Latest news with #Ono
Hans India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Japan's ambassador meets Gujarat CM, focuses on stronger bilateral ties and semiconductor investment in Dholera
Gandhinagar: Japan's Ambassador to India, Keiichi Ono, paid a courtesy visit to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on Friday, accompanied by Japan's Economic and Development Affairs Minister, Koyoko Hokugo. The meeting came on the final day of Ambassador Ono's three-day visit to Gujarat, which included high-level interactions with more than 150 industrialists in Ahmedabad and a visit to the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR). During the meeting, Ono expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Gujarat government to more than 350 Japanese companies currently operating in the state. He emphasised Japan's intention to further strengthen ties with Gujarat as the two nations mark 50 years of diplomatic friendship. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel welcomed the Japanese Ambassador, reiterating that "Gujarat is like a second home for Japan". He highlighted the presence of two Japanese townships, a growing number of Japanese restaurants and industries, and consistent participation by Japan in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summits. Chief Minister Patel noted that the Indo-Japan Annual Summit of 2017, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, had led to the successful execution of all signed MoUs. The focus of the discussion centered around Japan's growing interest in the semiconductor sector. Ambassador Ono conveyed that several Japanese companies are keen to invest in semiconductor manufacturing at Dholera SIR, leveraging Japan's technological expertise in the field. He requested the Gujarat government to enhance industrial and social infrastructure, along with human resource development facilities, to support the sector's growth. In response, CM Patel assured that Gujarat is giving top priority to the semiconductor sector and is committed to delivering world-class infrastructure within defined timelines. He also welcomed Japan's initiative to conduct a survey through Mizuho Bank on establishing a robust ecosystem for semiconductor industries in Dholera and Japan's own semiconductor park. The Chief Minister assured full cooperation from state departments in facilitating the study. The Ambassador also underlined Japan's interest in electric vehicle manufacturing in Gujarat and stressed the need to further accelerate collaboration on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) Corridor. He concluded by expressing Japan's desire to deepen commercial, industrial, and cultural exchanges with Gujarat as a way to fortify trilateral ties between Japan, India, and the state of Gujarat. Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister M.K. Das, Principal Secretary (Industries) Mamta Verma, Additional Principal Secretary Avantika Singh, and Honourary Consul General of Japan in Gujarat Mukesh Patel were also present at the meeting.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
University of Florida defends Ono pick, says rejection undermines GOP reforms
The University of Florida's Board of Trustees wants Republican lawmakers to know they still believe in Santa. In a letter sent last week, UF trustees warned top GOP officials that the rejection of Santa J. Ono as the president of Florida's flagship university squandered the opportunity to prove that the state's higher education reforms are not only working, but are compelling enough to win over respected academic leaders seeking to distance themselves from progressive orthodoxies. The board is now forcefully defending their failed bid to name Ono, a respected immunologist and former University of Michigan president, as UF's next leader. The letter, sent July 3 to U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds and Greg Steube, disputed key objections raised in a June 18 statement issued by the three legislators, which accused Ono of failing to support Jewish students at Michigan and of supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The trustees' seven-page response, signed by all 13 members, called the lawmakers' concerns 'not grounded in the facts' and warned that political pressure was undermining the university's ability to attract top leadership talent. Ono's appointment 'should have been seen as a powerful endorsement of the bold path our state has chosen — a moment of national validation that Florida's approach isn't just different, but better,' the letter read. 'That is not just a missed opportunity — it is a rejection of the very validation our reforms have earned and a moment when we could have led by example.' 'Actors with their own agendas' The trustees' missive comes a month after the State University System's Board of Governors blocked the UF board's unanimous nomination of Ono — a first-of-its-kind move that derailed what would have been UF's second presidential transition in less than three years. It was the culmination of a fiery opposition campaign focused on Ono's past affections for progressive ideas. 'We are concerned that much of the current discourse has relied on selectively edited materials promoted by actors with their own agendas,' the trustees wrote. UF has yet to announce a succession plan for interim President Kent Fuchs whose contract ends July 31. Trustees are scheduled to convene on July 23 to discuss raising out-of-state tuition, but the meeting agenda has not been made available to the public yet. By defying the demands of prominent GOP figures, UF trustees are potentially subjecting the upcoming presidential selection process to heightened political scrutiny.' 'Obviously this letter is deeply concerning and leads to even more questions about how this taxpayer funded process will move forward to ensure we have a qualified president to lead our flagship university and stand up for our Jewish students,' Scott said in a statement. (Neither Steube nor Donalds — the Trump-backed frontrunner in next year's governor's race — responded to the Miami Herald.) A central concern for Scott and his colleagues was Ono's handling of pro-Palestinian encampments at the University of Michigan earlier this year. The lawmakers accused him of endangering Jewish students by allowing the encampments to persist — a failure that made Ono unfit to lead UF, home to the largest population of undergraduate Jewish students in the country. 'Ono allowing an illegal, pro-terrorist encampment to take over the University of Michigan campus…was a complete disqualifier,' they wrote. But UF's trustees called that characterization 'unfair' and pointed to actions Ono took to ensure campus safety while avoiding violence. Trustees appended letters of support from notable Jewish leaders, including Michigan Hillel's top rabbi and the Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Ono's defenders at UF also highlighted the university's own record on fighting antisemitism, including waiving admission deadlines for Jewish students seeking to transfer after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, expanding security and fostering partnerships with national Jewish organizations. The lawmakers also accused Ono of having a 'long history' of promoting DEI policies, which Florida's Republican leadership has aggressively sought to eliminate from state-funded institutions. But UF trustees argued that Ono had made a clear ideological shift. During the selection process, they said, he pledged not to bring DEI back to UF and emphasized merit and institutional neutrality. The trustees countered that under Ono's leadership, Michigan dismantled its once-sprawling DEI office and that he had demonstrated 'a willingness to lead hard reforms.' They criticized what they called a 'double standard,' where others have been praised for changing their views while Ono was penalized, noting that Florida's university system had its own DEI program less than five years ago. 'Inconsistent with the realities' Scott, Donalds and Steube, all outspoken critics of Ono, also contended in their June letter that UF's search process lacked transparency and that only one finalist being publicly named violated the spirit of Florida's closed search law, which encourages state universities to name multiple candidates. The lawmakers urged UF to commit to interviewing multiple candidates and making those interviews and application materials public ahead of time. 'It seems that [the law] is being abused by creating an unfair system that allows much of the selection process to be shielded from the public,' they wrote. In response, UF's trustees said they held 10 listening sessions with university stakeholders and opted for a sole finalist approach because many top-tier candidates, including sitting presidents at prestigious universities, would only participate if they were named sole noted that since 2022, 30 of 33 presidential hires at major research institutions have involved either sole finalists or internal promotions. 'Expecting the University of Florida to conduct a search with multiple public finalists and still attract the most qualified candidates is inconsistent with the realities of today's leadership market,' the letter read. The trustees also expressed frustration that neither the three lawmakers nor most of the Board of Governors members who voted against Ono had ever spoken with him. The letter states: 'Dr. Ono was available and willing to engage in good faith.' Only two members of the Board of Governors, both of whom served on the UF's search committee, had met with Ono, according to the letter. Trustees suggested that if others had done the same, concerns might have been resolved. Though the trustees' letter did not provide specifics about the next steps in UF's presidential search, it firmly defended the integrity of the previous process and suggested that a sole finalist approach remains the best method for securing top-tier candidates. 'While we welcome continued dialogue, we reiterate that we do not believe that going forward it is in the best interest of the University to commit to multiple finalists,' the trustees wrote.
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Does University of Florida have a permanent ‘interim' leadership problem?
Last August, the University of Florida's then-Faculty Senate Chair Sarah Lynne was hoping the school would have found permanent replacements for several of its temporary leadership appointments by the end of the academic year. At her final meeting as chair on May 1, she offered a stark update to the faculty senators: 'Not a lot has happened in the last nine months.' 'I'd like to see a little bit less 'interim' in some of these titles,' she added. 'But we'll see how that goes.' For several years, Florida's flagship university has faced top-level turbulence — from Ben Sasse's short and controversial presidency, to a brief return of longtime leader Kent Fuchs, and most recently, a failed bid to appoint Santa J. Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan. That volatility has rippled through the institution, affecting leadership at every level. Sasse's 17-month tenure ended last July, leaving five of UF's 16 colleges without permanent deans — including four of its most prominent academic units: the College of Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Levin College of Law, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. UF's top academic officer is also there temporarily, with no clear succession plan for interim Provost Joe Glover. Four other high-level posts — including chief financial officer and general counsel — are held by interim appointees. And the director of UF's much-ballyhooed, GOP-backed Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education is soon departing for the University of Texas at Austin. Holding out for a permanent president UF had pinned its hopes on Ono to stabilize its leadership crisis, offering him a contract with directives to hire academic leaders 'firmly aligned' with Florida's higher education agenda. But the State University System's Board of Governors rejected Ono's nomination last month in a 10-6 vote, citing his past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. More than a month later, UF has yet to announce a plan to replace interim President Fuchs, whose contract ends July 31. A university spokesperson declined to comment on the succession plan or the status of dean searches. Days before Ono emerged as the sole finalist of UF's presidential search on May 4, Fuchs paused all dean selections until his successor was in office and scrapped the liberal-arts dean search amid conservative backlash to the final four candidates — even as the school was on the brink of making a final hire. At the time, Fuchs said he froze hiring for positions including the liberal-arts dean to avoid drawing political scrutiny upon the presidential search. 'It would have been a mistake — an absolute mistake — for us to make a decision and to announce it and let the consequences flow,' Fuchs said at the May 1 Faculty Senate meeting. 'Letting things calm down, letting us then evaluate and specifically the next president — who, again, I'm absolutely convinced will have exactly the right set of values — is the right thing.' The canceled liberal-arts dean search cost UF tens of thousands. Public records obtained by the Miami Herald in May show UF paid $29,208 to WittKieffer, the headhunting firm hired for the process, as part of a $146,300 contract. UF has not responded to requests for records that would show how much it paid SP&A Executive Search, the boutique firm that helped recruit Ono. SP&A earned nearly $293,000 for the search that brought in Sasse. The leadership freeze has disrupted multiple colleges. The College of the Arts canceled its dean search without explanation, according to a June 27 memo from interim Dean Jennifer Setlow, who plans to stay another year. The status of the College of Engineering's dean search is unclear, though candidates were still scheduled to visit campus in May, according to the interim provost's remarks at that month's Faculty Senate meeting. Meanwhile, interim deans are cycling out. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is now on its second interim dean in a year, with Kevin Ingersent taking over from Mary Watt on Monday. Engineering Dean Forrest Masters, who's held the interim role since 2023, is leaving this month to become dean at Oregon State University. Warren Dixon, chair of the mechanical and aerospace engineering department, will step in as interim dean on July 11. Progress despite setbacks UF's leadership churn has been so persistent that Fuchs has floated the idea of removing the 'interim' title altogether from some positions, according to Faculty Senate minutes from March. The interim label often signals temporary stewardship, which can undercut authority and morale. Such leaders must juggle administrative duties with academic work — usually for significantly less pay than permanent appointees. Melissa Johnson, interim director of the UF Honors Program for nearly three years, earns less than half of her predecessor's salary. Yet, students and faculty now view her as the program's de-facto director, she said in an interview. Though her 'interim' title persists, Johnson takes pride in tangible progress — including a new strategic plan for the program. 'In a lot of cases, interim leaders are really seen as placeholders just kind of maintaining the status quo,' she said. 'That has never been anything I've been comfortable with.' Other interim leaders are also pushing forward. Johnson pointed to the Levin College of Law, where bar passage rates rose by more than 10 percentage points last year under Merritt McAlister, who's served as interim dean since June 2023. Still, UF's stop-start approach to leadership takes its toll. Johnson was a finalist for the permanent honors director position in 2023, but Sasse quietly canceled the search. Two years later, it hasn't resumed. 'There's definitely a sense of uncertainty after several years of high level leadership changes and competing priorities,' Johnson said. 'But there's also this sense of restlessness as we wait for more permanent leadership. We need that overarching vision to set UF in forward motion again. It's exciting to think about getting that spark back across campus.'
The Hill
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Red states have launched a hostile takeover of public universities
Earlier this month, for the first time in its history, the Florida Board of Governors rejected a university's choice of a college president. Despite unanimous approval by the University of Florida's board of trustees, MAGA activists attacked Santa Ono, a former president of the University of Michigan, for his past support of diversity, equity and inclusion programs; his views on admissions, gender-affirming care and climate change; and his handling of pro-Palestinian protesters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ono's claim that 'I am here to ensure that DEI never returns to the University of Florida' was too little, too late. Florida is at the extreme edge of an unprecedented red-state campaign to reinforce and sometimes outdo the Trump administration's efforts to remake higher education. But Florida is by no means alone. Since 2023, 135 bills have been introduced in 29 states to eliminate DEI offices, ban mandatory diversity training, forbid the use of diversity statements in hiring and promotion and bar colleges and universities from requiring classes that 'promote concepts such as systemic racism, reparations, and racial or gender diversity.' Twenty-seven of those bills have become law. Educational 'gag orders' restricting instruction about race, gender and sexual orientation have also grown increasingly extreme. Ohio limits discussion of 'controversial beliefs or policies,' including 'climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion,' requires universities to 'ensure the fullest degree of 'intellectual diversity,' and bans or restricts most DEI-related policies and programs. Florida's Stop Woke Act, which sought to regulate how colleges and universities teach 'divisive concepts,' has been blocked by federal courts as a violation of the First Amendment. Nonetheless, Florida's Board of Governors and State Board of Education have eliminated hundreds of general education courses from the state's 40 public institutions to comply with legislation banning instruction based on 'identity politics' or 'theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.' Last week, following criticism of existing accreditation agencies for supporting DEI, the public university systems in Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee decided to establish their own accreditor. Ohio, Utah and Florida mandate civics instruction focused on a conservative vision of Western civilization. Ohio requires students to read at least five essays from 'The Federalist Papers,' Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' and the writings of Adam Smith. Multiple states — including Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas and Iowa — have established civics institutes intended to be bastions of conservative thought. At least 11 states have passed laws imposing new levels of post-tenure review or making it easier to dismiss tenured faculty. Indiana, for example, prohibited the award of tenure to faculty 'unlikely to foster a culture of free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity,' and authorized the demotion or termination of faculty who do not, in the board's judgment, help create that culture. In several states, proposals to eliminate tenure have only narrowly failed. The academic tradition of shared governance is also under attack. A bill in Arizona, vetoed by its governor, would have stripped faculty of the ability to approve academic degrees or programs. In a law enacted earlier this week that may serve as a model for other states, Texas reserved to the governing board of each public university — whose members are appointed by the governor — the right 'to overturn any decision made by the institution regarding any changes to the general education curriculum'; 'approve or deny the hiring of an individual for the position of provost or deputy, associate, or assistant provost'; 'collaborate with institutions … to set campus admission standards'; and 'overturn any hiring decision for the position of vice president or dean.' Texas also gave university boards exclusive authority to establish faculty senates or councils; prohibited them from issuing statements not directly related to their educational mandate; and limited them to advisory roles, with the presiding officer appointed by the institution's president. Faculty and staff 'may provide recommendations on academic matters,' so long as 'governing boards and institutional leadership retain clear and ultimate decision-making authority.' In another sign of the hyper-politicization of higher education, red states are increasingly using ideological litmus tests for prospective trustees and presidents. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for example, transformed New College from, in his words, a center of 'woke indoctrination' into a conservative haven by stacking the board with right-wing partisans and naming a conservative president. These campaigns at the federal and state level to undermine academic freedom, weaken faculty authority and impose conservative values are often compared to McCarthy-era initiatives, but what's happening today is far broader and more damaging. McCarthyites focused almost exclusively on a single issue — the perceived spread of communist influence. Mandates were directed principally at faculty and staff who refused to take loyalty oaths. Professors of economics and political science were pressured to teach the virtues of democracy and the 'free enterprise system.' Even when institutions dragged their feet in complying, neither states nor the federal government imposed anything remotely like the punitive and crippling measures employed against educational institutions today. Nonetheless, the McCarthy era fostered a climate of fear and intellectual conformity in higher education that took years to dissipate. When, if ever, will public and private institutions recover from the ongoing all-out assault on the freedom of teaching and learning that made American higher education the envy of the world? It's anyone's guess. Glenn C. Altschuler is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Emeritus Professor of American Studies at Cornell University. David Wippman is emeritus president of Hamilton College.
Business Wire
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Ono Pharmaceutical and Vertex Announce Strategic Agreement to Develop and Commercialize Povetacicept in Japan and South Korea
OSAKA, Japan & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President and COO: Toichi Takino; 'Ono') and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Headquarters: Boston, MA, U.S.; CEO: Reshma Kewalramani, M.D.; 'Vertex') today announced an exclusive collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of Vertex's povetacicept in Japan and South Korea. Povetacicept is a recombinant fusion protein therapeutic and dual antagonist of the BAFF (B cell activating factor) and APRIL (a proliferation inducing ligand) cytokines with best-in-class potential being studied for the treatment of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), primary membranous nephropathy (pMN) and other serious B cell-mediated diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Ono will pay Vertex an upfront payment, as well as certain regulatory and commercial milestone payments and tiered royalties. Ono will utilize its extensive development expertise to help advance Vertex's clinical trials for povetacicept and will be responsible for obtaining marketing authorizations in Japan and South Korea. Following approval, Ono will be solely responsible for commercializing povetacicept in these regions. The agreement includes povetacicept for both IgAN and pMN, with the potential to add other indications. 'Vertex has a strong track record of developing innovative therapies for serious diseases. Through this strategic partnership, we can strengthen our late-stage pipeline in the immunology field, which is a key focus area for Ono,' said Toichi Takino, Representative Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ono. 'We look forward to collaborating with Vertex to provide this new therapeutic option for patients with IgAN and other autoimmune diseases in Japan and South Korea, and to maximize the value of this treatment.' 'Ono is a proven leader in Japan and South Korea, bringing established local relationships, infrastructure, and nephrology expertise that make them a perfect partner for Vertex as we look to deliver povetacicept to the thousands of potential patients in these countries,' said Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Vertex. 'We are very pleased to partner with Ono and look forward to close collaboration as we continue to advance this potentially best-in-class treatment for IgAN, pMN and other serious B cell-mediated diseases.' About Povetacicept Povetacicept is a recombinant fusion protein therapeutic and a dual antagonist of the BAFF (B cell activating factor) and APRIL (a proliferation inducing ligand) cytokines, which play key roles in pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases via their roles in the activation, differentiation, and/or survival of B cells, T cells, and innate immune cells. Based upon an engineered TACI (transmembrane activator and calcium modulator ligand interactor) domain, povetacicept has higher binding affinity and greater potency in preclinical studies versus other inhibitors of BAFF and/or APRIL alone and has demonstrated potential best-in-class efficacy in a clinical trial in patients with IgA nephropathy and primary membranous nephropathy. Povetacicept is also in development for multiple serious B cell-mediated diseases including other autoimmune kidney diseases and autoimmune cytopenias. About IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) IgAN is a serious, progressive, life-threatening, B cell-mediated chronic kidney disease that is the most common cause of primary (idiopathic) glomerulonephritis, affecting approximately 300,000 people in the United States and Europe. It is estimated that there are approximately 33,000 diagnosed patients in Japan. IgAN results from deposition of circulating immune complexes consisting of immunoglobulins and galactose-deficient immunoglobulin A (Gd-IgA1) in the renal glomerular mesangium, triggering kidney injury and fibrosis. Up to 72% of adult IgAN patients progress to end-stage renal disease within 20 years. There are no approved therapies that specifically target the underlying cause of IgAN. About Primary Membranous Nephropathy (pMN) Primary membranous nephropathy is a serious, progressive, life-threatening B cell-mediated chronic kidney disease affecting people worldwide, with approximately 150,000 people diagnosed in the U.S. and Europe. It is estimated that there are approximately 6,000 diagnosed patients with pMN in Japan. pMN is a rare glomerular disease that occurs when the body generates an abnormal immune response, including autoantibodies, against proteins that are part of the kidney. Autoantibodies trigger damage and inflammation, especially within the glomeruli (the parts of the kidney that filter blood), impairing the kidneys' ability to properly filter waste and fluid, eventually causing progressive loss of kidney function. There are no approved therapies that specifically target the underlying cause of pMN. About RAINIER RAINIER is a global Phase 3 pivotal trial of povetacicept 80 mg vs. placebo on top of standard of care in approximately 480 people with IgAN. The study is designed to have a pre-planned interim analysis evaluating urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) for the povetacicept arm versus placebo after a certain number of patients reach 36 weeks of treatment. If positive, the interim analysis may serve as the basis for Vertex to seek accelerated approval in the U.S. Final analysis will occur at two years of treatment, with a primary endpoint of total eGFR slope through Week 104. The Phase 3 clinical trial is underway in multiple regions, including the U.S., EU and Asia. Specifically, Japanese and South Korean regulatory authorities have approved the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for RAINIER, where the Phase 3 trial is underway. About RUBY-3 RUBY-3 is an ongoing, multiple ascending dose, multi-cohort, open label, Phase 1/2 basket study of povetacicept in autoimmune glomerulonephritis, including IgAN, primary membranous nephropathy, lupus nephritis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis with glomerulonephritis where povetacicept is being administered subcutaneously for up to 104 weeks. About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. delivers innovative therapies for patients worldwide. Upholding its philosophy of 'Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain,' Ono targets areas with unmet medical needs including oncology, immunology, and neurology, and fosters partnerships with academic and biotech organizations to accelerate drug discovery. Through its affiliate, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Ono is accelerating clinical development and commercial operations in the US and Europe to drive global business expansion and further its commitment to patient care. For more information, please visit the company's website at About Vertex Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and acute pain, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 15 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. Ono Forward-Looking Statements In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs, and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of the company. These statements are based on current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in the business environment in the pharmaceutical market and amendments to relevant laws and regulations, (ii) disruptions to product supply due to stagnation or delays in production caused by natural disasters, fires, etc., (iii) the possibility that sales activities for new and existing products may not achieve the expected results, (iv) the emergence of new side effects in post-marketing drugs, and (v) infringements of intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice. Vertex Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements by Reshma Kewalramani M.D., and Toichi Takino, in this press release, and statements about the terms of and expectations for Vertex's collaboration with Ono, statements about potential benefits and results that may be achieved through the collaboration, statements regarding the future activities of the parties pursuant to the collaboration, including Ono's help to advance clinical trials and Ono's responsibility to obtain marketing authorizations in Japan and South Korea and to commercialize povetacicept in the regions, statements regarding upfront and milestone payments, and potential royalties on future products, and statements about Vertex's plans and expectations for the RAINIER and RUBY-3 clinical trials and potential plans to seek accelerated approval in the U.S. based on interim analysis from the RAINIER trial. While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the anticipated benefits and potential of the collaboration between Vertex and Ono may not be achieved on the anticipated timeline, or at all, that data may not support further development of the therapies subject to the collaboration due to safety, efficacy, or other reasons, and other risks listed under the heading 'Risk Factors' in Vertex's annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available through Vertex's website at and on the SEC's website at You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available.
