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Monday, May 4, 2020

Lockdown sparks global yoga craze, digital health survey shows

Digital health firm Withings has used its technology to produce a read-out of how COVID-19 lockdowns have affected the health of its users, showing a smaller than expected increase in weight, a global yoga craze and an increase in exercise in some areas of the US.
Overall results showed that while the changes to routine had caused some people to gain weight and cut back on exercise, the effects of isolation were not as drastic as some people feared. 
Results from the survey showed that in the US only 37% of people have gained more than a pound, with the average gain at only .21 pounds (0.95 kgs).

Other countries have seen similar weight gain trends of people gaining around half a pound or less during isolation. 
In the UK the figure was .16 kgs, in Germany the average person gained .189 kgs, in China the figure was .25 kgs, and in Italy the average gain was .195 kgs. 
In France, the lockdown has had the smallest impact on weight, where the average person has only gained .084 kgs. 
Withings said that research has not revealed why this has happened – but it suggested that home-cooked meals are healthier because they cause people to eat more nutritious foods and take in fewer calories. 
Results also showed that in the US people have only decreased their daily steps by an average of 7% during isolation, compared with 12% globally. 
But findings varied from state to state, with New York seeing the largest decrease in daily steps of 22%, where lockdown restrictions are the toughest. 
In some states, the number of steps actually increased, up by 16% in Indiana, and by 11% in Connecticut. In Ohio and Michigan the number of steps increased by 6% and Louisiana also saw the number of steps increase by 4%.
In the UK the steps taken were down by 8%, and the tough lockdown in China had the biggest impact with steps decreasing by over half (56%) in Hubei, where the pandemic first originated. 
There has also been a global surge in yoga, which saw a 42% increase in popularity, hiking (up 34%), indoor cycling (a 19% increase) and running (an 18% increase). 
Sleep patterns have been disturbed, however, with those in America going to bed 11 minutes later than usual and waking up almost 26 minutes later than usual. 
The country that gained the least weight also got the most sleep, where people had an average 20 minutes and 40 seconds more sleep each night. 
This reinforced findings by Withings predecessor Nokia that people who sleep less are more likely to be overweight or obese. 
Lockdown sparks global yoga craze, digital health survey shows

Lilly teams up with Junshi Bio to develop COVID-19 treatments

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) inks an agreement with Shanghai-based Junshi Biosciences to co-develop therapeutics antibodies for the potential treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
Junshi’s lead program appears to be JS016, a fully human recombinant monoclonal neutralizing antibody that binds to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain, effectively blocking the coronavirus’ ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor on the surface of healthy cells (binding to ACE2 is the first step in the infection process).
Under the terms of the deal, Lilly will receive an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and distribute products outside of Greater China where Junshi will retain full rights.
Lilly plans to file an IND in the U.S. this quarter. Junshi is in talks with China’s National Medical Products Administration with the aim of starting clinical studies there.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3568205-lilly-teams-up-junshi-bio-to-develop-covidminus-19-treatments

EMA grants PRIME designation to Acceleron’s sotatercept

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation to Acceleron Pharma’s (NASDAQ:XLRN) sotatercept for the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
PRIME, akin to Breakthrough Therapy status in the U.S., provides for more intensive guidance on development and accelerated review of the market application.
Sotatercept is an investigational therapy that is not approved for any use in any country.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3568197-ema-grants-prime-designation-to-accelerons-sotatercept

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals EPS beats by $0.02

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:RYTM): Q1 GAAP EPS of -$0.78 beats by $0.02.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $257.4M
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3568190-rhythm-pharmaceuticals-eps-beats-0_02

PetMed Express EPS beats by $0.06, beats on revenue

PetMed Express (NASDAQ:PETS): Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.35 beats by $0.06.
Revenue of $74.29M (+15.1% Y/Y) beats by $8.05M.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3568173-petmed-express-eps-beats-0_06-beats-on-revenue

Stemline up on acquisition bid

Privately held Menarini Group has agreed to acquire Stemline Therapeutics (NASDAQ:STML) for $12.50 per share, consisting of $11.50 in cash plus one contingent value right (CVR) that will pay $1.00 in cash upon the completion of the first sale of Elzonris (tagraxofusp) in any EU5 country (UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy) after European Commission approval.
The transaction, financed with cash on hand, should close this quarter.
Friday’s close was $4.75.
https://seekingalpha.com/account/portfolio

NanoViricides up on COVID-19 plan

NanoViricides (NYSEMKT:NNVC) has signed a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (“CDA”) with a pharmaceutical company in the Asian region to explore collaborating on the Company’s COVID-19 program.
The Company has already identified certain drug candidates that are active against multiple coronaviruses in cell culture studies.
NanoViricides intends to perform animal studies for the clinical SARS-CoV-2 nanoviricide drug candidate for developing information for entering into first-in-human studies under the FDA or other regulatory agencies.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3568165-nanoviricides-up-9-premarket-on-covidminus-19-plan