Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB) .

Renovaro BioSciences (NASDAQ: RENB), an advanced, pre-clinical biotechnology firm in cell, gene and immunotherapy, on Aug. 9 announced an exclusive, binding letter of intent with GEDi Cube. Today Renovaro BioSciences congratulated GEDi Cube on its appointment of Dr. Lester Russell as its chief medical officer. "We are excited about the appointment of Dr. Russell," said Dr. Mark Dybul, CEO of Renovaro BioSciences. "As a seasoned expert in clinical medicine and digital health, he could enhance the capabilities of GEDi Cube to make a difference in the lives of people at risk of or suffering from serious illnesses."

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

Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB), formerly Enochian BioSciences Inc., is an advanced, pre-clinical biotechnology firm in cell, gene and immunotherapy focused on solid tumors with short life expectancy. The company aims to unlock potentially long-term or life-long cancer remission in some of the deadliest cancers, and to potentially treat or cure serious infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection.

The oncology platform is now at the forefront of Renovaro’s development activities. While Renovaro’s current efforts focus primarily on pancreatic cancer, it plans to include other solid tumors with short life-expectancy in the first in human Phase I/IIa studies that are on track to start by mid-2024. The company’s Pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) submission included a human study plan covering pancreatic cancer, as well as other cancers that are difficult to treat, potentially including triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancers and mesothelioma.

Renovaro’s proprietary, novel technology uses cell- and gene-therapy to promote a renewed immune response against solid tumors. Important confirmatory results from two humanized mouse models using the company’s novel dendritic cell-based therapy, independently conducted by Dr. Anahid Jewett, a renowned cancer researcher in the field of immunotherapy at UCLA, were presented previously at two scientific conferences and were the foundation supporting a pre-IND submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Notably, Dr. Jewett’s findings from these studies consistently demonstrated 80% to 90% pancreatic tumor reduction in size and weight that was correlated with significant enhancement of key aspects of the immune response.

Renovaro is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

RENB-DC11

Renovaro’s product development strategy is anchored in the use of “non-self” or allogeneic cells that enhance targeted immune response. Its lead candidate, RENB-DC11, is an innovative therapeutic vaccination platform that could potentially be used to induce life-long remissions from some of the deadliest solid tumors.
Treatment with RENB-DC11 has now been shown to significantly reduce the size of human pancreatic tumors in humanized mice in three independent studies. The reduction in tumor size correlated with statistically significant increases in key components of an immune response.

Pre-IND was completed in June 2023, with IND filing forecast for first half of 2024. First in-human Phase I/IIa trials are predicted shortly after in H1 of 2024, including pancreatic and other solid tumors with poor treatment options and life-expectancy.

Renovaro believes that RENB-DC11 could represent the most promising and effective strategy to achieve life-long remission for a number of common and deadly tumors.

Other Development Candidates

In addition to its lead oncology platform, Renovaro’s development pipeline includes a platform targeting infectious diseases, including:

• RENB-HV12 – An engineered allogeneic T-Cell vaccine, this therapeutic HIV vaccine candidate enhances immune infiltration, immune killing and immune surveillance. Potential pre-IND submission is planned for first half of 2024, with IND-submission expected in second half of 2024.
• RENB-HV21 – Leveraging allogeneic NK plus Gamma Delta T (GDT) cells as potential therapy for HIV, ENOB-HV21 shows promising preliminary results without confounding factors. Renovaro owns an exclusive license and has completed the Pre-IND submission, with a potential IND submission and human trials expected in 2024.
• RENB-HV01 – Caring Cross, a non-profit corporation, has shown that its proprietary CAR-T cells cure HIV in a mouse model. Studies in humans have begun. Renovaro has entered into a profit-sharing sublicense with Caring Cross and would share in profits if the product is commercialized.
• RENB-HB01 – This therapeutic approach aims to eliminate all HBV rapidly (“seek and kill”) with a two to three dose treatment regimen. It is expected to be applicable for early disease to maximize impact with low risk of toxicity. Pre-IND comments have been received from the FDA for its AAV-delivery system.
  LOI to Merge with GEDi Cube International Ltd.

On August 9, 2023, Renovaro announced its execution of a binding, exclusive letter of intent to merge a subsidiary with cutting-edge health AI company GEDi Cube International Ltd. The combined company is expected to create a potential multiplier effect to accelerate earlier diagnosis, more effective therapy, and precision in silico drug discovery.

GEDi Cube’s innovative technology, developed over nearly a decade, has already validated earlier diagnoses of lung cancer in humans at a leading university hospital. GEDi Cube has likewise created the early diagnosis technology for 12 additional cancers, including pancreatic and breast cancer.

“I believe joining forces with GEDi Cube could enhance the efficacy of our upcoming trials and speed up the discovery of novel treatment approaches, thereby extending our life-saving technology to more cancer patients and renewing hope for them and their families,” Dr. Mark Dybul, CEO of Renovaro, stated in the news release.

GEDi Cube is led by CEO Craig Rhodes, who brings to that company tremendous industry experience leading life sciences groups at industry leaders Intel, Oracle and NVIDIA.

Market Opportunity

Pancreatic cancer alone is diagnosed globally in approximately 495,000 people each year, including roughly 64,000 in the U.S. Nearly 466,000 of those patients die annually, including approximately 51,000 in the U.S. Because of limited treatment options, life expectancy is very poor – with an approximately 10% patient survival rate at five years after diagnosis.

The global pancreatic cancer treatment market was valued at $2.15 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from $2.48 billion in 2022 to $6.85 billion by 2029, according to Fortune Business Insights. That growth represents a CAGR of 15.7% for the forecast period.

A separate report from Fortune Business Insights projects that the global HIV drug market will grow from $30.46 billion in 2021 to $45.58 billion in 2028, recording a CAGR of 5.9% over the forecast period.

According to GlobalData, the value of the market for hepatitis B treatment is forecast to experience a significant increase in the coming years, with revenues expected to grow from $1.6 billion in 2022 to $10.5 billion in 2029. That represents a very rapid CAGR of 30% over the period. An estimated 296 million people suffer from the condition worldwide.

Management Team

Dr. Mark Dybul is the CEO of Renovaro. He has served as a tenured professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center since June 2017. He also served as Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Global Health and Quality from 2017-2021. Dr. Dybul has worked on HIV and public health for nearly 30 years as a clinician, scientist, teacher and administrator, including as an architect and eventually the Global Ambassador of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from 2013 through May of 2017, and as the co-director of the Global Health Law Program at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law from 2009 through 2012. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.

Luisa Puche is the company’s CFO. She has served as a senior accounting and financial advisor and president of Puche Group LLC from 2015-2019. She served in various key executive roles, including Interim Chief Accounting Officer, at Brightstar Corp., a $10 billion global wireless device services provider. Ms. Puche began her career at Ernst & Young, where she served for approximately 10 years. Leveraging her broad global audit, advisory and corporate expertise, she has provided strong cross-functional leadership experience managing small and large projects for both publicly traded and privately held companies in various industries, including a global implementation of the latest revenue recognition accounting standard for Del Monte, as well as the global implementation of their SOX-404 program.

Francois Binette, Ph.D., is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Renovaro. He has over 25 years of product development expertise in Advanced Therapies and Regenerative Medicine. His broad industry experience spans a wide range of serious medical conditions, from orthopedics to ophthalmology, CNS and immuno-oncology. His career includes positions at Genzyme, Biosyntech, the DePuy Franchise of Johnson and Johnson, Medtronic and Lineage Cell Therapeutics. He received his Ph.D. from Laval University in Québec, followed by post-doctoral training at the Sanford-Burnham Institute in La Jolla and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB), closed Monday's trading session at $1.8, up 7.7844%, on 315,079 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 2.749M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.3928/$2.74.

Recent News

• Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB) - InvestorNewsBreaks - Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB) Congratulates GEDi Cube on Appointment of Expert in Clinical Medicine and Digital Health
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB) CEO Discusses Substantial Scientific, Product Development Advances in Letter to Shareholders
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Renovaro BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB) Announces Presentation of 'Impressive' Results from Proof-of-Concept Studies

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS).

D-Wave (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in commercial quantum computing systems, software and services, has announced progress in a collaboration with Davidson Technologies, a technology services company that provides innovative engineering, technical and management solutions for the Department of Defense, aerospace and commercial customers. According to the update, the collaboration aims to create solutions that advance national defense efforts. At the Space and Missile Defense Symposium, the companies revealed their efforts in building two applications that focus on interceptor assignment and optimized radar scheduling.

For more information, visit https://ibn.fm/zV4P3

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) is a leader in quantum computing systems, software and services focused on delivering customer value via practical quantum applications for problems such as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, fault detection and financial modeling. As the only provider building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers, the company is unlocking commercial use cases in optimization today, while building the technologies that will enable new solutions tomorrow.

D-Wave is a pioneer in quantum computing, with a history of delivering the world’s first commercial quantum computer; the first real-time quantum cloud service; countless hardware and software product and research milestones; and the planned first cross-platform quantum solution which will deliver both annealing and gate-model quantum computers to customers via an integrated platform. Its current commercial product offerings include: Advantage™ (fifth generation quantum computer), Leap™ (quantum cloud service), Launch™ (quantum computing onboarding service) and Ocean™ (full suite of open-source programming tools).

D-Wave’s relentless pursuit of practical quantum computing has resulted in the technology being used today by some of the world’s most advanced enterprises – more than 25 of the Forbes Global 2000 use D-Wave.

D-Wave’s commercial customers include blue-chip industry leaders like Volkswagen, Accenture, BBVA, NEC Corporation, Save-On-Foods, DENSO and Lockheed Martin. The company boasts an extensive IP portfolio featuring more than 200 issued U.S. patents and over 100 peer-reviewed papers published in leading scientific journals.

Founded in 1999, D-Wave is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers. With headquarters and the Quantum Engineering Center of Excellence based near Vancouver, Canada, D-Wave’s U.S. operations are based in Palo Alto, California.

Advantage™ Quantum Computer

 

With the Advantage™ Quantum Computer, D-Wave has incorporated two decades of experience and over 10 years of customer feedback to create the first and only quantum computer designed for business. The platform features a new processor architecture with over 5,000 qubits and 15-way qubit connectivity. This is 2.5x more connections and more than double the number of qubits than the company’s previous generation quantum computer.

D-Wave’s quantum computers, first located in its facilities in British Columbia, have been available to North American users through its Leap™ quantum cloud service since 2018. It has since introduced new Advantage systems in Julich, Germany, and most recently, Marina Del Rey, California, which marked the availability of the first Advantage quantum computer physically located in the United States.

That new deployment is part of the USC-Lockheed Martin Quantum Computing Center (QCC) hosted at USC’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI), a unit of the University of Southern California’s prestigious Viterbi School of Engineering. Additionally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and D-Wave announced that the U.S.-based system is available for use in Amazon 2racket, expanding the number to three different D-Wave quantum systems available to AWS users.

Leap Quantum Cloud Service

 

D-Wave’s customers interface with its systems through the Leap™ quantum cloud service. Leap delivers immediate, real-time access to the company’s Advantage quantum computer and quantum hybrid solver service, all with enterprise-class performance and scalability.

Leap allows developers proficient in Python to get started building and running quantum applications. Through a seamless and secure cloud-based connection, users can easily start solving complex problems of up to 1 million variables and 100,000 constraints.

Using Leap, D-Wave customers have developed quantum hybrid applications for use cases in manufacturing, logistics, financial services, life sciences, materials science, retail and transportation. By eliminating the need to wait hours, days or weeks to get good answers to a broad array of problems, D-Wave is helping businesses move forward.

D-Wave Launch

D-Wave Launch™ is the company’s onboarding platform aimed at helping businesses easily start their quantum journey. Through this program, D-Wave’s team of experts and partners aid enterprises in identifying best use cases for quantum and work with them to develop a proof of concept and production pilot.

From there, the team coordinates with customers to get their hybrid quantum applications up and running, providing ongoing Leap quantum cloud access to ensure the application is operating smoothly and delivering real business value.

Target Verticals

While the potential applications for quantum computing are effectively limitless, D-Wave has identified a number of industry verticals as key areas of focus for its quantum architecture, providing case studies for each. These include:

• Manufacturing – D-Wave worked with Volkswagen to identify a commercial optimization application, the binary paint shop problem, which was run on D-Wave’s hybrid solver service. The solver outperformed four purely classical methods on problem sizes at commercial scale (N=3,000). In a separate project, similar inputs were tested using a leading ion trap system, which failed to find any commercial solution.
• Life Sciences – Menten AI makes use of D-Wave quantum computing to assist in the design of novel therapeutic peptides—short strings of amino acids that can act as potent drugs. With the rise of COVID-19, D-Wave’s Advantage system made it possible to identify molecules that might be especially well-suited for binding and inhibiting the related spike protein, producing several promising peptide designs.
• Finance – Multiverse Computing, a leader in developing quantum solutions for the financial sector, leveraged D-Wave’s hybrid solver service in a collaboration with BBVA, one of the world’s largest financial institutions. Multiverse demonstrated management strategies that far exceeded the granularity of traditional returns in a fraction of the time, helping BBVA identify a low-risk portfolio for investment.

Market Opportunity

The quantum computing total addressable market is projected to grow between $450 billion and $850 billion over the next 15 to 30 years, with between $5 billion and $10 billion of anticipated TAM growth coming in the next three to five years, according to Boston Consulting Group. Driving factors behind this growth include rising investments in quantum computing tech by governments and an increasing number of commercial use-cases.

Forward-thinking organizations see quantum as an opportunity to move ahead of the competition. From finding efficiencies and reducing waste to decreasing time to solution and solving problems abandoned due to complexity, the business value is real. According to data from 451 Research, 40% of large enterprises are already experimenting with quantum computing.

D-Wave is strategically positioned – in an industry with significant barriers to entry – as evident by a decades-long track record serving a roster of blue-chip customers. The company is singularly focused on helping its customers achieve clear value by leveraging quantum computing in practical business applications. With a full stack of systems, software, developer tools and services, D-Wave is working to enable enterprises, governments, developers and researchers to access the power of quantum computing, thereby providing an intriguing opportunity for prospective investors.

D-Wave’s current investor base includes PSP Investments, Goldman Sachs, BDC Capital, NEC Corporation, Aegis Group Partners and In-Q-Tel.

Leadership Team

Dr. Alan Baratz has served as the CEO of D-Wave since 2020. Previously, as Executive Vice President of R&D and Chief Product Officer, he drove the development, delivery, and support of all of D-Wave’s products, technologies, and applications. Dr. Baratz has over 25 years of experience in product development and bringing new products to market at leading technology companies and software startups. As the first president of JavaSoft at Sun Microsystems, he oversaw the growth and adoption of the Java platform from its infancy to a robust platform supporting mission-critical applications in nearly 80 percent of Fortune 1000 companies. He has also held executive positions at Symphony, Avaya, Cisco, and IBM. Dr. Baratz holds a doctorate in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

John Markovich is the company’s CFO. He brings to D-Wave over three decades of experience working with rapidly growing private and public technology companies across all stages of development. Mr. Markovich has directed the finance, accounting, tax, treasury, M&A, legal, operations, customer service, IR, HR, and IT functions for companies ranging from privately held pre-revenue startups to an NYSE-listed Fortune 500 multi-national company with over $1.2 billion in annual revenue. During his career, he has negotiated and closed over 150 debt, equity, M&A, and joint venture transactions exceeding $2.5 billion in value; over a dozen private placements; nearly a dozen M&A transactions; and several international joint ventures. Mr. Markovich holds a BS in Business from Miami University and an MBA from the Michigan State Graduate School of Business.

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), closed Monday's trading session at $1.38, up 0.729927%, on 2,764,117 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.74/$.

Recent News

• D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) - InvestorNewsBreaks - D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), Davidson Technologies Inc. Collaborate to Advance Intelligent Solutions for Defense and Aerospace
• D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) and Davidson Technologies, Inc. Collaborate on Applications to Advance National Defense Efforts
• InvestorNewsBreaks - D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) Releases Q2 Financial Highlights, Business Updates

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX).

Lexaria's human oral nicotine study, NIC-H22-1, comparing world-leading brands and the company's DehydraTECH(TM)-Nicotine tobacco-free pouch, reported positive results, including higher pleasurable effects and reduced negative effects

A new patent has been granted to Lexaria and is strategically important to the company's oral nicotine sector research and development efforts

Lexaria continues to research diabetes control and weight loss with its DehydraTECH(TM)-CBD, announcing favorable animal study results and the intent to develop a human clinical study

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX, LEXXW), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, has announced updates regarding its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology – which improves the way that active pharmaceutical ingredients ("APIs") enter the bloodstream by promoting healthier oral ingestion methods and increasing the effectiveness of fat-soluble active molecules. Lexaria's primary focus for DehydraTECH research and development includes advancements of product candidates across key segments, including nicotine replacement, diabetes control and weight loss, and hypertension.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) is a global innovator in drug delivery platforms. The company’s patented technology, DehydraTECH™, improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) enter the bloodstream by promoting healthier oral ingestion methods and increasing the effectiveness of fat-soluble active molecules. DehydraTECH promotes fast-acting, less expensive and more effective oral drug delivery and has been thoroughly evaluated through in vivo, in vitro and human clinical testing.

DehydraTECH is covered by 21 issued and more than 50 pending patents in over 40 countries around the world. Lexaria’s first patent was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in October 2016 (US 9,474,725 B1), providing 20 years of patent protection expiring June 2034. Multiple patents have been awarded since then and are expected in the future.

Lexaria has also collaborated with the National Research Council (NRC), the Canadian government’s premier research and technology organization. The company has been granted patent protection for specific delivery of nicotine, vitamins, NSAIDs, antiviral drugs, cannabinoids and more.

Lexaria began developing DehydraTECH in 2014 and has since continued to strengthen and broaden the technology. The company has no plans to create or sell Lexaria-branded products containing controlled substances. Instead, Lexaria licenses its technology to other companies around the world to offer consumers the best possible performance across an array of ingestible product formats.

The company’s technology is best thought of as an additional layer that providers of consumer supplements, prescription and non-prescription drugs, nicotine and CBD products can utilize to improve the effectiveness of their own existing or planned new offerings. Lexaria has licensed DehydraTECH to multiple companies, including a world-leading tobacco producer for the research and development of smokeless, oral-based nicotine products, and for use in industries that produce cannabinoid beverages, edibles and oral products.

DehydraTECH is suitable for use with a wide range of product formats including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, consumer packaged goods and over-the-counter capsules, pills, tablets and oral suspensions.

DehydraTECH Technology

Lexaria’s DehydraTECH is designed specifically for formulating and delivering lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs and active ingredients. DehydraTECH increases their effectiveness and improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients enter the bloodstream. The major benefits to a subject ingesting a DehydraTECH-enabled drug or consumer product can be summarized by the following:

• Speeds up delivery – the effects of the product are felt by the subject in just minutes.
• Increases bioavailability – the technology is much more effective at delivering a drug or product into the bloodstream.
• Increases brain absorption – animal testing suggests significant improvement in the quantity of drug delivered across the blood-brain barrier.
• Improves drug potency – more of the ingested product is made available to the body, so lower doses are required to achieve the desired effect.
• Reduces drug administration cost – lower doses mean lower overall drug costs.
• Masks unwanted taste – the technology eliminates or reduces the need for sweeteners.

Lexaria has demonstrated in animal studies a propensity for DehydraTECH technology to elevate the quantity of drug delivered across the blood-brain barrier by as much as 1,900 percent, initiating additional new patent applications and opening possibilities for improved drug delivery.

Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated, with cannabinoids and nicotine, the ability to increase bio-absorption by up to five to 10 times, reduce time of onset from one to two hours to just minutes, and mask unwanted tastes. The technology is to be further evaluated for additional orally administered bioactive molecules, including antivirals, cannabinoids, vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and nicotine.

Market Outlook

Lexaria’s ongoing research and development efforts are mainly focused on development of product candidates across several key segments:

• Oral Cannabinoids – a market estimated to be worth $18.4 billion in 2021 and expected to reach $46.2 billion by 2025.
• Antivirals – an estimated $52.1 billion market in 2021 that’s expected to grow to $66.7 billion by 2025.
• Oral Mucosal Nicotine – smokeless tobacco products, a $13.6 billion market in 2018, is forecast to grow at 7.2 percent annually through 2025.
• Human Hormones – estrogen and testosterone replacement therapies represented a $21.9 billion market in 2019, with a forecast CAGR of 7.7 percent through 2027.
• Ibuprofen and Naproxen – NSAID sales totaled $15.6 billion globally in 2019 and are projected to reach $24.4 billion by 2027.
• Vitamin D3 – the global market size was $1.1 billion in 2021, growing at 7 percent per year and expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2026.

Management Team

Chris Bunka is Chairman and CEO of Lexaria Bioscience Corp. He is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in several private and public companies since the late 1980s. He has extensive experience in the capital markets, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate finance. He is named as an inventor on multiple patent innovations.

John Docherty, M.Sc., is the President of Lexaria. He is a pharmacologist and toxicologist, and a specialist in the development of drug delivery technologies. He is the former president and COO of Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP). He is named as an inventor on multiple issued and pending patents.

Greg Downey is Lexaria’s CFO. He has more than 35 years of diverse financial experience in the mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction industries, and in the public sector. He served for eight years as CFO for several public companies and has provided business advisory and financial accounting services to many large organizations.

Gregg Smith is a strategic advisor to Lexaria. He is a founder and private investor with Evolution VC Partners. He is a member of the Sand Hill Angels and held previous investment banking roles with Cowen and Company and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Dr. Philip Ainslie serves as a scientific and medical advisor to Lexaria. He is co-director for the Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, Canada. He is also Research Chair in Cerebrovascular Physiology and Professor at the School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development at the University of British Columbia.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (LEXX), closed Monday's trading session at $1.08, up 4.8544%, on 63,936 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.6488/$3.5953.

Recent News

• Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Announces Strategic Updates Concerning Patented DehydraTECH(TM) Technology
• Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Announces Intent for Human Clinical Study for Diabetes and Weight Loss Following Positive DehydraTECH(TM)-CBD Results in Animals
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Reports Results from Human Oral Nicotine Study Evaluating DehydraTECH(TM)-Nicotine

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).

The United States and other Western nations have been embroiled in trade tensions with China since 2018 as a consequence of China's efforts to control its industries' exports of metals critical to modern digital and green technologies

China imposed new licensing controls on the exports of the metals gallium and germanium that it processes, prompting fresh concerns about China's ability to choke resources to the global market it supplies

Ucore Rare Metals is a supply chain innovator dedicated to increasing American production of critical metals in order to reduce reliance on trade with China

Ucore's proprietary RapidSX(TM) processing solution for select rare earth elements ("REEs") is being developed as a means of sustaining domestic REE production for applications ranging from electric vehicle batteries to national defense weaponry

Restrictions imposed earlier this month by The People's Republic of China on the export of two semiconductor metals represent the latest flashpoint in the years-long trade and technology war between the Asian nation and the United States and, in its development, a rationale for American production of resources critical to modern technology manufacturing. Some Western pundits have scarlet-lettered China's requirement that exporters of gallium and germanium get authorization through a government license before shipping those metals out of country, branding it as an unfaithful act of retaliation (https://ibn.fm/RDAOe). China, sensitive to the criticisms, has replied at length that the controls are the result of a "legitimate" effort by the country to protect its own limited resources, its position in the marketplace and its national security (https://ibn.fm/qJFCT). Canada-based critical technology metals supply chain innovator Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) is at the forefront of American attempts to shore up domestic mining and processing of metals necessary to modern technology, including some of the 15 rare earth elements ("REEs") that are also largely controlled by China's industry and, by extension, its government.

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) is a critical metals (“CM”) separation technology company executing an ESG-centered plan toward establishing a comprehensive North American critical metals supply chain. The company has developed a transformative commercial-ready technology, RapidSX™, for separating and purifying critical metals. Ucore intends to deploy this technology in pursuit of a CM supply chain independent of China for Western original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), most notably in the automotive and renewable energy industries.

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. Its initial focus is on processing heavy and light rare earth elements (“REEs”), disrupting a supply chain that is dominated by China.

China currently controls about 80% of the world’s access to REE mining projects and over 90% of the world’s REE processing capabilities, and it produces about 95% of the goods containing REE components.

 

Ucore is working to scale Western supply needs by establishing REE separation and rare earth oxide (“REO”) production capabilities in cooperation with strategic upstream supply and downstream offtake partnerships. The company, along with its industry partners, aims to unlock access to Western REEs for current consumer, energy, manufacturing and military sectors.

By 2025, Ucore expects to commercially separate U.S.-friendly sources of REEs and supply OEMs with REOs required to produce rare earth permanent magnets (“REPMs”) – the essential component of electric motors and generators required to support the world’s transition to electrification and sustainable energy sources.

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.

The company has three initial U.S.-friendly feedstock agreements in place for the Louisiana complex, along with multiple developing offtake agreements. It received a C$16 million+ incentive package offer from Louisiana Economic Development to support construction of the SMC.

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 Monday's trading session at $0.64, up 2.0083%, on 14,840 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.48/$1.15.

Recent News

• Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) Among Companies Leading Charge to Abate Reliance on Chinese Tech Metals Amid Ongoing Trade War
• Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) Moving to Become the Leading Metal Separation Products and Services Provider, One Investment at a Time
• MiningNewsBreaks - Ucore Rare Metals Inc.'s (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) RapidSX(TM) Combines Time-Proven Chemistry with Novel Platform

Reunion Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Reunion Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) .

Gold extraction for gravity-leach averaged 94.4% (fresh rock), 96.5% (transitional material) and 97.5% (saprolite)

Primary grind size of P80 at 75µm resulted in the best gold extractions on average

Results indicate a deposit with a medium level of hardness, which is typical of other deposits in the Guiana Shield region

Reunion Gold Corporation (TSXV: RGD; OTCQX: RGDFF) (the " Company ") is pleased to announce the preliminary metallurgical test work results for its Oko West Project in Guyana. The results were produced from recent metallurgical testing programs completed by Base Metallurgical Laboratories in Kamloops, British Columbia. Rick Howes, President & CEO of Reunion Gold, commented, " I am pleased with the results of the test-work which continue to confirm the robustness and strong economic characteristics of the Oko West deposit, on which we released our maiden Mineral Resource estimate (" MRE ") in June (see June 13, 2023 MRE Press Release). These results represent one of many studies that will comprise our preliminary economic assessment (" PEA "), which we expect to release by the end of 2023 or early 2024. In addition to advancing work on the PEA, the Company's ongoing drilling program aims at expanding the resource at depth below the MRE area. We also intend to continue our exploration program outside of the resource area to try and identify additional areas of gold mineralization at Oko West. The most promising targets include the southern 4 km of the same geological trend that hosts the Kairuni zone MRE, and the zone to the west of the resource area which sits adjacent to numerous historic alluvial gold operations and coincides with several areas of anomalous soil geochemical results. "

Reunion Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) is a leading gold explorer in the Guiana Shield, South America. In early 2021, the Company announced an exciting new greenfield gold discovery at its Oko West project in Guyana, where, after 22 months of resource definition drilling, the Company has announced an initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) containing 2.475 Moz of gold in Indicated resources at 1.84 g/t and 1.762 Moz of gold in inferred resources at 2.02 g/t contained within a pit shell outline. Preliminary metallurgy results performed by the company, consisting of 8 bottle roll tests obtained strong results, averaging just under 90% recoveries on average. The Company is continuing with additional development activities at Oko West, including environmental base line studies and additional metallurgical work relating to the delivery of a PEA by year end 2023. In addition, Reunion Gold is currently exploring several priority targets in the Oko West project area on which the company feels there is good potential to add additional resource ounces. This includes the opportunity to grow the initial mineral resource estimate (MRE) released on June 13, 2023, and to discover additional gold ounces at Oko West outside of the resource area.

The Guiana Shield remains one of the most prospective exploration locations globally for the discovery of world class orogenic gold deposits. The shield, including both Guyana and Surinam, contain large relatively underexplored greenstone belts, from which Reunion Gold expects many more significant gold discoveries could emerge in the coming years.

Oko West Project

Reunion Gold’s Oko West Project is a brand-new gold discovery in northwest Guyana located within the historical Oko gold district. Alluvial gold has been mined from the Oko district since the turn of the century, but very little primary gold has been mined or even explored for to the best of the company’s knowledge. The project comprises a prospecting license with an area of approximately 44 square kilometers and is 100% held by Reunion’s Guyanese subsidiary.

In 2020, Reunion Gold’s geochemical survey, trenching and initial 1000 m drill program discovered and confirmed the presence of gold mineralization in this Orogenic gold system. The gold occurs in the eastern edge of the project area, along a 6km long sheared contact between a granitoid intrusion and a meta volcanic-meta sedimentary rock package. The MRE is located within the Kairuni zone, which represents the northern most 1.9 km of the 6 km long contact.

“We are advancing our Oko West project along two tracks. The first is to advance the exploration programs outside of the Kairuni zone, aimed at outlining and discovering additional gold mineralization within our Prospecting License. On this front, I am very excited by the results from the initial Scout RC Geochem drill program that is defining new targets west of our Kairuni zone,” Rick Howes, President and CEO of Reunion Gold, stated in a recent news release. In addition to the targets west of the Kairuni zone, the company has also commenced exploration work on the southern ~ 4 km of the same sheared contact that hosts the Kairuni zone MRE. In addition, the company feels that the MRE marks the size of the Kairuni resource at a point in time and that there is good potential to continue to grow the resource. The MRE remains open at depth below the resource pit outline in the block 4 area and also to depth and along strike in the block 5 and 6 areas. In addition to the exploration programs, the second strategic track is to rapidly advance the Kairuni zone along the path to development. To that end the company is moving forward with the engineering and other studies, including more detailed metallurgical studies, that will support the release a PEA on the Kairuni zone by year end 2023 The company feels that the rapid advancement of development of Kairuni zone MRE, while in parallel continuing to explore for additional ounces on the project, is the best path to try and maximize shareholder value in the shortest period of time.

Guyana

Guyana boasts a long history of mining gold, bauxite, diamonds and manganese. Still, the greenstone belts of the Guiana Shield remain relatively unexplored when compared to the analogous regions of the West African Shield (Birimian), which, according to geological evidence, was once connected to the Guiana Shield, forming a contiguous craton prior to the Mesozoic period.

Despite a historical lack of accessibility and low exploration intensity, several significant large-scale projects have emerged in the Guiana Shield, including Aurora, Oko West, Oko Main, Toroparu and Omai. Guyana is English speaking with a British based parliamentary and legal system and boasts the world’s fastest growing economy on the back of significant offshore oil discoveries by Exxon and its partners. It is expected that a significant amount of the revenues from oil production will be invested in improving the infrastructure, education and health care and agriculture within the country.

Market Opportunity

The World Gold Council, an industry association representing gold producers with hundreds of mining operations in nearly 50 countries around the world, called 2022 the “strongest year for gold demand in over a decade.” Annual gold demand jumped 18% YoY due to “colossal central bank purchases, aided by vigorous retail investor buying and slower ETF outflows.”

Despite this spike in demand, total annual gold supply increased by just 2% in 2022, halting two years of successive declines but failing to challenge 2018 highs. This supply-demand imbalance could provide a favorable market environment as Reunion Gold continues to advance drilling programs at its 100%-owned Oko West Project.

Management Team

Successful exploration and the discovery of significant deposits in any given region require immense amounts of local knowledge and experience. This is the principle around which Reunion Gold has built its management team. In total, the company’s leadership boasts over 225 years of combined experience in the Guiana Shield.

David Fennell is the Executive Chairman of Reunion Gold, a position he has held since the company’s inception in 2003. He has 40 years of experience in the mining industry. He received a law degree from the University of Alberta in 1979 and practiced law until he founded Golden Star Resources Ltd. in 1983. During his term as President and CEO, Golden Star became one of the largest and most successful exploration companies. While at Golden Star, he was instrumental in the discovery and development of the Omai Gold Mine in Guyana and the Gross Rosebel Mine in Suriname. In 1998, Mr. Fennell became Chairman and CEO of Hope Bay Gold Corporation. He held this position through the merger of Hope Bay and Miramar Mining Corporation and remained as Executive Vice-Chairman and Director for the combined entity until its takeover by Newmont Mining Corporation in 2008. Mr. Fennell is currently a member of the board of directors of G Mining Ventures Corp. and Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.

Rick Howes, P.Eng., is the company’s President and CEO. He is a seasoned mining executive with over 39 years of experience in the mining industry, most recently as CEO of Dundee Precious Metals. Mr. Howes has extensive operating, technical and project development experience in both underground and open pit mines throughout Canada and internationally. In 2009, Mr. Howes joined Dundee Precious Metals, where, as VP and General Manager, he led the transformation of the Chelopech Mine in Bulgaria to reach world-class levels of performance. He became COO in 2011 and oversaw several significant growth capital development projects, including the expansion of the Chelopech Mine, the upgrade and expansion of the Tsumeb Smelter in Namibia and the development of the greenfield Ada Tepe open pit gold mine in Bulgaria. He was appointed CEO in April 2013, leading Dundee’s transformation from a junior gold producer to a multi-asset mid-tier gold producer generating strong free cashflow and solid returns to shareholders. Mr. Howes has been recognized as a visionary leader in mining, organizational innovation and transformation and was recognized as the Outstanding Innovator of 2016 by the International Mining Technology Hall of Fame.

Alain Krushnisky is the CFO of Reunion Gold. He brings to the company years of experience in the mining sector, including 10 years with Cambior Inc. (now IAMGOLD) in capacities such as Vice-President and Controller. Since 2004, Mr. Krushnisky has been doing consulting work for various publicly listed exploration and mining companies. He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Justin van der Toorn is the company’s VP Exploration. He is an exploration geologist with 18 years’ experience in the minerals industry, leading and managing exploration teams from grassroots activities through to discovery and resource definition drilling. Mr. van der Toorn’s previous experience has been in a range of commodity and deposit styles, including extensive work in Carlin-style gold, low- and high-sulphidation epithermal, porphyry and orogenic gold systems. He holds an MSci degree in Geological Sciences from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London. He is registered as a Chartered Geologist (CGeol) of the Geological Society, and a European Geologist (EurGeol) by the European Federation of Geologists.

Doug Flegg is the company’s business Development advisor. Doug has over 35 years’ experience in mining and mining finance with senior positions in research, portfolio management and global equity sales. Previously, Mr. Flegg was Managing Director Global Mining Sales with BMO Capital Markets where he was involved in raising $35 billion in over 200 corporate financings. Since 2016 he has been providing business development, strategic, and financing advice to corporate mining clients. Mr. Flegg also has a B.Sc. in Geology, work experience as a geologist and an MBA from Queens University.

Reunion Gold Corp. (OTCQX: RGDFF), closed Monday's trading session at $0.383401, up 0.503565%, on 6,705 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.1854/$0.452.

Recent News

• Reunion Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) - Reunion Gold Announces Positive Metallurgical Test Work for its Oko West Project in Guyana
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) Files Technical Report, Unveils New Logo
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) Files Technical Report, Unveils New Logo

IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC).

IGC Pharma (NYSE American: IGC) has announced that during its annual meeting of stockholders scheduled for and convened on Aug. 18, 2023, (the "annual meeting"), all proposals as disclosed on the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on July 26, 2023, were passed by the requisite vote of the stockholders. Only stockholders of record as of the record date of June 21, 2023, were requested to and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. The press release outlines all proposals approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders, which include the election of Claudia Grimaldi to the company's board of directors to serve as Class A directors until the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders and the proposal to ratify Manohar Chowdhry & Associates as the company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year.

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

According to a recent AMA study, people are beginning to perceive marijuana smoking or being around marijuana smoke as being less harmful than smoking or being around tobacco smoke. Researchers asked 5,035 American adults three times — in 2021, 2020 and 2017 — about their opinions of the hazards associated with both substances. They discovered a significant change over time, with more participants saying they thought marijuana smoke was typically safer than tobacco smoke. Published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" (JAMA) Substance Use and Addiction, the survey asked respondents whether they believed that smoking one joint of marijuana daily was significantly less safe than smoking one cigarette daily, significantly less safe, about the same amount of safety or much safer. The study authors noted that people believed using marijuana regularly to be safer than using tobacco. Moreover, this perception became progressively more favorable toward marijuana as the years went by. For instance, 33.7% of respondents in 2017 indicated that smoking cannabis once a day was either substantially or slightly riskier than smoking a cigarette, compared to 36.6% who believed cannabis was safer. About 30% claimed that they posed similar hazards. Only 25.5% of people still held this belief in 2021, whereas 44.3% of people, a 21% rise from 2017, thought cannabis was less risky than cigarettes. Given that many people use marijuana for medicinal purposes, one way to reduce any possible harms from smoking the substance is by switching to any FDA-approved cannabis medicines that manufacturers such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) offer to address chronic pain and other symptoms.

IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), through subsidiary IGC Pharma, develops, patents, and markets advanced THC-based drug formulations for the treatment of symptoms related to various diseases including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette syndrome, chronic pain, and pet seizures.

IGC’s leading drug candidate, IGC-AD1, has completed Phase 1 of a safety and tolerability trial and entered Phase 2 trials for treating agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia, the first study in humans of a natural tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compound plus another molecule (www.clinicaltrials.gov). As of September 2022, the IGC trial is the only ongoing Phase 2 trial of a natural THC-based formulation on Alzheimer’s patients.

The company’s other drug candidate, TGR-63, is an enzyme inhibitor that has shown in preclinical trials the potential to reduce neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s cell lines. Both drug candidates have shown their ability to ameliorate beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s cell lines and improve memory in Alzheimer’s mouse models. Beta amyloid plaques are a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s and an important target of Alzheimer’s pharmaceutical drug development.

Neuro Psychiatric Symptoms (NPS) are not only debilitating for Alzheimer’s patients; they also place an immense emotional burden on their caregivers. Beyond reducing symptoms, IGC-AD1’s active molecules and TGR-63 have also shown promise in preclinical trials to reduce important hallmarks of Alzheimer’s including plaques and tangles, as well as improving the treatment of memory loss.

Over the past eight years, the IGC team has amassed a deep knowledge of cannabinoid science, including extraction, isolation, purification, and development. The company’s strategy is to leverage its unique end-to-end capabilities, platform, and expertise to develop a class-leading program and bring it to market quickly and cost efficiently to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The company also has a family of cannabidiol (CBD)-based consumer products (www.Holief.com) such as pain relief creams, pain relief gels, purpose gummies, tinctures, and capsules targeting women’s wellness, with a particular focus on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea (period cramps). In addition, the company targets individuals that need sleep-aids with its specially formulated low melatonin cannabinoid gummies.

IGC has also introduced a low-calorie CBD- and caffeine-infused energy beverage brand (www.SundaySeltzer.com) that is currently available for purchase. The company’s brands are founded on the belief that effective natural solutions should be affordable and accessible to everyone. As the demand for natural products targeting women’s wellness and energy drinks continue to grow, these products are seeing strong traction in the market.

The company operates three facilities – a large GMP (Good Manufacturing Production Standards) certified facility that includes extraction, distillation, and manufacturing, in Washington State; a GMP-211 (pharmaceutical) grade facility in Maryland; and a facility licensed for controlled substances including cannabis in Bogota, Colombia, with complete access to legal licensed cannabis where the company conducts its testing.

In addition, the company’s development under Magistral Formulations is approved by INVIMA (Colombia National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute) to treat neurological disorders, non-oncological chronic pain, and mental disorders.

IGC’s intellectual property (IP) portfolio comprises of eight patents that it controls and seven patent applications. The portfolio includes #11,446,276, a patent for extreme low dose THC treatment of Alzheimer’s that was granted in September 2022.

The company is headquartered in Potomac, Maryland.

IGC-AD1

IGC-AD1 is the company’s leading drug candidate for the treatment and relief of Alzheimer’s symptoms. A significant amount of research on Alzheimer’s cell lines has shown that the active agents in IGC-AD1 reduce plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. Further, micro-dosing of THC, as shown in cell lines, could increase the functioning of mitochondria and potentially promote the growth of new neural pathways (neurogenesis). The research shows that micro-dosing of THC affects the brain radically differently from the normal higher dosing of THC.

While there is a significant body of research showing that THC is neuro-toxic at normal levels of dosing, micro-dosing of THC has been shown to be non-toxic to neurons. With the results of these preclinical studies, the company developed an oral formulation, IGC-AD1. The company recently completed a safety and tolerability Phase 1 trial on Alzheimer’s patients and has initiated a Phase 2, multi-site, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the safety and efficacy of IGC-AD1 on agitation in participants with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease at sites in the U.S. and Canada. IGC expects the Phase 2 trial to take between 9 and 12 months to complete, barring unknown factors such as, for example, a resurgence of COVID and the enforcement of lockdowns and travel restrictions.

With further successful trials and FDA approvals, IGC hopes to bring a drug based on natural THC as an effective treatment for agitation in Alzheimer’s to market.

TGR-63

The company’s other molecule, TGR-63, has been shown to reduce the neurotoxicity that impacts memory loss in preclinical trials with mice. On a dose dependent manner, transgenic Alzheimer’s mice treated with TGR-63 showed improvement in memory relative to control.

Both drug candidates, IGC-AD1 and TGR-63, have shown their ability to reduce the brain plaques associated with memory loss in Alzheimer’s in mice.

With further successful trials and FDA approvals, IGC hopes to bring TGR-63 as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease to market.

Market Opportunity

Alzheimer’s disease impacts over 55 million people worldwide and about 5.5 million individuals in the U.S. Over 70% of these patients face debilitating symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and agitation (Mendez, 2021). Agitation in dementia patients can include excessive physical movement and verbal activity, restlessness, pacing, belligerence, aggression, screaming, crying, and wandering.

In 2020, the estimated healthcare costs for Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. were $305 billion. Medicare and Medicaid covered about 70% of those costs, leaving considerable burden on patients and families. At the current rate of growth of Alzheimer’s and other dementia diagnoses, those costs are estimated to reach over $1 trillion by 2050.

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications to alleviate the symptoms of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, providing a tremendous opportunity for formulations that can have an impact on quality of life and disease progression.

Management Team

Richard Prins has been chairman at IGC since 2012 and served as an independent director since 2007. From March 1996 to 2008, he was the Director of Investment Banking at Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated. Prins served in a consulting role to RBC until January 2009. He currently volunteers full time with a non-profit organization, Advancing Native Missions, and is a private investor. Since February 2003, he has been on the board of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and an MBA from Oral Roberts University.

Ram Mukunda is CEO and President of IGC. He has been the chief inventor and architect of most of the company’s patent filings and is responsible for the company’s strategic positioning. Prior to IGC, he was founder and CEO of Startec Global Communications, which he took public in 1997. He served as Strategic Planning Advisor at Intelsat, a communications satellite services provider. From 2001 to 2003, he was a Council Member at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Belfer Center of Science and International Affairs. He was named the 1998 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Jagadeesh Rao is the company’s Principal Scientist. His career spans two decades in the public sector and product R&D for Johnson & Johnson. He leads IGC’s scientists in the development of pharmaceutical and OTC products. He worked for the federal National Institutes of Health, and for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. His Ph.D. in Neurochemistry is from the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences in India. He did postdoctoral training at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Claudia Grimaldi is a Director, Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer for IGC. She also serves as a Director/Manager Director for some of the company’s subsidiaries. She graduated with highest honors from Javeriana University in Colombia with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She holds an MBA, graduating with highest honors, from Meredith College in North Carolina. In addition, she has attended the Darden School of Business Financial Management Executives program and the Corporate Governance Program at Columbia Business School. She is currently pursuing her Directorship Certification with the National Association of Corporate Directors. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), closed Monday's trading session at $0.3321, up 0.332326%, on 81,398 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.2785/$0.74.

Recent News

• IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) - 420 with CNW - AMA Study Finds Marijuana Smoking Viewed as Safer Than Cigarette Smoking
• InvestorNewsBreaks - IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) Announces Results of Annual Meeting
• 420 with CNW - LA Mayor to Announce Head of City Marijuana Agency

Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF).

Reflex Advanced Materials Corp . (CSE:RFLX) (FSE:HF2) (" Reflex " or the " Company ") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the " Private Placement ") of up to 4,000,000 units of the Company (" Units ") at a price of $0.25 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Each Unit shall consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (" Share ") and one-half (1/2) of one (1) Share purchase warrant (" Warrant "), whereby each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase an additional Share at an exercise price of $0.35 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on or about the week of September 11, 2023, and is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are intended to be used to advance the Company's Ruby Graphite Project and for other general corporate purposes. Finders' fees may be payable to eligible arm's length persons with respect to certain subscriptions accepted by the Company.

Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) is a strategic minerals company focused on locating and developing economic properties in the strategic metals and advanced materials space. The company aims to improve domestic specialty mineral infrastructure efficiencies to meet surging national demand from North American manufacturers, effectively positioning itself as one of the only North American suppliers of high purity natural graphite for hi-tech applications.

Reflex Advanced Materials is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its project portfolio includes the Ruby Graphite Deposit in Montana and the ZigZag Lithium Property in Ontario.

Projects

Ruby Graphite Project

Located in a mining-friendly jurisdiction in southwest Montana, the Ruby Graphite Deposit is a low cost, rapid re-entry opportunity that produced roughly 2,400 tons of graphite from 1902 to 1948. Reflex Advanced Materials holds mining rights for 755 hectares at the Ruby Graphite Project, with 96 federal lode mining claims. Recent samples assay at 95.8% to 98.4% total carbon.

The site is notable as the only combined U.S. graphite flake and vein graphite source. Vein graphite is ideal for energy storage applications, because it requires fewer steps to achieve purity than synthetic alternatives and is therefore far less environmentally damaging. This is expected to play a key role in the project’s development as demand for electric vehicles continues to surge.

In March 2023, the company announced its submittal of permit applications to the Bureau of Land Management in respect of its exploration of the Ruby Graphite Project. Its initial drill program, expected to take place in the summer of 2023, includes plans for 3,500 total meters of drilling, cored to an average depth of 130 meters. The targets for this drill program have been identified using historical data from original mine operations and data gathered for the initial 43-101 technical report on the project, dated January 31, 2023.

ZigZag Lithium Property

Located in the Thunder Bay Mining Division of Ontario, the ZigZag Lithium Property consists of eight mining claims spanning roughly 2,710 hectares. Mineralization at the property, most notably lithium, is based in pegmatite dikes and concentrated in spodumene crystals, which are consistent throughout the entire unit.

Spodumene is readily observable in outcrops and in drill cores, with crystal sizes ranging from 3-15cm, on average.

Reflex Advanced Materials and American Energy Technologies Company Metallurgical Partnership

Reflex Advanced Materials has entered into a material processing agreement with American Energy Technologies Co., which is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, to conduct metallurgical testwork with the goal of creating a technical support data package for Reflex’s target customer base, U.S. Federal agencies and qualification programs with hi-tech customers in the battery and battery storage business.

The resulting coated, spherionized, purified graphite (CSPG) material that is expected to be created from the aforementioned tests will be used to provide potential customers of CSPG with samples so that they can begin the material qualification process.

Market Opportunity

Graphite is an ideal battery anode and has dominated the market since the proliferation of lithium-ion batteries. Despite this demand, there is currently no significant production of lithium-ion battery anode material in North America.

Instead, most graphite sold in North America today is sourced from Chinese producers. U.S. President Joe Biden highlighted this sourcing disparity in a 2022 address:

“The United Stated depends on unreliable foreign sources for many of the strategic and critical materials necessary for the clean energy transition – such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and manganese for large-capacity batteries,” he said. “Demand for such materials is projected to increase exponentially as the world transitions to a clean energy economy.”

The U.S. Department of Energy is in the process of awarding $2.8 billion to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and combat this foreign dependency. Reflex Advanced Materials has identified its Ruby Graphite Project as a prime candidate for U.S.-sponsored initiatives due to the rarity and scarcity of natural graphite deposits in the country.

Processing graphite domestically in the U.S. is expected to provide Reflex Advanced Materials a competitive advantage as manufacturers begin to seek out American supply in the face of increased diplomatic tension. This is critical, as a rise in anode demand is expected to fuel a shortage of 8 million tonnes of graphite by 2040. World Bank Group projects 494% growth in total graphite demand by 2050.

Leadership Team

Paul Gorman is the CEO and a Director of Reflex Advanced Materials. He brings to the company over 25 years of experience in junior mining finance, public listings, viability assessment and operational rationalization. For 18 years, Mr. Gorman served as president and managing partner of Riverbank Capital, where he played an instrumental role in raising more than $85 million for small-cap companies. In 2008, he funded Industrial Minerals Inc. (later Northern Graphite) and served in an advisory role for four other graphite companies, contributing significantly to the revitalization of the junior graphite space in North America. Mr. Gorman founded Mega Graphite Inc. in 2009 and has served as chief executive for three other companies.

Tasheel Jeerh, CPA, is the company’s CFO. He is a finance and accounting professional with over a decade of experience spanning both public and private sectors. Prior to joining Reflex Advanced Materials, Mr. Jeerh played a pivotal role in the growth of a private upstream oil and gas firm, dealing with over $2 billion in M&A activity and $1 billion in financing activities. He gained his designation at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked as a manager in the assurance practice.

Greg Bell is Project Manager for Reflex Advanced Materials. He is a multi-disciplined engineering management professional with more than 40 years of experience in the natural resources sector. Mr. Bell has successfully built and managed several start-up operations in various capacities. He has been active in graphite and lithium exploration for the past seven years.

Christopher W. Hill leads the company’s Corporate Development initiatives. He is an investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the capital markets. Mr. Hill began his career as an investment advisor and then began to consult and advise private companies on their paths to becoming publicly traded. He specializes in corporate development and strategic financing utilizing his large network in the capital markets.

Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (RFLXF), closed Monday's trading session at $0.20465, up 6.2234%, on 70,722 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.15/$0.765.

Recent News

• Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) - Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) (FSE: HF2) Issues 100K Shares to Fulfill Mineral Property Option Agreement
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) (FSE: HF2) Mobilizes Drill Rigs, Advances Exploration Efforts at Ruby Graphite Project

Fintech Ecosystem Development Corp. (NASDAQ: FEXD)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: FEXD).

A report published by Allied Market Research noted that in 2019, the global challenger bank market generated $20.4 billion and should post over $471 billion in revenue by 2027

This growth will be attributed to the reduced associated costs, accessibility and overall convenience that the challenger bank market offers

Through its strategic acquisition approach, FEXD is advancing this sector while offering consumers the services and flexibility they need

By doing so, FEXD hopes to reduce poverty, improve the lives of the unbanked, and offer security and saving options for migrant workers

Fintech Ecosystem Development (NASDAQ: FEXD) is, through strategic mergers and acquisitions, helping accelerate the growth of the challenger bank market. In turn, the company is making financial services affordable and accessible, particularly to individuals in emerging markets, who grossly lack this access compared to their counterparts in developed regions. This focus is helping FEXD carve out a significant market share and leave an indelible mark, even as the world gradually shifts to digital currency.

Fintech Ecosystem Development Corp. (NASDAQ: FEXD) is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed for the purpose of effecting one or more business combinations with an intent to focus on the financial technology sector.

The company’s mission is to create and grow a global financial services ecosystem to address unmet mobile money needs in developing and industrialized countries and markets. FEXD plans to achieve this by acquiring and merging with financial technology pioneers that have the potential to help establish its global fintech ecosystem, and by continuing the development of proprietary technologies and applications to keep the company at the forefront of the cashless society market.

Digital money is replacing physical cash. Consumers can buy products and services from anywhere in the world and make payments across borders. Parents can send money to students studying in other countries. Migrant workers are sending money to families in developing nations. Rural villagers without banks can send and receive money using their smartphones. FEXD is developing mobile transaction platforms, applications and services that are helping to implement these changes.

The company plans to offer a diverse portfolio of products and services to consumers and businesses in the United States, South Asia, East Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Its growth strategy includes acquisition, innovation and market development.

FEXD is a Delaware corporation based in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. The company was launched in May 2021 by a management team led by Dr. Saiful Khandaker that has extensive experience in developing and managing financial service platforms and applications, primarily in the mobile money sector. FEXD is sponsored by Revofast LLC.

Acquisition Targets

In September 2022, FEXD announced definitive agreements for business combinations with Rana Financial Inc., a Georgia corporation, and Mobitech International LLC (dba Afinoz), a limited liability company organized in the United Arab Emirates. The agreements call for Rana and Afinoz to become wholly owned subsidiaries of FEXD, with the combined company expected to continue trading on the Nasdaq under existing ticker symbol ‘FEXD’. The mergers are expected to close in Q2 2023.

Rana Financial

Rana Financial is a licensed money transfer company founded in 2009. Rana provides fast and affordable online and mobile transfer of funds between the U.S. and Latin America. Rana has been providing money transfer services in the U.S. market for 13 years and has 30,000 active users. Rana’s money transfer business grew to 200,000 transactions in 2021. The merger agreement values Rana at an implied $78 million enterprise value.

Mobitech International LLC

Mobitech International LLC (dba Afinoz) is an artificial intelligence-enabled digital lending platform used by India’s leading banks, non-banking financial companies and fintech loan providers. Afinoz’s fintech platform supports enterprises making loans primarily to middle- and working-class borrowers via its website or through its mobile phone application. Afinoz’s platform makes loans available and affordable to millions of Indian workers and unbanked users by providing access at a low cost. Afinoz’s platform has more than 50 lending partners, and its database of registered users in India includes more than two million individuals. The merger agreement values Afinoz at an implied $120 million enterprise value.

Market Opportunity

According to analysis by global market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the worldwide financial technology market is valued at approximately $194 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to nearly $500 billion by 2028, representing a CAGR of 18.97% for the forecast period. According to the report, various financial crises and the COVID-19 pandemic have fueled consumer adoption of, and investor interest in, fintech over the past several years.

Management Team

Dr. Saiful Khandaker is Founder, CEO and President of FEXD. He is Group CEO and founder of FAMA Holdings Inc., a global developer of fintech platforms, applications and services based in the U.S. with offices in the U.K., India, Bangladesh and Zambia. He is currently leading the development of the FAMACASH™ network, a global fintech ecosystem to provide fast, affordable mobile money services in underserved countries such as Bangladesh. Before founding FAMA, Dr. Khandaker spent more than two decades leading the development of software solutions for Fortune 100 companies and startups. He also helped numerous clients modernize their fintech services as Chief Technology Officer at Mi3. He holds a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Science in Technology Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems.

Jenny Junkeer is CFO at FEXD. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 17 years of experience. As CEO of Junkeer New Era Consulting, she leads a team specializing in helping companies launch and optimize business operations in fast-changing industries. She has extensive experience helping organizations scale operations to maximize value. She is an Adjunct Association Professor at Deakin University in Australia, a board member of the Global Health Initiative Foundation, and Director of Implementation at ConnectCV. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honors) from Monash University.

FingerMotion Inc. (FEXD), closed Monday's trading session at $10.59, even for the day, on 118 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $10.04/$11.00.

Recent News

• Fintech Ecosystem Development Corp. (NASDAQ: FEXD) - Fintech Ecosystem Development Corp. (NASDAQ: FEXD) Accelerating Crypto and Challenger Bank Market Growth
• Fintech Ecosystem Development Corp. (NASDAQ: FEXD) Driving Digital Financial Inclusion on Power and Capabilities of Artificial Intelligence
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Fintech Ecosystem Development Corp. (NASDAQ: FEXD) Eyes Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Reduce Costs, Accelerate Processing of Money Transfers

Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX)

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

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has reaffirmed its support for cannabis reform at the federal level and is calling on cannabis industry regulators to protect employee rights in the sector. During its 114th National Convention in late July, the civil rights organization adopted a resolution renewing its support for federal cannabis legalization. Although America is home to an incredibly lucrative state-legal cannabis industry that is spread across dozens of states, federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug alongside narcotics like heroin and cocaine. While the industry has managed to grow into a global behemoth valued at billions of dollars, marijuana's federal classification causes a myriad of issues for players in America's marijuana sector. These issues include limited access to banking services, capital and federal assistance even though the cannabis industry collectively generated more t han $15 billion in taxes last year alone. Federal prohibition also prevents marijuana businesses from accessing crucial financial services and forces them to operate on a cash-only basis, which significantly increases the risk of experiencing violent robberies. If these calls for the federal legalization of marijuana are acted upon, new markets are set to open up for various companies such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) as demand for marijuana could explode and those supplying cannabis companies with the products they need will benefit too.

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 Monday's trading session at $0.21, even for the day. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0141/$0.65.

Recent News

• Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) - 420 with CNW - NAACP Reaffirms Support for Cannabis Legalization, Urges for Protection of Industry Employees
• 420 with CNW - New Paltz, NY Farmers' Market Draws Marijuana Enthusiasts
• 420 with CNW - Three States in the Northeast Set July Cannabis Sales Records

Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc. (OTCQB: XESP)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc. (OTCQB: XESP).

Electronic Servitor Publication Network is a technology-oriented digital engagement and activation company

The company has developed and is commercializing its Digital Engagement Engine(TM), which helps companies elevate digital content and drive better digital interactions within current and new communities

Customer experience experts agree that companies need to embrace technologies to maximize customer satisfaction and methodically cultivate superior end-to-end CX capabilities

Using its sophisticated technology stack, employed as a managed service, XESP helps companies build end-to-end capabilities that allow them to win and maintain customers in the present, while capturing future opportunities

Customer experience is the process of measuring, analyzing, enhancing, and delivering superior customer interactions with a brand or business (https://ibn.fm/LC8zk). As such, companies need to pay attention to the full customer experience ("CX") in order to unlock short-term profitability and also build long-term sustained advantage. This is seen as requiring a carefully crafted and orchestrated CX approach, a survey by consulting firm BCG reveals (https://ibn.fm/TjfW6). The consistent message within this space is that companies need to build a robust infrastructure, use reliable technology, and develop strong processes that foster a deeper understanding of customers, improve their execution of customer interactions, and drive innovation. And this is where Electronic Servitor Publication Network (OTC: XESP), a managed service digital engagement and activation company, comes in.

Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc. (OTCQB: XESP) is a digital engagement company offering a managed service which provides digital activation and engagement solutions to companies that seek to optimize their growth. Its managed service is powered by a proven, proprietary technology – the Digital Engagement Engine™. This technology provides intelligent interaction management, dynamic content provisioning, and a logic-driven workflow, which creates digital experiences that accelerate an audience from awareness to action – driving growth.

Electronic Servitor Publication Network’s services are designed to drive growth for both established and developing organizations. Through the optimization of digital interactions within current and new communities, the Digital Engagement Engine™ ensures that client content is relevant, reaches the right audience, and connects with the intended person at the right time.

The company calls it ‘Growth as a Service’.

Client implementation is nearly effortless, since the solution is completely managed by the Electronic Servitor Publication Network team. This business model allows clients to focus on their brands, core product offerings, and content creation, while the company manages the technology and outcome.

The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Technology

Electronic Servitor Publication Network’s Digital Engagement Engine™ utilizes a combination of automation, unique data management, and a modern workflow built on a microservices architecture to achieve greater reach and lift. Using sophisticated data analysis and smart technology, the Digital Engagement Engine™ provides companies with the ability to maintain complete control of their content while creating meaningful relationships with new customers and revenue streams.

The Digital Engagement Engine™ isn’t just another marketing or technology tool; it’s a way to develop real connections with target markets.

Market Outlook

According to a report by ReportLinker.com, an award-winning market research firm, the global customer engagement solutions market was estimated at $19.3 billion in 2022 and is forecast to grow to $32.2 billion by 2027, achieving a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period.

The report notes that these engagement solutions are vital to companies seeking to widen their customer bases, reduce customer churn rates and increase customer retention. These perceived benefits of customer engagement solutions are likely to drive their growing adoption around the globe during the forecast period, according to the report.

Management Team

Peter Hager is President and CEO of Electronic Servitor. He joined the company from Pointward Inc., a medtech customer engagement agency that provided solutions to drive market entry, growth, and commercialization for Fortune 500 health care brands and medtech startups. He has founded and managed multiple technology, professional services and medtech organizations throughout his career. Mr. Hager holds a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, with concentrations in economics and psychology.

Jim Kellogg is CFO of Electronic Servitor. He has served as the principal of J. Kellogg & Company Inc., a business and tax consultant, since 2005. He has provided legal support to clients’ business valuations, business interruption and divorce property valuations. He has worked as a professional tax adviser since 1983. Mr. Kellogg obtained his JD with emphasis on taxation from Western State University College of Law and was certified as a financial planner by the College for Financial Planning in 1990.

Thomas (Denny) Spruce, RPh, is COO of Electronic Servitor. He oversees company infrastructure, regulatory reporting, and strategic partner relationships, among other roles and responsibilities. He joined the company in March 2022 and, since that time, has implemented foundational support processes, developed contractual relationships with service providers, managed financial and regulatory reporting and overseen contract development and management with the legal team. Mr. Spruce obtained a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas.

Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc. (XESP), closed Monday's trading session at $0.06, even for the day. The average volume for the last 3 months is 10,000 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.03/$0.201.

Recent News

• Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc. (OTCQB: XESP) - Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc. (XESP) Helping Companies Use Technology to Win Customers and Ensure End-to-End Customer Experiences
• TechMediaBreaks - Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc.'s (XESP) Digital Engagement Engine(TM) Helps Brands Drive Growth
• TechMediaBreaks - Electronic Servitor Publication Network Inc.'s (XESP) 'Growth-as-a-Service' Platform Helping Companies Enhance User Engagement

NextPlat Corp. (NASDAQ: NXPL) (NASDAQ: NXPLW)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight NextPlat Corp. (NASDAQ: NXPL) (NASDAQ: NXPLW).

Recent analysis by market research firm Insider Intelligence has revealed that the fastest-growing sales category in e-commerce is foods and drinks. The market researcher predicts that the food and drink e-commerce segment will expand by 20% in 2023 to reach $99.70 billion in sales and account for 8.8% of total e-commerce sales in the United States. According to Insider Intelligence, the food and drinks segment will comprise up to 10% of America's total e-commerce sales by the year 2026. Insider Intelligence forecasting analyst Whitney Birdsall explains that inflation is partly responsible for the growth of the food and drinks sales category from mid-2022. But while sales in the food and beverages segment are still strong, Birdsall says, easing inflation coupled with the exhaustion of emergency SNAP allotments will likely dampen the segment's growth. For companies that have a presence in the healthcare e-commerce space, such as NextPlat Corp. (NASDAQ: NXPL) (NASDAQ: NXPLW), the projected growth could enable them to deliver greater value to their shareholders.

NextPlat Corp. (NASDAQ: NXPL) (NASDAQ: NXPLW), a next generation e-commerce platform, was created with vision and purpose to capitalize on high growth sectors and global markets. The company collaborates with businesses – large and small – to simplify and accelerate online commerce and uniquely enables customers and partners to optimize their e-commerce reach, presence and revenue. NextPlat recently launched a new e-commerce development program to provide American businesses with easy access to the massive Chinese consumer market.

Current Initiatives

NextPlat provides cutting edge technology in an advanced e-commerce ecosystem. The company is actively expanding its global network of online storefronts serving thousands of consumers, enterprises and governments. The company also has developed a next generation platform built for Web3 that enables the creation and sale of digital assets, as well as optimizing e-commerce transactions and business building activities. The company’s current initiatives include:

• E-Commerce Development Program – In April 2023, NextPlat announced it had entered into a merchant sourcing agreement with Alibaba.com Singapore E-Commerce Private Limited (“Alibaba”) and its Tmall Global e-commerce platform whereby the two companies will collaborate to increase the sale of products produced and sold by American companies to the multi-trillion-dollar Chinese consumer market. Alibaba’s Tmall Global e-commerce platform will provide NextPlat customers a turn-key solution through which products can be sold to the Chinese consumer market. The launch of the Florida E-Commerce Development Program is the first in a series of new NextPlat programs designed to assist U.S. businesses in expanding their online sales capabilities to reach new international customers in the Chinese market. NextPlat intends to rapidly expand this unique e-commerce development opportunity to businesses throughout the United States and all of North America, as well as Central and South America. The new development program features NextPlat’s turnkey global e-commerce solution for customers and leverages NextPlat’s relationships with key partners, including Tmall Global, China’s largest cross-border B2C online marketplace.
• Progressive Care Inc. – In August 2022, NextPlat completed a strategic $7 million investment in Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: RXMD), a personalized health care services and technology company. In a news release announcing the investment, NextPlat CEO Charles M. Fernandez noted that the company is “committed to harnessing the power of digital technologies to capitalize on the ongoing digital transformation of Progressive Care and the entire health care industry.” NextPlat intends to accelerate Progressive Care’s digital health care transformation with the launch of a new e-commerce platform for health care products later this year.
• NextPlat NFT Platform – Building on its existing e-commerce initiatives, NextPlat is working to bridge the gap between tangible and digital e-commerce marketplaces by incorporating burgeoning Web3 technologies. The company intends to launch a fully integrated NFT platform in the coming months that will enable brands to create, manage and authenticate digital assets while serving as a new source of revenue for NextPlat. Through this model, the company will receive a portion of the revenue generated from branded NFT drops, as well as subsequent secondary market transactions.
• Global Telesat Communications and Orbital SatCom Corp. – Targeting both domestic and international markets, NextPlat’s subsidiaries leverage partnerships with major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, eBay and Walmart to serve a growing base that includes more than 50,000 corporate, governmental and individual customers. In total, the brands market more than 10,000 individual products, with a focus on satellite-based connectivity solutions. In addition to exploring accretive M&A opportunities, NextPlat aims to diversify its range of products and broaden its geographic footprint moving forward in an effort to better capitalize on the tremendous growth potential in the United States, Europe and Asia.

“Our goal for 2023 and beyond is to leverage our improved operational capabilities and enhanced leadership team as we expand our offerings in communications and connectivity into the high-growth health care market where we intend to launch an array of innovative new offerings,” Fernandez said in a March 2023 news release detailing the company’s record top-line performance. “Although there remain supply chain headwinds and the challenge of global inflation, we are confident that we have the right combination of market-tested expertise, technology and partnerships that will enable us to bring the power of e-commerce to more customers, brands and industries in the United States and abroad.”

Market Opportunity

The rapid growth of e-commerce over the last decade is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. According to data published by Forbes, roughly 20.8% of all retail purchases are expected to take place online in 2023, accounting for total sales of $6.31 trillion worldwide. It total, e-commerce sales are expected to grow by 10.4% YoY in 2023, accounting for a whopping 24% of all retail purchases by 2026.

For NextPlat, existing partnerships in the industry could be key to capitalizing on this growth. The Forbes report indicates that Amazon accounts for roughly 38.7% of e-commerce sales, while sites like Walmart, eBay and Alibaba round out the list of most visited e-commerce websites. Alibaba is especially interesting due to NextPlat’s recent strategic merchant sourcing agreement with Tmall Global. The Chinese market is “mammoth,” as a recent Alizila report noted. The country’s annual online retail sales of physical goods have nearly doubled in the last five years, reaching approximately 13.8 trillion yuan in 2022, which is nearly $2 trillion USD.

The health care portion of the e-commerce market is generating particularly bullish forecasts, bolstered by the continued adoption of the 340B Drug Pricing Program in the U.S., which requires most drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to covered entities at significantly reduced prices. Industry reports suggest that the global health care e-commerce market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 16.8% from 2022 to 2030, climbing to a value of more than $1.37 trillion by the end of the forecast period.

Management Team

Charles M. Fernandez, CEO, Executive Chairman and Director of NextPlat, has over three decades of experience in identifying profitable start-up and dislocation opportunities, building significant value and executing exit strategies as an entrepreneur and global investor. Successful across multiple sectors, Fortune Magazine actually labeled Fernandez ‘a restructuring whiz’. As President of Fairholme Capital Management, which he joined in 2008, Mr. Fernandez co-managed all three Fairholme funds and brought in a $2 billion gain for shareholders. Throughout his impressive career, he has participated in more than 100 significant mergers, acquisitions and product development projects across multiple industries. Mr. Fernandez was the founder, Chairman and CEO of eApeiron Solutions LLC, a brand protection and e-commerce company in partnership with Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and Eastman Kodak (NYSE: KODK), which was successfully sold to Smartrac, a unit of Avery Dennison Corp. (NYSE: AVY).

Rodney Barreto is Chairman and CEO of the Barreto Group and Director of Nextplat. Mr. Barreto’s business career spans over 35 years, including his role at the Barreto Group and, earlier, as the founding partner of Floridian Partners LLC, a corporate and public affairs consulting firm recognized by policy makers as one of the top in its industry in Florida. He chaired the Super Bowl Host Committee in 2007, 2010 and 2020, helping to raise more than $100 million for the success of Miami Super Bowls. As a philanthropist and conservationist, Mr. Barreto is also a three-time appointee to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where he has served for over 10 years including holding the title of Chairman eight times. He has twice chaired the Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors, was Chairman of the 1999 Breeder’s Cup Championship held in South Florida and was the Chairman of the 1999 Sister Cities International Convention in Miami. Currently, Mr. Barreto is the Membership Chairman of the Florida Council of 100, and a member of the Boards of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Baptist Health South Florida Giving Society, the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, and a member of Miami Dade County Schools Superintendent Carvalho’s Business Advisory Council. Prior to his career in public affairs and real estate, Mr. Barreto was a City of Miami police officer and is a member of the Florida Highway Patrol Advisory Council.

NextPlat Corp. (NXPL), closed Monday's trading session at $2.585, off by 1.711%, on 17,618 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 17,593 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $1.2115/$4.26.

Recent News

• NextPlat Corp. (NASDAQ: NXPL) (NASDAQ: NXPLW) - Insider Intelligence Data Projects Health, Personal Care, Beauty eCommerce to Grow Fastest
• InvestorNewsBreaks - NextPlat Corp. (NASDAQ: NXPL) Announces Q2 2023 Results
• How to Leverage Relationship Marketing to Boost eCommerce, Onsite Sales

Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Mullen Automotive Inc. (MULN).

Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, has reached a milestone: the company's first production vehicle, the Mullen THREE, has rolled off the assembly line. The Class 3 EV truck is being manufactured at Mullen's commercial vehicle assembly facility located in Tunica, Mississippi. According to the announcement, the company anticipates increasing the production rate of the Mullen THREE as the year progresses. The company noted that when full production has been achieved, Class 3 production at its Tunica facility should reach 3,000 vehicles annually per shift. Mullen plans to add a second shift for Class 3 production once EV adoption rates increase, bringing total production capacity to 6,000 vehicles per year. Mullen's strategic production plan also includes the production testing and launch of the Mullen ONE, its Class 1 EV Cargo Van; the manufacture of this vehicle will also take place in Tunica, with deliveries on customer orders for both commercial Class 1 and Class 3 vehicles expected by year end. According to the company, Mullen has received $79 million in purchase orders for the Mullen THREE, Class 3 EV trucks. The company's Tunica facility is more than 120,000 square feet, is situated on more than 100 acres, and is near major rail lines, interstates, Mississippi river systems, and air logistics. "We have been true to our commercial Class 3 vehicle production commitments and have now achieved a significant milestone with the first trucks rolling off the line," said Mullen Automotive CEO and chair David Michery in the press release.

To view a video of the event, visit https://ibn.fm/GJkRJ

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

Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) is a Southern California-based automotive company that owns and partners with several synergistic businesses working toward the unified goal of creating clean and scalable energy solutions. Mullen has evolved over the past decade in sync with consumers and technology trends. Today, the company is working diligently to provide exciting EV options built entirely in the United States and made to fit perfectly into the American consumer’s life. Mullen strives to make EVs more accessible than ever by building an end-to-end ecosystem that takes care of all aspects of EV ownership.

Commencement of Trading on Nasdaq

On November 5, 2021, Mullen announced its commencement of trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

“Today is a monumental day for Mullen Automotive. I am especially proud of our team, investors and all who have believed in Mullen and taken us to this point as a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq Capital Market,” David Michery, CEO and Chairman of Mullen Automotive, stated in the news release. “Trading on Nasdaq now opens us up to new investors, both institutional and retail shareholders, and broadens our awareness and company profile, while increasing awareness of Mullen and our technology platform and opening new opportunities in EV and beyond. The road ahead has never been brighter for Mullen, and I am proud to lead us into the future.”

The milestone came in the wake of the company’s stock-for-stock merger with Net Element Inc.

The Mullen FIVE

The Mullen FIVE EV Crossover, debuting at the Los Angeles International Auto Show (LAIAS) on November 17, 2021, embodies Mullen’s Southern California roots with an inspired design focused on two complementary Golden State themes – California landscape and California urban.

The FIVE is built on an EV Crossover skateboard platform that offers multiple powertrain configurations and trim levels in a svelte design that is Strikingly Different™ and exciting to experience in person.

Prior to the start of LAIAS, the Mullen FIVE was selected as a finalist by the LA Auto Show for Top EV SUV in the ZEVA “People’s Choice” Awards.

LAIAS provides Mullen an opportunity to display multiple variants of the FIVE model while also showcasing its powertrain, battery and charging technology. The company intends to bring the FIVE to market in 2024, and reservations are currently open here.

Mullen’s development portfolio also includes EV Fleet Vans, which it intends to bring to market in Q2 2022, and the pure electric, high performance Mullen DragonFLY.

Expansion of Manufacturing Capacity

On November 2, 2021, Mullen announced plans to expand its facility in Robinsonville, Mississippi.

Mullen’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Facility (AMEC) currently occupies 124,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The total available land on the property is over 100 acres, and Mullen is moving ahead with plans to build out another 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space to support class 1 and class 2 EV cargo vans and the Mullen FIVE EV Crossover.

On the expanded site, Mullen plans to build a body shop, a fully automated paint shop and a general assembly shop.

EV Market Outlook

The global EV market was reported to consist of 3,269,671 units in 2019, a figure that is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.1% through 2030 to a total of 26,951,318 units worldwide. This market’s monetary value was estimated at $162.34 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6%, resulting in an approximate value of $802.81 billion by 2027. The primary driver for this exponential growth is a worldwide increase in vehicle emissions regulations.

Management Team

David Michery is the CEO and Founder of Mullen and has been leading the company and its divisions since inception in 2014. With over 25 years of executive management, marketing, distressed assets, and business restructuring experience, Mr. Michery brings a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise to the Mullen brand. He has notably created 12 trademarks so far to develop the company brand and vision.

Mr. Michery is working toward a sustainable future accessible to all by creating a suite of clean-energy electric vehicles at varied price points. With entirely U.S.-based manufacturing and operations, he is also determined to have Mullen Technologies play a role in shaping a self-sustaining local economy by creating more jobs in America.

Mr. Michery manages risks and company expectations as a pathway to success and has personally overseen several businesses that totaled over $1 billion in transactions. His key strength is the ability to be fiscally responsible and lead teams to complete projects on time and within budget. As a seasoned professional in this space, Mr. Michery has demonstrated skill in building businesses from the ground up and into successful entities that subsequently sold for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mullen Automotive Inc. (MULN), closed Monday's trading session at $0.6211, off by 3.4359%, on 44,113,876 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 43.222M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.6121/$181.485.

Recent News

• Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) - InvestorNewsBreaks - Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) Announces Commencement of Stock Buyback Program
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) Unveils Ultra-High-Performance FIVE RS Crossover
• Hyundai Sets Sights on Indian EV Market with Five New Models