Author: jezzabellemente

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) — The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has celebrated its 50th anniversary in Riyadh, bringing together key development partners to reflect its significant contributions to sustainable development worldwide.

Over the past five decades, SFD has allocated over US$20 billion, financing more than 800 development projects and programmes in vital sectors, including social infrastructure communication and transportation, energy, agriculture, as well as mining and industry. (US$1=RM4.36)

During the event, SFD Chairman, Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving global development and highlighted that SFD’s success is deeply rooted in its partnerships, with 27 development projects and programmes in 23 developing countries in 2023 co-financed with other funders.

In a statement, he also underscored the need to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing ones to create a world where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Meanwhile, its Chief Executive Officer, Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad said: “As we celebrate five decades of impactful work, we are committed, now more than ever, to supporting developing countries on their journey to economic self-reliance and resilience.

“This work is not just about financing; it is about tangibly improving lives, creating opportunities, empowering communities, and building a more prosperous future.”

On the sidelines of the 50th Anniversary Gala, SFD and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a new US$25 million agreement to co-finance a renewable energy development project in the Solomon Islands, with aims to develop renewable energy infrastructure, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and promote sustainable development in the region.

This agreement builds on SFD 50 years of transformative impact through development projects that have spanned Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.

As the SFD looks to the future, it reaffirms its mission and pledge to drive international development efforts, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to contribute to global stability, social progress, and economic prosperity for future generations.

— BERNAMA

HOHHOT, China, Sept. 3, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

In recent years, raising a cat has become a choice for many people worldwide. There is a growing preference for these kitties to enjoy a healthy living environment. Firms in a north China county have been making continuous progress in the market niche of cat litter products, to meet customers’ demand.

In a laboratory, Wang Xiaoli and his colleagues have been developing low-dust mineral and lightweight products, utilizing bentonite. In the workshop, by inputting the mineral ore into a green production line, and through a series of automatic manufacturing processes, a bunch of cat litter, as small as millet, can be produced.

These scenes offer a glimpse of the research and production of Chifeng Menghong New Materials Co., Ltd., a cat litter producer based in Ningcheng County, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

“We introduced new technology and functional materials to increase bentonite litter’s clumping and odor absorption function so that cats can live healthily in a low-dust environment,” said Wang, a technician at the company.

The county has an annual cat litter production output of 1.5 million tonnes with some 1,100 people engaged in the industry in 2023, with an output value of 900 million yuan (about 126 million U.S. dollars) and a tax revenue of 70 million yuan, according to local authorities.

Over the past two decades, Ningcheng has seen rapid and innovative development in the cat litter industry.

Zhang Yongsheng, general manager of Ningcheng County Chongai Pet Products Co., Ltd. said it used to make chemical fertilizer, while a Japanese client reached out to the former factory manager in 2002, looking to utilize locally-sourced bentonite for cat litter production. The experiment proved successful, leading to the establishment of the county’s first cat litter production line.

“It is a good business as bentonite here is of high quality. It forms solid clumps and is easy for scooping and cleaning,” said Zhang. “Since then we have made efforts to research and develop more cat litter products.”

Now cat litter with fruit fragrance fills the air in his lab, and many products have been exported to Japan, the Republic of Korea and other countries and regions.

There are 32 cat litter companies in the county at present. These companies are active in research and have enlarged sales channels, improved manufacturing quality, and complied with international standards, among others.

“These companies are able to produce tailor-made cat litter of different varieties and odors,” said Zhang Haixuan, head of Ningcheng County. “Bentonite products including cat litter manufactured in the county have been exported to 106 countries such as Finland, Russia and Malaysia.”

Dong Wenjun, a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, said: “Cat litter produced in Ningcheng has been transforming to products with higher added value, with features such as lighter weight, water resolution and diverse scents.”

According to an industry report, the urban pet (dogs and cats) consumption market in China grew to 279.3 billion yuan in 2023, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. The cat market scale and the number of pet cats saw 6 percent and 6.8 percent growth, respectively.

Zhang Yongsheng said more and more young people have become pet owners, and they pay more attention to their pets’ health and comfort.

“We are trying to provide our customers greener and healthier products and ensure their cats have a better life quality,” he said.

Source: The Inner Mongolia branch of Xinhua News Agency’s News & Information Center

–BERNAMA

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 3, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

In September 2021, the Plan for Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Opening-up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (Qianhai Plan) was released to outline the future development of Qianhai. Over the past three years, Qianhai, a hub for high-level opening-up, has been forging ahead with reform and innovation and delivering tangible results, noted by the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone recently.

Through reform and opening-up, Qianhai aims to become a new engine for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Zone. Institutional innovation is one of Qianhai’s distinctive features. To date, Qianhai has gradually established the “Qianhai Model” for institutional innovation in key areas such as investment facilitation, trade facilitation, financial openness and innovation, and legal innovation.

A string of innovative measures have been launched, such as the administrative confirmation system for business registration, one integrated license, a suspension registration system for businesses, and the Qianhai e-Services Hong Kong-Macao Station. Latest statistics show that Qianhai has launched 241 new institutional innovation achievements since 2021, bringing the total to 835, with 36 of these being promoted nationwide, making a cumulative total of 94. According to the institutional innovation index of China’s free trade pilot zones released by Sun Yat-sen University, Qianhai has ranked first for three consecutive years.

Innovations in the financial field are viewed as one of the institutional innovations with the most typical Qianhai characteristics. In recent years, a series of financial innovation policies have been implemented here, covering aspects such as finance for people’s livelihood, the interconnectivity of the financial market, the development of modern finance industries, the facilitation of cross-border trade and investment, and enhanced cooperation in financial regulation.

“The deep atmosphere of financial businesses in Qianhai enables us to seek cooperation opportunities and achieve win-win success,” said Pan Rui, President of WeLab Group in China. “With the successful implementation of numerous financial innovation cases, Qianhai has become a preferred destination for Hong Kong residents and enterprises going north. A growing number of Hong Kong residents and enterprises have gathered in Shenzhen for development. More financial talents from Hong Kong have chosen to stay in Qianhai, contributing to its future development,” she added.

“The new Hong Kong Enterprise Loan policy provides a new cross-border financing channel for small and micro enterprises (SMEs) like us to seek development in Qianhai. In the past, the operational and credit records of the headquarters in Hong Kong could not be used to support our Qianhai branch in applying for bank loans. With the implementation of the Hong Kong Enterprise Loan policy and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border credit investigation cooperation, it has opened up new channels for bank loans,” said You Zunni, the head of Gangshun (Shenzhen) International Trade Co., Ltd.

LAiPIC is also one of the beneficiaries of the institutional innovations in Qianhai. In response to the Homecoming Action Plan launched by Qianhai, the company moved its office back to Qianhai in 2019. However, LAiPIC encountered some difficulties on the way back home. At that time, digital and creative companies like LAiPIC could not be listed under the cultural industry or the technological industry. As a result, the company was not entitled to any form of policy support. To address this problem, relevant authorities in Qianhai conducted on-site research at the company and innovatively formulated a wide range of policies for digital and creative industries.

“As the industry evolves rapidly, LAiPIC may not be where it is today without the valuable support or the timely release of support policies,” said Quan Xinghui, co-founder of LAiPIC. When the company encountered a bottleneck during its rapid development, the rapid and efficient implementation of these policies enabled it to set a benchmark, significantly advancing the industry’s growth.

Qianhai’s institutional innovation achievements in key areas such as law, finance, and government affairs have demonstrated its advantages in institutional innovation. This innovation not only helps Qianhai accelerate its comprehensive deepening of reforms but also provides new momentum for Qianhai to advance the comprehensive deepening of reforms in the Greater Bay Area and even China. “Qianhai has unparalleled policy advantages, and we also hope enterprises in Qianhai will continue to benefit from it and embrace greater opportunities,” said Pan Rui during the interview.

Source: The Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone

–BERNAMA

· Dr. Scholl is a globally recognized leader in the field of ophthalmology and the coordinating principal investigator of the largest ever natural history study of Stargardt disease

SAN DIEGO, Sept 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Belite Bio, Inc (NASDAQ: BLTE) (“Belite Bio” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical drug development company focused on advancing novel therapeutics targeting degenerative retinal diseases that have significant unmet medical needs, today announced that its board of directors has appointed Hendrik P. N. Scholl, MD, MA, as the Chief Medical Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Dr. Scholl is the foremost globally recognized authority on Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), bringing decades of expertise in treating retinal diseases, including the two key indications targeted by Belite Bio’s lead drug candidate, Tinlarebant.

“Dr. Scholl has pioneered some of the most significant ophthalmology advancements of our time, and we are incredibly honored and excited to welcome him as our Chief Medical Officer,” said Dr. Tom Lin, Chairman and CEO of Belite Bio. “Dr. Scholl has served as Chair of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board for both our Phase 2 and Phase 3 Stargardt disease trials, and his decision to join Belite further validates our belief in Tinlarebant’s immense potential to improve the lives of patients living with debilitating macular diseases. His leadership, expertise, and commitment to addressing this area of high unmet need has and will continue to be invaluable as we advance our clinical programs.”

“I am excited to join Belite Bio at this pivotal time in the Company’s development,” said Dr. Scholl. “I have dedicated my career to improving the lives of people suffering from serious retinal and macular diseases, and I am deeply impressed by Belite Bio’s pioneering approach to developing transformative therapies for Stargardt disease and dry AMD, which have historically lacked effective treatment options. I look forward to working with the team to advance these programs and bring hope to patients around the world.”

Dr. Scholl served as the founding and scientific co-director of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Basel, where he also led the Department of Ophthalmology as its Chairman. He currently serves as President of the European Vision Institute as well as Chairman of the largest clinical research network in ophthalmology in Europe, EVICR.net, and its Expert Committee on Retinal Dystrophies. He is also the Founder and President of the Swiss Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO-SWISS).   

Dr. Scholl’s distinguished career in academia includes leadership positions at several key academic institutions. Recently, he served as Professor of Ophthalmology and Endowed Chair at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University Medical School. At the Johns Hopkins Hospital, he was the Head of the Retinal Degeneration Clinic and the Director of the Visual Neurophysiology Service. For the Wilmer Eye Institute, he also served as the Co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Stem Cells and Ophthalmic Regenerative Medicine.

Dr. Scholl is the coordinating principal investigator of the largest natural history study of Stargardt disease (ProgStar Study), which enrolled 365 subjects. Throughout his career, he has participated in over 10 clinical studies both in Stargardt disease and AMD, authored over 280 articles and reviews in peer-reviewed journals, and received numerous prestigious awards, including the European Vision Award, the President’s Award of the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the W. Richard Green Award and the Paul Henkind Memorial Award of the Macula Society, the Swiss Alfred-Vogt Award, and the Kupfer award of ARVO. He holds an honorary doctorate from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, and is Adjunct Professor at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Over the course of his 25 years of experience, Dr. Scholl has led and participated in numerous boards and advisory committees. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Pro Retina Deutschland, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Erasmus University Medical Center, AIBILI, and the Institut de la Vision (Paris); on the Investment Advisory Board of Droia NV; and the Data Safety Monitoring Board of Roche Holding AG and ViGeneron GmbH.

Dr. Scholl graduated from the University of Tübingen, Germany with a Doctor of Medicine (Dr. med.) and Master of Arts. He completed his specialist training at the University Eye Hospital in Tübingen before being awarded a fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG) at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Institute of Ophthalmology in London, and a DFG Heisenberg Professorship for Macular Diseases at the Eye Clinic of the University of Bonn, Germany.

About Belite Bio

Belite Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical drug development company focused on advancing novel therapeutics targeting retinal degenerative eye diseases which have significant unmet medical needs such as Stargardt Disease and Geographic Atrophy in advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in addition to specific metabolic diseases. Belite’s lead candidate, Tinlarebant, an oral therapy intended to reduce the accumulation of toxins in the eye, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study (DRAGON) and a Phase 2/3 study (DRAGON II) in adolescent Stargardt subjects and a Phase 3 study (PHOENIX) in subjects with Geographic Atrophy. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or visit us at www.belitebio.com.

Media and Investor Relations Contact:
Jennifer Wu : ir@belitebio.com
Julie Fallon : belite@argotpartners.com

SOURCE: Belite Bio, Inc

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) — Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, announced the launch of HyperSight imaging solution for its TrueBeam and Edge systems across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region (excluding China).

This upgrade gives clinicians unparalleled image quality, enhancing their ability to deliver precise and efficient radiation therapy treatments, as HyperSight optimises workflows across Varian’s entire suite of linear accelerators, enabling more tailored treatment for each patient.

“Guided by the evolving needs of radiation therapy based on current clinical trends, this innovation exemplifies our commitment to advancing clinical practice and providing high quality solutions for cancer patients everywhere.

“By combining advanced imaging with precise treatment delivery, we empower clinicians to deliver superior care,” said Varian APJ President, Hideaki Mori in a statement.

HyperSight acquires high-quality images and offers an extended field of view during a patient’s daily radiation treatments, which is particularly beneficial for treating large cancers.

This facilitates accurate tumour volume targeting, reduces target volume margins, and preserves healthy tissue. It provides Hounsfield Unit (HU) accuracy needed for treatment planning directly on the acquired conebeam CT (CBCT) images, allowing clinicians to calculate changes in tumours and surrounding organs with greater precision, helping to adjust treatments more effectively.

This eliminates the need for separate CT scans, potentially avoiding extensions to a patient’s hospital stay. HyperSight is designed for all anatomical sites and has a 50 per cent faster gantry rotation compared to traditional CBCT scans, which can take up to 60 seconds.

For existing TrueBeam and Edge users, the upgrade seamlessly integrates with their systems, reducing motion-related artefacts due to patient movement and minimising discomfort from prolonged treatment times.

Varian is committed to supporting healthcare providers with an innovative portfolio of radiotherapy solutions, including HyperSight, and is working with regulators to review reimbursement models to support optimal patient care.

— BERNAMA