Adagio Therapeutics Announces New Data Highlighting the Potential of ADG20 for Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19

ADG20 Continues to be Well Tolerated in Healthy Volunteers with Prolonged Half-Life and Serum Virus Neutralization Activity Observed out to Six Months in Ongoing Phase 1 Study

Data from Quantitative Systems Pharmacology/Whole-Body Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Support Evaluation of 300 mg Intramuscular Dose of ADG20 Given as a Single Intramuscular Injection in Ongoing Phase 2/3 Studies

Data to be Presented During IDWeek 2021 and 19th Annual Discovery on Target Conference

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Adagio Therapeutics, Inc., (Nasdaq: ADGI) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of antibody-based solutions for infectious diseases with pandemic potential, today announced new data from the company’s COVID-19 antibody program. Updated, six-month data from its ongoing Phase 1 study of ADG20 in healthy participants and data validating the selection of the 300 mg intramuscular (IM) dose given as a single injection that is being evaluated in the company’s ongoing global Phase 2/3 treatment (STAMP) and prevention (EVADE) clinical trials will be presented during four poster sessions at the Infectious Disease Society of America’s IDWeek 2021, being held from Sept. 29 – Oct. 3, 2021. In addition, Adagio’s chief scientific officer, Laura Walker, Ph.D., will present a subset of the ADG20 Phase 1 data as well as background on the identification and optimization of this differentiated antibody clinical candidate in an oral presentation at the 19th Annual Discovery on Target Conference on Sept. 30, 2021.

“The continued strength of the safety and pharmacokinetic data from our Phase 1 study is encouraging and further underscores the potential impact an antibody like ADG20 – which was designed to be potent, broadly neutralizing and delivered as a single IM injection – could have on people with or at risk of COVID-19,” said Lynn Connolly, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Adagio. “These Phase 1 data combined with our dose selection strategy, which relied on our innovative modeling approach, have allowed us to initiate and advance our pivotal trials of ADG20 in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. We anticipate these data will support an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application in the first quarter of 2022, which could enable us to bring an important treatment option to patients.”

Phase 1 Trial Update
Adagio is evaluating ADG20 in a Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single ascending-dose study to assess safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, and serum virus neutralizing activity of ADG20 ex vivo against SARS-CoV-2. Data from a six-month evaluation timepoint confirmed the extended half-life of ADG20, which approached 100 days based on data from the 300 mg IM dose that was given as a single injection. In addition, 50% serum virus neutralization titers at six months after a 300 mg IM dose of ADG20 were similar to observed peak titers with the mRNA-1273 vaccine and exceeded those achieved with the AZD1222 vaccine series. Importantly, ADG20 was well tolerated with no study drug-related adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, or injection-site or hypersensitivity reactions reported through a minimum of three months follow-up across all cohorts. Participants will continue to be followed through 12 months to assess safety and tolerability, PK, immunogenicity and serum virus neutralizing activity.

Phase 1 Poster Information: (633) Preliminary Results from a Phase 1 Single Ascending-Dose Study Assessing Safety, Serum Viral Neutralizing Antibody Titers (sVNA), and Pharmacokinetic (PK) Profile of ADG20: an Extended Half-Life Monoclonal Antibody Being Developed for the Treatment and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Dose Selection Strategy
To support dose selection for Adagio’s global Phase 2/3 STAMP and EVADE clinical trials, the company modified an existing quantitative systems pharmacology whole-body physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (QSP/PBPK) model to better characterize the PK of extended half-life monoclonal antibodies in serum and key sites of viral replication in the respiratory tract. Adagio’s model adequately a priori predicted the observed ADG20 serum PK in non-human primates (NHPs) and humans. The model was further optimized based on data from Adagio’s Phase 1 clinical trial and then applied for dose selection for STAMP and EVADE.

For the STAMP treatment trial, data compiled to date suggest that the 300 mg IM regimen has a projected ability to rapidly achieve and maintain target concentrations at key tissue sites of viral replication, including the ability to attain near complete (> 90%) and durable (> 28-day) SARS-CoV-2 receptor occupancy across a range of baseline viral loads. Further, for the EVADE prevention trial, data compiled to date suggest the 300 mg IM regimen has a projected ability to rapidly exceed target serum concentrations in the majority of simulated patients and to maintain potentially effective concentrations for up to 12 months.

Dose Selection Poster Information

  • (1086) A Whole-Body Quantitative System Pharmacology Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (QSP/PBPK) Model that a priori Predicts Intramuscular (IM) Pharmacokinetics of ADG20: an Extended Half-life Monoclonal Antibody Being Developed for the Treatment and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
  • (1089) Use of a Whole-Body Quantitative System Pharmacology Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (QSP/PBPK) Model to Support Dose Selection of ADG20: an Extended Half-Life Monoclonal Antibody Being Developed for the Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
  • (1088) A Whole-Body Quantitative System Pharmacology Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (QSP/PBPK) Model to Support Dose Selection of ADG20: an Extended Half-Life Monoclonal Antibody Being Developed for the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The STAMP and EVADE clinical trials are currently ongoing and enrolling patients globally. For more information, please visit clincialtrials.gov.

About ADG20
ADG20, a monoclonal antibody targeting the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses, is being developed for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. ADG20 was designed and engineered to possess high potency and broad neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 and additional clade 1 sarbecoviruses, by targeting a highly conserved epitope in the receptor binding domain. ADG20 displays potent neutralizing activity against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain as well as all known variants of concern. ADG20 has the potential to impact viral replication and subsequent disease through multiple mechanisms of action, including direct blocking of viral entry into the host cell (neutralization) and elimination of infected host cells through Fc-mediated innate immune effector activity. ADG20 is administered by a single intramuscular injection, and was engineered to have a long half-life, with a goal of providing both rapid and durable protection. Adagio is advancing ADG20 through multiple clinical trials on a global basis.

About Adagio Therapeutics
Adagio (Nasdaq: ADGI) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of antibody-based solutions for infectious diseases with pandemic potential. The company’s portfolio of antibodies has been optimized using Adimab’s industry-leading antibody engineering capabilities and is designed to provide patients and clinicians with a powerful combination of potency, breadth, durable protection (via half-life extension), manufacturability and affordability. Adagio’s portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies includes multiple, non-competing broadly neutralizing antibodies with distinct binding epitopes, led by ADG20. Adagio has secured manufacturing capacity for the production of ADG20 with third-party contract manufacturers to support the completion of clinical trials and initial commercial launch. For more information, please visit www.adagiotx.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “projects,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning, among other things, the timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies and clinical trials of ADG20, including the timing of our planned EUA application, initiation and completion of studies or trials and related preparatory work, the period during which the results of the trials will become available and our research and development programs; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for, our product candidates; our ability to identify patients with the diseases treated by our product candidates and to enroll these patients in our clinical trials; our manufacturing capabilities and strategy; and our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Adagio’s prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 6, 2021 and in Adagio’s future reports to be filed with the SEC, including Adagio’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Such risks may be amplified by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Adagio undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Contacts:
Media Contact:
Dan Budwick, 1AB
Dan@1abmedia.com

Investor Contact:
Monique Allaire, THRUST Strategic Communications
monique@thrustsc.com

US Student Loan Servicer Asks to Bow Out

A second company that services student loan debt has asked the United States federal government to be relieved of its contracts.

Navient, based in Wilmington, Delaware, announced Tuesday it had signed an agreement to transfer the loan servicing to Maximus. The deal is subject to the approval of the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid.

“Navient and Maximus are committed to working together and believe this plan gives the government a reliable approach to support borrower success and advance its vision for next-generation servicing,” stated Navient in a press release. The companies stated that they expected the deal to be finalized in the fiscal quarter starting Friday.

The deal comes just before student loan repayment resumes in January 2022. The federal government put student loans on hold last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Navient services 6 million borrowers.

In July, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, known as FedLoan to its 8.5 million borrowers, notified the Federal Student Aid office that it would not accept an extension of its 12-year-old federal student loan servicing contract “beyond what is needed to ensure a smooth transition for borrowers,” it said in a press release.

Allegations of corruption

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has labeled Navient’s management of student loan debt as corrupt and predatory.

In April, at Warren’s first hearing as chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs’ Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Navient CEO Jack Remondi denied his company was guilty of those practices.

Student loans have been a political flashpoint among lawmakers and politicians as progressives such as Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders — both presidential candidates in the 2020 race for the nation’s top leadership position — recommend student debt forgiveness. Proponents of student debt forgiveness say it would free student debtors to spend money on other items, such as housing, which would contribute to the economy and improve their quality of life.

Warren introduced a resolution in February that would provide $50,000 in loan forgiveness to individual borrowers and asked President Joe Biden to use executive action to implement it. So far, he has not.

Critics of loan forgiveness, such as borrowers who have paid their loans, argue that student loan debtors should repay the money and fulfill their financial obligations.

Average student loan debt at graduation for the class of 2021 was estimated at $36,140 and carried an average 2.75% interest rate, according to EducationData.org. By comparison, the class of 2010 graduated with an average $29,880 in debt at a 6% interest rate. Collectively, student debt has reached nearly $1.7 trillion nationally.

For further comparison, the average car loan debt for a new vehicle is $34,635, according to Lending Tree, at a 9.46% interest rate. Collectively, auto loan debt has reached nearly $1.4 trillion nationally.

Source: Voice Of America

YouTube to Ban All Content Containing COVID Vaccine ‘Misinformation’

YouTube will ban any video that claims vaccines are ineffective or dangerous, including those that question vaccines for measles and chickenpox, the company announced Wednesday.

“Specifically, content that falsely alleges that approved vaccines are dangerous and cause chronic health effects, claims that vaccines do not reduce transmission or contraction of disease, or contains misinformation on the substances contained in vaccines will be removed,” the Google-owned company said in a blog post announcing the new enforcement measures.

The company said “vaccines in particular have been a source of fierce debate over the years, despite consistent guidance from health authorities about their effectiveness.”

“Today, we’re expanding our medical misinformation policies on YouTube with new guidelines on currently administered vaccines that are approved and confirmed to be safe and effective by local health authorities and the WHO.”

The company said it “will continue to allow content about vaccine policies, new vaccine trials and historical vaccine successes or failures.”

YouTube’s COVID-19 vaccine policy has met with some backlash for being overly aggressive.

On Tuesday, the company removed Russian state-backed broadcaster RT’s German-language channels, saying they violated the company’s COVID-19 policy.

On Wednesday, Russia threatened to block YouTube, calling the channel removals “unprecedented information aggression.”

YouTube said it has removed over 130,000 videos over the past year for violating its COVID-19 policies.

Source: Voice Of America

Phoenix Software Delivers First Enhancement to JES3 Technology in Six Years with JES3plus® V1R1

Phoenix Software released updates to its product line in September 2021

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Phoenix Software International, Inc., today announced the general availability of JES3plus V1R1, a derivative work based on IBM’s z/OS® JES3. This release integrates SPOOL I/O performance enhancements made available to JES3plus customers through continuous delivery earlier this year. This is the first release of the JES3 technology to contain enhancements since early 2015 and coincides with z/OS 2.5, the last release of z/OS to include JES3. Organizations looking to remain on this technology who migrate to JES3plus can now reap the benefits of an enhanced product with a roadmap for future development.

JES3plus V1R1

JES3plus V1R1 supports two newer channel programming techniques to improve performance:

  • ACKD – channel programs with a shortened prefix that can process an entire track instead of one record at a time. This enhancement leverages MIDAW support.
  • zHPF – channel programs that leverage the z/Architecture fibre-channel-extensions (FCX) facility to transfer the entire channel program to the device for processing rather than having CCWs transferred as they are encountered.

Phoenix Software’s JES3plus Customer Advisory Council is actively helping to prioritize the product’s enhancement roadmap, so customers should expect to see additional enhancements delivered in 2022 via continuous delivery.

“We knew early on that enhancing JES3plus to use the latest I/O techniques would be a priority,” said Ed Jaffe, Chief Technology Officer at Phoenix Software International. “Waiting for a mission-critical JES3 global restart can feel like an eternity and you are sweating bullets the entire time. zHPF reduced that wait by more than 80% in our environment and our customers have enjoyed similar benefits. Much of the credit for the smooth rollout of this new, enhanced JES3plus release goes to our ISV partners and Early Test participants whose eager participation and incredible patience contributed greatly to this successful launch.”

(E)JES V6R1

(E)JES V6R1, the latest release of Phoenix Software’s modern JESplex management tool, includes enhancements for managing MVS subsystems, understanding address space memory utilization, and searching important system concatenations.

Phoenix Software Product Releases: September 2021

Phoenix Software refreshed its product line this month. Product downloads are available to customers via the Phoenix Software International Support portal. Visit https://phoenixsoftware.com/support.htm#downloads. New product releases include:

  • (E)JES® V6R1
  • CONDOR® z/OS 26.0 z/VSE 32.0
  • CYGNET® z/OS 26.0 z/VSE 32.0
  • Entrypoint® 16.2
  • FALCON® z/OS 26.0 z/VSE 32.0
  • Falcon64® 11.1
  • ImagEntry® 4.73
  • JES3plus V1R1
  • Key/101® 9.1
  • PHX-Adders®/PHX-Guest® 7.3
  • PHX-KeyPlus® 5.3
  • PHX-ODE® 7.3
  • Viking Data Entry (VDE) ® 4.73

About Phoenix Software International

Phoenix Software International, Inc., (https://www.phoenixsoftware.com) is a systems software development company providing advanced software applications to enterprises around the globe. The company offers a wide range of solutions to modern business challenges.

Press contact:
(310) 338-0400
news@phoenixsoftware.com

Sinocare Showcases Diabetes and Chronic Diseases Management Products at the Second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo

CHANGSHA, China, Sept. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Sinocare, the global leading medical test-developer, has showcased its latest lineup of products at The Second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), which was held between September 26-29 at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center. In its dedicated booth, Sinocare displayed different type of chronic diseases management products, including blood glucose monitor, blood pressure monitor, blood lipid monitor and uric acid monitor, also unveiled its portable multi-function analyzer, portable HbA1C Analyzer and advanced glycation end of products Fluorescence detector.

Sinocare Headquarters

CAETE is an important platform for China and African countries to conduct economic and trade cooperation and relevant exchanges and dialogues. With the theme of “New Start, New Opportunities, New Accomplishment”, this year’s event focuses on the fields of food and agricultural products, medical and healthcare industries, infrastructure and industrial chain cooperation, and in-depth economic and trade cooperation. Sinocare showcased a number of industry-leading products that will further promote cooperation between China and Africa’s medical and healthcare industries and aid in the construction of a shared healthcare community.

“At Sinocare, it is our vision to provide high-quality products and services for people with diabetes and other chronic diseases to help them improve their life quality. We look forward to working together with healthcare practitioners and private companies in Africa to provide more people with accessible and affordable diabetes management solutions,” said Louis Hu, Africa Regional Manager of Sinocare.

At CAETE, Sinocare debuted its flagship products for four chronic diseases: the Gold AQ PLUS and Safe AQ Smart for Blood Glucose, AES-U111 for Blood Pressure; iCARE2100 for multi-index analysis; and PCH50 for HbA1C analysis. With clear features and benefits, Sinocare’s products caught the attention of countless attendees who stopped by the booth for a consultation.

Gold AQ PLUS boasts superior electrochemical properties and extremely strong corrosion resistance with a 99.99% pure gold electrode test strip. The system is able to detect blood sample temperature, HCT and ambient temperature accurately, and automatically correct the result deviations. Its other flagship blood glucose monitor on display was the Safe AQ Smart, which features a FAD-GDH system for accurate and precise results, a user-friendly operations system that requires no coding, and automatic test strip ejection.

For patients with high cholesterol, the Dual-Purpose Lipid and Blood Glucose Monitor can be used for the quantitative measurement of TC, HDL, TG and GLU. The monitor has a fast rapid throughput of GLU in 5s and Lipid in 100s, and supports USB online printing and Bluetooth data transmission. Meanwhile, the Safe AQ-UG Dual Function Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Monitoring System can be used for those with diabetes and hyperuricemia. Safe AQ UG is ISO15197 2013 approved and comes equipped with automatic strip ejection and a smart code for uric acid tests.

In addition, iCARE2100 is Sinocare’s innovative cross-platform instrument with multiple indicators for convenient point-of-care testing (POCT). Powered by Liquid Phase iPOCT core technology, iCARE 2100 supports high accuracy and instant detection. Without the use of additional consumables, practitioners can reduce test costs without compromising on quality.

Beyond China, Sinocare is present in 42 countries across Africa, including Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa and more. Its total sales across the continent have reached over RMB 110 million, with the most popular products being Sinocare’s blood glucose monitoring systems, blood pressure monitors, lipid profile analyzers, and HbA1c monitors. Sinocare’s rapid growth in Africa is a result of its painless and easy-to-operate systems that are suitable for a wide range of people, as well as its stable sample collection capabilities and test strip with patented technology.

Sinocare is actively expanding its presence in Africa and plans to establish production plants in Algeria and Egypt to realize the localized production of blood glucose test strips. This move will significantly reduce transportation costs and time and accelerate its capabilities to provide people in Africa with diabetes monitoring products.

About Sinocare:

Sinocare has 19 years experiences in BGM(blood glucose monitor) industry since its foundation in 2002. The company is dedicated to the development, production and sales of the rapid detection of chronic diseases in the use of biosensor technology. In 2016, after the successful acquisition of Nipro diagnostic Inc. (now renamed as Trividia Health Inc.) and PTS Diagnostics Inc. Sinocare has become the world’s No.5 largest blood glucose meter manufacturer and one of the leading companies in POCT industry in the world.

For more information, please visit www.sinocareintl.com

Facebook: Sinocare In’tl 

Media Contact: Echo Gao
Intl_mkt@sinocare.com

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Vinamilk in World’s Top 10 Most Valuable Dairy Brands, Joining Industry Aces in Multiple Categories

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Sept. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) has become one of the world’s Most Valuable Dairy Brands with a brand value of US$ 2.4 billion according to the 2021 Brand Finance report. The company also ranked among top positions in three other global food and beverage rankings this year.

Brand Finance is the leading UK-based independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy. Each year, it evaluates 5,000 of the biggest global brands across 23 sectors and rates them based on various criteria.

This year, Vinamilk is ASEAN’s sole representative that secured high positions in four Brand Finance rankings, including the world’s most valuable dairy brands, the dairy brands with the most potential, and the strongest and most valuable food brand rankings.

Vinamilk is listed among the top in 4 global Brand Finance rankings

The result highlights Vinamilk’s growth potential and resilience amid challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic including the disruption of the global supply chain, drop in product demands, and altered consumption habits.

The company has also recently been placed 36th in the Plimsoll’s 2021 Top 50 global dairy producers by sales revenue, becoming the only Southeast Asian company on the prestigious list.

“After 45 years of continuous development, Vinamilk has reached remarkable position in the global rankings in terms of revenue and brand value. These accomplishments are a testament to our achievements and greatly reinforce our commitment to strive even harder, creating the most nutritious products for both domestic and international consumers and bringing Vietnamese dairy brand further in the global market,” said Ms. Mai Kieu Lien, CEO of Vinamilk.

In addition to maintaining stable production and business, Vinamilk actively carries out community campaigns to promote healthy lifestyle and has stepped up in the fight against COVID-19. Vinamilk supported the country and the international community with financial funding, vaccine donations and more than 6 million products valued at an estimated US$ 4.2 million.

Vinamilk sustains growth momentum amid the pandemic

Vinamilk continues to invest in its international standard farms to ensure the quality of raw milk used in producing domestic and export products

Vinamilk currently has 16 factories, 13 dairy farms worldwide and one large-scale dairy complex project in Laos which supplies more than 250 product SKUs. Amid the pandemic, Vinamilk has continued to maintain stable operation with notable growth in export volume. In the first half of 2021, the company’s export value was estimated at US$ 121.5 million, boasting the double-digit growth rate of 13.1% compared to 2020.

In addition to expanding international reach and become one of the world’s Top 30 leading dairy companies regarding sales revenue, Vinamilk constantly embraces international cooperation to raise its production capability both domestically and abroad.

Vinamilk's state-of-the-art factory

Vinamilk has subsidiaries and joint ventures in the United States, New Zealand, Laos, Cambodia, and most recently in the Philippines through a joint venture with Del Monte – Philippines’s leading manufacturer and distributor of F&B products. In 2021, the company sets revenue target of US$ 2.7 billion, increase 4.1% year on year.

About VINAMILK

Established in 1976, Vinamilk is the leading nutrition company in Vietnam, serving customers in 56 countries. With the mission of becoming an international brand in food and beverages sector and a trusted brand for consumers in nutritional and health products, Vinamilk is committed to providing high quality products with respect, love and responsibility for life and the community.

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