Category: Press Releases

November 26, 2023

BlueSeal MR Mobile’s unique magnet technology advances patient outcomes and access to care with high quality diagnostic imaging and enhanced workflows

Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Chicago, USA – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today showcases the world’s first mobile MRI system with helium-free operations at #RSNA23. BlueSeal MR Mobile [1], the industry’s first and only 1.5T fully sealed magnet, delivers patient-centric MRI services where and whenever needed. Unlike other mobile MRI scanners, the BlueSeal MR Mobile is more agile and lightweight so it can be located in more convenient places for patients, like near a hospital’s main entrance.

The first BlueSeal MR Mobile unit, developed for outpatient radiology and oncology solutions provider Akumin, will debut on the show floor at #RSNA23. With more than 600 systems installed globally, the MRI scanners are equipped with Philips’ BlueSeal magnet technology that saved more than 1.5 million liters of helium since 2018. The extension of this breakthrough technology in a mobile unit means Philips will be able to expand quality access to MRI exams for more patients in more places, in a more sustainable way with helium-free operations.

“Philips is partnering with healthcare systems to help them tackle resource constraints and continued increases in patient volumes, and having access to mobile MRI scanners is a real game-changer for remote and rural communities around the world. By introducing our breakthrough technology into the mobile MR market, we are significantly reducing the operational and sustainability issues associated with conventional scanners and helping healthcare providers to deliver fast, patient-friendly quality of care,” said Ruud Zwerink, General Manager Magnetic Resonance at Philips.

Unlike conventional MRI magnets, which typically require around 1,500 liters of liquid helium, a Philips BlueSeal magnet only needs to be pre-loaded with 7 liters, providing a major advantage in terms of up-time and costs. BlueSeal MR Mobile can also connect  to Philips Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC) a multi-vendor, multi-modality, virtual imaging solution, which securely connects technologists with remote imaging experts in real-time using audio, video, and peer-to-peer text chat capabilities.

For more information on Philips’ new portfolio of mobile MRI scanners and Philips Radiology Operations Command Center, visit Philips at RSNA 2023 (Booth #6730) and follow @PhilipsLiveFrom for #RSNA23 updates throughout the event.

[1] This product is not yet CE marked, and not yet available for sale in Europe. Available only in the U.S. market.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O’Reilly
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +1 978 221 8919
E-Mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips’ patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2022 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 71,500 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Attachments

• Philips Mobile MRI system expanding access to care
• Interior view of Philips Mobile MR
• Philips MR Mobile connected to Philips’ Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC)

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000901046

November 26, 2023

New innovations help hospitals and health systems to consistently deliver accessible, high-quality care to patients in a sustainable way

Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Chicago, USA – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today puts patients and healthcare providers center-stage at #RSNA23, the world’s largest medical imaging conference. Radiologists are looking for solutions to improve the performance of their departments and help patients with optimized workflows, shorter procedure times and user-friendly operations. With 45% of radiologists reporting symptoms of burnout, Philips’ innovations across diagnostic imaging and enterprise informatics are focused on freeing up time for clinical staff through enhanced workflows and improved efficiency.

The new innovations Philips is announcing at #RSNA23 include next generation ultrasound systems that increase diagnostic confidence and workflow efficiency, the world’s first and only mobile MRI system with helium free operations, and new AI-enabled cloud solutions that enhance radiology efficiency and clinical confidence. The company also launched its new ‘care means the world’ campaign at the event, highlighting that improving human health and environmental health go hand in hand.

“Philips is teaming up with healthcare providers to optimize workflows so they can spend more time focusing on patients,” said Bert van Meurs, Chief Business Leader of Precision Diagnosis and Image Guided Therapy at Philips. “The new innovations we’re unveiling here at RSNA provide a fully integrated AI-enabled diagnostic approach to help improve patient outcomes, optimize workflows and maximize lifetime value for our customers.”

Next generation ultrasound systems increase diagnostic confidence and workflow efficiency
The pressures on healthcare staffing are particularly acute for sonographers, where it’s essential that any new capabilities are integrated in a way that’s intuitive so users can quickly embed them into routine care. Philips’ new ultrasound systems EPIQ Elite 10.0 and Philips Affiniti do exactly that, with the next generation of clinical performance that simplifies workflows to meet the challenges of today’s most demanding practices. The systems offer a single user interface combined with shared transducers and automated tools to help reduce complexity for a more efficient and enhanced user experience.

World’s first and only mobile MRI system with helium free operations
BlueSeal MR Mobile, the industry’s first and only 1.5T fully sealed magnet, will be showcased in a mobile unit on the show floor at RSNA, delivering patient-centric MRI services where and when needed, using less helium than a non-sealed magnet. With more than 600 systems installed globally, MRI scanners equipped with Philips’ BlueSeal magnet technology have saved more than 1.5 million liters of helium since 2018. With hundreds of BlueSeal magnets in operation worldwide, Philips is now extending this breakthrough technology in a mobile truck, expanding quality access to MRI exams for more patients in more places.

Cloud-based PACS with new AI-enabled clinical and operational workflows
Philips HealthSuite Imaging is a cloud-based next generation of Philips Vue PACS, enabling radiologists and clinicians to adopt new capabilities faster, increase operational efficiency and improving patient care. HealthSuite Imaging on Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers new capabilities such as high-speed remote access for diagnostic reading, integrated reporting and AI-enabled workflow orchestration, all delivered securely via the cloud to ease IT management burden. Also unveiled at RSNA is Philips AI Manager, an end-to-end AI enablement solution that integrates with a customer’s IT infrastructure, allowing radiologists to leverage more than 100 AI applications for a more comprehensive assessment and deeper clinical insights in the radiology workflow.

Speed and efficiency are critical to diagnosis and treatment. At RSNA Philips will also spotlight its newest innovations in Digital X-ray including Philips Radiography 7000 M, a premium mobile radiography solution designed to offer enhanced care and higher operational efficiency for faster and efficient patient care, and Philips Radiography 7300 C premium digital radiography system designed to deliver high efficiency and clinical versatility. Also featured is the next-generation Image Guided Therapy System – Azurion 7 B20/15 biplane configuration, providing superb positioning capability for easier patient access during minimally invasive procedures, faster system movement, and full table side control of all components.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O’Reilly
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +1 978 221 8919
E-Mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips’ patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2022 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 71,500 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Attachments

• Healthcare professional viewing image on MR Workspace
• Philips Mobile MRI system expanding access to care
• A clinician using next generation EPIQ Elite VM10 with a patient

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000901018

86% rank energy efficiency as most desired home improvement 75% of households reduced energy use last winter, over 70% doing so to lower energy bills 7 in 10 respondents consider sustainable lifestyles important

Making homes more energy efficient is the most popular home improvement action according to 86% of consumers in a new survey by Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation. Other energy-related home improvements also ranked highly, with energy security coming second (83%), closely followed by cooling (79%) and energy independence (78%).

According to the findings of this annual survey, the impact of the recent global energy crisis on prices has prompted a surge in energy-saving behavior across households. 75% of respondents said they reduced energy use during the winter of 2022–2023, with 72% of those doing so to lower energy bills, while one third did it to reduce carbon emissions.

The survey, which polled over 9,000 consumers in Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also asked how consumers reduced energy use over the past 12 months. 45% said they had switched to LED light bulbs, 24% said they had begun measuring energy use at home and 16% had installed a smart thermostat.

Consumers play a key role in addressing the causes and impacts of climate change

The 2023 survey found that seven out of ten consumers recognize the importance of sustainability and addressing climate change, and 81% of respondents highlighted the importance of countries meeting national commitments. However, over half felt that the responsibility for reducing emissions lies with individuals.

While more than half (55%) of consumers consider it important to make their homes net zero in their lifetime, 40% felt this was unlikely that this would happen: a 4-percentage point increase compared to the 2021 survey. The cost of living is also the primary concern of consumers when asked about the consequences of a global temperature rise above 1.5°C, with 86% concerned about higher energy bills for heating and cooling.

Energy efficiency seen as key to tackling higher bills and climate concerns

Consumers view household energy use as a priority, with 68% seeking to reduce the amount of energy they use at home​. Interest in technology to help monitor and reduce energy consumption is high. Over 60% of those surveyed want to track their daily energy usage and 40% view smart home technology as an easy and affordable way of reducing energy bills.

Despite ongoing financial pressure, households are willing to invest significantly in energy efficiency measures, with an average spend of 1,926 euros planned in the next 12 months.

Smart and sustainable home solutions that help manage energy more efficiently are becoming popular. Consumers expressed a growing interest in smart thermostats and smart energy monitors, their popularity rising by 3 and 4 percentage points respectively compared to the 2021 survey findings.

The increased popularity of smart home solutions, such as Schneider Electric’s Home Energy Management Solutions, to automate and control energy production, storage and costs in homes, is also changing people’s perceptions about achieving net-zero. Those surveyed who already own and use smart home technology today are twice as optimistic about achieving net-zero emissions in their homes, compared to those who are yet to invest.

“With today’s fluctuating energy prices and growing concerns about the climate crisis, energy usage in the home is in the spotlight like never before. That’s why our survey is so fascinating. By talking to more than 9,000 consumers globally, we were able to gain valuable insight into the challenges, opportunities and key drivers associated with sustainability and energy efficiency in the home,” said Michael Lotfy Gierges, Executive Vice President of Home & Distribution at Schneider Electric.

“What has been re-iterated is that behaviour change has long been instrumental in reducing energy bills, and carbon emissions. It’s encouraging to see consumers worldwide making lifestyle adjustments and home improvements that bring both individual and society-wide benefits. Despite the drop in net-zero optimism, many of those surveyed are passionate advocates for living more sustainably and Schneider Electric will continue to invest in home energy management solutions that allow households worldwide to achieve this.”

Attachment

• Global_Consumer Survey Key Findings_Press Release.pdf

Global PR Central Team

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000900997

TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, with strong support from the public and private sectors in Canada, South Korea, and Thailand, is pleased to announce that it will lead Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand from November 26 to December 1, 2023, in Bangkok (Nov. 26-28) and Seoul (Nov. 29-Dec. 1).

South Korea and Thailand present ideal market opportunities for Canadian businesses, particularly in the sectors of cleantech, health care, and information and computer technology (ICT). Both countries have strategically prioritized these industries in their economic strategies and offer attractive incentives to foster growth and collaboration. By capitalizing on these complementary markets, Canadian companies can establish a strong foothold and tap into the potential for long-term success and mutually beneficial partnerships.

The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand is part of the Foundation’s 2023-2025 mission series, Northeast X Southeast: Advancing Partnerships Between Canada and Asia and marks the seventh mission of APF Canada’s Women’s Business Missions to Asia Series.

The mission will focus on the cleantech, health tech, and ICT sectors and spotlight the innovations Canadian women entrepreneurs bring to these sectors. It will provide a unique opportunity to strengthen economic relationships between Canadian women entrepreneurs and businesses in South Korea and Thailand while fostering gender-inclusive trade, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and catalyzing international partnerships between Canadian companies and these two strong and dynamic Asian economies.

The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand will feature public conferences with high-level speakers from government, business, and academia from Canada, South Korea, and Thailand to discuss bilateral and regional trade issues, gender inclusion in the economy with the goal of women’s economic advancement, and SME supports. The mission’s 21 delegates will participate in personalized business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking, company pitches, and networking opportunities with conference attendees.

The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand is generously supported by contributions from the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Key Links:

• Mission Webpage: Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand
• Mission Updates: Women’s Business Missions News & Notifications
• CanWIN: The Canadian Women’s International Network Webpage

Contacts:

Information:

A.W. Lee, Ph.D., Director, Inclusive International Trade,
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
a.w.lee@asiapacific.ca

Media:

Michael Roberts, Communications Director,
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca

Follow us on X: @AsiaPacificFdn
Join us on LinkedIn: APFCanada
Like us on Facebook: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8984133

โตรอนโต ออนแทรีโอ, Nov. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — มูลนิธิเอเชียแปซิฟิกแห่งแคนาดา (The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada) ด้วยการสนับสนุนอย่างเต็มที่จากภาครัฐและภาคเอกชนในแคนาดา เกาหลีใต้ และไทย มีความยินดีที่จะประกาศว่ามูลนิธิจะเป็นผู้นำโครงการ Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand (การอยู่อาศัยที่อัจฉริยะกว่าเดิม: ภารกิจคณะผู้ประกอบการสตรีชาวแคนาดาเยือนเกาหลีใต้และไทย) ตั้งแต่วันที่ 26 พฤศจิกายน ถึง 1 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2566 โดยทางคณะผู้แทนจะมาเยือนกรุงเทพมหานคร ระหว่างวันที่ 26-28 พฤศจิกายน

ประเทศไทยเปิดโอกาสทางการค้าสำคัญ ๆ ให้บริษัทต่าง ๆ ของแคนาดา เนื่องจากมีสถานะเป็นเขตเศรษฐกิจที่ใหญ่เป็นอันดับสองในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ ด้วยฐานการบริโภคภายในประเทศที่แข็งแกร่งและภาคการผลิตที่เติบโตและสนับสนุนการส่งออก ไทยตั้งอยู่ในจุดยุทธศาสตร์ที่เป็นศูนย์กลางของภูมิภาคทำให้บริษัทต่าง ๆ สามารถเข้าถึงตลาดผู้บริโภคขนาดใหญ่ประมาณ 600 ล้านคนภายในรัศมี 3,000 กม. เป็นการส่งเสริมโอกาสทางการค้าและการลงทุนข้ามพรมแดน

ปี พ.ศ. 2565 การค้าแบบทวิภาคีระหว่างแคนาดากับไทยมีมูลค่า 6.4 พันล้านดอลลาร์แคนาดา ในขณะที่ภาคบริการมีมูลค่าสูงถึง 314 ล้านดอลลาร์แคนาดาในปี พ.ศ. 2564 ทั้งนี้ คาดว่าการเติบโตด้านการค้าสินค้าและบริการของแคนาดากับไทยจะเกิดขึ้น หากมีการบรรลุข้อตกลงการค้าเสรี (FTA) อาเซียน-แคนาดา ซึ่งประเทศไทยเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของข้อตกลงนี้ด้วย นอกจากนี้ ข้อมูลจาก APF Canada Investment Monitor ยังแสดงให้เห็นว่าการลงทุนแบบทวิภาคีระหว่างแคนาดากับไทยมีมูลค่าสูงถึง 7.4 พันล้านดอลลาร์แคนาดา ระหว่างปี พ.ศ. 2546 ถึง 2565

ด้วยนโยบาย ‘ประเทศไทย 4.0’ ของรัฐบาล มีการกำหนดให้ภาคการดูแลสุขภาพเป็นภาคที่มีความสำคัญสำหรับการลงทุน ประเทศไทยตั้งเป้าที่จะเป็นศูนย์กลางทางการแพทย์ในภูมิภาค โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งด้านการท่องเที่ยวเชิงการแพทย์และการผลิตอุปกรณ์ทางการแพทย์ ประเทศยังคงพยายามตอบสนองความต้องการของประชากรสูงวัยด้วยการพัฒนาภาคการแพทย์ภายในประเทศ นอกจากนี้ เทคโนโลยีสะอาดจะมีบทบาทสำคัญยิ่งในการปฏิบัติตามพระราชบัญญัติการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศของรัฐบาลไทย ซึ่งมีเป้าหมายที่จะบรรลุการปล่อยก๊าซเรือนกระจกสุทธิเป็นศูนย์ภายในปี พ.ศ. 2593 ความพยายามนี้รวมถึงการลดคาร์บอนในทุกภาคส่วน โดยเน้นที่ภาคพลังงานเป็นพิเศษ นับตั้งแต่ปี พ.ศ. 2566 ถึง พ.ศ. 2570 ประเทศไทยจะให้สิ่งจูงใจเพื่อดึงดูดนักลงทุนต่างชาติในภาคเทคโนโลยีขั้นสูง ภาคนวัตกรรม และภาคการลงทุนที่เป็นมิตรต่อสิ่งแวดล้อม เช่นสถานีเปลี่ยนแบตเตอรี่รถยนต์ไฟฟ้า การผลิตรถยนต์ที่ใช้ไฮโดรเจน และการผลิตไฮโดรเจน

ภารกิจของคณะผู้ประกอบการสตรีชาวแคนาดาเยือนเกาหลีใต้และไทย (The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand) เป็นส่วนหนึ่งภารกิจปี พ.ศ. 2566-2568 ในชื่อตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ X ตะวันออกเฉียงใต้: การพัฒนาความเป็นหุ้นส่วนระหว่างแคนาดากับเอเชีย (Northeast X Southeast: Advancing Partnerships Between Canada and Asia) ของมูลนิธิ และถือเป็นภารกิจครั้งที่เจ็ดของคณะผู้ประกอบการสตรีแคนาดาเยือนเอเซียของมูลนิธิเอเชียแปซิฟิกแห่งแคนาดา (APF Canada’s Women’s Business Missions to Asia Series)

ภารกิจในประเทศไทยจะเน้นที่ภาคเทคโนโลยีสะอาด เทคโนโลยีด้านสุขภาพ และเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสาร ทั้งยังให้ความสำคัญกับนวัตกรรมที่ผู้ประกอบการสตรีชาวแคนาดานำมาสู่ภาคส่วนดังกล่าว ตรงนี้จะเป็นโอกาสที่ดีในการกระชับความสัมพันธ์ทางเศรษฐกิจระหว่างผู้ประกอบการสตรีชาวแคนาดากับบริษัทต่าง ๆ ในประเทศไทย พร้อมกับส่งเสริมการค้าที่คำนึงถึงความเท่าเทียมทางเพศ, สนับสนุนวิสาหกิจขนาดกลางและขนาดย่อม (SMEs) และกระตุ้นความเป็นหุ้นส่วนระหว่างประเทศระหว่างบริษัทของแคนาดากับเศรษฐกิจของไทยที่มีพลวัตและกำลังเติบโต

ภารกิจคณะผู้ประกอบการสตรีชาวแคนาดาเยือนเกาหลีใต้และไทย(The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand) จะประกอบด้วยการประชุมแบบสาธารณะที่จะมีขึ้นในประเทศไทยโดยมีวิทยากรระดับสูงจากรัฐบาล ภาคธุรกิจ และวิชาการ เช่น ฯพณฯ ท่านปิง คิตนีกอน (H.E. Ping Kitnikone) เอกอัครราชทูตแคนาดาประจำประเทศไทย ลาว และกัมพูชา ดร.ณหทัย ทิวไผ่งาม ผู้ช่วยรัฐมนตรีประจำสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี คุณเกศินี วิฑูรชาติ อธิการบดีมหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ คุณเฮ จูน พาร์ค (Ms. Hye June Park) ประธาน แอสเพนทรีคอร์ปอเรชั่น (The Aspen Tree Corporation) คุณอรนุช เลิศสุวรรณกิจ ผู้ร่วมก่อตั้งและซีอีโอ Techsauce and Thailand Accelerator คุณลิซ่า เพียร์ซ (Ms. Lisa Pierce) รองประธาน ฝ่ายขายระหว่างประเทศของแอร์แคนาดา (Air Canada) และแอร์แคนาดาเวเคชั่น (Air Canada Vacations) คุณสิตามนินท์ สุสมาวัตนะกุล กรรมการผู้จัดการ OH!Rich คุณพีระพรรณ ตั้งสุวรรณ หัวหน้ากลุ่มงานผลิตภัณฑ์ดูแลสุขภาพระดับภูมิภาคเอเชีย-แปซิฟิก (Asia-Pacific Regional Healthcare Group) เบเกอร์ แมคเคนซี่ และคุณซาร่า วิลชอว์ (Ms. Sara Wilshaw) รัฐมนตรีช่วยของแคนาดาและหัวหน้ากรรมาธิการการค้า ฯลฯ

วิทยากรและผู้เข้าร่วมประชุมจะหารือกันเกี่ยวกับประเด็นต่าง ๆ ด้านการค้าระดับทวิภาคีและระดับภูมิภาค, ความเท่าเทียมทางเพศในระบบเศรษฐกิจด้วยเป้าหมายที่จะส่งเสริมสถานะทางเศรษฐกิจของสตรี และการสนับสนุน วิสาหกิจขนาดกลางและขนาดย่อม (SME) ผู้แทนทั้ง 19 คนที่มาเยือนไทยจะเข้าร่วมการจับคู่ระหว่างธุรกิจ (B2B matchmaking), การนำเสนอบริษัทและโอกาสในการสร้างเครือข่ายกับผู้เข้าร่วมการประชุม

ภารกิจคณะผู้ประกอบการสตรีชาวแคนาดาเยือนเกาหลีใต้และไทย (The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand) ได้รับการสนับสนุนอย่างดีจากรัฐบาลแคนาดาผ่านกระทรวงการพัฒนานวัตกรรม วิทยาศาสตร์ และเศรษฐกิจ แคนาดา (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)

ลิงก์สำคัญ:

• หน้าเว็บของภารกิจ: Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand
• ข้อมูลอัปเดตเกี่ยวกับภารกิจ: Women’s Business Missions News & Notifications
• CanWIN: เว็บเพจของ The Canadian Women’s International Network Webpage

การติดต่อ:
ข้อมูล:
ดร.เอ.ดับเบิลยู. ลี (A.W. Lee, Ph.D.) ผู้อำนวยการ ฝ่ายการค้าระหว่างประเทศที่ครอบคลุมทุกกลุ่มคน (Inclusive International Trade)
มูลนิธิเอเชียแปซิฟิกแห่งแคนาดา (Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada)
aw.lee@asiapacific.ca

สื่อ:
ไมเคิล โรเบิร์ตส์ (Michael Roberts) ผู้อำนวยการฝ่ายสื่อสาร
มูลนิธิเอเชียแปซิฟิกแห่งแคนาดา (Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada)
michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca

ติดตามเราได้ที่ X : @AsiaPacificFdn
ร่วมกับเราใน LinkedIn: APFCanada
กดไลก์เฟซบุ๊ก: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8984133

SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (“Junshi Biosciences,” HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced a new publication in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. The paper presents final analysis results from a multicenter, double-blind, phase 3, randomized controlled study (NCT05582629) evaluating the efficacy and safety of VV116 (mindeudesivir hydrobromide tablets, product code: VV116/JT001) in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. This study demonstrated that VV116 significantly reduced the time to sustained clinical symptom resolution compared to placebo, with no observed safety concerns.

During the study, academician Lanjuan LI, Director of the State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), served as the primary investigator and corresponding author. Co-first authors include Prof. Xiaohong FAN and Prof. Yun Ling from Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Prof. Xiahong DAI, Prof. Lihua WU and Prof. Lingling TANG from Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical College.

Efficacy analyses were conducted on 1296 enrolled adult patients (646 in the VV116 group and 650 in the placebo group), with a median age of 35.0 years, of whom about 43.1% carried high-risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19. According to the SARS-CoV-2 genetic variation evaluated at enrollment, BA.5.2.48 and BF.7.14 were the leading subvariants.

At the interim analysis, VV116 was superior to placebo in reducing the time to sustained clinical symptom resolution among 1229 patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.40; p=0.0023). In the final analysis of the study, a substantial reduction in the time to sustained clinical symptom resolution was observed with VV116 compared to placebo (median: 10.9 vs.12.9 days; HR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.33; p=0.0009), consistent with the interim analysis. For the elderly patient subgroup (≥60 years old), the time to sustained clinical symptom resolution was also shorter in the VV116 group compared to the placebo group, with an HR of 1.22 (95% CI: 0.74-2.01), which is consistent with the overall population.

Previously, an active comparator-controlled phase 3 study of VV116 (NCT05341609) published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that VV116 was non-inferior to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in reducing the time to sustained clinical symptom resolution among patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at risk for progression (median time: 7 vs. 7 days; HR=1.06; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.22).

By day 5 of the study treatment, compared to the placebo group, a substantial increase in the SARS-CoV-2 Ct value, as well as a more rapid decrease in the viral load, were observed in the VV116 group.

Notably, the efficacy of a 5-day treatment with VV116, including the significant shortening of time to sustained clinical symptom resolution and clinical symptom alleviation in patients, were observed regardless of the presence of high-risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status.

VV116 was well-tolerated in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Among 1347 patients in the safety data set (674 patients in the VV116 group and 673 patients in the placebo group), the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade was similar between groups (35.9% vs. 42.1%). The incidence of treatment-releated adverse events (TRAEs) assessed by the investigator was 17.4% in the VV116 group and 23.2% in the placebo group. Most of the TEAEs were grade 1 or 2. Only 1 patientin the placebo group, progressed to severe COVID-19, and no deaths occurred.

“As of today, more than 3000 patients worldwide are actively participating in our clinical trials for VV116, including several domestic and international phase 3 trials,” said Dr. Jianjun ZOU, Global Research and Development President at Junshi Biosciences, “This extensive participation provides robust data, establishing VV116 as the most evidence-based, domestically-made oral anti-viral medication for COVID-19. Within a single year, VV116 was featured twice in leading international medical journals, which reflected the global recognition of the VV116 R&D team’s research capabilities and R&D quality. We take great pride in these achievements. The rise of innovative domestic COVID-19 treatments stands as a testament to the Chinese pharmaceutical industry’s advancement towards innovation and serves as a commitment to ensuring health and safety for all. Along with our fellow collaborators, Junshi Biosciences will continue onward, propelling further development and benefiting more patients!”

About Mindeudesivir Hydrobromide Tablets (VV116/JT001)

VV116 is an oral nucleoside analog drug that can inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. In preclinical pharmacodynamic studies, VV116 exerted an antiviral effect on the original strain of the novel coronavirus and its known variants in vitro; in the mice model, a low dose of VV116 reduced the virus titers below the detection limit, significantly lowered the risk of lung injury and displayed a strong antiviral effect. Preclinical pharmacokinetics and other research results also show that VV116 has high oral bioavailability. After oral administration, VV116 is rapidly metabolized into parent nucleoside and widely distributed throughout the body.

VV116 was jointly developed by the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences; the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Central Asian Center of Drug Discovery and Development Chinese Academy of Sciences / China-Uzbekistan Medicine Technical Park (the Joint Laboratory of the Ministry of Science and Technology under the “The Belt and Road Initiative”); Lingang Laboratory; Vigonvita Life Sciences Co., Ltd. (“Vigonvita”); and Junshi Biosciences.

During the pandemic, several multi-center trials were conducted for VV116 in China and abroad. One phase 3 study in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19 (NCT05341609) published results in the New England Journal of Medicine, and another phase 3 study (NCT05582629) conducted among mild to moderate COVID-19 patients with or without high risk of progression to severe COVID-19 published results in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.

In December 2021, VV116 was approved in Uzbekistan for the treatment of patients diagnosed with moderate to severe COVID-19.

In January 2023, VV116 was approved for marketing in China for the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

About Junshi Biosciences

Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R&D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Four of the company’s innovations have already reached the Chinese or international markets, one of which is toripalimab, first China’s homegrown and self-developed anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved in China and the US. Additionally, more than 30 drugs are currently in clinical development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Junshi Biosciences actively shouldered the social responsibilities of a Chinese pharmaceutical company through its involvement in developing etesevimab (JS016), MINDEWEI^® (VV116/JT001), and other novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

With a mission of “providing patients with world-class, trustworthy, affordable, and innovative drugs”, Junshi Biosciences is “In China, For Global.” At present, the company boasts approximately 3,000 employees in the United States (California and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com.

Junshi Biosciences Contact Information
IR Team:
Junshi Biosciences
info@junshipharma.com
+ 86 021-6105 8800

PR Team:
Junshi Biosciences
Zhi Li
zhi_li@junshipharma.com
+ 86 021-6105 8800

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8984174

• Manal AlDowayan is one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant contemporary artists, recognised internationally for her work that spans participatory practice, photography, sound and sculpture
• The artist interrogates traditions, collective memories and the status and representation of women
• The Saudi Pavilion is commissioned by the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission
• This will mark Saudi Arabia’s fourth participation in the Biennale Arte, and is the third National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia to feature woman artists

Artist Manal AlDowayan in Venice, 2023. Courtesy of the artist and the Visual Arts Commission, the Commissioner for the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Manal AlDowayan will represent Saudi Arabia at the 60^th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, taking place from 20 April to 24 November 2024. The Saudi Pavilion is commissioned by the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission.

AlDowayan is one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant contemporary artists working internationally. Her work, which spans various mediums including photography, sound, sculpture, and participatory practice, interrogates traditions, collective memories and the status and representation of women.

AlDowayan acts as a critical witness to the cultural and social metamorphoses sweeping her home country, and her work in turn navigates a territory where the personal and the societal overlap. Her works explore themes such as invisibility, active forgetting, and collective memory. Through her decades-long practice, AlDowayan’s art resonates with audiences around the world, fostering connection, interaction, and engagement. She is best known for participatory installations such as Suspended Together (2011) and Esmi-My Name (2012), which are the result of participatory workshops offering channels for thousands of women in Saudi Arabia to reflect on social customs relating to the position of women in Saudi Arabia and further afield.

Commenting on her participation, AlDowayan says:

“My approach to art over the last two decades has given me the chance to be part of a transformation that is taking place in my country. The Biennale Arte 2024 presents a rare opportunity to represent where I stand in my practice, positioned in the context of my community, my country, and the world as a whole.”

More recently, AlDowayan performed From Shattered Ruins, New Life Shall Bloom at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York in August 2023. There, she invited visitors to navigate the space which featured a landscape of totems topped with porcelain rolls filled with texts and images depicting narratives that have upheld structures around women for generations. In a conclusive collective gesture of protest against a history of control, participants destroyed the scrolls – ultimately stripping the words and images of their power and encouraging solidarity in the face of fragmentation of action and the need for a multipolar approach when it comes to helping women and girls around the world.

Dina Amin, Chief Executive Officer of the Visual Arts Commission says: “At the Visual Arts Commission, our goal is to bring to the forefront the talent that resides within our country and to look for ways to nurture, amplify and celebrate it on local, regional and international stages. We are proud to be showcasing Manal AlDowayan’s work at the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, an important international platform for exchange.”

This will mark Saudi Arabia’s fourth participation at the International Art Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia and is the third National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia to feature woman artists. A concept and further details surrounding AlDowayan’s installation will be announced at a later stage, but the artist revealed that the Saudi Pavilion will reflect on the Biennale Arte’s overarching theme. Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, curated by Adriano Pedrosa, will bring together artists to reflect on the differences and disparities conditioned by areas such as identity, nationality, race and gender, amongst others.

The exhibition will be on view from 20 April to 24 November 2024 at the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia’s permanent space at the Arsenale, Sale d’Armi, Venice, Italy.

Manal AlDowayan for The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia, commissioned by the Visual Arts Commission, 20 April – 24 November: saudipavilion.org

Press contacts:
Rania Habib at Pelham Communications
rania@pelhamcommunications.com

Annabel Hoyng-Van der Meijden at Pelham Communications
annabel@pelhamcommunications.com

Press kit link here.

About Manal AlDowayan
AlDowayan is one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant contemporary artists working internationally. Her work, which spans various mediums including photography, sound, sculpture, and participatory practice, interrogates traditions, collective memories and the status and representation of women. AlDowayan’s work has been exhibited regionally and internationally in institutions such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, USA (2023); the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada (2023); Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA (2023); Misk Art Institute, Saudi Arabia (2023, 2022); Setouchi Triennale, Japan (2022); Louvre Abu Dhabi, UAE (2023); Diriyah Biennale, Saudi Arabia (2022); Taehwa River Eco Festival, Korea (2021); V&A Museum, UK (2021); British Museum, UK (2021); Desert X AlUla, Saudi Arabia (2020); The Nobel Museum, Sweden (2019); the Aga Khan Museum, Canada (2018); Royal College of Art, UK (2018); Abu Dhabi Art, UAE (2017); Institut du Monde Arabe, France (2017); the Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE (2016); Santander Art Gallery, Madrid (2016); Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA (2015); Prospect New Orleans, American Biennial, USA (2014); Gwangju Museum of Art, South Korea (2014); Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar (2014); and in a Collateral Event at the Biennale Arte in 2009 and 2011, among others. Her works can be found in the collections of the British Museum, UK; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark; the Centre Pompidou, France; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim, USA. She participated in the Robert Rauschenberg Residency, USA (2015), and the artist-in-residence programme at the Delfina Foundation, UK (2009).

She holds an MA in Contemporary Art Practice in Public Spheres from the Royal College of Art, London. She also received a research fellowship from New York University Abu Dhabi (2014). Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in 1973, AlDowayan currently lives and works between London, Dhahran and Dubai.

Website: https://www.manaldowayan.com/
Instagram: @manaldowayan
#ManalAlDowayan

About the Visual Arts Commission:
The Visual Arts Commission is one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture. Founded in 2020, it is leading the development of the visual arts sector in Saudi Arabia. The Commission is working to nurture the talent of art enthusiasts, practitioners, and professionals in the Kingdom, and support the production and exhibition of artwork in all its forms, locally and internationally.

To learn more about the Visual Arts Commission, please visit www.visualarts.moc.gov.sa/en and the commission’s page on Twitter @MOCVisualArts

About the Ministry of Culture:
Saudi Arabia has a vast history of arts and culture. The Ministry of Culture is developing Saudi Arabia’s cultural economy and enriching the daily lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.

Overseeing 11 sector-specific commissions, the Ministry is leading a cultural transformation to develop an abundant ecosystem that nurtures creativity, unlocks the economic potential of the sector and unleashes new and inspiring forms of expression.

Find the Ministry of Culture on social media: Twitter @MOCSaudi (Arabic); @MOCSaudi_En (English) | Instagram @mocsaudi

About the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia:
The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia supports and celebrates the Kingdom’s artistic and architectural community. It serves as a meeting space for dialogue between creative minds, and an exchange of concepts and ideas. The pavilion provides a permanent home for research and ideation from the nation’s leading cultural voices.

To learn more about the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia, please visit www.saudipavilion.org and on Instagram: @saudipavilion.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a91498e-5d3e-41fa-91e4-de6dd610be50

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8983844

Cologne, Nov. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gordon Brothers, the global asset experts, is partnering with Maynards Europe to sell by online auction AURORA Lichtwerke’s lamp development and manufacturing plant assets.

The two-day auction on November 29-30 for more than 2,000 lots in Eichstätt, Germany includes 19 LED, halogen and discharge lamp production assembly lines, a SMD factory configured for LED production, and laboratory, quality assurance, plant support and maintenance equipment.

AURORA Lichtwerke had a production capacity of more than 350 million lamps per annum. The site was previously a LEDVANCE production plant and prior to that a spin off from OSRAM that was part of Siemens AG.

“It is rare for the production lines of halogen signal and studio lights for airfield, traffic, train and medical applications to come to market,” said Dr. Andreas Kemper, Managing Director at Gordon Brothers. “With the complete closure of the plant these assets are in high demand, and we are seeing significant global interest from established industry manufacturers.”

“We’re excited to auction the assets from AURORA Lichtwerke, which was once the world’s largest lamp manufacturing site,” said Daniel Kroeger, Managing Director at Maynards Europe. “This is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and large-scale manufacturers to expand their capacity and product range.”

To view the full list of available assets and register to bid, please visit Maynards’ website.

Gordon Brothers leverages decades of experience buying, selling, operating and valuing assets in the industrial economy across Australia, Brazil, Canada, the U.K., Europe, Japan and the U.S.

About Gordon Brothers

Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, management teams, advisors and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four services areas: valuations, dispositions, financing and investment. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors to provide maximum liquidity, put assets to their highest and best use and mitigate liabilities. The firm conducts more than $100 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually and provides both short- and long-term capital to clients undergoing transformation. Gordon Brothers lends against and invests in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets, both together and individually, to provide clients liquidity solutions beyond its market-leading disposition and appraisal services. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with over 30 offices across five continents.

About Maynards
Founded in 1902, Maynards specializes in auctions, liquidation sales and the appraisal of industrial equipment and commercial/retail inventories. With offices throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, UK, China and Japan, the company constantly performs asset sales and appraisals around the world in a wide range of industries. Maynards has the expertise and resources to simultaneously manage machinery sales and plant liquidations in all areas of heavy industry, including automotive manufacturing, plastics, semiconductor, pharma, energy, food, metalworking, pulp & paper, sawmill, mining, printing and woodworking. Maynards Europe GmbH is a subsidiary of Maynards. www.maynards.com

Lauren Nadeau
Gordon Brothers
+1.617.422.6599
lnadeau@gordonbrothers.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8983461