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Uniting the strength of Visa’s trusted infrastructure with HotelRunner’s deep presence in hospitality, this strategic preferred partnership sets the foundation for a new era of embedded finance in travel. By bringing Visa’s products directly into HotelRunner’s platform, this collaboration will enable seamless, secure, and scalable cross-border payments and settlements for thousands of travel businesses worldwide.

LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / HotelRunner, a leading travel and hospitality technology platform, and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, have announced a global strategic preferred partnership to empower businesses of all sizes across the travel and hospitality industry. The collaboration brings together Visa’s trusted global infrastructure and secure cross-border payments capabilities with HotelRunner’s deep presence and extensive reach in hospitality technology. Solving the “last-mile” challenge in tourism and democratizing financial access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets, HotelRunner is collaborating with Visa to provide robust technology infrastructure and B2B connectivity that enables accommodation providers, from boutique hotels in Morocco to guesthouses in Bali, to get paid quickly and securely across borders.

By uniting their strengths, the two companies aim to accelerate economic growth across the global travel and hospitality ecosystem while delivering seamless, secure, and scalable financial solutions. This partnership sets the foundation for a new era of embedded finance with a specific focus on independent hotels by providing access to global payment rails.

“Travel runs on trust, and trust depends on secure, reliable infrastructure,” said Ali Beklen, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner. “By combining HotelRunner’s global hospitality network with Visa’s unmatched expertise, we are building the autonomous financial infrastructure of travel. This is not only about payments; it is about building the financial rails that will power the next decade of global tourism. We are reshaping the future of cross-border travel commerce, making it safer, smarter, and more inclusive for businesses worldwide.”

On this partnership, Arden Agopyan, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner, said, “HotelRunner has spent more than a decade building the digital backbone of hospitality. For too long, small and independent accommodations and travel agencies have been excluded from global financial flows and the payments economy. Together with Visa, we’re changing that. We’re combining our reach and reliable platform with one of the world’s most trusted networks to create a new standard for autonomous, secure, seamless, and scalable travel payments.”

“Our collaboration with HotelRunner demonstrates how together we can drive innovation across the B2B travel ecosystem. By combining Visa’s trusted global payments network with HotelRunner’s hospitality platform, we’re enabling travel businesses to connect, transact, and grow more seamlessly and securely. Together, we’re helping to unlock new opportunities, and strengthen the global travel ecosystem” Tania Platt, Global Head of B2B Travel, Visa.

Operating globally, this collaboration will bring Visa and HotelRunner together with key travel companies in Europe, APAC, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. This partnership is set to deliver innovative embedded and autonomous finance services supporting millions of travel businesses worldwide.

SOURCE: HotelRunner

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– Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Feedzai Release Global State of Scams 2025 –

THE HAGUE, NL / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), in partnership with Feedzai, has released the Global State of Scams 2025 Report. Based on a survey of 46,000 adults across 42 markets, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the prevalence, impact, and policy challenges of scams worldwide.

In the past 12 months, 57 percent of adults worldwide experienced a scam and 23 percent lost money. Shopping scams affected 54 percent of victims, while investment scams and unexpected money scams each impacted 48 percent. Scam encounters were most frequent in South America, Africa, and Oceania, where up to one in four adults lost money in the last year.

The research also highlights the emotional toll of scams. 69 percent of victims reported (huge) stress as a result, while 17 percent reported a loss of confidence and 14 percent said scams created heightened tension within their family unit. Despite this, many scams remain unreported, with uncertainty over where to report being the main barrier.

93% of adults globally claim to take at least one step to verify if an offer is legitimate or not. However, many often rely on methods that are less effective such as checking for spelling and grammar errors (27%); looking for reviews on the same website (24%) and checking if the company is on social media (21%).

Despite nearly three quarters of adults globally feeling confident in their ability to recognise a scam, scams remain prevalent, with many scam victims losing money and a significant proportion never reporting their encounters.

Jorij Abraham, Managing Director of GASA, comments: “We have a huge challenge, 73 percent of people worldwide feel confident they can recognize scams, however, nearly a quarter still lost money in the past year. Scams are not only draining finances but also eroding trust and creating significant stress within families. We are learning that scam awareness campaigns alone are not enough. We need to continuously educate consumers, build better solutions to recognize and block (AI) scams and work internationally closer to get to catch the scammers.

“Fraud isn’t just about transactions anymore. It’s about intent. Criminals are exploiting trust, behavior, and technology in real time. Stopping them takes more than spotting anomalies; it takes understanding human patterns. No single bank or payment provider can do that alone. The only way forward is collaboration across financial institutions and cybersecurity teams. That’s how we protect consumers everywhere.” adds Nuno Sebastião, CEO, Feedzai

The Global State of Scams 2025 Report emphasizes that scams are no longer isolated crimes but a global threat to consumer safety, financial stability, and trust in digital economies. GASA and Feedzai call for stronger international collaboration, better scam prevention tools, and accountability across platforms, governments, and industries.

The full report can be downloaded here: https://www.gasa.org/research

SOURCE: Global Anti-Scam Alliance

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Icotrokinra met the primary endpoint of clinical response at all three doses, with 36.5% of patients treated achieving endoscopic improvement and 30.2% achieving clinical remission at the highest dose at Week 12 in the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study

These data support the promise of a first-in-class targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the IL-23 receptor as a potential new option for people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis

Registrational Phase 3 study in ulcerative colitis and Phase 2b/3 study in Crohn’s disease anticipated to begin patient enrollment in Q4 2025

NEWARK, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (“Protagonist” or the “Company”) today announced additional Week 12 results from the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study of icotrokinra, a first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the IL-23 receptor, in adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). The study met its primary endpoint, with all once-daily icotrokinra dose groups achieving clinical response^a at Week 12 and showing clinically meaningful improvements versus placebo across key secondary endpoints.¹ These results underscore the potential of icotrokinra to deliver a valuable combination of significant therapeutic benefit and a favorable safety profile with once-daily oral dosing and are featured at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025.

At Week 12, patients treated with 400 mg of icotrokinra once daily achieved a clinical response rate of 63.5% versus 27% for placebo (p<0.001), while patients treated with 200 mg and 100 mg of icotrokinra once daily achieved 58.1% and 54.7% response rates, respectively.¹

Across multiple secondary endpoints, in the 400 mg icotrokinra group, significantly greater proportions of patients achieved clinical remission, symptomatic remission, and endoscopic improvement at Week 12 compared to placebo. Both the 200 mg and 100 mg once-daily dosing groups also showed meaningful improvements in these secondary endpoints relative to placebo. All icotrokinra doses demonstrated higher rates of symptomatic remission compared to placebo as early as Week 4.¹

Similar proportions of participants reported adverse events and serious adverse events through Week 12 across all icotrokinra dose groups and the placebo group.¹

Based on results from the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study, a Phase 3 trial in ulcerative colitis will be initiated. Icotrokinra is also being studied in the pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC program in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and the ICONIC-PSA 1 and ICONIC-PSA 2 studies in active psoriatic arthritis. A New Drug Application (NDA) was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2025 seeking the first approval of icotrokinra for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

“The vast body of compelling data from Phase 2b and Phase 3 studies, including the most recent results from this Phase 2b study in ulcerative colitis, supports the thesis of IL-23R targeted oral peptide icotrokinra as a potential treatment option in a range of inflammatory and immunological diseases,” said Dinesh V. Patel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Protagonist. “We are pleased to see the recent initiation of the registrational Phase 3 study of icotrokinra in UC and a Phase 2b/3 study in Crohn’s disease by our partner, along with the ongoing Phase 3 studies in psoriatic arthritis and the Phase 3 head-to-head results vs. ustekinumab in plaque psoriasis. We are also excited about the initiation of the Phase 1 study of our fully-owned oral IL-17 targeted oral peptide PN-881. Our goal is to deliver well-differentiated oral treatments for patients as we continue to advance our scientific and innovation leadership in the I&I field.”

Editor’s notes:

1. Clinical response is defined as a decrease from baseline in the modified Mayo score by greater than or equal to (>=) 30 percent (%) and >=2 points, with either a >=1-point decrease from baseline in the rectal bleeding subscore or a rectal bleeding subscore of 0 or 1.

2. Clinical remission was defined as a Mayo stool frequency subscore of 0 or 1, a Mayo rectal bleeding subscore of 0, and a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1.

3. Symptomatic remission per Mayo score is defined as a stool frequency subscore of 0 or 1 and a rectal bleeding subscore of 0.

4. Endoscopic improvement was defined as an endoscopy subscore of 0 or 1.

About ANTHEM-UC

ANTHEM-UC (NCT06049017) is a Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra (JNJ-77242113, JNJ-2113) in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who had an inadequate response or intolerance to conventional therapy (e.g., thiopurines or corticosteroids), prior biologics (TNF antagonists or vedolizumab) and/or ozanimod or approved JAK inhibitors. The study is evaluating three once-daily dosages of ​icotrokinra taken orally.²

About Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease of the large intestine, also known as the colon, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores, or ulcers, that produce pus and mucus. It is the result of the immune system’s overactive response. Symptoms vary but may typically include loose and more urgent bowel movements, rectal bleeding or bloody stool, persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue.³

About Protagonist

Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist’s proprietary discovery platform are currently in advanced Phase 3 clinical development, with New Drug Application (NDA) for icotrokinra submitted to the FDA in July, and in the NDA submission for rusfertide expected by end of 2025. Icotrokinra (formerly, JNJ-2113), is a first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor (“IL-23R”), which is licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Following icotrokinra’s joint discovery by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists pursuant to the companies’ IL-23R collaboration, Protagonist was primarily responsible for the development of icotrokinra through Phase 1, with Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for development in Phase 2 and beyond. Rusfertide, a mimetic of the natural hormone hepcidin, is currently in Phase 3 development for the rare blood disorder polycythemia vera (PV). Rusfertide is being co-developed and will be co-commercialized with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide collaboration and license agreement entered in 2024 under which the Company remains primarily responsible for development through NDA filing. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets, including IL-17 oral peptide antagonist PN-881, obesity triple agonist peptide PN-477, and the oral hepcidin program.

More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates, and clinical studies can be found on the Company’s website at https://www.protagonist-inc.com/.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the potential benefits of icotrokinra and PN-881, and expectations regarding the icotrokinra and PN-881 development programs. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates, our ability to earn milestone payments under our collaboration agreements with Janssen and Takeda, our ability to use and expand our programs to build a pipeline of product candidates, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates, our ability to operate in a competitive industry and compete successfully against competitors that have greater resources than we do, and our ability to obtain and adequately protect intellectual property rights for our product candidates. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors affecting our business can be found in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Investor Relations Contact

Corey Davis, Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors
+1 212 915 2577
cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact

Virginia Amann, Founder/CEO
+1 833 500 0061 ext 1
ENTENTE Network of Companies
virginiaamann@ententeinc.com

References:

¹Abreu M., et al. Icotrokinra, a targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks IL-23 receptor activation, in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis: week 12 results from the phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, treat-through, dose-ranging ANTHEMUC trial. Oral presentation OP206 at United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) 2025. October 2025.

²Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study of JNJ-77242113 in Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis (ANTHEM-UC). Identifier NCT06049017. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06049017?term=ANTHEM-UC&rank=1. Accessed February 2025.

³Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. What is ulcerative colitis? Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-ulcerative-colitis. Accessed April 2024.

SOURCE: Protagonist Therapeutics

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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / New to The Street, one of the nation’s longest- running business television brands airing as sponsored programming on Fox Business and Bloomberg, today announced a 12-month national media partnership with Stardust Power (NASDAQ:SDST), .a developer of battery-grade lithium carbonate designed to bolster America’s energy leadership by building resilient supply chains.

The comprehensive media partnership includes:

* Long-form sponsored television interviews airing nationwide on Fox Business and Bloomberg;
* Earned media placements across major network affiliates including ABC, NBC, and CBS;
* High-frequency national TV commercials produced and distributed by New to The Street; and
* Outdoor billboard campaigns across New York City’s Times Square and the Financial District.

“Partnering with New to The Street provides Stardust Power with a platform that reaches both institutional and retail investors through authentic storytelling across multiple channels,” said Vince Caruso, CEO and Executive Producer of New to The Street. “Our Predictable Media™ model ensures brands like Stardust Power gain consistent visibility on television, social media, and outdoor – the most powerful combination in financial media today.”

The 12-month series will spotlight Stardust Power’s progress on its Muskogee, Oklahoma lithium processing facility, located in the U.S. heartland and designed to produce up to 50,000 metric tons of battery grade lithium carbonate annually, while highlighting the company’s broader efforts to advance U.S. lithium refining, strengthen domestic supply chains, and drive American energy security. Interviews will be filmed from the NYSE and Nasdaq MarketSite studios and distributed to New to The Street’s expanding multi-platform audience, including more than 3.5 million YouTube subscribers and hundreds of thousands of social followers.

About New to The Street

New to The Street is one of America’s longest-running televised business brands, broadcasting nationwide on Fox Business and Bloomberg TV as sponsored programming. For over 16 years, the show has been a trusted platform where CEOs, founders, and innovators share their company’s story directly with millions of investors and consumers.

The program’s multi-channel distribution – spanning network television, earned media, social platforms, and iconic outdoor billboards in Times Square and the NYC Financial District – delivers unmatched visibility and credibility.

With an audience reach of over 220 million U.S. television households, a 3.5-million-plus YouTube subscriber base, and hundreds of thousands of followers across LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook, New to The Street has become the go-to destination for financial storytelling at scale.

Its proprietary Predictable Media™ model integrates long-form interviews, national TV commercials, social amplification, and earned media placements to ensure consistent exposure across all major investor touchpoints.

Featured clients and partners have included Goldman Sachs, Ford, KITON, PetVivo, GlintPay, DataVault – underscoring the show’s position as the most comprehensive and credible financial media platform in the U.S. today.

Media Contact: Monica Brennan – Monica@NewtoTheStreet.com

SOURCE: New To The Street

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Platform’s “Better Leads, Better Prices, Better Results” mantra highlights LeadStar’s advanced AI-powered, compliance-integrated tools to empower licensed healthcare agents’ success

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / AmeriLife, a leading provider of insurance and financial solutions, is proud to announce the remarkably successful launch of its premier lead generation tool, LeadStar, Powered by EnrollHere, as licensed agents prepare to help millions of people during this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). This innovative technology has not only streamlined the lead generation process but has also significantly enhanced the value and efficiency for AmeriLife’s licensed insurance agents and affiliate companies.

“As we prepare for this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, LeadStar is poised to be a game-changer for our licensed agents,” said William DeCourcy, Chief Lead Generation Officer for AmeriLife. “This advanced tool will provide you with a steady stream of high-quality, compliant leads, ensuring you are ready to meet the needs of potential clients efficiently and effectively. We are committed to client satisfaction and success, and LeadStar is just one of the many ways we are equipping licensed agents with the best resources to help consumers secure the healthcare coverage they need.”

Transforming the Lead Generation Landscape

LeadStar has been a game-changer for AmeriLife’s agents. By integrating advanced data analytics and compliance features, the proprietary technology ensures that agents receive leads that are not only exclusive but also fully compliant with CMS regulations. This has led to a 64% reduction in lead costs, allowing agents to focus more on building relationships and closing deals rather than on the financial burden of acquiring leads.

AmeriLife’s affiliate companies are also benefiting from LeadStar. The tool’s ability to provide a steady stream of discounted, high-quality leads has enabled licensed agents to expand their reach and improve their market presence. The thousands of agents using LeadStar are a testament to its effectiveness and the trust it has built within the AmeriLife network.

Key Highlights:

Cost-Effective CPA: LeadStar has helped top agents achieve lower than $100 Cost Per Acquisition (CPA), making it one of the most cost-effective lead generation solutions in the industry.
Thousands of Discounted Leads: Agents now have access to thousands of high-quality, compliant leads at discounted rates, ensuring a robust pipeline of potential clients.
Thousands of Agents: thousands of agents are leveraging LeadStar to supercharge their sales efforts, resulting in increased conversions and higher client satisfaction.

“AmeriLife remains committed to investing in cutting-edge technology to support its agents and affiliate companies,” said Scotty Elliott, Chief Distribution Officer, Health at AmeriLife. “The anticipated success of LeadStar during AEP is just the beginning, and we plan to continue enhancing the tool to meet the evolving needs of our partners and clients.”

To learn about the new LeadStar, powered by EnrollHere, visit LeadStarHub.com.

About LeadStar, Powered by EnrollHere

LeadStar, Powered by EnrollHere, is an industry-leading enterprise leads program that delivers the compliant, reliable, and performative leads that today’s health and life insurance agents need to grow their book of business and maximize their success. Powered by AmeriLife exclusively for the company’s affiliated agents, LeadStar’s suite of solutions includes LeadStar, powered by EnrollHere, LeadStar Direct, and LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse. For more information, contact an AmeriLife-affiliated marketing company or visit LeadStarHub.com.

About AmeriLife

AmeriLife’s strength lies in its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions that help people live longer, healthier lives. AmeriLife develops, markets, and distributes life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For over 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers through a national distribution network of over 300,000 agents, financial professionals, and more than 160 marketing organizations and insurance agencies. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE: AmeriLife

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