Partnership aims to deliver faster agentic AI capabilities through IBM watsonx Orchestrate and Groq technology, enabling enterprise clients to take immediate action on complex workflows

ARMONK, N.Y. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Groq today announced a strategic go-to-market and technology partnership designed to give clients immediate access to Groq’s inference technology, GroqCloud, on watsonx Orchestrate – providing clients high-speed AI inference capabilities at a cost that helps accelerate agentic AI deployment. As part of the partnership, Groq and IBM plan to integrate and enhance RedHat open source vLLM technology with Groq’s LPU architecture. IBM Granite models are also planned to be supported on GroqCloud for IBM clients.

Enterprises moving AI agents from pilot to production still face challenges with speed, cost, and reliability, especially in mission-critical sectors like healthcare, finance, government, retail, and manufacturing. This partnership combines Groq’s inference speed, cost efficiency, and access to the latest open-source models with IBM’s agentic AI orchestration to deliver the infrastructure needed to help enterprises scale.

Powered by its custom LPU, GroqCloud delivers over 5X faster and more cost-efficient inference than traditional GPU systems. The result is consistently low latency and dependable performance, even as workloads scale globally. This is especially powerful for agentic AI in regulated industries.

For example, IBM’s healthcare clients receive thousands of complex patient questions simultaneously. With Groq, IBM’s AI agents can analyze information in real-time and deliver accurate answers immediately to enhance customer experiences and allow organizations to make faster, smarter decisions.

This technology is also being applied in non-regulated industries. IBM clients across retail and consumer packaged goods are using Groq for HR agents to help enhance automation of HR processes and increase employee productivity.

“Many large enterprise organizations have a range of options with AI inferencing when they’re experimenting, but when they want to go into production, they must ensure complex workflows can be deployed successfully to ensure high-quality experiences,” said Rob Thomas, SVP, Software and Chief Commercial Officer at IBM. “Our partnership with Groq underscores IBM’s commitment to providing clients with the most advanced technologies to achieve AI deployment and drive business value.”

“With Groq’s speed and IBM’s enterprise expertise, we’re making agentic AI real for business. Together, we’re enabling organizations to unlock the full potential of AI-driven responses with the performance needed to scale,” said Jonathan Ross, CEO & Founder at Groq. “Beyond speed and resilience, this partnership is about transforming how enterprises work with AI, moving from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption with confidence, and opening the door to new patterns where AI can act instantly and learn continuously.”

IBM will offer access to GroqCloud’s capabilities starting immediately and the joint teams will focus on delivering the following capabilities to IBM clients, including:

• High speed and high-performance inference that unlocks the full potential of AI models and agentic AI, powering use cases such as customer care, employee support and productivity enhancement.
• Security and privacy-focused AI deployment designed to support the most stringent regulatory and security requirements, enabling effective execution of complex workflows.
• Seamless integration with IBM’s agentic product, watsonx Orchestrate, providing clients flexibility to adopt purpose-built agentic patterns tailored to diverse use cases.

The partnership also plans to integrate and enhance RedHat open source vLLM technology with Groq’s LPU architecture to offer different approaches to common AI challenges developers face during inference. The solution is expected to enable watsonx to leverage capabilities in a familiar way and let customers stay in their preferred tools while accelerating inference with GroqCloud. This integration will address key AI developer needs, including inference orchestration, load balancing, and hardware acceleration, ultimately streamlining the inference process.

Together, IBM and Groq provide enhanced access to the full potential of enterprise AI, one that is fast, intelligent, and built for real-world impact.

Statements regarding IBM’s and Groq’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

About Groq
Groq is the inference infrastructure powering AI with the speed and cost it requires. Founded in 2016, Groq developed the LPU and GroqCloud to make compute faster and more affordable. Today, Groq is trusted by over two million developers and teams worldwide and is a core part of the American AI Stack.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Brophy
elizabeth.brophy@ibm.com

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KuCard, a Visa card issued by cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin, today announced a partnership with Plaza Premium Lounge, the world’s largest independent airport lounge network. This collaboration provides KuCard users with dedicated airport lounge access, marking Plaza Premium’s first engagement with the cryptocurrency sector and highlighting KuCard’s commitment to secure, innovative financial solutions and unforgettable lifestyle experiences for global users.

As a leading provider of airport hospitality, Plaza Premium introduced the concept of independent airport lounges and has expanded to operate across more than 150 countries and up to 600 airports, serving over 24 million passengers each year with services emphasizing hospitality, diverse offerings, and user-centric design. Through this partnership, KuCard users gain access to these facilities, enabling them to incorporate lounge services into their travel routines and supporting broader adoption of crypto-enabled conveniences in airport environments.

KuCard functions as a Visa-enabled debit card that lets users spend cryptocurrencies directly at global merchants by converting digital assets to fiat currencies in real time during transactions. It accommodates multiple cryptocurrencies and includes features like transaction monitoring and compatibility with digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, offering crypto holders a streamlined way to apply their assets to everyday expenditures without intermediary conversions. This approach tackles common challenges in crypto usage, such as liquidity and volatility management, by enabling direct spending while maintaining security through integrated controls.

“This partnership with Plaza Premium Lounge highlights a key advancement in merging cryptocurrency with established industries, demonstrating how digital finance can enhance accessibility and efficiency in hospitality,” said Axl Zhong, Lead of KuCard. “From KuCard’s viewpoint, it pioneers new models for crypto adoption, encouraging interoperability between fintech and travel sectors to create more inclusive ecosystems that drive innovation across global markets.”

KuCard holders can now enjoy 20% off lounge access at any Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide—perfect for relaxing, recharging, and indulging in luxury before your next flight, while unlocking the full potential of their crypto holdings in everyday travel. As KuCard continues to redefine the future of payments, it remains committed to making crypto adoption simple, secure, and rewarding for everyone.

About KuCard

Launched in November 2023, KuCard is a Visa card that provides seamless crypto-to-fiat conversion. Compatible with both Google Pay and Apple Pay, it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. KuCard simplifies financial transactions by automatically converting cryptocurrencies into local currency at the point of sale, ensuring the best possible exchange rate. Initially available in the European Economic Area (EEA), KuCard aims to foster wider adoption of blockchain technology by enabling users to use their cryptocurrency for everyday purchases, online shopping, and ATM withdrawals.

Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/kucard | Campaign page

• After a median follow-up of 18.9 months, the median PFS was 8.3 months in the sac-TMT group and 4.3 months in the chemotherapy group (hazard ratio (HR), 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39 to 0.62; two-sided P<0.0001).
• OS was significantly longer with sac-TMT than with chemotherapy (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.82; two-sided P=0.001); 18-month OS rate was 65.8% and 48.0%, respectively. In the supplementary analysis, in which data were censored at the start date of subsequent ADC, the HR was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.41 to 0.77).
• Sac-TMT was associated with a higher incidence of stomatitis with most cases being mild and with grade 3 or higher cases reported in very few patients (4.8%; all were grade 3). Low incidence of ocular-surface toxic effects, no ILD or pneumonitis, and one infusion-related reaction (grade 2) was reported in the sac-TMT group.

CHENGDU, China, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On October 20, Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (the “Company”) announced that the results from the Phase III registrational clinical study OptiTROP-Lung04—led by Professor Zhang Li’s team from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center—were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Impact Factor = 78.5). The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the TROP2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) monotherapy versus pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed failed after treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. The study was also selected as a Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA) at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress and was presented as an oral report in the Presidential Symposium (Presentation # LBA5).   

OptiTROP-Lung04 is a randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase III study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sac-TMT monotherapy versus pemetrexed plus platinum in patients with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who had progressed on prior EGFR-TKI therapy. Eligible patients were those with histologically and/or cytologically confirmed disease. The primary endpoint was Progression-Free Survival (PFS) assessed by a Blinded Independent Review Committee (BIRC) per RECIST v1.1, and the key secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results showed that compared with platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, sac-TMT monotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in both PFS and OS. Consistent PFS and OS benefits were observed across all prespecified subgroups, including prior EGFR-TKI therapy, presence of liver or brain metastases, and EGFR mutation subtype.

Based on the positive results of the OptiTROP-Lung04 study, sac-TMT has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for the treatment of adult patients with EGFR mutation-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after EGFR-TKI therapy. To date, sac-TMT monotherapy remains the only approved treatment option for advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients who have progressed after prior TKI therapy, as well as those who have progressed after prior TKI and platinum-based chemotherapy (either concurrently or sequentially). This achievement provides comprehensive coverage for the entire population of TKI-resistant patients.

Dr. Michael Ge, Chief Executive Officer of Kelun-Biotech, commented: “OptiTROP-Lung04 is a key study that propels sac-TMT from late-line to an earlier-line treatment-setting in lung cancer, achieving a significant improvement in overall survival. We are thrilled that the results have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, allowing this important finding to be shared widely among medical professionals and providing a reference for future lung cancer research. Together with our partner MSD, we will continue to advance sac-TMT’s clinical development and regulatory approvals, covering broader lung cancer and other indications, with the goal of making sac-TMT a cornerstone therapy for the benefit of patients.”

Professor Shengxiang Ren from the Department of Oncology at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, stated: “The application of third-generation EGFR-TKIs has significantly improved the overall prognosis for patients with advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC. However, drug resistance is almost inevitable. Traditional treatment after resistance involves platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, which offers limited overall benefit. In recent years, regimens of chemotherapy plus immune checkpoint inhibitors+anti-angiogenic agents, or EGFR/c-Met bsAb, or PD-1/VEGF bsAb, have been successively approved for this indication. However, all these approaches are chemotherapy-based, highlighting an urgent need to explore novel treatment regimens. The OptiTROP-Lung04 study confirms sac-TMT as the first treatment option as a monotherapy to deliver clear dual benefits in both PFS and OS following EGFR-TKI progression. The sequential application of sac-TMT prior to chemotherapy demonstrates strong competence, establishing itself as a new standard of care for patients with advanced EGFR-mutant lung cancer after TKI resistance.”

About Sac-TMT

Sac-TMT, a core product of the Company, is a novel human TROP2 ADC in which the Company has proprietary intellectual property rights, targeting advanced solid tumors such as NSCLC, breast cancer (BC), gastric cancer (GC), gynecological tumors, among others. Sac-TMT is developed with a novel linker to conjugate the payload, a belotecan-derivative topoisomerase I inhibitor with a drug-to-antibody-ratio (DAR) of 7.4. Sac-TMT specifically recognizes TROP2 on the surface of tumor cells by recombinant anti-TROP2 humanized monoclonal antibodies, which is then endocytosed by tumor cells and releases the payload KL610023 intracellularly. KL610023, as a topoisomerase I inhibitor, induces DNA damage to tumor cells, which in turn leads to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, it also releases KL610023 in the tumor microenvironment. Given that KL610023 is membrane permeable, it can enable a bystander effect, or in other words kill adjacent tumor cells.

In May 2022, the Company licensed the exclusive rights to MSD (the tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) to develop, use, manufacture and commercialize sac-TMT in all territories outside of Greater China (includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan).

To date, three indications for sac-TMT have been approved and marketed in China for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have received at least two prior systemic therapies (at least one of them for advanced or metastatic setting), EGFR mutation-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC following progression on EGFR-TKI therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy and EGFR mutant-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who progressed after treatment with EGFR-TKI therapy. Sac-TMT is the first TROP2 ADC drug approved for marketing in lung cancer globally. In addition, the new indication application for sac-TMT for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced, metastatic hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) BC who have received prior endocrine therapy and other systemic treatments in the advanced or metastatic setting was accepted by the Center for Drug Evaluation of the NMPA, and was included in the priority review and approval process.

As of today, the Company has initiated 9 registrational clinical studies in China. MSD has initiated 15 ongoing Phase Ⅲ global clinical studies of sac-TMT as a monotherapy or with pembrolizumab¹ or other anti-cancer agents for several types of cancer. These studies are sponsored and led by MSD.

About Kelun-Biotech

Kelun-Biotech (6990.HK) is a holding subsidiary of Kelun Pharmaceutical (002422.SZ), which focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, commercialization and global collaboration of innovative biological drugs and small molecule drugs. The company focuses on major disease areas such as solid tumors, autoimmune, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases, and in establishing a globalized drug development and industrialization platform to address the unmet medical needs in China and the rest of world. The Company is committed to becoming a leading global enterprise in the field of innovative drugs. At present, the Company has more than 30 ongoing key innovative drug projects, of which 4 projects have been approved for marketing, 1 project is in the NDA stage and more than 10 projects are in the clinical stage. The company has established one of the world’s leading proprietary ADC and novel DC platforms, OptiDC™, and has 2 ADC projects approved for marketing, and multiple ADC and novel DC assets in clinical or preclinical research stage. For more information, please visit https://kelun-biotech.com/.

MADRID, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fruit Attraction 2025, organised by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, closed its 17th edition with record-breaking participationfigures, welcoming 121,137 trade visitors from 152 countries, representing an 3% increase in the number of attendees and 5% growth in international representation compared to the previous edition.

Fruit Attraction 2025

Of the total attendees, 49% were international, marking a 7% rise over 2024, and underscoring the fair’s increasingly global and professional profile. Spain had a strong presence, with Andalusia, Valencia, Murcia and Catalonia as the leading participating regions, while international professionals came from Europe, mainly from Italy, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, as well as from other parts of the world such as Peru, Chile, Brazil and South Africa.

The trade fair also reached historic figures, with 2,485 exhibiting companies from 64 countries across 78,212 net square metres, representing an 11% increase in exhibition space and a 13% increase in exhibitors number compared to 2024.

Fruit Attraction also provided a platform for international promotion and expansion with the ‘International Buyers Programme’, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, ICEX and FEPEX, which attracted 600 major buyers, retail purchasing managers, importers and wholesalers from 58 countries to Madrid. The ‘Guest Importing Countries’ programme also spotlighted Malaysia and Mexico this year.

The technical sessions and congress programme, together with Factoría Chef by #alimentosdespaña, gathered over 3,200 attendees across 95 sessions, which addressed the main trends in innovation, sustainability, logistics and fruit and vegetable technology.

The tomato took centre stage as the Star Product of this edition, honoured for its culinary, nutritional and cultural value, as well as its role as a symbol of excellence and sustainability in Spanish horticultural production. (More information here).

Fruit Attraction was hosted numerous industry meetings, including the Joint Fruit and Vegetable Committee of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with the participation of representatives from the growers’ and traders’ associations of the four countries together with government officials. The meeting, which is held every four years in Spain, analysed the conclusions and demands of the product contact groups held in 2025 (tomato, strawberry, garlic, peach and nectarine, apple and pear, citrus, table grape, ready-to-eat range and plant protection products), as well as the proposals for the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

With regard to innovation, the Innovation Hub Awards recognised the most outstanding products and services in the industry from a total of 50 entries and nine finalists. The Fresh Produce award went to IRTA – Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries; in the F&V Industry category, the winner was Edencore; and in Sustainability and Commitment Actions, the award went to Pallet Sure.

The Best Stand Awards were also presented at Fruits Attraction 2025, held in collaboration with WAH, they recognise exhibitors who excel in innovation, design, sustainability and originality. BayWa Global Produce received the award in the Sustainability category, Fontestad won the award for Best Design and BCC – Grupo Cajamar was recognised as the Most Original Stand Space. Finally, in the People’s Choice category, selected from more than 6,000 votes, the award-winners were Moguer Cuna de Platero, in Fresh Produce, Veganic, in Auxiliary Industry, Ontime Corporate Union, in Fresh Food Logistics, and Hispatec Agrointeligencia, in Innova & Tech.

The XV APAE Journalism Awards and the Fruit Attraction Journalism Award were also presented, with this year’s honour going to Fructidor (Francia)

The celebration of Fruit Attraction 2025 generated an estimated economic impact in Madrid of 407 million euros contributing to the maintenance of 3,066 jobs, consolidating Fruit Attraction, and IFEMA MADRID, as a key economic and social engine for the region.

Organised by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, Fruit Attraction 2026 took place from 6 to 8 October at the trade fair centre.

More information on: https://www.ifema.es/en/fruit-attraction 

Fruit Attraction contact:
Elena Valera
evalera@ifema.es 

Extending Trust Between Cultures & Generations Through “Wisdom • Wealth • A Life of Warmth”

SHANGHAI, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Noah Holdings Limited (“Noah” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX: 6686), a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for global Chinese high-net-worth investors, launched its inaugural art exhibition, Hub: The Endless Exploration of Art, at the Noah N+ Art Club in Shanghai. The exhibition features leading Chinese and international contemporary artists with works spanning painting, sculpture, and installation.

N+ Art Club: Wealth Beyond the Numbers

As the inaugural exhibition of the N+ Art Club, Hub: The Endless Exploration of Art serves as a three-dimensional manifestation of Noah’s brand philosophy: “Wisdom • Wealth • A Life of Warmth.” It also honors inherited family values while celebrating a new generation’s modern interpretation of life, culture, and wealth. This is expressed not only through the art itself, but also through selection of the curator: the daughter of a long-standing client.

Jingbo Wang, Founder and Chairwoman of Noah Holdings, said: “Twenty years ago, Noah met an entrepreneur client in Suzhou who was not only astute in business but also a passionate art collector. Over twenty years, his daughter has returned to China after completing her studies overseas and, as the curator of this exhibition, uses the language of contemporary art to express her independent reflections on wealth, life, and meaning. The inheritance of wealth ultimately returns to the inheritance of culture and spirit. To me, This is more than art exhibition; it’s a coming together of worlds through a connection spanning two generations.”

In an era where value is often defined by data, Noah seeks another form of wealth—one that cannot be measured, yet enriches life: spiritual assets.

Zander Yin, CEO of Noah Holdings, said: “At Noah, we believe true wealth extends beyond the accumulation of numbers to the inspiration of wisdom. It is something more human: warm, intelligent, and wise, strengthened by wisdom and sustained by trust. The N+ Art Center is Noah’s way of extending this trust through the language of art, exploring new possibilities where wisdom and beauty converge. By allowing us to explore the world’s truths more deeply, art helps us create a new, more spiritual form of enrichment for Chinese families all over the world.”

The N+ Art Club stands as Noah’s dedicated platform for this vision, creating a unique space where global Chinese families can explore art as a bridge connecting business with culture, wealth with spirit, and heritage with innovation.

A Journey Through Four Chapters 

Hub: The Endless Exploration of Art tells a story through four chapters structured to explore the deeper meaning of themes wealth and life, celebrating both the cultural heritage and contemporary vision of global Chinese families:

• Revealing Civilization: Symbols, Bodies, and Cross-Cultural Dialogue
  A dialogue between Eastern and Western artists unveils the hidden codes of civilization. Through collision and exchange, new value systems emerge—where wealth reflects not numbers, but the folds of human wisdom and cultural insight.
• Folds of Value: The Archaeology of Material Reconstruction
  Artistic inquiry reconsiders the ties between material wealth and spiritual depth. Wealth becomes a living texture—an imprint of human creativity on the everchanging fabric of civilization.
• Weaving Emotions: Mapping Resonance Across Contexts
  Art acts as a loom of emotion, connecting hearts across generations and geographies. Here, wealth is reimagined as an emotional bond rather than isolated possession.
• Room 404: Ethical Reflections in the Posthuman Era
  Art returns to the essence of life, confronting the meaning of existence. Wealth, when infused with compassion, transcends time to present a more humane vision of value.

The exhibition will feature various leading artists and works including:

• Small Earth by Antony Gormley (UK), winner of Turner Prize in 1994.
• Peach Blossom Series by Zhou Chunya (China), one of the most influential figures in Chinese contemporary art.
• Noeud Sauvage 2025 by Jean-Michel Othoniel (France), an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist known for his iconic glass sculptures.
• F-X012Y005 by Gu Changwei (China), a celebrated figure in Chinese cinema who transitioned from an acclaimed cinematographer to a prominent film director.

By hosting world-class exhibitions and facilitating dialogue across cultures and generations, N+ Art Club represents a new vision for what a wealth management firm can offer. Hub: The Endless Exploration of Art will be held from Oct. 18, 2025 to Jan 31, 2026 at the Noah N+ Art Club in Shanghai. For full exhibition details and updates, please visit: https://m.damai.cn/shows/item.html?itemId=983574322425

ABOUT NOAH HOLDINGS LIMITED

Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX: 6686) is a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for global Chinese high-net-worth investors. Noah’s American depositary shares, or ADSs, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NOAH”, and its shares are listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “6686”. One ADS represents five ordinary shares, par value $0.00005 per share.