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Synairgen looking beyond COVID in fight against respiratory illness

Synairgen PLC

Synairgen PLC (AIM:SNG, OTC:SYGGF) chief executive Richard Marsden speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive London about the company's ongoing efforts to develop what he describes as a "drug to help patients handle respiratory viruses." He explains that work on the drug long predates the COVID pandemic and has intensified since, but is careful to emphasise that the intention of Synairgen is to develop a respiratory drug that can be of use to patients with other respiratory conditions as well. He notes the importance of looking beyond COVID-19, given the unpredictability of its media presence and its potential long-term existence alongside other viruses. Marsden discusses their past Sprinter trial and the need for targeted future clinical trials. Utilising technologies and data that emerged during the pandemic, Synairgen plans to identify patients most likely to deteriorate due to the virus. This strategic approach aims to conduct faster trials with a higher chance of success. Marsden concluded that as they refine patient selection for upcoming trials, they'll announce results and commence the next clinical trial phase. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 21, 2023 08:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Genflow Biosciences reports positive news from Belgium

Genflow Biosciences PLC

Genflow Biosciences PLC (LSE:GENF, OTC:GENFF) CEO Dr. Eric Leire speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the longevity-focused UK based biotech company released a company update highlighting a successful first regulatory interaction with the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAHMP) in Belgium. Dr Leire explains that the news helps pave the way for clinical trials and was particularly noteworthy because of the agency's recommendation to commence directly with NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis) patients, bypassing the traditional phases. He expects the move to accelerate the proof of concept process and boost the company's valuation. Additionally, a strategic restructuring is underway, aimed at enhancing eligibility for grants, a crucial aspect in mitigating financial risk for early-stage biotech ventures. Dr Leire explains that the move aligns with Genflow's strategy of minimising reliance on venture capital funding and focusing instead on attracting non-dilutive grants. He also draws attention to planned FDA interaction and promising in vivo studies. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 20, 2023 07:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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BiVictriX Therapeutics "looking really healthy" after positive first half

BiVictriX Therapeutics PLC

BiVictriX Therapeutics PLC (AIM:BVX, OTC:BVTXF) founder and CEO Tiffany Thorn speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the UK-based drug discovery and development company released its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2023. Thorn gives her take on how the business performed during the reporting period, highlighting the nomination of a clinical candidate for the lead programme, BVX001 as well as progress on BVX002 and BVX003. BiVictriX also bolstered its financial position with a successful fundraise, raising over £2 million, supplemented by a £0.5 million R&D tax credit claim. Thorn emphasises the robust financial position of the company, saying that the runway "is looking really healthy... we've got sufficient funds to carry out our near-term objectives." She also mentions growth in the team itself, as it sharpens its focus on the partnering opportunities that she describes as the company's key focus. Looking ahead, the focus lies on advancing program readiness for clinical use, scaling up drug manufacturing, and forging those key business development relationships. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 20, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Scancell CEO hails "exciting" high response rate to melanoma treatment

Scancell Holdings PLC

Scancell Holdings PLC (AIM:SCLP, OTC:SCNLF) chief executive Professor Lindy Durrant speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive to provide an update on the initial phase of the clinical stage biopharmaceutical company's Phase 2 SCOPE trial in advanced melanoma. Professor Durrant gives an overview of the findings so far, saying that in the initial 11 patients they have achieved an impressive 82% overall response rate, surpassing the anticipated 70%. This development could be crucial for metastatic melanoma patients, as previous studies reported only a 50% response rate. She adds that the potential to significantly improve outcomes is especially significant given the rising cases, particularly among young women. While further confirmation is needed in a larger cohort, the data's strength suggests promising results in the broader study. Looking ahead, the trial aims to recruit 43 patients, expecting over 27 respondents, with potential adjustments based on the remarkable initial response rate. Professor Durrant also provides an update on Modi1 vaccine and Scancell's antibody platform. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 20, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Tonix Pharmaceuticals releases positive results from Proof-Of-Concept Study on TNX-102 SL

Tonix Pharmaceuticals

Tonix Pharmaceuticals CEO Dr Seth Lederman joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share significant news regarding the Phase 2 proof-of-concept PREVAIL study of TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg for the management of fibromyalgia-type Long COVID. Dr Lederman provided an overview of the study's topline results and the implications for future development. Dr Lederman announced that the study showed a robust effect size in improving fatigue, a key symptom of Long COVID. The results also demonstrated consistent activity trending towards improvements across secondary endpoints, including sleep quality, cognitive function, disability, and patient global impression of change. However, Dr Lederman noted that TNX-102 SL did not achieve the pre-specified primary endpoint of improving Long COVID pain intensity scores at Week 14. Despite this, the proposed mechanism of TNX-102 SL, which aims to improve sleep quality, aligns with recent announcements from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that sleep quality is a target for future clinical trials in Long COVID. Dr Lederman highlighted that there is currently no approved drug for the treatment of Long COVID, making these findings important for potential future treatments. The company's plan is to request an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss the possibility of a Phase 3 program. They intend to propose a primary outcome measure using the PROMIS Fatigue scale, which is widely recognized and validated for assessing fatigue across various conditions. Dr Lederman also told Proactive the company is committed to meeting potential increased demand for its Tosymra nasal spray 10 mg following GlaxoSmithKline’s planned discontinuation of Imitrex nasal spray 5 mg and 20 mg products after January 2024. This move by Tonix is to be ready in case of possible drug shortages for patients who suffer from migraines. Contact Details Proactive Studio +1 347-449-0879 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

September 19, 2023 01:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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PathAI Announces Expansion of BioPharma Lab to Provide End-to-End Central Pathology and Histology Services

PathAI

PathAI, a global leader in AI-powered pathology, today announced the expansion of its BioPharma Laboratory Services. Capitalizing on the 30-year history of delivering high quality pathology services in the PathAI Diagnostics clinical laboratory (formerly known as Poplar Healthcare), PathAI offers biopharma partners a comprehensive, GCP/GCLP compliant histology and digital pathology lab to support prospective clinical trials across oncology, liver, and gastrointestinal indications. The lab offers pharmaceutical companies access to unparalleled histological laboratory services and comprehensive operational support, encompassing the full end-to-end tissue processing from kitting and logistics management, tissue processing and staining across H&E, IHC, and special stains; local and remote pathology tapping into PathAI’s network of >500 US board-certified pathologists; and AI-driven analysis from PathAI’s menu of algorithms and clinical trial software. This integrated approach enables the streamlined, proficient, and regulatory-compliant implementation of controlled clinical trials, all within a single facility. PathAI’s BioPharma Lab has a unique combination of capabilities to enable clinical trials where pathology-based endpoints, biomarker classification, and/or superior histology quality are critical to the success of their pharma partners. Over the last two years, the company has already supported Phase 2 clinical trials in NASH, IBD, and breast cancer, as well as oncology neoadjuvant trials. Based on successfully meeting key milestones on quality and turnaround times, PathAI is expanding and scaling its services to new trial indications and partners. The lab adheres to all relevant quality, regulatory, and compliance standards including CAP/CLIA and GCP/GCLP. In addition to full laboratory support for clinical trials, PathAI’s BioPharma Lab supports trials through its AI products and expertise with AI-powered endpoint assessment and patient enrollment. “We don’t just create algorithms, we stay in lock step with our pharma partners to ensure our AI products are integrated into trials appropriately, based on regulatory criteria, to enhance trial quality and efficiency,” said Andy Beck, MD, PhD, CEO of PathAI. The BioPharma Lab’s expertise helps reduce the impact of many challenges associated with clinical trials, including unreliable turnaround times, variable histology, stain or scan/digitization quality, and challenging assessment of histological endpoints. In addition, the lab allows pharma partners the ability to use AI without a heavy lift to implement. The lab offers most major types of instrumentation, with flexible workflows across different scanners, stains, and biopsy types, which improves the quality of clinical trials. Importantly, the services include access to PathAI’s extensive network of over 500 US Board Certified pathologists to perform high quality reading with rapid turnaround time in a cost-effective manner. “During my time running translational sciences in a Top 10 pharma company, I witnessed a strong need for high quality, scalable, and flexible pathology services that can further be combined with the state-of-the-art technology in digital pathology and AI,” said Mike Montalto, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, of PathAI. “We took a pharma-first approach when establishing this lab and its offerings.” The BioPharma Lab will physically expand in 2024 to allow an increase in sample throughput to accommodate larger scale global phase 3 studies, as well as additional equipment to support a wider range of clinical studies. Learn more about how PathAI’s BioPharma Lab can power your next clinical trial by contacting BD@pathai.com or visiting https://www.pathai.com/clinical-trial-services/. PathAI will be at several upcoming conferences with representatives available to speak about the lab’s capabilities, including ESMO, SCOPE Europe (booth #4), and SCOPE Orlando (booth #206). About PathAI PathAI is the only AI-focused technology company to provide comprehensive precision pathology solutions from wet lab services to algorithm deployment for clinical trials and diagnostic use. Rigorously trained and validated with data from more than 15 million annotations, its AI-powered models can be leveraged to optimize the analysis of patient samples to improve efficiency and accuracy of pathology interpretation, as well as to better gauge therapeutic efficacy and accelerate drug development for complex diseases. PathAI, which is headquartered in Boston, MA, and operates a CAP/CLIA-certified laboratory in Memphis, TN, is proud to have a team of 600+ innovative thinkers from around the globe. For more information, please visit www.pathai.com. Contact Details SVM Public Relations and Marketing Communications Maggie Naples +1 401-490-9700 pathai@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.pathai.com/

September 19, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

One Year Into Kabir Nath’s Leadership, Compass Pathways’ (NASDAQ: CMPS) Phase 3 Trial For Innovative Treatment Resistant Depression Progressing

COMPASS Pathways

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga Treatment-resistant depression, also referred to as TRD, is a subset of depression that poses significant challenges for clinicians, patients and those closest to patients. It is characterized by persistent symptoms of depression that do not respond adequately to at least two different standard antidepressant treatments. This debilitating condition often leaves individuals grappling with feelings of despair, hopelessness and a diminished quality of life. Unlike some forms of depression that may improve with pharmacological interventions or talk therapies, TRD tends to persist, leading to a multitude of negative consequences. The unyielding nature of this condition can contribute to increased rates of disability, higher suicide risk and significant financial burden due to the need for repeated treatments. Psilocybin treatment is emerging as a potentially effective approach to the treatment of TRD. Although further research is still needed to establish its efficacy and safety, initial findings are promising. While there are a number of companies developing psilocybin treatments, Compass Pathways (NASDAQ: CMPS) is setting itself apart from its contemporaries with its phase 3 program in TRD. The company’s innovative approach has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation in the U.S. and Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway designation in the U.K. for their investigational COMP360 psilocybin. Moreover, in late 2021, Compass Pathways announced the completion of a randomized, controlled double-blind phase 2b study of COMP360 psilocybin treatment involving 233 patients with TRD in 22 sites across Europe and North America. In August of 2022, Compass Pathways brought on Kabir Nath as CEO to help navigate its transition from a start-up to an established phase 3 biopharma company. Nath is a seasoned healthcare executive with over two decades of experience leading global pharmaceutical companies. He has held several leadership positions at multinational corporations, including Bristol Meyers Squibb (NYSE: BMS), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical (OTCMKTS: OTSKY). Nath has a track record of success in developing new products and creating commercial strategies to make medicines available to patients on a global scale. He is skilled in identifying unmet patient needs and working collaboratively with stakeholders to develop targeted and effective treatment options. He also has considerable experience in psychiatric drug development. Under Nath’s leadership, Compass Pathways has made significant progress in advancing the development of its investigational drug, COMP360 psilocybin. One notable accomplishment was the initiation of their phase 3 clinical trials, which are pivotal in determining the safety and efficacy of the treatment. These trials consist of two key studies: Pivotal Trial 1 (COMP005) and Pivotal Trial 2 (COMP006). COMP005 is studying a single dose (25mg) of COMP360 psilocybin as monotherapy, comparing it with a placebo. The aim of this trial is to replicate the positive treatment response observed in the company’s phase 2b study, which included 233 patients with treatment-resistant depression. COMP006 is a fixed repeat dose monotherapy study that examines the effects of three different dose arms: 25mg, 10mg and 1mg. The objective of this trial is to investigate whether a second dose can enhance the number of responders and further improve the response observed in the phase 2b study. Additionally, this trial explores the potential for a meaningful treatment response from the repeat administration of COMP360 10mg. Both pivotal trials have the change from baseline in MADRS (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) total score at week six as their primary endpoint. This measure allows researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of COMP360 psilocybin in reducing depressive symptoms compared to baseline. In addition to driving the company forward into phase 3, Nath has supported the development of the company’s digital platforms that accompany its psilocybin treatment, has led a successful private placement fundraising that extends the company’s runway into late 2025, and claims to have one of the most talented and experienced leadership team among psychedelic companies in the space. Nath's global experience in the pharmaceutical industry and his expertise in developing and commercializing treatments for unmet needs uniquely position him to lead Compass Pathways toward the successful development and commercialization of their investigational drug COMP360 psilocybin, subject to FDA approval. Company BioCOMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has received Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We have commenced a phase 3 clinical program of COMP 360 psilocybin therapy in TRD, the largest randomised, controlled, double-blind psilocybin therapy clinical program ever conducted. Previously, we completed a phase 2b study with top line data showing a statistically significant (p<0.001) and clinically relevant improvement in depressive symptom severity after three weeks for patients who received a single high dose of COMP360 psilocybin with psychological support. We are also conducting phase 2 clinical studies of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anorexia nervosa. COMPASS is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York and San Francisco in the United States. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Stephen Schultz stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com

September 19, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

AmeriLife Wealth Announces New Distribution Growth and Wealth Transformation Division

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, today announced the formation of Distribution Growth and Wealth Transformation, a newly created division within AmeriLife Wealth designed to support business development and organic growth, and accelerate the integration of its network of leading distribution companies and wealth advisory firms. “As we break through traditional distribution models and provide holistic solutions to the market we serve, it’s critical that we focus the right talent and resources to help us fundamentally transform the way in which we deliver value,” said Mike Vietri, Chief Distribution Officer of AmeriLife Wealth. “This team will spearhead our strategic focus and enhance our Wealth Distribution Platform, while also capitalizing on selling synergies and opportunities to leverage best-in-class solutions across our platform, better supporting those we serve.” Andrew “Andy” Sheen, most recently senior vice president and head of AmeriLife’s BizRev Group (BRG), will lead the Distribution Growth and Wealth Transformation team, reporting to Vietri. In this newly created role, Sheen will also leverage his considerable industry experience to lead all efforts surrounding AmeriLife Wealth’s market positioning while collaborating with AmeriLife Wealth leaders to deliver best practices, business development strategies, and sales and resource synergies. Sheen joined AmeriLife in December 2020 from Saybrus Partners, where he oversaw product development for the company’s annuity and life distribution. Prior to Saybrus, from 2009 to 2012, Sheen served his first stint with AmeriLife as its director of Financial Services, managing annuity and life product development for the company with its carrier partners. He began his career at CDA of America in various, and increasingly senior, product development, sales, and marketing roles. “I’m thankful to Mike for this opportunity and excited to bring my nearly 20 years of experience on the both carrier and distribution side to this new endeavor,” said Sheen. “‘Growth’ and ‘transformation’ are two sides of the same coin and essential to both accelerating the success of our affiliated partners, but also ensuring they remain one step ahead of consumer demands and the constant changes in our industry.” AmeriLife Wealth Continues to Grow Its Leadership Ranks The establishment of the new division and Sheen’s elevation builds upon significant strategic changes to AmeriLife’s Distribution structure as well as leadership changes within both its Wealth and Health Distribution organizations. In addition to Sheen’s appointment, the following senior roles within AmeriLife Wealth were also announced: Kelly Atkinson has been named Senior Vice President of Distribution Operations and Chief of Staff for AmeriLife Wealth, an expansion of her current role with a strategic focus on supporting Wealth’s growing executive leadership team and priority initiatives. In this expanded role, Atkinson will also continue to support enterprise campaigns and initiatives that span AmeriLife’s Wealth and Health distribution organizations. With Atkinson’s elevation, Crystal Santillanes has assumed an expanded role as Vice President of Distribution Operations. With a focus on driving action and alignment with Distribution goals, Santillanes is accountable for overseeing a variety of enterprise-wide Distribution initiatives and campaigns, in partnership with various functional areas across the company. Santillanes and her team is also responsible for Distribution meetings, events, and incentive programs. Bob Yates has been named Vice President, Distribution Business Analytics. In his new role, Yates will focus on partnering with Wealth and Health Distribution leadership and AmeriLife’s affiliates to maximize the value of available data, providing financial and market analysis, interpreting production results, and forecasting and developing business trend insights to support data-driven strategic planning, business development, and decision making. Yates will continue to collaborate with AmeriLife’s Enterprise Data and Analytics (EDA) team to support enterprise level data collection and reporting as well as ad hoc Distribution analysis needs. Lastly, Christy Appleang, CPA, joins the organization as Vice President, Financial Operations, responsible for leading all budgeting processes as well as developing strategic budgetary policies and guidelines to help meet short and long-term financial goals. Appleang brings 20 years of financial planning and analysis experience to AmeriLife Wealth, most recently serving as Senior Director of Finance for national grocer, Kroger, in its Health & Wellness Specialty Pharmacy Retail Division. Prior to Kroger, she served as Chief Financial Officer for Northwestern Mutual’s Southeast region. “We’re incredibly grateful for Andy’s, Kelly’s, Crystal’s and Bob’s continued dedication to our business, and are excited to welcome Christy to our team, as we continue our mission of transforming Wealth distribution for our affiliated agents and advisors,” added Vietri. “The growth of our team is a testament to what we’re building here at AmeriLife, and I look forward to working with each of them in their new roles.” ### 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 the 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/

September 19, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Genflow Biosciences CEO says human healthspan has not kept up with lifespan

Genflow Biosciences PLC

Genflow Biosciences PLC (LSE:GENF) CEO Dr. Eric Leire speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive about the gene therapy company's work in the field of extending human longevity. He notes that the amazing advances made in advancing human lifespans over the last century have not been matched by a similar increase in people's healthspans, with many people spending the second half of their life plagued with various debilitating illnesses and conditions. "The purpose of our company is to increase the healthspan, that's the primary objective. If we can also increase the lifespan, fine... so we are a longevity company that's trying to extend healthspan and secondly maybe lifespan." The company's central asset is a centenarian version of the sirtuin six gene, which plays a crucial role in aging. They've identified a rare mutation of this gene found exclusively in centenarians, offering a promising avenue for intervention. Genflow's approach is supported by a strong team and close collaboration with a distinguished Scientific Advisory Board. He goes on to explain how Genflow Biosciences is going about its mission, revealing its most promising leads, before concluding by saying who else in the sector he admires. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 19, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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