Ocugen Expands COVAXIN™ Commercialization Rights to Include Canada
Ocugen to have exclusive co-development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to COVAXIN™ in Canada, in addition to its existing US rights
MALVERN, Pa. and HYDERABAD, India, June 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocugen, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing gene therapies to cure blindness diseases and developing a vaccine to save lives from COVID-19, and Bharat Biotech, a global leader in vaccine innovation, today announced that they have entered into an amendment to their Co-development, Supply, and Commercialization Agreement to expand Ocugen’s exclusive territory to commercialize COVAXIN™ to now also include Canada, in addition to Ocugen’s existing rights to commercialize COVAXIN™ in the United States.
“This amendment to expand our rights to commercialize COVAXIN™ into Canada speaks to our strong relationship with Bharat Biotech and our joint dedication to bring this unique yet traditional vaccine to additional countries. As we work towards the submission of the emergency use application in the US, we will simultaneously seek authorization under interim order for emergency use in Canada. We believe COVAXIN™ has the potential to play a key role in saving lives from COVID-19 in the US and Canada, as well as across the globe, due to the strong immune response it generates against multiple antigens,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-founder of Ocugen.
“COVAXIN™ has demonstrated an excellent safety record in human clinical trials and in vaccine administration under emergency use in India. Our goal for all vaccines developed at Bharat Biotech is to provide global access. With its potential effectiveness against multiple existing and emerging variants, we believe that COVAXIN™ is an important vaccine for everyone, including children, based on its unique yet traditional vaccine platform. We are diligently working with Ocugen to bring COVAXIN™ to the US market and now to the Canadian market,” said Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Biotech.
As consideration for Bharat Biotech’s grant of the rights to commercialize COVAXIN™ in Canada, Ocugen will make an upfront payment and milestone payment upon first commercial sale in Canada to Bharat Biotech, in addition to sharing the profit from sales of COVAXINTM in Canada. Similar to the US profit share arrangement, Ocugen will retain 45% of the profits from sales of COVAXINTM in Canada.
About COVAXIN™
COVAXIN™, India's COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech, is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV). COVAXIN™ is a highly purified and inactivated vaccine that is manufactured using a vero cell manufacturing platform. This platform has an excellent safety track record of more than 300 million doses of various vaccines supplied. Based on a traditional vaccine platform that has a long-established safety profile, COVAXIN™ continues to show strong results in all the studies conducted to date including a vaccine efficacy rate of 78% overall efficacy and 100% in severe COVID-19 disease, including hospitalizations, in second interim results of Bharat Biotech’s Phase 3 clinical trial.
In addition to generating strong immune response against multiple antigens, COVAXIN has been shown to generate memory T cell responses, for its multiple epitopes, indicating longevity and a rapid antibody response to future infections. With published data demonstrating a safety profile superior to published safety data from separate studies for several other vaccines, COVAXIN™ is packaged in multi-dose vials that can be stored at 2-8⁰C.
COVAXIN™ studies show potential effectiveness against three key variants of SARS-CoV-2. Scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology, using an in-vitro plaque reduction neutralization assay, have found that COVAXIN-vaccinated sera effectively neutralized the Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.128.2, the UK variant, B.1.1.7, as well as the Indian double mutant variant, B.1.617. These studies suggest that COVAXIN vaccination may be effective against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Based on the more than 30 million doses supplied in India and other countries, COVAXIN™ has an excellent safety record. COVAXIN™ is currently being administered under emergency use authorizations in 13 countries, and applications for emergency use authorization are pending in more than 60 additional countries.
About Ocugen, Inc.
Ocugen, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing gene therapies to cure blindness diseases and developing a vaccine to save lives from COVID-19. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases with one drug – “one to many” and our novel biologic product candidate aims to offer better therapy to patients with underserved diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. We are co-developing Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN™ vaccine candidate for COVID-19 in the U.S. market. For more information, please visit http://ocugen.com/
About Bharat Biotech:
Bharat Biotech has established an excellent track record of innovation with more than 140 global patents, a wide product portfolio of more than 16 vaccines, 4 bio-therapeutics, registrations in more than 116 countries, and World Health Organization (WHO) Pre-qualifications. Located in Genome Valley in Hyderabad, India, a hub for the global biotech industry, Bharat Biotech has built a world-class vaccine & bio-therapeutics, research & product development, Bio-Safety Level 3 manufacturing, and vaccine supply and distribution.
Having delivered more than 6 billion doses of vaccines worldwide, Bharat Biotech continues to lead innovation and has developed vaccines for influenza H1N1, Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Chikungunya, Zika and the world’s first tetanus-toxoid conjugated vaccine for Typhoid.
Bharat’s commitment to global social innovation programs and public private partnerships resulted in the introduction of path breaking WHO pre-qualified vaccines BIOPOLIO®, ROTAVAC® and Typbar TCV® combatting polio, rotavirus, typhoid infections, respectively. The recent acquisition of the rabies vaccine facility, Chiron Behring, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has positioned Bharat Biotech as the largest rabies vaccine manufacturer in the world. To learn more about Bharat Biotech visit https://www.bharatbiotech.com/.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include information about qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for clinical trials, and anticipated timing of clinical trial readouts and regulatory submissions. This information involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with preliminary and interim data (including the Phase 3 interim data referred to in this press release), including the possibility of unfavorable new clinical trial data and further analyses of existing clinical trial data; the risk that the results of in-vitro studies will not be duplicated in human clinical trials; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when data from Bharat Biotech’s clinical trials will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications; whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be satisfied with the design of and results from preclinical and clinical studies of COVAXIN, which have been conducted by Bharat Biotech in India; whether and when any biologics license and/or emergency use authorization applications may be filed in the United States for COVAXIN and whether and when an application for authorization under interim order for emergency use will be filed in Canada; whether and when any such applications may be approved by the FDA or Health Canada; decisions by the FDA or Health Canada impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of COVAXIN in the United States or Canada, including development of products or therapies by other companies. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
COVID-19 has put Cadila Healthcare at the forefront of innovation in India, says GlobalData
Cadila Healthcare Ltd. is among the leading players in India which focuses on bringing in-house developed innovative therapies for patients. Cadila Healthcare has developed a diversified COVID-19 portfolio among the Indian players through in-house development and licensing opportunities. In line with this, the COVID-19 situation has put Cadila Healthcare at the forefront of innovation in India, says GlobalData, a leading data analytics and research company.
According to GlobalData’s ‘Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center’ (as of 27 May 2021), Cadila Healthcare’s COVID-19 portfolio includes one repurposed marketed drug and ‘seven in-house’ candidates in the pipeline, including two in Phase III, one each in Phase II and Phase I and three candidates in preclinical development.
Recently, its repurposed drug Virafin (peginterferon alfa-2b) received approval in India for the treatment of moderate cases of COVID-19. However, its vaccine ZyCoV-D, currently in Phase III (emergency approval filing expected within the next few weeks), is expected to play a crucial role in India’s vaccination drive following emergency approval.
In the past, Cadila Healthcare launched Lipaglyn (saroglitazar), a novel first-in-class molecule to treat diabetic dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and is the first drug to secure approval for NASH in India. Moreover, it became the first company to launch Humira’s (adalimumab) biosimilar in India.
Prashant Khadayate, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Cadila Healthcare has consistently focussed on innovation through its own research and development capabilities. The launch of India’s first innovative therapy Lipaglyn is credited to Cadila Healthcare. Additionally, the company has launched biosimilars of complex biologics in India ahead of other companies. Cadila has leveraged COVID-19 opportunities as fuel to enhance its innovation engine.”
To further strengthen its position within the COVID-19 market, the company has recently applied to the Indian regulatory body, the Drugs Controller General of India, to conduct clinical trials of ZRC-3308, which is a cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies to treat mild COVID-19 patients.
Cadila had initially partnered with Gilead for remdesivir commercialization in 127 countries, including India. In the latest deal, it has partnered with TLC to commercialize AmphoTLC (Amphotericin B Liposome for Injection 50mg) in India to treat black fungus or mucormycosis, which has emerged as a post-COVID-19 complication in India.
Mr Khadayate concludes: “Cadila Healthcare is the only company in India with its own in-house developed vaccine and treatments for COVID-19. The company has focused on the entire COVID-19 patient journey through its marketed and pipeline drugs, including treatment for mild, moderate, and severe patients and a COVID-19 vaccine, along with a focus on COVID-19 associated mucormycosis.
“The company has tapped existing opportunities within the COVID-19 space by quickly acting through its research and development efforts and partnerships. This innovation-driven model should certainly bring long-term growth and would help Cadila Healthcare differentiate from other Indian players in the long run.”
New research from Earth Rangers, Ipsos & mental health experts shows rising climate concerns among children can be healthy with the right support
TORONTO, June 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Research led by Earth Rangers shows some levels of “eco-anxiety,” or concern for the environment, can actually be healthy when it leads to eco-action
The children’s conservation organization is calling on parents to be ‘all ears’ with new campaign to talk to kids about their worries and help the whole family act for the planet
Today, Earth Rangers released new research to provide insights and guidance on the risks posed by eco-anxiety and solutions to help turn these worries for the environment into actions. The white paper – Anxious for Action: Channeling Children’s Environmental Concerns Into Empowerment – outlines practical ways parents and caregivers can help children build resilience, create a sense of agency, and have fun at the same time.
“Children are on the front lines of climate change,” said Tovah Barocas, co-author of the paper and the President of Earth Rangers. “Health experts have been calling for a better understanding of how the global climate crisis impacts not only their physical but also mental health. Given our long-term vision of creating a generation of conservationists, it was critical to dig deeper on what this means for kids – and their adults.” While public conversation around eco-anxiety has been on the rise, most academic research has been focused on the negative impacts of eco-anxiety among adults and older youth. This white paper presents a rare study focused on school-age children and effective solutions to address eco-anxiety.
“Eco-anxiety is not an official diagnosable disorder, however, it does affect children in very real ways. This includes feelings of fear, hopelessness, and despair,” explains Katie Hayes, co-author of the white paper and climate change and mental health researcher. “It is important to research and understand the ways in which we can help children find effective strategies to cope with these feelings.”
In partnership with Ipsos Canada, Earth Rangers conducted a survey of 4,000 Canadians in 2020 to capture attitudes and actions regarding environmental issues by children and their parents. Survey participants included Earth Rangers members and their parents, and general population children in the same age cohort and their parents. Dr. Hayes then interpreted the finding within the context of existing global literature on eco-anxiety to generate new insights.
A key research finding is that some level of concern for the environment can actually be useful and healthy when it leads to environmental action. As seen in earlier studies, children who were hopeful and concerned about climate change were more likely to take environmental action. In contrast, children who felt climate despair were less likely to take action. This is further evidenced in the Earth Ranger survey. Approximately 44% of Earth Rangers members (vs. 26% for non-members) expressed worry about climate change. However, 78% of Earth Rangers members felt more empowered to act on environmental issues (vs. 54% for non-members).
To support parents in channeling their children’s eco-anxiety into empowerment and help them discover their agency to act, Earth Rangers is asking caregivers: “Got Your Ears On?” By visiting www.earthrangers.com/earson, families can choose their favourite pair of animal ears that can be attached to a headband. When children put these ears on, it signals to their adults a desire to talk about their worries about the planet. Parents can wear the ears to show they’re listening and ready to help the whole family start a fun new eco-activity.
Additional Findings & the 5 E’s to Drive Eco-Action:
Empowering kids means empowering the whole family. Research shows when children grow concerned about issues like climate change and are spurred to take environmental action, they also prompt their parents to feel more empowered and take action. This is called the “passthrough effect.”
Earth Rangers’ survey revealed that not only are Earth Rangers members significantly more empowered to act on environmental issues, but Earth Rangers parents are as well (60% vs. 43% for parents of non-members).
Empathy: Provide ample space and opportunities to discuss climate change and other environmental concerns, and allow kids to identify and express their feelings about these issues.
Education: Offer opportunities to learn about climate change and suggest actions that kids and families can take to protect the natural environment.
Environmental Stewardship: Find opportunities to spend more time outdoors. This will help foster a deeper connection to nature and spark new, tangible ways that kids can protect the natural environment.
Excitement: Make conservation activities and learning about the natural environment something to look forward to for kids.
Empowerment: Give kids ways to teach their parents and other adults how to protect nature and become leaders in their households.
Additional Quotes:
“The study results are intuitive and speak to the resilience and positivity of children. As adults, we often see ourselves as teachers and guides for children as they grow and develop. Yet this study suggests that children’s engagement in Earth Rangers may influence their parents’ understanding of environmental issues and their willingness to engage in environmental action. Earth Rangers is an example of an environmental organization that fosters environmental stewardship in children and their parents by educating them about the realities of climate change and empowering them to act.” - Dr. Anna Gunz, Paediatrician, Children’s Environmental Health Clinic
“We have proof now of what we might have guessed: the suffering of the natural world is most assuredly not just the province of adults. The damage to all the miraculous and magnificent animals and plants and places – is having a profound toll on our children. Our challenge is big, but the mission is simple. Let’s give kids—and their grownups— the power to act.” - Dr. Lise Van Susteren, Psychiatrist, Climate Psychiatry Alliance
“It can be very challenging to measure the impact of outreach and education programs, and one of the fundamental reasons why we embarked on this research. Our research was consistent in showing Earth Rangers is effective and I hope this work has helped adults see that the job isn't to make children’s concerns go away – it's to help channel them into action.” - Steve Levy, co-author of the white paper and senior leader at Ipsos Canada
RESOURCES
Executive Summary and the full Anxious for Action: Channeling Children’s Environmental Concerns Into Empowerment white paper can be downloaded here.
‘Got Your Ears On?’ materials and parents’ guide can be downloaded here.
‘Got Your Ears On?’ photos, campaign videos and b-roll of kids and families can be downloaded here.
Cascades Launches its Fourth Sustainability Action Plan "Driving Positive Change"
KINGSEY FALLS, QC, June 2, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - In the context of the upcoming World Environment Day, and following a year of work and consultations with stakeholders, Cascades, the 17th most sustainable company in the world according to Global 100, is pleased to launch its fourth Sustainability Action Plan, the most ambitious in its history: "Driving Positive Change".
"Sustainable development is part of our DNA. Nearly 60 years ago, long before environmental principles and social impacts were taken into account in business practices, our company became a pioneer in the circular economy by making products from recycled materials. This new sustainability plan, in addition to being aligned with the priorities of our clients and partners, reaffirms our leadership amidst the growing challenges facing our society and our planet," said Mario Plourde, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cascades.
The plan, which includes 15 defined targets for 2025 and 2030, is based on four main pillars: Respectful of the Planet, Solutions Driven, Community Minded, and People Focused. It is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and with the recommendations of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to having already reduced the intensity of its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 1990 and being an industry leader in terms of water and energy consumption, Cascades is launching a plan which contains several targets to further reduce its environmental footprint. Among these are:
Reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions of paper manufacturing plants by 38.7% by 2030 compared with 2019 (kg of CO2 eq./metric tonnes)
Reducing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 22% by 2030 compared with 2019 (kg of CO2 eq./metric tonnes)
Sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2030
Reducing paper mill water effluents by 15% by 2025
Drawing on its experience in R&D and innovation, Cascades is committed to providing its customers and consumers with products developed in accordance with recognized eco-design principles such as:
By 2030, 100% of the packaging manufactured and sold by Cascades, regardless of the materials used, will be recyclable, compostable or reusable
By 2025, 100% of the fibres or paper used to manufacture Cascades products will be recycled or certified
From a social and community perspective, Cascades will remain focused on people and their well-being by strengthening its culture of health, safety, equity, diversity and inclusion. Through its sustainability action plan, the company is targeting:
50% reduction in the number of days lost due to work accidents (severity rate)
100% of employees trained on unconscious biases related to equity, diversity and inclusion
"Cascades is proud of its renewed ambition in the area of sustainable development, and we are confident we will achieve the targets we have set out thanks to our updated and ingrained governance practices. By partnering with us or by purchasing our products, Cascades' clients, consumers, investors and other stakeholders will also be able to improve their own social and environmental footprint and we are proud to be able to help facilitate this progress. More than ever, our company is determined to create increasingly eco-friendly, high-performance products and give life to the circular economy," said Hugo D'Amours, Vice President, Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability.
Founded in 1964, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added packaging, hygiene and recovery solutions. The company employs more than 11,700 women and men across a network of 85 facilities in North America and Europe. Driven by its participative management, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous research and development efforts, Cascades continues to provide innovative products that customers have come to rely on, while contributing to the well-being of people, communities and the entire planet. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS.
SOURCE Cascades Inc.
Silk'n Introduces Innovative Breakthrough with ToothWave Toothbrush
ToothWave Reinvents Oral Care with DentalRF® Technology
TORONTO, June 2, 2021 /CNW/ - Silk'n, a global leader in medical aesthetics technology for home-use, is bringing innovative technology to at-home oral hygiene. First unveiled at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, ToothWave is the first and only toothbrush that uses Radio Frequency (RF) energy. ToothWave reduces tartar (calculus), prevents, and reduces gingivitis, reduces stains and improves discolouration.
Silk'n and its parent company, Home Skinovations, have been at the forefront of aesthetic innovations for over 10 years. Silk'n developed the first Intense Pulse Light (IPL) at-home hair removal device that permanently eradicates unwanted hair for both men and women. The company has also developed skin care technology solutions incorporating Infrared Heat, LED Red Light, and Blue Light technologies for home use.
ToothWave utilizes DentalRF® technology, a mild Radiofrequency wave of charged molecules that surrounds the surface of each tooth, providing effective oral hygiene that will not damage the enamel or gums. These charged molecules loosen the bonds between the surface of the tooth and the tartar and stains, allowing for easy removal.
"ToothWave is raising the bar for oral hygiene by reducing tartar," says Michael Bank, President, Home Skinovations, North America. "It is the first toothbrush to utilize DentalRF®, a revolutionary technology."
ToothWave's RF energy streams between two electrodes, bouncing back and forth over a silicon barrier, eliminating the need for vigorous brushing. RF energy has been used in surgical and aesthetic medical applications for several decades. DentalRF® Technology is patent protected in the US, China, Europe, Japan, and Russia and is pending in several other countries including Canada.
ToothWave is the first and only toothbrush clinically proven to reduce existing tartar. "Tartar is inevitable," says Dr. Yair Lenga, a Toronto-based Periodontist. "Plaque mineralizes in nooks and crannies. ToothWave is clinically proven to reach these hard to access areas."
Clinical studies undertaken by Salus Research Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, compared ToothWave to a regular electric toothbrush, with participants brushing twice daily for two-minutes. After six weeks ToothWave demonstrated the following results:
ABOUT Silk'n Silk'n and its parent company, Home Skinovations Ltd, is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed leader who has been pioneering the at-home beauty business for more than a decade. Silk'n stands for authentic beauty and is a private company with a mission to develop, manufacture and sell high quality consumer devices to help people improve their appearance, defy aging, and reshape their bodies. Over 10 million Silk'n Beautiful Technology devices are currently used worldwide.
SOURCE Silk’n
Top NYC Doc: Let’s Crush COVID — Get Vaccinated!
New York, NY, June 2, 2021 —Do you miss hanging out with your friends? Want to see live sports or concerts? Done with Zoom? Then roll up your sleeves and get vaccinated, encourages top NYC plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich.
He has joined the movement to help spread the truth about the efficacy and safety of the COVD-19 vaccines and to dispel misconceptions swirling on social media.
“If you’ve held off on getting a COVID-19 vaccine because you think it was created too quickly, this is definitely not the case,” Dr. Westreich says. “The vaccines have been more than three decades in the making. They were pulled off the shelf and used and began being developed for SARS-COVID-1 in 2003. This outbreak stopped and there was no need to continue. It was pulled off the shelf again in 2012 for the MERS outbreak; this was a very limited outbreak. Misinformation should not be a reason to not get vaccinated.”
He and his dedicated team have created fun and informative videos featuring familiar tunes with re-tooled lyrics to encourage more Americans to “crush COVID” by getting their vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that 30 percent of the entire U.S. population is fully vaccinated and that more than 43 percent have received at least one dose. But medical experts agree that herd immunity is still a distant dream if more people can’t be persuaded to get the vaccine.
“Based on what we know, getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19 and will protect those around you,” Dr. Westreich adds. “My staff and I created these videos as a fun way to not only shed light on a serious situation, but also to spread very important awareness about the importance of getting the vaccine and to save lives.”
Dr. Richard Westreich graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior, Neuroscience concentration in 1995 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999 with an M.D. and Honors in Cell Biology Research. Dr. Westreich then did his post-graduate training in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology at the prestigious Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.
He has been selected multiple times by Castle Connolly and New York magazine as one of the top doctors in facial plastic surgery. He is an assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and is on staff at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai Hospitals. He is a faculty member and teacher at a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai. His private practice is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he specializes in rhinoplasty, septoplasty, secondary and reconstructive rhinoplasty, facelifts, eyelid surgery and nonsurgical procedures.
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The Canadian Vaping Association: Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control continues to deny the science on vaping
BEAMSVILLE, Ontario, June 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control issued a release advocating for the implementation of a flavour ban and a nicotine ceiling in Quebec. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) cautions the Government of Quebec, that while these measures are well intentioned, they will result in increased smoking rates and harm public health.
For decades, governments around the world have relied on quit smoking hotlines, online resources, and low efficacy cessation products to end the tobacco pandemic. Despite limited success with this model, it continues to be the ‘right way’ to quit smoking. Vaping could be the greatest harm reduction product of our lifetime if it weren’t for unfounded fears and the misinformation surrounding vaping.
“Quitting smoking is very difficult and there is no right way to quit. Smokers who manage to quit, should be commended on their achievement, regardless of the method used. The CVA supports the use of all quit aids. However, the current tobacco control strategy ignores the reality of quitting smoking. On average, smokers make 30 attempts to quit and only 7% are successful. Public Health England recently declared vaping to be more effective than all leading nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products and has reaffirmed that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking. If Canada is to meet its goal of 5% smoking prevalence by 2035, the current tobacco control strategy needs an overhaul,” said John Xydous, Regional Chair of the CVA.
More than 90,000 Canadians have emailed their Member of Parliament, stating the importance of flavours for quitting smoking. The testimony of vapers is further validated by Yale researchers, who found that adults who quit using a flavoured product were 2.5 times more likely to be successful quitting smoking. The study concludes, “While proposed flavour bans are well-intentioned, they have disastrous outcomes. Legislation on vaping flavours must take the facts of smoking cessation and harm reduction into account, and we urge legislators against the widespread implementation of such bans.”
Additionally, there is little evidence to suggest that banning flavours would reduce youth experimentation. The idea that flavours are a primary influence for youth vaping is a common misconception that has been discredited by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC report, “Tobacco Product Use and Associated Factors Among Middle and Highschool Students”, 77.7% of young people indicated that they vape for reasons other than “because e-cigarettes are available in flavours, such as mint, candy, fruit or chocolate.” The most common reason for use among youth was, “I was curious about them.”
Recently, The Youth and Young Adult Vaping Project survey results were published. Flavours were not listed as a primary influence for youth and young adults in Canada. Respondents indicated that peers, followed by the desire to quit smoking and social media exposure were the primary motivators. Flavours continue to be scapegoated long after the data has found they are not driving youth use.
The QCTC’s recommendations are not routed in science. The arguments to support their recommendations have all been debunked. Vaping is proven to be both effective for quitting smoking and 95% less harmful. Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control claims that vaping acts as a gateway to smoking, but the data suggests vaping is a gateway out of smoking. If vaping truly increased youth’s likelihood of smoking, we would have seen an increase in smoking prevalence among the young adults who were teenagers at the peak of vaping prevalence among youth. Yet, smoking rates continue to decline among all age demographics.
In QCTC’s release, Madame Doucas states, “One should not have to choose between prevention for young people and cessation for adult smokers.” The CVA agrees that it doesn’t have to be one or the other, we can balance youth protection with adult harm reduction. Canada has already implemented strong regulation to protect youth, but it has lacked consistent enforcement. Banning flavours will do little to protect youth and instead will push thousands of vapers back to smoking. Restricting flavours and high nicotine vape products to age restricted specialty stores eliminates legal access points for youth. Effective regulation should seek to restrict access and increased enforcement, while maintaining reasonable access for adult harm reduction.
Free COVID-19 ScreeningTool Available as Organizations Continue to Reopen
Employee self-screening enabled essential organizations to remain open during the pandemic and is now helping others to reopen safely.
TORONTO, June 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North America’s vaccination rollout is in full swing with both the US and Canada making substantial strides towards returning to normality. Many organizations are either reopening, and welcoming people back to the workplace, or planning to in the near future. While this is exciting, organizations still need to comply to safety standards and do their part to keep their employees and the wider community safe.
The good news for these organizations is that there are numerous resources available to help them develop and maintain safety standards. A comprehensive reopening roadmap is key in establishing safe working environment and free resources exist to support reopening efforts.
COVID-19 workplace screening has proven particularly valuable in helping to keep organizations open over the past year. These tools give an organization the ability to screen anyone entering their premises on a given day, through an online questionnaire.
One such solution, available for free, is Couch & Associates’ Workplace Screening tool, which lets an organization brand and customize their own screening site. Options include adding multiple workplace locations and a custom message to respondents. The questionnaire consists of standard screening questions to confirm that respondents are a low risk of recent exposure to COVID-19.
Janet Candido, Founder of Candido Consulting Group says, “Candido Consulting Group encourages our clients to use this screening tool when reopening their workplaces. We wanted a solution that met government regulations, was easy to use and had a good reporting system. This tool does all of that and does it for free.”
What stands out about the Workplace Screening tool, other than being free, is its integrated reporting system. A simple Google Sheets integration will generate a report listing everyone who went through the screening process, the time of the screening, answers to each question and weather they passed or failed.
Organizations don’t have to pay hefty sums to keep employees and visitors safe at this stage of the pandemic, make the most of freely available resources to implement a safe and effective reopening plan.
GURU Good Crew Arrives at the Water’s Edge to Clean Up Montréal’s Riverbanks
After mountain biking trails, GURU tackles riverbanks and urban skateparks
MONTRÉAL, June 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spring has sprung in Québec, bringing with it new life. But all too often the receding snow reveals litter disfiguring our trails, riverbanks and parks. So why not go outside to play and donate your energy to a community clean-up operation? The time is now!
GURU Organic Energy Corp. (TSX: GURU), Canada’s leading organic energy drink brand, has launched a community clean-up operation in preparation for the summer season. The GURU Good Crew, created for the occasion, has set itself the challenge of cleaning up different environments – mountains, riverbanks and skateparks – and is launching an appeal to outdoor enthusiasts to help it achieve this mission.
First up: mountain biking trails For the “Clean up your trails” project, the GURU Good Crew held several activities in Québec’s mountains during pre-opening weekends at a number of stations.
On May 8, mountain bike enthusiasts took the GURU Good Crew and Mont Sutton up on their invitation to clean up and drain its trail system. On May 22 and 29, respectively, it was Empire 47 and Mont Adstock’s turn to welcome outdoor enthusiasts to get these playgrounds ready for the summer. With the help of over 200 participants for all three events, over 95 km of trails have been tidied up and are ready to welcome you for new adventures!
Next up: the banks of the St. Lawrence Whether you’re sailing or relaxing on the riverbank, water is one of summer’s great pleasures. The GURU Good Crew will be on the case this summer, helping to clean up the banks of the St. Lawrence River in various parts of Québec in partnership with The Blue Organization.
On June 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., an event will be held to kick off Oceans Week, with an impressive route running from Old Montréal all the way to Lachine, with five sites being simultaneously cleaned up. Oceans Week, which combines popular science, art and creativity to raise awareness of environmental conservation, is a national event with its second Québec edition coordinated by The Blue Organization.
“We’re proud of this partnership with GURU, it allows us to discover our local marine and maritime environment and to raise awareness of rivers and oceans,” said Anne-Marie Asselin, Co-founder and President of The Blue Organization. “Québec, with the St. Lawrence and numerous other rivers and lakes, has a significant impact on the health of the oceans, so it’s essential that we take care of them. Let’s protect what we love!” she added.
Other activities will be offered along the St. Lawrence elsewhere in Québec. In the water and on the banks, free divers, stand-up paddle boarders, pedestrians and cyclists are all invited to take part.
“Nature plays a big role in our lives, allowing us to re-energize so that we can become a better version of ourselves — which has become even more important over the last year. We felt it was vital to channel the energy of the past few months by mobilizing outdoor enthusiasts to take care of our environment. Let’s clean-up our favourite outdoor terrains so that we can enjoy them together all summer long and while ensuring everyone’s health and safety,” said Carl Goyette, President and Chief Executive Officer of GURU.
Also up: skateparks Are you staying in town this summer? There are many opportunities for fun, especially in skateparks – even if too often debris tends to accumulate there. But the GURU Good Crew is on it and appealing to skateboarders to help make the season go smoothly. Various clean-up activities will take place this summer in Montréal skateparks so stay tuned!
Share your pictures on social media with the hashtags #escouadeguru and #cleanupguru
These activities are being organized in accordance with the various public health measures in effect in the different regions of Québec.
About GURU GURU Organic Energy Corp. (TSX: GURU) is a dynamic, fast-growing beverage company launched in 1999, when it pioneered the world’s first natural, plant-based energy drink. The Company markets organic energy drinks in Canada and the United States through a distribution network of more than 21,000 points of sale, and through guruenergy.com and Amazon. GURU has built an inspiring brand with a clean list of organic plant-based ingredients. Its drinks offer consumers good energy that never comes at the expense of their health. The Company is committed to achieving its mission of cleaning the energy drink industry in Canada and the United States. For more information, go to www.guruenergy.com or follow us @guruenergydrink on Instagram and @guruenergy on Facebook.
A Texas Dad Gives Daughter One of His Kidneys: Father’s Day Will Be Extra Special This Year
June 1, 2021-- June is a month full of family and fun, especially on the third weekend of the month when families gather to celebrate dads. Father’s Day has always been a special holiday for the Bogner family of Aledo, Texas. But this year it has even greater significance as the family of five will celebrate Father’s Day and the two-year anniversary of Cassidy receiving a life-saving kidney transplant from her dad.
From infancy, Nick and Renae Bogner knew a transplant was inevitable for their oldest daughter, Cassidy. At birth in December 2001 Cassidy was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome, which is a rare genetic syndrome that affected her heart, kidneys, hearing, vision, airways and overall stamina. Cassidy has undergone heart surgeries at three months, three years old and at 13 years old, and has made 30 other trips to the operating room for procedures including feeding tube installation, airway repairs and bladder problems -- just to name a few. Cassidy’s kidneys have always been closely watched by her medical team, and her parents have delicately protected them through diet and medication. According to her parents, “You would never know from her joyous, positive attitude the amount of work she has had to put in daily to manage her condition and protect her kidneys.” Cassidy is also deaf, which means that sign language is her primary form of communication.
Nick and Renae have always focused on managing Cassidy’s health so she could have the best life possible. In 2014, they prepared for a transplant because her kidney condition was declining. However, things ended up stabilizing and they were able to postpone the transplant for five more years. No matter what Cassidy is facing, enduring or waiting for … she always has an amazing spirit about her.
During 2018 the time had finally come to start the process for Cassidy to receive a new kidney. Her kidneys were getting weaker, which was affecting her energy level and overall health. The family started working through the transplant evaluation process at the Children’s Medical Center Dallas, which is about one hour away from the family’s home in Aledo. In November 2018 all of the test results had come back and the determination was made -- Cassidy was approved for a kidney transplant. During the transplant evaluation, a transplant social worker suggested Nick and Renae reach out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to learn more about how they might be able to help.
“Cassidy has had several major issues her entire life and they have been extremely costly, and sometimes debilitating, to our family,” Nick said. “We had gone through all previous major medical procedures without financial support. So we knew firsthand how that felt and how it impacted our family.”
Nick reached out to COTA on November 19th to learn more COTA as an organization and as a potential avenue of support for his family. He and Renae spent time reviewing COTA’s online and printed materials and discussed how their family might be able to move forward with the national, nonprofit organization. Nick and Renae completed and submitted the necessary paperwork, and in early February 2019, the Bogner family officially became part of the COTA Family.
“The very first conversation I had with COTA’s leadership brought a huge dose of hope to our situation,” Nick said. “I hung up from that conversation feeling optimistic about being able to have a successful fundraising campaign for transplant-related expenses and what that would mean long-term for our family.”
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) uniquely understands that parents who care for a child or young adult before, during and after a life-saving transplant have enough to deal with, so COTA’s model shifts the responsibility for fundraising to a team of trained volunteers. COTA is a 501(c)3 charity so all contributions to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and COTA funds are available for a lifetime of transplant-related expenses.
On March 15, 2019, a COTA fundraising specialist trained the family’s group of volunteers in Aledo, Texas. The COTA staff member talked to their neighbors and family members about COTA’s fundraising process and shared information about fundraising templates, fundraising guidance and the no-cost website they would be provided. The team got to work planning fundraisers for COTA in honor of Team Cassidy to help with mounting transplant-related expenses.
“Leading up to Cassidy’s transplant, COTA taught us that raising funds is actually OK to do. We had apprehensions regarding fundraising for transplant-related expenses at the beginning when COTA was first introduced to us,” Nick said. “COTA always showed support for our general wellbeing. They made us feel cared for beyond fundraising. I had a lot of confidence in the guidance, and the tools, we received from COTA.”
One of the COTA-provided tools Nick and Renae utilized to share their family’s transplant journey was the COTA for Team Cassidy website. Nick, Renae and volunteers shared the task of posting blog updates and their messages were powerful and inspirational.
April 23, 2019 – A Message from Mom: Today is a big day for our family and for this whole process. This is the moment we have been building up to for four years now. Today all the doctors who have been evaluating Nick will decide if they will allow him to donate a kidney to Cassidy. As I sit here writing this I am filled with anticipation, nervousness, and emotions. I also have all the worries that I carry with me. If they say yes, then we are starting this transplant journey which is overwhelming on all fronts. If they say no, then we have to start the donor work up all over again with me. I have no worries about going down that road myself, but the weight I carry is for Cassidy’s health. I am not sure Cassidy has time to wait for another donor to go through this process. If we must start this process again, then Cassidy will most likely need to start dialysis. All these years we have hoped we could go straight to transplant and avoid dialysis for her. So today I wait and attempt to leave all of my worries and anxiousness in God’s hands, trusting in His plans for each of us, but at the same time hoping Nick is approved so we can move on with this process and get my girl feeling good.
April 24, 2019 – The Best News Yet: For years I have had a deep desire to donate a kidney to Cassidy. I am fortunate to be a match. Tests have shown I have strong kidney function, and I have been healthy throughout my life. Years ago, around age 12, when we told Cassidy that her dad may be the one to give her a kidney, she reacted negatively. She did not want a boy’s kidney and thought it would be too big and had general anxiety about the whole thing. One day she came home from school really happy and said to Renae/Mom, “I was going to the bathroom and God said, let your dad give you a kidney.” Cassidy went on to tell her mom how she felt good about it and that she wanted dad’s kidney “because Dad is strong and she needs a strong kidney.” We have just received word that I have been cleared to be her kidney donor. We are so excited. And while this will be difficult for our family to endure, we are ready for Cassidy to have stable health and to get the energy boost she needs. Great things are coming.
May 6, 2019 – It’s a Date!: We are excited to announce surgery has been scheduled for May 20th. Cassidy’s surgery will be at Dallas Children’s and Nick’s surgery will be at UT Southwestern Hospital, which are near each other. Nick will be hospitalized a couple of days before he is able to be reunited with Cassidy. Cassidy’s hospital stay length is hard to predict because of the immunosuppressant medications, so anywhere between 1-3 weeks. Thanks to so many of you for all the support; we really feel it.
May 20, 2019 – Transplant Day!: We are so relieved and happy to report that Daddy looks good and everything went smoothly on his end. We are anxiously waiting for Cassidy to be finished too! (A few hours later) Cassidy is out of surgery and getting settled in the ICU. Everything went as well as can be expected. She is a brave little girl and I am proud beyond words.
May 21, 2019 – The Next Day: We have had a huge successful day! Nick was discharged from the hospital and reunited with Cassidy. Cassidy’s new kidney is performing awesomely. Her blood tests are showing numbers we have never seen before. Cassidy is getting stronger by the hour. She was moved out of the ICU this afternoon. We have a lot of work to do this week as she heals.
May 28, 2019 – Coming Home and Some Other Things from Dad: Today, just one week and one day after surgery, she is out of the hospital. She made steady progress all week and has shown us once again what it means to Fight Like a Girl! One week in the hospital is about as fast as it gets for a transplant. We are so proud of the courage and moxie she demonstrated all the way through this. We are also immensely grateful for the prayers and support by so many of you. We really felt all of it and know that y’all will be there for the next season of our journey.
One of the benefits of a living donor transplant is that a recipient can sometimes bypass the step of dialysis and go straight to transplant. We had always targeted to avoid dialysis but we almost missed it. Cassidy’s kidneys had been deteriorating at a fast rate and we knew we were close to their end. Had we not transplanted a few weeks ago, she would have had to start dialysis.
Going in for my kidney removal surgery on Monday morning was an awesome feeling for me. It was my own personal victory walk on this long journey. Even crawling onto the operating table in a big sterile room surrounded by robots in space suits brought me great fulfillment. Waking up was equally thrilled knowing my kidney was all but installed into Cassidy. The doctors later commented, ‘it was a good looking kidney’ which brought a proud smirk to my face.
June 15, 2019 – Father’s Day Tribute from Mom: It is often said in our family that nobody knows what to do if Mom is not around. But as I watch our kids grow, and as I have watched Nick through this process, it is extremely evident that he is a solid foundation for each of us. Our kids know their dad is always available and willing to do anything for them … including giving a kidney! I see him sacrifice, without question or burden, for the greater needs of our family.
As I sat in the waiting room on transplant day, the emptiness was thick. But when the nurse called to tell me his kidney had arrived and they were ready to put it into Cassidy, the emotions welled up. Here we were … the moment we had planned on for so long and the moment Nick had fervently worked toward for years. I had a feeling of pride that swelled within me as Nick’s act of love and sacrifice was saving our girl’s life. So this Father’s Day is extra special for our family. Thank you, Nick, for being my person and for loving your babies well.
Nick reports that he and Cassidy indeed made it through the transplant, but that some things continue to be challenging. “COTA continues to be super responsive to my questions and has solid command of the details regarding the financial side of a transplant. COTA has cared for and supported us broadly and consistently and we have seen firsthand the true character of this organization,” he said.
“One week before transplant, we received a call from the hospital requesting a several thousand dollar down payment for the estimated out-of-pocket expenses. Having COTA by our side meant we were able to solely focus on Nick’s kidney donation to Cassidy. COTA turned stress into peace of mind and gave us hope. COTA’s level of expertise, professionalism and stewardship allowed us to rest easy and continues to do so today. We are confident in the organization’s ability to navigate this journey with us … whatever that brings … for a lifetime.”
Nick and Renae wholeheartedly agree they experienced an unintended plus of working with COTA -- the powerful support from many loved ones, and strangers, who contributed, left messages, replied to blogs and followed the Caring for Cassidy Facebook page. Each of these actions was another statement of love and support that was felt and cherished by the Bogner family. “We felt the many people out there who were rooting for us and willing to fight with us,” they said.
Today, Cassidy’s fight continues. And currently it is a battle she is clearly winning. On Cassidy’s 18thbirthday, Renae posted this message, “The other day at an appointment her pediatrician asked Cassidy, ‘How is your new kidney and how is your dad doing?’ Cassidy looked at me and signed, “I am over this story, and ready to move on.” My response to her was, “Baby girl, your story is never done and we will never stop talking about it. It is beautiful, full of miracles and perseverance. Happy Birthday sweet girl … your story is just beginning.”
According to Nick and Renae, “COTA has been such a blessing for our family in many ways and we are so very thankful for all they do. Even with the uncertainty in our world, it is good to know our family can count on COTA through it all.”
Enjoy Father’s Day, Bogner Family!
For more information about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA),
or to find a COTA family in your area, please email kim@cota.org.
COTA Teen Cassidy Bogner Kidney Transplant Recipient
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