Archives

Merck announced new Phase 3 results from the CORALreef Lipids trial showing that enlicitide decanoate, an investigational once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor, achieved substantial reductions in LDL-C levels in adults with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The therapy demonstrated a 55.8% reduction in LDL-C in the primary analysis and a 59.7% reduction in a post-hoc reanalysis at week 24 compared to placebo. These results are being presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 as part of Late-Breaking Science.

IKEA has introduced a new range of 21 smart home products designed to be compatible with Matter, the universal smart home standard. The launch represents a significant expansion of IKEA’s presence in the smart home market, focusing on lighting, sensors, and control devices that work seamlessly across different brands and platforms. The new range rebuilds IKEA’s smart home offering from the ground up to create a more intuitive and accessible experience.

Google Maps is rolling out a major upgrade powered by Gemini, bringing hands-free conversational assistance, landmark-based directions, proactive traffic alerts and enhanced visual discovery to its navigation experience.

Amgen announced new data from its Phase 3 VESALIUS-CV clinical trial showing that Repatha (evolocumab) delivered statistically significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events among high-risk adults who had not previously experienced a heart attack or stroke. The findings establish Repatha as the first and only PCSK9 inhibitor demonstrated to significantly reduce the risk of first heart attack and stroke in high-risk primary prevention patients. The results were presented at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Red Cell Partners announced the launch of Trase, a new agentic platform designed to deliver and implement autonomous AI agents and specialized language models within regulated industries. The company aims to address the challenge of enterprise AI adoption by providing solutions that automate complex workflows securely and at scale. Alongside the launch, Red Cell appointed Dr. Baskar Sridharan, former Vice President and General Manager of AI and Machine Learning Services and Infrastructure at Amazon Web Services, as President of Trase.

Roundtable and RYVYL announced that Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner of Blockchain Founders Fund, a blockchain investor, will become Chief Financial Officer of the soon-to-be merged entity as the companies move toward a NASDAQ listing. Madhavji will guide the merger integration and connect the combined company with traditional and blockchain investment communities. Current RYVYL CFO George Oliva will transition to Chief Accounting Officer after the merger is complete.

LivePerson announced the launch of Conversation Simulator, a new testing and analysis environment designed to help brands deploy generative AI more safely and effectively before interacting with customers. The platform is intended to address key issues that have slowed the adoption of generative AI, including accuracy, compliance and operational risk.

Upstart announced a new forward-flow commitment from funds managed by Castlelake, L.P., in which Castlelake has agreed to purchase up to $1.5 billion in consumer loans originated through the Upstart platform. Upstart is a lending marketplace that uses artificial intelligence to match consumers to credit products offered by banks and credit unions.

Office Ally announced the appointment of two senior executives as the company advances its growth strategy and expands its position in healthcare technology. The company named Tom Schultz as Chief Revenue Officer and Arjun Seth as Chief Operations Officer, strengthening its leadership team as it scales its solutions for healthcare providers, payers, and partners.

Zinzino has signed an agreement to acquire Mexico-based direct sales company Sanki’s distributor database, customer register, inventory, and intellectual property rights. The deal also includes the purchase of 100% of the shares in Sanki’s subsidiaries in Colombia and Peru. The acquisition is intended to accelerate Zinzino’s market establishment and expand its distribution strength in Latin America.

ID5 announced that it has acquired TrueData, a US-based identity graph company. The deal marks a significant expansion of ID5’s presence in the US, increasing its ability to provide identity services across the digital advertising ecosystem. The combined company will operate under the ID5 brand and will integrate TrueData’s identity graph with ID5’s Adaptive Identity technology to deliver a unified identity solution focused on privacy and interoperability.

RAAAM Memory Technologies announced that it has raised $17.5 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round to support the mass production and full qualification of its patented on-chip memory technology, GCRAM. The round was led by NXP Semiconductors and included participation from a leading multinational networking corporation, IAG Capital Partners, EIC Fund, LiFTT, Alumni Ventures, and existing investors J-Ventures, Silicon Catalyst Ventures, and Serpentine Ventures. The new funding brings the company’s total capital raised to over $24 million, combining equity financing with the EIC Accelerator grant.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is restructuring its philanthropic strategy to concentrate primarily on AI-driven biological research, marking a significant shift in its mission a decade after its founding. The organization, launched by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan in 2015, announced that its Biohub network will now be its primary focus and will receive the majority of its resources.

A first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial demonstrated that a single infusion of an investigational CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing therapy significantly reduced LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in adults with difficult-to-treat lipid disorders. The preliminary findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans.

FIS has launched the FIS Asset Servicing Management Suite, a comprehensive set of automated and integrated solutions designed to improve operational efficiency across the full range of asset servicing activities.

Bimini Capital Management announced the appointment of Ashley B. Griffith as a Class I director, effective November 6, 2025. Griffith fills the board seat previously held by Frank E. Jaumot, who resigned in connection with his retirement after serving as a director since 2009. Jaumot had been involved with the company since its initial capital raise.

Eli Lilly and Company announced an agreement with the U.S. government that will expand access to its obesity treatments for Medicare beneficiaries and self-pay patients, resulting in significantly reduced monthly out-of-pocket costs. The initiative is aimed at increasing availability of medications such as Zepbound and the investigational oral obesity treatment orforglipron, pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. The agreement reflects a broad public-private effort to address obesity, which affects nearly 40 million Americans on government insurance programs and is associated with heightened risks of more than 200 medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Innodata has announced a series of executive leadership and board changes aimed at supporting its expansion as demand increases for its generative artificial intelligence solutions and data engineering platforms. The company appointed Rahul Singhal as President and Chief Revenue Officer, strengthening its focus on product strategy, roadmap development, and go-to-market execution across its AI and digital transformation businesses. Singhal previously served as Chief Product Officer and Chief Revenue Officer and has played a central role in expanding the company’s customer relationships and solution development.

Sweetgreen announced that it has agreed to sell its Spyce business, which developed the company’s Infinite Kitchen technology, to Wonder. The transaction is valued at $186.4 million and marks a significant strategic step for Sweetgreen as it continues to invest in growth and operational efficiency. Wonder will obtain the Spyce engineering workforce and platform, while Sweetgreen will retain full access to the Infinite Kitchen through new licensing and supply agreements.

The Gates Foundation has announced a four-year, $1.4 billion commitment to climate adaptation initiatives, aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The announcement was made at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where global leaders emphasized the importance of locally led solutions to climate-related challenges. The funding focuses on increasing access to innovations that help farmers manage the growing risks of droughts, floods, heat, and other extreme weather events. Smallholder farmers in these regions are among the most affected by climate pressures, despite receiving a relatively small share of global climate finance.

Proceed announced the acquisition of Special Delivery Service, a Dallas-based provider of technology-driven service of process solutions, expanding the company’s presence in Texas and strengthening its position as a nationwide provider of litigation support.

Platinum Equity announced that it has signed an agreement to sell Unical Aviation, a global provider of aerospace aftermarket solutions, to Satair, an Airbus company.

MCS announced that it has agreed to sell its mortgage services business line, including property preservation services, inspections, and related asset management operations, to Stewart Information Services.

MES Life Safety announced the acquisition of Northeast Rescue Systems, expanding the company’s offerings in technical rescue and personal protective equipment across the New England region. The deal enhances MES Life Safety’s capacity to supply equipment and support to first responders and other professionals working in situations that pose an immediate threat to life or health.

Merit Financial Advisors has acquired Mennenga Tax & Financial, adding $715 million in assets and expanding its wealth management and tax planning capabilities for clients. The transaction strengthens Merit's presence in Wisconsin and supports its ongoing strategy of providing comprehensive financial guidance to high-net-worth individuals and families navigating complex financial decisions.

Innovation Gateway at the University of Georgia has appointed Dan Geller as the new director of its Innovation Gateway Startup Program. Geller assumed the role on October 1 after serving as assistant director since 2020.

Axsome Therapeutics announced that it has obtained exclusive global rights to AZD7325, a selective GABAA α2,3 receptor positive allosteric modulator that has previously completed Phase 1 studies. AstraZeneca initially developed the program. Axsome plans to advance AZD7325 into Phase 2, enabling activities in 2026 as a potential treatment for epilepsy.

American Gridwork Partners announced the acquisition of PMT Site, a Nashville-based underground utility and site infrastructure services provider. The transaction marks the launch of a year-long initiative by American Gridwork Partners to assemble a scalable national network of infrastructure service organizations focused on rebuilding and modernizing local energy, water, and data grids across the United States.

Pfizer and Metsera announced a definitive agreement for Pfizer to acquire Metsera, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation therapies for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. The agreement initially valued Metsera at $4.9 billion and has since been amended to reflect a revised transaction value of up to $86.25 per share (approximately valuing the deal at $10 billion), consisting of $65.60 per share in cash and a contingent value right that could deliver up to $20.65 per share in additional payments tied to future developmental and regulatory milestones. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the amended merger terms.

Microsoft AI has announced the formation of its MAI Superintelligence Team, a new group led by Mustafa Suleyman focused on developing what the company refers to as Humanist Superintelligence. The initiative is positioned as an alternative vision for advanced AI development, prioritizing human control, real-world problem-solving, and carefully defined system limitations. Suleyman said the goal is to achieve a highly capable AI that remains explicitly in service to people and grounded in specific societal applications rather than pursuing unrestricted general autonomy.