MUMBAI, India, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tata Communications, a leading global communications technology player, today announced that it has acquired 51% stake in Commotion Inc., a leading AI-native Enterprise SaaS Platform company with operations in the US and India.

This acquisition marks a significant step in accelerating AI integration across Tata Communications’ Digital Fabric offerings, particularly within its Customer Interaction Suite, that includes Tata Communications Kaleyra,to deliver contextual and converged AI driven experiences for both customers and employees. Commotion’s orchestration engine will integrate with Kaleyra’s core components — including channels, Kaleyra TX Hub, and CCaaS — to automate and intelligently guide end-to-end customer journeys, shifting engagement from reactive responses to predictive and generative interactions.

Commotion powers global enterprises with three force-multiplying pillars:

• Omnichannel CX Automation for real-time, data-driven, hyperpersonalised engagement
• Voice AI solutions built on ultra-low latency speech-to-speech AI models
• Business-Ready Autonomous Digital Agents that are compliant, intelligent, policy-aware AI entities that operate continuously across customer-facing and internal enterprise functions

The platform unifies Voice AI, Agentic AI Builder, and Omnichannel Journey Orchestration, enabling brands to automate complex work and deliver real-time, personalised engagement at scale, while simultaneously transforming enterprise operations through AI-powered digital support.

Acquiring Commotion and integrating its capabilities into its Digital Fabric, will further accelerate Tata Communications’ own AI adoption and advance its journey to becoming an AI-first organisation. This development builds on its ongoing efforts to help enterprises shift from AI experimentation to scalable, business-critical transformation.

A. S. Lakshminarayanan, MD & CEO, Tata Communications, said: “This acquisition marks a significant step in our journey to redefine customer experience in the AI era. With Commotion’s capabilities already integrated into Tata Communications Kaleyra, we are seeing phenomenal customer traction. We expect this momentum to further accelerate our evolution into an AI-first organisation, making our Digital Fabric more intelligent, adaptive, and future ready.”

Murali Swaminathan, CEO, Commotion Inc., added: “We are thrilled to announce this significant milestone in our journey. This isn’t just about capital. It’s about conviction, shared purpose, and the power of combining our innovation velocity with Tata Communications’ global reach, trusted brand and digital expertise. Together, we will unlock AI’s full potential in many industry sectors, building solutions that scale responsibly and transform the way the world works. The future isn’t just coming – it’s here, and it’s global.”

The transaction will be executed as a cash-only acquisition on a fully diluted basis through a Stock Purchase Agreement.

To explore this in more detail, please click on the link:
https://www.tatacommunications.com/kaleyra/commotion

About Tata Communications

A part of the Tata Group, Tata Communications (NSE: TATACOMM) (BSE: 500483) is a global digital ecosystem enabler powering today’s fast-growing digital economy in more than 190 countries and territories. Leading with trust, it enables digital transformation of enterprises globally with collaboration and connected solutions, core and next gen connectivity, cloud hosting and security solutions and media services. 300 of the Fortune 500 companies are its customers and the company connects businesses to 80% of the world’s cloud giants. For more information, please visit www.tatacommunications.com

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Forward-looking and cautionary statements

Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications’ expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications’ operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications’ network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company’s communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications’ industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications’ control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications Limited’s Annual Reports.

The Annual Reports of Tata Communications Limited are available at www.tatacommunications.com. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements.

© 2025 Tata Communications Ltd. All rights reserved.

TATA COMMUNICATIONS and TATA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tata Sons Private Limited in India and certain countries.

All other third-party trademarks belong to their respective owners.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Masan Consumer Corporation (UPCoM: MCH), a subsidiary of Masan Group, today announced its roadmap to list on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (“HoSE”) during the “MCH Roadshow – HoSE Migration Announcement”. The Company stated that the migration to HoSE is scheduled for December 2025, marking a significant milestone in its capital market journey. The event comes as Vietnam’s fast-moving consumer goods (“FMCG”) sector enters a new growth cycle, supported by rising disposable income, an expanding middle class, and increasing demand for higher-quality consumer products.

Over nearly three decades, Masan Consumer has built one of Vietnam’s most extensive FMCG brand ecosystems. According to Kantar Worldpanel, 98% of Vietnamese households use at least one Masan Consumer product. The Company leads approximately 80% of core seasonings and convenience food categories, including fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce, instant noodles, instant coffee, and coffee-flavored energy drinks.

From 2017 to 2024, the Company achieved a revenue CAGR of approximately 13%, while maintaining operating profit margins above 23% despite macro volatility. During 2022–2024, net profit continued to compound at roughly 20% per year, underscoring the Company’s strengthening earnings power. Sustained financial performance across multiple cycles has positioned Masan Consumer among Southeast Asia’s leading FMCG companies, comparable to regional peers that consistently deliver double-digit revenue CAGR and net profit margins above 20%.

These financial results were underpinned by strategic growth drivers that have strengthened the Company’s long-term competitive advantages. In specific, premiumization has emerged as a defining trend in Vietnam’s FMCG industry. Masan Consumer has led this transformation by expanding consumption occasions and enhancing value propositions across categories. CHIN-SU (Seasonings Category), the brand has evolved from traditional dipping sauces to a full cooking solution portfolio, including marinades, cooking sauces, and integrated meal-prep products – significantly increasing household penetration and market size. Meanwhile, with Omachi (Convenience Foods Category), the Company accelerated the shift from a ~US$1 billion instant noodle market to the ~US$17 billion premium convenient meal space, capturing higher-value consumption.

Five power brands—CHIN-SU, Nam Ngu, Omachi, Kokomi, Wake-Up 247—each generate over US$100 million in annual revenue, collectively contributing ~70% of incremental topline growth. Core innovations typically reach Top-3 market share within two years, far outpacing industry norms, reflecting Masan Consumer’s deep consumer insight and nationwide distribution strength. Since 2002, the Company has launched more than 1,200 new products, with innovation contributing roughly 20% of revenue during 2017–2024.

The Company reaches consumers through nearly 500,000 traditional trade outlets and 10,000 modern retail points nationwide. Building on this foundation, Masan Consumer launched the Retail Supreme model in 2024 to enhance control over execution, standardize in-store visibility, optimize inventory, and strengthen engagement with retailers. This tech-enabled model creates an integrated data engine – enhancing assortment planning, optimizing display efficiency, and improving sell-out performance. Combined with the scale and consumer insight of WinCommerce’s WinMart/WinMart+/WiN network, MCH can rapidly test innovations, adjust formulations in real time, and shorten the go-to-market cycle. As Retail Supreme scales nationwide, it is expected to become a sustainable competitive advantage enabling Masan Consumer to serve the evolving needs of over 100 million Vietnamese consumers more efficiently.

From 2018 to 2024, Masan Consumer paid out approximately US$1.5 billion in cash dividends to shareholders while still investing heavily in innovation and distribution expansion. Strong cash flow generation and sustained profitability reinforce the Company’s position as both a growth and defensive asset within Vietnam’s consumer sector.

Beyond the domestic market, Masan Consumer is accelerating its “Go Global” strategy by expanding its footprint across 26 international markets, including the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Australia. International revenue increased at a ~16% CAGR from 2022 to 2024, achieving an operating margin of ~30% in 2024. The contribution of the international business rose from 1% of revenue in 2020 to 5% in 2025, with a medium-term target of 10–20%.

HOSE Listing – A Commitment to Transparency, Governance, and Sustainable Growth

With a strong brand portfolio, solid premiumization strategy, deep distribution scale, resilient financial foundation, and an experienced leadership team, Masan Consumer is well positioned to maximize long-term shareholder value on HOSE, Vietnam’s largest and most reputable stock exchange. Listing on HOSE reaffirms Masan Consumer’s commitment to operational excellence, enhanced transparency, and best-in-class corporate governance. The listing marks a pivotal milestone that opens a new growth chapter—one where Masan Consumer will continue to strengthen its strategic pillars and deliver sustainable value to consumers and shareholders in the years ahead.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN) today announced the completion of its Global Payment infrastructure upgrade, establishing a comprehensive payment orchestration layer that supports multiple currencies, stablecoins, and blockchain networks through a unified API platform.

What’s New: Expanded Multi-Currency and Multi-Chain Coverage

The upgrade introduces traditional currency support, with USD accessible through Wire and ACH rails, and EUR through SEPA. On the digital asset side, the platform now supports five major stablecoins — USDT, USDC, PYUSD, DAI, and EURC — across four leading blockchain networks: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana and TRON.

“Completing the Global Payment infrastructure upgrade represents a major milestone in our mission to provide institutional-grade payment orchestration,” said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN. “Businesses can now access a complete payment infrastructure layer that handles the complexity of multi-currency, multi-chain operations through simple API calls.”

How It Works: Complete Payment Infrastructure

Global Payment provides end-to-end payment infrastructure through a single API integration, enabling businesses to orchestrate payment flows while maintaining full control over their operations. The platform enables on-ramp and off-ramp services between fiat and digital assets, cross-chain asset movement, token swapping capabilities, and AutoRamp functionality that enables automated conversions based on predefined parameters.

The solution maintains WSPN’s institutional focus with built-in KYB processes, compliance verification, and enterprise-grade reliability. The API architecture allows for rapid deployment and easy maintenance, eliminating the need for businesses to build and maintain connections with multiple payment processors, blockchain networks, and liquidity providers.

Why It Matters: Simplified Global Payment Operations

Global Payment serves as the foundational infrastructure layer for businesses building payment applications, financial services platforms, or any solution requiring seamless movement of value across traditional and digital financial systems.

By consolidating multi-currency, multi-chain operations into a single integration point, the platform significantly reduces technical complexity and time-to-market. Businesses can now offer comprehensive payment capabilities to their customers without the operational overhead of managing disparate payment systems and blockchain integrations.

For more information about Global Payment or to inquire about API access, visit www.wspn.io or contact WSPN’s business development team.

About WSPN

WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, dedicated to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent global payment ecosystem. Our flagship stablecoin, WUSD, is fully backed and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar, serving as the foundation for a suite of integrated financial solutions. These solutions support a range of financial applications from institutional treasury management to programmable payments and decentralized finance. With a strong focus on transparency, regulatory compliance, and user accessibility, WSPN bridges the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial systems, driving the global adoption of stablecoins at scale.

Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn

Starring Roy Sungkono and Sintya Marisca, the 8-episode crime series is now in production for VISION+

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CreAsia Studio, launched by Deepak Dhar and Banijay Entertainment, has announced the lead cast for its upcoming crime drama series, My Chef in Crime Indonesia, which has officially entered production on 26 November 2025 in Jakarta. Commissioned by VISION+, the 8-episode × 40-minute series marks a major milestone for the studio as it builds a slate of innovative, locally inspired scripted formats across Southeast Asia. The show stars Roy Sungkono in the male lead and Sintya Marisca as the female lead, both bringing charisma, depth, and a new on-screen pairing to the Indonesian streaming landscape.

CreAsia Studio’s My Chef In Crime for VISION+ Unveils Lead Cast; Begins Production In Indonesia

Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO, Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, added, “This series represents the kind of creative experimentation we want CreAsia to champion. A crime drama infused with food and comedy is a bold departure from the familiar. With a talented cast, a passionate creative team, and the support of VISION+, we believe My Chef in Crime will set a benchmark for original content in the region.”

“We are excited to create an easy-to-digest crime series with food-related cases, blending two of Southeast Asia’s signature genres,” added Jessica Kam-Engle, EVP & Business Head – SE Asia, CreAsia Studio. “My Chef in Crime reflects our ambition to develop original formats that are rooted in local culture yet resonate universally.”

Sondang Pratama, Director, shared his creative vision for the series: “As a director, my vision for My Chef in Crime stems from the intriguing intersection between two worlds that seem far apart—food and forensic science. The more we explored them, the more we realized how naturally they connect. Cooking, much like forensic investigation, is rooted in scientific precision. That parallel inspired us to craft a crime series that is not only entertaining but also emotionally layered and visually distinctive.”

Currently in production, My Chef in Crime follows a forensic investigator-turned chef who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his culinary rival. Blending forensic science with the world of food, My Chef in Crime Indonesia introduces audiences to a fresh narrative lens—where culinary artistry meets criminal investigation. My Chef in Crime will premiere exclusively on VISION+ in 2026.

HMI-115 received FDA Fast Track Designation based on results from a Phase II clinical trial for endometriosis

Mean dysmenorrhea pain score reduced by 42%

Mean non-menstrual chronic pelvic pain score reduced by 52%

Most patients maintained normal menstrual cycles

No typical peri-menopausal symptoms were reported in patients

No significant changes in bone mineral density or sex hormone levels

SHANGHAI, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hope Medicine Inc. (“HopeMed”), a clinical-stage innovative biopharmaceutical company, today announced that its lead pipeline product, HMI-115, a monoclonal antibody targeting the prolactin receptor, has been granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis.

Previously, HMI-115 had been included in the Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) list by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), intended for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. This FDA Fast Track Designation marks a significant milestone in the global development of HMI-115, highlighting its outstanding clinical potential.

The FDA Fast Track Designation is a special program established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an internationally authoritative regulatory agency, to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs intended to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. According to FDA guidelines, drug candidates granted FTD qualify for more frequent interactions and timely feedback from the FDA during subsequent development and review processes.

The granting of Fast Track Designation was based on the results of a completed global Phase II clinical trial for HMI-115. This trial was an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HMI-115 in patients with moderate to severe endometriosis-associated pain over a 12-week treatment period. The study enrolled 108 female patients with surgically diagnosed endometriosis across the United States, Poland, and China. Results showed that HMI-115 achieved statistically significant improvement in moderate to severe endometriosis-associated pain and was well-tolerated overall, with no drug-related serious adverse events reported. Specifically, at the end of the treatment, the least-square-mean dysmenorrhea pain score in the 240 mg every two weeks (q2w) dose group decreased by 42% from baseline, and the non-menstrual chronic pelvic pain score decreased by 52%, both with statistical significance. No typical peri-menopausal symptoms were reported during the study; there were no significant changes in menstrual cycle, bone mineral density, or levels of sex hormones such as estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and progesterone. The results of this proof-of-concept global Phase II clinical trial have been formally published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease characterized by the implantation of endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity, typically presenting as a chronic inflammatory response. The endometrium is the mucosal tissue lining the uterine cavity, which undergoes hormone-dependent changes during the menstrual cycle. Endometriosis is common in women of reproductive age, with symptoms including lower abdominal and pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, painful intercourse, and infertility. Comprehensive literature reports indicate that approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally are affected by endometriosis, equating to about 190 million women worldwide; 20%-50% of women with infertility have endometriosis, and 71%-87% of women with chronic pelvic pain have endometriosis. Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of dysmenorrhea, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. The disease often leads to decreased quality of life, affecting patients’ sexual health, psychological well-being, and social behavior. Globally, the disease represents a potential market size of approximately US$200 billion (according to McKinsey report), with significant unmet medical needs. As a potential first-in-class global treatment for endometriosis, the FDA Fast Track Designation for HMI-115 is expected to accelerate its development, review, and approval process, potentially bringing it to patients worldwide sooner.

About Hope Medicine

Hope Medicine Inc. is a science-driven clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with research laboratories and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, China. HopeMed is established on the in-depth expertise in translational medicine and decades of research of Professor Rui-Ping Xiao’s laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Medicine of Peking University. Based on excellent scientific research and to improve the quality of life, HopeMed is committed to the research, development, and commercialization of first-in-class medicines for common and major diseases that threaten human health.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are primarily based on the current outlook, expectations, estimates, and projections of the company’s management team. When using “anticipate,” “believe,” “may,” “design,” “effect,” “assess,” “expect,” “predict,” “target,” “aim,” “purpose” and any other similar words and expressions, in references to the company, the intention of the statement is forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantee of future performance and subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and often beyond the company’s control, which could cause 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 following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; changes in applicable laws or regulations. The company undertakes no public announcement obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, or to publicly announce any such updates or revisions, to reflect changes in our expectations or any events, circumstances or assumptions that affect these statements.

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a leading provider of global voice, data, and PNT satellite services, today announced the appointment of Louis Alterman to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. This appointment expands the size of the Board to twelve members, nine of whom are independent.

Louis Alterman, Iridium Board of Directors

“Louis’ background aligns perfectly with Iridium’s strategic vision to deliver innovative and unique communication services across the globe,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “His proven track record of guiding companies through periods of transformation and growth, both as a CEO and CFO, will be a tremendous asset to our Board and Iridium.” 

“Louis’ operational leadership and financial acumen across the communications and technology sectors make him ideally suited to join the Iridium Board and help deliver value for Iridium shareholders,” said Robert H. Niehaus, Chairman of the Board, Iridium.

Alterman has served as president, chief executive officer and board member of Stratix Corporation, the largest pure-play enterprise mobility specialist in North America, since 2019. From 2017 to 2019, he was chief financial officer (“CFO”) of Rackspace, a global cloud technology services company, and before that, he held numerous roles of increasing responsibility at EarthLink, a telecommunications provider, from 2003 to 2017, including serving as CFO from 2015 to 2017. 

Alterman is on the board of directors of Diversified, a global technology solutions provider. He previously served on the board of CareerBuilder from 2018 to 2022, and from 1999 to 2003, he worked at BellSouth (now part of AT&T).

He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and subsequently completed executive education at Harvard University.

To learn more about Iridium visit: www.iridium.com

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium^® is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations, and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. In 2024, Iridium acquired Satelles and its positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services, and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

Acknowledged for exceptional performance and innovative use of technology, including AI and blockchain, to meet the financial needs of customers

SINGAPORE, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DBS today announced it has been named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a publication of The Financial Times, at its prestigious Bank of the Year awards. This marks the third time DBS has received the top global accolade, following wins in 2018 and 2021.

In addition to the esteemed Global Bank of the Year title, DBS also secured several other significant honours: Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, and an inaugural win in Investment Bank of the Year for Financial Institutions Group.

DBS’ exceptional performance stood out among 294 participating banks, underscoring its sustained leadership and profound impact in the global financial industry. This latest recognition is DBS’ ninth global ‘Best Bank’ award from a leading financial publication since clinching its first in 2018. DBS now concurrently holds two global best bank awards, from Euromoney and The Banker.

Silvia Pavoni, editor in chief at The Banker, said, “Some of the most exciting technological applications in banking are often found in Asia — and frequently adopted by DBS. The lender’s investment in AI to protect customers from financial scams — a growing concern in Singapore — is noteworthy, as is its commitment to training staff on the new technology. Its work on smart contracts designed to deliver faster, smoother payments, including across jurisdictions, is another of the many initiatives that impressed our judging committee. At the core, we were looking for useful innovation that helps customers with their financial needs and, more broadly, with their work and day-to-day lives. DBS stood out.”

Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS, said, “We are honoured to be recognised as Global Bank of the Year by The Banker yet again. This prestigious award, along with our other regional and segment wins, is testament to our continued leadership and impact globally. But we will remain hungry, humble and nimble. We will continue to push boundaries, embracing new technologies and sustainable practices to shape the future of banking.”

Founded in 1926 and owned by The Financial Times, The Banker is a highly respected international publication renowned for its comprehensive coverage of financial affairs. Its annual Bank of the Year Awards celebrate the world’s leading financial institutions, acknowledging outstanding performance across various banking sectors.

About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank’s “AA-” and “Aa1” credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.

DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.  

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.

Companies to advance CR-001, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, and SKB105, an integrin beta-6-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in global markets and China

Collaboration designed to accelerate and expand the development of synergistic combinations with CR-001 and ADCs, including SKB105

CR-001 and SKB105 on track to enter Phase 1/2 monotherapy clinical trials in Q1 2026 with combination studies to follow

CHENGDU, China and WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Kelun-Biotech”, 6990.HK), which focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, commercialization and global collaboration of innovative biological drugs and small molecule drugs, and Crescent Biopharma, Inc. (“Crescent”) (Nasdaq: CBIO), a biotechnology company dedicated to rapidly advancing the next wave of therapies for cancer patients, today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize oncology therapeutics, including novel combinations.

The partnership involves Crescent’s CR-001, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, and Kelun-Biotech’s SKB105, an integrin beta-6 (ITGB6)-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with a topoisomerase payload. Both candidates are being developed for the treatment of solid tumors and are expected to enter Phase 1/2 monotherapy clinical trials in the first quarter of 2026.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Crescent has granted Kelun-Biotech exclusive rights to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize CR-001 in Greater China (including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). In addition, Kelun-Biotech has granted Crescent exclusive rights to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize SKB105 in the United States, Europe and all other markets outside of Greater China. The partnership includes the development of these candidates as monotherapies, and also the evaluation of CR-001 in combination with SKB105.Both Crescent and Kelun-Biotech have the right to independently develop CR-001 in additional combinations, including combinations of CR-001 with proprietary ADC pipeline assets.

Dr. Michael Ge, chief executive officer of Kelun-Biotech, said, “We are pleased to have entered into a partnership with Crescent for two innovative assets, CR-001 and SKB105. This collaboration complements and strengthens our differentiated oncology pipeline by the addition of CR-001 and also enables us to advance the development of SKB105 in the global market, bolstering its potential commercial value and our global collaboration network. Our creative global partnership combines the capabilities of both companies to explore novel monotherapies and combination strategies for tumor treatments with SKB105 and CR-001. By leveraging China’s abundant clinical resources and execution efficiency, we aim to expedite clinical development while rigorously maintaining the highest global standards. We believe this partnership creates a powerful synergy to maximize the potential of these two drug candidates for the treatment of patients in both China and the rest of the world.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Kelun-Biotech, an established leader in the development and commercialization of ADCs who shares our commitment to bringing next generation therapeutics that can improve outcomes for people living with cancer,” said Joshua Brumm, chief executive officer of Crescent. “This collaboration expands our pipeline with the addition of SKB105, furthers our strategy of advancing multiple modalities across our portfolio, and accelerates our efforts to deliver synergistic combinations with CR-001, which has the potential to be a foundational backbone therapy. We look forward to working with Kelun-Biotech to drive innovative therapeutics with the potential to address multiple tumor types and transform cancer care.”

Under the collaboration, Kelun-Biotech will receive an upfront payment of US$80 million from Crescent and is also eligible to receive additional milestones of up to US$1.25 billion, plus tiered middle single-digit to low double-digit royalties on net sales of SKB105. Kelun-Biotech is also eligible to receive additional payment from Crescent if Crescent undergoes a near-term change of control or enters into a sublicense agreement with a third party. Crescent will receive an upfront payment of US$20 million from Kelun-Biotech and is also eligible to receive additional milestones of up to US$30 million, plus tiered low to middle single digit royalties on net sales of CR-001.

About CR-001 (also known as SKB118)

CR-001 is a tetravalent bispecific antibody being developed for the treatment of solid tumors that combines two complementary, validated mechanisms in oncology via a blockade of PD-1 and VEGF. PD-1 checkpoint inhibition is aimed at restoring T cells’ ability to recognize and destroy tumor cells, and blocking VEGF is intended for reducing blood supply to tumor cells and inhibiting tumor growth. In preclinical studies, CR-001 demonstrated cooperative pharmacology with increased binding to PD-1 and signal blockade in the presence of VEGF as well as robust anti-tumor activity. CR-001’s anti-VEGF activity may also normalize the vasculature at the tumor site, which has the potential to improve the localization and effectiveness of combination therapies, such as the administration of CR-001 with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). A global Phase 1/2 trial of CR-001 in patients with solid tumors is anticipated to commence in the first quarter of 2026.

About SKB105 (also known as CR-003)

SKB105 is a differentiated ADC targeting integrin beta-6 (ITGB6) with a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload. ITGB6 is overexpressed in many solid tumors, but shows minimal to no expression in most normal tissues, thereby potentially reducing the risk of systemic toxicity and off-target effects. SKB105 consists of an anti-ITGB6 fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody conjugated via a stable, clinically validated cleavable linker. The molecule incorporates proprietary Kthiol^® irreversible conjugation technology, designed to enhance stability and tumor-specific payload delivery while reducing adverse effects. SKB105 demonstrated a favorable efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile in preclinical models. A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SKB105 in patients with solid tumors is anticipated to commence in the first quarter of 2026.

About Kelun-Biotech

Kelun-Biotech (6990.HK) is a holding subsidiary of Kelun Pharmaceutical (002422.SZ), which focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, commercialization and global collaboration of innovative biological drugs and small molecule drugs. Kelun-Biotech focuses on major disease areas such as solid tumors, autoimmune, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases, and in establishing a globalized drug development and industrialization platform to address the unmet medical needs in China and the rest of world. Kelun-Biotech is committed to becoming a leading global enterprise in the field of innovative drugs. At present, Kelun-Biotech has more than 30 ongoing key innovative drug projects, of which 4 projects have been approved for marketing, 1 project is in the NDA stage and more than 10 projects are in the clinical stage. Kelun-Biotech has established one of the world’s leading proprietary ADC and novel DC platforms, OptiDC™, and has 2 ADC projects approved for marketing, and multiple ADC and novel DC assets in clinical or preclinical research stage. For more information, please visit https://en.kelun-biotech.com/.

About Crescent Biopharma

Crescent Biopharma’s vision is to build a world leading oncology company bringing the next wave of therapies for cancer patients. Crescent ‘s pipeline includes its lead program, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, as well as novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). By leveraging multiple modalities and established targets, Crescent aims to rapidly advance potentially transformative therapies either as single agents or as part of combination regimens to treat a range of solid tumors. For more information, visit www.crescentbiopharma.com and follow Crescent on LinkedIn and X.

Forward-Looking Statements of Crescent

Certain statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including for purposes of the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements relating to Crescent’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future of its pipeline and business including, without limitation,  the expected benefits or opportunities with respect to the strategic partnership between Crescent and Kelun-Biotech, the ability for each of CR-001 and SKB105 (CR-003) to perform as monotherapies and in combination, the potential for CR-001 to be developed in additional combinations, including with proprietary ADC pipeline assets, the initiation, timing, progress, and results of clinical trials for CR-001 and SKB105 (CR-003), including the initiation of Phase 1/2 monotherapy clinical trials in the first quarter of 2026, Crescent’s expectations regarding the potential benefits of the strategic partnership with Kelun-Biotech, the potential benefits of treatment with and the market for CR-001, and our expectations regarding milestone, royalty, or other payments that could be due under the license agreements. The words “opportunity,” “potential,” “milestones,” “pipeline,” “can,” “goal,” “strategy,” “target,” “anticipate,” “achieve,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negatives of these terms or variations of them) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Crescent will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond Crescent’s control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the expected benefits of, and opportunities related to, the strategic partnership between Crescent and Kelun-Biotech may not be realized by either party or may take longer to realize than anticipated, that the potential of CR-001 and/or SKB105 (CR-003), each as monotherapy and in combination, may change, that CR-001 may not be developed in additional combinations, including with proprietary ADC pipeline assets, that either party may fail to discover and develop any commercially successful product candidates through the strategic partnership, that such product candidates may not receive regulatory approval and, if approved, such product candidates may not be commercially successful, Crescent’s limited operating history, including with respect to clinical trials, Crescent’s historical losses and any future ability to generate revenue, Crescent’s ability to raise capital to support its business plans, risks associated with clinical development and regulatory approval, risks related to Crescent’s intellectual property, Crescent’s reliance on third parties, including to help develop its product candidates and run its clinical trials, as well as to manufacture its product candidates, Crescent’s dependence on key personnel, Crescent’s estimates of market opportunity may prove to be inaccurate, significant disruptions of information technology systems or breaches of data security, litigation and regulatory risks, as well as those factors more fully described in Crescent’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), and Crescent’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of Crescent’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. Crescent does not undertake or accept any duty to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements. This press release does not purport to summarize all of the conditions, risks and other attributes of an investment in Crescent.