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Business Wire India

Ohmium International Inc., a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge, high-efficiency, and modular Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, and InSolare Energy, a leading renewable energy solutions company with strong expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and integrated clean energy infrastructure, have announced their collaboration on a 4 MW capacity landmark green hydrogen project for NLC India Limited in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu. NLC India Limited is a pioneer in renewable energy development and continues to expand its green energy portfolio to support India’s carbon neutrality and energy transition goals. The project has an estimated hydrogen production of up to 700 metric tons per year and will support multiple applications across power generation, industrial use, and mobility.

 

Ohmium contributes advanced manufacturing capabilities and proven electrolyzer technology to this strategic collaboration helping to drive India’s hydrogen future. “Ohmium’s PEM technology and India-based manufacturing align with our vision for local green hydrogen production. Their highly efficient and modular solution combined with an ongoing commitment to R&D, rigorous testing, and continuous development sets them apart. Combined with local service support, Ohmium has the right technology to help us create a reliable project,” said Dr. Hemanshu Bhatt, COO and Co-Founder, InSolare Energy.

 

 

InSolare’s extensive experience in utility-scale solar, hybrid systems, and green hydrogen technologies is pivotal for this project. “InSolare’s proven EPC track record and expertise across utility-scale solar, hybrid systems, and green hydrogen technologies are strong complements to our PEM electrolyzer technology. Together, we will deliver an integrated green hydrogen solution for NLC Limited that will accelerate India’s energy transition,” said Dr. Markus Tacke, CEO, Ohmium International.

 

 

By combining Ohmium’s advanced PEM technology with InSolare’s engineering and project execution strengths, the project positions NLC India Limited at the forefront of green energy innovation and reinforces the strategic importance of homegrown, scalable, locally delivered green hydrogen solutions.

 

 

About Ohmium

 

 

Ohmium designs, manufactures, and deploys modular, scalable Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers that enable cost-competitive green hydrogen production. The company’s suite of electrochemical products helps customers achieve their sustainable energy goals across various industrial, transportation, and energy projects. Headquartered in the United States with manufacturing facilities in India and operations worldwide, Ohmium has a global green hydrogen project pipeline exceeding 2 GW across three continents. In 2023, Ohmium raised $250 Million in Series C financing, led by TPG Rise Climate.

 

 

Learn more at https://www.ohmium.com/

 

 

About InSolare Energy Ltd.

 

 

InSolare Energy Ltd. is a technology-driven renewable energy company delivering integrated solutions across solar, wind-hybrid systems, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and green hydrogen. With an EPC portfolio of 1.5 GW+ across India, the company combines innovation, engineering expertise, and execution excellence to deliver reliable and cost-effective clean energy projects. The company is also emerging as a key player in the green hydrogen and green ammonia ecosystem under SECI’s SIGHT scheme.

 

 

For more information, visit: https://insolare.com/

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260528412125/en/

 

Business Wire India

Meritto, the company that pioneered the Enrollment Cloud category in India and the country’s largest Enterprise Vertical SaaS platform for education, today launched the Enrollment Index 2026. The second edition of India’s only unified benchmark for student enrollment, the Index is built on 4.3 crore aggregated and anonymised student inquiries – nearly double the 2.3 crore behind last year’s first edition. The Index finds that while demand for higher education remains strong, the mechanics of how students discover, evaluate, and commit to institutions have fundamentally shifted.

AI discovery emerges as the highest-intent channel: For the first time, the Index measures enrollments originating from AI-generated discovery platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini. While GEO contributes a small share of total lead volume today, it converts at 6.11%, roughly 6x the digital channel average of 0.94%. Students who discover institutions through AI platforms arrive with significantly stronger intent than those from conventional digital discovery.

The shift is already visible in institutional traffic: Meritto’s analysis of organic search traffic across India’s leading public universities found that several institutions saw organic traffic decline by over 37% and one by as much as 49% following the rollout of Google AI Overviews, signalling a steady migration of student search behaviour toward AI-generated answers.

The conversion gap is regional, not national: India’s lead-to-enrollment conversion baseline stands at 1.06%, but the variation beneath it tells the real story. Tier 3 states convert at 1.84%, outperforming both Tier 2 (0.99%) and Tier 1 (0.95%). Zonally, North and East India lead at 1.24% each, while Central India trails at 0.61%. Localised, data-driven engagement consistently outperforms broad national marketing.

Volume and conversion are not the same thing: The Index introduces the Channel Efficiency Ratio (CER), which measures every channel against the national baseline. The finding is counterintuitive: the biggest lead generators are rarely the best converters. Publisher and aggregator campaigns collectively contribute the largest share of lead volume but a disproportionately smaller share of actual enrollments. Among paid channels measured, Google stood out as the strongest performer at 1.8x the national conversion baseline.

Re-engagement is the hidden conversion engine: The Index finds that re-inquired leads – students who return after an earlier inquiry – make up just 14% of lead volume but drive 40% of all enrollments, converting at 3.00% versus 0.74% for first-time inquirers. Equally, response speed directly determines outcomes: institutions that respond the same day convert at 2x the rate of those that wait a week.

Commenting on the launch, Naveen Goyal, Founder & CEO of Meritto, said:

“The data this year reflects a clear shift in how enrollment performance is created. The gap between institutions is no longer about who generates the most leads, but who engages and converts intent more effectively after discovery.”

He added: “GEO is one of the strongest emerging signals we are seeing. Students discovering institutions through AI platforms arrive with much higher intent, and institutions that become more discoverable in AI-generated environments will build a long-term strategic advantage.”

The Enrollment Index 2026 was launched at Meritto Evolve in Pune by Naveen Goyal, Founder & CEO of Meritto; Suraj Sapra, Co-founder & CSO of Meritto; and Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman, Vice Chancellor of Symbiosis University, in the presence of senior leaders from India’s higher education sector.

The full report is available at https://www.meritto.com/meritto-enrollment-index-2026/

 

Business Wire India

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba”) has expanded its lineup of digital isolators with DCL54xx01A series of quad-channel high-speed standard digital isolators for industrial equipment. The ten new products in the seriesare housed in an SOIC16-W package and deliver a maximum operating temperature of 125°C. Volume shipments start today.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527871751/en/

 

 

 

The widespread adoption of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power devices has made it practical to design industrial equipment that operates in high-temperature conditions. However, in isolated signal transmission, electrical noise applied between input and output can cause malfunctions, which has led to growing demand for isolation devices that enable stable control signal transmission while combining high noise immunity and reliability.

 

Toshiba’s new digital isolators support a maximum operating temperature of 125°C. Use of the company’s proprietary magnetic coupling isolation transmission technology^[1] ensures they also achieve a high common mode transient immunity (CMTI) of 150kV/μs (typ.)^[2], contributing to stable equipment operation.

 

 

The new products are available in multiple channel configurations: four forward channels and zero reverse channels; three forward channels and one reverse channel; and two forward channels and two reverse channels. This flexibility allows selection for diverse applications in isolated communications interfaces for industrial automation, including I/O interfaces, motor control, and inverters.

 

 

With the introduction of these new digital isolators alongside its DCL341x0B series of standard digital isolators for industrial equipment, which feature low power consumption and mid-speed communication (up to 25Mbps) in small SSOP16 packages, Toshiba has ensured that its customers can select the most suitable products for communications speed ranges and application requirements.

 

 

Toshiba will continue to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality by developing digital isolators for industrial and automotive equipment, and to provide high-quality isolation devices that support stable communication and control in equipment requiring electrical isolation.

 

 

Notes:
[1] A signal transmission method that integrates a modulation chip and a demodulation chip with insulation layers into a single package and uses a magnetic field to transmit signals.
[2] Measurement conditions: V_I= V_DDI or 0V, V_CM=1500V, Ta=25°C (V_DDI is V_DD1 or V_DD2 of the input-side)

 

 

Applications

 

 

• Industrial automation: programmable logic controllers (PLCs), I/O interfaces, etc.
• Motor control
• Inverters
• Switching power supply

 

 

Features

 

• High maximum operating temperature: 125°C (max)
• High common mode transient immunity: |CMTI|=150kV/μs (typ.)
• High-speed data rate: t_bps=150Mbps (max)
• Quad-channel:
  Four forward channels and zero reverse channels
  Three forward channels and one reverse channel
  Two forward channels and two reverse channels

 

 

Main Specifications

 

Part number				DCL540C01A	DCL540D01A	DCL540L01A	DCL540H01A	DCL541A01A
Number of channels (Forward directions: reverse directions)				4 (4:0)	4 (4:0)	4 (4:0)	4 (4:0)	4 (3:1)
Default output logic				Low	High	Low	High	Low
Enabled control				None	None	Output   Enable	Output   Enable	Input   Disable
Package				SOIC16-W (P-SOP16-0811-1.27-002)
Absolute maximum ratings	Operating temperature Topr (°C)			-40 to 125
	Storage temperature Tstg (°C)			-65 to 150
	Isolation voltage (1min.)   BVS (Vrms)	Ta=25°C	Min	5000
Recommended operating conditions	Power supply voltage VDD1, VDD2 (V)	Topr=-40 to 125°C		2.25 to 5.5
Electrical characteristics	Common mode transient immunity |CMTI|   (kV/μs)	VI=VDDI or 0V,   VCM=1500V,   Ta=25°C	Typ.	150
	Data rate tbps (Mbps)	VDD1=VDD2=   2.25 to 5.5V   Ta=-40 to 125°C	Max	150
	Pulse width distortion PWD (ns)	VDD1=VDD2=5V,   Ta=25°C	Typ.	0.8
	Propagation delay tPHL, tPLH (ns)		Typ.	10.9
Sample Check & Availability				Buy Online	Buy Online	Buy Online	Buy Online	Buy Online

 

Part number				DCL541B01A	DCL541L01A	DCL541H01A	DCL542L01A	DCL542H01A
Number of channels (Forward directions: reverse directions)				4 (3:1)	4 (3:1)	4 (3:1)	4 (2:2)	4 (2:2)
Default output logic				High	Low	High	Low	High
Enabled control				Input   Disable	Output   Enable	Output   Enable	Output   Enable	Output   Enable
Package				SOIC16-W (P-SOP16-0811-1.27-002)
Absolute maximum ratings	Operating temperature Topr (°C)			-40 to 125
	Storage temperature Tstg (°C)			-65 to 150
	Isolation voltage (1min.)   BVS (Vrms)	Ta=25°C	Min	5000
Recommended operating conditions	Power supply voltage VDD1, VDD2 (V)	Topr=-40 to 125°C		2.25 to 5.5
Electrical characteristics	Common mode transient immunity |CMTI|   (kV/μs)	VI=VDDI or 0V,   VCM=1500V,   Ta=25°C	Typ.	150
	Data rate tbps (Mbps)	VDD1=VDD2=   2.25 to 5.5V   Ta=-40 to 125°C	Max	150
	Pulse width distortion PWD (ns)	VDD1=VDD2=5V,   Ta=25°C	Typ.	0.8
	Propagation delay tPHL, tPLH (ns)		Typ.	10.9
Sample Check & Availability				Buy Online	Buy Online	Buy Online	Buy Online	Buy Online

 

Follow the links below for more on the new products.

 

DCL540C01A
DCL540D01A
DCL540L01A
DCL540H01A

 

 

DCL541A01A
DCL541B01A
DCL541L01A
DCL541H01A

 

 

DCL542L01A
DCL542H01A

 

 

Follow the link below for more on Toshiba’s standard digital isolators.

 

 

Standard Digital Isolator

 

 

To check availability of the new products at online distributors, visit:

 

 

DCL540C01A
Buy Online
DCL540D01A
Buy Online
DCL540L01A
Buy Online
DCL540H01A
Buy Online

 

 

DCL541A01A
Buy Online
DCL541B01A
Buy Online
DCL541L01A
Buy Online
DCL541H01A
Buy Online

 

 

DCL542L01A
Buy Online
DCL542H01A
Buy Online

 

 

* Company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

 

 

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

 

 

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD products.

 

 

Its 17,400 employees around the world share a determination to maximize product value, and to promote close collaboration with customers in the co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

 

 

Find out more at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527871751/en/

 

Business Wire India

The Government of Andhra Pradesh, through its Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C) and the Kaushalam initiative, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with foundit, the jobs and talent platform, to strengthen talent development, skilling, and employment opportunities for citizens and domiciles of Andhra Pradesh.

Kaushalam, a not-for-profit initiative under the Department of ITE&C, Government of Andhra Pradesh, works to bring government, industry, and academia together to build stronger talent pipelines. Its focus is on improving employability among youth across personal, technical, and organizational skills.

The MoU establishes a strategic collaboration, leveraging foundit’s AI-powered hiring and assessment capabilities. The partnership aims to strengthen industry-ready talent pipelines, improve employability, and expand opportunities for students and job seekers through the foundit platform. Additionally, the collaboration supports Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to emerge as a hub for IT, AI, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs), while opening pathways to opportunities in India and abroad.

Key areas of collaboration include integrating Kaushalam with foundit to streamline candidate discovery, profile completion, and recruiter access, while maintaining strong data privacy and compliance standards. The two sides will also work together to improve candidate visibility and hiring outcomes for employers, including GCCs and other enterprises setting up operations in the state. Kaushalam will explore foundit’s Skillyst assessment framework as a scalable tool for skill-gap evaluation and employability assessment. In addition, both parties will work on the technical mechanisms needed to route candidates to employers in Andhra Pradesh in a phased manner. The collaboration will prioritize citizens and domiciles of Andhra Pradesh as the intended beneficiaries.

For citizens of the state, the collaboration is expected to deliver a better job discovery and application experiences through integrated platforms. It will also enhance visibility to recruiters, GCCs, and large employers. Additionally, job seekers will gain access to skill assessments, verified profiles, and industry opportunities to improve employability. It will also support targeted upskilling pathways based on identified skill gaps.

Sri Bhaskar Katamneni, IAS, Secretary, Department of ITE&C, Government of Andhra Pradesh, commented, “Kaushalam represents Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to transforming employability for lakhs of our youth. We are delighted to partner with foundIt, whose strength in connecting talent to opportunity will significantly amplify the reach and impact of the platform. We thank foundIt for joining hands with the state in this important mission and look forward to creating meaningful career pathways for our young people together.”

Tarun Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, foundit, commented, “foundit is pleased to partner with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Kaushalam to support talent development, employability, and access to meaningful opportunities. Through our AI-powered hiring and assessment capabilities, we aim to help connect skill-verified candidates with employers and contribute to a stronger workforce ecosystem in the state.”

The MoU reflects a shared commitment to building a more integrated, efficient, and future-ready talent ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh. By combining state-led skilling initiatives with technology-enabled hiring support, the partnership aims to better align workforce readiness with industry demand and create stronger opportunities for the state’s residents.

 

Business Wire India

Timex Group India Ltd (TGIL), one of India’s leading watchmakers, part of the US-headquartered iconic Timex Group, closes FY25–26 on a strong note, marking a defining moment in its transformation journey. The company scaled revenue from INR 265 crore to INR 800 crore, delivering a robust 32% CAGR over FY22–FY26, marking FY26 a milestone year in the company’s growth journey driven by momentum across brands, sharper portfolio premiumisation, product innovation, and channel efficiency.

The company’s FY25-26 Performance Highlights:

• Total Revenue of INR 800 Crores for FY25-26 with 48% growth over last year, reflecting strong business momentum and a significant transformation in the company’s growth trajectory over the last four years.

• EBITDA stood at INR 116 Cr versus INR 49.7 Cr in the same period last year, delivering a strong year-on-year jump and underlining the company’s continued focus on profitable growth. 134% jump vs last year and from INR 8.73 Cr in FY21-22 to 116 Cr in FY25-26, 91.2% CAGR.

• EBIDTA margin scaled to 14.5%, from 9.2% of last year.

• Profitability: Profit Before Tax (PBT) was INR 107.4 crores with a staggering 151% jump versus the previous year, while PBT margin improved to 13.4%.

Brands:

• Timex, the core brand, had a substantial 62% rise versus last year with continued focus on design-led innovation, robust consumer demand, strategic channel development, manufacturing scale-up, and strengthening consumer relevance across lifestyle and fashion ecosystems.

• Guess reports a growth of 51%, emerging as the second leading non-luxury fashion watch brand in the market.

• Versace delivered a strong 48% growth versus last year, signifying consistent growing traction in the luxury segments.

Channel:

• The E-commerce channel recorded another exceptional year of 90% growth over last year.

• Robust 32% growth in the trade channel over the last year.

• High double-digit growth represents consistent performance across all other channels.

The company continued to witness strong traction for bridge-to-luxury watches with Automatic watches, elevated collaborations, and design-led product categories, reflecting evolving consumer preferences towards higher value and lifestyle-driven timepieces.

Reflecting on the success journey, Mr. Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director, Timex Group India, shared, “FY25–26 has been a landmark phase for Timex Group India. Over the last four years, we haven’t just grown, we’ve fundamentally reshaped the business. We are witnessing strong traction across the fashion and luxury watch segments, driven by rising consumer aspiration and demand across markets. As we move forward, our focus is clear: aggressively expanding our portfolio, sharpening our brand mix, scaling manufacturing capabilities, and building deeper consumer relevance through design, innovation, and cultural connect. The objective is not just faster growth, but sustainable, high-quality progress that strengthens Timex’s position in the quickly evolving Indian watch market.”

Quarterly Performance – Q4 FY25-26

• Total Revenue of INR 236 Cr reported a 73% jump over the previous year.

• EBITDA of INR 40.4 crores, recorded a 167% jump versus the same quarter last year.

• EBITDA Margin at 17.1% Vs 11.1%.

• PBT grew to INR 38.1 Cr., marking 191% jump versus the previous year, reflecting strong improvement.

Quarterly Channel Performance

• E-commerce continued its strong upward trajectory with 158% growth versus last year, supported by its presence across leading marketplaces and quick commerce platforms.

• Trade channel maintained consistent growth of 52 %, reflecting sustained retailer confidence and healthy consumer demand.

• The retail channel delivered an impressive 112% year-on-year increase.

• Other channels continued to witness a high double-digit rise during the year.

Brand Performance

• Timex continues charting high growth with 89% growth versus the previous year.

• Guess emerged as a key growth driver for the company with 108% growth vs. the previous year.

• Versace reported an exceptional expansion of 100% during the period.

• Other brands across the portfolio recorded high double-digit growth.

Key Business Highlights

TGIL continues to sharpen its portfolio to address diverse consumer segments and buying occasions, leveraging a strong mix of global brands. The successful launch of Aston Martin Watches and strong traction in Guess underscore rising demand for fashion, design-led offerings, while adjacent categories such as Ring Watches and Guess Jewellery are expanding the brand’s lifestyle play.

The core brand, Timex, continues to innovate by franchise expansion with Vector and Signio, alongside established global collections like Waterbury, Marlin, and Q Timex, enabling the brand to win across price points, consumer cohorts, and occasions, from everyday wear to fashion statements. This is further amplified through high-impact collaborations, including Harry Potter, Superman, MM6, The James Brand, and Wednesday, strengthening cultural relevance and consumer engagement. The brand also deepened its growing presence within contemporary fashion and culture through platforms such as India Beach Fashion Week, Mysore Fashion Week, and ELLE India.

TGIL is driving growth through a focused multichannel strategy, with presence across all major quick commerce platforms and targeted expansion in high-end regional department stores, thus reaching the relevant consumer segments. The emphasis remains on maximising productivity across existing channels, delivering higher efficiency.

This growth trajectory is backed by a strong 35-year Make in India legacy, with annual manufacturing capacity already scaled to 6 million units and a clear roadmap to further enhance it to 10 million units, positioning TGIL to support sustained growth, improve supply agility, and deliver at scale in line with rising market demand.

Looking Ahead

TGIL remains strongly positioned to capitalise on evolving consumer preferences shaped by rising aspirations, premiumisation, and growing affinity for global lifestyle brands. Building on its FY25–26 performance, the company is focused on the next phase of growth with profitable expansion across categories and markets.

Business Wire India

 

TEVIMBRA plus ZIIHERA and chemotherapy demonstrated statistically significant overall survival benefit with an unprecedented seven-month improvement in first-line HER2+ GEA

 

Oral presentation at ASCO highlights benefit regardless of PD-L1 status, including in PD-L1 <1%

 

BeOne Medicines Ltd. (Nasdaq: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, today announced that data from HERIZON-GEA-01 were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and will be presented in an oral presentation (Rapid Oral Abstract: 4010) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on June 1, 2026, in Chicago. The HERIZON-GEA-01 clinical trial evaluated ZIIHERA^® (zanidatamab) plus chemotherapy, with and without TEVIMBRA^® (tislelizumab), compared with the control arm of trastuzumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced/metastatic HER2+ gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA).

 

Dr. Sun Young Rha, Professor of Medical Oncology at the Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea, senior author of the NEJM manuscript and first author of the ASCO abstract, said:

 

 

“Results from the HERIZON-GEA-01 published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented in an oral presentation at ASCO provide new data about the regimen of tislelizumab added to zanidatamab plus chemotherapy, which demonstrated meaningfully improved outcomes for patients with HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. In particular, the findings show that this regimen resulted in a survival benefit, even in patients with PD-L1 <1%. This combination has the potential to be an important new treatment option in areas of high unmet need in HER2+ GEA.”

 

 

Key findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine

 

 

• Overall survival (OS): A statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy, reaching a median OS of 26.4 months; mOS of 24.4 months was reported with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy, and 19.2 months with the control arm.
• Progression-free survival (PFS): A statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS in both ZIIHERA-containing arms with a median PFS of 12.4 months.
• Duration of Response (DoR): Median DoR of 20.7 months with ZIIHERA and TEVIMBRA plus chemotherapy; median DoR of 14.3 months with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy and 8.3 months with the control arm.

 

Dr. Geoffrey Ku, Associate Attending physician on the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service in the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, author of the NEJM manuscript and the ASCO abstract, said:

 

“This practice-changing study demonstrates that zanidatamab is clearly superior to trastuzumab, with a manageable safety profile, in HER2-positive GEA. Moreover, the addition of tislelizumab contributes to the prolongation of overall survival and remarkable durability of responses, with benefit in both PD-L1 positive and negative tumors. If approved, the combination of zanidatamab, tislelizumab and chemotherapy should become the standard of care in untreated metastatic or locally advanced HER2-positive GEA patients irrespective of the tumor PD-L1 status.”

 

 

Oral presentation with new data at ASCO 2026 demonstrates benefit regardless of PD-L1 status

 

 

• With 26 months of follow-up, ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy meaningfully improved PFS and OS were observed in both PD-L1-positive and PD-L1-negative patients compared with the control arm; data were consistent between tumor area positivity (TAP) and combined positive score (CPS).
• In PD-L1 TAP <1% and ≥1% patients, the 18-month PFS was 50.3% and 42.6%, respectively, and the 24-month OS was 63.7% and 53.5% with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy.
• In PD-L1-negative patients (TAP <1%), median OS was 29.7 months with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy compared with 15.8 months with the control arm. In PD-L1-positive patients (TAP≥1%), median OS was 26.4 months with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy compared with 21.2 months in the control arm. Findings were consistent across PD-L1 assessment methods.
• In TAP<1%, the ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy regimen resulted in a mPFS of 18.5 months compared with mPFS of 7.9 months in the control arm, while in TAP≥1% patients, the mPFS was 11.3 months vs. mPFS of 8.3 months in the control arm

 

Mark Lanasa, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors at BeOne Medicines, said:

 

“The HERIZON-GEA-01 results – now published in The New England Journal of Medicine with a detailed sub-group analysis presented in an oral session at ASCO – strengthen the evidence supporting the role of TEVIMBRA in driving a sustained and statistically significant overall survival benefit. With a median OS of more than 26 months, unprecedented in this disease, the TEVIMBRA-containing arm is positioned as a compelling new therapeutic approach in a disease where there remains a critical unmet need.”

 

 

The safety findings for the ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy arm were generally consistent with the known effects of HER2-directed therapy and immunotherapy, and no new safety signals were identified. Diarrhea was the most common Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) in 24.5% of patients with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy, 20.0% of patients in the ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy arm, and 12.9% in the trastuzumab plus chemotherapy arm, noting that the median treatment duration was longest for the triplet arm at 43.1 weeks (vs. 31.0 weeks with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy and 30.0 weeks in the control arm). A mandatory anti-diarrheal prophylaxis was established during the first cycle, and discontinuation rates due to drug-related diarrhea were relatively low at 4.1%, 1.3%, and 0% of patients, respectively, with most diarrhea events occurring early in the trial.

 

 

Regulatory Status

 

 

The U.S. FDA has accepted a supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLA) for TEVIMBRA and has granted it priority review. In addition, the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted sBLAs for ZIIHERA and for TEVIMBRA for the first-line treatment of advanced/metastatic HER2+ GEA. BeOne holds the rights to ZIIHERA in Asia (excluding India and Japan), Australia, and New Zealand, and intends to work with authorities in these markets to expedite regulatory submissions.

 

 

About the HERIZON-GEA-01 Phase 3 Trial

 

 

HERIZON-GEA-01 (NCT05152147) is a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial, conducted jointly with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of ZIIHERAplus chemotherapy, with and without TEVIMBRA, to the standard of care (trastuzumab plus chemotherapy) as first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced/metastatic HER2+ GEA. The trial randomized 914 patients from approximately 300 trial sites in more than 30 countries. Patients for this trial had unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic HER2+ GEA (adenocarcinomas of the stomach or esophagus, including the gastroesophageal junction), defined as 3+ HER2 expression by IHC or 2+ HER2 expression by IHC with ISH positivity per central assessment. Patients were randomized to the three trial arms: ZIIHERAin combination with chemotherapy and TEVIMBRA; ZIIHERA in combination with chemotherapy; and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy. The trial is evaluating dual primary endpoints, PFS per blinded independent central review (BICR) and OS.

 

 

About Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma

 

 

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), which includes cancers of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and esophagus, is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Approximately 20% of GEA patients have HER2-positive disease.^1,2,3, which has high morbidity and mortality, and patients are urgently in need of new treatment options. The overall prognosis for patients with GEA remains poor, with a global five-year survival rate of less than 30% for gastric cancer and about 19% for GEA.⁴

 

 

About ZIIHERA (zanidatamab)

 

 

ZIIHERA (zanidatamab) is a bispecific human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2-directed antibody that binds to two extracellular sites on HER2. Binding of zanidatamab with HER2 results in internalization leading to a reduction in HER2 expression of the receptor on the tumor cell surface. Zanidatamab induces complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). These mechanisms result in tumor growth inhibition and cell death in vitro and in vivo.⁵

 

 

Zanidatamab is being developed in multiple clinical trials as a targeted treatment option for patients with solid tumors that express HER2. Zanidatamab is approved in China for the treatment of patients who have unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic HER2-high expression (IHC 3+) biliary tract cancer (BTC) and who have received prior systemic therapy. ZIIHERA has also been granted accelerated approval in the U.S. and conditional marketing authorization in the European Union for eligible BTC patients. Zanidatamab is being developed by Jazz and BeOne under license agreements from Zymeworks, which first developed the molecule. BeOne has licensed zanidatamab from Zymeworks in Asia (excluding India and Japan), Australia and New Zealand. Jazz Pharmaceuticals has rights in all other regions.

 

 

ZIIHERA is a registered trademark of Zymeworks BC Inc.

 

 

About TEVIMBRA (tislelizumab)

 

 

TEVIMBRA is a uniquely designed humanized immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody with high affinity and binding specificity against PD-1. It is designed to minimize binding to Fc-gamma (Fcγ) receptors on macrophages, helping to aid the body’s immune cells to detect and fight tumors.

 

 

TEVIMBRA is the foundational asset of BeOne’s solid tumor portfolio and has shown potential across multiple tumor types and disease settings. The global TEVIMBRA clinical development program includes almost 15,000 patients enrolled to date in 30+ countries and regions across 71 trials, including 21 registration-enabling studies. TEVIMBRA is approved in over 50 countries, and more than 2 million patients have been treated globally.

 

 

Select Important Safety Information

 

 

Serious and sometimes fatal adverse reactions occurred with TEVIMBRA treatment. Warnings and precautions include severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions, including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, dermatologic adverse reactions, nephritis with renal dysfunction, and solid organ transplant rejection. Other warnings and precautions include infusion-related reactions, complications of allogeneic HSCT, and embryo-fetal toxicity.

 

 

Please see fullU.S. Prescribing Informationincluding theU.S. Medication Guide.

 

 

The information in this press release is intended for a global audience. Product indications vary by region.

 

 

About BeOne

 

 

BeOne Medicines is a global oncology company that is discovering and developing innovative treatments for cancer patients worldwide. With a portfolio spanning hematology and solid tumors, BeOne is expediting development of its diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through its internal capabilities and collaborations. The Company has a growing global team spanning six continents who are driven by scientific excellence and exceptional speed to reach more patients than ever before. To learn more about BeOne, please visit www.beonemedicines.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statement

 

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws, including statements regarding the potential benefits of ZIIHERA and TEVIMBRA; the potential of TEVIMBRA plus ZIIHERA and chemotherapy to become an important new treatment option; BeOne’s plans to work with authorities in certain markets to expedite regulatory submissions; BeOne’s expectations regarding ZIIHERA’s and TEVIMBRA’s clinical development and regulatory milestones; and BeOne’s plans, commitments, aspirations, and goals under the heading “About BeOne.” Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including BeOne’s ability to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its drug candidates; the clinical results for its drug candidates, which may not support further development or marketing approval; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing, and progress of clinical trials and marketing approval; BeOne’s ability to achieve commercial success for its marketed medicines and drug candidates, if approved; BeOne’s ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property for its medicines and technology; BeOne’s reliance on third parties to conduct drug development, manufacturing, commercialization, and other services; BeOne’s limited experience in obtaining regulatory approvals and commercializing pharmaceutical products and its ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development of its drug candidates and achieve and maintain profitability; and those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in BeOne’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in BeOne’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and BeOne undertakes no duty to update such information unless required by law.

 

 

To access BeOne media resources, please visit ourNewsroomsite.

 

 

1 Abrahao-Machado I.F., et al. HER2 testing in gastric cancer: An update WorldJGastroenterol. 2016;22(19):4619-4625.
2 Van Custem E., et al. HER2 screening data from ToGA: targeting HER2 in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer. Gastric Cancer. 2015;18(3):476-484.
3 Stroes, C.I., et al. A systematic review of HER2 blockade for the curative treatment of gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: Successes achieved and opportunities ahead. CancerTreatRev. 2021;99:102249.
4 Battaglin F, et al. Molecular biomarkers in gastro-esophageal cancer: recent developments, current trends and future directions. Cancer Cell International. 2018;18(99).
5 ZIIHERA (zanidatamab-hrii) Prescribing Information. Palo Alto, CA: Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).

 

 

 

 

 

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Business Wire India

 

 

Acquisition transfers a premium 850 MW Japanese BESS development portfolio and an experienced local development team from BayWa r.e. AG, one of the world’s leading renewable energy independent power producers

Portfolio includes 350 MW of near term, advanced-stage projects expected to reach NTP in 2H 2027, with COD beginning in mid-2028, plus 500 MW of early-stage projects supporting long-term growth and development

Japanese projects are expected to be designed with three-hour duration, generating higher EBITDA per MW than typical shorter-duration BESS projects in Texas.

Transaction brings Energy Vault’s global owned asset portfolio for near term projects underway to 1.1 GW, contributing to $180M+ in expected annual recurring EBITDA as the projects come online

 

 

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) (“Energy Vault” or the “Company”), a global leader in sustainable grid-scale energy storage and AI compute infrastructure solutions, today announced the successful completion of its previously announced acquisition of an 850 MW Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) development portfolio in Japan from BayWa r.e. AG, a leading global renewable energy developer and independent power producer.

 

The closing of the transaction officially establishes Energy Vault’s operational presence in Japan, one of the most attractive and structurally advantaged energy storage markets among developed economies. The acquisition provides Energy Vault with an immediate in-country platform, a premium project pipeline, and a highly experienced local development team with deep expertise in land rights, regulatory permitting, and utility interconnections — capabilities that are essential to scaling successfully in Japan’s complex and rapidly growing energy storage market.

 

 

The team and portfolio were carefully selected and originate from BayWa r.e., one of the world’s most sophisticated renewable energy platforms. For Energy Vault, the strategic value of the acquisition extends beyond megawatts alone: it adds proven local execution capability, accelerates market entry, and positions the Company to build a long-term owned-asset platform in a market with strong demand for flexible, reliable, and dispatchable energy storage.

 

 

The acquired portfolio includes approximately 350 MW of advanced-stage BESS projects expected to reach Notice to Proceed (“NTP”) in the second half of 2027, with Commercial Operation Dates (“COD”) expected to begin in mid-2028. An additional 500 MW of early-stage projects provides a multi-year development runway and meaningful expansion potential as Energy Vault scales its Japanese platform. Importantly, the advanced-stage projects are expected to be configured with three hours of storage duration. This provides greater energy capacity per MW than shorter-duration BESS projects more commonly seen in other markets, including the United States, and is expected to enhance the long-term revenue potential and asset value of the portfolio. In addition, Japan’s relatively low cost of financing further strengthens project-level economics, making the market particularly attractive for Energy Vault’s asset ownership strategy.

 

 

“This acquisition marks a significant step in Energy Vault’s global growth strategy and establishes our direct operating platform in one of the world’s most compelling energy storage markets,” said Robert Piconi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Vault. “By completing this acquisition, we have secured not only a premium BESS development portfolio, but also an experienced local team from one of the most respected renewable energy platforms globally in BayWa Renewables. Japan’s need for flexible, reliable storage is accelerating, and Energy Vault is well positioned to deliver projects at scale while creating long-term, predictable value for our shareholders.”

 

 

“Japan is a strategically important market for energy storage, and we are pleased to have successfully transferred this high-quality portfolio to Energy Vault,” said Daniel Gaefke, Group Chief Operating Officer of BayWa r.e. “This transaction reflects BayWa r.e.’s ability to originate, develop, and monetize premium renewable energy assets globally. With its integrated technology platform, execution capability, and asset ownership strategy, Energy Vault is well positioned to advance these projects and support Japan’s energy transition.”

 

 

The formal addition of BayWa r.e.’s Japanese portfolio brings Energy Vault’s global owned asset base — including acquired, under-construction, and operating assets — to more than 1 GW across energy storage and AI compute infrastructure. Once fully constructed and operational, this growing owned-asset portfolio is expected to support more than $180M in anticipated annual recurring EBITDA, reinforcing Energy Vault’s transition toward a capital-efficient, recurring revenue business model.

 

 

With the acquisition now closed, Energy Vault intends to continue scaling its Japanese presence by advancing the acquired projects, evaluating additional development opportunities, and deploying storage solutions tailored to Japan’s grid needs, safety requirements, and long-term power market dynamics. The Company will also assess next-generation battery chemistries and customized storage configurations designed to maximize value in Japan’s evolving energy landscape.

 

 

About Energy Vault
Energy Vault^® develops, deploys and operates utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to transform the world’s approach to sustainable energy storage. The Company’s comprehensive offerings include proprietary battery, gravity and green hydrogen energy storage technologies supporting a variety of customer use cases delivering safe and reliable energy system dispatching and optimization. Each storage solution is supported by the Company’s technology-agnostic energy management system software and integration platform. Unique to the industry, Energy Vault’s innovative technology portfolio delivers customized short, long and multi-day/ultra-long duration energy storage solutions to help utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users significantly reduce levelized energy costs while maintaining power reliability. Since 2024, Energy Vault has executed an “Own & Operate” asset management strategy developed to generate predictable, recurring and high margin tolling revenue streams, positioning the Company for continued growth in the rapidly evolving energy storage asset infrastructure market.Please visit www.energyvault.com for more information.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, the Company’s operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “suggest,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “projections,” “should,” “target,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “might,” “will” and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our current expectations, plans and assumptions, which we have made in light of our experience in our industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at the time. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including changes in our strategy, expansion plans, customer opportunities, future operations, future financial position, estimated revenues and losses, expected monetization of tax credits, expected financings, projected costs, prospects and plans; the uncertainly of our awards, bookings, backlog and developed pipeline equating to future revenue; the lack of assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indications of interest can result in binding financings, orders or sales; the possibility of our products or services to be or alleged to be defective or experience other failures; the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model and growth strategy; our ability to develop and maintain our brand and reputation; developments and projections relating to our business, our competitors, and industry; the impact of macroeconomic uncertainty, including with respect to uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to trade policies and tariffs; changes in tax laws and government regulations and the impact of those changes on us, including as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the clean-energy tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; investment in development projects that may not achieve commercial operations in our predicted timeframe or at all; our efforts to diversify our supply chain to lessen the impact of tariffs; the ability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems in a timely manner; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; developments in U.S. and global trade policy; the international nature of our operations and the impact of war or other hostilities on our business and global markets; our ability to obtain funding for our operations and future growth; and our business, expansion plans and opportunities, including our expansion into owned and operated projects; our ability to successfully consummate our proposed acquisition in Japan; and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527219283/en/

 

Business Wire India

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, officially launched their programs in Ghana in partnership with H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, during the Merck Foundation Ghana Alumni Summit 2026.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign emphasized, “I am delighted to meet our long-term partner and my dear sister, H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, First Lady of the Republic of Ghana and to honor her outstanding contribution as the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”.  We also formally launched the Merck Foundation programs in the country and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare and media capacity, patient care landscape transformation, breaking infertility stigma and supporting girl education, together in the country.

I am proud to share that we have to date provided 257 scholarships for local Ghanaian healthcare providers in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, with the aim to establish a strong platform of skilled and specialized healthcare providers across Ghana’s healthcare sector nationwide.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp added, “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patient care landscape through our scholarships program.” 

H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, First Lady of the Republic of Ghana expressed, “It is a pleasure to welcome and meet the Chairman and CEO of Merck Foundation in our country. Together, we officially launched our joint programs and celebrated important milestones reflecting the great success of our partnership in building healthcare capacity, transforming patient care, breaking infertility stigma and supporting girl education. 

Our partnership has enabled us to provide 257 scholarships for our healthcare providers nationwide, reaching not only the capital city but communities across the country. This is a huge achievement for us.

Moreover, through Educating Linda Program, we are also providing annual scholarships for our 40 high-performing yet underprivileged Ghanaian schoolgirls, to help them complete their education. Educating and empowering young girls is one of the most powerful investments we can make towards building stronger families, thriving communities, and a brighter future for our nation.”

Merck Foundation has overall provided more than 2,600 scholarships for healthcare providers in 44 critical and underserved specialties from over 52 countries.

During the Summit, Merck Foundation alumni shared inspiring testimonies on how these scholarships have transformed their professional journeys and improved patient care in their communities.

Moreover, Merck Foundation Awards Ceremony was also held where the Winners of the Merck Foundation Awards 2024 and 2025 were acknowledged by Merck Foundation Chairman, Merck Foundation CEO together with Ghana First Lady.

“It was a pleasure meeting and celebrating our winners, the health and social champions, who are the voice of the voiceless,” added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Out of the total 257 scholarships provided for Ghanaian healthcare providers;

• 89 scholarships have been provided for one-year postgraduate diplomas and two-year master’s degrees in Diabetes, Endocrinology, Preventive Cardiovascular and Obesity & Weight Management, under the Merck Foundation Nationwide Diabetes and Hypertension Blue Points Program.
• 69 scholarships have been provided for Fertility Specialty and Embryology training in India, one year PG Diploma and two-year MSc in Sexual and Reproductive care, Urology, Women’s Health and Family Medicine. This will play a vital role in breaking infertility stigma.
• 12 scholarships have been provided for healthcare providers for Oncology and Cancer Management.
• 87 scholarships have been provided for 1 year PG Diploma and 2 Years Master Degree in other various critical and underserved specialties like Acute Medicine, Respiratory Care, Critical care, General Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Emergency & Resuscitation Medicine, Gastroenterology, Infectious diseases, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuroimaging for Research, Pain Management, Rheumatology, Neonatal Medicine, Paediatrics and Child Health, Care of the Older Person and more.

The summit was also attended by the beneficiaries of Educating Linda.

“The young girls shared powerful testimonies about how these scholarships have positively transformed their lives. Listening to their journeys and learning about the impact these scholarships have had on their education, confidence, and future aspirations was truly inspiring and deeply moving,” added Dr. Kelej.  

In partnership with the First Lady of Ghana, Merck Foundation has also launched seven children’s storybooks: “More Than a Mother”, “Educating Linda”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “Not Who You Are”, “Ride into the Future”, “Sugar Free Jude” and “Mark’s Pressure” to raise awareness about critical social and health issues among young children.

During the occasion, several copies of the storybooks were also signed by The First Lady of Ghana, Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, making the initiative even more special for the participants and young children present. Thousands of copies will be distributed across schools in Ghana. These storybooks have also been adapted into animation films to further enhance their impact.

Merck Foundation, together with the First Lady of Ghana, also organizes annual Online Health Media Training for the Ghanaian journalists and also launches annual awards for media, musicians, filmmakers, and fashion designers to encourage creative talents to raise awareness about important social issues. To date, more than 125 Ghanaian talents have been recognized through the Awards.

During the Summit, Merck Foundation CEO and Ghana First Lady also announced the Call for Application for their 2026 Awards.

Details of the Awards:

1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

2. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026:  All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues, such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

5.  Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

6. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

7. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

8. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

Apply here: https://merck-foundation.com/Awards-Online-Application-Form

Entries for all the awards are to be submitted via email to:

submit@merck-foundation.com

Click the link below to Download the Merck Foundation App

https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_StoreRedirection

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard

Facebook: Merck Foundation
X: @MerckFoundation
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Flickr: Merck Foundation
Website: www.merckfoundation.com

 

Business Wire India

28 BLACK, the premium German energy drink, continues to scale its presence in India with its launch on Blinkit, India’s leading quick commerce platform, further strengthening its rapidly expanding omnichannel footprint across key urban markets. Consumers in Mumbai and Hyderabad can now order the drink chilled and receive it within minutes, as part of the brand’s broader expansion across quick commerce, retail, and distribution channels in India.

 The Blinkit launch marks a key step in the company’s quick-commerce strategy, addressing rising urban demand for instant delivery while accelerating access to its premium, taurine-free energy drinks.

“Energy is an impulse – people want it now, not later. That’s exactly why Blinkit makes sense for us,” says Daniel Geuther, CEO of Yinbev, the exclusive importer of 28 BLACK in India. “We’re seeing strong demand for our Açaí and Gummibär flavours, and this partnership allows us to scale faster while complementing our broader retail and distribution rollout.”

Imported from Germany, 28 BLACK is positioned as a premium lifestyle energy drink defined by its distinctive flavours and focus on taste and quality, with its Açaí and Gummibär variants driving early growth in the Indian market.

Business Wire India

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, today announced an expansion of the Visa Commercial Solutions Hub (VCS Hub), further strengthening how issuers and suppliers connect to scale virtual card programs. Through a new integration with Visa Accounts Receivable Manager (Visa AR Manager), eligible issuers gain built-in access to end-to-end processing designed to reduce operational friction and accelerate commercial card growth.

 

Virtual cards are among the fastest-growing payment methods in commercial payments yet scaling them remains complex. Issuers often face fragmented supplier connectivity, while suppliers are left with manual reconciliation and inconsistent payment flows. By bringing issuer and supplier networks together, by embedding access to Visa AR Manager in the VCS Hub, Visa is helping to simplify these connections and enable more automated, seamless payment experiences across the ecosystem.

 

 

Powering issuer growth through a unified commercial payments platform

 

 

Launched in 2025, VCS Hub is a globally available platform designed to help issuers support multiple commercial payment use cases through a single, scalable integration. By unifying Visa’s network capabilities, VCS Hub enables issuers to reduce technical complexity, accelerate time to market, and scale virtual card programs more efficiently across their commercial client portfolios.

 

 

“Issuers see strong demand for commercial card solutions, but scaling those programs can be unnecessarily complex,” said Gloria Colgan, SVP, Global Product, Commercial Solutions, Visa. “Visa Commercial Solutions Hub reduces that friction, making it easier to connect with suppliers, deliver new capabilities faster, and drive meaningful growth in commercial payments.”

 

 

Driving automation and unlocking scale

 

 

Now available in 69 geographies, Visa AR Manager, powered by proprietary AI capabilities, addresses key operational barriers that have historically limited virtual card adoption. Through this integration, issuers can send virtual card payments on behalf of their corporate buyers through Visa AR Manager. Visa AR Manager then provides a virtual card automation service to suppliers that reduces manual intervention, can accelerate reconciliation, potentially improving working capital outcomes for suppliers.

 

 

Early adopters of Visa AR Manager are already seeing measurable impact, including efficiency gains through increased automation. One customer reported an 89% reduction in days sales outstanding, realized a 300-basis-point net benefit, and enabled fully automated virtual card processing in under two weeks of implementation.

 

 

“Visa Accounts Receivable Manager brings true end-to-end automation to commercial payments,” said Abhishek, Global Head of B2B Acceptance, Visa. “By streamlining how payment and invoice data move between issuers and suppliers, we’re helping unlock the full growth potential of virtual card programs.”

 

 

Availability

 

 

The integrated capability for issuers is expected to launch in September 2026 and will be available at no additional cost to eligible VCS Hub clients, subject to applicable terms and geographic availability. *

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

 

What is Visa Commercial Solutions Hub (VCS Hub)?

 

 

Visa Commercial Solutions Hub is a globally available, unified platform that enables issuers to access Visa and partner capabilities through a single integration. The VCS Hub provides access to a growing range of Visa capabilities and partner solutions, simplifying the deployment and scaling of commercial card programs.

 

 

What is Visa Accounts Receivable Manager (Visa AR Manager)?

 

 

Visa AR Manager allows issuers to send virtual card details on behalf of their corporate buyer to suppliers enrolled in the Visa AR Manager service. For enrolled suppliers, Visa AR Manager automates accounts receivable processes by streamlining the exchange of payment, remittance, and invoice data. It is designed to reduce manual reconciliation and improve payment efficiency.

 

 

What is new in this announcement?

 

 

Visa is integrating the Visa AR Manager service for issuers directly into VCS Hub. This gives eligible issuers built-in access to end-to-end virtual card processing and reconciliation capabilities through a single platform.

 

 

How does this benefit issuers?

 

 

Issuers can reduce technical complexity, accelerate time to market, and scale virtual card programs more efficiently. The integration may also help improve supplier enablement and overall program performance.

 

 

How does this benefit suppliers?

 

 

Suppliers can gain more consistent, automated payment and reconciliation processes. This can reduce manual work, improve cash flow visibility, and shorten payment cycles.

 

 

How does the integration improve virtual card adoption?

 

 

By simplifying supplier connectivity and automating payment and reconciliation workflows, the integration reduces key operational barriers that have historically limited virtual card adoption at scale.

 

 

What role does AI play in Visa AR Manager?

 

 

Visa AR Manager uses proprietary AI capabilities to help match payments with invoices, streamline reconciliation, and reduce exceptions, improving overall processing efficiency.

 

 

Where is Visa AR Manager integration with the VCS Hub available?

 

 

Visa AR Manager integration will be available in 69 areas globally where Visa AR Manager is currently available.

 

 

When will the integrated capability be available?

 

 

The integrated VCS Hub and Visa AR Manager capability for issuers is expected to launch in September 2026, subject to geographic readiness.

 

 

Who is eligible to access this capability?

 

 

The integration will be available at no additional cost to eligible existing VCS Hub issuer clients. Availability for other clients will depend on commercial arrangements and jurisdictional conditions.

 

 

What results have Visa AR Manager early adopters seen?

 

 

Early adopters have reported significant efficiency gains, including up to an 89% reduction in days sales outstanding, measurable financial benefits, and the ability to enable fully automated virtual card processing within weeks.

 

 

About Visa

 

 

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, 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. Learn more at Visa.com.

 

 

* Eligible issuers must agree to the VCS Hub Terms of Use, the VCS Hub Product Specific Terms for Visa AR Manager, and additional terms based on access channel to the VCS Hub: B2B Payables terms (if batch file or online), Embedded Payments terms (if embedded in ERP), or applicable Visa Developer Platform/VDP terms (if API). Please contact your Visa representative for more information.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527308928/en/