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Sharjah Ruler signs $6M agreement to digitise UNESCO global archive

Issued by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau

PARIS, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the signing of an agreement to digitise UNESCO’s global archive with a $6 million grant from the Sharjah Book Authority. The signing took place Wednesday morning at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, in the presence of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

 

Sharjah Ruler signs $6M agreement to digitise UNESCO global archive
Sharjah Ruler signs $6M agreement to digitise UNESCO global archive

 

Agreement Signed Officially

The agreement was signed by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), and Jennifer Linkins, Assistant Director-General for Administration and Management at UNESCO. The project, based on directives from the Ruler of Sharjah, aims to preserve global heritage, protect important documents, and ensure digital accessibility. It will span five years and include the digitisation of books, manuscripts, audio recordings, documentaries, and various archival materials.

Archive Tour Conducted

His Highness conducted a tour of the UNESCO Library and Archive, examining significant collections including global documents, books, and manuscripts. He was also informed about the essential functions of the library in supporting the organisation’s objectives and utilising its cultural.

Preservation Importance Highlighted

During the visit, His Highness viewed a number of aging historical documents, some of which had been impacted by deteriorating conditions. This emphasised the importance of the digitisation agreement.

A Comprehensive Historical Archive

The UNESCO archive stands as one of the largest and most important institutional archives globally, which includes nearly 80 years of historical records. The collection features more than 2.5 million pages of documents, 165,000 rare photographs, and thousands of hours of audio and video recordings, These materials capture pivotal moments in global cultural and educational history.

Digitisation Urgently Needed

Only 5% of the archive has been digitised, highlighting the significant value it holds, yet constrained by limited resources and various logistical and technical challenges. This underscores the critical necessity for assistance to expedite comprehensive digital transformation and protect the archive.

Sharjah’s Strategic Initiative

Approximately 95% of the archive remains undigitised, making Sharjah’s initiative a significant move towards converting this global legacy into accessible digital content for researchers, academic institutions, and cultural communities around the world.

Sharjah’s Vision Confirmed

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi remarked, “This grant exemplifies Sharjah’s commitment to preserving human heritage and protecting the world’s memory, highlighting knowledge as a fundamental element of sustainable human development. UNESCO’s global archive stands as a vital centre for the preservation of heritage, intellect, education, and culture, emphasising that its preserving is a shared moral responsibility.”

Knowledge Access Promoted

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi stated, “Sharjah has always held the belief that access to knowledge should be fair and inclusive, and that protecting human memory is vital for fostering creativity and progress. With this initiative, we are creating a new avenue for international collaboration aimed at building a future that respects the past while providing future generations the chance to learn from history and draw inspiration from its lessons.”

Ongoing Cultural Leadership

This agreement demonstrates Sharjah’s ongoing leadership, under the direction of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, in fostering knowledge and humanitarian initiatives. It reinforces the emirate’s position as a global hub for cultural preservation, heritage protection, and the promotion of Arab representation in international intellectual and scientific organisations.

 

Sharjah Ruler signs $6M agreement to digitise UNESCO global archive
Sharjah Ruler signs $6M agreement to digitise UNESCO global archive

 

Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_1
Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_1

 

 

Kavita Kurup Appointed as Chief People Officer of Cyient

HYDERABAD, India and DALLAS, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cyient Limited, a global Intelligent Engineering solutions company, announced the appointment of Kavita Kurup as Chief People Officer (CPO). Based at the company’s Hyderabad headquarters, Kavita will oversee the entire Human Resources function globally, leading Cyient’s people, talent, and culture agenda across all geographies. She will also be responsible for aligning talent strategy, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness with the company’s growth ambitions and future-ready vision.

With over 25 years of international leadership across People Practices, Business Transformation, and Organizational Strategy, Kavita brings deep expertise in designing and executing large-scale, future-focused interventions that drive enterprise agility and workforce evolution. Her career spans industries as diverse as Technology, BFSI, FMCG, Media, Not-for-Profit, and entrepreneurial ventures, where she has consistently reimagined talent ecosystems as catalysts for business value.

Prior to joining Cyient, she was at UST, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s global people charter in over 30 countries. She has led enterprise-wide transformation efforts across talent strategy, leadership development, DE&I, culture building, and associate experience—anchored in a bold, human-centric approach.

“We are pleased to welcome Kavita to the Cyient leadership team,” said Sukamal Banerjee, Executive Director & CEO, Cyient. “Her proven track record in architecting agile organizations, cultivating high-performance cultures, and aligning people strategy with business outcomes makes her the ideal leader to guide Cyient’s global workforce into the next phase of growth.”

A Harvard Business School alumna, Kavita is also a certified executive coach, organizational development specialist, and board-certified independent Director. Her hallmark lies in building people-first cultures that blend purpose, performance, and innovation, earning her industry recognition for strategic talent optimization and impact-led leadership development.

“Cyient has a rich legacy of engineering excellence and a distinctive people culture that sets it apart,” said Kavita Kurup, Chief People Officer, Cyient. “I am excited to build on this strong foundation and help write our next chapter— a future where our people practices become powerful levers for innovation, agility, and transformation. I am privileged to lead an incredible team, supported by advanced systems and a unique culture that truly differentiates Cyient in the industry.

This is a moment of immense possibility. Together, we will design human-centered systems and meaningful talent experiences that carry forward the Cyient spirit, unlock new potential, and prepare us for a world that’s constantly evolving,” she added.

About Cyient

Cyient (Estd: 1991, NSE: CYIENT) delivers intelligent engineering solutions across products, plants, and networks for over 300 global customers, including 30% of the top 100 global innovators. As a company, Cyient is committed to designing a culturally inclusive, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable tomorrow together with our stakeholders.

For more information, please visit www.cyient.com
Follow news about the company at @Cyient

Gowtham Uyalla

Kaizzen PR

+91 99892 22959

gowtham.uyalla@kaizzencomm.com

Phalguna Hari jandhyala

Cyient

Phalguna.Harijandhyala@cyient.com

 

JZXN Announces Major Strategic Move: Acquisition of 1,000 Bitcoins Over the Next Year

HANGZHOU, China, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN; the “Company”) announces that its Board of Directors has formally approved a major strategic decision: the Company plans to complete a dual-track, parallel acquisition of 1,000 Bitcoins over the next year through a combination of additional stock issuance and cash purchases. Bitcoin acquisitions in the next year through a dual-track, parallel process of additional stock issuance and cash purchases. This move marks JZXN’s in-depth layout in the field of digital currencies, further demonstrating the company’s firm confidence in blockchain technology and its application prospects.

The acquisition plan is a strategic choice made by JZXN after thorough consideration and comprehensive evaluation. Bitcoin, as the world’s leading cryptocurrency, is not only highly liquid and recognized in the market, but has also demonstrated strong value-added potential in recent years, and JZXN believes that the inclusion of Bitcoin in the Company’s asset portfolio not only diversifies the investment risk effectively, but also brings the Company potential long-term benefits.

In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the acquisition program, JZXN will adopt a combination of additional stock issuance and cash purchase. On the one hand, the company will start the process of issuing additional shares in due course to raise part of the acquisition funds; on the other hand, the company will also utilize its own funds and possible external financing to jointly complete the remaining part of the bitcoin acquisition. This strategy reflects the company’s respect and protection of shareholders’ interests and ensures the adequacy of funding for the acquisition.

“We are well aware of the volatility and uncertainty of the Bitcoin market, but it is based on a deep understanding of blockchain technology and a long-term bullish belief that we decided to take this step,” said JZXN’s CEO. “Through this acquisition, we will further enrich our company’s asset structure and enhance our risk resistance and profitability. At the same time, we will also continue to focus on and explore the application of blockchain technology in other fields with a view to creating more value for the Company.”

For more information, please contact:
Iris He
iris@jzxn.com 

 

NYSE Content Advisory: Pre-Market update + Hinge Health, MNTN go public

NEW YORK, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins.

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on May 22nd

  • Hinge Health (NYSE: HNGE), a digital health platform, raised $437 Million last night and will trade today on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • Connected TV Adtech firm MNTN (NYSE: MNTN) also priced its deal last night, raising $187 million dollars. It will trade today on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • Stocks are recovering early Thursday after the S&P 500 shed 1.7% Wednesday amid concerns about the deficit.
  • The budget bill in the House of Representatives hit a roadblock on Tuesday. However, earlier this morning, President Trump’s tax bill did clear the house in a victory for the GOP and now advances to the senate.

Opening Bell
Hinge Health (NYSE: HNGE) celebrates the opening bell to mark its first day as a public company trading on the New York Stock Exchange

Closing Bell
Tanqueray Gin launches ‘Tanq Holiday’ a celebration among colleagues and friends of the mood-shifting moment ahead of a long weekend.

Click here to download the NYSE TV App

 

JETOUR T1 Enters Egyptian Market, Teams Up with Al Ahly Club to Explore the Frontier of “Travel + Sports”

CAIRO, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On May 20th, the global leading “Travel +” auto brand JETOUR held the lite off-road T1 launch event at the Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt. The event was attended by Egypt’s Minister of Commerce, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, Deputy President of the Egyptian Chinese Friendship Association (ECFA), and other distinguished guests. Egyptian superstar Tamer Hosny also made a special appearance at the event. Drawing over a thousand attendees, JETOUR hosted an official signing ceremony with Africa’s legendary football club, Al Ahly, naming JETOUR as the club’s top sponsor.

This marks JETOUR’s glorious return to Egypt with another blockbuster product, following its brand event held at the Pyramid in 2023. The launch not only introduces Egyptian consumers to a new product with rugged aesthetic design, advanced technology, and comfortable experiences, but also deeply integrates JETOUR’s “Travel +” culture with top African sports IPs. Through sports marketing, it builds a brand communication bridge that transcends cultural boundaries.

Deepening the Egyptian Market: Localization Strategy Drives a Win-Win Ecosystem

As one of the fastest-growing auto brands in recent years, JETOUR has achieved a global cumulative sales volume of over 1.7 million units in six years. In 2024, its annual sales exceeded 560,000 units, with a year-on-year growth rate of over 80%, creating the “JETOUR Speed” that has amazed the industry.

Mr. Dai Lihong, President of JETOUR Auto, said: “During our global development, JETOUR has received many travel stories from users worldwide. We are committed to developing world-class products with world-class technology to serve our customers. Our goal is to make the world fall in love with JETOUR!”

The launch of the T1 in Egypt marks another strategic milestone for JETOUR, following its recent breakthroughs in the Middle East and Central and South America. As a comprehensive embodiment of JETOUR’s latest technology, the T1’s design combines the ruggedness of boxy forms with the elegance of traditional SUVs. This series design has been honored with the German Red Dot Award—often regarded as the “Oscar of the Design.” The T1 offers the best horizontal space in its class, paired with the TOUR OS 2.0 operating system powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chips, delivering an excellent driving experience every time. It adopts a steel cage body structure, utilizing over 85% high-strength steel, ensuring safety for every user.

Previously, the JETOUR X70 PLUS, X90 PLUS, and DASHING all achieved impressive sales performance in Egypt. With the launch of T1, JETOUR’s product lineup will be further expanded, bringing new vitality to Egypt.

During the launch event, JETOUR also signed a T2/T1 KD agreement with Egypt KASRAWY Group. This not only means that JETOUR has brought new products exceeding expectations to Egypt but also demonstrates its development concept of “In Somewhere, For Somewhere”. By building local KD factories, implementing barter trade and other measures, JETOUR is establishing a solid presence in the Egyptian market, creating more employment opportunities, and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results with the Egyptian automotive industry chain.

Empowered by Sports Marketing: Partnering with the most celebrated Club to Expand Brand Value

Football is the most popular sport in Egypt, with more than half of the nation’s population being football fans. Meanwhile, the passionate and enterprising spirit represented by football highly aligns with JETOUR’s “Travel +” culture of fearless exploration. Therefore, JETOUR collaborates with Al Ahly Club to promote the “Travel +” culture in the football field.

Al Ahly Club, founded in 1907, is one of the most successful football clubs in Africa and the Arab world. Honored as the “African Club of the Century,” Al Ahly Club has won a total of 153 trophies in various competitions. The club has long dominated domestic championships and won a record 12 African Champions League titles, with a global fan exceeding 80 million.

In this collaboration, JETOUR, as a primary core sponsor, will have prominent exposure during the club’s home games and will enjoy various rights, including the portrait rights of players and vehicle displays at the stadium. Through the cross-industry integration of sports and the “Travel +” concept, JETOUR aims to captivate consumers in Egypt with its rich brand culture, laying the foundation for the long-term success of its models in the Egypt.

In Egypt, T1 is embracing the new market and leading the trend of lite off-road SUV. The ambitious JETOUR will continue to forge ahead fearlessly. Through technological output, cultural integration, and industrial collaboration, it aims to achieve shared prosperity with the local market and embark on a beautiful “Travel +” journey together with users!

SwitchBot Unveils New Launch of SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo and Hub 3

TOKYO, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SwitchBot, a rising brand in smart home automation and retrofitting, proudly announces the launch of two groundbreaking new products—SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo and SwitchBot Hub 3—designed to deliver a smarter, safer, and more seamless home automation experience.

SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo & Hub 3
SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo & Hub 3

SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo

The new SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo is the world’s first retrofittable smart lock with 3D facial recognition, featuring the SwitchBot Lock Ultra, Keypad Vision, and Hub Mini Matter Enabled.

Highlighting its innovation is the 3D facial recognition system, which employs over 30,000 infrared points to create a high-resolution, millimeter-level facial map for authentication. Recognition is instantaneous—within one second—and highly secure, with a false recognition rate of less than 0.0001% and facial maps secured locally with an AES-128 bank-level encryption system. The system functions reliably in a wide range of conditions, including low-light environments, due to the built-in 850nm infrared light.

With up to 18 unlocking methods—including facial recognition, auto unlock, NFC cards, semi-conductive fingerprint recognition, app control, and voice commands—SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo offers unmatched versatility. Designed for nearly universal compatibility, the device can be installed on 99.9% of existing locks, such as Night Latch, Mortise, and Jimmy Proof etc., without the need for drilling or structural modification.

The FastUnlock™ system ensures near-instant unlocking by maintaining an always-on Bluetooth connection with the Keypad Vision. Equipped with an advanced motor that is 122.2% faster and 10.5% stronger in torque than its predecessor, it offers a remarkably quiet operation, measuring as low as 20 dB while working on its own, and precise control. In addition to the various modes of High Speed, Default, and Quiet, the Lock Ultra Vision Combo also provides a specially designed Night Mode, enabling auto locking at a specific time, creating an even quieter door entry experience at nighttime.

Moreover, SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo also features a three-tier battery design designed for maximum resilience that includes a large rechargeable main battery that could last up to 9 to 12 months, a backup CR123A cell, and an electrolytic emergency unlocking system for the most ultra reliability even in emergencies when the main battery is out of power. Meanwhile, the device also boasts an elegant, ultra-thin design with three wooden pattern pads and a 6-tier security system for ultimate peace of mind with ultra security.

The SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo will be available on SwitchBot’s official website and Amazon stores for $249.99/£299.99/€299.99/$349.99 (CAD). Meanwhile, SwitchBot also offers Lock Ultra Touch Combo on the SwitchBot’s official website and Amazon stores for $209.99/£249.99/€249.99/$299.99 (CAD).

SwitchBot Hub 3

Completing the new offerings, the SwitchBot Hub 3 serves as a powerful, Matter-enabled smart home control hub. SwitchBot Hub 3 can integrate with over 100,000 infrared (IR) devices, streaming TVs, and the SwitchBot ecosystem, meanwhile, it can also bring SwitchBot products to Matter.

Moreover, the device can also send up to 30 programmable commands to activate automation scenes consisting of Matter-compatible products from other brands that are already integrated into Apple Home, providing users with a centralized, intuitive interface to manage their entire home.

The device features the exclusive Dial Master™ rotary controller, enabling ultra-precise control over volume, temperature, and more. In addition, it offers customizable scene buttons and real-time indoor/outdoor environmental data monitoring. Meanwhile, the Hub 3 is also capable of creating custom automation routines, supporting energy-saving behaviors and enhanced user comfort through the combination of built-in sensors and preset criteria.

The SwitchBot Hub 3 will be available on SwitchBot’s official website and Amazon stores for $119.99/£129.99/€129.99/$149.99 (CAD) on May 22.

In addition to the products above, SwitchBot will also be revealing a series of their new innovations on their YouTube channel, including the SwitchBot AI Hub, Smart Video Doorbell, K20+ Pro, Garage Door Opener, Plug Mini (EU), Safety Alarm, Smart Radiator Thermostat, and a brand new light series.

For more information, visit SwitchBot’s official website or follow SwitchBot on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Databricks Announces 2025 Data + AI Summit Keynote Lineup and Data Intelligence Programming

The Data Intelligence for All themed event will feature keynotes from co-founders Ali Ghodsi, Matei Zaharia, Arsalan Tavakoli-Shiraji and Reynold Xin

Attendees will hear from Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase; Dario Amodei, Co-founder and CEO, Anthropic; and Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft

SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Databricks, the Data and AI company, today announced the full agenda and lineup of featured speakers for this year’s Data + AI Summit, a global event for the data and AI community. From June 9-12, more than 20,000 data and AI practitioners, leaders, and visionaries from over 160 countries are expected to convene, both at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, and tens of thousands more virtually, to discover the latest developments in generative AI, machine learning, analytics and data governance, alongside Databricks’ latest product innovations. This year’s Summit underscores Databricks’ deep and ongoing commitment to San Francisco, building on the company’s recent announcement to invest $1 billion into the city over the next three years. Tickets are still available; register here to join data leaders, open source enthusiasts as well as Databricks customers and partners.

Data + AI Summit will feature keynotes from Databricks co-founders — and the original creators of Apache Spark™, Delta Lake, MLflow, and Unity Catalog — Ali Ghodsi, Matei Zaharia and Reynold Xin. Attendees will also hear from a broad lineup of data and AI luminaries, open source pioneers and global thought leaders, including:

  • Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase
  • Dario Amodei, Co-founder and CEO, Anthropic
  • Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft, in a pre-recorded, virtual fireside chat

This year’s theme, Data Intelligence for All, will showcase how every organization can harness the power of data to develop its own AI apps and agent systems. Attendees can expect to hear from top experts, researchers and open source contributors as they share actionable best practices and compelling insights about their data journeys. Highlights include thought-provoking sessions from data leaders from pioneering companies like Adobe, Apple, AT&T, Block, Doordash, Doctors Without Borders, GM, Joby, Mastercard, Meta, NVIDIA, SAP, Unilever, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Virgin Atlantic and Walmart.

The annual event will feature a compelling program including technical training sessions, open source community meetups, networking opportunities and industry-specific breakout events, including the following highlights:

  • 700+ breakout sessions highlighting data intelligence, generative AI, data sharing, data governance and industry trends. Speakers will cover the latest innovations in Databricks AI/BI, Databricks SQL, Delta Sharing, Lakeflow, Mosaic AI, Unity Catalog and more in keynotes, lightning talks and hands-on training. Attendees will also receive technical deep dives on leading open source projects and technologies like Apache Spark™, Delta Lake, MLflow and more.
  • Sessions covering everything from data management and governance to building AI agent systems in practice. Hear from Databricks experts and industry leaders on how they’re using data intelligence to drive real business transformation.
  • Industry-specific content tracks that dive into the power of data intelligence within the Financial Services, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Public Sector, Retail and Consumer Goods, Manufacturing & Transportation, Energy & Utilities, Communications, Media and Advertising, Gaming and Tech industries. These forums and breakouts will highlight industry-specific data and AI use cases, customer panels, interactive demos and opportunities to connect with peers and partners in the Industry Lounge.
  • Training and certifications with 30+ paid trainings, instructor-led courses and certification options. Courses will cover everything in the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, from advanced data engineering to Gen AI model deployment — all hosted by industry-leading technical experts.
  • Networking events for attendees to interact and collaborate with other industry experts. A Welcome Reception will be held on Tuesday, June 10, at 6:00 pm PT, along with additional partner networking events, executive networking events and dozens of evening receptions. Additionally, Databricks’ annual party, Data After Hours, will be held at 7 pm PT on Wednesday, June 11.
  • Databricks’ annual Women in Data + AI meetup to honor women’s remarkable contributions and achievements in artificial intelligence, open source and software development. Learn more about data and AI as panelists share their career journeys, demonstrating how they blazed their own trail in the data and AI field.
  • The new Marketing Forum gathers industry experts and innovators to explore how data and AI are transforming marketing. Discover real-world use cases, customer panels and best practices for data-driven marketing.
  • All-day AI Agents Hackathon to kick off the first day of Summit, welcoming data scientists, engineers and analysts to join forces to create a novel proof of concept or unique technique on the development of innovative AI Agents using the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform!

Data + AI Summit will also showcase nearly 200 sponsors and partners, including AWS, Accenture, Deloitte, Google Cloud and Microsoft.

Check out the event’s full agenda to learn more. Register here.

About Databricks
Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Block, Comcast, Condé Nast, Rivian, Shell and over 60% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to take control of their data and put it to work with AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake, MLflow, and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact: Press@databricks.com

 

Porton Advanced Announces Collaboration with TongEYE to Accelerate Development of iPSC-RPEC transplantation therapy

SUZHOU, China, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Porton Advanced, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), is pleased to announce its partnership with TongEye Medical Technology (TongEYE), an innovator focusing on cell therapy drugs for ophthalmic diseases. Porton Advanced will provide comprehensive CDMO services to support iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium cell (RPEC) therapy program, including CMC development and IND application assistance, to accelerate the therapy development progress.

The iPSC-RPEC transplantation therapy has demonstrated significant potential in addressing blinding eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). TongEYE has established highly efficient and proprietary induction method for differentiation through pioneering work in retinal disease mechanisms and innovative therapies. This collaboration leverages Porton Advanced’s extensive expertise in iPSC and cell therapy to provide end-to-end CDMO services encompassing iPSC reprogramming and cell banking, process optimization for RPE-directed differentiation, GMP manufacturing of RPE cells, rigorous quality studies, and IND application support.

“We are pleased to partner with Porton Advanced, a leading CDMO with proven track records,” said Dr. Guo-Tong Xu, Founder and Chief Scientist of TongEYE. “Their CDMO capabilities and project experience in iPSC will significantly accelerate our ophthalmic cell therapy development program to benefit patients sooner.”

Andrew Chen, CFO of Porton Advanced, commented: “TongEYE’s R&D team has developed a robust RPE differentiation method and the products have been showing safety and functionality in preclinical studies. Through this collaboration, we will combine our iPSC-CMC expertise with their innovative platform to overcome key technical challenges in iPSC-based therapy development. Porton Advanced will integrate the international R&D expertise and rigorous quality systems and provide comprehensive support to advance this promising treatment globally.”

About TongEYE

TongEye Medical Technology (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. was established in October 2023, focusing mainly on the development and production of cell therapy drugs for ophthalmic diseases. In November, the company completed its angel round of financing. The company has multiple research and development pipelines. Among them, the key project of transplanting unique naive RPE cells derived from iPSCs for the treatment of dry retinal degeneration has achieved significantly better therapeutic effects in animal models compared with matureRPE cells. The established highly efficient induction and differentiation method with independent intellectual property rights has shortened the traditional differentiation cycle from 120 to 150 days to just 25 days, significantly reducing costs and improving accessibility. This brings hope for vision improvement to hundreds of millions of patients with dry retinal degeneration worldwide.

About Porton Advanced

Porton Advanced Solutions is a subsidiary of the leading CDMO, Porton Pharma Solutions. Porton Advanced has headquarters in Cranbury, New Jersey, and two GMP sites in Suzhou, China, providing end-to-end CDMO solutions for ATMPs. We offer services from cell banking, process, and analytical method development, cGMP production to fill & finish, covering different stages of drug development from early research, IITs, Investigational New Drug (IND) applications, clinical trials, New Drug Applications (NDA), to commercialization.

Porton Advanced has developed specialized CRO and CDMO platforms focusing on plasmids, viral vectors (lentiviral vector, adenoviral vector, AAV,etc), cell therapy CMC services including CAR-T, TCR-T, CAR-NK, HSC, exosome, etc) and nucleic acid therapies. Our state-of-the-art, GMP-compliant facilities span an impressive 215,000 sqft, equipped with 10 viral vector production lines, 12 GMP-compliant cell therapy production suites (including 2 suites for infectious donors), and a multitude of clean rooms. As of now, we have successfully supported our clients to secure 18 global IND approvals from NMPA, FDA, and Medsafe, with 5 ongoing Phase I/II ATMP projects. Additionally, Porton Advanced has supported the successful transition of several overseas clinical-stage pipelines into China.