News Hub | News Direct

Healthcare

Addiction Biotech Cannabis Genetics Healthcare Medical Devices Pharmaceutical Science Veterinary
Article thumbnail News Release

American Medical Association Grants Cardio Diagnostics (NASDAQ: CDIO) Reimbursement Codes For AI-Powered Coronary Heart Disease Tests

Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc

By Jeremy Golden, Benzinga Cardio Diagnostics’ AI-driven coronary heart disease (CHD) tests have taken another promising step in their evolution. Cardio Diagnostics (NASDAQ: CDIO), an artificial intelligence-powered precision cardiovascular medicine company, has been assigned two dedicated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Proprietary Laboratory Analysis (PLA); 0440U for the company’s AI-driven CHD detection test, PrecisionCHD, and 0439U for the company’s AI-driven CHD event (heart attack) risk assessment test, Epi+Gen CHD. Assigned by the American Medical Association (AMA), these two new CPT PLA codes – effective April 1, 2024 – mark a significant step toward payer billing and payment for the company’s groundbreaking tests. The designation will facilitate the broader adoption of PrecisionCHD, an integrated genetic-epigenetic clinical blood test to aid in the diagnosis of CHD, and Epi+Gen CHD for evaluating the likelihood of a patient experiencing a CHD event – mainly a heart attack – within the next three years. Treating A Growing Problem Every year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, meaning someone experiences a heart attack every 40 seconds. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. According to the CDC, in 2021, heart disease was responsible for the deaths of more than 695,000 Americans – representing one in every five deaths. The most common type of heart disease and the major cause of heart attacks, CHD was responsible for over 375,000 deaths in 2021, and CHD-associated medical costs are estimated to be about $239.9 billion according to an estimate by the CDC in its heart disease fact sheet. Combating this growing problem, Cardio Diagnostics reports that PrecisionCHD is the first integrated genetic-epigenetic test for the detection of CHD. The PrecisionCHD test has the ability to aid in the diagnosis of CHD and provide personalized insights to help prevent a heart attack and improve outcomes. With the introduction of PrecisionCHD, clinicians are armed with a powerful, scalable and non-invasive alternative that comes in the form of a blood-based test that uses artificial intelligence, along with personalized genetic and epigenetic information, to sensitively detect the presence of CHD. Identifying patients with CHD and intervening before a heart attack occurs are essential to reducing the unprecedented economic and health burden associated with CHD. Until now, the lack of readily accessible and cost-effective diagnostic solutions for CHD has posed a challenge leading to delayed diagnosis and care, particularly among underserved and minority populations. Increasing access, the PrecisionCHD test only requires a simple blood draw and can be deployed remotely, allowing it to be scaled without the need for specialized infrastructure. This enables more timely intervention and management. “Receiving a dedicated CPT PLA code for PrecisionCHD is a critical milestone in our commercialization strategy,” said Meesha Dogan, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Cardio Diagnostics. “With PrecisionCHD, we believe that expanding equitable access to CHD diagnostics and improving patient health outcomes while reducing healthcare expenditure is possible.” While PrecisionCHD aids in diagnosing CHD, Cardio Diagnostics’ Epi+Gen CHD evaluates an individual’s genetic and epigenetics to predict their risk for a heart attack or sudden cardiac death associated with CHD. By leveraging the powerful personalized insights driven by the company’s groundbreaking epigenetic-genetic technology, the company can provide patient-specific epigenetic and genetic drivers of CHD to help guide preventive care that could potentially save lives. In peer-reviewed studies, Epi+Gen CHD was more cost-effective and sensitive for assessing heart attack risk when compared to standard lipid-based risk calculators. Specifically, in a validation study conducted with Intermountain Healthcare, Epi+Gen CHD was shown to be, on average, about twice as sensitive in detecting risk for a CHD event in women than lipid-based calculators. For employers, the financial burden of heart attacks includes direct costs related to diagnosing, managing and treating heart disease. Indirect costs include lost productivity due to employee absenteeism and short-term disability, which can indirectly cost employers about $1,119 per month for upwards of three years. Cardio Diagnostics’ technology can help employers better inform their benefits offerings by combining the ability to offer employees the advanced Epi+Gen CHD heart attack risk test with aggregated risk data. Cardio Diagnostics’ Employer Risk Intelligence platform provides employers and brokers with the first-of-its-kind cardiovascular employee population health intelligence backed by a clinical test and layered insights, completed in a compliant manner. As such, Epi+Gen CHD’s new reimbursement code could mean greater access to technology that enables a healthier workforce and significant savings in healthcare costs related to heart disease. “Cardio Diagnostics is committed to driving widespread adoption of our solutions, and obtaining a reimbursement code for Epi+Gen CHD is a critical milestone in our commercialization strategy and for gaining reimbursement from federal and private payers,” Dogan said. Cardio Diagnostics continues to lead the way in precision cardiovascular medicine, leveraging the power of AI and epigenetics to help prevent heart attacks. The company is committed to making heart disease risk assessment, detection and management more accessible, and it believes personalized and precise diagnostics are key to winning the fight against the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardio Diagnostics is an artificial intelligence-powered precision cardiovascular medicine company that makes cardiovascular disease prevention, detection, and management more accessible, personalized, and precise. The Company was formed to further develop and commercialize clinical tests by leveraging a proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Integrated Genetic-Epigenetic Engine (“Core Technology”) for cardiovascular disease to become one of the leading medical technology companies for improving prevention, detection, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. For more information, please visit www.cardiodiagnosticsinc.com. Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words or phrases “will”, "will likely result," "expected to," "will continue," "anticipated," "estimate," "projected," "intend," “goal,” or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks, known and unknown, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Such uncertainties and risks include but are not limited to, our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy, changes in laws or regulations, economic conditions, dependence on management, dilution to stockholders, lack of capital, the effects of rapid growth upon the Company and the ability of management to effectively respond to the growth and demand for products and services of the Company, newly developing technologies, the Company’s ability to compete, regulatory matters, protection of technology, the effects of competition and the ability of the Company to obtain future financing. An extensive list of factors that can affect future results are discussed in the Current Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022 and Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023, under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item IA thereof, and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors could materially adversely affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed within this press release. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Gene Mannheimer - Investor Relations +1 855-226-9991 investors@cardiodiagnosticsinc.com Company Website https://cardiodiagnosticsinc.com/

January 30, 2024 08:20 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Nature Medicine Publishes Updated Preliminary Phase 1 Data From Elicio Therapeutics' AMPLIFY-201 Phase 1 Solid Tumor Study Of ELI-002

Benzinga

By Jeremy Golden, Benzinga Colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are the second and third leading causes of cancer death, respectively. Pancreatic and colorectal cancers are often Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) mutated and are incurable when tumor DNA or protein persists or recurs after curative intent therapy. KRAS mutations are among the most prevalent human cancers. For these cancers, caused by a mutation of the KRAS gene, clinical-stage biotechnology company Elicio Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ELTX) is developing a pipeline of novel immunotherapies for treatment. Founded in 2011, Elicio Therapeutics has developed an innovative pipeline of cancer immunotherapies addressing critical unmet needs. Three vaccine candidates are currently in Elicio Therapeutics’ pipeline: ELI-002, ELI-007 and ELI-008. Elicio’s lead clinical program, ELI-002, is a structurally novel investigational AMP therapeutic immunotherapy targeting mutant KRAS-driven cancers. It was designed to stimulate an immune response against the seven KRAS mutations driving 25% of solid tumors. ELI-002 2P has been studied in a phase 1 dose-escalation study in patients with high relapse risk mKRAS-driven solid tumors, following surgery and chemotherapy. After early findings from AMPLIFY-201 were released, ELI-002 was the subject of a publication in Nature Medicine. The paper — “ Lymph Node Targeted, mKRAS-specific Amphiphile Vaccine in Pancreatic and Colorectal Cancer: The phase 1 AMPLIFY-201 Trial ” — details expanded and updated results that point to the power of Elicio Therapeutics’ use of precision vaccines, immunomodulators and cell-based therapies to assemble cancer-killing immune responses against solid tumors. Originally presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the 2023 AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer, the data detailed in the publication is as of September 6, 2023. It is based on 25 patients with solid tumors (20 pancreatic, 5 colorectal) who were positive for minimal residual mKRAS disease after locoregional treatment. “When tumor DNA or protein persists or recurs after treatment, patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancers are unfortunately not left with many options and are often incurable,” said study author Shubham Pant, M.D., Associate Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “These are promising early findings from the AMPLIFY-201 study with follow up ongoing. Most patients reduced their tumor biomarkers with some having complete clearance following treatment with ELI-002.” “The lymph node-targeted cancer vaccine candidate induced direct ex vivo mKRAS-specific T cell responses in 84% of patients, with 59% of patients demonstrating a response with two key types of T cells: helper cells and killer cells,” according to Christopher Haqq, M.D., Ph.D., Elicio’s Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development, and Chief Medical Officer. “Past studies have not produced this large a fraction of patient response, this high a magnitude of a response or the expansion of both key populations of T cells,” he said. “Importantly, these T cell responses were specific to tumor-driver mutant KRAS neoantigens, correlated with reduced risk of relapse and we saw a pool of memory T cells form that we believe hold promise to confer long-term protection,” Haqq said. “We look forward to progressing ELI-002 into a randomized phase 2 trial as a monotherapy for patients with PDAC.” ELI-002 7P is currently being studied in AMPLIFY-7P, a phase 1/2 trial in patients with high relapse risk mKRAS-driven solid tumors. The ELI-002 7P formulation is designed to provide immune response coverage against seven of the most common KRAS mutations, thereby increasing the potential patient population for ELI-002 and possibly reducing the chance of bypass resistance mechanisms. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

January 30, 2024 08:10 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

New Task Force Sets Bold Goal of Achieving 60K Transplants by 2026

United Network for Organ Sharing

Today, the OPTN Expeditious Task Force announced a bold goal of achieving 60,000 successful, lifesaving deceased donor transplants annually in the U.S. by the end of 2026. That number represents a 58% increase in deceased donor transplants over the next three years. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the non-profit organization that contracts with the federal government to serve as the nation’s Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). The task force was created to pursue transformational changes across the nation’s organ donation and transplant system, increasing the number of lifesaving transplants, improving how donor organs are allocated, and increasing the use of all available organs. Members include transplant recipients, patient and donor family members, organ donation and transplant clinicians, community advocates and others, representing the many diverse perspectives of the national system. Twenty percent of task force members have no prior affiliation with the OPTN. “As the task force name implies, we need to move quicker, be more responsive, and deliver results for the patients we serve,” said Dianne LaPointe Rudow, DNP, president of the OPTN Board of Directors. “The reality is that while the number of transplants continues to grow, so does the non-use of available organs and allocations of organs out of the intended sequence of offers. Increasing transplantation to meet this bold aim is certainly a challenge. But we believe it is achievable with shared commitment to innovation and improvement in the organ allocation and placement process. Of course, any approach to boost the number of transplants must also uphold our commitment to provide all patients the best and most equitable access to receiving a transplant.” The need for improving efficiency is clear. In the case of kidneys, the most transplanted organ, the number of kidneys recovered from deceased donors increased by 56 percent between 2018 to 2023. Yet the number of kidney transplants only increased by 44 percent, meaning that approximately one quarter of kidneys recovered were not transplanted. The task force began benchmarking and goal setting with an assessment of the top 20 percent of transplant programs by growth in transplant volume across the country. These institutions represent what is possible for growth in organ transplant and provide invaluable insights and effective practices in pursuit of the task force’s bold goal of 60,000 transplants by 2026. The task force plans to conduct rapid, small-scale trials of innovative approaches to increase organ usage and placement efficiency. George Surratt, a member of the OPTN Board of Directors and a patient serving on the Expeditious Task Force, recognizes the effort as an opportunity to drive important changes. “We have the chance with this task force to make a real difference for patients,” Surratt said. “I’ve been the person waiting for that call from my doctor letting me know that an organ was available; that call is life-changing. So I’m excited that our work here today and going forward will ensure that more patients receive that all-important call and that the gifts of generous donors save even more lives. My fellow task force members and I are here with open minds, a willingness to embrace new approaches, and an understanding that the nation’s patients are the driving force behind this effort. It’s an exciting and inspiring time to be engaged in this work.” The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports the task force’s work, and both HRSA and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) contractor continue to provide feedback and ideas to shape the aims and approaches the task force is considering. The task force has reviewed recommendations from many sources, including the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) 2022 report and the work of the OPTN Ad Hoc Committee on Systems Performance. It also has received and continues to receive input from a variety of stakeholders, including patients, donor families, advocates, medical professionals and transplant leaders. As the task force develops actionable recommendations for new initiatives, it will remain engaged with stakeholders and the general public to guide its critical work. About UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. Contact Details Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

January 26, 2024 11:17 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

InMed Pharmaceuticals Has Multiple Milestones Coming Up In 2024, With A Focus On Three Conditions With An Unmet Need

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Cannabinoids are having a moment in treating everything from Alzheimer’s to ocular diseases and InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: INM) seems to be at the center of it all. The leader in cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs pharmaceutical research, development, manufacturing and commercialization hit key milestones in advancing its cannabinoids-based treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and epidermolysis bullosa in 2023 with more inroads to come in 2024. Take Alzehimer’s for starters. The disease is a big and growing problem afflicting about 6.7 million people 65 and older in the U.S. By 2060 it’s projected that 14 million people in the U.S. will suffer from the degenerative neurological disease. Treatments exist to address the symptoms related to memory and cognitive function and in some instances slow the rate of cognitive decline, but none have been able to reverse disease effects. Making An Impact InMed hopes to change that with INM-901, a rare cannabinoid analog the company says has the potential to target several biological pathways associated with Alzheimer’s. Previous industry research has shown cannabinoids hold promise in not only slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s but potentially reversing its effects thanks to their neuroprotective and regenerative properties. InMed’s data from preclinical i n vivo studies released last year showed INM-901 improved cognitive function and memory, locomotor activity, anxiety-based behavior, sound awareness and neuronal function. INM-901 also displayed neuroprotective effects by reducing cell death in an amyloid-beta-induced cytotoxicity study. To further evaluate INM-901 in 2024, InMed has initiated longer-term, six-month preclinical studies in behavior models. At the same time, the company is gearing up to launch more advanced preclinical studies, encompassing drug distribution, metabolism, active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug product formulation/manufacturing. Cannabinoids Can Protect Eyes Another big disease InMed is going after is age-related macular degeneration or AMD, which is a common cause of vision loss and potential blindness in people over 50. Based on 2019 estimates, AMD afflicts 19.8 million people or 12.6% of Americans 40 and up. Globally it affects 35% of people 74 and older. As it stands, there is no cure for AMD although treatment can prevent or slow the progression of the disease. Left unchecked patients may lose central field vision in the affected eye within 24 months of disease onset. INM-089, InMed’s ocular program for AMD launched in November is showing promise in changing that. Preclinical studies showed the potential for the drug to preserve retinal function, proactively protect the retinal cells that are responsible for vision and enhance the thickness of the outer nuclear layer of the retina where photoreceptors are situated, InMed said. Coming off those positive results, InMed is engaged in advanced preclinical studies and drug product formulation work, and it plans to launch Investigational New Drug studies in mid-2024. The goal is to file an Investigational New Drug application with regulatory authorities in the first half of 2025. “As we embark on 2024, we are placing increased emphasis on proprietary small molecule drug development candidates in our pharmaceutical pipeline with two exciting new programs addressing critical unmet medical needs,” said InMed CEO Eric A. Adams. “Our focus on developing proprietary cannabinoid analogs over the past two years has started to pay dividends, evident in their utilization in these two new preclinical programs.” Dermatology Program Additionally, last year, the company successfully completed a phase 2 clinical trial in the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa or EB, a rare genetic skin disease marked by fragile skin that can lead to extensive blistering and wounding. Data from a phase 2 clinical trial of INM-755 showed a positive indication of enhanced anti-itch activity for INM-755 cannabinol cream versus the control cream alone, warranting further development. InMed thinks INM-755 holds promise for further advancement in the treatment of chronic itch and other related ailments and is currently seeking partnerships for continued development. Supplier To All In addition to developing its own treatments, InMed is a key supplier of rare cannabinoids as ingredients to the health and wellness market. The company’s BayMedica unit focuses on being a low-cost/high-quality manufacturer of certain non-psychoactive rare cannabinoids and an ingredients supplier to brands within the health and wellness industry. In 2023, the company said the unit experienced “significant” year-over-year revenue growth, and it is making moves to capitalize on revenue-generating opportunities in 2024. To that end, BayMedica is embracing a distributor model to expand coverage across the U.S. InMed is betting consumer brands will use more rare cannabinoid ingredients in 2024 – and InMed will be ready to provide them. “BayMedica continues to drive robust year-over-year revenue growth. The foreseeable future looks promising for the health and wellness segment as demand for minor cannabinoid ingredients continues to gain momentum,” said Adams. Cannabinoids hold promise to treat and potentially cure several diseases. InMed seems to be at the forefront of these groundbreaking advances. If 2023 is any indication, investors may want to watch for more milestones out of InMed this year and beyond. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

January 26, 2024 08:40 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

The best generative AI solutions of 2024

AIport

January 25, 2024 — Ever since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in the fall of 2022, generative AI (GenAI) solutions have continued to disrupt industries with their surprising and never-before-seen features. Many of the generative AI solutions we hear about today are based on large language models (LLM), which allow them to successfully communicate with end users. Every such model has to be pre-trained on vast amounts of data and then fine-tuned using a variety of different methods. As we’re approaching the end of January, let’s look at the list of the most noteworthy of these models and explore the generative AI solutions they power. Compiled by the AIport newsletter team, this list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a review of what we believe are the LLM-based generative AI solutions and tools that are likely to make headlines this year. GPT (OpenAI and Microsoft) Expectedly, the first LLM on our list with some of the highest expectations this year is at the core of ChatGPT from OpenAI. GPT wasn’t the first LLM out there (there had been others like BERT ), but it was certainly the first one that resulted in a market-ready GenAI product. The original GPT model (Generative Pretrained Transformers) had 170 billion parameters, while the latest version, GPT-4, boasts over 1.75 trillion. The model’s applications are far and wide, being the basis not only for ChatGPT, but also Microsoft’s Bing Chat, which is now part of the Copilot infrastructure. While ChatGPT remains arguably the most impressive text-producing GenAI tool, Bing Chat (unlike ChatGPT) has internet access, making it ideal for web browsing. In addition, the same core GPT model is being utilized by other entities — from Panasonic Connect in Japan, OCBC Bank’s ChatGPT in Singapore, and KPMG’s KaiChat in Germany to the UK government’s upcoming GOV.UK chat. Notably, GPT is also a vital part of OpenAI’s DALL-E suite — a solution that generates images based on descriptions from text. PaLM and Gemini (Google) The next one on our list is Google’s PaLM (Pathways Language Model). The model, boasting 540 billion parameters, was first successfully tested in the spring of 2022. A year later, PaLM 2 was announced and subsequently integrated into Bard — Google’s GenAI chatbot — becoming available to test users around the world. Bard is considered among the finest solutions for productivity, having internet access like Bing Chat, but being less about navigating the web and more about answering burning questions. Bard was seriously bolstered at the end of last year with Google’s highly anticipated launch of the multimodal LLM, Gemini, which had been trained on images and audio/video files, not just text. The jury is still out on how far this update will take Bard, but the expectations are very high indeed. LLaMA (Meta, Microsoft, and Hugging Face) LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) from Meta was released in February last year. However, the 65-billion-parameter model was leaked online as a downloadable torrent only a week later. While the model did not lead to any ChatGPT-like products at Meta, another AI company — Hugging Face — picked it up and released Hugging Chat. Offering internet access, this GenAI solution has been praised as “the first open source alternative to ChatGPT” with a snarky sense of humor. Not to be outdone, Meta partnered with Microsoft to produce LLaMA 2 in July of last year. Following that, the company announced a beta release of Meta AI at the end of September — a GenAI chatbot, currently available in the US, that can “provide real-time information and generate photorealistic images” from text prompts. This solution is expected to reach Meta users across the rest of the globe later in the year. Claude (Anthropic) Our next LLM is made by Anthropic, and it’s named Claude. Founded in 2021, the company along with its language model may be a less familiar name to most non-geeks. But this is likely to change in 2024. That’s the case not only because the latest version of the namesake GenAI chatbot released last year can now process long PDF files of up to 75,000 words, taking moments to summarize entire books. But also because this has already caught the attention of both Google and Amazon who are keen to invest $2 and $4 billion respectively. While Claude doesn’t offer internet access, its processing power, namely input character memory, outpowers every competitor by a wide margin, including ChatGPT. And the company is said to be working on yet more handy features as we speak. HyperCLOVA X (Naver) HyperCLOVA X is both the LLM and the namesake GenAI chatbot released by the South Korean search engine giant, Naver, last August. Boasting over 200 billion parameters, the LLM is being used mainly for AI-assisted web browsing, much like Bing Chat. While HyperCLOVA X doesn’t speak English, the chatbot’s proficiency in Korean is impressive, having learned 6,500 more Korean words than ChatGPT. In addition to answering user queries, HyperCLOVA X has been designed to offer AI assistance to businesses across numerous sectors — from finance to gaming. Naver is also presently working to make HyperCLOVA X multimodal, following in the footsteps of Google’s Gemini, so another big international headline is likely on the way. Pangu (Huawei) Last spring, Huawei, one of the global tech leaders, unveiled Pangu — an LLM with 1.085 trillion parameters in over 40 natural and programming languages. This LLM now powers the Chinese company’s GenAI assistant called Celia, which resides within Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4 operating system. Supposedly, Celia has already outperformed both Siri and Google Assistant as a phone-based virtual assistant in terms of prompt execution accuracy, such as finding specific photos and documents stored on a device. And as more Huawei smartphones are being churned out, Celia is expected to reach more global users this year with further refinements to the Pangu model. In addition, Pangu is available through Huawei Cloud for commercial use. According to a statement from the company’s leadership, the newest Pangu 3.0 utilizes hierarchical architecture, allowing it to be quickly fine-tuned for a wide range of downstream applications (including Huawei’s autonomous vehicle solutions ), which we’ll surely see more of in 2024. MiLM-6B (Xiaomi) Next up is another Chinese company, Xiaomi — one of the largest phone manufacturers in the world. The company made an entry into the LLM race last summer with its MiLM-6B, a lightweight model created for mobile devices. Boasting 6.4 billion parameters, MiLM-6B has reportedly outperformed rivals in its category and achieved notable scores from evaluation platforms like C-Eval and CMMLU. Xiaomi’s leadership has been vocal for some time about integrating LLMs into its smartphones. It appears that the company’s virtual assistant, Xiao AI, has now finally become a fully fledged GenAI chatbot, generating over 11 words per second. By this metric, despite operating locally on the phone, Xiao AI has matched the performance of some LLMs running on cloud computing services. It’ll be interesting to see whether Xiao AI gets assimilated into the company’s other products, as the rumors suggest, including the recently announced Xiaomi SU7, an autonomous-enabled electric sedan. YandexGPT (Yandex) The final entry on our list is an LLM named YandexGPT from the Russian search engine Yandex. The namesake GenAI solution with 100 billion parameters was beta-released in May last year. The more recent release of YandexGPT2 has demonstrated a 65% improvement in response quality, with a 1.5-fold increase in training data. Interestingly, this GenAI solution was tested and scored enough points to enter a Russian university. YandexGPT was also integrated into Yandex’s flagship virtual assistant named Alice, as well as the company’s smart speakers. Furthermore, the LLM has allowed the company’s e-shoppers to view summarized customer reviews in one place. With YandexGPT at the core, the company now also offers visual GenAI solutions, YandexART and Shedevrum, that can generate images from text, much like Open AI’s DALL-E. Currently, the LLM is also being merged with Yandex Search to offer the end user something similar to Bing Chat and HyperCLOVA X. It’s likely that we’ll see a new announcement pertaining to this development later in the year. New kids on the block Apart from the above entries on our list, several brand new LLMs along with their GenAI solutions are expected to arrive any day from other big players. Among them are Samsung from South Korea, Tencent from China, as well as Amazon and Apple. In fact, Apple already has an internal AI chatbot for employees, but its much-talked-about AppleGPT based on the company’s LLM, Ajax, is said to be around the corner. Amazon began to offer a service for building AI chatbots called Lex a while ago, but more notably, the company recently announced its upcoming GenAI solution tailored for commercial use. Japan doesn’t intend to be left behind either — at least three major LLM initiatives are currently being played out. Among them is a joint project between Fujitsu, RIKEN, Tokyo Tech, and Tohoku University who are developing a series of LLMs using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, Fugaku. In addition, both NTT and SoftBank are reportedly in the final stages of developing their “homegrown” LLMs. While much remains unclear and covered in mist (or is it gray goo 😉), one thing is certain — 2024 is going to be the most AI-intense year we have seen yet! If you enjoyed this listicle, visit AIport for more exclusive insights into the latest tech trends, with a focus on the global ML landscape. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Contact Details NettResults PR Nick Leighton +1 949-478-5880 nick.leighton@nettresultsllc.com Company Website https://aiport.substack.com/

January 25, 2024 09:53 AM Pacific Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

A peer reviewed article on Kadimastem's AstroRx® Cryopreserved off the Shelf Cell Product for the Treatment of ALS was Published in the Journal of Clinical Toxicology

Kadimastem

Ness Ziona, Israel, January 25 th 2024, Kadimastem (TASE: KDST), a well-known biotech company in the field of cellular therapy, which is in the clinical development stages of innovative products for the treatment of ALS and diabetes, announced today the publication of the peer-reviewed prestigious journal of Clinical Toxicology. The article describes the development and safety of the new off the shelf cryopreserved AstroRx cell product in toxicity studies. Intrathecal injection of both low dose of DMSO (vehicle control) used for cryopreservation of human astrocytes and the cryopreserved AstroRx® cell product demonstrated high safety profile in mice. Link to the article. The article details the important milestone achieved by the company in the development of cryopreserved AstroRx® off the shelf cell product that will be thawed and injected near the patient's bedside. The development of a cryopreserved cell therapy product would allow the completion of more accurate and longer sterility testing, the completion of potency results, simplify the process of manufacturing scaling, enable long term storage and transport and facilitate timing of therapy delivery to the patient. The Cryopreserved product will help secure the clinical objectives of the upcoming IND approved phase IIa clinical trial in 30 ALS patients. Kadimastem's AstroRx® cell product is an allogeneic cell-based product composed of healthy and functional human astrocytes derived from embryonic stem cells. AstroRx® acts through multiple mechanisms of action that increase the survival of neurons, such as removal of toxic excessive glutamate, reduce oxidative stress, secrete various neuroprotective factors, and act as an immunomodulator. Dr. Michal Izrael, Kadimastem's VP R&D says: “The new formulation of cryopreserved of the shelf AstroRx® cell product (“thaw and inject”) is of great importance for product commercialization as well as to the success of our upcoming phase II clinical study, as it permits coordination of cell administration with patient care and completion of safety and quality control testing before cell administration.” Asaf Shiloni, Kadimastem’s CEO says: “We would like to thank Kadimastem's dedicated team for achieving this significant milestone. We are very excited to move towards our next Phase IIa clinical study approved by the FDA, with the new off-the-shelf AstroRx® cell product which will be tested using repeated intrathecal injections of AstroRx® in ALS patients.” About Kadimastem Kadimastem is a clinical stage cell therapy company, developing and manufacturing "off-the-shelf", allogeneic, proprietary cell products based on its technology platform for the expansion and differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) into functional cells. AstroRx®, the company's lead product, is an astrocyte cell therapy in clinical development for the treatment for ALS and in pre-clinical studies for other neurodegenerative indications. IsletRx is the company's treatment for diabetes. IsletRx is comprised of functional, insulin and glucagon producing and releasing pancreatic islet cells, intended to treat and potentially cure patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Kadimastem was founded by Professor Michel Revel, CSO of the company and Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Professor Revel received the Israel Prize for the invention and development of Rebif®, a multiple sclerosis blockbuster drug sold worldwide. Kadimastem is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: KDST). Forward Looking Statement This document may include forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. Forward-looking information is uncertain and mostly is not under the Company's control and the realization or non-realization of forward-looking information will be affected, among other things, by the risk factors characterizing the Company's activity, as well as developments in the general environment and external factors affecting the Company's activity. The Company's results and achievements in the future may differ materially from any presented herein and the Company makes no undertaking to update or revise such projection or estimate and does not undertake to update this document. This document does not constitute a proposal to purchase the Company's securities or an invitation to receive such offers. Investment in securities in general and in the Company in particular bears risks. One should consider that past performance does not necessarily indicate performance in the future. Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Contact Details Asaf Shiloni CEO s.bazak@kadimastem.com Company Website https://www.kadimastem.com/

January 25, 2024 08:24 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Dr. Aaron Stowell's Comprehensive Hormone Therapy Program Emerges as a Game-Changer in the Pursuit of Weight Loss in Scottsdale

Rev Up Marketers

Dr. Aaron Stowell, NMD, proudly announces the groundbreaking success of his Comprehensive Hormone Therapy Program in redefining the approach to Weight Loss Hormone Therapy in Scottsdale. With an unwavering commitment to holistic health and innovative solutions, Dr. Stowell's program has become a transformative force in the realm of medical weight loss therapies. Overview of the Program Dr. Aaron Stowell's Hormone Therapy Program is revolutionizing the landscape of weight loss solutions in Scottsdale, Arizona. This program encompasses a holistic approach that acknowledges the individuality of each patient's body composition. By tailoring hormone therapy to meet personalized weight loss needs, Dr. Stowell's program stands out as a beacon of personalized medicine, placing Scottsdale Restorative at the forefront of this transformative movement. The Significance of Hormone Therapy in Weight Loss Hormone therapy offered at Scottsdale Restorative is not merely focused on weight reduction. Instead, it targets a comprehensive transformation by optimizing body composition, promoting the development of lean muscle mass, and reducing body fat percentage. This approach not only facilitates weight loss but also aids in sustaining healthier body changes and elevating overall fitness levels. Addressing Scottsdale's Weight Loss Needs The program recognizes the diverse nature of individual bodies and their unique weight loss challenges. Dr. Stowell's team is dedicated to providing a tailored approach, specifically addressing the weight loss needs of Scottsdale's residents. Through personalized hormone therapy, patients are empowered to achieve their health and wellness goals in a manner that acknowledges their distinct physiological makeup. Understanding the Role of Peptides in Weight Management Peptide hormones, naturally occurring compounds within the human body, are pivotal in regulating various physiological processes, including metabolism and appetite. Harnessing this intrinsic mechanism, the program has led to the development of advanced peptide-based formulations designed to support safe, effective, and sustainable weight loss. Implications for Future Healthcare Strategies Scottsdale Restorative is pioneering personalized, holistic care models to set a new standard. Its patient-centric approach and integration of technology redefine future healthcare strategies, emphasizing individualized, proactive wellness over standardized treatments. This visionary shift signals a transformative era in healthcare delivery. Collaborative Efforts and Future Prospects The collaborative patient-provider approach of Scottsdale Restorative drives innovative healthcare. Its vision embraces technological integration, promising future prospects in personalized medicine. This collaborative synergy foretells a healthcare landscape prioritizing patient involvement and pioneering advancements for comprehensive well-being. Dr. Aaron Stowell's Expertise and Vision With over 16 years of combined experience, Dr. Aaron Stowell, NMD, has spearheaded an evidence-based approach to managing health. His pioneering vision has positioned Scottsdale Restorative as the leader in bio-identical hormones, integrative medicine, and medical weight loss therapies. Dr. Stowell's unwavering commitment to compassionate care aimed at treating the root causes of health issues ensures lifelong wellness for patients. Summary Dr. Aaron Stowell's visionary leadership is a beacon of hope for individuals seeking effective and personalized solutions for Scottsdale weight loss. The comprehensive hormone therapy program represents a paradigm shift in the pursuit of holistic health, promising not only weight loss but sustainable changes that promote lifelong wellness. Disclaimer: The information presented in this press release is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While Dr. Aaron Stowell, NMD, promotes a Comprehensive Hormone Therapy Program for weight loss, its effectiveness varies individually. Prior to initiating any hormone therapy or weight loss program, it is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional. This content does not replace medical advice, and individuals considering participation in the program should seek guidance from their healthcare provider based on their specific health conditions and medical history. The use of peptides and treatments discussed should be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional. Contact Details Dr. Aaron Stowell Dr. Aaron Stowell NMD contact@scottsdalerestorative.com Company Website https://drstowell.com/

January 24, 2024 01:28 PM Eastern Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Centre for Neuro Skills Announces New General Counsel

Centre for Neuro Skills

Bakersfield, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2024) Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), a leader in traumatic brain injury and stroke rehabilitation services, today announced the appointment of Jamie Mason, J.D., as general counsel. “Jamie has extensive in-house counsel experience and a strong background in healthcare,” says Nicholas Ashley, chief governance officer of Centre for Neuro Skills. “She is a fast learner and quickly integrated herself with the team. We are fortunate to have her in the company to keep us moving forward.” Mason joined CNS as assistant general counsel in March 2023. As general counsel, she will oversee all aspects of the organization’s legal, risk management and regulatory performance efforts. Mason will provide oversight across all seven CNS clinics throughout California and Texas. Mason received her Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School and has more than 10 years of experience as a trial attorney, primarily representing hospitals, medical groups, physicians and attorneys. The CNS Bakersfield clinic is the company’s flagship location, established in 1980. CNS has two other clinics across California in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as four Texas clinics in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Austin. Through inpatient, outpatient, day treatment and residential rehabilitation programs, CNS’ facilities provide tailored neurorehabilitation therapy to patients. “Centre for Neuro Skills is not only an industry leader in post-acute neurorehabilitation services but also a pioneer in healthcare with unmatched passion, innovation and growth,” said Mason. “It is an honor and privilege to serve as general counsel for CNS, and contribute to making a positive impact on our patients’ lives.” *** About Centre for Neuro Skills Centre for Neuro Skills is an experienced and respected world leader in providing intensive rehabilitation and medical programs for those recovering from all types of brain injury. CNS covers a full spectrum of advanced care from residential and assisted living to outpatient/day treatment. Founded by Dr. Mark Ashley in 1980, CNS has seven locations in California and Texas. For more information about Centre for Neuro Skills, visit: www.neuroskills.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. Media, please note: Visual assets, including photos, are available. To request an interview with CNS leadership or clinical staff, please contact Robin Carr at 415.766.0927 or CNS@landispr.com. # # # Contact Details Robin Carr +1 415-766-0927 cns@landispr.com Company Website https://www.neuroskills.com/

January 24, 2024 07:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

CRAIG KNIPPENBERG, LCSW, M.DIV., RELEASES SECOND PARENTING GUIDEBOOK, SHAME-FREE PARENTING

Knippenberg, Patterson, Langley & Associates

Craig A. Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div., a Denver-based mental health counselor with four decades of family therapy experience, and founder/host of the Legit Parenting podcast, announced today the release of his second book, Shame-Free Parenting ( Illumify Media Global ), a parenting guide for building family resiliency. In its first six weeks on Amazon, the book hit #1 in Kindle sales across all parenting books. In Shame-Free Parenting, Knippenberg demystifies many challenges associated with parenting today, which can result in over-protective child-rearing approaches. Now – more than ever – parents, children and families are faced with trying times as the world’s current events and social media platforms elicit a plethora of mixed feelings and emotions. Knippenberg believes that “ a pandemic of fragility has arisen amongst our children and teens, ” driven by modern-day culture and events. He also likens the smartphone to a modern pandora’s box that -- in combination with modern cultural issues, such as the impact and aftermath of COVID-19, school shootings, climate change, and persistent news coverage of war and social conflicts -- creates a state of chronic stress. He elaborates on these and other theories in the book. Loaded with judgment-free parenting wisdom and invaluable resources, Shame-Free Parenting inspires parents to build families capable of not only withstanding such challenges but also affording them ways to flourish amid them. In the book, parents will discover: How to let go of guilt/shame and the importance of being just this side of good enough A roadmap for understanding pivotal aspects of child-rearing, with tangible techniques for forging meaningful connections with children while championing their autonomy A holistic approach to emotions, boundaries and acceptance, all focused on progress A timely exploration of contemporary challenges – from the allure of TikTok and gaming to hard conversations about school shootings, the book features the essence and importance of structure, resourcefulness and steering young minds toward a driven purpose A call to action: embrace family spontaneity, adventure and community service as instrumental avenues for cementing ties and imparting core values “As a family therapist for more than 40 years, I’ve listened and witnessed. I have had the opportunity to gather substantial, firsthand accounts and information that has armed me with vast knowledge about navigating today’s ever-evolving landscape for children, teens and parents alike. I captured these experiences in my newest book and provided strategies and tips to help families connect and stay strong together,” Knippenberg said. “In Shame-Free Parenting, I help families better understand how children's brains work so they can foster both deeper connection and independence without guilt or shame. Building strong families is what healthy parenting is all about. It truly is the foundation of any successful family unit,” Knippenberg added. Michele Borba, ED.D., a best-selling author also endorsed by Harvard’s Robert Brooks, PhD, commented on Shame-Free Parenting: “Stellar! Given the modern cultural issues which face families, it’s imperative to focus on resiliency and problem solving.” Shame-Free Parenting is available at local bookstores or on Amazon. Legit Parenting is available through the Apple Store or on Spotify. Knippenberg’s first book Wired and Connected: Brain-Based Solutions To Ensure Your Child’s Social and Emotional Success, released in 2019, provides brain-based solutions for ensuring social skills and emotional success of children. About Craig A. Knippenberg Craig A. Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div., is a Denver-based mental health therapist who has garnered significant expertise working with children and families throughout his four decades in private practice and while serving as a school consultant for 40+ years. While dedicating his career to educating and treating the behavioral, emotional and social needs of children and adolescents, Knippenberg founded Colorado’s largest, solely owned private mental health practice specializing in child and adolescent neurobehavioral disorders. He also earned notoriety for creating the CONNECT Social Skills Group Program 42 years ago, which spans socialization groups targeted at helping children navigate the ups and downs of childhood and adolescence, CONNECT has helped thousands of children grow and mature. Knippenberg hosts the Legit Parenting podcast, combining his four-plus decades of experience working with families and kids with his current brain-based research and pertinent tools, to help parents support the mental well-being of their children. Knippenberg holds a master's degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Denver and a Master of Divinity with a focus on pastoral counseling from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. For more information, please visit www.legitparenting.com or follow Knippenberg on LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. Contact Details PAIRELATIONS, LLC Susan Turkell +1 303-766-4343 sturkell@pairelations.com Company Website http://www.legitparenting.com/

January 24, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image
1 ... 6263646566 ... 310