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Rona Therapeutics Announces NMPA Approval of IND Application for RN1871, a Novel Angiotensinogen (AGT)-Targeting siRNA Drug for Hypertension

SHANGHAI, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rona Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering innovative RNA-targeted therapies, announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for RN1871, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug targeting angiotensinogen (AGT), has been approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

RN1871 is designed to silence AGT mRNA expression in the liver, precisely inhibiting the production of the key precursor protein in the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS). The RAAS pathway plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, and its overactivation is closely linked to the progression of hypertension. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that RN1871 delivers long-lasting blood pressure control offering a promising new therapeutic option for over 1.5 billion hypertension patients worldwide.

Stella Shi, CEO and Founder of Rona Therapeutics, stated: “The IND approval of RN1871 marks a significant breakthrough in our pursuit of innovative therapies for chronic diseases. By leveraging siRNA technology to treat disease fundamentally, RN1871 achieves sustained efficacy with less dosing frequency. We look forward to bringing this innovative therapy to hypertension management where more compliant and safe treatment is needed to improve cardiovascular events and other comorbidities.”

Dr. Alex M. DePaoli, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Translational Medicine, added: “RN1871’s preclinical data showed potent AGT suppression which reduces blood pressure significantly with a favorable safety profile. We plan to advance RN1871 into Phase I trials to evaluate its safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy in humans. This progress reflects our team’s expertise in translating scientific insights into clinical solutions.”

About Rona Therapeutics
Rona Therapeutics is a global leader in nucleic acid therapeutics discovery and development, specializing in the treatment of cardiometabolic and neurological diseases. Rona Therapeutics is committed to developing the best and first-in-class siRNA drugs with differentiation and innovation to address unmet needs and improve outcome in cardiovascular diseases, obesity, MASH and neurological diseases through both hepatic and extra-hepatic delivery of proprietary siRNA.

For Further information,Please visit: www.ronatherapeutics.com or contact: BD@ronatherapeutics.com

Acepodia Presents Preclinical Data on Antibody-Dual-Drugs Conjugation (AD2C) technology at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

ALAMEDA, Calif. and TAIPEI, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Acepodia (6976: TT) today announced the presentation of new preclinical data highlighting its proprietary dual-payload antibody-drug conjugate (AD2C) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The data will be featured at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, which will take place from April 25 to April 30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

The poster presentation, titled “Development of dual-payload anti-GPC3 antibody-drug conjugate by dual-payload antibody conjugation (AD2C) platform for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment,” showcases the company’s next-generation ADC generated using Acepodia’s AD2C platform. This platform allows for the conjugation of two distinct payloads to a single antibody without the need of antibody engineering or enzymatic conjugation. AD2C, carrying payloads with different mechanisms of action, offer enhanced therapeutic potency by targeting diverse cell populations in heterogeneous tumors or overcoming resistance to single-payload therapy.

Presentation Details:

Session Title: Novel Drug Delivery Technologies
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Date and Time: April 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM12:00 PM CDT
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL
Poster Board Number: 4 | Poster Section: 23
Abstract Number: 1785

“Acepodia’s dual-payload ADC approach is designed to address key limitations of current single-payload therapies,” said Dr. Sonny Hsiao, Chairman and CEO of Acepodia. “By combining targeted delivery with enhanced cytotoxicity, this platform holds promise for more effective treatment of liver cancer and other solid tumors.” AD2C platform provides a novel, antibody-engineering-free approach to generate dual-payload ADCs, offering a potential solution to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance in cancer treatment.

The company’s AD2C pipeline is part of its broader portfolio of conjugation technologies derived from the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi, enabling the site-specific delivery of therapeutic payloads using bioorthogonal click chemistry.

About Acepodia

Acepodia (6976.TT) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Taipei and Alameda, California, advancing innovative cancer and autoimmune disease therapies. The company’s proprietary platforms leverage novel cell-based and antibody conjugation technologies to deliver potent, targeted, and safer therapies. Its conjugation platforms—originating from the lab of Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi—enable precise linking of antibodies or immune cells with cytotoxic payloads using click chemistry, creating a unique therapeutic potential for various cancer types and autoimmune diseases.

For more information, visit https://www.acepodia.com/

KOREAN LENDERS AND OCEAN WEST CAPITAL PARTNERS FORECLOSE ON MIDTOWN MANHATTAN OFFICE BUILDING

NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ocean West Capital Partners (“Ocean West”) led the successful UCC foreclosure of 285 Madison Avenue last week, a 511,000 square-foot office property primely located in Midtown Manhattan near Grand Central Terminal. Ocean West represented the mezzanine lender, which was comprised of a consortium of some of the largest insurance companies in South Korea.

KOREAN LENDERS AND OCEAN WEST CAPITAL PARTNERS FORECLOSE ON MIDTOWN MANHATTAN OFFICE BUILDING
KOREAN LENDERS AND OCEAN WEST CAPITAL PARTNERS FORECLOSE ON MIDTOWN MANHATTAN OFFICE BUILDING

While the property remains well leased and in one of the top performing submarkets in the U.S., Midtown Manhattan, the loan fell into maturity default in late 2022. Originally the loan was extended to provide time for recovery, but it came back into default in late 2024 when the extension expired. Ocean West was brought in at this time to serve as advisor to the Korea-based mezzanine lender and evaluate various debt recovery strategies.

With Manhattan office leasing trends improving dramatically and increased investment activity in the market, the mezzanine lender concluded that its strongest course of action was to exercise its foreclosure rights and invest new capital to take control of the property. Ocean West will remain involved throughout the investment hold period to oversee the asset. 

“We believe that the quality of the building, the vibrancy of the market, and our cost basis will provide a strong opportunity to enhance cashflows and create value over time,” indicated Ryan Tucker, Principal at Ocean West. The property boasts a desirable Madison Avenue address just one block from Grand Central Terminal, and during a recent renovation, over $80 million was invested in the property to fully modernize the building and enhance the amenity program, which includes a rooftop deck and event space, conferencing center, and onsite gym.

The acquisition of 285 Madison through UCC foreclosure is part of more than $2 billion of New York City assets upon which Ocean West has either acquired or advised upon for Korean institutional investors in the past 12 months.  “We have seen a change in tenor from the Korean lending community whereby they have become more aggressive in protecting assets located in strong markets. These investors represent some of the largest insurance companies and pension funds in the world, who have capital to execute a wide variety of strategies”, said Phil Choi, Principal and Co-Founder of Ocean West. 

DLA Piper LLP represented the mezzanine lender throughout the process and was instrumental in formulating and executing the foreclosure strategy. Newmark managed the UCC auction marketing process, and Daol Asset Management served as the Korean investment advisor for this transaction.

For office leasing inquiries, please contact Daniel Levine (daniel.levine@nmrk.com) and Dylan Weisman (dylan.weisman@nmrk.com) at Newmark.

For retail leasing inquiries, please contact Adam Weinblatt (adam.weinblatt@nmrk.com) and Jason Pruger (jason.pruger@nmrk.com) at Newmark.

Ocean West Capital Partners is a full-service real estate investment and management platform dedicated to identifying and executing opportunities that create long-term value for its partners and investors. Since its founding in 2010, Ocean West has acquired and operated industrial, office, and residential investments, completing over $8.5 billion in commercial real estate transactions.

For press information please contact John Weiss, 213-784-1131, jweiss@oceanwestcp.com

Photo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ocean_west_capital_partners_manhattan.jpg

SmallRig Awards Announces Final Jury Panel, Headed by Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Ruby Yang, to Choose Winners from Over 3,800 Entries Across 120 Countries.

LOS ANGELES, April  21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The final jury panel for the 2025 SmallRig Awards has been announced, led by Academy Award–winning filmmaker Ruby Yang (The Blood of Yingzhon District). Joining her on the panel are:

Uli Gaulke – A Berlin-based, award-winning documentary filmmaker.

Gu Tao – An award-winning Chinese independent documentary filmmaker and photographer of Manchu heritage.

You Xiaogang – A veteran producer and award winning director in China.


“Cinema is powerful! Motion pictures have the transformative ability to cultivate empathy and forge connections on a deeply human level. Our jury panel is seeking compelling stories that not only shine a light on critical issues but also inspire meaningful change,” said Ruby Yang, head of the SmallRig Awards jury panel.

In December 2024, the SmallRig Awards also launched its Global Filmmaker Talk series with a preview screening of Miguel Gomes’Grand Tour, co-presented by Los Angeles screening series Acropolis Cinema. The event featured an engaging conversation between director Miguel Gomes and Acropolis founder Jordan Cronk, where they explored the innovative nonfiction techniques and dynamic storytelling tools Gomes employed in the film.

“The SmallRig Awards are for socially conscious filmmakers,” says SmallRig founder Zhou Yang. “We believe that images are very powerful. They allow people, behavior, and important moments to be seen.” He continues: “While we support films that call for action on global issues and aim to create positive change, our focus is more on addressing issues constructively rather than taking a critical or activist approach.”

Launched in 2024 by SmallRig—renowned for its affordable, compact, and versatile filmmaking rigs—the SmallRig Awards are designed to discover impactful films and videos addressing global social issues. Winners will receive significant cash prizes and the opportunity to secure financial backing from SmallRig for future projects.

Participants will compete for 22 awards, with cash prizes ranging from $800 to $12,000. The jury has completed the review of all submitted entries. For more information on nominations, award announcements, and further updates, please visit: https://www.smallrig.com/activity/SmallRigAwards

SmallRig Awards
SmallRig Awards

 

SuperAI Brings the Frontier of Artificial Intelligence to Singapore: Over 7,000 Innovators to Connect on Breakthrough AI Technologies

  • SuperAI Singapore (18-19 June 2025) will unite Eastern and Western AI ecosystems under one roof at Marina Bay Sands, from emerging startups to established enterprise leaders
  • Three distinct stages, alongside a Hackathon and Startup Competition with over $200,000 in prizes, will showcase innovations in robotics, healthcare, finance, and beyond
  • First wave of speakers includes Emad Mostaque (Intelligent Internet), entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan, and analyst Benedict Evans – with 150 more visionaries to be announced

SINGAPORE, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SuperAI, the premier artificial intelligence conference and super-connector event, returns to Singapore for its highly anticipated second edition. Following last year’s successful launch, the event is scaling significantly, transforming Marina Bay Sands’ entire fifth level into a showcase of frontier technologies on June 18-19, 2025.

Last year’s inaugural event drew 5,000 attendees from over 90 countries. This year, SuperAI is on track to connect more than 7,000 founders, developers, researchers, investors, and enterprise leaders, converging to explore and unveil the next wave of transformative AI technologies.

“The response to SuperAI Singapore has been extraordinary, already surpassing last year’s demand,” said Peter Noszek, Co-Founder of SuperAI. “We’re seeing genuine hunger for meaningful conversations at the frontier of AI – not just theoretical potential, but real-world implementation. SuperAI will spotlight breakthroughs in robotics, healthcare, finance, and AI’s broader impact across industries and society. Singapore’s position at the crossroads of East and West makes it the perfect hub to unite the global AI ecosystem.”

The event will feature sessions exploring topics like “Robotics Renaissance: AI’s Role in Automating the Physical World,” “Inside China’s AI Revolution,” and “Human-AI Collaboration: Unlocking Creative Potential” across its expanded program.

SuperAI will showcase AI development at every stage in the innovation lifecycle. Fifteen developer teams will compete in the inaugural NEXT Hackathon – in collaboration with Amazon – using generative AI-powered software development tools to build working prototypes across the event’s five thematic pillars: robotics and embodied AI, healthcare and biotech, finance, climate tech, and decentralized intelligence.

Meanwhile, ten frontier AI startups – selected from hundreds of global applicants – will vie for the Genesis Startup Competition’s $200,000 prize pool, supported by AWS, along with enterprise matchmaking and fundraising opportunities to accelerate their growth.

Elsewhere on the exhibition floor, SuperAI will offer pathways for academics, researchers, ambitious students, and curious minds through immersive and interactive experiences. Breakout AI Labs are where visitors can co-create with AI-enabled software, hardware, and their intersection in robotics. Community Hubs are exclusive, partner-led spaces designed for influential AI communities to explore specialized topics and foster meaningful connections. 

The first wave of speakers announced this week includes Emad Mostaque (CEO, Intelligent Internet), Balaji Srinivasan (Founder, Investor, and Author of The Network State), Benedict Evans (Analyst), and Sharon Zhou (CEO, Lamini AI).

Industry data underscores AI’s accelerating momentum. TechCrunch reports AI investments jumped 62% to $110B in 2024, while McKinsey finds 78% of organizations now use AI—up dramatically from just 20% in 2017. Financial thought leader Raoul Pal captures the zeitgeist: “Everybody wants to know what’s going on in AI. SuperAI is the event to figure it out.”

For tickets, speaker updates, and partnership opportunities for SuperAI Singapore, visit www.superai.com.

Peter Noszek, Co-Founder of SuperAI, is available for an interview.

About SuperAI Singapore

SuperAI is Asia’s largest AI event. Showcasing the transformative power of artificial intelligence, SuperAI brings together frontier technology visionaries, developers, startups, enterprises, researchers, and policymakers to shape the future. Taking place 18-19 June 2025 at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, SuperAI Singapore will convene over 7,000 attendees from more than 100 countries to explore and unveil developments in robotics, health, finance—and AI’s impact across industries and society.

Freshippo, CR Vanguard, Microsoft, NVIDIA, MINISO, and more than 900 exhibitors have Confirmed, 2025 CHINASHOP will Launch from May 8 to 10

SHENZHEN, China, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From May 8th to 10th, the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center will host 2025CHINASHOP, the largest retail exhibition in Asia. Spanning 100,000 square meters, the exhibition will present globally leading retail facilities and equipment, cutting-edge technologies, innovative solutions, and trending products through nine themed sub-exhibitions. It is expected to attract over 70,000 global attendees.

2025CHINASHOP
2025CHINASHOP

This year’s CHINASHOP will adopt the theme “Value Reshaping” , addressing the industry question of “how the retail sector can transcend traffic competition and reconstruct the relationship between people, goods, and spaces” through exhibits covering the entire retail industry chain, professional and forward-looking industry conferences, and efficient and precise supplier-retailer activities.

Over 900 outstanding exhibitors from around the world will showcase the latest trends and innovative achievements in the retail industry over the past year. The exhibition scope spans AI technology, smart logistics, digital solutions, commercial refrigeration equipment, cold chain equipment, fresh food processing equipment, lighting and display design, packaging design, trending merchandise, and more. Retailers and chain enterprises from global supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, shopping centers, specialty stores, F&B, e-commerce platforms, and other multi-format businesses will engage in efficient and precise communication on-site to explore 2025 retail trends and new channel opportunities.

Partial Exhibitor List: Intel, METTLER TOLEDO, DIGI, Posiflex, Ishida, Bizerba, Philips, Omori Packing, Bitzer, Carel, Tennant,Wanzl, Aeon, Sunmi, Ovopark, Kemai, Qisheng, Hanshow, Weidian, Dmall, Lakala, Shiji, Aoc, HEADING, TCL, Partner,Aclas,Iccold, Hiron, Haiercarrier, Xingxing, Bfresh, Konper, Tus Lighting, Vichi, Fuxing, Fumingyang, Guangyoute, Caimeta, Tianyi, Hongda, Aertai, Roadease Guidance, Sunyoung, LinU Display, Hongye, Keshun, COFCO, Yanjin Shop Food, C R NG FUNG, ChaCha, Jianlibao, TongRenTang, etc.

Notably, beyond the exhibition, 2025CHINASHOP will host multiple concurrent industry conferences.

The Consumer Goods Channel Marketing Innovation Summit will focus on new consumer groups, new scenarios, and new connections, addressing high-frequency topics such as product innovation, omni-channel integration, overseas expansion, and supplier-retailer collaboration. Executives from Yili, Kewpie, Heytea, Weilong, KPMG, Huayuhua, Xiaohongshu, TIKTOK, and others have confirmed their participation to share insights.

The All-Retail AI Spark Conference, a retail industry event dedicated to AI technology applications, will adopt a “1+N” model (main forum plus multiple sub-forums) to empower multiple retail scenarios. Leveraging CHINASHOP’s numerous technology exhibitors, the conference will explore AI’s implementation trends across the entire retail landscape. Executives from Hanshow, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Huawei, CR Vanguard, Meiyijia, Haidilao, Tianhong, Easyhome, Pagoda, and others in the tech, retail, and F&B sectors have confirmed their participation.

Additionally, the China Supermarket Conference will center on the theme “Embracing Distribution Revolution, Accelerating Operational Transformation”, gathering over 300 Chinese supermarket enterprises and supply chain exhibitors to discuss topics like procurement model innovation and private-label development. Executives from Freshippo, Beauty Group, XinYulou, Hubei Yasi, fudi, Guizhou Heli, Fresh Legend, and others have confirmed their participation.

On-site at 2025CHINASHOP, events such as the Consumer GoodsChannel Selection ConferenceCHINASHOP Golden Wing Awards FinalsRetail X-LAB and Rising Stars Zone, Hi-shopHackathon Competitions, and over 20 WORKSHOP activities covering ready-to-eat foods, commercial refrigeration equipment, retail category trends, healthy foods, and more will also take place.

 

BingX Brings Balance (EPT) to Spot with a 200 Million EPT Xpool

PANAMA CITY, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BingX, a global leading cryptocurrency exchange, announces the listing of EPT, the native token for Balance.fun, for both spot trading and also on the BingX Xpool. The spot listing will commence on April 21 at 12:00 (UTC) while the Xpool launch will start on April 22 at 10:00 (UTC). BingX users can stake BTC and EPT in Xpool, though new users will have an additional option to stake USDT to win a bigger share of the reward pool that includes 2,000,000 EPT Points. The first 1000 new users who stake a minimum of 100 USDT will also be able to earn an additional bonus voucher worth 100 USDT.

BingX Brings Balance (EPT) to Spot with a 200 Million EPT Xpool
BingX Brings Balance (EPT) to Spot with a 200 Million EPT Xpool

EPT is the governance token of Balance, an AI-powered web3 experience infrastructure designed for the masses. This new digital asset will fuel the new Balance Platform to create an open and inclusive gaming ecosystem for both gamers and developers with fairness at its core. With the integration of AI and blockchain technology, games can be built and marketed more easily while allowing players to benefit from the enhanced and diversified gaming experience.

Users of the existing Epal platform can transfer their EPT tokens to BingX, enabling a reliable method to trade EPT or, alternatively, purchase EPT for governance purposes. Having a solid exchange to further explore the vast world of cryptocurrencies, this new listing further empowers both Epal and Balance users in the process.

Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer of BingX, shared her thoughts on the new trading option and Xpool listing: “I think providing users with these new trading and early investment options is our responsibility as a responsible cryptocurrency exchange since some of our users rely on us to introduce such projects with such numerous functions across multiple subcategories”.

Visit bingx.com to join the Xpool starting April 22 and start trading EPT on spot from April 21. Whether you’re a gamer, builder, or crypto enthusiast, this is your chance to be part of a new decentralized chapter in entertainment.

About BingX 

Founded in 2018, BingX is a leading crypto exchange, serving over 20 million users worldwide. BingX offers diversified products and services, including spot, derivatives, copy trading, and asset management – all designed for the evolving needs of users, from beginners to professionals. BingX is committed to providing a trustworthy platform that empowers users with innovative tools and features to elevate their trading proficiency. In 2024, BingX proudly became the official crypto exchange partner of Chelsea Football Club, marking an exciting debut in the world of sports.

For more information, please visit: https://bingx.com/

Dingdong Files Its Annual Report on Form 20-F

SHANGHAI, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dingdong (Cayman) Limited (“Dingdong” or the “Company”) (NYSE: DDL), a leading fresh grocery e-commerce company in China, with advanced supply chain capabilities, today announced that it filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2025.

The Annual Report can be accessed on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.100.me. The Company will also provide a hard copy of its Annual Report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request.

About Dingdong (Cayman) Limited

Dingdong is the leading fresh grocery e-commerce company in mainland China, with sustainable long-term growth. The Company directly provides users and households with fresh groceries, prepared food, and other food products through delivering a convenient and excellent shopping experience supported by an extensive self-operated frontline fulfillment grid. Leveraging its deep insights into consumers’ evolving needs and its strong food innovation capabilities, Dingdong has successfully launched a series of private label products spanning a variety of food categories. Many of Dingdong’s private label products are produced at its own production plants, allowing it to more efficiently produce and offer safe and high-quality food products. Dingdong aims to be the first choice for fresh and food shopping.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.100.me.