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Ginkgo Bioworks and SaponiQx Awarded MCDC Contract to Discover and Manufacture Next-Generation Vaccine Adjuvants Using Generative Molecular Design

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BOSTON and LEXINGTON, Mass., Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) for the Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) Program has awarded, through the Medical CBRN [Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear] Defense Consortium (MCDC) requirement 22-05, “Adjuvant Activity to Vaccines Prototype,” a 5-year contract totaling up to $31 million including program options to the team of Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) and SaponiQx, Inc. (a subsidiary of Agenus Inc., NASDAQ:AGEN) to discover and develop next-generation vaccine adjuvants. Partners in adjuvant discovery and development since 2021, Ginkgo, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, and SaponiQx, developing a visionary adjuvant development platform, will use a combination of high-throughput empirical and artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches, including Generative Molecular Design (GMD), to develop superior novel saponin-based adjuvants.

Adjuvants are components of vaccines that help to enhance the magnitude, breadth, and duration of the immune response to vaccination. Currently, only a handful of adjuvants are available for human use in licensed vaccines. SaponiQx’s STIMULON™ QS-21 is a key adjuvant component in market-leading vaccines for shingles, malaria, and respiratory syncytial virus. Novel adjuvants with enhanced properties, including tailored humoral and cellular immune responses, could pave the way for a new wave of innovative vaccines against existing and emerging pathogens.

“The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the critical need for safe, effective, and accessible vaccines against emerging biothreat agents,” said Jennifer Wipf, SVP, Head of Commercial Cell Engineering at Ginkgo Bioworks. “Imagine a future where vaccines are not only more affordable but also provide consistent protection in fewer doses, without causing discomfort or requiring refrigeration. We’re very excited by this opportunity to strengthen and expand the SaponiQx–Ginkgo partnership and to work with DTRA to make that future a reality.”

“Building on our achievements with STIMULON QS-21, SaponiQx is excited to realize our company’s founding vision of harnessing the potential of Generative Molecular Design to dramatically increase access to lifesaving vaccines around the world,” said Rebecca Kurnat, Head of Operations at SaponiQx.

The partners aim to demonstrate in the laboratory and in animal studies the ability of these novel adjuvants to protect against challenges from biothreat agents, such as the plague, and to provide lower cost, sustainable and scalable manufacturing processes by leveraging Ginkgo’s leading platform for cell programming. The partners intend to design candidate adjuvants using SaponiQx’s leading platform for adjuvant generation, and to identify additional candidates by screening natural extracts for previously uncharacterized saponins and creating non-natural saponins with enzyme-based techniques. Harnessing a first-of-its-kind “data lake” for adjuvants, they plan to use iterative GMD to propose and optimize adjuvant structures against eight functional parameters. Adjuvant candidates will be put through in-depth testing, first in the laboratory for immune and toxicity responses, and then in studies of their effectiveness in protecting vaccinated animals from pathogens; QS-21 and the related QS-7 will serve as benchmarks.

By leveraging Ginkgo’s leading platform for cell programming, the partners also intend to develop more affordable, sustainable, and scalable adjuvant manufacturing processes. Ginkgo will develop a first-generation Adjuvant Development Candidate (ADC) production method, using a heterologous production strain such as brewers’ yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ginkgo’s platform powers iterative Design–Build–Test–Learn-driven cell engineering to enable the rapid prototyping, optimization, and development of proteins, enzymes, metabolic pathways, and whole organisms under commercial-scale manufacturing conditions. Development of a first-generation ADC production method could facilitate further development of a sustainable mass-production manufacturing process for these complex adjuvants.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo’s biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (formerly known as Twitter) (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks and @ConcentricByGinkgo), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.

About SaponiQx

Founded in 2021, SaponiQx, a subsidiary of Agenus Inc., stands at the forefront of saponin-based adjuvant discovery and manufacturing. Its mission is to provide scalable and affordable vaccine adjuvants to enhance global health. Its proprietary adjuvant, STIMULON QS-21, forms an integral part of the AS01 adjuvant used in several leading vaccines. STIMULON is a trademark of Agenus Inc., the parent company of SaponiQx Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of Ginkgo’s cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “can,” “project,” “potential,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo’s business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) our ability to realize the expected benefits of merger and acquisition transactions, (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings against Ginkgo, including as a result of recent acquisitions, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (x) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of Ginkgo’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 8, 2023 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:

investors@ginkgobioworks.com 

GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:

press@ginkgobioworks.com 

Forward-Looking Statements of SaponiQx

This press release includes forward-looking statements, subject to risks and uncertainties, concerning the development of vaccines and adjuvants. Refer to the Risk Factors in Agenus’ latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for a detailed discussion of these risks.

SAPONIQX MEDIA CONTACT:

communications@saponiqx.com

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

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Japan’s first DJI and Hasselblad Dual-Concept Flagship Store: “DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando” to Grand Open in Late October 2026!

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Offering an unprecedented creative experience with hands-on latest drones and medium-format cameras, an indoor drone flight cage, and 1-on-1 support from multilingual dedicated specialists

TOKYO, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DJI, the global leader in innovative aerial and imaging technology, will announce that SEKIDO Co., Ltd., an authorized domestic distributor, will hold the grand opening of the “DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando” in the Omotesando area of Tokyo on Saturday, October 31, 2026. This dual-concept store allows visitors to experience the combined worlds of DJI and Hasselblad, the Swedish premium camera brand boasting over 180 years of history as the pinnacle of medium-format photography.

The store consists of two floors, the first and second floors above ground, bringing together the world’s finest imaging technologies, from DJI’s latest drones, handheld gimbals, and action cameras to Hasselblad’s flagship medium-format digital camera systems. The store features a permanent indoor “Drone Flight Cage” for actual flight and operational experiences. It also offers 1-on-1 personalized consulting by expert staff and a multilingual support system (Japanese, English, and Chinese), strongly backing the expressive activities of all creators from Japan and abroad.

Background and Aim of Opening: A Permanent Flagship Hub to Meet the Growing Demand for “Real-World Experience and Expert Consultation”

The use of DJI products has been rapidly expanding in the Japanese market across a wide range of fields, including aerial photography, film and commercial production, still photography, and even industrial applications such as surveying and infrastructure inspection.

In recent years, while the demand for high-performance imaging equipment for creators has further increased, many customers have voiced their desire for real-world experiential value, stating, “I want to check the actual operational feel, image quality, and holding grip before purchasing,” and “I want to consult professionals to select the optimal equipment for my specific production needs and shooting environments.” For highly advanced equipment like drones in particular, it is extremely crucial to verify the intuitive operability and shooting sensation, which are difficult to convey solely through spec sheets and online information.

In response to these changing market dynamics, we decided to open a store in “Tokyo Omotesando,” an epicenter of trends and culture. This permanent flagship hub integrates “product experience,” “expert consulting,” and “experiencing the brand’s world view,” which cannot be fully covered by online sales and short-term events alone. We aim to create an open creative community space for all visual expressers, from highly sensitive top creators domestically and internationally to entry-level enthusiasts aspiring to begin serious content creation.

4 Key Highlights of “DJI Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando”

1. [Brand Convergence] A Dual-Concept Store to Experience the Worlds of DJI and Hasselblad

“DJI,” which develops innovative imaging technologies, and “Hasselblad,” which continues to support photographic expression as a historic medium-format camera brand. This is a new, dual-concept official store where the craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology of both brands intersect in a single space. From still images to motion pictures, and from the ground to the sky, we offer an equipment lineup that supports diverse creative activities.

2. [Real Experience] Indoor Drone Flight Cage & Product Touch & Try

On the 1st floor, a dedicated “Drone Flight Cage” is permanently installed, allowing visitors to safely fly and pilot drones. Without worrying about weather conditions or restricted flight areas, you can directly experience the hovering stability, camera operation, and control responsiveness of the latest drones on the spot. In addition, handheld cameras and gimbals such as the Osmo series led by the latest Osmo 360 II and Osmo Pocket 4P, as well as the Hasselblad medium-format cameras on the 2nd floor, are all displayed fully powered on, allowing you to freely pick them up and experience shooting.

3. [Expert Consultation] 1-on-1 Personalized Support System by Dedicated Specialists

Expert staff who are thoroughly familiar with product knowledge and on-site shooting know-how are permanently stationed at the store. We propose the optimal equipment configuration and peripheral accessories tailored to each customer’s shooting style, application, and business implementation goals. From comparing products to lectures on initial setup and consultation after introduction, we politely address all questions before and after purchase on a 1-on-1 basis.

4. [Global] Trilingual Support (Japanese, English, Chinese) to Fully Accommodate Inbound Demand

Tailored to the internationally diverse location of Omotesando, not only Japanese but also English and Chinese communication will be supported at the store. We have established a hospitable environment where international tourists and overseas business visitors can experience, purchase, and process tax exemptions for high-end equipment with peace of mind, without feeling any language barriers.

Floor Guide and Overview of Each Area

Each of the two floors offers independent themes and experiential value.

Floor

Main Exhibits and Services

1F
DJI Area

[DJI Touch & Try, Sales, and Flight Cage]
Latest aerial drones (Mavic series, Air series, Mini series, etc.)
Handheld gimbals and action cameras (Osmo Pocket, Osmo 360, Osmo Action, etc.)
Indoor drone flight cage (Actual piloting experience)
Product consultation by dedicated staff

2F
Hasselblad Area

[Hasselblad Touch & Try, Sales, and Gallery]
Medium-format mirrorless digital cameras (X2D II 100C, 907X series, etc.) and XCD lenses
Hasselblad art gallery (Exhibiting the overwhelming gradation and details captured by medium-format cameras)
Premium lounge and consulting booths for in-depth discussions in a relaxed atmosphere

Future Outlook: Regular Events and Workshops to Foster a Creator Community

This store will play a role not merely as an equipment sales hub, but as a communication hub where creators can connect, learn, and collaborate.

Following the grand opening, we plan to regularly host shooting workshops led by front-line professional photographers and video creators, drone flight experience seminars, and advance hands-on preview events for new products. Through the enthusiasm and learning opportunities unique to a physical store, we will contribute to the advancement of Japan’s creative culture.

Store Overview

Item

Store Basic Information

Store Name (Japanese)

DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store 東京表参道

Store Name (English)

DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando

Scheduled Opening Date & Time

Saturday, October 31, 2026 (Grand Opening)

Location

1F & 2F, La Porte Aoyama, 5-51-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Access

4-minute walk from Exit B2 of Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda,
and Hanzomon Lines

Business Hours / Holidays

11:00 – 20:00 (Planned) / Irregular holidays

Phone Number

03-6803-8400

Official Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/djihasselblad_tokyo_omotesando/

For details regarding the opening day and related campaigns, please check the store’s official Instagram or DJI’s official social media accounts.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to our store.

*Please note that all store images featured in this press release are computer-generated (CG) conceptual renderings. The actual design, layout, and specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

About DJI
Since its founding in 2006, DJI has pioneered the civilian drone industry, driving innovation while empowering individuals to take flight for the first time, turning imagination into reality, and continuously revolutionizing professional video production. Today, DJI strives every day with the goal of promoting human advancement and building a better world. With a solution-oriented mindset and genuine curiosity, DJI has expanded its business into fields such as renewable energy, agriculture, public safety, surveying and mapping, and infrastructure inspection. In each of these areas, DJI products create new value and bring unprecedented, fundamental changes to the lives of people around the world.

www.dji.com/jp  |  facebook.com/dji.jp  |  twitter.com/djijapan  |  youtube.com/DJIJapan  |  instagram.com/dji_japan  |  www.linkedin.com/company/dji

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SOURCE DJI JAPAN

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Shareholder Proposal Support Nudges Up as Proposal Volume Falls, Broadridge ProxyPulse™ Report Finds

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2026 proxy season sees a sharp decline in environmental and social proposals, a 10-year high in say-on-pay support and expanded opportunities for investor participation

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shareholder support for proposals increased in the 2026 proxy season even as the number of proposals continued to decline, according to the latest ProxyPulse™ report from global Fintech leader Broadridge (NYSE: BR).  Average support for shareholder proposals rose to 27.9% from 24.3% in 2025 with increases in both retail and institutional investor segments.

“The number of environmental and social proposals that were voted on declined by 47% between the 2025 and 2026 proxy seasons,” said Chuck Callan, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Broadridge. “At the same time, shareholder support for proposals on disclosing political spending, at 42% on average, rose to a new high. Backing for directors and say-on-pay remained strong, with say-on-pay support hitting a 10-year high.”

Retail Investors Vote More Shares as Participation Options Expand

Retail investors owned 6 billion more shares this season than last and voted 2 billion more of the shares they own. The report also highlights the continued expansion of “voting choice” and digital governance capabilities to expand the options that shareholders have to make their voices heard. More than 900 funds offered pass-through voting in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, up from approximately 400 a year earlier, with more than 400,000 shareholders enrolled. Companies held a record 2,542 virtual shareholder meetings between July 2025 and June 2026, including more than 200 first-time adopters.

About ProxyPulse™

The 2026 Broadridge ProxyPulse report examines ownership and voting trends across the past five proxy seasons and explores developments shaping corporate governance, including standing voting instructions, voting choice and support for tokenized equities.

ProxyPulse™ is based on Broadridge’s processing of shares held in street name at the 1,000+ broker-dealers and custodian banks it services. Accounts are classified as either “retail” or “institutional” based on the delivery channels and voting platforms they utilize. All data is reported in the aggregate. Comparative information covers annual meetings between January 1 and June 30 in each of the past five years.

About Broadridge

Broadridge (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with trusted expertise and transformative technology, helping clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences.

Broadridge’s technology and operations platforms process and generate over 8 billion communications annually and underpin the daily average trading of over $18 trillion in tokenized and traditional securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing approximately 16,000 associates in 28 countries. For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com.

Broadridge Contacts:

Investors: broadridgeir@broadridge.com

Media: Gregg.Rosenberg@broadridge.com

 

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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

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UMC and AP Memory Collaborate to Enable Advanced Power Delivery Solutions for AI and HPC Systems

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HSINCHU, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) (“UMC”) and AP Memory (TWSE: 6531) today announced a technology and manufacturing collaboration to advance power delivery solutions for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. This partnership combines UMC’s deep trench capacitor (DTC) foundry technology and scalable wafer manufacturing with AP Memory’s silicon capacitor designs and system-level integration to address the power efficiency challenges of next-generation data centers.

Rapid scaling of AI workloads is placing unprecedented demands on power delivery within computing systems, driving an architecture shift in data center design from placing power stabilization components on the circuit board to embedding capacitors directly in the interposer or substrate. This innovative approach shortens the power delivery path, improves power integrity, and supports more efficient voltage regulation within advanced packages.

The collaboration reached a significant milestone in the third quarter of 2026, with AP Memory’s S-SiCap™ Gen2D discrete silicon capacitor designs completing tape-out and initial functional validation. The next step is to proceed to comprehensive system-level performance and reliability testing of capacitors in substrate packages, targeting support for a range of capacitance and operating voltage requirements. UMC and AP Memory are also exploring opportunities to extend the collaboration to other product lines including capacitor-embedded interposers and landside capacitors to address diverse system designs.

GC Hung, Senior Vice President of UMC, said: “The growth of AI and HPC is driving a fundamental shift in power delivery – from board-level towards increasingly vertical power integration on the chip-level. UMC is offering robust power delivery solutions, including our DTC technology, which enables high-density capacitance to be placed closer to the computing die for more stable power delivery. By partnering with AP Memory, we are helping to bring scalable solutions to the market to solve the critical power bottleneck challenges as AI infrastructure continues to evolve.”

Ivan Hong, President of AP Memory, said: “The successful tape-out and initial wafer validation of our customized S-SiCap™ products using DTC technology represents an important milestone in demonstrating the flexibility and manufacturability of AP Memory’s S-SiCap™ design. By working with UMC, we are providing our customers a total solution, from product design to wafer manufacturing.”

UMC’s power delivery solutions roadmap covers both discrete and embedded silicon capacitors that can be applied to different system architectures, and extends to active components such as internal voltage regulators. UMC is also leveraging its advanced packaging capabilities to enable higher-density integration of power components to meet the higher voltage and capacitance requirements of next-generation data centers. In parallel, UMC is further investing in new manufacturing capacity to support both power delivery and heterogeneous integration solutions.

About UMC

UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry company. The company provides high-quality IC fabrication services, focusing on logic and various specialty technologies to serve all major sectors of the electronics industry. UMC’s comprehensive IC processing technologies and manufacturing solutions include Logic/Mixed-Signal, embedded High-Voltage, embedded Non-Volatile-Memory, RFSOI, BCD etc. Most of UMC’s 12-in and 8-in fabs with its core R&D are located in Taiwan, with additional ones throughout Asia. UMC has a total of 12 fabs in production with combined capacity of more than 400,000 wafers per month (12-in equivalent), and all of them are certified with IATF 16949 automotive quality standard. UMC is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, plus local offices in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Korea & Singapore, with a worldwide total of 20,000 employees. For more information, please visit: http://www.umc.com.

Note from UMC Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about introduction of new services and technologies, future outsourcing, competition, wafer capacity, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and technological and development risks. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in UMC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. UMC does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

About AP Memory

AP Memory (TWSE: 6531) is a global fabless design semiconductor company specializing in customized memory design and IP solutions. Products include IoT memory (IoTRAM™), AI memory solutions (VHM™), and silicon capacitors (S-SiCap™). With strong R&D capabilities, AP Memory is committed to providing high performance, low-power and innovative customized products and solutions for applications such as mobile communication, wearable, IoT, high-end mobile application, high-performance computing, and edge computing.

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SOURCE United Microelectronics Corporation; AP Memory Technology Corp.

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