Market Newsdesk

SHANGHAI, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Cango, Inc. (NYSE: CANG) (“Cango” or the “Company”), a leading automotive transaction service platform in China, today announced that it plans to release its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results after the market closes on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The earnings release will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.cangoonline.com/.

Cango’s management will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time or Friday, March 12, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. Beijing Time to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

The replay will be accessible through March 18, 2021, by dialing the following numbers:

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.cangoonline.com/.

About Cango, Inc.

Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) is a leading automotive transaction service platform in China connecting dealers, financial institutions, car buyers, and other industry participants. Founded in 2010 by a group of pioneers in China’s automotive finance industry, the Company is headquartered in Shanghai and engages car buyers through a nationwide dealer network. The Company’s services primarily consist of automotive financing facilitation, automotive transaction facilitation, and after-market services facilitation. By utilizing its competitive advantages in technology, data insights, and cloud-based infrastructure, Cango is able to connect its platform participants while bringing them a premium user experience. Cango’s platform model puts it in a unique position to add value for its platform participants and business partners as the automotive and mobility markets in China continue to grow and evolve. For more information, please visit: www.cangoonline.com.

Investor Relations Contact

Caesar Cao

Cango Inc.
Tel: +86 21 3183 5088 ext.5581
Email: [email protected]

Emilie Wu

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Tel: +86 21 6039 8363
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Cango Inc.

TORONTO, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – The group of concerned shareholders (the “Concerned Shareholders“) of FSD Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HUGE) (CSE: HUGE) (FRA: 0K9) (the “Company” or “FSD“) which includes two founding directors, Anthony Durkacz and Zeeshan Saeed, are pleased to announce that they were successful in their request that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the “Court“) order the Company to accelerate the date of its previously called annual shareholders’ meeting.

The meeting will now be held on May 14, 2021. As a result of this earlier meeting date, the special meeting of the Company’s shareholders called by the Concerned Shareholders for March 31, 2021 will not be required. This earlier meeting date will allow FSD to deal with the issues raised by the Concerned Shareholders while finally satisfying FSD’s obligation to hold its long-overdue annual shareholders’ meeting – an outcome that is in the best interest of all FSD shareholders.

As requested by the Concerned Shareholders, the Court also ordered that Dr. Raza Bokhari, the Chair of FSD’s board of directors (the “Board“) and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, not act as chair of the meeting. Instead, an independent person will be appointed to ensure that the meeting is run in a fair and orderly fashion.

The Concerned Shareholders have identified many actions by Dr. Raza Bokhari and other board members, Stephen Buyer, Robert Ciaruffoli, James Datin, Gerald Goldberg and Larry Kaiser, that have harmed shareholders. Among these is the issuance of at least 13,196,764 of Class B shares in just seven weeks – over 68% of the number outstanding on January 4, 2021, the date of the Concerned Shareholders’ requisition of a shareholder meeting (the “Requisition Date“). These entirely unjustified issuances at a time when the Class B shares were already devalued have driven the share price to all-time lows and compounded shareholder losses.

During this time, Dr. Raza Bokhari, Stephen Buyer, Robert Ciaruffoli, James Datin, Gerald Goldberg and Larry Kaiser, have lined their pockets by awarding themselves cash and Class B shares for services yet to be provided. The value of the 1,173,709 Class B shares issued to Dr. Raza Bokhari on February 10, 2021 was at least $5.7 million, based on the closing price on that day. Board members Stephen Buyer, Robert Ciaruffoli, James Datin, Gerald Goldberg and Larry Kaiser awarded themselves compensation in the form of cash and Class B shares equal to nearly $1 million. Compensation on this scale for serving a company the size of FSD, at a time when its shares are trading at all-time lows and stock markets are at all-time highs, is unconscionable.

As suggested by the Concerned Shareholders during the course of the hearing, the Court ordered that the votes attached to shares issued since the Requisition Date to Dr. Raza Bokhari, Stephen Buyer, Robert Ciaruffoli, James Datin, Gerald Goldberg and Larry Kaiser and any entities related to any of them not be counted at the upcoming meeting.

The Concerned Shareholders are relieved by the Court’s decision as it will help ensure that the many issues arising from the misconduct of Dr. Raza Bokhari and the members of the Board that have enabled him, Stephen Buyer, Robert Ciaruffoli, James Datin, Gerald Goldberg and Larry Kaiser, are addressed by the Company’s shareholders expeditiously.

At the meeting, Shareholders will have the opportunity to determine FSD’s future by voting to replace Dr. Raza Bokhari, Stephen Buyer, Robert Ciaruffoli, James Datin, Gerald Goldberg and Larry Kaiser with three new, highly qualified directors having a depth of relevant experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. These new directors have strong track records of integrity and success and will bring to FSD a wealth of critical experience in the areas of public company governance, accounting, finance, capital markets and law.

Details about the new directors proposed by the Concerned Shareholders are provided below:

Mr. Nitin Kaushal is a finance executive with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare and the financial services industries, focusing on the biotechnology, medical device and healthcare services markets, including significant experience with corporate governance and acting on the boards of public companies. Mr. Kaushal is currently the President of Anik Capital Corp. and until his retirement in 2020, was a Managing Director in the corporate finance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Lawrence Latowsky is an executive with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Mr. Latowsky currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Canntab Therapeutics Ltd. Until 2020, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Top Drug Corp. and, prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Katz Group Canada, overseeing the largest network of pharmacy retailers in Canada operating as Rexall, Pharmaplus, IDA and Guardian Drugstores.

Mr. Fernando Cugliari has over 20 years of experience in finance and law. Mr. Cugliari is currently an International Investment Advisor at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, where he provides comprehensive investment advisory services to high and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their families, as well as insurance, corporate, institutional and pension fund clients.

The Concerned Shareholders are extremely pleased that these highly qualified individuals have stepped forward to help restore FSD.

The Concerned Shareholders will be issuing an information circular providing more details regarding the director nominees, their plans for the Company, the meeting and how shareholders can make their vote count for change. It is important for the Company’s shareholders to read this information circular carefully and vote at the meeting. More information will be available at the website established by the Concerned Shareholders: http://www.restorefsd.com/.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statement contained herein are “forward-looking statements”. Often, but not always, forward-looking statement can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “expected”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or states that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding the meeting and the information circular to be issued. The Concerned Shareholders cannot give any assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document.

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SOURCE Concerned Shareholders of FSD

ALPHARETTA, Ga. and SAN JOSE, Calif., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTH) (“Priority”), a leading payments technology company, and Finxera Holdings, Inc. (“Finxera”), a pioneer in the fintech industry that launched and operated one of the first Banking as a Service (“BaaS”) platforms, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. Finxera will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Priority. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

Priority’s omni-channel payments platform supports proprietary and third-party software applications built for businesses of any size. Priority’s offering combines modern cloud infrastructure and operational expertise to deliver unparalleled Payment Infrastructure as a Service (“PIaaS”) to organizations with complex payment operation needs, including low friction merchant boarding, underwriting, risk management, and compliance monitoring. Finxera’s BaaS technology allows for the rapid integration of banking services into business applications to establish and manage bank accounts for the collection, storage, and sending of money.  When combined, Priority will offer clients turn-key merchant services, payment facilitation, card issuing, automated payables, virtual banking, and e-wallet tools supported by its best-in-class client service, risk management, underwriting and compliance on a single platform.

“The Finxera acquisition accelerates Priority’s position as a market leader in the convergence of payments and banking as a service” said Tom Priore, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Priority. “Our combined platform will be equipped to take and make payments whether on card, ACH, or even blockchain and manage all aspects of payment operations like onboarding, risk, compliance, and client service for our clients.  Together we will be a one stop-shop for payments and virtual bank account management that today’s merchants and modern software companies are seeking in order to manage and monetize their payment networks.”

To learn more about the combined technology platform and financial profile please click on the following link.
http://prth.com/assets/Mar-8-IR-Presentation.pdf.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Finxera acquisition. A
question-and-answer session will follow.

Monday, March 8, 2021

4:00 pm Eastern Time

Phone: US/Canada: (877) 501-3161 or International: (786) 815-8443

Internet webcast link can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/x36gfbdx
and will also be posted, along with an accompanying slide presentation, in the “Investor
Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.PRTH.com. An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after the conference call until March 11, 2021 at 7:00 pm Eastern Time. To listen to the audio replay, dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and enter conference ID number 6988859. Alternatively, you may access the webcast replay in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.PRTH.com.

“Combining with Priority accelerates our original vision to be a disruptive technology in the convergence of payments and banking as a service,” said Sanjoy Goyle, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Finxera. “We have been hugely impressed with the breadth of Priority’s payments platform, operations, and strategic vision since integrating with the Priority MX platform last year. We look forward to the further combination of the BaaS technology and operations.”

Finxera shareholders, including funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC (“Stone Point“) and Finxera management team, will retain meaningful equity positions in the combined enterprise, with Goyle and Finxera’s Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Praveer Kumar, taking on prominent roles going forward.   “We are excited to add Stone Point as a new long-term shareholder of Priority,” said Priore.  “Stone Point has an exceptional track record of success as a financial services investor; their ongoing participation will be tremendously valuable to our growing enterprise.”

Financing
The merger financing with Finxera includes up to $50 million of Priority common stock to be issued to certain existing shareholders. Additionally, Priority has executed a commitment from Truist for a total debt facility of $630 million to refinance a portion of Priority’s existing debt, to add a new revolving credit facility and to finance a portion of the Finxera closing.

Simultaneous with entry into the merger agreement, Priority obtained an up to $250 million preferred equity commitment from funds managed by certain affiliates of Ares Management to fund a portion of the refinancing of Priority’s existing credit facilities and the acquisition of Finxera, with the remainder to be used to fund future acquisitions.  “We are pleased to continue our relationship with Truist and to expand our relationship with Ares Management and Stone Point Capital,” said Priore.

Pro-Forma Highlights
Based upon forecasted 2021 financial results of Priority and Finxera, the pro forma full year 2021 results of the combined company are expected to be:

• Revenue of approximately $540 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $130 million
• Free cash flow of approximately $60 million
• Net leverage ratio below 4.25x

Schulte Roth & Zabel served as legal counsel to Priority.  Truist Securities served as financial advisor to Finxera and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP served as its legal counsel.  Cowen served as sole placement agent in connection with the preferred equity investment by Ares Management.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

Priority supplements its consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis with certain non-GAAP financial information, including adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and net leverage ratio, to provide investors with greater insight, increase transparency and allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. Priority has not provided a reconciliation of the expected adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow or net leverage ratio contribution by Finxera to the comparable GAAP measures because it is unable to quantify certain amounts that would be required to be included in Finxera’s contribution to such comparable measures without unreasonable efforts due to the unavailability of the information needed to calculate reconciling items. In addition, Priority believes such reconciliation would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by Priority in this press release should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated.

About Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.

Priority is a leading provider of merchant acquiring, integrated payment software and corporate payment solutions, offering unique product and service capabilities to its merchant network and distribution partners. Priority’s enterprise operates from a purpose-built payments infrastructure that includes tailored customer service offerings and bespoke technology development, allowing Priority to provide end-to-end solutions for payment and payment-adjacent software. Additional information can be found at www.PRTH.com.    

About Finxera Holdings, Inc.

Finxera operates the leading BaaS platform that allows enterprises to rapidly incorporate banking and payment services into their applications.  Its API driven approach has enabled the integration into one platform all aspects of banking and payments, including account opening, reconciliation, sub account ledgering, ACH, checks, wires, and card issuance.  Using the Finxera BaaS, enterprises are able to collect, store and send money in a simple, secure and compliant manner, including those involving complex financial regulatory frameworks.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services, and other statements identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “future,” “intends,” “could,” “estimate,” “predict,” “projects,” “targeting,” “potential” or “contingent,” “guidance,” “anticipates,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, expected timing of the closing of the merger with Finxera, the expected returns and other benefits of the merger to shareholders, expected improvement in operating efficiency resulting from the merger, estimated expense reductions resulting from the transactions and the timing of achievement of such reductions, our 2021 outlook and statements regarding our market and growth opportunities. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed, or implied by such forward-looking statements.   These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our revenues and financial operating results.  Our actual results could differ materially, and potentially adversely, from those discussed or implied herein.

We caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020 and November 13, 2020, respectively. These filings are available online at www.sec.gov or www.PRTH.com.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

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SOURCE Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.

Approval Based on Significant Progression Free Survival Findings from Phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 Trial

• KEYTRUDA^® is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by helping increase the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumour cells.¹
• An estimated 26,900 Canadians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2020, with an average of 73 Canadians diagnosed daily.²

KIRKLAND, QC, March 8, 2021 /CNW/ – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that Health Canada has approved KEYTRUDA^® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, for the first-line treatment, as monotherapy, for adult patients with metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC).³

“This approval offers a new first-line treatment option for patients with MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Ron Burkes, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto and Medical Oncologist, Mount Sinai Hospital.

Colorectal cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada, occurs when abnormal cells in the colon or rectum develop into benign tumours that, over time, transform into cancerous tumours that can spread to the blood and lymph vessels and metastasize.^4,5 In 2020, an estimated 26,900 Canadians were diagnosed with CRC, with an average of 73 Canadians diagnosed daily.⁶ In Canada, it is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men and the third leading cause of death from cancer in women.⁷ Approximately three to five per cent of CRCs are associated with a hereditary cancer predisposition related to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency. Mismatch repair is a process that corrects mismatches generated during DNA replication, recombination, and damage. Deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) causes an inability to correct DNA replication errors, allowing mutations to continue throughout the genome, particularly in regions of repetitive DNA known as microsatellite, which can lead to MSI-H.⁸

“This is excellent news for colorectal cancer patients with MSI-H/dMMR tumours,” says Barry D. Stein, a colon cancer survivor and president of Colorectal Cancer Canada. “This drug is encouraging because it can help some patients achieve a better quality of life and more time with family and loved ones. Innovative treatment options, like this one, are helping to make a difference for Canadians facing this particular colon cancer.”

About KEYNOTE-177 Trial

Health Canada’s approval for CRC is based on findings from the Phase 3 study KEYNOTE-177, a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial conducted in 307 patients with previously untreated metastatic MSI-H or dMMR CRC.⁹ Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive 200 milligrams (mg) of KEYTRUDA^® intravenously every three weeks or chemotherapy regimens given intravenously every two weeks.¹⁰

The results of KEYNOTE-177 showed that KEYTRUDA^® demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression free survival (PFS) compared to patients treated with chemotherapy.¹¹ The median PFS in patients treated with KEYTRUDA^® was 16.5 months compared to 8.2 months in the chemotherapy arm (HR=0.60 [95% CI, 0.45-0.80]; p=0.0002).¹² The average objective response rate (ORR) for the KEYTRUDA^® arm was 44% compared to 33% in the chemotherapy arm, and the average duration of response at 24 months was 83% in the KEYTRUDA^® arm versus 35% in the chemotherapy arm.¹³

“The approval of KEYTRUDA^® as a first-line treatment for metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer marks its nineteenth indication, reinforcing Merck’s ongoing commitment to science and to the research and development in immuno-oncology,” says AnnA Van Acker, President, Merck Canada. “We hope that this new treatment option will have a meaningful impact for those Canadians who live with MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer. We are devoted to our straightforward mission and to continue all relentless efforts to help more Canadians living with cancer.”

About Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer occurs when the cells lining the rectum or colon become abnormal and begin to divide rapidly, resulting in the development of benign tumours.¹⁴ Over time, the DNA of the benign tumours can change, causing the tumours to become cancerous.¹⁵ This can result in the cancer spreading to the blood and lymph vessels, further allowing it to metastasize and reach other organs such as the lungs or liver.¹⁶ Since there is no clear border between the colon and rectum and they are made of the same tissues, they are categorized together as CRC.¹⁷ As most CRC cases are related to aging, over 90% of cases occur in patients over the age of 50.¹⁸ Over half (56%) of CRC cases are expected to occur in Canadians who fall within the age covered by Canadian screening guidelines (50 to 74 years), while approximately 7% of colorectal cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in people younger than 50 years of age.¹⁹

About KEYTRUDA^®

KEYTRUDA^® is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by helping increase the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumour cells.²⁰ KEYTRUDA^® is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumour cells and healthy cells.²¹

KEYTRUDA^® was first approved in Canada in 2015 and currently has 19 indications in several disease areas, including advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), bladder cancer, non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).²²

Merck’s Research Program

Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 750 trials studying pembrolizumab across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. This clinical program seeks to understand the role of pembrolizumab across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient’s likelihood of benefitting from treatment with this medication, including exploring several different biomarkers.

Our Focus on Cancer

Our goal is to translate progressive science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck Oncology, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus is on pursuing research in immuno-oncology and we are accelerating every step in the journey — from lab to clinic — to potentially bring new hope to people with cancer.

About Merck

For more than 125 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals — including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases — as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on YouTube and Twitter.

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

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

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

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Please see the product monograph for KEYTRUDA^® (pembrolizumab) at:
https://www.merck.ca/static/pdf/KEYTRUDA-PM_E.pdf.

References

_________________________

¹ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021.  
² Canadian Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Statistics. Available at https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/statistics/?region=on. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
³ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
⁴ Canadian Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Statistics. Available at https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/statistics/?region=on. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
⁵ Colorectal Cancer Canada. Colorectal Cancer. Available at https://www.colorectalcancercanada.com/colorectal-cancer/what-is-colorectal-cancer/. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
⁶ Canadian Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Statistics. Available at https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/statistics/?region=on. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
⁷ Canadian Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Statistics. Available at https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/statistics/?region=on. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
⁸ Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Mismatch Repair Deficiency Testing for Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation. Available at https://www.cadth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/OP0522_d-MMR_Testing_for_CRC_Protocol.pdf. Accessed on Accessed on March 4, 2021.
⁹ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
¹⁰ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
¹¹ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
¹² KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
¹³ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
¹⁴ Colorectal Cancer Canada. Colorectal Cancer. Available at https://www.colorectalcancercanada.com/colorectal-cancer/what-is-colorectal-cancer/. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
¹⁵ Colorectal Cancer Canada. Colorectal Cancer. Available at https://www.colorectalcancercanada.com/colorectal-cancer/what-is-colorectal-cancer/. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
¹⁶ Colorectal Cancer Canada. Colorectal Cancer. Available at https://www.colorectalcancercanada.com/colorectal-cancer/what-is-colorectal-cancer/. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
¹⁷ Canadian Cancer Society. What is Colorectal Cancer? Available at https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/colorectal-cancer/?region=on#:~:text=Colorectal%20cancer%20starts%20in%20the,intestine%20and%20the%20digestive%20system. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
¹⁸ National Cancer Institute. DevCan: Probability of developing or dying of cancer software, Version 6.7.4. Surveillance Research Program, Statistical Methodology and Applications. 2012.
¹⁹ Government of Canada. Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019. Available at https://www.cancer.ca/~/media/cancer.ca/CW/cancer%20information/cancer%20101/Canadian%20cancer%20statistics/Canadian-Cancer-Statistics-2019-EN.pdf?la=en. Accessed on March 4, 2021.
²⁰ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
²¹ KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 
²² KEYTRUDA^® Product Monograph. Merck & Co. Inc. Updated March 3, 2021. 

SOURCE Merck Canada

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Synlogic, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBX), a clinical stage company bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine, today announced the promotion of Dr. Caroline Kurtz to Chief Development Officer. As Chief Development Officer, Dr. Kurtz will be responsible for portfolio strategy, program leadership, and development of Synlogic’s portfolio of Synthetic Biotic medicines, including the company’s lead assets, SYNB1618 for Phenylketonuria (PKU) and SYNB8802 for Enteric Hyperoxaluria.

“At Synlogic, we are advancing multiple programs rapidly towards meaningful clinical read-outs, executing on our mission of bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine,” said Aoife Brennan, M.B. Ch.B., Synlogic’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Caroline’s track record and experience as a cross-functional leader who has advanced important therapies from pre-clinical to commercial will be critical as our programs continue to advance in the clinic.”

“I have a passion for drug development and am excited by the opportunity to advance both our PKU and Enteric Hyperoxaluria candidates towards patients,” said Dr. Caroline Kurtz. “Thank you to the Synlogic team members who are working every day to translate our platform into meaningful products for patients. With key data read-outs in PKU and Enteric Hyperoxaluria on the horizon, I am energized by the challenge of bringing these programs into later stages of development while also continuing Synlogic’s strong track record of translating our science into compelling clinical candidates.”

Dr. Kurtz joined Synlogic in October 2016 and is responsible for program leadership and portfolio planning and progression. With over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Kurtz has led multiple programs through mid and late-stage clinical development, including as Vice President and GC-C platform lead at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, where she drove the development of linaclotide (LINZESS®) from pre-IND through NDA approval and life-cycle management. Dr. Kurtz received her Ph.D. in Immunology from Harvard University in the laboratory of Dr. John Weis and carried out post-doctoral training in viral immunology and central nervous system demyelinating diseases in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Fujinami at the University of Utah.

Synlogic also announced the promotion of Daniel Rosan to Senior Vice President and Head of Finance and the appointment of Dr. Jamie Austin to the role of Vice President and Incoming Head of Regulatory Affairs.

Mr. Rosan’s responsibilities will include capital markets, investor relations, financial planning and analysis, and accounting. Gregg Beloff will continue as Synlogic’s interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Rosan brings over 20 years of health care experience in a wide variety of business contexts. Prior to Synlogic, he spent six years at Biogen in roles of increasing responsibility in Finance and Research & Development. Mr. Rosan holds a BA in History from Vassar College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dr. Austin will lead Regulatory Affairs at Synlogic. She has over 15 years of industry experience, including 10 years of consulting and business development. Prior to Synlogic, she has served in regulatory strategy roles at several prominent pharmaceutical and biotech companies including AstraZeneca, AbbVie, and bluebird bio. Dr. Austin received her MS in Bioscience Regulatory Affairs from the Johns Hopkins University and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

About Synlogic
Synlogic™ is bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine. With a premiere synthetic biology platform that leverages a reproducible, modular approach to microbial engineering, Synlogic designs Synthetic Biotic medicines that target validated underlying biology to treat disease in new ways. Synlogic’s proprietary pipeline includes Synthetic Biotics for the treatment of metabolic disorders including Phenylketonuria (PKU) and Enteric Hyperoxaluria (HOX). The company is also building a portfolio of partner-able assets in immunology and oncology.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, clinical development plans, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In addition, when or if used in this press release, the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict” and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to Synlogic may identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of Synlogic’s platform to develop therapeutics to address a wide range of diseases including: cancer, inborn errors of metabolism,  and inflammatory and immune disorders; the future clinical development of Synthetic Biotic medicines; the approach Synlogic is taking to discover and develop novel therapeutics using synthetic biology; and the expected timing of Synlogic’s clinical trials and availability of clinical trial data. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the clinical and preclinical development process; the ability of Synlogic to protect its intellectual property rights; and legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments, as well as those risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Synlogic’s filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect Synlogic’s current views with respect to future events. Synlogic anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Synlogic may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, Synlogic specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Synlogic’s view as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

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SOURCE Synlogic, Inc.

FedEx Express Canada Survey Reveals Few Women Explore Career Options in one of Canada’s Most Essential Sectors  

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 8, 2021 /CNW/ – Over the past year, Canada’s transportation and logistics industry has had an increased impact on the lives of millions of Canadians.  However according to a new survey by Federal Express Canada Corporation (FedEx Express Canada), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, very few professional women see themselves being a part of this sector. Less than one in ten women (eight  per cent) stated they considered a career in transportation, logistics, and supply chains an “appealing career choice.” 

The first-ever FedEx Express Canada Women in Transportation and Logistics survey of 1,039 Canadian professional women, conducted by Angus Reid Forum, found that employers in transportation and logistics have much to do to encourage more women to be a part of the industry.   Included among the survey findings:

• Nearly half of women (48 per cent) surveyed stated that they would not be open to a career in transportation and logistics.
• Of those, over a third (37 per cent) stated that they did not have enough knowledge of the sector to know if there were professional opportunities that would appeal to them, suggesting that the industry needs to do more to educate prospective women candidates.
• Roughly one third of those surveyed (32 per cent) said they were actively taking steps to advance their career or planned on returning to school.

“Canadians are relying on the transportation and logistics industry more than ever before. Women leaders give our industry greater diversity of thought and provide key perspectives regarding the future of our sector’s performance,” said Lisa Lisson, President of FedEx Express Canada.  “I would like to see Canada’s transportation, logistics, and supply chain industry proactively encourage women to explore the exciting opportunities we offer.  We truly make a difference in the lives of others.”

The movement of people and goods is among the largest contributors to the Canadian economy and is a critical facet of some of the fastest growing pillars in commerce today.  International trade, healthcare, e-commerce, innovation and other exciting fields all rely on a healthy and vibrant transportation and logistics sector.  According to Statistics Canadaⁱ, almost a million people are employed in transportation and warehousing (NAICS 48 -49).  However, of the total number of people employed in this industry, only 22.87 per cent are women. 

On a positive note, the FedEx Express Canada survey did find that of those survey respondents would consider a career in transportation and logistics, 33 per cent perceived it to be a stable industry due to continued growth in shipping needs.  Further, 13 per cent of respondents who indicated they would consider a career in the industry have seen or read about women leaders who have enjoyed professional success in the sector, representing another motivating factor in their considerations for a career in the industry. 

“Like all industries, we need to reflect the customers that we serve.  At FedEx, we are in a fortunate position to be able to offer our staff exciting opportunities to work on projects that engage our strengths in innovation, ecommerce, customer service and more,” said Lisson.  “As our business continues to evolve to meet an ever-digital world, we are eager to channel our innovative spirit to build the network for what’s next and hope women seeking career advancements see themselves playing a role in this momentum.”

FedEx Express Canada believes in a culture where merit is rewarded, team members can contribute and grow, and the values of diversity are woven throughout the organization.  A company that is built on the philosophy that invests in its people in order to create better service for its customers and better value for its shareholders, FedEx Express Canada is widely recognized as one of Canada’s premier employers and among the most respected companies in the country. 

About the FedEx Express Canada Women in Transportation and Logistics Survey.

These are the findings of a FedEx Express Canada survey conducted from February 18 to 22, 2021 with a representative sample of 1,039 online Canadian women between the ages of 18 and 60 who currently work or intend to work in the future and are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. The sample frame was balanced and weighted on age, province and education.

About Angus Reid Forum surveys:

The precision of Angus Reid Forum online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/-3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error. 

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $75 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its nearly 600,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com.

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i Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0023-01 Labour force characteristics by industry, annual (x 1,000)

SOURCE Federal Express Canada Corporation