Latest news with #FVC
The Courier
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
'Significant failings' at Forth Valley College over £76k of public cash
A Forth Valley College (FVC) project saw £76,000 of public funding paid into non-college bank accounts, prompting a police investigation, an audit has found. A review of the institution's 2022-23 accounts by Scotland's auditor general has revealed the details of the Fuel Change project's 'series of failings'. FVC says it has made significant progress in 'strengthening the processes for college-run projects'. Fuel Change, which started in 2020, is described as 'an apprenticeship challenge aimed at solving climate-related issues'. Between 2020 and 2023, it received over £1 million of public cash – £811,000 from the Scottish Funding Council, £100,000 from Skills Development Scotland, and £126,000 via other public sector grants. The audit found that staff involved in the Fuel Change project knowingly did not follow the college's financial protocol. In September 2022, it was agreed that ownership of Fuel Change would be handed over to its project director, Jennifer Tempany, and consultant David Reid of Paradigm Futures Ltd. At the time, Ms Tempany was the college's director of strategic partnerships and regional economy. The transfer would officially remove FVC from the arrangement. However, this change was delayed. Then, in November 2022, it came to light that contracts had not been properly drawn up for project spending totalling more than £900,000. A supplier had also been appointed without competition. During April 2023, the college raised concerns over invoicing arrangements that involved £76,000 of funding bypassing FVC and being deposited into accounts overseen by Ms Tempany and Mr Reid. FVC began an internal investigation and consequently reported the matter to Police Scotland. The police said it was 'clear there was a mismanagement of funds but no way to prove any criminal intent.' Ms Tempany was suspended and later dismissed, while the college 'cut ties' with Mr Reid. Ms Tempany took FVC's management board to an employment tribunal last year, claiming unfair dismissal, but the judge ruled in the college's favour. According to the audit report, the pair 'continue to run the project under a different name and within a new entity.' Stephen Boyle, auditor general for Scotland, said: 'Forth Valley College did not oversee and manage the finances of the Fuel Change project properly, and this led to significant failings. 'The college has since taken action to minimise the risk of these failings happening again.' He continued: 'There are lessons to be learned for other colleges and public bodies, who need to make sure they can manage the risks associated with involving external bodies in projects.' Abhishek Agarwal, chair of Forth Valley College's board of management, said: 'The college is aware of the Audit Scotland S22 Report and has worked closely with Audit Scotland in terms of the content of the report. 'The Audit Scotland report also recognised the significant progress we have made in strengthening the processes for college-run projects. 'These improvements are designed to minimise the risk of similar issues arising in future, and we remain fully committed to regularly reviewing these arrangements to ensure they remain robust and fit for purpose. 'The external auditor's Annual Report for 2022-23 also concluded that – with the exception of the stand-alone net zero project – the College has effective arrangements in place for financial planning, governance, and performance management. 'For clarity, the stand-alone project is no longer connected to the College and has been operating as a separate entity since June 2023.'
Medscape
20-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Less FVC Decline in Progressive PF With Oral Nerandomilast
SAN FRANCISCO — The investigational oral agent nerandomilast was superior to placebo at slowing the decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) among patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PF), results of the phase 3 randomized FIBRONEER-ILD trial showed. Among 1176 patients, the mean decline from baseline in FVC at 1 year was significantly greater for those assigned to receive a placebo than those assigned to receive nerandomilast at either of two doses, reported Marlies S. Wijsenbeek, MD, PhD, from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 'I think, personally, that these results are really a major step forward. After a decade of failed phase 3, we have now a positive trial which is really important for treatment of people with IPF [idiopathic PF],' she said in oral abstract session at American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference. The study was also published online in The New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the presentation. Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE-4B) Inhibitor Nerandomilast is an oral preferential inhibitor of PDE-4B that has shown both antifibrotic and immunomodulatory effects in preclinical models. In a phase 3 follow-on trial of this agent in patients with IPF (FIBRONEER-IPF), nerandomilast was associated with a smaller decline in FVC compared with placebo over 1 year. In FIBRONEER-ILD, which was conducted at 403 sites in 44 countries, patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) other than IPF were enrolled. After stratification by prior nintedanib (OFEV) use and high-resolution CT pattern (either usual interstitial pneumonia [UIP] or UIP-like fibrotic pattern vs other fibrotic patterns), patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either nerandomilast twice daily at doses of 18 or 9 mg or placebo. Approximately 44% of patients in each study arm were on nintedanib background therapy. The adjusted mean change in FVC at week 52, the primary endpoint, was −98.6 mL for patients assigned to nerandomilast 18 mg, −84.6 mL for those assigned to nerandomilast 9 mg, and −165.8 mL for those assigned to placebo. The adjusted difference between 9-mg nerandomilast and placebo groups was 81.1 mL ( P < .001), and the adjusted difference between 18-mg and placebo groups was 67.2 mL ( P < .001). The effect of nerandomilast was generally consistent across ILD subtypes, Wijsenbeek said. At the time of data cutoff, a first acute exacerbation of ILD, hospitalization for a respiratory cause, or death — a key composite secondary endpoint — occurred in 95 patients on the 18-mg dose, 110 on the 9-mg dose, and 122 patients on placebo. These differences did not reach statistical significance, however. A total of 24 patients in the 18-mg group (6.1%), 33 in the 9-mg group (8.4%), and 50 in the placebo group (12.8%) died during the study. The hazard ratio for death among patients in the 18-mg vs placebo group was 0.48 (95% CI, 0.30-0.79), and the hazard ratio for the 9-mg vs placebo group was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.38-0.95). Diarrhea, the most common adverse event, was reported in 36.6% of patients taking 18 mg nerandomilast twice daily, 29.5% of those taking 9 mg twice daily, and 24.7% of those on placebo. Diarrhea leading to discontinuation was also higher in both the nerandomilast dosing groups than in the placebo group. In the question and answer following her talk, Gisli Jenkins, MD, PhD, from Imperial College London, London, England, asked Wijsenbeek whether slowing absolute decline in FVC was the best endpoint for the trial. 'I think there is a lot of debate [about] what is the best endpoint. I think it's the best endpoint we currently have,' she replied. Ganesh Raghu, MD, from the University of Washington in Seattle, commented that FIBRONEER-ILD efficacy data were similar to those seen a decade ago with nintedanib and asked Wijsenbeek whether she could put the new data in context with existing therapies. She replied that although the efficacy of the agents are similar, patients appear to tolerate nerandomilast better than nintedanib, 'so that's a gain, in my opinion.' She added that any additional clinical benefit, even if it's only incremental, is better for patients, and she noted that although the study was not powered to detect a decrease in acute exacerbations, hospitalizations, or deaths, the data pointed to a benefit for nerandomilast. In an editorial accompanying the study in NEJM , Joyce S. Lee, MD, from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, commented that the FIBRONEER-IPF and FIBRONEER-ILD trials 'represent a meaningful advancement in the treatment landscape for persons living with IPF and progressive ILD other than IPF. Important issues that our community of clinicians will need to address moving forward nonetheless remain — decisions regarding the choice of first-line therapy, indications for up-front combination therapy as compared with add-on therapy, and the role of immunosuppression in patients with non-IPF ILD and a PPF phenotype.' The study was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim. Wijsenbeek reported serving on a scientific advisory board and receiving speaker fees and unrestricted grants, all paid to her institution and not her personally. Lee and Jenkins reported having financial relationships with Boehringer Ingelheim and others. Raghu disclosed advisory board/consulting activities for various companies, not including Boehringer Ingelheim.
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kalaam Telecom signs strategic deal with Mida Solutions and FVC
Kalaam Telecom, a leading regional digital solutions provider, Mida Solutions, a NUSO company, and First Video Communications (FVC), have signed a strategic agreement aimed at delivering a seamless one-stop-shop experience for businesses operating in the Middle East region. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the provision of 'cutting-edge contact centre as-a-service (CCaaS)' and 'unified communications as-a-service (UCaaS)', 'compliance call recording', and 'advanced analytics' regulations in the region. Under this agreement, Mida Solutions' products will be distributed by FVC across the region via Kalaam Telecom, who will be an exclusive managed service provider (MSP) offering Mida applications as SaaS coupled with end-to-end managed services, hosted locally in Kalaam Private Cloud in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, thus ensuring data sovereignty and regulatory requirements around VOIP and data residency regulations in the respective region. This partnership enables organisations to leverage SaaS contact centre and call recording services with local language support, turn-key solutions and on-the-ground service availability throughout the MEA region via Kalaam Telecom operations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. By hosting these solutions in Kalaam Telecom data centres in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Kalaam Telecom will meet the stringent data residency requirements of organisations, including compliance with SAMA regulations, GDPR, MIFID II, PCI, HIPAA and other International privacy and financial regulations. The local hosting capability is a crucial asset for companies operating in the Saudi Arabian market. Mida Solutions' products are Microsoft Teams-certified and compatible with Zoom, catering to organisations with hybrid communication environments, integrating seamlessly with both traditional PBX systems and modern cloud platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Marco Cortese, country manager at Mida Solutions, said, 'This tri-party agreement signifies the evolution of our partnership with FVC. Our aim is to provide tangible solutions for companies in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia transitioning to advanced communication systems. 'With Kalaam Telecom on board, we can now offer a comprehensive one-stop shop solution with local hosting in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, setting a new standard for compliance and service quality.' Expressing his thoughts on the collaboration, Kalaam Telecom group chief executive Veer Passi said, 'We are thrilled to be part of this strategic collaboration with Mida Solutions and FVC, offering local hosting solutions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. 'This partnership underscores our commitment to providing innovative solutions customised and tailored for the needs of enterprises while ensuring data sovereignty for organisations across the MEA region.' This partnership between Kalaam, Mida Solutions, and FVC sets a new benchmark in the provision of cutting-edge communication solutions in the MEA region, empowering organisations with the tools to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape. Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalaam Telecom, Mida Solutions and FVC enter Strategic Alliance to Elevate Comprehensive CCaaS & UCaaS Solutions in Saudi Arabia & Bahrain
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kalaam Telecom, a leading Regional Digital Solutions Provider, Mida Solutions, a NUSO Company and FVC, First Video Communications are proud to announce the signing of a strategic agreement aimed at delivering a seamless one-stop-shop experience for businesses operating in the Middle East region. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the provision of cutting-edge Contact Center as-a-Service (CCaaS) and Unified Communications as-a-Service (UCaaS), Compliance Call Recording, and Advanced Analytics regulations in the region. Under this agreement, Mida Solutions' products will be distributed by FVC across the region via Kalaam Telecom, who will be an exclusive Managed Service Provider, MSP, offering Mida applications as SaaS coupled with end-to-end managed services, hosted locally in Kalaam Private Cloud in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, thus ensuring data sovereignty and regulatory requirements around VOIP and data residency regulations in the respective region. This partnership enables organizations to leverage SaaS contact center and call recording services with local language support, turn-key solutions and on-the-ground service availability throughout the MEA region via Kalaam Telecom operations in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. By hosting these solutions in Kalaam Telecom data centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Kalaam Telecom will meet the stringent data residency requirements of organizations, including compliance with SAMA regulations, GDPR, MIFID II, PCI, HIPAA and other International privacy and financial regulations. The local hosting capability is a crucial asset for companies operating in the Saudi Arabian market. Mida Solutions' products are Microsoft Teams-certified and compatible with Zoom, catering to organizations with hybrid communication environments, integrating seamlessly with both traditional PBX systems and modern cloud platforms like Microsoft Teams™ and Zoom™. Marco Cortese, Country Manager at Mida Solutions, remarked, "This tri-party agreement signifies the evolution of our partnership with FVC. Our aim is to provide tangible solutions for companies in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain transitioning to advanced communication systems. With Kalaam Telecom on board, we can now offer a comprehensive one-stop shop solution with local hosting in both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, setting a new standard for compliance and service quality." Expressing his thoughts on the collaboration, Veer Passi, Group CEO of Kalaam Telecom commented, "We are thrilled to be part of this strategic collaboration with Mida Solutions and FVC, offering local hosting solutions in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing innovative solutions customized & tailored for the needs of Enterprises while ensuring data sovereignty for organizations across the MEA region." This partnership between Kalaam, Mida Solutions, and FVC sets a new benchmark in the provision of cutting-edge communication solutions in the MEA region, empowering organizations with the tools to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape. About Us Mida Solutions is an ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified provider of communication and collaboration solutions, specializing in advanced software for call recording and contact centers. Both its Contact Center and Recorder products are officially certified for Microsoft Teams, and compatible with Zoom, reflecting Mida Solutions' commitment to international standards and high-performance telecommunications platforms. The company's solutions deliver reliability and quality tailored to modern enterprise requirements. Mida Solutions is part of NUSO LLC, a U.S. service provider dedicated to delivering advanced cloud-based communications solutions. NUSO LLC's expertise and global footprint further strengthen Mida Solutions' capabilities, ensuring robust and innovative offerings for customers worldwide. Kalaam Telecom Group (Kalaam) is a trusted digital solutions provider, serving SME's, Enterprise regionally with licensed operations in Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA and Telecom Carriers & hyperscalers globally. Headquartered in Bahrain, and with offices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, and UK, Kalaam has pioneered next-gen digital solutions like Connectivity, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Managed Networks, ICT, Voice & Communication, Data Center accelerating digital transformation in the GCC with an accumulated legacy of 30+ years. Kalaam provides a portfolio of cutting-edge digital solutions that are tailored to the needs of businesses of all sizes in key markets and verticals across the region, including BFSI, Education, Government, Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing and more. Kalaam's fully owned terrestrial cable system, Kalaam Network Optical Transit (KNOT), spanning Kuwait, Bahrain, KSA, UAE and Qatar is now coupled with consortium ownership in undersea cable Europe-India Gateway (EIG), a 15,000 km international fiber-optic submarine cable system covering 12 countries from India and the Middle East to Europe. In addition, the "Kalaam Iraq Transit" stands out with its unique route, delivering the lowest latency, enhanced resiliency, security, reliability, and overall performance. This innovative route addresses geopolitical risks and capacity constraints, providing a more efficient and reliable path for customers with expanded connectivity options. Through this extensive network, Kalaam is uniquely placed to serve international and regional Telecom Carriers and Enterprises. To know more about Kalaam Telecom Solutions log onto FVC – First Video Communications is a premier value-added distributor offering advanced communications and collaboration solutions. With a strong reputation for delivering certified, market-leading technologies, FVC empowers organizations to adopt agile communication strategies. Additionally, as the exclusive distributor of Mida Solutions in the MEA region, FVC's extensive presence across the territory allows for easier reach to businesses in various MEA countries, ensuring smooth delivery and support of Mida's solutions. Photo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kalaam Telecom
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
FintechVendors.com Launches Free, Comprehensive Directory of 4,400+ Fintech Providers
ORLANDO, Fla., April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (FVC), a groundbreaking, free-to-use directory of over 4,400 fintech vendors, has officially launched to the public. FVC is designed to streamline the initial vendor discovery process, saving financial services professionals significant time and resources. Peter Jeye, former Founder & CEO of Next Step, a leading consulting firm, created FVC as a way to give back to the financial services community that has supported his 30-year career. 'I wanted to create a comprehensive resource that would truly benefit the industry,' says Jeye. Unlike traditional directories, FVC is entirely free for both users and vendors. There are no subscriptions or listing fees. Jeye emphasizes, 'This project is not about maximizing profit. It's about building a community and providing a valuable service.' caters to a wide range of financial services providers, including banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, investment firms, lenders, fintechs, and consultants. The directory includes not only fintech providers but also essential professional services firms such as consultants, marketing experts, strategic planners, auditors, and legal professionals. 'I have carefully curated each vendor with my team to ensure a rewarding and productive experience for our users,' explains Jeye. 'Our goal is to be the go-to resource for financial services professionals seeking innovative technology and service solutions.' is not a lead generation site, ensuring a comfortable browsing experience without unwanted sales solicitations. It is funded through optional, affordable advertising opportunities for vendors, allowing them to enhance their listings and further contribute to the community. Financial services professionals are encouraged to explore and discover the vast array of technology and service providers available. 250+ system categories have been included specifically related to financial services. About (FVC) is a free, curated directory of over 4,400 fintech vendors and related service providers. Founded by industry veteran Peter Jeye, FVC is committed to providing a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for financial services professionals. The directory is free to use and free for vendors to be listed, fostering a collaborative and supportive community. Contact: Jessica Godfrey Marketing & Promotions [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fintech Vendors LLC
