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Autozi Enters into a US$500 Million European Market Cooperation Framework with European Supply Chain Service Provider Velocar Ltd., Accelerating Cross-Border Automotive Supply Chain Expansion

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BEIJING, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Autozi Internet Technology (Global) Ltd. (Nasdaq: AZI) (“Autozi” or the “Company”) today announced that it has further deepened its cooperation with Velocar Ltd.(known in China as Tianjin MaShang Haoche Information Technology Ltd.), advancing an M&A-oriented collaboration focused on European cross-border automotive supply chain operations. As part of this strengthened cooperation, the parties have set a shared objective to achieve approximately US$500 million in revenue within the next three years.

The Company noted that discussions between Autozi and Velocar Ltd. began approximately six months ago. Following initial engagement, the parties formally established a business partnership around three months ago and commenced cooperation in areas including cross-border vehicle supply, channel coordination, and localized services. Through continued communication, in-depth exchanges, and multiple rounds of business discussions, the two parties gradually developed a deeper understanding of each other’s strategic priorities, resource strengths, and potential synergies.

As cooperation progressed, both parties recognized that further deepening the relationship through M&A-driven integration could accelerate business expansion and improve operational efficiency. Based on this shared understanding, the parties recently aligned on the overall approach to the proposed M&A cooperation and entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as a transitional arrangement to facilitate the next phase of collaboration.

Autozi stated that the proposed cooperation aims to combine Velocar Ltd.’s strengths in vehicle circulation, distribution networks, and end-market services in Europe with Autozi’s capabilities in digital supply chain platforms, industry resource integration, and capital operations. Through systematic collaboration, the parties plan to expand market coverage and drive sustained revenue growth in Europe, with the goal of reaching approximately US$500 million in revenue over the next three years.

The Company added that it will continue to advance the proposed cooperation in a prudent and compliant manner, steadily implementing subsequent arrangements and further strengthening strategic alignment with Velocar Ltd. as part of its long-term globalization strategy.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s proposed offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. Further Deepens Cooperation with Xinhui Solar, with Xinhui Solar Planning an Additional US$30 Million Investment to Support Southeast Asia Expansion

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HANGZHOU, China, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: JZXN) (the “Company”) today announced that its strategic cooperation with Xinhui Solar Technology Group Co., Ltd. has further deepened. Building on prior collaboration, the two parties have continued to align on long-term cooperation priorities and regional deployment strategies in Southeast Asia’s new energy infrastructure and new energy vehicle service markets. Xinhui Solar plans to make an additional US$30 million private placement investment in the Company to support the acceleration of related business initiatives.

The Company stated that both parties intend to leverage their respective strengths in new energy industry resources, technological capabilities, capital support, and regional market development to jointly advance EV charging infrastructure, new energy vehicle service platforms, and related energy management solutions across Southeast Asia. The cooperation is expected to be implemented on a phased and project-based basis, with a focus on scalability and replicability across the region.

As part of the deepening cooperation, the parties have reached a common understanding regarding the overall framework for a proposed Southeast Asia joint venture and have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide guidance for future collaboration. The proposed joint venture is envisioned as an important platform for regional operations, while its structure and implementation details remain subject to further discussion and arrangement.

The Company noted that the proposed additional US$30 million investment by Xinhui Solar, subject to the satisfaction of relevant conditions and internal approval procedures, is expected to provide sustained financial support for its Southeast Asia strategy. Jiuzi Holdings will continue to advance its overseas business expansion in a prudent and compliant manner, deepen industrial collaboration, and steadily implement its international growth strategy.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s proposed offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

Global Leading RWA Network Plume Lowers the Barrier for Korean Institutional Investment Through the KRW1 Stablecoin

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NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Plume, the global leading real-world asset (RWA) network, has introduced the KRW-denominated stablecoin KRW1 issued by leading digital asset custody firm BDACS (Beyond Digital Asset Custody Service).

Through this collaboration, Korean investors and institutions gain the foundation to make payments and investments directly in Korean won (via KRW1) across Plume’s ecosystem.

“Plume currently operates one of the world’s largest RWA ecosystems, with more than 280,000 RWA holders and $645 million in RWAs. By adding KRW1 as a payment and investment instrument, we are opening a new pathway, particularly for Korean institutional investors, to enter the RWA market using a non-USD currency,” said Teddy Pornprinya, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer (CBO) of Plume.

Plume’s decision to select the Korean won as its first non-USD currency reflects Korea’s regulatory readiness and institutional demand. Following amendments to the Capital Markets Act and the Electronic Securities Act last year, Korea introduced a tokenized securities (STO) framework that brings security tokens into the regulated financial system, and is regarded as having one of the more advanced RWA regulatory environments in Asia.

“Korea is a market where regulation is relatively clear yet supportive of innovation. Major financial institutions are expanding investments related to RWAs and blockchain, making Korea a key strategic hub for Plume’s expansion in Asia,” said Pornprinya.

Launched by BDACS in September 2025, KRW1 is fully backed by KRW deposits held in an escrow account at a domestic commercial bank, Woori Bank. BDACS has successfully completed a proof of concept (PoC covering KRW deposits, token issuance, and on-chain verification), validating both technical feasibility and operational stability.

“Plume has established itself as an institution-ready RWA platform through embedded compliance and full EVM compatibility,” said Hong-yeol Ryu, CEO of BDACS. “The integration of KRW1 further strengthens its position as a regulation-aligned RWA infrastructure provider in Asia.”

Plume opens access to assets from global asset managers including Apollo Global Management, WisdomTree, and BlackOpal, spanning asset classes such as real-estate-backed loans, private funds, and government bonds.

With the introduction of KRW1, Korean investors can invest and receive returns directly in won, reducing FX costs and operational complexity, while paving the way for greater institutional participation, future on-chain issuance by Korean financial institutions, and expansion to additional Asian currencies such as the Japanese yen and Singapore dollar.

About Plume

Plume is the leading real-world asset (RWA) network. It enables asset issuers and institutions to deploy onchain assets through its native infrastructure and grow those assets through its flagship real-world yield protocol Nest. As the ecosystem with the largest active wallet base in the RWA sector and 200+ projects, Plume is shaping the next generation of onchain capital markets.

Learn more at https://plume.org/ 

Media Contact

Leila Stein, Content Marketing Manager, press@plumenetwork.xyz

Adyen and Fresha Surpass $5.5 Million in Capital Issued as Global Embedded Finance Expansion Scales to Seven Key Markets

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  • Fresha selects Adyen to offer fast, flexible capital to beauty and wellness businesses.
  • Fresha Capital is now live in US, UK, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Finland and Sweden.
  • Fresha unlocks capital for its 140,000 businesses and 450,000 professionals in the self-care space, including salons and spas, facilitating more than 35 million monthly appointments.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, today announced that it

has launched Fresha Capital, in partnership with Fresha, the world’s leading marketplace platform for beauty, wellness, and self-care. The offering is now live in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, with over $5.5 million in loans issued to date. This launch strengthens Fresha’s financial product ecosystem, enabling small and medium businesses (SMBs) across the platform to access working capital quickly and seamlessly to fund their growth.

This move underscores Fresha’s strategy to utilize embedded finance, a core component of Adyen’s offering, to move beyond payments and provide interconnected financial services, circulating value within its platform. Adyen Capital is part of Adyen’s robust set of Embedded Finance products, which allow platforms to offer core financial services directly within their ecosystem.

“Our relationship with Fresha shows how embedded payments can be a catalyst for strategic change,” commented Hemmo Bosscher, SVP Global Head of Platforms & Financial Services at Adyen. “Fresha partnered with us to embed payments directly into their platform, now with embedded lending, they’ll be introducing another new revenue stream and deepening relationships with their customers across several key markets.”

Adyen Capital is designed specifically for platform users (SMBs) who rely on instant liquidity to manage operations. Key benefits for Fresha users include:

  • Quick access to funds: Users can view pre-approved offers and request financing in seconds, with funding accessible within hours or the same business day. Payout to external banks typically takes minutes, though it may take up to two business days depending on the bank.
  • Simple process, flexible amounts: Loan offers range from $500 to $50,000 (in supported currencies), pre-approved based entirely on sales performance, eliminating the need for lengthy applications or paperwork.
  • Transparent and flexible repayment: Repayment is automatically adjusted as a fixed percentage (ranging from 1% to 15%) of daily sales, meaning businesses repay more when they earn more and less when they make less. The loan term is up to nine months, and there are no fees for early repayment or late payments.

This solution is designed to support common industry needs, such as a salon owner needing access to capital to purchase new equipment or hire additional staff ahead of peak season.

Difference Maker for SMBs

“We were at a crucial tipping point, with less than six weeks of cash as runway, we needed additional funding,” said Betty Zhang, Owner of The Usual Lash. “The clock was ticking, and we were at risk of losing years of momentum on our expansion plans. We couldn’t afford to stall our growth plans and wait weeks for a traditional bank’s approval. Fresha Capital was a critical support at that moment. We received the necessary funding in under 24 hours and that infusion of cash into the business not only saved our plans, but also allowed us to shift our focus from short-term cash concerns to improving our service quality with new products and locations.”

“Every October, the tourist season ends and the pressure to survive until March begins,” said Justin Barrett, Founder of Himalayan Salt Therapy. “I needed a cushion for the unknown, and Fresha Capital delivered it in exactly two minutes. Not only did it alleviate our seasonal anxiety and secure our payroll, but it fueled a December marketing push that spiked our gift card sales by 22%. Paying it back automatically through our daily sales was so seamless, and we’ve cleared the debt significantly faster than expected.”

Strategic Value for Fresha

“Our partnership with Adyen allowed us to roll out Fresha Capital in just weeks, scaling fast across seven global markets,” commented Pawel Iwanow, Chief Payments Officer at Fresha. “With over $5.5 million already issued, it’s clear that access to funding is often the primary barrier for beauty and wellness SMBs. If a vital piece of salon equipment breaks on a Friday before a peak weekend, we can now authorize a loan in seconds, saving the day for our partners and unlocking growth they would have otherwise postponed.”

Strategic benefits for platforms also include:

  • Increased stickiness and loyalty: Providing instant, flexible funding options makes Fresha an indispensable partner for its users’ business operations.
  • A proven solution: Adyen Capital has a strong track record, with 80% of businesses who accept a Capital offer returning to take a second loan.
  • Risk-free revenue: Adyen takes on all lending and credit risk.
  • Speed to market: Platforms can go live with Capital in hours using pre-built, white-label components, or build via API for full flexibility. Adyen provides launch support on training, and marketing.

About Fresha
Fresha is the leading marketplace platform for beauty and wellness trusted by millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. Fresha allows consumers to discover, book and pay for beauty and wellness appointments with local businesses via its marketplace, while beauty and wellness businesses and professionals use an all-in-one platform to manage their entire operations with an intuitive business software and financial technology solutions. To learn more, visit fresha.com, download Fresha on the App Store and Google Play, or follow Fresha on Facebook and Instagram.

About Adyen 
Adyen (ADYEN: AMS) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Meta, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft. The cooperation with Fresha as described in this merchant update underlines Adyen’s continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years.

IGI Acquires AGL, Expanding its Global Footprint in Colored Gemstone Certification

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MUMBAI, India and NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Gemological Institute (IGI), one of the world’s largest and most trusted independent diamond grading and certification organizations, today announced the acquisition of American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), a global leader in colored gemstone analysis and provenance reporting. The transaction brings together unmatched global scale and infrastructure with deep scientific expertise, positioning the combined group at the forefront of certification and trust in the global jewelry industry.

The acquisition creates a global platform that combines IGI’s industry-leading market reach with AGL’s pioneering leadership in colored gemstones. Together, IGI and AGL will deliver enhanced transparency and innovation while preserving the scientific independence and integrity that underpin both organizations.

Tehmasp Printer, Managing Director and Global CEO of IGI, stated, “This is a transformational step for the industry. By combining AGL’s scientific leadership with IGI’s global platform, we are building a future-ready ecosystem that delivers scale without compromising integrity. Together, we are setting a new global benchmark for consistency in gemstone certification.”

Key Highlights:

  • Strategic Alliance: IGI will provide AGL access to its global infrastructure, thereby providing AGL with the opportunity to expand its colored gemstone certification services beyond the U.S. market. For IGI, the transaction diversifies revenue streams into the fast-growing colored gemstone segment and supports long-term growth through expanded research capabilities.
  • Business Continuity: Chris Smith will continue as President and Chief Gemologist of AGL. The laboratory will remain headquartered in New York, operating independently under its respected brand. No immediate operational changes are planned; both organizations will continue to deliver the same technical standards while collaborating on new tools and provenance services.
  • Education Leadership: IGI will further strengthen its global training programs by incorporating AGL’s specialized scientific knowledge and research methodologies.
  • Long-Term Investment: Supported by Blackstone’s long-term investment approach, IGI intends to apply a disciplined strategy to support AGL’s continued growth and scientific leadership.

Founded in 1977, AGL pioneered country-of-origin reporting in the United States and serves leading luxury brands, auction houses, manufacturers, and private collectors worldwide. The transaction strengthens strategic linkages between the U.S.—the world’s largest market for fine jewelry—and India, a global hub for gemstone manufacturing.

Christopher Smith, President and Chief Gemologist of AGL, added, “This acquisition represents a pivotal opportunity for AGL to significantly grow its colored stone services. With the support of Blackstone and the international reach of IGI, AGL will improve and expand the standards of integrity and service on a global scale.”

Dev Shetty, Founder & CEO of Jemora Group and former executive of Gemfields and Fura Gems, served as a strategic advisor on the transaction.

https://www.bseindia.com/corporates/anndet_new.aspx?newsid=f9b4cc80-1753-4446-83df-b5023b595f5d

https://investor.igi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Upload_AGL.pdf

About International Gemological Institute (IGI)

The International Gemological Institute is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent gemological laboratories, providing diamond, gemstone and jewelry certification services across a global network of laboratories and educational institutes. IGI serves leading retailers, manufacturers and consumers worldwide, delivering consistent, trusted and transparent grading and certification solutions. IGI operates 35 laboratories and 21 School of Gemology across 10 countries, supporting the industry amid rapid transformation.

For more information, please visit www.igi.org

About American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)

Founded in 1977, American Gemological Laboratories is a premier gemological laboratory specializing in colored gemstone analysis, origin determination and advanced scientific reporting. Renowned for its independence, research-driven approach, and technical leadership, AGL serves major luxury brands, auction houses, retailers, and collectors worldwide.

 

Cango Inc. Announces January 2026 Bitcoin Production and Mining Operations Update

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DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) (“Cango” or the “Company”), a leading Bitcoin miner leveraging its global operations to develop an integrated energy and AI compute platform, today published its Bitcoin production and mining operations update for January 2026.

Bitcoin Mining Production and Mining Operations Update for January 2026

Metric

January 2026 [1]

December 2025 [1]

Number of Bitcoin produced

496.35

569.0

Average number of Bitcoin produced per day

16.01

18.35

Total number of Bitcoin held [2]

7,474.6

7,528.3

Total number of Bitcoin sold

550.03

0

Deployed hashrate

50 EH/s

50 EH/s

Average operating hashrate [3]

37.02 EH/s

43.36 EH/s

 

1.       Unaudited, estimated.

2.       As of month-end.

3.       Average over the month.

Paul Yu, CEO and Director of Cango, commented, “In January, extreme cold and blizzards across key North American regions caused temporary operational downtime and reduced our average hash rate. However, favorable network difficulty adjustments partially offset these challenges, enabling us to mine nearly 500 BTC during the month. Starting this month, we will selectively sell a portion of newly mined Bitcoin to support the expansion of our inference platform and other near-term growth initiatives. This tactical flexibility will allow us to seize new business opportunities and manage our liquidity with greater agility.”

About Cango Inc.

Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) is a Bitcoin mining company with a vision to establish an integrated, global infrastructure platform capable of powering the future digital economy. The Company’s mining operations span over 40 sites across North America, the Middle East, South America, and East Africa.

Since entering the digital asset space in November 2024, Cango has activated pilot projects in both integrated energy solutions and distributed AI computing. In parallel, Cango continues to operate an online international used car export business through AutoCango.com. 

For more information, please visit: www.cangoonline.com.

Investor Relations Contact

Juliet Ye, Head of Communications
Cango Inc.
Email: ir@cangoonline.com 

Christensen Advisory
Tel: +852 2117 0861
Email: cango@christensencomms.com

 

MINISO Accelerates Global IP Strategy, Advancing Toward Becoming a Leading IP Operation Platform

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GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On January 30, MINISO announced an accelerated global growth roadmap at its 2026 Global Partner Conference in Guangzhou, highlighting proprietary IP development and the continued evolution of its store formats and brand strategy. By upgrading the immersive store format as a physical touchpoint within its IP ecosystem, strengthening end‑to‑end IP operations, and increasing investment in proprietary IP, MINISO is advancing toward becoming a global IP operation platform.

MINISO hosts 2026 Global Partner Conference in Guangzhou
MINISO hosts 2026 Global Partner Conference in Guangzhou

Building a Scalable, End‑to‑End Proprietary IP Ecosystem

MINISO’s IP journey has been built on a solid and steadily expanding foundation. Since 2020, the company has established strategic partnerships with more than 180 leading global IPs, attracting tens of millions of fans worldwide and generating cumulative sales of over 800 million IP‑driven products. These collaborations have strengthened MINISO’s capabilities across the entire IP value chain—from integrated product development to omnichannel distribution and scalable global execution.

Building on this foundation, MINISO is accelerating the development of a proprietary IP ecosystem as a core pillar of its next growth phase. Since early 2025, MINISO’s in‑house IP portfolio has expanded rapidly. New proprietary IPs such as YOYO, Kumaru, Angry Amiee, and Carrot Street have already gained large fan bases.

Early commercial results highlight the potential of this strategy. MINISO’s flagship proprietary IP, Gift Bear and Friends, has delivered remarkable sales performance, while YOYO has generated strong foot traffic at retail locations and inspired a surge of user-generated content on social media within six months of launch—demonstrating strong cross‑cultural appeal and validating MINISO’s growing IP incubation capabilities. “IP represents emotion, culture, and meaning. The next stage of competition will be defined by who understands culture and IP more deeply,” said Ye Guofu, founder and CEO of MINISO. “We must stay curious and keep learning to create world-class original IPs and bring 100 IPs to the global stage over the next decade.”

Enthusiastic consumers take photos of MINISO’s proprietary IP YOYO
Enthusiastic consumers take photos of MINISO’s proprietary IP YOYO

Channel Evolution: Amplifying IP Value Through Immersive Retail Experiences

As IP becomes an increasingly important driver of consumer engagement, MINISO is upgrading its physical channels to deliver greater scale, immersion, and strategic impact. Through the integration of spatial design and IP‑driven storytelling, MINISO LAND transforms stores into multifunctional spaces for IP display, interaction, and commerce. Beyond showcasing collaborations with global IPs, MINISO LAND also supports the incubation and long‑term development of proprietary IPs—strengthening its role as a bridge between creators and consumers and reinforcing physical retail as essential IP operating infrastructure.

Coinciding with the Global Partner Conference, the MINISO LAND flagship store at Guangzhou’s Grandview Mall, one of the city’s most centrally located and high-traffic commercial destinations, officially opened. The launch marks the second MINISO LAND in Guangzhou, following the Beijing Road store, whose design draws inspiration from the city’s historic arcade streets. Featuring a dynamic, three-dimensional façade, the exterior weaves proprietary IPs such as YOYO and Gift Bear with birds, animals, flowers, and botanical elements—echoing the mall’s ecological theme while creating a striking brand visual landmark. Spanning over 1,000 square meters across two floors, the store features an assortment in which IP products make up 90% of the offering. With globally popular IPs and highly recognizable themed zones, the store has emerged as a new hotspot for shoppers.

MINISO LAND store at Grandview Mall, Guangzhou
MINISO LAND store at Grandview Mall, Guangzhou

The Guangzhou opening builds on strong performance from the Shanghai MINISO LAND flagship on Nanjing Road, which set a global single-month sales record among MINISO stores. MINISO LAND now operates across major high-tier cities, including Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, and Chongqing, as well as selected overseas markets such as Thailand, with each city featuring a uniquely designed landmark MINISO LAND store in a prime commercial location. As part of its international expansion, MINISO plans to accelerate the global rollout of the MINISO LAND format in 2026. This IP‑led, experience‑driven channel upgrade deepens consumer engagement and strengthens MINISO’s position as a leading global IP operation platform.

MINISO IP Genius Program: Investing in Global Creative Talent and IP Breakthroughs

Reinforcing its long‑term commitment to IP development, MINISO announced the launch of the MINISO IP Genius Program. Designed as a full‑chain incubation pathway, the program offers top creative talent worldwide individual annual compensation of up to RMB 10 million to develop next‑generation proprietary IPs. MINISO aims to cultivate a sustainable global pipeline of creators and accelerate the commercialization of new IPs across international markets—powered by the company’s end‑to‑end operational strengths.

As IP plays an increasingly central role in global consumer culture, MINISO is scaling both its proprietary IP ecosystem and the global presence of MINISO LAND, strengthening its ability to connect with audiences across markets. Through this dual strategy, MINISO continues to progress toward its vision of becoming a globally leading IP operation platform.

 

PolyU develops novel antibody targeting fat cell protein, offering new approach to treating metabolism-related liver cancer

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 February 2026 – Liver cancer is one of the three deadliest cancers worldwide, and metabolic dysfunction-related cases have become increasingly common in recent years. A research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has identified a protein secreted by fat cells that promotes cancer growth and has successfully developed a novel antibody that neutralises this protein, marking a significant breakthrough in impeding the progression of liver cancer. The research findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Prof. Terence Lee, Associate Head and Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, and his research team have developed a novel antibody targeting the adipocyte-derived protein FABP4, offering a new approach to treating metabolism-related liver cancer.
Prof. Terence Lee, Associate Head and Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, and his research team have developed a novel antibody targeting the adipocyte-derived protein FABP4, offering a new approach to treating metabolism-related liver cancer.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease, currently affects around a quarter of the global population and is an important risk factor for liver cancer. In affected individuals, fat cells induce insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, leading to excessive fat accumulation in the liver. This ultimately impairs liver function and may progress to liver cancer. Treatment options for MASLD-induced liver cancer remain limited and the effectiveness of current immunotherapies is suboptimal.

A breakthrough study led by Prof. Terence LEE, Associate Head and Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, and his research team has revealed that an adipocyte-derived protein, known as fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a key driver that accelerates tumour growth. Through mass spectrometry, the team confirmed that patients with MASLD-induced liver cancer had markedly elevated FABP4 levels in their serum. Further investigations showed that FABP4 activates a series of pro-proliferative signalling pathways within cells, causing cancer cells to multiply and grow more rapidly.

Prof. Lee’s team has successfully developed a monoclonal antibody that neutralises FABP4. This antibody not only inhibits the growth and proliferation of FABP4-driven cancer stem cells, but also enhances the ability of immune cells to combat cancer.

Prof. Lee said, “This neutralising antibody against FABP4 demonstrates significant potential in inhibiting tumour growth and activating immune cells, providing a complementary approach to current immunotherapy strategies. Our findings highlight that targeting adipocyte-derived FABP4 holds promise for treating MASLD-induced liver cancer.”

Prof. Lee added that gaining deeper insights into how adipocyte-derived FABP4 affects liver cancer cells helps to explicate the disease mechanisms of liver cancer, particularly in obese individuals. Intervening in the relevant signalling pathways could provide effective methods to combat this aggressive malignancy.

Prof. Lee believes that, as this adipocyte-targeted immunotherapy continues to mature, it will bring more treatment options to MASLD patients. He remarked, “If its efficacy can be proven in clinical trials, it could offer new hope to many affected individuals.”

The research is supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. PolyU has filed a non-provisional patent for the developed antibody and is continuing to optimise its binding affinity to facilitate future clinical applications.
Hashtag: #PolyU #FattyLiver #Cancer #LiverCancer #理大 #香港理工大学 #肝癌 #癌症 #脂肪肝

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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