Merger strengthens European service and expands cardiovascular customization capabilities
VICTORIA and MARSEILLE, France, Sept. 17, 2019 /CNW/ - ViVitro Labs, the industry-leading provider of cardiovascular device test equipment and related consulting services, announces the acquisition of ProtomedLabs SASU, an ISO 17025 accredited medical device testing laboratory based in Marseille France.
The companies will merge operations and form a single company operating under the name of ViVitro Labs Inc. The new organization extends ViVitro's presence in Europe and doubles the company's contract testing and customization capabilities. Karim Mouneimne, General Manager of ProtomedLabs, will become President of the combined organization and move to ViVitro headquarters in Victoria, Canada.
"This acquisition and merger reflects our commitment to growing ViVitro's resources, products and services to address evolving cardiovascular testing system needs for leading edge researchers and organizations," said Scott Phillips, Owner and CEO of the StarFish Group and CEO of ViVitro Labs.
"ProtomedLabs has been the ViVitro sales agent for Europe, Israel, and Africa since 2015. We are excited to bring this successful partnership to the next level," said Frederic Mouret, President & CEO, Protomed SA and owner of ProtomedLabs.
"Helping companies solve testing challenges by using our equipment and customized testing strategies is part of ViVitro's unique heritage. We go beyond standard catalog items or services," said Karim Mouneimne. "Our new larger capacity will allow us to aggressively invest in our product lineup while expanding customized service offerings for clients across the cardiovascular industry."
About ViVitro Labs
ViVitro Labs Inc., Canada, offers industry-leading cardiovascular test equipment and related laboratory testing and consulting services. Hundreds of organizations in over 39 countries for 30 years have trusted ViVitro expertise, accuracy, and quality for their heart valve, LVAD, TAH, stent, and graft testing. ViVitro Laboratory Services holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation based on ISO 5840. ViVitro Labs products are manufactured by StarFish Medical in Victoria, Canada.
ProtomedLabs SASU, Marseille, France, is an ISO 17025 accredited medical device testing laboratory which provides responsive turnkey engineering solutions in device testing for companies developing implantable and interventional cardiovascular devices. ProtomedLabs was 100% owned by Protomed SA, Strasbourg, France.
https://protomedlabs.com/
About Protomed SA
Protomed SA, Strasbourg, France, is an ISO 13485 certified contract service R&D company specialized in medical device design and development. PROTOMED has been driver in the development of several minimally invasive surgery, single use devices, vascular and cardiac implants. Its fab lab includes prototyping machines (3D printers; CNC machines), test benches, control equipment and state of the heart CAD software.
StarFish Group is a privately owned company focused on medical device and life sciences markets. The company consists of StarFish Medical, Canada's largest medical device design, development and contract manufacturing company, and ViVitro Labs.
ACTO and Teleflex Collaboration Leads to Improved Sales Performance and Wins Bronze in the 2019 Brandon Hall Group Human Capital Management Excellence Awards for Learning Technology Implementation
TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2019 /CNW/ - ACTO and Teleflex's Vascular Division won a coveted Brandon Hall Group Bronze award for excellence in the "Best Advance in Learning Technology Implementation" category for their groundbreaking efforts to improve sales performance. The ACTO and Teleflex case study demonstrates the commercial success that life sciences companies can achieve after implementing new technology to gather field data and streamline their commercialization processes.
"This award is a testament to Teleflex's visionary leadership in recognizing the importance of learning and development in life sciences' renewed industry landscape," said Parth Khanna, CEO of ACTO, "With all the changes we are seeing right now in the industry, Teleflex had the vision to engage their sales force through digital transformation, and were able to execute seamlessly on their commercial strategy. As a result, they have been able to drive commercial outcomes through learning, a landmark achievement for Teleflex and the industry at large."
"Teleflex had a product that was underperforming for over a year. In just one quarter, we have exceeded our sales targets after launching modules through ACTO," said Jacqueline Cronin, Senior Marketing Manager, Vascular at Teleflex, "ACTO has been a game-changer for our company. We were looking for a way to engage our entire sales force, particularly legacy reps, and provide them with a continuous learning experience. ACTO was a true partner in helping us redesign our training, and track what our top reps are doing to create a blueprint for success. They have been instrumental in ensuring that the field adopted our new sales process, and gave our reps tools and learnings to increase their proficiencies."
Award entries were evaluated by a panel of veteran, independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall Group analysts and executives based upon the following criteria: fit the need, design of the program, functionality, innovation and overall measurable benefits.
"Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards Program has recognized leading organizations for the past twenty-plus years for the latest trends in Human Capital Management," said Rachel Cooke, Brandon Hall Group COO and leader of the HCM Excellence Awards Program. "The initiatives that were honored are not only innovative but fit the unique needs of the business and create truly remarkable success stories."
Excellence Awards winners will be honored at Brandon Hall Group's HCM Excellence Conference, February 4-6, 2020, at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida. Select winners also will serve as presenters in breakout sessions, sharing their leading practices during the conference.
"The HCM Excellence Awards recognize programs that measurably benefit organizations," said Mike Cooke, Brandon Hall Group CEO. "Many human capital management departments are unable to confirm that their initiatives help the business's bottom line. Because we focus on measurable benefits, our awards program is universally recognized and highly prestigious."
About ACTO ACTO is on a mission to improve treatment access by disrupting how drugs and devices are commercialized globally. ACTO Commercialization Cloud for Life Sciences is the only one-stop-shop sales, marketing, and training platform designed to help life sciences companies effectively communicate their clinical evidence story, increase sales, and gather powerful field intelligence. ACTO helps pharma, medical device, and dental companies increase rep effectiveness, message consistency, and build a culture of continuous learning while helping them stay compliant. For more information on the ACTO Commercialization Cloud for Life Sciences, visit acto.com.
About Teleflex Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to improve the health and quality of people's lives. They apply purpose driven innovation – a relentless pursuit of identifying unmet clinical needs – to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Their portfolio is diverse, with solutions in the fields of vascular and interventional access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine and respiratory care. Teleflex employees worldwide are united in the understanding that what they do every day makes a difference.
About Brandon Hall Group Brandon Hall Group is an HCM research and advisory services firm that provides insights around key performance areas, including Learning and Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Talent Acquisition and HR/Workforce Management.
With more than 10,000 clients globally and 25 years of delivering world-class research and advisory services, Brandon Hall Group is focused on developing research that drives performance in emerging and large organizations, and provides strategic insights for executives and practitioners responsible for growth and business results.
Our mission: Empower excellence in organizations around the world through our research and tools each and every day.
At the core of our offerings is a Membership Program that combines research, benchmarking and unlimited access to data and analysts. The Membership Program offers insights and best practices to enable executives and practitioners to make the right decisions about people, processes, and systems, coalesced with analyst advisory services which aim to put the research into action in a way that is practical and efficient. (www.brandonhall.com)
SOURCE ACTO Technologies, Inc.
ViVitro Labs Acquires ProtomedLabs
Merger strengthens European service and expands cardiovascular customization capabilities
VICTORIA and MARSEILLE, France, Sept. 17, 2019 /CNW/ - ViVitro Labs, the industry-leading provider of cardiovascular device test equipment and related consulting services, announces the acquisition of ProtomedLabs SASU, an ISO 17025 accredited medical device testing laboratory based in Marseille France.
The companies will merge operations and form a single company operating under the name of ViVitro Labs Inc. The new organization extends ViVitro's presence in Europe and doubles the company's contract testing and customization capabilities. Karim Mouneimne, General Manager of ProtomedLabs, will become President of the combined organization and move to ViVitro headquarters in Victoria, Canada.
"This acquisition and merger reflects our commitment to growing ViVitro's resources, products and services to address evolving cardiovascular testing system needs for leading edge researchers and organizations," said Scott Phillips, Owner and CEO of the StarFish Group and CEO of ViVitro Labs.
"ProtomedLabs has been the ViVitro sales agent for Europe, Israel, and Africa since 2015. We are excited to bring this successful partnership to the next level," said Frederic Mouret, President & CEO, Protomed SA and owner of ProtomedLabs.
"Helping companies solve testing challenges by using our equipment and customized testing strategies is part of ViVitro's unique heritage. We go beyond standard catalog items or services," said Karim Mouneimne. "Our new larger capacity will allow us to aggressively invest in our product lineup while expanding customized service offerings for clients across the cardiovascular industry."
About ViVitro Labs
ViVitro Labs Inc., Canada, offers industry-leading cardiovascular test equipment and related laboratory testing and consulting services. Hundreds of organizations in over 39 countries for 30 years have trusted ViVitro expertise, accuracy, and quality for their heart valve, LVAD, TAH, stent, and graft testing. ViVitro Laboratory Services holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation based on ISO 5840. ViVitro Labs products are manufactured by StarFish Medical in Victoria, Canada.
ProtomedLabs SASU, Marseille, France, is an ISO 17025 accredited medical device testing laboratory which provides responsive turnkey engineering solutions in device testing for companies developing implantable and interventional cardiovascular devices. ProtomedLabs was 100% owned by Protomed SA, Strasbourg, France.
https://protomedlabs.com/
About Protomed SA
Protomed SA, Strasbourg, France, is an ISO 13485 certified contract service R&D company specialized in medical device design and development. PROTOMED has been driver in the development of several minimally invasive surgery, single use devices, vascular and cardiac implants. Its fab lab includes prototyping machines (3D printers; CNC machines), test benches, control equipment and state of the heart CAD software.
StarFish Group is a privately owned company focused on medical device and life sciences markets. The company consists of StarFish Medical, Canada's largest medical device design, development and contract manufacturing company, and ViVitro Labs.
/R E P E A T -- Go Auto to donate more than $500,000 annually to the Kids with Cancer Society/
EDMONTON, Sept. 12, 2019 /CNW/ - Go Auto, the Edmonton-based automotive group, is donating $10 to the Kids with Cancer Society for every vehicle sold, starting July 1, 2019. With the company on track to sell more than 50,000 vehicles per year, the total donation will exceed $3 million over a 5-year commitment.
Go Auto has also developed a program that will run in all of its Alberta and NWT dealerships where customers can donate to the Kids with Cancer Society, as well. The aim is for customers to match Go Auto's $10 per vehicle donation and collectively drive the total monies raised to more than $5 million.
"The Kids with Cancer Society plays a critical role in the lives of thousands of Albertans every year," said Go Auto President Jason Smith. "Rather than feel alone during treatment, the children and their families are welcomed into a community, provided with incredible support, and reminded that they are more than their diagnosis. This is an organization that means a lot to us. So, we thought it was time to take it to the next level by asking the 50,000 customers we have the privilege of serving each year to join us in this effort.
"We want to make a substantial commitment as a company, but we also want to make it easy for our customers to give back and help raise as much money as possible."
The Kids with Cancer Society provides vital programs and services to children with cancer, and their families, who reside in Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. By working with the parents, and through close communication with the medical teams who treat children with cancer, the Society is able to identify priorities and fund the programs that will have the greatest impact. They work with families from the time of diagnosis throughout treatment and beyond, through educational and financial support, clinical programs, counselling and research. All programs are at no cost to the families.
"We greatly appreciate all donations and would like to sincerely thank everyone, in advance, for joining us in support of the Kids with Cancer Society," Smith said. "Together, we hope to raise more than $1 million annually."
About Go Auto
The largest automotive network in Western Canada, Go Auto owns and operates more than 40 dealerships, half of which are located in the Edmonton area. In addition to their partnership with the Kids with Cancer Society, Go Auto donates vehicles to more than 10 charities to aid in their operations. They have also created the Fuels the Schools program, which sees hundreds of Go Auto employees cook and deliver over 80,000 healthy meals to Edmonton schoolchildren each year.
SOURCE Go Auto
Eosera’s Product Expansion and Rapid Growth Lead to Market Success and Bigger Manufacturing and Warehouse Space
Eosera gives a sneak peek into new products and announces the move to a bigger location due to rapid growth.
Fort Worth, TX - September 24th 2019 — Multimillion-dollar biotechnology company, EOSERA,announced today that they are not only expanding their line of products, but also moving to a facility that is double the size of their previous location, and hiring four new team members in three different capacities. They are doing it with customer demands higher than ever and products in over 13,000 stores.
Recent Growth
Eosera’s impressive rapid and successful expansion in the ear care category is no surprise to CEO, Elyse Dickerson. “Our innovative products are bringing new customers to the ear care aisle, which translates into incremental growth.” The company growth and consumer demand are at an all-time high. In consumer market research done by Eosera in 2019, 77% of 25-44-year-olds reported that they were motivated to buy Eosera products to keep ears clean and healthy on a routine basis.
In September 2019, Eosera developed two new products to the growing ear care line, EAR CLEAN MD™and EAR ITCH MD® NIGHTTIME. These products will debut in late fall.
EAR CLEAN MD™ is a product unlike any other. Meant to be dissolved into warm water, this powerful yet gentle powder cleans the outer ear canal from unwanted wax, oils, and debris and moisturizes to help reduce irritation. EAR CLEAN MD™ can be used regularly for those interested in keeping up with routine ear hygiene.
Over here at Eosera, we’re all about those clear and clean canals. Introducing Ear Clean MD™, our newest category in ear care.
EAR ITCH MD® NIGHTTIME is an innovative product made of essential and naturally occurring oils to soothe and relieve itchy ears. Meant to be used at night for chronically itchy ears, EAR ITCH MD®NIGHTTIME demonstrated an improved look and feel of the ear canal.
Don’t sleep on Eosera’s latest innovation in ear care: Ear Itch MD® Nighttime.
In addition to Eosera’s expanding line of products, they are moving to a larger facility that doubles the size of their warehouse and manufacturing space. Since all manufacturing of Eosera’s products are done in-house, this facility upgrade is evidence of the consumer demand and growing product line. Located at 5000 S. Freeway in Fort Worth, Texas, Eosera expects to move into their new space by September 17th, 2019. To prep the new space for the growing company, the construction team is customizing the manufacturing and warehouse space for Eosera’s specific needs by putting on the finishing touches to make it uniquely Eosera’s.
Eosera’s team added four new members in the capacity of manufacturing, marketing, and supply chain. Each team member was carefully vetted and selected from an impressive pool of candidates.
Recent Awards
As a result of Eosera’s rapid growth in 2019, TheDallas Business Journal recognized CEO Elyse Dickerson one of the Most Admired CEOs in North Texas. Fort Worth Magazine named Elyse Fort Worthian to Watch,FW Inc named her Top 400 Most Influential People, and D CEO named her Most Admired CEO. Fort Worth Business Press also presented Eosera with the Top Woman-Owned Business Award in 2018.
About EOSERA
EOSERA®, Inc. is a majority woman-owned biotech company committed to developing innovative products that address underserved healthcare needs. Eosera operates by putting purpose before profits and is proud to be one of the pioneering companies in a movement called Conscious Capitalism. Since launching EarwaxMD, Eosera has expanded its offering to include everything ear care: Earwax MD®, Earwax MD® for Kids, Ear Pain MD™, Ear Pain MD™ for Kids, Ear Itch MD®, Wax Blaster MD®, and Earwax PET®. Eosera’s CEO, Elyse Dickerson, was recently named ‘2019 Fort Worthian to Watch.’ In 2018, Eosera received the 2018 Top Women Owned Business Award by Fort Worth Business Press as well as the Women in Business Award by the Dallas Business Journal. Eosera’s products are currently available at CVS and Rite Aid stores nationwide, and online at Amazon. For more information, visit www.earcaremd.com.
Industry-leading CBD research laboratory appoints CPG executives with experience from global brands at Mars Wrigley, Bacardi, and The Coca-Cola Company
LOS ALAMOS, NM, September 17 2019 / - Trait Biosciences Inc., a leading biotechnology research organization providing innovative technology to the hemp and cannabis industry, today announced the formation of its Strategic Advisory Board. The new Board is composed of accomplished leaders in the consumer product industries which are influencing the development of the emerging cannabidiol-infused products segment. The Board will provide insights to Trait as it continues to advance the science and innovative solutions supporting the rapidly growing cannabidiol (CBD) market.
“The Trait mission is to develop technologies that make sure consumers will have a safe, reliable, enjoyable, and predictable experience each time they use a CBD, hemp, or cannabis product,” said Peter McDonough, Chief Executive Officer of Trait. “Assembling outstanding global consumer product leaders with proven experience in building global brands in organizations such as Mars Wrigley, KIND Snacks, Bacardi, The Coca-Cola Company, and Diageo, increases our ability to develop breakthrough solutions for the expanding consumer interest in CBD-infused edibles and beverages.”
The appointments to the Advisory Board include:
Keith Levy. Keith is an accomplished CPG executive with a career spanning more than three decades. As President of the Mars Wrigley’s Global Business Development division he led the multi-billion dollar strategic investment in KIND Snacks. Prior to this, he served as President of Royal Canin USA, a leading global manufacturer of premium dog and cat nutrition. Earlier in his career he served as Anheuser-Busch Chief Marketing Officer with responsibility for the largest portfolio of beer brands in North America.
Pete Carr. Pete currently serves as President of Bacardi North America, the world’s largest privately held spirits company. He is a proven leader in driving business performance in industry leading companies within the spirits, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverage industries. Prior to joining Bacardi as North American President, Pete was Executive Vice President for Glazer’s Distributors, one of the country’s largest distributors of wine, spirits, and malt beverages. Earlier in his career he held various senior management roles with Diageo including President of U.S. Spirits, President of Guinness (DGUSA) and previous leadership roles within the energy drinks and wine industries.
Genève Stewart. Genèvecurrently serves as Vice President of the Natural Strategic Sales Team at The Coca-Cola Company. She is responsible for leading the sales of new venture and incubation brands along with numerous Coca-Cola brands in the natural channel including: Honest Tea, Simply Juices, ZICO Coconut Water, Topo Chico and other wellness-positioned beverages. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Genève was with sweetriot where she served as catalyst of Cool Markets. Earlier in her career she worked in commercial roles within the pharmaceutical industry at Bausch + Lomb and Ventiv Health.
In June this year, Trait unveiled Trait Distilled™ , a suite of truly water-soluble cannabinoids that do not rely on nanotechnology or emulsions, produced at commercial scale for a broad base of CBD products including health foods, beverages, and nutraceuticals. TraitDistilled™ cannabinoids are tasteless, odorless, fully soluble in water, shelf stable and have higher bioavailability than fat-soluble cannabinoids.
In addition, Trait recently announced the first successfully transformed hemp plants that are producing four times the amount of CBD as conventional hemp plants. “We’re focused on developing technology that provides our partners with a cost-effective approach to deliver premium quality cannabinoids for use in pharmaceutical applications, beverages, health and wellness, topical ointments, and a broad range of novel CBD products,” said McDonough.
Analysts from Brightfield Group estimate the U.S. CBD market will grow more than 700 percent from today’s market to reach nearly $24 billion by 2023.
Cannabis-infused Drink Market Expected to Increase 15-fold
A recent report by Zenith Global, a leading global food and drink consulting firm, projects that the US market for cannabis-infused drinks will grow to $1.4 billion by 2024, an increase of almost fifteen times (15x) from 2018 sales of $89 million. New methods of CBD infusion will transform the beverages market.
Presently, many manufacturers are utilizing nano-emulsion processes to infuse cannabinoids into novel edible products and beverages. However, there is growing concern that these fat-soluble CBD nanoparticles are prone to accumulate in organs, causing health concerns. Trait’s revolutionary technology surrounding the production of truly water-soluble CBDs has been an industry breakthrough of increasing importance to the development of CBD product development.
Despite the current lack of clarity surrounding numerous legislative and regulatory issues, there is strong speculation that CBD-infused beverages are poised to become a new consumer market creating massive economic growth. The introduction of new scientific advancements ensuring consistent product quality will continue to unlock the enormous potential of the CBD market, potentially disrupting the entire beverage industry.
About Trait Biosciences
With a team of internationally recognized scientists who are applying best-in-class technology and agricultural science, Trait Biosciences is an emerging biotechnology leader in the hemp and cannabis industries. Its consumer technology platforms provide breakthrough IP and science which produce enhanced cannabinoids featuring predictable onset timing, superior bioavailability, extended stability, and improved taste. Trait's patent pending technologies include a process for generating water-soluble cannabinoids that does not rely on emulsion or nanotechnology. The company's agricultural technologies increase crop yields and plant safety, including ultrahigh yield Amplified™ plants which dramatically increase a plant's natural cannabinoid productivity, and its Defence™ RNAi crop protection technology, which eliminates the need for pesticides or fungicides, providing higher quality, safer, CBD-infused nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to Trait Bioscience Inc.'s (the "Corporation") strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance, constitutes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "will", "expect", "continue", "assess", "anticipate" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions; including material estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as at the date of this press release in light of each of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information.
Any forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although management of the Corporation believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
How to Feed Your Body During a Training Regimen
Training can be tough on the body. It at the same time can lead to great rewards. If you want to take your physique to the next level, then starting a training regimen may be the right path to take. It’s crucial to fuel your body in the correct manner during any kind of training routine as well. Remember, bodies need ample energy in order to thrive.
Consume Whole Foods
It’s vital to make a point to consume whole foods during training. Steer clear of any foods that are processed if at all possible. It can be a good idea to consume significant amounts of lean proteins, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruits. Whole grains such as oatmeal can go a long way for people who are training, too.
Try to Zero in on These Food Categories
Lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can all make excellent staples for people who are in the midst of training. There are other kinds of food categorizations to consider as well. These are dairy items that are low in fat, eggs, fish, seeds, nuts, and even beans. As far as oil goes, you can opt for polyunsaturated and monounsaturated options.
Stay Away from Certain Things
If you want to make the most out of your training, then you should stay away from certain things to the best of your ability. You should say no to foods that are chock-full of sugar. You should also resist the urge to chow down on foods that include added sugars, excessive amounts of salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat. Try not to drink alcoholic beverages. If you have concerns that involve your food consumption, then you should explore eating disorder treatmentoptions that may be on hand for you.
Make Healthy Snacking a Priority
It can be tough to get through grueling training sessions when you’re even a tad hungry. That’s why it can often help to snack frequently. Concentrate on getting snacks that are nutritious and balanced. Don’t nosh on greasy potato chips or candy bars that are basically sugar extravaganzas. Think about snacking on sliced apples, plain almonds, or plain Greek yogurt that’s low-fat. Snacking can give you the energy necessary to soar in your training sessions.
Training can do a lot for your body and performance. If you combine excellent training habits with a well-rounded diet, you’ll be able to go far. People who are training need to prioritize foods that are nutritious and filling.
Imfinzi® (durvalumab) is the First Immunotherapy to Show Both Significant Survival Benefit and Improved, Durable Responses in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
Data presented at the IASLC 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer demonstrated the Phase III CASPIAN trial of Imfinzi improved survival with either a cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy backbone
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 12, 2019 /CNW/ - AstraZeneca presented detailed results from the Phase III CASPIAN trial, showing Imfinzi (durvalumab) significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with previously untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a disease with significant unmet need and limited treatment options.
Imfinzi in combination with four cycles of standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin) demonstrated a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in OS vs. SoC consisting of up to six cycles of chemotherapy and optional prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).
"Small cell lung cancer is a devastating diagnosis for anyone to receive, and the results of the CASPIAN trial offer much needed hope for patients who have had limited treatment options," said Dr. Quincy Chu, medical oncologist, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute. "As an oncologist in daily contact with lung cancer patients, it's particularly encouraging to see the promising results of this research, and the progress being made to identify new treatment options in a disease area that has experienced such significant unmet need for over 30 years."
SCLC is the most aggressive type of lung cancer and recurs and progresses rapidly despite initial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.12
In the study, the risk of death was reduced by 27 per cent (equal to a hazard ratio of 0.73), with median OS of 13 months for Imfinzi plus chemotherapy vs. 10.3 months for SoC. Results showed a prolonged OS benefit with an estimated 33.9 per cent of patients alive at 18 months following treatment with Imfinzi plus chemotherapy vs. 24.7 per cent of patients following SoC.
Across all efficacy endpoints, benefits were observed in patients treated with Imfinzi plus chemotherapy vs. SoC. Results showed a significantly higher progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 12 months (17.5% vs. 4.7%), a 10.3 per cent increase in confirmed objective response rate (ORR) (67.9% vs. 57.6%), and improved duration of response (DOR) at 12 months (22.7% vs. 6.3%).
The safety and tolerability of Imfinzi in combination with SoC etoposide and platinum-based chemotherapy was consistent with previous trials. Results showed that 61.5 per cent of patients experienced a Grade 3 or 4 adverse event with Imfinzi plus SoC (all causes) vs. 62.4 per cent with SoC, and patients discontinuing treatment due to AEs were similar between arms (9.4% vs. 9.4%).
The results were presented at the Presidential Symposium of the IASLC 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in Barcelona, Spain.
Imfinzi is approved in the curative-intent setting of unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer after chemoradiotherapy in 49 countries, including Canada, the US, EU, Switzerland, India, Japan and Brazil based on the PACIFIC trial. Other global health authority reviews and submissions are ongoing.
About CASPIAN CASPIAN is a randomized, open-label, multi-centre, global, Phase III trial of Imfinzi plus platinum-based chemotherapy options or the combination of Imfinzi, tremelimumab and chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone as a 1st-line treatment for patients with extensive-stage SCLC. The trial will continue to the final analysis of OS for the combination of Imfinzi, tremelimumab and chemotherapy.
About Lung Cancer and Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in Canada and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately 28,600 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017.3 This represented around 14 per cent of all new cancer cases in 2017.4
While only representing 10 to 15 per cent of all lung cancers, SCLC is the most aggressive type of lung cancer.5 With treatment, extensive-stage SCLC has a median survival of 7 to 11 months.6
About Imfinzi (durvalumab) Imfinzi is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, countering the tumour's immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses.
In Canada, Imfinzi is approved for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy.7
Imfinzi is also approved for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or whose disease has progressed within 12 months of receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery.8
About AstraZeneca's Approach to Immuno-Oncology Immuno-Oncology (IO) is a therapeutic approach designed to stimulate the body's immune system to attack tumours. At AstraZeneca our IO portfolio is anchored by immunotherapies that have been designed to overcome anti-tumour immune suppression. We believe that IO-based therapies will offer the potential for life-changing cancer treatments for the majority of patients.
About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of primary and specialty care medicines that transform lives. Our primary focus is on three important areas of healthcare: Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease; Oncology; and Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity. AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. In Canada, we employ more than 675 employees across the country and our AstraZeneca Canada headquarters are located in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.astrazeneca.ca.
Go Auto to donate more than $500,000 annually to the Kids with Cancer Society
EDMONTON, Sept. 12, 2019 /CNW/ - Go Auto, the Edmonton-based automotive group, is donating $10 to the Kids with Cancer Society for every vehicle sold, starting July 1, 2019. With the company on track to sell more than 50,000 vehicles per year, the total donation will exceed $3 million over a 5-year commitment.
Go Auto has also developed a program that will run in all of its Alberta and NWT dealerships where customers can donate to the Kids with Cancer Society, as well. The aim is for customers to match Go Auto's $10 per vehicle donation and collectively drive the total monies raised to more than $5 million.
"The Kids with Cancer Society plays a critical role in the lives of thousands of Albertans every year," said Go Auto President Jason Smith. "Rather than feel alone during treatment, the children and their families are welcomed into a community, provided with incredible support, and reminded that they are more than their diagnosis. This is an organization that means a lot to us. So, we thought it was time to take it to the next level by asking the 50,000 customers we have the privilege of serving each year to join us in this effort.
"We want to make a substantial commitment as a company, but we also want to make it easy for our customers to give back and help raise as much money as possible."
The Kids with Cancer Society provides vital programs and services to children with cancer, and their families, who reside in Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. By working with the parents, and through close communication with the medical teams who treat children with cancer, the Society is able to identify priorities and fund the programs that will have the greatest impact. They work with families from the time of diagnosis throughout treatment and beyond, through educational and financial support, clinical programs, counselling and research. All programs are at no cost to the families.
"We greatly appreciate all donations and would like to sincerely thank everyone, in advance, for joining us in support of the Kids with Cancer Society," Smith said. "Together, we hope to raise more than $1 million annually."
About Go Auto
The largest automotive network in Western Canada, Go Auto owns and operates more than 40 dealerships, half of which are located in the Edmonton area. In addition to their partnership with the Kids with Cancer Society, Go Auto donates vehicles to more than 10 charities to aid in their operations. They have also created the Fuels the Schools program, which sees hundreds of Go Auto employees cook and deliver over 80,000 healthy meals to Edmonton schoolchildren each year.
SOURCE Go Auto
ACS announces Russia supply agreement with Baltika, part of the Carlsberg Group
September 11, 2019
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS) is pleased to support Russian commercial vehicle operator, Baltika, to implement policies for responsible alcohol consumption and to keep roads safe from impaired driving.
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS), a Canadian leader in the design and manufacturing of alcoholinterlocks and breath alcohol testers, is pleased to have begun installation of alcohol interlocks into Baltika’s vehicle fleet to prevent drink driving.
Baltika, part of the Carlsberg Group and a leader of the fast-moving consumer goods market in Russia, is striving for continuous improvement of internal standards, customer service and security. In a move to ensure the confidence of employees and managers of their vehicle fleet to carry out deliveries safely, Baltika recently chose ACS as a strategic safety partner. The installation and use of ALCOLOCK devices aims to address the issue of impaired driving, ensuring the safety of fleet drivers and other road users.
According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, about 8% of all accidents on Russian highways occur as a result of a drunk driver. Additionally, more than 51% believe that driving under the influence of alcohol is a problem that needs to be solved at the federal level.
Until recently, as a rule, alcohol interlocks were only required in Russia in high-risk vehicles, such as those carrying dangerous or particularly valuable goods. ACS and Baltika hope to draw the attention of leading transport manufacturers and other vehicle fleet operators in Russia to the existing opportunities for improving safety on the roads.
Sergey Suchkov, Senior Director of Logistics –Eastern Europe: "As an industry leader, Baltika successfully operates several priority programs aimed at responsible consumption and minimizing accidents to zero. The installation of ALCOLOCK devices is a preventative measure that meets global standards and ensures Baltika has countermeasures in place to address driving by an operator in a state of alcoholic intoxication."
ACS equipment was selected to meet specific client requirements. In addition to ease of installation and use, ALCOLOCK devices were required to work in a variety of climates and weather conditions across the country, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Installation services and ongoing technical support is being provided by the Rolf Group, one of the largest automotive dealers and vehicle importers in Russia.
Sergey Krasaev, Product Manager at ALCOHOL COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS Corp.: "We know that Baltika held a competitive analysis before choosing a manufacturer of alcohol interlocks. We are very pleased to cooperate with the largest Russian brewing company. I am confident that together we can make the movement of people and goods on the roads even safer."
The feedback received from staff on vehicles which have ALCOLOCK installed, additionally confirms the benefits of such devices for employees of the company —confidence in the willingness and ability to safely operate a vehicle, additional insurance, objective assessment of operator safety devoid of emotions, following a clear framework of standards and allowing managers to rely on the device’s accuracy and objectivity.
About ACS
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems, is an international group of companies with over 40 years of experience developing innovative technology to prevent impaired driving. A technology leader and manufacturer of alcohol interlocks and breath alcohol testers, ACS provides products and services to law enforcement, automotive, industrial, public and personal safety markets. We improve global road safety through innovative design, manufacturing and customer support services. Please visit www.acs-corp.com.
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
