Featured Stories
TikTok and IHeartPodcasts Welcome Hit Show "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" to the TikTok Podcast Network
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 14 -- iHeartMedia issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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TikTok and iHeartPodcasts Welcome Hit Show "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" to the TikTok Podcast Network
Hosted by filmmaker brothers James and Anthony Deveney, the top-ranked Film and TV podcast continues with three new episodes each week
Listen to "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" now, HERE (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-raiders-of-the-lost-podcas-115869083)
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NEW YORK - iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and TikTok today announced the hit film and
... Show Full Article
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 14 -- iHeartMedia issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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TikTok and iHeartPodcasts Welcome Hit Show "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" to the TikTok Podcast Network
Hosted by filmmaker brothers James and Anthony Deveney, the top-ranked Film and TV podcast continues with three new episodes each week
Listen to "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" now, HERE (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-raiders-of-the-lost-podcas-115869083)
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NEW YORK - iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and TikTok today announced the hit film andtelevision podcast series "Raiders of the Lost Podcast," hosted by identical twin brothers, filmmakers and self-proclaimed film geeks James and Anthony Deveney, has joined the recently announced TikTok Podcast Network. Beginning today, listeners can check out "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" HERE.
The popular podcast has become a go-to destination for movie and television fans for its passionate deep dives, reviews and analysis of both new releases and classic favorites. The show regularly features conversations with actors, filmmakers and industry professionals, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the creative forces shaping today's biggest films and television series.
TikTok and iHeartMedia continue to build new opportunities for creators to extend their voices across audio, video and live experiences, while giving fans even more ways to connect with the cultural moments shaping today's conversations. The TikTok Podcast Network features TikTok's biggest content creators driving what's next in popular culture and giving audiences more ways to discover and engage with the content they love.
"We started this podcast because we could talk about movies and television for hours anyway, so we figured we might as well turn on some microphones," said James and Anthony Deveney. "What began as two brothers obsessing over films has grown into a huge community of fellow movie fans. We're thrilled to join iHeart and the TikTok Podcast Network and can't wait to bring even more reviews, deep dives and conversations to listeners everywhere."
"TikTok has become a destination where entertainment fandom comes to life, and the TikTok Podcast Network gives creators a new way to deepen those conversations beyond the platform. Raiders of the Lost Podcast is built for passionate movie fans, and we're excited to welcome James and Anthony to the network," said Dan Page, Global Head of Global Media and Licensing Partnerships at TikTok.
"James and Anthony have taken a lifelong love of movies and turned it into one of the most popular film-focused podcasts in the world," said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. "Their passion, knowledge and genuine love of storytelling have resonated with audiences everywhere. We're excited to welcome 'Raiders of the Lost Podcast' to the network and give fans even more ways to discover and connect."
Launched in March 2026, the TikTok Podcast Network is a first-of-its-kind partnership between TikTok and iHeartMedia that brings some of the platform's most influential creators into long-form podcasting. Designed to expand creator storytelling beyond short-form video, the network combines TikTok's creator ecosystem with iHeartMedia's industry-leading podcast production, distribution and monetization capabilities. GEICO serves as the network's exclusive launch partner, creating new opportunities for brands to engage audiences through creator-led podcast content. The slate also includes "The Set List with Carter Gregory" hosted by media personality, music executive and cultural tastemaker Carter Gregory (@thecarterb); "Sports Slice"" hosted by sports influencer Tim Martin (@timbosliceoflife12); "The Clifford Show" hosted by former college football player turned viral sports creator Clifford Taylor IV (@clifford); "Suite 305 with Lele Pons" hosted by multihyphenate and social media star Lele Pons (@lelepons); and coming soon "Caroline's Closet" hosted by fashion editor, author and personality Caroline Vazzana (@cvazzana). All podcasts on the TikTok Podcast Network are distributed by iHeartPodcasts.
"Raiders of the Lost Podcast" is available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. New episodes drop three times per week on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Clips, highlights and behind-the-scenes moments from the show will also be featured across TikTok.
About Anthony Deveney
Anthony Deveney is an independent filmmaker, a Black List screenwriter, and a passionate cinephile whose expertise has helped build a dedicated audience through Raiders Of The Lost Podcast. His affection for all things film is showcased through deep dives and thoughtful analysis of cinema from the past and present. Often called a walking IMDb by friends, his love for film is endless.
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About James Deveney
James Deveney is an independent filmmaker, focused on writing and directing, and is a lifelong cinephile who grew up cruising Blockbuster aisles with his brothers. James brings encyclopedic knowledge and infectious passion to every episode, analyzing movies through his deep love of craft and storytelling. He has partnered with major brands including IMAX, Warner Bros., Apple TV, Amazon, and DC.
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About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and its offices include New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul and Tokyo.
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About iHeartMedia, Inc.
iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to both Podtrac and Triton, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, has the highest-reach and most engaged influencers, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
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Original text here: https://www.iheartmedia.com/press/tiktok-and-iheartpodcasts-welcome-hit-show-raiders-lost-podcast-tiktok-podcast-network
[Category: BizMedia]
SAS Recognized on the Prestigious 2026 MES Midmarket 100 List
CARY, North Carolina, July 14 -- SAS Institute, a business analytics software and services provider, issued the following news release:
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SAS recognized on the prestigious 2026 MES Midmarket 100 list
SAS AI solutions offer simple, scalable options for midmarket customers
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SAS, a global leader in data and AI, has once again been named to the 2026 MES Midmarket 100 list by MES Computing, a brand of The Channel Company.
The annual MES Midmarket 100 recognizes technology vendors with deep knowledge of the unique IT needs of midmarket organizations. These vendors are committed to delivering
... Show Full Article
CARY, North Carolina, July 14 -- SAS Institute, a business analytics software and services provider, issued the following news release:
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SAS recognized on the prestigious 2026 MES Midmarket 100 list
SAS AI solutions offer simple, scalable options for midmarket customers
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SAS, a global leader in data and AI, has once again been named to the 2026 MES Midmarket 100 list by MES Computing, a brand of The Channel Company.
The annual MES Midmarket 100 recognizes technology vendors with deep knowledge of the unique IT needs of midmarket organizations. These vendors are committed to deliveringfuture-focused products and services that support growth, innovation and success for their midsize customers.
MES Computing defines midmarket organizations as those with an annual revenue of $50 million to $2 billion and/or 100 to 2,500 total supported users/seats. Vendors were selected for the MES Midmarket 100 for their go-to-market strategy, how they innovate to serve the midmarket better and the strength of their midmarket product portfolios.
SAS' trusted data and AI solutions help midmarket organizations move faster and make better, smarter decisions without heavy infrastructure. SAS(R) Viya(R), SAS' cloud-native data and AI platform, is built for scalability, so midmarket customers can bypass common hurdles like data fragmentation, manual reporting, limited resources and operational risks. SAS does this by:
* Relying on proven use cases across industries, including financial services, health care and the public sector.
* Offering strong cloud, implementation and service partnerships to meet customers where they are.
* Simplifying packages to deliver a straightforward adoption path.
"The Midmarket 100 highlights the technology vendors that genuinely understand - and actively champion - the distinct needs of midsize organizations," said Samara Lynn, Senior Editor of MES Computing at The Channel Company. "These companies are true partners, equipping midmarket IT teams to overcome their toughest challenges so they can innovate and accelerate growth. We're excited to watch how these vendors continue to evolve and strengthen the midmarket ecosystem."
"We make AI lighter, faster and more accessible for midmarket organizations, so they can have enterprise-level capabilities that will grow with them at a price point that makes sense for their business," said John Carey, Senior Vice President of Global Channels at SAS. "Our approach centers on affordability, flexibility, and importantly, partner-led implementation to help growing companies modernize decision making without adding complexity or overhead."
The recognition follows new research that reveals nearly 70% of small and midsized businesses remain in the early stages of AI maturity, despite growing pressure to adopt the technology. The new global report from IDC, commissioned by SAS, explores the gap between AI readiness and reality and offers tangible next steps for midmarket organizations looking to scale AI effectively.
The 2026 MES Computing Midmarket 100 online coverage begins July 13 at mescomputing.com/midmarket100.
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About SAS
SAS is a global leader in data and AI, helping organizations make confident decisions with AI they can trust. For decades, SAS has set the standard for delivering software that drives meaningful impact, incorporating deep industry expertise, transparency and governance. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW(R).
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Original text here: https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2026/july/sas-recognized-on-the-prestigious-2026-mes-midmarket-100-list-.html
[Category: BizComputer Technology]
Robert Koontz Joins CBRE to Lead Multifamily Debt Capital Markets
LOS ANGELES, California, July 14 -- CBRE Group, a commercial real estate services provider, issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Robert Koontz Joins CBRE to Lead Multifamily Debt Capital Markets
17-Year Freddie Mac Veteran Hired to Drive CBRE's Multifamily Debt Platform Strategy
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CBRE today announced that Robert Koontz has joined the firm as Senior Managing Director, Head of Multifamily Debt Capital Markets within its Debt & Structured Finance team. The appointment is central to CBRE's strategy to expand its multifamily debt platform, deepening agency origination capabilities,
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, July 14 -- CBRE Group, a commercial real estate services provider, issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Robert Koontz Joins CBRE to Lead Multifamily Debt Capital Markets
17-Year Freddie Mac Veteran Hired to Drive CBRE's Multifamily Debt Platform Strategy
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CBRE today announced that Robert Koontz has joined the firm as Senior Managing Director, Head of Multifamily Debt Capital Markets within its Debt & Structured Finance team. The appointment is central to CBRE's strategy to expand its multifamily debt platform, deepening agency origination capabilities,developing innovative financing solutions, and strengthening institutional relationships across the capital markets landscape.
Koontz will operate nationally, working closely with Kelli Carhart, Head of Multifamily Capital Markets, as well as CBRE's Investment Properties and Investment Banking teams, and reporting directly to James Millon, Co-Head of Capital Markets, U.S. and Canada.
"This appointment reflects where we are taking our multifamily debt platform," said Millon. "Robert is a genuine platform-builder--his 17 years running capital markets at Freddie Mac gives us capabilities and relationships that simply cannot be replicated, and that directly benefit our clients. This is an investment in talent, products, and partnerships that will define what CBRE can deliver in multifamily for years to come."
"Our clients deserve access to the most innovative and comprehensive multifamily financing solutions available, and Robert's expertise at the intersection of agency execution and capital markets is exactly what will help us deliver that," said Carhart.
Koontz, based between the Washington D.C. and New York, brings more than 25 years of capital markets and structured finance experience. He spent 17 years at Freddie Mac, most recently as Head of Multifamily Capital Markets, a role in which he oversaw more than $900 billion in issuance, directed the agency's capital markets execution and program development, and managed relationships with the GSE's most significant institutional counterparties. Earlier in his career, Koontz held structured finance roles at Wachovia Securities and Banc of America Securities.
"CBRE's multifamily platform is unmatched in its reach, data, and client relationships," said Koontz. "The combination of origination capabilities, market intelligence, and an integrated platform across commercial real estate sales and investment banking creates a clear competitive advantage for clients. I look forward to working with this team to drive execution and expand what we can deliver for multifamily borrowers and investors across the country."
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Original text here: https://www.cbre.com/press-releases/robert-koontz-joins-cbre-to-lead-multifamily-debt-capital-markets
[Category: BizReal Estate]
Pillsbury: Defence Tech's Venture Capital Moment - Opportunities, Risks and the New Funding Landscape
NEW YORK, July 14 -- Pillsbury, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Defence Tech's Venture Capital Moment: Opportunities, Risks and the New Funding Landscape
In an article published in Defence Online, Pillsbury partner Sarah Melaney, special counsel Ya'ara Barnoon, and senior associate Alex Davidson highlight how defence technology has rapidly emerged as one of venture capital's fastest-growing investment priorities, attracting more than US$19 billion in venture capital funding in 2025, almost double that of the previous year, according to PitchBook.
As governments continue
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, July 14 -- Pillsbury, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Defence Tech's Venture Capital Moment: Opportunities, Risks and the New Funding Landscape
In an article published in Defence Online, Pillsbury partner Sarah Melaney, special counsel Ya'ara Barnoon, and senior associate Alex Davidson highlight how defence technology has rapidly emerged as one of venture capital's fastest-growing investment priorities, attracting more than US$19 billion in venture capital funding in 2025, almost double that of the previous year, according to PitchBook.
As governments continueto increase defence spending and prioritise sovereign technological capability, private capital is likely to play an ever more important role. Businesses able to address both defence and civilian markets will be particularly well positioned to benefit from this long-term trend, according to the authors.
Nevertheless, increased investor appetite does not necessarily translate into easier fundraising for founders. "Capital remains concentrated in a relatively small number of businesses with established government relationships, proven technologies or clear commercial traction," the authors note. "Many early-stage companies continue to struggle to bridge the gap between successful product development and meaningful procurement contracts - a challenge widely referred to as the defence innovation 'valley of death.'"
Additional challenges include "lengthy procurement cycles, constrained early revenues and limited customer diversification continue to prevent many promising businesses from reaching commercial scale," they write.
Ultimately, success in the defence technology sector depends on far more than technical innovation alone, the authors say, noting that investors are looking for businesses that "combine cutting-edge technology with strong governance, regulatory compliance, and well-managed intellectual property."
The businesses that can successfully navigate this complex legal and commercial landscape will be best placed to benefit from defence technology's status as one of venture capital's defining investment themes.
Read the full article here (https://defence-online.co.uk/2026/07/13/defence-tech-s-venture-capital-moment-opportunities-risks-and-the-new-funding-landscape) (subscription required).
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Original text here: https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/news-and-insights/defence-techs-venture-capital-moment-opportunities-risks-and-the-new-funding-landscape.html
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
HPE Releases Annual Living Progress Report as AI Uptake Makes Efficient, Secure, and Responsible Digital Infrastructure Even More Critical
SPRING, Texas, July 14 (TNSrpt) -- Hewlett Packard Enterprise, an information technology company, issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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HPE releases annual Living Progress Report as AI uptake makes efficient, secure, and responsible digital infrastructure even more critical
The FY25 report highlights how HPE is helping customers navigate energy, data, and governance challenges
In this article
* Since 2020, HPE increased net revenue by 21% while decreasing its total carbon footprint by 5% - demonstrating that business growth and innovation can be delivered alongside greater
... Show Full Article
SPRING, Texas, July 14 (TNSrpt) -- Hewlett Packard Enterprise, an information technology company, issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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HPE releases annual Living Progress Report as AI uptake makes efficient, secure, and responsible digital infrastructure even more critical
The FY25 report highlights how HPE is helping customers navigate energy, data, and governance challenges
In this article
* Since 2020, HPE increased net revenue by 21% while decreasing its total carbon footprint by 5% - demonstrating that business growth and innovation can be delivered alongside greaterefficiency
* HPE's expanded capabilities across AI, networking, digital trust, and disconnected cloud environments help customers scale with greater control and confidence
* New generations of HPE servers and expanded direct liquid cooling capabilities reduce data center footprints up to 96%, energy use up to 87%, and annual cooling-related emissions by up to 86%
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HPE (NYSE: HPE) today announced the publication of its 11th annual Living Progress Report, detailing the company's Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) progress against its Living Progress strategy. The report highlights how HPE enables customers to operate effectively as rising demand for compute-intensive workloads like AI place greater pressure on energy, resources, regulation, and trust.
Living Progress is HPE's business strategy to advance the way people live and work, by embedding responsible business practices across its value chain. The report shows how these efforts are translating into customer value, from minimizing energy use and infrastructure complexity to strengthening cyber resilience, data visibility, and trust.
"AI is transforming enterprises around the world at a pace unlike any technology before it," said Antonio Neri, president and CEO of HPE. "The success of the next phase of AI adoption will depend on organizations' ability to use creativity and focus to deploy AI securely, efficiently, and responsibly at scale. HPE is helping customers confidently build trusted technology that protects data, navigates complexity, and turns innovation into real outcomes, unlocking opportunities that were just not possible a few years ago."
Advancing responsible technology
As AI adoption accelerates, customers need greater confidence that the technologies they deploy are secure, reliable, efficient, and governed responsibly. In FY25, HPE strengthened internal product and governance approaches and continued to mature its AI Governance model through internal risk assessments, an AI Governance and Enablement Hub, and targeted team member training, including on the company's AI Ethical Principles.
HPE also advanced responsible solutions for customers, like HPE Private Cloud AI and HPE Private Cloud Enterprise air-gapped solutions, which support secure, disconnected deployments for sensitive workloads.
These capabilities are increasingly important as organizations deploy AI in highly regulated and security-sensitive environments. For instance, Siemens Energy is deploying a dedicated global platform through HPE's GreenLake platform to support engineering-driven high-performance computing across sites in the United States and Germany. The platform is designed to accelerate AI-enabled simulation and digital twin workflows while helping Siemens Energy maintain oversight of data and systems under strict export control requirements. It demonstrates how AI can be deployed responsibly in critical industries such as energy, where demand for new infrastructure is rising rapidly.
Growing demand for energy efficient IT solutions
Demand for HPE's IT sustainability-related offerings keeps increasing as customers continue to evaluate infrastructure decisions through the combined lens of performance, cost, energy use, and resilience. In FY25, $4.4 billion of total net revenue reflected customers' propensity to purchase products with sustainability attributes after learning about HPE's IT sustainability offerings and expertise.
Energy efficiency and resilience are key challenges facing customers today. HPE's solutions deliver the performance customers need while aiming to minimize the energy and resources required to run their IT estates.
New generations of compute and storage, such as HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12 servers, can reduce data center footprints by up to 96% and use up to 87% less power compared to earlier generations.1 HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 has also been shown to deliver up to a 45% reduction in energy consumption.2 And, across its networking portfolio, HPE's AI-driven automation and analytics, including HPE Mist Networking Data Center Assurance, are optimizing operations with real-time power and carbon visibility to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
In addition, HPE also expanded the use of direct liquid cooling (DLC) to support higher-density AI and high-performance computing workloads across its portfolio, including HPE ProLiant Compute and HPE Cray systems, helping minimize cooling-related carbon footprint and costs for customers by up to 86% annually.3 In high-performance computing, HPE had four systems ranked in the top 10 Green500 list of the world's most energy-efficient supercomputers.
One of those systems is Isambard-AI, built by HPE for the University of Bristol. The UK's most powerful AI supercomputer and ranked fourth most energy-efficient in the world as of 2026, Isambard-AI was delivered through an HPE modular data center that achieved an estimated 72% reduction in facility construction emissions compared with traditional construction methods. The system is helping UK researchers access advanced AI capabilities sooner, accelerating work across drug discovery, climate research, and industry.
In addition, HPE has built an end-to-end supply chain - from sourcing to manufacturing to delivery, installation, and servicing - that prioritizes energy and resource efficiency. And, through HPE Financial Services, customers can extend asset life, recover value, and modernize more sustainably.
Sustainability leadership recognitions
HPE continues to receive external recognition tied to its sustainability, ethics, and workforce efforts. HPE was recognized in Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the 5th year in a row. HPE also made CDP's Climate A-List and received the EcoVadis Platinum Medal - putting it in the top 1% of companies with the highest sustainability performance. Reflecting its efforts to operate responsibly, HPE was named by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 8th consecutive year and ranked #2 against the 45 largest global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT Benchmark.
To learn more and read the full FY25 Living Progress Report, visit: https://www.hpe.com/us/en/living-progress/report.html
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About HPE
HPE (NYSE: HPE) is a leader in essential enterprise technology, bringing together the power of AI, cloud, and networking to help organizations achieve more. As pioneers of possibility, our innovation and expertise advance the way people live and work. We empower our customers across industries to optimize operational performance, transform data into foresight, and maximize their impact. Unlock your boldest ambitions with HPE. Discover more at www.hpe.com.
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1/ The Sustainability Impact of HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12 Servers, 2025.
2/ Based on internal analysis comparing power consumption, cooling requirements, and energy efficiency when transitioning from spinning disk to HPE Alletra Storage MP's all-flash architecture. See HPE Storage Substantiation.
3/ Internal HPE study that compared an example traditional air-cooled data center vs an example liquid cooled data center.
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URL: https://www.hpe.com/psnow/downloadDoc/2025%20Living%20Progress%20Report-a00159583enw.pdf?id=a00159583enw&isFutureVersion=true&ver=&form=false&preview=false&print=&hf=regular&r=§ion=&prelaunchSection=&softrollSection=&deepLink=&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_term=&originalObjectName=&isLinearized=false&contentDisposition=attachment
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Original text here: https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/press-release/2026/07/hpe-releases-annual-living-progress-report-as-ai-uptake-makes-efficient-secure-and-responsible-digital-infrastructure-even-more-critical.html
[Category: BizComputer Technology]
GSK: Jemperli Achieves Sustained Clinical Complete Responses in DMMR/MSI-H Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
LONDON, England, July 14 -- GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline), a biopharmaceutical company, issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Jemperli (dostarlimab) achieves sustained clinical complete responses in dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer
* Primary objective met in interim analysis, with clinically significant rate of participants showing no detectable signs of cancer one year or more after treatment
* Results support potential for dostarlimab to eliminate the need for chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in some patients
* Data to be shared with health authorities for
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, July 14 -- GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline), a biopharmaceutical company, issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Jemperli (dostarlimab) achieves sustained clinical complete responses in dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer
* Primary objective met in interim analysis, with clinically significant rate of participants showing no detectable signs of cancer one year or more after treatment
* Results support potential for dostarlimab to eliminate the need for chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in some patients
* Data to be shared with health authorities forregulatory review, including accelerated review in the US
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GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced positive interim results from the registrational phase II AZUR-1 trial of Jemperli (dostarlimab) in patients with stage II/III mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) locally advanced rectal cancer. The single arm trial met its primary objective, showing a meaningful and sustained clinical complete response rate at 12 months (cCR12).
These results support the potential for dostarlimab, if approved, to become the first immunotherapy capable of eliminating or delaying the need for chemotherapy, radiation and surgery for some patients in this population.
Rectal cancer, a type of bowel cancer, affects around 730,000 people globally each year/1 and approximately 5-10% of all rectal cancers have the dMMR/MSI-H subtype/2. Current standard of care typically includes chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery/3. While often effective, these treatments can profoundly impact a patient's quality of life, potentially leading to lifelong use of a colostomy bag, significant physiological dysfunction, and infertility/4,5,6.
Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President, Global Head Oncology, R&D, GSK, said: "The AZUR-1 results support the potential for dostarlimab to transform treatment for dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer. For many patients today, rectal cancer treatment comes with the tolerability burden and lasting impacts from chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. These data demonstrate that some patients may be able to avoid those interventions while remaining free of detectable signs of cancer."
AZUR-1 results represent a substantial improvement compared to the historical standard of care7 and build on earlier research conducted in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which first demonstrated the potential for dostarlimab to achieve clinical complete responses without other treatments in patients with dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer.
In interim data, the safety and tolerability profile of dostarlimab was consistent with its well-characterised and manageable safety profile observed across solid tumours.
Dostarlimab has received both Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this setting. GSK plans to share interim AZUR-1 data with global regulatory authorities to support review. Detailed results will be presented at a future scientific congress.
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About stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer
Around 5-10% of rectal cancers are mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)8. These tumours have a specific genetic characteristic where they are unable to properly repair DNA damage, leading to an accumulation of mutations. This unique biological feature often makes them highly responsive to immunotherapies like dostarlimab/9,10. These biomarkers are most commonly found in colorectal, endometrial and other gastrointestinal cancers, but can also be present in other solid tumours/11.
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About AZUR-1
AZUR-1 is a global, open-label, single-arm, registrational phase II trial evaluating dostarlimab monotherapy in patients with stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer. The trial was designed to assess sustained clinical complete responses for 12 months (cCR12) and determine whether dostarlimab alone could enable patients to avoid chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery. A total of 154 participants received nine cycles of dostarlimab over six months, administered as a 500 mg intravenous infusion every three weeks.
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About Jemperli (dostarlimab)
Jemperli, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, is the backbone of GSK's ongoing immuno-oncology-based research and development programme. A robust clinical trial programme includes studies of Jemperli alone and in combination with other therapies in gynaecologic, colorectal and head and neck cancers, as well as where there are opportunities for transformational outcomes.
Jemperli was discovered by AnaptysBio, Inc. and licensed to TESARO, Inc., under a collaboration and exclusive license agreement signed in March 2014. Under this agreement, GSK is responsible for the ongoing research, development, commercialisation, and manufacturing of Jemperli.
More information about Jemperli, its indications and complete important safety information is available at EU product information/12 and US product information/13. Jemperli is not currently approved anywhere in the world for rectal cancer.
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GSK in oncology
Our ambition in oncology is to help increase overall quality of life, maximise survival and change the course of disease, expanding from our current focus on blood and gynaecologic cancers into lung and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as other solid tumours. This includes accelerating priority programmes such as antibody-drug conjugates targeting B7-H3 and B7-H4, and velzatinib, a highly selective KIT tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
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About GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at www.gsk.com.
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References
1. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2024) Rectum cancer fact sheet: GLOBOCAN 2022. World Health Organization. Available at: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/9-rectum-fact-sheet.pdf. Date accessed: June 2026
2. Cercek A, et al. Mismatch Repair-Deficient Rectal Cancer and Resistance to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Jul 1;26(13):3271-3279. doi: 1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-3728. Epub 2020 Mar 6. PMID: 32144135; PMCID: PMC7348681.
3. Fadlallah, H., El Masri, J., Fakhereddine, H. et al. (2024) 'Colorectal cancer: Recent advances in management and treatment', World Journal of Clinical Oncology, 15(9), pp. 1136-1156. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11438855/
4. Cercek, A., Lumish, M., Sinopoli, J. et al. (2022) 'PD 1 blockade in mismatch repair-deficient, locally advanced rectal cancer', New England Journal of Medicine, 386(25), pp. 2363-2376. Available at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2201445
5. Negro, S. et al. (2025) 'Quality of life in rectal cancer treatments: a systematic review', Cancers, 17(14), 2310. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/14/2310
6. Neibart, S.S. et al. (2020) 'Quality of life after radiotherapy for rectal cancer', Current Colorectal Cancer Reports, 16(1), pp. 1-10. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7336840/
7. Cercek A, Roxburgh CS, Strombom P, et al. Adoption of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2018;4(6):e180071. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.0071
8. Cercek A, et al. Mismatch Repair-Deficient Rectal Cancer and Resistance to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Jul 1;26(13):3271-3279. doi: 1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-3728. Epub 2020 Mar 6. PMID: 32144135; PMCID: PMC7348681
9. Le DT, et al. PD-1 blockade in tumors with mismatch repair deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(26):2509-2520.
10. Andre T, Berton D, Curigliano G, et al. Antitumor Activity and Safety of Dostarlimab Monotherapy in Patients With Mismatch Repair Deficient Solid Tumors: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2341165. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.41165.
11. National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Definition of mismatch repair deficiency. Accessed June 2026. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/mismatch-repair-deficiency
12. JEMPERLI (dostarlimab) Summary of Product Characteristics. GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) Limited. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/jemperli. Accessed June 2026.
13. JEMPERLI (dostarlimab-gxly) prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline. Available at: https://gskpro.com/en-us/products/jemperli/. Accessed July 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/jemperli-dostarlimab-achieves-sustained-clinical-complete-responses-in-dmmrmsi-h-locally-advanced-rectal-cancer/
[Category: BizPharmaceuticals]
First Hawaiian Inc. to Acquire TriCo Bancshares
NEW YORK, July 14 -- Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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First Hawaiian, Inc. to Acquire TriCo Bancshares
Fried Frank is advising Evercore as financial advisor to First Hawaiian, Inc. (First Hawaiian), parent company of First Hawaiian Bank, on its agreement to acquire TriCo Bancshares (TriCo), parent company of Tri Counties Bank, in an all-stock transaction.
On a combined basis, the company will have approximately $34 billion of assets and be the sixth largest bank headquartered in the Western US.
The combined bank is expected
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, July 14 -- Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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First Hawaiian, Inc. to Acquire TriCo Bancshares
Fried Frank is advising Evercore as financial advisor to First Hawaiian, Inc. (First Hawaiian), parent company of First Hawaiian Bank, on its agreement to acquire TriCo Bancshares (TriCo), parent company of Tri Counties Bank, in an all-stock transaction.
On a combined basis, the company will have approximately $34 billion of assets and be the sixth largest bank headquartered in the Western US.
The combined bank is expectedto leverage its strong capital position, liquidity profile and credit quality to deliver enhanced earnings and generate long-term value to shareholders. For more on the transaction, read the companies' press release (https://www.fhb.com/en/about-us/newsroom/2026-press-release/news-release/071326).
This transaction is a continuation of Fried Frank's work advising Evercore as financial advisor on complex transactions, which includes the firm most recently advising Evercore as financial advisor to Iridium on its agreement to be acquired by Rocket Lab and to Globalstar's special committee on Globalstar's agreement to be acquired by Amazon.
M&A and private equity partners Philip Richter and Roy Tannenbaum are leading Fried Frank team, which includes M&A and private equity associate Lama Kahiel.
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This communication is for general information only. It is not intended, nor should it be relied upon, as legal advice. In some jurisdictions, this may be considered attorney advertising. Please refer to the firm's data policy page for further information.
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URL: Evercore
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Original text here: https://www.friedfrank.com/news-and-insights/first-hawaiian-inc-to-acquire-trico-bancshares-13079
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
