On December 21, 2021 Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) reported William A. Geist has been appointed President, Protein Sciences Segment, effective January 3, 2022 (Press release, Bio-Techne, DEC 21, 2021, View Source [SID1234597522]). Mr. Geist succeeds N. David Eansor, who will be retiring from the Company. Mr. Eansor will remain with Bio-Techne through the end of February 2022 to ensure a smooth transition.

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Mr. Geist has over two decades of experience as a senior life science tools leader, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for Quanterix, where he was responsible for enterprise-wide operations and strategy deployment. Previously Mr. Geist was Vice President & General Manager for two of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s largest Business Units, Protein & Cell Analysis and qPCR. Prior to Thermo Fisher Scientific, Mr. Geist was Vice President of QuantaBiosciences, a QIAGEN company, where he held various roles of increasing responsibility from the company’s inception through its acquisition.

"I want to personally thank Dave for his leadership and significant contributions over the last seven years at Bio-Techne. He has played an integral role in the Company’s success, and I wish him the best in his retirement," said Chuck Kummeth, President and Chief Executive of Bio-Techne. "Will is joining Bio-Techne at a very exciting point in the Company’s growth trajectory. His experience running life science tools businesses generating over $1 billion in annual revenue make him the ideal candidate to take the Protein Sciences Segment through its next phase of growth."

On December 21, 2021 Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. ("Apollo") (NASDAQ: APEN), a global leader in less invasive medical devices for gastrointestinal and bariatric procedures, reported that it has entered into a debt financing agreement with an affiliate of Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC ("Innovatus") to provide Apollo with up to $100 million in term loan financing (Press release, Apollo Endosurgery, DEC 21, 2021, View Source [SID1234597520]).

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"We are pleased to partner with a long-term strategic investor such as Innovatus in this transaction," said Chas McKhann, president and CEO. "This new loan facility provides us flexibility to invest in our business and fund our growth initiatives through minimally-dilutive financing. Importantly, with this additional capital source, our management team can focus on unlocking the value in our business through continued execution."

The new term loan reduces Apollo’s cost of capital, extends amortization by an additional 33 months over the prior term loan and decreases debt service cash requirements by nearly $30 million over the next three years.

"Innovatus is excited to work with Apollo and its management team," said Claes Ekstrom, Managing Director. "We believe this transaction enables Apollo to accelerate the adoption of its portfolio of highly differentiated products across a wide range of patient needs."

On December 21, 2021, Apollo entered into a loan and security agreement (the "Loan Agreement") pursuant to which Innovatus has agreed to make certain term loans in the aggregate principal amount of up to $100 million, with the first $35 million tranche (Term A Tranche) to be funded at closing and used to retire Apollo’s existing term debt facility with SLR Capital Partners.

Apollo will be eligible to draw on additional tranches commencing June 30, 2022 as follows:
•Term B Tranche of $15 million between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, upon achievement of certain revenue milestones;
•Term C Tranche of $25 million between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, upon achievement of certain revenue milestones; and
•Term D Tranche of up to $25 million second between June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2024, for the purposes of financing all or part of any approved acquisition.

Borrowing under the Loan Agreement will bear interest at the greater of the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate or 3.25%, plus 4.0% (currently, 7.25%). Apollo is entitled to make interest-only payments for 60 months, followed by monthly payments of principal and interest through maturity on the sixth anniversary of the initial funding date.

The Loan Agreement is secured by substantially all of Apollo’s assets.

Prior to December 21, 2025, Innovatus will have the right, but not the obligation, to make a one-time election to convert up to 10% of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the term Loans into shares of common stock of Apollo. Such shares shall be issued at a price per share equal to $11.50.

Credo 180 acted as sole financial advisor to Apollo on this transaction.

Additional details regarding the financing will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which Apollo will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days of the date of this press release.

On December 21, 2021 Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGS), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in viral and liver diseases, reported that Lawrence M. Blatt, Ph.D., MBA, Chairman and CEO of Aligos, will present at the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 5:15 pm ET (Press release, Aligos Therapeutics, DEC 21, 2021, View Source/news-releases/news-release-details/aligos-therapeutics-present-40th-annual-jp-morgan-healthcare" target="_blank" title="View Source/news-releases/news-release-details/aligos-therapeutics-present-40th-annual-jp-morgan-healthcare" rel="nofollow">View Source [SID1234597519]). Both the presentation and the Q&A session will be held virtually.

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An audio webcast of the presentation will be available through the Aligos investor section of the website. View Source

The Aligos management team will also participate in investor 1×1 meetings during the conference. Please contact your J.P. Morgan Healthcare representative to schedule virtual one-on-one meetings with Aligos during the conference. For more information about the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, please refer to the Conference Website.

On December 21, 2021 Abbott (NYSE: ABT) reported that it will present virtually at the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 (Press release, Abbott, DEC 21, 2021, View Source [SID1234597518]). Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, will present at 8 a.m. Central time.

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A live webcast of the presentation will be accessible through Abbott’s Investor Relations website at www.abbottinvestor.com. An archived edition of the presentation will be available later that day.

On December 21, 2021 Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. reported that it has selected three projects after rigorous screening of entries submitted for the first Taiho Smile Support, a program to support organizations and individuals working to solve social issues in the field of oncology (Press release, Taiho, DEC 21, 2021, View Source [SID1234597516]).

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Selected Projects
Project Name
Organization Name
Play with Us! We want to create Japan’s first gaming room at a children’s hospice where teenage cancer patients can really have fun! Children’s Hospice Project
Available only in Japanese
We want everyone to read the picture book Beneath the Tree of Kindness: Me, My Illness and the Family House again! Family House
Yokohama Children’s Hospice
UMI TO SORA NO OUCHI (a home of sea and sky): "Connecting Through Green" Project
Yokohama Children’s Hospice Project
Each organization will start crowdfunding for its project at its own timing.

Through this program, Taiho Pharmaceutical aims to support the dreams of organizations and individuals who are working to address challenges in the field of oncology. In partnership with these organizations, individuals, and all of the people who support them via crowdfunding, Taiho Pharmaceutical seeks to create a world where the precious moments of everyday life keep flowing for cancer patients and their families, "Today and Every Day."

Round One of Taiho Smile Support
(View Source; Available only in Japanese)

Taiho Smile Support is an initiative to support organizations and individuals seeking to solve various social issues in the field of oncology that cannot be solved by drugs alone. Taiho Pharmaceutical called for organizations and individuals who plan to use crowdfunding to raise funds to address these social issues. Selected organizations and individuals will conduct a crowdfunding campaign and, if they reach their funding target,1 they will receive from Taiho Pharmaceutical, in the form of a donation, matching funds equal to the target they have raised.

1 The crowdfunding target (not including the crowdfunding fee) is to be 50% of all funds needed to carry out the project. If the target is met, Taiho Pharmaceutical will provide the remaining 50%. Thus, the success of the crowdfunding campaign will determine whether or not Taiho Pharmaceutical will provide support.

●Matching gift support to be provided: Early June 2022
●Project period: June 2022 to May 2023