SINGAPORE, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2024 took great pride in honoring Vietnam's inspiring business moguls and visionaries of inclusive entrepreneurship on 3rd October at the GEM Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Organized by Enterprise Asia, the region's leading NGO for entrepreneurship, the prestigious awards ceremony honored 62 organizations and industry leaders for their admirable business practices and enduring innovation.
This year's theme of "Celebrating Inclusive Entrepreneurship" highlights the importance of creating equal opportunities for all by embracing diversity. It pays tribute to inspiring business leaders whose initiatives have actively contributed to the implementation of an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in Vietnam.
To determine the winners, over 300 nominees were carefully evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges. The APEA recognized four categories: Master Entrepreneur, Inspirational Brand, Fast Enterprise, and Corporate Excellence.
The APEA has been organized in more than 16 countries and markets since 2007, with past recipients comprising China's Shimao Group's Hui Wing Mao, Hong Kong's Francis Lui, TTC Vietnam's Dang Van Thanh, Thailand's Supaluck Ampuj of The Mall Group, Cuckoo Malaysia's Hoe Kian Choon, Indonesia's Hary Tanoesoedibjo and Mochtar Riady, India's Adi Godrej, and the Philippines' Dennis Anthony Uy.
Chairman of Enterprise Asia, Dr. Fong Chan Onn, mentioned in his welcome speech that the pivotal moment for fostering entrepreneurship to generate change has risen. By encouraging inclusive entrepreneurial practices, organizations can strive for a more equitable society, increase employment opportunities, and foster resilient communities. Through collective action, we can ensure that entrepreneurship is not a privilege reserved for a select few but rather an accessible avenue for all.
Some of the outstanding winners of the APEA 2024 Vietnam Chapter include Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), Wipro Consumer Care Vietnam, BaoViet Life Corporation, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB BANK), Olam Global Agri Vietnam, while Thai Huong, Hero of Labour, General Director of Bac A Bank and Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairlady of TTC AgriS are among the winners for the Master Entrepreneur Award which recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards 2024 Vietnam Chapter is supported by PR Newswire as the Official News Release Distribution Partner and Snowball Joint Stock Company as the Official Implementation Partner. Other Supporting Partners are the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, Dutch Business Association Vietnam, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, and Vietnam Association for Women Entrepreneurs. The Official Media Partners are Dailywire.asia and SME Magazine.
AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2024 VIETNAM CHAPTER
MASTER ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY
NAME
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
Vuong Thanh Binh
General Director
Air Cargo Services of Vietnam JSC.,
Professional & Business Services
Thai Huong
Hero of Labor, General Director
Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank
Financial Services
Tran Thi Van Loan
President
Cuu Long Fish Joint Stock Company (CL-FISH Corp.)
Agriculture
Ly Anh Duy Quang
Member of The BOD
Greenfeed Vietnam Corporation
Agriculture
Lam Thanh Kim
CEO & Co-Founder
M.O.I Cosmetics Company Limited
Consumer Goods
Tran Khai Hoan
Member of The Board of Directors & Acting Chief Executive Officer
Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Nam A Bank)
Financial Services
Nguyen Thuy Hanh
CEO
Paragon Premium Aesthetic Services Company Limited
Personal Services
Nguyen Xuan Cuong
President & CEO
Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation
Oil & Gas
Pham Viet Anh
Chairman of the BOD
PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation (PVTrans)
Transportation & Logistics
Ngo Thu Ha
Chief Executive Officer
Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank
Financial Services
Dang Huynh Uc My
(Omi Dang)
Chairlady
Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (TTC AgriS)
Agriculture
Lam Kim Vee
COO
Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park Joint Stock Company (VSIP JSC)
Property Development
Han Thi Khanh Vinh
CEO
Vinapharm
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
Nguyen Thi Tuyet
Chairwoman of the Business Development Advisory Board
VIX Securities Joint Stock Company
Financial Services
Le Quang Thuc Quynh
Chief Executive Officer
VUS
Education & Training
FAST ENTERPRISE CATEGORY
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
Estuary Joint Stock Company
Professional & Business Services
GSM Green And Smart Mobility JSC
Transportation & Logistics
Kafi Securities Corporation
Financial Services
Olam Global Agri Vietnam Co., Ltd
Agriculture
VPBank Securities JSC
Financial Services
INSPIRATIONAL BRAND CATEGORY
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
Hao Hao by Acebook Vietnam JSC
Food & Beverage
Asia Commercial Bank (ACB)
Financial Services
BaoViet Life Corporation
Financial Services
Cocoon
Consumer Goods
Dai-ichi Life Vietnam
Financial Services
DUYTAN RECYCLING
Manufacturing
EDH Technology Development Joint Stock Company
Electrical & Electronics
Finest Future Viet Nam Joint Stock Company
Education & Training
FWD Vietnam Life Insurance Company Limited
Financial Services
G Kitchen by Greenfeed Vietnam Corporation
Agriculture
GSM Green And Smart Mobility JSC
Transportation & Logistics
Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB)
Financial Services
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ)
Retail
ROX Group
Real Estate
VUS - The English Center
Education & Training
CORPORATE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
ACB Securities Company
Financial Services
Acecook Vietnam Joint Stock Company
Food & Beverage
Air Cargo Services of Vietnam JSC.,
Professional & Business Services
Asia Commercial Bank (ACB)
Financial Services
Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank
Financial Services
Bamboo Capital Group
Energy
BaoViet Life Corporation
Financial Services
BCA Group
Professional & Business Services
Ben Tre Import Export Joint - Stock Corporation (BETRIMEX)
Agriculture
BIDV Metlife Life Insurance Limited Liability Company
Financial Services
Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment JSC
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
BMB Steel
Construction Services
Central Construction Joint Stock Company
Construction
Chailease International Leasing Co., Ltd.
Financial Services
Concentrix Vietnam
Business Services
Cuu Long Fish Joint Stock Company (CL-FISH Corp.)
Agriculture
Dai-ichi Life Vietnam
Financial Services
DOJI Gold & Gems Group
Retail
DOJILAND Real Estate Investment Company Limited
Property Development
FWD Vietnam Life Insurance Company Limited
Financial Services
Greenfeed Vietnam Corporation
Agriculture
Halcom Vietnam Joint Stock Company
Construction
IPP Travel Retail
Retail
ITL Corporation
Transportation & Logistics
Japanese SMEs development Joint Stock Company (JSC)
Professional & Business Services
KB Securities Vietnam (KBSV)
Financial Services
LPBank
Financial Services
M.O.I Cosmetics Company Limited
Consumer Goods
Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB BANK)
Financial Services
NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam
Professional & Business Services
Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Nam A Bank)
Financial Services
Namha Pharma
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
Paragon Premium Aesthetic Services Company Limited
Personal Services
Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation
Oil & Gas
PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation (PVFCCo)
Agriculture
PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation (PVTrans)
Transportation & Logistics
ROX Group
Real Estate
Schoeller Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment Viet Nam Co., Ltd
Manufacturing
Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (TTC AgriS)
Agriculture
Viet First Securities Corporation (VFS)
Financial Services
VietNam Export Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Eximbank)
Financial Services
Vietnam International Bank (VIB)
Financial Services
Vinafeed Group
Agriculture
Vinapharm
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
VitaDairy Vietnam Joint Stock Company
Consumer Goods
Wipro Consumer Care Vietnam
Consumer Goods
Xuan Thien Group Joint Stock Company
Energy
About Enterprise Asia
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are an investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, uplift the economic status of people across Asia, and ensure a legacy of hope, innovation, and courage for future generations. Please visit www.enterpriseasia.org for more information.
About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards
Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region's most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/ regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2024 Honors Vietnam's Industry Leaders and Leading Corporations
Fratricide-resistant CD7 CAR-T therapy by NUS proves effective in treating relapsed or refractory T-cell leukaemia
SINGAPORE, Oct. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new cell therapy, targeting CD7 on leukaemia cells, gives a potentially effective treatment for patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) who have exhausted all standard treatment options. Published in the prestigious medical journal Nature Medicine on 3 September 2024[1], the study highlights the effectiveness of a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
Developed in-house by researchers and clinicians from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and the National University Health System (NUHS), the therapy was given to 17 patients between April 2019 and October 2023 at the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore and Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù in Rome, Italy.
All the 17 patients, ranging from two to 72 years of age, had T-ALL that could not be eliminated with chemotherapy or had relapsed after treatment. Using a technology developed in Professor Dario Campana's laboratory under the Department of Paediatrics at NUS Medicine, the patient's own T cells were reprogrammed to express an anti-CD7 CAR, and then re-infused into the patients. The anti-CD7 CAR protein redirects the CAR T-cells to kill T-leukaemia cells that have CD7 protein on their surface.
Notably, 16 of the 17 patients achieved complete remission within one month, and leukaemic cells became undetectable even with ultra-sensitive flow cytometry tests that can detect one leukaemia cell in the background of 10,000 normal cells, developed by Ms Elaine Coustan-Smith's laboratory at NUS Medicine. The same techniques were key to analyse CD7 expression in leukaemic cells and determining patient eligibility as well as to monitor expansion and persistence of CAR-T cells after infusion. The first patient treated with this therapy has been in remission for five years, without needing additional chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.
The treatment was well-tolerated, and side effects were mild, given the fact that all patients enrolled had a high tumour burden and had received prolonged and intensive treatment prior to CAR-T therapy.
T-ALL accounts for approximately 10 per cent of ALL cases in children and 25 to 30 per cent in adolescents and young adults[2],[3]. Although 70 to 80 per cent of children are cured with intensive and prolonged chemotherapy, the cure rate in adults remains approximately 60 per cent or lower[4].
Patients with relapsed or refractory T-ALL have less than 10 per cent survival, while in this series, 50 per cent survived. This fratricide-resistant CD7 CAR-T therapy is being trialled in NUH.
Dr Bernice Oh, the first author of the study and a Consultant in the Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children's Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI), NUH, said: "This CAR-T therapy is a new and promising tool to treat T-ALL patients who have failed conventional treatment. These patients had exhausted all potentially curative options, and we are heartened that we could give them another clear chance at cure without severe side-effects. We are committed to seek better cures for patients with complex and treatment-resistant cancers."
Professor Allen Yeoh, who led the clinical application of this new technology and is Head and Senior Consultant in the Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at NUH's KTP-NUCMI and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said: "While we celebrate this wonderful milestone, we are only at the beginning of this exciting journey. There is a lot of scientific and medical enquiry to understand how to better use CD7 CAR T-cells. Each patient, in this series, taught us a lot. Ultimately, for every member of our team, seeing each patient smile and given another chance, after achieving remission, is priceless." Professor Yeoh is also the VIVA-Goh Foundation Professor in Paediatric Oncology at NUS Medicine.
This research is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health through the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Office, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd under the NMRC Singapore Translational Research Investigator Award (MOH-000708), NMRC Research Training Fellowship (MOH-000616), NMRC Clinician Scientist Award (NMRC/CSA/003/2008 and NMRC/CSA/0053/2013) and NMRC Centre Grant (NMRC/CG/NCIS/2010), as well as the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, the Goh Foundation, Children's Cancer Foundation, Singapore Totalisator Board, Bone Marrow Donor Programme (Singapore) and VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer.
About the National University Health System (NUHS)
The National University Health System (NUHS) aims to transform how illness is prevented and managed by discovering causes of disease, development of more effective treatments through collaborative multidisciplinary research and clinical trials, and creation of better technologies and care delivery systems in partnership with others who share the same values and vision.
Institutions in the NUHS Group include the National University Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital and Alexandra Hospital; three National Specialty Centres - National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) and National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS); the National University Polyclinics (NUP); Jurong Medical Centre; and three NUS health sciences schools – NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (including the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies), NUS Faculty of Dentistry and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
With member institutions under a common governance structure, NUHS creates synergies for the advancement of health by integrating patient care, health science education and biomedical research.
As a Regional Health System, NUHS works closely with health and social care partners across Singapore to develop and implement programmes that contribute to a healthy and engaged population in the Western part of Singapore.
For more information, please visit www.nuhs.edu.sg.
About the National University Hospital (NUH)
The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore's leading university hospital. While the hospital at Kent Ridge first received its patients on 24 June 1985, our legacy started from 1905, the date of the founding of what is today the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the medical school.
Our unique identity as a university hospital is a key attraction for healthcare professionals who aspire to do more than practise tertiary medical care. We offer an environment where research and teaching are an integral part of medicine, and continue to shape medicine and transform care for the community we care for.
We are an academic medical centre with over 1,200 beds, serving more than one million patients a year with over 50 medical, surgical and dental specialties. NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore to provide trusted care for adults, women and children under one roof, including the only paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme in the country.
The NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore.
For more information, please visit: www.nuh.com.sg.
About the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
The National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) is an academic, national specialist centre for cancer under the National University Health System (NUHS), and is the only public cancer centre in Singapore that treats both paediatric and adult cancers in one facility.
As one of two national cancer centres in Singapore, NCIS (pronounced as "n-sis") offers a broad spectrum of cancer care and management from screening, diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and survivorship, as well as palliative and long-term care. NCIS' strength lies in the multi-disciplinary approach taken by our clinician scientists and clinician-investigators to develop a comprehensive and personalised plan for each cancer patient
NCIS provides the full suite of specialised oncology and haematology services at the NUH Medical Centre at Kent Ridge, Singapore, including those by the NCIS Chemotherapy Centre, NCIS Radiotherapy Centre and NCIS Cellular Therapy Centre.
NCIS also offers cancer services at other hospitals in Singapore:
To bring cancer care even closer to our patients, our NCIS on the Go programme delivers a range of cancer services at clinics within the community for their convenience.
For more information, please visit www.ncis.com.sg.
About the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine)
The NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine is Singapore's first and largest medical school. Our enduring mission centres on nurturing highly competent, values-driven and inspired healthcare professionals to transform the practice of medicine and improve health around the world.
Through a dynamic and future-oriented five-year curriculum that is inter-disciplinary and inter-professional in nature, our students undergo a holistic learning experience that exposes them to multiple facets of healthcare and prepares them to become visionary leaders and compassionate doctors and nurses of tomorrow. Since the School's founding in 1905, more than 12,000 graduates have passed through our doors.
In our pursuit of health for all, our strategic research programmes focus on innovative, cutting-edge biomedical research with collaborators around the world to deliver high impact solutions to benefit human lives.
The School is the oldest institution of higher learning in the National University of Singapore and a founding institutional member of the National University Health System. It is one of the leading medical schools in Asia and ranks among the best in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 by subject and the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by subject 2023).
For more information about NUS Medicine, please visit https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/
About the National Medical Research Council (NMRC)
The NMRC was established in 1994 to oversee research funding from the Ministry of Health and support the development and advancement of biomedical research in Singapore, particularly in the public healthcare clusters and medical schools. NMRC engages in research strategy and planning, provides funding to support competitive research grants and core research enablers, and is responsible for the development of clinician scientists through awards and fellowships. The council's work is supported by the NMRC Office which is part of MOH Holdings Pte Ltd. Through its management of the various funding initiatives, NMRC promotes healthcare research in Singapore, for better health and economic outcomes.
[1] Oh, B.L.Z., Shimasaki, N., Coustan-Smith, E. et al. Fratricide-resistant CD7-CAR T cells in T-ALL. Nat Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03228-8
[2] Teachey, D. T. & Pui, C.-H. Comparative features and outcomes between paediatric T-cell and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Lancet Oncol. 20, e142–e154 (2019).
[3] Raetz, E. A. et al. Outcome for children and young adults with T-cell ALL and induction failure in contemporary trials. J. Clin. Oncol. 41, 5025–5034 (2023).
[4] Abaza, Y. et al. Hyper-CVAD plus nelarabine in newly diagnosed adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Am. J. Hematol. 93, 91–99 (2018).
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
PROMISING CELL THERAPY OFFERS HOPE FOR RELAPSED OR REFRACTORY T-CELL LEUKAEMIA
