All posts by imreal

Business: Executives

Verge Health Names Connie Moser Chief Executive Officer

Leave a comment


“The Board couldn’t be happier to see Connie assume the role of CEO, particularly as the business completes its second year of record revenue growth,” said Tim Scallen, board member and principal at TT Capital Partners, the control shareholder of Verge Health. “Over the past 4 years, Verge has disti


CHARLESTON, S.C. (PRWEB)

Verge Health is pleased to announce that Connie Moser has been named Chief Executive Officer of Verge Health and member of the Board of Directors. For the past four years Connie has served as Verge’s chief operating officer, playing an integral role in executing Verge’s growth strategy while working closely with former CEO Mark Crockett, who has made the decision to step down in order to spend more time with his family.

Moser brings to Verge Health a wealth of experience serving for over 30 years in the Health IT space, including executive roles at McKesson, Rise Health and Best Doctors. “As COO, Connie was able to transform the organization into a value-added partner to some of the most recognizable names in healthcare,” said Pat Leonard, chairman of Verge’s board. “Connie’s experience as an operator, coupled with her leadership abilities around product strategies, sales, and operations uniquely position her to drive the company to its next phase of growth.”

“The Board couldn’t be happier to see Connie assume the role of CEO, particularly as the business completes its second year of record revenue growth,” said Tim Scallen, board member and principal at TT Capital Partners, the control shareholder of Verge Health. “Over the past 4 years, Verge has distinguished itself as a market leader within the broader healthcare Governance, Risk, and Compliance landscape, and under Connie’s leadership, enters 2020 well positioned to continue to drive value to its nearly 900 health organization clients across the United States. Connie has the full support and backing of both the Triple Tree and Verge Health organizations to lead the company to its next phase of market leadership.”

“We are grateful for the contributions Mark made to the Verge organization, particularly given his passion and experience around patient safety given his experience as an emergency medicine physician,” Scallen continued, “and it’s a rare opportunity where we are able to have such a natural transition of leadership with someone as capable as Connie.”

“I look forward to my role as chief executive officer and wish my friend Mark the best. Verge Health is an exceptional company with a long history of outperforming the market. We continue to create innovative products that enable healthcare to protect patients and margins. And, I’m looking forward to working with an exceptional group of leaders and clients to continue to strengthen those relationships and propel growth in the years to come.” says Moser.

Connie Moser Bio

Connie Moser brings to this position more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare technology industry. Connie has distinctive leadership abilities around predictive analytics, strategic use of data, and delivering operational efficiencies with cloud-based software solutions. She also ran the credentialing business while with McKesson. She has presented on various healthcare topics at meetings sponsored by HIMSS, HFMA and NAHAM, and the HFMA Thought Leadership Conference in Washington DC.

About Verge Health

Founded in 2001, Verge Health is a Governance, Risk, and Compliance software and services company. Verge Health’s software solutions enable healthcare organizations to proactively protect and defend patients, caregivers, and frontline staff, against errors, adverse events, and policy violations. With over 900 facilities and 500,000 active users, the company’s Converge Platform provides hospital and healthcare organizations with a cross-functional, proactive surveillance tool enabling optimal quality and safety results while also leveraging integrated services offerings to enhance performance and achieve success with high reliability initiatives. https://www.vergehealth.com

Share article on social media or email:

Health

New Episodes of Advancements Television Series – CNBC Saturday, December 28th

Leave a comment


News Image


JUPITER, Fla. (PRWEB)

Advancements with Ted Danson will broadcast via CNBC on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 11:30aET. Check local listings for more information on this program.

Travel to London to learn about BEAR and its innovative approach to creating fresh, pure food products to provide parents with healthier, better-tasting options for kids.

Take a journey through Carlsbad, New Mexico as Advancements explores how Intrepid Potash is using environmentally friendly production methods to create essential products for the agriculture, animal feed, and gas industries.

Finally, explore how safety and hygiene are being implemented throughout the spa industry as the show gets comfortable with Contégo Spa Designs (Contégo) to learn how its high-end pedicure spa chairs and Disposable Pedicure Jet-Liner™ are revolutionizing sanitation throughout the industry.

“We look forward to exploring these topics and to sharing how technology and innovation continue to change the mold and reshape our world,” said Chad Densen, production manager for the Advancements Series.

About Advancements and DMG Productions:

The Advancements television series is an information-based educational program, targeting recent advances across a number of industries and economies. Featuring state-of-the-art solutions and important issues facing today’s consumers and business professionals, Advancements focuses on cutting-edge developments, and brings this information to the public with the vision to enlighten about how technology and innovation continue to transform our world.

Backed by experts in various fields, and a team dedicated to education and advancement, DMG Productions consistently produces commercial-free, educational programming on which both viewers and networks depend.

For more information visit AdvancementsTV.com or call (866) 496-4065.

Share article on social media or email:

Society: Christianity

Delores Barr Weaver Fund Donates $250,000 to Morning Star School, a Special Education School in Jacksonville, Florida

Leave a comment


New Media Center at Morning Star School, Outside View

“A new Media and Learning Center will open the door to a universe of resources for Morning Star School students,” noted Delores Barr Weaver. “Their time at Morning Star School will be greatly enhanced by having this gateway to greater knowledge.”


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (PRWEB)

An unexpected phone call and donation from Jacksonville philanthropist Delores Barr Weaver places Morning Star School, a K-12 special education school for children with learning and intellectual differences, within inches of scoring a major goal.

In 2016, Morning Star School began a five-year, $1.6 million campaign to expand beyond 8th grade and build a high school. The new building nearly doubles the size of the existing campus, adding two wings with eight classrooms and a state-of-the-art media and learning center. To date, the campaign had raised $1.25 million, but the Media and Learning Center had not yet received a naming donation.

“The outpouring of generosity from the Jacksonville philanthropic community has been amazing, but as we approached our fourth campaign year we still needed $350,000 to reach our goal,” said Maria Johnson, director of development for Morning Star School. “We used savings and a loan to build our new high school so completing the campaign on time was crucial for future success. To receive a call from The Community Foundation saying Mrs. Weaver wanted to help was thrilling. We were honored and overjoyed.”

After touring the school and careful research of the project, Mrs. Weaver, through the Delores Barr Weaver Fund, agreed to help Morning Star School complete the high school campaign by naming the school’s new Media and Learning Center for $250,000.

“A new Media and Learning Center will open the door to a universe of resources for Morning Star School students,” noted Delores Barr Weaver. “Their time at Morning Star School will be greatly enhanced by having this gateway to greater knowledge.”

Additionally, Mrs. Weaver will also match up to $50,000 in donations to raise the remaining $100,000 needed to complete the campaign.

“Morning Star School has demonstrated the need for and the community investment in the Building a Brighter Future capital campaign as it has progressed,” Mrs. Weaver continued. “By issuing a challenge grant, I hope to inspire others to join me in supporting a successful finish to this worthwhile campaign.”

Morning Star School is open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade who have learning differences, attention deficit disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual differences. Students are from diverse backgrounds and come to Morning Star School from Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, and Flagler Counties. The Delores Barr Weaver Media and Learning Center will be named in early 2020.

About the Delores Barr Weaver Media and Learning Center

The mission of the Delores Barr Weaver Media and Learning Center is to nurture collaboration and hands-on learning. Research has demonstrated that students with learning differences learn better when they are fully absorbed in activities and experiences that engage a variety of senses. Because seating will be easily reconfigured for a variety of functions, the space will be used for all aspects of learning and will quickly become a very special gathering space for all students across the curriculum.

With state-of-the-art Wi-Fi capabilities, the new space will provide students with the flexibility to use iPads, laptops and smartboards for large group and/or small group instruction. Hands-on activities include STEM projects in science, art and music, as well as group research for literature and social studies. Portable iPads and laptops feature voiceover, assistive touch and guided access to help students learn at their own pace while smartboards combine touch technology with the ability to write and erase over any application. High school students will also use the Media and Learning Center for life-centered education to help support independence through schedules, prompting tasks, paying bills, shopping and social skills.

For more information about Morning Star School or to contribute additional funds and receive a matching donation from the Delores Barr Weaver Fund, people can visit the “Building a Brighter Future” capital campaign at the Morning Star School website at http://morningstar-jax.org/building-campaign/.

About the Delores Barr Weaver Fund and The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

The Delores Barr Weaver Fund was established at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida in 2012 to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that do work she has supported over many years and to encourage others to do so as well. Mrs. Weaver has an extraordinary legacy of philanthropy, and she has provided transformative support to dozens of nonprofit organizations that uplift, enlighten and advance Northeast Florida. Her establishment of the Delores Barr Weaver Fund ($50 million) was the largest gift in the Community Foundation’s history. The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, now in its 55th year, has assets of more than $384 million and has made more than $500 million in grants since 1964. For more information: http://www.jaxcf.org.

About Morning Star School

Morning Star School in Jacksonville, Florida (http://www.morningstar-jax.org) is a K-12 school serving children with learning and intellectual differences, attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorders. Fully accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference, Morning Star School is the only special education school in the Diocese of St. Augustine and takes pride in its diverse students who are welcomed regardless of background or religious affiliation. Teachers and staff work with each individual student and partner with parents, therapists and medical providers to provide each child the opportunity to reach their highest potential. Morning Star School is perpetually at capacity and is raising funds to expand the school and its services. For more information, visit http://www.morningstar-jax.org/building-campaign.

Media Contact:

Beth Strautz

info@vaguspr.com

Click here for photos

Share article on social media or email:

health and fitness

UrgentCareTravel Offers Free DOT Physicals for Former Celadon Drivers

Leave a comment


Many Celadon drivers are due for their mandatory DOT Physical, so offering these drivers a free DOT Physical is our way to help these drivers maintain their Commercial Drivers License as they seek employment with another fleet.


MIAMI (PRWEB)

UrgentCareTravel (UCT) announces that it is offering free DOT Physicals to former Celadon drivers who lost their job due to Celadon’s bankruptcy. The free DOT Physical offer runs through March 31, 2020 and is available at all UrgentCareTravel clinics across the country. Former Celadon drivers need to show proof of their Celadon employment to qualify for the free DOT Physical offer.

“Celadon drivers losing their job right before the holidays is very stressful for themselves and their family,” said Siva Suresh, Founder and CEO of UrgentCareTravel. “Many Celadon drivers are due for their mandatory DOT Physical, so offering these drivers a free DOT Physical is our way to help these drivers maintain their Commercial Drivers License as they seek employment with another fleet.”

About UrgentCareTravel

UrgentCareTravel, with walk-in medical clinics located at Pilot and Flying J travel centers, is the only medical clinic network focused on providing convenient and affordable health care for professional truck drivers. 48% of professional drivers have a chronic condition (diabetes, hypertension, obesity) that restricts their Commercial Drivers License to 1 year of less. Due to the lack of convenient medical care on the road where drivers work, and the high costs of health insurance and medical care, many drivers do not treat their chronic conditions as needed. Left untreated, these conditions worsen, eventually leading to job loss, income loss, health complications or worse.

UrgentCareTravel focuses on Chronic Care Management (CCM) with its UCT Truckers Health Team, an affordable monthly membership program that includes Health Coaches, Personalized Care Plans for chronic conditions, no deductible / no co-pay in-clinic services (including DOT Physicals) and pharmacy services. UCT Truckers Health Team can have a great impact on driver health, driver productivity, driver career longevity and fleet profitability.

For additional information about UrgentCareTravel’s UCT Truckers Health Team, clinic locations and services, please visit the website at http://www.UCTTruckersHealthTeam.com

Share article on social media or email:

Industry: Healthcare

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Updates its Clinical Immunotherapy Treatment Guidelines for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Leave a comment


SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines

“Through initiatives like the SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines, SITC seeks to provide an important and well documented resource of information to oncologists and other clinical care providers so that they can achieve the best outcomes for their patients,” said SITC President Mario Sznol, MD.


MILWAUKEE (PRWEB)

Motivated by the substantial progress in translational and clinical research and improved clinical outcomes seen in recent years, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) today published updated Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

“The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC),” authored under the guidance of the SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines Renal Cell Carcinoma Subcommittee, provides oncologists and other advanced practice providers an updated clinical roadmap to treating this disease with immunotherapies approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including the promising class of therapies known as checkpoint inhibitors.

“Immunotherapies using interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 have been the only available options for initial treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma for the past couple of decades and some patients have benefited tremendously,” said Michael B. Atkins, MD, co-chair of the SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines Renal Cell Carcinoma Subcommittee. “Now that checkpoint inhibitors are FDA-approved and available for a broad population of patients, our SITC subcommittee developed this manuscript to help provide medical oncologists with expert guidance for incorporating various immunotherapy agents and regimens into their practice.”

The SITC guidelines are comprised of consensus expert recommendations that serve to inform clinicians about all aspects of patient management for advanced renal cell carcinoma during immunotherapy. Updated to reflect the U.S. FDA approval of checkpoint inhibitors as front-line treatments for renal cell carcinoma, the publication includes consensus statements on treatment selection and sequencing, the use of predictive biomarkers and appropriate patient testing, and the management of adverse events. Published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC), the society’s open access, peer-reviewed online journal, the guidelines are an update to the society’s previously published renal cell carcinoma treatment recommendations from November 2016.

“One of the most important objectives for SITC is to disseminate the latest advances in cancer immunotherapy research,” said SITC President Mario Sznol, MD. “Through initiatives like the SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines, SITC seeks to provide an important and well documented resource of information to oncologists and other clinical care providers so that they can achieve the best outcomes for their patients.”

The SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines are a collection of unbiased consensus statements developed by leading experts to help oncologists determine when and how to best use immunotherapy to treat their patients. SITC has published Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines on cutaneous melanoma, prostate and bladder carcinomas, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer and hematologic malignancies. Additional guidelines are in development covering acute leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and immune-related adverse events.

Join Free Webinar to Learn More about these Guidelines with Leading Experts

Oncologists, nurses and other members of the cancer care team can continue their learning by participating in a free SITC webinar dedicated to discussion of the HNSCC guidelines on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at 11 a.m. EST. The following experts will present during the free webinar and lead a question-and-answer session with participants: Michael B. Atkins, MD (Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center); Dena Battle (KCCure); David McDermott, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center); and Brian Rini, MD (Vanderbilt University Medical Center).

This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and is eligible for ACPE and ANCC credit, see registration website for details. The webinar is jointly provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. It is supported, in part, by independent medical education grant funding from Amgen, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Celgene Corporation and Merck & Co., Inc.

Details of this webinar, including how attendees can register, are available on the SITC website, SITC Cancer Immunotherapy CONNECT.

About SITC

Established in 1984, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is a nonprofit organization of medical professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development, science and application of cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. SITC is comprised of influential basic and translational scientists, practitioners, health care professionals, government leaders and industry professionals around the globe. Through educational initiatives that foster scientific exchange and collaboration among leaders in the field, SITC aims to one day make the word “cure” a reality for cancer patients everywhere. Learn more about SITC, our educational offerings and other resources at sitcancer.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

About JITC

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) is the official open access, peer-reviewed online journal of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer featuring an impact factor of 8.728. The journal publishes high-quality articles on all aspects of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, on subjects across the basic science-translational-clinical spectrum. JITC publishes original research articles, literature reviews, position papers and practice guidelines, and case reports; invited commentaries may also be commissioned by the journal editors. These articles, freely accessible at jitc.biomedcentral.com, make JITC the leading forum for tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy research. Follow JITC on Twitter @jitcancer.

# # #

Share article on social media or email:



Business: Insurance

Connectiv Announces the Acquisition of LAB Miami Ventures’ Events Portfolio

Leave a comment


News Image

In the same way that we have created the world’s premier Insurtech event in ITC, with 8,000 attendees from over 65 countries expected next September, we look forward to doing the same for the Supply Chain and Logistics industry.


NEW YORK (PRWEB)

Connectiv, the team behind InsureTech Connect (“ITC”) led by Jay Weintraub who launched and sold both LeadsCon and MAU, announced today that it has acquired the events portfolio of Miami-based LAB Miami Ventures. LAB Miami Ventures portfolio includes events in the Logistics, Travel and Real Estate spaces. Events produced by Connectiv will kick-off with Logistics beginning in 2021.

With some predicting the global logistics market to be worth almost $13 billion by 2023 there is no better time to focus on a space so greatly impacted by AI, machine learning and automation.

“Understanding how we can use these innovations to improve productivity, efficiency and experience will be integral to the evolution of the industry,” said Pamela Granoff, Director of Events at LAB Miami Ventures who will be speer-heading the launch of Logistics under Connectiv. “As one of the fastest-growing verticals, the Logistics space is in desperate need of a truly global event, the kind of events Connectiv is well versed in producing. Being a part of this team will provide us with the resources to better serve the industry with a multi-day world class gathering.”

“In the same way that we have created the world’s premier Insurtech event in ITC, with 8,000 attendees from over 65 countries expected next September, we look forward to doing the same for the Supply Chain and Logistics industry,” said Jay Weintraub, CEO of Connectiv. “Pamela’s passion for being industry first and people first aligns perfectly with how we think of connecting.”

Connectiv expects over 2,000 attendees comprised of tech entrepreneurs, investors and Supply Chain / Logistics executives to hear 250+ speakers at the Spring 2021 event which will be held in Las Vegas.

Previous speakers at the LAB Ventures Logistics events have included:

Martine Eshkenazi, Strategic Initiatives Lead, Uber Eats

Arthur Debert, Founder & CPO, Loggi

Grant Goodale, CEO & Founder, Convoy

Dan Patt, Co-Founder & CEO, Vecna Robotics

Patrick Coughlin, COO, Ryder Systems

Todd Lewis, Managing Partner, UPS Ventures

Greer carper, Investing Principal, Boeing Horizon X

Vava Diamond, EVP & CIO, Hub Group

Brent Lessard, Founder & CEO, rLoop

More information can be found at Connectiv.com.

About Connectiv

Connectiv is an events studio that helps catalyze industry innovation and transformation through the creation and operation of global gatherings. The team behind Connectiv has brought together tens of thousands of leaders and been responsible for hundreds of thousands of connections – including building LeadsCon, Mobile Apps Unlocked, InsureTech Connect, InsureTech Connect Asia, and HR Transform. Connectiv was founded in 2019 by Jay Weintraub, a mult-exit entrepreneur and dedicated connector.

Share article on social media or email:

Business: Executives

The Conference Forum Announces the Chief Medical Officer Summit, Early 2020 Keynotes and Notable Speakers

Leave a comment



NEW YORK (PRWEB)

The Conference Forum announced the 8th annual Chief Medical Officer Summit will take place on April 6 – 7, 2020 at the Boston Marriott Cambridge in Cambridge, MA.

The Summit’s opening Keynote is the former President and CEO of Teva Pharmaceuticals, Dr Jeremy Levin. Dr Levin currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Ovid Therapeutics and Chairman of the Board at BIO. Dr Levin will draw on his vast leadership experience in vastly different settings to help physician researchers and leaders in biotech.

In a Keynote Fireside Chat, Dr Keith M Gottesdiener, CEO, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, will share some best practices with creative FDA interactions; thoughts on leadership, culture and innovation in the changing biotech environment; and advice to CMOs in how they can best support their CEOs.

Dr Jakob Dupont, CMO of Gossamer Bio will deliver a leadership talk on his experience overseeing multiple IPOs and successful IND submissions.

Dr Akshay Vaishnaw, President of R&D at Alnylam, will deliver a Keynote Address on lessons he’s learned during his 14 years of helping grow a platform company.

Returning to the program as the Annual R&D Landscape Keynote is Ken Getz, Director of Sponsored Research, Tufts CSDD, and Founder, CISCRP. Mr Getz will present on the changing R&D landscape in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.

Milind Kamkolkar, Chief Data Officer, Cellarity and perhaps one of the most disruptive minds in R&D will deliver the Zeitgeist presentation on the challenge of evolving a drug development organization’s data and analytics culture and capabilities.

For the first time, the CMO Summit 2020 is featuring representatives from Memorial Sloan Kettering Drug Pricing Lab, Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), and Patient-Driven Values in Healthcare Evaluation (PAVE) to work through the ever increasing complex pricing and reimbursement environment.

Guided by advisors, including co-chairs Dr Zain Kassam, CMO, Finch Therapeutics, Dr Julie Krop, CMO, EVP, Clinical Development & Regulatory Affairs, AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Dr Steven Zelenkofske, EVP, CMO, Achillion Pharmaceuticals, as well as Dr Beth Trehu, CMO, Jounce Therapeutics, and Dr Thomas Wessel, Independent Consultant, Berkshire Drug Development Consulting, the two-day Summit features 20+ sessions and over 35 CMO speakers.

About the Chief Medical Officer Summit

The Chief Medical Officer Summit is designed for Chief Medical Officers of emerging life science companies. The Summit addresses the challenges faced by CMOs in their multifunctional role responsible for all of R&D and many business activities. Learn more about it here.

About the Conference Forum

The Conference Forum is a life science industry research firm that develops conferences primarily around how to get therapeutics to patients faster. The company examines and challenges the complex ecosystem of drug development and delivery, bringing ideas together from a variety of sources to help advance clinical research with common goals that are patient-focused. They are committed to creating the best content, exchange of ideas and solutions among peers, as well as providing high-quality networking.

Share article on social media or email:

Health

New pneumococcal vaccine from Serum Institute of India achieves WHO prequalification

Leave a comment



PUNE, India and SEATTLE (PRWEB)

PNEUMOSIL®, a vaccine against a leading cause of deadly childhood pneumonia—the pneumococcus bacterium—has achieved prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO). Developed though a collaboration spanning over a decade between Serum Institute of India, Pvt., Ltd. (SIIPL) and PATH and with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the vaccine is expected to provide protection for children on par with other pneumococcal conjugate vaccines at a price that is more affordable for low- and middle-income countries.

Prequalification allows PNEUMOSIL® to be procured by United Nations agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This news marks an important milestone toward alleviating one of the biggest barriers to sustainable access to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that countries face—price.

“PNEUMOSIL® can be manufactured at high volume with current capacity at 100 million doses per annum, which will be augmented to over 150 million doses per annum in two to three years. It will be made available at a target Gavi price of around US$2 per dose, which is roughly 30% less than the current Gavi price for these kinds of vaccines,” says Dr. Rajeev Dhere, executive director of SIIPL.

“The vaccine provides an alternate vaccine for low- and middle-income countries to ensure lifesaving access to pneumococcal disease prevention over the long term,” explains Dr. Mark Alderson, director of PATH’s pneumococcal vaccine project.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have helped significantly reduce pneumococcal deaths and illness where introduced but are difficult for many countries to afford without considerable donor financial support. Although such support has been instrumental in helping to expand country access, implementing and sustaining pneumococcal vaccine programs continues to be difficult for many countries due to the vaccine price. PNEUMOSIL® addresses a need for a more affordable option that can make access easier for nations and free up country and donor funds for other health priorities.

“There has been unprecedented demand for the pneumococcal vaccine from Gavi-supported countries,” says Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “Within the last decade, we have supported the vaccination of 185 million children against this leading killer of children—but there is still work to be done. This new vaccine gives us more options in the fight to ensure no child dies from this preventable and treatable disease.”

“Vaccines are one of the best investments we can make to give every child a healthy start at life and build stronger communities and economies,” said Dr. Keith Klugman, director of the pneumonia team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “As pneumonia continues to be the leading cause of death for young children worldwide, we welcome this new vaccine that will allow for more children to be protected from this debilitating disease.”

In addition to pneumonia, the pneumococcus bacterium causes other serious, life-threatening diseases like meningitis and sepsis. It is estimated to cause nearly 400,000 deaths in children under five years of age each year worldwide.

PNEUMOSIL® covers the types of the bacterium most likely to cause serious illness in low- and middle-income countries. Its manufacturing process has been optimized to make it more efficient—reducing costs while preserving vaccine quality and making the vaccine a more affordable option for countries with the highest burdens of pneumococcal disease.

“Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are among the most complex vaccines to manufacture. As a vaccine developed and produced in India that will benefit the world, PNEUMOSIL®’s WHO prequalification is a landmark achievement,” adds Mr. Neeraj Jain, PATH country director in India.

Prior to WHO prequalification, a recent PATH-sponsored Phase 3 clinical study of PNEUMOSIL® in infants in The Gambia was conducted at the MRC Unit in The Gambia—part of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study provided the pivotal results for the data package required for WHO prequalification. In the study, the vaccine met all primary and secondary endpoints with key findings showing the vaccine to have an acceptable safety profile and to generate a protective immune response similar to a WHO-prequalified comparator pneumococcal vaccine without interfering with other routine childhood immunizations. These results were presented at the 2019 European Symposium on Pediatric Infectious Diseases and a study manuscript is in preparation for peer-reviewed publication. Other study collaborators included FHI Clinical and the WHO Reference Laboratory for Pneumococcal Serology at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London.

Media contacts:

  • Michael Vernekar, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., +91 20 2699 3904, michael.vernekar@seruminstitute.com

  • Megan Sather, GMMB, +1 206-399-7780, megan.sather@gmmb.com

  • Anil Cherukupalli, PATH India, +91 99998 33440, acherukupalli@path.org

Additional resources for media: Fact sheet: pneumococcal disease, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, and PNEUMOSIL® https://www.path.org/resources/fact-sheet-pneumococcal-disease-pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccines-and-pneumosil/

About Serum Institute of India, Pvt., Ltd.

Serum Institute of India, Pvt., Ltd. (SIIPL), based in Pune, India, today is the largest manufacturer of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP) and measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccines and supplies its products to United Nations agencies and more than 160 countries. SIIPL’s MenAfriVac® meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine, which was specifically developed for sub-Saharan Africa, is acknowledged as a remarkable success by the vaccine community. It is a policy and commitment of SIIPL to make new vaccines available at affordable prices to the children of the developing world. http://www.seruminstitute.com.

About PATH

PATH is a global organization that works to accelerate health equity by bringing together public institutions, businesses, social enterprises, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges. With expertise in science, health, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales solutions—including vaccines, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and innovative approaches to strengthening health systems worldwide. http://www.path.org

Share article on social media or email:

Industry: Healthcare

Mediaplanet and Healthcare Experts Team Up to Spotlight Important Health and Safety Tools This Flu Season

Leave a comment


News Image

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that influenza claims the lives of between 12,000 and 61,000 annually and a shocking 80,000 in 2017.


NEW YORK (PRWEB)

As flu season continues, Mediaplanet today announces the launch of this December’s edition of “Fighting the Flu.” This campaign spotlights the dangers of the influenza virus, which is extremely common and, in some cases, deadly. Healthcare experts and other advocates point to key steps to prevent the flu, especially among children, as well as how to care for those who are ill.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that influenza claims the lives of between 12,000 and 61,000 annually and a shocking 80,000 in 2017. Some experts say an influenza pandemic in the future is possible, which is why researchers are working hard to create new and more effective treatments to fight the illness. In the meantime, experts across the board urge everyone who can get the influenza vaccine, as it is the single best defense there is against the virus. Experts also advise washing hands often and thoroughly with soap and water, disinfecting all surfaces, and avoiding contact with the nose, eyes, and mouth.

The print component of “Fighting the Flu” is distributed within today’s edition of USA Today in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, South Florida, New York, and Washington DC/Baltimore markets, with a circulation of approximately 200,000 copies and an estimated readership of 600,000. The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit: https://www.futureofpersonalhealth.com/campaign/fighting-the-flu/

The family of a young mother who lost her life after a weeks-long battle with an aggressive strain of flu virus, shares her story within the publication, in the hopes their tragedy will encourage others to take important prevention steps. Kendra Mann-O’Brien was a healthy mother of two when she caught the virus, which progressed rapidly and, despite life-saving efforts, eventually claimed her life. Her mother, Joan, is now an outspoken advocate for the flu vaccine, which is the single best way to prevent the spread of the illness and its associated complications.

Online, celebrity doctor, Dr. Oz, shares his best tips for flu prevention and care. In addition to getting the vaccine and regularly washing hands, Dr. Oz advises making healthy choices to strengthen and support the immune system. “Sleeping for seven to nine hours a night is a good way to do this, since sleep is an important regulator of immune function,” he says, continuing, “Eating lots of fruits and vegetables and other foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin E will also help your immune system.”

This campaign was made possible with the support of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Families Fighting Flu, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, American Hospital Association, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Healthline, Commonwealth Care Alliance, National PTA, American Lung Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, American Pharmacists Association, Medical News Today, Prevention.com, Dr. Oz, Luden’s, Chloraseptic, CleanWell, Nissin Foods, Carmex, and Dollar Tree.

About Mediaplanet

Mediaplanet specializes in the creation of content marketing campaigns covering a variety of industries. We tell meaningful stories that educate our audience and position our clients as solution providers. Our unique ability to pair the right leaders with the right readers, through the right platforms, has made Mediaplanet a global content marketing powerhouse. Our award-winning stories have won the hearts of countless readers while serving as a valuable platform for brands and their missions. Just call us storytellers with a purpose. Please visit http://www.mediaplanet.com for more on who we are and what we do.

Press Contact:

Kevin Duke

kevin.duke@mediaplanet.com

(646) 755-7950

Share article on social media or email:

Home and Family: Marriage / Relationships

RunSafe Security Raises $6.3 Million to Immunize Software

Leave a comment


Joe Saunders

“As 80% of security decisions are made by software developers in the DevOps process and 75% of kill chains involve a step using a memory corruption vulnerability, RunSafe allows a massive reduction in attack surface with ease of deployment.


MCLEAN, Va. (PRWEB)

RunSafe Security, the pioneer of a patented process to immunize software without developer friction from cyber attacks, today announced the closing of a $6.3 million series A funding round led by Alsop Louie Partners, an early-stage, risk-oriented technology venture capital firm in San Francisco. New investors, Working Lab Capital, Inner Loop Capital and Renegade Ventures, also participated in the round. The investment brings RunSafe’s total funding to $8.7 million and will help the company aggressively expand its sales and marketing efforts, as well as broaden and accelerate product development.

Inoculate All Types of Software in Any Environment

RunSafe’s product Alkemist hardens software binaries using runtime application self-protection (RASP) and Moving Target Defense (MTD) methods to significantly reduce risk by precluding exploits from spreading across multiple devices and networks. Originally born out of a research project for the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense, Alkemist is the only automated tool to protect open source, in-house developed code, or third-party binaries, while leaving each system functionally identical, but logically unique.

“As 80% of security decisions in DevOps software teams are made by software developers and 75% of kill chains involve a step using a memory corruption vulnerability, RunSafe allows a massive reduction in attack surface with ease of deployment. This boost in cyber immunity fundamentally disrupts hacker economics and allows a reallocation of scarce cybersecurity resources overwhelmed with patching and related basic cyber hygiene efforts,” said Joe Saunders, RunSafe Security’s founder and CEO. “We founded RunSafe Security to disrupt hacker economics at the root cause in order to render cyber threats inert – and we are delighted with the widespread adoption of Alkemist across DevSecOps toolchains. My team and I are extremely gratified by the continued financial support of our initial investors in RunSafe Security and are thankful to our new investors for their support of our vision.”

RunSafe Security was a graduate of Virginia Center for Innovative Technology’s Mach37 Cyber Accelerator Fall ’17 cohort. Its initial customer base includes organizations across enterprise, suppliers and manufacturers, and national security industries. Additionally, RunSafe Security has consistently garnered third-party awards and recognition for its technology, including:

  • Named Winner, 2019 TechConnect Defense Innovation Award

  • Named Winner, Cybertacos 2019 Cybersecurity Impact Awards

  • Named Finalist, Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year, Greater Washington Innovation Awards, March 2018

  • Named Info-Security Products Guide Gold Winner, Security Start Up of the Year, February 2018

  • Named Key Innovator “RASP Global Forecast to 2022” Research and Markets Study, December 2017


The Department of Homeland Security released its first update in eight years to the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) list of the 25 most dangerous software errors. The 2019 list identified a new top weakness: “Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer.” This top weakness and many other memory based vulnerabilities is exactly the weakness in software code RunSafe Security addresses.

About RunSafe Security

RunSafe Security’s mission is to immunize software without developer friction from cyber attacks, disrupting hacker economics. RunSafe’s security techniques inoculate our customers’ systems from an entire class of cyber attacks. Our customers integrate our product across build and deploy tools chains without developer friction protecting open source, in house code, and 3rd party binaries. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with an office in Huntsville, Alabama, RunSafe Security’s customers span the enterprise, suppliers and manufacturers, and national security industries.

Share article on social media or email: