Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU).

In the last 60 years uranium has become one of the world’s mostimportant energy minerals. It is mined and concentrated similarlyto many other metals. While uranium is used almost entirely formaking electricity, a small proportion is used for the importanttask of producing medical isotopes. Some is also used in marinepropulsion, especially naval. Uranium is a naturally occurringelement with an average concentration of 2.8 parts per million inthe Earth’s crust. Traces of it occur almost everywhere. It is moreabundant than gold, silver or mercury, about the same as tin andslightly less abundant than cobalt, lead or molybdenum. Vastamounts of uranium also occur in the world’s oceans, but in verylow concentrations. A report from Market Reports World projected that the global Uranium marketsize was valued at USD 2736.31 million in 2022 and is expected toexpand at a CAGR of 3.68% during the forecast period, reaching USD3398.52 million by 2028. The report said: “The global UraniumMarket Growth is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate duringthe forecast period, between 2021 and 2029. In 2021, the market wasgrowing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategiesby key players, the market is expected to rise over the projectedhorizon… Technological innovation and advancement will furtheroptimize the performance of the product, making it more widely usedin downstream applications.” Active mining companies in themarkets this week include Traction Uranium Corp. (OTCQB: TRCTF) (CSE: TRAC), Denison Mines Corp . (NYSE American: DNN) (TSX: DML). Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR), Uranium Royalty Corp. (NASDAQ: UROY) (TSX-V: URC), Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC).

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR),based in Lakewood, Colorado, is the country’s largest producer of uranium and the leading conventional producer of vanadium, both designated by the U.S. government as critical minerals.

As the leading U.S. diversified uranium miner, Energy Fuels’ uranium production portfolio stands apart in the world. Energy Fuels has more uranium production facilities, more production capacity, and more in-ground resources than any other company in the United States. In fact, the company’s assets have produced over one-third of all U.S. uranium over the past 15 years and is uniquely positioned to increase production to meet new demand.

Energy Fuels utilizes both conventional and in-situ recovery (“ISR”) technology to produce uranium from three strategic facilities:

• White Mesa Mill in Utah (conventional) has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The highly strategic White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill in the country and is proximate to some of the largest and highest-grade uranium mines and projects in the U.S., including the Company’s Canyon mine, La Sal Complex, Henry Mountains Complex and Roca Honda Project. White Mesa Mill provides Energy Fuels with significant production scalability as uranium demand increases. The White Mesa Mill also has other diverse businesses, including vanadium, rare earth elements (REE’s), alternate feed materials recycling and land cleanup, all described below.
• Nichols Ranch Plant (ISR) is located in the productive Powder River Basin district of Wyoming and has a total licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. Nichols Ranch has produced 1.2 million pounds of U3O8 since commissioning in 2014, and it has significant future expansion potential from 34 fully licensed wellfields containing significant in-ground uranium resources.
• Alta Mesa Plant (ISR) is located on over 200,000 acres of private land in Texas. The fully licensed and constructed ISR project has a total operating capacity of 1.5 million pounds of uranium per year and produced nearly 5 million pounds of U3O8 between 2005 and 2013. This low-cost production facility is currently on standby, maintained in a state of readiness to respond to expected increases in demand.

In addition to being the largest uranium miner in the U.S., Energy Fuels’ overall portfolio also includes a pipeline of high-quality, large-scale exploration and development projects that are permitted or are in advanced stages of permitting, as well as an industry-leading U.S. NI 43-101 Mineral Resource portfolio.

FACTOID: Energy Fuels has led industry efforts over the past two-plus years to get the U.S. government to recognize the importance of domestically produced uranium, including the 2018 – 2019 Uranium Section 232, the ongoing Nuclear Fuel Working Group and the recently announced creation of the U.S. strategic uranium reserve. The U.S. is by far the largest consumer of uranium in the world, yet we import almost all of our requirements; Energy Fuels aims to change that.

Nuclear Market Potential

Multiple studies in top scientific journals have shown that nuclear power is cleanest and most economical way to produce reliable electricity as worldwide demand continues to soar. Nuclear power is presently the only available and affordable low-carbon power source that can meet both current and future baseload electricity demands while simultaneously reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. U.S. nuclear power plants currently generate nearly 20% of the nation’s electricity overall and 55% of its carbon‐free electricity and even a modest increase in electricity demand would require significant new nuclear capacity by 2025. According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), there are currently 441 operable reactors, with another 54 units under construction and 439 in various stages of planning; in addition, the WNA has identified a potentially massive supply/demand gap through 2040 of 1 billion pounds. These factors among others are expected to significantly drive increased demand for uranium.

Reasons Nuclear is Gaining Traction

• Nuclear reactors emit no greenhouse gases during operation. Over their full lifetimes, they result in comparable emissions to renewable forms of energy such as wind and solar.
• Unlike any other form of energy, the waste from nuclear energy is contained and managed securely. Used fuel is currently being safely stored for ultimate disposal or future reprocessing, and 96% of this waste can potentially be recycled.
• Greater demand for clean electricity to power everything from homes to automobiles, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

No. 1 U.S. Producer of Vanadium in 2019

Energy Fuels also produces vanadium as a byproduct of uranium production. Vanadium is designated a critical mineral, essential to the economic and national security of the United States. Energy Fuels was the largest producer of vanadium in the U.S. in 2019, and has significant high-grade, in-ground vanadium resources, as well as a separate high-purity vanadium production circuit at their White Mesa Mill, which is also the only conventional vanadium mill in the country. Crucial for use in the steel, aerospace, and chemical industries, vanadium plays a critical role in the production of high-strength and light-weight metallic alloys and demand is expected to increase across the globe.

Energy Fuels has several fully permitted and developed standby mines containing large quantities of high-grade vanadium, along with uranium, including:

• La Sal Complex (Utah)
• Whirlwind Mine (Colorado/Utah)
• Rim Mine (Colorado)

Vanadium has also gained increased attention as a catalyst in next-generation high-capacity, “community-scale” batteries used for energy storage generated from renewable sources. Demand is only expected to grow as this market expands. With recent upgrades in its vanadium production operations, in 2019 Energy Fuels produced commercial levels of the highest purity (99.7%) vanadium in the mill’s history and can rapidly adjust production to meet volatile market conditions. Energy Fuels is one of the very few known avenues that provides investors access the vanadium market.

Rare Earth Element (REE) Production, Alternate Feed Material Recycling, and Land Cleanup

The White Mesa Mill also provides the company with diverse cashflow generating opportunities. Security of supply for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) supporting U.S. military and defense requirements is a major issue today. Energy Fuels has been approached by a number of entities, including the U.S. government, inquiring about the potential to process certain REEs at the mill. The White Mesa Mill is currently licensed to process certain REEs, including tantalum and niobium. And, early indications are that the mill can be utilized to produce several other REEs. The White Mesa Mill is also the only facility in North America licensed and capable of recycling alternate feed materials (AFMs). AFMs are essentially low-level waste materials that contain recoverable quantities of natural (or unenriched) uranium. The Company typically generates between $5 and $15 million per year from AFM recycling. Finally, Energy Fuels is seeking to become involved in the cleanup of legacy Cold War era uranium mines in the Four Corners region of the U.S., including on the Navajo Nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has access to over $1.5 billion for the cleanup of just a fraction of the sites on the Navajo Nation. The White Mesa Mill is fully licensed to receive much of this material, we are one of the government’s lowest cost options, and we have the ability to recycle the material and produce usable uranium from it.

Management Team

Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO
Mark S. Chalmers is the president and chief executive officer of Energy Fuels, a position he has held since Feb. 1, 2018, following his role as chief operating officer of Energy Fuels from July 1, 2016 – Jan. 31, 2018. From 2011 to 2015, Chalmers served as executive general manager of Production for Paladin Energy Ltd., a uranium producer with assets in Australia and Africa, including the Langer Heinrich and Kayelekera mines where, as head of operations, he oversaw sustained, significant increases in production while reducing operating costs. He also possesses extensive experience in in situ recovery (“ISR”) uranium production, including management of the Beverley Uranium Mine owned by General Atomics (Australia), and the Highland mine owned by Cameco Corporation (USA). Chalmers has also consulted to several of the largest players in the uranium supply sector, including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Marubeni, and until recently served as the chair of the Australian Uranium Council, a position he held for 10 years. Chalmers is a registered professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona.

W. Paul Goranson, COO
W. Paul Goranson is the chief operating officer for Energy Fuels. Goranson has 30 years of mining, processing and regulatory experience in the uranium extraction industry that includes both conventional and in-situ recovery (“ISR”) mining, and he is a registered professional engineer. Prior to the acquisition by Energy Fuels of Uranerz Energy Corporation, Goranson served as president, chief operating officer and director for Uranerz, where he was responsible for operations of the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project. In addition to those duties, he also managed uranium marketing, regulatory and government affairs, exploration and land. Prior to joining Uranerz, Goranson served as president of Cameco Resources, where he led the operations at the Smith Ranch-Highland, Crow Butte and North Butte ISR uranium recovery facilities. Goranson also served as vice president of Mesteña Uranium LLC, and he has served in senior positions with Rio Algom Mining, (a subsidiary of BHP Billiton), and Uranium Resource Inc. Goranson has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I University, and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

David C. Frydenlund, CFO, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary
David C. Frydenlund is chief financial officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Energy Fuels. His responsibilities include oversight of all legal matters relating to the company’s activities. His expertise extends to NRC, EPA, state and federal regulatory and environmental laws and regulations. From 1997 to 2012, Frydenlund was vice president of regulatory affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary of Denison Mines Corp., and its predecessor International Uranium Corporation (“IUC”). He also served as a director of IUC from 1997 to 2006 and CFO of IUC from 2000 to 2005. From 1996 to 1997, Frydenlund was vice president of the Lundin Group of international public mining and oil and gas companies, and prior thereto was a partner with the Vancouver law firm of Ladner Downs (now Borden Ladner Gervais) where his practice focused on corporate, securities and international mining transactions law. Frydenlund holds a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from Simon Fraser University, a master’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Chicago and a law degree from the University of Toronto.

Curtis H. Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development
Curtis H. Moore is the vice president of Marketing and Corporate Development for Energy Fuels. He oversees product marketing for Energy Fuels, and is closely involved in mergers & acquisitions, investor relations, public relations, and corporate legal. He has been with Energy Fuels for over 12 years, holding various roles of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining Energy Fuels, Moore worked in multi-family real estate development, government relations and public affairs, production homebuilding, and private law practice. Moore is a licensed attorney in the State of Colorado. He holds Juris Doctor and MBA degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in Economics-Government from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California.

Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU), closed Tuesday's trading session at $7.33, up 2.3743%, on 2,361,430 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 414,456 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $4.69/$11.00.

Recent News

• Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) - World's Current Measured Resources of Uranium Are Enough To Last About 90 Years as Demand Skyrockets
• Bill Gates Lauds Green Energy Industries in West Virginia
• Three US Firms Win Contracts to Supply Uranium Strategic Reserve

McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX).

•McEwen Copper’s Los Azules Project is a large porphyrycopper-gold-silver deposit with considerable growth potential, withultimate depth and lateral extents that remain to be determined

•McEwen Copper, subsidiary of McEwen Mining, is expected to begame-changing, possibly becoming the world’s next copper unicorn

•The copper mining market was valued at $75 billion in 2021 and isexpected to reach $80 billion by 2029

McEwen Mining (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), an asset-rich diversified gold and silver producer in theAmericas, with large exposure to copper through its68-percent-owned subsidiary McEwen Copper, has reported rich coppervalues over attractive widths, resulting from infill drilling atits Los Azules project. Located in San Juan, Argentina, Los Azulesis a large porphyry copper-gold-silver deposit expressing greatpotential, with ultimate depth and lateral extents yet to be fullydetermined.

McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) is an asset rich diversified gold and silver producer in the Americas and has a large exposure to copper through its subsidiary, McEwen Copper, owner of the Los Azules copper deposit in Argentina, believed to be the 9th largest undeveloped copper resource in the world.

Led by a management team with a track record of success, MUX owns and operates mines in some of the most prolific gold producing regions in the Americas. In recent months, the company has undertaken strong actions to lower production costs and increase production across its portfolio of gold assets, driving some costs below the industry average. Gold and copper prices are forecast to enter a major uptrend over the next couple years. McEwen Mining is laying the groundwork to capitalize on this opportunity now.

Seldom is management so aligned with investors’ interests with a commitment to the company’s success. CEO Rob McEwen maintains a 17% ownership stake in McEwen Mining and a 15% ownership in McEwen Copper with a combined cost base of roughly $220 million. McEwen founded Goldcorp, where he took the company from a market capitalization of $50 million to over $8 billion, and that same vision led MUX to create McEwen Copper.

For McEwen Mining shareholders, the company’s 68% stake in McEwen Copper is expected to be a gamechanger, turbocharging MUX by creating the world’s next copper unicorn.

McEwen Copper

Most mined copper is currently used in infrastructure, with new critical demand emerging for use in the electrification of transportation and the global energy transformation. The price of copper rose from a low of about $2 per pound two years ago to over $4 per pound today, and strong demand is expected to continue to soar. A study by S&P Global, titled The Future of Copper: Will the Looming Supply Gap Short-circuit the Energy Transition?, projects global copper demand to nearly double over the next decade, from 25 million metric tons today to about 50 million metric tons by 2035. Based on current trends, S&P Global projects annual supply shortfalls to reach nearly 10 million metric tons in 2035.

McEwen Mining is a 68% shareholder in McEwen Copper, holder of a 100% interest in the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina, which was ranked the 9th largest undeveloped copper deposit in the world by Mining Intelligence (2022). Its current copper resources are estimated at 10.2 billion pounds at a grade of 0.48% Cu (Indicated category) and an additional 19.3 billion pounds at a grade of 0.33% Cu (Inferred category). McEwen Copper also owns a copper exploration project in Nevada, called Elder Creek.

In a 2017 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), Los Azules was estimated to have a 36-year life, but indications are that the project could ultimately become an even larger mine, with a longer life, since in the assessment, only 55% of the known copper resources are to be mined. Numerous drill holes have shown strong copper mineralization extending below the PEA pit bottom. Its average annual production for its first 13 years was pegged at 415 million pounds of copper in the 2017 PEA – enough copper to supply 2.2 million electric vehicles per year.

In August 2022, McEwen Copper closed its non-brokered, private placement offering of $82 million, after securing a $25 million investment from mining giant Rio Tinto’s technology arm, Nuton LLC. This gives McEwen Copper an imputed value of $258 million, which would give McEwen Mining’s 68% interest a value of approximately $3.70/share. Additional value can be attributed to McEwen Mining’s 1.25% net smelter royalty on both the Los Azules and the Elder Creek projects.

“We completed an $82 million financing for McEwen Copper in a very tough equity market. Rio Tinto, the second largest mining company in the world, through its subsidiary Nuton, now owns 9.7% of McEwen Copper, a result of its investment of $25 million,” Rob McEwen stated in a news release. “Also, Nuton is testing the Los Azules copper mineralization to see if it can accelerate and increase copper recoveries. Another of Rio Tinto’s subsidiaries, Kennecott Exploration, signed an option to earn a 60% interest in McEwen Copper’s other copper project, Elder Creek, by spending $18 million on exploration.”

The Elder Creek project is prospective for porphyry copper and gold mineralization and is well situated in a district hosting several large copper and gold mines, including Marigold, Lone Tree and Phoenix. Kennecott Exploration will be the operator of the exploration program. McEwen Mining holds a 1.25% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on the Elder Creek property.

Following the capital raise, McEwen Copper is well-funded to advance its Los Azules Project. Publication of an updated PEA on the Los Azules copper project is planned for Q1 2023. In Q2, an IPO is planned, along with MUX completing a secondary offering, assuming no further private placements in the interim. MUX is strategically reducing its interest to increase its treasury, in order to reduce debt and fund the further development of its gold and silver mines.

McEwen Copper currently has an implied market cap of over $258 million, based on its most recently completed financing. However, when its Los Azules copper project is compared with other recent transactions and market valuations of copper projects in the same region, it appears very undervalued.

MUX’s management believes its ownership stake in McEwen Copper is not currently reflected in the share price of the company. In fact, it is management’s belief that the combined value of its 68% interest in McEwen Copper, plus its gold mines and portfolio of mineral royalties, represents a share value ranging from a low of $8 to a high of $30 per share. Rob McEwen provides a full breakdown of this valuation estimate in a news release detailing the company’s Q3 2022 results.

Gold & Silver Projects

The Fox Complex

McEwen Mining owns a 100% stake in the Fox Complex in the heart of a prolific gold district in Timmins, Canada.

“When MUX bought the Fox Complex, in late 2017, it was a distressed asset with a history of high operating cost/oz. While it has taken longer than I expected, the cost to produce an ounce of gold is significantly lower,” CEO Rob McEwen stated in a news release. “I am pleased to say that in Q3 our cash cost/oz at Fox fell to $774, our lowest since mid-2018. This is well below the industry average. With our mine operating much more efficiently, our next important area to improve at Fox is the process plant (mill). Specifically, we need to increase the throughput because our mine is now producing more ore than our mill can process. As a result, we have a large surface stockpile of ore equivalent to more than two months of production.”

This ore stockpile contains approximately 10,000 ounces of gold representing a potential source of $12 million in free cash flow.

Located in one of the most prolific gold production areas in the world, along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, the Fox Complex includes the Black Fox mine and Froome mine which together have, so far, produced in excess of 1,000,000 ounces of gold. Also, it includes the Grey Fox and Stock deposits that have an estimated additional 1,600,000 ounces in reserves and resources. The 2.7-billion-year-old Abitibi Greenstone Belt, formed by ancient volcanic activity, has proved to be one of the world’s richest and most abundant gold regions, boasting total gold content of over 300 million ounces.

Full year 2023 guidance for The Fox Complex puts production estimates at 45,000 GEOs, 28% of MUX’s total production.

The Gold Bar Mine

McEwen Mining owns a 100% stake in the Gold Bar mine located in an area well known for gold production, the southern Roberts Mountains of the Battle Mountain-Eureka-Cortez gold trend in Eureka County, Central Nevada. The Gold Bar mine is on the same geological structure some 25 miles south of Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture of Barrick and Newmont. This Cortez-Goldrush complex contains estimated reserves and resources of greater than 50 million gold ounces. Its annual gold production is 1,000,000 ounces.

Gold Bar had been previously mined, between 1991 and 1994, producing 134,000 gold ounces. MUX built a new facility in 2019. The open pit mine was expected to be a large contributor to MUX’s revenue and gold production, however operating challenges arose that reduced gold production and drove cost/oz unacceptably high. Mining activities have shifted recently to a nearby, satellite deposit called Gold Bar South (GBS). Going forward the expectations are higher gold production and lower operating cost/oz as a result of mining a higher ore grade (concentration of gold per ton) and having to move half the amount of material to capture an ounce of gold.

“At Gold Bar, we are looking forward to starting to mine our GBS deposit this quarter,” McEwen said in a November 2022 release. “We are expecting to have a much lower cost/oz than our YTD cost because we will be mining higher grade ore at GBS, with half the strip ratio and no problematic carbonaceous material.”

The Gold Bar Mine will account for approximately 28% of McEwen Mining’s 2023 total attributable production, with guidance pegged at 45,000 GEOs. Most of Gold Bar production in 2023 will be from GBS.

El Gallo/Fenix

Project Fenix is the proposed redevelopment plan for McEwen Mining’s El Gallo Complex in Mexico. There is a long history of mining in this region. MUX’s involvement began in 2013 operating it as an open pit, heap leach mine which produced 281,000 gold equivalent ounces at average cash cost of $655 per ounce. However, due to the transition to deeper sulfide mineralization that is not amenable to heap leaching, mining activities ceased in the second quarter of 2018. The redevelopment envisions constructing a mill at the existing mine site that will initially reprocess the existing heap leach material then transition to open pit mining and processing the sulphide mineralization. The company recently acquired a complete process plant on very advantageous terms that has considerably reduced the projected capital requirements for the project.

CEO Rob McEwen stated in a news release, “This acquisition has made Fenix more attractive to build and could provide a new long life mine for McEwen Mining.”

The initial development approach is to build a mill to reprocess the material on the heap leach pad and produce approximately 17,000 oz of gold annually for eight years. Construction of the Fenix project is expected to be completed by early 2024.

Mine San José

McEwen Mining is a 49% owner and non-operator of the San José gold and silver mine located in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. This high-grade underground mine has been operating since 2007 and currently has an expected life of six years with a reserve grade of 342 gpt silver and 5.7 gpt gold and a resource grade of 427 gpt silver and 7.0 g/t gold.

“The San José mine, where we have a 49% interest, put in a strong quarter and its exploration is continuing to extend its high-grade veins and discover new veins,” McEwen noted in a news release.

Production guidance for 2023 for MUX’s 49% is 70,000 GEOs, 44% of MUX’s total production. As a minority shareholder in the mine, MUX equity accounts for its investment in San Jose, and it receives 49% of the dividends from the mine’s free cash flow.

Market Outlook

Mining stocks took a beating in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that could change, as many analysts are now forecasting a gold bull market in 2023.

“The operating challenges we faced in recent years have severely damaged our credibility with our shareholders and the market. As a result, few investors have taken a close look recently at our assets,” Rob McEwen said in a news release. “If they did, I believe some would see the potential value that I see today… I believe there is considerable potential value in MUX, and that is a big reason why I have a personal financial commitment of $220 million in MUX and McEwen Copper.”

Management Team

Robert R. McEwen is Chairman, CEO and Chief Owner of McEwen Mining. He has been associated with the gold industry all his career, with his first 18 years in the investment industry and, since 1990, as CEO of several gold mining companies. He founded Goldcorp and took that company from a $50 million market capitalization to more than $8 billion. He owns 17% of McEwen Mining and is in complete alignment with investors – the cost of his investment in MUX and McEwen Copper is $220 million and he takes an annual salary of only $1. He was awarded the Order of Canada and the Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Award, was inducted into the Mining Hall of Fame, was named an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year and has Honorary Doctor of Law degrees from York University and Western University.

William Shaver is interim COO and a Director of McEwen Mining. He has decades of management and executive experience in mine design, construction and operations. He was a founder of Dynatec Corporation, which became one of the leading contracting and mine operating groups in North America. In 2013, he was recognized as Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Most recently, he served as COO of INV Metals. He is a Professional Engineer with a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering from Queens University.

Perry Ing is interim CFO at McEwen Mining. He has 25 years of experience in the Canadian mining industry. Over the past 15 years, he has held positions as CFO of Mountain Province Diamonds, Kirkland Lake Gold and McEwen Mining. Prior to that, he worked at Barrick Gold and Goldcorp and started his career in the mining practice at PwC. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant in Canada and Certified Professional Accountant in the U.S.

Adrian Blanco S. is the company’s Director – America and Mexico Operations. He has extensive international experience in several industrial sectors and has held executive positions in Mexico, the United States, Peru and Argentina. He joined the McEwen Mining team in 2015 and has led a successful business transformation toward operational discipline, best business practices and financial profitability at subsidiaries Compañia Minera Pangea and McEwen Mining Nevada. He graduated from an Executive Management Program at IPADE and Harvard Business School.

Michael Meding is Vice President and General Manager of McEwen Copper. He has over 20 years of international experience, primarily with major mining companies such as Barrick Gold and Trafigura, including extensive experience with project development and operations in Argentina. While at Barrick Gold’s Veladero mine in Argentina, Mr. Meding played a key role in the turnaround, extension of the mine life and subsequent strategic partnering with Shandong Gold. He holds an MBA from Indiana University in Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Leipzig Graduate School of Management in Germany.

McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX), closed Tuesday's trading session at $6.3, up 0.961538%, on 414,611 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $11.00/$.

Recent News

• McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) - McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) Reports Key Advantages of McEwen Copper's Los Azules Project
• MiningNewsBreaks - Why McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) Is 'One to Watch'
• McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) - Los Azules Project Could Be World's Next Copper Unicorn

Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF).

Eloro Resources (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM), an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio ofgold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec, boastsone of the most potentially significant silver and tin depositswithin the Cerro Rico region and has recently looked to expand itsaddressable deposit through the acquisition of the adjoining MinaCasiterita and Mina Hoyada properties. “Marc Bristow, the CEO ofBarrick Gold Corp, told investors during his keynote speech at theMines & Money London conference that the future of mining nolonger lay in the traditional, over-explored jurisdictions of prioryears. Rather, the big opportunities over the next decade wouldcome from traditionally overlooked jurisdictions, with Boliviaranking chief amongst these,” a recent article reads. “Eloro hasepitomized the potential success that could be derived from a focuson less traditional jurisdictions. Between 2020 and 2021, EloroResources witnessed its stock price rise by over 2,900% – aremarkable outcome resulting from the company’s world-classsilver-tin discovery with the near inexhaustible Cerro Rico miningbelt. The mines around the Cerro Rico region have gained a nearlegendary reputation within precious mining circles, havingproduced approximately 2.1-3 billion ounces of silver over the past500 years – making it the single richest source of silver in humanhistory… In early 2020, Eloro Resources sought to capitalize on theregion’s potential, optioning the Iska Iska project, a 484 squarekilometer undeveloped mining tract within the Potosi region – amere 180 kilometers south of the prolific Cerro Rico deposit.”

To view the full article, visit https://ibn.fm/t75Dx

Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) is a publicly traded exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec.

The company has an option to acquire a 99% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, classified as a silver-tin polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department of southern Bolivia. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property.

Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru, some 50 kilometers south of Barrick’s Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Pan American Silver’s La Arena Gold Mine. La Victoria consists of eight mining concessions and eight mining claims encompassing approximately 89 square kilometers. La Victoria has good infrastructure, with access to road, water and electricity, and is located at an altitude that ranges from 3,150 meters to 4,400 meters above sea level.

The company has a strong management and technical team working diligently to uncover the value of both Iska Iska and La Victoria. Eloro is based in Toronto, Canada.

Projects

Iska Iska – Potosi, Bolivia

Iska Iska is associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The property is wholly controlled by the title holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. It is located 48 kilometers north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi. This is an important mineral deposit type in the prolific South Mineral Belt of Bolivia. Eloro commissioned a NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited and is available on Eloro’s website and under its filings on SEDAR.

A fully financed drill program is currently underway on the property, situated near world-class deposits including Silver Sand, San Bartolomé, Pulacayo, San Cristobal, San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna, Choroma and Siete Suyos. Iska Iska is in the southwest part of the Eastern Cordillera, which hosts a number of major polymetallic mines and mineral deposits. Drilling and continuous channel sampling results have demonstrated some very high metal values, especially silver and tin, within an immense system, where mineralization has been encountered in every drill hole to date. The company believes there is excellent potential for world-class bulk mineable deposits.

La Victoria – Ancash, Peru

The La Victoria project, targeting gold and silver production, is situated near world-class, low-cost gold producers Pan American Silver and Barrick Gold Corporation. Located in Ancash Department, La Victoria sits on the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes. The property is located 12 hours from Lima, with a travel distance of 600 kilometers. The nearest road accessible population centers from La Victoria are Huandoval, Pallasca and Cabana. The project includes four principal mineralized zones in Peru’s prolific North-Central Mineral Belt – San Markito, Victoria, Victoria South and Ccori Orcco – with excellent potential for gold discovery. Operations at La Victoria are planned to proceed with a 2,000-meter diamond drilling program to test targets to outline potential resources at San Markito. Trenching and sampling confirmed high silver values and veins at San Markito in 2020.

Market Outlook

According to industry association The Silver Institute, the outlook for silver demand is exceptionally promising, with global demand forecast to rise to a record high of 1.112 billion ounces in 2022. The increase will be driven by record silver industrial fabrication, which is forecast to improve by 5%, as silver’s use expands primarily in solar energy and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. The institute states that government commitments to carbon neutrality have resulted in a rapid expansion of green energy projects, driving record photovoltaic panel installations which are expected to lift silver demand in this segment to an all-time high in 2022.

Rising demand in the electronics industry is also boosting the demand for tin, which is primarily used in solder. The electronics and electrical industries use solders containing 40-70% tin, which provide strong and reliable joints under a variety of environmental conditions. At present, the majority of the assemblers are using patented tin-and-copper-based solders. Mordor Intelligence estimated tin demand at 387 kilotons in 2021 and forecasts demand growth of 2.5% annually through 2027. Over the medium term, surging demand from the EV market and increasing applications in the electrical and electronics industry is expected to drive the market.

Management Team

Thomas G. Larsen is CEO of Eloro. He has more than 40 years of experience in the investment industry, specializing in corporate finance and management of junior resource companies, raising in excess of C$200 million. He previously held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Iron Limited. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Iron Mines Limited.

Dr. Bill Pearson is Executive VP of Exploration for Eloro. He has more than 40 years of direct experience in the exploration and production of minerals worldwide. He played an integral role in the acquisitions of Desert Sun Mining Corp. by Yamana Gold in 2006 and Central Sun Mining by B2 Gold in 2009. He was formerly VP Exploration at Desert Sun Mining and Senior VP at Central Sun Mining.

Miles Nagamatsu, CPA, is CFO at Eloro. He has over 30 years of experience in accounting, management, lending, restructurings and turnarounds. Since 1993, he has acted as a CFO of public and private companies primarily in the mineral exploration and investment management sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University.

Osvaldo Arce Burgoa is General Manager at Eloro. He is a geological and mineral processing engineer with 26 years of experience in Bolivia. He is a former President of the Bolivian Geological Society, Main Technical Advisor of the National Mining Corporation (COMIBOL) and has served as exploration manager and chief geologist at various mining and exploration companies. He has authored two books on Bolivian geology and holds a doctorate in mining engineering from Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.

Eloro Resources Ltd. (OTCQX: ELRRF), closed Tuesday's trading session at $2.44, up 3.4775%, on 39,275 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.09/$4.46.

Recent News

• Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) - MiningNewsBreaks - Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM) Epitomizing Potential Success with Focus on Less Traditional Mining Jurisdictions
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM) Grants RSUs as Part of Long-Term Incentive Plan
• Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM) Announces Successful Capital Raising; Net Proceeds Will Be Destined Towards Ongoing Bolivian Mining Operations

SideChannel Inc. (OTCQB: SDCH)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight SideChannel Inc. (OTCQB: SDCH).

•Brian recently joined Bell2Bell’s Stuart Smith in a podcast episodein which he discussed his and the company’s background, motivationto found SideChannel, existing market opportunities, 2022milestones, and plans for 2023 and beyond

•SideChannel, a provider of cybersecurity services and products,helps mid-market companies simplify cybersecurity

•The company was founded in 2019 after CEO Brian Haugli observed abusiness opportunity in the largely underserved market

•Over the years since, the company has grown, posting $4.8 millionin revenue in 2022, up from $2.8 million in 2021

During his stints at the US Department of Defense (“DoD”) andPentagon, and later upon entry into corporate America, Brian Hauglimade an observation: US Government agencies and, crucially, largeAmerican corporations, relied on mid-market companies, innovativestartups, and smaller organizations for important products andservices. This reliance often meant that the security posture ofthe large companies and government agencies ultimately depended onthe security posture of the smaller partner firms that had accessto critical data. Unfortunately, cybersecurity products at thattime were predominantly targeted at major enterprises, meaning mostsmall and mid-sized businesses (“SMBs”) could not afford them. Thisleft an underserved market and a massive business opportunity that SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH) intended to capitalize on when it launched in 2019.

SideChannel Inc. (OTCQB: SDCH) simplifies cybersecurity for mid-market companies by matching them with highly experienced information security officers at a cost lower than building an in-house information security team or hiring a full-time CISO.

SideChannel’s team of virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs) possesses a combined 400-plus years of experience in cybersecurity. They’ve honed their skills and abilities in places like Anthem, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, TD Bank and the Pentagon. SideChannel lends this talent to clients, creating value in the form of a bespoke cybersecurity program perfectly sized for the growing enterprise.

SideChannel is committed to creating top-tier cybersecurity programs for SMBs to help them protect their data and assets. To date, SideChannel has created more than 50 multi-layered cybersecurity programs for its clients.

Reports show that cyberattacks on SMBs have increased in recent years, as organizations’ network attack surfaces have grown exponentially with remote and in-office workers increasingly relying on cloud environments, mobile devices, software applications and third-party suppliers to conduct business.

SideChannel continues expanding its service offerings, workforce and customer base, attracting over 20 virtual CISOs to serve across industries including fintech, biotech, healthcare, manufacturing, legal, defense and technology services. The company is based in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Market Opportunity

An analysis from ReportLinker states that the global cybersecurity market is expected to grow from an estimated value of $173.5 billion in 2022 to $266.2 billion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 8.9% for the period.

The increased number of data breaches worldwide, the ability of malicious actors to operate from anywhere in the world, the links between cyberspace and physical systems, and the difficulty of reducing vulnerabilities and consequences in complex cyber networks are some factors driving cyber security market growth, according to the report.

A lack of cybersecurity professionals and the budget constraints among SMBs and start-ups in developing economies are expected to hinder market growth. Cybercriminals are using automated techniques to attack SMBs’ networks to take advantage of their weak security infrastructures. To save money, time and resources, SMBs are seeking cybersecurity solutions.

Enclave

Enclave expands upon SideChannel’s cybersecurity service offerings by solving a pervasive network security problem with a simple tool.

A comprehensive cloud and network security solution, Enclave enables IT teams to contain breaches faster, reduce network outages, minimize latency and strengthen overall security defense.

Enclave creates the foundation for a Zero Trust network security model IT can build upon.

With Enclave, IT can easily segment their company’s network, organize personnel and computing devices at the employee workload level, and implement security controls across all network segments.

Enclave was designed and purpose built to serve the growing security needs of SMBs, a traditionally underserved market that is more prone to cyberattacks but has limited protection due to smaller budgets, inadequate IT security staffing and a lack of cybersecurity awareness among top executives.

Enclave is an affordable and effective network security solution that shrinks the attack surface area exposed to a cyber intruder and significantly reduces the amount of effort required to operate securely.

Management Team

Brian Haugli is CEO of SideChannel. He has led programs for the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, and Fortune 500 companies. He is an expert on National Institute of Standards and Technology guidance, threat intelligence implementations and strategic organizational initiatives. He is a professor at Boston College, Woods College of Advancing Studies Master’s Program in Cybersecurity. He is also a contributing author for the Wiley book ‘Cybersecurity Risk Management’.

Ryan Polk is CFO at SideChannel. He has been the principal of Perissos Partners, an executive consulting firm, since June 2017. He also served in executive roles in the portfolio companies owned by Lacy Diversified, with combined revenue approaching $2 billion. He served as the Vice President for Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis for Brightpoint, a publicly traded, Fortune 500 mobile device logistics company. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and industrial management from Purdue University.

Nicholas Hnatiw is Chief Technology Officer at SideChannel. Prior to joining the company, he served as the technical director for network operations supporting U.S. Cyber Command, U.S. Intelligence Agencies and other Department of Defense research organizations. He was also the CEO of Loki Labs, a cyber security firm. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and computer science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Bill Roberts is SideChannel’s CISO. He most recently served as the vice president, IS & CISO for Hologic Inc., a global medical device company, where he established cyber security and IT compliance programs. Prior to Hologic, he was vice president of information security for Cytyc Corporation, which was acquired by Hologic in 2007. At Cytyc, he managed global IT as the company grew from 140 employees to 1,500 and from $40 million in revenue to over $750 million.

SideChannel Inc. (OTCQB: SDCH), closed Tuesday's trading session at $0.1, even for the day, on 1 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0675/$0.18.

Recent News

• SideChannel Inc. (OTCQB: SDCH) - SideChannel Inc. (SDCH) Bringing Critical Security to Clients with Tailored Cybersecurity Programs for Mid-Market Companies
• SideChannel Inc. (SDCH) Notes Importance of Cybersecurity for Cannabis Industry Operational Technology as Hybrid Work Models Expand
• InvestorNewsBreaks - SideChannel Inc. (SDCH) Featured on Fox Business - 'Mornings with Maria'

Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it will launch a weekly newsletter to promote the country’snascent hemp industry by providing “unbiased, timely and accuratedata” on hemp. The agency released the first edition of the National Hemp Report via its Agricultural Marketing Service in tandem with theannouncement. In a press release, USDA Under Secretary forMarketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffit stated thatthe USDA had seen the industry’s need for “timely marketinformation.” She explained that the National Hemp Report wouldprovide hemp industry stakeholders with weekly volume and priceinformation to help them make good business decisions based ontimely and accurate data. The report, which is free and publiclyavailable, covers weekly retail prices for hemp products along withhemp import volumes and weekly and yearly values of hemp importsinto the United States. The publication is the first USDA marketreport dedicated to the hemp market. The USDA said that it wouldexpand the report over time to incorporate additional marketinformation. The growth of the hemp and marijuana industries hasseveral trickle-down effects, such as boosting the demand for theproducts made by allied manufacturers such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) that demand a thriving indoor cultivation segment to stay afloat.

Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) is in the business of selling and distributing self-contained, automated, indoor “micro-farms” called Grow Pods, along with related equipment and supplies. Additionally, the company designs and sells patented proprietary medical-grade plastic containers, known as the Medtainer®, that store and grind pharmaceuticals, herbs, teas and other solids or liquids.

ACTX is the leading distributor of Grow Pods. With a controlled environment, food and herbs can be grown without pesticides, harmful chemicals or risk of pathogen contamination, and with low energy consumption. Restaurants, grocery stores, non-profits, MSOs and entrepreneurs can use Grow Pods to ensure a fresh supply of ultra-clean produce year-round.

The company entered the Grow Pod business in October 2020 with its acquisition of all shares of Advanced Container Technologies Inc., a California corporation. As of February 28, 2022, ACTX is exploring the acquisition of the assets and the assumption of some or all of the liabilities of GP Solutions Inc., the developer and manufacturer of Grow Pods, for which ACTX is currently the sole U.S. distributor.

Because Grow Pods can be located almost anywhere, produce can be grown closer to the point of consumption and harvested at its peak, providing nutritious fruits and vegetables where needed. Indoor micro-farms, utilizing a practice known as vertical farming, have attracted the attention of governments and universities, which are now promoting vertical farming as a way to combat food insecurity and inequities.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stated that vertical farming “is no longer a futuristic concept.” The department is enthusiastic about vertical farming, particularly those utilizing repurposed shipping containers, such as Grow Pods. Arizona State University reports that vertical farming reduces water use by 90 percent compared to conventional farming but produces 10 times the crop yield.

Products

Grow Pods

One of the company’s main business units is focused on selling advanced, self-contained hydroponic containers called Grow Pods. These unique and innovative automated systems are essentially micro-farms that can be placed virtually anywhere and, with their controlled and specially filtered environment, allow cultivation of a wide variety of crops, 365 days a year. The Grow Pod controlled environment offers major advantages for the production of high-value crops. The ability to grow year-round and the ability to cultivate in a smaller footprint using less water and power are some of the primary advantages of the system. Grow Pods offer constant temperature, humidity and airflow control, as well as automated watering and lighting schedules for optimal growth and minimal labor requirements, regardless of crop.

Containers

ACTX meets the needs of the pharmaceutical and medical markets, including the cannabis and hemp industries, with patented packaging systems. The company designs, customizes, brands and sells proprietary medical grade plastic containers that can store pharmaceuticals, herbs, teas and other solids or liquids, with a special built-in feature that can grind solids and shred herbs. The company’s flagship container product is the patented Medtainer®, a child resistant, medical-grade herb container and grinder that is water-tight, air-tight and smell proof. Packaging in the cannabis industry is critical, with numerous stringent regulations about how cannabis products must be packaged and labeled. ACTX also offers custom-branded, compliant vacuum seal bags and other retail container solutions.

Equipment and Supplies

ACTX markets and sells two principal products: Grow Pods, which are specially modified insulated shipping containers manufactured by GP Solutions Inc., in which plants, herbs and spices may be grown hydroponically in a controlled environment, and Medtainers®, which may be used to store pharmaceuticals, herbs, teas and other solids or liquids and can grind solids and shred herbs. The company also markets and sells various products related to Grow Pods and the Medtainer®, as well as providing private labeling and branding services for purchasers of Medtainers® and certain related products.

GP Solutions manufactures and sells other products, such as humidity controllers and LED lighting systems for vertical farming. The company’s specially designed lighting panels are programmed to emit the exact wavelength of light that each crop requires. The system has a daybreak-to-nightfall feature that gives plants the proper chromatic signals to grow rapidly and fruitfully. High efficiency LED light strips supply the crops with a red and blue light spectrum required for photosynthesis in the spectrum that plants need most.

Market Overview

The global vertical farming market is expected to reach $33.02 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research. The market is forecast to expand at a CAGR of 25.5 percent from 2022 to 2030, according to Grand View. Escalating production of biopharmaceutical products, including cannabis, is anticipated to drive the market. The building-based segment of the market is expected to register a significant CAGR of 27.8 percent over the projected period. In addition, the climate control segment is expected to see high growth.

The global cannabis packaging market is expected to reach $14.34 billion by 2028, according to analysis by Reports and Data. The analysis forecasts 1,700 percent growth in cannabis users by the end of 2026, with packaging likely observing a whopping 26.42 percent growth in the forecast period. There are significant barriers to entry in the cannabis packaging market, giving an advantage to companies already established in the sector. These barriers include developing a thorough knowledge of the myriad regulations that govern cannabis packaging (which differ in each state), and child-resistance requirements.

Management Team

Douglas P. Heldoorn is the Founder and Chairman of Advanced Container Technologies Inc. He also holds the positions of President, CEO and COO at the company. Mr. Heldoorn has served on the Board of Directors since its inception in 2013. He has also previously held the position of Executive General Manager at Nissan Motor Corp.

Jeffory A. Carlson is CFO and Treasurer of ACTX. Mr. Carlson has also served as the company’s Corporate Controller since 2014.

Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), closed Tuesday's trading session at $0.375, even for the day, on 14 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.2005/$1.25.

Recent News

• Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) - 420 with CNW - USDA Unveils First-Ever Weekly Report to Boost Hemp Market
• 420 with CNW - Colorado Opens Recreational Center Built Using Cannabis Taxes
• 420 with CNW - State Data Shows Massachusetts Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Have Reached $4B

Utopia VR

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Utopia VR

Utopia VR, one of the world’s first metaverse-as-a-servicesolutions for business, is featured in the most recent release fromThe Bell2Bell Podcast. During the interview, Utopia VR presidentStuart Gray and Bell2Bell host Jonathan Keim discuss how the VRspace has evolved and Utopia VR’s entry into the space. Inaddition, Gray provided a tour of one of Utopia VR’s 3Denvironments designed to help professionals collaborate andsocialize. Gray also outlined the company’s business-focusedstrategy, explained how Utopia VR is integrating artificialintelligence (“AI”) into its platform and shared his vision for thefuture of the metaverse. The Bell2Bell Podcast delivers informativeupdates and exclusive interviews with executives operating infast-moving industries. “Our technology that we’ve developed atUtopia VR works on all devices — PCs, mobile phones and VRheadsets,” said Utopia VR president Stuart Gray during the episode.“It’s very disruptive technology. We’ve come in on our computerstoday, but we could also come in on VR headsets. A lot of our usersalso come in on mobile phones. As we started looking at thetechnologies that we were working with, we realized that softwarewas not the solution. Really, what we were embarking on, two and ahalf years ago, was the start of the metaverse. We were doing iteven before Meta. . . . We have lots of experience working withthis technology. We just wanted to really expand upon the knowledgethat we had and build metaverse technology for the future. . . . Wewere looking at all sorts of different social ways to use thetechnology for fun, and we created lots of neat products. Now we’rereally laser focused on the metaverse as a business solution. We’vebuilt our product in such a way that we can target the largebusiness market and create real solutions for them that arerelevant to their industries.”

To view the full interview, visit https://ibn.fm/QAvuZ

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/qVECW

Utopia VR is one of the world’s first ‘Metaverse-As-A-Service’ solutions for business. The company’s hosted and managed subscription software provides businesses a low barrier to entry, browser-based, device agnostic platform where they can manage their own private 3D metaverse meeting spaces. Users can host and attend Zoom-like virtual meetings in lifelike virtual reality – with no software downloads – engaging their audiences in a more collaborative and fun way.

Utopia VR has many technology and privacy advantages over solutions built on other metaverse marketplaces such as Horizon Worlds (META) or Decentraland. Utopia VR works on all devices – PC, mobile and virtual reality headsets – whereas many competitors only work in VR or on PC.

Utopia VR is headquartered in Kelowna, B.C.

Products

Utopia VR’s The Metaverse for Everyone™ is a one-click, web-based, avatar-driven, mobile-friendly audio- and video-conferencing platform that utilizes innovative 3D web technology. Utopia VR’s virtual platform works on digital devices including PCs, mobile phones and VR headsets such as Oculus Quest or HTC Vive. No software or proprietary hardware is needed.

Users navigate through the various VRoom environments by using avatars. Users can walk, talk and sit – just like they do in the real world. A user’s avatar can be controlled with a computer keyboard, smartphone or virtual reality headsets. Text chat, voice and video is ever-present and used to communicate with others in the VRoom. For important meetings and presentations, users can also import audio, video, 2D art and images, animated 3D objects, PDF files and their favorite NFTs by simply dragging and dropping files into a VRoom or pasting a video link from supported media platforms.

Organizations that have an existing website can transition their digital assets, including text, images, video, PDFs, slideshows and more, to VRoom environments with a simple copy and paste. This will allow their customers and audiences to experience their brand in a whole new, immersive environment.
Utopia VR’s mobile app enables users to personalize their own 3D environments and then schedule business meetings or social meetups in seconds through a proprietary link management system. The app is available for iPhone and iPad users. The company’s website mirrors the app, which means users can access Utopia VR directly from a PC, laptop, tablet, or VR headset without downloading the app.

Market Outlook

Regarded as the next iteration of the internet, the metaverse is a virtual space where the physical and digital worlds coexist and interact, encompassing virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality and mixed reality, as well as making use of artificial intelligence and other technologies.

Data consolidator Statista estimated that the global metaverse market size stood at $38.85 billion in 2021 and projected the market would grow to be worth $47.48 billion in 2022. From there, Statista forecasts the value of the metaverse market will explode to reach $678.8 billion by 2030, achieving a CAGR of more than 39% over the period.

The metaverse could create $5 trillion in opportunity by 2030, according to McKinsey & Company.

Management Team

Stuart Gray, President, Co-Founder and director of Utopia VR, has been an officer and director for both private and publicly traded companies and has led public offerings for junior listed companies that have gone on to realize multibillion-dollar market valuations. He previously was a consultant and quarterbacked taking eXp World Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPI) public. eXp is a disruptive, no bricks and mortar, real estate brokerage firm with 85,000 agents worldwide using its virtual, software-based, metaverse platform for closing transactions, training and events.

Cory Braden, CTO and director of Utopia VR, is a forward-thinking strategic leader with over 20 years of experience in delivering software as a service. Recognized for a positive leadership style and excellent communication skills, he is well-versed in user experience, complex application architectures, cloud infrastructure and management of high-performance teams.

Terry Woloszyn, VP of Sales and Advisory at Utopia VR, brings vast technical and sales experience to the company. Before joining Utopia VR, he conceived and launched a data security startup and graduated from two startup accelerator programs. He has personally raised $20 million in equity venture funding.

Recent News

• Utopia VR - InvestorNewsBreaks – Utopia VR President Featured in Latest Episode of Bell2Bell Podcast
• InvestorNewsBreaks – Why Utopia VR Is ‘One to Watch’
• InvestorNewsBreaks – Why Utopia VR Is ‘One to Watch’

REZYFi, Inc.

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight REZYFi, Inc.

In late October, the German government approved plans to legalize marijuana within the country’s borders. The legislation would have allowedindividuals aged 18 years and older to purchase cannabis fromfederally licensed cannabis stores and pharmacies, possess up to 20grams of cannabis flower and grow up to three plants at home for recreational use. At the time, officials said that thelegislation’s passage depended on whether the European Commissionwould approve the bill. Germany’s deference to European andinternational bodies meant that the bill had to be in line withEuropean and international policy before the Federal Cabinet couldpush forward with legalization. However, months after HealthMinister Karl Lauterbach announced the bill’s approval, the Germangovernment still hasn’t submitted it to the European Union forreview and approval. According to a statement from Lauterbach, thelegislation is “currently being drafted” by the federalauthorities. He noted that lawmakers have to address significant operational and legal questions surrounding the implementation ofa legal cannabis market, and this requires time and coordinationbetween the affected ministries. As legalization spreads indifferent regions of the globe, innovative financial solutions suchas those offered by REZYFi Inc. could see heightened demand as industry companies look for ways tofund their growth and expansion.

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of$726,200 or less, saw rates decrease from 6.42% to 6.23% forthe week ending January 18, 2023, resulting in a 28% increasein mortgage application volume, and a 34% increase in refinancedemand
• It is projected that by the end of 2023, mortgage rates in thecountry will drop by 5.25%, coming from 2022, which saw homefinancing costs nearly double
• These rate drops present an opportunity for REZYFi to grow itscustomer reach, market share, and revenue but also offer anavenue for the growth of the housing finance sector

REZYFi, a growth mortgage origination and specialized financing companybased in the United States is set to see a growth in the demand forits services in response to the changing financing market that hasseen a drop in interest rates in the past few weeks. January 18,2023, saw mortgage rates hit the lowest level since September 2022,and the market reacting with an increased demand for mortgages (https://ibn.fm/MPApD).

REZYFi, Inc. is a cannabis mortgage bank servicing the needs of both traditional and non-traditional consumers and businesses. Its target markets include licensed and permitted cannabis companies, owners of real estate who lease to cannabis companies, and companies and individual homeowners seeking a variety of real estate-related first and additional mortgage-based financing and project-specific financings, such as solar installations and real estate development projects.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, REZYFi operates through two wholly owned subsidiaries – REZYFi Lending, which primarily addresses emerging real estate-related financing opportunities, and ResMac Inc., the company’s traditional mortgage origination, correspondent and servicing operation. REZYFi is currently licensed in 34 U.S. states, with plans to expand to all remaining states later this year.

REZYFi is positioned as one of first cannabis mortgage bankers in the U.S., while most traditional lenders are still reticent to serve the state-licensed cannabis industry.

Operations

REZYFi Lending

REZYFi Lending leverages a wide network to offer options such as 15- and 30-year fixed-rate loans, FHA loans, VA loans, reverse mortgages, jumbo loans and adjustable-rate mortgages.

Looking ahead, the company expects increased funding in marketing and loan agents to drive significant origination growth over the next two years, further supported by the planned launch of a high-margin cannabis division later this year.

ResMac Inc.

ResMac has been in operation for 13 years, having closed more than 20,000 loans for more than 15,000 clients. The company expects to accumulate $285 million in retail origination in 2023, alongside $250 million in wholesale origination for the same period. ResMac is further targeting $600 million in origination through its mortgage correspondent operations for 2023.

Through its ResMac subsidiary, REZYFi operates as a direct lender and originator of residential mortgages, with active mortgage correspondent and mortgage servicing operations. Through its correspondent segment, ResMac primarily purchases and aggregates residential mortgages from trusted third-party originators.

The company intends to harvest the database of customers within its mortgage servicing operations as an essential source of additional growth, especially relative to the new alternative residential loan programs being offered.

Corporate Strengths

• Experience – REZYFi is led by a seasoned management team with significant expertise spanning a wide range of real estate and financing subsectors. The team also has extensive experience in the cannabis and hemp marketplace, which the company intends to leverage as it navigates the changing landscape of the cannabis industry while sourcing the best opportunities in the sector.
• Network of Independent Brokers – Over the past five years, REZYFi has developed an extensive network of independent mortgage-related brokers and licensed loan officers. The company is currently training the network members on its new service offerings, with many already launching sales efforts. REZYFi believes this network will be a vital asset moving forward as other firms in the sector terminate relationships in the face of slowing mortgage business in a rising interest rate environment.
• Proprietary Technology – REZYFi has invested heavily in designing, building and implementing proprietary automated/machine learning technology to shorten loan processing timeframes and increase efficiencies, allowing it to operate its legacy business at staffing levels meaningfully below those of its competitors.

Market Overview

REZYFi’s diversified approach to the real estate lending sector positions it to capitalize on growth in multiple verticals in the years to come.

In the first quarter of 2022, lenders issued 2.71 million residential loans, with the average balance for a first mortgage climbing to a record high of $298,324 in 2021, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. This trend is expected to continue, with Freddie Mac forecasting a 10.4 percent increase in home prices in 2022 and a 5.0 percent bump in 2023. Growth prospects in the cannabis industry paint a similar picture.

The National Association of Realtors® issued a report in April 2021 examining the correlation between cannabis legalization and real estate demand. In states where prescription and recreational cannabis use is legal, more than a third of surveyed agents reported an increase in demand for warehouses. Likewise, 23 percent of those surveyed reported an increase in demand for storefronts, and 28 percent observed increased demand for land. As other states look to join the 19 that have embraced full cannabis legalization, this rising demand could create an opportunity for REZYFi’s cannabis-focused initiatives.

In total, an analysis by market research firm Business Research Insights projects the global loan servicing market to reach a value of nearly $1.5 billion by 2028, up from $680.8 million in 2021. Those figures represent a CAGR of 11.0 percent during the forecast period of 2022-2028.

Management Team

John Vu, Esq., is CEO of REZYFi, Inc. He has more than two decades of experience in the mortgage and commercial banking industry. He has filled many senior and executive management positions in high-producing mortgage banks, including C-level assignments. He has also served as general counsel for a nationally associated commercial bank. Mr. Vu brings considerable cannabis industry expertise to REZYFi. He has served as a corporate attorney to multiple cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and retailers.

Ji Ji Zhang, Esq., is CFO of REZYFi, Inc. He is a multifaceted entrepreneur who owns a law firm, a portfolio of hotels and a high-producing mortgage bank. Mr. Zhang is also an investor in the development of a cannabis business park. He brings more than five years of experience in mortgage banking to REZYFi, having developed Freddie Mac and HUD licenses and amassed a managed portfolio valued at over $300 million.

Kevin Heckemeyer is President of REZYFi, Inc. He has more than 25 years of experience in mortgage banking. He has built and sold several high producing mortgage businesses. In his current roles with ResMac, he is responsible for production and operations.

Spencer Dang is Chief Credit Officer of REZYFi, Inc. He has more than a decade of experience in mortgage operations. He is a direct endorsement underwriter for HUD and has specialized in non-QM underwriting. Under his watch as an underwriter, he has never had a single repurchase.

Recent News

• REZYFi, Inc. - REZYFi, Inc. Anticipates Increased Demand for its Services Following Rise in Mortgage Demand
• 420 with CNW — Plan to Legalize Cannabis in Germany Could Be Delayed Beyond 2024
• 420 with CNW — Predictions, Trends for Cannabis Industry This Year

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV).

The COVID-19 pandemic was a major reminder of just how problematic infectious diseasescan be, especially if we aren’t intimately aware of their spreadpatterns. Only a few months after the disease was discovered in Wuhan, China, significant chunks of the world were shut down to avoid massinfections that would place undue strain on their medical systems.Even though we are now out of the eye of the storm, it is importantthat we understand how such infectious diseases behave to prevent future pandemics.Fortunately, a new modeling approach capable of accounting forcontact patterns between different age groups has given scientistsnew insight into how infectious diseases evolve. The model also showed researchers how they may be able to predictthe spread of a disease and its case numbers over a specificregion. This model used data collected during the coronaviruspandemic and leveraged two approaches to fine tune and improvepredictions on the spread of infectious diseases. One commonmodeling approach uses the SIR model, which splits the population into susceptible, infected andrecovered persons before modeling the rates of how people move fromone compartment to another. As researchers work to betterunderstand how infectious diseases on the scale of COVID-19 spread,other teams such as those at BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV) are focused on finding novel treatments that can tame theonslaught of infectious ailments which are now posing anever-increasing threat to populations worldwide.

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing innovative products for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and other illnesses.

In collaboration with the prestigious Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPG) and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), both in Germany, BiondVax is developing a pipeline of innovative nanosized antibody (NanoAb) therapies addressing diseases underserved by current treatments and with large and growing markets, such as COVID-19, asthma and psoriasis.

NanoAbs, also known as VHH-antibodies or Nanobodies, are alpaca-derived nanosized antibodies that exhibit multiple significant competitive advantages over existing antibody therapies, including stability at high temperatures, superior binding affinity, more effective and convenient routes of administration and efficient production. BiondVax is uniquely positioned to advance nanosized antibody innovation from R&D through commercialization.

The company’s highly experienced and successful pharmaceutical industry leadership team includes former senior executives from Novartis, GSK and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Since its founding, BiondVax has executed eight clinical trials, including a seven-country, 12,400-participant Phase 3 trial of a prior influenza vaccine candidate, and it built, owns and operates a 20,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art GMP biologics manufacturing facility housing its laboratories, production facilities and offices.

Lead Candidate: Inhaled COVID-19 NanoAb

In December 2021, BiondVax signed definitive agreements with the Max Planck Society – parent organization of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences– and the UMG to enter a strategic collaboration for the development and commercialization of innovative COVID-19 NanoAbs.

The company is planning a rapid development path that leverages its expertise and capabilities in biological drug development and manufacturing. BiondVax anticipates preclinical proof-of-concept results for an inhaled COVID-19 NanoAb by the end of 2022, with initial Phase 1/2a human clinical trial results expected in 2023.

The intended inhaled mechanism of delivery of BiondVax’s COVID-19 NanoAb formulation may serve as a significant differentiator when compared to approved monoclonal antibodies, which are injected. Inhaled delivery has shown to be cheaper, more convenient and likely safer for patients and providers.

NanoAb Pipeline: Psoriasis, Asthma and More

The COVID-19 NanoAb development agreement is part of a broader five-year research collaboration agreement signed in March 2022 covering discovery, development and commercialization of NanoAbs for several other disease indications with large market medical needs, including asthma, psoriasis, macular degeneration and psoriatic arthritis.

BiondVax has an exclusive worldwide license for development and commercialization of COVID-19 NanoAbs and exclusive options for similar worldwide licenses for NanoAbs for the above mentioned additional large market disorders currently underserved by approved therapeutic antibodies.

Academic research teams from MPG and UMG have verified strong affinity by the new NanoAbs to their biological target molecules and high thermostability. They have also demonstrated strong neutralization by several NanoAb candidates of their respective target molecules. Neutralization studies of the other NanoAbs are expected to begin later in 2022.

Based on the promising results, BiondVax will focus development efforts beginning with the following NanoAbs:

• NanoAbs targeting IL-17 as drug candidates for the potential treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
• NanoAbs targeting IL-13 and NanoAbs targeting TSLP as drug candidates for the potential treatment of asthma

These are conditions for which the antibody target is validated by existing treatments and the mechanism of action is well understood. Both represent large medical needs and growing markets. BiondVax anticipates preclinical proof-of-concept for at least one of these NanoAbs in 2023. This is in addition to the aforementioned human clinical Phase 1/2a for the inhaled COVID-19 NanoAb therapy, which is also anticipated in 2023.

Market Opportunity

COVID-19 treatment, target of the company’s lead NanoAb therapy candidate, had an estimated market size of $22 billion in 2021.

Future BiondVax drug candidates will target conditions with large markets growing at attractive CAGRs.

The global asthma treatment market was valued at $18.08 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $26.01 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period, according to Fortune Business Insights. The research firm predicts that the global psoriasis treatment market will grow from $26.37 billion in 2022 to $47.24 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.7% over the forecast period.

Management Team

Amir Reichman is BiondVax’s CEO. He previously was Head of Global Vaccines Engineering Core Technologies at GSK Vaccines in Belgium. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at Novartis Vaccines’ Global Vaccines Supply Chain Management organization. He was the first employee of NeuroDerm Ltd., a company focused on transdermal drug delivery, and served as Chief Engineer and Senior Scientist until his departure in 2009. He earned a M.Sc. in Biotechnology Engineering from Ben-Gurion University and an MBA in Finance and Health Care Management from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Tamar Ben-Yedidia, Ph.D., is Chief Science Officer at BiondVax. She has more than 30 years of experience in immunology, with specific expertise in the development of vaccines. She began her career with Biotechnology General Ltd., working on development of a recombinant Hepatitis-B vaccine. She later joined the Weizmann Institute of Science, working on the design of a peptide-based vaccine against several pathogens. She is widely published, with numerous refereed articles and invited reviews in various scientific journals. She received her Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute.

Elad Mark is COO at BiondVax. He has over 15 years of biotechnology industry experience encompassing diverse project stages including feasibility studies, conceptual and detailed design, commissioning, qualification and process validation. Prior to joining BiondVax, he led Novartis’s $800 million investment in a biologics facility in Singapore. With Biopharmax and Antero, both global pharmaceutical engineering companies, he successfully led projects in Israel, China and Singapore. He holds a BSc. in Engineering from the Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering and an MBA from the Open University of Israel.

Uri Ben-Or is CFO at BiondVax. He has served as CFO with public life science companies traded on the TASE, OTC and Nasdaq. Ben-Or provides his services to BiondVax through CFO Direct, a company he founded and for which he serves as CEO. He served as the VP of Finance of Glycominds, a leading biotechnology company, and as CFO of a spin-off from Telrad Networks. He also served as a Corporate Controller at Menorah Capital Markets and as an Auditor at PWC. He holds a B.A. in Business from the College of Administration, an MBA from Bar-Ilan University, and is a CPA.

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV), closed Tuesday's trading session at $2.59, off by 7.1685%, on 130,812 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.37/$22.90.

Recent News

• BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV) - New Model Sheds Light on Patterns of Infectious Illnesses
• InvestorNewsBreaks - BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV) Animal Study Results Featured in Aegis Capital Corp. Updated Price Target
• BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: BVXV) Aiming to Capture Significant Market Share for Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19 Illness with Innovative Inhaled NanoAb

Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO).

Silo Pharma (NASDAQ: SILO), a developmental-stage biopharmaceutical company, recentlyprovided a progress update on its sponsored clinical trial with theUniversity of California, San Francisco (“UCSF”) examining theeffect of psilocybin on inflammation. “Silo’s sponsored clinicaltrial with the Clinical & Translational Science Institute atUCSF aims to validate the use of psilocybin as a therapeutic byevaluating the effects of the compound on patients suffering frominflammatory disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, bipolar andchronic pain,” a recent article reads. “In addition to itspartnership with UCSF, Silo Pharma is also evaluating its ketamineformulation, designated as SPC-14, through a joint partnershipagreement with Columbia University… Silo Pharma is fusingtraditional therapeutics with psychedelic research to provide noveltreatments for numerous indications, including post-traumaticstress disorder (‘PTSD’), fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s,rheumatoid arthritis, and other rare neurological disorders. Thecompany partners with leading institutions such as UCSF, ColumbiaUniversity and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (‘UMB’) todevelop treatments the company believes will transform health careand improve patient outcomes.”

To view the full article, visit https://ibn.fm/yKxgu

Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO), a developmental stage biopharmaceutical company, is focused on merging traditional therapeutics with psychedelic research for people suffering from indications such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other rare neurological disorders. Silo’s mission is to identify assets to license and fund research that the company believes will be transformative to the wellbeing of patients and the health care industry.

Silo is committed to developing innovative solutions to address a variety of underserved conditions. Combining Silo’s resources with world-class medical research partners, the company looks to make significant advances in the medical and psychedelic space.

Silo works to identify and partner with leading medical universities, providing the needed financial resources to develop safe therapeutic treatments while moving cutting-edge research through the clinical stage and into commercialization. The company is well-capitalized with access to additional funds as opportunities present themselves.

Silo recently engaged Donohoe Advisory Associates LLC for consulting and advisory services in connection with the potential uplisting of Silo’s common shares to the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Research

Silo has entered into research agreements and partnerships with multiple leading medical universities.

The company is involved in a sponsored study with Maastricht University utilizing repeated low doses of ketamine and psilocybin to examine the effects on cognitive and emotional dysfunctions in Parkinson’s disease and to understand its mechanism of action. The investigator in the Netherlands is acquiring the substances for the study and will then finalize the documentation to submit to the ethics committee.

Additionally, in June 2021, Silo announced its entry into a scientific research agreement with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The agreement will leverage four other clinical trials being planned by the university to determine the effects of psilocybin on inflammation. The study will take place at The Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program at UCSF.

Silo also recently extended its exclusive option agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to explore a novel invention generally known as joint-homing peptides. These peptides are being developed for use in the investigation and treatment of arthritogenic processes and can be used for enhanced targeting of therapeutic agents.

This agreement includes the study of two separate peptides. The first is an option and study for the treatment of arthritis. The second is a patented licensed peptide for the central nervous system, with an initial study for MS autoimmune diseases, in addition to rheumatoid arthritis. Animal studies are underway for both initial indications relating to the UMB agreement, with the potential for studies evaluating additional indications in the future.

Finally, Silo signed an agreement with Columbia University granting it an option to license certain assets currently under development, including an Alzheimer’s disease formulation targeting NDMARs and 5-HT4Rs, as well as a prophylactic treatment for stress-induced disorders and PTSD. Both candidates are currently being tested in mice and have already provided early data.

In addition to its university partnerships, Silo entered a joint venture agreement with Zylo Therapeutics Inc. (“ZTI”) focused on the development of ketamine and psilocybin using ZTI’s Z-Pod™ technology for the transdermal time released delivery of therapeutics. In November 2021, the company announced ZTI’s reception of its first ketamine shipment and initiation of loading ketamine into its Z-Pod technology. In a news release, Eric Weisblum, CEO of Silo, called the development an “important milestone” that will help the company “study the benefits of slow-release transdermal release of Ketamine.”

Market Overview

According to Coherent Market Insights, the fibromyalgia treatment market was valued at $2.78 billion in 2018 and has a projected CAGR of 3.3% over the forecast period 2018 to 2026. Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all over the body, sleep problems, fatigue, and emotional and mental distress.

The global PTSD therapeutics market is expected to reach $10.68 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026, according to a report by Credence Research. Growing prevalence of PTSD is the chief factor driving the global treatment market. Increases in events such as wars, combat, and interpersonal violence has been a major contributing factor. Other factors like growing emphasis on rehabilitation initiatives by governments for treating their war veterans has also been facilitating the increase in demand for PTSD therapeutics.

Fortune Business Insights reports the global Parkinson’s disease treatment market is predicted to grow to $8.38 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system which primarily affects the brain, causing uncontrollable shaking and tremors, difficulties in balance and restricted body movement making it difficult for the person to function or perform a daily routine.

Management Team

Eric Weisblum is CEO and founder of Silo Pharma. He has over 25 years of Wall Street experience, most recently in the biotechnology sector. He has served on the board of Aikido Pharma and was the president of Sableridge Capital. He has a proven track record in licensing therapeutic assets and assisting in their development. He brings to the company nearly 20 years of expertise in structuring and trading financial instruments. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business.

Dr. Kevin Muñoz was appointed to the Silo board of directors in October 2020. He teaches biomedical sciences and medical intervention for the Passaic County Technical Institute. He previously served as Director of Operations at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He began his career with Harlem Health Promotion Center in New York City as a research assistant. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Medicine from Xavier University School of Medicine.

Josh Woolley, M.D., Ph.D., is a Scientific Advisor for Silo. He is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. He is also a psychiatrist on staff at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is the director and founder of the Bonding and Attunement in Neuropsychiatric Disorders Laboratory. He received both his M.D. and his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCSF, where he completed his psychiatry residency training.

Charles Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D., is a Scientific Advisor for Silo Pharma. He directs the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as part of the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences. He was chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and clinical director of the Center on Aging at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO), closed Tuesday's trading session at $2.56, off by 2.2901%, on 149,473 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.35/$12.445.

Recent News

• Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO) - BioMedNewsBreaks - Silo Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: SILO) Partnering to Transform Health Care, Improve Patient Outcomes
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Silo Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: SILO) Expands IP Portfolio with New USPTO Patent
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Silo Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: SILO) Board Authorizes Stock Repurchase Program

CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP).

CNS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CNSP), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development ofnovel treatments for primary and metastatic cancers in the brainand central nervous system, announced that enrollment is continuingin its ongoing global trial evaluating Berubicin for the treatmentof recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”). Specifically, thecompany is reporting that it has enrolled the first patient inSpain. As part of the trial, the company has opened 37 of 59planned clinical trial sites; the sites are located in the UnitedStates, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland. The company notedthat it plans an interim analysis of the study when 30-50% ofparticipants reach the primary endpoint; the company anticipatesthat happening later this year. This review will evaluate safety aswell as secondary efficacy endpoints, and enrollment will not stopduring the analysis. An anthracycline, Berubicin is in a class ofanticancer agents that are among the most powerful chemotherapydrugs that have proven to be effective against more types of cancerthan any other class of chemotherapeutic agents. “We continue torapidly build momentum with patient enrollment across our clinicaltrial sites in Europe,” said CNS Pharmaceuticals CEO JohnClimaco in the press release. “The pace at which we are enrollingpatients is encouraging and driving us toward our planned interimanalysis, which we expect mid-year 2023. We sincerely appreciatethe institutions, clinicians and staff that are contributing to theconduct of this trial, and are extremely grateful to the patientsthat choose to participate. We are laser focused on executing onclinical development plans and look forward to providing updates.”

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/n1b1w

CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) is a clinical stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel treatments for primary and metastatic cancers of the brain and central nervous system.

The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Organ Targeted Therapeutics

The company’s lead drug candidate, Berubicin, is proposed for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”), an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. Berubicin also has potential to treat other central nervous system malignancies. Based on limited clinical data, Berubicin appears to be the first anthracycline to cross the blood brain barrier in the adult brain, and it was the subject of a successful Phase 1 study which found the MDT and produced efficacy data as well.

CNS holds a worldwide exclusive license to the Berubicin chemical compound. The company has acquired all requisite data and know-how from Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. related to a completed Phase I clinical trial of Berubicin in malignant brain tumors. In this trial, 44% of patients experienced a statistically significant improvement in clinical benefit. In 2017, CNS entered into a collaboration and asset purchase agreement with Reata.

CNS intends to explore the potential of Berubicin to treat other diseases, including pancreatic and ovarian cancers and lymphoma. The company is also examining plans to develop combination therapies that include Berubicin.

CNS estimates that more than $25 million in private capital and grants were invested in Berubicin prior to the company’s $9.8 million IPO in November 2019.

CNS intends to submit an IND for Berubicin during the fourth quarter of 2020 and expects to commence a Phase II clinical trial of Berubicin for the treatment of GBM in the U.S. in Q1 2021. A sub-licensee partner was awarded a $6 million EU/Polish National Center for Research and Development grant to undertake a Phase II trial of Berubicin in adults and a first-ever Phase I trial in pediatric GBM patients in Poland in 2021.

The company’s second drug candidate, WP1244, is a novel DNA binding agent licensed from the MD Anderson Cancer Center. In preclinical studies, WP1244 proved to be 500-times more potent than the chemotherapeutic agent, daunorubicin, in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. The company has entered into a sponsored research agreement with the MD Anderson Cancer Center to further the development of WP1244.

CNS Pharmaceuticals recently engaged U.S.-based Pharmaceutics International Inc. and Italian BSP Pharmaceuticals SpA for the production of the Berubicin drug product. The company has implemented a dual-track manufacturing strategy to mitigate COVID-19-related risks, diversify its supply chain and provide for localized availability of Berubicin. CNS has already completed synthesis of Berubicin’s active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and has shipped the API to both manufacturers in order to prepare an injectable form of Berubicin for clinical use.

Global Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market

The high recurrence rate of malignant brain tumors is due to reappearance of focal masses, indicating that a sub-population of tumor cells in these cancers may be insensitive to current therapies and may be responsible for reinitiating tumor growth. This necessitates the development of newer drugs in the market that demonstrate greater efficacy in treating such aggressive cancers.

A global increase in neurological disorders has placed increased attention on cancers of the brain over the past decade. Neurological disorders are becoming one of the most prevalent types of disorders, due to longer life expectancy, greater exposure to infection and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Because few treatments for primary and metastatic cancers of the brain exist, costs are high and have acted as a restraint for the brain tumor therapeutics market.

Despite progress in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic strategies, effective treatments for brain cancer are limited by a lack of specific therapies for the brain and the difficulty in transporting therapeutic compounds across the blood brain barrier. Therefore, there is a significant need for novel and effective therapeutic drugs and strategies that prolong survival and improve quality of life for brain tumor patients.

Several companies are making significant investments into R&D, which is expected to bring more treatment options to the market in the near future. Industry reports consistently project continued growth in the market.

One report estimates that the global brain tumor therapeutics market will reach a valuation of $2.74 billion in 2023, with the market expected to register a CAGR of 11% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2023. Another report projects that the global brain tumor therapeutics market will reach $3.4 billion by 2025, up from $2.25 billion in 2019 (http://nnw.fm/eDUjp).

Management Team

John M. Climaco is the CEO of CNS Pharmaceuticals. For 15 years, Climaco has served in leadership roles for a variety of health care companies. Recently, Climaco served as the Executive Vice President of Perma-Fix Medical S.A, where he managed the development of a novel method to produce Technitium-99. Climaco also served as President and CEO of Axial Biotech Inc., a DNA diagnostics company. In the process of taking Axial from inception to product development to commercialization, Climaco forged strategic partnerships with Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson and Smith & Nephew.

Christopher Downs, CPA, is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Downs previously served as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of InfuSystem Holdings Inc. (NYSE: INFU), a supplier of infusion services to oncologists in the United States. Downs holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Dr. Donald Picker is the Chief Scientific Officer of CNS. Picker has over 35 years of drug development experience. Prior to joining CNS, Picker worked at Johnson Matthey, where he was responsible for the development of Carboplatin, one of the world’s leading cancer drugs, which was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb with annual sales of over $500 million. In addition, he oversaw the development of Satraplatin and Picoplatin, third-generation platinum drugs currently in late-stage clinical development.

Sandra L. Silberman, M.D., Ph.D., is the Chief Medical Officer of CNS Pharmaceuticals. Silberman is a hematologist/oncologist who earned her B.A., Sc.M. and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Arts and Sciences, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, respectively, and her M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. She then completed both a clinical fellowship in hematology/oncology and a research fellowship in tumor immunology at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Silberman has played key roles in the development of many drugs, including Gleevec(TM), for which she led the global clinical development at Novartis. Silberman advanced several original, proprietary compounds into Phases I through III during her work with leading biopharmaceutical companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Imclone and Roche.

CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP), closed Tuesday's trading session at $2.16, off by 7.8891%, on 76,471 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 76,352 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.05/$16.50.

Recent News

• CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) - InvestorNewsBreaks - CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) Enrolls First Patient in Spain in Key Global Trial Studying Berubicin for Treatment of GBM
• Study Finds Boosting White Blood Cell Counts May Improve Treatment Outcomes
• BioMedNewsBreaks - CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) Pleased with Early Results from Global Clinical Trial

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF).

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) is engaged in Rare Earth Element (REE) resource development and in commercializing its critical metals separation technology, RapidSX™, for the mining and metals extraction industry. The company is guided by principles of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) with a focus on disrupting China’s current dominance of the U.S. REE supply chain.

Ucore’s vision is to become a leading advanced technology company providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry. It plans to aid in the development, through strategic partnerships, of a North American REE supply chain controlled by the U.S. and its allies.

The company intends to contribute to this initiative through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in Louisiana and subsequent development of Strategic Metals Complexes (SMCs) in Alaska and Canada, as well as through the longer-term development of its 100%-owned Heavy Rare Earth Element (HREE) mineral resource property at Bokan Mountain on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.

Ucore is headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Projects & Technology

RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant

The Kingston, Ontario, RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant commissioning process is underway. Once commissioned, the plant is designed to demonstrate the commercial capabilities of the RapidSX technology platform.

The RapidSX demo plant will show:

• The techno-economic advantages of the RapidSX technology platform
• The processing of tens of tons of heavy and light mixed rare earth element concentrates in a simulated production environment
• The platform’s ability to operate for thousands of semi-continuous run-time hours
• Production of high-purity NdPr, praseodymium, neodymium, terbium and dysprosium rare earth elements for early OEM product qualification trials

The demo plant is located within Ucore’s 5,000-square-foot RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility and is run by its laboratory partner, Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (“KPM”).

RapidSX™ Technology

Innovation Metals Corp., acquired by the company in 2020, developed the RapidSX separation technology platform with early-stage assistance from the United States Department of Defense, later resulting in the production of commercial-grade, separated rare earth elements at pilot scale.

RapidSX combines the time-proven chemistry of conventional solvent extraction (SX) with a new column-based platform that significantly reduces time to completion and plant footprint, as well as potentially lowering capital and operating costs. SX is the international REE industry’s standard commercial separation technology and is currently used by all REE producers worldwide for bulk commercial separation of both heavy and light REEs.

Utilizing similar chemistry to conventional SX, RapidSX is not a “new” technology, but it represents a significant improvement on the well-established, well-understood, proven conventional SX separation technology preferred by REE producers.

Strategic Metals Complex

Ucore, engineering partner Mech-Chem Associates Inc. and KPM are developing the full-scale engineering for the company’s first Strategic Metals Complex (SMC). The SMC is a planned REE separation and rare earth oxide production plant slated to commence construction in Louisiana in 2023. It is scheduled to initially process 2,000 tons of total rare earth oxides by the end of 2024, increasing to 5,000 tons in 2026.

Bokan-Dotson Ridge REE Deposit

Ucore has invested over C$35 million to establish and validate the Bokan-Dotson Ridge resource in preparation for mine design and permitting. Initial drilling is complete, and a Preliminary Economic Assessment has been issued. Next steps for the project include a feasibility study, detailed mine design and permit acquisition. The project can be “near shovel ready” for construction in less than 30 months after receipt of the next stage of development funding.

Market Opportunity

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global rare earth elements market was valued at $2.8 billion in 2018 and is forecast to reach a value of $5.6 billion by 2025, achieving a CAGR of 10.4% during the period. Market growth is driven by increasing demand for these elements in the manufacturing of magnets and catalysts for the automotive industry. Rising demand for electric vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions is expected to propel the use of permanent magnets in the production of EV batteries.

China is the major producer and consumer of REEs. To maintain self-sufficiency and to meet future demand, China has been raising the export tariffs on rare earth elements shipped to various countries, including the U.S., Japan, India, Brazil and the European Union. This led to the current supply-demand gap in these countries, as they rely on imports from China.

China reduced the exports of REEs by 72% in the second half of 2010 to preserve its reserves of these elements and continues to export REEs at reduced levels, thereby affecting industries such as automotive, oil and gas, and electronics, which require an ample amount of rare earth elements.

Management Team

Pat Ryan, P.Eng., is Chairman and CEO of Ucore Rare Metals. He began as a director with the company when he developed a heightened interest in critical metals. Before joining Ucore, he founded and led a multimillion-dollar automotive OEM design and lean manufacturing company. His understanding of complex supply chains across international markets has led to a prime positioning as the global auto industry transitions to vehicle electrification. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Dalhousie University.

Peter Manuel is Vice President and CFO of Ucore. Prior to joining the company, he practiced as a Chartered Accountant for more than 17 years, providing consulting services to companies in a range of industries, with a focus on the financial services and resource sectors. He spent 10 years in England and Ireland providing assurance, strategic planning, corporate finance and other consulting services to a portfolio of both public and private entities. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Dalhousie University.

Michael Schrider, MEng, P.E., is Vice President and COO of Ucore. He is a multidisciplinary engineer who has been involved in manufacturing, engineering and managing complex structural and mechanical systems projects since 1989. He was the Founder, President and Chief Engineer of Schrider & Associates and Alton Bay Design, both engineering services firms. He holds a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of New Orleans and a master’s degree in mining, geological and geophysical engineering from the University of Arizona.

Mark MacDonald is Vice President of Investor Relations at Ucore. He has over 25 years of experience implementing award winning business development and marketing programs at regional and national levels. As Vice President of Sales, he was responsible for Mediapro Communication’s growth as AT&T Canada’s leading B2B sales partner. He subsequently became Atlantic Regional Vice President of AT&T Canada Corp. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University.

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (UURAF), closed Tuesday's trading session at $0.7246, off by 2.0811%, on 425 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 425 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.40/$0.86.

Recent News

• Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) Is 'One to Watch'
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) Issues Update on Its RapidSX(TM) Demo Plant
• Ucore Receives 2 tonnes of HREE Feedstock for Demo Plant Commissioning Trials

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTC: SGMD)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Sugarmade, Inc. (OTC: SGMD).

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTC: SGMD) is a product and brand marketing company investing in operations and technologies with disruptive potential. The company is focused on collaborating with real people in real-time to identify the emerging desires and behaviors poised to unlock new opportunities and pathways for growth. Sugarmade seeks to redefine the marketplace by nurturing an innovative and compelling relationship between brand, botany and business – resulting in both undeniable consumer value and an intriguing cross-pollination of revenue sources.

The company’s core strategic plan is centered on expanding its end-market access as a central player in the growing California cannabis delivery marketplace while developing its in-house cannabis production capacity to verticalize operations in the space. Through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, Sugarmade intends to develop a full farm-to-door vertically integrated cannabis business.

Brand Portfolio

Sugarmade has investments in a number of subsidiaries with active operations in the California cannabis sector. These include:

• NUG Avenue – Sugarmade owns a 70% stake in NUG Avenue, a cannabis delivery service based in Southern California providing hand-selected top-shelf products from Stiiizy, Kanha, PlugPlay and more.
• BudCars – Sugarmade is an investor in cannabis delivery service of BudCars’ first operating location in Sacramento, California. BudCars is an online-shopping experience designed to provide new customers with an easy way to discover and order cannabis products within minutes.

Acquisition of Lemon Glow Company

On May 17, 2021, Sugarmade took a major step toward closing the loop on what its management team believes to be one of the most promising vertically integrated cannabis models in the thriving California market when it announced the signing of a definitive agreement for its acquisition of Lemon Glow Company Inc.

The Lemon Glow acquisition includes 640 acres of property, 32 of which have already been designated for outdoor cannabis cultivation. Per the company’s news release, the annual potential cultivation yield at the property is estimated to be approximately 4,000 pounds of dry trimmed cannabis flower per acre per year, which represents approximately 128,000 pounds, or 64 tons, of dry trimmed cannabis flower per year in total.

Notably, Sugarmade also benefits from the acquisition in terms of team capital, as Lemon Glow executive team members will stay on and become the core management team at the cannabis cultivation site, granting the operation over 30 years of cannabis cultivation experience.

“The Lemon Glow team are tremendous additions to the Sugarmade team,” Jimmy Chan, CEO of Sugarmade, commented in announcing the definitive agreement. “They have vast experience and established skills, as well as intricate knowledge of the property and its local grow context. That’s an enormous added value proposition in this deal. We look forward to bringing them on board, ramping up operations at the property, and taking key steps toward delivering on the promise of Sugarmade’s farm-to-door vision.”

Market Opportunity

The California cannabis industry has continued to record tremendous growth since voters approved a measure to legalize recreational use of the plant in 2016. According to data from MJBizDaily, California’s legal market hit $4.4 billion in sales in 2020, up from $2.8 billion in 2019 and $1.4 billion in 2018.

Those figures highlight California’s status as the largest legal cannabis market in the world. With roughly 28 million residents over the age of 21, California is more than twice the combined size of the four states (Arizona, New Jersey, Montana and North Dakota) that legalized cannabis in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a key driver in the growth of cannabis delivery services throughout the state in 2020. One California cannabis delivery firm reported a 60% increase in new delivery customer sign-ups in the 30 days following the March 13, 2020, declaration of a national emergency. As a result of this boom, tech companies in cannabis ecommerce were able to dramatically increase their market share.
Sugarmade’s continued efforts to develop a farm-to-door vertically integrated cannabis business position it to capitalize on these trends as the California cannabis industry continues to expand moving forward.

Management

Jimmy Chan is the CEO of Sugarmade. He is an experienced business executive instrumental in growing multiple business operations with a strong expertise in international trade and banking, international manufacturing and importation. He is also the founder of CarryOutSupplies.com, a company that revolutionized the custom-printed paper supplies subsector of the quick service restaurant industry, which merged with Sugarmade in 2014.

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTC: SGMD), closed Tuesday's trading session at $0.0001, even for the day, on 34,493,563 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 34.494M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0001/$0.0009.

Recent News

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