Category: 3. Business

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Thursday after a mixed finish on Wall Street, where shares in Nvidia, Palantir and other superstar stocks pared their earlier steep losses.

Traders are looking ahead for cues about U.S. monetary policy from a meeting of central bankers that begins later in the day in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell is due to speak to the conference on Friday.

The Fed has kept its main interest rate steady this year, primarily because of the fear of the possibility that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could push inflation higher. But a surprisingly weak report on job growth across the U.S. may be superseding that.

Still, minutes from the Fed’s July 29-30 meeting released Wednesday showed most Fed officials felt the threat of higher inflation was a greater concern than the potential for job losses, leading the central bank to keep its key rate unchanged.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% to 42,636.74 after a survey showed Japan’s factory activity remained in contraction for the second month in August. The S&P Global flash Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased to 49.9 in August from 48.9 in July, just below the 50 level that delineates between growth and decline.

Regional manufacturers have been feeling pressure from Trump’s higher tariffs on exports to the United States.

In Chinese markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged 0.1% lower to 25,135.09, while the Shanghai composite index rose 0.4% to 3,779.52.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1% to 3,161.74, while Australia’s S&P ASX 200 index added 1% to 9,005.00.

Taiwan’s TAIEX climbed 1.2%, while India’s Sensex added 0.1%.

“Asian markets walked into Thursday like a card room still heavy with last night’s smoke — muted, watchful, waiting for the next cue out of Jackson Hole,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

On Wednesday, the S&P 500 dipped 0.2% to 6,395.78 after trimming a 1.1% loss earlier in the day. It is still near its all-time high set last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added less than 0.1% to 44,938.31. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.7% to 21,172.86.

The day’s action centered again around stocks caught up in the mania around artificial-intelligence technology.

Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI, sank as much as 3.9% during the morning and was on track to be the heaviest weight on Wall Street following its 3.5% fall on Tuesday.

But it clawed back nearly all of Wednesday’s drop and finished with a dip of just 0.1%. As it pared its loss, so did broad market indexes because Nvidia is Wall Street’s most influential stock by being its most valuable.

Palantir Technologies, another AI darling, fell 1.1% to add to its 9.4% loss from the day before, but it had been down as much as 9.8% Wednesday morning.

One possible contributor to the swoon was a study from MIT’s Nanda Initiative that warned that most corporations are not yet seeing any measurable return from their generative AI investments, according to Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, global head of equities at UBS Global Wealth Management.

But the larger factor may be the simple criticism that prices for such stock have simply shot too high, too fast amid the furor around AI and became too expensive.

In other dealings early Thursday, US. benchmark crude gained 30 cents to $63.01 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard added 26 cents to $67.10 per barrel.

The U.S. dollar rose to 147.37 Japanese yen, from 147.29 yen. The euro slid to $1.1648 from $1.1659.

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AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.

YONGIN, South Korea, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GC Biopharma, a leading global pharmaceutical company based in South Korea, announced today that it has revealed the delivery mechanism of Hunterase (idursulfase beta), a recombinant enzyme replacement therapy for Hunter syndrome (MPS II). The research findings, detailing the role of N-glycosylation in lysosomal targeting, have been published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, a prestigious SCIE-indexed journal.

Hunter syndrome (MPS II) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene, resulting in a deficiency of the IDS enzyme, which is essential for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This deficiency leads to the progressive accumulation of GAG within lysosomes, causing a range of symptoms. Thus, effective treatment relies on delivering the therapeutic enzyme to lysosomes to facilitate GAG breakdown.

For effective lysosomal targeting, the N-glycan structures of the therapeutic enzyme must contain mannose-6-phosphate (M6P). M6P acts as a targeting signal, guiding the enzyme to bind to cells, facilitating its uptake and delivery into lysosomes to degrade GAGs.

The research utilized high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry to analyze the site-specific N-glycan structures of idursulfase beta (Hunterase). A total of 42 N-glycan structures were identified, with two sites, Asn221 and Asn255, found to be predominantly modified with bis-mannose-6-phosphate (bis-M6P), a structure containing two phosphate groups. The research team explains that this bis-M6P structure ensures the efficient and stable delivery of idursulfase beta (Hunterase) to lysosomes.

The research team also demonstrated idursulfase beta’s high-affinity binding to the M6P receptors using surface plasmon resonance. Additionally, fluorescence-labeled cellular studies confirmed efficient uptake and lysosomal delivery of idursulfase beta (Hunterase).

Moreover, several N-glycan structures of idursulfase beta (Hunterase) were found to be modified with sialic acid, which is known to prolong the enzyme’s circulation in the blood, extending its half-life.

Hunterase (idursulfase beta), according to GC Biopharma, is highly effective for treating Hunter syndrome due to its targeted lysosomal delivery, driven by N-glycan structures modified with M6P and prolonged circulation enabled by sialic acid modifications.

“This study analyzed the lysosomal delivery mechanism of Hunterase (idursulfase beta), supported by robust scientific evidence,” said Jae Uk Jeong, Head of R&D at GC Biopharma. “With clear evidence of its therapeutic effectiveness, patients with Hunter syndrome can have greater confidence in using Hunterase throughout their treatment journey.”

About GC Biopharma

GC Biopharma (formerly known as Green Cross Corporation) is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Yong-in, South Korea. The company has over half a century of experience in the development and manufacturing of plasma derivatives and vaccines, and is expanding its global presence with successful US market entry of Alyglo^®(intravenous immunoglobulin G) in 2024. In line with its mission to meet the demands of future healthcare, GC Biopharma continues to drive innovation by leveraging its core R&D capabilities in engineering of proteins, mRNAs, and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) drug delivery platform to develop therapeutics for the field of rare disease as well as I&I (Immunology & Inflammation). To learn more about the company, visit https://www.gcbiopharma.com/eng/

This press release may contain biopharmaceuticals in forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of GC Biopharma’s management. Such statements do not represent any guarantee by GC Biopharma or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. GC Biopharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule.

GC Biopharma Contacts (Media)

Sohee Kim
[email protected]

Yelin Jun
[email protected]

Yoonjae Na
[email protected]

SOURCE GC Biopharma

Materials and methods

All reagents and solvents were obtained from commercial suppliers and used as supplied without further purification. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were determined on a Brucker Avance 500 spectrometer using tetramethylsilane as an internal standard in DMSO-d₆ solution. The infrared spectra were determined on a FT-IR 370 infrared spectrometer with potassium bromide tablet pressing technology. The UV spectrum data were obtained using a TU-1810 UV Visible Spectrophotometer. The decomposition temperature was tested by a PerkinElmer TGA 4000 thermogravimetric analyzer. The whiteness and chromaticity index of cotton fiber were assessed using a CTPC whiteness meter. The microstructure of the sample was observed using a JSM-7610 F scanning electron microscope.

Synthesis of compounds 6a-f

2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (1.28 mmol) and cold distilled water (5 mL) were placed in the reactor and subjected to an ice bath. The solution of 4,4’-diaminostilbene-2,2’-disulphonic acid (0.64 mmol), distilled water (20 mL), and saturated sodium carbonate was prepared, slowly dropped into the reactor within 30 min. Then the mixture continued to react for 2 h at 0–5℃. The reaction mixture was heated to 30℃, slowly added an aqueous solution (4 mL) containing 2-aminoethyl methacrylate (1.28 mmol), and small amount of antioxidant sodium sulfite. Then the reaction mixture was heated to 40–45℃, maintained the pH at 6–7 with saturated sodium carbonate, and continued to react for 6 h. The aqueous solution (5 mL) containing amino alcohol or amino acid (1.28 mmol) was dropped into the reaction mixture, raising the temperature to 90–95℃, maintaining the pH at 8–9 with saturated sodium carbonate, and continuing the reaction for 8 h. The three-step reaction process was tracked using thin-layer chromatography, with isopropanol: acetonitrile: ammonia solution = 5:2:3 as the developing agent (V/V). The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, and the pH was adjusted to 3–4 with dilute hydrochloric acid (10%). An appropriate amount of sodium chloride was added, stirred, and filtered. The filter cake was washed successively with ice water and ethanol to obtain aminoethyl methacrylate functionalized stilbene FWAs 6a-f, light yellow solid with yield of 85–93%.

Synthesis of 6,6’-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(3-((4-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)-6-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)amino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino)benzenesulfonic acid) (6a)

Yield 87%; Light yellow solid powder; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆, δ): 10.35 (2 H, NH), 8.52 (2 H, NH), 8.04 (2 H, PhH), 7.62 (4 H, PhH), 7.47 (2 H, CH = CH), 6.07 (2 H, =CH₂), 5.70 (2 H, =CH₂), 4.25 (4 H, OH), 3.75 (20 H, CH₂), 3.00 (4 H, CH₂), 1.88 (6 H, CH₃); IR (KBr, cm^− 1): 3346 (OH and NH), 2952, 2886 (CH₃ and CH₂), 1718 (C = O), 1625, 1538 (C = C), 1415 (C = N), 1173 (S = O), 1020 (C‒O‒C).

Synthesis of 2,2’-((((ethene-1,2-diylbis(3-sulfo-4,1-phenylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(6-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)amino)-1,3,5-triazine-4,2-diyl))bis(azanediyl))diacetic acid (6b)

Yield 85%; Light yellow solid powder; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆, δ): 10.12 (2 H, NH), 8.30 (2 H, NH), 8.01 (2 H, PhH), 7.58 (4 H, PhH), 7.55 (2 H, CH = CH), 6.06 (2 H, =CH₂), 5.66 (2 H, =CH₂), 4.29 (2 H, NH), 3.82 (8 H, CH₂), 3.71 (4 H, CH₂), 1.86 (6 H, CH₃); IR (KBr, cm^− 1): 3397 (OH and NH), 3086, 2941(CH₃ and CH₂), 1749 (C = O), 1623, 1588 (C = C), 1485 (C = N), 1181 (S = O), 1082 (C‒O‒C).

Synthesis of 2,2’,2’’,2’’’-((((ethene-1,2-diylbis(3-sulfo-4,1-phenylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(6-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)amino)-1,3,5-triazine-4,2-diyl))bis(azanetriyl))tetraacetic acid (6c)

Yield 86%; Light yellow solid powder; ¹H NMR(500 MHz, DMSO-d₆, δ): 10.57 (2 H, NH), 8.04 (2 H, NH), 7.80 (2 H, PhH), 7.66 (4 H, PhH), 7.61 (2 H, CH = CH), 6.07 (2 H, =CH₂), 5.70 (2 H, =CH₂), 4.21 (4 H, CH₂), 3.54 (8 H, CH₂), 3.39 (4 H, CH₂), 1.88 (6 H, CH₃); IR (KBr, cm^− 1): 3328 (OH and NH), 3085, 2954 (CH₃ and CH₂), 1717 (C = O), 1630, 1591 (C = C), 1482 (C = N), 1168 (S = O), 1084 (C‒O‒C).

Synthesis of 3,3’-((((ethene-1,2-diylbis(3-sulfo-4,1-phenylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(6-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)amino)-1,3,5-triazine-4,2-diyl))bis(azanediyl))dipropionic acid (6d)

Yield 93%; Light yellow solid powder; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆, δ): 10.23 (2 H, NH), 8.38 (2 H, NH), 8.01 (4 H, PhH), 7.78 (2 H, PhH), 7.65 (2 H, CH = CH), 7.58 (2 H, NH), 6.06 (2 H, =CH₂), 5.68 (2 H, =CH₂), 4.24 (4 H, CH₂), 3.70 (4 H, CH₂), 3.56 (4 H, CH₂), 2.61 (4 H, CH₂), 1.86 (6 H, CH₃); IR (KBr, cm^− 1): 3399 (OH and NH), 3086, 2958 (CH₃ and CH₂), 1705 (C = O), 1621, 1584 (C = C), 1489 (C = N), 1175 (S = O), 1020 (C‒O‒C).

Synthesis of 4,4’-((((ethene-1,2-diylbis(3-sulfo-4,1-phenylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(6-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)amino)-1,3,5-triazine-4,2-diyl))bis(azanediyl))dibutyricacid (6e)

Yield 91%; Light yellow solid powder; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆, δ): 10.19 (2 H, NH), 8.34 (2 H, NH), 8.01 (4 H, PhH), 7.79 (2 H, PhH), 7.65 (2 H, CH = CH), 7.58 (2 H, NH), 6.06 (2 H, =CH₂), 5.67 (2 H, =CH₂), 4.29 (4 H, CH₂), 3.70 (4 H, CH₂), 3.56 (4 H, CH₂), 2.31 (4 H, CH₂), 1.86 (6 H, CH₃), 1.76 (4 H, CH₂); IR (KBr, cm^− 1): 3403 (OH and NH), 3121, 2956 (CH₃ and CH₂), 1701 (C = O), 1621, 1571 (C = C), 1489 (C = N), 1175 (S = O), 1025 (C‒O‒C).

Synthesis of 2,2’-((((ethene-1,2-diylbis(3-sulfo-4,1-phenylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(6-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)amino)-1,3,5-triazine-4,2-diyl))bis(azanediyl))bis(3-phenylpropanoic acid) (
6f
)

Yield 86%; Light yellow solid powder; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆, δ): 10.19 (2 H, NH), 8.81 (2 H, NH), 8.04 (2 H, PhH), 7.58 (4 H, PhH), 7.30 (10 H, PhH), 7.22 (2 H, CH = CH), 6.06 (2 H, =CH₂), 5.66 (2 H, =CH₂), 4.77 (2 H, NH), 4.29 (4 H, CH₂), 3.24 (4 H, CH₂), 3.03 (4 H, CH₂), 1.86 (6 H, CH₃); IR (KBr, cm^− 1): 3397 (OH and NH), 3084, 2958 (CH₃ and CH₂), 1716 (C = O), 1623, 1590 (C = C), 1487 (C = N), 1177 (S = O), 1020 (C‒O‒C).

Cotton fiber dyeing

Dye solutions with concentrations of 0.10%, 0.20%, 0.30%, 0.40%, 0.50%, 0.60%, and 0.70% of compounds 6a-f were prepared and the bath ratio was 1:50. Cotton fibers were placed in a dyeing bucket and dyed at 20℃, and the dyeing solution was heated by a rate of 2℃/min until the temperature reached 50℃, and then continued to dye for 15 min at this temperature. The stained sample was taken out, washed three times with cold distilled water, dried it naturally at room temperature, and tested for whiteness and chromaticity index.

Whiteness and chromaticity index testing

The whiteness value (CIE) and chromaticity index of untreated and dyed pure cotton fiber samples were investigated using a multifunctional whiteness meter with a D65 light source and a viewing angle of 10°. Each sample was tested three times at different locations and the average value was recorded.

Trump’s investments include Meta, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and T-Mobile, according to filing.

United States President Donald Trump has bought more than $100m in company and municipal bonds since his return to the White House, financial disclosures show, providing a window into the management of the billionaire’s wealth in office.

The filings released by the US Office of Government Ethics on Wednesday detail nearly 700 financial purchases made by Trump from his January 21 inauguration to August 1.

The purchases include bonds issued by the financial giants Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup, as well as those from corporate household names such as Meta, UnitedHealth, T-Mobile and The Home Depot.

Dozens of US states, including Texas, Florida and New York, are represented in the purchases of municipal bonds, with Trump’s investments spanning hospitals, schools, airports, ports and gas projects.

The documents do not provide the value of each transaction, only broad ranges, such as $100,001-$250,000 and $1,000,001-$5,000,000.

Trump did not report any sales during the period.

A type of fixed-income investment, bonds are a loan to a government authority or company in exchange for a specified rate of interest.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but US media cited administration officials as saying that Trump and his family were not directly involved in the transactions.

Under legislation passed in 1978 in the wake of the Watergate scandal, US presidents are required to disclose a broad accounting of their finances, but they are not obligated to divest from assets that could potentially raise conflicts of interest.

Before Trump, all US presidents going back to 1978, set up a blind trust or committed to limiting their investments to diversified mutual funds upon taking office.

Trump controversially dispensed with that tradition, instead passing control of his business empire to a trust managed by his children.

Government ethics experts have for years raised concerns about the intersection between Trump’s governance and his personal fortune.

Richard Painter, who served as the chief White House ethics lawyer in the administration of former President George W Bush, noted that Trump’s bond holdings stand to rise in value if the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates as he has demanded.

“When interest rates go down, bond prices go up,” Painter told Al Jazeera. “No wonder he’s leaning on the Fed for a rate cut!”

While Trump’s exact net wealth is unclear, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index last month estimated the US president to be worth $6.4bn.