A new report from the Access to Medicine Foundation reveals how patient-focused pharma companies’ access efforts are

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The latest report from the Access to Medicine Foundation takes a first-ever look at the critical issue of how some of the largest pharmaceutical companies are reaching patients worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Ahead of the 2024 Access to Medicine Index, the Foundation examined the patient reach commitments and measurement approaches of the 20 companies that will be ranked in the upcoming Index in November. The analysis identified 42 unique approaches to measuring patient reach, each with varying degrees of comprehensiveness. Companies like AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche are leading the way with more nuanced approaches that go beyond simply tracking sales, enhancing the accuracy of their patient reach calculations. The report also emphasises that while many companies have set ambitious goals for reaching more patients in LMICs, these commitments could benefit from further refinement in order to drive real change.

What does the report find?

Encouragingly, 19 of the 20 companies assessed have reported using approaches to track the patients they reach with their essential medicines in LMICs, with the exception of AbbVie. However, these approaches vary widely.

Notably, many pharmaceutical companies set ambitious goals and make public commitments to expand their global patient reach, particularly in LMICs. A few of these commitments, including those set by Bayer, GSK and Johnson & Johnson, are clear, measurable and ambitious, with targets aligned with high global disease burdens.

However, findings also reveal significant potential for companies to refine their commitments and better their efforts to reach those in need. For example, the major insulin manufacturers—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—control over 90% of the market share and have pledged to expand access to their products in LMICs. Yet, their commitments collectively address only 1% of the diabetes prevalence within the 113 LMICs in the scope of the Index, which currently stands at over 350 million cases out of the global 525 million cases, according to Global Burden of Disease data from 2021.

“We have seen that the pharmaceutical industry is making ambitious commitments to reach more patients worldwide. However, this report reveals that there is still much work to be done in achieving meaningful impact and calls for urgent steps to ensure lifesaving products reach every patient, everywhere.”

– Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO, Access to Medicine Foundation.

Next steps

To address chronic health inequity, the pharma industry and its partners must embed patient reach at the core of their business and partnerships. Using the key findings and recommendations identified in the Foundation’s report, companies can strengthen and expand their current approaches, as well as collaborate and learn from one another.

Contact: Divya Verma, Head of Communication

dverma@accesstomedicinefoundation.org / +31 (0) 20 215 3535

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000990240

AstraZeneca Recognized as the First Company in Egypt to Achieve the Best Place to Work for Working Parents Certification

CAIRO, EGYPT – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 September 2024 – AstraZeneca Egypt has recently been awarded the prestigious Best Place to Work for Working Parents certification highlighting its unwavering commitment to supporting employees with families and creating a workplace environment that is conducive to both professional success and personal well-being.

The “Best Places to Work for Working Parents” certification is an accolade given to companies that demonstrate exceptional support for working parents. It assesses factors like family-friendly benefits, work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and parental leave policies. Companies that achieve this certification gain a competitive edge by attracting top talent, enhancing their reputation, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce.

In a statement, Hatem El-Werdany, Country President of AstraZeneca Egypt, expressed his pride: “We are immensely proud to receive the Best Place to Work certification for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition highlights our dedication to creating a supportive environment where our employees can thrive. We firmly believe in fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion, where every individual feels empowered to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the Company’s success.”

Heba Elshabrawy, Human Resources Director of AstraZeneca Egypt, added: ” We’re proud that 95% of our employees consider AstraZeneca a great place to work for parents. Being a Great Place to Work is a commitment to our people, reflecting our priority to support our employees’ well-being, focusing on creating a workplace that excels in various factors such as culture, learning, development, leadership, and talent management. This recognition serves as a powerful validation of our efforts to cultivate a truly inspiring work environment where our people grow personally and professionally.”

AstraZeneca Egypt has also achieved the standard Best Place to Work certification for a couple of years along with the Best Place to Work for Females and Millennials certification demonstrating year after year its dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and its commitment to the growth and well-being of its employees.

AI-Media and ITV Announce Landmark Partnership to Revolutionize Captioning Services

LONDON, Sept. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI-Media, the global leader in AI-powered captioning and translation services, is proud to announce a new partnership with ITV, the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the use of AI captioning technology to enhance accessibility and operational efficiency across ITV’s extensive broadcast network.

AI-Media and ITV Announce Landmark Partnership

David Padmore, Director of Accessibility for ITV, emphasised the importance of this partnership in advancing ITV’s commitment to adopting new technologies. “At ITV, we are constantly seeking innovative solutions to improve our services and meet the diverse needs of our audience. Working with AI-Media has allowed us to take advantage of cutting-edge AI to streamline our captioning workflows while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.”

The partnership centres on the deployment of AI-Media’s LEXI live automatic captioning solution, which integrates seamlessly with ITV’s existing infrastructure. The collaborative effort between AI-Media and ITV has resulted in a technology architecture tailored to the broadcaster’s complex requirements, including its 18 regional news variants. The solution will utilise AI Media’s SDI Encoder Pro Cards to deliver LEXI captioning as VANC embedded data into ITV’s existing architecture and will be operated by ITV’s expert Access Services team. AI Media’s Alta product will also be used for ITVX and other IP video workflows.

Traditionally, ITV’s regional news captioning involved a manual workflow with significant staffing requirements. The shift to automation through AI-Media’s LEXI is expected to dramatically impact resourcing, leading to significant efficiencies and cost reductions. The automation of workflows allows ITV to provide more captions, enhancing accessibility for its viewers. Additionally, the LEXI system’s increased reliability and reduced latency are expected to improve the overall quality of service.

The implementation of AI-Media’s automated workflows was straightforward, causing no disruptions to ITV’s playout solutions. This flexibility around playout has been a considerable advantage, enabling a smooth transition to the new system.

ITV’s captioning team will continue to play a crucial role in developing bespoke topic models, ensuring the highest level of accuracy and relevance in captions. The move to automated workflows allows ITV to offer more regional news captions, ultimately benefiting a broader audience.

“ITV chose AI-Media because of our robust infrastructure and the ability to deploy LEXI in complex broadcast environments. Our experience in delivering captions in highly regulated markets and our strong relationships with regulatory bodies like Ofcom, ACMA, and FCC were significant factors in their decision,” said John Peck, VP of International Sales at AI-Media. “This partnership not only enhances ITV’s operational efficiency but also confirms their position as forward-thinking innovators in the European access services community.”

ITV’s collaboration with AI-Media highlights its dedication to enhancing viewer experience through advanced technology and underscores its role as a leader in accessibility and innovation.

For more information about ITV: https://www.itvplc.com/

For more information about AI-Media: https://www.ai-media.tv/

Book a Meeting or Demo with the AI-Media Team at IBC: IBC Show 2024 (ai-media.tv)

About AI-Media

Founded in Australia in 2003, AI-Media is a pioneering technology company specialising in AI language and captioning workflow solutions.

As a global leader, AI-Media provides high-quality AI-powered live and recorded captioning and translation technology and solutions to a diverse range of customers and markets worldwide.

For the first time in February 2024, AI-Media unveiled groundbreaking data showcasing the superiority of its AI captioning product, LEXI, over traditional more expensive human workflows.

With deep industry experience and sophisticated AI technology to create solutions which streamline and simplify processes, AI-Media empowers leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies globally to ensure seamless accessibility and inclusivity of their content.

AI-Media (ASX: AIM) commenced trading on the ASX on 15 September 2020.

About ITV

ITV is the largest commercial broadcaster and streamer in the UK. ITV’s Access Services team works in-house and supplies subtitles and audio description for all of ITV’s live and recorded programming, as well as providing services commercially to external customers.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65c715b7-d314-40be-9239-4f14480e764d

Media Contact: Fiona Habben – Fiona.habben@ai-media.tv

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9228014

Regulated Online Casinos using Military-Grade Technology to Outsmart Cyber Criminals

WATERFORD, Ireland, Sept. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With cybercrime running rampant and data breaches on the rise, trusted online casinos globally are arming themselves with the latest military-grade encryption technologies to outsmart even the most sophisticated cyber thugs.

Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC) – a leading global casino resource portal – said data breaches were becoming more common and costly as resourceful criminals lurk everywhere on the internet. For the gambling industry, data encryption goes beyond protecting financial transactions: it’s about securing every interaction – from logins to game history. Every piece of player information is encrypted, making it virtually impossible for unauthorized parties to access.

“Regulated and reputable online casinos cannot afford to gamble on security. Player safety and protection is a non-negotiable. That’s why they are investing heavily in multi-layered next gen encryption – the same technology used by governments and global financial institutions – to become impenetrable to digital threats,” said Miranda Raaff, Head of iGaming Information at MDC.

“This level of high-tech security means that even in the event of a possible data breach, encrypted information remains unreadable and useless to cybercriminals. The integration of state-of-the-art firewalls, end-to-end encryption, and real-time monitoring systems means online casinos are safeguarding every transaction from deposits to withdrawals, as well as securing every player interaction in transit.”

The urgency of this move has never been more critical. With high-profile breaches like those at energy giant Halliburton, data broker company National Public Data (NPD), and auto giant Toyota – billions of individuals’ sensitive information could be exposed.

“The stakes have never been higher. The mission of regulated online casinos is to outsmart cyber hooligans at every turn and that’s why they are constantly adapting their defenses to combat new threats in the fast-changing cyber world. Player trust is the cornerstone of their success, so they are doing everything in their power to protect it,” concluded Raaff.

About Minimum Deposit Casinos

Minimum Deposit Casinos, a division of the OneTwenty Group, is a global iGaming resource portal that reviews and recommends the most trusted and reliable online casinos to players. MDC analyses every aspect of online casinos from checking gaming license details, to security, responsible gambling tools, and fair gaming practices, before recommending them to players.

Website – https://www.minimumdepositcasinos.org/

Contact Email: miranda@onetwentygroup.com


GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000990937

Bitget TraderPro Season 3 Features Demo to Live Trading With up to $10,000 Funding Support Per User

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched the third season of its popular trading competition called TraderPro program. After two successful seasons, TraderPro has established itself as a premier trading platform, consistently engaging users and receiving widespread positive feedback. Bitget TraderPro is a trading challenge designed to offer both learning and real-world trading opportunities.

Bitget

Bitget TraderPro Season 3 Features Demo to Live Trading With up to $10,000 Funding Support Per User

Participants begin by trading with a demo account, which allows them to experiment and practice without any financial risk. Once they reach specific milestones, they graduate to live trading, where Bitget provides funding support for the chance to enjoy the thrill of making real profits. It’s an ideal combination of learning and competition as traders are given the chance to refine their strategies and aim for top rewards.

After completing the demo challenge, participants advance to live trading with Bitget’s 1:1 funding support. Qualified traders can create sub-accounts for elite trading and become TraderPro elite traders. Bitget will match their investment (from 1000 to 5000 USDT), enabling them to take larger positions on all trading pairs. With this support, traders can aim for higher profits while minimizing personal risk. Maximum leverage remains capped at 20X in Phase 2.

The theme for this season, TraderPro has set up “New Funding Power-Up to $10,000 & MEME Coin Challenge,” helping crypto users practice trading and be incentivized for their efforts. The competition phase will run for around thirty days from 9th September to October, 2024, with ambitious targets set to drive user participation and engagement. Through the program, it aims to convert 500 participants into Bitget elite traders, further strengthening its VIP trading community.

To ensure transparency and build trust, Bitget will provide daily trading performance reports, offering real-time updates on the competition’s progress and outcomes. This feature is aimed at keeping participants informed and engaged throughout the event.

Building on the success of previous seasons, which saw a 107% increase in participants and a 73% rise in referrals from Season 1 to Season 2, Bitget is committed to further elevating TraderPro’s status within the trading community. The introduction of comprehensive promotional strategies, including collaborations with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and community engagement plans, shows Bitget’s dedication to maintaining its position as a leader in the industry.

In conclusion, TraderPro Season 3 is set to be an exciting and rewarding experience for both novice and experienced traders. With the potential to win up to $10,000 in funding rewards, participants are encouraged to register early and take full advantage of the program’s offerings.

For more information on TraderPro, please visit here.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 25 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices may fluctuate and experience price volatility. Only invest what you can afford to lose. The value of your investment may be impacted and it is possible that you may not achieve your financial goals or be able to recover your principal investment. You should always seek independent financial advice and consider your own financial experience and financial standing. Past performance is not a reliable measure of future performance. Bitget shall not be liable for any losses you may incur. Nothing here shall be construed as financial advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea93857c-a4b2-49a5-9296-7f65eae72d43


GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000990918

SDAIA Strategy Management Office CEO Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in AI Governance

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Strategy Management Office Chief Executive Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al-Khudairi has highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pride in its partnership with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the area of artificial-intelligence (AI) policies.

He emphasized the OECD’s reputation as a global leader in developing reliable AI policies and initiatives. Al-Khudairi stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s selection as a regional partner by the organization strengthens its position as a leader in AI governance at both regional and global levels.

During his participation in the third annual Global AI Summit (GAIN Summit), Al-Khudairi delivered a speech and engaged in a dialogue session with prominent researchers in AI titled “Regulating the Artificial Intelligence Sector: Risks, Legislation, and Future Trends.”

He noted that the Kingdom holds a prominent position in the OECD Observatory on Artificial Intelligence thanks to its advanced s
tanding among leading countries in AI, attributed to developing and publishing over 20 pioneering policies in the field.

By working together, the Kingdom aims to strengthen regional cooperation, contribute to developing and publishing reliable AI policies, and utilize real-world incidents and risks associated with AI to empower policymakers and regulators in the region.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Foreign Minister holds phone call with Spanish counterpart

Manama, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call with José Manuel Albares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain.

They discussed historical Bahraini-Spanish relations, and ways to develop cooperation to further serve common interests.

Views were exchanged regarding the developments in the regional situation, the war in the Gaza Strip, and the Arab and international efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire, releasing hostages, protecting civilians, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and reducing tensions and escalation, to maintain regional security and stability and support efforts for comprehensive peace in the region.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with Arab Republic of Egypt Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdel Atti during his official visit to Cairo.

Prince Faisal and his Egyptian counterpart held an official session of talks, during which they reviewed relations in various fields and explored ways to support and strengthen them in a manner that aligns with the aspirations of the leaderships and peoples of both countries.

They discussed the final preparations for the launch of the Saudi-Egyptian Coordination Council, chaired by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Arab Republic of Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The two ministers further addressed intensifying efforts on regional and international issues of common interest, particularly the crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The talks were attended by Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Saleh Al-Hussaini and Adviser to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs Mohammed Al-Yahya.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

UAE-India Business Forum to begin today in Mumbai

Abu Dhabi, The India-UAE Business Forum will kick off today in Mumbai and explore mutually beneficial trade, investment, and partnership opportunities.

Organised by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the event will bring together government officials, business leaders, industrialists, and entrepreneurs as part of bilateral efforts to leverage the opportunities created by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in May 2022, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Under the theme “Beyond CEPA: Innovation and Future-Ready Economies”, the forum will focus on the potential of healthcare, biotechnology, renewable energy, sustainability, AI, logistics and supply chains, and agricultural technology.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said, “The India-UAE Business Forum is another important opportunity to bring our business leaders together to discuss a
reas of mutual benefit and develop the networks that will support our respective economic growth and diversification objectives.

“The forum will build on the consistent rise in bilateral non-oil trade, which reached $28.2 billion in the first six months of 2024 – a 9.8 percent increase on the same period in 2023 and set against a marked decline in trade growth around the world in H1 2024.”

The figures underline the benefits of the UAE-India CEPA, which has proved to be a major driver of industrial output, employment, and global competitiveness, and provide the platform for greater collaboration in the months and years ahead.”

The forum’s panels reflect the breadth of opportunity in front of the private sector. They include “Healthcare and Biotechnology: Pioneering the Future of Medicine”, which will focus on ways the UAE and India can leverage the CEPA to develop partnerships in biotechnology, genomic medicine, AI-driven healthcare, digital health, and pharmaceutical research.

The session on AI and emergi
ng technologies will seek to explore how these tools can be developed and the areas that can benefit from them, while the session “Renewable Energy and Sustainability: Pioneering the Green Revolution” will help showcase the UAE’s pioneering work in delivering wind, solar, and geothermal solutions across the developing world.

Other sessions discuss opportunities in logistics and agricultural technology and sustainable farming practices.

The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was the first part of the UAE’s new foreign trade agenda that sought to strengthen ties with strategically important nations worldwide.

Following its implementation in May 2022, businesses in both countries benefit from reducing or removing tariffs on more than 80 percent of products, removing unnecessary trade barriers, and harmonising customs regulations and processes.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

KSrelief Presents Certificate of Initial Approval for External Operations to Ain Ophthalmology Association

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has awarded an initial approval certificate to the Ain Ophthalmology Association in Jazan, allowing it to conduct operations outside the Kingdom.

Assistant General Supervisor for Financial and Administrative Affairs at KSrelief Salah bin Fahd Al-Mazrou presented the certificate to Chairman of the Board of Directors of the association, Ahmed Hamad Majrashi, at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.

The issuance of this certificate is part of efforts to enhance the impact of the non-profit sector across various domains, enabling it to actively engage in external humanitarian and relief efforts while fostering collaborative strategic partnerships among national sectors. This initiative aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

THIQAH and KAUST Sign Agreement to Boost Cooperation in Technology and Innovation

THIQAH Company and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) signed a strategic partnership agreement, building upon a previous memorandum of understanding (MoU), to enhance cooperation in research, development, and innovation in future technologies and sustainable solutions.

The agreement aims to unify efforts to leverage shared expertise and resources to achieve tangible achievements in vital sectors such as transportation, health, and entertainment. The agreement will contribute to fostering innovation in these sectors through joint research and development, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, the internet of things (IoT), and biotechnology, thereby supporting the achievement of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The agreement represents a significant step towards enhancing technological innovation in Saudi Arabia and contributes to developing an advanced industrial and technological environment. Additionally, it supports the building of national capacities in moder
n technologies, enabling the provision of sustainable solutions that enhance the quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency