• SideChannel is a company focused on making cybersecurity simple and accessible based on the belief that all companies, including small and mid-sized businesses, deserve top-tier security guidance
• Currently, companies are facing the potential of stiffer economic times, demanding more cost-effective solutions to maintain and grow operations
• In these uncertain times, SideChannel offers a significant cost advantage as it provides top-tier security guidance at a manageable cost

In response to tighter budgets, companies have been focused on reducing expenses, streamlining operations, managing cash flows, and building cash reserves, among other interventions. At the same time, companies are recognizing the growing importance of cybersecurity. A November 2022 Global Tech Investment Predictions Report published by IBM and Morning Consult ranks cybersecurity solutions as the second top technology companies plan to invest in over the next two years, after 5G. The report further lists cyber risks as the leading factor driving investments in technology in organizations (https://ibn.fm/sMTnN). Furthermore, separate predictions expect the rising cybersecurity threats and risks to continue into 2023 and beyond (https://ibn.fm/nvHfO), crystallizing the decision by companies to pursue the above investments. The need to control costs is forcing companies to prioritize less expensive services over costlier products (https://ibn.fm/P61Hn). Coupled with the growing demand for cybersecurity, companies are aggressively seeking the most cost-effective solutions to keep their operations safe. The situation works to the advantage of SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH), a company on a mission to make cybersecurity accessible and affordable. SideChannel was founded with the belief that all companies – small and mid-sized businesses (“SMBs”) as well as large corporations – deserve top-tier security guidance at a manageable cost. Even large corporations, with greater revenue and bigger budgets, are looking for cost-saving measures. At the other end of the spectrum, SMBs face special challenges to maintain operations and growth. In both cases, SideChannel offers a significant cost advantage over its peers. SideChannel’s mandate is simple: it matches companies with an expert virtual Chief Information Security Officer (“vCISO”). These vCISOs have decades of private and public sector experience solving critical problems for both large companies and SMBs. The vCISO creates a strategic vision, allocates resources, and creates protocols to maintain an appropriately sized and effective security program. The experienced vCISO experts also assess organizations’ respective cyber risks and align the security initiatives to the organizations’ goals. Additionally, they create resilient and cost-effective cyber programs that meet the prevailing policies and standards, thus ensuring cybersecurity compliance. SideChannel also provides additional risk management services, offering Enclave, a network micro-segmentation software, and RealCISO, an intuitive software platform that allows companies to take free risk assessment as well as easily manage and understand cyber risk. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SideChannel.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SDCH are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SDCH

• Reklaim announced financing with gross aggregate proceeds of up to $1 million; the company intends to use the net proceeds to capitalize on a favorable market environment as data privacy gains momentum
• When California introduced the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) in 2018, it set an example for other U.S. states that followed suit, enacting their own privacy laws
• As new laws enforce additional requirements for brands and businesses regarding their data privacy practices, new opportunities will continue to emerge for companies like Reklaim

Reklaim (TSX.V: MYID) (OTCQB: MYIDF), a company focused on enabling consumers to reclaim their online information and monetize it, announces a non-brokered financing that involves a common share offering with gross aggregate proceeds of up to $1 million (https://ibn.fm/6ROPK). The company will seek to use the net proceeds for acquisition, sales growth, and general corporate purposes amid a favorable data privacy environment as an impetus on protecting data privacy gains momentum across the country.

California is upping the data privacy game for businesses that have access to consumers’ personal information as the new California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) goes into effect on January 1, 2023, applying to personal data collected on or after January 1, 2022. The California Privacy Protection Agency was created to enforce these privacy laws (https://ibn.fm/5wQXq).

The new act, which supplements and amends the existing California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) of 2018, will give California-based consumers and employees the right to know who is collecting their information and who has access to it. They can correct inaccuracies, delete and transfer their personal information, and limit or prevent its use and sharing without being penalized. Finally, residents can opt-out of targeted advertising.

Companies are racing to get ready for the new data privacy reality and comply with new rules in time. For example, Snapchat is rolling out a new privacy setting designed to comply with the CPRA (https://ibn.fm/PRvcW).

Although California leads the way in the U.S. regarding data privacy regulations, these new laws are part of a nationwide trend as individual states seek to respond to consumers’ growing concerns over data privacy issues. Many states have joined California in this privacy push, including Connecticut, Colorado, Utah, and Virginia, which all passed similar privacy laws. As a result, tracking compliance with these states’ data privacy laws can be challenging (https://ibn.fm/aIr5c).

Well-positioned to support brands and businesses in their bids to prepare for the new data privacy future, Reklaim provides higher-quality, consensual and consumer-verified data. Its unique platform rewards users for sharing their data while providing verified datasets that advertisers can access for a fee. As demand for compliant consumer data continues to swell amid tightening regulations, Reklaim aims to step in as a reliable partner that works to create value for both sides of the consumer data market – from brands to consumers. Seeking to capitalize on the intensified global focus on data privacy, the aspiration of consumers to monetize their personal data, and rising commercial demands for consumer-generated insights, Reklaim appears well-positioned to benefit from the newly emerging data privacy landscape.

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

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

It’s time for cannabis industry leaders and enthusiasts in Canada, and across North America, to gather and refresh their cannabis knowledge and connections at Lift Vancouver 2023 taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre from January 12-14, 2023. Lift is Canada’s #1 Cannabis Conference and Trade Show, engaged in curating and presenting quality cannabis content to audiences throughout the full cannabis ecosystem while establishing collaborative relationships among them. Lift is a premier networking arena in Canada and beyond for cannabis traders, enthusiasts, industry professionals, consumers, media, and investors, to get direct access to B2B buyers and retailers. The Lift Cannabis Business Conference, the premiere conference to be held on day-one of the event, will offer a multitude of valuable insights and knowledge on topics ranging from regulations to indigenous cannabis to cannabis blockchain. As a robust forum to learn and establish meaningful ties, cannabis investors can gain visibility with the wider cannabis industry and businesses represented on this dynamic platform. The Lift trade show/expo takes place throughout days two and three, featuring cannabis industry businesses, brands and innovators who will showcase their novel products and ideas to an engaging and informed audience. The new Brand Discovery Zone and Micro & Small Batch Craft Growers Area are two new additions to the event that will offer innovative experiences to budtenders, retailers and consumers. What’s more, the new Lift Budtender Program celebrates the hard-working unsung heroes of the cannabis industry who are pivotal in connecting consumers and brands every day. The Lift event is being held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, an iconic venue set against a beautiful waterfront sheltered by snow-capped mountains. This well-connected venue offers convenient access to all major hubs in the city as well as to Lift’s premium partner hotel, The Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, a luxury hotel destination with mesmerizing views of the Vancouver skyline. All cannabis industry members, as well as consumers and patients, are invited to attend. Partnerships and exhibits are also still available, for the opportunity to showcase products, generate new leads, gain media coverage, and connect with industry leaders and decision-makers at the only event connecting the full cannabis industry and community in Western Canada. To learn more, please visit https://liftexpo.ca/lift-co-expo-vancouver-2023/ and https://liftexpo.ca/tickets-vancouver-2023/.

• CubCrafters is a producer of best-in-class backcountry aircraft made under the light sport, experimental, and FAA-certified (Part 23 certified) aircraft categories
• In 2022, the company achieved several milestones, including filing and receiving qualification for a public offering under the Regulation A+ exemption, marking the first time the company has opened to outside investment in its 42-year history
• The company aims to raise $50 million, channeling the proceeds from the offering toward accelerating manufacturing, enhancing manufacturing capabilities, furthering innovation, and improving customer service
• CubCrafters also released a new, improved engine for its Experimental aircraft
• In addition, CubCrafters announced its flagship XCub aircraft had been selected by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) for a new government aircraft-fleet-modernization contract

Though not new, backcountry aviation has exploded in the past 25 years, according to an article in the Plane&Pilot Magazine, driven in part by pilots’ need to fly their own aircraft for the rewards of the experience and adventure (https://ibn.fm/Zguzn). This growth has pushed demand for backcountry aircraft capable of taking off and landing on varied rough terrain or water, let alone well-groomed and paved runways. For a backcountry aircraft manufacturer whose history spans more than 40 years, CubCrafters has witnessed firsthand the explosion of the industry. And to quench aviation enthusiasts’ ever-growing desire for backcountry and light aircraft, the Yakima, Washington-based company has been growing to meet the task. Guided by superior quality, industry-leading innovation, and independent thinking, CubCrafters has changed the face of backcountry aviation by producing and selling seven innovative models of light aircraft. Segmented into three categories – Light Sport Aircraft (“LSA”), Experimental Builder Assist (“E/AB”), and Part 23 certified aircraft – the models include the Carbon Cub SS, Carbon Cub FX-2, Carbon Cub FX-3, Carbon Cub EX-2, Carbon Cub EX-3, NXCub, and XCub. As CEO Patrick Horgan emphasized in a recent interview with Bell2Bell’s Stuart Smith (https://ibn.fm/XP5yM), CubCrafters has been a “continually growing company since inception.” Continual as it may be, this growth can be analyzed through the lens of the progress made on an annual basis, leading up to 2022 when the company invited outside investment for the first time. Founded in 1980 by Jim Richmond, CubCrafters has always funded its operations organically. “We are a 42-year-old company that has been [primarily] funded organically. We are a company of innovation, so we are always innovating new products, and we have always done that organically,” Horgan said in the interview. “But as the company has matured and our demands have grown – our demands [include] over two years of booked orders – [so too has] the need to accelerate our manufacturing and growth, enhance our manufacturing capabilities, continue our innovation, and move at a quicker pace.” With this realization, the company recognized the unique opportunity that lay in offering shares to the public and raising capital for further development. In July, 2022, CubCrafters announced its intention to allow new public investment in the company under the Regulation A+ (“Reg A+”) exemption (https://ibn.fm/saqmj). Subsequent to this, the company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for qualification to launch the public offering. In the meantime, and before receiving the qualification, CubCrafters, through its advisor Manhattan Street Capital, began allowing potential investors to reserve shares at $5 per share. The non-binding reservations would provie the potential investors the first opportunity to purchase shares. In just 48 hours following that announcement, potential investors had reserved more than 1 million shares of stock (https://ibn.fm/WgwdS), with Brad Damm, CubCrafters VP of Sales, commenting: “Reservations for over 10% of our $50 million goal in only two days is just amazing. This level of interest from the aviation community and the general public tells us that they see real value in our company and want to help it grow.” By the end of the second week post-announcement, the reservations had exceeded 25% of the target amount ($12.5 million). In just 90 days, the company had received reservations for over $25 million of its shares, further underscoring the overwhelming interest and investor demand the company’s capital raise has received so far. In November, CubCrafters’ desire to expand its operations received an extra boost when the SEC qualified the Reg A+ exemption, allowing investors to being purchasing the shares they reserved, and also opening the door for those who haven’t previously placed a reservation (https://ibn.fm/sn39G). “This was a great first step in securing the vision of our founder, Jim Richmond, who wanted to give the public an opportunity to participate in the growth of the company,” said Horgan of the qualification. “Now that we have been qualified by the SEC, we look forward to welcoming new investors to CubCrafters and working on their behalf to drive long-term shareholder value.” In addition to the filing and receiving qualification for the Reg A+ public offering, CubCrafters also achieved several other milestones this year. In August, for instance, the company introduced a new lightweight engine for the E/A-B Carbon Cub series of aircraft. Called the CC363i F/P, the new engine is a fixed-pitch version of the larger displacement 186 horsepower (“HP”) fuel-injected constant-speed prop engine that CubCrafters first introduced in 2017. The new engine is only offered exclusively on the Carbon Cub EX-2, EX-3, FX-2, and FX-3 (https://ibn.fm/hVdEm). More recently, CubCrafters announced December 6 that its flagship certified CC19 XCub aircraft had been selected by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) for a new government aircraft-fleet-modernization contract, extending a long working relationship that began in 2003 (https://ibn.fm/bviTl). Horgan observed that the long relationship is a “strong testament to our ability to design and manufacture exceptionally rugged utility aircraft for backcountry missions.” For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CubCrafters.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CubCrafters Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CUB

• Dr. Joachim-Friedrich Kapp is leading Aditxt’s ADI(TM) immune modulation technology development toward clinical trials
• The global psoriasis therapeutics market was valued at $22.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $55.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.3%
• The primary goal of the first-in-human clinical trial is to demonstrate the safety of Aditxt’s ADI(TM) technology; in addition, the trial has been designed to evaluate the ability of ADI(TM) to restore immune tolerance

Aditxt (NASDAQ: ADTX), a biotech innovation company developing and commercializing technologies with a focus on monitoring and modulating the immune system, is focused on mapping and reprogramming the immune system, designing technologies to provide a personalized immune profile. These technologies are being developed to retrain the immune system to induce tolerance, to address, among other things, the rejection of transplanted organs, autoimmune diseases and allergies. The company’s first commercial product, AditxtScore(TM), is designed to provide a personalized immune system profile. In late October 2022, Aditxt announced the creation of its Adimune(TM) program. At the same time, Aditxt announced that Adimune(TM) initiated the GMP manufacturing of drug candidate ADI(TM)-100 for purposes of initiating human trials. The trial will be performed in autoimmune diseases, with psoriasis as the first indication to be studied. Adimune’s(TM) nucleic acid-based technology, ADI(TM), has shown in preclinical studies the ability to restore/induce immune tolerance in an antigen-specific way without impairing the immune response to fight infections and cancer. According to Amro Albanna, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Aditxt, the company’s vision is dedicated to a new era of precision medicine through individual immune monitoring and modulation. “We are laser-focused on advancing each of our innovation programs toward commercialization. Adimune’s(TM) initiation of ADI(TM)-100 manufacturing is measurable progress of Adimune(TM) toward our 2023 strategic goals,” Albanna added (https://ibn.fm/HbamR). The company is focused on the concept of “moving from infection status to protection status.” Psoriasis is a persistent skin disorder characterized mainly by skin irritation and scaly rashes where skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. It is classified as a non-contagious autoimmune disease and is considered to be a long-term disorder. The global psoriasis therapeutics market was valued at $22.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $55.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.3%. The market is expected to grow due to the rising awareness and incidence of psoriasis and skin disorders associated with it globally (https://ibn.fm/pAj0E). The safety profile for the drug candidate was earlier established in preclinical toxicology studies for ADI(TM)-100. Dr. Joachim-Friedrich Kapp, M.D., Ph.D., a 30-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry and former president of the Therapeutics Business Unit at the multinational pharmaceutical company Schering AG, is leading Adimune’s(TM) ADI(TM) immune modulation technology development toward clinical trials. Dr. Kapp spoke about the psoriasis trial, saying that Adimune’s(TM) approach to treating autoimmune diseases may have a game-changing impact in a worldwide market estimated at 125 million psoriasis patients and more than 1.2 million Type 1 diabetes patients under the age of 20. “The ADI(TM) technology is very different from immunosuppressant drugs in that it restores immune tolerance. Our proof-of-concept trials are designed to demonstrate just that,” he explained. About Aditxt Aditxt is a biotech innovation company developing and commercializing technologies focused on monitoring and reprogramming the immune system. Aditxt’s immune monitoring technologies are designed to provide a personalized immune profile. Aditxt’s immune reprogramming technologies, currently preclinical, are being developed to retrain the immune system to induce tolerance to address rejection of transplanted organs, autoimmune diseases and allergies. For more information, visit the company’s websites at www.Aditxt.com and www.AditxtScore.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ADTX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ADTX

• The USDA is set to include hemp data in its 2022 Census of Agriculture, another indication of the ongoing growth in support of the overall cannabis industry, benefitting related mortgage origination and financing company REZYFi, Inc.
• The legal marijuana industry is set to hit 53% in 2026, a 60% growth, with international legal marijuana sales expected to hit $130 billion by 2030
• REZYFi is confident that this move by the USDA will yield further growth in the cannabis sector, supporting demand for its product offerings as it expands to additional states throughout the U.S.

In 2014, the Farm Bill, regarded as a monumental step towards the legalization of hemp and marijuana, opened the door for the Hemp Research Pilot Program. The program would allow for hemp cultivation for research purposes, kickstarting a budding multi-billion-dollar industry. The 2018 Farm Bill expanded on the provisions offered by the 2014 Farm Bill, further establishing the Domestic Hemp Production Program and even pushing for the amendment of the Agricultural Marketing Act. This program was administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) (https://ibn.fm/cU5sB). In what marks another notable move in the right direction, the USDA is set to include hemp data in its 2022 Census of Agriculture. It is noted that with this inclusion, the organization is pushing the conversation around hemp and marijuana forward. It also signals the eventual integration and support of the overall cannabis industry (https://ibn.fm/5nwGL). With this support, various companies within the sector are set to benefit, REZYFi being one of them. REZYFi is a growth mortgage origination and specialized financing company based in the United States. It originates, structures, and invests in first mortgage loans and alternative structured financings, targeting licensed and permitted cannabis companies, owners of real estate who lease to cannabis companies, and companies and individual homeowners seeking a variety of real estate-related and additional mortgage-based financing. It is estimated that by 2026, the legal marijuana industry will have grown by 60% to hit $53 billion, with total international legal marijuana sales expected to hit $130 billion by 2030 (https://ibn.fm/Zpb2F). This growth will have a positive financial upside, down to a state level, as evidenced by Arizona’s $284 million tax revenue collection since it legalized marijuana. Additional upsides will include increased investment opportunities, job growth, and savings (https://ibn.fm/8g9Rf). REZYFi is banking on the federal legalization of this product. Its management is optimistic that this recent move by the USDA to include hemp data is a step in the right direction. More importantly, the company understands that this inclusion gives farmers a voice in the matter and the power to influence policy in a way that would favor the industry’s growth. “The 2022 Census of Agriculture is a powerful voice for American Agriculture,” noted Tom Vilsack, the Agriculture Secretary. “The information gathered through the ag census influences policy decisions that will have a tremendous impact on ag producers and their communities for years to come. This is your opportunity to share your voice, uplift the value and showcase the uniqueness of American agriculture,” he added. Freddie Mac, a home loan mortgage corporation, projected a 10.4% increase in home prices in 2022 and a 5% bump in 2023 (https://ibn.fm/sOvEl). REZYFi notes that the cannabis industry is expected to paint a similar picture, which would be integral to its growth. The increasing support of the cannabis industry is proving more promising while presenting many growth opportunities for companies such as REZYFi. As such, the company is confident that it will continue experiencing growth as the demand for its offerings continues to grow and as it also expands to various states within the country. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.REZYFi.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to REZYFi are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/REZY

• CNS Pharmaceuticals is conducting a potentially pivotal clinical trial in the United States and Europe to establish the effectiveness of a drug candidate for combating incurable glioblastoma (“GBM”) brain cancers
• CNS’s flagship drug candidate is called Berubicin, a product initially developed by another company with encouraging small-population results in 2006, and CNS is expanding the testing with expectations of eventually delivering an innovative new GBM treatment to market
• The company aims to enroll more than 200 patients in its global Berubicin trial on a 2:1 randomization schema comparing Berubicin-treated patients to those receiving second-line standard of care chemotherapy agent lomustine
• The company recently reported that patient enrollment has risen to 67 across its varied sites, with plans to provide an interim analysis of the trials’ progress in mid-2023

A Phase 2, globally sited clinical trial evaluating the potential efficacy of a promising brain cancer drug candidate against deadly glioblastoma (“GBM”) tumors is proceeding apace with a variety of patient profiles, affirming the drug developer’s confidence in its product. 

In a Dec. 8 news release, CNS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CNSP) reported that 67 patients have enrolled in the potentially pivotal study comparing drug candidate Berubicin’s effectiveness to second-line standard of care chemotherapy drug lomustine.

GBM tumors are aggressive, with most patients dying within about a year of diagnosis and only 10 percent or less surviving to five years. First-line treatment generally involves surgical removal of as much of the tumor as possible, followed by targeted radiation therapy. But because of the difficulty in removing the entire tumor from critical function brain cells, the cancer usually regrows, making it practically 100 percent fatal.

Second-line chemotherapy treatment tends to have limited effectiveness, in large part because scientists have been unable to demonstrate that anthracyclines used in chemotherapy can cross the blood-brain barrier and achieve significant levels of activity in the brain. But Berubicin has demonstrated a unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

“Although data are still early, we are pleased with these results in terms of recruiting a balanced patient population to compare Berubicin to Lomustine in the treatment of GBM, which may highlight Berubicin’s potential to provide a better therapeutic option for patients after first-line therapy for their disease,” CNS Pharmaceuticals CEO John Climaco stated in the news release (https://ibn.fm/ZbgT2). “We remain steadfast in our efforts to drive patient enrollment across the U.S. and Europe and are making significant progress toward our planned interim analysis, which we expect to occur in mid-2023.”

The company’s recent report notes that between the Berubicin and lomustine arms of the ongoing trial, demographics including age, gender and race are comparable and that the percentage of patients continuing on study or having withdrawn is also comparable.

The company plans to have more than 200 patients participate in the clinical trial on a 2:1 randomization schema between those receiving Berubicin and those receiving lomustine. Prior stages of the clinical study have examined Berubicin’s safety in human patients and potential effectiveness against lab cells.

Berubicin’s performance in an initial safety trial conducted by another company in 2006 resulted in apparent life extension for some patients and complete remission for one patient who, unusually, survives nearly 17 years later.

The ongoing study now seeks to demonstrate overall survivability of GBM patients using Berubicin, established by a decrease in the size of the tumor, arrested development of the tumor’s size once the patient is put on study, and / or a favorable change in the time to progression of the tumors.

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

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

• Cannabis cultivator and international brand developer Flora Growth has continued to build its revenues through accretive acquisitions during the past year and expects to see revenues continue to rise amid further M&A activity
• Flora expects to lock in its latest acquisition by the end of the month after shareholders meet to discuss the proposed deal with multi-national operator Franchise Global Health (“FGH”), which would grant Flora immediate access to Germany’s cannabis market and FGH the ability to overcome supply chain difficulties
• Flora has previously reported cooperative agreements that increase its product distribution pipeline in Europe through Switzerland and the Czech Republic

In spite of outside pressures on the cannabis sector, some analysts are predicting a reversal in the trend during the coming months (https://ibn.fm/NDYRj), and the most resourceful companies are continuing to build income channels amid the slowdown.

International cannabis cultivator, Flora Growth (NASDAQ: FLGC) has boosted its YOY revenues more than five fold since Q3 2021 thanks to its strategic acquisitions, and its ambitious growth outlook includes the establishment of a global presence in key markets while creating an ecosystem for its multiple cannabis and wellness brands.

Flora Growth’s newest effort to boost its portfolio comes in the form of an agreement to acquire multi-national operator Franchise Global Health Inc., a company that serves 1,200 pharmacies in Germany through its wholly owned subsidiaries ACA Muller and Phatebo.

Flora Growth believes the acquisition will be transformative, enabling it to connect its Colombian-grown cannabis directly with German-based pharmaceutical and medical cannabis distribution. Franchise Global Health will hold a special shareholder meeting to review the pending acquisition this month, and Flora expects the deal to close by year’s end, according to a company news release (https://ibn.fm/RqHit). [See https://ibn.fm/rIBPK for full Zacks Small-Cap Research report.]

Flora has already been making inroads into Europe thanks to a new openness to creating a framework for legal cannabis exports by Colombia’s administration.

“We are proud to help increase access to safe, legal CBD and THC to consumers all over the globe,” Flora Growth Chairman and CEO Luis Merchan stated in September following the company’s first exports of high-CBD dried cannabis flower to Switzerland and the Czech Republic (https://ibn.fm/Zx9O0).

Franchise Global Health has also paired operations with strategic partnerships and investments in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Portugal and Denmark, indicating further possibilities for expanding Flora’s distribution network.

The company’s efforts caught the eye of market analysts at year’s end, who significantly upgraded their near-term revenue forecasts while also reducing their loss estimates as the company drives toward profitability (https://ibn.fm/bRP8l).

FGH CEO Clifford Starke has said he regards the merger with Flora to be the foundation of “a very sustainable business.”

“We have extremely strong revenue performance without executing on really what we’re trying to do, which is become a fully integrated medical cannabis company of high THC products,” Starke said during a webcast interview in October (https://ibn.fm/3cz8e). “We’re extremely well positioned to go past Germany into the rest of Europe. It’s very important to understand that 75 to 80 percent of the sales in Europe are accounted in Germany.”

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

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

• Studies have indicated that around 40% of the available drugs on the market offer poor bioavailability
• Lexaria’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology increases bioavailability, improving the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream by promoting more effective oral delivery
• The global pharmaceutical drug delivery market was valued at $1.66 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9%, resulting in a value of $2.21 billion by 2026

One of the main concerns associated with marketed drugs is low bioavailability. Bioavailability is the amount of a drug or substance that becomes completely available to the intended biological destination and is a measure of the rate and fraction of the initial dose of the drug that successfully reaches either the site of action or the bodily fluid domain in which the intended target has unimpeded access. Bioavailability is integral to pharmacokinetics, the study of drug movement through the body. Pharmacokinetics is often represented by the acronym ABCD – administration, bioavailability, clearance, and distribution (https://ibn.fm/7lOOa). Various studies have indicated that around 40% of available drugs are poorly bioavailable (soluble) (https://ibn.fm/bY8Vx). Many factors can affect the bioavailability of drugs and substances, including:

• The size of the drug’s molecule – smaller molecules are more easily absorbed into the body than larger ones
• The type of drug administered – some drugs are absorbed more easily through the stomach than others
• How much food is eaten – food can slow down the absorption process
• The time of day – the absorption of drugs can be affected by factors like the time of day or the mood of the recipient

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, has developed a patented technology, DehydraTECH(TM), which improves the bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”), promotes healthier oral ingestion methods and increases the effectiveness of fat-soluble active molecules. DehydraTECH technology is suitable for use with various product formats, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, consumer packaged goods, and over-the-counter capsules, pills, tablets, and oral suspensions. Currently, DehydraTECH-CBD is being studied for the potential treatment of hypertension and heart disease, epilepsy, dementia and diabetes. Lexaria’s DehydraTECH solves common problems experienced in the pharmaceutical industry. DehydraTECH technology can increase bioabsorption by up to 10x, reduce the onset time from up to 1-2 hours to just minutes, mask the unwanted taste, delivers drugs into the bloodstream more effectively, and provides a higher ratio of drug delivery expected to lower overall drug costs. The global pharmaceutical drug delivery market size is projected to reach $2.21 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.9%. The market was valued at $1.66 billion in 2021. This growth is highly attributed to factors including the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, the growing biologics market, increased R&D investments, and technological advancements – including new product launches (https://ibn.fm/hgQhh). Understanding the bioavailability of a drug is crucial for clinicians looking for the most appropriate route of administration and schedule for delivering the drug. Lexaria is currently studying its DehydraTECH and DehydraTECH-CBD for indications including epilepsy, high blood pressure, dementia, diabetes and more. The company’s most recent study, EPIL-A21-1, demonstrated performance enhancements compared to one of the world’s leading anti-seizure medications, Epidiolex(R). The study’s results have demonstrated the performance of DehydraTECH-CBD to reduce or eliminate seizure activity in animals and, in some cases, even surpass the performance of Epidiolex. These findings further support Lexaria’s efforts and clinical trials, which are currently being explored for hypertension, dementia, diabetes and other indications where DehydraTECH technology may offer solutions in indications where there is an underserved medical need. 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

• Hillcrest is poised to accelerate its efforts to expand into grid-tied applications to help diversify future revenue streams; continues development of its Enhanced Powertrain Solution to bridge the gap between EVs and universal, bidirectional charging systems
• Its unique application-agnostic ZVS inverter technology allows the company to quickly adapt its technology to any motor or grid application, setting it up for entry into renewable energy generation and storage, as well as e-mobility charging
• Hillcrest’s Enhanced Powertrain Solution is expected to simplify the overall EV powertrain and charging system and free EVs from the need for an onboard charger or additional onboard DC/DC booster unit

Hillcrest Energy Technologies (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF) has announced that the Company is accelerating its developmental efforts focused on grid-tied power conversion technologies as it completes the first Zero Voltage Switching (“ZVS”) inverter commercial prototype (https://ibn.fm/2FiVp). This clean technology developer of transformative power conversion technologies and control system solutions for modern electrical systems, expects the completion and commercialization of its grid-tied products will constitute the bedrock for the Company’s penetration into green energy applications, thus contributing to the diversification of its future revenue streams. “Our ZVS inverter technology is intentionally designed to be decoupled from the power control system, making our firmware agnostic to specific applications, allowing us to move quickly to adapt our technology to any motor or grid application,” said Chief Technology Officer Ari Berger. “With the completion of our 800-volt, 250-kilowatt traction inverter commercial prototype, we’ve set the foundation to facilitate our entry into grid-tied applications such as renewable energy generation and storage, as well as e-mobility charging,” continued as he unveiled the Company’s plans for the future. Progressing from technical proof of concept to commercial prototype in only one year, Hillcrest’s ZVS is designed to offer benefits not currently available in most electric power systems, including perks such as a more efficient and reliable deployment of higher switching frequencies and enhanced output power quality and control. This novel technology can be applied with batteries, electric motors, generators, fuel cells, or essentially any other power source where power conversion is needed, including grid, solar and wind. The Company takes a building block approach to the development, meaning it will start with EV applications and then look to expand into other areas of the rapidly growing clean technology sector that is booming worldwide (https://ibn.fm/2Bz8S). 2022 marks the year when the United States became the 19th country in the world, where 5% of new car sales were electric vehicles – a threshold believed to be a tipping point toward mass adoption (https://ibn.fm/NbWrs). In addition, the 2022 US Inflation Reduction Act is expected to give the cleantech sector another strong boost as it unlocks $370 billion in climate and energy investment across the country (https://ibn.fm/CCBgS). The new breed of grid-tied energy systems will require high-frequency power electronics to allow the smart, grid-forming capabilities of a more distributed, bidirectional system that includes a variety of intermittent sources. The Company’s development of firmware and hardware that allows its ZVS inverter technology to be deployed into grid-tied applications, including renewable energy generation, storage and EV charging infrastructure, could pave the road toward acceleration of the development of its Enhanced Powertrain Solution (“EPS”) — a universal, bidirectional V2X charging architecture that leverages the efficiency and high switching frequency capabilities of Hillcrest’s ZVS inverter technology. With its unique ZVS inverter technology, EPS simplifies the overall powertrain and charging system and is designed to free EVs from the need for an onboard charger or additional onboard DC/DC booster unit. Since onboard chargers are responsible for charging losses of up to 14%, their elimination from the system could instantly lead to charging efficiency gains, offering advantages such as reduced charging times and costs. Also, booster units are usually of a similar size and cost to the EVs traction inverter, so their removal could streamline EVs and substantially reduce weight and cost. As the momentum for an electrified future shows no sign of slowing down, Hillcrest Energy aims to deliver advanced inverter and EV powertrain technology that has the potential to transform power electronics for the new generation of mobility, ultimately redefining how we manage energy on the grid, charge vehicles and redeploy stored energy to stabilize systems. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.HillcrestEnergy.tech. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HLRTF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HLRTF