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Owkin enters collaboration agreement with MSD to develop AI-powered diagnostics for cancer

  • Owkin to collaborate with MSD to develop and commercialize AI-powered digital pathology Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) diagnostics for four types of cancer.
  • The aim is to pre-screen patients for the MSI-H biomarker, which is found in a broad range of solid tumor types and is a strong predictor of PD1/PDL-1 inhibitor efficacy in cancer.

 

 

PARIS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Owkin, a French-American biotechnology company that applies artificial intelligence (AI) to drug discovery, development, and diagnostics, on Monday announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with MSD, the trade name of Merck & Co Inc., Rahway N.J. U.S.A. to develop and commercialize AI-powered digital pathology diagnostics for the E.U. market.

 

Clinical trials have shown that the MSI-H tumor phenotype has potential prognostic and therapeutic importance, especially with the increased application of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies.1,2,3,4 As such, MSI-H has become an important genomic biomarker with applications across several types of cancer. As a result, testing for MSI-H is now recommended by consensus guidelines internationally.5,6,7,8

 

Meriem Sefta, Chief Diagnostics Officer, said, “This strategic alliance with MSD is focused on improving the way patients are diagnosed and receive treatment, advancing our shared mission of supporting healthcare providers in their adoption of innovative digital diagnostics. It is clear that there is a need for AI diagnostics that can both ease bottlenecks and resource pressures while also ramping up biomarker testing to match patients with optimal treatments.”

 

This collaboration seeks to develop a pre-screening procedure to improve testing rates for MSI-H in endometrial, gastric, small intestinal, and biliary cancers. In these cancer types, MSI-H prevalence is low and MSI-H screening is not routinely performed. The collaboration will initially be focused in the European Union.

 

“The application of AI technologies holds tremendous potential in the screening of patients and the diagnosis of disease,” said Scott K. Pruitt, associate vice president and head, Translational Oncology, MSD Research Laboratories. “We look forward to working with the Owkin team toward harnessing this opportunity to identify more patients with MSI-H cancers who may benefit from ICI therapy.”

 

Owkin, which currently has the only MSI digital pathology diagnostic CE-marked in colorectal cancer, will extend the development of its MSI-H AI diagnostics into four new cancer types, leveraging multimodal patient data from multiple academic centers and hospitals.

 

About Owkin

Owkin is a biotechnology company that combines the best of human and artificial intelligence to ensure every patient gets the right treatment. By understanding complex biology through AI, we identify new treatments, de-risk and accelerate clinical trials and develop AI diagnostics. Owkin uses privacy-enhancing federation to access up-to-date multimodal patient data that unlocks AI’s potential to power precision medicine.

 

Owkin is working to deliver AI diagnostics that integrate seamlessly into the digital pathology workflow to support accurate diagnosis at a fraction of the time and cost of existing tests. Our solutions help improve pathology workflows, pre-screen for biomarkers, and predict outcomes— giving healthcare providers a fuller picture of a patient’s disease. This means more patients can benefit from targeted therapies, making precision medicine more accessible to more patients at an earlier stage of their disease.

 

Owkin has raised over $300 million through investments from leading biopharma companies (Sanofi and BMS) and venture funds (Fidelity, GV and BPI, among others).

 

MSIntuit CRC

MSIntuit CRC is a CE-marked AI diagnostic that optimizes testing for microsatellite instability (MSI), a critical biomarker for CRC patients that represents a defect in a cell’s ability to correct mistakes that occur when DNA is replicated. Testing is now recommended by consensus guidelines, such as European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Europe and College of American Pathologists (CAP) in the US. MSI phenotyping is also essential to both the management of hereditary colorectal cancers and prognosis evaluation.

 

MSIntuit CRC is used for pre-screening and applies machine learning to digitized pathology slides to help pathologists and oncologists in their objective to facilitate better access to immunotherapy for all CRC patients.

 

MSIntuit CRC aims to have a significant impact on doctors and patients by decreasing workload and turnaround time, optimizing costs, and preserving tissue material and consumables. By using AI, this innovative tool may also support reproducibility through addressing inter-observer variability, with the end goal of optimizing quality and efficiency for critical tests.

 

1 KEYNOTE-177 (Pembrolizumab in Microsatellite-Instability–High Advanced Colorectal Cancer) https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2017699

2 CheckMate 142 (Nivolumab (NIVO) ± ipilimumab (IPI) in patients (pts) with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Five-year follow-up from CheckMate 142) https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.3510

3 KEYNOTE-158 (Pembrolizumab in microsatellite instability high or mismatch repair deficient cancers: updated analysis from the phase II KEYNOTE-158 study) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35680043/

4 Dostarlimab for Primary Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36972026/

5 ESMO recommendation, Annals of Oncology 30: 1232–1243, 2019

6 NICE [Accessed June 2023]

7 Cancer Ind. Évaluation du statut MMR tumoral / synthèse. 2021; [Accessed June 2023]

8 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal (Version 1 2018).

Contacts

Stephanie Libous

Director of PR & Comms

stephanie.libous@owkin.com

Edward Farmer

PR Consultant

edward.farmer-ext@owkin.com

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Ocean Casino Resort selects Konami Gaming’s SYNKROS casino management system showcasing a suite of top features

Atlantic City Boardwalk resort joins with Konami to deliver industry-leading tech features to guests

LAS VEGAS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Ocean Casino Resort and Konami Gaming, Inc. announced a partnership to drive in-demand casino technology to the 20-acre luxury destination on Atlantic City’s world-famous boardwalk.

 

Ocean has selected Konami’s SYNKROS® as its core gaming enterprise management system, through which the resort is set to take advantage of many exciting features that would be first to market in New Jersey. Ocean is in the position to leverage award-winning technology including Konami’s Konetic™ employee mobile application and integrated SYNK31™ Title 31 / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system, for continuing top-tier service.

 

“We are looking forward to partnering with Konami to present both our guests and our team members with innovative, first to market technology meant to maximize efficiency and improve customer experiences,” said Bill Callahan, General Manager for Ocean Casino Resort. “Konami’s industry-leading technology and global gaming savvy are invaluable in the implementation of these new features to our casino floor.”

 

Through the upcoming SYNKROS launch, guests at Ocean will have the opportunity to tap into a suite of new and convenient bonusing and funding options. Another high-demand solution is the award-winning mobile app Konetic, which brings a convenient online workflow to many casino employee tasks including jackpot hand pays, managing dispatching alerts, cash can processing, progressive signs monitoring, and more. And with the implementation of SYNK31, Ocean is an industry early adopter of comprehensive, fully integrated Title 31 / AML compliance.

 

“As Ocean Casino Resort continues to achieve exceptional growth, the resort is investing in state-of-the-art gaming technology and innovative systems to enhance its operations and guest experience,” said Tom Soukup, senior vice president & chief systems product officer at Konami Gaming, Inc. “Our team is incredibly driven toward Ocean’s ongoing customer service strength, growth success, and market differentiation.”

 

This conversion is expected to be completed before Summer 2024.

 

Those interested in learning more about SYNKROS’ award-winning product suite are encouraged to visit www.konamigaming.com.

 

About Ocean Casino Resort:

Spanning over 20 beachfront acres on the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, Ocean Casino Resort, named “Best Casino” by Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly 2023” awards, features 1,860 guest rooms and suites; 135,000 square feet of gaming entertainment; over 1,750 slot machines; 125 gaming tables; 160,000 square feet of meeting and convention space; 90,000 square feet of unique outdoor space; 5 upscale dining restaurants; 10 casual dining options; a 40,000 square foot spa; 6 signature day and nightlife experiences; and a 4,500-seat concert venue. Ocean is home to the world’s largest Topgolf Swing Suite and offers both land-based sports wagering and online gaming within the state of New Jersey through its real-money gaming sites. Ocean Casino Resort is owned and operated by AC Beachfront, L.L.C. For more information about Ocean, please visit theoceanac.com or follow Ocean on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & TikTok.

 

About Konami Gaming, Inc.

Konami Gaming, Inc. is a Las Vegas-based subsidiary of KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION (TSE: 9766). The company is a leading designer and manufacturer of casino games and technology for the global gaming market. For more information about Konami Gaming, Inc. or the SYNKROS® casino management system, please visit www.konamigaming.com.

Contacts

Media Contact:
Tashina Lazcano

Director of Marketing & Communications

702.419.6025

wortham0609@konamigaming.com

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DaleBoot partners with Aetrex to offer custom ski boots based on 3D foot scans

Partnership marks the first use of 3D foot scanning technology in custom ski gear

 

TEANECK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Aetrex, Inc., a global market leader in foot scanning technology and data-driven orthotics and comfort footwear, on Tuesday announced its partnership with custom ski boot manufacturer DaleBoot.

 

Leveraging Aetrex’s Albert 2 Pro foot scanning technology, DaleBoot will transition from manually measuring customer’s feet to using automated 3D foot scan data to design custom ski boots, improving fit accuracy and customer satisfaction and reducing refitting rates during a compact winter retail season.


After years of testing several foot scanning technologies, DaleBoot selected Aetrex technology for its accuracy and ease of use. Aetrex’s scanners use a pure computer vision model to create the most accurate 3D reconstruction of the foot available on the market. DaleBoot customers will complete a 20 second foot scan on the Albert 2 Pro and answer questions on ski experience, previous discomfort with ski boots and preferred snow conditions. DaleBoot will then use the 3D foot scan data and customer-reported information to develop a pair of custom ski boots with a personalized-fit shell, a fully custom liner and in-boot and on-ski stance balance and alignment, in under a week.

 

“Most skiiers consider wearing uncomfortable ski boots an unavoidable experience when hitting the slopes. But any footwear, including ski boots, designed to fit your feet should never be painful. Our partnership with DaleBoot aims to make that a reality by bringing detailed, accurate 3D measurements and data-driven insights to the ski boot development process,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO of Aetrex.

 

As of August 2023, Aetrex scanners are currently in use at 8 DaleBoot stores, including Salt Lake City, UT, and Kitzbuehel, Austria locations. The company plans to bring Aetrex foot scanners to all 60 points of distribution in ski shops around the world.

 

“Our commitment to continuous innovation has made DaleBoot the custom boot manufacturer of choice for the industry since 1969. Our customers know they can always count on us for the latest and greatest in ski boot technology,” said Rob Graham, CEO of DaleBoot. “Partnering with Aetrex during this next phase of our evolution makes our boots more personalized and data-driven than ever before.”

 

To learn more, visit www.aetrex.com/technology or contact Aetrex National Accounts Manager Justin Dyszelski at jdyszelski@aetrex.com to discuss leveraging Aetrex technology for developing snow sports gear.

 

About Aetrex

Aetrex, Inc. is widely recognized as a global leader in foot scanning technology and data-driven orthotics and comfort footwear. Aetrex has developed state-of-the-art foot scanning devices, including Albert, Albert 2 Pro and Albert 3DFit (2022 and 2023 CES Innovation Award Honorees), Albert Pressure and iStep, designed to accurately measure feet and determine foot type and pressure points. Since 2002, Aetrex has placed over 12,000 scanners worldwide that have performed more than 50 million unique customer foot scans, currently averaging more than 2.5 million scans a year.

 

The company is renowned for its over-the-counter orthotics – the worlds #1 premium foot orthotic. With fashion, function and quality at the forefront, Aetrex also designs and manufactures stylish, performance footwear. Based in New Jersey, Aetrex is consistently named one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Privately Held Companies and was also included in NJBIZ’s Top 30 Manufacturing Companies. It has remained privately owned by the Schwartz family for three generations. For additional information, visit www.aetrex.com.

 

About DaleBoot

Since its inception in 1969, DaleBoot has been highly focused on designing and manufacturing fully custom, high performance ski boots. With its factory and North American Headquarters based in Salt Lake City, and their European HQ located in the heart of the Alps in Kitzbuehel, Austria, DaleBoot provides worldwide coverage through its exclusive retail partner network. With 14 patents issued in its name, the company has chartered a course to address real customer issues, facing 85% of the skiing population, who experience problems, from large to small, with their ski boots. The DaleBoot process includes a complete athletic and bio-mechanic assessment, a series of 3D measurements, shell and liner customization, in-boot stance balance and alignment, and true on-ski cant correction. The result is a high performance ski boot that fits comfortably and is exciting to ski.

 

Founded by Mel Dalebout, an alternate for the 1952 U.S. Olympic Ski Team, and Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame inductee, the company was purchased by Rob Graham, a former U.S. freestyler, in 2007. Graham’s passion for the sport and deep business and orthopaedic acumen has propelled the company forward in terms of ski boot design and development, while establishing a new line of business dedicated to the design and manufacturing of devices used for orthopaedic surgeries. The company remains independently owned and operated. For more information on DaleBoot, please visit www.daleboot.com.

Contacts

Simone Migliori

Matter Communications

aetrex@matternow.com

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Best’s Review looks ahead to 2024 key issues

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — In a new article, Best’s Review speaks to experts about what they see as the insurance industry’s top issues in the coming year.

 

Hot topics include natural catastrophes and climate risk, generative artificial intelligence, cyber risk, litigation and nuclear verdicts, as well as the U.S. presidential election.

 

The insurance workforce is also in the spotlight as layoff announcements have accelerated. Read the full story in “Insurers Look Ahead to 2024 and Key Issues: Catastrophes, Inflation, Layoffs, AI and More.”

 

Best’s Review is AM Best’s monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. The complete content of Best’s Review is available here.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patricia Vowinkel
Executive Editor, Best’s Review®
+1 908 882 1771
patricia.vowinkel@ambest.com

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MATTER opens applications for accelerator focused on reducing maternal mortality in the US

Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker to support cohort of women’s health startups; including $125,000 of investment for each selected company

CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, has opened applications for the second 51 Labs, an accelerator focused on women’s health.

 

This year’s program focuses on preventing maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth and receives support from Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker.

 

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. worsened by 40 percent from 2020 to 2021.1 The maternal mortality rate is now the highest in the U.S. since 1965 and is far worse than other industrialized nations.

 

While all ages and races saw an increase in maternal mortality in 2021, many inequities still exist due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to access to quality care, socioeconomic status, race and education level. For example, Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes as white women in the U.S.2

 

“51 Labs is designed to address gaps in investment and innovation in women’s health,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “We are pleased to partner with seven key industry stakeholders to help a cohort of startups advance solutions to help address the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S.”

 

The Laerdal Million Lives Fund, a global venture capital fund dedicated to transformative technologies that can help save lives, will serve as a capital partner for this cohort of 51 Labs companies. “Many maternal deaths are preventable. By investing in enabling technologies and digital solutions that can drive early interventions with high life saving potential and quality improvement initiatives, we can help scale companies working in this critical area,” said Becca Shmukler, principal of Laerdal Million Lives Fund.

 

The second cohort of the 51 Labs accelerator will address the question:

 

How can we prevent maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth?

The program will have three tracks: 1) supporting access to regular prenatal care to identify and mitigate potential risk factors earlier; 2) lowering the incidence of maternal health complications; and 3) supporting mothers during the 12 months after giving birth.

 

“It’s critically important to support innovative solutions to help moms and babies thrive,” said Dr. Monica Berner, chief clinical officer for Health Care Service Corporation. “Earlier this year, HCSC launched an expanded maternal and infant health initiative to improve health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps, and educating and engaging residents on a community level. This 51 Labs program is another way we can help support other innovators who are seeking to tackle this critical issue.”

 

Applications for the 12-week accelerator are now open. Participating startups will benefit from one-on-one mentoring with industry experts, workshops, interactive roundtable discussions, forums and more. Additionally, each of the selected companies will receive an investment of $125,000, including $100,000 cash from the Laerdal Million Lives Fund and $25,000 of services from MATTER.

 

The program will culminate with a final showcase in May 2024.

 

For more information, email 51labs@matter.health.

 

About MATTER

At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 800 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.

 

About HCSC

Health Care Service Corporation is the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer, serving more than 18.6 million members in its health plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

 

About Laerdal Million Lives Fund

The Million Lives Fund invests in entrepreneurs who are developing and deploying new, emerging technologies capable of saving lives and enhancing healthcare quality and outcomes regardless of demographics or geography. The $100 million fund targets digital health and technology companies whose solutions can improve mortality rates and help reach its goal of helping to save 1 million lives annually by 2030. Investments span across medical education innovations to early interventions, therapeutics and tech-enabled care models. For more information, visit www.laerdalmillionlives.com.

 

About BayCare

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit healthcare system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 16 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The system is West Central Florida’s largest provider of behavioral health and pediatric services and its provider group, BayCare Medical Group, is one of the largest in the region. BayCare’s diverse network of ambulatory services includes laboratories, imaging, surgical centers, BayCare Urgent Care locations, wellness centers and one of Florida’s largest home care agencies, BayCare HomeCare. Its Medicare Advantage insurance, BayCarePlus, is among the region’s few 5-star-rated plans and the system is ranked in the top 20 percent of large health systems in the country by FORUTNE/Merative™. BayCare’s mission is to improve the health of all it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care.

 

About Parkview Health

Parkview Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system serving a northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio population of more than 1.3 million. Parkview Health’s mission is to improve health and inspire well-being in the communities it serves. With more than 16,000 co-workers, it is the region’s largest employer. Parkview Health includes 13 hospitals and an extensive network of primary care and specialty care physicians. The flagship Parkview Regional Medical Center campus includes services such as the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute, Parkview Heart Institute, Samaritan flight and ground transport program, Parkview Ortho Hospital, a certified stroke center, verified adult and pediatric trauma centers, Women’s & Children’s Hospital and an outpatient services center. Parkview has been named one of America’s Best-In-State Employers by Forbes and made Newsweek’s list of Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces.

 

About University of Chicago Medicine

The University of Chicago Medicine, with a history dating back to 1927, is one of the nation’s leading academic medical institutions. UChicago Medicine comprises the University of Chicago Medical Center, which offers a full range of primary and specialty care for adults and children through more than 40 institutes and centers; Ingalls Memorial, a community-based hospital and outpatient facility; a micro-hospital in northwest Indiana, a network of outpatient clinics and physician practices throughout Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana; the Pritzker School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in the nation; and the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, with an affiliated 12 Nobel Prize winners in physiology or medicine.

 

About Organon

Organon is a global healthcare company formed to focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Organon offers more than 60 medicines and products in women’s health in addition to a growing biosimilars business and a large franchise of established medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. Organon’s existing products produce strong cash flows that support investments in innovation and future growth opportunities in women’s health and biosimilars. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets.

 

Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 10,000 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

 

For more information, visit http://www.organon.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

About Stryker

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. The company offers innovative products and services in Medical and Surgical, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 130 million patients annually. More information is available at www.stryker.com.

_____________

1 “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023.

2 “U.S. Maternal Mortality Hits Highest Level Since 1965,” The Wall Street Journal, 2023.

Contacts

Julia Cremin

jcremin@pcipr.com
331-333-2928

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NICE Actimize recognized as Category Leader in the Chartis KYC Data and Solutions 2023 Market Update and Vendor Landscape Report

Measured across five unique solution functions, NICE Actimize scored highly in KYC risk scoring capabilities as well as reporting and dashboarding, and customer onboarding

 

 

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #NICE—NICE Actimize, a NICE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, has been recognized by Chartis Research as a Category Leader in KYC solutions in its recently released KYC Data and Solutions 2023 Market Update and Vendor Landscape Report. The Chartis KYC RiskTech Quadrant® rated vendors across Market Potential and Completeness of Offering criteria which included 35 vendors of KYC solutions featured in this report. Chartis Research, part of Infopro Digital, is a leading provider of research and analysis on the global market for risk technology.

NICE Actimize achieved high scores across various parameters, including reporting and dashboarding, KYC risk scoring, customer profile enrichment with additional data, customer onboarding and maintenance. Most notably, NICE Actimize achieved a “four-star” rating for the category of KYC risk scoring. Other characteristics influencing the ranking position were market potential attributes, including customer satisfaction, market penetration, growth strategy, business model, and financials.

 

“NICE Actimize has continued to build out its KYC offering across cloud and on-premise deployments, developing its simulation and model and entity risk capabilities,” said Ahmad Kataf, Senior Research Specialist at Chartis Research. “Its strong partnership strategy reinforces its position as a hub for a flexible financial crime compliance marketplace, and it has also demonstrated continued growth on top of its already strong market penetration. All these factors are reflected in its category leader positioning in our KYC Solutions quadrant.”

 

“NICE Actimize’s AI-powered KYC/CDD solutions manage critical compliance challenges while providing complete customer lifecycle coverage without compromising customer experience,” said Craig Costigan, CEO, NICE Actimize, “As our financial services organizations place stronger emphasis on determining risk, our entity risk approach offers an unmatched ability to access true and transparent business intelligence around customers and entities while managing critical compliance challenges.”

 

In addition to offering complete customer lifecycle risk coverage, NICE Actimize’s next-generation KYC/CDD solution includes integrated data intelligence, identity resolution, extensive out-of-the-box risk models, dynamic segmentation and risk scoring, simulation, and full auditability to help organizations fully understand their customers, their customers’ connections, and any associated risks.

 

NICE Actimize was recently positioned number fifteen in Chartis’ comprehensive list of top 100 global risk and compliance technology vendors in the 2024 Chartis RiskTech100 report.

 

For further information on NICE Actimize solutions for Know Your Customer / KYC solutions, including white papers and e-books, please visit its web site here.

 

About Chartis

Chartis Research is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global market for risk technology. It is part of Infopro Digital, which owns market-leading brands such as Risk and WatersTechnology. The goal of Chartis Research is to support enterprises as they drive business performance through improved risk management, corporate governance and compliance, and to help clients make informed technology and business decisions by providing in-depth analysis and actionable advice on virtually all aspects of risk technology.

 

RiskTech Quadrant®, RiskTech100® and FinTech QuadrantTM are registered trademarks of Infopro Digital Services Limited (http://www.chartis-research.com).

 

About NICE Actimize

NICE Actimize is the largest and broadest provider of financial crime, risk and compliance solutions for regional and global financial institutions, as well as government regulators. Consistently ranked as number one in the space, NICE Actimize experts apply innovative technology to protect institutions and safeguard consumers and investors assets by identifying financial crime, preventing fraud and providing regulatory compliance. The company provides real-time, cross-channel fraud prevention, anti-money laundering detection, and trading surveillance solutions that address such concerns as payment fraud, cybercrime, sanctions monitoring, market abuse, customer due diligence and insider trading. Find us at www.niceactimize.com, @NICE_Actimize or Nasdaq: NICE.

 

About NICE

With NICE (Nasdaq: NICE), it’s never been easier for organizations of all sizes around the globe to create extraordinary customer experiences while meeting key business metrics. Featuring the world’s #1 cloud native customer experience platform, CXone, NICE is a worldwide leader in AI-powered contact center software. Over 25,000 organizations in more than 150 countries, including over 85 of the Fortune 100 companies, partner with NICE to transform – and elevate – every customer interaction. www.nice.com.

Trademark Note: NICE and the NICE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE’s marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.

 

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Costigan, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the “Company”). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “project,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in economic and business conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; successful execution of the Company’s growth strategy; success and growth of the Company’s cloud Software-as-a-Service business; changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for the Company’s products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties or delays in absorbing and integrating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company’s dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners;, cyber security attacks or other security breaches against the Company; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.

Contacts

Corporate Media Contact:

Cindy Morgan-Olson, +1 646 408 5896, ET, media@nice.com

Investors:

Marty Cohen, +1 551 256 5354, ET, ir@nice.com
Omri Arens, +972 3 763 0127, CET, ir@nice.com

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Second edition of Emerge development program gets Singapore, Taiwan backing

The Singapore Film Commission and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) have agreed to back training and development program, Emerge, which supports writers, directors and producers to develop Chinese-language original films.

 

The announcement was unveiled on Friday within the context of the Asia Television Forum (ATF) in Singapore. Signatories included the executive chair of SFC, Justin Ang and chairperson of TAICCA, Homme Tsai.

 

The 12-week programme will combine hybrid and virtual sessions held in both Singapore and Taiwan from March to May 2024. In-person classes are scheduled to take place in Singapore in March, hybrid workshops and consultations online and in Taiwan, culminating in a final pitch day and award ceremony, planned at the Marche du Film Market in Cannes, May.

 

The session will include experienced global film producers, directors and executives including Ron Howard, Sukee Chew (“Sugar23”), Trey Callaway (“9-1-1 Lonestar”), Derek Tsang (“Better Days”) and Jojo Hui (“The Warlords”) as guest lecturers.

 

This is the second edition of Emerge, after a previous round backed by TAICCA, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment and Cora Yim’s Sixty Percent Productions.

 

“With the increasing demand for Asian storytelling all over the world, this collaboration provides a truly international platform for Singapore filmmakers to take their skills to the next level,” said Ang.

 

“Leveraging the resources of Hollywood and leading multinational film and television companies in Asia, the collaboration seeks to craft content that resonates on a global scale,” said TAICCA chair Homme Tsai.

 

“We had a successful inaugural Emerge with TAICCA and Sixty Percent Productions, which allowed us to work with talented storytellers that yielded results,” said Imagine executive chairmen Grazer and Howard, in a joint statement.

 

“Emerge has been fruitful since its launch last September, with five Taiwanese TV projects incubated and a TV series [Chang Kaichih and Chen Fang Chi’s “Gunshot”] greenlit by Public Television Service in Taiwan for further development. We are delighted to extend our program to developing films with filmmakers from Singapore,” said Yim.

 

 

— Variety

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Desktop Metal now shipping the Figur G15 – a Digital Sheet Metal Forming machine that eliminates the need for custom tooling

  • The Figur G15 uses patent-pending Digital Sheet Forming (DSF) technology in which a software-driven ceramic toolhead on a gantry shapes standard sheet metal into parts with up to 2,000 lbs of force
  • With a maximum sheet size of 1600 x 1200 mm (63.0 x 47.2 in), the Figur G15 delivers parts with a draw depth up to 400 mm (16 in) in Z without custom forming tools, molds, dies, or presses
  • The G15 supports forming a range of metals and sheet thicknesses – including steel up to 2.0 mm and aluminum up to 2.5 mm – and delivers a high quality surface finish
  • Manufacturers now have a competitive way to offer formed sheet metal parts and products quickly for automotive, appliance, and aerospace applications without the high startup and development costs normally associated with sheet metal fabrication
  • First shown at IMTS 2022, the Figur G15 has sold out of its initial manufacturing run and is accelerating production to meet demand
  • A video showcasing how Saltworks will be using the Figur G15 is available at TeamDM.com/Saltworks

 

 

BOSTON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #3Dprinting — Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM),a global leader in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for mass production, today announced the first commercial shipments of the Figur G15, an innovative Digital Sheet Forming (DSF) machine tool, to Saltworks Fab, a Florida-based automotive restoration and hot rod company.

 

Satworks is installing two Figur G15 platforms at its Sarasota, Florida facility to accelerate its auto restoration business and expand access to metal forming services to new customers. The company often creates metal body panels that are no longer commercially available with manual hammering and laborious forming processes.

Investing in the Figur G15, the company will dramatically reduce production times while also having the flexibility of digital manufacturing to create complex shapes, efficient one-offs, or produce short-runs of designs. Saltworks recently demonstrated the capabilities of the Figur G15 at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where the team exhibited the entire side body of a Mercedes Gullwing created of 6061 aluminum panels formed on the G15 in under 10 hours for the entire 15-piece assembly.

 

“Our team has over 100 years of combined metal-shaping experience, and we’re excited to bring the latest digital metal forming technology in-house,” said David Jacobsen, CEO of Saltworks Fab. “The Figur G15 buys us time. It allows us to bring vintage vehicles back to their former glory while also enabling us to enter a whole new level of business helping customers that currently don’t have the ability or resources to form metal. Figur G15 allows us to expand access to metal-shaping services to a broader variety of small businesses, design shops, and self-builders.”

 

The Figur G15 is the first commercially available machine tool platform to shape sheet metal on demand without custom tooling. Introduced at the 2022 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, the Figur G15 uses patent-pending DSF technology in which a software-driven ceramic toolhead on a gantry shapes standard sheet metal into parts with up to 2,000 lbs of forming force without tooling, with software that simplifies the creation of sheet metal part production.

 

Recently, custom classic car influencer Rob Ida of Rob Ida Concepts in New Jersey posted on Instagram @rob_ida about how he is using the Figur G15 technology to create components for a 1955 Tucker Carioca, a vehicle concept from legendary carmarker Preston Tucker that never made it from drawing to production.

 

“The response to Figur G15 from the market across a wide variety of sectors has been exciting,” said Justin Nardone, CEO of Figur, a Desktop Metal brand. “The G15 eliminates a lot of the work required when forming metal, such as the design and manufacturing of tools and dies. Our system produces designs quickly, accurately, and repeatedly, so manufacturers are able to focus on the craftsmanship of design while getting their products to market faster and more efficiently.”

 

Saltworks is planning to purchase two additional G15 systems, for a total of four, to join its initial fleet in the near future with plans to run all four machines over three shifts to keep up with demand.

To learn more about Figur, visit figur.desktopmetal.com.

 

About Desktop Metal:

Desktop Metal (NYSE:DM) is driving Additive Manufacturing 2.0, a new era of on-demand, digital mass production of industrial, medical, and consumer products. Our innovative 3D printers, materials, and software deliver the speed, cost, and part quality required for this transformation. We’re the original inventors and world leaders of the 3D printing methods we believe will empower this shift, binder jetting and digital light processing. Today, our systems print metal, polymer, sand and other ceramics, as well as foam and recycled wood. Manufacturers use our technology worldwide to save time and money, reduce waste, increase flexibility, and produce designs that solve the world’s toughest problems and enable once-impossible innovations. Learn more about Desktop Metal and our #TeamDM brands at www.desktopmetal.com.

 

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in these communications, including statements regarding Desktop Metal’s future results of operations and financial position, financial targets, business strategy, and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “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 document, including but not limited to: risks associated with the integration of the business and operations of acquired businesses; Desktop Metals’ ability to realize the benefits from cost saving measures; supply and logistics disruptions, including shortages and delays. For more information about risks and uncertainties that may impact Desktop Metal’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects generally, please refer to Desktop Metal’s reports filed with the SEC, including without limitation the “Risk Factors” and/or other information included in the Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 3, 2023, and such other reports as Desktop Metal has filed or may file with the SEC from time to time. 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 Desktop Metal, Inc. 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.

Contacts

Investor Relations:

(857) 504-1084

DesktopMetalIR@icrinc.com

Media Relations:

Sarah Webster

(313) 715-6988

sarahwebster@desktopmetal.com

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JOTO PR Disruptors reveals key e-commerce strategies post record Cyber Monday sales

In an analysis of Cyber Monday 2023, JOTO PR DisruptorsTM unveils revolutionary AI and AR strategies poised to redefine e-commerce. Discover how these cutting-edge technologies are shaping future consumer trends and driving business success in the digital marketplace.

 

TAMPA, Fla. — JOTO PR Disruptors, a leader in disruptive PR strategies, analyzes the transformative consumer behavior and record-breaking sales trends of Cyber Monday 2023.

 

The BNN Network report on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 revealed a significant uptick in online shopping trends. Notably, Black Friday recorded an impressive $9.8 billion in online sales in the U.S., a 7.5% increase from the previous year, with global online sales reaching $70.9 billion, an 8% increase. Cyber Week was expected to generate $37.2 billion in online spending, a 5.4% increase, and Cyber Monday was projected to hit a record $12 billion in sales.

 

These figures demonstrate a robust growth in e-commerce, driven by substantial discounts and a stronger consumer spending capacity, particularly evident in the increased use of smartphones for shopping​​​​ (1) JOTO PR Disruptors offers insights and disruptive communication tips for companies looking to optimize their e-commerce strategies using the latest AI and AR technologies in 2024.

 

“2023’s Cyber Monday has not only broken sales records but also highlighted significant shifts in consumer behavior,” says Karla Jo Helms, Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors.

 

“Understanding and leveraging these changes, especially through emerging technologies like AI and AR, is crucial for companies to stay ahead in the digital marketplace.”

 

In anticipation of the evolving market dynamics, JOTO PR Disruptor has outlined three essential strategies that businesses will need to prioritize in 2024. These strategies are designed to effectively respond to the ‘Amazon effect,’ a consumer trend characterized by increasing demands for convenience, efficiency, and tailored shopping experiences. By adopting these approaches, companies can stay ahead in a marketplace heavily influenced by the benchmark set by Amazon, ensuring they remain competitive and in tune with consumer expectations. JOTO PR emphasizes the necessity of these strategies in navigating the shifting landscape of consumer preferences and e-commerce.

 

  1. Optimized E-Commerce Strategies: Integrating AI-driven tools for automating routine processes, improving operational efficiency, and offering personalized shopping experiences. Utilize AR technology to provide virtual try-ons and immersive product demonstrations, transforming how consumers interact with products online.(2)
  2. Leveraged Data Analytics for Personalized Marketing: Employing AI to analyze customer data, including browsing history and purchasing tendencies, for targeted and customized marketing strategies. This approach enhances customer engagement and conversion rates​​​​.(2)
  3. Improved Customer Experience and Engagement: Using AI-powered customer service technologies and AR-driven product demonstrations to increase customer interaction and satisfaction​.(3)

 

To enhance the impact of these innovative technologies, companies will also need to employ dynamic and disruptive communication strategies:

  • Virtual Reality Press Conferences: Host immersive VR press conferences for a hands-on experience of AI and AR e-commerce integrations.
  • Interactive Social Media Campaigns: Engage customers with AR filters and AI-driven interactive content on social media.
  • AI and AR-Driven Storytelling: Use storytelling with AI and AR elements to narrate the brand’s technological journey in e-commerce.
  • Tech Influencer Collaborations: Partner with tech influencers for live demonstrations and insights into AI and AR advancements.
  • Augmented Reality Product Launches: Introduce new products through AR virtual events, showcasing innovative e-commerce experiences.

 

“By implementing these AI and AR strategies, companies can leverage the momentum from Cyber Monday, setting the stage for success in the upcoming holiday season and beyond,” concludes Helms.

 

About JOTO PR Disruptors™:

Founded by PR veteran Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR Disruptors™ emerged from extensive market research with CEOs of fast-growth companies. The agency, established in 2009, combines crisis management skills with advanced media algorithms to develop Anti-PR® campaigns. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, JOTO PR is globally recognized for its innovative Anti-PR services. More information is available at http://www.jotopr.com

 

About Karla Jo Helms:

Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™. 

She learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line—and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumni of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinion. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception. 

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SO Games President Laura Gouthez talks present, future of video game industry at Ventana Sur Maquinitas forum

BUENOS AIRES  — Holding a captive audience, Laura Gouthez, president of the French video game association SO-Games, spoke about the present state of the industry and its forward trajectory in a casual discussion hosted Wednesday by Maquinitas, the games sidebar that runs in tandem with the Ventana Sur market.

Credit: Holly Jones

 

Located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the association of video game professionals is dedicated to representing actors from La Rochelle via Poitiers, Angoulême, Bordeaux, Pau, Agen and Biarritz.

 

Connecting the games ecosystem in France with broader global collaborations, Gouthez noted how the business ties together academia, industry and government to develop the audiovisual sector. Noting a stagnant trend in France after the pandemic, she believes the static months will quickly give way to a crescendo of creation.

 

“The creation of video games is down, but only the creation. The number  of video game studios has increased,” she pointed out.

 

With five years in the video game sector, Gouthez brought a depth of knowledge about the politics surrounding funding and education in the field and spoke to the production value robust incentives and support lend in creating and retaining French and international talent by way of regional schools and studios.

 

France, while behind mega-markets like the U.S., Canada and China, is the second largest video game hub in Europe directly after the U.K. and just ahead of Germany, with nearly 1,000 companies dedicated to the endeavor, and 600 studios to date.

 

“France’s sector is so strong,” Gouthez relayed. “First of all, we have a very strong fabric. Schools, for example, schools that go train all their talents, which then go to work in the studios. We also have companies and researchers such as banks, who believe in the sector and who’re going to help the studios with money first,” she continued.

 

Another boon to the industry is the increasing support of the government, which in 2017, according to Gouthez, “made a bet on the sector as well.” With Ubisoft Bordeaux helping to create “Assassins Creed Mirage” and studios in the region working on ever more ambitious productions, the bet is paying off.

 

The discussion continued, opening up to the audience who shared the challenges in the Latin American video games sector and the roadblocks that stall creation, including trouble securing necessary funds and a lack of labor support, which at times leads to exploitation, some bringing up the formation of syndicates and unions as a means to carve out more agency for creators.

 

After a spirited round of questions, the talk wrapped as the audience asked about cultural representation in French video games, as a large factor in the Latin American audiovisual ecosystem is producing art that communicates something about its country of origin. Gouthez admitted it wasn’t a large priority for France, as they seek talent from around the globe that inherently leads to a wide array of representation in the video games they produce, without specific nods to French culture or lore.

 

All-in, the conversation led to a generous exchange of ideas that ran overtime, some curiosities left unsated.

 

 

— Variety