Latest news with #Pacey
Perth Now
06-08-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
New male ‘pill' contraceptive passes safety tests
A new male contraceptive pill that doesn't use hormones has passed early-stage human trials without any negative side effects, researchers say. The drug, designed to reversibly reduce sperm count, was tested on 16 male volunteers. This development could offer men a new alternative to condoms or vasectomy, which have long been the only options for male contraception. Prior attempts at creating a male contraceptive pill often resulted in unwanted effects such as weight gain, acne, mood swings and changes in sex drive. Meanwhile, although women have a range of birth control options, these also typically come with potential side effects. More than a third (37 per cent) of woman report a negative experience will a contraceptive pill. What sets this new pill apart, scientists say, is its hormone-free formula, which may mean far fewer adverse effects compared to earlier efforts. 'Since nearly half of all pregnancies in the US and worldwide are unintended, there is a critical need for additional contraceptive options for men and women,' researchers from YourChoice Therapeutics explained. This contraceptive uses a chemical called YCT-529, aiming to block vitamin A metabolites from binding to certain receptors in the testes, thereby stopping sperm production. Professor Alan Pacey, an andrologist at the University of Manchester who was not involved in the study, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This molecule targets a compound which is related to vitamin A, retinoic acid, and we have known for a long time that this compound is important in how sperm are produced in the testis, making it the perfect target for a male contraceptive pill. It is able to inhibit that process without altering the sex hormones, which give men a sex drive.' Previous animal studies using this compound have shown that it can induce reversible infertility without causing side effects. In these most recent trials, the 16 male volunteers aged 32 to 59 took the drug twice in increasing doses—10mg, 30mg, 90mg, and 180mg—while some received a placebo to compare results. Side effects and hormone levels were monitored for 15 days. The authors of the study wrote: 'Administration of single oral doses of 10–180 mg YCT-529, fasted, and 30 mg, fed, is well tolerated by healthy male subjects. YCT-529 does not demonstrate an adverse cardiac safety profile, or change in haematology, coagulation or serum chemistry parameters, hormone or pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, sexual drive and mood, and shows good bio-availability (with no clear food effect).' Dr Pacey described the results as an 'exciting step forward,' but warned that the medication has yet to be tested in the real world to confirm its effectiveness in preventing pregnancies. He pointed out, 'It takes three months to produce sperm from start to finish and so if you were to start taking any pill, not just this one, you would need to have the sperm that are currently on the production line to be moved from the system. So, there will be a lag between starting to take the pill and it having its full contraceptive effects.' He also pointed out that bringing the pill to market remains a significant financial hurdle.
West Australian
06-08-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Hormone-free male birth control pill shown safe in human trials, raising hopes for new contraceptive option
A new male contraceptive pill that doesn't use hormones has passed early-stage human trials without any negative side effects, researchers say. The drug, designed to reversibly reduce sperm count, was tested on 16 male volunteers. This development could offer men a new alternative to condoms or vasectomy, which have long been the only options for male contraception. Prior attempts at creating a male contraceptive pill often resulted in unwanted effects such as weight gain, acne, mood swings and changes in sex drive. Meanwhile, although women have a range of birth control options, these also typically come with potential side effects. More than a third (37 per cent) of woman report a negative experience will a contraceptive pill. What sets this new pill apart, scientists say, is its hormone-free formula, which may mean far fewer adverse effects compared to earlier efforts. 'Since nearly half of all pregnancies in the US and worldwide are unintended, there is a critical need for additional contraceptive options for men and women,' researchers from YourChoice Therapeutics explained. This contraceptive uses a chemical called YCT-529, aiming to block vitamin A metabolites from binding to certain receptors in the testes, thereby stopping sperm production. Professor Alan Pacey, an andrologist at the University of Manchester who was not involved in the study, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This molecule targets a compound which is related to vitamin A, retinoic acid, and we have known for a long time that this compound is important in how sperm are produced in the testis, making it the perfect target for a male contraceptive pill. It is able to inhibit that process without altering the sex hormones, which give men a sex drive.' Previous animal studies using this compound have shown that it can induce reversible infertility without causing side effects. In these most recent trials, the 16 male volunteers aged 32 to 59 took the drug twice in increasing doses—10mg, 30mg, 90mg, and 180mg—while some received a placebo to compare results. Side effects and hormone levels were monitored for 15 days. The authors of the study wrote: 'Administration of single oral doses of 10–180 mg YCT-529, fasted, and 30 mg, fed, is well tolerated by healthy male subjects. YCT-529 does not demonstrate an adverse cardiac safety profile, or change in haematology, coagulation or serum chemistry parameters, hormone or pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, sexual drive and mood, and shows good bio-availability (with no clear food effect).' Dr Pacey described the results as an 'exciting step forward,' but warned that the medication has yet to be tested in the real world to confirm its effectiveness in preventing pregnancies. He pointed out, 'It takes three months to produce sperm from start to finish and so if you were to start taking any pill, not just this one, you would need to have the sperm that are currently on the production line to be moved from the system. So, there will be a lag between starting to take the pill and it having its full contraceptive effects.' He also pointed out that bringing the pill to market remains a significant financial hurdle.
Scoop
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Reporting Standard Good News For Misrepresented Retirement Villages
It's been a long-held misconception that retirement village operators in New Zealand rake in excess profits—at least on paper. But a closer look reveals a different story. A recent study carried out by Grant Thornton New Zealand highlights the disconnect between retirement village reported profitability and actual cash flow performance. David Pacey, National Technical Partner at Grant Thornton New Zealand says, 'A major culprit is the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), particularly IFRS 13 – Fair Value Measurement, which governs the valuation of investment property. 'Financial reporting relief for this conundrum may be on the horizon by way of the newly issued standard IFRS 18 – Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements when it comes into effect in 2027.' Under IFRS 13, retirement village operators are required to measure investment property—typically the independent living units occupied by residents—at fair value. This fair value includes not only the physical property but also the right to receive future cash flows, such as deferred management fees (DMFs) and capital gains on unit resales. Pacey says, 'These future cash flows are often non-cash items at the time of recognition, yet they are included in the income statement as unrealised gains. This means operators end up reporting substantial profits even though the actual cash inflows are often influenced by resident turnover and could occur several years into the future. 'The application of IFRS 13 can mislead stakeholders about the financial and operational performance of retirement villages due to the disconnect between reported net profit after tax (NPAT) and the business's actual cashflows. This reliance on fair value gains can distort profitability and not fully reflect cashflow challenges such as rising operating costs or delayed unit turnover.' Enter IFRS 18, a potential hero in the often-maligned world of accounting standards IFRS 18 replaces IAS 1; in addition to its more structured and transparent approach to the presentation of financial statements, one of its key features is the possibility to disclose management-defined performance measures (MPMs). 'For retirement village owners, this means they can present alternative profit metrics that better reflect their operational reality, such as underlying profit, alongside NPAT. While village operators currently can - and do - report such MPMs like EBIT, being able to align these to an accounting standard will ensure consistency and comparability across the sector. While there is scope for organisations to define their own management performance measures (MPMs), they still have to reconcile their reporting back to GAAP. This requirement ensures transparency with what is being captured by the MPM and to allow a degree of consistency and comparability between organisations.' IFRS 18 also mandates clearer classification and division of income and expenses, which helps users of financial statements distinguish between operating results and fair value adjustments. This change is particularly beneficial for retirement village operators, as it enables them to isolate the impact of IFRS 13-driven fair value gains from their core business performance. The alignment between the statement of profit or loss and the cash flow statement under IFRS 18 also improves transparency. By requiring entities to explain the relationship between reported profit and cash flows, stakeholders gain a more accurate picture of financial sustainability. Pacey says, ' Grant Thornton's research reveals it can take more than 20 years for the owner of an average retirement village to fully recover their investment – a story not often told in the ongoing commentary about the sector. With increasing calls for greater regulation in the industry, achieving a clearer, more transparent understanding of its financial position is mission critical.' Notes: About Grant Thornton International Ltd* Grant Thornton is one of the world's leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, actionable advice through a broad range of services. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to solve complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients. Over 76,000 Grant Thornton people, across 150 markets, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. Grant Thornton International is a non-practicing, international umbrella entity organised as a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. References to "Grant Thornton" are to the brand under which the Grant Thornton member firms operate and refer to one or more member firms, as the context requires. Grant Thornton International and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered independently by member firms, which are not responsible for the services or activities of one another. Grant Thornton International does not provide services to clients. *All references to Grant Thornton International in the press release and this 'Notes' section are to Grant Thornton International Ltd. Grant Thornton International Ltd is a non-practicing, international umbrella entity organized as a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. About Grant Thornton New Zealand Ltd Grant Thornton New Zealand has more than 300 people working in offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. We combine service breadth, depth of expertise and industry insight with an approachable client and people first mindset, and a broad commercial perspective. In the New Zealand context only, the use of the term 'Grant Thornton' may refer to Grant Thornton New Zealand Limited and its New Zealand related entities.
The Irish Sun
20-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Woman who fell to her death from tower block ‘was suing celebrity antiques dealer ex for their £2.7m London home'
A MUM who fell to her death from a tower block was entangled in a bitter legal battle with her celebrity antiques dealer fiance over their £2.7million London home. Rachel O'Hare was tragically pronounced dead at the scene in the heart of Manchester on Monday, June 30, after . Advertisement 3 Rachel O'Hare died after falling from a building in the heart of Manchester on June 30 Credit: Facebook 3 She had co-founded a charity which worked with vulnerable women living in refuges Credit: Facebook As reported by the Tributes poured in for the widely-respected charity fundraiser, who co-founded a group which worked to help vulnerable women in refuges. Her charity Elle for Elle aimed to support women in need with basic toiletries and beauty products, with the charity's work said to have been praised in Westminster. She is also believed to have held a role with The Cheshire Magazine, coordinating charity events both in the Cheshire area and further afield. Advertisement Read more News O'Hare died just four days after a hearing in a bitter property dispute with her fiance at Leeds Combined Court on June 26. The mum-of-three had stated in legal documents that she paid for the Wilkes Street home using divorce settlement funds and a loan, and that it was rightfully hers. She claimed: 'The first defendant said he had no money to contribute when the property was purchased but would be able to pay the claimant for his share in due course.' She also alleged that Mr Pacey later locked her out of the house, refused to pay bills, and threatened to 'trash' the interior of their luxury London home. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Live Blog The glam pad was said to be filled with Italian chandeliers, designer furniture, and swanky art. Mr Pacey, a self-made antique fireplace dealer has boasted a celebrity client list including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Woman who died after 'falling from UK city building' is pictured as tributes paid to 'widely-respected' charity worker He said he did not have the funds to put towards the property but would pay for his share "in due course," according to court documents seen by the Mail. The couple met in 2020 after Ms O'Hare bought a table from his showroom and began a rapid-fire romance. Advertisement Pacey claimed it was "love at first sight" in an interview and by June 2021 they had purchased the property together. According to the MailOnline, they had reportedly signed documents - drawn up by solicitors overseeing the purchase of the house - agreeing that the house would pass fully to the surviving partner if either of them died. Because of this, Mr Pacey became the sole legal owner of the property following his fiance's death. O'Hare had remained in Cheshire with her teenage kids while Mr Pacey moved into their Spitalfields home. Advertisement She reportedly claimed he had promised to pay her back once he sold a £1.2million apartment above his shop in Shoreditch. To reassure her, he had allegedly agreed to put half of his £5million fireplace business in her name, but never did. Ms O'Hare said they had promised to share the cost of renovation work, but she footed most of the bills when he failed to pay contractors. This included a whopping £14,000 bill for radiator valves alone. Advertisement The mum had already taken a loan to pay for the property and used funds from her divorce with millionaire investment boss ex Steve O'Hare. Mr Pacey allegedly gave her documents to sign, which led her to believe he was in the process of sorting out the legal side of things. According to the MailOnline, she said that she also received messages telling her her name was on the title deed of the flat or shop to reassure her. Later, she allegedly claimed Mr Pacey had been controlling and that their relationship had broken down multiple times. Advertisement Legal papers reportedly described their relationship as 'turbulent.' They were engaged in December 2022, but by May 2024, the pair had separated permanently. She was pursuing legal action in the High Court, and the pair were due to face off at trial in the coming months. Tragically, her body was found on June 30 outside her apartment block in Advertisement Police have confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, and an inquest is due to open this week. Documents show Ms O'Hare believed she was entitled to full ownership of the Spitalfields property. But due to the agreement they signed in 2021, writing that if either of them died, the other would automatically inherit the house, the property reverted to Mr Pacey. He now has full ownership of the home after O'Hare's sudden death. Advertisement In a defence statement submitted to the court, Mr Pacey denied persuading Rachel to buy the house in their joint names. Mr Pacey says that Rachel agreed to do so because they were in love. He also claimed that there was no discussion about him paying for half of the house or transferring over 50 per cent of his business. The defence document said: "The parties (Ms O'Hare and Mr Pacey) were going to get married and there was just no discussion about who owned what. Advertisement Mr Pacey also has denied being controlling and claimed that the couple only seriously argued twice - once in He says that Rachel was drunk during both occasions. In his defence statement, dated February this year, he also denied refusing allowing Rachel access to the house or not paying bills and threatening to trash it. Mr Pacey claims that he paid £70,000 towards the house's refurbishment and that provided much of the furniture from his shop. Advertisement According to him, he installed six Italian fireplaces worth £350,000. According to his statement, Mr Pacey wanted to get the Georgian Townhouse and the maisonette, in order to buy Rachel out of both properties. When approached by the Daily Mail, Mr Pacey refused to speak about any legal disputes with Rachel. Instead, he said: "I worshipped the ground Rachel walked on." Advertisement Mr Pacey also claimed that his former fiancée had been suffering from poor mental health in the weeks leading up to her death and had allegedly recently been treated in hospital. He added: "I'm suffering with my own mental health. I don't want to be here without her." 3 Police cordoned off the area where Rachel fell last month Credit: MEN Media
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Woman who fell to her death from tower block ‘was suing celebrity antiques dealer ex for their £2.7m London home'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM who fell to her death from a tower block was entangled in a bitter legal battle with her celebrity antiques dealer fiance over their £2.7million London home. Rachel O'Hare was tragically pronounced dead at the scene in the heart of Manchester on Monday, June 30, after falling to her death. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Rachel O'Hare died after falling from a building in the heart of Manchester on June 30 Credit: Facebook 3 She had co-founded a charity which worked with vulnerable women living in refuges Credit: Facebook As reported by the Mail, the 49-year-old was suing her ex-lover Owen Pacey, 60, over their £2.7million four-bedroom London home. Tributes poured in for the widely-respected charity fundraiser, who co-founded a group which worked to help vulnerable women in refuges. Her charity Elle for Elle aimed to support women in need with basic toiletries and beauty products, with the charity's work said to have been praised in Westminster. She is also believed to have held a role with The Cheshire Magazine, coordinating charity events both in the Cheshire area and further afield. O'Hare died just four days after a hearing in a bitter property dispute with her fiance at Leeds Combined Court on June 26. The mum-of-three had stated in legal documents that she paid for the Wilkes Street home using divorce settlement funds and a loan, and that it was rightfully hers. She claimed: 'The first defendant said he had no money to contribute when the property was purchased but would be able to pay the claimant for his share in due course.' She also alleged that Mr Pacey later locked her out of the house, refused to pay bills, and threatened to 'trash' the interior of their luxury London home. The glam pad was said to be filled with Italian chandeliers, designer furniture, and swanky art. Mr Pacey, a self-made antique fireplace dealer has boasted a celebrity client list including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Kate Winslet. Woman who died after 'falling from UK city building' is pictured as tributes paid to 'widely-respected' charity worker He said he did not have the funds to put towards the property but would pay for his share "in due course," according to court documents seen by the Mail. The couple met in 2020 after Ms O'Hare bought a table from his showroom and began a rapid-fire romance. Pacey claimed it was "love at first sight" in an interview and by June 2021 they had purchased the property together. According to the MailOnline, they had reportedly signed documents - drawn up by solicitors overseeing the purchase of the house - agreeing that the house would pass fully to the surviving partner if either of them died. Because of this, Mr Pacey became the sole legal owner of the property following his fiance's death. O'Hare had remained in Cheshire with her teenage kids while Mr Pacey moved into their Spitalfields home. She reportedly claimed he had promised to pay her back once he sold a £1.2million apartment above his shop in Shoreditch. To reassure her, he had allegedly agreed to put half of his £5million fireplace business in her name, but never did. Ms O'Hare said they had promised to share the cost of renovation work, but she footed most of the bills when he failed to pay contractors. This included a whopping £14,000 bill for radiator valves alone. The mum had already taken a loan to pay for the property and used funds from her divorce with millionaire investment boss ex Steve O'Hare. Mr Pacey allegedly gave her documents to sign, which led her to believe he was in the process of sorting out the legal side of things. According to the MailOnline, she said that she also received messages telling her her name was on the title deed of the flat or shop to reassure her. Later, she allegedly claimed Mr Pacey had been controlling and that their relationship had broken down multiple times. Legal papers reportedly described their relationship as 'turbulent.' They were engaged in December 2022, but by May 2024, the pair had separated permanently. She was pursuing legal action in the High Court, and the pair were due to face off at trial in the coming months. Tragically, her body was found on June 30 outside her apartment block in Manchester city centre. Police have confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, and an inquest is due to open this week. Documents show Ms O'Hare believed she was entitled to full ownership of the Spitalfields property. But due to the agreement they signed in 2021, writing that if either of them died, the other would automatically inherit the house, the property reverted to Mr Pacey. He now has full ownership of the home after O'Hare's sudden death. In a defence statement submitted to the court, Mr Pacey denied persuading Rachel to buy the house in their joint names. Mr Pacey says that Rachel agreed to do so because they were in love. He also claimed that there was no discussion about him paying for half of the house or transferring over 50 per cent of his business. The defence document said: "The parties (Ms O'Hare and Mr Pacey) were going to get married and there was just no discussion about who owned what. Mr Pacey also has denied being controlling and claimed that the couple only seriously argued twice - once in Kent, during the summer of 2023, and once in New York in May 2024. He says that Rachel was drunk during both occasions. In his defence statement, dated February this year, he also denied refusing allowing Rachel access to the house or not paying bills and threatening to trash it. Mr Pacey claims that he paid £70,000 towards the house's refurbishment and that provided much of the furniture from his shop. According to him, he installed six Italian fireplaces worth £350,000. According to his statement, Mr Pacey wanted to get the Georgian Townhouse and the maisonette, in order to buy Rachel out of both properties. When approached by the Daily Mail, Mr Pacey refused to speak about any legal disputes with Rachel. Instead, he said: "I worshipped the ground Rachel walked on." Mr Pacey also claimed that his former fiancée had been suffering from poor mental health in the weeks leading up to her death and had allegedly recently been treated in hospital. He added: "I'm suffering with my own mental health. I don't want to be here without her."
