The two diabetes device companies plan to launch CGM systems beginning in 2020
MALVERN, Pennsylvania, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — LifeScan, a world leader in blood glucose monitoring and maker of the iconic OneTouch® brand, today announced it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Sanvita Medical, LLC, to market continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors. Sanvita Medical is a subsidiary of Nova Biomedical Corporation, a world leader focused on accuracy and dependability in advanced technology blood testing analyzers and blood glucose monitoring.
Through this collaboration, the companies plan to launch CGM systems in North America and select countries in Europe as early as mid-next year and then expand into other markets around the world. The new CGM products will integrate with LifeScan’s OneTouch Reveal® digital portfolio, including the OneTouch Reveal® app.
“There is a huge unmet need in diabetes management, and as a world leader in diabetes care we are excited to collaborate with Sanvita to help patients address that need with CGM technologies designed specifically with their concerns and goals in mind,” says Valerie Asbury, LifeScan President and CEO. “For LifeScan, this is a natural extension of our vision to create a world without limits for people with diabetes and a reinforcement of our unwavering commitment to diabetes care.”
As a global leader in blood glucose monitoring and test strip manufacturing, the addition of CGM to LifeScan’s product portfolio is part of the company’s expansion and growth plans. The company has a long history of manufacturing and marketing blood glucose monitoring systems defined by simplicity, accuracy, and trust, including blood glucose meters, testing strips, lancets, point-of-care systems, and integrated digital solutions. “Soon we will be able to offer the spectrum of diabetes monitoring solutions—from our blood glucose monitoring systems to our digital products to CGM technologies with Sanvita,” Asbury says.
About LifeScan With a vision to create a world without limits for people with diabetes, LifeScan is a world leader in blood glucose monitoring – globally more than 20 million people depend on OneTouch brand products to help them manage their diabetes. For over 35 years, LifeScan has had an unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for people with diabetes by developing products defined by simplicity, accuracy, and trust. For more information, visit www.LifeScan.com and www.OneTouch.com.
WESTWOOD, Massachusetts, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Surgical Specialties Corporation (SSC) announced today the launch of Caliber Ophthalmics, a new business division. Caliber Ophthalmics combines SSC’s Sharpoint™ brand, which has earned a trusted reputation serving ophthalmic surgeons for over 50 years, with its two recent ophthalmic acquisitions, Unique Technologies, Inc. and VPM Surgical, Inc.
To lead the Caliber Ophthalmics Division, SSC has named Yong Sun, General Manager Ophthalmology and Vice President, International Sales. Mr. Sun has over 20 years of experience in the medical device and life science industries. He has held leadership roles in general management and commercial operations with Harvard Bioscience, Beaver-Visitec International (BVI), BD Medical Ophthalmics and Booz & Company. Mr. Sun holds an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Best known in the ophthalmic market for Sharpoint microsurgical knives and surgical sutures, SSC has specialized in the design and manufacture of high-performance surgical knives and wound closure products since 1969. The Company’s products are sold globally in more than ninety countries. With the addition of Unique Technologies and VPM Surgical, the Company significantly expands its development and manufacturing expertise in ophthalmic blades and cutting instrumentation, and plans to add an ophthalmology manufacturing and engineering center of excellence in Pennsylvania.
“We are at an important inflection point in the ophthalmic industry with an expanding global economy and an increasing aging population,” said Dan Croteau, CEO of Surgical Specialties. “There has been remarkable technology advancement in eye care and tremendous growth in eye surgeries. We created the Caliber Ophthalmics Division to focus on the growing needs of ophthalmic customers around the world.”
Mr. Croteau continued, “Caliber Ophthalmics brings together a unique and strong legacy of delivering quality, performance and innovation at competitive costs. With Yong Sun leading this new division, we are well positioned to not only deliver continued innovation and quality in our existing product lines, but have additional expertise that will allow us to expand into other ophthalmic product categories.”
About Surgical Specialties
Surgical Specialties Corporation, headquartered in Westwood, MA, has developed and manufactured branded, private label, and OEM surgical instruments for over 50 years. Surgical Specialties Corporation offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of blades and sutures available, including innovative products such as the Quill™ Knotless Tissue-Closure Device. SSC is dedicated to exceeding the needs of the specialty surgery market, maintaining trusted partnerships in the dental, ophthalmic, plastic surgery, dermatology, orthopedics, urology, microsurgery, veterinary and trauma specialties. Visit us at www.surgicalspecialties.com and www.caliberophthalmics.com.
T3D Therapeutics to Receive $9 Million Multiyear National Institute on Aging Grant for Phase 2 PIONEER Study in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina, May 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — T3D Therapeutics, a clinical stage drug development company engaged in the development of T3D-959 (the “Company”), a new orally administered treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), announced today that it has received a grant expected to total $9 million dollars over four years from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of NIH, to help fund a Phase 2 clinical study of T3D-959, a novel, metabolic-focused AD drug treatment.
The Phase 2 PIONEER study (Prospective therapy to Inhibit and Overcome Alzheimer’s Disease Neurodegeneration via Brain EnErgetics and Metabolism Restoration) is expected to initiate patient dosing in early 2020. PIONEER is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase 2 safety and efficacy study expected to enroll up to 252 adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (MMSE 16-26). PIONEER will enroll subjects who will receive one of three different doses of T3D-959 or a placebo for 24 weeks.
“We see this grant award as recognition that improving inherent metabolic defects in Alzheimer’s disease is a vital and largely unexplored therapeutic avenue in need of pursuit is a testament to the potential for T3D-959 to treat AD, a disease that we view as a chronic anorexia of the brain” said Chief Executive Officer John Didsbury, Ph.D. “We are truly honored by the support of the NIA and the confidence that our peers have shown in the science underpinning T3D-959.”
“Given the enormous and growing impact of Alzheimer’s on patients and families, there is an urgent need to develop and rigorously evaluate a larger and more diversified portfolio of promising late clinical stage treatments,” said George Vradenburg, Chairman and Co-Founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. “NIA’s support of Phase 2 studies – including this study from T3D Therapeutics – is to be commended and scaled if we are going to achieve our national goal of effectively treating Alzheimer’s in the near future.”
“NIA/NIH and its peer review system are to be lauded for supporting the logic of this new approach and excellent science of the T3D-959 program” said Robert Ingram, former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Glaxo/Wellcome.
Warren Strittmatter, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of T3D Therapeutics, Emeritus Professor of Neurology at Duke University Medical Center and Alzheimer’s Association Zenith Award winner said, “During my lengthy tenure treating AD patients I have seen firsthand the frustrations of caregivers and patients at the lack of an effective therapy with the plethora of recent drug development failures causing them to lose hope. This award provides great support for our promising new therapy to give them renewed optimism. AD is being increasingly recognized as resulting from abnormal brain metabolism. T3D-959 is targeted toward those metabolic pathways which appear to ultimately produce amyloid plaques, tau tangles, inflammation and, most importantly, the dementia.”
PIONEER is supported by the NIA under award number R01AG061122.
AboutT3D Therapeutics, Inc.
T3D Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-held, Research Triangle Park, NC-based company. The Company has an exclusive license to T3D-959, its lead product candidate, and a platform of structurally-related molecules. T3D Therapeutics’ mission is to develop and commercialize T3D-959 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. T3D-959 is a small molecule, orally-delivered, brain-penetrating PPAR delta/gamma dual nuclear receptor agonist designed to improve glucose and lipid metabolism dysfunctions present in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
SYDNEY, May 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA; NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration with the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation (Alliance), a US-based cancer research network sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Alliance will launch a multi-centre phase II study to investigate the potential use of Kazia’s investigational new drug, GDC-0084, alongside several other targeted cancer therapies, in the treatment of brain metastases (cancer that has spread to the brain).
“Brain metastases truly represent an unmet clinical need,” said Priscilla Brastianos, MD, Principal Investigator of the study, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “We urgently need to find better treatment options for these patients. We hope this study will help us identify a new treatment paradigm.” Dr Brastianos is also an Assistant Physician in Medicine in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research interests focus on metastatic brain cancer, and she has been extensively published in this field. Dr Brastianos will be joined on the study Steering Committee by distinguished expert clinicians from leading centres across the United States.
Key Points
Alliance will initiate an open-label phase II study in patients with brain metastases.
Depending on the genetic profile of their tumor, patients will be allocated to receive either abemaciclib (Eli Lilly), entrectinib (Genentech), or GDC-0084 (Kazia Therapeutics).
The trial is expected to recruit up to 150 patients in multiple centers across the US.
The trial will be led by Alliance, with Kazia providing support including study drug and a financial grant.
Initiation of this study brings the total number of ongoing clinical trials with GDC-0084 to four, each in different forms of brain cancer.
Up to 30% of patients with metastatic cancer will develop secondary tumors (metastases) in the brain, and it is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 new cases of brain metastases each year in the United States alone. Treatment options remain limited, and average survival of patients with brain metastases ranges from 3 to 27 months, depending on factors such as the location of the original tumor.
It is increasingly recognized that cancer is a complex disease, in which tumors in a similar location (e.g. breast, lung) may respond very differently to treatment. An important factor in this is the genetic profile of the tumor. Clinical studies have begun to focus on carefully allocating patients to treatment on basis of this genetic profile, an approach which is sometimes referred to as ‘precision medicine’ or ‘personalized medicine’. The Alliance study is an example of this approach.
The Alliance study, also known as A071701, is expected to recruit up to 150 patients in total, all of whom will have cancer that has spread to the brain. Only patients with a genetic alteration in the PI3K pathway will receive GDC-0084, and it is expected that approximately one third of the total patients will be in this group. Patients with other genetic mutations will be allocated to receive either abemaciclib, a CDK inhibitor, also known as Verzenio™, that is manufactured by Eli Lilly and has been approved by FDA for the treatment of certain forms of breast cancer, or entrectinib, a Trk/ALK inhibitor manufactured by Genentech, which has not yet been approved by FDA.
Dr James Garner, Chief Executive Officer of Kazia Therapeutics commented, “The Alliance study is a ground-breaking research project that aims to investigate several experimental drugs in a single clinical study. Patients will be allocated to treatment depending on their tumor’s individual genetic signature, and patients with a mutation affecting the PI3K pathway will be eligible to receive GDC-0084. This kind of approach is very much the future of cancer treatment. We are delighted that GDC-0084 has been selected and we are excited to see this study move forward.”
The initiation of the study brings to four the number of ongoing clinical trials with GDC-0084:
Sponsor
Phase
Indication
Registration
Kazia Therapeutics
II
Glioblastoma
NCT03522298
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
II
Breast cancer brain metastases
(with Herceptin®)
NCT03765983
Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
II
Brain metastases
(TBA)
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
I
DIPG (childhood brain cancer)
NCT03696355
It is expected that the study will take approximately two years to complete. Kazia will provide support, including a financial grant to defray a portion of the costs. The study will be conducted under an ‘investigator IND’ with the US FDA, in which the primary regulatory responsibilities for the study will be assumed by Alliance. Implementation of the study is conditional upon approval from applicable Institutional Review Boards, and completion of contractual formalities, and these matters have not yet been finalised. It is expected that the study will begin recruitment in the second half of calendar 2019.
About Kazia Therapeutics Limited
Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA, NASDAQ: KZIA) is an innovative oncology-focused biotechnology company, based in Sydney, Australia. Our pipeline includes two clinical-stage drug development candidates, and we are working to develop therapies across a range of oncology indications.
Our lead program is GDC-0084, a small molecule inhibitor of the PI3K / AKT / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, GDC0084 entered a phase II clinical trial in 2018. Initial safety data was released in May 2019, and efficacy data is expected in 2H 2019. GDC-0084 was granted orphan designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in February 2018.
TRX-E-002-1 (Cantrixil), is a third-generation benzopyran molecule with activity against cancer stem cells, and is being developed to treat ovarian cancer. TRX-E-002-1 is currently undergoing a phase I clinical trial in Australia and the United States. Initial data was presented at the AACR annual conference in April 2019 and the study remains ongoing. Cantrixil was granted orphan designation for ovarian cancer by the US FDA in April 2015.
About the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) is a clinical trials network that involves approximately 10,000 physicians across the United States and Canada. The Alliance seeks to reduce the impact of cancer on people by uniting a broad community of scientists and clinicians from many disciplines, committed to discovering, validating and disseminating effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer. It is part of the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Fully comprehensive assistance service for complex international deployment
LONDON, May 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Collinson, an expert in global traveller assistance, has further enhanced its medical assistance capability through a partnership with Aspen Medical, an Australian-owned global healthcare leader providing remote medical solutions across a range of sectors.
Aspen Medical provides innovative and tailored healthcare services, from the provision of a single paramedic to a full spectrum solution involving a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Further services include, ambulances, medical facilities, equipment, consumables, pharmacy products and aero-medical evacuation services (AME), including the company’s own strategically-positioned clinics and aviation assets.
Often working in locations that are remote, challenging or under-resourced, its multi award-winning solutions provide clients with world-class healthcare services in any setting. The partnership will enable Collinson to extend its assistance reach and help customers to access quality medical services in locations where existing medical infrastructure is lacking. By augmenting Aspen Medical’s ground-level capability with the wider Collinson global medical and evacuation network and its 24/7 always-on medical and security operations centres, the partnership will create a fully comprehensive assistance service for complex international deployments.
Aspen Medical’s services also include managing environmental and public health projects, medical training and consultancy, providing occupational health and supporting major sporting events and conferences that need dedicated clinical support.
Scott Sunderman, Head of Assistance at Collinson, commented: “Aspen Medical is renowned for its high-profile contracts with defence, mining, oil and gas, government and humanitarian organisations. From running trauma hospitals in Mosul, Iraq, for the WHO or staffing and managing a UN facility for its personnel in Somalia, through to supporting the UK, US, Australian and New Zealand governments on the construction and management of Ebola Treatment facilities in Sierra Leone and Liberia, our partnership with Aspen Medical truly gives us a global healthcare reach and access to expertise unparalleled in the market.
“This experience will be vital as we broaden our global medical assistance and travel risk management services to ensure clients have the best possible protection, wherever they may be located.”
This strategic alliance further enhances Collinson’s new 24/7/365 integrated travel risk management solution in partnership with global risk and security consultancy, Drum Cussac, as well as the appointment of its new Global Medical Director, Simon Worrell.
Glenn Keys, Executive Chairman and co-founder of Aspen Medical, said: “Collinson is recognised globally for providing an exceptional medical assistance service. This partnership with Collinson further develops Aspen Medical’s global capability with an integrated travel risk management solution. When combined with Drum Cussac’s expertise, their global assistance App, security alerts, location tracking and monitoring, together we are delivering a very powerful new capability in the market for those seeking assistance in times of need.”
Editors notes:
Collinson is one of the largest independent medical assistance companies with more than 35 years’ experience. Its assistance platforms in the UK, Ireland and South Africa provide services 24/7/365 to a number of insurance markets and corporate entities. Collinson receives over 1.2 million calls from customers around the world and conducts over 3,000 repatriations and evacuations annually.
Our 24/7/365 global resources and expertise provide a comprehensive suite of travel risk services for mobile employees that help organisations manage their duty of care towards staff that operate away from their home country. Whether you require a full travel risk management programme for your employees, a customised assistance solution, crisis management planning or specific analysis and support for remote site operations, Collinson can build a solution that enables you to protect your most valuable assets, as well as protecting your organisational risk.
Clients include Air France KLM, American Express, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Diners Club, Easy Jet, Mastercard, Saga, RSA, Visa and Vhi.
Aspen Medical is an Australian-owned, multi-award winning, global provider of innovative healthcare solutions across a diverse range of clients in the Defence, Mining, Oil and Gas, Government and Humanitarian sectors. We are a world leader in the delivery of healthcare solutions in any setting, particularly those that are remote, challenging or under-resourced.
We offer our clients a tailored and flexible service wherever it is needed – from a single paramedic to a full-spectrum solution involving a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, ambulances, medical facilities, equipment, consumables, pharmacy products, procedures, mobile health and surgical solutions and aero-medical evacuation services including the company’s own aviation assets.
Our competitive advantage lies in superior project management and the quality of our team. We pride ourselves on a customer-centric approach and a ‘can do’ attitude. Today, we operate across Australia, the Pacific, the US, Europe, Africa and the Gulf Region and we employ more than 2,000 dedicated, experienced and highly-trained professionals.
CHENNAI, India, May 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — In a first-ever milestone in cancer treatment in India, the Apollo Proton Cancer Center (APCC) in Chennai has successfully performed Total Marrow Irradiation (TMI) as a conditioning protocol prior to Bone Marrow Transplant.
(From Left to Right) Dr. Dayananda Shamurailatpam, Head Department of Medical Physics, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Rakesh Jalali,Medical Director and Head – Radiation Oncology , Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Dr . Jose M Easow, Consultant Medical Oncology and Hematology In – charge of BMT Unit, Apollo Cancer Speciality Hospital, Patient Ms.Fatima (35) Oman, Dr . Prathap C Reddy,Executive Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr. Srinivas Chilukuri – Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, Dr . Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai
Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre has opened new frontiers in cancer care and it is a proud moment today, just a few months after the launch, to see the APCC achieve this significant landmark for the first time in the country. This achievement validates our investment in the APCC in bringing this best and latest medical technology to India. We are sure that the future will see the APCC achieve many more milestones and take the battle against cancer forward not just for patients in India but also from South East Asia.”
A 35-year-old nurse from Oman underwent the procedure at South East Asia’s first Proton Therapy Center. She was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) with mixed phenotypic acute leukemia. After the diagnosis, she was referred to Apollo Hospitals for Bone Marrow Transplant. The doctors at Apollo decided to proceed with Total Marrow Irradiation based conditioning for the transplant.
“The patient was admitted last month and after detailed diagnosis, we decided to proceed with Total Marrow Irradiation followed by chemo and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The patient’s brother turned out to be a full-matched donor. The patient has responded very well to the treatment and is getting ready for discharge,” said Dr. Jose M Easow.
The patient, Ms. Fatima, said, “I am grateful to the Oman Government, Oman for selecting and sending me to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai which is the best hospital to treat cancer in India. I was advised BMT, and my brother was selected as a donor. I was admitted on April 5th and felt at home from Day One. As a nurse, I know how radiation therapy can affect a patient’s normal life due to side effects. The Total Marrow Irradiation procedure done for me was different and it has saved my life with much less side-effects. The procedure made me more confident and positive.”
“With modern radiation technology, it is now possible to deliver Total Marrow Irradiation (TMI) which spares the normal organs from radiation induced damage,” said Dr. Srinivas Chilukuri, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology.
-The largest manufacturing center for biologics in Southwest China
CHENGDU, China, May 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — WuXi Biologics (“WuXi Bio”) (2269.HK), a leading global open-access biologics technology platform company offering end-to-end solutions for biologics discovery, development and manufacturing, announced that the construction of a new 1.3 million sq. ft. integrated manufacturing center for innovative biologics has commenced in Chengdu, one of the largest cities in Southwest China. The facility will house the 12th drug substance manufacturing facility (MFG12) of WuXi Biologics.
WuXi Biologics Integrated Manufacturing Center for Innovative Biologics in Chengdu (Preview)
This new integrated manufacturing center will include drug development and commercial manufacturing facilities with initial bioreactor capacity of 48,000 L. As the first biologics company in China passing both U.S. FDA and EMA GMP inspections, WuXi Biologics will apply its extensive expertise as well as a well-established quality system that conforms to the highest international standards at this new integrated manufacturing center. The new site will enable more global partners, create more jobs for local talents, stimulate high growth of the biologics industry in Chengdu as well as accelerate the biologics ecosystem in Southwest China.
“We are quite excited to commence this new integrated manufacturing center, the largest biologics manufacturing facility in Southwest China,” said Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics. “Supported by 205 ongoing biologics projects using WuXi Biologics’ open-access and proprietary platforms as well as our unique manufacturing paradigm of ‘Global Dual Sourcing within WuXi Bio’, we will continue to expand manufacturing capacity, based on our portfolio needs, to provide a robust and premier global supply chain that can enable our partners and benefit patients worldwide.”
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. Our company history and achievements demonstrate our commitment to providing a truly ONE-stop service offering and strong value proposition to our global clients. As of December 31, 2018, there were a total of 205 integrated projects, including 97 projects in pre-clinical development stage, 94 projects in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 13 projects in late-phase (phase III) development and 1 project in commercial manufacturing. With total estimated capacity of biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, Singapore and US reaching 220,000 liters by 2022, we will provide our biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network. For more information on WuXi Biologics, please visit www.wuxibiologics.com.
NEW DELHI, May 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — With the theme of ‘Promoting Inclusive Economic Development Through Sustainable Entrepreneurship’,15 top entrepreneurs and enterprises were recognized at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) 2019 held at Hotel Andaz Delhi Aerocity, India on 18 April 2019. Organized by Enterprise Asia, the leading non-governmental organization for entrepreneurship in Asia, APEA is a regional awards program which aims to recognize Asia’s outstanding entrepreneurs and enterprises for demonstrating sustainable growth, responsible leadership and operational excellence.
Mr. Ashish Khemka, Chairman and Managing Director of AMN Life Science receiving the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2019 India under the Outstanding Category
Leading the list of winners was Mr. Ashish Khemka, Chairman and Managing Director of AMN Life Science Pvt. Ltd. (AMN Life) who received the award under the Outstanding Category.
Incorporated in 2003, AMN Life is a leading Pharmaceutical manufacturing and export house offering a plethora of brands covering a wide range of therapies from both acute and chronic segments. These formulations cater to the therapeutic needs for allergic disorder, bacterial and fungal infections, malaria, erectile dysfunction, Diabetes and Cardio-vascular diseases to name a few. Amihepa, Renoket, Avam, S-Valapro, Suncetin, Asita and Amcort are few of the AMN Life brands that command a leadership position in the covered markets.
Prior to venturing into the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Ashish joined Trans Freight Container Corporation Ltd. a 100% export oriented Marine Freight container manufacturing unit as a management trainee. With sheer dent of merit and enterprise, he gained expertise in the field and simultaneously acquired managerial and leadership skills, and rapidly rose to the level of COO within a year.
Throughout his professional and entrepreneurial career, Mr. Ashish managed to acquire a fine grasp of the pharmaceutical market and established credibility and reliability in his dealings. This has contributed to the success of AMN Life. Passionate about AMN Life, he ensures that all departments within the company upholds professional standards. His leadership quality holds great promise and his employees are extremely supportive of his vision for the Company.
Being a results-oriented entrepreneur, Mr. Ashish is driven to manage costs and establish strategic mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with users, vendors and service providers. He is also adept in creating strategic alliances with industry leaders to effectively align with and support AMN Life’s key business initiatives. Besides, he excels at building and retaining high performance teams by hiring, developing and motivating skilled professionals.
Under the leadership of Mr. Ashish, the exports of AMN Life showed a year-on-year growth of more than 100% in financial year 2007 and bagged the Indian Exporters’ Excellence Award. Continuing its growth trajectory over the years, the Company bagged SME business excellence Awards and leading SMEs of India 2016 in the Pharmaceuticals sector.
Presented in 25 countries, AMN Life’s success holds a dominant position in south East Asian markets, and is poised to grow its presence to almost 150 countries across the globe.
Mr. Ashish’s innovative entrepreneurial skill resulted in the acquisitions of ASA LIFE, Singapore in year 2018 and many more acquisitions are planned along with setting up offices worldwide. In the immediate future, AMN Life is poised to grow to achieve a dominating presence in the European union with provision for In-licencing and out – licencing opportunities. Today the Group boasts of more than 10 Companies India and Overseas and registered the sales turnover of more than Rs. 250 Crore across the group companies.
The Entrepreneur strives to drive operational excellence in every department within his business. It is not an easy concept to quantify, and very difficult to explain in simple practical terms to operators of different departments, however, he managed to overcome these challenges.
Besides, Mr. Ashish always guides the team to justify and use cost-efficient technologies, to bring out top quality products that are economical and reliable. His innovation strategy involves streamlining an increasingly complex manufacturing system. This type of next-generation innovation wades through the growing sea of new ideas and emerges with the strategies that deliver a clear and focused value in the form of targeted Acquisitions and partnerships, personalized treatments, efficient outsourcing partners and properly integrated innovative technologies, but perhaps this statement has wider implications for today’s pharmaceutical industry.
Mr. Ashish believes that, the practice of cranking out rapid-fire innovation in the form of new molecules with the hopes of finding the next blockbuster is being replaced by targeted innovation strategies that demonstrate actual patient value and reach that can be duplicated across an enterprise.
Under his leadership, AMN Life is currently eying the EU certification along with highly professional team of 200 plus professionals and available to consider new alliance opportunities in the uncontested zones of in In-licensing, co-promotion, revenue sharing and carved partnership opportunities.
Mr. Ashish has also undertaken challenging green initiatives, which is reflected throughout AMN Life’s Supply Chain. The issue of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment has garnered plenty of media attention, mostly negative in the past several years. Most of the concern with drugs in the environment revolves around consumers who either excrete un-metabolized active ingredients or dispose of unused medications into sewage systems. Under his leadership, AMN Life is able to ensure complete deactivation of waste residues by using alkaline solution before it is being sent to centralized insemination.
About Enterprise Asia
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. For further information, visit www.enterpriseasia.org.
About Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards
Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards is the region’s most prestigious awards for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation and sustainable leadership. The Awards provide a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 14 countries and markets all over Asia. For further information, visit www.apea.asia.
SHANGHAI and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Shanghai ChemPartner a leading global Contract Research Organization (CRO), along with Berkeley Lights, Inc. (BLI), the leader in digital cell biology, announced today they have taken the next important step in their collaboration. ChemPartner has installed BLI’s Beacon® Optofluidic platform and is the first full-service CRO to offer B Cell antibody discovery services to its global client base. This new capability enhances ChemPartner’s current antibody discovery platform and augments the end-to-end solutions the company offers for clients and partners.
Through the collaboration, and with BLI’s support, ChemPartner will combine BLI’s antibody discovery workflow for B cells with ChemPartner’s assays. The Beacon® platform is capable of automatically screening tens of thousands of plasma B cells or gene-edited cells, which speeds up a traditionally time-consuming, manual process. Cell characterizations are performed on the platform through a variety of serial or multiplexed fluorescence assays to determine antigen-specific binding to membrane-bound targets on live cells, relative affinity, and functional response with reporter cells. Individual cells with the desired characteristics are selected and exported for genomic profiling or further interrogation. The Beacon® platform enables plasma B cell characterization in less than a day.
“The next step of our collaboration builds on a very successful Proof of Concept study that we completed and presented together with BLI at the Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics conference in December”, said Wei Tang, CEO of ChemPartner. “We very much look forward to building on the foundation of this relationship to give ChemPartner’s diverse global client base access to this state-of-the-art technology in antibody discovery.”
“This collaboration has demonstrated the flexibility of the Beacon® platform as we incorporated the ChemPartner assays to further accelerate antibody discovery,” said Andy Last, Chief Commercial Officer at Berkeley Lights, Inc. “We look forward to continuing to work with ChemPartner to further deliver efficiencies to their global clients.”
Shanghai ChemPartner, offers a broad range of drug discovery and development capabilities including discovery biologics discovery, chemistry and medicinal chemistry, biology and pharmacology, DMPK and exploratory toxicology, CMC and Biologics CMC. Shanghai ChemPartner serves a diverse global client base and has laboratories, business offices, and representatives in the US, Europe, China, and Japan.
About Berkeley Lights:
Berkeley Lights, Inc. (BLI)Berkeley Lights is a digital cell biology company that develops and commercializes platforms for the acceleration of discovery, development, and delivery of cell based products and therapies. At the intersection of biology, technology and information, our platforms automate the manipulation, analysis and selection of individual cells, creating ultimate scalability and deep cell insights. The Beacon platform* is ideally suited for cell line development, antibody discovery (including direct B-cell workflows), gene editing, and antibody engineering workflows. Each workflow provides a 100 fold increase in insights, 10 times faster, at a fraction of the cost.
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — InnoVEX is the startup focused special exhibition of COMPUTEX. Started in 2016, the event has continued to see significant growth every year. InnoVEX saw a 20% growth between 2018 and 2019; with current exhibitors numbering 467 startup teams from 24 countries & regions and over 20,000 visitors expected to join InnoVEX. To ensure a better, more comfortable experience for the large number of expected visitors, exhibitors, and VIPS; InnoVEX will be held in a larger venue: TWTC Hall 1.
InnoVEX returns from May 29-31, 2019 with more startups and networking programs
Being related to COMPUTEX puts InnoVEX in a special position as both visitors and exhibitors of COMPUTEX can freely enter InnoVEX showgrounds. This means InnoVEX exhibitors can get a targeted audience who are especially interested in ICT and innovation; including potential investors, customers, or buyers.
7 Main Topics of Forum, Over 40 Speakers
The 2019 InnoVEX Forum will take place from May 29 – 31 in the InnoVEX Center Stage. This year, the forum covers a wide range of topics: AI, Biotech, Blockchain, IoT Application, Smart Machinery, Sports Tech, and Startup Ecosystem. In the InnoVEX Forum, over 40 speakers from leading companies, accelerators and investors around the world will share their insights on the topics through keynote speeches and panel discussions.
This year, the speaker will include:
John Jorritsma, Mayor of Eindhoven who will share his insights on the opportunities and use cases of blockchain applications in smart cities
Zvika Popper, the VP of Strategy of HYPE Sports Innovation. Mr. Popper will speak about the sportstech ecosystem, the business models, and how the relation between fans and athletes all contribute to the sportstech ecosystem.
Ravi Belani, the Managing Director of Alchemist Accelerator. Joining a panel discussion as a representative of Silicon Valley Accelerators, Mr. Belani will share the methods to connect with global accelerators to the panel audience.
Dominik Schiener, the Co-Chairman of the Boards of Directors & Founder of IOTA Foundation. He will give a keynote and join a panel discussion on blockchain applications in cybersecurity.
Other speakers include the Ecosystem Manager of Arm, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, professors & academics from Taiwan top universities; as well as speakers from Qualcomm Incorporated, Nomura Research Institute and more. For more details on the InnoVEX Forum, please visit the InnoVEX website and save a seat for the InnoVEX Forum.
Exhibit, Pitch, Match, Expand
As an exhibition, InnoVEX always attracts hundreds of global startups and thousands of visitors. There are currently 467 InnoVEX exhibitors from 24 countries & regions. The top 5 industries of the teams are: AI, IoT, Health & Biotech, AR/VR/XR, and Consumer Tech.
Startups that will join InnoVEX include:
Beseye — an AI startup from Taiwan with focus on AI applications in security by identifying human faces, characteristics, behavior, and facial recognition.
WeavAir — an award-winning Canadian IoT startup that uses various metrics as well as predictive algorithms for indoor air quality management.
Klenic Myanmar — the first solution providing startup from Myanmar that improves healthcare efficiency and accuracy.
Veyond Reality — a startup from Taiwan that develops innovative educational solutions by utilizing AR/VR/XR.
Neonode Technologies — a Swedish startup that develops, manufactures, and sells sensor modules based on its patented optical reflective technology.
Visitors can get more information on all exhibiting startups in the InnoVEX website’s Exhibitors Directory page.
143 global startups from 19 countries and regions registered for the InnoVEX Pitch Contest where a prize pool of USD 420,000 awaits them. This year’s grand prize is the Taiwan Tech Award which is worth USD 100,000; sponsored by Taiwan Tech Arena (Ministry of Science and Technology). Other special prizes include the Startup Terrace Awards worth USD 60,000 for 5 startups; Taiwania Innovation Award for startups in IoT or biomedical field worth USD 10,000; and Qualcomm Innovation Award will be awarded to startups in AI & Big Data, AR/VR/XR, Hardware & IoT, or 5G applications, worth USD 10,000. The InnoVEX Pitch Contest Semifinal will be held in the Pi Stage on May 29 and May 30; while the Final stage will be held in the Center Stage on May 31.
The InnoVEX Pi Stage is the place for startup demonstrations, pitch, and matchmaking sessions. During the three days of InnoVEX, in total five events will be held in the Pi Stage to promote startups to the global stage and help them find opportunities around the world.
The Pi Stage will have 4 events in addition to the InnoVEX Pitch Contest Semifinal Stage:
May 30, 09:45 – 12:00: InnoVEX Matchmaking Powered by TTA x AAN: a matchmaking event for startups to meet international accelerators from Asia Pacific. The participating accelerators include: Startup GoGo, HKSTP, TinkBig Ventures, QBO Innovation Hub, and Schoolab.
May 30, 14:00 – 17:30: InnoVEX Matchmaking Powered by TTA x TIEC: an industrial matchmaking to connect startups with potential investors, partners, and more. The participating investors include: Taya Venture Capital, Darwin Ventures, CIDC Consultants Inc., SinoPac, and Samsung Next.
May 31, 10:00 – 12:00: Global Demo Day: a startup demo platform featuring startups from France, Poland, Canada, and Philippines. In addition, the participating trade offices will also introduce their startup programs in this event.
May 31, 13:00 – 17:00: Tourism Innovation & Awards: the final stage of a pitch contest supported by the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation & Communications. This event aims to find the best method to enhance tourism through ICT applications.
Each event will aim to connect startups with potential investors, partners, and other resources to help them grow and expand globally; including exposure to and from global media. The events at Pi Stage are open for public participation and InnoVEX visitors are welcome to join the events to see the innovations from around the world.
Innovation Does not Stop at Sunset
InnoVEX is not limited to the showgrounds only. As deals, negotiations, and businesses do not stop at sunset; neither does InnoVEX. On May 30, InnoVEX will have a night networking party titled “InnoVEX Taiwan Tech @Night”. An exclusive invite-only event, the party will have invite VIPs from the InnoVEX organizer, government & trade office representatives, startups, global investors, leading ICT companies, and more to both network and relax. Invited guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the night citylights, good food, and music; all while networking, dealmaking, and matchmaking.
Join InnoVEX 2019 from May 29 to 31
InnoVEX 2019 is open for participation from everyone. Tech enthusiasts, young entrepreneurs, and the general public can enter the InnoVEX showgrounds with the COMPUTEX badge or InnoVEX pass. Get the entry pass in the InnoVEX website: http://innovex.computex.biz
About the organizer: Taipei Computer Association
Taipei Computer Association (TCA), the co-organizer of COMPUTEX and InnoVEX was established in 1974; and is the leading industrial organization in Taiwan. Its 4,000 members engages various fields such as software, hardware, semiconductors and components, manufacture, sales, network communication service, etc., thereby generating over 80% of the total production value of Taiwan’s Information Communication Technology (ICT).
