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Blue Shield of California Members Can Now Treat Heart Disease From Home, with Digital Expansion of Ornish Lifestyle Medicine

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Nonprofit health plan adding new virtual offering after seeing 71.4% reduction in angina and 23.3% decrease in total cholesterol from nine-week in-person program
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Shield of California members now have virtual access to Ornish Lifestyle Medicine, an innovative intensive cardiac rehab program designed to help prevent, treat, and even reverse heart disease through lifestyle change.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in California and across the nation, and the expansion of this program aims to help more Californians improve their cardiac health by providing a virtual access option to a successful in-person program.
“At Blue Shield of California, we believe making lifestyle changes have the power to help people with chronic conditions,” said Jennifer Christian-Herman, Blue Shield of California vice president of MindBody Medicine. “Dr. Dean Ornish is an influential leader at the forefront of lifestyle medicine and together we are driving easier access to quality care and creating better heart health outcomes for our members.”
Ornish Lifestyle Medicine is a 72-hour, 9-week heart disease reversal program through lifestyle intervention methods. Participating members can join 4-hour virtual sessions twice a week – with the time equally dedicated to exercise, stress management, interactive lessons, and a support group.  
To enhance the experience of participating from the comfort of home, participants receive:

FOOD – Two weeks’ worth of fresh, delicious, and heart healthy premade meals (three meals a day, plus snacks) to kickstart a new way of eating.
TECHNOLOGY – A heart rate monitor, scale, and blood pressure cuff for continuous tracking.
EQUIPMENT – An activity mat and other equipment for exercise and relaxation.
SUPPORT – Throughout the 9 weeks, participants will connect with each other in support group sessions, supporting each other through making important lifestyle changes, in addition to classes and coaching.

Until now, Blue Shield of California members had access to the Ornish Lifestyle Medicine program in-person at Marin Health and UCLA Health. Those 159 participating members saw significant improvement in their health outcomes after nine weeks. The results include:

71.4% reduction in angina
23.3% decrease in total cholesterol
36.8% decrease in LDL cholesterol
10% decrease in triglycerides
40.4% decrease in depression
3.5% decrease in A1c levels
20.1% increase in exercise capacity

“Backed by over 45 years of research, Ornish Lifestyle Medicine remains the only program scientifically proven to often reverse heart disease without drugs or surgery,” said Dean Ornish, MD, founder of Ornish Lifestyle Medicine. “I have seen what a powerful difference this program can make to people’s lives and am proud to expand this program to reach more Californians by offering it virtually through Blue Shield of California. Everyone deserves the chance to change their health – no matter where they live, or what their mobility and transportation limitations might be.”
The program is available to members enrolled in Blue Shield’s employer-sponsored, individual and family, and Medicare PPO plans who have a history of heart disease or a cardiac event. The collaboration is part of the company’s larger effort to reimagine health care through lifestyle medicine. Members can also access Blue Shield’s award-winning Wellvolution program, which offers a suite of lifestyle medicine-based digital solutions, focusing on diabetes, mental health, tobacco cessation, and weight loss.
About Blue Shield of CaliforniaBlue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with more than 4.8 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $24 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $97 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities.
For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. 
Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
About Ornish Lifestyle MedicineOrnish Lifestyle Medicine is the only program that is scientifically proven to reverse the progression of heart disease in randomized controlled trials. Ornish Lifestyle Medicine has spread across the country and begun to revolutionize the way that Americans treat heart disease. Today, the program is reimbursed by Medicare and many other commercial payers, offered in more than 18 states, and delivered with a turnkey process that is optimized by years of operating knowledge. Most importantly, since 2014 alone, it has helped thousands of people from across the country take back their lives. For more information, visit www.ornish.com.

CONTACT:
Kelly Nuckols

Blue Shield of California        

510-607-2359

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California

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Artivion Appoints Lance A. Berry as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; Announces Retirement of D. Ashley Lee, Chief Financial Officer

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Reaffirms Financial Guidance Provided on November 2, 2023
ATLANTA, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Artivion, Inc. (NYSE: AORT), a leading cardiac and vascular surgery company focused on aortic disease today announced the appointment of Lance A. Berry as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective as of December 4, 2023. In this role, Mr. Berry joins Artivion’s executive leadership team and replaces Mr. D. Ashley Lee, who will retire at the end of the year after a successful and long tenure with the Company and a distinguished career in the medical device industry. Artivion also reaffirmed its full-year 2023 financial guidance that was provided on November 2, 2023.
Mr. Berry, 51, most recently served from January 2019 until November 2020 as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Wright Medical Group N.V. (“Wright”), until Wright was acquired by Stryker in November 2020. Before that, Mr. Berry served as the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for Wright from 2009 to 2018, successfully spear-heading its merger with Tornier N.V. Additionally, Mr. Berry served as Wright’s Vice President, Corporate Controller from 2002-2009. Mr. Berry also currently serves on the Boards of two public companies, Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. and Vapotherm. Throughout his eleven years as the Chief Financial Officer and a senior executive at Wright, working with Wright’s Board and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Berry led the Company’s strategic transformation and execution to drive shareholder value and cultivated an extensive background in, among other areas, strategy, M&A, financing, business development, digital strategy and investor relations.
“I am thrilled to welcome Lance to Artivion’s leadership team as Chief Financial Officer,” said Pat Mackin, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “His broad experience and proven leadership in growth MedTech companies make him an ideal addition to our leadership team, and he will add significant value in advancing Artivion and its strategy through our next stage of growth.”
“I am excited to join Artivion as Chief Financial Officer and continue my commitment to driving focus, execution and significant shareholder value,” said Mr. Berry. “I look forward to working with Artivion’s exceptional team to continue to grow Artivion into a powerhouse leader in aortic technology and innovation.”
Mr. Lee, 59, who has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since 2004, will retire after a transitional period. Mr. Lee, a proven leader and a winner of Georgia BioTech’s CFO of the Year award in 2018, has decades of medical device experience. He helped lead the Company’s efforts that resulted in a more than doubling of the Company’s size since 2015. Mr. Lee will remain with Artivion in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless transition. Mr. Lee expressed his confidence in Mr. Berry’s abilities to take on the role, stating, “I have no doubt that Lance will be an excellent addition to the Artivion leadership team. His deep financial expertise and experience in the medical device industry make him ideal to lead the Company’s finance, information technology, human resources and business development functions.” 
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ashley for his leadership at Artivion during a period of incredible growth and transformation,” added Mr. Mackin. “Artivion would not be where it is today without Ashley’s deep expertise and experience, and we wish him the very best on the next leg of his journey.”
Mr. Berry officially began his role as Chief Financial Officer on December 4, 2023.
About Artivion, Inc.Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, Artivion, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons’ most difficult challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. Artivion’s four major groups of products include: aortic stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X mechanical heart valves, and implantable cardiac and vascular human tissues. Artivion markets and sells products in more than 100 countries worldwide. For additional information about Artivion, visit our website, www.Artivion.com.
Forward Looking StatementsStatements made in this press release that look forward in time or that express management’s beliefs, expectations, or hopes are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are made. These statements include our beliefs that we remain on track to achieve or exceed the revenue and EBITDA growth targets for this year; and we remain on a path to meet or exceed our current year guidance, as well as to achieve our 2024 commitments to deliver double-digit compounded annual constant currency revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA in excess of $75.0 million. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, including that the benefits anticipated from the Ascyrus Medical LLC transaction and Endospan agreements may not be achieved at all or at the levels we had originally anticipated; the benefits anticipated from our clinical trials may not be achieved or achieved on our anticipated timeline; our products may not be able to consistently retain their existing regulatory approvals or special regulatory approvals in order to be commercialized; products in our pipeline may not receive regulatory approval at all or receive regulatory approval on our anticipated timelines; or our products that obtain regulatory approval may not be adopted by the market as much as we anticipate or at all. These risks and uncertainties include the risk factors detailed in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 31, 2023. Artivion does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts:

Artivion
Gilmartin Group LLC

D. Ashley Lee
Brian Johnston / Lynn Lewis

       Executive Vice President,                  
Phone:  332-895-3222

Finance
[email protected] 

Phone: 770-419-3355

SOURCE Artivion, Inc.

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BioSig Issues Letter to Shareholders Detailing Technology Innovations and Strategic Focus for 2024

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Westport, CT, Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BioSig Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: BSGM) (“BioSig” or the “Company”), a medical technology company delivering unprecedented accuracy and precision to intracardiac signal visualization, today issued its 2023 letter to shareholders to recap recent achievements and offer insights about the year ahead. In the letter, […]

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JenaValve Featured at the PCR London Valves 2023

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IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JenaValve Technology, Inc., developer and manufacturer of the Trilogy™ Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) System, today announced highlights from PCR London Valves 2023, a leading, annual global valve conference. The Trilogy THV system was featured in multiple case presentations and scientific sessions throughout […]

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Merit Medical Announces Pricing of Upsized Private Offering of $650.0 Million of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2029

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SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: MMSI) (“Merit”), a leading global manufacturer and marketer of healthcare technology, announced the pricing of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “notes”) in a private placement (the “offering”) only to […]

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Micro Medical Solutions Announces Completion of Enrollment in the STAND Pivotal Clinical Trial

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Clinical investigators complete enrollment in the 177 patient, randomized, controlled study, STAND (A Clinical Evaluation of the MicroSTent PeripherAl Vascular SteNt in subjects with Arterial Disease Below the Knee, NCT03477604).
WILMINGTON, Mass., Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Micro Medical Solutions (MMS), an innovator in the field of microvascular intervention to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with CLI/CLTI, announced today that it has completed its U.S. pivotal clinical study enrollment evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the MicroStent System compared to the current standard of care, PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty). The MicroStent System has already obtained CE Mark approval for use in the EEA.
STAND (A Clinical Evaluation of the MicroSTent PeripherAl Vascular SteNt in subjects with Arterial Disease Below the Knee) enrolled its final patient earlier this month marking the completion of the study. MicroStent is a vascular stent specifically designed to achieve and maintain tibioperoneal arterial patency improving blood flow and wound healing for below-the-knee amputation reduction in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) resulting from progressive peripheral artery disease (PAD). 
“I would like to thank the investigators and the research teams for their dedication, participation, collaboration and tremendous effort to help this complex and difficult patient population. I’m excited to continue to provide research expertise to the company and discuss the study results when available,” said lead investigator, Dr. Robert E. Beasley of Palm Vascular Centers in Miami Beach, Florida.
“CLI/CTI is the most severe clinical manifestation of PAD. We are excited to see the data unfold to further understand the impact of angiosome directed endovascular intervention and its impact on wound healing, limb salvage and patient living independence. We are warmly appreciative to our patient population that participated in the study. The study’s goal has always been to demonstrate a lower amputation rate thereby, lowering the devastating mortality rate associated with limb loss,” commented Rita Jacob, Vice President of Clinical Affairs.
“This is an encouraging step forward for MMS, millions of patients battling CLI every day and Clinicians treating and caring for these patients,” said CEO, Gregory Sullivan. “MMS developed the MicroStent platform in response to patients’ needs, and we are excited to move closer to putting MicroStent in the hands of U.S. interventionalists treating CLI.”
For more about Micro Medical Solutions, visit www.micromedicalsolutions.net.
SOURCE Micro Medical Solutions

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BridgeBio Pharma Announces Submission of New Drug Application (NDA) to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Acoramidis for the Treatment of Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBIO) (“BridgeBio” or the “Company”), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on genetic diseases and cancers, today announced that it has submitted an NDA for acoramidis to the U.S. FDA for the treatment of ATTR-CM. The application was based […]

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CorWave Announces the Appointment of Fairuz Hasni as Vice President Human Resources

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CLICHY, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CorWave, a French company that develops and manufactures innovative cardiac assist devices, announces the appointment of Fairuz Hasni as Vice President Human Resources. Fairuz Hasni has over twenty years of experience in industrial companies. She will support CorWave in the development of its HR functions and in its […]

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OXFORD PROPERTIES BREAKS GROUND ON 165,000 SQ FT EXPANSION OF IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS CARLSBAD CAMPUS

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– Build to suit development will expand Ionis’ campus footprint to over 400,000 square feet; grow Oxford’s San Diego life sciences portfolio to more than 1 million square feet -CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”), a leading global real estate investor, developer and manager has officially broken ground on a 165,000 square foot expansion of Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ (“Ionis”) main life sciences campus. Located in the San Diego life sciences submarket of Carlsbad, Ionis’ existing campus features approximately 250,000 square feet of lab and office space. The expansion builds on Oxford and Ionis’ established partnership, with Oxford completing a purchase and long-term lease back of Ionis’ existing campus in October 2022.

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Render for 165,000 SF expansion of Ionis’ Carlsbad life sciences campus and HQ (CNW Group/Oxford Properties Group Inc.)

Today’s announcement bolsters Oxford’s already robust global life sciences portfolio and West Coast presence, featuring additional high-quality assets in the Bay Area and Seattle. Oxford entered the San Diego life sciences market in February 2022 via a US$464 million acquisition of a 13-building portfolio. Oxford’s San Diego life sciences portfolio currently comprises more than 900,000 square feet, which will increase to over 1.3 million square feet upon completion of its development pipeline in market.

“We are very pleased to build on our significant partnership with Ionis, as we each write another chapter in our remarkable growth journeys through the expansion of their main campus,” said Tycho Suter, Vice President, Investments at Oxford. “Oxford is a long-term investor, committed to creating both economic and social value through real estate. Supporting the growth of a highly aligned partner in Ionis, who are deeply embedded in the Carlsbad community, delivers on both fronts as we help provide the infrastructure necessary to develop the life-saving therapeutics of tomorrow.”
Founded in 1989, Ionis is a publicly traded biotech company and a leader in discovering and developing RNA-targeted therapeutics. Ionis currently has four marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline highlighted by industry-leading cardiovascular and neurological franchises. It has a long history of R&D successes and has delivered multiple breakthroughs leveraging its expanding technology platform. The campus expansion supports Ionis’ strategic goals of prioritizing its wholly owned pipeline and advancing its drug discovery technology.”The state-of-the-art facility being built by our partner Oxford Properties is more than a building, it’s a testament to Ionis’ enduring commitment to discovering, developing and delivering novel medicines to patients who are living with serious diseases,” said Elizabeth L. Hougen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ionis. “In the same way that Ionis-discovered therapies like SPINRAZA®, the first-ever approved medicine to treat spinal muscular atrophy, and QALSODY™, the first treatment targeting a genetic form of ALS, changed the lives of people battling these devastating diseases, we expect the science done within the walls of this building to have a positive impact on the lives of people with unmet medical needs in the years to come.”Located at 2830 Whiptail Loop in Carlsbad and slated for completion by the end of 2025, Ionis’ campus expansion will deliver 165,000 square feet of purpose-built lab and complementary office space. Bringing Ionis’ overall campus to over 400,000 square feet of space across four buildings, the buildings feature chemistry labs, biology labs and R&D support systems, as well as modern office space. Part of the prominent San Diego North County life sciences cluster, in addition to Ionis, Carlsbad is home to leading firms such as Novartis, Thermo Fisher and Genentech.San Diego continues to define itself as a top three US life sciences market, and one of the most important life sciences markets globally. Its ecosystem is anchored by renowned research institutions and non-profits including San Diego State University, UC San Diego, Scripps Research and the Sandford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Benefitting from this clustering of firms, institutions and associated talent established over decades, San Diego’s life sciences market has grown by 40% over the last 15 years.Oxford has invested in life sciences since 2017. It has built substantial expertise in the sector while deploying capital through a variety of equity and credit investments as well as cultivating a significant development pipeline. Oxford’s life sciences business operates across the top 10 North American life sciences markets and in leading European markets through holdings in London, Cambridge and Paris.
About Oxford Properties Group
Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”) is a leading global real estate investor, developer and manager. Established in 1960, Oxford and its portfolio companies manage approximately C$85 billion of assets across four continents on behalf of their investment partners. Oxford’s owned portfolio encompasses logistics, office, retail, multifamily residential, life sciences, credit and hotels in global gateway cities and high-growth hubs. A thematic investor with a committed source of capital, Oxford invests in properties, portfolios, development sites, debt, securities and real estate businesses across the risk-reward spectrum. Together with its portfolio companies, Oxford is one of the world’s most active developers with over 70 projects currently underway globally across all major asset classes. Oxford is owned by OMERS, the Canadian defined benefit pension plan for Ontario’s municipal employees.
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Ionis has been a leader in RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards of care. Ionis currently has four marketed medicines and a promising late-stage pipeline highlighted by cardiovascular and neurological franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision to become the leader in genetic medicine, utilizing a multi-platform approach to discover, develop and deliver life-transforming therapies.To learn more about Ionis visit www.ionispharma.com and follow us on Twitter @ionispharma.SOURCE Oxford Properties Group Inc.

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ABK Biomedical announces that its Eye90 microspheres® device has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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HALIFAX, NS, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – ABK Biomedical, Inc., an innovative, medical device company dedicated to the research, development, and commercialization of advanced imageable embolic therapies, announces its Eye90 microspheres device has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  This designation is for the proposed Eye90 microspheres indication for the treatment of patients living with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Breakthrough designation is granted to devices that may provide more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions for which no approved alternative exists.

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“We are pleased with the FDA’s decision to grant Breakthrough Device Designation for Eye90 microspheres Y90 radioembolization device. This confirms our belief that Eye90 represents an important evolution of radioembolization technology with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. Our discussions with the FDA have been productive, and this designation will allow us to streamline interactions with FDA and bring this product to market in an efficient manner.  We look forward to executing our Route90 trial and our continued collaboration with the FDA,” said Mike Mangano, President, and CEO of ABK Biomedical.

ABK Biomedical’s Eye90 microspheres® device has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the FDA

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ABK Biomedical recently initiated enrollment in Route90, an FDA IDE approved pivotal, prospective, multicenter trial to establish the safety and efficacy of Eye90 microspheres in patients with unresectable HCC.   
Dr. Aravind Arepally, Chief Medical Officer of ABK Biomedical, stated, “Eye90 microspheres radioembolization marks a significant breakthrough in the treatment of HCC. This medical device allows us to leverage multi-modality imaging, facilitate controlled visual administration and offers personalized dosimetry. This gives us the opportunity to further advance the field of Y90 radioembolization. We’re excited that FDA also recognizes the potential of ABK’s technology to improve patient outcomes.” 
About FDA Breakthrough Devices Program
The FDA Breakthrough Devices Program is a voluntary program for certain medical devices and device-led combination products that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. It is available for devices and device-led combination products which are subject to review under a premarket approval application (PMA), premarket notification (510(k)), or De Novo classification request (De Novo request). This program is intended to help patients have more timely access to these medical devices by expediting their development, assessment, and review, while preserving the statutory standards for PMA approval, 510(k) clearance, and De Novo marketing authorization, consistent with the FDA’s mission to protect and promote public health.
About ABK Biomedical, Inc.
ABK Biomedical is a company focused on researching, developing and commercializing medical device therapies to improve treatment outcomes and the lives of patients with benign and malignant hypervascular tumors. ABK Biomedical holds intellectual property in the areas of inorganic polymer microspheres and unique administration systems. The company possesses advanced intellectual capital and its own R&D and manufacturing facilities for developing and  commercializing unique embolotherapy products. Eye90 microspheres® is considered an investigational product and is not approved for use in any regulatory jurisdiction outside of approved clinical trials. SOURCE ABK Biomedical Inc.

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