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Shandong Inspur Intelligent Building Technology Showcases AI-Driven Solutions at Inaugural ASEAN AI Summit

Company highlights industry breakthroughs and gains international recognition with future-ready smart building technologies

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Shandong Inspur Intelligent Building Technology Co., Ltd., a leading innovator in smart building solutions, took center stage at the inaugural ASEAN AI Summit 2025, unveiling its latest advancements in AI-enabled construction technologies. Organized by Malaysia’s National Artificial Intelligence Office under the Ministry of Digital, the landmark summit opened on August 12 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur. The event brought together global leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, featuring more than 150 exhibition booths with strong participation from industry frontrunners.

Exhibition booth at ASEAN AI Summit
Exhibition booth at ASEAN AI Summit

At this summit, Inspur Intelligent Building showcased its integrated applications of artificial intelligence across the construction lifecycle:

– Modular Construction: Combining high-efficiency prefabrication, flexible assembly, and intelligent adaptation to deliver cost-effective residential and commercial spaces, reinforcing competitiveness in global markets and its commitment to sustainable building practices;

– AI+ Automated Design: Integrating human-machine collaboration to standardize and streamline the development of construction blueprints;

– Smart Site Management Platform: Incorporating AI-powered image recognition, intelligent query tools, building information modeling (BIM), and point-cloud imaging to enable real-time monitoring and precision management of project resources;

– Smart Home Solutions: Delivering a whole-home IoT platform for device interconnectivity and intelligent automation, enhanced by large AI models to create personalized living experiences;

– PV-Storage-Charging System: Consolidating solar power generation, energy storage, rapid charging, and vehicle diagnostics into a unified monitoring platform to reduce operational costs, boost renewable energy adoption, and accelerate digital transformation across the industry.

On-site consultation with a customer
On-site consultation with a customer

Throughout the exhibition, visitors from Malaysia, Singapore, Europe, Africa, and other global markets engaged with Inspur Intelligent Building’s technical team to explore its comprehensive solutions for AI-based energy and carbon management platforms, smart industrial park systems, and next-generation smart home and hospitality technologies. Live demonstrations and case studies illustrated the company’s engineering expertise and real-world applications, earning strong praise from industry partners.

This debut appearance at the ASEAN AI Summit enhanced Inspur Intelligent Building’s international profile and opened new growth opportunities in Southeast Asia. Looking ahead, the company plans to continue investing in R&D for AI-driven construction technologies, strengthen its product ecosystem, and accelerate its global expansion strategy—contributing to the digital, intelligent, and sustainable transformation of the worldwide construction industry.

 

Etrasimod Receives Strong Recommendation in the ACG Clinical Guideline Update: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults for Induction and Maintenance Phase of Moderately to Severely Active UC

Shanghai, Aug. 15, 2025 /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 etrasimod (VELSIPITY®) has been included in the ACG Clinical Guideline Update: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults (the “Updated Guidelines”). In patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), the updated guidelines recommend S1P receptor modulators, including etrasimod, are recommended for induction of remission in patients with moderately to severely active UC, and are recommended to be continued for maintenance of remission as compared with no treatment after induction of remission with these agents. Both recommendations are strong, with moderate quality of evidence.

The updated guidelines were developed by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) including the latest evidence from the past five years. They provide a comprehensive summary of new approaches and advances in the treatment and prevention of complications in UC, with the goal of offering clinicians standardized and evidence-based recommendations to better manage patients with varying degrees of disease severity.

The updated guidelines note that, etrasimod is an oral, once-daily, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) 1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC. The S1P 1 receptor modulation regulates the trafficking of specific lymphocyte subsets out of the lymph nodes, leaving fewer peripheral immune cells available to traffic to sites of inflammation. . The updated guidelines also reference the Phase III ELEVATE UC clinical study for etrasimod (ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12). Both studies achieved all primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints, with a favorable safety profile consistent with previous studies of etrasimod. Etrasimod has been included in the AGA Living Clinical Practice Guideline on the pharmacological management of moderately to severely UC as one of the higher-efficacy medications suggested for first line use in advanced therapy-naïve patients.

“The updated guidelines further emphasize that achieving endoscopic mucosal healing to enable sustained, steroid-free remission is a core treatment goal for patients. This is not only critical for the long-term and safe management of the disease but is also closely tied to improving patients’ quality of life. The strong recommendation of etrasimod for both induction and maintenance therapy in this population reflects the high level of recognition from an internationally authoritative medical authority,” said Prof. Wu Kaichun at the First Affiliated Hospital of AFMU who is the principal investigator for etrasimod’s Asia clinical trial.“As a next-generation selective S1P receptor modulator, once-daily oral etrasimod has a rapid onset of action, significantly increases the proportion of patients with clinical remission,endoscopic normalization and mucosal healing, and helps patients to reach their treatment goals sooner. Notably, in the phase III ELEVATE UC studies, all patients who achieved clinical remission did so without the use of steroids, fully demonstrating etrasimod’s potential to help patients overcome steroid dependence and achieve long-term remission..”

“The inclusion of etrasimod in the 2025 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Clinical Guideline for Adult Ulcerative Colitis, with a strong recommendation, is a clear recognition of its clinical efficacy and favorable safety profile. Mucosal healing is a recognized treatment goal in both domestic and international clinical guidelines for UC. Achieving mucosal healing at an early stage can significantly reduce the risk of disease relapse, hospitalization, colectomy, and the development of colorectal cancer.” said Rogers Yongqing Luo, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines. “In Asia, the number of UC patients continues to rise, while treatment options remain limited, highlighting an urgent need for innovative therapies that balance efficacy, safety, and convenience. In China alone, the UC patient population was estimated at approximately 800,000 in 2024 and is projected to reach 1 million by 2030, placing an increasing burden on the healthcare system.

As a key innovative asset in Everest Medicines’ autoimmune disease portfolio, etrasimod’s inclusion in the clinical guidelines underscores its global therapeutic potential as a new treatment option for UC patients across Asia, including in China. We remain committed to accelerating the regulatory approval process for etrasimod in Mainland China, South Korea, and other Asian markets to enhance patient access and help more individuals achieve higher-quality, longer-lasting disease remission.”

As a core product of Everest Medicines, etrasimod has been approved in Singapore, Macao SAR, and Hong Kong SAR, and its NDA has been accepted in South Korea. In December 2024, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially accepted the NDA for VELSIPITY®. As Everest’s third commercialized product, VELSIPITY® has been officially approved by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration for adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. It is now available at medical institutions designated under the Connect Policy in the Greater Bay Area. Additionally, Everest has launched a factory construction project at its Jiashan site to support local production of VELSIPITY®.

About VELSIPITY® (etrasimod)

VELSIPITY® is a once-daily, oral, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator that selectively binds with S1P receptor subtypes 1, 4, and 5. Regulatory approvals have been granted in US, EU, Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore, UK, Switzerland, Israel and the Macau SAR, China for VELSIPITY® in ulcerative colitis, as well as additional countries.

About Everest Medicines

Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products and vaccines that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record from both leading global pharmaceutical companies and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies in high-quality discovery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules in the company’s core therapeutic areas of renal diseases, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com.

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.

ASMALLWORLD Launches New Membership Tier and New Global Strategic Airline Partner

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – EQS Newswire – 15 August 2025 – ASMALLWORLD AG announces the arrival of its Advantage Membership, an exclusive new tier within its membership portfolio, together with the launch of its newest global airline partner, Cathay Pacific.

Designed for travellers looking for premium travel benefits, while earning air miles to fly with some of the world’s most iconic airlines, the Advantage Membership provides an attractive entry point into ASMALLWORLD’s world of elevated travel experiences.

Among other benefits, Advantage members can choose between 35,000 miles in the form of Cathay’s Asia Miles or Miles & More from Lufthansa Group, allowing members to access two of world’s largest airline alliance networks.

Alongside other travel benefits, Advantage members will also receive D$250 (GHA Discovery Dollars), which can be spent at over 850 hotels and 45+ brands around the world participating in the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA).

“ASMALLWORLD Advantage is the next step in our mission to make luxury travel more rewarding and offer valuable benefits to our community members. In addition to expanding our longstanding partnership with Lufthansa Group we have also chosen to launch a new strategic airline partnership with Cathay Pacific, with whom we are excited to grow further in Asia and beyond” said Zain Richardson, CEO of ASMALLWORLD.

Welcoming Cathay Pacific as a New Strategic Partner
As part of the Advantage Membership launch, ASMALLWORLD is pleased to announce a new partnership with Cathay Pacific, one of Asia’s leading premium airlines. Founded in 1946 and based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has established a global reputation for excellence, with a strong focus on service, comfort, and innovation.

Advantage members selecting Cathay Pacific as their airline partner will receive 35,000 Asia Miles, which can be used towards redeeming award flights or upgrades across the airline’s extensive network. Cathay Pacific is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which offers access to a global network of 15 member airlines, including British Airways, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines, unlocking additional opportunities for international travel.

Expanding the Miles & More Partnership
The launch of the Advantage Membership also marks an expanded collaboration with Miles & More, part of Lufthansa Group, and one of Europe’s leading frequent flyer programmes. A longstanding partner for the Prestige membership tier, ASMALLWORLD members can now access Miles & More packages of 35,000 miles via the new Advantage tier – perfect for award flights or upgrades.

This evolution of the partnership reflects ASMALLWORLD’s commitment to offering valuable membership benefits at different price points to service different member needs, while continuing to deepen its collaboration with key loyalty partners in the travel sector.

Hotel Benefits Powered by GHA DISCOVERY
Expanding the partnership with Global Hotel Alliance, ASMALLWORLD is now including GHA DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) as a permanent membership benefit for the first time. Advantage members will receive D$250, which can be used for hotel stays, dining, or even spa treatments. Advantage members will also be granted GHA DISCOVERY Platinum Status, offering room upgrades, late check-out, and additional in-stay privileges at over 850 hotels across 45+ brands in the GHA alliance.

Additional Membership Benefits
In addition to airline miles and hotel perks, the Advantage Membership includes a wide range of travel and lifestyle benefits. Members receive:

  • Priority Pass with 4 complimentary airport lounge visits
  • SIXT Platinum Status for enhanced rental car benefits
  • ASMALLWORLD Premium Membership, which includes:
    • VIP hotel benefits and complimentary nights at 1,700+ luxury hotels worldwide
    • Exclusive travel offers and product discounts
    • Access to 800+ global social and cultural events
    • Enhanced features within the ASMALLWORLD platform

With this new tier, ASMALLWORLD continues to develop its global suite of membership offerings, delivering exclusive travel benefits and services, while also deepening and expanding its portfolio of prestigious travel partnerships.

This press release can be found at www.asmallworldag.com.

Disclaimer
The statements contained in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements”. Such can be identified, for example, by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “target,” “seek,” or “aim,” or the negative of these words or comparable expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Issuer or its industry to be materially different from any future results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The issuer undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Hashtag: #ASMALLWORLD

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

The ASMALLWORLD Group:

Centred around the ASMALLWORLD social network, the company operates a luxury travel ecosystem that serves discerning travellers and industry partners.

At its core, the ASMALLWORLD social network is the trusted community for modern luxury travellers, offering a platform to connect, share experiences and enjoy a wealth of travel privileges.

ASMALLWORLD members can engage through its app and website, receive travel inspiration, and meet in person at over 800 global ASMALLWORLD events every year, ranging from casual get-togethers, access to exclusive launches, galas, major global sporting events, and larger flagship weekend experiences hosted in iconic destinations such as Saint-Tropez and St. Moritz.

Beyond the social network, the ASMALLWORLD Group extends into bespoke travel planning, luxury hospitality, and strategic B2B collaborations. Through its diverse portfolio, the Group fosters a like-minded global community, curated experiences, and tailored solutions, shaping the evolution of luxury travel.

Other businesses in the ASMALLWORLD travel ecosystem include:

ASMALLWORLD Collection, an online hotel booking platform focused on the world’s most coveted hotels, offering the unique “ASMALLWORLD VIP Rate,” which offers exclusive travel benefits at no extra cost to ASMALLWORLD members.

ASMALLWORLD Bespoke Travel, a luxury travel agency offering personalised travel curation and booking services.

ASMALLWORLD DISCOVERY, part of Global Hotel Alliance alongside 45 leading hotel brands, services independent hotels, providing access to the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty and distribution network.

ASMALLWORLD Hospitality, a hospitality and management consultancy that supports owners and developers of hospitality assets throughout the different lifecycle stages of their assets, including acquisition, development, operations, and exit.

First Class & More, a subscription-based smart luxury travel service that allows members to enjoy luxury travel at insider prices.

The World’s Finest Clubs, the world’s leading nightlife concierge offers its members VIP access to the most exclusive nightlife venues around the world.

Jetbeds, a premier booking platform specialising in Business and First-Class flights, offering exclusive deals, expert advice, and personalised service to secure the most attractive flight options.

For more information, please visit:









CCTV+: China Up Close: Zhejiang Tour Explores Deqing

BEIJING, Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From August 8 to 10, 2025, the “China Up Close Series: Zhejiang Tour” brought a contingent of nearly 70 journalists and editors from South Korea, Spain, Bulgaria, and Iceland to Deqing, a county in Zhejiang province. Alongside CGTN (China Global Television Network), they trained their cameras and notebooks on the area, aiming to capture its landscapes, history and cultural rhythms for audiences abroad.

 

Independent study reveals USD 1.2 billion economic impact of foodpanda in Pakistan for 2023-2024

KARACHI, Pakistan, Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — foodpanda, Pakistan’s leading online delivery platform, today announced the release of its comprehensive ‘Economic Impact Assessment of foodpanda in Pakistan‘ study, independently conducted by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The first-of-its-kind study unveils the significant economic contributions of foodpanda to Pakistan’s economy.

The study, spearheaded by an accomplished team at LUMS, utilised primary and secondary data sources, including input output multipliers for the local economy to establish a technical assessment of the businesses’ contribution to the fabric of the economy.

Interestingly, the study reveals a projected USD 1.2 Billion (PKR 335 billion) contribution to Pakistan’s economy in FY 2023-24, with the number continuing to increase compared to the previous 2 years. The study also finds strong multiplier effects across food, hospitality, manufacturing, transport, and retail. In FY 2023-2024, foodpanda facilitated PKR 75 billion in restaurant GMV (total revenue accruing to restaurants through the platform), significantly boosting income and jobs in the sector. In the same year, the platform also contributed PKR 9.76 billion in taxes and has empowered over 50,000 riders and numerous entrepreneurs, driving financial inclusion via fintech.

Commenting on the collaborative effort, Muntaqa Peracha, CEO foodpanda Pakistan stated, “This in-depth study by LUMS is a powerful validation of foodpanda’s significant role in Pakistan’s economic landscape. It showcases strong multiplier effects across industries and highlights our role in directly boosting income and jobs, along with a significant tax contribution. The insights provided by the research are invaluable, and fuel our determination to continue innovating, expanding our services, and improving financial inclusion and social responsibility, all while building a truly prosperous digital future for Pakistan.”

Also speaking on foodpanda’s impact on the nation’s economy, Dr. Kashif Z. Malik, Associate Professor, Department of Economics at LUMS, commented, “Our research at LUMS reveals that foodpanda’s impact extends far beyond just food and grocery delivery. This study highlights its fundamental role in stimulating growth across a diverse range of sectors, empowering a significant number of individuals through entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities, and contributing substantially to the digital and financial inclusion landscape of Pakistan.”

The study unequivocally demonstrates the platform’s transformative impact on Pakistan’s food delivery ecosystem, creating substantial opportunities for small businesses and gig workers while making a significant contribution to the national economy. Micro-level impacts include 100% income growth for 13,000+ partner restaurants, an average PKR 120,000 monthly income for 7,000+ HomeChefs (primarily women), and income increases for 57% of 50,000+ freelance riders. foodpanda is  steadfast in its commitment to enabling an inclusive digital economy and  continues to innovate and expand, it remains dedicated to empowering individuals, supporting businesses, and enabling sustainable growth, solidifying its position as a key contributor to the nation’s prosperity. Moreover, the scale of foodpanda’s investment and the resulting economic and financial inclusion highlight the immense potential within Pakistan and the strength of its evolving digital ecosystem, encouraging further investment in the sector.

 

CARsgen Therapeutics Announces 2025 Interim Results

SHANGHAI, Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies, has announced its 2025 Interim Results.

Business Highlights

  • Cash and bank balances were around RMB1,261 million as of June 30, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents and deposits at the end of 2025 are expected to be not less than RMB1,100 million. We expect to have adequate cash into the 2028 excluding subsequent cash inflows.
  • During H1 2025, certification and regulatory filings for zevor-cel have been completed in more than 20 provinces or cities. CARsgen has received a total of 111 confirmed orders from its commercialization partner Huadong Medicine.
  • The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for satri-cel.
  • The results of satri-cel confirmatory Phase II trial in China have been published in The Lancet and at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.
  • Multiple allogeneic CAR-T products are in development, covering treatment areas such as hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases.
  • CARsgen introduced Zhuhai SB Xinchuang to accelerate allogeneic CAR-T development in mainland China.

Dr. Zonghai Li, Founder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics, said, “In the first half of 2025, we made significant strides across technology innovation, product development, and commercialization. Zevor-cel sales surged, while satri-cel became the world’s first CAR-T targeting solid tumors to file an NDA. We are also advancing multiple allogeneic CAR-T therapies to enhance clinical outcomes and expand patient access.”

Financial Highlights

CARsgen’s revenue was around RMB51 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, mainly from zevor-cel, which was calculated on the basis of ex-works price, rather than end-of-market prices. Our revenue is recognized upon completion of ex-works delivery of products. Due to the inherent time cycle of CAR-T manufacturing, there is a discrepancy between the number of orders obtained from Huadong Medicine and number of ex-works deliveries. CARsgen’s gross profit was around RMB29 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025. In the commercialization stage, we are demonstrating a strong cost competitive advantage, which is mainly due to self-manufacture for plasmids and vectors with stable output and high yield per batch.

Cash and bank balances were around RMB1,261 million as of June 30, 2025, representing a decrease of around RMB218 million from around RMB1,479 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease was mainly due to the payment of research and development expenses, administrative expenses and investment of capital expenditure. Cash and cash equivalents and deposits at the end of 2025 are expected to be not less than RMB1,100 million. We expect to have adequate cash into the 2028 excluding subsequent cash inflows.

CARsgen Pipeline
CARsgen Pipeline

Zevor-cel Demonstrates Rapid Sales Growth

Zevorcabtagene autoleucel (zevor-cel, R&D code: CT053) is an autologous fully human CAR T-cell product against B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) approved by the NMPA of China for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) who have progressed after at least 3 prior lines of therapy (including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent).

CARsgen entered into a collaboration agreement with Huadong Medicine (000963.SZ) for the commercialization of zevor-cel in mainland China. In terms of commercialization, Huadong Medicine has established a dedicated, professional, and comprehensive commercial team to promote the use of zevor-cel and has been utilizing China’s multi-layered insurance system to improve patient accessibility. During the first half of 2025, certification and regulatory filings for zevor-cel have been completed in more than 20 provinces or cities and we have received a total of 111 confirmed orders from Huadong Medicine. We anticipate that growth of sales revenue of zevor-cel will further accelerate with continuous marketing activities and broader insurance coverage.

Satri-cel NDA Accepted for Review in China

Satricabtagene autoleucel (satri-cel, R&D code: CT041) is an autologous humanized CAR T-cell product against Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2). In June 2025, the CDE of NMPA of China has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for satri-cel for the treatment of Claudin18.2-positive advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEJA) in patients who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy. Satri-cel is the first and only CAR T-cell product globally for which an NDA submitted for the treatment of solid tumors. Satri-cel was granted Priority Review in May 2025 and Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) in March 2025 by the CDE.

The results of satri-cel confirmatory Phase II trial (NCT04581473) in China have been published in The Lancet and were orally presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Satri-cel demonstrated significant progression-free survival (PFS) improvement and a clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) benefit with a manageable safety profile, compared to standard therapy.

Multiple Allogeneic CAR-T Product Candidates in Development

CARsgen has been advancing differentiated allogeneic CAR T-cell products utilizing the proprietary THANK-uCAR® platform. CARsgen has recently developed the THANK-u PlusTM platform as an enhanced version of THANK-uCAR® to address the potential impact of NKG2A expression levels on therapeutic efficacy of the allogeneic CAR T-cells.

CT0596 is an allogeneic BCMA-targeted CAR T-cell product utilizing THANK-u Plus™ platform for the treatment of R/R MM and R/R plasma cell leukemia (PCL). The investigator-initiated trials (IITs) are ongoing in China. Preliminary clinical data for CT0596 were released in May 2025 on CARsgen’s official website. Based on the preliminary safety and efficacy data, CT0596 demonstrated favorable tolerability and encouraging efficacy signals in R/R MM patients across all predefined dose levels, with CAR-T expansion observed.

In addition, there are several allogeneic CAR T-cell products under development:

  • KJ-C2219: Targeting CD19/CD20, for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases. An IIT for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R B-NHL) has been initiated at the end of 2024. A separate IIT for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been initiated in the first half of 2025.
  • KJ-C2320: Targeting CD38, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). An IIT has been initiated at the end of 2024.
  • KJ-C2114: For the treatment of solid tumors.
  • KJ-C2526: Targeting NKG2DL, for the treatment of AML, other malignancies, and senescence.

On February 25, 2025, CARsgen has entered into the agreements (the “Agreements”) with an investment fund (the “Investor”) managed by Zhuhai Hengqin SB Xinchuang Equity Investment Management Enterprise (Limited Partnership), pursuant to which, among others, the Investor has agreed to subscribe to additional registered capital of UCARsgen Biotech Limited (“UCARsgen”) at a cash consideration of RMB80,000,000, representing 8% stake of the enlarged registered capital of UCARsgen. Upon the completion of the capital increase, CARsgen’s share in UCARsgen will be diluted from 100% to 92%.

UCARsgen is a China-based new drug discovery biotechnology company focused on allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Under the Agreements, UCARsgen has secured the exclusive rights in mainland China for the research, development, manufacture, and commercialization of the following allogeneic CAR T-cell products from CARsgen: the BCMA-targeted allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia and the CD19/CD20 dual-targeted allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of B-cell malignancies (excluding indications for the treatment of autoimmune diseases).

About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited

CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies to address the unmet clinical needs including but not limited to hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. CARsgen has established end-to-end capabilities for CAR T-cell research and development covering target discovery, preclinical research, product clinical development, and commercial-scale production. CARsgen has developed novel in-house technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address challenges faced by existing CAR T-cell therapies. Efforts include improving safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs, etc. CARsgen’s mission is to be a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative and differentiated cell therapies for patients worldwide and makes cancer and other diseases curable.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group’s current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group’s control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading “Principal Risks and Uncertainties” in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release.

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

Hesai Secures New Lidar Design Win from Toyota

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Hesai Technology (Nasdaq: HSAI), a global leader in lidar solutions, announced a new design win from Toyota, one of the world’s largest automakers. The new energy model, to be manufactured by a joint venture of Toyota based in China, will feature Hesai’s long-range automotive lidar ATX, and is scheduled to enter mass production in 2026.

This Toyota joint venture is accelerating its transition to electrification and intelligence: new-energy models now drive its growth, while its industry-leading advanced driver-assistance systems sets a new pace. Powered by a robust local R&D ecosystem, it seamlessly integrates global engineering standards with Chinese innovation, delivering smarter, greener mobility at scale.

This partnership not only reaffirms Hesai’s market leadership in lidar—securing endorsement from a world-renowned automaker—but also inaugurates a new chapter of Hesai’s collaboration with Japan’s automotive industry.

Hesai’s ATX integrates the company’s most advanced technology platform, delivering comprehensive upgrades to its optical-mechanical design and laser transceiver modules. It combines a compact form factor with powerful performance, making it a popular choice among leading OEMs. ATX has already secured design wins across multiple models with several OEMs planning to adopt it a standard feature in their 2025–2026 production lineups.

Moving forward, Hesai will leverage its cutting-edge lidar R&D and manufacturing capabilities to empower Toyota in setting a new benchmark for joint venture brands in the new energy vehicle market. Together, the two companies will strive to deliver the best-in-class intelligent driving experience for the mass market, with a shared commitment to making driver-assistance systems safer, more comfortable, and more intelligent.

 

Aramco signs $11 billion Jafurah midstream deal with international consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners

  • Jafurah Midstream Gas Company secures significant foreign direct investment, together with agreement to lease and leaseback development and usage rights for Aramco’s Jafurah midstream assets 
  • Aramco to receive upfront proceeds of $11 billion on completion, highlighting the value creation potential of its ongoing capital investment program
  • Transaction to support optimization of Aramco’s assets, reflecting positive outlook for gas demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has signed an $11 billion lease and leaseback deal involving its Jafurah gas processing facilities with a consortium of international investors, led by funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock.

Jafurah is the largest non-associated gas development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion Stock Tank Barrels of condensate. It is a key component in Aramco’s plans to increase gas production capacity by 60% between 2021 and 2030, to meet rising demand.

As part of the transaction a newly-formed subsidiary, Jafurah Midstream Gas Company (JMGC), will lease development and usage rights for the Jafurah Field Gas Plant and the Riyas NGL Fractionation Facility, and lease them back to Aramco for a period of 20 years. JMGC will receive a tariff payable by Aramco in exchange for granting Aramco the exclusive right to receive, process and treat raw gas from Jafurah.

Aramco will hold a 51% majority stake in JMGC, with the remaining 49% held by investors led by GIP. The transaction, which will not impose any restrictions on Aramco’s production volumes, is expected to close as soon as practicable, subject to customary closing conditions.  

Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO, said: “Jafurah is a cornerstone of our ambitious gas expansion program, and the GIP-led consortium’s participation as investors in a key component of our unconventional gas operations demonstrates the attractive value proposition of the project. This foreign direct investment into the Kingdom also highlights the appeal of Aramco’s long-term strategy to the international investment community. As Jafurah prepares to start phase one production this year, development of subsequent phases is well on track. We look forward to Jafurah playing a major role as a feedstock provider to the petrochemicals sector, and supplying energy required to power new growth sectors, such as AI data centers, in the Kingdom.”

Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of GIP, said: “We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Aramco with our investment in Saudi Arabia’s natural gas infrastructure, a key pillar of global natural gas markets. Today’s announcement builds upon BlackRock and GIP’s longstanding relationship with Aramco to serve growing market needs for cleaner fuels, energy security and energy affordability.”

The opportunity to invest in one of the region’s most significant natural gas developments garnered significant interest from investors worldwide. Co-investors in the transaction include leading institutional investors from Asia and the Middle East. When completed, the transaction will support the optimization of Aramco’s assets and capture additional value from the development of the Jafurah gas field.

GIP’s mid-market infrastructure equity team, which invests in diversified and contracted mid-market infrastructure assets and businesses around the world, has a robust, long-term track record of successful investments in the Middle East. This investment also builds upon the strong existing relationship between Aramco and BlackRock. In 2022, BlackRock co-led a consortium of investors in a separate minority investment in Aramco Gas Pipelines Company.

Contact Information

X: @aramco

About Aramco

As one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, our global team is dedicated to creating impact in all that we do, from providing crucial oil supplies to developing new energy technologies. We focus on making our resources more dependable, more sustainable and more useful, helping to promote growth and productivity around the world. https://www.aramco.com

About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading infrastructure investor that specializes in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors. With energy pragmatism central to our investment thesis, we are well positioned to support the global energy transition.

GIP’s scaled platform has over $183 billion in assets under management. We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our clients’ capital and to create positive economic impact for communities. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.

Disclaimer

The press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements relating to historical or current facts included in the press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company’s current expectations and projections relating to its capital expenditures and investments, major projects, upstream and downstream performance, including relative to peers. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “intend,” “goal,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “could,” and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Company’s control that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the following factors: global supply, demand and price fluctuations of oil, gas and petrochemicals; global economic conditions; competition in the industries in which Saudi Aramco operates; climate change concerns, weather conditions and related impacts on the global demand for hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-based products; risks related to Saudi Aramco’s ability to successfully meet its ESG targets, including its failure to fully meet its GHG emissions reduction targets by 2050; conditions affecting the transportation of products; operational risk and hazards common in the oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals industries; the cyclical nature of the oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals industries; political and social instability and unrest and actual or potential armed conflicts in the MENA region and other areas; natural disasters and public health pandemics or epidemics; the management of Saudi Aramco’s growth; the management of the Company’s subsidiaries, joint operations, joint ventures, associates and entities in which it holds a minority interest; Saudi Aramco’s exposure to inflation, interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk; risks related to operating in a regulated industry and changes to oil, gas, environmental or other regulations that impact the industries in which Saudi Aramco operates; legal proceedings, international trade matters, and other disputes or agreements; and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, as set forth in the Company’s latest periodic reports filed with the Saudi Exchange. For additional information on the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted please see the Company’s latest periodic reports filed with the Saudi Exchange. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. The information contained in the press release, including but not limited to forward-looking statements, applies only as of the date of this press release and is not intended to give any assurances as to future results. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to the press release, including any financial data or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law or regulation. No person should construe the press release as financial, tax or investment advice. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements.