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Ascentage Pharma Announces 2024 Interim Results

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ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing both first-in-class and best-in-class therapies for malignancies, today announced its 2024 interim results. During the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma continued to execute its global innovation strategy, having achieved breakthroughs across various aspects of its business including external collaborations, commercialization, and clinical development. In particular, the company has set a new record with its revenue for the first half of 2024 and reported profit for the first time.

  • During the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma has set a new record for its revenue that grew by 477% from the same period last year to RMB824 million, with most of the revenue generated from sales of pharmaceutical products and license income. For the very first time in its history, Ascentage Pharma reached profitability, having reported a net profit of RMB163 million.
  • Ascentage Pharma made rapid progress with the commercialization of its first approved product, olverembatinib (HQP1351). During the reporting period, olverembatinib generated a sales revenue of RMB113 million, which grew by 120% from the second half of 2023 and 5% year-over-year.
  • Ascentage Pharma and Takeda, a multinational pharmaceutical company, have entered into an exclusive option agreement that granted Takeda an exclusive option to enter into an exclusive license agreement for olverembatinib. Once exercised, the Option would allow Takeda to license global rights to develop and commercialize olverembatinib in all territories outside of, among others, the mainland China, Hong Kong China, Macau China, and Taiwan China. Ascentage Pharma has received US$100 million in option payment and a US$75 million equity investment.
  • The company’s cash flows continued to improve. As of June 30, 2024, the company’s cash balances were RMB1.1 billion and rose to RMB1.8 billion by early July, 2024.

Entered into a landmark global collaboration that is the largest BD deal among small molecule oncology drugs in China

Ascentage Pharma constantly seeks global partnerships. During the reporting period, the company and Takeda, a multinational pharmaceutical company, entered into an exclusive option agreement for olverembatinib.

This collaboration, with a total value reaching US$1.3 billion, includes an option payment of US$100 million and an option exercise fee and potential milestone payments totaling US$1.2 billion. Additionally, Ascentage Pharma is eligible for tiered double-digit royalties on annual net sales. To date, this is the largest out-licensing deal for any small molecule oncology drug in China. Furthermore, Ascentage Pharma also received an equity investment from Takeda.

This collaboration highlights the significant clinical and commercial potential of olverembatinib in the global market and laid a solid foundation for the future global commercialization of the drug. Ascentage Pharma has already received the US$100 million option payment and US$75 million equity investment from Takeda.

Commercialization of olverembatinib accelerated and strengthened the companys revenue generating ability

Following the inclusion of the first approved indication of Ascentage Pharma’s novel drug candidate olverembatinib into the China National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in January 2023 and the regulatory approval for its new indication in November 2023, olverembatinib continued to realize its growth potential while boosting company’s ability to generate revenue through product sales. During the reporting period, the sales revenue of olverembatinib grew by 120% from the second half of 2023 and by 5% year-over-year, to RMB113 million.

Ascentage Pharma is expeditiously expanding the commercialization of its approved product. As of June 30, 2024, olverembatinib has entered 670 hospitals and direct-to-patient (DTP) pharmacies nationwide and its number of listed hospitals has grown by 79% compared to the end of last year. Since the approval of its new indication in November 2023 till June 30, 2024, olverembatinib has been included into 114 supplemental insurance for major diseases and Huimin insurance plans of 20 provinces and 83 municipalities. Additionally, olverembatinib was included into the special drugs catalog of the Huimin insurance plan of 20 provinces and municipalities such as Hebei, Hainan, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Wuxi, Huzhou, Shenzhen, and Yantai, which greatly improved the drug’s accessibility and alleviated the burden on patients.

As the first China-approved third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor, olverembatinib’s clinical value and therapeutic potential continued to received high profile recognition during the reporting period, both in China and globally. In January 2024, clinical trial results of olverembatinib were included into the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Moreover, olverembatinib has received upgraded recommendations from the 2024 Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies in CML and Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), plus a number of additional Level I recommendations from the guideline.

In July 2024, olverembatinib was approved in Macau China for the treatment of adult patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant chronic-phase CML (CML-CP) or accelerated-phase CML (CML-AP) harboring the T315I mutation; and adult patients with CML-CP resistant to and/or intolerant of first- and second-generation TKIs, marking another major milestone for olverembatinib following initial approvals it received in the Chinese mainland.

Global innovation strategy yielding more encouraging results with eight registrational studies being simultaneously advanced

Guided by its global innovation strategy, Ascentage Pharma delivered multiple milestone achievements and swiftly advanced its global clinical development programs during the reporting period. To date, two of the company’s key drug candidates, olverembatinib and lisaftoclax (APG-2575), have been cleared to enter 11 registrational studies, including 3 registrational studies that have been completed and 8 registrational studies currently ongoing.

In February 2024, olverembatinib was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enter a global registrational Phase III study in previously treated adult patients with CML-CP. This is the first FDA-cleared registrational Phase III study of olverembatinib and it represents a big step forward for Ascentage Pharma’s global clinical development in hematologic malignancies.

Outside hematology, the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Product Administration (NMPA) cleared a global registrational Phase III study of olverembatinib in patients with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who had failed prior systemic treatment. This clearance represents a crucial step in Ascentage Pharma’s clinical development in solid tumors.

Meanwhile, Ascentage Pharma also made notable strides with the clinical development of lisaftoclax in hematologic malignancies. During the reporting period, the China CDE cleared a Phase III study of lisaftoclax in combination with azacitidine (AZA) for the first-line treatment of newly-diagnosed patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This is the fourth cleared registrational Phase III study of lisaftoclax.

Winning recognition from around the world with robust clinical data spanning multiple indications

As an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on global innovation, Ascentage Pharma has built a high value pipeline composed of assets with first- and best-in-class potentials and conducted more than 40 clinical trials in China, the US, Australia, Europe, and Canada. In this process, Ascentage Pharma made steady progress exploring and validating a number of its drug candidates across multiple indications and presented updated results from its clinical programs at a number of international congresses, showcasing its prowess in R&D and clinical development.

During the reporting period, results from four clinical studies of olverembatinib, lisaftoclax, and APG-2449, the company’s three key drug candidates, were selected for presentations at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. This is the seventh consecutive year for Ascentage Pharma to present at the meeting. Among these results, the data of olverembatinib in patients with TKI-resistant SDH-deficient GIST were selected for an Oral Report. In the data, olverembatinib showed promising clinical benefit including a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 92.3% and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 25.7 months in patients with SDH-deficient GIST, an indication that currently lacks standard of care treatment. At the same meeting, Ascentage Pharma presented the latest data that further demonstrated the therapeutic potential of its FAK/ALK/ROS1 TKI APG-2449 for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

At the 2024 European Hematology Association Hybrid Congress (EHA 2024) which took place in June this year, Ascentage Pharma released update results from five studies of olverembatinib, lisaftoclax, and APG-5918, three of the company’s key drug candidates. These data highlighted the company’s competitiveness in the field of hematologic malignancies. The three studies of olverembatinib presented at EHA 2024 include one that reported the latest median 1-year follow-up data of olverembatinib in patients with CML and Ph+ ALL, updated from the data released at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. In the results, olverembatinib showed excellent durable clinical benefits and favorable long-term tolerability in patients who had been treated with multiple TKIs (including those who were resistant to ponatinib and/or asciminib), regardless of whether they harbored the T315I mutation.

The latest data from multiple studies of lisaftoclax were also selected for presentations at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting and EHA 2024. These results highlighted lisaftoclax’ therapeutic potential in a range of hematologic malignancies. Data released at this year’s ASCO Annual Meeting include the latest promising results from a Phase Ib/II study of lisaftoclax in combination with AZA in patients with treatment-naïve (TN) or relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and a global, multicenter Phase Ib/II study of lisaftoclax alone or in combinations for the treatment of patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). At EHA 2024, the company presented encouraging updated data of lisaftoclax in patients with R/R multiple myeloma (MM) or immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Furthermore, results from three preclinical studies of olverembatinib, alrizomadlin (APG-115), APG-2449, and APG-5918 were announced at the 2024 American Association of Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR 2024), providing important scientific rationale for the future clinical development of these assets.

Deepening global innovation while opening a whole new chapter on growth and development

To support its long-term strategy and growth, during the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form F-1 to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the proposed initial public offering of American depositary shares (ADSs) representing its ordinary shares.

Ascentage Pharma is steadfastly committed to its global innovation strategy and strengthening its intellectual property portfolio. As of June 30, 2024, Ascentage Pharma holds 520 issued patents globally, among of which 367 patents were issued outside of China.

Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman & CEO of Ascentage Pharma, said, “In the first half of 2024, Ascentage Pharma has achieved multiple milestones in global business development, product commercialization, and global clinical development. These achievements highlight our global innovative capabilities and competitiveness in the field of hematologic malignancies.

During the reporting period, we entered into a global collaboration valued at up to US$1.3 billion with Takeda, a multinational pharmaceutical company, for olverembatinib, in an agreement that also includes tiered double-digit royalties on annual net sales. This is the largest BD deal for any small molecule oncology drug in China. Moreover, we have already received US$75 million in equity investment from Takeda. This collaboration is another validation of our leadership in the industry and olverembatinib’s value in the global market that will hopefully demonstrate clinical potential in more conditions that currently lack treatment options. In February 2024, the US FDA cleared a global registrational Phase III study of olverembatinib, marking yet another major milestone in the global clinical development of the drug.

It is worth emphasizing that during the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma achieved profitability for the first time in its history. With olverembatinib included into the China NRDL and approved for a new indication in the country, we are empowered to further strengthen our commercialization capabilities. At the same time, we made broad progress with our global clinical development programs, expanded the potential indications of our key drug candidates, and reinforced our competitiveness in the field of hematologic malignancies.

Pressing ahead with our patient-centric global innovation strategy, we will continue to build out our commercialization capabilities and accelerate the global clinical development of our investigational assets. To fulfill our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we aspire to bring our innovative drugs to the global market as soon as possible for the benefit of more patients around the world and create additional value for societies and our investors.”

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a global, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing both first-in-class and best-in-class therapies to address global unmet medical needs primarily in malignancies. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical-stage drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2 and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation TKIs. Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company has conducted more than 40 clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China, including 11 registrational studies (completed/ ongoing/planned).

Olverembatinib, the company’s first lead asset developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company’s first approved product in China, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted Orphan Drug Designations (ODDs) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU.

To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company’s investigational drug candidates. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships and other relationships with numerous leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as Takeda, AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer and Innovent; and research and development relationships with leading research institutions such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan.

The company has built a talented team with a wealth of global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and fully functional commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions and expectations or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions and expectations may alter in light of future development.

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Bridge Biotherapeutics and HitGen Initiate Research Collaboration to Advance Novel Cancer Therapeutics Program

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  • Bridge Biotherapeutics Enters into a joint research agreement with the Chinese drug discovery platform company “HitGen” to accelerate the discovery of new drug candidates for a FIC novel cancer therapeutics program
  • Aims to strengthen its oncology portfolio with a novel drug candidate for newly identified hits from HitGen’s proprietary DEL that are expected to exhibit potent anticancer activity

CHENGDU, China, Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bridge Biotherapeutics (“Bridge”, KQ288330), a clinical-stage biotech company, announced that it has entered into a joint research agreement with HitGen Inc. (“HitGen”, SSE: 688222.SH), a Chinese drug discovery platform company. This collaboration builds on successful initial hit finding and identification work from HitGen’s DNA-encoded library (DEL), aiming to further develop the novel hits as promising drug candidates for cancer.

Bridge plans to strengthen its existing oncology portfolio, which is centered on EGFR inhibitors for lung cancer treatment, through new anticancer drug candidates targeting undisclosed targets. Over the past year, the company has established its own analytical methods through preliminary research to discover new targeted anticancer drugs that are expected to show high anticancer effects across various cancer types. With the launch of this joint research with HitGen, it is anticipated that the derivation of effective substances, optimization, and securing of lead compounds will progress rapidly within the next year.

HitGen is a world leader in the development of DEL technology and applications to early-stage small molecule drug discovery. Its platform includes over 1.2 trillion small molecules generated by the DEL technology, and the efficiency of the screening process has made it possible for HitGen to enable drug discovery projects for many organizations around the world. The company has made tremendous improvements over the last few years, making it an integrated drug discovery company focusing on DEL, synthetic therapeutic oligonucleotide (STO), targeted protein degradation (TPD), fragment-based drug discovery and structure-based drug design (FBDD/SBDD).

James Lee, CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics stated, “By collaborating with HitGen, we will accelerate the discovery of new targeted anticancer drugs.” He added, “We will challenge ourselves to develop drugs that can provide anticancer treatment effects even for genetically mutated cancers, which have been difficult to develop until now.”

Dr. Jin Li, Chairman of the Board and CEO of HitGen Inc., expressed, ” We are pleased to collaborate with Bridge Biotherapeutics team in generating novel drug candidates based on the screening platform we possess,” and stated, “We will contribute to the acceleration of new anticancer drug discovery based on the expertise of both companies.”

Bridge Biotherapeutics has initiated the fourth cohort in the Phase 1 clinical trial for its leading candidate drug BBT-207 for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Through this collaboration with HitGen, the company is embarking on the discovery of new anticancer drugs as part of its efforts to strengthen its cancer portfolio.

About Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Bridge Biotherapeutics Inc., based in the Republic of Korea and the U.S., is a publicly traded, clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2015. Bridge Biotherapeutics is engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics, focusing on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs, including fibrotic diseases and cancers. The company is developing BBT-877, a novel autotaxin inhibitor for the treatment of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and BBT-207, a potent targeted cancer therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR C797S mutations. Learn more at https://www.bridgebiorx.com/en/.

About HitGen Inc.

HitGen Inc. (SSE: 688222.SH), is a drug discovery research company with headquarters in Chengdu, China, and subsidiaries in Cambridge, UK and Houston, USA. HitGen has established leading technology platforms to enable the discovery and optimization of small molecules and nucleic acid drugs. Our key technology platforms include world-leading DNA-encoded library technology (DEL), fragment-based drug discovery and structure-based drug design technologies (FBDD/SBDD), as well as the emerging technology platforms for synthetic therapeutic oligonucleotide technology (STO), and targeted protein degradation technology (TPD). Through our diverse and flexible business models, we have built up collaboration partnership with several hundred biopharmaceutical research organizations worldwide. HitGen has multiple programmes from early discovery to clinical trial stage. For more information about HitGen, please visit www.hitgen.com.

Source: HitGen Inc.

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Chen Institute and Science to Hold Innovative Conference in Shanghai Spotlighting Latest Developments in “Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health”

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Registration is open for the Nov 7-8, Shanghai Meeting

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute (the Chen Institute) and Science announced that they are holding the second of their annual conference series focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Mental Health in Shanghai, November 7-8, 2024. The meeting is being co-hosted by Shanghai Mental Health Center.

Join us in Shanghai this November for 2024 Chen Institute and Science Joint Conference on AI & Mental Health. Learn more at www.ChenInstitute.org
Join us in Shanghai this November for 2024 Chen Institute and Science Joint Conference on AI & Mental Health. Learn more at www.ChenInstitute.org

Mental health is a vast and growing worldwide problem. Because it can affect people at a young age, they will often need treatment and support for many years. During that time, they may be unable to participate at their full potential in society. This explains why, in addition to the suffering experienced by individuals and their families, mental health problems also have an enormous economic and societal impact.

“AI has seen exponential growth and astonishing breakthroughs in recent years, and it has the potential to impact every aspect of modern life and society,” said Chrissy Luo, Chen Institute Co-founder. “Scientists and clinicians are exploring AI’s power for mental health research and treatment and the first results are enormously promising.”

This year’s two-day, English conference will highlight how AI can be used to benefit individuals and society. Over the course of these two days, our speakers will discuss the current state of AI and why we have recently seen such astonishing progress. Global speakers will also review promising applications of AI for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health.

Science is at the forefront of emerging science and, together with the Chen Institute, we have been closely engaged with scientists and researchers who are unlocking the tremendously powerful potential of using artificial intelligence in the treatment and management of mental health,” said Peter Stern, Senior Editor at Science Magazine.

You can read more about the speakers and their planned presentations here: 
https://www.cheninstitute.org/meetings/2024-ai-and-mental-health

If you live outside of China, you can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/950262128607

If you live in China, please register here: https://app.myhudong.cn/mobile#/microstation_micro?acid=A7vcDJhENbTjupJ3kw&l=a

The Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute was created in 2016 by Tianqiao Chen and Chrissy Luo with a US $1 billion commitment to help advance brain science. The organization’s vision is to improve the human experience by understanding how our brains perceive, learn, and interact with the world. The Institute has a strong focus on artificial intelligence due to its ability to accelerate the pace of scientific research. Read about our AI Prize www.ChenInstitute.org/prize.
The Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute was created in 2016 by Tianqiao Chen and Chrissy Luo with a US $1 billion commitment to help advance brain science. The organization’s vision is to improve the human experience by understanding how our brains perceive, learn, and interact with the world. The Institute has a strong focus on artificial intelligence due to its ability to accelerate the pace of scientific research. Read about our AI Prize www.ChenInstitute.org/prize.

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Marriott International: Asia travel sector remains strong and ‘every market is showing positive growth’

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“Every market is showing positive growth, there’s not one market that is in negative territory,” said Rajeev Menon, president of APAC at Marriott International. He gives his outlook on the travel sector in the region.

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Wed, Aug 21 202411:53 PM EDT

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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck didn’t get their happy ending. It’s OK to mourn their second-chance romance.

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Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce Tuesday, putting Bennifer 2.0 to bed on the second anniversary of the couple’s wedding celebration in Georgia. Lopez and Ben Affleck, who first got together in 2002 and ended an engagement in 2004, rekindled their relationship in 2021 before getting married in July 2022. Fans, friends and family were pulling for the couple, who separated in April. Their separation has left some devastated.

“Celebrity romances offer us an example of love,” Afton Turner, child and family therapist, tells Yahoo Life. “We become emotionally invested like we would our friends or family’s relationships because we have love for these celebrities and feel close to them.”

The long history of the couple heightens that investment as we’ve seen them from beginning to end in the early 2000s and again two decades later, with other marriages and families in between. “This has always been her true love,” one fan commented on an Instagram post sharing the news of the divorce filing. “I really was rooting for them! I’m a hopeless romantic,” wrote another.

But why is it that people feel this way over public figures that they don’t know in real life and what about Bennifer is different from other celebrity breakups? Here’s what experts have to say.

We all have parasocial one-sided relationships with public figures, according to Gita Chaudhuri, clinical psychologist and head of psychotherapy at The Balance RehabClinic; especially with the access that’s granted to their lives via social media.

“A person who is a fan of an actor, artist or musician is engaging in a parasocial relationship. It’s a normal part of being alive,” Chaudhuri tells Yahoo Life. When it comes to romantic relationships in particular, that interest can be likened to the investment that we might have in romance portrayed in film or TV. “We witness their lives through images, stories and interviews in the media. We watch their lives much like we would characters on a screen.”

This is why people express such excitement over blossoming relationships, like what we saw this year with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. It’s also why the ending of a relationship, like the split of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, can incite strong emotions.

With Bennifer in particular, quite a bit of their romance has taken place in the public eye, whether it be the movies they’ve co-starred in like Gigli and Jersey Girl, the red carpets that they’ve appeared on together and even in their personal storytelling, like that which Lopez has done in interviews, through her newsletter On the JLo where she revealed the couple’s 2022 engagement and in the Prime Video movie This Is Me…Now: A Love Story.

The couple’s early beginnings also lend to a feeling of nostalgia for those who recall the young lovebirds from Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block” music video. “Both Ben and Jen came from humble beginnings — South Boston and the Bronx, respectively — and both rose to the top of the elitist celebrity heap only to find each other,” Renee Zavislak, licensed marriage and family therapist and host of Psycho Therapist: The Podcast tells, Yahoo Life.

As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Lopez set the stage for outsiders to romanticize the couple coming back together with expectations that it would be both her and Affleck’s happily ever after.

“Repeat romances are even more intriguing,” says Turner. “Even with our friends we tend to be more emotionally involved when we watch patterns repeat. Maybe we loved them together, maybe we saw the issues with them together. Regardless, we develop strong emotions and want the best for them.”

The highs and lows of Bennifer’s romance mimic the fairytale love story that so many of us know and want for ourselves — especially when there was hope of a happy ending.

“People want to see relationships survive and prescribe to the fairytale love that we believe in as children,” says Zavislak. “By idealizing stories like Bennifer’s, when love triumphs over time and other partners, we reclaim that lost romantic hope. Likewise, their story hits us in our tender ‘first love’ spot. Anyone who has ever dreamed that their high school sweetheart would show up in their Facebook messages decades later to profess unrequited, enduring love can project their romantic hopes onto Bennifer’s.”

For anyone who believes in true love, the reconciliation of Affleck and Lopez affirmed that belief. “As a result, it is vicariously devastating when it turns out that, in fact, love isn’t enough,” she continues. “This is what the Bennifer breakup signals to fans, and it dampens the dreams many hold for a similarly fantastic love story.”

Zavislak adds that the looming deconstruction of the pair’s blended family adds to the heartbreak.

“While none of us saw what happened behind closed doors, the press showed Ben, his ex, his kids, [Lopez] and her kids marvelously melded together, cheering on the kids at sporting events and sharing holidays. Divorced parents and those wrestling with step family struggles can project their situation onto Bennifer’s, once again finding hope in what seems to be a perfectly blended family,” she says. “Now, observers feel not only for Ben and Jen, but for those kids, who are the innocent bystanders in love’s execution. Because so many families are divided by divorce, so many of us can feel their pain.”

“At the end of the day, humans connect and understand one another through stories. This is a love story with a long narrative that has captivated people across generations because of its public nature,” says Chaudhuri. “People love love stories, and they can see themselves and their experiences within them.”

But Zavislak says it’s important to remember that Bennifer’s relationship isn’t actually your own.

“The only people who really know what is going on in a relationship are the two people in it. No matter how much we think we know, whether it is about a celebrity relationship or our best friend’s new love, the truth is that it’s almost entirely a projection,” she says. “What we idealize in celebrity relationships is a direct reflection of what we want and dream of for ourselves. And when these idealized relationships fail, we feel the pain of our own love losses.”

“At the risk of sounding pessimistic, the other takeaway here is that the fairy tales lie,” she adds. “Life is complicated and love alone is rarely enough to guarantee a relationship’s success.”

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Watch CNBC’s full interview with Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian

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Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian joins ‘Money Movers’ to discuss their plans to acquire Standard International, the parent company of the Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands, and what this acquisition means for Hyatt.

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4 hours ago

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2024 ICT International Coffee Tasting Competition Debuts in China

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SUZHOU, China, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — From August 16 to 18, 2024, the judging panel of the International Institute of Artistic Coffee Tasters (IIAC) from Italy, alongside Chinese domestic coffee connoisseurs, gathered at the BeanStar headquarters in Suzhou for the 2024 International Coffee Tasting Competition (ICT), one of the most prestigious events in the global coffee landscape. Over 200 meticulously selected coffee beans from multiple countries underwent a rigorous and discerning tasting process, vying for the coveted accolades in the world of coffee excellence.

Often referred to as the “Oscars” of the coffee world, the ICT is dedicated to discovering the world’s finest coffees, showcasing their exceptional cultivation, meticulous selection, expert roasting, and distinctive originality. The competition’s unwavering commitment to transparency, with blind tasting and data verification under strict sensory analysis rules, positions ICT as the sole competition worldwide that calculates scores on measurable and controllable product attributes. The method eliminates subjective biases, significantly reducing the impact of personal preferences on the outcomes.

The ICT was established by the IIAC in Italy. Since its inception in 1993, the IIAC has emerged as an independent, scientific, and not-for-profit organization, renowned globally as one of the foremost authorities in coffee evaluation. Its pioneering scientific methodology for Italian coffee sensory analysis has garnered widespread acclaim worldwide. Since the first ICT in 2006, the IIAC has received immense respect from the global coffee industry, lauded for its unwavering professionalism, fairness, and transparency in its competition protocols.

The 2023 ICT competition attracted 750 entries from 14 countries, a record achievement. At the event, BeanStar from China alone secured the top score of 98 points, clinching the prestigious Platinum Award. The achievement presents a pivotal opportunity for the ICT to enter into China.

In 2024, the ICT debuted in China, a testament to the rapid expansion of the Chinese coffee market and a steadfast commitment to disseminating scientific coffee tasting methodologies globally. BeanStar, a fast-growing creative coffee brand in China, has been chosen as the first event partner, underscoring the international coffee community’s profound acknowledgment and endorsement of the dynamic growth of China’s coffee industry.

Launched in 2022, BeanStar has established itself as a leader in China’s coffee landscape. Adhering to a strategic blend of quality, creativity, and affordability, BeanStar seamlessly balances the sophistication of boutique coffee with the diverse preferences of mass consumers. In just two years, the brand’s footprint has expanded exponentially, surpassing 200 stores across 36 major Chinese cities and extending its reach internationally with the opening of its maiden outlet in Italy. With an ambitious growth trajectory, BeanStar anticipates surpassing 500 stores by the end of 2024.

BeanStar’s exceptional product quality, unique flavor appeal, and forward-thinking business philosophy have captivated a growing legion of coffee enthusiasts and garnered the favor of renowned capital institutions, including Shunwei Capital, securing three rounds of funding totaling nearly 100 million yuan. As a new force in the global coffee arena, BeanStar’s stellar performance firmly establishes the coffee brewer as a rising star for unprecedented growth and ascendancy.

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10 ‘most fun’ states in America: Did your favorite make this list?

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A new study said these states are where Americans have the most fun — and some of the choices may be surprising. 

WalletHub, a personal finance company, looked at the 50 U.S. states across two key factors — “entertainment & recreation” and “nightlife” — to determine what made certain spots the most fun.

Within each category, 26 other metrics were evaluated using a 100-point scale. 

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Some of the subcategories include the number of attractions, ideal weather, restaurants per capita, movie theaters per capita, beach quality, access to national parks, nightlife options per capita and casinos per capita. 

Friends having dinner

Evaluated by a new study were certain aspects of a “fun” environment, such as restaurants, movie theaters, beach quality and more.  (iStock)

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and others, WalletHub ranked the 50 states from the “most fun” — to the least. 

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See if your favorite state made the top of the list! 

Counting down here …

10 ‘most fun’ U.S. states

10. Louisiana

9. Minnesota

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8. Washington

7. Texas

6. Illinois

Rollerblading in California and Florida beach

WalletHub announced a list of the “most fun” cities in America, based on a variety of criteria.  (iStock)

5. Colorado

4. New York

3. Nevada

2. California

1. Florida

WalletHub determined that the great state of Florida is the most fun place to be in the United States. 

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WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told Fox News Digital that Florida’s claim to the top spot was well deserved.

“The Sunshine State offers an unmatched variety of activities, with the highest number of restaurants, amusement parks, and arcades per capita,” he said.

Florida beach

Florida was named the “most fun” state in America, according to WalletHub.  (iStock)

It also has the third-highest number of attractions per capita and the sixth-best variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments. 

Florida also has the 12th-best weather overall and has the most marinas per capita, according to WalletHub. 

“Additionally, Florida’s significant spending on parks and recreation ensures that residents and visitors alike have ample opportunities for entertainment, which makes it a prime destination for fun-seekers of all kinds,” he said. 

California and Nevada came in second and third place, respectively, for their nightlife metrics. 

Rollerblading on California board walk

California ranked high on the list for a few different reasons.  (iStock)

The Golden State was noted to have a very high number of performing-arts establishments and music festivals per capita. 

Nevada has the most nightlife activities per capita, with a large number of casinos per capita — thanks to Las Vegas. 

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The states at the bottom of the new “fun list” were Arkansas, Rhode Island, Delaware, Mississippi and West Virginia, which came in last. 

Other interesting comparisons found in the study include the most movie theaters per capita, with California and Texas tying for first place.

Las Vegas strip

Las Vegas also ranked high on the list of the most fun cities in America.  (iStock)

WalletHub also found that California, New York, Florida and Texas tied for having the most restaurants per capita. 

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Near the bottom of that list were Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. 

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These are the 10 best ‘workcation’ cities in the world for hybrid workers

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Have you been searching for a location where you can combine work and leisure? Look no further.

The Hungarian capital of Budapest has topped the list of the world’s best cities forwork and vacation, or “workcation,” compiled by flexible and hybrid workspace operator International Workplace Group.

The results are based on in-house research as well as findings from a survey conducted across 1,000 hybrid office workers globally.

Hybrid and remote work, which gained traction during Covid-19 as businesses around the world temporarily shut down offices to meet health standards, has become a permanent arrangement for many companies.

The number of people working from home increased five-fold between 2019 and 2023, and 40% of U.S. employees currently work remotely at least one day a week, according to a report published by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

“Thanks to cloud technology that can be anywhere in the world provided there’s a high-quality internet connection available … it’s no wonder that more and more individuals are embracing the idea of combining work with travel, whether it’s for a few days tacked on to the end of a vacation, or a few months as a digital nomad,” said Mark Dixon, founder and CEO of International Workplace Group.

According to the IWG report, 84% of hybrid workers have either extended or would consider prolonging a vacation to work remotely, while 75% said “the freedom of being able to work from anywhere boosts their job satisfaction.”

The IWG report compared 30 cities globally rating them on a scale of 10 in the following categories:

  • Climate
  • Culture
  • Accommodation
  • Transport
  • Food
  • Subsistence (cost of a coffee)
  • Happiness
  • Broadband speed
  • Sustainability
  • Availability of flexible workspaces

This criteria was chosen to “help measure how comfortable or conducive overseas environments will be, especially when factoring in work responsibilities,” Dixon told CNBC Make It.

“In addition to basic livability requirements (accommodation, transport, and food etc.), there are crucial considerations that can have a considerable impact on a worker’s productivity, such as broadband and the availability of flexible workspaces,” he said.

Budapest topped this year’s list, securing high scores in the accommodation (9.5/10), transport (9.5/10), sustainability (8.5/10) and broadband speed (8/10) categories.

The Hungarian capital is “famed for its classical architecture, attracting some 12 million international tourists per year … [and] boasts over 200 museums and galleries, vibrant neighborhoods, and ample green spaces, making it an ideal choice for digital nomads,” according to the report.

Top 10 cities for a workcation, according to IWG:

  1. Budapest
  2. Barcelona
  3. Rio de Janeiro 
  4. Beijing
  5. Lisbon
  6. New York
  7. Singapore
  8. Jakarta
  9. LA
  10. Milan

Barcelona, which topped the list last year, remains a favorite among hybrid workers. Along with its digital nomad visa, reliable transportation infrastructure and comparatively affordable cost of living, the Spanish city also offers “a lively atmosphere, stunning architecture, and nearly year-round sunshine,” the report said.

Barcelona scored high on transportation (9/10), climate (8.5/10) and accommodation (8.5/10) categories, which measures the cost of a monthly transport pass, total sunshine hours per year and average rent per month, respectively.

Cities in Asia were also featured prominently in this year’s list with Beijing, Singapore and Jakarta making it to the top 10. Beijing fell a spot this year to fourth place.

Meanwhile, Singapore climbed an impressive 14 places from last year to the seventh spot. The city-state scored exceptionally well on the broadband quality (10/10) and sustainability (9/10) categories.

Singapore, which boasts of the world’s second-best airport, serves as a “global gateway to Southeast Asia,” making it an attractive destination for travelers. Singapore was also named Asia’s happiest country for the second consecutive year, and is on track to offer island-wide 5G coverage by 2025, according to IWG.

“This trend is set to accelerate further, and we will continue to see more and more companies embracing WFA policies to improve employees’ work-life balance and increase their attractiveness as an employer,” said Dixon.

Want to make extra money outside of your day job? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course How to Earn Passive Income Online to learn about common passive income streams, tips to get started and real-life success stories.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

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Docquity and Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine (VAPM) Partner to Advance Medical Training

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  • Dedicated VAPM channel on the Docquity platform to support training content for over 2,000 preventive medicine doctors over three years
  • The initiative expands Docquity’s community of preventive medicine doctors in Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Docquity, Southeast Asia’s largest healthcare professional (HCP) network, is partnering with the Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine (VAPM) to enhance medical training for preventive medicine doctors and health staff in Vietnam.

Prof. PhD. Phan Trong Lan, VAPM’s President (left) and Christophe Meugnier, CCO and General Manager of Vietnam & Thailand, Docquity (right) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance preventive medical training in Vietnam.
Prof. PhD. Phan Trong Lan, VAPM’s President (left) and Christophe Meugnier, CCO and General Manager of Vietnam & Thailand, Docquity (right) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance preventive medical training in Vietnam.

As part of the collaboration, a dedicated VAPM channel has been launched on the Docquity platform, where educational courses, training workshops, and other resources will be developed and rolled out to over 2,000 Vietnamese preventive medicine HCPs during the next three years. Doctors can earn participation certificates by joining these learning sessions. The hub also fosters a conducive environment where VAPM members can engage with each other, share knowledge, and stay informed about the latest advancements in preventive medicine.

The partnership is expected to propel the growth of Docquity’s preventive medicine HCP community in Vietnam, further enhancing the reach and impact of the platform.

Besides providing a robust and secure technological infrastructure, Docquity will work closely with VAPM to ensure the content aligns with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health regulations and guidelines, guaranteeing accuracy, quality, and relevance.

“By partnering with a powerful tech platform like Docquity for the first time, we look forward to reaching and educating more doctors and health staff especially those in remote areas, with greater efficiency and effectiveness,” Prof. PhD. Phan Trong Lan, VAPM’s President, said. “This collaboration will ensure that preventive medicine doctors and health staff across Vietnam have easier access to the latest knowledge and best practices in their field.”

“The partnership between Docquity and VAPM is built on a shared commitment to transform preventive medicine,” Christophe Meugnier, CCO and General Manager of Vietnam & Thailand, Docquity, said. “Our deep healthcare industry insights and innovative digital capabilities uniquely position Docquity to advance how medical  education is delivered to doctors across Southeast Asia. By enabling HCPs to hone their medical expertise and connecting our healthcare enterprise clients with a wider network of doctors, we aim to improve healthcare outcomes across the region.”

For Vietnamese preventive medicine doctors and health staff interested in signing up for VAPM’s learning sessions, please fill in your information here to register for the events and download the Docquity app on Google Play or the Apple App Store to join the learning sessions. The Docquity team will contact you to complete your registration.

About Docquity, https://docquity.com/

Docquity is Southeast Asia’s largest trusted community of verified healthcare professionals. Our vision is to connect healthcare professionals to build healthier lives around the world at scale. Docquity helps healthcare professionals learn, connect, and grow, and partners with companies to reach and educate healthcare professionals as well as provide insights into them.

Docquity has more than 410,000 HCPs on the platform and offices in countries and regions such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. 

About the Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine

Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine (VAPM) is a socio-professional, voluntary organization of people who work or are interested in the field of preventive medicine.

The VAPM operates nationwide, according to the law of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Association’s Charter. The Association is under the management of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam and relevant ministries and sectors of the industries and fields in which the Association operates. The Association is a member of the Vietnam General Medical Association.

The Association has its own legal status, seal, symbol and account.

The purpose of the VAPM is to unite its members through the exchange of information, experience, scientific and technical achievements; improve knowledge, professional qualifications and skills in preventive medicine field, contributing to building and developing a modern Vietnamese preventive medicine field; propagating and disseminating scientific knowledge about preventive medicine areas, contributing to raising awareness and changing behavior to protect and improve community health.

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