Data protection watchdog warns against ‘immature’ biometric technology October 26, 2022 The UK’s data protection watchdog has warned against businesses using “immature” technology to measure biometrics, saying the risks currently outweigh the benefits. Emotional analysis technologies process data such as gaze tracking, facial movements, heartbeats, facial expressions and skin moisture. Financial services firms often use this technology in their facial recognition practices to verify identities through [...]
Peloton lures CEO back from retirement with £145m package despite tumbling market value October 26, 2022 Peloton lured chief exec Barry McCarthy out of retirement with a handsome package worth $168m (£145m), making him one of the highest-paid bosses in the US. McCarthy, who previously served as chief of finance at both Spotify and Netflix, replaced Peloton co-founder John Foley as CEO of the fitness company back in February. McCarthy is often credited [...]
Investors eye MGC Pharma’s Long Covid drug following positive trial October 26, 2022 Medicinal cannabis company MGC Pharmaceutical caught the eyes of investors yesterday, following positive results from a clinical study of its Long Covid drug. The London-listed bio-pharma firm tested its drug Artemic Support on 60 Covid-19 vaccinated patients suffering from Long Covid. Patients who were administered the drug twice a day for six weeks showed “significant [...]
Elon Musk’s $44bn Twitter takeover to close on Friday October 25, 2022 Elon Musk’s contested $44bn bid for Twitter could reportedly close as soon as Friday. Musk, currently the world’s richest man, is reported to have promised bankers on a video call that the deal would be wrapped up before the end of the week, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Equity investors, including Sequoia [...]
AstraZeneca asthma drug misses key marker in late-stage trial October 25, 2022 AstraZeneca’s asthma drug failed to significantly improve difficulties swallowing in a late-stage trial, the pharmaceutical giant announced today. The drug, called Fasenra, met just one of two main goals of a stage III study assessing the treatment’s benefits in a chronic allergic condition that causes difficulty in swallowing. The condition, eosinophilic esophagitis, is characterised by [...]
DeepVerge overhauls leadership team as it hunts for emergency cash October 25, 2022 Listed life sciences firm Deepverge announced it would completely refresh its leadership team today as it scrambles to raise emergency cash.
Govt drags feet with new digital markets bill October 25, 2022 A new report by MPs on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has called on the Government to push forward with a draft Digital Markets Bill that would allow regulators to take a more proactive approach to curbing big tech dominance. The bill would enshrine the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Digital Markets Unit (DMU) [...]
Beauty parade? Dyson to invest half a billion in expanding grooming offering October 25, 2022 Engineering giant Dyson is set to invest half a billion into expanding its range of beauty products, as the technology and beauty industries converge. The British company’s Airwrap hairstyler, which has graced the beauty tables of most internet influencers, has been a best-seller for several years now. And has prompted popular ‘dupes’ from the likes of Revolution [...]
Immersive Gamebox inks £80m worth of franchise deals as ex-PizzaHut chief steps in October 25, 2022 London gaming platform group Immersive Gamebox has inked nearly £80m worth of franchise deals over the next three years. The deals will see the company, which has bases in London Southbank and Wandsworth, expand to more than 250 locations. The company has recently appointed a new chief operating officer, former Pizza Hut and BrewDog executive [...]
Watchdog eyes Big Tech push into UK financial services sector October 25, 2022 The presence of Big Tech in the UK’s financial services market has caught the eyes of the regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking views on the possible competition harms and benefits of the Big Tech push into financial services sectors and the infrastructure on which it is based. Sheldon Mills, executive director of [...]