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Once upon a time, in the pre-social media age in which television reigned supreme, Joan Rivers used to host Fashion Police on E! Entertainment Television. It was a time. As part of the non-politically correct show (was this the most cancellable show on TV? Hardly, but it had its moments), there was a segment titled Bitch Stole My Look, in which Rivers and her co-hosts would pair up celebrities wearing the same or similar looks and choose a winner. This now feels like an outdated, pre-Me Too relic of the kind of lo-fi entertainment that would prey on women and the way they looked for the sake of. Celebrities and their stylists now work extremely hard to secure exclusive, unique looks — this is the kind of thing that doesn’t happen anymore.
Case in point: Monday in Venice, on the occasion of the annual film festival, Amanda Seyfried appeared on a photo call wearing a navy blazer, blue jeans, and a striped shirt by Dario Vitale for Versace, the very same one that Julia Roberts wore to much commotion just this past Friday, also in Venice. There is a reason for the online discourse around the look: it’s the very first one we are seeing from Vitale, who took over from Donatella Versace earlier this year. Consider this Vitale’s soft launch of the collection he’ll unveil later this month during Milan Fashion Week. By dressing both Roberts and Seyfried in practically one weekend, Versace secured twice the attention for one single look — not too shabby, no?
It’s tough competition out there. Since Timothée Chalamet wore Haider Ackermann’s new Tom Ford to the Golden Globes in January of this year — a month before the runway debut of said collection — labels with debuting designers, of which there are 15 this upcoming Spring/Summer 2026 season, have been leveraging celebrities and the red carpet to tease their collections. Chalamet himself reprised the part at the Oscars, wearing Sarah Burton’s new Givenchy alongside Elle Fanning. (You can read more about this from yours truly here.)
The celebrity soft launch is a strategy that has seemed effective in that it makes the insular, industry-first news moments that are new designers and their runway debuts, transcend from the bubble of fashion and into pop culture. Keep in mind that everyone, from Tom Ford and Givenchy to Bottega Veneta and Dior, both of which dressed celebrities in Venice with new looks from their respective designers debuting this month (Louise Trotter for the former and Jonathan Anderson for the latter), is doing this, which makes it less interesting for us as an audience. How to break through the noise? Versace seems to have a new idea, making this first look debuted by Roberts a news item twice over by also placing it on Seyfried.
It must be said, and this is a crucial tidbit of information, that Roberts and Seyfried both work with the same stylist, Elizabeth Stewart. Stewart is known largely for her work with Cate Blanchett, particularly in how the actor has made a point of rewearing some of her previous red carpet looks — she did so in Venice last week with an Armani Privé dress she first wore in 2022. In fact, this was the hook for the Roberts-meets-Seyfried situation: Seyfried commented on Stewart’s post featuring Roberts in the outfit, asking to wear the same look, subsequently doing so and posting the look herself, thanking Roberts for “sharing”.
Versace confirmed that Seyfried and Roberts are indeed wearing the same look. “We are thrilled that Amanda loved what Julia wore so much that she wanted to wear it herself,” a rep for the brand shared via email, explaining that, via Stewart, Seyfried asked Versace for permission to rewear the look. “The more we can encourage the notion of celebrating great women, having great moments, and embodying the brand, from day to night, the more we will bring Versace closer to the reality of today’s consumer,” the rep added. “Even if that means wearing the best pieces in your wardrobe more than once.”
Now, two celebrities wearing the same outfit is not necessarily breaking ground as it pertains to making fashion sustainable. But it does make for a cute, effective social media stunt. While the fashion pocket of the internet is arguing whether the look is good enough to be worn twice — this is me paraphrasing a DM I received about this from a well-regarded industry person — the general public seems charmed by the play, judging by comments on both Seyfried and Stewart’s posts.
And here’s the thing: us fashion people often forget that we know too much. We know that this is a marketing opportunity, we know that they share a stylist, and we know how all of this works. Taking all of that out of the equation, this is an effective, successful move from Versace to maximise this first look.
Ah, the look. A particularly fascinating portion of this soft launch strategy is that not all of the looks we see on celebrities will be seen on the runway. Burton showed a mini version of the dress Fanning wore to the Oscars, and it remains to be seen whether Jonathan Anderson will bring some of what we’ve seen in Venice to the runway. As it pertains to this look, Versace shared that the look was designed with Roberts in mind and is also a preview of “times to come at Versace”. “The irreverent iconography and iconic classicism of a great daywear look is more relevant today than it’s ever been,” the brand shared. Meaning, you may not see this exact look in Vitale’s debut collection, but the general idea is there.
When Roberts wore the outfit on Friday, some industry folk appeared to be puzzled by the choice of Roberts as the first to wear the new Versace, given that she is an American actor who is beloved for her work on screen but not necessarily known for her fashion capital. The clothes themselves were also puzzling: a navy blazer, a pair of jeans, a striped shirt — a standard, pretty straightforward ensemble. It’s nothing necessarily proprietary to Versace — despite the fact that Versace jeans were huge in the 90s and 2000s. But, hear me out, that may just be the idea: could this be Vitale making the point that Versace does not have to be just bombshells and chainmail, golden Medusas and pink platform shoes? To double down: could it be that Versace does not have to be only supermodels and pop stars, but also for women like Roberts, who is 57?
Roberts, with her iconic films from Notting Hill and Pretty Woman to Erin Brockovich and Stepmom, has, in a way, become the face of the all-American woman. To quote Chaka Khan’s great hit, she is every woman! And that may just be the crux in the simplicity of the look, that a blazer and jeans with a nice shirt is practically every woman’s go-to today — simple, put together, easy, comfortable. It’s a fascinating, tantalising opening statement from Vitale at Versace. Will it pay off? That much remains to be seen.
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The fog surrounding the WTCS champions for 2025 is starting to lift as both the men’s and women’s competitions have runaway leaders as well as a select cadre of athletes left in the hunt for spots on the final podium. Both Series leaders underlined their credentials for the world titles at WTCS French Riviera. However, neither are yet home and dry. Although the number of realistic threats to their championships are dwindling, those left represent formidable opposition. Find out below exactly how the standings look with two regular season rounds left to race.
Like Hamburg in the round prior, the women’s leader entering WTCS French Riviera lost their position at the top of the table. As it was, race winner Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) moved up four places to the top spot thanks to her win, with her points total now resting at 2925. Beaugrand is the only woman to have won multiple WTCS races this year and has a healthy lead. Yet it will only take one of her rivals winning another race ahead of the Final to ratchet up the pressure. Indeed, that is almost certainly going to happen as Beaugrand will not be at the next round in Karlovy Vary, opening the door for others to gobble up points.
One thing Beaugrand has in her favour is how tight the battle is behind. Leonie Periault (FRA) maintains her hold on 2nd place through her bronze medal at the weekend. She now has 2587.72 points. Silver medallist Jeanne Lehair (LUX) gained a place and is close behind with 2551.40 points. And then there is the Series leader after Hamburg, Beth Potter (GBR), who now finds herself in 4th overall with 2512.72 points.
Only 75 splits separate Periault from Potter, giving plenty of scope for the rankings to change in the coming rounds. Crucially, though, all three women have two medals this season; Periault a gold and bronze, Lehair a gold and silver, Potter a silver and bronze. If all of them make the podium in Karlovy Vary, with WTCS Weihai still to come, they suddenly find themselves on Beaugrand’s heels and it will be game on.
Lisa Tertsch (GER) is now in 5th place with 2282.82 points. At this point, her early season form seems to have deserted her and she has not made the top-5 in her last three WTCS appearances. However, on her day she is a proven race winner. WTCS Weihai, the scene of her first ever Series win, could be a big chance for her to bounce back. Still, if she is to return to the conversation for the overall podium, she will need some big scores soon.
One of the big climbers of the weekend was Tertsch’s teammate Nina Eim (GER). Eim rose eight places to 7th overall (1795.13 points). She finished just ahead of Taylor Spivey (USA) in Fréjus who in turn jumped three places in the rankings to 9th overall (1658.12 points). Spivey has been an ever-present at the sharp end of the Series for years and her 7th place at the weekend stands as her best result of the season. With her form arriving at the perfect time, she could yet steal a few more places.
There was also a return to the medal hunt for Emma Lombardi (FRA). Her 4th place saw her rocket up eighteen spots to 13th overall. She only has 1370.87 points right now, but is the best athlete in the standings with only two races to her name. Lombardi’s rise, however, was not the most eye-catching of the field. That mantle belonged to Alissa Konig (SUI) whose personal best 11th place earned her a jump of a whopping thirty-one places to 27th overall. Like Lombardi, Konig has only two races to her name and could make some noise in the final rounds.
Depending on how Lombardi finishes her season, the overall picture is that as many as six women could be fighting for positions on the overall podium. Beaugrand, though, is clearly the athlete in charge.
Unsurprisingly, Matthew Hauser (AUS) is now in complete control of the men’s standings. A third win of his campaign hands him 3000 points and all he has to do now is seal the deal on home soil in Wollongong.
Curiously, Hauser improved his points total yet has seen his lead trimmed following WTCS French Riviera. That is because Vasco Vilaca (POR) claimed a third silver medal of the year to move up (somewhat appropriately it could be said) one place to 2nd overall. He now has 2775 points and with one win he could close the gap to Hauser to something even more contestable in Wollongong. There is therefore still an avenue down which Vilaca can travel that leads to the world title. Having said that, he is still searching for a first win in the Series and nailing two in quick succession will be an invidious task.
Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) is next in the rankings with a total of 2711.26 points. Similarly to Vilaca, another win could see him apply pressure to Hauser. On balance, however, he will be looking to prevail in the tight battle against his Portuguese rival. Like Hauser and Vilaca, Hidalgo is aiming to reach the overall podium for the first time and, as things stand, he is well on his way to doing so.
One of the big winners of WTCS French Riviera was former world champion Dorian Coninx (FRA). His result of 4th place bumped him ten spots up the rankings to 4th overall. As his best result of the year, it signalled he could be gathering momentum for a late push towards the podium. However, his tally of 1982.12 points really highlights the gulf between the top-3 and the rest this year.
Right behind Coninx is one of 2025’s breakout stars, Henry Graf (GER). Another top-10 finish nudged him six places up the rankings to 5th (1905.10 points). This is Graf’s first full WTCS campaign and the fact he is even competing for a top-5 overall is exceptional. He has done little to indicate that he will let his position slip from here.
WTCS French Riviera was a great race for Charles Paquet (CAN) as he rose two spots to 6th overall (1854.25 points). Nevertheless, he may have left with a sour aftertaste. Paquet was pipped at the finish line by Alberto Gonzalez Garcia when giving out high-fives and, in a close race for spots in the top-8, he might regret losing those few points.
Although Leo Bergere (FRA) lost ground by not racing in Fréjus and is down to 10th, he remains the best ranked man with only two scores. His total of 1647.08 points comes courtesy of a 3rd and 4th place in Alghero and Yokohama. Further back, his fellow two-race scorer and T100 wildcard Hayden Wilde (NZL) is closing in on him.
Wilde gained eleven places to occupy 14th overall after making his second appearance of the 2025 Series. Two podium finishes would put Wilde in contention for a spot on the overall podium, but he is not currently slated to race Karlovy Vary (ending his hopes) and has a T100 world title to focus upon.
When it comes to the big risers in the men’s rankings, Tom Richard (FRA) shot up a massive forty-one places to 21st thanks to his career best 5th place. Even he, however, had to cede the biggest climb title to Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP). The Spanish athlete rocketed up seventy-seven spots to 30th overall in the biggest rise seen all year.
Overall, then, it seems only Bergere is really in a position to spoil the Hauser-Vilaca-Hidalgo party at the top of the leaderboard. Seeing as he, like Wilde, has T100 commitments, though, we may already know the final top-3. The question is, come Wollongong, in what order will they finish?
Plant roots are essential for both food production and climate, yet until now they have been nearly impossible to measure accurately. Researchers at Aarhus University have now developed a method that works like a “DNA test of the soil,” showing how much root biomass each species has and how much carbon they store underground.
Few of us ever think about what happens beneath our feet when we walk through a field of wheat or clover. We see the stalks, leaves, and flowers, but in practice we have no direct access to the roots.
Roots, however, are central. They anchor plants in the soil, supply them with water and nutrients, and contribute to carbon storage in the ground.
But because roots are hidden, researchers have for decades struggled to measure how much biomass lies below and how it is distributed among species.
“We have always known that roots are important, but we have lacked a precise tool to measure them. It’s a bit like studying marine ecosystems without ever being able to dive beneath the surface of the water,” says Henrik Brinch-Pedersen, professor at the Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University.
Until now, researchers typically measured roots by digging up large soil samples, washing the roots free, drying, and weighing them. This is a lengthy process, and the finest roots are often destroyed along the way. That is a major problem, since fine roots are the most active in absorbing nutrients and releasing carbon to the soil environment.
The new method is instead based on droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a DNA technology in which a soil sample is divided into tens of thousands of microscopic droplets, each of which is analyzed for the presence of DNA.
The researchers use a genetic marker called ITS2, which works like a fingerprint for each species. In this way, they can not only see that roots are present but also identify which species they belong to and how much biomass they represent.
“It’s a bit like giving the soil a DNA test,” says Henrik Brinch-Pedersen. “We can suddenly see the hidden distribution of species and biomass without digging up the whole field.”
The method was developed by a research team consisting of Nurbanu Shynggyskyzy, Claus Krogh Madsen, Per L. Gregersen, Jim Rasmussen, Uffe Jørgensen, and Henrik Brinch-Pedersen. It has been published in the renowned journal Plant Physiology and has already received special attention in an accompanying News & Views article, where international experts highlight it as a breakthrough.
The new technology opens up a wide range of applications:
“We see great potential in using this method to develop varieties that store more carbon in the soil. It could become an important tool in future agriculture,” says Henrik Brinch-Pedersen.
It is no coincidence that researchers are focusing on roots. While we usually think of wind turbines and electric cars as climate solutions, plant root systems also hold great potential in the form of biological carbon storage.
When plants grow, they draw CO₂ from the atmosphere and send part of the carbon into their roots. There, it can remain stored in the soil for decades, or even centuries, if we can develop cropping systems that maximize this potential.
Without precise measurement tools, however, it has been difficult to document the effect. This is where the new DNA technology could become a gamechanger.
The method is not without challenges. For example, genetic hybrids such as ryegrass and Italian ryegrass can be difficult to distinguish because their DNA is so similar. And the method requires developing specific DNA probes for each species researchers wish to measure.
“For us, the most important thing is that we have shown it can be done. That is the foundation we can build upon. Our vision is to expand the DNA library so that in the future we can measure many more species directly in soil samples,” says Henrik Brinch-Pedersen.
Where researchers previously depended on time-consuming fieldwork, the new method allows root analysis to be carried out quickly, precisely, and on a much larger scale.
That means researchers can now take a precise look into the underground world that has so far remained hidden.
Reference: Shynggyskyzy N, Madsen CK, Gregersen PL, et al. Digital PCR enables direct root biomass quantification and species profiling in soil samples. Plant Physiol. 2025. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiaf276
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A new Bartonella species was discovered in Amazonian sand flies. Its close relation to Andean disease-causing species highlights the need for further investigation.
A previously unidentified species of bacteria belonging to the genus Bartonella has been detected in phlebotomine insects, commonly known as sand flies, within the Amazon National Park in Pará, Brazil. Sand flies are typically recognized as carriers of leishmaniasis, yet genetic testing revealed that the DNA of this new microorganism is closely related to two Andean species, B. bacilliformis and B. ancashensis. These bacteria are known to cause Carrión’s disease (also referred to as Oroya fever or Peruvian wart) and are transmitted by the same type of insect.
So far, there is no indication that this newly discovered bacterium causes illness in Brazil. Even so, because other Bartonella species are linked to several diseases worldwide, the researchers emphasize that more investigation is necessary.
The study was led by Marcos Rogério André in collaboration with Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati. Both are affiliated with Brazilian research institutions: the Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences at São Paulo State University (FCAV-UNESP) in Jaboticabal, and the School of Public Health at the University of São Paulo (FSP-USP). Funding was provided by FAPESP through two projects (22/08543-2 and 22/16085-4).
The findings were published in the journal Acta Tropica with additional contributions from Paulo Vitor Cadina Arantes, Israel de Souza Pinto, Daniel Antônio Braga Lee, Anna Cláudia Baumel Mongruel, and Rosângela Zacarias Machado.
Bartonellosis refers to a group of diseases caused by bacteria from the genus Bartonella. These pathogens can be spread by several vectors, including sand flies, fleas, and lice.
Infections often take a long time to resolve in both humans and animals. The bacteria may remain undetected in the body for extended periods, which can worsen outcomes for people with existing immune system problems.
“Bartonellosis is a neglected disease. The disease best known to health professionals is cat scratch disease, caused by Bartonella henselae. It’s important to understand the real prevalence of these diseases, especially in isolated regions with low human development indices, where populations don’t have easy access to health services,” explains André.
The study aimed to detect the presence of Bartonella spp. DNA in 297 female sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) gathered from the Amazon National Park in Pará, Brazil. “This park has caves and receives many visitors, so it’s important to study it,” noted the researcher.
Sample collection took place from February 2022 through February 2023. Each month, specimens were gathered along two trails situated near the Uruá and Tracoá rivers, both within the boundaries of the conservation unit.
“The discovery of Bartonella species in phlebotomine sand flies here in Brazil may indicate that B. bacilliformis and B. ancashensis, which cause Carrión’s disease or Peruvian wart, can adapt to non-Andean species and be transmitted in areas outside the Andes. This isn’t too much of an extrapolation, as two species that have been identified as vectors of B. bacilliformis, Pintomyia robusta and Pintomyia maranonensis in Peru, are very similar to species found in Brazil, namely Pintomyia serrana and Pintomyia nevesi,” explains Galati.
In recent years, the group has been studying the diversity of bacteria found in this genus and the diseases they cause in both humans and animals. According to the scientists, the sequences found in the Amazon differ from those found in Peru; however, the results corroborate data collected in a previous study.
According to André, this second article by the research group confirms evidence found in previous studies, such as the discovery of new species of Bartonella in Acre, another Brazilian state in the Amazon region. Therefore, they decided to expand the investigation and analyze samples from Pará and other locations.
“We’re detecting a strain here in Brazil that’s never been described and is very similar to two species of the Bartonella genus that cause disease in Andean countries. Despite this similarity, we don’t yet have information on whether it can cause disease with distinct symptoms. That’s why we need to study them further,” the professor points out.
To continue mapping the insects and the bacteria with which they may be infected, the researchers are collecting samples in various biomes.
“The next steps are to continue investigations involving more populations of phlebotomine sand flies and other diptera from different biomes in search of these strains, as well as to look for other strains,” says Galati.
According to the researcher, the next step would be to investigate what animals these insects feed on to find “reservoirs.”
“I have a project funded by FAPESP in which I was able to store many specimens of phlebotomine sand flies from the Atlantic Forest of São Paulo, and the idea is to explore this material in partnership with Professor André,” reveals Galati.
Although the results are preliminary, the project has helped the researchers uncover the possibility of finding disease agents that had not yet been detected.
According to André, since this is a new finding, it would be beneficial for doctors and researchers to collaborate on investigating this group of bacteria in individuals with fever of unknown origin.
“Could people with fever who are often sent home and who have repeated episodes of fever be infected with this pathogen? Could patients with Leishmania also be co-infected with this new species of Bartonella?” asks the professor.
Reference: “Molecular evidence of Bartonella spp. in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Brazilian Amazon” by Paulo Vitor Cadina Arantes, Israel de Souza Pinto, Daniel Antônio Braga Lee, Anna Claudia Baumel Mongruel, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati, Rosangela Zacarias Machado and Marcos Rogério André, 29 May 2025, Acta Tropica.
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107682
Funding was provided by FAPESP through two projects (22/08543-2 and 22/16085-4)
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Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane has admitted that running towards the front of the field during the Dutch Grand Prix “was actually pretty comfortable”, as the team secured a podium finish.
Isack Hadjar put in one of the performances of the weekend, taking fourth place on the grid behind both McLarens and Max Verstappen at the Zandvoort Circuit.
Having held his position at the start, the 20-year-old kept both Charles Leclerc and George Russell at bay during various points, and when Lando Norris ahead retired in the closing stages, it allowed Hadjar to become the youngest Frenchman to claim a Formula 1 rostrum.
“A bit dazed, a bit over the moon, excited. Honestly, I can’t wait to get to Monza, all of those [races]. Proud of the team,” said Permane when reflecting on the podium, the team’s first since 2021 when it was known as AlphaTauri.
“I don’t want to sound blasé but at the start of the race I thought it was going to be tricky to race the Ferraris and the Mercedes. And then after 10 laps you think, this is going to be okay, we’ve got this.
“The Safety Car came and that gave us a relatively straightforward stop on to the hard tyre and from then it would have been a run to the end and we had the pace, we were pulling away. So fourth was actually pretty comfortable, which is lovely to say.”
While Hadjar was able to claim an unexpected result, team mate Liam Lawson was left frustratingly outside the points after a collision with Carlos Sainz when running seventh and on course for his fifth points finish of the season.
“Such a shame for Liam. He was doing well, he got a great start,” said Permane, with Racing Bulls now seventh and only 20 points behind Williams in the Teams’ Championship in fifth.
“I don’t know where he would have finished, I guess he would have finished with the Mercedes had he not been taken out by Carlos. These things happen, he’ll come back strong and we can expect him to be back in Monza fighting.”
“We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment,” sings Rumi, the purple-haired lead vocalist of Huntrix, a girl group, as the crowd roars. Rumi and her two bandmates star in “KPop Demon Hunters”, an animated musical film in which Huntrix battle their rivals, the Saja Boys, for higher stakes than just a spot on the pop charts. The boy-band is actually made up of demons disguised as heartthrobs who steal their fans’ souls, which the underworld’s demon king eats. Rumi’s lyrics have proven prophetic. Released on Netflix in June, “KPop Demon Hunters” has become the platform’s most-watched film ever, amassing 236m total views. Three things explain its success.
Michael Morris, an oncologist at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said it was “incredible” and “never seen before”. In the first trial he worked on, the scans were clear of cancer for about 9% of the participants. In the second trial, it was 21%.
“We can’t cure metastatic disease, but in most cases, treatment [also] really doesn’t impact how the disease appears on a scan,” he said. “We have something very different here.”
Novartis has been involved in developing cancer drugs for decades, but it became a pioneer in radioligand therapy after acquiring the technology in two deals. In 2017, it bought Advanced Accelerator Applications, which was founded by scientists from CERN, the European organisation for nuclear research. The following year it announced a $2.1 billion (CHF1.7 billion) deal for US biotech Endocyte.
Radiotherapy, which is used to treat about half of all cancer patients, is usually delivered from outside the body to kill cancerous cells, but healthy tissues are damaged in the process. Radioligand therapy is given intravenously as an infusion containing radioactive isotopes attached to a ligand. These are molecules that bind to receptors on cancer cells and allow a much more targeted dose of radiation to be delivered.
Lutathera, a radioligand therapy that Novartis acquired in the AAA deal, was first approved in 2017 as a treatment for some gastrointestinal cancers. The Swiss drugmaker received its first US approval for its prostate cancer drug Pluvicto in 2022 and has since expanded into treating patients with earlier stage disease.
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In 2021, chief executive Vas Narasimhan estimated the market could be worth about $10 billion. Earlier this year, he told the Financial Times that if the therapy lives up to its promise, it could be a $25 billion to $30 billion market.
“We think there’s a whole set of targets that are unique that we think could only be targeted with radioligand therapy,” he said.
But the promising therapy comes with major logistical challenges. The radioisotopes must be made in a nuclear reactor, then the radioactive drug has to be safely manufactured, transported and delivered to patients.
Novartis has spent years working to overcome these hurdles. Yet other companies see the opportunities in the therapy and are racing to catch up. In 2023 and 2024, US drugmaker Lilly, UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, and French company Sanofi all bought start-ups developing radioligand therapies.
Philipp Holzer, executive director of radioligand therapy chemistry at Novartis, said companies were now popping up like “mushrooms”, and so were the suppliers of the isotopes. “There’s a market being created now,” he said.
Novartis has seven potential radioligand therapies in 15 clinical trials, with more in pre-clinical testing. It is exploring different isotopes, and therapies in combination, and expanding into other cancers including lung, breast, pancreatic and colon.
On the Novartis campus in Basel, the main radioligand lab had to be reinforced so 40 tonnes of lead could be installed to prevent radiation seeping into the rest of the building. All the scientists that work in it wear two dosimeters, including a mini one on their finger, to measure their radioactive exposure.
They are trying to find ways to make the therapy work for a wider range of cancers. This includes finding drugs that will bind to genetic mutations that are very common in tumours, but not elsewhere, to avoid irradiating healthy tissues.
“For every cancer type, it’ll be a unique solution,” said Narasimhan. “Very little in the human body is just like plug and play. You have to solve the challenges.”
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Once new radioligand therapies are approved, the challenge is making them at scale. Novartis has purchased much of the supply of the radioactive isotope lutetium, so other companies are looking at alternatives such as actinium. Much of this isotope is sourced from Russia, so they are also looking for supplies elsewhere.
Once the radioactive material has been made, the company has only three to five days to create the drug and deliver it to the patient before the decay process starts to make it less effective. Each vial is made for an individual patient, tailored to their planned treatment date. Novartis has previously struggled to keep up with demand for Pluvicto, but 99.5% of injections are now administered on the planned day, it said.
Steffen Lang, president of operations at Novartis, said the isotope must be bound to the molecule that targets the cancer in the right concentration, and then checked for quality. “It’s not only quick, it needs to be right the first time.”
Then, a team works 24/7 to track GPS-tagged vials. Novartis is starting to use generative AI to help it anticipate logistical problems and select routes to hospitals. To get closer to hospitals and patients, it is expanding manufacturing plants from its current six in the US and Europe, adding more in China, Japan, and the US.
“Air traffic problems, severe weather conditions – we’ve seen it all,” Lang said.
There are further challenges when the radioligand therapy is given to patients: unlike with external radiotherapy, the radioactive material remains in the body, continuing to work after the dose is delivered. In some countries, including Germany and Japan, patients must remain isolated overnight in a radiation-proof hospital room. At the moment, there are few companies that can build this type of specialist facility.
Clinicians also need to be trained in how to care for these patients. In some countries, patients’ urine must be collected and stored for 70 days until the radioactive material in it has decayed.
Carla Bänziger, portfolio manager at asset manager Vontobel, a Novartis shareholder, said that despite the hurdles, targeted therapies like this are the “future for cancer treatment”.
She said this year is important for Novartis, partly because it received expanded approval for Pluvicto, doubling the potential patient population. Yet she believes it will still take ten to 15 years to build the ecosystem required for radioligand therapy to be mainstream.
Novartis has surmounted many of the problems, especially scaling production, creating a “high barrier to entry for other competitors”, she said.
Narasimhan agrees Novartis has an advantage. “When you enter this field by acquiring a biotech, which some of our peers have done, it gives you a start. But it’s a lot of work and investment to figure this out,” he said. “We have a five-year head start.”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
A rare total lunar eclipse, also known as a Blood Moon, will be visible across the UAE on Sunday evening, treating skywatchers to one of the year’s most dramatic celestial sights.
The celestial show will appear for about five and a half hours, as the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.
It will play out in a sequence of phases, visible across the UAE and around the world.
“This is one of the rare astronomical events happening in the UAE in 2025,” Khadijah Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, told The National. “We will host an event for the eclipse and encourage everyone to witness it. You don’t need any special equipment – just go outside and look up.”
It will be visible to about 87 per cent of the world’s population, including those in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia.
It begins at 7.28pm GST, when the Moon enters the faint outer edge of Earth’s shadow in what is known as the penumbral phase. The change will be faint at first, but by 8.27pm it will look as though a dark bite has been taken out of the Moon.
Totality, when the Moon is covered completely by the Earth’s shadow, will take place at 9.30pm, turning the lunar surface a striking shade of red or copper.
The eclipse reaches its peak at 10.12pm and totality continues until 10.53pm.
From there, the shadow will gradually recede, until the eclipse has ended just before 1am on Monday. The Moon will spend 82 minutes fully eclipsed, making it one of the longest total lunar eclipses in years.
A total lunar eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up perfectly, with the planet casting its shadow across the Moon.
Instead of disappearing, the Moon takes on a dramatic new look because sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere, which filters out the blues and lets the red and orange tones shine, giving it the Blood Moon moniker.
The eclipse will be visible across all seven emirates, but skywatchers interested in a community experience can observe it with the Dubai Astronomy Group.
It is hosting a public viewing event at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library from 7pm to 11pm, with tickets priced at Dh250 ($68) for adults and Dh200 for children.
There will be telescopes and astronomy-themed activities.
The organisation will also lead a global livestream, in collaboration with observatories and astronomy groups from more than a dozen countries including Spain, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The group is also plans to capture an image of the Moon eclipsed over Burj Khalifa.
Those who miss Sunday’s spectacle will have to wait until July 6, 2028, to view another lunar eclipse in the UAE’s skies.
That will only be a partial eclipse, with a portion of the Moon darkened by the Earth’s shadow. The next total lunar eclipse in the UAE will be on December 31, 2028 – a New Year’s Eve Blood Moon that will last more than five hours.
2nd Sep, 2025
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 2, 2025
Board of Control for Cricket in India announces the release of the Invitation for Expression of Interest for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (“BCCI”) invites bids from reputed entities for acquiring the National Team Lead Sponsor Rights. Accordingly, the BCCI is issuing an Invitation for Expression of Interest for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights (“IEOI”), which provides the detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids. The IEOI will be made available on receipt of payment of a non-refundable fee of INR 5,00,000 (Indian Rupees Five Lakh Only) plus any applicable Goods and Services Tax.
The bidders may note the following timelines with respect to the IEOI:
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Milestone
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Date
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Date of release of IEOI
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September 2, 2025
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Last date to purchase the IEOI
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September 12, 2025
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Date of submission of bid Documents
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September 16, 2025
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Bidders are requested to email the details of payment made for the purchase of the IEOI to sponsorship@bcci.tv, as per the procedure laid down in ANNEXURE A. It is clarified that the IEOI documents shall be shared only upon the confirmation of payment of the non-refundable IEOI fee.
Any bidder wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the IEOI. However, only those satisfying the eligibility requirements set out in the IEOI, as laid down in ANNEXURE B, and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein, shall be eligible to bid. It is clarified that merely purchasing the IEOI does not entitle any person to bid.
BCCI reserves the right to cancel or amend the IEOI process at any stage in any manner without providing any reason.
DEVAJIT SAIKIA
Honorary Secretary
BCCI
ANNEXURE A
PROCEDURE TO PROCURE THE IEOI DOCUMENTS
The IEOI document can be purchased as per the following procedure:
INR Bank Account Details:
Account Name: The Board of Control for Cricket in India
Account No.: 60082778272
Name of the Bank: Bank of Maharashtra
Branch: Fort Branch, Mumbai
IFSC code: MAHB0000002
USD Bank Account Details:
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Beneficiary Bank:
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Bank of Maharashtra,
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Overseas Branch
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Mumbai
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Swift Code: MAHBINBBOVM
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Account No.: 60081674478
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Account Name: The Board of Control for Cricket in India
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Correspondent Bank:
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Bank of New York, New York.
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Routing No.: 021 000 018
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Swift Code: IRVTUS3N
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Account No.: 803-3165-537
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Once the payment is made, the payment confirmation is required to be shared by email to sponsorship@bcci.tv with the subject line “Confirmation of Payment of the IEOI Fee to bid for the National Team Lead Sponsor Rights” along with the following details:
Name of the Party:
Registered Address:
Pan No (if applicable):
GST No (if applicable):
The IEOI documents shall be shared only upon receiving the payment and the details as mentioned above. It is further clarified that the IEOI must be purchased by the entity that is desiring to bid.
ANNEXURE B
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The bidder must note the following requirements and restrictions pertaining to eligibility with respect to the IEOI. Please further note that the detailed eligibility criteria are provided in the IEOI:
Or
Do note that, no bidder, except the relevant existing sponsor of the BCCI in the said Brand Categories, may bid for the said Brand Categories listed above.