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Following EFSA Ban of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Blue California Launches Clean-label Food Grade Whitening Agents as Alternatives

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following food authority EFSA's ban of food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2), Blue California, the producer of natural science–based ingredients, launched novel food–grade whitening agents as a clean–label alternative to replacing potential health risk white colorant titanium dioxide.

"Brands that seek to replace the titanium dioxide white colorant will find many benefits to Blue California's patent–pending food–grade whitening agents," said Cuie Yan, Ph.D., vice president of encapsulation. "Our alternative to titanium dioxide is industry–changing with opacifying or whitening effects and excellent sensory benefits with a delicious creamy/rich mouthfeel, and contains proprietary ingredients that may have additional benefits such as supporting cognitive health.”

One of the most widely used food pigments is titanium dioxide (E171), an odorless powder that enhances foods' white color or opacity. The most common titanium dioxide products are chewing gum, candies, pastries, chocolates, coffee creamers, and cake decorations. Titanium dioxide is also used as a pigment in paints and medicines.

In recent decades, concerns about the risks of titanium dioxide consumption have grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes titanium dioxide as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) at a maximum of 1% weight, but other organizations have issued warnings.

New governing rules in Europe are in action for producers to reformulate their products during a six–month window of phasing out titanium dioxide (E171). This follows the food authority European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decision deeming titanium dioxide (E171) as "not safe" in 2021, and now a complete ban in 2022. France suspended the use of titanium dioxide in January 2020.

"Our clean–label, food–grade, and effective whitening agents are heat and pH stable for a variety of applications that match the performance of titanium dioxide yet overcome its safety concerns," said Yan. "We've innovated these solutions as safe alternatives for brands that need to reformulate products rapidly due to government authorities concerns, bans, and phasing out titanium dioxide."

Blue California's patent–pending food–grade whitening powders have a similar size in diameter to the traditional titanium dioxide with higher L values (whiter), as shown in Table 1 below:

Table 1. Color and particle size comparison between Blue California's novel food–grade whitening agents versus titanium dioxide whitening powder.

Sample ID Color Measurement Redispersion Diameter
L a b nm
Titanium Dioxide (reference) 96.06 –0.26 1.54 310.5
Novel Food Grade Whitening 1 97.42 –0.09 1.45 266.4
Novel Food Grade Whitening 2 97.43 –0.09 1.95 278.2
Novel Food Grade Whitening 3 97.48 –0.11 1.43 305.0

Note: The a and b "Color Measurement' values are color depth markers of red, green, blue, and yellow. The "Redispersion Diameter' measures the particle size.

The food–grade whitening agents have been tested in chewing gum compared to titanium dioxide. The whitening effect results of Blue California's whitening agents are as remarkable as titanium dioxide. The whiteness increases as the dosage increases.

"We're ready to collaborate with product developers to replace titanium dioxide with a clean–label, delicious, and safer whitening agents in their product lines," said Yan.

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About Blue California

Blue California is an entrepreneurial, science–based solutions provider and manufacturer of clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients used in food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic products. For more than 25 years, Blue California has built a strong reputation for creating value in these diverse natural products and nature–inspired industries.

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8424705)

Zoom Becomes the First Video Communications Client to Attain Common Criteria Certification

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) today announced that Zoom Meeting Client version 5.6.6 has become the first video communications client to attain certification for Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 2 (v3.1 rev. 5), issued by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

Common Criteria is an international standard for objectively evaluating that an IT product satisfies a defined set of security requirements. The evaluation involves analyzing a specific set of security targets, including guidance documentation, architectural design, life cycle aspects, testing and vulnerability assessment. The Zoom Meeting Client v5.6.6 has been evaluated by the BSI against the Common Criteria standard and found to exhibit a clear chain of evidence that the process of specification, implementation, and evaluation has been conducted in a rigorous and standard manner.

Mutually recognized in more than 25 countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Germany, Common Criteria is regarded as a leading benchmark for IT product security certification. A growing number of users expect IT vendors to produce trusted and reliable evidence for the cybersecurity capabilities of their products.

"This Common Criteria certification represents a major milestone for Zoom," said Jason Lee, Chief Information Security Officer at Zoom. "We're the first video communications client to receive this important certification, reinforcing our commitment to our customers. Security and privacy are the cornerstones of everything we do, and we are continually innovating secure solutions for all users of our platform."

At present, the BSI has certified Zoom version 5.6.6 for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. While version 5.6.6 was the version of Zoom client available at the time of the certification, we always recommend customers utilize the newest version of the client to take advantage of Zoom's latest security updates and features.

"The Common Criteria certification is a global benchmark in cybersecurity," said Sandro Amendola, Head of Standardization/Certification/Telecommunications Networks Security Department, BSI. "The Zoom client demonstrated a high security standard across its product, successfully completing one of the most demanding evaluation procedures a company can undertake."

To learn more about Zoom's Common Criteria certification, please visit the BSI website and the Zoom Trust Center.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. We help you express ideas, connect to others, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

Zoom Public Relations
Matt Nagel
press@zoom.us


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8423277)

General Fusion achieves critical technology milestone for practical fusion power

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — General Fusion announced today it has successfully achieved several aggressive performance goals of a prototype system for its Fusion Demonstration Plant (FDP). The company's plasma compression prototype, located at its Vancouver, Canada laboratory, is being used to demonstrate a critical element of its proprietary Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology. This important milestone marks another significant step toward General Fusion's goal of creating practical and commercially viable fusion power.

Commissioned in early 2021, the prototype machine drives a forceful, but precisely shaped, symmetric collapse of a large liquid vortex cavity in tens of milliseconds. The forces involved in the full–scale FDP compression system will be immense, pushing the limits of material science, fluid dynamics, and mechanical design. Achieving this milestone with the prototype significantly reduces engineering and technical risks for General Fusion's FDP. It will use a collapsing liquid metal cavity to heat and compress plasma fuel to fusion conditions at 100 million degrees Celsius.

The idea of using a collapsing liquid metal cavity to create fusion has been around for decades, but General Fusion has been able to bring new enabling technologies such as high–speed digital control systems, additive manufacturing, and advanced composite materials to make this concept viable and to de–risk its implementation in the FDP. Driving a rapid, smooth, and spherically shaped collapse of a cavity created inside a rotating liquid has been a difficult engineering challenge that General Fusion has now demonstrated in this prototype machine. It is the pathfinder for a larger prototype being built in 2022 to validate further refinements to various engineering aspects of this technology.

"Net energy production is essential, but not really the ultimate goal of commercializing fusion energy, which is building economical, carbon–free fusion power plants," said Christofer Mowry, CEO, General Fusion. "Our unique technology, two decades in the making, solves the long–standing challenges of building practical fusion power plants for the world's energy markets struggling to move away from fossil fuels. The successful performance of this important prototype validates we are on the path to success."

General Fusion's unique MTF technology overcomes several key challenges of creating practical fusion energy. MTF will economically create fusion conditions, efficiently convert fusion energy into carbon–free electricity, protect the fusion machine from burning fusion plasma, and produce enough fusion fuel for its own use. General Fusion's prototype compression system validates one of the most critical parts of its MTF technology because a mechanically collapsed liquid cavity is a cornerstone for MTF overcoming all these challenges.

About General Fusion
General Fusion is pursuing the fastest and most practical path to commercial fusion energy and is based in Vancouver, Canada, with locations in London, U.K., and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com.

General Fusion Media Relations
media@generalfusion.com
+1–866–904–0995

Follow General Fusion

twitter.com/generalfusion

instagram.com/generalfusion

linkedin.com/company/general–fusion

facebook.com/generalfusion

youtube.com/c/GeneralFusionInc

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8d18aac–c6fb–4486–ad73–6d0c0ea1cb81


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8423590)

MeMed raises $93M to accelerate commercialization of its host immune-response product portfolio

MeMed raises $93M to accelerate commercialization of its
host immune–response product portfolio

MeMed BV test recently cleared for use by US FDA to aid in distinguishing between bacterial and viral infection on the point–of–need platform MeMed Key

HAIFA, Israel; BOSTON, MA; January 10th, 2022 "" MeMed, a leader in host response technologies, today announces a $93 million private financing round, bringing total funding in the Company to over $200 million, including support from the U.S. Department of Defense and EU Commission. Funds will be used to scale up manufacturing, accelerate commercialization and expand MeMed's pioneering host immune response product portfolio.

MeMed's technology suite decodes the body's immune response within minutes, providing physicians with important patient management solutions that tackle key clinical dilemmas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted a landmark clearance for the use of the MeMed BV test on the point–of–need platform MeMed Key , to help healthcare providers distinguish between bacterial and viral infections in both children and adults. MeMed has also developed the MeMed COVID–19 Severity test for predicting severe outcomes in COVID–19 patients, which has been cleared for use in Europe.

The latest financing brings together new and existing investors including Horizons Ventures, Shavit Capital, Social Capital, La Maison Partners, Touchwood Capital, Caesara Medical Holdings, Union Tech Ventures, ClaI Insurance, Phoenix Insurance, Poalim Equity and Western Technology Investment.

Eran Eden, MeMed's co–founder and CEO, said: "This new investment will enable MeMed to expand operations with a focus on the U.S. We are grateful to our investors for their support and will leverage the funds, the recent FDA clearance, and our growing network of partnerships to provide broad patient access to our technology, as well as expand our product portfolio of pioneering host response solutions."

Patrick Zhang, Horizons Ventures, said: "We strongly believe that MeMed's strategy of using host immune response technologies is a significant advance in the improvement of two major issues in healthcare today: the rise of antimicrobial resistance due to unnecessary prescription of antibiotics and effectively triaging patients infected with COVID–19. We look forward to playing a role in how MeMed, a category leader in this area, is transforming the way diseases are diagnosed and treated to improve patient healthcare across the globe."

END

About MeMed
Our mission is to translate the immune system's complex signals into simple insights that transform the way diseases are diagnosed and treated, profoundly benefiting patients and society. For additional information on MeMed, please visit http://www.me–med.com.

MeMed Contacts:
Media: Will Harris, VP Marketing, MeMed
pr@me–med.com

IR: Kfir Emmer, CFO, MeMed
kfir.emmer@me–med.com

Media Contacts:
Consilium Strategic Communications
MeMed@consilium–comms.com

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000588096)

Nyxoah Provides General Corporate Update

Nyxoah Provides General Corporate Update

Transformational 2021 positions Nyxoah for further clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones in 2022

Mont–Saint–Guibert, Belgium "" January 10, 2022, 7:00am CET / 1:00am ET "" Nyxoah SA (Euronext Brussels/Nasdaq: NYXH)("Nyxoah" or the "Company"), a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative solutions to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), today provided a general corporate update.

2021 Highlights

  • Implanted first U.S. patient in the DREAM IDE pivotal study in December 2020; there are currently 15 active and enrolling patient sites in the U.S., with implants expected to be completed in Q1 2022
  • Secured CE Mark MR conditional labeling for the Genio system in January, ensuring that implanted patients can undergo full–body 1.5T and 3T MRI diagnostic scans
  • Raised $97.8 million in a Nasdaq initial public offering in July, successfully completing Nyxoah's second IPO after previously raising $100 million in the September 2020 Euronext Brussels IPO
  • Granted U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe OSA and Complete Concentric Collapse (CCC) of the soft palate in September; engaged in sprint discussions with FDA regarding the IDE study for CCC patients in the U.S., which Nyxoah hopes to commence in the second half of 2022
  • Received expanded CE Mark indication to treat CCC patients in October, thus increasing Nyxoah's total addressable market by at least 30% and thereby enabling patients not to have to undergo a Drug–Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) procedure prior to Genio implantation
  • Made strong commercial progress in Germany after obtaining a dedicated DRG code in January
  • Obtained DRG coding in Switzerland in March and secured first revenue in Spain; submitted reimbursement files in other key European markets
  • Entered exclusive licensing agreement with Vanderbilt University in February to develop next generation neurostimulation technologies, specifically a stimulator focused on the Ansa Cervicalis, which innervates the palatoglossus and/or the palatopharyngeus muscle; this collaboration has thus far resulted in initial prototyping discussions, and Nyxoah expects to make further progress on this project in 2022
  • Appointed Loic Moreau as Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2022, replacing Fabian Suarez, who is pursuing a new opportunity as CEO of a startup MedTech company
  • Announced the appointment of Rita Johnson–Mills to the Board of Directors in August

"2021 was a transformational year for Nyxoah as we achieved several important clinical, regulatory, commercial, and financial accomplishments and set ourselves up for continued progress in 2022 and beyond," said Olivier Taelman, CEO of Nyxoah. "On the clinical front, we announced that our BETTER SLEEP clinical trial achieved a statistically significant mean reduction in the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) from baseline to six months post implantation for the entire cohort as well as for the subgroup of patients with Complete Concentric Collapse (CCC) of the soft palate. We will be submitting the full data set for journal publication and look forward to discussing more fully once the data are published, hopefully in the first half of 2022. We are extremely encouraged by the data generated by BETTER SLEEP, which were used by our notified body DEKRA to expand our CE Mark indication to include CCC patients as well as by FDA in granting us Breakthrough Device Designation for the treatment of CCC patients in the U.S. We are also excited to partner with Dr. David Kent and his team at Vanderbilt University on the development of a next generation device that stimulates the Ansa Cervicalis, which Dr. Kent's research suggests could be another effective way to treat OSA patients, and we look forward to advancing our work in creating a stimulator that leverages this novel approach."

Mr. Taelman continued, "As we begin 2022, our primary clinical focus is on our DREAM U.S. IDE pivotal study in which patient enrollment and implants are well underway, and we still expect to complete our target of 134 implants by the end of Q1 2022. We continue to generate great enthusiasm from physicians and patients as we activate more sites and enroll more patients, and we are seeing implant rates accelerating as we move into the new year. We have also been encouraged by our sprint discussions with FDA regarding our IDE trial for CCC patients in the U.S., which we hope to commence in the second half of 2022. From a commercial standpoint, we have made tremendous progress in our key geographic markets, securing DRG codes in Germany and Switzerland, obtaining hospital reimbursement in Spain and awaiting reimbursement decisions in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries. Our commercial strategy centers on the concept of going deep as opposed to going wide; in other words, we want to focus our strategy on key Centers of Excellence with high levels of clinical expertise and patient care, large patient pools, and well–coordinated clinical and administrative infrastructures. This strategy, combined with our ability to treat CCC patients, has enabled us to gain meaningful market share in Germany, and we expect to exit 2022 as the market leader in that important country."

Mr. Taelman concluded, "As proud and excited as we are of our significant accomplishments in 2021, we have our sights set much higher for 2022. Aiding our efforts is a strong balance sheet that we bolstered in July with close to $100 million raised in our Nasdaq IPO, less than one year after raising close to $100 million in our Euronext IPO in September 2020. This liquidity gives us ample flexibility to complete the DREAM study, conduct the ACCCESS study, invest further in our existing commercial operations, and begin to build out a U.S. commercial operation in anticipation of launch following FDA approval. We are extremely well positioned to execute on our clinical, regulatory, and commercial initiatives, and we look forward to providing further updates on our progress as the year unfolds."

About Nyxoah
Nyxoah is a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative solutions to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Nyxoah's lead solution is the Genio system, a patient–centered, leadless and battery–free hypoglossal neurostimulation therapy for OSA, the world's most common sleep disordered breathing condition that is associated with increased mortality risk and cardiovascular comorbidities. Nyxoah is driven by the vision that OSA patients should enjoy restful nights and feel enabled to live their life to its fullest.

Following the successful completion of the BLAST OSA study, the Genio system received its European CE Mark in 2019. Nyxoah completed two successful IPOs: on Euronext Brussels in September 2020 and NASDAQ in July 2021. Following the positive outcomes of the BETTER SLEEP study, Nyxoah received CE mark approval for the expansion of its therapeutic indications to Complete Concentric Collapse (CCC) patients, currently contraindicated in competitors' therapy. Additionally, the Company is currently conducting the DREAM IDE pivotal study for FDA and US commercialization approval.

For more information, please visit http://www.nyxoah.com/

Caution "" CE marked since 2019. Investigational device in the United States. Limited by U.S. federal law to investigational use in the United States.

Forward–looking statements
Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward–looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company directors' or managements' current expectations regarding the Genio system; planned and ongoing clinical studies of the Genio system; the potential advantages of the Genio system; Nyxoah's goals with respect to the development, regulatory pathway and potential use of the Genio system; the utility of clinical data in potentially obtaining FDA approval of the Genio system; and the Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, growth and strategies. By their nature, forward–looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward–looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward–looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward–looking statements. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward–looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward–looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward–looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward–looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward–looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Contacts:
Nyxoah
Loic Moreau, Chief Financial Officer
corporate@nyxoah.com
+32 473 33 19 80

Jeremy Feffer, VP IR and Corporate Communications
jeremy.feffer@nyxoah.com
+1 917 749 1494

Gilmartin Group
Vivian Cervantes
IR@nyxoah.com

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000588091)

Zenas BioPharma Appoints Dr. John Orloff to Board of Directors

BOSTON and SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zenas BioPharma, a global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and delivery of immune–based therapies, today announced the appointment of John Orloff, MD to its Board of Directors. Dr. Orloff joins the Zenas Board with over 25 years of experience successfully leading global research and development organizations across multiple therapeutic areas including autoimmune diseases.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Orloff to the Zenas Board of Directors," said Lonnie Moulder, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zenas. "John's leadership and extensive expertise in research, development, and medical and regulatory affairs will be invaluable as we advance our portfolio of innovative immune–based therapeutics and continue to expand our pipeline via business development."

"I am delighted to work with the Zenas leadership team and fellow directors as the Company rapidly progresses an exciting immune–based pipeline," said Dr. Orloff. "I look forward to contributing to the Company's continued development as it strives to deliver on its mission to bring innovative medicines to patients in need."

Dr. Orloff currently serves as a venture partner with Agent Capital. In his most recent executive role, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development at Alexion where his leadership in expanding the development pipeline to 30 programs supported the recent $39 billion acquisition of Alexion by AstraZeneca.

Prior to Alexion, Dr. Orloff served as Global Head of R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Baxalta, and has also held executive leadership roles with Novelion, Baxter International, Merck Serono, Novartis and Merck Research Laboratories. Before entering the biopharmaceutical industry, he was a faculty member of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Orloff received an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College, earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont, College of Medicine and completed a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Yale University School of Medicine.

About Zenas BioPharma

Zenas BioPharma is a global biopharmaceutical company based in the USA and China committed to becoming a leader in the development and delivery of immune–based therapies for patients in the US, China and around the world. Zenas is rapidly advancing a deep pipeline of innovative therapeutics that continues to grow through our successful business development strategy. Our experienced leadership team and network of business partners drive operational excellence to deliver potentially transformative therapies to improve the lives of those facing autoimmune and rare diseases. For more information about Zenas BioPharma, please visit www.zenasbio.com and follow us on Twitter at @ZenasBioPharma and LinkedIn.

Investor and Media Contact:
Joe Farmer
Zenas BioPharma
IR@zenasbio.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8421831)

Conagen Successfully Develops Antioxidant Kaempferol by Precision Fermentation

Bedford, Mass., Jan. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Conagen, the Massachusetts–based biotechnology innovator, announced the successful development of antioxidant kaempferol produced by state–of–the–art, proprietary, precision fermentation. As a biotechnology company specializing in developing commercially valuable molecules for its partners and clients, Conagen's kaempferol enables brands in nutrition, beauty, and personal care products to adopt a more natural position by formulating with clean and sustainable kaempferol.

Recognized as one of nature's most potent antioxidants, kaempferol is a flavonoid with health–promoting properties found in tea, fruits, and vegetables, especially rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale.

Rising consumer awareness towards chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes drives the kaempferol market demand. The global kaempferol market may exceed $6.5 billion by 2025, according to a recent research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

"We're bringing to market a pure and natural kaempferol at affordable prices that were not possible or available until now," said Casey Lippmeier, Ph.D. vice president of innovation at Conagen. "Conagen's scalable, precision fermentation for producing flavonoids like kaempferol is more efficient and sustainable than what can be achieved with the chemically–synthesized or botanically–sourced molecule.”

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds commonly found in plants and are a significant part of the human diet. They are biosynthesized by plants and fungi as secondary metabolites and comprise a diverse group of phytonutrients.

Plants protect themselves and their fruits against biological intruders such as fungi and bacteria by using phenolic phytochemicals, including flavonoids. Accordingly, kaempferol provides powerful anti–microbial, anti–inflammatory, and immune system benefits to humans.

Dietary kaempferol in multiple studies has demonstrated a wide range of promising beneficial activities, primarily as an anti–inflammatory and antioxidant, for reducing the risk of chronic diseases, especially cancer.

Prolonged oxidative stress leads to premature aging and can trigger many degenerative diseases and cancer. Kaempferol's powerful antioxidant property can help the body's defense against free radicals that promote cancer development.

Conagen derived kaempferol from its molecular platform for flavonoid antioxidants, including the previously announced molecules: DHQ, also known as Taxifolin, p–coumaric acid, hydroxytyrosol, and rosmarinic acid. The development of natural kaempferol is good news for Conagen's commercialization partner, Blue California, as kaempferol will expand its offerings of specialty ingredient solutions.

“This launch further demonstrates our talent for delivering innovative compounds which are ideal for dietary supplements and "clean–label' ingredients for functional foods, beverages, and cosmetics,” said Lippmeier. "Our vision for promoting health and wellness is to continuously leverage our precision fermentation capabilities for high–quality phenolic and flavonoid phytonutrients, thus confirming our position as a leader in the development of strains and processes for making clean–label ingredients and nutraceuticals.”

Blue California has a long–standing partnership with biotechnology innovator Conagen. Conagen focuses on developing sustainable, nature–based ingredients that improve existing options in the market or represent completely novel ingredient solutions.

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About Conagen

Conagen is a product–focused, synthetic biology R&D company with large–scale contract manufacturing capabilities. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high–quality, sustainable, nature–based products by precision fermentation and enzymatic bioconversion. We focus on the bioproduction of high–value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

About Blue California

Blue California is a vertically integrated technology company providing innovative ingredient solutions to global partners. With more than 20 years of innovation success, our ingredients are used in commercial products and applications in nutrition, personal care, healthy aging and wellness, functional food and beverage, and beauty. www.bluecal–ingredients.com

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8421580)

Harris acquires i2 product portfolio from IBM

OTTAWA, Ontario and CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Jan. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Harris, a global vertical market software provider, has acquired the i2 intelligence analysis product portfolio of IBM, including the i2 Analyst's Notebook, i2 Enterprise Insight Analysis (EIA) and i2 iBase platforms. The acquisition positions Harris to further deliver mission–critical applications for national defense, state & local law enforcement, maritime security as well as evidence management.

i2's advanced analytics and intelligence analysis tools, such as the industry leading i2 Analyst's Notebook, help analysts transform data into decisions in near–real–time, uncover hidden connections with visual displays, and turn overwhelming and disparate data""regardless of the source""into actionable intelligence.

The i2 product portfolio, i2 executives and their global teams will form a new Harris business unit, i2 Group, which will operate independently and autonomously. Jean Soucy, Harris Group President stated: "The acquisition of i2 is important to Harris because not only is it a proven business with an excellent international team of experts, but it also provides Harris with a feature–rich intelligence platform widely deployed by an influential customer base", adding, "We look forward to working with our partners and customers to expand i2's capabilities in this highly innovative space."

"Resilience and collaboration have never been more critical for organizations as they confront the increasing complexity of intelligence analysis. We're committed to addressing those needs by offering the most complete end–to–end intelligence analysis portfolio on the market" said Jamie Caffrey, Program Director at i2 Group. "The convergence of data and processes is transforming the industry. By integrating i2 into their existing networks, customers will be able to better leverage their data and will be empowered to unlock valuable insights that can translate into business success.”

As part of publicly traded Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), Harris' financial strength, software industry expertise, and public safety focus were important factors in finding a forever home to execute i2 Group's long–term growth strategies.

Visit www.i2group.com to learn more about i2 solutions.

For further information contact:

Jean Soucy
Group President
Phone: +1 581–205–9821
Email: JSoucy@harriscomputer.com

Steve Hammond
Portfolio Leader
Phone: +44 787–486–2811
Email: SHammond@harriscomputer.com

About N. Harris Computer Corporation (Harris)

Harris acquires vertical market software businesses, manages them well, and builds them for the future. Through acquisitions, Harris has grown extensively from its roots in the utilities, local government, education, and healthcare verticals to operate over 170 businesses globally across more than 20 industries. We are a part of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), one of the world's most active acquirers of VMS businesses.

About Constellation Software Inc.
Constellation Software acquires, manages and builds vertical market software businesses.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8421068)

Expereo Appoints Ben Elms as Chief Revenue Officer

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Jan. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Expereo, the world's leading provider of Global Internet, Cloud Access Optimization, SASE, and SD–WAN services, has today announced the appointment of Ben Elms as Chief Revenue Officer. Elms' s overarching brief is to lead the Sales and go–to–market transformation across all channels and drive the expansion and adoption of Expereo's services globally.

Elms brings more than 20 years of operational expertise and leadership in the telecommunications industry. Most recently, he served as the Group Director (CEO) at Vodafone Global Enterprise, a division of Vodafone Group Plc, a leading international wireless and wireline operator. Whilst there, he was responsible for leading global team managing relationships with multinational customers around the globe. During his tenure, the business outperformed the market with strong EBITDA performance and delivered significant improvements in customer and employee satisfaction whilst driving a program of operational efficiencies.

With his strong market experience, customer track record, and breadth of international expertise, he is a significant hire for the company as it continues its global growth and development.

Commenting on the appointment Irwin Fouwels, CEO at Expereo, said,

"Ben exhibits all the trademarks of a great leader, a true team player with super–strong commercial acumen and operational experience whilst demonstrating a relentless focus on the needs of the customer. Over the last few years, we see enterprises becoming even more cloud and internet–centric. Expereo has established a global leadership position in the highly attractive global cloud and software–defined networking market. I am very excited to have Ben join our company to continue our global go–to–market transformation. I am looking forward to a great partnership to take Expereo to further heights."

On joining the Expereo, Elms said:

"I am honored to be appointed as Expereo's first Chief Revenue Officer and to lead the next phase of growth. Expereo is on an exciting journey and has developed a unique market leadership position. My immediate focus will be on serving our customers as we continue to invest and expand our market position and in building operational excellence in our go–to–market. I look forward to speaking and meeting with employees, customers, and partners and working with Irwin and the team to take the business forward in a market that has a huge opportunity."

Elms' appointment comes after a sustained period of acquisition and expansion for Expereo, which will continue into 2022. With Elms added to its executive management team, the business will look to further consolidate its position as a leading player in the market – delivering simplified global networks while delighting customers with the seamless delivery of complementary services from one trusted supplier

About Expereo
Expereo is the leading provider of managed network solutions, including Global internet connectivity, SD–WAN, SASE, and Cloud Access Optimization services. Expereo is the trusted partner of 30% of Fortune 500 companies and powers enterprise and government sites worldwide, helping to enhance every business' productivity with flexible and optimal Internet performance. In Feb 2021, Vitruvian Partners international growth capital and buyout firm acquired a majority stakeholding in Expereo, alongside the leading European private equity firm Apax Partners SAS and company management.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sofia Pensado
Account Director
sofia@grammatikagency.com
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NetSfere Appointed to NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Framework to Advance the Digitization of Healthcare in the UK

CHICAGO, Jan. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NetSfere, a global provider of next–generation secure and compliant messaging and mobility solutions, has been named an approved communication supplier on NHS Shared Business Service's (NHS SBS) Patient/Citizen Communication & Engagement Solutions Framework, under which NHS organizations and the public sector in the UK can contract services.

Through the 250m framework designed to enhance interactions with patients and advance the digitization of the United Kingdom's healthcare system, all NHS organizations have access to NetSfere's portfolio of products.

The framework aims to provide a simple, effective, efficient, and compliant route to market for the supply of communication methods to engage with patients, citizens and the workforce across NHS organizations and wider public sector bodies.

"Helping healthcare organizations streamline communications in a secure and efficient method has been a primary focus of NetSfere," said Franz Obermayer, NetSfere's Vice President UK & Europe. "As part of the Patient/Citizen Communications & Engagement Solutions Framework, NetSfere's platforms are available to support NHS organizations' needs for digital tools on a massive scale as the healthcare system looks to improve clinical efficiency and safety to increase patient satisfaction and address concerns that arose from the pandemic."

Providing NHS organizations multiple avenues to streamline internal and external communications, the NetSfere platform is the leading enterprise mobile messaging service that provides all preferred means of communication – text, video, and voice – all in one encrypted platform. With omnichannel and emergency alert capabilities, NetSfere's portfolio offers the most holistic, secure, all–in–one communication solution on the market.

"The coronavirus pandemic has added to the complexity of patient appointments and waiting lists," said Adam Nickerson, Senior Category Manager of Digital and IT at NHS Shared Business Services. "Our Patient/Citizen Communications & Engagement Solutions Framework is designed to respond to the need within the NHS for better pre– and post–appointment communications, to reduce the backlog of urgent appointments and improve the patient journey, pathway and care."

Addressing the need for compliant and efficient internal communication methods, NetSfere Enterprise features solutions that empower employees with powerful, enterprise–class messaging technology, eliminating the need to use risky, consumer–grade messaging apps. Created with end–to–end encryption and full IT control, the platform is compliant with global regulations and provides enterprises with a private, highly secure, reliable centrally managed and controlled, cloud–based messaging service.

On the patient communication side, NetSfere Omnichannel enables digital customer engagement from a single platform with multi–channels to orchestrate the customer communication journey, including 1–way and 2–way SMS, MMS and RCS messaging, push notifications, voice, email, and social media messaging. The platform provides key benefits like intelligent routing and cost optimization, content management, number validation for increased open rates, full enterprise admin controls, rich analytics, and data archiving. The platform protects medical staff and patients with the highest level of security and meets all regulatory compliance standards including HIPAA, GDPR and PCI DSS.

NHS organizations can also implement NetSfere Lifeline through the framework. The solution allows enterprises to send high priority, critical messaging for targeted teams or an entire organization to disperse emergency information in an attention–grabbing manner. Messages can include text, images, or locations, ensuring that all essential information can be shared quickly in critical situations.

As one of the selected suppliers, NetSfere's solutions were accepted across five lots: Digital (Online) Communication, Email, SMS, Workforce Communication, and All–in–One Solutions.
For more information on NetSfere's portfolio of products, visit"www.netsfere.com.

About NetSfere
NetSfere is a secure enterprise messaging service and platform from"Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc. NetSfere provides industry–leading security and message delivery capabilities, including global cloud–based service availability, device–to–device encryption, location–based features and administrative controls. The service is also offered in partnership with Deutsche Telekom GmbH, one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies, and with NTT Ltd., a global information communications & technology service provider, to jointly offer NetSfere to its worldwide customers."The service leverages Infinite Convergence's experience in delivering mobility solutions to tier 1 mobile operators globally and technology that supports more than 400 million subscribers and over a trillion messages on an annual basis. NetSfere is also compliant with global regulatory requirements, including GDPR, HIPAA, Sarbanes–Oxley, ISO 27001 and others. Infinite Convergence Solutions has offices in the United States, Germany, India and Singapore. For more information, visit"www.netsfere.com.

About NHS Shared Business Services
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) was created in 2004 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital services and software development, it makes life easier for NHS employees, patients and suppliers, and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.

Proud members of the NHS family, NHS SBS provides finance & accounting, procurement and workforce services to more than half the NHS in England. Sharing common values and unity of purpose with the rest of the NHS family, its solutions are underpinned by cutting–edge technologies and the teams' expertise, in–depth understanding of the NHS, and commitment to service excellence.

Media Contact
Rachel Gunia
Uproar PR for NetSfere
312–878–4575 x246
rgunia@uproarpr.com


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