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Toys”R”Us Asia Launches “Live Toyful”: A New Era of Play for All Ages

HONG KONG, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With 40 years as a leading name in toys and play, Toys”R”Us Asia proudly unveils its bold new brand promise, Live Toyful, marking the exciting culmination of a two-year transformation. Launching regionally this month, this campaign expands the brand’s appeal beyond families and children to embrace “kidults”, celebrating play as a vital part of everyday life for all ages.

Toys“R”Us Asia unveils its bold new brand promise, Live Toyful, aiming to redefine play as a lifestyle.
Toys“R”Us Asia unveils its bold new brand promise, Live Toyful, aiming to redefine play as a lifestyle.

Our new brand promise, Live Toyful, strategically positions Toys”R”Us Asia as more than a toy retailer—we’re redefining play as a lifestyle,” said Leo Tsoi, CEO of Toys”R”Us Asia. “This evolution reflects our commitment to becoming an integral part of our customers’ daily lives, creating meaningful experiences that inspire joy and resonate across generations.”

Grounded in extensive consumer insights from the 2024 consumer study, the Live Toyful philosophy responds to a cultural shift where modern consumers seek playful moments amidst their busy routines. Gen Z in particular views play as essential for stress relief, self-expression, and forming social connections, embracing toys, collectibles, wearables, and nostalgic items. Toys”R”Us Asia aims to integrate itself into daily life not just as a retailer but as the premier destination for toys, play, and lifestyle products that enhance everyday experiences.

To meet the needs of this evolving customer base, Toys”R”Us Asia has undergone a two-year transformation, introducing seven generations of concept stores designed with immersive layouts, curated experience zones, and cross-generational appeal. In May 2025, the Live Toyful spirit will debut in Shenzhen and Taiwan, with stores transformed into magical wonderlands for IP fans and kidults, creating a whimsical wonderland filled with thrilling surprises for fans of all ages. This marks the beginning of Live Toyful’s expansion, as its joyful spirit is set to spread across the region in the coming months.

Beyond the immersive store experience, Toys”R”Us Asia is bringing the spirit of Live Toyful into every aspect of life. Through its exclusive private label, playpop, the brand now extends beyond traditional toys into lifestyle products—thoughtfully designed to spark joy in everyday moments. From playthings to daily essentials, every touchpoint is crafted to inspire a truly holistic Toyful lifestyle.

Adding to the excitement, Toys”R”Us Asia teamed up with globally loved brands to engage fans across the region. In partnership with Minecraft and Mattel, the retailer offered a special range of products tied to the Minecraft movie. To further enhance the experience, customers who purchased Mattel’s Minecraft items, including Minecraft Movie Feature Roleplay and Minecraft 3.25″ Core Figures would receive a complimentary DLC code featuring a unique Minecraft character—bridging physical and digital play in a fresh and engaging way.

Toys”R”Us Asia has also teamed up with Zuru to introduce an exciting range of Mini Brands, showcasing miniature collectibles from various popular IPs. This new offering inspires limitless play and creativity for fans everywhere, inviting them to immerse themselves in imaginative adventures.

With Live Toyful, Toys”R”Us Asia signals its readiness to navigate the next phase of retailtainment. As the brand moves forward with new concepts, partnerships and product lines, it continues to build on its legacy while opening new opportunities for growth in an increasingly dynamic and diverse market environment.

About Toys”R”Us Asia (Holding) Limited

Toys”R”Us Asia’s vision is to fuel imagination and inspire our next generation through the power of toys and play. The company’s mission is to be the trusted toy leader, providing premier toys and inspiring play experiences for both kids and kidults.

Toys”R”Us Asia is headquartered in Hong Kong and currently operating approximately 470 stores across Asia, including mainland China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Brunei – and licenses more than 90 stores in the Philippines and Macau (China). The company also operates across leading Asian eCommerce platforms as well as its own online stores in each market.

Toys”R”Us Asia (Holding) Limited is an independent legal entity that operates separately from all other Toys”R”Us current or former operating companies around the world.

bolttech and Sumitomo Corporation announce strategic partnership

The partnership will form a joint venture to deliver technology-enabled embedded solutions  to distribution partners in Asia

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — bolttech, the fast-growing global insurtech, today announced its partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan’s largest trading houses. The two companies will enter a joint venture to deliver technology-enabled embedded solutions to distribution partners across a number of markets in Asia.

The technology-enabled embedded solutions will enable distribution partners to provide end-to-end device lifecycle management services, such as device upgrade, enhancing their ability to offer seamless and comprehensive solutions to customers in the region.

With smartphone prices rising and penetration increasing in emerging markets, the global demand for device protection services is on the rise. This trend is particularly pronounced in South Asia and Southeast Asia, where the demand for affordable, high-performance used smartphones is growing, driven by the growing proportion of young consumers. With the market for device protection expected to grow faster than the global average, there is a growing need for technology-driven device insurance and protection solutions.

The partnership will kick off with a launch in Southeast Asia focusing on a device upgrade programme, leveraging bolttech’s distribution capabilities and Sumitomo Corporation’s vast network of financing and guarantees capabilities.

Shinichi Kato, Group CEO of Media & Digital Group at Sumitomo Corporation, said, “We are thrilled to join forces with bolttech, a partner with proven track record in offering technology-enabled solutions to address consumer needs. We are confident that this partnership will enable us to leverage our combined expertise and resources to deliver industry-leading device lifecycle management services, driving growth and innovation across the Asia region.”

Rob Schimek, Group Chief Executive Officer, bolttech, said, “We are delighted to welcome Sumitomo Corporation as our strategic partner. We are confident that Sumitomo Corporation’s expertise in devices and vast network, combined with our distribution capabilities, will drive us forward in creating a better protection experience for consumers in Asia. We are excited to continue our journey in shaping the future of insurance, working towards our vision of connecting people with more ways to protect the things they value.”

– End –

Accompanying photo:

Name and titles of individuals in photo

Front Line (from left to right): 

1.  Kshitij Chitransh – Director, New Business Development, SC-Nex
2.  Shun Ohishi – Deputy Director, Device Solution Team No.1
3.  Liam Riley – General Manager – bolttomo
4.  Takehiko Kotani – Director, Device Solution Team No.1

Second Line (from left to right): 

5.  Yuya Hasebe – Senior Associate, Device Solution Team No.1
6.  Kazushi Awa – Executive Officer, Group CFO, Media & Digital Group
7.  Eisuke Takenaka – Executive Officer, General Manager, Smart Communication Platform SBU
8.  Shinichi Kato – Senior Managing Executive Officer, Group CEO, Media & Digital Group
9.  Rob Schimek – Group CEO
10. Fi Fi Lu – Group Head of Embedded Device and Head of Product, Asia
11. Akiko Anzai – General Manager, Japan

Third Line (from left to right): 

12. Alister Musgrave – Regional General Manager – Hong Kong, Taiwan & Japan 
13. Yusuke Nakajo – Senior Associate, Device Solution Team No.1 
14. Hirano Yuki – Senior Executive, Smart Communication Platform SBU 
15. Tomoyuki Shionoya – Head, Smart Service Business Unit 
16. Stephan Tan –  Group Chief Investment Officer, and CEO, Europe & Africa 
17. Makiko Eda – Managing Executive Officer, Chief Sustainability & DE&I Officer, Deputy Group CEO, Media & Digital Group 
18. Andy Ho –  Group Head of Mergers and Acquisitions 
19. Eric Lai – Group Deputy General Counsel  

Toys”R”Us Asia Launches “Live Toyful” A New Era of Play for All Ages

HONG KONG, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With 40 years as a leading name in toys and play, Toys”R”Us Asia proudly unveils its bold new brand promise, Live Toyful, marking the exciting culmination of a two-year transformation. Launching regionally this month, this campaign expands the brand’s appeal beyond families and children to embrace “kidults”, celebrating play as a vital part of everyday life for all ages.

Toys“R”Us Asia unveils its bold new brand promise, Live Toyful, aiming to redefine play as a lifestyle.
Toys“R”Us Asia unveils its bold new brand promise, Live Toyful, aiming to redefine play as a lifestyle.

Our new brand promise, Live Toyful, strategically positions Toys”R”Us Asia as more than a toy retailer—we’re redefining play as a lifestyle,” said Leo Tsoi, CEO of Toys”R”Us Asia. “This evolution reflects our commitment to becoming an integral part of our customers’ daily lives, creating meaningful experiences that inspire joy and resonate across generations.”

Grounded in extensive consumer insights from the 2024 consumer study, the Live Toyful philosophy responds to a cultural shift where modern consumers seek playful moments amidst their busy routines. Gen Z in particular views play as essential for stress relief, self-expression, and forming social connections, embracing toys, collectibles, wearables, and nostalgic items. Toys”R”Us Asia aims to integrate itself into daily life not just as a retailer but as the premier destination for toys, play, and lifestyle products that enhance everyday experiences.

To meet the needs of this evolving customer base, Toys”R”Us Asia has undergone a two-year transformation, introducing seven generations of concept stores designed with immersive layouts, curated experience zones, and cross-generational appeal. In May 2025, the Live Toyful spirit will debut in Shenzhen and Taiwan, with stores transformed into magical wonderlands for IP fans and kidults, creating a whimsical wonderland filled with thrilling surprises for fans of all ages. This marks the beginning of Live Toyful’s expansion, as its joyful spirit is set to spread across the region in the coming months.

Beyond the immersive store experience, Toys”R”Us Asia is bringing the spirit of Live Toyful into every aspect of life. Through its exclusive private label, playpop, the brand now extends beyond traditional toys into lifestyle products—thoughtfully designed to spark joy in everyday moments. From playthings to daily essentials, every touchpoint is crafted to inspire a truly holistic Toyful lifestyle.

Adding to the excitement, Toys”R”Us Asia teamed up with globally loved brands to engage fans across the region. In partnership with Minecraft and Mattel, the retailer offered a special range of products tied to the Minecraft movie. To further enhance the experience, customers who purchased Mattel’s Minecraft items, including Minecraft Movie Feature Roleplay and Minecraft 3.25″ Core Figures would receive a complimentary DLC code featuring a unique Minecraft character—bridging physical and digital play in a fresh and engaging way.

Toys”R”Us Asia has also teamed up with Zuru to introduce an exciting range of Mini Brands, showcasing miniature collectibles from various popular IPs. This new offering inspires limitless play and creativity for fans everywhere, inviting them to immerse themselves in imaginative adventures.

With Live Toyful, Toys”R”Us Asia signals its readiness to navigate the next phase of retailtainment. As the brand moves forward with new concepts, partnerships and product lines, it continues to build on its legacy while opening new opportunities for growth in an increasingly dynamic and diverse market environment.

About Toys”R”Us Asia (Holding) Limited

Toys”R”Us Asia’s vision is to fuel imagination and inspire our next generation through the power of toys and play. The company’s mission is to be the trusted toy leader, providing premier toys and inspiring play experiences for both kids and kidults.

Toys”R”Us Asia is headquartered in Hong Kong and currently operating approximately 470 stores across Asia, including mainland China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Brunei – and licenses more than 90 stores in the Philippines and Macau (China). The company also operates across leading Asian eCommerce platforms as well as its own online stores in each market.

Toys”R”Us Asia (Holding) Limited is an independent legal entity that operates separately from all other Toys”R”Us current or former operating companies around the world.

Palauan Voyaging Canoe Alingano Maisu Nears Taiwan: A Cross-Pacific Cultural Exchange Anchored in Indigenous Maritime Traditions

TAITUNG, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This summer, the Taitung County Government proudly welcomes an 11-member crew of traditional navigators from Palau, led by renowned master navigator Sesario Sewralur, departed on April 20 aboard the Alingano Maisu—a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe—navigating without modern instruments. Guided by stars, ocean swells, and currents, the crew is expected to arrive in Lanyu on May 8 and Taitung’s Cidong community on May 10, marking a significant milestone in a cross-Pacific cultural exchange between Taiwan and Palau.

A Palauan vessel carrying an 11-member crew of sailors is set to arrive in Taiwan soon, following a long-distance voyage across the Pacific Ocean.
A Palauan vessel carrying an 11-member crew of sailors is set to arrive in Taiwan soon, following a long-distance voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

This initiative centers on the theme of “Voyaging and Canoe-Building Culture,” celebrating the deep-rooted Austronesian connection between the two regions. As island nations within the Austronesian language and cultural sphere, Taiwan and Palau share longstanding similarities in seafaring heritage, craftsmanship, and ecological knowledge.

In Taiwan, efforts to revitalize traditional maritime culture have resulted in the construction of hand-built canoes and bamboo rafts in Lanyu and Cidong, and the establishment of a Marine Learning Center in collaboration with the Cidong Indigenous community. These hubs serve as platforms for intergenerational transmission of navigation and boat-building skills.

The arrival of the Palauan crew will be marked by a traditional welcoming ceremony in Cidong, featuring Indigenous cuisine and ceremonial dance performances. Following this, the team will engage in hands-on exchanges with local communities, sharing techniques in pandanus weaving, betel nut sheath crafting, traditional fishing, and cultural storytelling.

Looking ahead, Taiwan plans to construct its own Austronesian voyaging canoe in Taitung, with the goal of sailing from Taiwan to Palau in the coming year—thus continuing this cultural cycle from construction to navigation, strengthening mutual ties, and fostering long-term collaboration across the Austronesian world.

AR + AI: Evolution from Tool to “Second Brain”

SHANGHAI, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Qiu Xiaoling, CFO of JBD, has recently delivered a penetrating analysis of the MicroLED microdisplay and AR glasses ecosystem, illuminating how these once-independent frontiers are coalescing to redefine wearable AI. As AI evolves from merely being “smarter” toward truly “more attuned to you,” users increasingly expect an always-on digital assistant. AR glasses have emerged as the quintessential conduit for frictionless, context-aware interaction, and the ultra-compact MicroLED microdisplay has become the linchpin technology that turns the vision of lightweight, all-day wearable intelligence into daily reality.

In today’s era of breakneck technological progress, one will soon no longer need to hunch over a smartphone. Instead, a lightweight pair of glasses will deliver real‑time information, translation, environmental awareness, reasoning, and even anticipate one’s needs. This is no sci‑fi fantasy, but a tangible outcome of the convergence of AI and AR.

The fusion of AI and AR offers consumers a far more natural, convenient means of interaction and is catalyzing a revolution in smart wearable electronics. Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth has remarked, “The always‑on AI experience will allow smart glasses to replace the smartphone.” [1] The future is rapidly approaching.

1.    AI Foundation Models: Democratization and Personalized Intelligence

Large reasoning models have imbued AI with the ability to “think like a human”: beyond parsing surface text, they grasp context and logic, generating responses that mirror human cognition. This breakthrough has dramatically elevated baseline AI capability and is already proving invaluable in daily work.

DeepSeek is a striking example. By optimizing both algorithms and system architecture, it markedly boosts the pre‑training efficiency and the inference speed, slashing development time and cost. As a result, AI applications can now run on a far wider array of devices—including resource‑constrained mobile hardware—truly democratizing the technology.

As AI grows ever more powerful, the paramount question becomes how to harness it efficiently and effortlessly. Every user’s needs differ—text, images, video, code generation, and more. Multimodal foundation models that fuse diverse data types can deliver bespoke services to each user and satisfy that diversity of use cases.

Hence AI is evolving from “smarter” to “more attuned to you.” By continually analyzing behavioral data, AI systems perpetually refine performance and service, realizing genuine personalized intelligence and penetrating ever broader, deeper domains.

2.    The AllDay AI Assistant: From “Omnipotent” to “Omnipresent”

Input and output are equally crucial in AI interaction. Input is what you ask AI to analyze; output is the result—text, audio, images, or video. Today the PC remains the device through which most people engage AI, yet it is hardly the most natural interface.

An all‑day AI assistant supplies information and interaction anytime, anywhere, without reliance on a phone or PC. Voice mode in tools such as ChatGPT is now ubiquitous,   illustrating that AI’s flexibility should no longer be constrained by hardware form factor.

Chest‑pin or handheld products such as AI Pin and Rabbit R1 pursued greater flexibility, but market response was lukewarm. Beyond physical‑design shortcomings, a decisive factor was the lack of interaction convenience.

As AI grows “omnipotent,” the ideal paradigm is to issue commands and receive answers anytime, anywhere—for example, consulting a recipe or setting a virtual timer while your hands are busy in the kitchen. That demands an “always‑on” device that senses your needs.

While true‑wireless‑stereo (TWS) earbuds are popular, smart glasses clearly win on long‑wear comfort and functional integration. They also furnish AI with a visual display—enabling multimodal interaction no earbud can match. Cameras, microphones, and other sensors supply far richer data than a smartphone, fortifying support for multimodal AI. As Mark Zuckerberg notes, “Glasses are uniquely positioned to let people see what you see and hear what you hear.” [2]

3.    AR + AI: Redrawing the Frontiers of HumanMachine Collaboration

AI turns AR glasses into a personal assistant—and, ultimately, a “second brain.” They can recommend books or films based on your history and preferences. The Verge wrote of Android XR prototypes: “For that hour I felt like Tony Stark, and Gemini was my J.A.R.V.I.S.” [3]

The combination of AI and AR’s visual display lets devices even anticipate needs: reminding you of your hotel‑room number, translating a foreign menu, or highlighting the next tool during furniture assembly.

To make AR glasses the optimal AI carrier, however, designers must overcome the engineering hurdle of true all‑day ergonomics. Optical architecture drives form factor: many LCoS, DLP, or BirdBath solutions are simply too bulky for stylish everyday wear.

MicroLED micro‑displays are pivotal. Their tiny volume, high brightness, and low power draw enable lightweight AR designs. The smallest engine now measures 0.15 cm³ and weighs just 0.3 g. Powered by JBD’s MicroLED displays, Vuzix Z100 and OPPO Air Glass 2 look little different from conventional eyewear and weigh barely thirty grams—perfect for all‑day wear.

Extreme miniaturization is driving AR into mainstream view, while rapid AI iteration, always‑on connectivity, and seamless interaction embed smart glasses ever more deeply into daily life.

AR + AI is reshaping human‑world connectivity, ushering in the next generation of interaction, and evolving into a genuine “second brain” that promises unparalleled convenience and innovation.

AR, when fused with AI, is not merely redefining how we connect with the world; it is also forging a new stratum of human‑machine symbiosis and fast maturing into humanity’s “second brain.” By infusing everyday life with unparalleled convenience and disruptive innovation, this convergence propels us toward a future that is immeasurably smarter—and profoundly brighter.

References

  1. https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/30695475/meta-orion-glasses-boz-andrew-bosworth-interview-ai
  2. https://www.theverge.com/24253481/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-ar-glasses-orion-ray-bans-ai-decoder-interview
  3. https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/12/24319528/google-android-xr-samsung-project-moohan-smart-glasses
  4. https://www.evenrealities.com/products/g1-a

Penetrium™ Breaks Oncology Barriers: The Solution to Cold Tumors and Metastatic Cancer Unveiled at AACR 2025

  • Penetrium™ Achieves Historic Breakthrough
  • Overcoming Cold Tumor Failure and the Challenge of Metastatic Cancer in Immunotherapy and Antibody Therapy
  • Presented at AACR 2025, Chicago

CHICAGO, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Bioscience presented the results of its Penetrium™ combination preclinical studies at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, held in Chicago.

The studies established that the repeated failures of immunotherapy and antibody treatments in cold tumors are not primarily caused by genetic resistance, as traditionally believed, but by pseudo-resistance**—a physical failure of infiltration resulting from extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening. For the first time, Penetrium™ has been shown to structurally overcome this barrier.

Correcting 80 Years of Misconception:  The Real Problem Is Not Genetic Mutations—It’s Pseudo-Resistance

For decades, the dominant theory behind cancer treatment failure centered around genetic mutations. 

However, Hyundai Bioscience’s latest findings show that the actual obstacle lies in stiffened ECM that prevents immune cells and antibodies from reaching the tumor core.

Penetrium™ remodels the ECM, restoring infiltration pathways and enabling effective drug and immune cell access—providing a fundamental solution to the cold tumor problem.

Penetrium™ + Immunotherapy: Exceptional Results in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Models

① In a TNBC mouse model, Penetrium™ combined with anti-PD-1 therapy led to:

  • A 48.3% reduction in tumor burden compared to anti-PD-1 monotherapy,
  • Complete elimination of metastasis observed in the combination group, which remained present in the monotherapy group.

Significantly, necrosis was induced within 3 days of Penetrium™ administration, and necrotic areas continued to grow with repeated dosing**—a trend not observed in the control group.

② Penetrium™ + Antibody Therapy:  Complete Suppression of Lung Metastasis in a Metastatic Lung Cancer Model

In a metastatic lung cancer model:

  • Bevacizumab monotherapy showed only 33% metastasis suppression,
  • The Penetrium™ combination group recorded 0% lung metastasis at 100 mg/kg dosage.

Additionally, a marked decrease in MMP-9 and VEGF expression confirmed ECM normalization and the restoration of drug penetration routes at the molecular level.

③ Penetrium™ + Chemotherapy: Overcoming the Limitations of Paclitaxel

Paclitaxel monotherapy was found to paradoxically promote lung metastasis. 

However, when combined with Penetrium™, metastatic lesion areas were reduced by over 70–80% compared to controls.

Furthermore, suppression of MMP-9 and restoration of E-cadherin demonstrated that Penetrium™ not only enhances chemotherapy efficacy but also structurally blocks metastasis—without additional toxicity.

Validated in Naturally Occurring Canine Mammary Cancer Model:  Stronger Responses Observed in Metastatic Tumors

In a naturally occurring canine mammary cancer model:

  • The Penetrium™ + POLYTAXEL® combination reduced primary tumor volume by up to 38.7%, compared to 21.1% with monotherapy,
  • Metastatic lymph node lesions showed up to 78.99% tumor volume reduction.

Notably, metastatic lesions responded more strongly than primary tumors, challenging the long-standing notion that metastatic cancer is untreatable.

Proven Safety and Clinical Readiness

Penetrium™ was administered at less than 9% of the NOAEL dose established in a 13-week GLP-compliant toxicity study. 

Its safety has also been verified in humans during a Phase 2 COVID-19 trial using the same API, niclosamide.

These results confirm Penetrium™ is fully prepared for human clinical application.

Official Statement from Dr. Soo-Jung Kim, Head of Research

“Penetrium™ is the world’s first platform to structurally solve the infiltration failure that has caused repeated failure of immunotherapy and antibody therapy in cold tumors. 

Our combination study with immunotherapy exceeded expectations, and Hyundai Bioscience will soon initiate clinical trials of Penetrium™ combinations for both TNBC and metastatic lung cancer.” 

— Dr. Soo-Jung Kim, Head of Research, Hyundai Bioscience

Clinical Expansion Underway

Hyundai Bioscience is currently:

  • Conducting a Phase 1 trial for prostate cancer in South Korea,
  • Preparing an investigator-initiated trial for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in France.

Penetrium™: Launching a Tumor-Agnostic Cancer Treatment Platform

Penetrium ECM Remodeling Therapy™ is evolving into a tumor-agnostic universal cancer treatment platform with applicability not only to TNBC and metastatic lung cancer, but also to pancreatic, gallbladder, ovarian cancers, and hematological malignancies such as AML.

This breakthrough research is the first to structurally resolve infiltration failure in cold tumors, while also proving that metastatic cancers can be effectively treated**—a historic achievement in oncology.

About Hyundai Bioscience

Hyundai Bioscience is a global biotech company dedicated to developing innovative therapeutics for cancer, viral diseases, and rare conditions.

Through Penetrium ECM Remodeling Therapy™, the company is opening a new era of universally applicable cancer treatment across all tumor types.

In the viral therapeutics space:

  • Hyundai Bioscience successfully completed a Phase 2 clinical trial for COVID-19 in Korea,
  • Is conducting a global Phase 2 dengue fever trial in Vietnam in collaboration with DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative),
  • And is developing influenza and avian influenza treatments in partnership with the NIH and global institutions.

Driven by its core belief that “There is no disease that cannot be treated,” Hyundai Bioscience continues to lead global innovation in cancer, antiviral, and rare disease therapeutics.

F88 officially becomes a public company, paving the way for UPCOM listing


HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2025 – On May 6, F88 Investment Joint Stock Company (F88) was officially recognised as a public company, marking a major milestone in its growth and bringing the firm closer to its long-term goal of being listed on the stock exchange.

An F88 pawn shop in Hà Nội. F88 is now eligible to become the first alternative financial services provider to move towards a listing on Việt Nam's stock market. Photo courtesy of F88
An F88 pawn shop in Hà Nội. F88 is now eligible to become the first alternative financial services provider to move towards a listing on Việt Nam’s stock market. Photo courtesy of F88

This transition signals a new chapter in the company’s sustainable development, underpinned by higher standards of corporate governance and transparency.

The State Securities Commission (SSC) confirmed that F88 has fulfilled the requirements to become a public company in accordance with the Securities Law. Per regulations, companies recognised as public must register for UPCOM trading within 30 days. With this approval, F88 shares are now eligible to trade as the first alternative financial services provider on the UPCOM platform, targeting unbanked customers and moving towards a listing on Hồ Chí Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE).

Alternative finance refers to financial services offered outside the traditional banking and finance system, such as peer-to-peer lending and microfinance.

“Becoming a public company is a critical milestone in our development roadmap as we move towards UPCOM registration,” said Phùng Anh Tuấn, founder and chairman of F88.

“It affirms our ongoing efforts to improve transparency and standardise corporate governance in line with international benchmarks. This also sets a strong foundation for our future listing on the Hồ Chí Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE), as we strive to create long-term value for both our mass-market customers and shareholders.”

Tuấn said that this milestone not only reflects the company’s internal progress, but also represents the growing recognition of Việt Nam’s alternative finance sector, as F88’s business model has successfully met the stringent criteria set by the SSC and is now poised to be welcomed by public investors.

Backed by reputable foreign investors including Mekong Capital, Việt Nam Oman Investment (a joint venture between the Government of Oman’s State General Reserve Fund and Việt Nam’s State Capital Investment Corporation) and Granite Oak, F88 has expanded to nearly 900 branches nationwide since its founding in 2013.

The company’s core business is centred on inclusive financial services — offering loans, insurance and banking products to individuals who have limited access to traditional financial institutions.

In the first quarter of 2025, F88 disbursed over VNĐ3.28 trillion, a 25 per cent year-on-year increase. Revenue rose by 21.5 per cent while pre-tax profit surged by 204.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

F88 aims to become a leading retail financial group in Việt Nam, reshaping how the population accesses financial services. The company envisions a future where every Vietnamese citizen can engage with formal, transparent financial products that support a better quality of life.

“To realise that vision, we must attract more capital from investors and financial institutions by adopting higher standards in governance, operations and finance,” Tuấn said. “Becoming a public company and listing on the stock exchange is a key step toward achieving that goal.”

In addition to its long-term partners, F88 is currently working with new domestic and international lenders to diversify its funding sources in 2025. The company has also rolled out detailed strategies for each business segment, aligned with its broader strategic vision and sustainability goals.

F88 plans to leverage technology to digitise operations, streamline service delivery and ensure safe, efficient handling of millions of transactions. This year, the company targets revenue growth of over 40 per cent and aims to increase its customer base by more than 30 per cent.

Hashtag: #F88

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

About F88

Founded in 2013, F88 is Việt Nam’s leading retail finance chain in the alternative finance sector, focusing on inclusive financial services such as lending, insurance distribution and banking products. The company primarily serves customers who lack access to conventional banking and credit services. As of early May 2025, F88 operates 888 branches across the country.

F88 has gained widespread recognition for its performance and workplace culture, including being named one of Asia’s Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work. It is also the first and only alternative finance company in Việt Nam to receive the Client Protection Certificate — a global standard for safeguarding financial consumers.

In April 2025, local credit rating agency FiinRatings upgraded F88’s credit outlook from “Stable” to “Positive”, citing improvements in asset quality and the company’s continued market leadership.

SCG Announces Late-Breaking Clinical Data of SCG101 in HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presented at EASL 2025

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SCG Cell Therapy Pte Ltd (SCG), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering TCR T cell therapy for infectious diseases and associated cancers, today announced late-breaking clinical data from its Phase 1 trial evaluating SCG101, autologous HBV-specific TCR-T cell therapy, in patients with advanced HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These data were presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress 2025.

The results demonstrated that SCG101 led to sustained clearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV-DNA in heavily pre-treated patients with HBV-related HCC. Notably, 94% of patients had received prior nucleoside analogue (NA) antiviral therapy, and 72% presented with liver cirrhosis at baseline. Following a single-dose SCG101 infusion, all treated patients experienced a rapid decline in serum HBsAg, with 94% (16/17) achieving a 1.0–4.6 log₁₀ reduction within 28 days and persisting < 100 lU/mL for up to 1 year. Notably, 4 patients (23.5%) achieved HBsAg loss.

In addition to its antiviral effects, SCG101 demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity. All patients had received at least 2 prior lines of systemic cancer treatment, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Despite this heavily pre-treated population, 8 out of 17 patients (47%) showed measurable tumour regression. At the time of data cutoff, median overall survival (OS) had not yet been reached.

SCG101 was generally well tolerated, with a good safety profile. Transient alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation, consistent with the cytolytic mechanism of SCG101, was observed in 94% of patients and resolved within 14 days. Other common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) included cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia—all of which were manageable and reversible.

Prof. Dr. Shunda Du, Chief of Liver Surgery Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said: “The dual antiviral and antitumor effects observed with SCG101 are highly promising, especially in this heavily pre-treated patient population. The sustained HBsAg clearance and tumour response suggest that SCG101 may offer a novel immunotherapeutic option for patients with HBV-related HCC, addressing an area of significant unmet clinical need”.

HBV remains a major global health burden, affecting over 250 million people worldwide. It is a leading cause of liver cancer, responsible for 50%–80% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases globally.1 Chronic HBV infection leads to the integration of HBV DNA into the host genome, resulting in persistent HBsAg expression, chromosomal instability, and activation of oncogenes, thereby contributing to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.2

SCG101 is designed to selectively target and eliminate HBV-infected hepatocytes and HCC cells by recognizing specific epitope of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) presented via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). By triggering both cytolytic and non-cytolytic mechanisms, SCG101 effectively eliminates HBV-infected hepatocytes as well as premalignant and HBV-HCC cells with HBV-DNA integration.  

“These positive data mark an important step forward in the development of SCG101 and validate our approach of harnessing precision T cell therapy to target chronic HBV infection and HBV-related liver cancer,” said Christy Ma, Chief Executive Officer of SCG Cell Therapy. “SCG101 is the first TCR-T cell therapy to demonstrate both virologic clearance and tumour regression in HBV-related HCC patients. We are encouraged by the data, and we look forward to advancing SCG101 through further clinical development to bring this potentially curative therapy to patients in need.”

About SCG101

SCG101 is an investigational autologous T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapy designed to selectively target specific epitope of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Powered by SCG’s proprietary GianT™ TCR screening platform, which enables the discovery of natural, high-affinity, high-avidity TCRs against intracellular antigens presented via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). SCG101 delivers precise immune-mediated clearance of infected and malignant cells demonstrating significant tumour inhibition and the eradication of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in preclinical and clinical studies.

About Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. In 2020, it was estimated that over 905,000 new cases of liver cancer were diagnosed, and more than 830,100 deaths occurred globally, making it one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality.3 Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is responsible for at least 50% of HCC cases worldwide.1 HCC is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, contributing to a poor prognosis with a five-year survival rate of less than 15%.4  

About SCG Cell Therapy

SCG Cell Therapy is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to developing novel immunotherapies for infectious diseases and associated cancers. The company focuses on targeting some of the most common cancer-causing infections, including Helicobacter pylori, HPV, HBV, and EBV. SCG is advancing a broad pipeline of TCR-based therapeutics aimed at preventing and curing infection-related cancers. Headquartered in Singapore, SCG operates across Singapore, China, and Germany, leveraging regional strengths to cover the entire value chain, from innovative drug research and discovery to manufacturing, clinical development, and commercialization. For more information, please visit www.scgcell.com.

[1] Y, Xie. (2017). Hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Advances in experimental medicine and biology.

[2] Jiang, Y., Han, Q., Zhao, H., Zhang, J. (2021, May 20). The mechanisms of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Journal of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[3] Liver cancer statistics: World cancer research fund international. WCRF International. (2022, April 14).

[4] Golabi P, Fazel S, Otgonsuren M, Sayiner M, Locklear CT, Younossi ZM. (2017). Mortality assessment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma according to underlying disease and treatment modalities.