• VERAXA is implementing FDA-aligned New Approach Methodologies (“NAMs”) across its preclinical research programs, aiming to improve the relevance of experimental findings to human biology while reducing animal testing.
• The strategy supports development of the company’s BiTAC(R) T-cell engagers, BiTAC-based antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer.
• New three-dimensional spheroid data reportedly reinforce the ability of VERAXA’s models to assess the dual-target specificity of its lead T-cell engager candidates.
• An ex vivo study involving 10 low-passage patient-derived xenograft models of non-small cell lung cancer required about 10 mice, compared with an estimated 200 or more for comparable in vivo efficacy studies.
• The company says its lead BiTAC candidate induced potent T-cell-mediated tumor-cell killing across the tested models, while relevant controls showed minimal activity.

VERAXA Biotech (NASDAQ: VRXA), an emerging leader in designing novel cancer therapies, is expanding its use of human-relevant testing methods across its oncology research programs, seeking to generate more clinically informative preclinical data while reducing the number of animals required for drug development.

In an October 7, 2026, company announcement, the Switzerland-based biotechnology company, with a key financial and regulatory presence in the U.S., outlined its implementation of New Approach Methodologies (“NAMs”), a collection of non-animal research techniques that includes cell-based assays, computational modeling and tissue models (https://ibn.fm/sSk7a). VERAXA said the strategy aligns with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2025 roadmap encouraging a phased reduction in animal testing in favor of alternative methods.

The initiative is particularly relevant to VERAXA’s BiTAC(R) platform, which is designed to direct immune-cell activity toward cancer cells displaying two selected targets. The company is applying its testing framework to programs involving BiTAC-based T-cell engagers (“TCEs”), antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”) and bispecific ADCs.

VERAXA reported that its most advanced BiTAC-TCE program produced initial results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in 2026. According to the company, the candidate performed as intended in laboratory and animal studies, attacking cancer cells expressing both selected target molecules while sparing cells expressing only one.

The company said the candidate demonstrated a safety profile superior to that of a more conventional T-cell engager, while matching its efficacy in the reported studies. If confirmed through further research, that combination could support a more favorable therapeutic index: the relationship between a treatment’s desired effects and its harmful effects.

Conventional T-cell engagers can activate immune cells against tumors but may also affect healthy cells that express a target shared with cancer. VERAXA’s dual-targeting design seeks to make cytotoxic activity conditional on the simultaneous presence of both targets on the same tumor cell. To assess that selectivity, the company has used three-dimensional spheroid models derived from cancer cell lines. Unlike conventional two-dimensional cell cultures, spheroids more closely reproduce aspects of solid-tumor architecture. VERAXA said subsequent experiments across diverse cancer cell lines produced consistent results for T-cell engagement specificity.

The company considers the data supportive of using the spheroid model in investigational new drug (“IND”)-enabling studies, the preclinical work that helps determine whether a drug candidate is ready to be evaluated in humans. 

VERAXA also evaluated its lead BiTAC-TCE and bispecific ADC candidates using an ex vivo panel of 10 low-passage patient-derived xenograft models of non-small cell lung cancer. These models use tumor material that preserves important molecular characteristics and heterogeneity of the original tumors. By dividing available tissue into multiple parallel samples, researchers can examine treatment responses across experimental conditions without conducting a separate animal study for every comparison.

According to VERAXA, the panel required approximately 10 mice in total, compared with an estimated 200 or more for comparable in vivo efficacy studies. The company said the combined BiTAC approach consistently induced potent T-cell-mediated killing across the panel, while relevant controls, including commercial T-cell engagers directed at targets not expressed in the tested models, showed minimal activity.

The findings provide additional preclinical support for the company’s central hypothesis: requiring two target molecules may help direct immune activity more selectively toward cancer cells.  The ex vivo work illustrates how alternative testing methods may reduce animal use while preserving information about tumor biology. Whether the approach can reliably shorten development timelines or reduce overall costs will depend on how the models perform in subsequent studies and how regulators assess the resulting evidence.

The FDA’s evolving position on NAMs has increased the relevance of alternative preclinical methods for biotechnology companies. Such approaches can include organ-on-chip systems, computational tools and human tissue-based assays intended to provide information that conventional animal models may not fully capture.

VERAXA Chief Scientific Officer Christoph Erkel said the company views these methods as both a scientific opportunity and a way to make research practices more sustainable. “We’ve been investing in translational, human-relevant model systems well ahead of the FDA’s 2025 roadmap, and we see this shift as beneficial and a win-win situation for both science and sustainability. Reducing our reliance on animal studies, particularly NHP toxicology testing, allows us to generate more clinically predictive data, move faster, and do so more efficiently and sustainably,” Erkel said.

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

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

Stocktwits, the leading social platform for investors and traders, wrapped Stocktoberfest presented by Tradr ETFs, its flagship annual event, held in New York City from October 5 to 7. This year’s event brought together more than 350 ticketed guests, including 40 financial creators with a combined audience of more than 11 million followers, for three days of networking, entertainment, and conversations with the public company executives shaping today’s markets.

Stocktwits is built around unscripted conversation and relationship-building rather than formal presentations, bringing together top traders, public company executives, content creators, and financial professionals. Attendees and speakers represented a wide range of firms across the investing ecosystem, including Webull, Two Sigma, Cantor Fitzgerald, DraftKings, Cboe, Public, and State Street Investment Management.

The event opened on October 5 with a cocktail reception at Dream Downtown. On October 6, guests headed to Century Country Club in Purchase, New York, for golf, tennis, and pickleball, followed by dinner at Emmett’s on Grove and a comedy takeover at New York Comedy Club. Stocktoberfest closed on October 7 with a full day of programming at City Winery, capped by a closing reception.

Programming at City Winery centered on the two forces Stocktwits sees defining how traders find an edge next: agentic trading and social relative strength. Stocktwits Founder and CEO Howard Lindzon opened the day with a keynote and a fireside chat with Barry Ritholtz, Chairman and CIO of Ritholtz Wealth Management. More than a dozen panels and fireside chats followed, covering agentic trading and investing, the evolution of the brokerage model, investor relations in the age of AI, social arbitrage, leveraged and inverse ETFs, prediction markets and crypto, creator-led audience building, private markets, small-cap shareholder strategy, capital allocation, and the role of market narratives. Speakers included Chris Camillo, Anthony Denier, Ted Seides, Matt Markiewicz, Paul Prager, and Andrew Krochulick, among many others.

Stocktoberfest 2026 was made possible by Title Partner Tradr ETFs, along with event partners Accutron, Direxion, IBN, MicroSectors, Nasdaq Private Market, REAlloys, Secfi, Voyager Technologies, ZenaTech, ArcStone, Carbon Arc, VanEck, Lowenstein Sandler, Maxim Group, Rothschild Wealth Partners, and Alpaca. Stocktwits thanks each of them for helping bring together the traders, creators, and executives who make the Stocktwits community what it is.

Disseminated on behalf of LaFleur Minerals Inc. and may include paid advertising.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) owns the fully permitted and refurbished Beacon Gold Mill and tailings storage facility in Val-d’Or, Québec and the nearby Swanson Gold Project, which contains the PEA-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and numerous other gold targets.

The Beacon Gold Mill is fully permitted and last operated in early 2023 under a previous operator when the gold price was under US$2,000 per ounce. LaFleur Minerals is working toward restarting gold production at the Beacon Gold Mill in the coming months.

Ocean Partners UK Limited (Ocean Partners – https://ibn.fm/G8NCJ) is a global metals trading and mining finance group formed in 2004, that buys, sells, and tolls base, precious, minor, and specialty metal concentrates, by-products, and residues. Ocean Partners provides short-, medium-, and long-term financing and working capital solutions (such as doré purchase and facility agreements) to mining companies around the world. 

The Ocean Partners team applies its extensive technical commercial and financial experience to create informed, analytical, and creative solutions for the benefit of long-term partners.

LaFleur Minerals and Ocean Partners have signed a definitive gold and silver purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of October 1, 2026. Ocean Partners conducted thorough due diligence on LaFleur Minerals’ assets including a detailed site visit to the Beacon Gold Mill and Swanson Gold Project in early October. The terms of the Agreement include: 

• Ocean Partners establishing a commercial framework for the purchase of gold and silver doré produced from the company’s planned bulk sample at its Swanson Gold Project to be processed at its Beacon Gold Mill in Val-d’Or, Québec.
• LaFleur Minerals may request a working capital advance of up to US$5 million from January 1, 2027, to support the mining and processing of the bulk sample, which bears interest at three-month CME SOFR plus 7.50%, and is repayable through deductions against payments for gold and silver deliveries.

Key Terms of the Agreement

Under the Agreement, LaFleur Minerals will sell to Ocean Partners 100% of the gold and silver produced from the Swanson bulk sample, delivered as doré, or where required by the selected refinery, as refined gold and silver, subject to a minimum delivery commitment. Pricing is based on prevailing LBMA gold and silver prices, less customary refining charges.

The working capital advance of up to US$5 million may be drawn in full, at the company’s option and subject to customary conditions, from January 1, 2027, and may be repaid early without penalty. The advance is not secured by any of the company’s assets, and the Beacon Gold Mill remains 100% owned by LaFleur Minerals, free of royalties or other encumbrances. No arrangement or facility fees, equity or warrants are payable in connection with the advance, which is repayable from gold and silver deliveries from the bulk sample.

Advancing the Swanson Gold Project and Beacon Gold Mill Strategy

LaFleur Minerals’ strategy is focused on advancing its Swanson Gold Project and leveraging its wholly owned Beacon Gold Mill to establish a pathway toward gold production in Québec’s Abitibi Gold Belt.

The Agreement with Ocean Partners is intended to support the company’s efforts to advance mining and processing activities of the bulk sample allowing the company to further evaluate and advance the Swanson Gold Project towards eventual production. Through its integrated mine-to-mill strategy, LaFleur Minerals intends to capitalize on its mineral assets and existing processing infrastructure while continuing to advance project development and operational readiness.

Importance Of Ocean Partners Agreement

LaFleur Minerals is nearing the commencement of gold production at its Beacon Gold Mill and this agreement is further validation of the company’s bulk sampling plan and eventual gold production in the upcoming months. Ocean Partners is a mining industry-respected commodities trading company, and their deep due diligence and subsequent gold and silver purchase agreement further validates the company’s business model and value in its fully permitted and refurbished Beacon Gold Mill.

LaFleur Minerals CEO, Andrew Elinesky commented:

“Entering into this definitive agreement with Ocean Partners is an important step for LaFleur Minerals’ development of the Swanson Gold Project and Beacon Gold Mill. Our focus is on advancing the Swanson Gold Project in a disciplined manner, leveraging our existing processing infrastructure, and establishing a pathway toward gold production. We believe that establishing this partnership with Ocean Partners is an important component of our broader mine-to-mill strategy as we continue to progress our development plans in the Abitibi Gold Belt.”

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this article has been reviewed and approved by Marc Ducharme, P.Geo. (OGQ), Vice President of Exploration of LaFleur Minerals, who is a “qualified person” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decision

The company has not made a production decision based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and specific economic and technical risk of failure associated with the planned bulk sample and any future production, including that anticipated tonnages, grades, metallurgical recoveries, costs and production rates may not be realized.

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

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

• Nightfood Holdings is advancing semiconductor manufacturing initiatives, with initial production and revenue targeted for Q4 2026, subject to definitive agreements and operational requirements.
• TechForce Robotics continues to pursue commercial opportunities across industrial robotics and pharmaceutical automation through its AI-enhanced platform and Robotics-as-a-Service model.
• The company is strengthening its corporate infrastructure and governance as it works toward its next stage of growth.

Nightfood Holdings (OTCQB: NGTF), doing business as TechForce Robotics, is advancing a multifaceted growth strategy that brings together artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing. In an October 8 shareholder update, the company highlighted progress across its principal business initiatives, underscoring its efforts to translate recent strategic developments into commercial opportunities.

A key component of this strategy is semiconductor manufacturing. Through the formation of TechForce Advanced Manufacturing Inc., Nightfood is pursuing an advanced manufacturing partnership with Taiwan-based JUN LONG MACHINE INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. The planned collaboration is intended to expand production capabilities for automated wafer sorters and automated optical inspection (“AOI”) systems used in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging.

Nightfood is targeting initial production and revenue contribution during calendar Q4 2026, subject to definitive agreements, operational readiness, customer requirements and applicable revenue recognition standards. The initiative could provide the company with an additional avenue for participating in the manufacturing ecosystem supporting artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Alongside its manufacturing ambitions, TechForce Robotics continues to develop and commercialize AI-enhanced robotic solutions for commercial and industrial environments. Its initiatives include a collaboration with NBR Intelligence Pte. Ltd. to evaluate a potential large-scale industrial robotics deployment program, as well as work in pharmaceutical automation involving autonomous robotic systems in specialized manufacturing environments. The NBR initiative remains subject to definitive commercial arrangements, and previously disclosed deployment targets do not represent committed orders or guaranteed revenue.

These opportunities complement TechForce’s Robotics-as-a-Service Provider (“RaaSP”) model, which is designed to reduce the upfront costs and operational complexity associated with automation adoption. Under this approach, customers can access robotic systems alongside deployment, maintenance, technical support and ongoing optimization, creating opportunities for longer-term service relationships and recurring revenue as commercial deployments expand.

The company’s broader technology strategy also extends beyond individual machines. Its proprietary Robotic Connective Network(TM) is designed to enable robots, artificial intelligence systems, sensors and operational software to communicate and coordinate tasks. By accounting for factors such as proximity, workload, battery levels and equipment capabilities, the patent-pending technology aims to support more coordinated automated operations.

Nightfood is also working to strengthen the corporate foundation supporting its expanding operations. Recent initiatives include changes to board and committee structures, expanded management capabilities and additional industry advisory resources. Management has reiterated its interest in pursuing a potential national securities exchange listing, subject to applicable requirements, regulatory review and approvals.

Together, these developments reflect Nightfood’s efforts to build a diversified technology platform spanning service robotics, industrial automation and semiconductor manufacturing. As the company advances its partnerships and commercialization initiatives, execution against operational milestones will be important in determining how effectively its expanding portfolio translates into tangible business results.

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

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

• The agreements cover 12 officers, directors, consultants and advisors, with each arrangement based on $240,000 in contractual compensation.
• The preferred-stock terms establish staged conversion eligibility and quarterly limits, potentially providing greater structure around future common-share issuance.
• The $2.88 million figure represents the maximum contractual compensation covered, not a confirmed reduction in recorded liabilities; accounting treatment remains under review.
• The company is transitioning from JV CPA Inc. to prospective successor auditor MBP Global LLP, whose acceptance and onboarding process is still underway.
• The capital restructuring and auditor transition form part of American Fusion’s(TM) preparations for institutional financing and a planned national securities exchange listing.

American Fusion(TM) (OTCBQ: AMFN), a developer of next-generation fusion energy technologies, is restructuring up to $2.88 million in stock-based compensation obligations into long-term preferred equity as it works to organize its capital structure ahead of a planned national securities exchange listing and potential institutional financing.

The company announced on October 7, 2026, that agreements covering 12 officers, directors, consultants and advisors would exchange existing compensation rights for Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. Each agreement has a contractual compensation basis of $240,000, with issuance of up to 288,000 preferred shares subject to applicable earning and exchange provisions (https://ibn.fm/4c2ZM).

According to the company’s announcement, the transaction requires no cash payment from either party. American Fusion(TM) said the restructuring is intended to clarify compensation commitments and establish a defined schedule for conversion into common stock.

The $2.88 million represents the maximum contractual amount covered by the agreements; it is not a stated reduction in liabilities on the company’s balance sheet. The accounting treatment and financial-statement effects remain subject to review.

The Series C structure sets conditions governing when holders may convert preferred shares into common stock. Conversion eligibility begins in the first full calendar quarter after the later of full vesting under the underlying compensation agreement and the earlier of two events: the 20th trading day after a national securities exchange listing, or nine months after the original issue date.

Once eligible, holders may convert up to 30% of their original entitlement in each of the first three quarters. The remaining balance becomes eligible for conversion in the fourth quarter. Unused quarterly allowances do not carry forward.

Each preferred share is initially convertible into one common share, subject to adjustments under the Certificate of Designation. Beneficial ownership restrictions initially limit a holder to 4.99% ownership, although a holder may increase that threshold to no more than 9.99% with at least 61 days’ notice. A separate provision caps voting rights on an as-converted basis at 4.99%.

The preferred shares carry a contractual face value of $10. That figure does not represent a forecast or guarantee of the market price of American Fusion(TM) common stock.

The agreements also provide that holders cannot require the company to redeem the preferred shares. American Fusion(TM) has a limited repurchase option at 125% of face value before the earlier of a national exchange listing or nine months after the original issue date. The agreements specify September 30, 2026, as their effective date. Their eventual impact on the share count will depend on vesting and conversion eligibility.

American Fusion(TM) is also changing its independent registered public accounting firm. JV CPA Inc., a Houston-based accounting firm, resigned effective October 1, 2026, citing health reasons. In its regulatory disclosure, the company stated that there had been no disagreements with JV CPA regarding accounting principles or practices, financial-statement disclosure, or audit scope and procedures during the periods covered. 

American Fusion(TM) is working to engage MBP Global LLP as its successor auditor. The prospective firm is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and has more than 40 years of operating history, according to the company. The proposed engagement would include an audit of American Fusion’s(TM) consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2026, as well as a review of interim financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

MBP Global’s client acceptance and onboarding procedures remain underway. The firm has not formally accepted the engagement, so completion of the transition should not yet be treated as assured.

“We’re prioritizing the information and coordination MBP Global needs to complete its acceptance process and begin the interim review,” said Brent Nelson, Executive Chairman. “As our operations grow more complex, strong and timely financial reporting is central to preparing for institutional financing and a planned exchange listing.”

American Fusion(TM) is an advanced energy platform company focused on developing fusion technology through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kepler Fusion Technologies. Its principal platform is the Texatron(TM) Fusion Engine(TM), which the company intends to develop for modular deployment in industrial and other energy-intensive applications. The potential commercial opportunity is linked to demand for dependable electricity, including from industrial facilities and other users facing grid constraints. 

The company is also developing a proposed direct magnetic-to-electric conversion system. The concept aims to capture energy from charged particles through conversion mechanisms rather than relying solely on conventional approaches to extracting energy from fusion reactions. The system remains under development and has not yet been demonstrated as a commercial power-generation technology.

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

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

• Scott Myers described how PDAOAI searches and organizes an index of approximately 29 million PubMed abstracts to support focused biomedical research.
• Saran Saund presented a four-gene HCC signature associated with survival in an exploratory discovery analysis and an independent Japanese cohort.
• BIO REBOOT connects the platform’s research capabilities with potential funding and development support for selected projects.

Oncotelic Therapeutics Inc. (OTCQB: OTLC) (“Oncotelic”) is pursuing a development strategy that connects biomedical literature analysis with the practical work of developing therapeutics. At Drug Discovery 2026 in Burlingame, California, Scott Myers and Saran Saund showed how the company’s PDAOAI platform can help researchers organize scientific evidence and develop hypotheses for further investigation.

Myers, Oncotelic’s Product Manager, presented “The Infinity Problem: AI Search Aggregation for Biomedical Knowledge Discovery in Drug Development” on October 7. Saund, Chief Business Officer, followed on October 8 with an HCC case study describing how disease-specific literature analysis led to a four-gene mTOR-related signature associated with patient survival.

For investors, the presentations connect Oncotelic’s discovery tools with its drug-development ambitions. They also clarify the next scientific question: whether a signature associated with prognosis can help identify differences in treatment benefit.

Making a growing literature corpus usable

PDAOAI’s current index contains approximately 29 million PubMed abstracts. Myers addressed a practical challenge: selecting useful evidence from a growing literature base when an AI model can process only a finite amount of information at once.

The workflow combines semantic and keyword search with PubMed filters and reranking. Researchers can search the broader index or supply selected PubMed identifiers and abstracts. Shell sampling explores related ideas beyond the closest matches while keeping the research question in focus.

Partitioned Literature Aggregation, or PLA, analyzes defined groups of literature separately using the same question, then combines the summaries. This gives each group an explicit assessment while preserving each group’s context. Researchers review source papers, assess conflicting findings, and refine questions when evidence is incomplete. Some questions require examination of full papers beyond their abstracts.

An HCC case study with a reproducible survival signal

Saund’s presentation applied that approach to a historical study covering 4.4 million abstract records across 24 overlapping disease corpora. That study scope is distinct from PDAOAI’s current approximately 29 million-abstract index. Assessing each disease separately aimed to reduce the risk that differences in publication volume would crowd less-published diseases out of a limited evidence window. Evidence quality still matters.

The HCC investigation began with an important negative clinical result. As Saund reported, the EVOLVE-1 trial in 546 patients with advanced HCC after sorafenib found no overall survival benefit from everolimus: median survival was 7.6 months versus 7.3 months with placebo, with a hazard ratio of 1.05 and P = 0.68. That outcome prompted a closer examination of whether mTOR-related biology could distinguish patient groups.

The literature work generated candidate genes, and subsequent survival analysis narrowed a 12-gene set to FKBP1A, EIF4E, RRAGC, and PPARGC1A. The adverse score adds standardized expression values for the first three genes and subtracts the standardized expression value for PPARGC1A. Higher scores were associated with poorer survival.

In an exploratory KM Plotter discovery analysis showing 364 patients at time zero, the high adverse-score group had an overall survival hazard ratio of 2.59 relative to the low-score group (95% confidence interval 1.80–3.74; log-rank P = 1.1 × 10⁻⁷). Median survival was 37.8 months in the high-score group and 84.4 months in the low-score group. Saund identified this as an outcome-informed discovery analysis.

The survival association reproduced in an independent Japanese cohort of 203 patients from ICGC LIRI-JP/HCCDB18, using the same four genes and scoring directions. According to the presentation, the association remained after accounting for age, sex, and cancer stage. The research was described in a submitted manuscript cited in the slides.

These findings support further research into the signature as a prognostic marker. They do not yet establish that it predicts benefit from everolimus, the investigational Sapu003 formulation developed through Oncotelic’s joint venture, or another mTOR-directed therapy. Saund outlined subsequent work involving a consistent gene test and fixed scoring formula, laboratory response studies, and controlled patient studies comparing treatment benefit across gene patterns.

Connecting research hypotheses with development capabilities

The HCC findings also provide a rationale for further research related to Sapu003, Oncotelic’s joint venture’s investigational intravenous formulation of everolimus developed using its Deciparticle(TM) technology. PDAOAI helps identify and assess biological hypotheses; formulation capabilities address how a potential treatment could be delivered. Establishing clinical value requires further experimental and clinical testing.

Saund also discussed literature-derived hypotheses involving YAP1 in taxane resistance and FOXO3 in aging and cellular maintenance. These examples broaden the platform’s potential research applications, with experimental validation still required.

Both presenters highlighted BIO REBOOT, which invites scientists, AI developers, biotech founders, individuals, and teams to bring research questions and therapeutic concepts to PDAOAI. Selected projects may qualify for startup funding and development support involving computational chemistry, biological validation, formulation, regulatory planning, and clinical development. Support depends on scientific review, available resources, and agreed terms.

The conference presentations give investors a clearer view of how Oncotelic intends to connect its research platform with drug-development opportunities. Scott’s talk explained the discovery workflow; Saran’s HCC case study demonstrated a specific hypothesis with a survival association reproduced in a separate cohort. The next step is to test whether the signature can guide treatment decisions and inform drug development.

BIO REBOOT registration is available at https://pdaoai.com/bio-reboot.

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

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

Disseminated on behalf of SPARC AI Inc. and may include paid advertising.

• GPS jamming, spoofing and signal obstruction are creating growing challenges for drones operating in contested and infrastructure-limited environments.
• SPARC AI’s Overwatch platform is designed to provide GPS-denied positioning through a software-based service that uses existing flight telemetry without requiring additional onboard hardware.
• Recent flight tests, including a demonstration with the drone’s camera covered, highlight the company’s efforts to differentiate its approach from vision-dependent navigation alternatives.

Whether a delivery drone is navigating between tall buildings or a military aircraft is operating amid electronic warfare, reliable positioning is essential. As autonomous systems become more widely deployed, dependence on satellite navigation can become a critical vulnerability when GPS signals are disrupted or manipulated.

SPARC AI Inc. (CSE: SPAI) (OTCQB: SPAIF) is addressing this challenge through Overwatch, its software-based positioning platform designed for GPS-denied environments. The company aims to provide an alternative source of positioning without requiring additional onboard hardware, helping operators improve resilience while minimizing integration costs and complexity.

The Growing Vulnerability of GPS

GPS and other global navigation satellite systems (“GNSS”) are vulnerable to interference. Jamming disrupts satellite signals, while spoofing introduces misleading positioning information that can send autonomous systems off course.

These risks are particularly relevant in contested environments, where electronic warfare can interfere with navigation. Drones operating in cities, around infrastructure or in areas with limited satellite visibility can also experience positioning challenges.

When reliable positioning is lost, a drone may struggle to follow its intended route, coordinate tasks or accurately determine a target’s location. As autonomous systems take on more commercial and defence responsibilities, having a fallback when satellite navigation becomes unreliable is increasingly important.

The Limitations of Traditional Alternatives

Several technologies can support navigation without GPS, but each involves trade-offs. Inertial navigation systems estimate movement using onboard sensors, although errors can accumulate over time and higher-performance equipment can increase cost, size, weight and power requirements.

Vision-based and LiDAR systems offer other options but may require additional sensors and processing capacity. Their effectiveness can also depend on environmental conditions and the availability of recognizable visual or geometric features.

These considerations matter for operators deploying large fleets of relatively inexpensive drones. Adding specialized hardware to every aircraft can increase costs and complicate maintenance, creating demand for alternatives that work with existing equipment.

A Software-Based Approach to GPS-Denied Positioning

SPARC AI’s Overwatch platform is designed to address this challenge by processing existing drone telemetry through a network service and returning geographic coordinates. According to the company, the approach does not require additional onboard hardware, airframe modifications or new software installations on the drone.

In September 2026, SPARC AI reported completing flight tests in which Overwatch calculated target locations while the drone’s camera lens was physically covered. The company said the platform generated coordinates using flight telemetry rather than image recognition or preloaded reference imagery.

This distinction could matter in environments where visual information is unavailable or difficult to use. However, the reported demonstration does not establish performance across every GPS-denied condition, and further validation across different operating environments remains important.

Overwatch is also designed to support different compatible drone platforms. By using existing telemetry and returning geographic coordinates, SPARC AI aims to reduce integration barriers for operators managing mixed fleets.

Potential Applications and Commercial Opportunity

For drone operators, a positioning alternative must be practical as well as technically capable. A software-based service could help reduce the need for additional onboard equipment while offering a common approach across compatible aircraft.

The architecture does have an important consideration: Overwatch requires a suitable communications link to exchange data with the service. It therefore offers an alternative to satellite-based positioning, but should not be regarded as entirely independent of communications infrastructure in every operating condition.

Beyond defence, resilient positioning could be valuable for infrastructure inspections, industrial monitoring, surveying and other commercial drone operations. The potential benefits will depend on demonstrated accuracy, latency, communications availability and integration requirements in specific environments.

For SPARC AI, the opportunity ultimately rests on translating its technical approach into reliable performance and customer adoption. Its software-based architecture offers a different way to address GPS vulnerability, but commercial success will depend on how effectively it meets operators’ real-world requirements.

Building Resilience into Autonomous Systems

GPS remains an important navigation technology, but its susceptibility to interference makes reliance on satellite signals alone increasingly risky for some autonomous operations. SPARC AI is positioning Overwatch as an alternative source of positioning that works with existing telemetry rather than requiring additional onboard navigation hardware.

The company’s reported camera-covered flight tests provide a recent example of its efforts to demonstrate this approach. As autonomous systems become more prevalent, solutions that combine practical integration with dependable GPS-denied performance could become an increasingly important component of operational resilience.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://sparcai.co.

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

• Mobilicom’s platform-agnostic technologies were selected by more than 50 customers, providing exposure to multiple manufacturers across defense and commercial drones, robotics, and autonomous systems.
• Production deliveries tied to $2.2 million in OPF-L orders are proceeding on a monthly cadence, while the company’s nine Tier-1 platform opportunities span development, initial production, and production ramp-up.
• Recent customer selections combine OS3 and ICE software with communications hardware and ground control stations, demonstrating Mobilicom’s ability to increase its technology content within individual platforms.
• Mobilicom’s NDAA compliance, Blue UAS Framework Select status, FCC Trusted Drone inclusion, AUVSI Trusted Cyber testing, and DD1494 approval support its participation in U.S. and allied defense programs.
• Mobilicom reported $1.7 million in revenue, up 19% year over year, and a 52% gross margin for the first half of 2026, alongside $15.2 million in cash and equivalents and no debt as of June 30, 2026.

Mobilicom (NASDAQ: MOB) is a provider of robust end-to-end hardware and software solutions for defense and commercial drones, robotics, and autonomous systems. The company serves original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) seeking to keep unmanned platforms connected, protected, and operational during demanding missions, including in environments exposed to interference and cyber threats.

Its business combines proprietary hardware and software with engineering expertise, generating revenue through product sales, software licensing, and professional support services. Mobilicom works with manufacturers to integrate its technologies into their platforms, supporting customers from development and testing through deployment and ongoing operation.

The company’s Secured Autonomy(TM) framework centers on platform security, communications and electronic warfare protection, and fleet-level security. Through this approach, Mobilicom aims to help manufacturers bring secure autonomous systems into service while simplifying integration and supporting mission reliability.

The company maintains operations in the United States and Israel, with its operational headquarters in Shoham, Israel.

Products

Cybersecurity Software: OS3 and ICE

Mobilicom’s OS3 software protects autonomous platforms and fleets by monitoring host, network, and application layers and responding automatically to cyber threats. Available through partner integrations or direct licensing, it supports platform integrity, fleet security policies, and isolation of compromised units.

The complementary ICE software suite provides electronic warfare resistance, datalink cybersecurity, and encryption. Base protection is installed on Mobilicom datalinks, with higher protection levels available through software licenses. Mobilicom states that the suite can defend against more than 10 types of cyber breaches and malicious attacks in real time without requiring operator intervention. Together, OS3 and ICE underpin Mobilicom’s Secured Autonomy framework, extending protection from individual platforms and communications links to entire fleets. The company works with mission computer and autonomy providers to integrate this protection into their systems, reducing engineering requirements for manufacturers and accelerating deployment.

SkyHopper Secure Datalinks

SkyHopper software-defined radios deliver secure video, data, and control links for drones and robotics. The recently launched MultiBand combines broad spectrum coverage, adaptive frequency selection, and ICE electronic warfare resistance, while the wearable Tactical model supports ground operators with secure platform control, handoff, and range extension.

SkyHopper MultiBand and Tactical secured design wins and initial orders within months of launch. A returning Tier-1 Israeli defense customer selected the radios and ICE software for a soldier-portable loitering munition platform after field tests demonstrated MultiBand’s connectivity over extended distances in demanding conditions, while two U.S. Tier-1 manufacturers selected SkyHopper and ICE for reconnaissance drones.

Mobilicom is also converting customer relationships into production revenue, with $2.2 million in orders supporting the U.S. Marine Corps’ Organic Precision Fires-Light (“OPF-L”) Program of Record now shipping monthly. Its Tier-1 partner has also progressed within the U.S. Army’s Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (“LASSO”) program with Mobilicom technology embedded, supporting a potential additional production opportunity. Across its portfolio, Mobilicom’s nine Tier-1 platform opportunities include five in development, three in initial production, and one in production ramp-up.

Mobile Ground Control Stations

Mobilicom’s ruggedized ground control stations put secure command, control, and live video into operators’ hands through 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch systems supporting varied drone and robotics payloads. In September 2026, an Asia-based Tier-1 manufacturer serving military and industrial markets ordered additional stations for its robotics platforms, building on earlier purchases of Mobilicom’s SkyHopper datalinks and MCU Mesh Networking products.

Mesh Networking and Engineering Services

Mobilicom’s MCU Mesh Networking products combine software-defined radios with secure mobile networking to connect multiple robotic platforms without fixed communications infrastructure. They support video and data transmission across point-to-point, relay, and mesh configurations.

The company also provides engineering services covering system design, integration, testing, training, and maintenance, helping customers combine Mobilicom technologies with third-party components and move platforms into field operation.

Market Opportunity

Mobilicom targets the overlapping markets for small unmanned aircraft, drone cybersecurity, and robotics cybersecurity. Its investor presentation cites forecasts placing the small unmanned aerial vehicle market at $15 billion in 2025 and $27 billion by 2030, representing approximately 12% compound annual growth.

The same presentation projects the drone cybersecurity market to expand from $2.2 billion in 2023 to $10.7 billion by 2032, approximately 19% annual growth. Robotics cybersecurity is forecast to increase from $4.7 billion in 2025 to $14.3 billion by 2035, approximately 12% annual growth.

Government investment represents another source of potential demand identified in the presentation, which cites a fiscal 2027 U.S. defense budget request of $53.6 billion for autonomy, drone platforms, and contested logistics. Mobilicom addresses these markets through technologies that can be embedded across multiple manufacturers and platform categories, including aerial drones, unmanned ground vehicles, and other robotic systems.

Mobilicom has selected a U.S. manufacturing partner and, according to its September 2026 investor presentation, is negotiating a production agreement to support its U.S. manufacturing build-out.

Leadership Team

Oren Elkayam, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, previously served as CEO of materials technology company Sortech and vice president of business development at wireless semiconductor company Runcom. At Runcom, he negotiated agreements with major telecommunications companies and led international venture capital financings. He also managed technology projects as an officer in an Israeli Air Force research and development unit. Elkayam holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA, earned magna cum laude, from Ben-Gurion University.

Yossi Segal, VP R&D and Co-Founder, was a founding member and chief technology officer of Runcom, where he directed the development of three mobile chips and eight wireless broadband systems. His experience includes wireless technology patents, international commercial deployments, and contributions to IEEE and ETSI standards committees. He also served as an officer in an Israeli Army electronic warfare research and development unit. Segal holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and an MBA from Ben-Gurion University.

Udi Altshuler, General Manager, Mobilicom Israel, brings more than 25 years of operational and executive experience at technology manufacturers. Before Mobilicom, he served as chief operating officer of automotive cybersecurity company GuardKnox and held senior leadership positions at Elbit Systems, RADA Electronic Industries, BVR Systems, and Cyberbit. As an Israeli Air Force fighter pilot, he led testing and evaluation of advanced defense systems. Altshuler holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and philosophy from Tel Aviv University.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://mobilicom.com.

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

• Versus Systems, a leading provider of gamification and audience engagement technology, integrates Drinkfinger into its growing product marketing offerings.
• Drinkfinger uses QR-enabled beverage carriers to connect live-event attendees with mobile games, rewards and branded content.
• The company is targeting Latin American markets, where sports and entertainment events provide potential venues for interactive audience engagement.
• Versus’ Winfinite platform offers customizable web-based games that brands can use in promotional campaigns.
• Its Filter Fan Cam product brings augmented-reality effects into live venue experiences, creating additional sponsorship opportunities.
• Management also discussed the relationship between artificial intelligence and cybersecurity as Versus considers the future of its digital engagement ecosystem.

Versus Systems (NASDAQ: VS), a leading provider of gamification and audience engagement technology, is expanding its audience-engagement strategy through Drinkfinger, a QR-enabled beverage carrier initiative that links live-event attendees to interactive digital experiences. CEO Luis Goldner and members of the company’s leadership team outlined the initiative, its Latin American expansion plans and the company’s approach to artificial intelligence during a recent appearance on IBN’s Stock2Me Podcast.

The discussion focused on how Versus can turn a routine concession purchase into an entry point for digital interaction. Through Drinkfinger, fans scan a QR code on a beverage carrier to access games, promotional offers and event-related content on their phones. The approach is designed to reduce the steps between encountering a brand at a venue and participating in a digital campaign. According to the company, users can access these experiences through a web browser without downloading a dedicated application.

Drinkfinger is intended to extend Versus Systems’ existing software platform into physical event environments. The sustainable four-cup carrier provides a visible QR code that can connect consumers to a digital experience while they are attending a sporting event, concert or festival.

David Catzel, Versus’ chief transformation officer, described how a scan could launch a game tied to the event taking place around the attendee. Possible formats include trivia, prediction games, instant-win promotions and augmented-reality filters.

For brands and venues, the model offers a potential way to encourage participation beyond traditional signage or advertising displayed on screens. It also creates an opportunity to measure activity from the initial QR scan through subsequent interactions, subject to the company’s implementation and data-collection practices.

Versus is pursuing opportunities in Latin America, with management identifying the region’s live-event culture as a reason to introduce the initiative there. Flavio Maria, the company’s general manager for Latin America, joined Goldner and other executives in discussing the strategy. Brazil and Mexico were highlighted as markets where football matches, concerts and festivals could provide relevant settings for interactive promotions.

“LATAM is the perfect place to launch because it’s one of the most passionate live-event markets in the world,” Goldner said. “When people attend a football match, a concert or a festival in Brazil or Mexico, they’re not just spectators; they’re fully immersed in the experience. That’s exactly where Drinkfinger shines. It transforms something people already do, which is buying a drink, into an interactive digital experience. With one simple QR scan, fans unlock rewards, games, exclusive content and deeper engagement. Versus provides the technology to bring that whole experience to life.”

The region offers potential access to large live audiences, but converting that opportunity into a durable business will require partnerships with venues, event organizers and brands. Deployment will also depend on local commercial arrangements and the ability to deliver campaigns that appeal to attendees.

Marisol Casariego, head of partnerships for North America, and Hans Pasricha, head of products, also participated in the podcast. Their involvement reflects the cross-functional requirements of the initiative, which combines a physical product with software, promotional content and reward distribution.

Drinkfinger sits alongside Versus Systems’ existing products, including Winfinite and Filter Fan Cam.

Winfinite is the company’s gamified marketing platform, offering a library of customizable web-based games for promotional campaigns. Brands and content partners can use formats such as sports games, trivia and puzzles to encourage participation, with rewards that may include discounts, prizes or sweepstakes entries.

The platform is designed to reduce the development work required to launch campaigns. Its potential applications include digital promotions as well as activations tied to live events, where sponsors seek ways to make audience participation more interactive.

Filter Fan Cam takes a different approach. The product uses augmented-reality effects and visual overlays to enhance live camera feeds, allowing fans to appear on venue screens or in event coverage with branded effects. The company has previously described deployments at sports venues, including Globe Life Field during Texas Rangers home games. Such applications illustrate how interactive technology can be incorporated into existing event production and sponsorship activities.

Together, the products give Versus several ways to connect audiences with brands. Drinkfinger adds a physical point of entry, while Winfinite and Filter Fan Cam provide different types of digital interaction.

The podcast also addressed management’s view of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Goldner argued that as AI becomes more embedded in business systems and digital infrastructure, security needs to be considered alongside the adoption of new technology.

“As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded across business and critical digital infrastructure, cybersecurity can no longer be treated as a separate consideration,” Goldner said. “AI creates tremendous opportunities, but it also introduces new and increasingly sophisticated risks. We believe the future requires bringing AI innovation and cybersecurity together—helping organizations adopt advanced technologies while protecting the data, systems, and infrastructure they depend on.”

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

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

• Research cited in the article indicates that 1,314 people were killed by police in the United States last year, highlighting the complexity of public safety encounters.
• WRAP(R) is expanding its approach to Non-Lethal Response(TM) by connecting its platform with scenario-based training, evidence management and emerging threat-detection systems.
• The appointment of veteran law enforcement instructor John “Chappy” Chapman underscores the company’s focus on standardized training, instructor credentialing and broader agency adoption.

Public safety agencies are no longer looking for a single device to solve a single problem. As encounters become more complex and difficult to assess, conversation is increasingly shifting toward connected ecosystems that link technology, training and accountability. Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP), a Miami-based public safety technology company, is building its business around this shift, with a portfolio spanning remote restraint, virtual reality training, body-worn cameras and evidence management, as well as its newer detection-and-response platform, WrapShield(TM).

The challenges facing officers are well documented. Research cited in the article indicates that police killed approximately 1,314 people in the United States last year. One in five of those people reportedly showed symptoms of mental or behavioral health issues, while 89% of the deaths followed a call for service. A Statista breakdown of the same data indicates that 45% of these encounters began in nonviolent situations, including mental health and welfare checks.

State-level findings offer additional context. Maryland’s Independent Investigations Division investigated 45 fatal police shootings, with mental health crises accounting for 40% of those cases, according to a Maryland Association of Counties summary of the division’s 2025 annual report.

Encounters like these rarely fit a simple choice between talking and using force. A proportional response depends on several factors working together. Officers need options that can create time and distance, training that prepares them to make decisions under stress, and reliable records of what occurred. They may also need earlier warning of emerging threats, including those involving unmanned aircraft.

WRAP’s approach begins with remote restraint. Its flagship BolaWrap(R) 150 is a patented device that the company says does not rely on pain compliance and does not shoot, strike, shock or incapacitate. It is designed to provide officers with an additional option for restraining individuals from a distance before resorting to higher-force measures. The company reports that the instrument operates at a range of 10 to 25 feet and is used by more than 1,000 U.S. agencies and in over 60 countries.

A federal ruling announced this summer added another dimension to the product’s regulatory positioning. WRAP reported that ATF Ruling 2026-2, effective July 2, classifies the BolaWrap(R) 150 as “merely an instrument of restraint” rather than a firearm or “any other weapon”. The company believes the ruling could simplify purchasing for organizations such as corrections facilities, schools, hospitals and private and corporate security.

Yet technology alone is only part of the equation. For agencies to implement these options consistently, personnel need structured training and a framework for maintaining proficiency. That is the focus of WRAP Reality(TM), the company’s immersive virtual reality simulator designed to help officers practice decision-making under stress through interactive scenarios. It complements WRAP Tactics(TM), the company’s training program, while WRAP says its BolaWrap(R) 150 training is certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training.

A New Training Strategy Takes Shape

WRAP is now placing greater emphasis on scaling that training beyond individual deployment. On Oct. 9, the company announced the appointment of John “Chappy” Chapman as vice president of Training and Missions, bringing more than three decades of law enforcement, tactical operations, instructional development and leadership experience to the role.

Chapman will oversee Wrap’s national training and mission integration strategy, including a planned four-level training and credentialing framework, expansion of the company’s digital Learning Management System, state POST certification initiatives and broader adoption of its Non-Lethal Response doctrine.

The proposed framework is designed to create a pathway from frontline users to agency-based instructors and master instructors, with a credentialing board responsible for oversight and standards. By enabling agencies to train personnel internally through credentialed instructors, Wrap aims to reduce dependence on company-led instruction for every deployment while maintaining consistent training practices.

Chapman has been a principal author of Wrap’s Non-Lethal Response(TM) doctrine, which is under review for California POST certification, with additional state submissions anticipated. The framework is intended to address the operational space between verbal de-escalation and physical arrest-and-control techniques, incorporating tools such as the BolaWrap(R) 150 into a structured approach to early intervention and subject restraint.

The company also plans to expand digital learning and ongoing credential management, potentially creating opportunities for recurring training and program-support services alongside technology deployments. While the commercial impact will depend on agency adoption, procurement and certification outcomes, the appointment signals that WRAP views training as a core part of its longer-term business strategy, rather than simply an accessory to equipment sales.

Connecting Restraint, Evidence and Threat Detection

Training is one part of Wrap’s broader effort to connect the different stages of public safety operations. 

WrapShield(TM) extends the company’s ambitions into earlier threat detection and response coordination. Launched this summer, the platform is organized around three layers. The first focuses on detecting threats, initially using thermal-polarimetric imaging technology licensed from Israel-based Frenel Imaging. The second uses AI-assisted, human-supervised tools to classify threats and recommend responses. The third coordinates the response itself, with countering unmanned aircraft as the initial application.

“WrapShield represents our long-term vision for the future of defense and public safety,” said WRAP CEO Scot Cohen. “We’re beginning with one of the most urgent operational challenges facing the world today — countering the rapidly growing threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems. As asymmetric threats become more accessible to lone actors and sophisticated adversaries alike, our customers need platform-level solutions that match the speed, scale and economics of the threat. WrapShield is our answer: an autonomous platform that is designed to enable earlier detection, AI-assisted decision support, and integration with the response technologies our customer’s trust.”

The response side of the portfolio is also evolving. On July 15, Wrap unveiled Wraptor MX(TM), a multi-shot restraint platform whose prototype can fire three consecutive BolaWrap(R) 150 deployments before reloading. Up to 10 law enforcement agencies are expected to receive early access. The company positions Wraptor MX(TM) between the handheld BolaWrap(R) 150 and DFR-X, a drone-deployed system that operates under human-authorization protocols.

Wrap has also announced plans to add laser-based counter-drone technology to WrapShield(TM). That capability remains in development, and definitive agreements have not been signed, according to the company’s announcement. Wrap has said human authorization would be required at every tier of the system.

Several components of this strategy remain at different stages of development and adoption. Wraptor MX(R) is precommercial, WrapShield(TM)’s initial application focuses on countering unmanned aircraft, and the new training and credentialing framework still faces implementation and certification milestones. Nevertheless, the broader direction is becoming clearer: Wrap is working to connect remote restraint, training, evidence management and threat detection within a more integrated public safety offering.

By pairing its technologies with standardized instruction and ongoing agency support, WRAP aims to give public safety organizations more options for managing complex encounters while building a business that extends beyond the sale of individual devices.

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

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

About / Disclaimer

This article was produced by IBN Editorial Staff and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not investment advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. Statements attributed to Wrap Technologies Inc. or its management, including any forward-looking statements regarding revenue growth, product development, or market opportunities, reflect the company’s views and are subject to risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ materially. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult a qualified professional. Additional company information is available at wrap.com.