SAN FRANCISCO and PORTLAND, Ore. and BOSTON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Drug Hunter, the intelligence platform for drug discovery teams, today announced the launch of Molecule Search, a significant upgrade to its structure search experience. The update allows researchers to run parallel searches across FDA-Approved Drugs, Modern Clinical Compounds, Recent Disclosures, and Drug Hunter indexed molecules simultaneously, reducing the time and effort required to move from a structural query to a meaningful insight.

Structure-based research has long required scientists to navigate multiple tools and disconnected databases. This release consolidates those workflows into a single, more intuitive experience as the platform now pairs chemical matter with biological context, including indexed targets, mechanisms of action, 3D structure information, and therapeutic areas, without requiring users to leave the platform.

“Scientists increasingly need to explore chemical and biological data together,” said Dennis Hu, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Drug Hunter. “This update brings discovery teams a ‘one-stop shop’ for the key chemical and biological data needed to contextualize industry precedents.” “

The Molecule Search update introduces several connected capabilities:

Parallel structure search across Drug Hunter Molecules, FDA-Approved Drugs, and Modern Clinical Compounds with 2D molecular property refinementBiological context for chemical matter, with disclosures indexed by drug target or pathogen and mechanism of actionReferenceable compound & protein structural data within search resultsVisual landscape tools to overlay approved drugs, clinical compounds, and disclosures in chemical space, or isolate a dataset for deeper analysis

“Scientists rarely lack access to data. This is becoming even more of an issue as AI-based tools expand the net wider than ever. The problem is connecting it,” said John Overington, Ph.D., Chief Data Officer at Drug Hunter. “Molecule Search brings chemical structure and biological context into the same query, so researchers spend less time assembling a picture and more time understanding it.”

Molecule Search is available now to all Drug Hunter members. Researchers and R&D teams interested in accessing the platform can request a personalized demo at www.drughunter.com/.

About Drug Hunter

Drug Hunter is a scientist-built intelligence platform that helps drug discovery organizations rapidly act on insights from the rest of the industry. By analyzing and distilling actionable precedents from thousands of industry sources into a searchable, structured platform, Drug Hunter gives drug discovery teams the chemical and biological lessons they need to make confident, strategic decisions. Founded and operated by industry scientists, Drug Hunter is trusted by more than 200 biotech and pharma organizations worldwide.

Website: www.drughunter.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drug-hunter-launches-molecule-search-a-unified-structure-search-experience-across-chemical-and-biological-data-302748985.html

SOURCE Drug Hunter

With organizations under growing pressure to improve hiring accuracy, McLean & Company’s latest research highlights why traditional talent selection methods are becoming harder to defend. The global HR research and advisory firm warns that poorly designed assessments can limit visibility into candidate fit and weaken hiring decisions at a time when talent choices carry greater business risk. In its newly published blueprint, Inform Talent Selection Using Optimized Assessments, the firm provides HR leaders with a five-step framework to strengthen candidate evaluation and improve quality of hire.

TORONTO, April 21, 2026 /CNW/ – The current hiring market is being defined by tighter talent pools and changing skill demands, and many organizations are making critical hiring decisions without a clear picture of who is truly right for the role due to outdated selection methods. Newly published research from McLean & Company highlights the scale of that challenge: 67% of the average HR department says candidate selection is important to achieving business and HR goals, but only 31% believe they are very effective at it (McLean & Company Management & Governance Diagnostic, 2023-2025). The firm’s research, Inform Talent Selection Using Optimized Assessments, responds to that gap with a practical five-step framework to help HR leaders use assessments more intentionally and make better-informed hiring decisions in the current landscape.

According to the research insights recently published by McLean & Company, thoughtfully designed assessments give organizations a clearer, more defensible way to evaluate talent. Rather than stopping at qualifications, the firm’s recommended approach can help hiring teams better evaluate the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for success, as well as other key factors including culture fit and growth potential. That shift is becoming more important as organizations place greater value on skills-based hiring: the firm’s data indicates that 65% of HR respondents say adopting skills-based hiring practices will have a high impact on organizational performance (McLean & Company, HR Trends Report 2025). In addition, organizations that match individuals with work based on skills and interests are 1.4 times more likely to also have high organizational performance (McLean & Company, HR Trends Report 2025). These findings reinforce the value of structured, data-informed hiring practices that focus on candidate capability rather than relying too heavily on conventional experience alone.

“Every hiring decision is an investment in the organization’s future, but the path to making the right choice is rarely straightforward,” says Adrian Shackelford, practice lead, HR Research & Advisory Services, at McLean & Company. “HR leaders should use assessments as one part of a broader, evidence-based selection process, ensuring they are aligned to role requirements, validated for use, and supported by clear human oversight.”

The HR research and advisory firm’s findings also highlight a growing disconnect between AI adoption and organizational readiness in hiring. According to McLean & Company’s HR Trends Report 2025, while 59% of HR respondents say they are already using AI in talent acquisition, only 7% say they have a formal, documented AI strategy. McLean & Company cautions that without clear guardrails, human oversight, legal alignment, digital fluency, and antifaking measures, AI-enabled assessments can create as many problems as they solve, introducing bias, compliance risk, inaccurate outputs, and misplaced confidence in flawed results.

McLean & Company’s Key Priorities for HR Leaders to Optimize Talent Selection Assessments

To address evolving talent acquisition challenges, McLean & Company recommends a structured and evidence-based approach to candidate selection. The firm’s recently published research outlines the following critical priorities for HR leaders:

Determine the scope of optimization by collecting internal data, analyzing feedback, and identifying where assessment improvements will have the greatest impact for HR and their organizations.Prepare for assessment optimization by engaging key players, reviewing the current talent acquisition process, and inventorying current assessments.Select assessment methods by conducting job analysis, defining selection criteria, and choosing methods aligned to role-specific requirements.Finalize assessment decisions by updating the hiring process, allocating resources, and determining whether to build assessments internally or work with external vendors.Administer and evaluate assessments by setting metrics, training users, monitoring results, and continuously improving the process over time.

The firm’s blueprint, Inform Talent Selection Using Optimized Assessments, includes a five-step framework supported by practical tools and templates to help HR leaders optimize assessments across the selection process. McLean & Company also helps organizations turn these insights into action through its Create a Talent Acquisition Strategy workshop, which supports HR teams in defining strategic objectives, assessing gaps in foundational talent acquisition elements, prioritizing what to address, and selecting the right strategic projects. Together with the firm’s research, the workshop gives HR leaders a practical way to strengthen talent acquisition strategy, align hiring efforts to business needs, and build a more focused, effective approach to candidate selection.

Media Inquiries for McLean & Company HR Analysts and Industry Experts

For exclusive and timely commentary from McLean & Company’s experts and access to the complete Inform Talent Selection Using Optimized Assessments resource, please contact ktame@infotech.com.

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today’s needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm’s member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership and HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.

McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact ktame@infotech.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outdated-methods-are-undermining-hiring-decisions-says-mclean–company-302749007.html

SOURCE McLean & Company

In Recognition of National Financial Literacy Month, E8 Markets Is Using One Trader’s $377k Payout Run to Raise Awareness of the Costly Dangers of Depositing With a Broker

DALLAS, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — E8 Markets, a SaaS educational simulation platform for financial markets, is issuing a stern warning to retail traders of forex, futures, and crypto: deposit with a broker, and you risk losing thousands before ever gaining traction. The risks never show up in one clean sweep. They leak from the trader’s account through dozens of small, costly, and avoidable mistakes that compound until the trader’s money is gone.

“No one should have to lose $5,000 on a broker with little or no guidance or assurance of future success,” said Dylan Elchami, CEO of E8 Markets. “With our platform, any trader can start with as little as $36 in enrollment fees, get access to $5,000 in simulated capital, and gradually build their skills and earn performance-based payouts without risking their own capital in the market.”

Regulators Disclose The Real Risks for Retail Traders

In a December 2024 advisory, the CFTC stated that most individual traders lose money trading futures and foreign currency after fees and taxes. The CFTC’s Forex Frauds page notes that about two out of three retail forex traders lose money each quarter.

In Europe, ESMA reported that 74% to 89% of retail CFD accounts lost money, with average losses ranging from €1,600 to €29,000 per client. FINRA and the SEC’s margin bulletin both warn of how leverage can turn a normal loss into one exceeding the trader’s original cash investment.

Brokers profit even when their customers don’t. Trader losses accumulate through complicated order routing tactics, inaccurate or lagging market data, and rules designed to protect the broker rather than the trader. Traders pay heavily—not just for their own mistakes, but for not knowing what they don’t know about real-time trading in financial markets.

What Brokers Won’t Always Disclose (And Don’t Have to)

E8 Markets isn’t exposing a conspiracy. The real problem is that retail traders deposit money with brokers before understanding the pitfalls: volatility, leverage, hidden costs, tricky pricing and order execution, and the cost of learning under pressure.

Individual traders are outmatched by billion-dollar institutions trading with more capital, more speed, better data, and deeper execution experience. Brokers and intermediaries capture transaction revenue through spreads, commissions, and routing economics—costs that bleed from the individual investor’s account. These leaks slowly empty the trader’s deposit.

The SimFi™ Ecosystem: Protecting and Educating Traders

E8 Markets has created the first SimFi™ Ecosystem, giving traders the tools, community, support, and guardrails to learn how to trade financial markets without risking their own capital while earning performance-based payouts.

E8 has paid over $70 million in performance-based payouts to traders who learn and earn on its platform. Unlike brokers and fake prop firms, E8 benefits by gathering and analyzing real-time trading data from its users. This data drives tool development, guardrails, and educational materials that help traders navigate financial markets more effectively.

E8 users earn payouts in exchange for providing this real-time data, and the SimFi™ ecosystem becomes stronger and more reliable. This month, E8 is announcing a new loyalty program honoring Tom Gibbs, one of their top contributors and payout earners. The invitation expires April 30th and is only offered once a year during Financial Literacy Month. New users can start their SimFi™ journey for as little as $36, gradually building skills and earning payouts along the way.

The Success Story Behind the E8 Gibbs Loyalty Program

Tom Gibbs started as a small-town web designer and became one of E8’s top payout earners. His first payout—$414.95—took roughly 10 months to reach. From there, his progress accelerated as the SimFi™ Three Levers compounded: better decisions, more simulated capital, and repetition across multiple accounts. This process ultimately led Gibbs to over $377,000 in total payouts, including a single largest payout of $216,053.13.

“We think too many traders meet the market at the point of maximum pressure,” said Dylan Elchami, CEO of E8 Markets. “They are trying to learn, perform, and protect capital at the same time. Our view is that the better path is to train first, collect cleaner performance data, improve decisions through repetition, and only then decide how much live risk makes sense.”

A trader’s journey inside the SimFi™ Ecosystem is built on what E8 Markets calls the “3 Levers” of Trading Success:

These three levers explain Gibbs’ progress and the broader structure of the SimFi™ platform. His success didn’t start with a big payout—it started with that small $414.95 payout, which gradually compounded as he refined his strategy, became consistent, and earned the reputation and credibility to trade across over 20 SimFi™ Accounts. This final lever gave him the practice and scope to multiply his payouts until reaching $377k. It’s a different path from the common aspiration to “win big,” which often breeds bad trading habits that brokers capitalize on while the trader slowly empties their account making avoidable mistakes.

E8 Markets teaches that trading mastery doesn’t come from reading chart data alone. It comes from immersion in the SimFi™ ecosystem: the training environment, the challenge-to-performance pathway, measurement tools, coaching and mentorship, community support, and repeated exposure that helps traders understand how markets move. This empowers traders to earn payouts before risking personal capital.

For a preview of Gibbs’ full story, visit his biography page or join the Gibbs Club with E8 Markets loyalty discount code: GIBBS.

How the E8 Gibbs Loyalty Program Works

This month only, E8 Markets is announcing the GIBBS Club Loyalty Program. Eligible users have two options for getting started:

“The E8 Signature account is the perfect vehicle for users who want to start small and gradually build their skills and earn payouts with minimal upfront risk,” says Elchami.

Option 2: Users with more experience who want to go faster can start for 30% off first purchase of an E8 One account PLUS 20% off all additional accounts purchased.

Users pay a small enrollment fee to access their education and begin their SimFi™ Challenge. In this simulated environment, they prove they have the patience and discipline to qualify for performance-based payouts in the SimFi™ Performance Account.

As long as users follow E8’s Guardrails, they earn performance-based payouts and build reputation that qualifies them for more simulated capital to trade with, enabling them to scale their payouts. Users who don’t follow the guardrails are sent back to re-enroll in the E8 Challenge.

This is where the real power of the Gibbs Loyalty Program emerges: E8 is offering all new users one free account reset. If a user breaks guardrails and loses account standing, this reset allows them to re-enter SimFi™ Performance without repurchasing. This protects traders from losing weeks of progress to a few simple mistakes—giving them peace of mind that one lapse won’t derail their entire journey.

New users start immediately on the same 3 Lever Journey that made Tom Gibbs a top earner: better performance, more capital, more reps, better payout eligibility. Interested traders must enroll before the offer expires in April. For more on Gibbs’ journey and E8 Markets, visit the E8 website or watch their upcoming docu-reality series.

About E8 Markets

E8 Markets is a SaaS educational simulation platform for financial markets. Through its SimFi™-driven ecosystem, E8 combines live market data, simulated capital, structured challenge and performance programs, trader-performance telemetry, community, and continuous education designed to help traders review, reset, and refine behavior over time.

Built as a training ground for Forex, Futures, and Crypto, the platform helps traders develop discipline, consistency, and stronger decision-making without risking live capital or margin. Eligible participants may receive discretionary, performance-based payouts under program terms, subject to E8’s acceptance and licensing of performance data. E8 is not a broker and does not accept margin or deposits.

Important Disclosure:

Tom Gibbs’s experience reflects one participant case study under E8 Markets program rules and does not, standing alone, describe or predict what other participants may achieve. Individual outcomes vary materially based on participant skill, consistency, market conditions, risk management, compliance with program rules, eligibility, and E8 Markets’ acceptance and licensing of performance data. E8 Markets operates a SaaS educational simulation platform. Enrollment fees purchase access to an educational simulation and assessment; they do not purchase live capital, a brokerage account, a commodity interest, a security, or any investment opportunity. Any payouts referenced in this release are discretionary incentive disbursements under program terms, not trading profits, investment returns, or guaranteed earnings. No representation is made that any participant will achieve results similar to those described herein.

All trading activity referenced in this release occurred in a simulated environment. Hypothetical or simulated performance has inherent limitations and does not represent actual trading; results may differ materially in live market conditions. Nothing in this release is investment advice, financial advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, commodity interest, or other financial instrument. E8 Markets is not a broker and does not accept deposits or margin.

The GIBBS loyalty discount code is valid only for eligible purchases completed from April 7, 2026 through April 30, 2026, subject to applicable promotion terms and program terms.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/e8-markets-exposes-how-up-to-89-of-retail-traders-lose-thousands-depositing-with-brokers-302748968.html

SOURCE E8 Funding LLC