North American PON Spending Jumps 26 Percent Y/Y; Cable Remote OLT Ports Shipment Up 190 Percent Y/Y

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recently published report from Dell'Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the telecommunications, security, networks, and data center industries, total global revenue for the Broadband Access equipment market reached $4.5 B in 2Q 2026, down 3 percent year-over-year (Y/Y). North American telco and cable operators bucked the downward trend as they continued to invest in major fiber and DOCSIS 4.0 network upgrades in the quarter, despite higher costs for both infrastructure and CPE due to the ongoing shortages of memory and other components.

"North American operators are moving quickly to expand and turn up their fiber networks, and the result has been three consecutive quarters of Y/Y growth in spending on PON equipment that is reminiscent of the boom year of 2022," said Jeff Heynen, Vice President with Dell'Oro Group. "Clearly, operators are pulling forward equipment purchases once again to stay ahead of increasing ASPs for both OLTs and ONTs," explained Heynen.

Additional highlights from the 2Q 2026 Broadband Access and Home Networking quarterly report:

- Residential Wi-Fi 7 Router shipments continued their impressive growth, increasing 62 percent Y/Y, driven by lower-cost dual-band units shipping in China and Southeast Asia, as well as US operators pulling forward purchases to support their multi-gig service offerings.

- Cable operators are modernizing their networks through sustained Remote PHY Device (RPD) and Remote OLT (R-OLT) purchases, with combined revenue for those platforms jumping 63 percent Y/Y.

- FWA CPE unit shipments declined 12 percent Y/Y, driven largely by a slowdown in new unit sales in the North American market.

About the Report

The Dell'Oro Group Broadband Access and Home Networking Quarterly Report provides a complete overview of the Broadband Access market with tables covering manufacturers' revenue, average selling prices, and port/unit shipments for Cable, DSL, and PON equipment. Covered equipment includes Converged Cable Access Platforms (CCAP) and Distributed Access Architectures (DAA); Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers ([DSLAMs] by technology VDSL, VDSL Profile 35b, and G.FAST); PON Optical Line Terminals (OLTs), Cable, DSL, and PON CPE (Customer Premises Equipment); Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) CPE; and Residential WLAN Equipment, including Mesh Routers. For more information about the report, please contact [email protected].

About Dell'Oro Group

Dell'Oro Group is a market research firm that specializes in strategic competitive analysis in the telecommunications, security, enterprise networks, data center infrastructure, and network security markets. Our firm provides in-depth quantitative data and qualitative analysis to facilitate critical, fact-based business decisions.  For more information, contact Dell'Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit https://www.delloro.com.

SOURCE Dell'Oro Group

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Medidojo, Inc. Announces Chess Grandmaster Anish Giri Joining Dojo's High Performance Team

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Medidojo, Inc., the company building Dojo, the AI meditation app for iOS that generates a personalized meditation session, today announced that elite chess grandmaster Anish Giri has joined as a Founding Member of the Dojo High Performance Team. Giri is joining the team to help build the mental training system that he can integrate into his own preparation and tournament routine.

Giri has been a fixture of elite chess for more than a decade, with tournament victories including the Tata Steel Masters. This spring he finished runner-up at the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, the strongest Candidates result of his career, one step from a world title match.

Mental training has become chess's new arms race. Several elite grandmasters have incorporated meditation, mindfulness and yoga into their routines, using them to improve concentration, manage emotions under pressure and recover more quickly from setbacks. Some practice daily, including during tournaments, while others use brief meditation as part of their pre-game routine. The physiology backs it up: research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that a single game of chess raises heart rate and suppresses heart rate variability, the same stress signature the body produces under physical load. A chess player's mind is not calm. It is an engine running hot.

Chess has seen meditation endorsements before. This is different. Giri joins Medidojo as part of the team, helping design the training system he will use: relaxation first, then focus, then visualization, the three internal skills elite chess demands.

Dojo generates personalized meditation with AI instead of serving a library of prerecorded tracks. Describe what you need and the app builds a custom session from modules like breathwork, body scan, focus, visualization, or meditation for insomnia/sleep. Connect an Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3, WHOOP or other devices and Dojo shows heart rate response during practice, so users can see whether meditation is working instead of guessing. In Medidojo's early wearable analysis, 76.8 percent of Dojo sessions lowered the user's heart rate, with an average drop of 6.5 beats per minute, typically beginning within the first minute of practice. The approach matches where wearable science is heading: a 2026 analysis of Apple Heart and Movement Study data found that heart signals measured during mindful breathing carry significantly more health information than passive readings.

"Every serious athlete trains the body with a program and a feedback loop. Almost nobody trains the mind that way," said Asaf Shamir, Founder and CEO of Medidojo, Inc. "Chess is where that changes first, because in chess the mind is the entire sport. Anish competes at the top of the most cognitively brutal game on earth. We are not asking him to relax. We are training him like an athlete, and the heart rate data will tell us whether it is working."

"Studies show that meditation and breathwork can do wonders. I am a chess player who cares about concentration and visualization, and about recovering a clear state after a long game," said Anish Giri, an elite Chess Grandmaster and a Founding Member of the Dojo High Performance Team. "What interested me in Dojo is treating those as skills you can train, with feedback-based meditation and breath-work."

Research supports meditation as a tool for high performance [1]: a meta-analysis of 111 randomized trials involving 9,538 people found measurable improvements in executive attention, working memory, inhibitory control and sustained attention. A separate Cambridge-led analysis [2] of 13 randomized trials and 2,371 participants found significant reductions in psychological distress, highlighting meditation's potential to support both cognitive performance and composure under pressure.

Medidojo plans to expand the Dojo High Performance Team with athletes and performers in other disciplines. The timing follows the market: meditation apps are projected to reach 2.7 billion dollars in 2026, and analysts name AI personalization and wearable integration as the trends defining the category's next five years. Dojo is built on both.

Download Dojo on the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dojo-master-meditation/id6503365052

For elite athletes interested in joining Medidojo's High Performance Team: [email protected]

About Medidojo, Inc.

Medidojo, Inc. is a company developing Dojo, an AI native mind training app for iOS, built in California. Instead of a static content library, Dojo generates custom meditation sessions from what the user needs in the moment and can show heart rate response during practice through Apple Watch and other wearables. People use Dojo for focus, stress relief, better sleep, and short meditation breaks that fit real schedules.

Sources:

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10902202/ 

[2 ]https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-023-00081-5

SOURCE Medidojo, Inc.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- British Swim School, North America's leading provider of water safety and survival programs, today announced the launch of its Jump On In Sweepstakes, which will award free swim lessons for a year.

As part of its "Back to Pool" campaign, the national sweepstakes runs from September 8–30, 2026, and brings fresh energy to the fall swim season by inspiring families to get back in the water, reconnects with swimmers who may have taken a break, and welcomes new families who are just discovering British Swim School. The Jump On In Sweepstakes offers an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to build confidence and water safety skills.

The sweepstakes invites families across the U.S. and Canada to enter for a chance to win one full year of swim lessons plus a British Swim School swim gear prize package. Because British Swim School serves swimmers at every age and every stage, they will select two winners: one child under 18 and one adult 18+.

"Fall is one of the most important times of year for families to recommit to water safety," said Ashley Gundlach, President of British Swim School. "The Jump On In Sweepstakes gives families a fun, exciting reason to reconnect with swim lessons while still reinforcing the life-saving skills that matter most."

As families settle into their fall routines, the sweepstakes provide a fun and engaging way to learn about British Swim School's survival-first programs and emphasize the importance of year-round water safety. The drowning statistics in this country are tragic and preventable.

- Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1- 4 years old.

- Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14.

- An estimated 40 million U.S. adults report that they do not know how to swim, and over half have never taken formal swimming lessons.

British Swim School stresses swim lessons are more than an extracurricular activity; they are a life-saving skill. Their mission is to teach survival-first techniques, including back floating, controlled movement, and water comfort for swimmers of all ages.

"Consistent time in the water helps swimmers build comfort, confidence, and essential water safety skills that can last a lifetime," Gundlach added. "We're proud to equip kids and adults with the skills they need to feel safer in and around the water."

Families can enter the sweepstakes for a free year of swim lessons at britishswimschool.com/sweepstakes between September 8–30. After submitting their entry, participants receive an automated thank-you email containing water safety resources and a printable booklet with safety tips, emergency checklists, and skill-building guidance.

For an extra entry, families can share a photo or video on social media using #JumpOnInBSS and tag @britishswimschool

To learn more about British Swim School, visit britishswimschool.com or follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook. To enter the Jump On In Sweepstakes, visit britishswimschool.com/sweepstakes.

About British Swim School

British Swim School is North America's most established swim school franchise, with more than 45 years of experience delivering expert-led swim education. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to be safer and more confident in and around the water — at every age and every stage — British Swim School offers swim lessons for babies, children, young adults, adults, and those with special abilities. The British Swim School program is built on a survival-first approach, focusing on water competency and essential life-saving skills before progressing to stroke development and long-term confidence. This proven methodology gives families peace of mind while equipping swimmers with skills that support lifelong safety. As a purpose-driven franchise, British Swim School also provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to build a meaningful business rooted in safety, community impact, and a proven, scalable operating model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School operates more than 550 schools across the United States and Canada.

For more information about British Swim School, visit www.britishswimschool.com.

Contact:

Nayelis Bosa

Tidehouse

[email protected]

(954) 893-9150

SOURCE British Swim School

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The platform replaces subjective gut-feel evaluations with a data-driven scoring system built on peer-reviewed research and validated through live deployment with a professional football franchise.

MCKINNEY, Texas, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Coaching AI, a division of Eneje' Consulting Firm, today announced the launch of Coaching AI, a coaching intelligence platform built to collect and analyze large volumes of coaching and unit-execution data across football. The platform is powered by the Coaching Performance Assessment System (CPAS), an NFL‑approved algorithmic grading engine that transforms extensive coaching data into objective, standardized evaluations. With today's launch, teams, front offices, media, and fans gain access to the first data‑driven system capable of evaluating coaching performance with the same rigor long applied to player statistics, establishing a measurement standard the sport has never had. The college football version of Coaching AI will be released later this season, expanding CPAS grading across the full landscape of the sport.

Founded by former NFL cornerback James Hasty, a 14-season veteran, Coaching AI grades a coach's performance against an opposing position group, offensive line against defensive line, wide receivers against defensive backs, and so on. Drawing on a database of more than 1,600 coaches across the NFL and NCAA, the platform applies a proprietary algorithm to wins and losses, playoff performance, and player development, and pairs it with a qualitative leadership assessment built from peer-reviewed research.

CPAS delivers a three-layer coaching intelligence profile: a background and objective performance grade, detailed in-game decision analysis through Weekly In-Season Reports, and ongoing coach and player position-group intelligence updated throughout the season. The platform's top-tier offering, the Team/Organization Custom Enterprise Plan, provides full platform access for up to 10 users within the organization, including the complete Weekly In-Season Report series.

Because no comparable system existed, coaching performance has historically been difficult to evaluate consistently, a gap that has also shaped hiring decisions across the league. Research helped inform a coaching assessment system, commissioned by Eneje' Consulting and led by Dr. Steven Randolph Cureton of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and found that while consistent criteria for coaching success exist across the sport, they have been applied unevenly. That research led to the development of the Sociological Qualitative Assessment Instrument (SQAI), a speech analysis tool designed to evaluate leadership, teaching ability, coaching strategy, and vocal tone. SQAI's findings informed a coaching assessment recommendation submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2026, in connection with proposed collegiate‑athletics reform legislation. The submission positioned CPAS as a bias‑free, scalable standard for measuring coaching merit across the sport.

"This launch is just the starting point," Hasty said. "Our goal is for objective coaching data to become as standard in this sport as any other performance metric on the field, from the front office down to the fans watching at home."

Coaching AI is now live at coachingai.us, where teams, media, and fans can access CPAS coaching grades and reports.

About Coaching AI

Coaching AI, a division of Eneje' Consulting Firm, is a sports performance intelligence system built to collect and process large volumes of coaching data. That data is fed into the Coaching Performance Assessment System (CPAS), a proprietary, algorithmic grading model. Through this pipeline, Coaching AI delivers objective, data‑driven coaching evaluations across all sports, providing teams, front offices, media, and fans with the only standardized measurement of coaching performance.

Media Contact:

Elise Chuan

SOURCE Coaching AI

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New corporate identity and product lines, RushLight, DomeWatcher and WingWatcher, mark the company's next stage of growth, bringing mission-specific radar solutions developed alongside defense and security customers to market at scale

SYRACUSE, N.Y. and TITUSVILLE, Fla., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- C Speed, backed by NewSpring Holdings Federal, announced a new name and brand today: Protora, unveiling a new identity and product architecture that reflect the company's evolution from developing bespoke radar solutions for individual customer missions to delivering those proven capabilities at scale.

The name marks a new stage in the company's 20-year mission. The company also introduced RushLight, DomeWatcher and WingWatcher, three newly defined radar product lines born from systems developed in direct response to real-world customer requirements across border security, base defense, critical infrastructure protection, early warning and wide-area surveillance. Powered by Protora's software-defined LightWave radar core, the product lines give defense, homeland security and allied customers a clearer, faster path to fielding adaptable surveillance capabilities proven through two decades of mission-driven engineering.

The name Protora draws from the Roman Praetorian Guard, elite soldiers who stood watch and never blinked. This history sits behind the brand mission: to hold first watch for allies around the world.

"Protora is not a new company. It's the identity we have grown into from a mission we started 20 years ago," said Dave Abel, CEO of Protora. "RushLight, DomeWatcher and WingWatcher give our allies eyes on the ground, at the base, and in the air. LightWave ties every platform together, so operators see threats of any size at long range with precision."

Protora's product lines bring three radar systems to the field:

RushLight is a 1 kW, trailer-mounted radar. It's ready in under 10 minutes with a standard tow vehicle, built for border security, gap-fill coverage, local asset protection and fast-moving threat environments.

DomeWatcher is a high-power, 3D ground tower radar with long-range early warning. It carries optional EO/IR, ELINT and C-UAS payloads and is built for base defense and critical infrastructure protection.

WingWatcher is a 10 kW aerostat radar. It delivers over-the-horizon coverage from altitude, with flexible multi-sensor payloads and optional Link 16 and GMTI kits. Elevated coverage gives operators 10 to 20 extra minutes for time-sensitive decisions, built for wide-area ISR, early warning and border surveillance.

Every system runs on LightWave, Protora's software-defined radar core. LightWave gives each platform native ASTERIX and STANAG data standards, remote and unattended operation, and a 13,800-hour mean time between failures. LightWave is made in the USA.

"Protora's history is 20 years of trust earned in the field," said Andy Maner, NewSpring Holdings Operating Partner, and Protora Chairman of the Board. "The new name gives this history a voice built for its next chapter, focused on supporting U.S. mission priorities and our allies and partners abroad. DomeWatcher, WingWatcher and RushLight put a name and a mission behind every radar we build."

The rebrand comes as Protora marks 20 years of radar and surveillance work for defense and security customers. The team has built and fielded systems for the Department of War, the Department of Homeland Security and international partners. The new name carries this record forward under one brand, built around a single idea: turning airspace into awarespace.

Protora takes first watch. Learn more at ProtoraTech.com.

About Protora

Protora, formerly C Speed, builds American-made radar and surveillance systems for defense and homeland security customers around the world. Its product lines, DomeWatcher, WingWatcher and RushLight, run on LightWave, Protora's software-defined radar core, and are backed by Shadowsight, Protora's integrated product support program. Every system is built by elite engineers to take the first watch. Headquartered in Syracuse, N.Y., Protora has served the U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and international partners for 20 years. For more information, visit protoratech.com.

About NewSpring Holdings

NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring's majority investment strategy focused on sector-specific platform builds, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take profitable, growing companies to the next level through acquisitions and proven organic methodologies. Founded in 1999, NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages over $3.5 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. Visit NewSpring at www.newspringcapital.com.

SOURCE C Speed

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Partnership brings agentic AI-powered security operations to federal agencies while accelerating Torq's path to FedRAMP authorization

TYSONS CORNER, VA, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Merlin, a trusted technology partner known for deep government expertise and mission-ready solutions, today announced that Torq, the established agentic security operations leader, will serve as a key technology partner in Merlin's SOC Modernization architecture for federal agencies. The partnership combines Torq's AI SOC Platform capabilities with Merlin's validated architecture, federal market expertise, and compliance infrastructure to help agencies accelerate detection, investigation, and response. Merlin is also supporting Torq's path to FedRAMP authorization through Constellation GovCloud (CGC).

Bringing the Agentic SOC to Federal Agencies

SOC Modernization is part of Merlin Validated Solutions (MVS), a portfolio of pre-tested, mission-ready architectures. MVS integrates existing independent security technologies into a unified, end-to-end detection-to-response workflow that is automated but governed: actions are validated through a human-in-the-loop authorization model rather than left to run unchecked. Rather than replacing agencies' current investments, MVS unifies disconnected tools into a single coordinated workflow that can identify threats, analyze security data, validate automated actions, and respond at machine speed and scale to give federal agencies and critical infrastructure sectors pre-tested, compliant, mission-ready architectures.

The Torq AI SOC Platform will give federal agencies a fundamentally different way to defend mission-critical environments — using agentic AI to continuously ingest and contextualize alerts across the existing security stack, automatically triage threats, investigate the highest-risk incidents, and execute response and remediation within agency-defined guardrails. Rather than adding another point tool, Torq connects the full incident lifecycle so agencies can expand SOC capacity without proportionally expanding headcount, respond at machine speed to increasingly sophisticated threats, and keep human analysts focused on the incidents that require judgment. Every agentic action can remain transparent, governed, and auditable, providing the oversight and accountability federal environments require while each confirmation or correction improves the systems' accuracy over time, enabling agencies to progressively move from human-in-the-loop to human-on-the-loop operations as confidence grows.

"Federal agencies don't need another promise of what AI could do for security — they need proven technology that can operate at mission scale, with the governance and controls government demands," said Ofer Smadari, CEO of Torq. "The Torq AI SOC Platform was built for this moment. It brings agentic AI to the full security operations lifecycle, enabling teams to investigate and respond at machine speed while keeping humans in control. With an enterprise-proven platform and a clear path to FedRAMP authorization, Torq is ready to bring the power of the AI SOC to the federal market. Merlin knows how to turn breakthrough technology into mission-ready capability, and we're excited to work together to make agentic security operations a reality across government."

The Emerging Government Imperative for the SOC

The partnership addresses a growing gap federal agencies are being pushed to close. In March 2026, the White House released President Trump's Cyber Strategy for America, directing federal agencies to adopt AI-powered cybersecurity solutions to defend federal networks and deter intrusions at scale. In June 2026, CISA's Binding Operational Directive 26-04 compressed remediation windows for the highest-risk vulnerabilities to as little as three days, a response to how far AI has narrowed the gap between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation. Legacy SIEM and SOAR tools, and the shrinking pool of analysts who operate them, were not built for that pace. Agentic AI has already moved past pilot stage in the commercial sector; the federal government now needs the same capability delivered through a compliant path.

"AI is accelerating vulnerability discovery and rapidly compressing the time from discovery to exploitation. Federal security teams need to operate at the same speed," said Robert Costello, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Merlin. "Torq significantly closes that gap by automating triage, investigation, and response action, helping defenders act faster across increasingly complex environments. Merlin is supporting Torq through its FedRAMP journey, and I'm equally excited to bring the platform into our own SOC and experience it firsthand."

The partnership builds on Merlin Ventures' investment in Torq, announced as part of the company's $140 million Series D round earlier this year, and will help Torq rapidly scale the Torq AI SOC Platform to protect the nation's most critical infrastructure.

Merlin and Torq will both be exhibiting at the Billington Cybersecurity Summit in Washington, D.C., September 8–10, 2026. Visit Merlin at Booth #308 and Torq at Booth #317 to learn more about their partnership and see a demo in-person.

Want to see Torq in action? Contact the Merlin Labs team here to learn more: https://www.merlincyber.com/soc-modernization.

About Merlin

For nearly 30 years, Merlin has accelerated pathways for leading technology providers into mission-critical public sector markets. Combining deep government expertise with technical validation, compliance acceleration, and market access, Merlin transforms promising technologies into mission-ready solutions that help government agencies identify and address their most critical security challenges. Learn more at www.merlincyber.com.

About Torq

Torq is transforming cybersecurity with the Torq AI SOC Platform. Torq empowers enterprises to instantly and precisely triage, investigate, and respond to security events at scale. Torq's customer base includes major multinational enterprises such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Lego, Lowe's, Macy's, Marriott, Procter & Gamble, Prudential, Siemens, Telefónica, Uber, Valvoline, Virgin Atlantic, and Wiz.

Media Contact:

Katherine Benfield

ICR for Merlin

[email protected] 

SOURCE Merlin Group

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Three in Four Believe Fear of Exposure Keeps People from Seeking Substance Use Treatment, Inova Survey Finds

Inova's 8th Annual Act on Addiction Survey Finds Most People Don't Know Addiction Is a Brain Disorder — A Knowledge Gap the Health System Aims to Help Close at a Free Community Event This October

FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Inova Health released new data revealing fear and stigma remain top barriers preventing those in need from seeking treatment for substance use disorder. Three in four respondents to the Act on Addiction 2026 survey cited fear of exposure as a reason someone experiencing substance use may not seek care. The survey included more than 500 Northern Virginia adults.

The data also points to a specific opportunity for change: few people realize that substance use is considered a brain disorder, which causes functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control — changes that can make substance use compulsive and often last long after someone has stopped taking drugs. Less than 20% of survey respondents were familiar with this concept, yet nearly 9 out of 10 believe raising awareness of addiction as a brain disorder would reduce stigma in their community.

The survey is part of Inova's annual Act on Addiction Campaign, which aims to spark meaningful dialogue around substance use, reduce stigma, and highlight the profound impact addiction has on families and communities.

Fear and stigma are among several factors that can leave substance use disorder untreated, and the consequences extend well beyond Northern Virginia. In 2022, 75% of people nationwide who needed treatment — more than 40 million people — did not receive it. In Virginia, only 30.7% of people who died from an overdose in 2024 had ever received treatment for a mental health or substance use disorder, according to the CDC.

"Having a supportive community and readily accessible resources can make a meaningful difference for someone seeking treatment for substance use disorder," said Marquitta Duvernay, DHA, Senior Director, Ambulatory CATS and Recovery Services, Inova Health System. "That's why we're committed to addressing the persistent stigmas in our region revealed by the survey — to ensure Northern Virginians in need feel safe, supported, and cared for."

Less than half of respondents (48%) believed people in their community would be supportive if someone openly shared details about their recovery journey. That confidence was even lower among women (44%), Black respondents (45%), Hispanic respondents (47%) and rural Virginians (43%) — a gap that signals specific communities where outreach and trust-building efforts may need to be strengthened.

Greater understanding of addiction can help counter harmful stereotypes, reduce discomfort around people in recovery, and build support for science-backed public health policies and initiatives, according to the Addiction Policy Forum.

"These findings reveal a clear opportunity for education," said Tracy Hitt Millar, daughter of Joan and Russell Hitt and a representative of the Hitt family's ongoing partnership with Inova on the Act on Addiction campaign. "It is an honor to partner with Inova and support the Act on Addiction campaign again. By closing knowledge gaps and encouraging open dialogue, we can help more people access treatment sooner."

First launched in 2019, the Act on Addiction campaign was created as part of a $16 million gift from the Hitt family to the Inova Health Foundation to provide more resources for those dealing with addiction and to drive community dialogue around the issue within the Northern Virginia area. This year, the campaign is focused on raising awareness of substance use as a brain disorder and equipping families, friends, and others with the resources and knowledge they need to support those they know and love who are experiencing addiction.

Act on Addiction Community Education Event As part of this commitment, Inova is bringing the community together for Connection Changes the Brain: Rethinking Addiction and Recovery. Members of the Northern Virginia Community are invited to join, and participate, in meaningful dialogue with leading experts around substance use and how we can work together to combat the stigma that shields solutions

- When: Tuesday, October 6, 6–8 p.m.

- Where: Inova Center for Personalized Health, 8100 Innovation Park Drive, Fairfax

- What: Attendees will learn about local substance use and recovery resources and how greater awareness can help reduce stigma

Whether for yourself, a loved one, a friend or a neighbor, you have the power to Act on Addiction Now. To learn more and register for the event, visit ActOnAddictionNow.org.

About Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia's leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova's 22,000 team members provide more than 2 million patient visits each year through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services, and destination institutes.

Inova's five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. News & World Report, and The Leapfrog Group for excellence in healthcare. Inova is home to Northern Virginia's only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,926 licensed beds. More information about Inova can be found at inova.org.

Media Contacts

Tracy Connell

Inova

703-289-2087

[email protected]

Bethany Grassley

BRG Communications

703-739-8346

[email protected]

SOURCE Inova

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SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INTS) ("Intensity" or "the Company"), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel intratumoral cancer therapies that are designed to kill tumors and increase immune system recognition of cancers using its proprietary non-covalent conjugation technology, announces that it will participate in the H.C. Wainwright 28th Annual Global Investment Conference. The conference is being held on September 14 – 16, 2026 at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.

A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Intensity Therapeutics website. A replay of the webcast will be archived and available following the event for approximately 90 days.

Mr. Lewis H. Bender, Intensity Therapeutics President and Chief Executive Officer will be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the conference. To request a meeting and to register for the conference, click below:

https://hcwevents.com/annualconference/

About INT230-6

INT230-6, Intensity's lead proprietary investigational product candidate, is designed for direct intratumoral injection. INT230-6 was discovered using Intensity's proprietary DfuseRx℠ technology platform. The drug consists of two proven, potent anti-cancer agents, cisplatin and vinblastine sulfate, and a diffusion and cell penetration enhancer molecule ("SHAO") that non-covalently conjugates to the two payload drugs, facilitating the dispersion of potent cytotoxic drugs throughout tumors and allowing the active agents to diffuse into cancer cells. These agents remain in the tumor, resulting in a favorable safety profile. In addition to local disease control and direct tumor killing, INT230-6 causes a release of a bolus of neoantigens specific to the malignancy, leading to immune system engagement and systemic anti-tumor effects. Importantly, these effects are mediated without immunosuppression, which often occurs with systemic chemotherapy.

About Intensity Therapeutics

Intensity is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company whose novel engineered chemistry enables aqueous cytotoxic-containing drug formulations to mix and saturate a tumor's dense, high-fat, pressurized environment following direct intratumoral injection. As a result of the saturation, Intensity's clinical trials have demonstrated the ability of INT230-6 to kill tumors and elicit an adaptive immune response within days of injection, representing a new approach to cancer cell death that holds the potential to shift the treatment paradigm and turn many deadly cancers into chronic diseases, even for malignancies that do not respond to conventional immunotherapy. Intensity has completed two clinical studies that enrolled over 200 patients using INT230-6: a Phase 1/2 dose-escalation study in metastatic cancers including sarcomas (NCT03058289), and a Phase 2 randomized controlled clinical trial in locally advanced breast cancer (the "INVINCIBLE-2 Study") (NCT04781725) in women without undergoing chemotherapy prior to their surgery. The Company initiated a Phase 3 trial in soft tissue sarcoma (the "INVINCIBLE-3 Study") (NCT06263231), testing INT230-6 as second- or third-line monotherapy compared with SOC, with overall survival as an endpoint. Intensity also initiated a Phase 2 study in collaboration with The Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research, formerly SAKK and now the Swiss Cancer Institute (the "INVINCIBLE-4 Study") (NCT06358573), as part of a Phase 2/3 program evaluating INT230-6 followed by SOC immunochemotherapy and SOC alone for patients with presurgical triple-negative breast cancer. pCR is the endpoint. For more information about Intensity, including publications, papers, and posters about its novel approach to cancer therapeutics, visit www.intensitytherapeutics.com or review our SEC filings.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Company's expected future plans, cash runway, development activities, projected milestones, business activities or results. When or if used in this communication, the words "may," "could," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict" and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to the Company or its management, may identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's current expectations and projections about future events. Nevertheless, actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, and expectations disclosed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: the initiation, timing, progress and results of future preclinical studies and clinical trials and research and development programs; the need to raise additional funding before the Company can expect to generate any revenues from product sales; plans to develop and commercialize product candidates; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals; the ability of the Company's research to generate and advance additional product candidates; the risk that product candidates that appear promising in early research and clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in larger-scale or later clinical trials; the implementation of the Company's business model, strategic plans for the Company's business, product candidates and technology; commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of the Company's system; the Company's competitive position; the Company's intellectual property position; developments and projections relating to the Company's competitors and its industry; the Company's ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional funding; expectations related to the use of cash and cash equivalents and investments; our potential inability to satisfy the Nasdaq Capital Market's requirements for continued listing and be subject to delisting; estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and in the Company's subsequent SEC filings, which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. The Company does not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Justin Kulik

CORE IR

[email protected](516) 222-2560

Media Contact:

Matt Cossel

CORE IR

[email protected] 

SOURCE Intensity Therapeutics Inc.

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Bausch Health and YUN Announce Expansion to Mexico and Across Additional EMEA Markets

Collaboration expands access to science-led, microbiome-friendly skincare solutions in Mexico and across new markets in EMEA, including launches in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.

LAVAL, QC, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE: BHC)(TSX: BHC), a global, diversified pharmaceutical company, and YUN, a Belgian innovator in pioneering probiotherapeutical skincare products, announced the continued expansion of their strategic collaboration in Mexico and across additional EMEA markets following the 2025 launch in Poland.

The expansion includes both portfolio and geographic growth in recent months. In Poland, Bausch Health expanded its dermatology portfolio to include YUN's eczema-prone skincare solutions, building on last year's launch of YUN's probiotic-based skincare solutions for acne-prone skin. Geographic expansion has included launches of YUN's acne- and eczema-prone skincare solutions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, along with the introduction of YUN's skincare solutions in Mexico. The rollout is expected to continue in Kazakhstan in October 2026. This next phase of the collaboration reflects both companies' shared ambition to expand access to science-led, microbiome-friendly skincare solutions across EMEA and select international growth markets.

"Following our collaboration in Poland, YUN has entered and is continuing to enter additional markets as part of our broader EMEA growth strategy," said Cees Heiman, Senior Vice President, Europe & Canada, Bausch Health. "These launches reflect our commitment to bringing differentiated, science-based healthcare and skincare solutions to patients and consumers across the region. EMEA remains a strategically important geography for Bausch Health, and we see strong potential for YUN's microbiome-focused approach in markets such as Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Kazakhstan."

"Bringing YUN to Mexico expands our dermatology portfolio with skincare solutions grounded in microbiome science," said Fernando Zarate, Vice President, Latin America, Bausch Health. "This launch reflects our focus on identifying differentiated products that address evolving skincare needs and broaden access to innovative dermatology offerings in the Mexican market."

"We are proud to deepen our collaboration with Bausch Health and to see YUN entering additional international markets," said Tom Verlinden, CEO and Founder of YUN. "Our mission is to harness microbiome science through YUN Probiotherapy™, creating effective, natural and scientifically grounded solutions that respect the body's own balance. Expanding into Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, and Mexico allows us to bring that mission to more people together with a partner that combines scale, credibility and strong regional execution."

YUN has developed YUN Probiotherapy™, a proprietary microbiome technology platform enabling the stable use of live probiotics in skincare formulations designed to support the skin's natural ecosystem. Through this expanded partnership, Bausch Health and YUN are strengthening the brand's presence across selected EMEA markets and Mexico while increasing access to innovative probiotherapeutical skincare solutions.

About YUN

YUN is a Belgian biotech company pioneering a new approach to everyday care through microbiome science. Founded in 2016, YUN developed the patented YUN Probiotherapy™ technology platform, combining live probiotics with pre- and postbiotics and microbiome-friendly formulations designed to respect and support the skin's natural microbiome. With innovations across dermatological, oral, baby, intimate, and ear care, YUN delivers science- and quality-driven, nature-powered solutions for patients and consumers, today and for generations to come. For more info about YUN, visit our site www.yun-probiotherapy.com or follow us on Linkedin.

About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC) is a global, diversified pharmaceutical company enriching lives through our relentless drive to deliver better health care outcomes. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neuroscience, dermatology, dentistry, aesthetics, international pharmaceuticals and eye health, through our controlling interest in Bausch + Lomb Corporation. Our ambition is to be a globally integrated healthcare company, trusted and valued by patients, HCPs, employees and investors. For more information about Bausch Health, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Safe Harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words "will," "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "subject to" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance, are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Bausch Health's overall business, including those more fully described in Bausch Health's most recent annual and quarterly reports and detailed from time to time in Bausch Health's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events, information or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

Investor Contact:

Garen Sarafian 

[email protected]

(877) 281-6642 (toll free) 

Media Contact: 

Katie Savastano

[email protected]

(908) 569-3692

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.

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- Abbott's TactiFlex™ Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled™ combines pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency (RF) energy in a single catheter to treat complex atrial fibrillation (AFib) cases

- Strong clinical evidence demonstrates the device's high rates of safety and effectiveness in treating AFib patients

- FDA approval of TactiFlex Duo strengthens Abbott's expanding PFA portfolio following recent cardiac ablation approvals in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott, the global healthcare leader, announced today it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the TactiFlex™ Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled™ to treat patients with challenging cases of atrial fibrillation (AFib). The U.S. approval of this dual-energy catheter, the latest generation of Abbott's cardiac ablation technology, marks a significant milestone in Abbott's commitment to advancing therapies that help physicians treat complex heart rhythms with greater precision and flexibility. Abbott will soon begin cases with broader commercial adoption across the country in the coming weeks.

Why cardiac ablation matters for people with AFib

For the 10.5 million people in the U.S. who live with a heart that beats too fast, too slow or in an irregular way, treatment is critical as AFib increases the risk of serious complications, including stroke.1,2 While many people are treated with medications, others require cardiac ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that targets the tissue responsible for abnormal electrical signals in the heart.

TactiFlex Duo is Abbott's latest ablation catheter designed to give physicians more flexibility when treating AFib. The technology allows physicians to use pulsed field ablation (PFA), radiofrequency (RF) energy, or a combination of both during a procedure, helping them tailor treatment to each patient's needs. Abbott's EnSite™ X EP System also provides physicians with real-time feedback as an integrated mapping solution with the PFA Index (PI), a tool designed to assess lesion formation during ablation with TactiFlex Duo. The dual-energy approach means physicians can create precise therapeutic lesions, or small areas of scar tissue, that block the abnormal electrical signals causing an irregular heartbeat while helping minimize the impact on surrounding healthy tissue. Successfully treating these areas can help restore the heart's normal rhythm and improve outcomes for patients living with AFib.

"Electrophysiology is rapidly evolving as physicians adopt new technologies that improve the safety and effectiveness of AFib treatment," said Atul Verma, M.D., Director of Cardiology at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, and a globally recognized expert in pulsed field ablation technology. "TactiFlex Duo provides physicians with greater flexibility during procedures, and when it is combined with the high-resolution 3D visualization available through Abbott's EnSite X mapping system, physicians have a suite of practice-changing tools to confidently treat patients with complex AFib."

Safety and effectiveness data support TactiFlex Duo FDA approval  

The FDA approval of TactiFlex Duo was secured based on the results from Abbott's FlexPulse IDE study. Late-breaking data from the study recently presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026, which was simultaneously published in EP Europace, showed favorable safety and effectiveness outcomes in patients with paroxysmal AFib (irregular heart rhythm episodes that come and go).

"TactiFlex Duo represents an important advancement as Abbott builds the industry's most comprehensive electrophysiology portfolio," said Uri Yaron, senior vice president of Abbott's electrophysiology business. "From diagnosis, mapping and intracardiac ultrasound imaging to advanced treatments for the most complex arrhythmias, Abbott is uniquely positioned to support physicians at every stage of patient care. By continuing to expand our PFA portfolio and integrate innovative technologies across cardiovascular care, we're helping physicians navigate increasingly complex procedures while ensuring more patients receive the right care at the right time."

Regulatory momentum across Abbott's PFA portfolio

The U.S. FDA approval of TactiFlex Duo further expands Abbott's portfolio of technologies designed to help physicians treat patients with cardiac arrhythmias. It is the company's fifth major electrophysiology approval in just over a year, following Europe's Amulet 360™ and TactiFlex Duo CE Mark approvals this year, and U.S. and European approvals of the Volt™ PFA System in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TactiFlex Duo?

TactiFlex Duo is an advanced cardiac ablation catheter designed to treat irregular heart rhythms. Its dual-energy feature combines pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency (RF) energy in a single device, allowing physicians to tailor treatment to each patient's unique needs during AFib ablation procedures.  

How do physicians know the precise locations in the heart to treat patients with TactiFlex Duo?  

TactiFlex Duo is integrated with Abbott's EnSite X EP System, a sophisticated mapping system that creates highly detailed three-dimensional maps of the heart to help doctors find and treat the source of an irregular heartbeat. Working together with Abbott's Advisor™ HD Grid X mapping catheter, ViewFlex™X ICE (intracardiac echocardiography) catheter and EnSite Echo Module, the integrated portfolio is designed to give physicians real-time images of the ablation catheter's positioning and movement, and a digital model of the patient's heart throughout a procedure. The EnSite X EP System also provides physicians with real-time information – called PFA index – which shows how the small areas of scar tissue created by TactiFlex Duo's pulsed field energy develop during an ablation procedure.3 

Who may need an ablation using TactiFlex Duo?

Patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly those with complex anatomy, prior or failed ablations or other challenging clinical situations, may benefit from treatment with TactiFlex Duo as determined by their physician. 

What are the patient benefits of being treated with TactiFlex Duo?

The catheter offers physicians greater procedural flexibility and precision through dual-energy capabilities, helping treat irregular heart rhythms while reducing the potential for damage to surrounding tissue. Clinical data has shown the technology to be safe and effective.

For U.S. important safety information go to:

TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled

Advisor HD Grid X Mapping Catheter, Sensor Enabled™

ViewFlex X ICE Catheter, Sensor Enabled™ and EnSite Echo Module

The Amulet 360™ Left Atrial Appendage Occluder is approved for investigational use only in the U.S.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic 3 medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

SOURCE Abbott

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