Arkansas students participate in 2025 SeaPerch Challenge
The Electric Cooperative of Arkansas and Arkansas 4-H hosted the underwater robotics challenge at the UA Little Rock Aquatic Center.
Madison and Grant County teams overall winners in Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge
More than 150 students from 16 counties were given a set of parts including pool noodles and batteries, then given the task of building their SeaPerch to go through a pool obstacle course.
As you can imagine, it requires teamwork.
'You need the person pulling in the water, so you know what you're doing, you don't get tangled,' student Cason Martin said. 'Then you need the person behind you, so you know what you're doing. It's a group effort for sure.'
Robotics SeaPerch challenge draws hundreds of students
Organizers said the SeaPerch Challenge is four times as big as it was in 2016.
The winners will advance to a national competition in Maryland in May. To learn more about the SeaPerch Challenge, .
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a day ago
- Yahoo
Grad Students Were Working on a Project—and Accidentally Found a 277-Year-Old Shipwreck
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Ascentage Pharma Announces Global Registrational Phase III Study of Lisaftoclax for First-line Treatment of Patients with Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome Cleared by US FDA and EMA
ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, Aug. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascentage Pharma (NASDAQ: AAPG; HKEX: 6855), a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, differentiated therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer, announced that it has received clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to conduct GLORA-4 study (NCT06641414), a global registrational Phase III study of lisaftoclax (APG-2575), a proprietary Bcl-2 inhibitor, in combination with azacitidine (AZA), for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS). This marks the second registrational Phase III study of lisaftoclax to receive clearance from both the FDA and EMA. The GLORA-4 study is simultaneously enrolling patients at participating centers in multiple countries, to accelerate the drug's path to potential market authorization. To date, lisaftoclax is the only Bcl-2 inhibitor being advanced in a registrational Phase III trial in higher-risk MDS globally. This study, if positive, may potentially end the longstanding treatment gap in higher-risk MDS, marking yet another major milestone in the global clinical development of lisaftoclax. Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma, said, 'Globally, we still lack targeted therapies for first-line treatment of patients with higher-risk MDS, which represents a huge unmet clinical need. Currently, hypomethylating agents (HMA) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remain the primary treatment options for higher-risk MDS. In earlier studies, lisaftoclax has demonstrated promising clinical benefit and tolerability. The clearances of the GLORA-4 study by the U.S. FDA and EMA, coinciding with the approval by the China CDE, pave the way for lisaftoclax to potentially become the first Bcl-2 inhibitor approved globally for first-line treatment of higher-risk MDS and the first targeted therapy approved for this indication since the introduction of HMA, which fundamentally reshapes the treatment landscape.' The GLORA-4 trial is being conducted simultaneously in China, the U.S., and Europe. This will significantly accelerate the clinical development of lisaftoclax in MDS and accelerate the drug's path to potential market authorization. Moving forward, we will remain steadfastly committed to our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, actively advancing our clinical programs for the benefit of more patients.' GLORA-4 is a multi-region, multi-center, randomized, double-blind Phase III trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lisaftoclax in combination with AZA compared to placebo plus AZA in newly diagnosed adult patients with higher-risk MDS. The study was originally approved by the China CDE in 2024. Currently, the study is enrolling patients globally, with the first patients already enrolled in China and Europe. Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD, Chair of the Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), and Prof. Xiaojun Huang, MD, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, director of the Institute of Hematology at Peking University, and director of the Department of Hematology at Peking University People's Hospital, are global co-leading principal investigators of the study. MDS is a myeloid clonal disease originating from hematopoietic stem cells with strongly age-correlated characteristics. Global epidemiological data of MDS show an exponential increase in incidence with age (22/100,000 in the population aged over 65 years), with a median age of diagnosis of 70 years1. More than 75% of patients with MDS present a complex disease profile that includes at least two comorbidities2. The primary risk of MDS is clonal evolution leading to progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with 40-60% of higher-risk patients (high/very high risk, as classified by IPSS-R) progressing to AML within five years3. These patients have a dismal prognosis and a median survival of less than six months4. As the standard first-line therapy for higher-risk MDS, HMAs offer inadequate responses to treatment, with an overall response rate (ORR) of just 30-40%5, a complete response (CR) rate of 10-17%, and a median duration of response of 9-12 months6, 8. While allo-HSCT can offer a potential cure, it is limited by the median age of patients, complex disease profiles, common depletion of the hematopoietic stem cell reserve, and a transplantation-related mortality (TRM) rate of 25-35%. As a result, only 5-10% of eligible patients can receive transplantation7. The five-year survival rate of patients who are classified by the IPSS-R as high-risk remains at 16-24%8, highlighting an urgent unmet medical need for innovative therapies that can change the treatment paradigm. Lisaftoclax is a proprietary, novel, orally administered Bcl-2 selective inhibitor being developed by Ascentage Pharma to treat patients with malignancies by selectively blocking the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and restoring the normal apoptosis process in cancer cells. Lisaftoclax is already approved in China for adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who have previously received at least one systemic therapy, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. Previously, the Company released the clinical data of lisaftoclax in combination with AZA in treatment-naïve (TN) MDS during the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. These data showed an ORR of 75%, much higher than HMAs alone, which demonstrated the clinical benefit of the combination regimen. The combination also showed a favorable safety profile, with a low incidence of severe hematologic toxicities and neutropenia-related infections. In addition, the proportion of patients requiring dose adjustments was low and there were no treatment-related mortalities within 60 days9, 10. Professor Huang commented, 'Despite the significant advancement in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, higher-risk MDS remains a major clinical challenge because of a range of factors. First, the current standard of care treatment with HMAs only offers limited efficacy, with just about one-third of patients achieving a response to treatment. Second, no breakthrough therapies have emerged globally in the two decades since the introduction of HMAs. As a result, there is an unmet clinical need for targeted therapies for higher-risk MDS. The compelling response rate and manageable safety profile observed in earlier studies of lisaftoclax are very encouraging. We hope this global Phase III study has the potential to provide new insights that could benefit how we treat and manage higher-risk MDS.' Dr. Garcia-Manero commented, 'Higher-risk MDS is more prevalent in older populations and thus presents unique clinical challenges. These patients often have multiple comorbidities and depleted hematopoietic reserves, making them less tolerant of treatment with particularly high requirement for safety. Preliminary clinical data of lisaftoclax demonstrated notable clinical benefit, with low rates of treatment-related dose adjustments and mortalities while maintaining significant response rates. We hope these characteristics of lisaftoclax will make it a potentially superior treatment option for patients.' References: About Ascentage Pharma Ascentage Pharma (NASDAQ: AAPG; HKEX: 6855) is a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, differentiated therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer. The company has built a rich pipeline of innovative drug candidates that includes inhibitors targeting key proteins in the apoptotic pathway, such as Bcl-2 and MDM2-p53 and next-generation kinase inhibitors. The lead asset, olverembatinib, is the first novel third-generation BCR-ABL1 inhibitor approved in China for the treatment of patients with CML in chronic phase (CML-CP) with T315I mutations, CML in accelerated phase (CML-AP) with T315I mutations, and CML-CP that is resistant or intolerant to first and second-generation TKIs. It is covered by the China National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). The Company is currently conducting an FDA-cleared, global registrational Phase III trial, or POLARIS-2, of olverembatinib for CML, as well as global registrational Phase III trials for patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL and SDH-deficient GIST. The second lead asset, lisaftoclax, is the first China-approved third-generation Bcl-2 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who have previously received at least one systemic therapy, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. The Company is currently conducting 4 global registrational Phase III trials: the GLORA study of lisaftoclax in combination with BTK inhibitors in patients with CLL/SLL who were previously treated with BTK inhibitors for more than 12 months with suboptimal response; the GLORA-2 study in patients with newly diagnosed CLL/SLL; the GLORA-3 study in newly diagnosed elderly and unfit patients with AML; and the GLORA-4 study in patients with newly diagnosed higher-risk MDS. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships and other relationships with numerous leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, such as Takeda, AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, and Innovent, in addition to research and development relationships with leading research institutions, such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements, including statements that express Ascentage Pharma's opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results of operations or financial condition. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties as discussed in Ascentage Pharma's filings with the SEC, including those set forth in the sections titled 'Risk factors' and 'Special note regarding forward-looking statements and industry data' in its Registration Statement on Form F-1, as amended, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2025, and the Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 16, 2025, the sections headed 'Forward-looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in the prospectus of the Company for its Hong Kong initial public offering dated October 16, 2019, and other filings with the SEC and/or The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited we made or make from time to time that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this presentation do not constitute profit forecast by the Company's management. As a result of these factors, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on Ascentage Pharma's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statements. Ascentage Pharma does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Information Investor Relations: Hogan Wan, Head of IR and Strategy Ascentage Pharma [email protected] +86 512 85557777 Stephanie Carrington ICR Healthcare [email protected] +1 (646) 277-1282 Media Relations: Jon Yu ICR Healthcare [email protected] +1 (646) 677-1855
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Homewood-Floosmoor science teachers return with awards
Two Homewood-Flossmoor teachers, Jeanettra Watkins and Corinne Zimmerman, are known for getting students at every level excited about science. Now they are both being honored with special teaching awards. Watkins' commitment to teaching science started back in fifth grade, when her science teacher, Joy Ward-Drew, sparked an interest through her compelling teaching style and nurturing skills. 'She cultivated that love of science for me,' Watkins said. 'By just giving — she took time, exposed me to different science competitions, even paid for me to go. 'She told me, 'When you become the adult, give back as well,'' Watkins recalled. So in addition to her regular science teaching, Watkins tutors students after school, using her own funds to give out five scholarships yearly. She thrives on helping minority students who struggle with science. Watkins was also just plain fascinated by science herself, not even flinching at the dissections she did. 'I always asked a lot of questions, it was kind of my niche,' she said. She applied to the Society for Science Advocate Program to become an advocate and help science students. Last year, she was accepted as an introductory advocate and helped three underserved students prepare for science, technology, engineeing and math research competitions. This year she's an amplification advocate and will do the same, but help students enter into new and/or multiple competitions. Watkins' advocacy this year will include being a science instructional coach, working with teachers to boost student learning through interactive lessons, new teaching strategies and other tools and resources. She's also a biology teacher. 'I pique their interests by making it interactive and interesting,' she said. 'I also use real-world scenarios so they can understand the concepts.' Zimmerman, a biology and anatomy teacher, received the Excellence in Encouraging Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion award from the National Association of Biology Teachers. She'll represent H-F at the association's professional development conference in St. Louis in October, where she'll receive a plaque, a $500 honorarium and complimentary membership. She said her passion for JEDI infuses her teaching. 'I believe every student deserves meaningful access to science education regardless of their background, language or life circumstances,' she said. Zimmerman said that perspective has influenced her work with English language learners. 'I've also supported students in recovery classes, helping them rebuild confidence and reconnect with learning,' she said. She's also worked in summer bridge programs to help students ease into high school. In fact, Zimmerman said she loves her field so much she tries to create a classroom where every student sees themselves as a scientist and learns from their mistakes. 'I love finding creative ways to make complex concepts understandable and fun,' she said. Zimmerman helped one student adopted from Africa, who was diagnosed with cancer during their unit on it. 'I supported her through homebound services, adapting instruction to her situation while also making sure she still felt included and empowered as a learner,' said Zimmerman. 'That experience reminded me that equity isn't about one size fits all, it's about meeting students where they are, academically and personally, and making sure they know they belong in the science classroom,' she said. Both teachers' have their admirers at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, from students to staff. Evan Roberts, science department lead, said Zimmerman's knowledge, experience and fresh idea have been essential to the department's growth. 'She has played an instrumental role in establishing our new anatomy and physiology course and does an excellent job of engaging students through a phenomena-driven approach,' Roberts said. 'Her deep understanding of storylining and the Next Generation Science Standards continues to benefit her peers and stimulate growth in their daily practice.' Roberts said he was equally impressed by what Watkins brings to the school, having known her for almost a decade. 'Mrs. Watkins always goes the extra mile,' he said. 'She tutors students who need additional support, and last year she was instrumental in helping one student realize that she could be successful in science.' That meant helping the student one-on-one after school and communicating with her parents, Roberts said. 'Examples like this are why I'm excited for the students who will have the opportunity to work with Mrs. Watkins — she sees and communicates the best of what they can do,' he said.
