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College of American Pathologists: Cancer Rates Soaring in Younger Adults

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/rq8XcHBnPw0 Cancer doesn’t discriminate by age today. Consider celebrities like Chadwick Boseman, who died from colon cancer; Olivia Munn, who recently underwent a double mastectomy; Ninja, a popular streamer on Twitch diagnosed with skin cancer; and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, who is currently being treated for the disease. All of them were diagnosed before the age of 50. Why is this happening and what can we do to catch it early? There are several reasons: diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. The College of American Pathologists is emphasizing the importance of early detection, screening, and being vigilant regarding symptoms. A nationwide media tour was conducted to discuss this important issue featuring Dr. Donald Karcher, president of the College of American Pathologists. Topics that Dr. Karcher discussed included: · What is behind the soaring trend of younger adults being diagnosed with cancer? · What symptoms to look for to improve cancer outcomes. · What cancers can and should be screened for? · What if you don’t meet the minimum age requirements for screening but are having symptoms? · Discussing the importance of early detection. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: YOURPATHOLOGIST.ORG Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 14, 2024 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AmeriLife Marketing Group and RB Insurance Partner to Deliver Enhanced Value to the Medicare Marketplace

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Marketing Group (AMG), a national field marketing organization (FMO) for many of the industry’s top insurance carriers and an affiliate of AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), announced today that it has entered into a partnership with RB Insurance Group, a national marketing organization with over 30 years of experience in the Medicare market concentrating on Special Needs and dual-eligible plan sales. Per the agreement, the terms of the deal were not disclosed. The AMG partnership aims to streamline solutions and organizational resources for RB Insurance’s network of 450-plus affiliated brokers licensed in 36 states. AmeriLife acquired RB Insurance Group (RBI) from AMBA, a market leader and trusted provider of affinity marketing solutions and supplemental insurance and benefits. Under AMBA, RB Insurance has grown into one of the nation's most diverse IMO insurance and financial services companies. “We are proud to partner with an esteemed insurance company serving the Medicare market,” said AMG President Nick Hildenbrand. “The partnership between AMG and RBI brings significant meaning to our company as we join forces to empower and protect the health and well-being of countless individuals served by the comprehensive Medicare network. Together, we will navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape, ensuring that our valued customers receive the highest quality of care and support.” “RB Insurance knows and understands the value of professional quality and enters our network with an unwavering commitment to provide experienced support staff, proprietary technology, training, education, and stalworth guidance to its agents while serving Medicare’s senior population,” added AMG Principal Doug Stovall. “Our partnership structure will exponentially increase each of these areas while providing additional layers of professional access to industry services that drive results and promote a servant-leadership culture.” AMBA’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Taylor agrees that RB Insurance will prosper under AmeriLife’s ownership. “AmeriLife is one of AMBA’s trusted partners for Medicare products, so we are confident that this transaction makes sense for RB Insurance, AmeriLife, and AMBA. AmeriLife will be able to take RB Insurance to new heights while AMBA focuses on its core competencies and growth initiatives.” RB Insurance has earned a trusted and highly regarded reputation for developing unique contracting packages that align with brokers’ professional aspirations and fuel the drive for sales success. “This partnership is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, and I am truly honored to lead a team that consistently strives to make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve,” said RB Insurance Group Executive Marketing Director James Gramp. “With this alliance, we now embark on a transformative path where innovation and compassion converge to redefine the future of healthcare.” AmeriLife’s distribution platform offers partners efficiency, cost value, and access to professional marketing services and culture to drive economies of scale, significantly increasing productivity and bottom-line revenue. “I am excited to welcome RB Insurance to AMG and our growing distribution network,” said Scotty Elliott, Chief Distribution Officer of Health for AmeriLife. “AMG has experienced significant growth in scale and leadership, representing the perfect partnership model to take RB Insurance to new profitability, industry impact, and human resource expansion levels.” RB Insurance will continue to operate as a stand-alone business out of its Tempe, Arizona, offices under the leadership of AMG President and Principal Nick Hildenbrand and Doug Stovall, respectively. ### About RB Insurance Group RB Insurance began in 1981 when its founder and a few close associates sold insurance independently in Arizona. In 2006, the enterprise expanded, forming RB Insurance Group, LLC (RBI). Today, RB Insurance is a National Marketing Organization focused on Medicare-related products. For more information, visit rbi-group.com. About AMBA AMBA is a market leader and trusted provider of affinity marketing solutions, supplemental insurance, and benefits. With a focus on client growth and service, AMBA offers a range of products and services to meet the unique needs of its diverse clients, members, and customers, including long-term care, short-term care, cancer, heart, stroke, emergency medical transportation, dental, vision, Medicare solutions, pro-liability professional liability insurance, event cancellation coverage, annuities, and life insurance. For more information, visit www.getamba.com. 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 more than 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 more than 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/

May 14, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NetScientific CEO hails deal with Martlet Capital as an important milestone

NetScientific PLC

NetScientific PLC (AIM:NSCI) CEO Dr Ilian Iliev takes Proactive's Stephen Gunnion through a transaction that will see NetScientific company EMV Capital become the investment advisor to Martlet Capital's portfolio of 53 investments while acquiring its operational venture capital business. Iliev said the transaction is part of NetScientific's strategic goal to become a leading deep tech and life sciences venture capital investor in the UK and Europe, employing a differentiated investment strategy characterised by proactive value creation and capital-light approaches. The deal notably expands NetScientific's assets under management by nearly doubling them with the addition of a £23 million portfolio from Marlet Capital and includes the acquisition of Martlet Capital’s operational team, forming a new entity under NetScientific. Iliev emphasised the alignment in ethos between NetScientific and Martlet Capital, rooted in long-term relationships and mutual commitment to the sectors. He also highlighted upcoming initiatives, including the launch of new funds aimed at investing in early-stage companies and growth opportunities within the UK, specifically in the Cambridge cluster. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

May 13, 2024 10:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Lisata Therapeutics gets 2024 off to a strong start as it prepares for crucial ASCEND trial results

Lisata Therapeutics Inc

Lisata Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:LSTA) CEO David Mazzo tells Proactive's Stephen Gunnion that 2024 is a pivotal year for the oncology company, with Phase 2b ASCEND trial top-line data expected in the fourth quarter. Discussing the company's first-quarter milestones, Mazzo said the results are anticipated to be foundational for the company's future, potentially leading to provisional approval applications in Australia and subsequent discussions with the FDA and EMA. Mazzo highlighted Lisata's effective cash management, with over $43 million in funds ensuring operations into 2026. The company has achieved several regulatory milestones, including orphan designations for pancreatic cancer and glioma in the EU and US, and a rare pediatric disease designation for osteosarcoma in the US. Additionally, Mazzo discussed the rapid progress of the BOLSTER trial in cholangiocarcinoma, expected to provide early data points in 2025. The company plans to expand its trials and anticipates potential partnership announcements by year-end, driven by these developments. Contact Details Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

May 13, 2024 10:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Syra Health Corp. (NASDAQ: SYRA) Surges Ahead: Q1 2024 Sees 47% Revenue Growth and $3.2 Million Cash Balance

Syra Health

By Kenneth Adams, Benzinga Syra Health Corp. (NASDAQ: SYRA) announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Q1 2024 Financial Highlights Revenue of $1.7 million in 1Q24 compared to $1.2 million in 1Q23. Business units excluding Healthcare Workforce grew 333% and comprised 19% of total revenues in 1Q24, versus only 7% in 1Q23. Population Health, driven by demand for epidemiology services, saw an increase of 212% compared to 1Q23. Cash balance of $3.2 million as of March 31, 2024, and no long-term debt. 2024 Financial Outlook The company anticipates full-year 2024 revenue of $9 to $11 million, representing growth of 64%-100% versus 2023. Due to the implementation cycle of customers, the company expects the majority of its contract revenues to be realized in the second half of 2024. Recent Operational Highlights Currently, it has active contracts in 19 states across the nation. Secured a one-year renewable contract with a national healthcare organization worth $660,000 to provide Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) outreach and support services essential for fostering positive health outcomes and reducing costs. Announced a one-year, $480,000 contract from the Indiana Department of Health to administer public health and healthcare readiness assessments. Awarded a one-year $450,000 contract for epidemiology services with the Shelby County Health Department in Tennessee, with two additional one-year renewal options, bringing the total potential value of the contract to $1.35 million. Secured a one-year contract with Washington D.C.’s Department of Behavioral Health worth approximately $250,000. The company will conduct an epidemiological study aimed at identifying the prevalence and types of behavioral health conditions that exist among D.C. youth. Won multiple healthcare workforce contracts in states including Missouri, Nebraska and Virginia. Announced that it has been selected as a subcontractor for a contract awarded to Caduceus Healthcare, Inc. by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Families and Children, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Medical Staffing and Support, valued at $75 billion. Revenues will be realized after the receipt of task orders. The company’s research study protocol for “Syrenity,” Syra Health’s prevention-focused mental and behavioral health platform, was approved by Pearl Institutional Review Board. The research study will be conducted by renowned university researchers and practicing psychologists who will enroll approximately 300 people with moderate or worse depression severity. Dr. Deepika Vuppalanchi, CEO of Syra Health, said, “We are proud of our impressive growth in 2024, as our revenues in the first quarter grew 47% versus last year. As such, we are confident in our 2024 revenue guidance of $9 million to $11 million, based on contracts in hand and pending implementation. The demand for our services remains strong and we believe we are properly positioned to take advantage. We are currently doing business in 19 states, and we anticipate securing new business from both the private and public sectors. We are excited about our Population Health business unit, which grew over 200% in the first quarter, driven by strong demand for our epidemiology services. Our growth remains strong in our newest business units of Digital Health and Health Education, and we are excited that our Healthcare Workforce business unit has returned to growth in 2024. Syrenity, our mental and behavioral health platform, which is focused on prevention, also holds great promise in terms of revenue for 2024 and beyond. We believe we are at the early stages of accelerating growth, which has been made possible by recent investments in our people and our technology.” Q1 2024 Financial Results Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, was $1.7 million, compared to the $1.2 million reported in the first quarter of 2023. Strong growth was driven by Population Health, which grew 212% year over year, and Healthcare Workforce, which grew 28% year over year. Digital Health had revenues of $92,250, compared to zero last year. Gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2024 was 10.2%, compared to 12.4% in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in gross margins was due to the mix shift to Healthcare Workforce. Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were $1.6 million compared to $921,781 in the first quarter of 2023. Salaries and benefits expenses increased by 61% to support general business growth and sales. Professional fees declined 18% due to decreased legal and other professional costs as the Company completed its IPO process in the fourth quarter of 2023. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 87% due to increased operations. Depreciation expense was $12,545 compared to $11,763 in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting expanded office space. R&D expenses were $277,548, reflecting the development of technology-based solutions. Net Loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $1.4 million compared to a net loss of $785,892 in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2024 was $(1.4 million) compared to $(762,710) in the first quarter of 2023. Cash on hand on March 31, 2024, was $3.2 million. Conference Call Management held a conference call to discuss the fiscal year's financial results at 9:00 am ET on May 9, 2024. A replay is available in the Investor Relations section of the company's website at https://ir.syrahealth.com/presentations/q1-2024-earnings-call. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to financial results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), the company has provided the following non-GAAP financial measure in this release and the accompanying tables: adjusted EBITDA. The company uses this non-GAAP financial measure internally to facilitate period-to-period comparisons and analysis of its operating performance and liquidity and believes it is useful to investors as a supplement to GAAP measures in analyzing, trending, and benchmarking the performance and value of its business. However, this measure is not intended to be a substitute for those reported in accordance with GAAP. These measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. For reconciliations of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measures under GAAP, see the table below. Image sourced from Shutterstock Syra Health is a healthcare technology company addressing some of healthcare's most significant challenges in areas such as behavioral and mental health, digital health, and population health, by providing innovative services and technology solutions. Syra Health’s products and services are centered on prevention, improved access, and affordable care. Syra Health supplies its solutions to payers, providers, life sciences organizations, academic institutions, and government. For more information, please visit www.syrahealth.com. Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected use of proceeds, the Company’s operations and business strategy and the Company’s expected financial results. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's current expectations and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in our registration statement on Form S-1 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by federal securities laws, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Christine Drury +1 463-345-8950 Christined@syrahealth.com Company Website https://www.syrahealth.com/

May 13, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

MustGrow Biologics Gains California Approval for Organic Biofertility Product, TerraSante

MustGrow Biologics Corp

MustGrow Biologics Chief Operating Officer Colin Bletsky joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share regulatory achievements for the company. MustGrow has received approval from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for its mustard plant-based TerraSante™, an organic biofertility product. Additionally, TerraSante™ has been granted organic certification specific to California requirements, supplementing its existing Organic OMRI Listed® certifications in Oregon and Washington State. Bletsky announced that with these approvals, TerraSante™ sales can now begin in California. These developments are crucial to MustGrow's strategy for commercializing its soil amendment and biofertility technologies in partnership with BioAg Product Strategies. The company, which already holds certifications in Oregon and Washington, plans to pursue further state-level registrations across the U.S. TerraSante™ is part of MustGrow's broader suite of solutions, which includes biocontrol programs targeting preplant soil fumigation, postharvest food preservation, and bioherbicides. These initiatives are advancing in collaboration with global partners such as Bayer, Sumitomo Corporation, Janssen PMP, and NexusBioAg, underlining MustGrow's commitment to sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. Contact Details Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

May 09, 2024 01:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Triomics automates oncology workflows with GenAI powered platform, raises $15M

Triomics

Currently, oncology staff must manually search thousands of patient health records to find the right trials or care pathways for their patients. Triomics is today announcing it has raised $15M to help cancer centers streamline these workflows and process oncology data at scale by applying their framework to build, institution-tuned large language models (OncoLLM™) and use case-specific software. The company has raised from several Silicon Valley firms making pioneering investments in generative AI and healthcare, including Lightspeed, Nexus Venture Partners, General Catalyst and Y Combinator. Manual chart review can take hours per patient, and many health systems face significant backlogs in completing key oncology-related workflows for thousands of patients. This workload leads to clinical delays, such as patients missing out on clinical trials or biomarker-driven treatments, lagging quality reporting, and provider dissatisfaction and turnover. Triomics co-founders Sarim Khan (CEO) and Hrituraj Singh (CTO) were college friends who later worked as an MIT biotech researcher and Adobe AI researcher, respectively. They knew software existed to quickly analyze the ~20% of medical data that is stored in a uniform, structured manner, like a patient’s demographics or laboratory values. However, they realized recent advances in generative AI created the possibility of similarly analyzing the ~80% of medical data that exists in an unstructured format, like a doctor’s free-text note. “Hrituraj and I decided to partner to build solutions leveraging the advances in the field of generative AI and LLMs to help hospital staff,” said Sarim Khan, CEO of Triomicss. “We want our solutions to reason and sound like experts in oncology.” After developing an OncoLLM™ with Medical College of Wisconsin researchers, Triomics found that, in just minutes, it found 90% of eligible patients for clinical trials, which would have taken days or weeks for qualified nurses. It also extracted structured data points from unstructured notes at similar or higher accuracy to proprietary models like GPT4 or Claude while being 40 times cheaper. Triomics recently also published the results of its information retrieval engine for oncology, which they found to be 1.5-2 times better than other state-of-the-art retrieval models. “Most of the solutions on the market today claim they use GenAI, but many lack published evidence. Triomics is setting themselves apart by taking a truly collaborative approach to co-developing these models,” said Bradley Taylor, Chief Research Informatics Officer at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Director of the CTSI Center for Biomedical Informatics. Anai Kothari, a surgical oncologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center added: “The ability to quickly and accurately convert complex cancer data into a format that can be used to improve patient care is crucial. Triomics has been a great partner in integrating our suggestions and rigorously studying their approach to ensure safety.” OncoLLM™ powers proprietary Triomics software that integrates with health system EHRs to complete specific clinical and administrative tasks. For example, Triomics Prism aids in patient-trial matching by prescreening oncology patients with upcoming appointments to find relevant clinical trials. Triomics Harmony curates EHR data to support quality reporting, cohort analysis and precision oncology. Hrituraj Singh, CTO at Triomics, commented: “Our investments in our core areas of focus have been deliberate. We have successfully merged expertise in two complex functional areas: our AI researchers, who are specialized in customizing language models to specific domains, and our clinical staff, who have decades of oncology-specific experience. As a result, our software can complement the strengths of these advanced models while also proactively addressing potential flaws, all with the intricacies of cancer research and care in mind.” Given the heightened importance of accuracy for oncology data, Triomics partners with leading academic cancer centers and researchers to develop generative AI performance and safety benchmarks and best practices. Partners include the Collaboration for Oncology-focused LLM Training (COLT), a consortium of leaders from a dozen NCI-designated cancer centers, and the Cancer Informatics for Cancer Centers (CI4CC) Society. “We differentiate ourselves by building tailored models specifically for oncology and pairing them with GenAI native workflows,” said Sarim Khan. “While other solutions address some of the use cases we’re working on, like patient-trial matching, they are broad based solutions that use or modify legacy technologies that have proven not to have the scalability or ROI the industry is requesting.” Triomics next plans to publish additional data on OncoLLM efficacy across a diversity of settings and patient populations, and develop software that powers additional use cases. “Triomics is leveraging existing healthcare datasets and Generative AI to empower hospital staff to automate clinical trials and streamline cancer center workflows,” said Dev Khare, partner at Lightspeed. “We are excited to back Triomics in this important mission.” “With robust early results for their proprietary oncology specific LLMs and partnerships with leading cancer care and research centers, Triomics is well poised to deliver significant value to cancer care providers and patients in the U.S. and globally,” said Jishnu Bhattacharjee, managing director at Nexus Venture Partners. “We are thrilled to partner with Sarim and Hrituraj to help build a remarkably impactful company!" About Triomics Triomics uses generative AI to streamline workflows for cancer centers. Its oncology specialized generative AI model (OncoLLMTM) and use case-specific software help cancer providers process free-text health record data at scale, match patients to clinical trials, improve quality of care operations, deliver precision oncology and more. Based in San Francisco, the company has raised $15 million from leading VC investors. About Lightspeed Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Ultima Genomics and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia. About Nexus Venture Partners Nexus Venture Partners is a leading early-stage venture capital firm partnering with extraordinary entrepreneurs to build product-first companies. With $2.6 billion under management, Nexus operates as one team across the US and India. Nexus portfolio includes Apollo.io, Aryaka, Clover Health, Delhivery, Druva, FingerprintJS, Hasura, H2O.ai, Infra Market, Kaltura, Mezi, MinIO, Observe.ai, Postman, Pubmatic, Quizizz, Rancher, Sibros, Snapdeal, TileDB, Turtlemint, Unacademy, and Zomato. Contact Details Triomics Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.triomics.com/

May 09, 2024 01:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Texas’ Leading Hormone Provider Expands Cutting-Edge Preventative Screening Tool to All Clinics

Forum Health

Hormones by Design, a Forum Health provider and leader in hormone replacement therapy, has acquired DITI Imaging – a pioneer in digital infrared thermal imaging. This strategic move combines the expertise of both companies to offer comprehensive and preventative health care to two of its five renown Texas locations. Learn more about Hormones by Design. Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) is a non-invasive, radiation-free screening tool to detect early signs of inflammation and abnormal blood flow patterns, which may be precursors to various health conditions. By identifying these indicators early, patients can proactively address potential issues before they develop into more serious conditions. Phil Hagerman, Forum Health CEO: “ With 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases on the rise, early detection is paramount. This acquisition underscores our commitment to advancing personalized, integrative healthcare and providing the latest, top-of-the-line technology to help our patients achieve optimal health.” DITI is the only screening tool capable of detecting inflammation and associated heat patterns unlike X-rays, mammograms, MRIs and ultrasound tests. Some of the many health conditions DITI can screen for are: Breast cancer Early indications of asymptomatic and systemic inflammatory and degenerative processes Systemic, artery, dental, and sinus inflammation Unexplained and referred pain, including arthritis and nerve damage Fibromyalgia and digestive disorders Overactive and underactive thyroid conditions Dr. Melissa Miskell, Hormones by Design founder: "We’re thrilled to welcome DITI Imaging into the Hormones by Design family. It allows us to expand our preventative healthcare offerings, better monitor the effects of hormone therapy, more comprehensively treat patients with thyroid conditions, and help people maintain optimal health as they age.” Patients will have access to advanced screening services, including breast, full-body, and region-specific imaging, in addition to personalized BHRT options. Schedule an appointment or find a Hormones by Design location near you. About Forum Health, LLC Forum Health, LLC is a nationwide provider of personalized healthcare steeped in the powerful principles of functional and integrative medicine. Our providers take a root-cause approach to care exploring lifestyle, environment, and genetics to help each patient achieve their ultimate health goals. Members have access to advanced medical treatments and technology, with care plans informed by data analytics and collaborative relationships. For more, visit www.forumhealth.com. Contact Details Forum Health Britt Wittelsberger +1 410-852-0738 bwittelsberger@forumhealth.com Company Website https://forumhealth.com

May 09, 2024 08:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

6.7 Million Americans Live With Alzheimer’s – IGC Pharma Believes They Deserve Treatment Options Without Black Box Warnings

IGC Pharma, Inc. (IGC)

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga Over 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and this number is predicted to grow to 13.8 million by 2060. AD is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and in 2023, it was projected to cost the U.S. $345 billion. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills; however, a lesser-known subsection of Alzheimer’s patients – despite a prevalence of 40%-80% in the patient population – suffer from Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease (AAD). AAD is associated with higher admission rates to assisted living facilities, higher use of medications, higher rates of long-term hospitalizations and higher mortality rates for Alzheimer’s patients. This brings a significant emotional and financial cost to patients and caregivers. Currently, there is no perfect treatment for AD or ADD. Otsuka’s (OTC: OSUKF) Rexulti is one of the major medications currently being explored as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It was originally developed as an atypical antipsychotic to help treat mental health illnesses, and it is believed to work by affecting the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Due to this, ongoing research is investigating its potential to address the behavioral and psychological symptoms often associated with the condition, such as agitation and aggression, but some concerns are yet to be addressed. One of the major criticisms of Rexulti is that it carries a black box warning regarding the increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Patients have reported adverse events associated with the drug like restlessness, weight gain and sleepiness. IGC Pharma (AMEX: IGC) is looking to an alternative to existing drugs with its drug, IGC-AD1, which has been specifically designed to target the underlying causes of AAD and aims to fill the gap for a safe and effective therapy. IGC Pharma began developing IGC-AD1 in 2017, and it was approved by the FDA as an investigational new drug in 2019. IGC-AD1 is designed to target neuroinflammation and dysfunction of the CB1 receptor. This investigational drug contains THC as one of two active pharmaceutical agents. THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. IGC-AD1 is undergoing extensive clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in treating Alzheimer's disease. After a successful phase 1 clinical trial that resulted in patent protection in the U.S., the company has moved on to phase 2 trials. The phase 2 clinical trial, begun in 2023, encompasses 20 sites across the United States and Canada. With a target of 146 participants, this trial focuses on determining the efficacy of IGC-AD1 in alleviating agitation in Alzheimer's patients. The company has just announced the results of an interim analysis of its ongoing phase 2 trial. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the change in AAD over six weeks, utilizing the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). According to IGC Pharma, the study showed that patients who were given IGC-AD1 had a more significant reduction in agitation levels compared to those who were given a placebo, with positive effects being observed as early as week two of the trial. At the six-week mark, the difference in agitation levels between the IGC-AD1 group and the placebo group was quite noticeable, with an effect size of 0.66 according to Cohen's d measure. The mean difference in the CMAI scores between the active treatment and placebo was -10.45, which indicates a meaningful contrast. Additionally, at the two-week mark, a secondary evaluation showed a positive effect size of 0.79 for IGC-AD1 compared to the placebo. If IGC-AD1 continues to perform well in clinical trials, it could be an effective, simpler and faster treatment option for patients – and importantly, the company is aiming to deliver a product with full approval from the FDA without major black box warnings. The formula as an oral liquid solution also caters to the older population. For millions of Americans who have family members with AD or are worried about developing AD later in life, this drug could provide hope. Featured photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash. IGC Pharma Inc. (IGC) is at the forefront of the fight against Alzheimer's disease, developing innovative solutions to address this devastating illness. The company's mission is to transform the landscape of Alzheimer's treatment with a robust pipeline of five promising drug candidates. IGC-AD1 and LMP target the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, including neuroinflammation, Aβ plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. IGC-AD1 is currently undergoing a Phase 2b clinical trial for agitation in dementia associated with Alzheimer's (clinicaltrials.gov, CT05543681). TGR-63 disrupts the progression of Alzheimer's by targeting Aβ plaques. IGC-M3, currently in preclinical development, aims to inhibit the aggregation of Aβ plaques, potentially impacting early-stage Alzheimer's. IGC-1C, also in preclinical stages, targets tau protein and neurofibrillary tangles, representing a forward-thinking approach to Alzheimer's therapy. In addition to its drug development pipeline, IGC Pharma is actively leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Alzheimer's research. Their AI projects encompass various areas, including clinical trial optimization and early detection of Alzheimer's. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IGC Pharma’s expectations and are subject to several risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IGC Pharma’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, the Company’s failure or inability to commercialize one or more of the Company’s products or technologies, including the products or formulations described in this release, or failure to obtain regulatory approval for the products or formulations, where required, or government regulations affecting AI or the AI algorithms not working as intended or producing accurate predictions; general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected; the FDA’s general position regarding cannabis- and hemp-based products; and other factors, many of which are discussed in IGC Pharma’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. IGC Pharma incorporates by reference the human trial disclosures and Risk Factors identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on July 7, 2023, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024, as if fully incorporated and restated herein. Considering these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this release will occur. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Rosalyn Christian rchristian@imsinvestorrelations.com Company Website https://igcpharma.com/

May 09, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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