Category: Business

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 22 June 2020 - The theme of the 2020 Tang Prize, "for a world of virtue," is
intended to extol the pursuit of the ultimate goodness taken up by its latest
laureates who demonstrated to us the best one can achieve in the fields of
environmental sustainability, medical science, history and philosophy, and law
and justice. What shine brightly through the current turmoil are their
remarkable achievements, reminding us that only through mutual help and
collaboration can we build a new relationship between human, nature, and
technology, and eventually find a path to the restoration of world order.

 

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of
the Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace and one of the most influential
primatologists today, was awarded the 2020 Tang Prize in Sustainable
Development, "for her ground-breaking discovery in primatology that redefines
human-animal relationship and for her lifelong unparalleled dedication to the
conservation of Earth environment." Her work laid a strong foundation for the
world's march towards a sustainable future. 

 

The prize in Biopharmacuetical Science went
to Charles Dinarello (USA), Marc Feldmann (UK/Australia) and Tadamitsu
Kishimoto (Japan) "for the development of cytokine-targeting biological
therapies for treatment of inflammatory diseases." Their research, lasting
for nearly half a century, has not only made great contributions to basic
science but also showed the potential to help patients suffering from Covid-19.

 

Renowned historian Wang Gungwu won the prize in Sinology, "for his
trailblazing and dissecting insights on the history of the Chinese world order,
Chinese overseas, and Chinese migratory experience. As the leading scholar on
Sino-Southeast Asian historical relations, he developed a unique approach to
understanding China by scrutinizing its long and complex relation with its
southern neighbors. His erudition and critical discernment have significantly
enriched the explanation of China's changing place in the world, traditionally
developed from an internalist perspective or in relation to the West."

 

Three NGOs, Bangladesh
Environmental Lawyers Association from Bangladesh, Dejusticia: The Center for
Law, Justice and Society from Colombia, and The Legal Agenda from Lebanon, were
named joint winners of the prize in Rule of Law, "for their efforts in
furthering the rule of law and its institutions through education and advocacy.
Utilizing innovative strategic litigation, informed by rigorous scholarship,
these organizations have shown exemplary perseverance in promoting greater
individual, social and environmental justice, in milieus where the foundations
of the rule of law are under severe challenge."   

 

Established
by Taiwanese entrepreneur Dr. Samuel Yin, the biannual Tang Prize consists of
four categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science,
Sinology and Rule of Law, with NT$ 40 million (approx. US$1.33 million) in cash
prize and a research grant of NT$ 10 million (approx. US$ 0.33 million)
allocated to each category. Through promoting the interaction and cooperation
between culture and technology, it aims to find a 21^st century path
to the sustainable development of the world. For more information, please visit
the prize's official website at https://www.tang-prize.org/en/first.php

About Tang Prize

Dr. Samuel Yin, chairman of Ruentex Group,
founded the Tang Prize in December of 2012 as an extension of the supreme value
his family placed on education. Harkening back to the golden age of the Tang
Dynasty in Chinese history, the Tang Prize seeks to be an inspiring force for
people working in all corners of the world. For more information on the Tang
Prize and its laureates, please visit www.tang-prize.org

• Repeated immunisation with PD01A is safe and well-tolerated over
  an extended time period
• Active immunisation with PD01A resulted in a substantial aSyn-specific
  antibody response and memory effect
• This antibody response was associated with a substantial reduction
  in CSF oligomeric aSyn protein
• Results represent long-term data from a first-in-human study
  series using specific active immunotherapy (SAIT) AFFITOPE® PD01A

 

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - EQS Newswire - June 22, 2020 - AFFiRiS AG, a clinical-stage biotechnology company
developing novel disease-modifying specific active immunotherapies (SAITs),
today announced that detailed results of the phase 1 clinical program with its lead
candidate PD01 in early Parkinson's disease (PD) patients were published in the
peer-reviewed journal The Lancet Neurology (https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30136-8). The results of the long-term phase 1 trial series
demonstrated that repeated immunisation with PD01A is safe and well-tolerated over
an extended period of time. The data showed that active immunisation with PD01A
leads to a positive antibody response specific for alpha-synuclein
(aSyn), a protein that is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's
disease. Active immunisation also resulted in a substantial reduction (mean of
51%) in the levels of aSyn oligomers in the CSF of patients who received the
high dose therapy, which is interpreted as a sign of in vivo target
engagement.

 

Extensive
evidences support the role of soluble aSyn oligomers as a causative factor in
the development of Parkinson's disease and reducing the levels of aSyn
oligomers could potentially have disease-modifying benefit in PD patients.

 

In the trial,
the patients were randomised to receive four immunisations with two different doses
of AFFiRiS' drug candidate and were followed for at least 3.5 years to assess
the safety of the PD01A immunotherapeutic. In particular, this was the first
study to assess the feasibility and safety of a specific active immunotherapy
against aSyn.

 

The results
of this phase 1 study demonstrated that immunisation with PD01A is safe when
repeatedly administered and was well-tolerated over an extended time period. With
the exception of expected local injection site reactions, most AEs were
considered unrelated to study treatment. No patient discontinued due to
treatment emergent adverse events. Immunisation resulted in a significant
increase in IgG antibody against the immunizing AFFITOPE® PD01 peptide already
after three priming injections with a maximum titre being achieved at Week 12. This
led to a specific humoral immune response against the aSyn target epitope.
Moreover, the priming immunisations resulted in a substantial memory effect for
the aSyn target epitope as evidenced by the reactivation and augmentation of
the antibody response following booster immunizations. This resulted in the
persistence of the immune response until study end.

 

Although the study was not designed and not powered to evaluate clinical
efficacy, clinical
signals of efficacy were observed. In particular, MDS-UPDRS motor scores were
generally stable across the study series, in contrast to published data which
reports a worsening in MDS-UPDRS scores in a similar patient population.

 

"The PD01A safety profile and the substantial
sustained aSyn antibody response targeting both the toxic oligomeric and
fibrillar form of aSyn, which are believed to contribute to the pathology of PD,
may offer a promising
strategy for long-term management of PD, addressing an urgent medical need,"
said Dieter Volc MD, principal
investigator of the study series and Head of the Parkinson Center at the Privatklinik
Confraternitaet, Vienna.

 

"The encouraging results, including signals for
clinical efficacy, warrant the further development of our drug for the
treatment of PD in a phase 2 clinical trial," commented Noel
Barrett, Ph.D., AFFiRiS's Chief Executive Officer. "Potentially, specific active immunization
approaches such as with PD01A might overcome the limitations of passive antibody
infusion approaches for PD, caused by their short in vivo half-lives, and circumvent frequent and high treatment
costs by stimulating a self-produced, long-lasting immune reaction."

 

The data
published in Lancet Neurology is the first report of an active anti-aSyn
immunotherapy associated with reduction of CSF aSyn oligomers in PD patients
and points to the possible development of this protein as a potential biomarker
for disease progression.

 

The phase 1
trial was
supported by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. A phase 2 trial in early-stage Parkinson's
disease patients is in preparation and expected to start in the second half of
2020, depending on the emerging COVID-19 situation.

 

About
the Phase 1 clinical trial study:

The study was a
patient-blinded, single-centre, randomised, first-in-human study followed by
three consecutive extensions. 24 Parkinson's disease patients were randomised
to receive four immunisations with either 15μg or 75μg PD01A and were followed
for at least 3.5 years. For the first booster injection, patients were
re-randomised to receive PD01A doses of 15μg or 75μg. All patients received a
second booster injection of 75μg. The primary objective was to assess the
safety of the PD01A immunotherapeutic. These studies were registered at EudraCT
(2011-002650-31, 2013-001774-20, 2014-002489-54 and 2015-004854-16). 

 

About
AFFITOPE® PD01:

AFFITOPE® PD01 is AFFiRiS'
novel immunotherapy candidate for the treatment of early-stage Parkinson's
disease patients. PD01 is a synthetically produced alpha-synuclein
(aSyn)-mimicking peptide-based specific active immunotherapy (SAIT), identified
by the AFFiRiS' AFFITOME® technology, that targets the protein aSyn. This
protein has been identified as playing a key role in the onset and progression
of Parkinson's disease.

 

About Parkinson's
disease:

Parkinson´s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative
disorder after Alzheimer's disease and the most common neurodegenerative
movement disease.  It
affects approximately 1% of the population above the age of 60, about 7-10
million people worldwide. PD is a chronic progressive disorder, defined by
a combination of motoric and non-motoric syndromes. The hallmark of the disease
is a substantial loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain accompanied by
accumulations of filamentous protein inclusions predominantly composed of alpha
Synuclein (aSyn). Evidence suggests that the misfolding of the aSyn protein
causes inflammation, synaptic dysfunction and finally neuronal cell death.
Current therapies target symptoms but fail to modify the underlying neurodegeneration.
In addition, these therapies result in varying degrees of side effects, and
their beneficial effects diminish over time.

About AFFiRiS AG:

AFFiRiS is a
clinical-stage biotechnology company located in Vienna, Austria, with a vision of using the immune system to identify and target human
proteins central to the development and progression of neurodegenerative
diseases, based on its proprietary patented AFFITOME® technology. The Company's
ultimate goal is to improve the lives of patients suffering from these diseases
by providing disease-modifying specific active immunotherapies (SAIT). With its
lead candidate AFFITOPE® PD01, AFFiRiS is the leader in active immunotherapies
for Parkinson's disease. AFFiRiS' programs against multiple system atrophy,
dementia with Lewy bodies, and chorea Huntington are in pre-clinical
development.

 

For further
information, please visit www.affiris.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

 

About SAIT:
https://affiris.com/approach/#overview-of-sait

About neurodegenerative diseases:
https://affiris.com/neurodegenerative-diseases

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 21 June 2020 - Three NGOs were named joint
winners of the 2020 Tang Prize in Rule of Law, "for their efforts in furthering
the rule of law and its institutions through education and advocacy. Utilizing
innovative strategic litigation, informed by rigorous scholarship, these
organizations have shown exemplary perseverance in promoting greater
individual, social and environmental justice, in milieus where the foundations
of the rule of law are under severe challenge." For the first time since its
establishment in 2012, the Tang Prize was awarded to organizations. It is a
decision the significance of which cannot be underestimated.  

The three new Tang Prize laureates are:
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (hereafter "BELA") from
Bangladesh, Dejusticia: The Center for Law, Justice and Society (hereafter
"Dejusticia") from Colombia, and The Legal Agenda from Lebanon. They share
four key features. First of all, they are under the conditions where the
foundations of the rule of law are under great challenges; secondly, they are
committed to promoting, to improving and to furthering the rule of law and its
institutions; thirdly, they utilize strategic litigations that are based on
solid academic research, pushing for governmental actions to serve the law's
purpose to protect; finally, they are all dedicated to advancing the general
public's understanding of the rule of law through education and advocacy,
pushing forward the idea that everyone can contribute to the realization of the
rule of law.     

 

Established in 1992, BELA works under adverse
conditions where poor environmental quality and governmental corruptions
continue to ravage the country. While the general public reflects a distrust of
legal authorities, BELA promotes the rule of law and environmental justice through
public interest litigations, legislative advocacy, research and publication, as
well as capacity-building for actors both in the public sector and civil
society. Their innovative approaches to the Bangladesh Constitution has enabled
them to interlink environmental pollutions with the threats to people's
well-being. By successfully persuaded the domestic courts to recognize its
legal standings on behalf of the people afflicted by environmental degradation,
BELA established the path for public interest litigations in Bangladesh. Its
initiative has a far-reaching effect of setting a goal for other social
activists in Bangladesh to strive for.   

Ever since the first public interest
litigation in 1994, BELA has conducted more than 250 public interest lawsuits
and advocated for legislative reform for environmental justice. Issues drawn
within its ambit ranged as widely as river pollution, industrial pollution,
vehicular pollution, illegal construction, labor welfare, illegal mining,
reduction of plastic use, wetland protection and prevention of pollution from
shipbreaking.  

 

In 2017, BELA filed a petition with evidence
and argued that pollution and encroachment of the canals are the main causes of
the growing water logging problem in the capital Dhaka. As a consequence, the
Supreme Court of Bangladesh ordered the government to submit a plan for the
recovery and restoration of Dhaka's 50 canals. Furthermore, the Court issued a
rule stipulating that the respondent authorities should explain their inaction to
protect the canals. It has since become a classic case in Bangladesh legal
history.

Founded in 2005, Dejusticia is a
Colombian-based research and advocacy organization with most members being
leading legal scholars and practitioners on human rights, constitutional law
and transitional justice. Though situated in a country haunted by a tumultuous
past and plagued by various contemporary struggles, Dejusticia firmly believes
that academic research can substantively contribute to social justice and lead
to social reform. Through campaigning, publishing and litigating persistently,
they have devoted great effort to safeguard human rights, notably filing and
winning landmark cases concerning sensitive issues such as anti-discrimination
(race and gender), the rights of indigenous people and refugees, as well as
environmental degradation.  

Dejusticia had famously supported a group of
25 young plaintiffs in their lawsuit against the Colombian government, in which
the Organization argued that the ongoing deforestation in the Amazon has
violated the youths' constitutional rights. In 2018, Colombian Supreme Court
recognized the Amazon as an entity subject of rights, and subsequently ruled
that the government bears the obligation to protect, conserve and restore the
Amazon. Therefore, the government should take urgent action to stem the forest
degradation caused by illegal logging. Failing to do so is tantamount to an
infringement of the Amazon's rights and the right to a healthy environment of
both present and future generations in Colombia. Through litigations,
Dejusticia laid bare the impacts of deforestation in Colombia has on climate
change, as well as its close connection to people's entitled rights to life and
health. The winning verdict ultimately set the legal precedent in Latin
America.         

 

Since its establishment in 2009, The Legal
Agenda has managed to operate against the backdrop of an influx of refugees,
corruption and the public's pervasive distrust of the judicial organs. The
Organization has successfully strengthened judicial independence and the rule
of law in Lebanon through a multidisciplinary approach that is built on
researching and monitoring the judiciary; helping in forming a club for judges
to consolidate their independence from political interference; preparing a
draft law for the independence of the judiciary and building support for it;
promoting social debates and public support for judicial independence. The
Legal Agenda intends to transform the general public's opinion from being
skeptical of the justice system to being willing to pursue legal avenues to
defend the rights of their own and others'. In doing so, The Legal Agenda
focuses on helping the people become more receptive to the process of
capacity-building on legal knowledge, a process which can sharpen the public
awareness of using legal means to change the Arab societies and to improve the
people's living standards. 

 

In addition, The Legal Agenda spoke up for
marginalized groups and achieved major legal precedents in order to advance the
legal protection for migrant workers, refugees, the LGBT community, and the
families of the victims of forced disappearance. To broaden the public's
knowledge of the rule of law and strengthen their legal defense, The Legal
Agenda also developed model defenses as guidelines when it comes to vulnerable
groups' vindication. Its pioneering approach has expanded beyond Lebanon to
other Arab countries, notably in Tunisia where it has set up an office.  

 

Established
by Taiwanese entrepreneur Dr. Samuel Yin, the biannual Tang Prize consists of
four categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science,
Sinology and Rule of Law, with NT$ 40 million (approx. US$1.3 million) in cash
prize and a research grant of NT$ 10 million (approx. US$ 0.33 million)
allocated to each category. It aims to promote the interaction and cooperation
between culture and technology so as to find a 21^st century path to
the sustainable development of the world. For more information, please visit
the prize's official website at https://www.tang-prize.org/en/first.php

About Tang Prize

Dr.
Samuel Yin, chairman of Ruentex Group, founded the Tang Prize in December of
2012 as an extension of the supreme value his family placed on education.
Harkening back to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty in Chinese history, the
Tang Prize seeks to be an inspiring force for people working in all corners of
the world. For more information on the Tang Prize and its laureates, please
visit www.tang-prize.org

TAIPEI,
TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 20 June
2020 - The 2020 Tang Prize in Sinology was awarded to renowned historian Wang
Gungwu "for his trailblazing and dissecting insights on the history of the
Chinese world order, Chinese overseas, and Chinese migratory experience. As the
leading scholar on Sino-Southeast Asian historical relations, he developed a
unique approach to understanding China by scrutinizing its long and complex
relation with its southern neighbors. His erudition and critical discernment
have significantly enriched the explanation of the Chinese people's changing
place in the world, traditionally developed from an internalist perspective or
in relation to the West."

 

Born in
Surabaya in the Dutch East Indies (today's Indonesia) in 1930 to Chinese
parents, Prof. Wang grew up and received education in British Malaya, and later
pursued advanced studies in London, where he got a PhD degree from SOAS, the
University of London in 1957. His subsequent academic appointments brought him
to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States. He was
president of the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995, a visiting fellow
at Oxford's All Souls College, a Rockefeller visiting fellow at the University
of London and recipient of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in
1991. Currently, he is university professor at the National University of
Singapore. 

Spending much
of his life immersed in different cultures gives Prof. Wang diverse personae as
a scholar. He is an "insider" in the academic tradition of Chinese Confucianism
and British elite education, and an "outsider" in the interpretation of China's
perception of the world. "What drew me to that subject (Chinese overseas) was
what China meant to the world outside, especially to those Chinese who had left
the country and settled abroad," so remarked Prof. Wang in his memoir, Home Is Not Here. His original approach
to understanding China from the southern perspective is in part a natural
choice given his personal experience. This same experience provided him with
abundant inspiration in his formative years as he matured into an authoritative
voice in the analysis of China's worldview.

 

The terms
"Chinese overseas" or "Chinese immigrants" refer to words such as hua qiao (Chinese expatriates) commonly
seen in Chinese-language newspapers. The word qiao is defined as people who lodge in places or countries other
than their ethnic origin. Qiao first
appeared in Wei Shu (The Book of Wei)
and Jin Shu (The Book of Jin),
written during the period of China's Six Dynasties, and referred to sojourning
in a foreign land. However, when reality forced Chinese migrants to extend
their stay, their sojourn turned into long or even permanent residence, and
what changed was their sense of identity. Enlightened by his family and
educational background, Prof. Wang knows too well that the development of an
identification is more an emotional process than a rational decision. In
addition, because one's identity implicates one's psychological state, it can
undergo a transformation whenever one's circumstances change. Therefore, there
is never a clear-cut answer when it comes to identity. Prof. Wang, taking
advantage of his western academic training, is able to look beyond dichotomous
concepts. Instead, he explores the concepts by tracing the history of qiao and eventually came up with the
idea known as "Chinese overseas." 

 

His many books, written with first-hand life experience and
erudition on Southeast Asian history as well as sophisticated analysis of the
role of the Chinese in the region past and present, are now classics in the
field. Among dozens of pioneering works he has published, there are A Short History of the Nanyang Chinese
(1959), The Structure of Power in North
China During the Five Dynasties (1963), The
Chinese Overseas: From Earthbound China to the Quest for Autonomy (2000),
and Renewal: The Chinese State and the
New Global History (2013).

Prof. Wang's research is an integration of a variety of histories,
including the history of Chinese overseas, of China's relation with the outside
world, of Southeast Asia, and of commerce and maritime history. Examining
shifting world orders with a sophisticated mind is what puts him in the
vanguard of Chinese overseas studies. Prof. Kuo-Tung Chen, research fellow of
the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, pointed out that Prof.
Wang's academic achievements are characterized by his ability to "look at the
big picture, reference the present with the past, and put forward his original
views," which has allowed him to develop a panoramic view of the history of
China and of the Chinese overseas. Together with Prof. Yu Ying-Shih, inaugural
Tang Prize laureate in Sinology and academician at Academia Sinica, Prof. Wang
is also widely recognized among the top living authorities on Chinese history.

 

Established by Taiwanese entrepreneur Dr. Samuel Yin, the biannual Tang
Prize consists of four categories, namely Sustainable Development,
Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology and Rule of Law, with NT$40 million
(approx. US$1.33 million) in cash and a research grant of NT$10 million
(approx. US$0.33 million) allocated to each category. It aims to promote the
interaction and cooperation between cultural and technological research so as
to find a 21^st century path to the sustainable development of the
world. For more information, please visit the prize's official website at https://www.tang-prize.org/en/first.php

About Tang Prize

Dr. Samuel Yin, chairman of Ruentex Group, founded
the Tang Prize in December of 2012 as an extension of the supreme value his
family placed on education. Harkening back to the golden age of the Tang
Dynasty in Chinese history, the Tang Prize seeks to be an inspiring force for
people working in all corners of the world. For more information on the Tang
Prize and its laureates, please visit www.tang-prize.org

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 19 June 2020 - The 8th "Xinhui Yamen Gudou Crab Festival" will be held from 20 June to 20 August in Xinhui Gudou Hot Spring Town, which is familiar to many Hong Kong people. This year's festival will kick off with the jolly and fun "Crab Party at Planet Galaxy Beach".

 

Xinhui Yamen Fishing Port is one of the eight major fishing ports in Guangdong. The aquaculture in both saltwater and freshwater makes the local seafood exceptionally delicious. Crabs are in season from April to August every year, attracting gourmets from Hong Kong, Macau and the rest of the Pearl River Delta to Yamen. The "Xinhui Yamen Gudou Crab Festival" has become Xinhui City's annual special festival that draws many tourists to the Xinhui Yamen Gudou Hot Spring Town.

 

Gudou crabs are noted for their delicious and smooth meat, so much so that crab congee, steamed crabs, a stew of white gourd and crabs and a stew of free-range chicken and crabs are the locals' favourite dishes and are also very popular among foodies. In this year's Crab Festival, a programme of exciting events will be arranged and they can be enjoyed at discounts. "Crab Party at Planet Galaxy Beach" will be held as the kick-off ceremony on June 20 at Gudou Planet Galaxy Beach, which is a tourist spot popular among many internet celebrities. You will be able to enjoy the crazy games and fantastic performances to your heart's content.

To celebrate the annual Xinhui Yamen Gudou Crab Festival, Gudou Holdings Co., Ltd., a well-known operator of hot spring resorts and hotels and developer of tourism properties, will offer the following packages at discounts:

 

One-Day Family Tour "Planet Galaxy Beach + Crab Feast"                           from RMB198 per person

One-Day Tour "Hot Spring in Hot Spring Valley + Crab Feast"                     from RMB 288 per person

Two-Day Deluxe Family Tour Package

"Planet Galaxy Beach + Waterpark + Crab Feast"                                           from RMB 520 per person

"Crab Party at Planet Galaxy Beach"                                                               from RMB 699 for two people

 

Festival Details

Event: The 8^th Xinhui Yamen Gudou Crab Festival

Dates: 20 June 2020 -- 30 August 2020

Venue: Gudou Hot Spring Town

Host: Xinhui Tourism Association

"Crab Party at Planet Galaxy Beach" to be held on 20 June 2020

 

Exciting Events

-       Tour of "Planet Galaxy Beach" Waterpark

Ecological sightseeing tour of Yinhu Bay wetland allows you to drink in the scenery of beautiful countryside. You can also take selfies at the hot spot "Crab World".

-       Crab Beach Wild Party

You can participate in games such as "Crab Race", "Crab Hunter Shooting Game", ring game called "The Warrant to Arrest Boss Crab " and "Find and Catch Crabs with Excavators".

-       Crab 101 Quiz on WeChat (with prizes)

-       "DOU" Crab Dance Contest Organized by TikTok

-       Savouring dishes of crabs recommended by internet celebrities

About Gudou Holdings Limited

Gudou Holdings is a hot spring resort and hotel operator and a tourism property developer in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). It principally engages in the operation and management of the hot spring resorts and hotels  at Gudou Hot Spring Resort, and the development and sale of tourism properties at Gudou Hot Spring Resort. The "Gudou" brand is a well-known brand of integrated hot spring resort in the PRC. It operates six theme hotel complexes with a variety of leisure and recreational attractions, including hot spring facilities, hotels, shops, eateries, a water park, a spa centre, a conference centre, parks, tourist attractions and other ancillary leisure and recreational facilities.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 19 June 2020
- Charles Dinarello (US), Marc Feldmann (UK/Australia) and Tadamitsu
Kishimoto (Japan) were announced joint winners of the 2020 Tang Prize in Biopharmacuetical Science
today (June 19) "for the development of cytokine-targeting biological therapies
for treatment of inflammatory diseases." 

Adding to Dr. Kishimoto's joy of winning the
prize with old friends Dr. Feldmann and Dr. Dinarello is the fact that the
basic research they spent almost a century on has made a positive contribution
to medical science and has even showed the potential to help patients suffering
from Covid-19.

How can medications that treat inflammatory
diseases also be used to combat Covid-19? Many patients with severe Covid-19
can be affected by the so-called "cytokine storm syndrome." A cytokine storm is
also an inflammatory reaction which occurs when the body's immune system goes
awry and releases an excess of cytokines that not only attack invaders but also
start to set upon healthy cells, causing damage to body tissues and organs.
Covid-19 is not the only disease that can turn our immune systems against ourselves.
Another immune disorder which may cause serious complications and could be
fatal is "autoimmune disease," a type of inflammatory disease that can wreak
mayhem in the daily life of 5-10% of the global population. 

When little was known about cytokines, these
three scientists carried out groundbreaking research which revealed their
crucial roles as inflammatory mediators. Tumor necrosis factors (TNF),
interleukin-1(IL-1) and interleukin-6(IL-6) are among the most investigated
cytokines by the scientific community and biologics targeting them are among
the most widely used biopharmaceuticals. The Tang Prize awardees have all made
transformative contributions to the discovery and/or therapeutic development
targeting these three cytokines. 

Despite its name, the main job of tumor
necrosis factors, as was found out later, is to regulate immune cells. Dr. Marc
Feldmann, professor at the University of Oxford, was interested in the study of
rheumatoid arthritis, which is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in
the world. Dr. Feldmann was the first to demonstrate that diseased joints of
those with rheumatoid arthritis have far more pro-inflammatory cytokines than
normal, and identified TNF as the key one. After overcoming considerable
skepticism, he finally convinced a pharmaceutical company to work with him and
successfully developed an anti-TNF antibody that proved very effective against
rheumatoid arthritis. The remarkable advance they made in the treatment of
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases thus enabled patients debilitated by this
degenerative condition to regain control of their lives.

IL-1 was the first cytokine to be identified
and shown to be a central mediator of inflammation. Dr. Charles Dinarello,
currently professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, is considered
one of the founding fathers of cytokines and credited with the discovery and
purification of the protein IL-1b, as well as cloning the gene encoded on it.
Subsequently, another related protein was identified by other groups and named
IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), which can block the biological activity of
IL-1. A recombinant version of IL-1Ra was developed for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis and later received FDA approval. These clinical
achievements established IL-1 as potent mediators of fever and inflammation,
led to the development of therapeutics for this important cytokine, and support
Dr. Dinarello's contributions to cytokine biology and the pathogenesis of
inflammatory diseases.  

Dr. Tadamitsu Kishimoto, professor at Osaka
University, discovered and cloned IL-6, a cytokine that regulates antibody
production. His group later identified and cloned its receptor and demonstrated
the involvement of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases.
He then prepared a monoclonal anti-IL-6 receptor antibody and helped conduct
large-scale trials on the efficacy and safety of the antibody in patients with
rheumatoid arthritis as well as children with juvenile arthritis. Dr.
Kishimoto's work transformed the cytokine field and converted it from
descriptive biology to modern molecular science and medicine. His work has also
led to major clinical breakthroughs and development of new therapeutics for
severe multi-organ chronic diseases. The contributions of Dr. Kishimoto
encompass basic discovery, hypothesis forming, drug discovery and clinical
translation, a true bench to bedside example.

In summary, the pioneering work of Drs.
Feldmann, Dinarello and Kishimoto led to the development of biopharmaceuticals
that have brought relief to millions of people tormented by autoimmune or
inflammatory diseases.

All three cytokines are critically involved
in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. Of special note is their critical
roles in cytokine storms caused by Covid-19. Since biologics targeting the
three cytokines respectively can inhibit cytokine actions, they have been
either used successfully to treat cytokine storms in Covid-19 patients or are
being investigated as a therapy, giving people much to hope for, at a time when
the pandemic continues to rip through the planet. 

Established
by Taiwanese entrepreneur Dr. Samuel Yin, the biannual Tang Prize consists of
four categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science,
Sinology and Rule of Law, with NT$ 40 million (approx. US$1.3 million) in cash
prize and a research grant of NT$ 10 million (approx. US$0.33 million)
allocated to each category. It aims to promote the interaction and cooperation
between culture and technology so as to find a 21^st century path to
the sustainable development of the world. For more information, please visit
the prize's official website at https://www.tang-prize.org/en/first.php

About Tang Prize

Dr.
Samuel Yin, chairman of Ruentex Group, founded the Tang Prize in December of
2012 as an extension of the supreme value his family placed on education.
Harkening back to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty in Chinese history, the
Tang Prize seeks to be an inspiring force for people working in all corners of
the world. For more information on the Tang Prize and its laureates, please
visit www.tang-prize.org

Launched at Amazon's first Singapore Seller Summit, the Seller University is the latest initiative announced by Amazon to help local small and medium retailers unlock growth opportunities through online selling

 

SINGAPORE
- Media OutReach - 19 June 2020 - (NASDAQ:AMZN) - Amazon today launched Seller University, an online education portal, for small
and medium businesses (SMBs) in Singapore at its first Amazon
Singapore Online Seller Summit 2020.
With interactive
eLearning content, sellers on Amazon.sg can access live practice opportunities and personalized support to
better operate on Amazon's store.

 

The inaugural virtual Seller Summit drew 1,300 participants
and saw industry leaders from Amazon, Enterprise Singapore, and OCBC Bank
discuss retail trends, growth opportunities, and offer insights on how SMBs can
expand their businesses to reach more customers locally and globally.

 

"Sellers' success is our success. We are heartened to
see the overwhelming participation from local businesses at our first ever
Seller Summit in Singapore. This is an encouraging milestone and we are
committed to supporting local businesses for the long term, with new programs such
as Seller University to help in their digital transformation journey,"
said Bernard Tay, Country Leader, Amazon.sg Seller Services and Head of Amazon
Global Selling Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

 

New
resources for retailers on Amazon

The launch of Amazon's Seller University offers
sellers a series of rich educational content such as complimentary training
videos and online tools to educate businesses on how to sell on Amazon.sg. Sellers
will be able to learn how to create effective product listings faster, master
the key tools and applications for selling online, benefit from Amazon's tools
such as Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), advertising, promotions, and more. The Seller
Central feature is also part of this offering and will provide sellers with personalized
recommendations on programs and features to accelerate their growth.

 

https://sellercentral.amazon.sg/learn/

 

Amazon has progressively launched new resources to
help sellers since the launch of Amazon.sg in October 2019. For instance, Amazon
introduced the Amazon Seller App for sellers with accounts on Amazon.sg to easily
track sales and manage their business via mobile. To empower sellers to build
and nurture their businesses online, Amazon rolled out its Marketplace Appstore,
a one-stop shop to discover third-party applications and services for automating
tedious business aspects, and the Seller Forum, a resource for first-hand
advice from fellow business owners on selling with Amazon.

 

Ecommerce
Booster Package with Enterprise Singapore to bring retailers online

As part of the event's keynote presentation,
Enterprise Singapore detailed the support available for local retailers and its
partnership with Amazon for the Ecommerce booster package.

 

To date, Amazon has on board over hundreds of new
retailers to sell online on its marketplace. The one-time grant from Enterprise
Singapore of up to S$9,000 per retailer can be used to subsidize content
development, product listing, channel management, fulfilment, advertising and
promotion, trainings and workshops for local retailers to enhance their
eCommerce capabilities and reach more customers. This is in addition to the benefits
of Amazon's promotional campaigns, data analysis of sales, and access to
training workshops and 200 innovative tools to help retailers manage their
businesses effectively on Amazon.

 

The role of
digital in navigating difficult and uncertain COVID-19 conditions

OCBC's keynote speech explored how SMBs can emerge
stronger and more resilient post COVID-19. During this period, Amazon has also teamed
up with OCBC to offer the first 200 eligible OCBC SMB customers, who sign up
with Amazon through the package, S$1,500 in Amazon Web Service (AWS) credit.

 

Melvyn Low, Head of Global Transaction Banking,
OCBC Bank, said: "It is critical for businesses to adapt, pivot and transform,
and digital will play a big role in this. We have been helping businesses
change the way they buy, sell and operate through our partnerships with key
enablers such as Amazon. The Amazon Singapore Online Seller Summit 2020 has
been a great opportunity to exchange such ideas and experiences as we journey
together to a new reality."

 

Unleashing business potential by
selling locally and globally with Amazon

The inaugural Singapore Seller Summit also featured
a panel discussion from online retailers Brightdezigns, KeaBabies, Megadi, Rui Smiths
and The Soap Haven on their experience of growing their business online and
finding success from selling on Amazon. The retailers shared about how they
have leveraged Amazon's global footprint and its logistics and inventory
solutions to expand beyond local shores and serve customers globally -- all from
the comfort and safety of their homes.

 

To learn more about the millions of small and medium-sized
businesses growing with Amazon, visit: aboutamazon.com/supporting-small-businesses. More information
about selling on Amazon can be found here: https://www.amazon.sg/sell.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession
rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational
excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping,
personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon,
AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo,
and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For
more information, visit Amazon.sg.

Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) gear up for another year to empower young, budding designers of Asia Pacific

 

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 19 June 2020 - Organised by Nippon Paint, the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA), will see its 13th year of empowering young, budding designers to be agents of change by creating a positive impact, through design, within their communities. Held annually, student participants go through a rigorous selection process to proudly represent their countries for the grand title of Asia Young Designer of the Year 2019/20 at an international level. Despite the Covid-19 outbreak, AYDA pushes boundaries to continue nurturing designers for a better future.

Last year saw architect Tanay Bothara from India take his place at the gold spot in the Architectural Category with his award-winning project that saw him spend six weeks attending the Design Discovery Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design; an entire experience worth USD10,000 fully sponsored by Nippon Paint, as part of his winning prize, setting the stage for more to come this July.

 

Tanay Bothara attending the Design Discovery Program at Harvard GSD with his course mates

 

Tanay was able to attain a life goal following his gold achievement at the AYDA 2018/19 - to make it to Harvard University's Graduate School of Design 'Design Discovery Program'. "During my time at Harvard University's GSD, I personally had the chance to design a unique civic centre project, which provided me with rare insights from design experts from around the world. It was a great learning opportunity and I'm glad my journey landed me here. I encourage students to take part in AYDA to be able to experience what I have been able to. All it takes is the courage to pursue the competition knowing you have nothing to lose and only so much to gain," said Tanay Bothara, Asia Young Designer of the Year 2018/19 (Architectural Category).

 

AYDA 2018/19 saw Tanay channel humanitarian ideals with his award-winning project "Children Uprooted". The architect achieved his personal goal of making a noteworthy contribution that will positively impact lives around the world as he showcased an attempt to recover the lost childhood of the Syrian children as he re-adapted war-torn spaces into playgrounds while strengthening colour, warmth and normalcy in a socially conscious process.

Children Uprooted, a humanitarian project by Tanay Bothara

 

In 2018, Nippon Paint announced the establishment of the Gennosuke Obata Fellowship Fund at the Harvard GSD - a fund that has been providing financial aid to GSD students from Asian countries for the past two years. This partnership brings an additional program that rewards the Regional Winners of AYDA a 6-weeks all-expense paid experience at the prestigious school. Nippon Paint is connected to Harvard GSD's alumni around the world to make way for more collaboration between the prestigious school and AYDA.

 

Since its inception, AYDA has engaged more than hundreds of industry professionals in Asia Pacific to mentor the student participants and expose them to first-hand knowledge in the industry. Participants will also receive coaching and attend skill-building workshops to better prepare them for the upcoming virtual competition held on July 8th and 9th this year, where finalists will present their finest works to a panel of judges to be the next Asia Young Designer of 2019/20.

 

"Nippon Paint conceptualised AYDA as part of the brand's inclusive business project to empower and groom budding architects and interior designers across Asia and we are very proud to have been able to showcase the extraordinary pool of talents we come across throughout the years with AYDA. Following the 2019 A Sustainable Future theme that set the motion for aspiring designers to bring to life a sustainable future, we're eager to see what will be brought to the table for 2020's Human-centred Design theme," said Wee Siew Kim, Group CEO of NIPSEA Management Company Pte. Ltd. (Subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings Co.)

 

Despite the outbreak of Covid-19 and with safety measurements in mind, Nippon Paint has made the call to present this year's awards via a virtual ceremony attended by international judges and esteemed finalists representing their country for the grand title of categories in AYDA. The event will see finalists present their award-winning work to an esteemed panel of judges in the Interior Design Category and Architectural Category on the 8th and 9th of July respectively. The finalists will also engage in a 10-minutes Q&A session with the judges and two of the 26 finalists will walk away with the grand title of each category.

 

The initiative by Nippon Paint will also organise international webinars where professionals from the industry and young designers are able to bring their knowledge and talents together.

 

Since founded in 2008, AYDA has grown exponentially since - garnering more than 35,000 entries from more than 1,200 tertiary educational institutions across 15 geographical locations that recognises Asia Young Designers around the world and also offers sub-award prizes in each category:

• Nippon Paint Colour Award - USD1k
• Best Design Impact Award - USD 1k
• Best Sustainable Design Award - USD1k

About the Asia Young Designer Awards

The Asia Young Designer Awards ("AYDA") was first launched in 2008 as part of Nippon Paint's vision to nurture the next generation of design talents. The event serves as a platform to inspire architectural and interior design students to develop their skills through cross-learning opportunities and networking with key industry players as well as fellow architectural and interior design peers in the region.

AYDA has since grown in terms of reach and stature and has now established itself as one of Asia's premier design award across 15 geographical locations namely Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam with further expansion plans in the pipeline.

Over the years, AYDA has impacted thousands of young and talented student designers, presenting them with various opportunities to engage with renowned speakers and key figures in the design industry. Not only has the exposure enabled the participants to gain first hand industry knowledge, personalised coaching, mentoring and skill-building through various workshops by experienced lecturers, they also learn from their fellow peers from across borders.

With that, AYDA has established a close-knit design community comprising professional architects, interior designers, industry associations, partners, design schools, alumni and design students.

AYDA welcomes all applications and those shortlisted will be notified. For more information, please visit https://www.asiayoungdesignerawards.com/.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 19 June 2020 -
PSB Academy (PSBA), one of
Singapore's leading private education institutions, have pledged to
renew partnerships with Australian universities The University of Newcastle,
Australia (UON) and La Trobe University (LTU), to continue to offer select undergraduate
and postgraduate programmes in Singapore for another five years.

From top left clockwise:

Professor Sally Chan, Pro
Vice-Chancellor (Singapore) and Chief Executive Officer, University of
Newcastle Singapore

Dr Charles Ong, Head of
School of Life and Physical Sciences, PSB Academy

Derrick Chang, CEO, PSB
Academy

Dr Mike Angove, Head,
Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, La Trobe University, Australia

A World's Top 200 University strengthens its roots
in Singapore

Ranked 197 in the latest QS World University
Rankings 2021, UON has been partners with
PSB Academy since 2006. Together, they have educated over 6,000 graduates
in Singapore in the fields of Business, Commerce, Communication, Engineering,
Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety and Information Technology.

Professor Sally Chan, Pro
Vice-Chancellor (Singapore) and Chief Executive Officer, University of
Newcastle Singapore, cites UON
Singapore as the Asia Pacific hub of the University. The University's strong
culture of inclusion and collaboration in its core planning, teaching, and
assessment initiatives with PSB, is its key to maintaining a strong and
sustainable internationalisation strategy in Singapore.

"Our shared values
with PSB Academy have allowed us to be steadfast and effective in developing
industry-ready graduates for Singapore and across the region for close to 15 years
now. Our students and graduates in Singapore are integral to our international
community of excellence. We continue to be confident in our partnership, even
as we face formidable challenges in the higher education industry in these
trying times," says Professor Chan.

STEM education for the life sciences sector remains a bright spot

LTU has seen a
year-on-year student population growth of more than 30% in Singapore since it
started its first intake with PSBA in 2016. A Top 15 University in Australia
for Biological Sciences QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020, it offers
undergraduate courses in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences as well as chemistry
through this partnership, and has enrolled close to 1,000 students in less than
five years.

"PSB Academy and the University aim to strengthen our position as a
leading higher education provider of STEM education in Singapore, and are looking
at developing programmes in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Digital Health
and Nursing Science, to meet the demands of the fast-growing biotechnology and
healthcare industry in Asia Pacific.," says Dr Charles Ong, Head of School of
Life and Physical Sciences at PSBA.

"Our survey with
current PSBA life sciences students show their thirst for more options in
postgraduate studies and a wider range of specialist skillsets in these fields.," says Dr
Mike Angove, Head, Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, La Trobe University, Australia. "Given the
accelerated support for the biomedical manufacturing sector and Singapore's
remarkable potential in Asia's race for a coronavirus vaccine, we are in a
privileged position to work with committed partners like PSBA to develop talent
that will advance the role of medical and pharmaceutical research."

Alliances in education key to supporting a
post-COVID-19 roadmap for growth

"Our mutual resilience
and collective resolve to emerge stronger from this pandemic, has only deepened
our commitment to international partners like UON and LTU. Our schools and
universities face new tests of resilience, but education needs to continue to
be a bulwark for the global community's journey to recovery. We will forge
forward, to innovate and expand our offerings, and to renew our focus on
delivering on strong graduate outcomes in the face of these difficult times,"
says Derrick Chang, CEO, PSB Academy.

To mark this
partnership milestone with UON and LTU, and also working together with other reputable
university partners from Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), PSBA will host an ANZ
Virtual University Fair to recruit students interested in
pursuing an Australian or New Zealander degree in Singapore. Other partners featured in the fair
are

• Edith
  Cowan University (ECU) which is One
  of Two Australian Universities that is designated Academic Centre for Cyber Security Excellence (ACCSE) 
  and offers courses in cyber security and ethical hacking
• Massey
  University, which offers a Master
  of Analytics Programme sponsored by SAS
• University
  of Canberra, which offers Doctor of Business Administration programme
• University
  of Wollongong (UOW), which is also ranked among the World's Top 200 Universities
  (QS Rankings 2021) and offers degree courses in a range of business disciplines

Industry experts and customers to tackle post-pandemic supply chain structures, share best practices: June 23-24

 

SINGAPORE | Sydney, AUSTRALIA - Media OutReach - June 19, 2020
- Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by
industry, today announced the Infor APAC Supply Chain Virtual Summit 2020 will take
place online June 23-24 with a central theme of how to run
a next-generation supply chain.

 

The two half-day
summit will cover a range of topics focused on Supply Chain 4.0, from smart
warehousing to running a live supply chain in real time. Attendees will gain
insider tips and insights from experts as well as industry peers, such as IDC,
DB Schenker, Standard Chartered, Treasury Wine Estates, Greensill, LF Logistics
and EBP Global. The event is supported by the Global Supply Chain Council and
Geek+.

 

According
to IDC, almost 60% of ASEAN, and Australia and New Zealand manufacturers said
their top priority in the next three to four years is to improve supply chain
performance.

 

Cas Brentjens, vice president, Infor Nexus Asia
Pacific Japan & India, Middle East Africa, will discuss how to run live
supply chains with real-time insights.

 

"To
remain competitive and resilient in today's world, supply chains must be
connected, responsive, and digitally enabled. Organisations that leverage data
and rich visualisation can transform their tracking to generate real business
insights that will give them a competitive edge. The APAC Supply Chain Virtual
Summit is all about how to do this, with in-depth roundtables and networking to
complement presentations," Brentjens said.

 

Stephanie
Krishnan, IDC research director and expert in Industry 4.0, will share
new economic and supply chain market research with participants.

 

"With
the COVID-19 pandemic shaking up supply chains globally, having intelligent,
fully connected supply chains is more important than ever before. Today's
disrupted business landscape requires an optimised supply chain that is
seamless, transparent and connected. This helps companies control costs,
enhances quality and ultimately, builds resilience. We predict that by the end
of 2023, 40% of all Asia-Pacific manufacturing supply chains will have invested
in supply chain resiliency and AI, resulting in 15% productivity
improvement."

 

Michael
Sugirin, global head of open account trade and trade implementation, Standard
Chartered, is a recognised leader in supply chain finance, mobile
money and complex treasury solutions. He will present new findings into supply
chain finance: best practices during Covid-19.

 

"The
pandemic has revealed vulnerabilities of supply chains, and many of our clients
are rethinking their strategies. We'll examine what key themes are emerging and
offer insights into what corporates are doing to mitigate liquidity
risks," Sugirin said.

 

Bobby
Mathew, global director, Treasury Wine Estates, will
discuss how his company has digitised its global supply chain from vineyard to
bottle.

 

"Innovation
is paramount at Treasury Wine Estates. We've transformed our company over the
past few years, optimising our operations by digitising our global supply
chain, which has propelled our growth in new and existing markets. We're
looking forward to sharing our story with delegates and discussing our
experience," Mathew said.

 

Some of the largest brands in the region rely on Infor's
expertise to boost their bottom line. Last December, supermarket giant Coles
selected Infor Nexus, a Leader in Gartner's Magic
Quadrant for Multienterprise Supply Chain Business Networks, for its global trade platform to
create enhanced international supply chain visibility.

 

Topics at
the Infor APAC Supply Chain Virtual Summit include:

 

• Supply Chain 4.0 & best practices for
  running global supply chain networks
• Intelligent supply chains--improving
  visibility and liquidity
• Smart warehousing, automation and robotics
• Transforming supply chains to be more agile,
  resilient and increase operational efficiency
• How to run a live supply chain in real time
• Driving change, innovation and growth in
  global financial supply chain networks
• Workforce management and overcoming supply
  chain disruption

To register for the Infor APAC Supply Chain Virtual
Summit, visit https://www.inforapacsupplychain.com

Media contact
Phyllis Tan

Infor Asia Pacific

+65 9799 9133
phyllis.tan@infor.com 

About Infor

Infor is a
global leader in business cloud software specialised by industry. With 17,300
employees and over 68,000 customers in more than 170 countries, Infor software
is designed for progress. To learn more, please visit www.infor.com. 

Infor customers include:

• The top 20 aerospace companies
• 9 of the top 10 high tech companies
• 14 of the 25 largest U.S. healthcare delivery
  networks
• 19 of the 20 largest U.S. cities
• 18 of the top 20 automotive suppliers
• 14 of the top 20 industrial distributors
• 13 of the top 20 global retailers
• 4 of the top 5 brewers
• 17 of the top 20 global banks
• 9 of the 10 largest global hotel brands
• 7 of the top 10 global luxury brands