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Bybit Applauds Max Verstappen’s Landmark Third F1 World Championship Victory

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 11 October 2023 – Bybit, the world’s third most visited crypto exchange, extends its heartfelt congratulations to Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen on securing his third Formula One world championship title.

Max Verstappen's Landmark Third F1 World Championship
Max Verstappen’s Landmark Third F1 World Championship

Joining an esteemed group of drivers to have achieved three F1 titles, Verstappen’s name now sits alongside legends like Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, and Ayrton Senna. As he continues to etch his name in the annals of motorsport history, Verstappen stands poised to challenge quadruple champions Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on the all-time list.

Bybit, known for its commitment to innovation, speed, and pushing boundaries, is immensely proud to have partnered with Oracle Red Bull Racing throughout Verstappen’s 2023 journey to this historic accomplishment. This collaboration has not only united the worlds of Web3 and motorsports but has also provided unparalleled opportunities for fans to witness Verstappen’s greatness firsthand.

“Max’s unwavering dedication, skill, and relentless pursuit of excellence are truly inspiring. As Bybit continues to empower communities and inspire the next generation, this historic achievement by Oracle Red Bull Racing serves as a testament to the shared values and aspirations of both the web3 and motorsports worlds.” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “Bybit remains committed to partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing as we push the boundaries of what is possible in our respective fields.”

Hashtag: #Bybit #TheCryptoArk

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Bybit

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, esports teams Astralis, Alliance, Made in Brazil (MIBR), and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports.

For media inquiries, please contact: For more information please visit: For updates, please follow:




Khammouane, Phongsaly Provinces Prepare for Visit Laos Year 2024

Khammouane via the lens of local photographer. (Photo: Anouphon Phomhacsar, Laos Travel)

Tourism departments in Khammouane and Phongsaly provinces in central and north of Laos are gearing up for the upcoming Visit Laos Year 2024, with a focus on promoting their unique natural and cultural attractions.

Singapore Health Expert Shares Thrombosis Risk Factors Everyone Should Know and Mitigate with WTD’s 60 For 60 Fitness Challenge

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 11 October 2023 – Deep vein thrombosis is characterized by the formation of abnormally increased blood clots than physiologically required within predisposed veins owing to abnormal coagulability or endothelial conditions. Blood clots can become detached and enter the circulation and be dislodged within the arteries in the lungs that are life-threatening. Of note is one startling figure reported by International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH): one-fourth of the global population died from conditions caused by thrombosis each year.

Prof. Lee Lai Heng, Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital
Prof. Lee Lai Heng, Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital

Preventive measures against deep vein thrombosis (DVT) begin at home with behavioral changes, continue at work with more body movement, and hospitalized patients should be assessed for risk factors for developing deep vein thrombosis, physicians have recommended. To help apply recommendations to achieve large-scale risk reduction for DVT, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) has been running a global campaign known as World Thrombosis Day (WTD), held annually on 13 October. For this year’s occasion, ISTH launched the “60 For 60 Fitness Challenge” to promote exercising “every 60 minutes with 60 seconds of muscle movement”.

Prof. Lee Lai Heng, Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, said that people were becoming increasingly prone to a sedentary lifestyle as ever-advancing technology kept furnishing them with daily-life conveniences as well as indulgence in social media activities and computer games. Inadequate body movement could result in blood clots forming in blood vessels to the extent of clogging, culminating in thrombosis, along with the possibility of severe complications. There has been reports of people, who are otherwise healthy, developing deep vein thrombosis after prolonged sitting working or gaming at the computer as well as after marathon mahjong games.

Major risk factors predisposing to development of DVT include:

  • Prolonged immobility, whether in or out of hospital. Blood circulation in the lower limbs slows down when the body remains immobile, eg during prolonged bed rest, being seated for long hours, especially in an awkward posture, resulting in increased susceptibility to blood-clot formation.
  • Hospitalization and major surgery: More than 60% of thrombosis cases were patients who had been hospitalized for too long or afflicted by vascular trauma after surgery. Their limited movement puts them at risk.
  • Hospitalization and Severe illnesses: Patients with debilitative heart and lung diseases and those with severe infections and inflammatory conditions are prone to developing DVT during hospitalization.
  • Cancer and cancer treatment – Compared with healthy people, cancer patients are 4 times more likely to develop thrombosis, which may then hinder their cancer treatment
  • Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement and pregnancy: Estrogen-based oral contraceptives and medications increase the levels of clotting factors, thus predisposing to blood clots. Pregnant women are also at increased risk, as their blood becomes thickened throughout their pregnancy and the first 6 weeks after childbirth. In the general population, risks of VTE in healthy women who are on hormonal medications or pregnant is low; but in the presence of other additional risk actors, the VTE risks increases substantially.
  • Cigarette’s smoking and obesity are well established risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases have also been found to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism.
  • Hereditary cause People with conditions such as antithrombin deficiency, protein C and protein S deficiency which are genetic predisposition with increased blood clotting abilities are predisposed to with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Other genetic predisposition such as Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin gene mutation which are common in the west are very rare here. There are also other hereditary predisposition towards VE which may not be well described, so if there is a family history of VTE, one must be careful to apply preventive measures in high risk situations.

“Preventive measures are the best approach for thrombosis risk reduction, and the easiest for most people. Simply avoid risk behaviors. Keep a healthy life style and body weight. Don’t smoke. Don’t sit still for too long. Move you body about. Set aside regular time for exercises. Ask a doctor to assess your risk periodically if you need to keep a watchful eye on known risk exposure. Awareness of risk factors is critical for effective preparation, should it be necessary,” said Dr. Lee Lai Heng.

Because thrombosis would continue to be a silent killer, ISTH found it imperative to establish WTD, now observed globally on 13 October, to raise awareness of the disease. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the theme of this year’s campaign, Move Against Thrombosis, encourages people to get up and move to increase blood circulation, which can help lower the risk of blood clots. ISTH also came up with the “60 For 60 Fitness Challenge”, hoping to see everyone spend just 60 seconds moving somehow for every 60 minutes of being largely sedentary: walk around the place at hand, dance to favorite tunes, perform hip circles, to name a few examples, all of which constitute preventive measures against thrombosis.

Hashtag: #WorldThrombosisDay


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About World Thrombosis Day (WTD)

Launched in 2014 and held annually on 13 October, World Thrombosis Day aims to increase public, healthcare professional and health care systems’ awareness of thrombosis and, ultimately, reduce unnecessary deaths and disabilities from thromboembolic disease through a greater awareness of its causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and evidence-based prevention and treatment. The mission of World Thrombosis Day supports the World Health Assembly’s global target of reducing premature deaths by non-communicable disease by 25 percent by 2025, as well as the World Health Organization’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019–2023, the Montevideo Roadmap 2018-2030 on NCDs and the Political Declaration of UNGA’ Third High-level Meeting on NCDs. Visit www.worldthrombosisday.org for more information and to get involved.

About the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)

Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. ISTH is an international professional membership organization with more than 7,500 clinicians, researchers, and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 110 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees, and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October. Visit ISTH online at

Amazon Global Selling Singapore Unveils 2024 Strategic Priorities and Inks MOU with NYP-SIRS to Accelerate Regional SMEs’ Global Expansion

Empowering entrepreneurs and SMEs with cross-border expertise to take local brands global

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 11 October 2023 – Amazon Global Selling Singapore today unveiled its 2024 strategic priorities at the Amazon Global Selling Summit 2023 (Southeast Asia) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nanyang Polytechnic’s Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (NYP-SIRS). According to the MOU, the two parties will join hands to bolster online export capabilities of Singaporean entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and will further empower them in going global. The program aims to equip around 800 Singaporean entrepreneurs and SMEs with the knowledge and skillsets to take their business online in the next three years and help them seize cross-border ecommerce (CBEC) opportunities. At the summit, Amazon also introduced a fee-waiver for new sellers from Southeast Asian countries.

MOU Signing Ceremony.jpg

Synergistic Collaboration with NYP-SIRS

The value of B2C e-commerce sales earned by Singapore firms from overseas sales has the potential to more than double from S$1.7 billion in 2022 to S$3.9 billion by 2027, if they invest in cross-border e-commerce. These are findings from the recently launched ‘Local Sellers, Global Consumers: Capturing the e-commerce export opportunity in Singapore’ study[1], which surveyed over 300 SMEs from Singapore.

One of the key strategies of the Retail Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 led by Enterprise Singapore is to build global Singapore brands and support internationalization. This is also the main backdrop of the MOU between Amazon Global Selling Singapore and NYP-SIRS. Amazon Global Selling’s vision is to help businesses benefit from global digital transformation, build international brands and directly reach Amazon customers worldwide. Through the collaboration, the two parties plan to jointly coordinate and organize trainings and courses, so as to empower entrepreneurs and SMEs to have the opportunity of operating on the same stage as established brands and to win global customer recognition.

Singapore entrepreneurs, SMEs and retailers can look forward to availing themselves of initiatives and programmes such as product sourcing best practices, study missions, and workshops for product development that can tap on the global consumption trends. The goal is to elevate the training and support available to CBEC sellers, particularly those with their sights set on North America. Amazon Global Selling and NYP-SIRS plan to work together to explore more initiatives to encourage and support the adoption of cross-border e-commerce among entrepreneurs and SMEs. Over the course of three years, the program aims to equip around 800 Singaporean entrepreneurs and SMEs with the knowledge and skillsets required to jumpstart and nurture their CBEC businesses.

Anand Palit, Head of Amazon Global Selling, Southeast Asia, said: “This collaboration marks a key milestone in our continuous journey of empowering Singapore SMEs and entrepreneurs to thrive on a global scale. As the e-commerce landscape rapidly evolves, our commitment remains resolute in equipping local entrepreneurs and businesses with the knowledge, resources, and online export expertise essential for sustained international success. We recognize the immense potential within Southeast Asia and envision a future where our joint efforts with industry collaborators will serve as a catalyst for the region’s entrepreneurial community. Together, we will not only navigate the opportunities and complexities of cross-border e-commerce but also pioneer innovative solutions that keep local brands at the forefront of global cross-border e-commerce.”

Russell Chan, Principal & CEO, Nanyang Polytechnic, said: “By being aware of what local businesses wanted and needed, we were able to work with Amazon Global Selling so that this collaboration delivers real, immediate and practical initiatives which tap into Amazon’s global expertise and insights, as well as NYP-SIRS’ experience and know-how in the retail space. This region is quickly developing into a powerhouse for the B2C cross-border market – and this collaboration is poised to make considerable impact.”

Empowering Business Success at Amazon Global Selling Summit 2023 (Southeast Asia)

Themed ‘Go Global from the Get Go’, this year’s Amazon Global Selling Summit (Southeast Asia) will showcase inspirational success stories from sellers across the region, illustrating how they harnessed Amazon’s innovative services and tools to achieve their goals of selling internationally in North America and Europe.

At the summit, Amazon Global Selling also outlined four strategic priorities for its business in Southeast Asia in 2024: Introducing global infrastructure and resources, strengthening local industry and entrepreneurship collaborations, enhancing product innovation and services to improve seller experience, and comprehensive global brand-building solutions. Furthermore, Amazon Global Selling announced additional initiatives to bolster support for Southeast Asian sellers.

Amazon Global Selling Strategic Priorities for 2024

Introducing global infrastructure and resources: Amazon is constantly investing in global infrastructure and supply chain innovation to help optimize and simplify the fulfilment and delivery needs of sellers. FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) offers a fast and reliable service that helps sellers reduce the operational burden so that they can focus on their brand and product innovation. This September, Amazon introduced Supply Chain by Amazon[2], an end-to-end, fully automated set of supply chain services that will provide sellers with a complete solution to quickly and reliably move products from manufacturing locations to customers around the world.

Strengthening local industry and entrepreneurship collaboration: Amazon Global Selling will continue actively strengthening collaborations with governments, industry associations, and institutes of higher learning in the region, to empower entrepreneurs and upskill SMEs in CBEC. These efforts and collaborations, such as with NYP-SIRS, Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), and the Department of International Trade Promotion (Thailand) not only facilitate knowledge sharing, but also bolster online export capabilities.

Enhancing product innovation and services to improve seller experience: Amazon is committed to introducing innovative products and services to reduce seller frictions and improve seller experiences. To simplify how sellers create more thorough and captivating product descriptions, a set of generative AI capabilities were just launched to make it faster and easier for sellers to list new products[3]. In Southeast Asia, where credit card penetration is relatively low[4], Amazon recently launched debit card acceptance on Amazon stores for sellers in Southeast Asia countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand to enhance the seller registration experience in these regions.

Comprehensive global brand building solutions: Amazon supports businesses of all sizes to launch and build a successful brand and offers comprehensive solutions for brands seeking to establish a global presence. Beyond advertising tools, brand owners in the region can also look forward to newly introduced tools such as the Customer Loyalty Dashboard to help brand owners build stronger relationships with customers and boost brand and product-level loyalty[5], as well as Brand Tailored Promotions which helps brands offer promotional codes to potential and new customers.

Steadfast Commitment

Anand Palit, Head of Amazon Global Selling, Southeast Asia, added: “Amazon Global Selling Singapore has been constantly strengthening and expanding our support for Singapore and Southeast Asian sellers, working closely with key partners. We remain steadfast in our commitment to help Singapore and Southeast Asian regional businesses grow into global brands. This commitment involves enhancing the capabilities of local entrepreneurs, and SMEs in the dynamic CBEC landscape, as well as leveraging Amazon’s active customer base, global infrastructure and innovative products.

Subscription Fee Waiver for New Sellers: To further support new sellers and provide more opportunities to those who are open to explore cross-border e-commerce opportunities, Amazon is also offering a six-month discount on its Professional Selling plan to sellers located in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and several other Asia regions who register to sell in North America stores. Sellers who register with Amazon Global Selling for the first time can pay a total of USD 1[6] for the first 6-months’ subscription fee (USD 1 for first month and USD 0 for the following 5 months), instead of paying the standard fee for the Professional Selling Plan. This initiative lowers the entry cost for SMEs who are planning to set up a global business and helps them to kick-start the first step financially.

Grey Tan, Founder of Thiccly, said: “Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) has been a game changer for my business. With FBA, our business became scalable with a global reach from Day 1. Instead of being swamped with operational logistics of packing orders for our Thiccly GrowPoles, we can focus on product design. In the first year of selling through Amazon Global Selling, we launched 6 new products within 12 months, and scaled our revenue 5 times. And we’re on track to grow our revenue 400% year-on-year in 2023. Beyond plant care, Amazon Global Selling gave us the confidence to start a new venture.”

To learn more about the millions of small and medium-sized businesses from around the world growing with Amazon, visit: aboutamazon.com/supporting-small-businesses.

More information about selling on Amazon can be found here: https://sell.amazon.com.sg/north-america/us

More information about Amazon Global Selling Summit (Southeast Asia) can be found in this link.


[1] Access partnership

[6] Seller will be charged USD 1 for the first month if registering from Seller Central US (sellercentral.amazon.com), and USD 0 for the following 5 months. The charge may vary depending on the store of registration (US, Canada, Mexico). After the promotional period is over, seller will be charged standard professional selling subscription fees, which is USD 39.99 per month when selling on Amazon.com.

Hashtag: #AmazonGlobalSelling

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Amazon Global Selling

Amazon Global Selling helps businesses from anywhere in the world to launch a global business, reach Amazon customers around the world and build international brands. Through selling on Amazon stores, sellers of different types and scale can reach millions of Amazon customers worldwide, including 200 million+ Prime customers in overseas Amazon stores; and more than six million business and institutional buyers in the USA, Europe, and Japan.

For more information about global selling opportunities in North America, please visit:

Hantec Group’s IT-Driven Transformation to Offer the Best Trading Platform for Clients

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 October 2023 – Hantec Group, a prominent figure in the financial industry, is charting a bold course towards becoming a frontrunner in Fintech, leveraging its proficiency in Information Technology (IT).

20231009-image.png

The company’s shift signifies a pivotal step in its comprehensive digital transformation journey and positions the firm as poised to reshape the financial landscape. Empowered by Hantec Group’s distinct financial brands – Hantec Financial and Hantec Markets – the group is set to deliver cutting-edge fintech solutions to more clients than ever before.

Revolutionizing Finance with IT Prowess

Hantec Group’s strategic move into IT-driven expansion demonstrates its unwavering commitment to developing in the digital economy. This infusion of advanced technology is poised to redefine the delivery and consumption of financial services. Through meticulous investments in IT infrastructure, the group is enhancing operational efficiency, fortifying security, and ensuring scalability across its service portfolio.

The adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics equips Hantec to offer clients the most comprehensive platform for their trading needs. In parallel, the development of intuitive and secure online solutions empowers clients to manage accounts, execute transactions, and access financial information with ease.

Fortified Security and AI-Powered Personalization for Clients

Security and regulatory compliance are paramount in the digital economy. Hantec Group prioritizes the safeguarding of customer data with robust cybersecurity measures and compliance frameworks in place. This ensures that clients’ information is held securely.

Hantec’s strength lies in its ability to cater to evolving client needs through personalized and customized financial services. Clients benefit from AI-driven recommendations, bespoke investment strategies, and responsive customer support. Moreover, Hantec Group’s platforms offer educational resources and tools, including webinars, articles, and interactive tutorials, to navigate the digital financial landscape.

As Hantec Group propels itself towards fintech leadership, it leverages its IT expertise not only to pioneer the digital economy but also to fortify its financial business, offering unparalleled trading solutions to clients.

Hashtag: #HantecGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Baby Elephant ‘Noy’ Passes Away at Conservation Center

Elephant Calf Born in Laos Signifies Progress in Conservation Efforts
The elephant calf along with the mother in it's natural habitat. (Photo: ECC)

The youngest elephant calf at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC), named Noy, was tragically announced dead on 5 October, leaving both the ECC team and social media users deeply saddened. 

3M highlights net positive water impact pilot, direct air capture technology during Climate Week NYC

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 October 2023 – 3M highlighted a collaborative pilot program for water-stressed basins and a direct air capture technology during Climate Week NYC. In a series of engagements, the company shared how its science is driving climate innovation and advancing improvements in its own operational footprint.

“At 3M, we recognize the urgency for delivering scalable climate solutions across various industries,” said Dr. Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. “Climate Week NYC provides us with the platform to ideate and strategize alongside fellow climate champions, prioritizing how we can expedite implementation of science-based solutions for this pressing global issue.”

At the CEO Water Mandate UNGA Corporate Water Stewardship Half-Day Event on Wednesday, Sept. 20, Dr. Schueller discussed 3M’s participation in the first net positive water impact (NPWI) pilot program for the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC). The company will be collaborating to reduce water stress in target basins on three dimensions: availability (quantity), quality, and access—applying takeaways from the NPWI Piloting Workshop it hosted at World Water Week in August. The WRC program will also assess how NPWI is best evaluated, informing a guidance document that will be published in January 2024 and made available for companies around the world to operationalize.

“The Water Resilience Coalition’s net positive water impact program will provide critical insight for our work across 100 priority water-stressed basins around the world, and the resulting guidance materials will help scale global adoption of our ambitions,” said André Villaça Ramalho, Water Resilience Coalition Coordinator. “As a leadership member, 3M provides vital support and expertise to the coalition—accelerating measurable watershed outcomes and building long-term water resiliency.”

Accelerating the global reduction of water use by 3M

The NPWI pilot program builds on work within 3M to reduce overall water use—targeting a 25% reduction by 2030—and return higher quality water to the environment after use in operations. 3M is accelerating progress toward these goals through process improvements and the installation of new technologies and reached a 16.8% reduction in water use at the close of 2022 (benchmarked to 2019 levels).

“3M prides itself on our global leadership in innovating new ways to apply science to accelerate our environmental commitments,” said Schueller. “With the expertise of 3M scientists and continued corporate investment, we will maintain momentum toward our water goals in our facilities and empower others to do the same, including collaborative efforts with global partners like WRC.”

Showcasing climate innovation at Climate Week NYC

In addition to the CEO Water Mandate event, 3M spent Climate Week NYC highlighting new developments in key areas of climate innovation, including direct air capture (DAC) technology, and convening stakeholders from across industries to discuss how materials science can accelerate climate solutions.

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, 3M presented with Svante Technologies, Inc. (Svante) at The Nest Climate Campus. Cory Sauer, 3M’s global carbon capture lead, sharef the stage with Claude Letourneau, Svante’s president and chief executive officer, to discuss how the two companies are accelerating the development and scalability of DAC solutions, which can trap carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere and sequester it. In collaboration with Svante, the world leader in the solid sorbent method of carbon capture and removal, 3M is developing a proprietary material called Sorbents-on-a-Roll—or SOAR. Sheets of this nanoengineered material are to be stacked in parallel layers in Svante’s carbon removal filters.

3M is currently scaling up production of SOAR material, allowing the material to be built into filters for DAC field trials in 2024. By leveraging each company’s capabilities—including 3M’s ability to produce advanced filtration technology at-scale—3M and Svante believe it will be feasible to capture millions of tons of CO2 from diverse DAC facilities around the world.

In its own facilities, 3M is building momentum toward its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 3M’s greenhouse gas emissions are down 79% from 2002 levels, including a 38% decrease from levels in 2019. One of the driving forces behind this progress is the company’s accelerated transition toward renewable energy. The company is committed to using 100% renewable electricity in its operations by 2050 and reached 51.9% at the end of 2022—tracking well ahead of initial forecasts.

On Thursday, Sept. 21, 3M hosted a dialogue at the Fast Company Innovation Festival on the opportunity to scale climate solutions across industries. The session focused on technologies that are required for climate mitigation and adaptation—but are currently overlooked—and where and how to achieve meaningful implementation of these technologies globally. Understanding that achieving net zero will require profound economic transformation and global collaboration, 3M is convening a panel of influential leaders on the topic, including:

Dr. Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president and chief sustainability officer
Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown
Kani Keita, principal at TPG Rise Climate
Kathi Vidal, undersecretary of commerce for Intellectual Property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

To learn more about 3M’s commitments to climate innovation and how 3M solutions are improving lives around the world, visit www.3M.com/ESG.

Hashtag: #3M #3MHK #3M香港

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About 3M

3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news or on Twitter at @3M or @3MNews.

About 3M Hong Kong

3M Hong Kong Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M Company, was founded in 1961 to satisfy customers with superior quality, value, and service. Primarily served as a sales and marketing hub for 3M products, we focus on four major businesses including Consumer, Health Care, Safety & Industrial, Transportation and Electronics. For more information, please browse www.3M.com.hk or follow @3M Hong Kong on Facebook.

New antibiotic drug developed by HKU Chemistry research team approved for clinical trials in humans

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 October 2023 – A new antibiotic drug developed by a research team led by Professor Li Xuechen from the Department of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has recently gained approval from the authorities to undergo clinical trials in the Mainland.

Professor Xuechen Li
Professor Xuechen Li

The new drug, which has taken the research team ten years to develop and is named Kynomycin, received the “Notice of Approval for Drug Clinical Trials” from the National Medical Products Administration of China to be tested in human subjects.

The new antibiotic drug targets complex skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI) caused by bacteria. It is a new type of cyclic lipopeptide category 1 drug with a novel chemical structure. The patent is licensed to a pharmaceutical company in the Mainland by HKU’s Technology Transfer Office through the University’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Versitech Limited.

Skin and soft tissue infections are very common bacterial infectious diseases in clinical practice, often leading to emergency visits and hospitalisation. With the emergence of clinically resistant strains and the development of bacterial pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics, treatment options have become increasingly limited.

The development of this drug aims to improve the safety and efficacy of cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics and provide a new choice for clinical treatment. After obtaining approval for this clinical trial, the drug still needs to undergo Phase I, II, and III clinical trials and be evaluated and approved by the National Medical Products Administration before it can be produced and marketed.

The research of Prof Li Xuechen lies in the interface of synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and biology, spanning from innovative synthetic method development to biological studies and drug discovery, with the ultimate aim to develop novel therapeutics.

Professor Li was honoured in May this year with the Contribution Award in Carbohydrate Chemistry by the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS), recognising his pioneering contributions in precision chemical synthesis, chemical biology, and the development of therapeutic glycoconjugates of glycoproteins and bacterial complex carbohydrates. He has also been awarded the 2023/24 Research Grants Council Senior Research Fellowship, which funds his continued research on the synthesis and application of chemically synthesised proteins.

Hashtag: #HKU

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Technology Transfer Office, HKU

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) manages the use of HKU’s intellectual property assets by providing patenting, licensing and other commercialisation support to the University’s researchers and inventors. Acting as the bridge linking HKU to society in the area of technology commercialisation, TTO helps industries and businesses to access HKU’s powerhouse of knowledge, innovation and expertise through close collaboration. Website: .

About Versitech Limited

Versitech Limited is the commercial arm of HKU. It was established in 1994 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University and is incorporated as a non-profit company with prominent business people on its Board of Management. Versitech negotiates, executes and manages commercial business contracts and agreements on behalf of the University. To serve business and community needs, Versitech undertakes the commercialisation of HKU innovations and technologies through licensing, the creation of start-ups or collaboration, and engages in contract research and consulting in conjunction with HKU researchers. Website: .