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Shield Therapeutics "couldn't be more pleased" with Viatris collaboration

Shield Therapeutics PLC

Shield Therapeutics PLC (AIM:STX, OTCQX:SHIEF) CEO Greg Madison speaks to Thomas Warner after a busy week for the commercial stage pharmaceutical company, which included the release of its interim results and the announcement of a major fundraise. He highlights the success of the fundraise, which comprised US$20 million from a new senior debt facility as well as an equity fundraise (split between a share placing, a subscription and an offering to retail investors) that brought in an additional US$6 million. He explains that the new funding is going to be put to use in "paying off an existing loan, increasing our working capital needs and then certainly some commercial investments to accelerate the curve that we're seeing here." The curve he describes is the marked increase in demand for Shield's Accrufer product, which is a stable, non-salt based oral therapy for adults with iron deficiency that is designed to avoid some of the unwanted side-effects of conventional iron tablets. He says he "can't speak highly enough about the dedication and passion of [his] team at Shield, but also about our partner Viatris... we made an excellent choice... we couldn't be more pleased with the partnership and the collaboration we're seeing." Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 05, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nuformix to fund its unlicensed programs with NXP001 windfall

Nuformix PLC

Nuformix PLC (LSE:NFX) executive director Dr Dan Gooding speaks to Proactive after the pharmaceutical development company announced it is to receive new immediate and near-term milestone payments as part of an update to its NXP001 exclusive licensing agreement with Oxilio Ltd. Dr. Gooding explains that Oxilio has now purchased patents from Nuformix that it had previously been licencing, resulting in significant near-term payments to Nuformix. This financial boost will aid Nuformix in advancing their unlicensed programs, specifically NXP002 and NXP004. Despite the patent sale, Nuformix retains future value from NXP001 through development milestones and royalties. Dr. Gooding also highlights Nuformix's work with NXP002 on lung fibrosis, a severe disease with limited treatment options. He explains that Nuformix's approach of repurposing existing drugs means a reduction in research time and costs. NXP002 is a modified version of a drug initially approved in Japan for asthma and skin scarring treatment. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 05, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NMTC Coalition, 700 Organizations Urge White House, Congressional Leadership to Make NMTC Program Permanent

New Markets Tax Credit Coalition

Today, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Coalition, a national membership organization of Community Development Entities (CDEs) and investors organized to advocate on behalf of the NMTC, released a letter signed by nearly 700 community development stakeholders to President Biden and Members of Congress in support of enactment of a permanent extension to the NMTC in end of the year tax legislation. Despite its efficacy and importance for businesses and community development projects, the NMTC program expires in 2025. Signatories on the letter include 275 community development organizations; 76 housing organizations; 140 nonprofits, shelters, schools, healthcare facilities, and community service providers; 166 businesses and community development-focused investors; and 31 state and national community development trade associations. “We strongly support making the NMTC permanent,” said Aisha Benson, President of the NMTC Coalition and President and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund. “We’ve seen the enormous impact NMTCs can have in strengthening communities across the country, as well as in our own work in Arkansas and Ohio. We are committed to ensuring no community is left behind and preserving one of the federal government’s most successful community development programs.” During this Congress, both the Senate and House introduced bills (S. 234 and H.R. 2539) with bipartisan support to make the NMTC extension permanent. Establishing permanence will provide certainty in delivering resources to low-income and marginalized communities, creating jobs, increasing economic opportunity, and improving lives at a time when underserved communities face significant challenges. Throughout its 20-year history, the NMTC has delivered more than $125 billion to rural and urban communities outside the economic mainstream, which has led to financing to more than 8,000 businesses and projects and over one million jobs. Establishing the NMTC as a permanent part of the tax code will provide certainty and further promote getting patient, flexible capital to low-income and marginalized communities, creating jobs, increasing economic opportunity, and improving lives at a time when the economic frailty of our underserved communities has never been more apparent. Established in 2000 in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act (P.L.106-554), the New Markets Tax Credit is a bipartisan effort to stimulate investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities. “With the continuing impacts from COVID-19, and the general economic uncertainty felt across the country, the New Markets Tax Credit is absolutely vital for many of America’s urban neighborhoods and rural communities and will provide billions of dollars for high-impact, community revitalization projects,” said Bob Rapoza, spokesperson for the NMTC Coalition. “Over the years, the credit has been instrumental in financing plant and equipment for small manufacturing businesses and patient, flexible capital to other small businesses, hospitals, healthcare centers, homeless shelters and other transformative projects that improve communities, create jobs and economic opportunity. A permanent extension of NMTC will provide more certainty to private sector investors, which will result in better pricing and more subsidy to hard-to-finance, essential projects.” For examples of how the NMTC is making an impact in each state, see the NMTC Coalition’s website, where you can find over 2,500 NMTC success stories organized by state and congressional district. About New Markets Tax Credit Program -- The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was enacted in 2000 to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities lacking the patient capital to support and grow businesses, create jobs, and sustain healthy local economies. Since its inception, the NMTC has generated more than one million jobs. Today due to NMTC, more than $120 billion is hard at work in underserved communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. For examples of how the NMTC impacts each state, see the NMTC Coalition’s project database and state fact sheets. For more information, visit www.NMTCCoalition.org. Contact Details Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 gregwilsonpr@gmail.com Company Website https://nmtccoalition.org/

October 04, 2023 12:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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NetScientific "well positioned for growth" when venture capital market turns

NetScientific PLC

NetScientific PLC (AIM:NSCI) CEO Dr Ilian Iliev speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the investment and commercialisation group published its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023. Dr Iliev provides some context for the half-year results, saying that the company has been working hard and focusing on executing its strategy in what has been a "difficult period" for venture capital. He goes on to give an overview of the half-year results, saying that he's "happy to report strong progress in the first half of the year" and highlighting the realisation of "roughly £800,000 in profitable partial exists from the portfolio" during the period. He addresses how the challenges affecting the wider venture capital sector are playing out at NetScientific and expresses confidence in what the company calls its "evergreen" strategy, saying that its "well positioned for growth when inevitably the cycle turns around... we are not venture capital tourists - this is what we do on a daily basis and we are positioning ourselves for the inevitable turnaround." Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 04, 2023 04:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Unwiring.org Takes Bold Steps to Reform Social Media For a Healthier, More Connected Future

Unwiring

Unwiring officially launches to empower individuals in the fight against social media's negative impacts and unethical practices. The organization is led by Saahil Mishra and a diverse team of passionate teens who’ve developed several initiatives to catalyze positive change within social media. “I worry about the impact of social media on my generation. A surge in social isolation, mental health issues, disinformation, and political polarization has challenged our connection on both an interpersonal and societal level,” said Saahil Mishra, founder and social media activist. Mishra also serves as a research assistant at Stanford Social Media Lab and writer for the Poynter Institute’s Media Wise. Earlier this year, Mishra participated in his first TEDx Talk event in San Francisco. Unwiring is educating and empowering young people to drive real, representative change within social media. The team curates timely educational resources including a series of self-produced online videos, curriculum on social media’s inner workings and impacts, and editorial pieces centered around the youth perspective on social media’s harms and possible solutions. Unwiring also is hosting a ReDesign challenge for youth to pose ideas for social media reformation this fall and a youth summit in 2024. United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use. Recent research shows that adolescents who spent more than three hours daily on social media faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. “When we advocate for internal platform changes, business model regulations, major culture and paradigm shifts, we can together build a healthier more connected future,” adds Mishra. “We invite teens to join us in this important movement by sharing their stories with us.” Visit unwiring.org and engage on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X formerly known as Twitter: @unwiring_org. Contact Details Unwiring Anne Shanahan, Community Relations Liaison +1 562-810-3016 ashanahan@unwiring.org

October 03, 2023 08:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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GS National Insurance Partners with AmeriLife to Propel Growth & Expansion

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Pittsburgh-based GS National Insurance (“GS National”), a wholesale distributor of health insurance products for independent brokers and agencies. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Over the last decade, GS National has experienced significant growth, and we’re excited to take our business to another level,” said Brian Breisinger, founder, president and CEO of GS National Insurance. “We have always strived to break through the complexities of the insurance business with simplicity, transparency and recognition at the heart of our approach. Together with AmeriLife, we’ll be able to support even more independent brokers and agencies at scale than ever before.” Founded in 2007 as independent health insurance agency, Gateway Strategies, the firm grew quickly over the next three years as it recognized the need for more tailored support of brokerage companies in a rapidly evolving Medicare marketplace. In 2010, it shifted its focus to wholesale distribution under the name GS National Insurance, working with a growing number of local and regional health insurance carriers and expanding its footprint to seven states across the eastern United States. Now, together with AmeriLife’s best-in-class tools, resources, and holistic product offerings, GS National is well-positioned for accelerated growth and long-term success. “I’m thrilled to welcome Brian and GS National to AmeriLife,” said Scotty Elliott, Chief Distribution Officer for AmeriLife Health. “The team’s focus on cultivating strong relationships with carriers and providing exceptional value for their agents has been key to their rapid growth. We look forward to supporting their ambitions for years to come.” “GS National has proven to be not only a successful wholesale distributor, but also an innovator in our space,” added Tim Calvert, Chief Operating Officer for AmeriLife. “We’re excited to add Brian’s and the team’s expertise and industry leadership to our growing network of affiliates. ### About GS National Insurance Founded in 2007, GS National Insurance is a national wholesale distributor of insurance products for independent brokers built on the belief that simplicity, transparency and recognition are the cornerstones for success in the insurance industry. For more information, visit GSNational.com. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as a leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

October 03, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Over 60 million Medicare Beneficiaries Will Need To Decide Whether to Stick With Their Plan Or Change This Fall – Here Are Some Tips for Making The Best Dental Plan Choice

DentalPlans.com

By Rachael Green, Benzinga Open enrollment for Medicare is set to begin on October 15 this year, meaning the 60 million Americans already enrolled along with newly eligible beneficiaries will be reading up on the upcoming changes to their plans and comparing the coverage options this fall. Since dental benefits can vary from one Medicare Advantage plan to the next and aren’t included at all in Original Medicare, it can be tough to figure out what the best fit is. Because of this, many look to dental insurance alternatives, like dental savings plans. Make sure you’re fully prepared to make the best dental plan choice for you and your family by following these steps. 1. Make A List Of Your Anticipated Dental Care Needs Finding the best plan for you involves more than just choosing the cheapest premium. Ultimately, the way to save the most money is to choose the plan that provides the biggest savings of all – or as much as possible – of the care you need or may need. To find that plan, it helps to have a list of everything you want included. If you wear dentures, for example, you might need more than the standard cleanings and checkups, like denture resizing or replacement. If your dentist recommended multiple root canals or other complicated care and you’re waiting for the new year to finish the work when your coverage resets, now is definitely the time to look for a plan that offers a higher annual maximum – or no annual maximum – and no preexisting condition exclusions on the work you need. 2. Read The Plan Annual Notice Of Change You Get This Month Carefully If you are already enrolled in a plan that includes dental benefits, your current provider should send you a Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) sometime this month. This will detail any changes to the costs or coverages in your plan. Read through this carefully so you can decide whether the new policy will still meet your needs based on that list of anticipated needs you made earlier. That way, if it doesn’t, you can start shopping around now to switch, drop the plan or add additional savings plans when open enrollment starts. 3. Compare Your Medicare Advantage Options — Even If You’re Happy With Your Current Plan Insurance companies can join or leave Medicare every year. That means there is always the risk that your current provider will leave, forcing you to choose a new plan or go back to Original Medicare. But it also means that new plans that are now available might be even better suited to your needs than the one you’re currently on. So it’s worth it to shop around and compare your options ahead of every open enrollment period, regardless of how happy you are with your current plan. There are also options outside of Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare that may better meet your needs. This is especially true when it comes to dental benefits which tend to be more limited and restrictive. If you know you’re going to need more than the routine dental cleaning and checkups next year, you could be leaving serious benefits on the table if you don’t shop around to see if there’s a new option with better dental coverage than your current plan. 4. Consider Adding A Dental Savings Plan To The Mix To Cut Costs While MA plans typically offer dental, vision and prescription drug benefits, they can often come with low annual limits or other coverage restrictions that make them less cost-effective in the long run. One way to ensure you can keep costs down is to sign up for a dental savings plan. These plans aren’t insurance. They are a trusted alternative to dental insurance. Plan members pay a low annual fee for access to savings on virtually all dental procedures, from routine preventative care to restorative dental procedures and even cosmetic dental care like dental implants, which insurance usually does not cover. Plan members report an average savings of 50%* on their dental care at over 140,000 participating dentists and specialists nationwide. These plans have no annual limit, no restrictions based on current health conditions or existing dental concerns, and are activated within 1-3 business days. They are a great compliment to any Medicare plan. Some plans also include similar discounts for other care that’s not covered by Original Medicare like vision, hearing or prescription drugs. Finding the best plan to save you money on your dental care as a Medicare beneficiary doesn’t have to be complicated. Compare your Medicare options, and then head to DentalPlans.com to compare dental plan options. You can get a personalized dental plan recommendation online in minutes – or give their expert team a call. Visit DentalPlans.com today and be ready for open enrollment. * Discount Health Program consumer & provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan. DentalPlans.com, founded in 1999, is a leading online marketplace for dental savings plans in the U.S., helping more than a million people to affordably access quality healthcare services. Our mission is to empower consumers with the tools, information, and services that they need to live happier, healthier lives. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Matthew Wong matthew.wong@wpromote.com Company Website https://www.dentalplans.com/

October 03, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Only-Of-Its-Kind Filterbaby Launches on Thirteen Lune

Filterbaby

Filterbaby, the first and only clinically tested and dermatologist recommended skincare water filter for the face is expanding its retail footprint. The brand has launched on Thirteen Lune, the popular E-Commerce site for minority founded beauty brands. Since its 2022 inception, Filterbaby has seen tremendous growth; selling nearly 100,000 units and garnering over half a million followers on social media and one billion views on Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube. "We at Filterbaby are absolutely elated to be welcomed into the Thirteen Lune community. This remarkable space, dedicated to empowering minority founders, resonates deeply with our values and aspirations. We are putting a flag on the ground stating that water quality significantly impacts skin; our mission is to transform people’s life through better water. We are so glad that Thirteen Lune is providing the ideal platform to amplify our mission. We're honored to join this collective force for positive change in the beauty industry." said Xin Shui, CEO/Founder of Filterbaby. While millions of skincare products flood the market, there is a striking absence of emphasis on the quality of water, a fundamental factor essential for achieving good facial skin health. Consumers spend thousands of dollars on skincare each year to optimize their skin health, yet the most fundamental element, water used to clean skin, is often subpar. Filterbaby’s founder is a third-generation female healthcare provider who had experience of treating over 10,000 patients. She discerned a profound correlation that exists between water quality and skin health. “There is a real necessity for this product as tap water quality is subpar in most states with excess chlorine or chloramine, microplastics, hard metals, unregulated chemicals, and infrastructure issues. Over the past few months, we received hundreds of before and after photos from customers with skin specific issues from eczema, rosacea, acne prone and dry skin who saw drastic improvements using Filterbaby,” explains Xin. By filtering impurities and micro-contaminants in tap water as small as 0.2 microns, Filterbaby ensures users receive higher quality water to improve their skin's health. It is clinically tested to improve skin hydration in just 2 weeks. Through consumer studies, it is also found to reduce irritation, protect epidermis, ultimately leading to radiant and healthier skin. In addition to Thirteen Lune, Filterbaby is sold on www.filterbaby.com as well as Amazon, Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales.com and Dormify.com. Their starter kit retails for $89. About Thirteen Lune: Thirteen Lune is an e-commerce destination designed to inspire the discovery of beauty brands created by Black and Brown founders that resonate with people of all colors. It reframes how Black, Brown and minority founded beauty brands are perceived not only from an industry perspective, but also for the consumer giving each brand a platform to educate and engage a wider audience. About Filterbaby: Research shows that most US households’ tap water contains chlorine, micro-plastics, heavy metals, and hundreds of unregulated chemicals. Filterbaby was created to reduce all of these skin irritating and harming pollutants. The brand has undergone certified third-party skin hydration lab measurement testing which showed that the filter helps increase hydration within two weeks of use. Clinically tested & dermatologist-recommended, made for skincare. Healthier skin starts with your water. Available on www.filterbaby.com, Amazon, Urban Outfitters, Dormify.com Bloomingdales.com and Thirteen Lune. Contact Details Colleen Mathis absolute R relations colleen@absoluteRrelations.com

October 03, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NuggMD Launches Its Leading Marijuana Telemedicine Service in Delaware

NuggMD

NuggMD, the nation's leading medical marijuana telemedicine platform, is launching its service in Delaware for just $99 for a limited time. Since its founding in 2015, NuggMD has connected over 1,000,000 patients to their medical marijuana physicians. It's legal to possess and use cannabis in the state, but adult-use sales aren't expected to begin until November 2024 at the soonest, and more likely later in 2025. Medical patients in the state opposed the option to allow the existing, tightly-regulated medical dispensaries to begin adult-use sales earlier due to fears that there wouldn't be enough cannabis to serve both medical and recreational needs, which would cause a spike in prices. "It's understandable that patients would be worried about a spike in prices with an uncontrolled launch of recreational sales," says Alex Milligan, CMO and co-founder of NuggMD. "It has happened in other states, leaving patients in a bad situation. But the current situation brings about other safety concerns. State residents can possess cannabis and use it legally, but can't buy safe, tested weed unless they're patients." "I don't suggest you turn to the black market while waiting for dispensaries to open," says Kam Babazade, COO and co-founder of NuggMD. "Recent tests on black market products on the East Coast have shown contaminants, synthetic cannabinoids, and major discrepancies in potency. This is something you especially want to avoid if you have significant medical issues." "We have diverted over a million patients from the black market now," says Collin Mann, NuggMD co-founder and CEO. "Delaware was wise to allow telemedicine so even more patients can be turned toward the legal, tested, and safe products in the state's existing dispensaries." NuggMD's platform is available from 8 am to 10 pm seven days a week. No appointment is needed, and patients who don't qualify for their state's medical cannabis program won't be charged for their evaluation. About NuggMD NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. They've connected over 1,000,000 patients face-to-face with their new medical marijuana doctors via their state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. They believe every human being has the right to explore the benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore every option in their journey to wellness. For further information, visit NuggMD.com/Delaware. Contact Details Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 andrew.g@getnugg.com Company Website http://www.nuggmd.com

October 02, 2023 05:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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