For many Americans, this has been a year for saving, with over 50% of U.S. citizens choosing saving money as their primary goal, rather than exercising more, eating healthier, or losing weight. According to an American Express press release (http://dtn.fm/Lb9DD), people in the U.S. are aiming to set aside an average of over $15,000 this year, a large increase over 2015.

In addition, more Americans today plan to save in order to spend on experiences such as travel. Approximately 70% of Americans plan to travel for leisure, versus 66% in 2015. U.S. citizens want to maximize their vacation time this year, and, according to an article at Parenting.com (http://dtn.fm/C4kMG), “family trips are one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry, and despite the fact that the average vacation in the United States costs $4,580 for a family of four, parents are willing to spend that money on something they feel is important to their family.”

The article highlights key traveling family trends for 2016. First, families are traveling with friends and/or family. This has been put down to the fact that the millennial generation, starting families, is beginning to value experiences more than just material possessions. People are booking holidays with extended family in order to share new experiences. Instead of young parents taking their kids to their grandparents’ homes, there has been a significant shift toward family destination visits.

Secondly, family holidays are not limited to summer vacations. Thanks to the flexibility of people’s jobs today, parents are able to take time off from work knowing they can keep on track of their careers remotely, via the Internet. Without the limitations of a brick and mortar facility, families are able to travel for longer periods of time.

Thirdly, spontaneous travel is no longer just for the rich and famous. The Internet provides quick and easy travel planning for people of all demographics. Last minute hotel deals, car rentals, flights, and so on are all available at the click of a button. Not only is it affordable; it’s easy. In addition to this, travel companies worldwide now promote last minute holiday deals for thousands of destinations.

Finally, options for accommodation are growing. Motels are not the only affordable option out there anymore. The combination of new booking platforms, timeshares, resorts, and other innovative options has made family accommodation increasingly comfortable and something people now look forward to. Many families now opt for full homes for their holidays so that they can take advantage of the greater space, comfort, and ability to cook affordable meals.

The technology-driven travel company Monaker Group (OTCQB: MKGI) offers all of the above to traveling families. The company’s real-time booking engine features a creative range of alternative lodging such as resorts, villas, hotels, homes, and more. In addition to this, families are able to book car rentals, flights, tours, and concierge services, allowing them to fully enjoy their vacation rather than losing time planning when they arrive at their destination. The company offers its services around the world, with listings growing every year thanks to its growing list of partnerships and acquisitions.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

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“Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour,” the Bard of Avon reminds us, an observation that is confirmed by examining the history of carbonated beverages. Our love affair with fizzy drinks is souring. The American consumer is no longer as enamored of soda as in the heady days when he or she was told ‘Things Go Better with Coke’.

The soft drink market has turned soft. Quenching thirst (hydration in modern jargon) is no longer enough. Now consumers are asking for functional hydration that adds electrolytes and carbohydrates to their beverages, and companies like Laguna Blends (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (LB6A.F) are answering. For athletes, jocks, players, amateurs, pros and average Joes, Laguna Blends has brought two healthful hemp-based beverages to market. With its Caffe Protein Coffee and Pro369, Laguna Blends is set to taste success in the fast growing functional beverages market.

Functional beverages are drinks that not only keep our bodies hydrated but provide some added nutritional benefit. Under this category fall a variety of fortified drinks that address health and nutritional issues across all age groups. Ingredients added to fortify drinks include herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fruit and vegetables. The market is segmented into energy drinks, sports drinks, nutraceutical drinks, dairy-based beverages, juices, and enhanced water. A nutraceutical is a food or drink that promotes health or has medicinal benefits. The three largest segments are, in order from largest down, energy drinks, sports drinks and nutraceutical drinks.

According to a white paper (http://nnw.fm/M9Tmu) from industry analysts First Beverage Group, smaller “better-for-you” brands like Caffe Protein Coffee and Pro369 have billions of dollars of market share in play. ‘Small brands… are expected to grow into… a $95 billion market by 2020’. In the white paper, released last year, First Beverage Group identifies three factors it believes will drive growth in the non-alcoholic beverage market.

The first is ‘an increased focus on “health and wellness” (that) has already shaped general consumption habits across food and beverage categories’. The second determinant is the rise of the “smart consumer” – the informed consumer who demands increased transparency, simplicity in ingredients, and truth in labeling. Thirdly, it cites the behavior of Millennials as an important characteristic, noting that this group is ‘the most socially and digitally connected generation in history and their consumption patterns, which demand better-for-you, authentic, hand-crafted, and local products, will continue to drive a significant shift not only in consumption patterns, but also in the way brands market themselves…’.

Laguna Blends is certainly ready for the challenge. The company markets products based on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp. Its flagship product is Caffe Protein Coffee, which is loaded in proteins: both whey and hemp. Another product is Pro369, which combines HempOmega®, hemp protein and ginseng, and comes in four delicious flavors: Vanilla Caramel, Tropical Fruit, Mixed Berry and Chocolate Banana.

Research (http://nnw.fm/d57dO) has uncovered the nutritional benefits of hemp. Hempseed, typically, contains over 30 percent oil and about 25 percent protein, with considerable amounts of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. The hempseed oil contains over 80 percent in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and is an exceptionally rich source of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs), linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These EFAs are used, by the body, to build more complex fats called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which have been shown to promote cardiovascular health.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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For years, virtual or augmented reality was the stuff of science fiction, a concept so innovative and unique that many people did not expect to see it come to fruition during their lifetime. But with rapid technological advancements, in particular the fast-growing, ever-expanding smartphone market and the associated technology that can power inexpensive VR headsets, virtual reality has now stepped beyond the realm of sci-fi and socialization games, and it is being used by multiple industries, ranging from healthcare to education, manufacturing or logistics.

The rise of new, more affordable hardware has put virtual reality technology in the hands of an increasing number of companies and individuals, becoming an essential part of numerous applications and services. It is estimated that over the next few years, the augmented reality/virtual reality market will grow from $5.6 billion in 2016 to $126 billion by 2020, and experts believe this technology will become more prominent in our everyday lives, fundamentally changing how we interact with each other and how we do our work.

A company that has already wholeheartedly embraced what virtual reality has to offer is eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI), via its Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage™ division, eXp Realty. With a network of more than 1,600 real estate professionals covering 41 states, the District of Columbia and Alberta, Canada, the residential and commercial brokerage uses cloud-based technologies and an advanced virtual reality platform to create a tightknit online community of agents and brokers.

All the operations are conducted through this platform, including training for its agents, lead generation, IT services and others. Leadership meetings are held in the same platform, where every attending management member has his or her avatar. The VR space is described by the company as a corporate campus, where agents can meet with other agents to exchange ideas and share experiences. They can take online real estate classes and even play a virtual game of soccer together.

Completely eliminating the costs associated with running a brick-and-mortar office, eXp Realty allows members to provide more efficient services to consumers while increasing their own profit with lower risk. The brokerage is built around the principle that agents should also have the opportunity to be owners and therefore offers members lucrative revenue sharing programs and the opportunity of becoming shareholders in exchange for their contributions to company growth. The beauty of the system is that agents and brokers can operate from the comfort of their own homes without having to worry about franchise fees, desk fees or other similar expenses, as their entire activity is in a cloud-based office environment.

The model proposed by eXp Realty has been a tremendous success so far, making the brokerage the driving force behind eXp World Holdings’ impressive growth over the last few months. The company has reported record revenues in the first two quarters (more than $7 million in Q1, $13 million in Q2) and a significant increase in its number of agents, topping 1,600 at the end of August.

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

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There are very few industries that can claim going through recession relatively unscathed, and the pet industry is one of them. Growing steadily by approximately 5.4% every year since 2002, the industry continues the trend this year as well, being expected to reach $62.75 billion in revenue in the U.S. by the end of the year. This figure marks a 4% increase from 2015. The trend is largely due to a general tendency to humanize our pets and treat them as members of the family, offering them the best care possible, whether it’s high-end accessories, medical services or super premium food.

Although competition is fierce, companies offering innovative or niche products are highly successful and anticipate the global growth trend to be mirrored by their own revenue this year. This is also the case of OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO), a leading provider of proprietary pet products in the United States and overseas. The company designs and manufactures a wide range of innovative, high-quality accessories and products, from toys to feeding and waste management solutions.

After a strong showing and record results in Q1 (http://nnw.fm/SW0Tp), the company reported a slight decline in revenue for the second quarter to $5.4 million, 2.7% lower than the $5.6 million reported in Q2 2015. The decline was caused primarily by a temporary drop in purchase orders from various major retail customers. The drop in orders does not however signal a reduced interest in the company’s offering. On the contrary, it was due to a major retailer clearing out its existing inventory to make room for upcoming OurPet’s products to be launched in the second half of 2016. The Q2 report also indicated that the company had a record order pipeline of $1.9 million and that, despite the temporary drop in sales, it was able to reduce inventory to a little under $7.2 million from $8 million at the beginning of the year.

The company’s CEO, Dr. Steven Tsengas, is not overly concerned about the lower revenue numbers and believes that if the inventory reduction hadn’t happened, OPCO would have shown strong growth in Q2 as well.

In addition, Dr. Tsengas is confident that the company will catch up in the second half of 2016. Based on the overall market tendencies, historical performance and the new products it will put on the market, OurPet’s anticipates a solid performance and record revenue again in Q3 and Q4, especially on the heels of its SuperZoo National trade show participation in early August. At the event, the company launched a strong showing of innovative pet products, including OurPets® Switchgrass Natural Cat Litter™ (http://nnw.fm/4LFug) – a high-end, all natural and fully biodegradable litter, and the Intelligent Pet Care™ (http://nnw.fm/Tp7gJ) BlueTooth® line of products, which monitor pet behavior via a smartphone app. OurPet’s also recently introduced a new generation of electronic cat toys.

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

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Analyst Siddharth Rajeev of Fundamental Research Corp. (“FRC”) recently reaffirmed the firm’s Buy rating on Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (LB6A.F), citing an increase in the company’s share price as well as improved revenue and its entrance into the lucrative skin care industry.

Read the full report here http://nnw.fm/G8XvK

Laguna Blends is a network marketing company focused on the generation of sales through a growing base of independent affiliates. In March of 2016, the company launched sales of its Caffe and Pro369 beverage products, marketing the products through a base of 135 affiliates in North America.

As noted in the reports, sales quickly took off, and by March 31, 2016 – Laguna’s fiscal fourth quarter – the company generated its first revenues of $17,000. As of its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, Laguna reported revenues of $47,000. In addition, the company’s affiliate network grew to 300 active affiliates.

While Laguna’s primary focus has centered on its hemp-based functional beverages, the company recently entered into a two-year, exclusive marketing agreement for the distribution of seven Swiss-made cannabinol (“CBD”) skin care products.

In clinical trials, the skin care products reportedly showed visible results within one week. In the report, Rajeev provides a summary of the skin care line, as well as results from the clinical trial and several benefits to Laguna’s decision to diversify its portfolio.

“Laguna’s focus is on daily consumable products and their strategy is to build a portfolio of diversified suite of products like larger MLM companies,” reads the report. “Most of the larger players sell a wide array of products including cosmetics, personal care, food and beverage, kitchenware and appliances, home care, wellness, electronics, etc. We believe that moving into skin care products was an obvious choice for Laguna. … Another reason for Laguna to enter the skincare market is that unique and niche products tend to do well with direct sales as they require person-to person product education and higher levels of customer service.”

After discussing Laguna’s functional beverage products, the report delves into the differences between MLM companies and “pyramid schemes,” and how Herbalife Ltd.’s (NYSE: HLF) $200 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission helped influence the call for proper affiliate compensation.

The report also highlights the “success story” of Immunotec, Inc. (OTC: IMMTF), which offers nutritional products through independent consultants and whose performance has bucked the negative stigmas of MLM companies.

Marketing its products to Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, Immunotec grew annual revenues to $85 million in 2015, up from $40 million in 2010. For the first half of 2016, the company reported 28% year-over-year revenue growth.

“We believe the negative sentiment on MLM companies offers investors attractive opportunities to invest in well managed and growing MLM companies,” writes Rajeev.

Based on Laguna’s new skin care line and growing affiliate network, FRC raised its long-term forecasts on the company, now projecting that by the year 2020 the company will turn a profit of $3.3 million, or EPS of $0.12, on revenues of $38.3 million, and grow its number of affiliates to 30,000, among other forecasts.

In conclusion, Rajeev writes that “The average of our Discounted Cash Flow (“DCF”) and comparables valuation models increased from $0.44 per share to $0.80 per share. Details of our valuation models are presented in our initiating report, dated May 5, 2016. We are maintaining our BUY rating and risk rating of 4.”

Shares of Laguna have increased 83% since FRC initiated coverage on the company on May 5, 2016.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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Zinc is breaking away from the rest of the base metals in the world with an increase of 43% from $0.88 a pound in 2015 to $1.05 a pound this year. Since 1995, there have been no major investments in the zinc industry, with a number of mine closures leading to a supply-side deficit in both concentrates and refined metal. Not only this, the last tier one discovery was Cannington Mine, Australia, which first opened in 1997.

However, the world of zinc mining has taken an impressive turn in 2016. According to InvestingNews.com (http://nnw.fm/uA32h), by the end of 2015, China was leading the market with 4.9 million metric tons of production. Australia came in second with 1.58 million metric tons, Peru was third with 1.37 million metric tons, and the United States came in fourth with 860,000 metric tons. The U.S. showed the most impressive growth out of the four countries, with an increase from 832,000 metric tons in 2014. The U.S. Geological Survey (http://nnw.fm/pADx5) found that, in 2015, zinc was mined at 15 mines across five states by four different companies.

Currently, zinc mining in the U.S. is best known in the Northwest and East of the country, but this could change in 2017. The Balmat Mine in St. Lawrence County, New York, acquired in November 2015 by Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) with the aim of reopening in the near future, was recently identified to have significant zinc mineralization in the Upper Marble unit.

Star Mountain Resources’ Sully Discovery shows promising potential for there to be more zinc deposits in the Balmat-Edwards area. Over the years, Balmat has produced over 30 million tons grading 8.6% zinc. However, the recent Sully discovery strongly increases the possibility that the reserves are larger than the original feasibility report suggests. The results showed that, out of the seven drill holes, the percentage of zinc ranged from over 1% to over 24%. With this in mind, Star Mountain Resources, Inc. aims to continue its exploration efforts in order to contribute its full potential to the United States zinc mining industry.

Star Mountain Resources, Inc. is a junior exploration and mining company focused on a number of mining activities including recommencing mining in the Balmat Zinc mine in Upstate New York. The company is backed by unparalleled mining experience thanks, in part, to its acquisition of Northern Zinc and maintains a vision to grow through responsibly developing promising assets and people.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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Savvy Internet and smartphone users worldwide are increasingly drawn to one-stop mobile apps that offer access to a wide range of different functions in one neat, customer-friendly package. A concept that pairs social networking and e-commerce is particularly popular, most notably on the fast-growing Chinese market, which currently has the highest number of Internet users in the world and the largest e-commerce market, expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2020 (http://nnw.fm/q9L62). This is a trend Shenzhen-based Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) is fully aware of, having created a comprehensive online platform that combines social features with gamification, personalized shopping recommendations, social customer relationship management and intelligent business analysis to offer regular users and merchants a unique online experience.

Capitalizing on this trend, China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) started mixing social networking functions into its e-commerce platforms a few years ago in an attempt to get users to spend more money and time on its sites. This strategy paid off, as confirmed by the success of its Taobao mobile app, which allows users to do almost anything and everything, from buying things online to joining dedicated chat groups, reading the news, ordering takeout, booking travel tickets and more. The app has actually helped Alibaba increase mobile revenue to $2.6 billion and its number of users by 39 percent, according to June 2016 figures. The concept does not seem to have caught on in the West just yet, as attempts to create a similar social network-e-commerce platform have generally failed. One such example is Facebook’s (NASDAQ: FB) Beacon app – an advertising system launched in 2007 that compiled user info from e-commerce and other websites until it was terminated in 2009 after it came under fire over privacy concerns.

While Moxian’s platform is not an e-commerce portal, per se, it does include an online mall and personalized shopping recommendations, including nearby merchants, offers and promotions, based on a user’s preferences and geo-location. These features are available under the Moxian+ User app, designed specifically for consumer users, who are given access to social networking, a gaming center, a rewards redemption center and the company’s proprietary virtual currency. Users can win this virtual currency in the form of MO-Coins or MO-Points by playing games and then they can exchange it for prizes sponsored by the company and its merchant users. The social networking features allow users to set up personalized multimedia profiles and then look up interest groups, friends and topics to share items of interest, join chat groups or read the news.

With this model, consumers are driven toward Moxian and merchants, while merchants are given the opportunity to run personalized advertising and marketing campaigns based on the info they learn about their customers through the platform. For this purpose, merchant customers use the dedicated Moxian+ Business app, which also offers a built-in proprietary social customer relationship management tool. The app allows businesses to set up online stores and generate customized reports based on intelligent data analytics, but also stay in touch with their customers and answer their queries in real-time through an instant messaging system.

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

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Before the opening bell, Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (FRANKFURT: LB6A.F) announced its VIP launch of the CannaCeuticals (“Canna”) CBD skin care products. The company plans to make the Canna products available for sale to all of its existing affiliates in the United States beginning this Thursday.

“Canna’s skin care products are made with pure CBD extracts hailing from the crisp, clean air of Switzerland,” Stuart Gray, chief executive officer of Laguna, stated in this morning’s news release. “When combined with other essential ingredients, the CBD extracts at the center of Canna’s skin care line offer a powerful punch of anti-aging properties and fast, visible results.”

Following the Canna launch, Laguna will look to make a major splash in the global skin care industry by leveraging its existing affiliate marketing network. The company has an exclusive license to market the proven Canna products for a period of two years in the U.S., as well as an option for renewal at the conclusion of the period. According to Market Research (http://nnw.fm/5IaVW), the U.S. skin care market is expected to reach $10.7 billion by 2018. Laguna has also retained the rights to market Canna’s skin care line in Canada, Asia, Europe and Mexico, pending regulatory approval. The global skin care industry is currently valued at roughly $121 billion.

Laguna previously announced highlights from a clinical trial studying the efficacy of Canna’s facial serum in improving the appearance of skin. During the study, 21 female test subjects between the ages of 35-65 used the serum. Within just seven days, an impressive 85.71 percent noticed an improvement to their skin appearance. Within 14 days, 100 percent of the test subjects noticed an overall improvement. When asked if they would purchase the Canna serum if it was made available for sale, 80.95 percent of subjects answered in the affirmative.

These strong results were echoed by Laguna’s internal tests. The company sent samples of the Canna skin care products to some of its existing affiliates following announcement of the licensing deal, and “within 3-7 days… received some overwhelmingly positive feedback,” according to Ray Grimm Jr., president of Laguna. This feedback should play a key role in the company’s efforts to grab a foothold in the U.S. skin care market in the coming months. Per the Canna agreement, Laguna will be required to place a minimum purchase order of $1.5 million of Canna products priced at wholesale during the first two years of the initial term.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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According to an article entitled ‘Soda Consumption Falls to 30-Year Low In The U.S.’ (http://nnw.fm/2T0y1), the demand for diet sodas in the U.S. has slumped to an all-time low over the past 11 years. This has been put down to the fact that people are looking for healthier choices than soda, alternatives that do not contain as much sugar, aspartame, and other additives. Although deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration, people are becoming increasingly skeptical of aspartame, the artificial sweetener.

But what are people drinking instead? According to Signals Analytics (http://nnw.fm/tG9wf), people are turning toward functional beverages, believed to be a healthier option. Health conscious people are looking for drinks with more nutritional benefits than soda, drinks that have natural ingredients the body needs without all the chemicals and sugar.

Pro369 is an infused plant-based functional beverage that is a complete source of nutrition, containing 33% protein. This powder is a single-serving protein that comes in four flavors, including vanilla caramel, tropical fruit, mixed berry, and chocolate banana. The research and development into the flavors was undertaken by Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.

The powder, which can be mixed with a multitude of juices, milks or water, is made up of HempOmega®, hemp protein, and ginseng. HempOmega® is an environmentally sustainable, vegetarian source of omegas 3 and 6. This enables a person to better digest the drink, which increases its health benefits. Hemp protein is more digestible than any other plant and contains all 20 known essential amino acids. Hemp is also rich in omegas 3, 6, and 9 essential fatty acids (EFAs). Lastly, ginseng is best known for its anti-inflammatory properties, improvement of cognitive function, ability to prevent fatigue, and capability to provide energy.

Pro369 was launched in April 2016 by Laguna Blends, Inc. (OTC: LAGBF), a network marketing company that generates retail sales through independent affiliates and is focused on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp. Since the introduction of Pro369, Laguna has processed hundreds of orders throughout the U.S. and Canada. Most recently, the company reported the renewal of Canadian Football League Pro, Emmanuel Arceneaux, as a Pro369 ambassador for the second consecutive year.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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It will soon be 50 years since the publication of Dr. David Reuben’s Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex: But Were Afraid to Ask had its profoundly liberalizing effect on our attitudes toward sex. The best seller helped bring the discussion on sexual behavior out of the bedroom and into other, more public forums. Its timing was opportune. In 1969, when it made its first appearance, America was already in the throes of a ‘sexual revolution’.

Reuben’s opus aligned with the emerging anti-Puritanical thinking that sexual desire was not something to be ashamed of. However, despite raising awareness that the desire for sexual satisfaction is acceptable, his manual was, unfortunately, silent on the pathologies that may plague sexual activity. Now it’s left to biopharmaceutical companies like Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE MKT: PTN) to advance the ‘sexual revolution’.

Palatin Technologies has been doing just that for 20 years, ever since it started its biopharmaceutical operations in 1996. The company is focused on developing targeted, receptor-specific peptide therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential. Its lead product is Bremelanotide, which it is developing for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Bremelanotide is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials for a type of FSD known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in pre-menopausal women. The essential feature of female HSDD is a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity resulting in marked distress and/or interpersonal difficulty.

The prevalence of HSDD is extensive. A publication in Sexual Medicine Reviews (http://nnw.fm/d3QB2) states that ‘HSDD is present in 8.9% of women ages 18 to 44, 12.3% ages 45 to 64, and 7.4% over 65.’ Other estimates (http://nnw.fm/FcE8i) put its occurrence at up to ‘one-third of adult women in the U.S.’ And a groundbreaking paper of 2011 on female HSDD (http://nnw.fm/bc2JB) claimed ‘lack of sexual desire or interest in sexual activity affects up to 43% of the adult American female population’ going on to say that ‘hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is considered the most prevalent sexual disorder in women, and one of the most challenging to overcome.’

If even the most modest appraisals of HSDD’s extent are considered, it is apparent that the condition is an unmet medical need that presents a multi-billion dollar market opportunity. The last Census Bureau (2010) figures indicate that there are some 60 million pre-menopausal women in the U.S. Consequently, the potential market for Bremelanotide could be at least six million and may be as high as 24 million. Palatin estimates a market size of eight million with anticipated sales of $1.3 billion by 2020.

Palatin has already completed enrolling patients in two North American phase III pivotal trials for Bremelanotide. All patient visits in these phase III pivotal trials have been completed and top-line results are expected late in the third quarter of 2016. The company expects to file a New Drug Application (NDA) for Bremelanotide in the first half of 2017.

Palatin has other promising drugs in its pipeline. PL-3994 is a candidate for improving treatment outcomes in heart failure. Two phase I studies have already been completed for PL-3994 and a phase II trial is at the point of starting. For treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases, the company is working on a melanocortin receptor-1 (MC1r) peptide drug. MC1r may have application in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), rheumatoid arthritis, and certain ocular and dermatologic indications. In addition, a melanocortin receptor-4 (MC4r) peptide candidate has had clinical proof-of-principle established. Proof-of-principle studies are an early stage of clinical drug development when a compound has shown potential in animal models and early safety testing.

For more information, visit www.Palatin.com