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Everest Medicines Announces Full Approval of NEFECON® in Taiwan

SHANGHAI, Aug. 6, 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 Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has approved the supplementary application for NEFECON®. NEFECON® is indicated to reduce the loss of kidney function in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) who are at risk for disease progression, irrespective of proteinuria levels. 

With this label update, the previous requirement in accelerated approval stage to submit full confirmatory trial analysis to demonstrate clinical benefit has been formally removed. Additionally, data demonstrating NEFECON®‘s efficacy in delaying kidney function decline has been included in the approved product label. IgAN is highly prevalent among Asian populations, with a 56% higher risk of progression to end-stage renal disease compared to other groups and often progresses more rapidly[1]

Taiwan region became the last region across all Everest’s territories to grant full approval for NEFECON®, together with Mainland China, Singapore, Macao SAR, Hong Kong SAR and South Korea. This further demonstrates NEFECON®‘s foundational first-line cornerstone treatment for IgAN patients.

“NEFECON® has received full approval in Taiwan, further validating its outstanding clinical value and offering physicians a more solid clinical foundation for treatment decisions.” Rogers Yongqing Luo, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines, said. “As the first and only fully approved etiological treatment for IgAN, NEFECON® has now achieved full approval across Asia. This milestone will benefit a broader patient population by enabling more individuals with IgAN to access this etiological treatment earlier, helping to slow disease progression and improve quality of life. We will continue to expand the accessibility and affordability of NEFECON® across Asia, aiming to benefit more IgAN patients and improve their quality of life.”

The approval is based on the global Phase 3 NefIgArd clinical trial, which showed that compared to placebo, it not only brought about a durable reduction in proteinuria and reduced the frequency of microscopic hematuria but also demonstrated clinically relevant and statistically significant treatment benefits in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), reducing the decline in kidney function by 50% over a period of 2 years[2], comprising 9 months of treatment and 15 months of observation, and potentially delaying the progression to dialysis or kidney transplantation by 12.8 years[3].

Additionally, the complete 2-year data of the NefIgArd study[4]  further analyzed the potential differences in the response to NEFECON® treatment between Asians (n=83) and Caucasians (n=275). The results showed that compared to placebo, treatment with NEFECON® for 9 months in both Asians and Caucasians can significantly delay the decline of eGFR, protect kidney function, and bring about a sustained reduction in proteinuria and reduce the risk of microscopic hematuria.

NEFECON® has been recommended by several authoritative treatment guidelines, including the “KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) and Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (IgAV) (Public Review Draft)”[5], and the “Clinical Practice Guideline for IgA Nephropathy and IgA Vasculitis in Chinese Adults (For Public Review)”. NEFECON® was included in China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in November 2024, and the supplemental application for the production expansion of NEFECON® has been officially approved by NMPA in August 2025.

NEFECON® is currently the world’s first IgAN treatment to have received full approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(MHRA)in the United Kingdom , as well as in other Asian territories where Everest Medicines holds the rights, including Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Taiwan region (China), Singapore, and South Korea.

About NEFECON®

NEFECON® is a patented oral, delayed release formulation of budesonide, a corticosteroid with potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity that undergoes substantial first pass metabolism. The formulation is designed as a delayed release capsule that is enteric coated so that it remains intact until it releases budesonide to the distal ileum. Each capsule contains coated beads of budesonide that target mucosal B-cells present in the ileum where the disease originates, as per the predominant pathogenesis models.

In June 2019, Everest Medicines entered into an exclusive, royalty-bearing license agreement with Calliditas Therapeutics, which gives Everest Medicines exclusive rights to develop and commercialize NEFECON® in mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Taiwan (China) and Singapore. The agreement was extended in March 2022 to include South Korea as part of Everest Medicine’s territories.

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.

Reference:

1. Sean J. Barbour, et al. Kidney International (2013) 84, 1017–1024.

2. Lafayette R, et al. Lancet. 2023 Sep 9;402(10405):859-870.

3. Jonathan Barratt, et al. Clinical Kidney Journal, February 2025, sfae404. https://doi.org/10.1093/ckj/sfae404

4. Jonathan Barratt, et al. 2024 WCN. Poster WCN24-1674. WCN24-1674 NEFECON TREATMENT RESPONSE IN ASIAN AND WHITE PATIENT POPULATIONS WITH IMMUNOGLOBULIN A NEPHROPATHY: A 2YEAR ANALYSIS OF THE PHASE III NEFIGARD TRIAL – ScienceDirect

5. https://doi.org/10.34067/kid.0000000583DRAFT of KDIGO 2024 CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN A NEPHROPATHY (IgAN) AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN A VASCULITIS (IgAV)

 

Eager to be bridge-builders, authors of the ‘Me and China’ writing campaign echo friendship initiatives Avenues of bonding

BEIJING, Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily: On July 30, the Award Ceremony of the “Me and China” Writing Campaign and the “Silk Road•People-to-People Friendship Dialogue” Story Sharing Session were convened in Lanzhou, in Northwest China’s Gansu Province.

Award-winning participants pose for a group photo at the Award Ceremony of the
Award-winning participants pose for a group photo at the Award Ceremony of the “Me and China” Writing Campaign in Lanzhou, Northwest China’s Gansu Province, on July 30, 2025. Photo: Zhang Kaifeng/People’s Daily

The ceremony was jointly hosted by the People’s Daily and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), co-hosted by the Gansu Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Representatives of the writing campaign winners from 11 countries gathered with delegates from friendship organizations, Chinese enterprises, universities, and research institutions to share touching stories of exchanges and discuss the bright prospects for people-to-people friendship.

Launched in February 2024 by the People’s Daily and the CPAFFC, the “Me and China” Writing Campaign drew extraordinary engagement. By the end of 2024, over 1,300 submissions had poured in from over 80 countries and regions.

From founding the American Flying Tiger Historical Organization to organizing visits by Flying Tigers veterans to China, and from assisting in building the Guilin Flying Tigers Heritage Park to reenacting the Hump Route despite countless obstacles – Ma Kuanchi, vice president of the American Flying Tiger Historical Organization, shared pivotal moments he had witnessed. Our relentless efforts aim to ensure that the Chinese and American people, never forget this precious history and keep the Flying Tigers’ spirit alive, he said.

Ma noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. In this significant year, we must cherish the friendship forged in blood between China and the US.

Civilizations become diverse through exchanges and enriched through mutual learning.

Vienna Cammarota, who has admired the Italian traveler Marco Polo since childhood, has long been fascinated by the ancient Silk Road. On April 26, 2022, the retired Italian tour guide set off from Venice with the book – The Travels of Marco Polo, embarking on a journey to retrace the ancient Silk Road entirely on foot. Over three years, Vienna trekked 22,000 kilometers across 15 Eurasian countries. “Every step I took was to trace the origins and resonance of civilizations. I witnessed firsthand that despite being thousands of miles apart, China and Italy are closely linked through culture,” Vienna said. 

Among the contributors to the essay collection were international students passionate about traditional Chinese culture. One of them, Zaw Win Maung from Myanmar, is studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at Henan University of Chinese Medicine.

Zaw noted that TCM offers a different lens with which to view life: It sees humans as an integral part of nature, coexisting in harmony. “I believe I’m not just learning prescriptions or needling techniques. I’m also learning the wisdom of harmony between humanity and nature, and the tenderness and reverence toward life embedded in Chinese culture,” Zaw said.

Not long ago, Fathiya Mohamed-said, a young woman from Tanzania, graduated from School of Medicine with Jiangsu University. In her hometown, Chinese medical teams have long been praised for their compassion and professionalism. Fathiya shared that she was deeply inspired by their work: “To me, they are heroes. I’m truly proud to follow in their footsteps and become a doctor.”

“Bridge” was a recurring theme throughout the event, with many guests expressing their willingness to act as “bridge-builders,” fostering connections among peoples across borders.

“They say I’m a ‘living history’ of CSCEC Egypt,” said Hanan Othman, the administrative manager who joined the Egyptian branch of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in 1988, becoming the first Egyptian employee at the company. Today, the firm employs nearly 7,000 locals.

Over the past 37 years, Hanan has not only witnessed the company’s rapid growth, but also formed many close friendships. “I hope my friendship with Chinese colleagues can become a bridge connecting the peoples of Egypt and China.”

Fomenko Ekaterina, a Russian teacher at the China University of Petroleum, has lived and worked in China for nearly 20 years and shares an even more unique connection with the country. A chance blood donation revealed that she has Rh-negative blood – rare in China and known as “panda blood.” She immediately decided to become a regular donor and has since donated more than 4,800 milliliters.

People-to-people connectivity is the most fundamental, solid, and enduring form of connection. In just two hours, a vibrant exchange of heartfelt speeches and warm applause brought together storytellers and listeners from different cultures, testifying to the vitality of folk friendship and the ongoing momentum of people-to-people diplomacy between China and the world. 

 

240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Enhances the Allure of Amazing Guizhou in Jakarta


JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 August 2025 – Guizhou, a province renowned not only for the majestic Huangguoshu Waterfall and the mystical Mount Fanjing, is now more accessible than ever thanks to China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy. This initiative offers greater convenience for international travelers seeking to explore the province’s rich natural beauty, vibrant ethnic culture, and technological innovation.

240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Enhances the Allure of Amazing Guizhou in Jakarta
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Enhances the Allure of Amazing Guizhou in Jakarta

To further promote this policy and Guizhou’s tourism appeal, the “240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Promotion and Exchange Conference” was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the afternoon of August 4. Hosted by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the event highlighted Guizhou’s diverse attractions, from shimmering Miao silverwork and the soulful Grand Songs of the Dong people to breathtaking mountain landscapes and a booming big data industry.

Ms. Wang Lin, Director of the Department’s Promotion and Exchange Division, gave a detailed briefing on the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, including its scope of application and compatible multi-destination travel products. She introduced Guizhou’s rich tourism resources, including natural wonders, architectural marvels, ethnic heritage, summer retreats, and outdoor sports. “This exchange aims to help more Indonesian tourism professionals understand Guizhou,” she said. “The visa-free transit policy is a strong catalyst for encouraging Indonesian travelers to visit. As international travel becomes more convenient with enhanced flight connectivity and smoother mobile payment experiences, tourism cooperation between Guizhou and Indonesia will deepen.”

Mr. Anton Surmali, Vice President of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), expressed appreciation for the visa policy, noting its significance in facilitating travel between the two regions. “I’ve read about Guizhou’s stunning landscapes and unique culture in the media,” he said. “I look forward to visiting personally and believe this policy will attract more Indonesian tourists to the province.”

Ms. Wen Weiya, Director of the International Mountain Tourism Development Center of Guizhou, introduced the evolution of international mountain tourism, the structure and scale of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), and its development achievements. She emphasized that IMTA is committed to working with global tourism stakeholders in a spirit of equality, inclusivity, and collaboration to jointly build and share the outcomes of high-quality mountain tourism development. She warmly invited Indonesian businesses to join the alliance and participate in the upcoming International Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports Conference in Guizhou this November.

Mr. Wirawan Lesmana, Director of Ayo Wisata Tour, highlighted the policy’s importance in encouraging Indonesian travelers to pursue outbound tourism. “Guizhou’s rich tourism resources, combined with the visa-free advantage, offer great opportunities for collaborative product design and joint marketing to achieve mutual benefits,” he remarked.

During the event, representatives from tourism associations and travel agencies in both Guizhou and Indonesia engaged in active dialogue and idea exchange. Indonesian agencies inquired in detail about the scope of the visa-free policy and suggested leveraging social media and short video platforms to boost Guizhou’s visibility in the Indonesian market. They recommended creating customized travel packages tailored to Indonesian preferences to attract more tourists to Guizhou.

Looking ahead, Guizhou will continue to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia’s tourism industry. By leveraging the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and working closely with airlines, Guizhou aims to launch more high-quality, multi-destination travel products. These efforts will ensure that more Indonesian tourists include Guizhou in their travel itineraries, further establishing Amazing Guizhou as a world-class tourist destination.

Hashtag: #GuizhouLongxiTravelAgency

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

Eighty Years Since Hiroshima: The Morning the Sky Turned White

Since 6 August 1945, the scars of Hiroshima’s morning still linger, reflecting the memory and loss of Kuwamoto Katsuko and others.

It was 80 years ago, and the morning of 6 August 1945, when the sky above Hiroshima turned white. 

Aspire cuts FX fees to help entrepreneurs with global ambitions scale smarter

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 August 2025 – Aspire, a leading all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses, has lowered its foreign exchange fees further to help entrepreneurs reduce costs and scale globally without compromising their runway. With this latest adjustment, Aspire now offers one of the lowest FX rates in the market, solidifying its position as the most cost effective choice for cross-border business payments.
Aspire cut FX fees

Rising global costs and tighter access to capital have made financial efficiency a critical priority for startups. Founders in Singapore and across the region are under mounting pressure to extend their runway and make every dollar count, especially as they expand into new markets.

From paying overseas suppliers and contractors to managing remote teams and launching in new geographies, cross-border payments are now routine for today’s startups. In fact, 79% of Singapore SMEs report plans for greater international expansion, and 63% have increased their use of overseas suppliers and services. Despite this trend, Singapore businesses lose an estimated S$5.66 billion annually due to hidden FX markups and unclear exchange rate fees. These losses quietly erode already slim margins and reduce the capital available for growth.

Aspire’s updated FX pricing ensures global transactions align with the way modern startups operate: lean, transparent, and built for speed. “Many businesses today are global from day one, but they are losing margin to expensive rates and hidden and opaque fees,” said Andrea Baronchelli, CEO and co-founder of Aspire. “At Aspire, we believe protecting the runway shouldn’t come at the cost of international growth. By lowering our FX rates further, we’re giving founders a faster, more cost-effective way to scale across borders without compromise. What you see is what you pay for.”

This is not a short-term adjustment by Aspire. This move underscores its ongoing commitment to helping founders scale efficiently today and in the long run, eliminating unnecessary costs and offering the best possible FX rates in the market.

The updated FX rates are available immediately to all Aspire Singapore business account users.

To learn more please visit https://aspireapp.com/global-payments.Hashtag: #Aspire


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

Aspire

Aspire is the all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses globally, helping over 50,000 companies save time and money with international payments, treasury, expense, payable, and receivable management solutions – accessible via a single, user-friendly account.

Headquartered in Singapore, Aspire has 600+ employees across nine countries, clients in 30+ markets and is backed by global top tier VCs, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Y-Combinator, Tencent and Paypal. In 2023, Aspire closed an oversubscribed US$100M Series C round and announced that it has achieved profitability.

Trend Micro Reinvents Proactive Security with Digital Twin Technology

Innovation at the speed of agentic AI, built on NVIDIA AI, provides a data-driven foundation for supercharged decision-making


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 August 2025 Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today unveiled a groundbreaking new cyber resilience model that reinvents how enterprises approach proactive security. Trend’s Digital Twin capabilities will empower enterprises to simulate real-world cyber threats, validate their defenses, and adapt policies in real time across complex and diverse digital environments.

To learn more about how Trend’s Digital Twin technology is reshaping proactive security, visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/business/ai/digital-twin.html

Bartley Richardson, Senior Engineering Director, Agentic AI at NVIDIA: “In today’s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, organizations need proactive solutions that can anticipate and counter potential threats before they occur. Powered by NVIDIA NIM microservices, Trend’s cybersecurity digital twins bring AI-driven protection to enterprise infrastructure.”

At the core of this model is Trend’s advanced agentic AI and industry-first application of cybersecurity digital twin technology. By creating high-fidelity, continuously updated simulation of an organization’s infrastructure, Trend enables security teams to visualize risk, test scenarios safely, and make rapid, data-driven decisions that improve resilience and reduce business disruptions.

The shift from periodic assessments to continuous, intelligent simulation marks a major evolution in proactive cybersecurity. It allows organizations to stay ahead of adversaries, harden their environments to circumvent cybersecurity threats, and confidently secure mission-critical operations against an ever-changing threat landscape. The technology shifts security practices from static and reactive to dynamic and predictive, enabling measurable improvements across a range of critical use cases.

Stuart Samples, Chief Technology Officer at Northeast Georgia Health System: “Trend’s digital twin approach completely changes our ability to understand risk in real-time. It helps us catch threats we didn’t even know to look for, allowing our team to focus less on firefighting and more on confidently driving innovation.”

Trend’s cybersecurity Digital Twin technology is powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, including NVIDIA NIM microservices. This enterprise-grade software enables the delivery of agentic AI models, optimized inference, and secure, scalable deployment—combining the simplicity of APIs with the flexibility of self-hosted infrastructure to strengthen cybersecurity outcomes with AI-driven precision.

Trend’s Digital Twin model will help organizations proactively manage risk across their entire infrastructure—from on-prem to cloud, IT to OT, and legacy to next gen AI-powered systems. It comes as governments and industry leaders accelerate AI infrastructure investments. Trend’s approach to digital twins enables customers to make better informed risk decisions and enhance security operations across their organization.

Scenario planning: AI agents simulate threats and tactics within the Digital Twin, long before a real-world incident occurs. This helps to test current mitigation strategies in a continuous cycle, to improve resilience planning for sensitive and complex environments.

Security investments: Decision makers can introduce new tools, policies, or architectural changes to see how they perform in the virtual environment. This results in better informed, data-driven investment decisions.

Business resilience optimization: Digital Twin technology can be used to simulate business-critical failure scenarios to highlight how data flows, how decisions are made, and how disruptions ripple across IT/OT systems and teams. These real-time risk insights boost enterprise security planning capabilities without risking disruption to production systems.

Frank Dickson, Group Vice President, Security & Trust at IDC: “As threats migrate to OT, proactive security is critical. Trend Micro’s Digital Twin technology introduces a new operational model for enterprise cyber security: simulation. Sometimes even probing a production network can result in downtime, often making it extremely difficult to expose vulnerabilities and confirm compensating measures. A continuous cycle of adversary simulation and defensive validation becomes a value tool to ensure that organizations stay ahead of cyber threats, while being sensitive to the fragility of some operational environments.”

The announcement is the latest in a line of innovation-led projects from Trend designed to help network defenders harness AI, close skill gaps, and improve security outcomes.

Most recently, Trend announced it would open source its Trend Cybertron AI model and agent framework in a bid to accelerate the development of autonomous cybersecurity agents.

Its work has also expanded to cover protection for GenAI workloads and advances to sovereign AI infrastructure.

Rachel Jin, Chief Enterprise Platform Officer at Trend: “Enterprises are struggling to defend complex, dynamic infrastructure environments from highly adaptive, AI-powered adversaries. Rapid shifts in threat actor tactics and IT infrastructure mean reactive, point-in-time risk assessments are no longer fit for purpose. Our Digital Twin technology empowers customers to simulate threats and safely validate security controls without touching production systems—to finally close the gap between digital transformation and defensive readiness.”

Hashtag: #trendmicro #trendvisionone #visionone #cybersecurity#digitaltwin




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

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world.

4 in 5 APAC consumers take health supplements but half lack confidence in making good supplement choices – Herbalife survey

Preventive health trend driving need for credible and trusted sources of information

HONG KONG, Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Herbalife, a premier health and wellness company and community, today released findings from its 2025 Asia Pacific Responsible Supplementation Survey, revealing that while there is widespread use of health supplements in Asia Pacific (APAC), many lack the confidence to make good supplement decisions. Four in five (80%) consumers in the region take health supplements regularly, but only half (50%) expressed confidence in their ability to make responsible supplement choices.

The survey, which was conducted in May 2025, looked at consumers’ attitudes and behaviours towards health supplements in APAC. In the survey, making responsible supplement choices is defined as the practice of obtaining a thorough understanding of a health supplement product’s ingredient composition, quality, recommended dosages, consumption limits and possible interactions with other supplements and medication, before consuming it. There were 9,000 respondents across 11 markets, including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

“We uncovered significant gaps in the understanding of proper health supplement usage, leading to a lack of confidence in making good supplement decisions. The silver lining is that most consumers prioritize credible sources of supplement information and advice. This is why Herbalife actively collaborates with various institutions to improve nutrition education for the public, using science-backed facts and guidance to aid positive supplement choices. We are committed to helping people build a foundation of healthy habits and empower their journey to wellness,” said Thomas Harms, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Herbalife.

Making responsible supplement choices

Across Asia Pacific, the top sources of information influencing consumers’ supplement decisions were healthcare professionals (61%), friends and family (41%) and independent product research (30%).

However, when comparing consumers’ attitudes towards supplements, the Boomer respondents had the most surprising findings among age groups. While half of the Boomer respondents consume supplements daily, they are also the least concerned about making informed supplement choices – with only 30% being concerned about it. They are also the least confident – with just 42% expressing confidence in their supplement decisions compared to the other age groups.

In contrast, Gen Zs were the strongest believers of making informed decisions (47%) and most confident (58%) in their ability to make good supplement decisions.

Gaps in health supplement knowledge but product safety remains a priority

The survey showed a significant gap in health supplement knowledge among consumers, with many unaware of the effects of overconsumption. For example, when it comes to vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D, the percentage of people who are unaware of the effects of over-consuming were more than two-thirds of all respondents surveyed.

Despite the knowledge gap, consumers’ purchase decisions remain guided by factors like product safety and efficacy (49%), healthcare professional recommendation (43%), and quality certifications (38%). Trust in a supplement brand is also a key influencing factor, with 95% of APAC consumers admitting that it affects their purchase decisions.

Focus on preventive health driving supplement consumption

An overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) stressed that preventive healthcare is important to their well-being, with many taking steps towards better health. Their top actions include making healthier food choices (55%), taking health supplements (54%) and doing more physical activities (46%).

However, despite these efforts, less than half (46%) are optimistic about achieving their health goals. Generation Z (53%) and Millennial (50%) consumers expressed higher levels of confidence in achieving their goals, compared to the Generation X (40%) and Baby Boomers (39%).

“As more consumers take their health and wellness matters into their own hands, it’s important that they have trusted sources of information about the proper use and benefits of health supplements. When selecting from a vast array of options, take time to explore the brand’s level of testing of their ingredients, the third-party verifications, and their manufacturing transparency. Sourcing is one critical area in ensuring that your supplements are created with the utmost care to ensure high quality, consistency and traceability,” said Harms.

About Herbalife Ltd. 

Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is a premier health and wellness company, community and platform that has been changing people’s lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed products to consumers in more than 90 markets through entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle to live their best life. 

For more information, please contact:
Susan Tan
Director, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific 
Herbalife  
Email: asiapacificteam@herbalife.com

BrightNight APAC Spins off to Accelerate Regional Growth; Rebrands as Yanara

Yanara will continue to focus on developing utility-scale renewable projects that enable safe, reliable and affordable power to drive energy security and sustainability in the Asia Pacific region.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BrightNight’s Asia Pacific (APAC) business today announced its spin off into a separate and independent entity – marking a new chapter of focused growth and deeper regional engagement. The move reinforces the APAC business’s commitment to market expansion and long-term value to customers and investors across the region.

A Strategic Shift for Accelerated Growth

With projects and teams in India, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore and the Netherlands, the APAC business will operate under the name Yanara and continue to be an APAC-focused renewable power producer, delivering firm and dispatchable power solutions to utilities, businesses, and communities.

“The launch of Yanara is a natural evolution of our journey in Asia Pacific,” said Martin Hermann, Founder of BrightNight and Yanara. “We’ve seen significant growth across the region, and it’s the right time for a dedicated platform that can move fast, think local, and deliver tailored solutions at scale. Yanara is purpose-built to meet the region’s rising demand for clean, reliable energy, and to lead from the front as a new kind of energy company for a rapidly changing world,” he added.

With a portfolio built to bridge the gap between firm baseload power demand, Yanara will continue to develop utility-scale renewable projects that enable safe, reliable and affordable power to drive energy security and sustainability in the region.

Accelerating Asia Pacific’s Renewable Energy Transition

Leveraging its multi-tech, AI-enabled renewable power solutions, Yanara will be a “force for good” in the markets and communities it operates in where it will build, own and operate clean energy projects that will support and meet the regions’ rising electricity demand.

Asia Pacific’s clean energy transition is accelerating, and we’re rising to meet it with bold ambition,” said Jerome Ortiz, CEO, Yanara. “We’ve built a strong foundation, and our track record in the region is testament to our ability to continue to deliver complex, dispatchable renewable solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible in the clean energy space in the Asia Pacific region. We will continue to move with great agility, deepen partnerships, and scale fast, driving a more sustainable, reliable energy future in the region. We are looking forward to exciting times ahead,” he noted.

Key Highlights of Yanara:

  • 5 GW+ utility-scale renewable power portfolio across India, Australia, and the Philippines, with a 2030 target of multi-gigawatt operational capacity
  • A differentiated platform purpose built to deliver clean, dispatchable power solutions that align with customer load needs, enabling us to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
  • 115 MW hybrid project partially commissioned in Maharashtra – one of the first co-located wind-solar projects in the State
  • 110 MW PPA signed with NTPC for firm and dispatchable renewable energy – part of a 3 GW storage-linked renewable tender, with construction slated to begin later this year
  • 360 MW solar / 300 MW BESS Mortlake Energy Hub under development in Victoria – one of Australia’s largest integrated hybrid projects
  • Utility-scale solar project under development in Sual, Philippines – among the first in a traditional coal-based power hub

Management and Ownership Structure

Yanara will continue to be led by Jerome Ortiz, formerly CEO of BrightNight APAC, and remains majority-owned by Martin Hermann, alongside its strategic partnership with ACEN in India and the Philippines.

Martin will continue in his role as Chairman of Yanara.

ABOUT YANARA

Yanara is a pioneering leader in advancing renewable energy across the Asia Pacific region, transforming availability into reliability through firm and dispatchable renewable power solutions. Our commitment is to meet the region’s burgeoning electricity demand with innovative utility-scale hybrid projects integrating solar, wind, and/or energy storage technologies. An AI-native cognitive enterprise, Yanara delivers safe, reliable, and cost-effective power solutions for utilities, industries, and digital infrastructure. With strong engineering and execution capabilities, we’re advancing the dual shift to cleaner power and deeper electrification—while creating lasting value for communities and customers alike. With operating projects in India, the Philippines, and Australia, Yanara is purpose-built for the next phase of energy transition. To learn more, visit: www.yanarapower.com