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SIOUX FALLS, SD / ACCESS Newswire / December 2, 2025 / Avel eCare is pleased to announce the appointment of Pat Gundersen as its new Chief Revenue Officer, bringing more than twenty years of leadership experience in healthcare, healthcare technology, and go-to-market strategy.

Gundersen is a seasoned C-Suite leader known for building high-performing teams, strengthening client relationships, and accelerating growth for healthcare technology and service organizations. His background includes guiding sales, client success, and strategic partnership functions while helping companies expand their market presence in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Throughout his career, Gundersen has demonstrated a talent for uniting clinical, operational, and commercial teams around shared goals. He is recognized for:

• GTM strategy and execution that helps organizations launch new offerings with clarity and confidence

• Strategic partnerships that advance innovation and improve customer outcomes

• Client retention frameworks built around strong relationships and consultative support

• Cross-functional collaboration with product, marketing, and clinical leaders to align solutions with customer needs

• Data-driven decision making that sharpens forecasting, strengthens revenue planning, and elevates market differentiation

• Mergers and acquisitions leadership, including the integration of multiple acquisition partners and participation in complex organizational transitions

“Pat brings a rare combination of strategic insight, operational depth, and a deep understanding of the healthcare environment,” said Doug Duskin, Chief Executive Officer of Avel eCare. “His ability to cultivate strong client partnerships and grow teams aligns perfectly with our mission to support hospitals, clinics, EMS teams, and communities nationwide.”

Gundersen joins Avel at a time of continued expansion across its ten telemedicine service lines, including emergency, behavioral health, virtual nursing, ICU, pharmacy, school health, and more. His leadership will help accelerate Avel’s work to advance access to care, support overburdened clinical teams, and deliver reliable, patient-centered telemedicine.

“I have long admired Avel’s commitment to serving clinicians and patients in the moments that matter most,” said Gundersen. “The team’s culture, innovation, and dedication to quality set the standard for virtual care. I am excited to help expand this impact and support the partners who rely on Avel every day.”

Gundersen will oversee revenue strategy, business development, client management, and the continued growth of Avel’s national footprint.

About Avel eCare
Avel eCare is a proven telemedicine partner that supports healthcare teams with reliable, real-time clinical expertise. With more than thirty years of experience delivering virtual care, Avel provides hospitals, clinics, EMS agencies, schools, and long-term care facilities with immediate access to board-certified physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, and behavioral health experts. Avel’s ten service lines help reduce transfers, support clinicians, enhance patient outcomes, and bring high-quality care to communities across the nation. Learn more at www.avelecare.com.

Contact:

Jessica Gaikowski, Director of Marketing & Communications
media@avelecare.com | 605.606.0150

Learn more at www.avelecare.com

SOURCE: Avel eCare

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

New Analysis Reveals Real Hourly Pay is Falling Double-Digits Behind Inflation in Major Metros, Fueling a Localized Affordability Crisis and the Most Geographically Uneven Holiday Earnings Season Since the Pandemic

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / December 2, 2025 / As businesses gear up for the holiday rush, a new Instawork analysis reveals the widest affordability declines are now concentrated in San Francisco and Seattle, where real hourly pay has fallen furthest behind inflation since early 2022.

By contrast, Atlanta and New York have swung into positive real-wage territory, making them the most affordable major metros heading into the holidays. Chicago sits squarely in the middle, though worsening year-over-year.

Pay Index Winners and Losers

Hourly wages on Instawork have risen 13.65% since February 2022, but inflation rose faster – 14.81% – confirming that real wages nationally have slipped behind rising prices.

But, importantly, the national average masks a hyper-local labor market reality: These affordability challenges vary dramatically by metro area, widening the gap between what workers earn and the price of everyday essentials.

How to Read the Data:

The percentages represent the gap between local wage growth and inflation (Consumer Price Index or CPI) since early 2022.

Specifically:

A negative number = wages are losing to inflation.

A positive number = wages are outpacing inflation.

Hardest-Hit Markets: Largest Declines in Real Purchasing Power

Here’s where the gap between wage growth and inflation has widened the most since February 2022 – and where workers are staying closer to even.

San Francisco: -18.94%
Now the most expensive major metro. Affordability eroded sharply over the past year, driven by elevated services inflation and cooling wage growth in events and logistics.

Seattle: -14.91%
Still deeply underwater. Tech-sector cooling and softer warehouse demand slowed wage gains while living costs continued to rise.

Middle Tier: Real Wages Eroding, But Not Collapsing

Chicago: -9.97%
Real earnings are slipping faster year over year. Wage growth has not kept pace with local prices, particularly across warehouse and hospitality segments.

Most Resilient Markets: Real Purchasing Power Improving

Atlanta: +5.34%
One of the few markets beating inflation. Strong logistics infrastructure, film production cycles, and warehouse competition are pushing wages ahead of prices.

New York City: +1.40%
One of the biggest turnarounds in the country. Wage growth has finally overtaken inflation, boosted by hospitality demand, warehousing activity, and sharper peak-season staffing discipline.

“The labor market isn’t one story – it’s five very different ones,” said Ashwin Somakur, Senior Economics Analyst at Instawork. “In some cities, a paycheck stretches less than ever. In others, wages are finally beating inflation. That split is changing how businesses staff – and how workers earn – in real time.

“Where affordability gaps are widest, companies are leaning on flexible labor to stay agile, and workers are taking extra shifts to keep up. It’s the clearest sign yet that flexibility is no longer optional – it’s the adjustment mechanism in a high-cost economy.”

Signals for 2026: What the Wage-Inflation Gap Suggests for the Year Ahead

Instawork’s analysis points to three early trends that could shape local labor markets in 2026.

1. Stable Wages May Attract New Investment

Cities like Atlanta and New York, where real wages have held steady with inflation, could become more attractive for logistics, hospitality, and events investment next year. Stable real wages often signal a healthier, more predictable balance between labor supply, demand, and pricing pressure.

2. Flexible Staffing as a Volatility Hedge

As businesses face unpredictable consumer spending and cost pressure, more are relying on shift-based staffing to precisely match labor to real-time demand. This allows employers to stay responsive without the risk of committing to permanent headcount changes.

3. Real-Time Staffing is the New Competitive Advantage

Instawork filled ~95% of shifts in 2025, often within hours – giving operators a clear, fast way to match labor to real-time needs and compete in unpredictable markets.

About the Instawork Quarterly Pay Index

The Quarterly Pay Index measures the relationship between hourly wages and consumer prices across key U.S. metros, providing one of the most accurate real-time views of current labor market dynamics. All series are indexed to February 2022 (100), with real-wage change calculated as wage growth minus the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Data sources include Instawork transactions (2022-2025), and The Bureau of Labor Statistics, including the Employer Cost Index and Consumer Price Index.

About Instawork

Instawork is the leading AI-powered marketplace in the U.S. and Canada, connecting local businesses with more than nine million skilled hourly professionals across hospitality, industrial, and retail. With its network of verified professionals and industry-leading trust and safety, Instawork helps companies like DoorDash, Hilton, Alibaba, and Walmart scale staffing with speed and confidence.

Our top-rated app attracts the largest pool of talent by offering flexibility, competitive pay, and meaningful opportunities for advancement – keeping businesses fully staffed and operational in fast-changing labor markets.

SOURCE: Instawork

Related Documents:

• 2025 Dec Quarterly Pay Index .pdf

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / December 2, 2025 / American Critical Minerals Corp. (“American Critical Minerals” or the “Company“) (CSE:KCLI)(OTCQB:APCOF)(FRANKFURT:2P30) is pleased to provide an update on planning and preparations for its upcoming initial drill program at the Green River Potash and Lithium Project in Utah’s Paradox Basin.

Highlights:

• After recently closing a Bought Deal Offering (including Full Exercise of the Underwriter’s Option) and Concurrent Non-Brokered Offering for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $7,451,000, the Company is capitalized to pay final bonding and launch drilling;

• With the appointment of Dean Pekeski and with the existing Technical and Advisory Team, the Company now has the inhouse expertise and technical capability to drill and develop this Project;

• TheCompany has 3 Drill Holes within its State of Utah Potash Mineral Leases (“SITLA Leases“) which are fully permitted and bonded for drilling.

• The Company has 4 drill holes, within its recently granted BLM Potash Exploration Licenses, which are authorized, subject to Bonding, under its approved Plan of Operations (With the US Government Shut Down now concluded, the final bonding process is underway and should be completed shortly);

• Drill Target selection is complete based on recommendations from the Company’s Technical Team and the Company’s recently filed NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by Agapito Associates;

• Initial Drill Program (2-3 holes targeted) is designed to validate historic drill data and test, through coring and brine sampling, key Potash Horizons as well as Clastic Zones for Lithium and Bromine in the Paradox & Leadville Formations;

• Initial Drill Program is also designed to position the Company to complete Maiden Resource Estimates (“MREs“) and Pre-Feasibility Studies (“PFS“) or Preliminary Economic Assessments (“PEA“) for Potash, Lithium and Bromine;

• Drill Contractor evaluation and selection process is advancing to ensure execution of the appropriate and optimal drill program for validating historic oil and gas well data across the Project’s 32,530 acre land package; and

• The Company is targeting Q1, 2026 for mobilization of site preparation and drilling.

Simon Clarke, President and CEO, stated: “With our recent financing closed and Dean Pekeski now on board as Senior Advisor, we are driving forward with our Phase 1 Drill Program. The detailed approach outlined in our recently filed 43-101 Technical Report provides a clear roadmap for confirming the historic data from 22 oil and gas wells within and adjacent to our Project. This will enable Maiden Resource Estimates and Pre-Feasibility Studies / Preliminary Economic Assessments for Potash, Lithium and Bromine, thereby confirming that nearby potash production and lithium pilot operations are indeed evidence of the potential of our Project.

We are taking the time to ensure that we have the right contractors, equipment specifications, and operational plans in place to execute this key program as efficiently and safely as possible while optimizing results. Our focus is on delivering high-quality confirmation drilling that will validate historic data and enable us to drive the Project through development and beyond.”

Market Awareness Program

The Company also announces that it has amended its existing engagement with Machai Capital Inc. (“Machai“), to further expand its digital marketing and market awareness initiatives as the Company moves to launch its Phase 1 Drill Program. Under the amended terms, the budget allocated to Machai has been increased by an additional $500,000. Machai will continue to provide comprehensive digital marketing services, including the development and execution of in-depth campaigns focused on corporate branding, investor education, market awareness, and social media and e-mail outreach, all as agreed by the Company.

Machai remains an arm’s-length marketing, advertising, and public awareness firm based in Vancouver, B.C. The engagement is for a term of up to 12 months, ending September 18, 2026, and the Company does not intend to issue any securities to Machai as consideration for their services. For further information regarding the engagement of Machai, readers are encouraged to review the news release issued by the Company on September 23, 2025.

About American Critical Minerals’ Green River Potash and Lithium Project

The Green River Potash and Lithium Project is situated within Utah’s highly productive Paradox Basin, located 20 miles northwest of Moab, Utah. It has significant logistical advantages including close proximity to major rail hubs, airport, roads, water, towns and labour markets. It also benefits from close proximity to the agricultural and industrial heartland of America and numerous potential end-users for its products.

The history of oil and gas production across the Paradox Basin provides geologic data from historic wells across the Project, and the wider Basin, validating and de-risking the potential for high grade potash and large amounts of contained lithium. Wells in and around the project reported lithium up to 500 ppm, bromine up to 6,100 ppm and boron up to 1,260 ppm (Gilbride & Santos, 2012). This data is reinforced by nearby potash production and the advanced stage of neighbouring lithium projects. The Paradox Basin is believed to contain up to 56 billion tonnes of lithium brines, potentially the largest such resource in US (Source:AnsonFastmarketsPresentation- https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ASN/02823465.pdf ).

The Company’s National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101“) Potash Exploration Target consists of 500 million to 950 million tonnes of sylvinite (the most important source for the production of potash in North America) grading from 12% to 18% potassium oxide based on elog (eK2O=19% to 29% potassium chloride based on elog (eKCl)). Its Exploration Targets for Lithium and Bromine are 2.1 billion cubic meters (brine volume) grading from 71.6 to 216.3 parts per million lithium; and 2.1 billion cubic meters (brine volume) grading from 3,656 to 4,741 parts per million bromine.**

The Company holds a 100% interest in eleven State of Utah (“SITLA“) mineral and minerals salt leases covering approximately 7,050 acres, 1,094 federal lithium brine claims (BLM Placer Claims) covering 21,150 acres, and 11 federal (BLM) potash prospecting permits covering approximately 25,480 acres. Through these leases, permits and claims the Company has the ability to explore for potash, lithium and potential by-products across the entire Green River Project (approx. 32,530 acres). The Company is authorized to drill a total of 7 drill holes across the Project (pending bonding the recently approved 4 drill holes).

Intrepid Potash, Inc. is America’s largest potash company and only U.S. domestic potash producer and currently produces potash from its nearby Moab Solution Mine, which the Company believes provides strong evidence of stratigraphic continuity within this part of the Paradox Basin (www.intrepidpotash.com). Anson Resources Ltd. has advanced lithium development projects contiguous to the northern boundary of our Green River Project and neighbouring to the south. Anson has a large initial resource, robust definitive feasibility study and has recently completed successful piloting operations through its partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, as well as an offtake agreement with LG Energy Solution. The Anson exploration targets encompass the combined Mississippian Leadville Formation and the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation brine-bearing clastic layers, which also underlie American Critical Minerals’ entire project area (www.ansonresources.com)*.

In 2022, the U.S. imported approx. 96.5% of its annual potash requirements with domestic producers receiving a higher sales price due to proximity to market (intrepidpotash.com/ August 15, 2024, Investor Presentation). In March 2024, the US Senate introduced a bill to include key fertilizers and potash on the US Department of Interior list of Critical Minerals which already includes lithium, and this process is well advanced with potash being added to the USGS Draft Critical Minerals List. In August 2025. Recent market estimates suggest that the global potash market is over US$50 billion annually and growing at a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of close to 5%. Annual lithium demand is now estimated to be over 1 million tonnes globally and continuing to grow rapidly***.

****Exploration Targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define them as Mineral Resources, and, while reasonable potential may exist, it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource under NI 43-101.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the Chief Operations Officer of the Company and a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Simon Clarke, President & CEO
Contact: (604)-551-9665

*American Critical Minerals’ management cautions that results or discoveries on properties in proximity to the American Critical Minerals’ properties may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company’s properties.

**A report titled “NI 43-101 Technical Report – Green River Potash and Lithium Project, Grand County, Utah, USA”, prepared by Agapito Associates Inc., and dated October 27, 2025, quantifies the Green River Potash Project’s potash, lithium and bromine exploration potential in the form of NI 43-101 Exploration Targets. The Exploration Target estimate was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. It should be noted that Exploration Targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define them as Mineral Resources, and, while reasonable potential may exist, it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource under NI 43-101. Details of the basis on which the Exploration Targets have been determined is included in the Report. The Exploration Target stated in the Report is not being reported as part of any Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve. A copy of the report can be accessed on both SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the corporate website for the Company: www.acmineralscorp.com.

***United States Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2024 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024-potash.pdf).

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: use of proceeds; statements about exploration targets; goals of the Company; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; and future exploration prospects.

Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A.

Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: American Critical Minerals Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Phase 1 results show that SUL-238 is safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrates favorable pharmacokinetics with high CSF penetration in healthy elderly volunteers, supporting its advancement into further clinical development for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

ANKARA, TR / ACCESS Newswire / December 2, 2025 / GEN Pharmaceuticals (GENIL.IS), Türkiye’s leading specialty pharmaceutical company, has announced new positive results from its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of first-in-class, novel orally administered mitochondria-directed drug candidate SUL-238 in healthy elderly volunteers. The findings were presented at the 18^th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) in San Diego, CA (United States) today.

SUL-238 was originally discovered by Sulfateq and has since been further developed through a collaborative effort of Sulfateq and GEN as a novel therapeutic in neurodegenerative diseases.

This Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) after multiple-ascending doses (MAD) of orally administered SUL-238 in healthy elderly men and women (aged ≥40 years). The study included two cohorts with a treatment period of 14 days and a safety follow-up through 14 days after the last dose. 15 healthy adults in each cohort were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive SUL-238 or placebo. Total daily dose of SUL-238 was 4000 mg (2000 mg b.i.d., first cohort) or 4500 mg (1500 mg t.i.d., second cohort). SUL-238 demonstrated an excellent safety and tolerability profile after multiple doses in both cohorts, while demonstrating a favourable PK profile and a high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration, making it a promising candidate for further clinical development in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Key Findings:

Safety in both cohorts:

• No clinically significant changes were observed in physical and neurological exams, vital signs, ECG, and clinical laboratory parameters.

• AE rates were comparable between participants receiving SUL-238 and placebo.

• All AEs were of mild intensity or considered not related to SUL-238.

First cohort PK (2000 mg b.i.d.):

• SUL-238 was rapidly absorbed with a mean time to maximum plasma concentration (T_max) reached at 1.25(±0.54) and 1.50(±0.53) hours on day 1 and day 14, respectively.

• Mean terminal elimination half-life (t_1/2) was3.50(±1.06) hours on day 14.

• Mean trough plasma concentration of SUL-238 was 39.23(±24.31) ng/mL and 41.49(±18.20) ng/mL on day 8 and day 14, respectively.

Second cohort PK (1500 mg t.i.d.):

• SUL-238 was rapidly absorbed, with a mean time to maximum plasma concentration (T_max) reached at 0.95(±0.16) and 1.00(±0.00) hours on day 1 and day 14, respectively.

• Mean terminal elimination half-life (t_1/2):3.74(±1.84) hours on day 14.

• Mean trough plasma concentration of SUL-238 was 57.98(±31.08) and 60.63(±64.14) ng/mL on day 8 and day 14, respectively.

Abidin Gülmüş, Chairman of GEN, stated:
“We’re greatly motivated by these new positive results of SUL-238 in our Phase 1 trial, which mark a key advance toward addressing Alzheimer’s disease at its biological foundation.”

Nadir Ulu, MD, PhD, Vice President of R&D at GEN, added:
“With its excellent safety and PK profile in this Multiple Ascending Dose Phase 1 trial, SUL-238 continues to represent a very strong drug candidate for further clinical development aimed at meeting the critical unmet needs in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

About SUL-238
SUL-238 is a novel, first-in-class, hibernation-derived small molecule designed to target mitochondria, the ‘powerhouse’ of the cell. SUL-238 supports mitochondrial bioenergetics via complex I/IV activation and enhances mitochondrial function in various preclinical models for neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and renal diseases, as well as in accelerated aging. SUL-238 exhibits the capability to cross the blood-brain barrier and has undergone extensive safety evaluation in preclinical and clinical Phase 1 studies. GEN licenses SUL-238 from Sulfateq B.V. for neurodegenerative disease applications.

About GEN:
Founded in 1998, GEN is Türkiye’s leading specialty pharmaceutical company, focused on developing innovative therapies across multiple therapeutic areas. Through significant R&D investments and global collaborations, GEN is committed to advancing healthcare worldwide. The company develops and manufactures high-quality, competitive products at its GMP-certified production facility and continues its bold efforts in original drug development via two dedicated R&D centers.

About Sulfateq:

Sulfateq B.V. is an early-stage Dutch biotech company that fosters strategic collaborations with academic and industrial research centres to accelerate the development of innovative new medicines. It has developed a novel class of small molecules, the SUL-compounds, that maintain mitochondrial health.

For more information:
www.genilac.com.tr
www.sulfateqbv.com

Contact Information

Bulutay Güneş
Sr. Head of Corporate Brand
b.gunes@genilac.com

Fatih Gören
Investor Relations Manager
f.goren@genilac.com

SOURCE: GEN İlaç ve Sağlık Ürünleri A.Ş.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire