Market Newsdesk

RADNOR, Pa., April 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) (“AgEagle”) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired AgEagle securities between September 3, 2019 and February 18, 2021, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

Investor Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or acquired AgEagle securities


during the Class Period may,



no later than April 27, 2021



, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Adrienne Bell, Esq. (484) 270-1435; toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at

[email protected]; orclick https://www.ktmc.com/ageagle-aerial-systems-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eagle

AgEagle is a commercial drone company that is engaged in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of commercial drones, as well as in providing drone services and solutions to the agriculture industry.

Throughout the Class Period, AgEagle signaled to investors that AgEagle had partnered with Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”) to manufacture and assemble drones for the delivery of consumer goods.

However, on October 14, 2020, news broke that Amazon did not have a partnership agreement with AgEagle, and in fact never did. The Wichita Business Journal published a story with the headline: “Exclusive: Who’s AgEagle’s big customer? We now know who it’s not.” The article reported that AgEagle was not partnering with Amazon.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) AgEagle did not have a partnership with Amazon and in fact never had any relationship with Amazon; (2) rather than correct the public’s understanding about a partnership with Amazon, the defendants were actively contributing to the rumor that AgEagle had a partnership with Amazon; and (3) as a result, the defendants’ statements about AgEagle’s business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

AgEagle investors may, no later than April 27, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.  A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation.  In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member’s claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class.  Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. 

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world.  The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars).  The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
Adrienne Bell, Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(844) 887-9500 (toll free)
[email protected]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FULC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases, today presented the medicinal chemistry strategy for FTX-6058 at the First Time Disclosure Session at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2021 National Meeting. FTX-6058 is a highly potent orally bioavailable small molecule EED inhibitor for the potential treatment of select hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. The validation of EED as a fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inducer target for sickle cell disease was conducted using FulcrumSeek, Fulcrum’s proprietary product engine.

“We are pleased to report progress on our development of FTX-6058 including the first publication of the structure of this compelling EED inhibitor,” said Chris Moxham, Ph.D., Fulcrum’s chief scientific officer. “We believe that this oral, once-a-day therapy with an impressive preclinical pharmacological profile has the potential to provide a meaningful therapeutic benefit to patients with sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. We are also excited to report initial PK results from the SAD cohort and that our Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers continues to progress with initiation of the multiple ascending dose cohorts. We expect to report the full data from this Phase 1 trial mid-year.”

FTX-6058 inhibits PRC2 via binding to EED, which induces robust HbF protein expression in both cell and murine models. Increasing HbF has the potential to prevent or reduce disease-related pathophysiology and reduce the risk of recurring events such as vaso-occlusive crises and hemolysis. Preclinical data with FTX-6058 showed an increase in HbF levels up to approximately 30% of total hemoglobin, demonstrating the potential to have a significant impact in patients with sickle cell disease. Human genetic data further indicate that individuals with the sickle cell mutation and high HbF levels may have asymptomatic disease, underscoring the protective effect of increased HbF.

Fulcrum’s Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers is evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of FTX-6058. Dosing has been initiated in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts of the trial. Dosing continues in the single ascending dose (SAD) portion. The company anticipates sharing data from this Phase 1 trial in mid-2021 and initiating a clinical trial in sickle cell patients by the end of 2021.

Today’s presentation, titled “Discovery of clinical candidate FTX-6058: a potent, orally bioavailable upregulator of fetal hemoglobin for treatment of sickle cell disease”, will be available in the “Publications” section of fulcrumtx.com.

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder of the red blood cells caused by a mutation in the HBB gene. This gene encodes a protein that is a key component of hemoglobin, a protein complex whose function is to transport oxygen in the body. The result of the mutation is less efficient oxygen transport and the formation of red blood cells that have a sickle shape. These sickle shaped cells are much less flexible than healthy cells and can block blood vessels or rupture cells. SCD patients typically suffer from serious clinical consequences, which may include anemia, pain, infections, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, kidney failure, liver disease and reduced life expectancy.

About FTX-6058

FTX-6058 is a highly potent small molecule inhibitor of Embryonic Ectoderm Development (EED) capable of inducing robust HbF protein expression in cell and murine models. Fulcrum believes the pharmacokinetics and human dose simulations support that FTX-6058 may be given as a once daily oral compound. The validation of EED as a target for sickle cell disease and the discovery of FTX-6058 as a novel HbF-inducing small molecule were conducted using Fulcrum’s proprietary product engine. Preclinical data with FTX-6058 showed an increase in HbF levels up to approximately 30% of total hemoglobin. Fulcrum has initiated a Phase 1 trial with FTX-6058 in healthy adult volunteers.

About Fulcrum Therapeutics

Fulcrum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases in areas of high unmet medical need. Fulcrum’s proprietary product engine identifies drug targets which can modulate gene expression to treat the known root cause of gene mis-expression. The company has advanced losmapimod to Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Fulcrum has also advanced FTX-6058, a small molecule designed to increase expression of fetal hemoglobin for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia into Phase 1 clinical development.

Please visit www.fulcrumtx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the development status of the Company’s product candidates, the potential advantages and therapeutic potential of Fulcrum’s product candidates, initiation and enrollment of clinical trials and availability of clinical trial data, and the Company’s ability to fund its operations with cash on hand. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding the Company’s strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with Fulcrum’s ability to obtain and maintain necessary approvals from the FDA and other regulatory authorities; continue to advance its product candidates in clinical trials; initiate and enroll clinical trials on the timeline expected or at all; correctly estimate the potential patient population and/or market for the Company’s product candidates; obtain, maintain or protect intellectual property rights related to its product candidates; manage expenses; and raise the substantial additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the “Risk Factors” section, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors, in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

Contact:

Investors:

Christi Waarich
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
[email protected]
617-651-8664

Stephanie Ascher
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
[email protected]
212-362-1200

Media:

Kaitlin Gallagher
Berry & Company Public Relations
[email protected]
212-253-8881

PHOENIX, April 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For the first time, a majority of Arizona parents say they will forbid their kids to play football because of concussion concerns, according to a survey by Phoenix’s Barrow Neurological Institute.

But that attitude does not extend to contact sports in general – the percentage of parents who allow contact sports increased for the first time in three years, the survey found. And girls’ soccer participation is rising despite the relatively high concussion risks in that sport.

“Parents are clearly deciding that football has too much risk of concussion, but they don’t feel that way about contact sports,” says Dr. Javier Cárdenas, director of the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, which is part of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. “It is true that football has the highest concussion rates, but they have been falling. It also may be a result of the media focus on concussion in football over the last several years.”

Football is considered a collision sport. Contact sports include soccer and basketball.

Each of the last five years, Barrow has measured the public’s awareness of concussion and how it impacts participation in high school athletics. Greater awareness of sport-related concussion has led to widespread concern over the long-term effects of brain injuries.

FOOTBALL NUMBERS PLUMMET

As the public has become more educated about sport-related concussion, the percentage of Arizona parents allowing football has steadily declined, from 68 percent in 2016 to 47 percent this year.

• 2016: 68 percent of Arizona parents allowed their children to play football
• 2017: 65 percent
• 2018: 59 percent
• 2019: 54 percent
• 2020: 47 percent

That has resulted in a decrease in participation in high school football, although the sport still attracts the most players overall.

Arizona has led the nation in working to make all sports safer, especially football, with groundbreaking rules limiting tackling in practice and helmet dislodgement rule. Despite that, participation continues to fall. “I don’t see football participation increasing any time soon, but the numbers may ebb and flow,” Cárdenas says.

The percentage of parents who allowed contact sports dropped from 82 percent in 2017 to 74 percent in 2018 and 65 percent in 2019. This year, number grew slightly, to 71 percent.

GIRLS SOCCER REMAINS POPULAR DESPITE RISKS

Meanwhile, girls’ high school soccer participation in Arizona has climbed at virtually the same rate that football has declined – from 5,298 in 2008-09 to 6,489 in 2018-19. The state is also home to a thriving club soccer culture, with many girls playing the sport year-round.

The participation numbers remain high despite reports that girls’ soccer concussion rates approach those of football. A 2019 Pediatrics study of head trauma in high school sports found that girls’ soccer had the second rate of concussion, eight per 10,000 practices or games, behind only football, with 10 per 10,000 practices or games.

Overall, 84 percent of Arizona parents say they would allow their children to play soccer, consistent with previous surveys.

“While concussion rates are rising in soccer, especially girls’ soccer, they are still less than football,” Cárdenas says. “The gap is closing, in part because fewer athletes are playing football and the rates are falling, but there is still a gap.”

In soccer, concussions most often occur when players collide with each other, although some are a result of falling to the ground or colliding with the goal post.

CONCUSSION FATIGUE?

Efforts to educate teens on the danger of concussions appear to be paying dividends. Nine in 10 Arizona teens agree that concussions are a serious medical condition, consistent with previous surveys. But the percentage of athletes who say they would play through a concussion if the state title were on the line rose sharply, to 36 percent from 27 percent.

Cárdenas, a member of the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s medical advisory panel, says he is troubled by that statistic.

“Concussion prevention and safety appear to have taken a back seat to competition and winning,” he says. “Trying to play through a concussion is a terrible idea, and in rare cases it could be fatal.”

Cárdenas, who treats numerous student-athletes in his Barrow clinic, cited the possibility of “concussion fatigue” among teens. “People are constantly needing reminders,” he says. “Some may be tired of hearing about concussions.”

About one in three Arizona student-athletes reported sustaining a concussion while playing sports.

CONCUSSION EDUCATION PAYS DIVIDENDS

Arizona has been among the national leaders in concussion education for student-athletes. Barrow Brainbook has more than 1 million users entering its 10^th year. More than 300,000 ImPACT baseline concussion tests have been administered to Arizona teen athletes. Barrow Brainbook was created by Dr. Cárdenas and launched in 2011 as the most comprehensive concussion education effort in Arizona. Brainbook is a web-based learning tool developed specifically for high school student-athletes that provides information on how to prevent, recognize and respond to concussions.

Improved understanding of concussion may be empowering teens to decide whether to play a sport. More than half of teens say that they alone made that decision, and those who called it a joint decision dropped sharply (to 28 percent from 43 percent last year).

“That was always its intent of Brainbook—it’s clear that teens are more informed when they make the choice to participate,” Cárdenas says. “We know that sports offer many health benefits. Our challenge is to make sure the public can weigh the benefits against injury risks and make informed decisions.”

The teens study was conducted in April 2020 with a sample of 301 males and females, ages 14 to 18, living in Arizona.  Of these, 228 reported playing school and / or club sports. The margin of error is plus or minus 5.6 percent at 95 percent confidence for the full sample (301), and plus or minus 6.5 percent among high school athletes (228).

The parents study was conducted in April 2020 with a sample of 601 Arizona adults selected randomly.  Of these, 200 were parents of a child or children under the age of 18. The margin of error for the different sample sizes is as follows: plus or minus 4.0 percent for the full sample (601) and plus or minus 6.9 percent among parents of teens.

— ### —

Carmelle Malkovich
Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
602-406-3319
[email protected]

RUSTON, La., April 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Origin Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: OBNK) (“Origin”), the financial holding company for Origin Bank, plans to issue first quarter 2021 results after the market closes on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, and hold a conference call to discuss such results on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time (9:00 am Eastern Time). The conference call will be hosted by Drake Mills, Chairman, President and CEO, Steve Brolly, Chief Financial Officer, and Lance Hall, President and CEO of Origin Bank.

Conference Call and Live Webcast        
To participate in the live conference call, please dial (844) 695-5516; International: (412) 902-6750 and request to be joined into the Origin Bancorp, Inc. (OBNK) call. A simultaneous audio-only webcast may be accessed via Origin’s website at www.origin.bank under the Investor Relations, News & Events, Events & Presentations link or directly by visiting https://services.choruscall.com/links/obnk210429.html.

Conference Call Webcast Archive

If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the webcast will be archived on the Investor Relations section of Origin’s website at www.origin.bank, under Investor Relations, News & Events, Events & Presentations.

About Origin Bancorp, Inc.

Origin is a financial holding company headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana. Origin’s wholly owned bank subsidiary, Origin Bank, was founded in 1912. Deeply rooted in Origin’s history is a culture committed to providing personalized, relationship banking to its clients and communities. Origin provides a broad range of financial services to businesses, municipalities, high net worth individuals and retail clients. Origin currently operates 44 banking centers located from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston, Texas across North Louisiana and into Mississippi. For more information, visit www.origin.bank.

Contact Information

Investor Relations
Chris Reigelman
318-497-3177
[email protected]

Media Contact
Ryan Kilpatrick
318-232-7472
[email protected]