Barnes Grp - B STOCK NEWS

BioArctic AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: BIOA B) announced that its partner Eisai has achieved the first sales milestone for Leqembi®, reaching €200 million in sales during Eisai's fiscal year 2024 (April 2024 - March 2025). This achievement triggers a €10 million milestone payment to BioArctic.

Leqembi, an antibody developed through collaboration between BioArctic and Eisai, originated from Professor Lars Lannfelt's research on the Arctic mutation in Alzheimer's disease. While Eisai manages clinical development, market approval applications, and global commercialization, BioArctic retains rights to commercialize Leqembi in the Nordic region jointly with Eisai, with preparations for regional commercialization currently underway.

SDI Presence has announced a strategic partnership with Hexagon's Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division to enhance the deployment of public safety dispatching and communication solutions. The collaboration formalizes a decades-long relationship between the companies, focusing on implementing Hexagon's computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems for emergency response agencies across North America.

SDI will provide implementation, technical support, GIS development, and business analysis services for Hexagon's solutions. The partnership aims to improve emergency response times and situational awareness for first responders. SDI's team includes certified experts in Hexagon technologies and PMI-certified professionals, positioning them as an authorized partner in configuring and optimizing Hexagon's solutions.

ETQ, a Hexagon company, marked significant achievements in Q4 2024, strengthening its position in quality management systems (QMS). The company launched its ETQ Reliance Predictive Quality Analytics solution, powered by AI technology from Acerta Analytics, enabling automated early detection and proactive resolution of manufacturing quality issues.

The quarter saw notable customer expansion across various sectors including heavy industry, manufacturing, food & beverage, electronics, life sciences, and aerospace. New clients included Bray International, CoreWeave, and Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, while existing customers like Cosmo Pharmaceuticals and Keurig Dr Pepper expanded their ETQ Reliance implementation.

ETQ hosted its 2024 ETQ Reliance Customer Conference in Dallas, featuring presentations from leading brands like Hitachi Energy and Kimberly-Clark. The company also conducted its Innovation Excellence Awards, with RR Donnelley winning for improving environmental health & safety performance through ETQ Reliance.

Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRD-A and CRD-B) has announced its quarterly dividend declaration following the Board of Directors meeting on February 6, 2025. The company will distribute a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share for both Class A and Class B Common Stock. The dividend will be paid on March 7, 2025, to shareholders who are recorded as stockholders as of the close of business on February 24, 2025.

BioArctic AB (BIOA B) announced that the European Commission has requested the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) to address two additional questions regarding lecanemab, their early Alzheimer's disease treatment. Despite receiving a positive CHMP opinion in November 2024, the EC needs clarification on safety information that emerged after the opinion and the clarity of risk minimization measures.

The questions will be discussed at the February 2025 CHMP meeting before a final EC decision. Importantly, the safety profile of lecanemab in clinical practice in the US, Japan, and other markets remains consistent with approved labels, with no new safety signals identified. Eisai, BioArctic's partner, believes existing information is sufficient to address the EC's concerns.

Leqembi, developed through collaboration between BioArctic and Eisai, originated from Professor Lars Lannfelt's research on the Arctic mutation in Alzheimer's disease. While Eisai leads clinical development and commercialization, BioArctic maintains Nordic region commercialization rights alongside Eisai.

Barnes Group (NYSE: B) has completed its previously announced acquisition by Apollo Funds in an all-cash transaction with a total enterprise value of approximately $3.6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Barnes shareholders will receive $47.50 per share in cash.

The transaction, announced on October 7, 2024, and approved by Barnes shareholders on January 9, 2025, marks a significant milestone for the global provider of engineered products and industrial technologies. Following the completion, Barnes' common stock has ceased trading and will be delisted from the NYSE.

The acquisition aims to accelerate Barnes' transformation strategy, enhance capabilities, and broaden product offerings. Apollo sees significant potential in Barnes' aerospace and industrial sectors portfolio, particularly noting the company's positioning to benefit from robust aerospace demand trends.

BioArctic AB announced FDA approval for a new maintenance dosing schedule of Leqembi for early Alzheimer's disease treatment. Patients who complete the 18-month biweekly initiation phase can now transition to a once-every-four-weeks 10 mg/kg dosing regimen.

Clinical data demonstrates the importance of continuous treatment, as discontinuation leads to brain amyloid reaccumulation and reversion to placebo-rate decline. Three-year bi-weekly treatment data showed Leqembi reduced cognitive decline by -0.95 compared to a matched natural history cohort, more than double the 18-month result (-0.45).

Leqembi works by clearing amyloid-beta plaque and toxic protofibrils. The drug is already approved in the US, Japan, China, Great Britain, and received CHMP positive opinion for European approval. A subcutaneous autoinjector version is under FDA review with a PDUFA date of August 31, 2025.

BioArctic AB announced that the FDA has accepted their partner Eisai's Biologics License Application (BLA) for Leqembi subcutaneous autoinjector (SC-AI) for weekly maintenance dosing. The PDUFA action date is set for August 31, 2025.

Leqembi, indicated for early Alzheimer's disease treatment, could become the only FDA-approved anti-amyloid therapy offering convenient subcutaneous injection with at-home administration. The SC-AI 360 mg weekly maintenance regimen, following the biweekly intravenous initiation phase, is designed to maintain clinical and biomarker benefits with a 15-second injection process.

The treatment is already approved in the US, Japan, China, Great Britain, and received a positive CHMP opinion from EMA in November 2024. This new delivery method could reduce hospital visits and simplify the treatment pathway for Alzheimer's patients.

Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE: B) shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the company's acquisition by Apollo Global Management's funds at a Special Meeting of Shareholders. The transaction will see shareholders receive $47.50 per share in cash. The vote garnered approximately 99% approval from total shares voted, representing about 80% of Barnes' outstanding common stock.

The deal is expected to close before the end of Q1 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. CEO Thomas Hook expressed optimism about the partnership with Apollo, highlighting plans to accelerate transformation strategy, enhance capabilities, and increase innovation investment to better serve customers in aerospace and industrial sectors.