disease with no effective therapy until today."

About Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive liver disease characterized by progressive inflammation and fibrosis of the intra-and/or extra-hepatic bile ducts, resulting in multifocal bile duct strictures. Most patients eventually have liver failure and cirrhosis, and their risk of malignancy significantly increases. PSC is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The accumulating evidence from various studies continues to strengthen the hypothesis that the gut microbiota plays a central role in the pathogenesis and progression of PSC. Until today, there is no approved therapy for PSC. As the fifth leading indication for liver transplantation in the U.S., PSC is a disease with significant unmet medical needs.

About HighTide Therapeutics

HighTide is a globally integrated clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery and development of novel multifunctional therapies for metabolic and digestive diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company's lead drug candidate, HTD1801, is a first-in-class new molecular entity, currently in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). HTD1801 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for both NASH and PSC, as well as Orphan Drug designation for PSC. In China, HTD1801 has been included in the National Major New Drug Innovation Program. For more information, please visit www.hightidetx.com.

Contact
Jeffrey Dao
ir@hightidetx.com
+1-650-580-3872

American Journal of Gastroenterology
https://tinyurl.com/mr3wyhu6

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com