BEIJING, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)), (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved a new US$5 billion share repurchase program and a dividend policy, with the objective of further enhancing shareholder returns.

The Board has authorized a new share repurchase program for up to US$5 billion of the Company’s shares, effective through December 31, 2028. The Board will periodically review the repurchase program and may adjust its terms and size as appropriate.

With our substantial cash reserves and sound financial management capabilities, we aim to create and continuously enhance long-term value for our shareholders through our proactive shareholder return initiatives. Apart from previous repurchase tactics, this brand new program will be executed on a regular basis in a disciplined and transparent manner, guided by a strategic focus beyond short-term stock price fluctuations.

Repurchases may be effected from time to time through open market transactions at prevailing prices or by other legally permissible means, in compliance with applicable regulations and subject to market conditions.

In addition, with the objective of further enhancing shareholder returns, the Board has approved the adoption, for the first time, of a dividend policy for the Company’s ordinary shares, which may include regular and/or special distributions of dividends.

Future dividend distributions will be supported by sustainable funding sources, primarily derived from operating profits and potentially supplemented by proceeds from non-core asset disposals and other investment returns. The Board intends to establish a clear, balanced policy framework that aligns shareholder returns with the continued strategic growth of the Company.

The Board expects to declare the first payment of dividend in 2026. The declaration, timing, and amount of any future dividend will be subject to the determination of the Board at its discretion based on factors such as the Company’s financial performance, capital requirements, prevailing market conditions and other considerations that the Board deems relevant. A formal announcement of the dividend will be made after the Board’s review and approval.

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on NASDAQ under “BIDU” and HKEX under “9888”. One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Baidu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in announcements made on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Baidu’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Baidu’s growth strategies; its future business development, including development of new products and services; its ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese Internet search and newsfeed market; competition for online marketing customers; changes in the Company’s revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of its revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese-language Internet search and newsfeed market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers, and general economic conditions in China and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the SEC, and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Baidu does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of the announcement, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

– Optimized for multi-AI model environments, creating the most efficient workflows using the latest AI models

– Pursuing intelligence mapping for automatic generation of optimal workflows by connecting and combining AI models

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NAVER D2SF, NAVER’s in-house corporate venture arm, has invested in [CNAPS.AI] a company that developed an automated AI workflow automation platform. This seed round marks CNAPS.AI’s first institutional funding since its founding in October 2025, led by NAVER D2SF, with participation from Bluepoint Partners, Laguna Investment, and Joyakdol Fund.

CNAPS.AI has developed a studio that connects various AI models to quickly generate the best outputs. Ultimately, the company aims to achieve intelligence mapping—where users simply input their desired task and the system automatically builds the optimal workflow by determining which AI models to connect and how to combine them with performance and cost in mind.

The company is focused on addressing challenges in multi-AI model environments. In the current multi-AI model landscape, where high-performance AI models are released in rapid succession, finding the optimal model takes significant time. Notably, one of the main reasons AI projects fail is the excessive time and cost required to explore optimal models and integrate the right models into a cohesive workflow.

Launched in early 2026, CNAPS.AI’s first product supports and connects over 50 popular AI models for text and image generation, drawing interest from the e-commerce, entertainment, and content industries. The company regularly adds the latest AI models to its platform and plans to expand its AI model support to include additional modalities, such as voice, video, and 3D, through future updates.

CNAPS.AI’s cofounding team, which includes CEO Innfarn Yoo, has accumulated experience at NVIDIA, Google Research, and global gaming companies. Their extensive background in AI R&D and commercialization is one of the company’s key strengths.

Yang Sang-hwan, Head of NAVER D2SF, stated, “We expect CNAPS.AI to ultimately evolve into an intelligence map optimized for users’ needs and contexts.” He added, “NAVER D2SF will continue to discover and invest in bold entrepreneurs who pioneer new standards and approaches in the evolving AI landscape, supporting their growth.” 

About NAVER D2SF

[NAVER D2SF] is NAVER’s in-house corporate venture arm, supporting sustainable growth by collaborating with startups. Founded in 1999, NAVER has maintained its position as Korea’s leading search engine for over 20 years and operates across commerce, content, fintech, and cloud services. Under the technological vision of D2 (For Developers, By Developers), NAVER is actively developing new technologies and global partnerships to grow as a leading tech company.

To learn more, visit https://d2sf.naver.com/en 

SHANGHAI, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, “Everest”, or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Shaanxi Micot Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (“Micot”) to commercialize MT1013, the world’s first-in-class dual-targeting receptor agonist polypeptide that simultaneously targets the Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) and the Osteogenic Growth Peptide (OGP) receptor and is primarily developed with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) as its leading indication, in China and Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan).

According to the agreement, Everest Medicines will pay Micot an upfront payment of RMB 200 million and potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to RMB 1,040 million. MT1013 has entered Phase III clinical trial in China and the relevant development expenses will be covered by Micot. The strategic collaboration is expected to complement Everest Medicines’ existing renal pipeline and drive operating synergies, further strengthen the Company’s commercial product portfolio, and solidify its leading position in renal and autoimmune diseases in Asia, which are key therapeutic areas of focus. The collaboration will also expand the Company’s nephrology portfolio from IgA nephropathy to a broader range of chronic kidney diseases (CKD).

MT1013 is the world’s first-in-class dual-targeting receptor agonist polypeptide internally developed by Micot. The Phase II data were presented orally and in a Late-Breaking session at the 2025 American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Annual Meeting. MT1013 uniquely combines the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and the osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) receptor, addressing imbalances in parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and phosphate metabolism. This innovative dual mechanism allows MT1013 to control SHPT and related bone metabolism disorders at the source, and to actively promote bone formation and repair through direct activation of osteogenic pathways, representing a therapeutic innovation shift from indirect inhibition of bone resorption to active stimulation of bone formation.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that MT1013 acts rapidly, with strong and durable efficacy, and has a favorable safety profile in patients with CKD on maintenance hemodialysis with SHPT. It has shown potential advantages over current therapies in achieving comprehensive endpoints, including control of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum calcium, and phosphate levels, as well as improving calcium-phosphate balance and offering potential cardiovascular benefits. MT1013 is currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial in China for this patient population, with over 50% of the target enrollment already achieved.

SHPT is one of the most common and serious complications in patients with CKD. It causes disturbances in calcium and phosphate metabolism, elevated PTH levels, bone disorders, and vascular calcification, which substantially increase the risk of fractures, cardiovascular events, and mortality. SHPT is therefore an important factor influencing outcomes and prognosis in patients with CKD. With the global prevalence of CKD continuing to rise, the unmet medical need for effective SHPT therapies is also growing. Data indicate that the global population of patients with CKD has increased from 905.2 million in 2019 to 1.0655 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed 1.2 billion by 2030 and 1.5 billion by 2035. Over the same period, the number of patients with SHPT has also continued to rise and is expected to reach approximately 189.9 million by 2030 and 221.7 million by 2035, highlighting a substantial and growing unmet medical need.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with Micot. As the global burden of chronic kidney disease continues to rise, addressing patients’ unmet needs remains a top priority.,” said Mr. Yifang Wu, Chairman of the Board of Everest Medicines. “MT1013 represents an innovative asset with the potential to expand treatment options for patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Through this partnership, we aim to leverage our expertise in autoimmune-related kidney disorders while broadening our renal portfolio to include additional diseases, including glomerulonephritis and complications associated with dialysis. Looking ahead, we will jointly advance the development and commercialization of MT1013 to bring innovative treatment options to a broader population of patients with kidney disease.”

“We are delighted to enter into this strategic collaboration with Everest Medicines. Everest’s deep expertise in nephrology and established commercialization capabilities make it an ideal partner to bring MT1013 to patients in China and beyond,” said Dr. Bing Wang, Founder, Chairman, and President of Micot. “MT1013 is a pivotal achievement of our peptide technology platform and a key milestone in our commitment to advancing innovative therapies for chronic diseases. Its unique dual-targeting mechanism has the potential to deliver meaningful advances in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. We look forward to working closely with Everest to accelerate clinical development and commercialization, address critical unmet medical needs, and advance care for patients with kidney disease.”

MT1013 has completed its pivotal Phase II clinical trial, which demonstrated robust and sustained iPTH suppression in patients with SHPT undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. In head-to-head comparisons with etelcalcetide, MT1013 showed advantages in comprehensive disease management, achieving higher rates of simultaneous control of iPTH, serum calcium, and phosphate, as well as greater reductions in phosphate and the cardiovascular risk marker FGF-23. Over 52 weeks of treatment, MT1013 also resulted in significant improvements in bone mineral density and bone metabolism markers, supporting the potential clinical benefits of its unique dual-target mechanism in both disease management and bone health.

Building on these positive results, the Phase II data were presented orally and in a Late-Breaking session at the 2025 American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting. MT1013 has now advanced into a confirmatory Phase III clinical trial in China with cinacalcet as the active comparator. The Phase III study has been launched across more than 100 sites nationwide, aiming to enroll approximately 424 patients, specifically targeting individuals with SHPT undergoing maintenance hemodialysis due to chronic kidney disease.

About MT1013

MT1013 is the world’s first-in-class dual-targeting receptor agonist polypeptide that simultaneously targets the Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) and the Osteogenic Growth Peptide (OGP) receptor and is primarily developed with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism as its leading indication and is planned to expand into additional indications including Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) with Osteoporosis and SHPT not on Dialysis. MT1013 completed its Phase II clinical trial (MT1013-II-C01) for the treatment of SHPT in May 2025 and has entered a Phase III clinical trial using Cinacalcet as the active comparator.

About Everest Medicines

Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in global markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record both in China and with leading global pharmaceutical companies.

The Company’s therapeutic areas of focus include autoimmune, ophthalmology, critical care, and CKM (cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic) diseases. Everest Medicines has developed a fully integrated commercialization platform that combines omnichannel commercial capabilities with end-to-end product lifecycle management. Leveraging its proprietary mRNA platform, the Company is advancing its existing pipeline, including mRNA in vivo CAR-T and mRNA cancer vaccines, while selectively expanding into additional high-value therapeutic areas with blockbuster potential, and accelerating its global expansion. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: www.everestmedicines.com.

About Micot

Shaanxi Micot Pharmaceutical TechnologyCo., Ltd.(“Micot”) was founded in Xi’an in January 2007 and now operates in China (Xi’an, Suzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong) and the U.S. An R&D-driven innovator, Micot develops dual- and multi-functional peptide drugs for cardiovascular/cerebrovascular and metabolic diseases to address unmet clinical needs.

As the proposer, implementer, validator, and developer of the bispecific peptide concept, Micot stands as a premier platform for peptide drug R&D. It utilizes a unique mechanism for screening multi-target peptide therapeutics and possesses platform-based R&D capabilities to develop both First-in-class and Best-in-class candidates.

Currently, Micot has a robust reserve of new drug candidates, with seven proprietary innovative pipelines currently in clinical stage: one in Phase III, three in Phase II, and three in Phase I. Dedicated to creating breakthrough medicines and saving lives, Micot strives to address unmet clinical needs and leverages scientific innovation to safeguard human health. For more information, please visit the website: www.micot.cn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law.