Iochpe-Maxion Joins New Mobility Ecosystem with Innovation Office in Berlin

 Company Seeks New Business Opportunities Connecting Core Business with the Future of Mobility



BERLIN -Monday 30 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Iochpe-Maxion, a multi-billion dollar global leader in the production of automotive wheels, and a leading producer of automotive structural components in the Americas, announced today the opening of a new mobility innovation office in Berlin, Germany.

“As the automotive industry undergoes a major transformation, Iochpe-Maxion is keen to actively participate so we can capitalize on new growth opportunities while also remaining relevant to our customers,” said Marcos Oliveira, President and CEO, Iochpe-Maxion. “Maxion Advanced Technologies is a strategic innovation initiative designed to help us think beyond today by connecting our current business with the future of mobility.”

Maxion Advanced Technologies is a stand-alone organization solely focused on the long-term horizon without limitations from the company’s day-to-day wheels and structural components operations. The team is located in The Drivery, Europe’s largest mobility innovation community and marketplace located in Berlin, and will be responsible for participating in the global new-mobility innovation ecosystem in search of adjacent and disruptive automotive-related new business opportunities.

ABOUT IOCHPE-MAXION

Iochpe-Maxion is a world leader in the production of automotive wheels and a leading producer of automotive structural components in the Americas.

The Company has 31 manufacturing plants located in 14 countries and approximately 15,000 employees, operating its business through two divisions: Maxion Wheels and Maxion Structural Components.

Maxion Wheels produces a wide range of wheels for light and commercial vehicles. Maxion Structural Components produces side rails, cross members and full frames for commercial vehicles, and structural components for light vehicles. In addition, through its AmstedMaxion joint venture in Brazil, Iochpe-Maxion produces railway wheels and castings, industrial castings and freight cars.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190930005076/en/

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT:
Colleen Hanley
Global Director, Marketing and Communications
Maxion Wheels
Mobile: +1 (248) 916-2477
Email: colleen.hanley@maxionwheels.com



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First Head-to-Head Biologic Study in Ulcerative Colitis Published in The New England Journal of Medicine Highlights Benefit of Vedolizumab vs. Adalimumab

OSAKA, Japan-Friday 27 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (“Takeda”) today announced further results from the VARSITY study, which demonstrated the superiority of the gut-selective biologic vedolizumab (Entyvio®) to the anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNFα) biologic adalimumab (Humira®) in achieving the primary endpoint of clinical remission* at week 52 in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).1 Clinical remission rates at week 52 were superior with vedolizumab at 31.3% (n=120/383) versus 22.5% (n=87/386) with adalimumab (p=0.006).1

New exploratory data¤ published in the NEJM showed vedolizumab achieved higher percentages of clinical remission at week 52 compared to adalimumab in both anti-TNFα-naïve patients (34.2% [n=104/304] vedolizumab vs. 24.3% [n=74/305] adalimumab) and anti-TNFα-experienced patients with UC (20.3% [n=16/79] vedolizumab vs. 16.0% [n=13/81] adalimumab).1 Further exploratory data showed 26.6% (n=102/383) of vedolizumab-treated patients achieved clinical remission at week 14 as compared to 21.2% (n=82/386) treated with adalimumab.1 Durable clinical remission† was achieved in 18.3% (n=70/383) of patients with vedolizumab and 11.9% (n=46/386) of patients with adalimumab respectively.1

In the secondary endpoints of the study, treatment with vedolizumab was associated with significantly higher percentages of mucosal healing** at week 52 compared to patients treated with adalimumab (39.7% [n=152/383] vs. 27.7% [n=107/386]; p<0.001).1 Vedolizumab was not superior to adalimumab in the percentage of patients using oral corticosteroids at baseline who discontinued corticosteroids and were in clinical remission*** at week 52 (12.6% [n=14/111] vs. 21.8% [n=26/119]).1 Exploratory results for the median change in oral corticosteroid use from baseline to week 52 were -10.0 mg in the vedolizumab group compared to -7.0 mg in the adalimumab group.1

Further exploratory results published in the NEJM showed that treatment with vedolizumab was associated with improvements in quality of life, with 52.0% (n=199/383) of vedolizumab-treated versus 42.2% (n=163/386) of adalimumab-treated patients reporting a ≥16-point improvement in total Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) scores from baseline to week 52.1 The IBDQ examines the impact of inflammatory bowel disease on four aspects of patients’ lives: symptoms directly related to the primary bowel disturbance, systemic symptoms, and emotional and social function.2

“In a chronic, debilitating condition like ulcerative colitis, it is essential that patients gain relief from the many different aspects of the disease,” said Dr. Bruce E. Sands, primary investigator of the VARSITY study and Chief of the Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology at The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “The VARSITY results provide physicians with valuable insights to support their treatment decisions when initiating biologic therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.”

An exploratory analysis was also performed to evaluate the effect of vedolizumab and adalimumab therapy on clinical response and absence of active histologic disease. The exploratory analysis showed that 67.1% (n=257/383) of patients receiving vedolizumab achieved clinical responseǂ at week 14 compared to 45.9% (n=177/386) treated with adalimumab.1 A separation between the treatment groups was seen as early as week 6, favoring vedolizumab.3 Absence of active histologic disease±, as defined by the Geboes Score (<3.2) and Robarts Histopathology Index (<5), was achieved at week 52 in 33.4% (n=128/383) and 42.3% (n=162/383) of patients treated with vedolizumab, respectively, compared with 13.7% (n=53/386) and 25.6% (n=99/386) of patients treated with adalimumab, respectively.1

“The VARSITY study, a first-of-its-kind comparison of two biologics in ulcerative colitis, shows the benefits vedolizumab treatment provides to patients versus adalimumab across efficacy outcomes, in addition to improvements in overall quality of life,” said Jeff Bornstein, M.D., Executive Medical Director, Takeda. “These data further support the use of vedolizumab as a first-line biologic therapy in ulcerative colitis.”

While the study was not powered to compare the safety of the two biologics, patients treated with vedolizumab (62.7%; n=240/383) had a lower percentage of overall adverse events over 52 weeks than patients treated with adalimumab (69.2%; n=267/386). The percentage of serious adverse events was also lower in vedolizumab-treated patients than adalimumab (11.0% [n=42/383] vs. 13.7% [n=53/386] respectively).1 The proportion of patients who discontinued treatment because of adverse events was similar in both groups.1

¤ Exploratory endpoints were not powered for superiority in the VARSITY study. All endpoints other than the primary and two secondary endpoints are considered exploratory endpoints.

* Primary endpoint: Clinical remission is defined as a complete Mayo score of ≤2 points and no individual subscore ˃1 point. Mayo score: instrument designed to measure disease activity of ulcerative colitis.1,4

** Secondary endpoint: Mucosal healing (termed endoscopic improvement in the NEJM publication) is defined as a Mayo endoscopic subscore of ≤1 point.1,4

*** Secondary endpoint: Corticosteroid-free clinical remission is defined as patients using oral corticosteroids at baseline (week 0) who have discontinued oral corticosteroids and are in clinical remission at week 52.1,4

† Exploratory endpoint: Durable clinical remission is defined as clinical remission at week 52 among patients in clinical remission at week 14.1

ǂ Exploratory endpoint: Clinical response based on complete Mayo score at week 14 is defined as a reduction in complete Mayo score of ≥3 points and ≥30% from baseline with an accompanying decrease in rectal bleeding subscore of ≥1point or absolute rectal bleeding subscore of ≤1 point. Patients with missing clinical response status were considered non-responders.1

About VARSITY
VARSITY is a Phase 3b, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multi-center, active-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab intravenous (IV) compared to adalimumab subcutaneous (SC) at week 52 in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). The study treated 769 patients (vedolizumab n=383 or adalimumab n=386), all of whom had inadequate response with, loss of response to, or intolerance to corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or one tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-antagonist other than adalimumab prior to being enrolled. Prior TNFα-antagonist exposure was capped at 25% of the patient population in the study, with 609 patients being anti-TNFα-naïve versus 160 being anti-TNFα-experienced.1,4

Patients were randomized into one of two treatment groups, vedolizumab IV and placebo SC or adalimumab SC and placebo IV. Patients in the vedolizumab group were administered vedolizumab IV 300 mg at weeks 0, 2, 6 and every 8 weeks thereafter until week 46, along with placebo SC at week 0 and every 2 weeks until week 50. The adalimumab group were administered adalimumab SC 160 mg at week 0, 80 mg at week 2 and 40 mg every 2 weeks until week 50, along with placebo IV at weeks 0, 2, 6 and every 8 weeks thereafter until week 46. Dose escalation was not permitted in either treatment arm during the study.1,4

About Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).7 UC is a chronic, relapsing, remitting, inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that is often progressive in nature, and involves the innermost lining of the large intestine.8,9 UC commonly presents with symptoms of abdominal discomfort and loose bowel movements, including blood or pus.9,10 The cause of UC is not fully understood; however, recent research suggests hereditary, genetics, environmental factors, and/or an abnormal immune response to microbial antigens in genetically predisposed individuals can lead to the condition.9,11,12

About Entyvio® (vedolizumab)
Vedolizumab is a gut-selective biologic and is approved as an intravenous (IV) formulation.13 It is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to specifically antagonize the alpha4beta7 integrin, inhibiting the binding of alpha4beta7 integrin to intestinal mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1), but not vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1).14 MAdCAM-1 is preferentially expressed on blood vessels and lymph nodes of the gastrointestinal tract.15 The alpha4beta7 integrin is expressed on a subset of circulating white blood cells.14 These cells have been shown to play a role in mediating the inflammatory process in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).14,16,17 By inhibiting alpha4beta7 integrin, vedolizumab may limit the ability of certain white blood cells to infiltrate gut tissues.14

Vedolizumab IV is approved for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active UC and CD, who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-antagonist.13 Vedolizumab IV has been granted marketing authorization in over 60 countries, including the United States and European Union, with more than 330,000 patient years of exposure to date.18

Therapeutic Indications

Ulcerative colitis
Vedolizumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) antagonist.

Crohn’s disease
Vedolizumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) antagonist.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Special warnings and special precautions for use
Vedolizumab should be administered by a healthcare professional prepared to manage hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, if they occur. Appropriate monitoring and medical support measures should be available for immediate use when administering vedolizumab. Observe patients during infusion and until the infusion is complete.

Infusion-related reactions
In clinical studies, infusion-related reactions (IRR) and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity. If a severe IRR, anaphylactic reaction, or other severe reaction occurs, administration of vedolizumab must be discontinued immediately and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines). If a mild to moderate IRR occurs, the infusion rate can be slowed or interrupted and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines). Once the mild or moderate IRR subsides, continue the infusion. Physicians should consider pre-treatment (e.g., with antihistamine, hydrocortisone and/or paracetamol) prior to the next infusion for patients with a history of mild to moderate IRR to vedolizumab, in order to minimize their risks.

Infections
Vedolizumab is a gut-selective integrin antagonist with no identified systemic immunosuppressive activity. Physicians should be aware of the potential increased risk of opportunistic infections or infections for which the gut is a defensive barrier. Vedolizumab treatment is not to be initiated in patients with active, severe infections such as tuberculosis, sepsis, cytomegalovirus, listeriosis, and opportunistic infections until the infections are controlled, and physicians should consider withholding treatment in patients who develop a severe infection while on chronic treatment with vedolizumab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in patients with a controlled chronic severe infection or a history of recurring severe infections. Patients should be monitored closely for infections before, during and after treatment. Before starting treatment with vedolizumab, screening for tuberculosis may be considered according to local practice. Some integrin antagonists and some systemic immunosuppressive agents have been associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare and often fatal opportunistic infection caused by the John Cunningham (JC) virus. By binding to the α4β7 integrin expressed on gut-homing lymphocytes, vedolizumab exerts an immunosuppressive effect specific to the gut. Although no systemic immunosuppressive effect was noted in healthy subjects, the effects on systemic immune system function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are not known. Healthcare professionals should monitor patients on vedolizumab for any new onset or worsening of neurological signs and symptoms, and consider neurological referral if they occur. If PML is suspected, treatment with vedolizumab must be withheld; if confirmed, treatment must be permanently discontinued. Typical signs and symptoms associated with PML are diverse, progress over days to weeks, and include progressive weakness on one side of the body, clumsiness of limbs, disturbance of vision, and changes in thinking, memory, and orientation leading to confusion and personality changes. The progression of deficits usually leads to death or severe disability over weeks or months.

Malignancies
The risk of malignancy is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Immunomodulatory medicinal products may increase the risk of malignancy.

Prior and concurrent use of biological products
No vedolizumab clinical trial data are available for patients previously treated with natalizumab. No clinical trial data for concomitant use of vedolizumab with biologic immunosuppressants are available. Therefore, the use of vedolizumab in such patients is not recommended.

Vaccinations
Prior to initiating treatment with vedolizumab all patients should be brought up to date with all recommended immunizations. Patients receiving vedolizumab may receive non-live vaccines (e.g., subunit or inactivated vaccines) and may receive live vaccines only if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Adverse reactions include: nasopharyngitis, headache, arthralgia, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, influenza, sinusitis, cough, oropharyngeal pain, nausea, rash, pruritus, back pain, pain in extremities, pyrexia, fatigue and anaphylaxis.

Please consult with your local regulatory agency for approved labeling in your country.

For U.S. audiences, please see the full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide for ENTYVIO®.

For EU audiences, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for ENTYVIO®.

Takeda’s Commitment to Gastroenterology

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases can be complex, debilitating and life-changing. Recognizing this unmet need, Takeda and our collaboration partners have focused on improving the lives of patients through the delivery of innovative medicines and dedicated patient disease support programs for over 25 years. Takeda aspires to advance how patients manage their disease. Additionally, Takeda is leading in areas of gastroenterology associated with high unmet need, such as inflammatory bowel disease, acid-related diseases and motility disorders. Our GI Research & Development team is also exploring solutions in celiac disease and liver diseases, as well as scientific advancements through microbiome therapies.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Gastroenterology (GI), Rare Diseases, and Neuroscience. We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions.

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

###

References

1 Sands B, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Loftus E, et al. Vedolizumab versus adalimumab for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:1215-26.

2 Guyatt G, Mitchell A, Irvine EJ, et al. A new measure of health status for clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology. 1989;96:804-10.

3 Sands B, Peyrin-Biroulet, L, Loftus EV Jr, et al. Vedolizumab shows superior efficacy versus adalimumab: Results of VARSITY: The first head-to-head study of biologic therapy for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 2019;156(6-Supplement 1):S-81.

4 An efficacy and safety study of vedolizumab intravenous (IV) compared to adalimumab subcutaneous (SC) in participants with ulcerative colitis. ClinicalTrials.gov. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02497469. Last updated: April 12, 2019. Last Accessed: September 2019.

5 Pai RK, Jairath V, Vande Casteele N, et al. The emerging role of histologic disease activity assessment in ulcerative colitis. Gastrointest Endosc. 2018;88:887–98.

6 Bessissow T, Lemmens B, Ferrante M, et al. Prognostic value of serologic and histologic markers on clinical relapse in ulcerative colitis patients with mucosal healing. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012;107:1684-92.

7 Baumgart DC, Carding SR. Inflammatory bowel disease: cause and immunobiology. Lancet. 2007;369:1627-1640.

8 Torres J, Billioud V, Sachar DB, et al. Ulcerative colitis as a progressive disease: the forgotten evidence. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2012;18:1356-1363.

9Ordas I, Eckmann L, Talamini M, et al. Ulcerative colitis. Lancet. 2012;380:1606-1619.

10 Sands BE. From symptom to diagnosis: clinical distinctions among various forms of intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1518-1532.

11 Henckaerts L, Pierik M, Joossens M, et al. Mutations in pattern recognition receptor genes modulate seroreactivity to microbial antigens in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Gut. 2007;56:1536-1542.

12 Kaser A, Zeissig S, Blumberg RS. Genes and environment: How will our concepts on the pathophysiology of IBD develop in the future? Dig Dis. 2010;28:395-405.

13 European Medicines Agency. Entyvio EPAR product information. EMEA/H/C/002782 - IB/0030 ANNEX 1 Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/product-information/entyvio-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Last updated: April 1, 2019. Last accessed: September 2019.

14 Soler D, Chapman T, Yang LL, et al. The binding specificity and selective antagonism of vedolizumab, an anti-α4β7 integrin therapeutic antibody in development for inflammatory bowel diseases. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009;330:864-875.

15 Briskin M, Winsor-Hines D, Shyjan A, et al. Human mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 is preferentially expressed in intestinal tract and associated lymphoid tissue. Am J Pathol. 1997;151:97‑110.

16 Eksteen B, Liaskou E, Adams DH. Lymphocyte homing and its roles in the pathogenesis of IBD. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2008;14:1298‑1312.

17 Wyant T, Fedyk E, Abhyankar B. An overview of the mechanism of action of the monoclonal antibody vedolizumab. J Crohns Colitis. 2016;10:1437-1444.

18 Takeda Data on File. 2019.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190925005795/en/

Contacts
Media outside Japan
Luke Willats
luke.willats@takeda.com
+41-44-555-1145

Japanese Media
Tatsuhiro Kanoo
tatsuhiro.kanoo@takeda.com
+81 (0) 3-3278-2095

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Fashion Concept GmbH: Jeremy Meeks to conquer fashion world

FRANKFURT, Germany-Saturday 28 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- We are experiencing a time of social and technological revolution. Fashion Concept GmbH is not just a pioneer, it has also been able to sign a deal with one of the icons of the fashion industry, former "hot felon" Jeremy Meeks. Fashion Concept GmbH focuses on the international trade in textiles. By using sustainable materials and promoting investment in new technologies, the company aims to ensure the long-term availability of environmentally-friendly fashion.

The company's goal is to set new standards for sustainability. To reinforce this goal, Fashion Concept has just signed a $15 million deal with Jeremy Meeks to develop his own brand. For Meeks, who has been a regular presence on the catwalk for various fashion designers, this collaboration means a higher profile and a wider audience, because not only will he be a top model, but he will also be marketing his own fashion label.

It is not just this mega deal that is a milestone in Jeremy's career; his private life is also on the upswing. He was recently photographed with a well-known actress. But things are not just on the upswing for Jeremy: Fashion Concept GmbH, with its focus on uniquely innovative and sustainable technologies, is making a bold move with this deal as it seeks to drive forward change in the fashion industry. Fashion Concept aims to expand the growth in fashion and lifestyle brands. Higher revenues are being generated each year on Germany's fashion market, in retail and, in particular, through online business; private investors, too, will soon have the opportunity to benefit from this growth. The profit margins of often up to 30% will be of particular interest for investors.

This is precisely the market segment where Fashion Concept is active. In international trade, the company has seen a growth of almost 300% in its sales over the last two years alone. The company is already making profits in purchasing, since it can access its own production facilities in Turkey. In addition, merchandise such as textiles and accessories from many top manufacturers are being produced and purchased at very favourable conditions. The opportunity to purchase at high volumes allows savings of up to 90% to be achieved.

The company plans to purchase further top textile brands in 2020. This will not only expand its product offerings significantly, it will also have a direct impact on prices.

The group works with numerous distributors, allowing it to be able to choose the most efficient marketing channel for its products at all times. In this way, it can maximise the revenue from the quick sale of its merchandise.

The company does not rely on bank loans, but instead uses subordinated loans, bonds, profit participation rights, and silent partnerships for individuals who can directly benefit from the company's growth with a fixed return, currently at three to five percent.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190927005188/en/

Contacts

Name:Oguzhan Dertli
Tel: 00905392010251
Email:ahmet@fashion-concept.com

Fashion Invest AG
De-Saint-Exupéry-Straße 10
60549 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: +4969348713577

Email: press@fashion-invest.com

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Project Management Institute Announces Acquisition of FLEX from Net Objectives

Acquisition expands agile offerings for project managers, teams and enterprises

PHILADELPHIA-Friday 27 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession, today announced the acquisition of FLEX from Net Objectives. The FLEX approach helps organizations understand “what’s not working” at a system level and identify bottlenecks and eliminate them to improve workflows. Together, FLEX and PMI’s recently acquired Disciplined Agile (DA) will offer solutions to address organizations’ major pain points. The result is stronger business outcomes, faster.

There are several advantages to leveraging FLEX to complement DA:

PMI members will have the opportunity to acquire strong, credible new capabilities and certifications that will differentiate them and open doors with the combined DA and FLEX offering.
Current agile practitioners will be able to leverage a more mindful, tailored approach to agility, driven by an agile and lean mindset and empowered by processes that fit their context, which enables stronger outcomes than would be possible with more prescriptive approaches.
Enterprises around the world will enjoy a more tailored approach to enterprise agility based on their specific needs and context.
PMI, DA and FLEX partners will have access to an expanded set of product offerings for their stakeholders and customers.
PMI and DA members will receive access to FLEX content and online learning.
“This acquisition is an important building block for PMI as it addresses new ways of working in an increasingly agile world, and greatly expands the capabilities of project managers and agile practitioners alike,” said Sunil Prashara, president and CEO of PMI. “PMI is now positioned to add even more value for members by providing a full continuum of products, services, training and certifications to project managers, agile leaders and their teams wherever they are in their careers – sometimes even before they know they need it. Regardless of approach, whether it be traditional or agile, project or product, PMI is uniquely positioned to deliver value for individuals and the organizations they serve.”

“Initially formed to bring differentiated and exceptional value to our clients, Net Objectives has been successful in exceeding its clients’ demands and beyond in terms of supporting the agile community as a whole,” said Al Shalloway, CEO and founder of Net Objectives and creator of the FLEX approach. “We are so excited to reach even more professionals and help them cultivate the knowledge they need to succeed, which is made possible by leveraging PMI’s global relationships, as well as the unique blend of PMI, Disciplined Agile and FLEX offerings. This, combined with the rigor of PMI’s certification and its broad view of the agile landscape, which is not limited to one process or method, made for a great fit.”

The integration of the acquisition is beginning immediately, and PMI will provide additional details to members and other stakeholders in due course.

About PMI

Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading association for those who consider project, program or portfolio management their profession. Founded in 1969, PMI delivers value for more than three million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research. We advance careers, improve organizational success and further mature the project management profession through globally-recognized standards, certifications, communities, resources, tools, academic research, publications, professional development courses and networking opportunities. As part of the PMI family, ProjectManagement.com creates online global communities that deliver more resources, better tools, larger networks and broader perspectives. Visit us at www.PMI.org, www.projectmanagement.com, www.facebook.com/PMInstitute and on Twitter @PMInstitute.

About FLEX

The FLEX approach is an industry leading agile approach based on Lean-Thinking and patterns that improves an organization’s ability to achieve business agility – the quick realization of value predictably, sustainably and with high quality. Companies increasingly depend on the FLEX approach to accelerate delivery of business value using disciplined agile strategies that reflect the realities of agile delivery in complex enterprise situations. As an agile thought leader, Al Shalloway has published over 10 books and trained thousands of agile practitioners to better implement agile methodologies within their organizations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005207/en/

Contacts
Mary Ortega
Tel: 610-356-4600 x7030
Mary.Ortega@pmi.org

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Middle East PR Association to Host Inaugural Communication Leaders Conference In Riyadh

Monday 21st October 2019 - Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya KSA


Dubai, United Arab Emirates, -Sunday 29 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) today announced it would host its first communication leadership conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this October. The KSA MEPRA Leadership Majlis will explore how communication professionals can remain relevant in a time of change for the industry and will include speakers from the UK Government, The Red Sea Development Company, The Centre for Government Communication, Arab News, SAUDIA, YouTube, Page and many more.

The morning conference, which will be held on Monday 21st October 2019 at The Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya KSA, is expected to bring together senior communication professionals from agency, corporate and government sectors to address the industry’s biggest challenges, trends and opportunities. Session topics include; shaping international perceptions of Saudi Arabia, exploring the export potential of a Saudi brand, a behavioural approach to government communications, the changing face of modern media plus much more. The event will also provide plenty of opportunities to network with the industry’s elite.

MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers said: ‘’We hope the inaugural KSA MEPRA Leadership Majlis will spark discussion and ideas and to address the most pressing topics facing the profession of public relations in the region. By bringing together leading figures in communications, both from the Middle East and internationally, the gathering is a platform to share knowledge and showcase best practice.’’

The 2019 MEPRA leadership Majlis agenda will cover the theme ‘Impact and Influence’ through a mix of presentations, panel discussions and workshops, including:



Shaping Perceptions of Saudi Arabia: Panel hosted by Mammon Sbeih, President, APCO Worldwide. Speakers include Steve Bowen, Director of PR and Communications, The Red Sea Development Company; Heba Fatani, Executive Director RAK, Government Media Office & former Senior Executive Manager, Corporate Communication for Kingdom Holding Company; Abdulrahman Al-Mofadda Strategic Communication Director at Ministry of Housing - Saudi Arabia; and Sultan Al Bazie, Chairman, Arab Network for Communication and Public Relations
Exploring the export potential of a Saudi brand: In conversation with Fahad Bahdailah, SAUDIA. Moderated by Tarek Mishkhas, Deputy Editor Arab News
YouTube in Saudi Arabia & the evolution of online video: Presentation by Joyce Baz, Head of PR and Communications at Google Middle East and North Africa
The future of the Chief Communications Officers: Presentation by Peter Debreceny, Vice President, International, Page
A behavioral approach to government communications: Presentation by Anne Donnelly, Head of Communications, British Embassy Riyadh
The Changing Face of Modern Media:  Panel discussion with Noor Nuqali, Senior Correspondent, Arab News; Mazen Nahawi MEPRA Executive Board Member (Treasurer) and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ,; and Muhammad  Tahlawi, Public Relations and Media Consultant. Moderated by Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair and Managing Director, Hanover Middle East.


The 2019 KSA MEPRA Leadership Majlis is supported ACWA Power, APCO Worldwide, Arab News, CARMA, Four Communications, Guinness World Records, IPRA, Page and SAUDIA.

To register your attendance or view the agenda for the 2019 KSA MEPRA Leadership Majlis, visit http://www.mepra.org/events or email community@mepra.org 

About MEPRA:

The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is the leading industry body for the public relations and communications industry in the Middle East. MEPRA has more than 1,000 members, which include consultancies, corporates with in-house public relations functions, and individual industry professionals. The organisation was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. MEPRA drives growth and sets standards of excellence in regional public relations. It is the unique voice for the industry and aims to nurture the development of public relations professionals. For more information visit www.mepra.org

Contacts
Sabrina De Palma

Executive Director, Middle East PR Association (MEPRA)

sabrina@mepra.org
+971 (0) 55 531 8920
www.mepra.org

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Mobile Industry Steps up Commitment to Delivering Sustainable Development Goals, New GSMA Study Reports

New ‘Mobile Industry Impact Report’ Points to Increased Impact Across All 17 SDGs

New York-Saturday 28 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new GSMA study shows increased contribution by the mobile industry against all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) over the past year. The 2019 edition of the GSMA’s Mobile Industry Impact Report, published today at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, highlights the role mobile technology and connectivity is playing in meeting the targets of the SDGs and transforming the lives of billions around the world. However, the report warns that progress must be accelerated if the industry is to fully maximise its impact ahead of the 2030 deadline for delivering the Goals.

“Our new flagship report presents a wealth of evidence to demonstrate how mobile is delivering the SDGs by reducing poverty, improving healthcare and education, and driving sustainable economic growth,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. “This has been achieved by extending mobile broadband networks to all corners of the world, resulting in almost a billion new people connecting to the mobile internet since 2015. But to maximise our impact over the next decade, we need to ensure that the half of the population not yet on the internet is connected affordably, safely and equipped with critical digital skills.”

Since 2016, when the mobile industry became one of the first sectors in the world to commit to the SDGs, around 400 million new people have started using mobile and more than 860 million have started accessing mobile internet services. The introduction of 5G services is also expected to enable new technologies and innovation around AI, IoT and big data that will further accelerate goals such as greater inclusion and equality across both developed and developing countries.

The study reports that in 2018:

Two-thirds of the global population (5.1 billion) are mobile subscribers, and almost half (3.5 billion) are using mobile internet services.
The mobile industry contributed $3.9 trillion (4.6%) to global GDP, driven by direct impact and increased productivity across other sectors.
Almost 2 billion subscribers use their mobile phone to purchase goods and services (+160 million compared to 2017).
1.3 billion subscribers access mobile health services (+230 million compared to 2017).
1.4 billion subscribers use mobile to improve their education or that of their children (+140 million compared to 2017).
Mobile money has helped reduce the financial exclusion gap in low- and middle-income countries, with 866 million registered mobile money accounts at the end of 2018 (+20% compared to 2017).
140 million additional people in rural areas connected to the mobile internet for the first time.
80% of adult women in low- and middle-income countries now own a mobile phone, which can help them feel safer and more connected - an increase of 250 million over the past five years.
Measuring Mobile’s Impact

The GSMA’s Mobile Industry Impact Report uses a proprietary methodology to assign an ‘impact score’ to measure the industry’s contribution to each of the 17 Goals. Applying this method, the result of the study shows the industry’s most significant impact continues to be on SDG #9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure). This progress is a result of mobile broadband being built out to cover 90 per cent of the world’s population and connecting more than 5 billion people worldwide. According to the scores, significant progress is reported in 2018 on SDG #4: Quality Education and SDG #6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

The study also highlights the mobile industry’s role in addressing environmental and climate change challenges (SDG #13, Climate Action). This progress is a result of providing the connectivity for digital solutions that reduce energy use, reduce travel and transport, or otherwise reduce GHG emissions. The industry itself is also collaborating on a GSMA-led initiative around climate impact disclosures and emissions target setting1.

Working Towards a #BetterFuture

As part of its #BetterFuture campaign and commitment to the SDGs, the GSMA is working closely with the industry, policymakers, and the international development community to help connect the unconnected. By doing so, new opportunities to leverage and scale mobile-enabled solutions improve people’s quality of life. This work is being achieved through several ongoing GSMA programmes and initiatives, including Mobile for Development, which identifies opportunities and delivers innovations with socio-economic impact in financial services, health, agriculture, digital identity, energy, water, sanitation, disaster resilience and gender equality; Big Data for Social Good; and We Care.

The 2019 edition of the Mobile Industry Impact Report, is authored by GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the GSMA. The report provides summaries on mobile’s impact on all 17 SDGs and showcases innovative case studies of operator initiatives that support the Goals.

Click here to access the report

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

1 https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/press-release/worlds-leading-mobile-operators-to-disclose-climate-impacts-as-part-of-new-gsma-led-climate-action-roadmap/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190924005081/en/

Contacts
Media Contacts:
Gearóid Cashman
+44 79 7679 0169
GCashman@webershandwick.com

GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com

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Record Number of Candidates Impress Jury in Stars of Science Casting Episodes

Young Arab innovators strived for jury’s approval through Qatar Foundation’s flagship edutainment initiative



Doha, Qatar-Saturday 28 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

The marathon to become the Arab world’s next top innovator has begun, as Qatar Foundation’s Stars of Science concludes the casting stage.

Season 11’s opening three episodes showcased presentations from eager hopefuls armed with technological solutions for an array of problems. This year’s contenders held great promise, as the largest group in the show’s history – 31 candidates in total – impressed the jury and advanced to the selection round; taking one step closer to winning the title and a share of $600,000 in seed funding.

In a brand-new format that focuses on collaboration and sustainability, various changes were made to the casting phase. The amendments were designed to alleviate the pressure on potential contestants and encourage open dialogue amongst peers and alumni - several of which co-hosted the casting episodes, including Anna Malek, Season 10 contestant; Dr.Nour Majbour, Season 10 finalist; and Walaa Aniba, Season 6 contestant. To commence their Stars of Science journey and prepare for the jury’s extensive questioning, candidates gave short presentations to new and old competitors. This unique element acted as an initial screening for the jury – who were monitoring every candidate’s performance behind the scenes – and gave the trio time to reflect and formulate deeper questions. The contestants then had the chance to explain their concepts further in one-on-one interviews with each jury member.

“Stars of Science has been a driver of innovation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the Arab region for over a decade. Coming from a medical background, I am delighted to see that this year’s ideas address modern problems using innovative technologies, especially in the biomedical field,” said Professor Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry, Stars of Science jury member.

“I am also proud of our alumni, who demonstrated that they knew how to provide detailed critiques of candidates and their inventions and ask all the right questions.”

In its opening episodes, Stars of Science strongly emphasized the role of women in innovation and their accomplishments in varying scientific fields. Following the record number of participation and success of women last season, the show has become the leading platform for Arab women to challenge existing stereotypes and highlight their triumphs.

The casting episode featured innovators whose projects proposed to solve problems in all realms by utilizing technology in creative and novel ways. Ideas included a nursing bottle that aims to target the dental health of infants, while another standout concept was a self-charging battery for prosthetics that charges itself through the patient’s movement.

“The consistent passion, creativity, and dedication we have seen throughout the Casting stage has shown us the sheer amount of talent young Arabs have when they are provided with a supportive platform,” said scientist Dr. Nour Majbour, who secured second place in Season 10. “This is a unique environment in our part of the world, and I am happy to do my part in nurturing a new generation of Arab innovators.”

The show’s next installment, the selection episode, will air on Saturday, October 5, across eight channels and online. Following the jury’s choice of the most promising innovations, the top eight will travel to the Stars of Science laboratories in Qatar Science & Technology Park, Qatar- part of Qatar Foundation for Research, development and innovation-  to develop their prototypes in the state-of-the-art shared innovation space and turn their ideas into a reality.

For a full broadcast guide to Stars of Science Season 11, visit www.starsofscience.com

About Stars of Science

As the premier innovation show in the Arab world, Stars of Science – the edutainment TV initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF) – empowers Arab innovators to develop technological solutions for their communities, benefitting people’s health and lifestyles, and helping to preserve the environment.

Over a nine-week process, the contestants demonstrate the effectiveness of their solutions in a shared innovation space, competing against time with the support of a team of experienced engineers and product developers. An expert panel of jurors assess and eliminate innovators and their projects every week across several prototyping and testing rounds, until only four finalists remain to compete for a share of $600,000 in seed funding. Jury deliberation and online voting from the public determine the rankings.

Stars of Science will air every Friday on Qatar TV and every Saturday on various channels across the region, from September 13, 2019 to November 9, 2019. Please visit the broadcast guide for channels and timings: starsofscience.com

Details on regional broadcasting:                 

Qatar, Qatar TV: (GMT +3)

Fridays: 10:00 PM

Rerun Saturdays 5:00 PM

Kuwait, Al Rai: (GMT +3)

Saturdays: 9:40 PM

Iraq, Alsumaria: (GMT +3)

Saturdays: 9:30 PM

Jordan, Al Roya: (GMT+3)

Saturdays: 10:00 PM

Lebanon, LBC: (GMT +2)

Saturdays: 5:00 PM

Algeria, Echorouk TV: (GMT+1)

Saturdays: 7:00 PM

Oman, Oman TV: (GMT+4)

Saturdays: 9:00 PM

Al Araby TV: ( GMT)

Saturdays: 6:00 PM

Please visit:

Website - www.starsofscience.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StarsofScienceTV

Twitter - https://twitter.com/starsofscience

YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/user/Starsofsciencetv

Instagram- starsofsciencetv

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

 QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

Contacts
Weber Shandwick

Maram Alibrahim, +97431073584

SOS@webershandwick.com





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New Data Presented at World Sleep Congress Demonstrate Early Signs of Efficacy for TAK-925, a Selective Orexin Type-2 Receptor (OX2R) Agonist, in Patients with Narcolepsy Type 1

− Early proof of concept study showed TAK-925 was well tolerated in patients with narcolepsy type 1 and increased wakefulness compared to placebo

− A second Phase 1 study in healthy sleep-deprived adults demonstrated that TAK-925 was well tolerated and increased wakefulness at night compared to placebo

− TAK-994, an oral selective OX2R agonist, reduced narcolepsy symptoms in narcolepsy mouse models and is progressing in Phase 1 studies

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & OSAKA, Japan-Friday 27 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (“Takeda”) announced results of a Phase 1 clinical proof of concept study of the novel investigational compound TAK-925, a selective orexin type-2 receptor (OX2R) agonist, in individuals with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). The company also presented data on the effects of TAK-925 in healthy sleep-deprived adults. These studies evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of TAK-925 during a single 9-hour intravenous administration. In both studies, TAK-925 was well tolerated at all doses tested. These studies were presented for the first time at the World Sleep 2019 Biennial Congress in Vancouver, Canada.

“Narcolepsy type 1 is a debilitating disease that includes excessive daytime sleepiness and the sudden loss of muscle tone when a person is awake, also known as cataplexy,” said Dr. Makoto Honda, Sleep Disorders Project Leader, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science.* “There is a considerable need for improved treatments for individuals with NT1, which is caused by the loss of orexin-producing neurons in the brain. These results suggest that use of a selective OX2R agonist may be an effective approach to treating excessive daytime sleepiness in NT1.”

In individuals with NT1, TAK-925 showed increased wakefulness compared to placebo. A total of 14 NT1 participants were enrolled in three sequential dose cohorts to evaluate the effect of TAK-925 on exploratory pharmacodynamic endpoints. In each cohort, the evaluation was conducted in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover fashion.

Pharmacodynamic outcomes in NT1 patients included i) sleep latency in the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), which was 40 minutes (mins) in duration and conducted four times at two-hour intervals during the nine-hour TAK-925 or placebo infusion and ii) the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, which was done hourly before and during the infusion. The mean sleep latency in MWT was 2.9 mins for placebo (N=13), 22.4 mins for TAK-925 at 5mg (N=6), 37.6 mins for TAK-925 at 11.2mg (N=4) and 40 mins for TAK-925 at 44.8mg (N=4). Karolinska Sleepiness Scale results supported those obtained on the MWT for time to sleep onset; participants reported lower sleepiness scores during infusion of TAK-925 than placebo.

In healthy sleep-deprived adults, TAK-925 effectively maintained wakefulness at night. This study was conducted as a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, crossover design in 20 sleep-deprived healthy male adults. The primary objective was sleep latency on the MWT. The mean sleep latency in MWT was 8.6 mins for placebo (N=20), 25.4 mins for TAK-925 at 44mg (N=18) and 38.8 mins for TAK-925 at 112mg (N=18). Karolinska Sleepiness Scale results generally reflected the results obtained on the MWT.

“Orexin has been identified as a master regulator of sleep-wake states, and these early results demonstrate that an OX2R agonist may reduce daytime sleepiness in NT1, where there is a loss of orexin,” said Deborah Hartman, PhD, Global Program Lead, Takeda Neuroscience. “What is equally exciting is that we also saw wake-promoting effects in healthy individuals, who are presumed to have normal orexin levels. We’re encouraged by the results of these early studies and are exploring further clinical investigation of selective OX2R agonists in NT1 and other disorders characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, such as narcolepsy type 2 and idiopathic hypersomnia, and also as a possible treatment for residual excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea.”

Takeda also presented preclinical data on TAK-994, an oral selective OX2R agonist currently in Phase 1 clinical studies, in two posters at the World Sleep Congress. In two mouse models of narcolepsy, TAK-994 increased wakefulness during the active phase and suppressed cataplexy-like episodes.

“We aspire to help restore a more balanced life to all individuals with NT1 and other sleep-wake disorders,” said Emiliangelo Ratti, Global Head, Takeda Neuroscience. “Takeda is aggressively pursuing multiple approaches to better understand the therapeutic potential of OX2R agonists across a range of indications. We will continue to build strong partnerships with the scientific, medical and patient communities to maintain our focus on research and development of transformative therapies.”

TAK-925 has been awarded Sakigake designation by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan, as well as Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug Designations by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Takeda would like to thank all of the study participants who enrolled in these pioneering clinical studies. For more information on Takeda’s orexin development program and upcoming clinical studies with TAK-925 and TAK-994, please visit http://www.ox2rsparkleprogram.com.

*Dr. Honda was a referring physician for the NT1 study and is under contract with Takeda as a consultant.

About World Sleep 2019 Biennial Congress
World Sleep 2019 is a worldwide forum of sleep professionals focused on advancing current medical and scientific thinking in sleep research. The meeting was held in Vancouver, Canada from September 20-25, 2019. The Congress brings approximately 3,500 sleep professionals from more than 76 countries together to advance sleep health worldwide and features the most current, world-class scientific content in the field of sleep medicine and research. World Sleep 2019 is organized by World Sleep Society (founded by World Association of Sleep Medicine and World Sleep Federation) and was hosted by the Canadian Sleep Society.

About Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1)
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition that impairs the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, and it’s estimated to affect approximately three million individuals worldwide and about 200,000 in the United States.1 Narcolepsy type 1, also known as narcolepsy with cataplexy, is characterized by the loss of orexin-producing neurons, resulting in a pentad of symptoms including both excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle control triggered by strong emotions.

About TAK-925 and TAK-994
TAK-925 and TAK-994 are novel, small molecule selective OX2R agonists discovered in the research laboratories at Takeda in Shonan, Japan. Both TAK-925 and TAK-994 are now under investigation in Phase 1 clinical studies.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Gastroenterology (GI), Rare Diseases and Neuroscience. We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions.
For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward looking statements often include the words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could” “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof. Any forward-looking statements in this document are based on the current assumptions and beliefs of Takeda in light of the information currently available to it. Such forward-looking statements do not represent any guarantee by Takeda or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s business, including general economic conditions in Japan, the United States and worldwide; competitive pressures and developments; applicable laws and regulations; the success of or failure of product development programs; decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; changes in exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or products candidates; and post-merger integration with acquired companies, any of which may cause Takeda’s actual results, performance, achievements or financial position to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or financial position expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more information on these and other factors which may affect Takeda’s results, performance, achievements, or financial position, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and our other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/reports/sec-filings/ or at www.sec.gov. Neither Takeda nor its management gives any assurances that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct, and actual results, performance or achievements could materially differ from expectations. Persons receiving this press release should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Takeda undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of Takeda’s future results.

References:

    Narcolepsy Network. Narcolepsy Fast Facts. Available at: https://narcolepsynetwork.org/about-narcolepsy/narcolepsy-fast-facts/. Last Updated June 2015. Last Accessed Sept. 2019.



View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190925005923/en/

Contacts

Japanese Media
Kazumi Kobayashi
kazumi.kobayashi@takeda.com
+81 (0) 3-3278-2095

Media outside Japan
Monique Kelley
Monique.Kelley@takeda.com
+1-857-600-3488


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Samsung Bioepis Announces Phase 3 Results of SB8, Bevacizumab Biosimilar Candidate, at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress

• In a Phase 3 study, SB8 demonstrated equivalent efficacy in terms of risk ratio of overall response rate (ORR) to reference bevacizumab AVASTIN® i in patients with metastatic or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity were also comparable
• Marketing authorization application for SB8 accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)


INCHEON, Korea-Friday 27 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. today announced results from the Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of SB8, a bevacizumab biosimilar candidate, compared to reference bevacizumab in patients with metastatic or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).ii The study results will be presented for the first time today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

“Data from this study showed that there were no clinically meaningful differences between SB8 and reference bevacizumab in terms of efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity,” said Chul Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Sciences Division, Samsung Bioepis. “We are committed to increasing access to high-quality, life-changing oncology medicines through the development of biosimilars to address some of oncology’s most pressing challenges.”

The primary endpoint of the study was the overall response rate (ORR) by 24 weeks; risk ratio was analyzed in the full analysis set (FAS) with pre-defined equivalence margin of 0.737 to 1.357 and the risk difference was analyzed in the per-protocol set (PPS) with pre-defined equivalence margin of ±12.5%. The ORR in FAS was 47.6% for SB8 and 42.8% for reference bevacizumab; the risk ratio was 1.11 (90% CI: 0.975, 1.269). The ORR in PPS was 50.1% for SB8 and 44.8% for reference bevacizumab; the risk difference was 5.3% (95% CI: −2.2%, 12.9%). The median progression-free survival (8.5 months vs 7.9 months) and overall survival (14.9 months vs. 15.8 months) were comparable between SB8 and reference bevacizumab. The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (92.1% vs 91.1%) and the incidence of overall anti-drug antibodies (16.1% vs 11.0%) were also comparable between SB8 and reference bevacizumab.

Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for SB8 was accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2019.

The results of the SB8 Phase 3 study will be presented as a poster during ESMO as follows: [1565P] 12:00-13:00, September 28, Hall 4. Samsung Bioepis will also host a satellite symposium, titled ‘Quality Assurance to Optimize HER2+ Breast Cancer Treatment’, which will discuss the importance of quality maintenance in oncology biologics. The symposium will take place between 13:00-14:30 on September 30, 2019 in Toledo Auditorium, Hall 5, Fira Gran Via, Barcelona. Topics include:

Building confidence in biosimilars
Acknowledging importance of biologics quality in clinical practice
Reassuring biosimilarity based on clinical evidence
Interactive discussion: perspective on biosimilars in oncology
SB8 Phase 3 Study

The SB8 Phase 3 study is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of SB8 compared to reference bevacizumab in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with metastatic or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 763 patients were randomized (1:1) to receive SB8 or reference bevacizumab with paclitaxel and carboplatin Q3W followed by SB8 or reference bevacizumab maintenance therapy until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, death, or 1 year from the randomization of the last patient. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate (ORR) which is defined as the proportion of patients whose best overall response by 24 weeks is either complete response or partial response. Secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR), safety, PK, and immunogenicity.

About Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.

Established in 2012, Samsung Bioepis is a biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing healthcare that is accessible to everyone. Through innovations in product development and a firm commitment to quality, Samsung Bioepis aims to become the world's leading biopharmaceutical company. Samsung Bioepis continues to advance a broad pipeline of biosimilar candidates that cover a spectrum of therapeutic areas, including immunology, oncology, ophthalmology and hematology. Samsung Bioepis is a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and Biogen. For more information, please visit: www.samsungbioepis.com.

_____________________________

i AVASTIN is a registered trademark of Genentech Inc.

ii Reck et al. A Phase III Study comparing SB8, a Proposed Bevacizumab Biosimilar, and Reference Bevacizumab in Patients with Metastatic or Recurrent Non-squamous NSCLC. ESMO 2019, Barcelona, Spain [1565P]

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005378/en/

Contacts
Na Yun KIM
+82-31-8061-1604
nayun86.kim@samsung.com




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Dole Celebrates World Maritime Day Highlighting the Importance of Gender Equality and Sustainability

Produce leader’s investments in shipping have contributed to one of the lowest environmental footprints in the industry



CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Friday 27 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dole Food Company joins The International Maritime Organization in celebrating the World Maritime Day every year on the 26th of September. The theme this year is Empowering Women in the Maritime Industry, which aims to improve awareness on gender equality, coinciding with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal.

Historically, seafaring and vessel management has not been a preferred occupation by women. However, at Dole fifty percent of the company’s vessel management team are women as well as three female officers aboard its vessels.

“This year, in addition to celebrating the important contributions of our female co-workers to the vessel operations group, we would like to announce that Dole will be receiving two new ships in 2020-2021,” commented Inderjeet Aulakh, VP of Vessel Operations and Management at Dole. “These state-of-the-art builds, each with the ability to transport 919 reefer units, will be placed in Dole’s US Gulf Service and we expect to see reductions of NOx, SOx and CO2 emissions per reefer unit of 63.2%, 48.54% and 48.54%, respectively. This is a result of the combination of both improved technology and the changes in the service route.”

As an organization that manages and maintains its own shipping supply chain, ocean transport is a positive differentiator for Dole contributing to continuous improvement goals through operating efficiencies and carbon footprint reductions. Dole is also addressing the expected 2020 regulatory requirements head on by implementing new technology scrubbers on five current vessels as well as on the new ships in order to meet SOx emission limits.

Renato Acuña, President of Dole Fresh Fruit Latin America, North America and Europe, commented, “These progressive steps in our shipping operations show the commitment that Dole has always placed on delivering the best product, in the best way possible for our communities.”

“This year’s World Maritime Day coincides with Mr. Aulakh’s retirement after more than 31 years with the Company,” adds Acuña. “I would like to thank him for his key contributions to Dole exemplified by a successful management of our fleet which by far has the lowest environmental footprint in the industry for fresh fruit products entering the United States, but also by developing and leaving in place a vessel management team second to none.”

About Dole Food Company

Dole Food Company, Inc. is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005672/en/

Contacts

US Contact: William Goldfield
818-874-4647
william.goldfield@dole.com

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Ascend Receives Permit for ADN Expansion, Cogeneration Unit

HOUSTON-Friday 27 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ascend Performance Materials has received permit approval from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for its previously announced adiponitrile capacity expansion and the installation of a cogeneration unit at its Decatur facility.

“Our unique ADN technology allows us to bring on additional capacity in a timely and cost-effective manner to meet our commitment to supporting customer growth,” said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “Installing a cogen unit will enable us to meet our commitment to more sustainable operations.”

The company estimates that the cogeneration unit will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its Decatur facility by 60 percent. Both the ADN expansion and the cogeneration unit installation will occur in phases over the next 24 to 36 months.

About Ascend Performance Materials

Ascend Performance Materials is a global premium provider of high-quality plastics, fibers and chemicals and is the world’s largest integrated producer of PA66 resin. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Ascend has nine global locations, including five fully-integrated manufacturing facilities located in the southeastern United States and an engineering plastics compounding facility in Europe, all dedicated to the innovation and safe production. With three of the world’s largest chemical processing facilities, Ascend’s materials form the building blocks for products used in everyday applications from apparel to airbags, cable ties to circuit boards and carpets to car parts. Ascend’s 2,600-person global workforce is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve and leading the development of material solutions that inspire everyone, everywhere, every day.

Together, we’re making a difference.
Together, we’re inspiring everyday.

More information about Ascend can be found at www.ascendmaterials.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005645/en/

Contacts

Alison Jahn, +1 713-210-9809
ajahn@ascendmaterials.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/ascend-receives-permit-for-adn-expansion-cogeneration-unit/en

Vendavo Announces Settlement of Intellectual Property Lawsuit

DENVER -Thursday 26 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vendavo, the market leader in commercial excellence solutions, announced today it has entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement with Price f(x) corporation to resolve all lawsuits regarding the US Patent Nos. 8,396,814; 7,640,198; 7,308,421; 8,412,598; 7,912,792.

The settlement agreement resolves and ends all lawsuits and invalidation proceedings initiated by Vendavo Inc. against Price f(x) and resolves all counterclaims by Price f(x). These lawsuits concerned the patent infringement of its intellectual property, the misappropriation of Vendavo trade secrets, and unfair competition against Vendavo by Price f(x), as first announced on December 6, 2017.

Vendavo believes that settling the case at this time is in the best interests of all parties, and that as a result of this settlement, Vendavo customers, employees and shareholders are firmly protected.

“As the market leader in pricing and sales intelligence solutions, it is vital that we ensure a fair and competitive playing field. We believe this settlement further underscores the strength and validity of our intellectual property portfolio,” said Bruno Slosse, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vendavo.

In 2019, Vendavo reported a 75 percent year over year (YOY) SaaS revenue growth contributing to the company’s 20 percent positive 2019 EBITDA growth projection.

Vendavo empowers Global 2000 companies with world-class, innovative SaaS based profit and sales intelligence solutions, that yield insights necessary to drive bottom line growth. The company’s solutions are used by hundreds of large enterprise customers that span the globe and are the result of many years of perfecting software and solutions for a wide array of industries.

About Vendavo

Vendavo powers the shift to digital business for the world’s most demanding B2B companies, unlocking value, growing margin and accelerating revenue. With the Vendavo Commercial Excellence platform, companies develop dynamic customer insights and optimal pricing strategies that maximize margin, boost sales effectiveness and improve customer experience. With an annual margin improvement totaling more than $2.5 billion across companies in chemicals, distribution, high-tech and manufacturing, Vendavo delivers cutting-edge analytics and deep industry expertise that help companies stay one step ahead. Vendavo is headquartered in Denver, CO and has offices around the globe. Learn more at Vendavo.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005266/en/

Contacts

Kim Doyle
Kimberly Communications
319.389.6953
kb@kimberlycommunications.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/vendavo-announces-settlement-of-intellectual-property-lawsuit/en

Aggreko Awarded for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship

HOUSTON-Thursday 26 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aggreko plc, the global leader in rental power, heating and cooling, has been recognized by Texas Oil & Gas Awards with its award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship for the company’s custom Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emissions control technology that helps reduce NOx emissions on temporary large-scale natural gas power plants.

Launched in 2012, the Texas Oil & Gas Awards showcases the great gains being made by upstream, midstream and downstream companies in key areas of corporate social responsibility, the environment, and health and safety. The awards enable companies to celebrate their achievement and demonstrate their commitment to these critical industry issues.

“We are gratified to be recognized with this prestigious award for the work we did for a new cryogenic gas processing facility in the Permian Basin of West Texas,” said Charles Royce, Managing Director, North America. “The job called for us to not only meet state emissions regulations, but also Federal regulations, which meant we had to reduce NOx emissions by 75%. We are helping our customers in their transition to new realities of global energy markets. Globally, the energy sector is going through a major transition; the challenge today is to find the optimal way to secure more energy, affordably and sustainably.”

The Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship recognizes efforts, initiatives or technological developments that have minimized or eliminated their environmental footprint within the region. Organizations working in the oil and gas sector that can demonstrate making a positive contribution to the advancement of environmental considerations are eligible. Award winners must demonstrate true innovation in tracking environmental impact, implementation of practices or technology proving environmental benefit, and must demonstrate clear practical application of the solution or initiative in the region and long-term environmental benefits which are also economically sustainable.

Aggreko was awarded for its emissions control technology that surpassed emissions regulations and successfully reduced the NOx emissions up to 90% and Hydro-Carbon, CO and particulate emissions reduction up to 80%, a true first of its kind in the world of Temporary Rental Power Generation. Aggreko’s engineering team designed a 2-phase approach. Phase 1 included 26MW of Natural Gas power generation. Additionally, a custom-built set of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) units were retrofitted atop the exhaust stack of each of the 25 natural gas generators in Phase 1. To ensure the emissions and the overall performance of the system could be monitored in real-time, Aggreko brought in its overseas SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) colleagues for additional support. The ability of the cryogenic plant to utilize its own field gas for fuel also meant that fewer trucks needed to drive the roads to deliver fuel to the site, further reducing costs, and also helping to reduce traffic congestion and preserve the roads. This 26MW temporary power plant with custom-built SCR units and SCADA is a first of its kind and has set the benchmark for clean-burning, large-scale power plants moving forward.

EDITOR’S NOTES

Around the world, people, businesses and countries are striving for a better future - a future that needs power and the right conditions to succeed.

Aggreko works round the clock, making sure everyone gets the electricity, heating and cooling they need, whenever they need it – all powered by our class-leading equipment, trademark passion, unrivalled international experience and local knowledge. From urban development to unique commercial projects and even humanitarian emergencies, we bring our expertise and equipment to any location, from the world’s busiest cities to some of the most remote places on earth.

That’s what has made us the world’s leading provider of modular, mobile power and heating and cooling. We’ve been in business since 1962. We have more than 7,300 employees, operating from around 200 locations in 100 countries. With revenues of approximately GBP 1.7bn (USD 2.2bn or Euros 2bn) in 2017, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (AGK.L) and have our headquarters in Scotland.

Our business helps transform the lives and livelihoods of individuals, organisations and communities across the globe, in both developed and developing countries and markets.

We operate across all sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemical and refining, utilities, manufacturing, construction, mining and events.

We design and manufacture equipment specifically for these requirements in our factory in Dumbarton, Scotland and work with leading innovators to ensure our equipment offers maximum fuel flexibility, by using gas, diesel (including HFO) and renewable fuel sources.

For more information, please visit our local website at: aggreko.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190925005855/en/

Contacts

Deborah Buks
T: +9 (713) 869-0707
E: dbuks@wardcc.com

Lynn Hancock
T: +9 (713) 869-0707
E: lhancock@wardcc.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/aggreko-awarded-for-excellence-in-environmental-stewardship/en

Dubai Realty Market Shows Potential for Investment

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Thursday 26 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

Rapid changes in Dubai’s real estate industry is making it a preferred market for buyers. The emirate’s realty market is constantly maturing especially as it witnesses an increase in its population with each passing year. Seeing this rapid influx of people into the city attracts more investors, who are showing keen interest in purchasing properties to supplement this boost in rental demand.

Overtime, with an increase in demand to rent property, a steady hike in the sales demand is also predicted wherein tenants and buyers will look out for properties constructed in desirable locations which will also offer a wide range of amenities. To meet this demand, developers are also becoming increasingly innovative by offering lucrative incentives and flexible payment plans to potential buyers.

Kalpesh Kinariwala, Founder and Chairman of Pantheon Group, said: “Some perks that can be enjoyed by tenants and buyers in the emirate’s property market include guaranteed rental returns, short-term leases, flexibility to waving service charges on certain new off plan projects, along with several other exciting benefits.”

Pantheon Development, enjoys the reputation of being one of the leading developers of affordable luxury living solutions in Dubai’s realty market. Both its projects - Pantheon Boulevard and Pantheon Elysee - have been strategically built to target mid-market buyers while also addressing the shortage of affordable living in the city. With properties located in the Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), these luxury developments are centrally located minutes away from the new airport and close to the Expo 2020 site.

Dubai ranks among the world’s top 10 cities for having an affordable market for luxury property with the average price declining by 84 percent in the last five years. Residential prices at Jumeirah Village Circle currently stand at AED 52, 142 approximately, and could experience some fluctuations in the upcoming months.

At present, the emirate is looking to deliver approximately 47,500 apartments, villas and townhouse by December- roughly twice the number delivered in the past year, thus making investing now a more viable option.

Contacts

SAHARA Communications

Wafa Ahmad, Senior Consultant, +97143298996, +971569474164

w.ahmad@saharapr.com / www.saharagcc.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/dubai-realty-market-shows-potential-for-investment/en

SAP Cloud Solutions Land on Alibaba Cloud Platform in China

HANGZHOU, China-Thursday 26 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alibaba Group and SAP today announced that SAP S/4HANA® Cloud and SAP® Cloud Platform are now available on Alibaba Cloud, the data intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group in China. Chinese enterprises can now easily adopt SAP’s world-leading enterprise cloud solutions on the powerful Alibaba Cloud infrastructure. The strategic partnership between the two technology leaders provides seamless integration of world-class SaaS, PaaS and IaaS solutions.

Alibaba Group and SAP also announced that they will jointly design local solutions that meet the unique needs of Chinese enterprises to help accelerate their digital transformation, as well as co-innovate in the areas of Internet-of-Things, Artificial Intelligence and enterprise-level Big Data applications.

Stefan Wagner, Global Senior Vice President, SAP, said: "Through our close partnership with Alibaba, we are deploying SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Cloud Platform on the leading IaaS platform in China, to help Chinese enterprises speed up their migration to the Cloud, and spur their innovation and transformation. Delivering on our strategy ‘in China for China’, SAP runs several co-engineering activities with Alibaba, combining our strengths to deliver solutions tailored to the Chinese market.”

Ken Shen, President of Global Ecosystem of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said: “The integration of SAP’s world leading enterprise solution with Alibaba Cloud’s advanced intelligent platform will bring great value to customers, and help them to accelerate their digital transformation with much better experience. The partnership with SAP is an important practice for Alibaba Cloud to implement its ‘to be integrated‘ and globalization strategy.”

SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the digital core suite-of-choice to run a successful business in the cloud, companies can migrate vital business processes in a cost-effective manner, experience faster deployment and shortened return on investment time. As an open and agile application and integration platform, SAP Cloud Platform enables Alibaba Cloud’s customers to extend their current business solutions, build new applications and integrate with third-party technologies efficiently. Chinese businesses can expect to benefit from a versatile, all-inclusive cloud computing environment.

Alibaba Group and SAP entered into the strategic partnership in 2016, with a goal of jointly delivering enterprise-class cloud computing services to companies in China. The alliance aims to accelerate the introduction and adoption of enterprise-class cloud computing across multiple industries to help businesses accelerate their digital transformation.

About SAP

As the cloud company powered by SAP HANA®, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world’s transaction revenue touches an SAP® system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want – without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables more than 437,000 business and public customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people’s lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

About Alibaba Group:

Our mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. We aim to build the infrastructure of commerce. We envision that our customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that we will be a company that lasts at least 102 years.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005312/en/

Contacts

Christina Zhang, SAP, +86 1380-100-9944, christina.zhang@sap.com

Claudia Ju, Alibaba Group, +86 571 86561860, Claudia.ju@alibaba-inc.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/sap-cloud-solutions-land-on-alibaba-cloud-platform-in-china/en

Schlumberger Announces Expiration of Tender Offer for Any and All of Schlumberger Holdings Corporation’s Outstanding 3.000% Senior Notes Due 2020 and 3.625% Senior Notes Due 2022

HOUSTON -Thursday 26 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Schlumberger Limited (“Schlumberger”) today announced the expiration of the previously announced cash tender offer by Schlumberger Holdings Corporation, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Schlumberger (“SHC”), for any and all of its outstanding (a) 3.000% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) and (b) 3.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes,” and together with the 2020 Notes, the “Notes”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated September 18, 2019 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery attached to the Offer to Purchase (the “Notice of Guaranteed Delivery”). The tender offer is referred to herein as the “Offer.” The Offer to Purchase and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are referred to herein collectively as the “Offer Documents.” The Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 24, 2019 (the “Expiration Time”). As of the Expiration Time, valid tenders had been received (and not withdrawn) in the amounts set forth in the table below.

	Title of Security			CUSIP Numbers			Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding			Aggregate Principal Amount Tendered(1)			Percentage of Outstanding Amount Tendered(1)
	3.000% Senior Notes due 2020			806851AC5 / U8066LAC8			$1,198,732,000			$781,358,000			65.18%
	3.625% Senior Notes due 2022			806851AE1 / U8066LAD6			$616,522,000			$321,149,000			52.09%

^{(1) Excludes Notes tendered through the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase.}
SHC expects to accept for purchase all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Offer, including Notes tendered in accordance with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Payment for the Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer is intended to be made on September 27, 2019 (the “Settlement Date”).
The applicable “Tender Offer Consideration” will be $1,011.58 for each $1,000 principal amount of 2020 Notes and $1,051.27 for each $1,000 principal amount of 2022 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Settlement Date, payable on the Settlement Date.
The Offer was made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. D.F. King & Co., Inc. acted as the tender agent and information agent for the Offer and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as the dealer manager for the Offer.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws — that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as “expect,” “may,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “see,” “likely,” and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as statements regarding the terms and timing for completion of the Offer, including the acceptance for purchase of any Notes validly tendered and the expected Settlement Date thereof. Schlumberger and SHC cannot give any assurance that such statements will prove correct. These statements are subject to, among other things, the risks and uncertainties detailed in Schlumberger’s most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in Schlumberger’s forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and Schlumberger disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190925005499/en/

---

Contacts
Simon Farrant – Vice President of Investor Relations, Schlumberger Limited
Joy V. Domingo – Director of Investor Relations, Schlumberger Limited
Office +1 (713) 375-3535
investor-relations@slb.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/schlumberger-announces-expiration-of-tender-offer-for-any-and-all-of-schlumberger-holdings-corporationrsquos-outstanding-3000-senior-notes-due-2020-and-3625-senior-notes-due-2022/en

Philip Morris International Inc. Launches IQOS 3 DUO

Company Continues to Pioneer at the Forefront of Technology, Science and Consumer Centricity in Realizing a Smoke-Free Future


LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Thursday 26 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) announced today the latest addition to its smoke-free portfolio, IQOS 3 DUO. The continued development of technology exemplified by IQOS 3 DUO—driven by consumer insights and supported by scientific substantiation—represents PMI’s latest step in its journey to achieve a smoke-free future and to strengthen its position as a leader in the smoke-free products category. IQOS 3 DUO will be available in Japan this month and subsequently rolled out in most of the markets where IQOS is currently available by the end of 2019.

“The launch of IQOS 3 DUO affirms our commitment to constantly and continuously investing in the development and commercialization of scientifically-substantiated products that can help the millions of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch,” said Jacek Olczak, chief operating officer of PMI. “These ongoing product updates, innovations and developments are vital in our achievement of a smoke-free future. Today approximately 8 million adults worldwide have switched to IQOS and abandoned cigarettes.”

The latest addition, IQOS 3 DUO, is designed with new features to help adult smokers switch from cigarettes more seamlessly. Featuring the fastest and most powerful holder within the IQOS family, IQOS 3 DUO allows two consecutive uses without recharging the holder, while the holder charging time is much faster1 compared to IQOS 3 and IQOS 2.4+.

PMI has stated its aim that by 2025 at least 40 million smokers of PMI’s cigarettes who would otherwise continue to smoke will have switched to smoke-free products, and that at least 30 percent of its total shipment volume will come from smoke-free products. To date, the company has invested more than 10 years and $6 billion in the scientific research, development and commercialization of its growing portfolio of advanced smoke-free products. Over 400 leading scientists, engineers and experts dedicate their days to the development of and research around smoke-free products.

On average, 70 percent of the smokers who switch to IQOS abandon cigarettes, 2 which makes IQOS the most compelling smoke-free alternative today. It is important to note that IQOS is not risk-free and it delivers nicotine, which is addictive.

Notes to Editors

1 Applied to IQOS 3 DUO holder charging for the first use, after the initial full charging of IQOS 3 DUO holder. May depend on conditions of use.

2 Source: PMI financials or estimates, IQOS user panels and PMI market research.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with scientifically substantiated smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while addictive and not risk free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through world-class multidisciplinary capabilities in product development and scientific substantiation, as well as state-of-the-art R&D facilities, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI’s smoke-free IQOS product portfolio includes heated tobacco and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of June 30, 2019, PMI estimates that approximately 8 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMI’s heated tobacco product, available for sale in 48 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190926005075/en/

Contacts

Philip Morris International
Bryson Thornton
+41 (0) 58 242 4500
Bryson.Thornton@pmi.com

Julia Shpeter
+41 (0) 58 242 4500
Julia.Shpeter@pmi.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/philip-morris-international-inc-launchesnbspiqos-3-duo/en