Charney Lawyers Announce Proposed Ranitidine Class Action
VANCOUVER, Oct. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - A proposed national class action has been filed in Vancouver in response to yet another national recall of medication contaminated by a toxin. For more information, please visit: http://www.ranitidineclassaction.com/.
"In 2018 it was the Valsartan recall, now it's Ranitidine – the integrity of Canada's drug supply is now very much in question. How is NDMA getting into our drug supply? Why isn't the Government of Canada launching an inquiry?" said class counsel Theodore P. Charney.
The action is brought against the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture Ranitidine products for sale in Canada. It is alleged the manufacturers were negligent because the drugs include a toxic chemical, NDMA.
According to Health Canada, NDMA is a potential human carcinogen, which means that it could cause cancer with long-term exposure. NDMA has been detected in the Ranitidine products manufactured, distributed and sold by the defendants.
The class action is also being advanced against national drug store chains who sold the contaminated Ranitidine products over-the-counter. It is alleged the goods are not fit for consumption.
The defendant manufacturers in the proposed class action are the five pharmaceutical companies whose products appear on Health Canada's recall list: Sandoz Canada Inc., Apotex Inc., Pro Doc Limitée, Sanis Health Inc. and Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC/Sivem Produits Pharmaceutiques ULC.
The defendant drug store chains are: London Drugs Limited, Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd., Rexall/Pharma Plus Pharmacies Ltd., McKesson Canada Corporation/La Corporation McKesson Canada, McKesson Pharmacy Systems Canada ULC, Pharmasave Drugs Ltd., Loblaws Inc. and Westfair Drugs B.C. Ltd.
Class Counsel are Charney Lawyers, a leading class action firm led by senior counsel Theodore P. Charney and Rice Harbut Elliott a firm of trial lawyers who exclusively represent people who have been injured. The lawyers at Rice Harbut Elliott have a record of relentlessly holding defendants accountable, including in product liability cases.
SOURCE Charney Lawyers
Merida Merger Corp. I announces filing of registration statement in the United States and a preliminary prospectus in Canada
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Merida Merger Corp. I (the "Company") announced today that it has filed a registration statement in the United States for its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units for aggregate gross proceeds of US$100,000,000. The offering is being made concurrently in the United States under a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a preliminary prospectus filed in each of the provinces of Canada other than Québec. Each unit offered in the initial public offering has an offering price of US$10.00 and consists of one share of common stock and one-half of one warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of US$11.50 per share. Each warrant will become exercisable on the later of twelve months from the closing of the offering and the completion of an initial business combination or qualifying transaction (a "Qualifying Transaction") and will expire at 5:00 pm New York City time five years from the consummation of the Qualifying Transaction, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The Company has applied to list its units on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "MCMJU." The Company has also applied to list its units on the NEO Exchange Inc. under the ticker symbol "MMK.UN."
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering ("EarlyBird"). EarlyBirdhas engaged Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. as its Canadian agent to distribute the units in each of the provinces of Canada other than Québec.
The Company has granted EarlyBird a non-transferable over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units on the same terms and conditions, exercisable in whole or in part, by EarlyBird up to 45 days following the effective date of the registration statement. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the gross proceeds of the offering are expected to be US $115,000,000.
The Company is a blank check company organized for the purpose of effecting a Qualifying Transaction with one or more businesses or entities. The Company's efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although it intends to focus its search for target businesses in the cannabis industry.
The registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission has not yet become effective. The securities covered by the registration statement may not be sold, nor may offers to buy such securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or Canadian province in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such state or Canadian province. This proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained, when available, from: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., 366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attn: Syndicate Department, 212-661-0200.
A preliminary prospectus relating to the offering has also been filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the provinces of Canada other than Québec. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment and thus has not yet become final for the purpose of a distribution of securities to the public. Any solicitation or sale would be unlawful in Canada prior to the time a receipt for the final prospectus or other authorization is obtained from the securities commission or similar authority in such jurisdiction. Copies of the preliminary prospectus will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Copies of the preliminary prospectus may also be obtained from Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., at ECM@echelonpartners.com. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the securities in Canada until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "anticipates," "believes," "may," "continues," "estimates," "expects," and "will" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements regarding the preliminary prospectus and registration statement being cleared by Canadian and US securities regulatory authorities. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "projects", "assumes", "budget", "strategy", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "targets" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative forms of any of these terms and similar expressions, have been used to identify forward-looking statements and information. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks identified in the Company's filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the United States at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Merida Merger Corp. I
Breaking Barriers: helping Canadians on disability leave get back to work
Sun Life leads healthcare innovation with disability management toolkit
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2019 /CNW/ - Nearly 60% of working Canadians have experienced a mental health condition at some point in their lifei, placing it among the leading causes of disability leaveii. Treatment options, wait times, cost and stigma can be some of the barriers people face when dealing with their mental health challenges. Sun Life is expanding its suite of digital tools and healthcare innovations to help Clients get back to work and live a healthier life.
"When you take a disability leave for mental health reasons, finding a specialist and getting proper treatment can feel overwhelming – we want to make this experience hassle-free," said Dave Jones, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life. "Bringing these healthcare innovations to our Clients will improve their recovery experience and help them get the timely care they need."
Sun Life's Group Disability team is dedicated to helping Clients navigate the healthcare system and get the right treatment. The latest digital and healthcare innovations include:
Pharmacogenomics: Sun Life piloted pharmacogenomics in 2017 with positive results. Using saliva to determine how a person may respond to mental health and chronic pain medications, Sun Life is now partnering with LifeLabs Genetics and BiogeniQ to offer this personalized solution. Pharmacogenomics has the potential to help Clients and their physicians find an effective treatment faster.
"This test not only confirmed that I was on the right track, but also confirmed that the medications I had previously taken were definitely not right for me," said a Sun Life Group Benefits Client on disability leave about their experience using pharmacogenomics. "I would recommend this to others, in hopes of leading them towards finding the most suitable medications for their mental health."
Virtual Independent Medical Examination (vIME): Sun Life recently partnered with EQ Care to pilot vIME. This one-of-a-kind solution helps those on disability participate in an independent examination without leaving the comfort of their own home.
Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Clients on disability with mild to moderate anxiety or depression can take part in online modules, which focus on improving their mental well-being. With weekly virtual touchpoints with a mental health professional, individuals will conveniently receive care and support.
These tools are part of Sun Life's commitment to its Clients as it continues to lead the industry. Sun Life will embed these solutions into its case management processes to transform the disability experience and help Clients with their treatment and recovery.
Explore new mental health-related apps, articles, products and services to help you and your family live a healthier life with Lumino Health, Sun Life's online health network. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, calling 9-1-1 and seeking immediate help may be necessary.
About Sun Life 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 June 30, 2019, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,025 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.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
_________________________________
i
Sun Life Barometer Survey 2019
ii
Towers Watson, 2009/2010 Staying@Work Report
Canadian Skin Patient Alliance Launches Skin Patient Charter
OTTAWA, Oct. 10, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Skin Patient Alliance is proud to announce the launch of "Patient Charter for Canadians Living with Conditions, Diseases or Traumas involving the Skin." The intent of the document is to educate and empower patients to take an active role in their care and treatment as well as to safeguard the respect of society, government and workplace as a result of their diagnosis.
One of the foundations of patient-centered healthcare is that professionals provide care that is respectful of a patients needs, values and preferences, and that they ensure that the patient values drive all clinical decisions.
"We believe that patients should be empowered to play an active role in their care and treatment and this will lead to improved health outcomes and an increased adherence to treatment", says Kathryn Andrews-Clay, Executive Director of the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance. "Our hope is that this educational document will facilitate a more collaborative relationship between skin patients and their health care providers. "
While this document has no legal significance, the CSPA will use the Charter to advocate for skin patients who may be treated unfairly at work, in the community or in a health care setting.
To find out more about the "Patient Charter for Canadians Living with Conditions, Diseases or Traumas involving the Skin" and the rights we believe all Canadian Skin patients are entitled to visit www.canadianskin.ca/charter.
About the CSPA
The Canadian Skin Patient Alliance (CSPA) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to advocate, educate and support Canadians living with diseases, conditions and traumas involving the skin.
Our mission is to promote skin health and improve the quality of life of Canadians living with skin conditions, diseases and traumas. We advocate for best treatment options for all skin patients; we educate on a variety of issues affecting these patients; and we support the members of our Affiliate organizations who work specifically on their disease areas such as acne, scleroderma, melanoma and psoriasis.
SOURCE Canadian Skin Patient Alliance
Here is The One Trait Young People Most Want in a Partner
Relationship development experts discuss breaking international study which unveils what young people most desire in their mate
A new study published in the Journal of Personality surveyed over 2,700 college students in countries across the globe including Norway, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom. The researchers asked these young people what they most wanted in a long-term partner, and despite cultural differences and diverse religious beliefs, there was one common theme in their answers: Kindness was the top-rated quality across the board, even beating physical attraction, humor, and other desirable traits.
“This research proves that whether you live in London or Oslo or Kuala Lumpur, kindness trumps all. When looking for someone to spend the rest of their lives with, this was the number one quality that the vast majority of these young people said they needed in a mate,” says AJ Harbinger, relationship development expert.
“It’s an important study because I think many single people can feel inadequate when they consider the dating pool,” says Johnny Dzubak, fellow relationship development expert who co-hosts the popular lifestyle podcast Art of Charmwith Harbinger. “They might think, ‘Oh, I am not as attractive as the other guys out there’ or ‘I weigh more than a lot of the girls on Match,’ or ‘I don’t make enough money to be desirable.’ But as this study shows, kindness is a top quality that people seek in their partners…and regardless of your height, weight, or career, anyone can be kind.”
However, Harbinger and Dzubak say that kindness can be an elusive concept.
“Being kind sounds like a no-brainer, but you need to be kind in a way that lands for the people around you,” says Dzubak. “In other words, you need to have emotional intelligence, which means being aware of your own emotional energy and the way other people are reading you or experiencing your personality. It also means that you need to be attune to other people’s emotions, not just what they express to you, but also their hidden emotional worlds and unspoken needs.”
“It’s sort of like being a detective of emotions,” says Harbinger. “And while women tend to be super-gifted at this emotional reading and expression, men can really use work in this area. That is why Johnny and I always tell men that if they want to attract more potential partners, they need to do more than just work on their six-pack. They need to improve their emotional intelligence and become more skilled at creating those emotional connections that are a crucial part of kindness.”
“Kindness is at a high premium, especially in our fast-paced technological world. Being able to emotionally connect with your dates in a deep, meaningful way is so much more attractive than having the biggest muscles or the biggest bank account,” says Dzubak.
Actress Bella Thorne & Glass House Group
Launch Forbidden Flowers:
A Consumer Cannabis & CBD Brand
Thorne, A Long-Time Cannabis Enthusiast,
Embodies the Brand’s Creative, Captivating and Rebellious Free Spirit
(October 9, 2019) Los Angeles- Bella Thorne, the artist, actress, musician, best-selling author, director, entrepreneur and long-time cannabis enthusiast, has joined forces with Glass House Group, one of the fastest-growing, privately held, vertically integrated cannabis and hemp companies in the U.S., through its cultivation division Glass House Farms, to launch Forbidden Flowers, a new cannabis and CBD brand.
The initial launch will officially kick off with a “Forbidden Flowers Tour”’ which will take place over the next seven weeks. Starting on Thursday, October 10, 2019, on the forbiddenxflowers Instagram page at 10:00 a.m. PT, the first retail location, where consumers can purchase products from the following day on Friday, October 11, 2019, will be revealed. Each Thursday following at 10:00 a.m. PT through Thursday, November 21, 2019, the forbiddenxflowers Instagram page will reveal a new retail location in California, where Forbidden Flowers products can be purchased the following Friday. At the end of the seven weeks, additional retail locations across the Golden State that will carry Forbidden Flowers, will be announced to fans.
“I have struggled with anxiety for many years, and weed was the one source I found for me to do the most healing. Because of the properties in weed, I have been able to cope with my anxiety in a natural way, rather than my doctors trying to fix it using prescription drugs,“ said Artist Bella Thorne
“It’s been great spending time with Bella and getting to know and understand her as an individual before we created her brand together,” saidGlass House Group Chief Marketing Officer Groovy Singh. “Her creative direction on Forbidden Flowers has been absolutely artistic and impressive. We’re proud to join forces with Bella in rolling out this sexy, enticing, high-quality brand that embodies her captivating spirit. The authenticity of what we are bringing to market together with Forbidden Flowers is what Bella handpicked at our grow, consumed and loved. At a time when more people are exploring the power of cannabis, we look forward to introducing a whole new community to the benefits of cannabis and to Bella sharing with her fans and consumers the ways she incorporates cannabis and CBD into her daily lifestyle.”
Bella worked intimately with Glass House Group to create Forbidden Flowers, which aims to give consumers the same rebellious, empowered feeling many consumers get when they consume cannabis. Today, despite the plant being legal in more than two-thirds of the U.S. in some form, cannabis consumers still face a variety of outdated stigmas. Recognizing that more new consumers are eager to become better educated about cannabis and CBD, Thorne plans to share the various ways she incorporates cannabis and CBD into her lifestyle, health and wellness regimes with her more than 21 million social media followers.
“Bella’s entire product line has been cultivated at our sun-powered, state-of-the-art facility in California using the same high-quality control and earth-friendly approach we are known and respected for,” said Glass House Group President Graham Farrar. “We brought some genetics that we grew specifically for Bella for this launch, and we’re confident that both our long-time customers and new consumers are going to love these new product lines.”
To fit any mood or setting, Forbidden Flowers’ Indica, Sativa, Hybrid and CBD varieties will be available in stylish: glass jars eighths of flower; pre-roll five-packs; and pre-roll singles. Each Forbidden Flowers variety has been cultivated exclusively at Glass House Farms in Santa Barbara using coastal sun, organic standards and environmental sensibility to deliver uncompromising quality to consumers.
“We set out to engage a whole growing community of consumers embracing the cannabis and CBD market,” said Glass House Group CEO Kyle Kazan. “We’re pleased to have Forbidden Flowers join our growing portfolio of brands and to bring these products to consumers. We also look forward to rolling out more strategic brands and announcing partnerships in the future.”
Bella Thorne is an actress, best-selling author, director, philanthropist musician and entrepreneur. She entered the entertainment business at six months of age and now at twenty-one has amassed an empire that stretches from acting to various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic endeavors that have set her apart from your normal millennial entertainer. Her unapologetic authenticity and ability to be raw with her fans has generated a loyal and diehard following on her social media pages, which consists of 21.5M on Instagram, 6.9M on Twitter, 529k subscribers on YouTube. She is a force to be reckoned with and is just getting started.
About Glass House Group
Glass House Group is one of the fastest-growing, privately held, vertically integrated cannabis and hemp companies in the U.S. Its family of eco-friendly, community-conscious cultivation, manufacturing, brands and retail locations bring to market only the finest strains of cannabis and hemp using cutting-edge care, technologies and environmental sensibility to deliver uncompromising craft-quality strains, flower, extracts, pre-rolls, vaporizers, cartridges and apparel. As a leading brand-enabling company, celebrities, artists, athletes and influencers turn to Glass House Group to create powerful partnerships that reach new audiences and drive consumer engagement. Currently, Glass House Group is expanding its suite of companies, product lines and brands and is expected to see sizable growth throughout 2019 and beyond. For more information and company updates, visit https://www.glasshousegroup.com.
Study in rats suggests special occasion drinking during pregnancy may cause harm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
If you thought a glass or two of alcohol on special occasions was safe during pregnancy, think again. Research in The Journal of Physiology shows even small amounts of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can cause insulin-resistance, which increases the likelihood of diabetes, in male rat offspring.
The study mimicked 'special occasion drinking', such as a family barbeque or birthday party, where a pregnant mother might be encouraged to have one or two alcoholic drinks. Male rats exposed to this low level of prenatal alcohol showed signs of becoming diabetic at around six months old. The researchers only gave alcohol to the mother rats on two days during their pregnancy.
The rats’ blood alcohol concentration only reached 0.05%, and yet their male offspring became almost diabetic, with insulin levels reaching higher than expected to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Another interesting finding was that insulin-resistance was sex-specific, occurring only in the male rats. There are a couple of potential reasons for this, one being that during pregnancy, the placenta adapts to a prenatal stress differently depending on if it’s a male or female fetus, and this can impact on fetal growth and development.
The other factor is hormone changes as offspring grow into adulthood. In this case, oestrogen protects against insulin-resistance, and because males don't have high oestrogen, they don’t experience the same protection.
Commenting on the study University of Queensland researcher Lisa Akison, senior author on the study, said:
“Even a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy can be harmful, so if you're planning on getting pregnant don't drink. Families, partners and friends should support a woman’s choice not to drink alcohol during pregnancy. If a woman accidentally becomes pregnant, and unknowingly drinks alcohol during the first part of their pregnancy, the important thing once they know is to stop drinking, have a good diet and take care of themselves throughout the remainder of the pregnancy."
Fight back against Text Neck: Six exercises to realign your spine
World Spine Day 2019 is October 16 and this year’s theme is #GetSpineActive, a chance to focus on the importance of movement in maintaining healthy spine alignment.
Unfortunately, most Canadians spend hours each day staring at our phones. We're feeling the effects of our sedentary habits and addiction to mobile devices. Text neck is one of the most prevalent and fast-growing spinal health issues, especially among young adults, who spend up to 4 hours (or more) daily on their mobile devices.
The human head weighs 10 to 12 pounds when it’s upright, but when you bend our neck and hold your head at a 45-degree angle to stare into a smartphone screen, the weight and pressure increase to almost 50 pounds on the cervical spine. Each time you move your head down an inch, the pressure on the spine doubles.
Over time, this pressure takes a toll on your neck and spine, and that’s when text neck sets in. Text neck can cause harmful symptoms such as neck pain, upper back pain, shoulder pain, chronic headaches and increased curvature of the spine. In fact, a high profile study done in Australia found 41% of young adults and 33% of the general population shows evidence of bone spurs growing on the back of their skulls – the body’s attempt to compensate for the damage caused by sustained, terrible posture.
Over the long term, untreated text neck can result in inflammation of the neck ligaments, muscles and nerves leading to permanent arthritic changes. It can also cause long term damage including flattening of the spinal curve, the onset of early arthritis, spinal misalignment and degeneration.
Anyone who uses a smartphone is at risk, but most of us don’t know how to prevent it. Some of the easy, immediate lifestyle changes that can help include:
Look at your phone with your eyes only, not your entire head.
Hold your device up higher and with two hands, and make sure you take regular breaks to look up and connect with your surroundings.
While sitting, align the neck and spine by checking that the ears are over the shoulders and the shoulders are over the hips.
Simon Paige, GoodLife Fitness Personal Trainer, Head of Physical Performance and Analysis at the Canadian Rugby League and Fascial Stretching Master Trainer, recommends six stretches and preventative exercises to strengthen shoulders and promote correct spine alignment to help minimize the effects of text neck and prevent longer-term structural damage and pain.
T-fly: Prevents you from being hunched over. Strengthens muscles in your upper back, rhomboids, upper traps, rear deltoids
Bird dog: Works on your deep-lying core muscles stabilizes the spine - strengthens lower back and traps
Glute bridge: Stabilizes spine and pelvis
Dead bug: Trains your spinal stabilizers to work isometrically, while arms and legs are moving
Hip hinge: Works hamstrings, glutes and lower back muscles - keeps the pelvis and lower back in alignment.
Scapular wall slide: Activates the rhomboids to help pull your shoulders back and improve overall posture.
Simon Paige and other fitness professionals in your area are available to talk more about the effects of text neck and some of the stretches, exercises and yoga moves that target the muscles of your back, shoulders, and neck, to keep Canadians in proper alignment and out of pain.
Montmed announces positive clinical trial data on SiteSmart™
Results of a randomized controlled trial presented at Diabetes Canada's 2019 Professional Conference demonstrate the clinical value of the novel SiteSmart™ pen needles educational concept.
MONTREAL, Oct. 4, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Montmed, Inc., a company dedicated to enabling people with diabetes to do more without adding to the burden of managing their diabetes, announced the presentation of positive results from a randomized controlled trial on its SiteSmart™ insulin pen needles, during an oral poster presentation at the Diabetes Canada 2019 Professional Conference, Oct 2-5, 2019. SiteSmart™ is a novel pen needle designed to favor adherence to a healthy injection site rotation regimen amongst insulin users. Each package of SiteSmart™ contains 100 insulin pen needles distinctively marked with 4 colors, along with educational messages and an association tool labeled directly on the packaging that allows the user to create a personalized structured injection site rotation plan, in which each of the four colors of pen needle is associated with an injection area, seamlessly instructing the insulin user where to inject.
The data highlight the impact of SiteSmart™ on injection site rotation habits of established insulin users, as compared to the currently available conventional insulin pen needles.
In the study, 208 adult insulin users with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were randomized to either use Montmed's SiteSmart colored coded pen needles or their current, conventional pen needle for one month to evaluate the effect of SiteSmart™ on injection site rotation habits amongst established insulin users. The study also evaluated the impact of SiteSmart™ on pharmacists' knowledge and comfort in discussing injection site rotation with their patients. In this study, the sole dispensing of Montmed's SiteSmart™ by a retail pharmacist resulted in a significant improvement in injection site rotation (p=0.00546) compared to conventional pen needles, delivering a 134.7% increase in the likelihood to improve site rotation over conventional pen needle.
"These data are very exciting in that they demonstrate that a simple, yet innovative, intervention like SiteSmart™ can help insulin users easily learn and adhere to a healthy injection site rotation regimen which should, in turn, reduce the risk of lipohypertrophy and the associated impact on glucose control and insulin use," said Lori Berard, RN, CDA, Study Investigator and Chair of the Canadian Forum for Injection Techniques. "I believe this is an easily-implemented intervention that doesn't add any cost to the healthcare system, and that has the potential to deliver important clinical and health-care outcomes."
Amir Farzam, chief executive officer of Montmed, commented, "These data support our belief that SiteSmart™ has the potential to transform the utility of an insulin pen needle from a simple delivery device, to a clinically valuable tool. SiteSmart™ can play an important role in proper insulin use and diabetes control by helping insulin users easily and seamlessly integrate a healthy injection site rotation routine in their daily lives, and therefore, have an important impact on the healthcare system."
Additional results of this study looking at pharmacist's ability, level of comfort, and willingness to teach site rotation to their insulin using patients, as well as patients satisfaction using SiteSmart™ will be the subject of publication at a later date.
About Lipohypertrophy Globally, hundreds of millions of people live with diabetes and it is estimated that more than 40 million people depend on the daily administration of exogenous insulin to help control their blood glucose levels and prevent long-term complications associated with diabetes. Insulin users inject themselves anywhere from 1 to 6 or more times daily. This daily repeated administration of exogenous insulin, a growth hormone, combined with the repeated trauma of needle micro-injury, can lead to a serious complication called lipohypertrophy, observed in as high as 65% of insulin users, defined as an abnormal accumulation of fat underneath the surface of the skin1. Lipohypertrophy has been shown to have important repercussions on glycemic control, such as an elevation in HbA1C, increased glucose variability, increased unexplained hypoglycemia as well as an increase in insulin requirements2. Studies also indicate that the most important risk factor for the development of lipohypertrophy is a failure to rotate injection sites3. As such, proper injection site rotation is a key recommendation of diabetes guidelines worldwide.
About SiteSmart™ Montmed has developed SiteSmart™, a pen needle that brings clinical value by helping insulin users seamlessly adopt a healthy site rotation routine, which can reduce the risk of lipohypertrophy and help improve insulin action. The SiteSmart™ package contains 100 insulin pen needles distinctively marked with 4 colors (4X25), along with an association tool labeled directly on the packaging and on a web app, that allow the user to create a personalized structured injection site rotation plan, in which each of the four colors of pen needle is associated with an injection area. Once the plan is developed by the insulin user or with the help of a health care professional, the user simply picks a pen needle in the box, and injects in the area corresponding to color of the pen needle on his /her plan. And that's it! No tracking, no logging, no need to remember where the last injection was given. The simplicity of SiteSmart™ makes it easy for any insulin user to get the most out of their insulin by integrating a healthy injection site rotation routine without adding to the cognitive burden associated with diabetes management. The SiteSmart™ packaging also serves as a counseling tool to favor a rapid and concise educational intervention on site rotation by health care professionals, including prescribers, diabetes educators, and retail pharmacists. SiteSmart™: Change Colour, Change Site™.
References1. Blanco M, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of lipohypertrophy in insulin-injecting patients with diabetes. Diabetes Metab. 2013;39(5)445-53. doi: 10.1016/j.diabet.2013.05.006. 2. Frid A, et al. Worldwide Injection techniques questionnaire study. Mayo Clinic Proc. 2016;91(9):1212-1223. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.06.011. 3. Forum for Injection Techniques (FIT). http://fit4diabetes.com
SOURCE Montméd
Gastro-Tourism is Changing the Travel Industry
ENV Travel focuses on culinary experiences around the world.
Food is a vital part of every cultural celebration. In tourism, food travel has evolved to become a separate segment in the industry called “gastro-tourism”. Gastronomy tourism is a phrase that is more romantically used in Europe, and it describes an enhanced culinary travel experience. Culinary tourists are in the pursuit of authentic cultural tours that guide them through cooking classes, festivals, and unique dining experiences while learning about local and seasonal ingredients. Gastro-tourism does not just focus on the eating and drinking, but also the behind-the-scenes adventures of being a part of the food’s origin, such as a tour of a farm or vineyard, exploring local markets, and the cooking process right in the kitchen.
With food tourism, food became more than just a delightful byproduct of a trip, but instead, trip planning began to include memorable food and drink events. With social media and cooking shows, food travel expanded the experience from merely dining, to immersing in local cultures to find and prepare the best food. Now, gastro-tourism prioritizes food as the primary focus for travel, and the destination and other attractions become the added “cherry on top” in planning a trip in food travel.
ENV is a travel company that creates unforgettable gastro-tourism experiences around the world. Each trip takes travelers to destinations around the world with cruises and adventures that allow travelers to learn from locals and insiders. The private, hands-on activities will have tourists in the kitchen, rubbing shoulders with chefs, winemakers, and other culinary experts. With amazing food, comes an amazing cultural experience as travelers explore local streets, farms, kitchens, and more.
ENV Travel started in Napa Valley by Karen Rowley. The business was inspired by Napa’s food and wine scene, along with Rowley’s many contacts from her culinary experience. She began to create magical travel adventures around the world, designing the perfect journeys for her clients.
Rowley says, “We love designing magical travel experiences and sharing authentic culinary adventures around the world with our guests. Whether it’s individuals or groups, we know the best local chefs, guides, cooking locations, and how to travel in comfort to any destination. With our global partners, we create authentic, local culinary encounters that immerse our clients in cultures. “
As gastro-tourism continues to alter the travel industry, ENV travel continues to lead enthusiastic food and wine aficionados on culinary experiences around the globe.
Karen Rowley
Karen owns Many More Travels, along with ENV Travel, and has a 22-year background in travel, including Director of Sales and Marketing at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a position she held for over eight years. Visiting 61 countries and counting, she focuses on luxury, culinary, and wine travel. She holds a degree in English Literature and belongs to the prestigious Virtuoso Network of the most accomplished travel designers in the world with a special designation as a Virtuoso Culinary Expert. She is also a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier an invitation-only philanthropic organization of women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage, and hospitality.
