Day: November 1, 2021

New York, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Open Society Foundations join today with thousands of voices inside and outside Turkey, calling on the Turkish government to comply with the rule of law and end the imprisonment of Osman Kavala, the philanthropist and businessman who today marks his fourth year behind bars.

“The continued prosecution of this case shines a spotlight on the erosion of the rule of law in Turkey,” said Open Society Foundations President Mark Malloch-Brown. “Kavala has now spent more than 1,400 days in prison, even though he has never been convicted of a crime and top European and Turkish courts have ruled he should be freed.”

“The prosecution of this case is not about the law,” Malloch-Brown added. “It is an effort to silence independent voices like Kavala’s within Turkey.”

Kavala was originally arrested in 2017. He remains behind bars even though the European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2019 that he should be freed, citing the lack of evidence against him. Kavala was subsequently acquitted by a top Turkish court in 2020, and then immediately rearrested on additional bogus charges.

Before his arrest, Kavala ran a local foundation he had established to support the arts, culture, and human rights. He also served on the boards of a number of organizations including Open Society’s now-closed Turkish foundation. President Erdogan’s campaign of slander against Kavala has included distorting and misrepresenting his entirely open and legitimate contacts with Open Society and its founder George Soros.

“We call for justice to prevail and an end to the cruel imprisonment of Osman Kavala, who for decades has fought for basic, fundamental rights for all,” Malloch-Brown said.

Read more about Open Society’s work in Turkey. 

Office of Communications
Open Society Foundations 
(212) 548-0378
media@opensocietyfoundations.org

Qatar Tourism reveals the country’s largest-ever international tourism marketing campaign in push to become the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Middle East.

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qatar Tourism has launched a new international multi-media campaign to drive forward the country’s tourism goals and cement its ambition to welcome more than six million visitors a year by 2030. The campaign features nine unique, engaging key chain characters designed to introduce travellers to the destination.

Under the tagline, “Experience a World Beyond”, Qatar Tourism launched its latest development via a TV-led media campaign, featuring the voice of Indonesian singing sensation, Raisa. Six key chain characters introduce travellers to the variety of experiences that Qatar offers, with a further three friendly local characters representing Qatari tour guides.

The global campaign is inspired by the insight that today, more than ever, international travellers are looking for unique, authentic experiences that create unforgettable memories. Fast-emerging destination Qatar promises to deliver a safe, secure and accessible introduction to the Middle East, blending cosmopolitan modernity with Arabic tradition.

Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The country’s extensive developments are well underway as we welcome visitors from around the world, with exceptional hospitality at every touchpoint. The launch of the Experience a World Beyond marks a significant point in our journey to establishing ourselves as a world-leading destination and welcoming six million visitors per year by 2030.”

The new advertising campaign reflects Qatar’s commitment to expanding its tourism proposition, in line with Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Qatar has already welcomed over 200,000 in-bound travellers since borders re-opened in July 2021.

A new website launched by Qatar Tourism, www.visitqatar.qa, is now available in five languages and supported by a recently launched Personalised Travel Companion mobile app, designed to showcase the world-leading destination.

Qatar’s new tourism strategy puts the visitor at the heart of all new programmes and initiatives and will leverage the peninsula’s variety of existing experiences, while capitalising on a wave of new hotels, theme parks, shops and major leisure projects that have recently opened or are set to launch in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM.

Qatar is renowned for its warm hospitality and commitment to excellence, exemplified by its award-winning carrier Qatar Airways, which is the only airline to be voted World’s Best Airline six times by Skytrax. This is further complemented by the airline’s home and hub, Hamad International Airport, which was voted World’s Best Airport in 2021 by Skytrax. Such accolades further reinforce the country’s warm and hospitable reputation as it looks forward to welcoming tourists to the State of Qatar through a seamless journey.

Please watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/exV1GCDvxQ4

-Ends-

For media-related inquiries, please contact Qatar Tourism’s Press Office on:

+974 7774 7863 | pressoffice@visitqatar.qa

About Qatar:

Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Gulf in the heart of the Middle East, with 80% of the earth’s population within a six-hour flight. Ranked the safest country in the world in 2020 by Numbeo, Qatar welcomes all travellers, and guests from over 85 countries can enter visa-free. Qatar has an incredible variety of easily accessible tourist attractions, a plethora of fauna and flora including Whale Sharks and the majestic national animal the Arabian Oryx, and most experiences are a unique combination of cultural authenticity and modernity. From iconic museums to high-rise restaurants, from thrilling desert adventures to world-famous events including none other than the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, there is something for all types of travellers and budgets.

About Qatar Tourism:

Qatar Tourism is the official government body responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in Qatar, facilitating the sector’s exponential growth. Qatar is a destination where people of the world come together to experience unique offerings in arts, culture, sports, and adventure, catering to family and business visitors, rooted in Service Excellence. Qatar Tourism seeks to boost the entire tourism value chain, grow local and international visitor demand, attract inward investment, and drive a multiplier effect across the domestic economy. The Qatar Tourism Strategy 2030 sets an ambitious target to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030, making Qatar the fastest-growing destination in the Middle East.

Web: www.visitqatar.qa

Twitter: @VisitQatar

Instagram: @VisitQatar

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• Qatar Tourism

The World’s Largest Private Aviation Company Announces Latest Sustainability Metrics and Enters Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market in Europe

COLUMBUS, OHIO, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NetJets, the leader in private aviation with more than 760 aircraft worldwide, today celebrates the first anniversary of its Global Sustainability Program by sharing a progress update and highlights of the last year:

• Earlier this year, NetJets invested in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through a deal with WasteFuel, which includes an offtake of 100 million gallons of SAF over the next decade.
• NetJets saw a 71% increase in Blue Skies® enrollment, which encourages Owners worldwide to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their flight by seamlessly purchasing the equivalent amount of carbon credits to ensure their flight activity is carbon neutral.
• In July, NetJets Europe (NJE) became the first customer to purchase Air bp’s sustainable aviation fuel, marking NJE’s entry into the SAF space.

The following global metrics outline the results of these and other collective sustainability efforts over the last year:

• Over 751,000 gallons of SAF uplifted
• 2.5 million nautical miles flown with SAF
• Approximately $100,000 in CO2 offset by NetJets admin and training flights

“The last year has seen some really exciting advancements for NetJets in our sustainability efforts,” said Brad Ferrell, Executive Vice President of Administrative Services. “We’re energized to see our peers in the private and commercial sectors making sustainability commitments of their own. In the years to come, NetJets looks forward to being at the forefront of sustainable aviation fuel and other initiatives that will keep our industry at the cutting-edge.”

A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, NetJets aligns its Global Sustainability Program with the holding company’s commitment to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. To follow NetJets’ sustainability progress, visit https://www.netjets.com/en-us/sustainability.

About NetJets

Beginning as the first private jet charter and management company, NetJets® has led the industry for 55+ years. Then in 1986, they revolutionized it with the concept of shared ownership and proceeded to build the largest, most diverse private jet fleet in the world. Today, NetJets is proud to be a Berkshire Hathaway company known for its unwavering commitment to safety, service, and unmatched global access. NetJets’ industry-leading scale and business model offer NetJets and its Owners dependable financial sustainability unlike any other in the industry. For these reasons and many more, NetJets will continue to be the favored choice of the world’s most discerning travelers for generations to come. For more information about the world’s most reliable and trusted aviation company, please visit netjets.com.

KWT Global
netjets@kwtglobal.com

Webtel.mobi – the Global Telephony Company that created the world’s first Unitary Global Digital Currency and Global Clearing System – provides all external entities and persons with many thousands of products and services. It replicates the entire Global Financial System – in one entity

ST PETER PORT, Guernsey and NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The reason why Global Telephony Provider Webtel.mobi’s (“WM’s”) System is not a competitor to existing products or services of other entities, is because it is not a product or service itself. It is a System.

A System has within it hundreds of products and services, and a facilitation mechanism for all entities and people to use all, or any, of the products and services either for themselves, or via which to create their own products or run their own businesses.

Another example of a System is the Global Telecommunications System, comprising an interconnected system of Cell Phone Towers, Underground and Undersea Fiber-Optic Cables, Satellite Links, Radio-Wave Bandwidth, Repeater Stations, Mobile and Landline Handsets and Telephones, Internet and Wi-Fi modems, and multiple other components – all of which are interconnected.

Its network and infrastructure enables all Telecommunications Companies, A2P Texting Companies, Payments Companies and others to create and structure their own companies, services, service-variations products, and product-offerings. All these companies make use of – and need – the existing Global telecommunications System to exist and to function.

It is one System, but its capacities facilitate and enable the formation of – and running of – hundreds of different businesses, and their creation of thousands of product and service types. All these hundreds of businesses and thousands of product types working off it, are able to function because of – the single Global Telecommunications System, its infrastructure and network.

As such, the Telecommunications System does not have competitor products of services. The commercial entities using it to function and to provide their services compete among and between themselves, but they all use the same system to do so, and they do not – and cannot – compete against it. They require it to exist.

Another example of a System – albeit a severely fractured and disparate system in terms of components – is the existing Legacy Global Financial System. It comprises all Mediums of Exchange (cash, digital money and other Stores of Value), and the multiple components and facilities needed to Create + Recognize + Exchange + Accept + Transfer + Receive + Store + Convert + Structure + Value + Store + Administer + Record + implement other functions and requirements for these Mediums of Exchange, on National, International and Global bases.

All people and businesses use the Global Financial System for all types of transactions that exist.

All companies and entities providing any products and services of any nature utilize the interconnections, networks and infrastructure of the Global Financial System to create or run their businesses – and provide their products or services. They do not compete against the Global Financial System – because they cannot. It is the basis for their businesses to exist and function, and they function because they have access to this System.

WM’s System is a Global Telecommunications and Financial System – not a single product or service.

WM’s System has within it all components of an entire Global Financial System, and every transaction type that exists in respect of such a system. It also comprises all Mediums of Exchange (cash, digital money and other Stores of Value), and the multiple components and facilities needed to Create + Recognize + Exchange + Accept + Transfer + Receive + Store + Convert + Structure + Value + Store + Administer + Record + implement other functions and requirements for these Mediums of Exchange, on National, International and Global bases.

The Primary Differences between WM’s 21^st Century Global System and the current Legacy Global Financial System are as follow:

• WM’s System is a Telephony System, which has, by use of an Artificial Intelligence Complex Adaptive System, enabled its Telephony Components to acquire Dual-Use capacity, and be used as replacements for the current Components within the Global Financial System.
• Whereas the current Legacy Global Financial System is comprised of several thousand entities all having to function together in disparate ways with disparate standards and systems to create that system, the WM System replicates every single component of the entire Global Financial System in, and from, one entity. This brings about global uniformity of standards, processes and sub-systems, and facilitates much more rapid, much more secure and much lower costs replacements and alternatives for every transaction type that exists. The scope of transaction types is limited only by the knowledge and experience of the persons or entities using the WM System.
• Whereas the current Legacy Global Financial System is only accessible to, and by, entities – which are positioned as blocking intermediaries between private citizens and the System, the WM System provides equal access to its System to private citizens (who are WM or VSMP Members) and entities alike – with no intermediation.
• Both the current Legacy Financial System and the WM System enable and facilitate the creation and functioning of every one of the many thousands of products and services of all companies and entities in this sector.
• The difference between the two Systems is that the Legacy Financial System functions according to a (primarily) 19^th Century approach and 20^th Century components that has combinations of thousands of entities to function, while WM’s System functions according to a 21^st Century approach and with 21^st Century components and provides the entire System from – and within – WM as one entity. These 21^st Century Components also enable a far wider scope of products and services (such as Globally-Valid Digital Currencies), and Global 24/7/365 functionality. They create and facilitate many hundreds of other products and services – or the possibility for external companies to create many hundreds of other products and services – that are physically and permanently impossible for the current Legacy Global Financial System to create or facilitate.

This is why – although the WM System provides private citizens (who are Members of WM or its VSMPs) to utilize the System directly, it is not a competitor to existing companies or entities in any of the sectors that function from – or utilize – any aspect of the current Legacy Global Financial System.

This is because external entities cannot compete with – or against – the System that they require to function or exist as businesses. They simply utilize the facilities and the capacities the system provides them access to, in order to fashion or structure their own specific and unique product or service offerings, and they then compete among and between themselves.

This is why WM adopts a neutral and non-aligned stance towards all external entities. Because it is the source of all of their capacity to do business – they must therefore all be treated equally, without fear or favor, and allowed to progress their own business types as best they can.

If external entities wish to acquire WM Affiliates (VSMPs) as part of their business activities using WM’s System – they can do so at zero cost. However, it is by no means necessary for any external entity to acquire a VSMP in order to use all the WM facilities and possibilities to run – or create – their own businesses, products or services from it. They can do so simply by joining as Members, because all persons and entities have access to the same WM facilities and capabilities once they are Members.

Moreover, WM was purpose-built. This means the exact and complete end-requirements were identified before the WM System and Platform were created. Therefore, they were created to function in specific ways to efficiently, robustly achieve and carry out, specific end objectives and services, in specific ways.

One of these objectives was to enable any external entities that wanted to carry out their business in a segregated manner to be able to do so away from all other members of the WM System – but to still be within the Closed-Loop Members-Only ecosystem of WM.

To achieve and provide this possibility, the WM System was built to include the infrastructure to enable and support what are known as “Closed and Restricted” sub-systems within the WM Closed-Loop Members-Only ecosystem. These “Closed and Restricted” sub-systems allow external entities to acquire replicas of the entire WM System – that have access to and function from – WM’s Global System. However, the member-base of their “Closed and Restricted” sub-systems are restricted only to those entities, and to whichever people and entities they choose to give access to. Only those persons and/or entities nominated by them (and as controlled by them in their sub-systems), can access and utilize whichever products or services they use the WM System to create or provide.

To illustrate some aspects of the WM System’s capacities, below are extracts from the five Research Papers on the WM System, authored by Professor Jan Kregel of the Levy Economics Institute, after over a year of reviewing the system:

The Economic Problem: From Barter to Commodity Money to Electronic Money

… to replace money with a new technology-based system there is only one system that provides this possibility. Webtel.mobi (WM) is the only currently operating system that meets this condition because it plays the role of the bookkeeper of an alternative settlement system. Professor Jan Kregel, Levy Economics Institute, January 2021

Keynes’s Clearing Union is Alive and Well and Living in your Mobile Phone

WM provides the clearing house mechanism for global transactions in any currency, carried out in 1/100th of a second, at any time from anywhere in the world at zero cost. it provides the equivalent of a 100 percent reserved regulated deposit banking system, something that a fractional-reserve-based private banking system cannot provide. Professor Jan Kregel, Levy Economics Institute, January 2021

Another Bretton Woods Reform Moment: Let Us Look Seriously at the Clearing Union

… electronic or digital currency systems have not been able to provide payments services because they have extremely volatile value. The WM clearing system provides a real-world, actually existing blueprint of how such a system might function. Professor Jan Kregel, Levy Economics Institute, January 2021

New Dimensions for the TUV in the Webtel.mobi System

…the WM system represents and provides virtually all capacities (and/or the ability to replicate virtually all capacities) of the existing global financial system. Moreover, it provides them in a more secure, more rapid, less costly and centrally managed manner. The WM system therefore represents an operational and fully functioning global financial system, which does not reform the existing one, but rather functions in parallel to it, and has the capacity to replace it. Professor Jan Kregel, June 2021

WM’s Globally-Valid TUV Digital Currencies are only one of many thousands of components, facilities products and services that are available both directly to private citizens and to all businesses or other entities (who are Members of WM or its VSMPs) components), to utilize for their own requirements or their own businesses or purposes, as they wish to.

The WM System is not the provider of one – or many – products and services. It has within it – and it provides – several thousand products and services, replicating every single one that currently exists in the Legacy Global Financial System and many more that the current System cannot provide or facilitate – all in and from one entity.

Resources:

Media Contact:
Nick Lambert: wm@thoburns.com

Interview on the WM System’s Capacities with Professor Jan Kregel of the Levy Economics Institute:
https://youtu.be/XYBrCikUhn8

Research Papers on the WM System’s Capacities by Professor Jan Kregel of the Levy Economics Institute:

• Another Bretton Woods Reform Moment: Let us Look Seriously at the Clearing Union
  http://www.levyinstitute.org/pubs/ppb_154.pdf

• Keynes’s Clearing Union is Alive and Well and Living in your Mobile Phone
  http://www.levyinstitute.org/pubs/pn_21_1.pdf

• Money and Credit: Potential Expansion of the WM System
  https://webtel.mobi/media/info/money-and-credit-potential-expansion-of-the-wm-system-april-2021.pdf

• New Dimensions for the TUV in the Webtel.mobi System
  https://webtel.mobi/media/info/new-dimensions-for-the-tuv-in-the-webtelmobi-system.pdf

• The Economic Problem: From Barter to Commodity Money to Electronic Money
  https://www.levyinstitute.org/pubs/wp_982.pdf

Biography of Professor Jan Kregel:
http://www.levyinstitute.org/scholars/jan-kregel
https://inctpped.ie.ufrj.br/internationalconference2018/Jan_Kregel_cv.pdf

Article on the WM’s System’s Capacities by Professor Dimitri Papadimitriou of the Levy Economics Institute:
https://webtel.mobi/media/info/digital-currencies-and-instability-in-the-international-financial-system.pdf
https://www.kathimerini.gr/economy/561412582/psifiaka-nomismata-kai-astatheia-sto-diethnes-chrimatopistotiko-systima/

Biography of Professor Dimitri Papadimitriou:
http://www.levyinstitute.org/scholars/dimitri-b-papadimitriou
https://www.bard.edu/academics/faculty/details/?id=669

Media Articles on WM:
https://webtel.mobi/info/current-media/

Characteristics of WM’s TUV Digital Currency:
https://webtel.mobi/info/tuv-characteristics

WM’s “Secured TUV” Digital Currency:
https://webtel.mobi/info/my-secured-tuvs

WM’s “Smart TUV” Digital Currency:
https://webtel.mobi/info/my-smart-tuvs

WM’s urls:
https://webtel.mobi/pc (Tablets / Laptops / Desktops)
https://webtel.mobi (Smart Phones)
https://webtel.mobi/wap (Pre-Smart Mobile Phones)

Photo accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72290f10-7e5d-48e1-8648-97db1db24e1a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ebf7ac3d-f133-4eb3-a68f-0efb14b2bd60

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5f57b5f-dc25-4e5c-8737-62e7cf211059

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

Seattle, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGC Biologics, a leading global Biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), today announced Jean-Baptiste Agnus has been appointed as the company’s Chief Business Officer (CBO). In this position, he is responsible for strategic leadership over all aspects of the company’s global business development and sales and marketing teams.

“Jean-Baptiste is an experienced leader who has spent his career helping to build successful biopharmaceutical companies. He brings extensive experience in guiding companies through strategic business development initiatives, and understands how to navigate the changing dynamics and complexities of our industry,” said AGC Biologics Chief Executive Officer, Patricio Massera. “We are excited to have him on our global leadership team as our new CBO.  We look forward to leveraging his experience as we continue to innovate and realize the full potential of our development and manufacturing capabilities.”

Mr. Agnus brings more than 20 years of experience in biopharmaceuticals and contract development and manufacturing. He joins AGC Biologics after three years with Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, where he led the company’s strategic vision of its worldwide sales and marketing activities. Prior to that, he worked for 13 years at Novasep, and held a number of business development leadership roles with increasing responsibility both in Europe and the U.S.  While there, Mr. Agnus most recently held the position of Head of Sales & Business Development North America, where he led both small molecule API and biologics contract manufacturing services. Prior to his experience at Novasep, he was the Business Manager at Isochem in the SNPE group.

“I am very excited to be joining the AGC Biologics team. I believe this company has a great business model, vast capabilities and a talented global team, which uniquely positions it to be a leader in the CDMO space,” said Mr. Agnus. “The recent investments and growth in cell and gene therapy capabilities and capacity, in particular, are preparing AGC Biologics for a bright and fruitful future. This industry continues to evolve and innovate, and this company’s network of global facilities and employees puts it in a position to provide a cost-effective, reliable and timely suite of services that can bring life-changing treatments to market.”

Mr. Agnus joins at a critical time for AGC Biologics, as the company has seen record-level growth over the last several years. The company invested in expanding its services and capabilities in the cell and gene therapy space, and now has a network of sites on three continents that support the needs of biologics and cell and gene therapeutics developers.

For more information on AGC Biologics’ global services and capabilities visit www.agcbio.com.

About AGC Biologics
AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan and we currently employ more than 2,000 employees worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients’ most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is the partner of choice. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com.

Attachment

• Jean-Baptiste Agnus Headshot

Nick McDonald
AGC Biologics
(425) 419-3555
nmcdonald@agc.com

Investment to accelerate Workplace Options’ strategy of rapid growth and innovation

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Workplace Options (WPO), a leading independent wellbeing provider headquartered in Raleigh, NC, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement with WindRose Health Investors, LLC, (“WindRose”) a private equity firm specializing in healthcare. Workplace Options is responsible for the emotional, practical, and physical wellbeing support of more than 75 million employees in 200 countries and territories.

“WPO sought out a like-minded partner who could further accelerate the Company’s innovation and growth initiatives, which include an expanded global footprint and increased market share in key areas,” shared Dean Debnam, who is stepping down as WPO’s Chairman of the Board. “WindRose’s investment underscores that WPO is well positioned for growth at a time when demand for employee wellbeing support has never been higher.”

Alan King, who will continue in his role as WPO’s President and CEO, added that “WindRose’s depth of capabilities, expertise, reputation, and financial backing allow us to broaden our reach in current markets and extend into new ones. We are now better equipped to deliver the innovative solutions needed to support the post-pandemic workplace.”

“Workplace Options has a long runway for future growth led by its talented team,” said Oliver Moses, Managing Partner of WindRose. “We look forward to shared success as we support the Company’s rapid growth trajectory.”

WPO’s existing management team will continue to lead the Company and remain active shareholders going forward.

About Workplace Options

Workplace Options helps employees balance their work, family, and personal needs to become healthier, happier, and more productive, both personally and professionally. The company’s world-class employee support, effectiveness, and wellbeing services provide information, resources, referrals, and consultation on a variety of issues ranging from dependent care and stress management to clinical services and wellness programs.

Drawing from an international network of credentialed providers and professionals, Workplace Options is the world’s largest integrated employee support and work-life services provider. Service centers in the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Portugal, France, Belgium, UAE, Singapore, Japan, China, India, and Indonesia support more than 75 million employees across 116,000 organizations and more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit www.workplaceoptions.com

About WindRose

WindRose Health Investors, LLC (“WindRose”) makes equity investments in companies that operate within the services sectors of the healthcare industry. The firm focuses on companies with profitable business models and a demonstrated ability to deliver cost-effective solutions. WindRose manages over $1.2 billion in investments and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. WindRose is based in New York City and invests in companies throughout the United States. For more information, please email WindRose at info@windrose.com.

Marsha Fisher
marsha.fisher@workplaceoptions.com
800.699.8011 x 71428

SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TopAlliance Biosciences, a wholly own subsidiary of Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) today announced the appointment of Dr. Virginia Ellen Maher as VP of Medical Sciences, reporting to the company’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patricia Keegan. In her new role, she will lead or support the company’s regulatory filing activities and assist Dr. Keegan in overseeing the company’s overall clinical development programs.

Dr. Maher has 30 years of experience in oncology clinical, both in clinical trials and regulatory development and approval of oncology drugs. Prior to joining TopAlliance, she served as the Executive Director and Principal Clinical Consultant at DataRevive, a biopharmaceutical regulatory consulting firm. Prior to that, she worked in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for nearly 20 years, serving as Team Leader at the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and as a Team Leader in the Office of Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), and as a Medical Officer in the Division of Biologic Oncology Products in the Office of Oncology Drug Products at CDER. During her tenure at the FDA, Dr. Maher served as the chief clinical reviewer for several blockbuster cancer drugs, such as bevacizumab, pazopanib, crizotinib, avelumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab. Before joining the FDA, Dr. Maher worked at the Schering-Plough Institute, the National Cancer Institute, and the Tulane Medical Center.

“We welcome Dr. Maher to TopAlliance and Junshi Biosciences. Dr. Maher has extensive experience in clinical and drug review, especially in the field of oncology clinical trials and the review and approval of market authorization for oncology drug applications,” said Dr. Patricia Keegan, Chief Medical Officer of Junshi Biosciences. “We believe Dr. Maher will play a leading role in the global clinical development of the company’s innovative drugs, facilitate the entry of additional products into clinical trials and commercialization, and assist Junshi Biosciences in achieving its ‘In China, for Global’ strategy.”

Dr. Maher received her Doctorate of Medicine from the Temple University School of Medicine in 1986. She then completed her medical residency at the Washington Hospital Center and her Hematology/Medical Oncology fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

About Junshi Biosciences
Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising 45 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA antibody for solid tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In early 2020, Junshi Biosciences joined forces with the Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Science and Eli Lilly to co-develop JS016 (etesevimab), China’s first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has been granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in 15 countries and regions worldwide. The JS016 program is a part of our continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has over 2,500 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com.

Contact Information
IR Team:
Junshi Biosciences
info@junshipharma.com
+ 86 021-2250 0300

Solebury Trout
Bob Ai
bai@soleburytrout.com
+ 1 646-389-6658

PR Team:
Junshi Biosciences
Zhi Li
zhi_li@junshipharma.com
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FDA has granted the toripalimab BLA Priority Review with a target action date of April 2022

SHANGHAI, China and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd. (“Junshi Biosciences”, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) and Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (“Coherus”, Nasdaq: CHRS) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has accepted for review the Biologics License Application (“BLA”) for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for the first-line treatment for patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) and toripalimab monotherapy for the second-line or above treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after platinum-containing chemotherapy. The FDA has granted Priority Review Designation for the toripalimab BLA and set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) action date for April 2022. The FDA is not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application.

“We are excited by the continued progress of toripalimab toward a first marketing authorization outside of China,” said Dr. Patricia Keegan, Chief Medical Officer of Junshi Biosciences. “With the earlier approval in China, toripalimab became the world’s first immune checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, bringing a novel therapy to a disease that has long lacked new drug development. We will cooperate closely with our partner, Coherus, to leverage the FDA’s Priority Review designation to accelerate the completion of the BLA review and believe toripalimab, if approved, will bring an important new treatment option for NPC patients in the United States.”

“Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is an aggressive tumor that currently has no FDA-approved immuno-oncology treatment options, and we believe that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy, if approved, will establish a new standard of care for first line treatment of advanced NPC,” said Denny Lanfear, CEO of Coherus. “Toripalimab is the PD-1 cornerstone of our immuno-oncology strategy, and we are pleased that the FDA has accepted the BLA for review. Including the toripalimab application, Coherus now has three product candidate BLAs under review by the FDA, and our team is making rapid progress toward our goal to diversify and expand our commercial product portfolio.”

The toripalimab BLA is supported by the results from clinical studies “POLARIS-02” and “JUPITER-02”. The POLARIS-02 study is a multi-center, open-label, pivotal Phase II clinical study, the results of which were published online in January 2021 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The JUPITER-02 study is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, international multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial, the results of which were recently presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in a Plenary Session presentation (#LBA2) and were published as the cover article of the September 2021 issue of Nature Medicine.

In August 2021, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (“BTD”) for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin) for the 1^st line treatment of recurrent, locally advanced or primary metastatic non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) and in September 2020 granted BTD for toripalimab monotherapy for patients with recurrent or metastatic non-keratinizing NPC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. The toripalimab BLA has been granted priority review with a six-month target action date, as compared to a 10-month standard review timeline. Priority review designation directs FDA resources to the evaluation of applications for drugs that, if approved, would represent significant improvements in the treatment of serious conditions.

About Toripalimab
Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and for enhanced receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 is thought to recharge the immune system’s ability to attack and kill tumor cells. More than thirty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally, including in China, the United States, Southeast Asia, and European countries. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney and skin.

In China, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI^®). On December 17, 2018, toripalimab was granted a conditional approval by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the second-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma. In December 2020, toripalimab was successfully included in the updated National Reimbursement Drug List. In February 2021, the NMPA granted a conditional approval to toripalimab for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy. In April, the NMPA granted a conditional approval to toripalimab for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy. In addition, two supplemental NDAs for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced, recurrent or metastatic NPC and for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were accepted by the NMPA for review in February and July 2021 respectively.

In the United States, the FDA has granted priority review for the toripalimab BLA for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. Earlier, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the 1st line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC and also for toripalimab monotherapy in the second or third line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. There are currently no PD-1 blocking antibodies indicated for use in NPC in the United States. Additionally, FDA has granted Fast Track designation for toripalimab for the treatment of mucosal melanoma and orphan drug designation for NPC, mucosal melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Earlier in 2021 Coherus in-licensed rights to develop and commercialize toripalimab in the United States and Canada. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus plan to file additional toripalimab BLAs with the FDA over the next three years for multiple other cancer types.

About Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) is a type of aggressive cancer that starts in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat behind the nose and near the base of skull. NPC is rare in the United States with annual incidence of fewer than 1 per 100,000. The five-year survival rate for all patients diagnosed with NPC is approximately 60%; however, those who are diagnosed with advanced disease have five-year survivals of approximately 25%.  Due to the location of the primary tumor, surgery is rarely an option, and patients with localized disease are treated primarily with radiation and chemotherapy.  Patients with advanced or recurrent disease are treated with combination chemotherapy.  There are currently no FDA-approved immuno-oncology agents for NPC.

About Coherus BioSciences
Coherus is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with the mission to increase access to cost-effective medicines that can have a major impact on patients’ lives and to deliver significant savings to the health care system. Coherus’ strategy is to build a leading immuno-oncology franchise funded with cash generated by its commercial biosimilar business. For additional information, please visit www.coherus.com.

Coherus markets UDENYCA^® (pegfilgrastim-cbqv) in the United States and through 2023 expects to launch toripalimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, as well as biosimilars of Lucentis^®, Humira^®, and Avastin^®, if approved.

UDENYCA^® is a trademark of Coherus BioSciences, Inc.

Avastin® and Lucentis^® are registered trademarks of Genentech, Inc.

Humira® is a registered trademark of AbbVie Inc.

About Junshi Biosciences
Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising 45 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA antibody for solid tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In early 2020, Junshi Biosciences joined forces with the Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Science and Eli Lilly to co-develop JS016 (etesevimab), China’s first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has been granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in 15 countries and regions worldwide. The JS016 program is a part of our continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has over 2,500 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, Coherus’ ability to generate cash flow from its UDENYCA^® business; Coherus’ and Junshi Biosciences’ ability to co-develop toripalimab, and Coherus’ ability to commercialize toripalimab, or any other drug candidates developed as part of its collaboration with Junshi Biosciences in the licensed territory; Coherus’ ability to expand a late-stage pipeline into the rapidly growing checkpoint inhibitor market; any market size expectation for checkpoint inhibitor therapeutic agents in the United States; the ability for ex-US clinical trial data from a single country to support an approval by the FDA; whether the FDA will hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the toripalimab BLA for nasopharyngeal carcinoma; the potential for toripalimab to gain approval in the United States for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, or any indication; Coherus’ and Junshi Biosciences’ plans to file additional toripalimab BLAs with the FDA over the next three years for other clinical indications; Coherus’ plans to invest the cash generated by its biosimilar commercial business to build a focused immuno-oncology franchise; Coherus’ ability to prepare for projected launches through 2023 of biosimilars of Humira^®, Avastin^® and Lucentis^®, if approved.

Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Coherus’ actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process, including the speed of regulatory review and the timing of Coherus’ regulatory filings; the risk of FDA review issues; the risk that Coherus is unable to complete commercial transactions and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Coherus’ drug candidates; and the risks and uncertainties of possible patent litigation. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Coherus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Coherus’ business in general, see Coherus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2021,its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2021 and its future periodic reports to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of our operating results for any future periods.

Junshi Biosciences Contact Information
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Junshi Biosciences
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Solebury Trout
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Zhi Li
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+ 86 021-6105 8800

Coherus Contact Information:
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Coherus BioSciences, Inc.
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Media Contact:
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Real Chemistry
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