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In West Africa, hunger has reached a sad new record. For the 3rd consecutive year, the Sahel and Lake Chad regions are facing food and nutrition crises of exceptional proportions, affecting up to 38.3 million people.

The multiple conflicts devastating the region have driven millions from their homes and pushed food insecurity as populations abandon their homes to escape violent attacks, leaving vital crops and herds.

The crisis is worsening, also due to the global rise in food prices sparked by COVID-19 restrictions on trade.

As the United Nations reminded the world last April, the war in Ukraine, in all its dimensions, is producing alarming cascading effects on a world economy already battered by COVID-19 and climate change, with particularly dramatic impacts on developing countries.

Therefore, the European Union pledged 554 million on 6 April to increase food security in the Sahel and Lake Chad countries. This funding will also address the root causes of hunger in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria.

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Scaling up the EU's response to soaring hunger in West Africa - EU Humanitarian Aid

Anri Okhanashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, on Wednesday said domestic radical opposition groups that refused to participate in work for Georgia obtaining the European Union membership candidate status had been shown a red card from the European Unions highest tribune.

Okhanashvili was commenting after Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Tuesday the process of joining the European Union must be based on the consensus of the whole nation and everyone should work together, not only the government but all political parties.

We have heard from the representatives of the European Union that the European perspective for Georgia is a great achievement within the framework of our close cooperation, Okhanashvili noted.

Also, we have heard assessments that both the Parliamentary majority and the entire opposition spectrum bear equal responsibility [in the implementation of EU conditions]. We have heard calls for everyone to be involved in this process, he added.

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Parliament Committee Chair: EU has shown red card to radical Georgian opposition refusing to join work on EU membership - Agenda.ge

First orphan drug designation granted for Nana-val by the European Commission; fifth globally

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ViractaTherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIRX), a precision oncology company targeting virus-associated malignancies, today announced that the European Commission has granted an orphan drug designation (ODD) to nanatinostat and valganciclovir (Nana-val), the company's all-oral combination product candidate, for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). This represents Nana-val's first ODD in Europe and fifth globally. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously granted Nana-val ODD for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, plasmablastic lymphoma, and Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified.

"This orphan drug designation acknowledges the high unmet medical need of this patient population as well as the potential of the Nana-val o offer therapeutic benefit to patients with recurrent peripheral T-cell lymphoma," said Lisa Rojkjaer, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Viracta. "Patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma have few effective treatment options, particularly those with relapsed/refractory disease. Of note, Epstein-Barr virus is frequently associated with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and reportedly confers a worse overall survival for patients. Following the conclusion of our Phase 1b/2 study, we are now continuing the evaluation of Nana-val in patients with relapsed/refractory Epstein-Barr virus-positive lymphoma in our global Phase 2 NAVAL-1 trial, which is actively enrolling at sites across Europe, North America and Southeast Asia."

ODD in the European Union (EU) is granted by the European Commission based on a positive opinion issued by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medical Products (COMP). To qualify for ODD from the European Commission, a product candidate must be intended to treat, prevent, or diagnose a life-threatening or chronically debilitating disease that does not affect more than 5 in 10,000 people across the EU. In addition, there must be sufficient clinical or non-clinical data to suggest the product candidate may produce clinically relevant outcomes, and grounds to indicate it can provide a significant benefit over any currently authorized products. Receiving an orphan drug designation from the European Commission provides companies with certain benefits and incentives including clinical protocol assistance, access to a centralized marketing authorization procedure valid in all EU member states, reduced regulatory fees, and ten years of market exclusivity upon receipt of marketing authorization in the EU. The availability of market exclusivity is intended to encourage the development of medicines for rare diseases by protecting them from competition from similar medicines with similar indications, which cannot be marketed during the exclusivity period.

About NAVAL-1

NAVAL-1 (Nanatinostat in Combination with Valganciclovir) is a global, multicenter, open-label Phase 2 basket trial. The trial, which will include patients with multiple subtypes of relapsed/refractory EBV-positive (EBV+) lymphoma, is designed to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of Nana-val and enroll approximately 140 patients. The primary endpoint of the trial is objective tumor response rate as assessed by an independent review committee. If successful, Viracta believes this trial could potentially support multiple new drug application filings across various EBV+ lymphoma subtypes. The study employs a Simon two-stage design where a limited number of patients are enrolled into each cohort in Stage 1 and, if a pre-specified activity threshold is reached, additional patients will be enrolled in Stage 2. During Stage 2, Viracta anticipates discussing the preliminary results with the FDA and may amend the protocol to include additional patients as necessary to enable registration.

About Nana-val (Nanatinostat and Valganciclovir)

Nanatinostat is an orally available histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor being developed by Viracta. Nanatinostat is selective for specific isoforms of Class I HDACs, which is key to inducing viral genes that are epigenetically silenced in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies. Nanatinostat is currently being investigated in combination with the antiviral agent valganciclovir as an all-oral combination therapy, Nana-val, in various subtypes of EBV-associated malignancies.

About Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.

Viracta is a precision oncology company targeting virus-associated malignancies. Viracta's lead product candidate is an all-oral combination therapy of its proprietary investigational drug, nanatinostat, and the antiviral agent valganciclovir (collectively referred to as Nana-val). Nana-val is currently being evaluated in multiple ongoing clinical trials, including a pivotal, global, multicenter, open-label Phase 2 basket trial for the treatment of multiple subtypes of relapsed/refractory Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) lymphoma (NAVAL-1), as well as a multinational Phase 1b/2 trial for the treatment of EBV+ recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and other EBV+ solid tumors. Viracta is also pursuing the application of its inducible synthetic lethality approach in other virus-related cancers.

For additional information please visit http://www.viracta.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the details, timeline and expected progress for Viracta's ongoing trials and updates regarding the same; and other statements that are not historical facts. Risks and uncertainties related to Viracta that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: Viracta's ability to successfully enroll patients in and complete its ongoing and planned clinical trials; Viracta's plans to globally develop and commercialize its product candidates, including all oral combinations of nanatinostat and valganciclovir; the timing of initiation of Viracta's planned clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from Viracta's clinical trials; previous preclinical and clinical results may not be predictive of future clinical results; the timing of any planned investigational new drug application or new drug application; Viracta's plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; the clinical utility, potential benefits and market acceptance of Viracta's product candidates; Viracta's ability to manufacture or supplying nanatinostat, valganciclovir and pembrolizumab for clinical testing; Viracta's ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential; developments and projections relating to Viracta's competitors and its industry; the impact of government laws and regulations; Viracta's ability to protect its intellectual property position; and Viracta's estimates regarding future expenses, capital requirements and need for additional financing in the future.

These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty. If any of these risks materialize or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Viracta's reports and other documents that Viracta has filed, or will file, with the SEC from time to time and available atwww.sec.gov.

The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Viracta assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law or applicable regulation.

Investor Relations Contact:Ashleigh BarretoHead of Investor Relations & Corporate CommunicationsViracta Therapeutics, Inc.[emailprotected]

SOURCE Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.

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Viracta Therapeutics Announces Orphan Drug Designation Granted by the European Commission for Nana-val for the Treatment of Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma...

On Wednesday 7 September 2022, MEP Peter van Dalen (EPP Group, The Netherlands) hosted a conference with the title Human Rights & the Artsakh War 2020 in the European Parliament (EP). The conference was co-organized by the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).

The keynote speakers were the Human rights defender of the Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh Republic Gegham Stepanyan and the legal representative of the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) before ECHR Siranush Sahakyan.

The conference was widely attended by Members of the European Parliament (MEP) from different political groups, EP advisers, politicians, diplomats, and representatives of civil society.

MEP Peter van Dalen reiterated his commitment to the cause:

I stand with the Armenian people. The life of the Armenian inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, and their cultural heritage is under threat. We should not accept a status quo but ensure the Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh have a future in their historic region.

In his opening remarks, the EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian welcomed the participants and thanked MEP van Dalen for hosting the conference:

The second Artsakh war in 2020 launched by Azerbaijan was another attempt to carry out an ethnic cleansing of the native Armenian population of Artsakh. The native Armenian peoples right to live freely and independently in their homeland is a fundamental human right. The European Parliament condemned the state-level policy of Armenophobia by Azerbaijan by an urgent resolution, which is another acknowledgement that the native Armenian people cannot live under Azerbaijani rule, added the EAFJD President.

The keynote speakers addressed the gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan during the Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh war in 2020 and in its aftermath.

The Human rights defender of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, Gegham Stepanyan underlined:

Azerbaijans policyof ethnic cleansing, threats,use of force,psychological attacksare aimedaimedat disrupting normal lifeandcause uncertainty about the future among theArmenianpopulation of Artsakh. This uncertainty is aggravated especially due to the fact that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is not clearly addressed in current negotiations, including through the mediationbythe European Union.

After giving an overview from the legal perspective, including the relevant judgements of international courts against Azerbaijan, Siranush Sahakyan, the legal representative of the Armenian POWs before ECHR elaborated:

Anti-Armenian xenophobia has become a defining feature of Azerbaijan, which manifests itself in forms of hate speech, maltreatment of prisoners of Armenian descent, glorification of ethnic violence against Armenians, ethnic cleansing, denial of history.

The interventions were followed by a question-and-answer session with the participants of the event, including Azerbaijanis.

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Human rights & Artsakh War discussed in the European Parliament Public Radio of Armenia - Public Radio of Armenia

2020 has been a hectic year with the coronavirus pandemic affecting our lives in an unprecedented manner. However, with scientists and researchers working tirelessly, it was a great year for technological advancements and achievements. The breakthrough technologies mentioned in the article will surely affect our lifestyle in the years to come.

These are gifts of technology that have been the highlight of the first year of this decade:

You may be aware of the fact that the internet we use today is extremely vulnerable to hacks and exploits by people with questionable intentions. For the past few years, data scientists and analysts have been working on creating the first quantum internet that would be completely secure from hackers.

The Delft University of Technology, one of the big organizations working on this project, has successfully developed this technology. In a presentation, Physicist Ronald Hanson at the Delft University of Technology along with his collaborators linked three devices in such a way that any two devices in the network ended up with mutually entangled quantum bits.

These quantum bits are used for transmitting information and communicating with other devices the use of entanglement makes it almost impossible for hackers to snoop around the user devices.

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In this digital age, the use of cash is continuously declining. Cash transactions need intermediaries and in each stage, there is a considerable markup. On the other hand, digital money, like Libra by Facebook exists only in its digital form, which can lead to a breach of financial privacy.

Digital money can be beneficial for instantaneous transactions and may also mean that parties would have to go through minimal or no intermediaries at all. Like cryptocurrencies using blockchain technology, which is decentralized, digital currency can potentially break the global financial system into small fragments.

Though many have dreamed of it, using a quantum computer to outperform classical computers cannot be implemented daily just yet. Google has developed a Sycamore quantum processor, which can be used to achieve quantum supremacy.

In a test, Sycamore could determine a set of randomly distributed numbers in three minutes and 20 seconds, which would have taken 10,000 years for a classical computer. Even though the results of the tests and calculations were impressive, we are still years away from using quantum computers to solve problems that classical computers cannot handle.

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Differential privacy can help organizations collect and share collected user data while keeping their identities private. The 2020 US Census, which is the largest-scale application would use differential privacy while distributing population data.

This technology aims to maximize data usage without disclosing the user identity. Differential privacy ensures the unavailability of raw data to database managers or data scientists and allows organizations to tackle privacy-related problems and build trust.

With the help of improved computing capabilities of newly developed processors, scientists can now make proper reports of how climate changes can affect severe weather events. Civilians and the military can now prepare in advance in case of natural disasters due to weather conditions.

Further, it also gives enough evidence to hold responsible authorities and the government responsible for not taking necessary steps when needed. Climate change can cause immeasurable loss of lives and properties, and proper climate change attributions would help the people take proper and necessary precautionary measures.

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With thousands of people worldwide having unique ailments and disorders, traditional medication cannot help them all. Have you ever wondered how this problem can be solved by producing medication for a particular case? This way, scientists and doctors can help cure rare genetic disorders and rare diseases.

The dream of achieving hyper-personalized medication is not too far and will bring hope and joy to several people all over the world. Medicines tailored to the exact needs of a single patient will treat and cure ailments that went untreated earlier. This was without a doubt, one of the best technological advancements in the field of medicine.

Aiming to provide high-speed internet services all over the world, satellite mega-constellations projects were a great success. It is the much-awaited solution to unreliable WiFi signals and fluctuating cellular networks. Satellite mega-constellations would enable global connectivity for almost everyone with a proper device.

However, the development and implementation of this technology bring a few major concerns. Space will be littered with several small satellite mega-constellations to bring unhindered connectivity to everyone.

Also, in the absence of a set of international rules and regulations and authority to enforce them, major industry leaders can end up exploiting its uses. This would lead to major problems and lead to unbridled chaos.

Long gone are the days when users would have to depend on heavy computer setups to use powerful AI algorithms. Nowadays, handheld devices like mobile phones and household appliances are capable of using AI programs without even interacting with the cloud.

With the development of tiny AI, developers and software enthusiasts can work to shrink the size of existing and new AI models without losing their efficiency and functionalities. Accessing AI models from our devices involve no latency due to the lack of interaction with the cloud and hence there are fewer privacy-related concerns.

Currently, big tech companies like Google, Apple, Amazon as well as IBM are leading the market with the application and implementation of tiny AI technology.

Since ancient times, adventurers, researchers, and philosophers have spent their lives finding the answer to their aging problems. The wait is almost over as doctors and scientists have developed drugs that can help slow down your aging.

These drugs can be very useful for patients suffering from diseases like cancer, dementia, and heart-related problems by slowing down the aging process. Though a lot of research has not been conducted yet, initial trials have proved these drugs to be safe for humans.

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Working with technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence, scientists and data scientists are using AI to discover molecules that can affect the healthcare industry greatly.

With the discovery of the antibiotic Halicin using Artificial Intelligence, medical science has gained a golden opportunity to develop exponentially. Though using AI for healthcare is not new, this was the first time AI has identified a completely new antibiotic variety without any human intervention or assumptions.

Though this may be a very expensive process due to the rarity of the molecules in question, AI can help bring down the cost of production to a great extent. It can evaluate and use molecules effectively and efficiently, which might not be possible for human scientists.

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10 Breakthrough Technologies That Is Going To Change The Future - Postoast