Lazer MedSpa News

MCI
Male Contraceptive Initiative’s logo

DURHAM, N.C. – January 19, 2023 – (Newswire.com)

Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has partnered with the pharmaceutical company Eppin Pharma to provide a Program Related Investment (PRI) of up to $800,000 to support clinical trial activities for the company’s novel short-term, non-hormonal oral male contraceptive pill.

This is the latest PRI from Male Contraceptive Initiative and represents the organization’s continued evolution as it seeks to expand its support of the male contraception research and development community. “We are very excited about adding additional program related investments to our portfolio as a means of accelerating male contraceptive product development through a collaborative, ‘team science’ approach. Returns on these investments will go directly back into supporting research efforts to continue driving the field of non-hormonal male contraception forward,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. “Eppin Pharma is a particularly exciting investment opportunity as they have been integral at advancing the non-hormonal male contraceptive field in an effort to revolutionize family planning by providing reproductive equity to men who still have to rely on only two methods of birth control: condoms and vasectomy,” Ms. Vahdat added.

Eppin Pharma’s lead male contraceptive candidate is a small organic compound that binds to EPPIN, a protein on the surface of human sperm, resulting in the loss of the sperm’s ability to properly function. The non-hormonal treatment Eppin Pharma is developing is intended to be fast-acting and does not affect the production of sperm. 

MCI’s investment in Eppin Pharma will be used to establish proof-of-concept of safety and feasibility of their contraceptive method as they prepare for human clinical trials. This is an important first step prior to conducting a larger efficacy study required for gaining regulatory approval and widespread consumer access to the therapeutic. 

“We have been excited about Eppin’s work since 2019, when we provided them with an initial grant to advance their work. Given the success of their science to date, we are pleased to expand our collaboration as Eppin Pharma represents the forefront of pharmacologic, non-hormonal male contraceptive methods,” said MCI Research Director Dr. Logan Nickels. 

“We are grateful to MCI for their dedication to supporting innovation in male contraception and for recognizing the transformative potential of our work,” said Dr. Michael O’Rand, Eppin Pharma’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “At Eppin Pharma, we are dedicated to developing new options for men who desire to take control of their fertility and we look forward to advancing our method to clinical trials in the near future,” added Dr. O’Rand.

With over $10 million invested in product development, MCI seeks to advance male contraceptive research projects to market in order to achieve its organizational vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”. MCI’s mission is, “To empower men, and couples, to fully contribute to family planning goals by providing them the resources they need for reproductive autonomy.”

Contact Information:

Kevin Shane

Communications & Design Director

kevin@malecontraceptive.org

5853072270

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Male Contraceptive Initiative Invests in Eppin Pharma to Support Clinical Trials for a Non-Hormonal Male Contraceptive

In vitro antimicrobial resistance test enables clinical labs to deliver targeted therapeutic results days faster than the current standard of care, clearing the path for personalized antibiotic therapies

Selux Diagnostics
Selux Diagnostics Logo

BOSTON – January 19, 2023 – (Newswire.com)

Selux Diagnostics, a biotech startup in Boston whose mission is to combat superbug infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its proprietary Next Generation Phenotyping (NGP) System — a rapid antibiotic susceptibility (AST) testing platform that provides targeted therapeutic results days faster than the current standard of care. 

The FDA clearance is for Selux Diagnostics’ in vitro antimicrobial resistance test, which determines a bacteria’s susceptibility to 14 specific antimicrobial agents on the Selux Gram-Positive Panel. Selux’s NGP Gram-Negative panel is currently under review by the FDA. 

“This clearance represents a significant advance in infectious disease care and the fight to address antibiotic resistance. Our groundbreaking Selux NGP System holds the potential to save lives and decrease overreliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics, a key factor contributing to the rise of superbugs. We thank all our employees, partners, and advisors who contributed to this tremendous accomplishment,” said Steve Lufkin, CEO of Selux Diagnostics.

“We have been waiting for true innovation in AST technologies to deliver rapid results that are accurate according to the latest FDA guidelines and include newly approved antibiotics,” said James S. Lewis II, PharmD, FIDSA, co-director of antibiotic stewardship at Oregon Health and Science University, and chair, CLSI Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Subcommittee. “I am enthusiastic that the Selux NGP System addresses these critical needs and will become an essential tool for directing personalized therapies for infected patients.”

Experts predict that without a significant change in today’s treatment options, deaths from superbugs will surpass deaths from cancer by 2050. Selux is confronting this global health crisis head-on by redefining the speed and performance of AST, the critical diagnostic test that informs personalized antibiotic therapy.

For more information on the Selux NGP System, visit www.seluxdx.com.

Acknowledgment

This platform has been supported in whole or in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract number HHSO100201800013C.

About Selux Diagnostics 

Selux Diagnostics is transforming patient care by accelerating the selection of personalized antimicrobial therapy for all Infectious Disease patients. This advance will save lives, shorten hospital stays, and combat the growing antibiotic resistance epidemic by decreasing the overuse of broad-spectrum agents. Learn more at www.seluxdx.com.

Contact Information:

Andrea LePain

andrea@emediajunction.com

617-894-1153

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FDA Clears ‘Selux NGP System’ for Rapid Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

AGFA HealthCare, That’s life in flow.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – January 18, 2023 – (Newswire.com)

AGFA HealthCare is proud to announce that it has been named to the Leaders Category in the IDC MarketScape: U.S. Enterprise Medical Imaging 2022-2023 Vendor Assessment (doc #US48168021e, November 2022). According to the IDC MarketScape report, vendors should:

“Consider AGFA when you are a medium-sized to large healthcare provider looking for a platform-based solution with a differentiated level of intelligence that promotes a more collaborative medical imaging work environment.”

AGFA HealthCare has been recognized by the IDC MarketScape for the following strengths:

Converged Platform
Enterprise Imaging Platform builds on AGFA’s long-standing domain experience in medical imaging IT. The solution combines connected (cross) enterprise care, converged multispecialty support, an adaptable automated workflow, and disease-oriented augmented intelligence across the platform. The resulting capabilities (e.g., real-time collaboration and communication, multidisciplinary imaging for 15+ service lines, anytime-anywhere access, AI-enabled rules-based workflow automation, modular deployment) differentiate AGFA’s solution. One customer said, “I took a trip a few times to RSNA and HIMSS, and AGFA was the only vendor at the time that seemed to understand the concept of enterprise imaging.” This perception of AGFA having a robust, vendor-neutral platform with capabilities that can scale with modern-day requirements stood out in interviews.

Augmented Intelligence
AGFA’s RUBEE for AI embeds “augmented intelligence” capabilities (advanced visualization, workflow orchestration, automated triage, smart hanging protocols, automated reporting, critical finding notifications, and specialty imaging packages) into the solution. Combining AI-driven automation with disease-oriented AI analytics helps customers generate more insight and practice better evidence-based medicine than traditional imaging workflows.

Ecosystem Integration
AGFA’s XERO modules help enable enterprisewide collaboration between local healthcare professionals and external stakeholders. The XERO Exchange Network (XEN) allows image and report sharing at any time, which promotes regional and local collaboration between stakeholders (e.g., clinicians, patients, and other providers).

Furthermore, the solution is FHIR-enabled and has an open API ecosystem, which simplifies the ability for the vendor and its customers to integrate and improves interoperability. AGFA also holds many alliances and partnerships, which extend its ecosystem orientation even further, including with Microsoft Azure, AWS, Oracle, and Google, in addition to hardware OEMs (Dell, HPE, and Barco) and others (Philips Forcare, Qaelum, TOMTEC, Ascend, Cordiana, and MediReport).

About AGFA HealthCare

AGFA HealthCare is transforming the role of medical imaging into a high-impact, data-driven enterprise-wide information flow – supporting health professionals across the globe with secure and scalable imaging data management.  

AGFA’s preeminent product, the Enterprise Imaging Platform, creates an Imaging Health Record™, or IHR, to align with and fulfill a health system’s EHR.  The IHR provides an unobstructed flow of patient imaging information to help clinicians achieve their clinical, operational, and business strategies.

AGFA HealthCare is a division of the AGFA-Gevaert Group and traded on Euronext Brussels (AGFB).

For more information, visit www.agfahealthcare.com, and on LinkedIn.

About IDC MarketScape 

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

Contact Information:

Miriam Ladin

Marketing and Communication Americas

miriam.ladin@agfa.com

+1 978 284 7777

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AGFA HealthCare Positioned in the Leaders Category in the IDC MarketScape: U.S. Enterprise Medical Imaging 2022-2023 Vendor Assessment

Addison Group Addison Group logo, various greens, blue, and white pinwheel
CHICAGO – January 18, 2023 – (Newswire….

Through this endorsement, Cedar will be MHA Ventures’ only preferred patient financial engagement technology

NEW YORK and HELENA, Mont. – January 18, 2023 – (Newswire.com)

Cedar, an enterprise healthcare engagement platform that improves the end-to-end consumer financial journey, was recently endorsed by the Montana Hospital Association‘s shared services division MHA Ventures (MHAV) as their preferred choice in patient financial engagement technology. Through this endorsement, Cedar will be listed as the MHAV’s only preferred patient financial engagement technology.

The MHAV is a hospital member organization that nominates vendors through a rigorous and lengthy vetting process, identifying relevant technologies for their hospital members in the region. The association collects organizational background, testimonials, references, offerings and other essential company details. 

Cedar was selected based on its ability to drive results in a time when health systems face significant financial pressures. Cedar’s flagship solution, Cedar Pay, generates an average 30% lift in patient payments for clients, with 89% of patients reporting an exceptional financial experience.  

“MHA is excited to launch a partnership with Cedar. This proven, impactful patient engagement solution is making a big difference for a rural state like Montana. In fact, several MHA members are already seeing positive results. Cedar is a great solution that simplifies the patient experience, saves employee time and improves cash flow,” said Rebecca Schauf, Sales & Marketing Manager, MHA Ventures.

Cedar is excited about the MHAV partnership and looks forward to improving financial outcomes for both patients and providers in Montana. 

“We commend the Montana Hospital Association for its commitment to improving the patient financial experience, particularly in light of the challenging economic times that both patients and health systems are facing,” said Florian Otto, CEO and Co-founder of Cedar. “We look forward to bringing the same consumer-centric approach to financial engagement to Montanans that we’ve delivered for health systems across the country.”

Cedar is on a mission to empower individuals to easily and affordably pursue the care they need, transforming the patient financial experience through a unique end-to-end solution. To learn more about Cedar’s innovative platform, visit https://www.cedar.com/.

About Cedar

Cedar is committed to improving the healthcare billing experience for all. With an innovative platform that connects providers and payers, Cedar empowers healthcare consumers with a personalized journey—all powered by data science and interactive design. For Cedar clients, this leads to improved financial outcomes, more efficient operations and greater consumer loyalty. To learn more about why leading U.S. healthcare organizations trust Cedar to manage the end-to-end financial experience from pre-registration to post-visit billing, visit www.cedar.com and join us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About Montana Hospital Association

The Montana Hospital Association is a nonprofit organization with more than 80 members, including 100% of Montana’s hospitals, that provide the full spectrum of healthcare services. This includes hospital inpatient and outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, home health, hospice, physician services, assisted living, senior housing, and insurance services. MHA Ventures, Inc. is the for-profit subsidiary of MHA, created to deliver solutions that improve patient care, reduce operating costs and strengthen the financial viability of Montana’s hospitals. Learn more at MTHA.org.

Contact Information:

Jenny Fiegoli

Cedar

jenny@cedar.com

Rebecca Schauf

Montana Hospital Association

rebecca.schauf@mtha.org

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Cedar Selected by MHA Ventures as Preferred Patient Financial Engagement Technology Provider

Investing to build best-in-class science and commercial capabilities for Nutrition21 and the Everwell Health platform

Everwell Health
…

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – January 18, 2023 – (Newswire.com)

Blue Sky …