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Zenas BioPharma Appoints Simon Lowry, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer

WALTHAM, Mass. and SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zenas BioPharma, a global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and commercialization of immune-based therapies for patients in need around the world, today announced the appointment of Simon Lowry, M.D., as the company’s Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Lowry brings over 20 years of broad clinical expertise in the design and execution of early to late-stage clinical programs to Zenas, where he will lead the company’s global clinical, medical affairs, and pharmacovigilance functions.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Lowry to Zenas at this pivotal time for the company as we commence two phase three registration trials for our lead product candidate, obexelimab, in the fourth quarter of this year and initiate first-in-human clinical trials for multiple pipeline programs,” said Hua Mu, M.D., Ph. D, Chief Executive Officer at Zenas. “Dr. Lowry’s proven leadership, broad clinical development background, and extensive global clinical trial experience will further strengthen our ability to execute on our mission to transform the lives of patients with unmet medical needs by bringing best-in-class immune-based therapies to patients.”

Dr. Simon Lowry added, “There are many patients with autoimmune and rare diseases in need of effective new treatment options. The deeply experienced and talented Zenas team has made impressive progress advancing the company’s pipeline in a very short period of time, and I look forward to leading the ongoing advancement of Zenas’ clinical programs through commercialization while further expanding the company’s pipeline of innovative programs.”

Dr. Lowry is a medical doctor with 20 years of experience at large and emerging pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies directing successful development programs, leading clinical and medical affairs teams, and interacting with regulatory agencies across multiple areas of medicine, including rheumatology, immunology, and ophthalmology. Prior to joining Zenas, Dr. Lowry was Chief Medical Officer at Kinevant Science, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on treating rare inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Lowry was previously Head of Immunology R&D at Roivant Sciences, leading all development stage immunology assets into clinical development, and served as a key member of the leadership team. He also served as Chief Medical Officer at Sun Pharma North America, where he was responsible for four branded therapeutic areas (Immunology & Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Neurology and Oncology), and led all aspects of development and medical functions (including clinical development, medical information, field medical, HEOR, publications / medical communications, and operations). Early in his career, he worked at Novartis, where he served as Vice President, Global Medical Affairs Franchise Head, Immunology & Dermatology, and Pfizer, where he served in roles of increasing responsibility, including as Vice President, Oncology Medical Affairs Group Leader.

Prior to his pharmaceutical/ biotechnology career, Dr. Lowry practiced internal medicine at various institutions in the UK and Australia. He received his BA from Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, UK and his MB BChir medical degree from Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine.

About Zenas BioPharma

Zenas BioPharma is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and commercialization of immune-based therapies for patients around the world. With clinical development and operations in the US and China, 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.

Investor and Media Contact:
Joe Farmer
Zenas BioPharma
IR@zenasbio.com

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Zenas BioPharma Nomeia Simon Lowry, M.D. para Diretor Médico

WALTHAM, Mass. e SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Zenas BioPharma, uma empresa biofarmacêutica global comprometida em se tornar líder no desenvolvimento e comercialização de terapias imunológicas, anunciou hoje a nomeação de Simon Lowry, MD para seu Conselho Diretor. O Dr. Lowry tem mais de 20 anos de ampla experiência clínica na concepção e execução de programas clínicos de estágio inicial a final na Zenas, onde ele passará a liderar as funções globais de clínica, assuntos médicos e farmacovigilância da empresa.

“Estamos muito contentes em receber o Dr. Lowry na Zenas neste momento crucial para a empresa, quando damos início a dois testes de registro de fase três do nosso principal candidato a produto, obexelimabe, no quarto trimestre deste ano, e aos primeiros testes clínicos em humanos de vários programas de pipeline”, disse Hua Mu, M.D., Ph.D., Diretor Executivo da Zenas. “A liderança comprovada do Dr. Lowry, seu amplo histórico de desenvolvimento clínico e extensa experiência com ensaios clínicos globais irão fortalecer ainda mais nossa capacidade de executar nossa missão de transformar a vida dos pacientes com necessidades médicas não atendidas, com a oferta das melhores terapias imunológicas aos pacientes.”

O Dr. Simon Lowry acrescentou: “Há muitos pacientes com doenças autoimunes e raras que precisam de novas opções de tratamento eficazes. A equipe profundamente experiente e talentosa da Zenas fez um progresso impressionante ao avançar no pipeline da empresa em um período muito curto de tempo, e estou pronto para liderar o avanço contínuo dos programas clínicos da Zenas com a sua comercialização e maior expansão do pipeline de programas inovadores da empresa.”

O Dr. Lowry tem 20 anos de experiência com grandes empresas farmacêuticas e de biotecnologia emergentes, tendo dirigido programas de desenvolvimento bem-sucedidos, liderado equipes de assuntos clínicos e médicos, e interagido com agências reguladoras em várias áreas da medicina, incluindo reumatologia, imunologia e oftalmologia. Antes de ingressar na Zenas, o Dr. Lowry foi Diretor Médico da Kinevant Science, uma empresa biofarmacêutica de estágio clínico focada no tratamento de doenças inflamatórias e autoimunes raras. Anteriormente, o Dr. Lowry foi Chefe de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Imunologia da Roivant Sciences, liderando todos os ativos de imunologia em estágio de desenvolvimento para o desenvolvimento clínico, e serviu como um membro-chave da equipe de liderança. Ele também atuou como Diretor Médico na Sun Pharma North America, onde foi responsável por quatro áreas terapêuticas de marca (Imunologia e Dermatologia, Oftalmologia, Neurologia e Oncologia) e liderou todos os aspectos do desenvolvimento e funções médicas (incluindo desenvolvimento clínico, informações médicas, medicina de campo, HEOR, publicações/comunicações médicas e operações). No início da sua carreira, ele trabalhou na Novartis, onde atuou como Vice-Presidente, Chefe de Franquia de Assuntos Médicos Globais, Imunologia e Dermatologia, e na Pfizer, onde atuou em funções de responsabilidade crescente, incluindo como Vice-Presidente, Líder do Grupo de Assuntos Médicos de Oncologia.

Antes da sua carreira farmacêutica/biotecnológica, o Dr. Lowry exerceu medicina interna em várias instituições no Reino Unido e na Austrália. Ele é formado em Medicina pela Trinity Hall, Cambridge University e pela Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine no Reino Unido.

Sobre a Zenas BioPharma

A Zenas BioPharma é uma empresa biofarmacêutica mundial comprometida em se tornar líder global no desenvolvimento e comercialização de terapias imunológicas para pacientes em todo o mundo. Com desenvolvimento clínico e operações nos EUA e na China, a Zenas está avançando rapidamente um vasto pipeline de terapêuticas inovadoras que continua a crescer por meio da nossa estratégia de desenvolvimento de negócios de sucesso. Nossa experiente equipe de liderança e rede de parceiros de negócios impulsionam a excelência operacional para oferecer terapias potencialmente transformadoras para melhorar a vida das pessoas que enfrentam doenças autoimunes e raras. Para mais informação sobre a Zenas BioPharma, visite www.zenasbio.com e siga-nos no Twitter em @ZenasBioPharma e LinkedIn.

Contato com Investidores e com a Mídia:
Joe Farmer
Zenas BioPharma
IR@zenasbio.com

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IPLOOK Chosen by Oceanlink to Enable the Delivery of 4G Mobile Network on Pacific Islands

IPLOOK’ s MNO solution allows Oceanlink to quickly and economically deliver 4G network services to its mobile users; Achieving IPLOOK’ s first commercial 2G&3G&4G LTE deployment (CSFB Feature) in Kiribati

HONG KONG, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ —  IPLOOK Technologies, the leader in end-to-end LTE/5G mobile core network vendor, announced it has been chosen by Oceanlink, a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in Kiribati, to provide its 4G mobile core network for commercial deployment on Pacific Islands. This deployment enables Oceanlink to address the high-performance and stable network demands, expanding its service offerings to customers.

On the islands of Kiribati, the legacy 2G/3G network connection is not developed as quickly as the growing market demand for high-speed internet and multiple media services. By deploying IPLOOK’s carrier-grade  EPC and IMS platform, Oceanlink achieved a swift rollout of the new-built 4G commercial network while significantly lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO) and reducing overall time to market, delivering its customers a truly seamless connectivity experience with less network disruption.

“To satiate customers’ demands for highly reliable network connectivity, we chose IPLOOK as our partner. Backed up by an excellent team to undertake this network transformation, we are well-positioned to address future growth and expansion,” said Liyong Liang, CTO of ACCLINKS.

“We are excited to work with ACCLINKS to expand mobile services and cost-effectively scale their networks by leveraging our MNO solution,” said Owen Ouyang, Region Director in the MENA region of IPLOOK, “This cooperation is a prime example of our high-quality and easy-to-deploy network solution that accelerates operators’ ability to create revenue opportunities.”

About Oceanlink

ACCLINKS (Branded as “Oceanlink”) has been serving customers on Pacific Islands since 2003. The company establishes trust with customers through professional services, customized products and quick response. ACCLINKS provides high quality products and top level professional services.

More info at http://www.acclinks.com/.

About IPLOOK

Founded in 2012, IPLOOK is an industry-leading end-to-end, cloud-based mobile network solution provider. IPLOOK’ s highly scalable virtualized 3G/4G/5G core network software products can be deployed in the deployment scenarios for Mobile Network Operators (MNO), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), Wireless Internet Services Providers (WISP) and Enterprises.

Reach out more at https://www.iplook.com/. Follow IPLOOK on LinkedIn @IPLOOK Technologies

Contact us:

E-mail: info@iplook.com

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Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa Welcomes the East African Court of Justice Ruling that Rwanda Government’s Seizure of his Trade Union Centre Mall Was Illegal

TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa is pleased to announce that on August 30, 2022, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) ruled that Rwanda government’s seizure and auctioning his Union Trade Centre (UTC) Mall were illegal. EACJ awarded Ayabatwa US$1 million, 6% interest and court costs. The government seized the US$20 million Mall in 2013, alleging that UTC was ‘abandoned’ because Ayabatwa who is Rwandan-born resided outside Rwanda. UTC was at the time a thriving business, hosting 80 businesses with nearly 500 employees, managed by a strong local team in good standing with Rwandan authorities. Then in August 2015, the government declared UTC a tax defaulter of US$1.4 million, an absurd claim, since the Mall was managed by the Rwandan state. Two years later, the government auctioned UTC for a mere US$8 million, less than half its actual value.

Union Trade Centre Mall

Ayabatwa took the government to EACJ, which ruled in 2020 that seizure and auctioning UTC were illegal. The government was ordered to account for rental and sale proceeds of UTC from 2013 and to compensate Ayabatwa for damages amounting to US$500,000 and 6% annual interest from the date of judgment. Ayabatwa appealed the ruling, however, because the Court did not restore his ownership of UTC. That is when the government fabricated a new absurd allegation that Ayabatwa and his associates had embezzled US$458,058 from UTC in 2011. The cited ‘crime’ was in fact a loan acquired during the construction of UTC Mall. Now, the Rwandan government has once again lost the UTC Mall case. Ayabatwa welcomed the 30 August 2022 Court ruling, remarking that “there are times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but with truth on your side, justice always prevails.”

About Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa

Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist from Rwanda. He is founder of Pan-African Tobacco Group, Africa’s largest indigenous manufacturer of tobacco products in nine African countries and in the United Arab Emirates, trading across eastern, western and southern Africa. Ayabatwa is one of Africa’s leading philanthropists, assisting communities to uplift themselves in food security, access to clean water, reforestation, education, and engineering internships.

Pan-African Tobacco Group
info@ptg-hld.com
www.ptg-hld.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1892959/Tribert_Rujugiro_Ayabatwa__UTC_founder_Tribert_Rujugiro_Ayabatwa.jpg

David Himbara, Pan-African Tobacco Group, info@ptg-hld.com, www.ptg-hld.com

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Climate Change, Conflict Forcing More People in Africa to Flee

The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, is warning that the displacement crisis in the Horn of Africa and Sahel is getting worse as the impact of climate change and conflict are forcing more people to flee in search of safety and humanitarian assistance.

Climate shocks like floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and intense in Africa. Millions of people in Somalia and Ethiopia are struggling to find enough food, water and income to survive four consecutive years of drought.

Faced with this reality, the U.N. refugee agency says it is employing relief strategies to be better able to adapt to the new risks posed by climate change. The UNHCR representative in Somalia, Magatte Guisse, says Somalia is on the verge of a catastrophic famine.

He says that to help those most in need, his agency is setting up humanitarian hubs close to the most affected areas. He says helicopters will be used to transport staff and to deliver assistance.

“But other ideas also are to explore other options to link with community elders and any other actors in the community, which can help to reach the persons affected in those areas,” Guisse said. “This is part of our strategy, and it is ongoing.”

The UNHCR representative in Ethiopia, Mamadou Dian Balde, says 8 million people out of 20 million needing humanitarian assistance are affected by the ravages of climate change and insecurity.

These are people “who are already vulnerable because of lack of food and water,” Balde said. “And then even for accessing energy, you need to walk and move from one place to another. … For us, it is not only about lifesaving. Lifesaving is critical and we need that support now for immediate support. But we also need to help them build resilience, so that you can also get out of that perpetual request for support.”

Unlike the drought-stricken Horn of Africa, heavy rains have inundated Burkina Faso. Climate issues have brought new misery to a country that has one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises.

UNHCR’s representative in Burkina Faso, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, says attacks by armed groups have displaced 10 percent of the population, or 2 million people. He says the heavy rains have destroyed people’s homes and property and sent even more people fleeing.

One response being provided “is to make sure that, at least in all these open centers, where most of them are living, to make sure that the shelter response that we are providing is somehow, you know, compatible with the climate conditions,” Gnon-Konde said.

The UNHCR is appealing for funds to finance the technological support needed to avert, mitigate and tackle the displacement related to the adverse effects of extreme weather events.

Source: Voice of America

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Seminars by Governor of Northern Red Sea Region

The Governor of the Northern Red Sea Region, Ms. Asmeret Abraha conducted seminars in the sub-zones of Gelalo, Foro and Massawa focusing on the objective situation in the homeland.

At the seminars that were conducted from 2 to 7 September and in which heads of departments and branches, area administrators, village elders and concerned Government workers took part, Ms. Asmeret explaining on the historical background of Eritrean identity and challenges encountered as well as the heavy sacrifice paid to address the challenges, called on the public to develop overall awareness and strengthen participation in the successful implementation of national development drives.

In the same vein, Ms. Asmeret discussed with concerned bodies and experts focusing on the efforts being exerted to ensure potable water supply and development activities in Bada administrative area.

Ms. Asmeret also visited the progress of the road renovation connecting the sub-zones of Gelalo and Foro and held discussion with the coordinators of the program.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea

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Activity assessment meeting in Central Region

At an activity assessment meeting the Ministry of Education branch in the Central Region conducted on 6 September it was reported that commendable activities have been conducted in the 2021/2022 academic year through integrated efforts on the part of all stakeholders.

At the meeting extensive discussion was conducted on the strengths and challenges encountered in the teaching-learning process and measures taken to address the challenges.

According to report presented by Mr. Belai Habtegabir, head of the Ministry of Education branch in the region, out of the active 325 schools in the region 49% of pre-schools, 50.5% of elementary, 44% of junior and 40% of high schools are found in villages and there plan to build new ones.

Mr. Belai went on to say that in accordance with the policy of the Ministry of Education, the main objective of the branch office is to ensure equitable distribution of schools and educational opportunity, producing competent students as well as regular follow-up aimed at ensuring the development of teaching-learning process.

At the meeting activity reports of various sectors were also presented by concerned heads.

The participants on their part conducted extensive discussion on the reports presented and adopted various recommendations.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Fesehaye Haile, Governor of the Central Region, and Mr. Petros Hailemariam, Director General of Research and Human Resources Development at the Ministry of Education, indicating on the heavy responsibility that teachers shoulder called for due attention to nurture the culture of reading on students and on mother tongue education.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea