Drake’s Organic Spirits Gives Animals in Need a Second Chance
Fast-growing spirits brand funds rescue center for animals in urgent need
Minneapolis, Minnesota ( March 25, 2019 ) - – Drake’s Organic Spirits, an environmentally conscious and growing brand leading the spirits industry with its commitment to a better planet for man and beast, announced today that it will provide financial and material support to Long Lake Animal Rescue. The non-profit foundation located on 40 acres in Long Lake, MN provides a safe and loving environment for a variety of animals including horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, deer, goats and virtually any animal that needs a second chance.
Drake’s Organic Spirits produces premium organic vodka, white rum, spiced rum, Spiked Ice ice pops and organic mixes. The company’s founders, Mark and Kristen Anderson, have long had a passion for causes that support animals. It’s a passion that has been passed down to their three daughters.
“Long Lake Animal Rescue provides a life-saving home for animals who have been given up on, abused or abandoned. All they need is a second chance and unconditional love. Drake’s Organic Spirits is committed to supporting our four-legged family members who bring so much joy to our lives every day,” said Mark Anderson.
One such example is Spud, a horse at the end of his racing career. Instead of being shipped off to be slaughtered for food, he was brought to Long Lake Animal Rescue. Over the next year Spud will unwind by spending time in grass filled pastures playing with other horses. Eventually Spud will provide therapeutic relief to others by providing grooming and trail rides.
Drake’s is the first and only spirit line in the world to achieve five certifications: USDA Organic, Vegan, Gluten Free, Non GMO Project Verified and Kosher. It’s received Gold Medals at the prestigious San Diego International Spirits Competition and the Asia International Spirits Competition.
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 organic spirits. Drake’s Organic Vodka, Drake’s Organic White Rum and Drake’s 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. Drake’s Organic Mixers and Organic Spiked Ice compliment their offering for adult beverages.
Aducanumab Failure: Selectivity for the Toxic Oligomer is Essential to Treating Root Cause of Alzheimer's Disease
Discontinued aducanumab phase 3 studies emphasize urgent need for therapies that target the toxic oligomer with exacting precision
TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, MA, March 21, 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, highlights the urgent need to selectively target the toxic oligomer with exacting precision as part of the global effort to develop disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
On March 20, Biogen and its partner, Eisai, terminated two late-stage clinical trials of aducanumab, which could have offered a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease. The termination of aducanumab phase 3 trials, along with the discontinuation of the crenezumab program by Roche Holdings and partner AC Immune announced on January 30, underscores the urgent need for drug candidates that are highly selective for the toxic oligomer form of amyloid beta (Aβ). Aducanumab was not selective enough as it binds mainly to the plaque form of Aβ. Likewise, crenezumab was not selective for the toxic oligomer as it binds all forms of Aβ.
"These are the hard lessons of science, but there's hope. Aducanumab was developed over a decade ago to go after plaque, which we have since learned is the incorrect therapeutic target because plaque is a largely non-toxic form of amyloid beta," explained Dr. James Kupiec, ProMIS Chief Medical Officer. "Aducanumab wasted too much limited ammunition on the wrong target, which also led to the dose limiting side effect of brain swelling (edema). Unlike aducanumab, ProMIS' lead antibody candidate for Alzheimer's, PMN310, reflects key lessons learned, namely that the toxic oligomer of amyloid beta is a root cause of AD, not plaque. PMN310 is the first antibody to selectively target just the toxic oligomer, a misfolded, toxic form of amyloid beta, offering a potential significant advantage over aducanumab and other less selective antibodies in terms of both efficacy and safety."
Responding to numerous studies showing the toxic oligomer, a misfolded protein that derives from naturally occurring Aβ, as a root cause of Alzheimer's disease, ProMIS Neurosciences has created a novel, proprietary method for generating and developing antibodies that can uniquely and precisely target this toxic misfolded protein, filling a critical gap for drug developers. Preclinical studies show the company's lead antibody candidate, PMN310, demonstrates a high degree of binding to toxic oligomers from Alzheimer's disease brains without binding to plaque or other non-toxic forms of Aβ.
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.
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.
Harvard Scientists & Researchers now one step closer to limb & organ regeneration
By Joshua Mansour, M.D.
For years researchers and scientists have been working on discovering the ability to regenerate organs and body limbs. The search has spanned everywhere from biological sciences to 3D printing companies. While several animals can achieve this such as geckos, planarian worms, jellyfish, and salamanders, what is important is determining what gives them the ability to perform such an extraordinary feat.
Until recently, this mechanism has continued to escape researchers. Lately, studies have been done on Hofstenia miamia, also known as the three-banded panther worm, given their remarkable ability to regenerate any part of the body within a few days of amputation. It is commonly found in the Caribbean and other areas with warm water.
Some studies in the past have identified certain molecular signals that the species use to regenerate, however the specific genes that regulate this response had not been known. Scientists at Harvard University now believe that a gene known as “Early Growth Response” (Egr) is thought to be the “master control gene” responsible for this regeneration. The results of the study have shown that Egr binding was strongly associated with accessibility of chromatin during regeneration and that in wounded cells, Egr was the most significant up-regulated gene.
Post-doctoral student Andrew Gehrke of Harvard explains that the answer lies in an area of non-coding DNA that controls the gene. Initially, non-coding or ‘junk DNA’ was believed to have no role, but in recent years researchers and scientists have realized actually has a major impact. Gehrke and his team performed several experiments to show that Egr is a master regulator of a gene network of at least 61 genes that is responsible for “whole-body” regeneration. It works as a “DNA switch” that can “turn on and off” the network.
Dr. Shaun Mansour, MD, a physician who received his undergraduate degree in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University, further explains that “it is vital to continue understanding what the noncoding or regulatory DNA’s role is with regards to that EGR gene”. He adds that only about 2% of our genome codes are for actual proteins while the other 98% are regulatory. He highlights that “contrary to what may seem to make the most sense, it’s not the directly expressed aspects of our DNA that account for the greatest differences we see among species. It is the regulatory mechanisms that govern how those proteins are expressed that make the grand majority of the distinction”.
Humans also contain Early Growth Response transcription factors and consequently, there is potential for further discovery of how this can be translated. The research published presents several different directions for continued investigation. Dr. Shaun Mansour further elucidates that, unfortunately, this is an aspect of DNA that until more recently we have known little about. However, he is optimistic that this piece plays a key role in uncovering how Egr can be tweaked or modified in humans to provide the same limb regeneration capabilities we see in other species.
The new frontier for genomics research will be uncovering how the regulatory portion of our DNA works and how we can possibly better understand it for the benefits of patients in the future. More studies are needed to determine how these pieces play a part in a much larger system. As more factors are being discovered, this information will be crucial in understanding how to accomplish the next step in using these discoveries for the benefit of patients.
To put it simply, if researchers and scientists succeed in growing back arms and limbs in human beings, the Star Wars ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ film may soon look antiquated. You know, the scene where Darth Vader cuts off Luke Skywalker’s forearm with a lightsaber, but Luke gets a fancy prosthetic arm? Old news, baby; we were able to grow back arms long before that point in human history!
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.
CONTACT: Jerry
Brain Canada welcomes the Government of Canada's renewed partnership in brain research and investment in the Canada Brain Research Fund
MONTREAL, March 20, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - The Brain Canada Foundation (Brain Canada) welcomes the Government of Canada's decision to renew its partnership with Brain Canada, as announced in the federal budget. Finance Minister Bill Morneau's budget committed $40 million in new investments over two years in brain research, through the Canada Brain Research Fund.
"We are pleased that the Government of Canada has continued its support of world-class brain research through Brain Canada," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO, Brain Canada. "The funds committed in the budget will support Canada's leadership position in brain research globally, and accelerate discoveries aimed at improving the lives of all Canadians."
The Canada Brain Research Fund is an innovative partnership between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada, designed to encourage Canadians to increase their support of brain research, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. The Fund supports the very best Canadian brain research, fostering collaboration across disorders, fields, disciplines, institutions, and provinces, and enhancing global linkages.
"Researchers who are exploring the brain are our modern-day pioneers, working to conquer the final frontier of science," says Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation and Chair of Brain Canada. "By strategically leveraging government funding with private donor and partner support, Brain Canada's model has been a powerful catalyst towards great research, providing funds that would otherwise not be available to Canadian scientists."
Since the Canada Brain Research Fund's inception, Brain Canada has raised $115 million from private donors and non-federal partners—now numbering more than 100—which has been matched by Health Canada on a 1:1 basis, with an additional $5 million for program and operating expenses. To date, the Fund has awarded $220 million to support 255 projects across Canada involving more than 1,000 researchers at 115 institutions.
This commitment by the federal government is an important step to ensure that Canada continues to be among the leaders in the global challenge to understand brain function and brain diseases. More than simply contributing public money to this vital cause, the matching nature of the fund is stimulating and rallying private donations and other non-governmental funders to support transformative brain research on a scale never before achieved in Canada.
As Brain Canada celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2019, this renewed partnership with the Government of Canada enables all Canadians to look to the future in anticipation of what we will discover.
"This is positive news for the brain research community and for the health of all Canadians. The added investment will allow us to expand our work with a range of valued partners, together with Government," said Franco J. Vaccarino, Chair of the Research Policy Committee of the Brain Canada Board. "As we build the next phase of programs, we will continue to establish our priorities through the contributions of an ecosystem of stakeholders, including researchers from different disciplines (in Canada and internationally), research institutes across the country, and the health charities that have direct outreach with patients, families and caregivers. We look forward to continuing our collaborative relationship with everyone committed to the 'One System' approach to brain research."
About Brain Canada
Brain Canada is a national registered charity that enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. Brain Canada's vision is to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives and achieve societal impact. For two decades, Brain Canada has made the case for the brain as a single, complex system with commonalities across the range of neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions, brain and spinal cord injuries. Looking at the brain as one system has underscored the need for increased collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and a smarter way to invest in brain research that is focused on outcomes that will benefit patients and families.
Brain Canada raises and leverages funds from a range of donors and partners, including individuals, corporations, foundations, research institutes, health charities, and provincial agencies. To date, Brain Canada and its supporters have invested $250 million in 300 research projects across the country.
An industry-first: coaching for employees on short-term disability due to mental illness
TORONTO, March 20, 2019 /CNW/ - Acclaim Ability Management is working with Shoppers Drug Mart to offer one-on-one coaching services for employees with mental health issues, who are on short-term disability leave. Employers can choose from two offerings that aim to get employees back to work sooner, and lessen the risk of escalation to long-term disability leaves.
"This is an industry-first. We are taking employee support to the next level by bringing in pharmacists to provide practical, cost-effective services throughout the treatment journey," says Sean Bradley, president and CEO of Acclaim Ability Management.
The coaches are pharmacists, available through Shoppers Drug Mart's Clinical Health Coaching program. Employees can access their coaches virtually or by phone, and the services are available regardless of where employees fill their prescriptions. The coaches will:
Screen employees for a number of chronic conditions, which often affect mental health, and give recommendations based on the results.
Evaluate medication regimens, identify drug therapy problems and recommend solutions.
Provide counselling on safe and appropriate use of medications, with follow-ups to assess adherence, side effects and efficacy of those medications.
Work with employees to set goals, create action plans and monitor progress, ultimately enabling them with tools to take control of their health with confidence.
The Clinical Health Coaching program can also include pharmacogenomic testing, a tool to predict drug response that can be especially impactful in the treatment of mental illness.
"We are excited to be providing better patient care by leveraging the expertise of our pharmacists in new ways. The coaching services provided can help improve the quality and speed of recovery, and help employees better manage their health once back at work," says Mark Rolnick, Vice President, Payor Partnerships and Plan Sponsor Innovation at Shoppers Drug Mart. He adds that the Shoppers Drug Mart Clinical Health Coaching program will eventually expand to include other conditions, such as chronic pain.
About Acclaim Ability Management – As a national health management company since 1993, Acclaim has been working with employers and their employees to provide innovative and proactive solutions to complex disability management issues. Acclaim is leading the nation with its highly trained multi-disciplinary staff and advanced technology that results in unmatched outcomes related to employee health, wellness and productivity.
About Shoppers Drug Mart As one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing Shoppers Drug Mart is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). The Company operates almost 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores across Canada. The Company also licenses or owns 47 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and provides cosmetic dermatology services at one standalone location, the Beauty Clinic by Shoppers Drug Mart. The Company owns and operates 36 corporate Shoppers Home Healthcare stores, seven Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca. The Company also owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities. Shoppers Drug Mart is a division of Loblaw Companies Limited.
SOURCE Acclaim Ability Management
In a recent interview with CMRubinWorld, the head of THINK Global School says project based learning curriculum allows students to take charge and flourish in a global world.
NEW YORK (PRWEB) MARCH 19, 2019
Not every student has the opportunity to go to a school where education is centered around travel and developing hands-on global citizen skills. However, the first graduating class of THINK Global School has just completed their post-secondary studies, and while it’s a little too soon to predict what their graduates will achieve, Head of School Jamie Steckart tells C.M. Rubin, Founder of CMRubinWorld, that a curriculum rooted in project based learning is essential for students to flourish in a modern world.
Think Global School’s Changemaker Curriculum is rooted in project-based learning, meaning that it incorporates “real world” challenges into daily curriculum through a variety of teacher-led modules and student-led projects, and additionally focuses on 2-3 academic projects of the students’ choosing. Students visit different countries and focus on social, environmental, cultural, or economic topics specific to each location.
The future is looking “increasingly digitized and favorable to freelance work,” says Steckart, who believes that in in order to succeed, youth will need to be “motivated and engaged in what they do, and that’s going to require a massive shift in the traditional classroom, which means teaching life skills early on and putting students as leaders of their own learning.”
James Steckart is the Head of THINK Global School, the non-profit high school that has adopted a Changemaker Curriculum. His school opts out of having a traditional campus, instead hosting their classes oversees in three different countries throughout the year. THINK allows students to prepare for the real world by being immersed in it through charity, education, and project and place-based learning.
CMRubinWorld’s award-winning series, The Global Search for Education, brings together distinguished thought leaders in education and innovation from around the world to explore the key learning issues faced by most nations. The series has become a highly visible platform for global discourse on 21st century learning, offering a diverse range of innovative ideas which are presented by the series founder, C. M. Rubin, together with the world’s leading thinkers.
New survey reveals 90 per cent of Albertans suffer from dry eye symptoms
Optometrists are urging Albertans to seek proper treatment for symptoms associated with dry eye
EDMONTON, March 20, 2019 /CNW/ - A new survey commissioned by the Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) has revealed that an overwhelming number of Albertans are experiencing symptoms of dry eye. According to the survey, 90 per cent of Albertans are experiencing the symptoms which include stinging, gritty, scratchy and uncomfortable eyes, fluctuating vision, and sometimes a burning feeling or feeling of something foreign within the eye.
"People tend to blame their dry eye symptoms on environmental irritants associated with the changing of seasons," said Dr. Troy Brady, practicing optometrist and president of the AAO. "But there are many different factors that can cause dry eye symptoms. What I would like to remind Albertans is that your optometrist can help identify the cause and will work with you to come up with the most appropriate course of treatment."
While dry eye can be treated, the survey revealed that many Albertans are not properly addressing their symptoms. Of great concern to optometrists is the fact that almost 3 in 5 Albertans who have experienced dry eye symptoms (57 per cent) do not use anything to treat their symptoms. If left untreated, dry eye can cause tissue damage and scarring of the sensitive corneal tissues of your eye, leading to impaired vision.
Dry eye symptoms can result from the normal aging process, hormonal changes, exposure to certain environmental conditions, problems with normal blinking, UV exposure, environmental irritants, or from medications such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives or antidepressants.
In moderate to severe cases, dry eye symptoms can lead to blurred vision, light sensitivity or even periods of excess tearing in response to the dryness. The symptoms can also make contact lens wear more difficult due to increased irritation and greater chance of eye infection.
While over-the-counter drops or lubricating eye treatments can temporarily mask the symptoms, optometrists caution that these can, in some cases, make the situation worse. In fact, symptoms of dry eye may be indicative of a larger issue such as an eyelid infection or disease, which would require a proper diagnosis and treatment from an optometrist.
However, many Albertans are not taking the simple step of booking an appointment with their optometrist to properly diagnose and treat their dry eye symptoms. The survey revealed that 2 in 3 Albertans who have experienced dry eye symptoms (68 per cent) have not visited an optometrist for their dry eye.
"To keep dry eye symptoms in-check, Albertans and their optometrists need to work together," said Dr. Brady. "Optometrists can diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and disorders affecting the visual system, the eye and related structures. They can also help identify underlying health conditions that are often first detected through an eye exam. The first step is to book an appointment."
Medically necessary visits to an optometrist for concerns such as dry eye symptoms, eye infection or injury, foreign object in the eye or sudden changes in vision are covered by Alberta Health Care. For more information about dry eye symptoms and to find an optometrist, visit optometrists.ab.ca.
Survey details Please note: The survey data applies to those aged 18 and over. Survey methodology: On online omnibus survey was conducted from February 7 – 13, 2019. The research surveyed 1,000 Albertans. The estimated margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.1%.
About the Alberta Association of Optometrists The Alberta Association of Optometrists represents more than 750 optometrists across the province. Together, they work to ensure world class eye care for every Albertan. For more information or to find an optometrist, visit www.optometrists.ab.ca.
SOURCE Alberta Association of Optometrists
Valens GroWorks Announces $30 Million Bought Deal Financing & Acquisition of Strategic Assets
Kelowna, British Columbia- Valens GroWorks Corp. (CSE: VGW) (the “Company” or “Valens“), a multi-licensed provider of cannabis products and services focused on various proprietary extraction methodologies, distillation, cannabinoid isolation and purification, as well as associated quality testing announces that it has entered into an agreement with AltaCorp Capital Inc. (“AltaCorp”), under which AltaCorp has agreed to purchase, as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, on its own behalf and on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters, including GMP Securities L.P., and Raymond James Ltd., Haywood Securities Inc., and Mackie Research Capital Corp., (together with AltaCorp the “Underwriters”) on a bought deal basis, 10,169,492 units of the Company (“Units”) at a price of C$2.95 per Unit (the “Offering”), representing aggregate gross proceeds to Valens of approximately C$30 million.
The Company is also pleased to announce they anticipate closing the acquisition of the Company’s current extraction, post-processing and analytical testing facility and an adjoining property located at 180 Carion Road for additional post-processing, product development and white label capacity, by the end of March 2019.
Bought Deal Financing
Each Unit is comprised of one common share (a “Common Share”) of Valens and one-half common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant a “Warrant”) of the Company offered at a price of $2.95 per Unit for gross proceeds of $30,000,001 (the “Offering”). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a “Warrant Share”) for a period of two years following the closing date at an exercise price of $4.00 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment in certain events. In the event that the volume weighted average trading price of the common shares for ten consecutive trading days exceeds $6.00, the Company shall have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants upon no less that fifteen trading days’ notice.
In addition, the Underwriters will also have the option, exercisable in whole or in part, to acquire up to an additional 1,525,424 Units at a price of $2.95 per Unit at any time from closing of the Offering and ending 30 days following the closing date for additional gross proceeds of up to $4,500,001 (the “Over-Allotment Option”). The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised by the Underwriters in respect of: (i) Units at the Offering price; or (ii) Common Shares (“Over-Allotment Shares”) at a price to be agreed to by the Company and the Lead Underwriter; or (iii) Warrants (“Over-Allotment Warrants”) at a price to be agreed to by the Company and the Lead Underwriter; or (iv) any combination of Over-Allotment Shares and/or Over-Allotment Warrants, so long as the aggregate number of Over-Allotment Shares and Over-Allotment Warrants which may be issued under the Over-Allotment Option does not exceed 1,525,424 Over-Allotment Shares and 762,712 Over-Allotment Warrants.
The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Offering to strategically increase the Company’s domestic geographic presence, increase production capacity and white label offerings, and for general corporate purposes.
The Common Shares will be offered by way of a short form prospectus to be filed in each of the provinces of Canada, other than the Province of Quebec and by way of a private placement in the United States. The Offering is subject to customary conditions including receipt of required regulatory approvals and completion of documentation. Completion of the offering is expected on or about April 9, 2019.
The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Acquisition of Existing Processing Facility
The existing processing facility located at 230 Carion Road, is anticipated to be acquired from NorthOk Properties Inc., a company controlled by Ashley McGrath, a director of the Company for an agreed upon purchase price of $4.4 million on or about March 20, 2019. The Company engaged an independent appraiser to complete a market valuation which supports the purchase price.
“Securing ownership of our processing facility here in Kelowna, in which we have invested over $4.6 million in leasehold improvements built out to European Good Manufacturing Practice (“GMP“) standards, will ensure the Company can continue to successfully execute on its core business objectives,” said Tyler Robson, CEO of Valens GroWorks Corp. “In addition, the undeveloped footprint of this 1.94 acre site will allow the Company to further expand to meet the growing demand for the Company’s leading extraction services and product development expertise.”
Mr. McGrath’s participation is considered a “related party transaction” for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101“). Pursuant to MI 61-101, the Company will file a material change report providing disclosure in relation to the “related party transaction” on SEDAR under the Company’s issuer profile at www.sedar.com. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction is not more than 25% of the Company’s market capitalization, and no securities of the Company are listed or quoted for trading on prescribed stock exchanges or stock markets. Additionally, the Company is exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(a) as the fair market value of the transaction is not more than 25% of the Company’s market capitalization. The transaction was approved by the board of directors of Valens and no special committee was established in connection with the transaction, and no materially contrary view was expressed or made by any director. Mr. McGrath abstained from voting on the matter.
The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the transaction as the details of the transaction were not settled until shortly prior to the closing of the transaction, and the Company wished to close the transaction on an expedited basis for business reasons.
Agreement to Purchase Neighbouring Facility
The Company has entered into an agreement to purchase an adjoining property located at 180 Carion Rd. This strategic acquisition of 18,000 square feet will be used for the primary purposes of increasing extraction production space, product development and to allow for additional white-labelling service capacity to the Company’s current and future clients as well as additional office space for the Company’s corporate team.
“We are excited for the opportunity to purchase the facility next door as part of our growth plan to increase capacity and overall product offerings for our world-class clients,” says Tyler Robson, CEO Valens GroWorks Corp. “Congruent with our expansion plans stated in the previous fiscal year, this is an imperative step to our ultimate goal of being able to service not only the Canadian market, but the global market from premium toll processing all the way to premium finished goods.”
About Valens GroWorks
Valens GroWorks Corp. is a research-driven, Canadian cannabis company focused on downstream secondary extraction methodology, distillation and cannabinoid isolation and purification, as well as associated quality testing with three wholly-owned subsidiaries located in and around Kelowna, BC. Subsidiary Valens Agritech (“VAL”) holds a license to cultivate cannabis and produce cannabis oil under the Cannabis Act, as well as a license to conduct analytical testing for the cannabis industry. VAL currently has extraction processing and supply agreements with various leading producers across Canada. Subsidiary Valens Labs is a Health Canada licensed ISO 17025 accredited cannabis testing lab providing sector-leading analytical services and has partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to develop a Centre of Excellence in Plant Based Science. Subsidiary Valens Farms is in the process of becoming a purpose-built facility in compliance with European Union (EU) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, ensuring the product from this facility can be exported anywhere in the world where Cannabis is nationally legal for medical or adult usage purposes. For more information, please visit http://valensgroworks.com. The Company’s investor deck can be found specifically at http://valensgroworks.com/investors/
BEFORE YOU GO COLD TURKEY ON AN RX- READ THIS!
STOPPING CERTAIN MEDS ABRUPTLY CAN BE DEADLY
Have you ever had a friend tell you that they stopped taking their anti-depressant because they feel happy now? Or what about the boyfriend who stops taking his high blood pressure meds because, “everything is fine, and he’s working out and eating right?” Lastly, how you ever suffered from anxiety and been prescribed Valium or Clonopin and abruptly stopped taking it because you were no longer anxious? If any of these are familiar scenarios, know that abruptly ceasing certain medications at best, can make you sick, and at worst can cause death. We turned to Dr. Niket Sonpal an NYC Internist and Gastroenterologist and Dr. Duy Nguyen, a Psychiatrist at Beachway Drug and Alcohol Center in Florida. With their combined expertise, they explain the prescription drugs that are dangerous to stop without consulting a doctor and tapering down. See if one your meds is on this list!
Blood Pressure Medications
Medication to control high blood pressure only works if you take it. If you stop taking anti-hypertensive medication without discussing it with your doctor, you put yourself at risk for a stroke. High blood pressure is the most important preventable risk factor for stroke, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). Dr. Sonpal says that “The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk for stroke and other health consequences such as brain aneurysm. Unfortunately, some people with high blood pressure stop taking their medication. If their blood pressure returns to normal, they may feel that they no longer need the medication. But normal blood pressure means the medication is doing its job; halting medication will allow blood pressure to rise again, putting the person at risk for stroke and other complications of hypertension.”
Antidepressants
Dr. Duy Nguyen has seen many a patient stop taking drugs such as Prozac, Wellbutrin, Celexa, and Zoloft without first consulting with him. He is adamant that patients don’t go this route. He says, “Withdrawal from antidepressants can cause insomnia, confusion, anxiety, panic, agitation, nightmares and worsened depression. People may also experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle spasms, headaches and loss of coordination. If you wish to be off of an anti-depressant or switch to another, speak to your doctor first and have them devise a safe schedule to titrate you down and/or replace with another.”
Benzodiazepines
You are likely familiar with these under the brand names Valium, Clonopin, Xanax, and Ativan. These are most commonly used to treat anxiety and panic. For people who only take these once in a blue moon (for fear of flying or public speaking), the body and brain are not addicted. For those who take one or more of these medications daily, they cannot be stopped cold turkey! Dr. Nugyen strongly cautions that, “Benzodiazepine drugs can cause serious withdrawal symptoms including seizures, tremors, hallucinations, heart palpitations, insomnia, nausea, and increased anxiety. If you wish to stop or reduce your intake of these drugs, consult with your doctor to develop a titration schedule. If you have been taking high doses of these drugs over a long period of time, you may need more supervised medical support such as a drug detox program where you are monitored 24/7 by nurses and given supplementary non-benzo medications to ease withdrawal symptoms.”
Prednisone and other steroids.
Prednisone is prescribed as a potent anti-inflammatory for a variety of conditions, including asthma, allergies, hives, inflammatory arthritis and gout. If you’ve been taking prednisone for more than one to two weeks and just stop it, you may get into trouble. Dr. Sonpal explains that “When you are taking prednisone tablets, your own adrenal gland production of cortisol declines. When you abruptly stop taking prednisone, the result may be low cortisol. This causes weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. It’s not fun and can be very serious. Wean off of it under the schedule determined by your doctor”
Antibiotics
Too often patients with a bacterial infection begin a course of antibiotics with every intention of following their doctor’s orders, then cutting their treatment short when they’re feeling better. “What they don’t realize is that this can cause problems in the future. Antibiotics are prescribed in the dose that ensures every last bit of the targeted bacteria in your body will be destroyed,” explains Dr. Sonpal. He adds. “If you stop taking your antibiotics a few days before you’re supposed to, any remaining strains of the bacteria, the ones that were already strong enough to make it through the first few doses of the medicine, will survive in your system, and will be resistant the next time you take those same antibiotics.”
Opioid pain medications. Opioids are prescription analgesics like codeine, morphine, and hydrocodone (an active ingredient in Vicodin), and if you’ve been taking any of them long term, abrupt discontinuation can cause symptoms like diarrhea, generalized pain, restlessness, and anxiety. “Withdrawing from opioids is no joke,” says Dr. Nguyen. He adds, “Depending on your level of addiction, a patient may need in-patient medical detox followed by a drug rehab program, the latter of which will deal with the emotional aspects of eliminating the addiction.”
Diabetes Medication
When your blood sugar seems to be under control, you may decide you want to stop taking your diabetes medications. Dr. Sonpal explains that “If you’re a type 1 diabetic, your body will never be able to create its own insulin, so it’s pretty clear that you can never stop taking insulin. But if you’re a type 2 diabetic, you may be able to explore alternatives with your physician. Since this type of diabetes evolves and changes over time, you need to consistently evaluate your treatment plan with your doctor.” This could involve reducing the dose of your current medication or trying newer medications. But it’s imperative that you not take any action on your own with regard to adjusting your medication without first consulting with your physician.
Thyroid Medication
If you have hypothyroid—whether due to Hashimoto's, Graves' disease treatment, thyroid surgery, or congenital hypothyroidism—failing to take your thyroid hormone replacement medication can pose many risks to your health. If you don't feel better after taking your medication for several months, you may need a dosage adjustment or a change in medication—not a complete stop of your regimen. Dr. Sonpal explains that “There isn't a natural or herbal replacement for thyroid hormone. Much like patients with type 1 diabetes and their need for insulin, your system needs thyroid hormone for survival. But there are no natural substitutes for antithyroid medications.”
Some Risks of Ceasing Thyroid Medicine Include:
Blood pressure irregularities
Elevated cholesterol, including treatment-resistant high cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease
Dr. Niket Sonpal is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical instructor at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn who specializes in Gastroenterology. He is a graduate of the Medical University of Silesia – Hope Medical Institute in Poland. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, he was selected to be the 2013‐2014 Chief Resident at Lenox Hill Hospital–Northshore LIJ Health System. Dr. Sonpal has completed his Fellowship in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Lenox Hill Hospital and continues his work in the field of medical student and resident test preparation. He now serves as the associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Brookdale University medical center.
He is the co‐author for the best-selling Master the Boards: USMLE Step 2 CK, Master the Boards Step 3, And Master the Boards: Internal Medicine. He is also the Chief Operating Officer for Medquest Test Prep, Director of Medical Education for Picmonic Test Prep, and a recognized expert on medical test prep.
Beachway provides a continuum of care, from PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) to Outpatient services. The facility offers a fully individualized treatment plan that meets the clinical and medical needs of each client usually lasting between 30 and 90 days. Beachway provides an extremely low client to therapist ratio and under high-level professional supervision, clients can begin to recover in a safe, residential-like environment. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) motivational interviewing, addiction counseling, 12-Step orientation, DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy,) trauma-informed practices and a wide variety of supportive group therapies are offered.
About the Doctor:
Dr. Duy Nguyen, D.O.
Dr. Duy Nguyen, D.O. is a Board Certified Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry who has experience with providing psychiatric care in a variety of settings including residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient mental health, and the VA Medical Center. Dr. Nguyen obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, and completed general psychiatry training in South Florida at the Palm Beach Consortium for Graduate Medical Education at University Hospital in Tamarac, FL. Dr. Nguyen is committed to providing a high level of evidence-based psychiatric care in the drug rehabilitation setting in addition to having a holistic focus on healing and recovery.
RESEARCHERS BELIEVE HUMANS CAN GROW BACK MISSING ARMS, LEGS AND MORE!
By Joshua Mansour, M.D.
For years researchers and scientists have been working on discovering the ability to regenerate organs and body limbs. The search has spanned everywhere from biological sciences to 3D printing companies. While several animals can achieve this such as geckos, planarian worms, jellyfish, and salamanders, what is important is determining what gives them the ability to perform such an extraordinary feat.
Until recently, this mechanism has continued to escape researchers. Lately, studies have been done on Hofstenia miamia, also known as the three-banded panther worm, given their remarkable ability to regenerate any part of the body within a few days of amputation. It is commonly found in the Caribbean and other areas with warm water.
Some studies in the past have identified certain molecular signals that the species use to regenerate, however the specific genes that regulate this response had not been known. Scientists at Harvard University now believe that a gene known as “Early Growth Response” (Egr) is thought to be the “master control gene” responsible for this regeneration. The results of the study have shown that Egr binding was strongly associated with accessibility of chromatin during regeneration and that in wounded cells, Egr was the most significant up-regulated gene.
Post-doctoral student Andrew Gehrke of Harvard explains that the answer lies in an area of non-coding DNA that controls the gene. Initially, non-coding or ‘junk DNA’ was believed to have no role, but in recent years researchers and scientists have realized actually has a major impact. Gehrke and his team performed several experiments to show that Egr is a master regulator of a gene network of at least 61 genes that is responsible for “whole-body” regeneration. It works as a “DNA switch” that can “turn on and off” the network.
Dr. Shaun Mansour, MD, a physician who received his undergraduate degree in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University, further explains that “it is vital to continue understanding what the noncoding or regulatory DNA’s role is with regards to that EGR gene”. He adds that only about 2% of our genome codes are for actual proteins while the other 98% are regulatory. He highlights that “contrary to what may seem to make the most sense, it’s not the directly expressed aspects of our DNA that account for the greatest differences we see among species. It is the regulatory mechanisms that govern how those proteins are expressed that make the grand majority of the distinction”.
Humans also contain Early Growth Response transcription factors and consequently, there is potential for further discovery of how this can be translated. The research published presents several different directions for continued investigation. Dr. Shaun Mansour further elucidates that, unfortunately, this is an aspect of DNA that until more recently we have known little about. However, he is optimistic that this piece plays a key role in uncovering how Egr can be tweaked or modified in humans to provide the same limb regeneration capabilities we see in other species.
The new frontier for genomics research will be uncovering how the regulatory portion of our DNA works and how we can possibly better understand it for the benefits of patients in the future. More studies are needed to determine how these pieces play a part in a much larger system. As more factors are being discovered, this information will be crucial in understanding how to accomplish the next step in using these discoveries for the benefit of patients.
To put it simply, if researchers and scientists succeed in growing back arms and limbs in human beings, the Star Wars ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ film may soon look antiquated. You know, the scene where Darth Vader cuts off Luke Skywalker’s forearm with a lightsaber, but Luke gets a fancy prosthetic arm? Old news, baby; we were able to grow back arms long before that point in human history!
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.
