Nigeria’s Largest Telco, MTN, Launches RCS Business Messaging with Google and Dotgo

 MTN to leverage Google and Dotgo platforms, and Dotgo’s managed services to serve over 82 million subscribers

LAGOS, Nigeria & BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J-Thursday 23 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator (MNO), MTN, is all set to launch RCS Business Messaging (RBM) Services in partnership with Google and Dotgo®, a Gupshup company and a leading cloud communications provider of RBM Solutions.

RBM uses the rich and interactive features of Rich Communication Services (RCS)—the next generation SMS that allows sharing of audio, video, images, location, and a lot more—to enable branded business messaging. RCS messages are securely delivered to native messaging apps such as Google Messages and Samsung Messages on Android phones. Available on 3G and 4G networks, RCS is the default messaging standard for 5G networks. As of today, RCS is available globally with over 700M monthly active users.

Dotgo’s MaaP (Messaging-as-a-Platform) is integrated with the Google Jibe RCS platform for business messaging, the world’s most advanced RCS platform that provides a high degree of scalability. As a partner, MTN would leverage the services provided by Dotgo such as the RCS APIs, chatbot directory, billing, payments, reconciliation, and more, to drive monetization from RCS.

“As Nigeria’s largest carrier, MTN is all set to onboard brands that can reach out to a vast majority of Nigerian customers and delight them with a user experience like never before, to boost lead generation and conversion rates. This is a great opportunity for brands to connect with the end consumers of Nigeria for sales and support,” says Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN Nigeria.

Srinivas Rao, Chief Digital Officer of MTN Nigeria added, “We are proud of our technical collaboration with Google and Dotgo. The superior technology design, robust service operations, optimum business processes, and 24x7 support are key to delivering the Next Generation Business Messaging experiences to our Brands & Business Partners at the most affordable rates. With this generational shift we aim to further aid & accelerate Digital Transformation amongst the institutions, commerce & industry in Nigeria.”

“We are delighted to work with MTN to help bring RBM to their customers. With the highest number of subscribers in the region, RBM services on MTN will be a game changer. Dotgo has excelled once again as one of our top partners for monetising RBM with mobile operators,” says Juliet Ehimuan, Country Director, Google Nigeria.

“The launch of RBM by MTN, the largest operator in Nigeria, will accelerate adoption of RBM by brands in Nigeria. With the launch done, we will be working with MTN and Google to help CPaaS providers and brands in Nigeria to upgrade and incorporate RBM into their business applications,” says Dr. Inderpal Singh Mumick, CEO, Dotgo.

About MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria is Africa’s largest provider of communications services, connecting over 68 million people in communities across the country with each other and the world. Guided by a vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world, MTN Nigeria’s leadership position in coverage, capacity and innovation has remained constant, since its launch in 2001. MTN Nigeria is part of the MTN Group – a leading emerging market operator, connecting more than 200 million subscribers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. To learn more about MTN Nigeria and its various initiatives, visit www.mtnonline.com. Follow us: www.linkedin.com/company/mtn-Nigeria.

About Dotgo

Dotgo®, a Gupshup company, is a global leader in RCS. Dotgo is the provider of the Bot Store®, world’s first and largest directory of RCS bots, Dotgo MaaP, RichOTP®, RichSMS™, and the RBM Hub. Dotgo is a Google partner and a member of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum. Visit www.dotgo.com. Gupshup enables better customer engagement through conversational messaging, powering over 6 billion messages per month. With Gupshup, businesses have made conversations an integral part of their customer engagement success. Visit www.gupshup.io

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211222005345/en/

Contacts

Contacts

Funso Aina from MTN on:

+234 (0) 803 200 4168

mediaenquiries.NG@mtn.com

Olisa Pal from Dotgo on:

+1 908-464-5566 x2348

press@dotgo.com

H.E. Justin Sun, Ambassador, Founder of TRON, and Winner of the Blue Origin Auction, Is Taking Five Crewmates with Him to Space Through the “Sea of Stars” Campaign

 GENEVA, Switzerland-Thursday 23 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

 (BUSINESS WIRE)-- H.E. Justin Sun, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the WTO & Founder of TRON, today revealed that he placed the winning bid for the first seat on Blue Origin’s Inaugural New Shepard rocket. The full bid amount of $28 million went to Blue Origin’s foundation Club for the Future, which in turn benefited 19 space-based charities to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM and help invent the future of life in space. Sun and five crewmates will fly on a New Shepard flight in 2022. H.E. Mr. Sun will be the first Grenadian, international diplomat, and blockchain industry leader to go up to space. He will be bringing the Grenadian flag with him on his voyage.

Blue Origin, whose vision is a future of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, completed its first human flight on July 20 and successfully returned from suborbital space above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.

As part of his planned voyage, Sun is launching the “Sea of Stars” campaign named after the Chinese idiom “星辰大海,” to convey that Earth is where the chapter of human life starts for our future generations, not where it ends. The boundless Sea of Stars is the true next frontier. Over the coming months, H.E. Mr. Sun will nominate five exceptional men and women to travel with him on his voyage. Nominees may include a member of the TRON DAO community, comprising long-term holders of TRX, BTT, JST, SUN, NFT, and WIN, and other outstanding leaders drawn from the worlds of fashion, art, technology, space exploration, and entrepreneurship. Details on the nomination process and criteria will be announced in the coming months.

“With the rapid development of commercial aerospace, entering space may become a dream that every person can realize in his or her lifetime. We are entering the era of great spaceflight. This great journey requires more people to get involved,” said H.E. Mr. Sun. “The initiative of Blue Origin to take more people to space to see Earth as our singular common home is extraordinary. Club for the Future offers a way to use that experience to inspire youth around the world to dream and act on their dreams of science, technology, and space exploration. I felt compelled to help further that vision through my bid.”

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211222005126/en/

Contacts
TRON DAO Community Contact
Anjali George
anjali@tron.network

Blue Origin Contact
media@blueorigin.com




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Newly published trial results showed spesolimab significantly improved signs and symptoms of flare in rare, life-threatening skin disease, generalized pustular psoriasis

 INGELHEIM, Germany-Thursday 23 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

New clinical trial data published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that spesolimab, a novel IL-36R antibody treatment, was effective in rapidly treating adult patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) experiencing a flare.1

The study met the primary endpoint, where 54% of patients had no visible pustules after a single dose of spesolimab, compared to 6% receiving placebo at week one. 1

Spesolimab has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation in China and USA.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Boehringer Ingelheim announced today the publication in the New England Journal of Medicine of new data from the pivotal Phase II EffisayilTM 1 trial, which showed spesolimab, a first-in-class investigational treatment, significantly improved signs and symptoms of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in patients experiencing a flare.1

GPP is a rare, life-threatening neutrophilic skin disease, which is distinct from plaque psoriasis. It is characterized by episodes of widespread eruptions of painful, sterile pustules (blisters of non-infectious pus).2,3,4 There is a high unmet need for treatments that can rapidly and completely resolve the symptoms of GPP flares. Flares greatly affect a person’s quality of life5 and can lead to hospitalization with life-threatening complications, such as heart failure, renal failure and sepsis and even death.6

In the 12-week trial, 53 patients experiencing a GPP flare were treated with a single intravenous dose of spesolimab or placebo. Most patients at the outset of the trial had a high or very high density of pustules and impaired quality of life. Results after one week demonstrated that:

54% of patients treated with spesolimab showed no visible pustules compared to 6% of those treated with placebo;

43% of patients treated with spesolimab showed clear/almost clear skin compared to 11% of those in the placebo group.1

Pustular and skin clearance continued for the duration of the study. This clearance was accompanied by clinically significant improvements in quality of life and symptoms such as pain and fatigue, compared to placebo.1

Over the 12-week duration of the study, non-serious infections rates were higher in the spesolimab group compared with placebo, with no pattern regarding pathogen and affected organs. Two patients reported to have drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms.

“With no approved treatments in the U.S. or E.U. for GPP flares, there is a significant unmet need for people with this distressing and painful skin condition, that often requires emergency care,” said Mark Lebwohl, MD, lead investigator and publication author, and Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, New York. “These clinical trial results show that spesolimab has the potential to completely clear the skin of the signs and symptoms of a GPP flare after only one week, with sustained effect observed for up to 12 weeks.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of GPP, and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for spesolimab for the treatment of GPP flares. This designation is for therapies treating serious or life-threatening conditions where early clinical evidence suggests a substantial improvement compared to existing treatments. The Chinese Regulatory Authority Centre for Drug Evaluation (CDE) also recently granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for spesolimab for the treatment of GPP flares.

“At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are committed to finding transformative therapies to help advance treatment for people who urgently need them,” said Dr Emmanuelle Clerisme-Beaty, Head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Dermatology, Boehringer Ingelheim. “The findings indicate that spesolimab may have a significant and positive impact on patients experiencing a GPP flare.”

The clinical program for spesolimab includes two other trials that are currently underway. First, the Effisayil-2 trial is designed to investigate spesolimab as a maintenance treatment to prevent the occurrence of GPP flares. The Effisayil-ON trial is an open label five-year extension study to investigate the longer term efficacy and safety of spesolimab in patents with GPP.7,8

Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/human-health/skin-diseases/gpp/spesolimab-phase-ii-data

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211222005031/en/

Contacts

Boehringer Ingelheim

Corporate Communications

Media + PR

Dr Julia Fass

Phone: +49 (6132) 77 95614

Fax: +49 (6132) 77 6601

Email: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Additional information

www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

 

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ViiV Healthcare announces US FDA approval of Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension), the first and only long-acting injectable option for HIV prevention

 • Given as few as six times per year and demonstrated superior efficacy to a daily oral PrEP option (FTC/TDF tablets) in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition

• Approved in the US for use in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at risk of sexually acquiring HIV, including men who have sex with men as well as women and transgender women who have sex with men



LONDON-Thursday 23 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK), with Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) and Shionogi Limited (Shionogi) as shareholders, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Apretude, the first and only long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1. The long-acting injectable was approved for use in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at risk of sexually acquiring HIV and who have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiation. The medicine was studied in men who have sex with men, as well as women and transgender women who have sex with men, who were at increased risk of sexually acquiring HIV.

Cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP is provided as an injection given as few as six times per year and is initiated with a single 600 mg (3-ml) injection given one month apart for two consecutive months. After the second initiation injection, the recommended continuation injection dose is a single 600 mg (3-ml) injection given every two months. Vocabria (cabotegravir oral tablets) may be administered for approximately one month before initiating the first injection to assess the tolerability of the medicine.

Deborah Waterhouse, CEO, ViiV Healthcare, said: “People who are vulnerable to acquiring HIV, especially those in Black and Latinx communities who are disproportionately impacted in the US, may want options beyond daily oral pills. That’s why ViiV Healthcare is proud that Apretude was studied in one of the most diverse and comprehensive HIV prevention trial programs to date, which also included some of the largest numbers of transgender women and Black men who have sex with men ever enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. With Apretude, people can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV with as few as six injections a year. Today’s approval is the latest example of ViiV Healthcare’s commitment to developing long-acting medicines that offer consumers a different choice.”

US FDA approval is based on the results from two international phase IIb/III multicenter, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled trials, HPTN 083 and HPTN 084, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP in HIV-negative men who have sex with men, transgender women, and cisgender women, who were at increased risk of sexually acquiring HIV. In these trials, which included more than 7,700 participants across 13 countries combined, the blinded, randomised portions of both trials were stopped early by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board after cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP was shown to be superior to daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC) tablets in preventing the acquisition of HIV in study participants. Clinical trial participants who received cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP experienced a 69% lower incidence of HIV compared to FTC/TDF tablets in HPTN 083 and a 90% lower incidence of HIV compared to FTC/TDF tablets in HPTN 084.

The most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in at least 1% of clinical trial participants receiving cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP were injection site reactions, diarrhoea, headache, pyrexia, fatigue, sleep disorders, nausea, dizziness, flatulence, abdominal pain, vomiting, myalgia, rash, decreased appetite, somnolence, back pain, and upper respiratory tract infection. Adverse events led to discontinuation in 6% of participants in HPTN 083 and 1% of participants in HPTN 084.

In HPTN 083, participants in the US were inclusive of the Black/African American and Latinx communities of men and transgender women who have sex with men, who are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic and comprise the greatest percentage of new HIV diagnoses. In HPTN 084, all participants were cisgender women from sub-Saharan Africa. Women in this region bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic and may be twice as likely to acquire HIV as their male counterparts.

Richard Elion, MD, Director of Research at Washington Health Institute, said: “We have the tools to end the HIV epidemic through the implementation of effective antiretroviral treatment and HIV prevention. PrEP has played a vital role in protecting people from acquiring HIV. With the availability of cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP as an injection every two months to prevent HIV, people now have an important new option besides daily medication. This long-acting medication offers more options for prevention, and now providers and patients will be empowered by choices and the ability to choose the approach that is optimal for each individual.”

HIV continues to be a global public health crisis, with an estimated 38 million people living with HIV worldwide and 1.7 million new cases annually. PrEP represents an effective tool to reduce new cases of HIV, which in addition to successful HIV antiretroviral treatment, will help efforts to end the HIV epidemic. However, fewer than 25% of the people who could benefit from PrEP in the US are currently taking it. Despite the wide availability of daily oral PrEP, it can be limited by inconsistent adherence as well as structural and cultural barriers that lead to underutilisation in key populations.

Gabriel Maldonado, MBA, Executive Director and CEO, TruEvolution, said: “Many people who are vulnerable to HIV have complex lives that can make taking a daily pill to prevent HIV a burden. This can include stigma, fears about accidental disclosure of their medicine, as well as general complications from daily living. Together, these issues may contribute to low rates of PrEP usage and the expansion of the HIV epidemic. Our community has been in dire need of additional HIV prevention options that may address their evolving needs, and cabotegravir long-acting for PrEP represents an exciting new option to help them reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.”

ViiV Healthcare will begin shipping Apretude to wholesalers and specialty distributors in the US in early 2022. ViiV Healthcare has initiated submissions to other regulatory authorities. Apretude has not been approved or licensed anywhere outside of the US for use in HIV prevention.

About Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension)
Apretude is the first and only long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option proven superior to daily oral FTC/TDF in reducing HIV acquisition. It is indicated for HIV PrEP in adults and adolescents at risk of sexually acquiring HIV, weighing at least 35 kg, who have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiation. Apretude is administered as a single 600 mg (3-ml) intramuscular (IM) injection of cabotegravir in the buttocks by a health care provider every two months after two initiation injections administered one month apart and an optional oral lead-in to assess tolerability.

Apretude is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI). INSTIs, like cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension, inhibit HIV replication by preventing the viral DNA from integrating into the genetic material of human immune cells (T-cells). This step is essential in the HIV replication cycle and is also responsible for establishing chronic disease.

About HPTN 083 (NCT02720094)
The HPTN 083 trial is a phase IIb/III double-blind non-inferiority trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention administered every eight weeks compared to daily oral FTC/TDF tablets (200 mg/300 mg). The trial included the prespecified ability to test for superiority of long-acting cabotegravir over TDF/FTC. The trial design included an oral lead-in phase to assess tolerability to cabotegravir before administering the IM injection. Each participant was to receive a maximum of three years of blinded trial medication. The trial opened to enrolment in November 2016. HPTN 083 was conducted in 4,566 HIV-negative men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men who had evidence of behaviour that would put them at high risk for sexually acquiring HIV-1. The trial was conducted at research centres in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, the United States, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.1

Long-acting cabotegravir was found to be superior to daily oral FTC/TDF in preventing HIV acquisition in the trial population. The most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in at least 1% of subjects receiving long-acting cabotegravir were injection site reactions, diarrhoea, headache, pyrexia, fatigue, sleep disorders, nausea, dizziness, flatulence, and abdominal pain. For further information on HPTN 083, please see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02720094.

About HPTN 084 (NCT03164564)
The HPTN 084 trial is a phase IIb/III double-blind superiority trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention administered every eight weeks compared to daily oral FTC/TDF tablets (200 mg/300 mg) in 3,224 cisgender women who are at increased risk of HIV acquisition. The trial design included an oral lead-in phase to assess tolerability to cabotegravir before administering the intramuscular injection. HPTN 084 opened to enrolment in November 2017 and is being conducted at research centres in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Eswatini, Uganda and Zimbabwe.2

Long-acting cabotegravir was found to be superior to daily oral FTC/TDF in preventing HIV acquisition in the trial population. The most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in at least 1% of subjects receiving long-acting cabotegravir were injection site reactions, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue, sleep disorders, nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, myalgia, and rash. For further information, please see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03164564.

Indication and Important Safety Information for Apretude (cabotegravir 200 mg/mL extended-release injectable suspension)

Apretude is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) indicated in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection. 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. Apretude is administered as a single 600-mg (3-mL) intramuscular (IM) injection of cabotegravir in the muscle of the buttock by a health care professional once every 2 months.

WARNING: RISK OF DRUG RESISTANCE WITH USE OF APRETUDE FOR HIV-1 PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP) IN UNDIAGNOSED HIV-1 INFECTION

See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.

Individuals must be tested for HIV-1 infection prior to initiating Apretude or oral cabotegravir, and with each subsequent injection of Apretude, using a test approved or cleared by the FDA for the diagnosis of acute or primary HIV-1 infection. Drug-resistant HIV-1 variants have been identified with use of Apretude for HIV-1 PrEP by individuals with undiagnosed HIV-1 infection. Do not initiate Apretude for HIV-1 PrEP unless negative infection status is confirmed. Individuals who become infected with HIV-1 while receiving Apretude for PrEP must transition to a complete HIV-1 treatment regimen.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

    Unknown or positive HIV-1 status.
    Previous hypersensitivity reaction to cabotegravir.
    Coadministration with drugs where significant decrease in cabotegravir plasma concentrations may occur.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    Use APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection as part of comprehensive management to reduce the risk of HIV-1 acquisition.
    Potential risk of developing resistance to Apretude if an individual acquires HIV-1 either before or while taking Apretude or following discontinuation of Apretude. Reassess risk of HIV-1 acquisition and test before each injection to confirm HIV-1 negative status.
    Residual concentrations of cabotegravir may remain in the systemic circulation of individuals up to 12 months or longer.
    Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in association with other integrase inhibitors. Discontinue Apretude immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop.
    Hepatotoxicity has been reported in patients receiving cabotegravir. Clinical and laboratory monitoring should be considered. Discontinue Apretude if hepatotoxicity is suspected.
    Depressive disorders have been reported with Apretude. Prompt evaluation is recommended for depressive symptoms.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in at least 1% of subjects receiving Apretude were injection site reactions, diarrhea, headache, pyrexia, fatigue, sleep disorders, nausea, dizziness, flatulence, abdominal pain, vomiting, myalgia, rash, decreased appetite, somnolence, back pain, and upper respiratory tract infection.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact ViiV Healthcare at 1-877-844-8872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

DRUG INTERACTIONS

    Refer to the full prescribing information for important drug interactions with Apretude.
    Drugs that induce uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) may significantly decrease plasma concentrations of cabotegravir.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

    Lactation: Assess the benefit-risk of using Apretude to the infant while breastfeeding due to the potential for adverse reactions and residual concentrations in the systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after discontinuation.
    Pediatrics: Not recommended in individuals weighing less than 35 kg.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

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 GlaxoSmithKline (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who are at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Shionogi joined as shareholders 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 www.viivhealthcare.com.

About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. For further information please visit https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/about-us/.

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 Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2020, GSK’s Q3 2021 Results and any impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registered in England & Wales:

GSK PLC
          

ViiV Healthcare Limited

No. 3888792
          

No. 06876960
            

 

Registered Office:

980 Great West Road

Brentford, Middlesex

TW8 9GS

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211220005863/en/

Contacts

ViiV Healthcare
Media enquiries:
Melinda Stubbee +1 919 491 0831 (North Carolina)
Audrey Abernathy +1 919 605 4521 (North Carolina)
Catherine Hartley +44 7909 002 403 (London)

GSK enquiries:
Media enquiries:
Tim Foley +44 (0) 20 8047 5502 (London)
Kristen Neese +1 804 217 8147 (Philadelphia)
Kathleen Quinn +1 202 603 5003 (Washington DC)

Analyst/Investor enquiries:
Nick Stone +44 (0) 7717 618834 (London)
James Dodwell +44 (0) 20 8047 2406 (London)
Mick Readey +44 (0) 7990 339653 (London)
Josh Williams +44 (0) 7385 415719 (London)
Jeff McLaughlin +1 215 751 7002 (Philadelphia)
Frannie DeFranco +1 215 751 4855 (Philadelphia)




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Satellite Operators join to shape the communications ecosystem of the future through the transformation of the EMEA Satellite Operators’ Association to the Global Satellite Operators’ Association

 Amazon, APT, ARSAT, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Omnispace and Star One sign on as new members

PARIS-Friday 17 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chief Executives of the world’s leading satellite operators announced today in Paris on the occasion of World Satellite Business Week 2021 that ESOA, the EMEA Satellite Operators Association, is expanding to include satellite operators from all world regions and will change its name to GSOA, the Global Satellite Operators’ Association. They also announced that seven new members – Amazon, APT, ARSAT, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Omnispace and Star One – had already agreed to join GSOA.

GSOA will remain the only CEO-driven satellite industry association. It will focus on a core mission of providing a unified voice and a platform for collaboration for satellite operators globally to ensure their continued success and for broadening the opportunities for policymakers and industry players to leverage satellite services to fulfil their objectives.

“The creation of GSOA reflects a strong belief in the satellite communications sector that a strong, global voice is needed to ensure that the sector is well positioned to helping create a more connected and sustainable world,” said Stephen Spengler, ESOA Chairman and CEO of Intelsat. “The fact that new members are already joining us is a demonstration of support for GSOA’s mission and the need to ensure that, together, we have a strong voice in shaping the communications ecosystem of the future.”

Leading Change

GSOA is structured to drive industry leadership in the face of three key trends: unparalleled innovation in the space sector, an insatiable demand for all types of connectivity, and a need to bring sustainability to space. In this regard, the GSOA Board has approved three broad industry goals.

GSOA is committed to:

On earth: extending connectivity globally where other networks don’t, connecting unconnected communities, schools, households, planes, ships, businesses, humanitarian agencies, peacekeepers and governments, aiming to increase the number of satellite data connections by 250% by 2030 and increase the data consumed by those connections 15 fold.

In space: preserving the space environment for future generations by designing, launching and operating satellites in a responsible way and minimising the creation of space debris.

For all: supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals by providing access to secure, reliable and sustainable broadcast & broadband connectivity to people, schools, enterprises, organisations and devices wherever they may be, whether on the move, at work, or at play.

ESOA to GSOA

With the industry’s multi-orbit offering, the satellite sector will respond to the great majority of connectivity requirements presented by the data driven economy of tomorrow. From bridging crippling social, education, healthcare and other divides that exist due to the lack of communications infrastructure on all continents to enabling a host of 5G and IoT use cases for different vertical sectors.

Satellite operators will continue to build on the successes of ESOA which include providing the support the industry needed to push ahead with 5G standards and vital leadership on issues such as satellite spectrum and space sustainability. Through GSOA, the satellite sector will now be able to drive such global activities leveraging a global operator base.

GSOA will provide its members with the opportunity to shape the future of the satellite communications industry and the frameworks in which it operates by participating in key activities that impact the sector. Specifically, GSOA members will be able to engage in cross-sector initiatives, drive common positions, represent the industry on topics such as spectrum and 5G in events on all continents and contribute to ITU work concerning the development agenda, emergency communications and of course spectrum.

The association will continue to have a CEO-led Board, which has proved invaluable to the success of the ESOA to date, a strong Secretariat, and member-driven working groups that execute the broad agenda set by the Board.

“This is an important change that will help ensure the industry is positioned well into the future”, said Aarti Holla-Maini, the secretary general of ESOA. “We also recognize that there are other industry associations who will want to understand the implications of this change and we look forward to working with them to ensure the satellite communications sector has the strongest possible, unified global voice.”

The Global Satellite Operators Association now counts among its members: Airbus CIS, Amazon, Amos Spacecom, APT, Arabsat, Arsat, Avanti, Azercosmos, Echostar-Hughes, HellasSat, Hispasat, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Nigcomsat, Nilesat, Omnispace, OneWeb, Rascomstar, SES, SSI-Monacosat, Star One, Telenor, Telesat, Telespazio, Thuraya, Turksat, Viasat and Yahsat as well as representatives of the broader space industry including Airbus Defence and Space, Arianespace, Astroscale, Mansat, ST Engineering and Thales Alenia Space.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005734/en/

Contacts

Natalia Vicente

nvicente@esoa.net

+32 (2) 669 4274

www.esoa.net

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Vopak Moda Houston Commissions Its Fully Operational Marine Terminal in the Port of Houston

 • The Vopak Moda Houston terminal is the first greenfield terminal in the Port of Houston in more than a decade.

• Positioned to become the premier U.S. Gulf Coast hydrogen and low-carbon ammonia terminaling hub. .

• The only waterborne ammonia terminal in the Port of Houston with deepwater capabilities. .

• The state-of-the-art terminal is directly connected via pipeline to Houston’s petrochemical complex.

HOUSTON-Thursday 16 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vopak Moda Houston, LLC today announced that its marine terminal in the Port of Houston is fully operational. Formed in 2016, Vopak Moda Houston is a joint venture between Royal Vopak and Moda Midstream. Strategically located in Houston’s refining and petrochemical corridor and in close proximity to multiple ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen pipelines, Vopak Moda Houston is the first greenfield terminal development in the Port of Houston in more than a decade. Designed to handle very large gas carriers (VLGCs), as well as smaller vessels and barges, Vopak Moda Houston is the only waterborne ammonia terminal in the Port of Houston with deepwater capabilities. The terminal has existing permits for additional berthing positions. Vopak Moda Houston is directly connected via pipeline to the Port of Houston petrochemical complex, the nation’s largest and world’s second-largest petrochemical complex.

“We are thrilled to bring the Vopak Moda Houston terminal into full service together with our partner Royal Vopak, our customers and other stakeholders,” Moda Midstream CEO and Founder Jonathan Z. Ackerman said. “In today’s world, supply chains must be resilient and sustainable. With the ability to safely and reliably transport ammonia and other pressurized gases for our current and future customers, Vopak Moda Houston is a vital link in the new energy transition supply chain. We are in active discussions with customers to provide logistics solutions for low-carbon products, including storage and handling of green and blue ammonia, hydrogen and low-carbon bunkering. Thanks to the determination, hard work and collaboration amongst the teams since its formation, Vopak Moda Houston is well positioned to become the premier low-carbon ammonia and hydrogen terminaling hub on the U.S. Gulf Coast.”

Vopak Americas President Chris Robblee added, “We are excited with this successful cooperation with Moda. This very well fits Vopak’s strategy of developing new infrastructure solutions for products like ammonia. Our expertise and our presence in the main industrial clusters makes us well-equipped to actively contribute to the development of new supply chains for the energy and feedstocks of the future.”

Ammonia already serves an important role in society by supplying vital components to chemical manufacturing and in fertilizers as a nutrient for the foods we grow. Ammonia is expected to become even more important in the future as it will be used as the preferred carrier for storing and transporting low-carbon hydrogen. In addition, ammonia has growing applications in power cells, power generation and ship bunkering.

Vopak Moda Houston also operates a unit train rail loop served by all three main rail lines. Vopak Moda Houston has completed construction of its rail infrastructure for the storage and handling of pressurized gas for a global energy company.

Vopak Moda Houston Terminal: Key Metrics

Fully automated terminal incorporating the latest safety technology

Newly constructed deepwater dock employing state-of-the-art marine unloading and loading arms

Current tanks: 2 x 15,000 metric ton tanks for refrigerated ammonia storage

Current capacity: 30,000 total metric tons

Pressurized bullet tanks: 5

Total bullet tank capacity: 14,285 barrels

About Royal Vopak

Royal Vopak is the world’s leading independent tank storage company. We store vital products with care. With over 400 years of history and a focus on sustainability, we ensure safe, clean and efficient storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases for our customers. By doing so, we enable the delivery of products that are vital to our economy and daily lives, ranging from chemicals, oils, gases and LNG to biofuels and vegoils. We are determined to develop key infrastructure solutions for the world’s changing energy and feedstock systems, while simultaneously investing in digitalization and innovation. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit vopak.com.

About Moda Midstream, LLC

Moda Midstream, LLC develops advantaged and sophisticated infrastructure for storing and handling liquids products that are essential to our economy and our way of life. Moda helps customers increase the efficiency and protect the integrity of their supply chains. Moda’s mission is to be the logistics and terminaling provider of choice by delivering safe, reliable and sustainable solutions. Moda is backed by EnCap Flatrock Midstream. In October 2021, Moda closed on the sale of its Moda Ingleside Energy Center (MIEC) to Enbridge. MIEC, now known as the Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center, is the largest crude oil export terminal in the U.S. Please visit www.modamidstream.com.

About EnCap Flatrock Midstream

EnCap Flatrock Midstream provides value-added growth capital to proven management teams focused on midstream infrastructure opportunities across North America. The firm was formed in 2008 by a partnership between EnCap Investments L.P. and Flatrock Energy Advisors, LLC. Based in San Antonio with offices in Oklahoma City and Houston, the firm manages investment commitments of nearly $9 billion from a broad group of prestigious institutional investors. EnCap Flatrock Midstream is currently making commitments to new management teams from EFM Fund IV, a $3.25 billion fund. For more information, please visit www.efmidstream.com.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005318/en/

Contacts

Casey Nikoloric, Managing Principal

TEN|10 Group, LLC

303.433.4397, x101 o

303.507.0510 m

casey.nikoloric@ten10group.com

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VOOPOO Wins "Ecigclick Best VAPE Brands" for Two Consecutive Years

 SHENZHEN, China-Wednesday 22 December 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On December 15, 2021, Ecigclick, the well-known vape review site in the UK, announced the results of Ecigclick Vape Awards 2021.

VOOPOO products won five awards including the Best Vape Brand 2021, becoming the benchmark brand winning the Best Vape Brand award for two consecutive years.

This outstanding annual achievement in awards, which covers different categories such as Mod, Pod Mod, Pod, Tank, once again verifies VOOPOO's excellent global brand influence. Its diversified product lineup has been recognized by the market and is well received by vapers worldwide.

The Ecigclick Vape Awards attracted more than 200 mainstream brands competing in various categories. More than 100,000 global vapers of mainstream communities from North America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union participated in the email voting.

This year, VOOPOO's four products (ARGUS, DRAG Nano 2, DRAG 3, TPP-X POD TANK) won the Best Vape Kit For Beginners, the Best POD, the Best MOD, and the Best Sub Ohm Tank respectively, thanks to VOOPOO's consumer-based insight and diversified product strategy.

It is with the changes in the market environment and technological innovation that vapers are getting more demanding. Scenario-based, lightweight and diversified products are becoming more and more popular in the market.

In view of this, VOOPOO invested in new product series based on vaper value, and launched a product lineup integrating DRAG, VINCI, ARGUS, and V series to provide vapers with more suitable product solutions and to continue to enhance vaper experience.

Every vaper can find his favorite way to experience, no matter what he likes — Mod, Pod Mod or Pod. VOOPOO respects the vapers' own choice and is pleased to diversify its offering.

VOOPOO will continue to develop its product ecosystem, allowing its DRAG, VINCI, ARGUS, and V series to integrate with each other, so that consumers can enjoy a safe, reliable, and diverse product ecosystem that can meet diversified needs.

About VOOPOO

Founded in 2017, VOOPOO has rapidly grown through DRAG products within a short period of time and is well recognized by vapers from around the world. VOOPOO is a high-tech enterprise integrating R&D, design, production and brand operations. It has four flagship product series: DRAG, VINCI, ARGUS and V Series. Its business covers more than 70 countries and regions in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit our website and follow our IG, Facebook and TikTok.

About Ecigclick

Ecigclick is one of the vape sites with the widest coverage and most active vapers in the world. Ecigclick Vape Awards, as its annual voting event, has been successfully held for 9 years. Its forward-looking ranking is well recognized and has a deep influence in the industry.

WARNING: This product may be used with e-liquid products containing nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211219005114/en/

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Contacts

PR Manager: Wanfeng Chen
Media: wind.chen@voopoo.com
Business corporation: sales@voopoo.com

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