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Zenas BioPharma Launches as a Cross-Border Biopharmaceutical Company to Bring Innovation to the Development and Delivery of Immune-Based Therapies

Lead product candidate, ZB001, has first–in–class potential in China for Thyroid Eye Disease

Rapidly advancing seven pipeline programs, including three worldwide, with best–in–class potential in autoimmune and rare diseases

Expanding a proven leadership team of veteran life science industry executives

Company founded and initially funded by Tellus BioVentures and Fairmount

HONG KONG and BOSTON, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zenas BioPharma ("Zenas") launched today as a cross–border biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a global leader in the development and delivery of immune–based therapies for patients in China and throughout the world.

Zenas was founded and initially funded by Tellus BioVentures, LLC ("Tellus") and Fairmount Funds Management LLC ("Fairmount") and is additionally backed by a syndicate of leading global life science investment funds including Quan Capital, WuXi Biologics Healthcare Ventures and Wellington Management.

Lonnie Moulder, Managing Member of Tellus and Founder of Zenas, serves as Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer. As a veteran life sciences founder and executive, he brings to Zenas a track record of success and the necessary skills to navigate the global biopharmaceutical landscape. Mr. Moulder has assembled an experienced leadership team with strong credentials in acquiring, developing and commercializing products across the globe.

"We are excited about the launch of Zenas BioPharma and its pipeline of differentiated product candidates. These potentially best–in–class products are intended to bring innovation to patients with underserved diagnoses while also maximizing value across the healthcare ecosystem," said Mr. Moulder. "The expanding Zenas leadership team and our network of business partners will drive operational excellence to deliver potentially transformative therapies to improve the lives of people living with autoimmune and rare diseases."

"We are thrilled to invest in and support this new venture lead by a proven and experienced team," added Marietta Wu, MD, Ph.D., MBA, Managing Director at Quan Capital and Zenas Board Member. "Immunology is an area of transformative innovation poised to solve great unmet medical needs. We are confident that by leveraging cross border research and development capabilities and resources, Zenas will rapidly advance its current portfolio and establish its global leadership with an expanded pipeline coupled with a strong footprint in China."

Rapidly Advancing Pipeline

Zenas debuts with a deep pipeline of seven innovative immune–based therapeutics that will continue to expand through a successful business development strategy. Zenas owns worldwide rights to three of the seven pipeline programs, which uniquely positions the Company to be global in scope.

Zenas innovation is defined by the selection of product candidates that are designed with best–in–class potential and then advanced utilizing differentiated development and commercial strategies to address patient needs AND the value requirements of the dynamic healthcare environment. Zenas innovation further includes acquiring or discovering first–in–class product candidates based upon new knowledge in the evolving field of immunology.

ZB001 and ZB011

Zenas is developing its lead product candidate ZB001, an insulin–like growth factor–1 receptor (IGF1R) monoclonal antibody (mAb), for the potential treatment of patients in China with thyroid eye disease (TED). TED is a debilitating condition that significantly impacts quality of life and can cause proptosis ("bulging eyes"), double vision and vision loss. ZB001, a potential first–in–class product in China, was exclusively in–licensed from Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. ("Viridian") (NASDAQ: VRDN).

More than 100 oncology patients have previously been treated with the antibody in US and EU studies, under the name AVE–1642, enabling understanding of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, as well as its safety and tolerability. Viridian maintains all rights outside of China and is developing the IGF1R mAb under the name VRDN–001. This program is advancing rapidly with an expected Investigational New Drug ("IND") application filing by Viridian in late 2021, followed by a Zenas filing in China. Data from the first clinical trial involving patients is expected to be available in 2022.

In parallel with ZB001 development, Viridian and Zenas initiated the ZB011 program, which seeks to improve IGF1R–targeted antibodies to further enhance dosing and convenience.

ZB002, ZB003 and ZB004

The Zenas pipeline also includes three potentially best–in–class mAbs (ZB002, ZB003, ZB004) exclusively in–licensed worldwide from Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR). These three mAbs were engineered with XmAb technology for improved potency, half–life, and stability and are undergoing IND–enabling studies to support clinical development for both new and established autoimmune disease indications.

ZB005 and ZB006

Zenas additionally entered a collaboration with Dianthus Therapeutics, Inc. ("Dianthus") that provides China rights for two mAb programs, ZB005 and ZB006. Dianthus is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics that modulate the immune complement system for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. IND–enabling activities are underway for ZB005, the first of the two programs.

About Zenas BioPharma

Zenas BioPharma is a cross–border (China–USA based) biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a global leader in the development and delivery of immune–based therapies for patients in China and around the world. Zenas is rapidly advancing a deep pipeline of innovative therapeutics that continues to grow through our successful business development strategy. Our experienced leadership team and network of business partners drive operational excellence to deliver potentially transformative therapies to improve the lives of those facing autoimmune and rare diseases. For more information about Zenas BioPharma, please visit www.zenasbio.com and follow us on Twitter at @ZenasBioPharma and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Investor Contact:

Zenas BioPharma
IR@zenasbio.com

Media Contact:

Lauren Bartlett
Zenas BioPharma
lauren.bartlett@zenasbio.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8193523)

LeddarTech Announces Participation at Multiple Major Digital Events Focused on ADAS and AD in April 2021

QUEBEC CITY, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech , a global leader in Level 1–5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, will participate in several global digital events in April as an exhibitor, presenter, as well as sponsor. The company will showcase its comprehensive end–to–end technology platforms that enable customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility markets. These featured solutions include the LeddarVision sensor–fusion and perception platform and the cost–effective, scalable LiDAR development platform based on patented LeddarEngine technology.

"LeddarTech continually seeks opportunities to bring our customers, partners, and other industry organizations together to share our unique platform business model as well as network on new developments and solutions to address today's ADAs and AD opportunities," stated Daniel Aitken, Vice–President of Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management. "Our participation in these major digital forums is a reflection of this philosophy, and we look forward to the opportunity to meet customers and organizations who are also committed to driving autonomy and the increased safety aspects that it provides," concluded Mr. Aitken.

ADAS Sensors 2021 Online "" April 6–8 (Detroit, USA)

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) require numerous sensing modalities and advanced sensor data fusion and perception capabilities to accurately perform constant assessments through detection to respond safely to driving situations that may arise. The ADAS market is expected to reach $84 billion in 2025. What is driving this growth, and what technology demands will shape the subsequent developments? Join LeddarTech at ADAS Sensors Online 2021 to find out.

  • Featured presentation: "Sensing Modalities, Perception, and Fusion Technology Trends for ADAS Applications," by Pierre Olivier, LeddarTech's Chief Technology Officer, April 6 @ 11:50 a.m. –12:20 p.m. ET
  • Virtual booth: LeddarTech will showcase its market–defining sensing and perception solutions for ADAS and AD applications, including the LeddarVision platform and various sensing components and software. Also on display will be STMicroelectronics' MEMS mirror–based scanning solutions for LiDARs. Our technical representatives will be available online throughout the event.
  • Register here

Hannover Messe Digital Edition "" April 12–16 (Hannover, Germany)

This year, the illustrious Hannover Messe expo and mega–conference will be digital. LeddarTech will be a co–exhibitor at the Quebec pavilion in association with Investissement Qubec, whose mission is to play an active role in Qubec's economic development by spurring business innovation, entrepreneurship, and business acquisitions, as well as growth in investment and exports. LeddarTech can be found at the Kiosque Entreprise for the duration of the event.

Register now at hannovermesse.de/en/conference/

AutoTech Council – Innovation Review on Connected Cars "" April 15 (North America)

  • This Autotech Council event will focus on the new technologies and innovations that enable the connected cars of today and the future and introduce attendees to entrepreneurs that are making this future a reality. Join OEMs, suppliers, startups, and VCs to discuss hot topics such as 5G, embedded vs. tethered connectivity, personal data and privacy, big data analytics, value–added services, and much more. Pierre Olivier, LeddarTech's Chief Technology Officer, will participate in the panel discussion taking place April 15 from 8:55 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. PT.
  • Register here

6th Automotive Sensors and Electronics Summit "" April 28 (Munich, Germany)

The Automotive Sensors and Electronics Summit is an annual event that consistently attracts key decision–makers across various industry sectors. This event has an outstanding reputation in the automotive sensors and electronics community to highlight emerging technologies and support valuable networking opportunities.

  • Case study presentation: "Sensor–Fusion and Perception Solutions for Key ADAS and AD Applications," by Michael Poulin, Vice–President, Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Development, April 28, 2021 @ 4:30 p.m. CET
  • Featured e–book: LeddarVision Sensor Fusion and Perception Technology
  • Register here

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end–to–end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision sensor–fusion and perception platform and its cost–effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive–grade solid–state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine, LeddarTech enables Tier 1–2 automotive system integrators to develop full–stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting–edge automotive and mobility remote–sensing applications, with over 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact:
Daniel Aitken, Vice–President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management, LeddarTech Inc.
Tel.: + 1–418–653–9000 ext. 232
daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owner


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8193302)

PRA’s Center for Rare Diseases Launches Toolkit to Identify and Mitigate Risks to Rare Disease Clinical Programs

RALEIGH, N.C., March 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PRA Health Sciences (NASDAQ: PRAH) announced today the launch of its Patient–Centric Trial Development Toolkit, available now to clinical development sponsors focusing on rare diseases. Developed by PRA's Center for Rare Diseases in collaboration with PRA's Rare Disease Advisory Committee (RDAC) and other patient stakeholders, the toolkit includes four digital resources designed to mitigate risks that frequently occur in rare disease clinical trials. The toolkit also introduces and affirms new patient–centric practices that promote trial participation.

The Patient–Centric Trial Development Toolkit is available at no cost and can be downloaded at https://prahs.com/insights/patient–centric–trial–development–toolkit.

"The main purpose of the toolkit is to guide sponsors in taking a more patient–centric approach in developing clinical trials," said Scott Schliebner, MPH, Senior Vice President, Center for Rare Diseases at PRA Health Sciences. "As an example, the toolkit includes a risk assessment tool that clinical development teams can use to identify risk to the efficiency of a clinical program. The risks that are identified are usually real world burdens for participants, and the tool provides risk mitigation strategies and solutions for sponsors to consider."

PRA's rare disease experts and RDAC members recognized a gap in the availability of structured tools for operationalizing patient–centricity in rare disease clinical development. Patients, advocates, and industry leaders in rare diseases collaborated and consulted with PRA to develop four parts of the Patient–Centric Trial Development Toolkit:

  • Patient–Centric Protocol Risk Assessment Tool: Interactive, spreadsheet–based tool that enables sponsors to rapidly identify potential risks, track evolution of risk assessment through stages of the development process and identify potential mitigation strategies.
  • Rapid Participation Burden Survey Tool: An easy–to–use questionnaire development guide that helps sponsors and patient advocates develop a rapid survey for patients and caregivers tailored to their clinical trial's specific context. The aim of this tool is to help sponsors quantify risk to the clinical program through direct patient engagement.
  • Patient Involvement Value Dossier: This tool outlines the evidence of ROI/benefit involvement in the trial development process from extant literature and provides illustrative case studies from PRA's Center for Rare Diseases.
  • "What to ask when you're interested in a clinical trial: A Guide for Rare Disease Patients and Caregivers": Helps prospective participants identify the barriers to participation they may encounter and request the support they need to enroll and stay in the trial.

"Rare disease patients and trials face unique challenges compared to those in more common indications," said Tracy Dixon–Salazar, PhD, Director of Research & Strategy at LSG Foundation, RDAC member. "As a rare disease patient advocate, I appreciate the genuine care that PRA gives to their patients and family caregivers. In sharing these resources with sponsors and the rare disease community, PRA is taking another step in making clinical research more accessible and ensuring the patient and their family is top of mind when developing a clinical trial program."

"PRA is so sincerely dedicated to putting the patient's experience first," said Terry Jo Bichell, Founder & Director of COMBINEDBrain, RDAC Member. It is easy to give lip service and small concessions to patients, but PRA is actually digging deep into what it means for patients and their families to be a part of clinical trials. Even when a patient wants a new treatment, it is still stressful, scary, and time–consuming to take part in a trial. PRA is trying to understand that and make it better."

While the Patient–Centric Trial Development Toolkit does focus on lessening the burden on patients to participate in clinical research, there are also several key benefits for sponsors such as avoiding significant costs related to inefficiency, high trial dropout rates, protocol amendments, and not being able to complete a trial on time.

To learn more about the importance of patient–centricity in clinical development or to download the toolkit, visit https://prahs.com/centers/center–for–rare–disease/trial–development–toolkit.

For more information about the Center for Rare Disease, please visit https://prahs.com/centers/center–for–rare–disease.

About PRA Health Sciences

PRA Health Sciences is one of the world's leading global contract research organizations by revenue, providing outsourced clinical development and data solution services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. PRA's global clinical development platform includes more than 75 offices across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, Australia and the Middle East and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide. Since 2000, PRA has participated in approximately 4,000 clinical trials worldwide. In addition, PRA has participated in the pivotal or supportive trials that led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration or international regulatory approval of more than 95 drugs. To learn more about PRA, please visit www.prahs.com.

INVESTOR INQUIRIES: InvestorRelations@prahs.com

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Laurie Hurst, Sr. Director, Communications and Public Relations
hurstlaurie@prahs.com | +1 (919) 786–8435


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8204269)

Asia Broadband Goes Live Today With Sales of Gold-Backed Cryptocurrency Token

LAS VEGAS, March 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire "" Asia Broadband Inc. (OTC: AABB) ("AABB" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the sales launch today of the Company's AABB Gold (AABBG) cryptocurrency token developed by Core State Holdings, Corp. (CSHC). In order to purchase tokens, AABB Wallet users must update the app or download to install the latest version of the app and pass the Know Your Client (KYC) process. Within this new version of the AABB Wallet, the token will only be available for purchase in exchange for other major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.

Therefore, purchasers will need to hold existing cryptocurrency in any third–party wallet such as Coinbase or Binance. Purchasers will then deposit cryptocurrency from their third party wallet into their AABB Wallet to exchange and purchase the AABB Gold token (AABBG) for the current 0.1 gram of gold price (approximately $5.60 USD) plus a small transaction fee. Support for users of the AABB Wallet is available on the website www.AABBGoldToken.com and by email to AABBWallet@gmail.com.

The initial token release is backed by $30 million in physical gold the Company currently holds. At today's market price of gold, this initial token release available for purchase is 5.4 million tokens at the one–tenth (0.1) gram of gold price (approximately $5.60 USD) for each AABBG token. The token price is tied to and supported by the Company at the market price of gold at a minimum. As the price of gold fluctuates, the minimum supported price of the AABBG token will increase or decrease, but the potential upside price of the token will be driven by market demand.

The AABB Gold token (AABBG) is backed 100% by physical gold held by the Company and additional releases of the token will continue to be backed 100% by additional physical gold acquired from future mining production, gold purchased from cash reserves or credit.

The launch version of the AABB Wallet will allow purchasers to transfer AABBG tokens to others that also have the AABB Wallet, but tokens will not initially be exchangeable within the AABB Wallet for other cryptocurrencies. This inaugural version of the AABB Wallet will allow the Company to increase token circulation and accumulate revenues to be utilized for the support and stabilization the token price when AABBG is freely exchangeable in the open market.

The Company is currently developing, with CSHC, its own proprietary cryptocurrency Exchange that will allow AABB Wallet users to quickly exchange their AABB Gold tokens for major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. AABB embraces a pioneering philosophy with its truly unique Mine–to–Token vertical integration operational approach that strives toward complete independence from FIAT currency.

AABB's primary goal for the token is to become a worldwide standard of exchange that is secured and trusted with gold backing, by progressively expanding token circulation targeting large population and high growth markets globally including China and East Asia. The Company is collaborating with CSHC to roll out an international marketing campaign for the AABB Gold token, AABB Wallet and development of the corporate brand. The marketing efforts are aimed to proliferate brand exposure and reputation, increase the use of the AABB Gold token and the AABB Wallet, and amplify general public and investment community awareness of the Company.

About Asia Broadband

Asia Broadband Inc. (OTC : AABB) is a resource company focused on the production, supply and sale of precious and base metals, primarily to Asian markets. The Company utilizes its specific geographic expertise, experience and extensive industry contacts to facilitate its innovative distribution process from the production and supply of precious and base metals in Mexico to client sales networks in Asia. This vertical integration approach to sales transactions is the unique strength of AABB that differentiates the Company and creates distinctive value for shareholders. The Company has recently released its freshly minted mine–to–token gold–backed cryptocurrency AABB Gold token (AABBG) and strives to become a world–wide standard of exchange that is secured and trusted with gold backing, an outstanding quality relative to other cryptocurrencies. Visit www.AsiaBroadbandInc.com and www.AABBGoldToken.com

Contact the Company at:

Investor Brand Network
General Email: ir@asiabroadbandinc.com
Token Support Email: AABBWallet@gmail.com
Company Website: www.asiabroadbandinc.com
Token Website: www.AABBGoldToken.com
Phone: 702–866–9054

Forward–Looking Statements are contained in this press release within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Asia Broadband Inc.'s (the "Company") expected current beliefs about the Company's business, which are subject to uncertainty and change. The operations and results of the Company could materially differ from what is expressed or implied by the statements made above when industry, regulatory, market and competitive circumstances change. Further information about these risks can be found in the annual and quarterly disclosures the Company has published on the OTC Markets website. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter its forward–looking statements as future circumstances, events and information may change.

Corporate Communications:
InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8204032)

Call for Entries Issued for the 2021 Stevie® Awards for Great Employers

FAIRFAX, Va., March 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Stevie Awards has issued the call for entries for the sixth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers, which honor the world's best companies to work for and the human resources teams, professionals, suppliers, and new products and services that help to create and drive great places to work.

All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for–profit, and non–profit, large and small – may submit nominations to the Stevie Awards for Great Employers. The early–bird entry deadline, with reduced entry fees, is April 28. The final entry deadline is June 2, but late entries will be accepted through July 13 with payment of a late fee. Entry details are available at www.StevieAwards.com/HR.

An international judging panel of more than 50 executives will determine the Stevie Award winners. Finalists will be announced on August 19. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners will be revealed and presented their awards at a gala event at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on October 1, conditions permitting.

The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize achievement in many facets of the workplace. Categories include:

There are many new categories in 2021 for HR achievements including Achievement in Managing a Remote Workforce, Achievement in Leadership Development for Racial/Ethnic Minorities, and Best Transformation Strategy. Two new categories for Solutions and Implementations include Remote Workforce Management Solution – New or New–Version and Implementation. Fourteen of the 16 HR Individual categories do not require payment of entry fees.

Winners in the 31 industry–specific Employer of the Year categories will be determined by a unique blend of public votes and professional ratings. Public voting will take place from July 19 – August 9.

Stevie Award winners in 2020 included Aflac (USA), AstraZeneca (Russia), Cathay United Bank (Taiwan), DHL Supply Chain U.K. and Ireland, Globe Telecom Inc. (Philippines), HUGO BOSS Textile Ind. Ltd., (Turkey), IBM (USA), McDonald's (Poland), Opet (Turkey), Toyota Turkey, Wolters Kluwer's ELM Solutions (USA), Wingstop Restaurants (USA), and many more.

About the Stevie Awards:
Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia–Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards , The International Business Awards , the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

Marketing Contact:
Nina Moore
Nina@StevieAwards.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/579d0ebb–cc6a–469d–a41a–2c4a562fea2f


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8193338)

Anima Biotech Announces Strategic Collaboration with Takeda to Discover and Develop mRNA Translation Modulators for Neurological Diseases

BERNARDSVILLE, N.J., March 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anima Biotech, the leader in the discovery of small molecule drugs that selectively control mRNA translation, today announced that the company has entered into a strategic collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") to discover and develop a new class of medicines for genetically–defined neurological diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Anima will use its Translation Control Therapeutics platform to discover novel mRNA translation modulators against the collaboration targets. The parties will collaborate to advance the molecules to clinical candidates, which Takeda has the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize.

The preclinical research collaboration will initially include Anima's early Huntington's Disease program against the HTT target, selectively inhibiting the mutated protein with small molecules and two additional targets named by Takeda, related to neurological diseases. Takeda will pay Anima up to approximately $120 million in upfront and preclinical research milestone payments and up to $1.1 billion in clinical and commercial milestones, assuming success of the three programs. Anima is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales of each product resulting from the collaboration. Takeda has a time limited option to expand the collaboration with up to three additional targets subject to additional payments to Anima of up to $1.2 billion and tiered royalties, assuming success of these programs.

"Anima Biotech's expertise in understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms of protein expression in the central nervous system makes them an ideal partner to explore this novel area of drug discovery," said Ceri Davies, Head, Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit at Takeda. "By combining Anima's platform with our strength in translational medicine and clinical development, we aim to develop medicines that deliver greater benefits to patients with genetically–defined neurological diseases where there are non–existent or ineffective treatment options."

"Partnering is a core strategy of Anima and our model is to build collaborations that maximize the probability of success by combining our discovery platform and expertise in translation control biology with the scientific, clinical and commercial capabilities of our partners," said Yochi Slonim, Anima's co–founder & CEO. "Takeda"s leadership and depth of scientific expertise in the CNS area is ideally suited for our second Pharma partnership in Neuroscience and further validates our leadership in mRNA translation control. We are looking forward to working together with Takeda in a true collaboration model."

About Anima Biotech

Anima Biotech is pioneering Translation Control Therapeutics, a novel approach for the discovery of small molecules that selectively control mRNA translation as a new strategy against undruggable proteins. With our proprietary technology that emits light pulses from ribosomes, we identify drug candidates that selectively decrease or increase the translation of proteins and elucidate their mechanism of action in a new target space. Our pipeline includes programs in Fibrosis (tissue selective Collagen I translation inhibitors), Oncology (c–Myc translation inhibitors and K–Ras translation inhibitors), RSV (viral translation inhibitors) and Repeat Associated Diseases (translation malfunctions in multiple neurological diseases). In addition to our pipeline, we have established partnerships for the discovery and development of mRNA translation modulators in Neuroscience, including our strategic partnerships with Lilly and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda"). Our science was further validated with seven patents, 15 peer reviewed publications and 17 scientific collaborations. To learn more about us, visit https://www.animabiotech.com.

Media Contact:
Andrew Mielach
LifeSci Communications
+1.646.876.5868
amielach@lifescicomms.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8191951)

Aptitude Research Examines Benefits of Programmatic Job Advertising

NEW YORK and HERZLIYA, Israel, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PandoLogic, the world's leading provider of programmatic recruitment advertising, shared findings from recent report conducted by Madeline Laurano, principal analyst at the talent acquisition industry firm Aptitude Research. Laurano presented the primary research, titled "Don't Get Left Behind: The Programmatic Revolution Starts Now," at this week's Spring HR Tech Conference.

Frustration abounds with traditional job advertising models, given its expensive, inefficient and, most times, ineffective results. These older approaches assume that already stretched recruiters have the time and skills to negotiate, purchase and monitor job advertising investments across a range of job sites, making it no surprise that the ROI is low. In sharp contrast, programmatic job advertising enables companies to re–direct their existing job advertising budgets to modern technology–driven models that provide immediate improvements.

Laurano commented, "In talent acquisition, every company is at a different stage in their advertising and recruitment marketing journey. Although some companies are using programmatic advertising to further their brands, they're not yet applying it as part of their recruiting strategy. Our findings include a maturity model that will help them determine how much of their job advertising budget is being wasted by not using programmatic."

Among the benefits of programmatic job advertising, the research identified the following key points:

  • Companies that leverage programmatic are twice as likely (60 percent versus 29 percent) to reduce time–to–fill
  • These companies are also nearly three times (56 percent versus 19 percent) likely to improve quality–of–hire compared to companies using traditional advertising
  • As opposed to traditional advertising, programmatic job advertising advances diversity hiring efforts (47 percent versus 27 percent)

The research was sponsored by the global programmatic job advertising market leader, PandoLogic.

Jennifer Ravalli, vice president, Marketing at PandoLogic, said, "We were proud to sponsor this much needed research with Aptitude. Programmatic job advertising as a category still has relatively low adoption, despite a strong track record for delivering amazing outcomes for clients. As we look toward job recovery over the next year, we believe programmatic job advertising can be a game changing tool for talent acquisition professionals. This research will help support growth of the category overall, by sharing quantitative data that illuminates the results early adopters are seeing."

Laurano concurred, "We've observed evidence of programmatic in action. For example, it was used by a restaurant company with high turnover. They were able to increase applicant volume by 472 percent, reduce cost–per–applicant by 533 percent plus reduce the monthly recruitment investment by 19 percent."

The Aptitude Research report is available for complimentary download. Please visit https://go.pandologic.com/state–of–programmatic–job–advertising–report to access your copy.

About PandoLogic

PandoLogic's pandoIQ platform enables employers, staffing firms and RPOs to source qualified applicants faster and more efficiently. pandoIQ maximizes job advertising spend through the use of data science, machine learning and proprietary campaign algorithms that fully automate and optimize the job advertising business process. Since 2007, over 125,000 employers and more than 700 digital publishers have benefited from PandoLogic's programmatic solutions resulting in over 5 billion programmatic job campaigns based on more than 200 billion historical job performance data points. To learn more, visit https://pandologic.com/


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8191314)

Open Society Foundations Call for Immediate Release of OSM Staff Member in Myanmar

London, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Open Society Foundations are deeply concerned by reports that Phyu Pa Pa Thaw, finance manager of OSM (Open Society Myanmar), has been detained in Myanmar. We call for her immediate release. We are alarmed by reports that authorities are seeking to interrogate and arrest other staff members.

The Open Society Foundations have supported the promotion of democracy in Myanmar for decades. This work began in the 1990s when the Foundations funded scholarships and training for students.

Since 2017, OSM has worked with civil society and relevant authorities for the benefit of Myanmar and its people, including to expand inclusive education and access to health care. More information about OSM's work in Myanmar is freely available on this public fact sheet.

Claims of financial misconduct made by the military, including that OSM acted illegally by withdrawing their own funds in local currency from a local bank, are false. Claims that OSM used these funds for illegal purposes are also false. These funds were used for purposes fully within the objectives of OSM. When the military seized power, and media and communications channels, and the banking systems were restricted, OSM moved quickly to secure the funds it would need for operations. The authorities have no legal right to freeze or seize monies in any OSM bank account. OSM is closed and will remain closed.

These allegations suggest a worrying attempt to attack and discredit those who wish for a return to peace and democracy in Myanmar.

We call on the military to immediately release Phyu Pa Pa Thaw and drop these baseless claims against other staff.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8191942)

Clever Leaves and Ethypharm Announce German Pharmaceutical Cannabis Partnership

NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clever Leaves Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVR, CLVRW) ("Clever Leaves" or the "Company"), a leading multi–national operator and licensed producer of pharmaceutical–grade cannabinoids, today announced the signing of a supply agreement with Ethypharm ("Ethypharm"), a European manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical products, for the sale of medical cannabis extracts produced in Clever Leaves' EU–GMP certified facilities in Colombia. The initial portfolio of products includes high–CBD, high–THC, and balanced CBD and THC formulations developed exclusively by Clever Leaves to meet the regulatory needs of the German market.

The products manufactured under this partnership will be sold within Ethypharm's branded portfolio and will expand Ethypharm's core product offering focusing on Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases and conditions, chronic pain, and critical care treatments. The portfolio will be sold in Germany through Ethypharm's local subsidiary, Ethypharm GmbH, and distributed directly to pharmacies, where they will be dispensed to patients as prescribed medicinal products.

"This partnership with Ethypharm, an established European pharmaceutical company, advances our vision of providing market–leading medical cannabis products to patients. Clever Leaves' focus on high–quality EU–GMP certified production and our international supply chain has positioned us to develop, produce and ship products to end–markets that will have significant impact on patients' treatments", said Kyle Detwiler, CEO of Clever Leaves. "Partnering with an established pharmaceutical company like Ethypharm also allows Clever Leaves to more broadly enter the German pharmaceutical market, which is currently considered one of the most important international medical cannabis markets due to its size, pace of growth, and Germany's clinical credibility in terms of paving the way to entering additional European or international pharmaceutical markets."

“Partnering and working with physicians and pharmacists to improve people's lives is one of Ethypharm's daily ambitions. Today, providing medical cannabis will answer a clear unmet medical need for patients who are not relieved with current treatments. This innovative collaboration on medical cannabis with Clever Leaves is a good example of how Ethypharm has developed new ways to provide patients with the care they need." said Bertrand Deluard, CEO of Ethypharm.

Clever Leaves boasts multiple international certifications including a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certification by INVIMA; Good Agricultural and Collecting Practices (GACP) Certification; and European Union Good Manufacturing Practices (EU GMP) Certification.

Ethypharm, was recently awarded a role in the French cannabis experiment in a partnership with Aurora.

About Clever Leaves Holdings Inc.
Clever Leaves is a multi–national cannabis company with an emphasis on ecologically sustainable, large–scale cultivation and pharmaceutical–grade processing as the cornerstones of its global cannabis business. With operations and investments in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Germany and Portugal, Clever Leaves has created an effective distribution network and global footprint, with a foundation built upon capital efficiency and rapid growth. Clever Leaves aims to be one of the industry's leading global cannabis companies recognized for its principles, people, and performance while fostering a healthier global community. Clever Leaves has received multiple international certifications that have enabled it to increase its export and sales capacity from its Colombian operations, including European Union Good Manufacturing Practices (EU GMP) Certification, a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certification by Colombia National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute – Invima, and Good Agricultural and Collecting Practices (GACP) Certification. Clever Leaves was granted a provisional license in Portugal from Infarmed "" the Portuguese health authority "" which allows Clever Leaves to cultivate, import and export dry flower for medicinal and research purposes. In addition, the Portuguese operation was recently granted certification of compliance with GACP and IMC–GAP.

For more information, please visit https://cleverleaves.com/en/home/ and follow us on LinkedIn.

About the Ethypharm Group
Ethypharm is a European pharmaceutical company focused on two therapeutic areas: the Central Nervous System and Critical Care. Ethypharm markets its drugs directly in Europe and China, and with partners in North America and the Middle East where its drugs are in high demand. The Group employs more than 1,500 people, mainly in Europe and China. Ethypharm works closely with authorities and healthcare professionals to ensure the appropriate use of and access to its medicines, by as many people as possible.

For more information visit www.ethypharm.com and follow on LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements
This Press Release includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward–looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward–looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "forecasts," "future," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "predict," "potential," "projected," "seek," "seem," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward–looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward–looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, expectations with respect to future operating and financial performance and growth, including if or when Clever Leaves will become profitable; Clever Leaves' ability to execute its business plans and strategy and to receive regulatory approvals; potential litigations; global economic conditions; geopolitical events, natural disasters, acts of God and pandemics, including, but not limited to, the economic and operational disruptions and other effects of COVID–19; regulatory requirements and changes thereto; access to additional financing. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning certain of these and other risk factors is contained in Clever Leaves' most recent filings with the SEC. All subsequent written and oral forward–looking statements concerning Clever Leaves and attributable to Clever Leaves or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward–looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Clever Leaves expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward–looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Clever Leaves Press contacts:
McKenna Miller
KCSA Strategic Communications
+1347–487–6197
mmiller@kcsa.com

Diana Sigenza
Strategic Communications Director
+57310–236–8830
Diana.siguenza@cleverleaves.com

Clever Leaves Investor inquiries:
Sean Mansouri, CFA or Cody Slach
Gateway Investor Relations
+1949–574–3860
CLVR@gatewayir.com

Clever Leaves Commercial inquiries:
Andrew Miller
Vice President Sales – EMEA, North America, and Asia–Pacific
+1416–817–1336
andrew.miller@cleverleaves.com

Ethypharm Media Contacts:
Avril PONELLE
+ 33 (0)1 41 12 17 20
presse@ethypharm.com

Markus GLADBACH / Christine VOGL–KORDICK
+49 157 71 44 60 98 / +49 172 86 50 982
presse@thecommsduo.com


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LeddarTech Announces the Appointment of Dr Olaf Berlien to Its Board of Directors

QUEBEC CITY, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech , a global leader in Level 1–5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Olaf Berlien to its Board of Directors, further enhancing the diversity and industry expertise of the Board.

Dr Berlien possesses over 30 years of experience in senior executive positions specializing in engineering, automotive, and lighting. Notably, until recently, Dr Berlien served as CEO of OSRAM since January 2015.

Before joining OSRAM, Dr Berlien served as CEO of M+W Group, a German company for systems engineering and plant construction and before that, as CEO of the technologies division of ThyssenKrupp, overseeing the elevator and automotive segments as well as the engineering activities. From 1996 until 2002, Dr Berlien was a member of the managing board at Carl Zeiss, a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics.

Dr Berlien started his career at IBM.

"The LeddarTech Board of Directors is very pleased to welcome Dr Olaf Berlien as its newest member," stated Mr. Michel Brl, Chairman of the Board of LeddarTech. "Olaf's extensive leadership experience in the technology industry, combined with his strategic skills in efficient cross–industry networking, business optimization, and handling pertinent market dynamics, will contribute greatly to the strategy oversight role of the LeddarTech Board," Mr. Brl concluded.

"LeddarTech has, over the past few months, made strategic additions to its Board of Directors," stated Charles Boulanger, CEO of LeddarTech. "LeddarTech's global reach has increased dramatically both in personnel and R&D facilities, the latest being in Israel. LeddarTech has evolved to become a true end–to–end environmental sensing company that addresses sensing and perception challenges across the automotive and mobility value chain," Mr. Boulanger continued. "The appointment of Olaf represents our strategy of bringing the best minds in the industry to share their expertise and guidance as we get closer to becoming the most widely deployed sensing platform in the industry for automotive and mobility," Mr. Boulanger concluded.

Dr Berlien holds a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin.

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end–to–end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision sensor–fusion and perception platform and its cost–effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive–grade solid–state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine, LeddarTech enables Tier 1–2 automotive system integrators to develop full–stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting–edge automotive and mobility remote–sensing applications, with over 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact:
Daniel Aitken, Vice–President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management, LeddarTech Inc.
Tel.: + 1–418–653–9000 ext. 232
daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cd83aa2–f283–474a–9b59–9f89023084a9


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