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Release – Labrador Gold Intersects 5.22g/t Au Over 2.8M Including 22.02g/t Over 0.4M

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Extends Big Vein to 722 Metres Strike Length

April 20, 2023 08:00 ET

TORONTO, April 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Labrador Gold Corp. (TSX.V:LAB | OTCQX:NKOSF | FNR: 2N6) (“LabGold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce results from recent drilling targeting the highly prospective Appleton Fault Zone. The drilling is part of the Company’s ongoing 100,000 metre diamond drilling program at its 100% owned Kingsway Project.

Highlights of the drilling include an intersection of 5.22g/t Au over 2.80 metres from 418.6 metres that included 22.02g/t Au over 0.4 metres in Hole K-22-214B which also included 8.62 g/t Au over 0.7 metres from 496 metres. This hole was a wedge off Hole K-22-214 that was previously abandoned in mineralization at 486 metres due to excessive fracturing after intersecting 1.19g/t Au over 41.8 metres from 397 metres that included 2.32g/t Au over 18.6 metres including 61.15g/t Au over 0.3 metres (see news release dated March 2, 2023). Thes two holes form part of a new mineralized zone, the Greenmantle Zone, that lies below the HTC Zone at a vertical depth of 415 metres.

Hole K-23-225, a 100m step out to the northeast intersected 1g/t Au over 10.1 metres from 46.9 metres, that included an interval of 2.28g/t over 2.26 metres containing visible gold.

The Big Vein SW zone was extended a further 60 metres to the southwest with intersections of 3.69g/t Au over 2.97 metres from 389.41 metres including 12.05g/t Au over 0.59 metres in Hole K-23-216 and 1.95g/t Au over 9 metres including 8.97g/t Au over 1.6 metres in Hole K-23-218.

“Our aggressive step outs to the northeast and southwest continue to intersect gold mineralization at Big Vein which has now been extended to 722 metres in strike length and remains open in both directions. In addition, the discovery of the Greenmantle zone demonstrates the potential for continued mineralization at depth,” said Roger Moss, President and CEO of Labrador Gold Corp. “Recent 3D modelling has given us a much better understanding of the structural complexity and controls on gold distribution at Big Vein. Mineralization is closely associated with splays off the Appleton Fault Zone which we now believe to run through Big Vein. This interpretation will guide our drilling as we seek to continue to expand Big Vein along strike and at depth.”

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Width (m)	Au (g/t)	Zone
K-23-225	46.90	57.00	10.10	1.00	Big Vein
including	47.64	49.90	2.26	2.28	Big Vein
K-23-218	104.70	105.70	1.00	1.56	Big Vein SW
	385.00	394.00	9.00	1.95
including	386.10	387.70	1.60	8.97
including	386.10	387.00	0.90	12.18
K-23-216	267.00	268.00	1.00	3.24	Big Vein SW
	389.41	392.38	2.97	3.69
including	389.41	390.00	0.59	12.05
K-22-215	137.00	140.00	3.00	2.75	Big Vein
including	137.77	138.24	0.47	14.37	Big Vein
K-22-214B	400.40	411.00	10.60	1.06	Green Mantle
including	407.00	408.30	1.30	2.53
	418.60	421.40	2.80	5.22
including	419.75	420.15	0.40	22.02
	442.65	448.00	5.35	1.19
	473.00	475.40	2.40	1.20
	496.00	496.70	0.70	8.62

Table 1. Summary of assay results. All intersections are downhole length as there is insufficient Information to calculate true width.

Over 69,000 metres have been drilled to date out of the planned 100,000 metre program. Assays are pending for samples from approximately 3,500 metres of core.

The Company has approximately $15 million in cash and is well funded to carry out the remaining 31,000 metres of the planned drill program as well as further exploration to add to the current pipeline of drill targets on the property.

Figure 1. Plan map of Big Vein showing significant intersections.

Hole ID	Easting	Northing	Elevation (m)	Azimuth	Inclination	Depth (m)
K-23-225	661623	5435460	47.7	145	50	275
K-23-218	661249.3	5434860	42.8	140	45	572
K-23-216	661299	5434884	42	140	45	526.24
K-22-215	661297.1	5434880	46.6	130	45	565
K-22-214 B	661579	5435370	48.6	145	60	676

Table 2. Drill hole collar details

QA/QC

True widths of the reported intersections have yet to be calculated. Assays are uncut. Samples of HQ split core are securely stored prior to shipping to Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale, Newfoundland for assay. Eastern Analytical is an ISO/IEC17025 accredited laboratory. Samples are routinely analyzed for gold by standard 30g fire assay with atomic absorption finish as well as by ICP-OES for an additional 34 elements. Samples containing visible gold are assayed by metallic screen/fire assay, as are any samples with fire assay results greater than 1g/t Au. The company submits blanks and certified reference standards at a rate of approximately 5% of the total samples in each batch.

Qualified Person

Roger Moss, PhD., P.Geo., President and CEO of LabGold, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this release.

The Company gratefully acknowledges the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Natural Resources’ Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program for its financial support for exploration of the Kingsway property.

About Labrador Gold
Labrador Gold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective gold projects in Eastern Canada.

Labrador Gold’s flagship property is the 100% owned Kingsway project in the Gander area of Newfoundland. The three licenses comprising the Kingsway project cover approximately 12km of the Appleton Fault Zone which is associated with gold occurrences in the region, including those of New Found Gold immediately to the south of Kingsway. Infrastructure in the area is excellent located just 18km from the town of Gander with road access to the project, nearby electricity and abundant local water. LabGold is drilling a projected 100,000 metres targeting high-grade epizonal gold mineralization along the Appleton Fault Zone with encouraging results. The Company has approximately $15 million in working capital and is well funded to carry out the planned program.

The Hopedale property covers much of the Florence Lake greenstone belt that stretches over 60 km. The belt is typical of greenstone belts around the world but has been underexplored by comparison. Work to date by Labrador Gold show gold anomalies in rocks, soils and lake sediments over a 3 kilometre section of the northern portion of the Florence Lake greenstone belt in the vicinity of the known Thurber Dog gold showing where grab samples assayed up to 7.8g/t gold. In addition, anomalous gold in soil and lake sediment samples occur over approximately 40 km along the southern section of the greenstone belt (see news release dated January 25^th 2018 for more details). Labrador Gold now controls approximately 40km strike length of the Florence Lake Greenstone Belt.

The Company has 170,009,979 common shares issued and outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LAB.

For more information please contact:

Roger Moss, President and CEO Tel: 416-704-8291

Or visit our website at: www.labradorgold.com

Twitter: @LabGoldCorp

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a933fde-2567-42e1-b694-134f973d74c2

Release – Ocugen To Present at Association For Research In Vision And Ophthalmology 2023 Annual Meeting

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on OCGN

April 20, 2023

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MALVERN, Pa., April 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ocugen, Inc. (Ocugen or the Company) (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies, biologics, and vaccines, today announced that the Company will present on its innovative modifier gene therapy platform, including OCU400 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis, OCU410 for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD), and OCU410ST for the treatment of Stargardt disease; along with OCU200, a novel biologic candidate to treat diabetic macular edema (DME), at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans from April 23-27, 2023.

“We are thrilled to share more detail on our unique modifier gene therapy platform, as well as our novel biologics ophthalmic product pipeline with the professional community at ARVO,” commented Arun Upadhyay, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research, Development and Medical at Ocugen. “It is especially exciting to be at ARVO just following positive preliminary safety and efficacy results from the Phase 1/2 trial of OCU400 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa. We look forward to highlighting this most recent news along with the work we are doing across our ophthalmology portfolio to combat hard-to-treat blindness diseases affecting millions of patients globally,” Dr. Upadhyay concluded.

Poster Presentation:

Title: Modifier Gene Approach Using OCU410 for Dry AMD Therapy: One Gene—Multiple Targets
Authors: Dinesh Singh, Mohamed Nsaibia, Sree Kattala, Subechhya Neupane, Matthew Ritts, Arun Upadhyay
Presenter: Dinesh Singh, Associate Director, Discovery, Ocugen
Presentation Type/Number: Poster Session, 755-C0356
Location: Exhibit Hall
Date: Sunday, April 23, 2023
Time: Noon – 1:45 p.m. CDT

Exhibitor Presentations (Exhibitor Education Lounge):

Title: Ocugen—OCU400—Modifier Gene Therapy for Treatment of Inherited Retinal Diseases: Retinitis Pigmentosa & Leber Congenital Amaurosis
Presenter: Arun Upadhyay, PhD, CSO and Head of Research, Development and Medical, Ocugen
Date: Monday, April 24, 2023
Time: 2 p.m. CDT

Title: Ocugen—OCU410 & OCU410ST—Nuclear Receptor Gene RORA as a Potential Therapeutic for Dry AMD and Stargardt disease
Presenter: Dinesh Singh, Associate Director, Discovery, Ocugen
Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Time: 2 p.m. CDT

Title: Ocugen—OCU200—A Novel Biologic for the Treatment of DME, DR, and Wet AMD
Presenter: Pushpendra Singh, Director, Cell and Gene Therapy, Ocugen
Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Time: 2 p.m. CDT

About OCU400
OCU400 is the Company’s gene-agnostic modifier gene therapy product based on NHR gene, NR2E3. NR2E3 regulates diverse physiological functions within the retina—such as photoreceptor development and maintenance, metabolism, phototransduction, inflammation and cell survival networks. Through its drive functionality, OCU400 resets altered/affected cellular gene-networks and establishes homeostasis—a state of balance, which has potential to improve retinal health and function in patients with inherited retinal diseases. These diseases, combined, account for approximately 125,000 cases in the U.S.

About OCU410 and OCU410ST
OCU410 is a modifier gene therapy product candidate being developed for the treatment of dry AMD. OCU410 utilizes an AAV delivery platform for the retinal delivery of the RORA (RAR Related Orphan Receptor A) gene. Various genes associated with AMD are regulated by RORA. The RORA protein plays an important role in lipid metabolism and demonstrates an anti-inflammatory role, which we believe could be a potential therapeutic candidate for dry AMD based on in-vitro and in-vivo (animal model) studies. Using the same technology as OCU410, Ocugen plans to submit an IND for Stargardt disease, an orphan eye disease, in Q2 2023.

About OCU200
OCU200 is a novel fusion protein consisting of human transferrin linked to human tumstatin. It exerts anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects by selective targeting to the retinal and choroidal tissues. OCU200 potentially showcases better bioavailability and tissue penetrance than tumstatin alone due to transferrin and provides distinct MOA binding through αVβ3 integrin pathways that can potentially reduce the number of injections for patients. OCU200 can potentially be used for the treatment of DME, diabetic retinopathy, and wet age-related macular degeneration. These diseases, combined, account for approximately 10 million cases in the U.S.

About Ocugen, Inc.
Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies, biologics, and vaccines that improve health and offer hope for patients across the globe. We are making an impact on patient’s lives through courageous innovation—forging new scientific paths that harness our unique intellectual and human capital. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases with a single product, and we are advancing research in infectious diseases to support public health and orthopedic diseases to address unmet medical needs. Discover more at www.ocugen.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Contact:
Tiffany Hamilton
Head of Communications
Tiffany.Hamilton@ocugen.com

Release – CoreCivic Announces 2023 First Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call Dates

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on CXW

April 20, 2023

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BRENTWOOD, Tenn., April 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (the Company) announced today that it will release its 2023 first quarter financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. A live broadcast of CoreCivic’s conference call will begin at 10:00 a.m. central time (11:00 a.m. eastern time) on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

To participate via telephone and join the call live, please register in advance here https://register.vevent.com/register/BI6394fffe952b47d497a2735e53d08f32. Upon registration, telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number and a unique passcode.

Participants may access the audio-only webcast of the conference call from the Company’s website at www.corecivic.com under the “Events & Presentations” section of the “Investors” page. A replay of the webcast will be available for seven days.

About CoreCivic

CoreCivic is a diversified, government-solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, a network of residential and non-residential alternatives to incarceration to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. We are the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and believe we are the largest private owner of real estate used by government agencies in the United States. We have been a flexible and dependable partner for government for 40 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at www.corecivic.com.

Contact:

Investors: Cameron Hopewell – Managing Director, Investor Relations – (615) 263-3024
Media: Steve Owen – Vice President, Communications – (615) 263-3107

Release – Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. Reschedules Start Time for First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call on May 2, 2023

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on ARLP

Company Release – 4/20/2023 7:00 AM ET

TULSA, Okla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) will report its first quarter 2023 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, as previously announced. In order to best accommodate analysts’ and investors’ ability to participate in the Company’s conference call, Alliance management will now host its first quarter conference call beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern that same day.

To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 407-0784 and request to be connected to the Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. earnings conference call. International callers should dial (201) 689-8560 and request to be connected to the same call. Investors may also listen to the call via the “investor relations” section of ARLP’s website at www.arlp.com.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available for approximately one week. To access the audio replay, dial U.S. Toll Free (844) 512-2921; International Toll (412) 317-6671 and request to be connected to replay using access code 13737890.

About Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

ARLP is a diversified energy company that is currently the largest coal producer in the eastern United States, supplying reliable, affordable energy domestically and internationally to major utilities, metallurgical and industrial users. ARLP also generates operating and royalty income from mineral interests it owns in strategic coal and oil & gas producing regions in the United States. In addition, ARLP is evolving and positioning itself as a reliable energy partner for the future by pursuing opportunities that support the advancement of energy and related infrastructure.

News, unit prices and additional information about ARLP, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), are available at www.arlp.com. For more information, contact the investor relations department of ARLP at (918) 295-7673 or via e-mail at investorrelations@arlp.com.

Cary P. Marshall
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(918) 295-7673
investorrelations@arlp.com

Source: Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

Onconova Therapeutics (ONTX) – Data Presented on Narazaciclib Targets and Mechanisms

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Onconova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. The Company has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation. Onconova’s novel, proprietary multi-kinase inhibitor narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) is being evaluated in two Phase 1 dose-escalation and expansion studies. These trials are currently underway in the United States and China. Onconova’s product candidate rigosertib is being studied in an investigator-sponsored study program, including in a dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2a investigator-sponsored study with oral rigosertib in combination with nivolumab for patients with KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Data Presented At AACR Annual Meeting. Onconova presented two posters at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting, held April 14 to April 19. These posters from preclinical studies gave additional details on the activity, targets, and mechanism of action for narazaciclib, its CDK4/6 inhibitor, and comparisons with other approved CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Study On Naraciclib Targets. The first poster showed that narazaciclib inhibits CDK4/6 as well as additional kinases in cancer progression and metastasis. Data included the BUB1 kinase that is overexpressed in breast and uterine cancers, showing correlations between BUB1 expression and poor survival. BUB1 was inhibited by narazaciclib, but not palbociclib (Ibrance, from Pfizer) or abemaciclib (Verzenio, from Lilly). The poster also presented data showing that narazaciclib may lead to the expression of immune modulators in tumor cells that lead to anti-tumor immunity, an important mechanism for preventing recurrence.

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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.

Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) – Raising Estimates

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research – Digital, Media & Technology Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Patrick McCann, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Revenue restatement. Certain invoices were not sent in a timely manner and roughly $1.4 million in revenue was not captured in its preliminary 2022 full year results. As such, full year revenue was $89.4 million rather than $88.0 million, as previously reported, and adj. EBITDA was $10.1 million rather than $8.8 million.

Favorable operating momentum. The restatement positively impacted 2022 results and, importantly, management re-iterated full year 2023 guidance of revenue between $118 million to $122 million.

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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

The Covert Threat of Antibiotic Tolerance

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Looming Behind Antibiotic Resistance is Another Bacterial Threat – Antibiotic Tolerance

Have you ever had a nasty infection that just won’t seem to go away? Or a runny nose that keeps coming back? You may have been dealing with a bacterium that is tolerant of, though not yet resistant to, antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance is a huge problem, contributing to nearly 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. But antibiotic tolerance is a covert threat that researchers have only recently begun to explore.

Antibiotic tolerance happens when a bacterium manages to survive for a long time after being exposed to an antibiotic. While antibiotic-resistant bacteria flourish even in the presence of an antibiotic, tolerant bacteria often exist in a dormant state, neither growing nor dying but putting up with the antibiotic until they can “reawaken” once the stress is gone. Tolerance has been linked to the spread of antibiotic resistance.

This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Megan Keller, Ph.D. Candidate in Microbiology, Cornell University.

I am a microbiologist who studies antibiotic tolerance, and I seek to uncover what triggers tolerant bacteria to enter a protective dormant slumber. By understanding why bacteria have the ability to become tolerant, researchers hope to develop ways to avoid the spread of this ability. The exact mechanism that sets tolerance apart from resistance has been unclear. But one possible answer may reside in a process that has been overlooked for decades: how bacteria create their energy.

Cholera and Antibiotic Tolerance

Many antibiotics are designed to break through the bacteria’s outer defenses like a cannonball through a stone fortress. Resistant bacteria are immune to the cannonball because they can either destroy it before it damages their outer wall or change their own walls to be able to withstand the impact.

Tolerant bacteria can remove their wall entirely and avoid damage altogether. No wall, no target for the cannonball to smash. If the threat goes away before too long, the bacterium can rebuild its wall to protect it from other environmental dangers and resume normal functions. However, it is still unknown how bacteria know the antibiotic threat is gone, and what exactly triggers their reawakening.

My colleagues and I at the Dörr Lab at Cornell University are trying to understand processes of activation and reawakening in the tolerant bacteria responsible for cholera, Vibrio cholerae. Vibrio is rapidly evolving resistance against various types of antibiotics, and doctors are concerned. As of 2010, Vibrio is already resistant to 36 different antibiotics, and this number is expected to continue rising.

To study how Vibrio develops resistance, we chose a strain that is tolerant to a class of antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactams are the cannonball sent to destroy the bacteria’s fortress, and Vibrio adapts by activating two genes that temporarily remove its cell wall. I witnessed this phenomenon using a microscope. After removing its cell wall, the bacteria activate even more genes that morph it into fragile globs that can survive the effects of the antibiotic. Once the antibiotic is removed or degraded, Vibrio returns to its normal rod shape and continues to grow.

In people, this process of tolerance is seen when a doctor prescribes an antibiotic, typically doxycycline, to a patient infected with cholera. The antibiotic temporarily seems to stop the infection. But then the symptoms start back up again because the antibiotics never fully cleared the bacteria in the first place.

The ability to revert back to normal and grow after the antibiotic is gone is the key to tolerant survival. Exposing Vibrio to an antibiotic for a long enough time would eventually kill it. But a standard course of antibiotics often isn’t long enough to get rid of all the bacteria even in their fragile state.

However, taking a medicine for a prolonged period can harm healthy bacteria and cells, causing further discomfort and illness. Additionally, misuse and extended exposure to antibiotics can increase the chances of other bacteria residing in the body becoming resistant.

Other Bacteria Developing Tolerance

Vibrio isn’t the only species to exhibit tolerance. In fact, researchers have recently identified many infectious bacteria that have developed tolerance. A bacteria family called Enterobacteriaceae, which include major food-borne disease pathogens Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli, are just a few of the many types of bacteria that are capable of antibiotic tolerance.

As every bacterium is unique, the way one develops tolerance seems to be as well. Some bacteria, like Vibrio, erase their cell walls. Others can alter their energy sources, increase their ability to move or simply pump out the antibiotic.

I recently found that a bacterium’s metabolism, or the way it breaks down “food” to make energy, may play a significant role in its ability to become tolerant. Different structures within a bacterium, including its outer wall, are made of specific building blocks like proteins. Stopping the bacterium’s ability to craft these pieces weakens its wall, making it more likely to take damage from the outside environment before it can take the wall down.

Tolerance and Resistance are Connected

Although there has been considerable research on how bacteria develop tolerance, a key piece of the puzzle that has been neglected is how tolerance leads to resistance.

In 2016, researchers discovered how to make bacteria tolerant in the laboratory. After repeated exposure to different antibiotics, E. coli cells were able to adapt and survive. DNA, the genetic material containing instructions for cell function, is a fragile molecule. When DNA is damaged rapidly by stress, such as antibiotic exposure, the cell’s repair mechanisms tend to mess up and cause mutations that can create resistance and tolerance. Because E. coli is similar to many different types of bacteria, these researchers’ findings revealed that, ironically, essentially any bacteria can develop tolerance if pushed to their limits by the antibiotics meant to kill them.

Another recent key discovery was that the longer bacteria remain tolerant, the more likely they are to develop mutations leading to resistance. Tolerance allows bacteria to develop a resistance mutation that reduces their chances of being killed during antibiotic treatment. This is especially relevant to bacterial communities often seen in biofilms that tend to coat high-touch surfaces in hospitals. Biofilms are slimy layers of bacteria that ooze a protective jelly that makes antibiotic treatment difficult and DNA sharing between microbes easy. They can induce bacteria to evolve resistance. These conditions are thought to mimic what could be happening during antibiotic-treated infections, in which many bacteria are living next to one another and sharing DNA.

Researchers are calling for more research into antibiotic tolerance with the hope that it will lead to more robust treatments in both infectious diseases and cancers. And there is reason to be hopeful. In one promising development, a mouse study found that decreasing tolerance also reduced resistance.

Meanwhile, there are steps everyone can take to aid in the battle against antibiotic tolerance and resistance. You can do this by taking an antibiotic exactly as prescribed by a doctor and finishing the entire bottle. Brief, inconsistent exposure to a medicine primes bacteria to become tolerant and eventually resistant. Smarter use of antibiotics by everyone can stop the evolution of tolerant bacteria.

What the Marijuana Bill Aims to Resolve

Posted on April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Will Marijuana Stocks Regain Energy if this Federal Bill Passes?

Federal legalization concerning medical and recreational marijuana would go a long way to light up the companies that now operate legally under state laws. A group of bipartisan lawmakers in Washington refiled a bill last week to regain momentum toward national cannabis legalization. The incremental reform would direct the attorney general to create a commission for the purpose of making recommendations on a regulatory system for cannabis modelled from alcohol laws and oversight.

On April 13, the PREPARE Act (Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act) was presented by Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The bill sponsored by this senior House Democrat along with a Republican lawmaker is intended to lay the groundwork for federal marijuana legislation.

“With nearly every state adopting its own set of cannabis reforms, an end to federal cannabis prohibition is inevitable,” Joyce, co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said in a press release.

“Now is the time for the federal government to respect the will of our constituents and begin the conversation on fair and effective cannabis regulation,” he said. “The PREPARE Act will give lawmakers a bipartisan platform to legislate not only a fair and responsible end to prohibition but also a safer future for our communities.”

The prospects of comprehensive marijuana legalization advancing in the Republican-controlled House this session will not be without heated debate, but certain members have expressed confidence that modest reform could be achievable on a bipartisan basis. The PREPARE Act could represent an area of agreement.

“Americans across the political spectrum recognize that now is the time for cannabis reform, and the federal government should be ready to embrace and lead this change,” Jeffries said. “Since the failed war on drugs began over 50 years ago, the prohibition of marijuana has ruined lives, families and communities—particularly communities of color.”

“The PREPARE Act is one of the bipartisan solutions that will lay the groundwork to finally right these wrongs in a way that advances public safety and boosts our economy,” he said. “I am grateful to Congressman Joyce for reintroducing this important bill and his leadership to help the federal government be ready for the inevitable end to cannabis prohibition.”

While legalization was introduced last Congress, with Democrats in control of both chambers plus the White House, they did not advance on the Senate side, with leadership acknowledging the challenge of meeting a 60-vote threshold with a narrow majority.

Advocates of fewer restrictions on the federal level are also closely following developments on a package of incremental reforms that’s expected to contain marijuana banking and expungements legislation. Efforts to push that through last session similarly stalled out.

The PREPARE Act, meanwhile, is substantially identical to the version the same lawmakers filed last Congress, with just a few minor changes to the commission’s responsibilities and legislative appointments.

The Bill aims to provide for:

A “Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis” it requires that within 30 days of the bill’s enactment that this is established by the attorney general. The commission would be responsible for understanding federal and state regulatory models for alcohol making recommendations about how they could advise marijuana regulations.

One key thing the commission’s report must address is the impact of marijuana criminalization, particularly as it concerns minority, low-income and veteran communities.

The panel would also examine the “lack of consistent regulations for cannabis product safety, use and labeling requirements,” including those related to youth safety, as well as the “lack of guidance for cannabis crop production, sale, intrastate, interstate, and international trade. “

It would also be required to make recommendations on how to undo cannabis-related banking and research barriers and also address measures to ensure the “successful coexistence of individual hemp and cannabis industries, including prevention of cross pollination of cannabis and hemp products.”

The panel would be mandated to study and make recommendations on “efficient cannabis revenue reporting and collecting, including efficient and tenable federal revenue frameworks.”

The panel would be required to issue a report to Congress within 12 months.

As part of the bill’s directive to assess risk and safety standards, the bill was revised for the current Congress to make it so the commission would also have to look at “requirements to protect youth and reduce harms to youth.”

In the previous version, it was the responsibility of the House minority leader to choose a candidate who was “medically licensed with extensive expertise and demonstrated research into cannabis use and medical therapies.” Under the revised bill, the majority leader would be in charge of that.

The panel would also include representatives of:

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Justice

Department of Agriculture

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Interior

Department of Education

Department of Labor

Department of Commerce

National Institutes of Health

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Food and Drug Administration

Internal Revenue Service

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Small Business Administration

U.S. Trade Representative

Some of the appointments would be made by the congressional leaders, and others would be selected by the attorney general. The bill also contains a stipulation that, “if after the commission is appointed there is a partisan imbalance of commission members, the congressional leaders of the political party with fewer members on the commission shall jointly name additional members to create partisan parity on the commission.”

The panel must also include a person formerly incarcerated for a non-violent cannabis use or possession crime, a substance use disorder prevention expert, a representative from a trade organization or nonprofit representing highly regulated adult goods and consumer package goods and two people who have worked to develop state-level regulatory systems.

Attorney General Merrick Garland, for his part, has repeatedly said that he doesn’t feel that intervening in states that have legalized cannabis is an appropriate use of Justice Department resources.

He said last month that the federal government is “still working on a marijuana policy” amid an ongoing administrative review into cannabis scheduling that President Joe Biden directed late last year.

Take Away

While states continue to move forward and pass laws allowing both recreational and medical marijuana, federal laws prevent access to the banking system, US postal service, and make them potentially prosecutable under federal law.

The re-introduced bill aims to open the door for these businesses to operate more freely, while at the same time make amends for harsh punishments imposed on those convicted of marijuana use in the past.

Overall, federal legalization of cannabis would energize the medical and recreational marijuana industries in the US, providing greater access, reduced legal risks, increased investment, tax revenue, and research opportunities.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

https://joyce.house.gov/posts/joyce-jeffries-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-prepare-for-inevitable-end-to-federal-cannabis-prohibition

https://jeffries.house.gov/legislation/

Schwazze (SHWZ) – Expanding Into Colorado Medical

Posted on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Schwazze (OTCQX:SHWZ, NEO:SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.

Joe Gomes, Managing Director – Generalist Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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Acquisition. Piggybacking on a year’s worth of operating experience in the New Mexico medical cannabis market, Schwazze is expanding into the Colorado medical cannabis market with the acquisition of medical cannabis dispensary Standing Akimbo located in Denver. Standing Akimbo management will remain with Schwazze.

Transaction Details. Schwazze is paying $10.54 million for the acquisition, split into $1.0 million of cash, $5.54 million of SHWZ common stock, and $4.0 million of deferred cash payments. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023. This brings the number of Schwazze dispensaries in Colorado to 29, assuming all announced acquisitions close.

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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

MustGrow Biologics Corp. (MGROF) – A New Product

Posted on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Joe Gomes, Managing Director – Generalist Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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A New Product. Yesterday, MustGrow announced an additional area of sustainable agriculture opportunity that the Company is pursuing in the soil amendment and biofertility markets. These plant-based programs focus on soil and microbiome health, nutrient and water use efficiencies, and plant yields.

Introducing TerraSante. Utilizing multiple technologies derived from novel plant-based extracts from mustard and potentially other sources, TerraSante contains nutritious plant proteins and carbohydrates that feed soil microbes, potentially improving beneficial microbial activity and ensuring long-term sustainable soil health. MustGrow is initially pursuing TerraSante branded registrations in North America for soil amendment applications, followed by formulations and brands targeting the biofertility markets.

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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

MAIA Biotechnology (MAIA) – Publication Details Efficacy and Mechanism In HCC Models

Posted on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

MAIA is a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Our lead program is THIO, a potential first-in-class cancer telomere targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of NSCLC patients with telomerase-positive cancer cells. For more information, please visit www.maiabiotech.com.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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New Study Published In Peer-Reviewed Journal. MAIA Biotech announced that a new study testing THIO in models of liver cancer (HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma) has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The data shows efficacy and durability, with additional data on the mechanism of action for THIO treatment in HCC. We believe this provides strong support for mechanism of action and prospects for HCC in the Phase 2 THIO-102 trial, expected to begin later in 2023.

New Data Tested Monotherapy and Combinations. The study tested THIO with checkpoint inhibitors and anti-VEGF (anti-angiogenesis) drugs in advanced tumors. Data shows an anti-tumor response in HCC, detailing its activation of immune pathways and increases in immune cellular response. These results correlate with data seen in previous NSCLC studies.

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Largo Inc. (LGO) – Largo announces 2023-1Q production and sales

Posted on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Largo has a long and successful history as one of the world’s preferred vanadium companies through the supply of its VPURE™ and VPURE+™ products, which are sourced from one of the world’s highest-grade vanadium deposits at the Company’s Maracás Menchen Mine in Brazil. Aiming to enhance value creation at Largo, the Company is in the process of implementing a titanium dioxide pigment plant using feedstock sourced from its existing operations in addition to advancing its U.S.-based clean energy division with its VCHARGE vanadium batteries. Largo’s VCHARGE vanadium batteries contain a variety of innovations, enabling an efficient, safe and ESG-aligned long duration solution that is fully recyclable at the end of its 25+ year lifespan. Producing some of the world’s highest quality vanadium, Largo’s strategic business plan is based on two pillars: 1.) leading vanadium supplier with an outlined growth plan and 2.) U.S.-based energy storage business support a low carbon future.

Michael Heim, Senior Vice President – Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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Largo announced reduced production but increased sales. Largo announced 2023-1Q V2O5 production of 2,111 tonnes (23 tonnes/day) near the upper end of guidance, albeit slightly below that in used our models. The 14% decrease in production versus the same period last year come due to heavy rain in the early part of the quarter, planned maintenance, and the transition of a mining contractor. These factors were known and reflected in our estimates. Production levels also reflect a decline in effective grade to 0.81% from 1.27% as less vanadium was produced despite a 13% increase in mined ore.

Sales rose despite lower production as the company sold inventory and purchased material. V2O5 equivalent sales were 2,849 tonnes in the quarter, up 28% over last year sales of 2,232 tonnes and well above guidance of 2,300-2,500 tonnes and our projections that assumed sales near production levels. Sales include 245 tonnes of purchased material versus only 79 tonnes last year.

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Tokens.com Corp. (SMURF) – Step Towards Full Ownership of Metaverse Group

Posted on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by cpereira@noblefcm.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Tokens.com Corp is a publicly traded company that invests in Web3 assets and businesses focused on the Metaverse, NFTs, DeFi, and gaming based digital assets. Tokens.com is the majority owner of Metaverse Group, one of the world’s first virtual real estate companies. Hulk Labs, a wholly-owned Tokens.com subsidiary, focuses on investing in play-to-earn revenue generating gaming tokens and NFTs. Additionally, Tokens.com owns and stakes crypto assets to earn additional tokens. Through its growing digital assets and NFTs, Tokens.com provides public market investors with a simple and secure way to gain exposure to Web3.

Joe Gomes, Managing Director – Generalist Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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An Offer. Yesterday, Tokens.com announced an agreement with the Board of Directors of Metaverse Group to acquire all issued and outstanding shares that Tokens.com does not already own. Currently, the Company owns roughly 55.2% of Metaverse Group, or 50.2% on a diluted basis, and Tokens.com will issue 24.38 million common shares for the acquisition, if approved, equal to approximately USD$3.5 million as of yesterday’s closing price.

The Offer Continued. Each minority Metaverse Group shareholder will receive approximately 0.34 Tokens.com shares per Metaverse Group share. The offer is pending approval of Metaverse Group shareholders and a meeting will take place on April 26th, 2023, as well as approval by the NEO Exchange, and is expected to close in May 2023. We expect the offer will be approved by the shareholders and the exchange.

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