Category Archives: Healthcare Professionals

Pharma R&D and patient advocacy to discuss patient involvement in clinical research at Patients as Partners® Europe 2024

NEW YORK, NY, United States, 12-Mar-2024 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Conference Forum today announced the launch of the 8th annual Patients as Partners® Europe meeting, taking place May 14-15, 2024, at Plaisterers’ Hall, in London, England. Patients as Partners® Europe offers an unparalleled opportunity to hear from pharma R&D and patient advocacy on how patient involvement gets done to drive greater efficiencies and inclusivity in clinical research with better outcomes.

“Patients as Partners Europe brings advocates and sponsors together in a unique forum focused on improving collaborations that result in meaningful impact for patients,” said 2024 co-chair, Victoria DiBiaso, MPH, Global Head, Patient Informed Development & Health Value Translation, Sanofi.

The 2024 keynotes and featured speakers include:

  • Patient Advocate Keynote Derek Stewart, OBE on understanding mental health support in clinical research
  • Patient Advocate Keynote Sarah Zenner Dolan, a former biotech executive on navigating clinical trials as a patient
  • GSK’s Andrew Garvey, Global Patient Advocacy Lead, on what has been working, and what has not, in GSK’s effort to advance patient engagement in clinical trials
  • Pfizer’s Patrick Gallogly, Medical Advisor, Pfizer, on the learnings generated from an industry-first LGBTQ+ oncology advisory board
  • Lundbeck’s Anders Lassen, Senior Director, Patient Insights, on using patient-centric integrated evidence approaches to inform drug development decisions
  • Boehringer Ingelheim’s Annie Gilbert, Global Patient Advocacy Lead, on the pilot program bridging the communication gap by sending trial updates to patients
  • Ipsen’s Oleksandr Gorbenko,​​​​​​​ Global Patient Affairs Director, Neurosciences, on how Ipsen partnered with patient advocacy to create robust patient experience mapping
  • AstraZeneca’s Lisa Kerr, Senior Director, R&D Patient Science, on creating a measurement strategy and business investment case to scale patient-centric R&D approaches
  • Astellas’ Stephen Head, Senior Director, Patient Partnerships, on instilling conscious awareness of the patient into everyday work practices
  • Prostate Cancer Research’s David James, Director of Patient Projects, on demystifying and diversifying clinical trials to engage underserved communities

“Patients as Partners® Europe presents case examples on how patient involvement in clinical research can accelerate medicine development, how it can improve better access, inclusivity and diversity,” said Valerie Bowling, Executive Director.

Key topics to be addressed include:

  • ​​​​The future of patient-informed research
  • Understanding patient preferences in decentralized clinical trials
  • Advancing health equity and diversifying clinical trials to engage underserved communities
  • The patient experience data landscape and returning patient data
  • Turning patient insights into action
  • Mapping and measuring patient engagement
  • Patient burden-reducing solutions and technologies
  • Regulatory requirements and patient engagement in drug development

The 2024 meeting is co-chaired by ​​​​​​​Sanofi’s Victoria DiBiaso, MPH, Global Head, Patient Informed Development & Health Value Translation; Patient Advocate, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Alfred Samuels; and Parexel’s Rosamund Round, VP, Patient Engagement.

About Patients as Partners® Europe:
Patients as Partners® Europe is co-produced with patients, industry, academia, government and nonprofit organizations to establish a well-rounded program that addresses the needs of all stakeholders seeking to implement and advance patient involvement, access and diversity across the entire clinical development continuum. To learn more about Patients as Partners and access the full agenda, visit PatientsAsPartnersEU.com.

About the Conference Forum:
The Conference Forum is a life science industry research, conference development and marketing firm. The company brings the full spectrum of executives together to share ideas and information on how to advance efficient medicine development and delivery, patient diversity and access. They produce trusted conferences, webinars, podcasts, digital editorial and provide marketing services. To learn more, visit theconferenceforum.org.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Novartis, Lundbeck, and GSK Among Pharmaceutical Companies to Present at Patients as Partners Europe 2023

NEW YORK, NY, United States, 13-Apr-2023 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Conference Forum announced that the 7th annual European Patients as Partners® in Clinical Research conference will return to London at the Thistle Hotel Marble Arch on June 12-13, 2023. The event will showcase the progress made by pharma R&D executives with input from patients on achieving greater representation in clinical research, building trust and engagement in communities, and building truly patient-centric R&D organizations.

“We are delighted to be back in person to offer an unparalleled opportunity to hear from pharma R&D and patient advocacy together on how patient involvement gets done to drive greater efficiencies in clinical research with better outcomes,” said Valerie Bowling, Executive Director, Patients as Partners in Clinical Research Europe.

A variety of pharmaceutical companies will report on the progress they’ve made engaging communities and partnering with patients. Sanofi will open with the evolution of patient-informed research and its impact on medicine development. Novartis will be speaking on the organization’s global approach to implementing systematic and consistent patient engagement across the medicine lifecycle with a focus on measurement.

Lundbeck will share how they are generating insights through engagement with patient communities and making patient input actionable for medicines development. CSL Behring will discuss how they are evaluating clinical research sites based on patient-focused principles.

Several companies, including Regeneron, the Center for BME Health and Sanofi, will discuss their progress in increasing diversity amongst underrepresented communities in clinical research. GSK will lead a session on understanding barriers to community engagement in clinical research.

Boehringer Ingelheim will discuss the company’s approach to engaging patients throughout the clinical trial and how to leverage those patient insights to improve the process. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals will share how the organization has developed a top-down approach to integrating the patient perspective.

The conference features incredible patient advocate representation, addressing the realities of underrepresented communities to better serve them. For the first time, Patients as Partners Europe will have a patient-led session on supporting mental health for patients in clinical research.

“I look forward to hearing from patients and industry colleagues about what matters most and what has the greatest impact when partnering with patients and their communities on our efforts to new therapeutic options available,” said Deirdre BeVard, SVP, R&D Strategic Operations, CSL Behring and Patients as Partners Europe co-chair.

Key topics for 2023 include:

  • The evolution of patient informed research
  • Increasing diversity in clinical research
  • Patient access to research through digital innovation
  • Understanding barriers to community engagement in clinical research
  • Turning patient insights into action
  • Navigating patient engagement and compliance
  • Mapping and how to measure patient engagement
  • Regulatory requirements and patient engagement in drug development

To learn more about the event, and a full overview of speakers, please click here (https://theconferenceforum.org/conferences/patients-as-partners-europe/overview/)

About Patients as Partners EU
Patients as Partners is co-produced with patients, industry, academia, government and nonprofit organizations to establish a well-rounded program that addresses the needs of all stakeholders seeking to implement and advance patient involvement across the entire clinical development continuum.

About the Conference Forum
The Conference Forum is a life science industry research firm that develops conferences primarily around how to get therapeutics to patients faster. They examine and challenge the complex ecosystem of drug development and delivery, bringing ideas together from a variety of sources to help advance clinical research with common goals that are patient-focused.

They currently offer conferences for pharma/biotech professionals including R&D leaders, CEOs, business development/licensing, medical affairs/safety, chief patient officers/advocates, clinical innovation champions, investors and drug delivery specialists. The company also publishes six newsletters and produces PharmaTalkRadio and virtual events.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

First patient enrolled in an international multicenter clinical study for non-invasive cardiac resynchronization therapy

BOLZANO/ BOZEN, Italy, 19-Mar-2023 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — XSpline SPA, a start-up company incorporated in Bolzano (Italy) and the Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen Hospital in Linz (Austria) today announced the first patient enrolled in a clinical study (ClinicalTrials.govID: NCT05327062) for the cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) guided by non-invasive electrical and venous anatomy assessment.  The international multicenter prospective study will include 150 patients from 16 centers in the U.S. and Europe.

XSpline Cloud provides a cloud-based non-invasive cardiac panoramic mapping technology to select individual CRT treatment strategy and predict outcomes.

Fast and fully automatic Artificial Intelligence based epi- and endocardial segmentation of cardiac structures, including coronary sinus veins, provides clear understanding of individual patient’s anatomy. The electrical assessment is based on a 3D panoramic electro-anatomical map based on 12 -lead ECG only, without requiring multichannel ECG recording or any kind of body surface potential mapping. XSpline Cloud is the first system in the world with AI based identification of the correct target zone for LV lead implantation.

The cloud-platform guarantees full operability with existing clinical standards and data formats; it supports IHE profiles, HL7 FIHR, DICOM, and a broad range of ECG formats. The platform also provides embedded medical grade visualization tools, such as an integrated multimodality DICOM viewer, an ECG viewer with measurement capabilities, a high-performance 3D viewer for segmented cardiac structures and electro- anatomical maps as well as an interactive navigator for LV lead placement.

Dr. Georgios Kollias, M.D., is the principal investigator for the clinical trial in Austria and performed the first procedure on a 71-year-old patient with ESV LV of 154 ml and EF LV of 20%.

“The XSpline Cloud software provides a unique approach to selecting an individualized CRT treatment strategy. It is a comprehensive tool for successful CRT implantation that can also predict outcomes, making the implantation procedure faster, easier, and safer for the patient. We are very pleased to start using this tool in our clinic”, said Dr. Kollias.

“XSpline SPA is supported by an international R&D team of skilled clinicians, mathematicians, and biomedical engineers with the shared goal of improving patient care. We think that the real-time visualization of each patient’s individual anatomy, the precise non-invasive electro-anatomical endo- and epicardial activation map and the interactive navigator will help to increase CRT responders”, said Mr. Werner Rainer, CEO of the company.

XSpline Cloud is an investigational device and not yet approved for commercial use.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

European public-private project to advance precision psychiatry by introducing biology into clinical routine

PARIS AND MONTPELLIER, 30-Mar-2022 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — ALCEDIAG announces the launch of the EDIT-B Consortium, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for Health (EIT Health). This newly formed European public-private partnership aims at advancing precision psychiatry by introducing biology into clinical routine.

Around 300M people in the world are affected by depression. Studies show that up to 40% of them may be misdiagnosed and potentially bipolar. As a result, diagnosis is often delayed by an average of 7.5 years, worsening patients’ mental and physical conditions as well as their loved ones’ quality of life.

The EDIT-B Consortium aims to solve this diagnostic challenge by using specific RNA editing based biomarkers and artificial intelligence to validate and commercialize an accurate, reliable, and quick blood test to diagnose bipolar disorder.

The Consortium brings together prominent members from across Europe who will be working over the next three years to achieve this goal: Alcediag, Alcen, Capital Region of Denmark, Fundació Clinic per la Recerca Biomèdica, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, ProductLife Group and Synlab. With a total budget of € 5.2 million, EDIT-B is co-funded by the EIT Health (€ 2.5M) and the partners.

“This project will accurately separate bipolar disorder from unipolar disorder. This distinction is extremely important clinically, because the treatments are different. EDIT-B Consortium gathers all relevant expertise and as the principal investigator in the clinical trial, I hope we will be able to validate a test that will improve the lives of many people living with bipolar disorder”, says Prof. Eduard Vieta from the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

SYNLAB is the first diagnostic service provider in Europe, present in 36 countries in 4 continents and committed to developing high value solutions for patients  focusing on medical excellence and customer centricity.

Maurizio Ferrari, SYNLAB Italy Chief Medical Officer says: “innovation in healthcare is a key pillar for the customer centricity and  we are very proud to be part of this European research project that really may help patients with psychiatric disorders”.

“I am proud to see that the EDIT-B consortium led by our partner Alcediag – a subsidiary of Alcen – will tackle the challenge of improving the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In doing so, they support EIT Health main mission which is to help citizens live healthier and longer lives and at the same time put the spotlight on mental health which is key to the proper care management and wellbeing of our communities”, adds Jean Marc Bourez, interim CEO of EIT Health.

“On this World Bipolar Day, Alcediag team is happy to announce its contribution to solving the bipolar disorder diagnostic issue.  We are proud and grateful to our partners and the EIT Health for this opportunity to advance science while having a positive impact on people’s lives”, said Alexandra Prieux, CEO of Alcediag.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

EU Patients as Partners in Medicines Development conference to be held virtually on Jan 24-25, 2022

(PRESS RELEASE) New York, NY, United States, 5-Jan-2021 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Conference Forum announced the launch of the 6th annual EU Patients as Partners in Medicines Development conference to take place virtually on January 24-25th, 2022 GMT time.

​​This annual event, the first of its kind in Europe, will feature successful collaborations between patients and pharma where patient input directly impacted aspects of how a pharmaceutical company either designed or conducted a clinical trial.

Of the 20 sessions, half include a patient or patient advocate. This two-day program will demonstrate how patient-led research can improve the way pharma conducts clinical trials.

Examples include UCB developing new assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of novel treatments for Parkinson’s disease, changes in the design and implementation of an MS trial for greater patient engagement, and the development of a new toolkit to change the way patients are compensated for their contributions in clinical research.

“Patients have become more empowered,” says co-chair Michaela Dinboeck, Head, Center of Excellence for Patient Engagement at Novartis. “So patient engagement must be integrated into the DNA of how medicines are developed, approved, and used. Patients as Partners Europe will provide Pharma with valuable insights on how to achieve this.”

Participating pharma companies include Novartis, Pfizer, Merck KGaA, EMD Serono, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, Ipsen, UCB, Takeda, AbbVie, Noema Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Regeneron, and Pierre Fabre.

Other topics to be addressed include: Scaling patient engagement activities company-wide, engaging patients in early clinical development, leveraging social media to gain patient insights, diversity and inclusion in research and updates on patient engagement activities in Eastern Europe.

To learn more, please visit Patients as Partners Europe.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Palette Life Sciences unveils 4 international sites for its Deflux online presence

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. / STOCKHOLM, 27-Oct-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today introduced valuable new online resources for healthcare providers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. By expanding its Deflux online presence to international audiences, Palette Life Sciences demonstrates its commitment to supporting the global paediatric community.

Deflux.fr is a French-language resource for healthcare providers in France. Deflux.com/de is a German-language site serving practitioners in Germany. Deflux.com/es and Deflux.it are English-language sites serving physicians in Spain and Italy respectively. These new sites offer best-in-class online resources, important information and education about VUR, including symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, such as Deflux®. All of the European sites provide physicians with access to the global Deflux Learning Center, a leading education platform that features information and training for paediatric urologists and their peers who treat VUR. The Deflux Learning Center includes clinical articles, educational videos, webinars, brochures, downloadable tools and The PedSpace podcast series, created for and presented by paediatric urology healthcare professionals.

The Deflux Learning Center for each respective country also provides downloadable educational materials for parents and caregivers managing children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

“My personal long-term experience with Deflux has proven its effectiveness and safety in reducing VUR and preventing UTI recurrence in patients who fail medical management, thus avoiding use of long-term antibiotics. It is my hope that the new website initiative, which includes helpful resources for physicians, will help raise awareness of this treatment option in patients with primary VUR, troubled by recurrent febrile UTIs,” said Dr. Marie-Klaire Farrugia, Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Service Lead for Paediatric Surgery at Chelsea & Westminster and Imperial College Hospitals.

“We are excited to offer these new online resources to the healthcare community in France, Germany, Italy and Spain,” said Rich Low, Head of Marketing at Palette Life Sciences. “We are confident they will benefit the global paediatric urology ecosystem and serve as valuable resources by providing critical information and access to educational resources through the Deflux Learning Center.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Exclusive Interview on Addictiveness During the Coronavirus Pandemic with Dr. Henry Balzani, the “Addictiveness Doctor”

Fort Lee, NJ, USA, 2020-May-15 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — In an exclusive interview with Practicomm, nationally recognized addictiveness expert provides valuable update on controversial addiction issues.

Q1. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, it appears that people who were not addicts could become addictive just from being quarantined? Do you think that would be a large number of new addicts?

Our “Basic Survival Thinking” is mostly negative and being quarantined produces increased life stresses such as, unemployment, financial loss, fear of death, forced isolation and mental illnesses. During the pandemic, there has been an increase in alcohol consumption (as well as other substances) to blunt the negative thoughts. Also, there was an increase in sugary-high carb “comfort foods” used to stimulate positive feelings through the increased production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

But in fact, almost all the Covid-19 deaths are directly related to our addictiveness to high carb, processed food and the abuse of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, especially high blood sugar, diabetes and high blood pressure, which compromise the immune system. In brief, “Yes”, there will be an increase in addictiveness to try to relieve the pressure and mental stress from this pandemic

Q2. Some people say that smoking is a worse addiction than alcohol and drugs. Is that true? If so, why?

Smoking leads to strong persistent cravings for more nicotine within minutes to hours of the last puff. Vaping allows nicotine to almost always “be in hand’ day and night, inside or out. Addiction to different substances varies with the substance and the individual, and is tempered by availability, legality, cost, social acceptance, the onset of health issues, age of user, and more. Smoking health issues usually develop later in life; products are readily available, and vaping is now cool and socially acceptable. Fortunately, tobacco products are banned in buildings and outside in parks, thus making it harder to use freely.

Q3. It seems that most addiction treatment centers have a high percentage of patients who are “cured” for only a small period of time before going back to the addiction. Is that a correct statement?

The LIFETIME tendency to relapse (recidivism) after treatment is still high. The “Post Treatment Cure” is, for most, a physiologic removal of the substance from the body; and, for a time, a psychologic re-education and respite for the client before entering the real world. The “Roots of Addiction” can start early in life and become deeply and unconsciously embedded over years, and can always be reactivated under stress. To achieve a lifetime cure, addicts must always be actively involved in their recovery, because life just doesn’t get easier. I have seen my clients relapse a number of times before being able to maintain sobriety; and, some who have relapsed after many years of sobriety.

Q4. Can addicts actually change the way they think? How would they do that if they could? Does this vary by the type of addiction?

Adult addicts can change the way they think if they have a strong Desire, Interest and Commitment to recover. But, being pushed into recovery usually doesn’t last long.

They must deal with the root causes of their addiction, as they can be reactivated during times of stress. For any addiction, they must fully commit and actively participate in their process of Detox, Treatment, Counseling, and follow up, remove people places and things, and have (or seek out) a strong support system which can help in stressful situations. The stresses of life will always be there and it’s the psychological aspect of addiction that can be persistent!

For more information on the root causes of addiction, visit  addictivenessdoctor.com and/or go to Dr.Balzani on Facebook.

Via EPR Network
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Wilson Dental of McLean, a Veteran-owned Business Teams Up With Soldiers’ Angels to Collect Halloween Candy for Troops and Veterans

 

McLean, Virginia, 2019-Oct-30 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Every year, millions of pounds of candy end up in the trash after Halloween. From over-buying, to kids collecting more than they can eat while Trick-or-Treating, candy is wasted across the country. This year, Wilson Dental of McLean is participating in a program that will help our community produce less waste after Halloween while also showing our support for our service members and veterans! Owner, Dr. Lois Wilson, is herself a Veteran who proudly served as an Army Dentist both here and overseas.

Soldiers’ Angels, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit, hosts an annual collection drive for excess Halloween candy. The organization ships the candy to deployed service members around the world for a sweet treat from home! They also utilize their “Angel” volunteers to distribute candy to veterans of all eras in VA Hospitals across the country.

Wilson Dental of McLean is proud to team up with the national organization to get our local community involved with giving back to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. Our business has registered with Soldiers’ Angels to be an official drop-off site for Halloween candy. Once our collection drive is over, Wilson Dental of McLean will donate all collected candy to Soldiers’ Angels where it will be packaged and shipped to deployed or distributed in VA Hospitals.

“As a veteran of the US Army, I am excited to facilitate a donation for our service men and women who are deployed or currently in the hospital. I know first hand that being away from your family during joyful holidays is extremely difficult and I hope that this small token can help bring joy to those who sacrifice so much for our country.” – Dr. Wilson

The vision of Soldiers’ Angels is: May No Soldier Go Unloved. Although the gesture of handing out miniature candy bars may seem small, the impact that small gesture can have on troops and veterans is huge.

“When you are deployed to a combat zone, there are many comfort items you may go without for an extended period of time,” says Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels. “Receiving care packages from home is a wonderful and unexpected surprise. The joy these service members get from opening a package of treats from home is immense and has a profound impact on their morale. The same can be said for veteran patients in VA Hospitals. Some patients have no family or regular visitors. When our Angel volunteers come in with treats like candy, the spirits of these patients are immediately lifted!”

Our collection drive will run from October 25th 2019 to November 18th 2019. Please call ahead before stopping by our location to drop off your candy:

Wilson Dental of McLean
1447-C Dolley Madison Blvd
McLean Virginia 22101

For more information on the program, or if you are interested in registering your business as a drop-off site, visit: www.SoldiersAngels.org/TreatsForTroops

Via EPR Network
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First Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) treatment in Germany done by Dr. Lutz-Hendrik Holle

HANAU, Germany, 4-Oct-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta®, a Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), announced today, that Dr. Lutz-Hendrik Holle, Medical Director of the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau, has accomplished the first Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) treatment in Germany. This state-of-the-art technology of local radionuclide therapy offers a painless and non-invasive treatment option for patients with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC) and the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine Hanau is the first center in Germany that offers the Rhenium-SCT®.

With approximately 50.000 outpatient examinations annually, the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine Hanau is one of the biggest nuclear medicine service providers in Hesse. The offered services include a variety of different modern treatment and diagnostic methods. The key argument for the expansion of the spectrum was that the Rhenium-SCT® is a new, painless and highly efficient treatment option that also delivers excellent cosmetic results. Besides being a painless alternative to other procedures, the Rhenium-SCT® also allows the treatment of numerous NMSC lesions consecutively in a single session, which was already realized during the first treatment in Hanau. This has also attracted international attention so that an American patient travelled to Hanau for the treatment.

“This therapy is particularly suitable for tumor localizations where good cosmetic results are to be achieved. The fact that the treatment is completely painless and can be performed in just one session is a great advantage”, says Dr. Lutz-Hendrik Holle, Medical Director of Nuclear Medicine in Hanau.

“We are very happy and proud to be able to offer our revolutionary treatment to patients in Germany now. The interregional professional association of nuclear medicine in Hanau is an excellent partner for NMSC patients in the fight against NMSC”, said Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director of OncoBeta® GmbH. “Unfortunately, Germany is one of the countries that has experienced a drastic increase in newly diagnosed NMSC cases in recent years. Our highly qualified team strives to provide physicians and patients with a non-invasive and affordable solution to treat NMSC, while focusing on the needs of the patient.”

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers has been drastically increasing over the past decades. Depending on the source, it is estimated that there are over 5 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported globally each year. In certain analyzed areas of Germany there was an increase in the incidence between the year 2005 and the year 2014 by about 30%1. To serve the increasing medical need for innovative therapies in this field and to improve the quality of patients’ lives, OncoBeta® GmbH has developed its innovative Rhenium-SCT® which only require a single application in most of the cases, applied in one single session with excellent aesthetic outcomes.

Via EPR Network
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CoapTech and Fidmi Medical to Collaborate on Groundbreaking G-Tube Systems

Baltimore, MD, 2019-Sep-18 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — CoapTech LLC (Baltimore, MD) and Fidmi Medical, Ltd. (Caesarea, Israel) announced today that they will be collaborating on bringing to market a set of next-generation products for the initial placement and long-term maintenance of gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes). The collaboration between CoapTech and Fidmi will focus on integrating the company’s two technologies and expanding their collective market opportunities.

Gastrostomy tubes, which help patients receive long-term nutritional support, are typically placed endoscopically and need to be replaced every 3-6 months.

CoapTech’s PUMA-G System allows initial gastrostomy tube placement by non-surgeons/ gastroenterologists, outside of the endoscopy suite, using point-of-care ultrasound at the patient bedside. This novel approach can be performed in the ICU, emergency room, and eventually outside of the hospital setting, substantially reducing costs for tube placement.

Fidmi Medical’s innovative low-profile gastrostomy system is unique in that it can be utilized for both initial placement and replacement and has several features which make it more durable and comfortable for patients. Gastrostomy tubes very often get dislodged, clogged, or infected, and need to be replaced frequently. Fidmi’s improved low-profile gastrostomy tube is placed just like any standard PEG tube but has an easily replaceable inner tube which can be changed by patients without the need to re-enter the healthcare system for replacement procedures. This will result in fewer complications with patients’ g-tubes, therefore potentially reducing healthcare costs for payers and healthcare systems; as well as providing a substantial improvement in quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Fidmi Medical Chairman, Lloyd Fishman, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with CoapTech in development and marketing. Both companies have developed cutting-edge technologies that will improve patient care and contribute to the ease, efficiency and confidence of clinicians’ work in the gastrostomy field.”

Dr. Steven Tropello, CoapTech’s founder and CMO said, “In combination these systems will be compatible with Push or Pull methods, be implantable in a wide variety of clinical settings, and require minimal readmission to the hospital and fewer visits to the ER. The synergy will reduce both front and back-end costs for hospitals and payers, and make care safer and more patient-centered.”

Via EPR Network
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2019 Red Herring North America Top 100 Winner: New recognition of OncoBeta’s success in developing and providing an innovative therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer patients

Pasadena, CA, U.S.A., 6-Jul-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta®, a Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), announced today, that it was honored as a Red Herring Top 100 North America Award winner recognizing the continent’s most exciting and innovative private technology companies. After being recognized with the Red Herring Top 100 Europe Award earlier this year, this is now the second recognition obtained by Red Herring.

The winners, celebrated at a special awards ceremony at the Westin Pasadena hotel, have been chosen from thousands of entrants, whittled down to hundreds making the trip to California. The ceremony, led by Red Herring chairman Alex Vieux, was preceded by two days of keynote speeches, discussions and finalist presentations.

Companies were judged by industry experts, insiders and journalists on a wide variety of criteria including financial performance, innovation, business strategy, and market penetration. Winners ran the gamut of verticals, from FinTech and Marketing to Security, IoT, and many more industries.

Red Herring’s editors have been evaluating the world’s startups and tech companies for over two decades. It gives them the ability to see through the industry’s hype to pick firms that will continue on a trajectory to success. Brands such as Alibaba, Google, Kakao, Skype, Spotify, Twitter and YouTube have all been singled out in Red Herring’s storied history.

“2019’s crop of Top 100 winners has been among our most intriguing yet,” said Vieux. “North America has led the way in tech for so many years, and to see such unique, pioneering entrepreneurs and companies here in California, which is in many ways the heartland of the industry, has been a thrilling experience.”

“What has excited me most is to see so many people forging niches in high-tech and cutting edge sectors,” added Vieux. “Some of the technical wizardry and first-rate business models showcased here at the conference has been fantastic to learn about. We believe OncoBeta® embodies the drive, skill and passion on which tech thrives. OncoBeta® should be proud of its achievement – the competition was incredibly strong.”

“Being named as one of the Red Herring’s Top 100 North America award winner in addition to the Top 100 Europe is a great honor for us.” states Shannon D. Brown III, CEO of OncoBeta®. “The spirit of the award aligns perfectly with our team’s mission in the fight against non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) with the Rhenium-SCT®.”

The complete list of the 2019 Red Herring North America Top 100 Winners can be found here in alphabetical order: https://www.redherring.com/2019-rhna-top100-winners/

Red Herring’s press release is available online at https://www.redherring.com/red-herring-2019-top-100-north-america-winners-press-release/

SOURCE: EuropaWire

The interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau has become the first treatment center in Germany to offer the Rhenium-SCT® (SCT= Skin Cancer Therapy)

GARCHING N. MUNICH, Germany, 13-May-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta® GmbH, a commercial stage Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), is pleased to announce that the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau now offers the Rhenium-SCT ® (SCT= Skin Cancer Therapy) as the first treatment center in Germany.

With approximately 50.000 outpatient examinations annually, the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine Hanau is one of the biggest nuclear medicine service providers in Hesse. The offered services include a variety of different modern treatment and diagnostic methods which are state-of the art in science and technology.

“Offering NMSC skin cancer patients a highly efficient, painless, innovative therapy with excellent aesthetic results was the driving reason to establish this treatment method in our clinic,” says Dr. med. Lutz-Hendrik Holle, Medical Director of Nuclear Medicine in Hanau.

“We are delighted that our innovative skin cancer therapy Rhenium-SCT® is now being offered by the Nuclear Medicine in Hanau and we are looking forward to this collaboration”, states Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director of OncoBeta® GmbH. “For us, this is an important step to offer the treatment method in addition to Italy, South Africa and Australia now also in Germany. In order to provide our treatment to as many skin cancer patients as possible, it is of course our goal to offer the availability of the therapy nationwide in Germany in the future.”

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers has been drastically increasing over the past decades. Depending on the source, it is estimated that there are over 5 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported globally each year. In Germany the number of newly diagnosed patients is about 200,000 annually and it is assumed that this number increases within the next years. To serve the increasing medical need for innovative therapies in this field and to improve the quality of patients’ lives, OncoBeta® GmbH has developed its innovative Rhenium-SCT® which only require a single application, applied in one single session with excellent aesthetic outcomes.

If interested, patients and doctors can either contact the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau directly or OncoBeta® GmbH.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

University of Pretoria Prof. Mike Sathekge is First in South Africa to Treat Non-Melanocytic Skin #Cancer Patients with Rhenium-SCT®

Garching n. Munich, Germany, 26-Nov-2018 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta® GmbH, a commercial stage Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), announced today that Prof. Mike Sathekge from the University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital Nuclear Medical department and his clinical team has treated the first non-melanocytic skin cancer patients in South Africa with the innovative Rhenium-SCT® skin cancer treatment System. This next-generation radionuclide therapy technology applied by the nuclear medicine physician offers a new singles session, painless treatment for patients suffering from Basal Cell – and Squamous Cell Carcinomas (BCCs and SCCs).

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers has drastically increased over the few past decades. Depending on the source, it is estimated that there are over 5 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported globally each year. Approximately 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas with South Africa having one of the highest incidence rates in the world.

Prof. Mike Sathekge and his team at the University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital are focused on providing patients with personalized care using state-of-the-art technology that can deliver high-precision therapy and diagnostics with minimal side effects. The specialized team of experts in the nuclear medicine and medical physics, work closely with other disciplines within the university hospital, referring physicians, and other institutions, to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer.

Martin Magwaza, CEO of Tautomer (PTY) LTD Oncobeta®’s distribution partner for the Rhenium-SCT® in Africa, is dedicated to providing South Africans with new innovative and effective therapies across the continent, coordinating with representatives from all levels of government and state for the health care landscape.

“The start of the Rhenium-SCT® in South Africa is a significant milestone in the international expansion of our ground-breaking treatment for BCCs and SCCs.,” said Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director of OncoBeta® GmbH. “Our vision of bringing a revolutionary affordable skin cancer therapy to physicians and patients all over the world has come one step closer today”.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Dr. Christina Marrongelli chosen by the World Congress on Pharmacology & Chemistry of Natural Compounds to moderate their 2018 conference in Paris

Dr. Christina Marrongelli chosen by the World Congress on Pharmacology & Chemistry of Natural Compounds to moderate their 2018 conference in Paris

Marrongelli selected for her expertise in Botanical Drug Development

LONDON, Jun-16-2018 — /EPR Healthcare News/ — As a leading expert in her field, Dr. Christina Marrongelli, PharmD has been chosen by the World Congress on Pharmacology & Chemistry of Natural Compounds to moderate their 2018 conference: Exploring New Trends & Innovations in Pharmacology and Natural Compounds. The conference is being held in Paris, France on June 18, 2018.

Dr. Marrongelli, who is an adjunct professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in the department of drug discovery and biomedical sciences will also present “Developing and Marketing Botanical Drugs in the United States”.

The United States, which has the largest pharmaceutical market in the world, demonstrates a strong demand for the use of botanicals as medicine. However, to date only two prescription botanical drugs are currently approved for use in the USA: Veregen® (sinecatechins) and Mytesi™Â (crofelemer).

Marrongelli attributes this disconnect between supply and demand to hidden barriers. She notes that with the worldwide herbal drug market is expected to reach nearly $86.74 billion by 2022, businesses must identify and address these barriers so that heterogeneous botanical drug products can obtain the approvals necessary to meet the consumers growing expectations and demands for botanical medicines.

To further explain the barriers to regulation of botanicals, Marrongelli points to the Botanical Drug Development Guidance for Industry from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) that was last updated in 2016. According to publication, regulation of botanicals in the U.S. is different from regulation in the rest of world. The U.S. does not have a separate regulatory category for traditional or herbal medicines: A botanical product may be classified as a food (including a dietary supplement), drug (including a biological drug), medical device, or cosmetic under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Whether an article is a food, drug, medical device, or cosmetic depends in large part on its intended use.

To learn more about the issues and barriers to the development of botanical drugs, please contact Dr. Marrongelli at Marronge@musc.edu or DrM@pharmD.expert.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Alliance Life Sciences to present expanded portfolio of pricing & market access services at the World Pharma Pricing and Market Access Congress 2018

SOMERSET, N.J. / LONDON, UK, 19-Mar-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Alliance Life Sciences, a leading global life sciences consulting, pricing data and technology provider, announced that it is a sponsor at the World Pharma Pricing and Market Access Congress 2018 taking place March 20-21 in London, United Kingdom. As part of the largest pharmaceutical commercialization organization that services more than 300 of the industry’s top pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, Alliance will present its expanded portfolio of pricing and market access services. The focus will be on pricing and reimbursement data managed by PricentricOne and pricing governance, reference and tender pricing software manage by PriceRight.

Now in its 12th year the World Pharma Pricing and Market Access Congress brings together the most innovative leaders and organizations to discuss all aspects of evidence, access and pricing. This year’s event will feature over 150 speakers and a greater range of topics being covered including Big Data & AI, rare diseases, advanced therapies and other emerging, innovative areas.

Alan Crowther, President of Global Markets noted “Alliance Life Sciences is pleased to be a sponsor of the World Pharma Pricing & Market Access congress, particularly this year. We have made a number of investments in our people and infrastructure in Europe. Our acquisition by Water Street partners in 2017 allowed us to offer enhancements in our Market Access offerings too. Europe continues to be our focus market and World Pharma Pricing & Market Access congress is a great venue to showcase our expended capabilities”.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Prof. Lucien Abenhaim: There is an incredible challenge for the sustainability of health systems across the world

Prof. Lucien Abenhaim

LONDON, Dec-3-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — On December 5-6, 2017, 200 high-level experts from government, academia, biopharmaceutical developers and patient organisations convene in London (UK) to address the mounting challenge of accessibility and patient access to high-value, high-cost medical therapies.

The not-for-profit executive forum is organised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and analytica|LASER, a global research consultancy, to investigate topical questions around drug policy, global health systems sustainability and innovation funding through a combination of case studies, panel sessions, and roundtables. Delegations are registered from over 70 public and private organisations, including the World Health Organization, as well as health systems representatives from Belgium, England, Estonia, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United States and Wales. Multiple patient organisations support the meeting to ensure that the patient voice is reflected in all deliberations.

“Access to life-saving drugs is not a new challenge. The paradigm of accessibility was changed completely in the face of the deadly HIV epidemic. This time, however, accessibility concerns almost every domain of medicine such as cancer, auto-immune diseases and rare diseases. We must act now,” says Prof Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and former head of UNAIDS.

“There is an incredible challenge for the sustainability of health systems across the world”, says Prof. Lucien Abenhaim, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Chairman of Analytica Laser. “It is critical that drug developers and health system engage on actionable proposals that address concerns around value, cost and overall access to innovation for the patients who need it. We are at an inflection point – the paradigms of the 1990’s can no longer guide us,” he adds.

The main plenary on December 6th features scheduled remarks by over a dozen authorities in the field, including Professor Baron Peter Piot (Director, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and former Head, UNAIDS), Dr. Olivier Brandicourt (Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi), Dr. Sarah Garner (World Health Organization), Prof. Dominique Le Guludec (President, French HAS), Sir Andrew Dillon (Chief Executive, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence UK) and Dr. Harold Paz (Chief Medical Officer, Aetna). The plenary is preceded by a scientific seminar on December 5th which gathers globally renowned academics to explore new frontiers on the methodology for the appraisal and valuation of high-value medicines.

Please contact the organisers for more information on the programming and media access, or refer to www.accessibility-symposium.org

SOURCE: EuropaWire

MEDLAB Series Europe, 13-15 Sep 2017, will cover Point of Care Testing (POCT), Histopathology, Lab Management, Microbiology and Haematology

Spain, 04-May-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — After many years of operating successful MEDLAB events around Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the worlds leading publishing and exhibitions company, has announced that the MEDLAB Series will be expanding its presence into Europe. Taking place at the Barcelona Congress Centre in Barcelona, Spain, from 13-15 September 2017, more than 3,000 industry professionals are expected to attend Europe’s leading event for laboratory management and diagnosis.

With the European In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market expected to reach USD 15.5 billion by 2024, a platform such as MEDLAB presents a huge opportunity for global laboratory industry leaders, including manufacturers, dealers and distributors, to make inroads into the European market. Housing international exhibitors and covering 2,000 sqm of exhibition space, MEDLAB Europe will give visitors from across the world an opportunity to access cutting-edge laboratory products, next-generation technology, innovative services and world-class educational content.

According to Tom Coleman, Group Exhibition Director, MEDLAB Series: “The launch of MEDLAB Europe is in line with our global expansion strategy for our MEDLAB series of events. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising geriatric population coupled with the rising awareness towards early diagnosis, has positioned the European IVD and medical laboratory market as a critical market for manufacturers, services providers, and dealers and distributors from across the globe. MEDLAB Europe will generate substantial value for our customers and partners by driving further product innovation and deeper engagement in these specific markets.”

Over the four-day event, MEDLAB Europe will also offer a multi-disciplinary congress tackling current challenges and developments key to the European market, and leveraging the true potential of laboratory testing to dramatically improve patient outcomes across the continent.

The conference programme covers five main tracks including Point of Care Testing (POCT), Histopathology, Lab Management, Microbiology and Haematology. From new methods of effective lab management to the development of techniques in detecting diseases, the conferences will also review the expanding role of the laboratory medicine and discuss partnership between a clinician and a lab professional in providing delivery of care to every patient.

“The scientific programme at MEDLAB has been carefully designed in collaboration with some of the brightest minds in the medical laboratory industry in order to have a real impact on improving the health and wellbeing of patients across the region,” said Coleman.

For more information about the MEDLAB Europe Exhibition & Congress, please visit: www.medlabeurope.com.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) can now more reliably detect early stages of inflammation

GERMANY, Mar-30-2017 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the most common inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Globally, more than 4 million people suffer from recurring inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. To date, non-invasive methods have not been able to detect these forms of IBD reliably. Researchers at the University Hospital Erlangen (Germany) have now shown for the first time how Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) can more reliably detect early stages of inflammation when compared with other non-invasive diagnostic methods. These results have recently been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Evaluating the inflammatory activity of the intestines early and accurately helps to prevent complications associated with IBD and guide an optimal therapy regime. Currently, doctors frequently rely on an invasive endoscopy procedure to assess the intestinal mucosa of patients with IBD. Additionally, non-invasive imaging methods are increasingly used in the clinic. For example, ultrasound allows clinicians to examine the structure, thickness and blood perfusion of the intestinal wall with changes in perfusion patterns indicating an onset of inflammation.

“With the MSOT procedure, we additionally use laser light, by which we can detect inflammation earlier than previously possible with ultrasound”, explains Prof. Dr. Maximilian Waldner, Professor at the University Hospital Erlangen. “The earlier we detect signs of an upcoming flare – i.e., a change in blood content – the quicker we can react and start a preventive treatment”. The MSOT technology was developed by iThera Medical in Munich, and was first used on IBD patients last year.

The researchers of the University Hospital Erlangen have recently published their results in the renowned New England Journal of Medicine. “We examined 108 patients with Crohn’s disease using the MSOT technology and compared the results to established non-invasive diagnostic procedures as well as endoscopy and histology”, says Prof. Waldner. “We were able to demonstrate that hemoglobin values in the tissue measured with MSOT indicate very accurately the inflammatory activity in the intestines. The method appears to be superior to other non-invasive procedures, as MSOT for the first time was able to detect even low levels of inflammation without having to perform endoscopy”.

Dr. Ferdinand Knieling, a physician at the University Hospital Erlangen, adds: “We are hoping that this principle can be applied to many applications and, in particular, also be used to enable safe evaluations of children and adolescents. With this new examination method, many of the currently invasive procedures might become obsolete.”

In optoacoustic imaging, the physician scans the intestines transabdominally through the skin, applying pulsed laser light in the near-infrared region. The energy of the light absorbed in tissue is converted into acoustic signals which are then acquired by an ultrasound detector. Christian Wiest, CEO of iThera Medical, comments: “MSOT is a new diagnostic imaging modality that can detect changes in tissue composition associated with a variety of diseases, without the use of contrast agents. The technology has already been applied in other clinical feasibility studies, e.g. for the detection of melanoma metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes or for the assessment of suspicious breast lesions”.

The results of the IBD study at the University Hospital Erlangen were published on March 30th 2017 in the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 376, Issue 13, pg.1292-1294).

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Five Years After Iraq War’s Official End, a New York Community Is Still Healing

NEW YORK, NY, 2017-Jan-14 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — As the Iraq War’s official end in December 2011 marks its fifth anniversary, many questions remain on its fallouts. New York’s French-American community is one of them, as it remembers its blacklisting when France opted out of attacking Iraq.

Choosing diplomatic pressure rather than “shock and awe” ignited fury for many in New York. The call for anti-French boycotts resonated in tabloids as pictures of New Yorkers spilling wines in gutters vied with accusations of an ally’s betrayal and cowardice. Information can be found by searching for “New York’s anti-French boycotts and Iraq,” and “Freedom fries.”

How effective were the boycotts? “Very much so, even devastating,” says French consulate’s official physician and mental health coordinator at the time, Gérard Sunnen, MD, “the French-American community of New York was stunned by their virulence and persistence. Why, many wondered, did they materialize only in New York, in striking contrast to the rest of the country?”

“Targeted were all manner of French-American businesses, from Air France to bakeries, as rosters of marked companies circulated widely. Earliest felled were restaurants, whose sales plummeted by as much as half. Like dominoes, they closed their doors, dismissing their workers. Called by many the “consulate’s darkest hour,” it went on for interminable months, years, and still resonates today.”

“As layoffs mounted,” Dr. Sunnen added, “so did their mental health consequences, from all manner of stress reactions to self-destructive depressions. And workers suddenly out of work could not find employment because no one would take them. The consulate’s social services department work load soared to levels never attained before.”

Faced with this onslaught, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) was repeatedly contacted to lend the community its medical and mental health assistance. In addition, New York State and city top officials were insistently asked to add their voice to call off the boycotts. All appeals remained unanswered and, for reasons of non-assistance and abandonment of responsibility, this matter was eventually reported and filed in New York and Federal courts.

Dr. Sunnen, who also cites his experience as a Vietnam-era U.S. veteran, concludes, “history needs constant reckoning, otherwise it can remain a fable. These events are now brought to light so that long-term allies can better understand and appreciate the meaning of their special relationship.”

References:

Gérard Sunnen, MD, www.triroc.com/sunnen
Supreme Court, State of New York, No. 102194/2012
U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY 12 Civ. 3417
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 13-465cv
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) 1:13-cv-1242
New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) No. 10181422
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) No. DCA96MA070

Contact-Details: Gerard Sunnen, MD
gsunnen@aol.com
www.triroc.com/sunnen

Via EPR Network
More Healthcare press releases

New York’s Health Agency (NYSDOH) Cited in Iraq War’s Blowback

New York, NY, 2016-Dec-31 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — As the Iraq War’s official end on December 18, 2011 marks its fifth anniversary, many questions remain on its fallouts. New York’s French-American community is one of them, as it remembers its blacklisting when France opted out of attacking Iraq.

Choosing diplomatic pressure rather than “shock and awe” ignited fury for many in New York. The call for anti-French boycotts resonated in tabloids as pictures of New Yorkers spilling wines in gutters vied with accusations of an ally’s betrayal and cowardice. Information can be found by googling “New York’s French boycotts and Iraq,” and “Freedom fries.”

How effective were the boycotts? “Very much so, even devastating,” says French consulate’s official physician and mental health coordinator at the time, Gérard Sunnen, MD, “the French-American community of New York was stunned by their virulence. Why, many wondered, did they materialize only in New York, in striking contrast to the rest of the country?”

“Targeted were all manner of French-American businesses, from Air France to bakeries, as rosters of marked companies circulated widely. Earliest felled were restaurants, whose sales plummeted by as much as half. Like dominoes, they closed their doors, dismissing their workers. Called by many the “consulate’s darkest hour,” it went on for weeks, interminable months, and still resonates today.”

“As layoffs mounted,” Dr. Sunnen added, “so did their mental health consequences, from all manner of stress reactions to self-destructive depressions. And workers suddenly out of work could not find employment because no one would take them. The consulate’s social services department work load soared to levels never attained before.”

Faced with this onslaught, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) was repeatedly contacted to lend the community its medical and mental health assistance. In addition, New York state and city top officials were insistently asked to add their voice to call off the boycotts. All appeals remained unanswered and, for reasons of non-assistance and abandonment of responsibility, this matter was eventually reported and filed in New York and Federal courts.

Dr. Sunnen, who also cites his experience as a Vietnam-era U.S. veteran, concludes, “history needs constant reckoning, otherwise it can remain a fable. These events are now brought to light so that long-term allies can better understand the meaning of their relationship.”

References:

Gérard Sunnen, MD: www.triroc.com/sunnen
Supreme Court, State of New York, No. 102194/2012
U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY 12 Civ. 3417
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 13-465cv
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) 1:13-cv-1242
New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) No. 10181422
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) No. DCA96MA070

Contact-Details: Gerard Sunnen, MD

Via EPR Network
More Healthcare press releases