Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. Launches 12C Methane QG Diamond for Quantum Applications

TEWKSBURY, MA, May 27, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. (CIL) is pleased to announce the release of highly enriched 12C methane with low nitrogen content called 12C Methane QG Diamond™ for quantum applications in the field of color and nitrogen vacancy CVD diamonds. 12C Methane QG Diamond will be useful for academics focused on quantum research, those developing diamonds with specific color properties or nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, and producers of industrial diamonds. The process of such applications begins with 12C-enriched methane.

“The creation of NV diamonds necessitates an exceptionally high concentration of 12C; minimal and controlled amounts of nitrogen,” explains Joel Louette, who oversees business development for Emerging Markets at CIL. “Our interactions with clients from both academia and industry lead us to understand that the ideal material would possess a 12C enrichment of no less than 99.99% and contain nitrogen at levels below 1 part per million.”

For over four decades, CIL has honed its skill in separating 13C isotopes through the process of cryogenic distillation. In doing so, CIL has consistently increased its 13C production capabilities to satisfy growing market needs, thereby reinforcing its position as a leader in this sector. Utilizing this deep-seated knowledge in cryogenic distillation, CIL has successfully developed a new 12C separation system, achieving the transition from design to operation in under three years.

Quantum magnetometers based on NV are revolutionizing inertial navigation, enhancing electric vehicle battery efficiency, healthcare, internet security, and may one day enable brain-to-machine interfaces.

About Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.

CIL is the world’s largest manufacturer and global supplier of stable isotopes and stable isotope-labeled compounds used in research, environmental, neonatal, pharmaceutical, medical diagnostic, OLED, and industrial markets. CIL subsidiary ABX, located in Dresden, Germany, is active in the development and commercialization of radio isotopic-labeled compounds for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. CIL is an operating business owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The CIL business consists of two facilities in the Boston, MA, area; a large isotope-enrichment production plant in Xenia, OH; CIL China; CIL Canada; ABX in Dresden, Germany; and Eurisotop in Saclay, France. For more information on CIL, visit isotope.com.

Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.
Phone: 1.978.749.8000
Fax: 1.978.749.2768
www.isotope.com

Contact Information

Crissy Krisko
crissyk@isotope.com
1.978.269.1930

SOURCE: Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.

Mahkota Medical Centre: Promoting Women Empowerment

HANOI, Vietnam, May 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Established in 1994, Mahkota Medical Centre offers advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and intensive care facilities and quality medical services. Mahkota Medical Centre is the flagship hospital of Health Management International Pte Ltd (HMI Group).

At the recent 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit and Awards 2024, Mahkota received the Silver Award for Empowerment of Women Award for Less Than $500 Million Market Capitalization category, reflecting its focus on empowering women within its organization.

In an interview with ACN Newswire, Ms Teo Chin Yee, CEO of Mahkota, talks about the organization’s strategies and processes throughout its journey in promoting women empowerment and gender equality.

ACN: Can you share with us Mahkota Medical Centre’s journey in promoting women empowerment within the organization, and how it aligns with your core values and mission?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre’s journey in promoting women empowerment within the organization is deeply rooted in our core values of Competence, Compassion, and Collaboration.

Competence: We acknowledge and appreciate the competence and capabilities of women in our organization. Through continuous training, mentorship programs, and development opportunities, we empower women to enhance their skills and expertise, enabling them to excel and advance in their careers.

Compassion: Our dedication to compassion extends to all individuals, including our female staff members. We prioritize cultivating a supportive and nurturing work environment where women feel valued, respected, and supported in balancing their professional and personal responsibilities. Our leadership team is committed to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by women, ensuring they receive the compassion and support necessary to thrive.

Collaboration: We believe in the strength of collaboration and teamwork in achieving our objectives. By fostering a culture of collaboration, we encourage women to share their ideas, insights, and experiences, leading to numerous innovations within the organization. Additionally, this culture enables women to support and learn from one another, driving positive change collectively.

At Mahkota Medical Centre, our commitment to promoting women empowerment aligns seamlessly with our mission to provide exceptional healthcare services. By empowering women within our organization, we will be able to not only enhance the professional growth and development of our female staff, but also strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality care to our patients.

ACN: Mahkota Medical Centre is known for its commitment to international accreditation. How has this accreditation process contributed to fostering women empowerment within the organization?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: The accreditation process undertaken by Mahkota Medical Centre has played a pivotal role in fostering women empowerment within the organization, primarily by promoting gender equality and providing equal opportunities for career advancement.

Firstly, through international accreditation, Mahkota Medical Centre has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism. This commitment creates an environment conducive to the success of women in various roles within our organization. By adhering to these rigorous standards, women are provided with a level playing field where their skills and contributions are recognized and valued, thus facilitating their growth and advancement within the organization.

Moreover, the attainment of accreditation promotes inclusivity and diversity within the workplace. By striving for and achieving recognition on an international scale, Mahkota Medical Centre sends a clear message that all individuals, regardless of gender, have a voice and are valued contributors to the organization. This inclusivity allows women to actively participate in decision-making processes, shaping the organization’s culture and practices to be more supportive and conducive to their professional growth and development.

A concrete example of how accreditation has contributed to women empowerment within our organization is evident in the role of nurse navigators within various clinical care programs. These nurse navigators play a crucial role in ensuring that patients understand their treatment plans and receive the necessary support throughout their journey. Empowered to bring patient issues to interdisciplinary meetings for discussion and improvement, nurse navigators exemplify how accreditation has enabled women to take on leadership roles and drive positive change within our organization.

In summary, the accreditation process undertaken by Mahkota Medical Centre reinforces our dedication to promoting women empowerment and advancing gender equality within our workplace. By adhering to international standards and fostering inclusivity, accreditation creates an environment where women are able to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our organization’s mission of providing quality healthcare services.

ACN: Could you elaborate on any specific programs or initiatives implemented at Mahkota Medical Centre aimed at empowering women across borders?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre has spearheaded impactful programs aimed at empowering women across borders, with the Jakarta PinkCare Wellness Program 2023 in Indonesia standing out as a notable example.

This initiative was carefully crafted to raise awareness among women about the critical importance of taking proactive measures to safeguard their well-being, particularly in preventing breast cancer. Central to the program’s objectives was the emphasis on regular healthcare screenings and early detection as vital components of maintaining optimal health and preventing the onset or progression of breast cancer.

Highlighting Mahkota Medical Centre’s commitment to providing accessible and comprehensive healthcare services to women, the program showcased various screening options available at the centre. By doing so, it underscored the organization’s dedication to ensuring that women have convenient access to essential healthcare resources, thus empowering them to take charge of their health proactively.

The launch event was held at Plaza Indonesia, a renowned venue in Jakarta, and was met with a resounding success which drew considerable attention from stakeholders and the public alike. Among the distinguished guests in attendance was the Ambassador of Malaysia to Indonesia, lending further prestige to the occasion. Notably, the representatives from Mahkota Medical Centre who graced the event were all women, including the Oncologist, Breast Surgeon, and nurse navigators. Their presence not only represented the organization’s commitment to women’s health, but also served as a testament to the integral role that women play in healthcare leadership and service delivery.

An impactful aspect of the event was the heartfelt testimonies shared by two Indonesian breast cancer survivors. Their narratives shed light on the transformative power of early detection and accessible healthcare services in their journey towards recovery. These testimonials served as poignant reminders of the importance of women’s health empowerment and left a lasting impression on the attendees, inspiring them to prioritize their own well-being and seek preventive healthcare measures.

Overall, the Jakarta PinkCare Wellness Program exemplifies Mahkota Medical Centre’s unwavering dedication to empowering women across borders by promoting health awareness, facilitating access to healthcare services, and fostering a supportive environment conducive to proactive health management.

ACN: Collaboration with governmental and NGOs can significantly enhance women empowerment efforts. Can you discuss any partnerships Mahkota Medical Centre has established in this regard and the impact they’ve had?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre has recognized the importance of collaboration with governmental organizations and NGOs in enhancing women empowerment efforts, particularly in the realm of breast cancer awareness and prevention.

One significant partnership is with Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN), where we collaborated to facilitate free yearly breast screenings for women in the local community. Through this partnership, we extend our reach and ensure that more women have access to crucial screenings, empowering them to take control of their breast health. By combining resources and expertise, Mahkota Medical Centre and LPPKN work together to remove barriers to healthcare access and promote overall well-being within the community.

Moreover, our annual Mahkota Charity Run serves as another testament to our commitment to collaborative efforts for women empowerment. In this initiative, we join forces with both governmental organizations and NGOs to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer patients. For instance, in our latest run, we partnered with Skyhawk Melaka and raised an impressive RM122,788. These funds were channeled to support breast cancer patients through contributions to the National Cancer Society Malaysia and the Seck Kia Eenh Cancer Fund. Notably, over 100 breast cancer survivors participated in the event, symbolizing resilience and hope within our community.

Through these partnerships, Mahkota Medical Centre demonstrates its dedication to empowering women by providing essential healthcare services, raising awareness, and supporting those affected by breast cancer. By leveraging collaborative efforts with governmental organizations and NGOs, we amplify our impact and work towards a future where women have equal opportunities for health and well-being.

ACN: In what ways does Mahkota Medical Centre leverage its strong female leadership at the helm to drive women empowerment initiatives within the organization and beyond?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre leverages its strong female leadership to drive women empowerment initiatives within and beyond the organization. With more than 70% of our workforce being female, including doctors, nurses, and support staff, women play a crucial role in ensuring round-the-clock patient care and emergency response.

Leading by Example: Female leaders set a compelling example for women within the organization and beyond. They demonstrate that gender should never be a barrier to success and inspire women to aspire to leadership roles.

Fostering a Supportive Culture: Mahkota Medical Centre prioritizes fostering a supportive culture where effective communication and listening skills are valued. Female leaders nurture an environment where women feel empowered to voice their ideas, contribute their expertise, and lead positive change.

Advocating for Change: Female leaders advocate for change both within the organization and in the broader community. They champion gender equality in healthcare and advocate for women’s rights, striving to create a future where women are empowered to thrive professionally and personally.

By leading through example, fostering a supportive culture, and advocating for change, Mahkota Medical Centre’s strong female leadership inspires and empowers women to realize their full potential, contributing to a future where women make a lasting impact in every aspect of society.

ACN: How does Mahkota Medical Centre ensure gender diversity and inclusivity in leadership positions, and what benefits have you observed from having a diverse leadership team?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre upholds gender diversity and inclusivity in leadership roles through deliberate efforts. Despite having a predominantly male presence among doctors in leadership, and a female-dominated nurse workforce, the organization ensures equal opportunities for career advancement.

Administrative and support functions implement unbiased recruitment and promotion processes, prioritizing merit-based considerations over gender. Moreover, the organization invests in tailored nursing competency and leadership development programs to empower female leaders. These initiatives offer mentorship, training, and networking opportunities, fostering the professional growth of women within the organization.

A gender-diverse leadership team cultivates an inclusive workplace culture, promoting a sense of value, respect, and empowerment among all employees. This inclusivity positively impacts employee morale, engagement, and retention rates, ultimately contributing to organizational success.

Overall, Mahkota Medical Centre remains steadfast in its commitment to gender diversity and inclusivity in leadership positions. By ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, irrespective of gender, the organization strives to create a conducive environment for thriving and succeeding, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of its healthcare delivery system.

ACN: Can you share any success stories or milestones achieved through Mahkota Medical Centre’s women empowerment initiatives, particularly those related to international accreditation and cross-border partnerships?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre has witnessed significant success through its women empowerment initiatives, particularly in international accreditation and cross-border partnerships.

One notable achievement is the regional expansion of our PinkCare program beyond Malaysia, offering tailored breast care education to communities in neighbouring countries like Indonesia. This initiative addresses the pressing issue of breast cancer and provides culturally sensitive education, recognizing the unique needs of women in different regions.

Additionally, Mahkota Medical Centre has implemented nurse navigators as trusted guides to assist individuals in navigating through breast health concerns. This program, coupled with our follow-up study into breast cancer, continues to generate results which emphasized the importance of inclusivity, personalized care, and equitable access to women’s health services.

Challenges in implementing women empowerment initiatives are inevitable, particularly in recognizing the holistic needs of women and ensuring comprehensive healthcare services. However, Mahkota Medical Centre is profoundly grateful for the unwavering support and commitment of everyone involved in empowering women’s health. Through collective efforts, barriers are broken down, inequalities are challenged, and the voices of women in healthcare are uplifted. Together, Mahkota Medical Centre is making a tangible difference in the lives of women, their families, and communities.

ACN: What are some of the challenges Mahkota Medical Centre has encountered in implementing women empowerment initiatives, and how have you overcome them?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Implementing women empowerment initiatives at Mahkota Medical Centre has posed challenges, notably regarding balancing work and family responsibilities for female employees.

A significant hurdle arises from the need for women to manage professional duties alongside family commitments which are particularly prevalent among younger women with childbearing responsibilities or caregiving duties. In response, Mahkota Medical Centre prioritizes compassion and flexibility.

To address this, we’ve implemented policies and practices accommodating female employees’ needs, such as offering flexible working arrangements. This includes options to transfer to non-shift duties or adjust work hours, ensuring they can fulfill family obligations without sacrificing professional responsibilities.

By fostering a compassionate and flexible work environment, Mahkota Medical Centre empowers women to manage their work-life balance effectively. This approach supports the well-being of female employees and contributes to a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture overall.

ACN: How do you measure the effectiveness and impact of Mahkota Medical Centre’s women empowerment programs, especially in terms of promoting gender equality and advancing women’s leadership?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Tracking the progression of female employees within the organization through promotions to leadership positions is a tangible measure of the empowerment programs’ effectiveness in supporting women’s career growth. By monitoring the number of women advancing into leadership roles over time, Mahkota Medical Centre can assess whether empowerment initiatives are successfully facilitating career advancement opportunities for women.

Gathering feedback from female employees through surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews provides valuable insights into their experiences with empowerment initiatives. This feedback helps identify perceived benefits, challenges faced, and areas for improvement in the programs. It also enables Mahkota Medical Centre to tailor empowerment initiatives to better meet the needs and aspirations of female employees.

Analysing retention rates among female employees is another important measure of the impact of empowerment programs. Higher retention rates among women may indicate increased job satisfaction, loyalty, and the organization’s ability to retain talented women in leadership roles. Understanding retention trends allows Mahkota Medical Centre to assess the effectiveness of empowerment efforts in creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for women.

By systematically evaluating career advancement, gathering employee feedback, and monitoring retention rates, Mahkota Medical Centre can assess the overall impact of its women empowerment programs and make informed decisions to further enhance gender equality and support women’s leadership development within the organization.

ACN: Looking ahead, what are your vision and goals for Mahkota Medical Centre’s continued commitment to women empowerment, both within the organization and in the broader healthcare community?

Ms Teo Chin Yee: Mahkota Medical Centre’s vision for continued commitment to women empowerment involves fostering a high-performance culture within the organization while also making significant strides in the broader healthcare community.

Internally, our aim is to establish Mahkota Medical Centre as a compelling employer brand, attracting and retaining top talent. This entails implementing the best HR practices, such as offering competitive total remuneration packages, prioritizing staff wellbeing through psychosocial practices, and providing tailored recognition and rewards.

Furthermore, we seek to enhance employee engagement by fostering an environment that encourages continuous learning and development. This includes developing a competency framework for nursing and allied health/clinical staff to ensure they have the necessary resources to excel in their roles.

Moreover, Mahkota Medical Centre is dedicated to intensifying the 3Cs culture (Compassion, Competence, Collaboration) and work ethics within the organization. This involves initiatives such as enhancing patient experience through Service Excellence, establishing a Nursing Academy for improved patient care and safety, and promoting collaboration through team recognition and continuous improvement efforts.

In the broader healthcare community, our vision extends to empowering women across Southeast Asia. We plan to leverage our expertise and resources through initiatives like knowledge sharing, capacity building programs, and partnerships with regional healthcare institutions to promote gender equality and women’s leadership in healthcare.

Overall, Mahkota Medical Centre’s vision for women empowerment encompasses creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture while also making significant contributions to advancing gender equality and women’s leadership in healthcare, both locally and regionally.

About Mahkota Medical Centre

Founded in 1994, Mahkota Medical Centre (Mahkota) is one of the largest and most comprehensive tertiary private hospitals in South Malaysia. The hospital offers state-of-the-art diagnostics and therapies, along with high-quality medical services. It is one of the most comprehensive hospitals, focusing on medical sub-specialties with high surgical workloads. Licenced with 272 beds in eight wards and housing over 120 practising consultants across a wide range of medical and surgical disciplines, it is supported by dedicated management, doctors, and allied healthcare staff.

Mahkota is a top medical tourism destination in Malaysia and an elite member of the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council, serving around 95,000 foreign patients annually. In 2023, Mahkota is proud to be named one of the four finalists in the prestigious Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme, which aims to establish Malaysia as a globally renowned icon for healthcare travel.

Mahkota was the first private hospital in Malacca to become accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) and has been accredited from 2023-2026. In addition, Mahkota is the first hospital in Malaysia to be awarded the JCI Clinical Care Programme Certification (CCPC) for Breast Cancer. In order to ensure Malaysians’ patient safety and quality, the hospital has earned the 6th edition of Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) accreditation. Mahkota is the flagship hospital of Health Management International Pte Ltd (HMI Group), with more than 25 years of track record. For more information on Mahkota, please visit https://www.mahkotamedical.com.

Media contact:
Tay Jia Wen
Senior Executive, Brand & Communications
E: tay.jiawen@mahkotamedical.com
FB: www.facebook.com/MahkotaMedical/

Asia Summit on Global Health and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair conclude successfully

ASGH attracted 2,800+ participants from 40 countries and regions
Medical Fair welcomed 12,000+ buyers from 60 countries and regions
360+ deal-making sessions and 650+ business matching meetings were arranged to facilitate cross-sector collaboration
Signing of cooperation agreements at ASGH fostered collaboration across healthcare, including ophthalmology, gastrointestinal well-being, AI and innovative drugs

HONG KONG, May 19, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – China’s 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub, which will provide new opportunities in healthcare and promote the city as an international health innovation hub.

Global healthcare leaders, medical product and service traders, start-ups and investors gathered in Hong Kong for the third International Healthcare Week, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), to engage in conversation on the healthcare industry’s latest developments and trending topics.

The flagship events, the fourth Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) and the 15th edition of the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair), concluded successfully yesterday. ASGH attracted over 2,800 participants from 40 countries and regions, while the Medical Fair welcomed over 12,000 buyers from 60 countries and regions.

More than 360 one-on-one deal-making sessions and over 650 business matching meetings were arranged to facilitate cross-sector collaboration.

Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “Global health issues, such as ageing populations, novel infectious diseases and climate-related health threats, have accelerated the need for innovation, collaboration and inclusion. The Asia Summit on Global Health and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair have greatly contributed to advancing health and medical innovation and fostering vital industry exchange. Being able to bring together leading figures in healthcare-related industries in Hong Kong is a testament to our city’s position as a leading hub for medical innovation.”

Healthcare experts discuss trending topics

The Summit brought together over 80 experts, researchers, medical professionals, business leaders, investors and representatives from the healthcare industry worldwide. They engaged in fruitful discussions on diverse forward-looking issues, ranging from healthcare innovation, innovative drugs and China’s healthcare development to healthcare investment prospects and healthcare insurance.

At the first plenary that discussed opportunities in co-creating a synergistic health innovation ecosystem, Prof Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Health of the Hong Kong SAR, said: “Hong Kong is on a road to reform its medical product registration and innovate biomedical research in the coming decade. With the national endorsement and our policy innovations, together with the can-do spirit of our people bolstered with our traditional and new advantages, I am confident that Hong Kong will overcome all challenges and achieve its goal of developing into a health and medical innovation hub.”

Another highlight was Prof Roger Kornberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2006, in the second plenary who highlighted the latest biotech advancements. He pointed out: “The chief limiting factor in research today is financial support. The Hong Kong government has taken important steps very recently and announced a programme to invest HK$6 billion in a research centre for fundamental studies. It’s a good beginning, but it should not end there,” Prof Kornberg said.

He added: “Most discoveries are made by young people. The importance of creating opportunities for young people to gain early independence and to be adequately supported to pursue their curiosity, in whatever direction that may take, is the key to success.”

In the Dialogue with Global Pioneer in Health, Prof Michael Hanna, Director of UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology of University College London, shared the latest trends and research findings in neuroscience and mentioned the importance and power of global collaboration in determining genetic risk factors.

In the session What’s Next in China’s Healthcare Arena, medical experts and business leaders analysed the latest healthcare developments and investment environment in Mainland China. Antony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group, pointed out that a good patient experience is the area the industry can explore and invest in.

During the Advancing Healthcare in Asia Through Innovation session, Yasushi Okada, Representative Corporate Officer and COO of Eisai Co., Ltd., said Hong Kong continues to be an important hub for East Asia and ASEAN, playing a vital role in the advancement of science, technology, finance and economy. Enterprises sign agreements, 360 matching sessions held ASGH Deal-making matched healthcare investment projects with investors, including angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate venture capitalists, private equity firms and family offices. More than 360 one-on-one sessions between investors and project owners took place.

To foster collaboration across healthcare, including ophthalmology, gastrointestinal well-being, AI, innovative drugs and more, this year’s Summit facilitated the signing of cooperation agreements, including:

-Zhaoke (Hong Kong) Ophthalmology and PT Erela Indonesia;

-Optima International and TRB Chemedica (Thailand);

-Gense Technologies and EC Healthcare;

-Schweitzer Health Biotech Co., Ltd and DKSH Hong Kong;

-PanMediso Capital Limited and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;

-AstraZeneca and Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology (CTSCB);

-Uni-Bioscience Group, Great Bay Bio and Pebble Accelerator

These partners were all connected via previous editions of the Summit and HKTDC’s global network. In particular, AstraZeneca and CTSCB will work together to advance scientific research and translate the findings into healthcare solutions that improve lives and foster the development of the healthcare ecosystem.

Additionally, the LiverCare – Hong Kong 10 Million Liver Scans Program launch ceremony was held at ASGH. The Hong Kong LiverCare Alliance plans to carry out 10 million early screening tests for liver disease to raise public awareness of liver disease prevention and treatment.

Facilitating business connections and matching at Medical Fair

The Medical Fair, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), brought together some 300 exhibitors from eight countries and regions, including six local universities, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) and healthcare enterprises led by HKMHDIA.

“We have connected with over 150 new customers, and we believe that more than half of them have collaboration opportunities. We expect to secure orders with a total value of around US$3 million,” said Dr Cheng Man-Hong, Director of medical equipment company Maxwin & Honwell Limited. The company had a successful debut at the Medical Fair. “We also discussed with potential medical companies from Canada, the UK, Taiwan and Thailand. Through the Click2Match platform, we successfully matched with buyers from Indonesia and India,” Dr Cheng added.

Gold Together Technology Limited, another Hong Kong exhibitor, capitalised on domestic opportunities and received enquiries from local hospitals under the Hospital Authority, such as Kowloon Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and private hospitals, like Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital and Union Hospital, with a potential value of HK$50 million.

Participating in the Medical Fair for the third time, VVFLY Electronics Co., Ltd. from Mainland China promoted sleep health products, such as AI-powered anti-snoring devices. Lily Li, the company’s Sales Director, mentioned that the Fair helped them expand into the Southeast Asian and South Asian markets, and they were highly satisfied with the results. “An Indian customer purchased 1,000 breathing machines on the first day, totalling US$150,000-$200,000. Later, we also received orders from buyers in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, totalling around 500 breathing machines, exceeding our expectations.”

Assel Abakova, Deputy Director of Amanat LLP Pharmaceutical Company from Kazakhstan with an extensive distribution network in the country and neighbouring regions, such as Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, visited the fair for the first time. In view of the growing cases of laryngeal cancer in the region, there is demand for a rapid diagnostic tool to facilitate immediate treatment. “We found a Hong Kong exhibitor that offers AI-enabled diagnostic solutions, which may relieve the shortage of medical and testing professionals in the region,” she said. The buyer will continue discussions with the exhibitor to customise and localise the solution, and the potential project value could exceed US$10 million.

Seminars on wide-ranging topics were held during the Fair, attracting keen participation from healthcare professionals. In the HKMHDIA Medical Fair Forum, experts discussed topics, such as gerontechnology and smart health. Those who missed the seminars can watch the replay on the Fair’s website at https://bit.ly/3DNBBXy.

The Medical Fair ran under the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ hybrid model. In addition to the physical fair, buyers can extend their sourcing journey online via the Click2Match smart business matching platform until 25 May as well as via hktdc.com Sourcing.

Websites
International Healthcare Week: https://internationalhealthcareweek.hktdc.com/en
Asia Summit On Global Health: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en
Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en
Photo download: https://bit.ly/4bJHOms

ASGH attracted over 2,800 participants from 40 countries and regions

Prof Roger Kornberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2006 and Professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University, said “The Hong Kong government has taken important steps very recently and announced a programme to invest HK$6 billion in a research centre for fundamental studies. It’s a good beginning, but it should not end there.”

Zhaoke Ophthalmology and PT Erela from Indonesia signed a cross-border cooperation agreement on eye diseases

AstraZeneca and Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology (CTSCB) formalised their cooperation at ASGH to develop life-improving healthcare solutions.

The Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair featured various zones, attracting over 12,000 buyers from 60 countries and regions

The HKSTP pavilion, comprising more than 30 start-ups, showcased cutting-edge medical equipment, diagnostic and analysis solutions and telemedicine technology

The debut Hungary pavilion showcased medical instruments applicable to fields, such as analytical testing science. Antibacterial coatings have also been featured.

HKMHDIA Medical Fair Forum, co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association, explored Hong Kong’s developments in smart health and innovative transformation

Media enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Hill & Knowlton:

Joyce Kwong	Tel: (852) 2894 6321	Email: joyce.kwong@hillandknowlton.com
Lynn Zhang	Tel: (852) 2894 6301	Email: lynn.zhang@hillandknowlton.com

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Asia Summit on Global Health

Clayton Lauw

Tel: (852) 2584 4472

Email:clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair

Jane Cheung

Tel: (852) 2584 4137

Email:jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

New XSeed Labs Research Team Starts Activity in the U.S. in Collaboration With Boehringer Ingelheim

RIDGEFIELD, CT, May 16, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – XSeed Labs – a collaboration between BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim, announces the start of its first research team on the Boehringer Ingelheim campus in Ridgefield, Connecticut. This research team’s main objective is to develop complex, physiologically relevant disease models that deepen our understanding of dysfunctional wound healing and fibrosis. The end goal is to study fibrosis, drug delivery strategies, and drug safety in parallel, in an effort to bridge the gap between research and development to improve patient outcomes accurately and efficiently.

The new research team is led by Dr. Lorenzo Talà, Group Leader at XSeed Labs. “Due to insufficient understanding of the mechanisms driving their pathology, therapies to treat fibrotic diseases are limited. The aim of our research group is to develop physiologically relevant in vitro and in silico fibrosis models. By combining both approaches, we will interrogate disease mechanisms, identify drug delivery pathways, and assess drug safety in order to facilitate drug development toward resolving fibrotic tissues.”

Christian Tidona, Founder and Managing Director of the BioMed X Institute: “We are pleased that we could successfully translate the innovation model we established in Heidelberg and New Haven to work inside a major pharma research and development campus. We have a long history of successful collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim at our Heidelberg institute, and we are proud to extend this collaboration to their U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield, Connecticut.”

“We are committed to accelerating innovation across fibrotic diseases. This partnership allows us to harness top talent across the biomedical industry and leverage our leading research and development site in the U.S. to discover insights that could help transform the way we treat these diseases,” said Carine Boustany, PhD, U.S. Research Site Head and Global Head of Immunology and Respiratory Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim. “In parallel, we will harness these innovative disease model systems to assess the safety of novel anti-fibrotic concepts, and identify better ways to deliver our molecules,” said Xiaorong He, PhD, U.S. Development Site Head and Global Head of Development Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim.

“We are excited to start our first XSeed Labs team at Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield. It is the beginning of a unique innovation model that promotes scientific exchange between major players in biomedical research,” says Mark Johnston, CEO of BioMed X USA.

About BioMed X and XSeed Labs

BioMed X is an independent research institute with sites in Heidelberg, Germany, New Haven, Connecticut, XSeed Labs in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and a worldwide network of partner locations. Together with our partners, we identify big biomedical research challenges and provide creative solutions by combining global crowdsourcing with local incubation of the world’s brightest early-career research talents. Each of the highly diverse research teams at BioMed X has access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and is continuously guided by experienced mentors from academia and industry. At BioMed X, we combine the best of two worlds — academia and industry — and enable breakthrough innovation by making biomedical research more efficient, more agile, and more fun.

BioMed X started working with Boehringer Ingelheim in 2015 with a series of joint research projects hosted by the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. The new collaboration model – called XSeed Labs – entails an open innovation incubator embedded in the Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield campus in Connecticut, USA.

Contact Information

Flavia-Bianca Cristian
Recruiting & Communications Manager
fbc@bio.mx
+49 6221 426 11 706

Swathi Lingam
Scientific Communication & Editorial Associate
lingam@bio.mx
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View the original press release on newswire.com.

HKTDC kicks off third International Healthcare Week

Over 80 healthcare experts discuss forward-looking topics at Asia Summit on Global Health, including latest trends in neuroscience, precision medicine and Chinese medicine
Some 300 exhibitors at Medical Fair showcase latest medtech, such as dementia assessment systems and biotech for wound treatment
First orthopaedic surgical robot made in Hong Kong on view at Medical Fair

HONG KONG, May 16, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The third International Healthcare Week (IHW), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened yesterday, featuring two flagship events.

Themed Innovation. Inclusion. Impact, the fourth Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) takes place today and tomorrow, facilitating exchange and collaboration among industry players from around the world.

The 15th edition of the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair) runs from today to 18 May. Featuring some 300 exhibitors, the Fair showcases a wide range of innovative medical products and solutions and promotes global industry collaboration to position Hong Kong as a hub for medical innovation.

Opening the Summit, HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said: “Asia is growing in importance in the global health ecosystem. With Hong Kong being an international finance and business centre and on its way to becoming a health and medical innovation hub, it is fitting for the HKTDC to organise International Healthcare Week, with the Asia Summit on Global Health and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair as flagship events, to bring together major industry players from Asia and beyond in our city to foster collaboration and accelerate the development of Asia’s medical and healthcare industry.”

In his opening speech, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee said, “Technology is a policy priority of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Thanks to the strong support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan and other national strategies, Hong Kong is rapidly emerging as an international innovation and technology hub,” Mr Lee said. “Collaboration and partnerships fast-track innovation. And that, I’m confident, can begin right here, over these two days of forums, plenaries, dialogues and networking sessions. A wealth of medical research and development intelligence and insights, together with the latest I&T, and the experts driving them: all here for you, at this year’s Asia Summit on Global Health.”

During his special remarks, Prof Cao Xuetao, Vice-Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, pointed out: “Hong Kong as an international financial, maritime trade and innovation hub is leveraging its unique position to connect Mainland China with the world. In recent years, Hong Kong has made significant advancements in the medical and healthcare sectors. These developments, amid the complex and evolving international landscape, have profound implications on global health security, socioeconomic progress and well-being. This underscores the importance of strengthening collaboration to seize new opportunities and address emerging challenges in healthcare.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), also delivered remarks at the opening session via video link.

Industry elites discuss forward-looking issues at ASGH

In the first plenary session today, Prof Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Health of the HKSAR, highlighted the preparatory work for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation and the progress made in promoting Hong Kong as a health innovation hub. He Yaqiong, Director General of the Consumer Goods Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, shared the country’s experience in advancing high-quality development of the healthcare industry. He also discussed how Chinese pharmaceutical companies can effectively use the Hong Kong platform to tap into international markets.

At the second plenary, Prof Roger Kornberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2006 and Professor of Structural Biology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, spoke about the latest developments in biotechnology.

ASGH gathers more than 80 global leaders in healthcare, including business executives, investors, international research and medical experts and health officials, to discuss diverse industry issues, such as medical and healthcare innovations, healthcare development in China and healthcare investment prospects.

These include Andy Ho, Chief Region Leader of Philips Greater China, Antony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group, Prof Tony Mok Shu Kam, Chairman of Department of Clinical Oncology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Prof Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Given the rise of AI in healthcare, the summit held a dedicated session with representatives from Medtronic plc, HeartFlow, Inc. and other organisations discussing AI opportunities and practical applications in the healthcare sector, such as diagnosing cardiovascular diseases.

Day two of ASGH features diverse thematic sessions. With Chinese medicine gaining more attention, the complementary use of Chinese and Western medicine has become a rising trend. Representatives from the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Hospital explore Chinese medicine in modern healthcare, while a session organised with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University discusses the development of innovative drugs with specialists from Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd, AstraZeneca, and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited.

Facilitating connections and opportunities

The exhibition area and InnoHealth Showcase feature projects and services from around the world, including pharmaceutical and therapeutics, AI and digital health, medical device and diagnostics, community health and wellness, from more than 150 innovative technology companies related to healthcare.

Among them, more than 70 start-ups and projects are being showcased with the support of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and six local universities. Many of these exhibitors were recognised at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions earlier this year.

Aside from the continued participation of The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and HKSAR Innovation and Technology Commission , Australia’s Investment NSW and the Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine bring innovative healthcare start-ups and institutions to Hong Kong for the first time to help them connect with potential partners and investors.

A core element of the Summit, ASGH deal-making connects project owners and investors from across the globe to discuss collaboration opportunities. Participating investors represent a diverse range of backgrounds, including angel investors, venture capitalists and corporate venture capital, private equity firms, family offices and more.

At the new Investor Workshop, guest speakers, including Dr Charles Hu, Founder and CEO of Ryoden Medical Holdings Ltd., explore investments in healthcare companies and start-ups and share insights into the investment landscape.

AI and robotics – Innovations Boosting Smart Health Experience

The Medical Fair, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), showcases cutting-edge medical and healthcare equipment and solutions, including robotics and medical and healthcare products. Themed Innovations Boosting Smart Health Experience, the Fair also features products catered to the silver market.

Covering biotechnology, hospital equipment, rehabilitation, laboratory equipment and more, the Fair’s various zones feature some 300 exhibitors comprising leading research and academic institutions, including six local universities, HKSTP and enterprises led by HKMHDIA. Highlights of exhibits include notable AI and robotics medical technologies as well as cold chain logistics solutions.

Exhibitor Yuanhua Robotics, Perception & AI Technologies (HK) Limited presents the first orthopaedic surgical robot made in Hong Kong, with a robotic arm that can expertly assist with hip and knee replacement operations.

Another Hong Kong exhibitor Sramek Insight Limited presents a wearable smart cardiovascular analyser, which delivers continuous hemodynamic data through remote monitoring, and provides customised medical advice based on real-time data.

Hungary exhibitor Uscom Ltd. showcases an ultrasonic spirometer to assess pulmonary function, which can be used to screen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and monitor asthma and other chronic pulmonary diseases.

One of the many Medical Fair events, the HKMHDIA Medical Fair Forum this morning featured specialists in innovative medical equipment discussing market trends and future strategies. Tomorrow’s seminar, co-organised with HKSTP, discusses the application of mixed reality and AI in medical technology and explores trends in medical technology worldwide, including the market potential of medical equipment in Mainland China.

Leveraging the HKTDC EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, the physical Medical Fair is complemented by Click2Match smart business matching to extend the sourcing journey from 9 to 25 May.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3K5z7Y8

The fourth Asia Summit on Global Health, co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and HKTDC, takes place today and tomorrow

Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, gives a welcome address

John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, delivers opening remarks

Prof Cao Xuetao, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, delivers special remarks

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, delivered remarks at the opening session via video link

ASGH invited Prof Roger Kornberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2006 and Professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University School of Medicine, as guest speaker

ASGH deal-making connects project owners and investors globally through in-person and online meetings

To foster collaboration across healthcare, this year’s Summit also facilitated the signing of a number of cooperation agreements

The Medical Fair features a wide range of exhibition zones, such as Biotechnology, Hospital Equipment, Rehabilitation and Elderly Care Products, and assists exhibitors and buyers to establish global connections

Medical Fair exhibitor Yuanhua Robotics debuts the first orthopaedic surgical robot made in Hong Kong, which can assist in hip and knee replacement operations

Hong Kong exhibitor Sramek Insight Limited presents a wearable smart cardiovascular analyser. Comprising a data router and an inflatable blood pressure watch, the device delivers continuous hemodynamic data and provides customised medical advice

Websites
International Healthcare Week: https://internationalhealthcareweek.hktdc.com/en
Asia Summit On Global Health: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en
Programme: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en/programme
Speakers: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en/speaker
Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en
List of products: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en/product
Activity schedule: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en/intelligence-hub

Media enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Hill & Knowlton:

Joyce Kwong

Tel: (852) 2894 6321 / 6842 5929

Email: joyce.kwong@hillandknowlton.com

Lynn Zhang

Tel: (852) 2894 6301 / 9794 5751

Email: lynn.zhang@hillandknowlton.com

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Asia Summit on Global Health

Clayton Lauw

Tel: (852) 2584 4472

Email:clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair

Jane Cheung

Tel: (852) 2584 4137

Email:jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC

New Research Increases Confidence in the Benefits of Vegan Diets for Dogs

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, May 16, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – A new study has increased confidence in the apparent benefits of vegan diets for dogs. The study reanalysed data within a key 2022 study of 2,536 dogs – the largest published study within this field. That study concluded that the healthiest and least hazardous dog foods were nutritionally-sound vegan diets. However, owner opinions of health were included, which may not always be reliable. For example, owners committed to feeding vegan or meat-based diets might sometimes fail to recognise or report subsequent health problems.

The new study used additional statistical methods, including machine learning, to analyse owner opinions of health. It found these were minimally affected when vegan diets were fed. Stated Prof. Andrew Knight – lead author of the original study, “I was relieved to see confirmation that feeding vegan diets had minimal impact on owner opinions about health. This increases my confidence in the reliability of the owner opinions we used.”

The new study focused specifically on subjective owner opinions of health, in contrast to the original study which examined seven general indicators of illness, including more objective data such as the frequency of medication use, therapeutic diet use, and veterinary visits. The original study also analysed the reported assessments of veterinarians concerning dog health, as well the prevalence of 22 of the most common health disorders in dogs. Stated Knight, “The large number of health parameters we studied, and the very large number of dogs included, provide a high degree of confidence in the results.”

By May 2024 there were 10 studies in dogs, and three in cats, demonstrating equivalent or superior health outcomes when vegan diets are fed, as well as one systematic review covering both species. In April 2024, the longest, most comprehensive peer-reviewed study demonstrated that dogs fed nutritionally-sound vegan diets maintained health outcomes as well as those fed meat. The study comprehensively analysed blood cells and biochemistry, blood nutrient levels, urine, veterinary clinical parameters, and monthly pet owner questionnaires. It studied 15 dogs fed solely vegan diets for an entire year – just under one tenth of an average dog lifespan, or around seven human years. Another 2022 study demonstrated that 1,052 dogs fed vegan diets lived 1.5 years longer, on average, than dogs fed meat. Stated Prof. Knight, “This equates to around an extra decade of life for a human. Additionally, dogs fed vegan diets appear less impacted by certain health problems that impair quality of life. However, it is essential that any diets fed be nutritionally-sound.”

Prof. Knight also analysed the environmental benefits of vegan pet diets in a major recent study. This demonstrated that if all the world’s pet dogs went vegan, more greenhouse gases than those emitted by the UK would be saved. Knight stated that “Climate change is becoming a major threat to life on Earth. With the livestock sector a leading cause, substantial dietary change is now essential, and that includes pet diets.”

Contact Information
Andrew Knight
Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare
andrew.knight@winchester.ac.uk

SOURCE: Prof. Andrew Knight

View the original press release on newswire.com.

AsiaMedic partners with Sunway to establish new diagnostic imaging centre

The planned close to 6,000 sqft facility at Royal Square in Novena is expected to commence operations by November 2024 and will nearly double AsiaMedic’s diagnostic imaging capacity.
AsiaMedic’s continued capacity expansion follows three consecutive years of revenue growth which reached a record high for FY2023.

SINGAPORE, May 14, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – SGX Catalist-listed AsiaMedic Limited (the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) announced that the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AMC Healthcare Pte. Ltd (“AMC”), has entered into a shareholders’ agreement with Sunway Equity Holdings Pte. Ltd. (“SEH”) to set up and operate a new medical diagnostics imaging centre in Novena, Singapore.

Mr Arifin Kwek, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaMedic Limited and Ms Sarena Cheah, Executive Director of Sunway Berhad [L-R]

AMC and SEH will establish AsiaMedic Sunway Pte. Ltd. to operate the new centre in Novena, which will provide a comprehensive range of general imaging as well as sub-specialised fields of radiology imaging such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using the latest equipment.

Mr Arifin Kwek, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaMedic Limited, said, “The partnership with Sunway presents an opportunity for expansion of the Group’s diagnostic imaging business into Novena, which is a significant healthcare and medical services hub in Singapore. This will greatly complement the Group’s existing integrated medical centre at Orchard Road and enable us to serve more patients with greater convenience.”

The new diagnostic imaging centre will offer the same cutting-edge imaging services as the Group’s flagship centre at Orchard Road, which significantly expanded its capacity in September 2023 by being the first in Asia Pacific to operate the SIGNA™ Hero 3T MRI scanner. Once completed, the new centre in Novena will nearly double the Group’s diagnostic imaging capacity.

In FY2023, diagnostic imaging and radiology services revenue increased by 72% and contributed nearly 50% of Group revenue. Demand for the Group’s services remained strong across the entire spectrum of healthcare providers with an increase in referrals from clinics and hospitals.

Ms Sarena Cheah, Executive Director of Sunway Berhad, said, “We are confident in the long-term prospects of our partnership as AsiaMedic has a trusted track record and aptitude in providing tailored offerings to its patients. In addition, the new diagnostic imaging centre’s strategic location and close proximity to other healthcare providers will position us as the preferred choice for patients. This partnership will offer strategic benefits to Sunway and enhance our existing healthcare ecosystem.”

SEH is wholly-owned by Sunway City Sdn Bhd which in turn is wholly-owned by Sunway Berhad, one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent conglomerates and one of the leading private healthcare groups in Malaysia.

AsiaMedic continues to invest in the latest technology to enhance the patient experience and maintain its position as a preferred provider of diagnostic imaging radiology services. In March 2024, the Group became the first in Singapore to install the latest Revolution™ Apex Elite CT scanner. The Group will also continue to explore potential opportunities for further expansion and long-term growth.

This press release should be read in conjunction with the announcement uploaded on SGXNet.

For media and analysts’ queries, please contact:
Waterbrooks Consultants
Wayne Koo
T: (65) 9338 8166
E: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg

About AsiaMedic Limited

AsiaMedic Limited together with its subsidiaries (“AsiaMedic” or the “Group”) is a leading healthcare provider in Singapore which provides holistic solutions through integrated application of the latest medical technologies to prevent and detect early illnesses to achieve positive experiences and clinical outcomes for patients.

The Group is committed to helping clients through practical and personalised solutions delivered with the highest professional standards of service and expertise in a timely, safe and consistent manner. Conveniently located at Orchard Road, AsiaMedic is a preferred one-stop centre for:

Diagnostic imaging and radiology services
Medical wellness and health screening services
Primary healthcare services
Medical aesthetic services and products

For more information, please visit www.asiamedic.com.sg

Vinmec’s Innovations Spotlighted at Global CSR & ESG Summit 2024

HANOI, Vietnam, May 9, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards 2024 was held on April 25 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event showcased tremarkable strides in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, and featured some of the most outstanding achievements by enterprises and organizations in this regard.

Vietnam’s Vinmec Healthcare System received platinum awards for Best Community Program, Best Workplace Practices, Empowerment of Women, and Best Country Excellence in Vietnam in the US$1 billion and above market capitalization category.

Founded in 2012 to contribute to sustainable development in the Vietnamese healthcare sector by delivering high-quality medical services, Vinmec stands as a beacon of academic healthcare, dedicated to shaping the global healthcare narrative through innovative research, groundbreaking discoveries, and a steadfast commitment to clinical excellence and value-based care solutions.

In an interview with ACN Newswire, Vinmec CEO Le Thuy Anh discusses the company’s visionary objectives and operational aspirations, and how, amid an era marked by pressing healthcare challenges, the company’s resilience, foresight, and unwavering dedication are helping transcend geographical boundaries by creating a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.

ACN: Can you share with us the vision and mission of Vinmec, particularly its dedication to academic healthcare for people at local and global scales?

Le Thuy Anh: Vinmec’s vision revolves around addressing critical healthcare challenges nationally and globally, especially in light of the transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases and an aging population. Vinmec is pioneering as an agent of change based on a model of academic medicine with three pillars: excellence in clinical programs; innovative research; and medical education. Aligning with this vision, Vinmec’s mission is caring with compassion, professionalism, and wisdom based on the core values of C.A.R.E (Creativity, Accountability, Reliability, Excellence). Based on this, we aim to contribute significantly to sustainable healthcare development by delivering high-quality medical services, focusing on academic healthcare through innovative research and clinical excellence.

ACN: How does Vinmec approach innovation, research, and breakthroughs to achieve clinical excellence?

Le Thuy Anh: Our approach to innovation and research is integral to achieving clinical excellence. We invest significantly in research and technology transfer, operate research institutes like Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cells and Gene Technology (VRISG) for stem cell therapies, and the Hi-tech Center for groundbreaking trials.

VRISG is a pioneering research institute specializing in stem cell therapies for a range of rare diseases and is also the first to utilize CAR-T cell therapy for leukemia treatment in Vietnam. Vinmec’s Hi-tech Center has achieved significant milestones, including conducting large-scale clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, successful international clinical trials on the efficacy of new cancer drugs, and becoming a reference laboratory for renowned medical partners like AstraZeneca.

Our emphasis on cutting-edgeinnovative applications like 3D printing and robotic surgery ensures clinical excellence and value-based solutions for our patients.

ACN: Creativity is highlighted as a core value of Vinmec. Can you provide examples of how the organization fosters continuous innovation to offer patients the best solutions?

Le Thuy Anh: Creativity drives our long-term development and breakthroughs, evident in our research findings turned into clinical trials like Car-T cell therapy for leukemia and stem cell transplantation in the treatment of autism and cerebral palsy, to name a few.

We empower our doctors with modern techniques and equipment through many training and clinical observership programs in the developed countries of medicine. We continuously innovate in workplace practices through initiatives like the Creativity Subcommittee, Kaizen, PDSA, and lean operations fostering a culture of excellence and implementing ideas that enhance quality and customer experience at all levels.

ACN: Accountability is crucial in healthcare. How does Vinmec ensure the highest level of accountability to patients and their families in terms of care ethics, skills, knowledge, and professional standards?

Le Thuy Anh: We ensure accountability through JCI accreditation, rigorous safety programs, and continuous training for our staff. Vinmec is the first and only healthcare system in Vietnam having two hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) – the world’s most rigorous standards in hospital quality and patient safety.

Our focus on patient safety, through programs like Daily Safety Huddles where we hold a brief meeting in the morning between specialties, heads of departments, and other stakeholders to discuss clinical issues of patients; and the SpeakupSpeak up for every clinical staff to share and point out the patient’s risks reflects our commitment to the highest professional standards and ethics in delivering healthcare services.

Vinmec’s people play a key role in delivering the highest quality levels of healthcare, so we focus on continuous training and the well-being of the staff. As the first and only private academic healthcare model in Vietnam, excellence through persistent and personalized education is decisive for all Vinmecers, leading to delivering best practices.

ACN: Reliability is emphasized as a core value of Vinmec. How does the organization demonstrate its commitment to being the most reliable healthcare provider to the community?

Le Thuy Anh: Our commitment to reliability is evident through community initiatives, financial support for patients, and our response to healthcare crises like COVID-19.

Throughout 12the 12 years since its establishment, Vinmec has been entirely engaged in building a sustainable community.

Our business goals are always set in parallel with the benefits for the community at large. Thus, Vinmec is the only private healthcare system pursuing the model of a “not-for-profit” and value-based healthcare model in operation in Vietnam.

Vinmec’s contributions to the community are presented through community free health screening for over 15,000 people (in the past 5 years), financial support of VND300 billion annually for patients, medical education, and technology transfer for peer hospital and provincial hospitals.

Last but not least, Vinmec strongly responsed to Vingroup’s fight against COVID-19, making significant contributions in terms of human and material resources.

ACN: Excellence is a fundamental value for Vinmec. Could you discuss the organization’s approach to pursuing the highest service quality and implementing the best healthcare practices?

Le Thuy Anh: Pursuing excellence is at the core of our operations, seen through strategic partnerships, international accreditations, and Centers of Excellence for various disease groups.

Vinmec’s strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Cleveland Clinic and GE Healthcare have facilitated continuous improvement in service quality by leveraging advanced techniques and expertise. Over 12 years, Vinmec has received numerous international awards and accreditations, establishing Centers of Excellence (CoE) in critical areas like Cardiology, Orthopedics, Oncology, and Immunology, recognized globally for their cutting-edgeinnovative technology and specialist teams. Notably, the COE for Cardiology of Vinmec Times City International Hospital and Vinmec Central Park International Hospital were honored by the American College of Cardiology as the first centers of excellence in Asia.

Our focus on optimized treatment efficiency and outstanding service quality, along with continuous learning and improvement, ensures the best value-based solutions for our patients.

ACN: How does Vinmec ensure that compassion, professionalism, and wisdom are integrated into its care delivery model and reflected in the patient’s experience?

Le Thuy Anh: We take our responsibility extremely seriously and are committed to our mission of providing the utmost quality of care for our patients with professionalism, wisdom, and compassion. Our mission transcends the provision of healthcare services. It encompasses a commitment to nurturing a workplace where every member feels valued, respected, and motivated to excel.

At Vinmec, we believe in creating value not only for our patients but also for our people – the heart of our organization. This commitment is reflected profoundly in our workplace practices, where we strive to create an environment that not only fosters growth and recognition, but also integrates the core values of C.A.R.E (Creativity, Accountability, Reliability, Excellence) into every facet of our operations.

Our approach to workplace practices is holistic, focusing on the Total Rewards policies that motivate, develop, and nurture our employees. Holistic care extends through various stages of an employee’s journey, including recruitment, integration, promotion, training, and development. Meanwhile, Vinmec’s Comprehensive Care Program, “Vinmec Health & Wellbeing,” offers a holistic approach to employee wellness, encompassing mental and physical health, career development, and family and social connections. This initiative underscores Vinmec’s commitment to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment for all our staff, ensuring a well-rounded support system.

Our CARE culture forms the foundation of the Vinmec management framework. At Vinmec, we focus on value-based leadership, where our leaders exemplify the CARE principles in their daily actions. Vinmec has established a Cultural Framework with activities promoting the distinctive CARE culture. These activities are implemented deeply within the framework, following a planned timeline and themes for each quarter. The cultural activities have seen widespread and enthusiastic participation from members.

As a result, Vinmec is the first and only healthcare system in Vietnam that received the “Best Place to Work” award in 2023.

ACN: Looking ahead, what are the future plans and goals for Vinmec in terms of furthering its mission of academic healthcare and delivering excellence in patient care?

Le Thuy Anh: Our future plans include expanding our hospital network, treating rare diseases, promoting preventive medicine, and adopting advanced healthcare models. We aim to remain a factor of change and sustainability in Vietnamese medicine, delivering academic healthcare excellence and achieving international standards of care.

Vinmec has steadfastly pursued its vision of becoming Vietnam’s first academic private healthcare system, emphasizing creativity and innovation to address complex medical challenges and promote preventive medicine, patient engagement, and the adoption of P4 medicine (Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, Participatory).

The upcoming opening of two new Vinmec hospitals will expand its network to nine international hospitals nationwide, showcasing its ongoing commitment to excellence and attainment of world-class quality certificates.

About Vinmec

Vinmec is dedicated to academic healthcare for people at local and global scales through innovation research and breakthroughs that lead to clinical excellence and value-based care solutions. For more information visit, https://en.vinmec.com.

Media contact:
Tram Nguyen – Corporate Branding Specialist
v.tramnn17@vinmec.com

Avance Clinical Expands Further into APAC with New Clinical Operations in South Korea

Adelaide, AU & North Carolina, USA, May 8, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Avance Clinical, the award-winning Australian and North American market-leading CRO for biotechs, will attend BIO Korea (May 8-10, 2024) and formally open new clinical operations in Seoul, South Korea.

Meet with the team at BIO Korea

Avance Clinical CEO, Yvonne Lungershausen said the decision to open clinical operations in Seoul followed increasing demand from later phase US biotechs, as well as CRO partners for access to the region’s scientific excellence and patient populations.

“In addition, feedback from a recent presentation of our GlobalReady drug development solution to more than 75 Korean biotechs and pharmaceutical companies in Seoul showed a real need for Korean clinical operations with a global pathway,” said Lungershausen.

“It’s clear there is a demand for a mid-sized, agile, and responsive CRO with an in-house regulatory affairs team, and a proven track record of swiftly advancing high-quality clinical programs. This makes us an ideal CRO partner for later phase biotechs that are seeking access to significant patient populations,” she said.

“The new South Korean operations also offer a strategic presence for Avance Clinical’s CRO partners conducting multi-regional or global trials.

In addition, Korean biotechs are utilizing our Australian and United States clinical services as they progress their drug development programs,” said Lungershausen.

“Our Avance Clinical teams in APAC, Europe and the United States, offer our biotech clients world-class quality data and seamless geographic expansions to accelerate their drug development programs and position for success.”

“Avance Clinical’s study data is accepted by all the main regulatory authorities including the MFDS and FDA. In addition, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia and FDA recognises data generated in Korea.”

“Biotechs are looking for a partner that can start fast with high-quality data that is readily accepted by the US FDA and other regulatory agencies. Backed by our in-house global regulatory affairs team, we can navigate biotechs through regulatory complexities with confidence including FDA, EMA, MFDS and TGA submissions,” she said.

“In addition, our GlobalReady Site Partnership Network of over 2,000 highly qualified sites across the globe ensures maximum efficiency and effectiveness for our biotech clients’ trials,” she said.

Avance Clinical is focussed on accelerating drug development for its biotech clients, from preclinical stages through to Phase III.

“This is our GlobalReady program and we have more than 90 biotech clients leveraging this unique, streamlined multi-phase and multi-region process. With a globalized strategy, we ensure efficiency every step of the way,” she said.

Book a meeting with the team at the Australian Pavilion at BIO Korea to meet with our team of clinical trial experts.

Find out more:

Learn about the GlobalReady model
For more information about the benefits of running your next study with Avance Clinical contact us
Request a Proposal here

Media Contact:
Avance Clinical
Kate Thompson
media@avancecro.com

About Avance Clinical

Avance Clinical is the largest premium full-service Australian and North American CRO delivering quality clinical trials, with globally accepted data, in Australia, New Zealand and the US for international biotechs. The company’s clients are biotechs completing Phase I to Phase III of their drug development program that requires fast, agile, and adaptive solution-oriented clinical research services.

Frost & Sullivan Awards

Avance Clinical, a Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award recipient for the past four years, has been providing CRO services in the region for more than 26 years.

Pre-clinical through to mid to late phase

Avance Clinical offers pre-clinical services with their experienced ClinicReady team right from pre-clinical through to Phase III clinical services leveraging significant Australian Government incentive rebates of up to 43.5% and rapid start-up regulatory processes.

With experience across more than 120 indications, the CRO can deliver world-class results and high-quality internationally accepted data for FDA and EMA review.

Technology

Avance Clinical uses state-of-the-art technology and gold standard systems across all functional areas to provide clients with the most effective processes. Medidata, Oracle, TrialHub, Certinia, Salesforce, Zelta and Medrio are just some of the technology partners.

www.avancecro.com

Cordlife Accelerates Lab and Technical Staff Recruitment to Rebuild Foundation and Strengthen Core Processes in Singapore

SINGAPORE, May 7, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Cordlife Group Limited (“Cordlife” or the “Company”) announced today that it has accelerated recruitment of laboratory and technical staff to ensure laboratory operational excellence as part of its strategic plan for financial year 2024 (“FY2024”) to prioritise rebuilding its foundation and strengthening core processes to prevent future disruptions.

Cordlife also provided an update that as of 30 April 2024, a significant number of affected active clients whose cord blood units were stored in Tank A has accepted the offer of a refund of annual fees from the year of the temperature excursion.

The Company will continue to store cord blood units for these clients until the maturity of their service agreements when their children turn 21, without charge. In the event a transplant physician determines that the cord blood unit cannot be successfully used for an approved cord blood transplant solely because it does not meet the viability criteria, Cordlife will make every effort to find a suitable replacement.

Cordlife has also extended the same offer to affected clients with cord blood units stored in Tank 6 and the dry shipper. The Company will be reaching out to these clients with the next steps in due course.

Cordlife has confirmed that its medical and technical teams, along with three of its Singapore-based directors – Dr Ho Choon Hou, Mr Yeo Hwee Tiong and Mr Cheong Tuck Yan Titus Jim – and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ivan Yiu, have been engaging with the Ministry of Health (“MOH”) regularly to provide updates on its corrective actions to rectify the identified lapses.

Cordlife’s new sample collection in Singapore has been suspended by MOH since 15 December 2023, following checks that reported suboptimal temperatures in seven of the 22 cryogenic storage tanks based in Singapore. Checks on the remaining 15 tanks confirmed that they were not affected.

The Company emphasised that the tanks managed by its subsidiaries in markets outside Singapore remain unaffected.

As announced on 8 April 2024, cord blood units in Tank A are unlikely to be suitable for stem cell transplant purposes; units in Tank 6 and a dry shipper are deemed to be at high risk of being affected by the temperature excursions, while cord blood units in the remaining five other tanks are deemed to be at low risk (“Low-Risk Tanks”).

The Company will undertake additional testing on more cord blood units from the Low-Risk Tanks and will pause any applicable billings for clients whose cord blood units are stored there, pending the test results of each tank.

Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed Cordlife operates Asia’s largest network of private cord blood banks with stem cell storage facilities in six markets, including Singapore. Since its inception, Cordlife has processed and stored more than 400,000 cord blood, cord lining, cord tissue and placenta stem cell samples across its stem cell storage facilities in Asia.

As part of Cordlife’s strategic plan to strengthen core processes and prevent future disruptions, it has executed or is undertaking several major rectification plans in recent weeks:

Hiring More Technical and Laboratory Staff – Cordlife has begun hiring more specialists to lead its laboratory teams more effectively. The Company has successfully recruited two additional lab directors with PhDs and implemented a retention programme to foster stability among its high-potential lab personnel in Singapore. Additionally, Cordlife continues its recruitment efforts to further enhance in-house technical expertise and improve clinical governance standards by adding more lab directors to its team.

Cordlife is also reaching out to former staff from its processing and storage facilities in other markets to support its laboratory operations in Singapore. As part of a major overhaul of processes in Singapore, the Company has commenced extensive training aimed at cultivating a stronger sense of accountability and responsibility among its staff.

Engagement of Expert Consultant from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (“FACT” www.factglobal.org) – In its pursuit of industry excellence, Cordlife has enlisted the expertise of a consultant from FACT. This US-based expert has been guiding its technical team since December 2023 and will be on-site in mid-May to provide further guidance to the Singapore team on reinforcing core processes and on the Company’s organisational structure.

Enhanced Monitoring and Operations – Cordlife has implemented a more advanced digitalised system to enhance 24/7 real-time monitoring of its Singapore lab facility, both on-site and remotely. Additionally, the Company has also fortified fail-safe measures to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Establishment of a Distinguished Medical and Technical Advisory Board – Cordlife has been in discussions with several esteemed medical and technical experts as part of its effort to form a Medical and Technical Advisory Board for the Group. This Board aims to provide guidance and insights to the Company’s medical and technical teams. By harnessing the collective expertise of these distinguished professionals, the Company hopes to improve the quality and efficacy of its services to ensure it remains at the forefront of medical and technical innovation and excellence.

Engagement and Resolution Reached with Affected Customers – Since the lapses were identified, Cordlife has been providing updates to its clients as soon as it was in the position to do so. In February this year, Cordlife provided offers to approximately 1,800 active clients who had stored cord blood units in Tank A. Clients with units stored in Tank 6 and the dry shipper have also received information on Cordlife’s offer.

Mr Yiu said, “I sincerely apologise to all our clients and empathise with their disappointment and concerns over these lapses. We are diligently working on ways to minimise the impact on our clients.”

In response to media queries on the letter of demand from solicitors acting on behalf of one of its clients as well as the notice of a claim lodged against the Company in the Small Claims Tribunals by another client, Mr Yiu said, “Although we have sought legal advice on the claims and allegations, we want to address the issues amicably and hope that the affected clients will work with us to achieve resolution.”

Commenting on the financial impact of the MOH suspension, Mr Yiu said that Cordlife’s FY2023 performance was affected as new sample collection was suspended from December 2023. “FY2024 will be dedicated to rebuilding Cordlife’s foundation, with a focus not just on growth but also on long-term sustainability. The implementation of enhanced processes and boosting staff expertise and experience will make us stronger so we can expand to new markets and capture adjacent opportunities. We hope that this strategic advancement will elevate our position within stem cell field in the region,” he added.

“Despite the suspension, we have continued to incur fixed running costs in Singapore as we are committed to meeting our contractual obligations with our clients. Even though the suspension has continued thus far in FY2024, we are investing in more resources to improve our core processes and hire more qualified personnel. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our stakeholders, including our clients, MOH, business partners, staff and shareholders,” Mr Yiu said.

Cordlife also wishes to acknowledge and address the concerns raised by active clients whose service agreements are nearing maturity. Mr Yiu said, “We would like to reassure these clients that the Company will not dispose of any cord blood units belonging to them while we work towards resolution. We also kindly ask for their patience as we carefully assess our next steps, and we will contact these clients as soon as we have determined the most appropriate course of action.”

ABOUT CORDLIFE GROUP LIMITED

Cordlife Group Limited (“Cordlife”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), founded in 2001, owns and operates Asia’s largest network of private cord blood banks. The Group is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of both mother and child, amongst others. Listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange since 2012, the Group is a pioneer in private cord blood banking in Asia with extensive transplant experience, having processed and stored more than 400,000 cord blood, cord lining, cord tissue, and placenta stem cell samples. Cordlife is an industry leader in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines and one of the top three market leaders in India and Malaysia. Through its majority-owned subsidiary in Malaysia, Stemlife Berhad, Cordlife has an indirect stake in Thailand’s largest private cord blood bank, Thai Stemlife. In addition to cord blood, cord lining, cord tissue, and placenta banking, Cordlife offers families a comprehensive suite of clinical diagnostics, including non-invasive prenatal testing, paediatric vision screening, and newborn metabolic screening. Cordlife strives to ensure reliable quality and is committed to a customer-centric approach. For more information, visit http://cordlife.listedcompany.com.

Media & Investor Contact
Isaac Tang
WhatsApp (Text): (65) 9748 0688
cordlife@wer1.net