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Citybiz Interview with Kevin Hrusovsky, Chairman & CEO, Quanterix

Citybizlist

Spend a few minutes with Kevin Hrusovsky, President, CEO and Chairman of Quanterix, and you will quickly understand that he and his colleagues are on a mission to transform medicine. Hrusovsky believes the Billerica, Mass.-based life sciences company has the technology and know-how to change medicine from merely providing reactive “sick care” to identifying disease and illness at the cellular level so people can be treated while they are still healthy. As a result, healthcare becomes preventative and personalized. “Quanterix is a company that has figured out how to apply rocket science to the blood,” Hrusovsky says. Hrusovsky took Quanterix, QTRX, public in 2017 and since this past March its stock has nearly tripled trading in the $40 range. What’s more, on Oct. 6, Quanterix won an $18.2 million contract from National Institutes of Health to accelerate the development of a next generation Covid-19 test. Why would NIH bother with Quanterix? The company’s technology detects protein biomarkers in extremely low concentrations in blood, serum and other fluids that, in many cases, are undetectable using conventional, analog immunoassay technologies. Its technology is 1,000 times more sensitive than any technology in the world, so it can uncover disease when people are healthy. Quanterix’s hopes to scale to 1 million COVID tests a week in the coming months. The company has 248 employees and will hire an additional 60 for the project. We spent a few minutes with Kevin to discuss the science behind Quanterix, its NIH work and the company’s prospects. Interview Questions: Quanterix Today | Can you provide an explanation of biomarkers, the goal of advancing precision health and a snapshot of Quanterix today? Biomarkers and COVID-19 | Can you explain how Quanterix has pivoted and responded to Covid-19? Can you describe the role of your technology Simoa? Which therapeutic areas, oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation and infectious diseases? The NIH Grant | The first week of October, Quanterix announced an $18 million contract with the National Institute of Health. It will accelerate the development of the COVID antigen test based on Quanterix’ Simoa technology. Can you explain the significance of this award? Recent Partnerships | Earlier this month, Quanterix entered into a license agreement with Abbott Laboratories. The license grants Abbott access to Quanterix’s portfolio of bead-based technology patents for IVD invitro diagnostic applications. Can you describe this partnership? Simoa | Can you explain how Simoa holds the keys to a complete high-definition picture of the COVID-19 infection? The PPH Network | What is the Powering Precision Health ecosystem? What is its significance in the rollout? How does Quanterix compete in the competitive COVID testing landscape? Execution/Aspiration | The execution is research and catalyzing “high probability” drug development; the aspiration is high value diagnostic and health services and a neuro toolbox acceleration, COVID and a broader PHH vision. Can you explain the vision for digital biomarker disruption in this context? Disrupt Healthcare | How is Quanterix poised to disrupt healthcare? Powering Precision Health | You’re the founder of Powering Precision Health which is an annual summit focused on the advancement of precision health. Can you tell us about your vision and its impact? 5 to 10 Years Precision Health | Will precision health improve population health? Where is precision health in 5 to 10 years? Citybizlist is a publisher of news and information about business, power, money, and people in 13 major U.S. city markets, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte/Raleigh, Atlanta, South Florida, Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas and Houston. To learn more about the citybizlist content platform, please email the publisher Edwin Warfield edwin.warfield@citybizlist.com Contact Details Edwin Warfield +1 443-562-9472 edwin.warfield@citybizlist.com Company Website https://citybizlist.com/

November 02, 2020 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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FABER FOUNDATION MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR CHARITIES & NONPROFITS

The Faber Foundation

Since its launch just a few months ago, The Faber Foundation continues to make a positive difference in the operations of government agencies, first responders, charities, and nonprofit organizations focused on serving others. The Faber Foundation helps combat the spread of COVID-19 by equipping those in need of critical supplies like hand sanitizer and other personal protective equipment (PPE) – allowing organizations to continue serving vulnerable communities without disruption. After shifting production of its high-quality vodkas, gin, and rum to the manufacture of hand sanitizer ( Faber Hand Sanitizer ), the Faber team scaled its supply to get sanitizer into the hands of those who needed it most. When supply was short, Faber filled the needs that helped keep organizations operating and people safe. As supplies become more abundant, the team continues to supply businesses and consumers while meeting the steady demand from those working tirelessly to serve others. “More than 3,500,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and other PPE is already donated to a variety of organizations still struggling to obtain critical supplies,” explained Faber’s Director of National Accounts, Brenden Pakebusch. “Organizations like Goodwill and World Vision should be allowed to pursue their work without interruptions due to safety equipment supply shortages. We hope others will join us by supporting these vital efforts.” “Thanks to generous donors like Faber Sanitizer, World Vision has been able to deliver more than 320,000 of PPE like hand sanitizer, face masks, gloves, and boot covers, to first responders, medical centers and the most vulnerable people across the United States,” stated Mike Gillespie, Senior Director for partner engagement at World Vision. “As the world navigates new and unexpected challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable families across the United States are facing an unprecedented crisis.” “COVID-19 has hit Goodwill hard,” said Rick Hill, the CEO of Goodwill Keystone Area. “Goodwill stores and donations centers were shut down for several months, severely reducing our funding income and ability to serve others. The support from Faber continues to make a major difference in our stores and donation centers as operations resume.” The beneficiaries of Faber Foundation’s generosity include organizations, large and small, which work directly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross. Organizations that need sanitizer and PPE are encouraged to contact the Faber Foundation here: https://www.thefaberfoundation.com/inquiries. As COVID-19 continues to disrupt public health and the economy, those wishing to support this cause are encouraged to donate here: https://www.thefaberfoundation.com/donate “The Faber Foundation is proud to meet this need,” Pakebusch continued. “These are difficult times, and helping ease anxieties by removing the obstacle of obtaining sanitizer and PPE, further combatting COVID-19, is the most important thing we can do right now. Please join us by considering a gift so we can continue these critical operations.” The Faber Foundation’s existing supply and access to hand sanitizer can reassure nonprofit organizations, school leaders, healthcare workers, and others on the front lines. This hand sanitizer follows FDA guidelines and will be available when needed. The product is shipped directly in a variety of pack sizes, as well as by the pallet load. To learn more about the Faber Foundation’s Hand Sanitizer and support global health, please visit https://www.thefaberfoundation.com. ### To schedule an interview with Faber’s Brenden Pakebusch please contact Dan Rene of kglobal at 202-329-8357 or daniel.rene@kglobal.com Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://fabersanitizer.com/

October 30, 2020 02:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

CALIFORNIA RHEUMATOLOGY ALLIANCE SOUNDS ALARM ON DANGEROUS POLICY CHANGE FROM ANTHEM BLUE CROSS

California Rheumatology Alliance

The California Rheumatology Alliance (CRA), a specialty physician association comprised of rheumatologists from community practices and medical centers throughout California, released a letter it sent earlier this week to Beth Anderson, Anthem’s California Plan President. The letter requests a meeting and reconsideration of a proposed policy adjustment that will force patients to utilize Anthem’s preferred specialty pharmacies, making it nearly impossible for certain treatments (specifically infusion therapy) to be conducted in physician offices – under their care. Many California physicians have received notices from Anthem stating the insurer’s policy will change on December 1, 2020, requiring the procurement of drugs from Anthem’s designated specialty pharmacy, regardless of less expensive options physicians can obtain via an open marketplace. Normally, physician administered drugs are obtained via a “buy and bill” system where a physician purchases medication and bills the insurance company under a patient’s medical benefit. The new policy moves administered medications away from the physician and the patient’s medical benefit to the patient’s pharmacy benefit - effectively reversing work physicians have done to reduce patient costs for office administered medications. The letter states in part: “…As a result of Anthem’s policy change, patients will be increasingly forced into more expensive sites of care such as hospitals or to sites where there is no direct supervision by physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants… …Higher prices, and reduced access to care – surely these are outcomes you want to avoid…” The full letter may be found here: https://wp.calrheum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-CRA-Letter-to-Anthem.pdf “By disrupting the current model of care, Anthem Blue Cross is putting patients at risk,” stated Dr. Samy Metyas, CRA’s President. “Patients that delay treatment or go elsewhere (like a hospital) for care will experience longer waits, less oversight, and substantially higher out of pocket costs. Forcing patients to take on these added burdens, at a time like this, is shameful.” By transferring medications covered on the medical side of insurance to the pharmacy side, insurers are expecting that more money can be made in the form of hidden fees and price concessions. However, costs rise at much faster rates under these scenarios than with physician procured medicines – a burden on the patient, on Anthem policyholders, and on employers that sponsor plans. “In advance of the implementation of this policy, CRA and other patient advocacy organizations will be taking action to inform patients, employers, and regulators of the dangers accompanying Anthem’s new policy. Removing the acquisition of office administered medications away from the physician and to the patient’s pharmacy benefit through specialty pharmacy will be disruptive and costly for patients,” Dr. Metyas continued, “Anthem Blue Cross can still delay or cancel the implementation of this policy change and we hope they will see the light before it is too late.” The California Rheumatology Alliance is a specialty physician association comprised of rheumatologists from community practices and medical centers throughout the state. The majority of its members come from the Northern California Rheumatology Society (NCRS), the Southern California Rheumatology Society (SCRS) and the San Diego Rheumatology Society (SDRS). Membership has since expanded to include all those health professionals regularly engaged in the care of patients with rheumatic diseases. ### Please visit https://www.calrheum.org/ For more information, or to schedule an interview with a CRA spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or daniel.rene@kglobal.com Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://www.calrheum.org/

October 29, 2020 12:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Veteran-Owned Healthcare Company Awarded Medical Equipment Government Contract Valued at $450 Million

Alliant Healthcare Products

Alliant Enterprises (dba Alliant Healthcare Products) has been awarded a Patient Monitoring & Capital Equipment (PMCE) contract by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) valued at $450 million over 10 years. The contract includes medical products from many of Alliant’s high-profile OEM partners, including Olympus America Inc., Philips Healthcare, Skytron, LINET Americas, Belimed Inc., PROCEPT BioRobotics, Veran Medical Technologies, and many others. The PMCE contract is pre-established and pre-vetted by the government as a source for medical equipment and acts as one of the preferred purchasing platforms for the Department of Defense (DoD). From robotic-assisted surgical devices to hospital beds and endoscopy equipment, this contract will help America’s service members gain access to more than 8,000 best-in-class medical devices and products over the next 10 years. When it comes to new and innovative technology, the lengthy and arduous procurement process has historically limited the ability of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DoD to quickly and efficiently purchase critical products. This contract will remove some of the bureaucratic red tape and pave the way to a smoother procurement process for federal government customers, ensuring veterans and active duty military personnel have quicker access to new technologies and life-saving medical equipment. “This PMCE contract solidifies Alliant’s position as one of the leading providers of medical equipment to the federal government. As a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, we strive to serve those who are actively working to protect our country,” said Eric Albery, President, Alliant Healthcare Products. “As a result of this contract, Alliant is able to provide federal government customers with access to some of the most advanced medical equipment on the market, through an efficient, net-centric ordering, distribution and payment system.” “Olympus and Alliant have established a high-trust relationship based on mutual respect and alignment of goals to meet the unique equipment needs of the federal government,” said Steve Wendt, Vice President for Government and Distributor Relations, Olympus America Inc. “We are excited to work with Alliant to successfully implement this new agreement administered by the Department of Defense, which will bring additional visibility to Olympus’ innovative technologies and make them more accessible to our nation’s service men and women, and our country’s veterans.” “There is no community more deserving, and we look forward to working with Alliant to understand how we can better serve the needs of veterans, active duty service men and women, as well as federal health facilities,” said Derek Farias, National Director Government Channel, Philips Healthcare. The new PMCE contract is effective immediately for government customers, adding to Alliant’s arsenal of pre-established government contracts for medical products. Founded in 2002, Alliant Healthcare has become a trusted and respected staple within the federal government healthcare market, working closely with the DoD, VA, Indian Health Service, National Institute of Health and many other federal agencies. Alliant Healthcare, headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that specializes in federal government sales, contracting, and distribution. Working closely with the Department of Defense, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies, Alliant provides extraordinary value to government customers by providing dozens of pre-established government contracts, access to thousands of medical products, unparalleled procurement knowledge, local sales support, and a single point of contact for maximized ordering efficiencies and customer service excellence. For more information, visit www.allianthealthcare.com. Contact Details Casey Johnson +1 206-239-0108 cjohnson@apcoworldwide.com

October 29, 2020 07:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Top Medical Groups Issue New Guidelines for Treating Musculoskeletal Pain

D S Simon Media

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) released a new clinical guideline recommending that physicians treat acute pain from non-low back musculoskeletal injuries with topical NSAIDs, as first-line therapy. Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for 65 MILLION health care visits in the US. Recently, Dr. Bob Arnot partnered with Salonpas and YourUpdateTV on a national satellite media tour to discuss this important topic. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/STZ5b3RHFJo The leading Medical groups, with more than 300,000 members, established new recommendations for treating acute pain from injuries such as sprains, strains and bruises based on a review of studies with more than 32,000 participants. They found that topical NSAIDs were most effective having the greatest net benefit for patients. This is a significant shift from using oral NSAIDs or Acetaminophen which are now listed as the second choice. In the guideline, the ACP and AAFP suggest against prescribing opioids for patients with acute pain from non-low back, musculoskeletal injuries. According to Dr. Arnot, these new guidelines will, “fundamentally change the way most Americans think about treating pain. Clinicians should treat patients with acute pain from non-low back, musculoskeletal injuries with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). A great example is the Salonpas Pain Relief Patch, which is applied directly to the site of pain.” For more information, visit Salonpas.us About Dr. Bob Arnot: Dr. Arnot is an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist and author who was previously Chief Medical Correspondent for NBC and CBS News. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their.It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

October 28, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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GoGetTested Offers Free FDA-Approved COVID-19 Testing in Columbia, South Carolina

Go Get Tested

GoGetTested , the first end-to-end COVID-19 testing and results management solution in the country, today announced the availability of its FDA-approved, “gold-standard” PCR COVID-19 testing in Columbia, South Carolina. In a nationwide push to offer fast, easy and accessible COVID-19 testing for all, GoGetTested will open its Covid Response Operating System and mobile testing sites throughout the city. All tests are free for South Carolina residents, regardless of whether they are insured, since the state is covering the costs. Those without health insurance can also receive free testing through the CARES Act. “With a surge in new cases across the nation, city officials in Columbia are actively seeking ways to stay ahead of the curve, including new business safety measures and mask ordinances, in addition to more widespread and rapid testing,” said WellHealth CEO Ahmad Gaber, one of the founding partners of GoGetTested. “We’re offering the only turnkey solution that delivers a seamless and secure COVID-19 testing experience, from scheduling, check-in and results delivery to clinical interactions.” As of Wednesday, October 28, residents in South Carolina can now schedule a test in seconds, complete the test in minutes at one of the testing sites and have their results delivered via text or email within a couple of days. By using a unique mobile testing approach, GoGetTested has quickly expanded its geographical reach, especially in rural areas, and can swiftly deploy testing in COVID-19 hotspots. “In anticipation of the convergence of the seasonal flu and COVID-19 cases this fall and winter, we want to make it easier for South Carolinians to get tested--especially those who may have been exposed to the virus,” said Gaber. “We will also be deploying additional healthcare services once COVID-19 vaccines are available, as well as general symptoms checks and provider consults, to help keep our communities open and safe.” GoGetTested was launched as a semi-public, semi-private industry consortium with founding partners from precision primary care startup WellHealth, Silicon Valley-based healthcare fintech startup Wellpay among other private company partners. To date, they have delivered over 110,000 COVID-19 tests and have the ability to continue testing at a rate of tens of thousands per day. GoGetTested is currently serving residents in Texas, Florida and South Carolina, and will expand testing to Nevada, Arizona, Missouri and other states in the coming weeks. For more information on scheduling a test, visit www.gogettested.com . About GoGetTested GoGetTested is the first national, digitally enabled test scheduling to result management platform in the country. Its complete end-to-end COVID-19 testing experience will help keep the nationâs communities and economies open and safe. GoGetTested was founded as a unique public-private consortium of government, clinical, technology, lab, research and retail partners, including WellHealth and Wellpay, among other companies. Its Covid-19 response units ensure geographical reach to rural areas and fast activation in virus hotspots. Testing is free for anyone and provides the most complete, adaptive and secure testing services nationwide. Contact Details April White +1 323-216-8589 gogettested@trustrelations.agency Company Website https://www.gogettested.com/

October 28, 2020 08:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Aspira Women’s Health Addresses Clinical Disparities in Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment with OVA1plus Across Racial Profiles

Aspira Women's Health Inc.

Contact Details Jaime Abrusci +1 646-599-8606 jabrusci@rxmedyn.com Company Website https://aspirawh.com/

October 28, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SullivanCotter Releases Enhanced Patient Panel Management Capabilities for its Provider Performance Management Technology™

SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and technology and data products for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector, launches expanded patient panel management functionality in the latest update of its comprehensive Provider Performance Management Technology™ (PPMT). PPMT™ is an industry-first, cloud-based product that enables provider engagement through transparent performance-based compensation administration, reporting and analytical capabilities. As the focus on optimizing team-based care to achieve better patient outcomes intensifies, health care organizations require more effective strategies and resources for facilitating patient panel management. PPMT™ enables organizations to automate the assignment of patients to clinician panels through sophisticated client-defined rules. It then calculates a risk-adjusted panel size and applies compensation calculations for a group or individual based on an organization’s requirements – providing the flexibility to change patient attribution and/or panel compensation assignments as clinical teams evolve. PPMT™ allows for greater transparency into panel composition and serves as a single, centralized source of truth for clinician compensation. “Properly attributing patients to the correct clinician’s panel can require hours of administrative time each month. Combined with detailed analytics and powerful auditing and adjustment tools, the new panel management functionality streamlines this process to ensure more accurate attribution and support effective panel management programs,” said Shelly Slowiak, Director, Product Support, Provider Performance Management Technology™, SullivanCotter. Designed to address a spectrum of physician, leadership and other key stakeholder needs, PPMT™ combines years of health care compensation insight and expertise with an intuitive, automated technology platform to help drive clinician performance and support the transition from volume- to value-based care. It incorporates SullivanCotter’s industry-leading benchmarking data into three integrated modules, including Provider Performance Management, Provider Productivity Insights and Compensation Management Analytics. “We’re working hard to understand our clients’ changing needs and priorities and, as a result, will continue to refine our product roadmap and deliver the functionality they require to help navigate such a dynamic marketplace. This innovative new functionality will serve to strengthen our existing panel management capabilities, and is a welcome addition to PPMT™ as we strive to develop one of the industry’s most comprehensive, end-to-end technology products for managing clinical compensation and performance,” said David Schwietz, Chief Information Officer, SullivanCotter. For more information on the panel management functionality or our entire suite of Provider Performance Management Technology™ , visit www.sullivancotter.com/PPMT or contact us at 888.739.7039. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights and expertise to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. Contact Details Becky Lorentz +1 314-414-3719 beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com Company Website https://sullivancotter.com/

October 28, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Graphic novel: Disinformation and cyber warfare illustrated in Real Fake

Stockwood Strategy

Deepfakes, bots, and troll farms are just some of the emerging techniques for creating and spreading disinformation. Erly Stage Studios has today published Real Fake , the digital graphic novel, which sheds a light on the disruptive forces at work. This book is the first of the graphic novels that are a part of the Resilience Series commissioned by the US Cyber Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA). Real Fake will inform and educate people on the dangers and risks associated with dis- and mis- information through fictional stories inspired by real-world events. In Real Fake, readers will meet the protagonist Rachel O'Sullivan, a gamer, patriot and member of Symous - a group fighting disinformation and foreign interference in elections as polling day approaches. Farid Haque, founder and CEO of Erly Stage Studios commented: “We’re delighted to have been commissioned by CISA to create a practical and engaging communication tool that highlights the existential threat of disinformation in the context of bad state actors. While the story is fictional many of the approaches shown are very much grounded in the reality of the technology we live with and are exposed to almost daily.” Real Fake provides a unique education for the reader about the world of Deepfakes and their history while helping the reader understand the need to exercise care when it comes to consuming news and information via social media platforms and online sources of information. In the story, racing against the clock a group of citizens set out to shine a spotlight on the source of disinformation. They find it’s coming from across their borders and from the unlikeliest of places set up as farms to perpetuate information that maliciously misleads and influences electoral outcomes. The protagonists of the story have access to unique resources and are able to prove who the sponsors of disinformation are via their puppet farms set up around the world to troll democracy in the land of the free. “Real Fake is the culmination of the wealth of experience that Clint Watts brings in cyber warfare and disinformation and our studio’s creative direction and storytelling style. We spent months researching the real life incidents and then wrapped them into a fictional story” added Farid Haque. The graphic novel is being made available by CISA to the general public online as a free resource ahead of the 2020 US Presidential election at the following URL: https://www.cisa.gov/cfi-resilience-series-graphic-novels . A subsequent title in the series will be released a few weeks afterwards titled Bug Bytes. Watch this space and log back into https://www. publishing.erlystagestudios.com to learn more. Contributing artists to Real Fake include: Annas Dar, Jose Niño Galenzoga, Patricia Beja, Mona Shan and Joel Santiago. Lettering and layouts by Annas Dar, Komal N. and Haroon M. Story by Clint Watts and Farid Haque, supported by the script writing team which includes Michael Gianfrancesco and Kabir Sabharwal. Edited by Tolly M. and Laila Khan. Special thanks to Randall Heather and Max Brooks. ENDS About Erly Stage Studios Erly Stage Studios is an indie publisher, headquartered out of London, United Kingdom, capturing iconic stories in serious graphic novels. We are an expert team of educators, storytellers, and artists working to create awareness about important topics using the graphic novel medium. The team loves shining a spotlight on stories that are yet to see the light of graphic novels. As an expert team of teachers, researchers and designers the team works with innovative organisations and policymakers around the world to deliver soft power through engaging and creative projects. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://publishing.erlystagestudios.com/

October 28, 2020 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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