Category: news

CSafe Global has published the results of their second pilot shipment which focused on data accuracy between the real-time data delivered and the data recorded and stored in the containers.
CSafe Global, the innovation leader in temperature-controlled container solutions for the transport of life-enhancing pharmaceuticals, continues rigorous testing of the company’s forthcoming end-to-end shipment visibility capability and has today, published the results of a second key pilot shipment focused on data accuracy.
CSafe is the first cold chain packaging provider to successfully implement end-to-end shipment visibility capability and is nearly through their development timeline. The goal for this most recent pilot shipment completed in August was to determine if container readings, payload readings and pre-established alerts transmitted in real-time during the shipment and matched the validated data the container logged.
“It’s not enough to collect and transmit data,” explained Tom Weir, CSafe’s Chief Operating Officer. “We must be certain the information being supplied to our customers and partners reflects the actual real-time conditions of the container and the payload. Offering complete confidence in the real-time data, provides the assurance our customers need that their products are secure or that intervention is required to preserve a payload. This is what the pharmaceutical industry has been requesting and I am pleased to report that this and subsequent tests have been extremely successful. The hardware and software systems are performing as expected and we are moving into the next phase of testing.”
With more than 20 total pilot test shipments complete, CSafe containers, the integrated tracking devices and the shipment visibility platform have all performed flawlessly. The published results for this test, available in a white paper on the CSafe Global website, provide detailed information on the accuracy of the data collected with the tracking device in the new visibility platform against shipment information collected directly by the containers’ measurement systems. Historically, this information was only available post-shipment.
CSafe published another white paper in July that focused on validating the integration of the tracking device installed in the RKN and RAP containers and the measured parameters tracked.
“The entire project team along with our partners on this project could not be more pleased with these results,” said Weir. “Not only does it confirm that we have chosen the right hardware and software, but also that the planning, effort and investment we’ve made has been well worth it. We are now preparing for the next testing phase and expect similar results.”

Philadelphia, PA/PRNewswire—Nutrisystem^®, a Tivity Health^® brand, announced today the debut of its Body Select™ program in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com. The Nutrisystem Body Select program is designed to work with an individual’s distinct body type and includes recommendations for the best approach to weight loss for each body type. The program is offered as a 5-day kit that contains 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners with customized macronutrients and add-ons such as snacks and shakes. Customers can also purchase individual items a la carte.
“Our goal is to bring something fresh to retail that personalizes the weight loss journey with new, on-trend nutritional products,” said Tommy Lewis, President, Nutrisystem. “As our business grows and evolves, we’re actively looking for ways to serve different customer segments. With this type of product innovation and our strong retail partnerships, we can continue to meet the needs of millions of Americans who want better health and wellness.”
Nutrisystem Body Select can help customers lose up to seven pounds in two weeks* and provides free access to the NuMi^® app, which matches the customer’s Nutrisystem plan to seamlessly track their Nutrisystem foods, Flex Meals, activity, measurements and more. Body Select is sold exclusively through retail channels.
“Our long-standing and collaborative relationship with Walmart makes them the perfect partner to help us launch the new Body Select program as people are looking for affordable, convenient ways to take care of their health,” added Mike Dermo, Senior Vice President, Retail Sales and Marketing, Nutrisystem. “By making the Body Select program available through Walmart’s omni-channel approach, we can provide customers with real, nutritious food.”
Throughout the remainder of 2020, Nutrisystem will expand Body Select into more retail channels including Amazon, Target.com, and select grocery chains. For more information and to buy Nutrisystem Body Select, click here.
* In a study, average weight loss was 5 lbs in two weeks.

Nashville, TN/PRNewswire—Tivity Health^® announced today that it has delivered more than 170,000 meals to seniors impacted by COVID-19 through its partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP). The partnership connects members of n4a and NANASP with Nutrisystem^®, South Beach Diet^® and Wisely Well™ options for healthy, frozen and shelf-stable meals.
Members of n4a and NANASP represent more than 15,000 programs that service more than 11 million seniors annually. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, millions of seniors have not been able to participate in congregate meal programs due to shelter-in-place and physical distancing guidelines. Many of these programs have reported significant increases in demand. Meals on Wheels reports that it is currently serving 47% more seniors than on March 1.
“We are proud to be able to serve as a resource for community agencies during this challenging time,” said Richard Ashworth, President and CEO, Tivity Health. “We are committed to addressing food insecurity for seniors. One way we can help our seniors to have access to nutritious food is by offering these discounted bundles to the aging network that connects daily with America’s seniors.”
During the COVID-19 crisis, community agencies can access emergency funding under the Families First Act and the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) to meet the increased demand for meals for seniors. Through the partnership with n4a and NANASP, Tivity Health has become a new, reliable source of meals that members can access to meet both emergency and ongoing meal needs.
“NANASP entered this partnership to provide our members with a new and additional option for meals to serve their older adults during this pandemic,” said Bob Blancato, Executive Director, NANASP. “This has been achieved and we are grateful for Tivity and pleased at the response from those of our members who placed orders from them. As we all know there is no playbook for the times we are in, but one thing is essential, having an adequate food supply to meet dramatic growth in demand. Partnerships of this nature are important in helping to curb rising rates of food insecurity among older adults.”
Even before the pandemic, one in seven adults between the ages of 50 and 80 reported difficulty getting enough food because of cost or other issues. Through this partnership, Tivity Health is providing access to a wide range of bundled meal options from its Nutrisystem, South Beach Diet and Wisely Well menus, and is expediting delivery to agencies serving seniors with food insecurity.
“Our members have told us that one of their largest areas of concern during the pandemic is for older adults who are not able to access meals,” said Sandy Markwood, CEO, n4a. “At this critical time, we are glad to have a partner in Tivity Health that can help ensure that critical needs of older adults are met.”
Nutrisystem offers more than 160 nutritionally balanced, fully prepped menu choices, while South Beach Diet offers low carb, high protein meals and snacks. Wisely Well pre-packaged meals are designed to support the nutrition needs of seniors and include options specially formulated for those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Saint Paul, MN—Minnetronix Medical, the company known for 25 years of developing and manufacturing products for medical device companies throughout the world, today announced that it has received FDA clearance for its first platform product: the MindsEye™ Expandable Port for neurosurgical procedures. This clearance represents an expansion of the company’s traditional offerings to include market-ready platforms.
The MindsEye Port is the first minimally invasive, expandable port designed for use in the treatment of stroke, cancer, and other conditions. The device’s dynamic retraction creates a custom-sized channel allowing surgeons to reach target areas deep within the brain. “This is next-generation deep brain access technology,” said Dr. Mario Zuccarello, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center. “Minimizing invasiveness as much as possible is important to respect the eloquence of brain tissue. The MindsEye Expandable Port allows surgeons to work without unnecessary distractions, which ultimately improves quality of life for the patient.”
“Given its unique features, the port has already attracted interest among neurosurgeons and potential distribution partners. They’re excited to get their hands on it,” says Matt Adams, vice president and general manager at Minnetronix Medical. “The MindsEye Port is an exciting example of how Minnetronix Medical is expanding its offerings by developing market-ready products.” He adds that the port represents an entire platform for the company, as it has additional applications and complimentary product opportunities in the neuro market and beyond.

Waltham, MA/(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)—Radius Health, Inc. (“Radius” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RDUS) today announced completion of enrollment in its “wearABLe” phase 3 trial.
The study was designed to look at the effects on bone mineral density of abaloparatide delivered via a novel transdermal device (“abaloparatide-patch”) compared with the current subcutaneous formulation, marketed as TYMLOS^®. The study aimed to enroll 474 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture. Actual patients enrolled, based on demand, was approximately 500. These patients will be treated for 12 months and have a further one month on study for safety assessment at the completion of 12 months of therapy.
“We are delighted to have completed enrollment of the wearABLe study,” commented Dr. Charles Morris, Radius’ Chief Medical Officer. “This brings us one step closer to potentially having the ability to deliver osteoanabolic therapy through an alternative to daily subcutaneous injection,” he continued. “I am grateful to our teams, our investigators, and their patients who have helped us reach this milestone. We will share top-line data results in the fourth quarter of 2021.”
The abaloparatide-patch leverages the technology advances of the solid microstructured transdermal system, which was developed by Kindeva Drug Delivery, a spin-out of the 3M Corporation. This technology innovation allows the successful delivery of peptides — in our case, abaloparatide — across the skin. To date, this has not been proven possible by traditional transdermal patch capabilities.
This initiative was designed as a patient-centric approach and differentiating strategy for Radius as part of a multi-year partnership with Kindeva/3M. A successful trial and subsequent regulatory approval would provide patients with a new option of abaloparatide administration. Such an option is typically not available for biological products.
“This drug delivery technology is being developed to provide a favorable experience for patients with osteoporosis treated with TYMLOS,” commented Dr. Bruce Mitlak, recently named Head of Discovery Science for the areas of musculoskeletal, endocrinology, and metabolic for Radius.

Philadelphia, PA/PRNewswire—Nutrisystem^®, a Tivity Health^® brand, announced today the launch of its new Nutrisystem Partner Plan, a program designed to enable two people living in the same home to experience the benefits of losing weight together. Studies continue to show that dieting with a partner leads to greater success and helps people maintain their weight loss.
According to a recent JAMA study, individuals are more likely to lose five percent or more weight if their partner joins them. A five percent weight loss is considered clinically significant to reaping health benefits like reduced risks of developing diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Evidence suggests that people tend to exhibit the health behaviors of those around them and that partners greatly influence that behavior, especially in relation to diet and exercise. For Nutrisystem customers, social support and accountability are two factors proven to facilitate weight loss. Now, the Partner Plan offers Nutrisystem customers a shared experience to leverage those factors.
“Eating is a social event and with the new Nutrisystem Partner Plan, friends and loved ones can enjoy meals together,” said Tommy Lewis, President, Nutrisystem. “We are less likely to stay on a weight loss program when we feel like we’re all alone. Having a built-in support system at home means you’ll be able to motivate and celebrate each other as you hit goals. In today’s climate, it is more important than ever for our health to connect with and lean on the strength of loved ones.”
On the Nutrisystem Partner Plan, customers will receive one shipment every two weeks that includes meals and snacks for two people at one great price. The program also provides free access to the NuMi^® app, unlimited support with Nutrisystem weight loss counselors and dietitians by phone or online any day of the week, and free shipping.
Customers can lose weight while eating the foods they love, made healthier. The program meets, or in most cases exceeds, recommendations set forth in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The plans include the right mix of nutrients to fuel your body—plenty of healthy, lean protein; high fiber to help keep you feeling fuller, longer; low-glycemic carbohydrates to stabilize blood sugar; and never contain artificial sweeteners or flavors.
Those with specific dietary needs can customize their program to include diabetes-friendly foods, vegetarian foods, or to exclude foods that contain milk, wheat, nuts, and more. Customers can tap into the knowledgeable team of Nutrisystem weight loss counselors to help them select foods that work for both partners’ needs.

CSafe Global has contracted with C.H. Robinson in Taipei to provide containers locally.
CSafe Global, the innovation leader in temperature-controlled container solutions for the transport of life-enhancing pharmaceuticals, has once again expanded their global reach and local presence with the opening of a new hub operation in Taipei, Taiwan.
This new addition to CSafe’s worldwide container operations facilities ensures Taiwan’s thriving biotech and pharmaceutical sectors have consistent, easy access for to the cold chain industry’s top performing containers. “We’ve been supplying containers to Taipei for some time now from our Hong Kong facility,” explained Tom Weir, chief operating officer for CSafe Global. “As the demand has consistently increased over time, we felt it important to invest in a local hub where we can inspect and service incoming containers so they can be released for usage by local organizations. To do this efficiently, we’ve partnered with C.H. Robinson in Taipei to make units available at their Taiwan International Global Forwarding facility.” CSafe will have access to 2,500 square-feet of space to store CSafe RKN and RAP containers.
CSafe continues expanding its presence in Asia by investing in best-in-class facilities to provide the best service possible to customers in their local area.

Chandler, AZ/PRNewswire—SilverSneakers^®, the nation’s leading community fitness program for older Americans by Tivity Health^® (Nasdaq: TVTY), is currently accepting nominations for the 16th annual SilverSneakers Swanson Inspiration Award. This prestigious national award honors SilverSneakers members who have improved their lives through a healthy lifestyle that incorporates fitness and social interaction, while helping others navigate their own fitness journeys.
The call for nominations is open through August 7, 2020 at SilverSneakers.com/SwansonAward and anyone can nominate an inspiring SilverSneakers member. The top 10 nominees’ stories will be shared on the SilverSneakers website where the public will select the national award recipient. Online voting will begin August 24, 2020, and the winner will be announced on September 14, 2020.
“Despite the challenges our SilverSneakers members have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been remarkable members who continue to inspire, support and motivate others to improve their quality of life no matter the obstacles,” said Richard Ashworth, president and CEO, Tivity Health. “That perseverance and commitment embody the spirit of the Swanson Inspiration Award and the power of the SilverSneakers community across the country. We honor our award winners who are core to our mission and who are leaders in their member communities.”
Even though COVID-19 has made staying fit and healthy more challenging, SilverSneakers members have access to multiple digital engagement options, enabling them to stay active while staying safe. Facebook Live, SilverSneakers Live and SilverSneakers Flex fitness classes are available for all members. We have had significant participation in our new virtual options. As of July 2020, there have been 10.2 million views of our Facebook Live classes alone. SilverSneakers will continue offering virtual exercise, nutrition, health and social community options for members to continue their fitness regimens while practicing safe social distancing behaviors.
Over 16 million people are eligible for the SilverSneakers benefit generally at no additional cost through their Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and group retiree plans. The program is offered at more than 17,000 participating fitness locations nationwide, where members can take advantage of amenities and various class offerings including signature SilverSneakers classes and SilverSneakers BOOM™, all led by certified instructors for ongoing support. In addition, SilverSneakers FLEX^® classes, also led by certified instructors, are offered in neighborhood venues outside the traditional fitness center.

New York, NY—Altaris Capital Partners, LLC is pleased to announce that Trean Insurance Group, Inc. (“Trean”) priced its initial public offering at a price of $15 per share, the top of the previously announced valuation range, resulting in gross offering proceeds of approximately $160 million through a combination of primary and secondary shares. The shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on July 16, 2020 under the symbol “TIG”.
Trean is a specialty insurance company that sells products through its program partners and managing general agencies. Trean also provides a variety of services including issuing carrier services, claims administration and reinsurance brokerage. Trean is licensed to write business across 49 states and the District of Columbia.
J.P. Morgan, Evercore ISI and William Blair acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. JMP Securities acted as a co-manager.

Morgan Hill, CA—Paramit Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of medical devices and life science instruments, is pleased to announce our sponsorship of Life Science Angels, a not-for-profit corporation with 130-150 accredited investor members, 12-18 highly qualified Fellows, and 12-15 Sponsor organizations.
Life Science Angels was founded in 2005 by active members Allan May and Casey McGlynn. The organization has invested over $60 million in over 100 startups exclusively in the life science industry. They are located in Silicon Valley, although their portfolio companies are widespread geographically.
Their mission is to improve healthcare worldwide by helping entrepreneurs with disruptive advances in healthcare discovery and delivery.