CaribPR Wire

CORAL GABLES, Florida, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Baptist Health South Florida welcomes Michael McDermott, M.D., a world-renowned leader in neurosciences with clinical expertise in the field of meningioma research and gamma knife radiosurgery, as its new chief medical executive of Miami Neuroscience Institute, formerly known as Baptist Health Neuroscience Center.

Dr. McDermott, widely known for advancing neurosurgical techniques, pioneered surgical management of meningioma, a slow-growing tumor in the head that affects the brain. He is an expert in the treatment of a wide variety of neurological disorders, in addition to meningiomas, skull base tumors, brain metastases, gliomas, hydrocephalus, central nervous system infections and complex tumors of the skull base and spinal cord.

“I am delighted to have a colleague of his caliber join our organization,” said Michael Zinner, M.D., chief executive officer and executive medical director at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. “His expertise will help enhance our collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to research and delivery of the best cancer treatments for our patients.”

Dr. McDermott has conducted leading research that generated more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and comes from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as third in the nation in neurology and neurosurgery, where he was co-director of the Gamma Knife and CyberKnife Radiosurgery Program and held the distinguished Wolfe Family Endowed Professorship in Meningioma Research. In addition to serving as professor and vice chairman of neurological surgery, he is an accomplished educator. As residency program director, he trained young physicians from around the world.

“The arrival of Dr. McDermott to lead Miami Neuroscience Institute represents Baptist Health’s ability to harness the collective expertise of physician leaders and to offer the most innovative, comprehensive and individualized care available to our patients,” said Jack Ziffer, PhD, M.D., executive vice president, chief clinical officer and chief physician executive for Baptist Health South Florida.

Miami Neuroscience Institute provides care at all the Baptist Health facilities, with the exception of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, home to the renowned Marcus Neuroscience Institute, and Bethesda Hospital East and Bethesda Hospital West’s neuroscience programs. For the first several months, Dr. McDermott will focus on working with clinical and administrative leadership to plan and build the infrastructure as well as clinical depth and breadth of the program and set the stage for growth as a destination for neuroscience care.

“The multidisciplinary team approach we have at Baptist Health creates a special synergy between medical specialists from various fields to provide the most advanced care to our patients. This exceptional physician and surgeon will complement the tremendous medical talent that resides within Baptist Health and will continue to grow our national leadership in the treatment of conditions of the brain, spine and nervous system,” added Dr. Ziffer, PhD, M.D.

Miami Neuroscience Institute

Miami Neuroscience Institute, formerly known as Baptist Health Neuroscience Center, offers comprehensive and compassionate treatment for neurological conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. From non-surgical treatments and minimally invasive procedures to complex brain and spine surgery, the Center embraces a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Miami Neuroscience Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

MIAMI, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health and the region’s largest and most comprehensive cardiovascular facility, has named Joseph T. McGinn, Jr., M.D., chief of Cardiac Surgery. Dr. McGinn specializes in the assessment and surgical treatment of patients with coronary artery, aortic and vascular disease.  A pioneer in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, he developed the minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting method known internationally as the “McGinn Technique.”

Dr. McGinn comes to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute from Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, part of Atrium HealthCare in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he served as endowed chair of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and professor of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Prior to that appointment, he was a leading cardiac surgeon in New York City and served as medical director of the Heart Institute at Staten Island University Hospital for 16 years.

“Dr. McGinn is an expert physician and surgeon and an exceptional leader who has demonstrated excellence in patient care, innovation and team building,” said Barry T. Katzen, M.D., founder and chief medical executive of Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. “He will complement our team of highly skilled experts, who are committed to achieving the same goals.”

Jack A. Ziffer, Ph.D., M.D., executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Baptist Health South Florida, added, “We are pleased to have Dr. McGinn join Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute in this leadership capacity to continue his groundbreaking work and further advance the Institute’s worldwide leadership position in the delivery of cardiovascular care.”

An accomplished educator, Dr. McGinn has trained hundreds of surgeons from around the world in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgical techniques. His clinical and research efforts have generated hundreds of presentations at scientific symposiums and publications in peer-reviewed medical journals and books. He has been recognized by the American Heart Association for excellence in medicine and received the Samuel L. Koontz Award for Clinical Excellence. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional societies.

Dr. McGinn earned his medical degree at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in general surgery at SUNY Downstate, serving as chief resident. He also served as chief resident during a cardiothoracic surgery residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care.

Dr. McGinn enjoys boating with his family and is an avid football fan. He has performed 1,500 MICS CABG cases.

About Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is the largest and most comprehensive cardiovascular facility in the region. The team of multilingual, multidisciplinary specialists pioneered the development of minimally invasive techniques used to treat aneurysms, blockages in veins and arteries and holes in the heart. The Institute leverages the power of Baptist Health’s combined resources of experts, pioneering research, compassionate caregivers and leading-edge treatments and technology.

Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1099414/McGinn_headshot.jpg

MIAMI, Sept. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – In light of the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian on the Bahamas, Baptist Health South Florida would like to share its deepest sympathy for the Bahamian people.

Baptist Health is taking immediate action to provide support as aid efforts begin. Rose Rahming, Baptist Health’s local representative in the Bahamas, is assisting with the coordination of relief efforts from the National Emergency Operations Centre as well as the Baptist Health International office in Nassau.

Baptist Health South Florida is working with the Bahamian authorities to provide a significant amount of medical supplies to the functioning hospital in the region, Princess Margaret Hospital located in Nassau. Baptist Health has also notified Bahamian authorities that we are prepared to support patient transfers for those affected by the storm.

Locally, we have partnered with South Florida-based Operation Helping Hands, which has been activated by United Way of Miami-Dade, to provide disaster relief to our Bahamian neighbors and friends in this critical time of need.

In the aftermath of a hurricane of this magnitude, financial contributions are critical to providing the most effective help to address the immediate needs of the affected areas. Operation Helping Hands ensures that the funds are used by organizations with the experience and infrastructure to deliver the immediate assistance needed. One hundred percent of the funds raised through Operation Helping Hands will go directly to those affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

For over two decades, Baptist Health has cultivated close friendships with our neighbors in the Bahamas. Although the road to recovery will be long, we stand ready and committed to assist the Bahamian people in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Baptist Health International
Baptist Health International is one of the largest hospital-based international programs in the United States. Thousands of people travel to Miami each year from around the world to receive care from the renowned physicians at Baptist Health South Florida facilities. Baptist Health International is dedicated to facilitating comprehensive, high-quality services for international physicians and their patients, including hospital admissions, outpatient services and medical exams, second opinions, physician consultations and concierge services. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/International.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – You may be affected by a class action lawsuit against Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., and Impax Laboratories, (”Defendants”). The lawsuit claims that Defendants unlawfully delayed the availability of allegedly less-expensive generic versions of Solodyn and that Defendants’ conduct caused certain consumers and third-party payors (discussed below) to pay too much for Solodyn in these states and territories. Defendants deny any wrongdoing.

ARE YOU AFFECTED?

As a consumer, you may be a member of the End-Payor Class if after July 23, 2009 you purchased or paid for some or all of the purchase price for 45mg, 55mg, 65mg, 80mg, 90mg, 105mg, 115mg, and/or 135mg Solodyn and/or its generic versions of one or more of these dosages, in the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico, in tablet form, for consumption by yourself or your family. Purchases made directly from Defendants, for resale purposes, for fixed dollar co-payments that do not vary between brand and generic drug, through Medicaid, or consumers who purchased Solodyn prior to July 23, 2009 are not included.

YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

DO NOTHING : If you do nothing you are choosing to stay in the End-Payor Class and you will be able to share in any money or benefits that may occur in this case. You will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court and you will give up your right to sue the Defendants as part of any other lawsuit for the claim made in this case.

EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE END-PAYOR CLASS : If you exclude yourself from the End-Payor Class (i.e. opt out), you will not be entitled to money or benefits if they are awarded or obtained. You will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court and you will give up your right to sue the Defendants as part of any other lawsuit for the claim made in this case. The deadline to exclude yourself from the End-Payor Class is February 10, 2018.

THE TRIAL

The Court will hold a trial in this case on March 12, 2018 at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1 Courthouse Way Boston, Massachusetts 02210. You may hire your own lawyer at your own expense, but you do not have to.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Go to www.SolodynCase.com, call 1-800-332-7414, or write to In re Solodyn Antitrust Litigation (End-Payor Action), P.O. Box 173034, Milwaukee, WI 53217.

800-332-7414
www.SolodynCase.com

RIVM concludes negligible risk of Oxitec’s Friendly™ Aedes mosquitoes

France’s High Council for Biotechnology also publishes Supportive Position

OXFORD, England, July 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ –The National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands today published its “Technical evaluation of a potential release of OX513A Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on the island of Saba“, which positively concludes a vector control program using Oxitec’s Friendly™ Aedes aegypti mosquitoes would pose negligible risks to human health and the environment.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150630/227348 )

RIVM’s GMO office undertook its biosafety evaluation of Oxitec’s Friendly™ self-limiting mosquito technology following the guidance for risk assessment of genetically modified animals by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European risk assessment framework, which is considered one of the most robust and thorough biosafety frameworks globally.  Additionally this independent review reflected guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) for testing of genetically modified mosquitoes as well as the Cartagena Protocol on the Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

“We welcome the favorable outcome of the RIVM’s extensive review indicating a positive safety profile of our bio-based mosquito technology,” said Mark Carnegie-Brown Chief Executive Officer at Oxitec. “When combined with our excellent efficacy data, this result points to the significant potential of the Oxitec platform to safely address the growing global challenge from dangerous Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. We are committed to working with regulators worldwide to bring this important technology to market.”

This result reinforces the affirmative biosafety profile of Oxitec’s self-limiting technology for deployment in vector control programs, and also supports the conclusions of environmental assessments conducted elsewhere including from Brazil’s National Technical Commission of Biosafety (CTNBio) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) whose review team consisted of experts from the Center for Veterinary Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Additionally, France’s High Council for Biotechnology (HCB) last month published its supportive position on the use of genetically modified mosquitoes for vector control, following the emergence of mosquito-borne diseases in French overseas territories and perceived threats to metropolitan France. Oxitec has been working closely with the HCB to help inform their evaluation and welcomes HCB’s opinion on self-limiting Aedes aegypti. The HCB opinion will help to shape the policy landscape in France towards the deployment of new tools for vector control, and is a positive step towards advancing Oxitec vector control projects in the French Caribbean.

How Friendly™ Aedes works

Oxitec has been working in Aedes aegypti control for over a decade and pioneered the use of a biological method to suppress wild populations of this dangerous mosquito species through the release of Friendly™ Aedes males, which do not bite and do not transmit diseases. When released, these males search for wild females to mate, and their offspring inherit a self-limiting gene that causes them to die before reaching functional adulthood.  Friendly™ Aedes’ offspring also inherit a fluorescent marker that allows tracking and monitoring at a level never before achieved, making the assessment of effectiveness more accurate throughout the whole Friendly™ Aedes deployment program. Unlike other approaches, Friendly™ Aedes mosquitoes die along with their offspring, and therefore do not persist in the environment or leave any ecological footprint.

About Oxitec

Oxitec is a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops, and was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK). Oxitec is a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.  Follow us on Twitter at @Oxitec.

NEW YORK, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ –

If You Purchased Solodyn and/or Its Generic Equivalent Partial Settlements of a Class Action Lawsuit May Affect Your Rights

Partial settlements have been reached in a class action lawsuit involving the antibiotic drug Solodyn. The lawsuit claims that Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Impax Laboratories, Inc., Lupin Limited, Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Sandoz Inc. (the “Defendants”) violated state competition (i.e. antitrust and consumer protection) and unjust enrichment laws by agreeing not to compete with each other and keeping lower-cost generic versions of Solodyn off the market. The Defendants deny this. No one is claiming that Solodyn is unsafe or ineffective.

WHAT DO THE SETTLEMENTS PROVIDE?

To settle the lawsuit, Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Lupin Limited (”Lupin Defendants”) and Sandoz Inc. (”Sandoz”) have each agreed: (a) that they would be willing to provide certain witnesses that Plaintiffs could call and a declaration that the Plaintiffs could use during the Solodyn case involving the overall End-Payor Class, other Plaintiffs, and the Non-Settling Defendants; and (b) to deposit $625,000 and $1.75 million, respectively, into Settlement Funds. If the Settlements are approved by the Court and become final, the Settlement Funds, inclusive of interest, will be used to: (1) pay for costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by Counsel in continuing the lawsuit against Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., and Impax Laboratories, Inc. (the “Non-Settling Defendants”); (2) cover taxable costs and taxes payable on the Settlement Funds; (3) pay for notice and other expenses; and (4) pay for service awards not to exceed $10,000 to the class representatives in recognition of their efforts to date on behalf of the Classes. Any remainder in the Settlement Funds, after the payment of the above expenses, shall be distributed to the End-Payor Class for the Lupin Settlement and the End-Payor Class for the Sandoz Settlement in a manner approved by the Court at the conclusion of the litigation. The Settlement Agreements, available at the website www.SolodynCase.com contain more details. These Settlements involve only the Lupin Defendants and Sandoz. The case will continue against the Non-Settling Defendants.

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE CLASSES?

Generally, you are included in the Classes if you purchased, paid and/or provided reimbursement for some or all of a Solodyn and/or its generic equivalent prescription in the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico, in tablet form, from July 23, 2009, onward. Certain third-party payors are also members of the Classes.

You are NOT a member of the Classes if: you paid a “flat co-payment” for all of your prescription drug purchases regardless of whether they are brand or generic; you are one of the Defendants or an officer, director, manager, employee, subsidiary, or affiliate of any Defendant(s); you purchased only directly from Defendants or for resale purposes; you purchased or received Solodyn or its generic equivalent only through a Medicaid program; you are the judge in this lawsuit or a member of the judge’s immediate family; and/or you previously excluded yourself from the overall End-Payor Class.

YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

If you are a Class Member, you have the right to exclude yourself (to opt-out) from one or both of the Settlements no later than June 12, 2017. You may also comment on or object to one or both of the proposed Settlements. To do so, you must act by June 12, 2017. Details on how to request exclusion, comment, or object are at www.SolodynCase.com.

The Court will hold a hearing tentatively set for 3:00 p.m. on November 27, 2017, to consider whether the Settlements and all of their terms are fair, reasonable, and adequate. Please check the website for updates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.SolodynCase.com
Call 1-800-332-7414

Capacity to Produce 60 Million Friendly™ Aedes per Week can Help Protect Up to 3 Million Brazilians from Primary Vector for Zika, Dengue and other Viruses

OXFORD, England, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ –Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), a leader in the engineering and industrialization of biology to improve the quality of life and health of the planet, today announced its wholly owned subsidiary Oxitec has opened its new Friendly™ Aedes mosquito production facility in Piracicaba, Brazil.  The new 5,000 m² facility has the capacity to produce 60 million Friendly™ Aedes per week which can help protect up to 3 million people by significantly reducing local populations of the dangerous Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Thomas P. Bostick, Ph.D., P.E., Senior Vice President and Head of Intrexon’s Environment Sector stated, “The scalability of our biological solution has taken a meaningful step forward with the inauguration of this new world-class facility in Brazil.  With the rising global incidence of harmful viral infections including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and now Mayaro, driven primarily by the bite of the dangerous Aedes aegypti, it is essential we make Oxitec’s proven, unparalleled Friendly™ Aedes vector control solution more available to the many countries this disease-spreading mosquito has invaded.  We continue to engage and work with numerous government agencies and non-governmental organizations to achieve this mission.”

Oxitec’s pioneering biological method involves the release of engineered, non-biting male mosquitoes that mate with wild females.  The resulting offspring inherit a self-limiting gene preventing them from reaching adulthood and the males themselves die within days providing an eco-friendly solution that solely targets Aedes aegypti and does not persist in the environment.  Oxitec will utilize a portion of the new facility’s significant production capability to support its ongoing deployment program in Piracicaba’s downtown area and CECAP/Eldorado district to suppress Aedes aegypti.

In conjunction with independent collaborators, Oxitec has conducted five open field trials of its self-limiting mosquitoes in Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands.  Each trial led to a greater than 90% reduction of the wild Aedes aegypti population, achieving these unparalleled suppression results within six months on average.  More recently, Piracicaba’s Epidemiologic Surveillance service released data showing the incidence of dengue had decreased by 91% to just 12 cases in the CECAP/Eldorado district where Friendly™ Aedes mosquitoes were released, compared to a 52% reduction in the rest of the city during the same 12-month period.

Notably the public support for the Friendly™ Aedes project has been strong. A survey conducted by the CW7 Market Research Institute in mid-2016 showed that 98% of Piracicaba’s citizens support the use of innovative tools to fight dengue, Zika and chikungunya, and 88% support the use of Friendly™ Aedes.

“This Friendly™ Aedes facility increases our current production capacity 30-fold in Brazil”, says Glen Slade, Oxitec’s VP and Director of Oxitec do Brasil. “This reaffirms our ability to produce Friendly™ Aedes at scale, and we are ready to expand our production even further to help protect the people of Brazil and beyond.”

About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA^™ to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet.  The Company’s integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells.  We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA^®, and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com or follow us on Twitter at @Intrexon.

Trademarks
Intrexon, Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business.  Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.

OXFORD, United Kingdom, Aug. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) today published a final finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and final environmental assessment (EA) on Oxitec’s self-limiting OX513A Aedes aegypti mosquito for an investigational trial in the Florida Keys.  The finding concludes that a field trial of the Company’s genetically engineered (GE) OX513A mosquitoes in Key Haven, Florida, will not result in a significant impact on the environment.

The publication of the final FONSI and EA follows an FDA-led evaluation of potential impacts on health and the environment of the proposed trial. This culminated in the publication of a preliminary FONSI in March 2016, after which there was a period of public comment. These public comments were reviewed by the FDA-led team before the final documents were published today.

Oxitec’s Chief Executive Officer Hadyn Parry said, “We’ve been developing this approach for many years, and from these results we are convinced that our solution is both highly effective and has sound environmental credentials. We’re delighted with the announcement today that the FDA, after their extensive review of our dossier and thousands of public comments for a trial in the Florida Keys, have published their final view that this will not have a significant impact on the environment. We are now looking forward to working with the community in the Florida Keys moving forward.”

The purpose of the proposed trial is to determine the efficacy of Oxitec’s self-limiting mosquitoes for the control of the local population of Aedes aegypti in Key Haven, Monroe County, Florida.

Oxitec’s self-limiting mosquitoes have been genetically engineered so that their offspring die before reaching adulthood. Male Oxitec mosquitoes, which do not bite or spread disease, are released to mate with wild female Aedes aegypti so that their offspring die, reducing the population. Efficacy trials in Brazil, Panama, and the Cayman Islands have tested this approach, and in each of these trials the population of Aedes aegypti was reduced by more than 90% – an exceptional level of control compared to conventional methods, such as insecticides.

The FDA review team consisted of experts from the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA led an extensive review of evidence from trials in urban environments performed in Brazil and the Cayman Islands since 2009, and data from numerous safety studies, site inspections and independent experts.

For more information:

Oxitec Florida Keys Project FAQ: http://www.oxitec.com/health/florida-keys-project/

Florida Keys Mosquito Control District: http://keysmosquito.org/latest-gm-information/

About Oxitec

Oxitec is a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops, and was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK). Oxitec is a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

Oxitec Contact:
Matthew Warren
Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 832 393
[email protected]

Epidemiological surveillance year ended in July 2016 with 12 cases reported for the disease in CECAP/Eldorado, compared to 133 in the year that preceded it

OXFORD, England, July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Piracicaba’s Epidemiologic Surveillance service released new data this week which showed a 91% reduction of dengue fever cases registered in the CECAP/Eldorado district, an area of 5,000 residents, in the 2015/2016 dengue-year as compared to the 2014/2015 period. The incidence decreased to just 12 cases in 2015/2016, the first year in which Friendly^™ Aedes, the genetically engineered mosquitoes that fight wild Aedes aegypti, were released there, versus 133 cases in the previous year. According to Epidemiologic Surveillance the rest of the municipality saw a 52% reduction in dengue fever incidence during the same period, from 3,487 cases in the 2014/2015 period to 1,676 cases in 2015/2016.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150630/227348 )

Additionally, the overall incidence rate in CECAP/Eldorado for the dengue-year 2014/2015 was 195% larger than the rate recorded for the rest of the municipality. In the dengue-year 2015/2016, the rate in CECAP/Eldorado was 45% lower than the rate in the rest of the municipality. The latest data roundup also reports zero cases of Zika and chikungunya in CECAP/Eldorado.

* Data excludes CECAP/Eldorado

** Dengue year in Brazil starts in 27th week of the calendar year and ends in 26th week of following calendar year

“Over the course of one year, we were able to bring the dengue fever incidence down by more than 50% in Piracicaba — the outcome of diligent work to eliminate still water spots, the breeding site of the mosquito,” says the city’s Secretary of Health, Pedro Mello. “In CECAP/Eldorado, where we had the Friendly^™ Aedes project, the reduction was extraordinary, going over 90%.”

“We are delighted with the result achieved so far by Friendly^™ Aedes which shows the potential of our approach. We hope to see this effect on a larger scale beyond the limited area of CECAP/Eldorado with our expansion into Piracicaba’s downtown city,” says Glen Slade, Oxitec do Brasil director.

Dengue-year

The dengue-year in Brazil starts in the 27^th week of the calendar year and ends in the 26^th week of the following year. This period is used by health surveillance services as a standard for monitoring and reporting epidemiological data of diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti. The incidence rate for a disease in a certain area is an important element in planning the fight against the disease.

Friendly ^™ Aedes

Produced by Oxitec do Brasil, Friendly^™ Aedes have been used in Piracicaba since April 30^th 2015, when the first insects were released in CECAP/Eldorado. In January 2016, the technology had already reduced the number of wild Aedes aegyptilarvae by 82% in the treated area, compared to a non-treated area.

The success in reducing the population of wild Aedes aegypti led the City Hall to extend the project at CECAP/Eldorado for one more year. The deployment of Friendly^™ Aedes was expanded into the city’s downtown area, comprising an area of 11 neighbourhoods and 60,000 residents. The first Friendly^™ Aedes to be deployed in the downtown area are expected to be released in the São Judas neighbourhood by the second half of July. A contract for the expansion of the Friendly^™Aedes project into the downtown area was signed on May 31^st. Besides São Judas, the project is intended to benefit São Dimas, Centro, Clube de Campo, Cidade Jardim, Cidade Alta, Parque da Rua do Porto, Nhô Quim, Jardim Monumento, Nova Piracicaba and Vila Rezende.

How Friendly ^™ Aedes works

Oxitec has been working in Aedes aegypti control for more than a decade. It is a pioneer in the use of a biological method to suppress wild populations of this dangerous mosquito species through the release of Friendly^™ Aedes males, which don’t bite and don’t transmit disease. When released, these males search for wild females to mate, and their offspring inherit a self-limiting gene that makes them die before reaching functional adulthood. Friendly^™ Aedes’ offspring also inherit a fluorescent marker that makes them easy to identify in the laboratory. This allows tracking and measuring at a level never before achieved, making effectiveness assessment and monitoring more accurate throughout the whole Friendly^™ Aedes deployment programme.

Unlike other approaches, Friendly^™ Aedes mosquitoes don’t leave any ecological footprint. Friendly^™ Aedes die along with their offspring, so that their presence doesn’t linger in the environment.

About Oxitec

Oxitec is a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops, and was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK). Oxitec is a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Follow us on Twitter at @Oxitec.

Oxitec Contact:

Matthew Warren
Press Officer
+44-(0)1235-832-393
[email protected]

OXFORD, England and GERMANTOWN, Maryland, Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, today announced its subsidiary Oxitec and Piracicaba City Hall have expanded the ‘Friendly Aedes aegypti Project’ in Piracicaba, Brazil following strong results for controlling the Ae. aegypti mosquito population, the primary vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus outbreaks around the world. In preparation of this growing program and to meet increasing demand for its proprietary vector control solution, Oxitec is initiating a new mosquito production facility in Piracicaba that will have capacity to protect over 300,000 people.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130919/NY83283LOGO
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/323303LOGO

“We are delighted Piracicaba is encouraged by our strong results and expanding the program. Our new facility will support the roll out of our groundbreaking vector-control across the heart of the city and beyond,” said Oxitec CEO Hadyn Parry. “As the principal source for the fastest growing vector-borne infection in the world in Dengue Fever, as well as the increasingly challenging Zika virus, controlling the Aedes aegypti population provides the best defense against these serious diseases for which there are no cures.”

Following approval by Brazil’s National Biosafety Committee (CTNBio) for releases throughout the country, Piracicaba’s CECAP/Eldorado district became the world’s first municipality to partner directly with Oxitec and in April 2015 started releasing its self-limiting mosquitoes whose offspring do not survive. By the end of the calendar year, results had already indicated a reduction in wild mosquito larvae by 82%. Oxitec’s efficacy trials across Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands all resulted in a greater than 90% suppression of the wild Ae. aegypti mosquito population – an unprecedented level of control.

Based on the positive results achieved to date, the ‘Friendly Aedes aegypti Project’ in CECAP/Eldorado district covering 5,000 people has been extended for another year. Additionally Oxitec and Piracicaba have signed a letter of intent to expand the project to an area of 35,000-60,000 residents. This geographic region includes the city’s center and was chosen due to the large flow of people commuting between it and surrounding neighborhoods which may contribute to the spread of infestations and infections.

According to Mayor Gabriel Ferrato, “The city of Piracicaba has always sought innovative solutions to serious problems. In the case of Aedes aegypti, we looked for the tool that seemed most appropriate to help in the tough battle against this mosquito that transmits dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Based on the results presented today, we decided to extend the project in CECAP/Eldorado district for another year and also signed a record of intent to expand the project to the central area of Piracicaba. This will bring to the city a new Oxitec factory to meet demand for years to come and help protect the public’s health with this clean and innovative technology.”

Like many invasive insect species, Ae. aegypti’s territory is expanding as are the diseases it spreads, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus, which collectively impact over 100 countries and approximately 400 million people globally each year. Today Brazil has the highest reported incidence of dengue in the Western Hemisphere, and with both chikungunya and Zika virus having entered the country in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the Ae. aegypti mosquito has become an increasing health risk. As a result, Brazil’s Ministry of Health spent over 1.2 billion reals last year and allocated an additional 500 million reals for states and municipalities in January 2016 to combat the mosquito.

As per the recent New England Journal of Medicine publication titled “Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat”, Brazil is not alone. Authors Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and David M. Morens, M.D., from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases noted, “The explosive pandemic of Zika virus infection occurring throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean and potentially threatening the United States is the most recent of four unexpected arrivals of important arthropod-borne viral diseases in the Western Hemisphere over the past 20 years.”

Samuel Broder, M.D., SVP and Head of Intrexon’s Health Sector commented, “As a vector that transmits a number of serious diseases, the Aedes aegypti mosquito poses a major threat to public health and the economic welfare of nations. Brazil has been hard hit by dengue and the situation there has been aggravated by the recent introduction of Zika virus infections leading to a startling increase in the number of children being born with microcephaly.” Dr. Broder continued, “Through the responsible engineering of biology, we demonstrate a new paradigm of species-specific vector control resulting in dramatic reductions of dangerous mosquitoes, without persistence or harm to the ecosystem, representing a major scientific, environmental and clinical advance.”

Diseases spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito:

• Dengue Fever infects up to 400 million people every year with an estimated 40% of the world’s population perpetually at risk.
• Zika Virus is rapidly spreading into new countries. In 2015 it emerged in Brazil where it has been linked to a sudden increase in birth defects (microcephaly). The number of children born with microcephaly in Brazil has now risen to more than 3500.
• Chikungunya swept into Central America and the Caribbean in 2013 with an epidemic spiking to over a million cases within only a year.
• Yellow Fever remains a major health threat. There are an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30,000 deaths, worldwide each year, with 90% occurring in Africa.

About Oxitec
Oxitec is the only GM insect company in the world and a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops. Oxitec was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK), and is now a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Oxitec’s self-limiting insect control targets only the one species of pest in a way that is non-toxic and pesticide-free, providing vector control that is both effective and environmentally friendly. Follow us on Twitter at @Oxitec.

About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA^™ to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet. The Company’s integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA^®, and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com or follow us on Twitter at @Intrexon.

Trademarks
Intrexon, Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.

For more information contact:
Corporate Contact:
Marie Rossi, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Technical Communications
Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
Christopher Basta
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (561) 410-7052
[email protected]

Oxitec Contact:
Chris Creese, Ph.D.
Communications Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 7972 103372
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Elana Ferrari
Edelman US
Tel: +1 (312) 233-1336
Email: [email protected]

- Clinical trials with over 3,000 treated patients demonstrate its efficacy.

- Studies demonstrated that at least two thirds of the patients obtained 75% improvement of Psoriasis Activity Severity Index.

- This treatment significantly improves the quality of life of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

PANAMA CITY, Dec. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects around 140 million people worldwide.  It’s more frequent between the ages of 15 and 25, but may develop at any age and highly impacts the quality of life.

Several types of psoriasis exist, which range from mild to severe and disabling. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form and is known for producing inflammation and scaly patches of thickened skin called “plaques”. It is caused due to a problem in the immunologic system, where white blood cells that normally become activated to fight infections, are in this case activated against the healthy skin cells.  The cause of the disease is unknown. The immunologic system is activated and produces inflammatory mediators which are responsible for the skin lesions.

During this process, white blood cells release chemical products called “cytokines”, which produce inflammation, reddening of the skin and make the cutaneous cells move from deeper skin layer to surface at a higher speed than normal, (almost 5 times). These cells accumulate and generate the scaly patches. Psoriatic lesions show the aspect of scales, sometimes with a white silver color, while the skin below is red and if scratched it can bleed. Two specific cytokines are increased in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and produce the inflammatory process of the disease (Interleukin 12 and Interleukin 23).

Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that represents the first of a new class of psoriasis therapies that specifically and selectively targets IL-12/IL-23.

Ustekinumab is now available in the Caribbean, specifically in Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao and Jamaica.^[i] Ustekinumab is commercialized under the brand Stelara™.

This therapeutic alternative is the latest generation of psoriasis treatment. With over 3,000 treated patients (in clinical trials) up to 5 years of treatment. The data obtained proves that the treatment is well tolerated and safe.

Clinical trials demonstrated that at least two thirds of the patients obtained a 75% improvement of the psoriasis, in accordance with the Psoriasis Activity Severity Index (PASI 75), after only two doses of Ustekinumab. This innovative treatment has a very convenient dosage regimen when compared with other biological therapies for psoriasis. After 5 years, approximately 80% of the patients treated with Ustekinumab maintain response.

Until recent years, psoriasis was considered a disease limited to the skin. Recent evidence, from important population studies in psoriatic patients, has demonstrated an increase in mortality and a decrease in life expectancy between 3 to 4 years in patients with psoriasis.

On the other hand, the impact of psoriasis notably influences the quality of life, and this is reflected in the increase of different social and psychoactive pathologies, and in the acquisition of unhealthy habits like tobacco and alcohol, favored by low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and the isolation which patients feel subjected to.^[ii]

“Ustekinumab significantly improves the quality of life of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, as well as their physical and mental functions. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients treated with Ustekinumab present a significant improvement in their mental well-being and their physical condition”, affirmed Dr. Eduardo Franco; Janssen’s Medical Director for Central America and the Caribbean.

The itching and pain, the plaques in their hands and feet may hinder the performance of certain tasks or participation in some activities. Overtime, about 40% of psoriatic patients develop arthritis. “The most severe cases of psoriasis may even generate immobility of the patient. Some patients compare the reduction of their physical activities to the ones generated by other diseases as cancer or heart diseases”, pointed out Dr. Jose Antonio Herrera, Immunology Medical Manager for Janssen.

About Janssen

Janssen is a Company dedicated to the research of providing innovative products that help protect and improve the life of people, and face and solve the most important and unresolved medical needs of our times, in the areas of oncology, immunology, neurosciences and infectious, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Across the different companies of the Johnson & Johnson group, our people are united in the passionate pursuit of solutions through science, in benefit of the patients.

Present in over 50 countries, we share the commitment of the founders of the Company, of innovating in ideas, products and services for the patients of the whole world.

^{[i] Ustekinumab was approved by the following Health Authorities:
Aruba: Drug Registration Board,
Curacao; Drug Registration Board
Jamaica: Ministry of Health.
Cayman Islands, Bahamas and Bermuda are not regulated countries.}

^{[ii] 2009 Latin American Psoriasis Consensus, treatment guides, Latin American Psoriasis Society}

Fact Sheet Psoriasis

1. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects over 140 million people worldwide.
2. It presents itself more frequently between the ages of 15 and 25, but may develop at any age and highly impacts the quality of life.
3. The main cause for this disease is unknown. The immunologic system is activated and produces inflammatory mediators which stimulated white cells and infiltrate the skin layers. The deep layer cells move to the outer layer of the skin at least 5 time faster than usual, and this produces the characteristic plaque of the psoriasis.
4. There are several clinical forms of the disease, plaque psoriasis being the most common form. It is known for producing inflammation and scaly patches of thickened skin called “plaques”.
5. Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, notably influences the quality of life.  Severe cases of psoriasis may even generate immobility of the patient.
6. Some patients compare the reduction of their physical activities to the ones generated by other diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
7. Ustekinumab is now available in the Caribbean, specifically in Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Caiman Islands, Curacao and Jamaica.[i]  Ustekinumab is commercialized under the brand Stelara™.
8. Clinical trials with over 3,000 patients treated with Ustekinumab have demonstrated its efficacy. At least two thirds of the patients obtained a 75% improvement of the Psoriasis Activity Severity Index.
9. After 5 years, approximately 80% of the patients treated with Ustekinumab maintain response.

^{[i] Ustekinumab was approved by the following Health Authorities:
Aruba: Drug Registration Board,
Curacao; Drug Registration Board
Jamaica: Ministry of Health.
Cayman Islands, Bahamas and Bermuda are not regulated countries.}

CONTACT:  Janssen, JoanTownsend, (507) 64306252 or (507) 3989740, tojoa

Acne can be stopped.

ATLANTA, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Most acne, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads are caused by parasites living on the human face and body.  Getting rid of the parasites by using natural topical treatments can stop acne in 3-4 months.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151102/282841

Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are mites that live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands.  Mites are found on the face, chest, back, balding scalp and other areas.  The prevalence of Demodex in humans is estimated as high as 95-100% in some populations.  Anti-mite products are available at http://vexdex.com/products.

Most people are asymptomatic, but an over-abundance of Demodex in a reactive person results in adverse dermatological conditions.  The mites have lifespans of weeks, reproduce, die and decompose inside hair follicles or sebaceous glands.  The decomposition and associated bacteria in mite feces cause acne.  Remove the mites and acne usually stops.  Many clinical acne treatments address symptoms, not the cause, which is why results can be spotty (excuse the pun!) and can leave people dealing with unpleasant drug side-effects.  The most effective solution is to eradicate the mites.

The good news is that treatment is readily available in most countries.  Vex Dex is a company that creates anti-mite products and ships internationally.  The treatments use naturally occurring ingredients.  Treatment involves a regimen of (1) significantly reducing the mite population, then (2) maintaining a low population.  Step (1) takes 3-4 months.  Treatments kill mites, but not their eggs.  Therefore, treatment must be sustained long enough to allow eggs to hatch and generations of mites to be eradicated as reproduction ceases.

Simple topical products that most people are accustomed to, but with anti-mite ingredients added, can effectively treat an infestation.  A morning wash, daytime cream, evening wash-off mask and nighttime cream, supplemented with Tea Tree Oil, work well.  There’s little change to the daily routine – only change to the selection of products used for that familiar routine.

The mites can live in towels, bedsheets and clothing.  Vex Dex tells how to treat those and avoid re-infection.

Tell people you care about.  Skin can be restored to its rightful, beautiful state at any age.  Be beautiful.  Let it show.

About Vex Dex: Founded by a 30-plus-years acne sufferer, who saw blackheads disappear within 1 month and breakouts cease within 4 months, the company is passionate about making acne relief available to all.  Email: [email protected] Website: www.vexdex.com

– Expanded Policy will Increase Access for Darunavir Pediatric Formulations in 128 Resource-Limited Countries

– Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica are some of the countries that would benefit with this policy

PANAMA CITY, May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson & Johnson today announced that its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies have furthered their commitment to improve the health of children living with HIV through an expanded policy aimed at enhancing access to its HIV medicine darunavir. This policy enables the development of and access to new pediatric products of darunavir in 128 low- and middle-income countries[i], home to 99.8% of children and adolescents living with HIV worldwide[ii] today.

As part of efforts to help meet the needs of children and adolescents living with HIV, Janssen is working to create one of the broadest geographic territories for an access effort for pediatric HIV medicines to date. To that end, Janssen will expand the geographic scope of its 2012 policy not to enforce the patents it owns and controls on the antiretroviral (ARV) drug darunavir, for pediatric products used in low- and middle-income countries. This doubles the original territory of sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries[iii] announced in 2012. The 2012 policy outlines that Janssen will not enforce its darunavir patent rights, provided the generic versions of darunavir are quality, medically acceptable, and only used in the indicated countries. Today’s expanded policy is applicable only for pediatric darunavir products used in the defined territory. Manufacturers are still responsible for obtaining permissions from other darunavir patent holders and health authorities where appropriate.

These renewed efforts are an outcome of engagement between Janssen and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), directly supporting the recently-launched Pediatric HIV Treatment Initiative (PHTI). PHTI is a partnership between the MPP, UNITAID, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) dedicated to speeding the development of high-priority pediatric co-formulations of HIV medicines and addressing other potential barriers to treatment access for children living with HIV.

Janssen will collaborate with PHTI partners to develop critical new formulations of pediatric HIV medicines to help safeguard the lives of children and adolescents living with HIV. Janssen and PHTI organizations will explore the possible development of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of darunavir with the boosting agent ritonavir for children living with HIV. Darunavir administered with ritonavir and in combination with other antiretroviral medicines is currently indicated for highly treatment-experienced adult and pediatric HIV patients (third-line) in resource-limited settings and has been recommended by the World Health Organization[iv].  A novel FDC that is safe, effective and child-friendly would be an important step in realizing the global health imperative to close the pediatric HIV treatment gap.

“Our vision is that children living with HIV can receive the treatments they need to stay strong and grow to become productive young adults,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson and Worldwide Chairman, Janssen. “We are committed to ensuring that no child is without access to appropriate, child-friendly HIV treatment options and, most importantly, the hope of a healthy future.”

“Finding innovative solutions for the challenges of pediatric HIV treatment requires us all to think differently and act collaboratively,” said Tomas Matthews, Access Director, Janssen Global Public Health. “We are working to address obstacles in efforts to help protect the health of vulnerable children living with HIV in high-burden countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and elsewhere around the world.”

Janssen and Johnson & Johnson have a longstanding commitment to helping children living with HIV and enhancing access to its medicines for thosein need. For more than a decade, Johnson & Johnson has supported efforts to reduce the number of new HIV infections among children, and in 2011, the company pledged an additional $15 million to support the Global Plan to eliminate pediatric HIV. In December 2013, Janssen launched the New Horizons Advancing HIV Care initiative, a collaborative effort to strengthen country-level capacity, knowledge, and action around the needs of HIV treatment-experienced children. A key feature of this initiative is a treatment donation program for PREZISTA® (darunavir) and INTELENCE® (etravirine) for HIV treatment-experienced children and adolescents.

Johnson & Johnson and Janssen are committed to advancing global health. Its family of companies has launched and continues to support a variety of comprehensive efforts toward strengthening the health of communities, improving maternal and child health, and preventing the spread of infectious and preventable diseases worldwide. For more information on Johnson & Johnson global health programs, visit www.jnj.com.

About Janssen, the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving the most important unmet medical needs of our time, including in oncology (e.g., multiple myeloma and prostate cancer), immunology (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, IBD and psoriasis), neuroscience (e.g., schizophrenia, dementia and pain), infectious disease (e.g., HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and tuberculosis), and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes).

Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop sustainable, integrated healthcare solutions by working side-by-side with healthcare stakeholders, based on partnerships of trust and transparency. To learn more, visit www.janssen.com.

About Johnson & Johnson

Caring for the world, one person at a time…inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science ‒ bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 126,500 employees at more than 265 Johnson & Johnson operating companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.

References

[i] In addition to all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as defined by the United Nations and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), countries included in this policy expansion are Algeria, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, and West Bank and Gaza.

[ii] Calculated using data from: UNICEF. Children, Adolescents and AIDS (2014 Statistical Update). http://www.childrenandaids.org/

[iii] Resource-limited settings under this policy include all Least Developed Countries (”LDCs”) as defined by the United Nations (http://www.unohrlls.org/en/ldc/25/) and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) which are not classified as LDCs.

[iv] World Health Organization. Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in Adults and Adolescents: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach, 2010 Revision. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599764_eng.pdf

CONTACT:  Joan Townsend, Janssen Communication Manager, [email protected]

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – Populus Global Solutions Inc., a New Brunswick, Canada-based company, is pleased to report that the Government of Barbados has launched its new National Health Information System using the Populus technology.

“In an instant, an individual’s medical history, latest blood test and investigations like X-rays, can be seen by attending physicians and assessed, thereby reducing duplication of effort and creating a more efficient and timely system,” the Honourable John Boyce, Minister of Health for Barbados, said in a statement, “the system has the potential to reduce inefficiencies including doctor shopping, out-of-stock drugs and medical supplies and lengthy waiting times for patient care. The seamless movement of information in a secure interface allows for faster decision-making and improved record keeping.”

The MedData System, as it is called in Barbados, gives doctors, nurses and other authorized medical personnel in the public health system easy access to the medical data of patients. All district hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and polyclinics will have the system in operation by the end of March 2016. The Minister also envisions private sector doctors interfacing with the system in the near future.

“The entire system was implemented in less than 10 months, on-time and on-budget,” says Tristan Rutter, CEO of Populus Global “the total project cost was US$1.7 million and was financed with the support of the World Bank who recognizes Populus as a global leader in health information systems.”

The Populus system provides a single electronic medical record for every Barbadian that is in the public health network. The Populus system electronically ties together all of the doctors, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the island nation. It provides an electronic prescription network, an inventory control module, maternal newborn child health, public health, and disease management (chronic and infectious) with a longitudinal patient record while providing the Health Department with comprehensive management data.

“Better patient care at lower costs is our mission,” says Rutter, “the Populus team was able to successfully implement the National Health System for Barbados on such a tight schedule and at the contracted costs because of our experience in running the national health system for the country of Belize as well as others.”

The Populus system was first implemented for the National Health System of Belize in 2007. The Populus health system is constantly upgraded and currently manages some one million transactions every day through a seamless and secure interface that allows for faster decision making, improved record keeping and better patient care. The integrated product was described as the most comprehensive in the world by a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation report.”

Major accomplishments for the project are: a governance structure has been established and is operational; capacity building, training, subject matter expert engagement has been strong; workflow studies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) creation; software configuration delivery and acceptance; installation on production hardware; the training of end users in the utilization of software; and imported multiple years of legacy and health data to facilitate a smooth transition for both patients and providers. The software is in use.

About Populus Global Solutions: Populus is a Fredericton based company. After three decades of relentless process improvement, visionary health sector reform, and delivering four of the world’s six fully integrated national Healthcare Information Systems (HIS), Populus technology is now universally recognized as a pillar of reform in healthcare information systems the world over.

Tristan Rutter, CEO, Telephone: 506.452.9780 ext 225, [email protected], www.populusgs.com

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY, JULY 28th

The Hepatitis C is a chronic illness, most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact and it is 5 times more disseminated than the HIV infection.

Is a silent illness considered by the World Health Organization as a “viral bomb”. Approximately 70% – 80% of the people with the illness do not know about it, due to the fact that symptoms present in advanced stages of the illness.

New treatment is now available in Trinidad, an innovative therapy that increases the possibility of cure from this illness up to 80% in patients infected by the Hepatitis C virus, genotype 1.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – The Chemistry, Food & Drugs Division of the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health approved the introduction of Telaprevir to the market, an innovative therapy that significantly increases the cure rate from Hepatitis C, and it is indicated for patients infected with the genotype 1 virus. Telaprevir is available in Trinidad under the trade brand INCIVO®.

Photo – http://www2.prnewswire.com.br/imgs/pub/2014-07-25/original/2026.jpg

Clinical studies show that the regimen of the treatment based in Telaprevir together with pegylated interferon + ribavirin increases the percentage of patients that get cured in up to 80% of the cases, significantly superior to the efficacy rates observed with the conventional treatment with dual therapy, available today.

Furthermore, triple therapy with the inclusion of Telaprevir avoids the progression of the illness, the need of a liver transplant, and the prevalence of long term complications, such as hepatic cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

Hepatitis C is one of the most prevalent illnesses throughout the world. It affects around 170 million people[1]. In its chronic phase, it is considered by the World Health Organization, as a “viral bomb”, and it may have severe consequences on the patients and the public health systems.[2]

Approximately 70% – 80% of the people with the illness do not know about it, due to the fact that symptoms present in advanced stages of the illness. Reason why it is extremely important to maximize the early diagnosis with new therapies which increase the possibility of getting cured.

Clinical manifestations of the infection by the Hepatitis C virus vary according to the acuteness or chronic phase of the illness. An acute infection is in most of the cases asymptomatic and it leads to a chronic infection in 80% of the cases. Of these patients, 20% develop hepatic cirrhosis, which is the previous step to hepatic failure. Of these 20%, from 3% to 5% develop liver cancer.

Not treating the illness may lead to complications that in an important number of patients may lead to the necessity of a liver transplant.  The transplant has additional complications of serious considerations, such as the availability of the organs, the high costs associated to it and the required post-transplant care. This may have severe consequences for the patients as well as for the public health systems.

The paradigm of the Hepatitis C treatment has changed, above all, starting with the arrival of therapeutic alternatives that directly attack the virus, increasing cure rates. We are facing a new era.   Medications that change the regimen of treatment and management of Hepatitis C with higher cure rates in patients infected with HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) genotype 1, which is most predominant genotype in our environment and the most resistant to treatments.

The main goal of the Hepatitis C treatment is to accomplish a sustained viral response (SVR); this means that the virus remains undetectable in the patient´s blood (known as undetectable viral load) six months after finishing the treatment[3]. The patients that achieve an SVR are considered cured.

Telaprevir is part of the Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs), which are medications directed to specific enzymes to block important stages of the Hepatitis C virus replication. The DAAs have the potential to help the patients achieve a sustained viral response (SVR).

Telaprevir is a protease inhibitor that is used for only 12 weeks, in all cases, offering this way, a short duration treatment for the patients.

This new therapeutic alternative, presented by the pharmaceutical laboratory Janssen, offers the possibility of shortening the treatment to half the time (with interferon + ribavirin), in 6 to 7 of every 10 patients. It is important that the management of the triple therapy (protease inhibitor as Telaprevir + interferon and ribavirin) is in the hands of experienced doctors in liver diseases.

The importance of the diagnosis

Since this is a treatable and curable illness in many  cases, it is crucial to put personal emphasis in the request of an Hepatitis C detection test, for which is necessary to work more as a team with the clinical doctors and increase the awareness of this public health necessity. Once the infection is diagnosed, the patient should be referred to the specialist for him to evaluate the integrated approach and the needed treatment.

Part of the difficulty in the diagnosis generates in the fact that it is a highly asymptomatic illness or with vague symptoms, such as tiredness and fatigue.

Populations that are in high risk of bearing the virus, exist: intravenous drug users (current or previous), people with conditions associated with high prevalence of HIV, patients with hemophilia that received blood transfusions before 1992, people that have been in hemodialysis, people with elevated transaminases, transfusion receptors or organ transplants before July 1992, children of mothers with Hepatitis C, sexual partners of people with Hepatitis C and health personnel.

[1]-[2] World Health Organization.  Hepatitis C Weekly Epidemiological Record. 1997;82:65-69

[3] The Hepatitis C Trust. Treatments: Potential New Drugs. [cited 2010 Feb 20]

CONTACT: Joyce Nota, +507-6550-4170, [email protected]