Fintech PR

WaveBL Completes a New Groundbreaking Network Connectivity Proof of Value (POV) with Swift, the Participation of Five Global Banks, and Leading Ocean Carrier eBL Issuer MSC

Published

10 hours ago

October 15, 2024

POV demonstrates efficiency gains using existing infrastructure and Swift’s secure and trusted global network

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — WaveBL, the leading blockchain-based electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) platform, has completed a groundbreaking Proof of Value (POV) with Swift and the participation of five global banks: Lloyds, Emirates NBD Bank, Federal Bank Limited, and other banks, as well as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a leading ocean carrier acting as an eBL issuer on WaveBL. The POV successfully demonstrated the transfer of a series of structured electronic document presentations (including eBLs) originated on the Platform and sent to and between Swift members, and back to the Platform, all as part of a Letter of Credit (LC) transaction. The process was executed utilizing a series of Swift FIN messages and FileAct transfers from WaveBL to the different banks while maintaining possession and title management of the electronic trade documents on the WaveBL’s ledger of issuance.

Describing the Flow of the POV:

The POV involved two eBLs—one straight and one negotiable—both issued by MSC on the WaveBL platform. The eBLs were first sent to an exporter on the WaveBL platform, where commercial documents like a packing list, invoice, and certificate of origin were added. These were then sent to the advising bank by the Platform over the secure and resilient Swift network, using an MT message and a FileAct document transfer. In turn, the advising bank and the issuing bank exchanged the presentation between them while WaveBL’s ledger maintained the tracking of possession and title of the contained eBLs. Ultimately, the issuing bank released the documents to the LC applicant, who is the importer, including the endorsement of the negotiable eBL from the issuing bank to the order of the importer on the Platform, all of which was instructed to the Platform through a Swift MT message. This streamlined process allows for payments to be received within hours, rather than days – as is often the case with transactions that involve the physical transfer of documents. Similarly, with the eBLs surrendered back to MSC on the Platform, the importer was able to collect the goods at the port of destination without delay.

Strengthening the Supply Chain-Trade Finance Connectivity: The WaveBL Swift Gateway

This groundbreaking POV underscores WaveBL’s dedication to making its network fully integrated with the financial system, allowing customers to seamlessly interact with Swift members and among participants themselves. For Swift members, electronic trade documents could soon be exchanged via WaveBL using their existing Swift infrastructure, and without requiring the installation or use of any specialized software or service.

WaveBL anticipates that the concept led through this POV will further its mission of creating seamless connectivity between the supply chain and financial markets, driving the shift towards 100% adoption of eBLs, as outlined in the FIT Alliance Declaration of September 2023. WaveBL is also looking forward to becoming the first electronic trade document provider to achieve full connectivity with the entire Swift community, allowing all banks a simple, standardized way to receive and send electronic bank presentations originated on the platform.

Innovative Approach by Leading Banks

The Participating Banks have all previously demonstrated exceptional innovation by using WaveBL as their entry point to the eBL market, gaining experience by exchanging electronic trade document presentations in live commercial transactions. As part of the POV, WaveBL, Swift and the Participating Banks established a joint working group aimed at analysing the methodologies and structure of the Swift MT messages and the electronic presentations proven during the POV. Their involvement highlights a joint commitment to advancing trade finance through digitization and embracing cutting-edge technologies for document exchange. WaveBL is eager to continue working with the joint working group as its expected integration with the Swift network unfolds.

Quotes:

Boaz Lessem, Chief of Legal Regulation and Partnerships, WaveBL:
“As the eBL market continues to grow, this POV solidifies our vision of seamless connectivity between WaveBL and Swift, providing a new, standardized solution for banks that prefer not to use the platform’s interface directly. By leveraging Swift’s trusted infrastructure, banks will now be able to exchange electronic trade documents with ease, enabling greater flexibility and efficiency in trade finance. I believe this connectivity will lead the way to an increased value proposition for the electronic transformation to eBLs. I thank the Swift team for its ongoing leadership and support as part of this POV, driving forward this important initiative in trade finance digitization.”
Ofer Ein Bar, Head of Financial Institutions, WaveBL:
“We are excited to continue working with Swift and the distinguished banks that participated in this POV, unlocking new liquidity opportunities and enhancing operational efficiency through this innovative collaboration. We are particularly grateful to the participating banks for their contribution and ongoing efforts working with us hand in hand making this POV a robust proposition to allow the transition to a digital trade product.”
Miguel Suarez, Trade and Consumer Payments Innovation Lead, Swift:
“Creating a truly digital trade ecosystem will require a collaborative effort from across the industry. This POV has successfully demonstrated the value of the Swift network in removing friction from global trade while enabling banks to make use of their existing infrastructure, while pushing boundaries to increase speed and certainty for the parties involved.”
Andre Simha, Global Chief Digital & Innovation Officer, MSC:
“MSC is committed to achieving full digitalization of our bills of lading by 2030. This involves much more than streamlining processes. It embodies an ambitious vision that requires collaboration across both the shipping and finance sectors. We are delighted to have been able to partner with industry leaders like Swift and WaveBL on this POV. This collaboration represents a pivotal milestone that propels us one step closer to achieving our goals.”
Gwynne Master, Managing Director, Trade & Working Capital, Lloyds, UK:
“Lloyds is an early adopter of the eBL and digitising this important document is essential for UK and global businesses, regardless of size. This POV sets out a compelling way of increasing bank adoption of digital solutions, enabling financial institutions to connect to WaveBL via SWIFT. We look forward to the implementation of this solution and to the continued collaboration across the industry to deliver on the FIT Alliance’s ambitious eBL targets.”
Sanjay Borade, VP and Head of Trade Sales, Federal Bank India and Mohammed Vaseem Sheikh Dy VP and Head – Financial Institutions Group (FIG) & Institutional Sales, Federal Bank, India:
“The successful completion of this POV reinforces the importance of digital transformation in trade finance. By leveraging WaveBL’s supply chain platform in conjunction with Swift, we’ve been able to simplify the complexities of cross-border trade and improve overall efficiency.”
Anith Daniel, Group Head of Transaction Banking Services, Emirates NBD, UAE:
“In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape the integration of WaveBL with SWIFT, for the exchange of trade documents, marks a significant step forward in modernizing Trade Finance. Our participation in the POV is a testament to our commitment in exploring innovative solutions that improve customer experience.”

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Fintech PR

Reshaping Finance: Huawei’s Commitment to 4-Zero and Resilient Infrastructure

Published

6 hours ago

October 15, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

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DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On the first day of GITEX GLOBAL 2024, the Huawei Finance Forum was held under the theme of Boost Resilience, Reshaping Smarter Finance Together. This forum explored how to build resilient financial infrastructure for the future, as well as digital transformation and ecosystem development to help financial institutions gain a new competitive edge.

Over the past 15 years, China’s finance industry has undergone a significant transformation, largely driven by FinTech giants. As Chinese banks embarked on their digital transformation journey, Huawei developed an FSI solution framework, which focuses on reshaping customers’ resilience, agility, and intelligence.

“The value Huawei brings to our customers is not only in our products and solutions, but also in our unique capabilities, such as best practices worldwide, a global ecosystem, and an extensive digital talent system in China. These capabilities are crucial for customers’ successful transformation.” Shared by Alvin Feng, Director of Global Marketing and Solution Sales, Huawei Digital Finance BU.

Huawei has proposed reshaping resilient financial infrastructure with 4 Zeros: Zero Downtime, Zero Wait, Zero Touch, and Zero Trust. To achieve this, we need to coordinate cloud, network, storage, and computing infrastructure to develop an end-to-end resilient system.

Application modernization is vital for reshaping agility. Huawei has successfully supported many banks in transforming their legacy centralized architecture towards a cloud-native distributed architecture.

In terms of reshaping intelligence. Huawei supports banks in enhancing real-time data operations, a fundamental step for data intelligence. Meanwhile, we actively boost Generative AI adoption in banks through joint innovations in various scenarios.

Dr. Jassim Haji, President of the International Group of Artificial Intelligence, Executive Advisor of HH (His Highness) Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Center.

“Huawei is pioneering the future of intelligent finance, seamlessly blending AI innovation with enduring infrastructure. Their vision for All Intelligence and commitment to building resilient, secure, and efficient financial ecosystems is transforming the industry, creating smarter, more inclusive services for the AI era.” Said Dr. Jassim Haji, President of the International Group of Artificial Intelligence, Executive Advisor of HH (His Highness) Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Center.

Roger Wang, Director of Partner Development & Sales, Digital Finance BU, Huawei

“Huawei is continuously collaborating with global and local ecosystem partners to deliver value to customers by developing competitive scenario-based solutions”, stated by Roger Wang, Director of Partner Development & Sales, Digital Finance BU, Huawei. We consistently add value to our customers’ success through our global best practices, business and architecture innovation, and excellent service and support.

For more details, please visit: https://e.huawei.com/en/industries/finance

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Fintech PR

Qatari Diar Unveils Exclusive Waterfront Townhouses at The Seef Lusail

Published

9 hours ago

October 15, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

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Luxury Living Redefined with Attractive Investment Opportunities Starting from QAR 1.7 Million for apartments and QAR 3.4 Million for townhouses in Downtown Lusail

Flexible Payment Plans with 0% Interest and Direct Financing

Freehold Ownership and Residency in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company announced the launch of exclusive upscale waterfront townhouses at The Seef in Downtown Lusail, offering exceptional investment opportunities with 0% interest, direct financing, and flexible payment plans. Lusail represents a bold step forward in sustainable, smart urban living. Known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and forward-thinking design, Lusail offers a mix of residential, commercial, and entertainment districts just minutes from Qatar’s newest community.

Situated in the heart of Lusail’s waterfront district, The Seef offers a limited collection of luxurious townhouses starting from QAR 3.4 million and apartments starting from QAR 1.7 million. These residences offer immediate occupancy and are designed to provide residents with a blend of modern elegance and comfort. With breathtaking sea views overlooking Qetaifan Islands and Lusail’s iconic skyline, the townhouses redefine modern living.

Lusail’s thriving real estate market presents significant growth potential for investors. The Seef offers freehold ownership, providing residency in Qatar for foreigners. With mortgage financing options from leading local banks, in addition to direct payment plans with 0% interest extending to 6 years for apartments and 4 years for townhouses, owning a luxury residence in The Seef is more accessible than ever. Situated in a location known for attracting substantial foreign investment, The Seef promises robust returns whether for resale or long-term residence.

Eng. Ali Mohamed Al-Ali, CEO of Qatari Diar, said: “The launch of our exclusive waterfront townhouses at The Seef marks a significant milestone in offering unparalleled luxury living in Qatar. Lusail represents more than just a place to live; it’s a lifestyle destination that combines convenience, sophistication and investment potential. With the recent advancements in the Qatari mortgage law, we are thrilled to extend flexible financing options in partnership with several Qatari banks that make owning a piece of this vibrant community achievable for a broader market.”

The Seef’s townhouses are built to meet the diverse needs of residents, from professionals to families. Each townhouse features spacious layouts with high-end finishes, ensuring comfort and luxury at every turn. Residents will enjoy uninterrupted sea views, offering a tranquil escape within the city, and lush green landscapes that create a serene environment for relaxation. The prime location provides proximity to key attractions, including the Meryal Waterpark—the largest in Qatar—Lusail Marina, and Place Vendôme. Located near transit hubs, major highways, shopping centers, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, The Seef offers residents unparalleled convenience, placing all the vibrant energy of Lusail right at their doorstep.

The Seef reflects Qatari Diar’s commitment to sustainability, with eco-friendly design elements that include energy-efficient infrastructure and green landscaping. The project’s unique architectural innovations, including sky bridge swimming pools and modern areas amenities, such as kids’ playgrounds, squash courts, gym facilities, retail outlets, and serene promenades, sets it apart from typical residential projects, creating a true lifestyle destination.

Prospective buyers and investors are invited to explore The Seef firsthand at the Cityscape Global in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 11 – 14 November. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the development, view its luxury offerings, and discover how The Seef can become part of their future in Lusail, Qatar’s city of the future.

For more information, please visit Qatari Diar’s website to explore The Seef and view the full portfolio of investment opportunities.

About Qatari Diar
Qatari Diar Real Estate Company was established in 2005 by the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. Headquartered northeast of capital, Doha, in the City of Lusail, on the coast of the Arabian Gulf. Qatari Diar was entrusted to support Qatar’s growing economy and to coordinate the country’s real estate development priorities. For more information, visit qataridiar.com.

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Fintech PR

PharmaMar Announces Positive and Statistically Significant Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival Results for Zepzelca® (lurbinectedin) and Atezolizumab Combination in First-Line Maintenance Therapy for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Published

9 hours ago

October 15, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

pharmamar-announces-positive-and-statistically-significant-overall-survival-and-progression-free-survival-results-for-zepzelca-(lurbinectedin)-and-atezolizumab-combination-in-first-line-maintenance-therapy-for-extensive-stage-small-cell-lung-cancer

Jazz plans to submit supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and PharmaMar will submit Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in first half of the year 2025 for this combination therapy as a first-line maintenance treatment for ES-SCLC.

MADRID, Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PharmaMar (MSE: PHM) and its partner Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) have announced today positive top-line results from the Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Zepzelca^® (lurbinectedin) in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq^®) compared to atezolizumab alone when administered as a maintenance treatment for adults with extensive-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC) following induction therapy with carboplatin, etoposide and atezolizumab. The combination of lurbinectedin and atezolizumab demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by an independent review facility (IRF), compared to treatment with atezolizumab alone.

“Each year, approximately 63,000 to 72,000 new cases of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) are reported in Europe. A majority of these patients are diagnosed with extensive stage disease, which is aggressive and often difficult to treat, with poor prognosis,[i]^,[ii]^,[iii]” said Luis Paz-Ares, M.D., Ph.D., head of medical oncology at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid, Spain, and IMforte trial principal investigator. “These trial results demonstrate the efficacy of lurbinectedin, in combination with standard-of-care atezolizumab for patients in first-line maintenance treatment, a much-needed advancement for patients with extensive disease.”

“The results of the Phase 3 IMforte trial are highly encouraging and showed a statistically significant benefit for the lurbinectedin and atezolizumab combination for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients receiving this treatment in the first-line maintenance setting. These results demonstrate the potential of this regimen to delay disease progression and extend survival for patients with this aggressive disease,” said Rob Iannone, M.D., M.S.C.E., executive vice president, global head of research and development, and chief medical officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. “We are pleased with these clinically meaningful results and plan to submit an sNDA in the first half of 2025 to support this combination in the first-line maintenance setting. We thank the investigators and patients who are involved in this trial, along with our partners at Roche.“

“Lurbinectedin monotherapy is currently the standard of care in 2L SCLC. In Europe, it is only approved in Switzerland and early access and compassionate use programs have already allowed some European patients to benefit from lurbinectedin,” said Javier Jiménez, Chief Medical Officer of PharmaMar.

The combination was generally well-tolerated. The preliminary safety data in the ongoing trial is consistent with the known safety profiles of lurbinectedin and atezolizumab with no new safety signals observed in the combination arm.

Jazz and Roche plan to submit these data for presentation at a future medical meeting.

PharmaMar will submit a marketing authorisation application (MAA) to the EMA in the first half of 2025 to request regulatory approval in the European Union (EU). Lurbinectedin is available for use in 16 territories around the world.

Legal warning

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.

About PharmaMar

PharmaMar is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of new oncology treatments, whose mission is to improve the healthcare outcomes of patients afflicted by serious diseases with our innovative medicines. The Company is inspired by the sea, driven by science, and motivated by patients with serious diseases to improve their lives by delivering novel medicines to them. PharmaMar intends to continue to be the world leader in marine medicinal discovery, development and innovation.

PharmaMar has developed and now commercializes Yondelis® in Europe by itself, as well as Zepzelca® (lurbinectedin), in the US; and Aplidin® (plitidepsin), in Australia, with different partners. In addition, it has a pipeline of drug candidates and a robust R&D oncology program. PharmaMar has other clinical-stage programs under development for several types of solid cancers: lurbinectedin, ecubectedin, PM534 and PM54. Headquartered in Madrid (Spain), PharmaMar has subsidiaries in Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and The United States. PharmaMar also wholly owns Sylentis, a company dedicated to researching therapeutic applications of gene silencing (RNAi). To learn more about PharmaMar, please visit us at www.pharmamar.com.

About the IMforte Phase 3 Trial

IMforte (NCT05091567) is an ongoing Phase 3, randomized, multicenter maintenance trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of lurbinectedin plus atezolizumab in adults (≥18 years) with ES-SCLC following induction therapy with carboplatin, etoposide and atezolizumab. The primary endpoints for this study are OS and IRF-assessed PFS.

The trial consists of two phases: an induction phase and a maintenance phase. Participants were required to have an ongoing response or stable disease per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 after the induction phase of four cycles of carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab to be considered for eligibility screening for the maintenance phase. Eligible participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either lurbinectedin plus atezolizumab or atezolizumab in the maintenance phase.

The trial is sponsored by Roche and co-funded by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Additional information about the trial, including eligibility criteria and a list of clinical trial sites, can be found at: https://clinicaltrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05091567).

About Zepzelca^®

Zepzelca^® (lurbinectedin), also known as PM1183, is an analog of the marine compound ET-736 isolated from the sea squirt Ecteinascidia turbinata in which a hydrogen atom has been replaced by a methoxy group. It is a selective inhibitor of the oncogenic transcription programs on which many tumors are particularly dependent. Together with its effect on cancer cells, lurbinectedin inhibits oncogenic transcription in tumor-associated macrophages, downregulating the production of cytokines that are essential for the growth of the tumor. Transcriptional addiction is an acknowledged target in those diseases, many of them lacking other actionable targets.

please visit our website at www.pharmamar.com

[i] Cancer today. (s. f.). https://gco.iarc.who.int/today/en/fact-sheets-populations#regions

[ii] Alvarado-Lunda G, Morales-Espinosa D. Treatment for small cell lung cancer, where are we now? – A review. Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2016;5(1):26-38.

[iii] SEER Explorer Lung and Bronchus Cancer, Recent Trends in SEER Incidence Rates, 2000-2016, by Age, https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer Updated June 27, 2024. Accessed October 10, 2024.

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