• Company offers options to patients seeking immune system-boosting alternatives
• Novel “scorpion venom” product builds on popular Cuban cancer-fighting therapy
• Developing a CBD-based nose-to-brain delivery system that will provide relief across a range of indications from pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders

In an era when a licensed and regulated medical industry provides a secure standard of care for treating ailments but “complementary” or alternative therapies are sought by a number of patients — more than three out of 10 adults, according to the National Institutes of Health’s most recent survey on the subject (http://ibn.fm/sxFbe) — PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) is offering patients novel choices in how to better the quality of their lives. PreveCeutical Medical is dedicated to proactive thinking in personal health management amid a growing market for preventive care, but, when things go wrong and clinical solutions aren’t readily available, the company also wants to help find alternatives that result from the best products nature and science can cooperatively deliver. The early-stage life sciences company has brought one product to market, a solution derived from Caribbean blue scorpion venom, and it is pursuing five other research projects under its product development program.

“We are encouraged from the fact that the Caribbean Blue Scorpion venom peptides bypasses the blood brain barrier and attaches to the abnormal cells, this is an indicator that we are going in the right direction,” PreveCeutical CEO Stephen Van Deventer stated in a news release last August (http://ibn.fm/Ahx2h) announcing the company’s partnership with Sports 1 Marketing (S1M) to develop the scorpion venom as a treatment for concussions, or mild traumatic brain injury, among athletes.

The scorpion venom product builds on discoveries in Cuba and the surrounding Caribbean nations advancing the popular belief that the venom inhibits the growth of cancer cells. PreveCeutical’s product, CELLB9Ò dietary supplement, utilizes select peptides from the blue scorpion (which is actually red, with a blue tail) to boost the user’s immune system, and the company is advancing its research into producing a “nature identical” scorpion peptide solution that it hopes will be able to not only halt the progress of cancerous tumors, but also treat metabolic disorders, pain, cardiovascular disease and infectious maladies without requiring company representatives to travel to the Caribbean to find and milk the unique scorpions for their naturally produced venom.

The company is also working on a medical cannabis gel formulated drug delivery system to deliver relief from ailments such as pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders via nasal administration that potentially avoids side effects that might accompany the digestion of cannabidiol through the gastrointestinal system. The proprietary “Sol-gel” research and development program is being conducted in Brisbane, Australia, and, in November, PreveCeutical received approval from the Queensland state government to acquire, store and use high-quality dried cannabis plant extracts through its partnership with UniQuest Pty Limited at the University of Queensland (http://ibn.fm/07SNJ). Once an importation permit is acquired, PreveCeutical can begin shipping cannabis from its Canadian-licensed producer.

Another initiative with a longer development schedule involves finding a therapy to treat obesity and diabetes by targeting an overactive gene common to both ailments. The company is searching for a breakthrough on non-addictive analgesics as a replacement to highly addictive analgesics such as morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone.

On January 15, PreveCeutical announced its place in the blockchain fintech revolution by accepting bitcoin as a payment option for CELLB9Ò (http://ibn.fm/KNbqa). Despite stock fluctuations during the past month, the bitcoin cryptocurrency remains popular with individuals who conduct commerce on a global scale and who seek a seamless transaction process that doesn’t require fees or other potential obstacles that may arise from using third-party banks. PreveCeutical made the decision after receiving requests from several customers.

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

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• Company’s balance sheet is currently the strongest it has ever been
• Named one of the fastest-growing companies in North America on Deloitte’s 2017 Technology Fast 500™
• Total transaction dollars processed by the company during 2017 reached $2.8 billion

Looking back on 2017 and ahead to the continuation of 2018, Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) CEO Oleg Firer recently sent out a letter to shareholders discussing the company’s progress and developments that have occurred over the past year (http://ibn.fm/VbUXh).

Net Element is a global technology and value-added solutions group operating a payments-as-a-service transactional and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprise in the United States and in select emerging markets. The company supports electronic payments acceptance in a multi-channel environment, including point-of-sale, e-commerce, mobile devices and the blockchain ecosystem.

On an international level, Net Element is focused on leveraging its omni-channel platform to provide flexible solutions to emerging markets that have varied banking, regulatory and demographic circumstances.

All around, 2017 was a banner year for Net Element. The company was named one of North America’s fastest-growing companies on Deloitte’s 2017 Technology Fast 500™, and Net Element was also named one of the fastest-growing technology companies of the year by South Florida Business Journal.

Throughout 2017, Net Element moved forward with its organic growth in the United States, focusing on value-added payments solutions. The company was successful in centralizing its operations and refocusing its business initiatives on a global level.

For the year, total transaction dollars processed by Net Element amounted to $2.8 billion, while total transaction dollars processed geographically in North American and international markets were, respectively, $2.35 billion and $446 million.

Also during 2017, Net Element received a $7.55 million institutional investment to further its ongoing organic growth and blockchain-centered developments. The company additionally gave free mobile point-of-sale card readers to SMB merchants in Florida that were affected by Hurricane Irma.

Net Element further forged various partnerships in 2017, partnering with companies like Elo, Payvision and Planet Payment and also launching services for V-Tell, Azimuth Airlines and iDEAL.

Various product launches were further achieved by the company during 2017, including:

• Same-day ACH payment processing solution in the U.S.
• Zero-fee processing program for SMB merchants in the U.S.
• Loyalty program for merchants
• PayOnline’s support for e-commerce in the U.S.
• Apple Pay support in Russia
• Payment acceptance module for Telegram, Viber, Facebook and VK instant messenger apps
• Expansion of payments module to include Prominent InSales
• Comprehensive point-of-sale program
• ISO incubator program for certified resellers of Unified Payments

The global payments industry continued to thrive during 2017, and Net Element looks forward to even more opportunities to develop pioneering payment solutions in the coming year and further into the future as disruptive technologies like blockchain continue to advance. Heading into 2018, Net Element is bolstered by the strongest balance sheet it has ever had, positioning the company for growth and a strong stance from which to execute on exciting opportunities.

Looking ahead, Net Element plans to add blockchain technology during 2018, which will act as a framework for a huge array of value-added services. The company will also continue its focus on executing the long-term goal of creating a single, international onboarding and transaction processing platform that spans payments ecosystems.

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

• The Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs sets hearing for February 6 to review oversight role of the SEC and CFTC over virtual currencies, such as bitcoin
• In an op-ed written jointly by the SEC and CFTC, agency chiefs say they would support policy efforts to revisit framework of their cryptocurrency regulation; both will testify before the committee
• Agencies say they will seek to maintain integrity and transparency in the volatile cryptocurrency markets; goal is to protect all market participants and investors

Virtual currency oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will be reviewed after the heads of both agencies testify on February 6 before a hearing of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (http://ibn.fm/EcAvU).

Jay Clayton, chairman of the SEC, and J. Christopher Giancarlo, chairman of the CFTC, will testify at the hearing. What they will say was telegraphed in their recent jointly-authored op-ed (http://ibn.fm/uob5E). In it, they noted that most check-cashing and money transmission services are state regulated. They argue that most of the internet-based cryptocurrency trading platforms have registered as payment services and, therefore, are not subject to direct regulation today by the two federal agencies.

Their op-ed said, “Many of the internet-based cryptocurrency trading platforms have registered as payment services and are not subject to direct oversight by the SEC or CFTC. We would support policy efforts to revisit these frameworks and ensure they are effective and efficient for the digital era.”

The agencies said they seek market integrity and transparency. In the op-ed, they note that they seek review of their oversight of these markets and would continue to work with law enforcement to enforce this goal. “The CFTC and SEC, along with other federal and state regulators and criminal authorities, will continue to work together to bring transparency and integrity to these markets and, importantly, to deter and prosecute fraud and abuse,” they added.

• U.S. hemp retail market estimated at $1.8 billion by 2020 with 22% CAGR
• Global hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) segment projected to reach $3 billion by 2021
• Disruptive potential for industrial hemp products offers substantial rewards

Global Hemp Group, Inc. (CSE: GHG) (FRANKFURT: GHG) (OTC: GBHPF), headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, is a publicly traded company founded in 2014. Global Hemp Group is focused on acquiring and developing a strategic portfolio of like-minded companies that believe in the significant potential of the industrial hemp plant. Global Hemp Group’s focused on attracting joint venture partners across all sectors of the industrial hemp industries with the commitment to improve quality of life by researching, developing and distributing sustainable materials, products and services produced from hemp.

The company’s mission is to build a strategic portfolio of hemp-based companies that operate synergistically to consistently deliver a solid ROI to its shareholders. Global Hemp Group has established the concept of Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ) (https://globalhempgroup.com/hempagro/) in order to build cooperative mechanisms across industrial sectors with a focus on different parts of the hemp plant. Under the HAIZ strategy, Global Hemp Group brings together capital, farmers and labor in an effort to build a “soil-to-shelf” portfolio of complimentary companies and joint venture partners in the global hemp industry.

Global Hemp Group has chosen to only work with suppliers of high quality, sustainable raw materials and finished products derived from the hemp plant. Among the leading industries utilizing industrial hemp’s exceptional properties is the automotive sector, building materials market, bio-composites, energy-related markets, super-foods, nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals and the cannabinoid markets. Guided by the principal theme of “global environmental stewardship,” Global Hemp Group focuses on the key concepts of sustainability and social responsibility in all its endeavors.

Global Hemp Group’s joint venture with publicly traded Marijuana Company of America on hemp cultivation trials in 2017, designed to develop commercial hemp production on the Acadian peninsula of New Brunswick, Canada, for the first time in 20 years, was a great success. The partners are preparing for the upcoming changes in Canada’s cannabis legislation that will permit cannabinoid extraction from industrial hemp. Farmers have already been recruited to plant a minimum of 125 acres of industrial hemp for the 2018 growing season, with the goal of increasing the acreage under cultivation to 1,000+ acres by year three of the joint project. Global Hemp Group is preparing an application for a processing license to extract cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids from the upcoming industrial hemp crop. Discussions are also underway with potential processing partners for the extraction of cannabinoids and straw processing for building materials for the upcoming harvest in October 2018, with a longer term plan to establish permanent processing facilities by October 2019.

Global Hemp Group is led by Charles Larsen as its president, CEO and chairman of the board. Larsen’s more than 30 years of experience working in government, public, private and startup companies as an executive manager includes being the founding president of Medical Marijuana, Inc., the first public company in the Cannabis space. Larsen is also a founder and current director of Marijuana Company of America, Inc., and has been actively involved in the cannabis and hemp industry for nearly a decade. Larsen is joined by Curt Huber, who serves as CFO and director. Huber is an independent corporate and financial consultant with more than 25 years of experience in all facets of public companies among many different sectors including mining, oil and gas, and technology.

Also joining the management team as director is Dr. Paul T. Perrault, an agricultural economist trained in cooperative development and in rural development. Perrault’s experience includes years of consulting on rural development projects introducing new crops in several developing countries and strengthening agricultural research organizations, principally in Africa. Jeff Kilpatrick also serves as a director and is currently a program supervisor of Alachua County Department of Court Services in Gainesville, Florida. Kilpatrick, who spent 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, is a member of LEAP – Law Enforcement Against Prohibition – and is president elect for the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA).

Global Hemp Group’s business philosophy is “A healthier future through sustainable business strategies.”

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

• Company’s investments in Verady, Coinsquare and TessPay among recent work to increase security for transactions
• Blockchain, cannabis sectors accounted for nearly 10 percent of rising daily activity for TD Ameritrade in 4Q2017
• Estimated $10 billion in cryptocurrency transacted each day

Riot Blockchain, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) is advancing its focus on the rising blockchain technology and its cryptocurrency applications, as exemplified by its November announcement of its strategic investment in Verady, LLC, a company that provides accounting, auditing and verification for blockchain-based assets such as cryptocurrencies (http://ibn.fm/aCePG). The strategy paid off with news that Riot Blockchain’s stock surged from $7 in November to more than $46 in a month, and the company remains committed to gaining “exposure to the blockchain ecosystem through targeted investments in the sector.”

Riot’s primary focus is on the bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies, and the company owns a share in Coinsquare, a Canada-based cryptocurrency exchange, as well as a majority share in TessPay, which serves as a blockchain-enabled payment vehicle for wholesale telecom carriers. Despite fluctuations in the value of bitcoin as the stock reached stratospheric levels following a hard-charging yearlong rally, and amid ongoing concerns in some sectors that its value is being propped up (http://ibn.fm/Rm3oD), bitcoin’s price remains exponentially above the value of an ounce of gold, which it passed last March.

A NetworkNewsWire article about the popularity of blockchain and cannabis-related stocks cited TD Ameritrade in reporting that daily average trades for the last quarter of 2017 were up 49 percent from the previous year, with trades in the blockchain and cannabis sectors accounting for between six and nine percent of daily activity (http://ibn.fm/6TXUd). Verady’s website (www.Verady.com) notes that over $10 billion worth of cryptocurrency changes hands each day in transactions worldwide, with no framework for proper tracking, reconciliation or reporting. “Audit and Accounting Standards haven’t caught up,” it states, citing its mission to provide the auditing and accountability services for major cryptocurrency companies. In December, Verady announced a strategic partnership with Georgia-based accounting organization Acuity and launched its VeraNet platform as it worked on a convergence of cryptocurrency wallet data with traditional accounting tools for businesses (http://ibn.fm/8cE0H).

John O’Rourke, chairman and CEO of Riot Blockchain, referred to the company’s acquisition of a stake in Verady as continuing its commitment to building blockchain technologies as a first mover on the NASDAQ focused on those technologies. Verady stated that it will use the investment to strengthen itself by advancing its technology and increasing the size of its team. On January 30, the company announced its appointment of cybersecurity expert and strategic executive Christopher Ensey as COO. As the former COO of Dunbar Security Solutions, Ensey managed over 150 security professionals across physical and digital operations while capturing over 100 mid to large enterprise clients (http://ibn.fm/UywOy). On January 17, the company appointed experienced blockchain data mining manager Jeffrey Vormittag as the COO of its wholly owned subsidiary, Riot Blockchain Canada Inc.

The blockchain is a decentralized and encrypted ledger system established to ensure the security and verifiability of transaction records without the need for intermediaries, which came to include banks as the popularity of blockchain-based cryptocurrencies began to rise. Blockchain “miners” work under an international system set up to establish a “proof of work” verification protocol. Riot Blockchain perceived the potential of the technology early on and, in October, redesigned its brand as it began work to establish an advisory board that has sufficient technical experience to help it become a leading authority and supporter of blockchain.

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

• Lexaria enters agreement with Cannfections to develop an innovative range of cannabis-infused chocolates and gummies incorporating its proprietary technology, DehydraTECH™
• Cannfection’s formulation and manufacturing expertise can be offered to other Lexaria licensee partners
• The agreement is expected to generate new cannabis-based edible products for domestic and international markets

On January 25, 2018, Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (OTCQX: LXRP) (CSE: LXX) announced that it had entered into a seven-year agreement with Cannfections Group Inc. to provide its patented DehydraTECH™ technology for the development of a new range of cannabis-infused chocolates and gummies (http://ibn.fm/qpGlF). Cannfections is a new company, established by one of Canada’s leading chocolate manufacturers with over 85 years of experience in the production of high-quality chocolate and confectionery products for several prominent domestic and international chocolate brands. Cannfections is a pending entrant to the Licensed Producer program for cannabis-infused products.

Under this agreement, Lexaria is able to offer other licensee partners the use of Cannfections’ formulation and manufacturing expertise for the production of cannabis-infused chocolates and gummies, powered by Lexaria’s patented DehydraTECH™ delivery technology. This is expected to generate new product entries for Canadian cannabis edibles for the domestic market, as well as the growing number of international markets.

DehydraTECH™ is a patented, cost-effective and proven delivery technology that enhances the taste, smell, speed of action, bioabsorption and bioavailability of beneficial compounds in ingestible products. This technology has been awarded patents in the United States and Australia, and it has patents pending in 44 other countries. Lexaria is the only company in the world with a patent for the oral delivery of all non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD). Lexaria’s patents involve the use of its proprietary technology for oral delivery of an extensive range of lipophilic active compounds, including cannabinoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), vitamins and nicotine.

Lexaria’s proprietary DehydraTECH™ technology masks recognition of the flavor and odor of compounds by oral and olfactory receptors. It enables manufacturers to create healthier, low-sugar products by eliminating the sugars and sweeteners traditionally used in product formulations to mask bitter tastes and unpleasant smells. This technology also increases the bioabsorption of cannabinoids and other active ingredients by up to 10 times. While other delivery technologies typically take between 60 and 120 minutes to take effect, DeydraTECH™ has been proven to register the onset of effects within 15 to 20 minutes.

Consumers benefit significantly from the enhanced taste of edibles and the reduced time to effect. As a disruptor in the growing cannabis market, Lexaria’s technology can either reduce the cannabinoid per serving unit cost, or deliver stronger effects where serving levels are regulated. The company’s technology can be applied to the manufacture of diverse product dosage forms, including foods, emulsions, liquids, tablets and capsules. Lexaria has produced a range of products for testing, demonstration and sales. These include CBD tablets, protein energy bars, exotic teas and TurboCBD, a high-absorption hemp oil capsule containing ginseng and ginkgo.

Lexaria has signed several royalty agreements for the use of its proprietary delivery technology with companies in Canada and the United States. Its latest venture with Cannfections is another step in the company’s ongoing pursuit of strategic partnerships with leading global companies to expand adoption of its innovative technology and deliver increased value for shareholders.

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

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• SNN is a vertically integrated medial cannabis company operating in California and Canada
• Company’s goal is to increase shareholder value by boosting stock liquidity and increasing exposure to investors
• SNN has a number of subsidiaries, including Sunniva Medical, Inc., CP Logistics, LLC, Natural Health Services Ltd., and Full Scale Distributors, LLC

Sunniva, Inc., (CSE: SNN) began trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SNN” in early January, it announced (http://ibn.fm/RtgYr). The company is a North American provider of medical cannabis products and services.

SNN is a vertically integrated medical cannabis company operating in California and Canada, both large medical cannabis markets. It is committed to the cultivation, production and distribution of low-cost products that are free from pesticides and other contaminants. Management of the company has a proven track record in health care and the biotech space.

“Listing on the CSE is an important milestone for Sunniva and a key piece of the equation in our plan to enhance shareholder value by increasing stock liquidity and exposure to investors,” Dr. Anthony Holler, founder and CEO of the company, stated in a news release. He added that the listing greatly expands the company’s pool of potential investors and offers a number of other benefits.

Leith Pedersen, president and co-founder of Sunniva, Inc., told Business of Cannabis in an interview that the company was starting construction on a state-of-the-art greenhouse growing facility in Cathedral City, California (http://ibn.fm/FeBqI). It is also planning a 700,000 sq. ft. facility in Oliver, B.C., he said.

Pedersen added that SNN’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Natural Health Services (NHS), is Canada’s largest referral network of medical cannabis patients to licensed producers in the country. It also operates eight clinics throughout western Canada and Ontario with greater than 76,000 patients, he said.

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

• Transdermal cannabis-based therapy promises greater absorption, less side effects
• Global medical marijuana market projected to reach $55.8 billion U.S. by 2025
• Novel CBD delivery method targets array of unmet healthcare needs

Pivot Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: PVOTF), based in Vancouver, Canada, is an emerging biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals that provide novel treatments for unmet healthcare needs. Pivot’s recent acquisition of BiPhasix ™ Transdermal Drug Delivery technology for the delivery of cannabinoids (CBD) to patients provides the answer for an age-old problem associated with cannabinoid-based therapies: the lack of a robust smoke-less delivery mechanism.

Research into the bioavailability of cannabinoid-based therapeutics shows that rates of absorption vary greatly between smoking cannabis to an orally-consumed product, with a difference noted even between individuals. Cannabinoids are degraded in the stomach and smoking may not appeal to patients for health or lifestyle reasons. Topical delivery, while a better alternative, has suffered from weak formulation issues. Transdermal cannabinoid delivery, on the other hand, could provide a better alternative route since it reduces side effects and bypasses other absorption issues. In addition, transdermal delivery provides the benefit of enabling patients to access a steady stream of medication over a prolonged period with fewer side effects.

Pivot Pharmaceutical’s newly created subsidiary, Pivot Green Stream Health Solutions Inc. (“Pivot Green Stream”), will focus on improving the bioavailability of cannabinoid-based and pharmaceuticals. BiPhasix™ has been tested in FDA and EMA approved human clinical trials, which have shown the delivery system enhances the bioavailability of many drugs and improves clinical outcomes. Pivot Green Stream is tasked with developing several natural health products containing cannabinoids (CBD) that can receive a Health Canada Natural Health Product (NHP) designation. This marketing method ensures a shorter development cycle and faster revenue generation opportunities.

Pivot Pharmaceuticals Inc., which has positioned itself as a growing and crucial vertical in the cannabis industry, represents a compelling opportunity in the biotechnology field. The company’s plans include working with Licensed Producers (LP) and Licensed Dealers (LD) to bring newer therapies to patients. The company has also applied to list on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE).

The global medical marijuana market is expected to reach a value of $55.8 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing number of states and countries gaining approval for using cannabis in therapeutic applications is expected to continue driving the market forward.

Pivot Pharmaceuticals has assembled a highly experienced management team, bringing together a wealth of clinical, commercial, product development and financial experience. Among the many healthcare targets in Pivot’s pipeline are cancer supportive care, pain and inflammation, women’s sexual dysfunction, dermatology and eye disease.

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

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• Global nasal drug delivery technology market expected to reach $64 billion by 2021
• Development of CBD-infused soluble gel for nasal delivery targets range of diseases
• Clinical benefits of Sol-gel delivery method include a safer, more reliable delivery platform with higher efficacy

Health sciences company PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) and UniQuest Pty Limited, the main commercialization company of the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, are expecting 2018 to be an exciting, productive year for joint medical research projects. PreveCeutical Medical, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, has entered into a research and option agreement with the University and UniQuest to develop a soluble gel to deliver cannabinoids directly to the brain via the nasal cavity. In a press release discussing the latest research project, UniQuest CEO Dr. Dean Moss said that PreveCeutical’s interest in the University’s intellectual property and expertise to develop soluble gels (Sol-gels) to deliver cannabinoids to the central nervous system (CNS) fit naturally with the company’s research goals (http://ibn.fm/9WHRg).

“Sol-gels potentially provide a safer, more reliable platform to deliver drugs, such as cannabinoids, directly to the CNS, avoiding unwanted rapid metabolism, thus providing clinical benefit from direct nose-to-brain delivery,” Dr. Moss said in the release.

The global nasal drug delivery technology market is projected to reach $64 billion by 2021, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5 percent, according to a report issued by MarketsandMarkets (http://ibn.fm/miHWc). While the report is segmented based on dosage form, therapeutic application, end user, system, container and region, it also states “intranasal drug delivery is one of the most preferred drug delivery routes among patients as well as healthcare providers.”

PreveCeutical’s proprietary nasal formulations will be designed as a CBD-based nose-to-brain delivery system targeting a range of indications such as pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders. Dr. Harry Parekh, chief research officer for PreveCeutical, will lead the Sol-gel cannabinoid project from his base at the University’s School of Pharmacy.

The Sol-gels begin as a liquid that is sprayed into the nose, which then forms a gel as it is warmed in the nasal cavity. This effectively bypasses the stomach and intestines – eliminating first pass metabolism – and may dramatically improve bioavailability, even compared to nasal sprays and other newer delivery systems.

“This feature can potentially be exploited to deliver drugs through the nasal mucosa,” Dr. Parekh said. “The longer-term goal is to develop Sol-gels as safe, reliable delivery systems for cannabinoid extracts across a range of disease indications.”

Terms of the research program, which has a target start date of March 1, 2018, state that PreveCeutical will own all intellectual property developed under the program and will be granted an option to negotiate an exclusive worldwide license to UniQuest’s background IP.

“Increasing evidence of the clinical benefits associated with cannabinoids and the recent legalization of medical marijuana across a number of jurisdictions were the drivers for the collaboration,” Stephen Van Deventer, PreveCeutical chairman and CEO, added in a news release. “Working with UniQuest and UQ will provide the company with unique opportunities to develop new health and wellness products… Nasal delivery of cannabinoids could potentially provide a safer and more reliable delivery platform with clinical benefits for pain, inflammation, seizures, and mental illness.”

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

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• EVIO is a leading accredited provider of analytical services to the regulated cannabis industry
• The company currently operates nine laboratories in five states
• EVIO is on track to open 18 labs around the U.S. by the end of 2018

EVIO, Inc. (OTCQB: EVIO) provides clients across the United States with consistent, high-quality cannabis analytical services. Backed by a stringent quality control assurance program, the company’s laboratory division, EVIO Labs, is the leading provider of accredited analytical testing, scientific research and advisory services to enterprises in the U.S. regulated cannabis industry. The ancillary services provided by EVIO Labs are state-mandated, requiring the company to ensure the safety and quality of cannabis supplied throughout the nation.

Over the past two years, EVIO Labs has performed more than 50,000 tests, mostly consisting of analysis and testing of cannabis and industrial hemp-based flower, extracts and infused products. The company has grown from one laboratory in Oregon to nine labs in five states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts and Oregon. EVIO Labs is on track to open 18 laboratory facilities at other locations around the United States by the end of 2018. Apart from its analytical services, the company provides advisory services to help cannabis producers and retailers enhance production processes, meet quality goals and achieve regulatory compliance.

EVIO Labs has built up its leading position in cannabis biotechnology by leveraging the extensive experience of its scientists and management team. The company’s laboratories specialize in performing analysis for cannabinoids, terpenes and pesticide residues. They also conduct tests for moisture content, as well as the detection of heavy metals and harmful residual solvents from the cannabis extraction process. EVIO Labs has extensive experience in product research and development, analytical chemistry techniques and the cultivation and production of medical cannabis. The company’s management team has a solid track record in designing and rolling out successful business ventures, ensuring conformance to regulatory and compliance standards.

On December 26, 2017, EVIO announced that its Colorado licensee, PhytaTech CO, had attained ISO 17025 accreditation, the highest recognized quality standard for calibration and testing laboratories. Adherence to this standard requires consistent precision and accuracy of testing, and the implementation of a rigorous quality management system. In early January 2018, EVIO acquired a 60 percent stake in C3 Labs, LLC, located in Berkley, California, with an option to purchase the remaining shareholding over the next three years.

In releasing this news, EVIO’s CEO, William Waldrop, stated, “C3 Labs generated over $1M in consulting revenues during the last two years. EVIO plans to continue offering these services along with traditional compliance testing. The 8,000 square foot facility is already outfitted with the latest analytical testing equipment, and will become our Northern California hub laboratory… Demand for testing services is expected to increase significantly as the state rolls out its adult-use marijuana market.”

On January 3, 2018, EVIO announced the appointment of Al Lustig as its new president, reporting to Waldrop. Lustig has a track record of success in sales management and corporate growth at Pfizer, one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies. He will be tasked with driving company growth, as well as developing and executing both national and international sales, and operational strategies. EVIO also appointed a new vice president of operations, Ron Russak, on January 29, 2018. Russak had regional operational responsibility, during a 17-year career with Quest Diagnostics, for 529 patient service centers and 228 inter-office phlebotomy sites in the U.S. He will play a major role in driving the expansion of the company’s laboratory operations.

With its established reputation for accredited analytical, research and development, and advisory services, EVIO is poised to expand its operations across North America. Recent key appointments have strengthened the management team to ensure that the company is well positioned to capitalize on the rapidly growing cannabis industry.

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

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