ProMIS Neurosciences Identifies Novel Therapeutic Epitope Target for ALS and Dementia

Company files United States patent application for novel epitope target identified on misfolded forms of the protein TDP43

TSX: PMN

TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, MA, May 31, 2017 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of precision treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the identification of a novel therapeutic epitope target on misfolded forms of TDP43, implicated in the development and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The Company filed a provisional patent application for this target with the United States Patent Office on May 30, 2017.

Commenting on today's announcement, Dr. Neil Cashman, ProMIS Chief Scientific Officer, stated: "Using our proprietary discovery engine, scientists at UBC and ProMIS identified both the sequence and conformational shape of this novel epitope target on misfolded TDP43 that plays a key role in ALS and frontotemporal dementia."

TDP43 is present in every cell, and plays a critical role in the response of cells to oxidative stress. However, in ALS, FTD and other neurodegenerative diseases, TDP43 can lose its normal function, forming intracellular aggregates of misfolded TDP43 that disrupt cellular energy generation and normal protein degradation.

"Our goal is to selectively target misfolded TDP43 without disrupting the critical role that normally-folded TDP43 plays in cell biology," stated Dr. Elliot Goldstein, ProMIS President and CEO. "We plan to create and validate monoclonal antibodies against misfolded TDP43 to select optimal therapeutic candidates for advancement into the clinic."

Pursuant to its expanded license agreement with the University of British Columbia, ProMIS holds exclusive, worldwide license to this novel therapeutic target.

About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc.

ProMIS Neurosciences is a TSX listed biotech company (trading symbol: PMN.TO), headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The mission of ProMIS is to discover and develop precision medicine therapeutics for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease and ALS.

ProMIS Neurosciences' proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two, complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platform—ProMIS^™ and Collective Coordinates — to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique "precision medicine" approach, ProMIS Neurosciences is developing novel antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease and ALS. The company has also developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. In addition, ProMIS Neurosciences owns a portfolio of therapeutic and diagnostic patents relating to misfolded SOD1 in ALS, and currently has a preclinical monoclonal antibody therapeutic against this target.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release may contain 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.

For further information please consult the Company's website at:
www.promisneurosciences.com

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SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.

Hyperloop, smart homes, a personal helicopter, wearable technology, healthtech and cleantech among the many head-turning innovations at Discovery 2017

TORONTO, May 9, 2017 /CNW/ - Ontario Centres of Excellence's (OCE's) award-winning Discovery conference returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building on May 15-16. The hotly anticipated annual event is celebrating 12 years of bold, new ideas with a dynamic showcase of the best Ontario and Canadian innovators have to offer.

Discovery's 200,000-square-foot show floor is packed with made-in-Ontario exhibits, exciting and informative panels and interactive sessions. Featured this year among the more than 500 exhibits are some of the latest developments in next-generation transportation including a Hyperloop Zone with virtual reality simulations and a levitation pod from Waterloop, smart cars from Tesla and General Motors featuring AI integration, an ultramodern smart home, a cutting-edge aerospace zone with a personal helicopter prototype from Airvinci, robotics, healthtech, biometrics, wearable tech including biosensor clothing, and augmented reality demonstrations.

"Over the past decade OCE's Discovery has brought some of the most exciting speakers, entrepreneurs and global thought leaders from Ontario and around the globe to our two-day celebration of the innovation ecosystem," says Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO of OCE. "Discovery brings together industry, academia, investors, government, students, young entrepreneurs and more to share ideas, network, invest and create business relationships that drive Ontario's economic growth and global competitiveness."

"Our government recognizes that innovations like the ones unveiled at OCE Discovery create the jobs and technologies that will fuel our economy now and in the future," says Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Growth. "We are pleased to support these next-generation ideas that will boost Ontario's competitive advantage in a fierce and fast-changing global economy and maintain our position at the leading edge of technological innovation."

Named Canada's Best Trade Show in 2010, 2011, and 2016, OCE's Discovery is Canada's premier innovation showcase. It brings together the best and brightest minds in industry, academia, investment and government to showcase leading-edge technologies, best practices and research in the areas of energy, fintech, cleantech, advanced health, digital media, information and communication technologies and advanced manufacturing. The annual conference and trade show attracts more than 3,500 attendees and 500 exhibitors.

"Discovery is a showcase for the kind of game-changing technologies that improve our lives and drive Ontario's knowledge-based economy," says Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. "As part of our government's Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, we are proud to support OCE Discovery in advancing these cutting-edge collaborations at every stage of their development."

Discovery will feature two main-stage keynote speakers:

On May 15, Jared Cohen, founder of Google Ideas and President of Jigsaw will speaking from the main stage about the new digital age from his unique vantage point at the centre of technology and how it is changing the world, especially for the 5 billion people expected to come online in the next decade.

On May 16, Gina McCarthy will deliver an environmental message on both the mainstage and in the Discovery Theatre that conveys common sense strategies and sustainable solutions backed by science. McCarthy is well-known and celebrated for her work with the Obama White House as former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Discovery also welcomes Marc Goodman, New York Times best-selling author, founder of the Future Crimes Institute, and global strategist as a featured presenter on the panel Lessons in Innovation from the Criminal Underground and the Future of Financial Crimes.

OCE is also excited to feature panels with some of Canada's leading entrepreneurs at Discovery 2017 including;

• Technology of the Future
• Seizing Opportunity in China
• Future of Ontario's Health System: Driving Value and Impact
• Next-Generation Transportation
• Scale-Ups: How Ontario Entrepreneurs are Scaling Up and Attracting International Attention

A networking bonanza, Discovery provides students, job seekers, young entrepreneurs and start-ups seeking investment and an array of opportunities to interact with experts, investors, potential collaborators and employers.

This includes:

Meet An Investor, where attendees can meet one-on-one with expert investors, entrepreneurs, innovation agents, and professional services and export specialists.

Discovery's Book a Meeting feature, which attendees can use to message and book timeslots to meet before, during or after Discovery with other attendees, exhibitors, and investors on the show floor.

The B2B and B2G Zones. In keeping with the aim of making Discovery a place to do business, the conference will also facilitate meetings between large corporations and start-ups and scale-ups through its B2B Zone, and meetings between businesses and government through the new B2G Zone.

Discovery will also highlight:

Ontario-based companies showcasing their accessibility-focused innovations in the Accessibility Innovation Showcase on the Discovery show floor in partnership with Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Growth.

Ontario-based companies exhibiting social innovations in the Social Enterprise Zone.

Now a crowd-pleasing favourite, Discovery 2017 will also hold four pitch competitions featuring some of Ontario's brightest entrepreneurs from across the province:

• Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch for high-school students
• Accessibility Innovation Tech Pitch Competition
• Social Enterprise Pitch Competition
• ONtrepreneurs Pitch Challenge presented by the Ontario Brain Institute

Discovery continues to promote the exchange of ideas and encourage new ways to collaborate and push the boundaries of research and innovation through to demonstration and development. With so many thought leaders in one place, attending Discovery is a great way to explore Ontario's bright future in the global innovation ecosystem.

For more on Discovery, visit www.ocediscovery.com

• Shaun T – Creator of INSANITY, CIZE and HipHop Abs
• Tosca Reno – Bestselling Author, ‘Eat Clean Queen’
• Kathy Smart – Gluten Free Expert
• Joel Freeman, Jericho McMatthews, Nichelle Laus – Beachbody Super Trainers
• Tommy Europe – SHRED BOOTCAMP fitness coach

Using Reality TV to Improve Men's Mental Health

Toronto psychiatrist creates bold, experimental web series Think You Can Shrink? to improve men's mental health and reduce stigma.

TORONTO, May 1, 2017 /CNW/ - A Toronto psychiatrist has developed a unique initiative to help remove the stigma associated with mental health issues among men and encourage them to seek professional help.

Dr. Thomas Ungar, an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Head of Psychiatry at North York General Hospital, created Think You can Shrink?, a reality TV-style web series that is generating positive results among viewers.

"Mental health issues are widely misunderstood and stigmatized among the general public," Dr. Ungar said. "I wanted to create something that goes beyond traditional health promotion. I hope that by playing with everyday pop culture like a reality show, we can help people become more comfortable with mental illness and get the help they need."

With innovation funding from the Movember Foundation, the world's leading men's health charity, and support from the North York General Hospital Foundation, Dr. Ungar created Think You Can Shrink?, a three-episode web series that focuses on intimate subjects rarely portrayed in popular culture: suicidal depression, testicular lumps, and explaining how to deal with a narcissist.

"Mental health issues are particularly acute among men, who are more likely than women to try to tough it out or struggle alone," Dr. Ungar said, noting that three out of four suicides are men and that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among men aged 15 to 29.

Employing a method used to train medical students, actors are coached to portray mental health problems.  Contestants with everyday jobs who think they are good at giving advice (a bartender, a hairdresser and a strip club owner) test their skills – both successfully and unsuccessfully.  Judges include a psychiatrist, an emergency room/family doctor and celebrity Rick Campanelli, co-host of ET Canada.

"It was a fine line to walk, trying to not be exploitive of mental health issues, but entertaining so people would watch" Dr. Ungar said.  The web series avoids the shaming factor of reality TV to show that strong male support and communication is possible, de-stigmatizing the act of reaching out for help.

A survey of people who watched the episodes concludes that the reality TV-style was successful in de-stigmatizing mental health issues and encouraging people to seek professional care.  Seventy-five per cent of viewers said they were more likely to seek help if needed, and 86% would be more comfortable supporting a friend or family member who had the same health issue as portrayed in the video, according to the study in the Journal of Technology and Behavioral Science.

About the Movember Foundation:

The Movember Foundation is the only global charity focused solely on men's health. We raise funds that deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs to enable men to live happier, healthier, longer lives. Awareness and fundraising activities are run year-round, with the annual Movember Campaign in November being globally recognized for its fun, disruptive approach to fundraising and getting men to take action for their health. Since Movember started in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, millions have joined the movement, raising over $759 Million and funding over 1,200 projects focused on men's mental health & suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer. You can help stop men dying too young at movember.com.

SOURCE Dr. Tom Ungar

Toronto’s Beer-iest 5K Run Returns to Ontario Place

Toronto (April 10, 2017) --- More than 3,000 runners, walkers and beer lovers are expected to lace up for the second annual Famous Canadian Beer Run on Sunday, September 17, 2017. The event features a scenic 5-kilometre run through Ontario Place, followed by a Craft Beer and Food Festival for participants at the finish line. Costumed runners, cold beer and fantastic live entertainment make for a memorable run for beginners, beer lovers and seasoned racers alike!

Recently named by Toronto.com as one of Toronto’s Best Fun Runs, this beer-themed event offers participants stunning views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline as they make their way to the finish line where beer awaits. Crossing the finish line into the heart of the Craft Beer and Food Festival participants are handed a custom beer stein and are invited to sample brews from Ontario’s top craft breweries, including Beau’s All Natural, Lost Craft Beer, High Park Brewery, Great Lakes Brewery and Shawn and Ed Brewing Co. Other alcoholic beverages such as soCIALITE Vodka and Shiny Apple Cider are also on hand for non-beer drinkers.

Enjoying an afternoon relaxing and recovering from the race, the Festival features a live band and food from some of the city’s top food vendors, including Heirloom Toronto. Traditional post-run food like bagels and bananas are also on offer. Vendors such as event sponsor New Balance Toronto and the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies are on-site with running and beer-themed products available for purchase. The Famous Canadian Beer Run is an official Toronto Beer Week event.

Included in run registration is a race t-shirt, custom beer stein, beer chips good for two 8 oz. beers (or 4 samples) at the Festival and a race kit. The run is not a timed event and is open to runners and walkers of all abilities. Those who do not wish to participate in the 5K can attend the Craft Beer and Food Festival by purchasing a Festival Only pass ($25), which also includes the stein and beer chips good for two 8 oz. beers (or 4 samples). Additional beer tokens can be purchased in advance or on-site. Twenty-five “Brew Crew” runners from Toronto’s RUN-TO-BEER club dress up in costume to run alongside and cheer other runners along.

Early-bird pricing for the event is in effect until April 30^th and the first 450 registrants receive a free Run Hoppy toque. Registration is open online at www.runforbeer.ca.

The ParticipACTION 150 Play List Tour, in honor of Canada’s 150th birthday,
is coming to Toronto, ON for May 5th and 6th, 2017!

Join us in celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday at one of our cross-country tour stops! You can find our crew in Toronto at the 2017 Canadian Squash Championships as we challenge Canadians to complete as many physical activities from the Play List as possible. Stop by to knock a few off your own list, or try a unique featured activity. Track activities online for your chance to win great prizes!

Stop by to learn more about the 150 Play List, where you can:

• Register for the 150 Play List and learn about the 150 activities
• Check a few activities off your list all at once, including squash
• Share photos of your experience on social media with the hashtag#150playlist

For more details about the 2017 Canadian Squash Championships, visit:http://www.squash.ca/en/events

Not registered for the 150 Play List yet? Come register at our tour stop or sign up here: www.participACTION.com/150

YoFiit - Nutritional Bars

I was recently sent some of YoFitt's nutritional bars to try. I loved the packaging. Bright coloured and very informative about what ingredients are in the bar. I also love that they are made locally here in Toronto. I love supporting Canadian companies and even more so when they are made in my city.

What's so great about YoFiit?

The bars contain pre-biotics to help support a healthy gut flora because a healthy gut is the foundation of a healthy life.  11-12 g of fibre per bar. It also has probiotics that serve 2 functions a) sustain a strong gut by aiding at the digestion of carb and protein b) enhance one’s workout experience because in clinical trials, combining this probiotics strain with protein enables the easier protein absorption and as such reduces soreness post workout and allows for quicker muscle. The bars have no more than 5g of sugar. They are nut-free, vegan and gluten-free. They also have high in trace minerals such as magnesium, manganese.

What's really unique is that there are 3 bars scientifically formulated based on your needs throughout the day:

1.Morning fibre bar provides 49% of your fibre needs for the day. You are halfway through with just one bar!

2. Midday Energy bar is the pick-me-up kind of bar when you feel like you are crashing in the office or on the road around 3 pm. Full with antioxidant such as goji, cacao, quinoa, this is the perfect bar for on the go adventures.

3. All day protein bar is the ultimate protein companion bar. Optimal ratio of protein, fibre and sugar. 15g of protein / 12g of fibre / 5 g of sugar per 55g bar.

If you are looking for a natural bar these are a great source. I especially like that the 3 bars are specific to the different needs at different times of the day. They taste very clean and healthy. Give them a try and let me know if you like them.

Thanks Yofiit for the bars!

You can purchase bars HERE.

SOURCE Cardiac Care Network of Ontario (CCN)

The Terry Fox Research Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and BC Cancer Agency launch innovative pilot project to accelerate precision medicine in Canada

SOURCE Terry Fox Research Institute