Sanofi Canada announced a new option for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. AllerjectTM is the first and only ‘talking’ epinephrine auto-injector in Canada. “Sanofi is excited about being able to offer AllerjectTM,” says Jon Fairest, President and CEO of Sanofi Canada. “AllerjectTM is designed to address unmet patient needs and make a positive difference in the lives of those at risk of a severe allergic reaction, and those who care for them.” Although the precise number of people at risk of anaphylaxis is unknown, a recent study found that approximately 7% (or about 2.5 million Canadians) self-report a food allergy. Epinephrine is the drug of choice for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions, and is the medicine in the AllerjectTM auto-injector. To help patients and caregivers correctly use the auto-injector, AllerjectTM comes equipped with automated voice instructions (in either English or French) which will guide them step-by-step through the injection process in the event of an emergency.Results of Clinical Study of Type 2 Diabetes Drug Candidate
A clinical study of peptide TT-401 in type 2 diabetic and obese non-diabetic subjects demonstrated significant improvements in glycemic control and reductions in body weight. This five-week proof of concept study enrolled diabetic patients at five dosing levels and non-diabetic obese patients at one dose level. Both groups received five doses over the five week period and diabetic patients also received stable doses of metformin. The patients who received the three highest doses of TT-401 experienced statistically significant reductions in mean fasting plasma glucose relative to placebo. TT-401 demonstrated an acceptable safety and tolerability profile for all doses, with decreased appetite as the most commonly noted adverse side effect.
Canada’s first and only ‘talking’ epinephrine auto-injector
Health Canada approves patch for treatment of Parkinson’s disease
UCB Canada Inc. announced that Health Canada has approved NEUPRO® (rotigotine), the first and only non-ergolinic dopamine agonist available in a patch, to treat the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) and moderate- to-severe idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, in adults. NEUPRO® is the first new treatment for Parkinson’s disease approved by HealthCanada in five years and provides 24-hour delivery of rotigotine through the skin into the blood stream. NEUPRO® has demonstrated efficacy in managing motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. “Parkinson Society Canada is pleased to learn that Canadians living with Parkinson’s now have another treatment option to help manage the symptoms of this chronic disease,” says Joyce Gordon, President and CEO, Parkinson Society Canada. “With innovative therapies such as NEUPRO® and ongoing research into the causes of this disease, we will help to ensure a brighter future and better quality of life for Canadians living with Parkinson’s.” Although the precise mechanisms of action of NEUPRO® as treatment for PD and RLS are unknown, as a PD treatment, the mechanism of action is thought to be related to increasing the activities of the dopamine receptors within the caudate-putamen, the region of the brain that regulates movement. Similarly, in RLS, the mechanism of action of NEUPRO® is thought to be related to its ability to stimulate dopamine receptors.
PEI first province to offer GARDASIL to boys in school
Prince Edward Island became the first province in Canada to extend its publicly funded school-based HPV vaccination program to boys. The program will use GARDASIL [Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine], the only HPV vaccine indicated and recommended for boys and men. In 2007, The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended the quadrivalent HPV vaccine to protect Canadian girls and women aged 9 to 26 against a broad spectrum of HPV-related diseases. In 2012, NACI updated and strengthened its statement related to the use of HPV vaccines and recommended the use of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in males between 9 to 26 years of age. A national survey conducted in March 2011 by Ipsos Reid, commissioned by Merck, showed that 85% of parents of males would allow their son to get vaccinated against HPV if it was offered through a publicly-funded program at his school, 88% of parents support the assertion that boys should be vaccinated against HPV in the same program as girls, and 91% of parents agree that vaccinating both boys and girls against HPV would provide greater protection than vaccinating girls alone.
Seroyal complying with Heath Canada’s NHPD Regulations
In 2004, Health Canada introduced The Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) as the regulating authority for natural health products in Canada. As per the Regulations, manufacturers were granted 10 years to secure mandatory product licenses and site licenses. For the last 10 years, Seroyal has worked closely with Health Canada to secure these licenses. As of May 2013, 100% of Seroyal’s sites have been licensed and 99.3% of their 1,688 products have secured Natural Health Product numbers (NHPs) and Homeopatic Medicine Numbers (DIN- HM). Seroyal will achieve 100% compliance well in advance of the September 2014 date set by Health Canada. As leaders in the natural health product industry, Seroyal is committed to providing practitioners with safe, effective products that they can trust. Seroyal’s commitment to Good Manufacturing Practices and the highest quality assurance standards sets them apart as an industry leader.
Vitality provides Business Update
Vitality attended and exhibited at the 2013 Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) West Conference and Trade Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Vancouver, BC. The Company is a member of CHFA, Canada’s largest trade association dedicated to natural health and organic products. CHFA West is one of Canada’s largest trade shows for the natural health and organics industry. According to CHFA, the natural health product industry contributes $3 billion, and the organics product industry contributes $2 billion, to the Canadian economy. The Company had the opportunity to meet with retailers and provide information regarding select Vitality products and the Company’s new branding was unveiled. The Company is currently investigating opportunities to market and distribute its 90 products, including products with time release vitamins and minerals formulations.
World’s First Treatment of Local Prostrate Cancer
Research facilitated by Lawson Health Research Institute at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has resulted in a new minimally invasive treatment option for patients with localized prostate cancer. Transurethral magnetic resonance (MR) guided ultrasound ablation treatment uses a new ablation device that uses thermal ultrasound therapy with real-time MR image guidance to eliminate cancer cells in the prostate gland. It provides physicians with a 360 degree viewing angle that allows the whole prostate gland to be treated in one session and with great accuracy. This reduces the significant long-term complications that normally accompany conventional treatments and also benefits patients with a smaller amount of cancer that is less likely to spread. The first procedure was done as part of a clinical trial approved by Health Canada and sponsored by Profound Medical Inc. with subsequent treatments performed in an experimental setting. An upcoming clinical trial will treat 30 patients with localized prostate cancer and follow their progress for the course of a year.
BD Announces Launch of BD UltraSafe PLUSTM Passive Needle Guard
BD Medical, a segment of the leading global medical technology company, announced the commercial launch of a new passive needle guard technology, BD UltraSafe PLUSTM. The BD UltraSafe PLUSTM Passive Needle Guard has received 510(k) clearance as an anti-needlestick safety device. This product, in addition to offering needlestick safety in an easy-to-use one- handed device, is enhanced with ergonomic features designed to facilitate comfort and support for healthcare providers and patients. In addition, this safety device is designed to meet increasingly complex biotechnology drug requirements, including higher viscosity. The BD UltraSafe PLUSTM Passive Needle Guard provides many advanced features including a robust plunger rod to help support injection of viscous drugs, a larger drug inspection window to improve drug visibility, extended built-in finger flanges and an enhanced plunger head for improved injection support and stability. These ergonomic improvements provide support for all users, including patients with diminished manual dexterity. BD recently conducted a clinical focus group with patients who had reduced dexterity and also suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Subjects reported that the BD UltraSafe PLUSTM Passive Needle Guard provided ease of use with 100% of injections executed successfully.
Health Canada Approves Genestra Brands® Health Claims for IBS Relief and Post Antibiotic Therapy
Genestra Brands® announced today that Health Canada has approved two significant claims related to its proprietary Human Micro Flora (“HMF”) probiotics – “Signicant reduction in the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”)” and Effective supplementation of normal intestinal microbiota following antibiotic therapy”. Based on these claims, HMF IBS ReliefTM and HMF Antibiotic CareTM were recently launched in Canada. “Considering that few products in the market target these specific conditions, we are pleased to receive Health Canada’s approval for the two claims related to the treatment of IBS and to post- antibiotic recovery. This is another example of our ongoing commitment to incorporate safe and effective formulas that reflect the latest evidence- based research. Under the direction of Dr. Nigel Plummer, Genestra Brands® HMF strains were meticulously selected and diligently tested in double- blind placebo controlled clinical trials” said Yves Yau, President as Seroyal.
Farid Wassef, BSc Pharm, RPh
Bridging the gap
Farid Wassef is a second generation pharmacist born and raised in the Stouffville, Ontario area. The pharmacy was first opened by Farid’s father in 1974, which Farid undertook management of in 1989. In 2006, Farid felt it appropriate to merge with the local IGA pharmacy team, and has been partnered with them since. Farid tells a tale that is familiar to IHP readers, of an interest in something other than conventional medicine from an early stage of training, his personal interest leading him to seminars hosted by the likes of Wright and Gaby, and culminating in the decision to offer services of integrative medicine very early on in his career. The very unique twist to this story is that Farid is offering these services as a pharmacist, not the designation(s) we are accustomed to as a provider of integrative medicine.
Farid Wassef is a second generation pharmacist who has worked and lived in Stouffville, Ontario for over 40 years. The family pharmacy was owned by Farid’s father Lou in 1974, which Farid took over in 1989 upon graduation. In 1993, Farid opened a patient consultation practice, which involved integrating lifestyle changes, nutrition, and natural health products with pharmaceutical care. In 2006, Farid merged his pharmacy with his colleague’s at Stouffville IDA Pharmacy, where Farid continues to practice integrative medicine. Farid graduated from the prestigious Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1989 and quickly undertook the role of management of the family pharmacy. By 1993, Farid had built an office within the pharmacy and was actively seeing patients.
“I was very frustrated by a model that only allowed a couple of minutes to interact with a patient at the pharmacy counter” describes Farid. “That doesn’t provide the opportunity for any sort of counselling whatsoever!” It was surprising to hear this familiar story from a pharmacist! I was personally unaware of how a pharmacist would justify the practice of integrative medicine under the license of a pharmacist… Farid was eager to clarify. “Within the scope of practice of pharmacy, a pharmacist is permitted to counsel on prevention and treatment of disease, counsel on diet, lifestyle, nutritional/ nutraceutical supplements, botanical medicines, and of course pharmaceutical drugs. While pharmacist may not be permitted the act of diagnosis, I found many MD’s in the Stouffville and surrounding area eager to collaborate with an objective and evidence- based person providing good information on natural medicines. Through these collaborations we were able to offer patients a broad array of integrative diagnostic techniques in addition to standard laboratory procedures.”
Farid was not satisfied with his role as pharmacist and practitioner… He was driven to spread the word to other pharmacists, MD’s, and anyone else who would listen as to the power of diet and lifestyle in health promotion, disease prevention, and disease treatment, and eager to educate his fellow pharmacists as to the role they can and should be playing in their patients care. Working with the Institute of Functional Medicine (whom Farid credits with providing most of the training he relies upon as a practitioner of integrative medicine), Farid created a continuing education curriculum for pharmacists to receive training in integrative medicine. He has likewise lectured across North America to predominantly pharmacists and MD’s regarding application of integrative medicine, and methods through which integrative minded pharmacists can successfully collaborate with MD’s in their community. His immense efforts to move the discipline of integrative medicine forward earned him the 2006 award for Canadian Pharmacist of the Year.
While juggling the roles of a pharmacy manager, seeing 80+ patients per week, authoring over 200 articles, CE courses, and books (including Breaking the Age Barrier – Strategies for Optimal Health, Longevity, and Energy published by Penguin in 2003), and his ongoing industry consulting and speaking engagements, yet another intriguing path caught Farid’s eye; politics. The idea of impacting healthcare from a “top down” approach made a lot of sense to him! Farid slowly moulded his career to be able to take on the workload politics would entail; he sold ownership of the pharmacy and merged with the local IDA team, where he maintains an office and his practice to this day… He cut back on time with patients, yet maintains an important practice within the Stouffville IDA pharmacy, and continues to welcome public speaking arrangements, although at a reduced rate than in the past. It was 2009 when Farid first actively participated in a political role, attempting to block proposed cuts to the healthcare system (that subsequently came into effect in 2010). The final straw that brought Farid to action was the interpretation that the $1.2 billion e-health scandal is what necessitated healthcare cuts in the first place!
“I was very frustrated by a model that only allowed a couple of minutes to interact with a patient at the pharmacy counter”
The PC party of Ontario approached Farid in 2010 after witnessing his passion and determination to effect change, and in 2011 he secured his nomination as the PC candidate for the riding of Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill, and King townships. He lost the 2011 election to the incumbent Liberal candidate. Farid Wassef has been re-nominated and will stand in the next general election as the PC Candidate of Oak Ridges-Markham for Member of Provincial Parliament. Farid is determined to improve our healthcare system, which he believes should focus more on disease prevention and extending an individual’s functional health span.
It was a special experience to visit the Stouffville IDA where Farid continues to base himself and see patients. The pharmacy runs as any conventional pharmacy can be expected to run, yet adjacent to where the pharmacists operate is a segregated office area where Farid conducts patient visits. In the absence of Farid’s influence over the years, the pharmacy team likely would have little to zero interest in integrative medicine. Yet through years of observation of Farid’s practice, the entire pharmacy team at Stouffville IDA has a unique, welldeveloped, intrigue/ interest in the role of integrative medicine in today’s healthcare system. Also of tremendous interest were the unique offerings of natural health products by the pharmacy. Brands not typically associated with pharmacy were made available for the public, clearly guided by Farid over the years yet managed by the conventionally practicing pharmacists of the facility. Also, and near to my heart, the current owner of the facility is a fan of history of medicine. His pharmacy is lined with paraphernalia and artifacts from generations of pharmacists, including tincture bottles that must be over 100 years old, historical instruments of the profession, and photos of a graduating class of pharmacists from the very early 1900’s.
Apparently the individual who founded the first ever pharmacy in Stouffville is pictured in the photo. IHP is grateful to Farid Wasef and the entire Stouffville IDA team for taking the time to allow us to showcase their efforts to you. Farid may not have the expected credentials of a practitioner of integrative medicine, yet he delivers the service at a level equal to and beyond that of anyone in the field. Like so many professionals IHP has had the privilege of showcasing, the practice of integrative medicine begins, grows, and thrives through one common seed; passion! Passion to help others, to solve mysteries common- place answers simply don’t make sense for, and ultimately to achieve maximal positive impact for people using the least invasive strategy available. Farid has educated thousands of healthcare providers in this area. He has now turned his attention to the political arena, in hopes of bringing further change through legislation, hopeful the clinical aspect of thing resides in good hands. We wish you much success Farid in helping to bring healthcare reform we at IHP agree is desperately required.
Mill Creek Botanicals
Mill Creek Botanicals
For any new venture, 38 years in business is hard to fathom. Getting to that point with an all-star product line backed by extremely consistent quality and delivery makes the task seem even more difficult. For Mill Creek Botanicals CEO Panch Prasad, building the Mill Creek brand into one of the most recognized in the natural health field has been a journey of passion.
When Prasad purchased Mill Creek in early 2000, he had big plans. The trained chemist and natural product advocate had spent 10 years representing the brand as an independent broker. He personally used many of the products himself and thought there was still potential to grow the brand’s lineup and expand its market share. Today, Mill Creek is a global brand found in more than 45 countries that enjoys a high level of brand awareness in the natural products industry.
While Mill Creek had a complete product line a decade ago, Prasad’s drive for innovation and growth has helped it grow to more than 100 SKU’s. The company also introduced Mill Creek Baby, a collection of proprietary tear-free formulations for moisturizing, cleansing and relieving sensitive skin without harmful additives. The idea for a baby line came to Prasad from personal experience. He has two grandchildren and a new baby of his own and found so many formulas weren’t as clean and natural as they claimed. Mill Creek could do better he thought. And it did.
“Babies are so innocent, and it can be so frustrating when you see their skin become irritated because a formulation isn’t as natural as it says it is on the bottle,” Prasad says.
Prasad’s drive to add more unique proprietary formulations also led to his creating another Mill Creek sub-category, Novacell, a new Plant Stem Cell rejuvenating solution. Using advanced natraceutical technology, this product is formulated with mung bean plant stem cells, peptides and antioxidants. The line’s daily cleanser, facial serum, eye balm, night cream and day lotion are created with the unique characteristic to self-regenerate as a complete & functional entity to fight aging while maintaining natural integrity and the environment.
“I love growing a company, but it’s important to me that we do it right. We still continue to search for the best, purest ingredients that can be used in a way that is respectful of the environment from which they came,” Prasad says.
With its many unique and proprietary formulations, Mill Creek also adheres to strict PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) guidelines with all their products. Above all, Prasad says Mill Creek has been able to separate itself from the competition for two reasons – quality and price.
“Great health and great natural products should not only be for the upper class.” Prasad adds, “our greatest challenge in this industry is creating the best products at a price everyone can afford. I’m proud of the fact that Mill Creek has been doing that for quite some time.”
Started in 1975, Mill Creek has gained its share of industry recognition. Most recently in 2013 it won Delicious Livings best beauty and body award; in 2009 and 2010 it won the Best of Beauty Award from Better Nutrition Magazine. In 2003, it won a Natural Products Showcase Award for best packaging and its environmentally sensitive practices at the Natural Product Expo. Once again, in 2011 & 2012, Mill Creek won Natural Choice Awards from Whole Foods Magazine.
With its global reach to more than 45 countries, including Asia, Europe and South America, the Nevada-based company is a prominent U.S. exporter. In 2007, Prasad was recognized with the “Exporter of the Year” award from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Prasad believes the company has an obligation to give back to its community. Mill Creek supports the Mayo Clinic for its Cancer and Parkinson’s disease research and is involved with Vitamin Angels, a global initiative that helps undernourished children achieve better health with natural supplements. Mill Creek also donates to local Nevada charities. IHR
