COMIRNATY, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Receives Health Canada Authorization for Children 6 Months to Under 5 Years of Age
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine now authorized in Canada for all individuals 6 months of age and older
Authorization represents an important milestone with the potential to help protect youngest children from COVID-19 infection
KIRKLAND, QC and MAINZ, Germany, Sept. 9, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Pfizer Canada ULC and BioNTech SE today announced that Health Canada has authorized COMIRNATY®, the companies' COVID-19 vaccine, as a three 3-μg primary series for children 6 months to less than 5 years of age.
The 3-μg dose was carefully selected as the preferred dose for children under 5 years of age based on safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity data.
"We know many parents in Canada have at heart to provide further protection for their children under 5," said Fabien Paquette, mRNA Vaccines & Antiviral Portfolio Lead, Pfizer Canada. "With this Health Canada authorization, we have achieved another key milestone in our ongoing effort to help protect families and communities against COVID-19."
"We are committed to providing access to our COVID-19 vaccine to all age groups," said Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. "As of today, Canadian families have access to an authorized vaccine helping to protect their youngest children against COVID-19."
Health Canada's authorization is based on data from a Phase 2/3 randomized, controlled trial that included 4,526 children 6 months to under 5 years of age. In the trial, children received the third 3-μg dose at least two months after the second dose at a time when Omicron was the predominant variant.
Pfizer and BioNTech will begin shipping 3-μg pediatric doses as directed by the Canadian government and public health agencies across the country.
COMIRNATY, also referred to as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, is based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in Canada, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries. Submissions to pursue regulatory approvals in those countries where emergency use authorizations or equivalent were initially granted are planned.
About the Phase 1/2/3 Trial in Children
The Phase 1/2/3 trial has enrolled more than 10,000 children ages 6 months to under 12 years of age in the United States, Finland, Poland, Spain and Brazil from more than 90 clinical trial sites. The trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in three age groups: ages 5 to under 12 years; ages 2 to under 5 years; and ages 6 months to under 2 years. Based on the Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of the trial, children ages 5 to under 12 years received a two-dose schedule of 10 μg each while children under age 5 received three 3-μg doses in the Phase 2/3 study. The trial enrolled children with or without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
AUTHORIZED USE IN CANADA
COMIRNATY is indicated for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 6 months of age and older. COMIRNATY must be injected intramuscularly only.
About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified healthcare portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
About BioNTech
Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Regeneron, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de.
BioNTech Contacts: Media Relations +49 (0)6131 9084 1513 Media@biontech.de
SOURCE Pfizer Canada Inc.
Newborn’s First 1,000 Days Crucial to Preventing Diseases, Allergies — New Book
Philadelphia, September 9, 2022 — Expectant moms are advised to eat well, exercise, take vitamins, abstain from caffeine and do everything possible to ensure the optimal health of their babies. Yet, children born today are sicker than in any past generation. Food allergies, asthma and other chronic health conditions affect up to 30 percent of kids across the country. Why?
In The Baby and the Biome: How the Tiny World Inside Your Child Holds the Secret to Their Health (Avery, an imprint of Penguin/Random House; September 6, 2022; Hardcover; ISBN: 9780593421024), author Meenal Lele reveals the answer—and it’s not bad genes or bad parenting. As a medical researcher with a chemical engineer’s degree from Wharton, her firsthand experience as an “allergy mom,” Lele sheds light on the key role of a newborn’s microbiome (the mix of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on us and in us) in either preventing or provoking diseases of the immune system, which include not only food allergies and asthma but also eczema, ADHD, IBS, type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease and more.
“Immune disease needs a revolution in thinking—and an accessible way for parents to understand it,” Lele asserts. Interweaving the story of her firstborn son Leo’s life-threatening struggles with food allergies and asthma with significant, potentially life-saving scientific findings, Lele aims to lead that revolution by educating parents about how to prioritize and strengthen their baby’s microbiome by protecting the delicate skin, gut and lung barriers.
In accessible language and a reassuring tone, The Baby and the Biome combines medical insights with practical advice on a more informed, healthier approach to the ABCDEs—Antibiotic use, Baby Care, Diet and Environment—during a newborn’s first thousand days, and helps parents raise kids in this toxin-filled world. You’ll learn:
- How to nurture your baby’s biome during pregnancy, practice good biome care from the moment of birth and, if possible, choose breastfeeding over formula to support immunity—but only exclusively for the first two months of your baby’s life.
- Why many standard practices endorsed by pediatricians—wash your baby daily, wait three days between introducing your baby to new foods and more—are not backed by science and might actively hurt your child’s immune defenses.
- Why eczema, which affects about 25 percent of infants, is not just “a little rash” but both a serious warning sign and direct cause of increasingly worse immune conditions to come—plus, clinically proven, actionable ways to treat it.
- Why antibiotics commonly prescribed for ear infections and fever are often unnecessary and can actually make a child sick longer and cause diarrhea, among other complications—plus, examples of when antibiotics are essential.
- Why to avoid using creams and lotions, including sunscreen, on your baby’s skin—and tips for minimizing diaper rash, including using cloth diapers (which are also better for the environment than super-absorbent disposable diapers).
- Why giving your baby regular exposure to the most common food allergens, including peanuts and eggs, is a vital practice for developing a healthy, disease-free immune system—and how to do it safely and stress-free.
- The importance of feeding your baby a good and diverse diet, with priority on avoiding added sugar and processed foods, which contain preservatives, dyes, synthetic fats and emulsifying agents that are poisonous to the gut barrier.
- The biome-friendly benefits of letting your baby play and crawl around in good dirt, whether in your own backyard or a natural park with real grass, trees and mud, as opposed to a playground built on artificial turf.
- Tips for cleaning your home, dishes and clothes, as well as your family’s hair and bodies, to prevent immune disorders—plus, the potential long-term dangers of our national obsession with antibacterial cleansers … and much more.
About the Author
Meenal Lele is a mom to two boys, medical researcher and chemical engineer with a degree from the Wharton School. She is the founder and CEO of Lil Mixins, a company devoted to educating parents about how to prevent their children from developing food allergies. She lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her family.
Experiencing Shoulder Pain? How to Get Back to Training
A shoulder injury can feel like a major disruption to your fitness routine. With the right approach, however, you might be able to stay active, continue training, and even expedite the healing process. Here are just a few tips for getting back to normal after hurting your shoulder.
Identify the Problem
The first step to dealing with shoulder pain is figuring out what's wrong. This will determine the best treatment methods, your expected recovery time, and which exercises are safe to do while your shoulder heals. Tendonitis, for example, is a simple injury that can be treated with the RICE method at home. The same goes for distal clavicular osteolysis or "weightlifter's shoulder." On the other hand, a rotator cuff tear might require steroids, physical therapy, or even surgery.
Change Your Workout Routine
You don't want to aggravate your injury by continuing the same routine that hurt you in the first place. Instead, look into movement substitutions or movement replacements for your usual exercises. Do pull-downs rather than pull-ups; do squeeze presses rather than bench presses. If you aren't sure how to lower the intensity of your usual fitness regimen, you can find exercise pyramids online that rank the difficulty of various tasks. They'll allow you to stay active while also keeping the pressure off your shoulder until it heals.
Look Into Orthopedic Treatment
Orthopedics is the branch of medicine dedicated to the musculoskeletal system, including bones and muscles. It's also interwoven with related areas such as nerves, ligaments, tendons, and joints. You might already be familiar with orthopedic doctors if you've ever sprained an ankle or had a flare-up of carpal tunnel, but they can also be consulted for shoulder pain. Depending on the specifics of what's wrong, treatments might range from chiropractic massage to stem cell injections.
Strengthen Your Shoulder Support
To prevent re-injury, it can help to strengthen both your shoulder and its surrounding muscles and joints. It's the same logic as building up your core to improve your overall bodily fitness. Good exercises for shoulder strength include lateral raises, standing scapular pinches, and internal and external rotations. You can also incorporate things like hand weights and resistance bands to slowly increase the difficulty of these exercises and to test your shoulder's stability during them.
You don't have to turn into a couch potato because of a bad shoulder. You can often continue training as long as you're smart, careful, and mindful of your limitations as you heal. Use these suggestions for finding normal again after a shoulder injury.
Anita Ginsburg / Freelance Writer anitaginsburg@gmail.comBio: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
Toronto healthcare job fair aims to fill urgent job vacancies across Canada
TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - With an ageing population and shrinking labour market, Canadian healthcare employers are struggling as the growing demand for care is not being matched by an increased supply of labour – especially in nursing.
On September 17, 2022, healthcare employers from across Canada will be looking to connect with professionals at Healthcare Job Fair, Toronto's premier recruitment event for medical, nursing, allied health and support work employment opportunities.
Home to many world-class health facilities, Toronto attracts healthcare professionals from around the globe, which is why employers from New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon will be in attendance.
About Healthcare Job Vacancies in Canada
In June, Statistics Canada reported that Canadian healthcare employers have the highest ever level of job vacancies – 136,800 positions were reported in Q1 of this year – suggesting a major staffing crisis for the nation's healthcare system.
"Canada is recognized as having one of the world's best health systems in terms of quality of care and accessibility, but has one of the worst reputations for health workforce mobility, especially for overseas trained nurses," says Stephen McLarnon, Group CEO of HealthSectorTalent®, the company organizing this month's job fair.
"The recruitment of overseas nurses and other healthcare professionals is a well-established practice for leading health systems around the world, but not in Canada," he adds. "Many Canadian healthcare employers have abandoned this approach because of the length of time it takes to register and process viable candidates. Many healthcare employers see our job fair in Toronto as the only real alternative to sourcing new staff."
About Toronto Healthcare Job Fair
This month's Healthcare Job Fair is the only event of its kind in Eastern Canada and aims to attract highly skilled health-care professionals from major healthcare hubs like Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to meet directly with leading healthcare employers from many regions across Canada.
"We are excited to showcase the many reasons to Choose CHEO and Choose Ottawa, and to answer people's questions — in person and on the spot," said Alex Munter, President and CEO of CHEO, a pediatric healthcare and research centre that has been named the best place to work in Canadian healthcare by Forbes Magazine.
"We know healthcare professionals of all kinds have options; they can direct where they want their careers to take them. We'll be emphasizing that when joining Team CHEO, you get the benefits of working in a world-leading pediatric facility with some of the most passionate, caring, and dedicated people anywhere. You also get to live in a vibrant, green, affordable city with access to all that a G-7 capital has to offer."
Job fairs provide a unique opportunity in this digital age for employers and job seekers to connect directly in person, accelerating the recruitment process for both.
"We know healthcare workers have many options for employment, but through this recruitment event we hope to show why New Brunswick offers both excellent job opportunities along with unparalleled lifestyle," said Michael Watson, Provincial Workforce Consultant, Recruitment Team, Employer Support Services, WorkingNB, Government of New Brunswick.
The Healthcare Job Fair takes place at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Toronto, on Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SOURCE Healthcare Job Fair
Delta 9 Announces Completion of Acquisition of Three Retail Cannabis Stores in Manitoba
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (TSX: DN) (OTCQX: DLTNF) (“Delta 9” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that on September 6, 2022 it completed a previously announced transaction with 10552763 Canada Corp. (the “Vendor”) whereby, pursuant to the asset purchase agreement between the Company and the Vendor dated August 12, 2022, the Company acquired all or substantially all of the Vendor’s assets relating to the operation of three Garden Variety branded retail cannabis stores located in Manitoba, two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon (the “Transaction”).
“We are pleased to announce the closing of another strategic retail acquisition to grow our market share across the Canadian prairies,” said John Arbuthnot, CEO of Delta 9. “Delta 9 now operates 38 cannabis retail stores, positioning us as one of Canada’s largest vertically integrated cannabis retailers.”
The purchase price paid by the Company relating to the Transaction was $3,250,000, subject to customary adjustments (the "Purchase Price"). $2,925,000 of the Purchase Price was satisfied through the issuance of 17,944,785 common shares in the capital stock of the Company (each a "Common Share") at a deemed price of $0.163 per Common Share, representing the ten (10) day volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) on September 2, 2022 (the “Common Share Price”). $325,000 of the Purchase Price will be satisfied through the issuance of 1,993,865 Common Shares at a deemed price of the Common Share Price per Common Share, which will be issued in approximately six months.
The closing of the Transaction remains subject to the final approval of the TSX.
For more information contact:
Investor & Media Contact: Ian Chadsey VP Corporate Affairs Mobile: 204-898-7722 E-mail: ian.chadsey@delta9.ca
About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.
Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on bringing the highest quality cannabis products to market. The Company sells cannabis products through its wholesale and retail sales channels and sells its cannabis grow pods to other businesses. Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical and recreational cannabis and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand. Delta 9's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DN" and on the OTCQX under the symbol “DLTNF”. For more information, please visit www.delta9.ca.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Company’s future business plans and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including the Company’s actual financial results being different from its estimates as well as all risk factors set forth in the annual information form of Delta 9 dated March 31, 2022 which has been filed on SEDAR. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
PharmaTher Announces Completion of IND-Enabling Pharmacokinetic and Tolerability Study with KETARX™ Ketamine Patch
KETARX™ Ketamine Patch demonstrated extended delivery of ketamine over 40 hours
KETARX™ Ketamine Patch offers flexible dosing through increased size, drug load or concentration of ketamine to better align with intramuscular and intravenous administration
Initiating clinical studies by the end of Q4-2022 to support phase 2 and 3 clinical studies in depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and pain indications
Following the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for FDA approval of KETARX™ Ketamine Patch
TORONTO, Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the “Company” or “PharmaTher”) (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel uses and delivery forms of ketamine to treat mental health, neurological and pain disorders, announced today that it has completed an IND-enabling pharmacokinetic and tolerability study (the “Study”) of KETARX™ Ketamine Patch in minipigs. The KETARX™ Ketamine Patch was manufactured by its CDMO partner, LTS LOHMANN Therapie-Systeme AG. The Study was completed at Aurigon Toxicological Research Center Ltd. (“ATRC”), under full Good Laboratory Practice compliance, which is a prerequisite for upcoming phase 2 clinical studies according to FDA guidelines. PharmaTher is developing KETARX™ Ketamine Patch to improve the administration burden in support of current ketamine use and as a potential therapeutic alternative in the treatment of various mental health, neurological and pain disorders.
Fabio Chianelli, CEO of PharmaTher, commented: “This IND-enabling study supports our continued development of an alternative approach to deliver ketamine. We are in the final stage of preparing for our clinical studies with KETARX™ Ketamine Patch, which we believe will transform how ketamine is used to treat underserved medical conditions in mental health, neurological and pain disorders. We plan to initiate clinical studies by the end of Q4-2022 to determine pharmacokinetic parameters, dose range, dose response and tolerability that will support later phase 2 and 3 clinical studies in depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and pain indications. We plan to follow the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for FDA approval of KETARX™ Ketamine Patch.”
Study Overview
This Study aimed to investigate the plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics of ketamine after administration of KETARX™ Ketamine Patches to female Göttingen Minipigs. The degree of local tolerance was examined as reflected by erythema, edema formation and other effects (e.g. lesions) after removal of the pressure dressing. To determine the concentration of ketamine in the blood plasma, samples were collected up to 4 days after the administration. The plasma concentrations of ketamine were measured and the pharmacokinetic evaluation was performed at the Analytical Department of ATRC.
The delivery of ketamine through intramuscular injection results in rapid delivery of a bolus dose of ketamine. To alter the speed and availability of ketamine, the use of intravenous infusion is the standard strategy; however, it requires complex equipment and technical expertise to administer. The Study demonstrated that KETARX™ Ketamine Patch applied directly to the skin was well tolerated and capable of delivering a ketamine dose over an extended period of time without modification of ketamine or additional formulation enhancement. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of intradermal administration of ketamine via KETARX™ Ketamine Patch demonstrated extended delivery of ketamine over 40 hours with a slow and elongated increase of plasma levels over 18 hours and a slow decline for an additional 24 hours in a linearly proportional manner relative to dose (FIGURE #1).
Overall, the small patch size used in this Study supports the opportunity to increase dose through increased size, drug load or concentration of ketamine and will allow increases in ketamine dosing to better align with intramuscular and intravenous administration. No clinical symptoms, mortality or body weight differences were observed throughout the study. Local tolerance and histopathology assessment of the patch without ketamine demonstrated that it is well tolerated and with ketamine, the patch showed only a minor difference compared to control.
About KETARX™ Ketamine Patch
KETARX™ Ketamine Patch aims to deliver ketamine for intradermal administration to treat various mental health, neurological and pain disorders. It consists of hydrogel-forming microneedle arrays and an accompanying reservoir that will overcome limitations by the quantity of drug loaded into the needles or onto the needle surfaces. As such, the patch can significantly increase the amount of drug that can permeate through the microneedle array and into the skin1 and is tailored for ketamine due to the required drug volume to maximize its therapeutic utility and increase potential market opportunities.
KETARX™ Ketamine Patch also aims to empower patients to dose their medication remotely, safely and conveniently rather than being supervised by a healthcare provider at a certified medical office, although it can also be utilized in these types of settings. It has the potential for enabling continuous delivery of ketamine (without pain) with minimal formulation manipulation into systemic circulation while maintaining constant plasma levels for more than 24 hours, which will improve efficacy and compliance for patients.1-2 Also, KETARX™ Ketamine Patch will incorporate anti-tampering and anti-abuse features that parallel the approach used by commercially available tamper-resistant transdermal fentanyl patches.
About PharmaTher Holdings Ltd.
PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel uses and delivery forms of ketamine to treat mental health, neurological and pain disorders. PharmaTher’s product portfolio consists of KETARX™ (ketamine) delivered by intravenous injection, intradermal microneedle patch, and subcutaneous pump administration. Learn more at PharmaTher.com.
For more information about PharmaTher, please contact:
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "potential", "aim", “may” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the "Company") current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine month periods ended February 28, 2022 and 2021 ("MD&A"), dated April 25, 2022, which is available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction.
Sources:
Donnelly R.F. Hydrogel-forming microneedles prepared from "super swelling" polymers combined with lyophilised wafers for transdermal drug delivery. PLoSONE. 2014 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111547.
Courtenay, et al. Hydrogel-forming microneedle arrays as a therapeutic option for transdermal esketamine delivery, Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 322, 2020, Pages 177-186.
Takeda Canada Partners with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to Advance Research in Rare Diseases
Takeda Canada and CIHR's Institute of Genetics have partnered to establish a fellowship program to identify emerging talent and innovation to support advancements in rare disease across Canada.
Fellowship program will provide $720,000 to support four (4) research awards.
Opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to accelerate rare disease research with dedicated funding.
TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Takeda Canada Inc. ("Takeda") is proud to announce a Rare Disease Fellowship in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The fellowship will provide support and training to ensure participants emerge as scientific, professional, or organizational leaders within and beyond the health research enterprise. This specific opportunity seeks to support postdoctoral fellows focused on one or more rare disease disorders. A full list of research areas in rare diseases can be found online at Researchnet-recherchenet.ca.
"Rare disease research is a priority in Canada. With advances in genetics and genomics, we have the ability to ensure rare diseases are diagnosed and managed more efficiently and effectively, and we aspire to see this integrated in Canadian health care delivery," said Dr. Christopher McMaster, Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Genetics. "We are excited to collaborate with Takeda on this fellowship and look forward to supporting Canada's world-class genetics research talent."
Takeda and CIHR are investing $720,000 to fund up to four (4) awards for up to three (3) years. Takeda and CIHR's Institute of Genetics have contributed $360,000 each to fund this priority area, a leading example of optimal public private partnerships to support innovative, priority research in Canada. Applications for the fellowship will be accepted until October 5, 2022.
Interested postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to review specific requirements here.
"Partnerships are imperative to support research discovery and enhance patient care across our health care system," said Dr. Jefferson Tea, Vice President, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Takeda, Canada. "Takeda and CIHR's Institute of Genetics' research fellowship will support innovation and advancements in rare disease care while fostering future collaboration."
About Rare Disease Impact in Canada
A "rare" disease is any disease that affects a very small number of individuals. It is often genetic, chronic throughout a patient's life and life-threatening.i In Canada, one in 12 Canadians are affected by a rare disorder.ii
About the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
About Takeda Canada Inc.
Takeda Canada Inc. is the Canadian organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK), a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discovering and delivering life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetics and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions. For more information, visit: takeda.com/en-ca
Pharmacy Benefit Managers pilfer millions from health plans that should instead reduce costs for employers and employees
Katy Talento: ‘Despite the caterwauling from the Health Care Swamp, the only way to pay less for health care is to actually pay less for health care’
WASHINGTON D.C. — Middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) claim to get volume discounts from manufacturers for prescription drugs through manufacturer rebates. Almost every employer or health insurance carrier has a prescription drug program run by PBMs, who conspire with insurance carriers to pocket these rebates, despite the spin that manufacturer rebates are only used to benevolently drive down premiums.
Three corporate giants control 80% of the PBM market, which already diminishes competition to provide the best deal for company health plans. One of the little-known secrets in health care is how big the savings on prescription drugs can be when either an employer fires a “Big 3” PBM or when people use cash-based discount programs, such as with Health Care Sharing Ministries. One business saved 37% on health care in two years, while a Fortune 50 manufacturing company saves 25 percent annually for tens of millions of dollars. These stories are not outliers. These companies used a small, price-transparent PBM that does not pocket manufacturer kickbacks. But that’s not the only way — many patients have seen how they can pay less for medicines at the pharmacy counter by asking for the cash price rather than the pharmacist running the prescription through their insurance plan which can be corrupted by the influence of a PBM. Indeed, there is a guaranteed way to avoid the crooked PBM scheme.
“Health Care Sharing Ministries are the only sure-fire way to avoid the grift of PBMs,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.org). “Members ofHealth Care Sharing Ministries pay a discounted cash price for prescription drugs, using ministry programs that provide access to steep discounts not typically available in the market. And we all know every penny makes a difference in this painful inflationary environment.”
The advantage of Health Care Sharing Ministries is simple. By paying a discounted cash price, the Health Care Sharing Ministry forces price transparency from the pharmacy and manufacturer. According to the analysis of one Senator, “cash prices for health care are, on average, 39 percent less than the secret reimbursement rates that insurers pay.”
PBMs may try to shroud their practices, but PBMs:
Pocket all or part of the savings instead of passing them on to employers or patients
Allow patients access only to drugs from manufacturers that pay the biggest kickback to the PBM, instead of cheaper and equally effective drugs
Have merged in unholy alliances with insurers administering employer plans, eliminating the downward pressure on provider price-gouging that most people think their insurance carrier is supposed to provide
Have sued the federal government to block a regulation that would have required them to disclose to employers the size of their kickbacks
“If that sounds like a sweetheart deal cooked up by the Washington health care establishment, now you know. But outside the Beltway, there’s an insurgency of fed-up employers, independent pharmacies, and savvy patients fighting back against the health care industry’s plunder of Main Street,” said Talento. “More Americans need to consider Health Care Sharing Ministries as a way to cut out the PBMs altogether and benefit from a more transparent system.
“Washington usually proposes whack-a-mole ‘solutions’ that merely shift costs to different parts of the system without ever actually lowering overall costs. Despite the caterwauling from the Health Care Swamp, the only way to pay less for health care is to actually pay less for health care. And one of the best options for paying less for health care is through the transparency and stewardship inherent in Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry communities.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministry organizations which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on medical cost sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
Dr. Sultan Ahmad, Chief Business Officer, Paraza Pharma Inc.
MONTREAL, Sept. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - Paraza Pharma Inc., a fully integrated drug discovery organization passionately committed to contributing to the life sciences sector today announced the appointment of Dr. Sultan Ahmad as Chief Business Officer reporting to Dr. Arshad Siddiqui, founder and CEO of Paraza Pharma.
"We are pleased to announce that Dr. Ahmad is taking on this strategic role in order to support our next phase of growth'' said Dr. Siddiqui. ''His considerable expertise in business development, corporate strategy, and drug discovery research and development, will be very valuable as we continue to further expand our position as a leader in the small molecule integrated drug discovery service space''.
Dr. Ahmad has a successful career in pharmaceutical R&D sector with more than 30 years of experience. He has held positions of increasing responsibilities at Astrazeneca, Neomed Institute and Purdue Pharma, Canada. Dr. Ahmad is uniquely qualified as a drug discovery researcher and business development professional to bring Paraza to the next level of growth. Dr. Ahmad completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada. He has co-authored over forty (40) peer-reviewed publications and is a co-inventor on seven (7) patents.
''Paraza is a remarkable R&D organization with an exceptionally talented team of scientists and a culture of innovation and high performance,'' said Dr. Ahmad. '' I look forward to starting this new role and excited to work with the Paraza team to outline our business and growth strategy, and work towards establishing innovative partnerships.''
About Paraza Pharma
Paraza Pharma is a Montreal, Canada based, fully integrated drug discovery organization passionately committed to contribute to the life sciences sector. As part of the growth strategy, it attracts worldwide best-in-class talent and continues to offer a unique collaborative model to help companies achieve their success milestones and accelerate their business growth. To learn more, visit www.parazapharma.com
Canada Needs Bold Action to Head Off Impending Dementia Care Crisis
New report from Alzheimer Society of Canada says risk reduction actions have potential to stabilize dementia diagnosis counts – if governments act now.
TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - More than a million Canadians are forecast to be living with dementia by 2030, a date by which it is estimated that approximately 21 people will be diagnosed with dementia every hour. This forecast is expected to rise to 1.7 million Canadians living with dementia by 2050. These are some of the key findings of "Navigating the Path Forward for Dementia in Canada," the first volume of the new Landmark Study series, released today by the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Today's report, authored by Dr. Joshua J. Armstrong, a scientist with the Alzheimer Society of Canada, represents the first significant update of Canada's dementia landscape since the Society released its "Rising Tide" report in 2010. The report is the first of three volumes of the Landmark Study, with volumes two and three to address issues such as the economic and social impact of dementia. These volumes will be released over the coming months.
"As the baby boomer generation continues to age, Canadians will face a number of challenges to ensure that people living with dementia continue to live their best possible lives," says Dr. Armstrong, "Our study, which created its projections using demographic data from Statistics Canada in a micro-simulation model, also demonstrates the power of risk reduction. With effective mitigation efforts on the parts of individuals, combined with increased supports from all levels of government, the potential exists to drastically reduce the number of Canadians who will develop dementia in the next three decades. This would have a positive impact on our health-care system and on the family members and care partners of people living with dementia."
Other highlights from the report include:
The report outlines three scenarios in which the onset of dementia in Canadians is delayed by one, five or 10 years. A delay of one year alone could result in almost 500,000 fewer new diagnoses by 2050 – and if the onset of dementia could be delayed by 10 years, Canada could see 4 million fewer diagnoses of dementia by 2050.
In 2020, there were 350,000 friends and family members of people living with dementia serving as care partners, averaging 26 hours of care per week. That is the equivalent of 235,000 full-time unpaid jobs and is valued at more than $7.3 billion annually.
If current trends continue, the number of hours of service provided by caregiving partners could reach almost 1.4 billion hours annually by 2050. That is equal to over 690,000 full-time jobs.
"While the figures in the report should sound alarm bells across the country, there is still hope that solutions can be found to support Canadians living with dementia and those caring for them," Kevin Noel, interim Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer Society of Canada says. "This is why the Society is committed to educating Canadians about the steps they can take to reduce their risk of dementia and encouraging governments at all levels to invest more in dementia research and support programs."
Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, Chief Research & Knowledge, Translation and Exchange Officer with the Alzheimer Society of Canada, agrees: "The report should be seen as a wake-up call for Canadians. It lays out clear, actionable steps that the federal government, the health care system and all Canadians can and should take to change this trajectory with positive outcomes for all people living with dementia. Governments at all levels must commit to providing more resources to support programs, especially home care, to help people living with dementia in their own communities. Investing more in dementia research as aspired to in Canada's National Dementia Strategy is the only way we can truly change the outcomes of dementia."
The Alzheimer Society is Canada's leading nationwide health charity for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Active in communities across Canada, the Society provides information, programs and services to those living with dementia and their caregivers. The Alzheimer Society Research Program is one of Canada's most innovative hubs for dementia research. Our funded research explores ways to develop a better understanding of the causes of dementia, improve diagnosis, treatment and care, and work towards finding a cure.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada has spokespersons available to speak to national media about today's report. Local media across the country are encouraged to contact the Alzheimer Society in their community for comment.
SOURCE Alzheimer Society of Canada
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