Jobs platform, foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), today released the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for the Philippines, highlighting a significant 11% annual growth in hiring activities, despite an 8% month-on-month decline in March 2025
Commenting on the Philippines’ job market trends, V Suresh, CEO of foundit, stated, “The continued growth in hiring activity reflects the resilience of the Philippine job market and its steady economic recovery. Key sectors such as Hospitality & Travel, Logistics, and BFSI are driving this momentum. Despite short-term fluctuations, the overall outlook remains positive, with companies strategically focusing on roles that strengthen operational efficiency and enable long-term expansion.”
The Hospitality & Travel sector emerged as the top-performing industry, reporting a 37% year-on-year hiring increase, driven by rising tourist arrivals, infrastructure investments, and supportive governmental policies aimed at bolstering tourism.
Logistics, Courier/Freight/Transportation, and Shipping sectors closely followed with 31% annual hiring growth, supported by investments in distribution centres and fleet management.
Conversely, the Education sector experienced a 13% year-on-year decline in hiring demand. Similarly, the IT and Telecom sectors recorded an 8% decrease, reflecting cautious employer sentiment amid global economic uncertainties and tech investment realignments.
Other sectors demonstrating strong hiring demand annually include BFSI (+13%), Healthcare (+12%), Advertising, Market Research, Public Relations, Media, and Entertainment (+10%), and Engineering, Construction, and Real Estate (+7%). More modest growth was seen in BPO/ITES (+4%), Production/Manufacturing (+3%), Consumer Goods/FMCG (+2%), and Retail (+2%).
Purchase and Logistics Professionals in Highest Demand
From a functional perspective, Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain roles lead the pack with 36% annual hiring surge, fuelled by expanding operations, supply chain efficiency demands, and significant investments in logistics infrastructure.
Sales & Business Development professionals saw 28% growth in demand, alongside Engineering/Production/Real Estate roles at 10%, driven by infrastructure projects and growing market opportunities.
However, Software, Hardware, and Telecom professionals experienced a 14% decline in recruitment demand year-on-year, indicative of cautious hiring amid shifting technological priorities and global economic concerns.
Moderate increases in hiring were observed for Medical Roles (+10%), Marketing & Communications (+9%), Hospitality Roles (+8%), HR & Admin (+7%), and Finance & Accounts (+6%). Customer Service roles remained stable with no significant annual change (0%).
The foundit Insights Tracker is a comprehensive monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by jobs platform, foundit. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of online career outlets, the foundit Insights Tracker (FIT) presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide.
Timeframe for the Report
The timeframe for the fit data is March 2024 to March 2025.
About foundit – APAC & Middle East
foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is Asia’s leading jobs and talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. In addition to its innovative AI-powered job search, foundit offers e-learning, assessments, and services related to resume creation and interview preparation. foundit has connected over 120 million job seekers across 18 countries with the right job roles and upskilling opportunities.
Over the last two decades, the company has been a leader in the world of recruitment solutions and has launched cutting-edge tools to give recruiters access to passive candidates in addition to active ones. With its advanced technology, foundit is efficiently bridging the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies.
Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalised job searches and offer precision hiring.
– Over 600 government, business leaders attend Ningbo conference
Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang Ningbo Forum cum Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum was successfully held in Ningbo, attracting over 600 government and business leaders
Promoted Hong Kong’s role as superconnector and super value-adder to Zhejiang’s business community, focusing on competitive advantages in finance, supply chain, innovation and technology and professional services
Three roundtable sessions facilitated comprehensive business networking between Zhejiang, Ningbo and Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang Ningbo Forum cum Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum, co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council(HKTDC), the Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR) Government and Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, was held today at the Shangri-La Hotel, Ningbo. The event attracted over 600 government and business leaders who discussed collaboration opportunities among Zhejiang, Ningbo and Hong Kong.
The event was held on the 20th anniversary of the Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum. Hong Kong’s business advantages were highlighted to Zhejiang government officials as well as business leaders from the finance, supply chain, innovation and technology and professional services sectors. In addition to fostering Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong collaboration, Zhejiang enterprises were encouraged to leverage Hong Kong’s platform to explore opportunities.
The Forum’s opening ceremony was hosted by Mayor of Ningbo and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Government Tang Feifan this morning, with speeches delivered by the HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, Executive Vice Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Zhou Ji, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Xie Shaofeng, Chief Risk Officer and Director General of the Department of Public Offering Supervision of the China Securities Regulatory Commission Yan Bojin, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Provincial Government Lu Shan, Standing Member of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee Peng Jiaxue and HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam.
In his speech, Mr Lee said: “The Hong Kong SAR Government and the HKTDC established a high value-added supply chain service mechanism at the end of last year to help mainland enterprises set up international or regional headquarters in Hong Kong to manage offshore trade and supply chains. Hong Kong has robust international trade networks and rich expertise, diverse talent and world-class professional services. We are well positioned to offer mainland enterprises new supply chain services and lead these businesses in exploring emerging markets, breaking through the US blockade.”
Mr Zhou stated that the historical ties between Zhejiang and Hong Kong are long-standing, with the two regions sharing close personal relations, cultural connections and commercial linkages. Hong Kong is Zhejiang’s largest source of foreign investment, the largest partner in trade in services and second-largest destination for Zhejiang’s overseas investments. By the end of 2024, Hong Kong has established over 30,000 enterprises in Zhejiang, while Zhejiang had invested in over 3,000 enterprises in Hong Kong. The mutually beneficial collaboration between Zhejiang and Hong Kong is an exemplary model of regional cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong.
Mr Xie stated that Zhejiang’s digital economy is vibrant, with outstanding advantages in industry agglomeration and strong momentum in developing industry and information technology. Ningbo and Hong Kong are both international port cities, sharing a close bond, human connection and commercial ties, with a long-standing history of interaction between the two places. Looking towards the future, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will continue to support Ningbo and Hong Kong in strengthening exchange and cooperation, promoting complementary advantages to make new and greater contributions to ensure the prosperity of Hong Kong’s economy and the nation’s modernisation.
Mr Yan said that the China Securities Regulatory Commission fully supports mainland enterprises listing in Hong Kong. In March 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission implemented new regulations for overseas listings and established a regulatory coordination mechanism with various ministries. Since implementing the new rules, 141 mainland enterprises have completed the filing process for listing in Hong Kong, including 19 enterprises from Zhejiang. Among these, 13 Zhejiang enterprises and one Ningbo enterprise have completed their listing. These companies are involved in key sectors, such as information technology, biomedicine and consumer goods, contributing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ranking fourth globally in IPOs in 2024.
He pointed out that the next step for the China Securities Regulatory Commission is to continue improving the institutional mechanism to provide a more transparent, efficient and predictable regulatory environment for overseas listings by enterprises.
Mr Lu remarked that Hong Kong would become a “super navigator” for Zhejiang’s globalisation efforts, while Zhejiang would become Hong Kong’s best partner.
He said: “In terms of deepening economic cooperation, Zhejiang enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s international platform to further expand into global markets and enhance their brand visibility. Hong Kong enterprises can also increase their investments in Zhejiang and Ningbo to share the benefits of Mainland China’s economic development. In the technology field, we see joint efforts by research institutions and enterprises from both sides, and we believe that more technological innovation and industrialisation will be achieved in both regions.”
Mr Peng stated that for many years, members of Hong Kong’s Ningbo community have been contributing to the development of Hong Kong and the nation, creating many inspiring stories of patriotism showing love for their hometown and showcasing entrepreneurial innovation.
He noted: “In recent years, cooperation between Ningbo and Hong Kong has been greatly advanced and continuously deepened, yielding fruitful results. For the people of Ningbo, Hong Kong is not only the world-renowned ‘Pearl of the Orient’, but also a vital force driving Ningbo’s reform, opening up, and modernisation. It is a place of deep emotional connections and an opportunity-rich city linking us to the wider world. Ningbo will strive to elevate Ningbo-Hong Kong cooperation to new heights.”
Dr Lam said: “This event showcased Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international business hub and explored how Zhejiang enterprises, particularly those from Ningbo, can leverage our business platform and partner with our expert professional services to optimise their operations and accelerate their global expansion.”
Following the opening ceremony, Deputy Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government Michael Wong introduced Hong Kong’s advantages, encouraging Zhejiang enterprises to utilise Hong Kong’s platform to connect with international markets. He noted that since 2022, over 80 key enterprises have established themselves or expanded their operations in Hong Kong, with 80% coming from Mainland China, including many leading companies across fields, such as AI and robotics, data science, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life and health technology and fintech.
Mr Wong said: “In this era, in which the global economy and international trade face significant challenges, we need to unite and work together more than ever. In Hong Kong, we will leverage our strengths to meet the nation’s needs and actively integrate into the country’s overall development. We hope to join hands with mainland enterprises to create a better tomorrow.”
In her keynote speech, Casa Bauhinia Co-Founder Prof Anna Pao Sohmen shared insights on future Zhejiang (Ningbo) – Hong Kong collaboration. She stated that Hong Kong enjoys a long-standing legal system, an open free market and an excellent strategic location, and with the enterprising spirit of Ningbo enterprises, they can surely create golden opportunities.
She said: “The pragmatic and open approach of Ningbo, combined with Hong Kong’s ‘Lion Rock spirit’ and can-do approach, will certainly lead to breakthroughs.”
During the event, Invest Hong Kong signed MOUs with 12 Zhejiang (including Ningbo) enterprise representatives, advancing key Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong collaboration projects.
Yesterday, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee Wang Hao attended the First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference. The Zhejiang/Hong Kong co-operation mechanism was established during the conference, marking a new chapter for comprehensive exchange and collaboration between the two regions. At the meeting, the two governments signed MoUs on 13 key areas, covering 51 projects. One MoU signed between HKTDC and the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province outlined aims for the HKTDC to proactively encourage Hong Kong businesses to invest and expand in Zhejiang, and to also organise trade delegations from various sectors to visit Zhejiang. The two counterparts will continue to explore new areas of trade collaboration to promote high-quality development.
During the panel discussion today, distinguished guests – including Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Dr Sunny Chai, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited Bonnie Chan; and Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong Vivian Cheung – exchanged thoughts on collaboration opportunities in finance, I&T and supply chain. Executive Director and Co-President of Tigermed Hao Wu also shared his company’s success in achieving international growth by leveraging Hong Kong’s platform.
The three thematic roundtable sessions held in the afternoon attracted numerous enterprises. Focusing on topics such as listing in Hong Kong, opportunities for innovation and technology companies, and cross-border supply chain management, the sessions brought together institutions and businesses from Hong Kong and Zhejiang for in-depth and targeted discussions on future collaborations.
During the event, HKTDC, Invest Hong Kong and the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government set up consultation booths to provide professional advisory services to attendees.
The forum has become an important platform for deepening Zhejiang-Hong Kong collaboration, enabling more mainland enterprises to leverage Hong Kong’s business advantages and partner with its professional services sector to expand globally.
About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
Graphene Manufacturing Group Limited (TSXV: GMG) (“GMG” or the “Company“) provides a quarterly update with respect to the Company’s previously announced “at-the-market” equity program (the “ATM Program“) launched on June 13, 2024. The ATM Program allows the Company to issue and sell, from time to time, up to C$20,000,000 of its ordinary shares (“Ordinary Shares“) from treasury to the public, at the Company’s discretion, pursuant to an equity distribution agreement between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation (the “Agent“).
During the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, the Company issued a total of 866,500 Ordinary Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV“) at an average price of C$0.7965 per share under the ATM Program, providing gross proceeds of C$690,196.80. Commissions of C$20,705.90 were paid to the Agent in relation to these distributions, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of C$669,490.90.
For further details on the ATM Program, see the Company’s news release dated June 14, 2024.
GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process.
GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, ‘tuneable’ and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications. The Company’s present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications.
In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC-R”) coating (or energy-saving paint), lubricants and fluids. In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of G+AI Batteries.
For further information please contact:
Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223
Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Names Bob White Representative Executive Officer, President, Chief Executive Officer and a new Director candidate
Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global MedTech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, today announces the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) aimed at accelerating its ongoing transformation efforts in the medtech space.
The Board of Directors has decided unanimously to appoint Bob White, a former Executive Vice President and President, Medical Surgical Portfolio for Medtronic, as a successor to Yasuo Takeuchi, Olympus’ Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO, effective June 1, 2025. Bob will also be proposed as a candidate for election to the Board at Olympus’ General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held in June 2025.
“We are pleased to name Bob to this pivotal leadership role. He possesses a wealth of experience garnered from his tenure at various esteemed organizations within the medical technology sector. I look forward to welcoming him as a leader who will bring extensive knowledge and expertise to the company.” said Yasuo Takeuchi. “Over the course of his career, Bob has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving both transformative growth and strategic initiatives. I am truly pleased that he is bringing this profound expertise and insight to Olympus.”
Comment from Bob White “I am truly honored and grateful for the trust placed in me by the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee. Olympus is an exceptional company, known for its market-leading solutions, cutting-edge technology, and remarkable people. I’m excited to bring my experience to the table and contribute to the company’s ongoing success and growth. I’ve long admired Olympus for its rich Japanese heritage, outstanding products, and unwavering commitment to serving the needs of both clinicians and patients.”
Bob most recently served as Executive Vice President and President, Medical Surgical Portfolio for Medtronic until April 2024. Before then, he was Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic Asia Pacific, based in Singapore where he had responsibility for APAC as well as Japan. During his tenure at Covidien, he held the positions of President of Emerging Markets and President of Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions. He has seen numerous innovation programs and led several R&D initiatives and M&A transactions within complex business portfolios. His close engagement with the market and customers has enabled him to maintain a strong understanding of physician needs.
Prior to joining Medtronic, Bob held leadership positions at GE Healthcare, Merge Healthcare and Healthcare Division, IBM. Throughout his career in the medtech industry, he has played a pivotal role in improving the lives of patients around the world through the transformation of healthcare delivery.
In order to select and recommend the best candidate for the next CEO, the Nominating Committee engaged a leading executive search firm and formed an Advisory Search Committee in November 2024. After a comprehensive and rigorous search process, Olympus determined that Bob is the ideal leader among a strong pool of internal and external candidates. Bob possesses the skill set necessary to guide the next phase of Olympus’ transformation, including quality and regulatory initiatives.
Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Cleveland State University and an MBA in finance from Case Western Reserve University, USA. He currently resides in Colorado and will be located in Olympus global headquarters in Tokyo, with his wife.
About Olympus
At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide innovative solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visithttps://www.olympus-global.com/ and follow our global X account: @Olympus_Corp.
The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Mooreast Holdings Ltd. (“Mooreast” or the “Company”), and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) wishes to provide an update on several recent developments:
Completion of Multi-Buoy Mooring Upgrade Project at Gulf of Thailand
Further to the Company’s announcement dated 12 November 2024, Mooreast wishes to update that the project to upgrade a multi-buoy mooring (“MBM”) system off the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand was completed recently. The Group expects to recognise approximately S$8.8 million for this project in the first half of the financial year ending 31 December 2025 (“1H2025”).
The successful completion underscores the Group’s capabilities to handle sizeable mooring projects within the oil and gas (“O&G”) industry. Orders related to the O&G sector had been building up in 2H2024, and have continued to gain momentum in the first four months of FY2025. Even with the delivery of the MBM project, current orders at hand are at least equal to those at the end of FY2024. Accordingly, the Group expects revenue in 1H2025 to exceed the S$13.7 million recorded in 1H2024.
Additionally, the Group does not expect that the administrative and other operating expenses to increase significantly in FY2025 given that the current staffing is sufficient to support operations and business development in the near term and the absence of fees for professional services rendered to support the Group’s business repositioning efforts in FY2024.
Management is actively reviewing and implementing cost control measures to improve overall cost efficiency and profitability moving forward.
Update on Floating Wind Energy Projects in Europe and North Asia
On 1 January 2025, Mr. Eirik Ellingsen (“Mr. Ellingsen”), a Norwegian with deep experience in the offshore and marine sector, was appointed Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). In the last four months, he has been working closely with Mr. Sim Koon Lam (“Mr Sim”), the founder, Executive Director and Deputy Chairman, on business development strategies amid an increase in commercialisation of floating wind energy projects worldwide.
Mr. Ellingsen has been actively engaging players involved in floating wind energy projects in Europe and North Asia, and participated in the WindEurope conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, earlier this month.
While the ‘first wave’ of implementation – involving largely demonstration and precommercial projects – had been delayed by the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has clearly advanced to the ‘second wave’ – commercialisation at scale.
With the progress toward commercialisation, the Environmental Resources Management’s “Q3 2024 Global Offshore Wind Market Update” reported over 390 GW of floating wind projects in various planning and development stages.
Compared to 50-100 megawatts (“MW”) typical at pre-commercialisation, the latter involves projects of at least 500 MW each. Many of these projects are reaching the final investment decision (“FID”) phase in 2026 and 2027. These include multigigawatt (“GW”) scale projects which can contribute substantially to the growth of offshore wind capacity globally. Typically, mooring and rigging solutions, including anchors, chains, and ropes, account for between 5% to 10% of the total value of each floating wind energy project.
Approximately 5.5 GW of floating wind capacity is expected to reach FID in the next 24-36 months. Of this, about two-thirds involve projects in Europe, including those in the North Sea, while a third will come from North Asia. These projects may be deemed as the addressable market of Mooreast. As the Group is currently not targeting U.S. floating wind energy projects, it is not subject to U.S. Government tariffs for its products.
Already, Mooreast is working closely with these projects and has indicated its component costings. As these progress to full implementation, developers and partners are looking for a reliable manufacturer capable of handling the large volumes of anchors and mooring components required for these large-scale projects.
The Group believes it is uniquely positioned, given its status as Asia’s only ultra-high power anchor designer and manufacturer and its global footprint. Mooreast recently opened new offices in Taiwan and Malaysia in June and July 2024, respectively, expanding its presence in the Asian region.
The Group continues to assess the ability of its present facility at 51 Shipyard Road in Singapore to handle production of anchors and components as these projects advance to formal tender, noting that developers have indicated suppliers would need to demonstrate beforehand sufficient capacity to handle the indicative volume. Should such orders escalate beyond the current capacity of the existing yard, Mooreast would need to explore access to additional capacity. Meanwhile, the Company continues to develop its supply chain to better serve its customers globally.
The Company will provide updates to shareholders as and when there are material developments regarding floating renewable energy projects.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD MOOREAST HOLDINGS LTD. Mr Eirik Ellingsen Chief Executive Officer 23 April 2025
This announcement has been reviewed by the Company’s sponsor, UOB Kay Hian Private Limited (the “Sponsor”).
This announcement has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”) and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this announcement.
The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Lance Tan, Senior Vice President, 8 Anthony Road, #01-01, Singapore 229957, telephone (65) 6590 6881.
Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: COYA) (“Coya” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing biologics intended to enhance regulatory T cell (Treg) function announced positive interim results of an investigator-initiated proof of concept open-label study with low-dose IL-2 and CTLA4-Ig combination treatment in patients with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). The study is led by Dr. Alireza Faridar and Dr. Stanley Appel at the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute (Houston, TX) with funding from The Peggy and Gary Edwards Endowment Fund. Study patients received subcutaneously administered CTLA4-Ig, followed by a 5-day course of low-dose IL-2 every four weeks, for a total of 22 weeks of dosing and follow-up. The study aims to enroll up to 10 patients, and these interim results include data from the first 5 patients with mild to moderate FTD who have completed the full course of treatment.
Dr. Arun Swaminathan, Coya’s Chief Executive Officer followed: “The results thus far are consistent with previously published encouraging data from an open-label investigator-initiated study of patients with ALS treated with low-dose IL-2/CTLA4-Ig. This interim data in FTD provides us further confidence of our approach to target and enhance Treg biology to address devastating neurodegenerative diseases including ALS and FTD”.
Previous biomarker data presented by the Company demonstrated that FTD patients exhibit a compromised immunosuppressive function of regulatory T cells (Tregs), along with increased peripheral levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, dysregulation of monocytes, and systemic activation of the inflammatory cascade, supporting the critical role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of FTD.
One previous study showed that a cohort of 68 patients with FTD worsened by an average of 3.57 points over a 12-month period per the Clinical Dementia Rating – Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (CDR‐FTLD) scale (Knopman et al. Brain 2008; 131(11): 2957-2968). In addition, patients with FTD typically have shorter survival times and more rapid rates of cognitive and functional decline compared to patients with Alzheimer’s disease (Rascovsky et al. Neurology 2005; 65(3): 397-403).
Dr. Fred Grossman, Coya’s Chief Medical Officer stated: “We are excited with the results observed in this initial group of patients with this proof-of-concept study. We believe that the increase in Treg numbers and suppressive function, with subsequent anti-inflammatory biological activity still to be evaluated, underscores the potential for this low-dose IL-2/CTLA4-Ig combination to be further studied as a therapy for FTD, for which there are no currently approved treatments.”
Summary of Interim Study Results
Overall, treatment with low-dose IL-2 and CTLA4-Ig was well tolerated. All 5 patients enrolled in the first cohort completed the study and received the investigational treatment as planned. The most common adverse events were mild injection site reactions. No serious adverse events were reported.
Treg numbers and suppressive function increased after the first treatment cycle (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively, and remained at higher significant levels throughout the treatment period.
Clinical functional assessments were performed in all patients at pre-specified timepoints over the course of the study using validated tools, including the Clinical Dementia Rating – Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (CDR‐FTLD) scale, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, and the Progressive Aphasia Severity Scale (PASS). Results of the functional tests show that, on average, these five FTD patients treated with low-dose IL-2 and CTLA4-Ig combination exhibited minimal to no cognitive decline over the course of the study, compared to pre-treatment values.
The Company intends to publish and/or present more comprehensive data in a future peer-reviewed meeting and/or publication.
About Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) refers to a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by altered behavior and language, with a progressive decline in executive function.1 FTD affects an estimated 30,000 Americans.2 FTD is categorized clinically into various subtypes; the main three include behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia and two language variants, semantic dementia (also known as semantic variant primary progressive aphasia) and progressive non-fluent aphasia (also known as non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia). It’s a presenile dementia, meaning it can occur in younger individuals, often between the ages of 45 and 64. The average age of onset is 58, with an average survival time of 7.5 years.1,2
References 1. Knopman et al. Development of methodology for conducting clinical trials in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Brain 2008; 131(11): 2957-2968
2. Rascovsky et al. Rate of progression differs in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Neurology 2005; 65(3): 397-403
About Coya Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: COYA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary treatments focused on the biology and potential therapeutic advantages of regulatory T cells (“Tregs”) to target systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. Dysfunctional Tregs underlie numerous conditions, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases, and this cellular dysfunction may lead to sustained inflammation and oxidative stress resulting in lack of homeostasis of the immune system.
Coya’s investigational product candidate pipeline leverages multiple therapeutic modalities aimed at restoring the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions of Tregs. Coya’s therapeutic platforms include Treg-enhancing biologics, Treg-derived exosomes, and autologous Treg cell therapy.
COYA 302 is a combination treatment comprised of low-dose IL-2 and CTLA4-Ig is an investigational therapy with a dual immunomodulatory mechanism of action intended to enhance the anti-inflammatory function of Tregs and suppress the inflammation produced by activated monocytes and macrophages. Coya is developing COYA 302 for the treatment of fatal neurogenerative diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and Treg dysfunction.
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this presentation, including information concerning our current and future financial performance, business plans and objectives, current and future clinical and preclinical development activities, timing and success of our ongoing and planned clinical trials and related data, the timing of announcements, updates and results of our clinical trials and related data, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval, the potential therapeutic benefits and economic value of our product candidates, competitive position, industry environment and potential market opportunities. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors including, but not limited to, those related to risks associated with the success, cost and timing of our product candidate development activities and ongoing and planned clinical trials; our plans to develop and commercialize targeted therapeutics; the progress of patient enrollment and dosing in our preclinical or clinical trials; the ability of our product candidates to achieve applicable endpoints in the clinical trials; the safety profile of our product candidates; the potential for data from our clinical trials to support a marketing application, as well as the timing of these events; our ability to obtain funding for our operations; development and commercialization of our product candidates; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our product candidates; the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of our product candidates; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection; our dependence on third party manufacturers; the success of competing therapies or products that are or may become available; our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel; our ability to identify additional product candidates with significant commercial potential consistent with our commercial objectives; ; and our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks may emerge from time to time. 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. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Although our management believes that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances described in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
HighTide Therapeutics, Inc. (HKG: 2511), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of multifunctional multi-targeted therapies for chronic liver and metabolic diseases, announced today that it will present at the EASL Congress 2025, taking place from May 7-10, 2025 in Amsterdam. The presentations include post-hoc analyses of two Phase 2 clinical studies of berberine ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801), a gut-liver anti-inflammatory metabolic modulator, being developed for treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A third presentation will present preclinical results for rimtoregtide (HTD4010), a peptide derived from the Reg3a protein, in liver failure in mice.
“Effects of Berberine Ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801) in Patients with At-risk MASH and T2DM” (Presentation SAT-440, Poster Presentation, May 10, 8:30 AM CET)
About the Abstract: Due to the ongoing unmet medical need, clinical development in MASH focuses on patients who are at a higher risk of disease progression and outcomes due to the presence of moderate to advanced fibrosis (defined as at-risk MASH). The purpose of this analysis was to assess the effects of HTD1801 in patients with at-risk MASH and T2DM as defined by baseline MRI cT1 >875 ms. Eighteen weeks of treatment with HTD1801 resulted in substantial improvements in key hepatic and cardiometabolic parameters in patients with at-risk MASH and compared to placebo, twice as many patients achieved a reduction in liver fat content (MRI-PDFF) or fibroinflammation (cT1) that have been associated with improvements in liver histology. These data are particularly insightful as HTD1801 continues to be evaluated in an ongoing paired biopsy study of patients with at-risk MASH and pre-diabetes or diabetes.
“Effects of Berberine Ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801) in Chinese Patients with T2DM and Presumed MASLD” (Presentation SAT-432, Poster Presentation, May 10, 8:30 AM CET)
About the Abstract: T2DM typically coexists with other metabolic abnormalities such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, and MASH that can exacerbate T2DM and can lead to a worse prognosis with increased risk for mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. In a Phase 2 study in patients with T2DM, HTD1801 achieved the primary endpoint with a significant decrease in HbA1c. Based on the latest diagnostic criteria, it is likely that a substantial subgroup of the study may have had concurrent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the benefits of HTD1801 in patients with T2DM and MASLD identified by baseline controlled attenuation parameter values >288 dB/M (correlated to 5% liver fat content). HTD1801 treatment demonstrated both dose-dependent improvements in cardiometabolic and hepatic parameters in patients with T2DM and MASLD. These data suggest HTD1801 can comprehensively address metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors beyond glycemic control.
“A Comparison of the Protective Effects of Rimtoregtide (HTD4010) and DUR-928 on Acute Liver Failure in Mice” (Presentation FRI-141, Poster Presentation, May 9, 8:30 AM CET)
About the Abstract: The purpose of this study was 1) to test the potential protective effects of HTD4010 in an LPS-induced model mimicking acute liver failure in mice and 2) compare these effects to DUR-928, which is currently in late-stage development for the treatment of alcohol-associated hepatitis. In an LPS-induced mouse model mimicking acute liver failure, HTD4010 resulted in significant improvement in survival rates (greater than 2-fold) compared to the model control. These protective effects of HTD4010 were significantly greater than DUR-928. These findings provide evidence that HTD4010 may have a beneficial effect on acute liver conditions including alcohol-associated hepatitis and other acute-inflammatory-related conditions.
About Berberine Ursodeoxycholate Berberine ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801) is an orally delivered, gut-liver anti-inflammatory metabolic modulator being developed for the treatment of metabolic and digestive diseases. HTD1801, an ionic salt of berberine and ursodeoxycholate, is a new molecular entity with a unique dual mechanism of action: AMP kinase activation and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition. These two key mechanistic pathways have been associated with improvements in insulin resistance, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and hepatic inflammation, potentially providing a comprehensive treatment platform for the multifaceted nature of complex metabolic diseases. HTD1801 is being developed for multiple indications. HTD1801 met the primary endpoint in two Phase 3 clinical trials in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), demonstrating a clinically meaningful effect on HbA1c. In both trials, key secondary endpoints were achieved, suggesting multiple advantages of HTD1801 including improvement in cardiometabolic risk indicators. In addition to T2DM, HTD1801 efficacy in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has been demonstrated in a Phase 2a clinical trial, and a global multicenter Phase 2b trial assessing the histologic benefit of HTD1801 is currently ongoing, with topline results expected in 2025.
About Rimtoregtide Rimtoregtide (HTD4010) is a clinical-stage compound in development for acute inflammatory-related indications including alcoholic hepatitis (AH). It is a peptide derived from the Reg3a protein with immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. HTD4010 has been evaluated in animal models of acute pancreatitis and acute liver failure, where protective effects were observed. A completed Phase 1 clinical trial of HTD4010 in healthy subjects demonstrated a favorable safety profile. AH is caused by chronic heavy alcohol abuse or a sudden, drastic increase in alcohol consumption. It is characterized by severe inflammation and, ultimately, liver failure and death. There is currently no approved treatment for AH and only a few drug candidates are in clinical development. The current standard of care focuses on symptom management, including abstinence, treating inflammation and providing nutrition.
About HighTide Therapeutics HighTide Therapeutics, Inc. (HKG: 2511) is a globally integrated biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery and development of first-in-class multifunctional, multi-targeted therapies with poly-indication potential across metabolic diseases with significant unmet medical needs. HighTide is currently developing several clinical assets and associated global intellectual property rights, and advancing multiple mid-to-late-stage clinical trials including therapies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Berberine ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801), HighTide’s lead drug candidate, received Fast Track designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration for both MASH and PSC and Orphan Drug designation for PSC. HTD1801 has been included in the National Major New Drug Innovation Program under the 13th Five-Year Plan for Major Technology Project in China.
TransNusa Focuses On Strengthening Network Connectivity
South East Asia’s first premium service airline, PT TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, is further strengthening its presence in Singapore by increasing the frequency of its scheduled flights for the Jakarta – Singapore route to two times daily from today.
This announcement comes barely a month after TransNusa successfully launch scheduled flights to Perth from its base in Bali.
TransNusa Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Bernard Francis said that TransNusa has plans to further strengthen its network connectivity this year.
In line with this, TransNusa launched its second daily flight to Singapore today. The additional flight, 8B 153, departed at 12.10pm from the Terminal 3 Soekarno – Hatta International Airport and arrived Singapore Changi Airport at 14.40pm today. While its additional flight, 8B 154, departed Changi Airport at 15.30pm and arrived at the Soekarno – Hatta International Airport at 16.20pm.
“TransNusa will continue to operate the current scheduled flight, 8B 151, which depart Soekarno – Hatta International Airport at 07.55am and arrive at 10.45am at the Changi Airport,” Datuk Bernard said, adding that the current flight, 8B 152, depart Changi Airport at 11.45am and arrive in Jakarta at 12.30pm.
TransNusa has been consistently achieving milestones since the introduction of a new top management led by aviation veteran, Datuk Bernard Francis. The airline, which introduced its first international flight on April 14, 2023, has expanding its wings from South East Asia to the Asia Pacific region within a short span of 2 years.
Datuk Bernard attributes the airline’s successes and accelerated growth within the last 24 months to their customised business model and the vastly experienced management team.
Datuk Bernard stressed that for its international flights, TransNusa not only provide premium services with competitive ticket prices, but the airline also has attractive product bundles called SEAT, SEAT-PLUS and FLEXI-PRO.
“Our passengers will enjoy check-in baggage of between 20kgs to 30 kgs, depending on the product purchased,” Datuk Bernard said, explaining that the baggage offering was over and above the 7kgs limit offered as a passenger’s hand carry.
“For the highest package, FLEXI-PRO, we provide more complete services such as free baggage 30kgs, free to choose seats, free food, and drinks, priority at check-in and boarding. In addition, TransNusa also provides its FLEXI-PRO passengers with the ability to be able to change their flight schedule without restrictions and obtain refund when needed.”
TransNusa, which aims to ensure its passengers travel with ease and comfort, has also configured their A320s with a 174-seat configuration, which allows for passengers to enjoy about 30 inches of legroom, comparable to the experience passengers would get in a full-service airline.
“We are committed to providing affordable and competitive ticket prices, while still providing premium services to our customers.” said Datuk Bernard, adding that the ticket price for the Jakarta – Singapore route starts from as low as SGD52 (USD40).
DATUK BERNARD FRANCIS… TransNusa to focus on strengthening network connectivity
TransNusa, A Short History TransNusa, which had to close it business operation in September 2020 due to impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, started operations again after injection of new shareholders and a new management team led by aviation expert, Datuk Bernard, in October 2022.
Within 6 months, the airline introduced its first international route between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur and celebrated its first-year anniversary for this route on April 14, 2024.
“When we re-launched TransNusa in October 2022, we started from the bottom again. Everything was new because the pandemic had disrupted the aviation business operations boundaries. As such we re-created and customised our business operations and strategy model of being the first Premium Service Carrier based on the post-pandemic scenario,” Datuk Bernard explained.
TransNusa launched its first international route between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur in April, 2023, followed by the Jakarta – Singapore route on November 20, 2023. After which, the airline successfully launched three more new international routes by the end of 2023. TransNusa’s aggressive international growth strategy combined with its domestic business operations approach has enabled the airline to experience strategic growth in the last two years.
Since the takeover of new shareholders and the injection of a new management team, TransNusa has been making headlines in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Australia with news of being the first airline in Indonesia and the world to develop and introduce a new domestic route connecting Bali and Manado. TransNusa also became the second Indonesian airline to receive approval to fly to China.
About TransNusa Established in 2005, TransNusa started its operation by providing chartered flights. It began its commercial flights in 2011. After ceasing operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, TransNusa relaunched itself in 2021 as a low-cost airline in its domestic market. In 2023, TransNusa introduced a new business model making it the first Premium Service Airline in the region. The new business model will apply only to its international routes. TransNusa introduced its first international route in April this year. The airline introduced its Jakarta – Kuala Lumpur round trip route and had its maiden flight on April 14. The airline is currently based in Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Passengers can book their flights on the TransNusa website (www.transnusa.co.id), through authorized travel agents in Singapore and Indonesia, or by contacting the airline’s customer service centre at, +62216310888. For the Singaporean market, passengers can contact TransNusa’s General Sales Agent, Chariot Travels Pte Ltd, at +65 86602719.
Media Contact Trina Thomas Raj trina@myqaseh.org +60124992672 (watsapp)
Made-in-Canada Robotics, Engineered in Waterloo, Designed for the World
Axibo Inc., a Waterloo-based robotics innovator celebrated for its groundbreaking 4D volumetric capture technologies and serving customers like Netflix and Apple, today announced a $12 million funding round. This investment includes $11 million from prominent external investors and an additional $1 million from Axibo’s founders Anoop Gadhrri, Sohaib Al-Emara, and Reiner Schmidt, whose passion for robotics began back in 2019 with their university’s first autonomous vehicle. The funding launches Axibo’s ambitious new division dedicated to advanced humanoid robotics.
Axibo Founders
With a track record of thousands of cinema robots delivered internationally, Axibo will now be leveraging Waterloo’s exceptional AI, robotics, and precision engineering talent to spearhead advancements in humanoid robotics.
“We see humanoid robots as the next major milestone in productivity since the Industrial Revolution,” said Anoop Gadhrri, co-founder and CEO of Axibo. “Canada is exceptionally well-positioned with its talent and resources. Our commitment is to drive this forward, placing Canada prominently on the global robotics stage.”
Axibo is actively seeking visionary engineers passionate about developing unprecedented technologies and shaping the global future of humanoid robotics. Early team members will not only create groundbreaking prototypes but directly contribute to substantial societal advancements through robots engineered for safe and intelligent integration into healthcare, logistics, industrial automation, and personal assistance. By fostering an innovation-driven culture emphasizing rapid prototyping and autonomy, Axibo empowers its engineers to experiment freely and iterate swiftly.
“We envision a future where every household benefits from humanoid robotics,” Gadhrri emphasized. “Axibo’s technology aims to significantly elevate productivity and everyday life across Canada and beyond.”
The company’s immediate milestones include accelerating proprietary manufacturing processes, expanding its engineering and AI teams, and advancing capabilities in robot autonomy and dexterity. The new division’s first robot prototype, temporarily code-named “T.E.B.”, will debut in early 2026, demonstrating advanced agility and intelligence.
If you’re ready to build what’s next in robotics, Axibo invites you to join the pioneering team positioning Canada at the global forefront of robotics innovation.
On 22 April, Earth Day, an electrifying cycling event was held across Guangdong and Macau. Batch Bicycles and Hyatt Place Zhuhai jointly organised Ride Macao, an event to explore the country on wheels and celebrate Earth’s Day with green travel.
In today’s fast-paced city life, people are often busy with work and various affairs that they gradually leave nature and sports behind. The Ride Macao event was designed to break this shackle and spread the values of living green, protecting the environment and the cycling lifestyle to everyone.
Starting from Hyatt Place Zhuhai and arriving at Hengqin Port, the carefully planned route combined the picturesque natural scenery and unique cityscape along the way with the ease of cruising through customs. Riders enjoyed the magnificent view of the sea and sky during the journey while also experiencing the unique charm of the blend of history and modernity found along the streets and lanes of Macau. This was not only a long-distance ride, but also a deep dialogue with the earth to embrace green living.
Ride Macau by Batch Bicycles (a brand of Covation)
Batch Bicycles Products Display
Batch Bicycles is a global brand of Covation Holdings Limited (Covation). Covation is a global holding company headquartered in Hong Kong. Covation’s vision of consumer-centric innovation is driven by its diverse portfolio of outdoor brands, including Huffy, Niner Bikes, Batch Bicycles, Royce Union, VAAST and Buzz E-Bikes, which are available to consumers in more than 50 countries and territories around the world through an extensive global distribution network. The company ships more than 5 million bicycles annually. Covation holds a wide-ranging licensing portfolio with world-class partners such as Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, National Geographic, Ford, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, and Panama Jack. The vast distribution network includes leading global retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, Target, Swire, Big W, Academy, Argos, Smyths, and many other international outlets.
The mission of Batch Bicycles is to ‘make cycling easier’. With a wide range of products including mountain bikes for conquering mountains, road bikes for riding the pavement, gravel bikes and cycling equipment specially designed for teenagers. Batch Bicycles are designed to provide cycling enthusiasts around the world with a comfortable and smooth cycling experience through innovative designs and high-quality configurations. The Macao Ride is a vivid manifestation of Batch Bicycles brand philosophy to make cycling easier and encourage people to venture out of the concrete city to explore the world and embrace nature through cycling.
