Author: jezzabellemente

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) — Adagio Therapeutics Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company has summarised recent findings reported in three separate publications that show ADG20, its lead monoclonal antibody (mAb), has neutralisation activity against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2, and outlined initiatives to address current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

According to a statement, Adagio is evaluating ADG20 in its global Phase 2/3 clinical trials for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

“SARS-CoV-2 is a quickly evolving virus, and at Adagio, we are committed to adapting just as quickly. It is abundantly clear that no single product will fully address the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that multiple preventative and therapeutic solutions are needed,” said co-founder and chief executive officer of Adagio, Tillman Gerngross, Ph.D.

“Based on both in-house data and third-party findings, we are confident that ADG20 can be an important tool in the fight against this virus.”

Adagio is engaging with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding potential protocol updates to its global Phase 2/3 clinical trials, including an increased dose of ADG20 for the potential prevention and treatment of COVID-19 resulting from the Omicron variant.

Recently published in vitro studies examined the neutralisation potencies of large panels of mAbs against the Omicron variant in both authentic and pseudovirus assays.

Findings across all three studies show that among mAbs in late-stage clinical development or with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), ADG20 is one of only a few mAbs that demonstrated neutralising activity against Omicron.

Adagio is continuing evaluation of ADG20 in its EVADE and STAMP clinical trials. Adagio is engaging with the FDA on dosing strategy, including an increased dose of ADG20 and other protocol updates in light of the spread of the Omicron variant.

In addition to its clinical trial updates, Adagio is pursuing multiple strategies to address both Omicron and potential future variants that may emerge.

More details at http://www.adagiotx.com.

— BERNAMA

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Jan 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following food authority EFSA’s ban of food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2), Blue California, the producer of natural science-based ingredients, launched novel food-grade whitening agents as a clean-label alternative to replacing potential health risk white colorant titanium dioxide.

“Brands that seek to replace the titanium dioxide white colorant will find many benefits to Blue California’s patent-pending food-grade whitening agents,” said Cuie Yan, Ph.D., vice president of encapsulation. “Our alternative to titanium dioxide is industry-changing with opacifying or whitening effects and excellent sensory benefits with a delicious creamy/rich mouthfeel, and contains proprietary ingredients that may have additional benefits such as supporting cognitive health.”

One of the most widely used food pigments is titanium dioxide (E171), an odorless powder that enhances foods’ white color or opacity. The most common titanium dioxide products are chewing gum, candies, pastries, chocolates, coffee creamers, and cake decorations. Titanium dioxide is also used as a pigment in paints and medicines.

In recent decades, concerns about the risks of titanium dioxide consumption have grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes titanium dioxide as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) at a maximum of 1% weight, but other organizations have issued warnings.

New governing rules in Europe are in action for producers to reformulate their products during a six-month window of phasing out titanium dioxide (E171). This follows the food authority European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decision deeming titanium dioxide (E171) as “not safe” in 2021, and now a complete ban in 2022. France suspended the use of titanium dioxide in January 2020.

“Our clean-label, food-grade, and effective whitening agents are heat and pH stable for a variety of applications that match the performance of titanium dioxide yet overcome its safety concerns,” said Yan. “We’ve innovated these solutions as safe alternatives for brands that need to reformulate products rapidly due to government authorities concerns, bans, and phasing out titanium dioxide.”

Blue California’s patent-pending food-grade whitening powders have a similar size in diameter to the traditional titanium dioxide with higher L values (whiter), as shown in Table 1 below:

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=42119

HONG KONG, Jan 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour lit up exceptionally bright as the city rings in 2022, taking its thriving art scene right to the global centre stage.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211231005124/en/

At 11:59pm on 31 December 2021, the 65.8-metre-tall LED facade of M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District, was transformed into a countdown clock, which travelled across the rich cityscape of Hong Kong.
 Once the clock struck midnight, a special edition of the multimedia show A Symphony of Lights cast a dazzling array of visual effects across Hong Kong’s famous skyline complemented by rooftop pyrotechnics and lighting effects launched at various elevations, along with New Year’s greetings in 15 different languages on the M+ Facade, sending sincere blessings to the rest of the world.

The dazzling light art extravaganza across the harbour was synchronised with energetic, jubilant music performed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the city’s flagship orchestra, in an outdoor concert in the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Information of Video and Image Download

• The video footage and photos of Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations can be downloaded from 1 January 2022, 03:00 Hong Kong Time (31 December 2021 GMT 19:00). Media interested in broadcasting the event may download the material from the link below.
  
  Download link: https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=728&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211231005124/en/

Contact

Mr Cameron Tong
Tel: (852) 2807 6367
Email: cameron.tong@hktb.com

Ms Vivian Li
Tel: (852) 2807 6206
Email: vivian.li@hktb.com

Source : Hong Kong Tourism Board

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=42080

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) — Celltrion Group has announced results for its cocktail therapy candidates including neutralisation data against the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).

The Phase I clinical trial is a randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of CT-P63 in 24 healthy subjects in Poland.

“The positive results demonstrate the potential of our cocktail therapy to retain neutralising ability against the Omicron variant,” said Head of Medical and Marketing Division at Celltrion Healthcare, Dr HoUng Kim, Ph.D.

“We are confident that our antibody platform including Regkirona and CT-P63 will provide significant benefit for patients with COVID-19.”

According to a statement, the study met its primary objectives with data showing CT-P63 to be safe and well tolerated, with no significant drug-related adverse events (AEs).

In an experiment conducted in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CT-P63 showed strong neutralising activity against the Omicron variant based on structural analysis by X- ray crystallography and neutralisation data from pseudo-virus testing.

Celltrion anticipates results of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant assays and animal model studies by the end of the first quarter this year.

In order to elicit potent neutralising antibody response against the new emerging variants, Celltrion previously identified 38 potent neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in which antibody candidate No. 32 (CT-P63) produced high neutralisation titres against new emerging strains.

More details at https://www.celltrionhealthcare.com/en-us.

— BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) — Some poets, who have participated in the 5th Chengdu International Poetry Week recently, have had a field trip to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Led by the staff of the research base, the participating poets took photos all the way to learn the name, age and personality of each giant panda.

Participating poets have found it very interesting that different giant pandas have different living habits and personalities, although they belong to the same species.

As a staff of a large-scale e-commerce company, Wang Erdong has written a series of poems with the ‘courier’ as the leading character. By observing this new profession that emerges in such a modern industrial society, he has expressed his thoughts on the new things brought about by modern industrial production.

That was Wang Erdong’s first time participating in the International Poetry Week, and it was also his first time visiting the research base.

Passing through the lush and verdant bamboo forest in the research base, the participating poets have also fully felt the ecological beauty of Chengdu. This is also an aspect of life in Chengdu, presenting the local unique beauty and poetry.

— BERNAMA