Latest news with #FH
Fashion United
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
US tariffs drive deceptive spike in Swiss watch exports
Boosted by a surge in US demand, Swiss watch exports jumped by 18.2 percent in April 2025. However, this increase mainly masked the sector's deep concern about the new tariffs imposed by Washington. A cyclical surge linked to US trade policy The Swiss watch industry experienced a spectacular upturn in April 2025. According to data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), exports rose by 18.2 percent compared to the previous year. This dynamic was mainly driven by the US, the number one export market for Swiss watches, which saw its imports explode ahead of a major regulatory change. According to an AFP article published on May 27, 2025, Swiss watch exports to the US soared in April, jumping by 149.2 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. This exceptional peak was a direct consequence of fears surrounding the announced introduction of reciprocal tariffs of 31 percent by the US administration. Without these massive shipments to the US, the FH stressed that Swiss watch exports would actually have fallen by 6.4 percent in April, reflecting a mixed, even lacklustre, trend in other markets. Indeed, while exports edged up slightly to the UK (plus 1.6 percent), France (plus 4.8 percent) and Japan (plus 1.9 percent), they fell sharply to China (minus 30.5 percent) and Hong Kong (minus 22.8 percent). Since April 9, Swiss imports, including luxury watches, have been subject to a 31 percent tariff. This is part of a so-called 'trade reciprocity' policy initiated by the Trump administration. The result was a massive influx of orders placed in advance by US retailers, in order to build up stocks before the entry into force of this protectionist measure. 'This increase in exports is artificial: it's an anticipatory phenomenon, not a structural rebound in demand,' said an expert quoted by Reuters. Pressure on the US market With 4.37 billion Swiss francs of exports to the US in 2024, representing almost 17 percent of the sector's total, the American market is essential for Swiss watchmakers. The abruptness of the tariff increase caught an industry used to long cycles and relative commercial stability off guard. Brands fear a sharp fall in US demand, particularly for mid-range models, which are especially sensitive to price increases. While major players such as Rolex, Omega and Patek Philippe have brand power that allows them to adjust prices without losing customers, the situation is more strained for independent or emerging brands. 'We have no other choice but to pass on these 31 percent on our selling prices,' said the management of British brand Christopher Ward, in a message to its US customers, reported by the media outlet Hodinkee. Brands adapt urgently Faced with this new situation, some brands have already initiated tariff adjustments on their online shops and US distribution networks. For example, Rolex announced an increase of 3 percent to 5 percent on several references from mid-April, reports Watch Analytics. Other groups are seeking to circumvent tariff increases through logistical transfers or direct negotiations with their partners in the US. The context is reminiscent of the Sino-American trade tensions of the late 2010s, but here it takes an unprecedented turn for watchmaking, which has historically been little exposed to this type of measure. Diplomatic negotiations underway In response to these tensions, Switzerland has engaged in diplomatic negotiations with the US. In mid-May 2025, the president of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the minister of the economy, Guy Parmelin, met the US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, and the Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, in Geneva, on the sidelines of negotiations with China. These discussions resulted in a 90-day pause in the application of tariffs, opening a window for a lasting solution. 'We are calling for a balanced solution. Swiss watchmaking must not become a collateral victim of trade disputes,' said a spokesperson for the FH to Fortune Europe. Potential long-term consequences to anticipate Despite the April peak, the sector anticipates a more uncertain second half of 2025, threatened with contraction. The rise in prices could also favour American or Asian brands, and even boost the North American second-hand market, which is already booming. The most agile brands could revise their establishment policy. For example, they could strengthen their local presence via assemblies or relocated distribution partnerships, similar to certain strategies already tested in the 2020s with China. A case to follow for the whole of European luxury This new protectionist episode is a reminder of recent tensions between Washington and the European Union, particularly over agri-food products, electric vehicles and strategic software. It illustrates the rise of a climate of commercial fragmentation that could affect, beyond Swiss watches, all European luxury industries heavily exposed to the US market: leather goods, haute couture, perfumery and jewellery. Negotiations between Brussels and Washington are strained, with a deadline set for July 9. After this deadline, the threat brandished by Donald Trump could materialise, with the introduction of massive tariffs on European imports. In a polarised and uncertain American electoral context, this tariff sword of Damocles is likely to be a lasting feature of the 2026 strategies of major European luxury groups, which sometimes generate up to 40 percent of their sales in the US. This article was translated to English using an AI tool. FashionUnited uses AI language tools to speed up translating (news) articles and proofread the translations to improve the end result. This saves our human journalists time they can spend doing research and writing original articles. Articles translated with the help of AI are checked and edited by a human desk editor prior to going online. If you have questions or comments about this process email us at info@
Wall Street Journal
27-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Swiss Watch Exports Jump in April Boosted by U.S. Frontloading
Swiss watch exports climbed in April, propelled by an exceptional increase in the U.S. due to early shipments ahead of the potential implementation of tariffs on imported goods to the country. Total exports of Swiss timepieces jumped more than 18% to 2.55 billion Swiss francs ($3.11 billion) in April compared with the prior-year period, according to data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, known as FH. For the first four months of the year, exports rose 4%. President Trump said last month that Switzerland would be subject to 31% levies on its exports to the U.S. Trump has since implemented a 90-day pause on the measures for countries open to negotiating trade deals. April's performance was driven by higher exports to the U.S., which were up by around 149%. Excluding the U.S., the result would have been a decline of 6.4%, dragged by shrinking demand in China, a country that once fueled growth for luxury brands and is now facing economic difficulties that have led buyers to tighten their purse strings. 'The sharp rise in exports is therefore more a reflection of a one-off response to an uncertain commercial situation than a genuine sign of a structural strengthening of demand,' the industry body said. This is consistent with FH's previous downbeat projection that global Swiss watch exports should decline again this year given no imminent turnaround in Chinese demand, Citi analyst Thomas Chauvet wrote in a note. As for the exceptional performance in the U.S., this should reverse throughout the summer, he added. Trends in other key markets showed a mixed picture at a time when the watch sector faces a challenging outlook due to slowing demand for high-end brands. All key listed players–including Cartier owner Richemont, French conglomerate LVMH, and Birkin bag maker Hermes–reported negative sales growth for their watch divisions in the first quarter, Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy said in a research note. Write to Andrea Figueras at
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Esperion Aligns with U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Initiate Phase 3 Clinical Trials of Bempedoic Acid in Pediatric Heterozygous and Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
– Confirms Sufficient Data to Complete Phase 2 Clinical Study Enrollment and Advance to Phase 3 Studies in Both Heterozygous and Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia – – Establishes Pediatric Path Forward to Start and Complete Phase 3 Trial and Secure Additional Six-Month Patent Extension Through June 2031 – ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Esperion (NASDAQ: ESPR) today announced that following meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it has gained alignment on a regulatory path forward for initiating Phase 3 studies of bempedoic acid alone and in combination with ezetimibe in pediatric patients with heterozygous and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH and HoFH, respectively). Based on these discussions with the FDA, the Company plans to initiate Phase 3 clinical studies this year. The FDA previously granted orphan drug designation for bempedoic acid in HoFH indication. 'We are delighted to further advance the development of bempedoic acid for children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and are pleased the FDA has indicated that we have adequate data to proceed into Phase 3 clinical trials,' stated Sheldon Koenig, President and CEO of Esperion. 'In addition, this alignment supports our commitment to broaden the reach of our bempedoic acid products as part of our lifecycle management plan, providing the opportunity to extend our patent protection for an additional six months for these important therapies,' added Sheldon Koenig. About CLEAR Path 2 and CLEAR Path 3 StudiesCLEAR Path 2 (in children with HeFH) and CLEAR Path 3 (in children with HoFH) are Phase 3, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid with and without concurrent ezetimibe in children with HeFH or HoFH and LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L) while on protocol defined optimum dose of a statin. Each study is a 52-week design where patients will be randomized 2:1 to treatment or control for 24 weeks, followed by 28 weeks of an open-label extension period. About Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and Homozygous FH (HoFH)HeFH and HoFH are the two types of FH, a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol from birth and if untreated leads to early, aggressive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. HeFH is the more common form occurring in 1 in 250 births and results from inheriting a gene that causes FH from one parent. If left untreated, cardiovascular disease can develop during middle adulthood. HoFH is the rarer form of the disease, an orphan indication, occurring in 1 in 300,000 births and results from inheriting a FH gene from both parents. HoFH results in higher cholesterol levels, which are often more difficult to treat as cardiovascular disease can begin as early as in childhood if untreated. In both HeFH and HoFH, the processing of LDL-C is disrupted due to these gene mutations, which leads to dangerously high levels of LDL-C. Both HeFH and HoFH are underdiagnosed and undertreated but with early detection and continued development of LDL-C therapies for patients starting at an early age, there is hope that patients with FH can control their LDL cholesterol and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. About Esperion TherapeuticsEsperion Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing new medicines to market that address unmet needs of patients and healthcare professionals. The Company developed and is commercializing the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for patients who are at risk for cardiovascular disease and are struggling with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). These medications are supported by the nearly 14,000 patient CLEAR Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial. Esperion continues to build on its success with its next generation program which is focused on developing ATP citrate lyase inhibitors (ACLYi). New insights into the structure and function of ACLYi fully enables rational drug design and the opportunity to develop highly potent and specific inhibitors with allosteric mechanisms. Esperion continues to evolve into a leading global biopharmaceutical company through commercial execution, international partnerships and collaborations and advancement of its pre-clinical pipeline. For more information, visit and follow Esperion on LinkedIn and X. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding marketing strategy and commercialization plans, current and planned operational expenses, future operations, commercial products, clinical development, including the timing, designs and plans for the CLEAR Outcomes study and its results, plans for potential future product candidates, financial condition and outlook, including expected cash runway, and other statements containing the words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'suggest,' 'target,' 'potential,' 'will,' 'would,' 'could,' 'should,' 'continue,' and similar expressions. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Esperion's actual results to differ significantly from those projected, including, without limitation, the net sales, profitability, and growth of Esperion's commercial products, clinical activities and results, supply chain, commercial development and launch plans, the outcomes and anticipated benefits of legal proceedings and settlements, and the risks detailed in Esperion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Esperion disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, other than to the extent required by law. Esperion Contact Information:Investors: Alina Veneziainvestorrelations@ (734) 887-3903 Media: Tiffany Aldrich corporateteam@ (616) 443-8438
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Noticing This Sign On Your Knuckles Can Reveal High Cholesterol
According to the British Heart Foundation, 'There are around 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.' They estimate that roughly half of us will go on to develop heart conditions in our lifetimes. Unfortunately, some of the red flag signs of high blood pressure and increased LDL cholesterol can be hard to spot. They usually have no symptoms at all. Sometimes, however, signs of a genetic risk factor called familial hypercholesterolaemia can be visible on the body. Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), which affects about one in every 250 people, is a genetic condition that can make people up to 13 times more likely than those without FH to develop coronary heart disease. Many people with FH do not know they have it, even though early treatment has been shown to give those with the predisposition as long a life as those without it. However there are three 'classic signs' of the condition which appear on peoples' eyes and hands, the British Heart Foundation says. Though it doesn't always come with symptoms, FH is associated with three telltale signs. The first is small bumps around your eyes ― especially if they're yellowish and near the inner corner of your eye. This is called Xanthelasmas. Secondly, those with FH might notice a thin, white rim around the iris (coloured part) of their eye. This is called a corneal arcus, and is more likely to be a sign of FH if the person who has it is younger. Another sign, called tendon xanthomata, leads to swelling in areas like your knuckles, the back of your ankle, and the Achilles tendon. It can take the form of lumps and bumps in the area, and like both other signs, is due to cholesterol deposits. DermNet says they are usually 'slowly enlarging' and can be 'smooth, firm to palpation, and mobile'. You can get your cholesterol tested by your GP if you're concerned. If they think you have FH, they might refer you to a specialist who may give you genetic tests. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you think you might have FH; the earlier the treatment, the better the management can be. Symptoms aren't the only way you might be able to spot FH. According to the British Heart Foundation, you should also speak to a doctor 'If a close relative has had a heart attack at a young age (before 55 in a man and before 65 in a woman)'. Treatment often involves statins and lifestyle changes. So THAT's What Those Tiny Itchy Bumps On Your Fingers Are Noticing These Bumps Around Your Eyes Could Reveal Heart Issues Here's What Are Considered Normal Cholesterol Levels, By Age
