Latest news with #Devonian
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Dangerous predator' — 350 million years old — is new species in Canada creekbed
On an inner beach in Nova Scotia, layers of stone and sediment are battered by water. The area is susceptible to the extreme tides in the Bay of Fundy, pulling anything on the surface out to sea, possibly lost forever. For centuries, researchers, geologists and paleontologists have studied Blue Beach because of its abundant fossil record, and in recent years they have worked to start collecting, preserving and categorizing the bones found there. Researchers Chris Mansky and Sonja Wood founded the Blue Beach Fossil Museum as part of this mission, and now their work has led to the discovery of a new prehistoric species. Wood, who died last year, is credited with finding a jaw bone for a previously undescribed species in a study published June 18 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 'She (a wheelchair user) was out with Chris along the road at Blue Beach when she got a good feeling that a fossil would be found in the nearby creek,' Conrad Wilson, a Ph.D. candidate at Carleton University and lead author on the study, told McClatchy News in an email. 'She pointed Chris down the rocky embankment into the creek bed and that's where he found the fossil.' The jaw is long and curved and teeth protrude from the bone, according to the study. The teeth near the back of the jaw were conical and nearly vertical, while those near the front were strongly curved backward in a hook-like structure The jaw was identified as a species of actinopterygian, or predatory ray-finned fish, a group that is 'hugely important today,' Wilson said. 'Today, they include more than 50% of all vertebrates and pretty much any fish that is fished commercially, and range from sturgeon to tuna,' Wilson said. '... This one was close to 3 feet long and is strikingly different from its contemporaries because of the curvature of its jaws and the size and anatomy of its fangs.' Each type of tooth served a different purpose in making the fish a 'dangerous predator,' Wilson said. Hooked teeth at the front of the jaw would capture the fish's prey in their mouth, holding them in while the pointed fangs in the back could 'pierce' the creature and 'chop it up,' according to Wilson. This is the earliest record of this kind of dentition in ray-finned fishes, appearing about 350 million years ago, Wilson said. The species was named Sphyragnathus tyche, combining Greek words 'sphyra,' meaning hammer and 'gnathus,' meaning jaw for the genus, according to the study. The species name, Tyche, refers to the Greek goddess of fortune for 'the fortunate circumstances of the fossil's discovery.' Aside from a distinction as a new species, the hammer jaw fish also tells researchers about how all ray-finned fish fared after a catastrophic event. Lots of species were lost at the end of the Devonian period, which ended about 358.9 million years ago, to a mass extinction and the diversity of fish declined, Wilson wrote in a June 24 article published in The Conversation. 'One point of debate revolves around how actinopterygians (ray-finned fishes) diversified as the modern vertebrate world was born — whether they explored new ways of feeding or swimming first,' Wilson wrote. By noting and analyzing the unique teeth, researchers suggest the group of fish focused first on changing their feeding strategy evolutionarily, instead of adapting their swimming, according to Wilson. 'The fossils are telling us about what the fish existing right after a mass extinction looked like,' Wilson told CBC News. '... The beach where this fossil was discovered tells us … this is a group of animals that is doing well, pretty quickly, after a mass extinction.' Blue Beach is on the inner shore of Nova Scotia, on Canada's east coast. The research team includes Wilson, Mansky and Jason S. Anderson.
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Devonian Health Group Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results
QUÉBEC CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Devonian Health Group Inc. (' Devonian ' or the ' Company ') (TSXV: GSD; OTCQB: DVHGF), today announced financial results for its third quarter ended on April 30, 2025. Management Comments ' The operating cash flows generated by Altius revenues continued to support the development progress of Thykamine™, our lead product candidate, While our distribution agreement for DEXLANSOPRAZOLE has now ended, our liquidity has enabled us to continue creating value by advancing our Thykamine™ development program,' said Dr André Boulet, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Business Highlights Completed preclinical studies designed to demonstrate new potential applications of Thykamine™ across even more inflammatory diseases, including MASH and fibrosis. Appointment of Dr Andre Boulet as Chief Executive Officer Appointment of Luc Gregoire as Executive Vice-President Strategy Financial Highlights Distribution revenue for the third quarter was $7.36 million driven by DEXLANSOPRAZOLE revenues which launched in early 2024 but has now ended as of April 2025 The Company recorded during the quarter a non-cash impairment loss of $4.84 million against goodwill and intangible assets associated with the expiration of the Dexlansoprazole agreement which represented 95% of revenue in the current fiscal year to date Net loss for the quarter was $4.8 million, or $0.032 per share, entirely attributable to the $4.84 million non-cash impairment loss mentioned above To consult the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine month periods ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, please click on the following link: About Devonian Devonian Health Group is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of drugs for various auto-immune inflammatory conditions with novel therapeutic approaches to targeting unmet medical needs. Devonian's core strategy is to develop prescription drugs for the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases including but not limited to ulcerative colitis and atopic dermatitis. Based on a foundation of over 15 years of research, Devonian's focus is further supported by a US FDA set of regulatory guidelines favoring a more efficient drug development pathway for prescription botanical drug products over those of traditional prescription medicines. Devonian is also involved in the development of high-value cosmeceutical products leveraging the same proprietary approach employed with their pharmaceutical offerings. Devonian also owns a commercialization subsidiary, Altius Healthcare Inc., focused on selling prescription pharmaceutical products in Canada, under license from brand name pharmaceutical companies. Devonian Health Group Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Québec, Canada where it owns a state-of-the art extraction facility with full traceability 'from the seed to the pill'. Devonian is traded publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange (the ' Exchange ') (TSXV: GSD) and on OTCQB exchange (OTCQB: DVHGF). For more information, visit About Altius Altius is a generic pharmaceutical distribution division with a primary focus of acquiring and in-licensing safe and innovative medicines and healthcare products designed to help people of all ages live healthier lives. Altius then leverages its expertise in the commercialization activities required to successfully launch and distribute these medicines in Canada. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to those relating, the impact of proposed optimizations at the Company's projects, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, changes in accounting policies, the impact of inflation, the PCT patents for Thykamine™ might not be granted, and, generally, the above 'About Devonian' and 'About Altius' paragraphs, which essentially describes the Company's outlook, constitute 'forward-looking information' or 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of certain securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct and there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the applicable securities regulators of Canada. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Hamilton Spectator
21-06-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Researchers discover ancient predatory, fanged fish that swam in Nova Scotia waters
HALIFAX - Researchers have discovered a new species of ancient fish with hooked front fangs that made them a fearsome and effective predator. A paper published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology this week says the long, curved jaw of the animal sheds light on how fish were evolving smaller, front teeth that acted like fishing hooks, about 350 million years ago. Meanwhile, the centimetre-long back fangs were used to chew the catch before digestion into a body that may have been almost a metre long. They hunted for prey in the inland waters of Nova Scotia, in what was likely a vast inland lake. Lead author Conrad Wilson, a doctoral candidate in paleontology at Carleton University, said in an interview Friday that the fish has been named Sphyragnathus tyche, with the first phrase meaning 'hammer jaw.' 'I would say it's a fairly fearsome looking fish. If its mouth is open, you would see those fangs in the jaw,' he said. But the fossil is also significant for the clues it offers to the evolution of ray-finned fish — a huge and diverse vertebrate group that occupies a wide range of aquatic and semi-aquatic environments around the globe. 'These fish were the last major group of vertebrates to be identified and we still have big gaps in our knowledge about their early evolution,' said the researcher, who published his paper with Chris Mansky, a fossil researcher at the Blue Beach Fossil Museum in Hantsport, N.S., and Jason Anderson, a professor of anatomy at the veterinary faculty at the University of Calgary. 'The fossils are telling us about what the fish existing right after a mass extinction looked like,' said Wilson, referring to the transition from the Devonian to the Carboniferous periods. Wilson says paleontologists have wondered how ray-finned fish recovered from the extinction period as other groups of fish, such as the heavily armed category referred to as placoderms, were disappearing. 'The beach where this fossil was discovered tells us is ... this is a group of animals that is doing well, pretty quickly, after a mass extinction,' he said. The paper theorizes that the feeding methods of the evolving teeth may have played a role, creating an evolutionary advantage for the species. Wilson noted 'that particular feature of the curved and pointy fang at the front and processing fangs at the back became a feature of many species in times to come.' The area where the fossil was found — at Blue Beach on the Minas Basin, about 90 kilometres north of Halifax — was believed to be part of a vast freshwater lake not far from the ocean. The research team's paper credits Sonja Wood, former director of the Blue Beach Fossil Museum, for finding the fossilized jaw by urging Mansky to check along a creek that flowed onto the beach. Wood, who died last year, was in a wheelchair and had urged her colleague to search the area. 'She had a good feeling about what could be found ... and she said he should go and have a look,' said Wilson. 'He went down and sure enough it (the jaw fossil) was sitting right there,' said the researcher, adding that Mansky managed to recover the fossil before a storm rolled through that night. Wilson said more discoveries are possible as examination of the fossils from the Blue Beach area continues. 'We have lots of different anatomies that simply haven't been described yet. And we'll be working on that in a paper that's coming up in a few months,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
Int'l Business Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Passion, Plants, and Phase III: Devonian Health Group Is on a Mission to Disrupt Inflammation Therapy
While the industry might be dominated by synthetic compounds, billion-dollar VC funds, and long, uncertain development timelines, Devonian Health Group Inc. is proving there is another way. As a publicly traded company, under the leadership of its founder and CEO, Dr. André P. Boulet, Devonian has quietly advanced multi-target drug candidates and a cutting-edge cosmeceutical line, backed not by institutional investors but by a network of Canadian family offices made up of dentists, physicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Boulet's journey to this unconventional success story reads like a masterclass in risk, reinvention, and scientific conviction. "I'm a venture capitalist in my heart," Boulet says. "But I'm also a scientist. When I saw the anti-inflammatory results of this botanical extract technology from a university agriculture project, I knew this had real potential. So, I followed my instinct and took the risk." With a PhD in physiology-endocrinology, postdoctoral training in biochemistry and biophysics, and experience leading cardiovascular clinical research programs, Boulet's transition from academia to venture capital was swift. After climbing the pharmaceutical ladder and managing funds in Montreal, he exited his partnership and launched what would become Devonian Health Group in 2015. At its core, Devonian is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, with its lead drug candidate, Thykamine ™, poised to enter Phase III clinical trials for atopic dermatitis and soon pediatric eczema. "Traditional pharma was built on the 'silver bullet,' one target, one mechanism," Boulet explains. "But now science is evolving. We're moving toward therapies that modulate multiple pathways. That's exactly what Thykamine does without shutting down important immune functions like TNF-alpha. That's why our efficacy is high, but side effects are minimal." What sets Devonian apart isn't just its marquee drug but the platform behind it. The company's patented SUPREX™ technology allows for water-based extraction, purification, and stabilization of Active Botanical Ingredients (ABIs) from plants and algae. These complexes modulate inflammation at the genetic level across multiple diseases, offering a broad pipeline of possibilities. To date, Thykamine™ has demonstrated strong results in its Phase II trial. Both gastrointestinal (ulcerative colitis) and dermatological (eczema) models have shown significant symptom relief and safety comparable to placebo. Remarkably, all this has been achieved without traditional VC backing. Boulet credits this to his deep network of entrepreneurial allies and his belief in business-first partnerships. "We've raised funds to advance to Phase III, built an extraction and production facility, and kept the company debt-free," he says. While the pharmaceutical arm garners headlines, Devonian's cosmeceutical division is equally ambitious. Operating under the Purgenesis™ brand, the company has developed a premium line of anti-aging creams containing its patented botanical ingredient R-Spinasome®, a photosynthetic cell extract with dynamic antioxidant properties. What makes Purgenesis™ unusual in the beauty space is its clinical rigor. Devonian has conducted peer-reviewed, pharma-grade clinical trials on the entire product line, something virtually unheard of in the cosmeceutical industry. "We've scientifically proven a reduction in wrinkles," says Boulet. "Not just pretty pictures, but peer-reviewed, published data. We're the only ones doing cosmeceuticals the pharma way." With day, night, and eye creams already developed and a professional-grade serum in the pipeline, Devonian is currently seeking commercial partners to bring Purgenesis™ to a global market hungry for results-backed skincare. Perhaps the most unusual aspect of Devonian's success is how personal it all feels. There are no Silicon Valley investors or hedge fund suits behind the curtain, just a network of entrepreneurs who believe in the mission. "Working with family offices is stimulating," Boulet says. "You get input from pharmacists, dentists, and industrialists. We face challenges together, and we have fun doing it." The company's headquarters in Québec includes a full-scale extraction and production facility, providing complete traceability from seed to pill. This vertical integration helps with both cutting costs, yes, but also ensuring product consistency. For Boulet, the journey has been one of passion and perseverance. "In life, there's always a risk," he reflects. "But if you surround yourself with the right people and believe in what you're building, that risk becomes your fuel. That's what Devonian is about: science, instinct, and community." As the company readies for Phase III trials in both pharmaceuticals and final-stage commercialization of its skincare line, Devonian Health Group stands as a testament to the power of conviction and the potential of plants to reshape the future of medicine.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Devonian Appoints New Officers and Announces Grant of Stock Options
QUÉBEC CITY, June 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Devonian Health Group Inc. ("Devonian" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: GSD; OTCQB: DVHGF), a clinical stage corporation focused on developing unique solutions to inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of Dr. André Boulet as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, replacing Mr. Luc Gregoire who will continue in the new role of Executive Vice-President Strategy of the Corporation, effective June 9, 2025. "As we enter a new phase of development, we are fortunate to retain Luc's deep strategic insight and leadership in a role focused on long-term planning and innovation. As Executive Vice President of Strategy, he will continue to drive key initiatives, ensuring continuity and alignment with our mission while supporting the executive team through this important transition," stated Dr. Boulet, President & CEO of the Company. "I look forward to continuing to advise the executive team and help garner support from external stakeholders, as the Company sharpens its focus on its high potential anti-inflammatory clinical programs," said Luc Gregoire. The Corporation also announced that its board of directors has approved the grant of options to purchase common shares of the Corporation (the "Stock Options") primarily for a director of the Corporation and the Chief Financial Officer, both of whom joined the organization in the past few months. The Stock Options were granted at an exercise price of $0.15 for a period of 10 years from the date of grant, which ends on June 9, 2035. An aggregate of 438,596 Stock Options was granted to a director of the Corporation and an aggregate of 850,000 Stock Options was granted to employees of the Corporation. 50.33% of these Stock Options are exercisable immediately, 12.42 % shall vest upon the date that is 12 months from the date of issuance; 12.42 % shall vest upon the date that is 24 months from the date of issuance 12.42 % shall vest upon the date that is 36 months from the date of issuance and the remaining 12.42 % shall vest upon the date that is 48 months from the date of issuance. About Devonian Devonian Health Group Inc. is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of drugs for various auto-immune inflammatory conditions with novel therapeutic approaches to targeting unmet medical needs. Devonian's core strategy is to develop prescription drugs for the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases including but not limited to ulcerative colitis and atopic dermatitis. Based on a foundation of over 15 years of research, Devonian's focus is further supported by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration set of regulatory guidelines favoring a more efficient drug development pathway for prescription botanical drug products over those of traditional prescription medicines. Devonian is also involved in the development of high-value cosmeceutical products leveraging the same proprietary approach employed with their pharmaceutical offerings. Devonian also owns a commercialization subsidiary, Altius Healthcare Inc., focused on selling prescription pharmaceutical products in Canada, under license from brand name pharmaceutical companies. Devonian Health Group Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Québec, Canada where it owns a state-of-the art extraction facility with full traceability 'from the seed to the pill'. Devonian is traded publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") (TSXV: GSD) and on OTCQB exchange (OTCQB: DVHGF). For more information, visit Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to those relating, the appointment of Ms. Krasteva as Chief Financial Officer and, generally, the above "About Devonian" paragraph, which essentially describes the Corporation's outlook, constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct and there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the applicable securities regulators of Canada. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View source version on Contacts Devonian Health Group Inc. Dr. André BouletChief Executive OfficerTelephone: 1 (514) 248-7509E-mail: investors@ Sign in to access your portfolio
