EC Healthcare Expects Third Quarter FY23 Sales Volume to Increase no less than 8% YoY

HONG KONG, Jan 20, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – EC Healthcare (the "Company", which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the "Group", SEHK stock code: 2138), the largest non-hospital medical group in Hong Kong*, is pleased to announce that the Group expects sales volume for the period of October to December 2022 (the "Quarter") to increase by no less than 8% as compared with the same period last year.

The demand on medical services provided by the Group remains strong and the Group's increasingly diversified business demonstrated resilience and good momentum. The Board expects to record overall sales volume of no less than HK$1,000 million for the Quarter, representing a no less than 8% YoY increase. The Group expects to achieve a no less than 39% YoY increase for medical services sales volume. Sales volume of aesthetic medical and beauty and wellness services in Hong Kong and Macau declined by no more than 17% YoY, while sales volume of aesthetic medical and beauty and wellness services in Mainland China declined by no more than 50% YoY during the Quarter. The decrease in aesthetic medical and beauty and wellness services was mainly due to (i) weaker local consumer spending due to increase in outbound traveling amid the lifting of inbound quarantine restrictions; (ii) the pessimistic economic outlook and weak local consumer sentiment caused by high inflation and rising interest rate; and (iii) the omicron outbreak in Mainland China. In addition, the sales volume of other services declined by no less than 8% YoY.

Mr. Eddy Tang, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of EC Healthcare said, "The Group is pleased to see the initial phase of border re-opening between Hong Kong and Mainland implemented earlier this year and the Mainland visitors started to return on a gradual basis. With the leading brand and one-stop diversified services, the Group has always been the top choice for medical tourists. The Group has maintained its leading position in the aesthetic medical industry while significantly strengthening its medical services capabilities. In addition, the Group's continuous investment in IT systems and industry value chain integration has enabled the Group to seize the growth opportunity and capture demand from medical tourists. The Group will provide quality, affordable, accessible and sustainable healthcare services to a wider range of customers and continue to expand its businesses through organic growth as well as mergers and acquisitions to enrich the Group's enclosed diversified ecosystem. The Group will also further enhance the resilience and ability to resist cyclical economic changes and further consolidate the healthcare market."

About EC Healthcare
EC Healthcare is Hong Kong's largest non-hospital medical service provider*, leveraging its core businesses of preventive and precision medicine, and committed to developing medical artificial intelligence by integrating its multi-disciplinary medical services. The move, which is supported by the Group's high-end branding and quality customer services, is aimed at offering customers safe and effective healthcare and medical services with professionalism. The Group is a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Composite Index and the MSCI Hong Kong Small Cap Index.

The Group principally engages in the provision of one-stop medical and health care services in Greater China. The Group provides a full range of services and products under its well-known brands, including those of its one-stop aesthetic medical solutions provider DR REBORN which has ranked first in Hong Kong by sales for years, a professional hair care center HAIR FOREST, primary care clinics jointly established with health management centre re:HEALTH, a vaccine centre Hong Kong Professional Vaccine HKPV, General outpatient clinic Tencent Doctorwork, the largest one-stop pain management centre in Hong Kong New York Medical Group, the comprehensive dental centres Bayley & Jackson Dental Surgeons, EC DENTAL CARE and Health and Care Dental Clinic, an advanced diagnostic and imaging centre HKAI, an oncology treatment centre reVIVE, a day procedure centre HKMED, a specialty clinic PREMIER MEDICAL CENTRE, SPECIALISTS CENTRAL and NEW MEDICAL CENTER, a paediatric centre PRIME CARE, a gynaecology specialist ZENITH MEDICAL CENTER AND PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS CENTRE, PathLab Medical Laboratories, Ophthalmology Center VIVID EYE and EC Veterinary Hospital and Imaging Center.

*According to independent research conducted by Frost and Sullivan in terms of revenue in 2020 and 2021

For further information, please contact:
iPR Ogilvy Limited
Callis Lau / Lorraine Luk / Tim Tin
Tel: (852) 2136 6952 / 2169 0467 / 3920 7654
Fax: (852) 3170 6606
Email: ech@iprogilvy.com

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

BeautyFarm Med, the largest provider of traditional beauty services in China Successfully Listed on the Main Board of SEHK

HONG KONG, Jan 17, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. ("BeautyFarm Med" or "Company", stock code: 2373.HK), the largest provider of traditional beauty services in China in term of revenue in 2021, successfully listed and commenced trading on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("SEHK") today, with a board lots of 500 shares each. The stock price of BeautyFarm Med reached HK$30.5 at its debut today, representing an increase of 57.9% over the offer price. The share price closed at HK$29.65, up 53.5% and represents a market capitalization of HK$ 6.83billion.

Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, Haitong International Capital Limited and Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited are the Joint Sponsors to the global offering; Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, Haitong International Securities Company Limited and Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited are the Overall Coordinators, Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Bookrunners and Joint Managers to the global offering.

The Company states that the listing of BeautyFarm Med in Hong Kong marks a key milestone and unfolds a new chapter in the Company's development. Looking ahead, BeautyFarm Med will strategically expand its service network and marketing channels to enlarge its client base and increase brand awareness. The Company will also further enhance its operational efficiency and client experience by introducing new technologies, equipment and products, and expanding its service offerings. Moreover, the Company will continue to cultivate, recruit and retain high-caliber talent and strengthen its human resources management mechanism; and integrate industry resources and promote the development of industry standards by deepening cooperation with upstream suppliers and sharing its industry and management experience, thereby creating greater value for the clients, shareholders and employees.

Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc.
Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. (stock code: 2373.HK) is a leading player in China's beauty and health management service industry, which has a large and loyal client base, extensive network with expansion efficiency, diversified services and product offerings as well as strong brand awareness. BeautyFarm Med is the largest provider of traditional beauty services and the fourth largest non-surgical aesthetic medical service provider in China with a market share of 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively, as measured by revenue in 2021 and according to Frost & Sullivan. The Company provides overall beauty and health management services through its well-established and widely recognized brand portfolio of BeautyFarm, Palaispa, CellCare and Neology. The service offerings of the Company cover traditional beauty services, aesthetic medical services as well as subhealth assessment and intervention services, across the full client lifecycle.

This press release is issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. For further information, please contact:

Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group
Tel: 852 3150 6788
Email: projectgarden.hk@pordahavas.com

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

BeautyFarm Med Announces Global Offering Results, Offer Price of HK$19.32per Share

HONG KONG, Jan 13, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. ("BeautyFarm Med" or "Company", stock code: 2373.HK), the largest provider of traditional beauty services in China, today announced the allotment results of its Global Offering. The Offer Price is HK$19.32 per share. Dealings in the shares of the Company on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange") are expected to commence on 16 January 2023 (Monday) with a board lot size of 500 shares.

The Hong Kong Offer Shares initially offered under the Hong Kong Public Offering have been very significantly oversubscribed. A total of 6,671 valid applications have been received under the Hong Kong Public Offering through the White Form eIPO service and the CCASS EIPO service for a total of 89,670,000 Hong Kong Offer Shares, representing approximately 22.12 times of the total number of 4,054,000 Hong Kong Offer Shares initially available for subscription under the Hong Kong Public Offering. The Offer Shares initially offered under the International Offering have been moderately oversubscribed, representing approximately 4.7 times of the total number of 36,482,500 International Offer Shares initially available for subscription under the International Offering.

The proceeds raised from the Global Offering of shares received by the Company are planned to be used to expand and upgrade the service network, carry out strategic mergers and acquisitions of franchise stores, and further invest in IT systems. The Company stated, through nearly three decades of deep cultivation in the industry and integration of resources, BeautyFarm Med has become a leading player in China's beauty and health management service industry. The official listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange marks an important milestone in the history of the development of BeautyFarm Med, opening a new chapter for the Company's development. The outstanding share oversubscription shows the trust and support of global investors for the Company's business development and lays a firm ground for the Company's long-term growth. Looking forward, BeautyFarm Med will continue strategically expanding its service network and marketing channels, introducing new technologies, equipment and products, and expanding its service offerings; continuing to cultivate, recruit and retain high-caliber talent; and integrating industry resources by deepening cooperation with upstream suppliers, thereby continuing to create greater value for the clients, shareholders and employees.

Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc.
Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. (stock code: 2373.HK) is a leading player in China's beauty and health management service industry, which has a large and loyal client base, extensive network with expansion efficiency, diversified services and product offerings as well as strong brand awareness. BeautyFarm Med is the largest provider of traditional beauty services and the fourth largest non-surgical aesthetic medical service provider in China with a market share of 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively, as measured by revenue in 2021 and according to Frost & Sullivan. The Company provides overall beauty and health management services through its well-established and widely recognized brand portfolio of BeautyFarm, Palaispa, CellCare and Neology. The service offerings of the Company cover traditional beauty services, aesthetic medical services as well as subhealth assessment and intervention services, across the full client lifecycle.

This press release is issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. For further information, please contact:

Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group
Telephone: 852 3150 6788
Email: projectgarden.hk@pordahavas.com

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

Novotech Acquires European CRO, Strengthens Global Operations

SINGAPORE, Jan 12, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Novotech announced today the acquisition of EastHORN, a European CRO with clinical, medical and regulatory expertise in multiple strategically important locations across the continent. The acquisition is part of Novotech's global expansion program. EastHORN was established in 2004 and has over 250 employees.

The acquisition means biotech clients can access Novotech's unique and unparalleled suite of early to late-phase CRO services across Europe and the US, with a specialist focus on Asia Pacific where the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality expedited clinical trials.

Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said: "This acquisition is a strategic move to further expand our CRO operations and provide biotech clients with in-country expertise across Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe to deliver their global drug development programs. EastHORN and Novotech have been working together for many years and we share a culture of clinical excellence in biotech drug development. EastHORN which is retaining its brand, is now a Novotech company and will be integrated into our systems and processes so clients benefit from working with one CRO globally. Clients can now access our exceptional European infrastructure, local knowledge, site relationships and access to diverse patient populations."

EastHORN Executive Chairman Iain Gordon said: "I first started working on clinical projects with Novotech 15 years ago and have always been impressed by the quality of their services and their client-focused approach. EastHORN has been working closely with Novotech for over a decade now and have many friends within the Novotech team. This is a natural next step for our group and my colleagues and I are excited to become part of Novotech's global operations to support biotech clients' clinical programs. In particular, we can now offer our clients access to Novotech's team of experts across Asia-Pacific and the US including project management, regulatory, clinical, medical and biometrics, while our team's European expertise can advance clinical development in Europe for Novotech clients. We work with similar-sized biotechs and small to mid-size pharma companies and have experience across the same therapeutic areas, so this is an excellent cultural and strategic fit."

Novotech has decades of biotech drug development experience, exceptional site and investigator relationships, access to vast patient populations, and a project management approach focused on problem-solving, ownership and flexibility. Consistent investment in advanced training and technology combines to deliver an exceptional full-service biotech CRO solution.

Novotech has recently been recognised with significant CRO awards including the Asia-Pacific Biotech CRO of the Year by Frost & Sullivan, benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the world's leading CROs, a finalist in the prestigious Scrip awards, and has just been awarded the Gene & Cell Therapy Excellence Award. In Asia Pacific Novotech has more than 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements with major medical research institutions which delivers exclusive benefits for sponsors.

About Novotech

Novotech is the leading Asia-Pacific centred biotech CRO. Novotech has integrated labs and phase I facilities and provides drug development consulting and clinical development services across all phases. Novotech is well-positioned to serve biotech clients conducting clinical trials in Asia-Pacific, the US, and Europe. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contact

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

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

Novotech Acquires US-based Drug Development Consulting Firm, CBR International

SINGAPORE, Jan 12, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific centered biotech CRO today announced the acquisition of CBR International, a global product development, clinical oversight and strategic regulatory operations group.

CBR was founded in 2002 as a consultancy company focused on assisting biotechnology and pharma companies navigate FDA requirements from early-stage development through to approval. CBR adds a group of experts to Novotech to provide US and global regulatory, scientific, quality, and clinical development services. CBR's specific regulatory expertise and services include long-range Regulatory Strategy and Writing, FDA Representation, eSubmissions, and Scientific Affairs to support requirements for cGMP commercial product development.

The acquisition will further strengthen Novotech's capabilities in regulatory strategy and US FDA interactions and submissions including IND, IDE, NDA, BLA, Fast-Track, Break-through, and Orphan Drug Applications.

Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said: "CBR will provide decades of FDA regulatory experience for our biotech clients. They have experience across all product types and are highly regarded for their IND expertise having managed approximately 80 INDs through all phases of development. This acquisition, together with Novotech's existing regulatory affairs capability, creates a large global group of experts in toxicology, drug development, and global regulatory submissions support. This regulatory expertise benefits our US, European, and Asia Pacific biotech clients as they progress through the US clinical environment and navigate often complex FDA requirements."

CEO and Founder of CBR, Dr. Jeanne Novak said: "We are extremely pleased to be joining a company the size and calibre of Novotech which brings global demand for our regulatory expertise. The US is an important region for global biotech and pharma companies as part of their clinical program development. We have the experience and track-record of directly supporting US approvals for over 10 programs. Navigating novel product development and achieving multiple approvals has built our expertise to support the complex development needs of clients worldwide which will now support Novotech clients. We look forward to working with Novotech clients to support their drug development programs in the US and globally. We are excited to continue working with our clients and bringing Novotech expanded services to our colleagues."

Novotech has decades of biotech drug development experience, exceptional site and investigator relationships, access to vast patient populations, and a project management approach focused on problem-solving, ownership and flexibility. Consistent investment in advanced training and technology combines to deliver a specialist full-service biotech CRO solution.

Novotech has recently been recognised with significant CRO awards including the Asia-Pacific Biotech CRO of the Year by Frost & Sullivan, benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the world's leading CROs, a finalist in the prestigious Scrip awards, and has just been awarded the Gene & Cell Therapy Excellence Award. In Asia Pacific Novotech has more than 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements with major medical research institutions which delivers exclusive benefits for sponsors.

About Novotech

Novotech is the leading Asia-Pacific centered biotech CRO. Novotech has integrated labs and phase I facilities and provides drug development consulting and clinical development services across all phases. Novotech is well-positioned to serve biotech clients conducting clinical trials in Asia-Pacific the US, and Europe. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contact

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

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

HighTide Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2b Clinical Study Evaluating HTD1801 in NASH (the CENTRICITY study)

ROCKVILLE, MD and SHENZHEN, CHINA, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HighTide Therapeutics Inc. ("HighTide"), a globally integrated clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel multifunctional therapies for metabolic and digestive diseases, today announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2b clinical study evaluating HTD1801 for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH").

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentre Phase 2b study will evaluate the effect of HTD1801, 1250 mg twice daily (BID), compared to placebo BID on histologic improvement in adult subjects with NASH and liver fibrosis who also have type 2 diabetes mellitus ("T2DM") or pre-diabetes. The study will enroll approximately 210 subjects with biopsy-confirmed NASH and evidence of stage 2 or stage 3 liver fibrosis. Subjects will receive HTD1801 for up to 60 weeks.

"Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ("NAFLD") is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide with a global prevalence of 25.2% to 29.8%. Of those with NAFLD, about 20% have NASH. Patients with NASH and T2DM or prediabetes are at increased risk of progressive liver disease and cardiometabolic complications," said Dr. Liping Liu, founder and Chief Executive Officer of HighTide. "This first patient dosing marks a key milestone for the development of HTD1801 for the treatment of patients with NASH, building on data from our Phase 2a study which showed HTD1801 was associated with meaningful improvements in liver fat, markers of liver Injury and fibrosis as well as cardiometabolic factors (HbA1c, lipids, and weight) after 18 weeks."

About NASH

NASH, a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a chronic, complex liver disease characterized by hepatitis – inflammation of the liver – and liver cell damage, which can lead to fibrosis of the liver. NASH can also lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NASH patients with T2DM or impaired glucose tolerance are more likely to progress to more severe disease and to develop complications that lead to increased mortality. Prevalence of NASH is on the rise and may soon surpass hepatitis C as a cause for liver transplant in the U.S. and Europe. Currently, there are no approved therapies for NASH.

About HighTide Therapeutics

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

Contacts
Nadia Gao
ir@hightidetx.com

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

Avance Clinical Celebrates GlobalReady Success as more than 40 Biotech Clients Enter Program

San Francisco, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – More than 40 biotech clients are now taking advantage of Avance Clinical's GlobalReady program which delivers streamlined clinical development from early phase in Australia expanding to sites in North America for later phases. All with the one CRO and dedicated teams across both regions.

Avance Clinical made the announcement at Biotech Showcase 2023 where the team is taking meetings via PartnershipOne. "Given this successful early adoption of GlobalReady we are expecting more than half of our biotech clients to join the program within the next six months, said Avance Clinical CEO Yvonne Lungershausen.

GlobalReady biotech clients are primarily biotechs from the US and Asia, with an increasing number expected from Europe over the next few months.

Avance Clinical is the leading Australian-based biotech CRO with US operations, which has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan for the past 3 years with the prestigious CRO Leadership Award.

CEO Yvonne Lungershausen said: "These biotech clients are already benefiting from our expansion into North America and GlobalReady. The GlobalReady model is designed to extend biotechs' investments so they can achieve greater clinical development milestones with reduced spend, all with the assurance of FDA-accepted data. GlobalReady gives our biotech clients conducting their early phase studies in Australia and New Zealand a seamless journey into the US to continue their clinical development programs, retaining the same high-quality CRO, which reduces time and cost and delivers quality FDA-accepted data. In addition, the attractive 43.5% rebate on clinical spend in Australia, offers our clients the opportunity to utilize our North American operations expertise and team, whilst maintaining services in Australia to maximize their rebate potential. We often point to the fact that there are currently more than 280 Phase III global trials that have conducted their Phase I study in Australia, which again demonstrates Australian data acceptability with the FDA and other major regulatory authorities."

This seamless GlobalReady journey is designed for success whereby biotechs can:
– Take advantage of the Australian early-phase clinical trial landscape (No IND and 43.5% tax rebate)
– Transition or expand into North America for later phases – without changing CROs (retain study knowledge and processes/team)
– Seamlessly operationalize global dose-escalation and dose-expansion trials across the two regions
– Harness significant speed and cost advantages
– Be assured of quality data – transferable and readily acceptable by the FDA and other regulatory authorities

"We have shown, with our high growth and industry-leading repeat business rates that our focus on gold standard technology paired with solution-orientated clinical experts is the mix our biotech clients need for clinical success," commented Yvonne Lungershausen.

According to Frost & Sullivan as part of the independent analyst review of the company for the CRO Award: "Avance Clinical remains a trusted partner, earning a reputation for delivering the overall best in the CRO industry. With its strong overall performance, Avance Clinical earns Frost & Sullivan's 2022 Asia-Pacific Customer Value Leadership Award in the contract research organization industry."

Find out more:
– Learn about the Australian Advantage here https://www.avancecro.com/the-australian-advantage/
– Learn about the GlobalReady model here https://www.avancecro.com/avance-clinical-north-america-operations/
– For more information about the benefits of running your next study with Avance Clinical contact us: enquiries@avancecro.com

About Avance Clinical

Avance Clinical is the largest premium full-service Australian and US 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 in their early phases of drug development that need fast, agile, and adaptive solution-oriented clinical research services. https://www.avancecro.com/

Frost & Sullivan Awards
Avance Clinical, a Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award recipient for the past three years, has been providing CRO services in the region for more than 24 years.

Pre-clinical through to Phase 1 and 2
Avance Clinical offers pre-clinical services with their experienced ClinicReady team right through to Phase 1 and 2 clinical services leveraging significant Government incentive rebates of up to 43.5% and rapid start-up regulatory processes. With experience across more than 110 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, IBM Watson and Medrio are just some of the technology partners.

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

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

Prenetics Owned ACT Genomics Receives FDA Clearance for ACTOnco, the First Asia-Based Company to Receive Clearance for a Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Test for All Solid Tumors

LONDON AND HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Prenetics Global Limited (NASDAQ: PRE) a leader in genomic and diagnostic testing, today announced that ACT Genomics, a company which Prenetics recently acquired a majority stake in, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ACTOnco, the company's comprehensive genomic profiling test for solid tumors. ACTOnco is intended for use by healthcare professionals to help them inform clinical management decisions in accordance with professional guidelines for cancer patients with solid tumors. This is the first and only Asia-based company to receive FDA clearance for a comprehensive genomic profiling test. ACTOnco is a diagnostic test which:

— provides a comprehensive genomic profiling test that looks at 440 cancer-associated genes;
— provides information to help guide clinical management decisions on the use of targeted oncology therapies, including immunotherapies;
— is intended as a pan-cancer test including breast, colon, endometrial, lung, and other cancers;
— is an FDA-cleared platform for comprehensive genomic profiling assay development for biopharma companies developing precision therapeutics.

The ability to perform a comprehensive genomic profiling test on an individual tumor helps open the door for personalized medicine, and a future where a person is matched with a treatment that targets the specific weaknesses in his or her cancer.

"Today's landmark clearance by the FDA represents a significant advancement in personalized cancer care in Asia and may lead to reimbursement and coverage by private insurers and healthcare systems. The clearance by the FDA further validates our status as a pioneer in the industry and we will continue to invest further in R&D efforts, especially related to early detection of cancer in healthy populations." Said Danny Yeung, Chairman of ACT Genomics and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics.

Dr. Hua Chien Chen, Chief Executive Officer of ACT Genomics, said "It was a tremendous team and scientific effort to develop ACTOnco. Asia contributes 48% of the new cancer cases and 55 % of the cancer deaths in the world. The disease imposes a serious burden on Asia. While precision medicine provides an advantage in disease diagnosis and treatment planning and has become a routine clinical practice in the west, it is not the case in Asia. ACT Genomics is the first biotech company in Asia that received market authorization for a cancer comprehensive genomic profiling assay. Unlike most of the currently marketed tests developed by US companies using mainly clinical samples from Western countries, the ACTOnco assay was developed and validated using half of the Western clinical samples and half of the Asia clinical samples. ACTOnco enables physicians to gain better insights into the genetic underpinnings of each patient's illness and helps them to formulate the best treatment decisions. Having ACTOnco cleared by the FDA will open new opportunities for patients to get the best cancer care. With this incredible milestone achieved, we will continuously promote precision medicine in Asia and our company mission to turn genomics into action."

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

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

Investor Relations Contact:
investors@prenetics.com

ICR Westwicke:
Caroline Corner +415 202 5678 Email: caroline.corner@westwicke.com

Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of Prenetics and ACT Genomics. Any such estimates and assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions, whether or not identified in this press release, should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements by our management or the board regarding expectations for the closing of the acquisition, statements of plans, objectives, and expectations of synergy between Prenetics and ACT by our management or the board or by ACT or ACT's management or board. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decisions based on our estimates or forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. Prenetics does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

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

China Biotech Services subsidiary AMDL nominated as Top Clinical Laboratory Services Company in APAC 2022 and receives CAP Accreditation Certificate

HONG KONG, Jan 10, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – China Biotech Services Holdings Limited (the "Group"; stock code: 8037. HK) has announced that its subsidiary, Asia Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (AMDL), has been nominated as the Top Clinical Laboratory Services Company in APAC 2022 and has received the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Accreditation Certificate for providing next-generation sequencing (NGS) Oncology clinical testing services.

With world-leading NGS-based clinical testing products and services for oncologists and a high-standard molecular-level clinical laboratory, and as the sole distributor of Pillar Biosciences products in Asia, it's no surprise that AMDL has been named one of the industry's Top Clinical Laboratory Services Companies in APAC 2022 by Life Sciences Review.

In addition, AMDL has recently received the Accreditation Certificate from CAP, which is recognized as one of the industry's leaders in medical laboratory quality assurance. It has developed detailed checklists for all aspects of clinical laboratory disciplines and has strict requirements for laboratory quality standards. AMDL obtaining the authoritative certification from CAP proves that the company has reached an advanced level in terms of quality, management mode, testing accuracy and other aspects.

By leveraging next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and FDA-approved companion diagnostic (CDx), namely the oncoReveal(TM) Dx Lung and Colon Cancer Assay and MiSeqDx developed by Pillar Biosciences, AMDL will provide precision diagnostic tests for the qualitative detection of somatic mutations in DNA derived from lung and colon cancer tumors. Working toward CAP accreditation, the AMDL platform can offer a simplified and standalone testing workflow that helps local healthcare professionals, oncologists, and researchers obtain results in seven to nine working days, significantly reducing the overall timeline.

The CAP certification also provides a good endorsement for AMDL to promote the test kit in Hong Kong and Asia on a large scale, which is conducive to the rapid commercialization of the test kit and brings new achievements to China Biotech Services.

About China Biotech Services Holdings (Stock Code: 8037.HK)
China Biotech Services Holdings Limited is listed on GEM of Hong Kong Stock Exchange and was included in MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index in May 2018. The Group focuses on two main areas, namely, precision diagnostics and cancer treatments.

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

Malaysian Genomics Explores R&D Collaboration with SIRIM

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Jan 9, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Bursa: MGRC, 0155), a leading genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, is pleased to announce a strategic cooperation with SIRIM Berhad, to explore the commercialisation of joint research and development (R&D) projects in the medical and biotechnology fields.

Encik Sasha Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Genomics

SIRIM Berhad is wholly owned by the Malaysian Government, and is focused on R&D, standardisation and quality. The organisation acts as a catalyst for industrial development through programmes involving technology and standardisation.

Under the strategic cooperation, both parties will evaluate the potential commercial value of a range of genomics-driven biotechnology R&D projects. These include developing biofuels and biopharmaceuticals, companion diagnostic tests for cancer treatment, and bioactive cosmeceuticals.

Encik Sasha Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Genomics, said, "SIRIM and Malaysian Genomics have complementary experiences, resources, and technology assets. Teams from both organisations have met to explore their research and develop interests in precision medicine, food security, and products for the consumer market. This strategic collaboration will pave the way for individual agreements specific to projects for which commercial opportunities have been identified."

President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SIRIM Berhad, Dato' Indera Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad said, "We look forward to working closely with Malaysian Genomics on R&D projects that can benefit the country and domestic industries. This strategic collaboration will expedite the relevant processes to ensure that both parties can explore the commercial viability of projects, before commencing research, development and commercialisation."

The parties of this two-year strategic collaboration will also jointly source for suitable private and public institutional partners for the funding and commercialisation of these projects.

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

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