TOMI Details Proposed Acquisition Of Carbonium Core

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- TOMI Environmental Solutions Inc (TOMI) has clarified its previously announced non-binding letter of intent (the LOI) for a merger transaction to acquire 100 per cent of the outstanding equity of Carbonium Core Inc (Carbonium Core).

Under the proposed transaction, TOMI will provide all-stock consideration valued at US$120 million through a combination of newly issued common shares representing up to 19.99 per cent of outstanding shares and newly created Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into TOMI common stock at US$1.00 per share. (US$1 = RM3.91)

The transaction is subject to stockholder approval under Nasdaq Stock Market rules and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending execution of definitive agreements and customary closing conditions.

According to TOMI in a statement, the proposed acquisition is expected to establish a domestic advanced graphite platform targeting a multi-billion-dollar market supported by United States (US) supply-chain reshoring and next-generation nuclear deployment.

In addition, TOMI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Halden Shane, and Carbonium Core CEO, Suren Ajjarapu, presented at Wall Street Reporter’s NEXT SUPER STOCK livestream event on May 7.

TOMI is a global company specialising in disinfection and decontamination solutions across multiple industries, while Carbonium Core is a US-based advanced materials company focused on producing nuclear-grade graphite for fourth-generation reactors.

-- BERNAMA

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 

CHIBA, Japan, May 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novelty Nobility, a clinical-stage biotech company based in South Korea, expanded its manufacturing agreement with AGC Biologics, your friendly CDMO expert, to advance their bispecific antibody drug candidate through process development and GMP manufacturing at AGC Biologics’ facility in Chiba, Japan.

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 

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).

Consistent with previous studies, the safety and tolerability profiles were favorable, with no new safety signals identified versus placebo, including cardiac, neuropsychiatric, or prolactin-related signals. To date, naronapride has been studied in over 1200 subjects, with a safety profile reflecting its minimal systemic absorption. 

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

MELTWATER, YOUGOV REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SHIFTING CONSUMER TRUST IN AI-GENERATED CONTENT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Meltwater and YouGov have released Trust in the Age of Generative AI, a new report exploring how the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video, audio, images and text is shaping consumer trust in brands and 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

MELTWATER, YOUGOV REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SHIFTING CONSUMER TRUST IN AI-GENERATED CONTENT

EZE Cloud Goes Live on Workday.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Meltwater and YouGov have released Trust in the Age of Generative AI, a new report exploring how the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video, audio, images and text is shaping consumer trust in brands and 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

Vocalbeats.AI Brings AI Note-Taking to the Wrist with Apple Watch Experience for Owll

 

SINGAPORE, April 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vocalbeats.AI, a Singapore-based AI-powered audio company, recently launched a major update to its smart productivity app, Owll, introducing a purpose-built Apple Watch experience.

This update marks a key milestone for Owll, extending its voice-first productivity experience directly to the wrist and into real-time, everyday use cases. With a dedicated Apple Watch app, users can instantly capture ideas, meeting notes, and conversations with a single tap—enabling them to remain present and fully engaged without the friction of reaching for a device.

Owll for Apple Watch introduces intuitive, wrist-based recording designed for users demanding agility:

• One-tap activation: Instantly capture meeting notes, voice memos, and actionable ideas with a single tap.
• Hands-free experience: Record effortlessly during live conversations or while in transit.
• Cross-device synchronization: Automatically sync recordings in real time across the Apple ecosystem, including Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and web interfaces.
   

Traditional note-taking often disrupts attention, requiring multiple steps before a recording can begin. By migrating capture capabilities to the wrist, Owll reduces friction to a single tap, enabling users to record discreetly and capture information efficiently without breaking their workflow. Designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, Owll reflects Vocalbeats.AI’s human-centric approach, focusing on practical innovation that makes voice interaction more intuitive and inclusive across everyday use cases.

AI-Driven Summaries and Apple Ecosystem Integration

Beyond basic transcription, Owll’s AI transforms unstructured audio content into structured summaries, key insights, and actionable follow-ups, streamlining the end-to-end workflow from initial capture to final output.

Seamless integration across Apple devices ensures users can review, organize, and execute on insights immediately upon saving.

Capitalizing on Growing Global Demand for Voice-First Productivity

This latest update builds upon Owll’s accelerating global traction. According to January 2026 data from Sensor Tower, Owll ranked #1 in the Utilities category in two countries and within the top 10 highest-grossing Utilities apps across 26 countries—pointing to growing market demand for voice-first productivity solutions that integrate seamlessly into daily workflows.

Building on this momentum, Vocalbeats.AI continues to expand Owll’s ecosystem to meet the evolving needs of users worldwide.

Download the App

Users can install Owll on their Apple Watch by downloading the companion app on the Apple App Store for their iPhone and following the automated pairing prompts. Once installed, audio capture starts with a single tap, and saved recordings synchronize seamlessly across all connected devices.

The latest version of Owll is now available on the Apple App Store.

About Vocalbeats.AI

Vocalbeats.AI is a Singapore-based AI-powered audio company dedicated to innovating intelligent, user-friendly products and services designed to improve everyday life with more lifelike, intuitive, and accessible voice AI. Its expanding portfolio of AI-powered applications—spanning productivity, wellness, and beyond—is increasingly being embraced by a diverse global user base.

Beyond developing applications, Vocalbeats.AI is redefining how people interact with AI. Powered by an international team of engineers, designers and researchers, the Company pushes the boundaries of voice and AI technology to empower people everywhere to work smarter, connect more meaningfully, and live better.

For more information, please visit www.vocalbeats.ai.

Media contact: media@vocalbeats.com 

SOURCE: Vocalbeats

2026 Fujian Provincial Conference on Development of Cultural, Tourism Economy opens on Apr. 17 in Zhangzhou, SE China's Fujian

 

^{​Longjiang Years Scenic Area: an urban renewal project in Hi-Tech Zone, Zhangzhou, SE China's Fujian}


ZHANGZHOU, China, Apr. 20, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

The 2026 Fujian Provincial Conference on the Development of Cultural and Tourism Economy kicked off in Zhangzhou, China's Fujian province on Friday. The event is themed "Building a World-Class Destination, Cultivating a Pillar Industry," highlighting elements of Minnan (Southern Fujian) wisdom, lifestyle, and culture. Coinciding with a local major initiative to build the World Minnan Cultural Exchange Center, the conference has curated 6 main activities with 60 peripheral events to attract global visitors.

The opening ceremony featured the Homing Minnan (Return to Southern Fujian) show. Set against the backdrop of the historic Yuegang Port and local craftsmanship, the show utilized interactive staging to bring the "daring to try, striving to win" spirit vividly to life.

The conference is expected to focus on industrial synergy and investment promotion, encouraging interaction among various sectors of cultural tourism industry. Projects to be launched cover the emerging performance-driven economies, sports tourism, "film-and-TV-plus-tourism," and wellness retreats.

Further celebrating regional identity, the conference is scheduled to stage Minnan cultural showcases, including comedy acts, galas, and cross-strait Gezi Opera performances. Among the highlights is the "Fresh Fujian Lifestyle" campaign, which takes the advantage of the May Day holiday and summer peak seasons to offer domestic and international guests an authentic taste of southern Fujian living.

Ever since 2023, the annual conference has been seen as a vital catalyst for boosting industry confidence and facilitating the deep integration of culture and tourism across the province.

Source: Organizing Committee of the 2026 Fujian Provincial Conference on the Development of Cultural and Tourism Economy