Archive: February 28, 2023

AstraZeneca expands its portfolio by bringing rare disease therapy for patients in India

Mumbai, India – 28 February 2022: AstraZeneca India, a science-led biopharmaceutical company today announced its entry into rare disease therapy in India. The regulatory approval of its ‘Selumetinib’ demonstrates company’s commitment to bring first in class, science-based therapies to patients in India. Through the addition, the company aims to address the severe unmet need of patients living with rare diseases and transform their quality of life.

In India, there is neither a clear estimate of the rate of mortality or morbidity nor an understanding of the disease burden on public healthcare system, when it comes to rare diseases. However, it is said that more than 400 million of population globally is affected by rare diseases and there are about 7000 recorded and identified rare diseases currently. It implies that there is a need to collectively further access as well as research in rare diseases so that we are better prepared to develop right medicines for patients diagnosed or living with known rare diseases and fight the burden.

“Patients with rare diseases need early and accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, long term supportive care. For this, government support is as essential as philanthropic or private support. Awareness among all stakeholders like the general public, medical fraternity, basic and clinical researchers, and policy makers is important. With less than 6% rare diseases having any kind treatment, coupled to extremely limited availability of any rare disease treatment in India, expectations from global pharma companies are high. New products launch by companies like AstraZeneca is important for rare disease patients, especially the neurological group of patients and they too can hope to live longer like any other population” said Prasanna Shirol, Co-founder and Executive Director, ORDI (Organization for Rare Diseases India).

“As a country, we need to accomplish a lot in this therapy area-right from diagnosis, treatment, access and education. With this milestone approval, we are bringing transformative medicines to patients living with rare diseases in India who currently have limited treatment options or no available treatment at all. By understanding patients’ unique needs, we can research and develop innovative medicines, support access and advocate for the rare disease community. We look forward to advancing this commitment and working with stakeholders to not only bring more innovative therapies for even more rare disease patients but also develop a roadmap to augment early diagnosis and holistic care”, said Dr Sanjeev Panchal, Country President and Managing Director, AstraZeneca India.

This rare disease day, AstraZeneca is also joining hands with Organization of Rare Diseases in India (ORDI), a non-profit organization working to improve the life of patients living with rare diseases. The collaboration is primarily to showcase support behind the cause and enhance the conversation. As a gesture of its support, AstraZeneca will be participating in ORDI’s flagship ‘RaceFor7’, a multi-city 7 km run commemorating Rare Diseases day in the country.

Being a science-led patient centric organization, AstraZeneca is focused on understanding patients’ needs and working with the ecosystem to improves awareness about rare diseases. The landscape of rare diseases is constantly evolving with new diseases identified from time to time but due to lack of awareness amongst medical community and general public, currently it takes 7 years on an average to diagnose a rare disease correctly. New molecular techniques and DNA sequencing technology have contributed significantly since it is found that almost 80% of all rare diseases have a genetic etiology. The new collaboration between AstraZeneca and ORDI aspires to leverage the latest science to support rare disease patients and their families in India.

Samsung’s new PC Lineup, Galaxy Book3 Series Goes on Sale in India

Gurugram, India – February 28, 2023 – Samsung’s new PC lineup, Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, Galaxy Book3 Pro, and Galaxy Book3 360, go on sale from February 24, 2023. The Galaxy Book3 series is designed for those who need seamless multi-device connectivity and premium hardware to level up their productivity and creativity. The all-new Galaxy Book3 Series will be available on samsung.com, amazon. in, and select retail outlets.

Galaxy Book3 series has been built ground up keeping in mind the needs and expectations of our consumers for connected devices in a multi-device world. With collaboration with key industry partners, the Galaxy Book3 series sets a benchmark for multi-device connectivity to enable consumers to work and perform creative tasks across devices and across operating systems.

Galaxy Book3 series offers users a connected experience for seamless phone-to-PC connectivity across the operating system. For enhanced multitasking, users can seamlessly switch between multiple screens across Samsung smartphones and tablets with no disruptions. With the Multi Control feature, users can control the PC, Galaxy Tab, and Galaxy smartphone with the Galaxy Book3 series keyboard and trackpad, which enables smooth drag-and-drop or copy-paste functionality between devices.

Additionally, the Galaxy Book3 series offers high performance with an upgraded CPU, GPU, and display. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display and its 3K resolution show fine details, and the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate offers a slick viewing experience. The new PC lineup sports a quad-speaker system to deliver clean and rich sound. Studio quality dual microphones with AI Noise Canceling capture clear voice while reducing background noise. The Studio Mode allows for improved visuals with lighting correction and auto framing. The new Galaxy Book3 series uses a full aluminum frame for a premium look and feel and maintains a light and sleek design.

SOTC Travel expands retail presence in Gujarat

Gujarat, February 28, 2023: SOTC Travel, a leading omnichannel travel and Tourism Company inaugurated its new retail store in Anand. The new store will serve as a hub for nearby areas of Nadiad, Dakor and Khambhat as well, thus reiterating the Company’s strategic focus to expand its footprint in the state. Gujarat features as an important source market for SOTC Travel and offers the company a range of valuable segments like Gen Z/new age travellers, millennials/young professionals, families, couples and business owners/traders.

The Company’s internal survey highlights insightful travel trends from Gujarat. A significant 70% of Gujaratis are keen to take a holiday and to cater this high potential market, SOTC Travel has introduced an array of offers like special Gujarati tours Gurjar Vishwadarshan, Early Bird discounts, complimentary cruise experience on Europe Holidays, ready to book and customized holidays. Customers are also displaying growing interest for experiential holidays, adventure holidays, domestic tours and cruises.

Contact Details
SOTC Holiday World
202, Maruti Skand, V.V Nagar Rd,
Above Metro Shoes, near Sony Centre,
Anand, Gujarat 388001

Mr. Daniel D’souza President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel said, “Gujarat has been a strong source market for us at SOTC, and we continue to witness high uptick in demand. We are delighted to open our new franchise store in Anand that also caters to nearby locations of Nadiad, Dakor and Khambhat. The store is centrally located thus allowing us to target valuable segments like Gen Z/new age travellers, millennials/young professionals, families, couples and business owners/traders. Our expanded portfolio of holidays have something for everyone – from customized holidays to luxury and premium holidays, also group escorted tours. We extend a warm welcome to our customers and forward to plan your next holiday with us.”

Top international and domestic destinations in demand – Europe’s Switzerland, France, Finland, Austria; Turkiye, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA (for visa holding customers), South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore; also Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andamans, Kerala, North East; and Bhutan, Sri Lanka in the Indian subcontinent.

SOTC Travel’s new outlet offers end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including: International & Domestic Holidays (Group tours, Personalised Holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc.

Bank of Maharashtra joins hands with Experian India for credit portfolio management

Mumbai, 28 February 2023: Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) announces a strategic partnership with Experian India to provide a comprehensive suite of services such as credit risk, advanced analytics, and fraud prevention.

With the rise of digital sourcing, lending, and servicing, BoM, a premier public sector bank is adopting nextgen systems and processes to create a secure banking ecosystem. With this partnership, Experian is collaborating with BoM to provide innovative solutions throughout the customer lifecycle, enabling BoM to onboard New to Credit (NTC) and New to Bank customers (NTB) and service existing customers efficiently.

Through these innovative solutions driven on the back of technology, the Bank of Maharashtra will gain a better understanding of customers’ needs, analyze their risk behavior, and efficiently manage the credit portfolio. BoM will avail the services for retail and non-retail clients, including SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and corporates. These solutions will also enable the bank’s front-line staff to provide best-in-class services to their customers.

Shri A S Rajeev, MD & CEO, Bank of Maharashtra commented on the partnership: “This will foster a credit ecosystem which shall help the Bank in establishing a more healthy loan book. This will also help our field functionaries in quality business acquisition with more prudence.”

Shri Asheesh Pandey, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra opined: “Business acquisition through Technology driven analytics will facilitate a better understanding of customer needs and improve the business viability of the Bank. This collaboration shall help us boost our loan book with quality assets and become more vigilant about the evolving scenario. This will support our motto of ‘Ease of doing business’.”

Saikrishnan Srinivasan, Managing Director, Experian Credit Information Company of India, said: “The evolution of digital lending has created a dynamic and customer-centric environment. Bank of Maharashtra is investing in cutting-edge technology to strengthen its customer base and improve the efficiency of its operations. We are confident that Experian’s innovative solutions coupled with analytics support will assist the Bank in building and enhancing its competitive edge in the industry.”

The mission of both the organisations is to unleash the power of data and become a one-stop solution for the entire customer lifecycle. Credit and Risk Management solutions have aided banks in understanding and assessing the creditworthiness of their customers, resulting in lower default risk, increased profitability, and improved credit access.

Air Quality experts across borders join hands for healthy indoor air across South East Asia

New Delhi, 28th February 2023: Indian air quality tech experts ActiveBuildings and leading indoor environment consultancy and engineering firm PureLiving, officially announced a collaboration to provide clean and healthy indoor air solutions to offices and homes across South East Asia. The collaboration widens the resource pool in terms of data points, research, and technology, and aims to protect more people from breathing polluted indoor air.

South Asia is home to 37 of the 40 most polluted cities in the world as per the World Air Quality Report. Over 60% of the population lives in areas where the PM2.5 levels exceed the WHO standards, increasing the risk of chronic respiratory disorders. With technology like automated air filtration and ventilation management systems that can retrofit into existing buildings, large indoor spaces can remain free from PM 2.5, virus transmissions, odors, chemicals, and elevated CO2 in the breathable air.

After the recent pandemic, the need for clean and disease-free indoor air has become a priority, particularly with the return of the work-from-office module. Abhinav Gupta, CEO of ActiveBuildings points out, “Most workspaces in India were not built keeping in mind air-borne diseases and indoor air pollution. Our data highlights that most office spaces face high CO2 and most homes have high particulate pollution. ActiveBuildings has mostly focused on air testing and offering recommendations for the space. With this collaboration, we can offer end-to-end solutions pan Asia, from air monitoring to ventilation and filtration that can be installed on the existing systems.”

Louie Cheng, President of PureLiving, says, “Our focus has always been health, sustainability, and smart buildings. We have seen great results with products like VentMate and PureQi in China and hope to bring the same impact to the Indian market for clean air. This collaboration with ActiveBuildings opens new possibilities for both companies to continue pioneering approaches to creating healthier indoor environments.”

Indoor air quality can be over five times worse than outside air. Tobacco smoke, incense-burning, dust, printer inks, air fresheners, deodorants, scented candles, varnishes, paints as well as human metabolism, all add to pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, Ozone, and CO2 in the indoor environment. Breathing such pollutants can cause eye inflammation, throat irritation, allergies in the short run, lung infections, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer over long periods of time.

Paramount Group gifts flowers and plants to workers of Paramount Golfforeste in Greater Noida

NCR’s leading real estate company Paramount Group organised a special day and gave flower bouquets as an earnest gesture to workers and staff support at its residential project, Paramount Golfforeste, located opposite the Zeta sector in Greater Noida. The special occasion was dedicated to the cleaning staff, security personnel, and various groups of workers who have tirelessly worked to keep society clean and safe.

They were gifted with flowers and plants as a token of gratitude. They were praised by the residents for their proactive services and management. The workers also extended their warm-heartedness at receiving encouraging appreciation and validation for their work.

Talking about the special day, Dheeraj Bora, Marketing Head, Paramount Group, Paramount Group, said, “We decided to honour the workers who have kept great care of the Paramount Golfforeste society. They have always shown a sedulous work approach and executed their tasks in a proper manner. We gave them flowers and plants, symbolising our gratefulness and respect for them.”

Woman in Power, Sudha Reddy Represents Hyderabad in Qatar

Hyderabad: February 28, 2023: Adding sheen to the city of Hyderabad once again, billionaire philanthropist and director of MEIL Group, Sudha Reddy was one of the special guests of the H.E. Prime Minister of Qatar, Khalid Bin Khalifa Bin Abdulaziz Al Thani over the weekend.

Her first outing as a part of this special invitation was at the Doha Jewellery And Watches Exhibition (DJWE). She was seen indulging and pursuing limited-edition pieces from iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Phillips, Bacs & Russo, and Al Darwish Jewellery. She was spotted hobnobbing with Qatar royalty and diplomats as well as known film personalities such as Neelam Kothari, Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan, Nargis Fakhri, Irina Shayk, Mouni Roy, Mawra Hocane and Mehwish Hayat.

Being a connoisseur of luxury experiences and the fine arts, she was treated to some luxe hospitality at The Billionaire Club, Al Waha Island as well as was taken on a personalized tour of the Maison Valentino Exhibit And Museum Of Islamic Art.

Her engagements also included an intimate lunch at Cipriani hosted by H.E. Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO of Qatar Airways and the Chairman of Qatar Tourism. She was also hosted for another luncheon by Lina Infantino, First Lady of FIFA, and H.E. Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Thani at The Chedi.

She ended her three-day visit with a marvelous appearance at the Formula 1 Inauguration Gala hosted at Lusail Boulevard. She was seated in the VIP Qatar Airways Grandstands and got to mingle with global pop star Akon before he took to the stage.

Hailed as one of Hyderabad’s visionary fashion icons who has consistently left a mark at global fashion dos, she was styled impeccably for her Doha outing and sported bespoke couture looks by Neeta Lulla, Fendace, Hermes Birkins, and Valentino.