Episode 2: The Train It Right Life - Just Get Started

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Train It Right Life. Just Get Started. On todays episode I talk about how passionate I am about achieving goals and how you can achieve anything you want if you simply just get started!

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Find Therapeutics, a new drug development company dedicated to breakthrough therapies against rare diseases launches in Montreal

The new company raises initial capital to develop transmembrane peptides against GPCRs to address high unmet needs.

MONTREAL, June 8, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - CTI Life Sciences, along with partners adMare BioInnovations, Domain Therapeutics and PeptiMimesis Pharma, have come together to establish a new Montreal-based drug discovery and development company, Find Therapeutics, dedicated to the development of the next generation of GPCR allosteric modulators to treat rare diseases. 

Now being launched with seed funding from CTI Life Sciences, adMare BioInnovations and Domain Therapeutics, and with an initial focus on inflammatory and fibrotic diseases of the airways, liver and gastrointestinal systems, Find Therapeutics is based on a set of novel technologies that capitalize on deciphering disease-modifying GPCR pharmacology: modulation by transmembrane peptides, precise ligand signalling, disease-contextual cellular systems and advanced molecular design. GPCRs represent one of the most important druggable target classes, yet their full potential remains underexploited due to poor understanding of their cellular signalling.

"We are very excited about building this new company based on an innovative approach to discover transmembrane GPCR drugs. We believe this approach will enable the discovery of new therapies that we will first apply to rare disease indications," said Dr. Laurence Rulleau Partner, CTI Life Sciences Fund, and President, Find Therapeutics. "We are also very proud of this partnership with members of the life science ecosystem bringing together multiple talents."

Find Therapeutics sourced an original transmembrane peptide-based-technology developed by PeptiMimesis Pharma in France, and a first transmembrane peptide product discovered at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The company will also benefit from bioSens-All^TM, a proprietary GPCR technology platform of Domain Therapeutics, operated by its Montreal-based site, which revolves around the spatiotemporal monitoring of GPCR proximal events directly linked to GPCR activation. The result is a unique drug discovery engine that forms the foundation of Find Therapeutics. 

Gordon C. McCauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of adMare BioInnovations, commented, "As Canada's global life sciences venture, an essential part of adMare's mission is to source therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale. This global partnership is an excellent example of how our model of collaboration is advancing new therapeutics and driving the growth of our Canadian life sciences industry."

"We are extremely pleased by the creation and financing of Find Therapeutics, which will use two technologies, developed under the leadership of Domain Therapeutics in France and in Quebec, to discover a novel class of therapeutic agents for the benefit of the patients," said Dr. Pascal Neuville, Chief Executive Officer of Domain Therapeutics. "As a major shareholder of PeptiMimesis Pharma, we are convinced that the transmembrane-peptide approach will be efficiently further developed in the rich biotech ecosystem of Montreal, a region which holds very valuable actors in the field – and the incorporation of Find Therapeutics is a nice illustration of this dynamic."

Dr. Marjorie Sidhoum, Chief Executive Officer of PeptiMimesis added, "As the first developer of the GPCR transmembrane peptide technology, PeptiMimesis is glad to see the advancement of this innovative therapeutic approach pursued by Find Therapeutics. All PeptiMimesis stakeholders are very excited to join this endeavour."

Dr. Youssef Bennani, Chief Scientific Officer of adMare BioInnovations, will also act as Find's Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr. Bennani brings a solid experience in pharmaceutical R&D, as well as business acumen and corporate governance tenure (Chairman of the BOD at Domain Therapeutics, and Board member at Bellus Health).  Trained as chemist, he most recently retired from Vertex Pharmaceuticals as Site Head and VP-R&D (Vertex Pharmaceuticals Canada), prior to which he had served as VP-Drug Innovation at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Cambridge, MA. He also had tenures at Athersys, Abbott (now AbbVie) and Ligand Pharmaceuticals.  He can be reached at ybennani@findtherapeutics.com.

Visit www.findtherapeutics.com for more details about Find Therapeutics.

About CTI Life Sciences:
Based in Montreal, CTI Life Sciences Fund L.P. was created in 2006. The firm makes venture capital investments mostly in innovative high-quality biotech companies at the pre-clinical and clinical development stages, in North America, and primarily in Canada. Since its second mandate in 2014, CTI Life Sciences Fund manages $245 million of assets. www.ctisciences.com

About Domain Therapeutics:
Domain Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of new drug candidates targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. With teams at work in France and Canada, Domain operates multiple technologies aimed at validating targets and discovering first-in-class therapies (small molecules or antibodies), creates a pipeline of high-value programs in immuno-oncology, neurology and rare diseases which are developed as proprietary programs up to early clinical phases or in collaboration with pharma partners.  www.domaintherapeutics.com

About adMare BioInnovations:
adMare BioInnovations is Canada's Global Life Sciences Venture, building the Canadian life sciences industry from sea to sea. We do this by sourcing therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale, providing specialized expertise and infrastructure to help existing companies scale up, and driving the growth of those companies into Canadian anchors by training the next generation of highly-qualified personnel. www.adMarebio.com

About PeptiMimesis:
PeptiMimesis is a start-up company dedicated to the identification and development of peptide based therapeutic approach as allosteric modulators of membrane receptors such as RTK and GPCRs. Its proprietary technology acts via a cutting-edge mode of action and is originated from University of Strasbourg. PeptiMimesis made the demonstration of its added value particularly for the family of GPCR targets. www.peptimimesis.com

SOURCE adMare BioInnovations

Artist Releases Coming-of-age Memoir Detailing Her Journey With Mental Illness And Disability

Long Island, NY, June 8, 2020 –It started as a college prank; a friend offered Ruth Poniarski a brownie that, unbeknownst to her, was laced with angel dust. What resulted was a debilitating accident, and the first of many mental breakdowns that spiraled into diagnoses of psychosis, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and bipolar disorder. 

Long Island native Ruth Poniarski has released her first book, Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist, published by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Warren Publishing. Poniarski’s unflinchingly honest memoir shares her coming-of-age story through the lenses of mental illness, disability, and steadfast determination. 

For years, Poniarski struggled to cope with her new reality as she undertook a rigorous architectural program, sought out new friends (and the perfect mate), and battled through the depths of mental illness. Her journey led her in all directions as she sought comfort, solace, stability and love.

Now an accomplished artist, Poniarski considers her memoir to be a portrait of sorts. “This book, like many of my paintings, is about introspection,” she says. “So many of us, particularly when we’re young, seek definition through labels or through what others think of us. It’s so easy to say, ‘I have bipolar disorder, therefore, X’ or ‘So and so doesn’t love me the way I love him, therefore, Y.’ But none of that is who we truly are.” 

The release of Poniarski’s memoir is particularly timely in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing orders. “A lot of people are stuck at home right now. This kind of isolation forces a person to examine themselves; what makes them unique beyond who they are to society,” says Poniarski. “That kind of self-reflection allows us to become more available to others. You have to know yourself first.” 

“So, who am I?” Poniarski laughs. “Well … you’ll just have to read the book!” 

For more information about Ruth Poniarski or her book, please visit: ruthponiarski.com. 

Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist

222 pages/Paperback/$15.95

ISBN: 978-1734707557

Available at warrenpublishing.net, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or wherever books are sold.

Stay Frosty this Summer with an All-New Collection of Good Dee’s “Just Add Water” Frosting Mixes Featuring No Added Sugars  

Naturally sweetened Cream Cheese, White Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate frosting varieties are rich, creamy, and simple to make with just 3 tablespoons of water

NEW YORK – (June 8th, 2020): Good Dee’s whips up the perfect treat for health-conscious frosting lovers with an all-new, patent-pending Just Add Water collection of low-carb, deliciously simple mixes sweetened with low-calorie allulose and erythritol. Founded and led by native Texan-turned-New Yorker Deana Karim, Good Dee’s delivers a wide selection of full-flavored, low-carb baking mixes and pantry essentials. Using only the highest-quality, innovative ingredients and no added sugar, the clean-eating company proudly offers options compatible with most diets, including gluten, soy, wheat and nut. Now, enjoy the endless possibilities of all-new Just Add Water frosting mixes - including Cream Cheese Frosting, White Chocolate Frosting, and Dark Chocolate Frosting - ideal for cakes, dips, ganaches, hot chocolate, and more.   

Free of gluten and maltitol, Good Dee’s Just Add Water frosting mixes are a delight for the tastebuds and a cleaner approach to baking. The Cream Cheese variety is sugar alcohol-free and sweetened with allulose, a low-glycemic alternative found naturally in dried fruit that offers a similar taste and texture to sugar. The White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate varieties are sweetened with erythritol, a naturally occurring, low-calorie sugar substitute.  Simply combine Just Add Water frosting mix with 3 tablespoons of water to enjoy a creamy treat that pairs perfectly with desserts, dips, beverages, or picnic spreads, and stays just-whipped fresh for up to one week in the fridge.    

Cream Cheese Frosting features just 60 calories (455 calories for the total batch) and 1g net carbs per serving, delivering a rich, unmistakable cream cheese flavor that pairs perfectly with carrot cake, sweet apples, or salty pretzels. White Chocolate Frosting features just 35 calories (420 for the total batch) and 1g net carbs, working well as a delectable whipped cream replacement alongside key lime, green apples, or sea salt caramel. Dark Chocolate Frosting features just 25 calories and 2g net carbs per serving (300 for the total batch), offering up an ideal complement to mint, fresh banana, or tart berries. Each mix offers 13 delectable servings and around 35 calories per 2 tablespoons. 

Featuring nothing but real, honest ingredients, discover the full collection of delectable Good Dee’s all-in-one baking mixes (just $11.99 each) and health-conscious pantry staples at select natural food stores, supermarket chains, and independent grocery stores nationwide. Explore new Cream Cheese Frosting, White Chocolate Frosting, and Dark Chocolate Frosting Just Add Water mixes, along with tantalizing baking mixes like Blueberry Pancake and Low-Carb Chocolate Brownie, at GoodDees.com. Get inspired by innovative clean eating recipes and baking ideas to satisfy every craving on Instagram @GoodDeesMix. 

About Good Dee’s:

Created and founded by native Texan-turned-New Yorker Deana Karim, Good Dee’s proves that health-conscious living and decadent indulgence really do mix. Give in to cravings guilt-free with Good Dee’s complete collection of baking mixes designed for low-carb, restricted, and special diets. The tasty solution to a lifetime of deprivation and struggle with weight gain, Good Dee’s offers innovative, full-flavor mixes free of gluten, soy, wheat, and added sugar. Also available in nut-free brownie, blondies, chocolate snack cake, and muffin mix. Learn more and shop all flavors and varieties - priced at just $11.99 each - online at GoodDees.com. Find inspirational recipes and baking ideas on Instagram @GoodDeesMix.

Westerlay Orchids Partners with the Fresh Produce & Floral Council and Produce Marketing Association to Send Thousands of Blooms to COVID-19 Frontline Workers

    Joined by two of the industry’s largest global organizations, the Carpintera-based cultivator nears its goal of donating 100,000 orchids to California’s essential businesses

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (June 8th, 2020): Carpinteria-based Westerlay Orchids announces partnerships with two of the industry’s largest organizations: the Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). For three generations, Westerlay Orchids has proudly cultivated some of the Pacific Coast’s finest blooms while remaining committed to sustainability, innovation, and giving back. During COVID-19 lockdown, the company partnered with the FPFC and PMA, in addition to other local and national organizations, successfully gifting thousands of orchids to frontline workers statewide through their Box of Orchids program and the “100,000 Orchid Challenge.”  

“We want to express our sincere appreciation to the FPFC and PMA for their partnership in support of Westerlay Orchids and the floral industry,” says company President Toine Overgaag. The FPFC (www.FPFC.org) connects produce and floral growers, shippers, wholesalers, brokers, distributors, and retailers with valuable resources and networking opportunities to successfully expand their businesses and advance the industry. Dedicated to community involvement, the organization also helps to bring healthy eating options and access to agricultural resources into California schools, and assisted Westerlay Orchids in donating 6,300 orchids to the staff at Los Angeles-based cancer treatment and research center City of Hope (www.CityofHope.org). 

Similarly, the PMA (www.PMA.com) serves to support the global produce and floral sector, providing opportunities to build strategic relationships, share information, and discover cutting-edge industry developments. With a consistent focus on contributing to community growth and prosperity, the PMA joined Westerlay Orchids in their “100,000 Orchids Challenge” to inspire and support COVID-19 frontline workers throughout California. 

Explore Westerlay Orchids’ sustainably-cultivated, stunning collection and learn more about Box of Orchids at www.BoxOfOrchids.com. Contact Leigh-Anne Anderson of Anderson PR atleighanne@anderson-pr.com to book an exclusive interview with Westerlay Orchids President Toine Overgaag. Follow on Instagram @WesterlayOrchids to discover the latest company news and see how Toine and his team are giving back during the COVID-19 crisis. 

About Westerlay Orchids:

Based in beautiful Carpinteria, California, Westerlay Orchids is proud to serve as Southern California’s largest commercial orchid grower. The company annually distributes over 3 million orchids directly to customers and to local and national supermarket chains, as well as florists and designers. Westerlay Orchids is a pioneer in environmental and sustainability practices and regularly contributes to local schools, nonprofit organizations, and many other community causes. Visit www.WesterlayOrchids.com to learn more about the third-generation, family-run company.

Q&A WITH EILEEN SILVERBERG, AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK

A WARRIOR OF LIGHT: A GUIDE OF INNER WISDOM FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

Question: Tell us what A Warrior of Light is all about:

Eileen Silverberg: A Warrior of Light tells the story of my journey as caregiver for my mother after her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, and all the lessons I learned along the way. It unpacks how I worked through feelings of guilt, bitterness and overwhelm to a place of joy. Through A Warrior of Light, I hope to guide all types of caregivers as they face the challenges that come with the role, and help them to relinquish self-sabotage, deepen their spiritual practices, engage in self-care, and ultimately find their own “Inner Warrior.”

Q: What prompted you to want to write A Warrior of Light?

Silverberg: Four years ago, I decided to move my mom, Tuti, from her natal Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida, where I have lived for over twenty years with my husband and daughter, so I could care for her as her Alzheimer’s progressed. Being an only child without any family members living in the same state put an incredible amount of pressure on me. I didn’t have any idea at the moment I made the decision to move my mom that I was about to develop an extreme amount of courage and transform my own life. Eventually after a lot of spiritual searching, I found a place of peace with my caregiving journey, and I wanted to share that with others.

Q: What exactly makes someone a “Warrior of Light?”

Silverberg: The meaning of a warrior is “a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.” A Warrior of Light is that person, that soldier, who takes her role as a servant leader with intention. Who wants to shed light into her own life as well as those she loves. Who feels entrusted to lead and care for their flock but also to care for herself. A Warrior of Light is the one who trains everyday and can go to be strong for those depending on them and herself. A Warrior of Light is the one who knows and expects to get their bums kicked but also knows they are strong enough to get up to care for those who can not care themselves. A Warrior of Light is the one who works persistently and patiently without giving up for the well being of their loved ones. A Warrior of Light is the one who holds the light in the midst of adversity.

Q: In the book you talk a lot about Ho’oponopono. What is this, and how did it help you?

Silverberg: Ho’oponopono to me is a philosophy of life. It has made my spiritual doctrine more meaningful. It is known by Hawaiians as the healing practice of forgiveness. It is a practice that calls you into viewing all that happens around you as 100% your responsibility. It encourages us to discover the Divine essence within us. Ho in Hawaiian means to “do” and Pono means “correct” In Hawaiian when two words are double, it means you must emphasize the action.

Thus, to do correct, virtuous, just, honorable. In order to remind us of our divine essence, some words, mantras are meant to be repeated to trigger that best version of yourself.

Q: You also talk about self-care, but say it is more than just taking a bubble bath from time to time. What do you really mean by true self-care?

Silverberg: All my life I have been interested in what makes people thrive under challenging circumstances. I came to understand that the power lies in the courage to take care of our needs first. Of having the courage to say YES to ourselves more often. When we give permission to say YES to ourselves more often the results are extraordinary. It is so refreshing and liberating to release the people pleaser and perfectionism syndrome. Self Care is about taking the decision to care for your mental, body and spiritual being. Self Care starts by creating rituals and routines to allow yourself to fill up your cup with balance in order for you to serve as a leader in your home, work, or community in a healthy, powerful way.

Q: You talk a lot about breaking down “generational customs” in relation to caring for aging parents. Talk to us about that, and how it relates to your own experience.

Silverberg: We tend to do many things because that is the way we are told to do them. In my experience, I needed to honor my Mother, my family and myself. Researching, contemplating and deciding on other ways or venues of care for my mother was and is against what people, specially, the Latin culture views as correct. “As loving, as being a good daughter.” I want to break those patterns. These are patterns that must of the time we teach our children and they go from generation to generation. Most of the time, these patterns are taught to our children through guilt and shame. Deciding to find a place for my mom was difficult, painful but there is no question due to her debilitating condition, it was necessary and the best decision for us. The key is knowing and understanding what lies behind your intention. If it is love most likely you are divinely guided.

Q: Deciding to place your mom in a home was a difficult decision, but you say you know you made the best choice. How can others determine what the best choice is for their own family member in a similar situation?

Silverberg: First, their diagnosis. The progression of their illness (can she walk, can she be attended to in your home, if there is any aggression). What the future looks like for your parents and for you and your family. Second, Your professional life. Third, how often do you travel? I do not endorse placing your parents in a skilled facility but I do endorse that we must allow and give permission to explore all available options that are available to us without guilt, without shame.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from A Warrior of Light?

Silverberg: That courage has a certain behavior. Sometimes it is loud as a roar and sometimes it is silent. That a Warrior of Light has the great responsibility and the assignment to listen well to our call and mission. In moments like this, we are called to practice empathy with those we love and with ourselves, that we must create hope within reason to those we love, and that our intentions must be watched and evaluated at all times. I want my readers to know that it is possible to get up from a battle and redefine joy and happiness. I want my readers to know that mind set matters in all we do. In order for us to rise from difficulties, and rise as Warriors of Light we must show up well for ourselves and those we love. I want my readers to know that when we are entrusted with difficult challenges we must remind ourselves of our strength and our vision and our loving intentions. 

EILEEN SILVERBERG is a Life Coach in Emotional Management. Her mission is to help those who are struggling with life event transitions & crisis to recuperate control of their lives. Through her powerful methodology people can deal, manage, and balance their life in a more positive and healthy way. Eileen has been taking care of her mother with Alzheimer’s for over seven years and has taught and presented lectures for the Alzheimer’s Association on self –care and meditation practices. She felt inspired to write A Warrior of Light after experiencing deep physical and mental benefits integrating her unique methodology. Eileen became a skillful meditation leader for professional caregivers. She has successfully conducted on-going sessions for staff in the most highly ranked nursing and rehabilitation nursing centers in South Florida.

She is the founder and creator of E.S. Being Aloha Soul Meditation, which mixes movement with meditation. In 2018, E.S. Being Aloha Soul Meditation was granted it's own trademark. When she isn’t inspiring other caregivers, she works in the two luxury wine boutiques that she and her husband own in Florida and enjoys going to the beach, hiking, traveling, and playing with her two Chihuahuas. She hopes that her readers will learn to release the guilt, forgive themselves, and act with love and kindness towards themselves and the one they care for.

For more information, visit www.eileensilverberg.com or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

A Warrior of Light is available on Amazon, and wherever books are sold.
 

ChristianaCare develops telehealth Employee COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Testing Program for businesses and employers 

COVID, Recession, Unemployment, Race Riots, and An upcoming Election.

Do You Need A Therapist? These 5 Signs Point to Yes

www.comprehendthemind.com

COVID, Recession, Unemployment, Race Riots, and an upcoming election -- 2020 has set out to stress out even the most stable minded among us. Even those full of optimism cannot help but become depressed or anxious during one or more of these circumstances and need help beyond what a trusted friend or loved one can provide. 

So many of us right now may be asking ourselves -- "Am I in need of a therapist?" How can we tell when it is time to find a professional to help us process the things we are going through? To walk us through some of the signs we should be observing, we have Dr. Sanam Hafeez, who is an NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist with a faculty appointment at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher's College. Dr. Hafeez is also the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services. 

Here are five signs you may benefit from working through some of your stress and anxieties with a therapist:

You are indulging is high-risk coping conduct.

You are not abnormal if you develop coping mechanisms that are not always the healthiest. Many people struggle to find healthy and productive ways to unravel their issues, and this doesn't mean they are bad people, or that their stress cannot be soothed. If you find yourself, masking or ignoring your core issues, by medicating with sex, drugs, alcohol or other behaviors that put you or people you love in harm's way, you may find that therapy can provide tools for you to help with pivoting your experience in a more positive direction. Anytime you attempt to "escape" your problems with substances, or momentary pleasures, you are just shortly forgetting about them. But our issues have a way of resurfacing until we deal with them and find a more hopeful approach to life. 

You are sleeping too little or too much.

Grief and depression can often sink someone into a mental space where the thought of getting out of bed, working, or even enjoying themselves is a farfetched concept. For other people, stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil can manifest in the other extreme of the spectrum. These people cannot fall asleep. They tuck themselves in only to find their mind active into late hours of the night revisiting issues repeatedly. So they get up and start cleaning, working, or distracting themselves on their phones for hours into the next morning. Again, oversleeping or distracting ourselves so far that we don't sleep at all is a coping strategy that we must observe and work through. Therapy can help you better understand your thoughts and as well as the reasons why sleep has become such an issue. Through therapy, you can address the core situation, helping you relieve yourself of side-effects that could be caused by too much sleep or too little rest. 

Most of your mental energy goes into focusing on your flaws. 

2020 is difficult enough without you constantly counting your shortcomings. If your moments of thought are saturated with self-doubt, remorse, and self-disparagement, therapy can help you navigate some of the things that you have not had an opportunity to work through. Perhaps you find yourself drifting off into negative thoughts and self-disparaging inner monologues, and this can be a sign that you've fallen into a cycle of self-defeating consciousness. A therapist can listen to your perception of yourself and talk through some of the ways in which you can break this cycle of what can often become self-sabotage. 

You are physically manifesting the turmoil you feel inside.

If you find that you are a healthy person but have fallen into feeling physically fatigued, faint, and or experience stomach aches, twitches, or trembles when certain situations or topics arise, you can benefit from speaking to a therapist. Therapists screen patients to see if perhaps there are signs of chemical imbalances that may be causing these physical reactions and sensations. It is important once you make the decision to start therapy that you are honest with your doctor about the physical manifestation you are experiencing. A good therapist will ask purposeful questions as part of your onboarding that helps in assessing some of these occurrences. 

You are overwhelmed enough that you neglect your duties or loved ones. 

The human mind has a finite supply of energy, and the weight of our issues can lead us to neglect things we know we are capable of accomplishing. This can wear down your stamina, your effectiveness, and your ability to focus. You can find yourself preoccupied to the extent that you become forgetful and nervous. This can affect your work, your family, and your goals. A therapist can help you find ways of centering yourself and process the things that are crowding your thoughts. With as stressful a year as 2020 has been, our minds can easily be overwhelmed with concern for the economy, issues pertaining to social justice, health-risks and pandemic, and the state of the environment, to name a few. 

Why is there such a stigma about realizing you could benefit from consulting a therapist? 

Dr. Hafeez explains that we are living through some of the most stressful times in modern history. "Self-care and mental health go hand in hand and right now our psychological state is under pressure not just because of problems in our personal lives, but also with the current state of the world. It isn't the time to keep yourself from something you think you may benefit from, such as therapy, because of stigma," explains Dr. Sanam Hafeez. There is a perception that going to therapy makes you weak or crazy, but Dr. Hafeez flips this notion saying that "having the determination to deal with your issues instead of letting stress overwhelm you is a brave thing to do." Seeking therapy is a self-loving action to take. 

About Dr. Sanam Hafeez:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via Instagram @drsanamhafeez or www.comprehendthemind.com

Find Therapeutics, a new drug development company dedicated to breakthrough therapies against rare diseases launches in Montreal

The new company raises initial capital to develop transmembrane peptides against GPCRs to address high unmet needs.

Canada – [June 8, 2020]: CTI Life Sciences, along with partners adMare BioInnovations, Domain Therapeutics and PeptiMimesis Pharma, have come together to establish a new Montreal-based drug discovery and development company, Find Therapeutics, dedicated to the development of the next generation of GPCR allosteric modulators to treat rare diseases. 

Now being launched with seed funding from CTI Life Sciences, adMare BioInnovations and Domain Therapeutics, and with an initial focus on inflammatory and fibrotic diseases of the airways, liver and gastrointestinal systems, Find Therapeutics is based on a set of novel technologies that capitalize on deciphering disease-modifying GPCR pharmacology: modulation by transmembrane peptides, precise ligand signalling, disease-contextual cellular systems and advanced molecular design. GPCRs represent one of the most important druggable target classes, yet their full potential remains underexploited due to poor understanding of their cellular signalling.

“We are very excited about building this new company based on an innovative approach to discover transmembrane GPCR drugs. We believe this approach will enable the discovery of new therapies that we will first apply to rare disease indications,” said Dr. Laurence Rulleau Partner, CTI Life Sciences Fund, and President, Find Therapeutics. “We are also very proud of this partnership with members of the life science ecosystem bringing together multiple talents.”

Find Therapeutics sourced an original transmembrane peptide-based-technology developed by PeptiMimesis Pharma in France, and a first transmembrane peptide product discovered at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The company will also benefit from bioSens-All^TM, a proprietary GPCR technology platform of Domain Therapeutics, operated by its Montreal-based site, which revolves around the spatiotemporal monitoring of GPCR proximal events directly linked to GPCR activation. The result is a unique drug discovery engine that forms the foundation of Find Therapeutics. 

Gordon C. McCauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of adMare BioInnovations, commented, “As Canada’s global life sciences venture, an essential part of adMare’s mission is to source therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale. This global partnership is an excellent example of how our model of collaboration is advancing new therapeutics and driving the growth of our Canadian life sciences industry.”

“We are extremely pleased by the creation and financing of Find Therapeutics, which will use two technologies, developed under the leadership of Domain Therapeutics in France and in Quebec, to discover a novel class of therapeutic agents for the benefit of the patients,” said Dr. Pascal Neuville, Chief Executive Officer of Domain Therapeutics. “As a major shareholder of PeptiMimesis Pharma, we are convinced that the transmembrane-peptide approach will be efficiently further developed in the rich biotech ecosystem of Montreal, a region which holds very valuable actors in the field – and the incorporation of Find Therapeutics is a nice illustration of this dynamic.”

Dr. Marjorie Sidhoum, Chief Executive Officer of PeptiMimesis added, “As the first developer of the GPCR transmembrane peptide technology, PeptiMimesis is glad to see the advancement of this innovative therapeutic approach pursued by Find Therapeutics. All PeptiMimesis stakeholders are very excited to join this endeavour.”

Dr. Youssef Bennani, Chief Scientific Officer of adMare BioInnovations, will also act as Find’s Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr. Bennani brings a solid experience in pharmaceutical R&D, as well as business acumen and corporate governance tenure (Chairman of the BOD at Domain Therapeutics, and Board member at Bellus Health).  Trained as chemist, he most recently retired from Vertex Pharmaceuticals as Site Head and VP-R&D (Vertex Pharmaceuticals Canada), prior to which he had served as VP-Drug Innovation at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Cambridge, MA. He also had tenures at Athersys, Abbott (now AbbVie) and Ligand Pharmaceuticals.  He can be reached at ybennani@findtherapeutics.com.

Visit www.findtherapeutics.com for more details about Find Therapeutics.

– 30 –

About CTI Life Sciences:

Based in Montreal, CTI Life Sciences Fund L.P. was created in 2006. The firm makes venture capital investments mostly in innovative high-quality biotech companies at the pre-clinical and clinical development stages, in North America, and primarily in Canada. Since its second mandate in 2014, CTI Life Sciences Fund manages $245 million of assets. www.ctisciences.com

About Domain Therapeutics:

Domain Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of new drug candidates targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. With teams at work in France and Canada, Domain operates multiple technologies aimed at validating targets and discovering first-in-class therapies (small molecules or antibodies), creates a pipeline of high-value programs in immuno-oncology, neurology and rare diseases which are developed as proprietary programs up to early clinical phases or in collaboration with pharma partners.  www.domaintherapeutics.com

About adMare BioInnovations:

adMare BioInnovations is Canada’s Global Life Sciences Venture, building the Canadian life sciences industry from sea to sea. We do this by sourcing therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale, providing specialized expertise and infrastructure to help existing companies scale up, and driving the growth of those companies into Canadian anchors by training the next generation of highly-qualified personnel. www.adMarebio.com

About PeptiMimesis:

PeptiMimesis is a start-up company dedicated to the identification and development of peptide based therapeutic approach as allosteric modulators of membrane receptors such as RTK and GPCRs. Its proprietary technology acts via a cutting-edge mode of action and is originated from University of Strasbourg. PeptiMimesis made the demonstration of its added value particularly for the family of GPCR targets. www.peptimimesis.com