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(AWP Alliance News) - Eli Lilly & Co on Monday reported encouraging test results for its drug Verve-102, which aims to lower cholestrol. Verve-102 is a base editor of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, or PCSK9,which is involved in cholestrol regulation. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based pharmaceutical company said that its drug had reduced PCSK9 by up to 88% and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by up to 62%. This boosts Verve-102's 'potential as a one-time treatment for hypercholesterolemia', Lilly said. Reductions in PCSK9 and LDL-C were dose-dependant and sustained over a follow-up period of up to 18 months. The results come from single-infusion Phase 1b testing in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or premature coronary artery disease, which puts them at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. No treatment-related serious adverse events or dose-limiting toxicities were reported in the trial. 'Twenty years ago, genetics showed us that people born with PCSK9 naturally turned off have low LDL-C for life and are remarkably protected from heart attack, yet today's chronic therapies struggle to deliver this lifelong lowering,' said Sekar Kathiresan, Lilly's senior vice president, and co-founder of Verve Therapeutics. 'The Heart-2 results provide early clinical evidence that a single dose of Verve-102 may mimic the LDL-C lowering effects of PCSK9 cardioprotective variants, potentially transforming cardiovascular care from chronic management to a one-time treatment.' The drug already has fast-track status from the US Food and Drug Administration. Lilly intends to start phase 2 trials by the end of the year. The company's shares were marginally lower at USD1,064.59 during after-hours trading on Monday in New York. By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(AWP Alliance News) - Airbus SE on Monday reported delays in aircraft delivery to Australian carrier Qantas, amid disruptions to global supply chains. Qantas will not receive the first of the 12 modified A350 long-haul aircraft it has ordered until April 2027, Airbus said. Qantas had expected delivery by the end of 2026. Airbus cited supply chain issues without going into further detail. Qantas intends to use the European manufacturer's aircraft primarily to offer non-stop ultra-long-haul flights from Sydney to New York, and Sydney to London.  The launch of these routes, most recently scheduled for mid-2027, could now be further delayed, as a period of test flights lasting several months is standard practice. Separately on Monday, Airbus said that Saudia, which is Saudi Arabia's national carrier, had taken delivery of its first A321XLR planes, making it the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to operate this new model. Airbus shares rose 2.5% to EUR173.82 on Monday morning in Paris. source: DPA Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(AWP Alliance News) - German industry increased its revenue in the first quarter for the first time since 2023, but continued to cut jobs on a large scale, according to a study. The study by consultancy EY, based on data from the Federal Statistical Office and seen by dpa, found that the number of people employed in industry fell to 5.3 million by the end of the first quarter. That was down 2.3%, or 127,300 jobs, compared with the same period last year. The automotive industry recorded the largest net job losses, at around 32,000, followed by mechanical engineering with 22,000 and metal production and processing with 8,800. At the same time, EY sees signs of hope for Germany's struggling industry, which has been weighed down by high energy and labour costs, competition from China and US tariffs. Industrial revenue rose by 1.7% in the first quarter to just over EUR531 billion, around USD618 billion, the first year-on-year increase after 10 quarters of decline. The main reason was an 18% rise in revenue in the metal sector, where exports grew by 28% year-on-year. The automotive sector also posted a slight increase, at 2.1%, as did the electrical industry, at 1.4%. 'The coming months will show whether the growth in a few individual sectors is merely a flash in the pan or the start of a turnaround,' said Jan Brorhilker, managing partner at EY Germany. Brorhilker expects further job losses, saying many sectors still have significant overcapacity. At many companies, the debate was no longer just about savings programmes but also about the closure of entire plants, he said. source: dpa Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.