Category Archives: Health: Psychology

Whats New in the World of Psychology? These Press Releases, will keep you up to date on all things Psychology related.

Health: Psychology

CancerIQ Announces SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance from AssuranceLab

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Receiving SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance attests that a software product and its related services and processes meet industry-standard security and privacy protocols. The security audit covers a scope that includes common security criteria, system availability, data confidentiality, and privacy requirements for handling personal information. SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance indicates that CancerIQ has the governance, infrastructure, and systems in place to protect patient information from unauthorized access both from within and outside a health system.

“We’ve always prioritized patient and provider security and we’re thrilled to be recognized for it,” said Feyi Ayodele, co-founder and CEO, CancerIQ. “This certification reaffirms why our customers trust us to deliver best in class, innovative solutions and services to help them stay ahead of cancer.”

To achieve compliance, companies must be audited by an independent certified public accountant who performs an assessment and determines whether the company meets the appropriate standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). CancerIQ selected AssuranceLab, which specializes in audits of cloud-native solutions in healthcare and other industries.

About CancerIQ

CancerIQ is the only cancer-focused precision health platform that empowers healthcare providers to detect cancer earlier and prevent it altogether across all patient populations. Integrated directly into real-time EHR workflows, CancerIQ makes it easy to gather comprehensive patient data, automatically map it to the latest evidence-based guidelines, and expand access to personalized care plans, cutting-edge clinical solutions, and genomic innovations. Learn more at canceriq.com, follow CancerIQ on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Malvina Kefalas, CancerIQ, 1 5165038610, [email protected], www.canceriq.com

Twitter, LinkedIn

SOURCE CancerIQ



Health: Psychology

Technology Products to Consider for Aging Loved Ones

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The holidays are associated with people, parties, shopping and package deliveries. But for folks spending the season alone, it may not feel so joyous. Feelings of loneliness can intensify and be increasingly challenging for some. In a 2023 study conducted by the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), 34% of adults ages 50 to 80 reported feeling isolated from others, and 47% reported experiencing a lack of companionship in the past year.

When you are thinking about what gifts to purchase for your older loved ones, consider items that allow them to stay connected and feel included. Dr. Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, Inc., has a few suggestions of digital devices to give your older loved ones this holiday season:

  • Smart Speakers: Our loved one’s mobility and dexterity will naturally decline as they age, which makes completing everyday tasks more difficult. We know it’s challenging to be available for your aging loved ones around the clock, particularly when it comes to everyday tasks. Smart speakers with voice assist, such as the Amazon Echo or Google Nest, can be especially helpful for seniors with mobility issues, as they can be used without having to get up and move around. From turning on the lights in the morning to setting a medication reminder before bed, these devices can offer assistance when no one is there. They can also play your loved ones’ favorite music or radio stations, among other functions.
  • Library at Home: Who doesn’t love to read a good book over the holidays? While the importance of promoting reading among children gets most attention, benefits abound for seniors who read, too. In fact, reading is linked with several positive outcomes for older adults, including enhanced memory retention, sharper decision-making and better sleep, among others. The Kindle Paperwhite is an ideal gift, offering adjustable warm lighting, easy-on-the-eyes reading, customizable fonts, audiobooks and extended battery life. Additionally, consider gifting a subscription to Audible or a similar service for avid readers with limited vision, which can be linked to a smart speaker for enhanced enjoyment.
  • Technology You Can Wear: Physical activity is an important part of nearly everyone’s everyday health, including our older adults. Even 30 minutes of movement a day can make a difference. For our older adults who want the latest health and fitness features, there are several options, such as the Apple Watch Series 9, that make a great choice. This newest version of the Apple Watch includes safety features such as fall detection, an ECG reader, a blood oxygen reader and REM sleep tracking. On top of these health measures, the watch also tracks workouts and reminds you of your “move” goals for the day.
  • A Picture Worth a Thousand Words: Everyone needs social connections to survive and thrive. But as people age, they often find themselves spending more time alone. Being alone may leave older adults more vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation, which can affect their health and well-being. Make your older companions feel like they are part of every moment with Skylight, a picture frame that allows you to control the display of the photos from any location. When connected to Wi-Fi, send photos to the frame’s email, and they’ll automatically appear on the screen.
  • Tablets with Safety in Mind: According to Pew Research Center, 44% of those adults 65 and older said they currently owned a tablet. If your loved one wants to stay connected with a tablet, but you’re worried about the endless access that a classic device may bring, the GrandPad is a perfect alternative. GrandPad has functions of a normal tablet but takes a few more precautions to protect older adults. It also uses simple navigation with large buttons and enhanced sound to make the experience of connecting with others easy as ever for our older adults.
  • A Modern Spin on a Furry Friend: As our loved ones age, caring for others, including their furry friends, becomes more challenging. This often leads to older adults not having the capacity to take care of their very own furry friends they grew up loving. Animals can provide important forms of social and emotional support for older adults that can reduce stress, loneliness and improve overall quality of life. Joy For All offers lifelike companion pets in dog and cat options, complete with realistic fur, authentic sounds, sensors and speakers to form a meaningful bond by responding to voices – a bond everyone deserves.

Holidays are a great time to reflect. Take time to think about our older adults a little more and ask yourself how you can make them feel a part of your life, even if you aren’t always together. Everyone has their own way of showing appreciation and gratitude, but we hope these gifts will connect you with your loved ones more than ever.

Check out these additional free resources to keep your aging loved one healthy and safe.

Media Contact

Dan Wieberg, Home Instead, 1 402-498-4466, [email protected]

SOURCE Home Instead

Health: Psychology

Ascent® Protein Donates $10,000 to Team Red, White & Blue

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Ascent Protein, The Official Sponsor of Hard Work, announced this week a $10,000 donation to Team Red, White & Blue (RWB) – a non-profit organization forging America’s leading health and wellness community for Veterans.

DENVER, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Ascent Protein, The Official Sponsor of Hard Work, announced this week a $10,000 donation to Team Red, White & Blue (RWB) – a non-profit organization forging America’s leading health and wellness community for Veterans.

For a second consecutive year, Ascent partnered with Team RWB during a limited release of their Mocha Cold Brew flavor, and donated proceeds from the sales of the product to Team RWB. This year, the custom camo packaging also included Team RWB’s logo, letting Ascent’s consumers know that their purchase supports the Veteran community. Team RWB said funds will directly support our nation’s Veterans working toward prioritizing their health and well-being.

“Everyone at Team RWB was fired up to collaborate with Ascent Protein as the beneficiary of their Mocha Cold Brew Whey Protein again this year” said Mike Erwin, Founder and Executive Director of Team RWB. “The awareness, visibility, and donations that resulted from this partnership have already made a profound impact, showing America’s Veterans that their best days are ahead, and their country is behind them.”

Ascent 100% Whey is made using a native whey protein blend. Native Whey is the least-processed whey protein available. The company is continually innovating to deliver clean protein products for consumers seeking high quality ingredients to support muscle health and athletic performance. The Mocha Cold Brew Whey flavor delivers 25g of clean protein per serving and contains zero artificial flavors or sweeteners. Ascent is also Certified Gluten Free and Informed Sport Certified, meaning every batch is third party tested for banned substances.

Mocha Cold Brew & the custom camo packaging was first released in August of 2022 and quickly became a fan favorite, selling out in just under two weeks.

“We were excited to bring Mocha Cold Brew back for a second year and expand our partnership with Team Red, White & Blue by adding their logo to the package label,” says Dallas Doiron, Associate Director of Sales at Ascent Protein. “We have partnered with various military exchanges since 2017 and look forward to supporting our military and Veteran community in years to come.”

Since launching in 2016, Ascent has quickly become one of America’s fastest growing sports nutrition companies with its line of clean products. Ascent Protein is trusted by some of the world’s most prominent elite athletes, including professional running back Tony Pollard, CrossFit Games athletes Brent Fikowski and Christine Kolenbrander, and Team USA Weightlifting athletes CJ Cummings and Jourdan Delacruz.

About Ascent Protein

Ascent® was created to naturally improve athletic performance and is The Official Sponsor of Hard Work®. Ascent launched in 2016 and has continued to bring innovative products to the market, while remaining committed to their high-quality standards and offering products with straight-forward ingredients and nothing artificial. All Ascent products contain zero artificial flavors and sweeteners and are Certified Gluten Free, and Informed Sport Certified meaning they are third party tested for banned substances. Aligning with the admirable qualities in the athletes that Ascent serves – going the extra mile, completing an extra set, and never backing down from a challenge, Ascent pushes for high-quality results, knowing they do not come without hard work. For more information, visit Ascent Protein.

About Team Red, White and Blue

Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is a nonprofit organization forging the nation’s leading health and wellness community. Founded in 2010, Team RWB supports Veterans through their health and wellness journeys by offering real-life and virtual opportunities to build a healthier lifestyle. For More information about Team RWB and its 200,000 members, visit teamrwb.org.

Media Contact

Kim DeVigil, Ascent Protein, 1 720-550-3751, [email protected], https://www.ascentprotein.com/

Sara Brewer, Ascent Protein, [email protected], https://www.ascentprotein.com/

SOURCE Ascent Protein

Health: Psychology

FreeOx Biotech lead asset recommended by NIH/NINDS SPAN network for further development

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FreeOx Biotech lead asset recommended by NIH/NINDS SPAN network for further development. FreeOx Biotech Adds Leadership for Advancing Ox-01 to Phase III and Commercialization

BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — FreeOx Biotech SL, a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a novel drug class for Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS), announced today that the National Institutes of Health, NINDS’ SPAN (Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network), endorsed Uric Acid (the active ingredient of Ox-01, the company’s Phase III-ready investigational drug) as the only one of five interventional drug candidates for which data supported further clinical evaluation. As reported in SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, FreeOx’s lead asset – was shown to be an effective emergency adjunct therapy to Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT) for the treatment of AIS, demonstrating unprecedented efficacy compared to five other candidate interventions. As such, the NINDS also indicated potential interest in funding Ox-01’s Phase III trial. The company has strong intellectual property covering Uric Acid and its use in stroke treatment.

“The NINDS’ endorsement underscores their confidence in the efficacy and potential of Ox-01 as a ground-breaking therapy for acute ischemic stroke. On top of our compelling Phase II data, the Phase III trial, once successfully completed, will pave the way for the marketing authorization of Ox-01 in the U.S. and EU, as an adjunct therapy to mechanical thrombectomy. We are confident that once approved, Ox-01 will significantly reduce disability in AIS patients,” noted Emmett-Phil Coriat, FreeOx Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

FreeOx also announced today the addition of key personnel to the company’s leadership and advisory teams, including a new Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; a newly appointed Board Director; and a Strategic Development Advisory Board to lead the company through its upcoming pivotal Phase III clinical program and subsequent commercial registration and marketing activities. Carlos Lurigados, FreeOx’s co-founder and former CEO, has assumed both the Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer roles.

New Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer: Emmett-Phil Coriat

“FreeOx is uniquely positioned to lead the field of cerebroprotective therapies. Its lead asset has been observed to reperfuse brain vasculature during a stroke as well as to protect the penumbra. The company’s founders pioneered the strategy of administering Uric Acid to restore microcirculation to oxygen-deprived brain cells and were recently recognized by the U.S. National Institutes of Health SPAN program for their breakthrough work. I believe FreeOx will be the first commercial adjunct therapy to address the significant unmet needs and raise the standard of care in stroke. As both Chairman of the Board and CEO, I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the company’s leadership and advisors to advance this work first in stroke and later, to even broader neurological indications,” said Emmett-Phil Coriat, newly appointed FreeOx Board Chair and CEO.

Emmett brings to FreeOx more than 25 years of experience in biotech/medtech as a venture capitalist, founder, and CEO of startups, with a successful track record in dealmaking and exits. He has held diverse roles and advisory positions in Canada, the U.S., Israel, and the U.K. As a partner, he led the creation of the Biotech/Medtech transactional advisory practice and co-founded the Boston office for AEC Partners, a strategy and transactional advisory boutique in life sciences. Emmett was previously a partner at T2C2 Capital, a VC fund behind companies such as Enobia Pharma. His accomplishments include successfully innovating with endogenous products, including an asset sale to Eli Lilly in 2015. Emmett holds an MBA from the London Business School (UK), a Pharmacy degree from University of Montreal and a diploma in Intellectual Property Management from McGill University. Emmett is also certified as a Forest Therapy guide, and co-founded PaRx Canada, which has grown to become one of the world’s largest physician-prescribed ecotherapy programs. He began his career at L’Oréal and holds dual Canadian-Spanish citizenship.

New Board Member: Laurent van Lerberghe

Laurent van Lerberghe brings to the FreeOx Board of Directors a wealth of experience, spanning over 25 years in operational and strategic leadership across pharma businesses. He has a strong track record of leading and developing businesses globally. Over the last three years, he served as Chief Strategy Officer at Sanofi, working closely with the CEO and contributing significantly to the company’s growth as one of the architects of multiple strategic acquisitions. He also expedited funding in oncology, genomic medicines, and digital health. Before Sanofi, Laurent held various high-level commercial positions at Abbott for a decade in the US, Europe, and Asia. Laurent’s strategic insights and track record bringing science to patients will play an important role as we continue to develop and partner Ox-01. Laurent is now an entrepreneur investor, focusing on accelerating digital health across Europe, with neurology being one key area.

“FreeOx is well positioned for success, not only in Phase III but also in the field of cerebroprotective therapy where there has been almost no innovation since the approval of Mechanical Thrombectomy. Despite the fact that MT has improved outcomes for stroke patients, there are a significant number of stroke survivors left unable to live independently post-stroke. As such, they ravage healthcare resources, not to mention present often insurmountable challenges to patients and families alike. It is this gap that I believe FreeOx will address with an emergency adjunct AIS treatment that restores brain microcirculation, and thereby raises standard of care worldwide,” added van Lerberghe.

New Development & Strategic Advisory Board (DSAB)

Coriat said that FreeOx has created a new Development and Strategic Advisory Board to support management’s planning for its pivotal trial, Ox-01’s registration, commercialization and market access. He also expects the DSAB to assist in identifying future pipeline opportunities based on FreeOx’s proprietary liposomal formulation platform, including UA and other neurology indications. Appointed to Chair the DSAB is Joan Bigorra, MD, former General Manager of Novartis Pharma Spain. Dr. Bigorra sat on Novartis Pharma’s International Innovation Board and set up programs focused on Market Access Strategy and Structure. Prior to Novartis. he was Medical Director, and Head of R&D for Bayer Healthcare and Boehringer Ingelheim. Angel Chamorro, M.D, FreeOx co-founder and senior scientific advisor will co-chair the DSAB while Tudor G. Jovin, the company’s co-founder and senior medical advisor has agreed to be its first independent member. Tudor is an esteemed expert specializing in both interventional and non-interventional treatments for stroke and cerebrovascular disorders, with over 300 influential publications.

For more information about FreeOx Biotech and its groundbreaking stroke treatment technology, please visit the company’s website at https://freeoxbiotech.com/.

About FreeOx Biotech

FreeOx Biotech is a leading late-stage clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing Cerebrovascular Protective Therapy, a new drug class for the emergency treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) patients. By focusing on restoring microcirculation homeostasis and enhancing penumbra reperfusion, FreeOx Biotech aims to revolutionize stroke care and improve patient outcomes. FreeOx’ s lead product, Ox-01, is Phase III- ready. FreeOx is building a pipeline based on a proprietary liposomal formulation technology that broadly expands opportunities in neurology. Founded by Dr. Ángel Chamorro, a leading stroke neurologist and pioneer in the use of Uric Acid as an emergency treatment for AIS, FreeOx ‘s novel adjunct drug has been shown to reperfuse the brain microcirculation. By contrast, current emergency AIS treatments are effective only in addressing recanalization (macrocirculation restoration).

Media Contact

Emmett-Phil Coriat, FreeOx Biotech, 1 (514)792-1264, [email protected]

Gabriella Perez-Silva, 1 (714) 875-6424, [email protected]

Twitter, LinkedIn

SOURCE FreeOx Biotech



Health: Psychology

Mindray to Host Radiology Experts in Booth at RSNA 2023

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“Mindray is delighted to host educational sessions in our booth at RSNA this year,” said Michelle Carter, Marketing Manager – Radiology Ultrasound, Mindray North America. Carter continued, “At Mindray, we recognize the importance of staying up to date on the latest advancements and best practices in the field, which is why it is such an honor to partner with industry leaders in ultrasound to help facilitate knowledge sharing for clinicians and continue advancing better healthcare for all.”

Additionally, Mindray will have its latest radiology products on display in the booth, such as the Resona 7 Ultrasound System Platinum Edition, the Resona I9 Ultrasound System, and the Hepatus 6 Transient Elastography Diagnostic Ultrasound System. For the past 30 years, Mindray has developed meaningful ultrasound solutions to help clinicians provide timely answers and elevate patient care, remaining steadfast in their vision of providing better healthcare for all. Mindray invites all RSNA attendees to see how innovative, cost-effective, leading-edge ultrasound solutions can empower Radiology Departments to provide the highest quality of care, now and in the future.

About Mindray
Mindray is a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of medical device solutions and technologies used in healthcare facilities around the globe. We believe we can change lives by making the most advanced healthcare technology attainable for all. We do this by empowering healthcare professionals through innovative, high-value solutions that help create the next generation of lifesaving tools across three primary business segments: medical imaging, patient monitoring and life support, and in-vitro diagnostics. Mindray maintains its global headquarters in Shenzhen, China; Mindray North America is headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey. Our Ultrasound Innovation Center is located in Silicon Valley, with additional facilities in major international markets around the world. For more information, please visit Mindray.com.

Media Contact
Sondra Kaufman, Mindray North America, 201.995.8047, [email protected], https://www.mindraynorthamerica.com/

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SOURCE Mindray North America



Health: Psychology

HealthiPeople Honors California Caregivers During National Caregiver Month With Free Specialized Training for Alzheimer’s Disease & Parkinson’s Disease

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In 10 years, more than one-quarter of California’s population will be over 60. Kinary’s training covers essential topics often overlooked when caring for a loved one, such as environmental safety, maintaining good hygiene, creating an emergency plan, or navigating the legalities of caring for someone else. According to a study by the Alzheimer’s Association in 2023, an estimated 720,000 people in California live with Alzheimer’s disease dementia, more than in any other state in the country. And in 2022, the Michael J. Fox Foundation estimated that 116,900 people live with Parkinson’s in California – the highest in the U.S.

“Caregiving isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Rohit Maheshwari, CEO, and founder of HealthiPeople. “For example, caregiving for someone with a chronic condition like diabetes can present a different set of challenges than caring for someone with a neurodegenerative condition, making it harder to seek help.”

Since the program’s launch, Kinary has designed and developed 24 training modules for caregivers in three languages [English, Spanish, and Mandarin]. Trainings are offered in self-driven, online, and in-person formats. To date, Kinary has helped train over 300 caregivers across California and expects several hundred more before the end of the program next year.

“Our mission is to reduce caregiver burnout and make it possible for caregivers to give great care while living the life they need. Both caregiving and self-care can co-exist,” said Maheshwari. “Caring requires more than love – it takes time, organization, skills, and a lot of energy – and most caregivers fall into the role unprepared.”

All trainees gain free access to Kinary, a mobile assistant [available on the App Store and Google Play] that helps caregivers manage day-to-day caregiving activities and share the load amongst a support network.

In addition to the caregiver training and to complement this skillset development, HealthiPeople is also hosting free training on how to take advantage of its Kinary mobile app technology to stay on top of tasks, manage all medications, plan for appointments, and engage others in care.

For more information on downloading the Kinary app or California Caregiver Training courses, visit kinary.io.

Follow us on social media to stay updated on the latest news and product announcements:

About HealthiPeople

The Kinary mobile application is part of the HealthiPeople family. HealthiPeople is an at-home digital healthcare platform for patients, providers, and caregivers to drive positive health outcomes. By empowering the people in the center of care with comprehensive, practical, and secure technology, HealthiPeople’s vision is to create healthier societies across generations. The Kinary mobile app is a cornerstone product of HealthiPeople’s vision, focused on uplifting the family caregiver experience.

Media Contact

Sahana Jayaraman, HealthiPeople, 1 480-209-3945, [email protected], www.kinary.io

Sahana Jayaraman, Kinary, 1 480-209-3945, [email protected], kinary.io

LinkedIn

SOURCE HealthiPeople

Health: Psychology

AristaMD and Sitka Form Single Company, Secure Series C of $16.5M for the Expansion of Specialty Care Access via Electronic and Video Consultation Services

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“To succeed in value-based care, an industry-wide strategy to improve population health and reduce total healthcare cost, providers must utilize tools to match patients with care in the most appropriate setting,” said Brooke LeVasseur, CEO of AristaMD. “Primary care providers prioritize digital health solutions, like ours, that alleviate the expense and time associated with referring patients for a face-to-face specialist appointment. With the addition of Sitka’s service offering and provider group, AristaMD will now offer more ways for primary care providers to expand their scope of services, work at the top of their license and improve patient access.”

The solutions offered by AristaMD and Sitka facilitate provider enablement, care coordination and navigation, and timely access to care. These solutions support organizations in their quality measures, including Medicare Star Ratings. AristaMD and Sitka partners report that digital health consults improve patients’ ability to get timely access to care, which is critical to Medicare Star Ratings.

“Together, we are untangling the economic incentives and bottlenecks that prevent patients from obtaining timely and cost-effective care,” said Kelsey Mellard, founder and former CEO of Sitka and the new president of AristaMD. “PCPs are often at risk for the cost of care but have no visibility to what happens when they refer a patient. Patients may not make it to the appointment at all, or the appointment could take place 6–8 weeks after the PCP referral. These challenges inflate costs as patients turn to costly care settings, like the ER, or experience worsened outcomes due to delayed or lack of specialist guidance.”

“With timely diagnosis and treatment available through eConsults and vConsults, PCPs can deliver care without delay to improve health outcomes and patient experience,” said Dr. Julia Jezmir, Chief Medical Officer, AristaMD. “Together, we will expand care pathways, promote health equity and deliver accessible care for patients. These efforts are particularly important as Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers roll out more robust value-based payment models that prioritize patient outcomes and rein in healthcare spending.”

AristaMD referral nurse navigators, a team of registered nurses that curate eConsults on behalf of PCPs, and Sitka’s referral coordination team will provide complementary skills to reduce provider burden and support accessible care. The combined company’s joint software platforms lay a foundation to build comprehensive specialty services and expand offerings that improve efficiency and simplify the eConsult and vConsult request process.

“I am thrilled to join forces with a team of talented professionals motivated to improve healthcare delivery,” said LeVasseur. “We look forward to the evolution of our service offering. Our customers will benefit from state-of-the-art technology, increased functionality and the innovation of the combined entities.”

MTS Health Partners, L.P. acted as the exclusive financial advisor, and Fenwick & West LLP acted as legal counsel to Sitka in connection with the transaction.

About AristaMD

AristaMD’s care transition solutions now include eConsult, vConsult and referral management tools, empower providers to conduct electronic physician-to-physician consultations to inform patient diagnoses and care, facilitate the selection and scheduling of in-person specialist visits, and schedule peer-to-peer reviews for insurance authorization. Electronic referral management and digital consults significantly improve the patient referral process and deliver greater access to timely, equitable, high-quality care. The company’s virtual specialty provider group offers primary care providers nationwide access to specialist advice. For additional information, visit http://www.aristamd.com or follow AristaMD on LinkedIn and X.

Media Contact
Kate McDonald, AristaMD, 1 7703284919, [email protected], www.aristamd.com
Kate McDonald, AristaMD, 1 7703284919, [email protected], AristaMD

Twitter, LinkedIn

SOURCE AristaMD



Health: Psychology

VGXI Celebrates Successful Completion of Neurophth Engineering Run to Advance Ocular Gene Therapy Candidate

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VGXI, Inc. proudly announces the successful completion of the engineering run for plasmid DNA used in Neurophth’s AAV ocular gene therapy.

CONROE, Texas , Nov. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — VGXI, Inc., a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in nucleic acid biopharmaceuticals, including gene therapies and DNA vaccines, proudly announces the successful completion of the engineering run for plasmid DNA used in Neurophth’s AAV ocular gene therapy candidate, NFS-01.

Neurophth, China’s leading clinical-stage, in-vivo gene therapy company dedicated to combatting opthalmic diseases, has collaborated closely with VGXI since 2020. VGXI played a pivotal role in the development of NFS-01, by supplying all three essential plasmid constructs to formulate the AAV candidate. Neurophth selected VGXI as a manufacturing partner to expand U.S.-based manufacturing in support of ongoing clinical production. VGXI’s achievements include the generation of GMP Master Cell Banks (MCBs) and a seamless transition into Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) bulk plasmid manufacturing.

NFS-01 is China’s first self-developed AAV-based gene therapy to treat Leber hereditary optic neuropathy caused by ND4 mutation (ND4-LHON), a condition currently lacking an effective treatment or cure. It was granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and EMA. It received China IND clearance from the NMPA in March 2021‥and U.S. IND clearance from the FDA in January 2022. Neurophth has completed patient enrollment for the Phase III clinical trial and announced positive data from the Phase I/II clinical trial in China recently. Meanwhile, the first patient has been dosed in the international multi-region, multi-center Phase I/II clinical trial in the U.S.

In addition to NFS-01, Neurophth successfully administered the first dose of NFS-02 to patients in August 2023 as part of an international multi-region, multi-center Phase I/II clinical trial. This trial aims to treat Leber hereditary optic neuropathy caused by ND1 mutation (ND1-LHON), another condition currently lacking an effective treatment or cure. This product is Neurophth’s second gene therapy to enter clinical trials and the only ND1-LHON treatment in development worldwide. The material produced by VGXI will not only be integral to the ongoing clinical trial but will also provide crucial support for late-stage testing and eventual commercialization upon regulatory approval.

The progress made thus far exemplifies the dedication and expertise of both Neuropthth and VGXI in advancing groundbreaking gene therapies.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Neurophth in their journey towards bringing innovative ocular gene therapies to patients worldwide,” stated Young Park, CEO of VGXI. “This successful engineering run is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our teams and the commitment to excellence that drives our work. We look forward to continuing our partnership and remain dedicated to supporting Neurophth as they continue their pursuit of commercial approval for their AAV ocular gene therapy.”

“Thank you to VGXI’s cutting-edge plasmid DNA platform. Our new drug development and clinical trials are progressing smoothly.” said Bose Kalampanayil, CTO of Neurophth. “It is a significant step toward addressing unmet medical needs in ocular diseases. We eagerly anticipate further collaboration in expediting the commercial manufacturing of our gene therapy, delivering safe and effective treatments to patients worldwide.”

ABOUT VGXI, INC.

VGXI is a leader in plasmid DNA contract manufacturing, with 20+ years of experience providing high quality products to biomedical researchers worldwide. We support clients that develop DNA vaccines, immunotherapies, cell therapies, and gene therapies. VGXI’s manufacturing process and quality controls are coupled to a continuous, low-shear AIRMIX® patented lysis technology, and optimized purification processes that provide highly supercoiled plasmid and exceptional purity. VGXI’s portfolio includes high quality plasmid for preclinical research, Highly Documented (HD) plasmid as a critical raw material for GMP viral vector production or pharm/tox studies, cGMP plasmid DNA for clinical through commercial supply, and custom services. VGXI, Inc. is a GeneOne company.‥To learn more, visit‥https://www.vgxii.com.

ABOUT NEUROPHTH.

Neurophth is China‘ leading in-vivo gene therapy company for ophthalmic diseases. With subsidiaries in China (Wuhan, Shanghai, and Suzhou) and US (San Diego, California), Neurophth, a fully integrated company, is striving to discover and develop genomic medicines for patients suffering from genetic diseases globally. Our validated AAV platform, which has been published in‥Nature – Scientific Reports, Ophthalmology, and EBioMedicine, has successfully delivered proof-of-concept investigator-initiated trials data of 186 subjects with investigational gene therapies in the retina. Our most advanced investigational gene therapy drug candidate, NFS-01 (rAAV2-ND4), in development for the treatment of mtND4-mediated LHON, has been granted orphan drug designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA and EMA. After the IND clearance by the China NMPA in March 2021‥and the U.S. IND by FDA in January 2022, Neurophth has completed patient enrollment for Phase III clinical trial in China and dosed the patient in the U.S. Phase I/II clinical trial. Recently, our second gene therapy NFS-02, has dosed the patient in China-U.S. Phase I/II clinical trial. The pipeline also includes autosomal dominant optic atrophy, optic neuroprotection, vascular retinopathy, and five other preclinical candidates. To learn more about us and our growing pipeline, visit http://www.neurophth.com.

Media Contact

Justin Smith, Director of Marketing, VGXI, (936) 304-2333, [email protected], vgxii.com

SOURCE VGXI

Health: Psychology

Intelliworx Launches New Workforce Management Software for Rural Hospitals

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Research shows that the average cost to recruit a single new physician can easily cost $50,000 – yet that’s just the beginning because position vacancies also impact revenue. Statistics compiled by CompHealth, a staffing firm for healthcare employers, show physician vacancies cost hospitals between $7,000 and $9,000 in lost revenue per day. The average vacancy lasts 195 days and hospitals have dozens of vacancies annually, so the effects can add up quickly.

Workforce Management helps to solve these challenges by streamlining the processes of recruiting, hiring and onboarding new employees. The software is secure, intuitive and easy to integrate with existing human resources (HR), recruiting or payroll systems a hospital may already have in place. It consists of a suite of tools with four distinct sets of functionality:

  • Position management maintains and organizes all the employee positions a hospital has along with the key attributes, such as location, responsibilities and compensation, among others. This allows the HR department to perform what the industry calls ‘practice analysis.’ In turn, practice analysis gives recruiters the information they need to identify the right candidates – without a lot of back and forth. Everyone from the C-Suite to the assigned recruiter has one place to find the information they need to make hiring plans and execute a talent search.
  • Candidate engagement provides several tools for recruiters to engage with prospective candidates, track those interactions and provide a self-service report for hiring managers to see how a particular talent search is progressing. It can be used to ingest resume data – such as experience and contact information – from job sites or other sources without having to re-key the data. Recruiters can also send candidate surveys and information requests to confirm eligibility to work, ask for references or schedule and manage interviews.
  • Onboarding supports a variety of information and checklist requirements, such as an offer letter, letter of acceptance, Form W-2, and more. It also supports the issuing of office space, computers, provisioning of system accounts, badges, parking and the completion of new hire orientation training. Self-serve reporting provides the leadership with onboarding status reporting at any time.
  • Credentialing is the process of ensuring a provider has the requisite credentials and licenses to treat patients. Many hospitals have a committee that reviews and authenticates a provider’s credentials. The credentialing functionality also helps ensure providers remember to complete continuing education requirements or recurrency training to keep their credentials from expiring.

One of the things that separates Intelliworx from “no-code” or “low-code” process automation tools is that Workforce Management has the laws and regulations that govern the collection of data integrated into the software. That ensures the hospital obtains and maintains all the information requirements it’s obligated to collect, which keeps the hospital in compliance.

Information security and data protection are also key characteristics that are native to the platform. Intelliworx has worked with government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security for decades. The product complies with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) which standardizes security assessments and monitoring of SaaS-based products and services.

Finally, integration is native to the platform, so hospitals can import or export the data to any other system they already have that can benefit from the data collection. This provides a truly enterprise-capable system that’s designed around the needs of rural hospitals.

While there are many tangible benefits to the software, like reducing the cost of recruiting and the time it takes to fill positions, there are also intangible benefits. Intelliworx has observed healthcare facilities often ask candidates for the same information repeatedly, as they move through the hiring process. This can suggest to a candidate their prospective new employer is disorganized which may cause them to question their decision to join.

“When you think about the time, treasure and effort that goes into recruiting a physician, nurse, or medical assistant, you don’t want a disjointed hiring process to scare them off before or after they accept an offer,” added Hankey. “To that end, Intelliworx is striving to improve the overall recruiting and hiring experience for everyone involved.”

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About Intelliworx

Intelliworx (formerly HRWorx) provides workflow management software that helps clients automate business processes such as financial disclosure, telework, credentialling, onboarding, and workflow, among others. The company got started more than 20 years ago by converting complex forms into intelligent interviews – similar to the way tax software simplifies the completion of complicated tax forms. It has since evolved from a simple and easy tool for collecting data, to a platform that manages and analyzes data to support decision-making.

Intelliworx creates solutions for rural healthcare facilities and the U.S. Government. It has provided purpose-built software more to than 30 federal government agencies. The company is a certified veteran-owned small business and is FedRAMP-authorized.

To learn more visit us online at www.intelliworxit.com.

Media Contact:

for Intelliworx

Frank Strong

+1 202-352-5920

[email protected]

SOURCE Intelliworx

Health: Psychology

NACDS Lauds Strong, Bipartisan Senate Finance Committee Vote – 26-0

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“Make no mistake: Real PBM reform at the federal level must protect Americans on Medicare and Medicaid and their pharmacies. We urge the U.S. Senate and House leadership to enact real PBM reform this year, so that the most vulnerable Americans maintain access to all pharmacies on which they rely. It is time to capitalize on this historic and bipartisan momentum, and not to allow PBMs to complicate and derail the legislation and the process.

“NACDS looks forward to continuing to work with the Committee and with the U.S. Congress to ensure the effectiveness of this legislation in achieving their well-focused intent.”

NACDS released a statement on Tuesday, November 7, in advance of the Committee markup.

Additionally, NACDS currently is advertising on the vital theme of “real reform.”

Media Contact

Kathleen Bashur, NACDS, 703-837-4367, [email protected], https://www.nacds.org

SOURCE NACDS