NOVEMBER , 2022 | THE HEALTH

AUM BioscienCEs Pte Ltd ( AUM ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company , and Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp . V ( Mountain Crest ), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company formed in Delaware , whose management team has an impressive pedigree of successful SPAC transactions , announced on Oct 20 , 2022 , that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement .

Upon completion , the combined company will operate under a holding entity to be formed as a Cayman Islands exempted company ( Holdco ) and intends to trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol AUMB .

The transaction reflects a pre-money equity value of US $ 400 million for AUM and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023 . The transaction is expected to provide approximately US $ 69 million of cash held in Mountain Crest ’ s trust account , assuming no redemptions .

AUM is advancing a clinical stage pipeline designed to

A CONFERENCE about digitisation of the industry of Traditional Complementary Medicine ( TCM ) was held in Macau on Oct 21 , facilitating innovations in the sector and strengthening the city ’ s platform role for it .

The 2022 World Summit of Digitisation in Traditional Medicine , organised by the Macao TCM Kampo Experience Centre under the authorisation of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies ( WFCMS ), attracted over 200 guests from mainland China , the UK , Macau , Malaysia , Thailand , Japan and other regions who attended the event online and offline .

Elsie Ao Ieong U , Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture , underscored the importance of the Chinese Medicine industry for the city ’ s economic diversification beyond gaming in her remarks at the opening ceremony of the summit . The authorities would roll out measures and policies to enhance the competitiveness of the exports of locally branded TCM products , she addressed .

Chun Yuan Chiang , President of the Macao TCM Kampo Experience Center behind the event , also said that Macau has advantages in the development of the TCM industry ,

deploy multi-faceted inhibition strategies to reverse cancer resistance via a broad portfolio of precision oncology therapeutics . AUM001 is a selective and synergistic MNK inhibitor as shown in current studies and expected to begin Phase 2 enrollment in the fourth quarter 2022 .

AUM601 is a promising therapy for TRK fusions and mutations within the kinase domain and is on track to enter Phase 2 . AUM302 is a potentially first-in-class macrocyclic oral kinase inhibitor rationally designed small molecule to uniquely combine pan-PIM kinase , pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibition in a single agent .

Comprised of pharma industry veterans with decades of research and development experience , the AUM leadership has an extensive track record of selecting distinctive early-stage assets , successfully exiting virtual biotech models , and has contributed to over 50 INDs and over 150 oncology clinical trials , and development of several currently marketed oncology treatments with annual peak sales up to US $ 3 billion .

AUM completed a US $ 27 million Series A funding round in 2021 , and since then has demonstrated sustained growth , while partnering with major pharma companies and securing other non-dilutive funding sources such as grants in support of its development activity .

Upon closing of the transaction , Vishal Doshi , AUM ’ s CEO , will continue to lead Holdco as its CEO . Doshi commented : “ Since our inception , we have worked to scientifically , commercially and financially de-risk our portfolio by leveraging our world class team , strong fundamentals , and un-paralleled executional track record .

“ This merger allows AUM to further continue our focus on developing our scientifically differentiated portfolio . We are poised to achieve multiple development milestones over the next two years generating significant value for patients and investors .”

given its reputation for quality products to consumers .

He added that the Macao TCM Kampo Experience Center inked a cooperation pact with State Key Laboratory ( SKL ) of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine at the Macau University of Science and Technology ( MUST ) to establish a digital centre of SKL entrusted with applying big data , artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies

to certification of quality of TCM ingredients and products . Huang Luqi , Deputy Head of the China National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine , as well as health officials from Thailand and Malaysia , also spoke in the summit , addressing a variety of topics , including digitisation of traditional medicines , TCM-based tourism and financial services .

Research team members include ( From left ) Professor Francis Chan , Professor Zhang Lin , Professor Siew Ng , and Professor Martin Wong .

A RANDOMISED , double-blind controlled study conducted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong ( CUHK )’ s Faculty of Medicine ( CU Medicine ) showed that SIM01 , a CUHKdeveloped microbiome formula , successfully reduced adverse events in high-risk individuals such as elderly subjects and diabetics following Covid-19 vaccines .

The research team also found that SIM01 lowered the risk of bacterial and viral infections including Covid-19 . Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of stool samples confirmed that SIM01 restored a healthy gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful bacteria in the gut . CU Medicine previously showed that gut dysbiosis was associated with severity of Covid-19 and its complications . SIM01 was effective in hastening recovery , enhancing antibody response and reducing post-vaccination inflammatory markers . In the current study , 453 subjects who had received their first dose of Covid vaccine were recruited between 2021 and 2022 and randomly assigned to receive either SIM01 or a placebo containing vitamin C for three months ( control group ).

“ A rigorous , randomised , double-blind , placebo-controlled clinical trial and nextgeneration shotgun sequencing technology were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the microbiome formula in restoring a healthy gut microbiota and boost immunity against bacterial and viral infections ,” said Professor Zhang Lin , Assistant Professor at CU Medicine ’ s Department of Medicine and Therapeutics .

Professor Martin Wong Chi-sang of The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at CU Medicine said : “ Many elderly , paediatric and chronically ill patients remain worried about possible side effects of the Covid vaccine . How to effectively boost immunity in these high-risk groups against various infectious diseases during the pandemic is also a major public concern . This large clinical study has shown the effectiveness of SIM01 in reducing the risk of Covid-19 and other bacterial and viral infections .”

“ A healthy gut microbiota has been associated with lower levels of inflammatory cytokines in the body and reduced risk of adverse events after vaccination ,” explained Professor Siew Ng , Professor of CU Medicine ’ s Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and Director of Microbiota I-Center ( MagIC ).”

Professor Francis K . L . Chan , Dean of CU Medicine and Director of the Centre for Gut Microbiota Research , concluded : “ This largescale , double-blind clinical study is the first of its kind to combine clinical and laboratory analysis , further demonstrating Hong Kong ’ s strong medical research capability to translate scientific findings into innovations that benefit society .” – The Health