Market Newsdesk

Oxford Biomedica notes AstraZeneca’s AZD1222 met primary efficacy endpoint in preventing COVID-19

         

Oxford, UK – 23 November, 2020: Oxford Biomedica plc (LSE:OXB) (“Oxford Biomedica” or “the Group”), a leading gene and cell therapy group, notes AstraZeneca PLC (“AstraZeneca”) announced AZD1222 met primary efficacy endpoint in preventing COVID-19.

Key highlights from the announcement were as follows:

• Two different dosing regimens demonstrated efficacy with one showing a better profile
• No hospitalisations or severe cases of COVID-19 in participants treated with AZD1222
• One dosing regimen (n=2,741) showed vaccine efficacy of 90% when AZD1222 was given as a half dose followed by a full dose at least one month apart, and another dosing regimen (n=8,895) showed 62% efficacy when given two full doses at least one month apart
• No serious safety events related to the vaccine have been confirmed
• AstraZeneca will now immediately prepare regulatory submission of data to authorities around the world that have a framework in place for conditional or early approval

To view the full announcement from AstraZeneca, please follow this link: (LINK)

As announced on 1 September, Oxford Biomedica signed an 18 month supply agreement under a three year Master Supply and Development Agreement with AstraZeneca for large-scale commercial manufacture of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca paid Oxford Biomedica £15 million upfront as a capacity reservation fee and the Group expects additionally to receive in excess of £35 million for large-scale manufacture of multiple batches of ADZ1222 until the end of 2021 subject to continuation of the programme. (LINK)

John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Biomedica, said:
“We are delighted to see the news today of the positive results from AstraZeneca for the COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222. We are working hard to provide AstraZeneca with multiple large-scale batches of AZD1222 from our recently approved commercial manufacturing centre Oxbox. I am proud that Oxford Biomedica is part of the process that aims to bring normality back to many people around the world and I also personally want thank all our staff for their dedication and effort in production of the vaccine, whilst continuing to grow our core lentiviral vector business.”

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Enquiries:
Oxford Biomedica plc   John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer Stuart Paynter, Chief Financial Officer Catherine Isted, Head of Corporate Development & IR	T: +44 (0)1865 783 000 T: +44 (0)1865 783 000 T: +44 (0)1865 954 161 / E: [email protected]
Consilium Strategic Communications   Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal	T: +44 (0)20 3709 5700

About Oxford Biomedica

Oxford Biomedica (LSE:OXB) is a leading, fully integrated, gene and cell therapy group focused on developing life changing treatments for serious diseases. Oxford Biomedica and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) have built a sector leading lentiviral vector delivery platform (LentiVector®), which the Group leverages to develop in vivo and ex vivo products both in-house and with partners. The Group has created a valuable proprietary portfolio of gene and cell therapy product candidates in the areas of oncology, ophthalmology, CNS disorders, liver diseases and respiratory disease. The Group has also entered into a number of partnerships, including with Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Sio Gene Therapies, Orchard Therapeutics, Santen, Beam Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium and Imperial Innovations, through which it has long-term economic interests in other potential gene and cell therapy products. Additionally the group has signed a 3 year master supply and development agreement with AstraZeneca for large-scale manufacturing of the adenoviral based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222. Oxford Biomedica is based across several locations in Oxfordshire, UK and employs more than 580 people. Further information is available at www.oxb.com

Oxford Biomedica Appoints Dr. Sam Rasty as Non-Executive Director

         

Oxford, UK – 23 November, 2020: Oxford Biomedica plc (LSE:OXB) (“Oxford Biomedica” or “the Group”), a leading gene and cell therapy group, is pleased to announce that, with effect from 1 December 2020, Dr. Siyamak (“Sam”) Rasty has been appointed to the Group’s Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Dr. Rasty brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in biopharma R&D, commercial, business development, strategy and operations at global large and medium-sized pharmaceutical and early stage, private biotechnology companies. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of PlateletBio, a US-based pioneering cell-based therapeutics company. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Homology Medicines, Inc., a genetic medicines company that he helped launch in 2016, having played a key role in transforming the company from a private start-up to an established, fully integrated public gene therapy and gene editing company.  Prior to joining Homology, he held senior positions at Shire Pharmaceuticals, including as Vice President and Head of New Products, Director of Corporate Development at Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Director of Portfolio Management, Business & Commercial Analysis and Global Commercial Strategy at GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Rasty holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University, where he focused on transcriptional regulation of lentiviruses, completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and received an MBA from Villanova University.

There are no disclosures required to be made in accordance with LR 9.6.13R.

Dr. Roch Doliveux
, Non-Executive Chairman of Oxford Biomedica, said:
“We are delighted that Sam is joining our Board of Directors. He brings significant experience to the Group from both his CEO role at PlateletBio and his previous COO role at Homology, both in the US.  Having already been involved in building and growing successful gene and cell therapy companies, Sam brings an invaluable combination of leadership, strategy and operational knowledge to the Board at this important time.”

Dr. Sam Rasty added:
“Gene and cell therapies are the new frontier in medicine, addressing previously untreatable human diseases and revolutionising treatment paradigms for patients.  As such, I am delighted to be joining the Board of Oxford Biomedica, a Group that has played a central role in key innovations in gene therapy and development of the industry.”

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Enquiries:
Oxford Biomedica plc   John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer Stuart Paynter, Chief Financial Officer Catherine Isted, Head of Corporate Development & IR	T: +44 (0)1865 783 000 T: +44 (0)1865 783 000 T: +44 (0)1865 954 161 / E: [email protected]
Consilium Strategic Communications   Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal	T: +44 (0)20 3709 5700

About Oxford Biomedica

Oxford Biomedica (LSE:OXB) is a leading, fully integrated, gene and cell therapy group focused on developing life changing treatments for serious diseases. Oxford Biomedica and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) have built a sector leading lentiviral vector delivery platform (LentiVector^®), which the Group leverages to develop in vivo and ex vivo products both in-house and with partners. The Group has created a valuable proprietary portfolio of gene and cell therapy product candidates in the areas of oncology, ophthalmology, CNS disorders, liver diseases and respiratory disease. The Group has also entered into a number of partnerships, including with Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Sio Gene Therapies, Orchard Therapeutics, Santen, Beam Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium and Imperial Innovations, through which it has long-term economic interests in other potential gene and cell therapy products. Additionally the group has signed a 3 year master supply and development agreement with AstraZeneca for large-scale manufacturing of the adenoviral based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222. Oxford Biomedica is based across several locations in Oxfordshire, UK and employs more than 580 people. Further information is available at www.oxb.com

Summit Therapeutics Inc.

(‘Summit,’ the ‘Company,’ or the ‘Group’)

Summit Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Mahkam (“Maky”) Zanganeh as Chief Operating Officer

Cambridge, MA, November 23, 2020 – Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) announces that Dr. Mahkam “Maky” Zanganeh, DDS, MBA, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.  Dr. Zanganeh is currently a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, having been appointed on November 11, 2020. 

“Maky’s strategic leadership and operational expertise provide immeasurable value to Summit, as she joins us during this critical time within our ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of our precision antibiotic candidate, ridinilazole, where we seek to bring a superior treatment to patients with C. difficile infection,” said Bob Duggan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Summit. “Maky’s proven track record of translating strategic objectives into results will help propel our Company as we build a viable, long-lasting health care organization that improves quality of life, increases potential duration of life, and resolves medical health care needs.”

Dr. Zanganeh joins Summit from Maky Zanganeh and Associates (“MZA”), which provides consulting services to businesses in product development, research, and transactions, where she is the President and CEO. Prior to founding and leading MZA, Dr. Zanganeh held multiple leadership positions at Pharmacyclics, Inc., from 2008 to 2015, culminating in her role as Chief Operating Officer, where she oversaw all clinical, research, commercial, and business-related matters. Dr. Zanganeh played a key role in the multimillion-dollar collaboration and license deal for ibrutinib with Janssen Biotech, Inc. in 2011, and the subsequent sale of Pharmacyclics to Abbvie Inc. in 2015.   She is currently a board member for Pulse BioSciences, Inc., and RenovoRx, Inc.  Dr. Zanganeh received her DDS from the Louis Pasteur University (France) and her MBA from Schiller International University (France). 

“The opportunity that Summit has to change the standard of care for infectious diseases, starting with ridinilazole, and improve the long-term quality of life of patients is pivotal to the antibiotics landscape,” stated Dr. Zanganeh.  “I look forward to expanding my role with a team of world class scientists and business leaders in assisting with the continuing build out of a powerful, sustainable business model to develop and commercialize our novel antibiotics, as we improve outcomes for patients and create healthcare savings in the process.”

About Summit Therapeutics

Summit Therapeutics, empowered by its Discuva Platform, the Company’s innovative antibiotic discovery engine, supported by BARDA and Carb-X funding, intends to be the leader in patient- and physician-friendly, paradigm-shifting antibiotic innovation. Our new mechanism antibiotics are designed to become the patient-friendly, new-era standard of care, by working in harmony with the human microbiome to treat prospective patients suffering from infectious disease, initially focusing on Clostridioides difficile infections (“CDI”) which is estimated to impact over 3 million patients worldwide annually. Commercialization of ridinilazole for the treatment and the reduction of recurrence of CDI is subject to regulatory approvals. The overriding objective of Summit Therapeutics is to create value for patients, hospital infectious disease caregivers, community-based infectious disease healthcare providers, as well as healthcare payors around the world.  Currently, Summit’s lead product candidate, ridinilazole, is engaged in two global Phase III trials, Ri-CoDIFy 1 & 2, each enrolling 680 patients vs. the standard of care (Vancomycin) for the treatment and reduction of recurrence of C. difficile infections.

Summit’s vision and mission is to extend our pipeline through the development of new mechanism, narrow spectrum, microbiome-sparing antibiotics targeting C. difficile, Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and other bacterial infections with high unmet medical need.

For more information, visit www.summittxinc.com and follow us on Twitter @summitplc. For more information on the Company’s Discuva Platform, visit https://www.summittxinc.com/our-science/discuva-platform.

Contract Summit Investor Relations:

Dave Gancarz

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Strategy

[email protected]

General Inquiries: 

[email protected]

Summit Forward-looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about the Company’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including but not limited to, statements about the clinical and preclinical development of the Company’s product candidates, the therapeutic potential of the Company’s product candidates, the potential commercialization of the Company’s product candidates, the timing of initiation, completion and availability of data from clinical trials, the potential submission of applications for marketing approvals, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and clinical trials and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, global public health crises, including the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, that may affect timing and status of our clinical trials and operations, whether preliminary results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials or preclinical studies will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, laws and regulations affecting government contracts and funding awards, availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.

Los Angeles, New York, Nov. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PLAYING FOR CHANGE AND THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND ANNOUNCE

“PEACE THROUGH MUSIC: A GLOBAL EVENT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE”

– A FACEBOOK EXCLUSIVE IN CELEBRATION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS

 

FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY: ALOE BLACC, ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO, ANNIE LENNOX, BECKY G, BRANDI CARLILE WITH MIKE MCCREADY OF PEARL JAM, CARLOS SANTANA AND CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA, GABI MELIM, GARY CLARK JR., JACK JOHNSON, JIM JAMES, KEB’ MO’, MAVIS STAPLES, NATHANIEL RATELIFF, PETER GABRIEL, RHIANNON GIDDENS, RINGO STARR, ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ROBERT RANDOLPH, RUN THE JEWELS WITH JOSH HOMME, SHEILA E., SHEMEKIA COPELAND, SKIP MARLEY AND CEDELLA MARLEY, THE WAR AND TREATY, YO-YO MA …. AND MANY MORE

 

SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY:  BILLIE EILISH, ELLIE GOULDING, KILLER MIKE, MEGAN RAPINOE AND SUE BIRD, NORMAN LEAR, PRINCE EA, SARA BAREILLES AND MORE

 

PRODUCED BY PLAYING FOR CHANGE AND BLACKBIRD PRESENTS

 

WATCH TRAILER HERE

 

ALL-STAR EVENT TO PREMIERE EXCLUSIVELY ON

FACEBOOK

LIVE THIS GIVINGTUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST

 

VISIT

PEACETHROUGHMUSIC.LIVE/

FOR MORE INFORMATION

AND WATCH IT LIVE IN THE

PLAYING FOR CHANGE FACEBOOK PAGE

 

In honor of the 75^th Anniversary of the United Nations and GivingTuesday, Playing For Change and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, are thrilled to announce Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice, produced by Playing For Change and Blackbird Presents, exclusively on Facebook Live on December 1, 2020.

 

The global virtual event will inspire people to act for peace, justice and equity, everywhere and for everyone. It will feature performances from some of the world’s most iconic artists, including: Aloe Blacc, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., Jack Johnson, Jim James, Keb’ Mo’, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Peter Gabriel, Rhiannon Giddens, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sheila E., Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, The War and Treaty, Yo-Yo Ma and many more. Special appearances include Billie Eilish, Ellie Goulding, Killer Mike, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, Norman Lear, Prince Ea and Sara Bareilles.

 

Through the universal language of music and the art of storytelling, the event will call for equality, human rights, and an end to discrimination, spotlighting people of African descent and championing the full protection and promotion of human rights for all. It will embody the unity and common purpose that beat in the heart of humanity.

 

Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice
will premiere exclusively on Facebook Live on the Playing For Change Facebook Page on GivingTuesday (December 1, 2020 at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST). GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

 

Contributions from partners and all donations made to Peace Through Music’s Facebook Fundraiser will support the Playing For Change Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund, Sankofa, Silkroad, and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation – organizations that strive to eradicate poverty, inequality, and systemic racial and gender discrimination around the world.

 

“We are stronger together than we are apart, and it is an honor to partner with like-minded artists and charities that echo this sentiment. The power of music is one tool we can use to unite and eradicate racism, inequality, poverty, and all other diseases that have plagued our world for much too long. The things in life that divide us, disappear when the music plays, and that’s something we hope you see and feel during this event,” says Mark Johnson, Playing For Change Co-Founder.

 

“Music is a wonderful medium to raise awareness about our collective quest for peace, justice, equality and dignity – the noble ideals of the United Nations. It is a powerful, unifying language that can help build bridges and advance social justice in all of its forms,” says Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund.

 

“We need to rediscover and reassert the language of our unity, of our common fears and common hopes, forged through the crucible of the pandemic.  And what better example is there of a common language beyond our differences, notwithstanding our divisions, than music? We are delighted to be a part of this exciting event, advocating for social justice, and in honor of UN75,” says Fabrizio Hochschild, Special Adviser on the Preparations for the Commemoration of the United Nations’ 75th Anniversary.

 

“We are honored to work with artists and organizations that share in the values of peace, justice, and equality for all humans. This event is a reflection of these values at a time when they are sorely needed in this world,” says Keith Wortman, Founder, and CEO of Blackbird Presents.

 

“On Giving Tuesday, people all over the world come together to support great causes and give something back,” says Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. “We are proud to be working with Playing For Change to inspire people everywhere to work toward a more peaceful, just and equal world for everyone.”

 

Full Lineup:

Afro Fiesta, Abiodun Oyewale (The Last Poets), Ahmed Al Harmi, Al Harban Brothers, Alcione, Alfred Howard, Ali Boulala, Aloe Blacc, Amina J. Mohammed (UN), Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Azueï, Baaba Maal, Barou Sall, Becky G, Béla Fleck, Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead),Bill Summers,Billie Eilish, Binho, Bizung Family Band, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carl C-Wyya Edwards, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Chandrajit and Venkat, Chango Spasiuk, Char, Clarence Bekker, Cristina Pato, Congo Drums, Cory Henry, Courtney “Bam” Diedrick, Donald Harrison and Congo Square Nation, Dr. John, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dudu Nobre, Dynamic Music Collective, EduMundo and Caveman, Ellie Goulding, Eyadou Ag Leche, Fabián Miodownik, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., George Porter Jr., Grandpa Elliott, Guardians Of The New Fire, Hiromitsu Agatsuma, Hutch Hutchinson, Ibram X. Kendi, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Ivan Neville, Isabella Madrigal, Jack Johnson, Jaiksona Soto, Jamal Murray,Jane Elliott, Jim James, John Cruz, John Prine, Johnny Herno, Kasha Sequoia Slavner, Keb’ Mo’, Keiko Komaki, Killer Mike, Kimberly L. Jones, Kolgate, La Escuelita del Ritmo, Larkin Poe, Los Hijos de Benkos, Louis Mhlanga, Lukas Nelson, Mamadou Sarr, Marcus King, Mark Johnson, Mark Lozano, Massamba Diop, Mateo, Mavis Staples, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, Mermans Mosengo, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Mohammed Alidu, Nasreen Sheikh, Natalia Kanem (UNFPA), Nathaniel Rateliff, Nikki Burt, Norm, Norman Lear, Ousseynou and Assane Kaba, “Papi” Felix Garemua, Patrick Simmons (The Doobie Brothers), Paulo Heman, Peter Bunetta, Peter Gabriel, Playing For Change Band, Playing For Change Foundation, Prince Ea, Pyramid Lake, Paiute Tribe, Rahat Inayat Ali, Rajeev Shrestha, Reggie McBride,Rhiannon Giddens, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph, Roberto Luti, Robin Moxey, Roger Ridley, Rubén Rada and Family, Rudson Daniel and Enio Taquari, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sanjay Shrestha, Sean “Pow” Diedrick, Sebastian Robertson, Sexteto Tabala, Sara Bareilles,Sheila E., Shemekia Copeland, Sherieta Lewis & Roselyn Williams, Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, Sol Homar, Songhoy Blues, Taikoproject, Taimane, Tal Wilkenfeld, Taslima Khan, The Cape Town Ensemble, The Silkroad Ensemble, The War and Treaty, Tito Puente Jr., Toumani Diabaté, TP OK Jazz, Tula Ben Ari, Tushar Lall, Vusi Mahlasela, Washboard Chaz, Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Zulu Choir.

 

For more information about Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice, please visit peacethroughmusic.live. Watch it live on December 1 through the Playing For Change Facebook Page.

About Playing For Change 

Playing For Change (PFC) is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. PFC spreads their positive message for humanity to millions of people through inspiring multicultural music videos, a live global touring band and a 501c3 foundation supporting music education around the world.

• Learn more at www.playingforchange.com

 

About Playing For Change Foundation

Founded in 2007, the Playing For Change Foundation was established to create positive change through music and arts education. Its work engages marginalized youth in low income, yet culturally rich, communities around the world. Utilizing local music, teachers, and infrastructure, each student is able to rise up through music, dance, arts, sports, and much more, all within their own culture. It currently operates 15 music programs in 11 countries, teaches over 3,000 kids each week, and has positively impacted more than 40,000 lives of kids and families in need. The Foundation was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2019.

• Learn more at www.playingforchange.org

 

About the United Nations Population Fund

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. It is formally named the United Nations Population Fund. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education.

• Learn more at www.unfpa.org

 

About UN75

To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations launched the world’s largest global conversation on ‘the future we want’. UN75 invites people everywhere to imagine the future they want and contribute ideas on how to make it a reality, building a better and more sustainable world, for all. It is also the largest survey to date on priorities for recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, over a million people from all countries and all walks of life have had their say. Their answers provide unique insights into what the public wants at this challenging time for the world. 

• Learn more at www.un.org/UN75
• Take the UN75 global survey – have YOUR say at www.un75.online

 

About Blackbird Presents

Blackbird Presents is a leading global media company that creates and produces premium, music-driven events and content via a range of strategies including all-star concert events, tours, festivals, broadcast specials, episodic series, and documentaries.

Recent concerts, broadcast specials and releases include “Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw,” “All In For The Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration,” “Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard,” “The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson,” “Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert,” “Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings,” “I’ll Take You There: Celebrating 75 Years of Mavis Staples,” “The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris,” “Lynyrd Skynyrd: One More For The Fans,” “The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac and His Music” and “All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman,” the last of which earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal’s awe-inspiring performance of “Statesboro Blues. ”Blackbird Presents is also the creator and producer of The Outlaw Music Festival Tour, in partnership with Willie Nelson; The American Roots Music & Arts Festival, in partnership with Eric Church; and The Last Waltz 40 Tour in partnership with Robbie Robertson.

• Learn more at www.blackbirdpresents.com 

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Eddie Wright
UNFPA
917 831 2074
[email protected]

Alvaro Serrano
UNFPA
[email protected]

Ebie McFarland
Essential Broadcast Media
[email protected]

BANGKOK/AUCKLAND, Nov. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (via Blockchain Wire) Brave New Coin (https://bravenewcoin.com/), a leading data analytics and research company backed by Techemy Ltd, has joined forces with Sequoia-backed cross-chain data oracle platform Band Protocol to bring decentralized price reference data to the rapidly growing smart contract application ecosystem.

Band Protocol and Brave New Coin will work together to bring the globally weighted average spot prices for up to 1500+ digital assets through the BandChain decentralized oracle network. This will allow smart contract developers to readily integrate and utilize these spot price oracles on any blockchain platform. Band Protocol has already been integrated by leading smart contract platforms including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Cosmos, Polkadot, ICON, Waves, and Matic Network.

“Brave New Coin is an early adopter and supporter of DeFi protocols, having launched the first crypto pricing data oracles for smart contracts in 2016,” said Fran Strajnar, CEO of Brave New Coin. “More recently, Brave New Coin has launched a tradable DeFi Index, of which the BAND token is a constituent. Together with Techemy Group, Brave New Coin and Band Protocol are leading the way in bringing scalable, decentralized and non-custodial products and solutions for trading, investment and analysis for smart contract developers to seamlessly utilize.”

“Working with established and reputable enterprises such as Brave New Coin will be pivotal to Band Protocol’s success as we collaborate to provide a commercial solution that protects intellectual property and data privacy while enabling the smart contract world to interact with external data sources,” said Soravis Srinawakoon, CEO and Co-Founder of Band Protocol.

This long-term partnership will also enable premium data source owners with paywalls such as Brave New Coin to automatically collect revenue on-chain starting next year. Band Protocol’s flexible oracle design benefits all stakeholders by allowing developers to create custom-made oracles with web APIs within minutes as well as enabling enterprises to commercialize their data by creating premium oracles for developers to integrate.

The Global Weighted Average Spot Price (GWA) provided by Brave New Coin works by providing a fair price for any tracked digital asset from near real-time trading across a global network of top crypto exchanges. With intraday, end of day price and volume inputs updated at a 30 second tick interval, developers in decentralized finance will be well equipped to build trustless applications using an independent, reliable, third-party price discovery oracle.

About Band Protocol

Band Protocol is a cross-chain data oracle platform that aggregates and connects real-world data and APIs to smart contracts. Blockchains are great at immutable storage and deterministic, verifiable computations — however, they cannot securely access data available outside the blockchain networks. Band Protocol enables smart contract applications such as DeFi, prediction markets, and games to be built on-chain without relying on the single point of failure of a centralized oracle. Band Protocol is backed by a strong network of stakeholders including Sequoia Capital, one of the top venture capital firms in the world, and the leading cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.

About Brave New Coin

Brave New Coin (https://bravenewcoin.com/) (BNC) is a data and research company focused on the blockchain and cryptographic assets industry. Founded in 2014, BNC provides data, analysis and research to a global network of market participants. Brave New Coin supplies spot-pricing, index solutions, research and news both aggregate and proprietary, via partners such as Amazon Alexa, Dow Jones Factiva, NASDAQ, Refinitv, RapidAPI and dozens more. The company’s experience and expertise make it the leading provider of standard and non-standard institutional grade, highly compliant, data solutions. BNC Pro leverages its experience and data into a user-friendly dashboard solution. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Transform Group, [email protected] 

HOUSTON, Nov. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) is pleased to announce the addition of Firm Body Pilates Training as a new tenant to its Citadel property in North Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things.” — Joseph Pilates. 

“As the country embraces the re-opening of gyms and fitness centers in select areas across the nation, we are pleased to partner with such an experienced and well-respected fitness instructor and entrepreneur,” said Jim Mastandrea, Chairman and CEO of Whitestone REIT. “Pilates has been one of the few segments of the fitness industry that has shown resiliency despite the government-mandated shutdowns during the pandemic and has thrived due to its smaller class sizes and location flexibility. At Whitestone, we have always encouraged and supported the entrepreneurial spirit and are honored to collaborate with Jodi, her business and one of our high-quality properties to continue her pursuit of the American Dream. We envision Firm Body Pilates expanding its business into several of our other centers throughout the Greater Phoenix area and possibly in our high-growth Texas markets of Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.”

Jodi Melton, owner of JM Pilates LLC, which will operate Firm Body Pilates Training, is an experienced instructor with over 40 years in the fitness industry and 14 years of successfully training and managing several high-end clients remotely in the DC Ranch area. Jodi is classically trained, certified through the PhysicalMind Institute, and qualified to train and certify new instructors. The new studio at Citadel, which is in close proximity to other Whitestone properties like Market Street at DC Ranch, represents her first pilates studio. Firm Body Pilates Training’s top priority in opening the new space is protecting the health and safety of its community and clients. The studio, which is in compliance with state and local COVID-19 protocols, is complete with top-of-the-line V2 Max^TM Reformer Bundle equipment from Merrithew^TM. 

With an emphasis on health and wellness targeting physical core strengthening and rehabilitation, Firm Body Pilates has successfully provided services to a rapidly growing list of clients. Its diverse clientele range in age from 11 to 85 years old and in experience from pilates beginners to professional dancers and athletes, including members of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

Mr. Mastandrea concluded, “The opening of Firm Body Pilates is another example of entrepreneurs stepping up to meet the pent-up demand for services in Whitestone spaces, benefitting the communities we serve.” 

About Whitestone REIT
 
Whitestone is a community-centered shopping center REIT that acquires, owns, manages, develops and redevelops high-quality neighborhood centers primarily in the largest, fastest-growing and most affluent markets in the Sunbelt. 

Whitestone seeks to create Communities That Thrive through Creating Local Connections between consumers in the surrounding communities and a well-crafted mix of national, regional and local tenants that provide daily necessities, needed services, entertainment and experiences.

Whitestone is a monthly dividend paying stock and has consistently paid dividends for over 15 years.

Whitestone’s strong balanced and managed capital structure provides stability and flexibility for growth and positions Whitestone to perform well through economic cycles. For additional information, please visit www.whitestonereit.com.

About


PhysicalMind


Institute®


PhysicalMind Institute® was established in 1991 to carry on the work of Joseph Pilates. Beginning with Certification of Pilates Teachers, the Institute continued the tradition of looking at bodies and inventing what was needed for better movement and pain relief. Today Pilates, Yoga, Barre and Dance professionals and consumers worldwide benefit from these patented, portable, and lightweight products such as Tye4®, Parasetter®, Head Floater® and more. These are the future of fitness. For additional information, please visit www.physicalmindinstitute.com.

About


Merrithew



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Founded in 1988 with the aim of developing high-integrity fitness education programs, equipment and services. Merrithew looks to help fitness professionals and enthusiasts fulfill their potential. Their philosophy is that effective and responsible exercise is the foundation of a better life – and should be accessible regardless of age, fitness level or ability. For additional information, please visit www.physicalmindinstitute.com.

Investors Contact:

Kevin Reed, Director of Investor Relations
Whitestone REIT
(713) 435-2219
[email protected]