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2025 ASCO Oral Presentation: Innovent Biologics Announces Updated Date of IBI363 (First-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias Bispecific Antibody Fusion Protein) from Phase 1 Clinical Studies in Advanced Colorectal Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO, and SUZHOU, China, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Innovent Biologics, Inc. (“Innovent”) (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, announces that the clinical data of IBI363 (first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein) monotherapy and combo-therapy with bevacizumab in advanced colorectal cancer were orally presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. IBI363 demonstrated encouraging response and overall survival benefit in the context of colorectal cancer, which is typically considered an immunologically ‘cold’ tumor, supports its unique mechanism of actions (MoA) of turning “cold tumor” into “hot tumor”.

Innovent Biologics is conducting clinical studies in China, the United States, and Australia to explore the efficacy and safety of IBI363 for multiple tumor indications, including immune resistance, cold tumors, and front-line treatments. At this year’s ASCO meeting, IBI363 reported encouraging Phase 1/2 clinical data in the first three indications explored—non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and melanoma—focusing on IO-resistant and cold tumors. The data comprehensively demonstrated the breakthrough clinical outcomes of IBI363 across these indications, from robust tumor response to long-term survival benefits. These findings provide strong support of the drug’s novel mechanism of action translating effectively into clinical outcomes, and imply its potential for broader clinical development, offering new hope in areas of immunotherapy where treatment options remain limited.

PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein IBI363 monotherapy and combined with bevacizumab in participants with advanced colorectal cancer: results from Phase 1 studies

Two Phase 1 studies (NCT05460767, NCT06717880) were conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of IBI363 monotherapy and combined with bevacizumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

IBI363 monotherapy has demonstrated breakthrough antitumor therapeutic potential, showing a significant extension of overall survival compared to data of standard-of-care therapies

  • As of the data cutoff date (Apr 7th, 2025), a total of 68 participants with advanced colorectal cancer received IBI363 monotherapy at the dose levels from 0.1 mg/kg to 3mg/kg. No patients were confirmed as microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or deficient mismatch repair (dMMR). 86.8% of patients were microsatellite stable (MSS) or proficient mismatch repair (pMMR). 61.8% of patients had liver metastases. 63.2% of patients had previously received 3 or more lines of systemic anti-tumor treatments. 23.9% of patients had received prior immunotherapy.
  • Notably, among patients receiving monotherapy with IBI363 (n=68), with a median follow-up time of 20.1 months, the median overall survival (OS) reached 16.1 months, demonstrating a significant improvement compared to the historical data of standard treatments (ranging from 6.4 to 9.3 months1-3).
  • Subgroup analyses revealed that patients with or without liver metastasis both showed excellent overall survival (OS), indicating significant clinical benefit. The median OS were 14.4 months (with liver metastasis) and 17.0 months (without liver metastasis).
  • Among patients treated with monotherapy of IBI363 1 mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W) (n=22), the confirmed objective response rate (cORR) was 13.6%.

Liver metastasis
(n = 42)

without liver metastasis
(n = 26)

Total

(n = 68)

Median OS, month (95% CI)

14.4 (8.0, 18.8)

17.0 (9.9, NC)

16.1 (10.1, 18.8)

6-month OS rate, % (95% CI)

81.3 (64.6, 90.6)

80.0 (58.4, 91.1)

80.7 (68.5, 88.6)

12-month OS rate, % (95% CI)

54.8 (36.9, 69.5)

59.5 (37.8, 75.8)

56.6 (43.0, 68.1)

18-month OS rate, % (95% CI)

37.6 (21.3, 53.9)

44.8 (24.0, 63.6)

40.3 (27.2, 53.0)

OS median follow-up time, month (95% CI)

20.2 (17.9, 20.7)

20.1 (16.8, 21.7)

20.1 (17.7, 20.6)

The combination of IBI363 and bevacizumab demonstrated encouraging efficacy signals and a manageable safety profile, with excellent data on objective response rate and progression-free survival

  • As of the data cutoff date (Apr 7th, 2025), a total of 73 patients with advanced colorectal cancer received IBI363 (dose levels from 0.6 mg/kg to 3mg/kg) and bevacizumab combination therapy. No patients were confirmed as MSI-H or dMMR. 91.8% of patients were MSS or pMMR. 56.2% of patients had liver metastases. 54.8% of patients had previously received 3 or more lines of systemic anti-tumor treatments. 16.4% of patients had received prior immunotherapy.
  • In all participants treated with IBI363 in combination with bevacizumab (n=73), the cORR was 15.1% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 61.6%. With a median follow-up time of 9.9 months, the median progression free survival (PFS) reached 4.7 months. With a median follow-up time of 9.4 months, OS was not mature, with events in only 13 participants (17.8%).
  • As for the combination therapy in patients without liver metastases (n=32), the confirmed ORR was 31.3%, with a DCR of 81.3%. The median PFS reached to 7.4 months.
  • In those participants who received IBI363 at 3 mg/kg Q3W plus bevacizumab (n=31), confirmed ORR and DCR increased to 19.4% and 71.0%, respectively. The median PFS increased to 5.6 months.

IBI363 3 mg/kg Q3W +Bevacizumab

(n = 31)

Without liver metastasis
(n = 32)

Total

(n = 73)

Confirmed ORR, % (95% CI)

19.4 (7.5, 37.5)

31.3 (16.1, 50.0)

15.1 (7.8, 25.4)

DCR, % (95% CI)

71.0 (52.0, 85.8)

81.3 (63.6, 92.8)

61.6 (49.5, 72.8)

Median PFS, month (95% CI)

5.6 (2.5,6.8)

7.4 (4.1, 9.8)

4.7 (2.5,6.7)

PFS median follow-up time, month (95% CI)

8.6 (7.2, 10.2)

9.9 (7.2, 13.1)

9.9 (7.2, 13.9)

  • In terms of safety, among participants receiving monotherapy and combination therapy, 19 (27.9%) and 26 (35.6%) reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of Grade 3 or higher, respectively. The most common TRAEs were arthralgia, anemia, rash, and hypothyroidism. No new safety signals were observed, with a manageable risk-benefit profile in IBI363 alone or in combination with bevacizumab.

Tumor immune cell infiltration analysis supports the IBI363 MOA of turning “cold tumor” into “hot tumor”, demonstrating enrichment of PD1+CD25+CD8+ cells in baseline tumor tissue association with clinical efficacy

  • In baseline tumor tissues, elevated infiltration of CD8+ cells, CD25+CD8+ cells, and PD1+CD25+CD8+ cells were associated with improved clinical response to IBI363 monotherapy (partial response or stable disease). This supports the potential anti-tumor effects of IBI363 in the treatment of colorectal cancer from the perspective of its mechanism of action.

Professor Tao Zhang, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, stated: “Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer type globally and ranks fourth in cancer-related mortality4. About 86% of colorectal cancer are in an immune ‘desert’ or immune-inflamed suppressed state, rendering traditional immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) ineffective5. For colorectal cancer that has failed standard treatments, there are limited therapeutic options with short survival periods, representing a significant unmet clinical need6. IBI363, as a PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific fusion protein, has demonstrated robust antitumor efficacy in preclinical studies through the effective expansion of tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cells (TST cells). Its ability to block PD-1 and stimulate TST cells holds the potential to transform ‘cold’ tumors into ‘hot’ tumors. As a monotherapy, IBI363 achieves a median survival of 16.1 months in later-line treatments, which represents a significant improvement compared to the median survival of current standard therapies and also confirms its potential with a strong ‘tail effect’ as a PD1 plus cytokine bispecific immunotherapy. The combination of IBI363 with bevacizumab is still under continuous follow-up, having shown promising efficacy and tolerable safety, with unique efficacy characteristics particularly in the subgroup without liver metastasis. Overall, clinical data suggest that IBI363 combined with bevacizumab holds significant promise for colorectal cancer and warrants further exploration.”

Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent, stated: “On top of the preliminary data reported at 2024 ASCO and 2024 ESMO, we are presenting more updated follow-up data and combination therapy results of IBI363 at the ASCO Congress this year. From a comprehensive body of clinical evidence that includes ORR, PFS, OS, IBI363 demonstrated robust antitumor activity of both monotherapy and combination therapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who are non-MSI-H/dMMR. We are eyeing on long-term survival data from high dose in longer follow-up period. And the pivotal study of IBI363 targeting advanced CRC is in plan. Observing such results in the context of colorectal cancer, which is typically considered an immunologically ‘cold’ tumor, further highlights the broad development potential of IBI363. It offers hope for expanding into areas where immunotherapy has been less effective or even unresponsive.”

About IBI363 (First-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein)

IBI363 is a first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein independently developed by Innovent Biologics. It functions by both blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and activating the IL-2 pathway. The IL-2 arm of IBI363 is designed to maintain its affinity for IL-2Rα while reducing binding to IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ, thereby minimizing toxicity. The PD-1 binding arm not only blocks PD-1 but also selectively delivers IL-2. This approach targets and activates tumor-specific T cells that express both PD-1 and IL-2α, leading to more precise and effective activation of this T cell subpopulation. IBI363 has demonstrated robust antitumor activity in various tumor-bearing pharmacological models, but also showed outstanding efficacy in PD-1 resistance and metastasis models. 

In response to urgent clinical needs, Innovent is conducting clinical studies in China, the United States and Australia to further explore the efficacy and safety of IBI363 in various tumor indications, including immune-resistant, cold tumors, and front-line treatments. The first pivotal trial of IBI363 was initiated in 2025 for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic mucosal or acral melanoma who have not received prior systemic therapy.

IBI363 has received two fast track designations (FTD) from the U.S. FDA and two breakthrough designations (BTD) from the China NMPA, for the treatment of squamous non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, respectively.

About Innovent

Innovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to empower patients worldwide with affordable, high-quality biopharmaceuticals. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines that target some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has launched 15 products in the market. It has 3 new drug applications under regulatory review, 4 assets in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials and 15 more molecules in early clinical stage. Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare companies, including Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Incyte, Adimab, LG Chem and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Guided by the motto, “Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action,” Innovent maintains the highest standard of industry practices and works collaboratively to advance the biopharmaceutical industry so that first-rate pharmaceutical drugs can become widely accessible. For more information, visit www.innoventbio.com, or follow Innovent on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Statement:

1Innovent does not recommend the use of any unapproved drug (s)/indication (s).

2Ramucirumab (Cyramza®) and Selpercatinib (Retsevmo®) and Pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca®) were developed by Eli Lilly and Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent’s control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent’s competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

Innovent, the Directors and the employees of Innovent assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.

References

1. Dasari A, et al. Fruquintinib versus placebo in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (FRESCO-2): an international, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2023 Jul 1;402(10395):41-53.

2. Grothey A, et al. CORRECT Study Group. Regorafenib monotherapy for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (CORRECT): an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2013 Jan 26;381(9863):303-12.

3. Mayer RJ, et al. Randomized Trial of TAS-102 for Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2015 May 14;372(20):1909-1919. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1414325.

4. https://publications.iarc.fr/Databases/Iarc-Cancerbases/GLOBOCAN-2012-Estimated-Cancer-Incidence-Mortality-And-Prevalence-Worldwide-In-2012-V1.0-2012.

5. Huyghe N, et al. Biomarkers of Response and Resistance to Immunotherapy in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer: Toward a New Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Apr 29;14(9):2241.

6. O’Neil BH, et al. Safety and antitumor activity of the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. PLoS One. 2017 Dec 28;12(12):e0189848.

 

Hyundai Capital Australia Launches Kia Finance, Expanding its Finance Offerings to All Hyundai Motor Group Vehicles

SEOUL, South Korea, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Capital Services announced today that its Australian subsidiary Hyundai Capital Australia Pty. Ltd. (“HCAU” or the “Company”) launched Kia Finance and has commenced offering finance solutions for Kia customers in Australia.

Last year, HCAU commenced operations in the Australian market with the launch of Genesis Finance in October, followed by Hyundai Finance in November. With the introductions of Kia Finance, HCAU now delivers comprehensive automotive finance across all three Hyundai Motor Group brands – Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia. The company is committed to supporting vehicle sales through a broad range of business initiatives, offering tailored financial solutions such as retail finance for personal and business customers, alongside stable and reliable commercial funding for dealer partners.

A key offering from HCAU is the Guaranteed Future Value* (GFV) product, designed to make vehicle ownership more accessible through lower monthly repayments. HCAU secures the minimum resale value of the vehicle upfront, allowing the customer to defer this amount and make repayments based only on the balance. At the end of the loan term, customers have the flexibility to choose from the following options:

1. Trade-in: the vehicle’s value is used towards paying out the loan. If the trade-in value is higher than the GFV, the positive equity can be used towards a new vehicle.

2. Keep: pay the GFV amount to own the vehicle outright.

3. Return: return the vehicle with no further payments, provided the customer is not in default and the vehicle meets the agreed kilometre and fair wear and tear conditions.

Furthermore, HCAU offers competitive interest rates to customers, leveraging the strong global credit rating of the Hyundai Motor Group. In March, the Company received an initial credit rating of ‘A-‘ with a stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), a notable achievement for a relatively new entrant to the market. This rating strengthens HCAU’s funding capacity in Australia, enabling it to continue delivering highly competitive interest rates to customers while supporting sustainable growth.

“With the launch of Kia Finance, HCAU is now able to offer a comprehensive range of automotive finance solutions for all Hyundai Motor Group vehicles in Australia,” said Donglim Shin, Chief Executive Officer of HCAU. He added, “HCAU will actively engage in a wide range of customer-centric marketing initiatives in partnership with Kia, Hyundai Motor and Genesis to ensure more customers can enjoy an exceptional ownership experience through our flexible finance options.

*The Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) is the minimum future value of your in-stock new or approved demo Hyundai, Genesis or Kia set out in your contract. At the end of the term, you can sell your car to us, and we will pay the GFV which will be put against your final payment, provided you’re not in default under your contract and subject to fair wear and tear requirements and agreed kilometres being met.

Finance is for approved applicants only. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and lending criteria applies. Hyundai Capital Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 42 611 226 316), Australian Credit Licence 554051.

BreastScreen Australia Density Reporting Rule is a Critical Step for Women says Volpara Health, the Leader in AI-assisted Breast Density Measurement

Volpara software is used to assess the breast density of more than 1 million Australian women
annually

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Volpara Health, a Lunit a company and global leader in software for the early detection of breast cancer, today applauded the significant advancement in breast health management with BreastScreen Australia’s new position on breast density reporting. This new guidance recommends that all BreastScreen services in Australia provide breast density information to clients, enhancing awareness and understanding of this critical risk factor.

A Step Toward More Accurate and Personalised Breast Cancer Screening

Volpara’s Scorecard software is utilised to measure the breast density of over 1 million women annually across Australia, including in BreastScreen Victoria and BreastScreen South Australia. This comprehensive, AI-driven approach supports physicians in making consistent, objective assessments, helping to ensure that breast cancer risk is more accurately evaluated for each patient.

Volpara’s volumetric breast density assessment software, including its proprietary Volpara® TruDensity™ AI algorithm, provides consistent and precise breast density measurements. Cleared by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), FDA, Health Canada, and CE-marked in Europe, this technology has been validated in more than 400 scientific articles and research abstracts, underscoring its reliability and accuracy.

“We’ve been collaborating with leading clinicians and researchers worldwide for over a decade to make critical information about breast composition and its link to breast cancer more accessible,” said Craig Hadfield, CEO, Volpara Health. “The new guidelines from BreastScreen Australia validate our focus on applying tech and AI advancements to breast density and are a significant step forward in enhancing the experience and understanding for women and their healthcare providers. We encourage women to contact their local healthcare provider and ask how they assess breast density.”

Understanding Breast Density: A Critical Risk Factor

Breast density is an important factor in both breast cancer detection and risk assessment. It has been linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, while also making it more challenging to detect cancer through mammography. In Australia, approximately 40% of women have dense breasts, including 12% with extremely dense breasts. As breast density increases, the accuracy of mammography decreases.

Research published in Radiology reveals that mammography can miss up to 50% of cancers in women with the densest breast tissue. Since both dense breast tissue and tumours appear white on a mammogram, cancers are often concealed, potentially delaying diagnosis. Studies confirm that early detection rates improve significantly when women with very dense breasts receive additional imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI, as part of their regular screening regimen.

The Path Forward: Embracing Personalised Screening

Breast density information is also integrated into several risk models, which helps identify women at higher risk of breast cancer who may benefit from supplemental screening. Volpara Scorecard is the only commercial automated software validated for use in both the Tyrer-Cuzick 8 and CanRisk (BOADICEA) riskmodels, providing consistent and robust breast density measurements. With this new guidance, Volpara is poised to play an essential role in supporting risk assessment and personalised screening in Australia, further advancing the goal of improving outcomes for women.

The importance of personalised screening has also been recognised by other Australian health bodies, with Medicare recently introducing reimbursement for high-risk breast MRI screening based on Tyrer-Cuzick 8 or CanRisk risk assessment. This marks a growing recognition of the need for tailored breast cancer screening strategies that consider individual risk factors, including breast density.

About Volpara Health 

Volpara Health is on a mission to save families from cancer with AI-powered software that helps healthcare providers better understand cancer risk, guide personalized care decisions, and recommend additional imaging and interventions. Used in over 3,500 facilities by more than 9,500 technologists worldwide. Volpara’s software impacts nearly 18M patients, supports over 3.6M annual cancer risk assessments, and integrates seamlessly with electronic health records and imaging systems. Volpara helps radiologists quantify dense breast tissue with precision and technologists produce mammograms with optimal positioning, compression, and dose. Volpara software also streamlines operations to ease compliance and accreditation. Volpara, a Lunit company, is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, and has an office in Seattle. Volpara is the trusted partner of leading healthcare institutions globally. For more information, visit www.volparahealth.com.

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Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality Announce the Official Launch of Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) Joint Venture

CHICAGO and AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mérieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability, and AsureQuality, New Zealand’s premier food assurance provider, are pleased to announce the official launch of their joint venture, Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ). The formation of MNAQ follows the successful completion of Mérieux NutriSciences’ acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ worldwide food testing activities, including its stake in the BVAQ joint ventures in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality Announce the Official Launch of Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) Joint Venture
Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality Announce the Official Launch of Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) Joint Venture

With the transaction having officially closed in Southeast Asia in January 2025 and now finalized in Australia as of May 31st 2025, MNAQ is fully established and poised to become a leading provider of food testing, assurance, and sustainability solutions in both regions.

Kim Ballinger, CEO of AsureQuality, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership: 
“We are excited to officially launch MNAQ, reinforcing our commitment to delivering trusted food assurance services to the industry in Australia and Southeast Asia. This partnership with Mérieux NutriSciences strengthens our ability to support New Zealand exporters in key global markets and drive innovation in food safety and quality.”

Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences, echoed this enthusiasm: 
“The completion of this joint venture marks an important milestone in our global growth strategy and purpose. By combining our scientific expertise and deep industry knowledge, and leveraging a team of over 700 talented employees, MNAQ is uniquely positioned to serve our customers across the food value chain with high-value, science-based solutions. Together with our partners at AsureQuality, we are proud to contribute to safer, more sustainable food systems across Southeast Asia and Australia, and beyond.”

As MNAQ moves forward, it will focus on delivering innovative, science-driven solutions to support food industry players in the region. With a strong foundation built on technical excellence and a shared commitment to food integrity and customer-centricity, the joint venture aims to set new benchmarks for food assurance in Southeast Asia and Australia.

About Mérieux NutriSciences:
Mérieux NutriSciences leverages over 50 years of scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to answer food industry needs. Today’s global challenges transform the way food is produced, marketed and consumed, which is why we know our clients need more than reliable analytical results; they need practical and innovative solutions that will contribute to make food systems safer, healthier and more sustainable. Present worldwide, we have more than 140 accredited laboratories and a team of over 10,000 talented employees. We strongly believe that together, we can create solutions to offer our planet: BETTER FOOD. BETTER HEALTH. BETTER WORLD. www.merieuxnutrisciences.com 

About AsureQuality:
AsureQuality is a New Zealand government-owned entity providing integrated, end-to-end food assurance and services to the food and primary production sectors. With a scientific and agricultural heritage spanning 150 years, AsureQuality has built a trusted reputation for delivering expert services and value across the entire food supply chain. www.asurequality.com 

Media contacts:

MÉRIEUX NUTRISCIENCES

 

media@mxns.com

ASUREQUALITY

 

marketing@asurequality.com 

 

 

 

Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality Announce the Official Launch of Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) Joint Venture

CHICAGO and AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mérieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability, and AsureQuality, New Zealand’s premier food assurance provider, are pleased to announce the official launch of their joint venture, Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ). The formation of MNAQ follows the successful completion of Mérieux NutriSciences’ acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ worldwide food testing activities, including its stake in the BVAQ joint ventures in Southeast Asia and Australia.

With the transaction having officially closed in Southeast Asia in January 2025 and now finalized in Australia as of May 31st 2025, MNAQ is fully established and poised to become a leading provider of food testing, assurance, and sustainability solutions in both regions.

Kim Ballinger, CEO of AsureQuality, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership: 
“We are excited to officially launch MNAQ, reinforcing our commitment to delivering trusted food assurance services to the industry in Australia and Southeast Asia. This partnership with Mérieux NutriSciences strengthens our ability to support New Zealand exporters in key global markets and drive innovation in food safety and quality.”

Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences, echoed this enthusiasm: 
“The completion of this joint venture marks an important milestone in our global growth strategy and purpose. By combining our scientific expertise and deep industry knowledge, and leveraging a team of over 700 talented employees, MNAQ is uniquely positioned to serve our customers across the food value chain with high-value, science-based solutions. Together with our partners at AsureQuality, we are proud to contribute to safer, more sustainable food systems across Southeast Asia and Australia, and beyond.”

As MNAQ moves forward, it will focus on delivering innovative, science-driven solutions to support food industry players in the region. With a strong foundation built on technical excellence and a shared commitment to food integrity and customer-centricity, the joint venture aims to set new benchmarks for food assurance in Southeast Asia and Australia.

About Mérieux NutriSciences:
Mérieux NutriSciences leverages over 50 years of scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to answer food industry needs. Today’s global challenges transform the way food is produced, marketed and consumed, which is why we know our clients need more than reliable analytical results; they need practical and innovative solutions that will contribute to make food systems safer, healthier and more sustainable. Present worldwide, we have more than 140 accredited laboratories and a team of over 10,000 talented employees. We strongly believe that together, we can create solutions to offer our planet: BETTER FOOD. BETTER HEALTH. BETTER WORLD. www.merieuxnutrisciences.com 

About AsureQuality:
AsureQuality is a New Zealand government-owned entity providing integrated, end-to-end food assurance and services to the food and primary production sectors. With a scientific and agricultural heritage spanning 150 years, AsureQuality has built a trusted reputation for delivering expert services and value across the entire food supply chain. www.asurequality.com 

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Media contacts:

MÉRIEUX NUTRISCIENCES

 

media@mxns.com

ASUREQUALITY

 

marketing@asurequality.com 

 

 

Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality Announce the Official Launch of Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) Joint Venture
Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality Announce the Official Launch of Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) Joint Venture

Xinhua Silk Road: 21st Shanghai Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament concludes with record participation

BEIJING, June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The 21st Shanghai Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament wrapped up on May 25 in Putuo District of Shanghai, setting a new record for participation over the past decade. A total of 58 teams from various countries and regions took part in the vibrant competition.

Hosted by the Shanghai Sports Federation and the district government, and organized by the Shanghai Dragon Boat Association, Putuo District Sports Bureau, and Oriental Sports Daily, the event attracted 1,078 athletes across five categories, including elite, university, open, high school, and public groups.

This year’s race expanded its international reach, attracting teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada. Paddlers from the U.S., Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, Singapore, and South Africa also played key roles.

Alongside the race, a themed market event offered residents a one-stop experience of culture, sports, and entertainment.

As Putuo advances its push to develop an innovation belt along the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor, the event also served as a platform for regional cooperation. Dragon boat teams from seven cities including Nanjing, Wuxi, Changzhou, Suzhou, Nantong, Zhenjiang, and Taizhou participated, deepening intercity bonds through sports and cultural exchanges.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/345889.html 

Strengthening Vietnam-US business partnership in the agricultural sector: Towards sustainable development and trade balance

WASHINGTON D.C, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 June 2025 – Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy plans to lead a delegation with nearly 50 agencies, agribusinesses and associations to explore opportunities to promote trade and import agrifood and timber from the United States during June 1-7, 2025. The delegation expects to participate in business dialogues in Iowa, Ohio, and Washington D.C. Vietnamese agribusinesses are ready to seek U.S. partners to purchase US commodities such as animal feed, fertilizers, biopesticides, meat products, frozen marine seafood, and raw timber.

Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The visit aims to boost bilateral trade and create new opportunities for Vietnam to import more agrifood and timber from the U.S., helping to balance trade between the two countries. Besides trade, the Vietnamese delegation expects to access to new technologies, hence improving the competitiveness of their own value chains.

According to Minister Do Duc Duy, both Vietnam and the U.S. have strong agricultural sectors, but their strengths complement rather than compete with each other. “With active support of both Vietnam and US government, Vietnam’s and US’s agriculture have been increasingly connected. Even we’re now sharing the same supply chains, boosting our competitiveness, thereby supporting both producers and consumers in each country”. The Minister emphasized, “Vietnamese agribusinesses have cooperated strongly with the Government to increase the purchase of agrifood and timber products from the U.S. This effort helps balance bilateral trade and strengthens the agricultural supply chain between the two countries, hence contributing to global food security.”

Earlier, in September 2024, the largest U.S. agribusiness delegation in history visited Hanoi to mark the one-year anniversary of the Vietnam–US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Led by USDA Deputy Secretary Alexis Taylor, the delegation was consisted of representatives from nine state governments, 35 businesses, and 25 major industry associations. Their visit underscored the growing interest of U.S. businesses in Vietnam market.

Beyond boosting trade, both countries work to build inclusive development, enhance rural resilience, and promote sustainable production and clean energy. A key highlight is the “International Year of Women Farmers 2026” initiative, co-led by the U.S. and Vietnam and adopted by a United Nations resolution in May 2024. Following the resolution, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment partnered with the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the USDA to launch the initiative with a series of events. As part of the program, two American female farmers – Jennifer Schmidt and Jaclyn Wilson – traveled to Southeast Asia to engage with other female farmers, with Vietnam as their first destination.

Driving global economic growth

Today, American consumers increasingly choose Vietnamese agrifood, especially spices, fruits, seafood, and furniture. Meanwhile, Vietnamese producers rely more on U.S. imports, including cornmeal, soybeans, meat, dairy, lumber, livestock equipment, and seedlings.

Vietnam’s farmers are enhanced with better skills and knowledge to adopt advanced American technologies to boost production, improve produce quality and protect the environment. High-quality materials and cutting-edge technologies from the U.S. are helping Vietnam build more competitive and sustainable supply chains.

Vietnam’s agriculture continues to deepen partnerships with U.S. stakeholders, from federal and state governments to associations and businesses. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has signed multiple agreements with U.S. authorities and state governments. Vietnamese agribusinesses have signed 18 Memorandums of Understanding since 2020 to purchase agrifood from the U.S., totaling 6 billion USD, with half already implemented.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has created favorable conditions for U.S. agricultural exporters to enter the Vietnam market. Vietnam has completed registration procedures for 509 meat and meat exporters and 232 seafood exporters from US to Vietnam; no backlog remains to be processed. Both countries are actively working to open their fruit markets to each other, enabling exporters to reach new customers and for consumers to enjoy the distinctive flavors of both tropical and temperate regions.

Vietnam is also among the first eight Asian countries to approve biotechnology-based plant seeds from the U.S. So far, it has approved all 61 biotechnology applications dossiers submitted by U.S. companies. The two sides have also agreed on transparent and practical methods, procedures, and protocols for animal and plant quarantine. These agreements help pave the way for the development of the agrifood markets in both countries. In addition, the new Decree 73/2025/ND-CP, effective from March 31, 2025, cuts import tarriff to 0% for agrifood products that US has strong competiveness. As a result, agricultural exports from both sides have grown steadily, by around 10% annually over the past decade.

Holistic and sustainable cooperation

The visit of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment delegation to the U.S. in June 2025 reflects Vietnam’s strong commitment to building trust and strengthening strategic partnerships by promoting the shared agricultural supply chains of the two countries. The visit also aims to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations.

In an interview with Vietnamese press, the USDA emphasized: “Any agricultural trade imbalances are largely sector-specific and influenced by factors such as regulations, consumer demand, and supply chain dynamics. Ensuring reciprocal market access and reducing tariffs remain top priorities to sustain long-term trade growth.”

Dr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, General Director of the International Cooperation Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, expressed concern over President Trump administration’s announcement of a 10% tariff from April 2, 2025, and the potential for a 46% reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese exports from July 9, 2025. This tarriff imposition has alarmed not only Vietnamese exporters but also American businesses.

Dr. Tuan explained: “Beyond shrinking profit margins and weakening business competitiveness on both sides, higher reciprocal tariffs will raise prices for essential food products in the U.S. This action not only hurts American consumers but also potentially disrupts the supply chain that both governments and private sectors of both sides have worked hard to build in recent years. Agrifood is a necessity goods, and hiking price of agrifood will significantly burden American average-income households.”

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

China Liberal Education Holdings Limited Announces Suspension of Nasdaq Trading

BEIJING, June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China Liberal Education Holdings Limited (“China Liberal” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CLEU), a China-based company that provides technological consulting services for smart campus solutions and other educational services, today announced that on May 30, 2025, the Company received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that the Company’s securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq effective June 3, 2025. The suspension is due to the Company’s failure to submit a request for an extended stay or otherwise address the delinquency in filing its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, in its written submissions to the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”).

As previously publicly announced and also disclosed in the Company’s Current Reports on Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in May 2025, the Company is awaiting a decision from the Panel regarding its appeal of an earlier determination by Nasdaq’s Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) to delist the Company’s securities. That determination was based on public interest concerns related to the Company’s substantial issuance of ordinary shares in December 2024.

While the Company has submitted written materials in support of its appeal and has requested that the Panel make its decision based solely on the written record, it did not request a stay of suspension or address the additional basis for delisting stemming from the untimely filing of its annual report on the Form 20-F. As a result, the Panel has determined to suspend trading in the Company’s securities.

The Company continues to evaluate all available options and remains committed to compliance with applicable SEC and Nasdaq requirements.

About China Liberal Education Holdings Limited

China Liberal is an educational services provider headquartered in Beijing, China. China Liberal provides a wide range of services, including technological consulting for Chinese universities to improve their campus information and data management systems, designed to enhance the teaching, operating, and management environment of the universities, thus establishing a “smart campus.” Additionally, China Liberal offers tailored job readiness training for graduating students. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at http://ir.chinaliberal.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s expectations and projections about future events, which the Company derives from the information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those using terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. When evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that these expectations will prove to be accurate, and it cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Investors are encouraged to review the risk factors that may affect future results in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Investor Relations Contact

China Liberal Education Holdings Limited
Email: ir@chinaliberal.com 

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
President
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: investors@ascent-ir.com