Avicanna Announces TSX Listing Date

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TORONTO, July 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Avicanna Inc. ("Avicanna" or the "Company") a company focused on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products, is pleased to announce that its common shares ("Common Shares") are expected to commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") on Thursday, July 18, 2019 under the symbol "AVCN". The listing represents the first direct listing on the TSX by a company with Colombian-based cannabis cultivation assets. In connection with its first day of trading, Avicanna will be participating in market open ceremonies at the TSX, which will be broadcast live on the Business News Network morning show and live streamed on YouTube. 

In connection with listing on the TSX, shareholders holding an aggregate of 10,523,077 Common Shares have entered into lock-up agreements pursuant to which they have agreed not to sell, transfer or pledge any securities of the Company for a period of 39 months following the listing date where 10% of such securities will be released on the date that is three months following the listing date with the remaining securities released in six equal tranches of 15% every six months following the first release. In addition, shareholders holding an aggregate of 1,495,022 Common Shares have entered into lock-up agreements pursuant to which each such shareholder has agreed not to sell, transfer or pledge any securities of the Company held by such shareholder, for a period of 4 months following the listing date where 20% of such securities will be released immediately prior to the listing date with the remaining securities released in four equal tranches of 20% every month thereafter.

A copy of the Company's final long-form prospectus is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Avicanna

Avicanna is an Ontario corporation focused on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products through its two main business segments: (i) cultivation and (ii) research and development. The Company's business is focused on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of key products, including plant-derived cannabinoid pharmaceuticals, phyto-therapeutics, derma-cosmetics and extracts (defined as plant-derived cannabinoid extracts and purified cannabinoids, including distillates and isolates).

Research and Development Activities

Avicanna's research and development is headquartered in the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre, JLABS @ Toronto. The Company is focused on commencing and completing clinical trials for its pharmaceutical products, completing testing to support its phyto-therapeutic products under the Pura Elements™ brand, commencing the manufacture and distribution of its derma-cosmetic products under the Pura Earth™ brand, and commencing clinical trials on three of its derma-cosmetic products to demonstrate their effectiveness with specific cosmetic endpoints, such as reduction of fine lines or increased skin moisture levels. 

In connection with its research and development activities, Avicanna has a team of more than 20 scientists and clinicians working out of four laboratories including: (i) the University of Toronto Faculty of Pharmacy; (ii) JLABS @ Toronto which is located in the MaRS Discovery District; (iii) the facilities of the Company's subsidiaries in Santa Marta, Colombia; and (iv) the facilities of Avicanna's manufacturing partner, Altea Farmaceutica S.A. ("Altea"). Through its various operations, Avicanna's team of scientists and clinicians are enhancing product optimization through the completion of animal pharmacokinetics and toxicology studies and pre-clinical studies, including both in vitro and in vivo studies to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Avicanna's product offering. 

Avicanna currently has the following clinical trials in progress or planned for the near future:

• CAIMED (Centro de Atencion e Investigacion Medica CAIMED S.A.S.). Phase I studies are expected to commence in the second half of 2019 with CAIMED for certain cosmetic trials.
  
  
• University of West Indies. Avicanna is currently conducting a prevalence study through UWI to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain in a random sample of 500 to 600 patients suffering from Sickle Cell disease.
  
  
• SickKids. Avicanna has received ethics approval to conduct a clinical study with the Hospital for Sick Children to explore safety, tolerability and efficacy of CBD on patients with dermatological indication. Avicanna has completed animal pharmacokinetics and toxicology studies and a clinical trial application is in progress and expected to be submitted before the end of July 2019.
  
  
• Pending Approval. Avicanna also has pending pharmaceutical and phyto-therapeutic trials that are currently in protocol development and are being submitted for ethics approval. Such products are aimed at addressing neuropathic pain, chronic pain, and Eczema.

Cultivation and Supply Chain

Avicanna's cultivation activities are conducted by its two majority-owned subsidiaries, Sativa Nativa S.A.S. ("Sativa Nativa") and Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S. ("SMGH"), both located in Santa Marta, Colombia in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The location offers 12 hours of daily sunlight year-round, while the tropical weather of Santa Marta and microclimate of the Sierra Nevada Mountains provide optimal conditions to maximize the number and amount of harvests. Access to cost efficient energy sources and construction labour allow for affordable expansion and production. Both companies also have easy access to the local Santa Marta shipping port that is expected to provide low cost shipping for export.  

Sativa Nativa and SMGH are focused on commercial cannabis and are licensed to cultivate and process cannabis for the production of cannabis extracts and purified cannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). SMGH has 200,000 square feet of shadehouse plus 20,000 square feet of customized greenhouse space and construction is currently underway for an additional 70,000 square feet of shadehouse and the related infrastructure. Thus far, SMGH has achieved genetic registration of one non-psychoactive strain (CBD) and three psychoactive strains (THC) and is currently cultivating its registered non-psychoactive genetics while it seeks to obtain quotas for its psychoactive genetics. SMGH currently has an inventory of approximately 1.3 tonnes of flower of its registered non-psychoactive genetic. SMGH has applied for good agricultural practices ("GACP") and organic certifications and the preliminary site visits for them have been completed. SMGH expects to receive the certifications before the end of 2019. Sativa Nativa currently has 50,000 square feet of shadehouse plus 20,000 square feet of customized greenhouse space and construction is currently underway for an additional 50,000 square feet of shadehouse. Sativa Nativa does not currently have any registered genetics under cultivation, however, it is currently cultivating for the purposes of genetic registration.

Extraction and Manufacturing

In October, Avicanna completed the technical transfer of its extraction and isolation techniques to SMGH. SMGH intends to utilize Avicanna's techniques in its extraction lab, which is currently capable of processing 300 kg of bio-mass per day, resulting in production capacity of 45kg of resin per day. The SMGH laboratory is capable of extraction, distillation, and isolation of cannabinoids in addition to analytical testing and quality control. Avicanna intends to utilize the isolates produced at the SMGH facility from SMGH's registered non-psychoactive cannabis genetic in its derma-cosmetic products marketed under the Pura Earth™ brand.

Avicanna has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Altea, pursuant to which Altea will be the exclusive manufacturer of Avicanna products in Colombia. Under the agreement, Altea has committed to manufacture products containing cannabinoids exclusively for Avicanna, subject to certain minimum order quantities purchased from Altea on an annual basis. Altea's facility maintains a number of requisite approvals that will allow Avicanna to ensure its pharmaceutical, phyto-therapeutic and derma-cosmetic products comply with a high standard of quality, including INVIMA for Good Laboratory Practices (Colombia), Bureau Veritas for ISO 14001 environmental management system for Good Manufacturing Practices (Australia), ANVISA for Good Manufacturing Practices (Brazil), and Health Canada for Good Manufacturing Practices (Canada).

Avicanna's Products

Derma-Cosmetics

Avicanna intends to distribute its line of derma-cosmetic products under the Pura Earth™ brand. Avicanna's CBD based derma-cosmetic products are formulated to maintain and improve the health and beauty of the skin through high-end cosmetic formulations supported by research data. Avicanna has completed the technical transfer of all derma-cosmetic products to be manufactured by Altea both for testing and commercial scale production purposes. Avicanna has entered into an agreement with Percos S.A. ("Percos") pursuant to which it has appointed Percos as the exclusive distributor of Pura Earth™ derma-cosmetics products in Colombia, subject to certain minimum sales volumes and the Company anticipates that its Pura Earth™ derma-cosmetics products will be on the market before the end of 2019. In addition, Avicanna has contracted CAIMED to conduct clinical studies on three of its derma-cosmetics products to demonstrate their effectiveness with specific cosmetic endpoints, such as reduction of fine lines or efficacy as moisturizer for acne and eczema prone skin.

Phyto-Therapeutics

Avicanna intends to distribute its line of phyto-therapeutic products under the Pura Elements™ brand. Avicanna's phyto-therapeutic products consist of cannabis plant extracts designed for medical or homeopathic use, but are not pharmaceuticals or drugs. These phyto-therapeutic products will be manufactured by Altea under Avicanna's current agreement with Altea. Avicanna has completed the technical transfer of its phyto-therapeutic products to Altea both for testing and commercial scale production purposes. There are a wide range of targeted delivery mechanisms for these products including tablets, sublingual sprays, oil drops, capsules, patches, creams and gels, which will be supported by bioavailability and pharmacokinetic data. It is expected that Altea will manufacture Avicanna's phyto-therapeutic products, ranging from isolated CBD formulations to CBD-THC whole plant extracts, using cannabis sourced from SMGH and Sativa Nativa. These products will be manufactured under the various approvals and certifications maintained by Altea and will use USP-NF (pharmaceutical-grade) ingredients. Avicanna is currently preparing for commercial launch of its phyto-therapeutic products, initially expected to occur through pharmacies in Colombia, and expects to begin bringing these products to market in 2020.

Pharmaceuticals

Avicanna's initial pipeline of pharmaceutical products will address neurology, dermatology, and pain. Avicanna's pharmaceutical products will be manufactured, first, in test batches for use in its clinical trials, and then, provided the products successfully complete the process, for distribution to end users by Altea. Avicanna is currently conducting product optimization for dosage and form of delivery through its research and development department and in collaboration with the University of Toronto. These products are expected to eventually be commercialized as over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Avicanna's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Avicanna's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, the expected initial listing date, information concerning the planned capacities of the SMGH and Sativa Nativa facilities, the expected timing of GACP and organic certifications, the use of the Company's extraction techniques and cannabis genetics by SMGH and Sativa Nativa, the brands under which the Company's derma-cosmetic and phyto-therapeutic products will be marketed and distributed, the timing of the distribution of the Company's derma-cosmetic and phyto-therapeutic products, the goal of the Company's initial clinical studies, the expected timing of the Company's initial clinical studies, the manufacturer of the Company's products, the ingredients to be used in the Company's final products, the approvals to be maintained by Altea and the expected designations of the Company's pharmaceutical products.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Avicanna is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avicanna to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Avicanna has made certain assumptions.

Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: delays in obtaining the necessary approvals from the TSX; delays in opening new cultivation and manufacturing facilities; higher than expected costs to construct and operate cultivation and manufacturing facilities; adverse changes in the public perception of cannabis; changes in consumer demand for cannabis; decreases in the prevailing prices for cannabis and cannabis products in the markets in which the Company operates; adverse changes in applicable laws; adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws, including those related to taxation; increasing costs of compliance with extensive government regulation; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets and in particular in the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; risks related to licensing, including the ability to obtain the requisite licenses or renew existing licenses for the Company's proposed operations; dependence upon third party service providers, skilled labor and other key inputs; risks inherent in the agricultural and retail business; intellectual property risks; risks related to litigation; dependence upon senior management; and the other risks disclosed in the Company's long form final prospectus dated July 8, 2019. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Although Avicanna believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Key assumptions used herein are that there will not be any unexpected costs or delays in the completion of the facilities at Sativa Nativa and SMGH, SMGH will be able to harvest sufficient product to meet the needs of the Company, SMGH will be able to maintain high quality extracts, there will not be any delay in obtaining GACP or organic certifications, the Company will be able to market its phyto-therapeutics and derma-cosmetics under the Pura Elements™ and Pura Earth™ brands, there will be no unexpected delays or costs in obtaining the necessary ethics or trial approvals for the commencement of clinical trials, Altea will use agreed upon ingredients in the manufacture of the Company's products and will maintain the necessary approvals and standards to meet the Company's quality objectives, initial clinical studies will provide results in line with management's current expectations and there will not be significant changes to the regulatory landscape that would prevent the Company from manufacturing and distributing its products pursuant to management's current plan. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Avicanna does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Avicanna or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

SOURCE Avicanna Inc.

 Diabetic SPIbelt $21.99: The Diabetic SPIbelt® is the perfect product for individuals with medical needs because it is comfortable enough for daily wear and was designed to carry an insulin pump. Every Diabetic SPIbelt can securely and comfortably accommodate cords and infusion tubing through a reinforced pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is placed behind the pocket to allow tubing to feed through the patented pouch design. The Buckle is now by the pocket instead on in the back! 

 Kids’ Double-Pocket SPIbelt $26.99: The Kids’ Double Pocket SPIbelt® is perfect for active children who need to carry medical supplies such as insulin pumps, inhalers, EpiPen®, or CGMs (continuous glucose monitoring systems). The Kids’ Double Pocket SPIbelt holds insulin pumps close to the body without tangling or bouncing and has an extra pocket for essentials such as a cell phone or medical ID. Every Kids’ SPIbelt can securely and comfortably accommodate cords and infusion tubing through a reinforced pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is discretely placed behind the pocket to allow infusion tubing to feed through the patented pouch design. SPIbelt won’t ride or shift while participating in vigorous activities.

 Kids SPIbelt $18.99: Does your child wear an insulin pump? As a parent, we want you to feel confident that your child has a dependable and discreet way to get physically active while wearing an insulin pump or other similar sized medical devices. We at SPIbelt have heard your feedback, and now, every Kids’ SPIbelt® can accommodate cords and infusion tubing securely and comfortably. The reinforced opening is discretely placed behind the pocket to allow infusion tubing and headphone cords to pass through the patented designed pouch.

The Kids’ SPIbelt® is perfect for active children who need to carry medical supplies such as insulin pumps, inhalers, EpiPen®, or CGMs (continuous glucose monitoring systems). The Kids’ SPIbelt holds insulin pumps close to the body without tangling or bouncing. Every Kids’ SPIbelt can securely and comfortably accommodate cords and infusion tubing through a reinforced pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is discretely placed behind the pocket to allow infusion tubing to feed through the patented pouch design. SPIbelt won’t ride or shift while participating in vigorous activities.

• Bounce-free
• Expandable, secure, low-profile pocket
• Pass-through hole for insulin pump tubing
• Comfortable, soft elastic prevents chafing
• No Logo on the elastic of the belt
• Sturdy buckle and glides for even the most active users
• Pocket expands to 6.5″ x 3″ x 2″
• Fits waist size 18″ through 24″ – Our product averagely fits 2 years old to 10 years old.

Arthritis Research Canada opens fourth centre

VANCOUVER, July 17, 2019 /CNW/ - Arthritis Research Canada, the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America, continues to grow with its newest centre located at McGill University.

Drs. Deborah Da Costa, Michal Abrahamowicz, Susan Bartlett and Marie Hudson will join the new location and bring with them a collective and extensive knowledge of arthritis research.

Dr. Da Costa's area of study focuses on the connection between mental health and chronic illness. Dr. Abrahamowicz' research involves the development of new, flexible statistical methods for survival analyses. Dr. Bartlett has done extensive research on behavioural factors (like exercise, diet and medication adherence) and their impact on health outcomes in patients with inflammatory arthritis. And Dr. Hudson's expertise is systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

"As Arthritis Research Canada celebrates its 20th anniversary, we are excited to open a new centre and welcome scientists with a wide range of research areas to the team," said Scientific Director Dr. John Esdaile. "This expansion strengthens our ability to improve the lives of Canadians with arthritis."

The announcement of the new location comes as three new scientists also join the British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec centres.

Dr. Jackie Whittaker is an expert on sports injury and osteoarthritis prevention and will be based in BC. Dr. Laëtitia Michou will work from the centre in Quebec, focusing on the human genetics of bone and joint diseases. And Dr. Susanne Benseler, a leading paediatric rheumatologist and Arthritis Research Canada's first scientist with a focus on childhood arthritis, will join the Alberta centre.

"Our scientific team is currently engaged in over 75 studies covering the breadth of arthritis," said Dr. Esdaile. "We are proud to further expand our research in the areas of mental health, paediatrics, arthritis prevention and more."

ABOUT ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA:

Arthritis Research Canada is the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement. Led by world-renowned rheumatologist, Dr. John Esdaile, Arthritis Research Canada's scientific team of over 100 are creating a future where people living with arthritis are empowered to triumph over pain and disability. Within British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, Arthritis Research Canada is leading research aimed at arthritis prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and quality of life issues.

SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada

Tried. True. Totally Improved.

Meet the New BlenderBottle® Classic™ Shaker

Lehi, Utah (July 17, 2019) – Innovation never ceases at BlenderBottle®, the brand that revolutionized the portable mixer market. The latest product to join the BlenderBottle shaker lineup is an impressive overhaul to the original BlenderBottle® Classic™ shaker, with features engineered for weekend warriors and elite athletes alike. 

BlenderBottle® transformed the health and fitness industry in 2000 with the introduction of the BlenderBall® wire whisk. The original BlenderBottle® Classic™ shaker followed in 2004, quickly becoming a global icon of health and fitness—a status it enjoys to this day. The improvements to the tried and true Classic™ shaker include performance-focused innovation and also modern style.

“The Classic is our cornerstone shaker bottle,” says Michael Sorensen, Vice President of Marketing at BlenderBottle®. “But we have a hard time just resting on our laurels. We’re always looking for new ways to improve performance—even at our introductory price point.”

The new and improved BlenderBottle® Classic™ shaker sports an updated lid featuring a more ergonomic carry loop and customer-favorite SpoutGuard™ to keep dirty gym fingers off the drinking surface. A rounded base enhances mixing performance and conveniently fits in most cup holders. Modern design elements enhance the bottle’s sleek aesthetic appeal. 

In addition to these upgrades, the new Classic™ shaker offers familiar features that loyal BlenderBottle customers have come to know and trust. The patented mixing system uses the BlenderBall wire whisk—found only in BlenderBottle® brand shakers—to deliver smooth protein and nutrition shakes with ease. Integrated with the ergonomic, StayOpen™ flip cap, the bottle’s adjustable carry loop offers portable convenience and a place to attach keys while at the gym. The new Classic shaker is covered by a leak proof guarantee—which backs every BlenderBottle® shaker. Measurement markings are clearly embossed on the bottle’s side, and the durable plastic material is top-rack dishwasher safe and BPA and phthalate free.  

The new BlenderBottle® Classic™ shaker joins the ever-expanding BlenderBottle shaker line, which includes the high-performance BlenderBottle® ProSeries™shakers, the sleek glass BlenderBottle® Mantra™ shaker, and the modern BlenderBottle® Radian™ shaker. Offered in an array of vibrant colors, the new BlenderBottle Classic shaker is available in 20-ounce and 28-ounce capacities and retails for $8.99 and $9.99 respectively.

For more information visit BlenderBottle.com or contact Holly Bennett at hbennett@blenderbottle.com.

About BlenderBottle

Founded in 2000, BlenderBottle Company is a privately held manufacturer of premium and innovative products that help simplify everyday life. The company’s patented, revolutionary products were hailed by Good Morning America, Reader’s Digest, Self, the Today Show, Men’s Fitness, and others as some of the “hottest new products” on the market.

Today BlenderBottle® brand products are available in over 90,000 retail locations worldwide, and in over 70,000 retail locations in the U.S. alone, including GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, Whole Foods, Amazon.com, and online at blenderbottle.com. BlenderBottle Company is located in Lehi, Utah and markets and sells its products to retailers and resellers worldwide. All BlenderBottle brand products are backed by a Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. For additional information, visit blenderbottle.com.

A brighter future is possible with the launch of The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer

LONDON, ON, July 17, 2019 /CNW/ - On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF) is launching The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) following a donation of $1.5M from Rick and Shelley Baker. The newly created Baker Centre will result in improved access to care, more targeted personalized treatment and new treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients.

"It is with the help of inspirational donors like Rick and Shelley Baker that a change in medical care for pancreatic cancer patients is possible now and into the future," said John MacFarlane, President and CEO at LHSF. This gift will not only impact the lives of pancreatic cancer patients in our community, but in communities around the world."

Pancreatic cancer is a fast growing cancer with one of the lowest survival rates.  Diagnosis and treatment is complex with frequent delays and often not detected until at an advanced stage, making treatment more difficult. The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer will be a centre of excellence in pancreatic care and research. The centre will offer a multidisciplinary clinic, new diagnostic technology, streamlined process for patients and the development of a new Translational Pancreatic Research Program. In addition to the clinical and research areas of The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer, a focus will be placed on enhancing the utilization of Patient Assistance Funds to support out-of-pocket costs associated with care.

"We need to do better for pancreatic cancer patients in our community. Dr. Stephen Welch and his team were excellent, but the access to cutting edge technology and experimental treatment options was just not there," said Rick Baker, grateful patient and donor. "I had to travel the world to find alternative treatments and trials to help me fight this disease. I want to help others, here in London, to have access to better treatment options and technology. With Dr. Welch and the medical experts at London Health Sciences Centre and the philanthropic support of London Health Sciences Foundation we can create possibilities for patients that didn't exist before."

The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer will service patients from London and communities across Southwestern Ontario. It will provide quicker and more coordinated access to care as well as enhanced diagnosis and treatment through new technology.  It will also focus on developing new treatment options for the future through an intensive research program. 

The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer will develop a database to track and measure patient outcomes, purchase an Endoscopic Ultrasound machine, begin genomic sequencing for all newly diagnosed patients, raise awareness for the Patient Assistance Funds, officially launch the Translational Pancreatic Research Program and establish a dedicated fund for pancreatic cancer research within the existing Catalyst Grant Program. 

About London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF) is a Canada Revenue Agency registered charity accredited by both Imagine Canada and the Better Business Bureau, linking our community and health care experts - including physicians, allied professionals, researchers, staff and educators - together in pursuit of medical excellence at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson). Established to strengthen LHSC's ability to provide the highest quality health care for patients in Southwestern Ontario and beyond, LHSF offers opportunities to support discovery and innovation in research, education and patient care at our hospital. To see how donations enable extraordinary care, visit www.lhsf.ca.

SOURCE London Health Sciences Foundation

Atlantic WeedBoard.com Presents “Cannabis Diaries” 
-- Personal Stories Illustrating the Wellness Benefits of CBD --
 

There has been a lot of celebration lately about the wellness benefits of CBD, but with so much information out there, it’s hard for the average person to sort out what this can actually mean to them and their loved ones.  To illustrate some specific ways CBD can heal the body,Atlantic WeedBoard has created a series of original “Cannabis Diaries” videos featuring real people with real health issues sharing their experience of finding relief with CBD.

An exclusive interview posted this week on Atlantic WeedBoard.com gives the first- hand account of Becky, who suffered for years with severe, chronic hives as well as joint pain, anxiety and insomnia.  Her health issues were originally jump-started by a bad reaction to antibiotics, and later diagnosed as an autoimmune disorder. After going from doctor to doctor, exploring a variety of treatments and not finding any relief from traditional medicine, she finally found a solution in the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil. Within a month, Becky saw a reduction in her symptoms.

“I was surprised to find that CBD had no psychoactive tendencies,” explains Becky.  “I knew I didn’t like that feeling and I wasn’t looking for that.  CBD has made a huge difference in my life.”

Another “Cannabis Diaries” video on Atlantic WeedBoard.com tells the story of Kathy. After a burst appendix she was seriously ill with sepsis. Following her stay in the hospital she was sent home with opioids but still not getting relief from the pain. She tried cannabis tincture, which not only helped ease her pain and transition her off the pain medication, but also worked to reduce the stress she was experiencing over the frustration of waiting for body to get better.

“Healing is really hard work and it’s hard to be patient with the process,” says Kathy.  “Cannabis gave me a lot more patience to contend with how long things were going to take.”

“We want Atlantic WeedBoard to be a place where people turn to for guidance and clarification about CBD,” says Atlantic WeedBoard co-founder Richard Carey.  “These shared stories help people understand how CBD may translate into their own lives.”

AtlanticWeedboard.com is a new website that serves as a resource and community for all things cannabis. Atlantic WeedBoard helps guide consumers through the wellness benefits and choices of CBD  products, with a focus on organically grown products where the source and quality are clearly defined.  One of the unique features of Atlantic WeedBoard is originally produced video interviews that provide detailed insight into the latest developments and benefits of CBD.  In addition to “Cannabis Diaries,” other video themes on the site include the “Five Minutes With…” series of interviews with those who are at the forefront of the CBD revolution, and “High Profile” videos on the cannabis industry, dispensaries and farmers.  

For the full interviews please visit https://atlanticweedboard.com/cannabis-diaries/

Atlantic WeedBoard is a newly-formed informational center specifically developed for the emerging cannabis industry. The site is presented in artistic graphics with a fun side to it featuring a boardwalk and Ferris wheel as its signature logo.   On a more serious note, Atlantic WeedBoard is a type of “Consumer Reports” of cannabis as it presents products for people and their pets, interviews with the top growers, curates independently tested legal products and offers anecdotal beauty, health and wellness advice for consumers. For more information, visit www.atlanticweedboard.com

Rapid Dose Therapeutics Signs Distribution Agreement for QuickStrip™ Nutraceutical Product Line and Receives US$2.1 Million Purchase Order

BURLINGTON, ON, July 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: DOSE),("RDT") and Ukraine Pharma (the "Company")announced today that they have signed a twelve month distribution agreement (the "Agreement") to export QuickStrip™ nutraceutical products to Ukraine and a number of other Eastern European countries, giving the Company rights to market the Energy, B12, and Sleep QuickStrip™ nutraceutical products to a consumer base of over 200 million people with tremendous buying power.

The Agreement requires a minimum quarterly order of one million of each of RDT's Energy, B12, and Sleep QuickStrips™ and the Company has provided RDT with a signed purchase order for US$2.1 million.

RDT's proprietary QuickStrip™ technology is a Quick, Convenient, Precise, Discreet™ oral fast-dissolving drug delivery system that offers an Anytime, Anywhere™ product to consumers. Ukraine Pharma expects to distribute QuickStrip™ by the third calendar quarter of 2019.

"This represents the beginning of a growing opportunity for RDT to provide its QuickStrip™ products to people wanting an effective and innovative means of delivering nutraceuticals," said Mark Upsdell, CEO of RDT. "The Agreement with Ukraine Pharma elevates QuickStrip™ as a growing international brand and delivery device to major market consumers, while simultaneously offering health benefits and improving patient outcomes."

"When we were introduced to the QuickStrip™ technology and nutraceutical product line, we knew this will significantly change the way drugs are delivered," said Veronica Burke, CEO of Ukraine Pharma.  "The high quality product combined with the innovative delivery system is something we consider is much needed in the numerous Eastern European countries in which we have established relationships.  We will begin distribution in Ukraine and expand from there."

About Rapid Dose Therapeutics
Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. is a publicly-traded Canadian life sciences company that provides innovative, proprietary drug delivery technologies designed to improve outcomes and quality of lives. RDT offers Quick, Convenient, Precise and Discreet™ choices to consumers. RDT is focused and committed to clinical research and product development for the healthcare manufacturing industry, including nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cannabis industries. Within the cannabis sector, RDT provides a turn-key Managed Strip Service Program which enables RDT's QuickStrip™ proprietary drug delivery technology to be licensed by select partners. RDT's service-based annuity contracts drive recurring revenue which enables rapid expansion into emerging markets — generating value for consumers and shareholders. Rapid Dose Therapeutics is committed to continually create innovative solutions aimed at multiple consumer segments and future market needs — including humans, animals and plants.  

For more information, visit: www.rapid-dose.com

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Statements containing forward-looking information, including, without limitation, in respect of the delivery of products using the QuickStrip™ product delivery method, express, as at the date of this news release, the plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs of RDT as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability to implement its business strategies; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks.  Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that statements of forward-looking information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, will prove to be accurate as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp.

FlexITy and George Brown College Announce Healthcare Technology Partnership

Exceptional Education Meets Exceptional Technology: George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing to infuse FlexITy technology into its simulation centre

TORONTO, July 16, 2019 /CNW/ - FlexITy Solutions Inc. and George Brown College, Creating Precision Patient Engagement Experience.

FlexITy is evolving their FlexHealth, Powered by FlexITy, taking it from the hospital to the classroom. Through a new partnership, FlexITy will enhance learning opportunities at George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing by infusing new technology into the college's nursing simulation centre – the only one in Canada that is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Healthcare technology, like FlexHealth, can offer better patient care and outcomes, but the first step is educating future nurses on the transformative technology that will ultimately support them.

 FlexITy, a leader in Canadian healthcare technology, announced as of April 2018, a FlexHealth solution created in partnership with GetWellNetwork to deploy "smart," patient-centric solutions in Canada. FlexITy's relationship with GetWellNetwork, combined with its deep understanding of the technology, security and data privacy needs of healthcare providers, has enabled the award-winning company to deliver a cutting-edge patient engagement solution that is well-positioned for Canadian healthcare. FlexITy also recently announced they were selected by Mackenzie Health to deliver "smart" patient engagement technology at the current Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital when it opens in late 2020.  Continuing with the drive for smart hospitals, with the George Brown College partnership, FlexHealth's technology usage shifts from providing better care today, to better training of Canadian healthcare providers of tomorrow.  

"FlexITy is working with George Brown to create an accredited course curriculum, and helping to prepare future healthcare practitioners by giving them the tools during their education in a real-world environment," says Peter Stavropoulos, CEO and President, FlexITy. "We understand how important properly trained practitioners are to a healthcare system; our technology supports the important work that they do. By partnering with George Brown College, we're helping make tomorrow's healthcare system better and more sustainable." 

As part of the partnership, one of the hospital teaching rooms in George Brown's simulation centre will be enhanced with FlexHealth, allowing for ample teaching and learning opportunities centred around the technology. George Brown faculty will build an accredited course curriculum around the FlexHealth solution, which will be available to other FlexITy customers in the future for both in person and online training. Other partnership benefits include applied research plans, gamification of healthcare training, work integrated learning opportunities for students, as well as a chance for the two organizations to learn and grow together.  

"At George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing we always want to leverage the latest technology in order to provide the most relevant educational opportunities to our nursing students, so they are prepared to enter the medical field," says Lori Cranson, Dean, Community Services and Health Sciences at George Brown College. "We are committed to providing the best learning experiences possible and adapting our curriculum to reflect industry-wide trends and changes." 

What's more, George Brown is taking an interdisciplinary approach, expanding the project to include other areas of the college. It plans to involve its School of Computer Technology to implement and optimize the technology on campus, and is looking at aligning other academic divisions as the partnership unfolds. 

"Collaborating with FlexITy provides new opportunities for students and faculty across the college to use state-of-the art technology," adds Cranson. "It will help prepare our students – in nursing and elsewhere – for the rapidly changing workplace and technologies they will encounter after graduation." 

Integrated healthcare technologies are only going to become more prevalent, in Canada and globally, as institutions attempt to deliver better medical care, for less. "Canada's healthcare system is among the most respected in the world. FlexHealth, Powered by FlexITy, further extends patient care and patient outcomes," adds Stavropoulos.

About FlexITy and FlexHealth 

FlexITy is an award-winning integrator of smart technology and service solutions, built on powerful and digitally advanced secure platforms, and delivered with decades of IoT expertise and services. FlexHealth-Powered by FlexITy, is a suite of patient-centric solutions that integrate interactive mobile applications, secure health IT and data and optimize healthcare management.  FlexHealth engages patients and families, empowers clinicians and delivers outcomes that matter.

www.FlexHealth.ca , www.FlexITy.com,  866.779.FLEX (3539)

About George Brown

Toronto's George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. The college offers programs from its three campuses located across the downtown core, and provides housing at its student residence, The George, which opened in September 2016. George Brown offers 162 full-time programs and 194 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to a student body of nearly 29,000 (full-time enrolment) students, including 17 per cent international students; and over 67,000 continuing education registrants. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca

SOURCE FlexITy Solutions Inc.

The Green New Deal: What It Means for Medicine

by: Jane M. Orient, M.D.

The truth has been acknowledged by Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s own chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti The Green New Deal is not primarily about greening the planet or controlling the climate. It’s about socialism, as the people from whom she plagiarized it have said all along. It’s a fundamental transformation of our way of life.

Since everything you do leaves a “carbon footprint,” the GND encompasses literally everything—especially your medical care.

The first question is whether you should be alive at all. In his sensational 1968 book, The Population Bomb, entomologist (insect specialist) Paul Ehrlich predicted that hundreds of millions of people would starve to death in the 1970s. That bomb fizzled, but he still believes that civilization is doomed within decades, as humanity places inexorable burdens on our Planet’s life support systems. The optimum population of the planet is less than 2 billion, he thinks, or 5.6 billion fewer than we have now.

Once you’re here, Ehrlich and his acolytes would apparently tolerate your presence, although the decline in U.S. life expectancy for the third consecutive year would likely be good news. But having children is another matter. The demographic legacy of one person, calculated over the average time for that person’s lineage to die out, is about 6 person-lifetimes in the U.S., with eventual emission of 9,441 tons of carbon dioxide. So, “reproductive health” ideally means no reproduction for most people, and many millennials (and celebrities) seem to embrace that idea. Predictably, unrestricted or even free abortion is an article of faith among Democrat candidates. And the LGBTQ agenda, also favored by all, tends to contribute to the goal of population reduction.

Ironically, politicians still talk about “our children and our grandchildren,” though they may work to assure that many of us don’t have any.

The U.S. health care sector is said to account for around 10 percent of the CO2 generated in the U.S. and thus “could be implicated” in 10 percent (20,000) of the nearly 200,000 premature deaths attributable to air pollution annually in the United States. (There are about 3 million annual deaths in the U.S., and it is impossible to identify even one as being premature because of air pollution; the argument is purely statistical.) Thus, hospitals are supposedly killing people, albeit indirectly, by using carbon-based energy for heating, air conditioning, elevators, lighting, ventilators, etc.

Surgery is a special problem, beyond the use of electricity, because anesthetic gases that might have a greenhouse effect are vented to the atmosphere. So, are anesthesiologists to worry about a hypothetical tiny effect on the climate 50 years from now, instead of the best treatment for the patient?

“Social determinants of health” are the trendiest subject in “healthcare reform.” GND prescriptions would profoundly affect those. Diet would be mostly plant-based foods, with meat limited, ultimately to 1 oz per day. Living space would be restricted, some propose to 320 sq ft per person, with no single-family homes allowed except for trailers. Energy efficiency standards would entail restrictions on entry of outside air, without regard to effects on indoor air pollution, including bacteria and viruses. (More than 300 people in a huge Hong Kong apartment building were infected with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome [SARS] because of this.) Transportation would be mostly walking, bicycling, or public transport. Private vehicles, except possibly electric, might be banned entirely, with roads converted to parks and walkways. It is not clear what emergency responders would do. If electricity came mostly from wind and solar it would be scarce, unreliable, and many times more expensive than now. (Already tens of thousands of deaths in the UK are attributed to inability to afford adequate heating, as costs of “renewable” electricity soared.)

The Democratic presidential debates, except for some squabbling over things like alleged racism, were a display of groupthink. Everybody raised a hand in favor of the GND and universal health care. Some are more radical than others; Kamala Harris insists that we have a “climate crisis,” not just “climate change.” What Americans need to know is the gritty detail behind the virtuous-sounding platitudes. How will their choices be constrained? How much will costs go up—for rent, utilities, fuel, food, and, of course, taxes? How will their standard of living be affected? And how will their actual medical care and health—as opposed to their health insurance card—be affected?

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Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf’s Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf’s Spelling Method, published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.