Adlai Nortye Raises $100 Million in Series D Financing, Co-led by SDIC Fund Management and Tigermed, participated by Legend Star, WuXi Biologics Healthcare Ventures

NEW JERSEY and HANGZHOU, CHINA, Jul 15, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Adlai Nortye Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Adlai Nortye"), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative oncology drugs, today announced the completion of $100 million Series D financing round. Co-led by SDIC Fund Management and Tigermed, this round of financing is participated by Legend Star, Wuxi Biologicals Healthcare Ventures, Triwise Capital, Qingdao Mukui, Guolian Industrial Investment, Tian Ge Interactive, etc. Proceeds from the financing will be used to accelerate the development of ongoing clinical and preclinical programs, expand drug portfolio through in-house R&D capability, in-licensing, mergers and acquisitions and other strategic collaborations.

"We intend to develop differentiated and innovative oncology drugs globally to address the unmet medical needs and aspire to transform the deadly cancer into a chronic and eventually a curable disease," said Carsten Lu, President and CEO of Adlai Nortye. "This round of financing represents an important milestone for Adlai Nortye, and we are honored to continue gaining support from our prestigious new and existing investors as Adlai Nortye has demonstrated a proven track record of delivering what we promised to the market and investors in the previous rounds. We are well-positioned to advance the development of our robust therapeutics pipeline and looking forward to bringing in more and more innovative treatments benefiting patients globally."

"We have strong conviction in innovation and paying close attention to what is trending in the biopharmaceutical industry," said Dazhong Lv, Managing Director of SDIC Fund Managemengt. "Adlai Nortye's strategic vision in global market, dedication to innovation in research and strong execution capability are what have been attracting us. We are pleased to have the opportunity to lead Adlai Nortye's D round and look forward to the development of multiple first-in-class drugs from the company's innovative pipeline globally and in China."

Yan Leng, partner of Legend Star added, "Adlai Nortye is quickly emerging as a leader in the field of oncology and we are delighted to have invested in Adlai Nortye and provided support for the R&D of the company's promising pipeline. Combining innovative research and advanced clinical assets with proven management experience, Adlai Nortye has built an exciting portfolio filled with opportunities. We are excited to join such an experienced and proven management team, outstanding group of investors and top-tier pharmaceutical partners to advance the company's pipeline products."

About Adlai Nortye
Adlai Nortye is a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative oncology drugs, with its R&D and global clinical operation centers in both China and the United States. With a strategic emphasis on oncology, the Company has built a global pipeline through collaborations and internal discoveries with more than 10 drug candidates in development. Currently, four of them are being investigated in clinical trials. The FDA Fast Track-designated AN2025 (Buparlisib) is undergoing a global multicenter Phase III clinical trial. AN1004 (Pelareorep), an FDA Fast Track-designated intravenously-administered oncolytic virus, has completed a Phase II clinical trial. Oral EP4 antagonist AN0025 (Palupiprant) has completed Phase 1b trial in a neoadjuvant setting in locally advanced rectal cancer and is undergoing Phase 1b trial in combination with Keytruda in patients with multiple solid tumors. AN4005, the internally discovered oral small molecule PD-L1 inhibitor, is currently in Phase I clinical trial in the U.S.

The Company has assembled a world-class leadership team, built its unique immuno-oncology platforms, and established strategic collaborations with multiple global leading biopharmaceutical companies, such as Novartis, Merck, Eisai, Oncolytics Biotech, etc. Adlai Nortye is committed to becoming an innovative biopharmaceutical company with a global vision and strives to bring more effective treatments to patients in China and worldwide. The Company shoulders the mission of transforming cancer into a non-fatal disease or even a cure. For more information, please visit: www.adlainortye.com.

About SDIC Fund Management

Established in July 2009, SDIC Fund Management Corporation Limited is an independent, professional private equity company. It currently manages and advises more than RMB 50 billion of capital for a wide range of institutional investors including financial institutions, social security funds, and state-owned and private capital. SDIC Fund Management Corporation Limited is one of the largest professional private equity fund managers in China.

About Tigermed

Tigermed (Stock code: 300347.SZ/3347.HK) is a leading provider of innovative clinical research solutions across the full life cycle of biopharmaceutical and medical device products globally. With a broad portfolio of services and a promise of quality, from clinical development to commercialization, we are committed to moving our customers and patients through their development journey efficiently and cost-effectively. Tigermed currently represents a worldwide network of more than 60 subsidiaries and 150 offices and sites, with over 6,400 employees across 38 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, North & South America and Africa. We are devoted to building an integrated platform that enables boundless possibility for the healthcare industry, embracing challenges to fulfill our commitment to serve unmet patients' needs, and eventually saving lives.

About Legend Star

Founded in 2008 as an angel investor, Legend Star is managing 7 early-stage funds with a total commitment of up to RMB 3.5 billion. By the end of 2020, it has made about 300 new name investments in cutting-edge technology, TMT and healthcare / pharmaceutical sectors.

About Wuxi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. The company's history and achievements demonstrate its commitment to providing a truly one-stop service offering and strong value proposition to its global clients.

The company is currently conducting (as of March 22, 2021) a total of 361 integrated projects: 190 in pre-clinical development; 137 in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development; 32 in late-phase (phase III) development; and 2 in commercial manufacturing. With a total estimated capacity at around 430,000 liters for biopharmaceutical production planned by 2024 in China, Ireland, the U.S., Germany, and Singapore, WuXi Biologics will provide its biomanufacturing partners with an even more robust and premier-quality global supply chain network.

WuXi Biologics views Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities as an integral component of its ethos and business strategy and has established an ESG committee led by the CEO to increase efficiency while advancing commitment to sustainability. For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com.

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Premier of South Australia Launches $1.5m Vaccine and Immunobiology State-of-the art Laboratory for APAC Clinical Trials

ADELAIDE, AUS, Jul 14, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Agilex Biolabs, Australia's largest and most technologically advanced regulated bioanalytical laboratory for clinical trials today announced that the Premier of South Australia the Hon Steven Marshall MP has launched its new $1.5m vaccine and immuno-biology laboratory. The facility, the most sophisticated in APAC, will attract biotechs and pharma from around the world for advanced clinical research.

Premier of South Australia the Hon Steven Marshall MP has launched Agilex Biolabs' new $1.5m vaccine and immunobiology laboratory.

Over the past 2 years, Agilex Biolabs has invested more than $3.5m in technology and systems at the APAC headquarters in Adelaide.

Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall launched the new facility today, thanking Agilex Biolabs for investing in the State and creating jobs in this important sector.

"South Australia is the most liveable city in the country, and the third in the world and investment such as this continues to build on this," Premier Marshall said.

"This new facility certainly puts South Australia firmly on the global map for high-tech clinical research."

"We have seen significant advances in vaccines and immunobiology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and now the Agilex Biolabs' state-of-the-art facility offers the very latest in technology to support the further development of these new and emerging therapies targeting infections, cancer and genetic conditions."

Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson who attended the launch with the Premier said the State Government had an ambitious plan to grow SA's Health and Medical Industries sector's contribution to the state's economy.

"As a government, we're working collaboratively with industry to more than double the HMI economic contribution to SA from $2.3 billion to $5 billion by 2030.

"South Australia is open for business and at the forefront of world-leading capabilities, bio-tech precincts and an academic research ecosystem that makes it the ideal place to invest and do business."

Agilex Biolabs CEO Jason Valentine said the new laboratory focusses on new and emerging areas of therapeutic interest, including RNA vaccines, siRNA/miRNA clinical targets and gene therapy studies.

"This new facility adds digital droplet quantitative RT-PCR analysis for RNA, siRNA and miRNA clinical trials, including vaccines and gene therapy trials," he said.

"We are also installing an EliSPOT/FluoroSPOT multi-spot reader for vaccine studies to enable extrapolation of recall immune responses, which coupled with our state-of-the-art BD FACSymphony 5 laser, 20 colour flow cytometer, offers unparalleled sensitivity for immunology and vaccine trials."

This Agilex Biolabs facility adds to the recent expansion of the small molecule/novel chemical entity laboratory and implementation of the latest 6500+ Sciex LC/MS/MS platforms to enable the development and validation of the highest sensitivity assays in the region for regulated bioanalysis.

The laboratory will be completed in the next few months with international clients already booked to access the advanced technology and scientific excellence.

Agilex Biolabs has more than 130 staff which includes 85 dedicated laboratory staff, and supports client pharma and biotech companies from US, Europe and APAC.

The company offers services for both small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity (PD) and biomarker bioanalysis utilising the two platforms of LC-MS/MS and Immunoassay.

South Australian clinical research has remained open for business and Agilex Biolabs is a designated essential service so clients can be assured of study continuity.

Book a confidential briefing with our scientists before you start your next clinical trial. https://calendly.com/agilexbiolabs/15min

About Agilex Biolabs https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/

Agilex Biolabs, Australia's leading bioanalytical and toxicology laboratory, has more than 24 years' experience in performing regulated bioanalysis, including quality method development, method validation and sample analysis services. It has successfully supported hundreds of preclinical and clinical trials from around the world where customers choose Australia for the streamlined regulatory process and access to the world's most attractive R&D rebate of more than 40% on clinical trial work conducted in Australia.

Agilex Biolabs has the leading certifications including OECD GLP Recognition with NATA (Australian Government OECD GLP Compliance monitoring authority) and ISO 17025 Accreditation for global recognition. The company has recently acquired TetraQ biolabs and toxicology, and also expanded its main labs by more than 30% to accommodate biotech demand from APAC and the USA. Watch the new lab video walkthrough at https://youtu.be/WNdPGkdr9FA.

Agilex Biolabs specialises in bioanalysis of small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity, biomarkers and immunological pharmacodynamics assessments utilising LC-MS/MS, immunoassay (Mesoscale, Gyrolab, Luminex) and flow cytometry (BD FACSymphony A3, 20 colour cell analyser).

Agilex offers pharmacodynamics services that include immunobiology services using the latest state-of-the-art technology to support immunology, cell biology and mode of action assays, including:
– Immunophenotyping
– Receptor occupancy
– Cytokine release assays (whole blood or PBMC stimulation assays) and cytokine/biomarker profiling
– PBMC assays and cellular mechanism of action assays

Agilex Biolabs Media Contact:
Kate Newton
Media@AgilexBiolabs.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Sri Trang Group accelerates Covid inoculation program

BANGKOK, Jul 12, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Pressing ahead with its campaign to provide inoculation to all Southeast Asia based employees of the Sri Trang Group of Companies against Covid-19 with Sinopharm vaccine, provided by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT) reached its goal of 100% jabs for its entire workforce of 11,000 employees in production plants and Southeast Asia offices. The second jabs will be given at the end of July. Other companies in the group will continue their inoculation programs where permitted until the goal is achieved, demonstrating the group's commitment to employee welfare.

Most recently, Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (STA), and Jarinya Jirojkul, CEO of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL, pledged to implement the group's ESG policy, which pays special attention to sustainability in business while treating employees with fairness in accordance with human rights and transparency principles. The companies have launched the Covid-19 vaccination program for all Southeast Asia based employees and their family members as well as select employees of suppliers and trading partners.

At the same time, the Sri Trang Group will earnestly continue to acquire additional doses of alternative vaccines for its employees and families in Thailand and abroad, as well as select members in its supply chain, to build confidence for all concerned and to help these countries overcome the current Covid-19 crisis as soon as possible.

For more information, visit Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL at https://www.sritranggloves.com/en.
Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL
Wasana "Jeab" Wongsiri, Tel: +66 84 359 0659, wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com
Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT) (SGX: STGT)
Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (SET: STA) (SGX: STA)

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

EC Healthcare Further Issue Shares to Strategic Shareholder Dr. Cheng Chi Kong and Aspex Management To Enhance Collaboration in Deploying Medical Real Estate Strategy

HONG KONG, Jul 9, 2021 – (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, announces that the Group's strategic shareholders Dr. Cheng Chi Kong and Aspex Management further increase equity stake in the Group via Top-up Placing, further enhancing the strategic relationship and empowering the Group's development.

The Group conditionally agreed to effectively issue and allot 6,455,172 and 10,758,621 new Shares at HK$14.50 per Share to Dr. Cheng Chi Kong, Adrian JP and Aspex Master Fund (the "Purchasers"), respectively, through Top-up Placing. Such shares representing approximately 1.55% of the issued share capital of the Company and approximately 1.53% of its enlarged issued share capital immediately following the Top-up Placing. The Group expects to receive net proceeds of approximately HK$248.8 million from the transaction and intends to use the proceeds for clinic network expansion in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area in the PRC, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate purposes. Haitong International Securities Company Limited is the placing agent.

The Group had placed an aggregate of 29,636,000 shares at HK$7.80 per share to Dr. Cheng and Aspex Management in April 2021. Upon the completion of this transaction, the stake holding of the strategic shareholders will increase from 2.69% to 6.53% of the enlarged issued share capital of the Company.

This transaction is a private investment by Dr. Cheng Chi Kong. Dr. Cheng is a cultural entrepreneur who engaged in retail, hotels, and office buildings businesses in Greater China. He founded the K11 brand which combines the concepts of museum and retail. Dr. Cheng also manages commercial and residential properties in core cities of mainland China and leads the development of Victoria Dockside, a large-scale commercial real estate project in Hong Kong, and the Sky City project in Hong Kong International Airport related to medical tourism of New World Development Co., Ltd. The increase in the holding of shares by Dr. Cheng enhanced a stronger relationship between the Group and the strategic investors. By leveraging on Dr. Cheng's related strategic value of high-quality investment properties across Hong Kong and mainland China the Group can better facilitate the precise layout and deploy the medical real estate strategy.

Mr. Eddy Tang, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of EC Healthcare said, "The Group is delighted to see our strategic investors, Dr. Cheng and Aspex Management demonstrating strong confidence in our future business outlook. The Group believes the share issuance will also optimize the shareholders base and increase its public float. The Group has been focusing on expanding its foothold in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and regards the strategic partnership with the property giant as one of our important strategies. We believe that the long-term partnerships with the two investors allow the Group to accelerate the deployment of its resources for business development with precision in the Greater Bay Area as it aims to scale new heights."

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 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, primary care clinics jointly established with Tencent Doctorwork, chiropractic services centre SPINE Central, New York Spine and Physiotherapy Center NYMG, health management centre re:HEALTH, a vaccine centre Hong Kong Professional Vaccine HKPV, a comprehensive dental centre UMH DENTAL CARE, a diagnostic and imaging centre HKAI, an oncology treatment centre reVIVE, a day procedure centre HKMED, a specialty clinic SPECIALISTS CENTRAL and NEW MEDICAL CENTER, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist ZENITH MEDICAL CENTER AND PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS CENTRE, specialists central, a paediatric center PRIME CARE, cardiology center HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CARDIOLOGY CENTER, PathLab Medical Laboratories and a professional hair care center HAIR FOREST.

*According to an independent research conducted by Frost and Sullivan in terms of revenue in 2019 and 2020

About Dr. Cheng Chi Kong
Dr. Cheng Chi Kong, Adrian is a visionary leader and a cultural entrepreneur in a new era. He heads the New World Group and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, and is the founder of the K11 brand and C Ventures. Dr. Cheng is responsible for formulating the strategy for the development strategy and the guiding principle for the operation of the Cheng family's business empire and is the third-generation leader of the Cheng family, which is one of the world's most prominent and influential families. The Cheng family is ranked third in Forbes' "Hong Kong's Richest 2021 List with total assets of over US$88 billion as of 31 December 2020. Dr. Cheng is also a prominent and renowned investor with extensive experience and a strong track record.

About Aspex
Aspex Management is an investment management firm focused on pan-Asian opportunities across both the public and private equity markets. The firm looks to invest in industries and partner with companies exposed to large addressable markets with long-term growth potential as well as those undergoing structural changes. Aspex invests capital on behalf of endowments, non-profit foundations, family offices and outsourced investment offices across the globe.

For further information, please contact:
iPR Ogilvy Limited
Callis Lau / Lorraine Luk / Ada Chew
Tel: (852) 2136 6952 / 2169 0467 / 3920 7650
Fax: (852) 3170 6606
Email: ech@iprogilvy.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Avance Clinical Congratulates Client Tetherex Pharmaceuticals on Initiation of Dosing in a Phase 1 Clinical Study Using a Novel Single-Cycle Adenovirus Vaccine Strategy in Australia

ADELAIDE, AUS, Jul 9, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The largest Australian full-service CRO for international biotechs and Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award winner Avance Clinical today congratulated client Tetherex Pharmaceuticals on first patient dosing for its Phase 1 vaccine clinical trial.

Tetherex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on development of selectin inhibitor therapeutics for the treatment of a broad range of inflammatory diseases and single-cycle adenovirus vaccines for multiple infectious diseases and cancer indications.

Avance Clinical Chief Scientific Officer Dr Gabriel Kremmidiotis said:

"The exciting aspect of the Tetherex product is the potential to vaccinate using a nasal spray. Administering the vaccine via the same route that the virus uses to get into our bodies, may result in more effective protection compared to the first generation Covid-19 vaccine products currently being administered as injectables. Commencement of dosing with the Tetherex Covid-19 vaccine product constitutes a major achievement for the Avance Clinical team who played a key role in supporting Tetherex in gaining regulatory approval to conduct the First-in-Human trial with their exciting vaccine candidate."

According to Tetherex Pharmaceutical's announcement:

Tetherex Pharmaceuticals has executed an exclusive worldwide license with Mayo Clinic for the development and commercialization of a novel single-cycle adenovirus vaccine platform. The platform will be used to target multiple infectious diseases, beginning with a Phase 1 clinical study investigating a vaccine for COVID-19. Dosing of the initial cohort of the Phase 1 study is underway in Australia.

"Current adenovirus vaccines under investigation for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are highly restricted in the amount of vaccine antigen they can deliver to cells," said Dr. Russell Rother, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tetherex. "The single-cycle adenovirus platform allows one round of robust vaccine antigen expression to occur without the generation of infectious virus particles which, in preclinical models, translates to a marked improvement in the ensuing immune response."

About the Single Cycle Adenovirus Vaccine Platform

The single-cycle adenovirus platform was developed to enhance the expression of target antigens, amplifying immune responses to infectious disease targets. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the single-cycle adenovirus can increase target antigen expression up to 100-fold over currently utilized replication defective adenovirus vaccines. Intranasal administration of single-cycle vaccine elicits both systemic and mucosal immune responses. A mucosal response allows the immune system to encounter respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 at the site of entry while the viral titers are lower. The platform also provides a robust manufacturing and supply chain paradigm relative to other vaccine platforms, such as mRNA.

Tetherex's Phase 1 open label study, designed to assess safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the single-cycle adenovirus vaccine, is expected to recruit a total of approximately 80 healthy volunteers and includes both a single ascending dose group and a multiple dose group. Subjects will receive the vaccine via either intramuscular or intranasal administration.

The study site is Nucleus Network in Brisbane, and Dr Paul Griffin Nucleus Network's Principal Investigator said:

"The covid 19 global pandemic continues to impact lives around the world. We are very fortunate to have developed a number of vaccines for Covid-19 already that are safe and highly effective. These vaccines are beginning to give us the capacity to start to reduce the impact of this viral infection, however it's clear there are certain properties of these vaccines that we would ideally like to improve upon such as having a vaccine that could be given via a route other than needle and syringe and perhaps a vaccine that could further reduce the ability for a vaccinated individual to become infected in the first place, a so called transmission blocking vaccine. A vaccine given intranasally has the potential to achieve some of these objects hence I am very excited to be the principal Investigator on the Tetherex clinical trial."

"The addition of this novel vaccine platform to the Tetherex portfolio significantly expands our ability to leverage our scientific and clinical development expertise and broadens our overall technology base. This reduces risk to our investors while providing the potential of significant upside," said Dr. Scott Rollins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tetherex. "The platform will be utilized to target multiple infectious diseases which allows Tetherex to seek partnerships and alliances for the ever-expanding infectious disease marketplace."

About Avance Clinical

Avance Clinical is the largest full-service Australian CRO focussed on delivering quality clinical trials in Australia and New Zealand for international biotechs. Avance Clinical has been delivering CRO services in the region for the past 24 years. Avance is accredited by the office of the gene technology regulator (OGTR) and has experience with the level of complexity involved in the granting of licenses from OGTR. This accreditation allows Avance to take responsibility, on behalf of clients, for the execution of trials which involve genetically modified organism products.

The company's clients are international biotechs in their early phases of drug development that need fast, agile, and adaptive solution-oriented clinical research services. Avance Clinical delivers customised solutions designed around specific client needs rather than a one size fits all approach. As a company Avance Clinical has focused on state-of-the-art technology and systems across all functional areas to provide clients with the most effective processes.

Medidata, Oracle, and Medrio are just some of our technology partners. The collective pool of knowledge and experience at Avance Clinical continually grows through the careful selection of candidates who demonstrate passion and expertise in their chosen field. Visit http://www.avancecro.com for more information.

Recent Awards:
Excellence in Business Award 2021
Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award 2020

Media Contact:
media@avancecro.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

VFS Global, Unifier and Accredify announce strategic partnership in digital health credentials for a seamless and safe cross-border travel experience

SINGAPORE, Jul 8, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – VFS Global, Affinidi's Unifier and Accredify have announced a strategic partnership to provide an end-to-end digital solution for COVID-19 (RT-PCR) testing for Singapore bound travellers from Indonesia. With the gradual easing of restrictions by countries while ensuring the safeguarding of public health and traveller safety, a smart and reliable COVID-19 testing and verification solution is now a prerequisite for restarting international travel. The partnership will provide a convenient solution for all travellers who are required to undergo pre-departure testing – a mandatory requirement for travellers entering Singapore from countries classified as high risk.

VFS Global, Accredify and Affinidi's Unifier are leveraging their strengths and capabilities in the healthcare, travel and technology space to provide a secure and reliable solution to stakeholders within the travel ecosystem. This starts from enabling travellers to seamlessly book their mandatory pre-departure COVID-19 swab test and keep a copy of the swab's results online via VFS Global's network of accredited laboratories. With Accredify's tamper-proof HealthCert solution, the traveller's test results can be used for verification purposes by relevant authorities. Unifier then enables airlines and immigration authorities to digitally verify the authenticity of the COVID-19 test results using a simple QR code scan and matching the health credentials against entry requirements of the destination country.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Jiten Vyas, Regional Group COO, VFS Global, "A convenient and reliable pre-departure COVID-19 testing solution will be a catalyst in the recovery process of international travel as the restrictions continue to be stringent compared to domestic travel. We are pleased to partner with Affindi and Accredify to provide a seamless booking system to get a reliable COVID swab result that is accepted by airlines and immigration authorities to verify an individual's COVID health status. We now offer ease of access to a much-needed and verified solution and also support a safe restart of international travel in the coming months."

Ms. Gina Chiang, Affinidi's VP & General Manager, Safe Travel Initiatives said, "As borders re-open, we have seen an explosion of different technologies, standards and formats for the verification of health credentials. Our aim with Affinidi's Unifier is to provide an interoperable solution that enables immigration authorities and airlines to verify COVID-related health credentials in an efficient, accurate and privacy-preserving manner, while also enhancing traveller experience. We are committed to working with global stakeholders to build a trusted global ecosystem for international travel, and we are pleased to be collaborating with VFS Global and Accredify on this important initiative."

Mr. Quah Zheng Wei, CEO & Co-founder, Accredify, noted, "Following IATA's announcement that personal travel could return in the second half of 2021, there is a need for services which provide travellers with a seamless process of pre-travel preparation and authorities with an efficient solution to facilitate the regulated health screening of travellers. We're delighted to partner with VFS Global to realise this solution for both travellers and authorities, beginning with the Southeast Asian and East Asian region."

With the use of Unifier and HealthCerts tamper-proof swab result, the duration it takes for airline staff and immigration authorities to verify a passenger's COVID-19 test result is greatly reduced while awarding assurance to authorities within seconds. This enables a more efficient and convenient travel experience for both travellers and border authorities. Unifier, a web-based application by Affinidi, enables airlines and immigration authorities to authenticate digitally verifiable test results using a QR code scan. HealthCerts was co-developed by Accredify to resolve the issue of fraudulent COVID-19 test results as well as black markets selling COVID-negative test results and to provide an internationally recognisable standard to verify a traveller's COVID health status. As governments, airlines and local authorities require support with implementing COVID-19 testing, VFS Global offers seamless service for travellers through its network of strategic medical partners and authorised laboratories, accredited by Governments, across 270 cities in 45 countries by leveraging the Validated Digital Health Credential solution that was introduced last year.

About VFS Global

VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. With 3498 Application Centres, operations in 144 countries across five continents and over 229 million applications processed (since inception in 2001) as on 31 May 2021, VFS Global is the trusted partner of 63 client governments. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.

VFS Global is majority owned by the global investment organisation EQT. The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation holds a minority stake in VFS Global. EQT is a global investment organisation with offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific and with a 27-year track-record of consistent investment performance across multiple geographies, sectors, and strategies. EQT AB Group is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange.

About Affinidi

Affinidi is a core technology company that enables creating, sharing and verification of digital credentials that are portable and verifiable. Affinidi's solutions empower trusted institutions to issue verifiable credentials to users, who can provide consent to share their credentials with other institutions, applications or service providers, for verification. By sharing these verifiable data credentials, users can access valuable products and services across platforms and geographies in a trusted, open and interoperable manner.

Headquartered in Singapore with a hub in Berlin, Germany, Affinidi works with stakeholders and partners globally to realize the shared goal of driving transformational change and new business models.

As part of its Safe Travel initiative, Affinidi's Unifier offers a universal, privacy-preserving solution to simply and securely verify digital health credentials to address the increasingly complex environment for international travel. Affinidi is also building an ecosystem that provides services to consumers across India using verifiable data, powered by Affinidi's verifiable credential system. In addition, Affinidi's Global Developer Ecosystem enables developers to utilize verifiable credentials to create innovative solutions and new use cases that will foster digital trust globally.

About Accredify

Founded in 2019, Accredify is pioneering the adoption of verifiable data by providing organisations with an end-to-end solution to create and issue verifiable documents. With a presence in more than eight markets serving 800 clients globally, documents issued by Accredify have been verified close to 6 million times. With a dedicated team that embraces the highest standards of customer service, security, and privacy, Accredify's objective is to be the trusted solution for managing and verifying documents anywhere and anytime.

For more information, follow Accredify on LinkedIn @Accredify

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

ACT Genomics Completes Acquisition of MC Diagnostics

HONG KONG, Jul 6, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – ACT Genomics Co. Ltd. ("ACT Genomics" or "the Group") has completed the acquisition of MC Diagnostics Ltd. ("MCD"), a specialist molecular diagnostic company based in the United Kingdom, which marks the Group's entry into the European precision medicine market.

MCD machine in operation

Founded in 2006, MCD provides expertise in the automation of multiplexed molecular assays as well as custom-designed image analysis and interpretation software. MCD has designed, developed and manufactured an automated low density array platform ("ALDAS"), which is currently providing proven clinical diagnostic assays in the fields of HLA typing and blood group diagnostics.

Revolutionary Breakthrough in Genechip Technology

Effective and affordable cancer diagnostics testing tools with quick turnaround time and high sensitivity have always been sought after in the market. As a company at the forefront of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) molecular diagnostics in the field of oncology, ACT Genomics has partnered with MCD to develop fusion genechips on its ALDAS platform, which has recently yielded a notable breakthrough. Tests can now be easily and automatically performed at the point of care to achieve a result that is very close to that obtained by NGS. The first genechip – ACTSpot NTRK – will be launched in August 2021.

A New Chapter for ACT Genomics

ACT Genomics is an NGS-based assays specialist and a pioneer in oncology molecular diagnostics in Asia. The creation of this union with MCD not only secures the global pioneering position of ACT Genomics in the development and applications of genechips, but also reflects the Group's strategy to embrace new and exciting growth opportunities through diversification and globalization.

Mr. Peter Maguire, Chief Executive Officer of MCD said, "Scientists at MCD are experts in transplant diagnostics, pcr-based diagnostic tests, microarray fabrication, robotics and automation, as well as software engineering. We are heavily focused on field application and have successfully optimized our manufacturing, assay and automation processes. The ALDAS system offers maximum flexibility as its 8-well strip array allows any throughput from 1 to 96 samples per run and the turnaround time is only 3 hours from sample extraction to report. I am excited to ally with ACT Genomics to bring our knowledge and experience to Asia."

Mr. Hua Chien Chen, Chief Executive Officer of ACT Genomics said, "With a vision to transform genomic information into action for the benefit of cancer patients, we at ACT Genomics are dedicated to develop innovative and effective products that can cover a broader spectrum of patient needs. Working hand-in-hand with MCD has brought us to the frontier of genechip technology and we are excited to have already accomplished a promising breakthrough. We look forward to continue our close relationship with the experts at MCD to perfect the ALDAS system and develop additional practical products that exploit this cutting-edge platform for the well-being of cancer patients and also the general public at large."

About ACT Genomics Holdings Co., Ltd
ACT Genomics is an innovation-driven cancer solution provider in Asia with offices in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. After setting up our laboratories in Taiwan and Japan, we opened our third laboratory in Asia at Hong Kong Science Park in July 2019. With our Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, CAP-accredited laboratories, experienced bioinformatics team and proprietary AI algorithms, we provide optimal cancer treatment planning, immunotherapy evaluation, cancer relapse & drug resistance monitoring, as well as cancer risk assessment services to medical professionals.

Our team is specialized in biomarker identification, underlying disease mechanism discovery and genetic alteration exploration. Pharmaceutical communities are also able to benefit from our expertise in identifying targets for drug development, stratifying patients for clinical studies, and delineating drug responses with efficiency and efficacy. We also participate in various international precision medicine biomarker programs, such as the TMB and HRD Harmonization Programs led by FOCR in the United States. Together, we "Turn Genomics into Action".

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EC Healthcare Announces FY2020/21 Annual Results

HONG KONG, Jun 30, 2021 – (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, announces today its annual results for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2021 (the "Year").

Business Highlights
— Introduced numerous strategic shareholders including Dr. Cheng Chi Kong, Goldman Sachs Asia, Champion REIT, etc.
— Revenue from medical services surged 54.0% to HK$960 million, with its contributions to total revenue rose to 46.1%
— Revenue in the Mainland China increased by 52.5% to HK$135 million
— Second-half total revenue jumped 61.0% versus first half, second-half profit after tax surged by 223.2% versus first half
— Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") amounted to HK$397 million, profit after tax was HK$226 million and basic earnings per share were 18.8 HK cents
— The board of directors (the "Board") proposed final cash dividend of 12.9 HK cents per share, which together with the interim dividend of 3 HK cents per share, will bring the total annual dividend to 15.9 HK cents per share, representing an annual dividend payout ratio of 84.6%
— As at 31 March 2021, the Group's full-time and exclusive Registered Practitioners across Hong Kong, the Mainland China and Macau increased to 139, with more than 500 network doctors
— As at 31 March 2021, the Group's aggregate floor area of clinics and service centres increased by 32% to 398,000 sq. ft

During the Year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the global economy, the Group once again demonstrated business resilience and maintained a stable performance under adversity. Under the leadership of management with strong execution capabilities, the Group promptly adopted appropriate measures and proactively responded to the market changes, while at the same time grasping the development and investment opportunities to consolidate the Group's strengths. The Group boosted sales in the Hong Kong local market and in Mainland China through proactive client engagement and stepped-up e-commerce campaigns. During the Year, the Group acquired several medical establishments while striving to stimulate cross-selling among different medical disciplines and build up a unique enclosed eco-system in order to expand the Group's market share in healthcare medical services market and consolidate its leading position in the industry.

Benefited from the Group's medical asset integration strategy and the rigid demand for medical services in the market, the revenue from medical services offered by the Group still increased significantly by 54.0% to HK$960 million year-on-year ("yoy"), despite the absence of medical tourists due to the lockdown, and the contributions of medical services to the total revenue rose by 14.1 percentage points to 46.1%, coupled with the revenue from the Mainland China increased by 52.5% to HK$135 million, driving the total revenue to increase 6.8% to HK$2.08 billion. In particular, the growth momentum in the second half of the Year was strong, with second-half revenue soared by 61.0% compared to the first half of the Year and second-half profit after tax surged by 223.2% versus the first half of the Year. The Group's profit after tax was HK$226 million and the basic earnings per share were 18.8 HK cents. EBITDA, which serves as a more precise indicator of the Group's profitability by excluding interest, tax, depreciation-owned property, plant and equipment, amounted to HK$397 million. The Board proposed a final cash dividend of 12.9 HK cents per share, which together with the interim dividend of 3 HK cents pers share, will bring the total annual dividend to 15.9 HK cents per share, representing an annual dividend payout ratio of 84.6%.

Strong Fund-raising Capabilities and Stellar M&A Execution
To seize the first-mover advantage in the market and accelerate deployment in business segments with potential and market expansion in the Greater Bay Area, the Group introduced numerous strategic shareholders (For details, please refer to the chart below), demonstrating the Group's outstanding fund-raising capabilities. In April 2021, the Group introduced Dr. Cheng Chi Kong, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Co., Ltd. (SEHK stock code: 17) as its strategic shareholders through shares placement. It is expected to further empower the Group to deploy the medical real estate strategy. Leveraging Dr. Cheng's related strategic value of high-quality investment properties, this will facilitate the Group's precise layout in its business development across Hong Kong and the Mainland China and deepen the cross-sector cooperation in medical services and residential commercial real estate sectors.

During the Year, the Group continued the acquisition of other medical establishments to develop new medical services and broadening of services spectrum (For details, please refer to the table below). The Group also focused on integrating the acquired businesses in order to fully exploit the synergies with the existing businesses of the Group, thereby further consolidating the Group's industry leadership as an integrated medical and healthcare group.

Rapid Organic Growth and Mature Replication Capability
The Group adheres to developing its businesses through organic growth as well as mergers and acquisitions. During the Year, the Group opened new clinics and service centres to fulfill the growing demand for medical and healthcare service. (For details, please refer to the table below) As at 31 March 2021, the Group's aggregate floor area of clinics and service centres increased by 32.2% to (398,000) sq. ft.. The Group had 139 full-time and exclusive Registered Practitioners across Hong Kong, the Mainland China and Macau, representing a yoy increase of 44.8%. The Group also had more than 500 network doctors.

Leveraging its efficient corporatization capabilities and excellent operating capability in the aesthetic medical market and its proven outstanding capability in consolidating the Hong Kong medical market, the Group has been continuously investing in the brand strength, quality service and IT platform to empower the fragmented and inefficient service assets, and further promote integration in the healthcare market. The Group's average time for a new centre opening is only 75 days, its annualized customer retention rate exceeds 81% and the customer acquisition cost only accounts for 5.3% of the revenue, which is way ahead the industry. Also, the Group's new store can break even in six months on average and achieve EBITDA breakeven in nine months on average. The quick light-asset business model adopted by the Group for expanding business has become more mature.

Mr. Eddy Tang, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of EC Healthcare said, "EC Healthcare is always committed to building up an enclosed healthcare eco-system, attracting and maintaining both public and private traffic, and achieving cross-selling among different business units to reinforce the loyalty of existing customers. The Group will continue to invest in and enhance its core competitiveness in terms of brand, service, IT and corporate culture, and actively explore strategic alliances with partners from different sectors covering property, pharmaceutical, insurance, telecom and information technology in order to broaden the breadth and depth of our healthcare and wellness service offerings. On the other hand, the Group is expanding its market share by identifying potential acquisition targets or via an organic expansion in the Greater Bay Area. The Group hope to open 30 to 50 new service centres and achieve revenue target of HK$6 billion by 2025, with HK$100 million of which comes from the Mainland China."

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 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, primary care clinics jointly established with Tencent Doctorwork, chiropractic services centre SPINE Central, New York Spine and Physiotherapy Center NYMG, health management centre re:HEALTH, a vaccine centre Hong Kong Professional Vaccine HKPV, a comprehensive dental centre UMH DENTAL CARE, a diagnostic and imaging centre HKAI, an oncology treatment centre reVIVE, a day procedure centre HKMED, a specialty clinic SPECIALISTS CENTRAL and NEW MEDICAL CENTER, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist ZENITH MEDICAL CENTER AND PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS CENTRE, specialists central, a paediatric center PRIME CARE, cardiology center HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CARDIOLOGY CENTER, PathLab Medical Laboratories and a professional hair care center HAIR FOREST.

*According to an independent research conducted by Frost and Sullivan in terms of revenue in 2019 and 2020

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Email: ech@iprogilvy.com

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Jacobson Pharma Announces FY2021 Annual Results

HONG KONG, Jun 29, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited ("Jacobson Pharma" or the "Company"; Stock Code: 2633), a leading company engaging in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of essential medicines, specialty drugs and branded healthcare products, today announced the annual results of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively the "Group") for the year ended 31 March 2021 (the "FY2021" or the "Reporting Period").

During the Reporting Period, the economy was hit hard by the pandemic with retail consumption stalled due to various social distancing measures and travel restrictions. At the continual impact of the pandemic on its businesses, the Group made total revenue of HK$1,445.9 million in the Reporting Period, dropped narrowly by 8.0% against the previous year. Mitigated by the impact relief and cost-saving measures, profit attributable to shareholders softened by 19.4% to HK$173.7 million.

The Board has recommended payment of a final dividend of HK1.5 cents per share (FY2020: HK2.5 cents per share). Including the interim dividend of HK0.8 cent per share already paid and a special interim dividend made by the Company on 5 February 2021 in the form of distribution in specie based on 1 share in JBM (Healthcare) Limited ("JBM Healthcare"; Stock Code: 2161) at HK$1.20 per share for every 8 shares held by the shareholders of the Company which represented a distribution of approximately HK15 cents per share, the total dividend for FY2021 would be HK17.3 cents per share (FY2020 total dividend: HK4.5 cents per share).

Steady Growth of Generic Drugs Business in Public Sector
The generic drugs business of the Group recorded revenue of HK$1,048.8 million in the Reporting Period, with the public sector business reporting steady growth but offset by a drop in sales momentum of the private sector business considerably dampened by infection control measures under the pandemic.

The Group's offerings in certain therapeutic classes saw solid growth, with oral anti-diabetics and gastrointestinal product classes registering a growth of 28.3% and 26.0% respectively in the public sector, mainly attributable to the realisation of tendering business plus increased usage of these essential medicines in respective disease management. In addition, the Group's angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor class and angiotensin II antagonist class of cardiovascular products achieved robust sales growth of 62.2% and 33.6% respectively, alongside an increase in the public sector consumption of antihypertensive drugs.

In the Reporting Period, the Group launched a number of new products including Arsenic Trioxide Oral Solution, Dihydrocodeine Tablet, Perindopril Tablet, Atomoxetine Capsule, Rosuvastatin Tablet, and Hydroxychloroquine Tablet. Among these, Arsenic Trioxide Oral Solution is the first ever Arsenic Trioxide approved in Hong Kong for the treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia.

The Group also signed in-license regional agreements with reputable manufacturers in Europe and South Korea for a total of 15 specialised drugs covering the central nervous system, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal, and other therapeutic classes.

Resilient Performance of Branded Healthcare Business
The branded healthcare business of the Group recorded revenue of HK$397.1 million during the Reporting Period, up by 4.1% year-on-year. The growth was mainly attributable to the robust sales of Hoitin in concentrated Chinese medicine granules products of the Orizen Group, coupled with the resilient performance of AIM Atropine Eye Drops and Flying Eagle Woodlok Oil albeit market challenges.

Distribution of Fosun BioNTech Comirnaty Vaccine in Hong Kong and Macau
The Group is the distributor of Fosun Pharma/BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine ("Fosun BioNTech Comirnaty Vaccine") in Hong Kong and Macau under an exclusive distribution agreement with Fosun Pharma Group. The Fosun BioNTech Comirnaty vaccination programme started in Hong Kong on 10 March 2021, and as at 31 May 2021, over 1.3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered.

Fosun BioNTech Comirnaty Vaccine is an mRNA based vaccine developed by German biotech company BioNTech SE with a clinically-tested efficacy rate of 95%. The Advisory Committee of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently endorsed the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and its use in 12-through 15-year-old adolescents, which represented important progress on COVID-19 infection control within the population.

Successful Spin-off of JBM Healthcare
The Group successfully spun off and separately listed its branded healthcare business, JBM Healthcare, on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange on 5 February 2021. After the spin-off and public listing, the Group holds 53.74% stake in JBM Healthcare in effect, which remains as a subsidiary of the Group.

JBM Healthcare is a Hong Kong-based branded healthcare company with a product footprint covering Greater China, Southeast Asia and other selected countries. It principally engages in the manufacturing and trading of branded healthcare products, comprising consumer healthcare products and proprietary Chinese medicines. The spin-off will create two distinct platforms for the Group and JBM Healthcare to enhance their strategic focuses and sharpen the execution of their growth strategies respectively.

Mr. Derek Sum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jacobson Pharma, concluded, "Although market situations have been challenging, the Group has remained steadfast in delivering its growth strategies and fortifying its leadership in the generic drugs market in Hong Kong. In our collaborative fight against the pandemic, Jacobson took pride in playing a part in introducing the Fosun BioNTech Comirnaty Vaccine into the markets of Hong Kong and Macau. I am particularly thankful for the dedicated efforts of our professional pharmacist teams who worked diligently with our business partners in setting up the systems on regulatory compliance, pharmacovigilance and medical information dissemination for seamless execution of the vaccination program."

"Looking ahead, with proven technological know-how, commercial strengths and priding operational excellence, the Group remains confident in delivering sustainable growth and creating values to our shareholders in the long term."

About Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (Stock Code: 2633)
Jacobson Pharma is a leading pharmaceutical company in Hong Kong vertically integrated with the research, development, production, sale and distribution of essential medicines and specialty drugs. As a major provider of generic drugs in Hong Kong, the Group has one of the most extensive sales and distribution coverage for both the private and public market sectors in Hong Kong, with an expanding reach into strategically selected Asian markets. Carrying a broad product portfolio and taking a pre-eminent market position in a number of therapeutic categories, the Group operates a host of 10 PIC/S GMP licensed production facilities for generic drugs in Hong Kong.

The Group aims at the continued strategic enrichment of its generic drug portfolios through the addition of high value-added products. With its corporate headquarters based in Hong Kong, the Group has also established its operating subsidiaries in China, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Cambodia forming a regional commercial platform to tap the market potential in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region. Jacobson Pharma has been a constituent stock of MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index since 1 June 2017. For more details about Jacobson Pharma, please visit the Group's website: http://www.jacobsonpharma.com

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JBM Healthcare Announces FY2021 Annual Results

HONG KONG, Jun 29, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – JBM (Healthcare) Limited ("JBM Healthcare" or the "Group"; Stock Code: 2161), a leading branded healthcare products marketer and distributor in Hong Kong, has announced today the first annual results of the Group after its spin-off listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 5 February 2021.

Despite the unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group posted a total revenue of HK$397.2 million during the year ended 31 March 2021 ("Reporting Period"), representing a growth of 4.1% from last year. Before taking into account the one-off listing expenses, the adjusted net profit* increased by 13.3% to HK$54.6 million when compared with last year. Basic earnings per share was HK2.78 cents.

Resilient Performance Driven by Strong Product Portfolio
JBM Healthcare carries a robust and broad portfolio of branded healthcare products in the segments of branded medicines, proprietary Chinese medicines, and health and wellness products.

As for the proprietary Chinese medicines ("PCM") business, sales revenue notably increased by 14.6% to HK$210.9 million, driven by the buoyant performance of Hoitin concentrated Chinese medicine granules products, alongside a 16.8% revenue growth on Flying Eagle Woodlok Oil attributed to a broadened sales penetration in China.

During the Reporting Period, the Group has enriched its PCM product portfolio to include third-party brands, namely Angong Niuhuang Wan and Ganoderma Spores, to exploit the potential demand of the Chinese market.

The branded medicines business of the Group recorded revenue of HK$134.5 million during the Reporting Period, representing a drop of 5.4% from last year. Among its well-established brands, sales of AIM Atropine Eye Drops delivered year-on-year growth of 9.7% despite the disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic on the consultation visits of children to hospitals and ophthalmologists.

For health and wellness products, sales revenue recorded a moderate decline of 6.3% during the Reporting Period under the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. This product segment comprises supplements, personal care products, as well as diagnostic for the general health and wellness of consumers. Among these, the demand for personal hygiene and infection control products within the segment surged. As part of its strategy to further enhance its health and wellness product offerings, the Group launched the Dr. Freeman product series, a health and wellness product line, in response to the growing market demand for infection control and personal hygiene products.

Establishment of Flagship Online Stores
To tap the potential of fast-growing PRC cross-border e-commerce, the Group has established self-operated flagship online stores on Tmall Global Marketplace and JD-HK Open Platform with an expanded selection of more than 40 branded quality healthcare products for Chinese consumers. JBM Healthcare has set up its own e-commerce team in Shenzhen, the PRC, providing direct operational and customer service support for its online flagship stores.

Formation of a Joint Venture with Tycoon Group
The Group has entered into collaboration agreements with Tycoon Group Holdings Limited ("Tycoon Group"; Stock Code: 3390) in a bid to leverage synergies in the market segments of PCM, Chinese healthcare and supplement products. Through this strategic co-operation, the Group is to develop and/or manufacture own-brand products to cater to market trends and consumer needs via a joint venture company newly-formed by the parties to provide distribution, strategic marketing and sales support for these products. The own-brand products are expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2021.

Mr. Patrick Wong, Chief Executive Officer of JBM Healthcare, said, "2020 has set off with a rough ride. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, we remained steadfast with our resolve to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on our business. Thanks to the robust commitment of our team in delivering the strategies, along with our diversified portfolio of offerings and geographic markets, we managed to sustain a resilient performance albeit the market challenges. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our commercial capabilities both offline and online, enrich our portfolio targeting unmet healthcare needs, expand our core market coverage in Greater China and Asia, and fortify our collaboration with strategic partners – to strengthen our position as a key provider of healthcare solutions in the region."

About JBM (Healthcare) Limited (Stock Code: 2161)
JBM Healthcare is a Hong Kong-based company that markets and distributes branded healthcare products across Greater China, Southeast Asia and certain other countries. The Group is a unique field player with marketing expertise and a drug heritage that prioritizes product efficacy and quality to meet consumers' healthcare needs. As a renowned healthcare brand operator in Hong Kong, the Group carries a wide-ranging portfolio of branded healthcare products comprising branded medicines, proprietary Chinese medicines and health and wellness products, which include well-recognized household brands such as Po Chai Pills, Ho Chai Kung Tji Thung San, Contractubex, Bite-X, Mederma Kids, Tong Tai Chung Woodlok Oil, Flying Eagle Woodlok Oil, Saplingtan and Shiling Oil. For more details about JBM Healthcare, please visit: www.jbmhealthcare.com.hk

*Adjusted net profit is the net profit excluding one-off expenses incurred in the spin-off listing which amounted to HK$32.0 million.

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