Author: jezzabellemente

• Angelini Pharma secures exclusive option to license global development and commercialization rights for SVG105¹, a pre-clinical investigational novel compound with broad potential to treat brain health diseases, excluding the Republic of Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
• Sovargen receives upfront payment and is eligible for future milestone-dependent payments and royalties
• Agreement further expands Angelini Pharma’s strong portfolio and deep therapeutic expertise in brain health, following a series of strategic partnerships in the space, including in orphan and rare epilepsy
   

ROME, Sept 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Angelini Pharma, part of the privately owned Angelini Industries, and Sovargen, a South-Korean biotechnology company, announced today that they signed an exclusive global option agreement for the development and commercialization of Sovargen’s innovative brain health asset SVG105.

Under the terms of the agreement, Angelini Pharma and Sovargen will collaboratively lead the pre-clinical development efforts for SVG105 and, following an initial option period, Angelini Pharma will have the right to advance the compound into clinical development and commercialization outside of the Republic of Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. SVG105 is a potentially first-in-class anti-sense oligonucleotide technology to target mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathways. mTOR is a genetically validated target for a number of brain health disorders, including drug-resistant childhood epilepsy.ⁱ

Sovargen will receive an upfront payment and will also be eligible to receive additional payments upon pre-defined development and commercial milestones of up to approx. US$550 million, as well as tiered royalties on post-approval net sales.

The announcement follows a number of strategic acquisitions and collaboration agreements that Angelini Pharma has entered over the course of the past two years, which have bolstered the company’s pipeline in brain health, adding to its strong portfolio in the space through sustained investment. In May 2025, Angelini Pharma and GRIN Therapeutics Inc. announced a collaboration for the development and commercialization rights outside of North America for radiprodil, an investigational drug currently being studied in multiple rare genetic epilepsies and neurodevelopmental disorders. A few days earlier, the company signed an asset purchase and assignment agreement for the development and commercialization of OmniAb’s innovative preclinical asset RO’599, a novel preclinical-stage investigational compound with broad potential to treat various brain health diseases. Last year, Angelini Pharma entered into a strategic partnership with Cureverse, a Korean spin-off of the Korean Institute of Science and Technology, which is developing small molecules with broad CNS applications. In 2023, the company partnered with JCR Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese biotech company with a breakthrough blood-brain barrier technology based on a transferrin receptor mechanism, allowing biologics to cross the barrier. Consequently, Angelini’s brain health pipeline now includes diversified and modern therapeutic modalities ranging from innovative small molecule compounds to biologics and anti-sense oligonucleotides.

“This partnership with Sovargen further solidifies Angelini Pharma’s leading role in the field of brain health, adding additional breadth to our robust portfolio and pipeline,” said Jacopo Andreose, Chief Executive Officer of Angelini Pharma. “Neurological disorders like epilepsy are major contributors to global disease challenges.ⁱⁱ For example, many people living with epilepsy are still unable to reach seizure control despite combination treatment of several anti-seizure medications.ⁱⁱⁱ Our work on SVG105 will be motivated by the ambition to bring much-needed solutions to people living with brain health conditions across the world.”

“We are incredibly excited about the opportunity to work with Angelini Pharma to further advance SVG105,” said Cheolwon Park, Chief Executive Officer at Sovargen. “Our research so far demonstrates great potential for SVG105 to transform the treatment landscape in brain health and we are confident that Angelini Pharma’s strong therapeutic expertise will propel our research further and bring us closer to identifying new treatment options for patients in need.”

Brain Health

Brain health as a therapeutic area includes both neurological and mental health conditions.^iv Brain health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral and motor domains, allowing a person to realize their full potential over the course of their life, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders.^v

Brain health represents an urgent global health priority. An estimated 179 million Europeans are living with brain health conditions^vi and more than 18% of all health loss around the world is associated with brain conditions.^vii Additionally, brain health conditions are responsible for considerable individual, economic and societal impact, including loss of independence, reduced productivity, strained relationships, increased risk of suicide as well as high healthcare costs.^viii There is an urgent need to raise awareness, and reduce stigma, prejudice and discrimination, to ensure that brain health is valued, promoted and protected for all.^v

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most widespread neurological diseases in the world, affecting globally approximately 50 million people of all ages.^ix In Europe, up to six million people are estimated to be living with this disease.^x Epilepsy can have multiple potential causes, including structural, metabolic, genetic and other factors, though approximately half of cases worldwide do not have a known cause.^ix

The complications associated with epilepsy are severe, with a risk of premature mortality up to three times higher than the general population.^ix The recurrent seizures associated with this condition also have wide-ranging effects on a person’s broader physical and mental health, education and employment opportunities and other quality of life factors.^ix

Treatments are available to help reduce seizures and improve quality of life, however approximately 40% of people living with epilepsy are still uncontrolled despite the treatment with two anti-seizure medications.ⁱⁱⁱ

Angelini Pharma
Angelini Pharma is an international pharmaceutical company, part of the privately owned multi-business Angelini Industries. The Company researches, develops and commercializes health solutions with a focus on the areas of Brain Health, including Mental Health and Epilepsy, and Consumer Health. Founded in Italy at the beginning of the 20^th century, Angelini Pharma operates directly in 20 countries, employing more than 3,000 people. Its products are marketed in over 70 countries through strategic alliances with leading international pharmaceutical groups. More information: https://www.angelinipharma.com.

Angelini Industries
Angelini Industries is a multinational industrial group founded in Ancona in 1919 by Francesco Angelini. Today, Angelini Industries represents a solid and diversified industrial reality that employs approximately 5,800 employees and operates in 21 countries around the world with revenues of over 2 billion euros, generated in the health, industrial technology, and consumer goods sectors. A targeted investment strategy for growth; constant commitment to research and development; deep knowledge of markets and business sectors, make Angelini Industries one of the Italian companies of excellence in the sectors in which it operates. More information: www.angeliniindustries.com.

Sovargen
Founded in 2018, Sovargen is a Korean biotech company pioneering treatments for intractable brain diseases caused by somatic mutations—genetic changes acquired during brain development or aging. These mutations underlie serious conditions like focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II, hemimegalencephaly, and brain tumors, yet remain largely unaddressed.

Sovargen’s proprietary antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) platform enables precise gene modulation in the brain. Its lead program, SVG105, is a first-in-disease ASO therapy in preclinical development for drug-resistant epilepsy caused by FCD type II. With a growing pipeline and a differentiated scientific approach, Sovargen is advancing next-generation CNS therapies to bring new hope to patients worldwide. More information: www.sovargen.com.

Contact
Chiara Antoniucci
Global Head of Brand and Media Communications, Angelini Pharma
+39 3477133926
chiara.antoniucci@angelinipharma.com

Rosie JH Lee
Director of Corporate PR, Sovargen
+82-70-5222-2771
rosielee@sovargen.com

¹ SVG105 is an investigational compound, not approved for use by regulatory authorities.
ⁱ Data on file (Sovargen).
ⁱⁱ Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Global burden of conditions affecting the nervous system. Available at: https://www.healthdata.org/research-analysis/library/global-burden-conditions-affecting-nervous-system Last accessed: July 2025.
ⁱⁱⁱ Chen Z, Brodie MJ, Liew D, Kwan P. Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy Treated With Established and New Antiepileptic Drugs: A 30-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study. JAMA Neurol. 2018 Mar 1;75(3):279-286.
^iv Winkler AS, et al. Lancet Glob Health. 2024;12(5):e735-e736.
^v WHO. Optimizing brain health across the life course: WHO position paper. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.
^vi Nutt D, et al. Eurohealth (Int) 2017;23:21–5.
^vii IHME. Understanding brain health around the world. Available at: https://brainhealthatlas.org/ Last accessed: July 2025.
^viii WHO. World mental health report: transforming mental health for all. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.
^ix WHO. “Epilepsy Key Facts.” N.p., 9 Feb. 2023. Web. 24 Aug. 2023.
^x Behr et al. Epidemiology of epilepsy. Revue Neurologique 2016 Jan; 172(1):27-36. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2015.11.003.

SOURCE: Angelini Pharma

–BERNAMA

CGTN published an article on the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education ceremony, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Prize, held in Beijing on Friday. The article explores the critical role of science education in empowering future generations of women with the know-how and innovative capacity needed in an AI-driven era.

BEIJING, Sept 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In rural Uganda, teenage girls once faced a stark choice: drop out of school to marry early, or struggle through classrooms without proper sanitation or safety. That has been slowly changing. The Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS) program has built campuses that are safe, gender-responsive, and supportive of girls’ health and dignity. Each year, nearly 300,000 students in Uganda, Zambia and Ghana benefit from the program.

In Zambia, the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) tells a similar story of transformation. Since 2001, its initiative to help girls overcome barriers to secondary education has enabled more than 617,000 young women in rural areas to complete school. Equipped with skills for leadership and community work, many graduates have become role models in villages where, not long ago, daughters were the first to be denied education.

These are the kinds of stories celebrated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, which marked its 10th anniversary in Beijing on Friday. This year, projects from Kenya and Lebanon were awarded.

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls’ and women’s education, and Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the UNESCO, presented the awards to the two programs.

During her speech, Peng delivered a message that resonated far beyond the ceremony. She said as the world steps into an age driven by artificial intelligence and rapid technological changes, women must be empowered with science education.

“We must place greater emphasis on women’s science education,” she said, calling for women to be equipped with knowledge, technological skills and innovative capacity. “We must strive to ensure that women can embrace the technological revolution and create fulfilled lives,” Peng stressed.

China’s achievements in promoting women’s all-round development, particularly in education, reinforce Peng’s message. According to official data, by 2024, the country had effectively closed the gender gap in schooling: girls accounted for 47.3 percent of the kindergarten students, 46.98 percent in nine-year compulsory education, and 49.3 percent of the high school students. In higher education, women made up 50.76 percent of the enrolled students, an increase of 14.15 percentage points since 1995.

Beyond statistics, China has launched a series of programs to encourage girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For instance, in 2018, the China Women’s Development Foundation launched the “Exploring the Future” program for girls aged 12-16, introducing them to the labs of top universities and research institutes. So far, over 8,200 students have explored fields from mechanical engineering to biophysics, developing projects that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.

At Friday’s ceremony, Azoulay thanked China for its long-standing support for UNESCO and its global efforts to empower women and girls.

Since hosting the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China has taken concrete steps to promote gender equality globally. According to the white paper issued by the State Council Information Office on Friday, China co-established the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, supported 100 “Maternal and Child Health” projects and 100 “Happy Campus” initiatives, and launched numerous vocational training programs for women and girls. Through these initiatives, China has helped train over 200,000 women from more than 180 countries and regions.

“China has always attached great importance to advancing women’s science education,” Peng emphasized. “We look forward to deepening cooperation with UNESCO and relevant parties to comprehensively strengthen capacity-building in women’s science education and jointly elevate the level of women’s science education.”

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-09-20/Peng-Liyuan-calls-to-empower-women-with-science-education-1GORJugaKwo/p.html

Contact:
CGTN
cgtn@cgtn.com

SOURCE: China Global Television Network Corporation

–BERNAMA

The company expects to list on NASDAQ in Q2 2026

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kensana Health Inc. (“Kensana”) today announced it has entered into a share subscription facility of up to $120 million with GEM Global Yield LLC SCS (“GEM”), a Luxembourg-based alternative investment group. Under the agreement, GEM will provide Kensana up to $120 million for a 36-month period following a public listing of Kensana’s ordinary shares (“Investment Period”).

According to the agreement’s terms, Kensana will not be obligated to draw down the full $120 million but can do so in part or in whole at its discretion. Kensana can also set a threshold price as the lowest price at which Kensana may issue shares to GEM under a given drawdown. Kensana will control both the timing and amount of all drawdowns and will issue common shares to GEM on each drawn down from the facility. GEM shall pay 90% of the average daily closing price during the pricing period, which is a 30-day period after Kensana delivers a draw-down notice to GEM. During the lifetime of the investment facility, GEM will not, directly or indirectly, effect any short sale of Kensana’s common shares. GEM is a long-only investor and will not engage in shorting, hedging, or the use of derivatives or synthetic instruments against Kensana’s common shares or the issuance of any warrants.

Ken Clement, founder of Kensana, commented: “It has been determined that 90% of the world’s drugs are synthetically copied from naturally occurring plant compounds. (Bade, et al., 2010. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry) According to the WHO, up to 80% of the world’s population believes that traditional herbal medicines are safer and have fewer side effects than traditional synthetic pharmaceuticals. Kensana plans to transform modern medicine by integrating its proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced technology to harness naturally occurring compounds for drug development. Since the COVID pandemic, global markets have had an insatiable appetite for everything natural which positions Kensana and its phytopharmaceutical platform to become a global leader in plant-based medicine. Kensana has already demonstrated this capability through the development of its first FDA drug candidate, KV23A, which has shown incredible efficacy in white label trials outlined in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals. The share subscription facility with GEM demonstrates investor confidence in Kensana’s prospects, as well as GEM’s strategic understanding and vision for emerging markets and industries. This facility will be a very effective financial instrument that will complement our other fundraising efforts ahead of our anticipated NASDAQ listing in 2026.”

AboutKensana

Kensana, is a Canadian Phytopharmaceutical company that has created a proprietary Generation 4 AI-enhanced phytobioreactor platform (EMOB) which enables the company to assume leadership in a new industry: Phytopharmaceuticals. The EMOB platform allows Kensana to standardize and convert an abundance of naturally occurring plant and compounds into U.S. FDA registered pharmaceuticals with global respectability. Kensana’s first patented formula is entering an international FDA-registerable Phase 3 clinical trial. Uniquely risk-mitigated, the KV23a formula has already successfully proven safety and efficacy via therapeutic applications in a clinical setting. KV23a is Kensana’s first targeted FDA- registered product within a global chronic wound market worth $300 Billion USD. The Patented Chronic Wound Formula, KV23a, has Proven Medical Efficacy which has been demonstrated in Published peer reviewed medical journals validating KV23a and its efficacy while demonstrating no toxicity issues. Phytopharmaceuticals largely work by targeting specific receptors, interrupting disease pathways and disrupting pathogenic life cycles. The Kensana Platform, EMOB, has the ability to produce proprietary therapies as well as re-engineer synthetic drugs originally derived from natural plant compounds.

Kensana Health has a uniquely risk-mitigated business model and is currently entering a Series C Investment Round. For more information, please visit the website at www.kensana.health or contact Randy Uens at Randy@Kensana.health.

About GEM

GEM is a $3.4 billion, Luxembourg-based alternative investment group with offices in Paris, New York, and Nassau (Bahamas). GEM manages a diverse set of investment vehicles focused on emerging markets and has completed over 590 transactions in over 75 countries. Each investment vehicle has a different degree of operational control, risk-adjusted return, and liquidity profile. Its family of funds and investment vehicles provide GEM and its partners with exposure to Small-Mid Cap Management Buyouts, Private Investments in Public Equities and select venture investments. For more information: www.gemny.com

SOURCE: Kensana Health Inc.

–BERNAMA

GUANGZHOU, China, Sept 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — The fifth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Culture and Arts Festival opened on September 16 at the Guangzhou Opera House. The event is co-sponsored by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Governments of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250917588113/en/

Spanning a month across 11 cities, the festival features more than 100 performances, 19 exhibitions, and over 150 community events. Programs fall into five categories: the “Arts in the Bay” performance series, “Resonance in Arts” lectures, “Shared Aesthetics” exhibitions, “Art in Daily Life” public activities, and the “Radiance of Arts” performing arts fair.

The opening concert, “Symphony of the Greater Bay Area,” presented seven original compositions showcasing Guangdong’s recent symphonic achievements. International highlights include the Greek National Opera’s debut in China with La Traviata and Matthew Bourne’s groundbreaking all-male Swan Lake. Russia’s Vakhtangov Theatre brought Eugene Onegin and Uncle Vanya, while five renowned musical theatre stars, including Brad Little, performed 26 classic numbers.

Upcoming performances will further enrich the program: the French musical Molière in October, China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater’s Confucius, the National Theatre of China’s The Yellow Storm, and Shanghai Yue Opera House’s adaptation of A Dream of Red Mansions. Guangdong Yue Opera Theatre will stage Samsui Women, celebrating female resilience, while the Southern Song and Dance Troupe’s I Like You blends Yingge Dance with contemporary theatre.

A central component of this year’s edition is the “Radiance of Arts”—the 16th China (Guangzhou) International Performing Arts Fair, scheduled for September 25–28. Nearly 300 institutions from 20 countries and regions will participate, presenting close to 1,000 productions and fostering international exchange.

By combining world-class productions with community engagement, the festival not only enriches cultural life in the Greater Bay Area but also strengthens the region’s position as a hub for international performing arts.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250917588113/en/

Contact

Albert Huang
E-mail: 1713543383@qq.com

Source : Guangdong Province

–BERNAMA