OurPet’s Company’s (OTCQX: OPCO) business strategies have contributed substantially to its success, and so has the growth of the pet products industry. The pet products industry is booming. It has grown from around $16 billion in annual sales in 1995, when OurPet’s first entered the industry, to around $65 billion in 2015, according to the American Pet Products Association.

In a February 2016 interview with Thomas Rice, editor of The Bowser Report, Dr. Steve Tsengas, CEO of OurPet’s Company, shared his insights about the future of his company and the pet products industry. “The industry continues to grow, especially cat products, which are increasing about 6% a year,” according to Dr. Tsengas. He also shared that the annual sales number for dog products is increasing at around 2-3%.

OurPet’s specializes in providing easy-to-use feeding and waste management solutions for both dogs and cats. Dr. Tsengas’s life-long interest in holistic health, combined with his love of pets, led him to pursue a PhD in natural health and nutrition. That drive also led him to apply his knowledge and interest to developing pet accessories and consumable products that improve the health, safety, comfort and enjoyment of pets. Dr. Tsengas has had a deep interest in a holistic, integrated approach to health for more than 35 years, and, to date, his unique and novel pet products have been issued dozens of patents.

OurPet’s product design process begins with an analysis of the health, behavioral and lifestyle needs of a pet and its respective pet parent(s). Once the company discovers an innovative way to fulfill those needs, it offers a problem-solving solution to the pet owner(s). Over the years, this approach has resulted in the creation of highly-marketable products that are now being offered to retailers.

These days, OurPet’s is preparing for its next stage of growth. Management hopes that will mean about $50 million in annual revenues five years from now, and, as a result, the team has updated the company’s infrastructure to handle a higher sales volume. As Dr. Tsengas explained, the company has automated its “Enterprise Resource Planning system complete with automatic warehouse logistics” and it is now receiving and processing orders electronically, all the way to payment. At the end of 2015, OurPet’s also finalized a new branding strategy. Now, the company has two brands: The OurPets® brand caters to pet specialty markets like PetSmart and Petco and the Pet Zone® brand caters to mass markets like Walmart. With these marketing and technical initiatives in place, OurPet’s appears poised for long-term growth and success.

For the full interview, visit http://dtn.fm/q3DjP

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

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Vapor Corp. (OTC: VPCO) is a U.S. based distributor and retailer of vaporizers, e-liquids and electronic cigarettes. It recently acquired the retail chain “The Vape Store” as part of a merger with Vaporin, Inc. The company’s innovative technology enables users to inhale nicotine vapor without smoke, tar, ash or carbon monoxide. The company’s brands include VaporX®, Krave®, Hookah Stix® and Vaporin™ and are distributed to retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company sells direct to consumers via e-commerce and company-owned brick-and-mortar retail locations operating under “The Vape Store” brand.

With a number of trademarked products, Vapor Corp. is consistently preparing to commercialize additional products. The company is developing new flavor profiles that are distinct to its brands. Management believes that as the electronic cigarette industry matures, users of electronic cigarettes will develop preferences for the product based not only on quality, ability to successfully deliver nicotine, battery capacity, and smoke volume generated, but also on taste and flavor, as smokers do with their preferred brand of conventional tobacco cigarettes.

Vapor Corp. has a patent pending for a soft-tip electronic cigarette filter, which more closely resembles the tactile experience of a traditional tobacco cigarette in a user’s mouth. In addition, the company holds rights to a patent pending for the first electronic cigarette that can be recharged by shaking the product. This technology may eventually allow for continued use without having to recharge the electronic cigarette by plugging it into an electrical outlet.

In addition, Vapor Corp. has a patent pending on a new configuration for the airflow sensors currently used in electronic cigarettes. The new configuration will allow the battery to be sealed to enhance the reliability and performance of the electronic cigarette.

Learn more by visiting www.vapor-corp.com

Nutra Pharma Corporation (OTCQB: NPHC) is actively pursuing growth plans that will bolster its core business while expanding its reach into vital commercial markets. A versatile biotechnology company, Nutra Pharma markets Nyloxin and Pet Pain-Away (homeopathic drugs that treat moderate-to-severe chronic pain in humans and pets, respectively) to the over-the-counter pain management market.

Millions of Americans suffer from persistent pain. From veterans to active-duty military personnel to civilians, the presence of chronic pain is a major factor in many lives and so is the search for a lasting cure. This is where Nutra Pharma comes in.

The company has developed pain-relief solutions that are both potent and long-lasting. They are non-opiate, non-narcotic and non-addictive. They are safe for vital organs, such as the stomach, liver and kidney, and they do not affect cognitive or motor skills unfavorably. By offering pain-relief solutions that counter the record levels of opioid abuse evidenced in society, as well as the dangers of abusing acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, Nutra Pharma is poised to impact a vast, global market and benefit from the resulting rewards.

With the recent expansion of its key personnel, including the addition of Tom Northrop as senior commercial development officer, Nutra Pharma is facing several promising stages of growth. Northrop is a member of Tri-State Capital Partners, a New York-based management advisory and investment firm that advises promising enterprises, and his involvement with Nutra Pharma signals Tri-State’s involvement as well.

Tri-State’s support comes part-and-parcel with management resources, strategy development and implementation expertise and capital funding knowledge. With this level of support, Nutra Pharma has the tools that will allow for its expansion into new markets, including an opportunity to spearhead novel marketing and promotional activities geared toward the elderly, aging athletes and healthcare, governmental and military entities. The company will also have an opening to focus on the completion of its scientifically-rigorous pain relief trials in multiple locations.

That is only the beginning. With Tri-State’s backing, Nutra Pharma will also have the resources to accelerate the development of its prescription drug candidates. Presently, the company is designing and developing treatments for multiple sclerosis, human immunodeficiency virus and adrenomyeloneuropath.

For more information on the company, visit www.NutraPharma.com

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Based in Shenzhen, China, Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) provides social marketing and other promotional platforms for companies who want to showcase their businesses through social media. These companies are able to see consumer trends through compiled data from Moxian’s proprietary Social Customer Relationship Management (SCRM) system. Businesses can then run advertising campaigns that target specific users. Moxian retains these consumers through incentives such as points and prizes on their own Moxian+ (User) app.

The Moxian+ (User) app allows users to instantly receive information about nearby merchants and any promotions or events they’re offering. They can also play fun games and collect MO-Coins and MO-Points that transfer globally to any business within the Moxian system. The app provides a Messenger service so that users can easily communicate with friends or continue to build their social networks. Consumers are then enticed to cash in their coins at a virtual mall, where gifts are sponsored by both Moxian and participating merchants.

The social media platform itself is called Weibo and can be accessed from anywhere. The site offers links to information such as celebrity news, fitness, movies, food, and health. There’s also a feed where users can keep up with current news stories, local activities, and people. Consumers can then play a variety of games through Weibo, including poker and soccer or role-playing games (RPG) like Stone Age or Brave Covenant. After they collect enough coins from their wins, users cash in at the Points Mall, where they can buy more games, smart watches, keyboards, mouse pads, plush toys and more.

Fun games and a point-incentive system could increase retention for any company. Plus, participating merchants can continuously advertise their businesses through Moxian’s Weibo, sponsored prizes, and the app, gaining even more exposure. Consumers and businesses can achieve the coveted, “online lifestyle, offline fun” relationship. Moxian intends to keep that relationship healthy by successfully offering a platform for merchants and consumers to meet and benefit from each other.

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

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In a recent article on the Jewish Journal website (http://dtn.fm/DhxK8), doctors, dignitaries and officials representing Israel and California convened at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on February 8, 2016, to witness the signing of an agreement between Israel’s Ministry of Science and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to collaborate on stem cell research. It follows a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding to promote collaboration and innovation between Israel and California.

“Stem cell research is a cutting-edge field full of promise and opportunity. Who better to forge new ground together than the State of Israel and the State of California?” Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis said in the article. “Both are hotbeds of innovation, medical research and technological invention and have a strong commitment to science as a means to improve the lot of all humanity … creating a brighter future for us all.”

International Stem Cell Corp. (OTCQB: ISCO) specializes in the therapeutic applications of human stem cells and the development and commercialization of cell-based biomedical products. The company was the first to develop and perfect a new class of human stem cells called parthenogenetic stem cells, created from unfertilized human eggs. The company’s stem cells present superior immune matching capabilities and can be used in millions of people, regardless of sex or racial background, with minimal expectation of immune rejection after transplantation.

Stem cells are the future of medicine. Companies like International Stem Cell Corp. are on the front lines of this invaluable research, constantly looking for new ways stem cells can improve our quality of life by treating and eliminating diseases of the central nervous system (i.e. Parkinson’s disease), the liver, and the eye. The technology is getting better every day, and more people are coming around to at least giving it a look. The company has an ethical and moral purpose along with the potential to capitalize on a huge revenue stream.

The combined direct and indirect costs of Parkinson’s disease (PD), including treatment, social security payments and lost income from inability to work, is estimated to be nearly $25 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Medication costs for an individual person with PD average $2,500 a year, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 dollars per patient.

For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Whether in the kitchen or on the go, Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCK) is empowering individuals and families and enhancing their quality of life. A rising software developer, Content Checked has created a series of reliable, efficient and fast mobile apps that assist consumers in making informed food purchasing decisions based on their dietary preferences and restrictions.

All three of Content Checked’s apps serve as easy, real-time shopping tools that target the food allergy and intolerances market, which was valued at approximately US$13 billion in 2015. Across ContentChecked, SugarChecked and MigraineChecked, the company offers complementary solutions to consumers dealing with food allergies and sensitivities. With these apps, Content Checked goes beyond the label, allowing consumers to better understand food labels and ingredients, which are often ambiguous or disingenuous. While they shop in real time, users also receive suggestions for healthier alternative food products to those that do not match their dietary settings.

Families with food allergies are at the center of the “food as wellness” movement. For the 15 million-plus Americans suffering from food allergies, the 38 million suffering from migraines and chronic headaches and the 60 million-plus dealing with food sensitivities, Content Checked offers a solution to address their restrictions and concerns. The company has created a vast database of allergens, triggers and ingredients that correlate to 16 food allergies and intolerances, four types of sugar, and migraines or chronic headaches. This robust database of nutritional and ingredient information is updated 24/7 and currently covers more than 300,000 packaged food products available for sale and distribution in the United States. ContentChecked and MigraineChecked are the first applications with wide-ranging, accurate, and in-depth allergen and migraine definitions for over 70% of conventional U.S. food products.

Content Checked’s database gives users access to a comprehensive platform that allows them to cross-check the ingredients in packaged goods and recipes for hidden allergens and migraine triggers. The company is not only teaching consumers about the fixings in their foods and packaged goods, it is also inspiring them to take steps to cook wisely.

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

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Before the opening bell, Immune Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: IMUN) announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: Dr. Clifford A. Selsky and Paul Akin. Akin brings a wealth of financial experience developed across his prior operating and board roles to the Immune Therapeutics board, while Selsky offers a critical perspective as a scientist, physician and patient advocate. The company will look to leverage this combined experience as it continues to pursue sustainable financial growth by developing and commercializing novel, patented therapies to combat chronic, life-threatening diseases through the activation and modulation of the body’s immune system, particularly in emerging global markets.

“Paul Akin and Dr. Selsky’s breadth of knowledge and experience will provide invaluable insight to Immune as we continue to grow the business and strive to deliver innovative therapies in emerging nations,” Noreen Griffin, chief executive officer of Immune Therapeutics, stated in this morning’s news release.

The release went on to provide additional background information on the company’s new board members.

Paul Akin brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to the Immune Therapeutics board. In addition to serving as a significant investor and active strategist for the company, he has played an instrumental role in the strategic planning and coordination of market penetration, expansion and capitalization. Akin currently serves as the CEO and executive chairman of San Francisco-based Collier Warehouse Group, which has, during his tenure, recorded annual double-digit growth rates. Akin is also an active investor in a variety of emerging growth companies and has served in a number of business roles – including executive chairman, independent board director, strategic advisor, venture capital limited partner, market pundit, private investor and trustee.

Clifford A. Selsky, PhD, MD, has worked as a practicing pediatrician for the past 20 years. He earned his PhD in microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Miami School of Medicine before completing DNA repair research studies at Harvard School of Public Health and Stanford University. After training in pediatrics at Yale New Haven Hospital and completing a pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine, Selsky founded the Children’s Center of Cancer and Blood Disease at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. Currently, he is a pediatrician at Family First Pediatrics, which he established in 2013.

Immune Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company with a promising portfolio of products and immunotherapy technologies designed to harness the power of the immune system in order to enhance the treatment of cancer, infections such as HIV/Aids, chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. The company is currently pursuing investigations of its most advanced clinical programs – including met-enkephalin (MENK) and low dose naltrexone (LDN), or Lodonal™ – as viable treatments for a variety of underserved indications.

Learn more by visiting www.immunetherapeutics.com

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In an age of subprime 2.0, where the next Big Short is looking more and more like auto loans (http://dtn.fm/XfWR0) as delinquencies hit a six-year high of around five percent (the highest level since September 2009), the idea of an American-made, ultra-high-mileage two-seater, sporting an amazing 84 MPG highway and going for a targeted sticker price of just $6,800, is a concept whose time has come. While the Elio, a commuter-focused piece of three-wheel innovation aimed squarely at the 76 percent or more of Americans who drive to work every day solo, may not win Daytona next year, it has already won the hearts and minds of many consumers.

Driven by grassroots beginnings, a clear vision and exacting product design, Elio Motors, Inc. (OTCQX: ELIO), whose manufacturing footprint is based out of the former GM plant in Shreveport, Louisiana (http://dtn.fm/A9AoE), is one of the success stories of the 2012 JOBS Act, which was (in part) designed to assist new fundraising methodologies such as crowdfunding. Elio famously got its jumpstart via a $17 million capital raise using crowdfunding platform StartEngine in order to draw on a historically untapped lending source for such efforts: unaccredited investors (who are classed as having a net worth under $1 million and an income of under $200,000 a year).

The company’s following mini-IPO onto the OTCQX, subsequent to the SEC’s effective splitting of Regulation A into two tiers (one including non-accredited investors), marks a significant milestone for both the U.S. auto industry and capital markets themselves. Regulation A+ allows up to $50 million to be raised from even non-accredited investors and could prove to be a major ramping strategy for future startups. In Elio’s case, the first equity-crowdfunded IPO, the stock debuted around $16.50 after an initial pricing of $12.00 a share and ran up to a $1.3 billion market cap close on Feb 29 after just a few days of trading, before retreating back to around the $24.00 handle as of March 2 on pressured selling driven by prospect skepticism. But the naysayers who complain about $53.8 million in costs thus far and the company’s $30.7 million in loan debt have obviously never tried to start a grassroots car company in 2016.

Elio is not just capitalizing on the three-wheeler trend here either, which was sparked back in 2012 with the release of Morgan Motor Company’s 1983cc ‘V-twin’ fuel injected Morgan 3 Wheeler and extended by the entry of such players as Minnesota-based snowmobile maker Polaris (NYSE: PII), with its recently-debuted 2.4 liter Slingshot. Elio is looking to completely redefine the category with a quality vehicle that anyone can afford, but which also has a comprehensive SMS (http://dtn.fm/5xLjx) (Safety Management System) centered around a reinforced roll-cage frame (http://dtn.fm/EKv6p), beefier crush zones that are 50 percent bigger than comparable vehicles, ABS brakes, and three airbags.

While some have panned the concept as not ready for primetime, the grassroots funding success of Elio laughs in the face of such so-called established wisdom, and the motorcycle designation is being hurdled (http://dtn.fm/7kRjT) with successful helmet exemption legislation already passed (or on its way to being passed) in multiple states. To many, the idea of needing to wear a helmet with such a vehicle is absurd, and lawmakers will likely understand the folly of blanket vehicle type classification in this regard as the news spreads about this roll-cage framed commuter marvel. The underlying robustness of the Elio’s engineering pedigree can largely be chalked up to such part and system supplier heavy-hitters (http://dtn.fm/Kr81G) as renowned German vehicle developer IAV, which is praised for its powertrains and electronic systems, as well as the involvement of auto industry titans such as HyperWorks suite of CAE software products developer, Altair Engineering (http://dtn.fm/bB68I).

To some, Elio Motors may look like just a run-of-the-mill underdog in a world of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) fanboys, but the robust design specs and 95 percent or more North American part sourcing speak volumes about how far pragmatic founder Paul Elio’s vision could carry investors. While Tesla struggles to compete against major manufacturers’ electric and hybrid vehicles, Elio has defined a niche market for itself that is both underserved and primed for explosive growth. Investors should keep a close eye on the company’s Q4 2016 rollout target.

Learn more, visit www.eliomotors.com

Having the people we love go missing – even for brief periods – is a horrifying experience. In a recent news blog on the Modesto Bee website (http://dtn.fm/D13hJ), “a 70-year-old Sonora, California man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease was reunited with his family early Wednesday after being reported missing the night before. This man has no recollection of where he went or what he did, authorities said in a news release. He was reported missing by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office at about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday. This man left his home in Apple Valley Estates on Tuesday at around 7 p.m.” It’s very lucky the authorities found this man so quickly, but it could be very different the next time. Companies like GTX Corp. (OTC: GTXO) provide a GPS location solution to assist with this potentially dangerous situation.

The patented GPS SmartSole™ features a miniaturized, invisible GPS tracking device embedded in the insoles and powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts 1-2 days on a single charge. The GPS SmartSole™ sends a signal to the central monitoring website showing the wearer’s exact location using a combination of satellite and cellular technology. After you activate and setup your tracking account with GTX Corp., you will be able to monitor the person wearing the GPS SmartSole, right from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Peace of mind has no price tag when it comes to taking care of the ones we care about, and GTX offers a very affordable, effective location assistance option to assist in taking luck out of the equation. Being able to get an alert immediately once the SmartSole wearer wanders out of the preset parameters is advantageous, as compared to just winging it with a hope and prayer.

Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. Maximizing quality of life is only possible if you can keep track of where people suffering from this debilitating condition are at all times.

Currently, over 100 million people require oversight due to various forms of memory impairment. That number is expected to increase to 277 million by 2050, according to The 2013 World Alzheimer’s Report. Some other startling figures to keep in mind include:

• 60 percent of individuals living with cognitive conditions that impair memory will become “lost” at least once
• 70 percent of those individuals will become “lost” 3 or more times
• 46 percent of wanderers not found within 24 hours may die

For more information, visit www.gtxcorp.com

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Avant Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCQB: AVDX) is a medical technology company that focuses its efforts on the human genome project. This genetic research continues to delve deeper into identifying variations of specific genes in the genome. A genome is all of the genes that make up a cell or organism. It’s basically a recipe book on how to build a human. Variations in these genes allow scientists to see individual characteristics of disease states and a person’s propensity for them. Scientists are then able to detect diseases earlier, thereby providing early treatment, which improves a patient’s quality of life while preventing disease progression. Avant Diagnostics is a key contributor to this program by developing its own advanced technology that identifies early stage ovarian cancer. This early detection can both decrease medical costs and increase samples while producing faster results.

Avant Diagnostic’s OvaDxⓇ is a microarray-based test that measures the immune system’s response to early stage ovarian cancer tumor cells in blood samples. Impressively, this is the market’s first large panel screening test for the disease. The test has a high sensitivity for all stages of ovarian cancer and eliminates false negatives and false positives. Plus, the proteomic panel provides real-time results, speeding up the process towards treatment if necessary.

To further stand by its aim of creating testing with fast results, Avant Diagnostics will soon merge with Amarantus Diagnostics, a biotechnology firm that develops diagnostic tests for neurological diseases. This partnership has a high potential of delivering diagnosis and monitoring tools for early detection at an even faster rate.

Not only does OvaDxⓇ deliver fast results, but it cuts costs in the overall treatment of ovarian cancer for patients and health centers. According to Current Women’s Health Reviews, late-stage ovarian cancer treatment could cost at least $210,000 or more. With early detection, a patient can get affordable treatment for the disease that has not progressed as far as it could.

Avant Diagnostics intends to make its product available as soon as possible, so women can be aware of their own ovarian cancer risks. With accurate and fast results, the company offers women the chance at early treatment to prevent expensive costs and painful therapy down the road.

For more information, visit the company website at www.avantdiagnostics.com

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