African Analyst

Friday, October 23, 2026

Lenovo Expands AI Library with Proven, Validated Use Cases to Accelerate Business Outcomes and Drive Greater Value Per Token

New enterprise AI use cases and research findings show how organizations can move from AI experimentation to measurable value up to 24x faster1 while improving the economics of AI

Signal65 analysis shows how enterprise customers can lower cost per token by up to 70% at full utilization with on-premises Lenovo Hybrid AI Factories compared to hyperscale API pricing4

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lenovo today expanded the Lenovo AI Library with new, validated AI use cases, extending its portfolio of enterprise-ready solutions that can help organizations move from AI experimentation to measurable business outcomes up to 24x faster1 than custom-built implementations. Now available through the Lenovo AI Library, the added use cases provide proven starting points to accelerate AI deployments and realize returns from investments sooner. Alongside the expansion, new research conducted by The Futurum Group and Signal65 validates how Lenovo’s AI Library, infrastructure and services can help enterprises optimize AI economics for greater value per token as deployments scale.

Lenovo’s AI Library additions address high-impact enterprise and industry use cases, helping organizations boost workforce productivity, modernize IT operations, elevate customer service, and turn operational data into actionable intelligence:

Lenovo AI Computer Vision for Retail transforms video and operational data into insights that can help retailers reduce customer wait times, optimize branch staffing, identify underutilized space and improve service efficiency. One of Europe’s largest retail banks is deploying Lenovo’s edge-based computer vision technology across its 4,500 branch locations to generate real-time operational intelligence, with the solution designed to support the bank’s privacy, security and regulatory requirements. Projected outcomes include up to 90% better decision-making, up to 95% digitization of processes, and up to 99% fewer manual activities associated with compliance data2.

Lenovo AI Computer Vision for Manufacturing transforms existing video feeds into critical insights, designed to help manufacturers identify workplace hazards up to 30% sooner and reduce accident-related costs by up to 20%. By enabling greater operational visibility, the solution can help organizations strengthen safety compliance while improving workforce productivity.

Lenovo Super Agent for Contact Center combines conversational AI, enterprise knowledge, and customer service systems to automate support workflows, accelerate issue resolution and improve agent productivity, designed to help reduce average handling time by up to 38%.

Lenovo Enterprise AI Claw for Personal Productivity empowers employees to automate repetitive tasks, accelerate research and synthesize information to generate faster insights and improve decision-making, freeing time to focus on higher-value work.

Lenovo Enterprise AI Claw for ITOps applies prebuilt AI skills to automate IT operations and service workflows, reduce manual operational effort, and accelerate issue resolution.

VIDEO: LENOVO AI LIBRARY

These additions build on how the Lenovo AI Library turns solutions proven in real operating environments into customer-ready use cases. Lenovo validates the architectures, integrations and operating requirements behind what works, then applies that experience so customers can customize solutions to their own data, workflows, governance and environment. According to The Futurum Group, the repeatable, pre-validated use cases in the Lenovo AI Library reduce deployment complexity and risk, helping customers accelerate time to value.

The Lenovo Knowledge Super Agent provides the clearest proof of that process. In a production deployment supporting 3,000 Lenovo employees, independent analysis found that it reduced time spent retrieving knowledge by 30%, enabled sales teams to prepare customer proposals twice as fast, reduced escalations to subject-matter experts by 35%, and was estimated to represent up to $17 million in potential annual productivity value3.

Available as a customer-ready use case in the Lenovo AI Library, the Lenovo Knowledge Super Agent was foundational to the FIFA AI Pro solution delivered during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, giving all 48 teams access to AI-powered football intelligence across more than 2,000 performance metrics, with actionable insights produced in minutes instead of days.

VIDEO: LENOVO KNOWLEDGE SUPER AGENT

New Research Connects Faster Outcomes to Better AI Economics

New research from The Futurum Group provides broader context for AI economics. In From Cost Per Token to Value Per Token: The AI Factory Imperative, analysts distinguish between cost per token, a measure of GPU efficiency of producing and delivering AI output, and value per token, the business impact that output enables. With 78% of organizations expecting AI budgets to increase over the next 12 months and 35% identifying infrastructure cost as a primary barrier to expansion, the research argues that enterprises need to manage AI for both economic efficiency and productive business value. The Futurum Group connects the Lenovo AI Library directly to improved value per token: getting a validated use case into operation faster enables organizations to start measuring AI’s business impact through time savings, process improvements, faster decision-making, and other meaningful results.

“For organizations procuring AI infrastructure, the question is not only which hardware to buy, but how to make every AI token count.” — Nick Patience, Vice President and Practice Lead, AI Software and Tools, The Futurum Group

Analysis from Signal65 validates Lenovo's approach to moving enterprises from cost per token to value per token by combining proven Lenovo AI Library use cases, Hybrid AI Factory infrastructure, and lifecycle services into an integrated AI deployment model to accelerate business value. Lab insights found that at full utilization, Lenovo Hybrid AI Factory can deliver tokens at up to 70% lower cost than a hyperscaler’s API pricing. The on-premises configuration reached cost-per-token parity with API pricing at just over 30% utilization, demonstrating how right-sized infrastructure can improve the economics of sustained AI workloads4.

Together, the new research and validated deployment evidence demonstrate how Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage™ helps organizations connect AI investment and economic efficiency with business outcomes across the AI lifecycle. The Lenovo AI Library provides proven, outcome-oriented use cases and prebuilt solutions so customers don’t have to start from scratch, helping convert capacity investments into measurable value faster by reducing development time, complexity and risk; Lenovo Hybrid AI Factory brings together all the underlying technical elements of the AI stack: infrastructure and devices, data and knowledge, AI models and agent platforms needed to operationalize those solutions on a common foundation; and Lenovo AI Services delivers lifecycle expertise to help customers customize, deploy, scale and continuously optimize validated solutions as workload demands grow and economics evolve.

Through Lenovo AI Express, eligible Hybrid AI Factory configurations can ship in 15 business days5. Signal65 analysis shows that Lenovo AI Fast Start can then help organizations achieve a production-ready AI pilot and begin realizing business value in as little as 90 days of deployment, while Lenovo TruScale aligns capacity and consumption with changing demand over time.

“As enterprise AI adoption continues to accelerate and scale, token consumption rises exponentially. Too often, that creates sticker shock before organizations can measure the return their AI investments are producing,” said Linda Yao, Vice President, Hybrid Cloud and AI Solutions, Lenovo. “Customers need to get to that business value faster, then continuously optimize the economics of AI behind the outcomes that matter. Lenovo helps enterprises do that across the AI lifecycle—from use case to deployment and beyond—to get the most out of AI and make every token count.”

Explore the expanded Lenovo AI Library, review The Futurum Group and Signal65 findings, and see proven AI use cases in action through the resources below.

Additional Resources

Lenovo AI Library: web page | Overview Video

Lenovo AI Library Use Cases – YouTube Video Playlist

Lenovo AI Library eBook: Start proven. Move faster.

Futurum Research: From Cost Per Token to Value Per Token | Infographic

Signal65 Report: From Cost Per Token to Value Per Token: Validating the Economics of the Lenovo Hybrid AI Factory and Lenovo AI Library

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$83 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #153 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Guided by its vision of “Smarter Technology for All”, Lenovo is executing a Hybrid AI strategy that spans Personal AI – one personal AI, multiple devices; and Enterprise AI – helping customers turn data into insights and value. This strategy is delivered through the Group’s commitment to world-class innovation and a full-stack AI portfolio, including devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets, accessories), infrastructure solutions (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), as well as software, solutions, and services. With a global footprint spanning more than 20 research and development locations and a global supply chain that includes more than 30 manufacturing sites across 11 markets, Lenovo is widely recognized for its operational excellence. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). Learn more at www.lenovo.com and follow the latest news in our newsroom.

1Based on Signal65's validation that a Lenovo AI Library use case can be deployed, installed, and operational within a single week, compared against industry estimates placing custom enterprise AI build timelines at 3–6 months, with enterprise deployments often extending beyond that range.

2 Projected customer outcomes are based on initial evaluations by Lenovo

3 Based on Signal65 analysis of the production deployment and associated productivity-value modeling.

4 Based on Signal65 analysis of a Lenovo ThinkSystem SR675 V3 with 8 NVIDIA H100 GPUs running the gpt-oss-120b model. Results are specific to the tested configuration, workloads, pricing assumptions, utilization levels and dates evaluated. Other configurations and market conditions may produce different results. October 2026 Signal65 research commissioned by Lenovo. Signal65 is part of The Futurum Group; Futurum Research, cited in this report, is an affiliated research organization.

5 For eligible Lenovo AI Express configurations and selected parts in non-restrictive markets. Clock starts after completion of order validation, payment/credit clearance, End User Certification (EUC), and applicable due diligence/export approvals.

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Contacts

Zeno Group for Lenovo:

lenovossg@zenogroup.com

SBC Medical Initiates Development of a DNA Methylation Test to Estimate Biological Age

IRVINE, Calif. -

Leveraging the Waqoo Group’s research and technology ecosystem to establish a new personal baseline for proactive health and longevity

(BUSINESS WIRE)--SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Nasdaq: SBC) (“The Company” or “SBC Medical”), a Medical Services Organization (MSO) providing management support across a wide range of healthcare fields, today announced that it has commenced in-house development of a test designed to estimate an individual’s biological age using DNA methylation analysis.

Development will be led by the Company’s AI and longevity-focused subsidiary, SBC AI Longevity Innovation, Inc. The initiative will leverage the regenerative medicine research and technology base established by Waqoo, Inc. (TOKYO: 4937), a consolidated subsidiary of SBC Medical, and its subsidiary Cell Pro Japan Co., Ltd. (together, the “Waqoo Group”). The test aims to provide insight into an individual’s physical condition that chronological age alone cannot capture, offering a personal baseline for data-driven wellness and lifestyle adjustments.

The Global Shift: From Lifespan to Healthspan

Modern healthcare is undergoing a paradigm shift from extending lifespan (years lived) to optimizing healthspan (years lived in good health). Global capital and scientific research are rapidly converging on the longevity sector, a key field for SBC Medical’s expansion.

Market Growth: The global longevity market is projected to grow from approximately $800 billion in 2025 to approximately $2 trillion by 20351.

The Longevity Imperative: As one of the world’s oldest populations, Japan is well positioned to lead the development of accessible healthspan solutions.

Bridging Molecular Research with Clinical Expertise

While public interest in proactive wellness continues to grow, objective and repeatable ways to track the body’s internal condition over time remain limited. SBC Medical aims to address this gap by bridging science with seasoned clinical execution.

Scientific Base: Integrating the cellular and molecular research competencies built by the Waqoo Group through its regenerative medicine operations.

Clinical Scale: Leveraging SBC Medical’s extensive clinic operations infrastructure and customer experience know-how derived from its core MSO operations.

Why DNA Methylation?

Unlike an individual’s genetic code, epigenetic markers such as DNA methylation can change with environment, diet, stress, and lifestyle. This makes DNA methylation a promising marker to track over time, helping individuals see the real-world impact of lifestyle changes.

Scientific understanding of epigenetic clocks has advanced since the first landmark methodology was published in 20132. Notably, in 2025, researchers demonstrated a method to estimate the ages of 11 distinct organs and physiological systems from a single blood draw3.

Strategic Development Focus

Building on these research advances, SBC Medical’s development roadmap centers on three core pillars:

Organ-Specific Mapping: Assessing biological age by organ system to identify where in the body aging-related changes are progressing.

Non-Invasive Modalities: Researching highly accessible, consumer-friendly measurement methods that do not require blood draws.

Japan-Specific Data: Building a robust evaluation framework based on data from Japanese cohorts.

A New Standard for Personal Health

Rather than delivering a static, isolated metric, the test is designed to serve as a dynamic “personal baseline.” By enabling individuals to measure their biological age before and after implementing lifestyle changes, SBC Medical aims to establish a continuous feedback loop that visualizes changes in the body, supporting long-term health literacy and engagement.

1 Report Ocean, “Global, US & Japan Longevity Market” (published March 2026)

2 Horvath S. DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types. Genome Biology. 2013;14:R115.

3 Sehgal R, et al. Systems Age: a single blood methylation test to quantify aging heterogeneity across 11 physiological systems. Nature Aging. 2025;5:1880–1896.

Note: The information in this release is based on current plans and is subject to change.

About SBC AI Longevity Innovation, Inc.

Location: Shinjuku Island Tower 12F, 6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Representative Director and President: Yuya Yoshida

Business: Planning and development of products and services in the AI and longevity fields; provision of AI solutions and operational support for medical institutions

Website: https://sbc-ai-longevity.com/

About Waqoo, Inc.

Location: 2-14-1 Kamiuma, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Representative Director and President: Bumpei Samata

Listing: Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Securities Code: 4937)

Business: Medical support business; D2C and subscription business

Website: https://en.waqoo.jp/

About Cell Pro Japan Co., Ltd.

Location: Shonan iPark, 2-26-1 Muraoka-Higashi, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan

Representative Director and President: Bumpei Samata

Business: Regenerative medicine-related business

Website: https://cellprojapan.com/

About SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

SBC Medical is a Medical Services Organization providing management support across a wide range of healthcare fields, including advanced aesthetic healthcare, dermatology, orthopedics, fertility treatment, gynecology, dentistry, hair loss treatment (AGA), and ophthalmology. The Company manages a diverse portfolio of clinic brands and is actively expanding its global presence, particularly in the United States and Asia, through both direct operations and medical tourism initiatives. In September 2024, the Company was listed on Nasdaq, and in June 2025, it was selected for inclusion in the Russell 3000® Index, a broad benchmark of the U.S. equity market. Guided by its Group Purpose “Contributing to the well-being of people around the world through medical innovation,” SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated continues to provide safe, trusted, and high-quality medical services while further strengthening its international reputation for quality and trust in medical care.

For more information, visit https://sbc-holdings.com

For more insights and updates from SBC Medical, follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts or statements of current conditions, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events and performance, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, the Company’s plans and strategies for service expansion; growth in revenue and earnings; and business prospects. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” “targets” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them; such factors include, among other things, changes in global, regional, or local economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, and those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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Contacts

Hikaru Fukui / Head of IR Department; E-mail: ir@sbc-holdings.com

Akiko Wakiyama / Chief Public Relations Officer; E-mail: pr@sbc.or.jp

Galderma Delivers Net Sales of 4.765 B USD in the First Nine Months, Up 25.1% at Constant Currency Year-on-Year, and Raises Full-Year Net Sales Guidance

ZUG, Switzerland -

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Galderma Group AG (SIX:GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced its sales performance for the first nine months of 2026.

Record net sales of 4.765 billion USD for the first nine months of 2026, representing 25.1% year-on-year growth at constant currency1, predominantly driven by volume and complemented by favorable mix.

Broad-based double-digit growth across geographies and product categories, reflecting strong execution of Galderma’s proven integrated dermatology strategy, with stand-out performance in Therapeutic Dermatology, across both Nemluvio and the mature portfolio, as well as in Dermatological Skincare and Neuromodulators.

Continued market outperformance across all three product categories, with net sales growth year-on-year at constant currency of 13.2% in Injectable Aesthetics, 16.2% in Dermatological Skincare, and 64.4% in Therapeutic Dermatology (with Nemluvio net sales of 735 million USD).

Strengthening Galderma’s dermatology platform, with the previously announced agreement to acquire ZO® Skin Health, a leading brand in the fast-growing physician-dispensed skincare category. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Further evolution as a listed company, with Galderma’s inclusion in the Swiss Market Index (SMI) and an upgraded credit rating.

Raising 2026 full-year net sales guidance to 22.5-23.5% growth year-on-year at constant currency (previously 19-21%), and confirming Core EBITDA margin2 of approximately 26% at constant currency.

“Our strong performance in the first nine months of 2026 underscores the sustained momentum across our business and the strength of our integrated dermatology strategy. Robust demand for our differentiated, premium portfolio continues to drive growth, while we advance innovation and take decisive steps to strengthen our long-term growth prospects, including our agreement to acquire ZO Skin Health. Building on this momentum and our confidence in the business, we are raising our full-year net sales guidance.”

FLEMMING ØRNSKOV, M.D., MPH

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

GALDERMA

Commercial performance

For the first nine months of 2026, Galderma achieved record net sales of 4,765 million USD, with year-on-year growth of 25.1% at constant currency. Through focused execution of its proven, growth-driven integrated dermatology strategy, Galderma continued to deliver double-digit net sales growth in most of its top 10 markets.

Growth was broad-based across the existing portfolio, complemented by innovation and further increasing penetration in fast-growing, attractive markets. Performance was particularly strong in Therapeutic Dermatology, across both Nemluvio and the mature portfolio, as well as in Dermatological Skincare and Neuromodulators. Growth continued to be predominantly driven by volume, complemented by favorable mix.

Net sales growth of 26.0% year-on-year at constant currency in the third quarter was supported by continued market outperformance across all product categories and market conditions that remained more resilient than expected. Galderma continued to benefit from sustained consumer demand and preference, particularly through its premium positions in Injectable Aesthetics and Dermatological Skincare.

Injectable Aesthetics

Injectable Aesthetics net sales for the first nine months were 2,174 million USD, with year-on-year growth of 13.2% at constant currency.

Neuromodulators delivered net sales of 1,259 million USD, up 16.9% year-on-year at constant currency. Galderma continued to gain market share in both the U.S. and International markets. With the Group’s proven Neuromodulator portfolio strategy, Dysport® continued to grow in all top markets while the launch of Relfydess™ continued to build momentum in Europe and Asia Pacific. In addition to the continued strong momentum globally for Neuromodulators, growth in the third quarter was supported by the unwinding of the U.S. phasing effects from the second quarter.

Galderma continued to make progress in expanding Relfydess’ global regulatory footprint, with approvals now secured in 37 markets and regulatory reviews ongoing in additional territories. In the U.S., Galderma is targeting the first quarter of 2027 to resubmit the Biologics License Application (BLA) for RelabotulinumtoxinA to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following receipt of a Complete Response Letter (CRL) in June 2026, subject to further regulatory feedback.

On September 29, 2026, Galderma filed confidential arbitration proceedings with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the American Arbitration Association (AAA) with respect to certain rights and obligations between Galderma and Ipsen, including Galderma's exclusive rights in the aesthetics field and other matters relating to Ipsen’s Long-Acting NeuroToxin clinical program (LANTIC). These filings do not concern Dysport/Azzalure®, Alluzience®, and Relfydess.

Fillers & Biostimulators achieved net sales of 914 million USD, up 8.5% year-on-year at constant currency, despite continued softness in the Fillers market. Galderma continued to gain share in both the U.S. and International markets in Fillers & Biostimulators, with continued double-digit growth for Sculptra® in both geographies. The portfolio benefited from further expansion, supported by leadership in science and education, and strong commercial execution. As anticipated, third quarter growth was impacted by a high base in the second half of the previous year.

Dermatological Skincare

Dermatological Skincare net sales for the first nine months were 1,244 million USD, with year-on-year growth of 16.2% at constant currency.

Momentum remained strong across both Dermatological Skincare flagship brands, Cetaphil® and Alastin®. Growth was positive in both the U.S. and International markets, with e-commerce remaining the fastest growing channel globally. Cetaphil growth was driven particularly by fast-growing International markets and especially Asia. Alastin delivered double-digit growth in both geographies, with continued penetration in the U.S. and geographic expansion.

Galderma continued to outperform the market, driven by disciplined execution against strong fundamentals: strong core brand equity through differentiated science and portfolio synergies, focus on the core portfolio while continuing to invest in innovation, and locally relevant activation through campaigns that build awareness of its brands. Key innovations included the U.S. expansion of Cetaphil’s Nourishing line into body care and the launch of Alastin’s Restorative Eye Complex with TriHex+™ technology.

Therapeutic Dermatology

Therapeutic Dermatology net sales for the first nine months were 1,347 million USD, up 64.4% year-on-year at constant currency.

Nemluvio net sales for the first nine months were 735 million USD. The strong trajectory reflects continued demand growth, particularly among treatment-naïve patients and disciplined commercial execution.

The U.S. represents the vast majority of Nemluvio sales, with a greater contribution from atopic dermatitis than prurigo nodularis. In the U.S., Nemluvio paid new patient starts (NBRx)3 from the first week of September to the second week of October 2026 trended at approximately 45% market share in prurigo nodularis and approximately 9% in atopic dermatitis. For the same period, Nemluvio’s total paid prescription share (TRx)3 in the U.S. trended at approximately 37% in prurigo nodularis and approximately 5% in atopic dermatitis. Nemluvio in International markets also continued to perform ahead of expectations and to progress with its expansion, with approvals for both moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis in more than 40 countries as well as further regulatory reviews ongoing.

The mature Therapeutic Dermatology portfolio continued to show positive growth, with impact from generic entries slower-than-expected. Differin® growth was also strong globally and especially in the U.S., with continued uptake from the recent Differin Epiduo® Acne Gel Prescription-to-OTC (over-the-counter) switch in acne care.

Science-led innovation in dermatology

Galderma continued to advance its science-led innovation and medical education agenda.

In Injectable Aesthetics, Galderma strengthened the clinical evidence of its portfolio with new positive topline data for Restylane® Volyme™ for temple hollowing in support of plans to expand presence in China, and interim data for an investigator-initiated trial demonstrating that Restylane Skinboosters™ and Sculptra drove progressive improvements in hydration, skin barrier function, and skin quality in menopausal women.

In Dermatological Skincare, Galderma continued to take steps to expand its portfolio, both organically through differentiated innovation and externally through the previously announced agreement to acquire ZO Skin Health, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

In Therapeutic Dermatology, new three-year ARCADIA long-term extension data reinforced Nemluvio's durable efficacy and favorable tolerability profile in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Clinically meaningful improvements in eczema severity, near-complete skin clearance, itch, and quality of life at Week 152 were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026 and at the Fall Clinical Dermatology 2026.

Galderma also continued to broaden the clinical development program for nemolizumab across additional patient populations and potential indications. This includes progressing the submission preparation of nemolizumab in children aged 2 to 11 with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in the U.S., noting new phase II data presented at The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) Annual Conference. Galderma also initiated a study in infants and young children aged 6 months to under 2 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Recruitment was also completed in the phase II study investigating the efficacy and safety of nemolizumab in treating patients living with Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin (CPUO) with topline results expected in the first quarter of 2027.

ZO Skin Health acquisition

ZO Skin Health was founded in 2007 by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi and, in 2020, Blackstone acquired a majority stake. Today, ZO Skin Health represents a highly strategic and financially attractive opportunity for Galderma. With a leading science-based, physician-endorsed portfolio and global presence complementary to Alastin’s, ZO Skin Health would enable Galderma to expand its Dermatological Skincare offering in this attractive, fast-growing segment. Galderma’s proven integrated dermatology platform provides complementarity, synergies, and scale with the ambition to reignite ZO Skin Health’s growth, creating an additional long-term growth driver for Galderma while maintaining financial discipline.

The acquisition of ZO Skin Health, for an enterprise value of 1.5 billion USD in an all-cash transaction, subject to customary adjustments, will be funded through a combination of existing cash reserves and bank financing. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Consistent with its proven value creation focus, Galderma plans to increase commercial investment during the first year of ownership to strengthen the foundation for renewed growth beginning in the second year following closing. The transaction is expected to be slightly dilutive to the Group’s Core EBITDA margin in 2027 and to achieve a margin broadly comparable with the Group’s from 2028 onwards. The acquisition is expected to be Core EPS neutral in the first full year following closing and to be in line with Galderma’s commitment to a solid investment grade credit rating. Integration and one-time costs of approximately 50-60 million USD are expected in total over the first two years of the acquisition.

Outlook

Galderma entered the fourth quarter with strong momentum, supported by its robust financial profile and growing position as a public company. This was reflected during the third quarter by its inclusion in the Swiss Market Index (SMI) on September 21, 2026, and an upgrade by S&P Global Ratings to BBB+, with the rating confirmed following the announced acquisition of ZO Skin Health. Galderma continues to capitalize on growth opportunities across its existing portfolio, complemented by innovation and further increasing penetration in fast-growing, attractive markets.

With a stronger-than-anticipated trajectory in the first nine months, especially in Therapeutic Dermatology, across both Nemluvio and the mature portfolio, as well as in Dermatological Skincare and Neuromodulators, Galderma is raising its full-year 2026 net sales growth guidance to 22.5-23.5% at constant currency, from 19-21% previously; Fillers and Biostimulators full-year growth is expected to be broadly in line with year-to-date growth at constant currency. Galderma also confirms its Core EBITDA margin guidance of approximately 26% at constant currency, as it continues investing behind growth opportunities.

Guidance excludes the potential effects of the ZO Skin Health acquisition, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027. There is also no impact expected in 2026 from the recently enacted ‘Section 232’ tariffs on Nemluvio imported into the U.S. from the EU. While guidance is at constant currency, based on spot rates at the end of September 2026, foreign exchange is expected to have a positive impact on net sales and Core EBITDA absolutes. The evolution of Galderma’s exposure to key foreign exchange currency pairs is available in the Appendix.

Webcast details

Galderma will host a trading update call today at 15:30 CET to discuss nine-month results and respond to questions from financial analysts. Investors and the public may access the webcast by registering on the Galderma Investor Relations website at https://investors.galderma.com/events-presentations, a recording will also be made available after the event.

About Galderma

Galderma (SIX: GALD) is the pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium flagship brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market through Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Since our foundation in 1981, we have dedicated our focus and passion to the human body’s largest organ – the skin – meeting individual consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes in partnership with healthcare professionals. Because we understand that the skin we are in shapes our lives, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. For more information: www.galderma.com.

Appendices

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Unicharm Announces Full-Scale Operation of East African Subsidiary "SOFY UNICHARM EAST AFRICA," Unveiling Direct Sales Strategy and 2030 Goals

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Unicharm Corporation (TOKYO: 8113) announced the full-scale operation of its East African joint venture with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, "SOFY UNICHARM EAST AFRICA LIMITED." To mark this milestone, Unicharm held a business presentation and inauguration ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, on October 14, 2026. The event, attended by local distributors, business partners, and government officials, highlighted the company's strategic shift to a direct sales system and outlined its ambitious goals for 2030, aimed at strengthening its business foundation in the rapidly growing East African market.

Transition to Direct Sales and Strengthening Distribution

With the establishment of the new company, Unicharm will transition from its traditional wholesale system to a direct sales-led model managed by SOFY UNICHARM EAST AFRICA. This shift will enable Unicharm to drive in-house marketing strategies and build a more robust distribution network. Working in close collaboration with local sales agents, the company aims to accelerate market penetration within Kenya and expand exports to neighboring countries. The subsidiary is the first overseas entity to bear the "SOFY" brand name, reflecting Unicharm's strong commitment to supporting the possibilities of women in East Africa.

Business Strategy and 2030 Goals

At the ceremony, Unicharm outlined its commitment to meeting local needs by offering products such as the premium "SOFY Deep Absorb," the high-quality yet affordable "SOFY Long Lasting" produced through local outsourcing, and the highly accessible "SOFY Long Lasting Single Sachet." Furthermore, the company announced its four basic policies to drive future growth: expanding safe and affordable options to eliminate Period Poverty (Portfolio & Access), expanding networks to deliver proper hygiene knowledge and products (Distribution & Reach), investing in local female talent and career support (Talent Investment), and building partnerships with communities and the government (Partnership & Cohesion). Through these initiatives, Unicharm aims to achieve 1.5 billion Kenyan Shillings (KSH) in net sales by 2030 and deliver its products to 2 million women across the East African region.

(Related sites)

News Release: https://www.unicharm.co.jp/en/company/news/2026/1015-03.html

Unicharm Corporation Website: https://www.unicharm.co.jp/en/home.html

Toyota Tsusho Corporation Website: https://www.toyota-tsusho.com/english/

SOFY UNICHARM EAST AFRICA LIMITED Website: https://www.sofy-africa.com/en/home.html

"SOFY" Brand Website (Africa): https://www.sofy-africa.com/en/sofy/home.html

About Unicharm

Under the Corporate Brand Essence "Love Your Possibilities," Unicharm aims to realize a "Cohesive Society" where everyone can be independent and supportive. Operating in over 80 countries and regions worldwide, it provides innovative solutions for baby care, feminine care, wellness care, and pet care.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261021502795/en/

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https://aetoswire.com/en/news/2210202658358

Contacts

For inquiries

Unicharm Corporation, Global Marketing Communication Division, Love Your Possibilities PR Department Email: brand-pr@unicharm.com

Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah inaugurates the first Ras Al Khaimah’s business consultancy in China, strengthening ties with Guangdong

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China - Wednesday, 21. October 2026 AETOSWire Print

HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated the Emirate’s first business consultancy in China, marking a new chapter of cooperation and partnership.

Located in the industrial hub of Guangzhou, the consultancy will serve as a leading platform dedicated to strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s engagement with Chinese businesses, facilitating expanding cooperation across key sectors.

The inauguration builds on a relationship that stretches back centuries, when maritime trade connected Ras Al Khaimah with China through the exchange of goods, including porcelain and pearls. This shared history, together with more than four decades of diplomatic relations between the UAE and China, provides a strong foundation for continued cooperation.

HH Sheikh Saud said: “Our history and our experience have taught us that partners look beyond opportunity alone. They seek stability, transparency, governance and commitment. This is the environment we have built in Ras Al Khaimah.

“Today, we take a meaningful step forward in our partnership, inaugurating Ras Al Khaimah’s first business consultancy in China. By establishing this consultancy, we create a lasting home along our shared path. We connect our people, our cultures and our industries. In doing so, we are ensuring that our collaboration is no longer periodic, but continuous, and no longer transactional, but truly transformative.”

HH Sheikh Saud toured the new consultancy and witnessed a traditional Chinese lion dance and the distribution of customary red packets, which added a vibrant cultural dimension to the inauguration ceremony.

As part of the celebrations, the Ras Al Khaimah 2027 Calendar Sketches Competition was held, where almost 200 Guangzhou students aged 11 to 15 were asked to explore Ras Al Khaimah through art, drawing inspiration from the Emirate’s natural landscapes, mountains, beaches, heritage, culture and traditions. The 12 winning entries will feature in the official Ras Al Khaimah 2027 Calendar.

As part of his visit to Guangdong, HH Sheikh Saud also met Wang Xi, Member of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial Committee, to discuss further strengthening relations between Ras Al Khaimah and the province and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors of mutual interest.

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https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2110202658332

Contacts

Steven McCombe

Steven.Mccombe@rakmediaoffice.aeGuangzhou, Guangdong, China - Wednesday, 21. October 2026 AETOSWire Print

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https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2110202658332

Contacts

Steven McCombe

Steven.Mccombe@rakmediaoffice.ae

Megaport Expands AWS Connectivity With AWS Interconnect to Simplify How Customers Connect Their Infrastructure

BRISBANE, Australia - Thursday, 22. October 2026 AETOSWire

As one of a select group of providers, Megaport adds AWS Interconnect to its complete suite of AWS connectivity options.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Megaport Limited (ASX: MP1) (“Megaport”), a leading global automated infrastructure platform, today announced support for AWS Interconnect, a new managed connection model from Amazon Web Services (AWS) designed to simplify how businesses connect their infrastructure to AWS.

AWS Interconnect from Megaport gives enterprises and AI infrastructure providers an automated connectivity option as their requirements grow beyond traditional AWS Hosted Connections. MACsec encryption and four redundant links across two sites will be included as part of the service at general availability, with customers able to select connection speeds from 1 Gbps to 100 Gbps.

Customers can start an order for AWS Interconnect - last mile from either the Megaport Portal or AWS Management Console and complete it from the other. AWS and Megaport then automate the underlying network configuration, including VLANs, IP subnets, MTU, and BGP. This removes the need for customers to arrange the port, letter of authorization, and cross-connect associated with a dedicated connection — thus removing the complexity of building resilient paths to AWS.

“AWS Interconnect gives enterprises another way to scale their AWS connectivity without taking on more network infrastructure to operate themselves,” said Michael Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Megaport. “For Megaport customers, that connection also lands on the same platform they already use to reach other clouds, data centers, and services. They can increase capacity into AWS while connecting into a broader infrastructure environment.”

“AWS Interconnect - last mile is designed to make our high-capacity cloud connectivity even simpler to deploy and operate. Working with AWS Partners like Megaport gives customers more choice in how they connect their infrastructure to AWS, with automation, encryption, and resilience built into the service,” said Robert Kennedy, VP, Networking Services at AWS.

AWS Interconnect from Megaport public preview is now live and will be generally available at the end of 2026, initially supporting Ashburn and San Jose, two of our key interconnection regions. Visit our Docs Portal to get started, or contact our Sales team.

About Megaport

Deploying infrastructure should be fast and simple. By taking a software-defined approach, Megaport provides private compute, network, and storage — globally, securely, and on demand. Build and scale your infrastructure in just a few clicks with a global AI inference platform. Trusted by the world’s leading companies, Megaport partners with service providers, data centers, and systems integrators across 1,200+ enabled locations worldwide. The Megaport Network is ISO/IEC 27001 certified. Start building at megaport.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261022253143/en/

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https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/54626435

Contacts

Media Enquiries

Adam Hennessy, Senior Director of Strategic Communications, Megaport

Phone: +61 7 3088 7400

media@megaport.com

Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress Highlights Maritime Sector Integration and Opportunities for Trade and Investment Growth in the Kingdom

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Thursday, 22. October 2026

The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting the continuity of trade flows and strengthening supply chain resilience as it opened at Jeddah Superdome, bringing together representatives of government entities, maritime transport and logistics leaders, and the business community.

The Congress takes place as rapid changes in trade and shipping prompt companies to reassess transport routes and operational and investment choices. It provides a platform for dialogue among stakeholders to explore opportunities for cooperation and strengthen integration between ports and maritime, land transport and logistics services, supporting operational efficiency and supply chain reliability.

In his opening address, His Excellency Eng. Fawaz Alsahli, President of the Transport General Authority in Saudi Arabia, emphasised that the Kingdom’s ambitions extend beyond developing ports and maritime services to building an integrated transport and logistics ecosystem that contributes to diversifying the national economy, expanding opportunities for investment and innovation, and strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a trusted partner in international trade.

Mohaned El Mahgoub, Vice President at Tahaluf, said: “Bringing the industry together in Jeddah at this moment matters more than ever. Businesses are making immediate decisions about routes, capacity and investment, and those decisions depend on strong relationships across the supply chain. The discussions at this year’s Congress show how Saudi Arabia’s maritime and logistics capabilities are helping companies respond to disruption and build confidence in the routes and services they rely on. The Kingdom’s strength lies in its ability to bring those capabilities together, adapt under pressure and keep trade moving.”

Eng. Essam Alammari, Deputy for Maritime at the Transport General Authority, highlighted the importance of developing maritime transport capabilities, improving operational efficiency and enhancing integration between ports, shipping services and logistics networks.

Faisal M. Higgi & Associates Co. Ltd also announced a new brand identity, FMH Marine Services, while continuing to operate under its registered legal identity. The new brand supports the company’s plans to develop ship agency, customs clearance, logistics, supply, procurement and related marine services in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

Discussions extended to the role of ports and marinas in supporting tourism, services and maritime investment. Oriela Blake from Sela highlighted the importance of developing marina facilities and specialised marine services to attract luxury yachts and increase demand for provisioning, maintenance and tourism activities.

Ryanah Alghamdi, Deputy General Manager, Samaco, said: “Our ambition is to offer more than a marina. We want to support the customer’s broader marine journey, from boats and after-sales service to marina facilities, while contributing to the growth of the sector in Saudi Arabia.”

The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress continues at Jeddah Superdome with sessions examining how to build an integrated national logistics ecosystem, improve operational efficiency and develop partnerships and investment that support the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s maritime sector.

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https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2210202658350

Contacts

For More Information:

Ema Linaker

ema@brandlinksme.com