Health Products Stewardship Association Welcomes New Director General, Terri Drover

OTTAWA, May 22, 2020 /CNW/ - After leading the Health Product Stewardship Association (HPSA) for more than 15 years, Ginette Vanasse will be retiring this summer.

HPSA announced that its board of directors has secured Terri Drover as Director-General to lead the HPSA starting June 1, 2020.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Drover's calibre and experience to lead HPSA through our next chapter," said Mark Nykolaichuk, Chair of the HPSA Board. "We look forward to leveraging her leadership experience to successfully implement our strategy and take advantage of the opportunities ahead."

Terri Drover is a 30-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry with a proven track record of execution. She is a strong communicator who is customer focused with deep leadership capabilities. Her breadth of experience includes healthcare, sales and marketing, regulatory, government relations and distribution. She has broad exposure to board participation both professionally and through her volunteer activities.

Drover said, "I am honoured and excited to lead the HPSA team. I am committed to this important cause of sustainability and stewardship. I believe these matters to us all, both professionally and personally."

The HPSA Board would like to thank Ginette for her dedication and relentless spirit in creating a model not-for-profit organization. The HPSA Board is extremely proud of her many successes that have grown the association from its inception (under the direction of our three founding members RxA, CGPA and CHP Canada) to an association that represents more than 148 industry members. The HPSA has become a known entity in the stewardship industry such that international agencies are seeking insight from Ginette and the team she has assembled.

Ginette expressed the following "I have enjoyed the many opportunities to engage our members and the industry. With your unwavering support and financial contributions, you have helped to forge the way for a highly successful medication take back and sharp collection programs throughout the years. You have been instrumental in the growth of HPSA and provided direction with the ever-changing landscape for Extended Producers Responsibility Programs. I thank you all for your commitment and the opportunity to serve HPSA. I sincerely hope the new Director-General will enjoy similar support and commitment experienced during my tenure with HPSA."

SOURCE Health Products Stewardship Association

OFEV® (nintedanib) now available in Canada for adults living with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILD)(1)

• OFEV^® is the first treatment available in Canada for progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILD), which affects patients across a wide variety of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs)²
• It is estimated that 18 to 32% of patients diagnosed with chronic ILDs develop a progressive fibrosing phenotype³
• OFEV^® slowed lung function decline in PF-ILD patients by 57% compared to placebo⁴

BURLINGTON, ON, May 25, 2020 /CNW/ - Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. announced today that OFEV^® (nintedanib) is authorized for sale by Health Canada for the treatment of other chronic fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) with a progressive phenotype (also known as progressive fibrosing ILD).⁵ Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass more than 200 disorders that can lead to irreversible scarring of lung tissue, negatively impacting lung function.⁶ An estimated 18 to 32 per cent of patients with ILDs will develop a progressive fibrosing course of the disease.⁷ This new indication now makes OFEV^® available for patients with progressive fibrosing ILDs in which lung fibrosis continues to worsen.⁸

"Progressive fibrosing ILDs have a significant impact on patients, including worsening lung function and lessening quality of life," says Dr. Martin Kolb, a respirologist at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Director, Division of Respirology at McMaster University, and clinical investigator in the INBUILD^® trial. "With this new indication, we now have a therapeutic option to help improve outcomes in ILD patients across the spectrum."

The new indication is based on the INBUILD^® trial, the first Phase III trial in the field of ILDs to group patients based on the clinical behavior of their disease rather than the primary clinical diagnosis.⁹ Results showed that OFEV^® slowed the rate of lung function decline by 57 per cent across the overall study population.¹⁰

"As a leader in the field of ILD research, Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to developing innovative treatments to make a significant difference to patients' lives," says Dr. Uli Brödl, Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. "Until today, there was no available treatment for PF-ILD; OFEV^® offers new hope for patients suffering from these devastating diseases."

OFEV^®, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits key pathways involved in lung fibrosis in ILDs,¹¹ is also indicated for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated ILD (SSc-ILD) –  two types of ILDs.¹²

"Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (CPFF) is pleased to see a treatment for patients with progressive fibrosing ILD (PF-ILD), which often leads to irreversible damage to their lungs and makes it difficult to breathe and do everyday tasks," says Sharon Lee, Executive Director, CPFF. "Canadian patients with progressive ILDs now have access to a therapeutic option and the hope it brings to focus on life beyond their diagnosis." 

About the INBUILD^® Trial 
The INBUILD^® trial, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial conducted at 153 sites in 15 countries that evaluated the efficacy and safety of OFEV^® (150 mg, twice-daily) over 52 weeks in patients with chronic fibrosing ILDs with a progressive phenotype.¹³ A total of 663 patients were evaluated, of whom 412 (62.1 per cent) had a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-like pattern on high-resolution CT (HRCT).¹⁴ Randomization of patients was based on the fibrotic patterns as detected through HRCT. Lung function was assessed by the annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC), which is an established measurement of lung function.¹⁵

Results showed that OFEV^® slowed the loss of pulmonary function by 57 per cent (107 mL/year) across a range of patients relative to placebo. In patients with UIP-like fibrotic pattern on HRCT, results showed that treatment with OFEV^®-versus placebo slowed the loss of pulmonary function by 61 per cent (128.2mL/year).¹⁶ 

In this trial, the safety and tolerability profile of OFEV^® was consistent with what was previously seen in IPF studies, with the most common adverse reaction being diarrhea.¹⁷

Both the FDA and Health Canada have authorized the use of OFEV^® in PF-ILD. This new indication is a part of the company's ongoing commitment to improving the lives of people living with ILDs.

Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. 
Making new and better medicines for humans and animals is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to create breakthrough therapies that change lives. Since its founding in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is independent and family-owned. We have the freedom to pursue our long-term vision, looking ahead to identify the health challenges of the future and targeting those areas of need where we can do the most good.

As a world-leading, research-driven pharmaceutical company, more than 51,000 employees create value through innovation daily for our three business areas: Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. In 2019, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of 19 billion euros. Our significant investment of almost 3.5 billion euros in R&D drives innovation, enabling the next generation of medicines that save lives and improve quality of life.

We realize more scientific opportunities by embracing the power of partnership and diversity of experts across the life-science community. By working together, we accelerate the delivery of the next medical breakthrough that will transform the lives of patients now, and in generations to come.

The Canadian headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim was established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec and is now located in Burlington, Ontario. Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 600 people across Canada.

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found at www.boehringer-ingelheim.ca or in our annual report: http://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.          

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.

SaNOtize Phase II COVID Prevention and Treatment Trial Underway in BC, Quebec Enrolment to Begin June 1

VANCOUVER, May 25, 2020 /CNW/ - SaNOtize Research and Development Corporation ("SaNOtize" or "the company") today announced it enrolled its first participant on May 12, 2020 in a multi-centre Phase II trial of its Nitric Oxide Releasing Solution (NORS^TM) for the prevention and early treatment of COVID-19. The Company is continuing enrolment in British Columbia and will initiate enrolment in Quebec on June 1. 

SaNOtize is seeking a total of 210 individuals for the trial. Eligible participants include people who have either tested positive for COVID-19, or who are at high risk of becoming infected, such as front-line healthcare workers or people sharing a household with others who have tested positive. Working with BCDiabetes, SaNOtize has outfitted a mobile testing unit staffed by two research coordinators. The mobile unit can travel to a participant's location to ease access and ensure proper safety protocols and physical distancing.

"We are focused on testing frontline healthcare workers and other people at greatest risk from COVID-19," said SaNOtize co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Chris Miller. "We encourage healthcare professionals, facility operators and individuals who believe they or others may be eligible for the clinical trial to contact us immediately."

For more information on eligibility and enrolment in the trial in BC, call 604-628-2395 or email nors@bcdiabetes.ca.

The Company also announced that it will receive advisory services and up to $400,000 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). This is in addition to a recent oversubscribed equity offering from current and new investors. SaNOtize will use the funds to help advance COVID/Flu treatment and prevention towards fast regulatory approval.  The company has initiated a new equity offering to accelerate additional COVID-19 trials in the United States.

"We thank our investors and especially NRC IRAP for its support in helping drive the Company forward in the most efficient and effective way," said Dr. Gilly Regev, SaNOtize CEO and co-founder. "We are thrilled to have NRC IRAP's support in this critical effort."

SaNOtize announced on April 22 an approval from Health Canada to conduct a multi-centre Phase II prevention and efficacy trial for a front-line antiviral prevention and early treatment for use against COVID-19. Tests conducted by an independent antiviral research institute based in the United States confirm NORS inactivated more than 99.9% of SARs-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, within two minutes, in laboratory tests. 

SaNOtize has been evaluating nitric oxide (NO), a naturally occurring nanomolecule, as a first-in-class drug with the potential to be used as a topical antimicrobial agent to treat a wide variety of bacterial, viral and fungal diseases, including chronic sinusitis, diabetic foot ulcer and COVID-19. The company has been granted US and EU patents on NORS and is testing ready-to-use, inexpensive and rapidly-scalable applications delivered through gargle solutions, nasal spray and nasal lavage. 

For more information about SaNOtize, please visit its website or download its discussion paper.

About SaNOtize
SaNOtize Research & Development Corp. is a biotech company based in Vancouver, BC working to commercialize the multi-faceted antimicrobial properties of a liquid producing nitric oxide. The company has developed and patented a Nitric Oxide Releasing Solution platform technology (NORS^TM) to treat and prevent microbial infections. 

SOURCE SaNOtize Research and Development Corporation

This Memorial Day, NC Advocates Ask Sens. Tillis & Burr to Honor The Sacrifices of Veterans and Their Families

ACA repeal — supported by Sens. Tillis and Burr — would rip coverage away from hundreds of thousands of veterans, jeopardizing their health care in the midst of a public health crisis 

Raleigh, NC – On Memorial Day, Piedmont Rising Executive Director, Casey Wilkinson, made the following statement in honor of North Carolina’s lost military members, veterans, and their families:

“As we salute the ultimate sacrifice of the women and men of the U.S. military, made in defense of our most fundamental freedoms, we hope that this Memorial Day will serve as a reminder to honor those who, as Lincoln said, 'gave the last full measure of devotion' to defend our wellbeing by ensuring that those who did come home have access to quality, affordable health care.  

“More than 23,000 veterans in North Carolina rely on the Affordable Care Act, but if Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr had their way, these veterans and their families could lose access to the health care they need. 

“’Thank you for your service,’ is a catchphrase that we hear often from lawmakers on Memorial Day. We owe so much to those that risk their lives for this country and the least we can do is demand that our leaders ensure that those that have served receive the care and benefits they deserve, and that means quality, affordable healthcare. It’s simple: repealing the Affordable Care Act will punish veterans – rather than thank them for their service. Today, Senators Tillis and Burr have the opportunity to not only honor those who gave their lives to serve our country, but they have the responsibility to support those that returned home and help make our communities strong.” 

###

About Piedmont Rising

Piedmont Rising is a 501 (c)4 issue advocacy organization built by and for North Carolinians to advocate for lower insurance premiums and prescription drug costs and to ensure that more people have access to safe and affordable health care. Through grassroots organizing, education, and engagement, we are amplifying our health care stories and holding our elected officials accountable to the people, and issues they were elected to represent. www.piedmontrising.org

Medical Confidence Tool Offers Canadians Personal Road Map to COVID-19

My Health MaP navigation helps address uncertainty created by COVID-19, providing self-assessment tool, personal care plan and testing locator 

TORONTO, May 25, 2020 /CNW/ - The volume, complexity and trustworthiness of information related to COVID-19 can often feel overwhelming, leaving many Canadians confused and uncertain about how to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Unfortunately, estimates suggest that this may be the case for some time, particularly as Canadians return to work and increase public interaction.

Today, Medical Confidence is pleased to launch a free COVID-19 navigation tool designed to help Canadians better understand their virus-related risk and help them decide if they should stay home, self-isolate and/or be tested. As restrictions on workplace and physical interaction decrease, it will be necessary for people to constantly assess their own health. It is more imperative than ever that people have access to consolidated clinical information that can empower them to manage their health and risk. 

Medical Confidence's COVID-19 Navigation is an easy-to-use online tool that walks Canadians through a self-assessment, providing them an explanation of the illness and related risks, and a personalized care plan to protect themselves, their home, workplace, and others. If required, the tool offers navigation to a clinical assessment and/or testing.

"Canadians are starting to return to the workplace and integrate back into a modified, guarded "normal" with increased public interactions. This can create anxiety, uncertainty and the need for individuals to feel empowered by managing and navigating their own health issues, if they arise," says Angela Johnson, President and Founder, Medical Confidence. 

According to health authorities, we can expect this continuous change in information and guidelines to carry on for the next 12 to 18 months. 

"There are a number of services being introduced to support wellbeing, but we wanted to develop a tool that would help individuals manage their health concerns and risks, by having easy access to the latest and most relevant COVID-19 guidelines based on their personal situation and location." 

As the pandemic moves through various phases over the next number of months and even years, access to up-to-date information will continue to be important to Canadians. Medical Confidence's tool aims to support Canadians throughout the duration of the acute crisis and beyond.

Medical Confidence's COVID-19 Navigation uniquely synthesizes and continuously updates valuable information taken from fragmented sources, delivering it in a way that is easy for individuals to understand and use. 

The depth of information and support available through this assessment tool reflects Medical Confidence's deep expertise and long-standing experience supporting access to appropriate care. 

Medical Confidence's COVID Navigation is part of the company's My Health MaP platform, an always-on, self-serve healthcare navigation tool that helps individuals who are ill or experiencing the early onset of symptoms access personal, real-time information about specialist care and other timely healthcare resources in their community and across Canada.

"At Medical Confidence we are proud to apply our patient navigation expertise and public healthcare knowledge to help Canadians during this crisis," says Johnson. "We have 11 years' experience helping individuals access Canada's public healthcare system and felt it was our responsibility to help." 

About Medical Confidence

Established in 2009 and headquartered in Ontario, Medical Confidence is Canada's pioneer in healthcare navigation. Aligned with the Canadian Health Act, Medical Confidence helps improve Canadians' health outcomes by reducing wait times to access physician specialist care by 220 days (on average). 

The company's proven navigation program and comprehensive database of physician specialists, including over 17,000 specialists across more than 800 sub-specializations, improves recovery times by an average of 180 days. 

Medical Confidence works with patients and their healthcare providers to empower them to be actively engaged in their healthcare decisions, while maintaining continuity of care. 

Working with Medical Confidence, clients, employers and insurance providers such as Manulife, RBC, and Sun Life have experienced reduced absence costs. The Canadian healthcare system also benefits from Medical Confidence's services as individuals are better able to navigate the system, resulting in increased efficiencies.

SOURCE Medical Confidence

ARTMS Closes a US$19 Million Series A Financing with Deerfield and Global Health Sciences (GHS) Fund

VANCOUVER and NEW YORK, May 20, 2020 /CNW/ - ARTMS Inc. a global leader in developing technology that transforms the production of the world's most-used diagnostic imaging isotopes, today announced that it has raised US$19 million in a Series A financing. The investment was led by New York based Deerfield Management Company with continued investment from Vancouver based seed investor GHS Fund (Quark Venture LP and GF Securities). 

"We are thrilled to have this significant investment with such knowledgeable, high-caliber investors. This funding gives us the financial flexibility to leverage our QUANTM Irradiation System^TM (QIS^TM) technology and partner with customers to revolutionize the nuclear medicine industry by enabling global access to cyclotron-produced medical isotopes," says Charles S. Conroy, Chief Executive Officer of ARTMS Inc. 

ARTMS' flagship product, the QUANTM Irradiation System^TM (QIS^TM) enables cost-effective, decentralized, and local production of important medical isotopes including gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga), zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr), technetium‐99m (^99mTc) and copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu).  The award-winning technology utilizes locally-based medical cyclotrons, empowering the user to control their supply chain and produce high volumes of innovative high-quality radiopharmaceutical products. In 2019 ARTMS, demonstrated a world record ⁶⁸Ga production from a single, short-duration irradiation of QUANTM ⁶⁸Zn Target Plates. A single 90-minute run produced as much isotope as 200 commercially available generators. ARTMS has already proven the concept and clinical application for routine and high-yield production of ^99mTc.

ARTMS will use the financing to continue to collaborate with industry partners with the aim of developing cyclotron produced ⁶⁸Ga-based diagnostic and to expand the commercialization of the QIS^TM for the production of additional critical medical isotopes.

In 2020, ARTMS announced partnerships with ImaginAb, toexplore a novel radiochemistry manufacture of ImaginAb's lead asset ⁸⁹Zr CD8 ImmunoPET, and  Telix Pharmaceuticals to develop proof of concept to manufacture TLX591-CDx – a Prostate Cancer Diagnostic. ⁶⁸Ga produced using the QIS^TM system will be used for the radiolabeling of TLX591-CDx. 

"We strive to invest in companies that are working toward the development of innovative technologies to improve the way healthcare is delivered to patients.  We are delighted to support ARTMS to advance the QIS^TM technology as it has the potential to stabilize the global supply chain of vital medical isotopes," says James E. Flynn, Managing Partner at Deerfield.

"As the seed investor in ARTMS we are pleased to continue to support the company and the development of its groundbreaking technology.  The QIS^TM technology has the ability to satisfy the rapidly increasing demand for high-quality medical isotopes and unlock the potential of medical isotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications," says Karimah Es Sabar, Chief Executive Officer & Partner, Quark Venture LP and Director of the GHS Fund. 

ARTMS's initial founding technology stems from leading Canadian founding institutions, TRIUMF, BC Cancer, the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization, and Lawson Health Research Institute, and has had continued support from partners at Alliance Medical, Western Economic Diversification Canada and National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). 

About ARTMS
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, ARTMS Inc. is a global leader in the development of novel technologies and products which enable the high-quality and high-yield production of the world's most-used diagnostic imaging isotopes. ARTMS' flagship product, the QUANTM Irradiation System^TM (QIS^TM), enables decentralized, cost-effective, large-scale production of important medical isotopes such as of gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga), zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr), technetium‐99m (^99mTc) and copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu) using local, hospital-based medical cyclotrons empowering the user to control their supply chain. ARTMS commercializes these award-winning and proprietary Canadian inventions on a global basis and has the prospect of revolutionizing the nuclear medicine industry. 

For more information on the QUANTM Irradiation System™ and ARTMS, please follow us on Twitter @Quantm99 and LinkedIn and visit http://www.artms.ca/

About Deerfield Management 
Deerfield is a healthcare investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy.

For information about Deerfield visit https://deerfield.com/

About Quark Venture
Quark Venture LP is a venture capital company focused on equity financing of innovative biotechnology companies with breakthrough technology platforms. Our strategic goal is to continually support such entrepreneurial biotechnology companies to efficiently improve the technology platform and obtain high-growth value by providing diversified healthcare products or services. Quark's proven success is achieved through long-term relationships with target companies that share similar technology innovation visions.  

For information about Quark Venture www.quarkventure.com

SOURCE ARTMS Inc.

CanSino Biologics and Precision NanoSystems Announce Collaboration to Co-Develop a COVID-19 RNA Vaccine

• Precision NanoSystems to Prese CanSinoBIO will license in Precision NanoSystems' proprietary RNA vaccine platform technology
  
• Precision NanoSystems will lead RNA vaccine formulation development
  
• CanSinoBIO will lead COVID-19 antigen design, pre-clinical testing and clinical trials

TIANJIN, China and VANCOUVER, May 20, 2020 /CNW/ - CanSino Biologics Inc. (CanSinoBIO, HK6185) and Precision NanoSystems (PNI) today announced a co-development agreement of a mRNA lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccine against COVID-19. The parties will leverage PNI's proprietary RNA vaccine platform, comprising of lipid nanoparticle delivery system and the NanoAssemblr® manufacturing technology, to rapidly advance a COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccine candidate towards human clinical testing and pursuant to regulatory approvals, commercialization in different regions. PNI will be responsible for development of the mRNA-LNP vaccine and CanSinoBIO will be responsible for pre-clinical testing, human clinical trials, regulatory approval and commercialization. CanSinoBIO has rights to commercialize the vaccine product in Asia (except Japan) with PNI retaining rights for rest of the world. The agreement includes undisclosed payments and royalties.

CanSinoBIO is at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccine development efforts with their Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine (Adenovirus Type 5 Vector) candidate (the Ad5-nCoV ) currently in phase II clinical trial in China. CanSinoBIO recently announced a collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada to initiate clinical testing of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine candidate in Canada. In parallel to clinical development of Ad5-nCoV, CanSinoBIO wants to join efforts with PNI to develop and commercialize a mRNA-LNP based vaccine. CanSinoBIO's co-founder, chairman and CEO Dr. Xuefeng Yu said, "Our team has been dedicated to developing  safe and effective vaccines to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Since RNA vaccines are a disruptive technology as they do not require cell culture, utilize synthetic delivery and have a smaller manufacturing footprint, our partnership with PNI to advance a mRNA-LNP vaccine candidate will not only help accelerate the process, but will also potentially revolutionize the vaccine industry."

PNI is a global leader in technologies and solutions for the development and manufacture of nanomedicines. With over 400 NanoAssemblr® systems placed, PNI supports its customers' drug development and manufacturing efforts in the areas of oncology, infectious diseases, and rare diseases. To offer a complete solution for drug developers, PNI has developed a library of lipid formulations for nucleic acid delivery. Dr. Andrew Geall, CSO at PNI and a scientific leader in the field of non-viral delivery of mRNA vaccines said, "PNI has developed lipid formulations that are specifically designed for vaccine applications and we look forward to working with CanSinoBIO to bring the vaccine to patients." PNI's NanoAssemblr® GMP System and manufacturing process, now transferred to several customers, plays a crucial role in scalable, high throughput, reproducible centralized or regional manufacturing of nanomedicines. Dr. James Taylor, co-founder and CEO of PNI said, "We are very excited to partner with CanSinoBIO, an innovative biopharmaceutical company leading the way for COVID-19 vaccine development.  We strongly believe PNI's NxGen microfluidic technology and our expertise will enable the rapid development and manufacturing of an effective mRNA-LNP vaccine for COVID-19, and provides the foundation for future pandemic preparedness.

About CanSinoBIO
Incorporated in 2009, CanSinoBIO (6185.HK) commits to research, production and commercialization of innovative vaccines for China and global public health security. It possesses four integrated platform technologies including adenovirus-based vectors, conjugation, protein design and recombination and formulation. As of today, it has established a robust pipeline of 16 vaccines covering 13 diseases, including a globally innovative Ebola virus vaccine approved for marketing in 2017 as well as the investigational Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine (Adenovirus Type 5 Vector).

About Precision NanoSystems Inc.
Precision NanoSystems Inc. (PNI) proprietary NanoAssemblr Platform enables the rapid, reproducible, and scalable manufacture of next generation nanoparticle formulations for the targeted delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents to cells and tissues in the body. PNI provides instruments, reagents and services to life sciences researchers, including pharmaceutical companies, and builds strategic collaborations to revolutionize healthcare through nanotechnology. For more information visit http://www.precisionnanosystems.com.

SOURCE Precision Nanosystems

ARTMS Closes a US$19 Million Series A Financing with Deerfield and Global Health Sciences (GHS) Fund

VANCOUVER and NEW YORK, May 20, 2020 - ARTMS Inc. a global leader in developing technology that transforms the production of the world's most-used diagnostic imaging isotopes, today announced that it has raised US$19 million in a Series A financing. The investment was led by New York based Deerfield Management Company with continued investment from Vancouver based seed investor GHS Fund (Quark Venture LP and GF Securities).

"We are thrilled to have this significant investment with such knowledgeable, high-caliber investors. This funding gives us the financial flexibility to leverage our QUANTM Irradiation System^TM (QIS^TM) technology and partner with customers to revolutionize the nuclear medicine industry by enabling global access to cyclotron-produced medical isotopes," says Charles S. Conroy, Chief Executive Officer of ARTMS Inc.

ARTMS' flagship product, the QUANTM Irradiation System^TM (QIS^TM) enables cost-effective, decentralized, and local production of important medical isotopes including gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga), zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr), technetium‐99m (^99mTc) and copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu).  The award-winning technology utilizes locally-based medical cyclotrons, empowering the user to control their supply chain and produce high volumes of innovative high-quality radiopharmaceutical products. In 2019 ARTMS, demonstrated a world record ⁶⁸Ga production from a single, short-duration irradiation of QUANTM ⁶⁸Zn Target Plates. A single 90-minute run produced as much isotope as 200 commercially available generators. ARTMS has already proven the concept and clinical application for routine and high-yield production of ^99mTc.

ARTMS will use the financing to continue to collaborate with industry partners with the aim of developing cyclotron produced ⁶⁸Ga-based diagnostic and to expand the commercialization of the QIS^TM for the production of additional critical medical isotopes.

In 2020, ARTMS announced partnerships with ImaginAb, toexplore a novel radiochemistry manufacture of ImaginAb's lead asset ⁸⁹Zr CD8 ImmunoPET, and  Telix Pharmaceuticals to develop proof of concept to manufacture TLX591-CDx – a Prostate Cancer Diagnostic. ⁶⁸Ga produced using the QIS^TM system will be used for the radiolabeling of TLX591-CDx.

"We strive to invest in companies that are working toward the development of innovative technologies to improve the way healthcare is delivered to patients.  We are delighted to support ARTMS to advance the QIS^TM technology as it has the potential to stabilize the global supply chain of vital medical isotopes," says James E. Flynn, Managing Partner at Deerfield.

"As the seed investor in ARTMS we are pleased to continue to support the company and the development of its groundbreaking technology.  The QIS^TM technology has the ability to satisfy the rapidly increasing demand for high-quality medical isotopes and unlock the potential of medical isotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications," says Karimah Es Sabar, Chief Executive Officer & Partner, Quark Venture LP and Director of the GHS Fund. 

ARTMS's initial founding technology stems from leading Canadian founding institutions, TRIUMF, BC Cancer, the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization, and Lawson Health Research Institute, and has had continued support from partners at Alliance Medical, Western Economic Diversification Canada and National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

For further information: Kamran Shaikh, SR. Account Manager, PR Associates, Email: kshaikh@prassociates.com, Phone: +1 778 846 5406

About ARTMS
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, ARTMS Inc. is a global leader in the development of novel technologies and products which enable the high-quality and high-yield production of the world's most-used diagnostic imaging isotopes. ARTMS' flagship product, the QUANTM Irradiation System^TM (QIS^TM), enables decentralized, cost-effective, large-scale production of important medical isotopes such as of gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga), zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr), technetium‐99m (^99mTc) and copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu) using local, hospital-based medical cyclotrons empowering the user to control their supply chain. ARTMS commercializes these award-winning and proprietary Canadian inventions on a global basis and has the prospect of revolutionizing the nuclear medicine industry.

For more information on the QUANTM Irradiation System™ and ARTMS, please follow us on Twitter @Quantm99 and LinkedIn and visit http://www.artms.ca/

About Deerfield Management 
Deerfield is a healthcare investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy.

For information about Deerfield visit https://deerfield.com/

About Quark Venture
Quark Venture LP is a venture capital company focused on equity financing of innovative biotechnology companies with breakthrough technology platforms. Our strategic goal is to continually support such entrepreneurial biotechnology companies to efficiently improve the technology platform and obtain high-growth value by providing diversified healthcare products or services. Quark's proven success is achieved through long-term relationships with target companies that share similar technology innovation visions.  

For information about Quark Venture www.quarkventure.com

DriSteem Installs Two STS Humidifiers at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, NY for Health of Patients and Positive Health Outcomes

Eden Prairie, MN – May 20, 2020 - DRI-STEEM Corporation (DriSteem), the leading manufacturer of humidification, evaporative cooling, and water treatment products, announced today the successful   installation of (2) DriSteem STS® (steam-to-steam) humidifiers at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York.  

Mercy Hospital needed to replace two existing and aging 1960’s-era air handlers that served operating suites, pharmacy processes, the sterile processing department, and patient areas. Mercy Hospital’s goal with the new humidification systems in these air handlers was to control the relative humidity to the recommended levels of between 40% and 60% RH. With the RH levels in this range, the amount of viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces are decreased and the number of respiratory and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among staff and patients are reduced.

RL Kistler, Inc. and engineer, Jake Muller, of M/E Engineering, P.C., determined that since they couldn’t afford any interruption of humidification steam to critical areas, a DriSteem Vapormist® electric steam humidifier was the optimal choice during the months-long transition. The final design included two DriSteem STS® steam-to-steam humidifiers, which use pressurized boiler steam as the energy source to vaporize fresh fill water into evaporative humidification steam. Ultra-sorb® steam dispersion panels were used because they were able to accomodate the short absorption distance for steam in the air handler.  

“We are proud to be selected by Mercy Hospital in Buffalo to continue to provide the hospital and its patients with the best air quality through the addition of humidity,” said Mysty Hanson, Assistant Product Manager.  “If more facilities instituted a humidification system, it would help keep people healthier.”

DriSteem’s STS steam-to-steam humidifier creates chemical-free humidification steam using boiler steam as its energy source. It accomplishes this by using boiler steam in its heat exchanger to vaporize clean fill water into humidification steam. It is a closed-loop system, so no boiler steam or chemicals enter the humidified space; they return to the boiler. 

Read the case study here: https://www.dristeem.com/humidity-university/case-studies/case-study-proper-humidity-and-air-purity-are-vital-for-healthy-patients-and-positive-outcomes

About DriSteem:

DriSteem is a premier provider of humidification, evaporative cooling, and water treatment solutions for commercial and industrial applications.  DriSteem offers custom systems for critical indoor environments such as health care, data centers, and other facilities requiring precise control of moisture in the air. 

DriSteem’s 50-year history of development and innovation has resulted in multiple patented designs that not only meet, but anticipate, customers’ unique needs.  DriSteem is a subsidiary of Research Products Corporation, manufacturer of Aprilaire®, the leading residential humidifier brand, as well as air cleaners, heat-recovery systems and HVAC accessories.   

Visit DriSteem at www.dristeem.com. 

Drake’s Organic Spirits Spiked Iceä Hits Shelves 

at all California Save Mart Locations

Leading distiller of organic spirits offers freeze-and-eat adult treats free from chemicals and artificial colors

Minneapolis, MN ( May 20,2020 ) – Drake’s Organic Spirits announced today that its popular Spiked Iceä freeze-and-eat adult pops are now available at all 205 Save Mart Companies locations throughout Northern/Central California.

“We’re beyond thrilled to offer Drake’s Organic Spiked Iceä to Save Mart customers,” said Drake’s Founder and CEO Mark Anderson.  “Our products are a perfect fit for The Save Mart Companies ‘fresh comes first’ philosophy. Consumers want cleaner options for their bodies and they want products that are friendlier to the planet.  Drake’s accomplishes both.”  

Based in the heart of the Central Valley, The Save Mart Companies operates 205 traditional and price impact stores under the banners of Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx, S-Mart Foods, and Maxx Value Foods.  

Drake’s Organic Spiked Iceä are handheld ice pops that feature 15% ABV and only 80 calories each. Spiked Iceä comes in four flavors - Mango Rum Punch, Vodka Lemonade, Watermelon Martini and Classic Mojito - and are made with Drake’s award-winning all-organic ultra-premium vodka and white rum.  They contain no artificial colors or flavors and freeze with twice the ABV as other brands.

Drake’s Organic Spirits is the first and only spirit line in the world to be certified USDA organic, non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, vegan and kosher.  The five certifications ensure a cleaner drinking option that comes only from the highest quality organic ingredients.   Drake’s continues to be among the most environmentally conscious brands in the spirits industry and deeply committed to using ingredients and processes that lead to a more sustainable planet. 

In 2019, Drake’s Organic Premium Vodka was awarded Double Gold and Drake’s Organic White Rum  received Gold at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Convention & Exposition in Orlando, FL.  The highly-respected awards are widely considered among the most prestigious in the industry because judges are industry experts who blind taste-test each spirit. 

Proceeds from the sale of all Drake’s Organic Spirits products help fund Long Lake Animal Rescue, an animal rescue foundation that takes in animals in urgent need of a second chance at life.

About Drake’s Organic Spirits 
Minneapolis-based Drake’s Organic Spirits was launched in 2017.    Drake’s uses the highest quality USDA organic and non-GMO Project Verified ingredients to create a line of ultra- premium spirits and mixes. Drake’s Organic Vodka, Drake’s Organic White Rum and Drakes Organic Spiced Rum offer a no-grain, no-gluten, no-gmo, ultra-premium and 12-times distilled handcrafted spirits at a better price than the leading premium brands.  The company recently began producing bulk sanitizer to meet the need for cleaner, safer environments.

For more information, please visit http://www.drakesorganicspirits.com, facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drakesorganic/, Instagram: @drakesorganic, or contact email sales: info@drakesorganicspirits.com.

About The Save Mart Companies
The Save Mart Companies operates 205 stores throughout California and Northern Nevada under the banners of FoodMaxx, Lucky and Save Mart. The Save Mart Companies is committed to sourcing a wide variety of local products to communities throughout California and Northern Nevada. In addition to its retail operation, the company also operates Smart Refrigerated Transport and is a partner in Super Store Industries (SSI), which owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop and the Sunnyside Farms dairy processing plant in Turlock. For more information on the company, please visit: www.TheSaveMartCompanies.com.

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