• IEA projects EV sales to grow by 35% this year to reach 14 million
• Drilling results confirm Midlothian as a “significant discovery,” states CEO
• Testing was comprised of four drillholes, which were completed during winter 2023

With the electric vehicle (“EV”) market growing — and projected to increase even more in the coming years (https://ibn.fm/gRiIU) — demand for EV components, including nickel, is growing as well. Nickel is an essential material used in many EV batteries, and Canada Nickel Company (TSX.V: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) is committed to increase its production to meet the growing demand. As evidence of that commitment, the company recently released the latest drill results from its Midlothian property, indicating all on the project show good nickel grades (https://ibn.fm/OICtU).

“The global auto industry is undergoing a sea change,” an International Energy Association (“IEA”) report stated. “Global sales of electric cars are set to surge to yet another record this year, expanding their share of the overall car market to close to one-fifth and leading a major transformation of the auto industry that has implications for the energy sector, especially oil.

“The new edition of the IEA’s annual Global Electric Vehicle Outlook shows that more than 10 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2022 and that sales are expected to grow by another 35% this year to reach 14 million,” the report continued. “This explosive growth means electric cars’ share of the overall car market has risen from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022 and is set to increase further to 18% this year, based on the latest IEA projections.” The report went on to note that EVs “are one of the driving forces in the new global energy economy that is rapidly emerging – and they are bringing about a historic transformation of the car manufacturing industry worldwide.”

Canada Nickel is focused on advancing the next generation of high-quality, high-potential nickel-cobalt projects in order to deliver the metals needed to power the electric vehicle revolution as well as feed the high-growth stainless steel market (https://ibn.fm/aVjkr). With the latest drill reports in hand, the company’s Ontario-based Midlothian property is shaping up to be a key piece of that strategy.

The report noted the following significant results from the final three of four holes drilled on the property:

• All drill holes yielded long intervals grading 0.29% nickel and ending in mineralization, with all four four holes collared in mineralization within 10 meters of surface
• Mineralization is delineated along 2.0 kilometers strike length and across a width of 250 meters within a target geophysical footprint 12% larger than the Crawford resource footprint
• Latest mineralogy results show significant brucite content, the mineral utilized by Canada Nickel’s carbon storage process, nearly four times higher than Crawford average of 1.9%

“These outstanding Midlothian results, with all holes showing good nickel grades across long mineralized intervals of multihundred meters that start less than ten meters from surface, confirm Midlothian as a significant discovery,” said Canada Nickel CEO Mark Selby. “Midlothian is one of our ten properties with a target geophysical footprint larger than Crawford, and these latest results further confirm the success of our geophysical targeting approach. As well, these latest samples with high brucite content also demonstrate the potential for substantial carbon storage at Midlothian utilizing the In-Process Tailings (‘IPT’) Carbonation process the company is developing.”

The testing was comprised of four drillholes, which were completed during winter 2023. All four holes intersected mineralized dunite at shallow depths and were drilled on a target measuring 2.7 kilometers long and 0.4 to 0.9 kilometers wide with a target footprint of 1.7 km2.

Canada Nickel Company is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net-zero carbon nickel, cobalt and iron products. The company provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political-risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its wholly owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CanadaNickel.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CNIKF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CNIKF

• North America is actively developing domestic graphite supply as part of the EV revolution to reduce dependence upon China, the world’s top supplier
• Reflex Advanced Materials is executing on a “mine-to-market” strategy where it will have integrated domestic operations to supply high purity natural graphite for hi-tech applications, including EV batteries
• Reflex recently completed a TDEM and magnetic helicopter survey on its Ruby Graphite property, which will deliver additional data to map the depth and extent of mineral deposits planned to be drilled this summer

As it goes, China is currently the dominant player in the electric vehicle supply chain, but it is growing increasingly clear that some countries intend to change the paradigm, namely the U.S. and Canada. The plan is in motion to transition North America into a growing power for several metals integral to EV production, including graphite, a metal labeled as critical to national security by both Ottawa and Washington, D.C.

On May 4, 2023, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called attention to China’s control over the supply chain for batteries, including critical minerals, and outlined the issues that Congress should address. Amongst other facts detailing China’s near monopoly, Sen. Cornyn noted “Last year, China’s battery manufacturing capacity accounted for 77% of the global total. Its production capacity is greater than that of the rest of the world combined.” Noting the vulnerable nature of the EV supply chain, the senator is calling for bipartisan support to address the situation.

In 2021, the U.S. relied on foreign sources for 100% of the 53,000 metric tons of graphite it used. Graphite has not been produced in the U.S. since the 1950s. In short, the country needs a graphite plan and needs it fast.

The Biden administration stands in full support of a green economy and setting up domestic supply for critical minerals, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars and incentives for infrastructure. Companies have responded. After President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, the U.S. gigafactory capacity pipeline to 2031 shot to a record high, passing Europe’s for the first time ever in April, according to Benchmark.

Given that some of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, such as Tesla, Ford, and General Motors, are based in the U.S., developing local infrastructure that can provide a competitive edge. In addition, if the U.S. decides to implement new tariffs on graphite and other materials coming from China, the need for domestic supply becomes even more imperative to contain costs.

The U.S. may not produce graphite right now, but it does have substantial resources that are being explored. The largest known graphite deposit in the country is the Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska where exploration has identified a Measured and Indicated resource of more than 10 million metric tons of ore with 7.8 to 8 percent graphite.

Reflex Advanced Materials (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) is advancing its flagship Ruby Graphite Project in Beaverhead County in southwestern Montana. With its “mine-to-market” strategy, Reflex aims to improve domestic specialty mineral infrastructure efficiencies to meet surging national demand from North American manufacturers, effectively positioning itself as one of the only North American suppliers of high purity natural graphite for hi-tech applications.

Reflex in June completed a TDEM (time-domain electromagnetic) and magnetic helicopter survey on its Ruby Graphite property. These surveys, which covered the entirety of the project, are used to map the depth and extent of mineral deposits and enhance Reflex’s understanding of Ruby’s geological characteristics.

Preliminary results from the TDEM and magnetic survey have demonstrated promising anomalies, indicating the presence of conductive structures, several new anomalies, and potential graphite mineral deposits within the Ruby Graphite property. The survey data will be integrated with existing geological data and other exploration data to prioritize target areas for future drilling and further exploration efforts, including a summer drill program.

Reflex is no ordinary explorer. The company has a comprehensive strategy for proving the economics of the property which has extremely high-quality graphite material based on a USGS survey of the Ruby property. Once mined, the company intends to custom process graphite products to customer specifications via partners that operate world-class processing facilities capable of micronization, spheronization, purification, and coating of graphite particles required to manufacture high purity materials from graphite concentrate.

Reflex has relationships with 25+ key North American prospective customers and has already begun the qualification processes with these companies, making this the type of activity necessary to develop a North American graphite supply chain, breaking a 70-year drought and loosening China’s stranglehold on the market.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ReflexMaterials.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RFLXF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RFLXF

• The Happy Co. has unveiled Tropical Twist, a cool and refreshing addition to its PerX energy drink line
• PerX beverages are formulated to provide natural appetite control while boosting metabolism and energy
• The company also launched Probio8, a new probiotic dietary supplement product

Sharing Services Global’s (OTCQB: SHRG) wholly owned subsidiary, The Happy Co., has recently added to its exclusive product line. The company unveiled a new limited-time seasonal flavor for its popular energy drink PerX (https://ibn.fm/F3Lzz) and also launched a new probiotic dietary supplement product called Probio8 (https://ibn.fm/D6mqR). The Happy Co. is a leading producer and distributor of nootropic, functional beverage products with a focus on health and wellness.

Called Tropical Twist, the new PerX product is a cool and refreshing energy drink designed to be “your neXt-level nootropic beverage.” The Happy Co. initially announced its PerX brand in January 2023, and since then the energy drink has become one of the most popular choices in the company’s product offerings. Featuring a proprietary nootropic formulation, the beverage is designed to provide natural appetite control while boosting metabolism and energy. Tropical Twist is the third flavor for the PerX brand; this limited-time release follows Frost, a previous limited release, and will be available along with PerX’s Berry Blast.

“The launch of this new flavor comes at the perfect time,” said Sharing Services CEO John “JT” Thatch. “PerX has already become a big favorite among our customers, and this new flavor is a fantastic way to give them something exciting for summer as well as being a great way for our brand partners to introduce new customers to this incredible product. We’re extremely pleased with how PerX has performed so far. By introducing new flavors in this limited-release format, we have the opportunity to continually expand this product category by learning what works directly from our customer base.”

In addition to its Tropic Twist announcement, SHRG’s The Happy Co. has launched a new probiotic dietary supplement product: Probio8. This gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan capsule offering contains eight different strains of beneficial probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics, with each daily dose containing up to 23 billion healthy bacteria.

“The pursuit of exceptional health is central to everything we do here,” said Thatch. “We know that gut health is foundational to overall wellness, so developing a product as powerful as Probio8 means our customers have the greatest possible advantage when it comes to achieving their personal health goals.

“We’ve never been content to rest on the success of our existing products alone,” Thatch continued. “We’re committed to always expanding and improving what we do. Probio8 is a great example of how, even with our best products, we’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and to serve our customers better.”

Sharing Services Global Corporation is a publicly traded diversified company dedicated to maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition and development of innovative companies, products and technologies. The Sharing Services combined platform leverages the capabilities and expertise of various companies that market and sell products direct to the consumer.

For more information and to see the full range of solutions offered by SHRG, visit the company’s website at www.SHRGInc.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SHRG are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SHRG

• Genprex recently received a patent in China covering the use of its drug candidate REQORSA(R) immunogene therapy in combination with PD-1 antibodies, such as Keytruda(R), to treat cancers
• The REQORSA-Keytruda drug combination is the subject of Genprex’s ongoing Acclaim-2 clinical trial, which targets patients with advanced, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progressed after treatment with Keytruda
• The company has received patent protection for the REQORSA-Keytruda drug combination in the U.S., Japan, Australia, Russia, Mexico, and China, meaning the company has secured exclusivity in many of the largest markets
• The granted patents, three Fast Track Designations, and positive preclinical and clinical data are poised to help the company accelerate its clinical development of REQORSA in its various development programs

Genprex (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company on a mission to develop life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, recently received a patent in China – Genprex China Patent No: 201780076886.X – from the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The granted patent broadly covers the use of the company’s drug candidate REQORSAI immunogene therapy in combination with PD-1 antibodies, such as KeytrI(R), to treat cancers (https://ibn.fm/AD3iX).

The REQORSA gene therapy in combination with Keytruda is the subject of the company’s ongoing Acclaim-2 clinical trial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). In this trial, the company is enrolling and treating patients with advanced, metastatic NSCLC whose disease progressed after treatment with Keytruda. The first patient was dosed in this study in April of last year (https://ibn.fm/7lqLl).

Against the backdrop of the ongoing study, Thomas Gallagher, Esq., Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Genprex, described how the patent granted in China provides Genprex with important additional protection for the use of the REQORSA and PD-1 antibody combination.

“Now with the latest patent grant in China, we have secured exclusivity for the use of this drug combination for the treatment of cancer in some of the most important markets in the world.  The company already has received patent protection in the U.S., Australia, Mexico, Japan and Russia.  This patent protection prevents others from using this drug combination to treat cancer in these jurisdictions,” Gallagher explains.

REQORSA uses the company’s non-viral ONCOPREX(R) Nanoparticle Delivery System, a systemic gene therapy platform for cancer. The system encapsulates within lipid nanoparticles a plasmid that expresses the TUSC2 tumor suppressor gene, creating the REQORSA drug product. The company then intravenously administers the encapsulated plasmid, which is then taken up by the tumor cells, after which the tumor suppressor genes express proteins that are missing or found in low quantities in these cells (https://ibn.fm/I80mh).

According to the company, “REQORSA has a multimodal mechanism of action whereby it interrupts cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establishes pathways for programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells, and modulates the immune response against cancer cells.” This lead product candidate is initially being developed in combination with prominent cancer drugs Tagrisso(R), Keytruda(R), and Tecentriq(R) to treat NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (“SCLC”) (https://ibn.fm/gf7tO).

Having received three separate Fast Track Designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its combination therapies with Tagrisso, Keytruda and Tecentriq, the company looks forward to accelerating the clinical development of REQORSA and potentially providing new treatments for patients. Moreover, Genprex’s growing patent portfolio is expected to boost these clinical development efforts.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Genprex.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GNPX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/GNPX

• Lexaria’s new patent includes claims for many types of nicotine, including nicotine benzoate, nicotine ditartrate, nicotine citrate, nicotine polacrilex, and many others, for use in sublingual delivery formats like oral pouches
• The global oral nicotine pouch market was valued at $4.69 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $11.91 billion by 2029, driven by the growing ban on e-cigarettes worldwide
• The white pouch category is one of the fastest-growing, tobacco-free alternatives to smoking and vaping – growing at a CAGR of 13.4%

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator of drug delivery platforms, has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has granted a strategically important new patent in the oral nicotine sector for its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology. The granting of the new patent further substantiates the superior DehydraTECH processing and sublingual compositions through exceptional scientific study results and recognition by the USPTO (https://ibn.fm/862eh).

Lexaria’s new patent, US patent #11,700,875 Compositions and Methods For Sublingual Delivery of Nicotine, includes claims for many types of nicotine, including nicotine benzoate, nicotine ditartrate, nicotine citrate, nicotine polacrilex, and many others, for use in sublingual delivery formats like oral pouches. DehydraTECH-nicotine has shown in multiple sets of animal testing that it can be delivered to the bloodstream up to 10-times to 20-times faster at up to 10-fold higher levels of nicotine into blood plasma from oral absorption than concentration-matched controls. The speed of onset has proven vital to nicotine users.

The oral nicotine pouch category interests Lexaria and the nicotine products industry, growing partly because of its reduced risk of health outcomes, as the US Food and Drug Administration has previously noted. The white pouch delivery method specifically avoids harmful lung outcomes experienced by smokers or vapers. It involves absorption primarily through the buccal and sublingual tissues of the mouth of purified nicotine that has been separated from the harmful substances found in most other formats.

The global oral nicotine pouch market was valued at $4.69 billion in 2022 and is growing at a CAGR of 13.4% (https://ibn.fm/JhQ04). By 2029, the market is expected to reach $11.91 billion – driven by multiple countries banning the sale of e-cigarettes, the devices used in vaping. Currently, 37 countries have banned these devices, representing a cumulative population of over 2.3 billion people (https://ibn.fm/aX9Cj). The initial purpose of vaping was to help wean people off cigarette use, but it has become controversial and is limited in certain countries, with many restrictions and bans worldwide.

The US-granted patent is also progressing as a patent application through other jurisdictions internationally. The US patent and international patent applications are partly supported by the superior pharmacokinetic blood plasma data from Lexaria in its animal studies conducted from 2017 through 2021. This new patent builds nicely upon the company’s growing patent portfolio in the oral nicotine delivery sector, including the white pouch category for sublingual and buccal tissue delivery. The patents are built on a foundation of nicotine-specific patent filings dating back to 2019 and DehydraTECH patents dating back to 2016.

Lexaria’s DehydraTECH-nicotine has patents granted for oral nicotine delivery in the US, Canada, Australia, and is pending in numerous other countries. The white pouch category is one of the fastest growing, tobacco-free alternatives to smoking and vaping – emitting no smoke, odors, or vapors that can affect nearby persons and are a superior nicotine delivery method. Lexaria demonstrates this through its granted patents, subsequent studies, and future endeavors for sublingual and buccal delivery with DehydraTECH.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX

• The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) proposed a rule mandating speed limiters for most commercial vehicles
• The ATA has supported the move, while OOIDA (Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association) has opposed it, terming it as an attempt to eliminate one of the few advantages they enjoy over big business
• The FMCSA is yet to communicate its decision on the matter, pending its review of over 15,000 comments on the issue

Freight Technologies (NASDAQ: FRGT) (“Fr8Tech”), a tech company on a mission to revolutionize cross-border shipping by offering carriers increased growth opportunities and shippers with flexibility, visibility, and simplicity, is closely monitoring the developing situation with speed limiter directives on commercial vehicles. As a company heavily invested in the industry, such a directive could impact its performance and service delivery.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) proposed a rule that would mandate speed limiters for most commercial vehicles. While the exact speed has not been confirmed, safety groups have proposed a 60 mph limit for heavy-duty trucks. This is not the first time such a proposal has been brought forth. Back in the Obama administration, a similar suggestion was made, ultimately facing opposition from the American Trucking Association (“ATA”) (https://ibn.fm/P8pMY).

The latest development has seen ATA rescind its stand in 2016, mainly on the basis that “Safety is a winning issue, and ATA enjoys winning.”  To this end, the association supports the rule requiring tamper-proof devices limiting Class 7 and 8 trucks to a fixed maximum of 65 mph, or 70 mph, with adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. This, its management notes, is in response to new emerging data and technologies forcing the industry to adapt.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (“OOIDA”) has opposed the proposition, terming it as a motive to eliminate one of the few advantages they enjoy over big businesses. For one, a survey conducted by the OOIDA Foundation in 2022 showed that only 10% of owner-operators had their trucks equipped with automatic emergency braking, while only 20% had adaptive cruise control. In comparison, large fleets, represented by ATA, already have installed speed limiters, mainly for liability and fuel efficiency reasons. In addition, these fleets are also more likely to have adaptive cruise control technology equipped, which alienates owner-operators (https://ibn.fm/Bdwqi).

The FMCSA has yet to communicate its decision on the matter, pending its review of over 15,000 comments. The ruling is projected to come in late summer or early fall, but FRGT is keeping a close eye on the matter and monitoring its development.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Fr8Technologies.com, and its freight matching platform information site at www.Fr8.App.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FRGT are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FRGT

Corporate Communications
IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

• Global ambitions to achieve net zero status will necessitate a near tripling in annual clean energy investment
• Silver has emerged as a critical component of clean energy infrastructure due to its exceptional electric and thermal conductivity
• Nevertheless, a decrease in global silver production coupled with rising demand has left the precious metal in deficit – with the market undersupplied by nearly 238mn tonnes in 2022
• Eloro Resources’ Iska Iska deposit may be poised to emerge as a rare greenfield silver project with the company set to publish its inaugural NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate

Global warming has become an undeniable force around the globe, with news of widespread droughts, record temperatures, forest fires, and ravaged agricultural harvests increasing in frequency. In response, global leaders came together during 2021’s COP26 event in Glasgow to propose a global Net Zero initiative, aimed towards achieving a balance between global greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and those being removed from the atmosphere. Whilst a number of countries have since published their own legislation, detailing the measures and timeframes through which they expect to achieve a net zero status, there is a common consensus amongst all – the change will not be easy. Forecasts by the International Energy Agency now suggest that to reach global net zero emissions by 2050, annual clean energy investment around the globe will need to more than triple to approximately $4 trillion per annum by 2030.

The shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources is resulting in a spending surge that is set to directly benefit businesses entrenched within the global renewable energy supply chain; in particular, commodities such as silver – a critical component within green energy technologies – are poised to witness a dramatic uptick in demand.

The average electric vehicle (“EV”) today contains anywhere between 25 and 50 grams of silver depending on the model, with hybrid cars using between 18 to 34 grams of silver. The precious metal’s electric and thermal properties combine to make silver an increasingly crucial constituent within electric vehicle batteries; today, the automotive sector uses 55 million ounces of silver annually, with demand anticipated to swell to as much as 90 million ounces by 2025 (https://ibn.fm/d1Z1I). Coupled with growing demand from solar panel manufacturers – a solar panel measuring approximately 2 square meters can use up to 20 grams of silver – the global silver market has now operated at a net deficit dating back to early 2021.

Global demand for silver rocketed by 18% last year to a record high of 1.24 billion ounces, resulting in a significant supply deficit, according to the Silver Institute (https://ibn.fm/pc6fv). The silver market was undersupplied by 237.7 million ounces in 2022, the institute said in its latest World Silver Survey, calling this “possibly the most significant deficit on record”.

“As demand associated with the electrification of the global economy grows, in order to fight climate change, it looks like the world will face persistent primary silver deficits over the long term. Silver uptake by the emerging EVs industry, smart devices, electrical grids, solar power generation and the conventional industrial products looks set to outpace the quantities produced by miners and recyclers,” explained Bart Melek, Head of Commodity Strategy at TD Securities. “If deficits persist for a prolonged period as expected, the inventory of above-ground stocks will diminish to levels which will be too low to consistently provide the buffer against deficits. This implies very high prices, as the silver sector will operate above the conventional supply curve.”

Although an approximate 1.3 billion oz in silver inventories may help stopgap the ongoing supply shortfall, the need for new, longer-term supplies of mined silver is gaining increased urgency. With its sights set on developing its promising Iska Iska project, Eloro Resources (TSX: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM), an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec, has emerged as one of the key potential beneficiaries from the global boom in silver demand.

Nestled in the foothills of Bolivia’s Cerro Rico de Potosi, Eloro Resources’ Iska Iska deposit is situated deep within a region renowned for its prolific silver deposits. Despite accounting for nearly 80% of the world’s silver supply between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Potosi region was recently estimated to hold a world-class silver and tin reserve amounting to over 500 million tonnes grading ~100g/t Ag and 0.2 Sn.

Silver prices to date have not fully reflected the underlying supply-demand imbalance affecting the precious metal – with a combination of rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and a deteriorating global macroeconomic environment weighing on investor sentiment. Nevertheless, growing expectations of a ‘dovish’ monetary policy tilt by the FOMC, alongside prospects of a ‘soft’-landing in the United States have led to rising longer-term price forecasts for the commodity.

 “As it becomes clear that the Fed and other central banks will start to pivot to a more dovish monetary policy stance in the early months of 2024, boosting the prospects for an economic recovery on the horizon, we expect the white metal will set its sights towards $26/oz in the final days 2023,” commented TD Securities’ Melek.

Eloro Resources’ initial exploratory drilling work within the Iska Iska deposit thus far has revealed the existence of a “magnificent core, which is remarkably consistent, continuous, and high grade at 90g/t silver equivalent and greater”. With Eloro on track to publish its inaugural NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) in the coming months, it may be fair to presume that Bolivia’s rich veins of silver may begin flowing again in the not-too-distant future.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.EloroResources.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ELRRF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ELRRF

DGE invites life science Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (“DEI”) practitioners, health equity advocates, HR executives, and health policy leaders, to attend the 3rd Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Pharma & Healthcare Summit to be held at the Hyatt Bellevue, Philadelphia, PA, on September 19-20, 2023. The industry’s leading event will focus on putting developing policies into practices including novel case studies and sessions on important areas.

The leading DEI event for Pharma & Healthcare serves as a dynamic platform for industry leaders, advocates, practitioners and influencers to convene, work toward common goals and drive the life science ecosystem toward positive change. Attendees will get the unique opportunity to meet with like-minded professionals, benchmark with peers and engage in thought-provoking discussions in the pursuit of an equitable and more inclusive future for all.

Featuring an exceptional blend of collaborative sessions, insightful presentations, and actionable strategies, this groundbreaking summit will leave an unforgettable mark on participants. They will engage in valuable panel discussions and gain information from keynote speakers who will share their unique strategies and experiences.

Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The summit will focus on the growing prominence of diversity and inclusion in clinical research and drug development. Expert-led sessions will explore the diverse patient populations in clinical trials while addressing differences in healthcare results.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into the challenges faced in implementing an effective DEI practice from the ground up as well as gathering cross-functional insights on DEI collaboration and the role of medical communications to address health inequities and disparities. In addition, the agenda will cover integrating DEI into talent recruitment, transforming organizational culture and utilizing change management. The event will also offer new case studies from Pfizer, Merck, Sanofi, Takeda and others. Formats will also include panel discussions such as the power of mentorship and ERGs.

The agenda will delve into the importance of actionable workplace culture that supports equity and inclusivity at all levels. The professionals from the pharma and healthcare industries will bring together different perspectives and strategies for improving DEI in the workplace as well as throughout the entire life science ecosystem most importantly with patients. The main focus will be to create industry-wide best practices and solutions that drive meaningful change throughout the industry that is viewed as a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/S7hSF.

• BiondVax, a biotechnology company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative immunotherapeutic products, was featured in a recent analyst report reiterating a Buy recommendation and a $70 target price
• The report discussed Eli Lilly’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire DICE Therapeutics for approximately $2.4 billion as evidence of the potential value of BiondVax in this segment of the therapeutics market
• DICE Therapeutics is currently evaluating its lead drug candidate, DC-806, an oral IL-17 inhibitor, in a Phase II trial, with early-stage results from the Phase I study showing a near-44% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index
• The report noted that the deal between Eli Lilly and DICE Therapeutics illustrates the potential valuation that BiondVax could receive with positive early-stage clinical results
• Also, revenues from FDA-approved psoriasis drugs show the potential value of the company should its IL-17 NanoAb therapy eventually receive FDA approval

According to Goldman Sachs Research, the global pharmaceutical industry is sitting on about $700 billion in dealmaking firepower, expected to fuel M&A-driven growth as companies look to revamp their intellectual property portfolio as their existing patents expire (https://ibn.fm/7VNq6). Flush with cash, big drugmakers also have easy access to alternative financing, factors that allow them to make aggressive acquisition bids for promising biotechnology companies and other targets (https://ibn.fm/Uo69R).

This played out recently when Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced it had signed a definitive agreement with DICE Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: DICE) to acquire DICE (https://ibn.fm/CPCbR) in a deal valued at approximately $2.4 billion. DICE is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel oral therapeutic candidates – such as DC-806 and DC-853, both oral interleukin-17 (“IL-17”) inhibitors – currently in clinical development to treat chronic immune system diseases.

The pending acquisition formed the basis of analysis by Aegis Capital Corp., which underlined that the recent M&A activity shows the potential value of BiondVax Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: BVXV), a biotechnology company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative immunotherapeutic products. Aegis, therefore, reiterated its Buy recommendation and a $70 target price on BiondVax (https://ibn.fm/wHmf2).

Aegis’ coverage followed BVXV’s June announcement that it had signed an exclusive worldwide license with the Max Planck Society and University Medical Center Göttingen (“UMG”), both in Germany, to develop and commercialize innovative alpaca-derived nanosized antibodies (“NanoAbs”) targeting IL-17 cytokines as treatments for all potential indications, starting with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (https://ibn.fm/5bpWM).

“The license of the IL-17 NanoAb from Max Planck is not only an exciting opportunity to develop a unique treatment for psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases, but also another validation of the productivity of our collaboration with Max Planck and UMG and portends additional significant developments to follow,” BiondVax CEO Amir Reichman said at the time. 

IL-17 is a family of immune system cytokines that comprises six isoforms (IL-17A to IL-17F). And while the IL-17 pathway is known to contribute to defenses against extracellular bacteria and fungi, it also plays a significant role in originating and feed-forwarding the inflammatory cycle of psoriasis (https://ibn.fm/I1Vqe). Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and scaling of the skin. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, about 8 million people in the U.S. and 125 million worldwide suffer from the condition (https://ibn.fm/sU999).

Given the causative role of IL-17, IL-17 inhibitors, most of which belong to a family of biological drugs called monoclonal antibodies (“mAbs”), are used to treat psoriasis. Chemically, these mAbs bind to the IL-17A cytokine, inhibiting interaction with the IL-17A receptor. However, “the latest and most effective mAbs for the treatment of plaque psoriasis that are currently marketed, as well as those that, to BiondVax’s knowledge, are under clinical development by other companies, target not only IL-17A but also IL-17F and IL-17A/F complex,” wrote the company in the June press release.

DICE’s lead drug candidate, DC-806, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase II study involving participants with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, targets the IL-17A (https://ibn.fm/V70Fo). Early-stage results released last October nonetheless showed that the drug candidate led to a mean percentage reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (“PASI”) of up to about 44% compared to 13.3% for placebo. BiondVax’s NanoAbs exhibit several ‘biobetter’ qualities compared to mAbs and IL-17 inhibitors like DC-806, including better patient safety and convenience.

Little wonder that Aegis noted in its report, “This deal between Eli Lilly and DICE Therapeutics illustrates the potential valuation that BiondVax could receive if it has positive early-stage clinical results.” So far, several factors tip the scale in BiondVax’s favor. First, the company is focusing on a condition for which the mechanism of action of existing antibody-based treatments is well understood and has, in fact, been validated through clinical trials that have resulted in FDA approval. Secondly, a preclinical in vivo proof-of-concept study evaluating the company’s anti-COVID-19 NanoAb therapy virtually eliminated the virus from the lungs, caused milder and shorter illness, and had prophylactic properties. While the study evaluated an anti-COVID-19 drug, it showed, at least early on, the capabilities of NanoAbs.

Furthermore, should BiondVax eventually receive FDA approval for its anti-IL-17 NanoAbs, precedent exists showing that the company and its shareholders stand to gain significantly from the potential market demand. Of the three IL-17 inhibitors currently approved by the FDA, Cosentyx (secukinumab) by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. delivered $4.8 billion in sales in 2022, up 5% year over year (https://ibn.fm/TBPVP), while Taltz (ixekizumab) by Eli Lilly generated $2.482 billion in 2022, up from $2.213 billion in 2021 (https://ibn.fm/nHncH). (Sales data from the third drug, Saliq (brodalumab) by Bausch Health, are not publicly available.)

Even with the enormous potential of BiondVax’s anti-IL-17 NanoAbs, the company is committed to developing a pipeline of diversified and commercially viable products and platforms, providing broad based and diversified opportunities for success. In addition to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the company is targeting treatments of diseases with unmet medical needs and attractive commercial opportunities, including asthma, macular degeneration, and COVID-19.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.BiondVax.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to BVXV are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/BVXV

• Lexaria’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology enhances the performance of several categories of fat-soluble active molecules and drugs across oral and/or topical product formats
• This unique approach to drug delivery has earned Lexaria a total of 35 patents, with many patents pending worldwide
• The company continues active discussions with multi-billion dollar companies for the potential use of DehydraTECH in their commercial pursuits
• Lexaria is also actively seeking commercial partners during 2023 and 2024

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, is out on an ambitious move to address conditions with high unmet needs. This focus has allowed them to make strides in the potential treatment of conditions such as hypertension, epilepsy, human hormone delivery, and nicotine replacement; all made possible through its patented technology, DehydraTECH(TM).

DehydraTECH enhances the performance of several categories of fat-soluble active molecules and drugs across oral and/or topical product formats. The technology serves as an additional step that can be easily incorporated into any formulation and manufacturing process, allowing for speedy delivery, an increase in bioavailability, and an increase in brain absorption, among other advantages (https://ibn.fm/Cr9r8).

Lexaria’s studies have demonstrated a propensity for DehydraTECH technology to elevate the quantity of drug delivered across the blood-brain barrier by as much as 1,700 percent, which has opened the technology up to new possibilities for improved drug delivery.

One stand-out feature of DehydraTECH is its ability to work symbiotically with existing physiological systems to enable masking oral and olfactory receptors, rendering DehydraTECH-processed compounds mostly flavorless and odorless. This results in formulations not requiring sweeteners or chemical masking agents for flavor and odor blocking, meaning that manufacturers can create low-sugar products with fewer calories while avoiding excessive artificial sweeteners.

Once ingested, the compounds, through the help of fatty acids, permeate the intestinal wall for the active payload, then are transported to the systemic circulation by one of two pathways, typically dependent on the type of fatty acid(s) chosen for a given formulation. For hepatic transport, or where liver metabolism is desirable for biotransformation of the payload, Lexaria’s methodology uses medium-chain fatty acids. For lymphatic transport, on the other hand, Lexaria uses long-chain fatty acids, which are absorbed via the lymphatic lacteals, ultimately diverting them away from the liver and entering the general circulation very quickly.

DehydraTECH and its unique approach to drug delivery have earned Lexaria a current total of 35 patents across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, India, and the European Union. Although it has already achieved considerable intellectual property protection through its existing patent portfolio, the company has a number of additional patents pending worldwide. These achievements have sparked interest across various industries. Lexaria’s CEO, Chris Bunka, has noted the company’s active discussions with multi-billion dollar companies for the potential use of its technology in their commercial product pursuits.

“Our applied R&D is paying off in spades because we are currently in active discussions with several multi-billion dollar companies around the world for the potential use of Lexaria’s DehydraTECH technology in their commercial product pursuits,” noted Mr. Bunka.

“These discussions are ongoing and have thus helped us to meet one of our primary objectives of the last year, which is to introduce DehydraTECH to world-leading potential collaborators,” he added (https://ibn.fm/l2zam).

Lexaria is ambitious in its push for DehydraTECH and is currently seeking commercial partners to use the technology in what are usually multi-billion-dollar markets. The company is taking steps to have multiple choices in how to fund its operations, and so far, it is on track to have 2023 as its best year ever.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX