Ad Scientiam Launches International Study to Assess Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis With MSCopilot

PARIS, FRANCE, Sep 12, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Ad Scientiam, a global leader in digital biomarkers, has announced a partnership with Sanofi to launch MS-DETECT, an international, multicenter, longitudinal study. MS-DETECT aims to evaluate the ability of MSCopilot(R), a medical software device, to detect early signs of disability worsening in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The study will draw upon Ad Scientiam's expertise in MS and is financially supported by Sanofi.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system that affects 2.8 million people worldwide. The disease is characterized by early inflammatory demyelination and subsequent neurodegeneration. Current clinical evaluation of PwMS relies mainly on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), which has several limitations. To improve on these assessments, Ad Scientiam has developed MSCopilot(R), a software medical device that addresses four dimensions: ambulation/mobility, upper extremity function, cognition, and low-contrast visual acuity.

MS-DETECT's main objective is to determine MSCopilot(R)'s ability to identify subtle and early disability worsening. This will be performed by evaluating MSCopilot(R) individual and/or composite scores as compared to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) and the EDSS.

"MS-DETECT is a pioneering large-scale longitudinal study that explores digital biomarkers for the early detection of disease progression. This study will provide important data to both clinicians and people living with MS," according to Dr. Saad Zinai, Chief Medical Officer at Ad Scientiam.

"Disability worsening in MS has been recently redefined and we now know that this progression can occur independently of relapses. With MS-DETECT, we have an opportunity to develop a digital solution to help detect and monitor the effects of smoldering disease, and evolve treatment goals for MS patients," explains Su-Peing Ng, Global Head of Medical Affairs – Specialty Care at Sanofi.

The study also aims to assess the MSCopilot(R) performance, safety, usability and satisfaction with the solution.

"Disease progression can be hard to detect in routine practice. I believe these novel digital biomarkers are key to help clinicians make appropriate treatment decisions and, ultimately, improve patients' care," said Prof. Patrick Vermersch (Lille, France), Coordinating Investigator and Chairman of the Study Steering Committee.

The MS-DETECT study will include 314 PwMS and will be conducted in the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark and France. Several investigative sites have already been initiated in North America and Europe and first patients are expected to participate in the study during Q3 2023.
Check our LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram pages or visit adscientiam.com

Contact Information
Saad Zinai
Chief Medical Officer
szinai@adscientiam.com
+33768008666

Matthieu Lamy
President
mlamy@adscientiam.com
+33768008666

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

SinoMab’s IND Application of SM17 has once again Received Approval from NAMP

HONG KONG, Sep 12, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – A Hong Kong-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of therapeutics for the treatment of immunological diseases- SinoMab BioScience Limited (Stock Code: 3681.HK, "SinoMab" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Investigational New Drug application ("IND"), for the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis ("AD") for the Company's First-in-Class (FIC) therapeutic product SM17, was approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China (the "NMPA") on 8 September 2023. The Company plans to initiate a Phase I clinical study in China in the fourth quarter of this year to investigate the safety profile of SM17 in Chinese population and to initiate the clinical development program of SM17 for the treatment of allergic diseases.

SM17 is a novel, First-in-Class (FIC), humanized, IgG4-k monoclonal antibody which is capable of modulating Type II allergic reaction by targeting the receptor of a critical "alarmin" molecule interleukin 25 (IL-25). SM17 could suppress Th2 immune responses by binding to IL-25 receptor (also known as IL-17RB) on Type 2 Innate Lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and Type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, to block a cascade of responses induced by IL-25 and suppress the release of the downstream Th2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13.

IL-25 is a critical cytokine classified as "alarmin", which has shown to be implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases, such as AD. Patients with AD also have an increasing all-cause mortality rate and disease-specific mortality rate in the following diseases, which include infections, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and oncologic diseases. Current approved therapies for AD, including biologics, can significantly improve eczema area and severity index and patient's quality of life. However, there are still some patients who show irresponsiveness to those approved therapies. AD lacks universally effective treatment methods and there is an urgent need to fill the market gap with suitable medications.

AD, as a common chronic disease, is showing an increasing prevalence in China, indicating a wide market space for potential treatments. According to Frost & Sullivan, there were approximately 65.7 million AD patients in China in 2019 and is expected to grow to 81.7 million in 2030, and 30% of which will be moderate-to-severe patients. China's AD medicine market was US$600 million in 2019, and is expected to grow to US$1.5 billion in 2024, and is expected to increase to US$4.3 billion in 2030, indicating a considerable market size. We believe that therapies targeting upstream of the Th2 inflammatory cytokine pathway, such as IL-25 receptor, will have broad effects on skin inflammation, implicating a great potential for SM17 as a differentiating, safer and more effective products for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

The Company actively promoted the indication research of SM17, laying a foundation for subsequent proof of concept and commercialization. Currently, a Phase I study for SM17 conducted in the US is near completion, with the Last Subject Last Visit (LPLV) scheduled later this month (September 2023). As of the date of this announcement, no drug-related serious adverse event has been reported, suggesting the product is well tolerated in human and shows a very good safety profile. The IND application of SM17 for the treatment of asthma diseases was approved by the NMPA on 11 August 2023 and its Phase I clinical study in China will also be initiated shortly.

Dr. Shui On LEUNG, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said, "As the number of AD patients continues to grow, its unmet need in China is becoming increasingly recognized. The IND application of SM17 for AD has been approved by the NMPA, which fully reflects the recognition of the differentiated advantages of SM17 in the field of AD and has a bright future. We will initiate a Phase I clinical study and a clinical development plan of SM17 for the treatment of allergic diseases in China soon, striving to provide more effective medical solutions for Chinese patients. Currently, SM17 has obtained IND approvals from the NMPA for the treatment of asthma and AD, while our Phase I study for SM17 conducted in the US is near completion. This strategic layout would assist us to move forward our business development into the international market. In the future, we will also continue to make in-depth strategies in the field of immunological diseases, leverage our scientific research strengths, continuously expand the population of indications, provide breakthrough scientific treatment solutions for the research of immunological diseases and more safe and effective treatment options for the patients, so as to consolidate the Company's leading market position, and aim to become a global leader in the innovative treatment of immunological diseases."

About SinoMab BioScience Limited
SinoMab BioScience Limited is dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of therapeutics for the treatment of immunological diseases. The R&D headquarters is located in Hong Kong and the production base is located in mainland China. The Company's flagship product SM03 is a potential global first-in-target mAb against CD22 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has completed the Phase III clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis in China, which has been recognized as one of the significant special projects of Significant New Drugs Development of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan Period and the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan Period. In addition, the Company possesses other potential first-in-target and first-in-class drug candidates, some of which are already in clinical stage, with their indications covering rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Alzheimer's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pemphigus (PV), multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), asthma, and other diseases with major unmet clinical needs.

This press release is issued by Financial PR (HK) Limited on behalf of SinoMab BioScience Limited. For further information, please contact:

Financial PR (HK) Limited
Contact: Ms. Chloe Chiu / Ms. Serena Zhang / Ms. Willa Xue
Email: sinomab@financialpr.hk
Tel: (852) 2610 0846
Fax: (852) 2610 0842


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Q&M Dental Group Sets the Gold Standard for Best Investor Relations at Singapore Corporate Awards

SINGAPORE, Sep 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Q&M Dental Group Limited is honoured to announce that it has received the prestigious "Best Investor Relations Award (Gold)" at the 18th Singapore Corporate Awards' ceremony held on 7 September 2023. The Award is given in recognition of Q&M Dental Group's commitment to maintaining transparency, communication, and excellence in investor relations.

Dr Ng Chin Siau, Group Chief Executive Officer of Q&M, said, "Winning the Best Investor Relations Award (Gold) is a testament to our unwavering commitment to uphold the highest standards in investor relations. We believe in the principles of transparency, open communication, and ethical conduct.

Our dedicated Finance and Investor Relations team works tirelessly to provide timely and reliable financial reporting, maintain regular communication through various channels, and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. For us, this award is not so much a final destination but a responsibility to continue setting benchmarks in investor relations."

Dr Ng added that he believes the Company garnered the award because it adheres to the best practices of investor relations which are:

1. Transparency and Disclosure: Transparent financial reporting and strict adherence to regulatory compliance.

2. Effective Communication: Q&M maintains a two-way dialogue with its shareholders and investment community, providing regular updates through press releases, investor meetings, and a dedicated IR section on its website.

3. Credibility and Trust: The accessibility of top management, including Dr. Ng Chin Siau (CEO) and Ms Melanie Ng (CFO), have been a cornerstone in building credibility and trust among investors.

4. Strategic Planning: Q&M Dental Group has been recognized for its clear communication of long-term vision and risk management strategies.

ShareInvestor and Waterbrooks Consultants are proud to be Q&M 's Investor Relations Partners. ShareInvestor (www.shareinvestorholdings.com) is a leading regional media and technology company, founded in 1999 to empower investors to make informed investment decisions. ShareInvestor focuses on providing investor relations, market data and investor education services, and operates the largest investor relations network in the region. It has over 130 employees in four countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia). Companies in the group includes investor relations/public relations firm, Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd (www.waterbrooks.com.sg), and Investing Note Pte Ltd, Singapore's leading social media platform for investors, (www.investingnote.com).

*Singapore Corporate Awards (SCA) is jointly organised by Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) and The Business Times (BT). The SCA was launched in 2005 as the umbrella awards for exemplary corporate governance practices for listed companies in Singapore. It seeks to consolidate existing awards while introducing new awards in the area of excellent corporate governance.

The Best Investor Relations Award aims to recognise companies that embody the spirit of good corporate governance and corporate transparency by adopting and implementing best practices in investor relations.

Reference:
https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/20230910_QnMBestIRAwardPressRelease.ashx?App=Announcement&FileID=772006

About Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (QC7.SI)

Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (QC7.SI) ("Q&M" or together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is a leading private dental healthcare group in Asia.

The Group owns the largest network of private dental outlets in Singapore, operating 106 dental outlets across the country. Underpinned by about 270 experienced dentists and over 350 supporting staff, the Group sees an average of 40,000 patient visits a month in Singapore. The Group also operates 5 medical clinics and a dental supplies and equipment distribution company.

Outside of Singapore, the Group has 44 dental clinics and a dental supplies and equipment distribution company in Malaysia. Q&M is also the substantial shareholder of Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited, a dental Group listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange that operates dental clinics and hospitals primarily in the north-eastern region of the PRC. The Group aims to expand its operations geographically and vertically through the value chain in Malaysia, the PRC and within the ASEAN region.

The Q&M College of Dentistry was established in 2019 to offer postgraduate dental education as part of its commitment to continual education and professional development of dentists. It offers Singapore's first private postgraduate diploma programme in clinical dentistry.

In 2020, the Group expanded into the medical laboratories and research industry with the strategic investment into Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. ("Acumen"). Currently, Acumen focuses on developing its range of medical research, tests and solutions to secure viable patents and to achieve successful commercialisation of the medical products in the near future.

The Group was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX- ST") on 26 November 2009. For more information on the Group, please visit www.QandMDental.com.sg

Media queries, please contact:
Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Wayne Koo: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg +65 9338-8166
Derek Yeo: derek@waterbrooks.com.sg +65 9791-4707
General: query@waterbrooks.com.sg

Proud Investor Relations partner:
https://www.waterbrooks.com.sg/ and https://www.shareinvestorholdings.com/

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

UroViu Corporation Appoints Ali Amiri as New President and Chief Operating Officer

LOS ALTOS, CA, Sep 6, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – UroViu Corporation, the developer of a suite of portable, self-contained, and versatile sterile single-use endoscopy solutions, announces Ali Amiri as its first President and COO, to drive a largescale commercial expansion after several products successfully launched in the U.S. over the last 18 months.


Ali Amiri, UroViu President and COO


Amiri will be leading the quality, operations, regulatory, and sales and marketing teams, and overseeing the company's global commercial operation while driving product, commercial, and customer excellence. He will be responsible for the design and execution of strategies required to achieve UroViu's short- and mid-term goals. Amiri will also advise the UroViu Board on its long-term strategies and product roadmap.

Amiri brings a wealth of global industry experience and expertise to UroViu, having served in a variety of leadership roles at KARL STORZ for over three decades. There, he led the upstream and downstream marketing teams and strategies, driving consistent revenue growth and outpacing market benchmarks annually for two decades. Most recently, Amiri served as the Vice President, Operations at KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, where he also contributed as a long-term member of its Executive Committee.

UroViu's Always Ready endoscopy platform offers a unique design that delivers the safety profile of a sterile single-use endoscope while minimizing the portion disposed of after each case. By using a reusable handle with embedded electronics, UroViu has the lowest carbon footprint among all suppliers of sterile single-use endoscopes. The highly portable handle allows the care to be brought to anywhere the patient is. UroViu leverages market and customer insights, creative design, state-of-the-art technology, and scale to create products to support a significant share of 200+ million minimally invasive procedures worldwide.

"As UroViu expands its product portfolio within gynecology and urology with new features that go beyond our exclusive towerless sterile single-use endoscope design, we remain focused on our mission to expand and improve patient access to state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic procedures while also improving efficiency and productivity of providers," said UroViu's founder and Chief Executive Officer Bruce OuYang. "We are very excited to have Ali Amiri leading UroViu's operation and commercialization. Tapping into Ali's broad expertise and strategic mindset, we are well positioned to establish UroViu as a global market leader in the smart and versatile sterile single-use multi-modality diagnostic and therapeutic imaging device market."

"Sterile single-use endoscopes, artificial intelligence, and robotics will continue to evolve and improve delivery of care. UroViu's product roadmap is at the cross- section of these disruptive trends. Its differentiated product offering is aligned with today's site-of-service shifts to an outpatient setting. The company's industry-leading approach to innovation re-imagines product design and aims to enhance patient experience, reduce cost, improve clinical outcomes, and deliver a superior customer experience," adds Ali Amiri. "I am excited to help grow UroViu's global presence with a data-driven approach and positive impact on the entire value chain of healthcare delivery."

Visit https://www.uroviu.com for more information.

About UroViu Corp

UroViu has developed a proprietary, portable single-use endoscopic platform of minimally invasive devices to address the issues of device cross contaminations, patient discomfort, and workflow inefficiencies. From this platform, UroViu already has four (4) FDA-cleared products launched and adopted by offices and clinics of urology, gynecology and urogynecology in the USA.

UroViu holds key patents for portable single-use endoscopes and is expanding its IP portfolio to include scope-drug, scope-device, and robotic-assisted surgery applications. UroViu is also actively partnering with drug and device companies for comprehensive disease management.

UroViu is led by pioneers in the field of portable single-use endoscope innovation and manufacturing and operated by an experienced medical device management team in Asia and USA.

Contact Information
Lisa Sorbo
Marketing Manager, UroViu Corp
marketing@uroviu.com
650-878-6686

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Malaysian Genomics Unveils Strategic Advances in Biopharmaceuticals

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Aug 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad, a leading genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, recorded a revenue of RM2.23 million for the 4th quarter ended 30 June 2023. This represents a decrease from RM6.33 million in the corresponding quarter of the preceding year, owing to a deliberate pivot from vaccines to cell and gene therapy products, focusing more on genetic screening initiatives.


Mr. Azri Azerai, Executive Chairman of Malaysian Genomics


For the quarter under review, the Group recorded a loss before tax (LBT) of RM9.98 million compared with a profit before tax (PBT) of RM2.97 million in the same quarter of the preceding year. The change is largely attributed to the impairment of receivables amounting to RM7.54 million and the Group's expansion and product development efforts in the fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) market. The Group will continue to implement stringent credit control policy as they move forward with their initiatives, particularly with Rejuvium.

For the current year-to-date, MGRC reported a revenue of RM8.36 million, a decrease from RM28.36 million in the previous year. A LBT of RM13.59 million was registered, largely due to similar factors affecting the quarterly results.

While the financials mark a transitional phase for the Group, MGRC remains robust and adaptable, focusing on both the short-term improvements in revenue and long-term sustainability through product development and market expansion.

Azri Azerai, Executive Chairman of Malaysian Genomics, expressed optimism about MGRC's future, stating: "MGRC achieved higher revenue in the current quarter as compared to the preceding quarter's revenue of RM0.68 million, mainly generated from cell and gene therapy products. Our state-of-the-art BSL-2 cell processing lab, cGMP approved by MOH for production of cell and gene therapies, illustrates our technological advancement. Hence, we foresee that we will obtain higher revenue from cell and gene products in the next quarter."

"Furthermore, we continue to engage with private hospitals and the Ministry of Health in Malaysia to improve access to our cell and gene therapy products. Recent partnerships and our focus on novel ingredients and finished products will target a wide market of use such as for cosmeceuticals, wound healing, general wellness and genetic-based fitness improvement programs that reflect our innovative drive and commitment to enhancing healthcare solutions and more," continued Azri.

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

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HanchorBio and Henlius Announce Strategic Collaboration to Develop Innovative Immunotherapies

SHANGHAI, CHINA and TAIPEI, TAIWAN, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HanchorBio Inc., a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on the discovery and development of innovative immuno-biomedicines, and Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company developing biologic medicines with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, today announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic framework agreement for collaboration to combine HanchorBio's protein engineering expertise and proprietary Fc-based designer biologics (FBDB(TM)) technology platform with Henlius' integrated product development and commercialization capabilities. The collaboration aims to expand the application of each company's platform by developing novel cancer immunotherapies, including those tumors resistant to anti-PD-1/L1 immunotherapies, to accelerate their respective pipeline of innovative immunotherapy medicines.

"FBDB(TM)-based innovative products may offer effective cancer immunotherapies to patients suffering from cancers which are resistant or refractory to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies and having significant unmet medical needs on a global scale," said Scott Liu, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of HanchorBio. "This collaboration represents a foundational recognition and investment in our platform science and capabilities, which strengthens our pipeline and accelerates our research to providing novel therapies to patients globally. We are thrilled to collaborate with Shanghai Henlius to jointly address the inadequacies of the current anti-PD-1/L1 therapies and to navigate new frontiers in immuno-oncology through the design and development of novel multi-functional modalities that synergistically modulate and re-engage immune systems to fight cancers."

Mr. Jason Zhu, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Financial Officer of Henlius, said, "Henlius is dedicated to providing affordable and innovative biologics for patients around the world. Today, we have achieved great success in marketing 5 products to the global market. Focusing on unmet clinical needs, Henlius actively collaborates with our global leading partners to pursue discovery and technology advance. HanchorBio was founded by Dr. Scott Liu, one of the co-founders of Henlius, and the Company possesses an experienced management team with a great mission and vision. Taking innovation as a driver, HanchorBio has quickly built its differentiated advantages and stands out in the field of onco-immunotherapy. This collaboration will allow Henlius to further accelerate our practice of affordable innovation and benefit more patients worldwide by fully leveraging HanchorBio's leading-edge technology and R&D platform."

About the Collaboration

With this collaboration, Henlius will consider early licensing and/or establish research collaboration of promising products from HanchorBio's pipeline that are complementary to Henlius' current portfolio (e.g., FBDB(TM) platform molecules, engineered immunocytokines etc.). This will be detailed in a separate agreement upon successful presentation of relevant efficacy/safety data. Under the terms of the agreement, Henlius will also have the opportunity to opt-in and co-develop the selected products with HanchorBio.

About Henlius

Henlius is a global biopharmaceutical company with the vision to offer high-quality, affordable, and innovative biologic medicines for patients worldwide with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases, and ophthalmic diseases. Since its inception in 2010, Henlius has built an integrated biopharmaceutical platform with core capabilities of high-efficiency and innovation embedded throughout the whole product life cycle including R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization. It has established global innovation centers and Shanghai-based manufacturing facilities in compliance with global Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), including Xuhui Plant certificated by China and the EU GMP and Songjiang-I Plant certificated by China GMP. Apart from the launched biosimilar products HANLIKANG (rituximab), HANQUYOU (trastuzumab) for injection, trade name in Europe: Zercepac(R); trade names in Australia: Tuzucip(R) and Trastucip(R), HANDAYUAN (adalimumab) and HANBEITAI (bevacizumab), the innovative product HANSIZHUANG (anti-PD-1) has been approved by the NMPA for the treatment of MSI-H solid tumors, squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC), and extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), making it the world's first anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody for the first-line treatment of SCLC. Its NDA for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is under review. What's more, Henlius has conducted over 30 clinical trials for 16 products, expanding its presence in major and emerging markets.

About HanchorBio

Based in Taipei, Shanghai, and San Francisco Bay Area, HanchorBio is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on immuno-oncology. The Company is led by an experienced team of pharmaceutical industry veterans with proven track-record of success in biologics discovery and global development to transcend current cancer therapies. Committed to reactivating the immune system to fight against diseases, the proprietary Fc-based designer biologics (FBDB(TM)) platform enables unique biologics with diverse multi-targeting modalities to unleash both innate and adaptive immunity to overcome the current inadequacies of anti-PD1/L1 immunotherapies. The FBDB(TM) platform has successfully delivered proof-of-concept data in several in vivo tumor animal models. By making breakthroughs in multi-functional innovative molecular configurations in R&D and improving the manufacturing process in CMC, HanchorBio develops transformative medicines to address unmet medical needs.

For more information, please visit: www.HanchorBio.com or follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/hanchorbio-inc

Contact Information
Scott Liu
Founder, Chairman and CEO
scott_liu@hanchorbio.com

Yi Du
Sr. Director of Business Development
yi_du@hanchorbio.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Sino Biopharmaceutical (1177.HK) Announces 2023 Interim Results

HONG KONG, Aug 25, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited ("Sino Biopharmaceutical" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") (HKEX:1177), a leading innovation-driven pharmaceutical conglomerate in the PRC, has announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023 (the "Period").



Development Highlights
— In the second quarter, the Group capitalized on the post-COVID recovery, vigorously developed its four therapeutic areas, namely oncology, liver disease, respiratory system and surgery/analgesia, and accelerated the launch of innovative products. During the period, the revenue of the Group in Q2 was up 30.0% and the adjusted non-HKFRS profit attributable to the owners of the parent saw an increase of approximately 20.7% over the same period last year.

— The Group launched a number of new products and achieved considerable sales growth from products in the fields of liver disease and respiratory system. In the first half of 2023, two innovative products were launched to market and two biosimilar drugs received marketing approval. Revenue from liver disease drugs increased by approximately 14.0% and revenue from respiratory system drugs increased by approximately 11.2% compared to the same period last year

— As of 30 June 2023, the Group had a total of 46 innovative drug candidates in the field of oncology, 8 innovative drug candidates related to the respiratory system, 7 innovative drug candidates related to liver disease, and 4 innovative drug candidates in the field of surgery/analgesia in the process of clinical trial application or above. Of these, 3 innovative oncology drug candidates and 1 innovative respiratory system drug candidate are in the marketing application stage, and 4 innovative oncology drug candidates, 1 innovative liver disease drug candidate, and 2 innovative surgery/analgesia drug candidates are in Phase III clinical trials. In addition, the Group had a total of 14 biosimilar or generic drug oncology candidates, 3 additional biosimilar or generic liver disease drug candidates, 13 biosimilar or generic respiratory system drug candidates, and 13 biosimilar or generic surgical/analgesic drug candidates in the clinical trial application or above.

— A marketing application has been submitted to the Center for Drug Evaluation ("CDE") of NMPA for Focus V (Anlotinib hydrochloride capsules) in combination with TQB2450 (Anti PD-L1) for treating first-line small cell lung cancer in January 2023. In addition, 12 new indications for Anlotinib have entered Phase III clinical trials with marketing applications expected to be submitted within the next one to two years.

— Annike (Penpulimab monoclonal antibody) injection was approved in January 2023 for treating, in combination with chemotherapy, first-line locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer. In addition, it has another indication (third-line nasopharyngeal carcinoma) going through marketing review.

— Yilishu (Efbemalenograstim alpha) injection was approved in May 2023 for the prevention and treatment of neutropenia in cancer patients taking chemotherapy drugs. The efficacy and safety of Yilishu, as well as its innovative mechanism, were verified in three pivotal, multi-center, randomized and controlled Phase III studies conducted worldwide, which compared the efficacy and safety of Yilishu with those of drugs commonly used in clinical practice.

— Kailitong (Limaprost) tablets was approved for marketing in February 2023. It is the first drug in China to address the pathological mechanism of lumbar spinal stenosis and has the dual effect of improving neurological microcirculation and neurological functions. And it is the only small-molecule drug specifying in its package insert that it is for the treatment indication of lumbar spinal stenosis. With the launch of Kailitong, a brand-new solution is available to more than 30 million lumbar spinal stenosis patients in China, helping address a huge yet unmet clinical need.

— The clinical trial application of Lanifibranor was submitted to and accepted by CDE in March 2023. In July, Lanifibranor was included on the "Breakthrough Therapy Designation" list by CDE. The product is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials globally, and is the first oral drug for NASH to enter Phase III clinical trials in China. It is expected to address unmet needs in the China NASH market.

— TDI01(a highly selective inhibitor of ROCK2) is currently in a Phase II clinical development trial. In April 2023, a Phase II clinical trial of TDI01 for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was initiated in China. Seeing the potential of TDI01 to become a major drug, the Group will vigorously pursue its clinical development.

— All of the Group's generic drugs with annual revenue of more than RMB500 million (excluding exclusive products) entered the centralized procurement list, thus are cleared of further centralized procurement risks.

During the Period, the Group recorded revenue of approximately RMB15.28 billion, a year-on-year increase of approximately 0.5%. Revenue for the second quarter amounted to approximately RMB8.63 billion, representing a YOY increase of approximately 30.0%. Profit attributable to owners of the parent company was approximately RMB1.26 billion. Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent company were approximately RMB6.78 cents. Adjusted non-HKFRS profit attributable to the owners of the parent was approximately RMB1.48 billion, a YOY increase of approximately 1.2%. Adjusted non-HKFRS profit attributable to the owners of the parent for the second quarter was approximately RMB964 million, representing a YOY increase of approximately 20.7%. The Group's liquidity remains strong, with cash and bank balances classified as current assets of approximately RMB11.58 billion, bank deposits classified as non-current assets of approximately RMB4.23 billion, and wealth management products of approximately RMB3.81 billion in total, and total fund reserves amounting to approximately RMB19.61 billion at the end of the Period.

The Board of Directors has recommended an interim dividend payment of HK2 cents per share (1H2022: HK6 cents).

Sales: The continuous manifestation of R&D achievements has led to outstanding performance in specialty therapeutic products
The Group has benefited from years of in-depth research and development and continues to focus on the development of related products in specialty therapeutic areas with the aim of building its specialty brand.

During the Period, sales of oncology drugs amounted to approximately RMB4.49 billion, accounting for approximately 29.4% of the Group's revenue. Sales of liver disease drugs increased by approximately 14.0% year-on-year to approximately RMB2.29 billion, accounting for approximately 15.0% of the Group's revenue. Sales of surgical/analgesic medications amounted to approximately RMB2.33 billion, accounting for approximately 15.3% of the Group's revenue. In addition, the sales contributions of products in various areas such as respiratory system, cardio-cerebral vascular medicines and others increased simultaneously, accounting for approximately 11.0%, 10.5%, and 18.8% of the Group's total revenue, respectively.

In the field of liver disease, the Group endeavored to strengthen academic promotion of the drugs' efficacy and safety advantages to doctors for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis, acute drug-related liver injury and liver function abnormalities. Academic conferences at various levels helped to expand the doctor audience and increase the drugs' among experts. Through these activities, the Group was able to actively target new patients and new markets, further driving the rapid sales growth of Tianqing Ganmei.

In the field of surgery/analgesia, the Group focused on hospital access and development in high-potential areas to expand market coverage and hospital channels, strengthening downstream development and improving the development and coverage of secondary hospitals and community healthcare facilities, which has driven the sales of Zepolas (Flurbiprofen) cataplasms to continue to grow with momentum in recent years.

R&D: Strong in-house research and development capabilities, continued focus on R&D of innovative medicines
The Group has continued to focus its R&D efforts on new medicines in four therapeutic areas, namely oncology, liver disease, respiratory system and the surgical/analgesic system. As at the end of the Period, the Group had a total of 127 products under development, including 60 oncology products, 10 liver disease products, 21 respiratory system products, 17 surgical/analgesic products, and 19 products in other categories, of which 69 were Category I innovative products.

The Group will continue to boast strong in-house research and development capabilities and has continued to invest in business development, driving innovation and transformation with its dual-engine approach. During the Period, the Group's R&D expenditure amounted to approximately RMB2.6 billion, accounted for approximately 17.1% of the Group's revenue. Nearly 10 innovative drugs will be launched to market in the next three years, and more than 40 innovative drugs in research and development are expected to be launched by 2030, further strengthening the Group's dominance in its four therapeutic areas and providing strong impetus for long-term sustainable growth.

Prospects: Driven by internationalization strategy, aiming to become a world-class innovative pharmaceutical group with revenue of HK$100 billion by 2030
As the pharmaceutical industry is expected to fully recover within the year, the Group will continue to closely monitor market trends and actively optimize its development strategies, making timely adjustments along the entire industrial chain, including procurement, production and marketing, to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. At the same time, it will continue to focus on innovation and development in the four major therapeutic areas of oncology, liver disease, respiratory system, and surgery/ analgesia, and accelerate its international deployment to build a healthier, more diversified, and sustainable revenue system.

Looking ahead, the Group will continue to adhere to its dual-pronged approach of globalization, i.e. bringing global pharmaceutical innovations to China for the benefit of Chinese patients and going global to open up new markets to accelerate the resolution of global unmet clinical needs. The Group aims to generate revenue of up to HK$100 billion by 2030 and become a world-class innovative pharmaceutical group.


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hua Medicine Announces 2023 Interim Results

SHANGHAI, CHINA, Aug 25, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – — First-in-class glucokinase activator (GKA) HuaTangNing (dorzagliatin) was approved in China in September 2022. Since the launch of commercial sales at the end of October 2022 to June 30, 2023, HuaTangNing achieved total sales revenue of RMB87.9 million. For the first half of 2023, approximately 212,000 boxes of HuaTangNing were sold, and Hua Medicine achieved revenues of RMB70.3 million, representing approximately a 299.6% increase in revenue compared with the second half of 2022.

— The Company filed an application to include dorzagliatin in China's National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) and is preparing the pharmacoeconomic value discussion with regulatory agencies in the near future. According to the National Healthcare Security Administration, dorzagliatin has passed the preliminary formal examination.

— The Company invested into dorzagliatin scale-up manufacturing capabilities at Changzhou SynTheAll (STA), Zhejiang Raybow and Shanghai Desano upon its successful commercial launch and during the initial out-of-pocket stage of commercialization.

— The Company has advanced the development of 2nd generation of GKA in overseas markets. Our team is preparing an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing in the United States either by year end 2023 or early 2024.

— The Company has discovered additional therapeutic advantages of dorzagliatin in medical care, including the restoration of endogenous GLP-1 secretion, prevention of cognitive dysfunction, better glycemic control in obese patients with diabetes, and diabetes prevention enabled by reversing impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to normal glucose tolerance (NGT).

— As of June 30, 2023, our cash balance was RMB881.3 million, representing an increase of approximately 79.6% as of December 31, 2022. The Company received RMB400 million non-refundable milestone payment from Bayer. With additional government funding, our total cash received from Bayer and government funding in the first half of 2023 was RMB402.6 million.

— On August 17, 2023, the Group and Bayer confirmed the achievement of a certain milestone relating to the development of HuaTangNing. Pursuant to the terms of the commercialization agreement between the Group and Bayer, the Group is entitled to receive a milestone payment of RMB800 million from Bayer.

Hua Medicine (the "Company", HKEx: 2552) today announces the unaudited consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 2023 (the "Reporting Period").

Dr. Li Chen, the founder and CEO of Hua Medicine, said, "the first half of 2023 was a critical stage for Hua Medicine to begin commercialization. Since successful approval and the launch of prescription sales of dorzagliatin, the Company has worked closely with Bayer across the major channels of on-line drug store, retail pharmacies and hospital pharmacies. The result has been substantial growth of sales that is boosting our confidence in faster growth of dorzagliatin in the future."

"As market demand and user numbers increase, we will carry out more real-world studies on dorzagliatin to meet more unmet clinical needs. In addition, Hua Medicine continues to make breakthroughs in exploring new treatment opportunities for dorzagliatin, including a wider range of indications and product pipelines for more countries and regions. Hua Medicine will continue to work with our partners in exploring more paths for the development of first-in-class drugs in China and around the world, and helping people live healthy and fulfilling lives," Dr. Chen said.

Progress of Clinical Research and Company Operations

— In March 2023, the Company published a research paper in Nature Communications. The paper discusses studies which show that through its modulation of the glucose sensor glucokinase (GK) function and by repairing impaired GLP-1 secretion in patients with diabetes and obesity, dorzagliatin is expected to secure a new indication related to endogenous GLP-1. The study further demonstrated that dorzagliatin restored the impaired glucose homeostasis in T2D patients through its action on GK targets located in the pancreas, intestine, and liver. This may offer a more effective way to achieve diabetes remission in obese diabetes patients through a combination of dorzagliatin with a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

— In June 2023, the Company presented the positive effects of dorzagliatin in the prevention of diabetes and memory deterioration in GK rats at the June 2023 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions. The Company has filed patents in this area and will continue to expand its research into the benefit of dorzagliatin in disease prevention.

— In June 2023, the Company published our results of a prospective SEED-DREAM study in Chinese non-obese diabetes patients in the well-recognized journal, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, in which we have reported a 65% remission probability during 52 weeks in subjects who have improved their TIR (Time-In-Range, a parameter that represents a better homeostasis control) after dorzagliatin treatment. We have further revealed the determinant factors for achieving diabetes remission after dorzagliatin treatment during the SEED study. These factors include a significant improvement of beta cell function and disposition index, reduction of post prandial glucose and significant increase of TIR during the SEED trial. Improvement of TIR is strongly correlated with reducing the risks of various diabetes complications, including heart attack, stroke and renal disease, as well as neurodegenerative disorders.

— The Company has filed its National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) application for dorzagliatin in China and is preparing the pharmacoeconomic value discussion with regulatory agencies in the near future. According to the National Healthcare Security Administration, dorzagliatin has passed the preliminary formal examination.

— Hua Medicine has worked with its manufacturing partners since the drug approval to manage market needs. We have secured adequate dorzagliatin supply for the 2023 calendar year, and initiated investment into dorzagliatin manufacturing capability at Changzhou SynTheAll (STA), Zhejiang Raybow and Shanghai Desano after the successful commercialization launch during the initial out-of-pocket stage. The total investment in 2023-2024 for commercial drug manufacturing and capacity expansion is expected to be in the range of RMB400 million.

— The Company is investigating the potential of dorzagliatin in diabetes prevention in a clinical study. After the initiation of the SENSITIZE II study at Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Company is developing clinical study plans of reversing impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in China. IGT is a primary cause of T2D, and there are approximately 500 million IGT patients worldwide. The main cause of IGT, especially those with impaired post prandial glucose tolerance, is the impairment of early phase insulin secretion in the pancreas and the defect of glucokinase expression in the liver. Mechanistically dorzagliatin has the potential of reversing the condition of the IGT to NGT, and thereby prevent diabetes.

Business outlook

— The Company will continue with our responsibility as market authorization holder (MAH) of dorzagliatin to commercialize dorzagliatin in China with our partner, Bayer, to expand market share in diabetes care, especially among Type 2 diabetes patients with uncontrolled post prandial glucose (PPG) who will benefit from the improvement of beta cell function and time in range (TIR).

— The Company will continue to invest into dorzagliatin manufacturing capability and into expanding our tier-1 distributor network to drive a three-pronged approach to commercialization in China: hospitals, pharmacies, and on-line drug stores.

— The Company is seeking entry into the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), to facilitate the entry into hospitals and increase accessibility by physicians in order to demonstrate dorzagliatin's potential to be a cornerstone treatment for Type 2 diabetes as monotherapy or in combination with other approved antidiabetic drugs.

— The Company is expecting to receive a certain milestone payment from Bayer related to the development of dorzagliatin in the second half of 2023.

— The Company is also advancing development of our second generation glucokinase activator for potential future international expansion including DKD and diseases associated with impaired glucose homeostasis. Currently, we are actively looking for business partners to advance our R&D programs and commercialization to help more patients globally.

— The Company will continue to develop new drug candidates of fixed-dose-combination of dorzagliatin with metformin, sitagliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor) and empagliflozin (a SGLT-2 inhibitor). It was found in clinical studies that the combination of dorzagliatin with a DPP-4 inhibitor or SGLT-2 inhibitor improved glycaemic control and beta cell function in patients with diabetes and obesity.

— Additional benefits of dorzagliatin in disease prevention will be further explored in endocrinology and neurodegeneration.

— Progress has been made in glucokinase candidate targeting congenital hyperinsulinism a rare disease in the United States and China. The AI-based lead optimization will help to advance the program and select clinical candidates with joint effort at AscendRare and Hua Medicine. We are also jointly investigating the opportunity of FKI in different diseases areas and developing sensitive IVD methods for clinical detection of fructose, a sugar component, which contributes to obesity and liver disease. Reduction of the fructose flux into liver could prevent the fatty liver disease and related complications.

Financial highlights

As of June 30, 2023,
— Since the launch of commercial sales at the end of October 2022, dorzagliatin achieved total sales revenue of RMB87.9 million as of June 30, 2023. The revenue of Hua Medicine for the first half of 2023 was RMB70.3 million, which was an increase of approximately 299.6% comparing to the second half of 2022.

— Bank balances and cash position were approximately RMB881.3 million.

— Total expenditures incurred by the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2023, were approximately RMB181.5 million, of which approximately RMB71 million was attributable to research and development expenses.

— Total comprehensive expenses for the period decreased by approximately RMB14.0 million or approximately 13.4% to approximately RMB90.5 million, compared with the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Forward-looking Statement

This article contains the statements regarding the future expectations, plans and prospects for Hua Medicine and the investigational product. The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect as a result of various risks, uncertainties, or other legal requirements.

About Hua Medicine

Hua Medicine is an innovative drug development and commercialization company based in Shanghai, China, focused on developing novel therapies for patients worldwide with unmet medical needs. Based on global resources, Hua Medicine teams up with global high-caliber people to develop breakthrough technologies and products, which contribute a global innovation in diabetes care. As Hua Medicine's cornerstone product (dorzagliatin tablets), targeting the glucose sensor, glucokinase, restores glucose sensitivity in T2D patients and stabilizes the imbalance of blood glucose levels in patients, it has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China on September 30th, 2022. It can be used alone or in combination with metformin hydrochloride-tolerated T2D patients. For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Type 2 diabetes (i.e., diabetes kidney disease), no dose adjustment is required. Hua Medicine will partner with Bayer, a leading global pharmaceutical company, to commercialize HuaTangNing in China, benefiting diabetic patients and their families. HuaTangNing has also demonstrated its potential of achieving diabetes remission in clinical studies to help millions of diabetic patients around the world.

Disclaimer

For the accuracy and completeness of the context, references to information related to products launched in China, especially label or requirements, should follow the relevant documents approved by the Chinese regulatory authorities.

The above information should not be interpreted as a recommendation or promotion of any drug or treatment regimen, nor should it substitute for the medical advice of any healthcare professional. Please consult a healthcare professional for any matters related to medical treatment.


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Universal Medical Announces 2023 Interim Results

HONG KONG, Aug 24, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Genertec Universal Medical Group Company Limited (the "Universal Medical" or "Company"; Stock Coke: 2666.HK) is pleased to announce the interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023.

Since 2023, the company served the "Healthy China" strategy and continued to expand its footprint in the healthcare sector, dedicated to promoting high-quality development for improving quality and expanding quantity with expected stability and energetic growth, and continued to realize the vision of "To Be the Most Trusted Global Leader in Medical & Healthcare Services". In the first half of 2023, the company recorded a revenue of RMB6,634.4 million in total, up by 16.1% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. In particular, the healthcare business recorded a revenue of RMB3,646.1 million, up by 33.8% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, with its proportion to the total revenue increased to 55.0%; the company recorded a profit for the period of RMB1,193.6million, up by 1.5% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, of which, the healthcare business contributed RMB231.6 million, up by 61.1% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year; the company recorded a profit attributable to owners of the parent of RMB1,093.2 million, up by 0.3% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, of which, the healthcare business contributed RMB174.0 million, up by 88.0% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year; and the company recorded a return on total assets (ROA) of 2.96% and a return on equity attributable to ordinary shareholders (ROE) of 15.25%. The indicators of income and the assets conditions maintained a steady and excellent performance.

Integrated Healthcare Service Steady Development: the Net Profit Margin of the Medical Institutions Increased to 5.28%

The medical institutions are not only the company's core resources to build a healthcare conglomerate, but also the R&D and training center of the Group's discipline operation, training center of the Group's discipline operation, as well as the project cultivation and commercialization pool and the sharing center for basic resources and practice of the industrial units. With respect to the integrated healthcare service segment, focusing on the development of the hospital group's core capacity, the company continuously build up the competition advantages of central state-owned enterprises in running medical care,so as to facilitate positive and continuous development of Hospital of SOEs and constantly improve operation efficiency and effectiveness. As at 30 June 2023, the number of consolidated medical institutions increased to 55 (including four Grade III Class A hospitals and 26 Grade II hospitals), with a capacity of 13,893 beds in total. In the first half of the year, the consolidated Hospitals of SOEs contributed to the company a revenue of RMB3,528.0 million, up by 33.4% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year; recorded a profit for the period of RMB186.4 million in total, up by 62.0% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year; and the net profit margin was 5.28%, up by 0.93 percentage point from the same period of the previous year.

Specialties and Healthcare Industry Accelerating Growth: Continuous Enhancement of Competitiveness via Internal & External Strategies

With the business foundation and professional core talent team of its own hospital group, the company strived to build replicable capabilities of specialties and industry operation while serving internal quality and efficiency enhancement, so as to create new profit growth drivers for the listed company. The performance contribution of this business segment mainly comes from providing hospital clients with life cycle management of medical equipment, medical devises sales and internet-based healthcare services.

In the field of nephrology, the company will focus on enhancing the core capabilities for nephropathy diagnosis and treatment of primary level hospitals, the establishment of nephropathy diagnosis and treatment flagship centers and municipal and provincial key specialties and the construction of high-quality blood purification centers. The company continuously deepened the industry layout of nephrology specialties through the scientific research results supported by digitalization. Up to the current moment, the company opened 21 new specialties departments in its member hospitals, continued to build a rapidly replicable operating system, and gradually leading to cooperation with external hospitals. In the first half of 2023, the company founded the nephropathy industry research institute, and have completed the acquisition of Beth Hesda Nephrology Hospital and Haiyang Senzhikang Hospital Co., Ltd.

In the field of oncology, the company continues to push forward the construction, operation and standardization of tumor precision diagnosis and treatment centers, pool internal and external resources to build the flagship tumor specialty diagnosis and treatment benchmark inside and outside the hospital group, develop tumor radiotherapy business product solutions, expand the chain business scale through investment/construction, and promote the standardized, collaborative and efficient development of oncology specialties.The tumor precision diagnosis and treatment center of Ma'anshan MCC17 Hospital operated by the company was opened in March 2023. In June 2023, the company concluded a cooperative arrangement with Mevion Medical Group, under which both parties will jointly establish a tumor precision medical service company as the sole platform to provide oncology radiotherapy services by both parties in the PRC, with an aim to accelerate the establishment of leading oncology diagnosis and treatment business system and intelligent oncology diagnosis and treatment platform in the PRC, continuing to empower the development of the external and internal hospitals of the company.

From the perspective of the life circle management of equipment, the company relies on its own hospital group as a team capability training and business practice base to provide hospital customers with life cycle management services for medical equipment from procurement planning, repair and maintenance to refined operation management. Based on its equipment management and operation capabilities and financial strength accumulated over the years, the company believe that it can achieve rapid improvement of the business scale and core capabilities of the equipment life cycle management through endogenous development and extensional mergers and acquisitions. So far, the company was entrusted the operation of 14 hospitals with the assets under management with a value over RMB3 billion. The value of contracts entered into in the first half of 2023 amounted to over RMB90 million. In August 2023, the company acquired 85% equity interests of Casstar Medical Technology Wuxi Co., Ltd. ("Casstar") at the consideration of RMB467.5 million. Casstar is recognized as a high-tech enterprise, a provincial specialized and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprise, and a provincial gazelle enterprise, and has been committed to providing maintenance services for various type of medical imaging equipment since its establishment, with maintenance capacity covering mainstream medical imaging equipment, as well as life emergency, respiratory anaesthesia, hemodialysis and ultrasound equipment. It served a total of over 1,500 hospitals and maintained long-term cooperation relationship with more than 500 hospitals with asset under management of over RMB10 billion, providing nationwide service capacity. It also has a number of intellectual right patents, enjoys core strength in the Internet of Things, digital development and other fields, and is a leading enterprise with great influence in the industry. This acquisition will provide strong support for the company to improve its core competitiveness in the life cycle management equipment, and will accelerate the implementation of the company's industry consolidation strategy, so as to facilitate rapid development of its business.

Financial Business Resilience: Solid Profitability and Asset Quality, Continuous Financing Structure Optimization.

In 2023, faced with the impact of various factors such as increasing financing costs in the overseas markets, intensified market competition at home, tightening financial regulation and shortage in quality assets, the company always took risk control as a top priority, and were committed to ensuring quality project development for our customers. By keeping abreast of the market development, the company strived to arrange financing structure properly, so as to ensure liquidity sufficiency and security while minimising the pressure of rising costs as a result of US Dollar interest rate hikes on the offshore markets. In the first half of 2023, the company recorded income of finance business of RMB2,988.2 million in total, remaining stable as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. As at 30 June 2023, its net interest-earning assets reached RMB71,764.5 million, representing an increase of 10.0% as compared to that at the beginning of the year; the non-performing asset ratio was 0.98%; the overdue ratio (30 days) was 0.88%, and the provision coverage ratio was 255.06%.

Given that the current domestic and international economy and financial markets continue to be confronted with many risks, challenges and uncertainties, Universal Medical will continue to promote the steady and safe development of its finance business, and give full play to the finance business to empower the development of the medical care industry, so as to build a solid moat for the high-quality development of a central state-owned and listed enterprise.

It is worth mentioning that in terms of high-quality development of listed companies, Universal Medical has been continuously enhancing its ESG construction and fulfilling its social responsibilities as a central state-owned enterprise. The company has been actively engaged in medical assistance in Xinjiang, Tibet, and overseas, and the "XinYan Public Welfare Fund" has provided assistance to over 500 patients, effectively meeting the clinical treatment needs of critically ill patients in economically disadvantaged areas. In April, the company successfully launched the first "Rural Revitalization" labeled medium-term notes, and in July, it successfully secured the first domestic syndicated loan in line with green loan principles. The company has also been selected as one of the "China ESG Top 100 Listed Companies" released by the China Central Television, ranking 62nd. In the future, the company will continue to adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promote high-quality development, and strive for new breakthroughs, creating greater value returns for all shareholders.

For further information, please contact:
PEANUT MEDIA LIMITED
Direct Line: +86-755-61619798 x8210
Email: hswh.project@czgmcn.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute Announces the 11th Annual Thought Leaders Consortium

SEATTLE, WA, Aug 22, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) is excited to bring together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and anyone interested in Functional Medicine for its 11th Annual Thought Leaders Consortium: Next Generation Clinical Management of Chronic Neuroimmune Disorders this October in Seattle, WA.


Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute – 11th Annual Thought Leaders Consortium


The two-day event, located at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, features leading innovators in the application of next-generation approaches for managing complex chronic neuroimmune disorders and will focus on recent discoveries and how to translate this information into clinical practice.

The program will explore the root causes of illness, the complexity of genetic and epigenetic influences, and the power of lifestyle, diet, and environmental and social factors that can impact therapeutic outcomes, with an emphasis on skill development, faculty interaction, and dynamic attendee participation.

With more than 35 countries represented, this immersive educational event is a realization of PLMI's mission to bring together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, media leaders, and other stakeholders to focus on new models of healthcare delivery, advancements in medical nutrition therapy, and exciting emerging science.

Beginning on October 20, the first session focuses on advances in the management of neuroimmune disorders, with speakers including Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., who has spent more than four decades focused on the improvement of human health and is known worldwide as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement. His pioneering work created PLMI as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). Other topics will include the unique features of specific plant foods in managing neuroimmune disorders and genomic testing and what it says about the risk of neuroimmune disorders.

Three more engaging sessions will be covered during the event with topics including neuroimmune assessment and intervention, advances in personalizing neuroimmune interventions, and advances in repairing broken brain-behavior connections. Attendees will hear from internationally recognized experts such as Dr. Terry Wahls, Aristo Vojdani, PhD, MD, Bridget Briggs, MD, Deanna Minich, Ph.D., CNS, Dale Bredesen, MD, and more. For a full list of speakers and their topics, see the event agenda here.

The last session will also include a discussion period among faculty and attendees and end with closing comments from Dr. Bland.

PLMI looks forward to exploring these approaches to managing chronic conditions with the consortium's attendees. Space is limited at the event, and those wishing to attend can register here.

About PLMI

The mission of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute is to bring together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, media leaders, and other stakeholders to focus on new models of healthcare delivery, advancements in medical nutrition therapy, and exciting emerging science. Our vision encompasses building a community around dynamic collaborations, compelling dialogues, evidence-based information and resources, and immersive educational events. Since 1991, hundreds of thousands of healthcare practitioners have participated in PLMI programs, and this collective knowledge has positively impacted the lives of patients all over the world.

Contact Information
Nicole Fox
Media Management
info@plminstitute.org
(206) 201-3794

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com