Seedo Corp Enters Research Agreement With The Polytechnic University Of Valencia

PR Newswire

TEL AVIV, Israel, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

  • The ground-breaking research advisory agreement supports Seedo Corp’s endeavor to establish the protocols for growing saffron using vertical farming technology.
  • Professor Rosa V. Molina brings her 20 years of experience studying saffron agriculture at The Polytechnic University of Valencia to the research and testing.

Seedo Corp. (OTCQB: SEDO), today announced that it has entered a research agreement with The Polytechnic University of Valencia to develop vertical farming protocols for saffron with Professor Rosa V. Molina . Professor Molina has extensive knowledge in the cultivation of saffron from her university research programs in Spain and will join the scientific committee of the project. 

“We are thrilled to work with the Polytechnic University of Valencia and welcome Professor Molina as a research advisor to Seedo Corp,” says David Freidenberg, CEO, Seedo Corp. “This research agreement will help us develop an alternative to the traditional agricultural process of growing saffron that is both expensive and labor-intensive. Professor Molina is an expert in saffron cultivation and her knowledge will advance our mission to create a new market for the valuable spice and increase its profitability.”

“This is a significant milestone in the rapid growth of our company,” says Dr. Gil Feiler, Chairman, Seedo Corp. “As we head into the next phase of our development, Professor Molina’s insights and guidance will provide tremendous value and bring us closer than ever to establishing and utilizing the protocols for vertical farming saffron.”

The Polytechnic University of Valencia is one of the leading facilities for plant science and agricultural engineering. Professor Molina has spent decades studying saffron growing in an agricultural setting. Her breadth of knowledge is imperative to advance the indoor growing protocols for saffron. Her expert opinion and research findings will support Seedo’s future business and operations.

“Saffron production has not changed since the ancient times,” says Professor Rosa Molina. It requires intensive hand labor, particularly for flower picking and stigma separation. Only in countries with low labor costs is it possible to maintain traditional cultivation techniques. Mechanization and modernization of saffron cultivation and processing is the only alternative for its persistence in the most economically advanced countries for both culinary and medicinal applications. “Developing the protocols for vertical farming of saffron would lead to more widespread use of this valuable plant and recover saffron cultivation in countries where it has been lost due to high labor costs.”

About Seedo:

Seedo Corp. (OTC: SEDO) is an aggrotech company that focuses on the research, development, and commercialization of agriculture products. Seedo’s technology is aimed at transforming the way agriculture is done by offering a responsible and sustainable way to grow crops in a world confronted by environmental challenges and dwindling earth reserves, diminishing water sources and unstable weather conditions.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This letter contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to our ability to successfully execute a smooth transition of CFO functions as well as our ability to retain and recruit qualified executives; uncertainties related to, and failure to achieve, the potential benefits and success of our senior management team and organizational structure; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace; our substantial indebtedness, which may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in additional transactions or make new investments; compliance, regulatory and litigation matters; other financial and economic risks; and other factors discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward Looking Statements.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Media Relations Contact:

David Freidenberg, Chief Executive Officer,
[email protected]
(800) 608-6432

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SOURCE Seedo Corp.

Karyopharm Therapeutics Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

PR Newswire

NEWTON, Mass., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: KPTI), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company pioneering novel cancer therapies, today announced that the Compensation Committee of Karyopharm’s Board of Directors granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 55,300 shares of Karyopharm’s common stock to seven newly-hired employees, with a grant date of April 30, 2021.  The stock options were granted as inducements material to the new employees entering into employment with Karyopharm in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Each of the stock options has an exercise price of $9.34 per share, the closing price of Karyopharm’s common stock on April 30, 2021. Each stock option vests over four years, with 25% of the total number of shares underlying the stock option vesting on the one-year anniversary of the applicable employee’s employment commencement date and 1/48th of the total number of shares vesting monthly thereafter, subject to the employee’s continued service as an employee of, or other service provider to, Karyopharm through the applicable vesting dates. In addition, each stock option will be immediately exercisable in full if, on or prior to the first anniversary of the consummation of a “change in control event,” the employee’s employment is terminated for “good reason” by the employee or terminated without “cause” by Karyopharm (as such terms are defined in the applicable stock option agreement).

About Karyopharm Therapeutics

Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: KPTI) is a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company pioneering novel cancer therapies and dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of first-in-class drugs directed against nuclear export for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Karyopharm’s Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compounds function by binding with and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (or CRM1). Karyopharm’s lead compound, XPOVIO® (selinexor), is approved in the U.S. in multiple hematologic malignancy indications, including in combination with Velcade® (bortezomib) and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma after at least one prior therapy, in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma and as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. NEXPOVIO® (selinexor) has also been granted conditional marketing authorization in combination with dexamethasone for adult patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma by the European Commission. In addition to single-agent and combination activity against a variety of human cancers, SINE compounds have also shown biological activity in models of neurodegeneration, inflammation, autoimmune disease, certain viruses and wound-healing. Karyopharm has several investigational programs in clinical or preclinical development. For more information, please visit www.karyopharm.com.

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SOURCE Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.

Shift Begins Buying Cars from Consumers in Las Vegas

Opens First Nevada Markets as It Expands Beyond West Coast

PR Newswire

SAN FRANCISCO, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Leading used car ecommerce platform Shift (NASDAQ: SFT) today announced the launch of its service to purchase cars from consumers in the Las Vegas region. With the addition of this new market, the company’s first in the state of Nevada, consumers are now eligible to sell their cars directly to Shift in 11 geographies across the United States.

“As a business-friendly city and a major thoroughfare, Las Vegas was a strategic choice for our first market in Nevada. We look forward to serving the residents of this populous metropolitan area and bringing them an easier way to sell their cars,” commented Shift Co-CEO Toby Russell.

With Shift’s car-buying service, which is now available to consumers within the greater Las Vegas region, consumers have an easy, fast, and transparent alternative to the traditional methods of selling their cars. They can begin by getting an instant, no-obligation online quote on Shift.com. If they wish to move forward, they can then book an evaluation appointment where a Shift Concierge will come to their location, evaluate the car and make a final offer. If they accept, the customer will complete the transaction digitally, including electronic payment initiation and DMV paperwork, right then and there using Shift’s unique iPad app. Start to finish, evaluation appointments take approximately one hour. 

About Shift

Shift is a leading end-to-end auto ecommerce platform transforming the used car industry with a technology-driven, hassle-free customer experience. Shift’s mission is to make car purchase and ownership simple — to make buying or selling a used car fun, fair, and accessible to everyone. Shift provides comprehensive, digital solutions throughout the car ownership lifecycle: finding the right car, having a test drive brought to you before buying the car, a seamless digitally-driven purchase transaction including financing and vehicle protection products, an efficient, digital trade-in/sale transaction, and a vision to provide high-value support services during car ownership. For more information please visit www.shift.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “continue”, “expect”, “estimate”, “may”, “plan”, “outlook”, “future” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and may also relate to the Insurance Acquisition Corp.’s and Shift’s future prospects, developments and business strategies. In particular, such forward-looking statements may include statements concerning the timing of the Business Combination; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the public company once the transaction is complete, and Shift’s estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. These statements are based on the Insurance Acquisition Corp.’s or Shift’s management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Insurance Acquisition Corp.’s or Shift’s control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors include, but are not limited to, (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination; (2) the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Insurance Acquisition Corp. or other conditions to closing in the Business Combination; (3) the ability of the public entity to meet Nasdaq’s listing standards following the Business Combination; (4) the inability to complete the private placement; (5) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Shift as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; (6) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with suppliers and agents and retain its management and key employees; (7) costs related to the proposed transaction; (8) changes in applicable laws or regulations and delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the Business Combination; (9) the possibility that Shift may be adversely affected by other economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors; (10) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Insurance Acquisition Corp., Shift or any of their respective directors or officers, following the announcement of the Business Combination; and (11) the failure to realize anticipated pro forma results and underlying assumptions, including with respect to estimated stockholder redemptions and purchase price and other adjustments.

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements can be found in Insurance Acquisition Corp.’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, which are available, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and are also be provided in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and Insurance Acquisition Corp.’s proxy statement/prospectus. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and Insurance Acquisition Corp. and Shift undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering an investment in Insurance Acquisition Corp. and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in Insurance Acquisition Corp. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Insurance Acquisition Corp. and Shift, the Business Combination or other matters and attributable to Insurance Acquisition Corp. and Shift or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

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SOURCE Shift

Chubb Charitable Foundation Commits $500,000 to Emergency Pandemic Relief in India

PR Newswire

ZURICH, May 4, 2021  The Chubb Charitable Foundation today announced that it is committing $500,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts in India, which is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis from a record surge in coronavirus infections.  The support will go to the American India Foundation (AIF) to provide emergency medical equipment and supplies. 

Chubb will work with the AIF, a non-profit organization focused on social and economic change in India through affordable education, health care and economic opportunities, to provide critical medical resources immediately in areas most impacted by the pandemic.  The grant will help fund 100 beds for portable hospitals being deployed across the country. 

These funds are in addition to Chubb’s overall donation of more than $10 million to global pandemic relief.  Chubb has worked with a range of partner organizations around the world to provide essential resources in areas facing the most acute needs.  

“As we watch with disbelief the COVID-19-related horror unfolding in India, we are committed to supporting those who are so tragically impacted by the pandemic,” said Lori Dunstan, Executive Director of the Chubb Charitable Foundation. “With new infections topping 400,000 per day, the crisis has overwhelmed the country’s healthcare system.  The grant from our foundation will add to the urgent efforts required to meet the immediate medical needs of those most affected.”  

About the Chubb Charitable Foundation

The Chubb Charitable Foundation supports non-profit organizations through grant-making and projects aligned with defined focus areas including education, the environment, and poverty and health. The Foundation believes that meaningful contributions that support our communities globally provide lasting benefits to society, to Chubb and to Chubb employees. Through philanthropy, global partnerships and company sponsored-volunteer activities focused on giving the gift of time and donations, the Chubb Charitable Foundation supports clearly defined projects that solve problems with measurable and sustainable outcomes, helping people in the countries where we live and work build productive and healthy lives. Our commitment to assist those less fortunate and to be stewards of the planet is focused on the areas of education, poverty and health, and the environment.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

 

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SOURCE Chubb Limited

Taboola Adds 2 new board members to its board of directors, Technology and Media Industry Veterans Deirdre Bigley and Lynda Clarizio

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Taboola, a global leader in powering recommendations for the open web, helping people discover things they may like, today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Technology, advertising and publishing industry veterans Deirdre Bigley and Lynda Clarizio have joined Taboola’s Board of Directors, effective April 2021, bringing a wealth of experience in business strategy and operations.

Deirdre Bigley currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Bloomberg, L.P., a global business and financial information and news leader. Prior to joining Bloomberg, she spent thirteen years at IBM, where she held several executive positions, including Vice President of Worldwide Advertising and Interactive, and Vice President of Worldwide Brand. Ms. Bigley currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Wix.com Ltd. and Shutterstock, Inc. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of Sportradar, Recorded Future, Slice and MAKERS.

Lynda Clarizio has over 20 years of experience in the media industry growing and scaling businesses with a focus on data and technology. She currently is the Co-Founder of Brilliant Friends Investing, a seed investment group of C-suite women funding women-led businesses. Ms. Clarizio most recently served as President of U.S. Media at Nielsen, Executive Vice President at AppNexus, and Chief Executive Officer at INVISION. She previously held a variety of executive positions with AOL, including President of Advertising.com. Ms. Clarizio also serves on the boards of directors of CDW, Intertek Group, Emerald, Simpli.fi and OpenSlate and is the Vice-Chair of Human Rights First.

“I’m so excited. Lynda and Deirdre are true industry luminaries and we’re excited to have them agree to join our board,” said Adam Singolda, CEO and founder, Taboola. “Their decades of expertise in brand building and scaling the world’s most innovative technology companies, coupled with their unique perspective in how the needs of advertisers and publishers are evolving makes them the perfect fit for Taboola. They will play an integral role in shaping our success, from business strategy to operational excellence, in the years to come. We are thrilled to add new, diverse viewpoints to an already robust Board of Directors.”

Today’s new independent board members join existing Board of Directors for Taboola, which include Adam Singolda, Taboola CEO and founder, Zvi Limon, Chairman of the Board & Private Investor, Erez Shachar, Managing Partner Evergreen Venture Partners, Nechemia (Chemi) J. Peres, Managing General Partner and Co-Founder of Pitango Venture Capital, and Rick Scanlon, Founding Partner, Innovation Endeavors.

About Taboola
Taboola powers recommendations for the open web, helping people discover things they may like. The company’s platform, powered by artificial intelligence, is used by digital properties, including websites, devices and mobile apps, to drive monetization and user engagement. Taboola has long-term partnerships with some of the top digital properties in the world, including CNBC, NBC News, Business Insider, The Independent and El Mundo. More than 13,000 advertisers use Taboola to reach over 500 million daily active users in a brand-safe environment. The company has offices in 18 cities worldwide, including New York and Tel Aviv.

Taboola is going public via a merger with ION Acquisition Corp. 1 Ltd. (NYSE: IACA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. For more information visit: https://www.taboola.com/press-release/taboola-goes-public.

Learn more at www.taboola.com and follow @taboola on Twitter.

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SOURCE Taboola

Byrna Technologies to Commence Trading on Nasdaq

PR Newswire

ANDOVER, Mass., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Byrna Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: BYRN) (CSE: BYRN) (“Byrna” or “the Company”) today announced that The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC has approved the listing of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). The Company expects to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Wednesday May 5, 2021 under the symbol “BYRN.” The Company’s common stock will continue to trade on the OTCQB until market close on May 4, 2021, and will continue to trade on the Canadian Stock Exchange.

“The Nasdaq listing is an important milestone for Byrna and is a testament to Byrna’s growth and evolution as a publicly traded company over the last several years,” said Bryan Ganz, CEO of Byrna. “We are enthusiastic about this listing because we believe it will help elevate the Company’s public profile, expand our shareholder base, improve liquidity and enhance shareholder value.”

Mr. Ganz continued, “Our flagship product, the Byrna®HD has proven to be a game changer in the market for non-lethal personal security devices, and we expect the product innovations we have been developing to further solidify our position as a leader in this market. The Byrna HD is a product for the times, driven by the growing need for both civilians and law enforcement professionals to have a safe and effective alternative to lethal firearms to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. Our rapid sales growth over the past year reflects this need and our broad and expanding brand appeal with consumers. We believe we are well positioned for continued growth and that we have the human and financial resources in place necessary to support that growth.”

About Byrna Technologies Inc.
Byrna is a technology company, specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative, non-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® HD personal security device, a state of the art handheld CO2 powered launcher designed to provide a non-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. and Canadian securities laws. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, are forward-looking. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “projects”, “intends”, “anticipates” and “believes” and statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved” or “will be taken.” Forward-looking statements include descriptions of currently occurring matters which may continue in the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, expectations for elevation of the Company’s public profile, expansion of its shareholder base, improved liquidity and enhanced shareholder value, as well as statements regarding market leadership position and growth, listing on the Nasdaq, and ceasing to list on the OTCQB and the timing thereof and the Company’s continued listing on the CSE. Forward-looking statements are based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied.

Any number of risk factors could affect anticipated events and outcomes and cause them to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, completion of administrative or regulatory steps and approvals in the time frame anticipated or at all, some of which are out of the Company’s control, future financial results or business-related matters or civil, political or market events  which could affect the timing or completion of an uplist, other events that could negatively affect the Company’s business, financial results, or the market in its securities or the stock market generally, and therefore impact the market for the Company’s stock or future shareholder liquidity and value. The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to indicate their relative importance or priority. We caution that all risks cannot be anticipated and any list of risks may not be exhaustive, accordingly, any forward-looking statements contained herein should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results.  Investors should carefully consider these and other relevant factors, including those risk factors in Part I, Item 1A in our most recent Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

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SOURCE Byrna Technologies Inc.

LogicBio Announces Presentations at Upcoming American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting

– Data demonstrate better in vivo potency and manufacturability of novel AAV sL65 capsid, a new vector for targeting liver diseases

– Additional preclinical data show treatment with mLB-001, based on proprietary GeneRideTM gene editing platform, improved disease phenotype and survival of methylmalonic acidemia in mice

– Efficacy data demonstrated with use of GeneRide vector in mouse model of Crigler-Najjar syndrome

PR Newswire

LEXINGTON, Mass., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — LogicBio Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:LOGC), a clinical-stage genetic medicine company pioneering gene delivery and gene editing platforms to address rare and serious diseases from infancy through adulthood, today announced several preclinical data presentations, including an oral presentation, will be delivered at the 24th Annual American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Virtual Meeting being held May 11-14, 2021. In an oral presentation, Dr. Jing Liao, Associate Director at LogicBio, will discuss results from preclinical studies of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) sL65, the first AAV capsid produced from LogicBio’s sAAVyTM platform, for the potential treatment of serious diseases of the liver. Results show high potency in a humanized mouse model and in non-human primates compared to widely used benchmark liver targeting capsids. The sL65 capsid also shows high production yields in suspension HEK293 cells and in bioreactors.

Researchers will also present data in posters regarding the company’s proprietary GeneRideTM platform, an AAV-based, promoterless, nuclease-free genome editing technology. Results from a mouse model indicate that administration of the mLB-001 genome editing therapy leveraging GeneRide improves disease phenotype and survival in methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). In addition, use of the GeneRide vector mLB-301 in a mouse model of Crigler-Najjar syndrome led to a substantial reduction of bilirubin levels, a key biomarker of efficacy in this disease.

“We are encouraged by the robust and diverse data being presented at this year’s ASGCT meeting, highlighting the significant potential of both our sAAVy capsid and GeneRide platforms to support development of a new class of genetic medicines to treat serious and rare diseases including methylmalonic acidemia and Crigler-Najjar syndrome,” said Frederic Chereau, President and Chief Executive Officer of LogicBio.

“The data to be presented show the promise of the AAV sL65 capsid as an outstanding delivery vector to overcome the current limitations of traditional AAV vectors including high dosage-related toxicity, high manufacturing costs and low translatability from mouse studies to human trials. Also, our GeneRide data demonstrate the broad applicability of this gene editing technology, in both diseases such as MMA where the liver is damaged and we observed selective advantage of corrected hepatocytes in the mouse model to produce therapeutic levels of MMUT enzyme, and in the mouse model of Crigler-Najjar where selective advantage is not required to see therapeutic benefit,” said Mariana Nacht, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of LogicBio.

Details of the presentations at ASGCT are as follows:


Oral Presentation

Title:
A Novel Liver-Tropic AAV Capsid sL65 Shows Superior Transduction and Efficacy in Humanized Mice and Non-Human Primates

Session Title: Development of AAV Capsid Variants
Presenting Author: Jing Liao, Ph.D., Associate Director at LogicBio
Date and Time:Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. EDT


Digital Poster Presentations

Title:
Optimization of GeneRide-Encoding UGT1A1 Vector Improved Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Crigler-Najjar Syndrome

Session Title: AAV Vectors – Preclinical and Proof-of-Concept Studies
Authors: Chih-Wei Ko, Amy Bastille, Shengwen Zhang, Elizabeth McCarthy, Susana Gordo, Jenisha Vora, Dylan Frank, Nikhil Ramesh, Jing Liao, Lauren Drouin, Matthias Hebben, Kyle Chiang, Roshan Padmashali, Ankit Gupta, Vivian Choi, Nelson Chau, Qiang Xiong
Date and Time:Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EDT

Title:
Novel Genome Editing Therapy Improves Disease Phenotype and Survival of a Mouse Model of Methylmalonic Acidemia

Session Title: AAV Vectors – Preclinical and Proof-of-Concept Studies
Authors: Amy Bastille, Xiaohan Zhang, Nikhil Ramesh, Jenisha Vora, Elizabeth McCarthy, Dylan Frank, Chih-Wei Ko, Carmen Wu, Noel Walsh, Jing Liao, Susana Gordo, Lauren Drouin, Matthias Hebben, Kyle Chiang, Nelson Chau, Shengwen Zhang
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EDT

The study abstracts are available on the ASGCT meeting website and can be accessed via the following link: https://annualmeeting.asgct.org/

About sAAVyTM

LogicBio’s next-generation sAAVyTM capsid platform is uniquely designed to overcome limitations with older-generation gene therapy capsids by bringing enhanced potency with the potential for increased safety. The company is creating libraries of advanced adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids and vectors, which are developed through an iterative process with directed evolution, rationale design and machine learning. LogicBio’s novel capsid technology supports the development of treatments in a broad range of indications and tissues, including serious diseases of the liver and many diseases that cannot be safely targeted by older-generation capsids.

About LogicBio Therapeutics, Inc.

LogicBio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage genetic medicine company pioneering gene delivery and gene editing platforms to address rare and serious diseases from infancy through adulthood. The company’s proprietary GeneRide™ platform is a new approach to precise gene insertion that harnesses a cell’s natural DNA repair process leading to durable therapeutic protein expression levels. LogicBio’s cutting-edge sAAVy™ capsid development platform is designed to support development of treatments in a broad range of indications and tissues. The company is based in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit https://www.logicbio.com/.

Media Contacts:

Bill Berry

Berry & Company Public Relations
W: 212-253-8881
C: 917-846-3862
[email protected]

Jenna Urban

Berry & Company Public Relations
W: 212-253-8881
C: 203-218-9180
[email protected]

Investor Contacts:

Matt Lane

Gilmartin Group
617-901-7698
[email protected]

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SOURCE LogicBio Therapeutics, Inc.

WEC Energy Group sets industry-leading environmental goals

PR Newswire

MILWAUKEE, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) unveiled aggressive new carbon dioxide and methane reduction goals this week. The company is committing to a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2025 from its electric generation fleet and an 80 percent reduction by the end of 2030. The company also announced plans to achieve net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas distribution system by the end of 2030.

The goals — which are outlined in a new company report — 2021 Pathway to a Cleaner Energy Future — are among the strongest environmental goals in the utility industry.

“As we plan for a bright, sustainable future, our priorities can be summed up in three words — affordable, reliable and clean,” said Gale Klappa, executive chairman. “The goals we announced today support national and international efforts, including the Paris Climate Agreement. We’re confident we can achieve these milestones while continuing to be a leader in reliability, customer satisfaction and financial performance.”

The report notes that WEC Energy Group is transforming its power generation fleet and modernizing its delivery networks.  “As we continue to execute our investment plan, we expect the percentage of our revenue and assets tied to coal will drop to less than 10 percent at the end of 2025,” added Kevin Fletcher, president and CEO.

Report highlights

  • Carbon emission reductions – electric generation
    • 60 percent by 2025, compared to 2005 levels.
    • 80 percent by the end of 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
    • Net-zero electric generation fleet by 2050.
  • Methane emission reductions
    • Net-zero methane emissions from natural gas distribution operations by the end of 2030.
  • Investments
    • As part of its 2021-2025 capital plan, WEC Energy Group expects to invest more than $4 billion on clean energy projects.
  • Business and climate strategy
    • The company will continue to work with stakeholders to minimize the impact of plant retirements and will look to the recommendations of the “Just Transition” framework, to inform engagement and decision-making.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation’s premier energy companies, serving 4.6 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

The company’s principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. Another major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants. In addition, WEC Infrastructure LLC owns a growing fleet of renewable generation facilities in the Midwest.

WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com) is a Fortune 500 company and a component of the S&P 500. The company has approximately 42,000 stockholders of record, 7,200 employees and more than $37 billion of assets.
 

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management’s expectations and projections regarding emission reduction goals, coal-based revenue and asset base, investment amounts, the 2021-2025 capital plan, known as the ESG Progress Plan, and the impact of plant retirements. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “objectives,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “projects,” “should,” “targets,” “will” or similar terms or variations of these terms.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including business and competitive conditions in the company’s service territories; the extent, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any future health pandemics; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other regulatory decisions; the company’s ability to continue to successfully integrate the operations of its subsidiaries; availability of the company’s generating facilities and/or distribution systems; unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; key personnel changes; varying, adverse or unusually severe weather conditions; continued industry restructuring and consolidation; continued advances in, and adoption of, new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption; energy and environmental conservation efforts; the company’s ability to successfully acquire and/or dispose of assets and projects; cybersecurity threats and data security breaches; construction risks; equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in the company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to access the capital markets; changes in tax legislation or our ability to use certain tax benefits and carryforwards; the impact of legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to environmental standards and greenhouse gas regulations; political developments; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; changes in accounting standards; the financial performance of American Transmission Company as well as projects in which the company’s energy infrastructure business invests; the ability of the company to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices; goodwill and its possible impairment; and other factors described under the heading “Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” and “Risk Factors” contained in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by law, the company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

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SOURCE WEC Energy Group

Positive Interim Results from IceCure Medical’s ICE3 Clinical Trial for Breast Cancer Treatment by Freezing with the ProSense® Cryoablation System Presented at the 2021 ASBrS Meeting

PR Newswire

CAESAREA, Israel, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — IceCure Medical Ltd. (TASE: ICCM) (“IceCure” or the “Company”), developer of the minimally invasive cryoablation ProSense® System that destroys tumors by freezing, today announced interim results from the Company’s ICE3 clinical trial for cryoablation of small low-risk breast cancer tumors. At a mean of 34.83 months following treatment with ProSense®, only 2.06% (4 out of 194 eligible trial patients) experienced cancer recurrence.

Interim results were presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) by Dr. Richard Fine, MD, FACS, an ICE3 investigator who serves as Program Director of the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship and as Director of Research and Education at the West Comprehensive Breast Center in Germantown, TN, who previously served as Chairman of the ASBrS. In a press release issued by the ASBrS, Dr. Fine stated that “cryoablation potentially represents a dramatic improvement in care for appropriate low-risk patients, and at three years post-treatment, the ICE3 trial results are extremely positive. The non-invasive procedure is fast, painless and can be delivered under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office. Recovery time is minimal and cosmetic outcomes are excellent with little loss of breast tissue and no scarring. Now, this trial is underscoring the efficacy and safety of the procedure for this patient group.”

The ICE3 trial commenced in 2014 and is, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, the largest controlled multisite clinical trial conducted in the U.S. for liquid nitrogen-based cryoablation of early-stage malignant breast tumors. The study was conducted in 19 hospitals and medical centers across the U.S., including Columbia University Medical Center and Mount Sinai Beth Israel. The ICE3 trial enrolled and treated 194 patients 55 years of age or older (average age of 75) with low-risk, early-stage breast cancer tumors measuring up to 1.5 cm. Patients were treated with IceCure’s ProSense® Cryoablation System, a minimally-invasive approach to directly target and freeze tumors. Duration of treatment ranged from 20 to 40 minutes depending on the location and size of the tumor. Treatment does not require surgical incision or involve scarring.

At a mean of 34.83 months following treatment with ProSense®, only 2.06% (4 patients) experienced cancer recurrence. The 36-month local Failure Free Probability is 99.22%. The statistical analysis presented by Dr. Fine indicates that among patients treated using the company’s ProSense® Cryoablation System, the chance of non-recurrence in a population of patients with low-risk breast cancer, in early stages, and up to 1.5 cm tumor size, for a period of up to three years, is between 94.58%% and 99.89%%, with a statistical significance (confidence level) of 95%. He also reported that freezing low risk breast tumors in the early stages delivers greater patient satisfaction at a lower cost than traditional interventions. “Less aggressive therapies can be as effective and deliver greater patient satisfaction at a lower cost than traditional interventions,” said Dr. Fine. “In keeping with that trend, cryoablation is a promising, high value treatment for certain forms of less aggressive cancers.” No significant device-related adverse events were reported. 95% percent of patients and 98% of treating physicians reported satisfaction with the cosmetic results.

Dr. Fine cited the December 2017ASBrS Consensus Guideline on Breast Cancer Lumpectomy Margins that states”[i]n a recent meta-analysis, the effect of margin status and margin distance on IBTR in patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer was evaluated in 21 studies that identified 1,026 local recurrences in 14,571 patients,” indicating that local recurrences resulted in surgery for 7.04% of patients evaluated.

“We are extremely encouraged by the strong interim results from our ICE3 trial,” commented Eyal Shamir, Chief Executive Officer of IceCure. “These results further validate ProSense® as a safe and effective minimally-invasive cryoablation approach to tumor destruction, and we look forward to continuing our productive dialogue with the ASBrS and the FDA on advancing the process of making this valuable technology available for patients with malignant breast tumors. We are hopeful that this data, combined with the FDA’s Breakthrough Device Designation, will help expedite commercialization of ProSense® for breast cancer treatment in the U.S.”

IceCure expects that by June 2021 there will be 49 patients that have completed a five-year follow-up, 41 patients that have completed a four-year follow-up, 39 patients that have completed a three-year follow-up, and 51 patients that have completed a two-year follow-up.

About IceCure Medical

Founded in 2006, Israel-based IceCure Medical (TASE: ICCM), develops and markets an advanced liquid-nitrogen-based cryoablation therapy for the treatment of tumors (benign and cancerous) by freezing, with the primary focus areas being breast, kidney, bone and lung cancer. Its minimally-invasive technology is a safe and effective alternative to hospital surgical tumor removal that is easily performed in a relatively short procedure. The system is marketed and sold worldwide, after receiving FDA and CE approvals. To learn more, please visit: www.icecure-medical.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The Company’s foregoing assessments in relation to the assistance of the experiment’s results in obtaining FDA approval to treatment of Breast cancer tumors, to strengthen the ASBrS recognition and to the commercialization of the Company’s products, are considered Forward-Looking statements, as defined in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, which depends on factors outside the Company’s control, including without limitations, the Company’s compliance with the FDA requirements and the actual adoption of  the Company’s products by the medical community. In light of the foregoing, these assessments might not materialize or materialize significantly differently than described above.

Communication Contact:
Tlalit Bussi Tel Tzure
VP BD & Marketing
IceCure Medical Ltd
+972-545-650-737
[email protected]

IR Contact:

Jeremy Feffer

T: 212-915-2568 | M: 917-749-1494
[email protected]

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SOURCE IceCure Medical

PepsiCo Announces Webcast of Annual Shareholders’ Meeting

PR Newswire

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — PepsiCo, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: PEP) virtual annual shareholders’ meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) will be webcast live on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. In light of ongoing concern regarding COVID-19, and to promote the health and well-being of our employees, shareholders, directors, officers and other stakeholders, the Annual Meeting will be a virtual-only meeting. The virtual meeting and live audio webcast will be accessible at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PEP2021 or through PepsiCo’s website at www.pepsico.com in the “Investors” section under “Financial Information – Events & Presentations.”

As described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting previously distributed, shareholders as of the close of business on March 1, 2021, the record date, are entitled to participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting. To vote or submit questions during the virtual meeting, shareholders must enter the 16-digit control number included on the proxy card, voting instruction form, notice or email that they previously received. Online access to the audio webcast will open shortly prior to the start of the Annual Meeting. Guests without a control number may also attend the virtual meeting, but will not have the option to vote shares or ask questions.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Contacts: 

Investors: [email protected]

Media: [email protected]

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SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.