Vicore Pharma Holding AB has carried out a directed new share issue of shares of approximately USD 48 million where the subscription price was set through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure.
Vicore Pharma Holding AB is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company unlocking the potential of a new class of drugs with disease-modifying potential in respiratory and fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The Company’s lead program, buloxibutid, is a first-in-class oral small molecule angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonist, which has received Orphan Drug and Fast Track designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration and is currently being investigated in the global 52-week Phase 2b ASPIRE trial in IPF. The Company is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange (VICO).
Jefferies GmbH and Pareto Securities AB acted as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners while Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. acted as Joint Bookrunner. Baker McKenzie acted as legal advisor to Vicore Pharma with an international capital markets team consisting of Henric Roth, Olof Larsson and Thea Hanson in Stockholm as well as Adam Farlow and Charles Farnsworth in London.
Ziihera plus chemotherapy showed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in PFS versus trastuzumab and chemotherapy, and a clinically meaningful effect with a strong trend toward statistical significance for OS at the first OS interim analysis
Ziihera plus the PD-1 inhibitor Tevimbra® (tislelizumab) and chemotherapy demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in OS and PFS versus trastuzumab and chemotherapy
Company plans to submit a supplemental BLA for this indication in first half of 2026
For U.S. media and investors only
DUBLIN, Nov. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) today announced positive top-line results from the Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 trial evaluating Ziihera® (zanidatamab-hrii) in combination with chemotherapy, with or without the PD-1 inhibitor Tevimbra® (tislelizumab), as first-line treatment for HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), including cancers of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction and esophagus.
Both Ziihera plus chemotherapy and Ziihera plus tislelizumab and chemotherapy demonstrated highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the control arm, trastuzumab plus chemotherapy.
Ziihera plus tislelizumab and chemotherapy also demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in overall survival (OS), and Ziihera plus chemotherapy demonstrated a clinically meaningful effect with a strong trend toward statistical significance for OS compared to the control arm at the time of this first analysis. The trial is ongoing with an additional planned OS interim analysis for Ziihera plus chemotherapy currently expected in mid-2026.
A PFS and OS benefit was observed in the Ziihera plus tislelizumab and chemotherapy arm versus the control arm in both PD-L1 positive and PD-L1 negative subgroups.
Both Ziihera plus chemotherapy, and Ziihera plus tislelizumab and chemotherapy demonstrated improvements in the key secondary endpoints of objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR) versus the control arm, and these endpoints were supportive of the primary efficacy endpoints.
“Advanced GEA represents one of the most common tumor types worldwide and remains an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis,” said Dr. Kohei Shitara, director of the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, and principal trial investigator at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan. “Based on the positive results seen in the HERIZON-GEA-01 trial, the zanidatamab plus chemotherapy combination, with and without tislelizumab, has the potential to become the new standard of care for patients in HER2+ first-line locally advanced unresectable or metastatic GEA. This is the first Phase 3 trial to demonstrate a benefit for a novel HER2-targeted therapy compared to trastuzumab as part of a combination regimen in HER2+ first-line GEA.”
“We believe these results will be practice changing, and highlight the potential impact of Ziihera for patients who are facing a devastating diagnosis and limited options in locally advanced or metastatic GEA,” said Rob Iannone, M.D., M.S.C.E., executive vice president, global head of research and development, and chief medical officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. “We expect Ziihera to become the new standard of care anti-HER2 therapy for patients with HER2+ first-line metastatic GEA regardless of PD-L1 status. We plan to quickly engage FDA and expect to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) in the U.S. in first half of 2026 to support Ziihera as a first-line treatment for patients with HER2+ locally advanced or metastatic GEA for use as part of a standard chemotherapy regimen with and without tislelizumab. We thank the patients and investigators who are involved in this trial.”
The safety profile of Ziihera in combination with chemotherapy, with or without tislelizumab, was generally consistent with the known safety profile of each agent with no new safety signals observed in the two investigational combination arms and supports the overall benefit risk of Ziihera for use in this indication.
Jazz plans to submit these data for presentation at a major medical meeting in the first quarter of 2026 and for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, and will rapidly submit for adoption in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Guidelines (NCCN Guidelines®).
HERIZON-GEA-01 marks the first Phase 3 trial results for Ziihera. Ongoing research for Ziihera includes the Phase 3 HERIZON-BTC-302 trial evaluating Ziihera and CisGem (cisplatin plus gemcitabine) with or without the addition of a PD-1/L-1 inhibitor versus CisGem with or without a PD-1/L1 inhibitor in adult participants with HER2+ biliary tract cancer; the Phase 3 EmpowHER-303 trial evaluating Ziihera compared to trastuzumab, each in combination with physician’s choice of chemotherapy, for the treatment of participants with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer who have progressed on, or are intolerant to, previous T-DXd treatment; the DiscovHER PAN-206 basket trial evaluating Ziihera monotherapy in previously-treated patients with HER2+ (IHC 3+) cancers; and the Phase 2 EmpowHER-208 trial evaluating Ziihera in patients with HER2+ neoadjuvant and adjuvant breast cancer.
About the HERIZON-GEA-01 Phase 3 Trial HERIZON-GEA-01 (NCT05152147) is a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial, conducted jointly with BeOne Medicines, to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of Ziihera plus chemotherapy, with or without tislelizumab, to the standard of care (trastuzumab plus chemotherapy) as first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced/metastatic HER2+ GEA. The trial randomized 914 patients from approximately 300 trial sites in more than 30 countries. Appropriate patients for this trial had unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic HER2+ GEA (adenocarcinomas of the stomach or esophagus, including the gastroesophageal junction), defined as 3+ HER2 expression by IHC or 2+ HER2 expression by IHC with ISH positivity per central assessment. Patients were randomized to the three trial arms: Ziihera in combination with chemotherapy and tislelizumab; Ziihera in combination with chemotherapy; and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy. The trial is evaluating dual primary endpoints, PFS per blinded independent central review (BICR) and OS.
About Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), including cancers of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and esophagus, is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, and approximately 20% of patients have HER2+ disease.1,2,3 HER2+ GEA has high morbidity and mortality, and patients are urgently in need of new treatment options. The overall prognosis for patients with GEA remains poor, with a global five-year survival rate of less than 30% for gastric cancer and about 19% for GEA.4
About Ziihera® (zanidatamab-hrii) Ziihera (zanidatamab-hrii) is a bispecific HER2-directed antibody that binds to two extracellular sites on HER2. Binding of zanidatamab-hrii with HER2 results in internalization leading to a reduction in HER2 expression of the receptor on the tumor cell surface. Zanidatamab-hrii induces complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). These mechanisms result in tumor growth inhibition and cell death in vitro and in vivo.5 In the United States, Ziihera is indicated for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) biliary tract cancer (BTC), as detected by an FDA-approved test.5 The U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval for this indication based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s).5
Zanidatamab is being developed in multiple clinical trials as a targeted treatment option for patients with solid tumors that express HER2. Zanidatamab is being developed by Jazz and BeOne under license agreements from Zymeworks, which first developed the molecule.
The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for zanidatamab’s development in patients with previously treated HER2 gene-amplified BTC, and two Fast Track designations for zanidatamab: one as a single agent for refractory BTC and one in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy for first-line gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA). Additionally, zanidatamab has received Orphan Drug designations from the FDA for the treatment of BTC and GEA, as well as Orphan Drug designation from the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of BTC and gastric cancer.
Important Safety Information for ZIIHERA
WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY Exposure to ZIIHERA during pregnancy can cause embryo-fetal harm. Advise patients of the risk and need for effective contraception.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
ZIIHERA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In literature reports, use of a HER2-directed antibody during pregnancy resulted in cases of oligohydramnios and oligohydramnios sequence manifesting as pulmonary hypoplasia, skeletal abnormalities, and neonatal death.
Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to the initiation of ZIIHERA. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential that exposure to ZIIHERA during pregnancy or within 4 months prior to conception can result in fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ZIIHERA and for 4 months following the last dose of ZIIHERA.
Left Ventricular Dysfunction
ZIIHERA can cause decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). LVEF declined by >10% and decreased to <50% in 4.3% of 233 patients. Left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) leading to permanent discontinuation of ZIIHERA was reported in 0.9% of patients. The median time to first occurrence of LVD was 5.6 months (range: 1.6 to 18.7). LVD resolved in 70% of patients.
Assess LVEF prior to initiation of ZIIHERA and at regular intervals during treatment. Withhold dose or permanently discontinue ZIIHERA based on severity of adverse reactions.
The safety of ZIIHERA has not been established in patients with a baseline ejection fraction that is below 50%.
Infusion-Related Reactions
ZIIHERA can cause infusion-related reactions (IRRs). An IRR was reported in 31% of 233 patients treated with ZIIHERA as a single agent in clinical studies, including Grade 3 (0.4%), and Grade 2 (25%). IRRs leading to permanent discontinuation of ZIIHERA were reported in 0.4% of patients. IRRs occurred on the first day of dosing in 28% of patients; 97% of IRRs resolved within one day.
Prior to each dose of ZIIHERA, administer premedications to prevent potential IRRs. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of IRR during ZIIHERA administration and as clinically indicated after completion of infusion. Have medications and emergency equipment to treat IRRs available for immediate use.
If an IRR occurs, slow, or stop the infusion, and administer appropriate medical management. Monitor patients until complete resolution of signs and symptoms before resuming. Permanently discontinue ZIIHERA in patients with recurrent severe or life-threatening IRRs.
Diarrhea
ZIIHERA can cause severe diarrhea.
Diarrhea was reported in 48% of 233 patients treated in clinical studies, including Grade 3 (6%) and Grade 2 (17%). If diarrhea occurs, administer antidiarrheal treatment as clinically indicated. Perform diagnostic tests as clinically indicated to exclude other causes of diarrhea. Withhold or permanently discontinue ZIIHERA based on severity.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 53% of 80 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive BTC who received ZIIHERA. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients included biliary obstruction (15%), biliary tract infection (8%), sepsis (8%), pneumonia (5%), diarrhea (3.8%), gastric obstruction (3.8%), and fatigue (2.5%). A fatal adverse reaction of hepatic failure occurred in one patient who received ZIIHERA.
The most common adverse reactions in 80 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive BTC who received ZIIHERA (≥20%) were diarrhea (50%), infusion-related reaction (35%), abdominal pain (29%), and fatigue (24%).
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pediatric Use
Safety and efficacy of ZIIHERA have not been established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use
Of the 80 patients who received ZIIHERA for unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive BTC, there were 39 (49%) patients 65 years of age and older. Thirty-seven (46%) were aged 65-74 years old and 2 (3%) were aged 75 years or older.
No overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between these patients and younger adult patients.
The full U.S. Prescribing Information for ZIIHERA, including BOXED Warning, is available at: https://pp.jazzpharma.com/pi/ziihera.en.USPI.pdf
® TEVIMBRA (tislelizumab) is a registered trademark of BeOne Medicines.
About Jazz Pharmaceuticals Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing potentially life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com for more information.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to Ziihera’s potential as a new standard of care in HER2+ first-line GEA and other HER2-expressing cancers, expected timing of OS data from the pivotal Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01, plans to submit a sBLA in first half of 2026 and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with the successful completion of regulatory activities and uncertain regulatory approval, risks related to failure or delays in successfully initiating or completing clinical trials and assessing patients and other risks and uncertainties affecting Jazz Pharmaceuticals and its development programs, including those described from time to time under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-33500), including Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as supplemented by Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, and future filings and reports by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Other risks and uncertainties of which Jazz Pharmaceuticals is not currently aware may also affect Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements, even if they are subsequently made available by Jazz Pharmaceuticals on its website or otherwise. Jazz Pharmaceuticals undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.
Contacts:
Media Contact: Kristin Bhavnani Head of Global Corporate Communications Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc [email protected] Ireland +353 1 637 2141 U.S. +1 215 867 4948
Jazz Investor Contact: Jack Spinks Executive Director, Investor Relations Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc [email protected] Ireland +353 1 634 3211 U.S. +1 650 496 2717
1 Abrahao-Machado I.F., et al. HER2 testing in gastric cancer: An update WorldJGastroenterol. 2016;22(19):4619-4625. 2 Van Custem E., et al. HER2 screening data from ToGA: targeting HER2 in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer. Gastric Cancer. 2015;18(3):476-484. 3 Stroes, C.I., et al. A systematic review of HER2 blockade for the curative treatment of gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: Successes achieved and opportunities ahead. CancerTreatRev. 2021;99:102249. 4 Battaglin F, et al. Molecular biomarkers in gastro-esophageal cancer: recent developments, current trends and future directions. Cancer Cell International. 2018;18(99). 5 ZIIHERA (zanidatamab-hrii) Prescribing Information. Palo Alto, CA: Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
(Alliance News) – Sirius Real Estate Ltd on Monday reported mixed results for the first half of its financial year with higher revenue and rental roll growth but lower profitability and a drop in net asset value per share.
The London and Johannesburg-listed property investor said pretax profit fell 6.0% to EUR57.5 million in the six months to September 30 from EUR61.2 million the year prior.
This was primarily due to a net foreign exchange loss of EUR14.2 million on sterling cash reserves held in anticipation of UK investments made in the period, the firm explained.
Revenue grew 3.7% to EUR162.3 million from EUR156.5 million, but administrative expenses jumped 71% to EUR43.9 million from EUR25.7 million, while net finance expenses increased 51% to EUR11.2 million from EUR7.4 million
Basic earnings per share climbed 47% to 5.77 euro cents from 3.92c, and by the same magnitude to 5.67c from 3.87c on a diluted basis.
Adjusted NAV per share fell 0.9% to 117.84c from 118.89c, with valuation gains offset by unrealised foreign currency translation effects in the period on the group’s UK assets being converted into the euro-based reporting currency.
Sirius Real Estate reported just over 15% total rent roll growth to EUR242.5 million from EUR210.5 million a year ago, reflecting the impact of acquisitions in the period.
On a like-for-like basis, rent roll growth was 5.2%, driven by continued strong organic growth and occupier demand in Germany and the UK.
The firm reported portfolio gross and net yields of 7.5% and 6.7% in Germany and 12.3% and 8.8% in the UK.
Funds from operations increased 6.6% to EUR64.7 million from EUR60.7 million last year with FFO per share of 4.30c, little changed year-on-year from 4.29c.
Looking ahead, Sirius said it is trading in line with management expectations and continues to target further growth options, particularly in Germany.
The dividend was increased by 4.0% to 3.18c per share from 3.06c.
Shares in Sirius Real Estate were down 1.9% at 96.95 pence each in London on Monday. In Johannesburg, the stock was down 1.6% at ZAR21.95.
By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Forest Lin, Corporate Vice President and Head of Tencent Financial Technology, Tencent, speaking at the panel ‘Building an Intelligent Financial Stack’
At the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2025, Tencent unveiled its unified vision for how interoperable payments, intelligent digital services and technologies, and cloud-powered AI solutions can come together to simplify and secure the way people and businesses interact across borders.
Tencent’s return to the event this year illustrated how its technologies operate as a cohesive ecosystem; one designed to make digital finance more intuitive, more inclusive, and more deeply connected. Its media technologies also powered the real-time livestream of SFF, enabling people across the world to watch any of SFF’s six main stages virtually with low latency and smooth playback.
Across discussions, exhibitions, and partnerships, Tencent showcased how its work in global payments and financial technology has evolved from enabling transactions to building seamless everyday experiences. Leaders from Tencent Financial Technology, Weixin, and Tencent Cloud shared perspectives on the growing convergence of interoperable infrastructure and how this convergence is reshaping expectations in global digital finance.
“Every day, we’re looking for use cases that could improve our users’ lives,” said Forest Lin, Corporate Vice President of Tencent and Head of Tencent Financial Technology, at the festival’s premier keynote panel “Building an Intelligent Financial Stack.”
He discussed how Tencent’s technology helps small merchants with AI-based tools for menu scanning and QR code ordering, improving efficiency, and Tencent’s approach to fraud prevention, highlighting use of multiple machine learning models to achieve exceptionally low fraud on Weixin Pay. Lin also highlighted Tencent’s proactive stance in the ongoing technological arms race against fraudsters, such as developing a “world model” for payment systems.
Tencent booth at Singapore FinTech Festival 2025.
The SFF’s 10th Anniversary edition of the Tencent booth allowed visitors to experience how this principle took shape in reality with on-site demonstrations. This includes showcases for Tencent Palm, Weixin Pay, TenPay Global, and Weixin Mini Program Ecosystem integration with local businesses.
Speaking in the panel on “Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for Achieving Payments Interoperability”, Daniel Hong, Vice President of Tencent Financial Technology, shared his perspective on interoperability and Tencent’s approach of being collaborative, user-focused, and committed to creating value across different payment ecosystems.
“AI can improve current interoperability, acting as a translator and bridge between different systems; however, it may also create new fragmentation problems and challenges, which deserve advance consideration from all parties,” he said, hoping that the industry can build upon past experience to achieve interoperability-by-design and interoperability-by-default in the field of AI payments.
Daniel Hong, Vice President of Tencent Financial Technology, speaking at the “Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for Achieving Payments Interoperability” panel
These capabilities were further reinforced through various initiatives announced at the festival:
TenPay Global’s participation in China’s Cross-Border Interconnection Payment Gateway (CPG) with Weixin Pay, which now collaborates with over 40 wallets in more than 10 countries and regions, and has formed strategic partnerships with DBS Bank, GrabPay, ShopeePay, Starryblu, Bank of China, and EVONET GLOBAL in Singapore;
TenPay Global Checkout, a new payment solution for Weixin Mini Program merchants operating in global markets to accept a wide range of local payment methods with ease, including digital wallets, local real-time payment networks, and credit and debit cards; and
The partnership with Western Union, led by the debut of a co-branded flagship store in Singapore’s Chinatown, which aims to enable omni-channel remittance experiences and efficiency through Mini Programs within the Weixin ecosystem.
Visitors experiencing the Tencent Palm demonstration at Tencent’s booth.
The booth showcase debuted its latest O4 recognition module and PCI-certified PalmDa POS terminal from Tencent Palm, allowing visitors to experience the technology across use-cases like payments, registration, and accessibility. The solution is now operational in Singapore at high-frequency locations such as Resorts World Sentosa’s Adventure Cove and, most recently, the Singapore Institute of Technology’s campuses in partnership with CATES.
Visitors also had the opportunity to discover China through its iconic sites and cuisines, an experience powered by Weixin Pay and TenPay Global, either by linking their cards with Weixin Pay or using their home wallets directly in the mainland of China. Expanding on Weixin’s ecosystem, through new integrations with Singapore’s SGQR+, Malaysia’s DuitNow QR, and Thailand’s PromptPay, local merchants are now also able to accept payments from Chinese travellers directly, enjoying broader reach and simplified payment operations.
Etienne Ng, Country Manager, Singapore & Regional Director, Southeast Asia, Weixin Pay, Tencent, at his presentation on ‘Transformational Tech in Finance – Powered by Tencent’, shared, “Tencent’s Palm Solutions show how innovation can make payments faster, safer, and more intuitive. We’re excited to bring Tencent’s next-generation technologies to Singapore to enhance everyday transactions for both users and merchants alike.”
Powell Li, Vice President and Head of Tencent Cloud Computing Products, Tencent Cloud speaking at the panel “China: Scaling AI Across FinTech and Embedded Finance.”
Deepening Tencent’s tech expertise and presence at SFF through AI thought leadership, Powell Li, Vice President and Head of Tencent Cloud Computing Products, Tencent Cloud, spoke on a panel exploring how China’s ecosystem-led AI model, powered by super-app platforms and cross-border financial networks, is reshaping financial services and offering new insights into AI-driven financial infrastructure.
“Scaling AI in financial services demands a strong ecosystem and robust infrastructure. At Tencent Cloud, we are focused on helping partners across the region harness AI safely and effectively, ensuring they can build agile, intelligent, and resilient systems that put their end users first,” said Li.
Across payments, Mini Programs, and cloud AI, Tencent’s participation at SFF 2025 underscored a single goal: to showcase how trusted, interoperable technologies are essential to unlocking a more connected digital economy. By combining these innovations, Tencent is working toward a future where cross-border digital finance feels simple, intuitive, and accessible to all.
Wireless ISPs face a growing threat from LEO satellite providers like Starlink that can reach rural users with faster download speeds.
There are around 2,000 U.S. wireless internet service providers (WISPs) and about nine million Americans get their internet service from these companies, according to the Wireless ISP Association (WISPA). Many of these WISPs are very small and provide service to just a few hundred customers.
WISPs have become more prevalent over the past few years largely due to the introduction of vendor equipment that makes it possible to more cost-effectively deliver better coverage using unlicensed spectrum and commercial off-the-shelf hardware.
WISPs deliver their services using fixed wireless access (FWA) but they tend to be smaller and focused on certain markets such as rural areas or apartment complexes than the large telcos like Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T, which also use FWA technology to deliver broadband services across the country. However, unlike the WISPs, these operators don’t consider broadband to be their primary business.
Using Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® data, we examined the performance of eight of the larger U.S. WISPs—Etheric Networks, GeoLinks, NextLink Internet, Resound Networks, Rise Broadband, Starry, Unwired Broadband, and Wisper Internet — from Q1 2021 through Q2 2025. For those providers that offer both FWA and fiber, we categorized users with upload speeds under 100 Mbps as FWA customers to distinguish them from fiber users. While all eight of the WISPs that we monitored improved their median download speeds during that time period, their performance varies greatly.
Key Takeaways
Starry, which is being acquired by Verizon, delivered the highest median download speeds (202.25 Mbps in Q2 2025) of all eight U.S. WISPs that we studied.
GeoLinks uses a combination of licensed and unlicensed high-band spectrum as well as some mid-band spectrum, and it delivered the slowest median download speeds (22.74 Mbps in Q2 2025) of the WISPs we reviewed. Its users in the 75th percentile (those in the upper end of the typical speed range) experienced download speeds of 56.58 Mbps in Q2 2025.
Because of Starry’s faster speeds, the WISP was able to deliver the FCC’s minimum requirement for broadband speeds of 100/20 Mbps to 66.88% of Speedtest users in Q2 2025.
WISPs face a growing threat from low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite providers like Starlink, which can reach rural users with download speeds that are often faster than WISPs.
To continue to compete in the broadband space, WISPs need to find ways to secure more spectrum to avoid network congestion and interference.
The Many Flavors of WISPs
The performance of WISPs in the U.S. is under scrutiny right now because of recent changes that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) made to the Broadband Equity and Deployment (BEAD) program. In June 2025 the NTIA revamped BEAD to provide a technology-neutral approach and prioritize cost-per-location.This means that instead of favoring fiber, other technologies such as low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite and FWA can compete with fiber for BEAD funding. The revisions also include a rule to ensure that bids go to the lowest-cost bidders.
States revised their BEAD applications and re-submitted them using the new guidance. Early indications are that many states plan to use FWA for at least a portion of their BEAD eligible locations. Connected Nation, a non-profit that monitors the digital divide, found that states have awarded 11.7% of eligible locations to FWA providers, and many of those FWA providers are categorized as wireless ISPs (WISPs).
We analyzed the performance of eight of the largest U.S. WISPs over several quarters from Q1 2021 until Q2 2025. However, it’s important to note that all of these companies vary greatly in terms of their spectrum holdings, their business models, their coverage areas, and their vendor equipment, which drives a large variance in performance outcomes.
Nevertheless, it’s notable that all eight of the WISPs we monitored improved their median download speeds during that time period. They also improved their median upload speeds, but to a much lesser extent.
Starry outpaced all the others and recorded the highest median download speeds. In Q2 2025 Starry’s median download speed was 202.25 Mbps, which is more than double that of the Resound Networks with a median download speed of 99.41 Mbps in Q2 2025. Starry also was nearly nine times higher in median download speeds than the slowest of the eight WISPs, GeoLinks, which had a median download speed of just 22.74 Mbps in Q2 2025.
A Comparison of WISPs Median Download and Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 A comparison of WISPs median download and upload speed over time.
The eight WISPs and their coverage areas
Name
States where WISP operates
Spectrumused
Etheric Networks
California
2.4 MHz, 5.8 GHz unlicensed and 28 GHz licensed
GeoLinks
California, Arizona, and Nevada
unlicensed 69 GHz and 71 GHz, unlicensed 81 GHz
NextLink
Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska
2.4 MHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz
Resound Networks
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas
6 GHz unlicensed, 5 GHz unlicensed, and 3.65 GHz licensed
Rise Broadband
16 states including Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Southern Wisconsin
unlicensed 5 GHz, unlicensed 3.65 GHz, licensed 2.5 GHz, and some TV white space spectrum at 470-698 MHz
Starry Broadband
Major cities such as Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, DC
37 GHz licensed, 24 GHz licensed, some 5 GHz unlicensed
Unwired Broadband
California
unlicensed 6 GHz
Wisper Wireless
Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, and Illinois
3.5 GHz (CBRS), 5.1 GHz, and maybe 6 GHz
Most WISPs struggle to deliver the FCC’s minimum broadband speeds to their customers
All of the eight WISPs use a different configuration of spectrum licenses. Most are reliant upon some combination of low-, mid-, or high-band licensed and unlicensed spectrum. In addition, many have deployed fiber either as an alternative to their FWA service or to use to carry backhaul or middle-mile traffic.
While using unlicensed spectrum means that a WISP can launch services quickly without having to purchase costly spectrum licenses, it also means that congestion and interference can result in the WISP having to carefully manage demand for their services.
Using Speedtest data collected in Q2 2025 we compared the median download and upload speeds of the eight WISPs to determine what percentage of their Speedtest users were receiving the FCC’s minimum standard for fixed broadband speeds (100 Mbps downstream/20 Mbps upstream).
Starry, which has mmWave spectrum licenses and uses proprietary equipment, is able to provide the FCC’s minimum standard for broadband to the highest percentage of users at 66.9%. In contrast Rise Broadband, which primarily operates with unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz band and in the 3.55 GHz to 3.7 GHz bands (CBRS), but also uses some licensed spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, is able to provide the FCC’s minimum requirement for broadband to just 6.7% of its users.
WISPs
% of Speedtest users achieving wireless broadband speeds of 100/20 Mbps
Starry, GeoLinks and Etheric all use some combination of high-band spectrum to deliver their FWA services. The benefits of this spectrum is it can deliver faster speeds and carry bandwidth-intensive applications. But it also requires line-of-sight or near-line-of-sight to work because of potential interference from buildings, trees, and even rain.
Among the three providers that use mmWave spectrum we saw dramatic differences with Starry significantly outperforming GeoLinks and Etheric, which suggest that Starry has a greater penetration of mmWave spectrum among its customer base that is benefitting the WISP.
Starry
Starry uses a proprietary technology with base stations that cover a radius of about one mile and its system operates on shared spectrum licenses in the 37.1, 37.3 and 37.5 GHz mmWave bands. It also acquired 104 licenses in the 24 GHz band that cover 51 partial economic areas.
The company targets large apartment buildings with its service. Its setup consists of a rooftop base station that broadcasts a signal to multiple building-mounted receivers, allowing a single base station to serve dozens of buildings. Although it uses proprietary equipment it’s based upon modified 802.11ac/ax standards that takes advantage of the Wi-Fi chipset ecosystem.
The company, which is currently being acquired by Verizon, offers service to about 100,000 subscribers in apartment buildings in five markets; Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, and Washington, D.C./Virginia.
Starry offers a variety of rate plans: $30 per month for up to 200 Mbps; $55 per month for up to 500 Mbps; and $75 per month for up to 1 Gbps.
Ookla’s Speedtest® data shows that Starry has nearly doubled its median download speeds in its markets from 102.74 Mbps in Q1 2022 to 202.25 Mbps in Q2 2025. The company’s upload speed also increased, but not as dramatically from 52.29 Mbps in Q1 2022 to 54.34 Mbps in Q2 2025. The company saw the biggest increase in speeds from Q1 2024 to Q2 2025, which is likely due to some network upgrades, including the deployment of the 2.0 version of its Comet receiver. Starry said the upgrades would expand its coverage range as well as provide better spectral efficiency.
Starry’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 Starry’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
GeoLinks
GeoLinks uses local multipoint distribution services (LMDS) spectrum that it acquired from Verizon in 2021. Those 208 licenses are in the 29/31 GHz bands and cover several markets. However, GeoLinks currently offers service primarily in California and has a few deployments in Arizona and Nevada, but our Speedtest data samples were all collected from the company’s California deployment.
The company recently used Intracom Telecom’s point-to-multipoint equipment to demonstrate multi-gigabit FWA using its 29/31GHz mmWave spectrum. In addition, it has indicated that it is interested in leasing its spectrum to other enterprises and operators that can then use its spectrum holdings to develop their own FWA services.
GeoLinks offers a variety of price plans: $25.99 per month for speeds of 10/10 Mbps; $38.99 per month for 25/10 Mbps; $45.99 per month for 30/30 Mbps; and $69.99 per month for speeds of 100/25 Mbps. The company’s web site indicates that the $45.99 per month plan that delivers 30/30 Mbps is the most popular plan with its customers.
Speedtest data shows Geolinks delivering median download speeds of just 22.74 Mbps in Q2 2025 with 75th percentile download speeds of 56.58 Mbps. Its users experience median upload speeds of 19.82 Mbps in Q2 2025.
GeoLink’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 GeoLink’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
Etheric Networks
Etheric Networks provides FWA service to the California Bay Area. The company has a fiber ring stretching from San Francisco to Monterey, California that connects its FWA towers and eight data centers. Etheric uses a mix of spectrum including unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz spectrum. However, in 2024 Etheric partnered with BroadbandOne to leverage BroadbandOne’s 28 GHz mmWave spectrum. The company said this partnership will allow it to enhance its connectivity and serve more rural and agricultural areas.
The company offers three residential price plans: $79 per month for speeds up to 100 Mbps; $99 per month for speeds up to 250 Mbps and $169 per month for 1 Gbps speeds.
Speedtest data shows Etheric has nearly doubled its median download speeds from 21.34 Mbps in Q1 2021 to 41.09 Mbps in Q2 2025. Its users in the 75th percentile (those in the upper end of the typical speed range) saw speeds of 65.45 Mbps in Q2 2025.The company’s median upload speeds also increased over time from 13.6 Mbps in Q1 2021 to 29.5 Mbps in Q2 2025.
Etheric Networks’ Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 Etheric Networks’ median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
WISPs make the most of mid-band with CBRS licenses
Many WISPs take advantage of the mid-band CBRS spectrum, which is a 150 MHz shared spectrum in the 3.5 GHz to 3.7 GHz band that allows for flexible use by three different groups that are managed by a Spectrum Access System (SAS). The SAS can dynamically grant access to different users. The band is shared by these three parties: incumbent users such as the U.S. Navy that have priority access to the band; licensed users with Priority Access Licenses (PAL) that have exclusive use of a portion of the band in a specific geographic location; and the General Authorized Access (GAA) group who can access the spectrum but have no protection from interference from the other two groups.
Several of the WISPs we analyzed deploy their services in the CBRS spectrum and primarily use the GAA portion of the band. Others have acquired CBRS PAL and some use a combination of both. Some WISPS also use unlicensed bands such as 5 GHz.
NextLink
Nextlink spent $28.4 million in FCC’s Auction 105 to purchase over 1,100 CBRS PAL licenses covering 491 counties in eleven states including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Wyoming, and Missouri. The company uses that spectrum to deliver its FWA service to its more than 100,000 subscribers (as of August 2025). NextLink also has deployed fiber to more than 100,000 locations and has 20,000 fiber customers.
Nextlink secured Connect America Fund II funding and participated in the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund so much of its FWA expansion has been driven by those commitments. In August Nextlink said it has completed five of the six states as part of its CAF II funding and is halfway through its RDOF buildout.
The company offers a variety of FWA plans: The Next50, which offers up to 50 Mbps speeds for $30 per month; the Next100 that offers speeds up to 100 Mbps for $40 per month; The Next300 that offers speeds up to 300 Mbps for $60 per month; and the Next500 that offers speeds up to 500 Mbps for $75 per month.
Speedtest data shows NextLink has more than tripled its median download speeds from 19.45 Mbps in Q1 2021 to 68.47 Mbps in Q2 2025. The WISP also increased its median upload speeds significantly from 4.72 Mbps in Q1 2021 to 18.26 Mbps in Q2 2025. NextLink users in the 75th percentile (those in the upper end of the typical speed range) get much higher speeds of 122.88 Mbps in Q2 2025.
NextLink’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 NextLink’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
Resound Networks
Resound Networks provides FWA service in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Arizona and Oklahoma and uses Tarana Wireless gear in the unlicensed 5 GHz and 6 GHz spectrum bands. It also offers fiber service in some locations and is planning to expand its fiber footprint. Like many WISPs, Resound is focused specifically on rural communities that have historically been overlooked by larger ISPs. In 2022 the company was awarded $303 million through the FCC’s RDOF program to deliver FWA and fiber to 214,000 rural locations.
Resound offers both residential and enterprise rate plans. Its residential plans start at 75 Mbps for $55 per month and go up to 1 Gbps for $130 per month.
The company’s customers experienced a steady increase in their download and upload speeds from mid-2023 until Q2 2025 from a median download speed of 38.94 Mbps in Q3 2023 to 99.41 Mbps in Q2 2025. Its users in the 75th percentile (those in the upper end of the typical speed range) experienced an even greater climb in download speeds from 62.99 Mbps in Q3 2023 to 190.76 Mbps in Q2 2025. During this time period Resound was expanding its network.
Resound Network’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 Resound’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
Rise Broadband
Rise Broadband claims to be the country’s largest WISP with around 200,000 customers. It may also be one of the longest living WISPs because it dates back to 2006 when it started as JAB Broadband and its goal was to consolidate many of the country’s smaller WISPs to create one big WISP with a large footprint.
Today Rise offers FWA service in16 states, mostly in the Midwest. Rise offers service primarily in rural areas and it uses a mix of unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz band and in the 3.55 GHz to 3.7 GHz bands (CBRS), but also uses some licensed spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, to deliver its service.
Like NextLink, the company is actively deploying fiber in addition to FWA. The company’s strategy is to deploy FWA initially to capture market share and then roll out fiber to the densest FWA coverage areas.
Rise’s price plans start as low as $30 per month for 50 Mbps and reach up to 400 Mbps for $55 per month.
Rise users logged median download speeds of 42.58 Mbps in Q2 2025, which is a significant jump from Q1 2021 when users experienced median download speeds of just 16.01 Mbps. Rise’s users in the 75th percentile (those in the upper end of the typical speed range) were able to achieve download speeds of 65.97 Mbps in Q2 2025. The company’s median upload speeds also increased from 4.05 Mbps in Q1 2021 to 18.38 Mbps Q2 2025. Rise saw a big jump in median upload speeds between Q2 2022 when users logged median upload speeds of 5.86 Mbps and Q3 2022 when users experienced median upload speeds of 13.68 Mbps.
Rise Broadband’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 Rise Broadband’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
Wisper Internet
Wisper Internet offers FWA in six midwestern states including Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Indiana. The company uses unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz, and a mix of unlicensed and licensed spectrum in the 2.5 GHz and 3.65 GHz bands. Like NextLink and Rise, the company also has deployed fiber in a few select areas.
Wisper offers a variety of rate plans including 25 Mbps for $70 per month; 50 Mbps for $75 per month; 100 Mbps for $80 per month; 200 Mbps for $110 per month and 400 Mbps for $140 per month.
Similar to the other WISPs, Wisper’s median download speeds increased over time but it increased dramatically from Q3 2023 to Q2 2025 when its median download speeds increased from 33.74 Mbps to 52.90 Mbps. Likewise, the download speeds for users in the 75th percentile also increased, climbing from 55.12 Mbps in Q3 2023 to 107.90 Mbps in Q2 2025. This jump in speeds was likely due to Wisper’s deployment of additional FWA gear from Tarana Wireless on 180 more towers in its footprint.
Wisper Internet’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 Wisper Internet’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
Unwired
Unwired Broadband provides FWA coverage in rural and underserved areas in central and northern California. The company said it has a network of more than 200 towers and a coverage area of about 17,000 square miles. Besides FWA, Unwired also provides some fiber service but It’s early in its deployment process.
Unwired uses a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum to deliver its FWA service, including the licensed 2.5 GHz band and the unlicensed 6 GHz band.
The company offers both business and residential FWA service and its pricing starts at $59.99 per month for 100 Mbps.
Unwired users experienced increases in download and upload speeds over time but between Q3 2024 and Q4 2024 the jump was more dramatic. Median download speeds jumped from 27.22 Mbps in Q3 to 44.25 Mbps in Q4. Similarly median upload speeds increased from 9.7 Mbps in Q3 2024 to 15.9 Mbps in Q4.
Unwired’s Median Download, 75th Percentile Download, and Median Upload Speeds Q1 2021 through Q2 2025 Unwired’s median download, median upload and 75th percentile speeds over time.
WISPs’ performance is improving but competitive threats lurk
Although the WISPs we studied are improving their networks and delivering better performance for their customers, the broadband market is rapidly changing. In the past many WISPs, particularly those in rural areas, faced little or no competition. But that’s no longer the case.
As LEO satellite constellations such as Starlink become more powerful and more prevalent (Amazon’s Kuiper now has 153 satellites in orbit and is expected to launch late this year), WISPs will face growing competition from these companies.
A recent Ookla report on Starlink found that Starlink’s network saw its median download speeds nearly double from 53.95 Mbps in Q3 2022 to 104.71 Mbps in Q1 2025, making its median download speeds on par or better than seven of the eight WISPs we reviewed (Starry was the only exception). With Starlink residential price plans starting around $80 per month, the company’s introductory price plan is a bit more expensive than some introductory price plans from WISPs but Starlink is aggressively promoting its services and offering large discounts on its equipment to entice new customers.
To continue to play in the broadband space, WISPs need to try to secure more spectrum–licensed or unlicensed— to avoid network congestion and interference and also invest in network upgrades so their services remain competitive.
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This study utilized a quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test design to compare the learning outcomes of nursing students exposed to Simulated Clinical Immersion (SCI) against those in a traditional, lecture-based control group. This design was selected as a methodologically sound approach to assess the comparative effectiveness of teaching strategies where randomized controlled trial (RCT) allocation was deemed impractical due to logistical constraints within the academic curriculum. The target population comprised undergraduate nursing students. The final sample size was N = 128.
Sample size and power calculation
A formal power analysis was conducted a priori using (Specify the Software Used, e.g., G*Power) to determine the requisite sample size. Based on a moderate expected effect size (e.g., Cohen’s d = 0.50) observed in similar simulation-based education studies (Cite relevant prior studies here), with a statistical power (1−β) set at 0.80 and a significance level (α) of 0.05, the calculated minimum sample size was (Specify the required number, e.g., 102). The enrolled sample of N = 128 was therefore considered highly appropriate and sufficient to detect statistically significant differences between the groups.
Educational content and allocation
All participants received the same standardized didactic content on palliative care and end-of-life (EOL) principles for older adults prior to the intervention phase. This curriculum included: pain and symptom management, ethical and legal considerations in EOL care, and therapeutic communication with older patients and their families. This ensured equivalence in theoretical foundational knowledge across both groups.
Participants were assigned to either the intervention group (Simulated Clinical Immersion – SCI) or the control group (Traditional Lecture) via alternate allocation (Non-random assignment based on class section or enrollment order), aligning with the study’s quasi-experimental classification.
Measurement tools
Four instruments were administered as both pre-tests and post-tests to assess the core learning outcomes: knowledge, self-efficacy, and preparedness for EOL care. All instruments demonstrated high internal consistency in the current study.
Demographic data sheet
A researcher-developed demographic questionnaire was used to collect participants’ background information, including age, gender, prior exposure to palliative care, and previous experience with simulation-based learning. Content validity was confirmed through expert review by faculty specializing in palliative care education to ensure the clarity and relevance of the items.
EOL knowledge
The scale was adapted from Gellis et al. [11], to specifically target clinical knowledge in geriatric palliative care. While the original tool evaluated interprofessional team communication, the modified version focused exclusively on assessing knowledge related to EOL symptom management and ethical principles in older adults. The adapted questionnaire will be included in an appendix for transparency.
Clinical self-efficacy scale
This scale was adapted from two separate established tools to provide a comprehensive measure of students’ confidence in providing EOL care. The internal consistency of this adapted version in the current sample was confirmed by a high Cronbach’s α 0.91, supporting its reliability for this study’s context.
Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET); The SET, developed by Elfrink et al. [12], assessed students’ perceptions of the simulation’s educational effectiveness. The tool includes 13 Likert-scale items addressing three key domains: learning outcomes, confidence building, and clinical relevance. The SET is a widely recognized and validated instrument for evaluating simulation-based learning. In this study, construct validity was maintained by ensuring item alignment with the goals of the SCI intervention. The tool yielded a Cronbach’s α of 0.89 during pilot testing, reflecting high internal consistency.
The pilot study used for initial testing of the instruments included a sample size of (N = 25) students. The internal consistency values (α) for all four instruments in the final N = 128 sample were consistently α > 0.80 confirming their excellent psychometric properties.
Ethical considerations
This study received approval from the Ethical committee of faculty of nursing at Zagazig University (Approval No. 130–2024), ensuring ethical compliance and protecting all participants’ rights. This approval, a testament to our unwavering commitment to upholding ethical standards, was crucial in the research process. Informed Consent: Participants were fully informed about the study and gave written consent before joining. It’s important to note that participation was entirely voluntary, and students had the right to withdraw at any time without any consequences, ensuring their security and control.
The SCI experience was structured across three core phases (pre-briefing, simulation, and debriefing).
Simulation Scenario and Procedures. Each simulation session involved 8 students. 4 students acted as active participants (rotating roles such as primary nurse, communication lead, and assistant nurse), while 4 students served as active observers using a structured checklist and contributing to the debriefing phase. The scenario focused on a critically ill older adult presenting with an acute exacerbation of (Specify the clinical condition, e.g., advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) requiring immediate symptom management and a goals-of-care discussion with the family. The session structure adhered to best practices in simulation reporting guidelines (Referencing Table 1 for healthcare simulation research).
Table 1 Comparison between the study and control group regarding end-of-life care clinical self-efficacy pre, and post intervention
Debriefing process
The debriefing session (approximately 30–40 minutes) immediately followed the simulation. It was led by faculty experts with specialized knowledge in geriatric care, EOL principles, and simulation-based learning. The process employed a structured debriefing model (Specify the model used, e.g., Plus-Delta or GAS) to facilitate student reflection and guided learning. Feedback was standardized across all sessions using a faculty checklist to ensure consistency in content, duration, and focus on the targeted competencies (e.g., pain assessment, ethical reasoning, therapeutic communication) regardless of the faculty member leading the session. The faculty instructors had an average of 7 years of experience in clinical nursing and 3 years of experience in simulation pedagogy.
Control group activities
The control group received only didactic, lecture-based instruction covering the identical learning objectives and theoretical content as the SCI group. The sessions included instructor-led presentations, assigned readings, and large group discussions but excluded any form of clinical simulation or high-fidelity experiential learning
Data analysis
Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized participant demographics, while independent and paired t-tests, along with chi-square tests, evaluated differences within and between groups. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) quantified the practical significance of findings, interpreted using standard thresholds. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The analysis revealed large effect sizes, underscoring the substantial impact of the simulation intervention on knowledge, self-efficacy, and perceived simulation effectiveness.
The latest take-home grocery sales in Ireland rose by 5.5% in the four weeks to 2 November 2025, according to our latest data. Despite prices continuing to rise, shoppers spent an additional €64 million on groceries and were out in-store more often over the four weeks, boosting overall sales by €5.8 million.
Grocery price inflation is now standing at 6.06%, falling slightly from last month by 0.5%. Irish shoppers, however, are in full flow for the festive season as they start to stock up on seasonal favorites.
It’s that time of year again as Christmas ads light up our screens and supermarkets fill their shelves with festive fare, signalling that the countdown to the big day has begun. Shoppers are already getting into the spirit, spending an additional €8 million on boxed chocolates compared with last month.
Retailers are acutely aware of the financial pressures that many households are under right now, especially with this year’s Budget approaching, and are keen to show how they’re delivering value for money with a big focus on promotions. Nearly a quarter (22%) of all grocery sales are on promotion, up nearly 5.9% versus this time last year. Promotional activity typically intensifies in the lead-up to Christmas, so this is likely to persist well into December.
Shoppers seeking value and quality
Own label saw strong growth over the last 12 weeks, up 6.3%, with shoppers spending an additional €99 million on these ranges versus last year. Premium own label ranges continue to see strong growth, up 15.3%, with shoppers spending an additional €18.5 million on these ranges compared to last year.
Brands continue to grow behind the total market with growth slowing to 5.2% in the last 12 weeks, but Irish shoppers still spent an additional €85.4 million on branded products.
Brands currently hold 48.2% value share of the total market, the highest share since February, showing how shoppers are more likely to treat themselves in the lead-up to Christmas. Own label holds 46.2% value share.
Shoppers are usually looking for both value and quality – not just the lowest price – particularly at Christmas. I think we all like to indulge a little at this time of year and, despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many have managed to find a balance by choosing retailers’ premium own-label ranges as an affordable way to treat themselves.
Category increases included frozen fruit, low alcoholic drinks, hot beverages, confectionary sweets, chocolate, sweet spreads and savoury snacks, all of which grew ahead of the total market in the latest 12-week period.
Retailer and channel performance
Online continued to grow, at a significantly faster rate compared to last month, up 6.4% year-on-year to take 5.6% value share of the market. Shoppers spent an additional €13.1 million online during the period, helped by an influx of new customers who contributed €5.8 million to overall performance – more than double last month. Over 18% of Irish households bought their groceries online during this time.
Dunnes holds 24.6% market share, up on the last 12-week period, with sales growth of 6.1% year-on-year. Larger and more frequent trips contributed an additional €26.2 million to their overall performance.
Tesco holds 23.8% of the market, with value growth of 7.7% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to stores by 0.8% and, together with new shoppers, contributed an additional €29.8 million to the grocer’s overall performance.
SuperValu holds 19.4% of the market with growth of 4.1%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 24.1 trips over the latest 12 weeks. SuperValu recruited new shoppers to store over the latest 12 weeks which contributed an additional €11.4 million to their overall performance.
Lidl holds 14% of the market with growth of 9.6%, the fastest growth among all retailers once again. Lidl also saw shoppers pick up more volume in store, up 2.1%, contributing an additional €9.5 million to overall performance.
Aldi holds 11.2% market share, up 3.8%. Increased store trips and new shoppers drove an additional €9.9 million in sales.
