April 18, 2023 – L' Observateur Burundi

April 18, 2023

Sweegen launches Sweetensify™ Flavors, debuting sweet protein brazzein technology

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., April 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global sweetness and flavor innovator, Sweegen announced today the launch of Sweetensify Flavors, its newest flavor tool for food and beverage producers, to create better-for-everyone products. Powered by Sweegen’s novel sweet protein technology that includes brazzein, thaumatin II, and other unique proteins, Sweetensify Flavors improve and modulate sweet flavor, creating a sugar-like experience, thereby pushing the boundaries of healthier product innovation.

“Sweetensify Flavors will change how product developers think about reducing or eliminating sugar in beverages and foods,” said Casey McCormick, vice president of global innovation at Sweegen. “The flavor expression enabled by Sweetensify Flavors optimizes the sensory experience and enables a more sugar-like taste. It is substantially better than any previous technology. We target taste receptors on a biochemistry level that others simply cannot.”

Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors debuts brazzein, the company’s highly sought-after sweet protein, as well as thaumatin II. At the time of the Sweetensify announcement, Sweegen’s thaumatin II received the Flavor Extract Manufacturer’s Association (FEMA) GRAS status.

“Our regulatory vision is to open global markets and enable brands to access unique ingredients that will support their food and beverage creativity while delivering on health and wellness,” said Hadi Omrani, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs at Sweegen.

Sweet proteins like brazzein have an affinity for different taste receptors on the tongue, especially the receptor known as T1R3, which is associated with both umami and sweetness perception. Leveraging this unique attribute, Sweetensify Flavors will enable product developers to reduce the amount of sugar they use in products while maintaining the quality of characteristic flavors and sweetness.

Thaumatin II belongs to a family of sweet-tasting proteins called thaumatins. Thaumatin II is a variant of the original thaumatin protein with a similar structure and sweetness profile. Thaumatins are known for their intense sweetness, several times greater than sucrose (table sugar). Brazzein is also several thousand times sweeter than sugar, making it a cost-effective tool for brands on a large scale. Thaumatin II is considered safe for consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The entire collection of Sweetensify Flavors has a wide range of benefits across sweet and savory applications, including enhancing flavor tonalities, blocking bitterness, reducing astringency and sweet linger, eliminating unwanted aftertastes, reducing sugar use, and blocking the burn from alcohol.

“Our product development teams are finding incredible synergies between Sweetensify Flavors and Sweegen’s state-of-the-art stevia systems,” said McCormick. “Ultimately, our solutions challenge the taste and cost of artificial sweeteners currently on the market.” McCormick further states, “Our customers are excited about the cross-application utility of the flavor collection enabled by the great pH and heat stability we see for these flavors along with high solubility.”

Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors are available for use in countries that allow flavors approved by the FEMA GRAS protocol. The company plans to expand its global availability rapidly.

To scale brazzein and thaumatin II sustainably, Sweegen uses a proprietary precision fermentation process, a technology that produces clean and sustainable ingredients. This allows for cost-effective commercial production of highly-sought after ingredients in global sugar reduction solutions. Sweegen’s innovation and strategic partner, Conagen, developed brazzein and thaumatins I and II with its proprietary protein and peptide production platforms and announced the development of the sweet proteins in 2021.

“We are the only company that has successfully scaled brazzein,” said Luca Giannone, senior vice president of global sales at Sweegen. “The launch of Sweetensify Flavors is one more example of how Sweegen brings to market the industry’s very best ingredient platforms and tools for enabling sugar reduction for health and wellness. This is our mission and our promise to our customers.”

Within one year of Sweegen announcing its ability to commercialize brazzein, it has received great interest in its proprietary sweet protein-based solutions. It has collaborated with several large food and beverage companies on sensory reformulations and new product developments.

“We look forward to the sensory results and feedback from our customers in anticipation of brazzein joining thaumatin II’s FEMA GRAS status,” said Giannone. “Sweegen is forging a path for better health and wellness in food and beverages with stellar ingredients. We are preserving Sweegen’s ability to continue perfecting these unique solutions with patents issued or pending worldwide.”

About Sweegen

Sweegen provides sweet-taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.

We are on a mission to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in the global diet. Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love. With the best modern sweeteners in our portfolio, such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, and sweet proteins brazzein and thaumatin, along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, Sweegen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want, and consumers prefer. Well. Into the Future.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Sweegen’s actual results may differ from the estimates, assumptions, and other illustrative material contained herein, and consequently, a reader should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, illustrative information regarding Sweegen’s bottom-up assumed market potential, assumed hit rate, and the resulting revenue based on these model inputs. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Industry, Market, and Other Data

In this press release, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding market participants in the sectors in which Sweegen competes and other data. We obtained this information and statistics from our own internal estimates and third-party sources, including reports by market research firms and company filings. We do not expressly refer to these sources. All of this information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and the sources of such information cannot guarantee accuracy or completeness of such information. The industry in which Sweegen operates is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of important factors, any of which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by Sweegen or third parties.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, among other statements, statements regarding the future prospects for Reb M stevia leaf sweetener, brazzein, and thaumatin. These statements are based on current expectations but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond Sweegen’s control.

Relevant risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements and, therefore, should be carefully considered. Sweegen assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Attachments

Ana Arakelian, Head of Public Relations and Communications
Sweegen
+1.949.709.0583
ana.arakelian@sweegen.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8809463

April 18, 2023

Hemophilia patients in Cameroon still reluctant to seek medical attention

An estimated 2,000 persons suffer from hemophilia in Cameroon but only about 200 of them seek medical attention, a study shows.

During celebrations marking the World Hemophilia Day on Monday, April 17, the hemophilia treatment centre in Yaounde said treatment options have greatly advanced “but many are still living in pain”.

Persons with the health condition suffer from excessive bleeding as their blood does not clot normally.

Prof. Dora Mbanya, the Director General of the National Blood Transfusion Centre gave an explanation of what the condition is during the celebration of the World Hemophilia Day on April 17.

“Hemophilia ‘A’ patients are those who lack factor 8 in their systems. So if they are bleeding, you need to replace factor 8 for coagulation to take place so that bleeding can stop. If they lack factor 9, you need to replace with factor 9,” Prof. Dora said. “The clotting factor deficiency requires that you replace the clotting factor. That’s what the treatment is about.”

The health expert indicated that the treatment has evolved from blood transfusion to the manufacturing of hemophilia factors which are simply injected into the patient.

“Before we got hemophilia factors manufactured in very early years, what happened was that blood was transfused,” Prof. Dora Mbanya noted, adding that, “you would find people taking old blood from one individual and transfuse but then the quantities of clotting factors inside were too small to cause any effective treatment to take place.”

Symptoms of the health condition usually include deep bruises, joint pain and swelling, as well as unexplained bleeding and blood in urine or stool.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

April 18, 2023

MUSEC restores peace between farmers and herders at Tsiame

The Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) in the Keta Municipality of the Volta region has restored peace between farmers and herders at Tsiame after months of disturbances in the area.

Mr Emmanuel Gemega, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Keta, addressing the disputants at Abor, said it was necessary to resolve the dispute and the misunderstanding between the two parties for peace to prevail.

Mr Gemega who is also the Chairman of MUSEC, urged the agitated farmers due to the destruction caused by the herders to lodge a formal complaint at the Police Station rather than taking the laws into their own hands.

He said any further report that showed that, ‘these Fulani herdsmen are grazing their animals on farmlands will call for immediate arrest after this peaceful resolution.

‘If you can’t stay here with my people in peace, then, you had better leave peacefully than destroy their farms,’ he stated.

Mr Gemega also cautioned landowners, who allowed the herdsmen to settle in the area that they were flouting the laws of the country concerning the activities of itinerant herdsmen.

Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI), Justice Kudzo Normeshie, a Ghana Immigration Service Officer at Aflao, who took part in the engagement, said it was illegal for immigrants to enter the country through unauthorised routes.

He warned the herdsmen to enter the country genuinely to avoid being arrested and deported for illegal entry.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Jordan Quaye, the Keta Divisional Police Commander advised the Chiefs, Assembly members, and elders of the various communities to avoid handling criminal cases at home.

‘Any herdsman who graze their cattle on people’s farm will be arrested together with their landowners to serve as a deterrent,’ he added.

Mr Quaye charged parents to take full responsibility of their wards, who engages in sexual relationship with the immigrants.

Torgbi Shikabli IV, a regent of Tsiame, thanked the MUSEC team for their effort to restore peace to Tsiame.

‘l received many complains from farmers on how herdsmen have been destroying crops with their animals, while some suffered attacks, assaults from herdsmen, who burned their farms.’

Mr Bernard Suka, the Assembly member of the area, expressed appreciation over the meeting.

A resolution was made between the two parties with pledges from the herders to abide by the rules of the community for peace to prevail in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

April 18, 2023

Afaglo endorses Dzifa Gomashie’s second term parliamentary bid

Mr Norvihoho Afaglo, the Chief Executive Officer of Marrer Ghana Ltd and Susagtad Boat Building Company has thrown his support behind the second term parliamentary bid of Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie for the Ketu South Constituency.

The astute businessman and avid supporter of the NDC, gave the endorsement during a visit to the Ketu South Constituency, otherwise known as the ‘world bank’ of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The visit was part of efforts aimed at strengthening the support base of the party in the Volta Region.

In an interaction with the media, Afaglo who hails from the area, said, he decided to embark on the visit to touch-base with the grassroots and support the campaign of the MP, as well as cheer up party supporters for the preparation towards the upcoming party primaries.

He charged the teeming supporters of the MP, to brace themselves up and work hard to retain the parliamentary seat for the party and to retain her as the party’s candidate for the 2024 general elections.

‘I want to use this medium to remind all delegates to vote for Madam Abla Gomashie in our upcoming parliamentary primaries on May 13, so that she can continue her good works for the people of the constituency,’ he said.

He advised the parliamentary candidate to be optimistic, resolute, and run a clean campaign going into the primaries.

Mr Afaglo called on other contenders in the primaries to, ‘show unity, love and togetherness during and after this internal contest.’

The businessman appealed to supporters of all the contenders to exercise moderation in their utterances in the interest of peace.

Madam Gomashie promised to run a campaign devoid of rancour and acrimony, ‘as I did during my campaign in 2019.’

She assured the party faithful of uniting the party and bringing everyone on board after the primaries towards a resounding victory for the NDC in the 2024 general elections.

Source: Ghana News Agency

April 18, 2023

All STC accidents victims on Gomoa Buduatta road treated and discharged

All 39 people on board an STC bus who sustained injuries when the bus was involved in an accident at Gomoa Buduatta on the Winneba-Accra highway, have been treated and discharged.

The victims, mostly senior high school students, were within minutes of the accident, rescued by ‘good samaritans’ and rushed to the Trauma and Specialist Hospital and the Effutu Municipal Hospital for treatment.

The STC bus with the registration number, GB 1079-20 is said to have left Accra around 08:00 hours for Cape Coast but grazed its side with a Tipper truck registered as GN 7832-22, heading towards Kasoa on that stretch of the road, resulting in the accident.

It is not clear how the accident happened but both vehicles were damaged.

The STC bus skidded off the road, landed on its side, and got its windscreen and rear glasses totally smashed while the Tipper truck had its windscreen broken and side doors partially damaged.

Confirming the incident to the Ghana News Agency, Divisional Officer III (DOIII) Abdul Wasiu Hudu, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service in the Central Region, said the Winneba Fire Station received a distress call around 08:46 hours reporting an accident and immediately responded to it.

But the victims had been taken to the hospital when the officers arrived at the scene.

Source: Ghana News Agency

April 18, 2023

Govt with programmes of impact on job growth

President of the MPLA said Tuesday that the Executive has structuring projects in its portfolio that will have a great impact on the economic and social development of the country and on the increase in the supply of jobs.

João Lourenço, who is also President of the Republic, was speaking at the IV Ordinary Session of the Central Committee of the MPLA, which, among other matters, will debate the “Impact of Public Policies on the life of Youth”.

He highlighted that among the scheduled achievements are the entry into operation, at the end of the current year, of the Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport, the completion, next year, of Porto do Caio in Cabinda, the construction of the new airports in Cabinda and Mbanza Congo and the Caculo Cabaça Hydroelectric Dam.

He added, as works to be completed, the Cabinda, Soyo and Lobito refineries, 17 tertiary hospitals in several provinces, as well as the General Pedalé, University, Main Military, Oncology, Specialized-burn-units and Ophthalmology hospitals, all in Luanda.

He also said that the complete rehabilitation of Américo Boavida Hospital will be carried out and that the programme to combat drought in southern Angola will be fully implemented, focusing on the provinces of Cunene, Namibe and Huíla, including the water solution for Lubango city (Huila).

João Lourenço said that the start of the Bita and Quilonga projects is scheduled to overcome the water deficit in Luanda and 11 University infrastructures will be built in the country.

He believes that such programmes will considerably increase job opportunities for young people, encouraging them to better serve their country on all fronts.

At party level, the President of the MPLA reported a greater appreciation of youth, with the enlargement of the composition of the Central Committee, in the belief that they could become leaders committed to the country.

He recommended work to ensure that young people, dedicated to work, will become the rulers of the future, without vices and excessive ambitions.

He urged the need to extend the militant work to the mobilisation of civil society and representative organisations of young people, students, women, workers, athletes, artists and composers, churches, among others.

In the international political domain, the MPLA leader reiterated the defence of an unconditional ceasefire and the start of negotiations between the parties directly involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, for the establishment of a lasting peace between the two countries.

João Lourenço considers that lasting peace for Europe also implies direct negotiations between Russia and NATO, between Russia and the European Union.

“Europe can no longer be the epicenter of a new world war. We need to save Europe to save the world”, underlined the Head of State.

He advises that the US and China, due to the influence they enjoy, put aside what separates them and concert diplomatic actions aimed at resolving this conflict in Europe, in the sense of safeguarding world peace and security.

The president stated that the party must follow with due attention the latest events taking place in the world and that herald a return to the Cold War or even the design of a scenario worse than that of World War II, with alignments formed by two antagonistic axes.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)