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Thursday, May 14, 2026
HUAYAN ROBOTICS TO SHOWCASE AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS IN MALAYSIA
The company in a statement said it will present a portfolio of flexible, efficient, and intelligent robotic systems, reflecting its commitment to the Malaysian and broader Southeast Asian market.
Huayan Robotics will highlight solutions for welding applications and high-frequency industrial scenarios, including collaborative welding robot models designed for large and complex workpieces, alongside a lightweight model equipped with a magnetic base for flexible deployment across multiple stations.
Tailored for industries such as shipbuilding, structural steel fabrication and metal fabrication, the systems feature force-controlled drag-to-teach, automatic seam tracking and adaptive path correction, helping reduce programming effort while improving welding precision and consistency.
In addition, Huayan Robotics will also showcase its integrated automation solutions, including CNC loading and unloading robots which deliver high speed, precision, and stable operation, supported by long-term partnerships with leading global machine tool manufacturers.
Its heavy-payload palletising robot solution offers up to 60-kilogramme payload, 2.2-metre reach and eight to 13 cycles per minute, targeting high-throughput industries such as food and beverage, daily chemicals and logistics.
Meanwhile, inspection robots equipped with artificial intelligence-enhanced 2.5D vision systems are designed to provide smarter and more cost-effective quality control by improving inspection accuracy and efficiency.
Backed by over 20 years of expertise and following its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), Huayan Robotics is accelerating its global expansion, with Southeast Asia identified as a key strategic growth market.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
TOMI Details Proposed Acquisition Of Carbonium Core
EMGA Secures US$25 Mln Financing For Vietnam’s EVF From OPEC Fund
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) has completed its first transaction for EVF General Finance Joint Stock Company (EVF) in Vietnam by securing US$25 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). (US$1 = RM3.91)
EMGA Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director, Sajeev Chakkalakal said the deal supports EVF’s continued focus on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector as well as climate-related initiatives in Vietnam.
“It was also a very positive experience working with our long-term partner OFID as they looked to expand their exposure in the Vietnamese financial sector,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, EVF Head of Capital Markets, Dinh Ngoc Bao said the transaction marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to expand access to financing for Vietnam’s SME sector, a key driver of economic growth and innovation.
Established in 2008 and headquartered in Hanoi, EVF is one of Vietnam’s leading non-bank financial institutions. It provides corporate financing, treasury services, capital mobilisation and lending solutions for both institutional and retail clients.
Listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange under the ticker “EVF”, the company has developed partnerships with domestic and international financial institutions while supporting the growth of Vietnam’s private sector and SME economy.
EMGA, with offices in London and New York, advises financial institutions and corporates on debt and equity capital raising, with a track record across emerging and frontier markets, including Vietnam.
-- BERNAMA
Esentia Prices US$2 Bln Senior Notes Offering
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Esentia Energy Development S.A.B. de C.V. (Esentia) announced the pricing of US$2 billion in senior notes through a private offering to qualified institutional buyers and non-United States (US) investors. (US$1 = RM3.91)
The offering comprises US$1 billion in 6.125 per cent senior notes due 2033 (2033 Notes) and US$1 billion in 6.500 per cent senior notes due 2038 (2038 Notes).
The company said the 2033 notes were priced at 99.517 per cent, while the 2038 notes were priced at 98.444 per cent. Settlement is expected on May 14, subject to customary closing conditions.
According to the company in a statement, the notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain subsidiaries.
Esentia said proceeds from the offering would be used to finance a tender offer by subsidiary Esentia Gas Enterprises S. de R.L. de C.V. to purchase for cash and its outstanding 6.375 per cent senior secured notes due 2038.
The proceeds will also be used to prepay outstanding 5.465 per cent senior secured notes due in 2041 issued by subsidiary Esentia Pipeline El Encino S. de R.L. de C.V., prepay other borrowings and support general corporate purposes.
The company said the notes were offered under Rule 144A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Regulation S for investors outside the US.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Novelty Nobility Taps AGC Biologics to Further Develop Bispecific Drug Candidate
Successful partnership continues as bispecific antibody candidate moves to GMP manufacturing; project highlights Japan's advanced capabilities in bioprocessing and AGC Biologics' expanding global network
This second partnership, continued from the last year, underscores the successful track record and deep expertise AGC Biologics provides for developing complex biologics. The project leverages AGC Biologics’ global network, having successfully completed cell line development in Copenhagen, Denmark. The program is now on track for a seamless tech transfer to the Chiba site for the next critical manufacturing stages.
"AGC Biologics has proven to be an ideal manufacturing partner for advancing our most complex programs. Their seamless global network — from cell line development to GMP manufacturing — gives us the confidence to move NN4101 forward with speed and precision." said Sang Gyu Park, CEO of Novelty Nobility. "We believe this bispecific antibody has the potential to offer a truly differentiated treatment option for patients with neovascular retinal diseases."
Novelty Nobility’s bispecific antibody drug candidate NN4101 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody intended for the treatment of neovascular retinal diseases. It uniquely connects a fully human anti-c-Kit monoclonal antibody with a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) trap.
"Our continued partnership with Novelty Nobility is a testament to the trust and confidence customers have in our technical expertise and our global network's capabilities," said Tadashi Murano, President of the AGC Life Science Company. "Our mammalian expression teams are adept at handling complex proteins, and we are a world leader in applying flexible, single-use bioreactor technology. We are proud to support Novelty Nobility as they advance this innovative candidate toward the clinic."
The project highlights the power of AGC Biologics’ integrated global facility network, offering customers a seamless experience by combining world-class expertise with a strong regional presence. To further support growing demand in the region and globally, AGC Biologics is expanding its footprint in Japan with a new state-of-the-art facility in Yokohama. The Yokohama site is designed to utilize the latest single-use bioreactor technology to offer large-scale GMP manufacturing, making it one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Japan.
"When clients work with us, they tap into our entire global network which brings teams together for a seamless experience," noted Susumu Zen-in, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AGC Biologics’ Chiba site. "This approach is creating wins for our partners and for AGC Biologics throughout the APAC region. The upcoming capacity at our new Yokohama site will only strengthen our ability to meet the global demand for vital biopharmaceuticals."
About AGC Biologics
AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, to provide friendly and expert services. We provide world-class development and manufacturing of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with locations in Seattle, Washington; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba and Yokohama, Japan. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.’s Life Science Business. The Life Science Business runs eight facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com.
About Novelty Nobility
Novelty Nobility is a clinical-stage biotech company driven by a mission to maximize the potential of therapeutic antibodies. The company is dedicated to developing next-generation treatments for immunology and inflammatory diseases. Leveraging its proprietary fully human antibody discovery platform, PREXISE®-D, together with deep expertise in protein engineering, Novelty Nobility is advancing a diverse pipeline of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), bispecific antibodies (bsAb), and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) — modalities where scientific novelty translates into meaningful benefits for patients.
AGC Inc. corporate contact: info-pr@agc.com
AGC Biologics media contact: ksills@agc.com
Novelty Nobility media contact: ok.kwon@noveltynobility.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cecf4f80-22df-4bbf-b0a7-f50b9acf9495
SOURCE: AGC Biologics, Inc.
--BERNAMA
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Dr. Falk Pharma and Renexxion announce positive results on naronapride in gastroparesis from the global phase 2b MOVE-IT trial
- MOVE-IT met the primary endpoint with statistically significant improvement in gastroparesis symptoms in 20 mg and 40 mg TID doses vs placebo
- Improvements observed across key symptoms, including nausea, early satiety, post-prandial fullness and upper abdominal pain
- Favorable safety and tolerability profiles
- Late-breaking oral presentation delivered at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 in Chicago, IL
FREIBURG, Germany and ROSCREA, Ireland, May 5 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH (“Dr. Falk Pharma”), a research-based pharmaceutical company specializing in digestive and metabolic medicine, and Renexxion Ireland Limited (“Renexxion”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced positive results from MOVE-IT (NCT05621811), a global Phase 2b, randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of naronapride in adults with gastroparesis.
The double-blind, multicenter, 12-week study enrolled 328 adults with moderate-to-severe idiopathic or diabetic gastroparesis symptoms and objective evidence of delayed gastric emptying. Eligible patients received either 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg naronapride, or placebo, administered orally three times a day (TID) for 12 weeks.
MOVE-IT met the primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant improvement versus placebo in the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index Daily Diary (ANMS GCSI-DD) Core Symptom Score in the 20 mg TID (p=0.0046) and 40 mg TID (p=0.0156) groups. The ANMS GCSI-DD is a content-validated, patient-reported outcome instrument that assesses the five cardinal gastroparesis symptoms: nausea, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness and upper abdominal pain.
Table 1. Primary endpoint – Change from baseline to Week 12 in the average weekly ANMS GCSI-DD Core Symptom Score
| Naronapride 10 mg TID | Naronapride 20 mg TID | Naronapride 40 mg TID | Placebo TID | |||
| Total Population | N=83 | N=80 | N=80 | N=85 | ||
| Baseline (BSL) Week 12 | Mean (SD) Mean (SD) | 2.450 (0.388) 1.155 (0.797) | 2.429 (0.341) 0.883 (0.759) | 2.462 (0.450) 0.907 (0.780) | 2.402 (0.396) 1.280 (0.911) | |
| Change to Week 12 | LS Mean (SE) +/- 95% CI | -1.244 (0.100) [-1.440, -1.048] | -1.512 (0.102) [-1.712, -1.311] | -1.452 (0.100) [-1.649, -1.256] | -1.106 (0.095) [-1.293, -0.920] | |
| Difference to Placebo | LS Mean (SE) | -0.138 (0.136) | -0.405 (0.137) | -0.346 (0.136) | ||
| Dunnett-Hsu Adjusted | 97.5%-CI p-value† | [-∞, 0.183] 0.3112 | [-∞, -0.081] 0.0046 | [-∞, -0.024] 0.0156 | ||
CI = Confidence interval; LS Means = Least square means; N = Number of participants in analysis population; SD = Standard deviation; SE = Standard error. † One-sided
Naronapride also demonstrated statistically significant improvements versus placebo from baseline to Week 12 across key secondary and exploratory endpoints in the total population:
- ANMS GCSI-DD Composite Score (core score excluding vomiting): Statistically significant improvements observed in 20 mg (p=0.0024) and 40 mg (p=0.0117) TID dose groups versus placebo.
- Responder Analyses: Approximately 15-20% more participants achieved clinically meaningful improvement (defined as >1.0 decrease in ANMS GCSI-DD Composite Score) with naronapride 20 mg or 40 mg TID vs. placebo, with no added benefit of 40 mg over 20 mg.
- Patient-Reported Quality of Life (QoL): Global improvements reflecting meaningful benefit beyond core symptom reduction and supporting consistency of treatment effect across validated symptom assessment instruments.
- Improvement in gastric emptying breath test (GEBT): All active doses achieved greater gastric emptying versus placebo. Maximum improvement with 20 mg (mean -21.95 minutes) and 40 mg (mean –14.92 minutes) versus placebo (mean –10.96 minutes).
Dr. Kai Pinkernell, M.D., Managing Director Science & Innovation at Dr. Falk Pharma, commented: “We are excited about the outcomes showing a significant and clinically meaningful impact on gastroparesis symptoms, all combined with a favorable safety profile. This is an important step towards providing physicians and patients with a treatment option where few effective choices exist. We look forward to sharing these results with the scientific community, engaging with regulatory authorities, and moving decisively toward registration studies later this year and eventual commercialization.”
Dr. Peter Milner, M.D., FACC, Chairman and CEO of Renexxion, commented: “These Phase 2b results represent a significant milestone for the naronapride program, demonstrating statistically significant improvement in gastroparesis symptoms with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. We believe naronapride’s locally acting, dual mechanism pharmacology and safety-by-design profile position it as a potential best-in-class therapy for gastroparesis, a disease with significant unmet medical need and limited, safe, effective long-term treatment options. Together with our partner Dr. Falk Pharma, we are now focused on advancing naronapride into late-stage development with the goal of bringing an important new treatment option to physicians and patients.”
About Naronapride
Naronapride is a potential best-in-class oral, locally acting pan-GI prokinetic designed to enhance coordinated motility across the digestive tract. Naronapride works through a differentiated dual mechanism of action- 5-HT4 receptor agonism and dopamine D2 receptor antagonism- modulating two validated targets on the luminal surface of the intestinal wall that regulate GI motility and nausea signaling. Naronapride’s dual pharmacology, minimal systemic bioavailability, and differentiated pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic profile are designed to deliver targeted activity within the GI tract while limiting systemic exposure. To date, naronapride has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile across nine Phase 1 clinical trials and five Phase 2 clinical trials conducted in multiple indications including gastroesophageal reflux disease, erosive esophagitis and chronic idiopathic constipation.
About Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying and debilitating symptoms including nausea, vomiting, early satiety, upper abdominal pain and postprandial fullness. Approximately 22 per 100,000 individuals across US and Europe are formally diagnosed with gastroparesis, while up to 12-times more experience symptoms consistent with the disease. Despite the substantial disease burden, the availability of safe and effective long‑term treatment options remains limited.
About Renexxion
Renexxion Ireland Limited, a wholly-owned Irish subsidiary of California-based Renexxion, Inc., is a privately held biopharmaceutical company committed to developing new therapies for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Renexxion’s lead program is naronapride, a late-stage drug candidate being developed for multiple unmet indications in the upper and lower GI tract.
Further information on Renexxion can be found online: https://www.rnexltd.ie
Media Inquiries:
Press@rnexltd.ie
+353 61 539121
About Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH
Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH has been developing and marketing innovative medicines to treat a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease or eosinophilic esophagitis as well as hepatobiliary disorders such as primary biliary cholangitis for over 60 years. As the international experts in digestive and metabolic medicine, the company brings together physicians, scientists, and patients to devise new and powerful approaches to patient care. Dr. Falk Pharma engages in pre-clinical and clinical stage research that aims to meaningfully improve therapeutic practice as well as patient health and well-being. A family-owned business with a global presence, Dr. Falk Pharma has ten affiliates in Europe and Australia and is continuously growing. The company has its headquarters and R&D facilities in Freiburg, Germany, its pharmaceutical products are manufactured in Europe, mainly at sites in Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Falk employs approximately 1,550 individuals globally and 450 in Freiburg.
Further information on Dr. Falk Pharma can be found online: https://drfalkpharma.com
SOURCE: Dr. Falk Pharma
Friday, April 24, 2026
MELTWATER, YOUGOV REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SHIFTING CONSUMER TRUST IN AI-GENERATED CONTENT
Drawing insights from nearly 10,000 consumers across seven global markets, the study examines attitudes toward generative AI (GenAI) and the media environments that influence these perceptions. The findings offer key insights for brands navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
Meltwater Chief Product Officer, Chris Hackney in a statement said GenAI provides brands with a powerful new way to connect with audiences, but success depends on how transparently and thoughtfully it is used, and brands that lead with clarity and accountability have a real opportunity to build deeper trust.
As GenAI becomes more integrated into marketing and communications, the report reveals a pivotal moment for brands, not only in how they adopt AI, but also in how they redefine trust-building with audiences.
The findings also point to a meaningful opportunity, in which consumers want brands to be transparent, intentional, and audience-first in their use of AI, and those that are could differentiate themselves and build stronger, more trusted relationships with their audiences.
The report finds that transparency is a critical factor, with 86 per cent of consumers saying AI-generated content should be disclosed, presenting a clear opportunity for brands to build trust.
At the same time, perceptions remain mixed, as 32 per cent of respondents say they would trust brands less if content is AI-generated, compared with 15 per cent who would trust them more, underscoring the importance of how AI is applied and communicated.
Consumer sentiment toward AI also reflects a degree of caution, with 39 per cent expressing excitement while a larger 51 per cent remain unconvinced. Awareness is increasing, as 58 per cent of consumers believe they can identify AI-generated content, while online discussions have grown by 53 per cent, with media contributing 34 per cent of overall coverage.
Concerns over misinformation remain high, with 73 per cent of respondents highlighting it as a key issue, creating an opening for brands to position themselves as reliable and trustworthy sources. Acceptance of AI varies by context, with higher levels seen in entertainment and advertising, but significantly lower trust in news and influencer content.
“These insights show that trust is not being lost; it is being redefined,” added Hackney.
-- BERNAMA