Latest news with #StevenKing
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rugby stars take on Rhino Week
Scottburgh High is proud of four of its skilled rugby players – Liam Munsami, Steven King, Lunga Mngoma and Brisbane Gomez. These youngsters represented KZN at National Rhino Week held recently. Competing under the Southern KZN banner, the players secured their positions, earning significant acclaim for both the school and the Ugu District through their selection. The tournament kicked off with a strong showing on day one. Munsami, in the U14 division, guided his team to a closely contested 12-12 draw against the Fezile Dabi Cobras, highlighting his talent and resolve. In the U17 division, Mngoma tackled a tough match with Southern KZN suffering a 0-36 defeat to Sedibeng, though his perseverance underscored the team's spirit. Meanwhile, in the U19 category, Gomez and King led Southern KZN to a tight 8-7 win over Ekurhuleni, proving their strength on the pitch. Their commitment and ability earned them this esteemed opportunity, with the Scottburgh High community offering unwavering support. The boys are wished the best of luck for future challenges, and gratitude is shown to coaches Jaco Koekemoer and Gerhard Vermaak, whose expertise and encouragement were key to their success. The rugby boys give a special shoutout to all sponsors who helped them participate in this tournament. HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Coca Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement Authorized by Peru's National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) Supports Research Efforts of Jaguar Health and Filament Health Joint Venture, Magdalena Biosciences, into Potential Mental Health and CNS Indications of Coca
Magdalena is focused on developing novel, natural prescription medicines derived from plants for mental health indications SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 8, 2025 / Jaguar Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAGX) ("Jaguar") today announced that an access and benefit sharing agreement focused on two cultivated species of the coca plant - Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense - from Peru has been signed between Peru's National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) and Psilo Scientific, a subsidiary of Filament Health Corp. (OTC:FLHLF) ("Filament"). The access agreement authorizes the research program of Magdalena Biosciences ("Magdalena"), a US-based joint venture formed by Jaguar and Filament, into a variety of potential mental health and central nervous system (CNS) indications for coca. "Psilo Scientific, Filament, Jaguar and Magdalena are very pleased about the signing of this coca access agreement," said Steven King, Ph.D., Jaguar's Chief Sustainable Supply and Ethnobotanical Research Officer and an Advisor to Magdalena. "As part of the authorization of this research project, an Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC) has been granted and published on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) website. The CBD is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity, and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources. An IRCC is a key mechanism under the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources and indigenous knowledge." "The entire Magdalena team is deeply grateful to our Peruvian partner organizations in this research program, the Univeridad Nacional Agraria La Molina (La Molina) and the Empresa Nacional de La Coca (ENACO) for their collaboration, expertise and guidance," said Dr. King. "We are also grateful to the people of the Andean region who have domesticated the sacred plant, 'mama coca', which is and has been interwoven in the ritual, spiritual and traditional medicine of indigenous and non-indigenous communities for centuries. A great deal of the history and current work on coca was presented by indigenous leaders, scientists, government officials, social scientists and nonprofit public health experts in Peru at the Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit , organized by the McKenna Academy , in February 2025." Magdalena's mission is to develop novel, safe, efficacious next-generation psychoactive FDA-approved plant-based drugs under FDA Botanical Guidance for mental health and CNS indications. "We believe that the development of Botanical Drugs from 'whole extract' coca leaf can provide therapeutic benefit, and that the development process will benefit the people of Peru, who have been sustainably producing coca leaves for several thousand years," said Dr. Karen Brunke, Jaguar's EVP of Corporate and Business Development and Acting CEO of Magdalena. "In traditional medicine, coca leaves are utilized as a remedy for a wide variety of conditions, ranging from alleviating oral pain, digestive maladies, hunger, and altitude sickness, as well as muscular and skeletal aches. Many commonly used neuropsychiatric medications have side effects such as personality changes or sedation. With centuries of use by indigenous healers and traditional psychiatrists, plant-derived medicines offer potential new mechanisms of action for treating mental disorders while being potentially safer than chemically synthesized small molecule drugs that may have 'off target' effects." "The authorization from INIA to Magdalena and Psilo Scientific is a key step in the important work of exploring coca leaf's therapeutic potential for the treatment of various mental health and CNS indications," said Benjamin Lightburn, Chief Executive Officer of Filament Health and Magdalena Board Member. ABOUT MAGDALENA BIOSCIENCES Jaguar Health, Inc. and Filament Health Corp. formed Magdalena Biosciences, Inc. as a joint venture in 2023 to develop novel, natural prescription medicines derived from plants for mental health and CNS indications. Boulder, Colorado-based One Small Planet , founded by Will Peterffy, has committed to funding of US$1,000,000. The goal of the collaboration is to extend the botanical drug development capabilities of Jaguar and Filament in order to develop pharmaceutical-grade, standardized drug candidates for mental health disorders. ABOUT FILAMENT HEALTH (OTC:FLHLF) Filament Health is a clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company. We believe that safe, standardized, naturally-derived psychedelic medicines can improve the lives of many, and our mission is to see them in the hands of everyone who needs them as soon as possible. Filament's platform of proprietary intellectual property enables the discovery, development, and delivery of natural psychedelic medicines. We are paving the way with what we believe to be the first-ever natural psychedelic drug candidates. Learn more at and on Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn . ABOUT THE JAGUAR HEALTH FAMILY OF COMPANIES Jaguar Health, Inc. (Jaguar) is a commercial stage pharmaceuticals company focused on developing novel proprietary prescription medicines sustainably derived from plants from rainforest areas for people and animals with gastrointestinal distress, specifically associated with overactive bowel, which includes symptoms such as chronic debilitating diarrhea, urgency, bowel incontinence, and cramping pain. Jaguar family company Napo Pharmaceuticals (Napo) focuses on developing and commercializing human prescription pharmaceuticals for essential supportive care and management of neglected gastrointestinal symptoms across multiple complicated disease states. Napo's crofelemer is FDA-approved under the brand name Mytesi ® for the symptomatic relief of noninfectious diarrhea in adults with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy. Jaguar family company Napo Therapeutics is an Italian corporation Jaguar established in Milan, Italy in 2021 focused on expanding crofelemer access in Europe and specifically for orphan diseases. Jaguar Animal Health is a Jaguar tradename. Magdalena Biosciences, a joint venture formed by Jaguar and Filament Health Corp. that emerged from Jaguar's Entheogen Therapeutics Initiative (ETI), is focused on developing novel prescription medicines derived from plants for mental health indications. For more information about: Jaguar Health, visit Napo Pharmaceuticals, visit Napo Therapeutics, visit Magdalena Biosciences, visit Visit the Make Cancer Less Shitty patient advocacy program on Bluesky , X , Facebook & Instagram Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." These include statements regarding the belief that the development of Botanical Drugs from 'whole extract' coca leaf can provide therapeutic benefit, and that the development process will benefit the people of Peru. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "aim," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are only predictions. Jaguar has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond Jaguar's control. Except as required by applicable law, Jaguar does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. Source: Jaguar Health, Inc. Contact Info: hello@ Jaguar-JAGX SOURCE: Jaguar Health, Inc.
Metro
26-05-2025
- Metro
UK's mystical rainforest that's ‘like a movie set' but ‘haunted by a ghost dog'
When you hear 'rainforest', you might think of the Amazon in Brazil or the Congo Basin – but did you know there are rainforests here in the UK? The UK is home to patches of temperate rainforests – rare habitats that are thought to be even more endangered than those found in the tropics. They're found on the Western coastlines in the UK – and one in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, was previously named in a list of Britain's best 'off the beaten track' locations to visit. Wistman's Wood, known as Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve, is important for its fragile mosses, lichens, heathland and grassland species. But there are plenty more reasons to visit… Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. With oak trees growing in odd directions, alongside granite boulders and wildflowers, a walk through Wistman's Wood can feel like stepping into an otherworldly fantasy land. Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that visitors report spooky goings on after dark. Some report seeing a 'ghost dog', or hearing eerie whispers as the wind blows. Legend has it that there's an angry pack of bloodthirsty hellhounds who hunt across the moors at night, searching for lost souls and explorers who've lost their way. They're even said to guard the gates to the Underworld. If that's not scary enough, another tale tells the story of a man who attempted to fell one of the ancient trees… but the oaks got their revenge, curling their roots around the man, crushing him to death. It's said his cries can still be heard at night. However, that hasn't put visitors off from exploring the stunning site. There are numerous five star reviews of the place on TripAdvisor. One traveller said Wistman's Wood looked like it was 'straight out of a Harry Potter set', adding: 'This is a very peaceful place, but dare you stay after sunset???' Another reviewer likened it to a 'Steven King cinema set', and a different visitor described it as 'mystical and magical.' Meanwhile, on TikTok, one user said: 'It feels like walking through a scene from Lord of the Rings'. The look and feel of the forest makes it a must-see, but it's also a historic site. Wistman's Wood is a remnant of Dartmoor's ancient forest dating back to around 7000 BCE. Originally covered with stunted oak trees, the wood has changed over the years and has seen the emergence of new straight-grown oaks alongside the growth of its older trees. Some of these ancient oaks are estimated to be 400 to 500 years old. The origin of the name of this petite oak wood is shrouded in various theories. Some believe it came from the presence of Druids in the wood who purportedly conducted rituals within. This meant it was dubbed 'Wise Man's Wood.' Alternatively, some believe the name stems from the Saxon term 'wis,' denoting knowledge, or 'Wissman,' translating to 'Wood of the Wise Man.' For those who prefer a more mysterious association, the term 'Wisht' also connotes being led astray by pixies. In folklore, pixies are mischievous pranksters, often playing tricks on unsuspecting visitors to this wood. Travelling to Wistman's Wood is not the easiest of excursions, and weather on the moor can change quickly and drastically – so if you do want to visit, be prepared for all conditions. The wood is located in the Dart River Valley which is a very remote area of Devon's Dartmoor National Park. It is closest to the area Two Bridges, with the larger tourist hub Princetown – which is home to the National Park Visitor Centre – nearby. Trying to reach Princetown by car, you'll be looking at a one-hour journey from the city of Exeter, 2 hours and 20 minutes from Bristol, or a lengthy 4 hours and 30 minutes from London. More Trending According to the official Dartmoor website, a small car park for visitors is available in Two Bridges, opposite Two Bridges Hotel. Spaces are very limited and best avoided at busy times. Then the footpath to Wistman's Wood from the car park and back again is about 4km. It is advised that visitors give themselves at least one hour to complete the return walk. After all, you don't want to get stuck here after dark. This article was originally published in March 2024. As Wistman's Wood is an important nature area, visitors are urged to adhere to the following rules: Don't walk through the wood or scramble across the rocky boulders, this will destroy the lichens and mosses. Every footstep makes a difference. Don't remove branches or pick lichens and mosses. Don't light fires or barbeques Wild camping is not allowed in this area Cycling is not allowed on the footpath or moorland. Check where you can cycle. Leave no trace, give nature space Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Europe's highest capital city has no airport or trains and could fit into London 121 times MORE: Unspoiled 'Turkish Maldives' is a paradise island just 40 minutes from the mainland MORE: 'Quiet' UK beach with 'crystal clear waters' named country's best coastal hidden gem
