Category: 3. Business

  • S&P Global Mobility projects moderate U.S. auto sales for June 2025 at 1.27 million units

    S&P Global Mobility projects moderate U.S. auto sales for June 2025 at 1.27 million units

    • New light vehicle sales in June expected to maintain pace with the mild result of previous month
    • Battery Electric Vehicle estimated shares for June expected at 7%

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — S&P Global Mobility projects new light vehicle sales volume in June 2025 will reach 1.27 million units. With only 24 selling days for the month, unadjusted volume comparisons would be down compared to June 2024 (26 selling days) and the month-prior (27 selling days in May 2025), absent other impacts.

    S&P Global Mobility logo (PRNewsfoto/S&P Global)

    The anticipated June 2025 volume translates to an estimated annual sales pace of 15.6 million units (seasonally adjusted annual rate: SAAR), aligned with the May downshift (15.7M SAAR), as both months declined after the pull-ahead effect evident in the March-April results.

    “Automakers and consumer alike continue to digest an uneasy and uncertain environment,” said Chris Hopson, principal analyst at S&P Global Mobility. “While we saw strong March and April sales levels, June brings a second consecutive month of milder pace for auto demand. New vehicle affordability concerns are expected to worsen in the second half of the year under potential upward pricing adjustments. We see these pressures particularly as inventory subject to tariffs begins to replace pre-tariff product.”

    U.S. Light Vehicle Sales

    Jun 25 (Est)

    May 25

    Jun 24

    Total Light Vehicle

    Units, NSA

    1,272,300

    1,466,595

    1,309,997

    In millions, SAAR

    15.6

    15.7

    15.0

    Light Truck

    In millions, SAAR

    13.0

    13.1

    12.3

    Passenger Car

    In millions, SAAR

    2.6

    2.6

    2.7

    Source: S&P Global Mobility (Est), U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales

    According to S&P Global Mobility new registration data, estimated share of BEV sales for both May and June is expected around the 7% level as BEV sales growth is moderating and share will be reflective of the stalled conditions for BEV demand. BEV share of sales hit over 8% in January, but fell in February and March, to 7.2% and 7.5%, respectively, before declining to below 7% in April.

    Continued development of BEV sales remains an assumption in the longer term S&P Global Mobility light vehicle sales forecast, although an unsettled regulatory and incentive policy environment has raised the potential that future growth rates will be more mild. In the immediate term, month-to-month share volatility is anticipated.

    About S&P Global Mobility

    At S&P Global Mobility, we provide invaluable insights derived from unmatched automotive data, enabling our customers to anticipate change and make decisions with conviction. Our expertise helps them to optimize their businesses, reach the right consumers, and shape the future of mobility. We open the door to automotive innovation, revealing the buying patterns of today and helping customers plan for the emerging technologies of tomorrow.

    S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world’s foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help many of the world’s leading organizations navigate the economic landscape so they can plan for tomorrow, today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/mobility.

    Media Contact:
    mobilitycomms@spglobal.com

    SOURCE S&P Global Mobility

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  • Discover 5 strategies to increase your email marketing response rates

    Discover 5 strategies to increase your email marketing response rates

    Dear faculty and staff,

    The next Circles of Excellence, on Aug. 7, will focus on how to increase your email marketing response rates and better understand your target audience.

    Discover 5 strategies to increase your email marketing response rates

    Ready to boost your email engagement? In this virtual presentation led by Strategic Marketing and Communications, we’ll explore five proven strategies to increase response rates in your email marketing and communications.

    Backed by real-life examples and UIC-specific data, this session will highlight actionable tactics you can start using right away — including A/B testing, audience segmentation, personalized messaging and data-driven decision-making — all within UIC’s official Emma Email Marketing platform.

    When:
    1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7

    Where:
    Virtual via Zoom
    Advance registration is required.

    Who should attend:
    Anyone who creates and sends email marketing campaigns using UIC’s Emma email marketing platform.

    For questions or more information, please email smcs@uic.edu.

    Together, let’s continue to elevate the transformational story of UIC, where access is broad and excellence thrives.

    Gratefully,
    Chandra Harris-McCray, PhD
    Vice Chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications

    For more information, please contact:
    Strategic Marketing and Communications
    smcs@uic.edu

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  • AI-Based Electrocardiogram Interpretation Detects LVSD in Muscular Dystrophy

    AI-Based Electrocardiogram Interpretation Detects LVSD in Muscular Dystrophy

    Routine echocardiographic surveillance in adults with muscular dystrophy may uncover early signs of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and prompt timely intervention, but physical limitations can make consistent monitoring a challenge. Artificial intelligence (AI)–based electrocardiogram interpretation (AI-ECG) could offer a noninvasive, accessible alternative to routine echocardiography, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.1

    “Our findings have potential implications for clinical practice. Current guidelines recommend routine echocardiographic monitoring for muscular dystrophy patients, typically on an annual or biannual basis,” the authors wrote. “However, obtaining high-quality echocardiographic images can be challenging due to patient-specific factors such as scoliosis and muscle weakness. Our findings suggest that AI-ECG could serve as a complementary screening tool, potentially allowing for more flexible and patient-friendly monitoring strategies.”

    Despite the AI-ECG model’s potential, the authors cautioned it must be evaluated in a structured clinical framework to ensure that it improves established monitoring methods rather than replaces them. | Image credit: Yan – stock.adobe.com

    Cardiac complications are substantial contributors to mortality in muscular dystrophies, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), in which up to 70% of patients experience LVSD.2 Despite the recommendations for regular electrocardiography, capturing high-quality echocardiographic images can be challenging for patients with muscular dystrophy due to scoliosis, muscle weakness, immobility, and other physical limitations, the authors noted.1

    “Given these limitations and the current pressure on echocardiography availability in our health care systems, alternative methods for LVSD risk stratification are urgently needed,” the authors wrote. “[AI] applied to [AI-ECG] has shown promise for predicting LVSD in various populations. An ECG is widely accessible, cost-effective, and quick to perform (also in immobile populations), with the potential for home monitoring applications.”

    The researchers identified patients with DMD, Becker muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, or myotonic dystrophy who were 16 years or older and underwent an ECG and transthoracic echocardiogram within 90 days of each other at the University Medical Center Utrecht hospital in the Netherlands between 2007 and 2023. The data pool also included female carriers of DMD or BMD, who are also at a higher risk of cardiac complications.

    A convolutional neural network was first trained using a derivation cohort of 53,874 ECG-echocardiogram pairs from 30,978 patients without muscular dystrophy to detect LVSD, then it was tested on a set of 390 ECG-echo pairs from 390 patients with muscular dystrophy. The researchers used a Cox proportional hazards model to determine the predictive value of AI-ECG for new-onset LVSD.

    Follow-up echocardiography was available for 177 patients without LVSD at baseline. At a median follow-up of 4.8 (IQR, 2.6-8.6) years, LVSD occurred in 92 (52%) patients. LVSD prevalence ranged from 13.4% in patients with myotonic dystrophy to 81.3% in patients with DMD. No BMD female carriers showed LVSD, but 17.4% of DMD carriers had LVSD.

    In the validation set, the model achieved an area under the receiving operator curve (AUROC) of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.85-0.88), sensitivity of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.88-0.92), and specificity of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.56-0.60). In the muscular dystrophy test set, the model demonstrated an AUROC of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.79-0.87), sensitivity of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.81–0.93), and specificity of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.52-0.63). The negative predictive value was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.86-0.95), and the positive predictive value was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.43-0.53).

    The model overall showed an AUROC of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.66-0.78) for predicting new-onset LVSD, and the AI-ECG probability was a significant predictor of LVSD occurrence.

    Despite the model’s potential, the authors cautioned that timely diagnosis of LVSD and initiation of cardioprotective treatment are crucial. Therefore, AI-ECG must be evaluated in a structured clinical framework to ensure that it improves established monitoring methods rather than replaces them. The clinical utility, cost-effectiveness, and optimal integration of AI-ECG into current care standards must also be determined through prospective studies and cluster randomized trials, they added. Their study was also limited by its single-center nature and reliance on routine clinical interpretation of echocardiograms.

    “This study demonstrates that AI-ECG can accurately detect and predict LVSD in muscular dystrophy patients, offering a non-invasive, widely accessible, and applicable tool for cardiac risk stratification,” the authors concluded. “The ability to detect and predict LVSD may enable more personalized follow-up strategies, reducing reliance on echocardiography. Future research should focus on external validation and pediatric application.”

    References

    1. Arends BKO, Zwetsloot PM, Heeres PS, et al. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction screening in muscular dystrophies using deep learning-based electrocardiogram interpretation. J Electrocardiol. Published online June 12, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2025.154048

    2. Verhaert D, Richards K, Rafael-Fortney JA, Raman SV. Cardiac involvement in patients with muscular dystrophies: magnetic resonance imaging phenotype and genotypic considerations. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011;4(1):67-76. doi:10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.110.960740

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  • TIAN RUIXIANG Holdings Ltd Completes Acquisition of Ucare

    TIAN RUIXIANG Holdings Ltd Completes Acquisition of Ucare

    BEIJING, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TIAN RUIXIANG Holdings Ltd (Nasdaq: TIRX) (the “Company” or “TRX”), a China-based insurance broker, today announced it has completed the acquisition of 100% of issued and outstanding shares of Ucare Inc. (“Ucare”), the sole operator of China’s only cloud-based AI-driven hospital and health insurance risk management platform. The all-stock transaction, valued at US$150 million, marks a major milestone in TRX’s strategy to expand into in-hospital distribution channels and capture new growth opportunities within the health insurance sector.

    As part of the closing, TRX has issued 101,486,575 Class A ordinary shares, each with a par value of US$0.025. Powered by the largest hospital database and a cloud-based generative AI platform, Ucare develops innovative healthcare solutions that help providers, payers, and institutions reduce fraud, abuse, waste, and administrative costs. Following the acquisition, Ucare will harness TRX’s robust platform, capital resources, and strategic relationships to advance R&D, embed cutting-edge generative AI into clinical pathways, and broaden its reach from healthcare providers to insurance partners.

    Leveraging Ucare’s existing relationships with over 4,000 hospitals and leading AI analytics, TRX will expand business channels and build unique health insurance service offerings. Ucare’s generative AI platform will be integrated into TRX’s underwriting and claims processing health insurance workflows to reduce fraud, streamline operations, and improve pricing precision.

    Ms. Sheng Xu, Director, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of TRX, stated, “We are thrilled to officially welcome Ucare to the TRX family. This acquisition places us at the intersection of healthcare and insurance, unlocking data-driven insights that will transform how health insurance is designed, sold, and serviced. In the coming months, we are focused on expediting Ucare’s growth by building on the success it’s already achieved, while designing differentiated offerings that align with evolving patient needs and national healthcare priorities. Our long-term goal is to create a seamless insurance-hospital ecosystem that enhances transparency, efficiency, and accessibility for all stakeholders.”

    Mr. Wei Zhu, Chief Executive Officer of Ucare, added, “Joining TRX opens an exciting new chapter for Ucare’s mission to reshape hospital and health insurance risk management in China. With TRX’s resources, we are well-positioned to accelerate our platform deployment and deepen integration with insurance services. Together, we will lead the next wave of innovation in medical cost containment and health insurance.”

    About TIAN RUIXIANG Holdings Ltd
    TIAN RUIXIANG Holdings Ltd, headquartered in Beijing, China, is an insurance broker operating in China through its China-based variable interest entity. It distributes a wide range of insurance products, which are categorized into two major groups: (1) property and casualty insurance, such as commercial property insurance, liability insurance, accidental insurance, and automobile insurance; and (2) other types of insurance, such as health insurance, life insurance, and other miscellaneous insurance.

    About Ucare Inc.
    Ucare Inc. develops innovative healthcare solutions that enable providers, payers, and institutions to reduce fraud, abuse, waste, and administrative costs. Powered by the largest hospital database, Ucare’s cloud-based generative AI platform continuously refines disease models by integrating real-world data, the latest medical guidelines, and real-time intelligence. Ucare’s vision is to ease the burden on patients, expand coverage, and ultimately improve access to healthcare for everyone.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review risk factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    For investor and media enquiries, please contact:
    TIAN RUIXIANG Holdings Ltd
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@tianrx.com

    Water Tower Research
    Feifei Shen
    Email: feifei@watertowerresearch.com

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  • Zelenectide Pevedotin Plus Pembrolizumab Is Safe and Active in Treatment-Naive, Cisplatin-Ineligible Advanced Urothelial Cancer

    Zelenectide Pevedotin Plus Pembrolizumab Is Safe and Active in Treatment-Naive, Cisplatin-Ineligible Advanced Urothelial Cancer

    Urothelial Cancer | Image credit:

    © Adin – stock.adobe.com

    Treatment with the combination of the first-in-class Bicycle drug conjugate (BDC) zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was safe and generated antitumor activity in patients with previously untreated, cisplatin-ineligible, locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, according to data from the phase 1/2 Duravelo-1 trial (NCT04561362).

    Findings presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that at a median follow-up of 7.1 months (range, 1.0-13.2), evaluable patients treated with the combination (n = 20) achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 65.0% (95% CI, 40.8%-84.6%), comprising a complete response rate of 25.0% and a partial response rate of 40.0%. The stable disease rate was 25.0%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 90.0%. Duration of response (DOR) data were not mature.

    Regarding safety, any-grade treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) occurred in all patients (n = 22), and 72.7% experienced grade 3 or higher TEAEs. Treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) of any grade were reported in all patients, including 68.2% who had grade 3 or higher TRAEs. Any-grade and grade 3 or higher zelenectide pevedotin–related TRAEs occurred at rates of 90.9% and 59.1%, respectively. These rates were 95.5% and 50.0%, respectively, for pembrolizumab.

    Serious AEs were reported in 54.5% of patients, including 50.0% who had grade 3 or higher serious AEs. TEAEs led to dose reductions and dose discontinuations of zelenectide pevedotin in 50.0% and 4.5% of patients, respectively. These rates were 0% and 9.1%, respectively, for pembrolizumab.

    “These data support a randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase 2/3 trial [NCT06225596] of zelenectide pevedotin as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab vs chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced/metastatic urothelial cancer,” lead study author Patrizia Giannatempo, MD, of Fondazione IRCCS – Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, Italy, and colleagues wrote in a poster presentation of the data.

    Zelenectide Pevedotin and Duravelo-1 Background

    Zelenectide pevedotin features a highly selective Nectin-4–targeting bicyclic peptide that is conjugated to a monomethyl auristatin E payload via a cleavable link. Bicycle molecules have the manufacturing and pharmacokinetic properties of small molecules with the high binding specificity of a biologic agent.

    Duravelo-1 enrolled adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who were ineligible for cisplatin per Galsky criteria and were naive to systemic therapy in the advanced setting. Patients needed to meet at least 1 of the following criteria to be deemed ineligible for cisplatin:

    • a creatinine clearance of 30 to 59 mL per minute
    • hearing loss of at least 25 decibels at 2 contiguous frequencies
    • New York Heart Association heart failure of class III or higher
    • an ECOG performance status of 2, with a hemoglobin level of at least 10 g/dL, a creatinine clearance of at least 50 mL per minute, and no NYHA class III heart failure

    The study evaluated zelenectide pevedotin as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. For the combination, zelenectide pevedotin was given at 5 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day cycle, and pembrolizumab was administered at 200 mg on day 1 of each cycle.

    The trial’s primary end point was investigator-assessed ORR per RECIST 1.1 criteria. Safety, DOR, and DCR were secondary end points.

    As of the January 3, 2025, data cutoff, patients in the combination cohort (n = 22) had a median age of 77 years (range, 61-85). The majority were male (68.2%) and White (81.8%). Patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (22.7%), 1 (31.8%), or 2 (45.5%). Baseline creatinine clearance was below 60 mL per minute for 54.5% of patients.

    Additional Safety Findings

    Grade 4 TRAEs of hypomagnesemia and neutropenia were each reported in 1 patient. No grade 5 TRAEs occurred.

    The most common TRAEs reported in at least 20% of patients given the combination included asthenia (any-grade, 63.6%; grade ≥3, 9.1%), anemia (59.1%; 0%), diarrhea (50.0%; 9.1%), decreased appetite (40.9%; 4.5%), increased aspartate aminotransferase levels (36.4%; 4.5%), nausea (36.4%; 4.5%), rash (31.8%; 4.5%), increased alanine aminotransferase levels (27.3%; 13.6%), neutropenia (27.3%; 13.6%), pruritus (27.3%; 0%), alopecia (22.7%; 0%), hyperglycemia (22.7%; 0%), and vomiting (22.7%; 4.5%).

    Reference

    Giannatempo P, Galsky M, Duran I, et al. Phase 1/2 Duravelo-1 study: Preliminary results of nectin-4–targeting zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009) plus pembrolizumab in previously untreated, cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):4567. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.4567

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  • Market lessons from the first half of 2025 — and, stocks that look good going forward

    Market lessons from the first half of 2025 — and, stocks that look good going forward

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  • Tevogen CEO Contributes to Build-Out and First-Year

    Tevogen CEO Contributes to Build-Out and First-Year

    • Contribution highlights leadership’s understanding of the importance AI will play in drug discovery

    WARREN, N.J., June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tevogen (“Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc.” or “Company”) (Nasdaq: TVGN) today announced that founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Saadi, M.D., M.P.H., has personally contributed $500,000 towards the build-out and first-year operating costs of Tevogen’s new corporate headquarters in Warren, New Jersey.

    “This contribution is about belief in Tevogen’s mission, in the remarkable people who bring that mission to life, and in the future we are building together,” said Dr. Saadi. “Our purpose is more than a business plan; it is a shared promise to patients, to one another, and to the society we serve. I am grateful for how far we have come and confident in the road ahead.”

    As previously announced, the new facility more than doubles Tevogen’s previous footprint and centralizes cross-functional teams, including research, regulatory affairs, and the expanding Tevogen.AI initiative, under one roof. Dedicated collaboration spaces will support data scientists and engineers as they unlock the full potential of Tevogen’s proprietary PredicTcell™ and AdapTcell™ AI platforms.

    “This personal investment by our CEO underscores the conviction of Tevogen’s leadership in our long-term vision of accessible, affordable cell therapies,” added Kirti Desai, Chief Financial Officer. “We expect it to enable us to scale efficiently while maintaining our commitment to capital discipline.”

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements relating to: Tevogen’s plans for its research and manufacturing capabilities; expectations regarding future growth; expectations regarding the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries; and Tevogen’s development of, the potential benefits of, and patient access to its product candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer. Forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “potential,” “goal,” “opportunity,” “project,” “believe,” “future,” and similar words and expressions or their opposites. These statements are based on management’s expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of factors that involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the company’s control that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

    Factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: that Tevogen will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; changes in the markets in which Tevogen competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution, or regulatory changes; changes in domestic and global general economic conditions; the risk that Tevogen may not be able to execute its growth strategies or may experience difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that Tevogen may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls; the failure to achieve Tevogen’s commercialization and development plans and identify and realize additional opportunities, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Tevogen to grow and manage growth economically and hire and retain key employees; the risk that Tevogen may fail to keep pace with rapid technological developments to provide new and innovative products and services or make substantial investments in unsuccessful new products and services; risks related to the ability to develop, license or acquire new therapeutics; the risk of regulatory lawsuits or proceedings relating to Tevogen’s business; uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost, and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; risks related to regulatory review, approval and commercial development; risks associated with intellectual property protection; Tevogen’s limited operating history; and those factors discussed or incorporated by reference in Tevogen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Tevogen undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

    Contacts

    Tevogen Bio Communications

    T: 1 877 TEVOGEN, Ext 701

    Communications@Tevogen.com

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  • Ress Life Investments A/S publishes Net Asset Value (NAV).

    Ress Life Investments A/S publishes Net Asset Value (NAV).

    Ress Life Investments
    Nybrogade 12
    DK-1203 Copenhagen K
    Denmark
    CVR nr. 33593163
    www.resslifeinvestments.com

    To: Nasdaq Copenhagen
    Date: 30 June 2025

    Corporate Announcement 22/2025

    Ress Life Investments A/S publishes Net Asset Value (NAV).

    Ress Life Investments A/S publishes the Net Asset Value (NAV) per share as of 16 June 2025.

    NAV per share in USD: 2615.44

    The performance during the first half of June is -0.07% in USD. The year-to-date net performance is 0.78 % in USD.

    Assets under management (AUM) are 257.8 million USD.    

    The NAV per share in EUR is published on the website of Nasdaq Copenhagen under the section AIF Companies and Funds, where the bid and ask prices are published. The daily NAV in EUR is calculated as the most recently published NAV in USD divided by the European Central Bank’s EUR/USD reference rate on the relevant day.

    Questions related to this announcement can be made to the company’s AIF-manager, Resscapital AB.

    Contact person:
    Gustaf Hagerud
    gustaf.hagerud@resscapital.com
    Tel + 46 8 545 282 27

    Note: The terms for subscription of shares, minimum subscription amount and redemption of shares are provided in the Articles of Association, Information Brochure and in the Key Information Document available on the Company’s website, www.resslifeinvestments.com.

    • Ress Life Investments AS – Company Announcement 22-2025

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  • Using Discrete Choice Data to Support Personalized Pharmacy Counseling in ALK+ NSCLC

    Using Discrete Choice Data to Support Personalized Pharmacy Counseling in ALK+ NSCLC

    Understanding what patients and caregivers value most in cancer treatment is increasingly essential for delivering personalized and patient-centered care, particularly in the context of high-cost, long-term oral targeted therapies such as ALK inhibitors for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, Christopher Danes, PhD, scientific director of Global Medical Affairs Oncology at Takeda in Boston, Massachusetts, presented findings from a discrete choice experiment that explored the trade-offs patients with ALK-positive (ALK+) NSCLC and their caregivers are willing to make when evaluating treatment options.

    In this interview with Pharmacy Times®, Danes discusses how the study’s insights can inform pharmacist-led shared decision-making, improve adherence strategies, and support value-based care planning by highlighting the nuanced preferences that shape treatment decisions in real-world oncology practice.

    Pharmacy Times: How might the findings from this discrete choice experiment inform shared decision-making in pharmacy practice, particularly in patient counseling for ALK+ NSCLC treatments?

    Christopher Danes, PhD, is scientific director, Global Medical Affairs Oncology at Takeda n Boston, Massachusetts. Chris joined Takeda nearly 15 years ago as a medical science liaison and has been instrumental in shaping the lung cancer franchise through his strategic vision and leadership. In his current role, Chris spearheads the global medical affairs strategy for Takeda’s lung cancer portfolio, managing and overseeing activities that are critical to understanding the science and disease state, as well as facilitating cross-functional support for designated products/programs. Prior to joining Takeda, Chris served as a research assistant and research fellow at renowned organizations, including the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Chris holds a BS from the University of Buffalo and a PhD in cancer biology from the University of Texas.

    Christopher Danes, PhD: Our findings highlight that both patients and caregivers place the greatest value on maximizing 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) but are also willing to make trade-offs for reduced risk of certain adverse events (AEs) when considering potential treatment options for ALK+ NSCLC. The results shed light on the differences in treatment preferences between these groups and underscore the importance of engaging both patients and caregivers in open, individualized conversations about what matters most to them. Pharmacists should use this evidence to frame discussions with patients and caregivers, helping them understand the clinical benefits and potential risks of treatment and guiding shared decision-making that aligns with their preferences.

    Pharmacy Times: The study showed that both patients and caregivers prioritized 3-year PFS but were also willing to trade some PFS to reduce certain risks. How should pharmacists help navigate those trade-offs during clinical consults?

    Danes: Our data suggest that while most value PFS highly, many are open to trading some PFS for improvements in quality of life. Pharmacists can use these insights to tailor counseling, ensuring discussions about treatment options explicitly address both efficacy and AE profiles and helping support patients and caregivers in making choices that reflect their unique priorities. This is especially important for people living with ALK+ NSCLC, who are often still working or caring for children and may be on therapy for extended periods of time.

    As a next step, we will be conducting additional analyses to gain clarity on distinct populations, including how they value tradeoffs and how preferences differ from group to group.

    Pharmacy Times: Which specific AEs had the greatest impact on patient vs caregiver willingness to trade PFS, and how might that influence supportive care strategies?

    Microscopic view of non–small cell lung cancer cells. Image Credit: © Keopaserth – stock.adobe.com

    Danes: According to our results from the full population of participants, both patients and caregivers were most willing to trade PFS to reduce the risk of any grade cognitive/mood effects, grade III or higher abnormal lab results, and grade III or higher lung complications. Interestingly, patients, but not caregivers, also valued reducing grade III or higher weight gain and any grade myalgia. This suggests supportive care strategies should prioritize early identification and management of cognitive/mood disturbances and serious lab or lung complications.

    Notably, there were sub-populations of both patients and caregivers that were willing to accept any burden of AEs for improved efficacy, however, there were similar sized sub-populations of patients and caregivers that preferred a more balanced clinical profile. We are conducting further analyses on these populations to better understand what drives these preferences, which we hope to share in the future.

    Pharmacy Times: Did the preferences differ significantly between patients with and without brain metastases? How might this subgroup variation affect treatment selection discussions?

    Danes: We did evaluate the difference in attribute values in patients with or without brain metastases. Patients with brain metastases were willing to trade 3-year PFS more than others, which was interesting. We are doing further evaluation to assess why this might be and hope to share insights in the future.

    Pharmacy Times: What role do you see pharmacists playing in eliciting and documenting patient and caregiver treatment preferences, especially in oral targeted therapy regimens such as ALK inhibitors?

    Danes: Pharmacists are essential in eliciting, documenting, and communicating patient and caregiver preferences—particularly for oral ALK inhibitors that require ongoing adherence and monitoring. By routinely asking about patient goals, prior experiences with AEs, and personal values, pharmacists can ensure these preferences are incorporated into the care plan and communicated to the broader care team.

    Pharmacy Times: Were there any surprises in the data about what risks patients and caregivers were most willing—or unwilling—to accept in exchange for longer PFS?

    Danes: The importance of abnormal laboratory values was surprising, as it often can have little clinical manifestation. We investigated a little more and realized that patients and caregivers were concerned that abnormal laboratory values would lead to dose modifications, which in turn, could affect efficacy. This can induce anxiety for both patients and caregivers and underscores the importance of setting expectations for patients and caregivers at the onset of treatment.

    In addition, there were a few differences between how patients and caregivers weighed certain attributes that we found interesting. For example, there was a subset of caregivers who were unwilling to trade any PFS for reduced toxicity, reflecting a strong focus on extending the life of their loved one regardless of AEs. Additionally, while patients were willing to trade a reduction in PFS to reduce risk of grade III or higher weight gain or any grade myalgia, caregivers were not. This makes sense when you think about it from the individual perspectives—significant weight gain and muscle soreness could have a significant impact on a patient’s daily life and self-esteem but may be viewed as only minor concerns by their caregivers, who would rather prioritize extending PFS. These nuances reinforce the importance of individualized discussions with both parties when making treatment decisions.

    Pharmacy Times: Given that a subset of caregivers were unwilling to trade any PFS for reduced toxicity, how can pharmacists mediate potential differences in priorities between patients and their caregivers?

    Danes: In partnership with health care providers, pharmacists can help serve as neutral facilitators, ensuring both patient and caregiver perspectives are heard. By providing balanced, evidence-based information and encouraging open dialogue, pharmacists can help identify shared goals or clarify areas of divergence, supporting consensus-building or compromise when needed.

    Pharmacy Times: How can pharmacy teams use tools like discrete choice experiments to better tailor education and adherence support for long-term users of ALK inhibitors?

    Danes: Discrete choice experiments can help us provide actionable insights into what patients and caregivers value most when evaluating potential treatment options. A discrete approach also allows you to avoid potential biases surrounding available treatment options by focusing on attributes vs brand names. Pharmacy teams can use these findings to proactively address the AEs that matter most to patients, personalize education materials, and design adherence interventions that reflect patient concerns and priorities.

    Pharmacy Times: The study included patients recruited through an advocacy group—do you think these findings are generalizable to broader populations, and how might that influence pharmacist interpretation of these data?

    Danes: While recruiting through an advocacy group may introduce some selection bias, our sample included a range of patients and caregivers representative of the ALK+ NSCLC community. However, pharmacists should interpret the findings with some caution, recognizing that preferences may vary in broader or more diverse populations and should always individualize discussions.

    Pharmacy Times: How do these preference data inform value-based decision-making for specialty pharmacy services or formulary management when dealing with high-cost ALK inhibitors?

    Danes: Our results suggest that value in ALK+ NSCLC treatments goes beyond survival outcomes and should also account for quality of life and patient/caregiver preferences about AEs. Specialty pharmacy services and formulary decisions should consider these dimensions to ensure access to therapies that best align with what patients and caregivers value most.

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  • Macquarie Asset Management Launches Health Wave Partners, a Senior Housing Platform

    Macquarie Asset Management Launches Health Wave Partners, a Senior Housing Platform

    • Health Wave Partners strategy will focus on compelling investment opportunities in the senior housing sector
    • Strategic partnership with Macquarie Asset Management enables investment in high-quality properties and partnerships with experienced operators in regions with strong demographic and economic fundamentals

    Today, Macquarie Asset Management announced the launch of Health Wave Partners, a senior housing platform with a strategy aimed at targeting investments in modern senior housing assets alongside established operators.

    The platform will be led by a management team that comprises:

    • John Cobb, Chief Executive Officer
    • Philip Kayden, Chief Investment Officer
    • Elliot Pessis, Chief Operating Officer
    • Sean O’Malley, Managing Director, Finance
    • Holden Torrens, Director of Investments.

    The management team collectively brings more than 75 years of experience in the senior housing sector and has collectively been involved in over $US50 billion worth of healthcare real estate transactions.

    Health Wave Partners will aim to capitalize on the strength of Macquarie Asset Management’s extensive experience and demonstrated track record of growing and institutionalizing specialist operators by partnering with global institutions in an effort to seize this opportunity and deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns. Macquarie Asset Management’s real estate team believes the senior housing sector is poised for growth given a shift in demographics driving demand and a current undersupply. In the U.S., the aging baby boomer generation is set to expand the population aged 80+ at the fastest pace in history, materially outpacing new senior housing supply. This shift comes as higher interest rates and building costs have led to a rapid deceleration in construction.

    “We have extensive experience in targeting sectors bolstered by structural tailwinds and selecting the optimal team within those sectors to partner with,” said Eric Wurtzebach, Head of Real Estate for Macquarie Asset Management. “We believe Health Wave Partners is uniquely positioned to access pipeline and mitigate execution risks.”

    “Health Wave Partners will focus on investing in what it views to be high-quality properties and partner with experienced operators in regions with strong demographic and economic fundamentals,” said John Cobb, CEO of Health Wave Partners. “We believe our team’s expertise and strategic partnership with Macquarie Asset Management positions us for success and are excited to pursue what we believe is a strong opportunity in the market.”

    Macquarie Asset Management has over 35 years of experience in the real estate sector and a current network of 15 specialist operator investments globally, offering clients access to a differentiated approach and local market expertise by investing in and partnering with specialist operators to create opportunities in hard-to-access sectors.

     

    About Health Wave Partners

    Health Wave Partners is a Chicago-based housing platform, investing to deliver modern, best-in-class accommodation for seniors alongside experienced operators. It is supported in this goal through its strategic partnership with Macquarie Asset Management (MAM). MAM’s differentiated real estate strategy focuses on investing into specialist operating platforms. Through the partnership, Health Wave Partners is supported by access to MAM’s deep resources and expertise.

    Health Wave Partners’ highly experienced team invests in high-quality properties and experienced operators in regions with strong demographic and economic fundamentals to deliver compelling risk-adjusted returns.

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