CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Nona Biosciences, a global pioneer of technology innovation and antibody discovery and development solutions, and Evive Biotech, a global biopharmaceutical company devoted to developing a portfolio of novel biological therapies for patients worldwide, today announced a collaboration agreement on antibody discovery based on the Harbour Mice® antibody technology platform of Nona Biosciences. The collaboration brings together professional advantages of Nona Biosciences and Evive Biotech, aiming to accelerate the process of antibody discovery and drug development to benefit patients faster.

Harbour Mice® is a proprietary antibody technology platform that utilizes the transgenic mouse to generate fully human monoclonal antibodies in both a traditional two heavy and two light chain (H2L2) format and a heavy chain only (HCAb) format. This platform holds significant potential for the development of therapeutic antibodies and the acceleration of drug discovery and development.

"Nona Biosciences is committed to bringing antibody discovery and research solutions to our partners better and faster," said Jingsong Wang, MD, PhD, Chairman of Nona Biosciences. "With the capabilities of Harbour Mice®, we look forward to empowering our partners in antibody drug discovery and development, and helping more patients benefit from cutting-edge technologies and therapies."

"There is tremendous potential in antibody-based therapy, and I am very excited about this collaboration," said Simon Li, MD, PhD, CEO & CMO of Evive Biotech. "Evive Biotech’s mission is to develop innovative biologic therapies for patients worldwide. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Nona Biosciences to accelerate the discovery of innovative antibody therapies to benefit patients across the globe."

About Nona Biosciences

Nona Biosciences (a wholly-owned subsidiary of HBM Holdings Limited, HKEX: 02142) is a global biotechnology company committed to cutting-edge technology innovation and provides a total solution from "Idea to IND" (I to ITM), ranging from target validation and antibody discovery through preclinical research. The integrated antibody discovery services range from antigen preparation, animal immunization, highly robust antibody screening, to antibody lead generation and engineering, developability assessment and pharmacological evaluation, leveraging advantages of Harbour Mice® technology and the experienced therapeutic antibody discovery team.

Harbour Mice® generate fully human monoclonal antibodies in a traditional two heavy and two light chain (H2L2) format, and a heavy chain only (HCAb) format. Integrating Harbour Mice® with highly robust antibody screening platforms, Nona Biosciences is focused on driving global inventions of transformative next-generation drugs.

For more information, please visit: www.nonabio.com

About Evive Biotech

Evive Biotech (a subsidiary of Yifan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., SZSE: 002019) is a global biopharmaceutical company devoted to developing a portfolio of novel biological therapies for patients worldwide. We leverage our proprietary technology platforms to advance a series of innovative drug candidates for oncology, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Founded in 2004, we currently have operations in the US, Singapore, and China. As the first biopharmaceutical company to build a platform bringing innovative therapies from China to the world, Evive adopts a holistic approach to drug development, combining exceptional research and commercialization capabilities with our world-class in-house regulatory expertise and extensive international management experience. Through partnerships with industry, physicians, and regulatory authorities, we strive to bring revolutionary remedies to the global market quickly and efficiently to address unmet medical needs, making a real and lasting difference to patients and their families worldwide.

For more information, please visit: www.evivebiotech.com

Source : Nona Biosciences Announces Collaboration with Evive Biotech to Accelerate Antibody Discovery

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SUZHOU, China, and ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that it has released updated data from a US study of the company’s novel drug candidate, olverembatinib (R&D code: HQP1351), in patients with refractory chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), in a Poster Presentation at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, taking place in San Diego, CA, the United States.

The ASH Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of the international hematology community, bringing together the most cutting-edge scientific research and latest data of investigational therapies that representleading scientific and clinical advances in the global hematology field. Garnering growing interest from the global research community, multiple studies of Ascentage Pharma’s key drug candidates (olverembatinib and lisaftoclax) have been selected for presentations at this year’s ASH Annual Meeting, including two Oral Presentations on olverembatinib. This is the sixth consecutive year in which clinical results on olverembatinib have been selected for Oral Presentations at the ASH Annual Meeting.

After releasing preliminary results of the US study in an Oral Report at last year’s ASH Annual Meeting, this year Ascentage Pharma presented updated data from a larger patient sample that reaffirmed the favorable clinical benefit and tolerability of olverembatinib, as a monotherapy and in combinations, in heavily pretreated patients with CML and Ph+ ALL, particularly those who have failed prior treatment with the third-generation TKI ponatinib or the allosteric STAMP inhibitor asciminib.

Prof. Elias Jabbour, MD, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Principal Investigator of the study, commented, "Once again, the follow-up data of study HQP1351CU101 showed olverembatinib’ s excellent treatment response, especially in patients who were resistant to ponatinib or asciminib. Olverembatinib will provide an effective new treatment option for CML and Ph+ ALL patients."

"Building on the encouraging results presented at last year’s ASH Annual Meeting, the data released this year validated olverembatinib’s promising therapeutic potential in patients resistant to ponatinib or asciminib. These encouraging results once again underscored the potential of this China-developed global best-in-class drug in addressing the unmet needs of patients with CML and Ph+ ALL worldwide," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "Remaining committed to the mission of the addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will expedite our clinical development programs to bring more safe and effective therapies to patients in need."

Highlights of the study presented at ASH 2023:

Update of Olverembatinib (HQP1351) Overcoming Ponatinib and/or Asciminib Resistance in Patients (Pts) with Heavily Pretreated/Refractory Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ ALL)

Format: Poster Presentation
Abstract: #1798
Session: 632. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Clinical and Epidemiological: Poster I
Time: December 9, 2023, Saturday, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Pacific Time) / December 10, 2023, Sunday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Beijing Time)

Highlights:

Background: Patients with CML who failed on first- and second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have a poor prognosis. Olverembatinib, a novel third-generation TKI, has shown strong antitumor activity in patients with CML and Ph+ ALL. This presentation reports on the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of olverembatinib in patients with CML and Ph+ ALL outside of China, particularly in patients previously treated with third-generation TKI ponatinib and/or allosteric STAMP inhibitor asciminib.

Methods: Olverembatinib was administered orally once every other day (QOD). In the monotherapy cohort, patients were enrolled after treatment failures on at least 2 prior TKIs (no limit on the number of prior TKIs for patients harboring the T315I mutation) and randomized to receive olverembatinib QOD at 30, 40, or 50 mg, in 28-day cycles. In the combination cohort, patients with Ph+ B-cell precursor ALL (BCP ALL) or lymphoid CML-BP (CML-LBP) resistant to at least 1 second-generation TKI were enrolled and administered olverembatinib (30 or 40 mg) QOD in combination with CD19/CD3 bispecific antibody (bispecific T-cell engager) blinatumomab.

Patients: As of June 30, 2023, 76 patients were enrolled, including 57 with CML in chronic phase (CML-CP) and 19 with advanced Ph+ leukemia (CML-AP, CML-LBP, Ph+ ALL). The median (range) age was 54.5 (21-80) years, and 56.6% of patients were male.

11 (14.5%), 23 (30.3%), and 39 (51.3%) patients had received 2, 3, and ≥4 TKIs, respectively. A total of 40 (52.6%) patients were previously treated with ponatinib, of whom 67.5% were resistant, 25.0% were intolerant to the drug, and 7.5% of patients failed for other reasons. A total of 21 (27.6%) patients were previously treated with asciminib, of whom 71.4% were resistant and 19.1% were intolerant to the agent, and 9.5% failed for other reasons. At baseline, 31.6% of patients had T315I mutations, and 38.2% had hypertension. The median (range) duration of treatment was 24.1 (0-134) weeks. PK analysis showed that patients worldwide had a PK profile similar to historical data on Chinese patients.

Efficacy results:

Among 50 efficacy-evaluable patients with CML-CP, 56.8% (25/44) achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), and 42.9% (21/49) achieved a major molecular response (MMR). In patients with CML-CP harboring the T315I mutation, CCyR and MMR rates were 60.0% (9/15) and 43.8% (7/16), respectively; In patients without the T315I mutation, CCyR and MMR rates were 55.2% (16/29) and 42.4% (14/33), respectively; In patients who were ponatinib-resistant, CCyR and MMR rates were 53.3% (8/15) and 37.5% (6/16), respectively; In patients who were asciminib-resistant, CCyR and MMR rates were 42.9% (3/7) and 37.5% (3/8), respectively. Among the 13 efficacy-evaluable patients with advanced Ph+ leukemia, 23.1% (3/13) achieved MMR, of whom 1 patient harbored the T315I mutation and 2 were T315I mutation negative and resistant to ponatinib. In the combination cohort, 2 patients with Ph+ BCP ALL received olverembatinib 30 mg QOD in combination with blinatumomab. Both patients achieved CCyR and 1 achieved negative minimal residual disease (MRD) status after 1 treatment cycle.

Safety results: A total of 12 patients with CML-CP and 7 with advanced Ph+ leukemia discontinued treatment for reasons including adverse events (AEs n=4), disease progression (n=7), and other reasons (n=8). A total of 54 (83.1%) patients experienced treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) of any grade after receiving olverembatinib. Grade ≥3 TRAEs occurring in ≥3 patients included thrombocytopenia (17.0%), neutropenia (13.8%), elevated blood creatine phosphokinase (13.8%), leukopenia (7.7%), anemia (4.6%), and elevated lipase (4.6%). 10 (15.4%) patients experienced treatment-related serious AEs (SAEs).

Conclusions: Olverembatinib monotherapy or combined with blinatumomab was efficacious and well tolerated in heavily pretreated patients with CML or Ph+ ALL and was potent in patients who were resistant or intolerant to ponatinib and/or asciminib, regardless of the T315I mutation status. Olverembatinib may provide an effective treatment option for patients with CML or Ph+ ALL who have failed on two or more TKIs.

* Olverembatinib is an investigational drug that has not been approved for any indication outside the Chinese mainland

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Olverembatinib, the company’s core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company’s first approved product, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs, 2 FTDs, and 2 Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Designations from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company’s investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

Source : Live from ASH 2023 | Ascentage Pharma Presents Updated Data from US Study of Olverembatinib, Further Validating Encouraging Efficacy in Patients Resistant to Ponatinib or Asciminib

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SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, the iconic citizenM Menlo Park Hotel, officially opened. In California’s Silicon Valley, The manufacture of the 240 modular guest rooms was completed 1 year ago, when the modules were shipped from China to the United States and assembled on-site like LEGO blocks. The volumetric modules for the project were provided by CIMC Modular Building Holding Company Limited ("CIMC MBS"), a subsidiary of CIMC Construction Technology Company Limited of CIMC Group.

Similar to other CIMC MBS modular projects in a variety of seismic regions around the world, this project relies entirely on the modules themselves to meet the seismic design category level E, resisting seismic forces in the zone where the hotel is located and completely unaffected.

The citizenM Menlo Park Hotel, developed by the internationally renowned boutique hotel chain citizenM, and is located in Silicon Valley, the hub of high-tech companies in the US. It is situated near the headquarters of Google, Meta (formerly known as Facebook), Apple, and Stanford University, among other world-famous companies and universities.

The hotel is 5 storeys tall and is composed of 161 modules, with a total of 240 guest rooms. Each room is equipped with an intelligent room management system, enabling guests to control the TV, heating, air conditioning, day/night shades and lights within the rooms through use of tablet computers. By downloading the citizenM APP guests can also check-in and out, use other room reservation services and track the hotel’s sustainability performance.

It is worth mentioning that the hotel project is located in California, USA, which falls within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismic zone with stringent requirements for various aspects of building performance. With respect to structural design, CIMC MBS’s design team has collaborated extensively with local structural consultants in the US. They also drew upon the successful experience of constructing the first high-rise modular building for citizenM in Los Angeles, named citizenM DTLA Hotel. This allowed them to continually optimize the volumetric steel structure system and construction processes.

For the curtain wall windows of the project, in addition to meeting local regulations and the owner’s high requirements for thermal insulation and soundproofing, consideration also had to be given to inter-story displacement attributed to seismicity to prevent module deformation from exerting pressure on the glass. By learning from other previously successful modular case studies and combining them with project-specific considerations, the design team overcame the challenges of the curtain wall windows and obtained certification from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) in the United States. The project relies entirely on the modules themselves to resist seismic forces, with a seismic design intensity level of E (the highest being F).

In recent years, the USA has revised its regulations multiple times to strengthen requirements for seismic design due to concerns about strong earthquakes. The US government has also provided various incentives to encourage owners to retrofit existing buildings for seismic strengthening. Against this backdrop, seismic performance is paramount, especially for high-rise building projects.

Both the citizenM Menlo Park Hotel and the citizenM DTLA Hotel are located in high seismic intensity zones in the US. The successful experience in delivering these projects is replicable, demonstrating the significant expansion potential for CIMC MBS’s business in the US.

Throughout the project construction process, CIMC MBS maintained a high level of client collaboration. The modules integrated multiple professional disciplines, such as design, craftsmanship, quality control, supply chain management, and logistics 

By fully applying digital and technological project management tools and full life cycle lean improvement processes, not only was the construction period of the citizenM Menlo Park hotel project significantly shorter than that of the citizenM, DTLA project, the product quality was also greatly enhanced.

In addition, in terms of environmental protection, the citizenM Menlo Park hotel project is designed and constructed in accordance with the US LEED Certification – gold level requirements. CIMC MBS completes more than 90% of the fit out and decoration process in the factory. The high prefabrication rate greatly reduces material wastage and carbon emissions. The use of modular construction with modules manufactured off-site, also greatly reduces the impact of noise and dust on surrounding communities and the environment.

In recent years, CIMC MBS has delivered many hotel and apartment projects in California, USA, actively contributing to urban renewal, creating low-carbon communities, and developing livable cities. For example, the Graduate Student Housing project at the University of California, Berkeley, was the first steel modular housing project constructed by a Chinese enterprise in the US. The citizenM DTLA Hotel is the world’s first high-rise modular building project located in a high seismic intensity area.

Victor Zhu, the General Manager of CIMC MBS, stated that looking ahead, CIMC MBS will continue to leverage Chinese advantages, pursue win-win cooperation, and promote global business development, including North America. The Company will also shoulder social responsibilities and contribute to the industry’s and society’s sustainable development.

Source : citizenM Menlo Park Hotel Jointly Built by CIMC Group Officially Opened in Silicon Valley, USA

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HONGKONG  , Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — On December 11, 2023, TSC Manufacturing and Supply LLC ("TSC"), based in Houston Texas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CM Energy Tech Ltd., received the first order of land rig modernization contract from Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) in the amount of US$13,211,970. This is the first of a series of orders under the bid won earlier by TSC. In July 2023, TSC successfully won the bid for two major projects from PEMEX with a total amount of US$163.8 million and has signed three framework agreements for equipment supply and services. The contracts will be valid for 30 months. The issuance of this first order marks the formal execution of the contract.

TSC supported Pemex in Mexico with technology, state-of-the-art products and timely services

To address the customer needs for upgrading and modernizing their old rig fleet for drilling deep and ultra deep wells, TSC led consortium, including TSC, Andrews Technologies Inc. (ATI), and Andrews Technologies de Mexico S.A de C.V. (ATM), participated the tenders issued by PEMEX. With more than 20 years of experiences in manufacturing and servicing mission critical high-end equipment in the energy industry and excellent track records, as well as reliable partners in supply chain, TSC’s consortium came out as the winner among several well known international bidders. The consortium was awarded three contracts, including the equipment supply contract, maintenance service contract for the rehabilitation, modernization, and automation upgrade of seven land drilling rigs, as well as the operation and maintenance service contract for several top drives and catwalks. The total amount of the contracts for the equipment supplies and the maintenance service is about US$98.1 million, which will be executed in batches with the completion at the end of 2025. The total amount of operation and maintenance contract is US$65.7 million, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. This is also the first time for TSC’s state-of-the-art control and drive systems and drilling cabins to enter the Mexican market.

Previously, the consortium has completed the modernization and upgrade for four similar old rigs for PEMEX, including a 7,000 meter rig which reportedly drilled a well with a total depth of 7,921 meters and initial oil production of 16,000 bbl/d. The performance and quality of the rigs have been well appreciated by the client. "We appreciate the business and trust by PEMEX for awarding these three major contracts to the Consortium and I am confident that we will deliver the state-of-the-art products to meet the quality and other terms and conditions specified in the contracts", said Mr. Zhan Huafeng, CEO of CM Energy.  

In fact, TSC has been operating in Mexico for over 11 years with local offices and service workshops located in Ciudad del Carman and in Villahermosa. Our business in Mexico includes engineering and maintenance services, equipment shop repairs and certifications, rental of offshore rigs and other vessels, as well as equipment and expendable supplies. Our customers include Pemex and almost all the major onshore and offshore drillers in the country. "With the local presence and the timely support by Houston head office, TSC is committed to the market and will continually support Pemex and other customers in Mexico with our technology, state-of-the-art products and timely services" Commented by Morgan Zhang, President for International Business of CM Energy.

It is reported that currently Mexico has become the largest trading partner of the United States. With the local presence in Mexico and our track records and reputation earned through the years, we expect that Mexico, and other Latin America countries will fuel the growth of CM Energy’s business not only in our legacy business, but also in the renewable energy sector.

About CM Energy

CM Energy Tech has been serving the energy industry for nearly 30 years and is one of the leading companies in the world in designing, manufacturing and supplying high-end and mission critical equipment, technology, services and solutions to the global energy industry.  CM Energy’s green technologies include key equipment in offshore wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) and offshore wind service vessels (SOV).  CM Energy’s hydrogen technologies include its innovative hydrogen electrolysers and equipment for hydrogen refill stations. CM Energy is listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with stock code "HK.206".  CM Energy’s largest shareholder is China Merchants Industry Group.

About Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX)

Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) was founded in 1938 and is one of the largest and most influential companies in Latin America. The company’s operations span the value chain of the oil and gas industry, from exploration and production (upstream) to industry transformation, logistics and marketing (downstream), with operations throughout Mexico. PEMEX is one of the few fully integrated oil companies in the world and an integral part of Mexico’s economic and social development, with a wide range of operations and many exploration and production projects carried out each year.

CONTACT: Xiaoshu Zheng, xiaoshu.zheng@cmicholding.com

Source : CM Energy Led Consortium Won US$163.8 Million Order for Oil Rig Moderation and O&M Services in Mexico

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SINGAPORE, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — CREAL Inc, a leading Japanese real estate investment firm, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), today announced the launch of its Singapore subsidiary.

CREAL, a leading Japanese real estate investment firm has two key offerings. It’s real estate online investment platform (crowdfunding), which is a market leader in Japan having raised over SG$338m across 100 funds, with more than 53,000 online investors. Secondly, CREAL provides real estate fund management and investment services for institutions, family offices and ultra high-net-worth investors who are based globally.

Having already established a client base of over 70 investors in Singapore, the launch of their Singapore subsidiary demonstrates CREAL’s confidence in the growth opportunity Japanese real estate can provide to Singapore based investors. Led by Daniel Wei, who has been with the firm since 2015, and Calvin Sim, CREAL will build a local team to support and grow their investor base in Singapore. Sim recently joined from List Sotheby’s International Realty.

This announcement comes at a time when 2023 sees Singapore become the largest property investor in Japan, and tourism is also at an all-time high with 2.5million visitors visiting Japan in October. Demand for both residential and tourist accommodation continues to grow in Osaka and Tokyo alongside ongoing city redevelopment. This is in tandem with the surge of positive net migration, high salary prospects and the lowest interest rates in the world, all which underpin the strength of the investment opportunity in Japan.

Aki Tokuyama, Founder and Chairman of CREAL said; "I am pleased to see our business growth align to Singapore’s appetite for Japan as it establishes itself as the biggest investor in the Japanese real estate sector, in 2023 so far."

Daniel Wei, Head of CREAL Singapore said; "We have been supporting investors from Singapore since 2017 and have continued to observe a growing demand. I am pleased that we can now provide on-the-ground expertise to meet the opportunities that the Japanese market presents.”

Calvin Sim, Director of CREAL Singapore said; "With CREAL’s strong Japanese track record and existing connections, we are confident that we can assist investors in Singapore to explore new investment opportunities previously only available to Japanese local investors."

About CREAL
Headquartered in Japan, CREAL Group is a leading real estate investment and management solution company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. CREAL is known as the No.1 real estate online investment (crowdfunding) platform in Japan with more than 53,000 investors.

CREAL also offers real estate investment solution services which includes real estate fund structuring and management, property management, and other Japan real estate-related services to institutions, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth investors who are based globally.

Source : CREAL announces the launch of its Singapore office to accelerate its Japanese real estate offering to investors in Singapore.

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SUZHOU, China and ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that it has released the latest efficacy and safety data of lisaftoclax (APG-2575), one of the company’s key drug candidates, in patients with heavily pretreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in a Poster Presentation at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, taking place in San Diego, CA, the United States.

The ASH Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of the international hematology community, bringing together the most cutting-edge scientific research and latest data of investigational therapies that represent leading scientific and clinical advances in the global hematology field. Garnering growing interest from the global research community, multiple studies of Ascentage Pharma’s key drug candidates (lisaftoclax and olverembatinib) have been selected for presentations at this year’s ASH Annual Meeting, including two Oral Presentations.

These data in patients with R/R CLL reaffirmed the potential clinical benefit and tolerability of lisaftoclax. Results showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 73.3%; a complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) rate of 24.4%; and a positive correlation between CR/CRi rate and dose levels. In addition, the study observed a low incidence of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) that is comparable to the results of earlier studies.

Prof. Keshu Zhou, MD, at Henan Cancer Hospital and the presenter of this report, commented, "Our report this year has focused on the efficacy, particularly deep responses including the CR/CRi rate and measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity of Chinese patients with R/R CLL who were treated with lisaftoclax monotherapy. Having been treated with a wide spectrum of doses that ranged from 100 to 800 mg, these patients showed a CR/CRi rate of 24.4%. While in long-term follow-up, the study observed a 30-month overall survival (OS) rate of 86.3% that indicated the drug’s potential in bringing long-term survival benefit to patients with CLL." 

Prof. Jianyong Li, MD, at Jiangsu Province Hospital and the principal investigator of the study, noted, "In a series of Phase Ib/II studies carried out in China and overseas, lisaftoclax has demonstrated its strong therapeutic potential, while results from long-term follow-up reaffirmed the high response rate, long-term safety, and long-term survival benefit of lisaftoclax. In the field of CLL, lisaftoclax has made considerable strides towards confirmatory trials. We hope that this Bcl-2 inhibitor will soon have these results validated in larger samples of the broad CLL population and eventually be approved for wide clinical adoption."

Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma, said, "Lisaftoclax is the first Bcl-2 inhibitor that demonstrated clear efficacy in China and the second globally. At this year’s ASH Annual Meeting, we presented encouraging data of lisaftoclax in patients with CLL that reaffirmed the drug’s promising clinical benefit, favorable tolerability, and strong global best-in-class potential. Remaining committed to the mission of the addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will expedite our clinical development programs to bring safe and effective therapies to patients in need."

Highlights of the study presented at ASH 2023:

Updated Efficacy and Safety Results of Lisaftoclax (APG-2575) in Patients (pts) with Heavily Pretreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Pooled Analyses of Two Clinical Trials

Format: Poster Presentation
Abstract: #1900
Session: 642. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Clinical and Epidemiological: Poster I
Time: Saturday, December 9, 2023; 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Pacific Time) / Sunday, December 10, 2023; 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Beijing Time)
Highlights:
Background: Lisaftoclax is a novel selective Bcl-2 inhibitor that has demonstrated antileukemic activity and favorable tolerability in patients with CLL. This poster reported updated data from 14-month follow-up in two Phase Ib/II studies (APG-2575-CN001 [NCT03913949] and APG-2575-CC101 [NCT04494503]) of lisaftoclax in patients with CLL.

Methods: In the 2 studies, lisaftoclax was administered orally once daily in 28-day cycles, in 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg dose cohorts. Under close monitoring for prevention and early detection of TLS, patients were treated (with a daily dose ramp-up schedule) until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or death.

Patients: As of April 27, 2023, a total of 47 patients with CLL were enrolled. The median (range) age was 58 (34-80) years. At enrollment, 53.2% of patients were in Rai stage III/IV, and 48.9% of patients were in Binet stage C. 44.7% of patients had received ≥3 lines of treatment; 66.0% of patients had received ≥2 lines of treatment; 23.4% of patients were previously treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis); and 55.3% were previously treated with a CD20 monoclonal antibody.

Efficacy results: In patients with CLL, the ORR and CR/CRi were 73.3% (33/45) and 24.4% (11/45), respectively, and the CR/CRi rate exhibited an upward trend with increases in dose levels. Among patients who were tested for MRD in peripheral blood, 38.9% (7/18) achieved the MRD-negative status. Among patients who were tested for MRD in bone marrow, 66.7% (4/6) were MRD-negative. The median time (range) to the first response was 2.07 (1.94-3.94) months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 18.53 (95% CI, 9.13-24.05) months, and the rate of OS at month 30 was 86.3% (95% CI, 66.1%-94.9%).

Safety results: In total, 76.6% (36) of patients experienced grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs); 27.7% (13) experienced serious AEs (SAEs). The incidence of treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) was not dose-dependent. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were observed in 95.7% (45) of patients, of whom 68.1% (32) experienced grade ≥3 TRAEs and 14.9% (7) experienced SAEs. One case of TLS was reported. 68.1% (32) of patients discontinued the study because of disease progression (51.1%), patient withdrawal (6.4%), AEs (2.1%), investigator’s decision (2.1%), poor compliance (2.1%), protocol deviation (2.1%), and other reasons (2.1%).

Conclusions: Lisaftoclax demonstrated favorable tolerability and significant efficacy in patients with R/R CLL, and the CR/CRi rate was positively correlated with escalating dose levels.

* Lisaftoclax (APG-2575) is an investigational drug that has not been approved in any country and region.

About Ascentage Pharma
Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Olverembatinib, the company’s core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company’s first approved product, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs, 2 FTDs, and 2 Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Designations from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company’s investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements
The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

Source : Live from ASH 2023 | Ascentage Pharma Releases Encouraging Long-Term Data of Bcl-2 Inhibitor Lisaftoclax in R/R CLL, Including an ORR of 73.3%

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CHONGQING, China, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The 2023 Forbes China Jiefangbei Forum convened on November 28th at InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City in Chongqing’s Yuzhong District. Jointly hosted by Forbes China Group, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, and the People’s Government of Yuzhong District, the theme of the forum was to improve the global competitiveness and international appeal of the Jiefangbei Central Business District (CBD), one of the city’s key economic and financial hubs. This event aligned closely with the city’s roadmap for sustainable economic growth. 

Guozhi Zhang, Vice Mayor of Chongqing’s Municipal People’s Government, delivered an opening remark. She highlighted the CBD’s role as a hallmark of a modern metropolis and its significant contribution to the dynamic expansion of a city’s contemporary industry. Chongqing has been prioritizing the comprehensive development of its "Two Rivers and Four Banks" central urban area, by focusing on global integration, environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and cultural advancement.

Maojun Huang, Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Yuzhong District Committee, described Jiefangbei as one of Chongqing’s landmark areas, noting its status as one of the zones with the densest concentration of high-end industries, the most dynamic economic activities, and the most comprehensive support facilities. He highlighted the district’s commitment to transforming Jiefangbie into a world-renowned business hub, aiming to establish it as a leading destination for international businesses and a center for influential brands.

Frankie Chang, President of Forbes China Group (FCG) asserted that the success of the Jiefangbei CBD is inseparably linked to Chongqing’s strategic vision for sustainable economic growth and development. He said it was an honor for FCG to host such an assembly of top-level executives and representatives from premier international luxury brands, commercial property developers, financial and investment institutions, globally renowned shopping districts, and the top five Chinese banks, as well as experts from the world’s most famous CBDs.

Subsequently, Leira Shan, Director of Commercial Selection at Forbes China, took the stage to present the 2023 Forbes China CBD Competitiveness Selection Result. She provided an insightful analysis of the significant progress being made by Chinese cities, saying that the country’s CBDs are getting more international recognition through improvements in design, functionality, and infrastructure. The release of the ranking, she explained, was intended to establish a fresh standard for evaluating CBDs, showcasing the distinct advantages of China’s CBDs, and offering a useful reference for entrepreneurs, investors, and startups.

Dong Xie, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Yuzhong District Committee and Governor of Yuzhong District Government, provided an overview of Yuzhong District’s economic and cultural evolution, its current status, and plans for future development. He depicted Yuzhong District as the historic bedrock and economic powerhouse of Chongqing, and detailed the strategy to elevate the district’s multifaceted role, advance industry standards, improve quality of life, optimize service levels, and amplify brand recognition.

Jie Li, Vice President of the Price Association of China, Director of the Luxury Brand Research Centre at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and co-founder of the China Europe International Business School and Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, gave a keynote presentation titled "Luxury Industry and CBD Development Prospects in China". He shared insights about the business models of luxury brands, highlighting their preference for achieving sales through physical storefronts in the shopping districts and affluent neighborhoods of the world’s capitals and major urban hubs, as opposed to online platforms.

Guangbin Zhao, Senior Economist at PwC, then delivered a keynote speech titled "China’s Economic Outlook and Consumption Trends in 2024". He pointed out that despite the deceleration of global economic growth, China is poised to face numerous opportunities as it enters a phase of recovery. He explained that with the resurgence of consumer spending and the implementation of additional reform initiatives, the country’s economy is well-positioned for significant advancement.

Lim Hong Kian, CEO of Surbana Jurong Group for North Asia, shared his insights on "Synergistic Development of Urban Complexes and CBDs: Seamless Integration of Livability and Business". He offered a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing urban and industrial development, which included advancing city-industry integration to support urban and industrial growth, embedding zero carbon and sustainability principles in the development of urban complexes and CBDs, enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening urban management through digital transformation, and leveraging available resources to create a conducive living and working environment.

Mr. Lim’s presentation was followed by a roundtable discussion themed "Creating Diversified International CBDs". Moderated by Zijun Guan, Director of New Media Content at Forbes China Group, the session was attended by Mark Shaw, Chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association, Duke Zhen, Managing Director and Head of Retail Services at Cushman & Wakefield China, Alvin Sun, an acclaimed creative director and fashion director, and Xiaoguang Fan, Co-Founder and CEO of V MUSE.

Mr. Shaw said a well-developed, top-tier CBD should offer attributes that invite ongoing exploration, not merely serve as an aggregation of shopping centers and streets. He described it as a comprehensive network encompassing social and digital hubs, zones that preserve and showcase a city’s heritage alongside and areas designed for brand displays, exemplified by Chongqing’s notable culinary scene.

Mr. Zhen said the development of a CBD should begin with the enhancement of its physical infrastructure, and in order to effectively improve the infrastructure, the policies should be tailored to the specific needs of the area. He recommended that the policies should focus on the physical and commercial renovation of buildings within the CBD, and the outdated architectural spaces need to be updated to meet the modern usage requirements.

Mr. Sun said CBDs are significant functional zones that extend beyond consumer and office use, and there are more spaces for artists and creative professionals, such as workspaces, exhibition areas, and venues for collaboration and networking.

Mr. Fan said the development of an international and diverse CBD is intrinsically linked to the cultivation of soft power. Much like a jewelry brand, there is a necessity to engage with more complex challenges through the lens of soft power, and CBDs must similarly explore the dynamics between people and urban spaces.

The afternoon session of the forum commenced with a keynote by Jack Wu, Managing Director of Dunhill China, on "How Luxury Brands and High-end Shopping Districts Can Empower Each Other to Achieve Resilient Growth Together." Mr. Wu detailed Dunhill’s evolutionary journey, its distinctive brand features and strategic orientation. He emphasized the importance for both brands and retail hubs to identify their unique identity – what is often referred to as their DNA, as well as to analyze their customer base and constantly refine their market segmentation, a process crucial for achieving symbiotic success between brands and business districts.

Then there was a fireside chat with Graham Earnshaw, Chief Strategy Officer of FCG, and Vincenzo Carrieri, Asia Pacific Regional Director at Canali Far East. Mr. Earnshaw emphasized that Forbes China has always regarded CBDs as hubs of value, capital, talent and brands, and he shared his observations on Chongqing’s growth trajectory over the years and conveyed his satisfaction with the city’s current level of progress.

Mr. Carrieri said the preferences of Chinese consumers have undergone significant transformation over the past ten years, and they have become increasingly sophisticated and discerning. He emphasized that luxury brands must not only focus on marketing strategies, but also prioritize the quality of the product itself, and they should foster closer collaborations with local governments and shopping centers.

The fireside chat was followed by a series of case studies presentations on some of the world’s most successful business districts, and the presenters included Steven Goh, Executive Director of Orchard Road Business Association; Yuqiang Wang, Director of L’Avenue International Holidings Limited; Zhaofeng Le, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Chunxi Road Fashion and Vitality Zone in Jinjiang District, Chengdu; and Jia Mi, Director of the Management Committee of the Jiefangbei CBD in Chongqing.

Following the session, the management committees of the Jiefangbei CBD and Chengdu Jinjiang District’s Chunxi Road Fashion and Vitality Zone hosted a signing ceremony formalizing the initiative to jointly develop a series of world-class business districts in the two cities, and FCG president Frankie Chang took the stage to present certificates of appreciation to the listees of the 2023 Forbes China CBD Competitiveness Selection.

Finally, executives from top brands, predominantly in international logistics, commercial real estate, luxury hotels, and department store sectors, engaged in a business matchmaking session, which marked the successful conclusion of the forum.

Source : The 2023 Forbes China Jiefangbei Forum: Chongqing's Rising Global Competitiveness and Urban Innovation

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This content was prepared by our news partner, Cision PR Newswire. The opinions and the content published on this page are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Siam News Network