Category: 3. Business

  • ViiV Healthcare’s CLARITY study shows long-acting cabotegravir more acceptable than lenacapavir injections after a single dose, with 90% preferring cabotegravir

    ViiV Healthcare’s CLARITY study shows long-acting cabotegravir more acceptable than lenacapavir injections after a single dose, with 90% preferring cabotegravir

    • Initial data from the CLARITY study are first to compare acceptability and tolerability of single-dose cabotegravir (CAB) and lenacapavir (LEN) long-acting injections, in 63 HIV-negative adults
    • Sixty-nine percent of individuals found CAB injections to be ‘totally or very acceptable’ versus 48% for LEN injections, and 90% of participants and 86% of healthcare providers preferred CAB injections over LEN
    • Findings could help inform expectations and decision-making when initiating long-acting HIV injectables

    GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, today announced data from the phase I CLARITY open-label, crossover study, showing clinically relevant differences in injection site reaction (ISR) acceptability and tolerability, with 69% of HIV-negative adults finding cabotegravir long-acting (CAB LA) injections to be “totally or very acceptable” vs 48% for lenacapavir (LEN) injections. Data presented at the 20th European AIDS Conference (EACS) in Paris, France, also showed 90% of HIV-negative adults and 86% of healthcare providers (HCPs) preferred CAB LA injections over LEN injections after a single dose, and ISR events were more frequent and visible with LEN than with CAB LA.1

    Jean van Wyk, MBChB, MFPM, Chief Medical Officer at ViiV Healthcare, said: “We believe long-acting innovations will play a critical role in the global response to ending HIV and AIDS and understanding potential differences in acceptability and tolerability of options is an important consideration when choosing between long-acting injectables. The CLARITY study showed that after receiving a single dose of each, more individuals and healthcare professionals preferred cabotegravir over lenacapavir injections. These early findings provide valuable insights into long-acting injectable options to help empower individuals and their healthcare providers to make fully informed choices.”

    In the open-label crossover study, 63 HIV-negative participants were randomised to receive one medicine at Day 1, followed by the other at Day 15 – either CAB LA (a single intramuscular injection) or LEN (two subcutaneous injections). The primary endpoint was local reaction acceptability assessed seven days after each injection, and results showed clinically relevant differences in ISR acceptability. After a single dose of CAB LA and LEN, 69% (n=42/61) of individuals found CAB injections to be “totally or very acceptable” vs 48% (n=29/60) for LEN injections, which was statistically significant in a post hoc analysis (p=0.019).

    Key preference data from the study:

    • Ninety percent (n=54/60) of healthy HIV-negative adults and 86% (n=6/7) of HCPs preferred CAB LA and 10% (n=6/60) and 14% (n=1/7) preferred LEN, respectively.
    • The four most common reasons cited by participants for why they preferred CAB LA (n=54) were less pain during injection administration (n=40/54), less pain or soreness after injection administration (n=33/54), how long the injection nodules or swelling last (n=31/54), and the size of the injection nodules or swelling (n=30/54).
    • The four most common reasons cited by participants for why they preferred LEN (n=6) were less pain or soreness after injection administration (n=5/6), how long the injection nodules or swelling last (n=3/6), the size of the injection nodules or swelling (n=3/6), and fewer number of side effects (n=3/6).
    • The three most common rationales for HCP preference for CAB LA (n=6) included fewer number of reported side effects (5/6), less severe side effects (4/6), and less pain during injection (4/6). One HCP preferred LEN (n=1) due to ease of injection preparation.

    Key ISR data from the study:

    • Single doses of CAB LA were administered as one injection and single doses of LEN as two injections per product labeling, therefore 63 participants were administered a total of 124 LEN injections and 61 CAB injections during the study. Three participants received only one of the doses, all due to non drug-related reasons.
    • Following administration of both injectables, 4.4 times more ISR events were observed with LEN (n=538) than with CAB LA (n=123) and more participants experienced visible ISR events with LEN (n=221 LEN; n=36 CAB LA).
    • Pain was the most commonly reported ISR for LEN in 82% (n=51/62) of participants vs 80% (n=49/61) of participants receiving CAB LA (Relative Risk [RR] 0.98 [0.82, 1.16]).
    • There was a significantly higher risk of palpable and/or visible ISRs with LEN versus CAB:
      • Induration 87% (n=54) vs 18% (n=11) (RR 0.21 [0.12, 0.36])
      • Nodules 74% (n=46) vs 33% (n=20) (RR 0.44 [0.30, 0.65])
      • Erythema 57% (n=35) vs 12% (n=7) (RR 0.20 [0.10, 0.42])
      • Swelling 58% (n=35) vs 34% (n=21) (RR 0.59 [0.40, 0.89])
    • No serious adverse events or discontinuations due to drug-related adverse events were reported.

    These findings underscore the importance of individual choice and informed decision-making in choice of long-acting injectable HIV therapy or prevention options. Further results and additional analyses from the study will be presented at a future medical congress.

    About Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting)

    Apretude is a medicine used for preventing sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP) in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at high risk of being infected. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiating Apretude (with or without an oral lead-in with oral cabotegravir) for HIV-1 PrEP. It should be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms. Apretude contains the active substance cabotegravir.

    Please consult the full Summary of Product Characteristics for all the safety information: Apretude 600 mg prolonged-release suspension for injection

    Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

    About ViiV Healthcare

    ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GSK (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. Shionogi became a ViiV shareholder in October 2012. The company’s aims are to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com. 

    About GSK   

    GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

    Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

    GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section in GSK’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and GSK’s Q2 Results for 2025.

    References

    1. J. Boles, et al. Cabotegravir Injections Are More Acceptable Than Lenacapavir Injections Following a Single Dose: Results From CLARITY, a Randomized Crossover Study of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretrovirals. Presented at the European AIDS Conference (EACS 2025), 15-18 October, Paris, FR.

    Continue Reading

  • Regeneron Showcases Advances Across Oncology Portfolio and Pipeline at ESMO, Highlighting Novel and Patient-Focused Approach for Difficult-to-Treat Cancers – Regeneron

    1. Regeneron Showcases Advances Across Oncology Portfolio and Pipeline at ESMO, Highlighting Novel and Patient-Focused Approach for Difficult-to-Treat Cancers  Regeneron
    2. US FDA expands use of Regeneron’s Libtayo as add-on treatment for skin cancer  Reuters
    3. Regeneron, needing a turnaround, gains new use for cancer drug  Yahoo Finance
    4. FDA Approves Cemiplimab as Adjuvant Immunotherapy for High-Risk CSCC  Dermatology Times
    5. What Libtayo Means for High-Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma  Cure Today

    Continue Reading

  • Ericsson and EDC advance Canada’s technology leadership – Ericsson

    1. Ericsson and EDC advance Canada’s technology leadership  Ericsson
    2. EDC and Ericsson announce USD $3 billion partnership to advance 5G technology in Canada  The AI Journal
    3. Ericsson and Export Development Canada advance Canada’s leadership in next-generation networks with $3 billion USD partnership agreement  MarketScreener

    Continue Reading

  • The Future of Municipal Infrastructure – Cooperation, Partnerships and Investments in Fiber Optic Networks

    The Future of Municipal Infrastructure – Cooperation, Partnerships and Investments in Fiber Optic Networks

    Join Watson Farley & Williams and SBR-net Consulting AG at our webinar on “The Future of Municipal Infrastructure – Cooperation, Partnerships and Investments in Fiber Optic Networks” on Thursday 6 November 2025.

    The economic expansion and operation of high-performance fibre-optic networks is increasingly presenting municipal utilities with strategic, economic and structural challenges. Given the high investment costs, complex legal frameworks and limited scalability, it is becoming clear that independent expansion and operation by individual municipal utilities is no longer economically viable in many cases.

    As a result, cooperation, partnerships and investment models are becoming increasingly important. They make it possible to share risks, leverage synergies and sustainably improve the profitability of fibre-optic projects. At the same time, such models place high demands on legal structuring, technical implementation and economic evaluation.

    Against this backdrop, we would like to discuss current developments, challenges and possible solutions with you.

    SPEAKERs:

    • Christian R. Schindler, Partner at Watson Farley & Williams (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg);
    • Rebecca Trampe-Berger, Counsel at Watson Farley & Williams (Regulatory, Düsseldorf); and
    • Dr Ernst-Olav Ruhle, CEO at SBR-net Consulting AG.

    We are delighted to welcome an experienced practitioner to the webinar: Dieter Lindauer, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Neustadt a. Rbge. GmbH, who will share insights into the challenges and experiences from a municipal utility’s perspective.

    AGENDA:

    • current market transactions – using Stadtwerke Neustadt a. Rbge. as an example;
    • practical insights from a municipal utility’s perspective;
    • legal structuring of transactions (share deal, asset deal);
    • regulatory requirements depending on the business model;
    • specifics of subsidised networks;
    • economic evaluation and scalability potential of municipal infrastructures; and
    • technical challenges and success factors in implementation and integration into existing utility structures.

    Please note: the event will be held in German. We kindly ask you to register your interest via the ‘Register your interest’ button by 5 November 2025.

    By registering for the webinar, your data will be shared with Watson Farley & Williams and SBR-net Consulting AG. Your data will be used exclusively for the purposes of this webinar.

    Continue Reading

  • Scaling smart: Making GCCs work for mid-size MedTech

    Scaling smart: Making GCCs work for mid-size MedTech





    Scaling smart: Making GCCs work for mid-size MedTech – Capgemini




























    Skip to Content

    Continue Reading

  • Inside the knotty economics of the world’s most profitable ETF

    Inside the knotty economics of the world’s most profitable ETF

    The Invesco QQQ exchange traded fund — the primary vehicle for investors that want to track the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 index — is easily the most lucrative ETF in the world.

    The combination of its $385bn size and chunky 20 basis fee means that it spurts out $770mn of revenue annually, beating the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) into second place in Morningstar’s global ranking.

    In fact, “Triple-Q” alone generates almost four times as much as Vanguard’s flagship S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which manages a record $774bn. The Invesco ETF’s revenues are greater than the profits of Schroders, Janus Henderson or Franklin Resources.

    Its success has feathered many nests. Nasdaq was paid $205mn last year alone in licensing fees, according to QQQ’s annual report. Bank of New York Mellon, its trustee, was handed a cool $109mn. A bewildering array of US sports teams, leagues and festivals have also enjoyed a QQQ windfall, thanks to the ETF’s extensive marketing — $175mn’s worth last year alone.

    But one company has notably missed out on this bonanza: Invesco. This is because of QQQ’s unusual structure as a “unit investment trust” — a relic of the ETF industry’s origin in the primordial soup of the 1990s — rather than the now far more commonplace open-ended ETF format.

    Under this weird structure, any revenues left over after paying expenses such as licensing and trustee fees can only be used for marketing purposes.

    This is immensely frustrating to Invesco. Given that the near-$2tn asset manager only generated net income of $538mn last year, an annual payout in line with the handouts to Nasdaq or BONY Mellon would deliver a healthy boost to its bottom line. Instead, Invesco has had to resort to selling a series of cheap knock-offs of its own flagship fund — like QQQM, QQQS, QQJG and QQMG — where it can at least pocket the full fees.

    As it happens, Christmas may come two months early for Invesco, with a vote due next week that could correct this anomaly (and deliver a modest bonus for investors to boot). 🎉

    This could prove such a big deal that the asset manager’s share price soared when it proposed to change QQQ’s structure.

    Line chart of Invesco's share price ($) showing Huzzah!

    However, let’s first take a quick look at QQQ’s genesis story and how it ended up at Invesco, before we dig into the coming vote and what it means.

    The unit investment trust issue probably didn’t matter much to the creators of QQQ, Nasdaq Stock Market Inc, which launched the fund in 1999 largely as a means to promote its flagship index. (Fun fact — it wasn’t even listed on the Nasdaq exchange but on the rival American Stock Exchange, then the world leader for all things ETFy). Here’s a discussion of QQQ’s birth with its main progenitor, former Nasdaq chief marketing officer John Jacobs:

    QQQ’s perambulations began in 2004 when it was licensed to Chicago’s PowerShares, then a flashy up-and-coming ETF boutique, and upped sticks to the Nasdaq exchange.

    Two years later Invesco snapped up PowerShares, in the process absorbing the Qs — as some fans call it — the jewel in PowerShares’ crown with a whopping (for the time) AUM of $27bn.

    Since then QQQ has became synonymous with the success of American technology stocks, and has ballooned 14x in size. It is now bigger than the entire stock markets of Thailand, Norway, Poland or Malaysia.

    Line chart of QQQ AUM ($bn) showing Gradually, then suddenly

    Invesco’s missing sponsor fee has similarly mushroomed over those years. But that could potentially soon change. On October 24, QQQ’s shareholders will vote on converting the fund into a more modern open-ended ETF.

    The switcheroo would also allow QQQ to reinvest dividends prior to distribution and to engage in securities lending for the first time, both activities outlawed for unit investment trusts. As a sweetener, Invesco is also proposing to trim the fee paid by investors from 20bp to 18bp.

    The biggest winner would, of course, be Invesco, which would no longer have to spaff the excess revenue on marketing, but could grab the lucre for itself, turning the Qs into a cash cow. Its filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission “to modernise and optimise” the ETF shines a light on this:

    Under the Advisory Agreement any marketing of the Trust would be paid out of Invesco’s unitary fee, inherently lowering Invesco’s revenue (and potential profits). 

    Accordingly, although Invesco anticipates that it will continue to market the Trust to potential shareholders to the extent it believes appropriate and beneficial to both the Trust (in the form of increasing the Trust’s scale) and Invesco (in the form of increasing the assets of the Trust on which Invesco will earn a fee), Invesco will nonetheless have an embedded disincentive to do so, particularly in comparison to the Trust’s current state. 

    Accordingly, it is likely that the overall extent of the marketing of the Trust (and potential benefits of such marketing to existing shareholders) will decrease significantly. However, Invesco believes that at the Trust’s current size and scale, any potential negative impacts associated with less marketing of the Trust will be more than offset by the benefits realized by Shareholders through the lower expense ratio (0.18% as compared to 0.20%).

    The filing says that Invesco envisages roughly halving the current marketing budget from the 5-6 basis points of assets to about 2-3 bps — or $60-100mn.

    In other words, around $100mn a year will be stripped from the likes of college football, baseball, the women’s basketball Hall of Fame, financial literacy, and . . . chefs. Nor will we probably have ads like this any more:

    As Invesco’s CFO Allison Dukes told a conference last month: “The marketing budget had just become so large that it’s hard to efficiently spend”. Which is a nice problem to have, but Invesco would prefer to spend the money elsewhere.

    The major obstacle is ensuring that at least 50 per cent of shares are voted on October 24, which is necessary to reach quorum and change the structure.

    Little wonder that Invesco has therefore peppered investors with emails imploring them to vote and retained Sodali Fund Services “to assist in any additional proxy solicitation”.

    Alphaville wonders if State Street Investment Management is paying close attention. Both SPY, with its $661bn of assets, and the sister $40bn SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust are among the handful of other ETFs still structured as unit investment trusts.

    SPY’s annual report does reveal $81mn of marketing expenses in the past financial year, out of total expenses of $473mn. State Street has, though, already found a canny way of keeping much of the revenue in-house.

    Its trustee gobbled up $232mn last year, almost half of the total. Who is that mystery trustee, you ask? Well, none other than State Street Global Advisors Trust Company.

    Continue Reading

  • Pregnancy and obstetric-neonatal outcomes of patients with thin endometrium using three different endometrial preparation protocols in frozen embryo transfer cycles: a historical cohort of 2671 patients | Reproductive Health

    Pregnancy and obstetric-neonatal outcomes of patients with thin endometrium using three different endometrial preparation protocols in frozen embryo transfer cycles: a historical cohort of 2671 patients | Reproductive Health

  • Sunderam S, Kissin DM, Zhang Y, Jewett A, Boulet SL, Warner L, et al. Assisted reproductive technology surveillance – United States, 2018. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2022;71(4):1–19.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Bai F, Wang DY, Fan YJ, Qiu J, Wang L, Dai Y, et al. Assisted reproductive technology service availability, efficacy and safety in mainland china: 2016. Hum Reprod. 2020;35(2):446–52.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyns C, De Geyter C, Calhaz-Jorge C, Kupka MS, Motrenko T, Smeenk J, et al. ART in Europe, 2018: results generated from European registries by ESHRE. Hum Reprod Open. 2022;2022(3):hoac022.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Banker M, Dyer S, Chambers GM, Ishihara O, Kupka M, de Mouzon J, et al. International committee for monitoring assisted reproductive technologies (ICMART): world report on assisted reproductive technologies, 2013. Fertil Steril. 2021;116(3):741–56.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers GM, Dyer S, Zegers-Hochschild F, de Mouzon J, Ishihara O, Banker M, et al. International committee for monitoring assisted reproductive technologies world report: assisted reproductive technology, 2014. Hum Reprod. 2021;36(11):2921–34.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Rienzi L, Gracia C, Maggiulli R, LaBarbera AR, Kaser DJ, Ubaldi FM, et al. Oocyte, embryo and blastocyst cryopreservation in ART: systematic review and meta-analysis comparing slow-freezing versus vitrification to produce evidence for the development of global guidance. Hum Reprod Update. 2017;23(2):139–55.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong KM, Mastenbroek S, Repping S. Cryopreservation of human embryos and its contribution to in vitro fertilization success rates. Fertil Steril. 2014;102(1):19–26.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei D, Liu JY, Sun Y, Shi Y, Zhang B, Liu JQ, et al. Frozen versus fresh single blastocyst transfer in ovulatory women: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2019;393(10178):1310–8.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiegel RE, Jan Danser AH, Steegers-Theunissen RPM, Laven JSE, Willemsen SP, Baker VL, et al. Determinants of maternal Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System activation in early pregnancy: insights from 2 cohorts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105(11):3505–17.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Koerts JJ, Voskamp LW, Rousian M, Steegers-Theunissen RPM, Wiegel RE. Impact of corpus luteum number on maternal pregnancy and birth outcomes: the Rotterdam periconception cohort. Fertil Steril. 2025;123(6):1039–50.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaat TR, Kostova EB, Korsen P, Showell MG, Mol F, van Wely M. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes after natural versus artificial cycle frozen embryo transfer and the role of luteal phase support: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2023;29(5):634–54.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Roelens C, Blockeel C. Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols before frozen embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes: a review. Fertil Steril. 2022;118(5):820–7.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho VNA, Pham TD, Nguyen NT, Wang R, Norman RJ, Mol BW, et al. Livebirth rate after one frozen embryo transfer in ovulatory women starting with natural, modified natural, or artificial endometrial preparation in Viet nam: an open-label randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2024;404(10449):266–75.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghobara T, Gelbaya TA, Ayeleke RO. Cycle regimens for frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;7(7):Cd003414.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Busnelli A, Schirripa I, Fedele F, Bulfoni A, Levi-Setti PE. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes following programmed compared to natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod. 2022;37(7):1619–41.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan Y, Chang Q, Wen Y, Gao J, Huang S, Xu Y, et al. Letrozole during frozen embryo transfer in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2023;142(5):1087–95.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Salemi S, Yahyaei A, Vesali S, Ghaffari F. Endometrial preparation for vitrified-warmed embryo transfer with or without GnRH-agonist pre-treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biomed Online. 2021;43(3):446–52.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Lin Z, Mo S, Wang S, Li Y, Shi Q. Pretreatment with or without GnRH-agonist before frozen-thawed embryo transfer in patients with PCOS: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ovarian Res. 2024;17(1):130.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Niu Z, Chen Q, Sun Y, Feng Y. Long-term pituitary downregulation before frozen embryo transfer could improve pregnancy outcomes in women with adenomyosis. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2013;29(12):1026–30.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Fang Z, Yu L, Sun X, Li F, Jin L. Which endometrial preparation protocol provides better pregnancy and perinatal outcomes for endometriosis patients in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles? A retrospective study on 1413 patients. J Ovarian Res. 2023;16(1):7.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson Å, Hanevik HI, Laivuori H, Loft A, Piltonen T, Pinborg A, et al. Endometrial preparation protocols prior to frozen embryo transfer – convenience or safety? Reprod Biomed Online. 2024;48(1):103587.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Polyzos NP. Endometrial preparation protocols for frozen embryo transfer: risk assessment and individualized management. Hum Reprod. 2025;deaf149.

  • Hamze H, Alameh W, Hemmings R, Jamal W, Banan A, Sylvestre C. The science of frozen embryo transfer, is modified natural cycle better? Gynecol Endocrinol. 2025;41(1):2533481.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Li W, Wen W, Wang T, Wang T, Sun T, et al. Natural cycle versus hormone replacement therapy as endometrial preparation in ovulatory women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer: the compete open-label randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2025;22(6):e1004630.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Liao Y, Xia L, Wu H, Liu Z, Lin J, et al. Impact of endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients with unexplained recurrent implantation failure undergoing frozen embryo transfer. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2025;65(5):633–40.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z, Chu R, Zhang L, Yu Q, Yan L, Ma J. Fresh versus frozen embryo transfer in women with thin endometrium: a retrospective cohort study. Ann Transl Med. 2020;8(21):1435.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Stentz N, Devine K. Through thick and thin: time to stop worrying about endometrial thickness? Fertil Steril. 2021;116(1):71–2.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu KE, Hartman M, Hartman A, Luo ZC, Mahutte N. The impact of a thin endometrial lining on fresh and frozen-thaw IVF outcomes: an analysis of over 40 000 embryo transfers. Hum Reprod. 2018;33(10):1883–8.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasius A, Smit JG, Torrance HL, Eijkemans MJ, Mol BW, Opmeer BC, Broekmans FJ. Endometrial thickness and pregnancy rates after IVF: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2014;20(4):530–41.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahutte N, Hartman M, Meng L, Lanes A, Luo ZC, Liu KE. Optimal endometrial thickness in fresh and frozen-thaw in vitro fertilization cycles: an analysis of live birth rates from 96,000 autologous embryo transfers. Fertil Steril. 2022;117(4):792–800.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallos ID, Khairy M, Chu J, Rajkhowa M, Tobias A, Campbell A, et al. Optimal endometrial thickness to maximize live births and minimize pregnancy losses: analysis of 25,767 fresh embryo transfers. Reprod Biomed Online. 2018;37(5):542–8.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang Z, Huang J, Mao J, Yu L, Wang X. Effect of endometrial thickness on obstetric and neonatal outcomes in assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2023;21(1):55.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganer Herman H, Volodarsky-Perel A, Ton Nu TN, Machado-Gedeon A, Cui Y, Shaul J, Dahan MH. Pregnancy complications and placental histology following embryo transfer with a thinner endometrium. Hum Reprod. 2022;37(8):1739–45.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z, Xu X, Zhang L, Zhang L, Yan L, Ma J. Endometrial thickness is associated with incidence of small-for-gestational-age infants in fresh in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer cycles. Fertil Steril. 2020;113(4):745–52.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Oron G, Hiersch L, Rona S, Prag-Rosenberg R, Sapir O, Tuttnauer-Hamburger M, et al. Endometrial thickness of less than 7.5 mm is associated with obstetric complications in fresh IVF cycles: a retrospective cohort study. Reprod Biomed Online. 2018;37(3):341–8.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu KE, Hartman M, Hartman A. Management of thin endometrium in assisted reproduction: a clinical practice guideline from the Canadian fertility and andrology society. Reprod Biomed Online. 2019;39(1):49–62.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Yang H, Chen Z, Chen Y, Jin C, Yu R, et al. Agonist long protocol improves outcomes of vitrified-warmed embryo transfer in repeatedly thin endometrium. Reprod Biomed Online. 2023;46(3):527–35.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali J, Magray S, Ahmed E, Talo S. A case report of successful live pregnancy following embryo transfer in a thin endometrium. Cureus. 2024;16(8):e66363.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaraja N, Poddar SD, Rai S, Verma V, Abhisheka K, Khurana A. Improved pregnancy outcomes and endometrial receptivity by thawed frozen embryo transfer in mildly stimulated cycles with letrozole combined with estrogen in women with unresponsive thin endometrium compared to standard endometrial preparation with estrogen alone: a retrospective study. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2023;73(4):351–7.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia L, Tian L, Zhang S, Huang J, Wu Q. Hormonal replacement treatment for Frozen-Thawed embryo transfer with or without GnRH agonist pretreatment: A retrospective cohort study stratified by times of embryo implantation failures. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:803471.

  • Hu X, Yan E, Peng W, Zhou Y, Jin L, Qian K. Higher pre-pregnancy body mass index was associated with adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome after a freeze-all strategy: a historical cohort study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2024;103(5):884–96.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou R, Zhang X, Huang L, Wang S, Li L, Dong M, et al. The impact of different cycle regimens on birthweight of singletons in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles of ovulatory women. Fertil Steril. 2022;117(3):573–82.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Roelens C, Racca A, Mackens S, Van Landuyt L, Buelinckx L, Gucciardo L, et al. Artificially prepared vitrified-warmed embryo transfer cycles are associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia. Reprod Biomed Online. 2022;44(5):915–22.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Eguren A, Bueno-Fernandez C, Gómez-Álvarez M, Francés-Herrero E, Pellicer A, Bellver J, et al. Evolution of biotechnological advances and regenerative therapies for endometrial disorders: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update. 2024;30(5):584–613.

    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Shang Y, Wu M, He R, Ye Y, Sun X. Administration of growth hormone improves endometrial function in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2022;28(6):838–57.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan G, Yu C, Du X, Li D, Dou H, Lu P, et al. Injectable GelMA hydrogel microspheres with sustained release of Platelet-Rich plasma for the treatment of thin endometrium. Small. 2024;20(47):e2403890.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu KL, Zhang D, Li R. Endometrium preparation and perinatal outcomes in women undergoing single-blastocyst transfer in frozen cycles. Fertil Steril. 2021;115(6):1487–94.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu F, Wu Y, Tan M, Hu R, Chen Y, Li X, et al. Programmed frozen embryo transfer cycle increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a multicenter cohort study in ovulatory women. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023;5(1):100752.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginström Ernstad E, Wennerholm UB, Khatibi A, Petzold M, Bergh C. Neonatal and maternal outcome after frozen embryo transfer: increased risks in programmed cycles. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019;221(2):126.e1-e18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira MM, Mainigi M, Strauss JF. Secretory products of the corpus luteum and preeclampsia. Hum Reprod Update. 2021;27(4):651–72.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • von Versen-Höynck F, Narasimhan P, Selamet Tierney ES, Martinez N, Conrad KP, Baker VL, Winn VD. Absent or excessive corpus luteum number is associated with altered maternal vascular health in early pregnancy. Hypertension. 2019;73(3):680–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Versen-Höynck F, Schaub AM, Chi YY, Chiu KH, Liu J, Lingis M, et al. Increased preeclampsia risk and reduced aortic compliance with in vitro fertilization cycles in the absence of a corpus luteum. Hypertension. 2019;73(3):640–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matorras R, Pijoan JI, Laínz L, Díaz-Nuñez M, Sainz H, Pérez-Fernandez S, Moreira D. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and miscarriage in IVF: systematic revision of the literature and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2023;308(2):363–77.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinsonneau L, Labrosse J, Porcu-Buisson G, Chevalier N, Galey J, Ahdad N, et al. Impact of endometrial preparation on early pregnancy loss and live birth rate after frozen embryo transfer: a large multicenter cohort study (14 421 frozen cycles). Hum Reprod Open. 2022;2022(2):hoac007.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatoum I, Bellon L, Swierkowski N, Ouazana M, Bouba S, Fathallah K, et al. Disparities in reproductive outcomes according to the endometrial preparation protocol in frozen embryo transfer: the risk of early pregnancy loss in frozen embryo transfer cycles. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2018;35(3):425–9.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomás C, Alsbjerg B, Martikainen H, Humaidan P. Pregnancy loss after frozen-embryo transfer–a comparison of three protocols. Fertil Steril. 2012;98(5):1165–9.

    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu B, Geerts D, Hu S, Yue J, Li Z, Zhu G, Jin L. The depot GnRH agonist protocol improves the live birth rate per fresh embryo transfer cycle, but not the cumulative live birth rate in normal responders: a randomized controlled trial and molecular mechanism study. Hum Reprod. 2020;35(6):1306–18.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo S, Li Z, Yan L, Sun Y, Feng Y. GnRH agonist improves pregnancy outcome in mice with induced adenomyosis by restoring endometrial receptivity. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:1621–31.

  • Ruan HC, Zhu XM, Luo Q, Liu AX, Qian YL, Zhou CY, et al. Ovarian stimulation with GnRH agonist, but not GnRH antagonist, partially restores the expression of endometrial integrin beta3 and leukaemia-inhibitory factor and improves uterine receptivity in mice. Hum Reprod. 2006;21(10):2521–9.

    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Song J, Duan C, Cai W, Wu W, Lv H, Xu J. Comparison of GnRH-a prolonged protocol and short GnRH-a long protocol in patients with thin endometrium for assisted reproduction: A retrospective cohort study. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2020;14:3673–82.

  • Liu Y, Ma L, Zhu M, Yin H, Yan H, Shi M. Strobe-GnRHa pretreatment in frozen-embryo transfer cycles improves clinical outcomes for patients with persistent thin endometrium: a case-control study. Medicine. 2022;101(31):e29928.

    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

Continue Reading

  • IATA Launches Global Campaign to Help Travelers Fly Safely with Lithium Batteries

    IATA Launches Global Campaign to Help Travelers Fly Safely with Lithium Batteries

    Translation: L’IATA lance une campagne pour aider les voyageurs à voler en toute sécurité avec des batteries au lithium (pdf)

    Xiamen – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched ‘Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries’, a global safety campaign that gives travelers seven simple rules for carrying mobile phones, laptops, power banks, and other lithium-powered devices safely when they fly. The campaign will run on IATA’s website and social channels and is available as white-label assets for airlines, airports, and other partners across the travel ecosystem.

    “Lithium-powered devices are safe when handled properly, but they can pose a risk if damaged or packed incorrectly. As more travelers fly with these devices, our Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries campaign will help airlines educate their passengers on the simple rules they must keep in mind when traveling with the electronic devices that have become an essential part of their daily lives,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.



    Travelers Are Carrying More Devices but with Incomplete Knowledge

    A recent IATA passenger survey found that most travelers fly with lithium-powered devices:

    • 83% of travelers carry a phone
    • 60% carry a laptop
    • 44% carry a power bank

    While 93% of travelers consider themselves knowledgeable on the rules for carrying lithium-powered devices (including 57% rating themselves as very familiar with the rules), critical misconceptions persist:

    • 50% incorrectly believe it’s OK to pack small lithium-powered devices in checked luggage
    • 45% incorrectly believe it’s OK to pack power banks in checked luggage
    • 33% incorrectly believe that there are no power limits on power banks or spare batteries

    Seven Simple Safety Rules

     

    The campaign assets highlight seven simple rules every traveler should follow:

    1. Pack light: Only bring the devices and batteries you really need.
    2. Stay alert: If a device is hot, smoking, or damaged, tell the crew (or airport staff) immediately.
    3. Keep devices with you: Always carry phones, laptops, cameras, vapes (if allowed) and other battery-powered items in your hand baggage, not in checked baggage.
    4. Protect loose batteries: Keep spare batteries and power banks in their original packaging, or cover the terminals with tape to prevent short-circuits.
    5. Gate check reminder: If your hand baggage is taken at the gate to go in the aircraft baggage hold, remove all lithium batteries and devices first.
    6. Check battery size: For larger batteries (over 100 watt-hours, such as those used in larger cameras, drones, or power tools), check with your airline as approval may be required.
    7. Check airline rules: Always confirm your airline’s policies, as requirements may differ in compliance with local regulations.

    Industry-Wide Rollout

     

    The multilingual campaign will be rolled out through digital assets that airlines and other partners can adapt and share with passengers, ensuring consistent safety messaging across the industry. A short, animated video, designed to make the rules simple, engaging, and easy to remember, can be used by airlines and airports on their digital and social channels.

    Campaign assets will also be available to media and other entities in the aviation value chain to help educate travelers on flying safely with their lithium-powered devices.

    > Learn more and download the assets

     

    For more information, please contact:

    Corporate Communications

    Tel: +41 22 770 2967

    Email: corpcomms@iata.org

    Notes for Editors:

    • IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 350 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic.
    • You can follow us on X for announcements, policy positions, and other useful industry information.
    • Fly Net Zero
    • Common devices that use lithium batteries
      Many travelers don’t realize just how many everyday devices contain lithium batteries. Beyond mobile phones and laptops, lithium batteries power a wide range of personal and travel items including tablets, e-readers, wireless headphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, cameras, portable speakers, power banks, handheld gaming consoles, and electronic styluses. They are also found in everyday personal-care items like electric toothbrushes, shavers, and hair-straighteners, as well as in e-cigarettes, handheld fans, torches, medical devices such as hearing aids and glucose monitors, and compact tools or gadgets like screwdrivers and laser pointers.  

    Continue Reading

  • Mitazalimab plus mFOLFIRINOX in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Insights from the OPTIMIZE-1 Study

    Mitazalimab plus mFOLFIRINOX in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Insights from the OPTIMIZE-1 Study

    Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with limited effective treatment options and a generally poor prognosis. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the United States, yet it is responsible for approximately 8% of all cancer deaths. In 2025, an estimated 67,440 Americans (34,950 men and 32,490 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and about 51,980 deaths (27,050 men and 24,930 women) are expected. The average lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 56 for men and 1 in 60 for women.

    In this challenging landscape, novel immunotherapies are being explored to improve patient outcomes. One such investigational agent is mitazalimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD40, a key immune co-stimulatory receptor. Developed by Alligator Bioscience, mitazalimab is currently being studied in combination with chemotherapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer, showing promising early-phase results.

    What Are Monoclonal Antibodies?

    Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are laboratory-engineered proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to recognize and bind to specific targets, such as proteins on the surface of cancer cells. By doing so, they can block signals that tumors use to grow, mark cancer cells for destruction by the immune system, or deliver toxic agents directly to the tumor.

    What Is CD40 and Why Does It Matter in Cancer?

    CD40 is a receptor found on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including dendritic cells, B cells, and macrophages. It plays a central role in regulating immune responses by promoting the activation of T cells. In cancer immunotherapy, stimulating CD40 can turn these APCs into potent activators of the immune system, helping to mount a strong antitumor response.

    What Is Mitazalimab?

    Mitazalimab is a next-generation monoclonal antibody developed by Alligator Bioscience. It belongs to a class of drugs designed to stimulate the immune system against cancer. Specifically, it targets CD40, a receptor expressed on antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, B cells, and macrophages. By activating CD40, mitazalimab enhances the body’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

    This drug is being investigated primarily in metastatic pancreatic cancer, a disease with historically poor outcomes and limited treatment options. Mitazalimab represents one of the most advanced CD40 agonists currently in clinical development.

    How Does Mitazalimab Work?

    CD40 plays a key role in immune system activation. When CD40 is stimulated, it helps dendritic cells “teach” T cells to recognize and attack tumors. Mitazalimab binds to CD40 and mimics the natural signals that activate this immune pathway, leading to:

    • Enhanced antigen presentation
    • Activation of tumor-specific T cells
    • Immune system priming against cancer

    In preclinical studies, it has shown potential to improve immune response not only alone but also when used in combination with chemotherapy, checkpoint inhibitors, or cancer vaccines. It may also help generate durable antitumor immunity that persists after treatment ends.

    mitazalimab-mechanism of action Oncodaily

    Photo from Alligator Bioscience Official Website.

    Early Clinical Experience and Biomarker Evidence

    Mitazalimab was initially evaluated in two Phase 1 trials. One, led by Alligator Bioscience, assessed intratumoral administration, while the other, conducted by Janssen Biotech, studied systemic administration in patients with advanced solid tumors. These trials confirmed mitazalimab’s favorable safety profile and demonstrated early signals of antitumor activity. One patient with renal cell carcinoma achieved a partial response, and ten patients experienced stable disease for six months or longer.

    Mitazalimab’s mechanism of action was further supported by biomarker analyses. The drug activated key immune cells—including dendritic cells, macrophages, and T cells—enhancing both innate and adaptive immune responses. Transcriptomic profiling in patient-derived immune cells showed strong immune activation consistent with its CD40 agonist activity.

    REACTIVE-2: Investigator-Initiated Study in Pancreatic Cancer

    The REACTIVE-2 trial was a Phase 1, investigator-sponsored study evaluating mitazalimab in combination with the cancer vaccine MesoPher in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer. The final patient was dosed in 2023. This study added further translational support to the immune-stimulatory potential of mitazalimab in this hard-to-treat malignancy.

    OPTIMIZE-1: Phase 2 Trial in First-Line Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

    The OPTIMIZE-1 study marked a major advancement in mitazalimab’s development. This open-label, multicenter Phase 2 trial evaluated mitazalimab in combination with mFOLFIRINOX in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

    At the 24-month cutoff:

    • Overall survival rate was 29.4%, nearly triple the historical 8% seen with chemotherapy alone.
    • Median overall survival (mOS) reached 14.9 months, surpassing the 11.1 months typically seen with FOLFIRINOX and the 9.2–11.1 months reported in studies like NALIRIFOX.
    • Objective response rate (ORR) was 42.1% confirmed and 54.4% unconfirmed among 57 evaluable patients.
    • Median duration of response (DoR) was 12.6 months, significantly longer than with standard chemotherapy.

    At the data cutoff, 28% of patients remained alive, and 9% were still on active treatment. These results highlight mitazalimab’s potential to enhance the depth and durability of responses when combined with chemotherapy.

    Previously published in The Lancet Oncology 2024, the OPTIMIZE-1 trial showed that among 57 evaluable patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with mitazalimab plus modified FOLFIRINOX, the confirmed objective response rate was 40%, exceeding the primary endpoint. Median progression-free survival was 7.7 months, and median overall survival reached 14.3 months, with 59% of patients alive at 12 months. At data cutoff, 51% remained on study and 32% on treatment.

    The median duration of response was 12.5 months. Treatment was generally manageable; the most common grade 3 or higher adverse events included neutropenia (26%), hypokalemia (16%), anemia, and thrombocytopenia (both 11%). Serious adverse events occurred in 41% of patients but none were attributed to mitazalimab. No treatment-related deaths were reported. These encouraging results support further phase 3 evaluation of this combination.

     

    Mitazalimab plus mFOLFIRINOX in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Insights from the OPTIMIZE-1 Study

    An updated analysis published in Cell Reports Medicine 2025 provided extended follow-up and biomarker insights. At a median follow-up of 18.2 months, the confirmed ORR was 42.1 % (one complete and 24 partial responses), with an unconfirmed ORR of 54.4 % and a disease-control rate of 78.9 %. The median duration of response was 12.6 months, PFS 7.7 months, and OS 14.9 months, with 12- and 18-month OS rates of 57.8 % and 36.2 %, respectively.

    Exploratory biomarker analyses identified a fibrosis-related gene signature enriched for extracellular-matrix-remodeling genes (MMP2, MMP14) associated with improved survival, and mitazalimab-induced activation of T, B, NK, and myeloid cells correlated with longer PFS and OS. Circulating-tumor-DNA analyses showed ctKRAS clearance in 72 % of patients, predicting longer survival; molecular responses preceded radiologic responses by ≈47 days, while molecular progression appeared ≈39 days earlier than imaging.

    Dose Optimization and Regulatory Feedback

    Based on FDA guidance, an expansion cohort of OPTIMIZE-1 tested a lower 450 µg/kg dose. Topline results showed an ORR of 22.7% at this dose—less effective than the 54.4% seen at 900 µg/kg—confirming the need to advance the higher dose into Phase 3.

    Alligator Bioscience has completed CMC requirements, including GMP manufacturing readiness. Both the U.S. FDA and Germany’s Paul Ehrlich Institute confirmed that OPTIMIZE-1 qualifies as a Phase 3-enabling trial.

    Phase 3 Planning and Commercial Strategy

    A final Phase 3 protocol was submitted at the FDA’s End-of-Phase-2 meeting in January 2025. Regulatory agencies have agreed that the proposed design is suitable to support a future Biologics License Application (BLA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA).

    Alligator Bioscience is planning to launch a global Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2025, potentially positioning mitazalimab for accelerated approval in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer.

    Continue Reading

  • Samsung Partners with Eco-Bos to power the first Carbon Positive community at the UK Garden Village – Samsung Newsroom U.K.

    Samsung Partners with Eco-Bos to power the first Carbon Positive community at the UK Garden Village – Samsung Newsroom U.K.

    Collaboration sets new benchmark for energy efficient community developments in the UK

     

    Samsung Electronics (UK) Limited has announced it is partnering with Eco-Bos, to deliver pioneering smart home technology that drives down carbon emissions and increases energy efficiencies for the West Carclaze Garden Village in Cornwall. Residents in West Carclaze can enjoy lower energy bills and effortless control of their living environment, thanks to the Samsung SmartThings platform that lets them choose how to manage heating, lighting, security, and appliances all from a single app.

     

    One of the UK’s first Garden Villages the 1,500 homes set within 500 acres, 350 which are a Country Park, in West Carclaze, places wellbeing and innovation at its core, providing homes that are highly energy efficient and designed to take full advantage of new technologies and innovative materials. The development also includes a 7.5 MW onsite solar farm to support renewable energy supply. Critically, West Carclaze homes are rated EPC A, a rating achieved by only 0.3% of homes in the UK in an area noted as one of the least energy efficient counties in the UK*.

     

    West Carclaze residents will benefit from this pioneering development, with each household saving both time and money through the improvements. Community residents can expect to generate a profit of up to £1,779, based on SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations as outlined in the Predictive Energy Assessment from the Elmhurst Energy Report. Comparatively, a typical UK family household’s electricity and gas bill is approximately £1,719.45 per year, highlighting the potential for significant financial savings of up to £3,498 per year.[1]

     

    As part of the collaboration, Samsung will provide its smart devices and appliances to each of the remaining 1,500 homes. Every property will come equipped as standard with a Samsung Heat Pump, Climate Hub, Solar PV as well as smart devices to handle everyday tasks across cooking, laundry, and dishwashing. All connected and managed in one simple interface via Samsung’s SmartThings[2] app, available on Android or iOS. The open ecosystem gives residents the ability to connect more than 350 partner brands within their home, including Amazon Alexa, Philips Hue and many other devices which be tailored based on each residents’ evolving needs.

     

    Thanks to Samsung’s SmartThings platform and app, residents can seamlessly manage everyday tasks and benefit from SmartThings’ AI Energy Mode. This automatically switches appliances such as washing machines, fridge freezers and ovens to save energy through intelligent automation and learning capabilities within the appliances. For example a Samsung washing machine could reduce energy use by up to 20%[3] by simply switching on AI Energy Mode. By empowering residents to optimise their energy use and automate everyday routines, the tech at the heart of West Carclaze Garden Village will help create a more efficient community where residents can enjoy lower running costs of their home through reduced energy usage.

     

    Mark Seaman, Head of Samsung B2B Integrated Offering Team, commented: “We know that people want homes that are more affordable to run and easier to live in. By partnering with Eco-Bos, we’re making it possible for residents to enjoy real savings on their energy bills, and giving them the opportunity to gain time back for themselves through the convenience and benefits of connected living.

     

    “For developers, this collaboration shows that building tech-enabled communities is achievable today, meeting both new regulations and the needs of modern homeowners. We’re excited to help set a new standard for what home life can be, and we hope West Carclaze will inspire others to follow.”

     

    Dorian Beresford, Chief Development Officer at Eco-Bos added: “Our collaboration with Samsung shows what’s possible when innovation and technology combine to serve people, not just performance. The future of housing must be cleaner, smarter, and more adaptable to people’s lives — with homes that work for people, not the other way around.

    “This project brings that vision to life. Every home is designed to give back more than it takes — in energy, comfort, and quality of life. It’s proof that carbon-positive living isn’t a dream for tomorrow; it’s happening today.”

    To learn more about Samsung’s work with homebuilders and developers, as well as its commitment to supporting the technological development of Tomorrow’s Homes Today please click here.

     

    [*]*England’s Best and Worst Areas for Energy Efficient Homes – According to EPC data analysed by Eurocell

     

    [1]British Gas, ‘What is the average energy bill in Great Britain?’, 2025.

    [2]To use Samsung’s SmartThings service, you must have a Samsung Account, the SmartThings app installed on your smartphone or tablet, an active internet connection, and at least one compatible SmartThings-enabled device. The Samsung account is essential for storing your data and accessing your smart home setup across multiple devices, while the internet connection allows your devices to connect to the SmartThings network.

    [3]Based on internal testing on the WW11BB944AGB model on a Cotton 40 degrees wash with the AI Energy Mode turned on (reducing the temperature) compared to not using AI Energy Mode. AI Energy Mode can only be operated at 40 degrees or lower.

    Continue Reading