• Fr8Tech CEO recently wrote a letter to shareholders summarizing the company’s financial milestones and operational successes
• CEO Javier Selgas discussed the company’s robust revenue growth in Q2 2023 as well as the 93% year-over-year increase in its gross margins during the first half of the year
• The company’s commitment to innovation has led to the launch of an LTL offering and the establishment of an AI department
• Fr8Tech has successfully expanded into new markets, completed a number of strategic integrations with third-party solutions, and grown its customer base

Freight Technologies (NASDAQ: FRGT) (“Fr8Tech”), a technology company whose lead product is Fr8App, an industry-leading freight-matching platform powered by artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning, is making substantial strides in the realization of its objectives. In a letter to shareholders, CEO Javier Selgas summarized the company’s recent financial milestones and operational successes that underscore its commitment to achieving continued growth (https://ibn.fm/21HPi).

This growth is reflected in Fr8Tech’s financial results for the second quarter of 2023, which ended June 30, 2023. The company, Selgas wrote, “achieved robust revenue growth, marking a substantial 29% increase compared to the preceding quarter.” Selgas observed the growth attests to Fr8Tech’s “strong market positioning and effective execution of our business strategy.” The company expects to achieve at least an 8% quarter-over-quarter improvement (32% annualized) in revenue for the third quarter of 2023. Remarkably, the Q2 2023 revenue growth came at a time when average freight rates in the U.S. during the first half of calendar 2023 were between 15% and 25% lower than periods in 2022, according to Selgas.

Fr8Tech also reported a 93% year-over-year increase in its gross margin during the first six months of the 2023 fiscal year. “This improvement reflects our successful implementation of sound cost management practices and operational efficiencies, including our decision to discontinue unprofitable segments in various lines,” explained Selgas.

To further bolster its growth prospects, the company has doubled down on innovation, birthing products like the Less-Than-Truckload (“LTL”) shipping offering. According to a July 25 news release, the expansion of Fr8App’s capabilities to include support for LTL shipping was aimed at catering to the growing demands of Fr8App clients importing from Asia (https://ibn.fm/Dj84q).  The LTL offering, Selgas highlighted, has garnered a positive response from customers and industry experts alike. “This is a seed that we have planted that we expect to nurture and grow over time and is a line of business that we expect will generate higher margins relative to sales than some of our legacy products,” Selgas continued.

Moreover, in line with its commitment to innovation, Fr8Tech established a dedicated AI department. Led by a team of seasoned experts in the field of AI – including Dr. Umberto León-Domínguez, a specialist in the field of neuroscience research and in innovation and development of digital business and the current Director of AI at Fr8Tech (https://ibn.fm/5Ar8s) – the department is poised to revolutionize how the company approaches supply chain management.

“By harnessing the power of AI, we aim to develop cutting-edge functionalities and tools that will enhance efficiency and internal control, optimize logistics, and unlock unprecedented insights within the supply chain industry,” explained Selgas. “We believe that this strategic initiative will not only solidify our position as industry leaders but also deliver long-term benefits to our stakeholders by streamlining operations, improving our internal control environment, reducing costs, and ensuring our supply chain remains agile in the face of ever-evolving challenges.”

The quest for continued growth has also seen the company successfully expand into new markets, creating additional revenue streams and diversifying its customer base. For instance, the company expanded operations to El Paso, Texas, the second busiest U.S.-Mexico land port, representing about 10% of the total U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight market in the 12 months to August 2021 (https://ibn.fm/bKpAL). In addition, Fr8Tech increased the number of lanes to transport goods to or from Canada.

Fr8Tech has completed numerous strategic integrations with GPS providers, leading tech logistics companies, and numerous other industry partners. For instance, in September, the company announced a new integration with Geotab’s Open API, which is set to provide real-time visibility and improve efficiency for shippers and carriers (https://ibn.fm/Jv9zl).

This followed the May integration with Trucker Tools, one of the most utilized carrier relationship management platforms in the U.S. (https://ibn.fm/7J7Ne), and the June integration with Samsara that enables Fr8App customers to benefit from real-time GPS tracking, streamlined compliance management, and advanced diagnostic reporting (https://ibn.fm/RmEme). These collaborations, Selgas explained, enable Fr8Tech to offer real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and streamlined logistics solutions, solidifying its position as the go-to choice for cross-border shipping needs.

Other notable operational successes Selgas discussed are the company’s move to join the Mexican Association of Cargo Agents (“AMACARGA”) and the expansion of its customer base, which now includes Samsung, Whirlpool, Beat Box, Kimberly Clark, and more.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Fr8Technologies.com and its freight matching platform information site at www.Fr8.App.

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

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• Clene recently released its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, and provided recent operating highlights for its ALS clinical program
• The ALS clinical program includes two independent studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company’s lead investigational product CNM-Au8(R)
• The 24-month long-term data cut from the open-label extension of the RESCUE-ALS study showed a significant median survival benefit of 19.3 months, a significant 52% decreased risk of ALS clinical worsening events, and a 75% decreased risk of long-term all-cause mortality
• Clene also summarized long-term follow-up data from the HEALEY ALS platform trial, which demonstrated significantly improved survival among patients treated with CNM-Au8
• The company closed Q3 2023 with $42.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, expected to be sufficient to fund operations into Q3 2024

Clene (NASDAQ: CLNN) and its wholly owned subsidiary Clene Nanomedicine Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of a pipeline of novel clean-surfaced nanotechnology therapeutics for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (“ALS”), multiple sclerosis (“MS”), and Parkinson’s disease (“PD”), recently released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, ended September 30, and provided recent operating highlights for its ALS clinical program (https://ibn.fm/Y3sks).

The recent operating highlights covered the Clene’s RESCUE-ALS study, a Phase 2 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled group trial investigating the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the company’s lead investigational product CNM-Au8(R) in patients with early symptomatic ALS, and Phase 2/3 HEALEY ALS platform trial, a perpetual multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial program evaluating the efficacy and safety of multiple investigational products, including CNM-Au8, in patients living with ALS.

In August, Clene reported a 24-month long-term data cut from the open-label extension (“OLE”) of the RESCUE-ALS study as of July 2023, which showed a significant median survival benefit of 19.3 months in addition to a significant (p=0.049) 52% decreased risk of ALS clinical worsening events  – defined as the first occurrence of death, tracheostomy (a procedure that involves creating an opening in the neck into the windpipe to help air and oxygen reach the lungs), assisted ventilation, or feeding tube placement – in patients originally treated with CNM-Au8. The data also showed a 75% decreased risk of long-term all-cause mortality (https://ibn.fm/1BM6Q).

A month later, in September, the company reported long-term follow-up data for patients treated with CNM-Au8 for up to 133 weeks in the OLE of the HEALEY ALS platform trial. The post hoc results showed significantly improved survival compared to matched historical placebo controls from previously completed Phase 2 and Phase 3 ALS trials stored in the Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials (“PRO-ACT”) database, the largest U.S. clinical database of previous ALS trials.

The significantly improved survival finding was based on two analyses. The first analysis compared 59 participants originally randomized to CNM-Au8 30mg in the HEALEY ALS platform trial to matched placebo participants derived from the PRO-ACT dataset. The analysis revealed a statistically significant (p=0.046) 49% decreased risk of death compared to placebo controls. Secondly, the company conducted a pooled analysis of the HEALEY ALS platform trial and the RESCUE-ALS clinical trial, comparing results from 82 participants originally randomized to CNM-Au8 30mg to matched placebo controls. This second analysis demonstrated a statistically significant (p=0.004) 59% decreased risk of death compared to placebo (https://ibn.fm/oGbvH).

“We are pleased to be approaching a meaningful regulatory discussion with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (‘FDA’) later in the fourth quarter to elucidate key next steps in our ALS regulatory submission of CNM-Au8,” conveyed Rob Etherington, President and CEO of Clene. “We are hopeful that the consistent survival, delayed time to clinical worsening, and strong safety profile with CNM-Au8 treatment from two phase 2 independent trials is sufficiently compelling for FDA to consider an accelerated path forward. The unmet need remains high for treatments to improve and extend life for patients living with this highly debilitating rapidly progressive condition.”

Clene also reported the publication in September of a scientific paper describing the catalytic mechanism of action of CNM-Au8 in the journal Small. Titled “A Mechanism Underpinning the Bioenergetic Metabolism-Regulating Function of Gold Nanocatalysts,” the open-access publication characterizes the robust neuroprotective properties of CNM-Au8 (https://ibn.fm/2WuHz).

Along with the recent operating highlights, Clene also reported financial highlights from the third quarter, key among them its financial position. The company closed Q3 2023 with $42.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, including gross proceeds of $40 million from a June 2023 public offering. The offering may provide additional capital of up to $130 million through future warrant exercises based on regulatory milestones (https://ibn.fm/Rv5g2). Clene expects the resources on hand as of September 30 to be sufficient to fund its operations into Q3 2024.

Meanwhile, Clene, in collaboration with Columbia University and Synapticure, was awarded a four-year $45.1 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (“NINDS”), a division of the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”). The grant will support an Expanded Access Protocol (“EAP”) for the CNM-Au8 in ALS, allowing patients who did not meet the criteria to enroll in the two independent clinical trials to access the investigational drug, even though the FDA does not yet approve it.

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

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

• Ucore, a company engaged in the exploration for plus separation and scalable production of REEs, just announced a technical update on its RapidSX(TM) Demonstration Plant in Kingston, Ontario
• Mike Schrider, the company’s VP and COO, lauded this milestone, noting how it ultimately led to optimizing the chemistry delivery and feedback systems to and from the RapidSX(TM) platform within the plant
• These steps will lead the way to demo plant commercialization, scale-up, and technology transfer, for its developing 7,500 tonnes per annum (ex-cerium and ex-yttrium) REE separation plant – the Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex (“LA-SMC”) in Alexandria, Louisiana

Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), a company engaged in the exploration for rare earth elements (“REEs”) in Canada and the U.S., as well as the associated development of superior separation and scalable production technologies, just announced a technical update on its important RapidSX(TM) Demonstration Plant in Kingston, Ontario. The update marks a significant milestone for the company, and will allow them to “discreetly quantify the previous qualitative attributes of the RapidSX(TM) technology platform and the resulting rare earth element products” (https://ibn.fm/3HrKh). Mike Schrider, Ucore’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, lauded this milestone, attributing it to his team’s approach to optimization and fine-tuning efforts. He also noted how this ultimately led to optimizing the chemistry delivery and feedback systems to and from the plant’s RapidSX(TM) platform. “Over the first two years in Kingston, we proved the technical superiority of our now patent-pending RapidSX(TM) technology platform to mix and separate the chemistry of solvent extraction,” noted Mr. Schrider. “We have since taken those optimization and fine-tuning efforts and engaged in a robust engineering, construction, commissioning, testing, and demonstration effort to truly optimize the chemistry delivery and feedback systems to and from the RapidSX(TM) platform within the Demo Plant and across all of the related systems within the Commercialization and Demonstration Facility (‘CDF’),” he added. Ucore has been and still is working to ensure best-in-class processing metrics and quantity of its RapidSX(TM) benefits through a rigorous engineered demonstration program for the U.S. Department of Defense at its Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex (“LA-SMC”) in Alexandria, Louisiana. The company is also exploring commercial processing of a growing range of heavy and light mixed rare earth chemical concentrates originating from various mineralization sources. So far, three different feedstock sources have been included in the work at the CDF, highlighting the facility’s potential and the overall viability of its RapidSX(TM) technology platform. This technical update follows Ucore’s recent announcement of its RapidSX(TM) positioning to overcome obstacles and disrupt the rare earth elements market. Having proven the technology against standard CSX solvent refining processes, typically used in China, the company is confident that its technology is superior, more efficient, and cost-effective. This technical update echoes that and brings Ucore closer to disrupting the market. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Ucore.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF

• SuperCom’s wholly owned subsidiary, Leaders in Community Alternatives, Inc. (“LCA”), recently won a new contract to supply alcohol monitoring technologies and services in California
• The contract is valued at up to $3 million over the initial 3-year term, based on anticipated usage estimates
• Since 2003, LCA has provided continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring (“CAM”) programs for thousands of California drivers found driving under the influence (“DUI”)
• The alcohol monitoring programs use tamper-proof tags worn around the ankle to measure the amount of alcohol in an offender’s body by taking a sample of their sweat every 30 minutes
• SuperCom’s reputation for providing reliable and high-quality electronic monitoring services was pivotal in securing the new contract, President and CEO Ordan Trabelsi said

SuperCom (NASDAQ: SPCB), a leading global provider of traditional and digital identity solutions, provides advanced safety, identification, connectivity, and security products and solutions to governments as well as public and private organizations around the world. The Tel Aviv, Israel-headquartered company wholly owns several active subsidiaries, including, among others, Leaders in Community Alternatives, Inc. (“LCA”).

Acquired in January 2016, LCA is a California-based, private criminal justice organization running electronic monitoring programs and providing community-based services under contracts with various government agencies in the United States. According to SuperCom, LCA has significantly bolstered the company’s competitive edge in competitive tenders, “allowing us to offer not only cutting edge technology, but also extensive industry experience. We have since then beat market competitors in competitive processes and have been awarded projects in various countries around the world, including USA, Canada, Latvia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Bulgaria, and other countries in Europe and Asia” (https://ibn.fm/3uDmh).

SuperCom expresses confidence that previous success in countries around the world, coupled with the status of active tenders, position it to win additional new projects in years to come. The company has remained committed to fostering strong partnerships and relationships with customers, driving technological advancements, and delivering top-tier solutions that address the unique challenges of the criminal justice system.

This summer, LCA secured a new contract to provide alcohol monitoring technologies and services in support of California’s criminal justice system (https://ibn.fm/jJr7m). The contract – which is already in effect and set to run until 2026, with the possibility for future extensions – is valued at up to $3 million over the initial 3-year term, based on anticipated usage estimates. However, the actual revenue will depend on the actual usage of the alcohol monitoring solutions and services, given that customers are billed at a per-unit daily rate.

“Our reputation for providing reliable and high-quality electronic monitoring services was pivotal in securing the contract,” conveyed SuperCom President and CEO Ordan Trabelsi (https://ibn.fm/AKLZK). “This contract marks another strong achievement, building on our track record of securing numerous new electronic monitoring contracts in the U.S. and Europe. We are proud to have been chosen once again to support California’s criminal justice system. Our long-standing relationships with county customers and law enforcement underscores their trust in our technology and services.”

Since 2003, LCA has provided continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring (“CAM”) solutions for thousands of California drivers arrested for, charged with, or convicted of driving under the influence (“DUI”). The solutions use automated transdermal testing devices – tamper-proof tags worn around the ankle – that measure the amount of alcohol in an offender’s body by taking a sample of their sweat every 30 minutes (https://ibn.fm/kADzT).

The results are remotely transmitted from the tags to base stations at the participants’ homes at specific times during the day. The base stations then relay the results of the tests to a monitoring center for analysis. If alcohol is detected, the monitoring center sends a notification to the court, which may require the defendant to be taken into custody.

Electronic alcohol monitoring devices are offered in lieu of bail, allowing a defendant to remain out of custody as they await their case to be heard or as an alternative to imprisonment. It also serves as a deterrent to alcohol consumption, preventing accidents, injuries, or deaths that may arise from DUI cases.

In addition to the tags, law enforcement agencies can also use LCA’s SL2, the first handheld mobile breath device to provide discrete remote alcohol monitoring. SL2 lets participants measure their exact breath alcohol content (“BAC”) at any time at their current location; the testing can be random, scheduled, or on-demand. The device simplifies the monitoring process, all while providing the benefits of electronic alcohol monitoring.

“With a focus on technology innovation and global expansion, SuperCom is well-positioned to help lead the electronic monitoring industry in the future,” concluded Ordan.

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

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

• PaxMedica is developing PAX-101, which utilizes the company’s proprietary source of suramin sodium, for the treatment of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
• There is no FDA-approved treatment for the core symptoms of autism, even though the rates of autism spectrum disorder have jumped significantly from 2000 to 2020
• ASD is characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, and significant impairment in functioning, three core aspects of the disease that PaxMedica aims to address
• The company announced positive topline results from a Phase 2 study evaluating PAX-101 as a potential treatment for ASD and hopes to replicate these results in a larger trial, for which PaxMedica is preparing

In the U.S., the rates of autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”), a diverse group of early-onset and lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions, have more than quadrupled from 2000 to 2020, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) (https://ibn.fm/fRYhj). Researchers attribute the increase to advances in diagnostic capabilities as well as greater understanding and awareness of ASD (https://ibn.fm/v6gtI). PaxMedica (NASDAQ: PXMD) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company intent on developing novel anti-purinergic therapies (“APTs”) for the treatment of ASD and other serious conditions.

Estimates from the CDC’s Autism and Development Disabilities Monitoring (“ADDM”) Network, which pools data from multiple sites across the United States, showed that about 1 in 36 children had been identified with ASD in 2020, up from 1 in 150 in 2000. Correspondingly, the combined prevalence per 1,000 children had grown from 6.7 in 2000 to 27.6 in 2020. Globally, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) estimates that about 1 in 100 children has ASD, although the actual figure could well be higher.

“The prevalence of ASD makes it one of the most frequent neurological development disorders, representing a major public health concern,” reads a 2021 study published in Frontiers in Neurology (https://ibn.fm/NjVlE). But even more concerning, ASD affects each person differently, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosing or treating the disorder.

ASD is generally characterized by difficulty, at least to some degree, in communication and social interaction, as well as unusual repetitive behavior. Patients also present impairment in functioning. These characteristics usually manifest before the age of three years, with some children presenting limited nonverbal and verbal communication by the time they are 18-24 months old (https://ibn.fm/fRD9B). However, the symptoms are heterogeneous. This means that while some children and adults can perform all activities of daily living, others require constant supervision and substantial support to perform basic activities.

Unfortunately, the need to provide constant support often takes a toll on parents who are primary caregivers of children affected with ASD, with many experiencing higher levels of stress and poorer physical health compared to parents of children with normal development (https://ibn.fm/Y6UCE). But amid such demanding circumstances, parents and families affected by ASD typically still hope to help their children progress into adulthood with more independence, a chance for a higher quality of life, and a greater sense of well-being.

With no FDA-approved treatment currently available for the core symptoms of ASD, PaxMedica is intent on developing an important new treatment option, PAX-101, for the treatment of autism, in effect boosting the prospects of independence and lightening the burden on caregivers. PAX-101 utilizes the company’s proprietary source of suramin sodium, a therapy that has existed for more than 100 years. Suramin sodium was developed and used to treat early-stage East African sleeping sickness or Human African Trypanosomiasis (“HAT”).

In 2021, PaxMedica announced positive topline data from its 14-week Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating PAX-101 as a potential treatment for the core symptoms of ASD. PAX-101 demonstrated sustained improvements over placebo. The trial enrolled 52 patients from six sites across South Africa. The results from this trial clearly showed promise for advancing this novel treatment into the next phase of development, according to investigators (https://ibn.fm/ifm1r).

Accordingly, PaxMedica intends to confirm these results in a larger study and is preparing for the next clinical trial investigating PAX-101 as a treatment for ASD (https://ibn.fm/Sg0E2). PaxMedica hopes to capture a share of the global ASD therapeutics market, expected to grow to $3.42 billion by 2030, up from $2.01 billion in 2023 (https://ibn.fm/JtAI7).

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

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

• Lexaria, a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, is exploring the impact of its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology on the oral performance of GLP-1 drugs for potential diabetes and weight loss treatment
• The company hopes to make these drugs more effective with reduced side effects, and even more accessible to people living with diabetes
• The move is aimed to help the company partner with the behemoths in an industry projected to bring in between $150 billion and $200 billion a year

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, is evaluating the impact of its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology on the oral performance of GLP-1 drugs for the treatment of diabetes and weight loss. DehydraTECH has demonstrated, in many instances, significant improvement in how active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream with its powerful bioavailability enhancing capabilities. The move could help Lexaria carve out an important market share for an industry that is projected to bring in between $150 billion and $200 billion a year (https://ibn.fm/QBKs9). Given the positive results the company has achieved so far in its diabetes and hypertension clinical studies, Lexaria is optimistic that its foray into GLP-1 drugs will yield positive results and open up its technology to new and more lucrative global markets.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), obesity prevalence in the U.S. stood at 41.9% in 2017. In addition, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) noted that over 1.9 billion people worldwide are overweight as of 2016, underscoring the spike in diabetes diagnoses. This growing population of people living with this condition has seen the diabetes drug market grow over the years. It is projected to hit $82.93 billion in value by 2027, up from $63.1 billion in 2021 (https://ibn.fm/TdQlK). Given this prevalence, along with the pain and unpleasantness of injections that many people living with diabetes have to deal with, there has been a growth in demand for drugs, hence the overall uptake of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists.

GLP-1 agonists work by mimicking the effects of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, allowing for the regulation of blood sugar levels and appetite. As a by-product, these drugs have also been linked to weight loss, hence the overall warm reception the drugs have received and the overall uptick in their demand (https://ibn.fm/7UyEy). Lexaria looks to tap into this growing demand, leveraging its DehydraTECH technology to further improve the oral performance of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes treatment and weight loss.

This revolutionary technology has demonstrated increased bioavailability, increased brain absorption, and improved drug potency by as much as 1,900 percent. This overall effectiveness has earned Lexaria 37 patents worldwide, covering various application areas, including nicotine replacement, hypertension, central nervous system disorders, and antiviral drugs.

With DehydraTECH, Lexaria looks to make GLP-1 drugs more effective with reduced side effects and even more accessible to people with diabetes. It also looks to help drive up the uptake of oral GLP-1 agonists, mainly since they are less intrusive and less painful than injectable alternatives. By doing so, the company looks to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes, all while creating value for its shareholders.

So far, DehydraTECH’s potential has been recognized by various industry players, as evidenced by the potential collaboration with dominant entities in the space such as Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), Merck & Company Inc. (NYSE: MRK), or AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN) (https://ibn.fm/Y3CoJ). Lexaria looks to double down on this interest to improve its technology and expand its areas of application while fulfilling its mission and creating value for its shareholders.

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

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

• The rare earth metals market was valued at $5.3 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3%, resulting in a value of $9.6 billion by 2026
• The growing tensions between China and the United States make it more important than ever for sustainable REE (Rare Earth Element) separation operations that do not depend on China, and Ucore’s RapidSX(TM) technology is key to the answer
• Ucore plans is developing its first Strategic Metals Complex for REE separation in Louisiana

The demand for rare earth elements (“REE”) is expected to surge as the electric vehicle and renewable energy market, and other critical REE applications, go forward. The rare earth metals market was valued at $5.3 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2021 to 2026, resulting in a value of $9.6 billion by 2026 (https://ibn.fm/f6EfY).  The current problem with REE production is the lack of rare earth separation facilities of scale in the United States, with the market being dominated by China. The recent tensions between China and the United States make it critical for sustainable REE separation operations that do not depend on China.

Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), and its powerful new metals separation technology company, is on a mission to execute an ESG-centered plan toward establishing a comprehensive North American critical metals supply chain. The company has developed a superior commercial-ready technology, RapidSX(TM), for separating and purifying critical metals. Ucore intends to deploy its technology to pursue a critical metals supply chain independent of China and Western companies for use by the many industries dependent upon REE-based components.

The RapidSX technology was developed by Innovation Metals Corp., which was acquired by Ucore in 2020 and received early-stage assistance from the United States Department of Defense, later resulting in the production of commercial-grade, separated REE at a pilot scale. RapidSX combines the time-proven chemistry of conventional solvent extraction (“SX”) with a new column-based platform that significantly reduces the time to completion and plant footprint. SX is the industry standard used today, and is used by all REE producers worldwide for bulk separation of both heavy and light REEs.

Earlier this year, Ucore began the commission of its RapidSX Demonstration Plant in Kingston, Ontario. The plant was designed to demonstrate the commercial capabilities of the company’s RapidSX technology platform. The demonstration plant is located within Ucore’s 5,000-square-foot RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility and is run by the company’s laboratory partner, Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc.

This plant is for demonstration of:

• The techno-economic advantages of the RapidSX technology platform
• The processing of tens of tons of heavy and light mixed REE concentrates in a simulated production environment
• The platform’s ability to operate for thousands of semi-continuous run-time hours
• The production of high-purity NdPr, praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium REEs for early OEM product qualification trials

To bring RapidSX technology and its potential for creating a critical metals supply chain to North America, Ucore, its engineering partner Mech-Chem Associates Inc., and Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. are developing the full-scale engineering for its first Strategic Metals Complex (“SMC”). The SMC is a planned REE separation and rare earth oxide production plant to be located in Louisiana. The Louisiana Economic Development organization has already shown its support to Ucore with a non-binding Letter of Intent for a 10-year $9.6 million plus tax incentive package (over the first ten years of operation) in consideration of the Ucore’s projected investment of $55 million for the Louisiana facility.

According to Pat Ryan, Ucore’s Chairman and CEO, the company has been working diligently to establish its first SMC over the last several years (https://ibn.fm/z59l6). “At the beginning of this year (2022), we finalized two fundamental tenets. One, the emerging worldwide demand for Western rare earth oxides will far exceed the capacity of just one SMC. Two, the only way to successfully meet the required production timelines of our prospective partners will be to build the first SMC within an established facility – which is just not currently possible with our original plans in Southeast Alaska,” Ryan explained.

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

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

• Utah-based Diamond Lake Minerals Inc. is a vertically integrated company focused on digital assets and securities, focused on building and acquiring enterprises in sectors ranging from music and entertainment to real estate, healthcare, and digital tokens
• The company has welcomed a new CEO and several new strategic advisors since late August, building market value to $84 million in market cap
• One of DLMI’s aims is to be a “hybrid missing piece”, getting generational wealth to overcome modernization acquisition hurdles and become involved in the digital assets space

Multi-strategy operating company Diamond Lake Minerals (OTC: DLMI) is building a digital vision for the future on a foundation that includes decades of experience in diverse market sectors, as represented by the company’s new executive team.

The team’s background includes experience in manufacturing, technology, music, real estate, smart cities, blockchain, agriculture, mining, technology, legalized gaming, and hotel resorts, along with the business acumen acquired through those ventures.

“The reason why a lot of these amazing people are part of this team is taking the business models of the traditional world and then … combining that with what I know is the future of securities, and that’s digital assets or digital securities,” CEO Brian J. Esposito, who joined the company in late August, said in a Bell2Bell podcast earlier this month (https://ibn.fm/UCZQn).

“So when you start to look at where are we going as it relates to bringing assets in the digital environment such as securities, I believe DLMI is the hybrid missing piece to get generational wealth, or the wealth on the sidelines — (people) that hear about digital assets,” Esposito said.

“Their kids are involved with it. They hear about it at work. … Maybe they don’t trust it, maybe they don’t understand it, or they’re insecure about it, they don’t know how to download a digital wallet. So what we’re building is the ability to be involved in that space, through a regulated environment,” he added. “So we’re combining old-school traditional business models with new-school mechanisms such as security tokens to provide value to our companies and our holdings that are coming in, and ensure consistent value and sharing those earnings with our shareholders.”

Esposito noted that the company’s market value has been a strong indicator of its potential, as it went from a historic position of “around a million dollars” before he took the reins as CEO to an additional $80 million to $84 million in market cap during the two months since then, while having the full support of these recently announced iconic advisors:

• Agnes Budzyn, the Managing Partner of Bluedge Ventures
• Anthony Scaramucci, the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge
• Larry Namer, the founder of E! Entertainment TV and President of Metan Global
• Michael J. Malik Sr., a prominent entrepreneur and leader in casino development
• Andrew Fromm, founder of Fromm Consulting
• Brandon Fugal, Chairman of Colliers International in Utah
• Raul Leal, CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts

DLMI’s industry-agnostic holding strategy, establishing a vertically integrated ecosystem through starting, acquiring and building “wonderful entities,” emphasizes transparency, liquidity and security in the familiar investment vehicle of stocks.

“We’ll have media, we’ll have healthcare, we’ll have things that operate in security tokens, in digital assets. We’ll have music and IP, we’ll have the entertainment industry, we’ll have real estate opportunities,” he said. “And (we’ll be) doing that in the correct fashion and showing how all of these different holdings will share resources, support one another, and ensure that if there’s a downside in one industry or segment, that we have a diversified model to help keep everything afloat and everything growing.”

In the end, Esposito said his aim is to look out for those invested in the company.

“I want our company to create a new benchmark on how public companies should be communicating,” Esposito said. “I love working in the regulated environment because it’s a place that helps ensure protecting people.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.DiamondLakeMinerals.com, or LinkedIn page at www.LinkedIn.com/company/Diamond-Lake-Minerals/.

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

• Arizona-based SenesTech Inc. provides a unique approach to rodent pest control by formulating a contraceptive that works as birth control in both male and female rats
• A major milestone has been reached by the company as it recently began taking orders for its new Evolve(TM) Soft Bait formulation, which joins SenesTech’s liquid ContraPest(R) brand as a population-control solution that avoids some of the problems associated with lethal rodenticides
• The Evolve(TM) Soft Bait product is targeting the vast professional pest control market that prefers a non-liquid product, as well as providing a consumer-friendly option that may be marketed through big box retailers and e-commerce providers
• SenesTech’s operation has been growing rapidly this year, and company officers stated last month that its “pro forma cash balance” is $4 million with no long-term debt

With the advent of cooler weather in the Northern Hemisphere, rodents become more noticeable in homes and buildings as they seek warmer refuge. Pest control giant Orkin estimates mice and other rodents invade around 21 million homes across the United States each fall, according to its annual report on the “50 rattiest cities” (https://ibn.fm/0X9O6).

Rodent control innovator SenesTech (NASDAQ: SNES) is using its own unique approach to the science of reducing rat populations to help clients and pest control companies enjoy the holiday season without such unwanted guests. They have developed a means of birth control for the rodents that keeps their populations from growing, allowing their numbers to dwindle generationally.

“The existing lethal solutions’in the marketplace are limited by rats’ reproduction rates, resistance and aversion, as well as the enhanced social and political limitations on the use of poison,” SenesTech CEO and President Joel Fruendt said during a webcast interview last month at the Lytham Partners Fall 2023 Investor Conference (https://ibn.fm/PxfA6).

The company is building on its initial successes with its trademarked liquid ContraPest(R) bait by recently introducing companion brand Evolve(TM) Soft Bait, which gives SenesTech a non-liquid formulation for its portfolio. Non-liquid solutions make up 90 to 95 percent of the rodent control market and are preferred by professional exterminators, according to Fruendt, so the Evolve bait presents the company with the possibility of exponential revenue growth.

“We’ve experienced rapid growth over the past few years,” CFO Tom Chesterman said during the Lytham webcast. “Most recent trends confirm that growth is accelerating as our initiatives put place in the first half of the year take hold. … At the end of June, we had $2.2 million in cash but in August we closed on a warrant exercise, which brought in an additional $2.1 million gross proceeds. Netted expenses, our pro forma cash balance, would be $4 million.”

Evolve is highly palatable to rats, easy to deploy, and can be placed in a wide variety of environments including municipal buildings, parks, recreation facilities, sports venues, food processing facilities, correctional facilities, subways, medical facilities, agribusiness, zoos and residential locations, the company stated in a news release announcing the soft bait’s availability (https://ibn.fm/E7CA6).

The company recommends placing the contraceptive bait in tamper-resistant stations to limit exposure for non-targeted species, but adds that the low levels of the active ingredient are specifically suited to rats’ body masses and larger mammals would only see effects if they repeatedly ingest a substantial amount over several weeks, while small birds appear more tolerant of it because of their distinct digestive systems.

“Evolve’s active ingredient, gossypol, derived from cottonseed, has a well-documented record of efficacy, and was developed under the EPA’s minimum risk rules, also known as ’25B'”, CTO Dan Palasky stated in the news release. “We will be publishing a white paper summarizing this data, as well as continuing to perform our own field tests.”

Previous field tests using the liquid ContraPest formulation targeted West Coast and East Coast poultry farms. Rat populations were evaluated monthly over the course of a year, and the company found that in the West Coast study ContraPest cut the rat population in half in three months and produced a sustained 90 percent reduction over the 12-month study. In the East Coast study, the client reported an 88 percent improvement in the survival of the baby chicks after reducing the rat population with ContraPest.

Fruendt said the East Coast client projected $600,000 in increased revenue as a result of using ContraPest, following on an investment of $10,000 to incorporate ContraPest into its pest management program, marking a significant ROI.

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

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

• Clene, a company targeting the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that severely impact people’s lives, is currently focusing on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”) alongside other neurodegenerative diseases
• The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Clene Nanomedicine, and two collaborators, Columbia University and Synapticure, are the recipients of a four-year grant totaling $45.1 million
• The grant will support an Expanded Access Protocol (“EAP”) study for Clene’s investigational product, CNM-Au8(R)
• CNM-Au8 is an orally administered gold nanocrystal suspension that is thought to improve mitochondrial health and protect neuronal function to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS
• The EAP study will give patients who did not initially meet the criteria to enroll in a clinical trial an opportunity to try CNM-Au8, which, besides being well tolerated, has improved the survival of ALS patients

In late December of 2021, President Biden signed into law H.R. 3537, the Accelerated Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (“Act for ALS”) (https://ibn.fm/oQbSk). The Act for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), now public law, directs the Department of Health and Human Services through the Secretary to, among others, “award grants to participating entities for the purposes of scientific research utilizing data from expanded access to investigational drugs for individuals who are not otherwise eligible for clinical trials for the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, or cure of ALS” (https://ibn.fm/A2Tuu).

During the financial year 2023, the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) made strides to implement the Act for ALS, extending its commitment to advancing research on ALS, which currently has no cure. Through its division, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (“NINDS”), the NIH issued three new awards for the grant program prescribed in the Act for ALS (https://ibn.fm/c1Dcb). One of these awards, a four-year grant totaling $45.1 million, went to Clene Nanomedicine Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Clene (NASDAQ: CLNN), and its collaborators, Columbia University and Synapticure.

The funding is intended to support an EAP study investigating the safety and efficacy of Clene’s investigational product (“IP”), CNM-Au8, as a treatment for people with ALS (https://ibn.fm/rvyaD). Researchers will use this funding to offer the drug to patients living with ALS across varied clinical sites across the United States and through a telemedicine neurology clinic (a virtual clinic) operated by Synapticure, according to official communication published on NINDS’s website. Synapticure’s virtual clinic and network of nationwide clinics will facilitate the participation of ALS patients from all 50 states, including those living in rural and remote areas.

The study’s designed scope aligns with the Expanded Access pathway, which enables patients with ALS – or any other serious and life-threatening disease – to access an IP, like CNM-Au8, that has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Also known as Compassionate Use, the EAP gives patients who did not initially meet the criteria to participate in a Clene clinical trial an opportunity to try the IP, in this case, CNM-Au8.

CNM-Au8 is an orally administered gold nanocrystal suspension that is thought to improve mitochondrial health and protect neuronal function to treat neurodegenerative diseases. This IP, which clinical studies have shown is well tolerated, can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, stimulate energy production and utilization, and reduce oxidative stress in cells. Its creation resulted from Clene Nanomedicine’s discovery that gold has extraordinary catalytic and therapeutic properties when engineered as highly faceted clean-surfaced nanocrystals.

“The surfaces of gold nanocrystals, among other capabilities, are able to rapidly catalyze nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (‘NAD’), a key energy metabolite. This catalytic reaction drives the production of adenosine triphosphate (‘ATP’), the cellular currency of energy… By replenishing neuronal energy supply, CNM-Au8 protects neurons from disease and death, helping them survive and function,” explains a video on Clene’s website (https://ibn.fm/WnFGz).

Clene has previously demonstrated evidence of consistent safety and improved survival for CNM-Au8 across a broad ALS population in two independent Phase 2 trials and ongoing ALS EAP programs that have enrolled over 200 participants since 2019. “This new EAP provides access to CNM-Au8 for more people living with ALS and enables the collection of survival, safety, and biomarker data in a population not studied in clinical trials,” commented Benjamin Greenberg, M.D., MHS, FAAN, Head of Medical of Clene. “These data can help provide confirmatory support for the existing trial data Clene has gathered in its clinical trials.”

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

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