On April 29, 2021 The Board of Directors of McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) reported a regular dividend of 42 cents per share of common stock (Press release, McKesson, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578842]). The dividend will be payable on July 1, 2021, to stockholders of record on June 1, 2021.

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On April 29, 2021 QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) reported the upcoming launch of the EZ2 Connect product line, a next-level automated sample-processing platform whose simplicity, flexibility and speed will benefit biomedical research, forensics and clinical diagnostics (Press release, Qiagen, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578841]).

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The EZ2 Connect instruments use pre-filled cartridges and magnetic bead technology to process up to 24 samples in parallel in as little as 20 minutes, ensuring process safety and efficiency of nucleic acid extraction. The new platform builds on QIAGEN’s groundbreaking EZ1 instrument line, which set new standards in the automation of sample preparation and sample-data management and has seen more than 4,500 devices installed worldwide at the end of 2020.

"Expanding on the strength of our sample-processing portfolio, we are paving the way to a new era of laboratory automation," said Thomas Schweins, Senior Vice President, Business Area Life Sciences of QIAGEN. "The EZ2 Connect platform makes standardized and efficient nucleic acid purification accessible for any lab – without the need for specialized training or previous experience with automation platforms, while providing a new level of connectivity for ease-of-use and reliability of results."

The EZ2 Connect platform has a broad range of application areas, and will be tailored to three different key versions. The EZ2 Connect for use in research and pharmaceutical laboratory and the EZ2 Connect Fx for use in forensics and human identification (HID) will be launched in July. The release of the EZ2 Connect MDx for use in molecular diagnostic workflows is planned for early 2022, with regulatory approval in the U.S., the European Union and other markets worldwide.

Addressing a wide range of sample types and applications for biomedical research, the EZ2 Connect comes with an elaborate kit portfolio. In-tip separation, onboard heating and reagent pipetting, as well as large volume capabilities enable an unprecedented level of benchtop automation. With new approaches for cell free circulating DNA (cfDNA) and nucleic acid extraction from a range of sample types such as FFPE, EZ2 Connect catalyzes analytical quality, a valuable tool for example in cancer research.

The EZ2 Connect Fx is tailored to Human ID and forensics customer requirements, ensuring performance, process safety and reliability. It was designed and developed on the experiences and user feedback of the EZ1’s exceptional success in the HID market and offers a failure-safe method to isolate DNA even from smallest traces with highest efficiency. Increased capacity, full traceability, and maximum sample integrity allow labs to stand ready 24/7.

The EZ2 Connect MDx will address the challenges of medium throughput clinical diagnostics labs: dealing with fluctuating numbers of sample, large variety of sample types and quality, and less experienced staff. A single-use cartridge per sample and easy push-button operation minimizes the risk of sampling errors.

The EZ2 Connect platform complements QIAGEN’s leading offering of automation solutions including the QIAcube Connect and the QIAsymphony. The QIAcube Connect platform allows for a seamless transfer of QIAGENs wide range of manual spin column protocols to flexible and medium throughput automation, with the dedicated QIAcube Connect MDx version for molecular diagnostics workflows.

At the end of 2020, more than 9,800 QIAcube platform had been cumulatively placed with customers worldwide. The QIAsymphony provides fully automated high throughput with features such as continuous loading and primary tube handling, and had a cumulative installed base of over 2,900 systems at the end of 2020.

The newly introduced EZ2 Connect platform allows for medium- to high-throughput sample processing, combining flexibility with maximum process safety in dedicated instrument versions tailored to the individual needs of QIAGEN’s diverse customer base.

The new versions also allow for connection to QIAsphere, a digital laboratory ecosystem that enables additional remote features like instrument management and real-time status reporting. As a result, EZ2 Connect enables optimization of workflows and greater lab productivity with the next level of daily lab routine automation.

For more information about the EZ2 Connect platform, please visit View Source or see the product video at View Source;ab_channel=QIAGEN

On April 29, 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported that the company’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.71 per share of common stock for the second quarter of 2021 (Press release, Gilead Sciences, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578840]). The dividend is payable on June 29, 2021, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2021. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.

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On April 29, 2021 Personalis, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSNL), a leader in advanced genomics for cancer, reported that its management team will present at the 2021 Bank of America Healthcare Conference on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Press release, Personalis, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578839]).

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On April 29, 2021 City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, reported that now recruiting patients for a Phase 2 clinical trial to investigate whether pills containing white button mushroom extract could regulate the immune system, affecting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels to either remain stable or decline (Press release, City of Hope, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578838]). Heightened levels of PSA in men may indicate the existence of prostate tumors.

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Shiuan Chen, Ph.D., the Lester M. and Irene C. Finkelstein Chair in Biology, has been investigating the potential beneficial effects of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) at City of Hope for about 20 years. His translational preclinical and clinical research has found that this "bioactive food" available in most supermarkets might prevent or slow the spread of prostate and breast cancers. The common fungus appears to block the activity of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a strong form of the male hormone.

"White button mushroom — like green tea, turmeric, soybean, rosemary and tomato — has been considered a ‘superfood’ with positive effects on human health," said Chen, co-investigator of the clinical trial. "What we’re trying to do is scientifically prove whether the hype is true. If white button mushroom can slow the progression of prostate cancer, we want to know what the active agent is and what biological mechanisms are at work."

City of Hope in Duarte, California, is leading the multisite Phase 2 clinical trial, which will also recruit patients at City of Hope community locations (South Pasadena, West Covina, Rancho Cucamonga) and at John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica. This National Cancer Institute-funded study will seek to recruit 132 male participants who have recurrent prostate cancer following local therapy or who are undergoing active surveillance and have not yet received any therapy.

"This trial may reveal a possible alternative to or may obviate or delay the need for local or salvage treatments for prostate cancer. These standard-of-care therapies may cause significant short-term and long-term side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, or weight gain, hot flashes and osteoporosis," said Clayton Lau, M.D., the Pauline & Martin Collins Family Chair in Urology and director of City of Hope’s Prostate Cancer Program. Lau is principal investigator of the trial.

Results from the Phase 1 white button mushroom trial indicated that white button mushroom extract is safe and potentially effective against prostate cancer. About 36% of study participants had some decline in PSA levels after three months of white button mushroom tablet intake, and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. There were no negative side effects. Androgen deprivation therapy, on the other hand, is an approved therapy with side effects including fatigue, weight gain, muscle weakness, hot flashes, loss of libido, increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular problems — all these side effects, yet androgen deprivation therapy is not curative.

White button mushroom consumption seemed to stimulate the immune system into action and limited the growth of prostate cancer cells. Upon further research in the laboratory, City of Hope scientists found that white button mushrooms contain chemicals that can block the activity of the androgen receptor in animal models, indicating this common fungus could reduce PSA levels. This research was recently published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The objective of the Phase 2 trial is to assess if recurrent prostate cancer patients experience any PSA reduction at three months. The experimental groups will consume 14 grams of the mushroom-powder tablet per day — roughly 2/3 of a container of white button mushrooms purchased from the supermarket. Tablets will be prepared from freeze-dried powder of white button mushrooms. Those in the control group (observation only) will be able to receive the mushroom tablet after three months.

In addition, for 12 months, the scientists will assess the relative change in PSA levels in men under active surveillance who have not received any localized prostate cancer treatment. Furthermore, scientists will look at biopsy material to identify what molecular changes are linked to intake of white button mushrooms.