Physician-Created App Unveils Remote Check-In Feature to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Medical Practices

TAMPA, FLA. 

DocClocker®, a pioneering app that allows patients – for the first time – to receive real-time wait time reporting of their medical providers, has been aggressively preventing the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) nationwide by enabling patients to avoid long waits in medical waiting rooms – limiting exposure risks. Today, the company announced their latest achievement in supporting both providers and patients during the pandemic: DocClocker Remote Check-In.

In the wake of COVID-19, healthcare providers are being forced to rethink the traditional waiting room experience. DocClocker, a medical wait time reporting app that was founded and is run entirely by practicing physicians, is taking that step with the launch of DocClocker Remote Check-In. For the first time, patients can now remotely check-in to their doctor appointments from their car, in addition to receiving real-time wait time reporting; preventing the spread of the highly contagious virus by limiting the exposure of sick patients in waiting rooms.

“Recognizing that the waiting room during the COVID-19 pandemic is a potentially risky place to be, the new DocClocker Remote Check-In enables the healthcare system to function while keeping current best practice recommendations to maintain social distancing,” said Dr. Eric Carter, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of DocClocker.

Healthcare organizations across the United States are successfully using DocClocker to improve patient outcomes, prevent the spread of illness, increase new patient appointment bookings, improve practice online reputation and searchability, and much more. DocClocker can be installed and implemented to any healthcare waiting room in America in mere minutes.

In addition to remote check-ins and receiving real-time wait times, patients can easily locate and select in-network medical providers; selecting by reviewing the provider’s specific information and a display of average wait times. Patients can manage appointments through the app, receive appointment reminders, write reviews and report long waits. DocClocker is free to all patients and is significantly more affordable than basic appointment management tools that have dominated the market in recent years.

Remote Check-In Instructions: https://info.docclocker.com/remotecheckininstructions

PATIENTS
Download the App:
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docclocker/id1321644191
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.docclocker.patient

PROVIDERS
Request a free demo: admin@docclocker.com

About DocClocker:
Developed by Fast Pathway Inc, DocClocker brings transparency to the doctor’s waiting room using modern technology to streamline communication between doctors, patients, and their families. For more information about DocClocker, please visit the app’s website at: https://docclocker.com/

Contact:
Molly Jacobson
Tel: 1-850-980-2793
Email: molly@jacobsonstrategy.com
Website: http://www.docclocker.com

Location Information:
Fast Pathway Inc
2202 North Westshore Blvd., Suite 200
Tampa, Florida 33607

About Fast Pathway, Inc:
Fast Pathway Inc is the developer and operator of the DocClocker® platform and maintains the cloud-based technology for subscribers and users.

If you would rather not receive future communications from Jacobson Strategy, let us know by clicking here.
Jacobson Strategy, 6304 Vista Verde Drive East, Gulfport, FL 33707 United States 

Remote Check-in-1_iphonexspacegrey_portrait.jpg

Premium North American Brand in the Emerging Functional Mushroom Market Expands Leadership Through Addition of Specialized Plant-Based Physician 

VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2020 - Rritual, the premium brand in the emerging functional mushroom market, announced today that Dr. Mike Hart has been named as the President of North America’s leading mushroom adaptogens company. 

Dr. Hart has more than 6 years of experience in plant based therapy, including owning and operating his own family medicine clinic in London, Ontario, Canada where he regularly integrates plant-based wellness techniques, seeing optimal success with his patients in supporting them to treat common symptoms such as pain, inflammation, insomnia, depression and much more. His mission is to help his patients integrate plant-based therapies to lead the healthiest lifestyle possible. 

Rritual, the rapidly growing North American leader in the emerging functional mushroom market is transforming the functional food industry with their Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion's Mane mushroom focused super food product portfolio which currently includes elixirs, mixes and shots combined with synergistic adaptogenic herbs. Their data-backed, unique formulations for their premium, plant-based elixirs include key ingredients to help support cognitive function, stress relief, and boost immunity. 

“Dr. Mike Hart is the perfect leader for Rritual.” Said David Kerbel, Chief Executive Officer. “Dr. Hart’s extensive plant-based medicine background, business development skills, passion for health and wellness, and extensive trusted platform significantly strengthens our rapid expansion, brand presence and scalability in the emerging functional mushroom market.” Kerbel added. 

“I am very excited to be joining the Rritual team,” said Dr. Mike Hart. “I believe Rritual has a great business model and, product portfolio in addition to a talented, and passionate management team that uniquely positions it for success in the emerging plant-based industry.” “Their mission to help people adapt to modern life and prove that mushrooms are one of the world’s greatest superfoods, is a perfect fit with my own wellness practices as a Physician, and personally as an individual who is passionate about mental and physical health.”

“My belief is that mental fitness is a daily ritual, and Rritual’s product portfolio and approach completely supports my current research and values as a seasoned, plant-based practitioner, having the tools and products available to individuals to help support their mental and physical fitness is of the utmost importance.” Hart added. 

Currently one of the world's foremost experts in plant-based medicine, In September of 2002, Dr. Hart began studying nutritional biochemistry at Memorial University and completed his degree in 2006. After completing his undergraduate degree he obtained his medical degree at Saba School of Medicine in the Netherlands Antilles from 2006-2010.  In 2014, Dr. Hart became the first physician in London, Ontario, Canada to open a Cannabis Clinic. His passion for helping patients with wellness tools runs deep with having supported thousands of patients to live symptom-free and lead healthier lifestyles since he began practicing medicine. He is also the co-author of the Amazon Best Seller “Friendly Fire”: Why Vets Are Lighting Up and Ditching Pills to Treat PTSD.

About Rritual 

Launched in 2020, Rritual is guided by a single purpose: to help each and everyone meet the demands of modern life with style and ease through mushroom adaptogens. Rritual makes premium plant-based elixir products in small batches featuring mindfully-selected medicinal mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs. To help support and achieve an optimal need-state, Rritual offers a range of products to fit every lifestyle. Rritual produces simple mushroom adaptogen products with limited, yet very purposeful and organic ingredients. Most of all, Rritual wants to help people adapt to the strain of modern life and prove that mushrooms truly are the world’s greatest superfoods. You can find out more about Rritual by visiting https://wearerritual.com/ or find them on TwitterInstagramLinkedIn, and Facebook.

About Dr. Mike Hart

Dr. Michael Hart, M.D, is one the world’s most foremost experts on plant based medicine. In 2014, Dr. Hart became the first physician in London, Ontario, Canada to open a Cannabis Clinic. In 2016 he founded Readytogo Medical Clinic, where he currently acts as the lead physician and medical director. He is also the co-author of the Amazon Best Seller “Friendly Fire”: Why Vets Are Lighting Up and Ditching Pills to Treat PTSD and the Candian Medical Ambassador for Athletes for CARE. His outspoken stance has landed him on a variety of media outlets, including an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcastwhich received over 3.2M views to date. You can find out more about Dr. Hart by visiting his website: https://mikehartmd.com/ or find him on TwitterInstagramLinkedInFacebookYouTube

YIVO Institute For Jewish Research
Presents

A Seat at the Table: A Journey Into Jewish Food

Featuring 
Acclaimed Chefs, Cookbook Authors, Scholars, Restaurateurs, & Writers

YIVO's Shine Online Educational Series 
Ventures Across Centuries of Jewish History & Culture,
Discovering the Evolution of Ashkenazi Jewish Cuisine from Eastern Europe to the Streets of New York City
To Unveil It's Modern Renaissance Throughout the 21st Century

Amid the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, "A Seat at the Table"
Now Offered for Free with Over 10,000 Participants Signed Up To Date 

New York City -- Monday, June 22, 2020 -- YIVO Institute for Jewish Research -- whose preeminent archives contain more than 23 million documents and artifacts about Eastern European Jewry -- collaborates with an esteemed cohort of chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, scholars, and writers for a one-of-a-kind seven-week educational course, A Seat at the Table: A Journey Into Jewish Food. Never before has the world had such unprecedented access to over 100 hours of inspiring digital content at their finger tips, including in-depth interviews, roundtable discussions, cooking demonstrations, and the debut of 300 archival objects for an inside look at an often mystified cuisine. Lauded purveyors of Jewish fare and culture lead a riveting exploration into the Ashkenazi Jewish experience, and its modern culinary renaissance. 

A Seat at the Table: A Journey Into Jewish Food features cultural visionaries such as Joan Nathan (Jewish Cooking In America), Michael W. Twitty (The Cooking Gene), Alice Feiring (The Dirty Wine Guide), Mitchell Davis (James Beard Foundation), Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper (Russ & Daughters), Jake Dell (Katz's Delicatessen), Darra Goldstein (Founder, Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture), Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz (The Gefilteria), Lior Lev Sercarz (La Boîte), Adeena Sussman (Sababa), Ilan Stavans (Amherst College), Leah Koenig (The Jewish Cookbook), Michael Wex (Born to Kvetch), and more! 

The dynamism of Jewish cuisine is at once steeped in tradition, and embedded with great curiosities of a traveling migration of people evolving flavors and ingredients as they trekked across Eastern Europe, the Americas, and ultimately the cosmopolitan mecca of New York City. For thousands of years, Jewish dishes were confluent with the seasons and practices of sustainability. Recipes use flavors and textures from garden root vegetables, whole grains, fresh herbs, beef, lamb, and accompanied by seasonal fruit drinks, jellies, and a plethora of other nutritious foods. The Jewish food repertoire was at the heart of families and annual holidays. 

A Seat at the Table already has more than 10,000 online participants for an odyssey into the Ashkenazi Jewish kitchen through the lens of the brightest personalities within the field while supported by YIVO's extensive archives, including the largest collection of Yiddish cookbooks. Learn from experts the staples of Jewish food, sourcing of rich and flavorful ingredients, influence of South America on over 2,000 types of moles (served with latkes), lox slicing, the rise in national popularity of bagels, emergence of Jewish restaurateurs, evolution of Jewish delicatessens and cafes, cross-culturalization within immigrant groups on the Lower East Side (Jews, Chinese, Japanese), women's perseverance to provide nourishing meals, Vegetarianism, and much more. 

"A Seat at the Table shows the diversity of Jewish culture and the richness of Jewish history. Jews in Eastern Europe found ways to negotiate difficult times (political, social, economic, cultural) -- the result is a cuisine that shows their culinary creativity, resilience, and ability to find happiness, meaning, and nourishment (spiritual and physical) even in challenging times." -Jonathan Brent (Executive Director and CEO of YIVO).

"A Seat at the Table takes a deep delve into YIVO's food-related archival collections, examining the full history of Ashkenazi Jewish foodways in collaboration with acclaimed scholars, chefs, and cookbook authors. The project lies at the center of YIVO's mission: rediscovering history, breaking through stereotypes, and reclaiming Jewish culture as a vibrant, living tradition -- one that can help shape our experiences." -Ben Kaplan (Director of Education, YIVO)

Authentic Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine often reflects Jewish spiritual resistance as Jews faced extreme circumstances in their fight for survival and freedom. While food served to sustain and comfort people during the most difficult moments, A Seat at the Tableoffers foodies the opportunity to discover the cornerstones of the Ashkenazi Jewish kitchen. A process of assimilation and openness to new lands, people, and cultures uniquely identifies Jewish food as a traveling immigrant cuisine. The arrival of 3.5 million Jews to America from the 1880s -- 1920s provided access to an abundance of new foods and opportunities. What had become emblematic of the Jewish holidays throughout generations of hardship became more integrated into everyday life. A tragic history came full circle to centuries past for a cherished existence in America with new beginnings. 

YIVO's devotion to the study of Jewish history and folklore -- YIVO holds the largest collection of original Holocaust artifacts outside of Yad Vashem in Israel -- brings into focus its latest online educational program to center on Jewish food as the perfect aperitif for the greater understanding of Jewish culture. A Seat at the Table is among many exciting programs within the Shine Online Educational Series (LINK). Join YIVO and over 10,000 participants across the U.S. and 59 countries around the world for this powerful journey through Ashkenazi Jewish foodways. 

To sign up for A Seat at the Table, please visit: yivo.org/Food.

Links to preview A Seat at the Table can be viewed below, and Artifacts & Recipes featured in A Seat at the Table can be downloaded at this LINK:

Michael Twitty, "Culinary Justice" (Unit 2) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=q7iuYmp54g0

Josh Russ Tupper, "Lox Slicing with Russ & Daughters" (Unit 1)  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hONIQjLQW4

Jake Dell, "How to Build a Katz’s Sandwich" (Unit 5)  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PTkY03kJwQ

Liz Alpern, Ilan Stavans, and Jeffrey Yoskowitz, "Latkes with Mole" (Unit 3) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=UwRxffwy9ko

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, "Bagels" (Unit 6) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVzHy7Jstek

Liz Alpern, Darra Goldstein, & Jeffrey Yoskowitz, "Ashkenazi Foodways" (Unit 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qgEnkyOSrA

Hasia Diner, "From Scarcity to Abundance" (Unit 3)  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQtNGq231qs

Roundtable: "Ashkenazi Jewish Food and the Immigrant Experience" (Unit 3) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtCwklsavcI

About YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research was founded in Berlin, Warsaw, and in Vilnius (Vilna) in 1925. Its mission is to document, study, and preserve Ashkenazi Jewish civilization in all its aspects, from culture and history to language, literature, and political movements. YIVO's headquarters were relocated to New York City in 1940 in response to WWII. Today, YIVO is renowned for its role as a research institute, educational center, and cultural organization, with a library of over 400,000 volumes in addition to its unparalleled archive with over 23 million documents and artifacts. YIVO is dedicated to digitizing and preserving its collections for current and future generations worldwide. YIVO also keeps this heritage alive through its countless public and educational programs, which are conducted in person and digitally for a global community.

For additional detailed information, please visit: yivo.org

Experience the Clean-Grown Coastal Flavor of Blue Dream CBD, the First CBD-Prominent Flower From Pesticide-Free Cultivator Autumn Brands

Enjoy a mellow summertime Sativa that offers a functional, euphoric high while relaxing the body and providing relief for sore muscles, aches, and pains   

Santa Barbara California – (June 23nd, 2020): Autumn Brands proudly introduces Blue Dream CBD, a premium, mellow sativa that offers full-body relaxation accompanied by a light, euphoric high. Backed by decades of hard-won, sustainable farming expertise, 50% woman-owned Autumn Brands stands out as a sixth-generation, family-run operation with a health-centered holistic focus and refreshingly artisanal approach. Committed to producing potent, pesticide-free cannabis strains using innovative clean growing practices, no summer is complete without the West Coast cultivator’s latest - and first CBD-prominent - flower: Blue Dream CBD. 

“Our newest strain offers a euphoric high with the tangible benefits of CBD,” explains Hanna Brand, Co-Founder of Autumn Brands.  “Although Blue Dream CBD is technically a Sativa, I was instantly relaxed and able to fall asleep quickly at bedtime.” Using seeds sourced from the historic and widely-respected Humboldt Seed Organization, Blue Dream CBD is a cross between the classic Blue Dream and California Orange CBD. The resulting flavor profile is a refreshing palate of fruit, berries, and citrus enriched by aromas of spice and earth. Perfect for first-time smokers and those with a low THC tolerance, Blue Dream CBD provides a functional, mellow head high with amazing relief for sore muscles, aches, and pains. 

Experience sun-grown Blue Dream CBD - the latest release from the Autumn Brands family - now available at select Southern California dispensaries in a pre-roll 7-pack (11% THC, 5% CBD, and 18.5% total cannabinoids) and in hand-selected flower form (10% THC, 7% CBD, and 20% total cannabinoids). Visit AutumnBrands.com to locate the nearest participating seller and browse a full selection of premium flower, pre-rolls, and pre-filled cartridges. Each features sun-grown, hang-dried buds hand-trimmed and cured to preserve maximum potency and full healing benefits. Follow on Instagram @AutumnBrands for the latest product releases and updates. 

About Autumn Brands:

Autumn Brands is a licensed California cannabis cultivator dedicated to the synergy of health and wellness. The Autumn Brands’ family farm started in Holland more than a century ago, and today, sixth-generation farmers apply the same expertise garnered in growing the world’s finest tulips to producing pure and potent strains of cannabis in sunny, coastal Santa Barbara County. Autumn Brands is proud to be 50 percent woman-owned, free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. For more information, visitwww.autumnbrands.com or email leighanne@anderson-pr.com.

# # #

The Warrior’s Meditation Shares Best-Kept Secret In Stress Relief And Self-Improvement

Portland, OR, June 23, 2020 — The Warrior's Meditation by Richard L. Haight, the award-winning author of The Unbound Soul, makes transformative meditation accessible to the masses, with short, daily sessions that don’t require periods of isolation. 

The Warrior's Meditation is unlike any other meditation. This method is flexible in application, which allows it to blend with whatever your day has in store,” Haight says. 

Perfect for people of all backgrounds and skill levels, The Warrior’s Meditation teaches an instinctive, non-religious form of Samurai meditation that is both practical and extremely effective.

Through daily meditation, practitioners can experience the following cognitive and physical benefits, among many others: 

1. Improved immune function; decreased cellular inflammation and pain.

2. Increased positive emotions; less anxiety, depression and stress.

3. Increased emotional intelligence and compassion; reduced feelings of insecurity.

4. Increased gray matter in areas related to paying attention, positive emotions, emotional regulation and self-control.

5. Improved memory, creativity and abstract thinking.

Life is busy, and few people have time to spend hours a day in meditation. With The Warrior's Meditation, readers can experience profound clarity and awareness wherever they are and eventually embody meditation as a way of being. 

Author Richard L. Haight is a master-level instructor of martial, meditation and healing arts. He began formal martial arts training at age 12 and moved to Japan at the age of 24 to advance his training with masters of the sword, staff and aiki-jujutsu.

During his 15 years in Japan, Haight was awarded masters licenses in four samurai arts as well as a traditional healing art called sotai-ho. He is one of the world's foremost experts in the traditional Japanese martial arts.

Through his books, his meditation and martial arts seminars, Haight is helping to ignite a worldwide movement for personal transformation that is free of all constraints and open to anyone of any level. He now lives and teaches in southern Oregon. 

For more information, please visit richardlhaight.com.

The Warrior's Meditation: The Best-Kept Secret in Self-Improvement, Cognitive Enhancement, and Stress Relief, Taught by a Master of Four Samurai Arts

Publisher: Shinkaikan Body, Mind, Spirit LLC

ISBN-10: 0999210092 

ISBN-13: 978-0999210093

Paperback available at all online bookstores.

###

Discover Flex Disc: 

One Workout Tool, Hundreds of Possibilities

Looking for a big picture approach to fitness that doesn’t include doing a million crunches?

Meet Flex Disc-- a unique Ground Movement Training (GMT) tool that uses low impact, omnidirectional movement to build strength, mobility, flexibility, stability, balance, and core strength. 

One single move performed with the Flex Disc fires up the entire body, challenging it to stay balanced and in control. Simply add it to your favorite at home workouts to increase your range of motion and strength without putting more strain on your body. 

Flex Disc Details:

  • Effective for anyone, any age, and any fitness level
  • No gym required! Use at home, in the garage, backyard, or on vacation
  • Compatible with hundreds of exercises and workouts from Yoga, Barre and Pilates to strength training and more
  • Use with hands, forearms, elbows, shoulders, the back, glutes, knees, shins, or feet
  • No assembly or batteries required
  • Easy to store and transport
  • Can be used on rubber, carpet, cement, and wood
  • Double ball bearing polyurethane wheels are non-marking
  • Additional accessories including a revolutionary ergonomic handle, are available for even more workout options

Get started with the:

Flex Disc - One 14” rolling platform $79.95

Flex Disc Mini - A set of 2 10” rolling platforms $99.95

For more information, visit www.flexdiscfit.com or contact me at jennifer@empowerpublicrelations.com.

About Flex Disc

Flex Disc’s unique, low impact, rolling platform creates a new fitness modality (GMT) designed to help grow your mobility, stability, balance, flexibility and core strength. It has been used effectively in physical therapy settings as well as with Pilates, Barre, gymnastics, dance and by the NHL, MLB, NBA, and US Military.

Safeguard Your Emotional Health During Any Crisis With These 7 Practical Steps 

Boulder, CO, June 19, 2020 — In our interconnected world, global events impact all of us in one way or another. Knowing how to help ourselves, our families and our organizations navigate a crisis can profoundly affect our emotional health and well-being.

7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters is a must-read for anyone seeking to thrive during challenging times. Written by clinical psychologist Elia Gourgouris and change management expert Konstantinos Apostolopoulos, this easy-to-read book offers powerful, yet practical, insights to help minimize the negative emotional impact of pandemics, natural disasters, financial challenges and other major disruptions.

“Not only will individuals and families find the book helpful in a crisis, so will first responders, healthcare professionals, mental health counselors and wellness coaches,” said Dr. Gourgouris. 

Drawing from their real-world experiences, Dr. Gourgouris and Apostolopoulos explain the following seven keys to navigating any crisis:

1. Start with self-care. Be aware of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.

2. Practice awareness. Listen to your intuition or inner wisdom.

3. Choose flexibility so you can adapt, pivot and avoid unnecessary pain. 

4. Act now! Preparation is key to your survival. 

5. Take initiative by moving into action. Become the navigator in your life’s journey!

6. Cultivate a positive attitude filled with faith and hope. 

7. Show kindness to others. 

“Each chapter has an end section including points to ponder, questions to consider and action steps to take, so the reader can move beyond just surviving to thriving in a crisis situation,” added Apostolopoulos.

Author Elia Gourgouris, PhD, is the Founder of The Happiness Center, an organization of world-leading experts in the field of positive psychology. Dr. Elia's previous book, 7 Paths to Lasting Happiness, became an Amazon #1 best-seller. He is an international keynote speaker and happiness expert focusing on corporate wellness and leadership training. He holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is a UCLA graduate. Dr. Elia is certified by the American Red Cross in Disaster Mental Health Services, having assisted in the 1994 Los Angeles and 2010 Haiti earthquakes, the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and other crises. He's the co-host of The Kindness Happiness Connection podcast and a Thrive Global contributor. Please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehappinessdoctor/,  https://www.instagram.com/dr.eliag/ or https://www.facebook.com/DrElia.

Co-author Konstantinos Apostolopoulos is the Founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions, a performance consulting and training provider. As an award-winning facilitator and coach, he has successfully delivered hundreds of custom learning events in the US, Canada and Europe for diverse audiences and industries. He is a regular contributor to Thrive Global and other industry publications. As a young man in Greece, he experienced firsthand the devastation left behind by natural and economic disasters. As an adult, he was fortunate to help play a small part in the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Today, he helps others navigate the challenges brought by major events in their lives. Please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkon/.

For more information, please visit www.dreliagourgouris.com;http://freshbizsolutions.com/; or

https://www.thehappinesscenter.com/.

7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters

Publisher: The Happiness Center

ISBN-10: 1734943815 

ISBN-13: 978-1734943818

Available from Amazon.com

COVID-19 vaccine developers AstraZeneca, CanSino, Johnson & Johnson and ReiThera face multiple challenges, says GlobalData

While there has been widespread press for its COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Oxford University, faces multiple challenges in the race to develop a successful product, as reported by Reynald Castañeda, Pharma Writer for the Investigative News team at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. CanSino, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and ReiThera, which are also studying their own adenovirus vector vaccines, are likely to have similar hurdles.

Castañeda explains: “Although it has advantages over other vaccine technologies for COVID-19, the respective companies’ adenovirus vector vaccines are likely to be tripped up by pre-existing antibodies to the vectors used and the need for a second injection to boost protection.”

According to GlobalData, there are at least 38 companies or universities with a recombinant adenovirus-derived vaccine asset for COVID-19 from preclinical to Phase II/III stages. On 3 June, the US Federal Government’s vaccine initiative, Operation Warp Speed, named AstraZeneca’s AZD122, as one of five finalists along with Johnson & Johnson’s candidate.

Castañeda comments: “AZD1222’s recent animal data leave questions about its utility to prevent virus spread. A future booster shot could improve this aspect. 

“CanSino Biologics’ Ad5-nCoV and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines’ disadvantage is they use a human adenovirus vector. This means a significant chunk of people may already have neutralising antibodies against the vector, which decreases efficacy prospects. Phase I Ad5-nCoV data is underwhelming, which underscores this limitation. In contrast, AstraZeneca’sAZD1222 and Rome-based ReiThera’s vaccines use nonhuman vectors and so may not have this issue.”

CanSino’s Ad5-nCoV is already in a Phase II trial that has a primary completion date of January 2021. J&J’s Phase I/IIa will start in July. ReiThera will also begin clinical investigation in the summer. Phase I/II AZD1222 trial data are expected shortly, with the vaccine concurrently in a Phase II/III trial, with data timelines dependent on community viral transmission rates. 

Castañeda notes: “Prior reporting has suggested that a standard trial meant for approval that starts in the summer is likely to require around 25,000–30,000 volunteers if the annualized incidence rate is 1.5%. While a human challenge trial design – where study participants would be intentionally challenged with the COVID-19 virus – could be considered to quickly gather protection data, such a trial design also has its own operational and ethical issues.”

Microdermics Inc. Seeks to Commercialize Microneedle Drug Delivery & BioSensing Technology

  • Seeking strategic M&A or technology out-licensing opportunities
  • Intradermal Platform provides easy access to skin for both biosensing and therapeutic or cosmetic drug delivery
  • Completed in vivo studies to validate the effectiveness and reliability of drug delivery and biosensing platforms
  • Novateur Ventures Inc retained to support Microdermics to commercialize their microneedle drug delivery & biosensing technology

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 19, 2020 – Microdermics, a medical device company commercializing a novel microneedle delivery and biosensing platform, seeks strategic M&A or technology out-licensing opportunities with Pharma, cosmetic, and Biotech companies for its microneedle platforms. Novateur Ventures, an established global life sciences advisory company, have entered into an agreement to provide strategic advisory support and to lead the transaction process.

Microdermics has developed a patented, commercially scalable, low-cost, customizable, metal, intradermal microneedle platform that provides easy access to skin for both biosensing and drug delivery. Microdermics have completed in-vivo proof of concept studies to validate the effectiveness and reliability of drug delivery and biosensing platforms, including proof of concept biosensing studies for analytes such as glucose, potassium, sodium, lactate and creatinine.

The global biosensor market expected to be worth $36 Billion by 2027, growing at 7.9% (Grand Review Research), and the electronic drug delivery market expected to be worth $14.5 Billion by 2027, growing at 8.5% per year (P&T Community Research).

Microdermics’ microneedle biosensing technology has been developed for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis, reducing the need for blood sampling and analysis. Manufacturing of Microdermics’ drug delivery platform is highly scalable and can be used to efficiently deliver vaccines and other drugs, as these microneedles work with any liquid injectable or analyte target to eliminate needle-phobia thereby increasing patient compliance, and increase accuracy.

"Intradermal drug delivery is a potential solution to many of the challenges faced by new and existing medicines and will allow pharma companies to unlock the potential of the skin for their current and planned drug products," said Dr. Boris Stoeber, PhD, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Microdermics. "We are confident Novateur Ventures' expertise and proven track record will help us find the right partner to advance our microneedle drug delivery & micro-sensing technology.”

Today, most of the approved analyte sensors and injectable drugs are injected into subcutaneous and intramuscular layers, which can be more painful, costly, require skilled application, higher doses and less accurate. Microdermics' needles are novel, hollow, metallic microneedles, which offer all the benefits of intradermal drug delivery in a simple design:

“Microdermics minimally invasive biosensing technology is one of the best available technologies to enable access to the skin for accurate and continuous monitoring of patient's multi-analyte levels in real time and is agnostic to the type of monitor being used. We believe that our wearable technology could provide valuable opportunity to continuously monitor patients in real time with chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease”, said Ali Ardakani, Founder and Managing Director of Novateur Ventures.”

About Microdermics 

Microdermics is a Vancouver based medical device company focused on commercializing a new hollow microneedle delivery platform for breakthrough applications in biosensing and drug delivery. Microdermics' platform aims to revolutionize sensing and drug delivery using our minimally invasive patented technology by providing precise and easy access to the skin.

For more information about Microdermics’ platform, visit: www.microdermics.com/platform

About Novateur Ventures

Novateur is an established global life sciences advisory with extensive experience related to business development and product development of therapeutics, medical devices and digital health products.

For more information, visit: www.novateur.ca

10 Post-Lockdown Health and Fitness Trips to Start Planning

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With a global pandemic showcasing the need to prioritise our mental and physical health, there has never been a better time to start planning a post-lockdown health and fitness trip. Lockdown has shown the importance of daily healthy routines, like regular exercise, a healthy balanced diet and frequent downtime and relaxation, to maintain good mental health. Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists has seen an increase in new bookings for clients who are itching to get away to focus on improving and maintaining their health and fitness on holiday.

From sailing the dazzling waters of Montenegro to rediscovering your zen on the golden shores of the Algarve, these wellness holidays have everything you need to rest and recharge after a difficult few months. Throughout the pandemic, many of us have experienced increasing levels of stress, anxiety, insecurity, and feelings of a lack of control.

More people are now booking a heathy escape to combat these feelings and prevent future viruses. Wellness resorts shape their guests experience around nurturing services that are tailored to each individual need, boost well-being and reinforce the immune system.

Paul Joseph, Founder of Health and Fitness Travel says: “Our clients are actively seeking ways to enhance their health and fitness on the go. We have seen an increase in new bookings for travel at the end of 2020 and throughout 2021. During lockdown, the importance of diet, fitness and healthy practices has become clear and this reflects the values of today’s health-conscious consumers.”

Here are the 10 best post-lockdown trips to strengthen the immune system, clear the mind and increase overall well-being.

Reboot and Recharge: SHA Wellness Clinic Rebalance & Fitness, Spain

Continue the active lifestyle you have created in lockdown or begin your journey with this tailor-made exercise regime at SHA Wellness Clinic. Through a range of innovative approaches to well-being, SHA will help you to build up muscle, reduce fat and tone up. Improve your physical condition, strength and stamina with expert advice and guidance from personal trainers and doctors. You will leave feeing fully recharged and rejuvenated, with a boosted sense of overall well-being, ready to take on everyday life once again. 

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at SHA Wellness Clinic for £4,915pp. Price includes full board and a wellness programme.

Sail Away: Sailing Tour Montenegro

Has lockdown got you dreaming of sailing far away to distant shores? Relax on the calm Adriatic waters as you take in the beauty of Montenegro’s Balkan coast. Along the way, you will explore the crystal-clear shores of the Dalmatian coast, meander the ancient city walls of Kotor and take on the electric atmosphere of Buduva. Discover peace and tranquillity on Montenegro’s shores as you venture around this fascinating country.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers a 7-day Sailing Tour around Montenegro for £1,160pp.

Boost Emotional Wellbeing: Escape Ritual Space Retreat, Bali

If lockdown has made you want to step outside of the everyday and discover the limitless possibilities of the universe, the Space Retreat at Escape Ritual can help you do just that. Explore your spiritual side through healing experiences, horoscope, palm and tarot readings. Deepen your exploration of movement in space through yoga classes and guided meditation sessions, designed to help you uncover the space in and outside the body. Go in with an open mind and uncover the endless opportunities that await you!

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Escape Ritual for £1,740pp. Price includes full board and a wellness programme.

Doctor Doctor: Longevity Health & Wellness, Portugal

With panoramic views of the sweeping golden beaches and towering mountains that surround, Longevity is the perfect place to rebalance and regenerate. Beginning with a unique holistic health check, you will be expertly guided through a range of medical and spa treatments designed to bring you back to optimum health. You will return home with a renewed sense of vitality, assured in the knowledge that you have been restored to full health after a stressful and anxious few months.   

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 5 nights at Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel for £2,615pp. Price includes full board and a wellness programme.

Sleep on it: Santani Wellness Resort & Spa Sleep, Sri Lanka

If you’ve been struggling to maintain a regular sleeping pattern during lockdown, then why not try Santani’s Sleep programme, specifically designed to enhance your sleep quality. Set in the rolling green hills of Sri Lanka, there is no better place to find peace and tranquillity. Indulge in relaxation therapies, meditation and Hatha yoga that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Perfect for those who have felt the anxiety induced by lockdown, this programme aims to relive stresses, resulting in a better night’s sleep. 

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Santani Wellness Resort for £1,755pp. Price includes full board and a wellness programme.

Find Peace and Detox in the Country: Glass House Detox Retreat, UK

For those that have been overindulging during lockdown due to stress and boredom, escape to the tranquillity of the English countryside for a relaxing detox retreat. Rid yourself of harmful toxins in the body that cause lethargy, weight gain and skin problems. With interchangeable diet plans and body composition analyses determining treatments and therapies, this wellness programme is specifically tailored to your individual requirements. In your down time, unwind in the Himalayan salt block sauna or take a dip in the indoor pool.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Glasshouse Detox Retreat for £1,450pp. Price includes full board and a detox programme.

Get Fit in the Sun: The Fit Retreat, Fuerteventura

The perfect balance of glorious sunshine and intense workouts, The Fit Retreat in Fuerteventura caters to all your wellness holiday needs. With workouts, tasty nutrition, fun activities and relaxation, the retreat offers endless opportunities to make the most of your time on the island. With so much to do, one thing is for certain: you will never be bored! End your days watching the orange hue of the sun set over the volcano during a strength and flexibility focused yoga class. 

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The Fit Retreat for £1,155pp. Price includes full board and a fitness programme.

Strike a pose: Yoga & Wellness Retreat at Longevity Cegohna Country Club, Portugal

If you are looking to rediscover your zen post-lockdown, then look no further. This week-long yoga retreat in October with Yoga Master Trevor Laurency in the Algarve’s Golden Triangle is the perfect place to relax and recharge alongside other yogis. Providing the perfect combination of relaxation, yoga practice and pool/beach time, this yoga retreat is everything you need to restore after the stress of lockdown. After a calming yoga class, stroll down the golden beach and take in the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean before you.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Longevity Cegohna Country Club for £1,560pp. Price includes full board and a yoga programme.

Take a Transformative Wellness Trip: Wellness Tour Peru

To combat the sense of the mundane that has been a resounding theme of lockdown, why not take this seven-day wellness journey into the unknown and discover the hidden gems of Peru. Explore one of the new seven wonders of the world at Machu Picchu, trek through the Sacred Valley and hike along the Inca Trail. You will experience the local cuisine, as well as participating in fun wellness activities such as stand-up paddle boarding and a visit to the hot springs. 

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers a 7-day Wellness Tour around Peru for £1,500pp. Price includes breakfast.

Invigorating Fitness Holiday to Stay Trim and Healthy: The BNKR Fusion Fitness, Sri Lanka

Improve your strength and revitalise the body with a Fusion Fitness programme on this spectacular stretch of the Sri Lankan coast. Choose from a wide range of activities designed to reenergise the body and refocus the mind, perfect for those feeling the strains of burnout during lockdown. Kickstart the morning with a kettle bell workout, before unwinding with a yoga class on the beach. You will return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, with a renewed energy for life. 

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The BNKR for £1,715pp. Price includes full board and a fusion fitness programme.

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For further information and imagery please email ella@healthandfitnesstravel.com

Notes to Editors:

About Health and Fitness Travel

Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph as a result of his passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.

Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™, Mindful Triathlon™, BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit:www.healthandfitnesstravel.com 

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