Different Nasdaq market for Exact Science
Exact Sciences (Marlborough, Massachusetts) said it has received notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel that the company's common stock will be transferred from the Nasdaq Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The transfer was effective with the open of trading on Nov. 28. The company's shares will continue to trade under the ticker "EXAS" on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Exact said that despite this transfer, the Nasdaq panel may still determine to delist the company at any point in time pending further analysis of the its plans for demonstrating compliance with the listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market, which the company currently does not meet.
Exact Sciences uses applied genomics to develop screening technologies for use in the detection of cancer.
Insulet adopts shareholder rights plan
Insulet (Bedford, Massachusetts) said its board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan. President/CEO Duane DeSisto said, "The board believes that a shareholders rights plan enhances its ability to protect shareholder interests and ensures that shareholders receive fair treatment in the event any coercive takeover attempt. The plan is intended to provide the board with sufficient time to consider any and all alternatives to such an action. The board believes it is protecting the interests of all of its shareholders."
In connection with the adoption of the plan, the board declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of Insulet's common stock to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 15. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the shares of Insulet's common stock.
Endodontist study addresses root canal treatment
A new study by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE; Chicago) addresses the growing controversy among dental health professionals regarding the best course of treatment when evaluating between a root canal or dental implant procedure.
Researchers evaluated the success and failure rates of teeth treated with a root canal (endodontically treated teeth) or extracted and replaced with a dental implant. While the findings concluded that the success rate of each treatment was similar, the data showed that significantly more dental implants required additional treatment or surgical intervention after the procedure compared to endodontically treated teeth.
Because of the increasing popularity of dental implants, patients may not realize the long-term implications of the procedure or that root canals may be healthier and less complicated in the long-run.
Report supports stem-cell cardiac treatment
Zannos Grekos, MD, presented clinical data to the Dubai Congress on Regenerative Biomedical Technologies (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) demonstrating the successful treatment of end-stage cardiac diseases using autologous adult stem cell therapy.
Grekos offered cardiac nuclear scans, PET scans and echocardiographs performed at six months and one year post-treatment, which he said confirm the regeneration of damaged heart tissue, the existence of new blood vessels and a "dramatic improvement" in heart function in patients treated with adult stem cells extracted from their own blood.
"This is real science, real medicine and real results," Grekos said. "We have moved beyond bench research and clinical trials to show that the power of the body's adult stem cells can be harnessed."