The QualityStocks Daily Wednesday, May 1st, 2024

Today's Top 3 Investment Newsletters

MarketClub Analysis(CTMX) $5.1300 +214.72%

QualityStocks(APVO) $0.9600 +35.08%

360 Wall Street(IMCC) $1.1100 +29.07%

The QualityStocks Daily Stock List

CytomX Therapeutics (CTMX)

MarketBeat, StreetInsider, StockMarketWatch, Zacks, QualityStocks, The Street, TradersPro, TraderPower, FreeRealTime, The Stock Dork, Daily Trade Alert, OTCtipReporter, PennyStockProphet, Barchart, Short Term Wealth, Top Pros' Top Picks, Trades Of The Day and Schaeffer's reported earlier on CytomX Therapeutics (CTMX), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

CytomX Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CTMX) (FRA: 6C1) is a biopharmaceutical firm that is engaged in the development of antibody therapeutics based off of its Probody technology platform to treat cancer.

The firm has its headquarters in South San Francisco, California and was incorporated in September 2010 by Nancy E. Stagliano and Frederick W. Gluck. It operates as part of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry and serves consumers in the U.S.

The company is party to strategic collaborations with Astellas Pharma Inc., Pfizer Inc., ImmunoGen Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Amgen Inc. and AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company, which entail the development of Probody therapeutics. The company’s mission is to offer patients less toxic and more effective therapies for inflammatory illnesses and severe ailments like cancer.

The enterprise’s product pipeline comprises of an anti-CTLA-4 Probody formulation dubbed BMS-986288 which is undergoing phase 1 clinical trials and is indicated for the treatment of solid tumors; a CTLA-4 Probody therapeutic known as BMS-986249 which is undergoing phase 1/2 clinical trials evaluating its efficacy in treating metastatic melanoma, and CX-2029 which is undergoing phase 2 clinical trials that evaluate its effectiveness in treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, gastro-esophageal and esophageal junction cancers, neck and head squamous cell carcinoma and squamous non-small cell lung cancer. This is in addition to developing CX-2009, which is indicated for breast cancer treatment.

The company, which recently announced its second quarter financial results for 2021, is focused on advancing its broad pipeline of Probody therapeutics across various cancer types and modalities. The success of these formulations will be beneficial not only to the patients who suffer from these fatal cancers but also to the company’s growth, as it’ll bring in more investors into the firm and boost the company’s growth.

CytomX Therapeutics (CTMX), closed Wednesday's trading session at $5.13, up 214.7239%, on 206,720,383 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 393,994 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $1.04/$5.85.

Aptevo Therapeutics (APVO)

StockMarketWatch, MarketBeat, MarketClub Analysis, TraderPower, StreetInsider, TradersPro, QualityStocks, Early Bird, The Online Investor, Stock Beast, Promotion Stock Secrets, Marketbeat.com, InvestorPlace and BUYINS.NET reported earlier on Aptevo Therapeutics (APVO), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: APVO) (OTC: APVTW) (FRA: AP8N) is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm that is engaged in the development of immunotherapeutic candidates for treating different forms of cancer.

The firm has its headquarters in Seattle, Washington and was incorporated in 2016, on February 22nd. It operates as part of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry, under the healthcare sector. The firm has three companies in its corporate family and serves consumers in the United States.

The company offers hematology and oncology therapeutics. It is party to an option and collaboration agreement with Alligator Biosciences AB, which entails the development of its ALG. APV-527 formulation.

The enterprise’s product pipeline comprises of a dual agonist bispecific antibody dubbed APVO603 which targets OX40 and CD137; and an investigational bispecific APAPTIR candidate known as ALG.APV-527 which features a mechanism of action which targets CD137 and a tumor antigen expressed in different types of cancers known as 5T4. It also develops a bispecific candidate known as APVO442, which improves the bio-distribution of drugs to PSMA positive tumors for treating prostate cancer. In addition to this, the enterprise also develops a bispecific T-cell engaging antibody candidate dubbed APVO436, which is undergoing a phase 1 clinical trial evaluating its effectiveness in treating myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia.

The firm seeks to improve the treatment outcomes of cancer patients. Currently, it is focused on receiving data from its APVO436 phase 1b expansion trial, which has the potential to impact the existing standard of care for acute myeloid leukemia.

Aptevo Therapeutics (APVO), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.96, up 35.0781%, on 6,266,588 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 17.829M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.67/$84.9684.

International Star (ILST)

PennyStocks24, QualityStocks, MarketClub Analysis, Pennybuster, OTC Stock Review, Wallstreetlivechat and Stock Traders Chat reported earlier on International Star (ILST), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

International Star Inc. (OTC: ILST) is an exploration-stage firm that is focused on exploring for and acquiring precious and base metal mineral properties.

The firm has its headquarters in Shreveport, Louisiana and was incorporated in 1993, on October 28th. Prior to its name change in 1997, the firm was known as Mattress Showrooms Inc. It operates as part of the metal ore mining industry, under the natural resources sector. The firm serves consumers in the United States.

The company prides itself on being an ecologically responsible mining firm. Its objective is to generate significant investor returns via acquiring and developing undervalued precious metal assets that can generate cash.

The enterprise’s mineral properties include the Black Mountains Property, which covers about 1.8 square miles of land and is situated in the northern Black Mountains in Arizona, over 21 miles south of the Hoover Dam and about 55 miles from Las Vegas. This property is underlain by roughly 3 basic rock units and is made up of about 10 lode claims. It also has a Van Deemen Gold mine site, which contains roughly 34,000 ounces of gold. The mine site’s resource/ reserve base is being expanded. Its other properties include unpatented mining claims situated on federal public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, under the U.S. Department of Interior. The enterprise’s primary products are silver, gold and other materials extracted from ore bodies.

The company is focused on generating investor returns through acquiring and developing base metal and precious mineral properties.

International Star (ILST), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.0024, up 14.2857%, on 50,473,536 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 1.971M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0003/$0.0027.

Renalytix PLC (RNLX)

StockEarnings, MarketBeat, TradersPro, QualityStocks, Zacks, StocksEarning, MarketClub Analysis, FreeRealTime, Trades Of The Day, Daily Trade Alert, BUYINS.NET and 360 Wall Street reported earlier on Renalytix PLC (RNLX), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Renalytix PLC (NASDAQ: RNLX) (OTC: RTNXF) (LON: RENX) (FRA: 209) is an AI-enabled in vitro diagnostic firm that is focused on finding solutions for kidney ailments.

The firm has its headquarters in New York, the United States and was incorporated in 2018, on March 15th by James McCullough. Prior to its name change in June 2021, the firm was known as Renalytix AI Plc. It operates as part of the diagnostics and research industry, under the healthcare sector. The firm serves consumers around the globe.

The company is focused on optimizing the clinical management of kidney disease. It is party to license agreements with Joslin Diabetes Center Inc., which entails the development and commercialization of products for the diagnosis and prediction of kidney disease using biomarkers; Mount Sinai Health System for the development of products for kidney disease diagnosis; and Kantaro Biosciences LLC, for the development and commercialization of lab tests to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The company is also party to a partnership agreement with Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Atrium Health, which involve the implementation of a clinical care model to decrease the progression of kidney disease, improve kidney health and reduce kidney failure in high-risk individuals.

The enterprise’s offerings include a diagnostic platform known as KidneyIntelX, which uses an AI-enabled algorithm to generate a unique patient score for the diagnosis and prognosis of kidney disease.

The company’s KidneyIntelX product was recently granted breakthrough designation by the FDA. The firm remains focused on advancing value-based care which will help create shareholder value while benefiting patients with kidney diseases.

Renalytix PLC (RNLX), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.79, up 14.0136%, on 251,363 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 255,877 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.2449/$4.0377.

Innovate Corp. (VATE)

QualityStocks, CFN Media Group, Penny Picks, MarketClub Analysis, FreeRealTime and Damn Good Penny Picks reported earlier on Innovate Corp. (VATE), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Innovate Corp (NYSE: VATE) (FRA: PST) is an investment holding firm that focuses and operates in the life sciences, infrastructure and spectrum areas.

The firm has its headquarters in New York, the United States and was incorporated in 1994. Prior to its name change in September 2021, the firm was known as HC2 Holdings Inc. It operates as part of the engineering and construction industry, under the industrials sector. The firm serves consumers across the globe.

The enterprise operates through the Spectrum, Life Sciences, Insurance, Telecommunications, Clean Energy, Infrastructure and Other segments. The Spectrum segment is focused on owning Spanish-language broadcast network and over-the-air broadcasting stations while the Life Sciences segment maintains controlling interests in R2 Tech Inc. and Genovel Orthopedics Inc. and Pansend Life Sciences LLC. The Insurance segment provides long-term care, annuity, life and other accident and health coverage while the Telecommunications segment is focused on providing voice communication services and managing telecommunications businesses, which include a network of direct routes. On the other hand, the Clean Energy segment is focused on designing, building and maintaining compressed natural gas fueling stations for transport vehicles while the Infrastructure segment is engaged in modeling, detailing, fabrication and the erection of structural steel for industrial and commercial construction projects. The Other segment represents all other investments and businesses which don’t meet a segment’s definition in the aggregate or individually.

The company’s recently announced financial and operational results show increases in its infrastructure revenue and progress in its Spectrum segment. It remains focused on creating long-term value for its shareholders and strategically positioning itself in the market for growth.

Innovate Corp. (VATE), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.7841, up 11.7429%, on 409,031 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 77.463M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.53/$2.87.

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX)

QualityStocks, MarketClub Analysis, The Street Report, Investors Alley and InvestorPlace reported earlier on Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Inc. (OTC: AITX) is focused on delivering robotic and artificial intelligence solutions for monitoring, security and operational needs. The company’s AI technologies are supported by custom cloud and software services and paired with multi-use hardware, which helps to intelligently integrate and automate operational, concierge and security tasks.

The firm has its headquarters in Reno, Nevada and was founded by John B. Crawford in 2010, on March 25. Before changing its name in August 2018 to Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Inc., the firm was known as On The Move Systems Corp. The company serves consumers in the U.S. and in particular, automobile fleet administrators and vehicle dealerships.

The company operates through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, one of which is Robotic Assistance Devices Inc. The subsidiary develops unique technology, specifically; mobileware, cloudware, software and hardware, which are used in the development of powerful tools like RADGuard, RADPMC and RADSOC as well as to improve performance in companies.

The firm is also engaged in the provision of mobile electronic services and offers after-market video, audio and electronic upgrades for boats, recreational vehicles and automobiles.

The company recently entered into an agreement with EAGL Technology Inc. for the provision of the latter firm’s gunshot detection system in all present and future RAD devices. The integration of EAGL solutions into the innovative products will not only make the products more popular but also expand their reach into the markets they serve, which will be good for investments as well as the firm’s stock.

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.005, up 11.1111%, on 159,392,624 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 1.052M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0019/$0.0146.

Conduent Inc. (CNDT)

MarketClub Analysis, MarketBeat, StocksEarning, StreetInsider, QualityStocks, Daily Trade Alert, The Street, InvestorPlace, Marketbeat.com, Daily Profit, InsiderTrades, BUYINS.NET, StockMarketWatch, Zacks, The Online Investor, The Wealth Report, Trades Of The Day, Trading Tips and Schaeffer's reported earlier on Conduent Inc. (CNDT), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Conduent Inc. (NASDAQ: CNDT) (FRA: 4C0) is a business process services firm that is engaged in the provision of business process services with capabilities in transaction-intensive automation, analytics and processing.

The firm has its headquarters in Florham Park, New Jersey and was incorporated in 2016. The firm serves consumers around the globe, with a focus on Europe and the United States.

The enterprise operates through the Transportation, Government services and Commercial industries segments. The commercial segment provides customized solutions and business process services to clients in a number of industries, including healthcare and human resource services, transaction processing services, end-user customer experience management services and learning services. The transportation segment provides system and support services comprising of mission-critical payment and mobility solutions to government clients. This segment also offers mileage-based user, urban congestion management and electronic tolling solutions; parking enforcement, curbside demand management, citation and permit administration solutions; transit solutions; and automatic vehicle/ computer-aided dispatch solutions. On the other hand, the government services segment offers government-centric business process services to the local, state and federal U.S. governments, as well as foreign governments, for transaction processing, program administration, payment and public assistance services; child support, payment solutions, government healthcare and federal services; fiscal agent care management and medical management services.

The company recently finalized the sale of its Midas Suite of Solutions to Symplr. It plans to use its net proceeds to invest in its business while focusing on synergies within its portfolio which will enhance client and shareholder value. This will have a positive impact on its growth and help bring in more investors into the company.

Conduent Inc. (CNDT), closed Wednesday's trading session at $3.49, up 10.7937%, on 2,771,013 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 908,891 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.40/$3.81.

Roma Green Finance (ROMA)

SmarTrend Newsletters, The Street, InvestorPlace and FreeRealTime reported earlier on Roma Green Finance (ROMA), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Roma Green Finance Limited (NASDAQ: ROMA) is a holding firm engaged in the provision of environmental, social, and governance (ESG); sustainability; and climate change related advisory services.

The firm has its headquarters in Wan Chai, Hong Kong and was incorporated in 2018. It operates as part of the consulting services industry, under the industrials sector. The firm serves consumers around the globe.

The Cayman Islands-exempted enterprise operates as a subsidiary of Top Elect Group Limited. It is dedicated to providing diversified services with the highest standards of professionalism. As an innovator in the industry, Roma Green Finance comprises of a team of professional consultants and analysts to offer an extensive range of services including Corporate and Risk Advisory, Sustainability Strategy Advisory, Climate Risk Advisory, ESG Reporting Services, and Sustainable Finance. The enterprise’s advisory experiences spread globally, covering countries like Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, PRC, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Tajikistan, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The company recently launched its IPO and announced a pricing of $12,300,000 public offering. It intends to use proceeds from this offering to strengthen and expand its green and sustainable finance and climate risk advisory business in Hong Kong and Singapore while also expanding its market presence in other international markets. This is in addition to enhancing its industry positioning; strengthening its business development; strengthening its operational efficiency; and establishing a formal ESG academy. This may in turn open it up to new growth and investment opportunities while creating new avenues to generate value for its shareholders.

Roma Green Finance (ROMA), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.678478, off by 7.0449%, on 55,525 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 7.252M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.661/$11.80.

Aurora Cannabis Corp. (ACB)

InvestorPlace, Schaeffer's, MarketClub Analysis, MarketBeat, StocksEarning, The Street, QualityStocks, Trades Of The Day, StockEarnings, Daily Trade Alert, StreetInsider, The Online Investor, Wealth Insider Alert, Market Intelligence Center Alert, Kiplinger Today, CFN Media Group, StockMarketWatch, Investopedia, Stock Up Featured, Profit Trends, BUYINS.NET, Jim Cramer, BlackSwanAlert, Early Bird, The Rich Investor, StreetAuthority Daily, Inside Trading, CNBC Breaking News, Daily Profit, Cannabis Financial Network News, Investors Alley, Investors Underground, Market Intelligence Center, Outsider Club, Zacks, Technology Profits Daily, The Wealth Report, TheTradingReport, Top Pros' Top Picks, Tradespoon, Wall Street Window and Money and Markets reported earlier on Aurora Cannabis Corp. (ACB), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

April 20 marks the day when the consumption of marijuana is celebrated globally, with individuals across the globe smoking the drug around 4:20 p.m. The holiday is popularly known as 4/20 and promotes the consumption of marijuana; historically, April 20 is often the best day for business annually for cannabis retailers.

Recent reports from cannabis retailers in the United States, backed by industry data and firsthand accounts, show that business this past April 20 was huge. During this holiday, e-commerce and point-of-sale operators as well as retailers experienced considerable increases in foot traffic and revenue. Vendors and retailers handled the holiday rush and associated festivities well, despite outages on various e-commerce platforms.

Cannabis retailers using Dutchie e-commerce systems revealed that software hitches stopped and/or slowed transactions. Dutchie’s e-commerce software and POS is used by more than 6,000 marijuana retail clients in Canada and the United States.

Cresco Labs, which has 72 stores under the Sunnyside brand and is based in Chicago, saw unparallel success this past cannabis holiday. The multistate operator’s president, Cory Rothschild, revealed that the 4/20 weekend saw 70% more grams being sold and 35% more shoppers being attended to in-store. This is in addition to the store raking in its highest revenues ever, all while operating efficiently and with no tech disruptions.

On its end, the Cannabis Co. launched more than 40 new products during the cannabis holiday. Victoria Walker, the company’s senior VP of retail marketing, revealed that it saw huge crowds at its dispensaries during the holiday weekend. The New York-based multistate operator has 85 cannabis stores in 15 regulated markets in the country.

Other companies, including C3 Industries, surpassed sales predictions for the holiday. C3 Industries’ 21 outlets located throughout Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan and Massachusetts, recorded a 40% increase in in-store sales as compared to 2023 figures.

The company’s chief operating officer, Samip Shah, revealed that C3 Industries didn’t experience any issues with e-commerce software or POS. Prior to April 20, the company increased server capacity, bolstered technology infrastructure, added express checkouts and POS terminals, and hired support staff to handle the 4/20 rush.

In addition to companies raking in higher revenues, various festivals were held, with some, such as Gelato, attracting more than 2,000 individuals. The festivities were held at the store in California’s Lake Elsinore and featured prize machines, mechanical bull rides, sweet treats, fresh tacos and a portrait artist. George Sadler, Gelato’s cofounder and CEO, revealed that the company’s sales rose by about 30% in comparison to 2023 figures. He attributed this to more activations and even more individuals, noting that this year’s event was also bigger.

It would be interesting to see statistics reflecting 4/20 performance from cannabis companies with operations in the United States compared to Canada-based companies, such as Aurora Cannabis Corp. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) over the same weekend.

Aurora Cannabis Corp. (ACB), closed Wednesday's trading session at $7.36, off by 20.26%, on 16,202,214 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 53.393M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.84/$11.50.

NIO Inc. (NIO)

Green Car Stocks, InvestorPlace, Schaeffer's, MarketClub Analysis, The Street, MarketBeat, StocksEarning, QualityStocks, StockEarnings, Daily Trade Alert, Trades Of The Day, Kiplinger Today, The Online Investor, Early Bird, INO Market Report, Zacks, StreetInsider, StockMarketWatch, BUYINS.NET, Cabot Wealth, FreeRealTime, GreenCarStocks, TipRanks, Money Wealth Matters, Wealth Insider Alert, CNBC Breaking News, AllPennyStocks, The Wealth Report, InvestorsUnderground, Daily Wealth, Earnings360, Investopedia, wyatt research newsletter, Louis Navellier, TradersPro, Energy and Capital, BillionDollarClub, Wealth Daily, CRWEWallStreet, TopPennyStockMovers, Top Pros’ Top Picks, MarketClub, The Night Owl, Investors Alley, Stock Market Watch, Smartmoneytrading, Green Energy Stocks, Jim Cramer, InvestorsObserver Team, InvestorIntel and Top Pros' Top Picks reported earlier on NIO Inc. (NIO), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Electric vehicle giant Tesla has announced that its affordable EV will be built on the company’s current production lines rather than new platforms. Rather than introduce a next-generation EV platform for the long-promised electric car, Tesla will tweak the affordable EV’s production plan and develop the car on existing Tesla platforms.

Every major electric vehicle startup and established automaker is desperate to produce an affordable electric car for the mass market. While Tesla captured a significant portion of the global electric-vehicle sector with expensive electric vehicles, the early adopter market that could afford to pay a premium for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is mostly done purchasing electric cars.

As a result, carmakers such as Tesla are scrambling to develop a more affordable electric offering to cater to the more typical drivers who make up the majority of the global vehicle market. Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised to develop an affordable electric car several years ago and has renewed the promise every few years as competitors from China have gotten closer to developing the affordable EVs the market is clamoring for.

The Texas-based electric vehicle pioneer was working on a next-generation electric vehicle platform dubbed “unboxed,” which was expected to produce more affordable electric vehicles. Past announcements noted that two upcoming models including a self-driving Robotaxi and a “$25,000 Tesla” would be built on the new platform.

However, a Reuters report from earlier this month revealed that Tesla was cancelling its affordable electric-vehicle project. Although Musk called Reuters “liars” for publishing the report, Electrek later confirmed that Tesla had ceased all work on the affordable electric car based on the next-generation platform.

Inside sources say that the Texas Gigafactory expansion project, NV9, was also canceled. Tesla officially confirmed the news with its Q1 2024 financial results, which had an updated EV lineup. The EV maker was slated to begin producing the next-gen affordable EVs in the second half of 2025 but will now use current manufacturing lines to produce the electric car. According to Tesla, the new EVs will use aspects of both the current and next-generation platforms, allowing the company to use production lines as they currently exist and speed up its production timeline.

The change could reduce Tesla’s cost savings compared to the next-generation platform but will allow the company to increase its vehicle volumes more efficiently in a market filled with uncertainties. The change could also take the company a step closer to achieving more than 50% growth in production compared to 2023 without new manufacturing line investments, the EV maker said. Tesla noted that the self-driving Robotaxi will still be based on the next-gen “unboxed” system.

Other EV manufacturers such as NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO) are also likely to bring to market their own versions of affordable mass-market electric vehicles. Consumers could soon be spoilt for choice in the face of an array of pocket-friendly models from different EV brands.

NIO Inc. (NIO), closed Wednesday's trading session at $5.27, up 11.6525%, on 148,038,876 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 475,140 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $3.61/$16.18.

Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD)

TopStockAnalysts, Streetwise Reports, StreetAuthority Daily, InvestorPlace, QualityStocks, TradingAuthority Daily, Top Pros' Top Picks, MarketBeat, The Street, Daily Wealth, StreetInsider, Daily Trade Alert, SmarTrend Newsletters, Zacks, All about trends, TheStockAdvisor, Energy and Capital, Money Morning, MarketClub Analysis, The Growth Stock Wire, TheStockAdvisors, DividendStocks, Trades Of The Day, Dividend Opportunities, Marketbeat.com, Wyatt Investment Research, MiningNewsWire, Barchart, Schaeffer's, Uncommon Wisdom, Lebed.biz, Investor Update, Wealth Daily, Daily Profit, Investment U, National Inflation Association, TradingMarkets, The Online Investor, Traders For Cash Flow, Money and Markets, Stockhouse, Trade of the Week, Forbes, Market Intelligence Center Alert, Greenbackers, Outsider Club, Weekly Wizards, Kiplinger Today, FNNO Newsletters, Eagle Financial Publications, Dynamic Wealth Report, TradersPro, Bourbon and Bayonets, BestChartNow, Wealth Insider Alert, ChartAdvisor, AllPennyStocks, StocksEarning, Penny Stock Chaser, PowerRatings Stocks, Profits Run, Short Term Wealth, Stansberry Research, Market FN, Hit and Run Candle Sticks, Stocks That Move, GorillaTrades, Investopedia, The Best Newsletters, Investing Futures, Inside Investing Daily, One Hot Stock, INO.com Market Report and Market Authority reported earlier on Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

Investing in gold has always been encouraged, with the metal’s recent performance only adding to its appeal. By mid-February, the precious metal’s value had hit $1,990 an ounce, moving to $2,160 an ounce by March. By late April, the price of gold was just below $2,400 an ounce. This significant increase in the metal’s price has been attributed to different factors, among them geopolitical tensions, rising inflation and other economic uncertainties.

For individuals in retirement, investing in gold may be appealing, particularly since it’s a good way to maximize one’s returns. Below, we look at other factors that make gold a good investment option for seniors.

Diversifying a portfolio

Portfolio diversification is critical for ensuring long-term stability financially and mitigating risk, particularly during retirement as sources of income are limited.

Gold is also a good diversifier, because of its low correlation with other classes of assets such as bonds and stocks. Adding this precious metal to one’s portfolio decreases overall risk exposure while also potentially improving returns.

Liquidity

Gold can easily be sold and bought on the international market, which makes it highly liquid. This is advantageous, especially for seniors who may need access to their investments on short notice either for unexpected medical expenses or other emergencies.

Safe-haven asset

During times of geopolitical turmoil or economic uncertainty, this precious metal’s appeal as a safe-haven asset grows. This is because investors flock to it as a reliable store of value, which increases its price. For older individuals, gold’s characteristic as a safe-haven asset can offer a sense of security.

Rising inflation

Inflation has led to an increase in the cost of living. This may negatively affect older individuals on fixed incomes, who may notice a decline in their purchasing power. Historically, gold has been used as a hedge against inflation because it retains its value while the dollar’s value diminishes because of rising prices. Purchasing gold assets now can allow seniors to preserve the value of their portfolios.

Physical ownership benefits

Physically holding gold in the form of bars, coins or jewelry is a good way to hold onto a tangible asset that can be passed down to younger generations. Holding a physical asset such as gold can provide a sense of reassurance to seniors, while also allowing them to control their investments.

Provides capital appreciation potential

Gold has shown its potential for capital appreciation, particularly over the long-term. This may provide older individuals the opportunity for growth within their investment portfolios.

For additional exposure to gold, it may be worthwhile to select a number of gold stocks such as Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) and assess whether these stocks meet the criteria for investing before adding them to one’s portfolio.

Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD), closed Wednesday's trading session at $120.85, up 0.5993507%, on 382,827 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 222,216 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $100.55/$147.82.

Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (IIPR)

InvestorPlace, Kiplinger Today, The Online Investor, Top Pros' Top Picks, QualityStocks, Schaeffer's, Daily Trade Alert, The Street, MarketBeat, Wealth Insider Alert, Trades Of The Day, DividendStocks, The Wealth Report, Zacks, TradersPro, StreetInsider, Stock Up Featured, FreeRealTime, StockMarketWatch, Stock Gumshoe, CFN Media Group, The Street Report, Investopedia, Trading Concepts, Early Bird, Outsider Club, Marketbeat.com, TipRanks, VectorVest, Wealth Daily and StreetAuthority Daily reported earlier on Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (IIPR), and today we highlight the Company, here at the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter.

In 2014, Washington state marked a milestone by opening some of the country’s pioneering legal cannabis stores. At that time, Sam Ward Jr. found himself under home detention due to federal narcotics charges. He eventually went to prison to complete a four-year prison sentence.

Fast forward to today, Ward, a Black American citizen, proudly stands as the CEO of Cloud 9 Cannabis, his own marijuana store. Perched atop a colorful blue and gold throne, he extends a kind greeting to customers looking for early 4/20 discounts while reflecting on his experiences as one of the first to profit from Washington’s effort to open up the cannabis market to people affected by the drug war.

“It’s a remarkable feeling knowing that I’m steering a business, with employees counting on me,” Ward stated. “Simply being a part of something bigger brings immense satisfaction.”

A primary rationale behind legalizing recreational marijuana was to mitigate the harm caused by the uneven application of drug laws, which disproportionately affected communities of color such as Latino and Black communities. Studies consistently reveal that despite similar rates of marijuana use, minorities faced higher incarceration rates compared to their white counterparts.

However, efforts aimed at enabling those most impacted to engage in and benefit from the legal cannabis industry have encountered obstacles. While 24 states and the District of Columbia have embraced legal recreational cannabis use, nearly all have implemented social-equity programs to address the injustices of the drug war.

These encompass various measures, including expunging certain marijuana-related convictions, facilitating access to marijuana licenses and financial aid for individuals with prior marijuana convictions, and allocating cannabis tax revenues to affected communities.

Each state has its own criteria for determining eligibility for social-equity cannabis licenses, which may not exclusively hinge on race. For instance, in Washington, eligibility hinges on factors such as owning more than one-half of the entity, residing for a significant period in areas with marijuana-related arrests, unemployment, high poverty rates, or households with below-median income.

These programs’ execution has been hampered by legal challenges, such as in New York. Currently, New York is facing a new lawsuit despite having settled previous ones, that claims prejudice against minority-owned and women applicants and individuals affected by the war on drugs.

Moreover, concerns arise over large corporations with multistate operations obtaining licenses through social equity, potentially undermining its purpose. In Arizona, legislators raised alarms over licensees’ perceptions of being coerced into ceding power by predatory businesses.

Challenges extend to securing suitable locations due to local bans on marijuana businesses and obtaining bank financing amid federal prohibition. Ironically, factors qualifying individuals for licenses, such as residing in impoverished neighborhoods or having criminal records, hinder their ability to secure necessary funds.

David Penn Jr., another recipient of a social-equity license, faces similar challenges in establishing his marijuana business in Pasco, Washington. Despite financial backing from a friend, he grapples with the reality that grants alone may not suffice to overcome the hurdles he faces.

Washington, a trailblazer in marijuana legislation, recently initiated its social-equity initiative in 2020. However, only in recent months have the first licenses under the program been issued, with only two, including Ward’s store, currently operational.

The state, benefiting from substantial cannabis taxes, has allocated $8 million in grants to assist licensees in the social-equity program with expenses such as renovations, security systems and business coaching. Additionally, $250 million is directed toward communities affected by the war on drugs, supporting initiatives including job training, housing aid, violence prevention and business loans.

As states continue to grapple with the complexities of social equity in the cannabis industry, the experiences of individuals such as Ward and Penn serve as both a testament to progress made and a reminder of the work that remains to be done.

As the challenges faced by social-equity initiatives are addressed, other existing benefits will keep growing for ancillary enterprises such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) that have carved out a niche for themselves by serving entities directly involved in regulated cannabis operations.

Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (IIPR), closed Wednesday's trading session at $105.53, up 2.06%, on 631,126 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 515,409 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $65.16/$108.11.

The QualityStocks Company Corner

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX)

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

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX, LEXXW), a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms, has entered into a warrant exercise agreement with an existing accredited investor to exercise in full existing warrants. Specifically, the agreement is comprised of the purchase of 2,917,032 shares of common stock, as to 1,618,330 warrants exercised at an exercise price of $0.97 per share, and 1,298,702 warrants exercised at $2.185 per share; the shares and warrants were originally issued in October 2023 and February 2024, respectively. The company noted that following this exercise, there are no remaining warrants exercisable at $0.97 and 259,741 warrants unexercised at $2.185. According to the announcement, the exercise agreement is expected to result in $4.7 million in gross proceeds for Lexaria, before standard deductions and expenses; the company anticipates using the funds for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The announcement also noted that, in consideration for the early exercise of the existing warrants for cash, and the payment of $0.125 per each new warrant, the company is issuing 2,917,032 new warrants, each new warrant entitling the holder to purchase one new share of common stock. The new warrants are immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $4.75 per share and will expire on Feb. 16, 2029, if not exercised before that date. "These additional cash proceeds of $4.7 million further extend Lexaria's operational runway deep into 2025 and allow us to execute our 2024 plans at an aggressive pace," said Lexario CEO Chris Bunka in the press release. "The exercise price of the replacement warrants, at $4.75, is a significant premium to current market prices and, in our opinion, a sign of confidence in Lexaria's future."

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/gj9Ui

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 Wednesday's trading session at $3.49, up 12.945%, on 363,660 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 26,616 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.6488/$6.85.

Recent News

Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN).

Cepton (NASDAQ: CPTN), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance lidar solutions, today announced that it will provide a business update and release its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 following the close of the market on Monday, May 13, 2024. Cepton will hold a conference call and webcast that same day at 2:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. ET). Interested parties should dial 1-877-423-9813 (toll-free) or 1-201-689-8573 (international) to join the live call and visit https://investors.cepton.com to access the webcast. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the live call as detailed in the announcement. In addition, an archived webcast of the conference call will be accessible on Cepton's Investor Relations page.

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

Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN) is a provider of state-of-the-art, intelligent, lidar-based solutions serving a range of markets, including automotive (ADAS/AV), smart cities, smart spaces and smart industrial applications. General Motors (NYSE:GM) has granted a series production award for Cepton’s lidar, the biggest such award to date in the automotive space. Cepton’s is the lidar component of GM’s Ultra Cruise autonomous driving platform. By leveraging its patented Micro Motion Technology (MMT®) lidar platform, the company develops reliable, scalable and cost-effective solutions that deliver long-range, high-resolution 3D perception for smart applications.

Cepton was established in 2016 by co-founders Dr. Jun Pei and Dr. Mark McCord. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California, and serves a fast-growing customer base through an international presence spanning North America, Germany, Japan, India and China.

Micro Motion Technology (MMT®)

Cepton was built from the ground up to meet key lidar industry challenges for mass market adoption. This company’s portfolio of proprietary technology is uniquely aimed at facilitating this industry growth through a combination of performance, reliability, affordability and design integration.

Key among its innovations is MMT®, a mirrorless, frictionless, rotation-free 3D imaging platform designed specifically for lidars. Its benefits for OEMs and system integrators include:

  • Reliability – The durable design uses common, easily attainable materials.
  • Versatility – The platform is capable of achieving near- to ultra-long range with a wide field of view.
  • Efficiency – MMT® features a compact form factor, low power usage and inexpensive components.
  • Scalability – Its simple design means that scale-up to high manufacturing volumes is easily attainable.

Because of their compact form factor, Cepton lidars are embeddable and ideally suited for advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) integration, whether behind windshield, in headlamp or in fascia.

Agreement with KOITO

KOITO Manufacturing Co. Ltd., the world’s premier Tier 1 auto lighting supplier, originally started an evaluation of Cepton’s MMT® based lidars in 2018. In 2020, KOITO made an investment in Cepton aimed at accelerating the company’s development and enabling KOITO’s industrialization of high-performance and high reliability lidar sensors for ADAS and autonomous vehicle (AV) applications.

Through this collaboration, Cepton was able to secure the largest ADAS lidar series production award[1] with General Motors as a sole source in the automotive space. The award covers GM vehicles for the initial period of 2023-2027.

On August 5, 2021, the two companies deepened their relationship when KOITO committed to invest a further $50 million in Cepton’s business through its participation in a Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) offering of shares of common stock of Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. in connection with Cepton’s recent merger.

Collaboration with GM

On July 13, 2021, Cepton announced that it had secured an ADAS lidar series production award from a leading, Detroit-based global automotive OEM – the biggest lidar production award by any OEM to any lidar company. It was later clarified that the OEM was General Motors, and Cepton’s lidar is part of GM’s ADAS Ultra Cruise system.

GM is “expected to deploy Cepton lidars in its next generation of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across multiple vehicle classes and models – not just luxury cars.” As such, the agreement marks the potential for “an industry-first, mass-market adoption of lidar technology for automotive ADAS, with an anticipated deployment in consumer vehicles starting in 2023.”

On July 28, 2021, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) distributed an article on Medium noting, “Ford has been engaged with Cepton almost since their inception in 2016, both for R&D collaboration and small-scale deployments. Cepton LiDAR are deployed in some of [Ford’s] smart city projects. Based on Ford’s guidance, Cepton delivered a custom version of their LiDAR to enable R&D on advanced ADAS features.”

Market Outlook

Driven by increasing development and adoption in automobile safety applications, environmental mapping and 3D-modeling, the global lidar market is forecast to experience considerable growth over the coming years. A research report published by MarketsAndMarkets suggests that the sector will grow to an estimated $3.4 billion by 2026, achieving a CAGR of 21.6% over the next five years.

The report further highlights increasing investments in lidar startups by automotive giants as a driver of growth opportunities in the sector, particularly in North America.

In 2020, ground-based lidar accounted for the lion’s share of the overall lidar market, and this trend is expected to continue as the automotive sector continues to rapidly advance adoption across the full spectrum of vehicle classes. One factor not to be underestimated is the high barrier of entry and the exceptionally long time required for automotive OEMs to vet and award a production win to a lidar company. It is a commonly held view that the over 50 lidar companies will inevitably coalesce into a handful serving all OEMs.

Cepton, having a head start through its established partnership with leading global OEM GM, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this market growth in the years to come.

Management Team

Cepton’s founder-led team is made up of lidar industry pioneers with decades of collective experience across advanced lidar and imaging technologies.

Jun Pei, Ph.D., is the company’s CEO and Co-Founder. He is a technology specialist with a focus in optics and electronics. Prior to founding Cepton, Dr. Pei founded AEP Technology, a firm focused on developing advanced 3D optical instruments. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Mark McCord, Ph.D., is Cepton’s CTO and Co-Founder. Prior to founding Cepton, he led advanced development at KLA-Tencor. Dr. McCord also formerly served as an associate professor at Stanford University, where he earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering.

Winston Fu, Ph.D., is the company’s CFO. Dr. Fu is the founder of Silicon Valley venture capital firm LDV Partners. Prior to joining Cepton, he served as CFO and Chairman of Active-Semi before its acquisition. Dr. Fu has also helped to build many technology companies as an entrepreneur and/or board member. He received his Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University, as well as an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

[1] Largest known ADAS lidar series production award based on number of vehicle models awarded

Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN), closed Wednesday's trading session at $2.99, up 0.3355705%, on 2,252 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $6.85/$.

Recent News

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS)

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

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) ("D-Wave"), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services and the world's first commercial supplier of quantum computers, announced it will release its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, before the market opens on May 13, 2024. CEO Dr. Alan Baratz and CFO John Markovich will host a conference call to discuss the financial results and company developments at 8 a.m. ET on May 13, 2024. Those interested in participating in the call can dial 1-800-267-6316 (domestic) or 1-203-518-9783 (international), and then use the following conference ID: D-Wave.

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

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 Wednesday's trading session at $1.41, up 2.9197%, on 2,624,500 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.3962/$3.20.

Recent News

Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN).

Long-term extension of the Phase 2 VISIONARY-MS clinical trial of CNM-Au8 exhibited significant evidence of repair and remyelination across multiple paraclinical endpoints (change from original baseline, p < 0.05)

Significantly enhanced clinical outcomes were associated with long-term daily oral CNM-Au8(R) 30 mg treatment (change from original baseline; p < 0.05)

Long-term administration of CNM-Au8, spanning up to three years, was well-tolerated, with no significant safety concerns identified

This marks the first Phase 2 clinical trial in MS utilizing a non-immunomodulatory drug to achieve a clinical outcome demonstrating improved function supporting remyelination and reparative effects

Clene (NASDAQ: CLNN), along with its subsidies, "Clene", and its wholly owned subsidiary Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., a pioneering clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to enhancing mitochondrial health and safeguarding neuronal function to combat neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS") and multiple sclerosis ("MS"), unveiled the comprehensive findings of the Phase 2 VISIONARY-MS long term extension ("LTE") study at the esteemed 2024 American Academy of Neurology ("AAN") Annual Meeting in Denver (https://ibn.fm/Ro9gg). The company was featured in a recent release of From Lab to Launch, a podcast sharing the inspiring stories of founders, investors, scientists, engineers and pioneers in the life sciences sector. The podcast, hosted by Meg Sinclair, is available for on-demand listening on From Lab to Launch. During the interview, Etherington discussed Clene's work to address the critical unmet medical need relating to neurodegenerative diseases. Etherington also detailed the current and potential target applications for the company's nanotherapeutic candidate, CNM-Au8, and explored some of the challenges in developing novel therapeutics. "The World Health Organization predicts that neurodegenerative diseases – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (‘ALS'), multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and others – will become the second-most prevalent cause of death in the next 20 years. So, it's pretty obvious that a therapeutic breakthrough is urgently needed. Clene is pioneering catalytic nanotherapeutics to treat these diseases. We target improvement of mitochondrial function via the catalytic activity of our asset, CNM-Au8, to improve nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an essential energy metabolite, and to reduce reactive oxygen species, which are a byproduct of energy production… CNM-Au8 is pioneering a new way to restore and protect the way the neurons work," said Etherington. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/jZ5hM

Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving mitochondrial health and protecting neuronal function to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Its lead drug candidate is CNM-Au8®, an oral suspension developed to restore neuronal health and function by increasing energy production and utilization by driving critical cellular energy producing reactions that enable neuroprotection and remyelination to increase neuronal and glial resilience to disease-relevant stressors. CNM-Au8 is being studied in various clinical trials, including the Harvard/MGH Healey ALS Platform clinical trial for patients with ALS; RESCUE-ALS, a completed proof-of-concept clinical trial in patients with early symptomatic ALS; the REPAIR trials, completed target engagement clinical trials showing brain energy metabolite change with CNM-Au8; and a completed MS clinical trial for the treatment of visual pathway deficits in chronic optic neuropathy for remyelination in stable relapsing MS. The company also has a nanotherapeutic platform of drug discovery.

CNM-Au8

CNM-Au8, Clene’s lead asset, is a highly concentrated aqueous suspension of catalytically active, clean-surfaced, faceted gold nanocrystals. Multiple pathogenic insults contribute to neuronal death. Mitochondrial dysfunction and NAD+ decline is a common final pathway in neurodegeneration, with NAD+ as a critical determinant of cell survival and function. CNM-Au8’s catalytic mechanisms target the energetic deficits, oxidative stress and accumulation of misfolded proteins that are common to many neurodegenerative diseases.

The unique catalytic mechanism of action of CNM-Au8 is hypothesized to act as a neuroprotective and remyelinating therapy in neurodegenerative disease states in order to: (1) drive, support and maintain beneficial metabolic and energetic cellular reactions within diseased, stressed and/or damaged cells, (2) directly catalyze the reduction of harmful, reactive oxygen species (“ROS”) and (3) promote protein homeostasis via activation of the heat shock factor-1 pathway, recognized to dampen the cytotoxicity caused by misfolded and denatured proteins, which are known to occur ubiquitously in neurodegenerative diseases.

CNM-Au8 is used in combination with other agents, has no known drug-drug interactions, and is designed to improve function and survival. The clinical effects of both function and survival were seen in its clinical ALS trials, as earlier announced.

More than 500 estimated years of collective exposure across ALS, MS, and Parkinson’s disease participants in CNM-Au8 clinical trials and Expanded Access Protocol (compassionate use) programs have been recorded without any observed safety signals.

CNM-Au8 is a federally registered trademark of Clene Inc. Clene, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with R&D and manufacturing operations in Maryland, began in 2013.

Market Opportunity

ALS is the most prevalent adult-onset progressive motor neuron disease, affecting approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. and an estimated 500,000 people worldwide, with a life expectancy of typically three to five years. Clene estimates that global ALS treatment sales will be greater than $1 billion annually within the coming few years. Additional treatments affecting daily function and survival remain the market need.

Additionally, there are more than 2 million MS patients globally, and Clene estimates the market size to be worth more than $23 billion annually. While the MS community has been successful at limiting relapses, non-relapsing MS patients continue to clinically deteriorate even while receiving effective immunomodulatory disease-modifying therapies (“DMTs”). A critical unmet medical need remains for therapeutic interventions that protect neuronal function and myelin health independent of immunomodulation to address progression independent of relapse activity.

Management Team

Robert Etherington is President, Director and CEO of Clene. He has more than 30 years of sales, marketing and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Clene, he worked at Actelion Pharmaceuticals, the largest biopharma company in the European Union prior to its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in 2017, where he led that company’s U.S. commercial operations. He began his pharmaceutical sales and marketing career at Parke-Davis, a division of Pfizer, where he rose to the position of Team Leader overseeing the drug Lipitor.

Mark Mortenson is Chief Science Officer at Clene. He is co-inventor of the technology platform developed to produce the company’s therapeutics. He is the inventor or co-inventor on 32 other U.S. patents and hundreds of corresponding international patents. He is a former chief patent counsel responsible for 5,500 U.S. and international patents and patent applications. He holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and ceramic engineering from Alfred University, a master’s degree in materials science from Penn State University and a J.D. from George Washington University.

Benjamin Greenberg, M.D., MHS, FAAN, is Head of Medical at Clene. He is an internationally recognized expert in disorders of the central nervous system. He is currently professor of neurology and Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research in the department of Neurology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins, a master’s degree in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and graduated from Baylor College of Medicine. He served residency in neurology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Morgan R. Brown is CFO at Clene. He has more than 30 years of finance and accounting experience, with 23 years at biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. He has served in similar roles at Lipocine Inc., Innovus Pharmaceuticals, World Heart Corp., Lifetree Clinical Research and NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. He previously worked at accounting firm KPMG. He is a CPA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Utah State University and an M.S. in business administration from the University of Utah.

Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.437, up 1.2043%, on 970,910 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.25/$1.09.

Recent News

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

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

A top investment advisor says the key to attracting investors in the current market is to provide more ESG personalization. According to Bartlett Wealth Management president and wealth advisor Holly Mazzocca, investors are looking for increased personalization when it comes to environment, sustainability and governance ("ESG") investing. Although ESG has been one of the most prominent trends in the financial world for the past several years, its popularity has been hit in recent years amid consistent attacks from American conservatives and fears of greenwashing. Greenwashing is a form of corporate advertising or personal relations that makes it seem as though a company is focused on sustainability and gives the false impression of green operations. Bartlett Wealth Management has continued to work with these organizations, and 15% of its current client base now consists of educational organizations and social-services agencies. As investment companies do more to reassure investors that they aren't greenwashing, they may need to look to specific enterprises such as Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) on how to bridge the gap between ESG aspirations and actual activities on the ground.

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 Wednesday's trading session at $0.090957, even for the day. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.063/$0.72.

Recent News

Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN)

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

Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ: MULN), an electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, continues to expand its U.S. dealer network. The company announced that Pritchard EV, one of the largest commercial dealers in the country, has signed up as a new franchise partner to carry Mullen's commercial EV lineup, covering both regional and national fleet opportunities. Pritchard EV is a nationally known leader in fleet sales and a pioneer in commercial EV sales. According to the announcement, Mullen fleet vehicles, including the Mullen ONE and Mullen THREE, are available for immediate order and delivery through Pritchard EV. Pritchard EV is a subsidiary of Pritchard Companies, a family-owned national automotive enterprise and provider of Tier 1 fleets, supplying everything from chassis to upfitting, and registration to logistics. "Pritchard EV is a national leader in the adoption of electric vehicles with commercial fleets," said Mullen Automotive CEO and chair David Michery in the press release. "Pritchard understands fleets and is at the forefront of electrification and infrastructure, and its commitment to work with customers both domestically and globally to build best practices is what the industry needs. . . . We have full confidence in Pritchard EV and believe this partnership underscores the expansion of Mullen's dealer network, enriching accessibility to electric vehicles and service infrastructure."

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/M47g5

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 Wednesday's trading session at $4.91, off by 21.9396%, on 5,949,926 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.3565/$2250.00.

Recent News

Correlate Energy Corp. (OTCQB: CIPI)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Correlate Energy Corp. (OTCQB: CIPI).

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says global climate action shouldn't come at the expense of developing nations. During the launch of the newly formed Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, Guterres said the race to achieving net-zero carbon emissions shouldn't "trample over the poor." The global transition to renewables will be dependent on critical minerals, the UN official said, and a significant portion of these minerals are located in emerging nations. While the demand for critical minerals is sure to create new employment opportunities, boost revenues and diversify national economies in these nations, Guterres noted that this is contingent on effective management. South Africa's Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko and Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen from the European Commission will serve as panel cochairs. Panel members include the European Union, the African Union, nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental entities and countries such as Botswana, Canada, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kazakhstan, Australia, China, the United States, Chile, Columbia, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Zambia and India. The secretary general's call to avoid trampling on the poor during the energy transition can in some way be addressed through the affordable ways to generate green energy in decentralized ways as focused on by entities such as Correlate Energy Corp. (OTCQB: CIPI). Such solutions can be a way for poorer communities to also benefit from the energy transition since the initial capital outlay isn't prohibitive.

Correlate Energy Corp. (OTCQB: CIPI) is a publicly-traded company strategically positioned to capitalize on America’s unstoppable trend toward decentralized energy generation.

The energy grid in the U.S. is insufficient for the booming clean energy trend, and current infrastructure is limiting green energy distribution. Constructing the needed infrastructure to address this demand imbalance will cost billions and be far too slow, positioning decentralized systems, like those on offer from Correlate, in a key position for heightened demand.

Correlate has identified several key economic drivers powering the decentralized energy trend, including:

  1. Real Cost Savings – Customer pays zero money down and gets an instant electrical price discount to current rates.
  2. Massive Project Investment Funding – The International Energy Agency estimates that over one billion dollars per day will be invested in solar energy in 2023.
  3. Consistent Long-Term Incentives – The Inflation Reduction Act is a game-changer, supercharging renewables with $1.2 trillion in tax credits for 10 years of market support.
  4. Robust Customer Demand – Wood Mackenzie expects the U.S. solar industry to nearly triple in size over the next five years.

Correlate’s team of multi-decade experts who have worked with renowned global brands are positioning the company to make the most of this opportunity while consolidating a fragmented industry. Collectively, the team has developed, financed and deployed over $2 billion in clean energy projects to date.

Three-Pronged Strategy

Correlate is leveraging a three-pronged strategy aimed at driving shareholder value:

  1. Sell – Correlate seeks to finance, develop and profitably sell localized clean energy solutions and microgrids to industrial, commercial and residential customers.
  2. Retain – Correlate plans to retain ownership of some of these energy systems and thereby realize ongoing, reliable cash flow.
  3. Acquire – Correlate seeks to acquire proven renewable energy companies in order to exponentially grow earnings per share for investors.

This strategy is enhanced by current investment trends. Clean energy earnings are being sought after by investors. In Q4 2022, the median EBITDA multiple for green energy companies was 12.3x, according to Finerva.

Market Outlook

Over the next decade and beyond, renewable energy growth is expected to come primarily via decentralized systems like those offered by Correlate.
The Inflation Reduction Act enacted in late August 2022 is likewise expected to drive growth for the company by providing new tax incentives that reduce costs for clients and/or elevate returns to investors.

Commercial buildings consume more than 35% of the generated electricity in the U.S. and are underperforming in energy efficiency at every level. These buildings waste energy, emit too much carbon and are too costly for owners and occupants, but retrofits are not happening at the rate or scale needed.

In today’s real estate market, portfolio property owners own most commercial buildings, yet most building efficiency work is focused on single buildings, thereby missing the distinct needs of this owner class which are very different from traditional owner-occupiers. The diverse nature of commercial buildings, combined with technology and performance uncertainty, make simple energy optimization initiatives – which could greatly reduce energy use and improve building value – financially unattractive, resulting in slow adoption rates. CIPI’s financial instruments and software breakdown this issue, known as the ‘split incentive’, unlocking the majority of the addressable market.

A key portion of Correlate’s strategy relates to consolidation of what has been a fragmented industry. By uncovering opportunities to improve efficiencies through strategic M&A activities, the company intends to enhance profitability throughout its operations.

Management Team

Todd Michaels is President and CEO of CIPI and founder of Correlate. He formerly served as Vice President for Innovation at SunEdison and Senior Director Distributed Solar at NRG Energy. He founded Correlate in 2015 and has 16 years of experience in the energy industry. He graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems.

Channing Chen is CFO at CIPI and Correlate Inc. and brings over 16 years of experience in the solar industry as a developer, financier, and business unit leader. He has held executive management roles at Solar Power Partners (acquired by NRG Energy), where he was a founding employee, SunEdison, and NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG). Most recently, Mr. Chen was founder and Managing Partner at Breakaway Energy Partners LLC – a distributed energy financing and market-making platform. To date, Mr. Chen and his teams have raised over $1.5 billion in financing across residential, commercial, and utility scale solar and energy storage projects representing over 400 MWs. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of California at San Diego and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He is also an advisor and early-stage investor to several startup companies in the renewable energy space.

Dave Bailey is Chief Revenue Officer of Correlate Inc. With over 15 years of executive sales, supply chain management, and energy efficiency experience, he is responsible for ensuring the success of the National Commercial Sales Unit across multiple regional project teams. Mr. Bailey created and launched the Transformation Services team while at Wesco for its multibillion-dollar Distributed Energy Resource division, formerly Westinghouse. His focus was on IoT-enabled efficiency and plant floor automation-based services. Before that, he spent several years in Global Account Sales Management, with GE Supply as a Program Manager, and is a Commercial Leadership Program graduate. Mr. Bailey received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Jed Freedlander is the company’s Chief Development Officer. He has a background in infrastructure development and investment and a strong legal, commercial and finance acumen. Mr. Freedlander has a proven track record in leading complex public-private partnership (P3) and energy transactions and is instrumental in driving Correlate’s strategic development initiatives.

Roger Baum is Executive VP Operations at Correlate. With over 20 years of experience at Core Construction, he brings to the company a wealth of knowledge and a strong track record in delivering successful commercial construction projects.

Jason Loyet is Director of Solar Energy for Correlate Inc. He is a cleantech executive with over 20 years of experience leading high growth solar energy and software start-ups. Mr. Loyet is a U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Catalyst award winner for his work building the Solar Site Design technology platform. Before joining the solar energy industry in 2005, he founded and sold two software companies in the streaming media (GlobalStreams) and newspaper publishing (MyCapture) industries. Mr. Loyet currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Solar Energy Industry Association (TenneSEIA).

Correlate Energy Corp. (OTCQB: CIPI), closed Wednesday's trading session at $1.3, off by 1.2158%, on 3,029 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.3501/$2.35.

Recent News

PaxMedica Inc. (NASDAQ: PXMD)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight PaxMedica Inc. (NASDAQ: PXMD).

PaxMedica has completed its three registration/validation batches of PAX-101, an IV formulation of suramin

The completed batches are a significant step toward submitting a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the fourth quarter of 2024

PaxMedica aims to establish a sustainable global supply chain for PAX-101 and to advance research and clinical trials targeting Autism Spectrum Disorder ("ASD"), demonstrating a steadfast commitment to addressing complex neurological conditions

The ASD treatment market size was valued at $6.94 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $13.14 billion by 2030

PaxMedica (NASDAQ: PXMD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing treatments for neurological disorders, recently announced that it has completed its three registration/validation batches of PAX-101, an IV formulation of suramin. This accomplishment marks a significant step toward submitting a New Drug Application ("NDA") to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") in the fourth quarter of 2024 (https://ibn.fm/52o4M).

PaxMedica Inc. (NASDAQ: PXMD) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel anti-purinergic therapies (APTs) for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other serious conditions with intractable neurologic symptoms.

The company’s lead programs are focused on ASD, for which there are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments that target its cause and symptoms. Currently used treatments only address the symptoms of the condition, rather than targeting the pathophysiology itself.

PaxMedica is on a promising path to address these unmet medical needs, bringing hope to millions. Anti-purinergic therapies target the excess production of purines in cells. An overexpression of purines can offset homeostasis and result in an overproduction of cellular adenosine triphosphate, the main energy molecule in all living cells.

The company is headquartered in Tarrytown, New York.

Product Pipeline

PaxMedica is building a robust pipeline of products targeting ASD and related neurodevelopmental conditions. The company’s lead product in development may help eliminate, reduce or modulate some of the more troublesome aspects of ASD. That would open the potential for people with autism to integrate their behavior with others more successfully and improve their lives.

PaxMedica’s lead programs, PAX-101 and PAX-102, utilize the company’s proprietary source of suramin sodium, a broadly acting anti-purinergic therapy that has been known for over 100 years. Its current pipeline includes:

  • PAX-101 (IV Suramin) for ASD – PAX-101 completed a Phase 2B study for ASD in 2021. Suramin is a broadly acting APT and has reported positive results from a dose range study. The results of PaxMedica’s Phase 2B study, which targeted 52 subjects across six sites in South Africa, were presented to AACAP in October 2021.
  • PAX-102 (Intranasal Suramin) – PaxMedica has developed a proprietary intranasal formulation of suramin that is currently being evaluated in ASD and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • PAX-101 for HAT – Given suramin’s historical use as a treatment for Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), or African Sleeping Sickness, the company is also developing PAX-101 as a treatment for HAT. PaxMedica’s most advanced program is the pursuit of PAX-101 for early-stage East African HAT.
  • Selective APTs – PaxMedica has conducted several preclinical studies to evaluate other APTs that are more selective to specific purinergic receptors and may offer additional benefits over suramin.

Market Opportunity

According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, a leading global market research company, the global ASD therapeutics market was estimated at $1.93 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from $2.01 billion in 2023 to $3.42 billion by 2030, a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period. As there is no current treatment for the core symptoms of autism, PaxMedica believes the addressable market for PAX-101, if approved, could greatly exceed these forecasts.

Autistic disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder are the three main types of ASD, affecting millions of people globally. A 2020 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimated that one in 36 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism disorder.

Several factors are expected to contribute to market growth prospects. A growing prevalence of the condition globally and rising awareness coupled with available treatment options are key factors expected to drive ASD therapeutics market growth during the forecast period. Growing investment in R&D to find effective treatments is also expected to fuel global market growth.

Management Team

Howard Weisman is Chairman and CEO of PaxMedica. He has been a founder and CEO of several specialty pharma and medical device companies. Most recently, he was executive chairman and co-founder of Sofregen, a biotech company. He also served as CEO and president of Seventh Sense Biosystems, a medical device development company. He also was founder, chairman and CEO of EKR Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company, and founder and COO of ESP Pharma, a company focused on cardio and neurovascular products. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rutgers University.

David Hough, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer at PaxMedica. He is a neuroscience clinical development consultant who previously served as vice president at Janssen Research and Development and in various leadership roles over 17 years. Most recently, he was the compound development team leader for SPRAVATO® for treatment-resistant depression. Prior to that, he was the schizophrenia disease area leader. He played a pivotal role in the development programs for oral INVEGA®, INVEGA SUSTENNA® and XEPLION® for schizophrenia. He is a graduate of West Point and is board certified in psychiatry.

Stephen Sheldon is COO and CFO at PaxMedica. He has served as CEO of Thailand-based specialty healthcare company Indochina Healthcare Co. Ltd. since 2015. Previously, he was a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers Healthcare Advisory in the Chicago office. He was responsible for developing specialty pharmacy patient programs, strategy development for specialty products and compliance programs. He has an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and visual arts from Bowdoin College.

PaxMedica Inc. (NASDAQ: PXMD), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.6883, off by 7.6107%, on 1,205,363 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.372/$29.75.

Recent News

Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI).

Vitamin D plays different roles and is easily available through the sun, meat and plants. Despite this, many individuals are vitamin D deficient. Different studies have looked into the use of vitamin D for the prevention and treatment of different cancers, including bowel, breast, skin and prostate cancer. Prior studies have linked high levels of vitamin D to decreased cancer mortality rate and reduced risk of developing cancer. In addition, researchers have explored vitamin D use in conjunction with immunotherapy. This type of treatment uses the patient's immune system to improve its ability to eliminate cancer cells. Immunotherapy treatments include immune system modulators, immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, adoptive cell therapies and cancer vaccines. Shama Farooq, a neuro-oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute, stated that more studies were needed to understand the link between vitamin D and anticancer immunity. He also observed that it was still important to maintain optimal vitamin D levels because it was beneficial for an individual's overall health and could contribute to lowering the risk of developing cancer. The study's findings were reported in the "Science" journal. These new insights into the ways in which vitamin D could enhance immunotherapy against cancer may be of great interest to companies such as Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI) that are investing in the development of immunotherapy solutions against different forms of cancer and infectious diseases.

Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI) is a biotechnology company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative immunotherapeutic products primarily for the treatment of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

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

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

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

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

Lead Candidate: Inhaled COVID-19 NanoAb

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

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

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

NanoAb Pipeline: Psoriasis, Asthma and More

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

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

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

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

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

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

CDMO Services

While NanoAb pipeline development is Scinai’s core focus, the company also offers its cGMP manufacturing facility, aseptic fill and finish suite, laboratories and experienced professionals for contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services. This offering is designed to keep the Scinai team abreast of the latest industry developments and trends while building experience and generating revenue to support the company’s NanoAb pipeline development.

Market Opportunity

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

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

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

Management Team

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

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

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

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

Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.4396, off by 3.4058%, on 10,316 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.4311/$2.27.

Recent News

Software Effective Solutions Corp. (OTC: SFWJ)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Software Effective Solutions Corp. (OTC: SFWJ).

Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ), a holding company focused in the cannabis and agricultural technology sectors, released an official reaction to the "historic milestone" in the cannabis industry as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") moves to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act ("CSA:). The reclassification was fueled by a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and represents a notable change in U.S. drug policy. According to the announcement from MedCana, cannabis has been unjustly categorized as a Schedule I substance alongside heroin and LSD for more than four decades, even though the substance exhibits medical benefits and has low potential for abuse. "The DEA's move to reschedule cannabis acknowledges its therapeutic value and aligns with evolving attitudes towards cannabis policy," the announcement stated. The DEA's proposed reclassification will undergo public comment, and MedCana noted that it is committed to advancing the dialogue around cannabis policy and supporting initiatives that promote responsible use and access to quality cannabis products. "The DEA's decision to reclassify cannabis is a watershed moment in our nation's drug policy," said MedCana CEO Jose Gabriel Diaz in the press release. "It opens the door to further research, innovation and accessibility, signaling a new era of acceptance and understanding. MedCana is proud to be part of an industry that advocates for sensible cannabis regulation and equitable access to this vital medicine."

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/PLgt1

Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) is a global infrastructure and holding company in the cannabis industry. MedCana currently has five companies focused on pharmaceutical cannabis production, as well a software company focused on managing processes for plant-to-patient operations. The recent acquisition of an irrigation and greenhouse technology company has rounded out MedCana’s portfolio of holdings.

MedCana’s focus is on developing clients and companies in Latin America, initially in Colombia, and partnerships with laboratories, research facilities and hospitals throughout the world. MedCana is building the technology, laboratories, growing facilities and scientific teams to provide premium pharmaceutical-grade cannabis extracts to the world.

MedCana’s goal is to be the world’s premier resource for pharmaceutical cannabis products. The company believes its advantage is its global view and reach. From initial cultivation to final product, MedCana aims to help partners produce pharmaceutical CBD and other extracts that will have no equal.

The company’s mission is to utilize its technology to partner with and develop companies that provide premium pharmaceutical-grade cannabis extracts with absolute integrity, sustainability and social responsibility. MedCana’s team of pharmaceutical scientists includes some of the most respected chemists in the world. They aim to ensure that the company’s customers and partners create premium cannabis extracts that meet the growing worldwide demand. MedCana’s software is designed to ensure traceability and quality from seed to finished product.

MedCana is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Colombia.

Production

MedCana announced in May 2023 the beginning of full-scale production of non-THC cannabis for export to Europe in response to high demand in that market. This expansion comes after the successful completion of full crop cycle testing and infrastructure development at production sites in Columbia.

The recent acquisition of the assets of Tokan Corp., a software company focused on creating an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform for the cannabis industry, and Eko2O S.A.S., a greenhouse and irrigation engineering company, has positioned MedCana for explosive growth in the region.

As a MedCana subsidiary, Eko2O SA will increase the company’s revenue potential in Central and South America. The subsidiary specializes in the construction and distribution of greenhouses and sophisticated irrigation platforms. A positive outlook has resulted from the company’s expansion as it investigates new opportunities for greenhouse and irrigation system installations in Panama and Uruguay. These opportunities are expected to accelerate Eko2O’s development and strengthen its position as a top supplier of innovative agricultural solutions in cannabis and other sectors that are quickly moving to high technology agricultural production.

In addition, MedCana has started talks with the government in Argentina about possible incentives for beginning operations in that country as part of its ongoing worldwide development strategy. Support from the Argentinean government and the start of new operations there would greatly increase MedCana’s market share in Latin America and solidify the company’s position as the market leader in the cannabis industry.

Market Opportunity

According to a report by Grand View Research, a San Francisco-based market research and consulting company, the global cannabis extract market was valued at $3.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 20% from 2023 to 2030 to be worth more than $15 billion.

Growing demand for cannabis extracts, including oils and tinctures, and the increased legalization of marijuana for the treatment of different chronic ailments like arthritis, Alzheimer’s, anxiety and cancer are driving the expansion of the industry. The marijuana derivative industry is flourishing due to a greater understanding of its various medical benefits.

Management Team

Jose Gabriel Diaz is CEO of MedCana. He has successfully built, grown and sold multiple telecom companies. He was senior vice president of sales at IP Communications, a national high-speed data provider. He also founded Reallinx, a national data carrier later sold to GTT Communications. Additionally, he is currently president of the A.E.M. Business and Entrepreneurship Association in Austin, Texas.

Claudio Jiménez Cartagena, QF, Ph.D. is Chief Scientific Officer at MedCana. He joined MedCana after working with Sosteli Pharma as Technical Director and serving as a director consultant for the Corporation for Agricultural Industrial Development at the University of Antioquia in Colombia. Before that, he worked as the scientific director at the Institute of Food Science & Technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry, a master’s degree in basic biomedical sciences and a doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Antioquia.

Julián Alberto Londoño Londoño, Ph.D., is Senior Vice President of Operations at MedCana. He previously served as general manager for the Corporation for Agricultural Industrial Development, and as Chief Scientific Officer at Sosteli Pharma in the Resource Management Department. He has developed multiple U.S. patents, and recently served as senior advisor to the Secretariat of Agriculture Development for the Government of Antioquia. He holds a doctorate in Chemical Sciences from the University of Antioquia.

Software Effective Solutions Corp. (OTC: SFWJ), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.033, off by 26.6667%, on 12,979 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 1,528 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.000001/$0.09.

Recent News

Astrotech Corp. (NASDAQ: ASTC)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Astrotech Corp. (NASDAQ: ASTC).

Astrotech Corp. (NASDAQ: ASTC) is an instrumentation company that designs, manufactures and commercializes solutions. Its solutions include mass spectrometry, process controls, chemical detectors and medical disease detection.

The company was established in 1984 and, prior to 2009, was known as SPACEHAB Inc., a NASA contractor offering technology originally developed for NASA to monitor air quality on the International Space Station. When the Space Shuttle program ended, the company focused on its satellite processing and mass spectrometer instrumentation units and adopted the Astrotech name.

In 2014, Astrotech sold its satellite subsidiary to focus on its Astrotech Technology Inc. (ATi) mass spectrometry solutions, which offer a number of advantages over competing platforms. Notably, Astrotech’s ATi technology is ruggedized, rapid, simple to use and customizable, with hands-free calibration and tuning.

Between 2016 and 2019, the company secured U.S. patents for its technology and achieved European Union (ECAC) certification for the TRACER 1000™, the world’s first mass-spec Explosives Trace Detector (ETD) used in airports worldwide. Astrotech continues to innovate and add to its suite of products, including AgLAB-1000, a process control system, and the BreathTest 1000, a disease detection solution.

Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Subsidiaries

Astrotech Technologies Inc.

Astrotech Technologies Inc. (ATi) owns and licenses the platform mass spectrometry technology originally developed by 1st Detect. This technology is designed to be less expensive, smaller and easier to use than traditional mass spectrometers.

Unlike other technologies, ATi works under high vacuum, which eliminates competing molecules, yielding higher resolution and fewer false alarms. The company’s intellectual property includes 18 granted patents, along with extensive trade secrets.

ATi exclusively licenses the Astrotech Mass Spectrometer Technology to the three wholly owned subsidiaries of Astrotech.

1st Detect Corp.

1st Detect Corp. developed the TRACER 1000, the world’s first mass spectrometry-based explosives and narcotics trace detector. 1st Detect ETDs were developed for use at airports, cargo facilities and other secured locations and borders worldwide.

1st Detect’s commercial sales of the TRACER 1000 ETD, consumables and recurring maintenance services brought in $750,000 in total revenue during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The Astrotech subsidiary recently secured two orders for a total of 24 Tracer 1000 units from two Romanian security and telecommunications companies, to be delivered during calendar 2023.

AgLAB Inc.

AgLAB Inc. is developing a series of mass spectrometers for use in the hemp and cannabis market, with an initial focus on optimizing yields in the distillation processes.

AgLAB, which uses the company’s proprietary AgLAB 1000-D2™ mass spectrometer, has been proven to improve distillation oil yields and bottom-line profits for hemp and cannabis producers. During field trials, AgLAB was able to improve ending-weight yields by an average of 24%.

BreathTech Corp.

BreathTech is developing the BreathTest-1000™, a breath analysis tool to screen for volatile organic compound (“VOC”) metabolites found in a person’s breath that could indicate they may have a compromised condition including but not limited to a bacterial or viral infection. The company believes that new tools to aid in the battle against COVID-19 and other diseases remain of the utmost importance to help more quickly identify that an infection may be present.

Market Opportunity

A report by Mordor Intelligence, a research and advisory firm, put the global mass spectrometry market at $6.37 billion in 2023. The market is forecast to grow to $8.63 billion by 2028, achieving a CAGR of 6.25% during the forecast period.

One of the major driving factors for the growth of the mass spectrometry market is technological advancements in mass spectrometer devices, the report states. Key market players are continuously working toward advancing their existing products and launching innovative and advanced mass spectrometer devices.

Another major factor that is expected to boost market growth is increasing research and development expenditure by both government and private entities, according to the report. Mass spectrometry devices are also being used in the detection and analysis of COVID-19 and other disease samples, which may have a positive impact on the market.

Management Team

The Astrotech leadership team includes management executives, as well as industry and technology experts. The company continues to actively expand its talent pool to meet evolving demands.

Thomas B. Pickens III is Chairman, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Astrotech Corp. He also serves as CEO of Astrotech subsidiaries ATi, 1st Detect, AgLAB Inc. and BreathTech Corp. Previously, he was the founder and president of Beta Computer Systems Inc. and T.B. Pickens & Co. He was founder and general partner of Grace Pickens Acquisition Partners L.P and managing partner of Sumpter Partners. He also served as CEO of Catalyst Energy Corporation and United Thermal Corporation and as president of Golden Bear Corp., United Hydro Inc. and Slate Creek Corp. He received a B.A. in Economics, Computer Science and Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Jaime Hinojosa, CPA, is CFO at Astrotech Corp. He joined the company in 2015 and has served as its Corporate Controller since 2019. His previous roles with the company include Director of Finance, from 2017 to 2019, and Assistant Controller, from 2015 to 2017. Prior to joining Astrotech, Mr. Hinojosa worked as an Accounting Manager for O’Reilly Auto Parts and gained public accounting experience as an Audit Manager at Burton McCumber & Cortez LLP.

Astrotech Corp. (NASDAQ: ASTC), closed Wednesday's trading session at $9.1039, off by 0.5038251%, on 746 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 3,195 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $7.00/$15.11.

Recent News

Btab Ecommerce Group Inc. (OTC: BBTT)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlightFathom Btab Ecommerce Group Inc. (OTC: BBTT) .

Btab Ecommerce Group Inc. (OTC: BBTT) is a next-generation e-commerce company with significant social impact. The company believes that every business deserves an equal opportunity to succeed in the modern retail market, so it provides e-commerce and social commerce solutions to help small businesses excel in both online and offline environments.

The company’s long-term plan is to become the world’s largest product supplier for small businesses using e-commerce technology as a distribution tool. Btab operates through its network in Australia, Asia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Btab offers comprehensive solutions including product supply, commerce platforms for selling and marketing, physical showrooms that allow customers to touch and feel products, goods storage, marketing management, delivery and pick-up direction and after-sales support including arranging exchanges and returns. The company takes all of these concerns off of its clients’ plates, allowing them to focus on running successful retail businesses.

Btab supplies products to resellers, either from its own manufacturing facility or from third-party manufacturers and wholesalers. The company also connects resellers with manufacturers and wholesalers around the world, allowing them to access better deals and a greater product range by leveraging Btab’s buying power.

In February 2024, Btab and Integrated Wellness Acquisition Corp (NYSE: WEL), a special purpose acquisition company, announced their entry into a letter of intent providing for a proposed business combination that will result in Btab acquiring control of WEL. The transaction would value Btab at $250 million.

Btab is headquartered in Sydney and Perth, Australia, and the company is expanding its headquarters into the U.S.

Platforms

Btab provides affordable ecommerce services and supplies technology and products to small businesses to allow them to compete in an underserved market segment. The company seeks to expand its reach into Europe and the Americas, where it intends to provide small businesses with products and services not currently commercially available to them.

Btab believes growth of the e-commerce segment in Asia alone will be significant well into the next decade and beyond as rising numbers of internet users take advantage of online shopping and increasing spending power. The company’s vision is to provide all small and medium businesses with an equal opportunity to improve using the same online technology that’s utilized by large multinationals.

Btab’s mission is to make online technology affordable to all small- and medium-sized businesses and use the Btab Network to assist as many businesses as possible to succeed. Some of its platform offerings include:

  • Btab Commerce provides ecommerce management services to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in the Btab Network.
  • Social3 is a next generation platform for all things social and commerce.
  • Marketplace Australia is a social commerce site for all products and services in Australia. It is a combination of a social platform, a products marketplace platform and an online stores platform.
  • Aussie Markets is an online marketplace focusing on Australian-made products.
  • Marketplace Deals is a social commerce site for products and services around the world. It is a combination of a social platform, a products marketplace platform and an online stores platform.
  • Chemist Deals is a social commerce site for health and beauty products. It is a combination of a social platform, a products marketplace and an online stores platform.
  • Global Manufacturers Network is a social commerce platform for manufacturers around the world.
  • InterestPin is a social commerce platform for all products and services around the world. It is also a tool to help users collect, organize and share all the beautiful things they find on the web.
  • Btab Domains offers domain name registration, hosting, email, SSL certificates, a website builder and related services.

Market Opportunity

A report from Mordor Intelligence, a global research and intelligence firm, estimates the worldwide e-commerce market at $8.8 trillion in 2024 and projects growth to $18.81 trillion by 2029, expanding at a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period.

Increasing global internet penetration and the continued growth of smartphone usage around the world are projected to positively impact market growth, according to the report. Other growth drivers include a trend toward established businesses and corporations moving retail operations online or upgrading online operations, the ease for retailers of using online marketing tools such as Google advertisements and Facebook ads and the ease of access for small- and medium-sized businesses to start up or expand online businesses, the report states.

Key Management Team

Binson Lau is, CEO and Director at Btab Ecommerce Group.

Ronald A. Woessner is the company’s Seniorr Vice President and General Counsel.

Btab Ecommerce Group Inc. (OTC: BBTT), closed Wednesday's trading session at $0.18, off by 2.1739%, on 58,100 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 15,616 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.03/$0.745.

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Why do we spotlight companies for Free?
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"Homework Eliminates Mistakes"
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