McMaster University

Pioneering Precision Engineering to Transform Global Therapeutics DeliveryVANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- Branded Legacy, Inc. (OTC:BLEG), a leader in innovative addiction treatment and harm reduction solutions, today announced that its subsidiary, BioLegacy Evaluative Group Inc., has initiated engineering and development of a unitary device mold for its proprietary air-driven intranasal drug delivery platform. This milestone marks a significant step toward scalable production of its groundbreaking single-use device, designed to deliver rapid, consistent, and reliable therapeutics, including its flagship inhaled naloxone program. The unitary device mold defines the form and function of the innovative air-driven system, ensuring precision and scalability in alignment with the company’s rigorous User Requirements Specification (URS). This development paves the way for high-volume, cost-effective manufacturing to meet global pharmaceutical standards. “This is a key technical milestone that bridges concept to commercial manufacturing,” said Mark O’Connor, Product Development Manager at BioLegacy Evaluative Group. “By advancing the mold design in accordance with our URS framework, we’re ensuring that every production step from material selection to form and function meets the standards required for global pharmaceutical deployment.” This achievement builds on Branded Legacy’s recent momentum, including the September 2025 filing of a provisional patent for its Air-Driven Unitary Intranasal Drug Delivery Device for Stable and Reconstitutable Medicaments, as announced on GlobeNewswire. It also complements the company’s newly established GMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Vancouver, unveiled on September 23, 2025, which enhances production capabilities for life-saving therapies. Together, these advancements position Branded Legacy to address critical public health challenges, such as the opioid crisis, with affordable and accessible solutions. Watch a short video of Dr. Mark O’Connor outlining the mold engineering process on our X page this afternoon: https://x.com/BrandedLegacy About BioLegacy Evaluative Group, Inc. BioLegacy Evaluative Group Inc. is a life sciences company dedicated to developing innovative therapies and devices addressing urgent global health challenges. With strategic partnerships at McMaster University and Stanford University, and a newly acquired GMP-compliant manufacturing facility, BioLegacy is positioned to deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions in areas of high unmet need. About Branded Legacy, Inc. Branded Legacy, Inc. (OTC:BLEG) is a forward-thinking holdings company dedicated to pioneering solutions in addiction treatment and harm reduction. Through its subsidiary, BioLegacy Evaluative Group, and strategic collaborations with leading institutions like McMaster University and Stanford University, the company drives transformative research and innovation. With a state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing facility in Vancouver, Branded Legacy leverages advanced production capabilities to deliver cutting-edge products, positioning itself as a leader in addressing critical public health challenges. For more information, visit www.brandedlegacy.com. Investor Relations Branded Legacy, Inc. Email: info@brandedlegacy.com Phone: 877-250-9077 Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, including projections regarding market growth, revenue potential, and development timelines, are based on current expectations and beliefs and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Branded Legacy undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law. InvestorWire Service Contact: IBN Austin, Texas www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 512.354.7000 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

McMaster researchers found that deep abdominal and liver fat can quietly damage arteries, even in people who appear fit. Their MRI-based study of over 33,000 adults shows these fats are closely linked to artery thickening and stroke risk, regardless of cholesterol or blood pressure. The findings challenge BMI as a reliable indicator of health and suggest new imaging-based approaches to assessing cardiovascular risk. A large study led by scientists at McMaster University has found that fat stored deep inside the abdomen and liver can quietly injure arteries, even in people who seem healthy on the outside. The research, published on October 17, 2025, in Communications Medicine, questions the long-standing use of body-mass index (BMI) as a reliable indicator of obesity and heart risk. It offers new evidence that the fat people cannot see may be just as dangerous as the weight they can. Going Beyond BMI to Understand True Health Risks Visceral fat (which surrounds internal organs) and hepatic fat (fat stored in the liver) have long been associated with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. However, their direct impact on artery health had not been well established until now. Using advanced MRI scans and data from more than 33,000 adults in Canada and the United Kingdom, the researchers discovered that higher levels of visceral and liver fat were closely tied to thickening and clogging of the carotid arteries in the neck. These arteries carry blood to the brain, and when they narrow, they increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. "This study shows that even after accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure, visceral and liver fat still contribute to artery damage," says Russell de Souza, co-lead author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster. Hidden Fat Adds Risk Even in the Absence of Other Factors "The findings are a wake-up call for clinicians and the public alike," says de Souza, a faculty member in the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine, and member of the Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research (MODR) and at McMaster, the results should prompt both doctors and patients to pay attention to hidden fat, not just visible weight. He led the research with co-author Marie Pigeyre, associate professor in McMaster's Department of Medicine. The analysis drew from two major population studies: the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) and the UK Biobank. MRI scans were used to measure fat distribution and artery condition. The team found that visceral fat was consistently associated with plaque buildup and artery wall thickening, while liver fat had a smaller but still important effect. These relationships remained significant even after adjusting for lifestyle habits and metabolic risk factors such as diet, exercise, and cholesterol. Rethinking How We Measure Obesity The findings highlight the need for clinicians to look beyond BMI or waist measurements when assessing heart risk. Imaging tests that reveal fat stored around internal organs may offer a more accurate picture of cardiovascular health. For people in midlife, the study is a reminder that even a normal weight does not guarantee a healthy heart. Hidden fat can quietly increase the risk of serious disease without obvious physical signs. "You can't always tell by looking at someone whether they have visceral or liver fat," says Sonia Anand, corresponding author of the study, a vascular medicine specialist at Hamilton Health Sciences and professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster. "This kind of fat is metabolically active and dangerous; it's linked to inflammation and artery damage even in people who aren't visibly overweight. That's why it's so important to rethink how we assess obesity and cardiovascular risk." This research was supported by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, with additional contributions from the Population Health Research Institute, Montreal Heart Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and others. MRI reading costs were supported in-kind by Sunnybrook Hospital, and Bayer AG provided IV contrast. The study also drew on data from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health and the PURE Study.

(From left) McMaster PhD student Denise Catacutan and Professor Jon Stokes. Credit: © 2025 McMaster University. Researchers from Canada’s McMaster University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US have discovered a new antibiotic to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The researchers also utilised a new type of AI to predict the antibiotic’s mechanism of action (MOA) – the first instance of its kind globally. Discovered at McMaster, the new antibiotic, which is called enterololin, presents a potential new therapy for individuals living with Crohn’s disease and other related conditions. The narrow-spectrum drug targets a specific group of pathogens, the Enterobacteriaceae family, which includes harmful E coli strains. This approach not only eliminates the disease-causing bacteria but also minimises the risk of drug-resistant variants taking hold in the gut. According to McMaster’s Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences assistant professor Jon Stokes, MOA trials are crucial yet time-consuming and costly. Using AI, his team was able to carry out enterololin’s trial in six months at a cost of C$60,000 ($43,030). GlobalData Strategic Intelligence US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis. By GlobalData Learn more about Strategic Intelligence The collaboration with MIT’s Computer Science and AI lab (CSAIL) was instrumental in this process. AI provided a prediction in 100 seconds, suggesting that the drug targets the LolCDE protein complex, vital for the specific bacteria’s survival. While the AI’s prediction required validation through traditional lab studies, it significantly narrowed down the research focus and accelerated the discovery process. Stokes stated: “AI has expedited the rate at which we can explore chemical space for new drug candidates, but, until now, it has done little to alleviate a major bottleneck in drug development, which is understanding what these new drug candidates actually do.” The subsequent lab investigations, spearheaded by McMaster graduate student Denise Catacutan, confirmed the accuracy of the AI prediction. Stokes continued: “Currently, we can’t just assume that these AI models are totally right, but the notion that it could be right took the guesswork out of our next steps.” Stokes emphasises that AI is a tool to aid in the drug discovery process, not an end in itself. His spin-out company, Stoked Bio, has licensed enterololin and is refining the drug for human use at present. The company is also exploring modified versions of the antibiotic to combat other drug-resistant bacteria. Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering Gain the recognition you deserve! The Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving pharmaceutical advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today! Nominate Now