Everforth Launches New Era as Rebrand Elevates Technology and Digital Engineering Capabilities at Scale

Business Wire India

Everforth, Inc. (NYSE: EFOR), a leading technology and digital engineering company, today announced the Company’s rebrand from ASGN Incorporated and trading under its new ticker symbol, EFOR. This rebrand follows the strategic transition first announced on November 20, 2025, and represents a defining moment in the Company’s evolution.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428493554/en/

 

 

“Our transition to Everforth is an exciting milestone for our Company,” said Everforth’s Chief Executive Officer, Ted Hanson. “With a name grounded in forward progress, the Everforth brand embodies the qualities that bring us together, including our collective expertise and commitment to innovation, while also serving to distinguish us as leaders in the IT industry. Shaped by our clients’ feedback and driven by our team’s dedication, this brand launch clearly outlines our direction and lays the groundwork for meaningful progress as a unified company.”

 

 

Everforth has been purpose-built to deliver comprehensive technology and digital engineering solutions at scale, uniting deep industry expertise across a portfolio of specialized brands. By integrating these capabilities, Everforth is better positioned to serve clients who are navigating increasingly complex and rapidly changing technology environments.

 

 

Hanson continued, “Our rebranding to Everforth aligns our external identity to our internal strategic direction, unlocking our scale as an enterprise and increasing cross-selling opportunities. By combining and leveraging expertise across our business, we are providing more comprehensive, future-proof solutions to our Fortune 1000 and federal government clients, deepening relationships with our key technology partners, and enhancing the value we provide to our stockholders.”

 

 

As part of this transition, the Company now trades under a new stock ticker “EFOR.” The Company’s outstanding securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “ASGN” remain valid, and no action is required by security holders because of the name or ticker change.

 

 

Everforth is committed to delivering technology, engineering, and expertise that help organizations Adapt and Thrive™ in today’s ever-evolving marketplace. With a refreshed identity, strengthened capabilities, and a clear growth strategy, Everforth enters its next chapter poised to help its clients harness innovation, drive resilience, and generate sustained competitive advantage.

 

 

About Everforth, Inc.

 

 

Everforth, Inc. (NYSE: EFOR) is a leading technology and digital engineering company that helps organizations adapt, innovate, and thrive in a world of constant change. Our six solution areas — AI and data, cloud and infrastructure, application and digital engineering, experience, cybersecurity, and enterprise platforms — accelerate time to value for our commercial and federal clients. Powered by proprietary assets, accelerators, and proven expertise, Everforth turns complexity into progress and delivers measurable outcomes. Everforth: Adapt and Thrive™. Learn more at everforth.com.

 

 

Safe Harbor

 

 

Certain statements made in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our anticipated financial and operating performance. All statements in this news release, other than those setting forth strictly historical information, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results might differ materially. For a full list of risks and discussion of forward-looking statements, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2026. We specifically disclaim any intention or duty to update any forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

 

 

 

 

 

Black Hat Asia 2026 Unveils Key Insights on AI Security and Cloud Infrastructure as APAC Organizations Strengthen Cyber Defenses

Business Wire India

 

Black Hat, the cybersecurity industry’s most established and in-depth security event series, today announcedthe successful completion of the in-person component of Black Hat Asia 2026 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. The event brought together security professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, delivering actionable intelligence on autonomous cyber threats, fragmented data protection frameworks, and the defensive strategies required to secure APAC’s rapidly digitizing economies.

 

Keynote Highlights: Redefining Privacy and Offensive Automation

 

 

This year’s Keynote speakers explored the evolving relationship between privacy, sovereignty, and sustainable security practice, and the rise of autonomous offensive security:

 

 

  • Violet Blue, investigative journalist, challenged conventional thinking on data privacy: “What does [agency] really mean when we’re talking about data? Agency isn’t ‘opt out.’ It isn’t ‘read the terms of service.’ Agency is having the information, the tools, and the power to make a real choice, and have that choice be respected. When you look at the tools people actually have right now . . . which ones give real agency and which ones are privacy theater?” Her presentation examined how traditional privacy frameworks are becoming obsolete across the Asia-Pacific region, and what sustainable policy looks like in an era of fragmented regulations.
  • Ari Herbert-Voss, CEO and Co-Founder of RunSybil, warned: “What has happened recently is that capabilities are scaling super-linearly, rather than linearly: When you train a model that is twice as big, for twice as long, on twice as much data, you can get a model that’s four times as capable. This is the difference between the last generation of models and this latest generation.” Herbert-Voss traced the three-year evolution of autonomous offensive security systems, revealing where automation is already effective and where human expertise remains essential.

 

 

Main Stage Revelations: Defensive Blind Spots Exposed

 

The event’s Main Stage sessions delivered critical intelligence on vulnerabilities security teams can no longer afford to ignore:

 

 

  • Dick O’Brien, Principal Intelligence Analyst on the Symantec + Carbon Black Threat Hunter Team at Broadcom, exposed how attackers are weaponizing vulnerable drivers to disable endpoint security at the kernel level, a technique now standard in the attacker toolkit. O’Brien revealed critical flaws in Microsoft’s driver signing enforcement and provided defensive strategies to detect and stop Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks before security products are compromised.
  • Eoin Hinchy, co-founder and CEO of Tines, presented a framework for building secure workflows that combine human expertise, deterministic automation, and AI-driven capabilities. Hinchy outlined how organizations can scale operations without sacrificing control or governance, demonstrating where deterministic automation provides reliability and where AI extends capabilities, while maintaining the auditability and security modern enterprises require.

 

 

Briefings: Research That Shapes the Industry

 

Black Hat Asia 2026 featured 48 Briefings sessions across two days, with researchers presenting original, ground-breaking findings on topics including:

 

 

  • AI model exploitation and large language model (LLM) vulnerabilities
  • Cloud supply chain attacks and misconfigurations
  • Critical infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) device threats

 

 

These sessions reinforced Black Hat’s reputation as the platform where the most impactful security research is unveiled and debated.

 

Business Hall: Where Innovation Met Regional Challenges

 

 

The Business Hall showcased cutting-edge technologies from more than 50 of the industry’s leading cybersecurity solution providers, with a strong focus on solutions tailored to APAC’s unique regulatory and threat landscape. Attendees explored:

 

 

  • Startup City: Emerging companies showcased innovative security solutions spanning threat intelligence, cloud protection, and next-generation defense technologies.
  • Black Hat Arsenal: Hands-on demonstrations of 45 open-source tools and 8 Labs covering cloud security, malware, reverse engineering, and more.
  • Sponsored Sessions: These vendor-led sessions offered technically focused discussions on products, technologies, and industry trends.

 

 

Startup Spotlight Competition: Emerging Innovators Take the Stage

 

Returning for 2026, the Black Hat Startup Spotlight Competition showcased some of the industry’s most promising cybersecurity innovators. Finalists pQCee, Prowler, RST Cloud, and Silent Push delivered compelling presentations on their products and solutions, demonstrating how emerging companies are tackling today’s most pressing security challenges. Following the deliberation by the panel of expert judges, Prowler was named the winner and will advance to the Global Startup Spotlight Competition at Black Hat USA 2026.

 

 

Partner Programs

 

 

Launching for 2026, Partner Programs are collaborative, practitioner-focused sessions that extend the conference experience through trusted engagements with select partners, including Division Zero, the Digital Defence Alliance of Singapore (DDAS), and IMDA. Designed to be community-driven and noncommercial, these curated programs fostered high-trust dialogue around real-world challenges, emerging threats, and practical insights, bringing together security leaders, operators, and researchers to exchange candid perspectives and gain actionable takeaways that strengthen resilience across the global cybersecurity ecosystem.

 

 

Nurturing the Next Generation: Student Scholarships

 

 

Recognizing the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the Asia-Pacific cybersecurity workforce, Black Hat Asia 2026 awarded 47 complimentary Briefings passes as part of its annual Student Scholarship program, alongside its partnerships with regional industry associations. These scholarships reflect Black Hat’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and expanding access to cybersecurity education across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

 

Closing Remarks: The Road Ahead

 

 

“Black Hat Asia 2026 demonstrated that the Asia-Pacific region faces a defining moment in how we address AI-driven autonomous threats, fragmented data sovereignty frameworks, and the critical skills gap,” said Suzy Pallett, President of Black Hat. “These insights will define where the industry is heading next. The research unveiled during Black Hat Asia will give security teams the foresight and tools to proactively address emerging threats and strengthen their defensive capabilities.”

 

 

The insights, innovations, and collaborations from Black Hat Asia 2026 will continue to shape how security professionals across the region defend against tomorrow’s threats.

 

 

For more information on upcoming Black Hat events, please visit blackhat.com.

 

 

Top Sponsors and Partners of Black Hat Asia 2026 include:

 

 

  • Platinum Sponsors: Bitdefender, Broadcom, Concentric AI, SOCRadar Cyber Intelligence, ThreatLocker, and Tines.
  • Silver Sponsors: Astra Security, Censys, Corellium, Dream Security, EasyDMARC, Filigran, Fortra, ManageEngine, SecureFlag, Sparrow, Sumo Logic, TuxCare, Vanta, and Varonis.
  • Sustaining Partners: Armis, Cyera, Google, ManageEngine, Qualys, SentinelOne, Sophos, Tenable, ThreatLocker, TrendAI, Varonis, and Wiz.
  • Global Partners: Broadcom, Censys, Concentric AI, Corellium, EasyDMARC, HackerOne, Semgrep, ThreatLocker, Tines, Tracebit, VulnCheck, wolfSSL, XBOW, and Zenity.

 

 

About Black Hat

 

Black Hat is the cybersecurity industry’s most established and in-depth security event series. Founded in 1997, these annual, multi-day events provide attendees with the latest in cybersecurity research, development, and trends. Driven by the needs of the community, Black Hat events showcase content directly from the community through Briefings presentations, Trainings courses, Summits, and more. As the event series where all career levels and academic disciplines convene to collaborate, network, and discuss the cybersecurity topics that matter most to them, attendees can find Black Hat events in the United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia. For more information, please visit blackhat.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Laserfiche Introduces AI Agents: The Future of Intelligent Content Management

Business Wire India

Today at the Laserfiche Empower conference — the premier event for intelligent content management —Laserfiche announced the release of AI Agents. With simple, natural language prompts, these virtual assistants perform complex, multi-step tasks and work within the framework of Laserfiche’s robust security and compliance controls, transforming how you interact with your organization’s information.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428506937/en/

 

 

Laserfiche AI Agents leverage advanced generative AI reasoning models to perform tasks that bridge the gap between building workflows and time-consuming manual effort. They can take actions based on document data and execute bulk changes from natural language user instructions.

 

 

“The introduction of AI Agents to content management signals a shift in how we handle the information lifecycle,” said Karl Chan, CEO of Laserfiche. “We are moving beyond manual processes by offloading mundane work to Agents that operate within a governance framework. We are enabling organizations to modernize operations while keeping compliance at the forefront.”

 

 

To celebrate the launch of Laserfiche AI Agents at Empower, Agents are available exclusively for all conference attendees who use Laserfiche Cloud and their organizations. Agents will be generally available for users of Laserfiche Cloud on May 7, 2026.

 

 

Introducing Laserfiche AI Agents

 

 

Accessible through Smart Chat — an intuitive AI-powered chat interface in the Laserfiche repository — Agents inherit the specific permissions and access restrictions of the initiating user. This upholds Laserfiche’s rigorous security and governance standards, enabling teams and users of all technical levels to save time and scale output by safely automating their own solutions.

 

 

By combining AI-powered content analysis with intelligent Agents, organizations can identify conditions in their documents and take impactful actions across departments, including:

 

 

  • Legal: Surface inconsistencies in contracts — such as missing or conflicting metadata — and route them for legal review.
  • Human resources: Identify demographic information in personnel records and move those documents to folders with different security settings.
  • Accounts Payable: Identify overdue invoices and route them for follow-up and resolution.

 

 

Users across industries can use Agents to reduce the burden on IT resources and process designers. Some common industry use cases include:

 

  • Government: Accelerate public records requests by flagging documents that may require exemption or legal review and routing them to the appropriate teams.
  • Education: Identify documents containing PII and apply security tags to protect sensitive information.
  • Financial services: Support internal data handling policies by identifying compliance signals and routing exemptions for review.
  • Manufacturing: Flag quality-related issues in inspection reports and identify incidents for investigation and resolution.

 

 

Transform Records Management with AI Agents and Search

 

With their ability to intelligently filter content from across the repository and take context-aware actions, Laserfiche AI Agents will also reshape how users search for and organize information.

 

 

“In the future, the ‘where’ of document storage is not going to be as important as it used to be,” said Justin Pava, Laserfiche chief product evangelist. “With automatically-extracted metadata, AI-assisted search and the autonomous capabilities of Laserfiche AI Agents, you won’t have to spend time organizing data, you will be able to simply act on it.”

 

 

Upon launch, users will be able to direct Agents to perform one-time actions from within Smart Chat. Subsequent updates will expand Agents’ capabilities to include running repeated processes on-demand, embedding Agents in business processes, and enabling Agents to run in the background, monitoring the system for the specified conditions and then completing tasks ambiently while your team works on other high-priority projects.

 

 

For More Information

 

 

 

 

About Laserfiche

 

Laserfiche is the leading enterprise platform that helps organizations digitally transform operations and manage their content with AI-powered solutions. Through scalable workflows, customizable forms, no-code templates and AI-enabled capabilities, the Laserfiche® document management platform accelerates how business gets done. Trusted by organizations of all sizes — from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises — Laserfiche empowers teams to boost productivity, foster collaboration, and deliver a superior customer experience at scale. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Laserfiche operates globally, with offices across North America, Europe and Asia.

 

 

Connect with Laserfiche:

 

 

Laserfiche Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

 

 

 

 

 

Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS) Releases Study on the Positive Economic Impacts of Pacifico Mexinol Project in Northern Sinaloa

Business Wire India

  • The study, among other factors, estimates for every one job created by Pacifico Mexinol, eight additional jobs on average are created across the broader economy, and Mexico’s GDP will rise by over $2b USD during construction.
  • The study is the first economic impact study of its kind at a state level in Mexico and the methodology can be replicated globally across other sectors and regions.

As part of an ongoing joint effort between the academic and commercial sectors, stemming from a Collaboration Agreement between the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS) and Pacifico Mexinol (a subsidiary of Transition Industries) signed in 2024, UAS released the findings of the economic effects study of the world’s largest ultra-low-carbon methanol plant, located near Topolobampo, Ahome, Sinaloa.

 

The Pacifico Mexinol project is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by promoting the use of clean energy, the utilization of treated wastewater, and climate change mitigation. It protects local ecosystems and will generate thousands of local jobs. The project represents more than the construction of industrial infrastructure; it is a trigger for economic growth for northern Sinaloa and Mexico.

 

 

The study estimated the direct and indirect economic effects of the project’s investment in terms of employment, income, value added, and social well-being; identified regional development opportunities; and proposed strategies to ensure the project’s sustainability and its harmonious integration with the local socioeconomic environment.

 

 

The study assesses that during the four-year construction phase, the project will generate 4,500 direct jobs and 660 indirect jobs per year in Sinaloa, and around 8,000 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs nationally. During the 30-year operations phase, the facility will have approximately 1,400 direct and indirect jobs on a continuous annual basis.

 

 

The study also assesses total wage increases estimated at $3.3 billion pesos in Sinaloa and $3.2 billion pesos in the rest of the country; while Sinaloa’s GDP could rise by $15 billion pesos and the rest of the country by $14 billion pesos, for a national total close to $30 billion pesos ($2 billion USD) during construction.

 

 

The UAS study not only measures the direct jobs in the sector, but also how the income of all the sectors will grow as a result of the construction of the Pacifico Mexinol facility. For every one job, there are six generated during construction and for every one job during operations, there are 11 jobs created.

 

 

The study was the effort of UAS, through the Research and Graduate Studies Directorate, the Technology Transfer Office, and the School of Economic and Social Sciences, led by Dr. Luis Armando Becerra Pérez, an economist with extensive experience in renewable energy and sustainable development.

 

 

“I believe foreign investment should complement domestic investment, and if we want to develop Mexico’s regions — in this case Sinaloa specifically — we need projects of this kind to arrive… and [they] must be evaluated with a long-term perspective. If we want our regions to advance, if we want our children and grandchildren to have greater development opportunities, we need to think with that horizon in mind. Industrial districts around the world do not develop without people getting on board and sharing a vision for the future,” said Dr. Becerra.

 

 

Overall, the study represents a key tool for ensuring that industrial development translates into shared well-being and equitable growth.

 

 

“By identifying local development opportunities, social needs, and potential risks, the report contributes to the design of strategies that promote the harmonious integration of the project with its surroundings under Pacifico Mexinol’s Good Neighbor Program and the Project’s IFC-aligned Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for economic inclusion, community participation, and respect for the rights of local populations,” says Karin Nunan, a globally recognized human rights and socioeconomic expert who is the Global Head of Corporate Affairs for Transition Industries.

 

 

The study provides data to supplement and help visualize the economic value chain that Pacifico Mexinol has long been advocating through its Local Content Plan – which requires all contractors to maximize hiring locally within Ahome Municipality, then Sinaloa and then Mexico. The project aims for a 90% national employment rate during construction and operations.

 

 

The analysis was developed through a combination of three complementary approaches:

 

 

1) Structural econometrics, to model causal relationships between key economic variables,
2) Machine learning, to detect complex patterns in large volumes of data and simulate future scenarios, and,
3) Input-output matrices, to estimate the multiplier effects of the project on the regional economy.

 

 

Given that prior to this study, economic simulators only existed at the national level in Mexico, UAS collaborated with the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (INEGI) to adapt models and parameters to the local context, thus increasing the accuracy of the study.

 

 

About the Project

 

 

Pacifico Mexinol is designed as a next-generation facility under a Net Zero model, with engineering aimed at virtually eliminating the carbon footprint of the process. With an investment exceeding $3.3 billion, the project seeks to transform methanol production—a key input for the global economy—through a sustainable and competitive approach.

 

 

Once operational, the facility will produce 6,140 metric tons (MT) of green and blue methanol a day using state-of-the-art technologies such as NX-AdWinMethanol Zero, which is based on renewable and environmentally friendly inputs. It is located approximately 9 km from the port of Topolobampo and close to the natural gas pipeline from Texas, United States.

 

 

The project will use existing infrastructure in the port and incorporates an innovative water management solution, as it will use wastewater from the city of Los Mochis, which will become income for the municipality of Ahome. This eliminates the freshwater pressure that new businesses usually generate.

 

 

The decision by Mexinol to take wastewater under the principle of treat-use-replenish the municipal system prevents the plant from competing with other uses of the resource and protects the Bay of Ohuira, since there will be no discharge of wastewater.

 

 

In addition, Mexinol will use electricity from renewable sources through Clean Energy Certificates (CELs), ensuring that its electricity consumption is sustainable and fulfilling Mexinol’s mission to leverage technology and innovation to produce methanol safely and efficiently, while minimizing the environmental footprint and actively participating in the transition to a planet with low carbon emissions.

 

 

About the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS)

 

 

The Autonomous University of Sinaloa (the third largest of the State Public Universities nationwide) comprises an academic, scientific, technological, athletic, and cultural space where diverse expressions of universal thought coexist harmoniously. The cultivation of science, technology, and the humanities translates into increasingly vigorous academic activities.

 

 

Through the General Directorate of Research and Graduate Studies and the Technology Transfer Office attached to this directorate, the UAS seeks to protect inventions generated at the UAS and promote the transfer of knowledge that contributes to the economic development of the region, the country, and the world. For more information, please email ott@uas.edu.mx.

 

 

Dr. Luis Armando Becerra Pérez holds a PhD in Economics from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), with a postdoctoral degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainability. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from UNAM and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from UAS. He is currently a full-time professor and researcher at the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at UAS, and a member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) Level II. His research focuses on bioenergy, environmental economics, and sustainable development, with notable publications in national and international journals. He has held academic residencies at international universities such as Yale and Harvard, as well as at institutions in Canada, Colombia, and Brazil, and has been recognized with the Sinaloa State Journalism Award.

 

 

About Transition Industries

 

 

Transition Industries LLC, based in Houston, Texas, develops global-scale, net-zero carbon methanol and green hydrogen projects in North America to address climate change and promote environmental and social sustainability. For more information about Pacifico Mexinol or Transition Industries, please email inquiries@transitionind.com.

 

 

 

 

 

JPMorganChase Named First-Ever Global Banking Partner of the Olympic Games

Business Wire India

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and JPMorganChase today announced a landmark Worldwide Olympic Partnership, making JPMorganChase the first Global Banking Partner in Olympic history. The partnership includes the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28 Games) and the French Alps 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The firm has also reached an agreement with LA28 to become the Official Bank of Team USA and LA28, and a Founding Partner of the LA28 Games.

 

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to ambition and excellence, and places athletes and communities at its core.

 

 

Kirsty Coventry, President of the IOC, commented: “JPMorganChase is the first Global Partner from the banking sector in Olympic history, and we are proud to welcome them to the Worldwide Olympic Partner programme. This partnership reflects our shared values of ambition, excellence and will support the Olympic Movement and sport around the world. JPMorganChase’s global reach and expertise will deliver lasting support for athletes and help create a lasting impact in communities worldwide.”

 

 

Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorganChase, added: “We are honored to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, supporting athletes, fans, businesses and communities around the globe. Olympians and Paralympians are more than athletes—they are our customers, clients and employees, and their dreams extend beyond the Games. We bank the communities they call home, finance the facilities where they train, help them start businesses and plan for their futures. Their journeys reflect the aspirations of millions we serve every day, and we’re excited to support them.”

 

 

With operations in over 60 countries and clients in more than 100 markets, JPMorganChase brings unmatched expertise and resources to help create economic growth and opportunity for customers, employees and communities worldwide.

 

 

For over 135 years, JPMorganChase has helped create economic opportunity in Los Angeles—creating jobs, supporting businesses and helping families thrive. In LA, the firm serves 5 million consumer banking clients and 589,000 small business clients through more than 6,000 employees and more than 330 retail branches. In France, where the firm has operated since 1868, JPMorganChase has more than 1,000 employees, and since 2018, it has committed $100 million in new business and philanthropic investments to connect individuals and entrepreneurs to economic opportunities. Over the last five years, JPMorganChase has also provided over €147 billion in credit and capital to more than 670 investment clients across the country.

 

 

Through this partnership, JPMorganChase will strengthen the Olympic and Paralympic Movements’ long-term financial health and create new opportunities for athletes, businesses and communities to thrive. JPMorganChase and the IOC will holistically support athletes, including plans to host financial health workshops for them through the IOC’s Athlete365 platform. These initiatives and other local investments in host cities will help ensure the Olympic Movement leaves a lasting legacy beyond the Games.

 

 

JPMorganChase becomes the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Asset and Wealth Management and Private Banking, Commercial and Investment Banking category. In the U.S., the firm will be a Founding Partner of the LA28 Games in the Retail Banking category. Consistent with the IOC’s approach, revenues generated through the partnership will be redistributed to support sports organisations globally—including National Olympic Committees and their athletes, as well as Organising Committees for the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games.

 

 

About JPMorganChase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.9 trillion in assets and $364 billion in stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2026. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

 

 

About the International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organization made up of volunteers, committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90% of its income to the wider sporting movement, meaning that every day the equivalent of USD 4.7 million goes to help athletes and sports organizations at all levels around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

SCX Brings Sovereign AI to Equinix’s AI Ecosystem and Confirms National Expansion with SambaNova SN50

Business Wire India

SouthernCrossAI (SCX), Australia’s full-stack sovereign AI infrastructure company, today announced it is now providing sovereign AI inferencing capacity to the Equinix Fabric AI ecosystem, making its ASIC-powered inference nodes discoverable and accessible to enterprises, government agencies, and developers across the Equinix ecosystem.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428587163/en/

 

 

SCX brings sovereign AI to the Equinix AI Ecosystem

SCX brings sovereign AI to the Equinix AI Ecosystem

 

Alongside this milestone, SCX confirmed that its national infrastructure expansion will be powered by SambaNova’s next-generation SN50 Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit (RDU), the world’s fastest AI chip purpose-built for agentic AI inference.

 

SCX Joins Equinix Fabric AI Ecosystem

 

 

SCX’s inclusion in Equinix Fabric AI ecosystem represents a significant step in making sovereign Australian AI inferencing capacity available at scale. Through Equinix Fabric, Equinix’s software-defined interconnection service, organisations across the Asia-Pacific region can now establish secure, low-latency, private connections directly to SCX’s ASIC-accelerated inference nodes — without transiting public internet infrastructure or routing data through overseas hyperscaler environments.

 

 

The partnership builds on SCX’s existing operational node at Equinix’s SY5 IBX data centre in Sydney, and positions Equinix Fabric as the primary interconnection backbone for SCX’s planned multi-site national network. Future nodes confirmed at Equinix facilities across Australia will progressively extend sovereign inferencing capacity to enterprise and government customers throughout 2026 and beyond.

 

 

“We are excited to welcome SCX to the Equinix Fabric AI ecosystem. SCX represents exactly the kind of innovative sovereign AI provider that enterprises and government agencies need to access through Equinix Fabric — a locally governed, high-performance inferencing capability that meets Australia’s data sovereignty requirements. Together, we are building the infrastructure for Australia’s AI future.”

 

 

Chris Johnston, Interim Managing Director, Equinix Australia

 

 

“Joining Equinix Fabric AI ecosystem means that any organisation connected to Equinix Fabric can now reach our sovereign inferencing nodes with a private, direct connection. This is how we scale Australian AI — not by moving data overseas, but by making world-class inference available where Australian data already lives.”

 

 

— David Keane, CEO & Co-Founder, SCX

 

 

SambaNova SN50: Next-Generation Hardware Confirmed for National Expansion

 

 

SCX has confirmed that its national infrastructure rollout across Australian Equinix facilities will incorporate SambaNova’s newly announced SN50 Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit (RDU); SambaNova’s fifth-generation chip, purpose-built for agentic AI inference at scale. The SN50 delivers five times the maximum speed and more than three times the throughput of NVIDIA Blackwell B200 GPUs for agentic inference workloads, while averaging just 20 kilowatts of power per SambaRack1; enabling deployment in existing air-cooled data centres without infrastructure modification.

 

 

The SN50’s tiered memory architecture supports models of up to ten trillion parameters with context lengths of up to ten million tokens, and enables millisecond hot-swapping between models — a capability that is essential for the complex, multi-model agentic workflows increasingly required by enterprise and government AI deployments. The SN50 begins shipping to customers in the second half of 2026, and SCX’s confirmed supply positions Australia as one of the first markets to deploy the technology at sovereign infrastructure scale.

 

 

The supply of SN50 chips underpins SCX’s confirmed expansion to additional Equinix facilities across Australia. New nodes will progressively come online throughout 2026 and 2027, building out a national network of sovereign inferencing capacity accessible through Equinix Fabric from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and beyond.

 

 

SambaNova CRO Visits Sydney to Advance Strategic Partnership

 

 

Harry Ault, Chief Revenue Officer at SambaNova, visited Sydney to advance the strategic partnership between SambaNova and SCX, meeting with customers, government stakeholders, and ecosystem partners to discuss the future of sovereign AI infrastructure in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

 

 

“The Asia-Pacific region represents one of the most significant opportunities for sovereign AI infrastructure globally, and Australia is at the forefront of that transformation. SCX has built something genuinely unique — a full-stack sovereign AI platform that combines SambaNova’s world-leading inference hardware with the connectivity and reach of the Equinix ecosystem. The deployment of the SN50 across SCX’s national network will be a defining moment for Australian AI, delivering agentic inference capabilities at a price and performance level that simply wasn’t possible before. We are proud to be backing SCX’s expansion and deeply committed to Australia’s sovereign AI future.”

 

 

— Harry Ault, Chief Revenue Officer, SambaNova Systems

 

 

About SCX (SouthernCross AI)

 

 

SouthernCross AI (SCX) is Australia’s full-stack sovereign AI infrastructure company, delivering onshore AI inference, model hosting, and platform services powered by ASIC-accelerated compute from SambaNova Systems. SCX’s infrastructure is deployed within Equinix IBX data centres and is accessible through Equinix Fabric. The company’s platform supports a growing portfolio of open-weight and proprietary models — including SCX’s own Australian-optimised LLMs — with no data retention, no offshore routing, and no training on customer data. SCX is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. For more information, visit scx.ai.

 

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

 

1https://www.hpcwire.com/aiwire/2026/02/25/sambanova-eyes-10-trillion-parameter-models-for-agentic-ai-with-new-chip/

 

 

 

 

 

Qatar Implements Relief Measures to Support Business Community

Business Wire India

Qatar has activated a comprehensive package of support measures designed to maintain market stability and reinforce investor confidence amid evolving regional conditions. These measures, delivered through the nation’s foreign direct investment ecosystem, provide immediate financial, regulatory and operational relief to Qatar’s international business community.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428904909/en/

 

 

Infographic highlights key relief measures implemented in Qatar to support the business community (Infographic: AETOSWire)

Infographic highlights key relief measures implemented in Qatar to support the business community (Infographic: AETOSWire)

 

H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Invest Qatar, stated: “Qatar’s commitment to its business community is unwavering. As regional conditions continue to evolve, we remain fully focused on acting decisively to support companies operating in our market, safeguard business continuity and reinforce confidence. Our approach is grounded in close partnership with the private sector, ensuring businesses have the flexibility, clarity and institutional support they need to navigate uncertainty and sustain growth.”

 

Key Support Pillars

 

 

  • Financial Relief: Invest Qatar continues to offer up to 40% support on eligible local expenses via the National Incentives Programme. To date, this has supported QAR 2.8 billion in investment projects, creating over 900 jobs. Additionally, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) have activated rent waivers, payment deferrals, and lease extensions for affected tenants.
  • Regulatory Flexibility: To ease compliance pressures, the QFC has introduced targeted, time-bound flexibility. This includes extensions for filing audited financial statements and case-by-case adjustments to tax filing timelines, ensuring businesses can focus on core operations during exceptional circumstances.
  • Operational Support: Delivered through coordinated action across key institutions – the Ministry of Commerce and Industry safeguards business continuity through 500+ digital e‑services and strengthened consumer protection oversight; Invest Qatar maintains continuous investor engagement via advisory support, weekly seminars and a 24/7 hotline; and QFZ enhances resilience through dedicated investor channels, logistics facilitation and crisis preparedness across free zones.

 

 

These measures are currently active and will be reviewed continuously to meet the evolving needs of the private sector.

 

Confidence in Qatar’s Economic Outlook

 

 

Qatar’s economy remains on a strong footing, supported by robust macroeconomic management, strong sovereign reserves and ongoing reforms under the Third National Development Strategy. Current challenges are being addressed through an integrated package focused on strengthening fiscal stability, reinforcing financial system resilience, ensuring production continuity and enhancing national capacity to withstand shocks. This approach, grounded in strong economic fundamentals, is reflected in the IMF’s forecast that Qatar will be among the GCC’s fastest‑growing economies from 2027.

 

 

*Source: AETOSWire

 

 

 

 

 

Boomi To Unveil the Future Of Data Activation and AI-Driven Innovation at Boomi World 2026

Business Wire India

Boomi, the data activation company, today announced Boomi World 2026, its premier annual user conference, taking place May 11 – 14, 2026 in Chicago, IL. The event will bring together customers, partners, and industry leaders from around the world to explore how data activation is transforming the enterprise and accelerating the path to AI-driven outcomes.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427600340/en/

 

 

Boomi To Unveil the Future Of Data Activation and AI-Driven Innovation at Boomi World 2026

Boomi To Unveil the Future Of Data Activation and AI-Driven Innovation at Boomi World 2026

 

Boomi World 2026 will spotlight data activation — bringing data to life to power AI, analytics, and intelligent automation. Attendees will gain firsthand insights into how the Boomi Enterprise Platform enables businesses to unify data, streamline operations, and innovate faster in an increasingly agentic world.

 

“Data is only valuable when it’s activated,” said Steve Lucas, Chairman and CEO, Boomi. “At Boomi World 2026, we’re bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to show how organizations can harness data to drive real outcomes, from AI to automation to entirely new business models.”

 

 

The event will feature visionary keynotes, customer success stories, hands-on learning, and networking opportunities designed to help attendees turn strategy into action.

 

 

Featured speakers include:

 

 

 

  • Venus Williams, Tennis Champion & Entrepreneur
  • Steve Lucas, Chairman and CEO, Boomi
  • Ed Macosky, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Boomi
  • TK Balaji, Chief Information Officer, Post Consumer Brands
  • John Baker, CIO and CISO, Lexitas
  • Michael Hanken, SVP of IT, Multiquip Inc.
  • Prashant Gaonkar, SVP and Global Head Enterprise Integration, Process Orchestration and Supply Chain Management, Cognizant
  • Ben Schreiner, Head of AI and Modern Data Strategy, AWS
  • SP Singh, SVP Enterprise Apps and Integration Services, Infosys
  • William Thomas, AdvisoryX Managing Partner, DXC Technology
  • Shailesh Ghaisas, Head of Consulting, Enterprise Integration, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
  • Eric Rounds, Vice President of Information Services & Technology, HNL Lab Medicine
  • And more!

 

 

Event Highlights

 

1. Special Guest Venus Williams
Boomi welcomes Tennis champion and Entrepreneur Venus Williams as its special guest speaker this year!

 

 

With 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 Wimbledon championships, and 4 Olympic gold medals, tennis champion Venus Williams is arguably one of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports. Beginning her rise to the top at the age of 14, Venus quickly took the tennis world by storm—rising to the top-ranked position, breaking countless records, and winning numerous championships.

 

 

Off the court, Venus has combined her sharp business acumen with her competitive spirit to build several successful ventures spanning art, design, wellness, and entertainment. She is the founder of V Starr, an award-winning full-service commercial and residential design firm. Venus launched her plant-based protein company, Happy Viking, in December 2020. Additionally, she is an investor and ambassador for the walking and wellness app WeWard, encouraging healthier and more active lifestyles worldwide.

 

 

Most recently, Venus partnered with her sister Serena on an exclusive X Originals video podcast series, Stockton Street, which premiered in September 2025. The viral hit series spotlights Venus and Serena as they reflect on their journey to becoming global icons, joined by a dynamic lineup of guests for candid conversations spanning family, health and wellness, mental health, pop culture, entrepreneurship, leadership, ambition, and resilience.

 

 

Venus released her health and wellness book, STRIVE, in August 2024 with Amistad and HarperCollins. In it, she draws from her own personal health and wellness journey to share an easy-to-follow yet innovative life improvement program founded on her eight essential tenets: Observe, Appreciate, Balance, Enrich, Soothe, Believe, Inspire, and Strive.

 

 

Throughout her career, Venus has been a steadfast advocate for equality. In 2006, UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, named her its first “Promoter of Gender Equality.” In 2007, it was her unwavering fight that led Wimbledon to award women players the same pay as their male counterparts. In 2023, Venus received the inaugural US Open Billie Jean King Champion of Equality Award, recognizing her continued dedication to promoting equality and leveling the playing field for athletes.

 

 

2. Exclusive Announcements
Attendees will be the first to hear Boomi’s latest innovations across the Boomi Enterprise Platform, including advancements in data readiness, workflow automation, and agent management. From breakthroughs that bring data to life to new ways organizations can power AI, analytics, and automation, Boomi World 2026 will showcase what’s next in turning data into action and accelerating business outcomes.

 

 

3. Pre-Conference Training and Partner Summit
Starting on May 11, Boomi World will offer optional one- and two-day Pre-Conference Training designed to help attendees build practical expertise across the Boomi Enterprise Platform. These hands-on, instructor-led sessions go beyond individual products to focus on how integration, APIs, data management, and AI agents work together to power real-world, end-to-end solutions.

 

 

Attendees can choose from foundational to advanced tracks, including platform-wide learning through Boomi 360, integration-focused courses, and specialized sessions on designing, governing, and powering AI agents with APIs and data — reinforcing how organizations can activate data to drive intelligent automation and scalable outcomes.

 

 

Taking place on May 12, the Boomi Partner Summit provides partners with an exclusive look at the future of the Boomi ecosystem. Partners will gain early insight into upcoming innovations, strategic direction, and go-to-market resources designed to help customers activate their data, accelerate AI initiatives, and drive meaningful business transformation.

 

 

4. 70+ Breakout Sessions
Boomi World 2026 features five breakout session track groupings along with sessions designed specifically for Higher Education industry attendees and Embedded partners.

 

 

  • Agentic AI: Build a trusted, agentic enterprise.
    Attendees will discover how to connect systems, contextualize data, and take control of agentic workflows with Boomi Agentstudio. Sessions span every stage of the journey, from building an initial use case to orchestrating agents across the enterprise.

 

  • Integration & Automation: Break down silos with modern integration.
    Boomi is the engine for creating compliant and reliable connectivity. Attendees will learn how to move beyond point-to-point integrations with full ecosystem visibility.
  • Data Management: Deliver trusted data where and when it matters most.
    These sessions explore using Boomi’s data management capabilities to break down silos, resolve conflicts, and govern data. Attendees will learn how to transform data from raw inputs into high-quality, trusted data products.
  • API Management: Govern APIs to activate AI-ready integration.
    Boomi API Management delivers unified control to protect systems and data while accelerating modern integration, agentic workflows, and MCP-enabled AI at scale. Attendees will learn how to master API governance and security across a distributed ecosystem.
  • Platform Orchestration: Activate AI across your business with a unified platform.
    Boomi’s unified platform acts as the foundation for organizations to build, govern, and automate across the business. Attendees will discover how Boomi enables AI-driven orchestration through the combined power of integration, data management, API management, AI agents, and more.

 

5. Networking Opportunities
Connect with technology thought leaders, like-minded professionals, industry experts, and Boomi partners during dedicated networking sessions. Boomi World 2026 provides a unique platform to foster collaboration, share ideas, and build valuable relationships.

 

Sponsors
A special thanks to Boomi’s partner sponsors for helping make Boomi World 2026 possible, including DXC and Infosys as the Pinnacle sponsors, and AWS, Cognizant, and TCS as Diamond sponsors.

 

 

Registration
Registration is open. Secure your spot at Boomi World 2026 by visiting BoomiWorld.com.

 

 

To join the Boomi World conversation on social media, use #BoomiWorld.

 

 

Additional Resources

 

 

 

 

About Boomi
Boomi, the data activation company, brings data to life by integrating and governing it to power everything from AI to BI. The Boomi Enterprise Platform puts data in motion, uniting data readiness, integration and automation, and agent management in one comprehensive solution. Trusted by more than 30,000 customers and supported by a global network of 800+ partners, Boomi is driving agentic transformation — helping organizations of all sizes move faster, operate smarter, and innovate at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.

 

© 2026 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the ‘B’ logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

 

 

 

 

 

Omdia: Mainland China Cloud Infrastructure Spending Rises 26% in Q4 2025, Driven by AI and Agent Growth

Business Wire India

Mainland China’s cloud infrastructure services spending reached $14.7 billion in Q4 2025, up 26% year-on-year, according to new research by Omdia. This marked a continued acceleration from the previous quarter and the third consecutive quarter of growth above 20%. Looking ahead, Omdia forecasts that China’s cloud infrastructure services spending will grow by 26% in 2026.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260426650019/en/

 

 

Mainland China cloud infrastructure services spend, Q4 2025

Mainland China cloud infrastructure services spend, Q4 2025

 

In Q4 2025, AI remained the market’s primary growth driver, but its impact expanded beyond model-related demand to support broader cloud infrastructure consumption and enterprise deployment capabilities. At the same time, market attention is shifting from models themselves toward product forms such as agents that are more closely aligned with real-world business processes. Competition is increasingly centered on product readiness, operational capability, and the depth of scenario integration. As AI adoption moves closer to real business workflows, collaboration across the broader ecosystem is also set to play a more important role.

 

Mainland China’s cloud infrastructure services market continued to recover in Q4 2025, posting 26% year-on-year growth. AI-related demand remained the central growth driver. As enterprise AI adoption deepened, market growth was increasingly supported not only by model usage, but also by the broader rollout of enterprise AI, the expansion of private AI deployments, and rising demand for traditional cloud resources such as compute, storage, and databases.

 

 

“This reflects a broader shift in the role of AI, from a standalone technical capability into a wider driver of infrastructure demand,” said Rachel Brindley, Senior Research Director at Omdia. “As enterprises embed AI across a wider range of real-world business scenarios, deployment models, data environments, and operational frameworks are becoming increasingly complex. As a result, demand for cloud resources is extending beyond model consumption to the broader infrastructure layer.”

 

 

AI commercialization is also gradually evolving beyond chatbot-style applications toward execution-oriented applications, particularly agents. The rapid emergence of OpenClaw in China has further heightened market attention on this shift. More importantly, it has given the market a clearer view of how agents can connect workflows, tool use, and external systems through conversational interfaces, while being packaged into product forms that are more closely aligned with business process.

 

 

“As conversational interfaces, workflows, and enterprise systems are increasingly integrated into the invocation and execution chain of agents, the focus of market competition is beginning to shift,” said Yi Zhang, Senior Analyst at Omdia. “It is moving beyond models and platform capabilities alone toward the deliverability and operational maturity of agent products, as well as the depth of their integration with real-world business scenarios.”

 

 

As this shift becomes more visible, China’s leading cloud vendors are responding in different ways, with each placing emphasis on different parts of the emerging agent landscape. Tencent Cloud is emphasizing the value of the interface layer, accelerating its agent product strategy around mainstream instant messaging platforms and its broader ecosystem, while exploring how messaging and chat interfaces can evolve into points of invocation and execution for agents. Alibaba Cloud is placing greater emphasis on the enterprise platform layer, strengthening enterprise-grade agent platforms and workflow execution capabilities to support agent adoption across business processes. Huawei Cloud, meanwhile, continues to advance AI deployment through industry scenarios, with a stronger emphasis on the integrated development of models, platforms, and solution capabilities.

 

 

As agents move closer to real business processes, ecosystem collaboration is becoming more important. In Q4 2025, partner-driven cloud revenue accounted for 25% of the market, with the share expected to rise further as partners help translate AI adoption into business value.

 

 

Alibaba Cloud held a 37% share of China’s cloud infrastructure market in Q4 2025, maintaining its lead, while revenue from AI-related products recorded triple-digit year-on-year growth for the tenth consecutive quarter. During the quarter, Alibaba Cloud continued to strengthen its AI full stack portfolio through the launch of Qwen3.5 and further enhancements to its Model Studio platform (Bailian). The latest updates expanded support for agent development and multimodal knowledge management, while adding capabilities such as long-term memory, data connectors, templates, and MCP services. These enhancements helped drive a sixfold increase in average daily token consumption for public model APIs on Model Studio over a three-month period. Alibaba Cloud also launched Wukong, an enterprise-grade AI-native agent platform, extending its model and platform capabilities into more practical enterprise AI deployment. Separately, it expanded its regional infrastructure footprint by opening its fourth data center in Japan in March.

 

 

Huawei Cloud remained the second-largest cloud infrastructure provider in China in Q4 2025, with a 17% market share. During the quarter, Huawei Cloud continued to advance its AI strategy through a combination of industry-focused deployment and broader ecosystem support. In February, Huawei Cloud launched its Industry AI Foundry initiative for smart healthcare. As part of this push, it also introduced a cloud-edge-device smart pathology solution that brings together models, platforms, and solution capabilities to accelerate AI adoption in the medical sector. Huawei Cloud also launched the CodeArts coding agent, an engineering-oriented intelligent coding solution for developers and enterprises, with its user base growing sevenfold since public beta. In March, Huawei Cloud further expanded support for AI ecosystem partners by updating its partner policy in China and launching a CNY 200 million ($28.9 million) AI ecosystem fund.

 

 

Tencent Cloud held an estimated 10% share of China’s cloud infrastructure market in Q4 2025. It further advanced its agent strategy from development capabilities toward more practical productization and deployment. In January, Tencent Cloud upgraded its agent development platform (ADP), with enhanced support for multi-agent orchestration, GraphRAG, plugin ecosystems, and engineering capabilities. It also launched products including WorkBuddy and QClaw, expanding its agent portfolio across a broader range of usage scenarios. At the end of March, Tencent Cloud released its first agent product landscape and upgraded its MaaS platform to TokenHub, further integrating these products and capabilities into a more unified agent offering. On the infrastructure side, Tencent Cloud also announced plans to add a new cloud availability zone in Frankfurt, further strengthening its presence in Europe.

 

 

Omdia defines cloud infrastructure services as the sum of bare metal as a service (BMaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and container-as-a-service (CaaS) and serverless that are hosted by third-party providers and made available to users via the Internet.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Dubai’s Medcare Hospital Becomes the World’s First to Treat an Adult Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Patient Outside the US

Business Wire India

Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital (MRSH) in Dubai has become the world’s first hospital outside the USA, to offer a newly licensed intrathecal gene therapy – Itvisma, to adult patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This one-time treatment was recently administered to a 22-year-old Egyptian patient, who was diagnosed at 18 months and confined to a wheelchair for most of his life.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428038416/en/

 

 

Dr. Vivek Mundada with Medcare multidisciplinary medical team (Photo: AETOSWire)

Dr. Vivek Mundada with Medcare multidisciplinary medical team (Photo: AETOSWire)

 

Last year, Medcare also became the first healthcare provider globally to administer the newly licensed Itvisma to a four-year-old international SMA patient.

 

SMA is a rare neuromuscular disease that leads to progressive muscle weakness and loss of mobility, impacting movement, breathing, and swallowing. Until now, advancements in gene therapy for SMA were primarily restricted to children under the age of two. Medcare is now offering treatments for patients older than two years with the newly approved gene therapy.

 

 

Commenting on the advanced treatment, Dr. Shanila Laiju, Group CEO of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, said, “We believe expanding SMA treatment for adults can transform thousands of lives across the Middle East and beyond. The introduction of Itvisma at Medcare builds on our pioneering role in treating older SMA patients, as recognised by Novartis. Globally, SMA affects 1 in 10,000 live births, while DMD impacts 300,000 boys worldwide. To date, Medcare has treated over 190 SMA and 20 DMD patients from the MEA, Asia, and Europe.”

 

 

A multidisciplinary team at Medcare delivered the therapy, led by its Gene Therapy Unit clinical lead, Dr. Vivek Mundada, adult neurologist Dr. Sagar Kawale, anaesthesia specialists Dr. Neha Shahane and Dr. Ardalan Papari.

 

 

Dr. Vivek Mundada said, “For years, curative treatment options were not available for adult SMA patients. The one-time gene therapy, Itvisma, works by delivering a functional copy of the missing SMN1 gene directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, addressing the root cause. This opens new possibilities for many patients who were previously left without hope. Our patient travelled from Egypt to Dubai specifically for this treatment.”

 

 

After undergoing the treatment, the patient remarked, “The experience of taking the treatment was very positive and comfortable, with no pain felt around the injection area. I am glad that I don’t have to take multiple injections like I used to before.”

 

 

*Source: AETOSWire