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Business Wire India

 

NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, announces the launch of NIQ Growth Pathways, a next-generation insights and analytics offering that modernizes traditional research and gives business leaders and marketers a clearer and structured route for category and brand growth. By integrating qualitative and quantitative research with NIQ’s industry-leading performance data, Growth Pathways delivers a connected view of how consumers think, feel, and act.

 

In today’s shifting consumer landscape, where global CPG volume growth has stagnated at under 1% annually, brand marketers need clarity on where to source demand, which opportunities matter most, and how to focus resources that will accelerate penetration and strengthen brand preference. Traditional strategies no longer meet the needs of today’s environment, as consumer behavior evolves and market dynamics grow increasingly complex.

 

 

NIQ’s Growth Pathways creates a growth relevant roadmap relevant for your brand and your market context, by linking your current performance reality – your actual sales performance, with consumer insights and future performance projections, into an expedited and actionable roadmap to achieve market growth. Fast AI enabled qualitative research at scale reveals the real, lived human Jobs to Be Done and behavioral context that sit behind category and brand choice. This provides an accurate starting point for sizing and prioritizing the high-value strategic spaces where your brand has the right-to-play. This all comes together as a strategic playbook for either category, or brand growth, or both.

 

 

“When brands look beyond familiar boundaries and consider the full range of choices consumers actually weigh in and beyond your category, new growth possibilities come into view,” said Stacy Bereck, NIQ Global Practice Leader. “Growth Pathways helps teams notice opportunities in places they may not have explored previously, which inspires new ways of thinking about growth. As brands innovate and enter new spaces, they can energize the entire category.”

 

 

The launch of Growth Pathways reflects NIQ’s ongoing transformation and commitment to delivering AI-enabled, open-data, client-first solutions. With more than 23,000 clients across 90+ countries, 22.2M store coverage, 220M product categories and collaboration programs across more than 50 retailers worldwide, NIQ continues to build a faster, smarter, and more connected insights ecosystem—empowering leaders with predictive intelligence that fuels growth across the global marketplace.

 

 

“More than ever before, companies need to make fewer but bigger brand bets in order to grow, and those bets must be consumer driven, evidence-based, and scalable,” said Gillian O’Sullivan, NIQ Global Sub-Practice Leader. “Growth Pathways takes validated marketing methods and applies them in a structured scientific KPI framework to determine the right pathway to sizeable and sustainable brand growth.”

 

 

To explore NIQ Growth Pathways or request a demo, click here.

 

 

FAQs

 

 

1. What is NIQ Growth Pathways?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways is an AI-enabled consumer insights and analytics solution that helps brands identify, prioritize, and activate new sources of growth. It combines consumer research, retail measurement data, and advanced analytics to deliver a structured growth strategy for brands and categories.

 

 

2. What does NIQ Growth Pathways do?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways helps companies:

 

 

• Identify untapped growth opportunities
• Understand consumer behavior (what consumers think, feel, and do)
• Prioritize high-value demand spaces
• Build actionable growth strategies based on data

 

 

It translates complex data into clear, decision-ready growth pathways.

 

3. How does NIQ Growth Pathways use AI?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways uses AI to scale qualitative research and uncover deep consumer insights, including motivations, unmet needs, and “Jobs to Be Done.” AI accelerates insight generation, improves accuracy, and enables faster identification of growth opportunities.

 

 

4. What makes NIQ Growth Pathways different from traditional market research?

 

 

Unlike traditional market research, NIQ Growth Pathways:

 

 

• Integrates qualitative insights, quantitative data, and sales performance
• Connects past performance with future growth projections
• Uses AI to analyze consumer behavior at scale
• Delivers a structured, actionable growth roadmap instead of static reports

 

 

5. What problem does NIQ Growth Pathways solve for brands?

 

NIQ Growth Pathways helps brands solve the problem of low growth and unclear demand signals in modern markets. With global CPG growth under 1%, brands need better tools to identify where to grow, how to win, and which investments will deliver the highest return.

 

 

6. Who should use NIQ Growth Pathways?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways is designed for:

 

 

• Brand managers
• Marketing leaders
• Consumer insights teams
• Strategy and innovation teams

 

 

It is especially useful for organizations making large, strategic, data-driven growth decisions.

 

7. What industries can use NIQ Growth Pathways?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways is primarily built for FMCG and CPG companies but can be applied to any consumer-focused industry that relies on understanding buying behavior, demand drivers, and market dynamics.

 

 

8. What are “growth pathways” in NIQ Growth Pathways?

 

 

“Growth pathways” are data-driven, prioritized routes to growth. They are based on:

 

 

• Current brand and category performance
• Consumer needs and behaviors
• Competitive and market dynamics
• Future growth potential

 

 

Each pathway represents a strategic opportunity that a brand can act on.

 

9. How does NIQ Growth Pathways identify growth opportunities?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways identifies growth opportunities by combining:

 

 

• Retail and sales performance data
• Consumer research (qualitative and quantitative)
• AI-driven insight generation
• Advanced analytics

 

 

This creates a holistic view of where demand exists and where it can be expanded.

 

10. How does NIQ Growth Pathways help brands grow beyond their category?

 

 

NIQ Growth Pathways analyzes the full set of consumer choices, not just those within a single category. This helps brands discover adjacent markets, new use cases, and emerging white spaces where they have the right to compete and grow.

 

 

11. What are the key benefits of NIQ Growth Pathways?

 

 

Key benefits include:

 

 

• Identification of new and untapped growth opportunities
• Faster, AI-powered insights
• Clear prioritization of strategic investments
• A structured, repeatable growth framework
• Alignment between insights, strategy, and execution

 

 

12. How does NIQ Growth Pathways fit into NIQ’s capabilities?

 

NIQ Growth Pathways is built on NIQ’s global data, AI, and analytics platform, including:

 

 

• Retail measurement and consumer panel data
• AI modeling and advanced analytics
• Global coverage across 90+ countries
• Insights across $7.4 trillion in consumer spend

 

 

13. When was NIQ Growth Pathways launched?

 

NIQ Growth Pathways was announced on April 9, 2026, as part of NIQ’s continued investment in AI-enabled, client-first innovation.

 

 

14. How can companies access NIQ Growth Pathways?

 

 

Companies can access NIQ Growth Pathways by contacting NIQ or requesting a demo through www.niq.com.

 

 

About NIQ
NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.

 

 

With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.

 

 

For more information, please visit www.niq.com.

 

 

Forward Looking Statement:
This press release on NIQ Growth Pathways may contain forward looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “plan,” “look ahead,” “indicates”, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.

 

 

© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

NIQ-GENERAL

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409909932/en/

 

Business Wire India

According to the latest research from Omdia, total shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations in 1Q26 increased by 3.2% year-over-year to 64.8 million units. Notebooks (including mobile workstations) saw a modest year-over-year increase of 2.6% in Q1 to 50.8 million units. Meanwhile, desktops (including desktop workstations) performed slightly better, up 5.4% to 14.0 million units. Growth was supported by vendors and channel partners pulling orders forward ahead of a widely anticipated increase in component costs, the continuation of the Windows 10 replacement cycle that is still driving commercial refresh budgets, and by a heavier than usual slate of spring product launches across both Windows OEMs and Apple.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409730915/en/

 

 

 

“With supply-chain pressures still building, Q1’s modest growth is likely to mark the high point for the year,” said Ben Yeh, Principal Analyst at Omdia. “Memory and storage costs are expected to rise further and more steeply than previously assumed from Q2, squeezing PC vendor gross margins and forcing them to pass costs through to channel partners and end-customers. AI data center build-outs are crowding consumer categories out of memory and storage supply, which have already seen roughly five-fold and three-fold cost increases respectively since Q1 2025. CPU prices are a smaller but compounding pressure, with Intel and AMD projecting increases of 10-25% into Q2.”

 

With costs set to rise across the bill of materials, vendors have every incentive to protect shipments, revenue and gross margin by pulling deliveries forward, and Omdia’s regional analysis is consistent with that behavior across most of Q1. Preliminary regional data suggest that channel partners in North America have already absorbed as much as they can before end‑user prices rise. In Japan, the market has begun to show a more pronounced downturn, weighed down by the high shipment volume base in 1Q25 and by more severe cost and component supply pressures in the education segment. Given the education-driven surge throughout 2025, fading policy momentum could also become one of the main drivers of contraction in 2026.

 

 

Worldwide desktop and notebook shipments (market share and annual growth)   Omdia PC Market Pulse: 1Q26
Vendor	1Q26 shipments	1Q26 market share	1Q25 shipments	1Q25 market share	Annual growth
Lenovo	16,529	25.5%	15,205	24.2%	8.7%
HP	12,142	18.7%	12,761	20.3%	-4.9%
Dell	10,291	15.9%	9,548	15.2%	7.8%
Apple	7,112	11.0%	6,750	10.7%	5.4%
Asus	4,622	7.1%	4,014	6.4%	15.1%
Others	14,149	21.8%	14,570	23.2%	-2.9%
Total	64,844	100.0%	62,848	100.0%	3.2%
Note: Unit shipments in thousands. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.   Source: Omdia PC Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), April 2026

 

Lenovo remained firmly in the top spot in 1Q26, further expanding its market share with year-over-year growth of 8.7%. Shipments reached 16.5 million units, and its share surpassed 25%. HP remained in second place, but weak performance in Europe and the United States resulted in a 4.9% decline, with shipments falling to 12.1 million units. Dell continued its strong momentum from 4Q25, posting 7.8% year-over-year growth as shipments reached 10.3 million units. Apple reached a market share of 11% with shipments growing 5.4% due to solid MacBook Air sales performance and the initial sell-in of the MacBook Neo. Asus maintained its double-digit shipment growth, with shipments climbing to 4.6 million units and market share reaching 7.1%.

 

ABOUT OMDIA

 

 

Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, make our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409730915/en/

 

Business Wire India

Christoph has played a pivotal role in shaping the Company’s strategic transformation since his appointment as Chief Business Officer in January 2025

 

Company Founder Jacques Lemmens, PhD, remains as Chairman of the Board

 

Byondis B.V., an independent biopharmaceutical company creating innovative targeted medicines for patients with cancer, announces today the appointment of Christoph Korpus, PhD, MBA, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Christoph has served as Chief Business Officer (CBO) of the Company since January 2025. He succeeds Byondis Founder and former CEO Jacques Lemmens, PhD, who will remain on the Board of Directors as Chairman.

 

In his new role as CEO, Christoph will guide the advancement of research and development activities for Byondis’ novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology platforms. These platforms, which combine proprietary, novel payloads with state-of-the-art linker and conjugation technologies and conditional activation, include Byondis’ cytotoxic antifolate linker-drug platform, ByonGuard™ masking technology for conditional activation, and ByonBoost™ immune-stimulatory linker-drug platform. Each of these technology platforms has generated frontrunner and multiple follower drug candidates. Byondis, with its fully integrated discovery, development, and manufacturing capabilities, has the flexibility to conduct all essential development efforts for its lead candidates independently. In addition to these in-house activities, Byondis is open to partnerships around its pipeline assets and to licensing its technology for co-development opportunities.

 

 

Christoph brings more than 15 years of experience from across the biopharmaceutical industry, spanning oncology R&D, digital innovation, and global business development and licensing. Prior to joining Byondis, Christoph served as Director, Global Business Development and Licensing Oncology at Merck KGaA, where he led partnering strategies and negotiation teams for multiple oncology transactions. Throughout his tenure at Merck, Christoph drove cross-company innovation through the management of global commercial- and development alliances across different therapeutic areas.

 

 

Jacques Lemmens, PhD, Chairman of Byondis’ Board of Directors, said: “Since joining as CBO last year, Christoph has been instrumental in driving Byondis’ strategic transformation into a focused, fully-integrated biotech company with multiple proprietary ADC technology platforms and a wealth of clinical and manufacturing expertise. His extensive experience in global business development and strategic partnerships, combined with a deep understanding of how our platforms can address high unmet medical needs in oncology, makes him ideally suited to guide Byondis through its next phase of growth. I am confident that, under his leadership, the Company will continue to advance its innovative pipeline to deliver breakthrough solutions for patients as quickly as possible.”

 

 

Christoph Korpus, PhD, MBA, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is a great honor to be appointed to lead this company, particularly now when the path forward to maximize the value of our decades of ADC expertise is so clear. My focus now is executing our strategic vision, fostering partnerships that enhance our growth, and working with our talented team to deliver innovative ADC therapies that can overcome the critical limitations of current and next-generation therapies to make a meaningful difference for cancer patients. Under Jacques’ leadership, Byondis has built strong capabilities across ADC discovery and development and GMP manufacturing. I am committed to leveraging these strengths as we continue to maximize the potential of our platforms and advance our differentiated programs.”

 

 

Christoph holds a PhD from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management.

 

 

-END-

 

 

About Byondis

 

 

Driven to improve patients’ lives, Byondis is an independent, fully integrated biopharmaceutical research and development company creating innovative targeted medicines for cancer. The company is developing new biological entities (NBEs) with a focus on antibody-drug conjugates.

 

 

Byondis’ development portfolio leverages expertise in linker-drug (LD) technology, antibody-drug conjugation, and disease biology. Byondis’ fully integrated drug development capabilities cover all stages from pre-clinical and clinical R&D, production of clinical batches of the selected product candidates, and regulatory filings which are all done in-house.

 

 

The company has a dedicated team of more than 200 staff working in its state-of-the-art R&D and GMP manufacturing facilities in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409851749/en/

 

Business Wire India

Pennant Technologies, an agile and innovative financial technology company, today announced that it has been recognised with the AGBA Innovation Star Rating Certificate by the Aegis Graham Bell Awards in the category of Innovation in Fintech for its next-generation lending platform, pennApps Studio.

The AGBA Innovation Star Rating is a structured innovation assessment framework supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. The certification recognises market-ready, scalable technology solutions that demonstrate measurable industry impact. This recognition further validates Pennant’s leadership in innovative financial technology solutions including AI-driven lending transformation and reinforces its positioning as a provider of enterprise-grade digital lending and credit risk technology for banks and financial institutions.

“We are honoured to receive the AGBA Innovation Star Rating Certificate for pennApps Studio, which reflects our continued focus on AI-driven innovation in financial services,” said Sireesh Patnaik, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Pennant Technologies. “We are reengineering the lending lifecycle through embedded Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI capabilities that enable financial institutions to automate intelligently, accelerate product innovation, and deliver measurable business value at scale.”

pennApps Studio: AI-Driven Digital Lending Platform for Modern Financial Institutions

pennApps Studio is a composable digital lending platform that enables banks, NBFCs, and financial institutions to rapidly design, deploy, and scale loan origination and underwriting workflows on a single unified platform, offering capabilities from no-code simplicity to pro-code flexibility. Built on an enterprise-grade lending framework with embedded compliance, security, and scalability, and supported by a seamless integration layer with pre-configured API connectors, the platform ensures streamlined connectivity across core systems and fintech ecosystems. A visual IDE with intuitive drag-and-drop UI and UX builders enables rapid workflow and interface configuration, significantly accelerating product rollout. Its embedded AI and GenAI capabilities power automated credit decisioning, intelligent document processing, predictive analytics, and workflow optimisation, while a robust DevSecOps and CI/CD pipeline ensures secure, continuous innovation. Together, these capabilities help financial institutions accelerate approvals, enhance risk management, reduce turnaround times, launch new lending products faster, and lower cost to serve.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Enterprise-Grade Lending at Scale

Designed to support retail, MSME, corporate, and commercial lending across multi-product, multi-entity, and multi-country environments, Pennant’s future-ready lending solutions, including its flagship loan lifecycle management platform, pennApps Lending Factory, which unifies loan origination, underwriting, disbursement, servicing, and collections within a scalable, configurable, cloud-ready framework. Built on a modular, API-first architecture, the pennApps suite delivers operational agility, regulatory alignment, rapid product innovation, and enterprise-grade resilience.

As a global financial technology company, specialising in future-ready digital lending platforms, Pennant enables banks and financial institutions to accelerate lending transformation, enhance credit risk governance, improve operational efficiency, and deliver superior borrower experiences at scale.

For more information on pennApps Lending Solutions, visit: https://www.pennanttech.com/lending-factory/.

Business Wire India

MetLife Foundation announced new recipients of its Community Impact Grant Program (CIGP), providing more than $6.5 million to global nonprofit organizations, including 26 in Asia, addressing essential community needs. By tackling critical issues, the program supports non-profits providing the services and resources people reply on to build financial security and resilience, reflecting MetLife and MetLife Foundation’s long‑standing commitment to helping people and communities move forward with greater confidence and access to opportunity.

 

Launched in 2023 and expanded globally in 2025, CIGP supports organizations with solutions focused on food security, mental well‑being, environmental sustainability and vibrant communities. In this latest round, 26 organizations in Asia were among the more than 100 nonprofit organizations across the globe that received grants, including:

 

 

• Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Bangladesh provides access to books and literary resources to communities in rural and semi-urban areas.
• DV Safe Phone in Australia repurposes phones to help victims of domestic violence to stay safe, stay connected and rebuild their lives.
• General Incorporated Association BowL in Japan provides assistance to individuals returning to work after facing mental health challenges.
• Korea Legacy Committee in South Korea expands meal preparation and delivery services to underserved elderly citizens in Korea.
• Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra in India empowers 2,000 farmers with climate-resilient farming practices, increasing agricultural income and enhancing food security.
• Vietnam and Friends in Vietnam works to provide clean, potable water and environmental education for 3,000+ students and teachers.

 

For the full list of grant recipients, please visit here.

 

“Through the Community Impact Grant Program, MetLife Foundation invests in nonprofits that are strengthening the well-being of people and communities,” said Tia Hodges, President and CEO of MetLife Foundation and Head of Corporate Giving and Employee Volunteerism at MetLife. “Together, we’re helping individuals and families navigate challenges and move forward with greater stability and resilience.”

 

 

As with previous rounds of CIGP funding, MetLife employees assisted in the selection process, volunteering their time to review grant applications from nonprofit organizations. Since its launch, the Community Impact Grant Program has awarded over $9 million to 207 nonprofit organizations, reaching 1.6 million people across the U.S., Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. The program is a key part of MetLife Foundation’s broader efforts to advance inclusive economic mobility and financial health, while helping build the resilience of communities where MetLife operates thrive.

 

 

To learn more about the work of MetLife Foundation and the full list of recipients, visit MetLife.org.

 

 

About MetLife Foundation

 

 

At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic empowerment, financial health and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 and for 50 years has continued MetLife’s long tradition of community engagement and involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408891317/en/

 

Business Wire India

• New interim results from a six-month investigator-initiated trial (IIT) supported by Galderma, regarding the clinical sequencing of women in menopause, show the combination of Restylane Skinboosters™ and Sculptra drove meaningful improvements in skin barrier function, hydration and patient satisfaction, with the most pronounced gains in hydration – a critical factor for perimenopausal skin health – observed when using Restylane Skinboosters first¹
• New interim data from a separate IIT show the cellular composition of adipose (fat) tissue may be altered in patients experiencing aesthetic changes in the abdomen following medication-driven weight loss, offering a biological explanation for clinician‑reported volume loss beyond weight reduction alone, and underscoring the importance of including regenerative aesthetic treatments as part of the patients’ weight loss journey²
• These data reinforce Galderma’s continuous support of independent research, in order to deliver holistic, individualized and science-led solutions that address growing patient needs, such as aesthetic changes related to menopause and medication-driven weight loss

 

Galderma (SIX: GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today welcomes new data from two IITs, demonstrating the power of Sculptra – the first proven regenerative biostimulator – and the company’s versatile hyaluronic acid injectable Restylane range, in addressing the aesthetic changes associated with menopause and medication-driven weight loss, for the face and body.^1-7 Data includes an analysis from a first-of-its-kind study evaluating optimal treatment sequencing to enhance women’s skin during menopause, and an evaluation of the cellular makeup of fat in the abdomen following medication-driven weight loss.^1,2

 

The two IITs were designed and executed by Dr. Andreas Nikolis and Dr. Sabrina Fabi respectively.^1,2 Galderma proudly supported the IITs as part of its long‑standing commitment to understanding patients’ evolving needs and supporting to deliver the best solutions for optimal patient outcomes. This approach to evidence generation, informed by real‑world needs, and enabled by the broadest Injectable Aesthetics portfolio in the industry, is designed to support advancements at every stage of the patient journey.

 

 

Menopause: Dual‑sequence study shows meaningful skin quality improvements and growing patient satisfaction with both Restylane Skinboosters and Sculptra

 

 

New interim results from a nine‑month clinical sequencing IIT of women in menopause conducted by Dr. Andreas Nikolis, both on the face and the décolletage, demonstrated that the combination of Restylane Skinboosters and Sculptra drove progressive and meaningful improvements in skin quality, with the most pronounced gains in hydration seen when using Restylane Skinboosters first.¹ Hydration is a critical factor in menopausal skin health, as highlighted in an international survey of peri- and post-menopausal women as within their top five skin concerns for face and their number one concern for body.^1,8,9

 

 

The data reinforce the relevance and synergistic effects of the two products, with Skinboosters driving faster extra-cellular matrix and elastin-associated effects to quickly deliver hydration and improvements in skin roughness, fine lines and other imperfections, and Sculptra delivering regenerative benefits across all three skin layers, helping to gradually restore volume, firmness, radiance and skin quality, and smoothing wrinkles and folds over time.^1,3-7,10-12

 

 

Results showed that facial hydration and measures of skin‑barrier function improved over time in both groups, and the improvements were mirrored by patient‑reported outcomes, with satisfaction scores rising consistently across the study and reaching high levels by Month 6.¹ Together, these data show that both treatment sequences contribute to measurable improvements in skin health in women during menopause, and they provide insight into how the treatment protocol may be optimized for this specific patient group.¹

 

 

“Menopause is associated with a distinct and often under-recognized set of skin changes, including dryness, barrier dysfunction, and progressive declines in skin quality. This first-of-its-kind clinical study is helping address an important unmet need by generating objective data in a population that has historically been overlooked in aesthetic research. The interim findings are highly encouraging, demonstrating meaningful improvements in skin hydration and collagen-related skin quality over time. Equally important, these measurable clinical benefits are mirrored by rising patient satisfaction throughout the study. For clinicians, these early results offer valuable evidence-based insight into how we can better support aging menopausal patients with treatment strategies that are tailored to the biologic changes of this stage of life.”       DR. ANDREAS NIKOLIS   STUDY LEAD INVESTIGATOR AND BOARD-CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON   MONTREAL, CANADA

 

Aesthetic changes associated with medication-driven weight loss: New insights on cellular changes underscore importance of regenerative treatments that work across skin layers

 

New interim IIT data show that in patients experiencing aesthetic changes in the abdomen associated with medication-driven weight loss, the cellular composition of adipose tissue is altered, offering a biological explanation for the volume changes increasingly reported by clinicians.² This underscores the value of regenerative treatment approaches, to support a healthy-looking appearance following medication-driven weight loss.² The IIT, conducted by Dr. Sabrina Fabi, evaluated 20 female patients with mild-to-moderate skin laxity on their abdomen.²

 

 

Interim results demonstrated a statistically significant, four‑fold reduction in adipose‑derived stem cells (ADSCs), the regenerative cell population responsible for maintaining healthy fat tissue, when compared to those who were not taking prescription weight loss medication.² Fibroblasts were preserved. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how the skin profile in individuals experiencing aesthetic changes associated withmedication-driven weight loss differs from those where changes are occurring naturally with age without having taken prescription weight loss medications, and highlight why patients may benefit from treatment plans that focus not just on replacing lost volume, but on supporting the tissues’ underlying regenerative capacity.^2,13 Galderma is well‑positioned to address these alterations across the face and body, given its expertise in dermatology, specialized range of injectable treatments and skincare products, and patient‑centric approach developed in close collaboration with leading healthcare professionals. Sculptra is the first proven regenerative biostimulator, backed by over 25 years of clinical use.^3-7 With a unique poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-SCA™) formulation, Sculptra re-engages the skin’s renewal process, stimulating adipose tissue, collagen and elastin for healthy looking skin.^3-7 Over the decades, it has evolved into a versatile treatment that delivers regenerative benefits across all three skin layers, helping to gradually restore volume, firmness, radiance and skin quality, and smoothing wrinkles and folds over time.^3-7,12

 

 

“Many people experiencing medication-driven weight loss report aesthetic changes that seem disproportionate to weight loss alone, and until now, we haven’t fully understood why. The findings from this IIT suggest shifts in the skin and adipose‑tissue profile that may help explain the volume‑related changes clinicians are seeing. By clarifying the biological underpinnings, we can better guide treatment planning, and the available science indicates that regenerative and adipose tissue‑stimulating treatments such as Sculptra, can play a critical role in supporting healthy‑looking volume and appearance. This insight gives clinicians a stronger, evidence‑based foundation for thoughtful, individualized treatment discussions with their patients across their weight loss journey.”       DR. SABRINA FABI STUDY LEAD INVESTIGATOR AND COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIST   SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES

 

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.

 

 

References

 

 

1. Nikolis A, et al. A comprehensive interim analysis of skin hydration, barrier function (TEWL), elasticity, and patient satisfaction across two treatment arms. Interim Data on File. April 2026
2. Fabi S, et al. Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. Interim Data on File. April 2026
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sculptra summary of safety and effectiveness data. Available online. Accessed April 2026.
4. Zhang Y, et al. In vivo inducing collagen regeneration of biodegradable polymer microspheres. Regen Biomater. 2021;8(5):rbab042. doi: 10.1093/rb/rbab042.
5. Waibel J, et al. A randomized, comparative study describing the gene signatures of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-SCA) and calcium hydroxylapaptite (CaHA) in the treatment of nasolabial folds. Poster presented at IMCAS World Congress; February 3-6. 2024; Paris, France.
6. Huth S, et al. Molecular insights into the effects of PLLA-SCA on gene expression and collagen synthesis in human 3d skin models containing macrophages. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(4):285-288. doi: 10.36849/JDD.7791.
7. Zubair R, et al. SPLASH: Split-body randomized clinical trial of poly-L-lactic acid for adipogenesis and volumization of the hip dell. Dermatol Surg. 2024;50(12):1155-1162. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000004417.
8. Fabi G, et al. The potential role of biostimulators/dermal fillers to address menopause-related skin conditions. Poster presented at IMCAS; January 29-31, 2026; Paris, France.
9. Galderma. Data on file. Menopause Patient Survey.
10. Landau M, Fagien S. Science of Hyaluronic Acid Beyond Filling: Fibroblasts and Their Response to the Extracellular Matrix. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;136(5 Suppl.):188S–95S. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000001823.
11. Allen J, Dodou K. Current Knowledge and Regulatory Framework on the Use of Hyaluronic Acid for Aesthetic Injectable Skin Rejuvenation Treatments. Cosmetics 2024;11(2):54. doi: 10.3390/cosmetics11020054
12. Widgerow A, et al. A randomized, comparative study describing the gene signatures of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA-SCA) and Calcium Hydroxylapaptite (CaHA) in the treatment of nasolabial folds. Poster presented at IMCAS World Congress, February 1-3, 2024, Paris, France
13. Ridha Z, et al. Decoding the Implications of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Accelerated Facial and Skin Aging. Aesthet Surg J. 2024,Jun 14:sjae132.

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408331299/en/

 

Business Wire India

Andersen Consulting enhances its platform through a Collaboration Agreement with Kyanon Consulting, a Vietnam-based technology consulting firm known for delivering large-scale digital transformation solutions.

 

Founded in 2025, as an arm of Kyanon Digital, Kyanon Consulting provides end-to-end digital and technology services to retail, banking and finance, and manufacturing organizations seeking to modernize operations, improve customer engagement, and accelerate growth. The firm delivers solutions across digital strategy, enterprise and product development, system integration, workflow automation, advanced analytics, and AI-driven insights for customer experience.

 

 

“At Kyanon Consulting, our mission is to create digital impact that truly matters,” said Tai Huynh, founder of Kyanon Consulting. “We equip clients with the tools, insights, and innovation needed to strengthen resilience and unlock new opportunities. Collaborating with Andersen Consulting allows us to bring our capabilities to a broader global platform and support organizations seeking scalable, high-performing technology solutions.”

 

 

“Andersen Consulting continues to advance its global technology capabilities, and our collaboration with Kyanon Consulting adds depth to our platform,” said Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen. “Kyanon Consulting’s expertise in digital engineering, integration, and data intelligence enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive solutions across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.”

 

 

Andersen Consulting is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Andersen Global, delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 50,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 1,000 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408163027/en/

 

Business Wire India

Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo-managed funds (“Apollo”) and Brookfield today announced that they have completed the previously announced acquisition of Air Lease Corporation (“Air Lease”) and have renamed the business Sumisho Air Lease Corporation (“Sumisho Air Lease”).

 

This transformational transaction improves the financial position of the business with long term support and aviation expertise from co-investors Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield.

 

 

Sumisho Air Lease’s strong foundation as an established aircraft lessor, supported by SMBC Aviation Capital’s industry‑leading capabilities as servicer, creates a platform with the scale and financial strength needed to meet the fast‑changing and increasingly complex requirements of airline customers. Sumisho Air Lease will also benefit from the deep expertise and long-standing commitment that both Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital bring to the global aviation leasing sector.

 

 

As part of the overall transaction, Air Lease’s orderbook has now transferred to SMBC Aviation Capital, bringing SMBC Aviation Capital’s orderbook with Airbus and Boeing to c. 420 aircraft.

 

 

SMBC Aviation Capital will be the servicer to the majority of Sumisho Air Lease’s portfolio of aircraft, bringing SMBC Aviation Capital’s Owned, Serviced and Committed aircraft to over 1700 across over 170 airline Customers.

 

 

Sumisho Air Lease will benefit from enhanced scale through access to a large-scale aviation platform and is well positioned to achieve its long-term strategic direction while continuing to be a leader in the global aviation leasing industry.

 

 

Takao Kusaka, Group CEO, Transportation & Construction Systems Group of Sumitomo Corporation, said:

 

 

“We are delighted to announce the completion of the acquisition of Air Lease Corporation together with our co-investors SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield. Reaching this important milestone is a testament to the strong alignment among the investor group and our shared long‑term vision for the business.

 

 

As a core participant in the aviation industry ecosystem, Sumisho Air Lease is highly complementary to our strategic direction and reinforces the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s commitment to the commercial aviation sector. This transaction further enhances the scale, quality and resilience of our aviation platform.

 

 

Looking ahead, we are confident that close collaboration between Sumisho Air Lease and the Sumitomo Corporation Group will unlock meaningful synergies and support the sustainable growth of our aviation portfolio”

 

 

Peter Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of SMBC Aviation Capital, said:

 

 

“This transaction creates one of the most competitive, well‑capitalised, and customer‑focused leasing platforms in the global aircraft leasing market. With Sumisho Air Lease’s modern, high-quality fleet, supported by SMBC Aviation Capital’s industry-leading capabilities, we are ideally positioned to transform the industry with innovative solutions for our airline partners and sustainable returns for investors.

 

 

In a supply constrained environment, SMBC Aviation Capital’s enhanced scale, financial strength and deep market insight will allow us to provide the new technology aircraft and the flexibility our customers need to achieve their growth ambitions. Backed by the long-term commitment and resources of our shareholders including our co-investor, Sumitomo Corporation, we look forward to unlocking new opportunities and driving innovation.”

 

 

Jamshid Ehsani, Partner, Apollo, said:

 

 

“The completion of this transaction establishes a high-quality aviation platform with strong industry sponsorship from our partners, Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital. Sumisho Air Lease’s new generation, in-demand fleet supported by Apollo’s flexible, long-term capital, positions the business to deliver innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of airline customers. This transaction also highlights Apollo’s established track record in aviation, led by our industry experts at Perseus Aviation, as well as our ability to provide scaled and creative capital solutions to support leading businesses in essential sectors of the global economy.”

 

 

Ryan Schwartz, Managing Director, Brookfield, said:

 

 

“The closing of this transaction reflects Brookfield’s ability to deploy large-scale, flexible capital to support strategic partners in complex markets. Leveraging our credit expertise alongside Castlelake’s deep aviation experience, we delivered a tailored solution for Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital that advances their strategic objectives and positions the business for long-term success.”

 

 

Noriyuki Hiruta, CEO of Sumisho Air Lease, said:

 

 

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sumisho Air Lease. As an established aircraft lessor with a modern, fuel‑efficient fleet and a strong investment‑grade profile, we are ideally placed to meet the evolving needs of airlines and investors in a rapidly changing market. With the backing of Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield, we have the scale, financial strength and industry expertise to deliver long‑term value while building trusted partnerships with our customers around the world.”

 

 

The transaction was originally announced in September 2025, with Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield agreeing to acquire Air Lease for total valuation of approximately $7.4 billion, or approximately $28.2 billion including debt obligations to be assumed or refinanced net of cash.

 

 

Notes to editors

 

 

About Sumitomo Corporation

 

 

Sumitomo Corporation (TYO: 8053) is an integrated trading and business investment company with a strong global network comprising 127 offices in 64 countries and regions. The Sumitomo Corporation Group consists of approximately 500 companies and 80,000 employees on a consolidated basis. The Group’s business activities are spread across the following nine groups: Steel, Automotive, Transportation & Construction Systems, Diverse Urban Development, Media & Digital, Lifestyle Business, Mineral Resources, Chemicals Solutions and Energy Transformation Business. Sumitomo Corporation is committed to creating greater value for society under the corporate message of “Enriching lives and the world,” based on Sumitomo’s business philosophy passed down for over 400 years. Sumitomo Corporation

 

 

About SMBC Aviation Capital

 

 

SMBC Aviation Capital is a leading aircraft lessor globally by number of aircraft and benefits from the strong support of its shareholders Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Corporation. SMBC Aviation Capital has a high-quality global airline customer base with a portfolio comprising 87% narrow-body aircraft and 73% new technology aircraft (by net book value). SMBC Aviation Capital has a strong capital position and holds an A- and BBB+ rating with S&P and Fitch respectively, reflecting the long-term strength of its business. For more information, please visit: https://www.smbc.aero/

 

 

About Apollo

 

 

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $938 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

 

 

About Brookfield

 

 

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield’s heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles. For more information, please visit our website at www.bam.brookfield.com

 

 

About Sumisho Air Lease

 

 

Sumisho Air Lease Corporation (Sumisho) is a leading global aircraft leasing company which was launched following the acquisition of Air Lease Corporation by Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo managed funds and Brookfield in April 2026. With over $29 billion of assets, 490 owned aircraft (as of 31^st Dec 2025), and a market leading management team, the company has an investment grade credit rating and committed long-term investors.

 

 

For more information, please visit: www.sumisho.aero

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408078834/en/

 

Business Wire India

 

• Part of the Visa Intelligent Commerce portfolio, Intelligent Commerce Connect will enable more ways for agents to pay and merchants to accept agentic transactions in a single integration
• Currently in pilot with select partners including Aldar, AWS, Diddo, Highnote, Mesh, Payabli, Sumvin, and rolling out to more partners this year

 

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today unveiled Intelligent Commerce Connect, a new solution that makes it easier for businesses to connect to and participate in AI-powered commerce. Intelligent Commerce Connect acts as a network, protocol, and token vault-agnostic ‘on ramp’ to agentic commerce for agent builders, merchants, and enablers.

 

As consumers increasingly rely on AI agents to make purchases, businesses – whether they are building agents, selling to them, or processing transactions – need a simple way to get started. Intelligent Commerce Connect, part of the Visa Intelligent Commerce portfolio, meets that need.

 

 

Through a single integration via the Visa Acceptance Platform, Intelligent Commerce Connect enables secure payment initiation, tokenization, spend controls, and authentication. The solution integrates both Visa Intelligent Commerce APIs, which are used to process agent purchases using Visa cards, and other networks’ APIs, allowing agents to pay with both Visa and non-Visa cards*. This provides more choice in how agents can pay, making it easier for the entire ecosystem to adopt agentic payments experiences.

 

 

“From small businesses to the world’s biggest retailers, Visa powers how people pay every day, millions of times over,” said Andrew Torre, President of Value-Added Services at Visa. “Intelligent Commerce Connect brings that same, trusted payment acceptance infrastructure into the emerging world of AI-driven commerce, so businesses can let AI agents buy on behalf of consumers, securely and at scale.”

 

 

Key benefits of Intelligent Commerce Connect:

 

 

• Works with major token vault providers: Agent platforms can plug into existing credential infrastructure and avoid being locked into a single token vault/vendor.
• Seamless acceptance of agent-initiated payments: Enables merchants to accept payments initiated via major agent protocols including: Trusted Agent Protocol, Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), and Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP).
• Makes merchant catalogs discoverable on AI platforms: Helps merchants make their product inventories and product details (e.g., descriptions, specifications, prices, etc.) accessible so consumers can discover, select, and check out within the AI platform experience.
• Supports enablers processing agentic transactions on merchants’ behalf: Visa can handle orchestration and PCI compliance for enablers supporting merchant transactions.
• One integration via Visa Acceptance Platform: Available through a single trusted integration on the Visa Acceptance Platform, a modular suite of payments tools that power millions of places where consumers pay – like online or in-app checkouts and marketplaces.

 

To find out more information about Intelligent Commerce Connect, please visit: https://corporate.visa.com/en/products/intelligent-commerce-connect.html

 

About Visa

 

 

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement.

 

 

*Subject to availability.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408772335/en/

 

Business Wire India

Sitetracker, the leading Asset Lifecycle Management platform for critical infrastructure, today announced the launch of Scout, its new Agentic AI platform designed to help infrastructure owners, operators, and contractors gain deep insights and drive automation within their operations.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408923336/en/

 

 

Scout, ready for real work

 

 

As your AI analyst and agent, Scout is ready to work on day 1. Scout provides clarity when decisions are forming and momentum when action is required. It surfaces risk, synthesizes information, and helps accelerate execution by connecting data and driving action. Scout creates operational intelligence and turns it into action all in a secure environment that protects data sovereignty.

 

 

“Our customers are looking to create compounding competitive advantages,” said Giuseppe Incitti, Chief Executive Officer of Sitetracker. “Scout delivers by providing easy to deploy agentic workflows that drive automation, compress timelines and ultimately expand margins.”

 

 

Scout automates common workflows including

 

 

• Document processing – summarize and extract data from permits, leases, invoices and other document types.
• Photo intelligence – perform quality control checks on photos to automate close out reviews, inspections and field work.
• Risk analysis – identify hidden risks within your deployment and maintenance programs, and receive mitigation recommendations.

 

Scout, in action

 

Connecting data from a variety of sources, Scout is ready to execute agent-assembled work packages that drive productivity to new levels through the entire asset-lifecycle from planning, development, construction and maintenance phases.

 

 

Examples of work packages that can be automated by Scout’s AI platform include

 

 

• Lease comparison
• Invoice processing
• Deficiency reporting
• Contractor performance assessments
• Plan-of-the-day preparation with recommendations

 

Scout not only provides out of the box agentic work packages, but also allows customers to build their own agents to align directly with their way of working, opening new opportunities for enhancing productivity within their organization.

 

Scout, available this Spring

 

 

Scout is now in limited release, with strong customer demand and a growing waitlist. Learn more and request access at sitetracker.com/scout.

 

 

About Sitetracker + Scout

 

 

Sitetracker empowers owners, operators, contractors, and other stakeholders to streamline and optimize the end-to-end asset lifecycle of critical infrastructure. As the leading global complete Asset Lifecycle Management platform, Sitetracker helps innovative companies like Vodafone, Ericsson, ENGIE, Telefonica, Cypress Creek Renewables, Cox, Iberdrola, EVgo, Vantage Towers, Southern Company, Zayo, Tilson, Nextera, EDOTCO, E.On, Axione, and TEP efficiently plan, build, operate, and maintain millions of projects, sites, and assets. Scout, Sitetracker’s agentic AI platform, enables organizations across digital infrastructure and clean energy to move from operational insight to autonomous execution, without replacing the systems their teams already depend on. Sitetracker delivers operational excellence and creates full transparency across industries such as digital infrastructure, renewables, EV charging, utilities, and real estate by driving safe, efficient teams, ensuring healthy projects, and enabling organizations to manage scale, growth, and complexity. Trusted by hundreds of industry leaders, Sitetracker advances a more connected and sustainable future across the world. Manage What’s Critical, with Sitetracker.

 

 

For more information, please request a demo.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408923336/en/