SRAX BIGtoken proprietary platform based on consumers’ rights to privacy, ownership of digital data
BIGtoken platform allows consumers to own and earn from their digital data
SRAX offers access to valuable proprietary data from consumers who opt in
SRAX Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SRAX) philosophy about the importance of consumers controlling and owning their own personal digital data has been reinforced by a YouTube video from Apple that tells consumers that their own private information on an iPhone – from personal health to text messages – should remain private. SRAX, a technology firm that permits consumers to control their own digital privacy data, is trending ahead of the curve in that respect. The company has been focused on empowering consumers to take control of their data since its inception.
The video explains to consumers that the information they have on their iPhone should remain private and that private and personal things “should belong to you.” The video (http://ccw.fm/oF4bH) further notes that “there is more private information on your phone than in your home…. so many details about your life are right in your pocket. This makes privacy more important now than ever. Your location, your messages, your heart rate after a run. These are private things, personal things, and they should belong to you. Simple as that.”
SRAX’s philosophy is completely in line with Apple’s message about the importance of securing digital data. With consumer privacy in mind, SRAX developed its own platform, called BIGtoken, that asks consumers to voluntarily opt-in to participate (http://ccw.fm/p9MtL). BIGtoken is described by SRAX as “a platform to own and earn from your data,” adding that “your digital data is an extension of who you are, and it’s time to take back what is rightfully yours.” By securing consumers’ trust, SRAX is in the process of building the most valuable opted-in data set in the world.
What is unique about SRAX is that it offers consumers a secure and transparent environment to control their own privacy while also unlocking the value of their data. Taking care of the issue of consent immediately, SRAX asks users for permission to share data when they originally sign up for the BIGtoken platform.
The company’s proprietary technology then unlocks data to reveal a brand’s core consumers and the characteristics of those consumers across marketing channels. SRAX’s machine-learning technology analyzes marketing data, and its BIGtoken platform enables consumers to own, manage and sell access to their digital identity and data. Mutually beneficial, both consumer and marketing brands reap the rewards of data, and consumers are never blindsided by unforeseen privacy leaks. Additionally, this approach gives SRAX valuable proprietary data and multiple revenue streams, the company said in its SEC 10-Q filing in August 2019 (http://ccw.fm/de3Oc).
“BIG token is a secure platform that empowers you to realize and claim the value of your digital self,” the website explains. “You have a right to privacy, awareness and choice when it comes to the data that you put out into the digital world. With BIG, you can own and earn from that data while staying connected to your community.”
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SRAX.com
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SRAX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ccw.fm/SRAX
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Second-generation marijuana products including edibles and beverages launch in Canada’s marijuana market this month, but marijuana stocks still face stiff headwinds from supply headaches and mounting quarterly losses. Is it finally safe to step up and buy leading players like Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC) and Organigram (NASDAQ:OGI)?
In this episode of The Motley Fool’s Industry Focus: Healthcare, analyst Shannon Jones is joined by healthcare investor Todd Campbell to discuss the latest marijuana news, including Cannabis 2.0, the FDA’s latest word on CBD, and the stocks you can consider buying now.
Also, Jones and Campbell weigh in on Novartis‘ (NYSE:NVS) big cardiovascular disease bet. Will the $9.7 billion it’s paying to acquire cholesterol-buster The Medicines Company (NASDAQ:MDCO) prove to be money well spent, or will stiff competition from the likes of Regeneron (NASDAQ:REGN), Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN), and Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) make this deal a bust?
Shannon Jones: Welcome to Industry Focus, the show that dives into a different sector of the stock market every single day. Today is Wednesday, December the 4th, and we’re talking Healthcare. I’m your host, Shannon Jones, and I am joined by healthcare guru Todd Campbell. Todd, how’s it going?
Todd Campbell: It’s good. It’s good. I’m actually a little sore. I’ve been Bayer aspirin’s best customer over the course of the last couple of days. I don’t know if Alexandria got hit or not, but we up here in New Hampshire got a good couple strong days of snow, and it wasn’t the light, fluffy stuff. It was the heavy heart-attack-inducing stuff.
Jones: Oh my goodness. So you are basically propping up Bayer aspirin, one pill at a time right now, Todd.
Campbell: Pretty much! My shoulders are regretting my decision not to invest in a snowblower yet again this year.
Jones: There you go. There you go. We have thankfully been able to dodge most of the snow here in Alexandria, but it’s been getting quite cold. I am certainly feeling the chill. I just got over being sick all of Thanksgiving week, which is absolutely terrible. I’m hoping I’ve at least got that out of my system.
Super glad to be back on the show, because we’ve got a lot to cover today, Todd.
Campbell: Yes. As long as your voice holds up, we’re all set.
Jones: That’s right. And so far, so good. I’ve got my tea right beside me. But today’s show, I’m excited about because we’ve got big news from across really multiple industries, the first of which is biopharma with big M&A news. And then, also, we’re going to be giving updates on the cannabis space. That’s right, lots of things happening right now in the marijuana industry. So, we’ll dive into all of that and more.
But first up, let’s talk about the acquisition everybody is talking about right now, and that is Novartis, ticker symbol NVS, announcing that it’s acquiring The Medicines Company, ticker symbol [MDCO], really to beef up its cardiovascular portfolio. Novartis did announce that they’re acquiring the company for $9.7 billion, or $85 a share, basically a 45% premium above the closing price prior to the acquisition rumor actually being confirmed. Todd, what can you tell us about this huge deal, and basically, what is Novartis getting with this deal?
Campbell: This is one of those cases where “buy the rumor” paid off. After the rumor broke, shares rallied more than 20%. And then, sure enough, the premium that was paid on top of that was another 25%. Investors are obviously smiling very widely when it comes to this acquisition.
It’s interesting to see. We’ve seen a couple different acquisitions. There was another one which we won’t talk about today, but a gene therapy acquisition for $3 billion that Astellas did this week as well. It seems like we’re seeing a little bit of a return. We’ve talked about on the show before, some of these drug developers, they use that as a third stool or a second leg on a stool or whatever when it comes to their pipelines. You have internal development, and then also, if you’re a big company like Novartis, you can step up and spend a lot of money and just acquire something that’s already succeeded in Phase III trials and not have to worry about taking on that headline risk of conducting those clinical trials, and potentially having them fail.
And in doing this deal, Novartis is landing a pretty interesting medicine. It’s Inclisiran and that’s an RNA silencing drug that targets something called PCSK9, which is an enzyme that we’ve talked about in the past, which companies have been targeting to reduce bad cholesterol levels or LDLC, in a bid to reduce heart disease. I think that, to set the stage for investors who are trying to figure how big a deal this is to Novartis, and could this be worth this big price tag that Novartis is paying, a couple of statistics, just to throw out there, Shannon. First, about 50,000 people die every day worldwide because of heart disease. 50,000. I mean, that’s so many people. 30 million people worldwide will suffer a heart attack or a stroke, often because of cardiovascular disease. And there are about 40 million people throughout the world who right now are still, despite the availability of cheap statins, failing to reach their target on their bad cholesterol levels. So, new therapies, theoretically, can improve upon those existing therapies and further lower bad cholesterol, maybe reducing the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and death. Obviously, a very potentially lucrative area of focus.
Jones: Yes. Really, for The Medicines Company, they’ve been posting pretty good Phase III data this year. I think this deal really became sweetened when basically the data showed this drug was helpful in lowering LDL for difficult-to-treat patients. I will say, though, it’s not terribly surprising to see this acquisition happening. You mentioned, Todd, we’ve started to see M&A ramp up. But for a company like The Medicines Company, Sarissa Capital, which actually was founded and headed up by Carl Icahn’s protege, Alex Denner, took a sizable stake in the company a couple years back, restructured the board, restructured the company, to really hone in and focus on this one drug. So, they were selling off assets. Of course, with this drug, this is one that they gave Alnylam Pharmaceutical upfront rights for $25 million to this drug. I think this is an attempt, with this building up, restructuring, to get the company sold and to this point. Of course, for anybody who’s been following the biopharma space, Alex Denner has been behind the likes of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals getting sold, and, of course, Biogen‘s hemophilia unit, Bioverativ getting sold off to Sanofi. So, not too terribly surprising.
But this drug in and of itself is really interesting. The PCSK9 space is really interesting, because it is a pretty competitive space, but this is a space that has struggled when it comes to launches, and really struggled when it comes to uptake, some of which has to do with pricing, some of it which could potentially have to do with convenience. But it’s interesting to see how this drug is being positioned within such a competitive market space right now.
Campbell: Yeah. Just to back up a little bit and give people a top-level view of what’s been happening, what this market looks like. You think about the most famous, probably, of the cholesterol-busting drugs that’s ever rate made it to market, and that’s got to be Lipitor. At one point, Lipitor was doing $13 billion a year in sales. I think the class overall of statins were hauling in something like $20 billion at their peak. So, this is a mega blockbuster indication. The way statins work is, they help to reduce the production of cholesterol in the body. PCSK9 inhibitors work differently. So, this drug, and Inclisiran, and the other two that we’re going to talk about in a second, they work differently. These drugs, what they do is, they inhibit the production of the enzyme PCSK9, which breaks down LDL receptors in the liver. By inhibiting the breaking down of those, they increase the number of receptors in the liver; therefore, they’re able to clear more cholesterol from the bloodstream. It’s an entirely new mechanism of action.
Now, back in 2015, you had the first of these PCSK9 inhibitors come to market. You had Sanofi and Regeneron’s Praluent in approval, and then you had Amgen’s Repatha win approval. When these drugs came to the market, everybody was thinking they’d be billion-dollar blockbuster because, again, there’s this huge unmet need for lowering bad cholesterol. Unfortunately, it really hasn’t materialized. They came to the market with a high price, $14,000. Since then, they’ve continued to ratchet that price back to try and drive volume and win over payers that they frustrated early on. Even if you look at the third quarter, combined sales of Repatha and Praluent are still tracking around $240 million. Repatha did about $170 million and Praluent did about $70 million. Far below the expectations that you would have expected, especially given Lipitor.
So, the question, therefore, that Novartis thinks they’ve answered, the big question is, can we outperform Repatha and Praluent with Inclisiran? And they’re betting yes. They’re thinking, Inclisiran works differently than Repatha and Praluent. Because it works slightly differently, they don’t have to dose it as often. I think the longest you can go in between right now with Praluent and Repatha is four weeks, so you’re getting an injection every month for those medications. When it comes to Inclisiran, you only need two injections a year. That’s pretty great, really, because it can be done right in the doctor’s office when these patients who are at high risk for cardiovascular events are usually going to see the doctor a couple times a year anyways. So, Novartis is betting that they can take their existing salesforce, which already markets blockbuster drugs like Entresto and stuff in the cardiac space, they can turn them loose to sell Inclisiran, and that they’ll be able to convince people that Inclisiran’s favorable dosing regimen is going to improve adherence and significantly reduce bad cholesterol, and therefore reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. I think it’s a good argument to be made. If they’re right, the money that they’re spending, some $9 billion, it’s going to be a drop in the bucket.
Jones: Yeah, so true. And The Medicines Company’s management team has come out and said they plan to price this pretty competitively. I think there’s definitely an argument there.
But, Todd, we’ve talked about Amgen, Regeneron. They’re not the only ones to keep in mind in this space. There’s also Esperion Therapeutics, and that’s ticker symbol ESPR, and that’s a clinical stage biotech. It’s got one drug in development, but it’s a once-daily oral pill that is going after bad cholesterol. What can you tell us about this drug, and really how it’s positioning itself within the midst of this very competitive landscape?
Campbell: Yeah, this is where it gets really confusing, because this has been a big back-and-forth by industry watchers over the course of the last two years. Who will get to market first? Will Inclisiran get to market, or will Esperion’s bempedoic acid get to market? Now, both of these drugs are very different. We already talked about how Inclisiran targets PCSK9. Bempedoic acid works upstream of statins. Like you said, it’s an oral drug, so it’s not injected like Inclisiran. So, you’d take this drug as a pill either on top of your current statin regimen, or, if you’re intolerant to statins — many people are. I think up to 40% of people who start on statins end up discontinuing them because of side effects like muscle weakness. Well, you can take this pill and get your bad cholesterol levels lowered.
Like Inclisiran, Phase III studies are already done. But unlike Inclisiran, which still hasn’t yet been filed for FDA approval, bempedoic acid’s FDA filing has been done. The PDUFA date that the FDA has set to make a decision on it is expected in February. So, this drug will get to market first.
So, the big question will be, bempedoic acid reduces bad cholesterol by an additional 20%-30%, let’s say, when used with statins. Inclisiran reduces it by 50%-55%. Will there be room for both of these drugs if they both win approval? My personal vote is that yes, they both will between approval, and then I also believe there’s going to be a good market niche going to allow both of these to survive. I think that bempedoic acid could very well be a cheaper option because it’s small molecule rather than complex, and, again, with the statin intolerance. Maybe what you’ll see is bempedoic acid get used in statin-intolerant patients, and then, if they don’t reach their target, maybe then you would also overlay Inclisiran. We’ll have to wait and see.
Jones: We’ll have to wait and see. A lot to look forward to. Again, Inclisiran, they plan to submit for U.S. approval by the end of the year, also file for E.U. approval by Q1 of next year. Overall, the deal between Novartis and The Medicines Company is expected to close early next year. A lot to watch in the space.
Always fun to see a resurgence, a renaissance, for any of these therapeutic areas. I’ve said that for neuroscience, and now, of course, we’re seeing that in the cardiovascular space. And even with Amarin, I’m going to throw them in there, too. But, a lot to watch heading into 2020.
Alright, time to talk about cannabis and marijuana. Todd, you and I have talked about this space before. It’s been a while since we’ve given updates. But I think now is probably the best time to get everybody up to speed because really, October marked the start of what’s been called Cannabis 2.0, but really, all eyes have been on this month, December, for when we can actually start to see the impacts of Cannabis 2.0. And really, for most investors, we won’t see the financial impacts until Q1, Q2 of next year. But, granted, December is a big month for this industry. Todd, can you tell our listeners, what is Cannabis 2.0, and what does it mean in terms of prospects of turning this industry around?
Campbell: Investors, Shannon, probably a little disappointed that the run up to Cannabis 2.0 hasn’t been nearly as friendly as the run up to legalization in Canada in October 2018. It’s been a brutal period to be investing in marijuana stocks. But hopefully for those shareholders, there is hope around the corner with the advent of these new, I guess we’ll call it second-generation or derivative type products that contain marijuana as an ingredient. We’re talking now about things like edibles, gummies and brownies, cookies, and beverages, which is another big area — and, yes, indeed, vapes, which, up until news earlier this year of some health concerns, had been one of the fastest-growing ways for people to consume marijuana in places like the U.S. where it is legal.
In mid-October of 2019, they did clear the way, if you will, for allowing the sale of these second-generation, these derivative type products. However, because of inventory bottlenecks and some additional i’s to dot and t’s to cross, they aren’t becoming available until this month. One of the things I think is really interesting to see, and how this is going to play out, is to what degree will these derivative products truly expand the cannabis marketplace? If you look at Canada, when they first approved cannabis, it was for dried flower for the most part, and oils. OK, great. You’re probably somewhat experienced with cannabis already if you’re going into one of these dispensaries to buy those products and use them on your own. Now, we’re talking about having products on the shelves of those dispensaries that, theoretically, cannabis-naive buyers could go in and say, “I’ve always been intrigued, but I don’t really want to smoke it. Now I could try an edible,” for example.
It’ll be very interesting to see whether or not we get a much larger amount of pickup in sales in Canada once these different second-generation goods become available this month.
Jones: Exactly. For a lot of these companies, they’ve really been looking forward to the opportunity to produce these higher-margin products. Obviously, there is a premium aspect that I think they can play off of that’s been really exciting. Of course, you’ve got a lot of picks and shovels companies that are coming on board, things like your dehydration tech, things like that, to really help move Cannabis 2.0 forward.
But we did get news this week in the derivative space that Canopy Growth, ticker symbol CGC, got some very welcome news about its beverages lines, specifically that they secured some licenses. Todd, what can you tell us about Canopy Growth?
Campbell: I think it’s great news for Canopy Growth. The fact is that all of these industry participants have been planting marijuana like crazy, building up their facilities and their production. And unfortunately, there’s been a lot of hiccups on the supply side. And as a result, that’s creating all sorts of weird inventory bottlenecks that of late have forced some of these producers to ratchet back their production forecasts. So, the success of these second-generation products is very important to these companies. They need another way to be able to use this product that they’re growing. So, winning that approval to be able to sell the beverages in Canada, I think, is very big for Canopy Growth, which is the market share leading producer or seller of legal marijuana in Canada.
What Canopy Growth is going to roll out is a product lineup that includes about 13 different cannabis-infused drinks. None of them are going to contain alcohol, at least initially, despite the fact that one of Canopy Growth’s big partners is Constellation Brands, which is a big beer and wine company. They’ll be non-alcoholic to begin. They’ll be in roughly 355 milliliter cans that’ll be pre-mixed in various flavors. I think they’re going to have a ginger ale mixed with it. They’re going to have all sorts of different flavors that you can choose from. They’re even doing seltzer, like sparkling water beverages, under a brand called Quatreau. That could be, theoretically, popular. And each will contain either THC or CBD or some combination of the two.
I think the most potent of the ones that they’re launching is something called Deep Space. Deep Space is dark-colored carbonated beverages sold in a slightly smaller can, but it’ll contain 10 milligrams of THC, which is the maximum amount that Health Canada is allowing at this point.
Jones: Yeah, so, a lot to watch here. Certainly welcome news for Constellation Brands, who I believe has up to about a 40% stake in the company, but has generated losses to the tune of almost $600 million so far related to Canopy Growth. I know this new beverage line is welcome news all around, and I believe as soon as they got the licenses, they’ve already been up and operational, it could literally be a matter of weeks before we see those hit the store shelves. So, a lot to watch here.
But let’s jump across the border, talk about what’s happening in the U.S., because there’s been a lot of focus on the CBD market. Of course, CBD has taken the world by storm as something to help expand that consumer market, but the FDA recently came out with a renewed stance on CBD, and there have been a number of companies that have gotten caught up in this. Todd, what can you tell us about the FDA’s stance right now?
Campbell: The FDA has been talking about this for a while, so it’s not too surprising that they have released basically updated guidance or updated thoughts on CBD and whether or not it poses a health risk to consumers. Especially given the how widespread interest has been in CBD-containing products, people are pretty much putting in everything right now. CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid that’s second most common behind THC in cannabis, and it’s perceived to have significant medical benefits. In fact, there is one CBD-driven drug that’s already won FDA approval on the market for use in epilepsy patients. That aside, on November 25th, the FDA did issue a consumer statement that said that CBD has the potential to harm you, and that the harm can happen even before you become aware of it. It can also cause side effects that you might not even notice, and there are important aspects to it that we just don’t even fully understand. One of the concerns that they raised in this letter was that it could expose you to the risk of liver injury if you regularly ingest CBD while taking it with other medications. The FDA is clearly saying to everybody out there, “We know there’s a lot of excitement about CBD. We know that a lot of people are trying to pitch it as a cure-all for everything. But just recognize that we don’t have the scientific evidence yet to be able to say that there is no harm that can come from taking CBD regularly.”
One of the other things, Shannon, that happened right around the same time is the FDA came out and issued half a dozen or more warning letters to different companies that are selling CBD with claims saying that CBD does this or that. You’re not allowed to do that. CBD itself is not FDA approved, so I think it was very important for the FDA to come out and say, “Yes, there is a CBD drug on the market that we have approved, but we’ve only approved that one very specific drug. We have not approved the use of CBD overall in topicals, and drinks, and everything else that they’re sticking it in now.”
Jones: And that’s so true, and I think it’s not just the regulatory framework that I think a lot of investors and even the industry is waiting for right now, because really, regulation does make it very clear in terms of what is a drug, what’s a dietary supplement.
We also got news from Charlotte’s Web, the basically number one market share leader in CBD, that they are awaiting a class action lawsuit about, basically, their products being mislabeled as dietary supplements. It’s them and another company that basically will ultimately be wrapped up. But there are a lot of CBD companies right now that are marketing their products as dietary supplements, and when you actually go to the FDA and their Q&A for this updated guidance, one of the questions is, “Can CBD products be sold as dietary supplements?” Their answer is no. Literally, in no uncertain terms, based on available evidence, the FDA has concluded that THC and CBD products are excluded from the dietary supplement definition under the FD&C Act. So I think there’s still a lot of gray area, and now, what you’re starting to see are companies not only subject to the regulatory risk, but now you’ve also got this legal risk. I think if anything, it really just reinforces the need for the FDA to come out with more clear guidelines. I love the fact that they’re giving some updates, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.
But looking ahead, I think right now, one of the biggest questions that I think we get here at The Motley Fool, and really, I think most investors are asking this right now is, is this a bottom? Have we hit a bottom in the marijuana industry? And now, with Cannabis 2.0, can we expect to see things turn around? Todd, what do you say to that?
Campbell: Well, these stocks are clearly selling at a deep discount to where they were last year, but you have to worry about anchoring bias, where you take a price and you say, it’s cheap relevant to this price, or it’s expensive relative to that price. I think that the best way to look at this emerging group is to say to yourself, what are the prices to sales forward? Looking forward, what are they trading, price to sales? Unfortunately, some of these companies are still very expensive when you look at the price to sales ratio. I think Canopy Growth is still trading at something like 20X forward sales, and they’re losing a boatload of money every quarter still.
I think, probably, one of the ones that I’d be most interested in if I was looking to be speculative and try and buy one of these on sale would be OrganiGram, the symbol there is OGI. It’s trading at about 4X forward sales. Because of the hydroponics it uses, it’s one of the most efficient producers of cannabis. So that’s an interesting stock that I might consider looking at. I’d also consider looking at Trulieve, which is a U.S. dispensary focused on Florida. The symbol there is TCNNF. It’s growing pretty rapidly in the medical marijuana market down in Florida.
I really think that there’s a lot of risks still to these stocks. You’ve got political uncertainty. Hey, if the vote goes a certain way in November of 2020, you could easily get legalization of marijuana that breaks down all sorts of barriers and increases their use. If it goes another way, then it’s probably status quo, and you’re still going to be fighting against these regulatory and political roadblocks to try and establish market share.
When you look at Canada, the Canadian market is worth about CA$6 billion a year. Right now, I think only a third of that is done in the legal marketplace. So, you’re going to need to see them open up more dispensaries and create more shelf space for these products, and then have that translate into sales. You can still go out and buy on the black market cannabis for less money than it costs in the legal market. These secondary, derivative products, I think you really need to wait and see how they resonate with consumers. If they resonate, great, because you’re not going to be able to buy that on the black market. So, I think you have to wait and see when it comes to some of these Canadian periods. If you’re more speculative, maybe you give it a go on those two names that I mentioned.
Jones: Exactly. And I think the U.S. multi-state operator space is really interesting, especially for the ones that are profitable and very cost-focused. You mentioned Trulieve. Trulieve is definitely a great company to consider. I really think a lot of the U.S. multi-state operators that are operating in a legal sense get overlooked. I came from an investor conference a few weeks ago, and there was so much talk about those MSOs that are operating well, operating efficiently, and operating a very disciplined approach. Even former Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton mentioned that he is eyeing the U.S. MSO space. I think that’s interesting. Obviously, with a lot of the sales guidance for a lot of these companies being cut in half in some respects, I think you’ve got to make sure that whatever you’re investing in, that they are very disciplined when it comes to costs, especially as we wait for a lot of these derivatives to come online and we start to see the impact.
Again, that probably won’t happen until next year at some point. But, a lot to watch and a lot to like in this space. Certainly, we’ll keep all of our listeners up to date on all the latest happening in the marijuana industry. But as for us this week, that’ll do it for Industry Focus: Healthcare. We want to thank you for tuning in.
As always, people on the program may have interest in the stocks they talk about, and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against, so don’t buy or sell stocks based solely on what you hear. This show is being mixed by Austin Morgan. For Todd Campbell, I’m Shannon Jones, thanks for listening and Fool on!
Friday, December 6th, 2019UncategorizedComments Off on $OGI Can Cannabis 2.0 Kickstart Marijuana Stocks?
Lexaria Bioscience (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP), a global innovator with technology that has demonstrated its ability to enhance the oral delivery of nicotine, recently appointed Gregg Smith, founder of a New York-based culture-tech, venture investment firm, as senior advisor to help define LXRP’s leadership strategies. An article discussing the company reads, “‘I am passionate about creating a smokeless future and recognize that the consumption methods of nicotine and cannabis will change,’ Smith stated in the news release (http://cnw.fm/KaCZ3). ‘Lexaria’s technology, DehydraTECH(TM), will completely disrupt and improve the consumption and delivery of oral nicotine, CBD and cannabis. Lexaria’s recognition of the recent FDA recognition of certain oral delivery forms of nicotine as ‘less harmful’ to human health than combustible smoking will be a driving force of changing consumer preferences.’”
Lexaria Bioscience is a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms. The company’s patented DehydraTECH drug-delivery technology changes the way active pharmaceutical ingredients enter the bloodstream, promoting healthier ingestion methods, lower overall dosing and higher effectiveness for lipophilic active molecules. DehydraTECH increases bioabsorption, reduces time of onset and masks unwanted tastes for orally administered bioactive molecules including cannabinoids, vitamins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (“NSAIDs”), nicotine and other molecules. Lexaria has licensed DehydraTECH to multiple companies in the cannabis industry for use in cannabinoid beverages, edibles and oral products, as well as to a world-leading tobacco producer for the development of smokeless, oral-based nicotine products. Lexaria operates a licensed, in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 16 patents granted and over 60 patents pending worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LXRP are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/LXRP
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XIAMEN, China, Dec. 6, 2019 — Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology (“Blue Hat” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BHAT), a producer, developer and operator of augmented reality (“AR”) interactive entertainment games, toys and educational materials in China, today announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire a controlling equity interest in Fuzhou Csfctech Co., Ltd. (“Csfctech”), a developer and distributor of mobile games in China with an international user base across Mainland China, Japan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Africa, subject to customary conditions. There is no assurance that the proposed transaction will be consummated.
Blue Hat expects the proposed transaction would strengthen its product offerings by integrating Csfctech’s research and development capabilities as well as Csfctech’s strong gaming operations and distribution platforms, which currently include over 100 games. Csfctech’s current product pipeline includes esports games, role-playing games and virtual reality games.
“Blue Hat is excited by this potential opportunity to enhance our revenue base and marketing capabilities and add new product lines,” said Mr. Xiaodong Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Hat. “The proposed acquisition reflects our strategy to enrich our interactive entertainment product portfolio following our listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market in July 2019. We look forward to pursuing further growth opportunities in the near future, both organically and through strategic investments.”
About Blue Hat
Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology is a producer, developer and operator of AR interactive entertainment games and toys in China, including interactive educational materials, mobile games, and toys with mobile game features. The Company’s interactive entertainment platform creates unique user experiences by connecting physical items to mobile devices, which creates a rich visual and interactive environment for users through the integration of real objects and virtual scenery. Distinguished by its own proprietary technology, Blue Hat aims to create an engaging, interactive and immersive community for its users. For more information, please visit the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.bluehatgroup.com.
About Csfctech
Fuzhou Csfctech Co., Ltd., founded in 2011 with its headquarters in Mainland China, is a developer and distributor of mobile games in China with an international user base across Mainland China, Japan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Africa. In addition to developing its own mobile games, Csfctech has also launched intellectual property partnerships with leading players in the animation and film industries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the Company’s SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Lexaria Bioscience is a company that is passionate about establishing alternatives to inhalation for rapid-response drug substance delivery in order to eliminate the lung harm that smoking or vaping may cause
Lexaria’s DehydraTECH platform has generated numerous patents with more pending as a way to provide quick substance delivery to the user’s bloodstream and better access through the blood-brain barrier
Lexaria recently announced it had further improved DehydraTECH, as demonstrated in testing that showed early pilot-stage human trial participants began to note edible THC effects in under 10 minutes – more rapidly than the previous DehydraTECH formulation
Prior technology testing has focused on animal subjects and non-psychoactive products
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) is announcing further advances in its proprietary oral drug delivery platform DehydraTECH™, which is innovating edible consumption of nicotine and cannabis products as a quick-response alternative to inhalation.
Lexaria’s early pilot-stage human trials with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) delivery show its newest formulation of DehydraTECH-enhanced edibles begin providing cannabinoid effectiveness in less than 10 minutes, which is about twice as fast as traditional DehydraTECH and four to six times faster than generic industry formulations, according to a company news release (http://cnw.fm/2owxO).
Lexaria has been developing DehydraTECH solutions as alternatives to smoked or vaped drug delivery over the course of the past three years, establishing a means whereby edible consumption of certain substances can provide results at rates comparable to inhaled substances and faster than ingested substances in general.
In June, the company announced that a series of animal studies showed its DehydraTECH solution could improve on cannabidiol (CBD) delivery to the blood system by 811 percent and to brain tissue by 1,937 percent when compared with generic medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) formulations.
The latest announcement marks a new milestone in that the studies involved humans instead of animals and utilized THC instead of CBD, demonstrating further potential applications of DehydraTECH technology.
Speed of onset in the use of various drug products is regarded as a key metric of the products’ potential value, particularly where pain-relief and the relief of other physical torments are concerned. For example, nicotine is recognized as a highly addictive substance that can provoke then alleviate physical withdrawal symptoms or cravings, while certain cannabis extracts have been promoted in recent years as significant remedies for pain and muscle spasms or seizure disorders.
Inhalation has traditionally shown the greatest benefit in terms of rapid-response drug delivery benefits, but Lexaria has been passionate about delivering alternatives because of the harm substance inhalation can do to users’ lungs, as demonstrated by the history of smoking tobacco products and recent concerns about deaths and illnesses linked to vaping cannabis or nicotine products, which in turn have led health insurers to penalize customers who smoke or vape products (http://cnw.fm/7mHhX).
Because of DehydraTECH’s rapid-response capabilities, Lexaria’s technology virtually eliminates a key reason people might risk sustained injury to their lungs in using tobacco and cannabis products. Lexaria’s tech works as a complimentary product with other companies’ research and development on cannabinoids, providing Lexaria a niche as a potential collaborative team member rather than a competitor as other industry developments occur.
Lexaria’s position is further strengthened by its worldwide patents and pending patents for oral or ingestible non-psychoactive cannabinoids – it has been awarded 16 patents in the United States and Australia and is awaiting completion of the process for 60 additional patents in other countries (http://cnw.fm/3uWv8).
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LXRP are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/LXRP
About CBDWire
CBDWire (CBDW) is a specialized information provider focused on (1) reporting CBD-related news and updates, (2) releasing CBDNewsBreaks crafted to keep investors abreast of the latest and greatest in the CBD market, (3) refining and enhancing corporate press releases, (4) delivering end-to-end distribution and social media services to client-partners and (5) constructing effective corporate communication solutions based on the unique requirements of CBD companies. CBDW is exclusively positioned in the burgeoning CBD sector with a proven team of journalists and researchers working to deliver high quality content to an expansive target audience of investors, consumers and industry news outlets. Our dissemination network of over 5,000 downstream distribution points allows us to deliver unparalleled reach, visibility and recognition to companies operating in both cannabidiol and the wider cannabis space. CBDWire (CBDW) is where CBD news, content and information converge.
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NEW YORK, Dec. 05, 2019 — via NetworkNewsAudio – Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB)announces the availability of a broadcast titled, “Unleashing the Disruptive Forces of 3D Printing.”
PrintRite3D 5.1 uniquely leverages thermal signatures to monitor the quality of each product part in the production process, layer by layer and in real time. This allows operators to correct or stop production of a defective part, resulting in reduced error rates and higher yields. This incredibly sophisticated and powerful technology may hold enormous potential value.
To date, Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) has engaged 19 beta customers, including many of the biggest names in the industry, with more evaluation programs likely to follow. Two of these programs have already awarded Sigma Labs Phase 2 contracts for its rapid test and evaluation program, the last step before full commercial orders. The first Phase 2 contract, revealed on the Q3 earnings call, was awarded by Baker Hughes; the second contract was recently awarded by IAPT.
About Sigma Labs
Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) is an emerging provider of quality assurance software to the commercial 3D printing industry under the PrintRite3D® brand. Founded in 2010, Sigma is a software company that specializes in the development and commercialization of real-time computer aided inspection (“CAI”) solutions known as PrintRite3D for 3D advanced-manufacturing technologies. Sigma Labs’ advanced, computer-aided software product revolutionizes commercial additive manufacturing, enabling nondestructive quality assurance mid-production, uniquely allowing errors to be corrected in real time. For more information, please visit www.SigmaLabsInc.com.
About NetworkNewsAudio
NetworkNewsAudio (NNA) , a NetworkNewsWire (NNW) Solution, allows you to sit back and listen to market updates, CEO interviews and a Company AudioPressRelease (APR). These audio clips provide snapshots of position, opportunity and momentum. NetworkNewsAudio (NNA) can assist your company by cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNA brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is where news, content and information converge. NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a comprehensive provider of news aggregation and syndication, enhanced press release services and a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and distribution company with an extensive team of journalists and writers, NNW has the unparalleled ability to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public with an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the nation.
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company’s SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has achieved what very few products have. From being barely known, CBD has grown so quickly that it is estimated the cannabidiol market will be worth at least $20 billion in sales by 2026. However, there’s a good reason why most new products have to go through a lengthy approval period before hitting the shelves. Especially products that claim to cure a variety of diseases.
Given the sheer amount of CBD products on the market right now, estimated to be in the thousands, one would think that regulatory authorities have properly vetted and approved them. The truth is, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been playing catch up, trying to keep up with a runaway industry that has been referred to as the Wild West.
Looking to form a more coherent picture of cannabidiol, The Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMBR) at UC San Diego (UCSD) has been doing extensive research on the risks and especially the benefits that a lot of the CBD products on the market claim. The CMBR has awarded five teams grants to research the different uses of CBD including alleviating the symptoms of arthritis, alcohol dependence, and other forms of drug dependence.
Igor Grant, CMBR Director, is pushing for even more research on cannabidiol’s efficacy.
One important fact gleaned from the research was that despite the lack of third party testing and regulation around CBD products, there is significant interest in cannabidiol products, especially online. “Within the medical community, there is a lot of interest in the role of medical cannabis and CBD. There is hope that it could be yet another useful agent in some of these conditions, which are disabling or difficult to treat.”
CBD has indeed grown popular. In fact, CBD gummies were the third most searched for food in America in 2018 and each of these searches was done by someone looking to benefit from cannabidiol. The hemp extract is a potent and versatile natural medicine, said to be effective against an almost never-ending list of medical conditions.
While there’s little research to prove whether or not this is true, anecdotal evidence says the compound works against conditions ranging from anxiety, high blood pressure, and chronic pain. Another UCSD study found that CBD oil is being used by consumers to treat alcohol dependence and physical pain brought about by conditions like arthritis.
John W. Ayers, Vice Chief of Innovation in the Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health at UCSD, concurs with the study’s findings. “CBD has become insanely popular. Three years ago there was essentially no one searching for CBD online, but now there are an estimated 6.4 million unique searches each month.”
The UCSD cautions consumers against using CBD as an alternative to pharmaceuticals in cases that haven’t been tested in a clinical trial.
CBDWire (CBDW) is a specialized information provider focused on (1) reporting CBD-related news and updates, (2) releasing CBDNewsBreaks crafted to keep investors abreast of the latest and greatest in the CBD market, (3) refining and enhancing corporate press releases, (4) delivering end-to-end distribution and social media services to client-partners and (5) constructing effective corporate communication solutions based on the unique requirements of CBD companies. CBDW is exclusively positioned in the burgeoning CBD sector with a proven team of journalists and researchers working to deliver high quality content to an expansive target audience of investors, consumers and industry news outlets. Our dissemination network of over 5,000 downstream distribution points allows us to deliver unparalleled reach, visibility and recognition to companies operating in both cannabidiol and the wider cannabis space. CBDWire (CBDW) is where CBD news, content and information converge.
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Palm Beach, FL – December 5, 2019 — For the second year, the U.S. FDA designated psilocybin, a compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). “This designation, which is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs—given out only for therapies that have shown strong preliminary evidence in treating serious medical conditions—puts new pharmaceuticals on a fast track for approval and offers “intensive guidance” from the FDA,” reports Popular Science. Even Researchers at New York University found psilocybin mushrooms caused a “rapid and sustained” reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, as reported by the Financial Post. That’s all opening a range of opportunity for companies that have already established launching cannabis products including The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS) (OTCQB:BOSQF), HEXO Corporation (NYSE:HEXO) (TSX:HEXO), Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE:TRUL)(OTCQX:TCNNF), The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX:TGOD)(OTCQX:TGODF), and OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI)(TSX-V:OGI).
The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS)(OTCQB:BOSQF) BREAKING NEWS: The Yield Growth Corp. just announced that its subsidiary Flourish Mushroom Labs Inc. has started initial consumer tasting trials for four organic mushroom coffees using a unique blend of freshly ground coffee beans and various mushroom formulations. “Great emphasis has been given to selecting quality ingredients including mushrooms that exhibit the highest level of active components, which are assayed in the laboratory to assure efficacy and safety,” says Vivek Taneja, Flourish Mushroom Labs’ VP, Operations. “The consumer tasting trials will involve 100 participants and will take one month to complete and compile results. If results are satisfactory then the next stage of development will commence.” The newly developed line of coffees contain the mushroom varieties Lion’s Mane, Reishi , Turkey Tale, Cordyceps and Chaga. Lion’s Mane is known to be a powerful brain food that Healthline.com suggests supports memory, focus and cerebral function. Healthline.com also states that Reishi mushrooms may help boost the immune system, reduce stress, while Turkey Tail is shown to be a powerful antioxidant that improves gut bacteria balance. Cordyceps, according to an article from the US National Library of Medicine, have shown to enhance athletic performance and support longevity. Chaga extracts, according to www.healthline.com, have been used in Russia and Northern European countries mainly to boost immunity and overall health. These extracts have been used to treat certain cancers, diabetes and heart disease and to lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
“Our research team has collected scientific information, including biological and pharmacological studies related to the chemical constituents and curative effects of medicinal mushrooms from various journals in developing our mushroom formulas These herbs have been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as food for optimum health,” says Bhavna Solecki, VP, Research and Development at Flourish Mushroom Labs.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
HEXO Corporation (NYSE:HEXO) (TSX:HEXO) just launched Original Stash, its new value brand, in Ontario on Black Friday. Adult-use consumers in Ontario will be able to purchase 28 grams (1 oz) of quality dried cannabis flower at black market prices, retailing at $140 ($5 per gram), including taxes. “HEXO is disrupting the black market this Black Friday,” said Sebastien St-Louis, CEO and co-founder of HEXO. “We are committed to playing a valuable role in eliminating the illicit market and in protecting public health and safety. That’s why we are pleased to continue rolling out Original Stash across Canada, providing consumers with a quality product at a low price. Our experience with the launch of Original Stash in October demonstrates that there is a strong demand for this type of product.” HEXO is launching OS.220, the second dried flower product to roll out from the Original Stash brand, in Ontario. OS.220 is a mid-THC Indica flower blend of two strains, available in a 28 g (1 oz) format. The Ontario Cannabis Store is poised to make Original Stash available on its webstore and to all licensed retailers in the province, who can in turn choose to carry the brand. HEXO’s Original Stash will be the first brand to be featured as part of the Ontario Cannabis Store’s inaugural homepage holiday campaign, in conjunction with Black Friday. “Original Stash is providing consumers with ‘quality weed at legit prices’,” added St-Louis. “Consistent, reliable and controlled products like this can play a major role in achieving the goals we set out nationally by legalizing cannabis just over a year ago: eliminating the illicit market and protecting public health and safety. We look forward to continuing to work with our regulators and partners to deliver on those objectives.”
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE:TRUL)(OTCQX:TCNNF) announced that CEO Kim Rivers will be featured on a presenting panel Multi-State Operators take on Medicinal Cannabis speaking with other leading cannabis executives in the healthcare sector at Piper Jaffray’s 31st Annual Healthcare Conference at 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019. This two-day event is being held in New York City, and will bring together institutional investors and nearly 300 leading public and private companies in various health care services sectors such as biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticals. In addition, Ms. Rivers is scheduled to speak on the Licensing: Ins and Outs – Ensuring Continued Compliance in a Changing Regulatory Landscape panel at the MJ Biz Conference at 10:30 a.m. PST on Thursday, December 12th, 2019 in Las Vegas.
The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX:TGOD)(OTCQX:TGODF) just announced that it has entered into an amending agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. to increase the size of its previously announced bought deal financing. Pursuant to the revised terms of the offering, the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, an aggregate of 32,000,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of C$0.75 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds to TGOD of $24,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant. Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering at an exercise price of C$1.00 per Warrant Share. The Company has granted the Underwriter an option to purchase up to an additional 4,800,000 Units at a price of C$0.75 per Unit, exercisable at any time, for a period of 30 days after and including the Closing Date, which, if exercised, would result in additional gross proceeds of $3,600,000. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable to acquire Units and/or Warrants at the discretion of the Underwriter.
OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI)(TSX-V:OGI) announced its results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended August 31, 2019. “Our 2019 results reflected a successful year for Organigram. Not only did we report strong top-line growth and establish an enviable national market share position in Canada, we generated positive adjusted EBITDA – one of the key measures we use to evaluate our performance,” said Greg Engel, Chief Executive Officer. “In 2019, we increased staffing and capacity to meet forecasted demand and maintain inventory in the market. Industry structural issues have challenged supply and demand dynamics in the short-term but we believe the growth opportunity in the Canadian cannabis market remains intact. “As we were one of the first success stories to supply the market in the early days of legalization, we have had visibility for some time now on ultimate sell through to consumers and have adapted our production mix and product strategy to align with our understanding of emerging consumer preferences. We have great conviction in our strategy and ability to onboard the new retail store openings and to launch a portfolio of edible and derivative products appealing to adult consumers. With our state-of-the-art indoor facility and leading cultivation practices, strong brand equity, in-house expertise and strategic partnerships and a focus on cost management, we are well-positioned for the long term.”
DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third- party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated thirty five hundred dollars for news coverage of current press releases issued by The Yield Growth Corp. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019UncategorizedComments Off on $OGI US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Mushrooms Creating Big Opportunity
Palm Beach, FL – December 5, 2019 — For the second year, the U.S. FDA designated psilocybin, a compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). “This designation, which is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs—given out only for therapies that have shown strong preliminary evidence in treating serious medical conditions—puts new pharmaceuticals on a fast track for approval and offers “intensive guidance” from the FDA,” reports Popular Science. Even Researchers at New York University found psilocybin mushrooms caused a “rapid and sustained” reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, as reported by the Financial Post. That’s all opening a range of opportunity for companies that have already established launching cannabis products including The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS) (OTCQB:BOSQF), HEXO Corporation (NYSE:HEXO) (TSX:HEXO), Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE:TRUL)(OTCQX:TCNNF), The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX:TGOD)(OTCQX:TGODF), and OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI)(TSX-V:OGI).
The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS)(OTCQB:BOSQF) BREAKING NEWS: The Yield Growth Corp. just announced that its subsidiary Flourish Mushroom Labs Inc. has started initial consumer tasting trials for four organic mushroom coffees using a unique blend of freshly ground coffee beans and various mushroom formulations. “Great emphasis has been given to selecting quality ingredients including mushrooms that exhibit the highest level of active components, which are assayed in the laboratory to assure efficacy and safety,” says Vivek Taneja, Flourish Mushroom Labs’ VP, Operations. “The consumer tasting trials will involve 100 participants and will take one month to complete and compile results. If results are satisfactory then the next stage of development will commence.” The newly developed line of coffees contain the mushroom varieties Lion’s Mane, Reishi , Turkey Tale, Cordyceps and Chaga. Lion’s Mane is known to be a powerful brain food that Healthline.com suggests supports memory, focus and cerebral function. Healthline.com also states that Reishi mushrooms may help boost the immune system, reduce stress, while Turkey Tail is shown to be a powerful antioxidant that improves gut bacteria balance. Cordyceps, according to an article from the US National Library of Medicine, have shown to enhance athletic performance and support longevity. Chaga extracts, according to www.healthline.com, have been used in Russia and Northern European countries mainly to boost immunity and overall health. These extracts have been used to treat certain cancers, diabetes and heart disease and to lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
“Our research team has collected scientific information, including biological and pharmacological studies related to the chemical constituents and curative effects of medicinal mushrooms from various journals in developing our mushroom formulas These herbs have been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as food for optimum health,” says Bhavna Solecki, VP, Research and Development at Flourish Mushroom Labs.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
HEXO Corporation (NYSE:HEXO) (TSX:HEXO) just launched Original Stash, its new value brand, in Ontario on Black Friday. Adult-use consumers in Ontario will be able to purchase 28 grams (1 oz) of quality dried cannabis flower at black market prices, retailing at $140 ($5 per gram), including taxes. “HEXO is disrupting the black market this Black Friday,” said Sebastien St-Louis, CEO and co-founder of HEXO. “We are committed to playing a valuable role in eliminating the illicit market and in protecting public health and safety. That’s why we are pleased to continue rolling out Original Stash across Canada, providing consumers with a quality product at a low price. Our experience with the launch of Original Stash in October demonstrates that there is a strong demand for this type of product.” HEXO is launching OS.220, the second dried flower product to roll out from the Original Stash brand, in Ontario. OS.220 is a mid-THC Indica flower blend of two strains, available in a 28 g (1 oz) format. The Ontario Cannabis Store is poised to make Original Stash available on its webstore and to all licensed retailers in the province, who can in turn choose to carry the brand. HEXO’s Original Stash will be the first brand to be featured as part of the Ontario Cannabis Store’s inaugural homepage holiday campaign, in conjunction with Black Friday. “Original Stash is providing consumers with ‘quality weed at legit prices’,” added St-Louis. “Consistent, reliable and controlled products like this can play a major role in achieving the goals we set out nationally by legalizing cannabis just over a year ago: eliminating the illicit market and protecting public health and safety. We look forward to continuing to work with our regulators and partners to deliver on those objectives.”
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE:TRUL)(OTCQX:TCNNF) announced that CEO Kim Rivers will be featured on a presenting panel Multi-State Operators take on Medicinal Cannabis speaking with other leading cannabis executives in the healthcare sector at Piper Jaffray’s 31st Annual Healthcare Conference at 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019. This two-day event is being held in New York City, and will bring together institutional investors and nearly 300 leading public and private companies in various health care services sectors such as biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticals. In addition, Ms. Rivers is scheduled to speak on the Licensing: Ins and Outs – Ensuring Continued Compliance in a Changing Regulatory Landscape panel at the MJ Biz Conference at 10:30 a.m. PST on Thursday, December 12th, 2019 in Las Vegas.
The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX:TGOD)(OTCQX:TGODF) just announced that it has entered into an amending agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. to increase the size of its previously announced bought deal financing. Pursuant to the revised terms of the offering, the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, an aggregate of 32,000,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of C$0.75 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds to TGOD of $24,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant. Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering at an exercise price of C$1.00 per Warrant Share. The Company has granted the Underwriter an option to purchase up to an additional 4,800,000 Units at a price of C$0.75 per Unit, exercisable at any time, for a period of 30 days after and including the Closing Date, which, if exercised, would result in additional gross proceeds of $3,600,000. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable to acquire Units and/or Warrants at the discretion of the Underwriter.
OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI)(TSX-V:OGI) announced its results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended August 31, 2019. “Our 2019 results reflected a successful year for Organigram. Not only did we report strong top-line growth and establish an enviable national market share position in Canada, we generated positive adjusted EBITDA – one of the key measures we use to evaluate our performance,” said Greg Engel, Chief Executive Officer. “In 2019, we increased staffing and capacity to meet forecasted demand and maintain inventory in the market. Industry structural issues have challenged supply and demand dynamics in the short-term but we believe the growth opportunity in the Canadian cannabis market remains intact. “As we were one of the first success stories to supply the market in the early days of legalization, we have had visibility for some time now on ultimate sell through to consumers and have adapted our production mix and product strategy to align with our understanding of emerging consumer preferences. We have great conviction in our strategy and ability to onboard the new retail store openings and to launch a portfolio of edible and derivative products appealing to adult consumers. With our state-of-the-art indoor facility and leading cultivation practices, strong brand equity, in-house expertise and strategic partnerships and a focus on cost management, we are well-positioned for the long term.”
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019UncategorizedComments Off on $TGODF US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Mushrooms Creating Big Opportunity
Predictive Oncology Confirms Indications of Interest for Skyline Medical Business
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 05, 2019 — Predictive Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: POAI) (“Predictive Oncology” or “the Company”), focused on applying artificial intelligence (“AI”) to personalized medicine and drug discovery, today announced that it has received indications of interest from several parties for the possible acquisition of its Skyline Medical division, which produces and sells the STREAMWAY System for disposal of fluids in medical applications. As previously announced, Predictive Oncology has determined that it will focus its resources on its primary mission of applying artificial intelligence to precision medicine and drug discovery.
Skyline Medical’s patented, FDA-approved STREAMWAY System is the first truly continuous, direct-to-drain fluid disposal system designed specifically for medical applications. The division has expanded sales globally and made significant inroads in U.S. markets.
Dr. Carl Schwartz, Predictive Oncology’s Chief Executive Officer commented, “I am exceptionally pleased with the rapid growth and development of our Helomics and Tumor Genesis divisions, as well as the multiple indications of interest for our Skyline Medical division. If this results in the sale of Skyline Medical, it would not only provide additional working capital, it would also allow Predictive Oncology to focus on the further development and commercialization of our two divisions focused on precision medicine”.
The Company believes it will have updates on the future of its Skyline Medical business by early in 2020. The Company will evaluate its alternatives for the Skyline Medical business in order to maximize value for its stockholders. There is no assurance that the Company will ultimately receive offers for the division that it deems acceptable. Further, there is no assurance that the Company will enter into a definitive agreement or ultimately complete a sale of the division.
About Predictive Oncology Inc.
Predictive Oncology (Nasdaq: POAI) operates through five segments (Domestic, International, Clinical, CRO and DCHIP), which contain four subsidiaries; Helomics, TumorGenesis, Skyline Medical and Skyline Europe. Helomics applies artificial intelligence to its rich data gathered from patient tumors to both personalize cancer therapies for patients and drive the development of new targeted therapies in collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. Helomics’ CLIA-certified lab provides clinical testing that assists oncologists in individualizing patient treatment decisions, by providing an evidence-based roadmap for therapy. In addition to its proprietary precision oncology platform, Helomics offers boutique CRO services that leverage its TruTumor™, patient-derived tumor models coupled to a wide range of multi-omics assays (genomics, proteomics and biochemical), and an AI-powered proprietary bioinformatics platform (D- CHIP) to provide a tailored solution to its clients’ specific needs. Predictive Oncology’s TumorGenesis subsidiary is developing a new rapid approach to growing tumors in the laboratory, which essentially “fools” cancer cells into thinking they are still growing inside a patient. Its proprietary Oncology Discovery Technology Platform kits will assist researchers and clinicians to identify which cancer cells bind to specific biomarkers. Once the biomarkers are identified they can be used in TumorGenesis’ Oncology Capture Technology Platforms which isolate and help categorize an individual patient’s heterogeneous tumor samples to enable the development of patient specific treatment options. Helomics and TumorGenesis are focused on ovarian cancer. Predictive Oncology’s Skyline Medical division markets its patented and FDA cleared STREAMWAY System, which automates the collection, measurement and disposal of waste fluid, including blood, irrigation fluid and others, within a medical facility, through both domestic and international divisions. The company has achieved sales in five of the seven continents through both direct sales and distributor partners. For more information, please visit www.predictive-oncology.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain of the matters discussed in the press release contain forward-looking statements that involve material risks to and uncertainties in the Company’s business that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made herein. Such risks and uncertainties include (i) risks related to the recent merger with Helomics, including the fact that the combined company will not be able to continue operating without additional financing; possible failure to realize anticipated benefits of the merger; costs associated with the merger may be higher than expected; the merger may result in disruption of the Company’s and Helomics’ existing businesses, distraction of management and diversion of resources; and the market price of the Company’s common stock may decline as a result of the merger; (ii) risks related to our partnerships with other companies, including the need to negotiate the definitive agreements; possible failure to realize anticipated benefits of these partnerships; and costs of providing funding to our partner companies, which may never be repaid or provide anticipated returns; and (iii) other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company that include, among other things, current negative operating cash flows and a need for additional funding to finance our operating plan; the terms of any further financing, which may be highly dilutive and may include onerous terms; unexpected costs and operating deficits, and lower than expected sales and revenues; sales cycles that can be longer than expected, resulting in delays in projected sales or failure to make such sales; uncertain willingness and ability of customers to adopt new technologies and other factors that may affect further market acceptance, if our product is not accepted by our potential customers, it is unlikely that we will ever become profitable; adverse economic conditions; adverse results of any legal proceedings; the volatility of our operating results and financial condition; inability to attract or retain qualified senior management personnel, including sales and marketing personnel; our ability to establish and maintain the proprietary nature of our technology through the patent process, as well as our ability to possibly license from others patents and patent applications necessary to develop products; Predictive’s ability to implement its long range business plan for various applications of its technology; Predictive’s ability to enter into agreements with any necessary marketing and/or distribution partners and with any strategic or joint venture partners; the impact of competition, the obtaining and maintenance of any necessary regulatory clearances applicable to applications of Predictive’s technology; and management of growth and other risks and uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities and does not purport to be an analysis of Predictive’s financial position. See Predictive’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent reports and other filings at www.sec.gov.
DehydraTECH™ is patent protected for multiple Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) including hemp oil CBD and cannabis, nicotine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and fat-soluble vitamins
Lexaria has 16 patents granted and over 60 patent applications pending worldwide
DehydraTECH™ shown to facilitate rapid uptake and highly targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals to the brain
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, is accelerating its patented DehydraTECH based drug delivery technology and formulation development. Funding received from the first tranche of Lexaria’s previously announced private placement of units, issued at a price of $0.45 per unit, realized gross proceeds of $699,410, which will be used to advance several company-wide goals (http://cnw.fm/vJ8up).
Earlier this year, Lexaria moved into its new head office that includes a Health Canada licensed research and development laboratory that is being used to conduct world-leading research into drug delivery methods and improvements. In addition to accelerating research in the company’s DehydraTECH drug delivery platform, Lexaria is also considering issuing a limited commercial release of DehydraTECH version 2.0, which has been shown to deliver 811% more CBD into animal blood than generic industry control formulations, the company stated in an update to shareholders (http://cnw.fm/VV6qg).
Lexaria’s focus on pioneering new technologies that can more efficiently deliver APIs into the bloodstream, where they can have their desired effect, includes developing an effective way to cross the blood-brain-barrier. Lexaria’s DehydraTECH version 2.0 is showing promise in this arena as testing indicated 1,937% more CBD reached animal brain tissue compared to generic industry control formulations.
Cannabidiol is emerging as a promising compound to treat or prevent movement disorders, such as those seen in Parkinson’s disease patients, according to an article published by the National Institutes of Health (http://cnw.fm/uI7lD). Extending the range of drugs available for therapeutic use to treat neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease is a critical area of study since there currently is no effective treatment for these diseases, according to an article in Physics World (http://cnw.fm/2IlQ6).
Lexaria’s dedication to research and development can be seen in its strong and growing intellectual property portfolio. As of August 2019, the company’s patent portfolio includes approximately 60 patent applications filed and pending in more than 40 countries around the world, with 16 patents granted to date. Lexaria is expecting additional new patent awards both in the U.S. and internationally.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LXRP are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/LXRP
About CBDWire
CBDWire (CBDW) is a specialized information provider focused on (1) reporting CBD-related news and updates, (2) releasing CBDNewsBreaks crafted to keep investors abreast of the latest and greatest in the CBD market, (3) refining and enhancing corporate press releases, (4) delivering end-to-end distribution and social media services to client-partners and (5) constructing effective corporate communication solutions based on the unique requirements of CBD companies. CBDW is exclusively positioned in the burgeoning CBD sector with a proven team of journalists and researchers working to deliver high quality content to an expansive target audience of investors, consumers and industry news outlets. Our dissemination network of over 5,000 downstream distribution points allows us to deliver unparalleled reach, visibility and recognition to companies operating in both cannabidiol and the wider cannabis space. CBDWire (CBDW) is where CBD news, content and information converge.
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Wednesday, December 4th, 2019UncategorizedComments Off on $LXRP DehydraTECH™ Drug Delivery Platform Proven to Enhance Absorption of Bioactive Compounds
Company reports increased revenue over last year’s Q3 numbers
Key operational highlights point to even stronger revenue growth moving into 2020
Sigma Labs’ pioneering software provides essential element to spur additive manufacturing into the next industrial revolution
Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB), a leading developer of quality assurance software for the commercial 3D-printing industry, reported its financial and operational results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019 (http://nnw.fm/8dSvw). The company noted that recent progress with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), end users and additive-manufacturing integrators positions SGLB for strong revenue growth in 2020.
“The third quarter of 2019 was highlighted by continued success in engaging both OEMs and end users as PrintRite3D(R) customers, driving continued industry awareness and developing promising commercial opportunities,” said Sigma Labs chairman and CEO John Rice. “Notably, we were recently selected by a major Japanese OEM machine-tool manufacturer entering the commercial, metal 3D-printing market, as well as an unnamed major international OEM machine manufacturer, to deploy PrintRite3D systems for their respective evaluation programs. We believe a partnership to integrate our technology at the OEM level for any major additive manufacturing machine OEM, such as those we are in evaluations with now, could drive notable license revenue growth in the short term and very significant pass-through revenue from the OEM’s customers in the mid and long term.”
He continued, “We are pleased and encouraged by the robust interest we continue to see from industry OEMs and look forward to providing our shareholders with an update as these evaluations progress over the next several months.” This increased interest from OEMs stands to translate into lucrative gains for SGLB. Market indications continue to trend upward, as the global additive manufacturing market is expected to exceed more than $6.50 billion by 2024 and will grow at a CAGR of more than 13% in the given forecast period (http://nnw.fm/EQQ3c).
In its Q3 2019 report, Sigma Labs pointed to several significant operational milestones, including:
Awarded two-machine contracts and selected for a Phase 2 test and evaluation program of PrintRite3D in-process, quality-assurance software by a leading global-energy technology company
Selected by major Japanese OEM machine-tool manufacturer for a test and evaluation program of PrintRite3D real-time melt pool analytics
Awarded RTE contract by VTT Technical Centre of Finland to install PrintRite3D at the VTT 3DMetalprint Centre for Additive Manufacturing
Selected by a major international OEM machine manufacturer to deploy two PrintRite3D quality-assurance software programs as part of an evaluation process for a broader rollout
Selected by Airbus to deploy the PrintRite3D version 5.0 software product into a fusion printer as part of a testing and evaluation program ahead of a larger potential commercial rollout throughout the Airbus organization.
In addition, this week SGLB’s chief technology officer Darren Beckett presented and demonstrated PrintRite3D at Formnext 2019, the leading global exhibition on additive manufacturing, held in Frankfurt, Germany.
“Additive manufacturing is, in our mind, undoubtedly the next industrial revolution,” said Rice. “And we are on the forefront of revolutionizing an essential element for its widely forecast leap to serial manufacturing. The flexibility inherent to additive manufacturing, combined with the increased quality and decreased risks, waste and costs accomplished with our PrintRite3D technology, create an unbeatable combination.”
Founded in 2010, Sigma is a software company that specializes in the development and commercialization of real-time, computer-aided-inspection (CAI) solutions known as PrintRite3D for 3D advanced manufacturing technologies. SGLB’s advanced computer-aided software product revolutionizes commercial additive manufacturing, enabling nondestructive quality assurance mid-production, uniquely allowing errors to be corrected in real time.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SGLB are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/SGLB
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NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) NetworkNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
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Organigram Holdings (NASDAQ: OGI) (TSX: OGI) today announced that it has established an at-the-market equity program (“ATM Program”) that allows the corporation, at its discretion, to issue up to C$55,000,000 (or its U.S. dollar equivalent) of common shares from treasury to the public from time to time. Any common shares sold in the ATM Program will be sold through the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or any other marketplace on which the common shares are listed, quoted or otherwise traded, at the prevailing market price at the time of sale. The corporation, at its sole discretion, will determine the volume and timing of distributions under the ATM Program, if any.
Organigram Holdings Inc. is a NASDAQ Global Select Market and a Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) listed company whose wholly owned subsidiary, Organigram Inc., is a licensed producer of cannabis and cannabis-derived products in Canada. Organigram is focused on producing high-quality, indoor-grown cannabis for patients and adult recreational consumers in Canada, as well as developing international business partnerships to extend the company’s global footprint. Organigram has also developed a portfolio of adult use recreational cannabis brands including The Edison Cannabis Company, Ankr Organics and Trailblazer. Organigram’s primary facility is located in Moncton, New Brunswick and the company is regulated by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act (Canada) and the Cannabis Regulations (Canada). For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Organigram.ca.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to OGI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/OGRMF
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CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.
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Cannabidiol (CBD) has been having a ton of good press over the past few years. Extracted from legal industrial hemp, the compound is choke-full of potent medicinal properties, perfectly capable of kicking a variety of conditions to the curb. The long list of medical conditions CBD is effective against ranges from insomnia and anxiety to severe issues like chronic pain and pediatric epilepsy.
Aside from its medical benefits, cannabidiol can be used in diverse ways, ranging from tinctures, edibles, and topicals to vaping. Arguably, vaping is the fastest way to experience the effects of CBD since it doesn’t have to go through the digestive tract. It’s absorbed straight into the blood, and it acts on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) faster than it would have through any other means.
However, coughing is often associated with vaping, and it can make the entire process frustrating and unenjoyable. So, why do you think some people tend to cough when they vape? For starters, your lungs and the lining of your throat are extremely sensitive. And while you may think that CBD is the big bad that sends you into hacking coughs, that’s not the case. The chances of you descending into a coughing fit after vaping CBD isolate would be zero to none.
The real culprits are terpenes. These are aromatic organic hydrocarbons produced by the cannabis plant, just like cannabidiol. Terpenes are also medically beneficial, and when used in concert with CBD the combination is even more effective. This has been termed the entourage effect. However, they are very strong chemicals, and they can be quite acrid and irritating when heated. So a vape with a higher concentration of terpenes will be harsher on the throat.
The second culprit is the carrier liquids the CBD is dissolved into. While few people seem to have a reaction to MCT coconut oil, quite a number of people are somewhat allergic to vegetable glycerin (VG). Propylene Glycol (PG), on the other hand, packs quite a punch. Not to mention, the carrier liquids turn into hot, dry vapor when vaporized, and this will irritate the lungs and throat lining. Many users find it easier on their lungs when they set the vaporizer to a lower temperature.
At the end of the day, chances are you will put up with some sort of irritation when you vape CBD. Investing in vapes with milder carrier liquids, vaping at lower settings and keeping a glass of cold water close by will help. Ultimately, with more use, you will become accustomed to the harsh, hot air and will therefore cough less.
CBDWire (CBDW) is a specialized information provider focused on (1) reporting CBD-related news and updates, (2) releasing CBDNewsBreaks crafted to keep investors abreast of the latest and greatest in the CBD market, (3) refining and enhancing corporate press releases, (4) delivering end-to-end distribution and social media services to client-partners and (5) constructing effective corporate communication solutions based on the unique requirements of CBD companies. CBDW is exclusively positioned in the burgeoning CBD sector with a proven team of journalists and researchers working to deliver high quality content to an expansive target audience of investors, consumers and industry news outlets. Our dissemination network of over 5,000 downstream distribution points allows us to deliver unparalleled reach, visibility and recognition to companies operating in both cannabidiol and the wider cannabis space. CBDWire (CBDW) is where CBD news, content and information converge.
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SRAX (NASDAQ: SRAX), a digital marketing and consumer data management technology company, today announced its partnership with Cint to leverage the BIGtoken platform to gather insights for brands. According to the update, Cint has the world’s largest online sample exchange, and its platform automates sample fieldwork and operations for insights companies to gather research data faster, more cost-effectively and at scale. “This partnership bolsters BIGtoken’s entry into the market research ecosystem,” Kristoffer Nelson, COO of SRAX and co-founder of BIGtoken, said in the news release. “Cint is one of the world’s largest solutions to help accelerate consumer insights for top brands including many of the Fortune 500. BIGtoken will leverage Cint’s technology, and we expect client relationships to build another recurring revenue stream beginning in the first quarter of 2020.”
SRAX (NASDAQ: SRAX) is a digital-marketing and consumer-data-management technology company. SRAX’s technology unlocks data to reveal brands’ core consumers and the characteristics of those consumers across marketing channels. Monetizing its data sets, SRAX is growing multiple, recurring revenue streams through its various platforms. Through its BIGtoken platform, SRAX has developed a consumer-managed data marketplace where people can own and earn from their data, thereby offering everyone in the internet ecosystem choice, transparency and compensation. SRAX’s tools deliver a digital competitive advantage for brands in the CPG, automotive, investor relations, luxury and lifestyle verticals by integrating all aspects of the advertising experience, including verified consumer participation, into one platform. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SRAX.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SRAX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/SRAX
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NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) NetworkNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
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Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) is a knowledge-driven, precision-medicine company focused on applying artificial intelligence (“AI”) to personalized medicine and drug discovery. An article discussing the company reads, “POAI’s platform, composed of over 150,000 patient tumors, harnesses the power of an individual patient’s tumor to help recommend the best treatment for that patient. This database, which houses evidence documenting actual drug responses of cancer patients’ individual tumors, uses artificial intelligence to create a valuable predictive tool for pharmaceutical companies and researchers. . . . Industry leaders believe that models utilizing patient-derived data powered by artificial intelligence will allow doctors to make more effective individualized treatment recommendations, changing the landscape of cancer treatment. The predictive models can be applied clinically for patients of today, and they can also be used in the development of new drugs by researchers to help cancer patients of tomorrow.”
Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) operates through five segments (domestic, international, clinical, CRO and DCHIP), which contain four subsidiaries: Helomics, TumorGenesis, Skyline Medical and Skyline Europe. Helomics applies artificial intelligence to its rich data gathered from patient tumors to both personalize cancer therapies for patients and drive the development of new targeted therapies in collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. Helomics’ CLIA-certified lab provides clinical testing that assists oncologists in individualizing patient-treatment decisions by providing an evidence-based road map for therapy. In addition to its proprietary precision-oncology platform, Helomics offers boutique CRO services that leverage its TruTumor(TM), patient-derived tumor models coupled to a wide range of multi-omics assays (genomics, proteomics and biochemical) and an AI-powered, proprietary bioinformatics platform (DCHIP) to provide tailored solutions to clients’ specific needs. Predictive Oncology’s TumorGenesis subsidiary is developing a new rapid approach to growing tumors in the laboratory, which essentially “fools” cancer cells into thinking they are still growing inside a patient. POAI’s proprietary Oncology Discovery Technology Platform kits will assist researchers and clinicians in identifying which cancer cells bind to specific biomarkers. Once the biomarkers are identified, they can be used in TumorGenesis’ Oncology Capture Technology Platforms, which isolate and help categorize an individual patient’s heterogeneous tumor samples to enable the development of patient-specific treatment options. Helomics and TumorGenesis are focused on ovarian cancer. Predictive Oncology’s Skyline Medical division markets its patented and FDA-cleared STREAMWAY System, which automates the collection, measurement and disposal of waste fluid, including blood, irrigation fluid and others, within a medical facility, through both domestic and international divisions. The company has achieved sales in five of the seven continents through both direct sales and distributor partners. For more information, please visit www.Predictive-Oncology.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to POAI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/POAI
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) NetworkNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
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GP Solutions (OTC: GWPD), the developer of modular automated micro-farms, may help in solving the E.coli crisis that is sickening dozens across America according to Business Management News. Per the article, dozens of people were infected across 19 states in the most recent E. coli outbreak stemming from lettuce harvested in California. Of those infected, their ages range from 3 to 89 years old, with 39 requiring hospitalization and six developing kidney failure. The article discusses forward-thinking companies that have developed new indoor farming methods, and references GWPD as it states, “One such company is GP Solutions. The company developed what they call a ‘GrowPod.’ Essentially, a food-grade shipping container, refurbished and outfitted with the latest technology to grow clean food in a controlled environment. Inside a GrowPod, the air and water are filtered, and since it is a sealed environment, there is little chance for contamination.”
GP Solutions, Inc. is the developer of highly innovative automated micro-farms trade named “GrowPods.” GrowPods are a modular, stackable and mobile vertical growing environment specifically engineered to maximize yield and automation. Offering fully insulated, food-grade shipping container that has been specifically modified to provide the optimum controlled environment for growing a wide range of horticultural and agricultural products in all environments and climates. With the company’s combination of hydroponic and certified organic soil systems, clients can produce a significantly higher yield that grows faster, healthier and more consistent. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GrowPodSolutions.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GWPD are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/GWPD
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The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) plans for authorizing the cultivation of 3.2 million grams of marijuana for research purposes in the 2020 planting season has been finalized. The 3.2 million grams is a 30% increase from 2019.
In September, the DEA published a notice in the Federal Register which proposed the 3.2 million grams production of weed. The final notice to be released includes the sentiments of the people collected during the public comment period, which were from the health care providers, the general public, and state and federal officials.
Most of the comments focused on the proposed reduction of opioid production by the DEA, citing that this could result in a shortage in the prescription, which could impact the patients negatively.
However, the DEA still decreased production quotas for certain opioids such as oxymorphone and oxycodone. The initial production of Oxycodone was 72, 593,983 grams, but the DEA reduced the final quota to 67,593,983 grams.
The marijuana production quota did not change at the end of the public comment timeline.
According to the DEA, the quota represents the estimated medical, scientific, study, and industrial needs of the U.S. for legal export requirements, and the establishment and preservation of reserve stock. The DEA further said that there has been an increase in demand for research-grade cannabis, and more states are legalizing marijuana for medical or adult-use purposes.
In the initial notice, compared to 2017, the number of agencies registered with the DEA to conduct marijuana research or on its derivatives, extracts, and THC has increased by 40% in 2019. In 2017, the number of registered agencies was 384, and by January 2019, the number had risen to 542.
Despite the increase in the marijuana production quota and the number of registered researchers, there is only one marijuana cultivation facility that is authorized by the federal government, the University of Mississippi farm. Three years have passed since the DEA said that it would approve additional manufacturers of research marijuana, but it is yet to take action.
This summer, scientists filed a lawsuit against the DEA, arguing that it is using delaying tactics and failing to fulfill its duties of approving more than 24 applications for federally approved marijuana growers.
In August, the DEA made an announcement saying that due to the overwhelming number of applications, the agency had developed alternative regulations for processing the applications. This resulted in the dismissal of the lawsuit before the federal court since the agency was taking the necessary measures to resolve the issue brought before court.
Researchers and legislators also said that the University of Mississippi farm does not have all the marijuana products being traded on the market. Some of the marijuana contains lower levels of THC and other cannabinoids, which undermines the quality of the studies.
According to one study, the chemical composition of marijuana from federal farms was closer to that of hemp than of other marijuana available on the market, and this made it more urgent to license additional producers for research-grade marijuana.
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
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SRAX holds competitive advantage as big brands seek solutions that legacy partners cannot address
Thousands joining BIGtoken platform daily with minimal marketing
Four nonprofits, three CPG brands added to opt-in platform, increasing usage, reputation and reach
SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX) sits at the epicenter of consumer privacy and data ownership. Leveraging its BIGtoken platform, the Company has made it possible for consumers to own their own data and get paid for the release of that data while also creating specific data sets around highly valuable verticals. On November 13, 2019, SRAX hosted a conference call for executives to share Q3 earnings and a forward look into Q4 with investors (http://nnw.fm/72m3W).
“Consumers are awakening to their online privacy and value exchange that exists for their personal information,” George Stella, SRAX’s vice president for brands and shopper marketing, stated in a news release. “Privacy regulations are happening fast now with California or CCPA and other states taking hold, and these conditions are creating a competitive advantage for us because big brands are moving to find solutions that their legacy partners can no longer address.”
These changes, both in the United States and globally, along with the ability to provide brands with a complete view of a consumer’s journey, have given SRAX a distinct competitive advantage. The BIGtoken platform is the means by which consumers are enabled to own their own data. As of the call, subscriber base has grown to 16.3 million users with minimal marketing spending, positioning the Company as a leader in this space. The platform continues to see anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 people join a day.
The platform has expanded globally and is listed in the top 100 applications in the App Store and Google Play. The opt-in, user-controlled data set has proven to be the perfect remedy to GDPR’s impact. In addition to the acceptance it has seen in the 28 member countries of the European Union, the platform has also seen significant growth in Brazil, Indonesia, Italy and the Philippines. SRAX is strongly positioned to conduct research worldwide for big brand global organizations.
During Q3, BIGtoken added the ability for consumers to donate their earnings to the American Heart Association, HealthCorps, The ALS Association and Keep a Child Alive. Users from more than 20 countries have already donated to these nonprofits. During this same time, the Company’s BIG Rewards program, an exclusive offer for consumers to redeem earnings at specific retailers, added Procter & Gamble, Kraft and Sun-Maid. These three major CPG brands evaluated the platform and saw it as an innovative way to gain quality data.
The BIG Rewards program creates additional revenue for the organization while also bringing new users to the BIGtoken platform. The program allows companies access to a user base that has high privacy settings on social media, a consumer group that brands might typically have a hard time reaching.
A second platform, SRAX IR, is focused on helping CEOs and CFOs identify, manage and communicate with their investor base in groundbreaking ways. A few of the platform’s features include the ability to track shareholders’ behaviors and trends over time, get real-time market data including your company’s level two data, and engage shareholders across marketing channels including social media, email, and programmatic. Subscribing companies can utilize SRAX to turn their shareholder base into a revenue stream.
Additional verticals allow SRAX to sell access to specific data sets to an increasing number of brands. The two platforms are being leveraged to build crossover into the verticals. “We spent the past few quarters integrating our platforms and realigning the sales process and are now well positioned for growth,” added SRAX CEO Christopher Miglino. “Looking ahead, we expect to accelerate revenue by engaging with big brands across all three of our platforms.”
As the demand for data insights increase, SRAX is confident in growth prospects across its verticals. During Q3, the Company raised $5.5 million through a registered direct offering. As of September 30, 2019, SRAX reported being debt free, having cash and cash equivalents on hand of $2.8 million, and having approximately 13.9 million shares outstanding compared to 9.9 million in September 2018.
The best way to understand the BIGtoken platform is to join and discover how surveys are conducted and consumers are given control over personal data.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SRAX.com
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SRAX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/SRAX
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SGLB awarded final phase of RTE contract with leading global energy technology company
Successful completion of Phase 2 contract could result in material commercial order from global client
Sigma Labs establishing enviable position in 3D printing industry with breakthrough PrintRite3D software
Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB), a leading developer of quality assurance software for the commercial 3D-printing industry, announced that it has been awarded a Phase 2 rapid test and evaluation (RTE) contract by a leading global energy technology company. This final phase of an RTE contract is required to enable end-users to make a purchase decision on deploying Sigma’s technology in serial production (http://nnw.fm/ft3Bm).
The two-machine contract for the deployment of Sigma Lab’s PrintRite3D(R) in-process quality assurance software comes after the successful Phase 1 completion of the rapid test and evaluation (RTE) program. Sigma Labs anticipates that a successful Phase 2 RTE outcome could result in a material commercial order from the customer that would integrate PrintRite3D into existing dedicated commercial production machines. This contract has significant implications for Sigma as it continues to penetrate the global energy service sector (http://nnw.fm/qhG10), which has been “projected to reach USD 86.9 billion by 2024 from an estimated USD 52 billion in 2019.”
“The conversion from our initial test and evaluation program to the Phase 2 pilot rollout is a testament to the traction our enabling technology is garnering in the additive manufacturing industry,” said Sigma Labs chairman and CEO John Rice. “We look forward to working with this well-respected industry leader known for their innovative technology and superior service to drive improved and serial printing quality on their production lines.”
It wasn’t revealed until the Q3 earnings call that the RTE customer is Baker Hughes. Baker Hughes provides technology and services that enable oil and gas companies in more than 120 countries to deliver safe, affordable energy to the world. Baker Hughes’ vast technological prowess creates value by developing new ways to improve well construction efficiency, integrates technology and services to develop new solutions that accelerate and optimize hydrocarbon production, and researches new ways to increase ultimate recovery.
The announcement of the Phase 2 contract was followed with other impressive news from Sigma as it continues to gain traction and recognition in the industry. The company was also selected by a major Japanese OEM machine tool manufacturer for a test and evaluation program of PrintRite3D’s real-time, melt-pool analytics (http://nnw.fm/1mE9C). SGLB was also awarded a contract by VTT Technical Centre of Finland to install PrintRite3D at the VTT 3DMetalprint Centre for Additive Manufacturing, enabling VTT to best support its customers’ development activities.
Sigma Labs is a leading provider of quality assurance software to the commercial 3D printing industry under the PrintRite3D brand. Founded in 2010, Sigma is a software company that specializes in the development and commercialization of real-time, computer-aided inspection solutions for 3D advanced manufacturing technologies. Sigma Labs’ advanced computer-aided software product revolutionizes commercial additive manufacturing, enabling nondestructive quality assurance mid-production, thereby allowing errors to be corrected in real time.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SGLB are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/SGLB
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The cannabidiol (CBD) industry has seen massive growth in the past few years. Valued at $1.8 billion in 2018, the US CBD market is expected to hit $16.32 billion by 2026, a compound annual growth rate of 27.7%. The genesis can be traced back to the 2018 Hemp Farming Act, legislation that legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp, the plant from which cannabidiol, touted as a miracle drug, is extracted.
Bolstered by this regulation, tons of sellers streamed into the industry, some dealing in hemp farming and others dealing with the CBD end. However, despite the fact that there is obviously an immense market, companies that specialize in CBD-infused products have been having a hard time keeping their profits up. CV Sciences and Charlotte’s Web are among the cannabis companies going through this, and according to them, delayed federal CBD regulations are to blame.
“The absence of an interim or final regulatory framework from the FDA has led to a very low barrier of entry for new companies entering the CBD category, which has led to increased competition especially in the natural product retail channel,” says CV Sciences CEO Joseph Dowling. The company reported a revenue of $12.6 million from the third quarter that ended on September 30, a decrease of more than 7% from the same period last year. He adds that the delay has also made national retailers slow to embrace CBD.
Charlotte’s Web, on the other hand, reported revenue of $25.1 million, a 42% increase from the $17.7 million reported in the same period in 2018. However, analysts had put 2019’s reported revenue at $31 million after the company crossed 9,000 retail outlets. According to Charlotte’s Web’s executives, a lack of regulatory direction from the FDA is slowing down growth in food, drug, and mass sales channels. CEO Deanie Elsner adds that “Full revenue growth potential remains dampened due to a lack of regulatory clarity for ingestible CBD products.”
What’s ironic is that while the USDA has taken steps to further regulate hemp with the issuing of the interim final rule on hemp, it has mostly ignored CBD. As Denver cannabis attorney Frank Robinson poses, one end of the supply chain is experiencing strict rules while the other end remains uncertain. “It’s befuddling to me that we’re keying these THC tests off the flower, but nevertheless all of the products that are made from the flower downstream aren’t being directly and actively regulated by the appropriate federal agency,” he adds.
The FDA has made it public that it will not bow to political pressure to hastily regulate CBD products, saying that more research on the effectiveness and side effects of CBD has to be done before it can move forward with regulation.
Analysts believe that that frustrations expressed by Charlotte’s Web and CV Sciences in the discussion above possibly reflect the think of all industry players, such as Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) and No Borders Inc. (OTC: NBDR), since they are all affected by the circumstances enumerated by the firms highlighted.
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CBDWire (CBDW) is a specialized information provider focused on (1) reporting CBD-related news and updates, (2) releasing CBDNewsBreaks crafted to keep investors abreast of the latest and greatest in the CBD market, (3) refining and enhancing corporate press releases, (4) delivering end-to-end distribution and social media services to client-partners and (5) constructing effective corporate communication solutions based on the unique requirements of CBD companies. CBDW is exclusively positioned in the burgeoning CBD sector with a proven team of journalists and researchers working to deliver high quality content to an expansive target audience of investors, consumers and industry news outlets. Our dissemination network of over 5,000 downstream distribution points allows us to deliver unparalleled reach, visibility and recognition to companies operating in both cannabidiol and the wider cannabis space. CBDWire (CBDW) is where CBD news, content and information converge.
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On Tuesday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed a hemp production legislation that amends laws governing industrial hemp cultivation. He also signed a bill legalizing temporary lemonade stands for children under the age of 18.
The bill, which was approved by both the Democrats and Republicans, re-authorizes the growth of hemp and makes several changes to the Wisconsin hemp regulations. Supporters of the bill said that Wisconsin law needed to be updated after Congress legalized hemp production under the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill urged states interested in the cultivation of hemp to enact new state regulations in line with the rules passed by the USDA.
Sen. Patrick Testin applauded the governor Evers for approving the bill affirming that it is a step in the right direction as hemp becomes re-introduced in the state.
In a statement, Testin said that the signing of the bill marked the beginning of a new era for the farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers from the state of Wisconsin.
The production of industrial hemp was legalized in Wisconsin in 2017. The plant is used in making products such as fabrics, lotions, ropes, and granola bars.
Hemp was not legal in the state of Wisconsin for several decades as it was outlawed for containing small amounts of THC, which is the compound of marijuana that gets you high.
According to the DATCP (Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection), the state of Wisconsin awarded 1,247 farmers with cultivation licenses, and 556 hemp processing permits in 2019.
Wisconsin regulations stipulate that growers and processors must pass a background check, and those who have past drug convictions are not permitted to grow or process the crop. The plants must undergo THC testing and those containing more than 0.3% THC must be destroyed.
Some farmers raised concerns and said that delays in testing the crop by the state could lead to increased THC concentration, which would lead to the eradication of their plants.
Sponsors said that the new regulation would give the state’s Department of Agriculture the chance to hire third-party labs to help in testing the crops.
Governor Evers said that the crop provides the people of Wisconsin looking to venture into new markets with a sea of opportunities.
Last week, the governor also approved several bills into law, which would ensure that:
People who are 18 years and below are allowed to own and operate a lemonade stand without a permit. The proposal also barred the passing of ordinances banning the temporary stands by the local government.
The conditions for awarding educational loan assistance were expanded to health care providers such as doctors, nurses, and dentists providing services in free marijuana clinics.
Non-profit organizations and employees providing care to homeless people to be covered by the state’s liability insurance.
Require wetland mitigation near a construction site, a move that would protect the city against flooding, protect groundwater from pollution, and preserve the environment.
Allow gas pumps to dispense fuel containing less than 10% or 15% ethanol, and gasoline which is not infused with ethanol through the fueling nozzle and hose.
The enactment of the hemp law in Wisconsin is likely to be a piece of good news to the entire industry, including players like Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Dama Financial, which have always wanted to see hemp programs implemented across the nation.
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HempWireNews (HWN) is a dedicated information provider focused on (1) aggregating hemp-related news, (2) issuing HempNewsBreaks designed to update investors on the latest developments in the hemp market, (3) enhancing corporate news releases, (4) providing full-service distribution and social media offerings to public and private client-partners and (5) designing and implementing all-inclusive corporate communication solutions. HNW is strategically positioned within the rapidly expanding hemp sector with a team of journalists working to help a growing roster of public and private companies reach a wide audience of investors, consumers and members of the media. We leverage a vast network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets to deliver unparalleled visibility, recognition and content to the hemp industry. HempWireNews (HWN) is where HEMP news, content and information converge.
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Youngevity International (NASDAQ: YGYI), a leading omni-direct lifestyle company, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Khrysos Industries, Inc., today announced that Khrysos has brought a new triple distillation system online at its recently leased 82,000 square foot post processing and finished goods production facility in Orlando, Florida. According to the update, the new system is planned to be used exclusively for hemp oil remediation on a toll processing basis. In addition, Khrysos Industries announced that the company has increased capabilities in Isolate production by bringing online two 150 Isolate Reactors, expected to increase its ability to produce Isolate by 6-fold. “We are seeing a high demand for hemp oil remediation and tolling capabilities in our industry. We believe expanding our tolling capacity places our company in a unique position to generate revenue in multiple segments of the market,” YGYI President and CFO Dave Briskie said in the news release. “Being able to provide turn-key solutions in a triple distillation facility should provide unique competitive advantages that we anticipate will expand our customer base and drive revenue while improving our opportunity to drive our bottom-line profits.”
YGYI, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI), is a leading omni-direct lifestyle company offering a hybrid of the direct selling business model, that also offers e-commerce and the power of social selling. Assembling a virtual Main Street of products and services under one corporate entity, YGYI offers products from the eight top-selling retail categories: health/nutrition, home/family, food/beverage (including coffee), spa/beauty, fashion, essential oils, photo, as well as innovative services. The Company was formed in the course of the summer 2011 merger of Youngevity Essential Life Sciences with Javalution(R) Coffee Company (now part of the company’s food and beverage division). The resulting company became Youngevity International, Inc. in July 2013. For investor information, please visit www.YGYI.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to YGYI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/YGYI
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HempWireNews (HWN) is a dedicated information provider focused on (1) aggregating hemp-related news, (2) issuing HempNewsBreaks designed to update investors on the latest developments in the hemp market, (3) enhancing corporate news releases, (4) providing full-service distribution and social media offerings to public and private client-partners and (5) designing and implementing all-inclusive corporate communication solutions. HNW is strategically positioned within the rapidly expanding hemp sector with a team of journalists working to help a growing roster of public and private companies reach a wide audience of investors, consumers and members of the media. We leverage a vast network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets to deliver unparalleled visibility, recognition and content to the hemp industry. HempWireNews (HWN) is where HEMP news, content and information converge.
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Marijuana companies in North America are experiencing lots of trouble, and companies that are looking to reap profits from cannabis are suffering from significant losses. In the meantime, European companies such as World High Life PLC are basking in the new opportunities brought by the emerging marijuana industry.
The marijuana sector needs a fresh look because its markets remain unattractive despite the changes in equity valuation and investor attitudes.
Canopy Growth holds the blue-chip marijuana market leader position. Before Constellation Brands Inc. acquired its first stake in 2017, Canopy Growth had already secured a significant amount of funds. A few days before marijuana was legalized in Canada; Canopy Growth shares increased by $55.45 (C$73.75). However, the stock price has dropped by 73% since then, and within the past six months, the company recorded the highest losses ever.
Canopy Growth shares were valued at $18 billion (C$24 billion) by the stock market at the end of April 2019. At the moment, the value at the stock market has dropped to less than $5.2 billion (C$7billion). Compared to the first quarter, the company’s sales were down 15% in the second quarter.
Apart from Canopy, other companies suffering from the downturn in marijuana market are Aphria Inc. whose shares have fallen 59% since April, and Aurora Cannabis Inc. whose shares have fallen 76% since the end of the first quarter of 2019. In the marijuana sector, companies are struggling with declining liquid assets, expensive operations, and shareholder attenuation.
On Tuesday, some pot stocks recorded a rise. Companies like the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences (ETF), which holds dozens of marijuana stocks recorded a 4.9% increase in stock trading. This suggests that investors are beginning to see the opportunities in marijuana stocks. Canopy stock also recorded a rise of $1.53, which is equivalent to 8.2%.
The marijuana market in North America is struggling with a fall in stock prices and surplus marijuana; however, the investors are investing more and more in the European emerging marijuana industry since they do not want to miss out on the new opportunity.
In a few years, the new frontier market in Europe may become the most significant market around the globe. It is estimated that by 2029, the medical marijuana market in Europe and the UK will be worth approximately $64.2 billion (£58 billion).
One of the companies that have taken full advantage of the emerging cannabis market in the UK is the World High Life PLC. The company plans to become a world leader in the global medical cannabis market as the industry evolves in the UK and Europe.
World High Life PLC finds and purchases marijuana companies in the UK and different European countries, thus creating a portfolio of companies with the capability of being top players in the marijuana industry. Investors are aware that buying a single stock in WHL gives you access to all the shares in the company.
The new frontier market gives investors and organizations a new chance to invest in the marijuana industry since they did not initially invest when marijuana was first legalized in Canada.
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
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A New York man charged with felony marijuana trafficking charges can finally heave a sigh of relief after Brooklyn prosecutors said they would drop his charges. Ronen Levy was receiving a shipment of hemp from Fox Holler Farms in New Haven, Vermont, in place of his brother John Dee, when he was arrested by the New York City Police.
Believing it to be marijuana, the police confiscated 106 pounds of organic hemp, even posing for pictures with what they thought to be a major haul of illicit cannabis. Dee, who runs Green Angel, a business in Brooklyn that makes cannabidiol (CBD) products, says that the police need to be better educated about hemp. “There’s a lot of regulations out there, and I think law enforcement has to actually learn these regulations and has to learn the law so other people don’t have to go through what we went through.”
Granted, marijuana and hemp look quite similar, and although there are minor physical differences, the legality depends on THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) levels. THC is the compound responsible for the psychoactive high cannabis is famous for. Dee had made sure to include documents verifying that the hemp contained 0.06% THC and that he had hemp verified by the Williston police before sending it over by FedEx.
This is line with the 2018 Hemp Farming Act that classified cannabis with less than 0.3% THC as legal industrial hemp and gave farmers in all 50 states leeway to grow the crop under state programs.
Dee says that his brother, who isn’t involved with the cannabis industry and was just receiving the shipment on his behalf, has been traumatized by the incident. Oren Yaniv, a spokesman for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office says the charges haven’t been dismissed yet, but they will. “The prosecutor said on the last court date that we plan to dismiss them and just have to take a few steps prior to that.”
The hemp farmer wonders whether he will be able to get his shipment back from police possession. It is worth $17,500, but once processed, he expects the value to increase to about $50,000. “I’m praying because it’s my life savings.”
The whole incident hasn’t done wonders for his Brooklyn business either. He says that Green Angel has struggled to stay afloat amid all the publicity surrounding his brother’s arrest and subsequent charges. Afraid of getting any negative shine on them, suppliers have cut him off, he says, adding that customers are now afraid to buy products from his shop. “It’s crippled my business.”
Such unfortunate incidents may be what experts regard as the motivation for hemp industry players like Hemptown USA and Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI) to call on all law enforcement agencies to avoid being overzealous when presented with documents indicating that a product is hemp and yet they suspect it to be marijuana.
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TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2019 – The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (the “Company” or “TGOD”) (TSX:TGOD) (US:TGODF), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amending agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the “Underwriter”) to increase the size of its previously announced bought deal financing. Pursuant to the revised terms of the offering, the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, an aggregate of 32,000,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of C$0.75 per Unit (the “Offering Price”) for aggregate gross proceeds to TGOD of $24,000,000 (the “Offering”).
Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a “Common Share”) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering (the “Closing”) at an exercise price of C$1.00 per Warrant Share.
The Company has granted the Underwriter an option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional 4,800,000 Units at a price of C$0.75 per Unit, exercisable at any time, for a period of 30 days after and including the Closing Date, which, if exercised, would result in additional gross proceeds of $3,600,000. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable to acquire Units and/or Warrants (or any combination thereof) at the discretion of the Underwriter.
The Units will be offered by way of a short form prospectus to be filed in all provinces of Canada except Quebec. The Offering is expected to close on December 17, 2019 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals, including the approval of the TSX and the applicable securities regulatory authorities.
The Company will use best efforts to obtain the necessary approvals to list the Common Shares and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”).
About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (US‐OTC: TGODF) is a premium certified organic cannabis company focused on the health and wellness market. Its certified-organic cannabis is grown in living soil, as nature intended. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. Its two Canadian facilities are being built to LEED certification standards and its products are sold in recyclable packaging. In Canada, TGOD plans to expand its product portfolio by launching a series of next-generation cannabis products such as organic teas, infusers and vapes. Through its European subsidiary, HemPoland, the Company also distributes premium hemp CBD oil in Europe. By leveraging science and technology, TGOD harnesses the power of nature from seed to sale.
TGOD’s Common Shares and warrants issued under the indenture dated November 1, 2017 trade on the TSX under the symbol “TGOD” and “TGOD.WT”, respectively. For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca.
Cautionary Statements
This news release includes statements containing certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities law (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements in this release includes, but is not limited to, statements about timing or likelihood of closing of financings, statement about the availability of future financing tranches, statement about potential to receive regulatory approvals, statement about the offering of any particular products by the Company in any jurisdiction and statements regarding the future performance of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “continue”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “should”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including those risk factors described in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Information Form available on SEDAR. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
Neither the TSX nor the TSX’s Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of Toronto Stock Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Monday, December 2nd, 2019UncategorizedComments Off on $TGODF Announces an Increase to the Previously Announced Bought Deal Financing
