• Lexaria has received notifications of four new patents either awarded or allowed
• After the awarding of these patents, Lexaria’s total patent portfolio will have grown to 32 granted patents worldwide
• The new granted patent in Japan is under Patent Family #3: Stable Ready-to-Drink Beverage Compositions Comprising Lipophilic Active Agents
• The new granted Australian patent is under Patent Family #18: Compositions and Methods for Enhanced Delivery of Antiviral Agents
• The new allowed Canadian patent is under Patent Family #8: Compositions Infused with Nicotine Compounds and Methods of Use Thereof
• The new allowed US patent is under Patent Family #21: Compositions and Methods for Treating Hypertension and is the first patent in the Patent Family

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms and the global leader in enhancing the speed and efficiency of orally-delivered fat-soluble active molecules and drugs through its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology – has announced that the company has received notification of four newly awarded or allowed patents (https://ibn.fm/hfxa0). The new patents will add to Lexaria’s growing portfolio, bringing the total number of patents granted worldwide to 32, with several more pending.

Lexaria’s newly awarded or allowed patents include the following:

• Japan: Lexaria’s new patent in Japan is under Patent Family #3: Stable Ready-to-Drink Beverage Compositions Comprising Lipophilic Active Agents. This patent is the fifth awarded in Japan, strengthening the company’s growing Japanese patent portfolio. Under this particular patent family, Lexaria has existing patents in Australia, India, Japan, and Mexico.
• Australia: Lexaria’s new Australian patent is categorized under Patent Family #18: Compositions and Methods for Enhanced Delivery of Antiviral Agents. The new patent brings Lexaria’s total in Australia to ten and is the second patent in this Patent Family, following a similar patent in the United States awarded in 2022.
• Canada: Lexaria’s Canadian patent under Patent Family #8: Compositions Infused with Nicotine Compounds and Methods of Use Thereof has been allowed. This will be Lexaria’s second patent in this Patent Family and follows a similar issuance in Australia in 2022.
• United States: Lexaria has been notified that a new patent under Patent Family #21: Compositions and Methods for Treating Hypertension has been allowed in the US. The company believes this patent could provide significant importance in its pursuit of utilizing DehydraTECH-CBD concerning its expected upcoming FDA Investigational New Drug application. The outcomes of a series of hypertension studies already completed were instrumental in achieving this particular patent and is the first patent in the Patent Family.

When a patent is “allowed,” it means that the patent office has notified the company that it has been determined that they will soon grant the patent, often subject to some administrative tasks and/or fees.

Lexaria’s DehydraTECH technology speeds up delivery, increases bioavailability, increases brain absorption, improves drug potency, reduces drug administration cost, and masks unwanted taste. The company has conducted animal studies that demonstrated a propensity for DehydraTECH to elevate the quantity of drug delivered across the blood-brain barrier by as much as 1,700 percent, initiating additional new patent applications and opening possibilities for improved drug delivery.

Two markets of penetration for Lexaria include cardiovascular drugs and CBD. The global cardiovascular drug market is expected to reach $173.48 billion by 2026 (https://ibn.fm/331Zx). The global CBD market is expected to reach $111.8 billion by 2030 (https://ibn.fm/EU21Q). Lexaria’s DehydraTECH technology anticipates leveraging both markets and others, including oral nicotine, PDE5 inhibitors, and more avenues in which Lexaria has filed for patent protection for.

The new patents will allow Lexaria to continue its research and use of DehydraTECH for several indications. The patents offer protection on the company’s technology and allow it to explore further additional opportunities for use – reducing drug administration costs, enhancing efficacy, and more.

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

Investors and mining resource companies looking for opportunities Down Under this summer need to check out Mines and Money Connect’s new Melbourne 2023 event. With hundreds of attendees and over 800 openings for face-to-face meetings to discuss potential activity, Beacon Events’ latest entry in its portfolio of conference series.

The two-day event’s roster includes nearly 30 speakers from senior leadership positions at region-focused mining companies, resource analysts for securities and advisory firms, journalists with insights on the sector, and portfolio asset managers.

The educational opportunities will tackle topics ranging from the impact of ESG and sustainability concerns on investment decisions, gold’s position as a long-term investment, and the reshaping of the mining value chain.

Throughout the course of the event, the Connect meetings highlight the opportunities Mines and Money’s series is known for, setting aside space and time for junior miners and potential investors to forge partnerships that will accelerate projects of interest.

Networking food and refreshment slates on the schedule provide less-formal time for conference participants to get together to discuss industry developments and mining activity that serves as the lifeblood of the sector.

Mines and Money has more than 20 years of experience at bringing investors and junior mining companies together to create the latest advances in resource opportunity and sharing cutting-edge insights on market movements.

Mines and Money Connect boasts an AI-powered meeting planner specially designed to facilitate meeting scheduling between participants as part of its cornerstone feature, allowing attendees to optimize their time while visiting the Great Southern Land.

Key takeaways: 

• Mines and Money Connect’s Melbourne 2023 debut event joins a popular series of conferences sited around the world that have built on over 20 years of experience
• More than 160 investors and more than 40 mining companies are already slated to attend this inaugural event focused on resource opportunities Down Under
• Educational topics at the two-day event include the evolving state of the mining value chain, the importance of environment-focused initiatives in the investment and policy-making worlds, and gold’s place in the market
• Scheduled slots for networking and more than 800 anticipated meetings provide participants with specialized access to potential partnerships for resource development
• Mines and Money’s AI-powered meeting planner empowers companies to make the most of their time and opportunities before they even arrive from varied international locations

Behind the scenes:

International conference series organizer Beacon Events has developed a reputation for developing access to the strategic needs and opportunities of major business sectors for over 20 years, ranging from technology and e-commerce to natural resources such as the mining industry. Beacon is headquartered in Hong Kong where it can specifically address the important emerging markets of Asia’s broad region of influence, but its events are sited around the world and include an online-facing platform.

For more information about this event, please visit https://ibn.fm/wYBZw.

• The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act is set to drive a boom in the U.S. electric vehicle industry
• Under the scheme, vehicles which source at least 40% of their components from North America or U.S. trade partners can be eligible for tax credits of up to $7,500
• Most of the world’s graphite current comes from North-Eastern China with only one functioning natural graphite mine within North America at present
• Reflex Advanced Material are working towards developing two potential graphite mining sites within North America, with the goal of supplying the burgeoning U.S. EV battery supply chain

On the outskirts of the town of Jidong in North-eastern China, tiny particles of graphite dust sparkle in the night-time sky (https://ibn.fm/CHTZn). Located along the border separating the nation from Russia’s Siberian territory, the Heilongjiang Province is the source of much of the world’s naturally mined graphene – a key element used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries. Graphite today accounts for nearly 25 to 28 percent of an EV battery’s total components, by far the largest element contained within the battery in terms of both volume and mass. Under the recently passed U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), customers may be able to avail themselves of subsidies designed to encourage the purchase of environmentally friendly electric vehicles. Nevertheless, a key constraint lays within the vehicle’s source of origin. Under the IRA, a vehicle may only be eligible for tax credits if it were to source at least “40% of critical mineral and battery” components from North America or a US free trade partner by 2024, a threshold which is set to soar to 80% by the end of 2026 (https://ibn.fm/YivI8).

Occupying a central position in the graphite chain today is BTR, the world’s largest supplier of natural graphite material for lithium-ion batteries. The Chinese company, which reportedly serves about 75 percent of the market demand for natural graphite material for batteries, sells to the world’s largest manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries, including Samsung SDI, LG Chem and Panasonic, among various others. Meanwhile, the U.S. does not mine natural graphite, opting rather to make use of synthetic graphite – a material whose fossil fuel-intensive production process can result in emissions 62% to 89% higher than that of natural graphite (https://ibn.fm/T9GsW).

Reflex Advanced Materials (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF), a British Columbia-based strategic minerals company focused on locating and developing economic properties within the advanced materials space, has sought to meet the surging demand for natural graphite from the North American electric vehicle supply chain. The company boasts a vast project portfolio, which includes the Ruby Graphite Deposit, a graphite site in southwest Montana which produced upwards of 2,400 tons of graphite between 1902 and 1948, as well as the Ontario-based ZigZag Lithium Property, encompassing eight mining claims across 2,710 hectares.

With the battery supply chain within the U.S. rapidly ramping up – Bank of America noted that federal incentives contained within the Inflation Reduction Act had driven close to $52 billion in new investment towards the creation of 17 EV battery production facilities over the past year (https://ibn.fm/N8pdY) – sourcing domestically mined natural graphene has increasingly emerged as a key priority for the EV industry. In fact, a recent report by the World Bank revealed that a rise in anode demand was expected to fuel a graphite shortage of 8 million tonnes by 2040.

With an upcoming planned drill program set to take place during summer 2023 at the Ruby Graphite project as well as boasting established relationships with over 25 key North American customers, Reflex Advanced Materials find itself in an ideal position to capitalize on the upcoming IRC-fuelled EV boom in the U.S. Moreover, and through the company’s potential positioning as one of a mere handful of North American suppliers of high purity natural graphite used within hi-tech applications, Reflex Advanced Materials’ competitive positioning may be here to stay for many years to come.

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

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

• The company aims to build a global network of services, products, technologies and applications that will make it easy and affordable for consumers to move money almost anywhere in the world, and in any currency
• FEXD is working to complete a merger, which will enable the company to strengthen its competitive position and provide neobanking services to unbanked consumers in several developing and industrialized markets around the world
• FEXD is targeting consumers and businesses in multiple international markets, including South and East Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the United States
• The number of cashless payments is set to almost triple by 2030, with the fastest growth expected in emerging markets targeted by FEXD
• The transaction value of digital payments worldwide is anticipated to reach $14.7 trillion by 2027

As the financial services sector is undergoing a significant transformation, with digital payments continuing to expand in both number and transactional value, there is a rapidly growing opportunity for more diversified platforms and innovation driven by financial technology companies such as Fintech Ecosystem Development (NASDAQ: FEXD). A Delaware special purpose acquisition company, FEXD was formed with the purpose of helping implement a cashless society through a global financial services ecosystem that addresses unmet mobile money needs.

The cashless society is quickly becoming the default system for making payments, with digital payments worldwide expected to reach $9.46 trillion in transaction value this year, and to continue expanding at an annual growth grate of 11.8% to reach $14.7 trillion by 2027 (https://ibn.fm/mUZtD). According to a PwC survey, the number of cashless payment transactions is set to increase by more than 80% from 2020 to 2025 and then almost triple by 2030, with the fastest growth expected in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Africa, Europe, Latin America, the United States, and Canada (https://ibn.fm/pgJPU).

FEXD is targeting consumers and businesses in multiple international markets, including South and East Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the United States. The company’s vision is to build a global network of technologies, applications, mobile money platforms, products and services, that will make it easier and affordable to consumers to conduct cashless transactions and move money “like thoughts” across borders, virtually any place in the world, in any currency. FEXD’s key goals include:

• Allowing people in underserved financial service markets who need faster and cheaper ways to transfer money access to USD online accounts that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
• Reducing costs of international fees for cross-border transactions as a result of using advanced digital payment technologies;
• Supporting the progress of developing markets and countries, where mobile phones are widespread but mobile money services are not available
• Helping reduce poverty, improving the lives of unbanked populations, offering financial options and security to migrant workers, and overall ensuring that humanity can leave behind the current unhygienic cash system.

To achieve these goals, FEXD is seeking to merge and acquire high-growth global financial technology pioneers, while also continuing the development of proprietary applications and technologies. FEXD has already signed a definitive agreement for business combinations with Mobitech International LLC (“Afinoz”), an AI-enabled digital lending platform based in the United Arab Emirates, with the merger expected to be completed later this year. Afinoz’s digital lending platform is used by leading financial institutions, as well as fintech loan providers, non-banking financial companies, and more than two million consumers in India.

“We aim to use emerging technologies such as blockchain, Web 3.0, Metaverse, and artificial intelligence to reduce costs and accelerate the processing of money transfers, loans, and other lifestyle services, which will benefit consumers and businesses in many countries” FEXD CEO, President and Founder Dr. Saiful Khandaker stated (https://ibn.fm/tTu3m).

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

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

The 2023 Connecticut Cannabis & Hemp Convention is being held at one of the most prestigious locations in Connecticut, the XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza in Hartford, CT on May 20-21, 2023. NECANN takes note of reputable brands, as well as creative entrepreneurs on the scene, to create a vibrant blend of exhibitors, speakers, and panelists, that keep attendees engaged and inspire repeat visits to events.

The convention attracts industry-leading professionals who will present the latest insights into the cannabis industry. With expert speakers and exhibitors, the convention will have it all: science, cultivation, new opportunities, legal, branding, business strategies, growth, policy reform, and more. The conference strives to address the latest topics in the cannabis industry while allowing attendees to learn from the luminaries who are driving growth.

The conference is arranged to offer meaningful networking opportunities and impactful insights that serve a broader purpose of managing the industry as it grows. It serves as a platform that promises to both inspire and engage the next generation of cannabis heavy hitters in cultivation, extraction, retail, branding, media, compliance, distribution, and everywhere in between.

Network, Learn, And Explore The Cannabis World!

The 2023 Connecticut Cannabis & Hemp Convention is designed to empowering attendees with all the products, news, technologies, and legal info available. It will offer ample networking opportunities to create potent connections with peers in the cannabis industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to relax after the enthusiasm of the show, celebrate success, and start a conversation over drinks.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, executives, and even consumers, the conference will feature a range of expert panelists and speakers that represent a wide range of professionals from across the cannabis industry. The seminar will attract hundreds of leading exhibitors, including pioneering leaders in the cannabis marketplace. The seminars are designed to display the latest industry advances, new technologies and products, legal and financial issues, along with real-world insights from the trenches.

The convention is an ideal platform for networking and discovering what’s new in the cannabis marketplace. In addition to providing insightful educational resources, it will offer exhibitors the opportunity to improve brand awareness. The event will also include question-and-answer sessions and panel discussions about legislation, political issues, and cannabis business opportunities.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/O8tVc.

• New cybersecurity threats are emerging, now including the possible use of AI technologies by bad players
• These threats can already be felt on a national level, although it is SMBs that face perhaps the greatest threat, given their often limited resources for investing in cybersecurity systems
• SideChannel, through its vCISOs, is helping to remedy the situation, by offering more affordable and accessible cybersecurity solutions, playing an integral role in reducing vulnerabilities and consequences in complex cyber networks, allowing SMBs to conduct business efficiently and securely

With the advent of services such as ChatGPT and the growing proliferation of other artificial intelligence (“AI”) applications, new cybersecurity threats have already begun to emerge. While these threats are concerns nationally, small and medium businesses (“SMBs”) could end up bearing the brunt, given their limited resources for investing in cybersecurity systems, services, and infrastructure. SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH), however, is committed to remedying this issue and creating systems and offerings that adapt to the evolving cybersecurity space.

As a company founded on the belief that all enterprises, big or small, deserve top-tier security guidance at a manageable cost, SideChannel is aware of how technically demanding current cybersecurity solutions are, particularly when factoring in the possibilities of AI. In addition, it recognizes how involved these solutions can be and how these two aspects leave SMBs vulnerable to attacks. Through its team of virtual Chief Information Security Officers (“vCISOs”), SideChannel is looking to make solutions more accessible and affordable to its target market, ultimately reducing the risks associated with sophisticated AI technologies and their potential use as cybersecurity weapons.

AI’s potential cannot be ignored. This and other emerging AI tools have proven incredibly useful and powerful. However, in the wrong hands, they have the ability to wreak havoc. For starters, feeding these AI tools the wrong data has proven to leave businesses vulnerable, not just from a cybersecurity standpoint but also from an intellectual property standpoint. In addition, hackers have also been shown to leverage ChatGPT to make infinite code variations that allow them to stay ahead of malware detection engines (https://ibn.fm/ISyxE). With the speed and frequency of these attacks, hackers are achieving a higher success rate of security breaches, and SMBs are proving to be the most affected.

Experts have noted that to mitigate the risks associated with AI, a similarly-powered solution needs to be used, essentially “Fighting AI with AI.”  SideChannel, through its vCISOs, offers an affordable yet powerful cybersecurity solution that gives SMBs peace of mind. Through this, the company plays an integral role in reducing vulnerabilities and consequences in complex cyber networks, allowing SMBs to conduct business safely and effectively.

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

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

The fintech industry has taken its lumps along with other sectors during the post-pandemic global market turmoil but innovators and insiders continue to build the infrastructure of a bold Web3 revolution that includes a worldwide transformation of financial transaction philosophies.

In the wake of well-known banking setbacks that have been part of the ups and downs of the fintech sector’s news cycle, creative comedy minds are celebrating the lighter side of life with the industry-focused comedy roast series Mona&Frens, established by ground-breaking South Asian stand-up laugh-generator Mona Shaikh.

“Mona& Frens: Web3 Is A Joke” will provide a night of entertainment at the upcoming Bitcoin Week Miami on May 18. (Frens is a platform designed to help community managers of DAOs and other Web3 projects in NFTs, DeFis, gaming, etc., thus part of the joke.)

Mona’s comedic friends participating in the event include Aaron and Austin Arnold, hosts of the super-popular Altcoin Daily channel; Brittany Brave, the on-air talent at Miami’s HITS 97.3 radio station; Oriel Rodriguez, from Miami Improv; Miami-based comedians Chris Kinback and Kersi Asare.

The event is not simply designed as an evening of comedy — as part of Bitcoin Week Miami’s celebration of everything surrounding hyperbitcoinization, the Web3 Is A Joke event will also deliver a fresh learning experience about the world of crypto, NFTs, Web3 and the cultural importance of the creator economy.

“Sink your teeth into everything, from the essential questions you were always too nervous to ask, kick-start your journey to becoming well-versed in the area, and even get your hands dirty building the most cutting-edge technologies,” a news release about the event states (https://ibn.fm/Q8T7c).

The event also promises a famous personality guest appearance to be revealed during the show, and an opportunity to network with fellow Bitcoiners and Web3 enthusiasts at an after-roast party.

Key takeaways:

• “Mona& Frens: Web3 Is A Joke” will take place in the heart of Southern Florida’s financial technology international innovation hub
• The event promises a night of comedy roast that will also serve to entertain and educate attendees on the wonders of the Web3 revolution
• It’s part of a comedy event series hosted by Mona Shaikh that is providing a humorous take on the fintech industry at conferences around the country 
• Mona Shaikh will be joined by other well-known comedy personalities, including a famous surprise guest 
• An after-party will include opportunities to network with fellow attendees and dance to live DJ music 

Behind the scenes:

Mona Shaikh is a South Asian comedian and producer gaining renown for her efforts to promote inclusion, diversity and representation in the comedy industry. She is the producer of the popular Los Angeles comedy show Minority Reportz and has headlined the Hollywood Improv & Laugh Factory, while also being featured on The Culture of AAPI on MSNBC, creating inroads for people of ethnicity in the comedy industry.

For more information about this event and to register, please visit https://ibn.fm/ckaTF.

Commercial Banks, Consulting Firms, Venture Capital Firms, and Specialty Lending Firms attended the Venture Debt Conference taking place in New York City on March 31st, 2023. This was the largest conference dedicated to non-dilutive financing strategies for developing growth businesses.

The Venture Debt Conference was held to increase knowledge and awareness about the new financing products available for SMEs. It offered a great opportunity for networking and discussing non-dilutive loan strategies for emerging and VC-backed growth companies.

The full-day conference addressed an increasing interest in using venture debt to supplement venture capital. The industry experts shared their insights into alternative financing with businesses unaware of these investment strategies. Besides a synopsis of the venture debt financing available, the conference offered case studies from industry leaders on their experiences of working with SMEs and what this association has meant for their business. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions from the financing teams after the event.

Venture Debt Driving Business Growth

In light of economic challenges, a complex fundraising environment, and downward pressure on valuations, fast-growth companies are looking for alternative funding options as a bridge to their next round of equity financing and to drive growth. Early-stage businesses without broad historic financials may struggle to contact traditional bank financing in the same manner as more established companies.

Venture debt is a form of non-dilutive, flexible financing offered to startups to prolong their implied cash runway and fund existing working capital requirements until their next round of equity financing. The use of venture debt has gained a reputation as evolving growth companies stay private longer and pursue innovative forms of financing to diminish dilution. Many debt products, such as revenue-based financing, term loans, equipment financing, and receivables financing, fall under the wide moniker of venture debt. Venture debt tends to continue evolving as a striking financing option for new venture-backed businesses.

The Venture Debt Conference was focused on innovative, fast-growing SMEs and mid-caps seeking to hasten their advancement and invest in research and development. The event was personalized to allow attendees to gain insights into the specific support the businesses can get under this program. It also provided a great opportunity to engage directly with representatives of the banks, CFOs, and CEOs of creative start-up companies, professional service firms, venture capital funds, and others.

To learn more, please visit https://venturedebtconference.com/

Interested participants can register for the upcoming Spac and Reg A conferences hosted by DealFlow:

• SPAC Conference, June 28-29, Westchester Country Club | Rye, New York (https://ibn.fm/2g8yN)
• Reg A Conference, June 30, Westchester Country Club | Rye, New York   (https://ibn.fm/Fm9bx)

• Zacks recently released a research report covering Lexaria Bioscience, a global innovator in drug delivery platforms
• The report discusses the company’s ongoing research and development (“R&D”) programs, forecasting penetration into global markets for hypertension, oral nicotine delivery, and antiviral product categories
• Lexaria is targeting conditions with significant market potential, including hypertension, diabetes, dementia, and seizures
• These programs position the company for entry into collaborative opportunities to support further growth and provide growth capital

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, featured in a recently released research report from Zacks Small-Cap Research (“SCR”) (https://ibn.fm/XI5mO). The report considers the potential approval and commercialization of products processed with the company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery platform technology that increases drug bioavailability, and ongoing research and development (“R&D”) activities, including recent revelations that the platform technology may offer a new mechanism of action, to support a $14.00 share valuation (https://ibn.fm/Q4rQJ).

“DehydraTECH offers several attractive features: substantial improvement in bioabsorption in terms of time to measurable plasma levels and AUC (area under the curve), brain permeation, taste masking, and side effect reduction. As DehydraTECH does not employ a covalent bond, [it] is not a new molecular entity and can rely on previously conducted safety and efficacy data to obtain regulatory approval,” the report reads.

The report highlights the company’s accomplishments during the current financial year 2023, which began September 1, 2022, acknowledging the considerable ground Lexaria has traversed with its research and development (“R&D”) activities. For example, the lead R&D program seeks to investigate DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) for the treatment of hypertension; five human clinical trials have been conducted to date, yielding positive results.

These results come amid increasing interest from big pharma. In early 2023, for instance, AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN) initiated a bid to acquire CinCor Pharma, Inc., a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatment for resistant and uncontrolled hypertension as well as chronic kidney disease. Though the bid is yet to be accepted, according to a disclaimer on AstraZeneca’s website (https://ibn.fm/E0Hxh), the juggernaut’s interest, Zacks’ report explains, “accentuates the unmet need for effective control of hypertension and provides a healthy backdrop for further work by Lexaria in this area.”

This additional work comes in the form of an expected Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)-approved Phase 1b clinical study. Accordingly, Lexaria intends to submit its Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for the hypertension program mid-year, with the study expected to commence in the second half of the year, according to the report.

In addition, Lexaria’s efficient use of capital has allowed it to expand its R&D into new preclinical work, including efforts evaluating DehydraTECH-CBD as a potential treatment for diabetes, dementia, and seizures. And as is synonymous with all its R&D programs, these efforts are not only strategic but also influenced by an ever-present market need.

The company took an interest in the seizure space following the FDA’s approval of GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex, acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a CBD oral solution for the treatment of seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome. This marked the first time a drug containing an active ingredient from the cannabis plant had received approval. With regulatory approval in the bag, Epidiolex would go on to generate $750 million in revenues in 2022, a figure that will likely increase to over $1 billion by 2024. This success spurred Lexaria to perform its own studies evaluating the efficacy of DehydraTECH-CBD for seizures. In results released in November last year, the company established that DehydraTECH-CBD worked faster and better at lower doses than Epidiolex (https://ibn.fm/svWzC).

Regarding dementia, the report underlines that although there are several approved drugs, they have had limited benefits, lacked the clear-cut benefit desired, or resulted in adverse side effects. “This leaves the dementia field wide open for therapies that can either slow or improve the symptoms of dementia,” the report continues. For its part, Lexaria intends to capitalize on this gap and has initiated a study evaluating the potential therapeutic use of DehydraTECH-CBD in dementia.

The company is also evaluating other DehydraTECH-processed candidates, including oral nicotine, antivirals, PDE5 inhibitors, hormones, and more. Of these focus areas, the report projects penetration into global markets for hypertension, oral nicotine delivery, and antiviral product categories.

“While still early stage, these programs could be excellent partnership opportunities that will support further growth and potentially provide growth capital,” the report concludes.

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

• MULN delivers initial Class 1 EV cargo vans to two customers: the University of North Carolina and MGT Lease Company
• UNC Charlotte ordered Mullen’s Class 1 EV cargo vans for use across its 1,000-acre campus
• Mullen’s Class 1 is a “perfect entry point for us,” said MGT executive

In the first of many anticipated deliveries, Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ: MULN) announced that its Class 1 EV cargo vans have been delivered to two customers: the University of North Carolina (https://ibn.fm/xMMun) and MGT, a growing commercial vehicle sales and leasing company (https://ibn.fm/AUvfZ). The vehicle orders were fulfilled with the support of the Randy Marion Automotive Group.

“Following our first commercial trade show, the National Truck and Equipment Work Truck Week in Indianapolis, it is exciting to continue our momentum with the Mullen commercial lineup and celebrate our first fleet deliveries,” said John Schwegman, chief commercial officer of Mullen, who noted that the 100%-electric vans are a “fantastic use case for university campus delivery applications.”

UNC Charlotte ordered Mullen’s Class 1 EV cargo vans for use across its 1,000-acre campus, which serves a student population of more than 29,500. The university plans a variety of uses for the vans, including campus delivery and facility services. “UNC Charlotte is committed to helping create a more sustainable environment, including developing and implementing a comprehensive plan designed to reduce carbon emissions,” said T. J. Woods, the university’s transportation, warehouse and logistics manager.

Mullen also delivered four of its Class 1 EV cargo vans to one of its first commercial EV fleet customers, MGT Lease Company. A growing commercial vehicle sales and leasing company, MGT reported annual revenue of more than $70 million in 2022 and is projecting $100 million revenue in 2023. The company specializes in last-mile segments, including package delivery and retail, as well as vocations such as plumbing and electrical.

“Mullen’s Class 1 is a perfect entry point for us,” said MGT managing partner Thomas Gavlik. “The Class 1 segment no longer has internal combustion engine options from the major OEM brands and certainly does not have any Class 1 EV options. One of the biggest opportunities we see is the Class 3 cab-chassis segment, with the potential to upfit and offer unlimited options for commercial customers.”

Mullen CEO and chair David Michery stated that the company looks forward to “the continued adoption of EVs in place of standard ICE vehicles.” He noted that the company is seeing growing interest in its commercial EV offerings. “It’s great to have MGT as one of our first commercial customers,” Michery said. “We look forward to growing our relationship with MGT across our entire platform of commercial EV vehicles.”

Mullen Automotive is a Southern California–based automotive company building the next generation of premium electric vehicles that are affordable and made entirely in the United States. With an end-to-end ecosystem that supports owners from test driving to financing and servicing through a unique hybrid dealership model, customers are supported through every aspect of EV ownership.

For more information about the company, visit www.MullenUSA.com.

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