• SHRG’s new program is expected to include the creation of Spanish versions of websites and key marketing materials
• The company’s goal is to empower an independent sales force to focus on a growing Hispanic market
• SHRG’s CEO stated that the move was requested by SHRG’s Elepreneur distributors and is designed to build sales

Sharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG) has introduced a new marketing program for the Hispanic community, which calls for the company to create Spanish versions of key marketing materials and websites. The goal of the program (http://ibn.fm/G8dOf) is to broaden the customer and distributor base for SHRG’s Elepreneurs subsidiary.

The Hispanic market is large and projected to see significant growth in the coming years. The U.S. Census Bureau newsroom (http://ibn.fm/mzFEy) reported that, in 2017, people of Hispanic origin numbered 58.9 million, accounting for 18.1 percent of the U.S. population. In terms of spending, Latino spending in the United States will account for $1.8 trillion by 2020, according to a report by Research and Markets (http://ibn.fm/z3SJz).

“We are fulfilling the need, as requested by our Elepreneurs distributors, to have Spanish versions of electronic materials to further expand our business in the U.S.,” Sharing Services CEO John “JT” Thatch stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/YUsnM). “Our March revenues are proof that our Blue Ocean Strategy is being well accepted in the direct-selling marketplace, and we want this growth to continue within new markets.” In March 2019, SHRG reported record sales of $10.4 million (http://ibn.fm/txTxh).

Based in Plano, Texas, SHRG owns, operates or controls a variety of companies engaged in direct selling through independent sales representatives. The company also offers services such as energy, technology and insurance. Its divisions include Elevacity Global LLC and Elepreneur LLC.

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

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

• Kontrol Energy Corp. specializes in technology and acquisitions that improve energy usage efficiency to help clients cut costs and boost ‘good neighbor’ status
• Kontrol’s acquisitions during 2018 helped drive significant year-over-year revenue growth and record fourth quarter performance
• The company’s gross profit for the year rose by $1.8 million, thanks in large part to the activities of newly-acquired operations

Green digital technology platform developer Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR) (OTCQB: KNRLF) (FSE: 1K8) has developed its model for energy efficiency promotion into a growing, thriving operation that reported strong year-over-year growth during the past year and record revenues during the fourth quarter.

The company’s fiscal 2018 results, announced on April 30, showed a 100 percent increase in fourth quarter performance over the prior fourth quarter and a 56 percent increase for the year, as compared to the prior year (http://ibn.fm/MGCJm). That translated into a gross profit for the year of $6.4 million – an increase of $1.8 million over the previous year, largely as a result of activity from newly-acquired businesses during the 12-month stretch.

Kontrol Energy uses cutting edge technology to help companies reduce their energy costs, increase the efficiency of their energy use and improve their balance sheets. By adding company acquisitions in the building automation systems, internet of things (IoT) and HVAC technology sectors to its portfolio strategy, the energy tech business is pursuing exponential growth in 2019 in the asset and facilities management industry.

Kontrol Energy’s growth plan was highlighted in a recent agreement to create a company that provides technological solutions and services to automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) clients through a joint venture with Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. (“TTCI”) – a domestic branch of the Toyota automobile group’s trading company.

The company will help clients determine how to obtain the most efficiency from their production systems and will use data analysis and machine learning to manage energy use in real-time (http://ibn.fm/rPJcO).

“Picture an automotive plant with 5,000 sensors, each of those sensors reporting something in real time… and Kontrol collects the information,” CEO Paul Ghezzi said during an interview with Follow The Money (http://ibn.fm/uZgt6). “Using that information we optimize the facility. So you’ve got really two plays there — one is a retrofit of the plant, and two is recurring revenue on a SaaS (Software as a Service) basis. So where we are is Canada, U.S. and Mexico are the markets we’ve defined. But it really is a global opportunity; at some point I think we’ll be going global with it.”

According to Ghezzi, the company’s focus on technology for buildings is acknowledgment that, in North America, buildings consume about $250 billion in energy costs each year, with expectations that, during the next decade, buildings will consume half of the energy that the world produces.

“Where that’s coming from is the move from rural to city (societies). And as cities get bigger, they consume more energy,” Ghezzi continued. “About 30 percent of all that energy is lost to inefficiencies. So call that a $60 billion market, and that’s the space that we play in.”

Research and Markets analysts forecast growth at a CAGR of 7.8 percent for the global industrial emission control systems market between 2018 and 2024 (http://ibn.fm/hgQOs). Kontrol is also entering the booming cannabis space, advising cannabis industry clients on their emissions and odor amid concerns about neighbor impacts that accompany Canada’s move to full adult-use legalization of cannabis throughout the country.

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

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

• Edward Manolos brings significant industry experience to the company
• Manolos opened the first medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles County in 2004
• Industry revenue is expected to reach $24.5 billion by 2021

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTCQB: MCOA), an industrial hemp company involved in the cultivation and distribution of hemp-derived products, recently announced the appointment of Edward Manolos as an independent director.

Joining the MCOA team of seasoned industry leaders, Manolos brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. In 2004, he opened the first-ever medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles County, and he is viewed (http://ibn.fm/uCEqt) as one of the “most accomplished pioneers in the medical marijuana industry.” Additionally, he is credited with starting Los Angeles’ first medicinal marijuana farmers’ market, known as the California Heritage Market, which attracted local and international media attention.

Manolos’ industry presence has been significant and varied. He has been a member of Marijuana Medical Company of America’s strategic advisory board since 2016 and has also founded several successful companies, including Everest Biosynthesis Group and Natural Plant Extracts USA (“NPE”), a significant cannabis manufacturer, distributor and retail-delivery company holding multiple licenses within the sector. He has also served as a consultant to several companies within the industry, including Cannabis Strategic Ventures (OTC: NUGS), helping these companies obtain marijuana retail and production licenses in California and Washington.

“Appointing Edward, a seasoned veteran of the cannabis industry, to our Board of Directors strategically positions us to launch our cannabis division,” Donald Steinberg, MCOA CEO, stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/Zwchb). “His expertise in obtaining cannabis licenses, cannabis cultivation and the distribution of finished products is crucial to the development of our new subsidiary, Viva Buds, and any future projects involved in this evolving industry.”

Manolos’ appointment comes at an exciting time for the market. The cannabis and hemp industries have seen remarkable, exponential growth that is expected to continue. One major contributor to this growth has been the World Health Organization’s finding that the chemical compound cannabidiol (CBD) is nonaddictive and generally safe. In 2017, the organization officially recommended that CBD no longer be internationally scheduled as a controlled substance.

Since then, public approval of legal access to medical and recreational marijuana has grown. Industry revenue has mirrored this growth and is anticipated to more than double over the next four years at a 28 percent compound annual growth rate, reaching $24.5 billion by 2021 (http://ibn.fm/oOiBt).

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

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

• ETST is dedicated to meeting the need for high-quality products and devices at affordable prices
• The company offers high-purity, top-quality full-spectrum CBD by utilizing seven cannabinoids that work together synergistically
• ETST is empowering women with discreet STI testing through its new, low-cost Hygee medical device kit

Florida-based biotech company Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) operates in the fields of hemp cannabinoids, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research and development. The company is passionate about the products that it offers and is dedicated to providing the highest-quality products and devices at affordable prices to meet a burgeoning global need.

Not all CBD products are created equal. ETST offers the highest purity and quality full-spectrum, high-grade cannabinoids on the market. Utilizing a well-branded product line and strong distribution channels that include online and retail store sales, the company is able to reach a large consumer base.

Three of ETST’s wholly owned subsidiaries focus on the medical, recreational and industrial hemp industries. These include:

• Canna Inno Laboratories Inc. accesses Canadian government funding for the advancement of further product research and development; this subsidiary allows ETST to qualify for grants offered to pharmaceutical innovators.
• Cannabis Therapeutics Inc. focuses on becoming a leader in the development of innovative CBD-based nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.
• KannaBidoid works within the recreational cannabis space to provide a wide variety of products.

ETST products are unique in that they offer one of the highest CBD profiles of any full-spectrum hemp oil on the market. These exclusive full-spectrum products combine seven cannabinoids (http://ibn.fm/Mu0TJ), rather than the two to four that are more common in today’s market. All of ETST’s full-spectrum cannabinoid products contain CBD, CBDa, CBG, CBGa, CBN, CBC and CBDV, as well as terpenoids, amino acids, omegas, saponins and flavonoids. These individual elements work together to promote optimal results.

A recent 60-second infomercial (http://ibn.fm/LYTpv) introduces ETST’s CBD product line. The spot highlights the successful results of case studies and points viewers to where they can purchase ETST products online or in local health food stores. Thanks to recent legalizations, the company now offers products in all 50 states, as well as some 40 countries.

In addition to ETST’s work within the medicinal, pharmaceutical and hemp industries, the company is bringing to market cutting-edge pharmaceutical and medical device offerings through wholly owned subsidiary Earth Science Pharmaceutical Inc. This subsidiary focuses on the development of low-cost, non-invasive diagnostic tools, testing processes, medical devices and vaccines for sexually transmitted illnesses.

ETST’s new-to-market medical device, Hygee, was created to fight sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This self-sampling kit empowers women with discretion, enabling them to anonymously test for STIs such as chlamydia.

“No other existing method of collecting genital specimens from women is more convenient or more efficient than Hygee,” Dr. Michel Aube, ETST’s CEO and chief science officer, stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/sUf1T). “Through intentional design, Hygee is a ‘mistake-proof’ medical device with extremely simple instructions that allow any woman, regardless of age or education, the assurance of correctly using the kit on the first try. With roughly 130 million new chlamydia cases diagnosed yearly, according to the WHO, Hygee is dedicated to this area of women’s health.”

The combination of strategic partnerships, high-quality products, a diverse portfolio, solid research and development, and a strong management team comprised of industry experts positions ETST to experience rapid growth in multiple markets.

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

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

• SinglePoint, a technology and investment company with an extensive portfolio, has announced that it will enable the distribution of raw materials like full spectrum oils and hemp byproducts
• The expansion of the company’s hemp and CBD product line is a result of legislative changes in the U.S., especially the passing of the federal Farm Bill
• The company also announced that it will be working toward strategic partnerships and alliances that will facilitate and secure the distribution of its extended line of products

Private label products and custom offerings formulated for the needs of clients both belong to the SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) hemp and CBD portfolio. The company has now announced an expansion of its portfolio and is already working on the distribution of raw materials like full spectrum oils, isolates and other hemp byproducts required for the creation of CBD lines.

According to a company update, the enhanced product range is in line with SinglePoint’s sales and marketing strategy (http://ibn.fm/o9mT5). Following the approval of the federal Farm Bill on December 11, 2018, companies like SinglePoint have started making strategic moves to benefit from the legislative changes brought on by the Farm Bill.

SinglePoint has already secured opportunities for the bulk distribution of CBD isolate. The company also sees potential for the distribution of CBD and other materials. In the near future, SinglePoint anticipates partnering up with several large purchasers capable of guaranteeing the volume of orders.

CBD isolate is a necessary raw material for the production of various popular products like tinctures and creams. Through its distribution, SinglePoint is establishing itself as a partner that’s capable of delivering comprehensive supply chain solutions – from the inception to the creation of a finished hemp or CBD product.

In addition, SinglePoint is working to help its clients secure extensive distribution via both ecommerce and retail channels.

The consumer demand for reliable suppliers of hemp and CBD products is growing rapidly, as SinglePoint President Wil Ralston noted in a news release. SinglePoint is investing in the infrastructure and the research needed to educate clients and also offer high quality CBD products at an affordable price, he concluded.

One of the most exciting new developments, according to Ralston, is the new SinglePoint water-soluble CBD tincture. The product will soon become available at an introductory price via the company’s online platform, SingleSeed.com (http://ibn.fm/3tJlg).

“We are working quickly to establish our own brand SingleSeed as an innovative solution (…) while also expanding our affiliate network to address retail point of sale in various consumer outlets – from 7/11 markets to specialized nutrition stores to alternative health businesses like chiropractic offices,” Ralston also announced.

Strategic alliances will be of key importance in the future, and SinglePoint is actively working to acquire the right partners. The aim of such alliances will be to position SinglePoint as one of the first public companies to streamline the transaction process. Through such alliances, SinglePoint could become a reliable vendor for all of the companies actively developing consumer solutions.

As per the official company announcement, additional updates and news about strategic developments will be released to the public in the near future.

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

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

• A strategic partnership with HP will enable Aptito to benefit from the tech giant’s massive global sales to deliver a full set of point-of-sale tools to small- and medium-sized clients
• The sales and support partnership will focus on a line of Android-based point-of-sale devices to enable access to affordable, cutting-edge payment technologies
• The innovative payment solutions market is anticipated to continue growing rapidly in 2019 and beyond, providing companies like Aptito with sustainable expansion opportunities

Global technology and value-added solutions group Net Element Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) subsidiary Aptito will be entering into a sales and support partnership with HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) that will focus on the HP line of Android-based point-of-sale devices, the company announced in a press release (http://ibn.fm/EEZle).

“We are excited to work with HP to deliver our SaaS in their IPOS solutions to our existing and new merchants worldwide,” Aptito President Andrey Krotov said in the release. Aptito solutions are currently deployed in 16 countries, and the number is increasing. HP global sales provide opportunities for furthered expansion, he concluded.

Under the terms of the agreement, Aptito will provide its restaurant management SaaS alongside the HP point-of-sale solutions. The collaboration primarily addresses the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses (“SMBs”) that are looking for competitively priced, cutting-edge technologies.

Aptito’s technology, backed by the HP global sales, will aim to deliver a full set of tools to enhance both selling and mobile transactions carried out by SMBs.

Under wholly owned subsidiary Aptito, Net Element is providing comprehensive business management solutions and cloud-based point-of-sale systems for the restaurant industry (http://ibn.fm/x9qc9).

Effective payment solutions have long established themselves as one of the essentials for the sustainable growth of SMBs. Effortless transactions increase customer satisfaction and overall experience (http://ibn.fm/e9LZp). Through the introduction of new technologies, such transactions become simpler and more affordable to carry out than ever before. Aptito already offers a full range of innovative solutions developed for the needs of restaurant owners – Aptito POS, Aptito mPOS, kiosks and digital menus, to name a few.

Attention to detail and the quality of customer service are both of paramount importance in the restaurant business. According to the National Restaurant Association, 10,000 new businesses open each year. As of 2018, the number of restaurants operating in the U.S. has exceeded one million (http://ibn.fm/JIK9K).

Innovative payment solution technologies are shaping up as one of the most demanded innovations. According to the Electronic Transaction Association, U.S. merchants will spend nearly $2 billion on effective payment solutions in 2019.

The global point of sale market will exceed $9.8 billion by 2023, forecasts suggest. That’s a CAGR of 12 percent over the specified period. Both market volume and revenues are anticipated to increase consistently (http://ibn.fm/8kXvP).

Growing digital payment volumes, the widespread adoption of mobile payment solutions and a very high demand from the retail sector will rank among the primary factors driving the expansion in this field.

Net Element operates a payment-as-a-service transactional and value-added services platform for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The NETE solutions are available across the U.S. and in various emerging markets. In the U.S., Net Element works toward innovating productivity for SMBs through reliance on blockchain technology and cloud-based solutions. Internationally, it strives to make the most of an omni-channel platform to deliver flexible solutions to emerging markets.

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

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

• The popularity of vaping is driving analysts to predict a significant CAGR of well over 20 percent during the coming years
• VPR Brands’ vape accessory products, as well as its new cannabidiol product division, have helped the company record a 28 percent revenue increase for the past year
• The year also boosted VPR Brands’ operating loss into positive territory, as well as the company’s gross operating margin

Atomization technology product innovator VPR Brands, LP (OTC: VPRB), celebrating a year of increasing revenues for its vaporizer and essential oils accessories, has announced its year-end financial results.

“Much of 2018 was focused on expanding our sales channels, launching new products and building our brands. We are pleased with the results of these efforts and are excited to continue this course of improving operational efficiencies and expansion,” VPR Brands COO Dan Hoff stated as the company presented its report (http://ibn.fm/7E5c3).

The company’s revenues for the 12 months ended December 31 topped $4.6 million, rising nearly 28 percent on the strength of new product sales during the year. As VPR Brands increased its full-year revenues, it reversed its operating loss into positive territory, crossing the $9,000 threshold. Gross operating margins for the year increased by almost 20 percent to a margin of 41 percent.

As product sales increased, the company also increased its inventory by about $263,000 in anticipation of further success, resulting in a growth of the company’s assets, which were valued at $767,209 as of December 31.

“We have all tirelessly worked to build a strong foundation and prove we are capable of maintaining consistent and sustainable growth and still be mindful of financial performance,” CEO Kevin Frija stated in a news release.

Frija applauded the success of the company’s Goldline cannabidiol (CBD) product division during the year, calling it “a good parallel” to VPR’s vape portfolio and a means of generating a positive vibe in the nutraceuticals and edible supplements sectors.

“We believe that the repeat business frequency in these sectors adds an exponential factor into our growth equation… We expect to continue to add to our product line, while also increasing our supply to meet growing demand,” he told shareholders at year’s end (http://ibn.fm/gM8I7).

VPR Brands specializes in vaporization devices created for medical cannabis and recreational marijuana use. The vaping devices provide a mechanism for using extract oils and concentrates in a discrete and convenient manner, without the distinct and lingering odors that have historically resulted from smoked marijuana use.

Research and Markets analysts anticipate that the multi-billion-dollar global vaping tank market will grow at a CAGR of 28.92 percent during the next five years (http://ibn.fm/3tfuI), while Grand View Research predicts a CAGR of 23.8 percent through 2025 (http://ibn.fm/BLCx7).

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

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

• The company’s annual license for manufacturing recreational and medicinal cannabis products was recently renewed by the State of California
• GCGX’s cannabis mall is under construction in Sacramento, with a goal of beginning production of Infused Edibles products there by the end of the second quarter
• The company’s ultimate goal is to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq

Diversified cannabis holding company Global Consortium Inc. (OTC: GCGX) remains committed to its goal of beginning the registration process to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq by mid- to late-June of this year, CEO Matthew Dwyer said during an investor conference call (http://ibn.fm/gQTKr). The company recently updated shareholders on Twitter, stating that a valuation is underway on an acquisition made last year to ensure that the financial reports meet the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (http://ibn.fm/0Nt7Y).

“Our ultimate goal is to go to Nasdaq and trade on that exchange,” Dwyer reiterated following a shareholder question. Global Consortium’s efforts to uplist to the Nasdaq are being met with enthusiasm, Dwyer said, noting that the stock prices of companies in the cannabis space generally benefit from such a move. Other positive signs of growth by Global Consortium include receiving an annual license from the state of California to manufacture cannabis products for the recreational and medicinal cannabis markets in that state (http://ibn.fm/PMVmi).

Also making progress is Global Consortium’s 64,000-square-foot cannabis mall, currently under construction in the Sacramento, California, area. The mall is designed to house cannabis manufacturing, distribution, delivery, retail, testing and cultivation. A machine capable of processing 600 pounds of product every eight hours – producing around 23 liters of oil per day at a forecast minimum of $8,000 per liter for large contract orders – has already been delivered (http://ibn.fm/S6hwC). The cannabis mall will house the largest manufacturing facility of THC and CBD distillates and edibles believed to be operational in the United States.

Fittingly, production of edible cannabis-infused products, sold through the company’s Infused Edibles (http://ibn.fm/MIiNI) division, will be manufactured at the Sacramento location, as well. Infused Edibles sells a wide selection of specialty, CBD-infused edible products and has received 17 first place awards for its dedicated line of U.S. grown, CBD isolate-infused food products.

“We’re moving machinery to Sacramento now and some training will be done,” Dwyer said during the investor call. “I’d say probably by the end of the second quarter, if not sooner, all edible production will be done in Sacramento.”

Edible sales in the U.S. and Canada are expected to reach more than $4.1 billion by 2022, according to a new report released by Arcview Market Research in partnership with BDS Analytics (http://ibn.fm/ZaEhH). More consumers state that they are willing to try cannabis in an edible form, the report detailed, noting the shifting trends in spending by cannabis connoisseurs.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GCGX.org

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

• Preclinical and clinical data indicate that Oncoprex immunogene therapy may be effective alone or in combination with targeted small molecule therapies; pre-clinical data also indicate potential effectiveness in combination with immunotherapies
• Lung cancer is the second-most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide
• Genprex holds an exclusive license to more than 30 issued patents and several pending applications covering its platform technologies, including patents covering the therapeutic use of the TUSC2 tumor suppressor gene
• The value of the global immunotherapy drugs market is expected to surpass $385 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of more than 14 percent from 2018 to 2025

Clinical-stage gene therapy company Genprex Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX) is pioneering a new approach to treating cancer with its lead drug candidate, Oncoprex immunogene therapy, an investigational therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). Oncoprex is designed to interrupt cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, to target and kill cancer cells via receptor pathways, and to stimulate natural immune responses against cancer. Oncoprex consists of the TUSC2 tumor suppressor gene encapsulated in a positively charged lipid nanoparticle. It is injected intravenously, specifically targeting cancer cells, which generally have a negative electrical charge. Once Oncoprex is taken up into a cancer cell, the TUSC2 gene is expressed in a protein that is capable of restoring certain defective functions arising in the cancer cell (http://ibn.fm/zkW0b).

Genprex collaborators from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented positive preclinical data for use of the TUSC2 gene in combination with the immunotherapy pembrolizumab (marketed as Keytruda by Merck & Co. Inc.) for the treatment of lung cancer in a poster presented at the 2019 American Association of Cancer Research Meeting. The data is available on the Genprex website (http://ibn.fm/rfLpQ).

“These data further support and solidify existing preclinical data showing that Oncoprex immunogene therapy is synergistic with anti-PD1 therapy and could result in a stronger antitumor response compared to either agent alone,” Julien L. Pham, MD, MPH, president and chief operating officer of Genprex, stated in a news release. “It also demonstrates how Oncoprex could be used in combination with other immunotherapies as a viable treatment option for late-stage non-small cell lung cancer.”

According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, killing more people than breast, colon, kidney, liver, prostate and skin cancers combined. Non-small cell lung cancer represents 80 percent of all lung cancers. New lung cancer cases have been maintaining a steady level among men but are increasing more rapidly in women. In the period from 2015 to 2030, standardized lung cancer mortality rates among women are expected to increase from 11.2 to 16.0, marking an increase of over 40 percent (http://ibn.fm/8BboA).

Genprex already holds more than 30 issued patents for its platform technologies. The company is also in the process of conducting research to find biomarkers to identify patients most likely to benefit from Genprex treatments, as well as other drugs that will be synergistic with Genprex’s gene therapies. Given the enormous potential and vast unmet medical need, Genprex plans to apply for Fast Track, Breakthrough or RMAT designation from the FDA (http://ibn.fm/9tWaA).

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

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

• SGMD CEO says that the company is planning to “significantly expand” its operations to provide supplies for growers of hemp
• Jimmy Chan, CEO, estimates that hemp farmers in Kentucky will ultimately require “hundreds of millions” of hemp plant clones
• SGMD, focused on supplying hydroponic and cultivation products, has started to make deliveries of micropropagation supplies to farmers

Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD), focused on hydroponic and hemp growing supplies, plans to significantly expand its supplies of hemp-cultivation products, specifically to farmers in Kentucky who are hard-pressed to meet booming demand. Jimmy Chan, CEO of SGMD, noted in a news release his belief that hundreds of millions of hemp clones will be needed in that state to keep pace (http://ibn.fm/RtJ85).

According to Chan, the hemp industry will require plant clones for cultivation to meet future demand. He cited farmers in Kentucky facing the challenge of a hemp boom, stating, “With at least 42,000 acres of hemp expected to be planted in Kentucky and considering an average plant density per acre of well over 1,000 farmers in Kentucky will need hundreds of millions of clones over the coming years.”

Hemp clones (http://ibn.fm/piJXA) are ready to plant, with the same genetics and phenotypes as the mother plant. The clones need no extra inputs, such as growing first indoors or in a greenhouse setting. SGMD is committed to providing the necessary supplies for supporting the micropropagation process of creating hemp plant clones (http://ibn.fm/W9Nfm).

SGMD has expanded its footprint in hydroponic and cultivation products. The company’s new agreement with Hempistry Inc. reinforces its commitment to supplying growers in the hemp sector. Sugarmade is investing in Hempistry, a privately held corporation, which has begun planting an industrial hemp strain in Kentucky.

In a news release, Chan, now also a director at Hempistry, added, “We have already received our first shipment of micropropagation supplies, and we are in the process of making deliveries.”

Based in Monrovia, California, SGMD is a hydroponics supply company that’s committed to growth through supplying the industrial hemp sector. SGMD is a product and brand-marketing company with numerous operations, such as packaging and paper goods for diverse industries. By delivering products, such as hydroponics, to the industrial hemp market the company is seeking to increase its revenue base.

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

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