Seasonal influenza vaccine market across China, India and Japan set to reach US$1bn by 2028, says GlobalData
The size of the seasonal influenza vaccine market across the three major Asia-Pacific (APAC) growth markets (3GM*) will grow at a modest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4% from US$914m in 2018 to US$1.05bn in 2028, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The company’s latest report, ‘Seasonal Influenza: Forecast in Asia-Pacific Markets to 2028’, reveals that the launch and increasing use of quadrivalent influenza vaccines in China and India, respectively, as well as the launch of plant-based vaccines in Japan will potentially provide stronger protection against seasonal influenza infections and drive growth over the next ten years.
Philipp Rosenbaum, PhD, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, explains: “The launch of the first inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccines in China from Sinovac Biotech, Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products; new quadrivalent vaccines from Biken and Denka Seiken in Japan; and the launch of quadrivalent live-attenuated vaccines from the Serum Institute in India and AstraZeneca/Daiichi Sankyo in Japan will drive the growth across the 3GM.
“Additionally, the launch of the first non-egg-based vaccine in Japan, Medicago’s virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine MDG-2271 quadrivalent, will initiate the transition away from egg-based vaccine in the APAC market and will drive the growth in the 3GM during the forecast period.”
Key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData stated that higher vaccination rates are a major unmet need in the 3GM seasonal influenza market. Influenza immunization is not part of the national immunization programs in China and India, so vaccines have to be paid out of pocket, leading to vaccination rates of only 1.8% in China and 2.2% in India.
Rosenbaum concludes: “The launch of next-generation plant-based influenza vaccines in Japan will address the urgent unmet need of influenza vaccine efficacy while concurrently providing a platform to address environmental needs such as vaccine hesitancy. Universal influenza vaccines that will potentially provide multi-strain and multi-season protection are in development in the US and EU, but are not projected to launch until 2028 in the 3GM. Clinical trials necessary to prove long-term influenza virus protection will have to cover multiple influenza seasons.”
3GM*: China, India and Japan.
Ever wondered what balance of exercise, sleep, food and work delivers the best outcomes for your physical and mental health? A team of scientists led by researchers in South Australia is embarking on a four-year study to find out.
The international team will use 200,000 data sources from Fitbits, activity monitors and time-use surveys linked with health data to create a prototype.
University of South Australia lead researcher Dr Dot Dumuid said first-class prototype would provide personalised advice on how best to use a 24-hour period for specific health outcomes.
She said Israeli mathematicians, University of Adelaide computer scientists as well as global behavioural epidemiologists and public health specialists would develop an analytical method to work out the ideal length of time needed on activities in order to achieve particular outcomes.
The software will form the basis of an online tool allowing people to improve time management while achieving the optimal health for their lifestyle.
“Every day everybody is given 24 hours. How people allocate that time to activities impacts their health,” Dr Dumuid said.
“We already know that things like screen time, exercise, sleep and work-life balance influence health, but now we are thinking about these things as linked parts that together make up a complete day. So, rather than talking about activities in isolation, we talk about ‘healthy days’ or ‘the optimal mix of activities’.”
The project was this month awarded a $951,708 grant from Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council to collate data, create and test optimisation methods and develop a prototype.
“We already have access to many such data sets and we are reaching out to studies across the world to gain access to their data also,” Dr Dumuid said.
“But because people measure time in lots of different ways and there are different brands and different parameters that people have used in their studies, we will have to do some calibration across the different studies to make sure they can be put together.
“In industry optimisation, this kind of data happens all the time. For example, people optimise the mix of fertilizer to get the best crop yields but then there are also other factors like the lowest cost.”
Dr Dumuid said the usability of the prototype would be tested in a ...
Brains Bioceutical Corp. is pleased to announce the completion of its US$30m Capital Raise
VANCOUVER, Dec. 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Brains Bioceutical Corp. ("Brains") is pleased to announce the completion of its US$30m Capital Raise, including US$19m raised exclusively by Canaccord Genuity, and strategic partnership with a leading European Medical Cannabis Group. Brains' founders and senior management participated with equity in the raise.
This sophisticated, sizeable and strategic transaction solidifies one of the largest partnerships operating in the Medical Cannabis sector in Europe.
Brains is a global leader in EUGMP- certified production of plant-based cannabidiol (CBD) as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical use. Brains has already signed supply agreements with leading global pharmaceutical and health and wellness companies and commenced shipment to several countries around the world.
Brains is one of the few phyto-cannabinoid CBD API manufacturers in Europe with EudraGMDP certification currently in commercial production. Brains' CBD API (its primary offering to the market) is MHRA licensed for both human and veterinary use and contains 99.7% CBD and zero Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Part of the capital raised will be used to expand Brains' existing UK CBD API production growing its current annual capacity from 864,000g to 6,912,000g per annum, a near seven-fold increase.
Brains' CBD API is currently in use in a Phase III clinical trial for refractory epilepsy in adults conducted by a leading global pharmaceutical corporation. Brains expects a positive outcome from this advanced clinical study and will be ramping up CBD API production to meet anticipated demand. Brains' API has successfully been produced and shipped as a "Specials" medicine, approved by the MHRA, within the U.K. The Brains team of skilled scientists and researchers are finalizing plans to create additional APIs for dominant cannabinoids including THC, CBG, CBN, CBC and more.
Q1 2020 will see Brains launch its branded nutraceutical CBD range of products in top tier health and wellness retail and pharmacy chains in the UK. All Brains' products, own-brand and white-label, will bear the 'Brains Inside®️' trademark to provide the quality assurance stamp of EudraGMDP CBD API.
Brains is also well positioned to navigate the strict Novel Foods requirements in the UK from the Food Standards Association (FSA) and in Europe by the European Commission's (EFSA) for CBD products.
Brains phyto-cannabinoid pure CBD API has successfully been tested by the INRS Laboratory, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) facility. These screening reports have confirmed that Brains' CBD API is free of THC, pesticides and other banned substances listed by WADA. Brains is first of its kind in the industry to get such a confirmation from a WADA- accredited laboratory for the purity of its CBD and the absence of prohibitory substances. WADA has removed CBD from its banned substance list.
The Brains partnership with a leading European Medical Cannabis Group creates a vertically integrated Medical Cannabis operation and has (via its subsidiaries) inter alia received in-principle approval from a European jurisdiction to obtain a license (to permit for the cultivation, extraction, processing, manufacture, storage, transport, import and export of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived products) and to establish a high-quality cannabinoid processing facility.
About Brains Bioceutical Corp:
Brains Bioceutical Corp is a leader in GMP – certified production of naturally sourced active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Brains Bioceutical is one of the only cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers in production today and is involved in academic and clinical trials across the globe.
Brains Bioceutical Corp. Senior Management Team is made up of a rare hybrid of pharmaceutical and consumer goods executives-having held C-suite and other senior positions with companies such as GW Pharma, Merck, Seattle Seahawks, Golden State Warriors, Danone, Earthbound Farms, International Herbs, Cascadia Specialties and The Royal British Navy. This experience allows Brains to execute at a hyper-efficient level in the pharma and wellness categories.
Brains' wholly owned subsidiary in the UK, BSPG Laboratories is one of only nine companies that has the commercial capability and EudraGMDP certification to produce natural CBD API. Brains is currently manufacturing a line of phytocannabinoid THC-free CBD API products. These products will be available across the UK early 2020.
MHRA Registered API: Inspected and Registered with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency). API Certificate Number: UK API 48727
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Brains Bioceutical Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements should they change.
SOURCE Brains Bioceutical
"Alexa, ask Sun Life what my physiotherapist coverage is"
The latest move in the company's digital transformation journey, Sun Life Clients can now tap into the Sun Life skill for Amazon Alexa to learn about benefits coverage details
TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Sun Life is doing more to help Clients easily access information about their benefits coverage for massage therapist, chiropractor, physiotherapist and psychologist services – all through Alexa-enabled devices. As Sun Life continues to drive innovation and deliver on its commitment to Clients, the company today announced the release of expanded voice technology capabilities with a new skill for Amazon Alexa.
"We know that our Clients want to access their health and benefits information through the channels that are the most convenient for them," said Alice Thomas, Chief Digital Technology Officer, Sun Life. "Our digital journey has been all about listening to our Clients, understanding their evolving needs and adopting new technologies to improve their experience."
Harnessing the voice technology of Alexa, Sun Life Clients can now access details such as remaining balances, deductibles, coverage limits and the percentage covered for each provider type. Clients can also easily check the status of a recently submitted medical or dental claim.
"Through these interactive tools, we're working to help empower our Clients to live healthier lives," said Dave Jones, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life. "When our Clients access the power of our provider network, we're making it easy for them to make informed decisions when managing their health and wellness needs."
Sun Life has been at the forefront of the industry in introducing digital and mobile technology. The company's industry first, digital coach 'Ella', and its top rated mobile app are examples of how the company is transforming its business by digitizing current operations, creating innovative new models to delight Clients, demystify a complex business and support the important work of advisors.
"Digital assistants make it easier for consumers to get the information they need, when they need it," said Evan Young, Senior Manager, Alexa Skills. "This new skill from Sun Life is just another value add for Clients and showcases Sun Life's commitment to digital transformation."
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2019, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,063 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging business will help Fujifilm to compete with global players, says GlobalData
Following the news that Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corp has agreed to acquire Hitachi Ltd.’s diagnostic imaging business for approximately JPY179bn (US$1.64bn);
Rohit Anand, Practice Head of Medical Devices at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:
“Fujifilm, whose global revenues have declined from US$23.7bn in 2014 to US$21.9bn in 2019, is looking to counter slowdown in its traditional business operations and scale up its market share through synergies in diagnostic imaging market. On the other hand, Hitachi is looking to restructure its business and has been selling its non-core assets while buying overseas companies to expand digital businesses.
“The current deal follows a series of recent acquisitions by Fujifilm, which has already acquired Irvine Scientific Sales and IS Japan from JXTG Nippon in 2018 and Yokogawa Medical Solutions in 2019. Earlier this year, Fujifilm agreed to acquire German endoscopic instrument manufacturer medwork GmbH.
“Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging business will significantly strengthen Fujifilm’s product line with the inclusion of CT and MRI diagnostics imaging, medical IT, in-vitro diagnostics and endoscopy. Fujifilm will be able to expand its business in the global market through cross-selling, utilizing the extensive sales channels of both companies. The deal will further strengthen Fujifilm’s position in the diagnostic imaging market and will help the company to compete with three leading players GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers and Philips Healthcare.”
4 Natural Methods That Help Cyclists Deal with Cramps
During a strenuous ride, you might begin to feel a twinge in your muscles, and that slight discomfort will most likely turn into serious muscle cramps if you aren’t careful. While some over-the-counter products can help with muscle cramps, you should consider trying a few natural methods for dealing with cramps as well.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is one of the most effective ways to delay or prevent cramps, and you need to be sure that you are drinking plenty of water before, during, and after your workouts. For longer rides, you might need to carry two or three bottles with you or stick to loops so that you are close to water at all times. Your body will also lose quite a bit of water while you are sleeping, and that is why many experts suggest drinking a full glass of water as soon as you wake up.
Consume Electrolytes
Drinking water is a great start, but you need to make sure that your body has enough electrolytes as well. Those minerals regulate how much water gets into your cells, and you won’t be able to stay hydrated if you don’t have any electrolytes in your system. Luckily, there are many different electrolyte products to choose from, and that includes beverages, gels, bars, and lozenges.
Boost Your Intake of Carbohydrates
Carbs are a vital macronutrient that your body turns into energy, but many people steer clear of carbohydrates if they are trying to lose weight. While cutting back on your carbs will help you on your weight loss journey, you need that macronutrient if you are engaging in hard rides. When you don’t consume enough carbs, the glycogen in your muscles will disappear, and that is going to increase your risk of cramps. Some of the healthiest carbs for cyclists include sweet potatoes, chickpeas, quinoa, oatmeal, and brown rice.
Use CBD Products
For immediate relief, you might want to consider using some type of CBD oil. CBD can be taken as a capsule, gel, or spray. Those products have exploded in popularity in recent years, and many high-level athletes are now using CBD to treat a variety of aches and pains. In addition to potentially relieving muscle cramps, CBD could also minimize inflammation, reduce anxiety, and improve your focus.
If you continue to struggle with severe muscle cramps whenever you go out for a ride, then you need to speak with your doctor or a physical therapist. Chronic cramps are sometimes caused by other serious medical issues that require comprehensive treatments.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
AbbVie reaches an agreement with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for the Combination VENCLEXTA® With Rituximab as a Treatment for Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Following the signing of an agreement between AbbVie and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA)i, Quebec is the first province to reimburse the combination treatment.
VENCLEXTA® + rituximab is a regimen that includes a targeted oral agent that should be continued for two years after initial five weeks ramp-up phase.
MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global research and development-based biopharmaceutical company, today announced that an agreement has been reached with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for VENCLEXTA® in combination with rituximab, a treatment for patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy.
"VENCLEXTA in combination with rituximab is an effective treatment option. VENCLEXTA plus rituximab also have the benefit of a finite treatment approach, meaning patients can stop their therapy after two years of treatment and continue to benefit," said Dr. Sarit Assouline MD, MSc, FRCPC, Senior Investigator, Lady Davis Institute, Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, McGill University. "It's great news that patients in Quebec will now have access to this treatment."
On the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec's Liste des médicaments, VENCLEXTA is listed in combination with rituximab, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia in patients who have received at least one prior therapy.ii For full criteria, consult the list of medications in effect.
"The pCPA agreement for VENCLEXTA plus rituximab is positive news for Canadians living with CLL," says Elizabeth Lye, Director of Research & Programs, Lymphoma Canada. "Receiving a diagnosis of CLL or any cancer is always shocking and overwhelming, therefore knowing that there are effective treatments available provides reassurance to people facing this uncertain journey."
CLL, which is typically a slow-progressing cancer of the bone marrow and bloodiii, is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. In Canada, CLL accounts for approximately 1,745 newly diagnosed cases of leukemia each year and is responsible for more than 600 deaths a year.iv
"We are thrilled with the positive outcome of our discussions with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and that Quebec is the first province to list VENCLEXTA in combination with rituximab. We are looking forward to making this treatment available to all Canadians across the country," says Stéphane Lassignardie, Vice-President and General Manager, Abbvie Canada. "With a strong commitment to developing innovative therapies for patients and contributing to longer-term healthcare sustainability, AbbVie is committed to providing solutions that bring significant clinical and economic value to patients, healthcare practitioners and our healthcare system."
VENCLEXTA continues to be investigated in CLL and other hematological diseases. VENCLEXTA is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialized by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the U.S. and by AbbVie outside of the U.S.
About the MURANO Study A total of 389 patients with relapse / refractory (R/R) CLL who had received at least one prior therapy were enrolled in the international, multicenter, open-label, randomized (1:1) MURANO study (NCT02005471). The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VENCLEXTA in combination with rituximab (194 patients) compared with bendamustine in combination with rituximab (195 patients). The median age of patients in the trial was 65 years (range 22-85).v The MURANO study is unique in its design with the intention for patients to stop therapy after 24 months.
About AbbVie Care Canadians prescribed VENCLEXTA can be enrolled in AbbVie Care, AbbVie's signature care program. The program is designed to provide a wide range of customized services including reimbursement and financial support, pharmacy services, lab work reminders and coordination, personalized education and ongoing disease management support throughout the treatment. For more information, please visit www.abbviecare.ca.
About AbbVie AbbVie is a global, research and development-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and critical conditions. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvieCanada and @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.
A New Way to Optimize Sleep and Light Exposure Can Reduce Jet Lag and Improve Alertness
Wearable technology can be used to calculate optimal personalized sleep and light schedule
TROY, N.Y. — Whether you’re traveling for work or for fun, nothing ruins the start of a trip quite like jet lag. Engineers affiliated with the Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA) Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a way to deliver personalized advice using smart wearable technology that would help travelers adjust more quickly.
In a series of articles, including one published today in PLOS ONE, the researchers explain how they have developed and demonstrated a series of algorithms that can analyze biometric information recorded by a smart device and then recommend the best combination of sleep and light to help a person readjust their circadian rhythm.
“Using these algorithms and a mathematical model of a person’s circadian rhythm, we have the ability to compute the best light to adjust your circadian rhythm and foster your well-being. This opens the opportunity to create a smart and healthy environment,” said Agung Julius, an associate professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer and one of the authors on this paper.
The same, he said, goes for determining the sleep — both how much and when it should be received — a person needs.
Circadian rhythms are master internal clocks that help regulate many of our physiological processes, including sleep, metabolism, hormone secretion, and even how our brain functions. Energy, alertness, and other biological processes can suffer when that rhythm doesn’t align with the clock one is actually trying to follow.
The Department of Defense is funding this research because of the benefits the researchers’ findings could bring to the alertness of service members.
“The circadian and sleep processes are also very tightly related to your mental state and how alert you are,” Julius said. “If you try to do something in the wrong time of day, your alertness is not going to be as effective as if you do it in the right time of day as defined by your circadian clock.”
Julius explained that a person’s circadian rhythm variation is typically determined using information gathered from a blood or saliva test that measures levels of the hormone melatonin. The problem with that traditional approach is that obtaining the results takes time and doesn’t allow for instant analysis.
The LESA team, which includes John Wen, head of the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer and co-author on this paper, has been working on algorithms that process data — like heart rate and body temperature — that can be collected from wearable smart technology and converted into an estimate of a person’s circadian rhythm variation.
“The question is whether that kind of data can give you as accurate an estimation as the clinical standard,” Julius said.
What the team has found and demonstrated is that the estimates their algorithms generated are in line with clinical hormone measurement techniques. Julius said these findings are indicative that the team’s approach works.
“This work is important, because it characterizes the fundamental processes the human body uses to synchronize circadian and sleep processes. By developing biosensing analytics to characterize circadian phase, it is now possible to optimize the efficient use of light with appropriate spectral properties to help optimize and maintain human health and performance,” said Robert Karlicek, the director of the LESA Center. “This will be important to other work related to lighting and health in LESA’s clinical research test beds at Thomas Jefferson University and the University of New Mexico.”
About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,900 students and over 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.
About the Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA) Center
The Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA) Center is an interdisciplinary, multi-university center developing “Systems that Think™”. It engages faculty members, research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and industry members to work on research leading to intelligent systems with adaptive and controllable properties that will change the way society lives and works. The Center joins academia, industry and government in partnership to produce transformational engineered systems, along with highly trained engineering graduates who are adept at innovation and primed for leadership in the global economy. Originally funded by the National Science Foundation, LESA is headquartered at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and partners with Boston University, The University of New Mexico, and Thomas Jefferson University to achieve its objectives. To learn more, go to www.lesa.rpi.edu.
FLU SEASON ARRIVES IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Tips on How to Prevent the Flu this Holiday SeasonCDC Estimates 1,300 Deaths Already from the Flu this SeasonSt. Jude/WHO Flu Scientist Dr. Richard Webby Pens Guest Op-Ed in Newsweek: “Not too Late to Get the Flu Shot” MEMPHIS, TENN. – As holiday season approaches, Dr. Richard Webby, a member of the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Composition Team, today offers tips on staying healthy while publishing a guest op-ed in Newsweek reminding everyone that “it is still not too late to get the flu shot.” “With family gatherings and travel during the holiday season, the influenza virus is spreading across the country and Americans need to take precautions now to protect themselves and their family. It is still not too late to get vaccinated and for your body to build up immunity this flu season,” warnsDr. Richard Webby, a member of the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Composition Team. “The bottom line is the flu shot is still the most valuable and life-saving public health tool in preventing and spreading the flu. In fact, this year’s flu vaccine has been reformulated and updated based last year’s shot.”Simple “Preventing the Flu” Holiday TipsGet the flu shot (it’s not too late…)Wash your hands regularlyCover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or coughStay home and rest if you are sick“Getting the flu vaccine isn’t just about protecting your health, it’s also about protecting those around you who are vulnerable like the elderly, children and those with serious health issues. The more people who get the flu shot, the less chance the virus can spread while protecting more people,” concludedWebby. To Speak with Dr. Webby, please contact Michael Sheffield at michael.sheffield@stjude.org or 901-595-0221 CNN HEALTH MINUTE: FLU SEASON PEAKS EARLYClick here to watch Dr. Webby in a CNN Health Minute offer expert advice on how to protect yourself and those around you this flu seasonThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that all regions of the country are experiencing elevated levels of flu activity, indicating that peak flu season is already underway. In fact, the CDC estimates that there have been 2.6 million flu illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and unfortunately 1,300 deaths, including children, already from the flu. Flu is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. In an average year, it kills about 36,000 people. But the toll can go higher, including the 2017–18 flu season included about 48.8 million flu infections in the U.S. and about 79,400 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
# # # St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. St. Jude is ranked the No. 1 pediatric cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.
Coke PR Campaigns Tried to Influence Teens’ Views on Health Impacts of Soda, Study Says
Internal Coca-Cola Company documents show how the company intended to use public relations campaigns to influence teens’ sense of the health risks of its products, including sugary soda, according to a study published today in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
One Coca-Cola document shows that its public relations campaign goals included to “Increase Coke brand health scores with teens” and to “Cement credibility in the health and well-being space.”
The study was produced by Australia’s Deakin University and U.S. Right to Know, a nonprofit consumer and public health group. It is based on two Coca-Cola Company public relations requests for proposals, for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games and for its Movement Is Happiness campaign. U.S. Right to Know obtained the documents through state public records requests.
“The documents show that Coca-Cola tried to use public relations to manipulate teens into thinking that sugary soda is healthy, when really it increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and other ills,” said Gary Ruskin, a co-author of the study, and co-director of U.S Right to Know. “Tobacco companies shouldn’t tell teens what is or is not healthy, and neither should Coca-Cola.”
“We are calling for governments and public health agencies to investigate how Coca-Cola uses public relations to manipulate children and teenagers in ways that may harm their health,” Ruskin said.
The study concludes that, “Coke’s intent and ability to use PR campaigns to market to children should cause serious public-health concern, given that the exposure of children to the marketing of unhealthy foods is likely to be an important contributor to increased childhood obesity rates.”
“Globally, Coke makes public pledges to reduce the exposure of children to marketing of unhealthy products. But what they say in public is at odds with their internal documents that show how they deliberately set out to target children as part of their promotion efforts”, said co-author of the study, Associate Professor Gary Sacks from Deakin University.
The study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health was co-authored by Benjamin Wood, a doctoral student at Deakin University; Gary Ruskin, co-director of U.S. Right to Know, and Deakin University Associate Professor Gary Sacks.
