PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE NATION'S CLINICAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES

L-R: CRM’s CEO Dr Akhmal Yusof, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Director General of Health Datuk Dr Radzi Abu Hassan & PhAMA President Ms Kam Ai Teng

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) and the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) have entered a strategic partnership to propel the development of clinical research talents and skills in Malaysia. The MoU was formalized earlier today during CRM’s Clinical Research Excellence in Early Phase and People Development event in Ministry of Health office.

The MOU was signed by Dr Akhmal Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of CRM, and Ms Kam Ai Teng, President of PhAMA and was witnessed by the Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. Under the MoU, PhAMA will support CRM through the provision of proteges on an annual basis for the next three years, effective this year.

The partnership will be driven through the CRM’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), which aims to enhance the nation's clinical research capabilities in building skilled study coordinators profession. This initiative will pave the way for fresh graduates to begin their career in clinical research, aligning with the Pharmaceutical Sector's Research and Development (R&D) objectives outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.

PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE NATION'S CLINICAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES

Enovis Concludes Limacorporate Acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- Enovis Corporation (Enovis) announced it has closed the acquisition of LimaCorporate S.p.A. (Lima), a privately held global orthopaedic leader focused on restoring motion through an innovative portfolio of implant solutions.

“We are excited to welcome Lima's talented team to Enovis. The combination brings Enovis’ recon segment to US$1 billion in revenues and creates a fast-growing innovator in the global orthopaedic reconstruction market. (US$1=RM4.64)

“This is another great example of how we use strategic acquisitions to accelerate our growth, add great technologies and talent to our company, and drive compounding value for our shareholders,” said Enovis Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Matt Trerotola.

According to a statement, Lima strengthens Enovis’ position in the global orthopaedic reconstruction market with a complementary portfolio of proven surgical solutions and technologies, which will accelerate global growth and margin expansion.

In addition, Lima's portfolio includes 3D printed Trabecular Titanium implants and a comprehensive revision offering in shoulders, which will further strengthen Enovis’ position in the fast-growing extremities market.

Enovis is an innovation-driven medical technology growth company dedicated to developing clinically differentiated solutions that generate measurably better patient outcomes and transform workflows.

-- BERNAMA

Enter The Dragon: Celebrate CNY Like A Local in Hong Kong

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The Chinese New Year (CNY) is one of the most popularly celebrated holidays in Asia, especially in Hong Kong as the city is abuzz with preparations for the festivity and a vibrant array of exciting celebrations.

The CNY period is the liveliest and most vibrant time in Hong Kong, with bustling flower markets, exciting city-wide events and beautiful festive displays galore staging throughout the entire festive period from day to night, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board in a statement.

Tourists looking to experience a celebration like no other should definitely pay a visit during CNY to celebrate just like the locals do, such as partaking in a traditional poon choi feast which is also known as a “basin meal”, joining extraordinary local tours to one of Hong Kong’s rural walled villages like those in Yuen Long or Sha Tau Kok.

In addition, one of the most popular dishes to serve during the celebration are CNY puddings that symbolises prosperity and attaining new heights in the new year, are perfect for cooking lovers, who can take home the recipe through participation in the hands-on festive workshops run by traditional bakeries like Kee Wah.

Meanwhile, tourists can kick off a prosperous CNY with dried seafood shopping at the section of Sheung Wan’s Des Voeux Road West between Queen Street and Centre Street which is well-known as “Dried Seafood Street”.

Many dried seafood products symbolise blessings and lucky words, whereby fish maw symbolises prosperity, while dried abalone looks similar to gold ingots and thus represents wealth.

During the CNY, locals visit each other's homes to share new year blessings and spread happiness, engaging in one of the favourite activities among locals which is playing mahjong to activate good luck.

Other than family and friends' gatherings, the festive atmosphere is also filling up every corner of the city with exciting array of celebratory events including the city's biggest CNY event, the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade.

The parade is returning with a bang to kick off the Year of the Dragon on Feb 10 (Chor 1) after a five-year hiatus and festive ambience continues to shine on Feb 11 (Chor 2) as the world famous Victoria Harbour lights up with the spectacular 2024 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display.

-- BERNAMA 

RAPID MICRO BIOSYSTEMS’ GROWTH DIRECT PLATFORM CHOSEN TO REVOLUTIONISE BIOMANUFACTURING QUALITY CONTROL

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Rapid Micro Biosystems Inc announced that Samsung Biologics has selected its Growth Direct platform to automate its microbial quality control processes to deliver increased efficiency, more robust data integrity and scalable quality control operations.

Rapid Micro Biosystems President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Spignesi said: “The Growth Direct improves operational efficiency and data integrity in the quality control microbiology lab, and we are proud to partner with Samsung Biologics.

“Samsung Biologics is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to automation and quality management in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.”

According to Rapid Micro Biosystems in a statement, global pharmaceutical manufacturers rely on the Growth Direct platform to meet both today’s microbiological quality control standards and tomorrow’s challenges.

It is the only fully automated, non-destructive growth-based platform for microbiology quality control testing that offers faster time to results, improved data integrity, and enhanced accuracy, with greater sample capacity.

Rapid Micro Biosystems is an innovative life sciences technology company providing mission critical automation solutions to facilitate the efficient manufacturing and fast, safe release of healthcare products such as biologics, vaccines, cell and gene therapies, and sterile injectables.

-- BERNAMA

Future Minerals Forum: 80 Countries Participate In Ministerial Roundtable

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) announced its Ministerial Roundtable, to be held on Jan 9, ahead of the third edition of the forum, is set to break attendance records.

Of the 80 countries that have been confirmed to attend so far, more than 45 will be sending ministers to take part in discussions with stakeholders in this one meeting, in addition to 20 official international organisations, 30 non-governmental organisations and 13 business associations.

As the highest level gathering on minerals in the world, the roundtable represents a historic turning point for the global mining and metals sector, the contribution of the Super Region extending from Africa to West and Central Asia, and the Kingdom’s leadership role in this sector and region.

“High-level government representation, from countries producing and consuming minerals, means that governments from across the world are now aware of minerals’ importance, as they seek to secure reliable supply chains for them.

“This is especially relevant to the strategic minerals that are essential to energy transformation programmes and projects, and related industries,” said Vice-Minister for Mining Affairs, Khalid Al-Mudaifer.

The Ministerial Roundtable is a government-led multi-stakeholder initiative created by Saudi Arabia to enhance international cooperation on producing critical minerals involved in transforming the energy sector.

According to a statement, the meeting comes when the mineral sector faces unprecedented challenges driven by the increasing demand for energy transition minerals and metals, where all countries are racing to secure stable supply chains.

Furthermore, the Ministerial Roundtable promotes the importance of collaboration to address this anticipated global challenge.

The roundtable will include discussion of the competition that the metals market is witnessing at international level and how to create room for countries, in the midst of this competition, to reach agreement between themselves.

-- BERNAMA

SWEEGEN DECLARES VICTORY IN STEVIA PATENT CASE

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Sweegen announced a landmark victory in the United States (US) Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has sided with the company and affirmed the invalidation of PureCircle's patents covering the highly sought-after stevia sweetener Rebaudioside M (Reb M).

This appellate victory further solidifies Sweegen’s technological leadership position in the stevia sweetener industry at large and Federal Circuit decision removes any lingering doubt that Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) customers may be encumbered by PureCircle’s patents for using Sweegen’s Reb M.

Sweegen Chief Executive Officer, Steven Chen said as one of the staunchest stewards of proprietary technologies in wellness ingredients, Sweegen has actively defended its intellectual property rights while upholding a commitment to respecting the rights of others.

“This triumph in the US Court of Appeals serves to highlight Sweegen's dedication to principled innovation and fair competition within the industry.

“This victory not only strengthens Sweegen's position in the market but also contributes to the broader landscape of the stevia sweetener industry. Sweegen is positioned to lead the charge in shaping a landscape of limitless possibilities, delivering unparalleled sweetness to consumers and driving positive change on a global scale,” he said in a statement.

Sweegen is the primary producer of non-genetically modified organism (GMO) Reb M originating from the stevia leaf, made with a proprietary clean bioconversion method, in which Reb M, a highly coveted steviol glycoside molecule, plays a crucial role in the global production of stevia sweeteners.

In May 2022, Sweegen secured a groundbreaking summary judgment, declaring PureCircle's asserted patents related to the production of Reb M as invalid.

The affirmation by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit solidifies Sweegen's position and removes any impediments that PureCircle's patents may have posed for producers in the US.

Specifically, the federal court’s Opinion confirmed the district court's decision that certain claims in the patents were found invalid due to a lack of written description.

A wellness ingredient and taste modulation technologies pioneer, Sweegen remains committed to driving positive change within the sweetener industry and will continue to invest in research and development to deliver cutting-edge solutions to its global customer base.

-- BERNAMA

Celebrates Chinese New Year, Marks Memorable Valentine’s Day In Hong Kong

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- Hong Kong, known for its distinctive East-meets-West culture is marked by spectacular celebratory activities and auspicious family feasts during the Chinese New Year (CNY).

This year, there is even more to celebrate as the fifth day (or Chor Five) falls on Valentine’s Day, enabling visitors to extend their CNY getaway with a romantic adventure in which the city is ideal for couples to create a unique and timeless memory.

According to Hong Kong Tourism Board in a statement, visitors are encouraged to start planning an unforgettable Valentine’s Day in one of Asia’s most romantic cities, from exploring the city on a swoon-worthy photoshoot to creative workshops for crafty couples and dinners at the hottest restaurants in town.

Couples can narrate their love story through lenses with a photoshoot, where one can don qipao (traditional Chinese garments) and travel back in time to feel the romance of old Hong Kong while capturing the sweetest moments with their valentine.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the signature local dai pai dong (open-air food stall), couples can recreate scenes from Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love and keep the romance flowing on an iconic double-decker Hong Kong tram.

Meanwhile, at the revitalised Central Market, they can snap stunning silhouettes and candid smiles on the grand terrazzo staircase, then stroll hand-in-hand in Hollywood Road or up the steep stone steps of Pottinger Street, one of the city’s oldest lanes, to stately Tai Kwun.

Visitors can also spend their Valentine’s Day bonding over one-of-a-kind activities to create extraordinary gifts signifying their remarkable Hong Kong moment with loved ones by engaging in a wide variety of hands-on experience in town, like bespoke perfume making workshop, neon light art workshop and rock candy workshop, among others.

Furthermore, visitors are able to experience the city’s world-class dining scene with a special Valentine’s Day feast at one of the city’s hottest tables, such as Sabatini Ristorante Italiano in ifc mall, for authentic Italian fare.

The CNY fun continues until the 15th day (or Chor 15, on Feb 24), culminating with the Lantern Festival. In ancient times, the festival was akin to a Chinese Valentine’s Day because single women were allowed to roam freely and meet potential suitors without supervision.

In addition, travellers are welcome to join the local celebrations, while a vibrant array of activities in the city awaits, including auspicious dragon dances and annual lantern displays with much more to be discovered during CNY and Valentine’s Day in Hong Kong.

-- BERNAMA