Britta Lesaux Appointed President & CEO Philips Canada

MARKHAM, ON, July 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, announced that Britta Lesaux has been appointed President and CEO of Philips Canada, succeeding Jeffrey H. Barnes following his retirement. Ms. Lesaux becomes Philips Canada's first female President and CEO, and will report to the CEO of North America, Vitor Rocha.

"Britta is a proven leader with experience driving growth in both the healthcare and consumer packaged goods industries," said Vitor Rocha, CEO Philips North America. "Her understanding of the Canadian healthcare system together with her extensive leadership experience will enable her to deliver the solutions our Canadian customers need to enhance health outcomes in communities across the country. Additionally, her appointment demonstrates Philips' commitment to inclusion and diversity, ensuring that our leadership and talent base reflect the breadth of the consumers and customers we serve."

Ms. Lesaux joins Philips from 3M Canada, where she most recently served as Executive Director of the Health Care Business Group (HCBG), responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of four business unit divisions, including Medical Solutions, Oral Care, Food Safety and Health Information Systems. In her time with 3M, Ms. Lesaux was also accountable to oversee various functions including marketing, sales, customer service and operational excellence. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Ms. Lesaux is a bilingual graduate of McGill University, where she specialized in Business Management, Marketing and Organizational Behaviour.

Over the next few months, Ms. Lesaux will work closely with the Canadian team to ensure a smooth transition for customers, partners and employees so that Philips Canada can continue to focus on strong delivery of long-term strategic partnerships and new solutions [1] in the Canadian market. 

Ms. Lesaux will continue to serve on the Board of Directors at Medtech Canada (formerly "MEDEC"), the national association representing Canada's innovative medical technology industry.

[1]  Suites of systems, smart devices, software and services that Philips offers with its partners that are designed to improve people's health, enable better outcomes and enhance productivity across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2018 sales of EUR 18.1 billion and employs approximately 77,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips

Probe that lights up when detecting cancer could help surgeons more accurately remove tumours during surgery

RCSI study has potential to transform surgical management of cancer 

DUBLIN, 2 July, 2019: A study led by researchers at RCSI’s Department of Chemistry has the potential to help surgeons more accurately remove tumours and detect cancer in lymph nodes during surgery. The research, led by RCSI Professor of Chemistry Donal O’Shea, has been published in Chemical Science.

Bringing together expertise in chemistry and biotechnology, the research team has identified the potential benefit of fluorescence imaging as a way of detecting cancer cells during surgery, developing a probe that lights up when it detects cancer. 

According to Professor O’Shea, “This is a very significant development which has the potential to transform the surgical management of cancer, improving outcomes for patients. Almost 60% of all cancer patients will undergo surgery as part of their treatment.”

“A new technology that could improve surgical outcomes by giving the surgical team real-time, informative images during the surgical procedure would have a wide-ranging and sustained impact on the care of cancer patients.”


Addressing the next steps, Professor O’Shea said, “At the moment, this is science. A clinical trial is our next goal and that would allow the full potential of this discovery to be realised for patients, enhancing detection of life-threatening diseases and improving outcomes of surgical procedures.”

The team has recently secured funding for a project on colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment under the Project Ireland 2040 Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund in collaboration with leading cancer surgeon Professor Ronan Cahill in the Mater University Hospital, UCD and Dublin based industry partners IBM-research and Deciphex.  

The project will look at combining tissues responsive probes, artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform medical care for colorectal cancer patients

This paper, RGD Conjugated Cell Uptake Off to On Responsive NIR-AZA Fluorophores: Applications toward Intraoperative Fluorescence Guided Surgery published in the current edition of Chemical Science, is part of a series of research outputs on the clinical potential of fluorescence. Dr Dan Wu, Postdoctoral Fellow in the RCSI Department of Chemistry, is the first author on the paper. Another paper, on  PEGylated BF2-Azadipyrromethene (NIR-AZA) fluorophores, for intraoperative imaging, was recently published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2019) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education. 

For Chiropractors, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists and Medical Doctors, Functional Medicine Offers an Advanced New Paradigm of Holistic Treatment


Greer, SC, July 2, 2019 – Holistic health care treatments often hark back to practices from hundreds or even thousands of years ago, such as hands-on manipulation, the stimulation of energy points or herbal remedies.  In contrast, a new diagnostic method called Functional Medicine provides a 21st century scientific avenue for getting at the root cause of illness and bringing a patient back to optimum functioning.  Functional Medicine University starts a new class in July 2019 of online training for health care professionals in this cutting-edge, evidence-based diagnosis and treatment system (www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com). 

“Functional Medicine considers the whole patient and many times finds that conditions in one bodily system produce puzzling symptoms in what appears to be a very different bodily system,” says Dr. Ron Grisanti, D.C., a pioneer in Functional Medicine who heads the Functional Medicine University program.  “By using advanced laboratory tests, Functional Medicine practitioners act like medical detectives and are able to identify and treat conditions that stumped many other health care professionals.”

Functional Medicine University’s holistic training takes place through video, audio and PDF teaching modules, an interactive online forum, clinical case conference calls and more.  The rigorous no-residency training costs $2,495.  Graduates include physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals who have learned not only how to use Functional Medicine principles to diagnose and treat patients but also how to integrate it into their existing practice.

The next round of Functional Medicine University training begins in July 2019.  For further information or to be added to the notification list so as to register when enrollment opens, visit www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com.

About Functional Medicine University

Founded in 2006 by Dr. Ron Grisanti, D.C., Functional Medicine University is the oldest online Functional Medicine certification training school, serving healthcare professionals from 81 countries and all 50 US states.  Functional Medicine emphasizes scientific diagnosis of an individual’s unique biochemical relationships, then encouraging the body to rebalance itself naturally instead of through surgery or drugs.  Founder/director Dr. Grisanti is a board certified chiropractic orthopedist with a master's degree in nutritional science from the University of Bridgeport. He also holds a diplomate degree with the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.

KushCo Holdings Partners with C.A. Fortune to Expand Retail Opportunities for CBD Brands   

GARDEN GROVE, Calif., July, 2nd 2019 – KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: KSHB) (“KushCo” or the “Company”), announced that it has partnered with C.A. Fortune, a leading full-service national consumer products sales and marketing agency focused on lifestyle brand partnerships, to provide viable CBD companies access to large scale, conventional retail channels.

The groundbreaking partnership will be the first large scale go-to-market operation focused on helping compliant CBD brands achieve mass distribution across legal markets in the U.S. The combination of KushCo’s extensive network of brands and specific hemp industry knowledge paired together with C.A. Fortune’s industry-leading reach into all retail channels, will offer KushCo clients an additional avenue to activate their CBD products.

“One of the challenges of building a national CBD brand is obtaining mass distribution into mainstream retailers across the U.S. and this partnership immediately upgrades the go-to-market plans for CBD brands.” said Jason Vegotsky, Chief Revenue Officer and President of KushCo Holdings. “There is no better time to be a part of the KushCo ecosystem. In addition to our unrivaled ancillary product offerings, we are now expanding into value added services, none greater than this partnership, which puts our client’s brands in position to dominate mainstream retail.”

Since its launch in 1977, C.A. Fortune has grown into a national sales and marketing agency supporting major consumer packaged goods brands. Through its platform, C.A. Fortune works with brands to help them achieve nationwide coverage across the grocery, natural, big box, and e-comm channels.

“Our priority is to help bring long-term growth and value to our customers by elevating brands and positioning them to stand out from the competition. We are excited to partner with KushCo so that the growing CBD industry can have more sustainable and fruitful points of access to conventional, natural and e-retailer channels,” added Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner and CEO of C.A. Fortune.

To be added to the distribution list, please email ir@kushco.com with “Kush” in the subject line.

###

About KushCo Holdings

KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: KSHB) (www.kushco.com) is the premier producer of ancillary products and services to the cannabis and hemp industries. KushCo Holdings' subsidiaries and brands provide, product quality, exceptional customer service, compliance knowledge and a local presence in serving its diverse customer base.

Founded in 2010, KushCo Holdings has now sold more than 1 billion units to growers, processors and producers across North America, South America, and Europe.

The Company has been featured in media nationwide, including CNBC, Los Angeles Times, TheStreet.com, Entrepreneur, and business magazine Inc. While KushCo Holdings provides products and solutions to customers in the cannabis and CBD industries, it has no direct involvement with the cannabis plant or any products that contain THC or CBD.

5 Tips For Going From Bench PlayerTo Star In The Business World 

Sports history is filled with the heroics of substitute players coming off the bench and playing a big role in a victory.  Likewise, in the working world, being a dedicated and consistent role player can prepare someone for a promotion that entails bigger responsibilities. The key, as in sports, is being ready when called upon. “Understanding and fulfilling your role as you await your opportunity is a critical aspect of truly growing so you are prepared to make good on that opportunity when it happens,” says Grant Parr (www.gameperformance.com), a mental sports performance coach and the author of The Next One Up Mindset: How To Prepare For The Unknown. “Athletics is filled with role players ready to meet the demands and the game speed of competition. The mental preparation is equally important in the workplace for those aspiring to climb the ladder and be continually successful.” Parr offers five ways to spend time wisely while waiting in the wings and how to be well-prepared for the next, bigger opportunity: Maximize your role. The path to promotion, Parr says, starts with the right mindset in lower positions. “Training the mind for success is essential,”  Parr says. “It begins with fully understanding and embracing your role. Doing that consistently gets you ready for the next one. Your role will be what you make of it — a launchpad for future success and a support to others while you learn, or a holding pattern leading toward stagnation and frozen development.” Set achievable goals and commit. “How you approach your goals matters,” Parr says. “You need to write them down, including all the tasks required to accomplish them, and you need to visualize the feeling of reaching them.” Remove negatives. “These invariably come up,” Parr says. “Be aware of the obstacles, people, and thought processes that can derail you, demotivate and distract you from making the most of your opportunity. That way, when those things appear, you are prepared to manage them and stay on track.” Lead and set an example. “In sports, always being one of the first to practice and among the last to leave, and being the one who always encourages others — all those qualities stick in your teammates’ minds as a disciplined, winning example they can count on,” Parr says. “In the business world, your chances of reaching the next level are greatly enhanced when you exemplify a team-first, cheerful attitude on a daily basis, always being helpful to the levels above you as well as your own team, and going the extra mile.” Study good examples/role models. It certainly helps in sports, and the corporate office is no different, Parr says, when it comes to the benefits of learning from mentors or reading up on achievers who had humble beginnings. “Watch, listen to, read, and learn from the advice and experiences of those who have excelled,” Parr says. “Moving up in the world entails lots of things that can knock you down,” Parr says. “Embracing your role, whatever it is, means embracing the struggle to get where you want to go. You are working toward something higher, preparing for the unknown, and it requires diligence and commitment.” About Grant Parr Grant Parr (www.gameperformance.com) is a mental sports performance coach and the author of The Next One Up Mindset: How To Prepare For The Unknown. Parr owns and runs GAMEFACE PERFORMANCE, a consulting firm that enhances mental skills for athletes and coaches. A recruiter and sales leader in the corporate world for 17 years, he now works with a wide variety of athletes including Olympians, professionals, collegians and high school athletes. His podcast, 90% Mental, provides a window into a broad range of athletes’ and coaches’ mental games and shares their insights around mental performance.

Miracle-Minded Government? Really?

In the 1970s, Helen Schucman, a Jewish, atheist, professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University, began hearing a “voice.” At first, it frightened her, and she was resistant. Then with the encouragement and support of a colleague, William Thetford, she let down her defenses and started listening. The voice said, “This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary.”

Seven years later, A Course in Miracles was published. It consists of a text, a workbook for students with 365 lessons, and a teacher’s manual. Today, the Course has helped millions of people find inner peace and improve their lives by adopting a new thought-system – a thought-system of love rather than fear. It is also believed by many to be a direct channeling of Jesus.

One of the candidates for President of the United States in 2020, Marianne Williamson, is well-versed in A Course in Miracles (ACIM). She has written books about it and lectured on it for many years. The question many ask now is, how might ACIM apply in government – a system currently ruled by fear and divisiveness and finger-pointing and defensiveness. Is it possible to lead from a foundation of love rather than ego?

I believe so. As a management consultant, teacher of ACIM, and transformational leader, I have witnessed countless “miracles” in the business world – shifts in perception and behavior that lead to astonishing results. Today, these occurrences are sometimes referred to as paradigm shifts, innovations, or synchronicities – outcomes that seem to come out of nowhere at just the right time. Seldom do people refer to them as miracles. That’s something people talk about in church or synagogue or temple.

Yet while people may privately believe in miracles on Sunday, they find it difficult to recognize them in their own lives. Stress has taken over and countless people live with fear, anxiety, and quiet desperation. The time is now for “miracle-minded management,” a shift in thinking from fear to love, in business and in government. How long can we go on fighting with people on our own team? How long can we survive with an us-them mentality and an attack and defend approach? Our current management system, or paradigm, in business and in government is driven by the ego thought system. This means it is fear-based and dualistic. It doesn’t understand true inspiration and love. The ego sees everything and everyone as separate, unique, special and independent. It worships heroes and idols, including itself. It compares one thing to another, judging right and wrong, good and bad, us and them. It feeds on criticism, judgment and condemnation. It competes with “the other side” and promises to protect us from attack by using attack on “the enemy.”

Step back and think about this. The ego thought system is the root cause of all shame, guilt, grief, fear, lust, anger and pride. Whenever we are worried or stressed, you can bet it is the ego behind it all. These negative projections of the mind are simply a reflection of a fear-based mindset. The problem is we have become so accustomed to this habitual way of thinking as human beings, calling it human nature, we have lost sight of an alternative - miracle minded management.

ACIM teaches us to shift our basis from fear to love. This leads to miracles, where we see the world in an entirely new way, a peaceful way, with beautiful harmony and contrast. People who used to annoy us are now seen with empathy and compassion, as teachers of patience. Negative outcomes are viewed as blessings in disguise. Drama no longer attracts our attention. Inner peace leads to outer peace and we no longer feel afraid or stressed. We feel positive, eager, enthusiastic and inspired.

I do believe that with miracle-minded leadership we can pull together as one powerful global force by aligning with the one powerful force that already exists. Rather than resist it, deny it, challenge it or doubt it, we can join it with a common mission, a mission of authentic peace, despite our human differences. ACIM teaches us that we are not separate. We are all connected, energetically and spiritually. We are not unique and special because we are all unique and special, making no one more special than anyone else. We are all children of God – and beyond our human personas we are eternal spirits, extending from one common source. 

ACIM has indeed changed my life and empowered me in ways beyond my imagination. I was getting in my own way and I didn’t even realize it. In retrospect, I was going through life with the breaks on, trying desperately to find my own way. Then I learned to “let go and let flow.” As counterintuitive and weak as this may seem, I surrendered the ego to a far more intelligent thought system, and this has made a massive difference. Can this work in government? That depends. No leader can do this for you and no leader can do it alone. The best any world leader can do is lead by example and demonstrate what sacred love, genuine peace and authentic power look like. Consider this. World peace cannot be accomplished if you are not at peace. Peace is not an external affair. It is an internal state of mind. No wonder ACIM is a required course. Sooner or later, we will all return to where we came from.   

John J. Murphy is a global business consultant, speaker, spiritual mystic, "zentrepreneur,” and award-winning author. He is Founder (1988) and CEO of Venture Management Consultants, Inc., a firm specializing in creating lean, high performance work environments.

As a business consultant, Murphy has delivered services to some of the world’s leading organizations, including ADP, AlliedSignal (Honeywell), BMW, Chase, the CIA, GE, GM, GSK, Hilton, Lockheed Martin, Merck, the Michigan State Senate, Perrigo, Prudential, Raytheon, Spectrum Health, Target Stores, Teva, and the US Navy. As an educator and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Murphy has trained thousands of people from over 50 countries, including Fortune 500 executives, project leaders, military leaders, managers, and black belts. He has mentored dozens of project teams in Organizational Development, Operational Excellence, Business Process Innovation and Lean Six Sigma applications. As a speaker, Murphy has delivered keynotes and seminars worldwide. A critically-acclaimed authority on peak performance, transformational leadership and healthy mind-body-spirit, Murphy is a best-selling author who has published 19 books and appeared on over 400 radio and television stations and his work has been featured in over 50 newspapers nationwide.

Murphy is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BBA Finance) and the University of Michigan’s Human Resource Executive Program. He is also a former quarterback for Notre Dame.

Connect with John J. Murphy on Facebook @Author.John.J.Murphy, Twitter @sageleader, LinkedIn @johnjmurphymystic, YouTube @AuthorJohnJMurphy, Instagram @jjmurphy13 and visit www.johnjmurphy.org.

Miracle-Minded Manager: A Modern Day Parable about How to Apply A Course in Miracles in Business releases on October 22, 2019 in paperback and e-Book.

Christiana Care offers Fast Breast MRI to Women with Dense Breast Tissue or Intermediate Risk of Breast Cancer

New supplemental screening option for increased breast cancer detection (Wilmington, Del. – July 1, 2019)The Christiana Care Breast Center at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is the first in Delaware to offer Fast Breast MRI to women with dense breast tissue or intermediate lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.Mammography has been shown to decrease breast cancer mortality, but it is less effective at detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. This limitation has prompted women with increased breast density to request supplemental screening.Breast MRI detects more breast cancers than other screening options. It has traditionally only been available to women at high risk of breast cancer, such as those with a strong family history or genetic mutation.Fast Breast MRI is a shortened version of a conventional MRI, taking approximately 10 minutes. Studies have shown that Fast Breast MRI maintains a high cancer detection rate, making it a valuable option for women who want additional breast cancer screening but do not qualify for conventional breast MRI.“Although screening mammography is instrumental in our fight against breast cancer, mammography can miss some breast cancers — particularly in women who have dense breast tissue,” said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., Bank of America endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “Offering Fast Breast MRI to women with increased breast density or intermediate breast cancer risk supports a personalized approach to breast health.”Fast Breast MRI is not a replacement for routine screening mammogram. According to the American College of Radiology and American Society of Breast Surgeons, annual screening mammography is recommended starting at age 40.“At Christiana Care, we empower women with information about their breast density and breast cancer risk, provide supplemental breast screening options so women can act on this information and support women in making informed decisions that are right for them,” said Jennifer Rowland, M.D., director of Breast Imaging at the Christiana Care Breast Center.The Christiana Care Breast Center at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is among the leading facilities in the region devoted exclusively to breast care, diagnosis and treatment. About the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute
The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program, is part of the Christiana Care Health System, one of the country’s most dynamic health systems, centered on improving health outcomes, making high-quality care more accessible and lowering health care costs. With more than 232,000 patient visits last year, the Graham Cancer Center is recognized as a national model for multidisciplinary cancer care and a top enroller in U.S. clinical research trials. In conjunction with the Gene Editing Institute, the Center for Translational Cancer Research, the Tissue Procurement Center, statewide High-Risk Family Cancer Registry and collaborations with world-renowned scientists at facilities such as The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia scientists are opening new avenues to more quickly translate cancer science into cancer medicine. For more information, visit christianacare.org/cancer.####


Drake’s Organic Spirits Appoints Lyle Berman

to Board of Director

Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 27, 2019)  – Drake’s Organic Spirits announced the addition of Lyle Berman, a legendary Minnesota businessman and co-founder of Grand Casinos Inc., to its board of directors effective today.

“We are thrilled to have Lyle join our board of directors and look forward to learning from his decades of experience starting and building successful enterprises,” said Drake’s Organic Spirits Founder/CEO Mark Anderson.  “His experience and well-deserved reputation as an entrepreneur, market leader and strategic operator will be invaluable to Drake’s as we look to grow our award-winning line of organic spirits.” 

"I am excited about joining the Drake’s board of directors," stated Berman. "I look forward to working alongside Mark Anderson, his management team and my fellow board members to create a strategy that that will bring Drake’s great tasting and sustainable spirits to discerning consumers across the country.”

Berman is credited as one of the early visionaries in the development of casinos outside of the traditional gaming markets of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.   He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2004 and in 2009 received the Casino Lifetime Achievement Award.  Besides Grand Casinos, Inc., he has served as chief executive officer, board member and executive chairman at numerous national companies.  Berman currently serves as chairman of Allied Esports, a premiere esports entertainment company he recently launched that will provide world-class in-person experiences, multiplatform content and interactive services to the esports and gaming industries. 

About Drake’s Organic Spirits 
Minneapolis-based Drake’s Organic Spirits was launched in 2017.    Drake’s uses the highest quality USDA organic and non-GMO Project Verified ingredients to create a line of ultra- premium spirits. Drake’s Organic Vodka, Drake’s Organic White Rum and Drakes Organic Spiced Rum offer a no grain, no gluten, no gmo, ultra-premium, 12-times distilled handcrafted spirits at a better price than the leading premium brands.

Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health Primed for Growth Following Partnership with Persistence Capital Partners

PCP recognizes Anova's leadership in Canadian fertility as Anova celebrates its third anniversary

TORONTO, June 27, 2019 /CNW/ - Persistence Capital Partners ("PCP"), a private equity fund focused exclusively on investing in high-growth opportunities in Canadian healthcare, is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health ("Anova"), providing Anova with capital to accelerate its growth strategy. 

Founded three years ago to the day by Dr. Marjorie Dixon, Chief Executive Officer, Anova boasts a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory and a clinic inspired by Dr. Dixon's desire to improve the patient experience and humanize treatment in fertility care. Keeping quality patient care at the forefront, PCP will work closely with Anova's management team on a number of strategic initiatives to support future growth. These initiatives include, opening new clinics, pursuing investment and partnership opportunities, creating a collaborative and 'cutting edge' environment for physicians and other healthcare practitioners, and investing in the best global technologies and techniques to help Canadians grow their families.

"We believe Anova has an exciting growth trajectory ahead and we look forward to working with Dr. Dixon, and her team, to build a leading company in this dynamic market with growth coming from increased awareness, improved technology, improved success rates, and the rising prevalence of infertility in Canadians," said Adrianna Czornyj, Partner at PCP. "Anova has the most sophisticated and proficient lab and the highest patient success rates we've seen in Canada. Our investment is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of the Anova team over the past three years, led by an entrepreneurial physician CEO with a compelling vision for patient care across Canada. We look forward to helping Anova expand its footprint to help more Canadians access patient-centric fertility and reproductive care. I am proud to be working with an organization dedicated to women's health and helping families."

"This is a very exciting time for Anova," added Dr. Dixon. "Assisted fertility can be stressful and disarming. Since day one, we strived to elevate the patient experience by creating a humanizing and caring environment. Now, on the birthday of our clinic's opening, we've received an injection of growth capital to take Anova to the next level. PCP is an ideal partner for us. They have been investing in, running, and growing healthcare businesses in Canada for over 30 years. PCP understands our mission and vision, and they share similar values, including our strong focus on quality and patient care. We endeavored to achieve what was previously deemed impossible in our industry. This culminated in a clinic with a stellar team whose mission was to bring that dream and vision to fruition." 

Stuart M. Elman, Managing Partner at PCP, said, "Investing in and supporting game-changing Canadian healthcare businesses is at the core of what PCP does.  We are proud to welcome Anova and its team to the PCP group of portfolio companies.  Anova is our second investment in our most recent fund, as we continue to execute on our proven investment strategy."

About Persistence Capital Partners

Persistence Capital Partners is Canada's leading private equity fund exclusively focused on high-growth opportunities in the healthcare field. With deep healthcare industry expertise, PCP aims to create significant long-term capital appreciation for its investors by identifying and developing attractive investment opportunities in the Canadian healthcare market. PCP has offices in Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario. For more information about Persistence Capital Partners, please visit www.persistencecapital.com, or contact: 

Adrianna Czornyj
Partner
Persistence Capital Partners
E: adrianna.czornyj@persistencecapital.com

About Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health

Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health opened in 2016 as a full-service fertility and IVF clinic. Anova is Canada's first next-generation embryology laboratory, and is the leader in innovation, education, and communication for high quality patient centric fertility and reproductive care. The team at Anova strives to set the international standard for successful reproductive health and fertility centres, committed to making the right to family accessible to everyone. Anova is known for their culture of support, effective processes and their holistic approach to patient care. For more information about Anova, please visit www.anovafertility.com, or contact: 

Dr. Marjorie Dixon
Founder, Medical Director, and Chief Executive Officer
Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health
E: media@anovafertility.com

SOURCE Persistence Capital Partners

ProMIS Neurosciences' PMN310 Shows Greater Therapeutic Potential vs. Other Amyloid-Beta-Directed Antibodies

Data presented at Keystone Symposium on Neurodegenerative Diseases 

TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, MA, June 27, 2019 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (TSX: PMN) (OTCQB: ARFXF), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, presented data for its lead program, PMN310 for Alzheimer's disease, at last week's Keystone Symposium on Neurodegenerative Diseases. ProMIS' Chief Development Officer Dr. Johanne Kaplan presented data showing that PMN310 possesses superior selectivity for amyloid beta toxic oligomers (AßOs) and improved therapeutic potential compared with other Aß-directed antibodies. Dr. Kaplan shares her perspective on the most notable research stemming from the conference on Episode 8 of the podcast Saving Minds, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

"Researchers from every continent in the world, except Antarctica, lingered far into the evening to view posters, share perspectives and discuss future therapy directions," indicated Dr. Johanne Kaplan, Keystone presenter and Chief Development Officer at ProMIS Neurosciences. "There was genuine optimism and a sense of momentum around therapy development efforts for neurodegenerative diseases. There was a general consensus for the need to selectively target the propagating forms of toxic proteins in pursuit of disease modifying therapies: Our data on PMN310 were very well received."

Dr. Kaplan's poster, "Selective targeting of HHQK conformational epitope in amyloid-beta oligomer species by PMN310, a monoclonal antibody rationally designed for greater therapeutic potency in Alzheimer's disease," presented data indicating that PMN310 possesses:

  • Superior selectivity for toxic AßOs in Alzheimer's brain samples 
  • Ability to neutralize the neurotoxicity and propagation of AßOs 
  • Potential to safely administer high doses of PMN310 (reduced risk of brain edema) and achieve greater therapeutic potency compared with other Aß-directed antibodies. 

The conference, Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neurodegenerative Diseases: New Insights and Therapeutic Opportunities, took place June 16-20, 2019 at Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado. To access Dr. Kaplan's podcast, Saving Minds, visit iTunes or Spotify.

About ProMIS Neurosciences
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody therapeutics selectively targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The Company's proprietary target discovery platform is based on the use of two complementary thermodynamic, computational discovery engines - ProMIS and Collective Coordinates - to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique precision approach, the Company is developing novel antibody therapeutics for AD, ALS and PD. ProMIS is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ProMIS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PMN, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol ARFXF.

To learn more, visit us at www.promisneurosciences.com, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release contains certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.