Category: Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, CA AND BRENTWOOD, TN / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / Ardent Health, a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S., has partnered with Ambience Healthcare to launch an enterprise-wide deployment of its AI platform across Ardent’s ambulatory network.

Ardent clinicians now have access to Ambience’s AI platform to generate comprehensive and compliant documentation, reduce burnout, and enhance high-quality care delivery. This expansion follows a high-performing pilot across 17 specialties and 7 languages, achieving clinician utilization rates of 90%.

“Ambience is a centerpiece of our efforts to reduce clinician burnout while enhancing patient care,” said Ardent Health Chief Medical Officer FJ Campbell, MD. “We’re empowering providers to focus on patients, instead of constantly typing into the EHR, while ensuring each of their notes meet the highest clinical and compliance standards.”

Reducing clinician burnout and enhancing compliance

• Clinician well-being & satisfaction

  • 70% of Ardent’s pilot clinicians reported reduced cognitive load, improving focus on patient care

  • 100% of pilot clinicians stated that Ambience improved their job satisfaction

• Clinician productivity & efficiency

  • 45% decrease in documentation time (Epic UAL data)

  • 5 hours/week saved in documentation time per clinician

• Scalability

  • 90% overall encounter usage rate among Ardent pilot providers

  • More than 140,000 patient encounters documented using Ambience to date

“This technology is life changing,” said Theresa Horton, MD, pediatrician at Ardent’s Utica Park Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I see myself enjoying my practice longer and am no longer considering early retirement.”

In addition to improving clinician experience, Ambience’s AI platform also supports downstream administrative teams by enhancing clinical documentation integrity and compliance. While other AI scribing technologies are leading to increased compliance issues and CDI queries, Ambience delivers real-time, audit-ready, coding-aware documentation that improves accuracy while reducing CDI queries and billing risk.

“At a time when documentation accuracy, coding integrity, and clinician burnout are converging challenges, Ardent is setting the standard by investing in AI that’s purpose-built for different care settings and specialties,” said Nikhil Buduma, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Ambience Healthcare. “We’re honored to partner with Ardent Health in scaling this impact across their care network.”

A new standard of care

Ardent Health also observed a measurable patient experience impact. Clinicians who used Ambience during the pilot achieved significant gains in all eight Press Ganey survey patient-satisfaction categories.

“Patient care is at the center of everything we do,” said Brad Hoyt, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at Ardent Health. “Ambience enables providers to do what they do best, look patients in the eye, listen closely, and focus fully, providing the highest quality care.”

This rollout marks a key milestone in Ardent’s long-term digital transformation strategy, with Ambience positioned as a strategic partner across multiple clinical settings.

“Ambience is one of the leading innovators in healthcare today,” said Anika Gardenhire, Chief Digital and Transformation Officer at Ardent Health. “We’re excited to expand this partnership across our network, supporting nurses, emergency departments and inpatient units with technology that meets the moment.”

About Ardent Health

Ardent Health is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S. With a focus on people and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. Through its subsidiaries, the Company delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals and approximately 280 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states. For more information, please visit ardenthealth.com.

About Ambience Healthcare

Ambience Healthcare is the leading ambient AI platform for clinical documentation, coding, and CDI-built to ensure compliance, eliminate administrative burden, and improve care delivery. Trusted by top health systems across North America, Ambience’s platform is live across outpatient, emergency, and inpatient settings, supporting more than 100 specialties with real-time, coding-aware documentation. The platform integrates directly with Epic, Oracle Cerner, athenahealth, and other major EHRs. Founded in 2020 by Mike Ng and Nikhil Buduma, Ambience is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by Oak HC/FT, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), OpenAI Startup Fund, Kleiner Perkins, and other leading investors.

Media Contact:

Karina Stabile
Aria Marketing for Ambience Healthcare
kstabile@ariamarketing.com
516-317-5835

SOURCE: Ambience Healthcare

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Initial projects include tokenized fund and other private products and shared mission to transform public markets through tokenization.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / tZERO Group, Inc., a pioneer in blockchain-powered capital markets, today announced a strategic relationship with Alpha Ledger Technologies, Inc. (Alphaledger) that unites two leaders at the forefront of financial innovation.

By bringing together Alphaledger’s expertise in digital product development with tZERO’s leading end-to-end, regulated primary and secondary infrastructure and tokenization leadership, the collaboration aims to fast-track the tokenization, distribution, and secondary trading of assets on blockchain. The two organizations also intend to lead discussions regarding broader and faster public market adoption of blockchain technology.

Under the framework, tZERO and Alphaledger will:

• Bring tokenized equities to market by developing and distributing securities created by Alphaledger and made available for trading on a regulated platform operated by tZERO’s broker-dealer subsidiaries, and tokenized using leading Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocols.

• Launch the next generation of funds by working to tokenize Alphaledger’s forthcoming Government Money Market Fund, and to enable seamless distribution and trading through the regulated platform operated by tZERO’s broker-dealer subsidiaries.

• Expand investor access to yield products by working to quote tokenized shares of the Alphaledger/Simplify Target 12% Distribution Fund to the regulated platform operated by tZERO’s broker-dealer subsidiaries.

• Champion the future of tokenization through joint advocacy for public market adoption of blockchain technology and developing products and solutions for tokenization of public equities, while exploring integration and partnership opportunities with a range of blockchain ecosystems.

On-chain securities are critical to the next generation of internet capital markets – regulated, transparent, and always on. They enable continuous access, fractional ownership, and programmable settlement – capabilities that traditional infrastructure cannot efficiently support. With blockchain scalability, regulatory clarity, and institutional participation converging, Alphaledger – together with tZERO – is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation.

“No one can do it alone in the tokenization space. Success demands best of breed partners. And that is the goal that we set for ourselves. This initiative is about combining Alphaledger’s proven product innovation with tZERO’s market-leading expertise in compliance and digital marketplaces to deliver the next wave of tokenized investment opportunities,” said Alan Konevsky, Chief Executive Officer of tZERO. “Together, we are building the bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-powered markets. tZERO’s genesis is grounded in using blockchain and smart contracts to evolve the public capital markets. That mission has been reignited. We look forward to partnering with Manish and his team on these product, infrastructure and advocacy initiatives.”

“The market is hungry for transparency, efficiency, and access to innovative products. By teaming up with Alphaledger, we’re fast-tracking the arrival of tokenized funds and equities across blockchain ecosystems, while ensuring they trade on a regulated, trusted marketplace. This is a pivotal step in making digital securities a mainstream reality,” said Al Swimmer, Chief Strategic Relationships Officer at tZERO.

Founded by former PIMCO executive, Manish Dutta, Alphaledger has a track record of pioneering blockchain-based regulated financial products, including tokenized municipal bonds and the recently launched private alternative income fund T12 with Simplify Asset Management. Its securities tokenization platform, Vulcan Forge, integrates SEC-registered transfer-agent recordkeeping, an SEC/FINRA/MSRB-registered broker-dealer, and an exempt investment advisor – providing issuers and investors with a unified path from origination to secondary trading. Together, Alphaledger’s deep product expertise and industry reach complement tZERO’s regulated infrastructure, compliance, and secondary market capabilities.

“The market needs industrial-grade rails for the next generation of on-chain investors,” said Manish Dutta, Co-Founder & CEO of Alphaledger. “tZERO demonstrated the promise of tokenization in equity markets, and we are now at the precipice of a new era – 24/7 tokenized securities markets that expand access, increase transparency, and lower costs. At Alphaledger, we are standardizing how regulated securities live on Solana, while tZERO provides the regulated infrastructure and investor access. Together, we’re making tokenization real: day-one production for issuers and day-one liquidity for investors.”

“Institutions don’t need hype; they need throughput, controls, and exits,” added Chris Wade, Co-Founder & CTO at Alphaledger. “With tZERO, we’re delivering all three: high-performance issuance on Solana, transfer-agent discipline, and a regulated venue for secondary liquidity.”

–END–

Media Contact:

Julie Ros, Head of Marketing & Communications
jros@tzero.com | 646-468-6550

About tZERO

tZERO Group, Inc. (tZERO) and its broker-dealer subsidiaries provide an innovative liquidity platform for private companies and assets. We offer institutional-grade solutions for issuers looking to digitize their capital table through blockchain technology, and make such equity available for trading on an alternative trading system. tZERO, through its broker-dealer subsidiaries, democratizes access to private assets by providing a simple, automated, and efficient trading venue to broker-dealers, institutions, and investors. All technology services are offered through tZERO Technologies, LLC. For more information, please visit our website.

About tZERO Digital Asset Securities

tZERO Digital Asset Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. It is the broker-dealer custodian of all digital asset securities offered on tZERO’s online brokerage platform. It operates in accordance with the SEC’s statement, dated December 23, 2020, regarding the Custody of Digital Asset Securities by Special Purpose Broker-Dealers. Digital asset securities may not be “securities” as defined under the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA)-and in particular, digital asset securities that are “investment contracts” under the Howey test but are not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission are excluded from SIPA’s definition of “securities”-and thus the protections afforded to securities customers under SIPA may not apply. More information about tZERO Digital Asset Securities may be found on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

About tZERO Securities

tZERO Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. It is the operator of the tZERO Securities ATS. More information about tZERO Securities may be found on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Investor Notice

Digital asset securities, as well as any particular investment, may not be suitable or appropriate for everyone. Investors should note that investing or trading in securities could involve substantial risks, including no guarantee of returns, costs associated with selling and purchasing, and no assurance of liquidity which could impact their price and investor’s ability to sell, and possible loss of principal invested. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. There are also unique risks specific to digital asset securities, including, without limitation, fraud, manipulation, theft, and loss.

No Offer, Solicitation, Investment Advice or Recommendations

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by tZERO or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees. No reference to any specific security constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that security or any other security. Nothing in this release shall be considered a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security, future, option or other financial instrument or to offer or provide any investment advice or service to any person in any jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this release constitutes investment advice or offers any opinion with respect to the suitability of any security, and the views expressed in this release should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. In preparing the information contained in this release, we have not taken into account the investment needs, objectives, and financial circumstances of any particular investor. This information has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific recipient of this information and investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Any views expressed in this release by us were prepared based upon the information available to us at the time such views were written. Changed or additional information could cause such views to change. All information is subject to possible corrections. Information may quickly become unreliable for various reasons, including changes in market conditions or economic circumstances.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, tZERO, its subsidiaries, or its representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations and projections about future events, which is derived from currently available information. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, including financial performance and projections; growth in revenue and earnings; and business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including, without limitation: the ability of tZERO and its subsidiaries to change the direction; tZERO’s ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; performance of individual transactions; regulatory developments and matters; and competition. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this release and other statements made from time to time by tZERO, its subsidiaries or their respective representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. tZERO, its subsidiaries, and its representatives are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this release and other statements made from time to time by tZERO, its subsidiaries or its representatives might not occur.

About Alpha Ledger Technologies, Inc.

Alpha Ledger Technologies, Inc. is a technology company specializing in blockchain financial products, focused on providing technology to its subsidiaries and prospective clients. Alphaledger is the marketing name of Alpha Ledger Technologies Inc., and its subsidiaries, who provide blockchain technology, smart blockchain-related products, and blockchain support services.

Affiliates of Alphaledger Technologies include an SEC registered transfer agent, Alpha Ledger TA, LLC (“ALTA”), Alphaledger Markets, Inc., (“ALM”), a broker dealer, registered with SEC, FINRA, the MSRB and SIPC, and an investment manager, Alphaledger Investment Management, LLC (“ALIM”). Check the background of ALM and ALIM on FINRA’s BrokerCheck. 

The information provided herein is not directed at any investor or category of investors and is provided solely as general information about our products and services and to otherwise provide general education. It is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or as an official confirmation of any transaction. Furthermore, no information contained herein should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment-related course of action as none of Alphaledger nor any of its affiliates is undertaking to provide investment advice, act as an adviser, or give advice in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the materials presented herein. If you are an investor, contact your financial advisor or other fiduciary unrelated to Alphaledger about whether any given investment idea, strategy, product, or service described herein may be appropriate for your circumstances.

SOURCE: tZERO Group, Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Co-CEO of FinishLine Tax Solutions transformed his life after addiction and prison to launch one of the nation’s fastest-growing financial services companies.

DALLAS, TX / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / From homelessness with $2,000 to a $50M enterprise, Scott Allen Curley‘s journey from addiction and prison to national business leader will be featured on “Trending Today” on Fox Business, Bloomberg, and A&E.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Keensight Capital (“Keensight”), one of the leading private equity managers dedicated to pan-European Growth Buyout ^[1] investments, today announced it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Isto Biologics (“Isto”) from Thompson Street Capital Partners (“TSCP”). TSCP will retain a minority stake, alongside Isto Biologics’ management team.

HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / Founded in 2016, Isto Biologics is a regenerative MedTech company developing and manufacturing orthobiologic products to help patients heal faster. Isto’s best-in-class product offering covers six functional areas of unique bone graft solutions, and includes a range of allografts, which are notably used for bone repair in the spine. Isto sells its products to more than 400 hospitals and clinics, which are used in 15,000 surgical procedures per month, primarily in the United States.

With the support of TSCP, Isto has rapidly grown its product offerings and client base, both organically and through select M&A activity, including the acquisition of Advanced Biologics in 2023.

Keensight has a long track record of investments in the MedTech space, including in the spine, orthopedics and orthobiologics fields. Keensight will leverage its experience and expertise to further grow Isto into a global leader in biomaterials for tissue regeneration. Through its extensive international network and with the support of the Keensight Performance team, Keensight will contribute to accelerating Isto’s growth strategy, both organically and through acquisitions.

Don Brown, CEO, and Brian Barnes, President of Isto Biologics, said: “Building on our successful collaboration with TSCP, we are looking forward to working with Keensight as we enter the next phase of our growth. Our focus is on helping patients heal faster, and we are excited to bring our solutions to more hospitals and patients. Keensight’s deep sector expertise and global platform will help us to pursue an ambitious strategy to increase our geographical reach and product offerings.”

Amit Karna and David Piccoli, Partners at Keensight Capital, added: “We have been investors in the biomaterials, orthopedics, spine and bone repair segments for over 20 years, and have been tracking Isto specifically for more than 5 years. Isto is the perfect example of a Keensight healthcare investment: a company that offers proven technology which is improving patient lives, while delivering sustainable and profitable growth. We are very excited to support Isto with its continued domestic success and international expansion.”

Jesse Klein, Managing Director at Thompson Street Capital Partners, concluded: “Our partnership with Isto has been extremely successful. Together, we have been able to grow Isto’s suite of products, both organically and through acquisitions, and better leverage the Company’s commercial engine to expand the customer base. We have been fortunate to partner with the Isto team and are delighted to be continuing our relationship, alongside Keensight, in this exciting next stage of growth.”

***

About Keensight Capital

Keensight Capital (“Keensight”), one of the leading European Growth Buyout firms, is committed to supporting entrepreneurs as they implement their growth strategies. With over 25 years of experience and €5.5bn of assets under management, Keensight Capital’s team of seasoned professionals leverages their differentiated private equity experience to invest in profitably growing companies generating revenues in the range of €10 million to €400 million. Drawing on its expertise in the Technology and Healthcare sectors, Keensight identifies the best investment opportunities in Europe and works closely with the management teams providing capital, strategic guidance and operational support. Keensight operates in more than 90 countries across the globe with a presence in Paris, London, Boston, and Singapore. www.keensight.com

About Thompson Street Capital Partners

Thompson Street Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that helps transform already exceptional businesses into market leaders. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, TSCP invests globally in the life sciences and healthcare, software and technology, business and consumer services and products sectors. TSCP partners with management teams to increase value by accelerating growth, both organically and via complementary acquisitions. www.tscp.com

About Isto Biologics

Isto Biologics is a leading biologics and cellular therapy company. Focused on Helping Patients Heal Faster™ through innovative solutions for bone regeneration and cell-based therapies, Isto prides itself on providing the most complete and innovative biologics offerings on the market. From its inception around Isto’s flagship autologous cellular solution, the Magellan® Autologous Platelet Separator, Isto has grown through developing complete bone grafting options touching all categories of bone grafts; InQu® Bone Graft Extender & Substitute; Influx™ Advanced Allograft Technology including Fibrant™ Functional Allograft Constructs, SPARC Integrative Bone Matrix, and ProteiOS Allograft-Derived Proteins. www.istobiologics.com

Press contacts

Keensight Capital
Cindy Giraud, Communications Director – cgiraud@keensight.com +33 (0) 6 37 96 55 37

Headland Consultancy
Stephanie Ellis – sellis@headlandconsultancy.com +44 (0) 73 1136 9804
Ellen Johnson – ejohnson@headlandconsultancy.com +44 (0) 79 0185 3673

Thompson Street Capital Partners
Gregory FCA
Jeremy Milner – jmilner@gregoryfca.com +1 (401) 862-9422

Isto Biologics
Jessica Kemp, Marketing Director – jkemp@istobiologics.com +1 (774) 230-7125

¹Growth Buyout: investment in profitable, private companies experiencing strong growth, in minority or majority positions, with or without leverage, using a flexible approach tailored to the needs of individual entrepreneurs, in order to finance organic growth projects, acquisition strategies or provide historic shareholders with liquidity.

SOURCE: Isto Biologics

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Fraudulent schemes exploiting the IRS Fresh Start Program are on the rise, putting vulnerable taxpayers at risk of financial loss.

IRVINE, CA / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is cautioning taxpayers about a growing wave of scams involving fraudulent “Fresh Start” tax relief offers. Criminals posing as legitimate companies are using phone calls, emails, and online ads to convince individuals they qualify for immediate debt forgiveness – often demanding upfront fees for services that never materialize.

According to Clear Start Tax, a national tax relief firm, the rise in scams mirrors the growing popularity of the IRS Fresh Start Program, which helps qualifying taxpayers reduce or restructure back tax debt.

“The Fresh Start Program is real, but the way scammers are exploiting it is dangerous,” said a Clear Start Tax spokesperson. “We’re seeing fake companies promise blanket debt forgiveness or guaranteed settlements for pennies on the dollar – claims the IRS itself would never make.”

Fraudulent operators often use high-pressure tactics, including threats of arrest or asset seizure, to push taxpayers into signing contracts or sending money. The IRS has warned that such claims are not only false but may expose victims to identity theft and additional financial harm.

“The truth is that the IRS evaluates each case individually,” Clear Start Tax explained. “No legitimate firm can promise you’ll qualify without first reviewing your financial situation. If someone guarantees results before they even look at your documents, that’s a red flag.”

By answering a few simple questions, taxpayers can find out if they’re eligible for the IRS Fresh Start Program and take the first step toward resolving their tax debt.

Tax experts advise consumers to verify credentials, avoid paying large upfront fees, and contact the IRS directly if they are uncertain about an offer.

“Protecting yourself starts with knowing the difference between legitimate tax relief options and too-good-to-be-true promises,” the Clear Start Tax spokesperson added. “If you’re ever in doubt, seek guidance from a reputable firm or go directly to the IRS for confirmation.”

About Clear Start Tax

Clear Start Tax is a trusted national tax relief firm dedicated to helping individuals and businesses resolve IRS and state tax issues. With a focus on education, transparency, and proven strategies, Clear Start Tax has assisted thousands of taxpayers in reducing liabilities, negotiating settlements, and regaining financial stability.

Need Help With Back Taxes?

Click the link below:
https://clearstarttax.com/qualifytoday/
(888) 710-3533

Contact Information

Clear Start Tax
Corporate Communications Department
tech@clearstarttax.com
(949) 800-4011

SOURCE: Clear Start Tax

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / Every once in a while, an industry has its thunderbolt moment. Recycling just had its. SMX (NASDAQ:SMX), working with BT-Systems’ Competence Center REDWAVE, has proven that the world’s most stubborn plastics can finally be tamed. And not just tamed, but certified, traded, and turned into assets at industrial speed.

Over two consecutive days at REDWAVE’s Austrian Competence Center, SMX put its system to the test before two heavyweight institutions: Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Europe’s National Flame Retardant Association (NAFRA). The audience was as tough as it gets, but the results left little room for doubt. Food-grade plastics, flame-retardant plastics, and even carbon black – the phantom menace of recycling – were all detected, sorted, and certified in real time. Accuracy? 99% to 100%. Speed? Two meters per second, which sits at the very top end of industrial sorting. No one has ever combined that kind of pace with that kind of precision.

That matters because recycling’s biggest problem has never been the idea. It’s been the mess created by a broken system. Every country, and often every city, writes its own rules for what counts as recycled. Audits are inconsistent. Compliance is a paperwork nightmare. Consumers are skeptical, companies are frustrated, and the patchwork leaves billions of dollars of plastic waste stranded. What SMX just proved is that the chaos can be replaced by a unified framework where proof is embedded directly into the material. Molecular traceability tied to block-chain-backed SMX plastics passport that turns recycling from a story of wishful thinking into one of verifiable truth.

All Plastics Are Now In Play

Take food-grade plastics. For years, brands have been forced to pay a premium for virgin resin because recycled content could not be consistently certified. Now, with SMX’s molecular markers and REDWAVE‘s high-speed detection proven, that barrier falls. Packaging producers can source certified recycled plastics that meet the toughest food-contact regulations without compromise. That unlocks supply, slashes costs, and creates a reliable pipeline of sustainable material for global consumer brands.

Flame-retardant plastics add another layer of impact. Essential for safety in electronics, construction, and automotive, they have been nearly impossible to recycle safely. Under NAFRA’s watch, SMX and REDWAVE showed that not only can these plastics be identified at speed, but their flame-retardant composition can also be validated. That is a game-changer for compliance-driven industries, where the ability to guarantee safety, compliance, and sustainability has never been possible until now.

And then there is carbon black plastic. For decades, its light-absorbing pigmentation has made it invisible to conventional sorting systems, condemning billions of tons to landfill or incineration. SMX’s embedded molecular markers change that. Suddenly, carbon black is visible, verifiable, and valuable. It can flow back into automotive and electronics supply chains where durability and performance are paramount, reducing reliance on expensive virgin inputs and balancing material economics across industries.

PCT to Seize The Assets Value

But the story doesn’t stop at sorting. The Plastic Cycle Token (PCT) takes proof and turns it into performance. Once plastics are certified through SMX’s system, they can be tokenized and traded as a new class of commodity. Without proof, recycling is a cost. With proof, it becomes a market. With PCT, it becomes an asset class. Regulators gain enforcement tools, companies gain compliance certainty, and investors gain a way to measure and price recycled content in real time. Waste stops being waste. It becomes wealth.

The involvement of A*STAR and NAFRA in these trials matters as much as the technology itself. A*STAR shapes Singapore’s national circular economy strategy, including its plastics passport initiative. NAFRA sets the tone for Europe’s strictest safety standards. Their presence, their scrutiny, and ultimately their validation mean this is no longer a company pitching a vision. This is an industry blueprint unfolding in real time.

SMX has always said its ambition is to turn proof into the foundation of global material economics. With REDWAVE as its industrial partner, that ambition has now been proven at scale. The system does not just recycle plastics. It certifies them, embeds trust into them, and sets them apart as compliant across any jurisdiction. This is VHS vs. Betamax all over again, only the stakes are far higher than home video. This time, the prize is control of the global circular economy.

With letters of intent already in place, industrial rollouts are on the horizon. When they arrive, competitors, regulators, and entire industries will find themselves measured against the SMX-REDWAVE system. Standards are not polite suggestions. They are the rules of the game. And the company that writes them defines the market.

Recycling used to be about bins and bottles. Now it is about who controls the certification that makes those materials matter. With A*STAR and NAFRA watching closely, and REDWAVE at its side, SMX has made its move. The rules of recycling have changed, and SMX, with help from some industry friends, is writing them.

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: matters relating to the Company’s fight against abusive and possibly illegal trading tactics against the Company’s stock; successful launch and implementation of SMX’s joint projects with manufacturers and other supply chain participants of gold, steel, rubber and other materials; changes in SMX’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; SMX’s ability to develop and launch new products and services, including its planned Plastic Cycle Token; SMX’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; SMX’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; SMX’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SMX’s business model; developments and projections relating to SMX’s competitors and industry; and SMX’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; any lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMX’s business; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which SMX operates; the risk that SMX and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize SMX’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that SMX is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that SMX may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in SMX’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EMAIL: info@securitymattersltd.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Icotrokinra demonstrated superior skin clearance at Weeks 16 and 24 compared to deucravacitinib and similar adverse event rates to placebo in Phase 3 ICONIC-ADVANCE studies

Icotrokinra also showed sustained skin clearance and favorable safety profile in both adults and adolescents at Week 52 in Phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study

Preclinical proof-of-concept data on PN-881, a first-in-class oral peptide targeting the IL-17 pathway, and part of Protagonist’s fully owned development pipeline, including the highly potent and selective binding of IL-17A and IL-17F

NEWARK, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (“Protagonist” or the “Company”) today announced new data from the Phase 3 ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 and 2 studies which assessed the superiority of icotrokinra, a first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the IL-23 receptor, compared to deucravacitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. These data are being presented at the 2025 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Paris, France. Additionally, new long-term 52-week data from the Phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study investigating icotrokinra in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older (adolescents) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis will be presented as a late-breaking abstract at EADV.^{1, 2}

Preclinical data on PN-881, a first-in-class oral peptide targeting the IL-17 pathway and fully owned by Protagonist, are also being presented at EADV.³ The Company expects that the first subject will be dosed in the Phase 1 single ascending and multiple ascending dose human clinical study (NCT07153146) in the coming weeks.

“The data presented at EADV demonstrate the potential for icotrokinra to set a new standard of treatment for psoriasis patients with a once-daily targeted oral therapy that selectively blocks the IL-23R. Additionally, the preclinical data on our next drug candidate in the Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory (I&I) space, PN-881, being presented at the conference highlight its potential as a first-in-class oral peptide antagonist targeting the three therapeutically relevant dimeric forms of IL-17,” said Dinesh V. Patel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Protagonist. ” Collectively, these data reinforce our ability to innovate and develop oral peptides that could potentially deliver transformative, paradigm shifting outcomes for patients. The first-in-class oral peptides Icotrokinra and PN-881 target the highly relevant biological IL-23 and IL-17 pathways respectively in the I&I space and position Protagonist Therapeutics as an emerging and prominent contributor to this therapeutic field.”

ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 and 2 Study Data

The ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 and 2 studies assessed the superiority of icotrokinra compared to deucravacitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. As previously announced, in the studies icotrokinra met both co-primary endpoints compared to placebo at Week 16 with similar adverse event rates and showed superiority to deucravacitinib at multiple timepoints in adult patients.

• Icotrokinra showed superior skin clearance vs placebo (Week 16) and deucravacitinib (Weeks 16 and 24).¹

• A similar proportion of patients experienced adverse events (AEs) between icotrokinra and placebo groups, with no new safety signals identified. Icotrokinra AE rates were numerically lower vs deucravacitinib through Week 24.¹

ICONIC-LEAD Study Data

In the ICONIC-LEAD^b drug withdrawal/re-retreatment study, icotrokinra demonstrated sustained skin clearance and a favorable safety profile through Week 52 with no new safety signals identified.

• At Week 52, adult icotrokinra PASI 90 responders re-randomized to icotrokinra at Week 24 had superior maintenance of PASI 90 response versus those re-randomized to placebo (84% vs 21%; p0.001).^2,d

• At Week 52, 86% of adolescents who received icotrokinra for the full 52 weeks and 77% of those switched from placebo to icotrokinra at Week 16 achieved PASI 90 response.²

• ICONIC-LEAD Week 16 primary endpoint data was previously presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 2025 Congress.⁴

ASCEND Study Initiated

Protagonist’s collaboration partner, Johnson & Johnson, also announced initiation of the Phase 3 ICONIC-ASCEND study,^c the first-ever head-to-head study seeking to demonstrate the superiority of an oral pill, icotrokinra, compared to an injectable biologic, ustekinumab, in psoriasis, representing an important step forward in psoriasis research.

PN-881 Study Data

Preclinical data on PN-881, the next generation IL-17 oral peptide antagonist for psoriasis will also be presented at the conference, key takeaways included: ³

• Exhibited in vitro potency comparable to bimekizumab, and superior (70-fold) to secukinumab, in the nanomolar to picomolar range.

• Showed metabolic stability in several matrices across several species, making it a suitable candidate for oral delivery.

• Demonstrated PD-based target engagement in a mouse IL-17 challenge model after oral dosing.

• Oral dosing showed dose-dependent efficacy with significant reduction in skin thickness in a 5-day rat IL-23 induced skin inflammation model.

Editor’s notes:

1. ICONIC- ADVANCE 1 and 2 are Phase 3 RCTs evaluating the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo and deucravacitinib in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO with PASI 90 and IGA score of 0/1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as co-primary endpoints.

2. ICONIC-LEAD is a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo in 684 participants (icotrokinra=456; placebo=228) 12 years of age or older with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO, with the higher efficacy bar of PASI 90 and IGA score of 0/1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as co-primary endpoints. ICONIC-LEAD enrolled 66 adolescent patients 12 years of age and older.

3. ICONIC-ASCEND is a Phase 3 RCT and the first-ever head-to-head study seeking to demonstrate the superiority of an oral pill, icotrokinra, compared to an injectable biologic, ustekinumab in moderate-to-severe plaque PsO.⁵

4. The PASI score grades the amount of surface area on each body region that is covered by psoriasis plaques and the severity of plaques for their redness, thickness and scaliness. PASI 90 means a 90% reduction in baseline PASI score.

About the ICONIC Clinical Development Program
The pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC clinical development program of icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO was initiated with two studies in Q4 2023 – ICONIC-LEAD and ICONIC-TOTAL – pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement between Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. and Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company.⁶

ICONIC-LEAD (NCT06095115) is a RCT to evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO, with PASI 90 and IGA score of 0 or 1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as co-primary endpoints.⁷

ICONIC-TOTAL (NCT06095102) is a RCT to evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo for the treatment of PsO in participants with at least moderate severity affecting special areas (e.g., scalp, genital, and/or hands and feet) with overall IGA score of 0 or 1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as the primary endpoint.⁸

Other Phase 3 studies in the development program include ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 (NCT06143878) and ICONIC-ADVANCE 2 (NCT06220604), which are evaluating the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with both placebo and deucravacitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO.^{9, 10} ICONIC-ASCEND will evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo and ustekinumab in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. ICONIC-PsA 1 (NCT06878404) and ICONIC-PsA 2 (NCT06807424) will evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared to placebo in participants with active psoriatic arthritis.^{11, 12}

About Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic immune-mediated disease resulting in overproduction of skin cells, which causes inflamed, scaly plaques that may be itchy or painful. It is estimated that 8 million Americans and more than 125 million people worldwide live with the disease. Nearly one-quarter of all people with plaque PsO have cases that are considered moderate to severe. On Caucasian skin, plaques typically appear as raised, red patches covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells or scale. On skin of color, the plaques may appear darker and thicker and more of a purple, gray or dark brown color. Plaques can appear anywhere on the body, although they most often appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso. Living with plaque PsO can be a challenge and impact life beyond a person’s physical health, including emotional health, relationships, and handling the stressors of life. Psoriasis on highly visible areas of the body or sensitive skin, such as the scalp, hands, feet, and genitals, can have an increased negative impact on quality of life.

About Icotrokinra (JNJ-77242113, JNJ-2113)
Investigational icotrokinra is the first targeted oral peptide designed to selectively block the IL-23 receptor, which underpins the inflammatory response in moderate-to-severe plaque PsO, ulcerative colitis and offers potential in other IL-23-mediated diseases. Icotrokinra binds to the IL-23 receptor with single-digit picomolar affinity and demonstrated potent, selective inhibition of IL-23 signaling in human T cells. The license and collaboration agreement established between Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. and Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, in 2017 enabled the companies to work together to discover and develop next-generation compounds that ultimately led to icotrokinra.

Icotrokinra was jointly discovered and is being developed pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement between Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson retains exclusive worldwide rights to develop icotrokinra in Phase 2 clinical trials and beyond, and to commercialize compounds derived from the research conducted pursuant to the agreement against a broad range of indications.

Icotrokinra is being studied in the pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC clinical development program in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis, and the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

About PN-881

PN-881 is a potential first- and best-in-class oral peptide IL-17 antagonist which has demonstrated robust activity against all three therapeutically relevant dimeric forms of the IL-17 ligand in preclinical testing. It demonstrates potency that is orders of magnitude better than an anti-IL-17 oral small molecule analog, and better than, or on par with, various approved or developmental stage injectable antibody or nanobody therapeutic agents. Planned clinical studies include a Phase 1 single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) study expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 (NCT07153146). Results of the Phase 1 trial will inform the design and dosing of a subsequent dose-ranging Phase 2 psoriasis trial. Rapid expansion into other IL-17 mediated diseases, including psoriatic arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and axial spondyloarthropathies, will be based on initial results observed in psoriasis studies.

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, Inc. Following icotrokinra’s joint discovery by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists pursuant to the companies’ IL-23R collaboration, Protagonist was primarily responsible for 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

¹ Stein Gold, L et al. Icotrokinra Demonstrated Superior Responses Compared with Placebo and Deucravacitinib in the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis : Results Through Week 24 of the Phase 3 ICONIC-ADVANCE 1&2 Studies. Oral presentation (Presentation FC01.1G) at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress (EADV). September 2025.

² Soung, J et al. Maintenance of Response with Icotrokinra, a Targeted Oral Peptide, for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis: Randomized Treatment Withdrawal in Adults (weeks 24-52) and Continuous Treatment in Adolescents (Through Week 52) From the Phase 3, ICONIC-LEAD Trial. Late-breaking research oral presentation (Presentation #D1T01.2B) at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress (EADV). September 2025.

³ Manrique, M et al. PN-881: First-in-class oral IL-17 antagonist peptide for potential treatment of psoriatic diseases. Presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress (EADV) (Abstract #2155). September 2025.

⁴ Bissonnette, R et al. Icotrokinra, a Targeted Oral Peptide That Selectively Blocks the Interleukin-23-Receptor, for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Results Through Week 24 of the Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled ICONIC-LEAD Trial. Late-breaking research presentation (Abstract #66708) at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2024 Annual Meeting. March 2025.

⁵ Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of JNJ-77242113 Compared to Placebo and Ustekinumab in Participants with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis (ICONIC-ASCEND). Identifier NCT0693422. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06934226?term=iconic-ascend&rank=1. Accessed July 2025.

⁶ Protagonist Therapeutics. Press release. Protagonist announces advancement of JNJ-2113 across multiple indications. Available at: https://www.accesswire.com/791174/protagonist-announces-advancement-of-jnj-2113-across-multiple-indications. Accessed July 2025.

⁷ Clinicaltrials.gov. A study of JNJ-2113 in adolescent and adult participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (ICONIC-LEAD). Identifier NCT06095115. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06095115. Accessed July 2025.

⁸ Clinicaltrials.gov. A study of JNJ-2113 for the treatment of participants with plaque psoriasis involving special areas (scalp, genital, and/or palms of the hands and the soles of the feet) (ICONIC-TOTAL). Identifier NCT06095102. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06095102. Accessed July 2025.

⁹ Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study of JNJ-77242113 for the Treatment of Participants With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis. Identifier NCT06143878. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06143878?term=jnj-77242113&rank=10. Accessed July 2025.

¹⁰ Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study of JNJ-77242113 for the Treatment of Participants With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis (ICONIC-ADVANCE 2). Identifier NCT06220604. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06220604. Accessed July 2025.

¹¹ Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of JNJ-77242113 (Icotrokinra) in Biologic-naïve Participants With Active Psoriatic Arthritis (ICONIC-PsA 1). Identifier NCT06878404. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06878404

¹² A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Icotrokinra (JNJ-77242113) in Biologic-experienced Participants With Active Psoriatic Arthritis (ICONIC-PsA 2). Identifier NCT06807424. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06807424

SOURCE: Protagonist Therapeutics

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / SMX (Security Matters) PLC (NASDAQ:SMX)(NASDAQ:SMXWW), a global pioneer in digitizing physical objects for a circular economy, today announced the successful completion of two proof-of-concept trials, conducted over two consecutive days, with its service provider RedWave, demonstrating advanced sorting solutions for NAFRA (North American Flame Retardant Alliance) and A*Star (Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research).

The trials validated the commercial-speed identification and sorting of both food-grade plastics (as part of SMX’s collaboration with A*STAR for its project in Singapore) and flame-retardant black plastics with NAFRA.

Industry Milestone Toward a Global Technological Development

SMX believes that these trials represent a critical step toward establishing an industry standard for plastic traceability and recycling. By embedding SMX’s molecular markers into materials and pairing them with RedWave’s proprietary detection and sorting systems, the platform is being designed to deliver two outcomes:

1. Increasing the use of recycled content in new plastic applications.

2. Creating a full ecosystem through SMX’s blockchain-backed digital passport, allowing for traceability from raw materials through production, recycling, and reuse.

Through SMX’s blockchain-backed digital passport, this breakthrough potentially creates a full digital platform ecosystem for plastics – enabling traceability from raw materials through production, recycling, and reuse. This allows for every stage of the material lifecycle to be certified and trusted, laying the groundwork for recognized global standards in sustainable plastics.

The achievement by SMX, NAFRA, and RedWave is expected to be the first step in creating the foundation for an industry capability of marking and certifying tangible plastics.

By doing so, SMX believes that plastic waste can be transformed into a valuable commodity, because once it is marked and certified, it has the potential to be able to re-enter supply chains with trusted quality and compliance – driving both commercial value and circular economic impact.

Two-Day Showcase Demonstration: Food-Grade, Flame-Retardant and Carbon Black Plastics

• Day 1 – A*STAR Collaboration (Singapore): Trials focused on food-grade plastics as part of SMX’s joint project with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). This collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced recycling technologies in support of Singapore’s circular economy targets.

• Day 2 – NAFRA Collaboration: NAFRA, the National Flame Retardant Association, partnered with SMX to test plastics containing a brominated flame retardant (DPDPE). The testing not only confirmed commercial-speed detection and sorting performance but also validated that the technology can identify whether plastics contained a targeted composition of flame retardant – across various types of plastics, including carbon black plastics. This breakthrough could help to ensure both compliance with safety standards and the potential for closed-loop recycling of complex materials.

Importance of Sorting Food-Grade Plastics

As part of SMX’s collaboration joint project with A*STAR (Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research), the trials highlighted the importance of improving food-grade plastic recycling. Food-grade plastics are vital to consumer safety and regulatory compliance, yet their recyclability has been limited by inconsistent separation at scale.

SMX’s molecular markers, integrated with RedWave’s high-speed detection systems, bring new capabilities that are expected to unlock significant benefits:

• Commercial Value: High-purity food-grade plastics have been shown to be reliably separately identified from non-food plastics, which may help supply chains to have secure, lower-cost access to recycled content that meets stringent food-contact standards.

• Regulatory Compliance: The ability to verify food-grade quality in real time could help support manufacturers in meeting international safety and packaging regulations.

• Sustainability: By encouraging the recovery and reuse of more food-grade plastics, the process can help reduce dependence on virgin resins, directly lowering carbon emissions and resource demand.

• Circular Economy Impact: Clear certification of food-grade recyclates enables supply chain participants to re-enter packaging loops, rather than being downcycled or discarded, extending product lifecycles.

This innovation is designed to help ensure that food packaging producers and brand owners can confidently source sustainable, compliant recycled plastics – turning waste into high-value raw material.

Why Carbon Black Plastics Matter

Carbon black plastic is a widely used material, produced by infusing plastics with carbon black pigment. It plays a large role in electronics and automotive manufacturing – industries where durability, color, UV resistance, strength, electrical conductivity and safety requirements are paramount.

Until now, carbon black plastics have been virtually impossible to sort and certify for recycling, because their dark pigmentation absorbs infrared, laser, and imaging signals used by conventional sorting technologies. This has generally left them excluded from advanced recycling systems.

SMX’s molecular marking technology has been shown in the proof-of-concept trial to change this paradigm by enabling the real-time detection and separation of carbon black plastics.

This breakthrough has the potential to:

• Free food-grade rPET plastics (recycled PET bottles) from being diverted into non-food applications such as dashboards, car seats, and electronic housings – where they are not technically optimal.

• Reduce production costs by lowering the inflection point of pricing for new product lines, since automotive and electronic components would be manufactured with higher performance recycled black plastics instead of expensive rPET.

• Improve durability and quality of non-food-grade plastics: Food-grade rPET is designed for short-term use (holding liquids for just a few months), whereas automotive and electronics demand plastics that last for years or even decades.

This creates a double benefit: helping to unlock recyclability for one of the hardest-to-recycle plastics while simultaneously to improve material allocation and cost-efficiency across industries (such as automotive, electronics and food products).

Breakthrough in Sorting Plastics

Using RedWave’s industrial sorting system, operating at 2 m/s conveyor speed, SMX-marked plastics – including food-grade materials, fire-retardant compositions, and carbon black plastics – were consistently detected and separated with 99-100% accuracy.

This could represent a significant breakthrough in recycling, as it not only could enable the recovery of food-grade plastics into compliant, closed-loop applications, but also could identify that plastics containing flame retardants meet the correct composition standards.

Pilot Highlights

• Trials Conducted: Two-day program covering food-grade plastics (A*STAR project, Singapore) and flame-retardantblack plastics (NAFRA).

• Throughput: 2 m/s conveyor line speed.

• Material Processed: 22 kg across six design runs and one combined scale-up run.

• Technology: SMX molecular marker embedded in plastics, tracked via RedWave, SMX’s service provider for detection and sorting.

Performance Results

• Recognition: Consistent identification of SMX-marked plastics across all compositions.

• Accuracy: 99-100% detection and separation.

• Stability: High-speed classification maintained at industrial throughput.

Next Steps

SMX is now assessing commercial roll-out opportunities with its service provider RedWave, to establish recognized standards for circularity in plastics and expand adoption across various sectors.

By embedding certification into the value chain ecosystem, SMX believes its technology would ensure that plastics are no longer treated as waste but as a valuable, certifiable commodity, and that once marked and certified, plastics can re-enter supply chains with trusted quality, creating new commercial opportunities while driving global progress toward a circular economy.

For further information contact:

SMX GENERAL ENQUIRIES	Follow us through our social channel @secmattersltd
E:info@securitymattersltd.com	@smx.tech

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: successful launch and implementation of SMX’s joint projects with manufacturers and other supply chain participants of steel, rubber and other materials; changes in SMX’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; SMX’s ability to develop and launch new products and services, including its planned Plastic Cycle Token; SMX’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; SMX’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; SMX’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SMX’s business model; developments and projections relating to SMX’s competitors and industry; and SMX’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; any lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMX’s business; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which SMX operates; the risk that SMX and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize SMX’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that SMX is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that SMX may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in SMX’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters)

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Company is Unlocking Transaction-Based Revenue in $85 Billion Market Dominated by Legacy Players, like Stubhub and Ticketmaster

NEW YORK CITY, NY AND TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / Nextech3D.ai (CSE:NTAR)(OTCQB:NEXCF)(FSE:1SS) (the “Company” or “Nextech3D.ai”), an AI-powered event management company, today announced its accelerated launch of its event ticketing software solutions from Q4 to Q3 2025 with blockchain ticketing coming in Q4. As tickets are digital, risk of fraud, counterfeiting, and scalping increases. Solutions using blockchain, identity verification, and secure tokenization are becoming more important. This launch introduces a scalable, transaction-based revenue model aligned with the continued expansion of the global ticketing industry, which, according to Mordor Intelligence, is projected to reach $85 billion in 2025 and grow to $103 billion by 2030.

Built-In Adoption Across Multiple Verticals

Ticketing spans multiple industries: live concerts, sports, conferences, trade shows, festivals, museums, transportation, and even hybrid/virtual events. This breadth creates diverse revenue streams and provides resilience against fluctuations in any single sector.

Nextech3D.ai’s new ticketing platform introduces a new revenue model designed to scale with event demand. The company will generate $0.99 per ticket sold plus 3% of the ticket price, creating a fully transaction-based revenue stream that expands directly with ticket volume and pricing. This represents a significant shift from traditional flat platform fees, aligning Nextech3D.ai’s growth with the success of its customers’ events and unlocking recurring, high-margin revenue opportunities.

The opportunity is reinforced by the strength of the global ticketing industry. With blockchain tokenized ticketing scheduled to launch in Q4, Nextech3D.ai is positioned to participate in both primary ticket sales and the secondary resale market, currently dominated by legacy players, while offering a secure, next-generation solution.

CEO Commentary

“By accelerating our ticketing platform launch into Q3, we are creating a new revenue driver for Nextech3D.ai. For the first time, our earnings are directly tied to how many tickets are sold and at what price-creating significant upside potential as our customers’ events grow. With blockchain-enabled ticketing coming in Q4, we will also participate in secondary market transactions, aligning Nextech3D.ai with the evolving economics of the global ticketing industry,” said Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech3D.ai. “We believe these initiatives lay the foundation for 2026 to be a breakout year for profitability and cash flow.”

Built-In Adoption & Immediate Pipeline

• Nextech’s Map D platform already supports 500+ events annually, with about 25% involving ticket sales

• With 125+ existing clients positioned to adopt the new ticketing platform the company has an established pipeline offering fast, low-friction revenue wins from the outset.

Stock option issuance:

The company has issued 1,000,000 3-year stock options priced at .15 under its existing employee stock option plan.

About Nextech3D.AI

Nextech3D.ai (OTCQB:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2) is an AI-first technology company focused on event solutions and 3D modeling. Through its Map D platform, Nextech3D.ai powers hundreds of events annually with interactive floor plans, exhibitor management, sponsorships, mobile apps, and ticketing. The company is strategically positioned in the $85B+ global online ticketing market, projected to grow to $103B by 2030 (Mordor Intelligence Report), and is set to launch blockchain-enabled ticketing in 2025. Nextech3D.ai also delivers AI-powered 3D modeling and spatial computing solutions at scale for major global retailers and platforms, including Amazon, Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce.

For further information, please visit: www.Nextech3D.ai.

Investor Relations: investors@nextechar.com

For more information, visit Nextech3D.ai.

Sign up for Investor News and Info – Click Here

Evan Gappelberg /CEO and Director
866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “will be” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “will” occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: NexTech3D.AI Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / September 17, 2025 / Percept Corporation, a pioneer in advanced visual perception technology, AI and systems, announces that Anthony Principi has joined Percept’s Global Advisor Network. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Principi served as the fourth United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs and brings extensive leadership experience, deep knowledge of VA operations and a strong commitment to supporting veterans and active-duty service members.

Dr. Scott Lewis, Percept CEO and founder, stated, “We are honored to have Secretary Principi join our distinguished advisor network. His addition demonstrates our long-term commitment to helping veterans and active service members through innovative technology and products that can improve health and quality of life.” He continued, “Percept is the only company in the vision industry with both an advisor who served as Secretary of the VA and advisors who have led the world’s largest headache and migraine organization-the International Headache Society. Dr. Rami Burstein previously served as head of this organization, and Dr. Mario Perez currently holds this position. Secretary Principi added, “After years of leading the VA, I recognize game-changing technology when I see it. Percept’s solutions offer a unique opportunity to tackle some of the most pressing health issues affecting our veteran community – from chronic migraines to PTSD – in ways that are both effective and scalable through the VA and public and private sectors.”

Dr. Murray Fingeret, a fellow Percept advisor, international glaucoma treatment pioneer and former head of Optometry for the New York VA, added, “Anthony Principi is an invaluable addition to Percept. I served under his leadership at the VA, and together we can bring innovative and cost-efficient optical solutions to veterans, active service members and their families. Our solutions are based on Percept’s patented MiOptics’ optimized Narrow Band Green Light (optimized nbGL) lens technology and can help treat chronic migraines and headaches, PTSD and anxiety, TBI and concussion symptoms, sleep disorders and other conditions that are priorities for today’s VA.”

To learn more about Percept and MiOptics and its benefits, please visit www.perceptcorp.com and the forthcoming www.MiOptics.shop.

About Percept Corporation

Percept is an eleven-year-old privately held company that is a leader in technology, products, software and app solutions. Each innovation is designed to improve human perception while increasing performance, productivity, safety and individualized style. Based in Las Vegas, Percept has staff throughout the United States and Italy, in addition to partners in Europe and Asia. The intellectual property base of Percept includes licenses for over 47 U.S., European and Chinese patents. Percept is the only vision technology company in the world with a network of over 400 global advisors that includes vision experts and top advisors with direct veteran experience that includes Brigadier General Michael Meese (U.S. Army, ret.) and Anthony Principi, Secretary of the VA during the Bush administrations. Percept is also the only vision technology company ever to be a Diamond Sponsor of the American Headache Society and a Corporate Roundtable Member of the International Headache Society along with large pharmaceutical companies as Lilly, Pfizer, and AbbVie.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Media Contact:
Krista Cain
kcain@perceptcorp.com
702-940-2359

Percept Corporation
Krista Cain
702-940-2359
kcain@perceptcorp.com

##

SOURCE: Percept Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire