Day: September 14, 2022

Posted on

Business School Students in High Demand: Nearly 9 in 10 Landed Jobs Prior to Graduation

Survey finds full-time MBA graduates in North America benefit the most from salary bump while Asia Pacific graduates record the biggest increase in rating of the overall value of degrees

RESTON, Va., Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Despite market fear of an imminent recession, 86 percent of 2022 business school graduates were employed at the time of graduation, up from 80 percent in 2021, according to a survey report released today by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Contributing to the favorable trends are the regional results of graduates who studied in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. Among graduates of Asia-Pacific business schools, this year 91 percent report being employed at the time of graduation, compared with 78 percent in 2021. Similarly, among European graduates, 90 percent indicate they were employed this year compared with 75 percent last year.

The annual Enrolled Students Survey from GMAC, a global association of leading graduate business schools, aims to better understand current trends in student and recent graduates’ evaluations and outcomes of their graduate management education (GME). Conducted in May-June 2022, this year’s survey explores the views of 1,718 respondents from nearly 300 business schools in 57 countries around the word on their overall GME experience, job search, and compensation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Globally, the responding graduates of participating schools reported a median percentage increase in total compensation—including base salary and all other compensation—of 29 percent. Notably, among North American school graduates, those who attended full-time MBA programs reported a pre-GME total compensation median of US$80,000, and a post-GME total compensation median of US$120,000—an impressive 50 percent increase.

“With the volatile economic conditions and organizational challenges brought on by the pandemic, well-rounded and prepared business leaders and managers are especially in demand in the current job market,” said Matt Hazenbush, director of research analysis and communications at GMAC and author of the report. “As the survey findings suggest, graduate management education provides students with a powerful leg up for their career.”

Other Key Findings

Most students who set out to make a career change or gain a promotion encounter success

In step with the Great Resignation, students’ top goals and motivations in 2022 were to enrich their lives and make a career change. Among 2022 respondents, a majority who set out to make a career change or get promoted report that they were successful in achieving that goal. Specifically, among those who say making a career change was one of their top three motivations to pursuing GME, 57 percent said they were successful. Success rates for graduates from schools in Latin America/Middle East/Africa (66%) and North America (61%) were slightly higher, though not significantly, than those in Asia Pacific (54%) or Europe (55%), but across world regions a majority successfully made the career change they set out to make. Similarly, 56 percent of graduates who had the goal to gain a promotion were successful.

Social media use in the job search jumps up from last year

Use of social media in the job search—including sites like LinkedIn—increased significantly year-on-year, from 27 to 37 percent, overtaking networking with classmates and alumni (28%) as well as friends and family (35%). The increase in social media use as a job search method was significant among professional MBA (24% in 2021 to 31% in 2022) and business master’s students (23% in 2021 to 40% in 2022). By region, use of social media increased significantly among those who studied in Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America/Middle East/Africa, but not in North America.

Students from Asia-Pacific schools rate the overall value of their degree significantly higher in 2022 compared with 2021

Eighty-five percent of respondents rated the overall value of their degree as good to outstanding, up slightly from 82 percent in 2021. By region, students who studied in Asia-Pacific schools reported the largest year-on-year increase in favorable ratings for the overall value of their degree, rising from 75 percent to 86 percent between 2021 and 2022. While both full-time MBA and business master’s students in Asia Pacific had year-on-year increases, the increase was significant among full-time MBA students, rising from 66 percent to 84 percent. Globally, students who attended ranked schools reported similar levels of favorability of the overall value of their degree compared with students who attended non-ranked schools (85%, respectively).

As pandemic restrictions eased, student satisfaction with career and student services improved

Eighty-four percent of 2022 respondents gave career services a favorable review, up from 74 percent in 2021. Also improving were opinions on student services, up to 85 percent favorable from 80 percent in 2021. The improvement in favorability in career and student services was consistent across students of full-time MBA, business master’s, and professional MBA programs, as well as students who studied in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Middle East/Africa, and North America.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. GMAC provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test™ (GMAT™) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

More than 12 million prospective students a year trust GMAC’s websites, including mba.com, to learn about MBA and business master’s programs, connect with schools around the world, prepare and register for exams and get advice on successfully applying to MBA and business master’s programs. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202-390-4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com

Posted on

Dave and Buster’s to Open 11 Units Across KSA, UAE, and Egypt

Announces international franchise partnership with Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair Holding Group

DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Just a few months after announcing its international expansion plans Dave & Buster’s inks its first multi-country, multi-unit deal.

“We couldn’t be more pleased and excited to announce our Partnership with Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair Holding Group to develop the Dave & Buster’s Brand across key West Asian Markets,” said Antonio Bautista, Chief International Development Officer of Dave & Buster’s.

The Brand will begin its expansion with sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

“Dave & Buster’s is a preeminent entertainment brand, and this franchise partnership marks a strategic milestone for our organization as we continue expanding our entertainment and hospitality portfolio across the region,” said Mishal Alhokair, Deputy CEO of Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair Holding Group.

To drive international expansion, Dave & Buster’s has developed key strategic initiatives that uniquely support global market penetration:

  • Customizable footprint to drive box economics in each market as required
  • Menu localization with high regional resonance
  • Proprietary, dynamic pricing model
  • Global marketing programs that are demographically agnostic and locally executable
  • Differentiated and unique amusement strategy and packages
  • Localized entertainment and 3rd day part programming

“With four decades of market leading experience, a seasoned leadership team, and a best-in-class support center infrastructure, Dave & Buster’s is ready to RUN THE FUN for our global partners and guests,” added Antonio Bautista.

For more information on franchising opportunities visit www.daveandbusters.com/franchising or email InternationalDevelopment@daveandbusters.com

About Dave & Buster’s
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Coppell, Texas, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc., is the owner and operator of 200 venues in North America that offer premier entertainment and dining experiences to guests through two distinct brands: Dave & Buster’s and Main Event. Dave & Buster’s has 148 stores in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada and offers guests the opportunity to “Eat Drink Play and Watch,” all in one location. Each store offers a full menu of entrées and appetizers, a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events. Main Event operates 52 centers in 17 states across the country, and offers state-of-the-art bowling, laser tag, hundreds of arcade games, and virtual reality, making it the perfect place for families to connect and make memories. For more information about each brand, visit www.daveandbusters.com www.mainevent.com

About Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair Holding Group “Believe in what you do & you shall become the master of your craft”
This phrase inspired Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair to start his first theme park in Riyadh, which was “an unprecedented leap” in the tourism and entertainment sector, a sector that ran on mere “coincidence.” Here in Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair Holding Group, we turned “the dream” into an organized industry that aspires to be the best locally, regionally, and internationally. Sheikh Abdul Mohsen’s vision began with the need for tourism and entertainment in the Gulf region, which led to the opening of parks, and recreational centers in 1978, making him the Sheikh of Tourism in the Gulf Region. The roots of our companies were based on research and planning and deep consideration for all aspects of success.

Now, many people look to us with deep appreciation and respect. Each of our companies has its own story of success, and together they crowned us as a holding company, an umbrella for all companies and businesses. Holding is the mother and protector of our businesses, which began from the first day of networking that Sheikh Abdul Mohsen started to a glorious road that we hope to continue.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Antonio Bautista
antonio.bautista@daveandbusters.com

Posted on

Ugandan TikToker jailed for criticizing the problematic legacy of a dead general

A Ugandan TikToker, Teddy Nalubowa (also known as Tracy Manule Bobiholic) was charged on September 9 with offensive communication and further remanded to Luzira prison for allegedly recording a video celebrating the death of former security minister General Elly Tumwine, reports The Monitor, a Ugandan daily.

General Elly Tumwine, Ugandan’s retired military officer and longest serving army representative in parliament died on August 25, 2022, in Kenya, from lung cancer. Tumwine’s death ignited public debate over his “double-edged legacy,” reports Rey Ley, a blogger. Tumwine led troops that killed more than 50 civilians during protests which followed the arrest of opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (also known as Bobi Wine) in 2020. As security minister, Tumwine told the media that “the police have a right to shoot you and kill you if you reach a certain level of violence. I can repeat: Police have a right to shoot and you die for nothing,” according to The Monitor.

After thirteen days in detention, and with no legal representation, Nalubowa was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Kampala where she was charged with offensive communication contrary to Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011. The TikToker will remain in prison until September 26 when her case comes up again in the court. 

The Computer Misuse Act (2011) and Amendment Bill (2022)

The Computer Misuse Act of 2011 provides “for the safety and security of electronic transactions and information systems; to prevent unlawful access, abuse or misuse of information systems including computers,” and “for securing the conduct of electronic transactions in a trustworthy electronic environment.”

However, Sections 24 and 25 of the 2011 act are problematic with their nebulous definition of “cyber harassment” and “offensive communication.” Cyber harassment, according to the act, means using “a computer” to make an “obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent” overture (“request, suggestion or proposal”) or threatening “to inflict injury or physical harm” to a person or that person’s property, or “knowingly [permitting] any electronic communications device to be used for any of [these] purposes.” The punishment for cyber harassment is “a fine not exceeding seventy two currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.” Similarly, the 2011 act defined offensive communication as the “willful and repeated use of electronic communication to disturb or attempt to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication whether or not a conversation ensues.” The punishment for this is “a fine not exceeding twenty four currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.”

Carrie Davis, of AfricanLII of the Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town, further states that these two sections of the 2011 Act have been instrumental in cracking down on Ugandan dissidents and activists. In January 2022, Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was arraigned under the offensive communication clause of the 2011 Computer Misuse Act, after spending one month in detention, for writing that the president’s son was obese. Academic and writer Dr. Stella Nyanzi was jailed in 2018 for offensive Facebook posts in which she called the president “a pair of buttocks.”

On September 8, 2022, Uganda’s parliament passed the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which will replace the Computer Misuse Act, 2011. This new law seeks to enhance the provisions on unauthorized data, while prohibiting the sharing of data relating to children without authorization from their parents or guardians. Adding to the list of offences for which people can be arbitrarily arrested.

However, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) described the Bill as “a draconian law that criminalizes digital technologies and largely curtails digital rights”:

Among the key regressive provisions is the prohibition of the “misuse of social media”, described in clause 6 as publishing, distributing or sharing information prohibited under Uganda’s laws. A highly punitive penalty has been prescribed for the offence: imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to UGX 10 million (USD 2,619), or both. Other retrogressive provisions in the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill 2022 are prohibition of sending or sharing of unsolicited information through a computer, and prohibition of sending, sharing or transmitting of malicious information about or relating to any person.

Similarly, Ugandan lawyer Andrew Wandera affirmed that the said bill is redundant because the 2019 Data Protection and Privacy Act “already cures the mischief that the Bill purports to cure.” The Data Protection and Privacy Act bars unauthorized access to personal information with prescribed punishment for any violation. The act equally criminalizes the sharing of information on children without parental approval. Consequently, the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill is only duplicating what is provided for under the act.

Sadly, this means that government is officially widening the net to crackdown on citizens like TikToker, Teddy Nalubowa, for merely expressing an opinion at variance to the official one.

Source: Global Voices

Posted on

Taiwan Hosts Dozens of Foreign Lawmakers in Washington to Push China Sanctions

Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, on Tuesday hosted dozens of international lawmakers who back sanctions on China for aggression toward the island, a show of support for Taipei amid military pressure from Beijing.

The unannounced gathering of about 60 parliamentarians from Europe, Asia and Africa at Taiwan’s sweeping hilltop diplomatic mansion in Washington — called Twin Oaks — is the latest move in Taipei’s efforts to persuade fellow democracies to stand against China since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine heightened concerns that Beijing could attempt to take the island by force.

The group, consisting of members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) gathering in Washington this week, is expected to sign a pledge to push their governments to adopt “greater deterrence against military or other coercive” actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against Taiwan, according to a draft seen by Reuters.

“We will campaign to ensure our governments signal to the PRC that military aggression towards Taiwan will cost Beijing dearly. Economic and political measures, including meaningful sanctions, should be considered to deter military escalation, and to ensure trade and other exchanges with Taiwan can continue unimpeded,” the draft said.

It added that their countries’ ties to Taiwan were not Beijing’s to determine, and that they would push to increase mutual visits by lawmakers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring democratically governed Taiwan under Beijing’s control and has not ruled out the use of force. He is set to secure a third, five-year leadership term at a Communist Party congress next month. Taiwan’s government strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

Sources familiar with the issue have told Reuters that Washington is considering sanctions against China to deter it from invading Taiwan, with the European Union coming under diplomatic pressure from Taipei to do the same.

Hsiao, speaking to the lawmakers — who according to a guest list seen by Reuters hailed from countries including the U.K., Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Lithuania, Ukraine, New Zealand and the Netherlands — told the gathering: “It is important to demonstrate to the bully that we have friends too.

“We are not seeking to provoke the bully, but neither will we bow to their pressure.”

She welcomed two Ukrainian representatives at the event.

“We certainly hope that as the international community stands with Ukraine, that the international community will also stand with Taiwan… that together we can deter the further aggression coming from China.”

The IPAC pledge, expected to be signed on Wednesday, also calls for countries to secure supply chains from forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region, and to pursue sanctions on Chinese officials for abuses in Hong Kong, and on Chinese companies that support Russia’s military industry.

China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘Years past due’

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Menendez, who acts as the United States’ IPAC co-chair with Republican Marco Rubio, told an IPAC briefing at the Capitol on Tuesday that a U.S. bill to support Taiwan would face some changes during a scheduled review this week, but that the “thrust” would remain the same.

An initial version of that bill threatens severe sanctions against China for any aggression against Taiwan, and would provide Taiwan with billions of dollars in foreign military financing in coming years.

Rubio said he believed the Biden administration was divided over how to approach prospective sanctions on China, and that although Beijing appeared to be taking steps to insulate itself from such actions, Washington needed be clear about the costs of hostility across the Taiwan Strait.

“It’s important for us to be prepared to proactively outline — whether it’s through legislation or through an executive announcement, exactly what the economic consequences will be if such an act of aggression goes forward,” Rubio told the briefing.

China conducted blockade-style military drills around Taiwan after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island last month, a reaction Taiwanese officials have credited for spurring an uptick in foreign engagement that Beijing views as a violation of its sovereignty claims over the island.

Taiwan also has been urging Washington, its largest arms supplier, to expedite already approved weapons deliveries that have faced delays because of supply chain issues and heightened demand from the war in Ukraine.

Republican U.S. Representative Young Kim, who has written a bill to track U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, told Reuters in an interview that Hsiao had delivered a forceful message to Congress about ensuring those weapons systems reach Taiwan quickly.

“She’s said it in a hundred different ways that we appreciate the United States trying to get us the arms but don’t forget, it’s many years past due,” Kim said of Hsiao. “She’s very firm.”

Source: Voice of America

Posted on

Tigray’s Leadership Says Drones Used in Ethiopia’s Latest Airstrikes

As the civil war in Ethiopia rages on, the head of the main hospital in the Tigray region’s capital says two airstrikes Wednesday morning have killed at least ten people.

The first airstrike hit Mekelle, the regional capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region at around 7.30 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to Dr. Kibrom Gebreselassie, the director of the flagship Ayder hospital in the capital.

The Tigray region’s leadership and doctors at the hospital say the Ethiopian government is using drones for the latest attacks. VOA could not independently verify these allegations.

The second occurred shortly afterward. According to Dr. Kibrom, the attacks hit a “residential” part of the city, attacking civilians.

In total, he said, ten deaths have been confirmed so far. Hospital officials said that other cases were being rushed to surgery both at Ayder and the nearby Mekelle General Hospital.

A surgeon at Ayder Hospital told the Reuters news agency that the second strike hit rescuers who were trying to help people injured by the first attack.

Wednesday’s airstrikes are the latest of several to hit Mekelle since fighting resumed in Tigray in late August. The hostilities ended a truce declared by the federal government in March, which had allowed much-needed aid supplies to reach the northern region.

On Sunday, the Tigray regional leadership called for a cessation of hostilities and said they had set up a team of mediators ready to enter peace talks with the federal government, which has yet to respond to the statement.

Since then, heavy fighting has been reported along Tigray’s northern, southern and western borders.

Source: Voice of America

Posted on

Sabin Receives Additional $21.8 Million From BARDA to Advance Marburg Vaccine

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sabin Vaccine Institute today announced it is receiving an additional $21.8 million under an existing contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These funds advance development of a vaccine against Marburg virus disease, a virus that is related to Ebola Zaire which killed 2200 people during the last major outbreak that ended in 2020.

The Sabin Marburg vaccine is the only candidate currently slated for a Phase 2 clinical trial. Marburg is among the world’s deadliest viruses, resulting in the death of approximately half the people the virus infects. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the disease. As recently as July this year, two people in Ghana died after being infected with Marburg virus, reinforcing the urgent need for medical therapies.

The latest tranche of funds enables Sabin to conduct a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial among adults in the U.S. to further evaluate the safety and the efficacy of the Marburg vaccine candidate and advance non-clinical vaccine dosing studies. The Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. will begin after Sabin has initiated a same-stage trial in Africa, currently scheduled for 2023. Sabin will also undertake a non-clinical study on the vaccine candidate during this phase.

“Beginning Phase 2 clinical trials for the Marburg vaccine is a pivotal milestone for us and we appreciate BARDA’s continued confidence in our work and support for this critical next step,” says Sabin Chief Executive Officer Amy Finan. “Vaccines remain our best bet against death and disability from deadly viruses. I am hopeful that in the years ahead, we can offer this life-saving vaccine to every person who needs it.”

In 2019, BARDA awarded Sabin a multi-year contract valued at $128 million to further the development of vaccines against two lethal viruses: Marburg and Ebola Sudan. With BARDA now exercising the latest option of that contract, Sabin’s Ebola and Marburg Research & Development program, to date, has been awarded $98.6 million.

BARDA is part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number 75A50119C000555.

Learn more about Sabin’s Marburg and Ebola Sudan Program.

About the Sabin Vaccine Institute

The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non-profit with more than two decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on Twitter, @SabinVaccine.

About Ebola Sudan and Marburg

Ebola Sudan and Marburg are members of the filovirus family. Both can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates. No therapeutic treatment of the hemorrhagic fevers caused by filoviruses has been licensed to date. Marburg and Ebola viruses are transmitted to humans by infected animals, particularly fruit bats. Once a human is infected, the virus can spread to others through close personal contact or contact with bodily fluids. Isolation of infected people is currently the centerpiece of filovirus control.

Marburg was the first filovirus to be recognized in 1967 when outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever were reported in a few Europe-based laboratories including in the town of Marburg, Germany. Ebola was identified in 1976 when two simultaneous outbreaks occurred in northern Zaire (now the DRC) in a village near the Ebola River and southern Sudan. The outbreaks involved what eventually proved to be two different species of Ebola virus; both were named after the nations in which they were discovered.

Media contact:

Rajee Suri
press@sabin.org

Posted on

Sabin reçoit 21,8 millions de dollars supplémentaires de la part de la BARDA pour faire progresser le vaccin contre le virus Marburg

WASHINGTON, 14 sept. 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Le Sabin Vaccine Institute a annoncé aujourd’hui avoir reçu 21,8 millions de dollars supplémentaires dans le cadre d’un contrat existant avec la Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), qui fait partie de l’Administration pour la préparation et la réponse stratégiques du Département de la Santé et des Services sociaux des États-Unis. Ces fonds font progresser le développement d’un vaccin contre la maladie à virus Marburg, un virus lié au virus Ebola-Zaïre qui a tué 2 200 personnes lors de la dernière épidémie majeure qui a pris fin en 2020.

Le vaccin de Sabin contre le virus Marburg est le seul candidat actuellement prévu pour un essai clinique de phase 2. Marburg fait partie des virus les plus mortels au monde, entraînant la mort d’environ la moitié des personnes infectées. Il n’existe actuellement aucun vaccin ou traitement approuvé pour lutter contre cette maladie. Pas plus tard qu’en juillet de cette année, deux personnes sont mortes au Ghana après avoir été infectées par le virus Marburg, renforçant ainsi le besoin urgent de thérapies médicales.

La dernière tranche de fonds permet à Sabin de mener un essai clinique randomisé, en aveugle et contrôlé par placebo chez des adultes aux États-Unis afin d’évaluer davantage l’innocuité et l’efficacité de son vaccin candidat contre le virus Marburg et de faire progresser des études de posologie de vaccin non cliniques. L’essai clinique de phase 2 aux États-Unis commencera après le lancement par Sabin d’un essai de même phase en Afrique, actuellement prévu pour 2023. Sabin entreprendra également une étude non clinique sur son vaccin candidat au cours de cette phase.

« Le début des essais cliniques de phase 2 pour le vaccin contre le virus Marburg constitue une étape cruciale pour nous et nous apprécions la confiance continue de la BARDA dans notre travail et son soutien pour cette prochaine étape cruciale », a déclaré Amy Finan, présidente-directrice générale de Sabin. « Les vaccins restent notre meilleur pari contre la mort et le handicap dus à des virus mortels. J’espère que dans les années à venir, nous pourrons offrir ce vaccin vital à toutes les personnes qui en ont besoin. »

En 2019, la BARDA a attribué à Sabin un contrat pluriannuel d’une valeur de 128 millions de dollars pour poursuivre le développement de vaccins contre deux virus mortels : Marburg et Ebola-Soudan. La BARDA exerçant désormais la dernière option de ce contrat, le programme de recherche et développement de Sabin contre les virus Ebola et Marburg, a reçu à ce jour 98,6 millions de dollars.

La BARDA fait partie de l’Administration pour la préparation et la réponse stratégiques du Département de la Santé et des Services sociaux des États-Unis. Ce projet a été financé en totalité ou en partie par des fonds fédéraux du Département de la Santé et des Services sociaux, l’Administration pour la préparation et la réponse stratégiques et la Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, sous le contrat numéro 75A50119C000555.

Renseignements complémentaires sur le programme de Sabin dédié aux virus Marburg et Ebola-Soudan.

À propos du Sabin Vaccine Institute

Le Sabin Vaccine Institute est l’un des principaux défenseurs de l’élargissement de l’accès aux vaccins et de leur adoption à l’échelle mondiale, de l’avancement de la recherche et du développement de vaccins et de l’amplification des connaissances et de l’innovation en matière de vaccins. Libérant le potentiel des vaccins par le partenariat, Sabin a bâtit un écosystème robuste de bailleurs de fonds, innovateurs, agents de mise en œuvre, praticiens, décideurs politiques et parties prenantes publiques pour faire avancer sa vision d’un avenir où les maladies évitables ont enfin disparu. En tant qu’organisation sans but lucratif comptant plus de deux décennies d’expérience, Sabin s’est engagée à trouver des solutions qui durent et à étendre tous les bienfaits des vaccins à l’ensemble des individus, peu importe qui ils sont et où ils résident. Chez Sabin, nous sommes convaincus que les vaccins ont le pouvoir de changer le monde. Pour de plus amples informations, rendez-vous sur le site www.sabin.org et suivez-nous sur Twitter, @SabinVaccine.

À propos des virus Ebola-Soudan et Marburg

Ebola-Soudan et Marburg font partie de la famille des filovirus. Les deux peuvent causer des fièvres hémorragiques sévères chez l’humain et les primates non humains. Aucun traitement thérapeutique des fièvre hémorragiques provoquées par les filovirus n’a été autorisé à ce jour. Les virus Marburg et Ebola sont transmis aux humains par des animaux infectés, en particulier les chauves-souris frugivores. Une fois qu’un être humain est infecté, ces virus peuvent se propager à d’autres par le biais d’un contact personnel étroit ou d’un contact avec des fluides corporels. L’isolation des personnes infectées constitue actuellement la principale stratégie pour contrôler les filovirus.

Marburg a été le premier filovirus à être reconnu en 1967 lorsque des épidémies de fièvre hémorragique ont été signalées dans plusieurs laboratoires basés en Europe, y compris dans la ville de Marbourg, en Allemagne. Le virus Ebola a été identifié en 1976 lorsque deux épidémies se sont produites simultanément dans le nord du Zaïre (devenu la RDC), dans un village près de la rivière Ebola, et dans le sud du Soudan. Ces épidémies ont impliqué ce qui s’est finalement avéré être deux espèces différentes de virus Ebola ; chacune devant son nom à la nation dans laquelle elle a été découverte.

Contact pour les médias :

Rajee Suri
press@sabin.org

Posted on

Sabin recebe US $ 21,8 milhões adicionais da BARDA para o desenvolvimento da Vacina Marburg

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O Sabin Vaccine Institute anunciou hoje o recebimento de US $ 21,8 milhões adicionais sob um contrato existente com a Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), parte da Administração de Preparação e Resposta Estratégica do Departamento de Saúde e Serviços Humanos dos EUA. Esses fundos visam promover o desenvolvimento de uma vacina contra a doença do vírus de Marburg, um vírus relacionado com a Ebola Zaire que matou 2200 pessoas durante o último grande surto que terminou em 2020.

A vacina Sabin Marburg é a única candidata atualmente prevista para entrar em um ensaio clínico de Fase 2. O Marburg é um dos vírus mais letais do mundo, causando a morte de aproximadamente metade das pessoas infectadas pelo vírus. No momento não existe nenhuma vacina nem tratamento aprovados para a doença. Ainda em Julho deste ano, duas pessoas em Gana morreram depois de terem sido infectadas com o vírus de Marburg, e isso demonstra claramente a necessidade urgente de terapias médicas.

A última parcela dos recursos permite que a Sabin realize um ensaio clínico randomizado, cego e controlado por placebo entre adultos nos EUA para a avaliação ainda maior da segurança e a eficácia do candidato à vacina de Marburg e a continuidade com os estudos de dosagem de vacina não clínica. O ensaio clínico de Fase 2 nos EUA irá começar após a Sabin dar início a um ensaio de mesmo estágio na África, atualmente agendado para 2023. A Sabin também realizará um estudo não clínico do candidato à vacina durante esta fase.

“O início dos ensaios clínicos de Fase 2 para a vacina de Marburg é um marco crucial para nós e agradecemos a confiança da BARDA no nosso trabalho e apoio a esta próxima etapa decisiva”, disse a Diretora Executiva da Sabin, Amy Finan. “As vacinas continuam sendo a nossa melhor opção para combater a deficiência e morte causadas pelos vírus mortais. Tenho a esperança de que dentro de alguns anos possamos oferecer esta vacina para salvar vidas de todas as pessoas que precisem dela.”

Em 2019, BARDA fechou com a Sabin um contrato de vários anos valor de US $ 128 milhões para promover o desenvolvimento de vacinas contra dois vírus letais: Marburg e Ebola Sudão. Com estes fundos mais recente do contrato com a BARDA, o programa de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Ebola e Marburg da Sabin, até o momento, recebeu US $ 98,6 milhões.

A BARDA faz parte da Administração de Preparação e Resposta Estratégica do Departamento de Saúde e Serviços Humanos dos EUA. Este projeto foi financiado, no todo ou em parte, com fundos federais do Departamento de Saúde e Serviços Humanos; Administração para Preparação e Resposta Estratégica; Autoridade de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Avançado Biomédico, sob o contrato número 75A50119C000555.

Saiba mais sobre o Programa Marburg and Ebola Sudão da Sabin.

Sobre o Sabin Vaccine Institute

O Sabin Vaccine Institute é um dos principais defensores da expansão do acesso e uso de vacinas em todo o mundo, do avanço da pesquisa e desenvolvimento de vacinas e da ampliação do conhecimento e inovação das vacinas. Revelando o potencial das vacinas através da parceria, o Sabin criou um ecossistema robusto de financiadores, inovadores, implementadores, profissionais, formuladores de políticas e partes interessadas públicas para avançar sua visão de um futuro livre de doenças evitáveis. Como uma organização sem fins lucrativos com mais de duas décadas de experiência, o Sabin está empenhado em encontrar soluções duradouras que levem todos os benefícios das vacinas a todas as pessoas, independentemente de quem sejam ou de onde vivem. No Sabin, acreditamos no poder das vacinas para mudar o mundo. Para mais informação, visite www.sabin.org e siga-nos no Twitter, @SabinVaccine.

Sobre a Ebola Sudão e Marburg

Ebola Sudão e Marburg são membros da família dos filovírus. Ambos podem causar febre hemorrágica grave em seres humanos e primatas não humanos. Não existe nenhum tratamento terapêutico das febres hemorrágicas causadas por filovírus licenciado até o momento. Os vírus Marburg e Ebola são transmitidos aos seres humanos por animais infectados, particularmente pelos morcegos-fruta. Uma vez infectada, uma pessoa pode transmitir o vírus para outras pessoas através do contato pessoal próximo ou com fluidos corporais. O isolamento das pessoas infectadas atualmente é a parte central do controle do filovírus.

O Marburg foi o primeiro filovírus a ser identificado em 1967, quando surtos de febre hemorrágica foram relatados em alguns laboratórios da Europa, incluindo na cidade de Marburg, Alemanha. A ebola foi identificada em 1976, quando dois surtos simultâneos ocorreram no norte do Zaire (agora RDC) em uma aldeia perto do rio Ebola e sul do Sudão. Os surtos envolveram o que eventualmente provou ser duas espécies diferentes do vírus Ebola; ambos receberam o nome nações em que foram descobertos.

Contato com a Mídia:

Rajee Suri
press@sabin.org

Posted on

Emirate Lithium Commences Reconnaissance Studies of its Iwajowa and Kaima Lithium Projects

LAGOS, Nigeria, Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emirate Lithium and Geominerals Limited (“Emirate Lithium” or “the Company”), focused on the exploration, mining, trading and exporting of solid minerals ores, including lithium spodumene, tin, columbite, zircon sand (brown), monazite and tantalite to Europe and Asia, signed contracts with AGVision Mining Limited (“AGVision”) to carry out reconnaissance studies for the Company’s Iwajowa and Kaima lithium projects located within the known pegmatite belt in south western and north central Nigeria. The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, the Federal Government of Nigeria agency charged with developing geo-science data, is currently carrying out several early-stage exploration programs within the Nigeria’s pegmatite belt. This corrects the Company’s press release dated September 9, 2022 to the effect that the Company has signed contracts with AGVision to carry out pre-feasibility studies on its Iwajowa and Kaima Lithium projects.

Under the terms of the contracts, AGVision is conducting studies involving the general geographic features and characteristics of the Company’s Iwajowa and Kaima lithium projects, including geological mapping, outcrop sampling, wide-spaced geochemical sampling and preliminary geophysics. Emirate Lithium intends to simultaneously follow these studies with rock sampling, pitting and trenching of the projects.

AGVision was founded by a group of Nigerian engineering, procurement, and construction managers and a world leading Australian geological, geophysical and geospatial company – International Geoscience Pty Limited. International Geoscience Pty Limited is led by Dr. Warwick Crowe, a globally regarded structural geologist and one of the world’s foremost experts on Nigeria’s economic geology. AGVision delivers the Australian Joint Ore Reserves Committee reporting standards in his various exploratory activities and reporting.

“This is an important milestone for Emirate Lithium, setting the stage for the next phase of our corporate evolution,” said Lanre Afebuameh, Founder and CEO of Emirate. “While the reconnaissance studies are conducted over the next few months, our team will continue to focus on our current surface mining operations of spodumene ore, which have yielded average annual exports of US $5 million of approximately 6% Li content in the spodumene concentrate since launching in 2020.”

While Emirate Lithium exports have primarily targeted Asian customers, the Company anticipates increased demand for its high-grade ore from European electric vehicle and battery manufacturers.

About Emirate Lithium

Emirate Lithium was incorporated in 2017 and commenced operations in 2018 as a mining, minerals, processing, and export company. The Company commenced open pit mining (surface mining) operations working with artisanal and small-scale operators in 2020 to establish lithium ore-grade quantities and build customer demand. Emirate Lithium currently has 27 minerals exploration licenses acquired from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (“MCO”). Six of the 27 licenses are for lithium, making the Company a major holder of lithium assets in Sub-Sahara Africa, with Emirate Lithium poised to become the largest holder of lithium assets in the continent.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Emirate Lithium disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact

Dave Gentry, CEO
RedChip Companies, Inc.
1-800-Red-Chip (733-2441)
emirate@redchip.com