Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: ALYI) was recently identified as a “promising, undervalued emerging technology leader” in a report by Wall Street Corner. As a result, Wall Street Corner Special Report, which is hailed as the premier discovery site for promising, yet undiscovered small- and micro-cap stocks featuring opportunities in an ethical, professional and responsible manner, has engaged Caprock Research to initiate ongoing research coverage on the company. An initial report is expected to be released by the end of this month.

To view the initial release, visit http://www.wallstreetcornerreport.com/alyi-report

The report went on to praise Alternet’s history of successfully developing digital commerce technologies. Under its current management team, the company developed and sold a mobile wallet technology for $6 million, and Alternet is currently developing its next leading digital commerce technologies. With the world becoming increasingly dependent on technological conveniences and advances, Alternet is investing in verticals within the digital commerce space, transforming the legacy electronic payments infrastructure and developing advanced predictive data analytics applications for the mass consumer, as well as the telecommunications and financial industries.

Within the past two years, the company’s price per share (PPS) has climbed as high as $0.17, making its current PPS, which is under $0.02, well under the weighted two-year average PPS.

For more information, visit www.alternetsystems.com

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Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBOT), a California-based biotechnology company and world leader in the sustainable manufacture of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), a protein used for stimulating and measuring immune response, has announced plans to form a joint venture with Neovacs S.A., a French biotechnology company focused on an active immunotherapy technology platform.

The joint venture will be for the manufacture of conjugated therapeutic vaccines based upon Stellar’s proprietary KLH protein, specifically to produce Neovacs’ Kinoid product candidates, including IFNa-Kinoid, and to potentially produce other KLH-based immunotherapies on behalf of third party customers. However, negotiations are not complete and will continue regarding details of the venture’s exact ownership and organization, though it is anticipated that initial ownership will be 70% with Neovacs and 30% with Stellar. The announcement was also careful to make clear that there can be no assurance the joint venture will be consummated or, if consummated, will achieve the expected results.

Stellar’s Chairman and CEO, Frank Oakes, said of the proposed venture: “We believe the proposed joint venture could be a very positive development for both Stellar and Neovacs. It would enable us to work together to ensure the successful development of IFNa-Kinoid at scale but, importantly, we anticipate building manufacturing infrastructure and expertise that could be offered to other developers of conjugate vaccines looking to transition their product candidates from clinical to commercial scale. For Stellar, this is an example of leveraging our KLH core business to expand our potential clinical and commercial opportunities.”

Neovacs CEO, Miguel Sieler, added: “We look forward to working with Stellar Biotechnologies to form this cooperative venture, as they are the leading supplier of KLH protein based on sustainable, scalable aquaculture techniques. Since KLH is a key component of IFNa-Kinoid, this venture is intended to support Neovacs as we work toward potential market launch, as well as bring added value in the field of KLH-Kinoid conjugate vaccines.”

For more information, visit www.StellarBiotech.com and http://ir.StellarBiotechnologies.com.

Earlier today, View Systems, Inc. (OTC: VSYM), a manufacturer and installer of non-invasive weapons detection systems for government and commercial use, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Y.M. Advantage, Inc. (YMA), a private corporation engaged in the acquisition, development and management of medical clinics providing treatment for various medical issues. Through this acquisition, View Systems aims to achieve greater market penetration while promoting sustainable financial growth.

“As previously announced, our exploration and execution of M&A agreements are by no means an exit from our current focus of operations,” Gunther Than, chief executive officer of View Systems, stated in the news release. “After careful selection and due diligence, we’re excited to announce our acquisition of YMA, which will help View Systems gain traction in obtaining exposure, application and market penetration of our products.”

YMA’s business model focuses primarily on the acquisition of concierge, all-inclusive medical practices, particularly those relating to issues of male sexual dysfunction – including erectile dysfunction, testosterone replacement therapy and premature ejaculation. By targeting this niche in the medical community, YMA seeks to capitalize on current market trends that are being magnified by the aging population and a sharp rise in the prevalence of certain medical conditions.

Market statistics support YMA’s strategy. According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the increasing incidence of genitourinary diseases and a shifting preference toward a sedentary lifestyle represent lucrative opportunities in the male sexual dysfunction market moving forward. The company estimates the current U.S. market for erectile dysfunction at $6 billion, and aging baby boomers are expected to provide an expanding pool of prospective clients over the next decade.

In the past, major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) have led the way in the male sexual dysfunction market with Viagra and Cialis, respectively, but projections suggest that this could be set to change in the coming years. While Viagra will maintain patent exclusivity until 2020, it is one of the final holdouts in the market. As exclusivities expire, industry data suggests that there will be an opportunity for new players to grab market share with innovative new drugs addressing medical conditions that are increasingly prevalent throughout the aging population. This should ensure that YMA’s targeted medical practices remain in high demand for the foreseeable future.

“Our board of directors consists of physicians who are well versed in the medical arena and have started and successfully operated clinics and medical practices,” continued Than. “They believe that this acquisition will dramatically enhance our revenue and provide for a wider ranging business practice.”

Look for View Systems to leverage the high demand for treatments related to male sexual dysfunction in order to promote strong financial growth. By acquiring YMA and maintaining its current focus of operations, the company becomes a diversified investment opportunity with tremendous upside for prospective shareholders.

For more information, visit www.viewsystems.com

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When someone is in pain, they cannot concentrate on anything other than how to alleviate that pain as quickly as possible, and many times, Tylenol just isn’t enough. The pain associated with injury and surgery is unbearable at times, but many people are understandably cautious about getting prescription narcotics from their doctors because of the obvious habit-forming, addictive risks associated with these medications.

Nutra-Pharma Corp. (OTCQB: NPHC) offers a suitable substitute to these potentially dangerous medications with its Nyloxin product – an all-natural product aimed at treating moderate to severe chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than three months and may be related to certain medical conditions including diabetes, arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, cancer, shingles, sciatica, and previous trauma or injury.

Nyloxin is available over the counter and comes in two strengths and three forms, conditional on what is more convenient and applicable to the person in need – an oral spray, a roll-on and a topical gel. This makes choosing your remedy much easier, because some people are wary of the time it takes for pills to work and would rather have a topical application medication to go right to the source of the pain.

Nyloxin is equivalent to 300 doses of aspirin and about 1/30 of a dose of morphine. So, you have a supremely effective method of instant pain relief, literally, in the palm of your hand that has none of the addictive ramifications of morphine. Substituting an all-natural form of pain relief (Nyloxin is derived from cobra venom) for habit forming narcotics or some lower strength over the counter competitors makes more sense for treating pain in an effective, time oriented manner.

Nyloxin is also becoming available all over the world, according to a recent letter to shareholders from Nutra Pharma CEO Rik J. Deitsch. The company announced that it has received acceptance for Nyloxin from CPAM – the medical authority in China – paving the way for distribution in the world’s fastest growing consumer market. Also, Nutra Phama announced its plans to distribute Nyloxin in Canada.

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

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Recently, in Avant Diagnostics set to exploit new opportunities in the laboratory testing market (http://dtn.fm/hg8TK), we reported that ‘OvaDx is now undergoing 510K trials.’ It seems we jumped the gun. We reached out to Avant’s CEO, Gregg Linn, to get clarification on our report and he confirmed that the OvaDx approval process hasn’t reached the 510K trial stage yet. Avant has been engaged in the calibration testing and validation study phases regarding OvaDx and it expects the 510K trials to commence this year. In September 2015, Avant began calibration testing in preparation for the validation study of OvaDx, which will be used to support a pre-Submission package to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Upon completion of the calibration testing, Avant plans to test the previously purchased set of ovarian cancer specimens, including serial sets obtained from women diagnosed previously with ovarian cancer. The tests on the ovarian cancer specimens will serve as the validation study and form the basis of the pre-Submission package delivered to the FDA for review and comment prior to the commencement of the OvaDx 510(k) trial.

The OvaDx microarray test is intended for use as an aid in monitoring women diagnosed previously with ovarian cancer. The validation study and 510(k) trial will be conducted in a double-blinded environment supervised by DOCRO, Inc., an independent clinical research organization. In a double-blinded environment, neither the researchers nor the subjects participating have knowledge of whether a procedure administered is an actual test or simply a control.

The results from the validation study are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal within six months of test completion and data analysis. 510K trials will commence after the validation study is completed. A 510(K) is a pre-market submission made to the FDA to demonstrate that the device to be marketed is at least as safe and effective as a legally marketed device. Avant believes the OvaDx test has an advantage over Roche’s CA-125 test and Vermillion’s Ova 1 test.

In October 2015, Avant received notification, through its independent clinical research organization, DOCRO, that the previously purchased specimens have been approved and are available for use in the validation study.

As seen in recent news releases, the OvaDx approval process is alive and well. And Avant is reaching out to the investor community to tell them so. Gregg Linn will be one of the speakers at the Noble Financial Capital Markets’ Twelfth Annual Investor Conference (NobleCon12) in Sandpiper Bay, Florida, on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

From January 22, 2016, a high-definition video web-cast of Gregg’s presentation and a copy of the presentation materials will be available on the Avant Diagnostics website and as part of a complete catalog of presentations available at Noble Financial websites: www.noblefcm.com, or www.nobleconference.com.

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

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According to recent analysis out late last year from the world’s second largest publisher of premium market reports, MarketsandMarkets, the global market for biomarkers is on-track to grow at a CAGR of 13.58 percent through 2020, reaching upwards of $45.55 billion on the strength of increasing healthcare, as well as R&D spending. A key driver of this growth is the massive importance of biomarkers as an objective means for calculating a pathogenic or pharmacological response to therapeutics, or to gauge the behavior of a normal biological process. Biomarker technology continues to play a pivotal role when it comes to developing cutting-edge diagnostics for ailments such as cancer.

Indeed, the global cancer biomarkers market will continue to be one of the most active segments moving forward according to M&M, and this segment is slated to run at an 11.6 percent CAGR over the same interval. Driven by major players engaged in personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics involving biomarkers, such as global microarray market leader Affymetrix (NASDAQ: AFFX), which was recently reported as having been acquired by competitor Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) for approximately $1.3 billion, as well as more investor-accessible players, some of whom may have at their disposal technologies that hold the potential to reshape the industry itself.

Such high-profile M&A activity at the heart of the translational research/microarray sector speaks volumes for how hot the space has become, and how much promise it holds for the future of medicine. One of the areas in oncology diagnostics that bears consideration is ovarian cancer, due to the specific challenges and concerns associated with the space. American Cancer Society data indicates that roughly 21,300 women in the U.S. alone were diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year, leading to approximately 14,200 tragic deaths. With an overall five-year survival rate of only 45 percent, ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death among women, and the risk is highest in women over the age of 55.

Given the high five-year survivability rate of around 93 percent for ovarian cancer, if it is detected in the early stage in which the symptoms are often ignored – compared to an only 18 percent five-year survivability rate if it is detected in later stages – the benefits of advanced warning and pre-symptomatic screening using a definitive, cost-effective diagnostic test cannot be overstated. This is especially true for patients who are found to have platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer, as such patients have an extremely poor prognosis and may also be classed as having chemotherapy-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer.

The standard approach to ovarian cancer utilizes the combination of a platinum compound such as Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (NYSE: BMY) (OTC: BMYMP) Platinol® (cisplatin) or Paraplatin® (carboplatin), and a Taxane, such as Sanofi’s (NYSE: SNY) Taxotere® (docetaxel), or Phyton Biotech’s Taxol® (paclitaxel). But for patients with platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer, early detection is really the brass ring, even with such good news out recently as Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) receiving FDA approval for the first Phase III study of avelumab, an investigational, fully human PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) inhibitor that could emerge as a treatment for platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer.

Suffice it to say, this is a market ripe for a simplified microarray-based blood test for early detection of ovarian cancer, including tests like Avant Diagnostics’ (OTCQB: AVDX) OvaDx®, which possesses numerous advantages over the standard CA 125 protein biomarker test for ovarian cancer. Advantages include a sample size of only a few drops and the elimination of needle blood draws, factors which allow for high-volume screening throughput at even smaller facilities. A simplified test like OvaDx, which uses sample shipping and storage on room temperature blood cards and nevertheless yields definitive diagnostic results that allow for detection of early stage ovarian tumor cell development, is a real triumph for women’s health. OvaDx could be a game changer for the $2 billion plus ovarian cancer diagnostic market and might just put AVDX in the immuno-oncology pole position.

The recent announcement that AVDX has entered into an LOI with regenerative medicine, neurology and orphan disease-focused Amarantus Bioscience Holdings (OTCQX: AMBS) to merge the wholly-owned diagnostics subsidiary of Amarantus into AVDX is further proof of how hot the sector is overall. Amarantus Diagnostics’ MSPrecise®, a neuroimmunology-based sequencing assay for multiple sclerosis, also adds mightily to AVDX’s already promising diagnostics footprint. The $1 billion market potential possible in addressing the woefully inaccurate diagnostics market for multiple sclerosis stands to make the combined company a force to be reckoned with. Adding to this emerging diagnostic juggernaut’s appeal is the $3 billion potential of Amarantus Diagnostics’ LymPro Test® for Alzheimer’s disease, another early detection-focused marvel that could revolutionize treatment options for Alzheimer’s patients.

For more information, visit www.avantdiagnostics.com

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Talk is cheap, and action – or results to be more accurate – defines whether a company is going in the right direction. There are many innovative ‘idea companies’ out there, but one company making good on its promises and delivering revenue growth, new partnerships, and new products is Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCK). In a recent letter to its shareholders, Content Checked CEO Kris Finstad recapped a rapid, exciting growth history while outlining plans for moving forward.

Fundamentals are the baseline measurement for any small-cap startup company to gauge whether or not it is going in the right direction. For the six months ended September 30, 2015, Content Checked’s revenues were $657,850, as compared to no revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2014. Cash and equivalents as of September 30, 2015, were $5.5 million. Those figures answer these two questions with an unequivocal yes: 1) Are people actually buying your product?; and 2) Do you have enough money in the bank to execute business operations and strategies moving forward? A positive nod in this regard represents impressive execution and growth for a company founded in July 2013.

Content Checked is the creator of a family of mobile apps for individuals who suffer from food allergies and other dietary needs. As Finstad notes in his shareholder letter, the company has had over 2 million downloads and, more importantly, 66 percent of its users are active at least five times a week.

Leveraging its success, the company is moving to a subscription-based model and has plans to continue to diversify and grow its offerings to include more niche apps within the health and wellness sector.

“We believe that the iOS (Apple) and Android platforms are moving in the direction of subscription-based applications. To capitalize on this trend and stay ahead of our competition, we are making our core apps free, and are also offering users subscription-based versions of our apps that will provide access to additional desired features. With the relaunch and rebrand of Content Checked’s products, anticipated to take place in March 2016, we will introduce a new subscription based service for the Content Checked line of products, in addition to offering an updated and improved experience for core (free) users … The extension of our brand will add value to our family of mobile apps designed for those with dietary restrictions and preferences. We believe that consumers of all ages are continuing to place greater emphasis on healthier food alternatives, and we hope that our family of apps will enable Content Checked to reach every demographic in a household,” explained Finstad.

Another strong point for this emerging player is its ability to establish key industry relationships. In this respect, Content Checked has formed a partnership with Troy Healthcare in which the two companies will use their innovative products, MigraineChecked and Stopain® Migraine, respectively, to help deliver preventative information and fast-acting relief for migraine sufferers.

Content Checked’s products have been given numerous accolades and praise in several high profile media outlets and publications, including Forbes, USA Today, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Los Angeles Business Journal, Yahoo! Travel and Yahoo! Finance, Examiner.com, MSN, PR Newswire, Gourmet Business, Epi-Family.com, The Active Times, Reviewed.com, Business Rockstars, IdeaMensch, Celiac Disease Foundation, Cheapflights.com, Bustle, AllergicLiving, The App Magazine, Great Taste Magazine, Clean Eating, TheDailyMeal.com, DIY Active, Food Allergy & Research Education, SheKnows Media, Smarter Travel and Voices in America and Z Living. The company’s apps will also be featured in upcoming outlets such as Los Angeles Business Journal, Reuters, VentureBeat, MyHeart.net, and Rasmussen Blog.

A look at some of the other spokes in the corporate wheel provides a bit of insight into the company’s business development and proven ability to advance on its growth strategies.

Aside from key management, Content Checked is backed by a team of professionals with the following certifications and/or degrees: registered dietician, certified nutritionist specialist, certified nutrition support clinician, CISSN sports nutrition, masters of nutrition, wellness and health coach and NESDA personal trainer.

Additionally, the company kicked-off 2016 with the formation of a board of advisors to provide guidance to the board of directors and management team. One such advisor is Dr. Marc Siegel, MD FACP, a clinical professor, medical director, author, and medical contributor, reporter, and member of the Fox News Medical A Team, among other notable roles.

Combined, all of these achievements and strategies contribute to Content Checked’s plan to uplist to the NASDAQ or NYSE exchange later this year, an impressive feat that will position the company in front of a broader base of global institutions, funds and retail investors.

“All of us at Content Checked believe that our market capitalization will continue to grow with improving underlying Company fundamentals. We are a young entrepreneurial company that is flexible and continues to adopt to our core markets’ and users’ demands, to ensure that we position the Company to enhance shareholder value going forward,” Finstad concluded in his letter.

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

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Los Angeles is more than just a constantly sunny city with 75-miles of coastline and some of Southern California’s greatest beaches. It’s also the second largest city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of California and a global tourism destination with a diverse economy in entertainment, culture, media, fashion and so much more. To achieve success in this forward-thinking municipality, entrepreneurs are required to think outside of the box and address unmet needs in their chosen markets. In February 2008, Giggles N’ Hugs, Inc. (OTCQB: GIGL) founder Joey Parsi did just that when he launched the very first Giggles N’ Hugs restaurant in Brentwood, California.

Following its launch, the Giggles N’ Hugs concept proved an immediate success, enjoying both profitability and widespread media coverage. Capitalizing on the viability of its home market, the company’s innovative, family-friendly restaurants caught the attention of some of Los Angeles’s most recognizable parents – including celebrities such as Adele, Drew Barrymore, Mariah Carey and Mark Wahlberg. As a result of this early success, Giggles N’ Hugs was approached by Westfield Corporation (OTC: WEFIF), one of the world’s leading shopping center companies, with an intriguing expansion proposal.

In 2010, Giggles N’ Hugs successfully launched its second restaurant in the Westfield Century City Mall. Because of the company’s attractiveness as a tenant, it was able to secure an agreement stating that the mall was to pay 60 percent of construction costs and make other favorable concessions. Today, Giggles N’ Hugs has expanded its reach to include three locations in the Greater Los Angeles area, and additional growth could be on the horizon.

Last month, the company signed an agreement with Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, a boutique investment bank headquartered in New York, designed to assist Giggles N’ Hugs in finding and connecting with potential investors and business partners. Chardan will also provide invaluable advice and assistance to management preparing to present to financial sources and perform a wide variety of financial advisory services.

Look for the company to continuing promoting financial growth as it takes the necessary steps to prepare for an uplisting to a national exchange later this year. With a proven concept that fills a significant unmet need in the market and addresses the top trends shaping the evolution of the broader restaurant industry, Giggles N’ Hugs is now firmly focused on expanding its reach in markets throughout the country and around the world. Joey Parsi, founder and chief executive officer of Giggles N’ Hugs, echoed this sentiment in a recent news release.

“With the unbelievable management team we now have in place, and having one of the most unique concepts in the restaurant industry… we are ready to explode onto the national scene first with multiple locations in some of the best properties in the country and ultimately around the world.”

Learn more by visiting www.gigglesnhugs.com

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It’s pretty hard to hit an increasingly agile moving target like the rapidly-evolving viruses that medical science is forced to contend with these days, especially when medical professionals are handicapped by using drugs that rely on somewhat antiquated approaches and technologies, many of which were initially developed over a century ago. If you think about how quickly a virus strain adapts and evolves, it is no wonder that medical science has a difficult time keeping up.

Even the more sophisticated antiviral technologies in use today often amount to little more than variations on existing approaches. The Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Ebola Virus vaccine (VSV-EBOV) deployed in frontline clinical trials last year to combat the spread of Ebola throughout West Africa is a prime example. Given that this recombinant, replication-competent vaccine is basically just a genetically engineered virus from the same family as rabies, which has been weaponized to express Ebola glycoproteins and thus provoke an immune response in the host, the threat of the virus mutating around existing (only marginally effective) solutions and escaping containment is a persistent threat which looms large on the horizon.

More importantly, because the lion’s share of existing antiviral agents typically use a method of action that takes place within the cell, such indications are plagued by a host of unwanted side effects that can impair the host’s immune system, as well as healthy cells. Currently in the process of transitioning from a preclinical R&D company to a clinical biotech company sometime within the next 15 months, NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NNVC) may have the answer to this “one step forward, two steps back” problem, which is inherent among rapidly evolving viruses, as well as a comprehensive platform solution for difficult to treat viruses that have gone dangerously underserved.

NanoViricides is a unique biotechnology company focused on nanomedicine and has developed a truly revolutionary, tailorable delivery platform designed to destroy viruses both in and on the body. The company’s wholly novel nanoviricide® class of drug candidates employs a combination of cutting-edge nanotechnology and knowledge of the substantial lack of variance in the receptor site for virus-binding ligands on a virus cell’s surface, even after numerous mutations. This combination of a chemically attached virus-binding ligand (a mimic of the receptor cell surface protein) derived from the virus’s own binding site with a flexible “nanomicelle” polymer allows nanoviricides to seek out and attach to a specific virus particle in bodily fluids and then fully engulf it, using the polymer as a containment vessel. This process, using targeted, stealth ligands designed to fool the virus into thinking the nanoviricide looks biochemically like a superb infection target, ultimately renders the virus cell incapable of infecting other cells and, subsequently, dismantles it with no collateral damage to healthy cells.

As amazing as this method of action may sound when compared to existing vaccine technologies and antivirals, the real beauty of NNVC’s nanoviricide technology is its rapid-prototyping capability. The unique ability of this platform to be used for quickly developing highly optimized, virus-specific drug candidates, which can be tailored for premium pharmacokinetic characteristics, such as sustained effect and diverse routes of administration, is something which grants the company’s nanoviricide technology an enviably disruptive profile. Moreover, the platform also possesses the capacity to be utilized for broad-spectrum indications that can aggress up to 95 percent of known viruses in a cost-effective manner, including historically neglected tropical diseases like Dengue fever and Ebola/Marburg.

With the recent outbreak of the Zika virus across Latin America and the Caribbean (now considered to be pandemic), which has been linked to birth defects such as microcephaly in fetuses born to women who contract the virus, the CDC has issued a travel warning (which was echoed by the agency’s EU equivalent) focused on pregnant women and women who may soon become pregnant. Just this week a mother on Hawaii’s third largest island, Oahu, who was infected with the Zika virus when she was residing in Brazil last year, gave birth to a microcephalic child, echoing the patterns observed in Brazil. An alarming incident rate increase for Zika of over 2,200 percent in Brazil from 2014 to 2015, with over 3,500 cases last year and 46 infant casualties, has prompted growing concern from health officials worldwide, and with the Florida Department of Health reporting that, as of January 19, two cases of Zika have been identified in Miami-Dade, the three- to five-year window currently proposed by Brazilian authorities for the development of a vaccine (in record time) paints an astoundingly clear picture of the inherent potential value of NNVC’s highly-adaptable platform technology.

Transmitted by the same species of mosquito that carries Dengue fever (as well as now being thought to be sexually transmissible), Zika virus, whose symptoms are relatively mild, was initially not considered to be a major threat, even as the number of cases quickly shot up in Brazil. However, an increasingly apparent correlation with birth defects like microcephaly and possibly even the paralytic central nervous system malady, Guillain–Barré syndrome, has turned a lot of heads in the medical community, especially considering the lifelong impairment for children born with such birth defects.

NanoViricides’ development pipeline currently boasts a number of promising primary candidates, from an injectable, as well as orally-administered Influenza candidate (FluCide) aimed at the $33 billion plus vaccine market, to indications for HIV/AIDS, and Herpes. FluCide is quite interesting given the CDC’s own recent acknowledgment that the 2014 to 2015 flu vaccine set record efficacy lows, with a paltry 23 percent reduction to risk of getting the flu. The recent presentation by the CEO of NNVC, Eugene Seymour MD, MPH at Biotech Showcase 2016, illustrated how the company is currently moving full speed ahead with human trials for its lead virucidal herpes (of the eye/cornea) keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) treatment, HerpeCide™. Human clinical trials are currently on-track to begin late this year or in early 2017, and commercially-available HerpeCide would be a most welcome addition to the healthcare system’s existing biomedical arsenal, as ocular herpetic disease in general is a serious challenge for both optometrists and patients.

Herpes keratitis is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the Western world and ultimately requires a corneal transplant when it has progressed to the stage of blindness. Corneal transplant is a difficult procedure that can often fail and the procedure can cost as much as $24,400 on average, according to actuarial intelligence giant Milliman. The major herpes viruses that cause ocular disease (simplex and zoster) quite often bring about immunologic reactions in the host that outlive any active infection as well, meaning that the latent demand for a real solution is considerably larger than the baseline market metrics would indicate.

There are a variety of topical (as well as oral) treatments available, such as GlaxoSmithKline’s (NYSE: GSK) Viroptic (trifluridine), which carries significant toxicity risk, or Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Vira-A (vidarabine), although it has been largely displaced by Aciclovir, due to the former indication’s administration via IV being cumbersome. Oral Aciclovir is available under many different generic brand names, such as GSK’s Zovirax and Eli Lilly’s (NYSE: LLY) Lovir, but side effects like dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, as well as more severe problems such as neurotoxicity in dialysis patients, has continued to daunt this segment of the broader $2 billion plus annual market for herpes simplex virus treatments.

NanoViricides recently completed a transition to its new c-GMP-capable, state-of-the-art production and testing facilities in Connecticut, and has thus graduated into a select handful of small biopharma developers with its own in-house, clinical-quality drug manufacturing footprint. With the capacity to see candidates from design through to scaling up of production for IND submissions and human clinical trials, NNVC now also has the muscle to handle commercial-scale manufacturing when (and if) its candidates are eventually licensed. This logistical capacity, combined with the company’s smart weapon nanoviricide platform, means that NNVC’s most advanced candidates, like HerpeCide and FluCide, stand an excellent chance of seeing eventual commercialization.

This is great news considering that NNVC’s anti-Herpes candidate has shown such great progress in HSV-1 animal model studies thus far, with an over 85 percent survival rate (compared to zero for untreated animals), as well as a marked ability to reduce virus production in cell cultures. Shown to be superior to topical treatment with an Aciclovir formulation, the company’s HerpeCide candidates could emerge as not only a leading treatment in the space, but a real solution for patients dealing with the disease and potentially facing blindness.

For more information, visit www.nanoviricides.com

In a recent news release, GTX Corp. (OTC: GTXO) announced its hiring of Maxim Group LLC, a leading full-service investment banking, securities and wealth management firm, to provide strategic advisory services for the company’s corporate initiatives in 2016. GTXO’s primary goals for the coming months include expanding its global distribution network in Latin America and Asia, ramping up retail channel partners in the U.S., enhancing insurance and subsidized reimbursements, making additional inroads into the autistic community, expanding its IP portfolio, launching innovative new tracking products, exploring cutting-edge robotic technologies and further deploying all three of its current product categories in an effort to grow its subscriber base.

“2015 was a transformative year, we launched three products and added distributors and end users across the globe,” Patrick Bertagna, chief executive officer of GTX Corp., stated in the news release. “After extensive meetings with the Maxim team discussing corporate initiatives for 2016, we felt the timing was right to retain the firm and advance with the roadmap now in place.”

In recent months, GTXO has leveraged the marketability of its flagship product, GPS SmartSole, to garner considerable media and industry attention. In September, the company was featured alongside tech giants Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Samsung (OTC: SSNLF) when it claimed second place in the Wearables, Health, Fitness and Wellness category at the 2015 CTIA ‘Hot for the Holidays’ Super Mobility Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two months later, GTXO’s GPS SmartSole was featured in a special report by AARP focusing on gadgets that can make life easier for caregivers.

Currently, more than 100 million people require oversight due to various forms of memory impairment resulting from Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism and traumatic brain injury. GTXO’s GPS SmartSole is specially designed to improve the lives of these individuals by offering discreet, convenient tracking services that give caregivers additional peace of mind. According to the 2013 World Alzheimer’s Report, approximately 60 percent of individuals living with Alzheimer’s will become lost at least once, and 70 percent of those people will become lost three or more times. In these cases, the GPS SmartSole can be a literal lifesaver.

With a growing presence in the burgeoning wearables market (which is set to hit $4.5 billion by 2020), GTXO is in a favorable position to promote sustainable growth in 2016. Look for the company to build on its strong performance and promote maximized shareholder value in the months to come by leveraging its marketable IP portfolio and the considerable financial expertise presented by its newly-announced partnership with Maxim Group.

For more information, visit www.gtxcorp.com

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