ANTA Unveils ANTAZERO UPCYCLE Collection

Shanghai's Iconic Wukang Road Hosts the Industry's First Sustainable Sports Fashion Extravaganza

SHANGHAI, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --  ANTA captivated audiences with a groundbreaking sustainable sports showcase on Shanghai's iconic Wukang Road, debuting the ANTAZERO UPCYCLE collection. Co-conceived with the sustainability platform canU and renowned Chinese creative visionaries, the collection reimagines ANTA's surplus inventory into elevated, eco-forward designs. Melding artistry with environmental responsibility, the event underscores ANTA's trailblazing commitment to sustainable innovation.

Set against the backdrop of ANTA's Zero-Carbon Mission Store at 98 Wukang Road, the unconventional runway blurred boundaries between fashion, sports, and daily life. Models and influencers brought the upcycled collection to life, embodying dynamic looks for diverse scenarios—from skiing and cycling to city walk, ageless style, and pet-friendly ensembles. The spirited procession spilled into the streets, inviting onlookers to witness the harmonious fusion of sustainability, inclusivity, and sports-inspired aesthetics.

The ANTAZERO UPCYCLE collection represents a pioneering collaboration with canU and four Chinese design luminaries, each infusing their unique vision into ANTA's inventory. The canU platform's ethos of weaving sports into everyday life is reflected throughout the collection; CHENPENG crafts bold expressions of environmental themes using surplus down materials; SANKUANZ revitalizes inventory pieces with experimental spray-painting, breathing new emotion into existing fabrics; MEGARMENTS celebrates ANTA's basketball heritage with intricate upcycled craftsmanship; and KAIKAI explores the aspirational ideal of 100% recycled design, pushing the boundaries of sustainability. Through their innovation, dormant inventory was transformed into wearable art, embodying a circular tenor of creativity and resourcefulness.

ANTA CEO Xu Yang has articulated a clear vision: green principles must evolve into green growth engines to achieve lasting commercial sustainability. The newly unveiled ANTAZERO UPCYCLE collection exemplifies this philosophy, repurposing surplus garments and fabrics into mass-producible, market-ready designs. By minimizing energy-intensive processes such as weaving and dyeing, the collection marries environmental responsibility with fresh, contemporary aesthetics. Offering consumers innovative, eco-conscious lifestyle choices, it underscores the seamless integration of sustainability into business strategy. As Cui Dan, ANTA's sustainability advisor and founder of the canU sustainable platform, aptly noted, "Only when brands and industries translate sustainability into tangible products can consumers truly recognize its value."

The ANTAZERO UPCYCLE collection is now available at ANTA's Zero-Carbon Mission Store and via the ANTA WeChat Mini Program, providing consumers with access to a new era of sustainable fashion.

Since inaugurating its Zero-Carbon Mission Store on Earth Day, April 22, ANTA has actively celebrated global sustainability milestones, including World Oceans Day and International Panda Day. Through immersive art installations, curated exhibitions, and interactive events, ANTA has collaborated with media outlets, industry partners, and its consumer base to champion eco-consciousness. The launch of the ANTAZERO UPCYCLE collection and the resounding success of the sustainable sports fashion show serve as a crowning achievement in ANTA's year-long sustainability efforts, addressing global environmental challenges while spotlighting the ingenuity and responsibility of Chinese sports brands.

As part of its ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, ANTA continues to pioneer sustainable solutions across product development and retail operations. According to its 2023 ESG report, nearly 20% of ANTA Group's products are now sustainable, driven by continuous advancements in eco-friendly materials and innovative design. The brand remains dedicated to mainstreaming sustainable consumption, delivering products that seamlessly blend style, functionality, and environmental stewardship.

In 2024, ANTA Group retained its top position in China's sports industry on the "Green Supply Chain CITI Index", published by the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE), for the second consecutive year. Looking ahead, ANTA reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, leveraging innovation to fuel green growth. By offering sustainable products and services to a global audience and spearheading the eco-transformation of its supply chain, ANTA is forging a path toward a low-carbon future in collaboration with consumers and partners alike.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

ANTA Unveils ANTAZERO UPCYCLE Collection

HONG KONG, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A research led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital) has discovered that an aptamer developed by HKBU can be used to treat X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), a rare bone disease. The aptamer, originally developed to treat osteogenesis imperfecta, has been granted Orphan Drug Designation and Pediatric Rare Disease Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

XLH ("X" denotes X-chromosome, a sex-determining chromosome) is a rare bone disease characterised by hypophosphatemia (i.e., low phosphate in blood). It is caused by a mutation in the phosphate regulating endopeptidase homolog X-linked (PHEX) gene, and its inheritance pattern follows an X-linked dominant mode. The bone tissue of XLH patients cannot mineralise properly, thereby affecting the hardness of the bones. The cartilage between the ribs of children with XLH grows and connects like beads strung together. They also result in limb deformities and growth retardation. Adult patients experience symptoms such as osteomalacia, bone pain, changes in body shape, shorter stature and pseudo-fractures, leading to reduced mobility or even disability.

Professor Zhang Ge, Associate Dean (Research) of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases at HKBU, and Professor Zhang Zhenlin, Director of Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases of the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, along with Aptacure Therapeutics Ltd., have developed a long-acting sclerostin-loop3 oligonucleotide aptamer for the treatment of XLH. This aptamer has been granted Orphan Drug Designation and Pediatric Rare Disease Designation by the U.S. FDA for treatment of XLH earlier this year.

Researchers conducted serum tests on 51 patients with XLH from the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. The results showed that their serum sclerostin levels were approximately 4.5 times higher than those of healthy individuals of the same age and gender.

Sclerostin is a protein that inhibits bone growth while playing a protective role in the cardiovascular system. Genetic evidence shows that sclerostin deficiency significantly elevates serum phosphorus levels and increases bone mass in mice. However, the monoclonal sclerostin antibody currently used increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke and cardiovascular diseases.

The research team discovered that sclerostin inhibits bone formation and protects the cardiovascular system through different domains of the protein. When sclerostin loses the "loop3 domain", bone mass and strength increase, but its cardiovascular protective effect remains unaffected. The "loop3 domain" of sclerostin can therefore serve as a therapeutic molecular target to promote bone formation, with no safety concern in the cardiovascular system.

The researchers then screen out oligonucleotide aptamers Apc001 that can inhibit the sclerostin loop3. Animal experiments showed that Apc001 can promote bone formation without increasing cardiovascular risk. It can also significantly increase the blood phosphorus levels of mice with XLH. This is expected to provide a drug candidate for the precise treatment of XLH patients.

According to the regulations of the U.S. FDA, once a drug under development obtains Orphan Drug Designation, its subsequent research and development may allow for a reduction in the number of clinical trial samples, be exempt from new drug marketing authorisation fees, and enjoy seven years of market exclusivity. Pediatric Rare Disease Designation allows drugs to be reviewed with priority. Having been designated as both an orphan drug and a pediatric rare disease by the U.S. FDA, Apc001 can accelerate its clinical translation and is expected to benefit patients with XLH sooner.

Currently, the pilot scale production of Apc001 has been completed and is undergoing the preclinical toxicological assessment by a third party. Apc001 is scheduled to enter clinical trials in both Mainland China and the U.S.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Aptamer developed by HKBU for treating rare bone disease 'X-linked hypophosphatemia' receives Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation by U.S. FDA