Retail · Food & drink
SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2026 - CropLife Asia, the regional association representing the plant science industry, today announced the appointment of three new representatives to its Board of Directors: Sergi Vizoso-Sansano of BASF Agricultural Solutions, Subroto Geed of Corteva Agriscience and Sebastià Pons of FMC.
Sergi succeeds Simone Barg as BASF's representative on the Board, Subroto succeeds Brook Cunningham as Corteva's representative, while Sebastià succeeds Rahoul Sawani as FMC's representative. The appointments also coincide with a transition in CropLife Asia's leadership, with Paul Luxton, Head of Asia, Syngenta, formerly VicePresident, assuming the presidency, succeeding Simone Barg.
Sergi Vizoso-Sansano leads BASF Agricultural Solutions in Asia Pacific. He brings nearly 30 years of international experience with BASF across Europe and the Americas. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions Latin America, based in São Paulo, and also held leadership roles within CropLife associations in Latin America.
Subroto Geed is President, Asia Pacific, at Corteva Agriscience, having previously served as the company's Head of South Asia. He brings extensive experience in business leadership, commercial strategy and operations across multiple industries and markets. Prior to joining Corteva, he held senior leadership positions across consumer healthcare, nutrition and beverages, with responsibilities spanning business growth, marketing, supply chain management and organizational development. His cross-sector experience brings a valuable perspective on business transformation, strategic partnerships and market development.
Sebastià Pons is the Executive Vice President and President, FMC Eurasia, leading FMC's business across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific from Geneva. He joined FMC in 2017 and most recently served as President for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before joining FMC, he spent 20 years with DuPont Crop Protection in regional and global roles across Europe and the United States. He has also served on the Board of CropLife Europe.
Paul Luxton has served as Head of Asia at Syngenta since January 2024, overseeing the company's business across key Asian markets, including Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and Korea. He previously led Syngenta's Australia and New Zealand business, having served as Country Head since 2008. With extensive experience in agricultural business leadership and industry engagement, Paul brings a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture across the region. He previously served as President of CropLife Australia and was Vice-President of CropLife Asia before assuming the presidency.
“We are pleased to welcome Sergi, Subroto and Sebastià to the CropLife Asia Board. Their combined international experience and diverse perspectives will strengthen our work to advance science-based policies, responsible stewardship and agricultural innovation across Asia. We also thank our outgoing Board representatives for their contributions and look forward to working with Paul in his role as President,” said Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia.
CropLife Asia extends its sincere appreciation to Simone Barg for her leadership as President of the Board, and to Brook Cunningham and Rahoul Sawani for their contributions as Board representatives. The association thanks them for their service and commitment to its work across Asia.
CropLife Asia Board of Directors
The CropLife Asia Board leadership and company representatives are now as follows:
Paul Luxton, Syngenta – President
Malu Nachreiner, Bayer Crop Science – Treasurer
Subroto Geed, Corteva Agriscience – Secretary
Dai Ito, Sumitomo Chemical – Member
Sergi Vizoso-Sansano, BASF Agricultural Solutions – Member
Sebastià Pons, FMC – Member
About CropLife Asia
CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science industry. We advocate for a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent and is led by six member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.
For more information please contact:
Cindy Lim
Associate Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships
CropLife Asia
cindy.lim@croplifeasia.org
Oct 20 · 00:00·ACN Newswire
Finance · Biotech & pharma
New York, New York--(October 19, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNCY) between December 29, 2025 and June 29, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important November 2, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Unicycive securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs...
Oct 19 · 23:18·Newsfile
Finance · Healthcare
BOSTON, Oct. 19, 2026 — Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE), a global medical technology company focused on delivering innovative solutions designed to improve patient outcomes, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the PerQseal® Elite vascular closure system for large-bore arterial procedures. The approval expands Haemonetics’ portfolio of clinically-differentiated large-bore closure devices for structural heart … Continue reading "Haemonetics Announces FDA Approval of PerQseal® Elite Vascular Closure System"
Oct 19 · 23:16·PressReach
Finance · Healthcare
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 19, 2026 — Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: CPIX), an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company advancing new therapies that address significant unmet medical needs, announced today that it will provide an update on its ifetroban product candidate in development as a potential treatment for the cardiomyopathy associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (“DMD”). A national … Continue reading "CUMBERLAND PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES NATIONAL CALL TO PRESENT AN UPDATE ON ITS IFETROBAN DMD PROGRAM"
Oct 19 · 23:15·PressReach
Finance · Biotech & pharma
DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2026 — Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) today announced it will report its 2026 third quarter financial results on Monday, November 2, 2026, after the close of the U.S. financial markets. Company management will host a webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the results and provide a business and financial … Continue reading "Jazz Pharmaceuticals to Report Third Quarter Financial Results on November 2, 2026"
Oct 19 · 23:15·PressReach
Biotech & pharma
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Unicycive To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their OptionsIf you purchased or acquired securities in Unicycive between December 29, 2025 and June 29, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information]New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. -...
Oct 19 · 23:06·Newsfile
Healthcare · Biotech & pharma
Dr. Sanjay Gogoi top urologist India, is deeply committed to maintaining the highest clinical standards, fostering a meaningful doctor-patient relationship and developing personalized treatment strategies tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
Oct 19 · 23:00·freePRnow
Healthcare · Education
New research finds almost three quarters of UK adults believe they understand clinical trials, yet many misunderstand how they work. Now, Innovative Trials - a leading clinical trial patient engagement, recruitment and retention company - has launched a new global public education...
Oct 19 · 23:00·PRWeb
Finance · Biotech & pharma
LITTLETON, Colo., Oct. 19, 2026 — Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VVOS) (“Vivos” or the “Company”) today announced that it has closed its acquisition of an 11% fully diluted equity interest in SOD Sciences, Inc. (“SOD Sciences” or “SOD”) and a 50% undivided co-ownership interest in SOD's pseudohypoxia early‑warning test, the "Primed Cell for … Continue reading "Vivos Therapeutics Closes Acquisition of Stake in SOD Sciences and 50% Interest in Pseudohypoxia Test, Opening a Potential Path to Access More Than 325,000 New Patients Through the AHA Channel"
Oct 19 · 22:55·PressReach
Finance · Biotech & pharma
EXTON, Pa., Oct. 19, 2026 — On October 19, 2026, the Board of Directors of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, declared a fourth-quarter dividend of $0.26 per share on the Company’s common stock, an 18% increase over the $0.22 per share paid in the prior quarter. This … Continue reading "West Declares Quarterly Dividend"
Oct 19 · 22:52·PressReach
Finance · SaaS
Through 2031, NORMA Group aims to achieve average annual sales growth before currency effects of 1 to 3%, an adjusted EBIT margin of more than 10%, and cash conversion1 of over 70%
Strategic business units: Mobility & New Energy to strengthen competitiveness, capacity utilization, and cash generation; Industry Applications to drive profitable growth
Sales Push, Footprint optimization, and Transformation aimed at accelerating profitable growth, improving capacity utilization, and reducing structural costs
Disciplined capital allocation focused on financial strength and organic growth; new dividend policy starting in fiscal year 2027 targeting a payout ratio of at least 10% of the adjusted Group Net Income; accompanied by potential share buybacks
MAINTAL, GERMANY - October 19, 2026 - At its Strategy Update in Frankfurt, NORMA Group provides further details on the next steps in implementing its NewNORMA strategy and presents its financial ambition through 2031. Following the completion of major portfolio and capital measures in recent months, the focus is now shifting to operational execution. The three key initiatives to achieve profitable growth and an adjusted EBIT margin of more than 10% are Sales Push, Footprint, and Transformation. These initiatives aim to increase the utilization of NORMA Group's existing asset base through profitable business while reducing its structural cost base. In doing so, NORMA Group is laying the foundation for growth, margin improvement, and stronger cash generation.
Birgit Seeger, CEO of NORMA Group: “With our NewNORMA strategy, we are laying the groundwork for a successful future for NORMA Group. We have a strong industrial foundation that we now intend to leverage even more effectively. To achieve this, we are intensifying our commercial activities, making better use of our production assets, and reducing our structural costs. This will strengthen our competitiveness, increase profitability, and improve cash generation. Our vision is a focused, high-performing NORMA Group – an Industrial Powerhouse for connecting technology.”
Two strategic business units with clearly defined profiles
The NewNORMA strategy is based on the realignment of the two clearly defined strategic business units, Mobility & New Energy and Industry Applications. The two business units contribute to NORMA Group's ambition with distinct value-creation priorities: Mobility & New Energy forms the Group's resilient core business. The realignment of this business unit focuses on strengthening competitiveness, improving the utilization of the existing asset base, increasing profitability, and ensuring resilient cash generation. Industry Applications is the Group's driver of profitable growth. Going forward, the business unit aims to expand selectively into structurally attractive growth markets, tap into additional sources of growth, and broaden NORMA Group's sales base.
NORMA Group is leveraging its existing engineering expertise in fastening, connecting, and fluid-handling technology to develop new fields of application. These include data centers, battery energy storage systems, heat pumps, and household appliances. Additional orders will largely be served using existing production capacity, thereby improving capacity utilization and fixed-cost absorption.
Starting 2027, NORMA Group will consistently align its internal management structure with the two global strategic business units. Under the new SBU-led operating model, both business units will assume end-to-end responsibility for customers, pricing, growth, capacity utilization, and financial performance. By bringing together commercial, operational, and financial responsibility under clear business ownership, NORMA Group is shortening decision-making processes and creating the conditions for faster and more effective execution of the NewNORMA strategy.
More business on a more efficient operating base
NORMA Group is implementing its NewNORMA strategy through three closely interconnected initiatives:
As part of its Sales Push, NORMA Group is intensifying commercial execution, strengthening customer relationships, and systematically winning profitable business to improve the utilization of existing capacity. To this end, Sales and Engineering are working more closely together. The Company is leveraging proven technologies more effectively across new customers and applications and increasingly aligning pricing decisions with the market. Through target costing, required cost structures are defined even before a contract is awarded, enabling the Company to offer competitive prices while maintaining profitability.
Initial successes are already visible: In the first nine months of 2026, cumulative lifetime sales won in the Mobility & New Energy business unit increased by approximately 45% compared with the prior-year period.
In addition, NORMA Group is consistently aligning itself with demand, costs, manufacturing expertise, and customer requirements. In doing so, the company flexibly allocates orders across its global network. This improves plant utilization, reduces unit costs, and strengthens the company’s competitive position in new tenders.
Measures already implemented or underway include the consolidation of manufacturing sites in China, the concentration of production in Mexico, and the closure of a distribution center in Australia, as well as the planned closure of the regional office in Singapore. At the same time, NORMA Group is strengthening its Shared Service Center in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Another key focus is the manufacturing footprint in EMEA. The existing network, which comprises nine production sites, is currently structurally operating below capacity. NORMA Group therefore intends to consolidate production, concentrate manufacturing volumes at fewer sites, and make more targeted use of best-cost locations. By 2031, the company expects these measures to generate an additional annualized EBIT contribution of approximately EUR 20 to 30 million.
In addition to generating more business and improving capacity utilization, NORMA Group is reducing its structural cost base through its transformation program. To this end, the Company is simplifying its organization, reducing complexity, standardizing and automating core processes, and strengthening performance management through clear financial KPIs.
Based on the measures already initiated and the additional measures under the transformation program, as well as the EMEA footprint optimization, NORMA Group expects to achieve total additional annualized EBIT savings of approximately EUR 70 to 90 million by 2031 compared to fiscal year 2026.
Financial ambition through 2031
NORMA Group aims to achieve average annual currency-adjusted net sales growth of 1 to 3% through 2031. Growth momentum is expected to increasingly come from the Industry Applications business unit, while Mobility & New Energy will contribute to the financial ambition primarily through operational improvements.
The adjusted EBIT margin is targeted to exceed 10% by FY3(1). Profitable volume growth, an improved product mix, higher capacity utilization, and a lower structural cost base are expected to drive sustainable margin improvement.
Improved operational profitability forms the basis for stronger cash generation. By 2031, NORMA Group aims to achieve cash conversion¹ of over 70%, supported by disciplined working capital management and capital expenditure.
Okan Celiker, Group CFO: “Our financial ambition is underpinned by clear operational measures that we have already started implementing and will continue to expand systematically. We are combining profitable volume growth and an improved mix with higher capacity utilization, lower structural costs, and strict working capital and investment discipline. This is how we will improve our margins and translate operational improvements into stronger cash flows.”
Disciplined capital allocation and new dividend policy
NORMA Group aligns its capital allocation with strategic priorities, expected returns, and financial performance. Its highest priority is to maintain a strong and efficient balance sheet. In the medium term, NORMA Group targets a ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA of up to 1.5x.
Within this framework, the Company prioritizes organic, profitable growth with a clear focus on increasing productivity. This includes, in particular, the continued implementation of the Sales Push and targeted investments in research and development. NORMA Group will only allocate capital where the strategic fit and expected risk-adjusted returns meet its defined value-creation criteria.
The Management Board of NORMA Group has resolved to change the Company's dividend policy. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the dividend payout will target a payout ratio of at least 10% of the adjusted Group Net Income, provided that the Company's economic situation and liquidity position permit. Subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting, the dividend will be paid once a year for the preceding fiscal year.
With the revised dividend policy, NORMA Group will maintain a reliable base dividend while increasing financial flexibility to invest in profitable growth and additionally carry out potential share buybacks. Share buybacks are conducted taking into account the company's financial flexibility and alternative uses of capital.
The presentations from Strategy Update 2026 and further information are available on the Company's website: www.normagroup.com/global/en/investor-relations/publications-and-events/strategy-update-2026
(1) Cash conversion is defined as adjusted EBIT plus depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets, less investments from operating business, the change in trade working capital, and cash outflows from income taxes, divided by adjusted EBIT.
Contact
Media
Christian Filipcic
VP Sales Enablement IA & Group Marketing, Corporate Communications
E-Mail: Christian.Filipcic@normagroup.com
Tel.: +49 152 23587192
Investors
Pia-Maria Görner
Director Investor Relations & Corporate Responsibility
E-Mail: IR@normagroup.com
About NORMA Group
NORMA Group is an international market leader in engineered and standardized connecting technology. With around 6,000 employees, NORMA Group supplies customers in over 100 countries with more than 40,000 product solutions. NORMA Group supports its customers and business partners in responding to global challenges such as climate change and the increasing scarcity of resources. NORMA Group’s innovative connecting solutions are used in electric and combustion vehicles, ships and aircraft, in energy and infrastructure systems, in machinery, pharma, agriculture and white goods as well as in buildings. NORMA Group generated sales of around EUR 820 million in 2025. The company has a global network of 19 production sites and numerous sales offices in Europe, North, Central and South America and the Asia-Pacific region. Its headquarters are located in Maintal near Frankfurt/Main. NORMA Group SE is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the regulated market (Prime Standard) and is a member of the SDAX.
Disclaimer
This press release contains certain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements include all statements which do not relate to historical facts and events and contain future-oriented expressions such as “believe,” “estimate,” “assume,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “could,” or “should” or expressions of a similar kind. Such future-oriented statements are subject to risks and uncertainties since they relate to future events and are based on the company’s current assumptions, which may not in the future take place or be fulfilled as expected. The company points out that such future-oriented statements provide no guarantee for the future and that the actual events including the financial position and profitability of NORMA Group SE and developments in the economic and regulatory fundamentals may vary substantially (particularly on the down side) from those explicitly or implicitly assumed in these statements. Even if the actual results for NORMA Group SE, including its financial position and profitability and the economic and regulatory fundamentals, are in accordance with such future-oriented statements in this press release, no guarantee can be given that this will continue to be the case in the future.
Oct 19 · 21:12·NewMediaWire
SaaS · Healthcare
Published research and new congress data from Europe and Asia show that Pentixafor PET can identify unilateral primary aldosteronism with high specificity, reinforcing the rationale for the Phase 3 PANDA study
Multiple scientific contributions, mainly from independent academic groups in Europe and Asia, reflect strong interest in CXCR4, the biological target of Pentixapharm’s diagnostic and therapeutic programs
Pentixapharm advances preparations for its pivotal U.S.-centric Phase 3 PANDA study, authorized to proceed by the FDA and designed to evaluate non-invasive subtyping to help guide the choice between surgery and medical treatment in hypertensive patients with underlying primary aldosteronism
BERLIN, GERMANY - October 19, 2026 - Pentixapharm Holding AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: PTP), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing radiopharmaceutical diagnostics and therapeutics, today reported that data being presented at the Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM 2026) in Vienna add to the growing international evidence for Pentixafor PET in primary aldosteronism, the indication of its pivotal Phase 3 PANDA study of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT. The aim is to identify, with a simple scan, the patients with one-sided disease who can benefit from surgery, and to reduce the need for adrenal vein sampling, the current standard of care and an invasive catheter procedure.
“Our pivotal Phase 3 study PANDA will answer a clear question: can we use a simple imaging procedure to identify the patients who can be helped by surgery, and spare them the invasive and burdensome catheter examination required today?” said Dr. Dirk Pleimes, Chief Executive Officer of Pentixapharm. “Data from independent groups in Europe, Asia and Australia increasingly point in this direction, and our preparations for PANDA in the U.S. are in full swing. CXCR4 also remains central to our work in hemato-oncology, where we aim to combine imaging with targeted bone marrow conditioning before stem cell transplantation.”
PANDA and the international evidence
PANDA is designed to evaluate [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT for non-invasive subtyping in adults with confirmed primary aldosteronism in a registrational setting. Primary aldosteronism is a common, underdiagnosed hormonal cause of high blood pressure. Patients with one-sided disease can benefit from surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland instead of lifelong medical therapy with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists or aldosterone synthase inhibitors, but identifying them currently requires adrenal vein sampling. The FDA confirmed in June 2026 that the study may proceed and granted Fast Track designation for this indication in July 2026. Preparations for the study in the United States are progressing.
At EANM 2026, the prospective PENTALON study from Paris (OP-048) added a French cohort to a consistent picture from independent studies on three continents. In the Monash study from Australia (Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2026), Pentixafor PET identified one-sided disease with high specificity, was well tolerated and was preferred by almost all patients over the catheter procedure. The first stage of the CASTUS study in the Netherlands pointed in the same direction. In PENTALON, where the disease was often not visible on CT, the investigators see a clinical role for Pentixafor PET in sparing selected patients the catheter procedure and in supporting decisions on surgery. Larger datasets from China, generated independently of Pentixapharm, complete the picture. Together, these results support the approach of the Phase 3 PANDA study.
Hemato-oncology: multiple myeloma and PENTHERA
In multiple myeloma, investigators from CHU Nantes and collaborating French centers are scheduled to present an interim analysis of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT for initial staging and treatment-response assessment on October 21 (OP-875). The presentation contributes to the growing clinical evidence supporting CXCR4-targeted molecular imaging in hematological malignancies.
These findings are particularly relevant to Pentixapharm’s broader theranostic strategy, which aims to translate CXCR4-targeted imaging into precision radiopharmaceutical treatment.Pentixapharm’s planned Phase I/II PENTHERA clinical program will investigate the combined use of PentixaFor imaging to identify CXCR4-expressing disease and [⁹⁰Y]Y-PentixaTher for targeted bone marrow conditioning prior to stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia.
PentixaFor and PentixaTher are investigational radiopharmaceutical candidates. Further congress information is available at https://eanm26.eanm.org/.
About Pentixapharm
Pentixapharm Holding AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: PTP) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Berlin developing innovative nuclear medicine approaches to help physicians detect, characterize, and treat serious diseases with greater precision. The Company’s compounds are designed to deliver medical radioisotopes specifically to defined biological targets - either for high-resolution molecular imaging or for targeted radioligand therapy.
Pentixapharm’s pipeline is built on CXCR4 targeting, a receptor with strong scientific validation across multiple disease areas, and encompasses diagnostic and therapeutic programs in endocrine, cardiovascular, and oncological indications. The lead program, [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PentixaFor, is being advanced into the registrational Phase 3 PANDA study for non-invasive subtyping of primary aldosteronism. The PENTHERA program advances the CXCR4-directed theranostic platform into Phase I/II in oncology. Complementing the CXCR4 platform, Pentixapharm is also developing a next-generation antibody platform targeting CD24, an emerging immune checkpoint in difficult-to-treat cancers.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Pentixapharm Holding AG. These statements relate to future events, prospects or financial performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially, positively or negatively, from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, competitive pressures, the introduction of competing products, limited market acceptance of new products, services or technologies, regulatory developments and changes in business strategy. Pentixapharm Holding AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release. All information provided in this press release is supplied without any warranty or guarantee as to its accuracy, completeness or timeliness. To the extent permitted by law, Pentixapharm Holding AG assumes no liability in connection with this press release.
Pentixapharm Investor and Media Contact
Robert-Rossle-StraBe 10
13125 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: ir@pentixapharm.com
Website: www.pentixapharm.com
Oct 19 · 21:03·NewMediaWire