SHENZHEN, China, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As a “trendy portable” brand created by top designers and artists, yoose®️ is dedicated to seamlessly blending trend culture with industrial technology to present products that are mini, more portable, and imbued with a stronger sense of design and quality. The yoose Spring Event now unveils three brand-new products for users.

MINI 2.0, building upon the foundation of the original 5 color options, introduces 2 new color variants: Linen White and Klein Blue. Its luminous metallic finish exudes a unique and dazzling shine, showcasing self-expression and lifestyle attitudes with different colors. Equipped with an 8000 RPM brushless motor, it delivers a 33% increase in powerful driving force, along with a thinner blade mesh, larger gaps, and a 360° fit blade head, ensuring a truly swift and thorough shave. With dual 400mAh batteries, it provides a long-lasting battery life up to 30 days, allowing for shaving anytime, anywhere.

yoose’s first 3-in-1 men’s grooming kit, the MINI Cube series, caters to shaving, nose hair trimming, and facial cleansing needs. Transitioning from individual items such as cigarettes, mobile phones, and car keys to an all-in-one grooming set represents a new trend in essential items for trendy men at home and on the go. With its rounded alloy body and golf ball-sized design, it offers ultimate portability, meeting users’ grooming needs whether in the car, on business trips, or during travels.

yoose introduces its original “7” shaped high-speed hair dryer series, featuring a revolutionary 7-shaped aerodynamic unobstructed wind tunnel design. Departing from the traditional hammer-shaped high-speed hair dryer aesthetic, weighing 36% lighter than conventional hair dryers. Paired with streamlined airflow nozzles, it caters to various hairstyles. With a high-speed motor of 110,000 rotations per minute and equipped with 200 million negative ions, it bids farewell to dry and frizzy hair. Additionally, it comes in three color options: blue, pink, and white, breaking away from traditional color schemes to accommodate different personality preferences.

These products are available in the mid of April.

About yoose

Brand Vision: Ultimate Individuality, Leading Trends

Brand Value: yoose is committed to providing global users with smaller, trendier, and more portable high-quality personal care products through original design and exquisite production technology. yoose dares to innovate with different and avant-garde designs, creating more products for consumers.

For more information, please visit https://yoosetech.com

Source

Countertop oven underlines home appliance giant’s commitment to connectivity standard

SINGAPORE, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Matter is the foundation for connected things. It offers consumers an industry-unifying connectivity standard that securely and seamlessly connects compatible devices and systems with one another irrespective of their brand or device type.

After being among the first companies to achieve Matter certification for an air conditioner and to demonstrate a Matter-connected fan purifier and dishwasher, Midea continues to show its commitment to Matter with the demonstration of the Matter-connected X23 TastePro oven at the Alliance Member Meeting in Singapore from 18^th to 21^st March.

With Matter-connectivity, the Midea X23 TastePro oven offers a fast and secure unified setup process so users can follow the same process to get connected regardless whether it is their oven, dishwasher, or air conditioner. Once set up, the Midea X23 TastePro oven will be able to connect with other devices that support Matter in the rest of your home regardless of brand. The X23 TastePro oven represents a further milestone by welcoming in another essential home appliance into the Matter family.

Beyond Matter-connectivity, the Midea X23 TastePro oven already boasts a host of surprisingly-friendly features that make users life easier:

–  Bake, roast, and grill with one appliance
–  Patented graphene technology for precise cooking
–  Reduced cooking time with XpressHeating technology

For more information about Midea and its range of smart home appliances, please visit www.midea.com.

About Matter

Matter is the foundation for connected things. This industry-unifying standard has a promise of reliable, secure connectivity – a seal of approval that devices will work seamlessly together, today, and tomorrow. Matter is creating more connections between more objects, simplifying development for manufacturers, and increasing compatibility for consumers. This collaborative breakthrough is built on proven technologies and guided by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, whose members come together from across industries to transform the future of connectivity.

Midea Group has been leading and participating in the MATTER v1.3 standard, the development of test plans, test scripts and SDK extensions, and became a major contributor to many smart appliance types such as Microwave Ovens, Ovens, Refrigerators, Room Air Conditioners, Dishwashers, Laundry Washers and Fans. In 2023 alone, Midea showcased various smart products using Matter at the CSA Member Meetings in Seoul, South Korea, Boston, USA and Geneva, Switzerland.

About Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA)

The Connectivity Standards Alliance is a global organization dedicated to advancing open, interoperable standards for smart home and IoT devices. By fostering collaboration among industry leaders and stakeholders, CSA aims to drive innovation and create a more connected world for all. 

About Midea Group

Midea Group, established in 1968, is a leading global high-technology company ranked #278 on the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list, and one of the world’s largest home appliance manufacturing companies which businesses go beyond smart home appliances. In early 2021 the company streamlined its core units into five high-growth business pillars to pave the new future growth path: Smart Home, Electro-Mechanical, Building Technologies, Robotics & Automation and Digital Innovation.

All businesses of Midea Group are striving for one credo: #HumanizingTechnology.

www.midea.com
www.midea-group.com 

Contact

MATTER RELATED INQUIRIES
Patrick Serrato
Alliance Board Member & Head of IoT
Midea America Corp.
patrickserrato@midea.com

MIDEA X23 RELATED INQUIRIES
Chris Lau
Jia3.liu@midea.com

Source

SINGAPORE, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A news report by TravelLink: 

From March 19^th to 22^nd, Sanya Tourism Board, in collaboration with tourism-related enterprises from the Sanya Economic Circle, launches on a series of tourism marketing and promotion activities in Singapore for the year of 2024. Through events such as Sanya tourism promotion events, business visits, and discussions on air routes, a bridge for tourism cooperation and exchange between the two destinations was constructed, leveraging Singapore’s status as a global aviation hub. This initiative aims to narrate the story of “Beautiful Sanya” to the international market and expand Sanya’s overseas customer base.

Singapore, being a vital aviation hub globally, serves as a crucial country along the “Maritime Silk Road” and a key inbound market for Sanya. Last December, the successful launch of the “Phnom Penh-Sanya-Singapore” route under the Hainan Free Trade Port established a direct link between two significant points in Southeast Asia. Starting from February this year, the mutual visa exemption between China and Singapore has greatly facilitated bilateral travel, opening doors for cooperation in tourism, education, technology, and more.

In January and February this year, overnight arrivals of Singaporean tourists in Sanya increased by 661% compared to the same period last year. In the eyes of the Singaporean market, Sanya’s comfortable tropical climate, beautiful sunny beaches, diverse water activities, and cost-effective tourism products are highly appealing. Furthermore, Sanya has capitalized on Singapore’s global aviation hub and the visa-free entry policy for tourists from 59 countries under the Hainan Free Trade Port to establish closer ties with the international market in various aspects such as tourism consumption, trade, and cultural exchanges. This effort aims to create multi-destination travel products in Sanya, attracting international tourists from all continents and bringing new opportunities.

From the event onsite, the participating tourism-related enterprises from the Sanya Economic Circle cover various fields including hotel accommodation, transportation, high-end yachts, and wedding tourism. Sanya Tourism Board is dedicated to building a platform for friendly cooperation with foreign partners and deepening international cultural and tourism exchanges. Through closer connections with Singapore’s tourism industry, Sanya Tourism Board aims to reach more overseas target groups, convey the latest tourism product information from Sanya to the global market, and assist enterprises in the Sanya Economic Circle in better understanding the characteristics of target markets. They will optimize and upgrade tourism products accurately according to market demand to attract more overseas tourists to travel in Sanya.

To facilitate consumption for inbound tourists and expand overseas customer markets, Hainan Province has launched the ” Hainan Safe Pay APP”, which focuses on addressing payment inconveniences faced by foreign nationals visiting China, allowing them to conduct traditional card payments without the need to download any additional software. Leveraging various channels and platforms, Sanya Tourism Board will vigorously promote this convenient payment method domestically and internationally. Additionally, consultation and complaint channels have been opened through the “VisitSanya” account on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to safeguard the consumer rights of overseas tourists and enhance their willingness to consume.

At the tourism promotion event, representatives from over 30 tourism-related enterprises from Singapore and media representatives attended. They engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives from enterprises in the Sanya Economic Circle, exploring the new face of Sanya’s tourism products and discussing the future of tourism cooperation. As a member of the Silk Road Tourism Cities Alliance, Sanya will continue to strengthen tourism linkage exchanges with destinations along the “Maritime Silk Road.” Next, Sanya Tourism Board will not only conduct tourism marketing and promotion activities in countries and regions along the Silk Road but also further explore inbound tourism markets by planning visits to the Middle East, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and other places to attract more overseas tourists to visit Sanya and promote the accelerated development of the inbound tourism market.

Sanya Tourism Board- Media And Information Department: 
Tel: +86-0898-88561611
Email: morrow.chen@visitsanya.com  

About Sanya Tourism Board:

The Sanya Tourism Board (STB) is a statutory institution launched by the Sanya Municipal People’s Government. Fulfilling the mission entrusted by the state to Hainan FTP to boldly experiment and explore, STB aims to comprehensively enhance the competitiveness and reputation of Sanya as an international tourism destination and become an important platform for efficiently serving the construction of an international center for tourism and consumption in Hainan.

The STB makes tourism promotion plans for Sanya, collaborates with tourism-related enterprises for joint marketing, and carries out such functions as MICE industry development, overseas route development, large-scale activity planning, and business development centered around the six major elements of tourism, such as food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment, thus ensuring both city brand promotion and the boost of tourism consumption.

Source

LONDON, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PA Media Group has today appointed Emily Shelley as its new Chief Executive Officer, the first woman to lead the business in its 155 year history.

PA Media Group CEO, Emily Shelley

Shelley, who was formerly MD of PA’s stock imagery agency Alamy and a board member, began her career with PA as a graduate trainee 25 years ago.

She replaces Clive Marshall, who announced his retirement last year after 14 years at the helm and takes charge as PA continues to grow and expand its portfolio of businesses.

Shelley, who steps into her new role in the coming weeks, said: “When I joined PA as a grad trainee in 1999, I knew this was an organisation where I could build my career. It’s a huge honour to be given the opportunity to take charge of an organisation I love and a brilliant team I respect and care deeply about. 
In the rapidly changing media world PA’s combination of maintaining traditional journalistic excellence and embracing cutting edge technological innovation is, in my view, key to our continued success. 
I’d like to thank Clive personally for his leadership and support and his role in overseeing our transformation from national news agency to international multi-media business.”

PA Media Group Chairman Murdoch MacLennan said: “Emily’s appointment is a tribute both to her remarkable skills and to the strengths and depth of PA Media Group. That she started her career with the business 25 years ago as a graduate trainee is something of which she and we are enormously proud.
Emily’s appointment will ensure we build on the success of Clive’s tenure. We wish her every success and thank Clive for his outstanding service.”

Outgoing CEO Clive Marshall said: “I’ve worked closely with Emily for many years and I couldn’t be happier with the board’s choice of her as my successor. I’ll be leaving the ship in safe and talented hands. I wish her and the entire PA team the very best for the future.”

Shelley began her career at PA as a news production trainee and worked in several editorial roles before launching a digital showbiz news service in 2006 as Showbiz Editor. She became Features Editor in 2007, before moving into various commercial and management positions within PA.
In 2013, Shelley was instrumental in launching a new bespoke content service for corporate clients, and played an integral role in the acquisition of content agency Sticky, then becoming its Managing Director. 
After six years at Sticky, Shelley was appointed MD at Alamy to lead the expanding global platform, post-acquisition. In 2022, Shelley was appointed to the PA Media Group board. 
Her rise to CEO is a powerful reflection of PA’s record for retaining staff and progressing careers.

Source

SHENZHEN, China, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The leading brand in ergonomic product lines, DELUX, is responding to the growing trend in the gaming market by further enriching its gaming product line.

The Company is excited to invite global customers to the 2024 Global Sources Consumer Electronics Show, which is kicking off in April 2024, at AsiaWorld-Expo, where DELUX will be reintroducing its M600 and M900 series.

The brand-new gaming mice series are now available, offering unprecedented gaming experience. Whether a seasoned pro or a novice gamer, DELUX’s gaming mice will be a trusted companion on the gaming journey with the following designs:

Exceptional Performance: Built on technological innovation, every operation is precise and reliable. Whether it’s speed or accuracy, DELUX’s gaming mice will meet users’ demands, enabling users to dominate the gaming battlefield effortlessly.

Lightweight Design: DELUX pays attention to every detail to ensure user’s comfort, allowing them to maintain sharp control even during extended gaming sessions and unleash their gaming potential.

Ergonomic Design: The gaming mice feature an ergonomic design that conforms to the curves of user’s hand, delivering unparalleled comfort and allowing users to excel in gaming with ease.

Exhibition: Hong Kong Global Sources Consumer Electronics Show 2024
Date: 11th-14th, April 2024
Location: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong S.A.R. (near the airport)
DELUX Booth: 6M24

As DELUX is celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Company is excited to announce that their booth may feature anniversary-themed activities. Looking forward to meeting global customers and partners at DELUX’s booth at Hong Kong Global Sources Consumer Electronics Show 2024.

About DELUX

Founded in 1994, DELUX always focuses on innovation and quality, adhering to industrial design principles, in line with ergonomics and human aesthetics; following the people-oriented design concept and advocating healthy offices to improve work efficiency.

https://deluxworld.com/en

For more information, contact:
Overseas Sales Director
Fiona Xu, email: sales05@deluxworld.com

Source

SUZHOU, China, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The iF Design Award 2024 winners have recently been announced, and ECOVACS’ DEEBOT X2 family and the WINBOT W2 stood out among 11,000 entries from 72 countries for their innovative design and outstanding product quality, earning them two prestigious awards.

With more than 70 years’ legacy, the iF Design Award is known as the “Oscars of Product Design”. With the awards granted to the DEEBOT X2 family and the WINBOT W2, ECOVACS has proven that it is a leading brand in product innovation, functionality, and aesthetics.

Striving for the Best and Always Setting the Industry Trends

Back in 2021, ECOVACS collaborated with Jacob Jensen Design (JJD) to craft the edgy look of DEEBOT X1 series. This distinctive design carries over to the X2 model, culminating in a pioneering square shape in 2023.

The progression of square robots represents not just a change in appearance, but also a paradigm shift in user experience. Practical usability is enhanced by the sleeker design, more precise cleaning paths, and increased internal space.

The DEEBOT X2 features a mere 9.5cm ground clearance and a compact width of 32cm. The slim design enables it to reach corners and low spaces easily, significantly boosting its cleaning efficiency.

Powered by the industry’s first hybrid solid-state LiDAR technology, DEEBOT X2 features faster mapping, precise navigation, and enhanced obstacle detection. By utilizing its innovative AINA Model, pets and furniture are better protected from more dynamic obstacles. With the multi-function base station, users can free their hands for other tasks, thus maximizing user convenience.

Continued Creativity in New Product Categories

In the field of smart window cleaning, ECOVACS continues to lead the way with its outstanding design and innovative capabilities.

The ECOVACS WINBOT W2 stands as a trailblazer in the industry as the first robotic window cleaner to feature a multi-functional station. This innovative all-in-one design not only boasts a sleek appearance but also significantly expands the reach and versatility of window cleaning tasks. Notably, it is equipped with an automatic cable retraction feature, which effectively eliminates the hassle of tangled cable during window cleaning.

The multi-functional base station enables WINBOT W2 with a powerful 5,200 mAh battery capable of cleaning 65 square meters of windows on a single charge, which greatly enhances cleaning flexibility.

Incorporating a three-nozzle wide-angle spray atomization technology and edge-cleaning function, WINBOT W2 ensures thorough cleaning and edge coverage.

Robotics for All

As a prominent player in the home service robot sector, ECOVACS has a history of excellence in design and innovation. This is exemplified by the iF Design Awards previously won by the DEEBOT N9+ robotic vacuum cleaner and the AIRBOT Z1 robotic air purifier.

ECOVACS will remain dedicated to showcasing its unique innovation on the global platform, offering users worldwide smarter, more convenient, and more personalized experiences through its innovative product lineup.

Source

Transitioning HBV cure programs into multiple late-stage combination studies with interim results throughout 2024 and 2025 informing Company’s registrational strategy

Integrating R&D, manufacturing and commercial upsides by acquiring full intellectual property rights of BRII-179 and expanding its manufacturing footprint

Prioritizing company resources with a robust cash balance of US$376 million supporting operations until 2027

Company to host a conference call (English session) on March 25 at 8:30 AM ET / 8:30 PM HKT

DURHAM, N.C. and BEIJING, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Brii Biosciences Limited (“Brii Bio” or the “Company”, stock code: 2137.HK), a biotechnology company developing therapies to improve patient health and choice across diseases with high unmet need, today provided a corporate update and reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Throughout 2023, the Company delivered significant milestones in its leading HBV program, driving the development of novel combination treatment regimens for an HBV functional cure while also expanding its portfolio. Following formative data readouts from ongoing trials with multiple HBV candidates and the acquisition of full intellectual property rights for BRII-179 and its technology transfer, Brii Bio is poised to launch multiple combination studies in 2024.

“2023 was a pivotal year for Brii Bio, with key insights received from multiple Phase 2 combination studies,” stated Zhi Hong, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brii Bio. “Through vigorous clinical investigations over the past 5 years, we have a deep understanding of what is required to maximally reduce and sustain HBsAg loss. With BRII-179 we have a strategy to assess and enhance HBV patients’ intrinsic immunity, targeting therapies to those most likely to respond, while sparing others from poorly tolerated regimens. These are important breakthroughs informing our late-stage clinical combination trials.”

Full Year 2023 and Recent Corporate Updates

• In February 2024, Brii Bio finalized agreements with VBI Vaccines, Inc. (“VBI”, NASDAQ: VBIV) to acquire full intellectual property rights for BRII-179 and manufacturing technology, to expand its future global manufacturing and supply capabilities. This move also eliminates future payments to VBI related to BRII-179 and PreHevbri^TM.
• BRII-179 received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in November 2023, expediting innovative treatments for HBV patients.
• Brii Bio secured exclusive development and commercialization rights for PreHevbri^TM in Greater China and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) in July 2023 and has submitted two pre-INDs to the CDE for PreHevbri^TM‘s registration plan in China. A Market Authorization Application has also been filed in Hong Kong.
• Brii Bio has prioritized resources to focus on the clinical and commercial development of its advanced HBV portfolio. The Company is actively seeking partnership opportunities for further development of its CNS, HIV, and MDR/XDR global assets.
• Brii Bio has appointed Dr. Brian A. Johns as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to oversee Brii Bio’s discovery programs and shape the Company’s future pipeline strategy. Our new organizational strategy is underpinned by highly experienced leaders in infectious diseases who are committed to clear deliverables across the Company’s pipeline.

Full Year 2023 Core Clinical Pipeline Highlights and Upcoming Milestones

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Program

Key data were generated in 2023 confirming that BRII-179, our proprietary therapeutic vaccine, can trigger a potent and specific immune response in chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients and linking that response to improved clinical outcomes. Brii Bio, with our strategic partners, is conducting a series of confirmatory combination studies in 2024, to establish BRII-179 as a core component of future curative regimens in Hepatitis B. In furthering our commitment to BRII-179, Brii Bio negotiated full IP and manufacturing rights with VBI. We are working closely with our partners to initiate late-stage clinical studies to definitively address the contribution of BRII-179 and BRII-835 (elebsiran) towards achieving a higher functional cure rate of HBV infection. More importantly, BRII-179 holds the potential to identify immune-responsive CHB patients with a higher chance of achieving a functional cure.

Key Data and Development Plans:

• BRII-179 Related Studies and Plans
  • Brii Bio presented two late-breaking posters on BRII-179 at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting^® in November 2023, showing an important connection between HBsAg loss and anti-HBs antibody response. These data enable a clear direction in further improving the functional cure rate and identifying patients likely to respond to curative treatments.

– BRII-179 induced functional immune responses that improve the rate and duration of HBsAg loss in CHB patients who receive PEG-IFNα treatment, thereby increasing the CHB functional cure rate.

– Translational research data from Brii Bio’s Phase 1b/2a studies on BRII-179 and BRII-179 in combination with BRII-835 (elebsiran) suggests that BRII-179 may offer a unique opportunity to identify CHB patients who are able to elicit the necessary HBV-specific immune responses hence achieving higher functional cure rate in the selected patients while sparing others from unnecessary treatments.

• • Brii Bio plans to initiate additional combination studies in the second half of 2024 to confirm the ability of BRII-179 to enhance HBV functional cure rates in combination with other modalities.
  • Brii Bio will present data on patients meeting NRTI discontinuation criteria from its ongoing Phase 2 study of BRII-179 in combination with PEG-IFNα in CHB patients as an oral late-breaking presentation at the 33^rd Conference of Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL 2024), being held from March 27 – 31, 2024 in Kyoto, Japan.
• BRII-835 (Elebsiran) & BRII-877 (Tobevibart) Related Studies and Plans
  • Completed enrollment in the Phase 2 study of BRII-835 (elebsiran) in combination with PEG-IFNα in the APAC region including mainland China. The primary objectives of this study are to gain deeper insights into the contribution of BRII-835 (elebsiran) towards improving HBV cure rates relative to PEG-IFNα alone and to explore the role of BRII-179 in enriching patients to achieve better curative outcomes. Early topline result is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Brii Bio’s development partner, Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (“Vir”, Nasdaq: VIR), presented new MARCH Part B data at the AASLD The Liver Meeting in November 2023. The data demonstrated an approximately three-fold higher response rate when adding BRII-877 (tobevibart) to a regimen of BRII-835 (elebsiran) with or without PEG-IFNα after 24 weeks of treatment: 15.0% for BRII-877 (tobevibart) + BRII-835 (elebsiran) + PEG-IFNα and 14.3% for BRII-877 (tobevibart) + BRII-835 (elebsiran). The data from cohorts undergoing 48 weeks of treatment will be available in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • In a late-breaker presentation at the AASLD The Liver Meeting in November 2023 with an update at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in January 2024, Vir shared initial SOLSTICE data from a small subset of chronic hepatitis D (CHD) participants. After 12 weeks of combination treatment with BRII-877 (tobevibart) and BRII-835 (elebsiran), 5 of 6 participants achieved undetectable HDV RNA and 6 out of 6 were below the lower limit of quantitation. Additional data will be presented in the second quarter of 2024 and complete 24-week treatment data are expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • A Phase 1 study of BRII-877 (tobevibart) is ongoing in China. Human pharmacokinetics (PK) in mainland Chinese subjects will be compared to subjects from the APAC region and Europe.

Additional Clinical and Pre-Clinical Development Updates

Based on the Company’s strategy to focus on its advanced HBV programs, Brii Bio is pursuing partnership opportunities for the continued development of these programs.

Multidrug- and Extensively Drug-Resistant (MDR/XDR) Gram-Negative Bacteria Infections Program

• BRII-693
  • Brii Bio gained exclusive global rights in June 2023 to develop and commercialize BRII-693, a novel polymyxin for the treatment of serious gram-negative infections. The Company is seeking strategic funding partners to expedite development of BRII-693, a novel antibiotic intended to help tackle the growing worldwide threat of antimicrobial resistance.
  • In April 2023, Brii Bio submitted a pre-IND to the NMPA of China for the development of BRII-693, with plans to initiate one Phase 1 PK bridging study in China. Additional clinical PK studies to enable the initiation of a Phase 3 trial are in planning. These studies are crucial to support global development efforts. A large, global Phase 3 registrational trial in hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP)/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), is expected to begin in 2025.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Program

• BRII-753 is an internally discovered new chemical entity currently in the preclinical stage of development. BRII-753 is being developed as a long-acting subcutaneous injection with the potential for dosing once monthly, once quarterly, or twice yearly and can be used in combination therapy for HIV treatment and as monotherapy for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
• BRII-732 has completed Phase 1 studies with the potential for development as part of an oral, once-weekly, long-acting combination treatment option for HIV patients.

Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Lung Disease Program

• BRII-658 (Epetraborole): In February 2024, Brii Bio’s partner, AN2 Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANTX) announced a voluntary pause of its Phase 3 enrollment in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial for epetraborole (BRII-658) for the treatment-refractory Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease, pending further data review.

Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)/Other CNS Disorders

• BRII-296: In September 2023, the first patient was dosed in the Phase 2 study evaluating BRII-296, a long-acting injectable (LAI) therapy in development for PPD. The Company expects data readouts from the Phase 2 trial by the second quarter of 2024.
• BRII-297: Dosing has been completed in a Phase 1 clinical trial for BRII-297, a long-acting injectable (LAI) being developed to treat anxiety and depressive disorders. The study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and PK of BRII-297 in healthy volunteers with data expected by the second half of 2024.

Full Year 2023 Financial Results

• Our bank deposits and cash and cash equivalents were RMB2,661.4 million as of December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of 337.9 million or 11.3%, compared with RMB2,999.3 million as of December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to payout of daily operations and research and development activities.
• Other income was RMB163.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing an increase of RMB55.8 million or 51.7%, compared with RMB107.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This was mainly due to the increased bank interest income of RMB70.8 million attributable to the rising interest rates on USD and HKD time deposits. The increase was partially offset by the decrease in income recognized from PRC government grants.
• Research and development expenses were RMB402.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of RMB37.9 million or 8.6%, compared with RMB440.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in discontinuation of COVID-19 program.
• Administrative expenses were RMB196.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing an increase of RMB27.9 million or 16.5%, compared with RMB168.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in employee cost.
• Total comprehensive expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, was RMB159.7 million, representing a decrease of RMB78.8 million or 33.0 %, compared with RMB238.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to the increase in other gain and loss, which was partially offset by the decrease in gain arising from the exchange difference on translation from functional currency to presentation currency.

Conference Call Information

A live conference call (English session) will be hosted on March 25, 2024 at 8:30 AM U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 PM Hong Kong Time). All participants are required to register in advance of the call. For the registration link, please click here.

All participants shall use the link provided above to complete the online registration process in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive an email with important details for this call, including the call date, time and access link. This link is to be kept confidential and not shared with other participants. Additionally, a replay of the conference call will be available after the call and can be accessed by visiting the Company’s website at www.briibio.com under the Investor Relations section.

***

This press release contains references to third-party information. Such information is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this press release. Brii Bio disclaims responsibility for such third-party information.

About Brii Bio

Brii Biosciences Limited (“Brii Bio“, stock code: 2137.HK) is a biotechnology company developing therapies to address major public health challenges where patients experience high unmet medical needs, limited choice and significant social stigmas. With a focus on infectious and central nervous system diseases, the Company is advancing a broad pipeline of unique therapeutic candidates with lead programs against hepatitis B viral infection (HBV), postpartum depression (PPD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). The Company is led by a visionary and experienced leadership team and has operations in key biotech hubs, including Raleigh-Durham, the San Francisco Bay Area, Beijing and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.briibio.com.

Forward Looking Statement

The information communicated in this press release contains certain statements that are or may be forward looking. These statements typically contain words such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “plans” and “anticipates,” and words of similar import. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There may be additional material risks that are currently not considered to be material or of which the Company are unaware. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.

Source

HONG KONG, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In support of its business development goals, Hong Kong Airlines is proactively recruiting flight attendants through large-scale recruitment events organised in various regions, drawing interest from thousands of job seekers eager to embark on a career in the aviation sector.

Since 2023, Hong Kong Airlines has been incrementally launching and reinstating an array of domestic and regional routes and now services 25 destinations. With the ambition to expand its fleet and route network this year, the airline has stepped up its recruitment efforts and has resumed significant events outside Hong Kong after several years’ hiatus, presenting an opportunity for international talent to apply in person.

Last year, Hong Kong Airlines launched its first recruitment in the Greater Bay Area and has organised recruitment events in Osaka, Bangkok, and Taipei respectively since the end of last year, receiving over two thousand applications. Qualified candidates were invited for on-site interviews. The Company expects to ultimately employ over a hundred flight attendants from these areas. Beyond hosting recruitment events, the company continues to recruit as necessary, continuously accepting job applications through its official website and encouraging those passionate about the aviation industry to apply.

Sally Lo Chi Yau, General Manager of Onboard Experience at Hong Kong Airlines, travelled to Taipei last week to conduct face-to-face interviews with local candidates. She remarked, “The flight attendants from Taiwan are known for their professionalism and dedication, particularly excelling in the provision of high-quality passenger service. Their proficiency in multiple languages enables them to effectively meet the needs of our passengers, especially international travellers who value interaction.”

“Our service team consists of members from all over the world and they usually offer mutual support and share insights about life in Hong Kong, thus aiding recruits in swiftly adjusting to the working environment. Here at Hong Kong Airlines, we embrace a multicultural ethos and are committed to fostering a corporate culture that is both relaxed and vibrant, which we believe will entice more international talent to join us.”

April Wang I-Han, Senior Purser from Taiwan with over 12 years at Hong Kong Airlines, relayed her experiences at the recruitment event: “What draws me to Hong Kong Airlines, aside from the outstanding working environment, comprehensive benefits, and extensive support resources, is the sense of ‘cohesive community’ reminiscent of a large family. Colleagues often provide mutual support and respect, and learn from one another, and the equitable promotion system has kept me here for 12 years. Furthermore, Hong Kong itself is an incredibly diverse, international city, teeming with cultural vitality, and I am thankful for the opportunity to live and work here.”

About Hong Kong Airlines

Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines is a full-service airline firmly rooted in Hong Kong. The airline flies to over 20 destinations across the Asia Pacific, and currently maintains interline and codeshares with multiple airline partners and ferry service providers. Hong Kong Airlines operates an all Airbus fleet. It has been awarded the internationally acclaimed four-star rating from Skytrax since 2011. For more information, please visit hongkongairlines.com or our social media channels on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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