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Education Healthcare

Top NJ health school’s Social Epidemiology Lab found link between pandemic mortality and social capital

EWING, N.J. — Although vaccination rates are rising and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now endorses boosters for all adults, the United States recently passed 750,000 COVID-19 deaths. Amid new winter spike warnings from some experts, students and faculty at the Social Epidemiology Lab (SEL) in the School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science (SNHES) at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) have found a compelling connection between pandemic mortality and social capital and vulnerability across the nation.

Man in black suit jacket sitting on car seat

 

“We identified that almost 57% of the variance in the mortality rate distribution was explained by social capital and vulnerability. States with lower levels of social capital and high levels of vulnerability tend to fare worse in terms of COVID-19 mortality than those with greater social capital,” says Associate Professor of Public Health and SEL founder Dr. Carolina Borges. “Future studies should investigate possible interventions to improve social capital at the community level.”

 

Social capital is a set of shared values and networks of relationships that enable communities to function effectively. The United Nations cites social capital as a “non-material core asset to achieving” sustainable development goals.

 

The study used open access data from all 50 states and Washington D.C. to investigate the relationship between social capital and COVID-19 mortality in the US from January 2020 to February 2021. SEL gathered information from: Data Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Congress Joint Economic Committee social capital project, United States Department of Agriculture, Kaiser Family Foundation, Statista, USAFacts, Financial Reserve Economic Data (FRED), Migration Policy Institute and Census databases. From these collections, researchers identified several relevant COVID-19 social risk factors and comorbidities, constructed a novel social vulnerability index including socioeconomic and health domains, and mapped out pandemic mortalities across the US.

TCNJ Exercise Science alumnus, Matthew Conlon, Class of 2021, explains his experience as a student researcher on this project, saying, “I wanted to go to medical school, but due to COVID-19, it was more difficult to access research labs. This study was a great opportunity to get some real-world experience working with a leading public health scholar and statistician.”

 

Borges launched the SEL in 2020 with the goal of solving real-life public health problems with interdisciplinary teams. “I am fortunate to work with 9 wonderful research assistants and one senior statistician. Seven of my research assistants are TCNJ undergraduates and two are alumni. This important finding resulted from empowering students and fostering creativity among young professionals.”

 

TCNJ’s School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science Dean Carole Kenner remarks, “Dr. Borges and SEL’s results are another example of how the school’s teacher-scholar model elevates learning to address worldly issues. Our faculty are true leaders in their fields and guide students to think beyond the campus, providing a unique and rewarding educational experience like no other.” The school consistently ranks as one of the top five best nursing schools in New Jersey.

 

TCNJ’s School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science educates aspiring health professionals to become future leaders across the healthcare industry. Faculty work closely with local healthcare partners to provide students with applicative skills and foundational knowledge. The nationally acclaimed school is dedicated to preparing individuals—through programs in nursing, public health, exercise science, and physical education teaching—for the many rewards of guiding people, communities, and populations toward improved health outcomes.

 

Contact Information

Crothers Consulting | info@crothersconsulting.co | (800) 831-3840

Categories
Business Healthcare

Merck completes tender offer to acquire Acceleron Pharma Inc.

KENILWORTH, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $MRK #MRK–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced the successful completion of the cash tender offer, through a subsidiary, Astros Merger Sub, Inc., for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: XLRN), at a purchase price of $180 per share in cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholding. As of the tender offer expiration at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Nov. 19, 2021, 38,752,614 shares of common stock of Acceleron were validly tendered and not withdrawn from the tender offer, representing approximately 63.3% of the total number of Acceleron’s outstanding shares. All such shares have been accepted for payment in accordance with the terms of the tender offer, and Astros Merger Sub, Inc. expects to promptly pay for such shares.

Merck intends to complete the acquisition of Acceleron through a merger of Astros Merger Sub, Inc. with and into Acceleron, with Acceleron being the surviving corporation, in which all shares not tendered into the offer will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive cash equal to the $180 offer price per share, without interest and less any applicable tax withholding. After the completion of the merger, Acceleron will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck and the common stock of Acceleron will no longer be listed or traded on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

About Merck

For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes statements that are not statements of historical fact, or “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

 

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Patrick Ryan

(973) 275-7075

Melissa Moody

(215) 407-3536

Investor Contacts:

Peter Dannenbaum

(908) 740-1037

Steven Graziano

(908) 740-6582

Categories
Healthcare Science

Seven and Eight Biopharma’s BDB001 in combination with an anti-PD-L1 mAb shows favorable safety and clinical responses in interim Phase 1 data presented at the 2021 SITC Annual Meeting

EDISON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Seven and Eight Biopharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing proprietary novel immuno-oncology therapies to activate the immune system against cancer, announces the presentation of interim Phase 1 data for BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab in advanced solid tumors at the 2021 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting.

BDB001 is an immune modulator capable of activating dendritic cells to initiate both innate and adaptive immunity against cancer. BDB001 is a first-in-class TLR7/8 agonist delivered intravenously, allowing for broader treatment of solid tumors. Previously, Seven and Eight Biopharma reported that intravenous administration of BDB001 both as monotherapy and in combination with an anti-PD-1 mAb exhibit favorable tolerability and robust systemic immune activation leading to durable clinical responses in multiple advanced solid tumor types (SITC, 20201; ASCO, 20212).

 

The presentation at SITC 2021 provides interim safety and efficacy results for a Phase 1 dose escalation / expansion trial of BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab in advanced solid tumors (NCT04196530). The results show that BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab is well tolerated with evidence of robust immune activation leading to clinical responses in multiple tumor types.

 

“It is encouraging to see that BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab can be safely delivered intravenously and produces clinical responses in heavily pre-treated tumors” said lead author and study investigator Dr. Manish R. Patel, of Florida Cancer Specialists/Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

 

“These promising interim results show that BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab represents a novel and viable treatment for advanced solid tumors. It is especially encouraging to see responses in both PD-1 naïve and refractory tumors.” said Dr. Robert H.I. Andtbacka, Chief Medical Officer, Seven and Eight Biopharma. “The Phase 1 trial helped establish the BDB001 phase 2 dose which is being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 2 trial (NCT03915678) of BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab and radiotherapy in selected tumor types.”

 

“We are very excited about the clinical data for BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab, as we continue to advance our robust immuno-oncology pipeline in treatments beyond anti-PD-(L)1, including preclinical platform programs in TLR Ligand Antibody Conjugation” said Dr. Walter Lau, Chief Executive Officer, Seven and Eight Biopharma.

 

Presentation Details:

Abstract Title: BDB001, a Toll-Like Receptor 7 and 8 (TLR7/8) agonist, can be safely administered intravenously in combination with atezolizumab and shows clinical responses in advanced solid tumors.

 

Abstract Authors: Manish R. Patel, Drew W. Rasco, Melissa L Johnson, Anthony W. Tolcher, Angela Tatiana Alistar, David Sommerhalder, Omid Hamid, Lixin Li, Alexander H. Chung, Robert H.I. Andtbacka

 

Session: Poster Presentation

 

On-Demand Session Release Date and Time: November 13th, 2021 @ 7:00 AM

 

Abstract Number: 472

 

The poster presentation will be available at the SITC 2021 Annual Meeting website.

 

Abstract Summary:

 

  • Seven and Eight Biopharma’s systemic delivery of the TLR 7 and 8 dual agonist BDB001 is first in class.
  • BDB001 was delivered safely intravenously in combination with atezolizumab.
  • BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab showed robust dose dependent immune activation without increased risk of cytokine release syndrome.
  • Overall, BDB001 was well tolerated and 31.7% of subjects did not have any treatment related adverse events. No DLTs occurred and there were no Grade 4 or 5 Adverse Events.
  • Clinical responses were seen in subjects with urothelial carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer and showed evidence of robust anti-tumor immune activation.
  • Clinical responses were seen in tumors that had progressed on anti-PD-1 therapy and with low probability of responding to anti-PD-(L)1 therapy based on their PD-L1 negative, MSI-stable, and Tumor Mutational Burden-low status.
  • A Phase 2 trial has been initiated and is actively enrolling subjects to further investigate BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab and radiotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors
  • BDB001 in combination with atezolizumab represents a novel and viable therapeutic option for patients with advanced solid tumors.

 

About Seven and Eight Biopharma

Seven and Eight Biopharmaceuticals Inc. is an Edison, New Jersey based, clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel immunotherapies for cancer. The company specializes in TLR7/8 programs to treat cancer and has built a comprehensive global intellectual property portfolio in the category of toll-like receptor modulators. Managed by a seasoned team of professionals, the company is progressing a proprietary pipeline of cancer therapeutics in the U.S., with the lead products BDB001 and BDB018 in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in monotherapy and in combination with both anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies.

 

For more information, please visit www.7and8biopharma.com.

 

References

1 J Immunother Cancer 2020;8 (Suppl 3) A324

2 J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 2512)

Contacts

Robert Andtbacka, MD, CM

Chief Medical Officer

Seven and Eight Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

+1 (848) 300-0086

info@7and8biopharma.com

Categories
Healthcare Technology

New Clinical Study: Hinge Health Enso wearable demonstrates significant improvements in both mobility and pain reduction

University of California San Francisco and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center researchers publish randomized controlled study demonstrating Hinge Health Enso delivers 2x greater pain reduction and 3x improved mobility compared to control

 

SAN FRANCISCO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — A new randomized controlled clinical study finds that Hinge Health’s Enso delivers 2x more pain reduction and improves mobility 3x compared to a control device. Researchers from the University of California San Francisco and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center published the study in the Journal of Pain Research. Enso, an FDA-cleared device, is a wearable, nonaddictive, high-frequency impulse therapy technology for better pain management and functional mobility. The findings are a significant milestone as patients increasingly look for pain management alternatives. While there are decades of research on short-term pain reduction from lower-frequency devices, this is the first study demonstrating durable pain relief and improved functional mobility with a high-frequency impulse therapy device over a four-week time frame.


Hinge Health Enso is one of the most advanced wearable technologies for electrical nerve stimulation. Key findings from the four-week randomized controlled study include the following:

 

  • Enso participants decreased pain more than twice as much compared to the control group (-54.7% Enso vs. -25.3% control, p ≤ 0.05).
  • Enso participants had 2.5x more improvement in walking speed, as measured by the Six-Minute Walk Test (30.1% Enso vs. 12.3% control, p ≤ 0.05).
  • Enso participants improved mobility 3.4x, as measured by the Timed Up and Go Test (65.9% Enso vs. 19.4% control, p ≤ 0.05).

 

“Musculoskeletal pain is extremely common, with one in two Americans experiencing chronic back or joint pain in any given year. This study further validates the efficacy of Enso. Enso has already helped thousands by improving functional mobility and quickly delivering noninvasive, nonaddictive, lasting pain relief via an easy-to-use wearable,” said Dr. Jeffrey Krauss, Hinge Health’s chief medical officer.

 

A randomized controlled trial of the high-frequency impulse therapy device versus a control sham device was conducted with thirty-six patients seeking care for chronic low back pain from five orthopedic and pain center sites in California, USA. The clinical study was sponsored by Hinge Health.

 

About Hinge Health:

Hinge Health is building the world’s most patient-centered Digital Musculoskeletal (MSK) Clinic™. It is now the leading Digital MSK Clinic, used by four in five employers and 90% of health plans with a digital MSK solution. Hinge Health reduces MSK pain, surgeries, and opioid use by pairing advanced wearable sensors and computer vision technology with a comprehensive clinical care team of physical therapists, physicians, and board-certified health coaches. Hinge Health’s HingeConnect integrates with 750,000+ in-person providers and enables real-time interventions for elective MSK surgeries, driving proven medical claims reduction. Available to millions of members, Hinge Health is widely trusted by leading organizations, including Land O’Lakes, L.L. Bean, Salesforce, Self-Insured Schools of California, Southern Company, State of New Jersey, US Foods, and Verizon. Learn more at http://www.hingehealth.com.

Contacts

Meghan Doherty

media@hingehealth.com

Categories
Healthcare Technology

Castor appoints digital leader Milind Kamkolkar to Board of Directors

Industry veteran Milind Kamkolkar joins Castor’s Board of Directors to advance mission of democratizing clinical research by maximizing the impact of clinical data.

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #DCTCastor, a leading provider of decentralized and hybrid clinical trial solutions, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Milind Kamkolkar to its Board of Directors.

 

Milind is currently Senior Advisor to Cellarity, a Flagship Pioneering Company, after his tenure as Chief Digital & Data Officer. He brings to Castor more than 20 years of experience in healthcare AI and digital health, from startup, management consulting to Fortune 500 enterprises. As a Board member, Milind will help Castor accelerate its goal of making the world’s research data more accessible, enabling AI-driven clinical trials, and ultimately use actionable data to improve the speed and efficiency of clinical trials.

 

“The adoption of decentralized clinical trials has seen exponential growth, catalyzing an industry in critical need of modernization,” said Milind. “I was impressed by the leadership, talent and technology at Castor, which complement the hard problems Castor’s platform tackles with technical sophistication. To support the growing clinical research needs of academic centers and life sciences companies, Castor’s technology simplifies the clinical trial process and ‘consumerizes’ new processes for tech-enabled clinical trials. I look forward to contributing my expertise and being a part of Castor’s journey to enable faster, smarter clinical trials.”

 

Castor offers a leading cloud-based clinical data platform that simplifies the clinical trial process, from recruitment to analysis, for global research. Castor’s combined Advisory Board & Board of Directors consists of twelve industry leaders that are committed to furthering the company’s mission to make clinical research smarter and faster through technology.

 

Castor’s Board has been instrumental in fueling Castor’s growth. Since 2014, Castor has supported over 8,500 studies in more than 90 countries. In the last two years, the company more than doubled in size and worked with customers such as the World Health Organization, which used Castor for its Solidarity Trial, landed contracts with over 30 top-tier digital therapeutics companies, and penned enterprise agreements with multiple top 5 pharmaceutical companies.

 

“We’ve made significant progress in advancing our clinical and technology and practices this year,” said Derk Arts, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Castor. “We are thrilled to have Milind join our Board. His expertise, insights and passion for technology combined with the collective experience of our leadership team and Board, is critical to our ability to operationalize and achieve our vision of democratizing clinical research to maximize the impact of research data for patients worldwide.”

 

Milind joined Cellarity from Sanofi where he was the first enterprise Chief Data Officer in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to Sanofi, he was the Head of AI and Data science within the Digital Medicines group at Novartis.

 

Castor’s current Board members include:

  • Derk Arts, Member, Founder & CEO Castor
  • Rob Konterman, Member, COO Castor
  • Ben Cons, Chairman, Advisor, Investor, Chairman/NED
  • Villi Iltchev, Member, Partner at Two Sigma Ventures
  • Corné Jansen, Member, Partner at INKEF Capital
  • Michael Treskow, Partner at Eight Roads Capital
  • Alex Pasteur, Partner at F-Prime

 

To read more about Castor’s Board of Directors, visit www.castoredc.com/about-us/leadership/.

 

About Castor

Castor is a leading provider of decentralized and hybrid clinical trial solutions to democratize research. With the highest-rated eClinical platform for decentralized and hybrid clinical trials, Castor’s plug-and-play platform offers rapid deployment at scale, enabling researchers to create a trial in a matter of clicks, with easy enrollment, eConsent, and real-world data capture. Castor is bringing human-centered design to the clinical trial process, from recruitment to analysis, and improving the quality, security, and reusability of data for researchers worldwide. For more information, visit www.castoredc.com. Follow us on Twitter at @castor.

Contacts

Media
Kimberly Ha

KKH Advisors

kimberly.ha@kkhadvisors.com

Categories
Business Healthcare

Enigmai Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Golden Star Enterprises Ltd., signs a Letter Of Intent to pilot its workforce management system in Canadian hospitals

CLAYMONT, DEL. — Golden Star Enterprises Ltd., (OTCPink: GSPT) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Enigmai Ltd., has signed a Letter Of Intent (LOI) with National Organized Workers Union to pilot its Enigmai Business Suite (EBS) workforce management system (WFM) in hospitals.

 

National Organized Workers Union manages the union for some of the largest hospitals in Canada and is based in Toronto, Ontario, overseeing approximately 3,000 workers spread across four hospitals.

 

Golden Star Enterprises CEO, Eliav Kling, commented, “We are very happy to see Enigmai’s growth into the North American market. This is a significant milestone for the Enigmai team as it is the first engagement outside Israel. We know that our software can provide great value to multiple operating sectors globally, and we are excited to help hospitals to better schedule their employees, provide better service to their clients, and save money while doing so.”

 

The LOI between Enigmai and National Organized Workers Union states that once Enigmai’s product upgrade, currently under development, is ready (anticipated for the first quarter of 2022), the National Organized Workers Union will commence a product pilot in which it will evaluate the product for two months. If at the end of the pilot program, they find the product to be beneficial, the union will recommend implementing the product in all the hospitals they serve permanently.

 

Mr. Tim Cadeau, the Treasurer of the National Organized Workers Union said “On first glance at Enigmai’s WFM solution, I understood that it could be the solution to most of the conflicts between the union and the hospitals. I believe that the return on investment will be high for all parties involved once hospitals adopt the solution Enigmai is offering.”

 

Mr. Louis Shefsky, President of Golden Star Enterprises Ltd. concluded: “We have a unique opportunity to resolve a conflict between two organizations, the hospitals and the unions, with our product, offering benefits to all parties involved. That is a true win-win situation, and I am proud to be able to mitigate this conflict with our solution. I am confident that we will be able to help other business verticals with Enigmai’s product.”

 

About Enigmai

Enigmai was founded in Israel in 2009.  As an Israeli tech company, Enigmai developed a unique and advanced solution to address the challenges large contact centers face with workforce management. Our solution supports the entire workflow cycle, from managing shifts and employee breaks to forecasting every day’s HR needs. Our system offers numerous advantages like integration with other organization systems in use, real-time information update, easy access reports, and a web-based solution. Leading financial and insurance companies in Israel currently use our system, supporting the operation of hundreds of employees daily.

 

Email: info@enigmai.com

www.enigmai.com

 

About Golden Star Enterprises Ltd.

Golden Star Enterprises Ltd. (GSPT) is a publicly-traded holding and acquisition company interested in taking technology start-ups and growing them to the next level. We actively search for exceptional investment opportunities in the technology vertical. We leverage management’s extensive experience in the marketplace and tech industry connections to create opportunities for companies in our portfolio.

 

Email: info@goldenstarenterprisesltd.com

www.goldenstarenterprisesltd.com

Categories
Business Healthcare

Merck announces withdrawal and refiling under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and extension of tender offer to Acquire Acceleron Pharma Inc.

KENILWORTH, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $MRK #MRK–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that it has withdrawn its Premerger Notification and Report Form under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), in connection with Merck’s pending acquisition of Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: XLRN). As previously announced on October 12, 2021, Merck commenced, through a subsidiary, Astros Merger Sub, Inc., a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Acceleron, for $180 in cash, without interest and less any required tax withholding.

Merck has elected to withdraw its Premerger Notification and Report Form, which was initially filed on October 14, 2021, to provide the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) with additional time for review, and expects to refile such form on or about November 1, 2021. Following the refiling, the waiting period applicable to the pending acquisition will expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on or about November 16, 2021. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

 

Consummation of the tender offer remains subject to, among other conditions, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act. As a result, Astros Merger Sub, Inc. is extending the tender offer, which was previously scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 10, 2021, until 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on November 18, 2021. The tender offer may be extended further in accordance with the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All other terms and conditions of the tender offer will remain unchanged during the extended period.

 

The Depositary for the tender offer is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions, P.O. Box 43011, Providence, RI 02940-3011. The Depositary has advised Merck that, as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on October 28, 2021, the last business day prior to the announcement of the extension of the tender offer, approximately 8,395,093 shares of Acceleron had been validly tendered and received, and not validly withdrawn, pursuant to the tender offer, representing approximately 13.7% of Acceleron’s outstanding shares. Stockholders who have already tendered their shares do not need to retender such shares or take any other action as a result of the extension of the tender offer.

 

The Information Agent for the tender offer is Innisfree M&A Incorporated, 501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor, New York, NY 10022. The tender offer materials may be obtained at no charge by directing a request by mail to Innisfree M&A Incorporated or by calling toll free at (877) 800-5195, and may also be obtained at no charge at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

About Merck

For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

Important Information About the Tender Offer

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of the common stock of Acceleron Pharma Inc. (“Acceleron”) or any other securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials described herein. A tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and related documents, has been filed by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (“Merck”) and Astros Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 has been filed by Acceleron with the SEC.

 

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY BOTH THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 REGARDING THE OFFER, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SECURITIES.

 

Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal, certain other tender offer documents and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other documents filed with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing such requests to Innisfree M&A Incorporated, the Information Agent for the offer, by calling toll free at (877) 800-5195. In addition, Merck and Acceleron file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC, which are available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Merck may be obtained at no charge on Merck’s internet website at www.merck.com or by contacting Merck at 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, N.J. 07033 or (908) 423-1000. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Acceleron may be obtained at no charge on Acceleron’s internet website at www.acceleronpharma.com or by contacting Acceleron at 128 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 or (617) 649-9200.

 

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes statements that are not statements of historical fact, or “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the company’s proposed acquisition of Acceleron. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the company and Acceleron to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the parties’ ability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the offer contemplated thereby and the other conditions set forth in the merger agreement, statements about the expected timetable for completing the transaction, the company’s and Acceleron’s beliefs and expectations and statements about the benefits sought to be achieved in the company’s proposed acquisition of Acceleron, the potential effects of the acquisition on both the company and Acceleron, the possibility of any termination of the merger agreement, as well as the expected benefits and success of Acceleron’s product candidates. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees that the conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction will be satisfied on the expected timetable or at all, with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

 

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, uncertainties as to the timing of the offer and the subsequent merger; uncertainties as to how many of Acceleron’s stockholders will tender their shares in the offer; the risk that competing offers or acquisition proposals will be made; the possibility that various conditions to the consummation of the merger and the offer contemplated thereby may not be satisfied or waived; the effects of disruption from the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and the impact of the announcement and pendency of the transactions on Acceleron’s business; the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the offer or the merger may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the SEC available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Patrick Ryan

(973) 275-7075

Melissa Moody

(215) 407-3536

Investor Contacts:

Peter Dannenbaum

(908) 740-1037

Steven Graziano

(908) 740-6582

Categories
Healthcare Science

New Phase 3 data presented at psych Congress 2021 showed TV-46000/mdc-IRM significantly prolonged time to impending relapse compared to placebo in patients with schizophrenia

Phase 3 RISE study evaluated treatment with TV-46000, a subcutaneous long-acting injectable risperidone formulation

New data showed TV-46000 decreased risk of relapse and increased chance of clinical stability versus placebo in patients with schizophrenia

 

TEL AVIV, Israel & PARSIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), today announced results from the pivotal Phase 3 Risperidone Subcutaneous Extended-release (RISE) study comparing TV-46000/mdc-IRM once monthly (q1m) and TV-46000/mdc-IRM once every two months (q2m) with placebo (1:1:1) in patients with schizophrenia who underwent stabilization on oral risperidone. Results showed treatment with TV-46000 (overall, q1m or q2m) significantly prolonged time to relapse, decreased proportions of patients with impending relapse at week 24 and demonstrated significant increase in proportions maintaining stability. The safety profile of TV-46000, as demonstrated in this study, is consistent with other formulations of risperidone. The most common adverse reactions (≥5% and greater than placebo) were nasopharyngitis, increased weight, and extrapyramidal disorder. These findings, among others, were presented during the poster session at the 2021 Psych Congress Annual Meeting taking place Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2021 in San Antonio, TX (in addition to virtual participation).

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder1 characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behavior.2 Twenty million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia1, often living with considerable disability.2 Currently, about 70% of people living with schizophrenia are not receiving appropriate care3 despite the treatability of the illness.2

 

Relapse rates among people living with schizophrenia are quite staggering, ranging between 50 and 92% globally.4,5 It is crucial to provide patients and prescribers with treatment options that have the potential to reduce relapse rates to help manage and stabilize the disease over time,” said Eran Harary, MD, VP Global Head of Specialty R&D at Teva. “Coming off the heels of the recent FDA acceptance of our New Drug Application, we’re proud to be sharing our Phase 3 data at this year’s Psych Congress. We are committed to investigating the full potential of our subcutaneous long-acting injectable (LAI) formulation of risperidone for the treatment of this complex and burdensome illness.”

 

“When managing schizophrenia, it is crucial to have treatment options that work to reduce the risk of relapse. As researchers, physicians and providers, we must work together to address this,” said John Kane, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and RISE lead investigator. “These latest data from the Phase 3 RISE study are quite encouraging for both patients and providers.”

 

Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Risperidone Injectable (TV-46000) in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Relapse Prevention Study (RISE Study)

The Phase 3 RISE study was designed to compare TV-46000 q1m and TV-46000 q2m with placebo (1:1:1 ratio; stage 2) in patients with schizophrenia who underwent stabilization on oral risperidone (stage 1). The primary endpoint was time to impending relapse and secondary endpoints included proportions of patients with impending relapse at week 24 and proportions of patients who maintained stability at week 24. No new safety signals were identified with TV-46000 versus accumulated safety data of oral risperidone and other long-acting risperidone formulations.

 

Out of 1267 patients screened, 863 were enrolled and 544 were randomized. Time to impending relapse significantly favored TV-46000 (hazard ratio [95% CI]; overall: 0.283 [0.184, 0.435], P<.0001; q1m: 0.200 [0.109, 0.367], P<.0001; q2m: 0.375 [0.227, 0.618], P<.0001) versus placebo. TV-46000 also prolonged time to relapse by 3.5, 5.0 and 2.7 times, respectively, versus placebo. Proportions of patients with impending relapse at week 24 were significantly lower for TV‑46000 (overall: 9%; q1m: 7%; q2m: 11%) versus placebo (28%; P<.0001, P<.0001, P=.0001, respectively). Proportions of patients maintaining stability were significantly higher (83%, 87%, 80% vs 61%; P<.0001, P<.0001, P=.0001, respectively). The safety profile of TV-46000, as observed in this study, is consistent with other formulations of risperidone. The most common adverse reactions (≥5% and greater than placebo) were nasopharyngitis, increased weight, and extrapyramidal disorder.

 

About TV46000-CNS-30072 (The RISE Study – The Risperidone Subcutaneous Extended-Release Study)

The RISE study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of risperidone extended-release injectable suspension for subcutaneous use as a treatment in patients (ages 13-65 years) with schizophrenia. 544 patients were randomized to receive a subcutaneous injection of TV-46000 once monthly (q1M), once every two months (q2M), or placebo in a 1:1:1 ratio. The primary endpoint was time to impending relapse.

 

About Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, progressive and severely debilitating mental disorder that affects how one thinks, feels and acts. Patients experience an array of symptoms, which may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior and impaired cognitive ability. Approximately 1% of the world’s population will develop schizophrenia in their lifetime, and 3.5 million people in the U.S. are currently diagnosed with the condition. Although schizophrenia can occur at any age, the average age of onset tends to be in the late teens to the early 20s for men, and the late 20s to early 30s for women. The long-term course of schizophrenia is marked by episodes of partial or full remission broken by relapses that often occur in the context of psychiatric emergency and require hospitalization. Approximately 80% of patients experience multiple relapses over the first five years of treatment, and each relapse carries a biological risk of loss of function, treatment refractoriness, and changes in brain morphology. Patients are often unaware of their illness and its consequences, contributing to treatment nonadherence, high discontinuation rates, and ultimately, significant direct and indirect healthcare costs from subsequent relapses and hospitalizations.

 

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “target,” “may,” “project,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to the development of risperidone LAI; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including our ability to develop and commercialize biopharmaceutical products, competition for our specialty products, including AUSTEDO®, AJOVY® and COPAXONE®; our ability to achieve expected results from investments in our product pipeline, our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products, and the effectiveness of our patents and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights; our substantial indebtedness; our business and operations in general, including uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, financial condition, operations, cash flows, and liquidity and on the economy in general, our ability to successfully execute and maintain the activities and efforts related to the measures we have taken or may take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated costs therewith, costs and delays resulting from the extensive pharmaceutical regulation to which we are subject or delays in governmental processing time due to travel and work restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, including failure to comply with complex legal and regulatory environments; other financial and economic risks; and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, including in the section captioned “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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1 GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. [published correction appears in Lancet. 2019 Jun 22;393 (10910):e44]. Lancet. 2018;392 (10159): 1789-1858.

2 World Health Organization. Schizophrenia. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia. Accessed on October 4, 2021.

3 Lora A, et al. Service availability and utilization and treatment gap for schizophrenic disorders: a survey in 50 low- and middle-income countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 90 (1), 47-54B. World Health Organization. http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.11.089284
4Cernansky JG, Schuchart EK. Relapse and rehospitalisation rates in patients with schizophrenia: effects of second generation antipsychotics CNS Drugs. 2002;16(7):473–484.

5Weret ZS, Mukherjee R. Prevalence of relapse and associated factors in patient with schizophrenia at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: institution based cross sectional study. International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Studies. 2014, Vol 2, No.1, 184-192.

Contacts

IR

United States

Kevin C. Mannix (215) 591-8912

Yael Ashman 972 (3) 914-8262

PR

United States
Yonatan Beker (973) 917-0851

Categories
Healthcare Technology

NavigAid supports caregivers through the Medicaid application process

Tackling the costs of eldercare

 

LAKEWOOD, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #MedicaidNavigAid, the new, easy-to-navigate online tool that guides you through the Medicaid application process, has launched!


NavigAid’s step-by-step instructions simplify the process, making it easier, faster and less stressful to file for Medicaid benefits that cover the costs of long-term skilled nursing care, either at home or in a residential facility, as regulated by state.

 

Until now, applying for Medicaid has been a daunting task, as caregivers struggle to navigate a complicated, involved and incredibly stressful process of understanding state-specific Medicaid application requirements that include a five-year financial “lookback period,” with documents and verifications that support all submitted information.

 

NavigAid, with its intuitive proprietary software, customizes the application process based on the patient’s state of residence. Developed by executive management at Senior Planning Services (SPS), the nation’s leading Medicaid application processing company, NavigAid adds guidance to an otherwise “Do it Yourself (DIY)” approach to Medicaid, because doing it yourself doesn’t have to mean doing it alone. The step-by-step organization helps to expedite the process, with the goal of reducing turnaround time for determination of benefits. This means you can spend less time on paperwork and more time on the person you love.

 

The costs of long-term skilled nursing care, either at home or in a residential facility, usually add up faster than expected, and Medicare coverage generally runs out after 100 days. Families most often underestimate, or fail to anticipate, the level of care required to treat unexpected life changes that result in the need for long-term care.

 

“NavigAid helps assure that a Medicaid application is complete and correct, which is not always the case for first-time filers. An improperly submitted application can result in delay or denial of coverage, which triggers tremendous anxiety for a family running through their savings to pay ongoing medical expenses,” says NavigAid Founder Ben Mandelbaum. Mandelbaum, recognizing the need to make Medicaid more accessible to all who qualify, launched NavigAid to facilitate access to affordable, quality long-term care.

 

To learn more, visit www.mynavigaid.com or call 844-344-3802 weekdays, 9 am-5 pm, ET. Connect on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn @mynavigaid

 

About NavigAid

NavigAid is a secure online Medicaid application tool that assists families and caregivers by using a proprietary step-by-step online format. Developed by executive management at Medicaid application processing company Senior Planning Services (SPS) in Lakewood, New Jersey, NavigAid is currently available in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. NavigAid is expected to expand across the United States over the next two years. NavigAid does not provide legal advice or services.

Contacts

Marcia Simon, APR

+1 860-395-7244

marcia@mmpdig.com

Categories
Business Healthcare

July U.S. mortgage delinquency rates approach pre-pandemic levels, CoreLogic reports

Delinquency rates 30 days or more past due decline but approximately one million homeowners remain at least six months behind on payments

 

IRVINE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its monthly Loan Performance Insights Report for July 2021.


For the month of July, 4.2% of all mortgages in the U.S. were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure), representing a 2.3-percentage point decrease in delinquency compared to July 2020, when it was 6.5%. While overall delinquencies remain above the February 2020, pre-pandemic rate of 3.6%, this is the lowest rate since last March.

 

To gain an accurate view of the mortgage market and loan performance health, CoreLogic examines all stages of delinquency. In July 2021, the U.S. delinquency and transition rates, and their year-over-year changes, were as follows:

 

  • Early-Stage Delinquencies (30 to 59 days past due): 1.1%, down from 1.5% in July 2020.
  • Adverse Delinquency (60 to 89 days past due): 0.3%, down from 1% in July 2020.
  • Serious Delinquency (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 2.8%, down from 4.1% in July 2020. While still high, this is the lowest serious delinquency rate since May 2020.
  • Foreclosure Inventory Rate (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.2%, down from 0.3% in July 2020. This is the lowest foreclosure rate recorded since CoreLogic began recording data (1999).
  • Transition Rate (the share of mortgages that transitioned from current to 30 days past due): 0.6%, down from 0.8% in July 2020.

 

While we continue to see serious delinquencies improve, approximately one million people nationwide have been unable to make payments for at least half a year. In fact, the share of borrowers six months or more past due made up about one-half of the total delinquencies in July, with many still leaning on options such as forbearance, loan modifications and other government provisions to keep from entering foreclosure.

 

“Declining delinquency levels are an encouraging sign of economic improvement and the durability of the housing market,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Looking ahead to the end of many forbearance and other assistance programs, many borrowers receiving support must consider their financial options, including a potential loan modification, to ensure they stay current and keep foreclosures at bay.”

 

“Even if loan modification or income recovery is unable to help delinquent homeowners become and remain current on their payments, the double-digit rise in home prices may help them avoid a distressed sale,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. “Homeowners with substantial home equity are far less likely to experience a foreclosure sale, and fortunately, the CoreLogic Home Equity Report found the average owner gained $51,500 in equity in the past year — a five-fold annual increase.”

 

State and Metro Takeaways:

 

  • In July, all U.S. states logged a decrease in annual overall delinquency rates, with New Jersey (down 3.9 percentage points), Florida (down 3.5 percentage points) and Nevada (down 3.3 percentage points) leading with the largest declines.
  • All U.S. metros also posted an annual decrease in overall delinquency rates in July, with Miami (down 5.4 percentage points), Laredo, Texas (down 5.1 percentage points) and Kingston, New York (down 5 percentage points) posting the largest decreases.
  • Nevertheless, elevated overall delinquency rates remain in some metros, including Odessa, Texas (11%); Pine Bluff, Arkansas (10.6%) and Laredo, Texas (10.5%).

 

The next CoreLogic Loan Performance Insights Report will be released on November 9, 2021, featuring data for August 2021. For ongoing housing trends and data, visit the CoreLogic Intelligence Blog: www.corelogic.com/intelligence.

 

Methodology

The data in The CoreLogic LPI report represents foreclosure and delinquency activity reported through July 2021. The data in this report accounts for only first liens against a property and does not include secondary liens. The delinquency, transition and foreclosure rates are measured only against homes that have an outstanding mortgage. Homes without mortgage liens are not subject to foreclosure and are, therefore, excluded from the analysis. CoreLogic has approximately 75% coverage of U.S. foreclosure data.

 

About the CoreLogic Consumer Housing Sentiment Study

3,000+ consumers were surveyed by CoreLogic via Qualtrics. The study is an annual pulse of U.S. housing market dynamics concentrated on consumers looking to purchase a home, consumers not looking to purchase a home, and current mortgage holder. The survey was conducted in April 2021 and hosted on Qualtrics. The survey has a sampling error of ~3% at the total respondent level with a 95% confidence level.

 

Source: CoreLogic

The data provided is for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient’s publication or broadcast. This data may not be re-sold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient’s parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data is illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Amy Brennan at newsmedia@corelogic.com. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. This data is compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources.

 

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company’s combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

CORELOGIC and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Amy Brennan

CoreLogic

newsmedia@corelogic.com