GenScript Announces Collaboration with AMDeC: Seeks to Decrease Biological Research Costs at NYC Area Institutions

PISCATAWAY, N.J. /PRNewswire/ — GenScript has cemented an alliance with AMDeC, LLC, becoming a member of AMDeC’s Vendor Partnership Program. The program unites academic investigators with commercial entities by providing discounted vendor pricing to consortium members, which includes NYC area research institutions, like NYU Langone Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College.
GenScript is offering AMDeC members DNA sequencing services at deeply discounted prices. The services feature an easy, flexible sample submission and short turnaround times. But financial incentives aren’t the only motivation for this collaboration. DNA sequencing has been a catalyst for biological research since the 1970s. Access to fast, affordable sequencing has enabled researchers to sequence the first human genome, and study a variety of gene functions. Hence, the value of sequencing services to the research community has increased, as service turnaround times and prices have decreased. The GenScript-AMDeC collaboration provides scientists with rapid, economical, high-quality sequencing services, which will help accelerate research in the NYC area.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for GenScript’s CEO, Frank Zhang, Ph.D., who anticipates that through this collaboration, GenScript will eventually offer its complete arsenal of one-stop custom services, including gene and peptide synthesis, protein expression and purification, antibody production, and cell line development. Access to these premier services would have the same catalytic effect as DNA sequencing has had over the years, since outsourcing these tasks expedites academic laboratory research.
“By working with AMDeC, we hope to establish services [at] every single university in the USA,” said Zhang. “Our vision is to make the research easy by providing custom reagents to scientists…[so that] the productivity in academic research labs will be improved.”
Both GenScript and AMDeC are committed to accelerating discoveries in biological research. Thus, it’s no coincidence that the potential for advancements in science and technology through this alliance is in parallel with AMDeC’s assertion as “A Catalyst for Breakthroughs” and GenScript’s core motto, “Transforming Biology Research”.
*Read more about the GenScript-AMDeC collaboration in the November 2012 issue of Nature Medicine.
About GenScript
Founded in 2002, GenScript is a leading biology CRO offering customized services to aid biological research, and drug discovery/development. GenScript is headquartered in Piscataway, NJ, with subsidiaries in Europe, Japan, and China.
Source: GenScript USA Inc.

Pharmaceutical Market Fails to Capture $188 Billion U.S. Revenue and $564 Billion Global Revenue Annually Due to Medication Non-Adherence

Capgemini Consulting and HealthPrize Report Reveals Key Revenue Loss Across 100 Therapeutic Areas Including Chronic Conditions such as – Diabetes, Hypertension and High Cholesterol – and Critical Conditions such as HIV, Cancer and Transplant
NORWALK, Conn. /PRNewswire/ — Capgemini Consulting, the global strategy and transformation consulting arm of the Capgemini Group, has announced the release of its study conducted with HealthPrize Technologies, “Estimated Annual Pharmaceutical Revenue Loss Due to Medication Non-Adherence.”The report provides key insights and analysis on the significant revenue loss to global pharmaceutical companies as a result of medication non-adherence.
Based on detailed review and analysis of modern claims-based adherence literature and data, the estimate of revenue lost by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry each year due to non-adherence to medications for chronic disease is $188 billion. Extrapolated to the global pharmaceutical industry, revenue losses are estimated to be $564 billion. This number is significantly higher than the $30 billion global revenue loss often quoted to date from a 2004 study1, and higher than many pharmaceutical executive estimates.
This revenue loss represents 59% of all pharmaceutical revenues, which were $320 billion in the U.S. and $956 billion globally in 2011 according to IMS, and 37% of potential total annual revenues, which would be $508 billion in the U.S. and $1,520 billion globally. While achieving 100% medication adherence is likely not possible, even a modest 10 percentage point increase in adherence could lead to a significant rise in pharmaceutical revenues, accompanied by improved health outcomes and decreased healthcare spending.
“The revenue that pharma leaves on the table due to lack of adherence to prescription medications is much higher than usually thought,” explained Thomas Forissier, Principal at Capgemini Consulting. “In addition, many people don’t realize that a 10% boost in adherence could increase revenue by much more than 10%. That 10% loss is based on the higher revenue amount that could have materialized, not on actual revenue earned.”
“Medication non-adherence is one of the most serious problems in healthcare, posing a heavy financial impact on all constituencies,” commented Katrina Firlik, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer of HealthPrize. “For insurers, employers, and patients, non-adherence significantly increases healthcare costs as a result of disease-related complications. For pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefits managers, non-adherence significantly erodes profit due to prescriptions never filled and medications not taken often enough. Given the significant potential to enhance revenue and lower cost to the overall healthcare system, programs to address medication adherence should be a top priority to the pharmaceutical industry.”
Report Highlights:
The U.S. pharmaceutical industry loses an estimated $188 billion annually due to medication non-adherence. This represents 59% of the $320 billion in total U.S. pharmaceutical revenues in 2011.
Global pharmaceutical revenue loss is estimated to be $564 billion, or 59% of the $956 billion in total global pharmaceutical revenues in 2011.
Medication non-adherence is a problem across almost all chronic conditions, not only for primary care conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, but also for such serious conditions as HIV, oncology, transplant, and glaucoma.
In the U.S. diabetes market alone, revenue loss is estimated to be $11.4 billion.
Report Access:
To download a full copy of “Annual Pharmaceutical Revenue Loss Due to Medication Non-Adherence,” please go to http://www.capgemini-consulting.com/think/publication_detail/?id=CA4F0A5C-FC61-D872-3853-C4C97324D41E&type=document. The report is also available on http://www.adherence564.com/ with key study findings and a central forum for discussion.
About Capgemini Consulting:
Capgemini Consulting is the global strategy and transformation consulting organization of the Capgemini Group, specializing in advising and supporting enterprises in significant transformation, from innovative strategy to execution and with an unstinting focus on results. With the new digital economy creating significant disruptions and opportunities, our global team of over 3,600 talented individuals work with leading companies and governments to master Digital Transformation, drawing on our understanding of the digital economy and our leadership in business transformation and organizational change.
Find out more at: http://www.capgemini-consulting.com/
About Capgemini:
With more than 120,000 people in 40 countries, Capgemini is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. The Group reported 2011 global revenues of EUR 9.7 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business and technology solutions that fit their needs and drive the results they want. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business Experience™, and draws on Rightshore ®, its worldwide delivery model.
Learn more about us at http://www.capgemini.com/
Rightshore(R) is a trademark belonging to Capgemini.
About HealthPrize Technologies:
HealthPrize Technologies provides an innovative approach to addressing the problem of medication non-adherence with an online and mobile-based program that is fun, educational and rewarding. Patients are engaged and motivated by the HealthPrize system which utilizes gaming dynamics, behavioral economics and proven concepts from consumer marketing to engage and educate patients so they start and stay on prescribed medications.
For more information, please visit http://www.healthprize.com/
Sources:
1Datamonitor, Addressing Patient Compliance: Targeted Marketing Driving a Shift in Focus From Acquisition to Retention. August, 2004.
Media Contact:
Andrea Orzehoski
Chandler Chicco Companies
212-462-8706
aorzehoski@chandlerchiccocompanies.com

Source: HealthPrize Technologies

2012 Cosmoprof Asia Closed with Double-digit Growth in Number of Visitors

HONG KONG/PRNewswire/ — Cosmoprof Asia, the largest and most definitive beauty trade event in the Asia Pacific region has closed with record numbers.

Cosmoprof Asia 2012 attracted 55,386 visitors (a growth of 14% over 2011)

All industrial seminars were fully attended.

Schwarzkopf Professional at AHMA hair show

Hong Kong Professional Nailist Union Competition 2012 enlivened the main stage of Grand Hall Avenue.

The show, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14 to 16 November, is a confirmation of the strength and identity of the Cosmoprof brand and its ability to attract the who’s who of the global beauty industry.
The event, celebrating its 17th year, posted impressive numbers:
74,000 sqm of exhibition area (+9% over last year )
1,964 exhibitors (an increase of 10% compared to 2011) from 44 countries and regions
531 first-time exhibitors
19% increase in participation from Europe (with France ranking first in terms of exhibitor number)
23 national and group pavilions from Australia, Belgium, mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK and USA, joined by the inaugural Canadian and Brazilian groups.
55,386 visitors (a growth of 14% over 2011) over the three show days with significant presence of buyers from countries such as Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia and US.
More than 250 members of the media and journalists covered the event.
Exhibitors reported excellent results and high satisfaction. Their expectation of meeting new prospective customers was widely met thanks to the participation of buyers of very high standing from across the world including procurers representing Chanel, Coty, Estee Lauder, Johnson & Johnson, LVMH, P&G, Unilever as well as Li & Fung, Mannings, SaSa, Sephora and Watsons.
“Amika is the leader in hair care and hair appliances and Cosmoprof Asia is vital to help us expand our professional distribution in Asia. We are looking to expand our business as a heavy player in Asia’s professional beauty market and have received a lot of interest in our brand and met several good distributors at the show,” said Heather Coughlin, National Education Manager, Amika (USA).
“Cosmoprof Asia is the meeting point with the major international actors of the industry. An important rendezvous for us on a fast growing platform,” said spokesperson of Albea (France).
“This is the most important beauty event in Asia, the show in which international brands should participate. This is the place for finding high quality business opportunities as well as enhancing brand awareness. Congratulations to the Cosmoprof team,” commented Tommaso Corradini, General Manager, Bioline S.r.l. (Italy).
“For 15 years we have been the leader in the Asian market but we are maintaining high investments in order to keep the leadership in this market. Being at Cosmoprof Asia is just one of these important strategic investments,” said Nelson Philippe, Owner, LPG Systems (France).
For the 6th consecutive year, Cosmoprof Asia organised the International Buyer Programme to facilitate direct contact between exhibitors and international buyers. Prominent buyers from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and Russia were invited to meet one-on-one with exhibitors of their choice. During the 3-day event, more than 140 one-on-one business meetings took place at the International Buyers Lounge with unanimous endorsement from all participants for the benefits of this formula.
Cosmoprof Asia Special Events
All seminars and concurrently-held events were fully attended.
Cosmoprof Asia collaborated with the Asia Hair Masters Association (AHMA) to host a series of activities including the AHMA Hairstyling Awards Final to give talented young stylists a shot at the international stage. The notable hair maestro Mark Leeson and Schwarzkopf Professional celebrated the hair event through hair shows and seminars.
Seminars on China and Japan offered the audience a better understanding of the evolution in the two leading Asian cosmetic markets.
Preview on 2013/2014 fashion and beauty trends as well as sessions on sustainable packaging, and on natural and organic cosmetic products, also attracted large audience.
The 5th Cosmoprof Asia Spa Conference brought together a high-caliber panel of speakers and professionals from the Spa industry.
“Cosmoprof Asia this year was an outstanding success,” declared Duccio Campagnoli, President of BolognaFiere and SoGeCos Spa. We are particularly proud of having been able to produce under the Cosmoprof brand yet another successful event for international cosmetics industry.
“It’s very encouraging to see yet another record-breaking edition of Cosmoprof Asia. Participants originating from 121 countries and regions testify to the truly international profile of the show and the increasing importance of the Asia region to the global beauty trade.” said Michael Duck, Executive Vice President of UBM Asia Ltd and Director of Cosmoprof Asia Ltd.
The 18th edition of Cosmoprof Asia will be held from 13 to 15 November 2013 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Notes to the editors:
Cosmoprof Asia is organised by Cosmoprof Asia Ltd, a joint venture company between UBM Asia Ltd and BolognaFiere Group.
About UBM Asia Ltd
(http://www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.
About BolognaFiere Group
(http://www.bolognafiere.it)
BolognaFiere Group, the world’s leading trade show organizer in the cosmetics, fashion, architecture and building, art and culture sectors, features in its portoflio more than 80 exhibitions, both domestic and international events. SoGeCos S.p.A., as organizer of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna (established 1967), the most important beauty meeting point in the world that will take place in Bologna next March 8-11, 2013 (Cosmopack: March 7 – 10, 2013), has the privilege to work with the beauty industry in the five continents and to monitor new emerging markets where there is a demand for cosmetics products. The international platform offered by Cosmoprof, with its events in Hong Kong (established 1996) and Las Vegas (established 2002), provides a truly global marketplace for the beauty industry where brands can find success.
MEDIA CONTACT
ASIA WORLDWIDE
UBM Asia Ltd SoGeCos s.p.a – BolognaFiere Group
Ms Amy Ng Ms Paola Formenti
Tel. +852-2516-1659 Tel. +39-02-45-47-08-252
amy.ng@ubm.com paola.formenti@cosmoprof.it

Ms Janice Poon
Tel. +852-2516-2117
janice.poon@ubm.com

http://www.cosmoprof-asia.com
Source: UBM Asia

Occlutech Wins the 2012 Excellence in Medtech Award

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland /PRNewswire/ — The European Tech Tour Association, an independant, not-for-profit organization committed to the development of emerging technology companies from Europe, announced that it has selected Occlutech to receive the 2012 Excellence in Medtech Award.
The award was presented at the gala dinner of the 2012 European MedTech Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland by Dr. Brian Hashemi, Managing Partner of Salus Partners who announced: “Occlutech represents excellence in the development of innovative technologies in the area of minimally invasive cardiac occlusion. Innovative devices such as Patent Foramen Ovale occlusion have improved therapy in this fast advancing field bringing significant health benefits to thousands of patients around the world.”
Tor Peters, Occlutech’s founder and CEO says: “This recognition means a lot to Occlutech, our employees, our suppliers, and our customers, all of whom have supported us tremendously over the past years. Building a company is teamwork and I am very grateful to the team, including customers and opinion leaders who have supported us in making this possible.”
Occlutech, (http://www.occlutech.com) is a leading developer of products for minimally invasive cardiac occlusion and intervention with manufacturing and development in several European countries.
Salus Partners, (http://www.saluspartners.com) is a leading Swiss advisory firm providing services in the areas of wealth optimization, healthcare investments and corporate services.
The European Tech Tour Association, (http://www.techtour.com) is an independent, not-for profit organization composed of key contributors to the high-technology industry. The association recognizes that continued prosperity in Europe lies in its ability to transform today’s innovative projects into tomorrow’s global technology leaders.
Source: Occlutech

COSMOPROF ASIA 2012 Turns the Spotlight on Conferences and Events

14-16 November, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — This edition of Cosmoprof Asia turns the spotlight on conferences and events in different beauty sectors to inform and instruct industry insiders. The programme of seminars will cover a wide range of topics and markets.

The Asia Hair Masters Association (AHMA) will organise its annual Summit during Cosmoprof Asia.

The 5th Cosmoprof Asia Spa Conference will feature 11 spa gurus to discuss new spa trends and business implications, with special focus on Spa Operations.

Hong Kong Professional Nailist Union Competition 2012 will be the spotlight event at the main stage of Grand Hall Avenue.
AHMA Summit and Hairstyling Award Final 2012
This year, the Asia Hair Masters Association (AHMA) will organise its annual Summit on 14 and 15 November at Cosmoprof Asia. During the two-day Summit, the Association will be hosting a series of hairstyling-related activities, including the AHMA Hairstyling Award Final, hair shows and seminars. England’s renowned hair master Mark Leeson (nominated for the British Hairdresser of the Year in 2011 & 2012) and Schwarzkopf Professional will take part in the AHMA hair show on 14 November and host hair seminars on 15 November.
Cosmoprof Asia 2012 SPA Conference
Running since 2008, the Cosmoprof Asia Spa Conference featuring a prestigious panel of international spa gurus will discuss new spa trends and business implications, with special focus on Spa Operations — Training, Pricing & Customer Retention.
In the first session on “Spa Trends”, Georgia Lee, Founder of DrGL® will share successful strategies for running a medi-spa in Asia. Kathryn Moore, Director of Operations for MSPA International, will present the wellness trends in spas in the coming 10 years. A panel discussion on “Staff Training” will follow, anchored by Ceri Silk, Regional Area Manager Asia-Pacific of SKEYNDOR, Jeff Mathews, President & COO of Mandara Spa Asia Ltd, Lisa Mak, Managing Director of Bodywize Wellness and Pamela Adkins, Executive Educational Director of Takara International Esthetic College.
The second panel discussion will focus on the elements needed to attract and retain customers. The panel will comprise Derek Barton, Managing Director of Barr + Wray (HK) Ltd, Samantha Arnold, Regional Vice President — Asia, Aromatherapy Associates, Lynsey Hughes, Spa Director of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Sharon Codner, Regional Spa Director (Asia) of the Peninsula Hong Kong.
Both panel discussions will be moderated by Melinda Yon, Senior Academic Staff, Diploma in Wellness, Lifestyle and Spa Management, at the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore.
Focus on China seminars
“International Cosmetic Conference 2012 — Growing your business in China” will give an in-depth analysis of the Chinese cosmetic market, the evolution in sales channels and the needs of consumers. This session is designed to help foreign brands understand the opportunities and challenges of entering the cosmetics market in China, and fostering cooperation between brands and the Chinese beauty industry.
“How to enter the Chinese Cosmetic Market: Analysis of New Regulations and Introduction of Important Regulations” is a must-attend session to learn how to process cosmetic import registration. Attendees will be given an update on the newly released government policies and health/safety regulations.
Industrial and trends seminars
“Discover the Packaging World” is dedicated to cosmetic manufacturers, brand owners and packaging suppliers. Industry experts will address the latest challenges, trends and technologies for cosmetic packaging and design. Topical issues such as sustainable cosmetic development and the economic cost of cosmetic packaging will also be discussed.
Organic Monitor, first-rate provider of global research and consultation, will share its research and observation of the natural and organic products industry during the seminar “Opportunities in the Global Market for Natural & Organic Cosmetics”. The expert analysis and insight provided will assist companies to make important business decisions and plans to achieve growth in the organic beauty sector.
The leading trend forecast agency, Beautystreams, will present “A Season of Faith: Autumn-Winter 2013/14 Trend Forecast”. The seminar will take the audience through key themes of the season, presenting an original view across specific categories: colors, themes, hair, makeup and nail looks, olfactory, skin care, prints, packaging, and visual merchandising. Fueled by a team of global experts, the seminar will also explore the important sociological macrotrends behind each theme.
Grand Hall Avenue
A brand-new initiative for 2012, the “Grand Hall Avenue” is a dedicated area providing a main stage for live events including nail competition, product demonstrations by exhibitors previewing the latest trends and technique in aesthetic, nail art and professional make up etc.
Special highlight will be the Hong Kong Professional Nailist Union Competition 2012. The event will feature contestants from around the world as well as a renowned and experienced international judging panel.
For updated details of the events and enrollment, please visit http://www.cosmoprof-asia.com.
Notes to Editors:
Cosmoprof Asia is organised by Cosmoprof Asia Ltd, a joint venture company between UBM Asia Ltd and BolognaFiere Group.
About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.

About BolognaFiere Group (www.bolognafiere.it/)
BolognaFiere Group, a world’s leading trade show organizer in the cosmetics, fashion, architecture and building, art and culture sectors, features in its portfolio more than 80 exhibitions, among domestic and international events. SoGeCos S.p.A., as organizer of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna (established 1967), the most important beauty meeting point in the world that will take place in Bologna next March 8-11 2013, has the privilege to work with the beauty industry in the 5 continents and to monitor new emerging markets where there is a demand for cosmetics products. The International platform offered by Cosmoprof, with its events in Hong Kong (established 1996) and Las Vegas (established 2002) is a real warranty of result in the beauty industry all over the world.
MEDIA CONTACT:
ASIA
UBM Asia Ltd
Ms Amy Ng Tel. +852 2516 1659 | amy.ng@ubm.com
Ms Janice Poon Tel. +852 2516 2117 | janice.poon@ubm.com
WORLDWIDE
SOGECOS
Annalisa Beretta Tel. +39 02 454708225 | annalisa.beretta@cosmoprof.it
BOLOGNAFIERE
Isabella Bonvicini Tel. +39 051 282261 | +39 335 7995370 | isabella.bonvicini@bolognafiere.it
Source: UBM Asia

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Announces Vision Screening Program Sees 16 Million Children In 10 Years

– Milestone Honored on World Sight Day, Hundreds More to Receive Vision Screening at Event
BANGKOK /PRNewswire/ — Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (JJVC) today announced that more than 16 million children in Asia have received free vision screening through Sight for Kids, a partnership program with the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) now marking its 10th anniversary.
In honor of this philanthropic milestone, Sight for Kids has arranged to screen hundreds of students on World Sight Day, October 11 at a school in Bangkok. This event is part of an effort to screen another 1 million kids in six Asia Pacific countries during 2012 alone.
Sight for Kids has screened children in China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It was established in 2002 to reduce visual impairment and disability in Asia through volunteer-directed vision screenings involving ministries of health, school districts, eye care professionals and hospitals along with Lions Clubs International volunteers and JJVC employees.
“Uncorrected refractive errors, which are easily corrected, are responsible for nearly half of all global vision impairment,” said Wing-Kun Tam, Chairperson of LCIF. “On World Sight Day and every day, Lions and partners seek to raise awareness of blindness and visual impairment and provide much-needed eye care service to our communities. We’re very proud of all we’ve accomplished together through Sight for Kids, one of our longest-running and widest reaching corporate partnerships. It shows what’s possible when dedicated partners unite in service to eye care.”
Sight for Kids was first launched in Korea and Thailand, and in its first year alone screened more than half a million children. Today, at 16 million children, it is equivalent to screening the entire population of London twice.(i)
To date:
Nearly 600,000 children have been referred to physicians for further evaluation;
More than 163,000 children have received glasses; and
More than 76,000 children have been treated for various eye conditions.(ii)
“Gaining access to an eye screening early in life is critical since many vision-related issues can be addressed through preventative care,” said Thibaut Mongon, President, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Asia Pacific. “We are proud to help lift the barrier to vision screening for children in need and hope it will have a life-long impact for many of them.”
An estimated 1.4 million children in the world are blind, and three-quarters of them live in the poorest regions of Asia and Africa, most lacking access to treatment for easily-treatable conditions.(iii,iv) Globally, uncorrected refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) are the main cause of visual impairment in children and may result in lost education and employment opportunities, lower productivity, and impaired quality of life.(v)
Sight for Kids is one of the longest running and largest international school vision-screening programs that continues to operate as a public-private initiative across multiple countries, including developing countries. The program has trained more than 110,000 Lions, school teachers, and other volunteers to assist with vision screening and provide eye health education at 26,000 schools.
For more details about the Sight for Kids World Sight Day event, please visit http://www.lcif.org/sfk
About Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is the world’s leading manufacturer of disposable contact lenses. Anchored by its mission to bring healthy vision to everyone, everywhere, every day, the Company has set industry standards through innovative technologies and products. Its best-selling ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses launched as the world’s first disposable soft contact lens in 1987, and since then the brand has introduced numerous first-to-market products. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has some 3,400 employees at offices and state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facilities throughout the world where it manufactures 2 billion contact lenses a year. The Company provides professional instruction through The Vision Care Institute™, a renowned program taught in 27 languages in 40 markets worldwide.
About Lions Clubs International Foundation
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.35 million members in 207 countries and geographical areas around the world. Established in 1968, LCIF has been preventing avoidable blindness on a global scale for more than 20 years through the SightFirst program. Lions are investing US$415 million in SightFirst and have restored sight to 30 million people worldwide. Learn more at http://www.lcif.org.
(i) World Gazette. World: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population. Retrieved September 7, 2012, from http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&srt=pnan
(ii) Sight for Kids Stats (2012, September). Provided to Johnson & Johnson Vision Care September 5, 2012.
(iii) World Health Organization. Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment. (2012, para. 2). Retrieved September 7, 2012, from http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index4.html.
(iv) Lions Clubs International Foundation. Sight for Kids. Retrieved September 7,2012 from http://www.lcif.org/EN/our-programs/sight/partnership-initiatives/sight-for-kids.php.
(v) World Health Organization. Vision 2020: The Right to Sight (2007, p. 22). Retrieved September 7, 2012, from http://www.who.int/blindness/Vision2020_report.pdf.
Source: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.