Category: MENA

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Kenya Grants Emergency Use Authorization for the INDICAID(TM) COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test

HONG KONG and NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — PHASE Scientific announces that its INDICAID™ COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (INDICAID™) has received Emergency Use Authorization from the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Republic of Kenya on 17 August 2021. The authorization enables the test to be used in Kenya for the identification of COVID-19 cases, facilitating early isolation, diagnosis and treatment of patients.

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The INDICAID™ COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test is a lateral flow immunoassay designed for qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Unlike other testing methods that use nasopharyngeal swab specimens, INDICAID™ uses nasal swab specimens to provide fast results within 20 minutes without need of any special equipment or facilities.

INDICAID™ has been validated in the world’s largest clinical trial for a product of its kind, results from which have been published in Microbiology Spectrum on 4 August 2021. In this Dual-Track testing trial, 22,994 asymptomatic subjects were tested using both INDICAID™ and a confirmatory RT-PCR test at COVID-19 community testing centers in Hong Kong. Results show that INDICAID™ has excellent sensitivity and specificity and is effective for fast population screening.

“The authorization of INDICAID™ from various countries indicates our technology and quality are well-recognized globally,” says Dr. Ricky Chiu Yin-to, Founder and CEO of PHASE Scientific. “Thanks to INDICAID’s high sensitivity, not only can the product help detect symptomatic positive cases, it can also be used for screening in asymptomatic populations.” Dr. Chiu has also mentioned that Kenya is the first market in Africa the Company enters, and that it will continue expanding to other African countries to help combat COVID-19.

INDICAID™ COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test has received Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the European CE Mark. The kit has been widely adopted in COVID-19 testing centers, hospitals, government and private corporations, supermarkets, hotels and schools in Hong Kong and overseas. INDICAID™ is currently available in 33 countries, and is the best-selling rapid test kit in Hong Kong.

About Phase Scientific International LTD: PHASE Scientific is a high-growth biotech company founded by a team of bioengineers from UCLA. The organization is focused on building tools that empower people by giving them better information about their health. Headquartered in Hong Kong, its footprint includes research and development, manufacturing and distribution in Hong Kong, mainland China and Southern California. For more information: https://phasescientific.com/.

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Marine Online’s Rides On The Bullish Demolition Market

Leveraging attractive steel prices to drive more ships to the recycling yards

SINGAPORE, Aug. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Ships are sent for demolition typically after between 15 and 20 years of usage. However, the pandemic’s pressure has compelled some shipowners to sustain themselves by raising capital with early vessel scrapping – cashing in on attractive steel prices. The cyclical nature of ship demolition also poses a challenge for many shipowners to catch the period where steel prices are at their peak. Marine Online closes the gap between shipowners and market fluidity by offering reliable information, enabling shipowners to maximise their investments at the right times.

The team at Marine Online’s has a firm understanding of the latest market sentiments including the demolition sector. Equipped with strong analytical aptitude, shipowners can look forward to favourable negotiation outcomes with sound advisories related to prevailing market movements. Additionally, Marine Online’s team is always ready to propose the best possible recommendations in the clients’ best interests.

Bharat Bahl, Marine Online’s Sales and Purchase Manager remarked: “Our successful negotiations are attributed to having sound grasp of the demolition market – especially the returns (steel prices) corresponding with the right timing. We strive to help our clientele convert their expired assets into optimum yields. Additionally, we go the extra mile in assisting shipowners have their vessels arrive at the scrap yard smoothly and on time. Our strong connections with over 700 ports worldwide, 10,000 authorised service providers complement our service and commitment to deliver.”

Marine Online is a client-centric platform providing maritime professionals with effective vessel sales and purchase solutions. To date, Marine Online has transacted for both buyers and sellers worldwide.

About Marine Online (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Marine Online is the world’s first one-stop integrated platform specialising in maritime services for the global market. Launched in 2019, it has provided various maritime services through its revolutionary A.I and Big Data enabled platform to regional ship and cargo owners. With its portfolio of 8 major services, Marine Online shapes the future of maritime by using cutting edge technology to create business opportunities and connections. For more information, visit www.marineonline.com

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Customertimes Announces Expanded Salesforce Industries Focus

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Customertimes is announcing an expanded focus on its Salesforce Industries practice throughout EMEA and North America.

With the acquisition of Vlocity in 2020, Salesforce continues its push into industry vertical solutions. Customertimes is a Salesforce Master Navigator, and with deep experience across all Salesforce Industry clouds, it is well-positioned to deliver outstanding business results for any industry project.

Internationally recognized for its strong Salesforce partnership, this practice expansion will allow Customertimes to continue to deliver true digital transformation for complex verticals like Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Comms & Media, and Utilities.

“Currently, the industry is experiencing a huge gap in Vlocity skills,” says Rinoy Varkey, Practice Head & SVP Salesforce Industries (Vlocity) at Customertimes. “We are here to fill that gap. We have the right people in place at the right time – our 800+ certified global Salesforce consultants can handle any project from the ground up or help with staff augmentation on existing projects.”

“With more than 1400 Salesforce certifications and leading Salesforce Industries Cloud experts on our team, we are known for our value-driven service offerings and efficient program delivery,” adds Adriano Acciaroli, VP EMEA at Customertimes. “We have engagement models that suit any region or customer segment with uncompromising quality and support.”

Key areas of engagement currently include Enterprise Product Modelling, Enterprise Product Catalog Development/Configuration, CPQ Technical Architecture, CPQ Development/Configuration, and OmniStudio Consultation/Development.

To learn more:

About Customertimes 
Customertimes Corp. is a global consulting and software firm dedicated to making the top IT technologies accessible to customers. With more than 4000 projects completed and 1300+ highly skilled experts, their solutions are engineered to help clients realize true business transformation and achieve maximum value from their technology investments. An early entrant into the Salesforce consulting and implementation space in Eastern Europe and an award-winning product development organization, Customertimes Corp. currently has headquarters in New York City, along with regional offices in London, Paris, Toronto, Kyiv, Minsk, Riga, and Moscow. For more information, visit www.customertimes.com.

Media Contact:
Meriel Sikora
Customertimes
212-520-0059
meriel.sikora@customertimes.com

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Etan Hon Named Product Manager of Turbo Aftermarket Services for Nikkiso Cryogenic Services

TEMECULA, Calif., Aug. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries’ Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (Group), a subsidiary of Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japan), is pleased to announce that Etan Hon has been appointed Product Manager of Turbo Aftermarket Services (AMS) for the Nikkiso Cryogenic Services unit (NCS).

This addition to their management team supports the Group’s objectives to further grow their AMS for Turboexpanders. The Turbo All Brands line will also expand to support and service more brands, including ACD, Rotoflow, Atlas Copco, and Cryostar among others.

Etan received a degree in Aerospace engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He started his career by providing oilfield services to customers within the oil & gas industry in Texas working for Schlumberger and Baker Hughes. In 2017, he joined ACD LLC as a Field Service Manager. After the acquisition by Nikkiso in 2019, he transitioned into the role of Service Manager of Turbo AMS for NCS and helped move the ACD Turbo AMS division into a new facility in Irvine, CA. He helped re-develop the standards and processes with the international service centers for the Turbo AMS in Irvine. The new structure has created a successful operating business locally and will ensure proper support to the Turbo AMS team globally.

“The NCS team is excited to have Etan in this new Turbo AMS Product Management role,” according to Jim Estes, President of NCS. “His years of experience and focus on customer service has exceeded our expectations. I’m looking forward to his success continuing in this new role.”

Nikkiso Cryogenic Services provides service and support globally, including locations in Malaysia, Germany, India, Australia, Taiwan and China as well as six locations in North America.

ABOUT CRYOGENIC INDUSTRIES
Cryogenic Industries, Inc. (now a member of Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) member companies manufacture engineered cryogenic gas processing equipment and small-scale process plants for the liquefied natural gas (LNG), well services and industrial gas industries. Founded over 50 years ago, Cryogenic Industries is the parent company of ACD, Cosmodyne and Cryoquip and a commonly-controlled group of approximately 20 operating entities.

For more information please visit www.nikkisoCEIG.com and www.nikkiso.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Anna Quigley
+1.951.383.3314
aquigley@cryoind.com


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GenScript Biotech Reports First Half 2021 Results

Posts explosive growth in GCT CDMO business and strategic GCT investments

NANJING, China, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — GenScript Biotech Corporation (HKEX: 1548.HK) (GenScript) today reported its first half 2021 financial results for the six months ended June 30. It also announced that the Group has expanded its presence in the gene and cell therapy (GCT) industry with aggressive investments.

In the first half of 2021, the Group maintained strong momentum across all business segments. Total revenue increased by 38% to USD 229.6 million, and gross profit increased by 28.1% to USD 138.6 million.

The Group’s non-cell therapy business revenue increased by 36.6% to USD 195.7 million, with gross profit of USD 104.7 million, a 23.0% YoY increase, including its GCT CDMO business’ historic breakthrough in explosive revenue growth. This built on the Group’s early investments in the field and advantages in plasmid and lentivirus R&D and manufacturing solutions. For the Group’s cell therapy business, revenue increased by 46.8% YoY to USD 33.9 million, benefitting from continued recognition of its successes and milestone investments.

As the world’s No. 1 gene synthesis supplier, GenScript has laid a strong technical foundation for its GCT business. As GenScript’s life science services and products business, biologics CDMO business, and cell therapy business are all achieving strong momentum, the Group’s is expanding its presence throughout the GCT value chain by investing aggressively.

In the first half of 2021, R&D expenses increased by 51.6% YoY to USD 175.1 million. The non-cell therapy business invested about 10% of its revenue in GMP facility construction and other infrastructure expansion. The cell therapy business spent USD154.5 million on R&D, a 52.1% YoY increase, with an investment focus on clinical studies of cilta-cel and manufacturing facilities that support the business’ ongoing clinical trials and future commercialization.

GenScript is ushering in the rise of GCT as the next biotech industry revolution, tapping into the huge potential of CRO and CDMO platforms. Over the next two to three years, the life science business and biologics CDMO business will increase their strategic investments into the field. This includes investments in GCT-related services, utilizing automation technology to upgrade production lines, and accelerate the launch of ongoing cell therapy products and R&D in new pipelines.

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Conagen Expands Natural Preservation by Fermentation

Bedford, Mass., Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the “clean label” trend thrives in many consumer product categories, Massachusetts-based biotech Conagen announced the launch of a natural preservative, p-Coumaric Acid (PCA). Conagen’s PCA is made by fermentation and expands the natural preservatives offered by its commercialization partner Blue California.

The natural preservation market is driven by consumer exploration of clean-label food, beverage, personal care, and cosmetic product which do not contain artificial ingredients while still possessing extended shelf life.

In a published Mintel report Feb. 2021, U.S. Consumers were polled on relating ‘naturalness’ with ‘health, “43% of U.S. consumers have the perception that “all-natural” is an important factor when choosing healthy food and beverages.”

Food and beverage manufacturers are moving away from artificial ingredients in their processing and packaging methods. Therefore, new sources of natural preservatives, such as Conagen’s natural, fermentation-derived PCA, are ideal for brands to make a seamless change from synthetic preservation ingredients to natural ones.

“Our PCA expands the toolbox for product developers looking for a scalable, low cost-in-use, natural solution for increasing the shelf life of food without interfering with the flavor of their products,” said Conagen’s Vice President of Innovation, Dr. Casey Lippmeier.

PCA is a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compound found in all plants, primarily peanuts, tomatoes, carrots, basil, and garlic. It is a key constituent of wine, vinegar, and honey.

Conagen produces PCA by an innovative precision fermentation process. This technology enables the cultivation of micro-organisms programmed to create sustainable, natural ingredients with high purity at a price competitive with synthetic PCA. PCA by fermentation is ideal for industrial applications as well.

“A sustainable source of PCA is also desirable as a precursor for different biopolymers and other high-tech biomaterials made with ‘green chemistry,”‘ said Lippmeier.

Green chemicals are a part of the global discussion on climate change and large chemical companies’ accelerating adoption of sustainable materials. “The novel polymers and co-polymers which can be made by fermentation-derived PCA enable the development of environmentally safer bioplastics and new applications in biomedicine,” said Lippmeier.

As an alternative to chemically synthesized compounds like bisphenol-A, PCA is a multifunctional natural and sustainable solution found in food to enable new and novel products by formulators and material scientists.

In the industrial applications space, PCA is ideal in coatings, composites, adhesives, and polymers for biomedical, transportation, aerospace, electronics, and packaging, just to name a few.

Last year, Blue California and Conagen jointly announced the commercialization of a 98% pure natural preservative, Rosavel™ rosmarinic acid, without the intensity of rosemary flavor and color as with most synthetic ingredients.  Another important natural preservative molecule derived from Conagen’s platform technologies is BC-DHQTM taxifolin, which secured GRAS status as announced last May.
About Conagen

Conagen is making the impossible possible. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high-quality sustainable nature-based products through systems of manufacturing on a molecular level and fermentation basis. We focus on the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

About Blue California

Blue California is a vertically integrated technology company providing innovative ingredient solutions to global partners. With more than 20 years of innovation success, our ingredients are used in commercial products and applications in the industries of nutrition, personal care, healthy aging and wellness, functional food and beverage, and beauty. www.bluecal-ingredients.com

Attachment

Ana Arakelian
Conagen
+1.781.271.1588
ana.arakelian@conagen.com

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Laserfiche Announces Spark EMEA, an Event for Business Leaders and Technologists Navigating the Future of Work

LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Laserfiche  announced today that registration is now open for Laserfiche Spark EMEA, a live video webcast showcasing product insights and strategies for driving enterprise-wide digital transformation. The leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation is hosting a virtual event under the theme of “Ready to Reimagine,” and invites attendees to explore how organisations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa can implement Laserfiche to transform and modernise operations. The free broadcast will air 1st September 2021.

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“The COVID-19 crisis has re-prioritised digital transformation, compacting years of change in just several months,” said Laserfiche President Karl Chan. “Digital adoption has accelerated in every area of the enterprise, from internal operations and supply chain interaction to the customer experience. We are excited to engage with the Laserfiche EMEA community to share knowledge and experiences in using Laserfiche solutions to recover, rebuild and reimagine the enterprise.”

Laserfiche Spark EMEA will cover topics designed to equip business leaders and technologists with the knowledge necessary for the increasingly complex and rapidly changing business landscape:

  • Maintain GDPR Compliance with Confidence: GDPR has immense influence over how today’s businesses and organisations around the world manage information. Learn from Reynold Leming, chair of the Information and Records Management Society, about how you can bolster compliance efforts using Laserfiche.
  • Why the Time is Right for Cloud: Discover how your organisation can thrive with the flexibility and resiliency provided by cloud technology.
  • What You Need to Know About Hybrid: Learn why today’s organisations are integrating all kinds of cloud services into their digital ecosystem.

“As employee and customer expectations reshape the future of work, we are committed to providing enterprises with the solutions and tools to navigate new business environments,” said Laserfiche UK Business Manager Attar Naderi. “Laserfiche Spark offers members of our EMEA community insights and best practices tailored to regionally-specific experiences, with solutions that align with long-term strategies and enhance organisational agility.”

In addition to resources such as best practices, digital guides, action plans and frameworks, Laserfiche Spark attendees will also gain complimentary access to certification courses, fostering ongoing education about Laserfiche and the strategies needed to succeed in today’s increasingly digital, connected, and fast-changing workplace.

For more information and to register for Laserfiche Spark EMEA session, click here.

Notes to Editors

About Laserfiche

Laserfiche is the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation. Through powerful workflows, electronic forms, document management and analytics, the Laserfiche® platform accelerates how business gets done, enabling leaders to focus on growth across the enterprise.

Laserfiche pioneered the paperless office with enterprise content management. Today, Laserfiche’s cloud-first development approach incorporates innovations in machine learning and AI to enable organizations in more than 80 countries to transform into digital businesses. Customers in every industry — including government, education, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing — use Laserfiche to boost productivity, scale their business and deliver digital-first customer experiences.

Laserfiche employees in offices around the world are committed to the company’s vision of empowering customers and inspiring people to reimagine how technology can transform lives.

Connect with Laserfiche:

Laserfiche Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

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