Latest news with #WilliamJenkins
Business News Wales
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Sauna Venture Thrives with Business Wales Support
Business Wales case studyHikitalo Sauna – William Jenkins WALES NEWS SERVICE A Welsh-born entrepreneur, raised in the Netherlands, has turned to Business Wales to help bring the restorative power of Scandinavian-style saunas to the shores of Porthcawl and Rest Bay. William Jenkins launched Hikitalo Sauna in November 2024, bringing a Finnish-inspired wellness retreat to Sandy Bay. The sustainable, custom-built facility was made possible through expert guidance and financial support from Business Wales. Within a year, Hikitalo's popularity has seen it awarded 'Best Waterside Sauna 2025' at the British Sauna Society's Sauna Summit and launch a second location employing seven people in Rest Bay. William's passion for sauna culture began after a demanding career in the fintech industry took a toll on his mental health. The entrepreneur turned to holistic wellbeing practices, finding solace in sauna and heat therapy. Inspired by his transformative experience and the realisation that running his own business would benefit his own mental health, William returned to Wales with a vision to create a company centred on wellness and connection to nature. Recognising the challenges of launching a start up, William approached Business Wales for advice on securing funding and developing his venture. With expert guidance from Business Adviser, Victoria Owens, William was able to navigate the support landscape and explore funding opportunities. Her advice helped him secure a loan from the Development Bank of Wales to invest in a custom-built sauna facility powered by solar lighting and fuelled by locally sourced firewood. As a result, Hikitalo Sauna was able to begin providing both private and communal sessions, allowing visitors to experience the therapeutic interplay of heat and cold exposure, promoting relaxation and wellbeing. William is no stranger to launching his own ventures, having previously appeared on Dragon's Den with an earlier business idea. Reflecting on Business Wales' pivotal role in bringing Hikitalo Sauna to life, William said: 'Business Wales has been a crucial partner in helping me navigate the early stages of setting up my business. From providing access to funding options, to helping me focus on sustainability with green energy and sourcing, their support has been exceptional. 'I've always been entrepreneurial, and after seeing the incredible benefits saunas had on my mental and physical well-being, I knew I wanted to share that with others. I'm extremely grateful to Victoria for helping me to make Hikitalo a reality. This isn't just about creating a place to relax; it's about building community and offering people a space where they can come together, disconnect from the stress of daily life, and focus on their well-being.' To reinforce his commitment to sustainability, William received support from Victoria, enabling him to adopt Business Wales' Green Growth and Equality pledges, ensuring that Hikitalo Sauna's practices and growth align with environmental best practices. Business Wales also provided essential training and a webinar on business development, equipping William with the skills necessary to scale his enterprise effectively. With continued support from Business Wales, William plans to pursue further expansion across Wales to make Nordic wellness traditions more widely accessible, strengthening community wellbeing. Business Wales Business Adviser, Victoria Owen, said: 'Having gone through his own struggles, William's passion for starting up this kind of business shone through from the first time we spoke He has the monopoly on something very niche that is becoming more and more prominent within Wales and I am delighted to see his passion paying off. It was a pleasure to be able to support him on his journey as he works to encourage a healthier lifestyle and to provide community and support to others.' Business Wales is funded by Welsh Government. For more information and support to help your business discover opportunities, and to speak to a specialist advisor, contact Business Wales. Visit or call 03000 6 03000. Rydym yn croesawu galwadau'n Gymraeg – we welcome calls in Welsh.
Medscape
10-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Mavacamten Showing Real-World Success in Treating oHCM
MANCHESTER — Mavacamten (Camzyos, Bristol Myers Squibb) continues to show promising results in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM), a consultant cardiologist said at the recent British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference 2025. William Jenkins, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, said that real world outcomes mirror those from clinical trials, including EXPLORER and VALOR-HCM. High Rates of Symptom Improvement Notably, data from three UK centres showed that about 70%-80% of patients experienced symptomatic improvement with mavacamten treatment. In addition, 90% saw a 30mmHg drop in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient – considered a significant reduction in obstruction. William Jenkins Although patients initially required 'very intense echocardiographic surveillance', Jenkins said 'it gets much easier' after the first few months of treatment. 'I think our reliance upon echocardiography will probably reduce as we get more experience with this,' he told Medscape News UK . A First-in-Class Therapy Mavacamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor, is the first drug of its kind. It works by normalising contractility, reducing dynamic LVOT obstruction, and improving cardiac filling pressures in people with HCM. 'HCM is something that develops over decades,' Jenkins said. 'You can develop symptoms early, but you can have those symptoms for a really long time before you go on to develop other things like abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, or dying suddenly.' He added that although oHCM is considered rare, many patients could benefit from treatment. Managing HCM still falls within general cardiology in some centres, Jenkins noted, raising concerns that patients may not be reviewed as frequently as needed. 'People live with it for years and years — if not decades — before they develop any of the end stage features of HCM,' Jenkins said. 'They can become very adapted to their symptoms.' Patient Advocacy and Experience Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects around 1 in 500 people in the UK and US, with about two thirds of cases involving obstruction. Katharine McIntosh, head of research and policy at Cardiomyopathy UK, told Medscape News UK that mavacamten had been a 'cause for excitement' among patients. 'It's the first big cardiomyopathy-specific drug.' McIntosh expressed frustration at the slow rollout of the drug, which was recommended for NHS use in England and Wales in 2023 and in Scotland in 2024. 'It's at the point now where one would have thought that everyone who should be on it would be getting onto it. But that's just not been the case,' she said. A recent Cardiomyopathy UK survey found that patients who accessed mavacamten were 'very positive' about its effects. Respondents described it as 'life changing' and felt like they had been given their lives back, McIntosh said. Challenges Facing Widespread Use One barrier is that mavacamten must be prescribed and monitored by specialists experienced in treating cardiomyopathies – resources not available at all centres. Prescribing guidance states that patients require echocardiography before and at regular intervals after starting treatment. Genetic testing for Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 (CYP2C19) is also needed to guide dosing. Long-Term Outlook Jenkins said that three key issues must be considered before prescribing mavacamten: Close early monitoring is needed, as the drug can cause left ventricular systolic dysfunction. CYP2C19-related drug interactions require pharmacy input. Counselling is essential due to potential foetal toxicity risks. 'Most people tolerate this [drug] very well', he said. After the initial 12-week period, follow-up can be reduced to every 3-6 months. 'This is an indefinite medication for a lot of people' Jenkins said. However, with an estimated annual cost of almost £14,000 per patient, he stressed the need for careful initial use. 'Right now, the indication is for symptomatic, severe LVOT obstruction,' he said. However, 'there's no reason in the long-term why this shouldn't become first-line'. Whether mavacamten offers benefit for oHCM patients without obstruction remains unclear. Jenkins has acted as a consultant to BMS and AstraZeneca. McIntosh had no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced for Memorial Day shooting at Grafton Walmart
GRAFTON, (WBOY) — A Pennsylvania man will serve up to 20 years in prison for charges related to a shooting at the Grafton Walmart in 2023 and a pursuit that followed. William Jenkins, 24 of Friendsville, PA, was arrested after he fired multiple shots inside the Grafton Walmart on Memorial Day, hitting one victim. Officials said that Jenkins and the victim were among a group of people who had traveled from Pennsylvania to buy tree spikes. After the shots, Jenkins fled the scene in a vehicle that later became disabled on East Grafton Road. He was in the hospital for weeks from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials told 12 News at that time. Jenkins pleaded guilty on the following charges back in May 2024: Attempted second degree murder Wanton endangerment involving a firearm Use or presentation of a firearm during commission of a felony Fleeing in vehicle from law enforcement showing reckless indifference for the safety of others During a hearing on Feb. 21, 2025, Jenkins was sentenced to 14-20 years for the four felony charges. That time will be served consecutively. According to court documents, the court found that Jenkins was not suitable for alternative sentencing 'due to the atrocious, violent nature of the offenses, the danger to all those involved and the danger to the general public in Taylor County.' Philippi woman charged after child in her care allegedly ate gummies 'purchased from smoke shop' 'The Court believes that the Defendant is remorseful, however, the Court has great concern for what would happen if the Defendant were to get a break on his sentence,' documentation from the Taylor County Circuit Court says. The court also order that the possibility of restitution for the victim and Walmart be reviewed; if an agreement is not reached between the state the defense, there will be a additional hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
