Latest news with #BPG
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ICCS Debuts Best Practice Guidance Series Focus on Skin Sensitization Without Animal Testing
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) announces its first-ever Best Practice Guidance (BPG): 'Skin Sensitization Assessment: Using New Approach Methods for Substances in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products.' This document marks the inaugural publication in a new series of ICCS Best Practice Guidance documents, developed to support the global transition to animal-free safety science. 'This guidance reflects the collective expertise of ICCS members who came together to align on the development of this unique guidance,' said Erin Hill, President & CEO of ICCS. Share ICCS was invited to present the BPG at the Integrated Strategies for Safety Assessment of Cosmetics Joint Regulators-Industry Workshop hosted by the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR) on July 11, where regulators from more than 12 countries convened to advance non-animal methodologies. 'This guidance reflects the collective expertise of ICCS members who came together to align on the development of this unique guidance,' said Erin Hill, President & CEO of ICCS. 'It's a key example of our mission to build global capacity and accelerate the uptake of animal-free safety assessments. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the ICCR to hear their input on the workflow in the document.' Grounded in Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) principles, the BPG offers a structured, science-based workflow that includes practical steps from problem formulation, exposure assessment, data evaluation, to transparent decision-making. It is especially suited for safety assessors experienced in traditional methods but new to using NAMs. What Makes the ICCS BPG Unique This BPG builds on existing international frameworks—such as OECD test guidelines and ICCR principles—by integrating them into a cohesive, assessor-friendly workflow. It emphasizes practical use and real-world safety scenarios and is specifically designed for regulatory safety assessments of cosmetics and personal care products. Notably, the guidance provides tools for transparent decision-making, uncertainty characterization, and exposure-based waiving, offering assessors clear and pragmatic support for transitioning to animal-free science. Key Highlights of the BPG: Step-by-step workflow to guide assessors through skin sensitization hazard and safety assessments without new animal tests. Integration of in silico , in chemico , and in vitro methods, including those aligned with OECD Test Guidelines. , , and methods, including those aligned with OECD Test Guidelines. Designed for regulatory use, especially for assessors transitioning from animal to non-animal approaches. The full guidance is now freely available for download on the ICCS Website Looking Ahead The Skin Sensitization BPG is the first in a planned suite of ICCS Best Practice Guidance documents. Forthcoming documents planned are: eye and skin irritation, read-across, thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC), physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modeling, exposure-based waiving, and environmental safety endpoints. These guidance documents will continue to support ICCS' goal of equipping the international community with practical tools for modern, human-relevant, and animal-free safety assessments. About ICCS The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety is a global initiative headquartered in New York. It brings together scientists from industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations to promote the adoption and regulatory acceptance of animal-free safety science through education, research, and collaboration.
Sunday Post
5 days ago
- Health
- Sunday Post
Medics and charities back survivors' plea for ban on sunbeds
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Doctors, cancer patients and charities are calling for a ban on sunbeds because of their link to potentially fatal skin cancer. They are appealing to the Scottish and UK Governments to follow Australia, Brazil, and now Ireland, in moving to outlaw them in a bid to tackle rising numbers of patients with malignant melanoma. The medics and medical charities cite the burden skin cancer places on patients and the NHS. The plea for a ban follows recent moves by the Irish government to investigate ways of banning commercial sunbeds. The country's health authorities say they are swayed by the fair Celtic complexion being more susceptible to skin cancer from UV rays, and the growing health costs of treating patients with the malignancy. © Shutterstock / RomanRuzicka Cancer Research UK say cases of the most serious skin cancer, malignant melanoma, have soared by a third in the past decade across all age groups including young adults. The cancer is triggered by UV radiation damage to the DNA in skin cells. Last year a UK-wide survey by charity Melanoma Focus found that 28% of adults say they use sunbeds. In Scotland, based on a small sample, the figure was 24%. One of the most alarming findings of the survey was that across the UK, 43% of 18 to 25-year-olds use sunbeds. The charity also found that 34% of UK 16 and 17-year-olds are using sunbeds, despite a legal ban for under-18s. The charity says that around 100 deaths a year are linked to sunbed use across the UK. In hospital dermatology cancer clinics, Scottish skin specialists report regularly seeing patients with stage four melanomas, many of whom say they have used sunbeds. Some of the patients are still in their 20s, said speciality dermatologist Dr Amy Perkins of Forth Valley Health Board. 'I see them at clinic shocked and distressed by the diagnosis of a serious cancer and the surgery and treatment to have to undergo to survive,' she said. 'They struggle to accept that what they thought was essentially cosmetic treatment has increased their risk of melanoma.' Cancer Research reports that people who start using sunbeds before the age of 35 are 87% more likely to develop melanoma. 'People who had ever used a sunbed were 20% more likely to subsequently develop melanoma, compared to people who had never used one,' it adds. Dr John Ferguson, from St Andrews, works as a consultant dermatologist at Guy's & St Thomas' hospital in London. He points to the British Photodermatology Group (BPG) call for a complete ban on commercial sunbeds in the UK to reduce skin cancer and eye disease. Sunbeds also increase the risk of eye cancers, especially in those starting sunbed use before 20, research reports. Dr Ferguson, a BPG committee member, said: 'The evidence linking sunbed use to melanoma is considerable and presents a heavy toll on patients and health care cost. 'Telling a patient they have stage four melanoma is one of the most difficult tasks I have as a dermatologist. 'It is time we banned sunbeds because of the considerable risk to skin cancer.' Its statement calling for a ban says: 'Early sunbed use is associated with the highest increase in skin cancer risk. 'Sunbed use is addictive and associated with smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and other unhealthy behaviours.' Some 16 years have passed since the World Health Organisation's cancer research arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified ultraviolet light emitted from tanning beds as carcinogenic. Charity SKCIN has joined the call for a ban, denouncing current sunbed regulation which limits use to over-18s. 'Sunbed regulations are outdated, ineffective and not being adhered to – with an alarming percentage of under-18s regularly using them,' it says. 'Underage usage is rapidly increasing and fuelled by tanning trends and misinformation, influencing millions of children on social media daily. 'With melanoma rising faster than any other cancer in Britain and one of the biggest lethal malignancies in the 15-34 age group.' So what would the savings be to the NHS in skin cancer treatment? Manchester University scientists say that even at a conservative estimate, a ban along with a public information campaign, would prevent over 200 deaths among 18-year-olds in England alone. More importantly, over 1,000 young people would be spared melanoma and 200 lives would be saved. Gilly Perkins, general manager of The Sunbed Association, said: 'It is chronic over-exposure to the UV light that may increase the risk of skin cancers, mainly non-melanoma skin cancers. For melanoma, intermittent sun exposure and sunburn increase the risk. A sunbed session taken in a professional salon is a controlled, regular dose of UV without burning.' She added: 'UV exposure carries risk if abused – whether from a sunbed, beach holiday, or a garden lounger. But professional tanning salons operate under strict safety regulations designed to minimise those risks. We promote moderation, non-burning exposure, staff training, customer screening and education.' She argued UV exposure benefits cardiovascular health, and modern sunbeds are safer than older ones. 'For many sunbed users, it's not about ignoring risk – it's about managing it.' The Scottish Government said: 'We continue to monitor the effect of sunbed use and advise anyone using them to consider the risks of doing so.' 'I want to see them banned in Scotland. No one deserves to live like this' © Andrew Cawley Claire Gibson, 40, from Edinburgh, has endured years of cancer surgery and scans for a melanoma skin cancer after occasionally using sunbeds as a teenager. Areas of tissue have been removed from her right arm in doctors' latest attempt to save her. She is adamant that she wants to see the government ban commercial sunbeds to spare others the trauma, treatment and continual worry of cancer. The management and systems accountant at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: 'I wish I had never gone near a sunbed but like many teenagers, I thought I would look better with a tan. 'It is now my dearest wish to see them banned in Scotland and the rest of the UK because no one deserves to live like this. 'It is deeply concerning to know that melanoma is now among the most common cancers in teenagers and young adults.' She is waiting for her latest biopsy results after yet more surgery to remove tissue from a suspicious mole on her right arm. 'My treatment to date has been a wide local incision (removal) to remove any surrounding cells and a sentinel lymph node biopsy to check that the melanoma has not extended further. 'Fortunately, it has not.' She says that she is dismayed when she sees high-street sunbed salons promoting sunbeds as healthy. 'My heart sinks when their adverts describe them as having 'health benefits'. 'I pass one on the way to work and wonder how they can possibly proclaim this when I and others have had malignant melanoma. 'I am trying to survive and hugely grateful for the vigilance of my doctors. 'I want everyone to know that melanoma is a real and serious consequence of using sunbeds. 'People who start using sunbeds before 35 have a 75% increased risk of that serious cancer.' Melanoma victim: No tan is worth dying for It was the death of a young journalist at the age of 26 from melanoma which sparked a national campaign for a ban on sunbeds in Australia. Clare Oliver's slogan, 'No Tan Is Worth Dying For', drove legislation through the Australian Parliament in 2016. She campaigned tirelessly, even on her deathbed in 2007, as she forced the Australian government to ban sunbeds and prevent them from killing anyone else. In her last days, Clare wept as she said: 'Don't follow the fad for a tan – look at me and choose life. I don't want to die at 26.' Her wish to see sunbeds banned was supported by leading Australian and global cancer scientist Professor Craig Sinclair. He says banning sunbeds would reduce deaths and costs to the NHS. 'If Scotland banned sunbeds, it would undoubtedly save lives and significantly reduce health care costs caused by skin cancer,' he said. 'Sunbeds, like tobacco, when used as directed significantly increases the risk of skin cancer.' He also dismissed the argument that sunbed shops would go out of business. 'The Australian experience of banning sunbeds more than a decade ago showed sunbed operators quickly reorientated their businesses to other cosmetic services and consumers moved to safer forms of skin treatments such as fake tanning and spray tans.' Scots GP Dr Michael Mrozinski, now working in the Australian bush, says he has treated skin cancer patients who used sunbeds before the ban. 'I worked in a skin cancer clinic in Melbourne for four years and sun damage from people who tan from the sun and used sunbeds is considerable,' he said. 'A sunbed is just a more concentrated form of UV and I hate having to give a skin cancer diagnosis to people as many don't realise how serious it is.'
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Relentless Ambition: Blackpearl Acquire B2B Rocket And Announces It Will Dual List On The ASX
Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX: BPG) has signed a conditional agreement to acquire 100% of B2B Rocket Inc - a fast-scaling US-based AI sales automation company with a laser focus on helping small and mid-sized businesses grow. In parallel with this transaction, Blackpearl has confirmed it is preparing to file an application to dual list on the ASX. B2B Rocket specialises in intelligent outbound sales agents that can generate, qualify and engage leads without human input. The platform has already achieved over US$2.1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and is rapidly expanding across the US. 'Relentless ambition is the common thread. B2B Rocket is cut from the same cloth as us - founder-led, customer-obsessed and unapologetically focused on delivering results. Their AI-powered outbound engine is the perfect complement to what we offer with Pearl Diver,' says Blackpearl CEO Nick Lissette. The two products are already integrated in select customer environments, unlocking a new level of automation and cross-sell opportunity for sales teams who want more pipeline with less pain. 'This is far more than just a bolt-on,' says Lissette. 'It's an investment in category leadership where humans and AI work together to power customer acquisition at scale. This acquisition and our ASX ambitions reinforce our trajectory. Our platform, our people and our playbook are all geared toward sustained, scalable growth,' adds Nick. About the deal Under the terms of the agreement, the consideration includes an upfront cash payment and an equity component in Black Pearl Group. An additional performance-based earn-out is structured over a five-year period, combining cash and equity, and is tied to B2B Rocket achieving agreed revenue milestones. The structure is designed to reward sustained growth and customer acquisition momentum, with the maximum payout aligned to significant ARR expansion. 'With B2B Rocket on board and ASX listing in motion, we aren't just expanding; we're accelerating. Relentless ambition isn't just a tagline…it's the model,' concludes Lissette. About Blackpearl Group Blackpearl Group (BPG) is a market leading data technology company that pioneers AI-driven sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Specifically engineered for small-medium sized businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is simple: 'Better Growth Together'. When our customers win, we win. Founded in 2012, BPG is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Cision Canada
04-07-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
RNAO's BPSO Indigenous-focused Symposium brings together nurses and Indigenous leaders
THUNDER BAY, ON, July 4, 2025 /CNW/ - To continue improving health outcomes in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, health providers from Best Practice Spotlight Organizations ® (BPSO ®) and Indigenous leaders will gather in Thunder Bay for this year's BPSO Indigenous-focused Symposium. Developed by the symposium's BPSO planning committee, the event, happening between July 8-10, 2025, will celebrate the theme: Bridging Indigenous and Western Perspectives in Health Care. "This event is an opportunity to learn how Indigenous perspectives can be integrated into health-care systems in meaningful ways and listen to Indigenous voices and perspectives to improve health-care outcomes," says Maxine Lesage, a member of the symposium's BPSO planning committee and former member of RNAO's board of directors. "Attendees will also better understand how weaving together Indigenous and western perspectives through the Two-Eyed Seeing approach helps Indigenous-focused BPSOs use best practice guidelines to make a profound impact on quality outcomes for persons, providers, organizations, communities and health systems." Best practice guidelines (BPG) equip nurses and other health providers with up-to-date evidence-based recommendations to improve quality of health care. As part of the BPSO program, organizations work with RNAO to implement BPGs and measure their impact on outcomes. The three-day in-person event will include a panel on a day in the life of northern remote and urban Indigenous communities; traditional teachings on Indigenous cultures, grief and loss; and a panel on strength-based and cultural approaches to care. Health providers from different Indigenous-focused BPSOs will also share their stories on the impact the program has had and ways to evaluate outcomes from a Two-Eyed Seeing perspective. "The symposium comes during a challenging and uncertain time for Indigenous communities as they fight against the Red Lake 12 wildfire, Ontario's Bill 5 and federal Bill C-5, threatening the rights, lands and future generations of Indigenous Peoples," says RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun, founder of the BPG and BPSO programs. "We are committed to standing with Indigenous Peoples as their voices must be heard, ensuring mitigation measures to protect the environment and accommodation measures to respect their rights. At the event next week, I plan to once again recognize the incredible leadership, strength and resilience Indigenous Peoples have in the face of these Bills and emergencies such as the recent wildfires." For more information, please see our Action Alert to withdraw Bill 5 and our Indigenous Health and RNAO In Focus page. What: The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario hosts the Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) Indigenous-focused Symposium in Thunder Bay. When: Tuesday, July 8 – Thursday, July 10, 2025 Who: Elder Theresa Redsky Fiddler Elder Margie Bannon, Fort William First Nation Elder Aaron Therriault, Traditional Drum Keeper and Knowledge Keeper Chief Michele Solomon, Fort William First Nation Melissa Deleary, program manager, Indigenous Engagement, Provincial and Regional, Indigenous Health Unit, Ontario Health Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO and founder of the BPG and BPSO programs Maxine Lesage, representative of the symposium's BPSO planning committee Grace Suva, senior manager, Indigenous Health, RNAO's IABPG Centre Nurses and other staff from 20 BPSO teams representing several health sectors across Northern Ontario Where: Best Western Plus Nor' Wester Hotel & Conference Centre (2080 Highway #61, Thunder Bay, Ontario) RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) Program is funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health. It was envisioned by CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun in 1998 and launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across all health sectors and settings, with more than 50 guidelines developed to date. The Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) program supports service and academic institutions that have formally agreed to implement multiple RNAO BPGs over a three-year period, and evaluate their impact on patients, organizations and health systems. Launched in 2003, the BPSO program now has more than 1,500 BPSOs in Ontario, Canada and internationally. The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public we serve. For more information about RNAO, visit or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
$1.2m In ARR In 45 Days - Silicon Valley Sales Giants Under Threat As Bebop Takes Aim
Wellington, New Zealand – Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX:BPG) has announced that Bebop, its latest AI-driven sales enablement product, has reached $1.2 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just 45 days - making it the fastest-growing product in the company's history. Bebop achieved this milestone at twice the speed of Pearl Diver, itself a standout performer with $10 million of ARR within 24 months. Most SMEs have been locked out of high-quality sales intelligence - legacy platforms like ZoomInfo, Clearbit, and Apollo are built for enterprise and priced accordingly. Bebop changes that. In just seconds, this AI sales agent scans millions of US-based companies to deliver a hyper-targeted list of verified decision-makers, complete with personalised strategic dossiers. 'Bebop is like ChatGPT, but specifically built for sales and revenue growth. This is one of the fastest go-to-market trajectories we've seen across the SaaS and AI landscape, and customers have rapidly validated our value proposition. We hit it out of the park with Pearl Diver, so it's extremely exciting to see Bebop overtake its impressive early adoption. Bebop's traction validates our core thesis: that speed, usability, and value drive adoption. And our platform was built to scale these advantages, fast' comments Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer Faster and more intelligent for a fraction of the cost Bebop delivers enterprise-grade sales intelligence at a fraction of the cost of other platforms - finally making AI-powered sales intelligence accessible to the SME market. 'There's rising demand for AI-native, cost-effective sales tools that solve real SME challenges. With Bebop, we imagined unlocking unlimited revenue opportunities and cutting-edge business intelligence. Early customer feedback highlights Bebop's ability to 'save hours in research,' 'generate customers effortlessly,' and 'bring the power of AI to the everyday business owner'. That's real results; and a real threat to Silicon Valley sales giants,' believes Lissette. He adds that this previous generation of B2B tools relies on SQL queries over large databases, with apps designed to make that experience as seamless as possible. 'Bebop has intelligence at its core - genuinely understanding what a business provides and exactly who needs it. Our product delivers a fundamentally different experience that unlocks deep insights that fuel measurable revenue growth.' Doubling down on AI's potential Bebop was developed and taken to market in just 90 days. This was only possible because of years of investment into Blackpearl Group's proprietary software and data platform - formally known as Pearl Engine - a testament to the company's rapid innovation and robust technology infrastructure. 'That conviction has been validated. The results show Bebop is not just viable – it's a force multiplier for BPG's revenue growth. It now stands alongside Pearl Diver as a key driver in our product portfolio, reinforcing our strategy of building scalable, high-impact tools for customer acquisition,' reiterates Lissette. 'Bebop's rapid market-fit means our line of sight on $20M ARR is even clearer. And this also will greatly contribute to our medium target of $50M ARR.' 'We have deliberately invested since our capital raise intovplatform development and talent acquisition. The vision and engine is working. Our investment and market timing have aligned. With two products both demonstrating scale and demand, we're well positioned for sustained growth,' concludes Karen Cargill, Interim Chief Financial Officer About Blackpearl Group Blackpearl Group (BPG) is a market leading data technology company that pioneers AI-driven sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Specifically engineered for small-medium sized businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is simple: 'Better Growth Together'. When our customers win, we win. Founded in 2012, BPG is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona.
