Anta sports takes Puma stake; Cisco Webex update

7. Oct 2026

(AWP Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by global companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Cisco Systems Inc - San Jose, California-based technology company - Unveils a new version of its Webex conferencing platform that enables integration with AI agents. "The next era of work isn't about bolting chatbots onto yesterday's tools," says Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel. "It's about AI agents working alongside people and teams, being deeply embedded in their workspaces, and collaborating on a secure, trusted foundation. When people and agents share the same context, work keeps moving and every customer relationship gets stronger." Cisco also introduces RoomOS 27, an operating system for collaboration devices "built for a new era of AI in physical spaces".

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Puma SE - Herzogenaurach, Germany-based maker of athletic apparel and footwear - Anta Sports Products Ltd becomes its largest shareholder following its acquisition of the 29.06% stake held by Artemis SAS for EUR1.5 billion in cash. Puma acknowledged the deal back in January. Anta is the owner of brands such as Fila and Jack Wolfskin. Artemis is the holding company of the Pinault family, which also owns 42.3% of Kering SA. At the time, Deutsche Bank noted the deal implies a EUR5.2 billion market capitalisation for Puma and represents a more than 60% premium to its EUR21.63 closing price on January 26. "We welcome Anta Sports as Puma's largest shareholder and view its long-term commitment as a strong vote of confidence in our strategy, our management team and our future," says Puma Chief Executive Arthur Hoeld. "We look forward to building a fruitful partnership and exploring areas where our respective strengths can create sustainable value for PUMA and its shareholders on our journey to become a top 3 global sports brand."

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Pfizer Inc - New York-based drugmaker - US Food & Drug Administration approves Tukysa, generically named tucatinib, in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab for the maintenance treatment of adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2-positive breast cancer following induction treatment. "The approval expands the use of Tukysa to frontline, an earlier stage of metastatic disease, offering a new chemotherapy-free maintenance treatment option that may help further delay disease progression," Pfizer says. The decision is based on data from the HER2CLIMB-05 Phase 3 Trial. Meets primary endpoint as median investigator-assessed progression-free survival for patients in the Tukysa arm was 24.9 months compared to 16.3 months in the placebo arm.

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Aurubis AG - Hamburg, Germany-based non-ferrous metals supplier and copper recycler - Announces the construction of highly automated facility for pre-processing metal-bearing intermediates in Hamburg, scheduled for completion in 2028. Says the site will enable it to more efficiently pre-process the intermediates through automated separation, sorting and sampling. Adds: "The investment will enhance the distinction between different metal phases, improve their valuation, and optimize material and process control. This will contribute to the site's future earnings while setting the stage for additional potential investments in the smelter network." This follows the commissioning of its complex recycling site in Hamburg in July.

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Fresenius Medical Care AG - Bad Homburg, Germany-based provider of kidney dialysis services - Names Shervin Korangy as CEO, replacing Helen Giza. Giza served as CEO for four years, following three years as finance chief. Korangy was most recently CEO of US-based surgical eyecare provider BVI Medical. He has served on the supervisory board since 2023. Says under Giza's leadership, it has successfully optimized its portfolio and implemented its transformation program, "reshaping its organization, streamlining processes and reducing its cost base by around EUR1.2 billion." Adds: "These measures have made the company more efficient, profitable and resilient, providing a strong foundation for its next phase. Building on this foundation, FME will focus on accelerating long-term profitable growth, advancing innovation, strengthening its market leadership and creating sustainable value for patients, customers and shareholders."

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Novartis AG - Basel, Switzerland-based drugmaker - US Food & Drug Administration approves Rhapsido, generically named remibrutinib, as the first treatment for adults with symptomatic dermographism inadequately controlled by H1 antihistamines. "The approval represents an important advancement for people whose chronic hives and itch can be triggered by everyday skin friction, scratching, or rubbing," Novartis says. The FDA approval is based on data from the SD cohort of the Phase III RemIND clinical trial in patients who remained symptomatic on second-generation H1 antihistamines. Data show Rhapsido demonstrates higher rates of complete response from hives compared to placebo as measured by the Total Fric Score. At Week 12, significantly more patients treated with Rhapsido, 29.3%, versus placebo, 14.0%, achieved complete response from hives, with responses seen as early as Week 2, Novartis says. Notes Rhapsido has demonstrated a consistent safety profile in clinical trials up to Week 24.

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By Aidan Lane, Alliance News reporter

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