15 12 月, 2022

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

FREMONT, CA, Dec 14, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Verseon is delighted to announce that the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry has published a paper (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523422007577) describing the company's groundbreaking research that led to promising novel drug candidates for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the world. Hundreds of millions of patients worldwide need anticoagulants to prevent clots that lead to life-threatening events like strokes, heart attacks, and pulmonary embolisms. However, currently prescribed so-called novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) carry well-documented risks of major bleeds, which in many cases require hospitalization and can be life threatening. Developing drugs that prevent unwanted clots while preserving the body's ability to stop excessive bleeding is the "Holy Grail" of anticoagulant drug programs. Verseon is developing a new generation of anticoagulants called PROACs (Precision Oral Anticoagulants) that address this significant unmet medical need.The peer-reviewed paper documents how Verseon's medicinal chemistry team optimized various physicochemical properties -- including potency, selectivity, and in vivo stability -- of compounds from a novel class called N-acylpyrazoles. The resulting reversible covalent thrombin inhibitors are highly effective at preventing clots in vivo. Yet unlike NOACs, they do not inhibit thrombin-mediated activation of platelets, a critical step to stop injury-induced bleeding. Because of their unique mechanism of action, Verseon's drug candidates have demonstrated comparable efficacy to NOACs but with far lower bleeding risks in animal tests. The first lead candidate from this program is currently in clinical trials. "We are pleased to publish the discovery of this novel class of direct thrombin inhibitors with unique pharmacology," commented Dr. David Kita, Verseon's Chief Scientific Officer. "We look forward to describing further work behind the development of our first PROAC clinical candidate (VE-1902), which we expect will address a significant unmet medical need affecting a very large number of cardiovascular patients worldwide."The scientific paper, entitled "Discovery of novel N-acylpyrazoles as potent and selective thrombin inhibitors," is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114855.About VerseonVerseon International Corporation (www.verseon.com) is redefining delay, prevention, and treatment of disease. Using its unique physics- and AI-based molecule-engineering platform, Verseon is rolling out a steady stream of life-changing medicines. Each of the company's drug programs features multiple novel candidates with unique therapeutic properties. Verseon's pipeline currently includes seven drug programs spanning major cardiometabolic diseases and cancers.Verseon's precision oral anticoagulants (PROACs) are potent, highly selective, reversible covalent inhibitors of thrombin. PROACs have shown excellent efficacy in multiple preclinical studies. The fact that PROACs do not disrupt platelet function and demonstrate correspondingly low bleeding risk makes them excellent candidates for use in long-term combination anticoagulant-antiplatelet therapy. The first development candidate, VE-1902, is currently in clinical trials. Among other unique properties of PROACs, VE-1902 has very low renal clearance, a highly desirable feature for patients with impaired kidney function. Verseon also has a second anticoagulant development candidate, VE-2851, which is expected to enter clinical trials at a later date.Contact:Walter Jonesmediarelations@verseon.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

1 4 月, 2022

Official Listing of Recbio on HKEX, Vaccine Innovation and Iteration Accelerated by Novel Adjuvant Technology

HONG KONG, Apr 1, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - On March 31, the China-based novel vaccines company - Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd. ("Recbio" or the "Company", Stock Code: 2179.HK) went public and was officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Assuming the Over-allotment option is not exercised, 30,854,500 H shares were issued under the Global Offering, with a price of HK$24.80 per share and proceeds up to approximately HK$765 million. The Hong Kong public Offering received an enthusiastic response from investors and was over-subscribed by more than 9.65 times. As the cornerstone investors of the Company, the cornerstone subscription ratios of Yangtze River Pharmaceutical, Harvest Global and Sequoia China exceed 50%. Previously, the Company has won the favor of many well-known investment institutions, including Legend Capital, LYFE Capital, Oriental Fortune Capital, Fer-Capital, Sequoia China, CMB International, Lake Bleu and Temasek. Having successfully listed in Hong Kong, becoming "the first HPV vaccine stock in Hong Kong" and "the first novel adjuvant vaccine stock in Hong Kong", Recbio is expected to inject new vitality into the capital market in Hong Kong.Chart: Innovative vaccine portfolio of RecbioDomestic vaccine innovation and iteration accelerated by novel adjuvant technologyVaccines are praised as the "golden track" in the medical health field. According to the Frost & Sullivan report, from 2016 to 2020, the size of the global vaccine market has increased from US$27.5 million to US$39.9 billion at a CAGR of 9.7%, while the CAGR of global pharmaceutical market was only 3.02%. China has become the second largest vaccine market globally, with the market volume increased from RMB27.1 billion in 2016 to RMB75.3 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 29.1%.Regarding the insufficient domestic supply of and the unmet urgent demand for novel vaccines, it has become an important part of the Development Planning of the Pharmaceutical Industry in the "14th Five-Year Plan" in China (referred as the "Plan") to promote enterprises to speed up the development of related products and to achieve product availability as soon as possible. Regarding the development of the vaccine industry, the "Plan" also states that research and development of novel vaccines (such as novel adjuvants for vaccines and mRNA vaccines) and building of industrialization capability shall be accelerated. It also emphasizes on the development of novel COVID-19 vaccines, herpes vaccines, polyvalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and other products. As an innovative novel vaccine company, Recbio has constructed the three core technology platforms consisting of novel adjuvants, protein engineering and immunological evaluation, forming synergy in antigen design and optimization, adjuvant development and production, identification of the best combination of antigen and adjuvants. The Company has built a comprehensive and high-valued vaccine portfolio consisting of 12 candidates, covering cervical cancer, COVID-19, adult tuberculosis, shingles, HFMD, influenza etc. It covers five of the ten diseases with the greatest burden under the 2019 Global Burden of Diseases issued by the World Health Organization and disease areas of the three of the top five globally bestselling vaccine products in 2020. Novel adjuvant for vaccines is the "bottleneck" technology of innovative vaccines. Through years of technical research, Recbio has successfully achieved independent control of all FDA-approved novel adjuvants, and is one of the few companies in the world capable of independent development of novel adjuvants. It has also successfully applied in various innovative vaccines such as COVID-19 vaccines, HPV vaccines and shingles vaccines.A moat constructed with a rich product portfolioHPV vaccines are one of the most commercially valuable vaccines in the world. It is expected that there will be 234 million females in China aged 9-45 unvaccinated for HPV in 2025 assuming 3 doses per person, requiring additional 702 million doses. Currently, Recbio has formed a full coverage of bivalent, quadrivalent and 9-valent vaccines and novel adjuvant upgrades in the field of HPV vaccines. The core product REC603, a recombinant HPV 9-valent vaccine is currently under phase III clinical trial, expected to become the first approved domestic HPV 9-valent vaccine. Regarding the global immunization program market, REC601, a bivalent vaccine has the potential to become one of the most popular vaccine options. At the same time, the Company is also in the process of developing second-generation HPV vaccines, namely REC604a (a quadrivalent vaccine) and REC604b (a 9-valent vaccine). Both vaccines have adopted our self-developed novel adjuvants and are expected to achieve two-shot regimens in the future. The construction of the first phase of the HPV manufacturing facility of Recbio is expected to be completed by the end of this year. By then, it will realize the designed capacity of five million doses of HPV 9-valent vaccines or 30 million doses of HPV bivalent vaccines per year. As the first cancer preventive vaccine in the world, HPV vaccines have been in shortage for a long time. With the gradual release of domestic HPV vaccines in the future and the gradual release of production capacity, domestic substitution will be accelerated. Protein engineering, novel adjuvant and other technology are comprehensively used in ReCOV, the COVID-19 vaccine of Recbio, to thoroughly optimize the vaccine, allowing ReCOV to possess a series of comprehensive advantages, including excellent safety, strong immunogenicity, strong cross-protection effectiveness with Omicron and Delta mutant strains, easy-to-scale-up production, low production cost, high preparation stability, storage and transportation in room temperature etc. The international phase II/III clinical trials of such vaccine are currently in progress. EUA/BLA applications are estimated to be submitted in 2022. On the side of production supply, the Company has completed the construction of our GMP-standard manufacturing facility for ReCOV and obtained the drug production license in November 2021. The manufacturing facility has a total GFA of approximately 17,000 sq.m., has the potential to support an annual manufacturing capacity of 300 million doses of ReCOV and can be used to manufacture recombinant shingles vaccines.In the field of shingles vaccines, shingles virus is dormant in almost all adults over 50 of age in China, affecting approximately 2.5 million adults in China every year. However, Shingrix is currently the only shingles vaccine approved in China. The novel adjuvant which benchmarking AS01 is adopted in REC610 of the Company, significantly improving vaccine immunogenicity, hoping to achieve domestic substitution quickly. Recogen, our subsidiary has first achieved technology breakthrough in lyophilized mRNA vaccines. It has applied the self-developed freeze-drying technology to achieve preparation stability at 4 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius, allowing storage and transportation under general cold-chain conditions, effectively solving the current defect in availability of mRNA vaccines."We are glad that the Hong Kong stock IPO has been highly recognized by the capital market. The successful listing of Recbio is expected to bring more confidence to the Hong Kong 18A stock market. Thanks to all the investors for their strong support, we were able to successfully go public as originally planned in such extremely depressed environment of the Hong Kong capital market!" Regarding the listing of Recbio in Hong Kong, Dr. Liu Yong, the Founder, Chairman of the Board, and General Manager of Recbio stated that, "Against the backdrop of a huge global demand for innovative vaccines in this era, through continuous innovation and international cooperation, we will accelerate the commercialization of products in the global market, promote innovation in the entire value chain of the vaccine industry from R&D to commercialization, and create greater value for shareholders and investors. Today is the beginning of a brand-new journey for Recbio. I hope that all investors will continue to support our Company. Let's hope we will continue to move forward hand in hand, through the sweltering summer and winter, and create new glory together!"About RecbioFounded in 2012, Recbio is an innovative vaccine company with independent research and development technology as its core driving force. It is committed to building a full value chain of innovative vaccines, covering research and development, production and commercialization. The Company has always adhered to the mission of "creating first-class vaccines and protecting human health". With a strong research and development engine comprising of novel adjuvants, protein engineering, immunological evaluation and other core technology platforms, strategically focusing on disease areas with significant burden such as cervical cancers COVID-19, shingles, adult TB, HFMD and flu etc., the Company has established a high-value product pipeline consisting of 12 vaccine candidates with independent intellectual property rights, in order to meet the under-fulfilled public health needs. For more information, please visit https://www.recbio.cn/. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

28 1 月, 2022

IgY antibody technology against SARS-CoV-2 unveiled

HONG KONG, Jan 28, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - An IgY neutralizing antibody, which is claimed to inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, by over 99 percent, was launched in Shenzhen on Monday, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.The IgY antibody technology, with an invention patent issued by China National Intellectual Property Association, was jointly unveiled by Sino-Swed Tongkang Biotech Ltd. (Shenzhen) and a local precision medicine research institute.After the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the two developers leveraged their strength in antibody engineering technology and began to develop antibodies that can specifically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 under the guidance of Swedish scientist Sven Skog, according to the Daily report.The IgY antibody that shows inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 was extracted and obtained from the yolks of eggs delivered by immunized hens.The results from the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention's BSL-3 laboratory in October 2020 showed that the inhibitory effect of the disinfectant containing the antibody on a wild-type novel coronavirus reached 99.85 percent.The experimental results from the State Key Laboratory of Virology in December 2021 showed that spray prepared by the antibody has an inhibitory effect of 99.94 percent on the Delta variant.It is reported that the IgY antibody would not cause irritation or toxic side effects to the human body and can work on the body's mucosal surfaces or on objects' surfaces.It has an inhibitory effect on the novel coronavirus for up to three hours per single use.http://www.szlhq.gov.cn/english/news/content/post_9528020.htmlSource: Shenzhen Daily Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

28 1 月, 2022

IgY antibody technology against SARS-CoV-2 unveiled

27 4 月, 2021

New hub at NTU will study safety of novel foods

SINGAPORE - From cell-based steaks to algae shakes, farms of the future here are developing novel foods to replace meat. First, however, these sustainable proteins must be judged safe to eat. This is the idea behind a research hub launched at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Tuesday (April 27). Sustainable proteins could provide the island nation with a reliable long-term source of food - as long as they are safe. "No food safety, no food security," said Professor William Chen, director of the university's food science and technology programme The new Future Ready Food Safety Hub will support local and overseas agri-food companies by studying new ways to assess food safety risks in novel foods. To help these companies get their food products approved and on grocery shelves and menus sooner, the scientists at the hub are working to address emerging issues in food safety early. Prof Chen, who will be the principal investigator for NTU at the hub, noted that no risk assessment framework has been set up so far in Singapore to evaluate the safety of many novel foods that are emerging. This is the gap that the research hub wants to fill. "With the increasing efforts in building our food security, more and more novel foods from the urban areas would emerge, from land-based aquaculture to cultivated meat. It is therefore important to establish a proper food safety framework before the foods are available on consumers' dining plates," said Prof Chen. He added that food technology companies can connect with the hub through consultancy work and research collaborations. The food safety hub was established in collaboration with NTU, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star). It was launched by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of NTU's inaugural Food Science and Technology Global 2021 conference. Noting that food safety is more critical for future foods that do not have a history of consumption, Ms Fu said: "When it became clear to us that novel foods such as cultured meat could be an emerging growth area, SFA started engaging the scientific community and industry on the possible approaches to regulate the safety of novel foods and ingredients." Ms Fu added that consumers also play an important role in food safety. A toxicology test being conducted at NTU FST lab. The Future Ready Food Safety Hub will be running such tests, amongst others. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN "While (the food safety hub) collaborates with stakeholders to enhance food safety, it will also work with them to enhance public awareness of novel foods. "This will help consumers better understand the safety and benefits of certain types of novel foods, as well as emerging food safety risks. With this knowledge, consumers will be better equipped to make informed choices," she said. The conference - a two-day hybrid event - will bring together food science experts here and abroad to discuss the various technologies in bolstering food security, in a time when climate change and population growth are existential threats. The food safety hub - housed in NTU's School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering - is currently working with several local and overseas start-ups that are developing novel foods and alternative proteins, said an NTU spokesman. The hub is also in talks with high-tech aquaculture firms and vertical farms. The agri-food sector burgeoned in 2019 as Singapore set out its "30 by 30" goal to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs by 2030. At the same time, interest began to grow in plant-based meat alternatives. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu (third from right) at NTU's Food Science and Technology Global 2021 conference on April 27, 2021. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN More on this topic Related Story More companies entering the novel food space offering alternative protein Related Story S'pore start-up raises US$10m as it gears up to launch plant-based chicken product Enterprise Singapore said that over the past two years, more than 15 start-ups in alternative proteins have set up base in Singapore, and their products include plant-based protein, as well as fermented and cultured meat. In December last year, Singapore became the first country to approve the sale of a cell-based meat - cultured chicken bites by Californian firm Eat Just. The chicken bites by Eat Just is the first product to pass SFA's evaluation process under the new regulatory framework. PHOTO: COURTESY OF EAT JUST Dr Ralph Graichen, senior director of the food and consumer cluster of A*Star's Biomedical Research Council and chair of the food safety hub's advisory committee, said: "By tapping research and development to improve food safety and facilitate the introduction of novel foods to the market, Singapore is well on its way to becoming a leading agri-food and nutrition hub." The hub will comprise multiple disciplines, such as food science, microbiology and toxicology. In November 2019, SFA published on its website a document detailing information that would be required for the safety assessment of novel foods. Companies producing novel foods need to submit safety assessments of their products for SFA's review before they are allowed for sale, said SFA. The assessments cover various food safety risks, including toxicity and the presence of allergens. Companies must also provide detailed information on the materials used in their manufacturing processes. More on this topic Related Story Growing interest in plant-based meat Related Story Future food: Growing meat in lab to help meet supply needs

4 3 月, 2021

Eisai to Support Construction of Screening Framework for the Novel Coronavirus Infection in Kenya

TOKYO, Mar 4, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that it has decided to assent to and support a project led by CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd., a subsidiary of the healthcare startup company engaged in improving healthcare access in Africa, Connect Afya Co., Ltd., which aims to build a new structure for the efficient testing framework for the novel coronavirus infection in Kenya. CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd., in collaboration with the government of Meru County in Kenya, will support the setup of PCR testing laboratories, along with procurement of equipment necessary for testing and training of screening technicians.Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties, is the most populous county in the Eastern Province of Kenya with approximately 1.35 million people. As the novel coronavirus infection spreads in Kenya, one issue in Meru County is the time required to receive screening results as samples must be sent across over 200 kilometers to the capital city of Nairobi for testing, a situation which is caused by a lack of equipment, facilities and technicians necessary for screening of the novel coronavirus. It is expected that support for this effort will contribute largely to the formation of accurate and rapid understanding of the infection situation as well as strategy that is based on that understanding by construction of PCR testing in Meru County.Eisai has committed the equivalent of 1 million USD in aid over the span of 1 year in order to support the controlling of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Africa, along with prevention of delays of elimination activities for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). As part of this support, Eisai has begun provision of Personal Protection Equipment (masks, goggles, face shields, etc.) to core hospitals in Africa for research of and countermeasures against infectious diseases, as well as masks and sanitizer for the resuming of mass drug administrations in Kenya for the elimination of NTDs. In addition, Eisai is supporting Amref Health Africa in the development and popularization of its mobile health platform LEAP for healthcare workers in sub-Saharan countries.Through this support, including the new support for Connect Afya, Eisai will continue in its contribution to mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Kenya and other African countries.About Connect Afya Co., Ltd. and CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd.Connect Afya Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hyogo, Japan, CEO: Yoichi Shimada) and its local affiliate CA Medlynks Kenya Ltd. (Location: Nairobi are startups delivering clinical laboratory services and providing in-vitro diagnostic medical equipment, for the realization of a society where people enjoy better lives without suffering from limitations of insufficient medical infrastructure.As of February 2021, the startup has supplied diagnostic services and in-vitro diagnostic medical equipment, including novel coronavirus infection reverse transcription PCR screening equipment, to over thirty healthcare organizations, clinics, and corporations across Kenya.Media Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120 Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

10 2 月, 2021

MHI Thermal Systems Demonstrates the Potential to Remove and Inactivate the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) through Proprietary Air Purification Technology

TOKYO, Feb 10, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems) a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) Group, has confirmed its latest technology has the ability to remove and inactivate the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) by enzyme-urea formulation processing technology or irradiation by UV-C LED (ultraviolet-C light-emitting diode). Holding the potential to remove and inactivate airborne viruses with a unique air filer trapping innovation. The results show the ability to control the novel coronavirus by air purification marking a significant step towards MHI Thermal Systems tackling the worldwide pandemic with its expert technology. Tests also confirm efficacy in removing and inactivating traces of the coronavirus through commissioned research from the Satoshi Omura Memorial Institute of Kitasato University, led by Professor Kazauhiko Katayama. MHI Thermal Systems will continue the commissioned research to validate the effectiveness of its latest developments further, before launching to its worldwide markets. BackgroundAs of February 10, 2021, the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Japan exceeds 400,000. The country, like much of the world, is currently facing its third wave of infections. To tackle the worldwide pandemic, MHI Thermal Systems has undertaken research on removing and inactivating the airborne virus from in its room air-conditioning systems to help curb indoor contaminations. Given the social urgency of the matter, the Company is conducting research with experts from the Satoshi Omura Memorial Institute of Kitasato University.OverviewMHI Thermal Systems enzyme-urea formulation has properties that fight bacteria, viruses and allergens, with validated efficacy against viruses such as influenza and polio. Under joint research with Kitasato University using tens of thousands of SARS-CoV-2 particles. Results confirm that almost all cells completely inactivate with the virus inactivation agent (urea and enzyme) contained in the MHI dust-collecting air filter. The tests further indicate that viral particles reduce almost entirely with an average inactivation rate of 60-minutes. The UV-C LED has proven effectiveness against microbial contamination. To verify claims, scientists spread liquid holding tens of thousands of SARS-CoV-2 particles on a resin plate under a UV-C LED light. While performing the experiments in an airtight device for increased accuracy and control of the testing surface. The results confirm a high efficacy of inactivation and the ability to inactivate a significant percentage of the virus. Having now confirmed the efficiency of its technology against the novel coronavirus, going forward MHI Thermal Systems will continue its collaboration with Professor Katayamas research group. The partnership will work to increase the effectiveness and evidence towards MHI Thermal System products removing and inactivating airborne viruses. In the years ahead, MHI Thermal Systems will continue to make social contributions through the ongoing development of technologies to fight bacteria and viruses, both during the current COVID pandemic and in the coming post-COVID era. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com