BEIJING, Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). A new year begins with new resolve and new momentum. The call to “fight for our dreams and our happiness, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities” continues to inspire action across China.

In the column “New Year on the Frontlines,” reporters from the Global Times traveled to the grass roots to witness the vitality of a vast nation, see its mountains and rivers in motion and its fields in abundance, and listen to the stories of people finding fulfillment in both life and work.

Through these stories, the column seeks to present a vivid portrait of Chinese modernization.

“Hello, I’d like to buy some loose pastries. Do you have any flavors this year that weren’t available last year?”

“Yes, we have a flavor of red date and Chinese yam. They are only sold for seven days before the Spring Festival.”

On a Sunday morning at a store of the traditional bakery brand Daoxiangcun in Beijing’s Dongzhimen, Helene Lemerle from France, leaned close to the counter, her finger resting on a pastry adorned with a small horse design. “I’ll take one of these too.” She spoke Chinese fluently, even with a Beijing accent.

Helene, who also goes by her Chinese name Li Na, shared that she has lived in Beijing’s hutongs for over 20 years.

“It’s incredibly quiet and full of warmth,” she said, recounting her daily interactions with neighbors while strolling through the alleys of blue-tiled, gray-brick courtyards.

“Sometimes I’d be startled by the sound of knocking on the door. Then I’d open it to find a neighbor holding dumplings or pancakes, saying, ‘Eat while they’re hot!'” She mimed opening the door, her laughter warming the crisp winter air.

In 1997, China and France signed a joint statement, making France the first major Western country to establish a full partnership with China. The tides of history reshaped the lives of ordinary people.

That year, Helene participated in a China–France student exchange program, staying with her Chinese host family led by Wang Jing. This marked the beginning of her connection with China.

“To ensure we could catch a nap on the shuttle bus, Wang Jing’s mother would get up early every day to queue for seats for us. It gives me a warm feeling inside just thinking about it.”

To Helene, China holds a unique appeal. “It’s so vast – over 17 times the size of France; everything you see is fascinating.” Chinese culture, she adds, is utterly captivating: “It is like a huge cake; once you take a bite, you just want to keep eating.”

In 2002, after completing her exchange program and returning to France, Helene resolved to come back to Beijing. Her original plan was to study for a year before returning home to teach Chinese. “After that year, I didn’t want to leave. China was just too vibrant,” she noted.

That year marked China’s GDP surpassing 10 trillion yuan ($1.21 trillion) for the first time, the launch of the Shenzhou-3 spacecraft and the commencement of two monumental projects: the West-to-East gas pipeline and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

This dynamic China made Helene want to stay. Her decision to “not rush to go back home” led to a 24-year stay. She found love in China and made her home in a Beijing hutong.

“Does your family worry about you living in China?”

“China’s public safety is excellent – what’s there to worry about?”

Helene lifted her chin, her expression as proud as any Chinese person’s, smiling as if the questioner simply didn’t understand.

To her, China’s everyday vibrancy, human warmth, sense of security, as well as the confidence and inclusivity rooted in its culture are becoming a source of reassurance for the world.

After 24 years in China, Helene has come to understand the warmth and pace of this land. She has transformed from an observer into a participant, becoming part of China’s story.

“I grew up at the stables. I had a horse named Didou, and my equestrian company is named after him.”

When China’s equestrian industry was just beginning, Helene worked as a consultant at clubs, helping them plan and operate. Now, she has shifted her focus to “equine-assisted guidance.”

“I hope to help more people understand themselves through interaction with horses.”

This is Li Na’s new year’s wish for the Year of the Horse.

In Beijing’s hutongs, the aroma of stewed meat fills the air as households make final preparations for the Spring Festival. Helene’s Chinese father-in-law handwrote a pair of Spring Festival couplets for her: “Blessings fill the springtime, dreams come true in this prosperous era.”

BEIJING, Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — “Sister Wu, can live chickens be taken on the train?”

At daybreak in the Miaoling Mountains, Southwest China’s Guizhou Province, vegetable vendor Sister Wu began her day amid a flurry of flapping wings and barking dogs. The reporter, helping chase down free-range chickens, could not help but ask.

“Of course – there’s even a special carriage for them!” Wu had barely finished speaking when she lunged forward, feinted with her left hand and swiftly reached out with her right – “Got it!”

Wu’s full name was Wu Shoufen. She lives in Wengdang village in Kaili, Guizhou. With the Spring Festival approaching, Wu was busy catching chickens and sorting fresh vegetables and other local specialties from the mountains. After packing them neatly, Wu shouldered her load and waited to board a train to Kaili to sell her goods at the market.

“Look, the train is coming.” Amid a rumble, the train slowly pulled into the station. Wu was taking Train No. 5639/5640 – a “slow train” running between Guiyang and Yuping. The round-trip service stopped at all 16 stations along the route, with the lowest ticket price going for only a few yuan.

Wu took a deep breath, braced her waist and legs, and steadily lifted a shoulder pole weighing more than 100 jin (50 kilograms). The pole creaked as it settled onto her shoulder.

“Long ago, before the slow train, we had to carry more than 100 jin of vegetables, walk one or two hours on mountain roads, and then take a minibus to the town,” Wu said. “By the time we’d arrive at the market, the vegetables would have already wilted and couldn’t fetch a good price.”

Train conductor Hu Guichuan and other railway staff helped villagers carry their shoulder poles onto the platform and into the train. Wu set down her load in a special “rural market” carriage.

To make it easier for villagers to sell their goods along the way, the railway authorities had renovated the carriage – removing some seats and replacing them with long benches so vegetables and local specialties could be arranged neatly, while passengers could browse and shop.

“On this slow train, besides asking passengers to ‘sit in the right seat,’ we added another reminder – the villagers’ chickens, ducks, and geese must also ‘sit in the right seat,'” Hu said.

In the villagers’ baskets were vegetables, chickens, ducks, fish, and geese – some still speckled with soil and glistening with morning dew. The shoulder poles were lined up in neat rows.

“Fresh, affordable vegetables are on sale in Carriage No. 3. All are welcome to buy!” the train broadcast announced. Hu warmly guided passengers to Wu’s shoulder pole. “What do you think of this chicken? It weighs more than 10 jin – free-range and raised by the villager herself.”

Hu oversaw this mobile “farmers’ market” as its “golden salesman” and the villagers’ “chief interpreter.” On board, he patiently promoted the products, helping villagers secure better prices. What seemed like a simple task was something Hu had persisted in for a full 10 years.

“Some people didn’t understand and asked if I was trying to pocket the price difference,” Hu said. “I told them I did want to ‘earn the difference’ – so the villagers could earn a little more!”

When the train arrived, Wu welcomed her first customer of the day. “I’ve bought from her many times!” an old customer said with a smile. “Sister Wu uses farmyard manure to grow her vegetables. They’re especially fresh – my family loves the spinach she grows.”

Thanks to such sincerity, Wu’s local produce was in high demand. Before long, the vegetables and free-range chickens were sold out, bringing in more than 200 yuan. Already fond of smiling, Wu beamed even more brightly.

After concluding her sales, Wu strolled around the market for a while. A pair of Spring Festival couplets, a new outfit, and a new schoolbag – these were the New Year goods she bought that day.

At around 4 pm, the villagers boarded the slow train to return home. Their baskets had quietly been replaced with “trophies,” and they shared with one another what they had purchased at the market.

“I used to work in Guangdong and could only come home once or twice a year,” Wu told the reporter, showing her son’s new award certificate for the semester, her face lit with an irrepressible smile. “Now that the ‘slow train’ is so convenient, I simply came back to sell vegetables. I can be with my child every day.”

The wheels rolled on, the whistle echoed. Carrying the warmth of everyday life, the “slow train” set off – toward a better life for the villagers.

– Comprehensive review of recent milestones highlights statistically significant efficacy in prostate cancer prevention, discovery of novel lipid-modulating properties, and the execution of high-value commercial partnerships in South Korea and Vietnam.

NEW TAIPEI CITY, Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jyong Biotech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MENS) (the “Company” or “Jyong Biotech”), a science-driven biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative plant-derived therapeutics, today issued a strategic corporate update. This review encapsulates a pivotal period characterized by the successful completion of the Phase II clinical trial for its lead candidate, MCS-8, and the concurrent attempt of its commercial footprint in key Asian markets. The Company believes the convergence of positive oncological endpoints with unexpected metabolic benefits potentially de-risks its pipeline and positions Jyong Biotech at the forefront of preventative medicine.

Unlocking the “Dual-Action” Potential of MCS-8: Oncology Meets Metabolic Health

The Company recently achieved an important milestone with the completion of its Phase II randomized, placebo-controlled trial for MCS-8, which enrolled over 700 high-risk subjects across 20 medical centers in Taiwan. As previously disclosed, the study’s primary efficacy analysis yielded a statistically significant 27.3% reduction in the overall incidence of prostate cancer in the MCS-8 arm compared to placebo. The data also demonstrated a 17.1% reduction in high-grade prostate cancer (Total Gleason Score ≥ 7). This finding is clinically profound, as high-grade malignancies represent the primary driver of prostate cancer mortality, and historical chemoprevention agents have often struggled to demonstrate safety or efficacy in this specific sub-population.

Further pathological stratification revealed a 35.2% reduction in the percentage of positive biopsy cores and a 24.4% reduction in the cancer-positive area within those cores. These metrics suggest that MCS-8 exerts a tangible biological effect on tumor burden and disease progression, potentially offering a superior alternative to the current standard of “active surveillance,” which carries the psychological burden of anxiety for patients waiting for disease progression.

Beyond its oncological efficacy, the Phase II data unveiled a significant secondary potential therapeutic profile regarding metabolic regulation. In results announced in January 2026, patients treated with MCS-8 for two years exhibited a statistically significant reduction in total cholesterol (P = 0.036). The study further highlighted a favorable lipid-modulating trend where the MCS-8 group showed decreased triglycerides (P = 0.05) and LDL levels (P = 0.018), alongside a significant increase in HDL (P = 0.003). In contrast, the placebo group experienced a statistically significant rise in fasting glucose (P = 0.022).

From a scientific perspective, the link between metabolic syndrome—characterized by dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia—and prostate carcinogenesis is well-documented in oncological literature. The ability of MCS-8 to simultaneously lower cancer incidence while improving the lipid profile suggests a potential synergistic mechanism of action that targets the metabolic dysregulation often fueling tumor growth. This “dual-action” capability supports the Company’s strategic evaluation of expanding MCS-8’s indications to include atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease management.

Safety Profile and Cytoprotective Indicators

Long-term safety remains the primary barrier to entry for preventative therapies. The Phase II study provided significant indications of MCS-8’s safety profile over a two-year administration period. There were no serious adverse events related to the drug, and no negative impacts were observed on blood pressure, liver or kidney function.

Notably, the analysis of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), a ubiquitous enzyme used as a clinical marker for tissue damage and cellular necrosis, offered further validation of safety. The placebo group exhibited a statistically significant increase in serum LDH levels (P = 0.024) over the trial period, potentially indicating baseline cellular stress or turnover inherent to the aging high-risk population. Conversely, the MCS-8 group showed no such elevation. The stability of LDH levels in the treatment arm serves as a biomarker for cytoprotection, reinforcing the hypothesis that MCS-8 does not induce cellular toxicity, a critical differentiator for a drug intended for long-term prophylactic use.

Embarking Commercialization via Non-Binding Strategic Asian Partnerships

Parallel to its clinical successes, Jyong Biotech has executed on its strategy to monetize its pipeline through regional co-commercialization. In late 2025, the Company formalized a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with a premier South Korean pharmaceutical company to evaluate the in-licensing of MCS-2. As a recognized supplier to general hospitals and clinics, this partner offers the requisite infrastructure to navigate South Korea’s sophisticated regulatory landscape and reimbursement systems.

Subsequently, the Company expanded this initiative into Southeast Asia through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a specialized pharmaceutical distributor based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This agreement initiates due diligence to define the regulatory and commercial pathway for MCS-2 in Vietnam, a market characterized by a rapidly aging population and increasing demand for urological therapeutics.

Management Commentary

“We believe that the past year has transformed Jyong Biotech from a development-stage entity into a company with clinically validated, multi-indication assets,” stated Fu-Feng Kuo, Chairwoman and CEO of Jyong Biotech. “The Phase II data for MCS-8 is particularly exciting because it addresses two of the most prevalent health concerns in the aging male population: prostate cancer risk and metabolic health. By demonstrating that we can potentially reduce cancer incidence while simultaneously improving lipid profiles, we have established a strong scientific foundation for our global Phase III trials in the future. Furthermore, our non-binding strategic alliances in Korea and Vietnam demonstrate our commitment to ensuring these innovative therapies reach patients efficiently. We are moving forward with a clear vision to redefine the standard of care in preventative urology.”

As of present day, MCS-2 and MCS-8 remain investigational new drug candidates and have not been approved for commercial use in any jurisdiction. Jyong Biotech will comply with applicable regulatory disclosure obligations and provide timely, accurate, and complete updates on material developments.

About Jyong Biotech Ltd.

Headquartered in Taiwan, Jyong Biotech Ltd. is a science-driven biotechnology company committed to developing and commercializing innovative and differentiated new drugs (plant-derived), mainly specializing in the treatment of urinary system diseases, with an initial focus on the markets of the U.S., the EU and Asia. Since its inception in 2002, the Company has built integrated capabilities that encompass all key functionalities of drug development, including early-stage drug discovery and development, pharmacology, toxicology, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and commercialization. Leveraging strong research and development capabilities and a proprietary platform, the Company has been developing a series of botanical drug candidates, including its primary botanical drug candidate, BOTRESO®, another clinical-stage botanical drug candidate, and other preclinical-stage botanical drug candidates. The Company endeavors to develop and supply first-class innovative drugs to meet customers’ health needs and seeks to be a valuable business organization that is held in high esteem by the public.

For more information, please visit: https://www.jyongbio.com/, https://jyongir.com/.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement, prospectuses, annual and interim reports, and other filings with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

For more information, please contact:

Jyong Biotech Ltd.
ir@jyongbio.com

Investor Relations
WFS Investor Relations Inc.
Email: services@wealthfsllc.com
Phone: +1 628 283 9214

SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Innovent Biologics, Inc. (“Innovent”,HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune, ophthalmology and other major diseases, announces that the first participant has been successfully dosed in the pivotal Phase 3 clinical study (HeriCare-Breast01). The trial is evaluating the company’s developed IBI354 (HER2 Monoclonal Antibody-Camptothecin Derivative Conjugate, HER2 ADC) as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. IBI354 has two pivotal Phase 3 trials ongoing (HeriCare-Ovarian01, HeriCare-Breast01), which holds potential to deliver a new generation of ADC therapies characterized by “high potency and low-toxicity”.

HeriCare-Breast01 (NCT07377643) is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IBI354, with or without pertuzumab, compared with the current standard-of-care, paclitaxel plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab (THP). The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS).

Previously, in a multicenter Phase 1/2 study in participants with advanced solid tumors, a total of 88 participants with HER2-positive breast cancer were enrolled（the median prior treatment lines was 4) and were treated with 6-15 mg/kg doses of IBI354.

• As of March 24, 2025, the overall confirmed objective response rate (cORR) was 59.1% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 90.9%.
• Among them, ORR reached 72.4% and DCR reached 89.7% in 29 breast cancer participants treated with 9mg/kg Q3W.
• The median follow-up time of 9mg/kg Q3W dose group was 13.6 months as of the cut-off date, and progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.1 month (95%CI: 8.3, NC). The data were presented at the ASCO 2025[Link].

IBI354 also demonstrated an excellent safety profile in this Phase 1/2 clinical study (n=368). 

• No DLT was occurred up to 18mg/kg dose group.
• The overall incidence of grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in 9mg/kg Q3W dose group was 21.0%, the incidence of TRAEs leading to dose interruption was 9.9%, the incidence of TRAEs leading to dose reduction was 1.2%, the overall incidence of TRAEs leading to discontinuation was 1.2%, and no TRAE leading to death reported.
• The most common TRAEs are white blood cell count decreased, nausea and anemia. The incidence of interstitial lung disease was only 1.2%, all were grade 1.

The Principal Investigator of the HeriCare-Breast01 study, Binghe Xu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering from Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, stated, “We are pleased to complete the first patient enrollment for the HeriCare-Breast01 study at our center. Although first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer has improved substantially—with the THP regimen delivering durable responses for many patients—important clinical challenges remain. These include treatment discontinuation driven by toxicity and limited tolerability of currently available ADCs, particularly among older patients and those with comorbid conditions. As a next-generation HER2-targeted ADC, IBI354 has shown compelling antitumor activity in Phase 1/1b studies, achieving class-leading ORR and DCR, alongside a notably favorable safety profile. In particular, IBI354 has demonstrated reduced incidence of key adverse events such as interstitial lung disease (ILD), peripheral neuropathy, and neutropenia. This “high-efficacy, low-toxicity” therapeutic window may allow a broader range of patients to achieve sustained, high-quality treatment outcomes. We look forward to the Phase 3 HeriCare-Breast01 study to further validate this potential and advancing IBI354 toward becoming a new standard of care in the first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. “

Dr. Zhou Hui, Chief R&D Officer (Oncology) of Innovent, stated, “The initiation of the pivotal Phase 3 HeriCare-Breast01 trial in China marks a significant milestone in the clinical translation of Innovent’s ADC pipeline. Leveraging the world’s leading antibody engineering and differentiated linker-payload technologies, Innovent has established a highly competitive and innovative TOPO1i ADC technology platform SoloTx®. IBI354 has demonstrated a compelling safety and efficacy profile in early-stage studies, strongly validating the strengths of our SoloTx® ADC platform. IBI354 holds strong potential to offer a new first-line treatment option for patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer—one that combines durable antitumor activity with favorable long-term tolerability. Looking ahead, Innovent will continue to advance innovation of next-generation IO+ADC, with a steadfast commitment to delivering improved therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.”

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Approximately 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and about 30% of them develop locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The clinical proportion of HER2-positive breast cancer is approximately 20%^[1]. Previous studies have demonstrated that overexpression of this HER2 gene plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of invasive breast cancer and is associated with an increased recurrence rate and poor prognosis ^[2]. At present, no ADC targeting HER2 has been fully approved for first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer in China. There is an urgent need for new drugs to improve the prognosis of patients.

About IBI354

IBI354 is an innovative HER2-targeted antibody–drug conjugate developed using Innovent’s proprietary SoloTx® ADC platform. Based on this platform, Innovent is promoting clinical trial studies multiple self-developed ADC molecules, which have shown promising safety and efficacy signals.

With a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 8, IBI354 delivers a high payload of effective drugs to tumors. The highly hydrophilic linker design contributes to its excellent biophysical and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, while the hydrophobic payload enhances its bystander effect, targeting adjacent antigen-low or negative tumor cells. IBI354 exhibits extremely low exposure of free toxin in circulation and has an ideal safety profile based on pre-clinical and clinical studies. IBI354 has demonstrated remarkable anti-tumor activity in various tumor-bearing mice models, particularly in those resistant to HER2-targeted therapies and in metastatic tumors.

Starting from the urgent clinical needs, in addition to the Phase 3 studies (HeriCare-Breast01 and HeriCare-Ovarian01) already initiated in BC and PROC, Innovent will explore IBI354 in multiple solid tumor indications.

About Innovent

Innovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to empower patients worldwide with affordable, high-quality biopharmaceuticals. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines that target some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has launched 18 products in the market. It has 4 assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials and 15 more molecules in early clinical stage. Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare companies, including Lilly, Sanofi, Incyte, LG Chem and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

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

Statement:

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

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

Disclaimer: Innovent does not recommend any off-label usage.

Forward-Looking Statements

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

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