CHANGSHA, China, Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This is a report from Hunan Today: At the foot of Yuelu Mountain, Yuelu Academy’s red gate stands with the old couplet “Only Chu Has Talents, and Here They Shine Most.” Two young women in Hanfu—Ying and Shi—met American scholar Professor Xia (who’s studied Hunan culture for 7 years) here. Xia explained the couplet’s meaning and shared the academy’s history: it’s 300 years older than Oxford, and great minds like Zhu Xi and Mao Zedong once sought truth here. Ying asked Xia to guide them, and he agreed, changing into a scholar’s robe.

They walked the central path past three gates. Xia told Shi each gate had a role: greeting guests, reminding rules, calming minds. He explained the second gate’s inscription (from Records of the Grand Historian) meant the academy used nature to help students focus. In the lecture hall, Xia said two chairs honored the 1167 “Zhu-Zhang Debate,” where scholars argued but found common ground. He also talked about the “Seek Truth from Facts” plaque—written in 1917, it shaped young Mao (who lived here 1917-1919). In the courtyard, Xia shared Hunan’s “Unity of Knowledge and Action” spirit: “Act, don’t just know.”

As the sun set, they said goodbye. Ying thanked Xia, noting she now saw culture in the academy’s stories. Shi said, “Culture has no borders—we’ll pass this on.” Watching them leave, Xia whispered, “This legacy is with the young!” Wind rustled trees, cheering the cultural handover.

CommScope FLX ODN integration with Nokia Broadband Easy accelerates and automates FTTH network rollouts for rapid deployment 

CLAREMONT, N.C., Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM), a global leader in network connectivity, and Nokia today announced a joint initiative to streamline FTTH deployments in APAC by integrating CommScope FLX™ ODN  non-hardened connectorized terminals with the Nokia Broadband Easy digital automation platform for fiber rollout. The combined, turn-key solution gives service providers a digitized and assured path to FTTH with unprecedented accuracy, speed, and automation.

“One of the most persistent challenges in FTTH field deployments is achieving precise installation and provisioning of network components,” said Andrew Bond-Webster, Vice President, Broadband APAC, CommScope. “By integrating Nokia Broadband Easy with the CommScope FLX ODN solution, we’re empowering service providers to get it right the first time—every time. This minimizes rework, enables the use of less specialized technicians, and enhances rollout accuracy. The CommScope FLX ODN platform is instrumental in lowering total cost of ownership, accelerating time to market, and reducing unnecessary truck rolls—delivering greater operational efficiency and cost savings.”

“With Broadband Easy, we’re transforming fiber deployment—making it simpler, faster, and more cost-efficient for operators,” said Vimal Kothandaraman, Vice President, APAC Fixed Networks business center, Nokia. “By harnessing the power of AI alongside our deep expertise in fiber network design, and integrating the CommScope FLX ODN solution, we’re not only helping operators to save costs and reduce rollout times but also enabling them to accelerate delivery of high-speed connectivity to the next billion homes.”

The CommScope FLX™ ODN  plug-and-play fiber access terminals use advanced indexing and connectorized technology to eliminate field splicing while remaining modular and scalable. The solution is integrated with the Nokia Broadband Easy digital automation platform, allowing customers to centrally manage the entire fiber deployment process with AI-driven automation and quality assurance – from design to operations. The result is higher-quality fiber networks that are faster to deploy, more cost efficient, and ready for the future.

The joint solution is available today for CommScope and Nokia customers in APAC. It will be showcased at Network-X in Paris, France 14-16, October, 2025 and at Telecoms World Asia event in Bangkok, Thailand 18-19 November, 2025.

—END—

CommScope and the CommScope logo are registered trademarks of CommScope and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. For additional trademark information see https://www.commscope.com/trademarks. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Media inquiries
Nokia Communications, Corporate
Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

News Media Contact:
Tan Weiwei
weiwei.tan@commscope.com 

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to management, management’s beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently expected. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

• EVM14 becomes Everest Medicines’ internally developed therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine to receive IND approvals from both China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• EVM14, an off-the-shelf therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine, is developed based on Everest Medicines’ proprietary mRNA platform. It is formulated with mRNA encoding 5 tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and is designed to treat various squamous cell carcinomas.
• In preclinical studies, EVM14 demonstrated the ability to induce immune memory and prevent tumor recurrence, offering hope for long-term cancer-free survival.
• Tumor-associated antigen vaccines offer distinct advantages, including elimination of HLA screening requirements, off-the-shelf availability, lower production costs versus personalized neoantigen vaccines, and applicability across multiple tumor types.

SHANGHAI, Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, “Everest”, or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics, today announced the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for EVM14, a Tumor-Associated Antigen (TAA) cancer vaccine, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China. This achievement marks a key milestone in the Company’s efforts to develop innovative mRNA therapeutics in oncology. EVM14 becomes Everest Medicines’ internally developed therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine to receive IND approvals from both China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

EVM14, an off-the-shelf therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine, is developed based on Everest Medicines’ proprietary mRNA platform. It is formulated with mRNA encoding 5 tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and is designed to treat various squamous cell carcinomas, including squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). EVM14 previously received IND clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2025.

“The cancer burden in China remains substantial. Neither immunotherapy nor targeted therapy can offer long term benefits to cancer patients. As a tumor-associated antigen cancer vaccine, EVM14 is designed to treat various squamous cell carcinomas,” Professor Lu Shun, the Lead Principal Investigator in China and Director of the Oncology Department at Shanghai Chest Hospital, stated: ” EVM14’s unique mechanism offers the potential to complement current treatments by enhancing the efficacy via combination therapies and helping delay disease recurrence, aligning with current trends in oncology drug development. In preclinical studies, EVM14 demonstrated the ability to induce immune memory and prevent tumor recurrence，offering hope for long-term cancer-free survival. We look forward to EVM14 demonstrating promising therapeutic potential in clinical trials, bringing new hope to more patients.”

“EVM14 is Everest’s first therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine to achieve IND approvals in both China and the U.S. The approvals reinforces our leadership in developing therapeutic cancer vaccine as a novel immuno-oncology modality.” said Rogers Yongqing Luo, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines. “Tumor-associated antigen vaccines offer distinct advantages, including elimination of HLA screening requirements, off-the-shelf availability, lower production costs versus personalized neoantigen vaccines, and applicability across multiple tumor types.

The NMPA approval marks another important milestone that will accelerate clinical development in both countries. Ongoing global multicenter trials will generate valuable clinical evidence to support indication expansion and bring more treatment options to cancer patients worldwide.”

The primary endpoints of the EVM14 Phase I trial are safety and tolerability, with secondary endpoints assessing preliminary efficacy. In the targeted cancer types, 96% of patients with sq-NSCLC and 97% of patients with HNSCC expressed at least one of the five target genes.^[1]. This broad expression profile, coupled with the limited efficacy of existing standard-of-care therapies, highlights a substantial unmet medical need within these patient populations.

In preclinical studies, EVM14 induced a dose-dependent antigen-specific immune response in mice and significantly inhibited tumor growth in multiple syngeneic tumor models. Notably, EVM14 demonstrated the ability to induce immune memory and prevent tumor recurrence, offering hope for long-term cancer-free survival. Furthermore, preclinical data demonstrated that the combination of EVM14 with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, greatly enhanced the anti-tumor activity, reduced recurrence and metastasis, and supports clinical exploration of combination therapies.

Everest Medicines’ Jiashan manufacturing site released the first GMP clinical trial batch in June 2025. This batch will support the clinical trials of EVM14 in both China and the United States. The clinical centers involved include NEXT Oncology Virginia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the U.S., and Shanghai Chest Hospital in China.

About EVM14

EVM14 Injection is a preservative-free, sterile mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) cancer vaccine. It is formulated with mRNA solution encoding 5 tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle system. After intramuscular injection, EVM14 is taken up by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and translated into target antigens. These antigens are processed, presented to T cells by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and activated antigen-specific T cells. The activated T cells can migrate to tumor tissues, recognize, and kill the tumor cells expressing the target antigens.

About Everest Medicines

Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products and vaccines that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record from both leading global pharmaceutical companies and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies in high-quality discovery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules in the company’s core therapeutic areas of renal diseases, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

References:

1. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data

– In head-to-head non-human primate (NHP) studies, average observed half-life of ASC35 was approximately 14 days, 6-fold longer than tirzepatide, which supports once-monthly subcutaneous (SQ) dosing in humans.

– In head-to-head NHP studies, drug exposures of ASC35 intravenous (I.V.) and SQ administration were approximately 80% and 70% greater than tirzepatide I.V. and SQ administration, respectively.

– ASC35 was approximately 4-fold more potent than tirzepatide for both GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and GIP receptor (GIPR) in vitro.

– ASC35 demonstrated approximately 71% greater relative body weight reduction compared to tirzepatide in a head-to-head diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse study.

– Submission of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for ASC35 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected in the second quarter of 2026.

HONG KONG, Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX: 1672, “Ascletis”) announces that it has selected ASC35, a once-monthly, potentially best-in-class subcutaneously administered GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R)/GIP receptor (GIPR) dual peptide agonist, as a clinical development candidate. Ascletis expects to submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for ASC35 for the treatment of obesity to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second quarter of 2026.

ASC35, a GLP-1R and GIPR dual peptide agonist, was discovered and developed in-house utilizing Ascletis’ Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Structure-Based Drug Discovery (AISBDD) and Ultra-Long-Acting Platform (ULAP) technologies. ASC35 was approximately 4-fold more potent than tirzepatide for both GLP-1R and GIPR in vitro. ASC35 is engineered for a longer observed half-life (as measured by time to 50% C_max) and higher bioavailability per milligram of peptide, compared to once-weekly administered tirzepatide, to support once-monthly SQ dosing, with injection volume of one milliliter or less. These engineered properties also allow for scalability advantages in manufacturing. 

In head-to-head non-human primate (NHP) studies, ASC35 slow-release SQ depot formulations had an average observed half-life of approximately 14 days, 6-fold longer than tirzepatide in its FDA-authorized SQ formulation. In head-to-head NHP studies, drug exposures (as measured by the area under curve) of ASC35 intravenous (I.V.) and SQ administration were approximately 80% and 70% greater than tirzepatide I.V. and SQ administration, respectively. The pharmacokinetic relationship between NHPs and humans is well established by multiple peptide agonists. For example, tirzepatide’s 56-hour half-life in NHPs translates into a half-life of 128 hours (5.3 days) in humans^[1]. Therefore, the observed half-life of ASC35 in humans may be predicted to be 30 days or longer based on NHP studies. These preclinical data support ASC35 as a once-monthly treatment for obesity in humans. The longer observed half-life and a flatter pharmacokinetic profile of ASC35 in NHPs compared to other peptide incretins may also translate into a better gastrointestinal tolerability in humans. 

In a head-to-head diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse study, which is well established as being highly predictive of human efficacy, dosed with equal molar concentrations of ASC35 and tirzepatide, ASC35 reduced body weight by 33.6%, compared to 19.6% for tirzepatide, a relative increase in efficacy of 71% (Table 1). This superior weight loss per milligram of peptide may also provide scalability advantages in manufacturing.

Table 1. ASC35 demonstrated statistically and significantly more weight loss than tirzepatide in DIO mice

ASC35’s superior in vitro potency, longer observed half-life, better SQ bioavailability and greater weight loss compared to tirzepatide demonstrate its potential as a best-in-class treatment for obesity.

“The selection of our first peptide agonist for clinical development demonstrates our commitment to innovation and complements our portfolio of small molecule candidates for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic diseases,” said Jinzi Jason Wu, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis, “The preclinical characterization of ASC35 suggests best-in-class efficacy with once-monthly dosing resulting in superior weight loss and a more versatile and patient friendly titration schedule.”

Potential Combination Studies with ASC35

ASC35 is being developed as a monotherapy and in combination for the treatment of cardio-metabolic diseases including obesity, diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Ascletis plans to combine ASC35, a GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist, with its ASC36, a once-monthly subcutaneously administered amylin receptor peptide agonist to treat obesity and diabetes. Ascletis also plans to combine ASC35 with its once-monthly SQ ASC47, an adipose-targeted thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) agonist, to treat multiple metabolic diseases such as obesity and MASH.

Ascletis’ AISBDD and ULAP technologies enable the Company to design, optimize and develop multiple once-monthly SQ ultra-long-acting peptides, including ASC35 and ASC36. Based on the properties of peptides, the Company can design, through its proprietary ULAP technology, various slow-release constants (k) for peptides in SQ depots to precisely release injected peptides over desired dosing intervals to reduce peak-to-trough ratios and improve clinical outcomes.

About Ascletis Pharma Inc.

Ascletis Pharma Inc. is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential best-in-class and first-in-class therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases. Utilizing its proprietary Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Structure-Based Drug Discovery (AISBDD) and Ultra-Long-Acting Platform (ULAP) technologies, Ascletis has developed multiple drug candidates in-house, including its lead program, ASC30, a small molecule GLP-1R agonist designed to be administered once daily orally and once monthly to once quarterly subcutaneously as a treatment therapy and a maintenance therapy for chronic weight management. Ascletis is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK).

For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.

Contact：

Peter Vozzo
ICR Healthcare
443-231-0505 (U.S.)
Peter.vozzo@icrhealthcare.com

Ascletis Pharma Inc. PR and IR teams
+86-181-0650-9129 (China)
pr@ascletis.com
ir@ascletis.com