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PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Scilex Holding Company (SCILEX), a subsidiary of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRNE), announced that, effective September 1, 2021, ZTlido® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8% has been added to multiple formularies, including two national PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers), a national health plan and two regional health plans – thereby expanding coverage by up to 33 million lives. ZTlido (zee-tee-lie-doh) is indicated for relief of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), also referred to as post-shingles pain.

“With this expansion, up to 65% of lives nationally have covered or better access to ZTlido, with a reduction in need for prior authorization,” said Jaisim Shah, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scilex Holding Company. “ZTlido provides fast and significant PHN pain relief that can be sustained over time – without the trade-offs associated with other widely used options, notably impaired cognition and weight gain (seen with gabapentinoids), and analgesic tolerance and risk of addiction (seen with opioids). ^1-4 In fact, ZTlido can be used in combination to optimize gabapentinoids by delivering additive, remarkable pain relief without adding to systemic adverse events – and the combination has the potential to reduce the use of opioids.”^1,5,6,*

However, not all lidocaine patch products are created equal. ZTlido 1.8% uses proprietary ZTech advanced technology to provide 9x greater bioavailability versus 5% lidocaine patch and superior adhesion proven in head-to-head studies, and while showering, bathing or exercising.^7-12 This ensures that pain relief is delivered for the full treatment duration, without interrupting a patient’s routine.

ZTlido was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 for relief of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in adults. Side effects of ZTlido include application site reactions such as, irritation, erythema, and pruritus.

About ZTlido® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8%

Indication: ZTLIDO is indicated for relief of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in adults.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications: ZTLIDO is contraindicated in patients with a known history of sensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide type, or to any other component of the product.

Warnings and Precautions: Accidental exposure can occur even after a ZTLIDO patch has been used. Small children or pets could suffer serious adverse effects from chewing or ingesting a new or used ZTLIDO patch. Store and dispose of patches properly and keep out of reach of children and pets.

Excessive dosing or overexposure to lidocaine can occur. Longer duration of application, application of more than the recommended number of patches, smaller patients, or impaired elimination may all contribute to increased blood concentration levels of lidocaine. If lidocaine overdose is suspected, check drug blood concentration. Management of overdose includes close monitoring, supportive care, and symptomatic treatment.

Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported with local anesthetic use, although patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia, cardiac or pulmonary compromise, or concurrent exposure to oxidizing agents or their metabolites are more susceptible to developing clinical manifestations of the condition. Signs and symptoms include cyanotic skin discoloration and/or abnormal coloration of the blood and may occur immediately or may be delayed after exposure. Methemoglobin levels may continue to rise leading to more serious central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse effects. Discontinue ZTLIDO and any other oxidizing agents. Depending on severity of the symptoms, patients may respond to supportive care or may require treatment with methylene blue, exchange transfusion, or hyperbaric oxygen.

Application site reactions can occur during or immediately after treatment with ZTLIDO. This may include development of blisters, bruising, burning sensation, depigmentation, dermatitis, discoloration, edema, erythema, exfoliation, irritation, papules, petechia, pruritus, vesicles, or may be the locus of abnormal sensation. These reactions are generally mild and transient, resolving spontaneously within a few minutes to hours. If application site reactions occur while the topical system is being worn, advise the patient to remove ZTLIDO and not to reapply until skin reactions subside.

Hypersensitivity cross-reactions may be possible for patients allergic to PABA derivatives. Manage hypersensitivity reactions by conventional means.

Eye exposure with ZTLIDO should be avoided. If eye contact occurs, immediately wash out the eye with water or saline and protect the eye (such as, eyeglasses/eyewear) until sensation returns.

Adverse Reactions: Side effects of ZTLIDO include application site reactions such as irritation, erythema, and pruritus. These are not all of the adverse reactions that may occur. Please see Full Prescribing Information for more information.

Use in Specific Populations: Use of ZTLIDO during lactation should be used with caution as lidocaine is excreted into breast milk. The limited human data with lidocaine in pregnant woman is not sufficient to inform drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact SCILEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-866-SCILEX3 or contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

*Less is More: ZTlido 1.8% uses proprietary ZTech advanced technology for proven bioequivalence to 5% lidocaine patch, but with 9x greater bioavailability.^7-9 Data are from studies performed with 5% lidocaine patch.

About Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

Sorrento is a clinical stage, antibody-centric, biopharmaceutical company developing new therapies to treat cancers and COVID-19. Sorrento’s multimodal, multipronged approach to fighting cancer is made possible by its extensive immuno-oncology platforms, including key assets such as fully human antibodies (“G-MAB™ library”), clinical stage immuno-cellular therapies (“CAR-T”, “DAR-T™”), antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”), and clinical stage oncolytic virus (“Seprehvir™”). Sorrento is also developing potential antiviral therapies and vaccines against coronaviruses, including COVIGUARD™, COVI-AMG™, COVISHIELD™, Gene-MAb™, COVI-MSC™ and COVIDROPS™; and diagnostic test solutions, including COVITRACK™, COVI-STIX™ and COVITRACE™.

Sorrento’s commitment to life-enhancing therapies for patients is also demonstrated by our effort to advance a first-in-class (TRPV1 agonist) non-opioid pain management small molecule, resiniferatoxin (“RTX”), and SP-102 (10 mg, dexamethasone sodium phosphate viscous gel) (SEMDEXA™), a novel, viscous gel formulation of a widely used corticosteroid for epidural injections to treat lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica, and to commercialize ZTlido® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8% for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. RTX has completed a Phase IB trial for intractable pain associated with cancer and a Phase 1B trial in osteoarthritis patients. SEMDEXA is in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for the treatment of lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica. ZTlido® was approved by the FDA on February 28, 2018.

For more information visit www.sorrentotherapeutics.com.

About Scilex Holding

Scilex Holding Company, a subsidiary of Sorrento, is a commercial-stage, non-opioid pain management company focused on the development and commercialization of topical and injectable therapies. Scilex targets indications with high unmet needs and large market opportunities with non-opioid therapies for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe pain. Scilex launched its first commercial product in October 2018 and is developing its late-stage pipeline, which includes a pivotal Phase 3 candidate and one Phase 2 and one Phase 1/2 candidate. Its commercial product, ZTlido® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8%, or ZTlido®, is a prescription lidocaine topical product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the relief of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia, which is a form of post-shingles nerve pain. Scilex’s three product candidates are SP-102 (injectable dexamethasone sodium phosphate viscous gel product containing 10 mg dexamethasone), or SEMDEXA™, a Phase 3, novel, viscous gel formulation of a widely used corticosteroid for epidural injections to treat lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica, with FDA Fast Track status; SP-103 (lidocaine topical system) 5.4%, or SP-103, a Phase 2, next-generation, triple-strength formulation of ZTlido®, for the treatment of low back pain, and SP-104, 4.5 mg Delayed Burst Release Low Dose Naltrexone Hydrochloride (DBR-LDN) Capsule, for the treatment of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic post-COVID syndrome (“long haul COVID” or “long COVID”) in multiple Phase 1 programs planned to be initiated this year. For further information regarding the SP-102 Phase 3 efficacy trial, see NCT identifier NCT03372161 – Corticosteroid Lumbar Epidural Analgesia for Radiculopathy – Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov

Scilex Holding Company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with operations in both Palo Alto and San Diego, California. For further information please visit www.scilexpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release and any statements made for and during any presentation or meeting contain forward-looking statements related to Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including but not limited to Scilex Holding Company, under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the advantages of ZTlido over other products, including with respect to trade-offs associated with other available options and its bioavailability and adhesive qualities; the use of ZTlido in combination with gabapentinoids and any potential reduction in the use of opioids; ZTlido’s ability to deliver pain relief for the full treatment duration; and Scilex’s and Sorrento’s prospects and strategy and other forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: that ZTlido may not be commercially successful and other risks that are described in Sorrento’s most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Sorrento’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors set forth in those filings. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in this press release except as required by law.

Media and Investor Relations Contact:

Alexis Nahama, DVM (SVP Corporate Development)
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 1.858.203.4120

Sorrento® and the Sorrento logo are registered trademarks of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
G-MAB™, DAR-T™, COVIGUARD™, COVI-AMG™, COVISHIELD™, Gene-MAb™, COVIDROPS™, COVI-MSC™, COVITRACK™, COVITRACE™ and COVISTIX™ are trademarks of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
SEMDEXA™ is a trademark of Semnur Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
SCILEX® and ZTlido® are registered trademarks of Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

©2021 Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

References:

1. Rehm S, Binder A, Baron R. Post-herpetic neuralgia: 5% lidocaine medicated plaster, pregabalin, or a combination of both? A randomized, open, clinical effectiveness study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26(7):1607‐1619.
2. Baron R, Mayoral V, Leijon G, Binder A, Steigerwald I, Serpell M. 5% lidocaine medicated plaster versus pregabalin in post‐herpetic neuralgia and diabetic polyneuropathy: an open‐label, non‐inferiority two‐stage RCT study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2009;25(7):1663‐1676.
3. Rowbotham MC, Davies PS, Verkempinck C, Galer BS. Lidocaine patch: double‐blind controlled study of a new treatment method for post‐herpetic neuralgia. Pain. 1996;65(1):39‐44.
4. Sabatowski R, Hans G, Tacken I, Kapanadze S, Buchheister B, Baron R. Safety and efficacy outcomes of long-term treatment up to 4 years with 5% lidocaine medicated plaster in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. Curr Med Res Opin. 2012;28(8):1337-1346.
5. Clere F, Delorme‐Morin C, George B, et al. 5% lidocaine medicated plaster in elderly patients with postherpetic neuralgia: results of a compassionate use programme in France. Drugs Aging. 2011;28(9):693‐702.
6. Amato F, Duse G, Consoletti L, et al. Efficacy and safety of 5% lidocaine‐medicated plasters in localized pain with neuropathic and/or inflammatory characteristics: an observational, real‐world study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2017;21(18):4228‐4235.
7. LIDODERM® (lidocaine patch 5%) [prescribing information]. Malvern, PA: Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc; 2018.
8. Data on file. SCILEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. SCI-LIDO-PK-001.
9. Gudin J, Argoff C, Nalamachu s. 1.8% lidocaine patch (ZTlido): review of a new formulation. Postgrad Med. 2015;127(suppl):S44-S45.
10. Webster L, Mallick-Searle T, Adler JA, Greuber E, Patel K, Vought K. ZTlido® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8% has superior adhesion compared to generic Mylan lidocaine patch 5%. Poster presented at: PAINWeek; September 3-7, 2019; Las Vegas, NV.
11. SCILEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. Data on file: SCI-LIDO-ADH-003.
12. SCILEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. Data on file: SCI-LIDO-ADH-002.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC announced today that financial advisors Tracy Applewhite and Sean Tyll have joined LPL, affiliating with Linsco by LPL Financial, the firm’s employee advisor model. They reported having served approximately $185 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets*. They join LPL from Wells Fargo Advisors and will be the anchor tenants for a new Linsco office in Richmond, Va.

Applewhite and Tyll partnered in 2017, recognizing that by combining their unique backgrounds and perspectives they could do more for their clients. They take a team approach as they help clients navigate the four cornerstones of comprehensive wealth management: investments, liability management, risk management and estate planning strategies. Although they have a broad client base, their niche is working with clients who are contemplating retirement or have already retired.

Looking to elevate the client experience and take more control of the business, they chose to move to LPL and rebrand their practice to Applewhite Tyll Retirement Planners. “We took a look at our practice and how the market is changing, and strategically this move gives us the resources to do more for our clients,” Tyll said, noting that he is especially looking forward to having a social media presence to help deepen the connection with clients and reach new prospects. “We really want to have that hometown feel and be more involved in the community. By joining LPL, we can keep our clients’ best interests at the forefront of everything we do.”

‘Exciting’ support from Linsco

In selecting a new partner, the advisors said Linsco stood out. “What LPL offers with Linsco is really exciting,” Applewhite said. “We own our practice, but we do not have to worry about the operations side of the practice. It allows us to focus on clients’ first and really give them the white glove service they deserve. Ultimately, everything we do is to benefit our clients.”

Linsco advisors have brand autonomy and the ability to make decisions on how to best run their practice. With access to LPL’s integrated wealth management platform and sophisticated resources, advisors are also equipped with everything they need to run a thriving practice and create differentiated experiences for clients. On top of this, Linsco advisors receive an additional layer of comprehensive turnkey support such as a dedicated marketing consultant, administrative professional services and an experienced branch management team to help support the goals of their business.

With the launch of Applewhite Tyll Retirement Planners, LPL will open a new office in Richmond that will have space for several additional Linsco advisors and their teams. This is the second Linsco office to open this summer, with the other based in Raleigh, N.C.

Scott Posner, LPL executive vice president, Business Development, said, “We are excited to welcome Tracy and Sean to the LPL community. At LPL, we are committed to creating a differentiated and compelling experience for both advisors and their clients. We deliver independent solutions designed to meet advisors where they are in the evolution of their practice, providing them with choice and flexibility in how they manage and grow their business. We look forward to a long-lasting, productive and exciting journey ahead with Applewhite Tyll Retirement Planners and are excited to expand the Linsco presence in Richmond.”

Related


Inside the Linsco by LPL Financial model

Read about other firms that recently joined LPL in the LPL Financial News and Media section of LPL.com. Advisors, find an LPL business development representative near you.

About LPL Financial:


LPL Financial (Nasdaq: LPLA) was founded on the principle that the firm should work for the advisor, and not the other way around. Today, LPL is a leader** in the markets we serve, supporting more than 19,000 financial advisors, 800 institution-based investment programs and 450 independent RIA firms nationwide. We are steadfast in our commitment to the advisor-centered model and the belief that Americans deserve access to objective guidance from a financial advisor. At LPL, independence means that advisors have the freedom they deserve to choose the business model, services, and technology resources that allow them to run their perfect practice. And they have the freedom to manage their client relationships, because they know their clients best. Simply put, we take care of our advisors, so they can take care of their clients.

** Top RIA custodian (Cerulli Associates, 2019 U.S. RIA Marketplace Report); No. 1 Independent Broker-Dealer in the U.S (Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine June 1996-2020); No. 1 provider of third-party brokerage services to banks and credit unions (2019-2020 Kehrer Bielan Research & Consulting Annual TPM Report); Fortune 500 as of June 2021.

*Based on prior business and represents assets that would have been custodied at LPL Financial, rather than third-party custodians. Reported assets and client numbers have not been independently and fully verified by LPL Financial.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC, an SEC- registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. 

Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial LLC. We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

Connect with Us!

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https://www.youtube.com/user/lplfinancialllc

Media Contact:


Lauren Hoyt-Williams
(980) 321-1232
[email protected] 

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Many consumers may soon be able to buy life insurance more quickly without undergoing inconvenient at-home medical tests. Management Research Services (MRS), a cutting-edge technology and data provider for the life insurance industry, is integrating Verisk’s groundbreaking proprietary voice analytics into its telephone medical interviews to help flag potential tobacco users early and streamline the underwriting workflow.

MRS is implementing Verisk’s Tobacco Usage Propensity Model, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze audio interviews. Recorded with the customer’s consent, the cutting-edge audio analysis can flag probable tobacco users. MRS will then apply the rules it has developed, based on Verisk’s model output, to identify a small percentage of applicants who may require lab testing to verify their tobacco usage status, while enabling the vast majority of applicants to bypass lab testing.

“Verisk will add tremendous value for our customers,” said Tim Dineen, CEO of MRS. “This technological integration will amplify the power of a service they’re already using without slowing down the process or degrading the buying experience.”

Verisk’s use of predictive analytics on emerging data assets such as voice analysis is poised to enhance underwriting accuracy as well as customer experiences while also helping insurers achieve greater straight-through processing at the point of sale.  

“This integration illustrates how life insurers can quickly and easily pull voice analytics into their underwriting workflows for an immediate, positive and measurable impact,” said Maroun Mourad, president of global underwriting at Verisk. “Our model supports more straight-through processing, enabling the majority of applicants to avoid traditional testing and help obtain coverage more quickly. It’s truly a win-win situation, since insurers can reduce premium leakage related to tobacco nondisclosure, which may cost the industry more than $10 billion in lost premiums over the next three years.”

The model is part of Verisk’s suite of interconnected solutions that apply advanced analytics, automation and machine learning to existing and emerging data sources. The solutions are designed to transform current workflows in life insurance underwriting, life and pension analytics, claim insights, compliance and fraud detection, and actuarial and portfolio modeling.

To learn more about Verisk’s life insurance solutions, visit verisk.com/life.

About Verisk

Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) provides predictive analytics and decision-support solutions to customers in the insurance, energy and specialized markets, and financial services industries. More than 70 percent of the FORTUNE 100 relies on the company’s advanced technologies to manage risks, make better decisions, and improve operating efficiency. The company’s analytic solutions address insurance underwriting and claims, fraud, regulatory compliance, natural resources, catastrophes, economic forecasting, geopolitical risks, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the company continues to make the world better, safer and stronger and fosters an inclusive and diverse culture where all team members feel they belong. With more than 100 offices in nearly 35 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work. For more: Verisk.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

About MRS

MRS provides a high-end technology product to the life, health, and annuity insurance industries. In today’s world where “the only thing constant is change,” that original vision has been expanded to include more services and technology capabilities designed to help clients adapt quickly and in a cost-effective way. MRS has invested heavily in its technology platform to create a foundation for the next revolution in life insurance. MRS’s No-Code platform provides all the tools needed to build a highly secure, complex application that efficiently collects voice and electronic data without writing a single line of code. The result is a vastly reduced time to market with no initial or ongoing maintenance costs making the total cost of ownership substantially lower than status quo solutions. The platform’s ability to support powerful reflexive logic makes the MRS rules engine extremely efficient in collecting all information needed to make a point-of-sale decision. The capabilities and flexibility of the platform allow customers to use the MRS technology platform as their single solution or as a tool to support and enhance current technology solutions they already have in place.

Media Contacts:
Ali Krueger Herbert (for Verisk)
551-204-6592
[email protected]

Dave Racine (for MRS)
414-534-6948
[email protected]

DEERFIELD, Ill., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Surgalign Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: SRGA) a global medical technology company focused on elevating the standard of care by driving the evolution of digital surgery, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently issued a patent covering a machine learning system for automated segmentation of a three-dimensional bony structure in a medical image. The granted patent expands and further strengthens the company’s HOLO AI technology portfolio.

“This patent is a foundational element of how we harness technology and data to power our digital surgery platform,” said Terry Rich, Surgalign’s president and chief executive officer. “While ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘machine learning’ have become buzzwords that are often misused, misrepresented, and misunderstood, at Surgalign AI is a core competency and a key element of our efficient and highly valuable approach to improving patient’s lives.”

“This machine learning based approach is key for teaching the computer anatomy,” said Dr. Kris Siemionow, MD, PhD and Surgalign’s Chief Medical Officer. “This has created an opportunity for us to develop a variety of applications in which AI can assist the physician both inside and outside of the operating room.”

Surgalign is committed to applying its HOLO AI portfolio to help improve patient outcomes across the continuum of care, and continues to advance its clinical development and commercialization strategy. The first applications are intended for the U.S. where more than 1.5 million instrumented spinal procedures are performed each year.

About Surgalign Holdings, Inc.

Surgalign Holdings, Inc. is a global medical technology company committed to the promise of digital surgery and is building out its digital surgery platform to drive transformation across the surgical landscape. Uniquely aligned and resourced to advance the standard of care, the company is building technologies surgeons will look to for what is truly possible for their patients. Surgalign is focused on bringing surgeons solutions that predictably deliver superior clinical and economic outcomes. Surgalign markets products throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide through an expanding network of top independent distributors. Surgalign, a member of AdvaMed, is headquartered in Deerfield, IL, with commercial, innovation and design centers in San Diego, CA, Warsaw, Poland, and Wurmlingen, Germany. Learn more at www.surgalign.com and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, our management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by our management. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results reflected in these forward-looking statements. Copies of the company’s SEC filings may be obtained by contacting the company or the SEC or by visiting Surgalign’s website at www.surgalign.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Investor and Media Contact:

Jonathon Singer
[email protected]
+1 224 303 4651 

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological 
Defense Programs, Andrew C. Weber

Expert on Chemical and Biological Weapons, Dr. Gregory Koblentz

DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heat Biologics,Inc. (“Heat”)(NASDAQ:HTBX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class therapies to modulate the immune system, announces the following additions to its newly formed Biothreat Advisory Board: Andrew C. Weber, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs; and Dr. Gregory Koblentz, Associate Professor at George Mason University and leading expert on chemical and biological weapons. These individuals join David Lasseter, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Former US Representative Jack Kingston, who also serves as the Secretariat of the Alliance for Biosecurity.

Jeff Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of Heat, commented, “We are delighted to announce the addition of these highly renowned individuals in the fields of biosecurity and biodefense to our biothreat advisory board. As the former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, Mr. Weber has deep insight into the potential threats facing our nation and best potential avenues for developing effective solutions. Professor Koblentz is one of the leading global thought leaders in the field of chemical and biological weapons.”

Andy Weber is a Senior Fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks’ Janne E. Nolan Center on Strategic Weapons. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Weber has dedicated his professional life to countering nuclear, chemical, and biological threats and to strengthening global health security. Mr. Weber’s decades of U.S. government service included five-and-a-half years as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. He was a driving force behind reducing biological weapons threats, and destroying Libyan and Syrian chemical weapons stockpiles. In addition, he coordinated U.S. leadership of the international Ebola response for the Department of State.

Dr. Gregory D. Koblentz is an Associate Professor and Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. He is also an Associate Faculty at the Center for Security Policy Studies at George Mason and a member of the Scientists Working Group on Chemical and Biological Security at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington, DC. He has published widely on issues related to the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and has briefed the UN Security Council on the threat of non-state actors acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction.

“We are very enthusiastic about our efforts in the biodefense space,” added Wolf. “Our Biothreat Advisory Board brings deep insight and relationships that we expect will be instrumental in advancing our new biothreat initiatives. We look forward to providing more details as developments unfold.”

About Heat Biologics, Inc.

Heat Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class therapies to modulate the immune system. Heat’s gp96 platform is designed to activate immune responses against cancer or infectious diseases. The Company has multiple product candidates in development leveraging the gp96 platform, including HS-110, which has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 trial, various infectious disease/biological threat programs in preclinical development and a pipeline of proprietary immunomodulatory antibodies and cell-based therapies, including PTX-35 and HS-130 in Phase 1 clinical trials.

For more information, please visit: www.heatbio.com, and also follow us on Twitter.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 on our current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. These statements are based upon current beliefs, expectation, and assumptions and include statements regarding the
contributions to be made by the advisory board, the
Board bringing deep insight and relationships that will be instrumental in advancing our new biothreat initiatives
and providing more details as developments unfold. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, including the ability of Heat to successfully develop a new biosecurity/biodefense initiative and benefit from the contributions of the advisory board, the ability of Heat’s therapies to perform as designed, to demonstrate safety and efficacy, as well as results that are consistent with prior results, the ability to enroll patients and complete the clinical trials on time and achieve desired results and benefits, especially in light of COVID-19, Heat’s ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to Heat’s ability to promote or commercialize its product candidates for specific indications, acceptance of its product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of products, Heat’s ability to maintain its license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of its patent estate, its ability to establish and maintain collaborations, its ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund its research and development activities and its cash and short-term investments providing significant runway to fund Heat’s current clinical programs and further expand Heat’s therapeutic portfolio , its ability to continue to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and its ability to retain its key scientists or management personnel, and the other factors described in Heat’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC, and other subsequent filings with the SEC. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Heat undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release based on new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media and Investor Relations Contact

David Waldman
+1 919 289 4017
[email protected]

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 180 Life Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNF) (180 Life Sciences or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel drugs that fulfill unmet needs in inflammatory diseases, fibrosis and pain, today announced that it has entered into securities purchase agreements with certain institutional investors to raise approximately $15.0 million through the private placement of 2,500,000 shares of its common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock at a combined purchase price of $6.00 per share and accompanying warrant.  The warrants will be exercisable immediately at an exercise price of $7.50 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The closing of the private placement is expected to occur on August 23, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions set forth in the securities purchase agreements.

Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole placement agent for the transaction.

The shares of common stock and warrants described above have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The securities were offered only to accredited investors. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with the investors, the Company has agreed to file one or more registration statements with the SEC covering the resale of the shares of common stock and the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About 180 Life Sciences Corp.

180 Life Sciences Corp. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel drugs that fulfill unmet needs in inflammatory diseases, fibrosis and pain by leveraging the combined expertise of luminaries in therapeutics from Oxford University, the Hebrew University and Stanford University. 180 Life Sciences is leading the research into solving one of the world’s biggest drivers of disease – inflammation. The Company is driving groundbreaking studies into clinical programs, which are seeking to develop novel drugs addressing separate areas of inflammation for which there are no effective therapies. The Company’s primary platform is a novel program to treat fibrosis using anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements”, including information about management’s view of the Company’s future expectations, plans and prospects, within the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, statements relating to expectations regarding the capitalization, resources, and funding of the Company; expectations regarding future agreements relating to the supply of materials and license and commercialization of products; the availability and cost of materials required for trials; the risk that initial drug results will not be able to be replicated in clinical trials or that such drugs selected for clinical development will not be successful; challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; expectations with respect to future performance, growth and anticipated acquisitions; the closing of the offering, which is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions; the continued listing of the Company on The NASDAQ Stock Market; expectations regarding the capitalization, resources and ownership structure of the Company; expectations with respect to future performance, growth and anticipated acquisitions; the ability of the Company to execute its plans to develop and market new drug products and the timing and costs of these development programs; estimates of the size of the markets for its potential drug products; potential litigation involving the Company or the validity or enforceability of the intellectual property of the Company; global economic conditions; geopolitical events and regulatory changes; the expectations, development plans and anticipated timelines for the Company’s drug candidates, pipeline and programs, including collaborations with third parties; access to additional financing, and the potential lack of such financing; and the Company’s ability to raise funding in the future and the terms of such funding. These risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. These reports and filings are available at www.sec.gov. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company, the transactions described herein or other matters and attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as otherwise provided by law.

Investors:

Jason Assad
Director of IR
180 Life Sciences Corp
(678) 570-6791
[email protected]

Media Relations:

Russo Partners
David Schull
[email protected]
(212) 845-4271

PHOENIX, Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leslie’s, Inc. (“Leslie’s” or the “Company”; NASDAQ: LESL), the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, announced that it has appointed James R. Ray, Jr. to its Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome James to our Board of Directors,” said Steven Ortega, Leslie’s Chairman of the Board. “With James’ appointment we continue to evolve our governance structure as an independent company. James will be a valuable addition to our team bringing significant experience as a seasoned leader with expertise in supply chain, strategy development and execution, as well as M&A.”

“Leslie’s has built a leadership position in the industry and has established proven strategies to further expand market share. I am excited to join Leslie’s Board, and I look forward to contributing to their ongoing success,” said James Ray, Jr.

Mr. Ray is currently on the Board of Directors at Commercial Vehicle Group and R.R. Donnelley & Sons. He recently retired from Stanley Black & Decker in November 2020 as President, Global Engineered Fastening Business Unit after joining the company in 2013 and serving in various leadership roles. Prior to joining Stanley, Mr. Ray served as Sr. VP and GM for Americas Automotive Business at TE Connectivity. Earlier in his career, he served as VP Global Driveline Business Unit at Delphi and various executive leadership positions in engineering and operations with Delphi. Mr. Ray started his career with GM as a college intern in 1983 with various assignments of increasing responsibility in product engineering and manufacturing operations.

Mr. Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Howard University and a master’s degree in manufacturing management from Kettering University. He also holds an executive education certificate from Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University and Thunderbird Graduate School for International Management at Arizona State University.

About Leslie’s

Founded in 1963, Leslie’s is the largest direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, serving residential, professional, and commercial consumers. Leslie’s markets its products through more than 950 physical locations and multiple digital platforms. The company employs more than 5,000 associates, pool and spa care experts, and certified technicians who are passionate about empowering consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas.

Contact

Investors

Farah Soi/Caitlin Churchill
ICR
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/013dbe6b-077e-4508-8844-68aaca962c84

What you need to know:

• Verizon is testing how a Quantum Safe VPN can future-proof data from the threat of hackers.
• Hackers could capture data today and store it until quantum computers have the power to break the encryption, enabling them to steal everything from company data to military secrets.
• In a recent trial, Verizon successfully tested how a Quantum Safe VPN could replace the current public key encryption methods to establish encryption keys using Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
  

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verizon is testing how a Quantum Safe Virtual Private Network (VPN) can enhance protection of data today in order to thwart hackers in the future. As quantum computers become more advanced, they will have the potential to break today’s public key encryption ciphers. Theoretically, hackers could capture data riding on networks today and store it until quantum computers have the power to break the encryption. It’s a little like stealing a bank safe today and holding on to it until someone discovers how to pick the lock. Verizon, and others, believe the key to safeguarding information will be a Quantum Safe VPN. This technology uses session key exchange security mechanisms or cryptographic ciphers that can provide a higher level of protection. Essentially, it’s a solution that enhances encryption methodologies today in order to make them even more difficult to hack tomorrow.

In a recent trial, Verizon successfully tested how a Quantum Safe VPN can replace the current public key encryption methods to establish encryption keys using Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Keys or ciphers were exchanged between two private 5G networks located in Verizon’s 5G Lab in London and its Executive Briefing Center in Ashburn, VA. The goal of this trial was to demonstrate that early adoption of PQC could prepare today’s data from tomorrow’s attacks. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working on a global effort to find PQC algorithms that will be fast and trustworthy, but finalization and integration of the NIST PQC standards may take many years. In the meantime, tests like this demonstrate it is possible to implement NIST PQC cryptography candidates on infrastructure links now with the ability to easily migrate as needed between the different PQC candidates.

Watch the video here.

“Verizon continues to innovate and test new quantum technologies because now is the time to assess risks of security breaches and develop mitigation strategies to ensure safe networks and communications in the future for consumers and enterprises,” said Jean McManus, Executive Director of Applied Research at Verizon. “While it may be 5 to 10 years before quantum computers are powerful enough to break today’s encryption used in e-commerce and VPNs, it’s important to explore new security methods today to ensure our information is safe down the road.”

Last year, Verizon became one of the first carriers in the U.S. to pilot Quantum Key Distribution, another quantum-based technology that can strengthen security. In the trial, live video was captured outside of three Verizon locations in the D.C. area, including the Washington DC Executive Briefing Center, the 5G Lab in D.C and Verizon’s Executive Briefing Center in Ashburn, VA. Using a QKD network, quantum keys were created and exchanged over a fiber network between Verizon locations. The trial demonstrated that with QKD, encryption keys are continuously distributed in a provably secure manner, which through the properties of quantum mechanics, prevents meaningful eavesdropping and detects the presence of eavesdroppers.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.

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Media contact:

Chris Ashraf
[email protected]
201.320.4259