peopleCare Wins Innovation of the Year Award for the First Clinical Pharmacy Model in Canadian Long-Term Care
WATERLOO, ON, April 2, 2019 /CNW/ - With the complexity of care needs on the rise for Ontario's 68,000 long-term care residents, the need for an innovative approach to better manage their medications has never been more crucial. That's why peopleCare Communities and its partners developed a ground-breaking clinical pharmacy model, which has won a Quality Improvement Innovation Award from the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA).
"We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the long-term care sector for our leading practice Clinical Pharmacy Model," says Megan Allen-Lamb, President of peopleCare Communities. "The Award is an outstanding validation of our commitment to collaboratively drive innovation in the health system that directly improves the safety and quality of the care we provide to our residents."
A first of its kind in the Canadian long-term care environment, peopleCare's Clinical Pharmacy Model connects pharmacists directly with residents and staff, and leverages best-in-class software and automated dispensing cabinets. Research shows having an on-call pharmacist leading the medication reconciliation process supports higher quality decision-making and often results in fewer residents taking unnecessary medications, which is safer and more cost-effective.
The tele-pharmacy component of the model ensures expert medication reconciliation is available at any time, with full remote access to the electronic health record and medication lists. More efficient, this also enhances communication among the care team, particularly during transitions, when residents are more vulnerable to medication errors.
peopleCare and its partners – including Hogan Pharmacy Partners, eHealth Ontario, the LTC eConnect program, and PointClickCare – developed and piloted the Clinical Pharmacy Model in peopleCare's long-term care homes with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Ontario Healthcare Technologies Fund – the largest ever single grant awarded by the program.
Data from the pilot phase demonstrates the model's effectiveness at improving resident safety and supporting better clinical outcomes. Medication reconciliation improved by 43%. Staff documented a dramatic 8-hour decrease in the average time to first dose for residents newly admitted or re-admitted after a hospitalization. The new approach also freed up hundreds of hours of staff time that could be redirected to resident care.
According to Jenn Killing, peopleCare's Vice President of Quality and Innovation, over the past year peopleCare has worked proactively to share this trailblazing model with government, sector partners and experts, and plans to keep engaging with interested organizations in the coming months.
"All long-term care residents in Ontario would benefit significantly from this innovative solution," says Jenn. "We strongly encourage our health sector colleagues to connect with us to learn more about how they can leverage our Clinical Pharmacy Model to provide safer, more effective care for their residents. Our process, tools and lessons learned are an open book."
The OLTCA Quality Improvement Innovation of the Year Award is presented for a change idea, research project or collaboration with health care stakeholders, having achieved a positive impact on residents, staff or the home in early results. peopleCare's Clinical Pharmacy Model "Innovation of the Year" is showcased in the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of OLTCA's LONG-TERM CARE TODAY.
About peopleCare CommunitiespeopleCare Communities is a leading operator of senior living communities in southwestern Ontario, with strong family values and a long history of service. We are committed to creating vibrant communities of care that deliver clinical best practices, engaging programs and integrated services that meet seniors' changing needs. peopleCare's innovation and industry leadership has earned Accreditation Canada – Exemplary Status, Canada's Best Managed Companies designation for the sixth straight year, North America's Most Engaged Workplaces Award, and an Innovation Award research grant from the Health Technology Fund.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Some Questions and Answers
Q: What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD?
A: Weeks, months, or years after a traumatic event, survivors can find themselves bombarded with flashbacks, feelings of fear, sadness or anger and strong reactions to triggers such as loud noises. Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health condition that can be helped with appropriate care.
Q: What can trigger PTSD?
A: Disturbing or catastrophic events such as natural disasters, car accidents, terrorist attacks, shootings or other physical attacks, rape, war or the death of a loved one could lead to PTSD. Those who experience PTSD could themselves be a victim of a traumatic event or witnesses to others’ suffering, either directly, by seeing injuries, or indirectly, as in the case of those who learn of details of attacks or abuse.
Q: Who develops PTSD?
A: Not everyone who is exposed to trauma develops PTSD. The symptoms are more common in women and those who experienced previous trauma, particularly as children. PTSD is also more prevalent in those with other physical and mental health conditions.
Q: When does PTSD arise?
A: Everyone feels shaken immediately after a traumatic event. However, for people with PTSD, symptoms persist more than a month after the event and continue for months or years. For some people, PTSD symptoms do not appear until several months after the event.
Q: What are the symptoms of PTSD?
A: Symptoms include involuntary memories or vivid flashbacks of the traumatic event and disturbing dreams. People with PTSD may experience feelings of anger, guilt and shame. They may no longer find pleasure in their favorite activities. Some feel isolated, drawing away from family and friends. They may avoid triggers that remind them of the distressing event, including places, objects, people or activities. People with PTSD may feel irritable, engage in self-destructive behaviors, have problems concentrating or sleeping, respond strongly to loud noises or unexpected touches, or have angry outbursts. Some have physical symptoms, including increased heart and blood pressure rates, unexplained pain and fatigue.
Q: How can PTSD be treated?
A:There is help for PTSD. It can be treated. Proven treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Some people may also find relief with medications, such as antidepressants, as well as therapy.
Q: What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
A: ART is a therapeutic technique performed by a therapist, social worker or counselor who has undergone specialized training. The practitioner guides a client’s eyes through a series of lateral movements while talking through a series of prompts. The technique empowers clients to move traumatic memories out of the forefront of the brain. Clients are able to reframe troubling experiences. ART was created more than a decade ago and has been proven effective in numerous scientific studies, including several conducted by the Department of Defense. Most clients experience a complete or significant reduction of their symptoms in an average of four sessions with ART. Clients do not need to discuss the details of their disturbing experience with the clinician who is treating them, making ART an effective treatment for those who do not feel comfortable discussing the traumatic event. Many clients try ART after other treatments fail and find that the therapeutic technique finally enables them to heal from the trauma. For more information about ART, please visit artherapyinternational.com.
Interviews can be arranged with Kelly Breeding, LCSW, the executive director of ART International, therapists who employ ART in their practices, and Kevin Kip, Ph.D, a trauma expert who has conducted significant research into the efficacy of ART. Several former clients who found relief with ART are also available for interviews, including Brian Anderson, a former Green Beret who developed PTSD from combat-related trauma. Contact Julie Scharper, jscharper@hillmanpr.com, to schedule interviews.
To Coincide with the Boston Marathon,
Safety Wearable Technology Company, Run Angel,
Announces New Charity Partnership with Angel Flight Northeast
BOSTON – APRIL 1, 2019– Safety wearable technology company, Run Angel Ltd. , today announced it has partnered with Angel Flight Northeast, a non-profit organization that coordinates free air transportation for patients to access life-saving medical care.
"Angel Flight Northeast is a story of courageous men, women and children who have an incredible will to live. Partnering with Angel Flight Northeast in advance of the one of the greatest running events of the year, the Boston Marathon, was an obvious choice for us," said Ellen Caren, Founder of Run Angel. "We at Run Angel, share in Angel Flight Northeast’s commitment and dedication in helping those most in need, especially in an emergency situation.”
Run Angel™ is an innovative safety wrist wearable that emits a very loud siren from its patent pending acoustic chamber design to attract attention in an emergency and connects with smartphone devices to send emergency alerts to loved ones by SMS & email, showing the date, time and location of the wearer.
“We are honored and humbled that Run Angel has chosen Angel Flight NE as their charity of choice with a percentage of the proceeds from their Limited-Edition Boston Angel, inspired in the colors of the renowned Boston Marathon, going to support our mission,” said Larry Camerlin, President and Founder of Angel Flight Northeast. “Much like our mission to make a profound difference in the lives of our patients and their families, Run Angel‘s personal safety wearable makes a difference in the lives of those who wear it as well as in the lives of those they care about and love.”
Angel Flight Northeast is a non-profit that coordinates free air transportation services for patients who need to travel outside of their area for specialized medical care. This is made possible with the volunteer corps of over 500 private pilots who combine their love of flying with the spirit of grassroots volunteerism by flying patients and their families to the critical health care they need along with the assistance of commercial aviation partners. Founded in 1996, AFNE have scheduled over 77,000 flight requests and have flown more than 15 million miles.
For more information regarding Angel Flight Northeast, please visit www.angelflightne.org/
A blue and yellow Limited Edition ‘Boston Angel’ is now available from www.runangel.com at $80. For more information please contact: Ellen Caren on 001 (646) 844-3866 or by email at ellen@runangel.com
“Run Angel demonstrates the importance of staying safe while staying active,” said Catie Riordan, VP of Consumer Retail, Enterprise Ireland. “We are so proud to support Run Angel and it is so fantastic to see them teaming up with Angel Flight NE for a meaningful and worthwhile partnership.”
About Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish State agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland's international trade, innovation, leadership, and competitiveness. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth and regional development and help create and sustain employment in Ireland.
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The World's First Affordable At-home Live Cell Collection Kit Now Available, Readying Everyone for the Future of Cell Therapy & Genetics
In-person collection experience debuts at MaRS Health Innovation Week; pre-order now open for innovative live cell home collection kit in Canada.
TORONTO, April 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Acorn Biolabs, a healthcare technology company focused on giving every human being the best chance to enjoy greater health as they age, has launched the world's first easy and affordable live cell collection, genetic analysis, and cryopreservation service through its non-invasive method of simply plucking a few hairs from your head.
With an introductory one-time collection fee of $299, Acorn will collect and cryopreserve your cells for future medical use. The one-time fee will include collection, a cell viability report, cell images, a report outlining your genetic age, as well as storage of your cells for your first year with Acorn. Annual cell storage fees as low as $99 for children under the age of 19 years old will be billed to clients who sign up for the service starting in their second year. Acorn is also making available a client referral program.
"Cell therapy is rapidly emerging as the future of healthcare," said Dr. Drew Taylor, Co-founder and CEO at Acorn Biolabs. "Your own cells are the key to leveraging its potential, increasingly unlocking preventative healthcare that can improve your healthspan. Medical advancements have allowed for doctors to use your own cells to predict, treat, and even eradicate disease and degenerative changes. Stem cell therapies, tissue engineering strategies, and regenerative medicine are all powered by using cells."
As cells age, they become increasingly damaged and less effective for use with cell therapy treatments. That's why consumers have already started to collect, preserve and store their cells as soon as possible — locking in their cells at their best. Unfortunately, existing methods of collecting live cells are highly invasive: from bone marrow extractions to liposuction surgery, and from venous blood draws to tissue harvesting. These procedures are painful and require medical teams, making live cell collection widely out of reach for most people.
To demonstrate how easy and accessible live cell collection can be, Acorn will debut its in-person live cell collection experience at a series of events across Canada this year including: MaRS Health Innovation Week, Total Health '19, Technology & The Future Of Healthcare 2019, Collision, BigData Toronto and Elevate, among others. At these events, consumers can personally experience Acorn's easy, non-invasive live cell collection service by having their own cells collected on-site.
Also starting today, Acorn has started taking pre-orders for its at-home live cell collection kit which is due to ship this year. The innovative kit design, supported by Acorn's non-invasive method, will allow consumers to collect their own live cells easily and non-invasively in the comfort of their homes by plucking their own hair follicles. Consumers can hold their place in line for the first run of kits by pre-ordering today at www.acorn.me.
Acorn demonstrated their unique capability today on stage at MaRS Health Innovation Week with a hair follicle collection demo where they plucked hairs of attendees in front of a live audience - safely collecting their cells for future medical use.
Today's popular saliva-based DNA home-collection kits are low cost cell collection alternatives, but only capture dead human cells, limiting their use. These DNA and ancestry tests currently focus on less than 1% of a full genome making it impossible to leverage those cells for anything other than ancestry and basic health reports.
Acorn's non-invasive method of plucking hair on your head allows for full genome collection, in addition to banking your live cells - all without traveling to a clinic or needing a physician or surgery, making live cell collection significantly more affordable and accessible for everyone.
Easily accessible, progressively more powerful. Your own cells are the next currency in healthcare.
About Acorn Biolabs, Inc. Founded in 2017 by Steven ten Holder, Patrick Pumputis and Dr. Drew Taylor and born out of years of research, Acorn is a healthcare technology company. Based at Johnson & Johnson INNOVATION - JLABS in Toronto, in the MaRS Discovery District – the heart of innovation in medicine and biotechnology - Acorn is focused on giving every human being the best chance to experience more healthy years with its easy, affordable and non-invasive live cell collection, analysis and cryopreservation service. Acorn helps you save your cells today, to live a longer, healthier tomorrow. Visit acorn.me
CARE SKINCARE SUPPORTS EVERY MOTHER COUNTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY 2019
With #givingmondays Campaign Donating 100% of Proceeds for Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream On Every Monday During April and May 2019NEW YORK, N.Y. (Mother’s Day 2019)— From day one, Care Skincare has implemented its “Because We Care” program, an initiative to give back to the community and promote meaningful causes. Care Skincare will donate to organizations voted upon by its social media followers and change its focus each season to raise awareness for multiple causes. In a poll conducted on Instagram, 94 percent of the brand’s highly engaged followers responded they were interested in female-focused charities.
This season, Care Skincare is proud to give back to Every Mother Counts(EMC)—a non-profit organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. During April and May, Care Skincare will give 100 percent of salesgenerated every Monday from the product Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream to highlight and support the tremendous work of Every Mother Counts.
“The Care Skincare brand is ‘customer community’-centric. They are the drivers behind this brand. We are not dictating to our customers what they should care about, we are asking them what their real needs and interests are,” said Care Skincare Co-Founder Ricardo Quintero. “And giving back has been a part of our commitment to that community from day one through the ‘Because We Care’ initiative. We asked our highly engaged Instagram users what really matters to them, and helping other women in need ranked incredibly high. So we’re here to help them make that happen.”
Every Mother Counts is dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. Around the world, 303,000 women die each year due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. That’s one woman every two minutes; 99 percent of maternal deaths happen in the developing world and nearly all are preventable. Despite spending more on health care per capita than any other nation in the world, America is facing a maternal health crisis. The U.S. has a higher maternal mortality rate than 45 other countries and is the only developed country with a rising maternal mortality rate.
“As a mother of four, my life is filled with the unique challenges of motherhood,” said Care Skincare Co-Founder Pilar Quintero. “Care Skincare was founded to be a safe, highly effective brand that works for all women, even busy mothers who can forget to take care of themselves. And it is our joy to partner with Every Mother Counts and participate in the support of mothers-to-be around the world who are truly in need of global assistance.”
Every Monday in April and May 2019, Care Skincare will donate 100 percent of proceeds from its Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream to Every Mother Counts. This gel-cream moisturizer has an incredibly soothing texture. The multiple weights of hyaluronic acid absorb deeply to provide multi-level hydration and support skin elasticity. This product was designed for use as a daily moisturizer and can be applied under or over makeup. The moisturizer can also be used as a quick-rehydrating, leave-in mask. Key ingredients inDeep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream include: Three Molecular Weights of Hyaluronic Acid—treat short-term and long-term dehydration on the surface of the skin, as well as its deeper layers.Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice—soothes dry, sensitive or irritated skin, and helps protect against trans-epidermal water loss.Glycerin—attracts moisture to the skin’s surface and creates a protective barrier to lock it in.Caffeine—a powerful antioxidant that gently lifts and soothes the skin, reduces puffiness, addresses dark circles, and fights against pollution. All products in the Care Skincare line were developed by a team of world-class experts using high quality ingredients that strictly adhere to the brand’s clearly communicated standards for “Clean Beauty.” Everything is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, mineral oil-free, paraben-free, phthalates-free and cruelty-free. The brand strives to be easy to understand, having stripped away any unnecessary jargon from its marketing. Packaging is simple, legible, functional, and always recyclable.
Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream is available in 1.7 oz. at a retail price of $35. Care Skincare products are available exclusively at careskincare.com, where you can find more information about the brand. Information also can be found on Instagram: @careskincare, and Facebook: Care Skincare. ###About Care Skincare Care Skincare was launched by husband and wife founders Ricardo and Pilar Quintero. Its products are developed by a team of world-class experts who formulate highly effective skincare that addresses the skin’s most important needs in a straightforward, simple way. Care Skincare sells directly to consumers, avoiding retail markups and costs. The most expensive thing about Care Skincare products is each best-in-class formula, crafted with high quality ingredients.
About Every Mother Counts Every Mother Counts is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. We educate the public about maternal health, engage individuals to advocate for the well-being of mothers, and invest in community-led programs to improve access to essential maternity care. Every Mother Counts currently supports programs that improve access to maternity care in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Tanzania, Uganda, and the United States. To learn more about Every Mother Counts visit www.everymothercounts.org.
(Image Below Courtesy of Every Mother Counts)
TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL PRESENTSTHE OFFICIAL CARNIVAL BAND LAUNCH SCHEDULE(TORONTO, ON - April 1st, 2019)
The 2019 Toronto Caribbean Carnival (TCC) has officially begun with the first band launch of the season. Tribal Carnival, one of Canada’s largest travelling Mas Bands unveiled “Magic” the theme for this year’s costume designs in Toronto on Friday, March 29th, 2019Tribal Carnival’s introduction of “Magic” consisted of eleven costume design sections, which included - Illusions, Love Potion, Enchantment, Dream Catcher, Mystical Magic, Hocus Pocus, Magic Dust, Black Magic, Abracadabra, Mesmerize and the Sorceress. “The concept for this year’s band theme came from watching the movie - Now you see me, a group of magicians and illusionists who pull off amazing tricks during their performances”, said Celena Seusahai - CEO of Tribal Carnival. “We always kick start the carnival season since our band plays Mas in both the Toronto and Grand Cayman carnival parades”. Renowned as the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival has programmed a lineup of nine Mas Camp Band launches across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from March until June 2019. The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is pleased to announce the 2019 dates for the following band launches:March 29th – Tribal CarnivalApril 6th – Fantazia Carnival April 6th – Toronto RevellersApril 13th – Epic CarnivalApril 20th – Louis SaldenahApril 26th – Sunlime CarnivalApril 27th – Venom CarnivalMay 9th – Concept CreatorsTBD – Carnival NationzFor the 2019 Carnival season, there are two categories of bands: Competing Mas Bands and Guest Bands. The Grand Parade will take place this year on August 3rd at the Canadian National Exhibition, a showcase of MAS Band parading in the designated route.The 2019 TCC Festival Calendar of Events is as follows:July 14th - Junior King & Queen July 20th - Junior Parade & Family Day August 1st - King and Queen Showcase August 2nd - Pan AliveAugust 3rd - Grand ParadeThis year, the festival celebrates it’s 52nd anniversary with 4 glorious weeks of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry and entertainment. The Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival is an all-out spectacle of the visual and performing arts. For more information visit: https://torontocarnival.ca/ -30- About the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival The Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival, formerly known as “Caribana”, was established in 1967 as part of Canada’s 100th Anniversary celebrations by Caribbean immigrants as a cultural gift to Canada. The Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival is produced by the Festival Management Committee;it is the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America and is recognized as a major international cultural event.The Caribbean Canadian community that inspires and gives life to the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival is comprised of Canadians with heritage taken from Barbados, Bahamas, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, and the other territories of the Caribbean.Pictured: The Sorceress (Celena Seueahai) Band: Tribal CarnivalDesigner Gail SeusahaiModel Celena SeueahaiPhotographer Anthony BerotThe Sorceress - A sorceress is a powerful witch who has conjured a magical being to live within her, granting her endless powers and immortality, able to manipulate all things around her. Few have ever seen her true form. For Canada / USA Press inquiries, please contact:Andrew RickettsTOTAL Public Relations (416) 820 - 4310andrew@totalpublicrelations.ca
If you would rather not receive future communications from TOTAL Public Relations, let us know by clicking here. TOTAL Public Relations, PH17-135 Village Green Square, Toronto, Ontario M1S 0G4 Canada
Blume, The Female Founded Self-care Company Focused on Empowering Girls, Raises $3.3 Million in Series Seed Funding
Capital from the round will be used to expand product offerings, grow the team, and create more educational contentVANCOUVER, BC - April 1, 2019 - Blume,the only brand dedicated to educating young women and creating safe and sustainable period products, announced a $3.3 million Series Seed funding round today. The round is led by Grace Chou and Victoria Treyger, partners at Felicis Ventures, with participation from Victress Capital. Other notable investor participants include Panache & Eric Reis, author of the Lean Startup. Sisters and co-founders Taran and Bunny Ghatrora, first generation women from Indian descent, are committed to empowering young women. The entrepreneurial duo, both 500 Startups Fellows, hope to instill self-acceptance and confidence in a new generation of young women through a combination of safe products and educational content. It's clear that the current puberty and self-care options on the market aren't cutting it and with this funding, Blume is able to continue to give women and girls the tools they need to grow into the best version of themselves. Capital from this round will be used to accelerate brand growth through product and employee expansion and increased marketing efforts to produce more educational content. The funding signifies the importance of the brand's mission to empower young women. Round leader, Victoria Treyger, General Partner and Managing Director at Felicis Ventures, is thrilled to lead Blume's seed round and support Blume's mission of re-imagining puberty and personal care for GenZs. "We are impressed by Blume's holistic approach to transforming the category - starting from an expanding line of wellness products, to authentic educational content on physical and mental health, as well as innovative omnichannel concepts that resonate with teens. Moreover, how Blume taps into its loyal community to co-create new products is something incumbent CPG brands cannot do themselves," said Treyger. Suzanne Norris, partner at Victress Capital felt there was a noticeable white space in the $15B personal care market for products that were made for and specifically marketed to Gen Z girls. "Blume is the only brand that is approaching the Gen Z consumers' needs in this cohesive way across both commerce and content, and we believe they will develop the next generation of confident, tenacious and conscious women. We strongly support Blume's mission and we are honored to partner with their team," said Norris. Taran & Bunny Ghatrora, co-founders of Blume, are excited to use this new funding to continue to build the brand girls grow up with and the supportive community that will help create next generation of thriving, confident and tenacious young women. "We plan to double down on building community and our educational platform. With only 26 States mandating sex ed, and Ontario, Canada reverting back to a pre-1993 sex ed curriculum, we believe there is space for a brand to help girls navigate this time in a meaningful way, with accurate, factual content presented in a voice and tone that is non clinical," said Taran Ghatrora, co-founder and CEO. At a time where less than 2.2% of venture capital goes to women, and even less to women of color, Blume is thankful to build this company with strong partners, and are committed to having a diverse board as the brand continues to grow. "We're honored to be working alongside amazing investors, many of whom, are parents of teens themselves and be part of the journey of the thousands of parents who have told us that their daughters are feeling more confident and opening up to them in ways they never have!" said Bunny Ghatrora, Co-Founder and COO. You can view brand imagery HERE. PRESS CONTACT:Nicole ClarkMichele Marie PRNicole@michelemariepr.com646.863.3923 About Blume:Blume is building young women a safe space to learn, grow, and become their badass selves. A place to celebrate womanhood and give advice on the good, the bad and, yes, even the ugly that comes with it. We provide dependable, high-quality, beautiful content, education, and safe products for your period and just life in general. Most brands carry period products that take centuries to biodegrade and have ingredients you can't pronounce. At Blume, we're different. We believe in products that are not a threat to our bodies or the environment. We offer a subscription box at just $11 a month and a wide range of life products such as organic tampons and pads, fun treats, and comforting remedies for everything PMS. Individual products retail from $11 - $26 and are available at select Nordstrom and Urban Outfitter locations and on www.meetblume.com.
Beyond Legalization: 2nd Medical Cannabis Week highlights importance of continued R&D in the industry
Business of Cannabis Announces Initial Programming and Launch of Medical Cannabis Talks Series to Focus Medical Cannabis Conversation
TORONTO, April 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Business of Cannabis announces that Canada's second annual Medical Cannabis Week will take place from May 6 to May 10, 2019 with programming running in Toronto as well as in other locations across the country.
"Understanding the foundational role that medical cannabis brings to the sector, we wanted to grow the platform across which this conversation will be hosted," said Jay Rosenthal, Co-Founder and President of Business of Cannabis, "This year we are announcing extended programming and a new content series to aggregate and focus on conversations related to the research, innovation, advocacy and regulatory issues."
Current speakers includes leaders from Ample Organics, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, HelloMD, Jamaican Medical Cannabis Corporation, Medicinal My Way, Opportunities New Brunswick and Strainprint Technologies, with more participants and venues to be announced in the coming weeks. The National Post is the official media partner for the week.
Events will kick off with a new content format: Medical Cannabis Talks which will see industry leaders present their impressions on the sector via live stream, as well as being aggregated into a new platform managed by Business of Cannabis.
"One of our key objectives in launching Medical Cannabis Week was to provide a dedicated space to focus on the conversations most important to the medical cannabis sector," said Blaine Pearson, Co-Founder and CEO, Business of Cannabis. "Medical Cannabis Talks will ensure that we continue to shine a light on the important advances in the medical cannabis space all year round."
To learn more about Medical Cannabis Week and to RSVP to specific events, please visit medicalcannabisweek.com.
About Business of Cannabis Business of Cannabis is a leading cannabis business media platform connecting industry leaders and investors with business news, specialized event programming and strategic consulting. With the objective of helping the cannabis sector reach maturity faster, Business of Cannabis produces sophisticated digital content, niche events series and creative programs for B2B and B2C audiences. Founded in 2017, Business of Cannabis has earned its place as a respected and trusted voice for the industry and investors in the ever-expanding international cannabis space. For more information, please visit www.businessofcannabis.ca
SOURCE Business of Cannabis
HLS Therapeutics Granted Priority Review Status from Health Canada for Vascepa®
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally1
HLS New Drug Submission (NDS) for Vascepa is supported by data from the REDUCE-IT™ trial, an international, multi-center cardiovascular outcomes study that showed a 25% placebo-controlled risk reduction in the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)
HLS NDS filing to occur in April 2019
Priority review status can reduce review time by more than four-and-a-half months
TORONTO, March 29, 2019 /CNW/ - HLS Therapeutics Inc. ("HLS" or the "Company") (TSX:HLS), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on central nervous system and cardiovascular markets, announces that Health Canada has granted priority review status for its New Drug Submission ("NDS") for Vascepa®, which seeks to reduce the risk of ischemic cardiovascular events in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides and other risk factors.
Priority review status may be granted to regulatory filings in Canada for new treatments that potentially address serious, life-threatening conditions for which no drug is currently marketed in Canada, and for which there is substantial evidence of clinical effectiveness of that new treatment. Under priority review the performance target for the screening and review of the original submission is 215 calendar days versus 355 days for a standard review. Therefore, receipt of priority review status could expedite the launch of Vascepa in the Canadian market, if the product is ultimately approved by Health Canada.
In the fall of 2018, results of the REDUCE-IT™ study were presented and published showing that Vascepa achieved the primary endpoint of the study demonstrating a statistically significant 25% placebo-controlled risk reduction in the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events ("MACE"). REDUCE-IT results also revealed statistically significant relative risk reductions in each component of the MACE composite, consisting of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, coronary revascularization and hospitalization for unstable angina.
"Cardiovascular disease is the world's number one cause of mortality and many patients with well-managed LDL-cholesterol still remain at high risk for adverse cardiovascular events," said Greg Gubitz, CEO of HLS. "No therapy is currently approved to treat such residual cardiovascular risk in the population studied in the REDUCE-IT trial. We look forward to working with Health Canada to bring this innovative therapy to Canadians who may be at-risk of a major cardiac event."
HLS's filing is supported by data from REDUCE-IT2, an 8,179-patient cardiovascular outcomes study that was completed in 2018. REDUCE-IT was the first multinational cardiovascular outcomes study that evaluated the effect of pure and stable EPA therapy as an add-on to statins in patients with high cardiovascular risk who, despite stable statin therapy, had elevated triglyceride levels (at least 135 mg/dL). A large portion of the male and female patients enrolled in this outcomes study were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. REDUCE-IT studied Vascepa at four grams/day as compared to placebo.
More information on the REDUCE-IT study results can be found at www.amarincorp.com.
ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Worldwide, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the #1 cause of mortality of men and women.
Multiple primary and secondary prevention trials have shown a significant reduction of 25% to 35% in the risk of cardiovascular events with statin therapy, leaving significant persistent residual risk despite the achievement of target LDL-C levels.3
Beyond the cardiovascular risk associated with LDL-C, genetic, epidemiologic, clinical and real-world data suggest that patients with elevated triglycerides (TG) (fats in the blood), and TG-rich lipoproteins, are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. 4, 5, 6, 7
ABOUT VASCEPA (ICOSAPENT ETHYL) CAPSULES Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) is derived from fish through a stringent and complex FDA-regulated manufacturing process designed to effectively eliminate impurities and isolate and protect the single molecule active ingredient from degradation. Amarin has been issued multiple patents internationally based on the unique clinical profile of Vascepa, including the drug's ability to lower triglyceride levels in relevant patient populations without raising LDL-cholesterol levels. HLS has in-licensed the exclusive rights to Vascepa for the Canadian market. VASCEPA IS NOT APPROVED IN CANADA.
ABOUT HLS THERAPEUTICS INC. Formed in 2015, HLS is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition and commercialization of late stage development, commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical products in the North American markets. HLS's focus is on products targeting the central nervous system and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. HLS's management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical executives with a strong track record of success in these therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these lifecycle stages.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This release includes forward-looking statements regarding HLS and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of HLS's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements with respect to HLS's pursuit of additional product and pipeline opportunities in certain therapeutic markets, statements regarding growth opportunities and expectations regarding financial performance. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting HLS, including risks relating to the specialty pharmaceutical industry, risks related to the regulatory approval process, economic factors and many other factors beyond the control of HLS. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause HLS's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this release can be found in the Company's Annual Information Form dated October 26, 2018, which has been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and HLS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
REFERENCES 1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death 2 Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Miller M, Brinton EA, Jacobson TA, Ketchum SB, Doyle RT, Juliano RA, Jiao L, Granowitz C, Tardif JC, Ballantyne CM. Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for Hypertriglyceridemia. N Engl J Med 2019;380:11-22. 3 Ganda OP, Bhatt DL, Mason RP, et al. Unmet need for adjunctive dyslipidemia therapy in hypertriglyceridemia management. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72(3):330-343. 4 Budoff M. Triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the causal pathway of cardiovascular disease. Am J Cardiol. 2016;118:138-145. 5 Toth PP, Granowitz C, Hull M, et al. High triglycerides are associated with increased cardiovascular events, medical costs, and resource use: A real-world administrative claims analysis of statin-treated patients with high residual cardiovascular risk. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(15):e008740. 6 Nordestgaard BG. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease - New insights from epidemiology, genetics, and biology. Circ Res. 2016;118:547-563. 7 Nordestgaard BG, Varbo A. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease. Lancet. 2014;384:626–635.
Are Headlines of Medical Breakthroughs Overstating Actual Science and Research?
By Joshua Mansour, M.D.
Patients should have as much access to information as possible. The more they know, the more informed decision about their health and life that can be made. However, faulty headlines about new therapies are infiltrating news outlets left and right recently. Many times, this information can be misleading, and it is difficult for patients, their friends, and family members to decipher.
Lately, there has been a surge in the release of novel cancer diagnostics and therapy leading to an outburst of news coverage. Understandably, people want to find better ways to detect and treat cancer. However, it is of utmost importance to go back to the data and review exactly what it is that is being written.
In just recent weeks very bold statements have been made and are floating around news outlets such as people claiming to have the “cure for cancer within a year” or research finding a new “detection for Alzheimer’s.” One of these is more likely, while the other makes for a catchy headline. If proven wrong, there is not a single person that wouldn’t hope that it is more than a catchy headline. This leads to the question, are many of these early press releases targeting the general population with bold claims without having enough evidence to be supported by the scientific community?
Integrative medicine physician Dr. Eddie Fatakhov explains that “patients sometimes come into the office asking for a treatment that is not approved and has not been properly studied. Although we would like to do whatever we can to help the first part of the Hippocratic Oath for physicians is to ‘do no harm’. Not to mention some of the headlines have no evidence supporting them or are released prior to having enough data, which can complicate things.”
The first amendment guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting restriction of the press and individual’s speech. This is from the United States Constitution and is our right. It is a blessing to live in a country that provides and respects this right. However, is this same right that is provided to Americans also a cause of misleading information and facts? Absolutely.
Information cannot and should not be censored, but it should be looked at closely before jumping to conclusions or assuming it to be true. In medicine, patients’ lives are at stake. So while headlines may be catchy, a patient turning down therapy because they are waiting on something that they read about on the internet, that is not close to approval, or want to use a special herb because that has never been medically tested can be dangerous.
Many individuals that are writing these articles and interpreting the data to be released to the general public do not hold a medical degree or have not been trained to interpret the scientific data. Patients will then come into doctors’ offices not asking questions or having an open dialogue about how they should be treated, but instead proclaiming that this is what they want because it is the “next best thing” that is just released. It is the responsibility of a physician to be knowledgeable and up to date on different treatments and diagnostic tests. However, it makes it difficult when physicians may not be up to date on this material that has no evidence and support. False proclamations of grandeur, if you will.
Well what are the benefits? Headlines may attract readers, and when properly reviewed may lead to further research and discussion. It can lead to open dialogue with the patient’s healthcare providers that may not have been initially explored. It can give hope. But this same hope the community yearns for may sometimes be premature and/or misleading.
So, at the end what can be done? These headlines and false information need to be combated with science and evidence. Individuals need to be vocal in supporting verified information and fighting against these deceptive claims. We need to continue to work towards improving these tests, treatments, and our care. When a breakthrough does occur, it will be meaningful and something to not only talk about but implement to help patients.
About Joshua Mansour, MD:
Dr. Joshua Mansour is a board-certified hematologist/oncologist working and in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy in Stanford, California. Recently he has managed to have over 10 recent abstracts and over 10 recent manuscripts published in esteemed journals and given countless presentations at conferences and other institutions. He has helped design and implement clinical studies to evaluate current treatment plans, collaborated on grant proposals, and lead multi-institutional retrospective studies that have been published.
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