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Ageing, smoking, oral bacteria and genetic mutations linked to higher stomach cancer risk

  • Duke-NUS and NUHS scientists uncover a complex web of genetic, age-related and microbial factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer.
  • Age-related blood cell mutations may trigger early changes in the stomach lining, offering new insights into how cancer risk builds over time and underscoring the importance of healthy ageing.
  • Findings point to new ways to identify individuals at highest risk of developing stomach cancer, opening opportunities for targeted prevention and precise screening.

SINGAPORE, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School and the National University Health System (NUHS), together with an international team of researchers, have uncovered a complex interplay of factors that increase the risk of developing stomach cancer (gastric cancer). These factors include genetic and age-related blood mutations, smoking and infection by oral bacteria. Published in Cancer Discovery, the findings provide new insight into the earliest biological changes that precede the development of gastric cancer and could offer more precise approaches for risk stratification and prevention.

Gastric cancer remains one of the world’s deadliest cancers. It is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, accounting for 769,000 deaths in 2020[1]. In Singapore, it is among the top 10 causes of cancer-related deaths, claiming about 300 lives[2] each year.

Gastric cancer typically develops over many decades, beginning with chronic inflammation in the stomach lining. This can progress to intestinal metaplasia, a condition in which normal stomach cells gradually convert to cells resembling those usually found in the intestines. Over time, these changes may progress to more severe tissue damage and cancer. However, clinicians have limited ability to predict which individuals with intestinal metaplasia are most likely to progress to gastric cancer.

To address this gap, studies were conducted under the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium (SGCC), a multidisciplinary national research programme comprising clinicians and scientists from various academic medical centres, universities and research institutes working in gastric cancer research and management. The SGCC team, which included collaborators from the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), the Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and the A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore, along with clinicians from SingHealth, NHG Health, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan region and the USA, analysed more than 1,500 intestinal metaplasia samples collected across six countries. This large, geographically diverse dataset enabled the team to compare genetic changes across populations with differing levels of gastric cancer risk.

Using advanced genetic analyses, the researchers identified 47 significantly mutated genes in intestinal metaplasia cells. Mutations in one particular gene, ARID1A, were associated with increased risk of gastric cancer and poorer prognosis. The team also uncovered a distinct pattern of DNA damage, known as SBS17, which was absent in healthy stomach tissue but commonly found in intestinal metaplasia. SBS17 is linked to oxidative stress—a type of cellular damage caused by reactive molecules generated by abnormal metabolism. This damage can be worsened by exposure to tobacco smoking. This finding suggests that oxidative stress may play a critical role in the earliest stages of gastric cancer development.

In another exciting development, the team also discovered that pyrvinium, a drug currently used to treat parasites, had the ability to inhibit the growth of intestinal metaplasia cells. Building on this finding, clinical studies under the SGCC are being planned to explore therapeutic strategies for intestinal metaplasia.

Unexpectedly, the team also discovered that clonal hematopoiesis, a process in which blood stem cells acquire mutations and multiply—was also associated with increased susceptibility to gastric cancer. Since clonal hematopoiesis is known to occur in the elderly, these findings further explain why gastric cancer is often diagnosed in patients later in their life. Further analysis revealed that individuals with clonal hematopoiesis also carried higher levels of oral bacteria such as Streptococcus in their stomachs. Together, the “dual-impact” of weakened immunity caused by clonal hematopoiesis, along with increased bacterial levels, may fuel chronic inflammation and accelerate progression to gastric cancer.

Professor Patrick Tan, Dean at Duke-NUS Medical School and a senior author of the study, said:

“Gastric cancer is often called a silent killer because it takes hold quietly, long before symptoms appear. What our study shows is that risk does not come from one place—it builds over many years through a complex interplay between ageing, genetic changes, immune shifts and even the bacteria we carry. As Singapore is a rapidly ageing population, these findings improve our understanding of biological processes that happen when we age and will contribute towards the nation’s quest to promote healthy longevity and resilience.”

Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Chief Executive, NUHS and co-senior author of the study, said: 

“Our findings open the door to exploring new and more effective treatments such as eliminating specific bacteria, and therapies to inhibit or potentially reverse intestinal metaplasia. These findings also provide insights into which intestinal metaplasia patients are at greatest risk of developing gastric cancer. These can serve as valuable biomarkers to identify the most vulnerable long before the disease strikes, guiding more focused screening to identify those who require closer monitoring.”

Professor Yeoh is also a Senior Consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the National University Hospital, and the Kishore Mahbubani Professor in Medicine and Health Policy, Department of Medicine, NUS Medicine.

This research was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health through the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Office, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd under the NMRC Singapore Translational Research Investigator Award (MOH-000967), and the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF) under the NMRC Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant (MOH-000206) administered by the Singapore Ministry of Health through the NMRC Office, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd.

DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-25-0778

About Duke-NUS Medical School                 

Duke-NUS is Singapore’s flagship graduate entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted ‘Clinicians Plus’ poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five Signature Research Programmes and ten Centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore’s largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has led to the creation of 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives.   

For more information, please visit www.duke-nus.edu.sg 

About the National University Health System

The National University Health System (NUHS) aims to transform how illness is prevented and managed by discovering causes of disease, development of more effective treatments through collaborative multidisciplinary research and clinical trials, and creation of better technologies and care delivery systems in partnership with others who share the same values and vision.

Institutions in the NUHS Group include the National University Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital and Alexandra Hospital; three National Specialty Centres – National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) and National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS); the National University Polyclinics (NUP); Jurong Medical Centre; and three NUS health sciences schools – NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (including the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies), NUS Faculty of Dentistry and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

With member institutions under a common governance structure, NUHS creates synergies for the advancement of health by integrating patient care, health science education and biomedical research.

As a Regional Health System, NUHS works closely with health and social care partners across Singapore to develop and implement programmes that contribute to a healthy and engaged population in the Western part of Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.nuhs.edu.sg.

About the National Medical Research Council (NMRC)

The NMRC was established in 1994 to oversee research funding from the Ministry of Health and support the development and advancement of biomedical research in Singapore, particularly in the public healthcare clusters and medical schools. NMRC engages in research strategy and planning, provides funding to support competitive research grants and core research enablers, and is responsible for the development of clinician scientists through awards and fellowships. The council’s work is supported by the NMRC Office which is part of MOH Holdings Pte Ltd. Through its management of the various funding initiatives, NMRC promotes healthcare research in Singapore, for better health and economic outcomes.

About the National Research Foundation (NRF)

The National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF), set up on 1 January 2006, is a department within the Prime Minister’s Office. The NRF sets the national direction for research and development (R&D) by developing policies, plans and strategies for research, innovation and enterprise. It also funds strategic initiatives and builds up R&D capabilities by nurturing research talent. Learn more about the NRF at www.nrf.gov.sg.

[1] Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, et al. Global Cancer 1261 Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers 1262 in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin 2021;71(3):209-49 doi 10.3322/caac.21660.

[2] Singapore Medical Association – For Doctors, For Patients (sma.org.sg)

 

 

SHIMENG Supply Chain Management Launches A-Share IPO, Largest External Shareholder Shoucheng Holdings (0697.HK) Sees Investment Value Enter Realization Phase

HONG KONG, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SHIMENG SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT CO., LTD. (“SHIMENG”), an investee company of Shoucheng Holdings (0697.HK), has recently initiated its initial public offering (IPO) process on the Main Board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. This milestone marks another significant value-realization event within Shoucheng Holdings’ industrial investment portfolio, providing a clear and verifiable catalyst that reinforces its long-term investment thesis and highlights tangible progress in the logistics and supply-chain services sector.

SHIMENG is a professional integrated supply chain logistics service provider focused on multinational manufacturing enterprises. Its service offerings cover key segments including transportation, warehousing, and customs clearance, positioning the company as an infrastructure-type service provider that connects manufacturing operations with end markets. As global manufacturing supply chains continue to evolve toward higher efficiency and greater resilience, the sector in which SHIMENG operates is supported by structurally stable demand and long-term growth potential.

Notably, the IPO represents one of the most important capitalization outcomes within Shoucheng Holdings’ investment portfolio to date. Shoucheng Holdings is the largest external shareholder of SHIMENG and has been deeply involved in the company’s strategic development and capital planning throughout its growth trajectory. As a Hong Kong–listed investment platform under the Shougang Group, Shoucheng Holdings has consistently focused on real-economy investments and asset management. The progression of an investee company into the IPO execution stage signals a transition from value incubation to measurable and realizable returns, carrying clear strategic and financial significance.

From a market perspective, the advancement of an IPO is widely regarded as a key indicator that a “capital realization window” has opened. IPOs represent highly transparent and observable value-realization events, helping convert the intrinsic value of an investment portfolio into tangible financial outcomes. This process may enhance market expectations regarding Shoucheng Holdings’ future earnings visibility and cash-return potential, thereby providing positive support for its overall valuation profile.

According to publicly available data from Investing.com and other sources, analyst consensus on Shoucheng Holdings currently leans toward a “Strong Buy” rating. The consensus 12-month target price stands at approximately HKD 2.67, implying further upside from current trading levels. This reflects institutional investors’ confidence in the company’s improving fundamentals as well as the gradual monetization of its investment portfolio. In parallel, recent Stock Connect data indicate an increase in northbound fund holdings, suggesting growing interest from long-term capital in Shoucheng Holdings’ medium- to long-term investment value.

Against this backdrop, the initiation of SHIMENG’s IPO serves as a clear value-unlocking event within Shoucheng Holdings’ portfolio. It is expected to further strengthen market recognition of the company’s “industrial investment plus capital operations” strategy and enhance its attractiveness to long-term capital allocation.

In addition, Shoucheng Holdings has continued to implement share repurchase programs, signaling management’s confidence in the company’s current valuation and future operating and investment performance. Combined with the IPO progress of SHIMENG, these developments may be interpreted by the market as a positive convergence of valuation recovery and investment realization, providing medium-term support for the company’s share price.

AGNEZ MO Reunites with Wax Figure and Fans at Madame Tussauds Singapore’s Exclusive Fan Meet

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 January 2026 – Madame Tussauds Singapore hosted an exclusive fan meet event on 16 January 2026, featuring international music and entertainment icon AGNEZ MO, bringing fans up close with the superstar in an intimate and memorable setting.

AGNEZ MO Fan Meet

The special appearance marked a meaningful reunion between AGNEZ MO and her wax figure, which was first unveiled at Madame Tussauds Singapore in 2022. The fan meet offered a rare opportunity for fans to reconnect with the multi-talented artist while celebrating her continued global success.

AGNEZ MO Fan Meet

During the event, AGNEZ MO shared that the wax figure represents more than just a statue. To her, it symbolises her music, artistry, and global impact, as well as the connection she has built with fans around the world. She expressed her deep gratitude for the honour, emphasising the significance behind the tribute.

“It’s not just a wax figure, it’s what it represents,” said AGNEZ MO, reflecting on the meaning behind her wax figure and the impact she hopes to continue making through her work.

The event also highlighted an exciting milestone in AGNEZ MO’s career – her upcoming role in Prime Video’s Reacher Season 4. This follows the massive success of Reacher Season 3, which became the most-watched returning series on Prime Video, further cementing AGNEZ MO’s growing presence on the international screen.

This exclusive fan meet was proudly supported by the Singapore Tourism Board and W SingaporeSentosa Cove, underscoring Singapore’s position as a vibrant destination for world-class entertainment and cultural experiences.

“We are delighted to partner with Madame Tussauds Singapore to welcome Indonesian global talent, AGNEZ MO, to Singapore. Through her lens, we aim to bring to life the spirit of energy and fun Destination Singapore has to offer across a diverse mix of iconic attractions, immersive experiences, and convenient accessibility. We hope to inspire AGNEZ MO’s global fans to visit and discover the many exciting possibilities that await,” said Lim Si Ting, Singapore Tourism Board, Area Director, Indonesia (Surabaya).

Held within the immersive attraction, the fan meet featured close interactions with AGNEZ MO, exclusive photo moments, and heartfelt exchanges with fans, making it a standout experience for attendees and a celebration of her journey across music, film, and television.

Madame Tussauds Singapore continues to be a platform where fans can connect with global icons through unique, real-life experiences, blending entertainment, storytelling, and celebrity culture.

For more information about Madame Tussauds Singapore, please visit https://www.madametussauds.com/singapore/

For media enquiries related to the Singapore Tourism Board and Destination Singapore, please contact:

Sisi Suhardjo, Head of Public Relations, Iris Worldwide
Tel: +62 818 754 229
E-mail: sisi.suhardjo@id.iris-worldwide.com

For any other enquiries, please contact:
Denise Lim, Marketing Executive, Madame Tussauds Singapore

Hashtag: #MerlinEntertainments #MadameTussaudsSingapore

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

Madame Tussauds Singapore

Madame Tussauds has been inviting people to walk the red carpet and get closer to the revered – and feared – for over 250 years. With 22 attractions in the world’s top destination cities, we are dedicated to giving millions of visitors the opportunity to mingle with the mighty from A-listers to music legends, heroes of sport, to infamous world leaders. Today, we continue to partner with the global icons of a generation to create astonishing lifelike figures from sittings and offer exciting and interactive experiences to ensure guests have never felt closer to fame.

About Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, offering a diverse portfolio of resort theme parks, city-centre gateway attractions and LEGOLAND Resorts which span across UK, US, Western Europe, China and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its growing estate, with over 140 sites across 23 countries. An expert in bringing world-famous entertainment brands to life, Merlin works with partners including the LEGO Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Peppa Pig, Dreamworks and Ferrari to create destinations where guests can immerse themselves in a wide array of brand-driven worlds, rides, and uplifting learning experiences. See for more information.

Akeso Announces NMPA Acceptance of Second NDA for Gumokimab (IL-17A Inhibitor) in Active Ankylosing Spondylitis

HONG KONG, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) announced that its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for gumokimab (AK111), a novel humanized anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), has been accepted for review by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). There are approximately 4 million AS patients in China, and gumokimab represents a potentially promising new therapeutic option for this disease.

Active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the second indication for which gumokimab has gained acceptance for NDA review. The application for its use in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis was previously accepted by the CDE in January 2025.

Gumokimab is Akeso’s third non-oncology drug candidate to enter the regulatory review phase, following ebronucimab (PCSK9 monoclonal antibody) and ebdarokimab (IL-12/lL-23 monoclonal antibody). Recent notable progress from Akeso’s non-oncology franchise includes the market launch and NRDL inclusion of both ebronucimab and ebdarokimab, and the steady advancement of gumokimab and manfidokimab (IL-4R monoclonal antibody) towards commercialization.  These commercial and late stage developments are coupled with world-class innovation highlighted by the entry into clinical studies by AK139, Akeso’s first-in-class IL-4Rα/ST2 bispecific antibody for immunological indications, and by AK152, Akeso’s potential best-in-class bispecific candidate for neurodegeneration.

The NDA acceptance for gumokimab is based on the positive results from its pivotal Phase III clinical trial in the treatment of AS, AK111-303. This study demonstrated that gumokimab offers effective and swift alleviation of AS symptoms, significantly improves patients’s activity, physical function, and quality of life. In the study, gumokimab successfully met all pre-specified efficacy endpoints in individuals with active ankylosing spondylitis. The primary endpoint (ASAS20 response rate) showed consistent improvements across all subgroup analyses. The key secondary endpoint (ASAS40 response rate), and several other predefined secondary endpoints all reflected statistically significant and clinically meaningful outcomes.

Forward-Looking Statement of Akeso, Inc.
This announcement by Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK, “Akeso”) contains “forward-looking statements”. These statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of Akeso’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any decision to purchase securities of Akeso. There can be no assurance that the drug candidate(s) indicated in this announcement or Akeso’s other pipeline candidates will obtain the required regulatory approvals or achieve commercial success. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in P.R.China, the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Akeso’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Akeso’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

Akeso does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

About Akeso
Akeso (HKEX: 9926.HK) is a leading biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the world’s first or best-in-class innovative biological medicines. Founded in 2012, the company has created a unique integrated R&D innovation system with the comprehensive end-to-end drug development platform (ACE Platform) and bi-specific antibody drug development technology (Tetrabody) as the core, a GMP-compliant manufacturing system and a commercialization system with an advanced operation mode, and has gradually developed into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative solutions. With fully integrated multi-functional platform, Akeso is internally working on a robust pipeline of over 50 innovative assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation, metabolic disease and other major diseases. Among them, 26 candidates have entered clinical trials (including 15 bispecific/multispecific antibodies and bispecific ADCs. Additionally, 7 new drugs are commercially available. Through efficient and breakthrough R&D innovation, Akeso always integrates superior global resources, develops the first-in-class and best-in-class new drugs, provides affordable therapeutic antibodies for patients worldwide, and continuously creates more commercial and social values to become a global leading biopharmaceutical enterprise.

For more information, please visit https://www.akesobio.com/en/about-us/corporate-profile/ and follow us on Linkedin.

Ph fintech GCash gives Filipinos free access to health, loan insurance through GLoan Protect

MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fuse Financing Inc. (Fuse), the lending arm of the Philippines’ leading fintech player GCash together with GInsure, its digital insurance platform, is now giving free insurance coverage to borrowers of its GLoan feature.

GLoan now comes with free health and loan insurance underwritten by Oona Insurance Corporation.  (L-R) Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Businesses, Mynt; Abhisek Bhatia,  Founder and CEO, Oona Insurance Corporation; Tony Isidro, President and CEO, Fuse Financing Inc.; and Ninoy Rollan, President, Oona Insurance Philippines.
GLoan now comes with free health and loan insurance underwritten by Oona Insurance Corporation. (L-R) Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Businesses, Mynt; Abhisek Bhatia, Founder and CEO, Oona Insurance Corporation; Tony Isidro, President and CEO, Fuse Financing Inc.; and Ninoy Rollan, President, Oona Insurance Philippines.

Available for a limited time, the newest feature, GLoan Protect, provides borrowers with free loan and health insurance, underwritten by Oona Insurance Corporation, for every GLoan disbursement worth a minimum of PHP 500.00 (USD 8.00).

“Oftentimes, Filipinos don’t think of insurance until it’s too late,” said Tony Isidro, President and CEO of Fuse Financing, Inc. “With the free insurance, we’re making sure that every time someone gets a GLoan, they also get a safety net. It’s our way of helping users feel more secure and protected without them having to spend extra.”

By integrating protection into GLoan, GCash—through Fuse and GInsure—offers borrowers added peace of mind and a safety net against life’s uncertainties.

Under GLoan Protect, the free health insurance covers a hospitalization allowance given to all users who avail of a GLoan moving forward. Users can claim a minimum of PHP 500.00 (USD 8.00) or up to 10% of the total loan value when they get confined in the hospital for a minimum stay of 3 days.

The loan insurance benefit is activated once a customer receives their loan proceeds from GLoan, and coverage remains constant and valid until the end of the loan term. In case of customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, the remaining loan balance will be waived and settled by the insurance provider. Any remaining benefit amount, if applicable, will then be paid out to the borrower’s beneficiary or family.

“By combining credit and insurance within a single service, we’re pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to give Filipinos not just access to funding, but also the protection they deserve,” said Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Businesses at Mynt, the parent company of GCash.

GCash made this initiative possible in partnership with Oona Insurance Corporation, a wholly-owned company by Oona Philippines Holdings Corporation (OPHC), actively expanding into health and digital-first solutions that meet the needs of today’s consumers.

“Our mission at Oona is to make protection part of everyday life, not something out of reach. Partnering with Fuse and GCash shows how insurance can be embedded seamlessly into the financial services people already use, from borrowing to everyday transactions,” said Abhishek Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Oona Insurance.

GLoan Protect is now available to new GLoan transactions for a limited time starting on January 16 until March 31, 2026. Borrowers should be Filipino citizens, aged 21-65,  fully-verified GCash users with a minimum loan approved and disbursed amount of PHP 500.00 (USD 8.00), and at least one month loan tenor.

For more information about GLoan and its free insurance benefit, please visit https://help.gcash.com.

 

 

 

More than two-thirds of investment managers prominently using AI to support front office, SimCorp study reveals

Key findings:

  • Annual survey of 200 buy-side executives shows significant increase in AI adoption compared to the same time last year.
  • For the first time in three years, innovation has become the leading driver of technology and operations investments.
  • Firms consider vendor stability the top priority when selecting third-party AI solutions for their investment management.
  • Belief that private markets and alternative investments are poised for technological innovation has risen sharply over the past 12 months.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 70 percent of buy-side firms are successfully employing Artificial Intelligence to support their front office, according to a new global study commissioned by SimCorp, a global leader in financial technology.

Excerpt from SimCorp InvestOps report.
Excerpt from SimCorp InvestOps report.

This finding marks a significant increase from last year’s report, which showed only about 10 percent of respondents were actively exploring AI tools. At the time, 75 percent recognized AI’s potential, but they still needed guidance on how to integrate it.

These findings, published in the 2026 InvestOps Report, draw on responses from 200 executives at asset managers, pension funds and insurance companies worldwide. The respondents were surveyed by WBR Insights to identify their technology priorities and challenges heading into 2026.

“AI adoption has dramatically shifted from pilots to business-critical applications in the front office,” said Peter Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer, SimCorp. “The advancements in AI can deliver the most value for investment professionals to enhance decision-making and efficiency when it is underpinned by a centrally governed and unified data layer.”

The new report also finds that consolidating technology vendors and platforms (58%) and modernizing technology architecture and data infrastructure (54%) are the top technology initiatives for buy-side firms – both are essential for scaling AI, automating investment workflows and simplifying tech stacks.

“I’m not surprised to see 58 percent of firms in this survey choosing vendor and platform consolidation as a technology initiative,” added Sanderson. “It’s the first step toward bringing all their data together so they can have better control, trust their information, see their entire portfolio clearly, and use AI to gain insights.”

Innovation overtakes operational efficiency as top strategic technology priority

For the first time in three years, achieving competitive differentiation through innovation (55%) has surpassed operational efficiency (33%) and controlling operating costs (44%) as the leading driver of technology and operations investments for 2026.

With AI adoption maturing across investment managers, vendor stability (57%) ranks as the most important criterion when evaluating AI solutions for their investment management – ahead of features. As proprietary data often flows into AI models, firms require that vendors have robust data governance and cybersecurity in place and are seeking partners capable of supporting these requirements.

The top factors when evaluating AI solutions for investment management were:

  1. Vendor stability (57%) – Established providers with enterprise support.
  2. Innovation access (54%) – Early beta features for competitive advantage.
  3. Analytical flexibility (47%) – Probabilistic outputs for research and insights.
  4. Proven ROI (45%) – Demonstrated return metrics before scaling deployments.
  5. Governance framework (40%) – Comprehensive documentation and regulatory alignment.
  6. Regulatory compliance (35%) – Deterministic, auditable outputs for compliance use cases.
  7. Investment appetite (24%) – Premium pricing for advanced capabilities.

Looking ahead, respondents ranked AI, generative AI, and advanced analytics (72%) as the area offering the greatest opportunity for technological innovation. Another area poised for innovation is within alternative investments where operational complexity and fragmented data often result in limited automation. Over the past 12 months, the number of respondents who believe private markets & alternative investments offer the greatest opportunity for technological innovation has grown by 24 percentage points, reaching 51 percent in 2026 compared to 27 percent in 2025.

As private market allocations continue to rise, firms that invest in best-in-class technology capabilities for alternatives can gain operational leverage through higher straight-through processing rates, allowing them to focus on evaluating the best investment opportunities rather than manual reconciliations.

To that end, SimCorp launched SimCorp Alternatives last year, a comprehensive offering designed to serve the needs of all alternative investment firms. It builds on SimCorp’s existing alternatives offering, already trusted by some of the world’s largest asset owners.

To learn more about the findings of the 2026 InvestOps Report and to access the full report, click here.

Survey methodology 

The 2026 Global InvestOps Report surveyed 200 senior executives and operations leaders from asset managers, insurers, and pension funds across North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, each managing at least USD 10 billion in AUM. Respondents included C-suite representatives and other senior leaders. The survey was conducted by WBR Insights, an independent research firm.

About SimCorp  

SimCorp is a provider of industry-leading integrated investment management solutions for the global buy side.

Founded in 1971, with more than 3,500 employees across five continents, SimCorp is a truly global technology leader that empowers more than half of the world’s top 100 financial companies through its integrated platform, services, and partner ecosystem. 

The Axioma analytics suite provides comprehensive factor risk models, multi-asset enterprise risk management, portfolio construction, and regulatory reporting solutions. SimCorp is a subsidiary of Deutsche Börse Group. 

For more information, please visit www.simcorp.com

Media Contact: Søren Rathlou Top, Global PR Manager at SimCorp, +45 31 15 87 06, Srat@simcorp.com  

IBM Launches Enterprise Advantage Service to Help Businesses Scale Agentic AI

New AI‑powered consulting service delivers a secured platform, shared standards, and reusable AI assets to help organizations accelerate growth and drive innovation 

ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced IBM Enterprise Advantage, a first-of-its-kind asset-based consulting service that combines proven AI-tools and expertise to help clients quickly build, govern, and operate their own tailored internal AI platform at scale.

Organizations can now use IBM Enterprise Advantage to redesign workflows, connect AI to existing systems, and scale new agentic applications without requiring changes to their cloud providers, AI models, or core infrastructure. This includes Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, IBM watsonx, and both open‑and closed‑source models, allowing companies to build on their existing investments.

IBM Corporation logo.
IBM Corporation logo.

IBM Enterprise Advantage brings together the technical and industry expertise of IBM consultants with technology built from IBM Consulting Advantage, IBM’s own internal AI-powered delivery platform. With a growing marketplace of industry‑specific AI agents and applications, IBM Consulting Advantage has already supported more than 150 client engagements and been shown to boost consultants’ productivity by up to 50% to help clients achieve faster results.

Now with the Enterprise Advantage service, IBM is giving clients access to the same proven approach and capabilities to build their own AI platforms and navigate the complex AI marketplace to drive enterprise value.

For example, Pearson, a lifelong learning company, is using this service to build a custom AI‑powered platform that combines human expertise with agentic assistants to manage everyday work and decisions.

A manufacturer company has used Enterprise Advantage to implement its generative AI strategy. This includes identifying high‑value use cases, testing targeted prototypes, and aligning leaders around a scalable, platform‑first strategy. With an Enterprise Advantage solution, the client is now deploying AI assistants using multiple technologies in a secured, governed environment that lays the foundation for expanding generative AI across the enterprise.

“Many organizations are investing in AI, but achieving real value at scale remains a major challenge,” said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting. “We have solved many of these challenges inside IBM by using AI to transform our own operations and deliver measurable results, giving us a proven playbook to help clients succeed. Enterprise Advantage brings this framework to clients by combining human expertise with digital workers and ready-to-use AI assets so they can scale AI with confidence and achieve meaningful impact.”

Enterprise Advantage is available now. 

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

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

IBM
Elizabeth Brophy
Elizabeth.Brophy@ibm.com

NOVEON MAGNETICS COMPLETES $215 MILLION SERIES C TO EXPAND U.S. RARE EARTH MAGNET MANUFACTURING CAPACITY

Financing Round Led by One Investment Management Supports Expansion of Domestic Rare Earth Magnet Production and Facilitates Secondary Share Sale

SAN MARCOS, Texas, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Noveon Magnetics, Inc. (Noveon), a leading U.S. manufacturer of sintered rare earth permanent magnets, today announced the close of a $215 million Series C financing led by a $200 million investment from One Investment Management (OneIM). The capital will fuel significant growth of Noveon’s domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing capacity as demand accelerates across key sectors — including automotive, defense, AI, energy, and advanced manufacturing — and as the need to reshore critical U.S. supply chains becomes increasingly important. In addition, today’s Series C financing facilitates secondary sales by certain existing shareholders.

As part of the transaction, OneIM will appoint two new Series C board members.

“This financing marks a pivotal step in scaling Noveon’s production capabilities to meet rapidly growing customer demand,” said Scott Dunn, CEO of Noveon. “With the support of OneIM, we are accelerating deliveries of high-performance rare earth magnets produced entirely in the United States — scaling capacity, capability, and strengthening supply chain resiliency for our customers.”

Noveon was the first company to reshore full-scale production of sintered rare earth magnets to the United States. This investment positions Noveon to accelerate its growth trajectory by expanding capacity beyond 2,000 tons per year, enabling the company to support existing commercial partners and capture growing demand from critical industries requiring high-performance, high-quality magnetic materials.

Rare earth permanent magnets are essential to automotive systems, defense platforms, AI and data storage technologies, robotics, and advanced manufacturing applications. Noveon’s American manufacturing platform directly addresses long-standing supply chain vulnerabilities, delivering reliable, high-performance magnet solutions.

“Noveon is uniquely positioned to lead the reshoring of the rare earth magnet industry at a time when supply chain security and domestic manufacturing capacity are national priorities,” said Rajeev Misra, CEO and Co-Founder of OneIM. “The company has assembled exceptional talent and built the technical skills, operational expertise, and execution discipline required to scale U.S. rare earth magnet manufacturing. We are proud to support Noveon’s next phase of growth and I look forward to supporting the company as it builds capacity that can truly meet the moment.”

Over the last 12 months, Noveon has achieved several significant milestones, including entering into multi-year supply agreements with General Motors and ABB, forming strategic partnerships with Lynas and Solvay to help create a more resilient supply chain, and entering into a closed-loop magnet recycling initiative with LG Electronics and Kangwon Energy. These milestones have strengthened Noveon’s position as a leader in sintered NdFeB magnets and have laid the groundwork for offering a fully domestic, vertically integrated solution for rare earth magnets.

“I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished over the past year,” added Scott Dunn. “We look forward to building upon our strong momentum with support from our new and existing partners to deliver on our mission to reshore critical magnet production to the United States.”

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Noveon. 

About Noveon
Noveon is the only operational manufacturer of sintered NdFeB rare earth magnets in the United States and the first to reshore them in over 20 years. Through its proprietary EcoFlux™ technology, Noveon delivers a fully domestic, closed-loop magnet manufacturing capability that maximizes resource efficiency, allows for the beneficial use of recycled materials, and produces superior high-performance finished magnets that meet the full range of commercial and industrial demand. Noveon’s products provide a secure and resilient supply chain solution for critical applications including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, motors, pumps, data storage, consumer electronics, and defense systems. Learn more at https://noveon.co/.

About OneIM
OneIM is a global alternative investment manager that invests across the capital structure, in a range of asset classes, industries and geographies. The firm applies a flexible investment approach and focuses on creating long-term value by working with exceptional partners and management teams. OneIM is sector agnostic and focuses on situations where it can leverage its cross-asset class expertise and capital base to achieve differentiated risk-adjusted returns. The firm was founded in 2022 and currently manages approximately $10 billion in assets. The team operates from offices in Abu Dhabi, London, Tokyo and New York.