Latest news with #HIVAIDS
Zawya
a day ago
- Health
- Zawya
Shenzhen and Hong Kong Join Hands to Promote the Development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone
"Driving the Globalization of Clinical Trials in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Implementing the First Key Cross-Border Multi-Center Clinical Trial Project" HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 July 2025 - The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute of Hong Kong (" GBAICTI"), the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center of Shenzhen (" BAY TRIAL"), Immuno Cure BioTech (" Immuno Cure") in Hong Kong are pleased to jointly announce today the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (" MOU") in Shenzhen on July 29, 2025. This collaboration aims to advance the globalization of clinical trials in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (" GBA"), further deepens clinical research cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and implements the first ever cross-border multi-centre Phase II clinical trial project for ICVAX, a therapeutic DNA vaccine for HIV/AIDS, developed through collaboration between Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute at the University of Hong Kong. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. This collaboration is witnessed by a Hong Kong Government delegation led by the Director of Health, Dr. Ronald LAM, and a Shenzhen Government delegation led by the Deputy Director General of Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Ms. ZHOU Liping, following their GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting held in Shenzhen. GBAICTI and the BAY TRIAL plan to establish the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform (" Platform") by the end of this year. The Platform is expected to offer a range of services, including project evaluation, trial design consultation, and subject recruitment planning for multi-centre clinical trials, provided by a joint Shenzhen-Hong Kong advisory team; integration of artificial intelligence technologies to assist with matching clinical trial institutions and researchers, as well as offering intelligent consultation services; establishment of a coordinated ethics review mechanism between the two regions to enhance approval efficiency; promotion of talent exchange, collaboration, and professional training; creation of a research talent pool to facilitate talent mobility and regional collaboration; and as a pilot, the development of clinical databases and biobanks based on disease areas of strength in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Professor Bernard CHEUNG Man-yung, Chief Executive Officer of GBAICTI, said: "The ICVAX vaccine, developed by Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute at the University of Hong Kong, is now poised for cross-border clinical trials in the Greater Bay Area. This highlights the achievements and potential of innovation and technology in China and the Hong Kong SAR. If the clinical trial results are positive, the new vaccine would bring hope to HIV/AIDS patients worldwide, particularly in Belt and Road countries. We aim to leverage the strength of both Guangdong and Hong Kong to establish the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a global hub for clinical trials." Dr. LI Yichong, Director of BAY TRIAL, said: "This collaboration marks the first cross border clinical trial project between the BAY TRIAL and Hong Kong, signifying a new phase in the cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the biopharmaceutical sector of GBA. We will fully leverage the synergistic advantages of both regions to establish an international clinical trial platform with the BAY TRIAL, continuously injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the Bay Area's pharmaceutical and medical device industry." Since the first discovery of AIDS in 1981, 40 million people have died from HIV infection. Currently, there are still over 39 million people living with HIV worldwide. Although antiretroviral therapy (" ART") can effectively control HIV, it cannot cure the disease, highlighting the importance of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy aims to enhance the host's immune response, with the expectation of controlling viral replication without ART, ultimately achieving complete viral suppression and functional cure. Immuno Cure's ICVAX induces broad-spectrum, multifunctional virus-specific T cells to achieve the goal of controlling viral replication without ART. Immuno Cure completed the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of the ICVAX vaccine in November 2024. The results demonstrated excellent safety and good immunogenicity. This year, two multi-center Phase II clinical trials will be conducted to evaluate the mechanism of action and efficacy, respectively, of ICVAX in humans. Both are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation studies, with clinical trial centres in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong and eight Grade 3A hospitals in China, including The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing Youan Hospital, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, The Sixth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center, and Chongqing Public Health Medical Center. Dr. Xia JIN, Chief Executive Officer of Immuno Cure, said: "We are delighted to receive support from both GBAICTI and BAY TRIAL, integrating medical resources from both regions to advance Immuno Cure's therapeutic vaccine for HIV, ICVAX, to multi-center Phase II clinical trials. We will continue to collaborate with the HKU AIDS Institute to drive innovation in drug development, leverage local advantages in drug research and translation, accelerate ICVAX towards commercialization, provide more effective treatment options for HIV patients, and contribute to global health." GBAICTI, BAY TRIAL, and Immuno Cure look forward to further deepening clinical trial cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in future collaborations, jointly promoting the development and globalisation of innovative drug development, and supporting the national "Healthy China" strategic goals. Hashtag: #ImmunoCure #醫克生物 #医克生物 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About GBAICTI The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) is located in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. Its mission is to coordinate public and private medical resources in Hong Kong, providing a one-stop support platform for research institutions. This aims to promote process optimization, talent training, and collaboration within the Greater Bay Area, accelerating the research and development of drugs and medical devices, allowing research outcomes to benefit patients more quickly. By closely collaborating with the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center, it leverages the unique advantages of "one institute, one center" to jointly coordinate cross-border, multi-center clinical trials that meet international standards. To learn more about GBAICTI, please visit: About BAY TRIAL The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center (BAY TRIAL) is a key initiative in implementing the "Notice of the State Council on Issuing the Development Plan for the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone" (State Council [2023] No. 12). It serves as strong support for Shenzhen's development as an international science and technology innovation centre and for promoting the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone, BAY TRIAL leverages the zone's unique geographical and policy advantages to integrate clinical trial innovation resources across the GBA, deepen Shenzhen-Hong Kong science and technology collaboration, and establish a one-stop clinical trial platform. This platform provides top-tier clinical trial technical support, operational management, and registration services for domestic and international pharmaceutical and medical device R&D institutions. Additionally, BAY TRIAL will act as a "testing ground" for clinical trial regulation reforms and a "catalyst" for technological innovation, facilitating the alignment of clinical trial regulations and standards with international benchmarks, promoting the development and application of cutting-edge trial technologies, building a collaborative medical technology innovation network in the GBA, and enhancing the region's competitiveness in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. To learn more about BAY TRIAL, please visit: About Immuno Cure Immuno Cure is a clinical stage biotechnology group based in the Hong Kong Science Park, focusing on research and development of innovative DNA medicines and antibody immunotherapies to fight against cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases based on its patented PD-1-enhanced DNA Vaccine, Anti-Δ42PD1 Antibody; and Vaccine Delivery platforms. To learn more about Immuno Cure, please visit: Immuno Cure
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Shenzhen and Hong Kong Join Hands to Promote the Development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone
"Driving the Globalization of Clinical Trials in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Implementing the First Key Cross-Border Multi-Center Clinical Trial Project" From left to right: Professor Bernard CHEUNG Man-yung, Chief Executive Officer of GBAICTI; Dr. Xia JIN, Chief Executive Officer of Immuno Cure; Ms. TANG Hongmei, Executive Director of BAY TRIAL HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 July 2025The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute of Hong Kong (""), the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center of Shenzhen (""), Immuno Cure BioTech ("") in Hong Kong are pleased to jointly announce today the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding ("") in Shenzhen on July 29, 2025. This collaboration aims to advance the globalization of clinical trials in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (""), further deepens clinical research cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and implements the first ever cross-border multi-centre Phase II clinical trial project for ICVAX, a therapeutic DNA vaccine for HIV/AIDS, developed through collaboration between Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute at the University of Hong Kong. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation collaboration is witnessed by a Hong Kong Government delegation led by the Director of Health,, and a Shenzhen Government delegation led by the Deputy Director General of Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality,, following their GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting held in and the BAY TRIAL plan to establish the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform ("") by the end of this year. The Platform is expected to offer a range of services, including project evaluation, trial design consultation, and subject recruitment planning for multi-centre clinical trials, provided by a joint Shenzhen-Hong Kong advisory team; integration of artificial intelligence technologies to assist with matching clinical trial institutions and researchers, as well as offering intelligent consultation services; establishment of a coordinated ethics review mechanism between the two regions to enhance approval efficiency; promotion of talent exchange, collaboration, and professional training; creation of a research talent pool to facilitate talent mobility and regional collaboration; and as a pilot, the development of clinical databases and biobanks based on disease areas of strength in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong., Chief Executive Officer of GBAICTI, said: "The ICVAX vaccine, developed by Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute at the University of Hong Kong, is now poised for cross-border clinical trials in the Greater Bay Area. This highlights the achievements and potential of innovation and technology in China and the Hong Kong SAR. If the clinical trial results are positive, the new vaccine would bring hope to HIV/AIDS patients worldwide, particularly in Belt and Road countries. We aim to leverage the strength of both Guangdong and Hong Kong to establish the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a global hub for clinical trials.", Director of BAY TRIAL, said: "This collaboration marks the first cross border clinical trial project between the BAY TRIAL and Hong Kong, signifying a new phase in the cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the biopharmaceutical sector of GBA. We will fully leverage the synergistic advantages of both regions to establish an international clinical trial platform with the BAY TRIAL, continuously injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the Bay Area's pharmaceutical and medical device industry."Since the first discovery of AIDS in 1981, 40 million people have died from HIV infection. Currently, there are still over 39 million people living with HIV worldwide. Although antiretroviral therapy ("") can effectively control HIV, it cannot cure the disease, highlighting the importance of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy aims to enhance the host's immune response, with the expectation of controlling viral replication without ART, ultimately achieving complete viral suppression and functional cure. Immuno Cure's ICVAX induces broad-spectrum, multifunctional virus-specific T cells to achieve the goal of controlling viral replication without Cure completed the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of the ICVAX vaccine in November 2024. The results demonstrated excellent safety and good immunogenicity. This year, two multi-center Phase II clinical trials will be conducted to evaluate the mechanism of action and efficacy, respectively, of ICVAX in humans. Both are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation studies, with clinical trial centres in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong and eight Grade 3A hospitals in China, including The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing Youan Hospital, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, The Sixth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center, and Chongqing Public Health Medical Center., Chief Executive Officer of Immuno Cure, said: "We are delighted to receive support from both GBAICTI and BAY TRIAL, integrating medical resources from both regions to advance Immuno Cure's therapeutic vaccine for HIV, ICVAX, to multi-center Phase II clinical trials. We will continue to collaborate with the HKU AIDS Institute to drive innovation in drug development, leverage local advantages in drug research and translation, accelerate ICVAX towards commercialization, provide more effective treatment options for HIV patients, and contribute to global health."GBAICTI, BAY TRIAL, and Immuno Cure look forward to further deepening clinical trial cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in future collaborations, jointly promoting the development and globalisation of innovative drug development, and supporting the national "Healthy China" strategic #ImmunoCure #醫克生物 #医克生物 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About GBAICTI The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) is located in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. Its mission is to coordinate public and private medical resources in Hong Kong, providing a one-stop support platform for research institutions. This aims to promote process optimization, talent training, and collaboration within the Greater Bay Area, accelerating the research and development of drugs and medical devices, allowing research outcomes to benefit patients more quickly. By closely collaborating with the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center, it leverages the unique advantages of "one institute, one center" to jointly coordinate cross-border, multi-center clinical trials that meet international standards. To learn more about GBAICTI, please visit: About BAY TRIAL The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center (BAY TRIAL) is a key initiative in implementing the "Notice of the State Council on Issuing the Development Plan for the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone" (State Council [2023] No. 12). It serves as strong support for Shenzhen's development as an international science and technology innovation centre and for promoting the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone, BAY TRIAL leverages the zone's unique geographical and policy advantages to integrate clinical trial innovation resources across the GBA, deepen Shenzhen-Hong Kong science and technology collaboration, and establish a one-stop clinical trial platform. This platform provides top-tier clinical trial technical support, operational management, and registration services for domestic and international pharmaceutical and medical device R&D institutions. Additionally, BAY TRIAL will act as a "testing ground" for clinical trial regulation reforms and a "catalyst" for technological innovation, facilitating the alignment of clinical trial regulations and standards with international benchmarks, promoting the development and application of cutting-edge trial technologies, building a collaborative medical technology innovation network in the GBA, and enhancing the region's competitiveness in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. To learn more about BAY TRIAL, please visit: About Immuno Cure Immuno Cure is a clinical stage biotechnology group based in the Hong Kong Science Park, focusing on research and development of innovative DNA medicines and antibody immunotherapies to fight against cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases based on its patented PD-1-enhanced DNA Vaccine, Anti-Δ42PD1 Antibody; and Vaccine Delivery platforms. To learn more about Immuno Cure, please visit:
ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
The walking nun — Sister Clare Nolan on entering the convent and saving lives
Clare Nolan was 21 years old when she entered the convent, against her mother's wishes, joining the Sisters of Charity novitiate to prepare for life as a nun. Clare had already completed her training as a nurse, and so she didn't want to join a contemplative order, closed off to the rest of the world. Clare wanted to take care of the sick and marginalised as a nurse, and as a nun, and so she became a 'walking sister'. Sister Clare quickly rose up the ranks, becoming the director of nursing at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, right as the HIV/AIDS epidemic reached Australia. Clare found herself in meetings with politicians, immunologists, brothel workers, gay activists and Catholics, working together to figure out how to save the hundreds of patients who came under her care in Ward 17 South - the first and only dedicated HIV/AIDS ward in the country. Further information You can learn more about the Sister's of Charity of Australia and St Vincent's Health Australia online. Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
Wall Street Journal
19-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Readers Respond to Bill Gates on Overseas Health Aid
In his op-ed 'U.S. Aid for Global Health Is Saving Lives' (July 15), Bill Gates calls attention to how 'guaranteeing and pooling demand for HIV/AIDS relief . . . encourages pharmaceutical companies to compete in drug development and manufacturing.' Mr. Gates's altruism is admirable. But he wants U.S. taxpayers to supplement substantially his efforts, while acknowledging that the private sector can do the same job given the right incentives.
Globe and Mail
13-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Biotech entrepreneur Francesco Bellini uplifted the next generation of Canadian scientists
Francesco Bellini, one of Canada's most successful biotechnology entrepreneurs, has died, leaving behind a legacy of life-saving work and opportunity for those following in his footsteps. Mr. Bellini, who died on Thursday in Calgary after a cardiac arrest earlier in the week, came to Canada as an Italian immigrant in 1967. He settled in Quebec where he co-founded BioChem Pharma Inc. There, he would go on to raise Canada's presence in biopharmaceutical research on the global stage through the development and commercialization of the 3TC molecule, which remains a critical ingredient in the drug used to treat HIV/AIDS. 'He was Mr. biotech Canada. There's no doubt about that,' said Pierre Larochelle, co-managing partner at Idealist Capital, who worked closely with Mr. Bellini for many years. In 2001, Mr. Bellini sold BioChem for $5.9-billion in a transaction that set the bar for the industry and it remains highly regarded to this day as an 'Everest of achievement,' said Brian Bloom, CEO of Toronto life sciences underwriter Bloom Burton & Co. Mr. Bellini carried on leading and investing in companies until he settled into his final major professional role as chair of Bellus Health Inc., with his son Roberto at the reins as CEO. In 2023, the family sold Bellus to British drug giant GSK PLC for US$2-billion. Clarissa Desjardins, CEO of Congruence Therapeutics, met Mr. Bellini 30 years ago as a young life sciences entrepreneur. In addition to his encouragement of her generation, she said his trajectory from a young immigrant to the head of a Canadian pharmaceutical empire always stuck with her. 'It's quite a legacy of him showing us what was possible,' she said. Mr. Larochelle said that Mr. Bellini constantly displayed a sense of courage, which had a great influence on him as an entrepreneur and now father. 'He was always undertaking something,' he said. 'Whatever it was, from a business standpoint or personal standpoint, he was always trying something and building something.' Despite the many trials and tribulations Mr. Bellini faced throughout his career, Mr. Larochelle said it's worth noting that he never compromised on his commitment to his wife and two sons. 'What defined him is he was able to do that, achieve extraordinary success, while staying a very close family and an exceptional husband and father,' he said. And in circumstances where Mr. Bellini's work and family life collided, Dr. Desjardins said he honourably upheld this trait. For example, if he ever disagreed with a decision being made at Bellus, he would voice his opinion and then defer to his son or the board for a final call, setting his pride aside. 'It showed a lot of leadership, maturity and, frankly, love,' she said. Outside of life sciences, and even Canada, Mr. Bellini held the status of a local celebrity in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, the small town where his family was from, after he bought the soccer team there in 2014. Walking through the streets with him after that purchase is one of long-time friend and former Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu's fondest memories of the entrepreneur. 'He was celebrated on the streets literally like a rock star,' Mr. Rovinescu said. 'It was as if we were walking with Brad Pitt through the centre of the town. People stopping, taking pictures, asking for his autograph. Other pursuits of note for Mr. Bellini included a winery he and his wife, Marisa, established in Italy and an olive-oil business. In the early days of Mr. Bellini's career, Mr. Rovinescu said a portrait of Albert Einstein sat nearby the scientist's desk, with a famous quote plastered on it reminding him not to take no for an answer. That motto of persistence, he said, no matter the number of failures Mr. Bellini faced, became a cornerstone of his character – one which people all over the world continue to benefit from today. Whether someone has received a treatment made possible by his work, or is one of the scores of young scientists given a chance because of a company Mr. Bellini built or invested in, Mr. Rovinescu said his legacy will continue to be wide-reaching for decades to come. 'When you look at the net effect of all that, that could be millions of lives that would have been enhanced through his contribution to science.'
