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Patient Safety Authority warns about the hidden risk of wheelchairs

Patient Safety Authority

A finger amputation while opening a wheelchair prompted the Patient Safety Authority (PSA) to issue a Safety Alert about wheelchair-related finger injuries. The alert warns the public and healthcare facilities to be vigilant when unfolding or sitting in the device. Hundreds of wheelchair-related injuries have been reported nationwide into the Food and Drug Administration’s Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) reporting system. Improperly opening a folded wheelchair can cause finger injuries, including amputation, bone fractures, nail loss, cuts, crushing, and pinching. Some reported injuries occurred when users placed their hand on the seat to open the chair. Others happened when the user tried to sit in the chair to unfold it. Wheelchairs are one of the most common assistive devices used in healthcare facilities, as well as malls, airports, arenas, courthouses, houses of worship, and other public buildings. They are often opened by volunteers, untrained staff, the users themselves, or their family members. Anyone who operates a wheelchair should read and understand the manufacturer's instructions before use. Wheelchairs are deceptively simple “The big challenge is that wheelchairs seem so simple to use. Yet, there are so many different types of chairs that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all way to open them properly,” notes PSA Patient Safely Liaison Molly Quesenberry, whose research led to the Safety Alert. "You really need the manufacturer’s instructions.” “Despite being an RN, I was never personally trained on how to unfold a wheelchair properly. I never realized the danger of losing a finger by improperly unfolding a wheelchair.” She recommends that facilities consider replacing folding wheelchairs with rigid frame ones or using an anti-fold device to keep them open, if available. PSA has also created a warning tag to urge the public to ask for assistance with a folded wheelchair and disseminated it to all Pennsylvania healthcare facilities. https://patientsafetyj.com/index.php/patientsaf/article/view/wheelchair-risks/wheelchair-tags Four additional wheelchair safety tips Check that the brakes are locked before sitting down in a wheelchair Use proper hand hygiene before and after use to decrease your risk of infection and illness Use extreme caution when considering buying used equipment Ensure seats are fully engaged before allowing someone to sit in the wheelchair “Wheelchairs are readily available from second-party vendors, such as Facebook Marketplace and EBay, but the safest choice is to purchase from a medical equipment company,” advises Quesenberry. “Get proof that it has been inspected and maintained and that the original manufacturer instructions are included.” Pennsylvania is the only state that requires healthcare facilities to report harmful events, as well as those that do not result in patient harm (i.e., near misses) but may be a harbinger of a potentially serious problem. The reports are collected in the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS), the largest repository of its kind in the United States. The PSA analyzes those events, facilitates widescale performance improvement projects, and shares the information globally. The PSA is an independent state agency that collects and analyzes patient safety data to improve safety outcomes and help prevent patient harm. http://patientsafety.pa.gov/ About PSA Established under the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act of 2002, the PSA, an independent state agency, collects and analyzes patient safety data to improve safety outcomes and help prevent patient harm. http://patientsafety.pa.gov/ Contact Details Bev Volpe +1 609-230-4696 bev@madisongall.com Company Website http://patientsafety.pa.gov/

December 02, 2022 09:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

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First Patients Dosed in Phase I/II Trial of Enlivex’s Off-the-Shelf Cell Therapy Candidate, AllocetraTM

Enlivex Therapeutics, Ltd.

On November 13, Enlivex (NASDAQ: ENLV) announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase I/II clinical trial of Allocetra. The novel off-the-shelf cell therapy is designed to help break through the immune-suppressing tumor microenvironment – a key roadblock rendering potent immunotherapies less effective against solid cancers – to render those tough-to-treat cancers more responsive to these treatments. After a growing body of preclinical data demonstrated Allocetra’s potential to prolong survival duration and increase survival probability in mice, the Phase I/II studies are an important next step in evaluating their efficacy in humans. Immunotherapies Tap the Body’s Own Cancer-Fighting Capabilities – But Solid Cancers Remain Resistant As the field of immunotherapy makes strides, solid tumors continue to elude these novel treatments largely due to their complex and ever-adapting “tumor microenvironments.” These microenvironments leverage a range of immune-suppressing mechanisms that counteract the potent effects immunotherapies have had on skin and blood cancers. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T therapies, for example, have demonstrated a success rate as high as 90% for refractory B lymphocytic leukemia but as low as 17% for solid cancers. Novartis AG ’s (NYSE: NVS) Kymriah, the first CAR-T therapy to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration, has since shown a durable remission and long-term survival rate, with as many as 55% of treated patients still alive more than five years later compared to the standard disease prognosis of 10% to 25%. The reason for this difference is largely due to the range of mechanisms tumors use to resist or evade the immune system including disguising themselves as healthy cells, releasing immune suppressing signals, and blocking immune cells from getting into the core of the tumor. The more the tumor grows, the stronger these immunosuppressive mechanisms get – making it harder for the immune system to detect it. This makes tumors some of the least responsive cells to immunotherapies of all kinds as that microenvironment counteracts the effects of the treatment. Even in cases where tumors do initially respond to the drug, they adapt to resist it and the once-helpful immunotherapy is rendered ineffective. Allocetra TM Uses Cell Reprogramming to Simultaneously Weaken Tumor Microenvironments and Strengthen the Immune Response Enlivex’s lead drug candidate, Allocetra TM, was developed as an off-the-shelf cell therapy that reprograms macrophages, the immune cells responsible for killing infected or harmful cells in the body. In cancer patients, macrophages often become reprogrammed out of their homeostatic state of relatively stable equilibrium so that they not only stop recognizing tumors as harmful but become weaponized by cancer to fend off other immune cells trying to attack the tumor. This reprogramming is a key mechanism of the resistance that cancer develops against immunotherapies. So the goal with Allocetra is to introduce healthy donor cells that have been modified with an “eat me” signal on their surface to trigger the non-homeostatic macrophages to engulf them. Once eaten, the donor cells are able to bring those macrophages back to a homeostatic state. Early preclinical results show that this process, on a stand-alone basis, is enough to increase survival duration and overall survival in mice with solid cancers similarly to current FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD1 like Merck & Co Inc. ’s (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda, BMS’s Opdivo and Yervoy). But even more impressive was the synergistic effect of administering Allocetra in combination with these immune checkpoint inhibitors, which led to up to 100% complete remission of the cancer in the mice. The Start of Human Trials Marks a Key Milestone in Allocetra’s Development The next step for this new cell therapy is to test whether these promising preclinical results will translate to human studies. This month, Enlivex initiated a Phase I/II trial to do just that. After receiving approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health in October, Enlivex began dosing the first patients in the trial in November. The trial will enroll up to 48 patients with advanced solid tumors to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Allocetra as well as its preliminary efficacy, as measured by overall response rate and survival. Patients will be divided into two groups – stage one and stage two – with stage one patients receiving escalating doses of Allocetra as a standalone treatment while stage two patients will receive three injections of Allocetra combined with an anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor. As Enlivex enrolls more patients into the trial in 2023, it hopes to have top-line Phase I/II data by the second half of the year. As part of a new generation of companies representing the future of cell therapy – off-the-shelf, highly scalable and low COGS “beyond CAR-T” cell therapies – Enlivex is focused on a highly differentiated novel immunotherapeutic mechanism – macrophage homeostasis. Macrophage homeostasis is severely disrupted by certain diseases states, and such imbalance is critical to the progression of the diseases. Allocetra has the potential to introduce highly-effective, low-cost allogeneic cell therapies for life-threatening clinical indications that are defined as "unmet medical needs", including sepsis – one of the leading causes of mortality, and oncology, through restoration of macrophage homeostasis. Enlivex is led by a seasoned management team who founded PROLOR Biotech and led it to a successful $560 financial exit and a partnership with Pfizer. PROLOR’s lead product, now named NGenla® by Pfizer, recently received marketing approval in Australia, Canada, Japan and the EU. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “should,” “would”, “could,” “intends,” “estimates,” “suggests,” “has the potential to” and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding expected cash balances, market opportunities for the results of current clinical studies and preclinical experiments, the effectiveness of, and market opportunities for, ALLOCETRA TM programs. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Enlivex’s business and prospects, including the risks that Enlivex may not succeed in generating any revenues or developing any commercial products; that the products in development may fail, may not achieve the expected results or effectiveness and/or may not generate data that would support the approval or marketing of these products for the indications being studied or for other indications; that ongoing studies may not continue to show substantial or any activity; and other risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The results of clinical trials in humans may produce results that differ significantly from the results of clinical and other trials in animals. The results of early-stage trials may differ significantly from the results of more developed, later-stage trials. The development of any products using the ALLOCETRA TM product line could also be affected by a number of other factors, including unexpected safety, efficacy or manufacturing issues, additional time requirements for data analyses and decision making, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation, the impact of competitive products and pricing and the impact of patents and other proprietary rights held by competitors and other third parties. In addition to the risk factors described above, investors should consider the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in Enlivex’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable law. Contact Details Shachar Shlosberger shachar@enlivexpharm.com Company Website https://enlivex.com

December 02, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Holiday Feast To Go from Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

500NewsWire

CHARLOTTE, N.C. December 1, 2022 ( 500NewsWire )– Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is making the holidays easy this year with its complete Holiday Feast available for pre-order through Saturday, Dec. 17. Meals will be scheduled for pick up on Friday, Dec. 23 or Saturday, Dec. 24. Firebirds will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25. The award-winning contemporary polished restaurant is offering a Prime Rib Holiday Feast at participating restaurants and while supplies last. The Holiday Feast is generously portioned and serves up to six people. “While Firebirds is closed on Christmas Day so our staff can enjoy the holiday, we have prepared a ToGo prime rib feast with sides, dessert and other selections that will make your holiday meal a memorable one,” said Chef Steve Sturm, senior vice president food and beverage at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Orders can be easily made at firebirdsrestaurants.com or taken over the phone. Firebirds makes curbside pick-up quick and convenient on Friday, Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., and on Saturday, Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill locations. Delivery is unavailable for this limited time offering. Additional specialty side items are available with the purchase of a Holiday Feast, and cooking instructions are included with each order. In addition, Firebirds is offering a holiday gift card promotion. For every $100 in gift cards purchased in-store or online, guests will receive $20 in “bonus cards.” For more information visit firebirdsrestaurants.com/gift-cards/. This special offer is available now through December 31 st and “bonus cards” are valid for redemption from January 1 – February 9, 2023. Firebirds’ Holiday Feast serves up to six people, priced at $199.95, and includes the following (while supplies last): Holiday Feast · Prime Rib with au jus & horseradish sauce · Parmesan Mashed Potatoes · Salad (choice of Mixed Greens, BLT or Caesar) · Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Thyme Butter · Bread and whipped Butter · Pineapple Brown Sugar Cake Add On Side Items (for an additional charge, with the purchase of a Holiday Feast) · Family Size Killer Mac and Cheese · Family Size Lobster Mac and Cheese · Chicken Tenders Tray · Pineapple Brown Sugar Cake · Baked French Toast with Fresh Berries About Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, a polished casual American restaurant, is an energetic twist on the traditional grill featuring a boldly flavored menu in a stylish, fire-centric atmosphere. Signature menu items include hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood filleted in-house and seared over locally sourced hickory, oak, or pecan wood on Firebirds’ exposed wood-fired grill. Complementing its inviting dining room, a patio with seasonal comforts and the award-winning FIREBAR ® are additional gathering spaces inside the restaurant. Firebirds has been named one of ten ‘Breakout Brands’ by Nation’s Restaurant News, and the 2022 Diners’ Choice Winner awarded by OpenTable. Firebirds supports sustainability efforts and partners with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and surpassed $3 million raised for childhood cancer research through the sale of fresh-squeezed lemonade. To become a member of Firebirds Inner Circle, order ToGo online or to make a reservation visit firebirdsrestaurants.com. Contact: Lesley Gamwell 404-309-6915 lgamwell@rountreegroup.com Contact Details Dominic Jonas +1 618-328-3245 media@500newswire.com Company Website https://firebirdsrestaurants.com/

December 01, 2022 02:14 PM Eastern Standard Time

Israeli Ministry Of Health Clears Way For Human Trials Of AllocetraTM, A Proprietary Off-the-Shelf Immunotherapy For Solid Tumors

Enlivex Therapeutics, Ltd.

The Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) approved a Phase I/II trial of Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. ’s (NASDAQ: ENLV) proprietary immunotherapy drug-candidate Allocetra TM. Allocetra TM is a cell therapy that uses healthy donor cells to reprogram and strengthen the patient’s immune response against cancer. If approved, the drug candidate would be a universal, off-the-shelf immunotherapy that could be combined with other leading immunotherapies and cancer treatments to improve a patient’s odds of beating this hard-to-treat disease. Here’s how the Israel-based biotech’s macrophage reprogramming drug works and what the latest clinical trial measures. Allocetra TM Reprograms Macrophages To Weaken Cancer Cells The first responders of the body’s immune systems, macrophages, patrol the bloodstream looking for signs of infection. Once spotted, they engulf the pathogen, rip it apart and alert other immune cells like T cells that it’s time to take action. When cancer cells grow in the body, the disease evades detection by tricking macrophages into believing the cancerous cell is a normal, healthy cell. Then, it can turn that macrophage into a pro-tumor ally that will suppress any immune response trying to kill the cancer. With Allocetra, healthy donor cells are sent in to reprogram the patient’s own macrophages so they not only stop helping the tumor but also start working with the immune system to fight those cancer cells again. To do that, Enlivex developed a proprietary process to program those donor macrophages to send out an “eat me” signal once injected. That signal tells the patient’s macrophages to eat the donor cells. Once engulfed, they set to work restoring it to its homeostatic state. Restoring Macrophage Homeostasis Could Help Overcome Checkpoint Inhibitor Resistance While reprogramming macrophages may already help boost the body’s cancer-fighting ability on its own, one of the most exciting potentials of this novel treatment is its ability to combat the resistance that cancers often develop against other immunotherapies. Because cancer can trick macrophages into defending tumors instead of attacking them, other immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors like Merck & Co. Inc. ’s (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda or Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. ’s (NYSE: BMY) YERVOY, struggle to bypass the cancer’s new defenders. This challenge has resulted in response rates as low as 13% to these novel treatments. That figure is disappointing because, in theory, checkpoint inhibitors are extremely promising. Checkpoints like PD-1 and CTLA-4, the ones blocked by Keytruda and YERVOY, respectively, are “off switches” that help the immune system recognize and avoid attacking the body’s own cells. Just as cancer can trick macrophages into coming to its defense, it can use those checkpoints to trick the immune system into believing the cancer cell is a normal cell. By blocking those checkpoints, the cancer is no longer able to escape detection in this way. However, even when those checkpoints are blocked and the immune system kicks into action to fight the cancer cells it can now recognize, dysregulated macrophages form a kind of protective layer on top of a tumor that prevents the immune system from effectively attacking it. It’s that last layer of defense that researchers think may play a role in the low response rate of checkpoint inhibitors. Enlivex hopes that Allocetra TM ’s potential to reprogram those macrophages will help remove that protective barrier so that when the checkpoint inhibitor gets rid of the cancer’s “off switch,” the patient’s immune system won’t have any obstacles in its way to attacking that tumor. The Phase I/II Clinical Trial Will Study Allocetra TM Alone and in Combination with a Checkpoint Inhibitor The recent MOH approval paves the way for Enlivex to enroll up to 48 patients with advanced solid tumors in a multicenter, open-label trial that will include two stages. In stage one, patients will receive escalating doses of Allocetra TM by itself. The intravenous injections will be administered once a week for three weeks. In stage two, patients will receive three injections of Allocetra TM in combination with an anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor. In preclinical studies, this combination resulted in 50% survival probability for mice with ovarian cancer, compared to 15% or less for anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors on their own. While the primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Allocetra TM alone and in combination, researchers will also be measuring efficacy, including overall response rate, survival and progression-free survival. Enlivex says the new trial is slated to begin in the third quarter of this year. As part of a new generation of companies representing the future of cell therapy – off-the-shelf, highly scalable and low COGS “beyond CAR-T” cell therapies – Enlivex is focused on a highly differentiated novel immunotherapeutic mechanism – macrophage homeostasis. Macrophage homeostasis is severely disrupted by certain diseases states, and such imbalance is critical to the progression of the diseases. Allocetra has the potential to introduce highly-effective, low-cost allogeneic cell therapies for life-threatening clinical indications that are defined as "unmet medical needs", including sepsis – one of the leading causes of mortality, and oncology, through restoration of macrophage homeostasis. Enlivex is led by a seasoned management team who founded PROLOR Biotech and led it to a successful $560 financial exit and a partnership with Pfizer. PROLOR’s lead product, now named NGenla® by Pfizer, recently received marketing approval in Australia, Canada, Japan and the EU. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “should,” “would”, “could,” “intends,” “estimates,” “suggests,” “has the potential to” and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding expected cash balances, market opportunities for the results of current clinical studies and preclinical experiments, the effectiveness of, and market opportunities for, ALLOCETRA TM programs. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Enlivex’s business and prospects, including the risks that Enlivex may not succeed in generating any revenues or developing any commercial products; that the products in development may fail, may not achieve the expected results or effectiveness and/or may not generate data that would support the approval or marketing of these products for the indications being studied or for other indications; that ongoing studies may not continue to show substantial or any activity; and other risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The results of clinical trials in humans may produce results that differ significantly from the results of clinical and other trials in animals. The results of early-stage trials may differ significantly from the results of more developed, later-stage trials. The development of any products using the ALLOCETRA TM product line could also be affected by a number of other factors, including unexpected safety, efficacy or manufacturing issues, additional time requirements for data analyses and decision making, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation, the impact of competitive products and pricing and the impact of patents and other proprietary rights held by competitors and other third parties. In addition to the risk factors described above, investors should consider the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in Enlivex’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable law. Contact Details Shachar Shlosberger shachar@enlivexpharm.com Company Website https://enlivex.com

December 01, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

ALR Technologies Announces Co-branded Distribution Partnership with Covetrus for GluCurve Pet CGM, the First Continuous Glucose Monitoring System for Diabetic Pets

ALR Technologies SG Ltd

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach - 1 December 2022 - ALR Technologies SG Ltd (“ALRT”) (OTCQB: ALRTF), the diabetes management company, today announced it has entered into a co-branded distribution agreement (the “Agreement”) with Covetrus, Inc. (“Covetrus”), a global leader in animal-health technology and services, for ALRT’s GluCurve Pet CGM, a continuous glucose monitoring (“CGM”) system for diabetic cats and dogs. The GluCurve Pet CGM is the first and only continuous glucose monitoring system designed for diabetic cats and dogs and sold directly to veterinarians. “After meeting with many of the largest animal-health companies, Covetrus stood out as the clear choice as our partner to launch the GluCurve Pet CGM,” said Sidney Chan, chairman and CEO of ALRT. “Covetrus is uniquely suited for the sale and distribution of the GluCurve Pet CGM because of their industry leading service organization and differential go-to-market strategy that will help drive GluCurve to become the new standard of care for millions of diabetic animals around the world.” According to studies 1,2, 1 in 300 dogs and 1 in 175 cats have diabetes and until now, treating them could be a challenge for pet parents and veterinarians. The GluCurve records blood sugar levels every 3 minutes for up to 14 days, readings are displayed for the pet owner in the GluCurve app for iOS and Android and uploaded to a veterinary patient management web portal. In the web portal, the data are analyzed and organized into time saving graphs and tables, along with additional features such as glucose curve comparisons and overlays, insulin dose calculators, best practice guidelines, and more. “We welcome the opportunity to bring innovative technologies and devices, such as the GluCurve Pet CGM, to market to help animal health professionals battle a progressive but often manageable disease such as diabetes, in new and innovative ways,” said Cesar França, president, Global Proprietary Brands at Covetrus. “Veterinarians and their patients are our first priority and bringing products and technology to our customers that improve access, reduce burden and enhance care are the cornerstones of our mission.” Under the terms of the Agreement, Covetrus will have the exclusive rights to sell ALRT’s GluCurve Pet CGM as a co-branded product to veterinary clinics throughout the U.S., Brazil, United Kingdom, the European Union, and various other countries globally. Sales in the U.S. are expected to commence by the end of 2022. The quantity of available units will ramp up monthly to support a full U.S. launch followed by a global launch as inventories permit. 1 O'Neill, D G et al. “Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus among 193,435 Cats Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in England.” Journal of veterinary internal medicine vol. 30,4 (2016): 964-72. doi:10.1111/jvim.14365 2 Yoon, Samuel et al. “Epidemiological study of dogs with diabetes mellitus attending primary care veterinary clinics in Australia.” The Veterinary record vol. 187,3 (2020): e22. doi:10.1136/vr.105467 About ALR Technologies SG Ltd. ALRT is a data management company that developed the ALRT Diabetes Solution, a comprehensive approach to diabetes care that includes an FDA-cleared and HIPAA compliant diabetes management system that collects data directly from blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitoring devices, and a patent pending Predictive A1C algorithm to track treatment success between lab reports and an FDA-cleared Insulin Dosing Adjustment program. The overall goal is to optimize diabetes drug therapies to drive improved patient outcomes. In addition, the animal health division of ALRT has developed the GluCurve Pet CGM; a solution to assist veterinarians better determine the efficacy of insulin treatments and to help to identify the appropriate dose and frequency of administration for companion animals, thereby delivering the same optimization of diabetic drug therapies to pets as to humans. More information about ALRT can be found at www.alrt.com and https://sg.alrt.com. About Covetrus Covetrus is a global animal-health technology and services company dedicated to empowering veterinary practice partners to drive improved health and financial outcomes. We are bringing together products, services, and technology into a single platform that connects our customers to the solutions and insights they need to work best. Our passion for the well-being of animals and those who care for them drives us to advance the world of veterinary medicine. Covetrus is headquartered in Portland, Maine with more than 5,700 employees serving over 100,000 veterinary customers around the globe. For more information about Covetrus, please visit https://covetrus.com/. ALR Technologies SG Ltd Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about our plan, objectives, expectations and intentions. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Factors that could adversely affect our business and prospects are set forth in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management team and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligations to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact Details ALR Technologies SG Ltd. Media Relations media@alrt.com ALR Technologies SG Ltd. Jacqueline Wu Jacqueline.wu@alrt.com

December 01, 2022 08:28 AM Eastern Standard Time

Hong Kong Baptist University-led research facilitates more efficient hybrid rice breeding with pioneering female sterility technique

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 1 December 2022 - Research led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) involving the use of a pioneering female sterility technique has led to a breakthrough in the production of hybrid rice seeds. Compared to the commonly used “three-line” male sterility technique in hybrid rice seeds production, the novel approach enhances the efficiency of hybrid rice production by eliminating rice seeds that have been produced due to the self-pollination of the “restorer line”. The novel technique enables fully automatic harvesting of hybrid seeds by machines, which can substantially reduce harvesting costs. A research team led by Professor Zhang Jianhua, Chair Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU explores female sterility technique for hybrid rice breeding. The research results have recently been published in Cell Research, a top-ranking international scientific journal. Male sterility technique incurs high harvesting costs Self-pollinating plants are known to maintain their genome homozygosity, and as a result, their offspring can have the same features over generations. Heterosis, which refers to the increased rate of growth due to genome heterozygosity as a result of the hybridisation of distant parents, is difficult to exploit with self-pollinating plants. In nature, rice is usually bred using self-pollination. However, over the past few decades, scientists – following pioneering work by Professor Yuan Longping, the “Father of Hybrid Rice” – have developed hybrid rice breeding techniques by exploiting sterile male genes, and these techniques can produce hybrid seeds with the normally self-pollinating rice plants in large quantities. China and other countries around the world have extensively used the male sterility technique to produce hybrid rice seeds, and it has led to a substantial increase in rice yields. The male sterility technique first breeds cultivars, i.e. plant varieties, of the “male-sterile line” of rice as pollen receivers. Rice cultivars from the “restorer line” with normal fertility act as pollen donors, and they are grown close to the “male-sterile line” to facilitate pollen transfer for hybridisation. However, self-pollinating seeds can also be produced by the “restorer line”, and they must be removed manually to avoid mixing them up with the hybrid seeds before mechanical harvest, resulting in high harvesting costs. In theory, using sterile female rice as the “restorer line” is ideal because it cannot produce any self-pollinated seeds. However, this approach has not been adopted because the germplasm of sterile female rice remains extremely rare in nature and sterile female plants find it difficult to self-reproduce. TFS1 mutation exhibits female sterility After nearly a decade of ongoing study, a research team led by Professor Zhang Jianhua, Chair Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, has managed to identify a “spontaneous thermo-sensitive female sterility 1” (TFS1) gene mutation in an elite rice cultivar during paddy field production. This genetic mutation exhibits female sterility under regular or high temperature conditions (i.e. above 25°C), and fertility is partly resumed under low temperature conditions (i.e. 23°C). It does not have any defects in terms of its vegetative growth. The team observed that rice with the TFS1 gene mutation can produce healthy pollen with normal male fertility. Rice with normal fertility can produce normal seeds after receiving pollen from rice with the TFS1 gene mutation. Further investigations revealed that under regular or high temperature conditions, after pollen has landed on the stigma of rice with the TFS1 gene mutation, pollen tubes that have grown from the pollen cannot enter the embryo sac. The embryos therefore fail to develop and seeds cannot be produced. But under low temperature conditions, the ability to fertilise and develop embryos is partially recovered. Following genetic analysis using gene cloning and molecular techniques, the team found that the female sterility mutation is created by a point mutation in the genic region of Argonaute7 (AGO7), a member of the Argonaute (AGO) protein complex that is responsible for the production of many small interfering RNAs, namely tasiR-ARFs. The downstream regulation of these tasiR-ARFs regulates the pollen tube entrance into the embryo sac, but it failed under regular or high temperature conditions in the rice with TFS1 mutation, and hence double fertilisations cannot be achieved. No need to remove “restorer lines” before harvest To evaluate the potential of using TFS1 as a genetic tool for hybrid rice production, the team conducted field trials in Hong Kong and Hunan Province in mainland China. The TFS1 gene mutation was introduced into three cultivars of rice by introgression and genome editing to create the germplasms with thermo-sensitive female sterility. They acted as the “restorer lines” for pollen donation. Another three cultivars of rice with male sterility were used as the “male-sterile lines”. The team planted the “restorer lines” separately next to the “male-sterile lines” as in traditional hybrid breeding, or randomly mixed them on the farm when planting. In both planting arrangements, more than 30% of the panicles of the “male-sterile lines” in Hong Kong, and 40% in Hunan Province produced hybrid seeds. The proportion of seed sets is similar to the hybrid production yields using existing “restorer lines”, but the hybrid rice seeds can be harvested without the removal of the “restorer lines”. Great commercial potential with reduced harvesting costs Professor Zhang said: “Nowadays, producing hybrid rice seeds is still a labour-intensive process in agriculture. Female sterility, if it can be introduced into a ‘restorer line’ as a pure pollen donor, has great potential to reduce the cost, because the male and female parents of hybrid rice can be grown and harvested together by machines without worrying about seed purity. “Our research findings provide a suitable trait for fully mechanised hybrid rice breeding, and our genetic tool has shown great promise for commercial applications. To maximise rice yields, we need further large-scale field trials to improve the receptibility between female and male-sterile lines.” Apart from researchers from HKBU, the research team included scientists from the Hunan Agricultural University, the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the University of California at Davis, and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation in Japan. Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office Winnie Shum +852 3411 5262 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

December 01, 2022 05:16 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Protalix and Chiesi Resubmit FDA Application For Rare Disease Treatment

Protalix BioTherapeautics Inc.

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: PLX), an Israeli biopharmaceutical company, and Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a business unit of the Chiesi Group, have resubmitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX–102), a drug candidate for the treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease. Fabry disease is a rare enzyme deficiency that afflicts 1 in 40,000 to 60,000 people worldwide. Patients with Fabry are unable to break down the fatty substance globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), leading to accumulation of Gb3 in the blood vessels and symptoms including impaired blood circulation, end-organ failure, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. "The resubmission of the BLA represents a significant milestone for Protalix and we believe it has meaningful potential for patients and families affected by Fabry disease,” said Dror Bashan, Protalix's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Together with Chiesi, we are committed to continuing to work with the FDA toward our goal of achieving regulatory approval and making PRX–102 available to patients with this rare disease in the United States." A Step Closer To Important Treatment Protalix develops treatments from its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx ®. Its drug candidate PRX-102 is a modified recombinant α–Galactosidase–A enzyme that would allow the Fabry disease patient to digest Gb3. This drug is part of Protalix’s novel PEGylated enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) treatment. The resubmission of the BLA for drug candidate PRX-102 involves a rigorous and comprehensive set of data on the therapy. Protalix is confident moving forward, as it was the first company to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein produced through a plant cell-based expression system. Now it is collaborating with the rare disease unit of the Chiesi Group, an Italian-based therapeutic development company, to develop and commercialize PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease. “We believe it is important to deliver a potential new treatment option," said Giacomo Chiesi, head of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, commenting on the resubmission of the BLA. "Together with Protalix, we thank the investigators and study participants who have made reaching this milestone possible and have supported our joint commitment to bringing this new treatment option to the Fabry patient community." Protalix anticipates the FDA will review the resubmission within the next 6 months. Other companies looking to develop treatments for Fabry disease include Avrobio Inc. (NASDAQ: AVRO), Freeline Therapeutics Holdings PLC (NASDAQ: FRLN), and Sangamo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SGMO). To learn more about Protalix BioTherapeutics, click here. Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. Protalix was the first company to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system. Protalix's unique expression system represents a new method for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner.Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved by the FDA in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights.Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified stabilized version of the recombinant human α–Galactosidase–A protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; alidornase alfa or PRX–110, for the treatment of various human respiratory diseases or conditions; PRX–115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase for the treatment of severe gout; PRX–119, a plant cell-expressed long action DNase I for the treatment of NETs-related diseases; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Chuck Padala, Managing Director- LifeSci Advisors +1 646-627-8390 chuck@lifesciadvisors.com Company Website https://protalix.com/

November 30, 2022 02:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

RKS WINS MAJOR RULING: FRAUDULENT TRANSFER CLAIMS AGAINST BAUSCH HEALTH, BAUSCH + LOMB WILL MOVE FORWARD

Rolnick Kramer Sadighi LLP (RKS)

In an important step in protecting their clients’ interests and preventing Bausch Health Companies (“Bausch Health”) from putting the assets of Bausch + Lomb (“B+L”) beyond the reach of judgment creditors through a corporate spin-off, Rolnick Kramer Sadighi LLP (“RKS”) has secured a vital legal ruling that will allow their clients to pursue fraudulent transfer claims against Bausch Health and B+L in New Jersey state court. United States District Judge Michael A. Shipp granted RKS’s motion to remand their clients’ fraudulent transfer action against Bausch Health and B+L back to state court, holding that Bausch Health and B+L had improperly removed the action to federal court earlier this year. In removing the action, the defendants purported to rely on a 1998 federal law (the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act or “SLUSA”), which was designed by Congress to prevent securities fraud strike suits from being filed in state court. Defendants argued that SLUSA barred Plaintiffs’ fraudulent transfer claims. Judge Shipp agreed with RKS that SLUSA does not apply to RKS’s clients’ declaratory judgment action brought pursuant to New Jersey’s fraudulent transfer statute because: (i) the relief RKS seeks on behalf of its clients is a declaration that the spin-off is voidable, such that they may continue to look to B+L’s assets to satisfy their claims against Bausch Health; and (ii) securities fraud is not a factual predicate of the fraudulent transfer claims. RKS’s clients’ fraudulent transfer action will now proceed against Bausch Health and B+L in state court. Following this adverse ruling by the Federal District Court, Bausch Health has designated Bausch + Lomb as an unrestricted subsidiary. About RKS: Rolnick Kramer Sadighi, LLP (RKS) provides strategic litigation solutions for the investment management community. Launched in 2020, RKS is a premier securities litigation boutique dedicated to serving the investment management industry, including hedge funds, mutual funds, private equity, credit, real estate, and structured finance firms. For more information, visit RKS online: https://www.rksllp.com/. Contact Details Arielle Goren +1 212-717-5863 agoren@kivvit.com Company Website https://www.rksllp.com/

November 30, 2022 10:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

Alberta Becomes the First Province to Regulate Psychoactives for Therapeutic Purposes

MarketJar

The modern psychoactive renaissance is continuing to gain momentum, with Alberta becoming the latest region to propose regulatory changes regarding the substances. On October 5, Government officials declared that Alberta will be the first province in Canada to regulate psychoactives for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Although doctors and researchers are allowed to apply to Health Canada for permission to use psychoactives in clinical research or grant patients special access for therapeutic use, they are still illegal in Canada. According to Alberta's new laws, medical professionals must submit an application to the province for a license before administering psychoactives to patients with mental illnesses. Alberta's new laws governing the therapeutic use of psychoactives are expected to take effect on January 16, 2023. At a time when the mental health crisis is getting worse and more people are turning to alternative treatment providers for assistance, these regulatory changes are timely. According to John Hopkins Medicine, over 6.7 million people in Canada experience mental illnesses, compared to 26% of Americans age 18 and older who experience a diagnosable mental disorder each year. Psilocybin has recently attracted renewed interest as a potential treatment for conditions like anxiety, addiction, and depression. And these recent changes to the law demonstrate the legitimacy of psychoactive-assisted therapy within the health care system. Companies in the market stand to gain as psychoactives become more accepted, especially those that provide high-quality goods and integrated mental health care treatment options at clinics. The development and provision of cutting-edge mental health care and access to secure, scientifically supported psychoactive-assisted therapies are the main priorities of Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSX:NUMI) (OTCQX:NUMIF), a leading provider of integrated mental healthcare. The range of mental health services Numinus offers and its network of wellness centers across Canada and the US have kept growing. One of the reasons behind Numinus ’ ongoing growth is its growth-focused strategy. Over the last couple of years, the company has made several sizable acquisitions that have directly contributed to its bottom line. In 2021, Numinus added Neurology Centre of Toronto and Mindspace to the company, both of which are responsible for the notable uptick in revenue in the past year. Then in June 2022, the company completed the acquisition of Novamind, along with its network of wellness clinics, bringing its total network to 12 wellness clinics, four research facilities and a dedicated psychoactives research lab. On November 29, Numinus announced its Q4 and full year results, revealing a 643% increase in fourth quarter revenue thanks to the acquisition of Novamind. The company reported C$4.2 million in revenue for Q4, $3.7 million of which came from its wellness clinic network. Numinus also grew its gross margin to 31.5% in the fourth quarter, generating $1.3 million in gross profit and ended the quarter with a $33 million cash position. “Fiscal 2022 was a pivotal year for Numinus, as we entered the US market with the transformational acquisition of Novamind, expanded our Ketamine-assisted Therapy offering across Canada, launched a formal practitioner training program, and unveiled a global rebranding of our company. Combined, these efforts have provided a solid platform for our continued, measured growth – with scalable infrastructure and systems, and a growing pipeline of practitioners choosing Numinus for their psychedelics-assisted therapy training,” said Payton Nyquvest, Founder and CEO of Numinus. “With our strong wellness clinic network and a growing clinical research division, Numinus is one of the best positioned companies in the sector – supported by diversified revenue streams, growing brand awareness, and a recognized pathway to profitability.” Commenting on the quarter, Nyquvest continued: “Our fiscal fourth quarter was the first to demonstrate the real power of our larger, cross-border platform following the acquisition of Novamind on June 10, 2022 – and the impacts are evident in our performance. Compared to the previous quarter, fourth quarter revenues grew 464% to $4.2 million, gross margin improved by 710 basis points from 6.5% to 31.5%, and gross profit grew 628% to $1.3 million. We’re excited about the momentum building across our business and the regulatory reform underway across the US and Canada, and will continue to evaluate complementary growth opportunities that will enhance our client experience and further support margin expansion.” During Q4 2022, Numinus completed over 17,000 client appointments, which represents a 202% increase in clinic appointments compared to over 5,600 appointments in Q3 2022, mostly due to the acquisition of Novamind at the beginning of the quarter. Numinus acquired Novamind in June 2022, along with its network of wellness clinics. This brings its total network to 13 wellness clinics, four research facilities and a dedicated psychoactives research lab. And this is just the beginning of what this company plans to achieve. To learn more about Numinus Wellness (TSX:NUMI) (OTCQX:NUMIF) and how it is pioneering the integration of psychoactive-assisted therapies into standard clinical practice, click this link or visit the company’s website Disclaimer 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, Numinus Wellness Inc. Market Jar Media Inc. has or expects to receive from Numinus Wellness Inc.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) one hundred nine thousand four hundred and forty USD for 23 days (16 business days). 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. Market Jar has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of Market Jar or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc.’s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on pressreach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on pressreach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management’s expectations regarding Numinus Wellness Inc.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to Numinus Wellness Inc.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that Numinus Wellness Inc. intends to offer; (e) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s milestone projections and targets; (f) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute Numinus Wellness Inc.’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s ability to enter into contractual arrangements with additional Pharmacies; (e) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (f) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (g) political and regulatory stability; (h) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (i) changes in applicable legislation; (j) stability in financial and capital markets; and (k) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of Numinus Wellness Inc. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) Numinus Wellness Inc.’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact Numinus Wellness Inc.’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing Numinus Wellness Inc.’s business operations (e) Numinus Wellness Inc. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition. Except as required by law, Numinus Wellness Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does Numinus Wellness Inc. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither Numinus Wellness Inc. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of Numinus Wellness Inc. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of Numinus Wellness Inc. or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of Numinus Wellness Inc. or such entities.. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

November 30, 2022 07:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

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RKS WINS MAJOR RULING: FRAUDULENT TRANSFER CLAIMS AGAINST BAUSCH HEALTH, BAUSCH + LOMB WILL MOVE FORWARD

Alberta Becomes the First Province to Regulate Psychoactives for Therapeutic Purposes