agosto 2020 – Página 89

iEducation Group Launches Global Accredited, One-to-One Virtual School

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — To meet the growing demand for a more personalized and interactive virtual learning experience, iEducation Group is introducing Fusion Global Academy, a private online school offering live, one-to-one teaching to students in grades 6-12.

«There is…

«There is a world of difference between virtual instruction and online learning, as parents around the world have seen firsthand over the past several months,» said Peter Ruppert, iEducation Group CEO. «Through Fusion Global Academy, students and teachers interact in real-time throughout every class to ensure children get the most out of their class sessions and interactions with their teachers.»

The national health crisis forced the hands of most academic institutions to transition from teaching students in traditional brick and mortar classrooms to moving classes online. As parents compare notes on their children’s academic experiences, the reviews have been mixed. Student experiences are vastly different, with varying levels of engagement. It is the level of student engagement that truly separates virtual instruction – where a live teacher provides instruction in real-time to allow for discussion, clarification and pivoting to meet the student’s needs – from online learning – which uses web-based tools to simply post resources and assignments online for students to navigate independently. Students at Fusion Global Academy learn one-to-one with each of their teachers throughout the day, whereas many online schools may handle up to 30 students per online class.

Fusion Global Academy, open to students nationwide and internationally who would like to graduate with a U.S. diploma, supports middle and high school student growth – academically, socially and emotionally. When Fusion students are in a class or tutoring session, a teacher is always present, working individually with the student for the entire class session. Fusion Global Academy will be led by Darby Carr, the president of virtual learning at Fusion Global Academy.

With more than 20 years of leadership and management experience in education and technology-based learning, Carr has built world-class programs to serve families and students needing high-quality learning options and greater flexibility in their school schedule. Carr has a rich history working in education, having served as the chief administration officer and principal for a leading charter school in Philadelphia before working with K12, an online public school, for 10 years. In her time with K12, Carr helped launch and operate online schools and led curriculum development. Most recently, Carr served as the president of Laurel Springs online private schools, where student enrollment grew significantly and retention rates improved by 125%.

«Our education model is focused on three things: love, motivate and teach,» said Carr. «We first establish strong relationships with our students, then personalize their entire educational experience according to their strengths, goals, interests and learning style. Their learning is uniquely designed just for them.»

Another unique feature at Fusion Global Academy is the school’s Virtual Homework Café, where students’ complete coursework during the school day with additional oversight and support, as needed, from teachers. This leaves ample time after school for hobbies, passions, such as sports or music, and family.

With open enrollment, students can start at Fusion Global Academy at any point in the year. The school’s revolutionary model includes:

One-to-one instruction, taught live with a teacher
More than 250+ accredited courses available
Options to learn full-time, part-time or to support home school teaching
Customized scheduling and start times for students needing schedule flexibility.
Social opportunities and a global Homework Café connecting students from across the world
Virtual clubs such as documentaries, foreign language and photography, to name a few
Virtual field trips covering topics like marine life studies, planetarium visits and nature hiking

«Through Fusion Academy, our network of one-to-one private schools located across the country, we have seen the tremendous impact that personalized instruction can have on teenagers,» Ruppert remarked. «As a veteran in the education industry, I know that students do not thrive under a one-size-fits-all approach. While many do thrive in an on-campus environment, others flourish learning from home – especially when given the opportunity to work so closely with each teacher.»

To learn more about Fusion Global Academy visit FusionGlobalAcademy.com.

About iEducation Group
The pioneer in one-to-one education, Michigan-based iEducation provides students and families a growing array of personalized learning options delivered through more than 75+ campuses in 16 states and Washington D.C., as well as a private online school offering live, individualized virtual instruction to students in grades 6-12. iEducation Group, the parent organization of Fusion Academy, Fusion Global Academy, Futures Academy and Barnstable Academy, is committed to education that is innovative, individualized, and inspired. The mission of iEducation Group is to help each student flourish – emotionally, socially and academically – through positive, mentoring relationships and a personalized education experience.

Contact: Megan Lasley
248-914-2520
mlasley@lambert.com

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SOURCE iEducation Group

Alithya Helps Adoption-Share Fast-Track Child Adoption and Foster Placement Using the Microsoft Power Platform

Digital Engagement Project Reduces Adoption
Barriers to Match Kids and Families Faster

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Alithya Group inc. (NASDAQ: ALYA) (TSX: ALYA) («Alithya») proudly partnered with Adoption-Share, a US-based non-profit organization that leverages technology to reduce the barriers to adoption and ultimately increase the number of child placements into qualified, safe, and loving homes.

Alithya donated time and resources…

Digital Engagement Project Reduces Adoption
Barriers to Match Kids and Families Faster

Alithya donated time and resources to develop a Microsoft Power App to address one of the agency’s most challenging issues: shortening the time to connect foster-care children with the right adoptive families.

Driving Innovation for a Worthy Cause
Adoption-Share’s cutting-edge Family-Match program was already used by state case workers responsible for matching children in foster-care with a goal of adoption to approved and licensed waiting families. While the application leveraged Azure-based predictive analytics to connect children with waiting families in more efficient and appropriate ways, Adoption-Share recognized the opportunity to speed up the matching process by moving further upstream and engaging families steps in a way they could demonstrate their motivation, willingness, capability, readiness, and compatibility with foster children in their own communities.

Alithya worked with Adoption-Share and built a Microsoft Power App called Faster Families which is part of the Family-Match 2.0 system. The new Power App, along with training content also developed by Alithya, helped Adoption-Share identify and alleviate bottlenecks faced by families during the agency on-boarding process, and as a result, streamlined and pinpointed the most exemplary families who were the most willing, able and interested in moving forward with adoption and foster parent licensing process.

Successful Exercise Showing That Digital Tools Can Change Lives
«The early results are exciting,» says Thea Ramirez, Founder & CEO of Adoption-Share. «During the initial rollout in the Orlando, Florida area, one family was able to complete a home study training and placement within 35 days of beginning the process — a process that previously could have taken years. We look forward to sharing many more stories like this one as the application is deployed in more areas in the US.»

«There is an incredible importance in connecting kids in crisis into loving homes faster,» commented Ryan Casey, Vice President, at Alithya. «Microsoft’s Power Platform enabled us to deploy a solution faster, consistent with that goal. We were honored to participate in this project with Adoption-Share, to extend their use of the Microsoft Power Platform, and to add another powerful app, Faster Families, to their technology arsenal.»

Alithya is proud of the project’s results, highlighted by an increase in the number of potential family matches, and a decrease in the time it takes to match those families with a child. Alithya is also pleased with the work conducted by its Training team, which developed short, bite-sized training videos that convey the user-friendliness of the Faster Families Power App to users. To learn more, read Alithya’s case study on the project, or visit Alithya’s training content and workshops as well as its Microsoft Power Apps web page.

About Alithya and Corporate Responsibility
Alithya Group inc. is a leader in strategy and digital transformation in North America. Founded in 1992, the Company can count on more than 2,100 professionals in the US, Canada, and Europe. Corporate responsibility is at the heart of Alithya’s management approach, and as such, the company is an advocate for good governance, workforce diversity and development, environment-friendly practices and social involvement in communities. To learn more, go to alithya.com/en/who-we-are/corporate-responsibility. Alithya’s integrated offering is based on four pillars of expertise: strategy services, application services, enterprise solutions and data and analytics. Alithya deploys solutions, services, and skillsets to craft tools tailored to its clients’ unique business needs in the Financial Services, Manufacturing, Energy, Telecommunications, Transportation and Logistics, Professional Services, Healthcare, and Government sectors.

About Adoption-Share
Adoption-Share is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to leverage technology to bring reform, efficiency, and innovation to the private and public US adoption arena. Adoption-Share offers three main programs: 1) advocacy and adoption awareness campaigns, 2) an online network for private domestic adoption, and 3) an online matching tool, the Family-Match program, for state case workers to use in matching foster care children with the best families. For more information, visit adoption-share.com.

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SOURCE Alithya

IDEXX Laboratories to Host Virtual Investor Day

WESTBROOK, Maine, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in veterinary diagnostics, veterinary practice software and water microbiology testing, will host its 2020 virtual Investor Day on Thursday, August 13, 2020 from <span…

The virtual investor day will include executive presentations followed by a question and answer session. Participating in the event will be members of the IDEXX senior leadership team:

Jay Mazelsky, President and Chief Executive Officer
Brian McKeon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Tina Hunt, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Worldwide Operations
Mike Lane, Executive Vice President and General Manager Reference Laboratories and Information Technology
Jim Polewaczyk, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

A live webcast and accompanying slide presentations will be available at www.idexx.com/investors. An archived webcast replay of the event will be available approximately one hour following the event at www.idexx.com/investors.

About IDEXX Laboratories
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a member of the S&P 500® Index and is a leader in pet healthcare innovation, serving practicing veterinarians around the world with a broad range of diagnostic and information technology-based products and services. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency and build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing diagnostic tests and information for livestock and poultry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk and point-of-care and laboratory diagnostics for human medicine. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs more than 9,000 people and offers products to customers in over 175 countries. For more information about IDEXX, visit: www.idexx.com.

Contact:
Investor Relations
John Ravis
1-207-556-8155
investorrelations@idexx.com

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SOURCE IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

Precigen ActoBio Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 1b Study of AG019 ActoBiotics™, A Novel Therapy Designed to Address the Underlying Cause of Type 1 Diabetes

GERMANTOWN, Md., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Precigen ActoBio, an innovative clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on a new class of microbe-based therapeutic agents and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Precigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGEN), today announced it has met the primary endpoint assessing safety and tolerability in the Phase 1b monotherapy portion of the ongoing Phase 1b/2a clinical study investigating AG019…

T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in a blood glucose imbalance. There is no approved disease-modifying treatment for T1D, which is currently managed through lifestyle modification and diet combined with exogenous insulin. Replacement insulin therapy is associated with a variety of near- and long-term adverse events, as is failure to properly control glucose levels within a narrow range.

AG019 is formulated as an oral capsule consisting of engineered Lactococcus lactis specifically modified to deliver autoantigen human proinsulin (hPINS) and the tolerance-enhancing cytokine human interleukin-10 (hIL-10) to the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tissues. Administration of AG019 is designed to induce specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) that could reduce or eliminate the destruction of insulin-producing cells, potentially stabilizing or improving insulin production.

The Phase 1b open-label portion of the study evaluates the safety and tolerability of AG019 administered as a single dose and repeated daily doses as a monotherapy in adult and adolescent patients. The primary endpoint for assessing safety and tolerability is treatment-emerging adverse events (TEAEs) reported up to six months after treatment initiation. Nineteen patients were treated in the Phase 1b monotherapy portion of the study and 17 patients were evaluated at six months. The Phase 2a portion of the study is currently ongoing and investigates the safety and tolerability of AG019 in combination with teplizumab (PRV-031), which is currently under investigation in the PROTECT Phase 3 study for the treatment of newly diagnosed T1D.

Key findings from the Phase 1b AG019 monotherapy portion study for patients six months after treatment initiation include:

– The study met its primary endpoint demonstrating safety and tolerability. No serious or severe TEAEs were reported in any of the patients treated with AG019 monotherapy, and no patient discontinued treatment.

– Eight-week treatment with AG019 monotherapy was safe and well-tolerated in daily dosages up to 6 x 10¹¹ CFU (colony-forming units) in adult and adolescent patients with T1D.

– There was no evidence for systemic exposure of bacteria and proteins (hPINS/hIL-10) in the circulation, confirming the safety profile of AG019. The analysis of fecal samples confirmed gastrointestinal exposure of AG019 in most treated patients.

– C-peptide levels, a common biomarker used to measure pancreatic beta cell function, demonstrate slower decline in C-peptide levels in 67% of adult patients (6 out of 9) receiving AG019 monotherapy with 44% of these adult patients (4 out of 9) showing stabilization of mean four hours C-peptide area under the curve (AUC) levels at six months (within 9.7% of the baseline level).¹ This was based on the comparison of the median percent decline in mean four hours C-peptide AUC from baseline between patients receiving AG019 monotherapy and patients who received placebo from previous studies.²

Furthermore, in a preliminary analysis performed by the Immune Tolerance Network, a leading independent research group, AG019 monotherapy shows an increase in the frequency of islet-specific Tregs expressing inhibitory receptors, a potential mechanistic indicator of therapeutic activity, for patients three months after treatment initiation.

«Though preliminary, C-peptide data for the Phase 1b AG019 monotherapy is encouraging in this limited data set,» said Kevan Herold, MD, Professor of Immunobiology and of Medicine at Yale University and Principal Investigator for the AG019 Phase 1b/2a clinical study. «The positive topline data from the Phase 1b monotherapy portion of study provides compelling rationale for continued clinical development of this promising investigational therapeutic candidate.»

«These preliminary data for the Phase 1b monotherapy portion of the study are very promising,» said Pieter Rottiers, PhD, CEO of Precigen ActoBio. «In particular, the encouraging trend we are seeing in C-peptide levels indicates potential treatment-related disease modification over time. We look forward to providing expanded data in the coming months for both the AG019 Phase 1b monotherapy and the Phase 2a combination with teplizumab.»

About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in a blood glucose imbalance. There is no approved disease-modifying treatment for T1D, which is currently managed through lifestyle modification and diet combined with exogenous insulin. As of 2019, more than 463 million adults (20-79 years, diagnosed and undiagnosed) globally are living with diabetes with T1D estimated to account for 23 million to 46 million (5 to 10%) of all diabetes cases. Over 1.1 million below 20 years of age have T1D with an estimated 128,900 under the age of 20 expected to develop T1D worldwide annually.³

About AG019 ActoBiotics^™AG019 ActoBiotics is an investigational therapy designed to induce oral immune tolerance to reverse T1D and currently under clinical evaluation for the treatment of early-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) (clinical trial identifier: NCT03751007, EudraCT 2017-002871-24). The Phase 1b/2a clinical trial is evaluating AG019 ActoBiotics as a monotherapy and in combination with teplizumab, a Phase 3 anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in development for the interception and prevention of clinical T1D. Both the Phase 1b portion of the study, testing AG019 monotherapy in patients 12 to 17 years of age and adults, and the first cohort of the Phase 2a portion, testing the combination dosing of AG019 plus teplizumab (PRV-031) in adults, are fully enrolled.

About Precigen ActoBio^™Precigen ActoBio is a clinical stage biotechnology company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Precigen (Nasdaq: PGEN) pioneering a new class of therapeutic agents created on the ActoBiotics™ platform. The ActoBiotics™ platform provides a new class of therapeutic agent, a unique delivery platform precisely tailored for specific disease modification, with the potential for superior efficacy and safety via local delivery directly to the relevant tissue. ActoBiotics are targeted, microbe-based, specifically designed agents that express and locally deliver potential disease-modifying therapeutics at disease sites including the intestine, the mouth and the nasopharynx, to treat a range of disorders. Precigen ActoBio has a strong R&D pipeline and an extensive portfolio of candidates advancing toward clinical development across a number of potential indications. Learn more about Precigen ActoBio at www.precigen.com/actobio/.

Precigen: Advancing Medicine with Precision^™Precigen (Nasdaq: PGEN) is a dedicated discovery and clinical stage biopharmaceutical company advancing the next generation of gene and cell therapies using precision technology to target urgent and intractable diseases in our core therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Our technologies enable us to find innovative solutions for affordable biotherapeutics in a controlled manner. Precigen operates as an innovation engine progressing a preclinical and clinical pipeline of well-differentiated unique therapies toward clinical proof-of-concept and commercialization. For more information about Precigen, visit www.precigen.com or follow us on Twitter @Precigen and LinkedIn.

Trademarks
Precigen, Precigen ActoBio, ActoBiotics, and Advancing Medicine with Precision are trademarks of Precigen and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to plans, objectives, and expectations for the development of the Company’s business, including the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical trials and discovery programs, the promise of the Company’s portfolio of therapies, the Company’s refocus to a healthcare-oriented business, and its continuing evaluation of options for the Company’s non-healthcare businesses. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the timeline for the Company’s clinical trials might be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release. The Company has no obligation to provide any updates to these forward-looking statements even if its expectations change. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. For further information on potential risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled «Risk Factors» in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, contact:

Investor Contact:

Steven Harasym

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850

investors@precigen.com

Corporate Contact:

Marie Rossi, PhD

Vice President, Communications

Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850

press@precigen.com

References
¹Greenbaum et al., Diabetes 2012
²Herold et al., Diabetes 2013; Gitelman et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2013; Rigby et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2013
³International Diabetes Foundation, Diabetes Atlas Ninth Edition 2019. IDF website.

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SOURCE Precigen, Inc.; Precigen ActoBio

miR Scientific Announces Validation of its Urine Based, Non-Invasive Prostate Cancer Test Published in the Journal of Urology

– Validated Data Reinforces Capability to Molecularly Detect and Characterize Prostate Cancer with Concurrent Sensitivity and Specificity of Over 91%

– Data Support Integration of Sentinel Prostate Test™ in Patient Care Settings and Decision-Making

– Adoption Based on Published Data Indicates High Impact to Vastly Improve Patient Outcomes and Reduce Unnecessary Interventions and Waste

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — <a target="_blank"…

– Validated Data Reinforces Capability to Molecularly Detect and Characterize Prostate Cancer with Concurrent Sensitivity and Specificity of Over 91%

– Data Support Integration of Sentinel Prostate Test™ in Patient Care Settings and Decision-Making

– Adoption Based on Published Data Indicates High Impact to Vastly Improve Patient Outcomes and Reduce Unnecessary Interventions and Waste

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — miR Scientific, LLC, a healthcare company whose purpose is to transform cancer management by providing early and highly accurate detection, characterization and monitoring of disease, today announced that validation data for its Sentinel Prostate Test™ a urine-based, non-invasive cancer test were published in the September issue of the Journal of Urology. These data show that miR Scientific’s platform can detect molecular evidence of prostate cancer with sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 92%, which translates to AUC of 0.98. When the cancer is diagnosed, the test further classifies the cancer as either low risk with sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 90%, which translates to AUC of 0.98, or critically, as high risk with sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 96%, which translates to AUC of 0.99. The publication highlights test results based on urinary exosomes that are isolated from a single specimen of regularly passed urine. Hundreds of specifically extracted small non-coding RNAs (sncRNA) are then interrogated in a high-throughput real-time PCR–based platform and analyzed with a proprietary classification algorithm.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States,ⁱ a major source of health inequity,ⁱⁱ and a massive disease burden borne by individuals, their families, strained health systems and payors, including from public, private and employer-based sources. Today, despite the dedication and capabilities of primary care physicians, urologists and oncologists, patients are primarily subjected to a standard-of-care based on the forty-year old PSA test, which identifies a significant number of men as having elevated PSA, thereby potentially having prostate cancer, even though subsequent, highly invasive biopsies will prove that they do not have prostate cancer. Despite the variations on the cutoffs, the PSA test often fails to identify aggressive disease.ⁱⁱⁱ This is a highly significant shortcoming as the patient only becomes aware of his cancer at later stages when mortality risk and treatment costs are far higher.

«miR Scientific is dedicated to providing all age-eligible men, especially those with suspicion of cancer, a methodologically, clinically and scientifically validated technology that provides from a single urine specimen, exceptionally accurate, timely and actionable knowledge of the molecular status of prostate cancer,» said Sam Salman, Chairman & CEO. «Our breakthrough platform enables us to reimagine how things ought to be for patients, physicians and other key healthcare stakeholders: a standalone test that reaches across communities from all racial and socio-economic backgrounds with what is demonstrated in the Journal of Urology data to have an unmatched impact on comprehensively improved outcomes by optimizing care, reducing anxiety, eliminating avoidable morbidities and preserving life and precious financial and point-of-care resources.»

The publication includes performance data on a case-controlled training and validation group of 1,436 subjects comprised of a retrospective sample of 613 patients from the University Health Network at Princess Margaret Hospital’s GU BioBank and a cohort of 823 subjects from Albany Medical Center (AMC) and SUNY Downstate Medical Center (DMC), where urine samples were collected prior to biopsy and analyzed from participants with suspicion of prostate cancer, during a 2-year period (2017 to 2019). As further described in the publication, the testing and validation group was analyzed with sncRNA sequences obtained from a proprietary selection algorithm in a discovery phase comprised of a group of 235 participants from AMC and DMC.

«The miR Scientific Sentinel Test™ validation data in the Journal of Urology significantly contributes to the state-of-the-art innovation capabilities available to physicians. The scientists, researchers and biostatisticians involved in the creation of this breakthrough platform paid very close attention to the needs of physicians whose work always focuses on intervening at the earliest possible opportunity to provide life-saving care for patients harboring aggressive disease, and improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with indolent disease. I am proud to be among a leading cohort of physicians who will support the integration of the miR Scientific tests into clinical standards and practice,» said James McKiernan, MD, the John K. Lattimer Professor of Urology, and the chair of the Department of Urology of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and urologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia.

The potential impact of definitive, accurate detection and classification of prostate cancer from a standalone, scalable, and non-invasive urine test is profound. With a single test, multiple key points of the traditional patient’s journey and continuum of care can be transformed into improved outcomes and quality of life. From a male population health perspective, the empirical data in the Journal of Urology publication supports measurable and sustained benefits to key stakeholders when adopted at scale. Applying the data to age-appropriate populations, it is expected that as a result of the early detection capability of the miR Scientific Sentinel tests, patient treatment outcomes shall improve, which often minimizes out-of-pocket costs. Similarly, since the publication’s data cohort includes the representative population found in large employer health plans, covered employees from all ethnicities and backgrounds can have the option to benefit from the miR Scientific Sentinel Test’s demonstrated rapid, reliable, accurate and safe assessment of prostate cancer risk and ongoing disease management. The demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity indicated in the data support the likely avoidance of wasteful costs and lost workdays that are otherwise incurred when unnecessary procedures and treatments are given to patients. As also supported by the data, with the ability of the miR Scientific Sentinel Test™ to identify high risk patients from those who do not have prostate cancer, or who have indolent disease, hospitals and clinics can benefit from safely prioritizing capacity and medical talent for those with high risk disease. Similarly, payors of all types are likely to process fewer reimbursement claims for unnecessary procedures and associated morbidities, by, for example, making active surveillance a more attractive option with a non-invasive test, and mitigating costs of supporting late-stage disease interventions.

Chairman & CEO Salman said that, based on the successful validation of each of its three standalone Sentinel test elements, miR Scientific has now taken the final step to generate a single, fully integrated Sentinel Prostate Test™ from a urine specimen collection that definitively classifies and monitors the risk of a subject into one of four groups: «No Molecular Evidence of Prostate Cancer» (NMEPC), or, for patients with molecular evidence of prostate cancer, Low Risk, Intermediate Risk, or High-Risk cancer.

The Company is preparing for the large-scale commercial launch of its Sentinel Prostate Test™ as a CLIA and CLEP Lab Developed Test.

About the miR Scientific Sentinel Prostate Assay

miR Scientific’s published paper in the Journal of Urology makes reference to three separately validated tests: the Sentinel PCa Test™, which determines whether or not there is molecular evidence of prostate cancer; the Sentinel CS Test,™ which for those with a positive Sentinel PCa Test™ (or other confirmatory cancer diagnosis), determines whether the cancer is low risk versus intermediate or high risk, and the Sentinel HG Test™, which for those with a positive Sentinel PCa Test™ (or other confirmatory cancer diagnosis), identifies patients with high grade, high risk cancer. Directly based on the validation of three tests in the referenced large Journal of Urology cohort, miR Scientific generated a single test that integrates the four possible outcomes based on a single urine specimen. The extraordinary sensitivity and specificity of the Sentinel tests enable them to be used non-invasively to screen, diagnose, prognose and monitor patients with prostate cancer without any other adjunctive test or analytic input such as a specific PSA, DRE or other value.

About miR Scientific

miR Scientific, LLC is a healthcare company whose purpose is to transform cancer management by providing early and highly accurate detection, characterization and monitoring of disease. Our team developed the miR Scientific Disease Management Platform™, which is comprised of proprietary, non-invasive and highly accurate liquid biopsy urine tests for the detection, classification and monitoring of urological cancers. miR Scientific is a majority-owned operating subsidiary of Impact NRS LLC, headquartered in New York with operating subsidiaries in Israel, Canada and Puerto Rico.

ⁱ https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate
ⁱⁱ Hoffman et al., 2001; Penner et al., 2012; DeSantis et al., 2016, 2019.
ⁱⁱⁱ Joseph Presti, Jr. et al., Changes in Prostate Cancer Presentation Following the 2012 USPSTF Screening Statement: Observational Study in a Multispecialty Group Practice¸ 35(5) J. Gen. Intern. Med. 1368 (Dec. 2019).

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701096/miR_Scientific_Logo.jpg

SOURCE miR Scientific, LLC

Global Lyme Alliance Reaches GuideStar’s Highest Seal of Transparency

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Global Lyme Alliance (GLA), the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education, awareness, and patient support services, today earned the 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, a service of Candid. By sharing metrics that highlight progress GLA is making toward its mission, the organization is helping donors…

«In accordance with our long-held belief in being transparent about our work,» said GLA CEO Scott Santarella, «we are excited to convey our organization’s results in a user-friendly and highly visual manner. By updating our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile to the Platinum level, we can now easily share a wealth of up-to-date organizational metrics with our supporters as well as GuideStar’s immense online audience, which includes donors, grantmakers, our peers, and the media.»

To reach the Platinum level, GLA added extensive information to its Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar: basic contact and organizational information; in-depth financial information; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and capabilities; and quantitative information about results and progress toward its mission. By taking the time to provide this information, GLA has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and to giving donors and funders meaningful data to evaluate nonprofit performance.

Lyme disease is a public health crisis. In the U.S. alone there are an estimated 427,000 new cases each year, with an estimated two million people suffering from post-treatment Lyme disease by the end of 2020. Despite these pandemic numbers, federal funding for Lyme disease is minuscule, making financial support of GLA’s work to help patients, caregivers, and the community crucial.

«I encourage you to visit our profile on GuideStar to see what we’re all about,» added Santarella. «We’re thrilled that our GuideStar Platinum Nonprofit Profile and its associated benefits help us better communicate our organization’s exciting initiatives at a global scale.»

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About GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE
Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) is the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering Lyme disease through research, education, awareness, and patient services. GLA has gained national prominence for funding the most urgent and promising research in the field, while expanding education and awareness programs for the general public and physicians. We support those around the globe in need of information about tick-borne diseases, finding a Lyme treating physician, and with the first Lyme-specific peer-to-peer mentor support program. Learn more at GLA.org

About GUIDESTAR NONPROFIT PROFILES
In February 2019, GuideStar joined forces with Foundation Center to form Candid, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Today, GuideStar is a service of Candid. The GuideStar database contains a profile for every tax-exempt nonprofit registered with the IRS. The profiles are populated with information directly from nonprofits, the IRS, and other partners in the nonprofit sector. Candid encourages every nonprofit to claim and update its profile at no cost to the organization. Updating allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with the more than 13 million people who visit guidestar.org to learn more about nonprofit organizations each year. Updating also allows nonprofits to share information with the more than 200 philanthropic websites and applications that are powered by GuideStar data, such as AmazonSmile, Facebook, and Network for Good. To reach a given participation level, organizations must complete all required fields for that level. The GuideStar participation levels, acknowledged as symbols of transparency in the nonprofit sector, are displayed on all updated participants’ profiles in the GuideStar database.

About CANDID
Every year, millions of nonprofits spend trillions of dollars around the world. Candid finds out where that money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Through research, collaboration, and training, Candid connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to do it. Candid’s data tools on nonprofits, foundations, and grants are the most comprehensive in the world. Find out more at candid.org and on Twitter @CandidDotOrg.

SOURCE Global Lyme Alliance

Extracker selects Ripley PR as Public Relations Agency of Record

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Extracker, a cloud-based collaboration platform for the construction industry that helps general contractors and subcontractors create, track and share change orders and time and material tags, has selected global B2B agency <a target="_blank"…

San Francisco-based Extracker, available as both a desktop site and a mobile application, allows contractors to remotely share real-time data to help keep projects on track and on budget while following safety regulations and protocols.

«The cloud-based platform allows construction companies to keep on the same page when sending project costs instead of tracking things via email and excel,» said Cameron Page, founder and CEO of Extracker. «We vetted several agencies and chose to partner with Ripley PR because their knowledge of the construction industry and relationships with the construction trade media will help us reach a new audience that can benefit from our services.»

Page is a former general contractor who recognized the lack of visibility in the industry when it came tracking T&M Tags and CORs between subcontractors, general contractors and owners. To address the issue, he created a software platform that brings accountability and clarity to the job site. Standardizing inefficient written or emailed record-keeping has brought the organizational features of Extracker to the forefront.

«Time and accuracy in information are critical to general contractors’ success, and our agency immediately knew they could benefit from Extracker’s innovative platform,» said Heather Ripley, CEO of Ripley PR. «This remote application improves the reliability and efficiency of information exchanges, shaving off hours of additional work. We are eager to increase public awareness about Extracker and the positive impact their software will have for contractors in the industry.»

Ripley PR was founded in 2013 with a focus on construction, skilled trades and B2B technology public relations. It offers strategic communications services for its clients, including crisis management, media relations and social media strategies. The agency’s unique combination of strategic business accounting and creative public relations help clients build brand awareness, establish positive reputations and drive increased leads and sales.

For more information visit www.ripleypr.com or call (865) 977-1973.

About Extracker

Extracker is the easiest way for construction teams to track change orders. Most contractors and their customers struggle tracking change orders with tools like Excel and email. So, we created a cloud-based collaboration platform to organize the process, helping contractors speed up processing time, increase profits and maintain better customer relationships. The software is completely free to use as a tracking tool and we offer premium features to automate the workflow of creating and processing these documents. Founded by a former general contractor, Extracker is designed to automate the real-world process of creating and tracking time and material tags and change order requests using technology to streamline the workflows. For more information, visit www.extracker.com.

About Ripley PR

Ripley PR, Inc. is an elite, global B2B public relations agency specializing in construction, franchising, technology, home services and manufacturing. Offering a full range of strategic communication services, including crisis management, media relations and social media strategies, Ripley PR uses a blend of strategic business accounting and creative public relations branding to tell compelling stories and deliver measurable results. Ripley PR is a partner in IPREX, the $420 million network of communication agencies, with 1,600 staff and 110 offices worldwide. For more information, visit ripleypr.com or call (865) 977-1973.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/extracker-selects-ripley-pr-as-public-relations-agency-of-record-301108639.html

SOURCE Ripley PR

Exponent – Global Gender Equity Accelerator Launches

Global coalition including BBC, Bloomberg, Google, and Nasdaq
that amplifies gender equity initiatives and partners to spark new ones

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Today marks the launch of Exponent – a coalition whose mission is to amplify global gender equity efforts at the highest levels of power, influence and decision making.

…

Global coalition including BBC, Bloomberg, Google, and Nasdaq
that amplifies gender equity initiatives and partners to spark new ones

«Meaningful progress lies in ensuring equitable representation where corporate, industry, and policy decisions are made,» said Rebekah E. Dopp, Founder & Chair of Exponent and an executive at Google. «We are energized by the impossible. The Exponent Alliance organizations are already tackling issues through a gender lens in all aspects of the global community. Through cooperation and maximizing each partner’s strengths, we accelerate, champion, and exponentially increase the impact of gender equity initiatives to improve the global human experience.»

«As the world faces the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a worldwide uprising against racial injustices, women, and especially women of color, are disproportionately disadvantaged. Women, and especially women of color, are going to disproportionately create solutions that heal our global community. It is more important than ever that our private sector partners including BBC, Bloomberg, Google, and Nasdaq have come together to advance gender equity as part of the solution. We are grateful to their leadership on the Exponent Council and look forward to welcoming new members in the months ahead,» said Dopp.

Exponent’s inaugural amplified initiative is BBC’s 50:50 The Equality Project which inspires organizations to create content that is representative of the global community. The partnership between Exponent and BBC to expand and scale the 50:50 The Equality Project will launch in September. Nina Goswami, the BBC Creative Diversity Lead for 50:50 said: «The BBC is delighted that Exponent’s first amplified initiative is 50:50 The Equality Project— together we will scale our already successful project and exponentially increase the impact.»

More information can be found on the organization’s website: exponent.org

About Exponent

Exponent is a coalition of private, public and social organizations committed to amplifying worldwide gender equity efforts. Through cooperation and maximizing each partner’s strengths, we increase global impact, exponentially. We accomplish this by activating the superpowers of the coalition. For more information visit exponent.org.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exponent—global-gender-equity-accelerator-launches-301108797.html

SOURCE Exponent

PAF Offers Free Process Mining Webinar

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug.10, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Process Analytics Factory (PAF) will offer a free webinar, The GPS for the Autonomous Enterprise, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The live, interactive event will be hosted by Tobias Rother, CEO and founder of PAF, and <span…

PAFnow, the company’s flagship software, enables businesses of all sizes and industries to increase productivity, accelerate throughput and eliminate waste in end-to-end processes by turning data into insights and actions.

«Attendees can expect to learn how process mining can demystify aggregating data into actionable results, which result in real cost savings,» said Rother. «Process Mining is key to the enterprise functioning more efficiently and delivering optimum outcomes.»

The webinar will also explore how Process Mining delivers process improvement by:

Making processes more transparent
Visualizing multiple tasks
Reducing processing time

Advance registration is recommended.

PAFnow is the only Process Mining tool that is fully integrated with Microsoft Power BI, which is used by 97 percent of Fortune 500 companies. With one click, users can visualize millions of rows of data into one easy-to-understand process map. For more information about PAFnow, visit the company’s website at https://pafnow.com.

About PAF
The Process Analytics Factory (PAF) is a leading innovator of global Process Mining software that makes data-intensive work simpler and more efficient in real time. PAF’s flagship software solution, PAFnow, makes Process Mining accessible to companies of all sizes and industries so they can convert data into insights and actions—simply, conveniently and affordably. PAFnow is the only Process Mining tool that is fully integrated with Microsoft Power BI. The company was founded in 2014 and established its North American operations in 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to be at the center of data science and artificial intelligence research. PAF is a self-financed company focused on sustainable growth. Learn more about how PAF is shaping the future of work at https://pafnow.com/en/.

SOURCE PAF

BD and BD Foundation commit $7.8 million to helping community health centers expand innovative care to patients

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — BD (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, together with the BD Foundation, its charitable affiliate, today committed $7.8 million in monetary grants and product donations over the next three years to support the continued expansion of the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™ initiative – a unique public-private partnership launched in 2013 and implemented jointly by Direct Relief and…

The BD Helping Build Healthy Communities^TM initiative issues grants to community health centers that are implementing innovative, successful approaches to providing quality healthcare to underserved populations in the United States. BD has invested nearly $15.7 million in cash and product donations to this initiative since 2013. This newest financial commitment from BD and the BD Foundation will bring their total combined investment to $22.6 million, through the year 2022. This year marks the first time that the BD Foundation – established in 2017 following the company’s acquisition of C. R. Bard, Inc. – has made a financial contribution to this initiative.

Community health centers were launched during the 1960s civil rights movement in the United States and are rooted within medically underserved communities serving close to 30 million patients nationwide. They have a deep history of developing innovative, tailored strategies to support uninsured and underinsured patients in overcoming barriers to care – and have continued to do so even while facing unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients served by community health centers tend to experience greater incidence of diabetes, hypertension, medication non-compliance, and other health issues that serve as risk factors for COVID-19. Without the care provided by these health centers, patients often experience unaddressed medical issues that can have a devastating impact on their health, length of life, and overall cost of care.

«Community health centers have long played an integral role in delivering quality, affordable healthcare to the most vulnerable patients in the United States,» said Tom Polen, CEO and president of BD. «As economic and other burdens caused by COVID-19 make it more challenging than ever for at-risk patients to manage chronic conditions, this initiative aims to provide funding to help health centers expand their healthcare innovations to reach more patients.»

Health centers that have previously earned funding through this initiative have developed and expanded new models for identifying and assisting vulnerable people in managing complex chronic diseases – from diabetes to hypertension to opioid prevention and treatment.

Later this month, BD, the BD Foundation, Direct Relief and NACHC will invite health centers in the U.S. to apply for the initiative’s next round of grant funding. The awards will recognize innovative approaches to delivering medication therapy management (MTM) services, which can enable better chronic disease management among patients who are facing additional challenges and constraints due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic.

«Health centers serve nearly 30 million patients and have a clear and defined mission as the first line of defense against COVID-19,» said Tom Van Coverden, president and CEO at NACHC. «More than 90 percent of health centers have the ability to test for the virus and can care for people who are sick and do not require hospitalization, which reduces the demands – both clinical and financial – on hospitals and emergency rooms. Health centers have also massively pivoted during the pandemic, offering telehealth solutions that allow them to safely screen patients at home. Private funding partnerships like this one are critical to putting their public health innovations into action.»

BD, Direct Relief and NACHC are announcing this renewed, three-year commitment to the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities^TM initiative to coincide with 2020 National Health Center Week (August 9 – 15^th) – a week of recognition that aims to raise awareness of and public support for health centers for the important role they play in caring for vulnerable populations while saving taxpayer dollars.

«It’s a privilege for Direct Relief to work with NACHC and be part of this extraordinary example of leadership by BD to find, recognize, and award community health centers for improving the health and lives of uninsured and underinsured patients who face challenging health conditions,» said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief president and CEO. «Collaborations like these provide an additional source of support for the groundbreaking work health centers perform when it comes to reducing chronic disease and promoting wellness in some of America’s most challenged communities.»

On Monday, August 10, Tom Polen will join the CEOs of Direct Relief and NACHC to participate in a virtual bell-ringing event hosted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to recognize National Community Health Center Week.

For more information about the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™ program, visit www.directrelief.org/bdhbhc.

About BD
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 65,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians’ care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers’ capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com.

About BD Foundation
BD is the sole funder of the BD Foundation, which focuses its social investments on expanding access to healthcare, advancing human potential and supporting resilient communities.

About Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. Accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as a Verified Accredited Wholesale Distributor (VAWD), Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the U.S. and world to communities and need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.

About the National Association of Health Centers
Established in 1971, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) serves as the national voice for America’s Health Centers and as an advocate for health care access for the medically underserved and uninsured.

Contacts:
Jessica Offerjost	Monique N. Dolecki
BD Public Relations	BD Investor Relations
201-258-0964	201.847.5378
jessica.offerjost@bd.com	Monique_Dolecki@bd.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bd-and-bd-foundation-commit-7-8-million-to-helping-community-health-centers-expand-innovative-care-to-patients-301108807.html

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)