Tag: MENA

The Prize’s 44th session awards eminent figures in each of its Arabic Language & Literature and Service to Islam categories

Riyadh, March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Two mathematicians and a scientist were among this year’s King Faisal Prize’s seven laureates who received their prizes on 29 March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for having enriched humanity with key and invaluable achievements and discoveries, and excelled in the fields of Medicine, Science, Arabic Language & Literature, and Serving to Islam.

The Medicine Prize was awarded to Professor David Liu, Richard Merkin Professor and Director of the Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, who invented the first gene “base editor” in 2016.

This technology laid the foundation for possibly treating thousands of genetic diseases like sickle cell disease and muscular dystrophy. Professor David Liu used “base editors” in mice to correct the genetic mutation behind progeria, a rare condition characterized by premature aging, retarded development, and early death. Still, more work needs to be done before gene “base editors” can be used in humans.

Initiating a revolution in genome editing, “base editors” have received great global demand. They were distributed over 9,000 times to more than 3,000 laboratories around the world. Scientists were able to publish more than 300 papers on this technique, used in different organisms ranging from bacteria to mice.

“Base editing” is a precise genome editing method; like a genetic pencil, that rewrites DNA base letters, which cause genetic mutations and potentially genetic diseases. This technology, which is in constant development, chemically rewrites one DNA base to another by rearranging the atoms of one DNA base to resemble a different base. In 2019, Professor David Liu created with his team “prime editing” which offers more targeting flexibility and greater editing precision.

With over 75 issued U.S. patents, Professor Liu was referred to as the “Gene Corrector” by Nature magazine topping its list of “Ten People Who Mattered This Year” in 2017 and was included in the “Foreign Policy Leading Global Thinkers list”. He is also a biotech entrepreneur, cofounding “Editas Medicine”, which uses CRISPR therapies (tool for editing genomes) to “discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, and precise genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases”.

The Science Prize (Mathematics) was awarded jointly to Professor Martin Hairer, Chair in Probability and Stochastic Analysis at Imperial College’s Department of Mathematics, and to Professor Nader Masmoudi, a distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the New York University of Abu Dhabi and head of his Research Center on Stability, Instability and Turbulence.

Professor Martin Hairer developed the theory of regularity structures which gave a precise mathematical meaning to several equations that were previously outside the scope of mathematical analysis. He published his theory in 2014 providing tools and manuals for solving many previously incomprehensible equations called the stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs). These equations involve chance and describe how randomness throws disorder into different phenomena like coin tossing, stock price changes, wind movement in a tunnel, or forest fire growth. He transformed the area of SPDEs by introducing fundamental new techniques and was able to solve equations like KPZ equation which describes the evolution of the boundary at which two substances meet over time.

Professor Hairer is a world leader in probability theory and analysis and has authored a monograph and over 100 research articles. His work has been distinguished with several prizes and awards, most notably the LMS Whitehead and Philip Leverhulme prizes in 2008, the Fermat prize in 2013, the Fröhlich prize and the Fields Medal in 2014, a knighthood in 2016, and the Breakthrough prize in Mathematics in 2020.

As for Professor Nader Masmoudi, he was able to unlock the mystery around many physics problems which remained unsolved for centuries. He found a flaw in “Euler’s” mathematical equations which for more than two centuries described the motions of fluids under any circumstance. He discovered that Euler’s equations do not apply to all circumstances, as previously thought, and proved that they could break or fail under certain conditions related to fluids. His work helped solve and understand many problems related to fluid-modeling like weather predictions and airplane turbulence.

For the past 20 years, Professor Masmoudi’s research has been at the forefront of Partial Differential Equations, Fluid Mechanics, and Dynamical Systems. He has been cited by more than 8000 papers for his works in pure and applied mathematics. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Best Scientific Paper Award in Annales de l’Institue Henri Poincaré, a Chair from the Fondation Sciences Mathematiques de Paris, The Fermat Prize, and the Chair Schlumberger from the IHES in Paris.

In addition to Medicine and Science, King Faisal Prize recognized this year the achievements of outstanding thinkers and scholars in the field of Arabic Language & Literature, and honored exemplary leaders who played a pivotal role in serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.

The Arabic Language and Literature Prize about “Arabic Literature Studies in English” was awarded to Professor Suzanne Stetkevych, Chair of the Department of Arabic & Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, and to Professor Muhsin Al-Musawi, Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literary Studies at Columbia University.

Professor Suzanne Stetkevych was awarded the prize for her extensive research and work analyzing Arabic literature with unmatched depth from the pre-Islamic period to the revivalist period. Her research approach resulted in the renewal of the critical perspective and methods of studying classical Arabic poetry.

Professor Muhsin Al-Musawi received the prize for being a well-established authority in the field of Arabic literature demonstrating his encyclopedic knowledge in both classical and modern Arabic literature. His research and studies have made great impact on students and researchers in the field of Arabic studies, both in the Arab world and the West. He handled Arabic literature as a world literature.

The Service to Islam Prize was awarded to the former Tanzanian President His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi and to Professor Hassan Mahmoud Al Shafei. His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi actively participated in Islamic advocacy, spreading the spirit of religious tolerance, educating Muslims, and translating many Islamic resources and references into Swahili language. In parallel, Professor Hassan Mahmoud Alshafei served Islamic sciences through teaching, writing, authenticating, and translating, and has contributed to the establishment of the International Islamic University in Islamabad and the development of its colleges’ curricula.

The Islamic Studies Prize for this year on “Islamic Heritage of Al- Andalus” was withheld because the nominated works did not meet the criteria of the prize.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 282 laureates from 44 different nationalities who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Attachments

• King Faisal Prize Award Ceremony 2022
• King Faisal Prize Award Ceremony 2022 

Maysa Shawwa
King Faisal Prize
00966581747005
Maysa.Shawwa@kff.com

Funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Conagen’s Conamax platform benefits developing countries and patients globally.

Bedford, Mass., March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given a grant to Conagen to support further development of its Conamax(TM) platform for the production of accessible low-cost and high-quality monoclonal antibodies, benefitting developing countries and patients globally.

The high cost of monoclonal antibody (mAb) production makes blockbuster drugs expensive, limiting the markets in which these molecules can be applied and limiting access to large patient populations in developing and industrialized countries. The reason for high production costs is, in part, intrinsic to the use of mammalian cell expression systems for antibody manufacturing.

“The Conamax platform was originally conceived to address this global unmet need, so we are thrilled to have the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help develop affordable antibody therapeutics,” said Casey Lippmeier, Ph.D., vice president of innovation at Conagen.

With rapid cell growth, human-compatible glycan structures, and demonstrated world-scale fermentation bioprocesses, the Conamax platform holds several advantages over Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines and other mammalian expression systems, as well as other microbial platforms.

The foundation grant funds the bench-scale development of a proof-of-concept study of a continuous purification process, customized to inputs from Conamax and potentially other microbial host organisms. With large-scale advancements, Conagen envisions that this process will be capable of continuously purifying mAbs from material generated in bioreactors with volumes greater than 250,000 liters.

As a significant advantage, the process will not require expensive binding proteins or other expensive column purification steps. This process will enable economies of scale which are not accessible to CHO or other mammalian-derived cell systems while also providing rapid, high-throughput purification of large amounts of antibody.

“Incumbent antibody manufacturing and purification processes based on Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines have brought tremendous advancements to biopharmaceuticals,” said Lippmeier. “However, CHO cell systems are comparatively low volume, expensive, and do not enable low cost and efficient purification of large amounts of antibodies.”

According to McKinsey, in 2019, global sales revenue for all mAb drugs was nearly $163 billion, representing about 70% of the total sales for all biopharmaceutical products, approximately $230 billion. That is about a 50% growth in sales and proportion since 2013, when it was $75 billion.

Continued growth in sales of currently approved mAb products, along with more than 1,200 mAb product candidates currently in development — many for multiple indications — will continue to drive the overall sales of all biopharmaceutical products.

“We’re unlocking the way to make drugs more affordable and, while doing so, opening additional markets for biologics,” said Lippmeier.

###

About Conagen
Conagen is a product-focused synthetic biology R&D company with large-scale manufacturing service capabilities. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high-quality, sustainable, nature-based products by precision fermentation and enzymatic bioconversion. We focus on the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

Attachment

• Conagen’s Grant Award Opens New Markets for Monoclonal Antibodies

Ana Arakelian, head of public relations and communications
Conagen
+1.781.271.1588
ana.arakelian@conagen.com

Environmental perception technology for safer autonomous driving with better detection

QUEBEC CITY, March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech^®, a global leader in providing the most flexible, robust and accurate ADAS and AD sensing technology, is pleased to announce its participation at Automotive Tech.AD Berlin at the Titanic Chaussee Hotel Berlin as an exhibitor and keynote speaker.

April 4-5, 2022: LeddarTech’s LeddarVision™ Demonstrator Space (live and virtual)

Join the LeddarTech team for real-world demonstrations of LeddarVision. The only sensor fusion and perception software using raw data fusion that simplifies complex sensor sets eliminates the dependency on hardware and provides customers the flexibility to quickly scale solutions across vehicle models, delivering greater ADAS and AD performance.

Meet the CTO of LeddarTech, Pierre Olivier, a pioneer in sensing with over 30 years of experience presenting at these events during the conference:

• Sunday, April 3, 2022, 19:45 – 23:00 CET: Icebreaker Session

Topic: The Road to Full Automation – Progress and Challenges

• Monday, April 4, 2022, 10:00 – 10:30 CET: Presentation

Topic: Sensing and Perception Technology – Solutions That Solve Critical Sensing Challenges

Learn about LeddarVision, a raw-data sensor fusion and perception platform that generates a comprehensive 3D RGBD environmental model with multi-sensor support for camera, radar and LiDAR configurations. This software-centric solution delivers superior perception performance exhibited through path planning, free space detection and enhanced object detection, tracking and classification.

About Automotive Tech.AD Berlin

Tech.AD Europe fuels you with new ideas, connections and inspiration. This event is directed at advanced engineers and automotive experts from OEMs, Tier 1s, automotive suppliers, solution providers and leading research institutes focusing on AI + machine learning, sensor and perception technologies, software architectures and AV platforms, testing and validation, commercial vehicles and early deployment, connectivity and 5G, infrastructures and smart cities, safety and security and more. Join over 500 of the most influential technical autonomous vehicle experts and executives in Berlin and online! Join LeddarTech either in person or digitally by registering today at https://www.autonomous-driving-berlin.com/.

About LeddarTech

Founded in 2007, LeddarTech is a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company that enables customers to solve critical sensing, fusion and perception challenges across the entire value chain. LeddarTech provides cost-effective perception solutions scalable from Level 2+ ADAS to Level 5 full autonomy with LeddarVision™, a raw-data sensor fusion and perception platform that generates a comprehensive 3D environmental model from a variety of sensor types and configurations. LeddarTech also supports LiDAR manufacturers and Tier 1-2 automotive suppliers with key technology building blocks such as LeddarSteer™ digital beam steering and the LiDAR XLRator™, a development solution for automotive-grade solid-state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine™ and core components from global semiconductor partners. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 100 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact:
Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, LeddarTech Inc.
Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232
daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Investor Relations contact : InvestorRelations@leddartech.com
https://investors.leddartech.com/

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, LeddarEcho, VAYADrive, VayaVision, XLRator and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

Multimedia Retailer to Offer PicStorage Cloud Solution to Millions of Customers

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (“Synchronoss” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SNCR), a global leader and innovator in cloud, messaging and digital products and platforms, today announced that Kitamura, the leading multimedia retailer in Japan, has launched a white-label version of the Synchronoss Personal Cloud under the name PicStorage.

Kitamura is one of Japan’s leading retailers offering image-related services and products, including cameras, photo printing, video dubbing, photo studio, photo books and more. The retailer has over 1,000 retail locations across the country with over 20 million paying visitors each year and approximately 10 million consumers registered in its online services. Through this integration, Kitamura will be able to provide seamless online and retail experiences with the new PicStorage personal cloud offering.

“In addition to our carrier and service provider partners, Synchronoss is exploring new applications for our cloud platform,” said Yosuke Morioka, General Manager, Synchronoss Japan. “Our collaboration with Kitamura and their launch of PicStorage is just one example of how the Synchronoss Personal Cloud can be leveraged as a value-add service across multiple industries and verticals. “

Kitamura will offer PicStorage as a subscription-based service. It will include a branded app and access to an online portal to store, manage, and share digital content.

“The launch of PicStorage is a perfect extension of our product and services portfolio,” said Hajime Yanagisawa, Chief Digital Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Kitamura. “Now millions of our customers will be able to safeguard their digital content in the cloud and share them with friends and family. PicStorage allows the customer to experience new ways to organize and enjoy their photos and memories. Kitamura will continue to expand this service with photo related services that will enhance the customer experience.”

In addition to Kitamura, Synchronoss has customers in the US, Europe, and Asia, including Verizon, AT&T, Tracfone, Assurant, Allstate Protection Plans, Telkomsel, BT, Proximus and SFR.

About Kitamura
Kitamura is a leading company of photographic and video-related products and services in Japan. The company owns Japan’s largest in-house laboratories (photo and video processing factories) and delivers its services and products via more than 1,000 retail stores nationwide and online. It is the company’s mission to provide services to shape customer memories not only at that moment but also for decades to come, restore photos, and revive precious memories.

About Synchronoss

Synchronoss Technologies (Nasdaq: SNCR) builds software that empowers companies around the world to connect with their subscribers in trusted and meaningful ways. The company’s collection of products helps streamline networks, simplify onboarding, and engage subscribers to unleash new revenue streams, reduce costs and increase speed to market. Hundreds of millions of subscribers trust Synchronoss products to stay in sync with the people, services, and content they love. That’s why more than 1,500 talented Synchronoss employees worldwide strive each day to reimagine a world in sync. Learn more at www.synchronoss.com.

Media Relations Contact:
Domenick Cilea
Springboard
dcilea@springboardpr.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Matt Glover / Tom Colton
Gateway Group, Inc.
SNCR@gatewayir.com

REGULATED INFORMATION 

Nyxoah Reports Full Year 2021 Operating and Financial Results

Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium – March 24, 2022, 9:30pm CET / 4:30pm ET – Nyxoah SA (Euronext Brussels/Nasdaq: NYXH) (“Nyxoah” or the “Company”), a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative solutions to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), today reported financial and operating results for the full year ending December 31, 2021.

Full Year 2021 Operational and Financial Highlights

•  Generated revenue of €852,000 from the commercialization of Genio® in Europe, mainly in Germany; gross margin was 64.4%
•  Achieved strong commercial progress in Germany after obtaining a DRG code for the Genio system
•  Obtained DRG coding in Switzerland and hospital reimbursement in Spain; awaiting reimbursement decisions in other key European markets
•  Reported positive data from the BETTER SLEEP clinical trial, which achieved its primary safety and performance endpoints, with statistically significant reduction in baseline AHI scores for the overall study and the complete concentric collapse (CCC) and non-CCC patient cohorts; per the Sher criteria, after 6 months, achieved responder rates of 64% for the entire population (CCC and non-CCC), 60% for the CCC cohort, and 67% for the non-CCC cohort
•  Received expanded CE mark indication to treat CCC patients, thus increasing the total addressable market by at least 30% and enabling patients not to have to undergo a Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) procedure prior to implantation
•  Granted U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe OSA and CCC; awaiting IDE approval to commence a trial for CCC patients in the U.S. in late 2022
•  Advanced patient enrollment in the DREAM U.S. IDE study, with implants expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022
•  Raised $97.8 million in a Nasdaq initial public offering in July, successfully completing Nyxoah’s second IPO after previously raising €84.8 million in the September 2020 Euronext Brussels IPO
•  Entered exclusive licensing agreement with Vanderbilt University (US) to develop next generation neurostimulation technologies, specifically a novel stimulator focused on the Ansa Cervicalis nerve, which could further expand the eligible to treat OSA patient population.

“2021 was a very strong year for Nyxoah. I am proud of the team maintaining their focus on execution while operating in a challenging market environment. We reached numerous milestones in 2021 and feel we are well positioned to further build on this momentum in 2022,” commented Olivier Taelman, Nyxoah’s Chief Executive Officer. “Through the BETTER SLEEP study results, we are now able to offer an effective solution for CCC patients with an expanded CE mark indication in Europe, and we are working hard to initiate a CCC-focused IDE trial in the US. Particularly encouraging are the strong responder rates in all patient cohorts, further increasing our confidence in positive outcomes from the ongoing DREAM study.”

“We have also been happy with our commercial progress in Europe, focusing on Germany, where we obtained a dedicated DRG code.” continued Mr. Taelman. “We already had 12 active implant sites in December 2021 and continue to expand rapidly. In addition, we have secured a DRG code in Switzerland and hospital reimbursement in Spain while we await final reimbursement decisions in the Netherlands and Belgium. Our commercial strategy is based on a deep understanding of the patient journey, building strong relationships with implanting surgeons and further strengthening their relationships with referring sleep physicians, in combination with digital marketing programs.”

Mr. Taelman continued, “We secured CE mark MR conditional labeling for Genio®, enabling all implanted patients to safely undergo 1.5T and 3T MRI diagnostics scans. Genio® is now the only HGNS device with an MRI compatibility label for full-body and 3T. This illustrates our patient-centric strategy, and you can soon expect to hear more on the progress made by our R&D team. Short term, we expect to launch the next generation Genio® 2.1, which includes a patient-centric smartphone app and will incorporate a position sensor to adjust stimulation levels based on sleeping position. Looking further into the future, we are proud of our collaboration with Vanderbilt University and Dr. Kent that should result in novel treatment options for OSA patients, starting with Ansa Cervicalis stimulation.”

“With our second successful IPO in the span of 10 months last July, we have a strong balance sheet that provides ample liquidity to complete the DREAM study, conduct our U.S. CCC IDE study, invest in pre-commercial activities in the U.S., and remain committed to our important R&D priorities. We are extremely excited about where we are today as a company, and we look forward to providing further updates as the year progresses,” concluded Mr. Taelman.

 

 Full Year 2021 Results

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands)

				For the year ended December 31
				2021		2020
Revenue				€  852		€  69
Cost of goods sold				(303)		(30)
Gross profit				€  549		€  39
General and administrative expenses				(11 113)		(7 522)
Research and development expenses				(2 353)		(473)
Clinical expenses				(2 706)		(1 053)
Manufacturing expenses				(4 760)		(460)
Quality assurance and regulatory expenses				(1 463)		(227)
Patents fees & Related				(1 062)		(123)
Therapy development expenses				(3 599)		(1 864)
Other operating income / (expenses)				265		459
Operating loss for the period				€ (26 242)		€ (11 224)
Financial income				3 675		62
Financial expense				(2 072)		(990)
Loss for the period before taxes				€ (24 639)		€ (12 152)
Income taxes				(2 980)		(93)
Loss for the period				€ (27 619)		€ (12 245)
Loss attributable to equity holders				€ (27 619)		€ (12 245)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
Items that may not be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss (net of tax)
Remeasurements of post-employment benefit obligations, net of tax				(68)		−
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss (net of tax)
Currency translation differences				121		(58)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)				€  53		€ (58)
Total comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax				€ (27 566)		€ (12 303)
Loss attributable to equity holders				€ (27 566)		€ (12 303)
Basic loss per share (in EUR)				€ (1.161)		€ (0.677)
Diluted loss per share (in EUR)				€ (1.161)		€ (0.677)

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)

				As at December 31
				2021		2020
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment				€ 2 020		€  713
Intangible assets				25 322		15 853
Right of use assets				3 218		3 283
Deferred tax asset				46		32
Other long-term receivables				164		91
				€ 30 770		€ 19 972
Current assets
Inventory				346		55
Trade receivables				226		−
Other receivables				2 286		1 644
Other current assets				1 693		109
Cash and cash equivalents				135 509		92 300
				€ 140 060		€ 94 108
Total assets				€ 170 830		€ 114 080
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Capital and reserves
Capital				4 427		3 796
Share premium				228 033		150 936
Share based payment reserve				3 127		2 650
Other comprehensive income				202		149
Retained loss				(87 167)		(60 341)
Total equity attributable to shareholders				€ 148 622		€ 97 190
LIABILITIES
Non-current liabilities
Financial debt				7 802		7 607
Lease liability				2 737		2 844
Pension liability				80		37
Provisions				12		−
Deferred tax liability				5		−
				€ 10 636		€ 10 488
Current liabilities
Financial debt				554		616
Lease liability				582		473
Trade payables				3 995		1 190
Current tax liability				2 808		−
Other payables				3 633		4 123
				€ 11 572		€ 6 402
Total liabilities				€ 22 208		€ 16 890
Total equity and liabilities				€ 170 830		€ 114 080

Revenue

Revenue was €852,000 for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, compared to €69,000 for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020. The increase in revenue was attributable to the Company’s commercialization of the Genio® system, primarily in Germany. Revenue for the second half of 2021 was €497,000, a 40.0% increase versus the first half of the year despite COVID-related headwinds during the fourth quarter.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold was €303,000 for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, representing a gross profit of €549,000, or gross margin of 64.4%. This compares to total costs of goods sold of €30,000 in the 2020, for a gross profit of €39,000, or gross margin of 56.5%.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses rose to €11.1 million for the full year ending December 31, 2021, from €7.5 million in the prior year. This was due primarily to increased commercial efforts in Germany and other European markets, as well as investments in Nyxoah’s corporate infrastructure. The Company expects to continue adding headcount across the organization ahead of U.S. commercial launch.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development expenses were €2.4 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, a substantial increase over the €0.5 million for the prior year, reflecting the ongoing research and development activities, most notably the development of next generation versions of the Genio® system. As of January 2021, the Company started to amortize its intangible assets, which explains the significant increase in depreciation expenses for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, compared to the twelve months ending December 31, 2020.

Clinical Expenses

Clinical expenses increased to €2.7 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, from €1.1 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020. Total clinical expenses were €9.5 million, of which €6.8 million was capitalized, reflecting an increase in staff and consulting to support the completion of the BETTER SLEEP trial implantations, continuous recruitment for the EliSA trial, and the ongoing DREAM IDE trial in the United States.

Manufacturing Expenses 

Manufacturing expenses increased to €4.8 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, from €0.5 million for the twelve months ending December 30, 2020, due mainly to increased demand for our Genio^® system for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.

Quality Assurance and Regulatory Expenses

Quality assurance and regulatory expenses of €1.5 million for the year ending December 31, 2021, were up significantly from €0.2 million for the year ending December 31, 2020, to support the scale-up of operations.

Patent Fees & Related Expenses

Patents fees and related expenses increased from €0.1 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020, to €1.1 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, due to expenses related to the exclusive licensing agreement with Vanderbilt University.

Therapy Development Expenses

Therapy development expenses were €3.6 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, versus €1.9 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020. The increase in expenses was mainly driven by the scale-up of commercial operations in Europe.

Operating Loss

The Company realized a net loss of €27.6 million for the full year ending December 31, 2021, compared to a net loss of €12.2 million for the full year ending December 31, 2020, due to increases of activities in all departments.

Cash Position

Cash and cash equivalents totaled €135.5 million on December 31, 2021, as compared to €92.3 million on December 31, 2020.  The increase was due primarily to total gross proceeds of $97.8 million generated from the July 2021 IPO.

Net cash used in operations was €25.3 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, compared to €6.9 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net loss for the period that was mainly attributable to increased general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses, manufacturing expenses and therapy development expenses, which were offset by a positive variation in the working capital of €1.1 million.

Net cash used in investing activities was €11.8 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, compared €10.7 million for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020.

Net cash generated in financing activities for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021, was €76.5 compared to €104.0 million of net cash provided by financing activities during the twelve months ending December 31, 2020.

Outlook for 2022

The Company’s business, operational, and clinical outlook for 2022 include the following expected milestones and goals:

•  Completing DREAM trial implants in the second quarter of 2022
•  Continuing commercial execution in Germany
•  Commencing a U.S. IDE study for CCC patients in the fourth quarter of 2022

Full-year report 2021
Nyxoah’s financial report for the full year 2021, including details of the audited consolidated results, are available on the investor page of Nyxoah’s website (https://investors.nyxoah.com/financials).

Conference call and webcast presentation 
Nyxoah will conduct a conference call to open to the public tomorrow, March 25, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. CET / 8:00 a.m. ET, which will also be webcasted. To participate in the conference call, please dial one of the following numbers:

Conference ID: 3688760

USA:                             (844) 260-3718
Belgium:                       0800 73264
International:                (929) 517-0938

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation of the results. To access the live webcast, go to https://investors.nyxoah.com/events. The archived webcast will be available for replay shortly after the close of the call.

About Nyxoah
Nyxoah is a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative solutions to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Nyxoah’s lead solution is the Genio® system, a patient-centered, leadless and battery-free hypoglossal neurostimulation therapy for OSA, the world’s most common sleep disordered breathing condition that is associated with increased mortality risk and cardiovascular comorbidities. Nyxoah is driven by the vision that OSA patients should enjoy restful nights and feel enabled to live their life to its fullest.

Following the successful completion of the BLAST OSA study, the Genio® system received its European CE Mark in 2019. Nyxoah completed two successful IPOs: on Euronext Brussels in September 2020 and NASDAQ in July 2021. Following the positive outcomes of the BETTER SLEEP study, Nyxoah received CE mark approval for the expansion of its therapeutic indications to Complete Concentric Collapse (CCC) patients, currently contraindicated in competitors’ therapy. Additionally, the Company is currently conducting the DREAM IDE pivotal study for FDA and US commercialization approval.

For more information, please visit http://www.nyxoah.com/.

Caution – CE marked since 2019. Investigational device in the United States. Limited by U.S. federal law to investigational use in the United States.

Forward-looking statements 
Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company’s or, as appropriate, the Company directors’ or managements’ current expectations regarding the Genio® system; planned and ongoing clinical studies of the Genio® system; the potential advantages of the Genio® system; Nyxoah’s goals with respect to the development, regulatory pathway and potential use of the Genio® system; the utility of clinical data in potentially obtaining FDA approval of the Genio® system; and the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, growth and strategies. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Additionally, these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 24, 2022, and subsequent reports that the Company files with the SEC. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person’s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Contacts:
Nyxoah
Loic Moreau, Chief Financial Officer
corporate@nyxoah.com
+32 473 33 19 80

Jeremy Feffer, VP IR and Corporate Communications
jeremy.feffer@nyxoah.com
+1 917 749 1494

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• ENGLISH_FY 2021 Earnings PR – FINAL

100,000 times sweeter than table sugar

Bedford, Mass., March 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Food and beverages brands get two more tools for their sugar reduction toolkits as Conagen announced the successful scale-up production of two new high-intensity sweeteners, thaumatin I and thaumatin II. The development will expand commercial partner Sweegen’s robust sugar reduction solutions of zero-sugar natural sweeteners.

Thaumatin is a group of proteins found in the fruits of the tropical plant Thaumatococcus danielli. Each protein, thaumatin I and thaumatin II, varies slightly in sweetness profiles. Both proteins have been evaluated as 100,000 times sweeter than sugar on a molar basis and 3,000 times sweeter on a weight basis. The high sweetness factor can translate into a strategic cost-effective sugar reduction solution for brands seeking to get the most out of a natural sweetener.

The thaumatin proteins were developed from Conagen’s peptide production platform, which had previously been used for the scaled production of another peptide sweetener, brazzein. “Conagen constantly improves its protein and peptide production platforms to generate more exciting new products,” said Casey Lippmeier, vice president of innovation at Conagen. “In this case, the platform has been leveraged to make thaumatin by several innovative approaches, but under a significantly shorter R&D timeline.”

These two new, high-purity thaumatin proteins add to Sweegen’s creative portfolio of sugar reduction solutions to help brands make low-calorie products. Brands can now explore the synergistic benefits of formulations that contain thaumatin and other products from Sweegen’s Signature Sweetener portfolio, including brazzein and stevia. This diversity of natural, high-intensity sweeteners represents the most cost-effective approach for reducing sugar in food and beverages to deliver the best tasting match for the sweetness of sugar.

The desire for natural sweeteners will drive the demand for fruit and plant-based sweeteners, such as thaumatin and stevia, respectively. The main advantages to sweetening food and beverages with thaumatin are its familiarity and acceptance by consumers and the fact that it is approved for use in products by the majority of the countries in the world.

Health-conscious consumers are generally more accepting of natural sweeteners than sugar and artificial sweeteners. According to FMCG Gurus, Top 10 Future Trends 2030, “60% of global consumers currently believe natural sweeteners are healthier alternatives to sugar.” The trend report further stated, “Increasingly, consumers will want only products that contain real and authentic ingredients, and sweeteners will be no exception to the rule. As such, this will drive demand for sweeteners sourced directly from fruits and plants, something that the industry will respond to.”

Like most other proteins, when thaumatin proteins are consumed, they are digested into amino acids.  However, because thaumatin communicates such a strong sweet taste, the levels used in most applications contribute almost no calories. It is one of the most intense sweeteners ever discovered.

Consumers increasingly expect to stock their pantries with low-to-no sugar products with food and beverages that fit into their lifestyle and diets. Thaumatin can complement a number of consumer lifestyles, such as diabetic, ketogenic, or low-to-no carbohydrate diets. These sweet proteins are low on the glycemic index.

“Thaumatin is the second announced product generated from our peptide platform, which fits well into our existing world-scale, precision fermentation infrastructure.” Lippmeier further added, “Peptides and small proteins like brazzein and thaumatin can be very difficult to make economically; however, now that we have successfully scaled multiple peptides and proteins, we are willing to collaborate with other customers to make other novel peptide products.”

Regulatory approval for thaumatin as natural sweeteners has passed in the European Union (E957), Israel, and Japan. In the United States, it is generally recognized as safe as a flavoring agent (FEMA GRAS 3732).

About Conagen
Conagen is a product-focused, synthetic biology R&D company with large-scale manufacturing service capabilities. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high-quality, sustainable, nature-based products by precision fermentation and enzymatic bioconversion. We focus on the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

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• Conagen produces two thaumatin protein natural sweeteners at scale 

Ana Arakelian, head of public relations and communications
Conagen
+1.781.271.1588
ana.arakelian@conagen.com