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Discover How This Company's Breakthrough Technology Might Be The Key To Transforming Pancreatic Cancer Pain Relief

Benzinga

By Austin DeNoce, Benzinga Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its high mortality rate but also for the severe pain it inflicts on patients. This pain often manifests as significant abdominal and back pain, making it difficult for patients to comfortably sit or lie on their back. The debilitating nature of this pain severely impacts the quality of life of those affected, and it can be particularly challenging to manage. As such, it is a condition primed for innovative solutions to help patients. Pancreatic Pain Management Strategies The pain associated with pancreatic cancer is primarily due to the tumor's proximity to critical nerves and blood vessels. As the tumor grows, it can compress these nerves, leading to intense pain that is challenging to manage. Patients frequently experience persistent and severe abdominal and back pain that can significantly restrict their daily activities and mobility. Emotional distress, anxiety and depression often accompany chronic pain, affecting both patients and their caregivers. The current strategies for managing pancreatic cancer pain are limited and often ineffective. Pain medications, such as opioids, are commonly prescribed but come with significant side effects like constipation, drowsiness and the risk of addiction. Additionally, these medications may lose their effectiveness over time, leading to increased tolerance and necessitating higher doses. Meanwhile, nerve blocks and ablation techniques, while potentially effective, often lack precision and can cause unintended side effects by missing target nerves and damaging surrounding tissues. This imprecision stems from the inability of other technologies to accurately detect weak electrical signals from the peripheral nervous system. However, Autonomix’s catheter-based technology uses a microchip and antenna to precisely detect nerves, which allows for a safe and accurate pain treatment. Approximately 70% to 80% of patients with pancreatic cancer experience pain, with around 44% reporting severe pain as the disease progresses. Breakthrough pain, which occurs despite ongoing pain management, has a high prevalence of 33%-95%, with 50% to 90% of all hospitalized patients experiencing it – further complicating treatment. This unrelenting pain significantly impacts the patient's quality of life, contributing to both physical and emotional distress that demands better management strategies. Autonomix's Approach to Pancreatic Cancer Pain Autonomix Medical (NASDAQ: AMIX) is a medical device company pioneering a groundbreaking technology to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders related to the autonomic nervous system. Their first-in-class technology platform features a catheter-based microchip sensing array that can detect and differentiate neural signals with remarkable sensitivity, up to 3,000 times greater than currently available technologies, according to the company. This innovative technology allows the company to sense the overactive nerves which lead to the intense pain caused by pancreatic cancer. Then Autonomix is able to ablate, or kill, those overactive nerves, effectively turning off the pain signal. By providing a more accurate and targeted approach, Autonomix aims to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer pain. First-In-Human Pilot Studies Autonomix recently commenced its first in-human pilot study in pancreatic cancer pain. This marks the first trial ever to evaluate radiofrequency (RF) ablation using a transvascular approach to reduce pain associated with pancreatic cancer. The study involves 25 subjects at a single clinical site, aiming to assess the ablation of relevant nerves and subsequent pain mitigation. Autonomix announced it will release preliminary results from the first five “lead-in” patients in the study on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 and management will host a live webcast at 8:30 AM ET to discuss the results. Click here to register for the webcast. A New Dawn in Pain Management Pancreatic cancer pain is a significant and challenging issue that severely impacts patients' quality of life. Current pain management strategies are often inadequate, underscoring the need for innovative solutions. Autonomix's technology offers a promising alternative, with the potential to provide precise and effective pain relief for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer pain. By targeting a smaller market initially, Autonomix aims to prove the effectiveness of its technology, paving the way for broader applications in the future across conditions where pain is a key symptom. Featured photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

June 13, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Stupid Cancer Announces CancerCon Live 2024 in Austin, Texas

Stupid Cancer

Stupid Cancer, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering everyone affected by adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer, is thrilled to announce that CancerCon Live 2024 will take place in Austin, Texas for the first time ever. This landmark event, scheduled for August 15 - 18, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Austin, promises to bring together hundreds of young adult cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates from across the country to share their experiences, gain valuable insights/resources, and build lasting connections. “We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience that empowers young adults affected by cancer and helps them connect with others who truly understand their journey.” says Alison Silberman, CEO of Stupid Cancer. CancerCon Live is the premier annual gathering for the AYA cancer community, offering a unique blend of education, support, and empowerment. This year's event in Austin will feature: Keynote Speakers: Hear from leading voices in the AYA cancer community, including survivors, healthcare professionals, and advocates, sharing their stories and insights on topics ranging from advancements in cancer treatment to survivorship challenges. Workshops and Panels: Participate in interactive sessions on a wide range of topics tailored to the unique needs of AYA cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, covering mental health, fertility preservation, advocacy, career development, and more. Meet the AYA Community: Dedicated time for attendees to connect with peers, build lasting friendships, and expand their support networks in a supportive and inclusive environment. Exhibit Hall: Explore resources, products, and services from leading organizations committed to supporting the AYA cancer community as well as a few local small businesses. Social Events: Enjoy fun and engaging social activities designed to foster connections and create memorable experiences with some local Austin flavor. Local excursions: Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the city’s unique attractions, including Bat Watching under Congress Bridge and unlimited Skee-Ball at Full Circle Bar, to name a few, all while engaging in meaningful activities that support their personal and collective growth. “Austin’s dynamic and inclusive culture aligns perfectly with our mission to build a strong, supportive community for AYA cancer patients and survivors. We look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be our most impactful CancerCon yet,” says Eddie Mouradian, Director of Development. For over a decade, Stupid Cancer has brought together hundreds of patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, and health professionals at the largest gathering of the AYA community - CancerCon (R). Now gathering both online and off, every CancerCon event is an immersive experience, led by transformative connection and education. The majority of conference attendees are AYA (age 15-39) cancer patients and survivors, but caregivers and health professionals of all ages are also welcome. CancerCon Live is hosted in a different US city each year as we seek to make the event always be within reach of our community at all times. Registration for CancerCon Live 2024 is now open. To register or learn more about the event, please visit cancercon.org. About Stupid Cancer Stupid Cancer’s mission is to help empower everyone affected by adolescent and young adult cancer by ending isolation and building community. Through innovative programming and strategic communications, the organization aims to provide support, resources, education, and a sense of community both online and in-person. For more information, please visit stupidcancer.org. For media inquires, contact: media@stupidcancer.org About Stupid Cancer:Stupid Cancer's mission is to help empower everyone in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) community by ending isolation and building community. Contact Details Alison Silberman +1 646-868-0087 media@stupidcancer.org Company Website https://stupidcancer.org/

June 12, 2024 02:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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AmeriLife’s HIPE Financial Welcomes Legacy Senior Benefit to Amplify Value Within the Final Expense Marketplace

AmeriLife

HIPE Financial, an ORCA Life company and an affiliate of AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife), announced today that it has partnered with Legacy Senior Benefit, a Kentucky-based final expense-specific insurance company with distribution networks throughout the southern U.S. Per the agreement, the terms of the deal were not disclosed. “HIPE is focused on high performance, and we are thrilled to welcome Legacy Senior Benefit to our team,” said David and Lindsey Curry, principals of HIPE Financial. “The final expense market offers significant growth potential, especially given the power of our distribution channels with ORCA Life and AmeriLife. We look forward to continuing consumer awareness, customization, and value-added services for people looking to secure end-of-life expenses.” In 2016, ORCA Life entered the final expense market to address a significant gap by adopting a unique personal and in-home service approach. Since then, this strategy has set ORCA Life and its companies, such as HIPE Financial, apart, enabling its agents to develop deeper connections with their clients and enhance their support to seniors for their end-of-life insurance needs. “David and Lindsey continue to push the bar higher, strengthening our distribution and working to accelerate both business and producer success,” said Glenn Crabtree, founder and president of ORCA Life. “Our partnership with Legacy Senior Benefit is no different. Powered by a servant-leadership approach and value-based service offering, this collaboration has all the hallmarks of high performance, client trust, and care as we continue to achieve industry excellence as a final expense market leader.” Legacy Senior Benefit’s network of agents will continue under the leadership of owner and founder Corey Price. “Legacy Senior Benefit was built through a network of close friends and family,” said Price. “With a solid network of trusted agents, and now powered by one of the strongest distribution channels in the industry, we are ready for this next chapter of growth as we continue to serve our customers with end-of-life planning with trust and dignity.” AmeriLife’s distribution platform offers partners a best-in-class business culture that boasts efficiency, value, and access to professional marketing services to increase productivity and bottom-line revenue. This is particularly beneficial in the final expense sector, where consumers look to provide peace of mind and tailored financial security solutions to meet their end-of-life expenses. “We are thrilled to see our partnership with ORCA Life and HIPE flourish with the addition of Legacy Senior Benefit,” said Scotty Elliott, Chief Distribution Officer of Health for AmeriLife. “This collaboration will expand our holistic distribution capabilities and enhance our ability to serve our beneficiaries more effectively and set new standards in the industry.” ### About ORCA Life ORCA Life’s roots go back to the late ‘90s. Over the last two decades, it has expanded its footprint through grassroots marketing. The company was officially founded in 2016 to fill a glaring void in the final expense industry. It emphasizes an in-home, face-to-face service model, allowing its agents to cultivate meaningful relationships with their clients and better support seniors’ insurance needs for their final days. Today, ORCA Life boasts a growing roster of writing agents throughout and beyond the Midwest and Southeast. We continue to set the standards for client trust, care, and excellence, helping it achieve industry recognition as a final expense market leader. For more information, visit ORCA Life. About HIPE Financial Lindsey and David Curry are dynamic and dedicated to service. Their journey as successful entrepreneurs has led to the foundation of HIPE Financial, which is focused on high performance. Whether the senior market has life, health, and wealth or young professionals seek their next level of performance, HIPE is focused on the solution. For more information, visit HIPE Financial. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For over 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and financial professionals and over 100 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado media@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols corporatedevelopment@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

June 12, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Yandex develops and open-sources an LLM training tool that saves up to 20% of GPU resources

Yandex

Yandex introduces YaFSDP, a method for faster and more efficient large language model (LLM) training. Potentially saving users hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. Available free. Yandex, a global tech company, recently introduced YaFSDP, an open-source method for training large language models (LLMs). YaFSDP is currently the most effective publicly available tool for enhancing GPU communication and reducing memory usage in LLM training, offering a speedup of up to 26% compared to FSDP, depending on the architecture and number of parameters. Reducing the training time for LLMs through the use of YaFSDP can result in savings of up to 20% in GPU resources. “Currently, we're actively experimenting with various model architectures and parameter sizes to expand YaFSDP’s versatility,” noted Mikhail Khruschev, a senior developer at Yandex and part of the team behind YaFSDP. “We are thrilled to share our developments in LLM training with the global ML community, contributing to increased accessibility and efficiency for researchers and developers worldwide.” The case for YaFSDP LLM training is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. Machine learning engineers and companies that develop their own LLMs invest significant time and GPU resources — which equals money — in training these models. The larger the model, the greater the time and expenses associated with its training. Yandex’s YaFSDP works by eliminating GPU communication inefficiencies, ensuring that training requires only necessary processor memory and making GPU interactions uninterrupted. YaFSDP optimizes learning speed and performance, enabling AI developers worldwide to use less computing power and GPU resources when training their models. For instance, in a pre-training scenario involving a model with 70 billion parameters, using YaFSDP can save the resources of approximately 150 GPUs, which translates to roughly $0.5 to $1.5 million (depending on the virtual GPU provider or platform) in potential monthly savings. YaFSDP’s training efficiency YaFSDP, an enhanced version of FSDP, outperforms the FSDP method in the most communication-heavy stages of LLM training like pre-training, alignment, and fine-tuning. The final speedup shown by YaFSDP on Llama 2 and Llama 3 demonstrates significant improvements in training speed, reaching 21% and 26% on Llama 2 70B and Llama 3 70B respectively. “YaFSDP has shown impressive results on models ranging from 13 to 70 billion parameters, with particularly strong performance in the 30 to 70 billion range,” said Mikhail Khruschev. “Currently, YaFSDP is best suited for widely-used open-source models based on the LLaMA architecture.” YaFSDP isn’t Yandex’s first open-source tool. The company has previously shared several other tools that have become popular with the ML community, including: CatBoost, a high-performance library for gradient boosting on decision trees. YTsaurus, a big data platform for distributed storage and processing. AQLM, one of the most advanced quantization algorithms for extreme compression of large language models, developed jointly by Yandex Research, HSE University, IST Austria, and NeuralMagic. Petals, a library designed to simplify the process of training and fine-tuning LLMs, developed in a collaboration involving Yandex Research, HSE University, University of Washington, Hugging Face, ENS Paris-Saclay, and Yandex School of Data Analysis. Accessing YaFSDP YaFSDP is freely available on Github. – – – – – For Reference During large language model (LLM) training, developers have to efficiently manage three primary resources: computing power, processor memory, and processor communications. YaFSDP conserves the first two, which helps to accelerate the LLM training process. LLM training relies on numerous GPUs organized into clusters — arrays of interconnected graphics processors that can perform the vast number of calculations necessary to train models with billions of parameters. Distributing computations among processors within a cluster requires constant communication, which often becomes a "bottleneck", slowing the training process and resulting in inefficient use of computing power. To overcome this bottleneck, Yandex developers created YaFSDP, a method that improves GPU communication and optimizes learning speed and performance. When combined with Yandex’s other performance-enhancing solutions, the method accelerated the training process by up to 45% for some of its models. YaFSDP works by eliminating GPU communication inefficiencies, which leads to optimized network usage and reduced memory load. It ensures that training requires only necessary processor memory and makes GPU interactions uninterrupted, facilitating further optimizations like minimizing processor communication time. This leads to a significant enhancement in both performance and memory efficiency. The YaFSDP method can be used effectively in transformer-based text generative models with multiple layers (multilayer perceptrons), mostly represented by LLaMA-like models. In a pre-training scenario involving a model with 70 billion parameters, using YaFSDP can save the resources of approximately 150 GPUs. When compared to FSDP, the final speedup shown by YaFSDP on Llama 2 and Llama 3 demonstrates significant improvements in training efficiency. About Yandex Yandex is a global technology company that builds intelligent products and services powered by machine learning. The company’s goal is to help consumers and businesses better navigate the online and offline world. Since 1997, Yandex has been delivering world-class, locally relevant search and information services and has also developed market-leading on-demand transportation services, navigation products, and other mobile applications for millions of consumers across the globe. Contact Details NettResults Media Team media@nettresults.com

June 12, 2024 08:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Therma Bright’s Investment Case Just Got Stronger As Approval On Permanent Insurance Codes Gets Closer

TBRIF

Therma Bright (TSXV:THRM) (OTCQB:TBRIF), a developer of a wide range of leading edge, proprietary diagnostic and medical device technologies that address some of today's most important medical and healthcare challenges, appears to be positioned for major growth based on one important upcoming catalyst. For some background, Therma Bright (TSXV:THRM) (OTCQB:TBRIF) sells Venowave, a compact, battery operated peristaltic pump that generates a wave-form motion. When worn below the knee and strapped to the calf, the resulting compression of the calf causes an increased upward volumetric displacement of venous and lymph fluid. The Venowave is FDA approved for 10 indications, including: Management of Post Thrombotic Syndrome, Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT / blood clots), treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency, as well as other conditions related to poor circulation in the extremities.It seems that the company is set to receive a newly issued, HCPCS Level II code to identify it’s Venowave device,which will be instrumental in driving revenue growth. HCPCS codes are a set of health care procedure codes used in the United States to standardize the reporting of medical procedures, services and devices. These codes are essential for billing and reimbursement purposes within the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and are also used by other healthcare insurers in the United States, including private insurance companies. Additionally, a preliminary Medicare Payment determination will be made for this new HCPCS code. If the Venowave is purchased outright, Medicare and Medicaid will reimburse $1,199 USD. If the unit is rented to the patient, Medicare and Medicaid will pay $78.05 USD / month for up to 13 months, for a total of $819.55 USD. These are very favourable numbers for Therma Bright when taking into account the manufacturing cost of Venowave. Additionally, private insurers such as blue cross blue shield, UnitedHealth Group, etc., also use these codes as guidelines to determine reimbursement payouts. Why is this so important? Previously, Venowave was placed into the E0676 HCPCS code. E0676 is a miscellaneous code with no set reimbursement, meaning that when Venowave is billed for under this code, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as private insurance companies will default to a $0 reimbursement. While it is possible to submit a package of medical necessity under this code, with a detailed explanation of the patients’ condition and why it should be reimbursed, the reality is that most physicians or prescribing parties will not go through this exercise as they are not reimbursed for the time and trouble it takes. Therma Bright experienced a similar situation with the temporary codes it was approved to sell Venowave under in 2023 – Without the prescribing party submitting a package of medical necessity, Venowave by default will not be paid for. Additionally, these reimbursement issues are a barrier to prescribing parties recommending Venowave, as they are not able to tell their patients if the device will be paid for. Physicians tend to shy away from prescribing devices in these categories, as they could leave their patient with a large unexpected medical bill, reflecting badly on the prescribing party. This new HCPCS code combined with the preliminary payment determination establishes a fixed payout for Venowave across public and private insurers in the United States, eliminating friction in payments as well as hesitancy by the prescribing parties in recommending the device. Therma Bright expects to receive this new HCPCS code and payment determination after the biannual CMS meeting which was held at the end of May, 2024. Venowave differentiates itself from other available compression products in a number of ways. Currently, pneumatic devices and simple products that squeeze the leg make up the majority of the compression market. Inexpensive portable compression devices simply squeeze and release the calf, and do not actively move fluid upwards towards the heart. Sequential compression devices are proven very effective, however they are not portable. Sequential compression devices have tubes attached to an air compressor which inflates chambers in sequence, providing sequential compression. Typically these devices can only be used while lying in bed, on a couch or in a similar position, and do not allow the patient to remain ambulatory. Venowave combines the best of both worlds, providing sequential compression without the use of tubes or wires, allowing the patient to remain completely ambulatory while receiving treatment. Additionally, Venowave is quiet, so patients can continue to receive treatment while they are sleeping or otherwise resting. Currently in the United States an estimated 25 million people are living with some form of Chronic Venous insufficiency. Most go untreated or rely on simple compression stockings for some form of minor relief, as proper treatment via sequential compression devices is too cumbersome and expensive. The issuance of this new HCPCS code and payment determination opens up these patients to the Venowave, a new and portable form of treatment that will not cost them anything out of pocket. This market alone, along with the management of Post Thrombotic Syndrome and prevention of primary thrombosis is potentially huge. Additionally, Therma Bright is working towards securing reimbursement for DVT prevention. While Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for DVT prevention, private insurers do. Therma Bright is confident that the issuance of this new HCPCS code and payment determination will help patients access Venowave for DVT prevention via their private health insurance, which is another huge addressable market in the United States. During the last year, Therma Bright has been meeting with potential distributors across the United States. Many have indicated interest in the Venowave pursuant to a positive outcome with regards to the HCPCS coding. Therma Bright currently has over 2000 Venowave units in inventory, which they expect can be moved right away upon the issuance of the HCPCS code. After these initial 2000 units are sent to distributors, placed on patients, and reimbursement received, Therma Bright conservatively estimates moving 500-1000 units / month. Given the high margin on Venowave, this will fare well for the company. As Venowave is a high margin product, the company is looking at the possibility of setting up a manufacturing operation in either the U.S, Canada or Mexico which would allow it to sell to the VA in the US. This would open up yet another large market for Venowave in the United States. For investors who may be interested in Therma Bright, it is important to note that Venowave isn’t its only product. The company also has respiratory health and consumer health product portfolios. The respiratory health product portfolio features the Digital Cough Test (DCT) app created by Therma Bright (TSXV:THRM) (OTCQB:TBRIF) and AI4LYF. The app uses artificial intelligence to detect multiple respiratory diseases by analyzing a person’s cough sound and has shown a high accuracy rate. The app is currently in the process of securing a 513g FDA clearance, which will allow the company to charge for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) and be used for patient reimbursement. The consumer health product portfolio features devices designed for pain relief, cold sore prevention and insect bite relief. Disclaimers: RazorPitch Inc. "RazorPitch" is not operated by a licensed broker, a dealer, or a registered investment adviser. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investment advice. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides investors a safe harbor in regard to forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions, or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact may be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through use of words such as projects, foresee, expects, will, anticipates, estimates, believes, understands, or that by statements indicating certain actions & quote; may, could, or might occur. Understand there is no guarantee past performance will be indicative of future results. Investing in micro-cap and growth securities is highly speculative and carries an extremely high degree of risk. It is possible that an investors investment may be lost or impaired due to the speculative nature of the companies profiled. RazorPitch has been retained and expects to be compensated by Therma Brite to assist in the production and distribution of content related to TBRIF. RazorPitch is responsible for the production and distribution of this content. It should be expressly understood that under no circumstances does any information published herein represent a recommendation to buy or sell a security. This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this article constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by RazorPitch or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in this article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the article constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. RazorPitch is not a fiduciary by virtue of any persons use of or access to this content. Contact Details RazorPitch Inc Mark McKelvie +1 585-301-7700 mark@razorpitch.com Company Website http://RazorPitch.com

June 12, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

AGC Biologics & Chief Executive Officer Patricio Massera Announce Plans for Him to Step Down

AGC Biologics

AGC Biologics, a leading global Biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), today announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patricio Massera, will be stepping down from his role effective June 30. Patricio Massera joined the company in 2012, as General Manager of the Copenhagen site at CMC Biologics A/S. He later served as Chief Operating Officer of CMC Biologics at its Seattle headquarters. He held the same role after CMC Biologics was acquired by AGC Inc. and formed AGC Biologics. Mr. Massera was appointed CEO in 2019. He also served as an Executive Officer of the AGC Life Science Company, the Life Science Division of AGC Inc. During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Massera spearheaded several initiatives that elevated AGC Biologics' global business and brand. His work and achievements include key milestones such as navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, acquiring Molecular Medicine S.p.A. (“MolMed”) in Milan to create AGC Biologics’ Global Cell and Gene business, and acquiring facilities in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado to establish new large-scale commercial mammalian capacity and cell and gene services in North America. Mr. Massera also directed the company’s long-standing commitment to investing in single-use technology to ensure AGC Biologics could address the evolving needs of pharmaceutical companies using any platform process to develop new drug candidates. “Over the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of experiencing the most vibrant and remarkable professional position of my life. CMC Biologics, and later AGC Biologics, have provided me with countless opportunities. I have met incredible individuals driven by the desire to build a better world, all sharing the common purpose of enabling our partners to cure life-threatening diseases and bring hope to life.” Massera said. “During this journey, we have managed to grow the business multiple times. However, like all great stories, every book has an end. In this case, it is just a chapter that finishes. AGC Biologics has a long and brilliant journey ahead, but it is time for someone else to write the next chapter.” The new CEO search process is underway. In light of this transition, AGC Biologics is pleased to share Tadashi Murano, President of the AGC Life Science Company, will serve as interim CEO. He brings several decades of experience in global leadership roles within AGC Inc. across various business entities. For more information on AGC Biologics, visit www.agcbio.com. About AGC Biologics: AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan. We currently employ more than 2,500 Team Members worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients’ most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.’s Life Science Company. The Life Science company runs more than 10 global facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com. Contact Details Nick McDonald +1 425-419-3555 nmcdonald@agcbio.com Company Website https://www.agcbio.com/

June 12, 2024 12:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

News Release

Lava Cake is the top cannabis strain on the market, new poll finds

NuggMD

Lava Cake is the cannabis strain whose effects are most popular with consumers, according to new consumer polling and analysis conducted by NuggMD, the leading telehealth platform for cannabis. The poll asked cannabis users their main goal for using cannabis, desired flavor/aroma, and desired effect. More than 6,500 randomized cannabis users responded. As a representative sample of all U.S. cannabis consumers, the poll’s margin of error is 1.2%. The top preferences respondents cited were: the goal of pain relief (25%), anxiety relief (23%), and stress relief (18%); a flavor profile of fruit (27%), sweetness (19%), and earthiness (18%); and the effects of relaxation (30%) and euphoria (24%). The full poll results are available here. The company then used its database of cannabis strains to identify popular strains that fit those preferences. While strains like Georgia Pie, Cheetah Piss, Mendo Breath, and GMO Cookies rank highly, Lava Cake is the only strain that meets all of those preferences, suggesting it is both the most durable strain on the market and the one that offers the most effects that consumers want. The poll also finds nearly half of all cannabis users hit it whenever they feel like it—the poll asked respondents when they prefer to consume cannabis, with a plurality, 48 percent, saying “anytime.” “Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Americans have become much more stressed out and anxious than previous generations, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence to see everyday Americans doing whatever they can to manage it all,” said Deb Tharp, head of legal and policy research at NuggMD. “Our polling data suggests that more Americans are using cannabis to mentally and emotionally handle the world around them than to escape from it.” NuggMD.com used first-party data to conduct this poll. It was a questionnaire sent via email to a random list of opt-in respondents, all of whom consume cannabis regularly. The poll was conducted in May 2024. The sample contained no NuggMD customers. About NuggMD NuggMD is the nation’s leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. They’ve connected over 1,300,000 patients face-to-face with their new medical marijuana doctors via their state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. They believe every human being has the right to explore the potential benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore every option in their journey to wellness. For further information, visit https://www.nuggmd.com. Contact Details Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 andrew.g@getnugg.com Company Website http://www.nuggmd.com

June 11, 2024 03:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Voyageur Pharmaceuticals and Rain Cage Carbon Partner to Develop Advanced Radiology Contrast Agents

Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Voyageur Pharmaceuticals CEO Brent Willis joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce that the company and Rain Cage Carbon are advancing their collaboration following the first commercial creation of a V@C60 endohedral fullerene or Vanadium atom inside a C60 molecule. Rain Cage is now embarking on the next phase of radiology drug development using their cutting-edge technology. Willis told Proactive that Rain Cage will begin working to create on a commercial scale, the encapsulation of gadolinium, bismuth, and iodine within endohedral fullerenes. This pioneering work, set to begin later this month, aims to develop a process to create Gd@C60, Bi@C60, and I@C60 endohedral fullerenes, targeting the development of highly advanced radiology contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and CT scans. These novel compounds, known for their rarity and complex synthesis, hold the promise of transforming medical imaging by significantly enhancing the precision and clarity of radiological scans. Endohedral fullerenes are a class of fullerenes that enclose an additional atom, ion, or cluster within their inner sphere, exhibiting superior physical and electronic characteristics compared to regular fullerenes. In the context of radiology drugs, endohedral metallofullerenes offer distinct advantages through exceptional stability and bioavailability, an amplified signal that leads to better image clarity and resolution, targeted delivery, and reduced toxicity. These properties have garnered interest in applications such as MRI contrast agents Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

June 11, 2024 12:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Busting the Myths Around Weight Loss Medication

YourUpdateTV

Obesity is one of the most common chronic health issues in the U.S. today, and can lead to or exacerbate many other significant physical and mental health challenges, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. But GLP-1 injections are an impactful new tool that can help people on their weight loss journey. Recently, Dr. Craig Primack, the Senior Vice President of Weight Loss at Hims and Hers, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the impact of obesity, common myths surrounding weight loss medications, and personalized options that can help. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/NGNz92bi7nY Research shows that even just 5-10% of body weight loss can improve blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, joint pain, sleep apnea, and other weight-related conditions. Weight loss drugs like GLP-1 medication are not only an exciting tool in the weight loss tool belt but can help to address the challenges associated with obesity. GLP-1 injections can support healthy weight loss along with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise. Some common myths regarding weight loss medications, include: ● Many people assume that weight loss medications are magic. Weight loss drugs can be excellent tools for decreasing hunger and therefore reducing overall calorie intake, but their effects are not instant and should be combined with a healthy lifestyle approach, including a balanced diet and regular exercise. ● People also assume that the injections are painful. The injection is a very small needle that goes just under the skin. It feels like a small pinch, and is quite painless. For the most part, people do great with self-administering GLP-1 injections. ● Lastly, many people think that weight loss drugs come with dangerous side effects. Like all medications, there is a risk of side effects, but there are really only three common side effects associated with GLP-1’s, and they are generally mild: nausea, heartburn, and constipation. The benefits of these drugs far outweigh the risks for many, especially when compared to the health risks associated with being overweight. Hims & Hers’ personalized approach means custom treatment for individual needs to minimize these side effects. Known for its holistic, personalized approach to health and wellness, Hims & Hers is now offering access to GLP-1 injections designed for affordability and effectiveness. These are the four things you should know. ● Hims & Hers’ weight loss program is tailored to an individual’s needs and includes customized medication kits or GLP-1 medication, as determined appropriate by the healthcare provider. ● The science-backed and doctor-developed program is available 100% online for as little as $199 a month. ● Through the app, a licensed healthcare provider will work with you to decide the recommended treatment, plus provide realistic nutritional tips with easy to follow snack and meal ideas. ● Hims & Hers takes the safety of each customer very seriously. The pharmacies the brand works with provide sterile, single-use syringes with each GLP-1 shipment, and products are made with active ingredients from FDA regulated suppliers. And, injection medications are shipped in cold packs for temperature control in transit in the summer weather. For more information, visit hims.com/glp1 or forhers.com/glp1 About Dr. Craig Primack MD, FACP, FAAP, MFOMA Dr. Craig Primack is the Senior Vice President of Weight Loss at Hims & Hers. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois and subsequently attended medical school at Loyola University — The Stritch School of Medicine. He completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and in Pediatrics at Banner University- Phoenix, and Phoenix Children's Hospital. He received post-residency training in Obesity Medicine and is one of about 7,000 physicians in the U.S. certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. In 2006, Dr. Primack co-founded Scottdale Weight Loss Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he began practicing full-time obesity medicine. Scottsdale Weight Loss Center has grown since then to six obesity medicine clinicians in four locations around the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area.From 2019–2021, he served as president of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), a society of over 5,400 clinicians dedicated to clinical obesity medicine. He proudly served on the OMA board from 2010-2024, most recently as ex-officio trustee. Dr. Primack routinely does media interviews regarding weight loss and regularly speaks around the country educating medical professionals about weight loss and obesity care. He is co-author of the book, “Chasing Diets.” Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 11, 2024 11:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time