The promise of stem cell tissue transplantation is particularly exciting for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, an incurable and progressive disorder of the nervous system characterized by a gradual at first, and then increasingly severe impairment of various motor control faculties. Parkinson’s disease makes a good poster child for the enormous potential of stem cell therapy in other diseases/conditions, because it is materially defined by a localized degeneration of neurons, making targeted replacement therapy via injected cells extremely appealing.

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) is at the forefront of developing such therapies via its capacity to produce pluripotent (having the ability to develop into essentially any cell in the human body), non-embryonic, human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs), such as its lead product candidate, human neural stem cells (hpNSCs). And because hpNSCs have produced abundant evidence thus far that they can not only differentiate into neurons that help produce the primary neurotransmitter whose falloff is associated with Parkinson’s disease, dopamine, but can also directly express neuroprotectant capabilities, the potential for treating other incurable CNS diseases like multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is effectively on the table.

Moreover, because the company’s proprietary technology for creating pluripotent hpSCs utilizes unfertilized eggs, which are chemically stimulated to begin the process of division before being differentiated into either patient specific human leukocyte antigen-matched and histocompatible (heterozygous) hpSCs or HLA homozygous hpSCs that are immune-matched for compatibility with the vast majority of the population, ISCO’s technology constitutes an end run on the ethical controversy that has plagued stem cell research. At the same time, because a relatively small series of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) homozygous cell lines could effectively present treatment options which are suitable for huge swathes of the human population, ISCO has at its disposal a methodology for creating commercial scale volumes of cells (for therapeutic or research purposes) that resolves the stem cell industry’s primary procedural stumbling block, immune system rejection.

This is a significant advantage when it comes to research purposes and ISCO has already taken up the lead in the sector, creating the world’s first true human stem cell bank, UniStemCell™, a growing collection of non-embryonic histocompatible stem cells. The ability to go to an “off-the-shelf” cell line from the bank that is immune-matched to millions of individuals is also key when it comes to developing frontline stem cell therapies. Hence the buzz about the company’s rapidly developing therapeutic pipeline that covers several unmet needs, like neural stem cells for treating CNS maladies such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke, liver cells for treating even severe metabolic liver diseases such as Crigler-Najjar syndrome, and corneal/retinal cells for treating corneal blindness, as well as macular degeneration.

ISCO’s ongoing development of a powerful hpNSC based therapeutic solution for Parkinson’s disease will soon see a critical milestone in the phase I/IIa clinical trial set to take place in Australia, and the company’s recently submitted animal model study, showing that no tumors were observed in a battery of 300 rodents, gives investors a really good idea about how safe and effective such injected stem cell therapy could be for humans. Already commercially successful via its Lifeline Skin Care subsidiary, which saw an 18 percent Q2 jump in YOY revenue to $1.82 million, on the strength of sustained growth for revitalizing skin care products, International Stem Cell Corporation is also dedicated to helping the life sciences industry meet its own clinical research needs by providing a vast array of specialized cells and growth media through its Lifeline Cell Technology subsidiary.

ISCO’s CSO and board member, Ruslan Semechkin, PhD, offered attendees at the Rodman & Renshaw 17th Annual Global Investment Conference a general overview of such astounding capabilities, as well as a closer look at the company’s ongoing clinical and research programs. Investors who were unable to attend the conference can still get a good front seat look at the company’s therapeutic pipeline and ongoing programs, simply by visiting the company’s website at www.internationalstemcell.com.

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On the Move Systems today highlighted the opportunity and rising need for its upcoming “Uber-for-Trucking” shared economy platform as an ongoing lack of drivers could result in future capacity shortages for our nation’s logistics industry.

Currently, there are approximately 1.6 million people employed as truck drivers. Industry officials estimate trucking companies have an immediate need for an additional 35,000 to 40,000 drivers, but aren’t able to recruit enough people to fill those openings. Furthermore, impending federal and state regulatory and safety changes mean that today’s drivers will log fewer hours and miles, curtailing production and leaving fewer trailers to haul an increasing amount of freight.

Recent industry studies have backed the predictions of a coming capacity shortage. GE Capital’s “Trucking Industry Economic Outlook Survey” revealed that national and local carriers are finding fewer idle trucks available for capacity, and as a result, “companies have gotten smarter about the contracts and the routes that they take, and how they match those with the businesses available.”

OMVS CEO Robert Wilson stated, “With a looming capacity crunch, it’ll be increasingly important for truckers to be able to partner together to meet growing customer demands. Our upcoming shared economy platform will enable trucking companies of all sizes to better network with each other and locate local drivers who can help solve their capacity shortage. From operations to pricing to optimization, OMVS and our innovative app can benefit haulers in the coming business climate.”

Development continues for the online, on-demand platform. Shared economy services, such as OMVS’s “Uber-for-Trucking” app, are estimated to be a $450 billion market.

For more information on OMVS, visit www.onthemovesystems.com

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NEAH Power Systems, focused on the development of innovative, long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for military, transportation and portable electronics applications, announces that it has engaged the investor relations services of QualityStocks. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, QualityStocks has assisted more than 300 public companies with their efforts to broaden influence, attract growth capital and improve shareholder value.

“We’ve partnered with QualityStocks to assist in the dissemination of corporate news while painting for investors a clear picture of the astounding market potential arising before us,” stated Dr. Chris D’Couto, president and CEO of NEAH Power Systems. “NEAH Power Systems is embarking on an exciting season of growth as we continue to explore applications of our cutting-edge power solutions in both domestic and international markets. The QualityStocks team will work to keep shareholders abreast of our progress and help raise brand awareness to the broader investment community.”

Leveraging its extensive network of partners, daily and weekly newsletters, social media channels, blog and other outreach tools, QualityStocks will execute a campaign to raise visibility of NEAH Power Systems and its patented, award-winning technology.

“NEAH Power Systems is taking an admirable step in proactively enhancing its communication efforts while advancing its position as a provider of innovative energy solutions,” stated QualityStocks Managing Director Michael McCarthy. “We’re honored to join NEAH Power Systems to help the company better communicate its operations and achievements to existing and potential shareholders.”

For more information, visit www.neahpower.com

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When it comes to stock trading, investors have enough on their minds than to be preoccupied with the professionalism, thoroughness and accuracy of transfer agents. Traders and transfer agents alike are well aware that a recordkeeping inaccuracy by an inexperienced transfer agent can leave an investor with a potential financial loss and an unnecessary headache. Leaders within any profession realize their core service is one of trust supported by service and knowhow.

Beyond basic recordkeeping, transfer agent may also serve as the company’s paying agent to disburse cash proceeds relating to a corporate action. The best agents are versatile in that they also can act as a proxy agent, an exchange agent, a tender agent and manage shareholder inquiries promptly.

Rooted in a foundation of stability and professionalism over many decades is what defines independent and privately held Continental Stock Transfer and Trust. The company is a family-owned corporation deriving credibility from conducting business consistently for 51 years. The company’s undying commitment to its customer’s needs is just one of several hallmarks that defines its leadership position in the industry.

Targeting companies with 50,000 shareholders or fewer while supporting more than 1,100 public issues offers clients and prospective customers the confidence desperately needed in a transfer agent relationship. Continental serves its clients and shareholders in ways other large transfer agents are unable to. The company’s customer base is the beneficiary of personal attention from senior staff, innovative technology and world-class execution, which in turn provides the highest level of value in the industry.

For more information on the company visit http://www.continentalstock.com

Stellar Biotechnologies, a leading supplier of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), recently provided an update on its efforts to uplist to the NASDAQ Capital Market. Although the company is currently compliant with the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian marketplace does not specify a quorum requirement for a meeting of a listed firm’s shareholders. As a result, Stellar announced a special meeting of its shareholders to be held on October 29, 2015, in order to consider amending its articles to increase the quorum requirement for transaction business at shareholder meetings to at least one-third, which is the minimum required by NASDAQ domestic listing standards.

“As we continue to move forward with the NASDAQ application process, this amendment, if approved by shareholders, will allow us to align our British Columbia articles with bylaws of U.S. companies, consistent with our strong U.S. shareholder base,” Frank Oakes, president, chief executive officer and chairman of Stellar, stated in a news release. “We look forward to the prospect of a NASDAQ listing, which we believe will enhance Stellar’s visibility in the investment community and provide for a broader, more diverse shareholder constituency.”

This announcement followed Stellar’s 1-for-10 reverse stock split, which was completed earlier this month. The consolidation was executed in order to fulfill one of the quantitative requirements for listing on the NASDAQ exchange. If its proposed uplisting is approved, these efforts are expected to greatly improve the results of Stellar’s ongoing growth strategy moving forward.

In addition to its efforts to uplist, the company has made considerable progress in recent months toward establishing a sizeable and sustainable presence in the biotechnology market. In July, Stellar announced an exclusive collaboration agreement with Ostiones Guerrero SA de CV that is expected to significantly expand its KLH production capacity in the future. As biotechnology firms continue to broaden their pipelines of immunotherapies based on KLH protein, the company is set to benefit from its position as the only producer with a reliable and scalable supply of the vital nutrient.

In its fiscal quarter ending June 30, Stellar provided prospective shareholders with a preview of its market potential by recording a 117 percent year-over-year increase in total revenue. This strong performance, in combination with the company’s favorable cash position, will serve as a formidable platform upon which to promote additional market growth.

For more information, visit www.stellarbiotech.com

The RESI (Redefining Early Stage Investments) kicks off today in Boston, Massachusetts, where 200 early stage investors, 300 fundraising executives and 100 service providers will meet for a one-day international partnering meeting that gives early stage life science companies the chance to book target meetings with relevant investors.

RESI Conference activities include the RESI Innovation Challenge, where attendees will use RESI cash tokens to “invest” in the conference’s most compelling RESI Innovators. The invested capital will be tallied and the Top 3 winners will receive an award at a cocktail reception at the end of the day.

Investor panels will cover a wide range of topics, including biotech angels to preclinical and phase I investors, phase II and III investors, big pharma, corporate venture capital, NIH funding and resources for startups, medical device investors, and more.

The vast lineup of early stage entrepreneur workshops include topics ranging from fundraising boot camp and government grants and contracts, to branding and messaging and how to research global investors.

The RESI Conference is an ongoing conference series that will be establishing a global circuit for early stage life sciences companies to source investors, create relationships, and eventually, get funding. Following highly successful events in San Francisco and Houston, earlier this year, the 2015 RESI conference in Boston is expected to be the biggest yet.

Upcoming RESI Conference schedules include San Francisco in January 2016, Houston in April, Toronto in June, and Boston again next September.

For more information, visit www.resiconference.com

GrowBLOX Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company with state-of-the-art technologies in plant biology and cultivation designed to produce consistent medicinal cannabis, this morning announced it has acquired four Nevada State Medical Cannabis licenses.

The acquisition of three of the licenses stems from an agreement with Sandra Tiffany, a former state senator of 14 years and an important figure in the legalization of medical cannabis in Nevada, who was recently appointed GBLX’s general manager of Nevada operations.

Craig Ellins, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, stated, “Opportunities, opportunities, opportunities! Through strategic partnerships, and as the acquisition of these licenses demonstrate, GBLX continues its rapid growth in becoming a premier provider of medical cannabis. We are looking forward to a very exciting 2016, as all the hard work we have executed on will transition to commercialization and revenue growth.”

The first license is for a medical cannabis grow license for a location in Pahrump, Nevada. This location comprises a 5,000-square-foot building and 4 acres of open space. This acreage can be used for the construction of an unlimited number of greenhouses growing conventional product. GBLX notes that this acreage would be particularly useful should recreational cannabis also become legal.

The second and third licenses are for a location on 3-1/2 acres in North Las Vegas. These licenses are for both the cultivation and production of medical cannabis. Not only does the cultivation license authorize a grow facility, but the subsequent license authorizes production, allowing GBLX to extract oils from the cannabis flower for vaporization or use in the creation of edibles.

The fourth license is a dispensary license. Although arrangements with certain local Nevada parties were announced, in a subsidiary 55% owned by GBLX (45% by the other Nevada partners), the current arrangement is that GBLX will own 100% of the grow facility, and the Nevada partners will own 90% of the dispensary licenses, only one of which has been granted (by Clark County) on Fort Apache Boulevard. The dispensary application, which is pending with the City of Las Vegas, included in the 90/10 arrangement should be granted. All of these arrangements are subject to certain regulatory approvals.

In addition to its ownership of the dispensaries, GBLX has retained the rights to 20% of the premier shelf space both of the dispensaries for its proprietary cultivation product, as well as the right to completely control and operate the delivery service that was included in the Fort Apache license, on a basis where 80% of the retail price is paid to the company when the company’s proprietary product is delivered. It is expected that only the Company’s proprietary product will be delivered by the dispensary – subject to certain regulatory approvals.

The newly acquired Nevada licenses are in addition to the “TECO” facility, a 30,000-square-foot cultivation lab that will feature cleanroom infrastructure, environmental monitoring and controls, as well as biometric access security. The state-of-the-art design will provide the ideal facilities through with GBLX can produce raw materials at the capacity of a greenhouse with laboratory precision.

For more information, visit www.growblox.com

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This weekend I made a three-hour trip out to Latitude 360’s Pittsburgh location with full intentions of experiencing everything the venue had to offer. But with a comedy club, dine-in movie theater, luxury bowling, full arcade, dining, and live music, it was simply impossible to properly enjoy everything in one night.

Our Arrival

My friend and I arrived around 7pm. Before driving into the parking lot, I had no idea the building would be so huge. As soon as you come in the doors, you get a great view of the massive first floor. The first thing you notice, though, is one of the employees at a table with a spinning wheel featuring various prizes. This setup is used to make sure new people learn about the 360 Membership Club before getting started.

The membership programs and how they are introduced are really brilliant. Within a few moments, everyone knows they want to have at least the free green membership, which gives you reward points for engaging in various activates and whatever prize you win for signing up. But, if you plan on spending a few hours there, it’s a no-brainer to upgrade to the $25/month blue membership, which gives you over $100 of value to enjoy that very night (not to mention unlimited movies Monday through Thursday and concierge service), as well as ongoing perks for each month you’re a member. There is also a black membership option to get even more perks, but regardless of which option chosen, there are strong incentives to make sure members come back regularly.

Enjoying the 360 Experience

The first thing we did was walk around to see the whole place and then strategize on the best way to enjoy the night. It was amazing to see how big the facility really was and the wide range of people of all ages.

We started with the arcade, which had everything from skee ball, racing games, prize cranes, and a dance machine to shooters, 4-way air hockey and much more. My friend and I had a really great time. Afterwards we were able to cash in on tickets won by playing the various games. The ticket store featured all kinds of candy, toys, electronics and countless other items.

Next, we made it just in time to enjoy the comedy club. The first comedian was an up-and-comer who engaged the crowd well while we all enjoyed a great menu of mixed drinks, draft beer, and food. The second comedian was Carl Strong, who you might have seen on HBO, Showtime or The “Tonight Show”. He had virtually everyone roaring with laughter. This part of the evening exceeded my expectations because I thought the comedy club would just be a sideline perk, but it definitely wasn’t. According to one of the hostesses, many of the people there were “walk-ins” for the show. Having performers that single-handedly bring in outsiders is an excellent way to introduce people to Latitude 360!

After the show we chose the sports bar section of the on-site restaurant instead of the quieter dining area. Although there are multiple premium offerings, such as filet mignon and ribeye, I went with the Cajun Shrimp Po’ Boy with a side of sweet potato fries. It was no doubt the best Po’ Boy I’ve ever had. There was a very generous serving of shrimp, which fell out more than once.

It was amazing how fast time went by. The next thing we did was bowling. There are bowling lanes on both the first and second floor. All the lanes have comfortable couches to sit on, large video screens, flatscreen TVs to track score, and a full-service wait staff for food and drinks. Setting up the game was easy and the luxurious environment definitely made the game more enjoyable.

The last thing my friend and I did was check out the live music. The band was on stage in front of a good-sized dance floor surrounded by tables. You could tell the company really went all-out on the sound system and lighting. Enjoying it all with everyone else definitely ended the night well.

Although we were planning on seeing a movie in their dine-in movie theater, there just wasn’t enough time to do everything. From what I read on promotional material, the movie theater features comfortable home theater-style seating with trays to hold menu items and a huge HD screen with 10,000+ watts of DTS™ digital surround sound. I have no doubt it would have been a great experience, too.

Overall Impression

I’ve never been to a place before quite like it. There are tons of things to choose from and always having a full service menu of food and drinks was really great. Also, the staff was able to answer all my questions and gave great service.

It’s important to note that no one there knew who I was, so our experience was the same as everyone else. After coming back home, my friend thanked me for a good time and said he would love to visit the place again whenever I decide to go back. What Latitude 360 put together is really special and I hope they come to our local area soon!

Click on the pictures below to see full sized images or visit the Facebook photo gallery at http://dtn.fm/latx-photos

NEAH Power Systems and S4W Worldwide Technologies (“S4W”) today announced a teaming agreement. Per the terms, both parties will be working together to integrate NEAH POWER’s patented power generation and energy storage technologies with S4W’s industry leading security and defense products.

NEAH POWER has agreed to deliver commercial units of its patented formic acid reformer fuel cell (Formira HOD™) and engineering units of its PowerChip® fuel cell and PowerChip® Battery. In addition, NEAH POWER will provide S4W with engineering and technical support to ensure successful integration into S4W’s products.

The agreement, which allows NEAH POWER and S4W to cooperatively market each other’s products, is anticipated to expand the number of distribution and sales channels available to the partners, and allow each to fully exploit the capabilities and growing customer bases of the other, with high capital efficiency.

Of particular focus in the agreement, is the cooperation of the parties on the anticipated commercialization and release of NEAH POWER’s ground breaking porous silicon-chip based PowerChip® Battery. In connection with the agreement, NEAH POWER will deliver S4W, as a preferred partner, initial production runs of the PowerChip® Battery for incorporation in S4W’s state-of-the-art body worn cameras currently being marketed to police and security professionals worldwide.

“We are most enthused to partner with S4W and their engineering teams to develop industry leading products with unprecedented durations of operation,” stated Chris D’Couto, President and CEO of Neah Power Systems, Inc. “The partnership with S4W, with its high caliber management and sales organization, will allow us to further advance our system integration strategy, while increasing the number of markets for the products offered by NEAH POWER and its partners. I strongly believe that this cooperation between NEAH POWER and S4W fits perfectly with our mantra to deliver power generation and energy storage solutions that are ‘smaller, lighter and more powerful’.”

Paul Sault, CEO of S4W, added, “S4W welcomes the opportunity to co-develop and market product incorporating NEAH POWER’s advanced technologies. Our engineering staff and consultants immediately recognized the transformative nature of NEAH POWER’s Formira HOD™ and PowerChip® solutions, specifically, when incorporated in a highly disruptive product like our Smart Body Cam where continuous power is necessary for delivery of the ever-important personnel and public safety benefits they provide. Upon first being introduced to NEAH POWER’s PowerChip® Battery, S4W was eager to become an early adopter. While interviewing countless numbers of public safety personnel about what features they wanted to see standard on a body camera, having the power necessary to make it through an entire shift without battery recharging or replacement, ranked very near the top.”

Chris D’Couto concluded, “As previously reported, NEAH POWER has incorporated its award-winning and patented PowerChip® fuel cell architecture into the patent pending PowerChip® battery. To date, this new battery design has exhibited unprecedented performance characteristics. As NEAH POWER moves closer to first commercial release of the PowerChip® Battery, NEAH POWER expects to continue to work in close cooperation with companies like S4W in expanding integration opportunities and advancing other pre-launch activities.”

For more information on NEAH Power Systems, visit www.neahpower.com

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QualityStocks today announces the availability of a new audio interview with Kevin Quirk, CEO of Georgia-based health and wellness company Fresh Promise Foods, Inc. (OTC: FPFI), and president of wholly owned subsidiary Harvest Soul. The interview can be heard at www.QualityStocks.net/interview-fpfi.php.

FPFI initially began as a holding company in the organic consumer product space seeking to acquire and build companies centered on natural, healthy products. After exploring various options, management fine-tuned its strategy to a more direct and immediately advantageous approach by launching its own subsidiary, Harvest Soul.

“So rather than going out to find the perfect company, we decided to build the perfect company, and we built Harvest Soul,” says Quirk.

He then discusses the company’s product line, which includes currently available Harvest Soul Chewable Juices, as well as several other products that are ready for launch. As confirmation of growing demand and market value of organic, non-GMO and healthy juice products, Quirk points to Coca-Cola’s recent $90 million purchase of a minority stake in Suja Juice, a relatively young U.S. organic juice company.

“We feel [Harvest Soul] is at the stage that Suja was a couple years ago, and we have this litany of products that are ready to go — that we think is going to be a ballistic missile… thus making other companies look at us [being in] a place that they would love to get involved with, whether it be a direct equity investment into Harvest Soul or participate in the growth by buying our stock,” Quirk states.

After recapping Harvest Soul’s Organic Chewable Juices products, which blend at least 15 fruits and vegetables with bits of seeds, nuts and berries for a concentrate-free, no sugar added nutritious drink that promotes healthy digestion, Quirk offers insight into FPFI’s management team.

As a 20-year veteran in the consumer product industry, Quirk has extensive experience in various managerial roles at some of the beverage industry’s biggest brands — including Coca-Cola and Anheuser Busch — where he developed skills pertinent to FPFI’s business model. Quirk is supported by a team of highly experienced leadership professionals that contribute key aspects to the company’s vision.

Quirk next describes FPFI’s 2015 achievements, which include launching a new company and new category in chewable juices, the placement of its Organic Chewable Juices line in Whole Foods, and several other milestones.

Wrapping up the interview, Quirk explains the company’s plans for the remainder of the year and into 2016 as it expects to benefit from the successful execution of product launches, branding, packaging and distribution.

“We just want to make sure that we seed our products over the next four months so that when we move on to 2016 we have a really strong base to start growing and really kind of doing what our expertise is — and that’s performance management and moving the needle,” says Quirk.

Looking ahead, he says investors should watch for FPFI to focus on increasing the value of the company and strengthening both FPFI and Harvest Soul brands.

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

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