VerSprite Launches Fork and Knife: AI-Driven Threat Modeling and Adversarial Testing Built for the Speed of Modern Software

 ATLANTA -

Powered by the risk-centric PASTA methodology and two decades of accredited offensive security, the integrated platform lets enterprises threat model in a security sprint—then prove the risk through AI-led, human-on-the-loop testing.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--VerSprite, a global leader in risk-based threat modeling and the firm behind the PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) methodology, today announced the general availability of Fork (www.forktm.com), a continuous application threat modeling platform, alongside Knife, an AI-led, human-on-the-loop adversarial testing platform for web applications and web API endpoints. Together, the two products operationalize a new model for product security—one where applications are securely designed, continuously modeled, and actively tested as part of the build process itself.

The launch addresses a problem every security leader knows but few tools have solved: threat modeling is essential, never more so than in an AI-driven era, yet it has remained slow, manual, and anchored to frameworks designed for a different threat landscape.

The problem: threat modeling matters more than ever—and most tools are stuck in 2005

For two decades, application threat modeling has leaned heavily on STRIDE—a categorization mnemonic for spoofing, tampering, repudiation, information disclosure, denial of service, and elevation of privilege. STRIDE is useful for sorting threats into buckets, but it was never a methodology. It does not ingest real-time threat intelligence, it does not weigh business impact, and its static categories say nothing about the adversary behaviors defining risk today—persistence, extortion, double-extortion ransomware, supply-chain compromise, and the novel attack surfaces introduced by AI-enabled applications.

The result is a familiar bottleneck. Threat modeling gets treated as a one-time, document-heavy exercise that lands too late in the lifecycle, goes stale the moment an application changes, and rarely connects to the testing that would actually validate whether a threat is real. As organizations ship faster and adopt AI across the stack, the gap between how quickly software evolves and how slowly it gets modeled has become a material risk.

The solution: risk-centric threat modeling at sprint speed

Fork is a practical, software-driven implementation of PASTA—the only risk-centric, business-aligned threat modeling methodology, co-authored by VerSprite founder and CEO Tony UcedaVelez. Rather than categorizing threats in the abstract, PASTA’s seven stages move from business objectives through attack surface, application decomposition, threat analysis, weakness and vulnerability analysis, attack modeling, and finally risk and impact analysis—so the threats that surface are the ones most likely to happen and most damaging if they do.

Fork brings that rigor to the cadence of modern development, enabling teams to produce a defensible, risk-prioritized threat model in under two hours and keep it current from Sprint 1 onward. Key capabilities include:

AI-accelerated attack trees. Fork’s AI capabilities intelligently trim the attack tree for an application, removing noise and focusing analysts on viable, high-impact paths instead of exhaustive theoretical ones.

Contextualized, threat-informed models. Fork enriches every model with live cyber threat intelligence, the latest vulnerability data across a product’s full technology stack, and viable attack vectors substantiated through real adversarial testing.

Industry-aligned taxonomies. The platform automatically correlates findings with trusted MITRE and OWASP frameworks—including CWE, CVE with EPSS scoring, CAPEC, ATT&CK, D3FEND, and ASVS—to drive targeted, defensible mitigations.

A proprietary residual risk formula. As tests complete and conditions change, Fork recalculates residual risk so leaders always have an accurate, current view of exposure.

A single pane of glass. Industry threats, an application’s attack surface, and threat intelligence converge into one unified, collaborative view for security, engineering, product, and business stakeholders.

From blueprint to proof: introducing Knife

A threat model defines which attack paths matter most. Knife proves them.

VerSprite is debuting Knife, an AI-led, human-on-the-loop adversarial platform for web applications and web API endpoints, trained on more than 20 years of accredited, industry-recognized offensive security work from VerSprite’s BREAKERS OffSec team. Where Fork serves as the blueprint for adversarial testing, Knife executes against that blueprint—pairing the scale and speed of AI with expert human oversight to validate exploitability with real-world fidelity.

The integration closes the loop that has long separated threat modeling from testing. From within a Fork threat model, teams can request targeted, on-demand testing of specific weaknesses and attack patterns. Knife runs the assessment; results flow back into the model; and Fork updates the residual risk of the product automatically. Threat modeling and adversarial testing stop being sequential, disconnected events and become a continuous, self-updating system.

A new operating model: AI SecOps

“The future of product and software security is an integrated model of AI SecOps—where products are securely designed and tested as part of the functional build process, not bolted on afterward. STRIDE gave the industry a vocabulary. PASTA gave it a methodology. Fork and Knife now give it operational speed—continuous threat modeling and integrated, AI-led testing that keeps pace with how software is actually built and how adversaries actually behave.”

— Tony UcedaVelez, CEO and founder of VerSprite and co-author of the PASTA methodology

Operationalized visibility through deep integrations

Fork is designed to supercharge, not replace, the security tooling enterprises already run. Through integrations across the AppSec ecosystem—spanning SAST, DAST, and software composition analysis, vulnerability scanning, cloud security posture, attack surface management (CASM), penetration testing platforms, and IT service management—Fork turns scattered findings into a living risk picture. Connected and roadmapped integrations include ServiceNow, Veracode, Snyk, Semgrep, Checkmarx, OpenCTI, Qualys, Tenable, Mandiant, and Archer, among others.

The payoff is real-time visibility, operationalized: as continuous and on-demand tests complete and report back, a product’s threat model and residual risk update at the speed of delivery—giving security and product leaders an always-current understanding of what could go wrong, how likely it is, and what it would cost the business.

Availability

Fork is available today. A free Fork Community edition supports a single application threat model with vulnerability ingestion via SBOM or OVAL, while Fork Enterprise unlocks unlimited applications and teams, all integrations, SSO, granular access controls, and audit logging. Fork Enterprise PT extends the platform with on-demand adversarial testing—powered by Knife and VerSprite’s BREAKERS team—requested directly from within a threat model. VerSprite also offers Threat Modeling as a Service for organizations seeking expert-led training and managed delivery.

To learn more, request a demo, or start for free, visit www.forktm.com.

About VerSprite

VerSprite is a global cybersecurity firm specializing in risk-based threat modeling, offensive security, and managed security services. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, VerSprite is the originator of the PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) methodology and partners with Fortune 500 enterprises and product organizations worldwide to reduce cyber risk through a structured, data-driven, adversary-informed approach. Learn more at www.versprite.com.

About Fork

Fork is VerSprite’s continuous application threat modeling platform. Built on the PASTA methodology and accelerated by AI, Fork enables security, engineering, and product teams to produce risk-centric threat models in under two hours, contextualize them with live threat intelligence and full-stack vulnerability data, and keep them continuously aligned with how applications evolve—now with integrated, AI-led adversarial testing through Knife.

 

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Contacts

 

Tim Deleon

beetle@versprite.com

7079278611

www.versprite.com

DAYBU® (trofinetide) Recommended for Approval in the European Union by CHMP

 -- European Commission decision expected in the coming months

-- If approved, DAYBU® would become the first treatment for neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome in the European Union

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion following a re-examination procedure, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for DAYBU® (trofinetide) for the treatment of neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome in adults and pediatric patients aged five years and older. If granted marketing authorization by the European Commission, DAYBU® would be the first therapy approved for this indication in the European Union (EU).

“The CHMP’s positive opinion for DAYBU® is an important milestone in our mission to bring this innovative therapy to the EU, where there are no therapies specifically approved for the neurobehavioral symptoms of this devastating condition," said Catherine Owen Adams, Acadia’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our commitment is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, caregivers, and the wider Rett community by addressing this significant unmet need, and we are very pleased with the outcome of the re-examination process."

The CHMP’s recommendation is primarily based on results from the Phase 3 LAVENDER™ study, which demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in core features of Rett syndrome, as measured by the Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire (RSBQ) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. Importantly, these findings indicate that treatment with DAYBU® can address some of the most impactful aspects of Rett syndrome, which severely impact quality of life for patients and caregivers.

"For decades, families in Europe affected by Rett syndrome have had no medicine specifically approved for the neurobehavioral symptoms of this condition, despite the profound impact they have on almost every aspect of daily life,” said Pedro Rocha, President of Rett Syndrome Europe. “The CHMP’s positive opinion represents hope for thousands of European Union individuals living with this devastating condition, their families and caregivers."

Following the CHMP recommendation, the European Commission will review the opinion and is expected to issue a final decision in the coming months. If DAYBU® is approved, the marketing authorization would apply to all 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

About Rett Syndrome

Rett syndrome is a rare, complex, neurodevelopmental disorder and occurs in approximately one of every 10,000 to 15,000 female births worldwide.1-3 A child with Rett syndrome generally exhibits an early period of apparently normal development until six to 18 months, when many of their skills seem to slow down or stagnate. This is typically followed by a regression phase when the child loses acquired communication skills and purposeful hand use. The child may then experience a plateau period in which they could show mild recovery in cognitive interests, but body movements remain severely diminished. As they age, those individuals living with Rett may continue to experience a stage of motor deterioration, which can last the rest of the patient’s life.2 Rett syndrome is typically caused by a genetic mutation on the MECP2 gene.4 In preclinical studies, deficiency in MeCP2 function is thought to lead to impairment in synaptic communication and brain plasticity, and the deficits in synaptic function may be associated with Rett manifestations.4-6

Symptoms of Rett syndrome may also include development of hand stereotypies, such as hand wringing and clapping, and gait abnormalities.7 Most individuals living with Rett syndrome typically live into adulthood and require intense round-the-clock care.1,8

About DAYBU®

DAYBU® (trofinetide) is a synthetic analog of the N-terminal tripeptide of insulin-like growth factor 1.

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference. For more information, visit us at acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact and can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “intends,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential,” “guidance,” “continue” and similar expressions (including the negative thereof) intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about the expected or potential approval of trofinetide or DAYBU® by the European Commission, including the potential timing of such approval, and if approved, the potential benefits of trofinetide as a treatment of the neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett Syndrome and the importance of trofinetide to patients, caregivers and the Rett community. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the inherent uncertainty regarding development of product candidates, including approval of trofinetide by the European Commission; our dependency on the continued successful commercialization of our products and our ability to maintain or increase sales of our products; our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals to commercialize our products and product candidates; if and when approved, market acceptance of our products and our ability to continue to stay in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Given the risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ, please refer to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2026, filed on May 7, 2026, as well as our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update them after this date, except as required by law.

References

1 Fu C, Armstrong D, Marsh E, et al. Consensus guidelines on managing Rett syndrome across the lifespan. BMJ Paediatrics Open. 2020;4:e000717.

2 Kyle SM, Vashi N, Justice MJ. Rett syndrome: a neurological disorder with metabolic components. Open Biol. 2018; 8:170216.

3 May DM, Neul JL, Satija A, et al. Real-world clinical management of individuals with Rett syndrome: a physician survey. J Med Econ. 2023;26(1):1570-1580.

4 Amir RE, Van den Veyver IB, Wan M, et al. Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in X-linked MECP2, encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. Nat Genet. 1999; 23(2):185-188.

5 Fukuda T, Itoh M, Ichikawa T, et al. Delayed maturation of neuronal architecture and synaptogenesis in cerebral cortex of Mecp2-deficient mice. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2005; 64(6):537-544.

6 Asaka Y, Jugloff DG, Zhang L, et al. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity is impaired in the Mecp2-null mouse model of Rett syndrome. Neurobiol Dis. 2006; 21(1):217-227.

7 Neul JL, Kaufmann WE, Glaze DG, et al. Rett syndrome: revised diagnostic criteria and nomenclature. Ann Neurol. 2010; 68(6):944-950.

8 Tarquinio DO, Hou W, Neul JL, et al. The changing face of survival in Rett syndrome and MECP2-related disorders. Pediatr Neurol. 2015; 53(5):402-411.

 

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Contacts

Investor Contact:

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Al Kildani

(858) 261-2872

ir@acadia-pharm.com

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Jessica Tieszen

(858) 261-2950

ir@acadia-pharm.com

Media Contact:

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Deb Kazenelson

(818) 395-3043

media@acadia-pharm.com

 

Fossil Fuels Are a Thing of the Past; The Future Is Renewable: The Smarter E Europe Concludes With a Clear Message

  MUNICH & PFORZHEIM, Germany - Friday, 26. June 2026 AETOSWire 

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Packed halls, a vibrant atmosphere and a buzzing vibe – after three days, The smarter E Europe 2026, Europe’s largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy industry, has come to a successful close. The event held at Messe München offered a glimpse of a future-oriented energy world powered by renewables. A strong signal with a clear message went out to the world from the Bavarian capital: The future is renewable. Renewable energies can help ensure a reliable, secure and cost-effective energy supply around the clock, seven days a week. A total of 2,650 exhibitors from 52 countries – many of whom had expanded their booth space compared with the previous year – demonstrated how this can work. More than 66 percent of exhibitors were from outside of Germany. They presented innovative and market-ready products ranging from virtual power plants, smart grid and load control, smart charging solutions, storage technologies and PV hybrid systems to digital platforms transparently and flexibly. The technical program began on June 22 and 23, 2026, with four specialist conferences as part of The smarter E Europe. Including the side events, more than 3,000 participants gathered for an intensive exchange of knowledge and discussions on the latest industry developments. At the exhibition grounds, approximately 105,000 trade visitors from 163 countries took the opportunity to learn about new trends across industries and sectors, to network and to gain insight into the energy system of tomorrow.

Across all 19 exhibition halls and the Outdoor Area, there was a palpable sense of enthusiasm for contributing to major societal change and advancing the energy transition. “We are in the midst of a global transformation toward a completely new energy system. We cannot stop this revolution and must seize all the opportunities that exhibitors have shown us," says energy expert and author Dr. Tim Meyer.

Affordable and grid-friendly

He also led a tour of the special exhibit Renewables 24/7 – Secure Energy for a Changing World, which was among the exhibition’s highlights. “Fossil fuels are a thing of the past; the future clearly belongs to renewables. Over the three days of the exhibition, we demonstrated through practical examples and scientific evidence that renewables provide reliability, resilience and efficiency while making economic sense. That is why the path toward a renewable future must be pursued consistently. There can be no turning back,” explains Markus Elsässer, founder and CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH. “This year, with our focus on Renewables 24/7, we addressed the right topic at the right time. We have shown that we are thinking ahead and helping shape the future,” says Jens Mohrmann, Managing Director of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM).

The smarter E Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM).

 

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Contacts

 

Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim

Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28

dufner@solarpromotion.de

Press contact:

Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim

Peggy Härter-Zilay | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-240

haerter-zilay@solarpromotion.com

 

Bitget Rewards Cross-Market Trading With New VIP Miracle Badge Program

 

VICTORIA, Seychelles - Wednesday, 24. June 2026

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched the VIP Miracle Badge Program, a new initiative designed to recognize active traders across crypto, stocks, and CFD markets while expanding access to premium services and exclusive rewards. The program introduces a series of achievement badges tied to trading activity across multiple asset classes and forms part of Bitget's broader effort to build a comprehensive VIP ecosystem for multi-asset traders.

As trading increasingly moves beyond a single asset class, users are building strategies across crypto, equities, commodities, foreign exchange products, and derivatives. The VIP Miracle Badge Program was created to recognize that evolution, rewarding traders who actively participate across the broader Universal Exchange ecosystem rather than within a single market segment.

“Most traders today rarely stay within one market,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “As users diversify their portfolios and move across markets, expectations around service, execution, and access continue to evolve. The VIP Miracle Badge Program builds on our VIP offering by recognizing trading achievements while giving users access to services and experiences designed for a multi-asset environment.”

The VIP Miracle Badge Program introduces four achievement categories based on trading participation and performance across different markets. The UEX Trading Master badge recognizes users active across multiple asset classes. The Futures Trading Master badge is designed for derivatives traders, while the Stock Trading Master and CFD Trading Master badges recognize participation across tokenized equities, commodities, foreign exchange products, and global indices.

The launch follows a series of initiatives aimed at expanding access to Bitget's VIP services. Recent programs include the VIP Fast Track Program, which allows eligible traders to access VIP benefits more efficiently, and the VIP Airdrop Season, which provides exclusive opportunities across products and asset categories. Together, these initiatives support Bitget's Universal Exchange strategy by creating a more connected experience for users participating across crypto and traditional financial markets.

As Bitget continues to expand access to tokenized stocks, commodities, foreign exchange products, and digital assets through a single platform, the VIP Miracle Badge Program adds a new layer of recognition and rewards for traders operating across global markets. The initiative reflects the growing role of multi-asset participation within the Universal Exchange ecosystem and the increasing demand for services built around the needs of active traders.

For more information, visit: https://www.bitget.com/activity/vip-medal

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d9ffa59-32f5-4166-b351-f243ec0be350

Contacts :

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Mastercard launches Priceless Africa on Priceless.com, unlocking a curated travel experience across nine iconic destinations

Johannesburg, South Africa - Thursday, 25. June 2026


    Cardholders worldwide gain access to a curated collection of Priceless experiences and exclusive cardholder offers across nine African markets: South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
    Expansion of Priceless.com advances Mastercard’s commitment to Africa’s digital travel economy, boosting engagement and preference across key markets.

 

Mastercard has expanded its global lifestyle platform, Priceless.com, to Africa, unlocking a new way for Mastercard cardholders around the world to explore the continent’s most iconic destinations. The platform brings together culturally rich journeys across nine African markets, including South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe, offering travellers access to Africa through a premium, curated lens.

From wildlife encounters beneath African skies to hidden galleries and exotic coastal festivals, Priceless Africa ignites travel as a powerful passion point. Cardholders can now discover a one-of-a-kind Africa shaped by creativity, heritage and deep community connection. Each experience is curated across Mastercard’s leading passion categories: culture and creativity, culinary, nature and wildlife, and adventure, enabling travellers to securely and seamlessly explore what they love most.

Mastercard offers a range of travel benefits, including hotel and flight savings, airport lounge access, and seamless booking across leading travel platforms, car rentals, and e-hailing services. The result is a seamless, secure, and truly rewarding journey at every touchpoint.

The launch comes as Africa’s travel sector continues to expand, making it one of the fastest-growing tourism regions globally. The region welcomed 81 million international tourists in 2025, marking an 8% year-on-year increase, according to UN Tourism. As more travellers seek authentic, purpose-driven experiences, Mastercard and its partners are supporting this growth through curated experiences across key passion points, alongside secure and seamless payments that enhance the travel journey.

Peak travel seasons offer unique moments for Mastercard and its partners to support travellers through distinctive Priceless experiences, alongside secure and seamless payments that enhance every step of the journey.

Ahmed Abdel-Karim Hussein, Executive Vice President, Integrated Marketing & Communications, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Africa is one of the most culturally diverse and creatively inspiring destinations in the world, and today’s travellers are seeking moments that are deeply human and rooted in local culture. With Priceless Africa, we are opening the door to authentic, unforgettable experiences, while ensuring Mastercard’s secure and seamless payments support every step of the journey, connecting people to their passions as they discover the continent’s extraordinary spirit.”

Priceless Africa brings together the moments that define the continent. Cardholders can rise over Amboseli in a sunrise hot air balloon, walk Cape Coast Castle by candlelight, trek with mountain gorillas through Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi forests, share a Bedouin dinner in the Agafay Desert, hike Mauritius’ Le Morne Brabant before a home-cooked Creole lunch, sail Menai Bay aboard a traditional dhow, track rhinos on foot through Matobo Hills, head into the bush with the Kruger K9 anti-poaching team or design a one-of-a-kind piece with one of Accra’s leading fashion houses. Every market, every passion, all curated and bookable in one place. Experience of availability varies by market and is subject to change.

The launch is anchored by Mastercard’s “You Have To Be Here” travel campaign, a continent-wide creative platform built to inspire cardholders to discover Africa through curated storytelling, content series and always-on travel inspiration. This campaign launched on 18 June and will run until December 2026.

Priceless Africa is now live on Priceless.com in select markets, with rollout across all nine markets and additional experiences continuing throughout 2026 as Mastercard expands its footprint into even more African markets.

For Mastercard cardholders everywhere, the full Priceless Africa collection is live now and ready to book at priceless.com/africa.

For more information, please watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hvUeCuTaBk

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

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Contacts

Kanyi Mwangi

Kanyi.Mwangi@mastercard.com

Visa Redefines Its Role in Travel With the Global Launch of Visa Destinations

 A new consumer Visa travel platform is now live across 10 locations, including flagship cities such as Paris, London and New York City, with more destinations to be added later this year.

This platform connects Visa cardholders with curated experiences and exclusive access aligned to passion-led travel pillars through a consumer mobile-first platform.

Global anchor partners include Santander Group, Global Blue, Star Alliance, and Trip.com Group, leaders across the financial and travel ecosystem.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, today announced the launch of Visa Destinations, a passion-led travel platform live in 10 major locations around the world, as the company redefines its role in the rapidly growing experience-driven travel economy.

The move marks a strategic expansion of Visa’s role beyond payments, positioning the company at the center of how travelers discover, plan and experience trips. According to Visa research, travelers are increasingly choosing destinations based on passion, purpose, and experiences, not just geography. In 2025 alone, 4 in 10 American travelers made a trip to experience music, sports or art festivals1, with major cultural moments acting as magnets for international visitors and catalysts for local economies.

Available exclusively to Visa customers, through a mobile-first platform, Visa Destinations is designed around why people travel, whether they are drawn by food, fashion, sports or simply wandering the streets for hidden gems, it delivers tastemaker recommendations, city guides, and curated experiences to support Visa’s shift from being the way to pay for travel to becoming a travel companion.

“Travel is expected to grow 10% annually over the coming years2. It consistently shows resilience to the world’s events and consumers protect it. Our latest Visa Global Travel Intentions Study indicates customers will cut back on everyday spending to save for planned travel,” said Katya Petelina, Head of Global Cross-Border and Global Sales & Commercial Operations at Visa. “With Visa Destinations, we are accompanying travelers throughout their journey and helping them discover the moments that make a destination memorable, while giving our issuers and merchant partners a meaningful way to participate in the economic growth that travel creates.”

Visa Destinations is available and curating experiences in 10 locations, including Paris, London, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Mexico City, New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Thailand.

Once on board, cardholders can enhance their trips through curated offerings across dining, entertainment, culture, hospitality, wellness, shopping and transport, such as exclusive viewing moments and Priority Access to Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center in New York City and the Louvre in Paris, as well as dining experiences tastemakers recommend.

Premium cardholders, including Visa Infinite and Visa Signature, can enjoy enhanced benefits and tailored travel experiences.

Strong partnerships behind Visa Destinations

Visa has partnered with global leaders across the financial and travel ecosystem to increase the platform’s value proposition. Global anchor partners include financial institution Santander Group, promoting Visa Destinations to their customers in key regions around the world, and travel partners Global Blue, Star Alliance, and Trip.com Group. Together, these partnerships provide Visa cardholders with exclusive access, premium benefits, and locally distinctive experiences that bring cardholders closer to the character of each destination.

“At Santander, we believe travel is about creating meaningful memories and discovering unique experiences that connect people with destinations,” said Matías Sánchez, Global Head of Cards and Digital Solutions at Santander. “Through our partnership with Visa, we are bringing exclusive opportunities to our customers across ten key markets, giving them access to extraordinary experiences in music, sports, fashion, gastronomy and culture that can only be enjoyed through this global collaboration.”

"We are delighted to partner with Visa to bring the value of the Tax Free Shopping experience to travelers using Visa Destinations. In doing so, international travelers benefit from increased purchasing power, a seamless and guaranteed refund process, and an enhanced shopping journey while immersing themselves in the destination of their choice," said Virginie Alem, Global Blue Chief Marketing Officer.

“As the leading global airline alliance, Star Alliance is uniquely positioned to offer travelers access to unmatched reach through our 26 member airlines, enabling seamless multi-airline journeys. This partnership with Visa will deliver great value to travelers through exclusive experiences that will make every journey even more memorable. We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will unlock,” said Renato Ramos, Vice President Corporate Strategy, Star Alliance.

“Travel should always be inspiring, intuitive, and rewarding. That is why at Trip.com Group, we are constantly reimagining how journeys are planned and experienced – with simplicity at every touch point. Our collaboration with Visa brings this vision to life, combining secure, seamless payments with curated travel offerings and elevated benefits, turning every journey into something truly extraordinary,” said Sun Bo, Chief Marketing Officer at Trip.com Group.

Beyond serving travellers, Visa Destinations supports Visa’s broader strategy to deepen digital commerce, enable seamless cross-border payments, and help travel-related businesses capture greater value from global tourism.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

1 Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2026

2 Boston Consulting Group

 

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MRM Health Strengthens Board with Michel Detheux as Chairman and Hans-Jürgen Wörle as Independent Director as MH002 Advances Through Phase 2b

 The appointments position MRM Health for its next key clinical, partnering and financing milestones

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- MRM Health, a clinical-stage biotech developing microbiome-based therapies for immune-mediated diseases, today announced the appointment of two experienced industry leaders to its Board of Directors as the Company enters a pivotal phase of growth. With its lead program, MH002, in Phase 2b clinical development, recent FDA Fast Track designation and a €55 million Series B financing, MRM Health is strengthening its Board to support the Company through its next clinical, strategic and financing milestones. Michel Detheux, PhD, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, taking over from Werner Cautreels. Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jürgen Wörle joins the Board as an Independent Director.

“MRM Health is entering a pivotal phase, with MH002 advancing into Phase 2b clinical development and significant momentum across the business. The appointments of Michel and Hans-Jürgen significantly strengthen our Board with proven leaders in drug development, regulatory strategy, capital markets, strategic transactions and M&A. This Board has been assembled to support MRM Health as we advance MH002 through Phase 2b, prepare for late-stage development and position the Company for its next key milestones. Backed by our CORAL® platform and the positive Phase 2a data generated to date, we are convinced MH002 can become a cornerstone of next-generation microbiome therapeutics,” said Dr. Sam Possemiers, CEO of MRM Health.

Proven leaders with expertise spanning biotech company-building, late-stage development and microbiome therapeutics

As Chairman, Dr. Detheux brings more than three decades of experience in innovation and value creation in life sciences. He is internationally recognized as a biotech entrepreneur and active board member. As founding Chief Executive Officer of iTeos Therapeutics, he led the company from its inception through a successful crossover financing and NASDAQ IPO, raising a total of $335 million in 2020. He subsequently spearheaded iTeos’ landmark $2 billion strategic collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline for its lead clinical program. Dr. Detheux currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Egle Therapeutics and as a board member at Vor Bio. He holds a degree in bioengineering, a PhD in Biochemistry from Université Catholique de Louvain and a business certificate from Solvay Business School.

"MRM Health has established a unique position at the intersection of microbiome science, clinical excellence and industrial scalability. MH002 is a promising candidate with the potential to fundamentally transform the treatment of immune-mediated diseases in the gut. I look forward to working closely with the management team and the Board of Directors to help shape the next stage of the Company's development," said Michel Detheux, PhD.

New Independent Director Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jürgen Wörle is a highly accomplished, board-certified internist with longstanding experience in gastrointestinal diseases, as well as an endocrinologist and diabetologist, with senior R&D executive expertise across the entire drug development continuum. Prof. Wörle previously served as Global Vice President Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, where he drove the development and global success of major diabetes therapies, including Jardiance® and Trajenta®, and secured the first-ever FDA cardiovascular-mortality claim for a diabetes medicine. More recently, he was Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Nestlé Health Science, where he was instrumental in transforming the organization into a science-driven healthcare business, played a critical role in the development and successful commercial transaction of Vowst®, the first FDA-approved oral microbiome therapy, and contributed to several landmark deals and product launches. He brings substantial M&A and investor-side experience across multiple acquisitions, in-licensing transactions and R&D collaborations. He advises biotech boards, CEOs and investors at critical inflection points. He holds an MD from the University of Munich.

“The microbiome field has moved from promise to proof, and the question now is which programs can be developed with the rigor and discipline that regulators and patients require. Having helped bring the first approved oral microbiome therapy through development, I see in MRM Health’s differentiated CORAL® platform and promising MH002 clinical data in inflammatory bowel diseases the combination of science and execution that defines the next generation. I believe MH002 has great potential to address a major unmet medical need and am joining the team to help translate this into clinical reality for patients,” said Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jürgen Wörle.

MRM Health would like to thank Werner Cautreels, who has chaired MRM Health since the Company’s founding in 2020, for his invaluable contributions to the Company’s development. Werner played an important role during a period of significant growth, including successful financing rounds and the continued advancement of MH002 toward late-stage clinical development.

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About MRM Health

MRM Health is a clinical-stage biotech developing innovative Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs) for immune-mediated diseases with high unmet needs. Its CORAL® platform enables the design and manufacture of disease-focused microbial consortia with enhanced efficacy and scalability. The Company’s lead program, MH002, for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has shown positive Phase 2a clinical data in ulcerative colitis and pouchitis and is now advancing into late-stage clinical development. MRM Health is expanding its pipeline across other inflammatory diseases and immune-oncology, leveraging AI-guided discovery and deep expertise in microbiome ecosystem biology. In September 2025, MRM Health successfully closed a €55 million Series B round led by Biocodex, with strong support from ATHOS, BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity and existing investors SFPIM, AvH, OMX Europe VF, QBIC II and VIB.

For more information, please follow us on LinkedIn or visit the website at www.mrmhealth.com.

 

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MRM Health NV

Dr. Sam Possemiers – CEO

info@mrmhealth.com

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MC Services AG

Anne Hennecke

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BeNeLux/France

Backstage Communication

Gunther De Backer

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gunther@backstagecom.be