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Global Alternative Medicines Market: Overview

Alternative medicines include treatments other than allopathic. Alternative medicine treatments include systems with healing ability such as acupuncture, acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal remedies, and homeopathy. The medical profession does not regard these healing systems as orthodox treatment systems. Some of these treatments are accepted to be of value for certain conditions. Herbal medicines include drugs that are derived from plants. Herbal medicines are either used for therapeutic purpose, or as supplements to improve well-being or health. Herbal products are available as teas, extracts, powders, capsules, tablets, and others. These products are natural, hence considered to be safe. Herbal medicines have the ability to cure almost all the types of diseases.

Nutraceutical is a combination of the words nutrition and pharmaceutical. Nutraceutical medicines or products are fortified food or food products that provide supplementary diet and also help in prevention and treatment of diseases except anemia. Nutraceuticals are not regulated and tested to the extent of pharmaceutical drugs. These have the ability to treat diseases including ADHD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anemia, sickle cell, anxiety, aphthous ulcer, carnitine deficiency, depression, dietary supplementation, dyspareunia, eye conditions, fibromyalgia, herbal supplementation, herpes simplex, herpes simplex, suppression, high cholesterol, Huntingtons disease, hypertriglyceridemia, insomnia, jet lag, muscle pain, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, Parkinsons disease, peripheral neuropathy, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, short bowel syndrome, and smoking cessation.

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Alternative Medicines Market Snapshot

Probiotics are live yeasts and bacteria that benefit the health of individuals. These are referred as healthy, helpful, or good bacteria. An imbalance of natural yeasts or bacteria within the body has been associated with a range of indications including suppressed immune system, yeast infections, skin rashes, weight gain, diarrhea, and constipation. Probiotics may be taken orally to restore any imbalance in the normal urogenital or intestinal flora. These are available as contained naturally, or dietary supplements or added to foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, or yogurt. Increase in inclination toward safe and lesser side effects boosts the global alternative medicines market. Rise in side effects and adverse drug reactions due to usage of allopathic medicines drives the market. Surge in awareness about the benefits relating to alternative medicines is a key driver of the market. However, slow healing ability of alternative medicines restrains the market.

The global alternative medicines market can be segmented based on drug class, dosage form, disease indication, distribution channel, and region. In terms of drug class, the market can be categorized into herbal products, nutraceutical products, and probiotics. Based on dosage form, the global alternative medicines market can be classified into tablets, powder, syrup, capsules, teas, extracts, and others. In terms of disease indication, the market can be divided into ADHD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anemia, sickle cell, anxiety, aphthous ulcer, carnitine deficiency, depression, dietary supplementation, dyspareunia, eye conditions, fibromyalgia, herbal supplementation, herpes simplex, herpes simplex, suppression, high cholesterol, Huntingtons disease, hypertriglyceridemia, insomnia, jet lag, muscle pain, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, Parkinsons disease, peripheral neuropathy, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, short bowel syndrome, smoking cessation, and others. Based on distribution channel, the global alternative medicines market can be categorized into online pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and hospital pharmacies.

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Global Alternative Medicines Market: Regional Outlook

Geographically, the global alternative medicines market can be segmented into Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Middle East & Africa. North America held the largest market share in 2016 due to extensive awareness and acceptance by the large population in the region. Europe held the second largest market share in 2016 owing to increased awareness and sale of alternative medicines in drug stores. The global alternative medicines market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. The market in Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to witness moderated growth during the forecast period due to rise in demand for food supplements and natural health.

Companies Mentioned in Report

Key players in the global alternative medicines market include Dr. Willmar Schwabe India Pvt. Ltd., GUNA S.p.a., BIORON GmbH, Ainsworth, Inc., Kanak Drishti Infotech Pvt. Ltd., and Random Beauty, Inc.

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Alternative Medicines Market Analysis Share, Volume, Top Key Players, Growth and forecast 2018-2026 KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper - KSU | The Sentinel...

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From Netdoctor

Ashwagandha is considered to be one of the most important herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. Native to India, ashwagandha is often referred to as Indian ginseng thanks to its strength and vitality boosting benefits.

While some might be sceptical when it comes to herbal or alternative medicines, ashwagandha comes with a number of scientifically-proven health benefits.

But what exactly is ashwagandha? What are the benefits of this popular herb, and does Ayurvedic medicine come with any side-effects? We asked the experts:

Also known as winter cherry or Ayurvedic ginseng, ashwagandha is a plump evergreen shrub which produces orange or red berries about the size of raisins. It flourishes in the dry areas of India and North America.

The roots are the part most commonly used in herbal medicine although the leaves and flowers also have therapeutic properties.

Ashwagandha is used in medicine because it's an adaptogenic herb. 'From a herbal perspective, there is nothing better at restoring vitality and bringing body back to balance than adaptogens,' says Jenya Di Pierro, a professional herbalist and founder of wellness club Cloud Twelve.

'Many adaptogens have medicinal roots that take many years to mature,' she continues. 'The concentrated energy and nutrients of the plants that have been stored in mature roots are the culmination of years of growth and adaptation. Hence the term "adaptogens".'

Photo credit: Moyo Studio - Getty Images

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb with multiple proven health benefits. Here are 13 scientifically-backed uses and advantages:

We all suffer from stress occasionally, and ashwagandha might be able to help. In one study, which pharmacist Mike Wakeman from Nature's Way points to, found that adults with chronic stress who took two capsules of ashwagandha root a day for 60 days helped decrease stress levels by 44 per cent and reduced the stress hormone cortisol by 28 per cent.

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Ashwagandha is effective for managing anxiety, according to Di Pierro. 'Most adaptogens are tonifying, but ashwagandha is a bit unusual as it is also calming,' she says.

Meanwhile, research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that taking ashwagandha resulted in improvements (significantly in most cases) with anxiety management.

The herbal medicine also comes with immunity boosting benefits. 'Ashwagandha increases resistance to infections, relieves allergies, boosts an under-active immune system while also assisting with auto-immune conditions such as lupus, MS and others,' says Di Pierro.

If you're a woman and your sex drive has dipped or something is amiss in the bedroom, ashwagandha might be able to help.

'In one study 50 healthy women who took concentrated oral doses of ashwagandha reported having more orgasms and more satisfying sex,' says Wakeman. 'The authors suggest this could have been due to the herbs stress-reducing effects as well as its role in boosting the sex hormone, testosterone.'

Ashwagandha has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to help promote restful sleep.

'Indeed, the somnifera part of its botanical name, Withania somnifera is derived from the Latin word for sleep,' says Wakeman. 'A recent study in animals suggests that triethylene glycol, another plant chemical found in its leaves, may be the magic ingredient that improves sleep quality.'

A number of studies have found that taking ashwagandha can reduce blood sugar levels - in both people who have diabetes and those who don't.

Research, including data published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine[vi] suggests that ashwagandha may help soothe joint pain and swelling associated with arthritis a result the authors attribute to the pain-relieving and cartilage-protective effects of withanolides and other plant chemicals.

Studies have also shown ashwagandha may help with weight loss. Chronic stress is often associated with weight gain and in a study, cited by Fito, 52 people under chronic stress received either a placebo or ashwagandha for eight weeks.

Those participants taking ashwagandha were found to be less stressed, had less food cravings, were happier and their body weight had reduced, compared to those taking the placebo.

Photo credit: marilyna - Getty Images

An eight week study, involving 57 men, saw participants consuming either an ashwagandha extract or a placebo while undergoing resistance training.

The results showed, compared to the placebo group, those taking the ashwagandha extract had significantly greater increases in muscle strength, as measured when bench-pressing and doing leg-extensions, and significantly greater muscle size increase in their arms and chest.

If you're trying to get pregnant, ashwagandha might be the solution. 'Ashwagandha is a famous fertility tonic,' says Di Pierro. The science is there to back it up, too. In one study which looked at 75 infertile men, those treated with ashwagandha showed an increase in both sperm count and motility.

Ashwagandha is often used by athletes to help boost physical performance.

'This appears to be confirmed in a study of 57 young men aged between 18-50 years old who took ashwagandha root extract twice daily,' says Wakeman. 'They saw significant increases in muscle mass and strength when they undertook a resistance training programme compared with those who took a placebo.'

Several studies have shown that taking ashwagandha can reduce cholesterol levels. This is beneficial to our heart health as high cholesterol can lead to heart disease.

While the research is still limited, there are a few promising studies that indicate ashwagandha may reduce symptoms of depression.

However, if you think you might be suffering from depression, speak to your doctor as ashwagandha should not be used to replace treatments recommended by your GP.

It's clear there are a number of health benefits to ashwagandha, and it is believed to be one of the safest herbs out there. However, as will all medicine - both traditional and herbal - it comes with precautions and long-term effects are not known.

'Higher doses of ashwagandha taken for insomnia may cause drowsiness in the morning,' warns Di Pierro.

Meanwhile, ashwagandha may cause some stomach upset such as diarrhoea and vomiting, although this tends to be if you've taken a higher dose.

There isn't much evidence to suggest ashwagandha can cause weight gain. As for your hormones, ashwagandha might increase how much thyroid hormone the body produces, and other evidence suggests it promotes testosterone, meaning if you already have a condition such as PCOS, you might want to avoid it.

Ashwagandha can be consumed in a number of different ways. It can be taken as a tablet, in a capsule or as powder stirred into warm milk.

Is ashwagandha safe to take daily? 'Yes, ashwagandha can be taken daily,' says Di Pierro.

Taking ashwagandha as a supplement may be an effective way to improve various health concerns, but speak to your GP or a registered herbal expert before you proceed and remember to follow the instructions on labeled products.

Ashwagandha is generally considered to be safe for most people. However, according to the experts, the following people should avoid the herbal supplement:

Pregnant women.

Those who are breastfeeding.

Those with diabetes, as it might interfere with the medicines already being taken to reduce blood sugar levels.

Those with with thyroid disorders.

Last updated: 15-03-2021

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13 health benefits of ashwagandha herbal medicine - Yahoo Lifestyle UK

Queensland, Australia, March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rayont Inc. (Rayont or the Company) (OTC PINK: RAYT), an international healthcare company specializing in the manufacturing of alternative medicine products and services across the entire value chain today announces the appointment of Mr. Reyad Fezzani as non-executive director and chairman of its Board of Directors.

We welcome our Chairman of the Board of Directors to Rayont Inc and look forward to capitalizing on his extensive expertise and deep insight to support our strategic priorities and seek ways to further enhance shareholder value. We remain committed to engaging with all shareholders as we continue to pursue value-enhancing opportunities for Rayont said Marshini Thulkanam, President and CEO of Rayont Inc.

Reyad Fezzani Chairman and Board Director

Reyad Fezzani has over 30 years of experience in Energy, Finance and Technology with a significant part of his career spent at BP p.l.c. including global roles as the CEO of BP Wind and Solar, and CEO of BP Chemicals. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Regenerate Power LLC, and a Managing Partner of Energy Finance Company LLC. He has served as an Independent Director on the boards and advisory boards of several private technology companies, as well as the Swiss industrial public company Oerlikon A.G where he was also a member of the Audit Committee.

Mr Fezzani is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Energy Institute, and the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining. He holds a masters degree (MEng) in Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology from Imperial College, London.

About Rayont Inc.

Rayont, Inc. (RAYT) is a public traded company incorporated in Nevada, USA since its inception in 2011. In 2018, the Company repositioned itself to focus on healthcare including the manufacturing of alternative medicine products and services across the entire value chain.

Longer term, it has also invested in a groundbreaking cancer treatment technology through an exclusive license arrangement for the Sub-Saharan African territories.

Headquartered in Australia with expanding operations internationally, Rayont`s purpose is Making Natural Products to Improve People`s Health. We do this by investing in early research and development, establishing high quality manufacturing assets for regional distribution and operating across the alternative medicine value chain.

Our underlying strategy is to grow organically, selectively acquire, scale profitable assets and improve efficiency through digitalization.

For further information, please visitwww.rayont.com

SAFE HARBOR

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933, are subject to Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbors created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and other results and further events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:Investor Relationsir@rayont.com

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Rayont Inc appoints Mr. Reyad Fezzani as Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Board to strengthen its Corporate Governance in line with Best...

Brazil complementary and alternative medicines was valued at US$ 2,498.24 million in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ 9,759.38 million by 2027, growing at an estimated CAGR of 16.4% over the forecast period. Complementary and alternative medicines are general terms used for complementing the medical products and methodologies that were not been a part of the conventional medical treatments. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market in Brazil is currently undergoing a booming period mainly due to the high prevalence of cancer patients in the country. There has been a total number of 278607 cases of cancer reported in males and 280764 cases reported in females in Brazil in 2018.

Integration of acupuncture and electromagnetic therapy is major factor driving the growth of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market. According to a published article, in a study conducted in Brazil on temporomandibular disorders, integration of acupuncture and electromagnetic therapy has successful outcomes (96 Patients). Another major factor which positively affects the market is the increasing prevalence of non-communicable ailments such as Parkinsons disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis amongst others. It has been reported that electroacupuncture treatment reduced knee pain in just 24 hours. The effect of the same lasts as long as four months after the treatment process.

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This market research report on the Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors up-to-date outlines, industry enhancement drivers, and manacles. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five force model analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report additionally formulates a survey of minor and full-scale factors charging for the new applicants in the market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.

Top Key Players:

Some of the players operating in Brazil Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market are Optum, Inc., Ach, Quantum-Touch, and Herboflora.

Global Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Research Report and accelerates a wide-ranging and focused look into this market. Market size is concluded through detailed study and examination through subordinate research. The report is an in-depth study of the key dynamics of the Global Market. The report includes primary research alongside comprehensive investigation of subjective as well as quantitative perspectives by different industry specialists, key supposition pioneers to gain profound understanding and industry execution.

Global Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Report delivers a complete study on Global Market, providing detailed market information and penetrating insights. No matter the consumer is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provide valuable data and information about Global Market.

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The report answers important questions that companies may have when operating in the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market. Some of the questions are given below:

What will be the size of the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market in 2027? What is the current CAGR of the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market? What products have the highest growth rates? Which application is projected to gain a lions share of the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market? Which region is foretold to create the most number of opportunities in the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market? Which are the top players currently operating in the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market? How will the market situation change over the next few years? What are the common business tactics adopted by players? What is the growth outlook of the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market?

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Booming Growth in Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Analysis Report 2021 and Forecast to 2029 with different segments, Key players KSU |...

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gynesonics, a womens healthcare company focused on the development of minimally invasive solutions for symptomatic uterine fibroids, announced today that Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) has released a coverage policy for The Sonata Procedure. The addition of HCSC policy allows another 16 million covered lives access to this minimally invasive procedure. The Sonata technology platform integrates the first and only commercial intrauterine ultrasound system with a proprietary advanced radiofrequency ablation device, providing an incision-free, uterus-preserving, transcervical treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids. The Sonata Treatment is a breakthrough alternative to hysterectomy and myomectomy, and can treat a wide range of fibroid types, sizes, and locations. Fibroids are treated from inside the uterus, so the Sonata Treatment requires no incisions, no tissue is surgically removed, and the uterus is preserved.

I am extremely pleased to see health insurance plans, such as HCSC, recognize the impact uterine fibroids have on a womans life and the importance of providing minimally invasive treatment options. As a surgeon, it is my responsibility to determine the best treatment option based on a patients symptoms. Sonata should be made available to all women who need it. It is time local and national health plans follow suit with other carriers that have included Sonata in their coverage policies, said Charles Miller, Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL; Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology - Department of Clinical Sciences, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL; and a past President of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists (AAGL) and International Society of Gynecological Endoscopy (ISGE). I have seen the evolution of minimally invasive fibroid treatment options. The Sonata procedure is one that I choose for a specific patient population whose life has been impacted by this disease. Sonata is the least invasive approach to fibroids wholly or partially within the myometrium of the uterus. Minimally invasive treatments for uterine fibroids have advanced and provide women a safe and effective alternative to more invasive treatments.

In the SONATA clinical trial, within three months following their Sonata Treatment, 86 percent of women experienced a reduction in heavy menstrual bleeding and 95 percent of patients experienced a reduction in menstrual bleeding by 12 months. Additionally, 50 percent of women return to normal activities the next day. The overall impact of treatment with Sonata was significant for these women, with 97 percent of women at 12 months indicating they would recommend the procedure. Women in the study experienced significant durable symptom relief through three years.

The announcement of this coverage policy from HCSC is an exciting milestone for both patients and providers to expand the options available to women suffering with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Data reports nearly 80 percent of women prefer to avoid invasive surgery for fibroids and prefer a less invasive option, said Chris Owens, President and CEO of Gynesonics. The health insurance companies are listening to patients and providers, and then addressing their needs by creating access to a less invasive treatment option with the Sonata System. The addition of coverage policies nationwide reflects the robustness of the clinical evidence supporting the Sonata treatment as a safe, effective, and durable option.

About Sonata System

The Sonata System uses radiofrequency energy to ablate fibroids under real time sonography guidance from within the uterine cavity, utilizing the first and only intrauterine ultrasound transducer. The System includes a proprietary graphical user interface (SMART Guide), enabling the operator to target fibroids and optimize treatment. The Sonata system provides incision-free transcervical access for a uterus-preserving fibroid treatment. This intrauterine approach is designed to avoid the peritoneal cavity. The Sonata System is CE marked and is approved for sale in the European Union and the United States.

About Gynesonics

Gynesonics is a womens healthcare company focused on advancing womens health, by developing minimally invasive, incision-free, uterus-preserving, transcervical technologies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Gynesonics has developed the Sonata System for diagnostic intrauterine imaging and transcervical treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. Gynesonics headquarters is in Redwood City, CA. For more information, go to http://www.gynesonics.com.

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Gynesonics Announces Positive Payer Coverage Issued by Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) for the Sonata Treatment - Business Wire

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building and commercializing novel solutions that treat specialty cancers and urologic diseases, today announced a strategic, exploratory immunotherapy sponsored research agreement with the Johns Hopkins University to study the potential of checkpoint inhibitors combined with RTGel in glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, an aggressive and difficult to treat brain cancer. Johns Hopkins researchers expect to begin nonclinical research of RTGel combined with a PD-1 and a CTLA-4, respectively, in the second quarter of 2021.

UroGens proprietary RTGel technology is a reverse-thermal hydrogel that may increase dwell time of current therapies and exposure of active drugs, potentially improving the therapeutic effects of existing products.

Local delivery of checkpoint inhibitors has the potential to fundamentally change the treatment paradigm for some of the most devastating cancers. We are excited to work with Johns Hopkins investigators on this exciting frontier in immunotherapy, said Dr. Mark Schoenberg, Chief Medical Officer of UroGen Pharma. This research will be an exciting addition to our current immuno-oncology pipeline, including UGN-302 which combines UGN-201, a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist, with UGN-301, a CTLA-4 antagonist, for the treatment of high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. With our expanding programs in this field of research, we look forward to extending the potential of our RTGel platform in immunotherapy.

The goal of this research is to further understand the efficacy of local delivery of immunotherapy to tumor draining lymph nodes, where anti-tumor T cells are primed by antigen presenting cells. Based on research at the Johns Hopkins University, sustained release of immunotherapy such as anti-PD-1 delivered directly to the lymph nodes, may target myeloid cells and T cells with PD-1 expression to enhance proliferation and anti-tumor activity of T cells. Successful use of lymph-node targeting therapies may reduce the toxicities associated with systemic administration of immunotherapy.

GBM is an aggressive malignant brain tumor with a five-year survival rate of less than five percent. GBM is difficult to treat and treatment options today are limited, and typically include surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. It is the most common primary brain tumor, with around 12,000 cases diagnosed per year in the United States.

About UroGen Pharma Ltd.

UroGen is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building novel solutions that treat specialty cancers and urologic diseases because patients deserve better options. UroGen has developed RTGel reverse-thermal hydrogel, a proprietary sustained release, hydrogel-based platform technology that has the potential to improve therapeutic profiles of existing drugs. UroGens sustained release technology is designed to enable longer exposure of the urinary tract tissue to medications, making local therapy a potentially more effective treatment option. UroGens first commercial product, and investigational treatment UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution for patients with low-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, are designed to ablate tumors by non-surgical means. UroGen is headquartered in Princeton, NJ with operations in Israel. Visit http://www.urogen.com to learn more or follow us on Twitter, @UroGenPharma.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation: the potential of UroGens proprietary RTGel technology platform to improve therapeutic profiles of existing drugs; the potential to expand the use of the RTGel platform in immunotherapy; the timing of expected initiation of the nonclinical research of RTGel combined with a PD-1 and a CTLA-4; the potential for local delivery of checkpoint inhibitors to fundamentally change the treatment paradigm for some cancers; and the potential for successful use of lymph-node targeting therapies to reduce the toxicities associated with systemic administration of immunotherapy. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the timing and success of clinical trials and potential safety and other complications thereof; the ability to obtain regulatory approval within the timeframe expected, or at all; the ability to maintain regulatory approval; complications associated with commercialization activities, including complications resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the labeling for any approved product; the scope, progress and expansion of developing and commercializing UroGens product candidates; the size and growth of the market(s) therefor and the rate and degree of market acceptance thereof vis--vis alternative therapies; UroGens ability to attract or retain key management, members of the board of directors and personnel; and any negative effects on UroGens business, commercialization and product development plans caused by or associated with COVID-19. In light of these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of UroGens Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 9, 2020, and other filings that UroGen makes with the SEC from time to time (which are available at http://www.sec.gov), the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking statements may not occur, and UroGens actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied thereby. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to UroGen as of the date of this release.

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UroGen Pharma Announces Sponsored Research Agreement with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to Expand Immuno-Oncology Pipeline -...

Many in Thailand had initially opposed the introduction of medical marijuana but solid science is slowly changing perceptions, say doctors Krit Pongpirul and Sornkanok Vimolmangkang.

PETALING JAYA: A total of 406 cancer patients, 257 migraine patients, 135 Parkinsons patients and 3,337 people experiencing body aches felt less pain, slept well, and ate better after a month-long experiment.

The patients had received their treatment as part of a research project led by Dr Krit Pongpirul, a member of the Faculty of Medicine at Thailands prestigious Chulalongkorn University.

The treatment? A drop of cannabis oil.

Krit says the findings of the study involving some 20,000 patients from 30 hospitals throughout Thailand are promising.

His colleague Sornkanok Vimolmangkang, from the universitys Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, says this is something Malaysia can consider looking into.

The use of cannabis in medical treatments has been a contentious issue in Malaysia, which has some of the most punitive drug policies in the world.

Recently, an engineer who sold cannabis oil to treat cancer patients came close to the gallows until the Federal Court spared him by allowing his appeal on two counts of trafficking. He was still sentenced to five years in jail for possession, though.

In an interview with FMT, both Krit and Sornkanok said many in Thailand had initially opposed the introduction of medical marijuana but solid science is slowly changing perceptions.

Its not all bad nor magic either

Krit, who is trained in conventional medicine and health services research, says one of the main challenges facing medical marijuana is the extreme and vague narratives of both its supporters and detractors.

For one, when we talk about medical marijuana, there are too many products with unclear evidence on disease-specific clinical outcomes, so the detractors assume it is bad because they do not know what researchers are talking about exactly. They think it will lead to other issues.

On the other hand, those who support medical marijuana make all sorts of claims about it as if it is magic, and this leads to doubt among conventional medical practitioners.

He said this is why he decided on a very specific product and systematic approach for his research.

The doctors formulated a cannabis oil which has very low amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which are psychoactive compounds. This ganja oil was approved by the Thai Ministry of Public Healths Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for research purposes.

As for what the research aimed to determine, Krit said it focused on not only how the oil helped improve quality of life and also the medical benefits it could have but also how the traditional and conventional medicine doctors prescribe the oil in real clinical settings.

We were not trying to prove any claims that it cures cancer or anything of the sort.

Each patient was prescribed a bottle of cannabis oil and was reassessed biweekly during the course of three months, with the patients being able to adjust how many drops of oil they would consume a day.

The patients would have to fill two globally recognised questionnaires to track the effectiveness of the oil in improving their quality of life the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and EQ-5D.

After a month of trials, Krit says many who took just one drop of cannabis oil a day found significant improvements in their quality of life with minimal side effects.

The preliminary findings were presented at the American Public Health Associations 2020 annual meeting and expo in San Francisco.

He said the findings of the second and third month of trials will be published by the Thai Public Health Ministry soon, though the authorities have approved its use for treating pain, insomnia and anorexia in the National List of Herbal Medicine and included in the benefits package under the Universal Coverage scheme to be financially subsidised by the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

It is only distributed through government hospitals.

Of course, we need more studies, on the other health benefits, how it can be used to treat specific diseases and how cannabis compares with conventional medicine, he said.

Sornkanok said while there was a lot of opposition against exploring medical marijuana in Thailand, they are seeing attitudes change.

The research suggests it can bring more good than harm. If it can help people, why not? We just need to change mindsets and perceptions through solid science, and the first step is to be open to research.

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Ganja oil, and the science behind changing views in Thailand - Free Malaysia Today

Cultural adaptations likely improve the effectiveness of psychological interventions for sleep disorders. These findings, from a systematic review, were published in Sleep Medicine Reviews.

Researchers from Columbia University searched publication databases for randomized clinical trials of psychological interventions for sleep disorders conducted in the United States. A total of 56 studies were included in the final analysis.

These studies comprised an average sample size of 85.23 (range, 11-219) individuals in the intervention and 38.40 (range, 5-91) individuals in the control arms. The vast majority had 2-arm trial designs (91.07%) lasting an average of 7.69 weeks (range, 2 weeks to 2 years).

These studies were dominated by participants who were women (mean, 55.35%; standard deviation [SD], 43.22%) and White (mean, 64.86%; SD, 21.67%) and only 6.97% focused on underserved populations.

Participants had definitive diagnoses of a sleep disorder in 32 studies, 9 studies included individuals with probable sleep disturbance, and 15 with potential sleep disturbance. Among studies of patients with an established diagnosis, 75% studied insomnia, 9.38% nightmares with poor sleep quality, 6.25% poor sleep quality, 3.12% restless leg syndrome, 3.12% nocturia, and 3.12% nightmares with insomnia.

The primary outcome was sleep quality (n=40), insomnia (n=30), sleep efficiency (n=21), sleep duration (n=21), nightmares (n=8), and drowsiness (n=4).

The most studied interventions were cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I; n=20), complementary and alternative medicine (n=8), and behavioral therapy (n=7), cognitive behavioral therapy (n=4), among others.

These interventions were tailored to their study populations by either surface- and/or deep-level cultural adaptations (64.29%). CBT-I was most commonly adapted (38.89%). Surface-level adaptations included changes to the delivery modality, setting, dosing, constituent-involving strategies, and linguistic changes. Deep-level adaptations were content-level, core component, sociocultural, and linguistic changes.

The studies with a cultural adaptation component generally found insomnia was significantly improved compared with pharmacotherapy, but few found changes in nightmares, sleep efficiency, or sleep duration.

Participants who received CBT-I with surface- or deep-level cultural adaptation (n=11 studies) had significantly improved symptoms of insomnia compared with various control groups, usual care, hygiene education, or healthy eating educations. A subset of these studies also reported improvements to sleep efficiency (n=6) and sleep quality (n=7).

Few studies of surface- or deep-level cultural adaptations for interventions of probable or possible sleep disturbances found significant improvements to sleep.

These findings were limited by the underlying study populations which lacked diversity.

The study authors concluded that interventions for established sleep disorders which have been culturally tailored for the population were more successful than control conditions or usual care.

Reference

Alcntara C, Cosenzo LG, McCullough E, Vogt T, Falzon AL, Ibarra IP. Cultural adaptations of psychological interventions for prevalent sleep disorders and sleep disturbances: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials in the United States. Sleep Med Rev. 2021;101455. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101455

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Psychological Interventions With Cultural Adaptations More Effective for Treatment of Sleep Disorders - Psychiatry Advisor

During the tumultuous weeks and months of the past year, a nine-letter word emerged as a game changer for the nations legal marijuana industry: essential.

It began about a week after the World Health Organization on March 11 declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.

Thats when California announced a statewide business lockdown, followed by Illinois.

Both states also designated marijuana operators as essential along with pharmacies, supermarkets and liquor stores and those businesses were allowed to stay open.

California and Illinois were soon followed by dozens of other states that declared marijuana operators as essential businesses.

In all, nearly 30 states with functional marijuana markets as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico deemed marijuana businesses as essential.

The rush of essential designations in the early weeks of the pandemic proved to be one of the most momentous moments in the timeline of the nations legal marijuana industry and it arguably helped lead to the creation of new state-legal MJ markets that are projected to generate billions of dollars in sales.

By casting marijuana as essential, states put the cannabis industry in the same category as pharmacies, hospitals and other sources of legitimate medicine.

In short, cannabis went from an alternative treatment to an essential medicine, giving it a major upgrade in credibility.State regulators and health experts sanctioned that upgrade.

Moreover, states put marijuana on the same footing as a federally legal industry, alcohol.

The hope was that with the essential designation, there would be more recognition that cannabis was here to stay, that there was strong consumer preference for it, said Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Washington DC-based Marijuana Policy Project and CEO of the U.S. Cannabis Council.

I think thats been borne out by the amount of usage over this pandemic period.

Liesl Bernard, CEO of Cannabiz Team, a marijuana-focused recruitment firm in San Diego, agreed.

The fact that you couldnt go to your hairdresser but you could go to a dispensary opened a lot of peoples eyes that this is an industry thats here to stay, Bernard said.

She added that the essential designation has spurred greater interest among professionals for working in the cannabis industry, especially at a time when many of those professionals have lost jobs in other industries.

They see that its essential, they see retail sales are up, and so they see that its going to be the next big industry, Bernard said.

The essential designation triggered other major changes in the marijuana industry:

These factors helped state-legal marijuana markets across the country break sales records in 2020.

Industry observers also say the essential designation spurred marijuana legalization in seven states five by ballot initiative and two by legislatures. It also increased momentum at the federal level for reform.

But entrepreneurs and advocates have also found that the essential designation has had limitations.

For all the positive change with consumers and revenue-starved state officials, serious obstacles remain lack of banking access, federal prohibition and medical-establishment skepticism, among others.

In short, the essential designation hasnt swayed all those who have the authority to undo those obstacles.

By the numbers

According to a Marijuana Policy Project analysis of legal marijuana markets in 32 states and Washington DC, all except one Massachusetts recreational market were allowed to stay open during state-mandated stay-at-home orders.

Massachusetts medical market was declared essential and continued operating, while the recreational market was allowed to resume sales on May 25.

Of those 33 markets, 28 explicitly declared marijuana businesses as essential (including Massachusetts MMJ market), and three states had lockdowns but allowed cannabis businesses to continue operating without explicitly designating them as essential, according to the MPP.

Arkansas and North Dakota didnt implement statewide lockdowns, so the essential designation was moot.

Iowa instituted lockdowns in some areas but still made a distinction between essential and non-essential businesses, with cannabis companies designated as essential.

Of those 33 markets, 18 allowed home delivery of marijuana before COVID-19, five added delivery in response to the pandemic and 10 did not make delivery an option, according to the MPP.

Of those 33 markets, 10 allowed curbside and/or drive-thru pickup before the pandemic, and 19 allowed curbside and/or drive-thru service in response. In four states, curbside or drive-thru pickup were not options.

And of those 33 markets:

Credibility with consumers

The essential designation had the most sway with consumers, as evidenced by the sales surge that cannabis has experienced during the pandemic.

People finally recognize this for what it is. Its medicine, said Gary Santo, CEO of Tilt Holdings, a multistate operator headquartered in Phoenix that also owns a major vaporizer manufacturer, Jupiter Research.

You can look at the demographics and see how many people are approaching the plant with something in mind; with joint pain, anxiety, with trying to manage a condition. And I think it became really clear, especially during the pandemic, how important this was. People look at it now a little bit more like a medicine.

Referencing a marijuana legalization bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year, the MPPs Hawkins said: The essential designation helped to legitimize cannabis as an important part of not only state economies but also incredibly important to patients and to recreational consumers.

And that background certainly helped to define the efforts that we saw last year, with the MORE Act passing in Congress.

Help at the state and federal levels

Hawkins and other observers say the essential designation was a factor last November when voters in five states legalized recreational and medical marijuana markets through ballot initiatives.

Together, those states could generate more than $2.5 billion in annual medical and recreational cannabis sales by 2024.

Separately, lawmakers in Vermont approved a recreational marijuana program last October. That program is projected to generate roughly $250 millionin annual sales by 2025.

Virginia legislators followed suit last month, approving an adult-use program that could generate nearly $1.5 billion in annual sales within five years of the scheduled Jan. 1, 2024, start.

At the federal level, the essential designation has helped move the needle on marijuana reform.

Throughout the presidential debates, at least on the Democratic side, there was very robust discussion around cannabis legalization, Hawkins noted.That didnt happen in a vacuum.

It underscored that, in the middle of a pandemic, cannabis was being deemed an essential commodity. And that was reflected in the fact that every presidential candidate had something to say about cannabis, with most believing that it should be legalized.

While the essential designation was persuasive with consumers, state regulators and some members of Congress, it so far has failed to persuade federal officials to end the governments marijuana prohibition.

The essential designation has yet to spur congressional passage of more moderate steps, including:

The essential designation also failed to change the mind of major medical institutions.

In December, the American Medical Association sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arguing against the MORE Act, although the physicians group did support bills that would allow for more medical research of cannabis.

There was always a bit of a disappointment for me, because if youre deemed essential, and yet youre not able to qualify for things that others in that category can qualify for, it made it a little bit of a dichotomy in terms of common sense, said Geoff Bacino, a former federal banking regulator and now a Washington DC-based consultant whose clients include marijuana businesses.

While the essential designation has made it easier for state politicians to argue for legalization or liberalizing regulations, Bacino is less certain its changed any minds in Congress.

It might help them feel a little less reticent, but on the whole, I find that most members, especially those that have been around for the last couple of sessions of Congress, are pretty set in their ways, Bacino said.

The question is, can you just get a bill on the floor that causes people to vote? Im not sure that designation is going to change anybodys mind, but it may make somebody feel a little more comfortable with their decision.

Omar Sacirbey can be reached at[emailprotected].

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How essential transformed the US marijuana industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic - Marijuana Business Daily

The main street of Mullumbimby.(

ABC News: Bridget Judd

Mullumbimby has long been defined by its "live and let live" ethos. But for those left to grapple with the reality of lagging vaccination rates, this isn't a game of semantics it's life and death.

Take a trip to the Brunswick Valley, where the tiny town of Mullumbimby sits under the shadows of Mount Chincogan, and there's one topic that's met with a pause.

"Around here, vaccines are like politics or religion," says local Heidi Robertson.

"You just don't bring it up in conversation."

With childhood immunisation rates in northern New South Wales among the lowest in the country, this reticence is unsurprising.

ABC News: Bridget Judd

A hotbed for alternative medicine, the laidback community has long been defined by its "live and let live" ethos and with it, comes a familiar phrase.

"We're not anti-vaxx, we're just pro-choice."

But for those left to grapple with the reality of lagging vaccination rates, it isn't a game of semantics: it is, quite literally, life or death.

And they're determined to change the narrative.

"You mention to anyone Byron Bay, Mullumbimby or Nimbin, and the first thing that pops into their mind is the hippie culture," says Robertson from the Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters, a grassroots group of parents, locals and healthcare providers trying to improve vaccination rates.

"And if you move here looking for that alternative lifestyle, being anti-vaccination is a part of that."

ABC News: Bridget Judd

Surrounded by dense farmland that gives way to sweeping views of the hinterland, the former timber town is far more nuanced than its banal stereotypes would suggest.

Amidst frustration with Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, "draft dodgers", university students and 20-somethings who had tired of "the rat race" migrated to the region in the late 60s and early 70s, says local filmmaker, Sharon Shostak.

Brunswick Valley Historical Society/Sharon Stozak: Mullumbimby's Madness

Brunswick Valley Historical Society/Sharon Stozak: Mullumbimby's Madness

Brunswick Valley Historical Society/Sharon Shostak: Mullumbimby's Madness

Even before this, the region had experienced waves of settlement: first farmers, then "a wave of Chinese settlers, a wave of Italians", says Shostak, who documented the history of the town in her three-part series, Mullumbimby's Madness.

"Each time there was this wave of settlers coming through the town. So we're kind of used to weird, different, unusual, and are very accepting, there was this tradition of just integrating quite easily."

Now an eclectic mix of wellness stores, organics and small business, there is a communal sense of responsibility that underpins Mullumbimby: to the environment, to sustainability, and to one another.

But walk through the centre of town, and you'll come to understand why its reputation as a hippy-holdout just won't budge.

ABC News: Bridget Judd

By the local supermarket, a barefoot busker breaks from the group, retreating down an alleyway to light a joint. Nearby, people filter in and out of a crystal sanctuary and herbal dispensary offering naturopathic medicines and consultations.

And there, above a bespoke retail store on the town's main street, is a banner that hardly draws a second glance.

"NO FORCED INJECTIONS," it reads. "MY BODY MY CHOICE."

Step off the main street and into the GP's office, and you get a different story.

It's a sight Dr Chris Ingall will never forget. A four-week-old baby, bleeding from the mouth and nose.

"It's an awful, awful sight for a little bub like that," he says softly.

"Cerebral, pulmonary, bowel just haemorrhaging."

ABC News: Bridget Judd

It was 2010, and Ingall a paediatrician in nearby Lismore knew immediately the child was suffering from vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a potentially life-threatening ailment in infants up to six months of age.

The natural deficiency killed more than a dozen babies per year in NSW in the late 1960s and early 70s, before vitamin K injections were widely adopted.

"This mum had been told by a healthcare provider, who was actually on the state payroll in Byron, the vitamin K was a 'vaccine', and that it was not necessary," Ingall says.

"I tried to explain to her at the time the baby's coagulation profile was that of a child who was in need of vitamin K. But it was too late. They'd passed away."

"She did not want to face the fact that it was connected."

ABC News: Bridget Judd

ABC News: Bridget Judd

Though a harrowing scenario, it is not unprecedented.

Research into incidents of VKDB in Australian infants between 1993 and 2017, published in the BMJ, found the number of recorded cases following parental refusals "doubled in the second half of the study and further increased in the last five years" of it.

Of the 14 cases of VKDB reported between 2013 and 2017, 71 per cent (10) did not receive vitamin K because their parents refused consent.

The study found 39 per cent of cases following parental refusal occurred in northern NSW and south-east Queensland, "areas where immunisation refusal rates are highest in Australia".

"The [baby] could have had a great life," Ingall says. "But they were denied that, just through a piece of information, which was wrong and believed."

For most, it is an unfathomable contradiction.

How can someone want what is best for their child, while simultaneously rejecting the medical advice that could save their life?

It's "not a deficit in knowledge that's the problem", Robertson says.

"Your level of education or level of intelligence makes no difference," she says. "It's far more complicated than that."

Source: NSW Health

Across the Byron shire, which takes in Mullumbimby, just 63.6 per cent of children aged two were fully immunised as of June last year significantly below the state average of 91.4 per cent.

At five years, that figure increases to 73.9 per cent (compared to the state average of 94.2 per cent). But for those frustrated by the region's vaccination rates, these aren't just numbers they're decisions that carry real and sometimes fatal consequences for those most vulnerable.

During a whooping cough outbreak that swept through NSW in 2009, a four-week-old baby girl lost her life.

In the same week she passed away in Lismore Base Hospital, two other babies had to be airlifted to Brisbane for emergency treatment.

Robertson says the family of the baby who died "were absolutely slammed and vilified on social media by anti-vaccination people who said they were lying about their baby having even had whooping cough".

"Some people said 'your baby didn't even exist'."

While a scepticism to vaccines was almost the "default clause" when Ingall first moved to the region in the 1980s, he believes anti-vaccination campaigners were galvanised by global controversy over the pertussis whole-cell vaccines, which were used to prevent whooping cough before being phased out in Australia a decade later in favour of the acellular vaccine.

And on that, he is candid: "We gave them a platform".

At the turn of the 1980s, global confidence in the whole-cell vaccine had begun to wane. Reports had emerged from the United Kingdom about alleged neurological reactions, while concerns over the use of whole-cell vaccines in the United States led to lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers, pushing up prices and prompting some companies to cease production.

Back home, side-effects like fever and irritability had been reported in children, but some within the community felt "marginalised and silenced" by doctors, says Ingall, creating "a situation where people no longer trusted it".

Confused about Australia's vaccine rollout? We've tracked down the answers to the questions you've been asking.

During a debate at the town hall in the late 1980s, he recalls a "visceral howl" from the audience when a doctor took to the stage to try to calm their concerns.

"They'd taken their children along for vaccination, they'd had these reactions, and they've been told, 'Oh no, it's just a cold', or 'it's just this' or 'just that'," he says.

"And we've got to be really open about that, because these events will come up again.

"We gave them a platform, a platform that they had been marginalised and silenced."

Trust, or rather, a lack thereof: it's a familiar theme that emerges in Mullumbimby's relationship with mainstream medicine.

As the region's reputation as a counter-culture hub was beginning to take hold in the 70s, Shostak notes, a natural "evolution of wellness" was emerging.

Brunswick Valley Historical Society/Sharon Stozak: Mullumbimby's Madness

"People weren't just willing to accept what they were given or what they were told to do," she says.

Brunswick Valley Historical Society/Sharon Stozak: Mullumbimby's Madness

"I think a big, big factor in the settlement was people looking for alternatives."

In what some view asan inexorable legacy of thecommunity's early search forhealth and wellbeing, the useof naturopaths and homeopaths asprimary healthcare providers isnot unusual.

Scan the health notices inthe local paper, Shostak says, and "it's just like an encyclopedia of alternative therapies" something she sees as a positive that has"given people a chance toexperiment".

But Robertson is concerned bytheir level of influence. "They are big swayer ofopinion in this region,"she says.

"The naturopaths and homeopathsand the chiropractors, [some will say] they cankeep your immune system healthyand you don't need vaccinations," she says.

Source: NSW Health

"We've even got homeopaths here selling 'alternatives to vaccination' under the counter. It's against the law to do that ... But everyone knows that they do."

According to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, the Australian Homoeopathic Association has "strict guidelines in place regarding the use of homoeopathic 'immunisation'".

That includes a "compulsory consent form stating the treatment is not an immunisation, that no prophylactic treatment guarantees immunity from infectious disease, and that the evidence for the efficacy of homoeopathic 'immunisation' is limited".

Asked about its policy on immunisations and how it's enforced, AHA president Gerry Dendrinos said homeopathic prophylaxis was "not a substitute for vaccinations", adding that practitioners are "not allowed to advise on vaccination and certainly not allowed to dissuade people".

"Practitioners that do that are in breach of the code of conduct, and we do have a compliance pathway where those complaints in the public are dealt with, where we can look at practitioners who have exceeded the scope of practice."

When it comes to tackling misinformation around vaccines, Ingall is candid: "It's a bit like Scott Morrison presenting at a Labor lunch".

"He might have the absolute best logic and reasoning behind what he's saying, but he's not going to sway too many true believers."

With the coronavirus vaccine rollout beginning, those on the frontline are acutely aware of the challenges they face in the region.

In an alcove beside the building where an anti-vaccination banner hangs, a man who identifies himself as David mills by a microphone stand, his guitar case lined with flyers about vaccines and 5G.

ABC News: Bridget Judd

"They want to make more money," he says of the vaccine. "If it's mandatory, then more people get the vax."

The federal government has been clear that the vaccine will not be mandatory and Robertson says there are some who simply "will not get it under any circumstances because they're completely anti-vaccination".

But she points to another growing demographic: the "maybes" or "fence sitters", who are hesitant about getting such a new vaccine.

This reticence is not limited to the coronavirus rollout. Across the wider vaccination divide, Robertson says, "I hear, 'I'm not so much anti-vaccination, but I just can't get past giving my baby a whole bunch of vaccinations'".

It's groups like these that her network hope to reach by "listening to what their concerns are, and then addressing them", one cup of tea at a time.

"It doesn't happen in one conversation," she says. "We have the '1,000 cups of tea' approach, because you just can't expect it to [happen immediately]."

ABC News: Bridget Judd

ABC News: Bridget Judd

ABC News: Bridget Judd

Alongside a team of doctors from across the region, Ingall is determined to do his part to change the narrative around vaccinations.

Having witnessed the needless death of young children, he doesn't mince words: "I will say to [parents], I have watched babies die. I don't want your baby to be one of those babies'."

"These things happen. Join the dots," he says.

"This is real, and what you're being told is not as real as this."

Words and photography: Bridget Judd

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Mullumbimby is known as the anti-vaccination capital, but a group of locals is changing the narrative - ABC News