
Vietnam cement sector reports strong profits
HANOI: Vietnam's cement sector is in the midst of a significant turnaround, as several companies report profits despite pressures from oversupply.
This resurgence is seen as a positive signal for the industry, especially with the anticipated boost from public investment in the latter half of the year.
After a challenging first quarter, when many companies recorded losses, the Vietnamese cement market has experienced a remarkable recovery, with several firms unexpectedly reporting substantial profits in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25).
Vicem Ha Tien Cement posted record profits, breaking an 11-quarter streak of poor performance.
The company reported consolidated net revenue exceeding 1.93 trillion dong (US$73.6mil) and a net profit of over 112.3 billion dong, a sharp contrast to a loss of nearly 9.2 billion dong in the first quarter.
Despite a modest 1% increase in revenue year-on-year, the company's net profit surged by 145.5%, attributed to an 8.5% increase in cement consumption and reduced costs due to better production cost control. — Viet Nam News/ANN

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Malaysian Reserve
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USA News Group News Commentary Issued on behalf of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 14, 2025 /CNW/ — USA News Group News Commentary – Federal budget cuts have put pressure on cancer research efforts in the United States, but private investment is helping to fill the gap, with oncology ventures securing hundreds of millions in funding so far in 2025. The Senate's recent restoration of $15 million for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) was a win, yet its earlier elimination underscored the fragility of public support. Against this backdrop, investors are zeroing in on companies with standout science, solid pipelines, and clear regulatory strategies, including Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INO), and Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR). 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While primarily focused on autoimmune diseases, the company's next-generation FT836 CAR T-cell therapy represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment as it's designed to target solid tumors without requiring harsh conditioning chemotherapy, potentially making the treatment safer and more accessible. 'Building on this momentum, we are also working closely with the FDA under our RMAT designation with the goal of commencing our registrational study for FT819 in SLE and LN in 2026,' said Bob Valamehr, Ph.D., MBA, President and CEO of Fate Therapeutics. 'Additionally, we continue to strengthen our broader pipeline programs with an extended partnership with Ono Pharmaceuticals, and advancements in bringing our next-generation, off-the-shelf CAR T cells with Sword and Shield™ technology toward the clinic.' The company's stem cell-based platform continues to advance multiple programs, including partnerships for HER2-positive solid tumors, positioning Fate as a leader in developing ready-made cancer cell therapies. Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INO) remains on track to submit its application for INO-3107 in the second half of 2025, targeting Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP), a rare cancer-related condition caused by HPV that affects the airways. The company's DNA medicine platform represents a novel approach to treating HPV-related diseases and cancers, with INO-3107 showing significant clinical benefit by reducing the need for repeated surgeries in RRP patients from an average of 4.1 procedures annually to just 0.9 procedures. 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Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) reported impressive Phase 2b data for rezpegaldesleukin in treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, with the company positioning this immune system regulator as a first-in-class treatment for autoimmune diseases. While primarily focused on autoimmune conditions, Nektar's pipeline includes NKTR-255, a treatment designed to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer, which is being tested in multiple ongoing clinical trials with various partners. 'As a first-in-class, T regulatory cell biologic, rezpegaldesleukin is poised to become an important novel mechanism to treat millions of patients with autoimmune disorders,' said Howard W. Robin, President and CEO of Nektar. 'Finally, we are making significant progress on advancing preclinical studies with a new bispecific antibody, NKTR-0166, which combines the TNFR2 epitope with a validated antibody target.' The company's technology platform creates novel treatments that could potentially address both autoimmune diseases and cancer by enhancing the immune system's cancer-fighting abilities. With additional data expected from hair loss trials in December 2025 and continued development of next-generation programs, Nektar is advancing a unique approach to immune system therapy that could benefit millions of patients with serious diseases. Source: CONTACT: USA NEWS GROUP info@ (604) 265-2873 DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ('MIQ'). MIQ has been paid a fee for Oncolytics Biotech Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MIQ has been approved by Oncolytics Biotech Inc.; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment. Logo –

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