Category Archives: Industry: Healthcare

Healthcare is an ever evolving industry, and field. These Press Releases, will keep you up to date on the newest, greatest, best, solutions available.

ZeptoMetrix™ releases new SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Quality Control


SARS-CoV-2

“At present, it is critical for ZeptoMetrix to be able to quickly provide a commercial solution for a non-infectious SARS-CoV-2 quality control for safe use by diagnostic test developers.” – Shawn R. Smith, President, ZeptoMetrix

In response to the current COVID-19 global health emergency, ZeptoMetrix™ Corporation (ZMC) announced today the development and release of a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant construct – NATtrol™ SARS-CoV-2 (recombinant) Stock0831042.

This non-infectious quality control incorporates a recombinant construct associated with targeted detection regions of the virus which may be utilized in the development of molecular assays designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 as well as safely utilized in BSL-2 facilities in place of the live virus, as non-infectious, external quality controls for assays developed to detect SARS-CoV-2.

As the health risk posed by COVID-19 sees prolific daily growth, the CDC recommendations for infection prevention and control is evolving quickly. As with Zika, MERS, H1N1, and SARS, ZeptoMetrix is uniquely positioned to assist its partners and customers with an array of quality controls, research reagents, developmental tools and scientific expertise during our present emergency.

It is imperative for overall public health that our ID community better understand SARS-CoV-2. ZeptoMetrix has made it a priority to provide clinical laboratories, assay developers, manufacturers, researchers and healthcare workers alike with equal access to its extensive collection of coronavirus products.

“As we’ve learned, you always need the right tools for the right job” explains Shawn R. Smith, President of ZeptoMetrix, “…and our comprehensive availability of off-the-shelf coronavirus products helps provide the Infectious Disease diagnostics community with as many precise and dependable tools as possible. At present, it is critical for ZeptoMetrix to be able to quickly provide a commercial solution for a non-infectious SARS-CoV-2 quality control for safe use by diagnostic test developers.”

“In conjunction with our existing and ever growing product listing, I am proud in our Team’s ability to meet today’s challenges and positively impact public health efforts in any manner we can.”

ZeptoMetrix is presently in production of additional SARS-CoV-2 research materials and controls to assist in the rapid development of diagnostic tests and provide safe options for intact, non-infectious QC materials. Please visit our website and review upcoming press releases with regards to SARS-CoV-2 Lysate, SARS-CoV-2 Heat Inactivated Culture Fluid and NATtrol™ SARS-CoV-2.

ZEPTOMETRIX CORONAVIRUS PRODUCTS:

Coronavirus 229E

NATtrol™ Coronavirus 229E Stock – NATCOV(299E)-ST    

Coronavirus Strain: 229E Culture Fluid – 0810229CF

Coronavirus Strain: 229E Heat Inactivated Culture Fluid – 0810229CFHI

Coronavirus Strain: 229E Lysate – 0810229

Coronavirus NL63

NATtrol™ Coronavirus NL63 Stock – NATCOV(NL63)-ST

Coronavirus Strain: NL63 Culture Fluid – 0810228CF

Coronavirus Strain: NL63 Heat Inactivated Culture Fluid – 0810228CFHI

Coronavirus Strain: NL63 Lysate – 0810228

Coronavirus OC43

NATtrol™ Coronavirus OC43 Stock – NATCOV(OC43)-ST

Coronavirus Strain: OC43 Culture Fluid – 0810024CF

Coronavirus Strain: OC43 Heat Inactivated Culture Fluid – 0810024CFHI

Coronavirus Strain: OC43 Lysate – 0810024

MERS-CoV Florida/USA-2_Saudi Arabia_2014

NATtrol™ MERS-CoV Stock – NATMERS-ST

MERS-CoV Strain: Florida/USA-2_Saudi Arabia_2014 Culture Fluid – 0810575CF

MERS-CoV Strain: Florida/USA-2_Saudi Arabia_2014 Heat Inactivated Culture Fluid – 0810575CFHI

SARS 2003-00592

NATtrol™ Coronavirus SARS Stock – NATSARS-ST

SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant                        

NATtrol SARS-CoV-2 (recombinant) Stock – 0831042

About ZeptoMetrix™

ZeptoMetrix Corporation (ZMC) is an established industry leader in the design, development, and delivery of innovative, quality solutions to the Infectious Disease Diagnostics Market. Our expertise and abilities in Molecular Diagnostics, including External Quality Controls, Verification Panels, Proficiency Panels, Customized and OEM Products/Services have set the industry standard for performance and reliability and made ZeptoMetrix the preferred choice for independent 3rd party QC materials.

Founded in 1999, ZeptoMetrix is headquartered in Buffalo, NY with additional facilities in Franklin, Massachusetts.

About NATtrol™

Globally, millions of people are tested for infectious diseases each year. The implications of reporting either a false positive or a false negative can be devastating to the patient. Accurate and sensitive diagnostics are necessary to confirm that laboratories are providing patients with proper testing results. Utilizing ZeptoMetrix NATtrol QC materials on a consistent basis helps to monitor testing performance and enhance confidence in testing results.

ZeptoMetrix NATtrol Molecular Diagnostics products are an essential component of today’s ever-evolving testing market and are designed to provide safe, accurate and cost-effective support for activities relating to the analysis and identification of possible disease-causing microorganisms. The patented ZeptoMetrix NATtrol process renders highly-purified microorganisms non-infectious while allowing internal nucleic acids to remain intact, thereby serving as an ideal reference material for molecular diagnostic testing applications. Representing a total process control, from DNA extraction through amplification and eventual detection, NATtrol products are ready-to-use, refrigerator stable, and safe for operators to handle.

The routine and repetitive use of NATtrol™ External Run Controls and Verification Panels help enable laboratories to monitor performance and identify trends in daily test variations, test kit lot changes, and among individual operators.

For Sales and/or information regarding ZeptoMetrix, NATtrol Molecular Quality Controls & Panels, and Development/Custom Services, please contact ZeptoMetrix Customer Service.

Contact:

ZeptoMetrix Corporation, Customer Service

878 Main Street

Buffalo, NY 14202

716-882-0920

custserv(at)zeptometrix(dot)com

http://www.zeptometrix.com

Media:

Michael Hershfield, Vice President, Sales & Marketing                            

508-553-5852

mhershfield@zeptometrix.com

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ORTHO Sera ID-MTS Antigen Phenotyping Cleared on ORTHO VISION® Platforms in United States and Canada


Ortho Sera

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is proud to offer our laboratory partners solutions that help them quickly test donor blood for the most-needed phenotypes and confidently provide it to patients in need of transfusion.

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a global leader of in vitro diagnostics dedicated to improving and saving lives through innovative laboratory solutions, announced its ORTHOTM Sera, ID-MTS, a suite of extended antigen in a gel testing format used for blood phenotyping for patients in need of transfusion, is cleared to run on ORTHO VISION® and ORTHO VISION® Max in the United States and Canada. The clearances allow testing for more than 99 percent of the most commonly tested blood group antigens to be performed on one platform, driving greater value and efficiency.

The suite was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use on the ORTHO VISION® Analyzer in October 2019, and for use on the ORTHO VISION® Max in January 2020. The suite received Health Canada approval in January 2020.

Watch a video on how Sera works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL2oVvFXhsY.

“Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is proud to offer our laboratory partners solutions that help them quickly test donor blood for the most-needed phenotypes and confidently provide it to patients in need of transfusion,” said Bob Stowers, head of Ortho’s transfusion medicine product portfolio. “With the ability to analyze the most commonly tested antigens on a single ORTHO VISION system and results in under 25 minutes, lab teams are better equipped to help clinicians focus on what matters most—treating their patients.”

During pre-transfusion testing, lab professionals routinely encounter complex patient samples that require extended antigen typing. These patients have developed atypical antibodies to blood group antigens and require additional testing to find compatible blood.

Its antisera additive approach means customers always have the appropriate reagents available and allows extended phenotyping to be personalized according to patient needs—reducing waste and enhancing efficiency.

With end-to-end full automation on the ORTHO VISION and ORTHO VISION Max analyzers, ORTHO Sera minimizes the potential for human error—improving safety—and provides consistent, reliable results while freeing up lab professionals to focus on value-added tasks.

The 13 ORTHO Sera reagents available in the U.S. and Canada on the ORTHO VISION Analyzer and ORTHO VISION Max include Anti-D (DVI), Anti-D (IAT), Anti-Fya, Anti-Fyb, Anti-Jka, Anti-Jkb, Anti-K, Anti-Lea, Anti-Leb, Anti-N, Anti-P1, Anti-S, Anti-s.

For more information, visit https://www.orthoclinicaldiagnostics.com/en-us/home/ortho-sera.

About Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a global leader of in vitro diagnostics dedicated to improving and saving lives through innovative laboratory solutions, serves the clinical laboratory and immunohematology communities.

Ortho’s high-quality products and services help hospitals, hospital networks, blood banks and labs in more than 125 countries and territories deliver consistently fast, accurate, and reliable results that allow clinicians to make better-informed treatment decisions.

Ortho’s lab solutions provide sophisticated testing technologies, automation, information management and interpretation tools to clinical laboratories to help them run more efficiently and effectively and improve patient care.

Ortho’s blood typing products help ensure every patient receives blood that is safe, the right type and the right unit.

Why does Ortho continue to innovate and provide industry-changing solutions? Because every test is a life.

For more information about Ortho’s solutions and services, visit http://www.orthoclinicaldiagnostics.com, or visit Ortho on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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Uneducated Medicare Decisions Can Lead to Coverage Problems for Preexisting Conditions


We want to make it clear what is being offered to each new Medicare enrollee, the possible advantages and drawbacks of every option, and the best choice to fit each enrollee’s needs—including those of people suffering from chronic conditions

There are about 77 million baby boomers in the United States, of whom 10,000 per day become eligible for Medicare.(1) It is estimated that nearly half of these new Medicare enrollees have a preexisting medical condition that could lead to coverage issues with supplemental Medicare insurance.(2) Medicare supplement plans, notes says Dave Rich, CEO of online multi-carrier insurance broker Ensurem, can delay coverage for up to six months for health conditions that were treated or diagnosed within six months of application. “As many chronic conditions require regular treatment,” says Rich, “seniors with such conditions who are initially enrolling in Medicare should make certain that any plan they purchase will provide for their actual medical needs.”

Research also suggests that baby boomers in their 50s and 60s are in poorer health, with more chronic diseases and disabilities, than earlier generations at the same age. One study shows older adults in 2004-2010 having a higher prevalence of six out of eight chronic conditions—including a 37% higher prevalence of diabetes—than their peers in 1992-1998.(5) These findings have helped drive public discussions of overall healthcare costs in the U.S., with estimates ranging from $3.2 trillion per year over the next decade for one proposed solution(6) to $3.6 trillion per year for maintaining the status quo, to $4.4 trillion or more.(7)

Navigating Medicare Gaps for Seniors

Original Medicare leaves treatment and expense gaps in coverage for the consumer, so many seniors must opt in for additional insurance. While in some areas there are twenty or more different plans available, the options, notes Rich, fall into two categories. Medigap, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, offers coverage for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare A and B. These plans serve essentially as an extension of basic Medicare, covering additional expenses while maintaining the covered person’s right to treatment by any healthcare provider who accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, limits policyholders to using the insurer’s managed-care network; some such plans do not cover out-of-network providers at all. (3)

For a Medicare Supplement policy especially, notes Rich, carriers may stipulate a delay in coverage for preexisting conditions. New enrollees should also be aware that for a brief period—the six months after they first sign up for Medicare Part B—Medigap plans cannot reject an applicant, or charge a higher premium, because the applicant has a preexisting condition. Once that period is over, insurers (except in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New York) can reject applicants with a preexisting condition or charge them a higher premium. (4)For Medicare Advantage, carriers may not deny an application due to any preexisting condition other than end-stage renal disease.

While these discussions are important, says Rich, what is needed on the individual level is clarity—not for the future, but for now. Ensurem’s goal is first to understand what is happening in the Medicare space at any given time, and secondly to translate that to the customers who come on their site. “We want to make it clear what is being offered to each new Medicare enrollee, the possible advantages and drawbacks of every option, and the best choice to fit each enrollee’s needs—including those of people suffering from chronic conditions.”

About Ensurem:

Ensurem, headquartered in Clearwater, FL, is a leading technology and product distribution company serving carriers and consumers within the massive U.S. senior market. The company provides end-to-end solutions for carriers, including product development, digital marketing, and consumer-centric front ends and back end. For more information, please visit Ensurem.com.

1.    Frankel, Matthew, “9 Baby-Boomer Statistics That Will Blow You Away,” Motley Fool, July 29, 2017, fool.com/retirement/2017/07/29/9-baby-boomer-statistics-that-will-blow-you-away.aspx.

2.    “Nearly 54 Million People Have Pre-Existing Conditions That Would Make Them Uninsurable in the Individual Market without the ACA,” Kaiser Family Foundation, October 4, 2019, kff.org/health-reform/press-release/nearly-54-million-americans-have-pre-existing-conditions-that-would-make-them-uninsurable-in-the-individual-market-without-the-aca/

3.    White, Jacquelyn, “Medicap vs. Medicare Advantage: What’s the Difference?”, The Street, January 24, 2020, thestreet.com/personal-finance/insurance/health-insurance/medigap-vs-medicare-advantage

4.    Miller, Mark, “Medicare’s Private Option Is Gaining Popularity, and Critics,” New York Times, February 21, 2020, nytimes.com/2020/02/21/business/medicare-advantage-retirement.html

5.    Scommegna, Paola, “Are Baby Boomers Healthy Enough to Keep Working?”, Population Reference Bureau, April 23, 2018, prb.org/are-baby-boomers-healthy-enough-to-keep-working/#.

6.    Blumberg, Linda, et al., “From Incremental to Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform: How Various Reform Options Compare on Coverage and Costs,” Urban Institute, October 2019.

7.    “National Health Expenditure Accounts—Historical,” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2019, cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData

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RevSpring Announces PersonaPay™ Portal, featuring an all-new patient-centric way for providers to increase payments


“We know we can help providers improve cash flow and collections by driving the best patient payment outcomes early in the engagement,” said Steve Callis, president of payments at RevSpring.

RevSpring, the leading provider of healthcare financial engagement and payment solutions, today announced PersonaPay™, its next generation payment portal delivering a personalized payment experience for every patient. With PersonaPay, providers are sure to Fit the Payment to the Patient™ – balancing empathy for patients while maintaining the best payment outcomes pre- and post-service.

Powered by an advancement in propensity to pay modeling that increases payment predictability through Vu™ Predict, PersonaPay lets healthcare providers precisely tailor the payment experience for every patient, ensuring consistency at every touchpoint, through every communication channel, to improve patient and provider outcomes.

“We know we can help providers improve cash flow and collections by driving the best patient payment outcomes early in the engagement,” said Steve Callis, president of payments at RevSpring. “Whether it is a payment in full, tailored payment plans, or financial assistance, PersonaPay provides the tools necessary to achieve a higher rate of patients fulfilling their financial obligations.”

PersonaPay also allows for healthcare providers’ customer services teams to easily access the exact payment options offered to the patient, as well as current account detail and payment activities across all channels between billing cycles. This eliminates any guesswork for the treatment a rep should offer when working with their patients. Dynamic scripting at their fingertips gives your personnel the insight they need to guide financial conversations for each patient.

Highlights include:

  • Secure environment without requiring username and passwords
  • Clear payment options tailored to each patient’s unique needs
  • Easily set-up and manage self-serve payments, payment plans, electronic statement delivery, and payment preferences
  • Modern and responsive design using human factors for intuitive interactions
  • Seamless integration with RevSpring’s eVoke™ OmniChannel engagement solutions, including the new eVoke™ Automate
  • Text-to-pay with one click from a stored card
  • Integrated Merchant Services for a complete payment solution, including settlement reconciliation
  • Integrated Voice of the Patient™ Surveys
  • ADA Compliant to promote inclusion
  • Integrates flexibly with major EMR solutions, such as Epic, Cerner and MedHost

“As a PersonaPay early adopter client, we were really impressed with how the RevSpring team worked to create an intuitive product and great customer experience”, said Trent Lienau, Sr. System Analyst at Broadlawns Medical Center. “The portal has greatly increased our ability to provide more self-service options for our clients. Our favorite features include those that allow us to offer unique options to our patients including prompt-pay discounts, payment plans, and to easily retrieve electronic statements.”    

PersonaPay is part of an integrated One Patient, One Voice solution that RevSpring is unveiling in a series of announcements. This includes Vu Predict, announced last week, an advancement in propensity to pay modeling that increases predictability at more touchpoints throughout the patient payment journey to increase payments.

With the cancellation of the 2020 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition this week, RevSpring is showcasing this and other new products on their HIMSS AT HOME Digital Booth Experience. Visit tinyurl.com/RS-HIMSS-Digital-Booth and learn how precise personalization impacts patients throughout their healthcare financial journey.

About RevSpring

RevSpring leads the market in financial communications and payment solutions that inspire patients to pay. The company has built the industry’s most comprehensive and impactful suite of patient engagement, OmniChannel communications and payment solutions backed by behavior analysis, propensity-to-pay scoring, contextual messaging, and user experience best practices. Using proprietary data analytics to tailor the engagement from pre-service to post-service, we improve the financial experience and outcomes for providers and their patients. To learn more, visit revspringinc.com/healthcare.

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Pharmacy Industry Revenues Hit Record High—Amid Profit Pressures and Amazon Threat, Says New Drug Channels Institute Study


News Image

The U.S. pharmacy industry has entered a shakeout process that will ultimately reduce the number of U.S. pharmacy locations.

Today Drug Channels Institute, a leading provider of specialized management education for and about the pharmaceutical industry, released its exclusive, in-depth analysis of U.S. pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The new 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers provides the most comprehensive, fact-based tool for understanding the entire U.S. drug pricing, reimbursement, and dispensing system.

“Total prescription dispensing revenues of retail, mail, long-term care, and specialty pharmacies reached a record $446 billion in 2019,” says Drug Channels Institute CEO Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., the study’s author and a widely regarded expert on pharmaceutical economics and the drug distribution system. “The largest insurers, PBMs, and specialty pharmacies have combined into vertically integrated organizations. They are poised to restructure U.S. drug channels by exerting greater control over patient access, sites of care, dispensing locations, and pricing.”

These findings are among the many insights and trends in this highly regarded report, now in its 11th edition. With 203 proprietary charts, exhibits, and data tables, it offers the most current economic information about specialty drugs, market structure, reimbursement, pharmacy and PBM profits, manufacturer rebates, patients’ out-of-pocket expenses, industry trends, and more.

“The U.S. pharmacy industry has entered a shakeout process that will ultimately reduce the number of U.S. pharmacy locations,” Fein adds. “At the same time, Amazon and well-funded technology-based startups are trying to disrupt the pharmacy industry.”

The report analyzes the crucial healthcare trends that will affect PBMs and pharmacies, including such topics as benefit designs, drug pricing, rebates, public policy, narrow networks, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and many others. This year’s edition offers significant new information on such topics as PBMs’ profit in Managed Medicaid programs, direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees paid by pharmacies, and pharmacies’ profits from the 340B program.

To purchase and immediately download the new report, visit https://drugch.nl/pharmacy. To read a free report overview, visit https://drugch.nl/overview2020.

About Drug Channels Institute

Drug Channels Institute is a leading provider of specialized management education about the pharmaceutical industry. Access Dr. Fein’s popular Drug Channels blog at http://www.drugchannels.net.

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Medical Optometry of America and the New England College of Optometry Announce Academic Affiliation


MOA logo

“Working with MOA, not only do we offer more options for graduates, NECO will also have early insight into emerging practice models,” states Howard Purcell, OD, NECO President and CEO.

The New England College of Optometry (NECO) and Medical Optometry of America (MOA), the first national optometric brand in the country focused on medical eye care, announced today that they have entered into a unique collaboration with the goal of providing new graduates and residents exposure to medical optometry through an innovative practice model.

“As the optometry field changes and new practice models emerge, we strongly believe that as an educational institution we need to provide students with a diversity of experiences in clinical environments that best prepares them for tomorrow’s optometry,” states Howard Purcell, OD, NECO President and CEO. “Working with MOA, not only do we offer more options for graduates, NECO will also have early insight into emerging practice models.”

“Our profession is undergoing tremendous transformation with significant financial pressures from a growing number of non-traditional competitors. At the same time, the aging population is accelerating demand for medical eye care and yet most patients and their primary physicians don’t know they can access this level of care from Optometric Clinicians. These dynamics represent an opportunity and I believe the collaboration between NECO and MOA offers tremendous upside potential for NECO graduates and the Optometric Profession as a whole,” states Jim Thimons, OD and MOA’s Chief Medical Officer.

For NECO, the affiliation creates opportunities for post-graduate training and practice in medical optometry at MOA’s sites. Together, the organizations will also explore the potential of developing a digital education platform to expand high quality continuing education programs for optometrists throughout the country.

Optometrists entering the field today can opt to work in a variety of different practice models that were rarely seen just a decade ago. Today, optometrists can practice in a multitude of settings, from private practice to national retail companies to startups. The change is not without notice. Representatives from every sector of the eye care industry gathered in November at the New England College of Optometry to share expertise and discuss the evolving nature of eye care and the implications for how optometric education and the optometric profession can benefit from working together in unique partnerships.

About Medical Optometry America

Medical Optometry America (MOA) is a marketing and management company created to catalyze change in the optometric profession by providing a turnkey system for forward-thinking optometrists to shift more completely to a sustainable medical model. The first national optometric brand in the country focused on medical eye care, MOA provides independent optometrists the opportunity to participate in a brand and practice management system that stands for exceptional medical eye care and inspires consumer confidence and demand for those services. Practices joining the MOA System will be positioned for future growth, with the marketing muscle to stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment. Visit http://www.medodamerica.com to learn more.

About New England College of Optometry

New England College of Optometry is an independent graduate college of optometry that educates students for careers in eye care delivery, research and education. Founded in 1894, NECO is the oldest continuously operating school of optometry in the country and was the first to develop a network of clinical affiliations for clinical training. We challenge students to think creatively about vision and sight and to contribute to the future of the field. In doing so, we provide quality optometric care to more than 150,000 individuals annually and serve the community through a network of health care organizations and access to vision screenings. http://www.neco.edu

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$102,430 Grant Awarded for Inclusion Body Myositis Research


The 2019 Million Dollar Bike Ride grant for inclusion body myositis (IBM) research has been awarded to Dr. Steven Greenberg of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Greenberg will study “Development of a Chemokine Targeted Therapy for Inclusion Body Myositis.” Dr. Greenberg is a neuromuscular specialist with a longstanding interest in IBM.

Inclusion body myositis is a rare muscle disease that causes gradually worsening muscle weakness, often leading to severe disability. Frequent early symptoms are weak hand grip, causing trouble with tasks such as opening jars and ziplock bags, and weak legs, which results in falls and trouble standing up from low chairs. Eventually most patients need to use a wheelchair, and some lose nearly all ability to move. The cause is not known and there is no effective treatment.

The money for the research grant was raised by Team Cure IBM, a group of individuals who banded together to fight for recognition and research of inclusion body myositis. Last June, thirty people rode for IBM in the Million Dollar Bike Ride, an annual rare disease fundraising event sponsored by the Orphan Disease Center at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). Volunteer fundraisers received contributions from over 400 donors. Orphazyme, the Danish biopharmaceutical company, generously agreed to help sponsor the team. The Myositis Association and Myositis Support and Understanding also supported the cause. The team was organized by Cure IBM, a non-profit organization dedicated to inclusion body myositis.

It was truly a team effort, and this research grant demonstrates what can be achieved when people work together for IBM.

Based on this success, Penn has invited Team Cure IBM back to ride again in the 2020 Million Dollar Bike Ride. Today the team is starting its campaign to recruit new riders, fundraisers, and donors for the 2020 Million Dollar Bike Ride, which will take place on Saturday, June 13 in Philadelphia.

Riders have a choice of 3 courses: 13, 34, or 72 miles.

Fundraisers can register as virtual riders and help the cause even if they cannot ride or come to Philadelphia.

Donations are made to Penn, which temporarily holds the money before distributing 100% of the funds in a research grant. Amounts raised between $20-30,000 will be doubled by the Orphan Disease Center at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Donations for the 2020 ride can be made here: https://givingpages.upenn.edu/TeamCureIBM

Riders can register for Team Cure IBM here: https://www.milliondollarbikeride.org/registration

Contact Cure IBM at info@cureibm.org for questions about Team Cure IBM and registration.

In the past six years, the Million Dollar Bike Ride has funded over $10 million dollars in research for more than 30 rare diseases. https://www.milliondollarbikeride.org/

For more information about inclusion body myositis, please visit the Cure IBM website, https://cureibm.org/.

Cure IBM, headquartered in Davis, CA, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inclusion body myositis education, awareness, and research.

Website: https://cureibm.org/

Email: info@cureibm.org

Contact:

Kevin Dooley, MD

Chairman, Cure IBM

info@cureibm.org

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Glacial Multimedia Announces Strategic Alignment with FocalPoint Holdings


Today Glacial Multimedia, Inc. and FocalPoint Holdings announced a strategic partnership, connecting FocalPoint’s network of 8,000 ophthalmology and optometry providers of all sizes to the eye care industry’s leader in digital marketing services, Glacial Multimedia.

As the healthcare landscape evolves, both Glacial Multimedia and FocalPoint Holdings strive to provide resources to connect modern practices to their patient base. To remain relevant in an ever-expanding industry, an online presence is vital. How a practice represents themselves online reflects to the patient how that practice is run. A strong digital presence is the core of modern practices and sets them apart from their competitors. The collaboration between the two companies will empower eye care professionals to connect with their patient base through the utilization of digital strategies like Facebook and Instagram advertising, Google Ads, Search Engine Optimization, and professional website design.

Dr. Anish Kapur, President of FocalPoint Holdings, stated; “FocalPoint Holdings’ practices have come to expect the best from our company in terms of providing their practice with innovative solutions and services with proven track records of success from partnerships that we’ve developed over the years. Glacial Multimedia’s elite digital marketing services will compliment all of FocalPoint Holdings offerings as well as the services of our practice partners.”

The companies, who have formed a relationship over the years through prior business endeavors, and look to sustain that partnership which has proven to be successful in the past as both organizations continue to build results-driven business relationships.

About FocalPoint Holdings, LLC

FocalPoint Holdings is a privately held investment and management firm specializing in healthcare and technology companies. As an experienced partner to outstanding management teams, FocalPoint helps build durable companies with sustainable value, especially within the ophthalmic industry. With their team’s depth of knowledge in multiple industries, FocalPoint is the perfect partner for entrepreneurs and business executives looking to grow their business. Additional information about the company is available at https://www.focalpointholdings.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/focalpointholdings/

About Glacial Multimedia, Inc.

Glacial Multimedia, Inc. is a leading digital marketing agency, operating under the mission of simplifying digital marketing for medical practices by delivering full-service solutions, premium client service, and high-quality standards.

Integrating a mix of medical website design and intelligent digital marketing, Glacial creates ideas that grow medical practices and builds connections to their patient base.

Headquartered in Portland, ME, Glacial Multimedia has built a presence in the medical marketing industry that continues to grow through ongoing innovation, excellent customer service, and data-driven results. For more information about Glacial Multimedia, visit https://www.glacial.com, https://www.facebook.com/GlacialMultimediaInc/, or https://www.linkedin.com/company/glacial-multimedia-inc-/.

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Lifecycle Biotechnologies Announces Investment in a Biotechnology Campus in Cleburne, Texas


Lifecycle Cleburne

Lifecycle Cleburne

We are now able to focus and invest in the future of our technologies.

Lifecycle Biotechnologies announced today that is has acquired a 20,000 square foot manufacturing facility on 13 acres in Cleburne, Texas to be used as a biopharmaceutical and biotechnology production and development campus. Lifecycle is currently updating the facility to serve as its global headquarters and sales offices as well as its production and development hub. The company expects to relocate from Fort Worth, Texas by Q3 2020. Lifecycle also plans to build an additional 30,000 square feet on the property to be used as its warehouse and development laboratory for expanding its current operations.

“With our recent divestment of our protein company, we are now able to focus and invest in the future of our technologies,” said Cody Yarborough, CEO for Lifecycle Biotechnologies. “We are intimate with multiple life science markets, especially biopharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, and cellular agriculture and have several products we are launching over the next 36 months. We just don’t have the space to house the employees and equipment for our innovative manufacturing at our current sites and I want to have our leaders hands-on. The city of Cleburne has been an accommodating partner, so I want to invest here.”

Ronald Gohdes, VP of Engineering, added “This will be a unique facility in that the production area is designed to quickly pivot to changing manufacturing schemes due to market needs while under strict controls. We will not only house our chemical, reagent, and media operations, but also include precision packaging of sensitive powdered biochemicals and bring with it the addition of cell culture capabilities.”

Further plans regarding how Lifecycle will expand its current capabilities in Loveland, Colorado and in San Antonio, Texas will be forthcoming. This announcement comes after the company announced the official integration of Chata and VI Plastics to a single, unified company under Lifecycle Biotechnologies earlier this year. This new facility along with the recent integration will create a seamless experience for all of Lifecycle’s partners, system wide, and will ensure access to the quality, service, and expertise expected from Lifecycle.

To learn more about Lifecycle Biotechnologies, the industries it serves, or to learn more about this new location and how to benefit from it, please contact Lifecycle Biotechnologies at info@lifecyclebio.com, 817.840.7855, or http://www.lifecyclebio.com. You can also find more information in the 2020 Lifecycle Prospectus.

Lifecycle Biotechnologies has served the life science industry for over 40 years. Lifecycle’s products are the beginning of the lifecycle of the lifesaving and life-enhancing medical products used globally today. As a leading life sciences tools and service supplier, Lifecycle fully understands the critical role its products play in many of the world’s leading pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, diagnostics, cellular agriculture, cell- and tissue-based products, and many other medical products. While Lifecycle’s products aren’t used to diagnose, treat, or cure patients, without their contribution, none of this would be possible.

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Charlene Blanton, Owner of Caring Transitions of Myrtle Beach, Recognized with Company’s National Bruce Treadway Pioneer Spirit Award


Charlene Blanton

Charlene’s Pioneer Spirit is not simply a one-time occurrence. Over her many years with Caring Transitions, Charlene has not only evolved with the brand but has championed change that has had a lasting impact on the network and most importantly, our clients. – Caring Transitions President Ray Fabik

In the almost nine years since Charlene Blanton opened Caring Transitions of Myrtle Beach, she has gone through many of the same experiences as her clients – from emergency moves to having to cope with the cleaning out of a loved one’s home – and those experiences have helped her make her business stronger. Now, in recognition of her ability to adapt her business to her clients’ changing needs and her own perseverance, Caring Transitions’ national franchise team has recognized Blanton with the Caring Transitions Bruce Treadway Pioneer Spirit Award.

The Bruce Treadway Pioneer Spirit Award is named after Caring Transitions’ very first franchisee, Bruce Treadway, who helped build the franchise into the national Franchise 500® ranked business it is today. Blanton’s award was presented at the company’s national conference on February 4, 2020.

“Charlene’s Pioneer spirit is not simply a one-time occurrence. Over her many years with Caring Transitions, Charlene has not only evolved with the brand but has championed change that has had a lasting impact on the network and most importantly, our clients. I’m pleased to present this award to Charlene and her team,” Caring Transitions Ray Fabik said.

Caring Transitions’ specially-trained professionals handle decluttering, organizing, packing, moving, resettling, in-home estate sales, online auctions, estate clearing and preparing homes for market. This senior-focused relocation and estate-sale services company serves the Grand Strand, from Georgetown, South Carolina, to Southport, North Carolina.

“In almost 9 years of being a Caring Transitions owner, we have had to continuous adapt our business so as to serve our client-family’s needs by better understanding what they are going through and wrapping our arms around their unique circumstances so we can provide a solution that fits their needs, goals and expectations. We constantly look at how to serve our clients and how to say ‘YES’ to getting them smoothly and seamlessly through one the of the most overwhelming, difficult times a family can face. We are mountain movers, stress relievers, hand holders, stuff purveyors, chaos managers, dot connectors… we strive to be their most trusted resource,” Blanton said.

Caring Transitions’ services are perfect for managing the many aspects of a senior move, including assisting with the process of “right”-sizing to provide a safer living situation, as well as for busy families and people coping with the clearing out the home of a loved one who has moved into assisted care or passed away. All of Caring Transitions’ services are customizable, so clients choose the solution that best fits their needs.

“Over the years my family has faced many of the very same triggering, overwhelming, stressful events our clients face: the sudden illness of a grandparent, an emergency move, what to do with family treasures when you live 8 hours away, not knowing who to trust or how to even get started. Those experiences have helped me truly see how Caring Transitions is a total solution for families, a trusted resource and an experienced team of professionals who can support families through the process of a sometimes daunting transition. Caring Transitions is a comprehensive, seamless, trusted and less-stressful solution,” Blanton said.

For Blanton, the success of Caring Transitions locally and nationally comes down to three things – the service provided by individual franchisees and their teams, the Caring Transitions corporate office and the franchise family working together.

“We are truly better together and this could not work without all the players, including our hard-working, compassionate Myrtle Beach team who never stop looking for solutions; our Caring Transitions corporate office, who provide a strong backbone and an open door for support and innovation; and our Caring Transitions franchisee family for sharing their best practices and experiences and are always working together to strengthen our brand,” Blanton added.

Caring Transitions of Myrtle Beach is a member of NASMM, CRTS certified, and fully insured. All employees background checked. For additional information, call 843-997-5088, email CBlanton@CaringTransitions.com or visit http://www.caringtransitionsmyrtlebeach.com.

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