Category Archives: PRNews

IOC Boxing task force suspends European Qualifier in London and all remaining events until May

17 March 2020, AFTNN // PRNEWSGIG – The IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) has announced that the boxing Road to Tokyo European Qualifier in London and subsequent qualifiers worldwide scheduled to take place in May are to be suspended until further notice.

The European qualifier, which started on 14 March and was planned to run until 24 March, will be closed after today’s evening session.

Safeguarding the well-being of the athletes, officials and all other participants is a top priority for the BTF. Since the preparation phase of the event, the BTF has been working in close cooperation with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) – the delivery body of the competition – as well as its stakeholders, its own medical experts and the national health authorities, to set up the necessary precautionary measures.

The BTF eventually took the decision to suspend the event today, amid increasing global travel restrictions and quarantine measures, in order to allow the participants from over 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home.

The BTF will continue to evaluate the situation daily, aiming to complete the distribution of the remaining Tokyo 2020 boxing quota places in May and June. The BTF’s priority remains the qualification of athletes on the field of play, and it will inform all stakeholders as soon as more information is available.

At the same time, the IOC is fully committed to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as was recently outlined again in the following statement.

The BTF would like to thank the host nations, the organising committees and all the participants involved for their support and tremendous efforts in dealing with this extraordinary situation.

Ends.

Tragic loss with death of Kobe Bryant and daughter GiGi

LA Times reports at least nine people died in the crash, including Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianna.

Gianna Bryant, Kobe’s daughter shared his passion for basketball and the 13-year-old, who hoped to play in the WNBA, died with her father reported The Guardian.

AsiaFitnessToday did some research and found that Gianna, who’s fondly known as Mambacita, a play with daddy’s court name “Black Mamba”, was very much the face of youth sport empowerment at the Mamba Sports Academy – a facility designed to update the way men, women and youth approach human performance, by creating a multi-platform environment that activates, educates and provides an opportunity for humans to unlock their full potential. Mamba Sports Academy launched in 2018 as a joint business venture in holistic athletic training between NBA legend Kobe Bryant and Sports Academy’s CEO Chad Faulkner.

“Mamba Mentality isn’t about seeking a result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life”

– Kobe Bryant

Reuters issued a summary about Kobe Bryant’s career. He won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, died at age 41 on Sunday in a helicopter crash in California. Here is biographical information on him and highlights from his career.

Courtesy Instagram.com/KobeBryant

Born in Philadelphia in 1978, son of former NBA player Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant.

Lived for eight years in Italy, where his father played professionally after his National Basketball Association career ended.

On returning to the United States, Kobe Bryant attended Lower Merion High School outside Philadelphia and gained a reputation as one of the best high school players in the country.

Chosen as the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 draft and immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

A forward and shooting guard, he made his NBA debut in November 1996 at the age of 18 and played 20 consecutive seasons in the league.

Nicknamed the ‘Black Mamba,’ he won NBA championships with the Lakers in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2008, and was named to the NBA All-Star team 18 times.

Won Olympic gold medals with the United States in 2008 and 2012

Retired in 2016 after playing 1,346 regular season games and averaging 25 points a game, twice leading the league in scoring.

He earned more than $300 million on the court during his career.

His career points total of 33,643 is fourth on the all-time NBA list.

Off the court, he married Vanessa Laine in 2001.

In 2005, he reached a civil settlement with a woman who said he raped her in a Colorado hotel.

Died on Jan. 26, 2020, when a helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California.

Team Korea victorious at FAI World Drone Racing Championship 2019

Team Korea

The 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final was held at a dedicated drone-racing track, built especially for the competition in Xiangshan Ningbo, a coastal city in the south east of China about 300km from Shanghai.

16-year-old Korean drone pilot Changhyeon Kang is the new FAI World Drone Racing Champion in the Overall and Junior categories while 12-year-old Wanraya “Milk” Wannapong of Thailand successfully defended her title for the Women’s category.

Photo credit: FAI.org via AsiaFitnessToday.com

Australia’s Thomas Bitmatta, 20, in second place and French pilot Killian Rousseau, 15, came in third in the Overall category while Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Teng Ma, 34, of the USA in the Women’s category in the championship that took place at Ningbo, China from 11-14 December 2019.

Drone racing pilots from Korea, Australia and France dominated this year’s meet

Speaking at the event, Acting Secretary General of the FAI Markus Haggeney said: “Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12 years old.

“And thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final such an excellent competition. There has been a fantastic atmosphere throughout and the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), the organiser Starmach, the city of Ningbo and all the officials and volunteers have done a great job.” 

Team Malaysia’s Amir Rijal and Amir Keri Jr.

The competition took place over four days:

  • 11 December: Model processing and practice flights
  • 12 December: Opening ceremony and qualifying rounds
  • 13 December: Elimination rounds
  • 14 December: Elimination rounds, finals, medal and closing ceremonies

Among the 112 participating pilots, 103 drone pilots, including 40 juniors and nine women, competed as part of 31 national teams. The other nine pilots competed as individuals.

Team Malaysia sent two drone pilots this year, Amir Rijal, 24 (ranked 93/111) and Amir Keri Jr., 20 (ranked 83/111).

The race track this year was inspired by the Bi-Fish, a traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol

Pilots tested their skills on a three-level championship racetrack that was 4m wide and 6m high, with a total length of 630m. Called Bi-Fish, it was inspired by the traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol, and the maritime culture of Xiangshan, Ningbo – a former fishing village – and included lots of sharp turns, 16 air gates, and a tunnel.

AsiaFitnessToday.com supported Team Malaysia as its Official Media Partner, and drone racing has been adopted as a Move8 Pro program for youth – getting young people outdoors and moving.

RESULTS

Overall

  1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR)
  2. BITMATTA Thomas (AUS)
  3. ROUSSEAU Killian (FRA)

Women

  1. WANNAPONG Wanraya (THA)
  2. PARK Siyun (KOR)
  3. MA Teng (USA)

Juniors

  1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR)
  2. KIM JaeJong (KOR)
  3. HEEPS Sam (AUS)

National teams

  1. Korea
  2. Australia
  3. China

Sportradar announces OTT partnership with Max Muay Thai

Sportradar, the leading global provider of sports data intelligence, today announced an OTT (Over-The- Top) partnership with Max World Sport Ptd. Ltd. the company behind Thailand’s largest Muay Thai promotion, Max Muay Thai. The multi-year deal will see Sportradar OTT power the live and on-demand broadcast of the promotion’s fights seven days a week. 

Multi-tier subscription packages tailored to the needs of every fan will be available on the OTT platform in both Thai and English, and will allow Muay Thai fans to access content across various devices at any time. 

Dylan Chuan, Sportradar’s Sales Director, Audiovisual, APAC, said: “It is a great honour for us to be working with Max World Sport, helping rights holders and promoters alike increase their revenue through a data- driven OTT strategy.” 

“Data needs to be at the heart of OTT when it comes to the optimal viewing experience, targeting appropriate content and relevant marketing collateral at users as well as monetisation – the key piece in the puzzle.” 

Sportradar believes in an evidence and data-based streaming strategy allowing rights holders to tell engaging stories to fans across the full range of digital distribution channels. This facilitates the creation and growth of direct-to-fan relationships based on personalized experiences built on underlying data insights. With such a holistic OTT approach, underpinned by data, Sportradar will also act as the strategic digital OTT transformation partner, advising Max Muay Thai on their commercial strategy for the organisation. 

Sportradar and Max Muay Thai’s partnership will seek to further capitalise on Sportradar’s leadership position in OTT to maximise the value of Max Muay Thai’s dynamic content through Sportradar’s latest OTT features, including fully integrated data and video. 

One example is Sportradar’s partnership with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, where the club has been able to integrate indirect revenue streams into their OTT offering by leveraging Sportradar’s technology, ensuring the delivery of innovative content, accessible to fans across all channels. 

“This is a definite game-changer for Max Muay Thai.” Said Arisa Tohcharoensuk, Max Muay Thai President. “Max Muay Thai has established continued growth, not only in our country (Thailand) but globally. With the collaboration with Sportradar I can say that this is the key to our continued success. In partnership with Sportradar we can experience a different viewing experience through OTT platforms.” He added. 

A World-Class Muay Thai Tournament Organiser since 2013 the promotion aims to showcase Thailand’s Muay Thai sport not only to Thailand, but all throughout the world. 

Sportradar is the leading global provider of sports data intelligence. Established in 2000, the company occupies a unique position at the intersection of the sports, media and betting industries, providing sports federations, news media, consumer platforms and sports betting operators with a range of solutions to help grow their business. Sportradar employs over 2,000 people in more than 30 locations around the world. It is our commitment to excellent service, quality and reliability that makes us the trusted partner of more than 1,000 companies in over 80 countries and official partner of the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, FIFA and UEFA. We monitor, analyse and deliver insights from more than 400,000 matches annually across 60 sports. With deep industry relationships, Sportradar is not just redefining the sports fan experience; it also safeguards the sports themselves through its Integrity Services division and advocacy for an integrity-driven environment for all involved. 

More information can be found on www.sportradar.com

VSure.Life races in as first digital mobile lifestyle insurance protection service in Malaysia and Southeast Asia

Kuala Lumpur, 18 June 2019 – Southeast Asia’s first on-demand lifestyle insurance protection provider, VSure Tech Sdn Bhd launches the VSure.Life app (application) making it the first digital mobile insurance in the region supported by underwriter partner AXA Affin Life – eMedic medical insurance today.

Pictured left to right: Janet Chin – Chief Partnership Officer AXA and Rohit Nambiar – CEO of AXA Affin Insurance Malaysia with VSure.Life MD & Chairman / Co-founder, Eddy Wong, AXA’s CTO Dr. Azlan Zainal and VSure.Life COO/CTO/Co-founder Jason Ho.

“I congratulate Eddy Wong and his VSure team for launching eMedic as one of the first products promoted via the VSure.Life app in our pursuit to be the preferred health and protection insurer for millennials,” quipped Rohit Nambiar, CEO of AXA Affin Insurance Malaysia.

Since its soft launch last year, VSure.Life has gained traction with regulatory bodies to deliver a whole new digital landscape within the insurance industry in Malaysia.

Today, the launch of the AXA eMedic medical insurance product is one of many that is scheduled for release this year via the VSure.Life app. The VSure team has conducted extensive research and development in Usage Based Insurance (UBI) UI&UX, digital facial recognition, electronic know-your-customer (eKYC), geolocation tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Block Chain and continues to push for innovation in insurance accessibility to the underserved customers in the region.

 

“The VSure.Life app offers insurance coverage for the entire family. Our concept of on-demand insurance when you need it suits the On-demand Economy and enables customers to turn on or off all types of insurance protection whenever, wherever and however – bringing insurance protection right into the hands of the people, especially to the masses in the M40 & B40 groups. We are very excited as a pioneering Insurtech player to offer on-demand lifestyle insurance protection in Southeast Asia and offer customers peace of mind and ease-of-use when they need it,” shared Eddy Wong (MD & Chairman) and Jason Ho (COO/CTO), both Co-founders of VSure.Life.

 

VSure.life is one 18 top finalists in the recent UNCDF Financial Innovation Lab B40 Challenge. The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) was setup in Malaysia and with the support by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), it launched the Digital Finance Innovation Hub to further support the financial inclusion of Malaysia’s middle and low-income people.

 

The Digital Finance Innovation Hub enables service providers like Vsure.Life to use technology to promote inclusive finance through the introduction of products and services that meet the needs of the underserved in Malaysia.

 

“We make it our mission to make insurance protection highly accessible and affordable with innovative propositions to people living in Southeast Asia, including those in the B40 groups. In doing so, we will also play a role in enabling social economic empowerment for those with no prior financial identity records to access financial services with affordable insurance as an easy entry point. Once their financial identity is established, they can then access other financial services such as loans, mortgages and more,” added Wong, one of the nine pioneering individuals from various industry backgrounds such as data & information technology, banking and finance, insurance and asset management.

 

VSure.Life offers On-Demand Insurance for Sporting enthusiasts, Health & Medical, Affordable Term Life and other General & Specialty Insurance products.The VSure.Life and AXA AFFIN Life Malaysia partnership paves the way for insurance proposition to becoming more innovative and accessible and products to is also open to work with other insurance partners in the future for various insurance products. As a highly regulated industry with compliance to adhere to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) requirements, VSure.life app is now being evaluated on the BNM Fintech Sandbox Framework.

Ends.

About VSure.Life Founded by nine ordinary individuals with a bold ambition to serve South East Asia’s communities with insurance protection they truly deserve. The VSure.Life vision is to be the leading Digital Lifestyle Risk Partner & Insurer of South East Asia with the mission to provide affordable on-demand insurance & lifestyle protection in a simple innovative way enabling social economic empowerment, adequate protection and financial identity for all. Vsure is led by MD/Chairman & Co-founder Eddy Wong who brings 24 Years of Corporate & Commercial Management & People Leadership experience with three multinationals Prudential Corporation Asia, WorleyParsons and Experian and COO/CTO & Co-founder Jason Ho who shares over 27 years of experience in the Information Technology industry with multinationals – Siemens, Logica and Experian. Visit www.vsure.life for more.

 

About AXA Affin Life Incorporated in February 2006, AXA AFFIN Life Insurance Berhad (AXA AFFIN Life) is a joint venture company between AFFIN Holdings Berhad and AXA Group, a worldwide financial protection leader, which is headquartered in Paris. Leveraging on the AXA Group’s strength as a financial protection expert and AFFIN Holdings’ local knowledge and diversified network, AXA AFFIN Life is focused on helping individuals manage risk and achieve their financial goals. AXA AFFIN Life will strive to build close and lasting relationship with its customers, offering them care, support and advice with the highest standard of professional ethics. Visit www.axa.com.my.

SOURCE: PRNEWS.GOINTERNATIONALGROUP.COM

B dot Medical Developing Ultra-compact Proton Cancer Therapy System That Can Replace X-ray Cancer Therapy System

TOKYO, May 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — B dot Medical Inc. announced on May 24 that the company has initiated the development of an ultra-compact proton cancer therapy system that can replace the commonly used x-ray cancer therapy system (LINAC).

More than 180,000 patients have been treated in proton therapy (Note) over the years. The use of proton cancer therapy became applicable for health insurance in Japan for pediatric cancer in 2016, followed by prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, and bone and soft tissue tumors in 2018. The number of patients that receive proton cancer therapy is expected to continue increasing. However, proton cancer therapy systems are very large, needing a dedicated building for installation, and therefore making its implementation very expensive and a large-scale project.

Conventionally, a rotating gantry is used in order to irradiate from a desired angle. However, its rotating mechanism is very large and complex, making current proton cancer therapy systems large and therefore requiring dedicated buildings. B dot Medical has devised a non-rotating gantry which can bend the proton beam without requiring a rotating mechanism. This non-rotating gantry, which uses a superconducting magnet as a bending magnet, the form of which was also optimized, allows the system to be significantly downsized. The new ultra-compact proton cancer therapy system is not only easy to install in hospitals new to proton cancer therapy, but will be installable in the space of the commonly used x-ray cancer therapy system. By this, B dot Medical aims to develop a proton cancer therapy system that is easy to introduce to many hospitals.

B dot Medical will continue to contribute in the fight against cancer through the development of proton cancer therapy and other pioneering cancer therapy systems.

Image: Illustration of the non-rotating gantry system
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/201905226662-O1-xiA1yj47

(Note)
Proton cancer therapy is a high-precision radiation therapy. The proton (hydrogen atomic nucleus) is accelerated to up to 60% of light speed, delivered to the treatment room and is used to irradiate affected areas to kill cancer cells. Proton therapy is expected to be highly effective, with the ability to concentrate the beam on the target, keeping the irradiation of surrounding normal tissues limited.

Reference List:
— National Cancer Center Hospital East
https://www.ncc.go.jp/jp/ncce/clinic/radiation_oncology/consultation/pbt/about.html

— National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT)
https://www.proton-therapy.org/science/

The ultra-compact proton cancer therapy system is still under development, and is not yet available for sale or distribution in Japan. Planned commercial availability in the US is to follow the Japanese market.

About B dot Medical Inc.
B dot Medical Inc. is a National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) start-up. With the mission to provide better treatment for more people, B dot Medical develops cancer radiotherapy systems and offer technical consulting services.

Company information
Company name: B dot Medical Inc.
Address: (Tokyo office) 5-2-13, Shinozaki-cho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, 133-0061 JAPAN
Representative: President and CEO Takuji Furukawa
Established: March 1, 2017
Official website: https://bdotmed.co.jp/en/

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/b-dot-medical-developing-ultra-compact-proton-cancer-therapy-system-that-can-replace-x-ray-cancer-therapy-system-300856411.html

Source: B dot Medical Inc.

Menicon Announces Launch of Menicon Bloom Myopia Control Management System

– Launch Features Initial Introduction of Menicon Bloom Night, First and Only CE-approved Orthokeratology Contact Lens in Europe for Myopia Control –

NAGOYA, Japan, May 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Menicon Co., Ltd. announced on May 24 the launch of the Menicon Bloom Myopia Control Management System, a holistic approach for myopia control management. The launch features the initial introduction of Menicon Bloom Night, an orthokeratology contact lens therapy for myopia control  management.

(Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/201905216625-O1-4k0Q106r)

Myopia, also known as near- or short-sightedness, is the most common refractive error and the major cause of vision impairment worldwide. It affects approximately 30% of the world’s population and its prevalence has been forecast to affect about 50% of the world’s population by 2050. The prevalence of myopia in young adolescents has been increasing in recent decades to about 30% in industrialized societies of the West and epidemic levels of over 90% in some parts of Far East Asia. Globally, it is recognized as a significant public health concern associated with increased ocular-related morbidity and considerable healthcare costs.

Menicon Bloom Night therapy involves the overnight wear of a specially designed reverse geometry orthokeratology contact lens, manufactured in hyper oxygen-permeable Menicon Z rigid material that ensures optimal corneal oxygenation for comfortable and safe contact lens wear. The treatment temporarily changes the shape of the cornea, which results in reduction of refractive error, thus eliminating the need to wear contact lenses throughout the waking hours after lenses are removed. The new corneal shape provides a particular optical path for incoming light that counters the ocular growth response associated with myopia development. Through this mechanism, Menicon Bloom Night is indicated for the correction of refractive myopia and for control of myopia when prescribed and managed by a qualified eye care professional.

Menicon Bloom Night contact lenses have been reviewed and validated via numerous comprehensive, peer-reviewed studies related to myopia control management. Menicon Bloom Night therapy has proven to be well accepted by parents and to improve children’s self-esteem in terms of physical appearance, participation in activities, academic performance and peer perception. With the accumulation of long-term and comprehensive scientific evidence over the years, Menicon Bloom Night has met the highest standards of safety, efficacy and quality required to grant the treatment CE approval for myopia control management in Europe.

The fitting of Menicon Bloom Night is optimized by the use of Easyfit software, a sophisticated, user-friendly tool which accurately guides the eye care professional through the fitting process. Additionally, a specially designed mobile phone application, Menicon’s Virtual Dr., has been developed to enhance the monitoring and communication process between eye care professionals and patients. Menicon Bloom Night is only available for certified eye care professionals. With the launch of this groundbreaking myopia care therapy, Menicon has become one of the few companies to have devices officially approved for myopia control management in Europe and demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to the field of myopia control.

Menicon Bloom Night will be launched initially in The Netherlands, followed soon thereafter with launches in other European markets. Further information about the product and availability will be forthcoming soon.

Dr. Hidenari Tanaka, CEO, Menicon Co., Ltd., commented: “We are delighted with the major breakthrough achieved with the approval and launch of our Menicon Bloom Myopia Control Management System. We are confident that our continuing commitment to myopia control management will position Menicon as a key contributor in this field and strengthen our position as a global vision care company. It is our belief that the growing prevalence of worldwide myopia progression requires a comprehensive and educated response and we have identified this as a major initiative within our development programs. As a pioneer of contact lenses, we will develop our myopia control business based on our accumulated technology, products and services and contribute to society by supporting eye care professionals in managing the fast growing incidence of myopia.”

About Menicon:

Menicon Co., Ltd. (7780: Tokyo), founded by Mr. Kyoichi Tanaka in 1951, is Japan’s first and largest contact lens manufacturer, and now is represented in over 30 countries. Menicon is a manufacturer dedicated to all areas of soft and gas-permeable contact lens-related businesses, including manufacture, sales, export and import of contact lenses and other medical goods; manufacture and sales of medical instruments; sales of medical supplies; and research and development of intraocular lenses. For more information, visit www.menicon.com.

*”Bloom”, “Bloom Night”, “Menicon Z” and “Easyfit” are trademarks of Menicon Co., Ltd.

Source: Menicon Co., Ltd.

Phebra establishes new subsidiary in Canada and announces marketing approval for its IV Arsenic Trioxide Solution

SYDNEY, May 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Australian pharmaceutical firm Phebra (the ‘Company’) has continued its international business expansion with the opening of its subsidiary in Montreal, Canada. The new entity, Phebra Canada, will be headed by Tony Romagnino, Vice President of Phebra’s current North America operations.

Further, Phebra Canada today announced the marketing approval for Arsenic Trioxide Solution for Injection for Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APL).

“Arsenic Trioxide (ATO) is recognised as a very effective treatment for newly diagnosed APL patients and we are extremely pleased to have received its marketing approval in Canada,” Mr Romagnino said today.

“Similarly, the approval of Arsenic Trioxide by Phebra in the UK on May 3rd, marks another step in Phebra’s international plans for ATO.”

“We are very fortunate,” Phebra’s General Manager, Andre Vlok, added. “We have built a team of significant experts managing our ATO development programs worldwide. Over 100 years of combined arsenic experience allows us to deal with all aspects of this most challenging of drugs especially its clinical and regulatory pathway and experience is exactly what you need with such a difficult molecule.”

“As a result, we are now all looking forward to the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG) presenting the comparative pharmacokinetic results of the oral and IV ATO formulations at the upcoming EHA conference in Amsterdam.”

Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mal Eutick, welcomed the marketing approval for Arsenic Trioxide Solution for Injection in Canada and the UK, saying it was a good example of how the Company’s international expansion strategy enhanced its ability to deliver new and existing critical care products into new markets.

About Phebra

Phebra is an Australian based specialty pharmaceutical company which develops, manufactures and markets critical medicines in Australia and across the world.

At Phebra, we create critical medicines that save and improve lives.

Bened Biomedical Co., Ltd.: Psychobiotic PS128(TM) found to be a potential solution for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The possible correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gut microbiota has long been explored. A recent study, published in《Nutrients》, shows that a specific probiotic supplementation composed of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 (Psychobiotic PS128™, commercialized by Bened Biomedical Co., Ltd.) may significantly alleviate symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).


Bened Biomedical Co., Ltd.: Psychobiotic PS128(TM) found to be a potential solution for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The study titled “Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial” was conducted by Prof. Ying-Chieh Tsai of National Yang-Ming University and the ASD experts in Taiwan. It is the first study utilizing probiotics over a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled clinical trial for behavioral improvement in subjects with ASD, which sets a milestone in research on the relationship between autism and probiotics.

In this 4-week intervention study, a total of 80 boys with ASD aged 7-15 were included and randomized to receive either PS128 (30 billion CFU/capsule) or placebo with daily doses of 2 capsules. The results showed that PS128 significantly ameliorated opposition and defiance behaviors. In addition, the total score of the questionnaires for ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, SNAP-IV, for younger children (aged 7-12) improved significantly compared with the placebo group.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and social behaviors. According to the WHO, it is estimated that 1 in 160 children worldwide suffer from ASD, with the US more than doubling that ratio at 1 in 59 children instead. While ASD has been so prevalent, there have been no effective cures to date; early intervention has been the main treatment for children with developmental disorders. Recent animal studies have also found that specific probiotic strain can regulate brain hormones and improve symptoms of autism.

According to Prof. Ying-Chieh Tsai, two further clinical studies investigating the effects of Psychobiotic PS128™ on children with ASD are also underway. In Taiwan, “Psychophysiological effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial” including preschool children with ASD was conducted in a teaching hospital in Taipei. And “The effects of probiotics and oxytocin nasal spray on social behaviors of ASD children- a pilot study” was an international collaborative study with the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Besides the successful ASD and ADHD studies, there have been several other clinical studies underway for PS128 targeting Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety, Tourette syndrome, etc.

Reference: “Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Nutrients, 2019 Apr 11;11(4), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30979038

ABOUT Psychobiotic PS128

Psychobiotic PS128™, the winner of “Probiotic Product of the Year” for the 2018 NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, is a novel psychobiotic that can modulate microbiota-gut-brain axis. As proven in the lab research and scientific publications, daily consumption of PS128™ can increase the concentration of dopamine and serotonin in key brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus. PS128™ is proven effective in preventing, alleviating and treating mental and movement disorders including autism, depression, anxiety, insomnia, IBS, Parkinson’s disease, etc. The first PS128™ product was commercialized in 2015 by Bened Biomedical Co., Ltd. and is now available as a dietary supplement in more than 15 countries in the world. 

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190523/2471733-1

Source: Bened Biomedical Co., Ltd.

Novozymes opens online store on Alibaba

-For the first time ever, buyers in China can get hold of Novozymes’ enzyme products online through Alibaba’s 1688 platform. That’ll help serve local customer needs even faster.

HANGZHOU, China, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — China is a pioneer when it comes to e-commerce, and Alibaba is the country’s biggest platform, offering everything from clothes, furniture, electronics to food, cars and home products. Now, for the first time, Novozymes’ enzymes are available online through Alibaba’s platform for industrial products, 1688.com.


Novozymes opens online store on Alibaba

“We want to be a front runner in providing biological solutions online as well as offline. By partnering with Alibaba, we will get even closer to our end-customers, address local market needs faster and explore new application opportunities,” says Thomas Videbaek, COO and Executive Vice President, Novozymes.   

1688.com is home to more than ten million enterprises with 12 million daily visitors, and it has become a go-to place for business-to-business transactions.

“Novozymes is a world leader in biological innovation and the first multinational company to partner with 1688.com in the industrial biotechnology industry,” says Mr. Wang Hai, Vice President of Alibaba. “The launching of its flagship store will enrich the platform’s supply sources and serve millions of small and medium-sized Chinese enterprises with the most cutting-edge biological solutions.”

Add to cart
The Novozymes flagship store is currently offering end-customers nine enzyme products within food, professional cleaning and wastewater application areas. These are some of the company’s most popular products, and more will be added at a later stage.

“Biological solutions have a great potential in supporting sustainable development, and we hope to facilitate China’s green development and urbanization process through the exploration and trial of a digital business model,” Thomas Videbaek explains.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190521/2473429-1
Logo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160930/0861610134LOGO