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VAS101, a Novel Curcumin Transdermal Formulation, Reverses Some Clinical Hallmarks of Aging

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SUMMIT, N.J., March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a new study published in the journal GeroScience, VAS101 (Vasceptor®), a novel curcumin transdermal formulation developed by Vascarta Inc. (Summit, NJ, USA), when administered topically twice weekly i) restored physical and cognitive function in aged mice as well as improving markers of frailty; ii) reduced age associated inflammation (inflammaging) markers in multiple organs; iii) initiated tissue remodeling in aging hearts; and iv) lowered interleukin 11 (IL-11) expression in the kidney. The inhibition of IL-11 via a biologic was recently shown to increase the life span of mice [see Widjaja, A.A., et al, Inhibition of IL-11 signaling extends mammalian healthspan and lifespan. Nature, 632(8023), pp.157-165]. The present study also demonstrated that topically applied VAS101 can accelerate restoration of vascular health as reflected in normalizing blood pressure in an endothelial dysfunction model.

Vascular health is generally regarded as key to general health with endothelial dysfunction responsible for many age-related system failures. VAS101 provides a unique mechanism for delivery of curcumin to the endothelial lining of those blood vessels that are essential for vascular health.  VAS101 was shown in prior studies to effectively load red blood cells with curcumin (Curc-RBCs), improving both their ex vivo stability and extending circulation time in a surrogate animal model. Curc-RBCs were also shown to cross the blood brain barrier and deactivate activated mast cells and microglia and, in turn, limit chronic pain and neuro-inflammation. Curc-RBCs are not targeted by immune cells nor, like many intravenously- administered drugs and nanoparticle delivery vehicles, subjected to hepatic first-pass effect, thus allowing for full and sustained systemic delivery of the active ingredient.

Unlike oral curcumin, which is poorly absorbed, rapidly cleared and otherwise entangled with albumin and other circulating proteins, VAS101, through its subsequent enrichment of Curc-RBCs, uniquely reaches the endothelial layer of smaller and narrower blood vessels that are most critical for organ and tissue health and function.

The many positive effects of VAS101 are at least in part attributable to the known nitric oxide (NO) enhancing capability of curcumin. Curcumin delivery to small diameter blood vessels is an optimal strategy for improving vascular function by enhancing local levels of NO in the endothelium.

Joel Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of microbiology & immunology and of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vascarta Scientific Founder and Head, Scientific Advisory Board, stated, “Realizing curcumin’s well-documented effects on general health have been limited by the ability to achieve sustained, therapeutic concentrations in target tissues. What has been needed is a safe, cost-effective, and easy to use formulation that can be deployed over an extended period of time that targets the appropriate tissues. Transdermal VAS101 (Vasceptor®) may fill this gap and provide a novel way to restore some key elements of vascular health and slow and possibly reverse the aging process.” [Dr. Friedman is a co-author on the GeroScience paper and the inventor of VAS-101 which is exclusively licensed to Vascarta from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, New York, USA)].

Senior author Derek Huffman, Ph.D., professor of molecular pharmacology and of medicine and Co-Director of the Nathan Shock Center at Einstein, remarked, “We observed that a short intervention with transdermal VAS101 resulted in a number of favorable effects on health in mice.  This included improved aspects of health span such as exercise capacity and reduced frailty. Based upon these data, VAS101 may have potential to be a safe and effective therapeutic to treat aging.”

Dr. Richard Prince, Vascarta Chairman, CEO and President, said, “As part of our commitment to making the health benefits of curcumin widely available, we are initiating human studies and will seek FDA approval of transdermal Vasceptor® in a range of conditions characterized by pain and inflammation.”

About Vascarta

Vascarta is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company exploring efficient transdermal delivery of pharmaceuticals to address several conditions with an initial focus on sickle cell disease and osteoarthritis. For those interested in learning more about Vascarta’s clinical programs, contact Chairman, CEO & President Dr. Richard Prince at rprince@vascarta.com.  Media requests should be directed to David Hymson at dhymson@vascarta.com.

Publication Authors & Affiliations

Kai Mao1,2,4, Ruixuan Wang1,4, Kateryna Karpoff1,4, Daniel Kerr5, Probal Banerjee6, Joel M. Friedman2,3,7 and Derek M. Huffman1,2,4,†

Departments of 1Molecular Pharmacology, 2Medicine, 3Microbiology & Immunology, and the 4Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
5The Center for Developmental Neuroscience and 6Department of Chemistry, CUNY College of Staten Island, NY 10314, USA

7Vascarta Inc, Summit, NJ, 07901, USA 

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SOURCE Vascarta Inc

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From China Mobile’s Call Upgrade to the Commercial Launch of “Calling + AI” by Leading Operators: AI Is Reshaping the Value of Native Calling

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BEIJING, July 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On June 15, 2026, China Mobile announced a comprehensive upgrade to its traditional calling services, ushering in a next-generation calling experience defined by HD, intelligence, and security. This milestone not only marks a major leap in telecommunication innovation but also reflects a global, inevitable shift: the transformation of basic communication into intelligent, inclusive services.

Breaking Experience Barriers and Redefining the Paradigm of Basic Calling

Overcoming the limitations of traditional, voice-only interactions, China Mobile has leveraged its mature VoLTE/VoNR network foundation to deeply integrate AI models with HD audio and video capabilities. Without requiring users to change their phones or SIM cards, seven core AI functions are now seamlessly embedded into the native dialer interface.

These upgrades include Live Captions bridge communication gaps for the elderly and hearing-impaired; HD video calls and AI noise reduction create a crystal-clear, immersive calling experience; AI anti-fraud intercepts high-risk calls in real time to safeguard users’ assets. Furthermore, the introduction of Data Channel (DC) technology and visual call menus transforms standard calls into agile, interactive service windows, enabling multi-party collaboration and seamless business transactions directly within the call. Through this initiative, China Mobile has successfully evolved traditional calls from a mere voice pipeline into a secure, integrated information hub.

“Calling + AI” Becomes a Strategic Consensus Among Global Leading Operators

From a global perspective, China Mobile’s call upgrade is not an isolated milestone, but a microcosm of the global telecommunications industry’s broader transformation. Throughout 2026, major operators worldwide are accelerating the commercial deployment of “Calling + AI” solutions:

Deutsche Telekom launched Magenta AI, leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance calling across all scenarios;T-Mobile US introduced a network-side, real-time translation service covering over 80 languages, effectively breaking down cross-border communication barriers;Saudi stc rolled out English-Arabic bilingual simultaneous interpretation, which has now entered large-scale commercial trials;South Korea’s LG U+ launched its ixi-O intelligent calling assistant, shifting the user experience from passive responses to proactive smart interactions and earning three prestigious GLOMO industry awards.

The synchronized efforts of these global leaders confirm that basic calling services have officially entered a new era of AI integration. Deeply empowered by artificial intelligence, “Calling + AI” has become the definitive blueprint for the intelligent transformation of the global telecommunications industry. As operators continue to refine these native capabilities, the traditional voice network is poised to reclaim its position as the most secure, ubiquitous, and valuable entry point in the AI era.

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SOURCE China Mobile

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Trip.com Group Sincerely Accepts Administrative Penalty Decision Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China

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SINGAPORE, July 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961) today announced that it has received the administrative penalty decision issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China.

Trip.com Group sincerely accepts the decision and will adopt rectification measures in accordance with applicable laws and regulations to implement the decision’s requirements. The Company will strengthen its long-term governance mechanisms and strive to contribute to the sustainable development of the travel industry.

Trip.com Group’s management team will host a conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on July 27, 2026 (or 8:00 PM Hong Kong Time on July 27, 2026).

The conference call will be available on Webcast live at: http://investors.trip.com.

All participants must pre-register to join this conference call using the participant registration link below:
https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIb78e08d8f18340c4882a7e4ab961906b.

Upon registration, each participant will receive details for this conference call, including dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN. To join the conference, please dial the number provided, enter your PIN, and you will join the conference instantly.

For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Trip.com Group Limited
Email: iremail@trip.com

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SOURCE Trip.com Group Limited

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NAVER Partners with Brookfield and NVIDIA to Expand Korea’s National AI Factory Infrastructure Buildout

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SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NAVER, Brookfield and NVIDIA announced an expansion of Korea’s sovereign AI factory infrastructure. New investments will increase the initial NVIDIA DSX™ AI factory deployment from 55 megawatts to 200 megawatts.

Announced during Korea President Jae Myung Lee’s AI Summit visit to San Francisco, the planned 200-megawatt expansion will be built with the NVIDIA DSX platform at NAVER’s GAK Sejong hyperscale data center in Sejong, South Korea. The expanded infrastructure will provide Korea- and U.S.- based AI innovators with access to production-scale AI compute for building next-generation models, agents and AI-powered services.

Under the terms of the agreements, Brookfield will fund up to $9 billion as the exclusive capital partner, NVIDIA will invest $1 billion and NAVER will fund the remaining amount to finance the $10 billion project.

This builds on NAVER’s June announcement to extend its GAK Sejong data center with NVIDIA DSX, with a long-term path to gigawatt-scale sovereign AI infrastructure serving Korea’s enterprises, industries, government organizations and global AI cloud customers. Combining Brookfield’s capital with NVIDIA’s computing platform, the investment supports NAVER’s AI factory deployment.

“NVIDIA’s strategic investment and our infrastructure supply agreement with Brookfield have propelled NAVER’s vision for the AI Factory business into a robust execution phase,” said Haejin Lee, Founder and Chairman of NAVER. “Leveraging the solid partnerships with our global partners, we will drive technological innovation, foster a sovereign AI ecosystem, and spearhead efforts to strengthen South Korea’s AI competitiveness.” 

AI Factory Expansion and Open Model Collaboration to Fuel AI Innovators

NAVER, as an NVIDIA Cloud Partner, provides deep expertise in operating hyperscale infrastructure powered by the full-stack NVIDIA AI platform. The 200-megawatt AI factory, featuring NVIDIA Vera Rubin and Blackwell platforms, will establish a dedicated resource pool for emerging AI companies, providing the compute, software and support needed to develop and deploy competitive AI models and applications at scale.

This expanded infrastructure also builds on NAVER and NVIDIA’s collaboration on open model development for agentic and physical AI. NAVER is advancing its HyperCLOVA X models to be based on NVIDIA Nemotron™ 3 Ultra open models with its proprietary data and training expertise. NAVER is also the first Korean company to join the NVIDIA Nemotron Coalition, contributing to open model development across pretraining, post-training and reinforcement learning.

NAVER plans to launch an AI agent platform in Korea in the second half of the year, powered by NVIDIA Agent Toolkit software including NVIDIA NemoClaw™ blueprints. NAVER is also developing a Seoul World Model using proprietary urban street-view and spatial modeling data, built on NVIDIA Cosmos™ world foundation models.

About NAVER

Founded in 1999, NAVER is Korea’s largest Internet company and one of the world’s top tech companies. Leading cutting-edge technologies, NAVER operates the No.1 search engine in Korea and holds various business portfolios encompassing commerce, fintech, cloud, AI and robotics.

NAVER recorded sales of KRW 12.04 trillion (USD 8.18 billion) in 2025. TEAM NAVER continues to enhance its business portfolio and expand its global presence across Japan, North America, and Europe, while pursuing innovation through continuous research and development in future technologies.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naver-partners-with-brookfield-and-nvidia-to-expand-koreas-national-ai-factory-infrastructure-buildout-302834577.html

SOURCE NAVER

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