COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Novo Holdings announced an initial investment in Danish food-tech start-up MATR Foods (‘MATR’) to support the scaling-up of its production of sustainable meat alternatives.

Established in Copenhagen in 2021, MATR specialises in developing organic innovative plant-based meat alternatives using traditional fungal fermentation techniques. Locally sourced organic ingredients like oats, split peas, lupins, beetroots, and potatoes are transformed into patties and mince with a juicy texture and meaty flavour, offering a nutritious and sustainable alternative without the need for additives or heavy processing.

The company’s flagship product, MATR Fungi Mince, is made entirely from natural ingredients grown in Scandinavia. Rich in protein and fibre and low in fat, the product has an amino acid profile like meat, but with a carbon footprint of just 1.4 kg CO₂ e per kg, which is 94% lower than that of beef.

Currently MATR’s customer base comprises several B2B contracts with restaurant chains in Denmark including Gasoline Grill and Sticks & Sushi and with the online supermarket Nemlig.com. The new financing will enable MATR to scale up its production capacity in order to meet a growing demand from both existing and new customers.

Randi Wahlsten, CEO of MATR, said: “We have been extremely well received by chefs and consumers alike to the point where we are experiencing a much higher demand than we can currently supply. We are therefore very excited to have Novo Holdings joining us now to really accelerate the journey by scaling up our production and expanding our customer base. We share a clear vision of creating a truly impactful international food business based on our sustainable, clean fungi food technology.”

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Thomas Grotkjær, Partner, Planetary Health Investments, Novo Holdings, said: “MATR has managed to develop a product that tastes great, is highly nutritious and has a strong sustainability profile. I am very pleased with the opportunity to contribute to the scaling-up of MATR Foods and thereby offering end-consumers a new product that combines the savoury experience we know from meat with the health and sustainability benefits of a plant-based diet. Further, I am excited about the collaboration with Randi and the MATR team whose attributes encompass a very strong drive anchored in gastronomy, science and entrepreneurship.”

About MATR Foods

MATR Foods is a Danish start-up that combines microbiology and gastronomy to create new solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges: the climate, biodiversity and health. MATR was founded in 2021 and has production facilities in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn. The people behind MATR are an international team of researchers, chefs and entrepreneurs with food industry experience.

MATR Foods fungi products are currently available at Gasoline Grill, Sticks n’ Sushi, Mother Pizza, Sokkelund Brasserie, Meyers canteens and Nemlig.com among others.

About Novo Holdings A/S

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Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S (Novozymes A/S) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, Asia, Planetary Health and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion. www.novoholdings.dk 

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.

www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/novo-holdings-invests-in-matr-foods-expansion-within-plant-based-fungi-food-302185930.html

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Innovation for the World, Exploring for the Future

SHENZHEN, China, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, the “Innovation for the World, Exploring for the Future” 2024 International Pharmaceutical Cooperation High-End Forum Kexing Biopharm’s Series of Globalization Activities (China), organized by Kexing Biopharm, was successfully concluded in Shanghai. Numerous industry experts, senior figures from the domestic pharmaceutical and investment sectors, as well as senior executives of pharmaceutical companies from around 20 countries and regions, such as Brazil, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Africa, who closely collaborated with Kexing Biopharm attended this forum on sharing and effective discussions on the current status and development trends in the global medical market.

During the forum, Kexing Biopharm warmly welcomed and sincerely thanked the attendees from various backgrounds who had traveled from afar. In addition, they provided a comprehensive introduction to the Company’s internationalization strategy and plans for the future. Kexing Biopharm emphasized its commitment to leveraging its overseas commercial platform to deliver high-quality products and comprehensive medication solutions for global patients. It specifically mentioned the successful acquisition of the EU GMP certificate for its first introduced product, albumin-bound paclitaxel, indicating a significant step forward in its global expansion. With a strong focus on international commercialization this year and leveraging years of international experience, the Company aims to become the best partner for high-quality Chinese pharmaceuticals worldwide.

Meanwhile, representatives from partner companies in Brazil, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Africa, respectively shared insights into the local pharmaceutical development status, distribution channels, medication requirements, market access, and collaborative opportunities, providing clarification and showcasing the power of international win-win cooperation among the guests present at the event. Additionally, onsite strategic cooperation agreements were signed between Kexing Biopharm and various overseas partners, showcasing a reaffirmed commitment to continued collaboration and shared vision for the development of the pharmaceutical industry.

Simultaneously, during the CPHI exhibition from June 19th to 21, Kexing Biopharm presented a diverse portfolio of over twenty high-quality drugs covering the oncology pipeline, immunotherapy pipeline, metabolic disease pipeline, and nephropathy pipeline, including monoclonal antibodies, peptides, and small molecules.

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News of victory keeps pouring in, on June 25, Kexing Biopharm (688136.SH) made it to the “2023 China Biopharmaceutical (Blood Product, Vaccine, and Insulin) Enterprise Top 20 List” in the “2023 China Pharmaceutical Industry Top 100 List Series,” which was the third time in a row.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2024-international-pharmaceutical-cooperation-high-end-forum-kexing-biopharms-series-of-globalization-activities-china-successfully-concluded-302186883.html

LONDON, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Partners&, a leading independent insurance broker, is proud to announce the remarkable success of its partnership with YuLife, the tech-driven insurance company on a mission to inspire life. The collaboration, which began in 2021, has driven significant growth and unprecedented retention rates, transforming the insurance landscape for both companies and their customers.

YuLife’s innovative approach to insurance goes beyond traditional policies by offering group life, health, and income protection policies that actively enhance members’ physical, mental, financial, and social wellbeing. Through its unique model, YuLife incentivises people to build healthier habits, focusing on risk prevention rather than merely compensating claims.

Through the partnership, Partners& has achieved a 99% retention rate and has successfully won 39% of business from clients who previously had no insurance coverage. These impressive metrics highlight the true value of a win-win partnership – the transformative impact of YuLife’s innovative approach to insurance and Partners&’s commitment to delivering exceptional value.

“We are delighted with the outstanding results of our partnership with YuLife,” said Phil Barton, CEO of Partners&. “Our collaboration has not only fueled our business growth but has also brought transformative insurance solutions to our clients, promoting their holistic wellbeing. YuLife’s unique focus on inspiring healthier lifestyles aligns perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive, client-centric insurance services.”

Key highlights of the partnership include:

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Closing the protection gap: 39% of Partners& x YuLife customers are new to purchasing insurance.

Improving retention: Achieving over 99% retention rate, compared to an industry average of 80-85%.

Insurance that is loved: The Net Promoter Score (NPS) of  Partners& x YuLife is 96, over 3x the industry average.

High employee engagement: 73% of insured employees use the YuLife app regularly, over 10 times the average usage of standard consumer health apps.

“We are thrilled to see the tangible benefits of our partnership with Partners&,” said Sammy Rubin, CEO and Founder of YuLife. “Together, we are reshaping the insurance industry, providing clients with products that not only protect them but also enhance their overall wellbeing. Our shared commitment to innovation and employee engagement has been key to our success.”

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About Partners&

Partners& is an award winning, Chartered insurance broker providing high quality, seamless insurance, employee benefits, risk management and claims advice to businesses and private clients. As a next generation insurance advisory business, Partners& combines the best traditions of broking, such as technical advice and client service, with modern thinking and intelligent use of technology, to enhance the client experience and create a dynamic workplace for its talented team. https://www.partnersand.com 

Media Contact

Malia Brown
Marketing and communications director
[email protected]
+44 7919 551962

About YuLife

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YuLife is a tech-driven financial services brand on a mission to inspire life and turn financial products into a force for good. By harnessing the power of technology and the latest behavioural science, YuLife’s insurance model focuses on employee wellbeing and risk prevention, incentivising healthy daily behaviour to drive positive lifestyle outcomes. YuLife has quickly become a highly valued employee benefit, providing the safety net of insurance alongside a highly engaging wellbeing experience that fosters a healthier, happier and more motivated team. Founded in 2016, YuLife is headquartered in London and backed by global insurers and venture capital. https://www.YuLife.com/

Media Contact

Ben Crome
Headline Media
[email protected]
+44 7481 249328

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/partners-sees-99-retention-and-1-in-3-new-business-wins-in-game-changing-partnership-with-yulife-302186844.html

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