MURRIETA, Calif., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Copan Group announced today that PhenoMATRIX®, its automated image assessment software used with WASPLab® full laboratory automation, received FDA 510(k) clearance as a Class II device in the United States.

PhenoMATRIX® supports automated image sorting of culture plates, with final assessment performed by trained laboratory personnel.

PhenoMATRIX is an in vitro diagnostic software that uses artificial intelligence with laboratory-defined rules and clinical information to automatically sort images of bacterial culture plates, helping laboratory professionals streamline plate review while maintaining expert oversight.

The cleared intended use includes blood-based, chocolate and MacConkey agars, as well as CHROMagar orientation culture media plates, enabling semi-quantitative and qualitative image-based analysis through detection of microbial growth, estimation of colony counts, and differentiation of isolates based on phenotypic colony characteristics.

“This clearance represents a major milestone for Copan and microbiology laboratories in the United States,” said Fabrizio Mazzocchi, CEO of Copan Diagnostics. “PhenoMATRIX builds on years of scientific development and real-world data to support laboratories and the critical work they do in patient care.”

While PhenoMATRIX has been used globally for years as part of Copan’s full laboratory automation solutions, including automated image review and auto-release workflows outside the United States, this clearance formally establishes its intended use in the U.S., where final image assessment and result decisions are performed by trained laboratory personnel.

Importantly, the FDA-cleared intended use represents an expansion beyond single-application algorithms, supporting multiple culture media plate types and integrating image analysis with patient data to assist laboratories in clinical microbiology review.

“This achievement is the result of an extraordinary collaborative effort,” added Mario Savarese, CEO of Copan WASP, Copan’s automation division. “Our Regulatory, R&D, Scientific Affairs, Quality, and Commercial teams worked tirelessly to support this submission. This clearance is a testament to their dedication and Copan’s long-term vision.”

Copan continues to invest in future submissions to expand the scope of PhenoMATRIX across additional applications and plate types, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and partnership with the clinical microbiology community.

For more information, visit copanusa.com.

About Copan Diagnostics, Inc. 

Copan Diagnostics is part of Copan Group, a leading manufacturer of collection and transport systems. Through its collaborative approach, Copan has developed breakthrough technologies such as FLOQSwabs®, ESwab®, UTM® Universal Transport Medium™, and WASPLab®, Full Laboratory Automation with Artificial Intelligence. Copan continues to innovate and transform collection and transport systems, and laboratory automation, helping healthcare providers improve patient care.

The Copan system captures high-resolution images of culture plates for digital evaluation.

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WIDIA, a trusted brand of Kennametal Inc. and a global leader in high performance metal cutting solutions, is celebrating 100 years. Since its founding in 1926, the WIDIA name has been synonymous with unmatched durability, cutting-edge technology and proven performance, delivering milling, holemaking and tapping solutions, as well as tooling systems to shops across a range of industries and applications.

From pioneering tungsten carbide tooling to introducing advanced coated inserts, WIDIA has consistently set benchmarks in manufacturing technology. Over the decades, the brand expanded globally, integrated trusted sub-brands like Hanita and GTD, and has continued to deliver solutions that remain essential tools for shops of all sizes worldwide.

Acquired by Kennametal Inc. in 2002, WIDIA remains a cornerstone brand within Kennametal’s portfolio, driving metal cutting innovation and reliability for customers.

“Turning 100 isn’t just about looking back — it’s about celebrating a legacy built on reliability and trust, and looking ahead to the future,” said Dave Bersaglini, President of Metal Cutting, Kennametal. “Our customers – machinists, engineers and small to medium-sized shop owners – should expect WIDIA to keep advancing new, tougher tooling that works as hard as our customers do, for now and for the next generation.

Celebrating 100 Years
To commemorate this historic milestone, Kennametal is launching a series of WIDIA anniversary initiatives, including:

• 100 Days of Promotions and Special Incentives on powerhouse solutions like WCE4 solid carbide end mills and VSM890 shoulder mills
• #WIDIA100 exclusive anniversary merchandise and digital campaigns
• Customer engagement programs highlighting WIDIA’s history and vision for the future
• Launch of a new global brand ambassador program

“The WIDIA diamond emblem is much more than a logo – it’s a hallmark of the toughness and durability that define every WIDIA tool,” said Scott Etling, Vice President of Global Product Management, Kennametal. “It dates to the brand’s beginnings 100 years ago, when WIDIA – taken from the German phrase ‘Wie Diamant’ or ‘like diamond’ – was first registered. That legacy still shapes the performance we deliver today.”

More anniversary initiatives will be announced on widia.com and its social media channels @widiatools in the coming months.

About WIDIA, a Kennametal Brand
Since 1926, WIDIA tooling combines high-performance engineering with real-world practicality. Offering a full spectrum of metal cutting solutions—from indexable milling and solid end mills to holemaking and threading systems—WIDIA helps machinists around the world tackle the toughest jobs, no matter the application. Available to customers globally through an authorized distributor network, WIDIA ensures local access and fast turnaround, as well as technical support. WIDIA is a brand of Kennametal Inc. Learn more at widia.com and follow @widiatools on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence reshapes the 21st century, Student B Press has launched Animal Intelligence, a cross-genre publishing project that revives animal fables and editorial cartoons as tools for reflection in the AI era.

Throughout history, moments of technological and social upheaval have given rise to allegory and satire—forms that return when language struggles to keep pace with change. Animal Intelligence reimagines these traditions through a contemporary publishing universe that blends philosophical fables and cartoons.

Observing Humanity in the Age of AI

The project’s debut release, Watching Them Humans in the Age of AI, examines the present moment through satire. This short comic collection consists of two- and three-panel cartoons depicting animals as they observe human life shaped by artificial intelligence, ecological collapse, and growing societal anxiety.

Familiar figures from classic fables—such as foxes and turtles—reappear, asking whether humanity stands at a genuine turning point.

A Forgotten History, Told by Extinct Animals

The second volume, Animal Intelligence: The Book of Forgotten History, expands the project into a work of light philosophical fiction. Praised by Kirkus Reviews as “a rich and surprising alternative vision of the past,” the book reconstructs human history through the imagined memories of extinct animals.

Spanning deep time to the modern age, the narrative presents histories known only to animals. Extinct animals such as dinosaurs and dodos recount their stories and serve as intellectual predecessors to the living animals who later appear in Watching Them Humans in the Age of AI.

The Animal Intelligence Project

Animal Intelligence is an experimental world-building project that invites readers to pause and reflect on human knowledge, contemporary anxiety, and the possibility of hope.

Published titles to date include Watching Them Humans in the Age of AI (comic collection), Animal Intelligence: The Book of Forgotten History (hybrid philosophical novel), and the Animal Intelligence Guidebook. Upcoming works will include narrative fiction in which animals attempt to save the world by learning from human knowledge.

The series is created by sibling collaborators Will Shin and Alice Shin. Will Shin, trained in artificial intelligence and public policy, believes storytelling is essential to creating space for reflective thinking about AI. Alice Shin leads the project’s visual storytelling, adopting a deliberately “cute” illustrative style to lower barriers to engaging with complex subjects.

Contact: contentdirector@student-b.com 
Homepage: www.student-b.com

NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —  The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Ashley Mastronardi delivers the pre-market update on February 17th

• Stocks are down Tuesday morning ahead of a shortened trading week after markets were closed yesterday for Presidents Day.
• Leaders from Payments platform, Bolt, and Digital Identity Company, Socure, are set to join NYSE Live to talk about their latest collaboration that they believe will Supercharge E-commerce identity.
• USA Today Co. (NYSE: TDAY) is celebrating its rebrand from Gannett with CEO Mike Reed joining NYSE Live to talk about the move and how it could impact the firm.
• Reckoner Capital Management Co-Founder and CEO John Kim will join Taking Stock this afternoon to share more about the products the firm is offering to investors.

Opening Bell
USA Today Co. (NYSE: TDAY) celebrates its rebrand and ticker change

Closing Bell
Reckoner Capital celebrates the listing of its new ETFs

For market insights, IPO activity, and today’s opening bell, download the NYSE TV App: TV.NYSE.com 

BlackRock rang bell to honor Black History Month

Video – https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2905158/NYSE_Feb_17_Market_Update_Video.mp4 

Aon Expands Ferrari Partnership into High-Performance Sailing, Promoting Innovation and Resilience

MILAN, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced that it will serve as the Premium Partner of Ferrari Hypersail, an unprecedented marine initiative dedicated to high-performance sailing.

In 2025, Aon became an Official Partner of the Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula One team through a multi-year agreement. By extending their relationship from the racetrack to the water, Aon aims to demonstrate how resilience and better decision-making can unlock new possibilities for clients and set new standards in competitive sport. This partnership will come to life through brand applications across the boat, crew uniforms and global event integrations.

“We’re excited to join Ferrari on this innovative journey into offshore sailing,” said Carlo Clavarino, executive chairman of international business for Aon. “Ocean racing is all about making smart, real-time decisions in the face of uncertainty. By combining our data‑driven insights with Ferrari’s engineering excellence, we’re charting new paths in engineering and risk management. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work together and drive real innovation.”

Developed to explore new frontiers of innovation, self-sufficiency and performance in ocean racing, this 30-meter monohull prototype combines advanced engineering with a design focused on stability, using three points of contact. The boat generates all of its own power while underway and is powered entirely by renewable energy. Its key innovation is the integration of a canting keel equipped with a foil which acts as a support point during flight, supported by a rudder and two lateral foils.

The initiative is led by Giovanni Soldini, a world-renowned sailing pioneer and Team Principal, whose long-standing collaboration with Aon brings deep expertise to this new venture. Currently under construction in Italy, the boat is set to launch in 2026, with sea trials commencing shortly afterward.

“We are very proud to stand alongside Ferrari in this innovative project. With Ferrari Hypersail, we are taking a step further: thanks to the strength of the Ferrari brand and the international dimension of the project, we are broadening our reach and bringing the story of innovation, sustainability and risk management to an even wider audience made up of all size companies, sports enthusiasts, innovators and new generations,” said Andrea Parisi, CEO of Italy and Eastern Mediterranean for Aon. “Partnering with Ferrari — on the racetrack and now on the water — provides Aon with a unique opportunity to engage our clients in new and meaningful ways, bringing them closer to innovation and the spirit of exploration.”

“Hypersail represents a new platform for Ferrari to develop meaningful partnerships that extend beyond visibility and are rooted in shared values and expertise,” said Lorenzo Giorgetti, Chief Racing Revenues Officer of Ferrari. “Aon is a natural partner for a project of this scale, taking an active role at the heart of the initiative and helping shape a living ecosystem where performance and risk management are essential elements.”

“Ferrari Hypersail is a project with an exceptionally high level of research and innovation, exploring completely unprecedented scenarios,” said Antonio Picca Piccon, CFO of Ferrari. “Having Aon onboard as a partner represents a significant added value, thanks to its strong expertise in risk management and its previous experience in ocean racing.”

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon’s Newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Aon Media Contact
mediainquiries@aon.com
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114
International: +1 312 381 3024

Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues in over 120 countries provide our clients with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses. Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon’s newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Metabolomics-Derived Pathway Scores Outperform Inflammatory Protein Markers—Delivering Risk Prediction Where Proteomics Falls Short

MORRISVILLE, N.C., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Metabolon, Inc., the global leader in providing metabolomics solutions advancing a wide variety of life science research, diagnostic, therapeutic development, and precision medicine applications, today announced its industry-leading global metabolomics platform was used by researchers from Kite, a Gilead company, for the most extensive metabolomic study ever conducted in the context of CAR T-cell therapy. Leveraging Metabolon’s untargeted Global Discovery Panel, Kite researchers analyzed more than 3,800 longitudinal serum and plasma samples—and a rare set of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples—from patients treated with the FDA-approved anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapies axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) and brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel).

The multi-trial meta-cohort, spanning six clinical studies, enabled investigators to uncover metabolic pathways strongly associated with severe neurological events (NEs), a significant and sometimes life-threatening toxicity of CAR T-cell therapy. Despite the transformative efficacy of CAR T-cell treatments for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the biological drivers of neurotoxicity have remained poorly understood.

“This study demonstrates how metabolomics uniquely exposes the biological pathways driving CAR T-cell–associated neurotoxicity, insights that are not accessible through proteomics or cytokine profiling alone,” said Heino Heyman, Director of Global Field Metabolomics Sciences at Metabolon. “By mapping disruptions in tryptophan catabolism, NMDA-linked excitotoxicity, and polyamine metabolism, the analysis not only identified patients at risk for severe neurologic events but also highlighted actionable pathway targets to mitigate toxicity. These findings demonstrate that metabolomics provides a functional, pathway-level understanding of safety and patient response, which is crucial for enhancing cell therapy design, monitoring strategies, and clinical outcomes.”

Using Metabolon’s high-resolution metabolomics platform, researchers identified clear and reproducible metabolic signatures that distinguished patients who developed high-grade NEs (grade ≥ 3). Notable findings include:

• Elevated Tryptophan Breakdown Signals Higher Neurotoxicity Risk – Patients who developed severe neurological events consistently showed higher breakdown of tryptophan, leading to increased levels of metabolites, such as quinolinate. These markers were present both before and after treatment and are strongly associated with heightened neurotoxicity risk.
• Increased Arginine Pathway Activity Reflects Heightened Immune Stress – Severe cases also showed a shift in how the body processes arginine, resulting in the production of more urea and acetylated polyamines, such as N1, N12-diacetylspermine. This pattern reflects increased immune system activation and may serve as another indicator of neurotoxicity risk.
• CSF Findings Confirm Metabolic Disruption in the Brain – Cerebrospinal fluid samples taken during neurotoxic events showed the same metabolic disruptions observed in blood—higher levels of glutamate and other stress-related metabolites—confirming that these changes directly involve the central nervous system.
• Metabolite-Based Scores Predict Neurotoxicity Better Than Traditional Markers – New metabolic pathway scores built from these biomarkers outperformed standard inflammatory markers (such as IL-6 and TNFα) in identifying patients at risk for severe neurological events. This demonstrates the potential for more accurate, metabolomics-driven early warning tools.
• Key Metabolites Also Track with Disease Progression – The same metabolites linked to neurotoxicity—such as quinolinate and acetylated polyamines—were also associated with worse disease outcomes. Machine-learning models reinforced the importance of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway for neurotoxicity associated with CAR T cell therapy.

“These findings underscore the power of metabolomics to reveal mechanisms that are invisible to genomic, proteomic, and cellular assays alone,” said Ro Hastie, CEO of Metabolon. “By enabling unprecedented resolution into metabolic dysfunction associated with CAR T-cell therapy, Metabolon’s platform has helped identify new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets to mitigate severe neurotoxicity.”

To learn more about Metabolon’s industry-leading Global Discovery Panel, please visit: https://www.metabolon.com/services/untargeted-metabolomics/global-panel/

About Metabolon 
Metabolon, Inc. is the global leader in metabolomics, with a mission to deliver biochemical data and insights that expand and accelerate the impact of life sciences research and complement other ‘omics’ technologies. With 25 years of experience, 15,000+ client projects, 4,000+ scientific publication references, and ISO 9001:2015, CLIA, and CAP certifications, Metabolon has developed industry-leading scientific, technology, and bioinformatics techniques. Metabolon’s Global Discovery Panel is powered by the world’s largest proprietary metabolomics reference library. Metabolon’s industry-leading data and translational science expertise help customers and partners address some of the most challenging and pressing questions in the life sciences, accelerating research and enhancing development success. The company offers scalable, customizable multiomics solutions, including metabolomics and lipidomics, that support customer needs from discovery through clinical trials and product life-cycle management. For more information, please visit www.metabolon.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Metabolomics
Metabolomics, the large-scale study of all small molecules in a biological system, is the only omics technology that provides a complete current-state functional readout of a biological system. Metabolomics enables researchers to see beyond the genetic variation of individuals, capturing the combined impact of genetic and environmental factors, including the effects of drugs, diet, lifestyle, and the microbiome, on human health. By measuring thousands of discrete chemical signals that form biological pathways in the body, metabolomics can reveal important biomarkers, enabling a better understanding of a drug’s mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, and safety profile, as well as individual responses to therapy.