TAIPEI, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LifeWave hosted the SHARE THE LIGHT Taiwan–Hong Kong–Macau Annual Recognition Conference on December 14 at the Taipei International Convention Center, bringing together nearly 2,000 Brand Partners and guests. The event marked a milestone, reflecting LifeWave’s 17 years of growth and market development in Taiwan.

The conference opened with an innovative drone light performance that brought large-scale drone formations—traditionally seen outdoors—onto an indoor stage. Through cross-venue technology integration, the performance demonstrated new possibilities for live events and reflected LifeWave’s commitment to innovation and its “Unlimited” approach to technology application.

The event was attended by LifeWave’s Asia-Pacific President and North America Vice President, underscoring the company’s strong commitment to the Taiwan–Hong Kong–Macau market and highlighting the region’s strategic role in LifeWave’s global expansion.

Five Key Highlights Define LifeWave’s Annual Vision

Technology Vision
LifeWave outlined future application directions for its light-based wellness technology, including ongoing research and development progress, global expansion initiatives, and future product strategies. These efforts reinforce the company’s long-term commitment to innovation in health technology.

System Enhancement
Following the global launch of Compensation Plan 2.0, the Taiwan–Hong Kong–Macau market has emerged as one of the leading performers in the Asia-Pacific region for advancement activity. Since the new compensation was introduced on October 27, the number of partners receiving bonuses increased by approximately 40 percent within the first seven weeks, with more than 3,000 partners achieving rank advancements.

LifeWave noted that the latest system optimization focuses on transparency, competitiveness, and growth momentum, helping partners gain greater clarity in managing their business rhythm.

Market Insights
Leaders from multiple international markets shared frontline perspectives, offering diverse insights into global trends and enabling Taiwan–Hong Kong–Macau partners to stay aligned with international market developments.

Sports Application
A former professional baseball player and Masters Games bronze medalist shared firsthand experiences from training preparation through post-competition recovery, illustrating how light-based technology is incorporated into real-world sports scenarios.

Cultural Highlight
Renowned entertainer Janice Wang, together with the iconic Third Prince (San Tai Zi) performance, brought vibrant cultural energy to the conference, creating a memorable moment that blended technology, systems, and entertainment.

Extending the “Share the Light” Initiative
As part of its ongoing “Share the Light” initiative, LifeWave partnered once again with long-term charity collaborator SimplyICR to launch a limited edition of 1,000 charity gift boxes, which received strong market support. Proceeds will be used to fund art education and creative resources for SimplyICR students, transforming goodwill into sustainable impact.

Looking Ahead with an Unlimited Vision
Scarlett Su, General Manager of LifeWave Taiwan–Hong Kong–Macau, said:
“‘Share the Light’ represents our willingness to bring light to others, while ‘Unlimited’ reflects our commitment to openness, forward-thinking, and courage as we look to the future. With a broader global perspective, we will continue expanding LifeWave’s impact—illuminating markets, partners, communities, and every possibility worth being seen.”

About LifeWave
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in the United States, LifeWave established its Taiwan branch in 2008. The company is dedicated to advancing light-based wellness innovation through research and product development. Its patented light-based technology, including the flagship X39 product, represents a key milestone in LifeWave’s global development. Today, LifeWave operates in more than 80 international markets, continuing its mission to enhance human well-being through science and innovation.

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (STO: SOBI) recently announced that it has entered into an acquisition agreement with Arthrosi Therapeutics, Inc., which was invested in and incubated by Viva Biotech Holdings. Under the terms of the agreement, Sobi will pay up to US$1.5 billion in total transaction value, including an upfront payment at closing of US$950 million, subject to customary adjustments, and contingent consideration of up to US$550 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

Viva Biotech expects that the Merger will result in an aggregate gain of approximately US$40.0 million. The exact amount will depend on the fulfilment of regulatory and performance milestones. In addition, Arthrosi has also entered into new statement of work (SOW) with the Viva Biotech’s CDMO business unit (Langhua Pharmaceutical) for the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredient, and the Group expects to continue its business cooperation with Arthrosi.

Arthrosi Therapeutics, Inc., a late-stage biotechnology company developing a potentially best-in-class, highly potent and selective next generation URAT1 inhibitor to reduce serum urate (sUA) levels, flares, and dissolve tophi in gout and tophaceous gout patients. The acquisition strengthens Sobi’s gout franchise by adding pozdeutinurad (AR882), an investigational next-generation, once-daily oral URAT1 inhibitor currently being evaluated in two fully recruited global Phase 3 clinical studies for the potential management of progressive and tophaceous gout and expected to read out in 2026. Pozdeutinurad complements Sobi’s pipeline by adding a potentially best-in-class URAT1 inhibitor for patients sub-optimally treated with first-line therapies. Today’s announcement reflects Sobi’s commitment to advancing treatment options for people living with gout.

“The acquisition of Arthrosi allows us to expand our gout pipeline with a highly differentiated new asset”, said Guido Oelkers, President and CEO of Sobi. “Pozdeutinurad has the potential to become the therapy of choice for patients who have progressive gout with persistent and unresolved symptoms despite first-line therapy. The product has the potential to materially accelerate our growth until the mid 2030s, and beyond. We welcome all members of the talented Arthrosi team and are looking forward to working closely together to be able to offer this therapy to patients as soon as possible.”

“We are thrilled to join forces with Sobi and look forward to working together to ensure a seamless transition as they advance pozdeutinurad towards pivotal data and potential regulatory filings. We believe that Sobi’s global expertise in commercialization will accelerate our shared mission to deliver pozdeutinurad’s potentially transformative benefits for individuals living with gout”, stated Litain Yeh, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Arthrosi Therapeutics.

Dr. Han Dai, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Viva BioInnovator commented “We are very pleased to see Arthrosi reach this milestone with the acquisition by Sobi. Viva Biotech started to participated in Arthrosi from the seed round onward and remained a long-term investors across multiple subsequent rounds. As an industrial partner, Viva Biotech has also maintained long-term and in-depth collaboration with the team in areas across R&D, manufacturing, and global industry resource integration. We have witnessed Arthrosi’s continued focus on solving the unmet medical need of gout, marked by clear and disciplined scientific and clinical decision-making. This acquisition fully reflects the dual realization of industrial and clinical value, further validating the feasibility of Viva Biotech’s investment and industry empowerment model in the global innovative drug sector. We sincerely congratulate Arthrosi and Sobi on their collaboration, and extend sincere congratulations to the two founders of Arthrosi — Dr. Litain Yeh and Dr. Shunqi Yan. We look forward to the continued long-term value creation of this project within a larger industrial platform. And we also thank ApicHope and all shareholders for their continued support and trust throughout the company’s journey.”

About Arthrosi

Arthrosi Therapeutics, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, CA, is focused on developing pozdeutinurad, a potentially best-in-class, highly potent and selective next generation URAT1 inhibitor to reduce serum urate levels, flares and tophi in patients with progressive gout. The rights to pozdeutinurad in Greater China are held by ApicHope.

About Sobi

Sobi is a global biopharma company unlocking the potential of breakthrough innovations, transforming everyday life for people living with rare diseases. Sobi has approximately 1,900 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. In 2024, revenue amounted to SEK 26 billion.

About Viva Biotech

Established in 2008, Viva Biotech (01873.HK) provides one-stop services ranging from early-stage Structure-Based Drug R&D to commercial manufacturing to global biopharmaceutical innovators. We offer leading early-stage to late-phase drug discovery expertise by integrating our dedicated team of experts, cutting-edge technology platforms, and state-of-the-art equipment in X-ray crystallization, Cryo-EM, DEL, ASMS, SPR, HDX, AIDD/CADD, and much more. Our business covers all aspects of therapeutic strategies and drug modalities, including small molecules and biologics across the pharma and biotech spectrum. The experienced chemistry team, led by senior medicinal chemists and drug discovery biologists, provides services for drug design, medicinal chemistry (hit to lead and lead optimization), custom synthesis, chemical analysis and purification, kilogram scale-up, peptide synthesis and corresponding bioassays. With our subsidiary, Langhua Pharma, we offer our worldwide pharmaceutical and biotech partners a one-stop integrated CMC (Chemical, Manufacturing, and Control) service from preclinical to commercial manufacturing. Additionally, Viva embedded an equity for service (EFS) model to high potential startups to address unmet medical needs.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As the year-end holiday season approaches, digital travel platform Agoda reveals the most affordable domestic and international flight routes across Asia. The list offers travelers insights into the routes that could offer a chance to celebrate without breaking the bank. Based on bookings made from September 2025 onwards for departures between December 20-31, Agoda reveals Thailand was the top destination for budget-friendly domestic flights, with fares starting as low as 6 USD. For international journeys, Malaysia and Indonesia share the spotlight, having offered flights during this period from just 25 USD.

The Christmas and New Year’s holiday season is one of the most significant travel periods of the year. With schools on break and many workplaces offering extended holidays, travelers seize the opportunity to embark on journeys, whether to reunite with family, explore new destinations, or simply unwind and spend quality time with loved ones. This convergence of cultural celebrations and vacation time off makes it one of the busiest and most cherished travel periods of the year, and for many travelers, it’s more important than ever to find the best deals to maximize the holiday experience.

In the realm of domestic travel, Thailand stood out for having the most affordable flights, such as the Udon Thani to Bangkok route booked at 6 USD. This makes it an excellent choice for those eager to experience Bangkok’s vibrant holiday atmosphere, when the city comes alive with dazzling lights, festive markets, and cultural celebrations. Following closely are South Korea and Malaysia, with fares that were available at 9 USD for routes like Jeju to Seoul and Bario to Miri. Completing the ranks for the most economical domestic flights were India (15 USD), Indonesia (18 USD), Vietnam (22 USD), Japan (25 USD), and Taiwan (45 USD).

For international travel, Malaysia and Indonesia tied for the most budget-friendly fares, with flights from Johor Bahru to Phuket and Pontianak to Kuching offered at 25 USD. These routes provide perfect escapes to sunny islands and lush nature during the holiday season. Thailand follows in second place with flights from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur booked from 28 USD. Completing the list are South Korea (32 USD), Japan (39 USD), Taiwan (46 USD), Vietnam (46 USD), and India (73 USD).

Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply at Agoda shared, “At Agoda, we’re excited to open up a world of possibilities with our extensive flight options this holiday season. During the busy Christmas and New Year period, budget-friendly flights are crucial to making the most of the festive season. Whether you’re reuniting with family, chasing the sun on a tropical island, or embarking on a new adventure, we’ve got the perfect flight to make your holiday dreams come true.”

With over 130,000 flight routes, more than 6 million holiday properties, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda ensures travelers can seamlessly combine their bookings in one convenient platform for a memorable holiday experience. Discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app and visit Agoda.com to plan the perfect festive getaway.

HONG KONG, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Manulife (International) Limited (“Manulife”) and Bupa International Limited (“Bupa”) are pleased to announce today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”), intended to establish a strategic collaboration in Hong Kong that will provide customers with greater convenience and flexibility in managing their health.

United by a shared commitment to enhancing healthcare and wellbeing for the people of Hong Kong, this proposed strategic collaboration will combine the strengths of two industry leaders to build a more robust and integrated healthcare network for their customers. Under the signed MoU, Manulife and Bupa intend for customers to benefit from expanded access to high-quality care, greater convenience, enhanced value and affordability through integrated healthcare solutions and personalised support at every stage of their healthcare journey.

“This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in our ambition to be the health partner of choice, driving better value and health outcomes for our customers,” said Patrick Graham, CEO of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. “As people live longer and aspire to healthier, more purposeful lives, we see an increasing need for a connected healthcare ecosystem that ensures longevity goes hand in hand with quality of life. By combining our strengths with Bupa, this strategic collaboration will offer greater choice and sustainable healthcare solutions that empower individuals and communities to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. This also underscores our commitment to addressing the needs of a society with a rapidly aging population and shaping a future where healthcare is more accessible and affordable.”

Fiona Harris, Managing Director of Bupa Hong Kong, said, “Collaborations are more important than ever as we work together to deliver the connected healthcare ecosystem that enables each consumer to achieve their best health outcome. By joining forces, we can reach more of the people of Hong Kong, introducing new innovations and creating more opportunities through embracing the era of digital health and AI. Together, we are dedicated to delivering future ready, customer first, individualised healthcare solutions.”

She added, “At Bupa, our purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives and make a better world, and this strategic collaboration is a powerful step forward in fulfilling that commitment.”

This strategic collaboration will benefit both customers and our businesses. We will share further updates in due course on how this strategic collaboration will continue to strengthen and grow.

About Manulife Hong Kong

Manulife Hong Kong has been a trusted name for more than 125 years. Since our operations started in Asia in 1897, we have grown to become one of the top-tier providers of financial services, offering a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to over 2.6 million customers in Hong Kong and Macau. We are committed to helping make decisions easier and lives better for our customers.

Manulife Hong Kong, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited, and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited. These entities are all subsidiaries of Manulife Financial Corporation.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping our customers make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice and insurance for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2024, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 109,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 36 million customers. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

About Bupa Group

Established in 1947, Bupa’s purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We are an international healthcare company serving over 60 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers. Bupa has businesses around the world, principally in Australia, the UK, Spain, Poland, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, India, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Bupa (Asia) Limited, a subsidiary of Bupa, has been a health insurance specialist in Hong Kong since 1976, offering one-stop solutions across domestic and international health insurance, and healthcare services. Our comprehensive medical insurance schemes are tailored to meet individual needs, and we provide health solutions for companies of all sizes. We also have a team of registered nurses, health management professionals, and doctors who provide various expert healthcare support.

Our healthcare provision arm, Quality HealthCare Medical Services (QHMS), became part of Bupa Group in October 2013. QHMS offers Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnostics & Imaging, Physiotherapy, Mental Health and Wellness services via a network of over 1,650 provider service points in Hong Kong.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/.