Treatment with PALYNZIQ led to statistically significant blood phenylalanine (Phe) lowering compared to diet alone in pivotal Phase 3 PEGASUS study

PALYNZIQ is the only enzyme substitution therapy approved for the treatment of people with PKU

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for PALYNZIQ® (pegvaliase-pqpz) to include pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU). PALYNZIQ is the only enzyme substitution therapy approved to reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations in people with PKU.

“Adolescence is a period of increasing independence and academic demands, and represents a particularly challenging time for individuals with PKU. The ultra-restrictive diet required for PKU management may become unsustainable, and poor blood Phe control leads to adverse neurocognitive outcomes. PALYNZIQ is the only genotype-independent medication which may bring Phe into the normal range while allowing an unrestricted diet,” said Stephanie Sacharow, M.D., Director, Dr. Harvey Levy Program for PKU and Related Conditions, Boston Children’s Hospital. “In my clinic we have found that PALYNZIQ treatment adherence is even more successful in teens under age 18, while they are living at home with family support, and this approval allows us to extend this therapeutic option to adolescents who may benefit most.” 

The FDA approval is based on data from PEGASUS, a Phase 3 multi-center open-label randomized controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of PALYNZIQ compared to diet alone in adolescents aged 12 to <18 with PKU who had uncontrolled blood Phe concentrations greater than 600 µmol/L on existing management. Individuals in the PALYNZIQ arm showed a significant mean reduction from baseline in blood Phe levels at Week 72 compared to those in the diet only arm (Table 1).

Table 1: Change from Baseline in Blood Phe Level (by μmol/L) Among Randomized
Participants in PEGASUS

Study Visit

PALYNZIQ

Diet Only

Baseline

N = 36

N = 19

  Mean (standard deviation [SD])

1025 (254)

1029 (199)

Week 72

N = 32

N = 17

     Mean (SD)

567 (396)

973 (234)

Mean (SD; min, max) Change at Week 72

-473 (285; -22, -1133)

-19 (249; 355, -634)

  Treatment Difference (95% CI)

-409 (-579, -240)

“Today’s FDA approval for PALYNZIQ is an important step forward for the PKU community, providing a new option for adolescents ages 12 and older that has the potential to improve daily PKU management,” said Catherine Warren, Executive Director of the National PKU Alliance. “Adolescence is a time of major change for people living with PKU, and having PALYNZIQ available better sets teenagers up for success with managing their blood phenylalanine levels as they navigate the transition into adulthood.”

As was recently presented at the 15th International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, by the end of Part 1 almost half of participants (44.4%) reached levels below guideline recommendations. Of those individuals, 75% were below 120 µmol/L and their average Phe reduction was 828 µmol/L (94% reduction in blood Phe from baseline). Nine participants whose blood Phe levels were below 30 µmol/L (hypophenylalaninemia) were able to increase their intact protein intake by 318.1% from baseline (SD=195.4; min=1.42, max=542.5) and decrease their intake of medical food protein by 55.16% (SD=56.4; min=-100, max=60.3); six individuals discontinued medical food completely.

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) with PALYNZIQ in adolescents were injection site reactions, arthralgia, headache, pyrexia, hypersensitivity reactions, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and pain in extremity. As in previous clinical studies, the overall safety profile of PALYNZIQ observed in adolescents showed most reactions occurring in the induction/titration phase and decreasing in frequency during the maintenance phase.

“Over the past two decades, BioMarin has been working hand-in-hand with the medical and advocacy communities to improve the lives of people living with PKU, including introduction of the first two treatment options for this inherited metabolic condition that otherwise requires lifelong adherence to a rigid medical diet,” said Greg Friberg, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Research & Development Officer at BioMarin. “We are proud to build on this legacy by expanding PALYNZIQ’s approval to adolescents as young as age 12, which will allow even more people with PKU the prospect of achieving substantially lower Phe levels.”

The company is also seeking approval from the European Medicines Agency with the goal of expanding treatment with PALYNZIQ to include adolescents as young as age 12 in the European Union.

Dr. Stephanie Sacharow has participated in speaking engagements and served on advisory boards for BioMarin.

About PALYNZIQ

PALYNZIQ substitutes the deficient phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme in PKU with a PEGylated version of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase to break down Phe. PALYNZIQ is administered using a dosing regimen designed to facilitate tolerability; PALYNZIQ’s safety profile consists primarily of immune-mediated responses, which can include anaphylaxis, for which robust risk management measures effective in clinical trials are in place.

See the full Prescribing Information, which includes a Boxed Warning. PALYNZIQ is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the PALYNZIQ REMS, because of the risk of anaphylaxis. Further information, including a list of qualified pharmacies, is available at www.PALYNZIQREMS.com or by telephone 1-855-758-REMS (1-855-758-7367).

PALYNZIQ is approved for the treatment of PKU in more than 35 countries worldwide.

Patient Support Accessing PALYNZIQ

To reach a BioMarin RareConnections® Case Manager, please call, toll-free, 1-866-906-6100 or e-mail support@biomarin-rareconnections.com. For more information about PALYNZIQ, please visit www.palynziq.com. For additional information regarding this product, please contact BioMarin Medical Information at medinfo@bmrn.com.

About Phenylketonuria

PKU, or phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, is a genetic condition affecting approximately 70,000 people in the regions of the world where BioMarin operates. The PAH enzyme is required for the metabolism of Phe, an essential amino acid found in most protein-containing foods. If functional enzyme is not present in sufficient quantities, Phe accumulates to abnormally high levels in the blood and becomes toxic to the brain, resulting in a variety of complications including severe intellectual disability, seizures, tremors, behavioral problems and psychiatric symptoms.

As a result of newborn screening efforts implemented in the 1960s and early 1970s, virtually all individuals with PKU born after this period in countries with newborn screening programs are diagnosed at birth and treatment is implemented soon after.

PKU can be managed with a severe Phe-restricted diet, supplemented by low-protein modified foods and Phe-free medical foods; however, it is difficult for most individuals to adhere to this strict diet to the extent needed to achieve adequate control of blood Phe levels. Dietary control of Phe in childhood can prevent major developmental issues and neurological consequences, but poor Phe control in adolescence and adulthood is associated with a range of neuropsychological deficits and functional impairment.

PALYNZIQ U.S. Indication and Important Safety Information

PALYNZIQ® (pegvaliase-pqpz) is a phenylalanine (Phe)-metabolizing enzyme indicated to reduce blood Phe concentrations in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU) who have uncontrolled blood Phe concentrations greater than 600 micromol/L (10 mg/dL) on existing management.

BOXED WARNING: ANAPHYLAXIS

  • Anaphylaxis has been reported after administration of PALYNZIQ and may occur at any time during treatment.
  • Administer the initial dose of PALYNZIQ under the supervision of a healthcare provider equipped to manage anaphylaxis, and closely observe patients for at least 60 minutes following injection. Prior to self-injection, confirm patient’s and observer’s (if applicable) ability to recognize signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and to administer epinephrine, if needed.
  • Consider having an adult observer for patients who may need assistance in recognizing and managing anaphylaxis during PALYNZIQ treatment. If an adult observer is needed, the observer should be present during and for at least 60 minutes after PALYNZIQ administration, should be able to administer epinephrine, and call for emergency medical support upon its use.
  • Prescribe epinephrine for all patients treated with PALYNZIQ. Prior to the first dose, instruct the patient and observer (if applicable) on its appropriate use. Instruct the patient to seek immediate medical care upon its use. Instruct patients to carry epinephrine with them at all times during PALYNZIQ treatment.
  • PALYNZIQ is available only through a restricted program called PALYNZIQ REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy). Further information, including a list of qualified pharmacies, is available at PALYNZIQREMS.com or by telephone at 1-855-758-REMS (1-855-758-7367).

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Anaphylaxis

  • Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis reported include syncope, hypotension, hypoxia, dyspnea, wheezing, chest discomfort/chest tightness, tachycardia, angioedema (swelling of face, lips, eyes, tongue), throat swelling or tightness, flushed or red skin, rash, urticaria, pruritus, and gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea).
  • Anaphylaxis generally occurred within 1 hour after injection; however, delayed episodes occurred up to 48 hours after PALYNZIQ administration.
  • Consider the risks and benefits of readministering PALYNZIQ following an episode of anaphylaxis. If the decision is made to readminister PALYNZIQ, administer the first dose under the supervision of a healthcare provider equipped to manage anaphylaxis and closely observe the patient for at least 60 minutes following the dose.
  • In clinical trials of primarily adult patients with an induction/titration/maintenance dosage regimen, 29/285 (10%) experienced a total of 42 anaphylaxis episodes.
  • In a clinical trial of patients 12 to less than 18 years of age, 4/36 (11%) of PALYNZIQ-treated patients experienced 1 episode of anaphylaxis.

Other Hypersensitivity Reactions

  • Management of hypersensitivity reactions should be based on the severity of the reaction, recurrence of the reaction, and the clinical judgment of the healthcare provider.
  • In clinical trials of primarily adult patients taking PALYNZIQ, hypersensitivity reactions, other than anaphylaxis, were reported in 204/285 (72%) of patients. In a clinical trial of patients 12 to less than 18 years old taking PALYNZIQ, these reactions were reported in 12 out of 36 (33%) of patients.

Injection Site Infections

  • Serious injection site infections including abscess, cellulitis, necrosis, and ulcer have been reported. Some cases required hospitalization, surgical debridement, intravenous antibiotics, and discontinuation of PALYNZIQ.
  • Provide proper training to patients and/or caregivers on the use of aseptic injection technique, injection site rotation and to check the site for redness, swelling, or tenderness. Instruct patients to contact their healthcare provider if signs or symptoms of an infection develop, persist, or worsen.

Hypophenylalaninemia (HypoPhe)
Some patients have experienced HypoPhe; monitor blood Phe levels periodically during treatment. Frequent blood Phe monitoring is recommended in the pediatric population. For blood Phe concentrations below 30 micromol/L, the dosage of PALYNZIQ may be reduced and/or dietary protein and Phe intake may be modified to maintain blood Phe concentrations within a clinically acceptable range and above 30 micromol/L.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of primarily adult patients (at least 20% in either treatment phase) were injection site reactions, arthralgia, hypersensitivity reactions, headache, generalized skin reactions lasting at least 14 days, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, cough, oropharyngeal pain, pruritus, diarrhea, nasal congestion, fatigue, dizziness, and anxiety.

  • Arthralgia: In clinical trials, 245 out of 285 (86%) primarily adult patients experienced episodes consistent with arthralgia (includes back pain, musculoskeletal pain, pain in extremity, and neck pain).
  • Injection site reactions were reported as early as after the first dose of PALYNZIQ and occurred at any time during treatment.
  • Generalized Skin Reactions: In clinical trials, 134 out of 285 (47%) primarily adult patients treated with PALYNZIQ experienced generalized skin reactions (not limited to the injection site) lasting at least 14 days.
  • Angioedema and serum sickness: In clinical trials, 22 out of 285 (8%) primarily adult patients experienced 45 episodes of angioedema (symptoms included: pharyngeal edema, swollen tongue, lip swelling, mouth swelling, eyelid edema, and face edema) occurring independent of anaphylaxis. In clinical trials, serum sickness was reported in 7 out of 285 (2%) primarily adult patients.

In the clinical trials, adverse reactions were associated with treatment discontinuation, dosage reduction and temporary drug interruption. In the 285 primarily adult patients exposed to PALYNZIQ in an induction/titration/maintenance regimen in clinical trials, 44 (15%) patients discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions.

Pediatric Patients: In a clinical study of 55 patients aged 12 to less than 18 years of age, the most common adverse reactions (at least 20% and greater than in control) were injection site reactions, arthralgia, headache, pyrexia, hypersensitivity reactions, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and pain in extremity. Two patients (5.6%) discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions.

Blood Phenylalanine Monitoring and Diet

  • Obtain blood Phe concentrations every 4 weeks until a maintenance dosage is established. Periodically monitor blood Phe concentrations during maintenance therapy.
  • Counsel patients to monitor dietary protein and Phe intake, and adjust as directed by their healthcare provider.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Effect of PALYNZIQ on Other PEGylated Products

  • In a single-dose study of PALYNZIQ in adult patients with PKU, two patients receiving concomitant injections of medroxyprogesterone acetate suspension (a formulation containing PEG 3350) experienced a hypersensitivity reaction. One of the two patients experienced anaphylaxis
  • The clinical effects of concomitant treatment with different PEGylated products are unknown. Monitor patients treated with PALYNZIQ and concomitantly with other PEGylated products for hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy and Lactation
Available data do not establish an increased risk of adverse developmental outcomes to the fetus exposed to PALYNZIQ.

  • Advise women who are exposed to PALYNZIQ during pregnancy or who become pregnant within one month following the last dose of PALYNZIQ that there is a pregnancy surveillance program that monitors pregnancy outcomes. Healthcare providers should report PALYNZIQ exposure and encourage these patients to report their pregnancy to BioMarin (1-866-906-6100).
  • Monitor blood Phe levels in breastfeeding women treated with PALYNZIQ to ensure maintenance of blood Phe <360 micromol/L. Adjust dosage and/or dietary protein and Phe intake as needed to avoid concentrations below 30 micromol/L.

Pediatric & Geriatric Use: The safety and effectiveness of PALYNZIQ in pediatric patients from birth to less than 12 years have not been established. Clinical studies of PALYNZIQ did not include patients aged 65 years and older.

You are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions to BioMarin at 1-866-906-6100, or to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.

About BioMarin

BioMarin is a leading, global rare disease biotechnology company focused on delivering medicines for people living with genetically defined conditions. Founded in 1997, the San Rafael, California-based company has a proven track record of innovation, with eight commercial therapies and a strong clinical and preclinical pipeline. Using a distinctive approach to drug discovery and development, BioMarin seeks to unleash the full potential of genetic science by pursuing category-defining medicines that have a profound impact on patients. To learn more, please visit www.biomarin.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin), including without limitation, statements about: the approval of BioMarin’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for PALYNZIQ for adolescents 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including the safety profile and potential benefits of PALYNZIQ for adolescents and the potential to fundamentally change the way adolescents manage PKU in their daily lives; BioMarin’s work with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with the goal of expanding treatment with PALYNZIQ to include adolescents as young as age 12 in the European Union; and the continued clinical development of PALYNZIQ. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of PALYNZIQ; any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the patients in the clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA, the EMA, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities, and those factors detailed in BioMarin’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption “Risk Factors” in BioMarin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated by any subsequent filings with the SEC. Investors are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

BioMarin®, BioMarin RareConnections® and PALYNZIQ® are registered trademarks of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Contacts:

Investors                                                                                             

Media

Traci McCarty

Katherine Powell

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.                                                            

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

(415) 455-7558                                                                                    

(415) 827-2968

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SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

AXS EXPANDS TICKETS FOR GOOD PARTNERSHIP TO THE UK, ENABLING MORE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO LIVE EVENTS

  • Following successful U.S. rollout, API integration launches in UK for AXS shows
  • Recipients include NHS workers, teachers, charity workers, volunteers and people most affected by the Cost of Living
  • Globally, TfG has distributed 1 million+ discounted tickets with live event partners and artists including Dua Lipa, Idles, Robbie Williams, Yungblud

SHEFFIELD, England and LOS ANGELES, February 27, 2026 /3BL/ – AXS, a trusted leader in advanced ticketing and live event technology, and Tickets for Good (TfG), the mission-driven ticket distribution platform for live events, have announced the launch of their collaborative API integration in the UK, enabling AXS clients to easily allocate ticket inventory to TfG members – including healthcare workers, teachers, charity workers, volunteers, and others who play vital roles in their communities.

Connecting directly to the Tickets for Good platform and its 620k verified global members, AXS-partnered UK venues, promoters, and artist management teams can seamlessly provide access to the joy of live events for TfG audiences, encompassing NHS workers, teachers, charity workers, volunteers, and people affected by the Cost of Living crisis, while also developing audiences, filling venues, and increasing social impact.

Now available in the UK following a U.S. rollout – with Germany set to launch later in 2026 – this integration enables tickets to be offered with full control retained by promoters over pricing, volumes, and eligibility windows.

Peter Quinlan, Managing Director, Europe, AXS, says: “Launching our collaboration with Tickets for Good in the UK allows our partners to turn unused inventory into meaningful experiences, and we’re proud to help create access for those who already give so much back to our communities. It’s a powerful example of how smart technology can drive both social impact and stronger, more inclusive audiences.”

Steve Rimmer, Founder and CEO of Tickets for Good, comments: “By combining our mission-driven platform with AXS’s reach and flexibility across iconic events, we’re turning great intentions into great experiences. With more of the UK entertainment industry coming on board, we’re building a seamless, tech-enabled pathway that connects thousands of Tickets for Good members with the live events they love.”

TfG has distributed over 1 million tickets across the UK, in partnership with leading ticket retailers, alongside more than 1k event organisers spanning music, theatre, and sport. The platform verifies eligible members and provides a trusted, closed-network environment for event partners to fill venues, grow audiences, and give back to communities.

Following strong growth in the UK and recent expansion into the United States and mainland Europe, Tickets for Good continues work with leading industry partners and investors committed to combining social impact with commercial success. Highlights from 2025 include:

  • Selection for the BPI Innovation and Department for Business and Trade ‘Music Mission to Japan’, participation in their UK House music tech event at SXSW London.
  • Completing a series of successful pilot events for TfG Belgium with full roll-out in Belgium and Germany coming in 2026 Q1.
  • Announcing the appointment of Derek DeVeaux as Global Chief Operating Officer, along with new appointments to its UK office and promotions to global roles.
  • New and returning music-related event partners joining, including Melody Garden, Phoenix Arts Club, Pixies, Robbie Williams, Sherelle, The Roundhouse, The Sun Festival, and Yungblud.
  • TfG Netherlands launched with ambassador Robbie Williams, joined by new TfG ambassador and football legend Edwin van der Sar. Watch the launch video on LinkedIn.
  • UK Government Ministerial Round Table discussion on secondary ticketing participation with Ministers Madders and Minister Bryant, and the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport, Business and Trade.
  • UK Business and Trade for North America spotlight interview, in association with the Department for Business and Trade.

About AXS
AXS is a trusted leader in advanced ticketing and live event technology, providing access to some of the world’s most iconic venues, sports teams, festivals, and global tours. With customised ticketing solutions, innovative technology, and dedicated customer service, AXS partners with over 1,600 of the most recognised brands in sports and entertainment — including the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The O2 Arena, BNP Paribas Open, WM Phoenix Open, and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. AXS’s primary and secondary marketplaces and its proprietary AXS Mobile ID technology deliver the easiest and most secure way for fans to buy, sell, and manage tickets.

About Tickets for Good
Founded in 2019 in Sheffield, England, Tickets for Good (TfG) provides free and heavily discounted tickets to live events, theatre shows, comedy, festivals, and attractions for those doing great things in the community. The platform is open to healthcare staff, charity workers, teachers, and individuals receiving U.K. Government Cost of Living payments, with its registered users now over 600k and 1m tickets processed. The organisation’s core values are rooted in building community, creating measurable impact, and fostering inclusivity, all while maximising access to otherwise unused event tickets for social good. TfG is now used by every major promoter in the U.K. and many across the EU and U.S. markets. The closed-network platform works with top event organisers and supporters, including Comcast SportsTech and Robbie Williams.

With formal recognition from music and tech industries growing, notable Tickets for Good milestones and accolades include:

  • 2020 Tech For Good company – Bethnal Green Ventures accelerator programme.
  • 2022 winner – TheTicketingBusiness Impact Award – TfG NHS Platform.
  • 2023 Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator Programme.
  • 2023 winner – Wallifornia Music and Innovation Summit – Startup of the Year.
  • 2023 Prolific North – Tech Companies to Watch.
  • 2023 winner – Music Ally SI:X – category and overall startup contest.
  • 2024 BPI Grow Music inaugural graduating cohort x London & Partners, Abbey Road REDD, Anthony David King.
  • 2024 Amsterdam Dance Event – Startups Programme cohort.
  • 2025 UK Government Ministerial Round Table discussion on secondary ticketing participation with Ministers Madders and Minister Bryant, and the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport, Business and Trade.
  • 2025 UK Business and Trade for North America spotlight interview, in association with the Department for Business and Trade.

CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brandon Johnson, the 57th mayor of the City of Chicago, visited Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) on Thursday for a Lakeside Chat focused on civic leadership, human rights, and the barriers facing today’s college students.

The event, part of a broader effort to foster public discourse on the critical issues facing today’s students, brought together students, faculty, and staff to discuss how public institutions and city leadership can work together to expand opportunity and strengthen communities. The conversation aligned with NEIU’s College of Arts and Sciences’ –themed semester, “Staying the Course for Human Rights: From Awareness to Action,” and reflected NEIU’s mission as an access-driven, urban-serving university.

“At Northeastern Illinois University, expanding opportunity means meeting students where they are and removing the barriers that stand in the way of their success,” said President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, “Yesterday’s Lakeside Chat reflected our shared commitment with the City of Chicago to strengthen our communities through education, workforce development, and student-centered support. We were honored to welcome Mayor Brandon Johnson to NEIU for a meaningful conversation centered on student voices.”

Moderated by NEIU Urban Community Studies Professor Zada Johnson, Ph.D., the panel featured student voices and faculty expertise alongside Mayor Johnson. The student panelists were Winter Terry, an undergraduate majoring in Political Science with minors in Criminology and Philosophy, and Leslie Lozada, a 2025 NEIU graduate, currently working on her master’s degree in Communication, Media and Theatre. Joined by DeWitt Scott, Ed.D., the Director of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs, the group shared perspectives on access, belonging and persistence at NEIU as well as practices that support student success.

Discussion topics included students’ basic needs such as housing and food insecurity, mental health resources, campus safety, and support for students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and DACA and undocumented students. Panelists emphasized that addressing these issues is essential to educational equity and long-term economic mobility.

Mayor Johnson highlighted the importance of partnerships between cities and public universities in advancing opportunities for students and the communities they serve.

“My administration is committed to meeting young people where they are and centering youth voices in our efforts to build safer, more affordable communities for all,” said Mayor Johnson. “I am grateful to NEIU for the opportunity to discuss our shared challenges and potential solutions with some of our city’s brightest students, and I look forward to continued partnership with NEIU to build career pathways, expand opportunities, and ensure Chicago is thriving. Today’s conversation is a reminder that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are leading in our present.”

As a Minority-Serving and a Hispanic-Serving Institution, NEIU serves a diverse student population, including adult learners, first-generation students and working professionals. University leaders underscored the importance of supporting students holistically to promote degree completion, workforce readiness and community impact.

The event concluded with a Q&A and a call to continue collaborating between NEIU and the City of Chicago to expand career pathways and strengthen the workforce pipeline for historically underserved communities.

Moderator:

Zada Johnson has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and is presently a professor of Urban Community Studies at Northeastern Illinois University. She is also the academic coordinator of the NEIU University Without Walls program for adult students. Her articles have appeared in academic journals as well as local news publications and pop culture blogs.

Panelists:

Leslie Lozada is a graduate student in NEIU’s Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT) program. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from NEIU in 2025, with two minors, and is focused on media studies and mass communication. She works as a student aide in NEIU’s Office of Student Disability Services and serves as editor of The Independent, the University’s student newspaper, among several other student leadership roles.

DeWitt Scott is the Director of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs at NEIU. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Urban Community Studies, Higher Education Leadership, and African American Studies programs at NEIU. He earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University.

Winter” Terry is an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science with minors in Criminology and Philosophy. She serves as a Senator in the NEIU Student Government Association and is actively engaged in student advocacy and initiatives that advance equity for marginalized communities.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure, and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County. 

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SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zilliz, the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database, today announced the general availability of Zilliz Cloud BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) on Microsoft Azure. With this launch, Zilliz Cloud BYOC is now available across AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure—making Zilliz the first managed vector database provider to support BYOC on all three major clouds.

Enterprises building AI applications have long faced a trade-off between managed services that require moving sensitive data outside their security perimeter and self-hosted deployments that demand significant engineering resources. Zilliz Cloud BYOC eliminates this compromise by deploying a fully managed vector database directly inside a customer’s own cloud account—enabling organizations to move faster on AI initiatives without sacrificing data control or compliance.

“The AI infrastructure landscape is at an inflection point. Enterprises need platforms that respect their security, compliance, and multi-cloud realities,” said Charles Xie, Founder and CEO at Zilliz. “With BYOC on every major cloud, we’re removing one of the last barriers to enterprise AI adoption. Organizations no longer have to choose between moving fast and staying in control.”

Why the Azure Launch Matters

The Azure launch completes a deliberate expansion—from AWS to GCP and now to Microsoft Azure. For the many enterprises standardized on Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, this launch removes the last deployment barrier. Organizations can now run their vector database in the same environment as Azure OpenAI Service and the rest of their Azure AI stack—eliminating cross-cloud data movement, reducing costs, and keeping AI workflows entirely within a single cloud environment.

Azure customers also benefit from full compatibility with their existing enterprise agreements, reserved capacity, and established governance and compliance frameworks. With the official Zilliz Cloud Terraform Provider, teams can automate BYOC deployments and integrate directly into existing infrastructure-as-code workflows—making adoption seamless for organizations already operating at scale on Azure.

What This Means for Enterprises

  • Accelerated AI adoption: Deploy production-grade AI search infrastructure in days, not months, without the engineering burden of managing it.
  • Data sovereignty and compliance: All data stays within the customer’s own cloud account and jurisdiction, simplifying regulatory requirements.
  • Multi-cloud freedom: Teams across different cloud providers can standardize on a single vector database platform without re-platforming.
  • Cost transparency: Infrastructure costs flow through existing cloud billing, enterprise agreements, and reserved capacity.

Every BYOC deployment includes the full Zilliz Cloud feature set built on Milvus, along with seamless migration from Pinecone, Qdrant, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, Weaviate, or self-hosted Milvus.

Now Available

Zilliz Cloud BYOC is live across AWS, GCP, and Azure. Get started with deployment guides for AWS, GCP, and Azure, or connect with the Zilliz team to discuss your requirements.

About Zilliz

Zilliz is the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database. Zilliz Cloud brings that performance to production with a fully managed, cloud-native platform built for scalable, low-latency vector search and hybrid retrieval. It supports billion-scale workloads with sub-10ms latency, auto-scaling, and optimized indexes for GenAI use cases like semantic search and RAG.

Zilliz is built to make AI not just possible—but practical. With a focus on performance and cost-efficiency, it helps engineering teams move from prototype to production without overprovisioning or complex infrastructure. Over 10,000 organizations worldwide rely on Zilliz to build intelligent applications at scale.

Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, Zilliz is backed by leading investors, including Aramco’s Prosperity 7 Ventures, Temasek’s Pavilion Capital, Hillhouse Capital, 5Y Capital, Yunqi Partners, Trustbridge Partners, and others. Learn more at  Zilliz.com.

 

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SOURCE Zilliz

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zilliz, the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database, today announced the general availability of Zilliz Cloud BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) on Microsoft Azure. With this launch, Zilliz Cloud BYOC is now available across AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure—making Zilliz the first managed vector database provider to support BYOC on all three major clouds.

Enterprises building AI applications have long faced a trade-off between managed services that require moving sensitive data outside their security perimeter and self-hosted deployments that demand significant engineering resources. Zilliz Cloud BYOC eliminates this compromise by deploying a fully managed vector database directly inside a customer’s own cloud account—enabling organizations to move faster on AI initiatives without sacrificing data control or compliance.

“The AI infrastructure landscape is at an inflection point. Enterprises need platforms that respect their security, compliance, and multi-cloud realities,” said Charles Xie, Founder and CEO at Zilliz. “With BYOC on every major cloud, we’re removing one of the last barriers to enterprise AI adoption. Organizations no longer have to choose between moving fast and staying in control.”

Why the Azure Launch Matters

The Azure launch completes a deliberate expansion—from AWS to GCP and now to Microsoft Azure. For the many enterprises standardized on Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, this launch removes the last deployment barrier. Organizations can now run their vector database in the same environment as Azure OpenAI Service and the rest of their Azure AI stack—eliminating cross-cloud data movement, reducing costs, and keeping AI workflows entirely within a single cloud environment.

Azure customers also benefit from full compatibility with their existing enterprise agreements, reserved capacity, and established governance and compliance frameworks. With the official Zilliz Cloud Terraform Provider, teams can automate BYOC deployments and integrate directly into existing infrastructure-as-code workflows—making adoption seamless for organizations already operating at scale on Azure.

What This Means for Enterprises

  • Accelerated AI adoption: Deploy production-grade AI search infrastructure in days, not months, without the engineering burden of managing it.
  • Data sovereignty and compliance: All data stays within the customer’s own cloud account and jurisdiction, simplifying regulatory requirements.
  • Multi-cloud freedom: Teams across different cloud providers can standardize on a single vector database platform without re-platforming.
  • Cost transparency: Infrastructure costs flow through existing cloud billing, enterprise agreements, and reserved capacity.

Every BYOC deployment includes the full Zilliz Cloud feature set built on Milvus, along with seamless migration from Pinecone, Qdrant, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, Weaviate, or self-hosted Milvus.

Now Available

Zilliz Cloud BYOC is live across AWS, GCP, and Azure. Get started with deployment guides for AWS, GCP, and Azure, or connect with the Zilliz team to discuss your requirements.

About Zilliz

Zilliz is the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database. Zilliz Cloud brings that performance to production with a fully managed, cloud-native platform built for scalable, low-latency vector search and hybrid retrieval. It supports billion-scale workloads with sub-10ms latency, auto-scaling, and optimized indexes for GenAI use cases like semantic search and RAG.

Zilliz is built to make AI not just possible—but practical. With a focus on performance and cost-efficiency, it helps engineering teams move from prototype to production without overprovisioning or complex infrastructure. Over 10,000 organizations worldwide rely on Zilliz to build intelligent applications at scale.

Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, Zilliz is backed by leading investors, including Aramco’s Prosperity 7 Ventures, Temasek’s Pavilion Capital, Hillhouse Capital, 5Y Capital, Yunqi Partners, Trustbridge Partners, and others. Learn more at  Zilliz.com.

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zilliz-cloud-brings-byoc-to-azure-extending-availability-across-major-cloud-platforms-302699894.html

SOURCE Zilliz

Leadership stories are often told as straight lines: clear goals, deliberate moves, steady climbs. But many leaders don’t follow a blueprint — they grow into leadership by showing up, contributing and letting their impact speak for itself.

Two members of Tapestry’s Black Alliance Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) are doing just that.

“It wasn’t my plan to come in [to the Black Alliance ERBG] at the lowest level and find my way to the top,” says Jason Livingston, Manager of Procurement and Vendor Engagement at Tapestry.

When first becoming involved with the EBRG group, Livingston says his thinking was only, “I like what’s going on here, I like what they’re trying to build, I want to participate. My journey [into the co-lead role] has been one of availability.”

Livingston first stepped into the group by volunteering as a marketing coordinator, segueing into philanthropy, and as he tells it, “Someone left, so I got elevated from coordinator to co-lead because someone said, ‘Jason can do it.’”

As much as he downplays it, Livingston’s work in Black Alliance is a natural fit. Not only is it an extension of his full-time role helping to connect Tapestry with varied vendors, but it also allows him to follow his personal interests through experiences and events while connecting with others.

The Black Alliance’s “Bookish Book Club for instance — I was already reading Black authors and content related to the Black community. The only difference is that now I’m talking to people in the community about what I’m reading,” Livingston says. “I was already going to museums and Black History Month cultural events, now I do it with my Tapestry community.”

The Bookish Book Club is just one of the events the EBRG hosted in honor of Black History Month. Throughout February, members also heard an “Unscripted” conversation with United Airlines captain, Carole Hopson, and attended a Black History Month Kitchen Takeover and an end-of-month celebration at Hudson Yards.

FROM ON MUTE TO VOLUME UP
For Carmen Williams, General Manager for Coach in Southern California, entry into the Black Alliance EBRG also started quietly – by showing up.

“When I first joined the calls, I would be on Zoom on mute,” Williams remembers. “I would unmute myself, say something once in a while, and then immediately mute again.”

Soon enough, Williams — who’s been a COACH General Manager for 17 years — realized others on the call listened to and valued her ideas. “I did have a voice, I did have a seat at the table, and I was making an impact — even when I was just listening,” she says.

With steady participation, Williams began to see the opportunities Black Alliance provided for Tapestry employees, namely: leadership, networking, philanthropy.

From listening on mute, Williams was invited to become more involved, eventually becoming lead of the Professional Development pillar where she co-created career growth programming. Now as part of Williams’ role as a Black Alliance Co-lead, she regularly advocates for virtual access to meetings and events for retail and fulfillment center employees.

“The store population of Tapestry is the largest employee populations in our company,” Williams says. “If we’re talking about people first, this needs to be louder.”

For Williams, it’s Tapestry’s value of “Embracing Difference By Design” that resonates most as a leader — both in her full-time role and as Black Alliance co-lead.

“I want to be an ally because I have over 100 people on my team [as a general manager] and I need to be able to relate to their diverse needs,” says Williams, who is also a member of Prouder Together and Juntos Unidos EBRGs.

CREATING SPACE FOR LEADERS TO RISE
Both Livingston and Williams’ stories prove that confidence often builds within a supportive community. And they credit Tapestry with creating space and resources to allow them to join that community and evolve into leadership roles.

“Tapestry has done an excellent job of allowing this space to happen,” Livingston says. “For all the EBRG groups, we get to do certain events, host speakers, and there’s the space to do them.”

Williams says EBRGs like Black Alliance are a crucial part of retaining talent. “EBRGs gives people the opportunity to take a deep breath and say ‘I definitely belong.’ Inclusion and belonging is key to what we do.”

In the end, the leaders who leave the deepest mark didn’t always have a blueprint. Instead they’re the ones who consistently participated, took action, and let their growth as a leader speak for itself.

As Livingston says it best, “Participation matters at every level. You don’t have to lead — you just have to show up.”

Stay up to date on news from Tapestry on the Tapestry Newsroom.

Leadership stories are often told as straight lines: clear goals, deliberate moves, steady climbs. But many leaders don’t follow a blueprint — they grow into leadership by showing up, contributing and letting their impact speak for itself.

Two members of Tapestry’s Black Alliance Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) are doing just that.

“It wasn’t my plan to come in [to the Black Alliance ERBG] at the lowest level and find my way to the top,” says Jason Livingston, Manager of Procurement and Vendor Engagement at Tapestry.

When first becoming involved with the EBRG group, Livingston says his thinking was only, “I like what’s going on here, I like what they’re trying to build, I want to participate. My journey [into the co-lead role] has been one of availability.”

Livingston first stepped into the group by volunteering as a marketing coordinator, segueing into philanthropy, and as he tells it, “Someone left, so I got elevated from coordinator to co-lead because someone said, ‘Jason can do it.’”

As much as he downplays it, Livingston’s work in Black Alliance is a natural fit. Not only is it an extension of his full-time role helping to connect Tapestry with varied vendors, but it also allows him to follow his personal interests through experiences and events while connecting with others.

The Black Alliance’s “Bookish Book Club for instance — I was already reading Black authors and content related to the Black community. The only difference is that now I’m talking to people in the community about what I’m reading,” Livingston says. “I was already going to museums and Black History Month cultural events, now I do it with my Tapestry community.”

The Bookish Book Club is just one of the events the EBRG hosted in honor of Black History Month. Throughout February, members also heard an “Unscripted” conversation with United Airlines captain, Carole Hopson, and attended a Black History Month Kitchen Takeover and an end-of-month celebration at Hudson Yards.

FROM ON MUTE TO VOLUME UP
For Carmen Williams, General Manager for Coach in Southern California, entry into the Black Alliance EBRG also started quietly – by showing up.

“When I first joined the calls, I would be on Zoom on mute,” Williams remembers. “I would unmute myself, say something once in a while, and then immediately mute again.”

Soon enough, Williams — who’s been a COACH General Manager for 17 years — realized others on the call listened to and valued her ideas. “I did have a voice, I did have a seat at the table, and I was making an impact — even when I was just listening,” she says.

With steady participation, Williams began to see the opportunities Black Alliance provided for Tapestry employees, namely: leadership, networking, philanthropy.

From listening on mute, Williams was invited to become more involved, eventually becoming lead of the Professional Development pillar where she co-created career growth programming. Now as part of Williams’ role as a Black Alliance Co-lead, she regularly advocates for virtual access to meetings and events for retail and fulfillment center employees.

“The store population of Tapestry is the largest employee populations in our company,” Williams says. “If we’re talking about people first, this needs to be louder.”

For Williams, it’s Tapestry’s value of “Embracing Difference By Design” that resonates most as a leader — both in her full-time role and as Black Alliance co-lead.

“I want to be an ally because I have over 100 people on my team [as a general manager] and I need to be able to relate to their diverse needs,” says Williams, who is also a member of Prouder Together and Juntos Unidos EBRGs.

CREATING SPACE FOR LEADERS TO RISE
Both Livingston and Williams’ stories prove that confidence often builds within a supportive community. And they credit Tapestry with creating space and resources to allow them to join that community and evolve into leadership roles.

“Tapestry has done an excellent job of allowing this space to happen,” Livingston says. “For all the EBRG groups, we get to do certain events, host speakers, and there’s the space to do them.”

Williams says EBRGs like Black Alliance are a crucial part of retaining talent. “EBRGs gives people the opportunity to take a deep breath and say ‘I definitely belong.’ Inclusion and belonging is key to what we do.”

In the end, the leaders who leave the deepest mark didn’t always have a blueprint. Instead they’re the ones who consistently participated, took action, and let their growth as a leader speak for itself.

As Livingston says it best, “Participation matters at every level. You don’t have to lead — you just have to show up.”

Stay up to date on news from Tapestry on the Tapestry Newsroom.

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