QuoteMedia is a leading software developer and cloud-based syndicator of financial market information and streaming financial data solutions to media, corporations, online brokerages, and financial services companies. The Company licenses interactive stock research tools such as streaming real-time quotes, market research, news, charting, option chains, filings, corporate financials, insider reports, market indices, portfolio management systems, and data feeds. QuoteMedia provides industry leading market data solutions and financial services for companies such as the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, TMX Group (TSX Stock Exchange), Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), London Stock Exchange Group, FIS, U.S. Bank, Broadridge Financial Systems, JPMorgan Chase, CI Financial, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Hilltop Securities, HD Vest, Stockhouse, Zacks Investment Research, General Electric, Boeing, Bombardier, Telus International, Business Wire, PR Newswire, FolioFN, Regal Securities, ChoiceTrade, Cetera Financial Group, Dynamic Trend, Inc., Qtrade Financial, CNW Group, IA Private Wealth, Ally Invest, Inc., Suncor, Virtual Brokers, Leede Jones Gable, Firstrade Securities, Charles Schwab, First Financial, Cirano, Equisolve, Stock-Trak, Mergent, Cision, Day Trade Dash and others. Quotestream®, QModTM and Quotestream ConnectTM are trademarks of QuoteMedia. For more information, please visit www.quotemedia.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Mixed Q2 results. The second quarter results were mixed, with revenues lighter than expected and adj. EBITDA largely in line. Revenues were adversely affected by exchange rates but, after that adjustment, were still a little light. Total company revenues increased 9.6% to $4.7 million versus our $4.95 million estimate. Adj. EBITDA was $808,000 versus our $850,000 estimate.
Tempered revenue outlook. Management anticipates that revenue growth in the back half of the year will look similar to the growth rate in Q2. In addition to the exchange rate, revenues are expected to be adversely impacted by customers switching to cheaper exchange feed alternatives. This portion of its business carries a very low margin and, as such, adj. EBITDA is not significantly impacted.
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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.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
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Increased Demand for Kefir. Lifeway experienced continued momentum in its kefir products, as the Company had its 15th consecutive quarter of topline growth. Higher volumes of the drinkable kefir along with higher prices continued to benefit Lifeway’s sales, while more favorable milk pricing allowed the Company to generate better gross margin, which improved 1,170 basis points over the previous year.
Great 2Q Results. Lifeway reported sales of $39.2 million, above last year’s $33.5 million and our projection of $37.5 million. Gross margin was 28.7% versus 17.0% in the prior year. Net income for Lifeway was $3.16 million, or diluted EPS of $0.21, compared to $0.12 million, or $0.01, last year. We projected net income of $0.97 million, or EPS of $0.06.
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InPlay Oil is a junior oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in Alberta focused on light oil production. The company operates long-lived, low-decline properties with drilling development and enhanced oil recovery potential as well as undeveloped lands with exploration possibilities. The common shares of InPlay trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol IPO and the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol IPOOF.
Michael Heim, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Energy & Transportation, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
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A combination of negative events led to a 7.6% year over year and 6.1% quarter over quarter decline in production. Management estimates that the events reduced production by 1,350 boe/day. The decline was larger than expected and led to management taking down 2023 production guidance to 9,100-9,500 boe/day from 9,500-10,000 boe/day. The production decline is unfortunate but should be viewed as temporary.
New wells coming on should boost production. Six wells have recently, or are about to, come on line. Initial well production is impressive. In addition, six new wells are planned for the rest of 2023. Management believes processing constraints should ease in the third quarter. Higher production, combined with easing processing constraints should help boost cash flow and earnings.
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The Majority of Fed Policymakers are Still Concerned About Inflation
The minutes of the July 25-26 FOMC meeting were released and showed ongoing concerns about U.S. inflation are still front and center on the minds of most policymakers. During the July meeting, Federal Reserve officials were still focused on rising prices expressing that more rate hikes could be necessary unless conditions change. The July meeting had resulted in a quarter percentage point rate hike; the minutes are being looked at by market participants to get a sense of the Fed’s next steps.
While the Fed says it is data dependent, so a surprisingly weak economic report or lower-than-expected inflation statistics could change the Fed’s hawkish stance at the next meeting, if economic conditions remain unchanged or get stronger, the Fed is likely to keep applying the economic brakes by raising rates.
“With inflation still well above the Committee’s longer-run goal and the labor market remaining tight, most participants continued to see significant upside risks to inflation, which could require further tightening of monetary policy,” the meeting summary stated.
The increase in the Fed Funds rate after the last meeting brought the key interest rate to its highest level in 22 years, 5.25%-5%.
The Fed has held for more than 18 months that they are targeting a 2% inflation rate. During that time, key inflation indicators have been as high as 9%. Depending on the measure used, inflation at the last read was between 3% and 4%.
“In discussing the policy outlook, participants continued to judge that it was critical that the stance of monetary policy be sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to the Committee’s 2% objective over time,” according to the Fed’s recent release.
The Fed always risks overdoing it during a tightening policy period. So, while members agreed inflation is “unacceptably high,” there were indications “that a number of tentative signs that inflation pressures could be abating.”
As written in the release, “Almost all” the meeting participants, which includes nonvoting members, were in favor of the July rate increase. However, a couple of members opposed and suggested the Committee could skip a hike to monitor how previous hikes play out in inflation indicators. Navigating economic activity and price levels is not a precise science, and there is a lag between actions and impact.
“Participants generally noted a high degree of uncertainty regarding the cumulative effects on the economy of past monetary policy tightening,” the minutes said.
The minutes did indicate that the economy was expected to slow and unemployment likely will rise somewhat. Of note is a retraction in an earlier forecast that troubles in the banking industry could lead to a mild recession this year. A number of smaller banks found themselves challenged and even requiring government assistance in March.
The minutes indicated that the policymakers are also watching the health of the commercial real estate (CRE) market as they raise rates. Specifically cited were “risks associated with a potential sharp decline in CRE valuations that could adversely affect some banks and other financial institutions, such as insurance companies, that are heavily exposed to CRE. Several participants noted the susceptibility of some nonbank financial institutions” such as money market funds and the like.
Looking Forward
Federal Open Market Committee members emphasized the two-sided risks of easing too quickly and risking higher inflation against tightening too much and sending the economy into contraction. The most current data shows that while inflation is still 50% or more from the central bank’s 2% target, it has made marked progress since peaking above 9% in June 2022. Examples are the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ran at a 3.2% annual rate through July. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index core was at 4.6%.
In their consideration of appropriate monetary policy actions at this meeting, participants concurred that economic activity had been expanding at a moderate pace. The labor market remained very tight, with robust job gains in recent months and the unemployment rate still low, but there were continuing signs that supply and demand in the labor market were coming into better balance. Participants also noted that tighter credit conditions facing households and businesses were a source of headwinds for the economy and would likely weigh on economic activity, hiring, and inflation. However, the extent of these effects remained uncertain. Although inflation had moderated since the middle of last year, it remained well above the Committee’s longer-run goal of 2%, and participants remained resolute in their commitment to bring inflation down to the Committee’s 2% objective.
Take Away
While the Fed will react to incoming data when they decide at the September 19-20 FOMC meeting, the minutes from the July meeting suggest that if there is little change in economic activity, the majority of members are apt to vote to hike rates once more.
Image: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023.
China’s Economic slowdown is a “Risk Factor” for US, Says Treasury Secretary Yellen
A month after returning from her visit to China, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen opened up about the interplay between the two countries’ economies, the risks the Chinese slowdown has on the U.S., and a side trip she took courtesy of ingesting magic mushrooms. Addressing growing concerns over the economic downturn in the world’s second-largest economy, and possible spillover effects to the U.S., the Treasurer was optimistic about her country’s path.
China and U.S.
Amidst the growing concerns surrounding China’s economic prospects, including a 5% devaluation of the yuan, and across-the-board weakening economic indicators, China now has the worst-performing currency in Asia after the yen.
Treasury Secretary Yellen, speaking in Las Vegas, seemed to be undoing some of the recent strong talk from U.S. President Biden at a fundraiser on August 11. Biden referred to China’s economic issues as a “ticking time bomb” and referred to Communist Party leaders as “bad folks.” The U.S. President expressed concerns about China’s slowed growth and elevated unemployment rate. She was speaking at a press conference following a speech in Las Vegas. Yellen referred to China’s economic woes as a “risk factor” for the US, a risk that she believes won’t significantly undermine the overall prospects of the American economy.
As Yellen touted the economic policy achievements of the Biden administration, she highlighted the resilient state of the US economy.
Risks to U.S.
In classic economist style, Yellen hedged her “low risk” comments by suggesting there is a possibility that while China’s slowdown will primarily impact its neighboring Asian nations, there will inevitably be some repercussions for the United States.
Yellen strongly emphasized uncertainty, “That said, I feel very good about US prospects overall. Let’s call that a risk, she said, signalling her measured optimism amidst the uncertainties linked to China’s economic trajectory. Yellen underscored the unexpectedly robust state of the U.S. labor market despite the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate-hiking campaign – one of the most vigorous tightening efforts in decades.
Janet Yellen spoke on CNN about her meal in China
Psychedelic Side Trip?
While in Beijing, Yellen made a bit of a stir both in China and in her home country for having been seen easting a psychedelic mushroom-based dish called Jian shou qing, or “see hand blue”, a fungi dish known for being hallucinogenic.
Yellen spoke about her experiences on CNN. She recognized the humor of the episode but said that the cooked food had no side effects.
Take Away
The U.S. economy is likely to be impacted by trade with the world’s second-largest economy. According to the U.S. Treasury Secretary, weakness in China will be somewhat contagious. She remains cautious but optimistic that the robust state of growth and employment in the U.S will serve to minimize negative effects.
Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Q2 results. The company reported Q2 revenue of $9.9 million and adj. EBITDA of a loss of $4.7 million, both of which were below our forecast. We anticipated $22.5 million in revenue and positive adj. EBITDA of $4.0 million. In our view, the miss was largely a result of the timing of the company’s releases.
Looking ahead to Q4. Despite the negative adj. EBITDA in the quarter, the company remains on track to release ARK: Survival Ascended in October of this year. Survival Ascended is a re-release of the company’s flagship game with several updates, powered by Unreal Engine 5. The company is also slated to re-release all 5 ARK DLCs using Unreal Engine 5, subsequent to the release of ARK: Survival Ascended.
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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).
*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.
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.
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.
PDS Reports 2Q23. PDS reported a 2Q23 loss of $11.5 million or $(0.37) per share and ended the quarter with $60.6 million in cash. Importantly, PDS completed the filing of its final clinical trial design required for the Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 trial testing PDS0101 in head and neck cancer, a milestone that should allow the start of the trial before YE2023.
The Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 Trial On Track To Start In 2023. PDS completed the FDA filing for the final protocols for the Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 trial, meeting the expected milestone. This filing includes the study design and manufacturing data (CMC section) that should allow the trial to begin before year-end. The trial will test the combination of PDS0101 with Keytruda (pembrolizumab, from Merck) against Keytruda alone in patients with HPV16+ head and neck cancer.
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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).
*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.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States. In addition, Great Lakes is fully engaged in expanding its core business into the rapidly developing offshore wind energy industry. The Company has a long history of performing significant international projects. The Company employs experienced civil, ocean and mechanical engineering staff in its estimating, production and project management functions. In its over 131-year history, the Company has never failed to complete a marine project. Great Lakes owns and operates the largest and most diverse fleet in the U.S. dredging industry, comprised of approximately 200 specialized vessels. Great Lakes has a disciplined training program for engineers that ensures experienced-based performance as they advance through Company operations. The Company’s Incident-and Injury-Free® (IIF®) safety management program is integrated into all aspects of the Company’s culture. The Company’s commitment to the IIF® culture promotes a work environment where employee safety is paramount.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
New Awards. Friday and then on Monday, Great Lakes was awarded two new contracts worth a combined $49.2 million, according to the Department of Defense daily contract award notification. Combined with two end of July awards worth $36.7 million, Great Lakes has received some $86 million of new business in the last couple of weeks. We remain optimistic the awards pace will speed up, at least through the Federal government’s fiscal 2023 year-end.
Award 1. Great Lakes was awarded a $22.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for dredging in the Mississippi River. Work will be performed in Plaquemines, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of December 17, 2023. Fiscal 2023 civil operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $22.1 million were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
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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.
Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.
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.
New Trials Expected To Begin In 2H23. Cocrystal reported a 2Q23 loss of $4.2 million or $(0.41) per share, ending the quarter with about $32.4 million in cash. During the quarter, the company selected its protease inhibitor CDI-988 for testing against norovirus. A clinical trial was previously planned to test CD1-988 against SARS-CoV-19, the virus that causes COVID-19. The company has received clearance to begin clinical testing for both indications in Australia. The Phase 2a clinical trial in influenza A is also expected to begin in 2H23.
CDI-988 Moves To Clinical Trials. CDI-988 is a novel 3CL protease inhibitor that targets an enzyme needed in the early steps of viral reproduction. It has been in development against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Earlier this month, CDI-988 was also selected as the lead molecule to be tested against norovirus. A Phase 1 trial has been designed to test safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in both indications. The trial will be conducted in Australia, where clinical testing was approved in May 2023. First data from the trial is expected in 2024.
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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.
Blackboxstocks, Inc. is a financial technology and social media hybrid platform offering real-time proprietary analytics and news for stock and options traders of all levels. Our web-based software employs “predictive technology” enhanced by artificial intelligence to find volatility and unusual market activity that may result in the rapid change in the price of a stock or option. Blackbox continuously scans the NASDAQ, New York Stock Exchange, CBOE, and all other options markets, analyzing over 10,000 stocks and up to 1,500,000 options contracts multiple times per second. We provide our users with a fully interactive social media platform that is integrated into our dashboard, enabling our users to exchange information and ideas quickly and efficiently through a common network. We recently introduced a live audio/video feature that allows our members to broadcast on their own channels to share trade strategies and market insight within the Blackbox community. Blackbox is a SaaS company with a growing base of users that spans 42 countries; current subscription fees are $99.97 per month or $959.00 annually. For more information, go to: www.blackboxstocks.com .
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
2Q23. Revenue was $737,398, down from $1.4 million a year ago. Average monthly revenue per subscriber declined to $64.27 from $75.21 due to a higher level of promotional members during 2Q23. Blackboxstocks reported a net loss of $1.4 million for the quarter, or a loss of $0.45 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.3 million, or a loss of $0.40 per share in 2Q22. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $1.0 million, similar to the adjusted EBITDA loss in the year ago quarter.
Subscriber Counts. The average member count for the second quarter of 2023 was 3,937 compared to 5,482 for the second quarter of 2022 and 3,555 for the first quarter of 2023. The sequential stabilization of the member count reflects lower churn, while changes to marketing are expected to have a positive impact on the growth trajectory going forward.
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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).
*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.
GDPNow from the Atlanta Federal Reserve Has a Surprising Forecast
If good news is bad, The Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow report is horrible – that’s how good it is. GDPNow is a model for estimating Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Created and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, it has been fairly accurate in recent years. An estimate of third-quarter US GDP released on August 15th forecasts that growth is increasing dramatically – inflation is also shown to inch up in the forecast.
The Indicator
GDPNow uses recently published economic data to update a model to estimate GDP, a statistic that is reported with a significant lag to the input data.The output, or forecast, is an aggregation of other current economic indicators within the quarter. The data is entered into the mathematical model to calculate a GDP estimate at that specific point in time. There are still 45 days left in the third quarter, but up until now, this is what it calculated the growth to have been. As time passes and more reports are issued, more economic indicators are fed into the model. These reports come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Census Bureau, the Institute for Supply Management, and the US Department of the Treasury. The accumulated data contributes to the historical accuracy of GDPNow’s calculations in relation to the GDP reports that the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) releases.
The Current Forecast
The GDPNow model’s latest estimates show the real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the third quarter of 2023 is 5.0 percent on August 15, up from 4.1 percent where the estimate stood on August 8. Included in the model are recent releases from the US Census Bureau, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the US Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
The model also provides other forecasts, from statistics, that will present themselves during the quarter and be finalized after the quarter ends. This includes third-quarter real Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE). Remember that PCE is the Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge. The PCE inflation forecast, by this model, has been near accurate. It’s latest forecast is for it to rise to 4.4% annualized.
Take Away
There are a lot of mixed signals in the market recently, savings is down, consumer borrowing is up, interest rates out on the yield curve have finally moved up, and there are some fund managers that are extremely bearish, while bullishness is on the rise on the prospect of a soft or undetectable economic landing in the US.
The GDPNow snapshot of where a mathematical model shows where we may be now has no human intervention. It is created by a model without the kinds of bias that could cause a human to overweigh one factor over another. The most recent report shows tremendous growth and an uptick in inflation. In today’s financial marketplace, where the markets still sell-off on good economic news and rally on bad, it’s uncertain what this means for the markets. But it is important for investors to understand that others view this and weigh it in their own expectations.
Ark Invest Warns of a Deflationary Ripple that Could Spread Around the Globe
Pricing, whether it be of the stock market, private placements, or other alternative investments is impacted by investor demand, and demand is the result of differing views. Cathie Wood, the Ark Investment Management CEO, has held the view that the U.S. and global economies are close to a deflationary spiral. She pointed to more evidence this week, and sounded the alarm for the potential dire consequences of the Federal Reserve’s ongoing rate tightening measures. According to Wood, deflation tied to China and actions by the U.S. central bank could set off a chain reaction of deflation-induced economic slowdowns, not just within the United States but across international markets.
Ms. Wood, the 67-year-old market veteran, who falls in the category of celebrity investor, has many fans and followers. She shared her concerns in a string of posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Wood stated, “China is exporting deflation in a more profound way than I believe many economists and strategists appreciate.”
She explained that producer prices in China, the world’s second largest economy, were impacted by the U.S. dollar strengthening by 15% against the Chinese yuan, despite the devaluation adding around 15% to Chinese PPI, the Chinese reported a decline in the PPI inflation measure by 4%.
Wood expressed China is exporting deflation. She posted that, under normal circumstances, the 15% depreciation of the yuan against the dollar in 2022 should have led to a 15% increase in China’s annual producer inflation rate. Since it instead dropped 4%, In her math, this is creating near a 20% downdraft on prices of Chinese goods.
Turning her focus to China’s economic trajectory, Wood recounted the country’s impressive growth following its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. Over nearly two decades, China’s real GDP experienced a sustained double-digit expansion. However, Wood pointed out that rapid growth often conceals underlying economic vulnerabilities, including excessive debt and leverage. Her firm believes these vulnerabilities are now creating cracks in China’s economy.
Wood suggested that China might attempt to halt the depreciation of the yuan. However, this would necessitate selling off U.S. dollars and acquiring yuan, which, in turn, tightens monetary policy and fuels the economy’s fragility, even amid efforts to stimulate it.
Ark Invest’s CEO posted, “The Fed has precipitated and exacerbated the risk of a global deflationary bust.” Drawing attention to the central bank’s remarkable 22-fold increase in the Fed funds rate, Wood warned that the repercussions of this move would first impact China and subsequently ripple through the rest of the world.
Recent economic data from China underscores the challenges it currently faces. Second-quarter GDP growth came in at 6.3%, falling short of the 7.3% projection by economists. Furthermore, new bank loans for July plummeted by 89% month-over-month, marking the lowest level since 2009, according to data from the People’s Bank of China.
The deflationary trend is evident in inflation figures as well. July inflation data showed both consumer and producer price inflation rates in negative territory.
Adding to the concerns, a trio of data released from the China National Bureau of Statistics revealed lackluster performance. Retail sales rose by a modest 2.5% year-over-year in July, well below the anticipated 4.5% increase. Industrial Production also lagged, with a 3.7% rise compared to the consensus estimate of 4.4%. Moreover, fixed asset investment figures raised further questions about the country’s economic health.
Take Away
There are certainly competing inflation forecasts opposing those coming out of Cathie Wood’s firm. However, her warnings do serve as a reminder, from a veteran in the asset management business, of the interconnectedness of global economies and the potential ramifications of central bank policy decisions. As markets continue to navigate the crosscurrents, attention remains on policymakers and economic indicators for signs of any change in trends.
On track to begin a Phase 2a trial in the second half of 2023with CC-42344 for the treatment ofpandemic and seasonal influenza A
Selected the novel protease inhibitor CDI-988 as development lead inthe oral norovirus program
CDI-988, the first potential dual coronavirus-norovirus oral antiviral, was cleared by the Australian regulatory agency for evaluation in healthy volunteers
BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP) (Cocrystal or the Company) reports financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, and provides updates on its antiviral pipeline, upcoming milestones and business activities.
“This is an eventful time for Cocrystal with notable advancements in developing our pipeline of highly promising antivirals,” said Sam Lee, Ph.D., President and co-CEO of Cocrystal. “With our novel oral PB2 inhibitor CC-42344 for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal influenza A, we are building on the favorable data from our Phase 1 trial with the submission of an application for UK MHRA (Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) approval to begin a Phase 2a human challenge trial later this year.
“In our COVID-19 program, we received approval from the Australian regulatory agency in late May to begin a first-in-human trial with our novel, broad-spectrum oral protease inhibitor CDI-988. Earlier this month we announced the selection of CDI-988 as our lead oral norovirus candidate. This Phase I study is designed to access the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CDI-988 for both our COVID-19 and our norovirus programs. We expect to report top-line data of CDI-988 Phase 1 study in 2024.”
“We have a number of significant near-term inflection points with our three leading antiviral programs including the commencement of multiple clinical trials,” said James Martin, CFO and co-CEO. “I’m pleased to report that under our cost-efficient business model, we believe our current cash position is sufficient to fund our planned operations for the next 12 months.”
Antiviral Product Pipeline Overview
We are developing therapeutics that inhibit the viral replication function of RNA viruses that cause acute and chronic diseases. Our drug discovery process focuses on the highly conserved regions of the viral enzymes and inhibitor-enzyme interactions at the atomic level. It differs from traditional, empirical medicinal chemistry approaches that often require iterative high-throughput compound screening and lengthy hit-to-lead processes. By designing and selecting antiviral drug candidates that interrupt the viral replication process and have specific binding characteristics, we seek to develop drugs that are effective against both the virus and mutants of the virus, and also have reduced off-target interactions that may cause undesirable clinical side effects.
Influenza Programs
Influenza is a severe respiratory illness caused by the influenza A or B virus that results in disease outbreaks mainly during the winter months. The global seasonal influenza market including diagnostics, treatments and vaccines is projected to reach up to $27.95 billion by 2029, according to Data Bridge Market Research.
Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza A
Our novel oral PB2 inhibitor CC-42344 has shown excellent antiviral activity against influenza A strains including pandemic and seasonal strains, as well as strains that are resistant to Tamiflu® and Xofluza®.
In March 2022 we initiated enrollment in a randomized, double-controlled, dose-escalating Phase 1 trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of orally administered CC-42344 in healthy adults.
In April 2022 we announced preliminary Phase 1 trial data demonstrating a favorable safety and PK profile in the first two cohorts in the single-ascending-dose portion of the study.
In July 2022 we reported PK results from the single-ascending-dose portion of the study that support once-daily dosing.
In December 2022 we reported favorable safety and tolerability results from the CC-42344 Phase 1 trial.
We entered into an agreement with a UK-based clinical research organization to conduct a Phase 2a human challenge study to evaluate safety, and viral and clinical measures of orally administered CC-42344 in influenza A-infected subjects.
We submitted an application to the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to conduct the Phase 2a human challenge study and, pending clearance, we expect to initiate the study in the second half of 2023.
Preclinical development is underway with an inhaled formulation of CC-42344 as a potential treatment and prophylaxis for influenza A. We expect to complete active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing in preparation for toxicity studies, and to begin the Phase 1 clinical trial in the first half of 2024.
Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza A/B Program
In January 2019 we entered into an Exclusive License and Research Collaboration Agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (Merck) to discover and develop certain proprietary influenza antiviral agents that are effective against both influenza A and B strains. This agreement includes milestone payments of up to $156 million plus royalties on sales of products discovered under the agreement.
In January 2021 we announced completion of all research obligations under the agreement, making Merck solely responsible for further preclinical and clinical development of these compounds.
In early 2023 Merck notified us of its intent to continue development of the proprietary compounds discovered under this agreement and of their filing on behalf of both companies of multiple U.S. and international patent applications associated with these compounds. Merck continues to be responsible for managing the patents.
COVID-19 and Other Coronavirus Programs
By targeting viral replication enzymes and protease, we believe it is possible to develop effective treatments for all diseases caused by coronaviruses including COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Our main SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors showed potent in vitro pan-viral activity against common human coronaviruses, rhinoviruses and respiratory enteroviruses that cause the common cold, as well as against noroviruses that can cause symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.
Oral Protease Inhibitor CDI-988
In August 2023 we announced the selection of CDI-988 as our lead candidate for development as a potential oral treatment for SARS-CoV-2. Designed and developed using our proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology, CDI-988 targets a highly conserved region in the active site of SARS-CoV-2 3CL (main) protease required for viral RNA replication.
CDI-988 exhibited superior in vitro potency against SARS-CoV-2 with activity maintained against variants of concern, and demonstrated a safety profile and PK properties that are supportive of once-daily dosing.
In May 2023 we announced approval of our application to the Australian regulatory agency for a planned randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers.
We believe the FDA’s guidance for further development of our antiviral candidate CDI-45205 (described below) assists us in designing a subsequent Phase 2 trial for CDI-988.
Intranasal/Pulmonary Protease Inhibitor CDI-45205
CDI-45205 is our novel SARS-CoV-2 3CL (main) protease inhibitor and was among the broad-spectrum viral protease inhibitors we obtained from Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) under an exclusive license agreement announced in April 2020. We believe the protease inhibitors obtained from KSURF have the ability to inhibit the inactive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase replication enzymes into an active form.
CDI-45205 and several analogs showed potent in vitro activity against the main SARS-CoV-2 variants, surpassing the activity observed with the original Wuhan strain of the virus.
CDI-45205 demonstrated good bioavailability in mouse and rat PK studies via intraperitoneal injection, and no cytotoxicity against a variety of human cell lines. CDI-45205 also demonstrated a strong synergistic effect with the FDA-approved COVID-19 medicine remdesivir.
In January 2022 we received guidance from the FDA regarding further preclinical and clinical development of CDI-45205, which provides a clearer pathway for future development.
An IND-enabling study is ongoing with CDI-45205.
Replication Inhibitors
We are using our proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology to discover replication inhibitors for orally administered therapeutic and prophylactic treatments for SARS-CoV-2. Replication inhibitors hold potential to work with protease inhibitors in combination therapy regimens.
Norovirus Program
In August 2023 we announced our selection of the novel broad-spectrum 3CL protease inhibitor CDI-988 as our lead potential oral treatment for norovirus. CDI-988 is approved for evaluation in a first-in-human trial in healthy volunteers in Australia, and that trial is expected to serve as the Phase 1 trial for both our norovirus and our coronavirus programs.
With no approved treatments or vaccines, norovirus represents a significant unmet medical need. It is a highly contagious infection and is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis, accounting for nearly one in five cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 685 million cases and an estimated 200,000 deaths are attributed to norovirus each year worldwide, with an estimated societal cost of $60 billion.
Hepatitis C Program
We are seeking a partner to advance development of CC-31244 following the successful completion of a Phase 2a trial. This compound has shown favorable safety and preliminary efficacy in a triple-regimen Phase 2a trial in combination with Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for the ultra-short duration treatment of individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
HCV is a viral infection of the liver that causes both acute and chronic infection. The World Health Organization estimated that 58 million people worldwide had chronic HCV infection in 2019.
Corporate Updates
In April we announced the appointment of Fred Hassan to our Board of Directors. Mr. Hassan’s distinguished 40-year career includes serving in senior executive and director positions at global pharmaceutical companies and leading investment firms. He currently is Chairman of the investment firm Caret Group and a Director of Warburg Pincus LLC, a global private equity firm.
In April we completed a $4.0 million private placement offering of common stock with Mr. Hassan and Phillip Frost, M.D., a Company co-founder and director, who currently is Chairman and CEO of OPKO Health.
Second QuarterFinancial Results
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2023 were $2.8 million, compared with $2.4 million for the second quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to preparations for a Phase 2a clinical trial with CC-42344 for pandemic and seasonal influenza A, and preparations for advancing CDI-988’s COVID-19 and norovirus programs toward a Phase 1 clinical trial.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2023 were $1.5 million, compared with $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2022, with the increase primarily due to professional fees and general corporate cost increases.
The net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was $4.2 million, or $0.41 per share, compared with the net loss for the second quarter of 2022 of $24.4 million, or $3.00 per share. The second quarter of 2022 included a legal settlement of $1.6 million, which was returned to the Company in the third quarter of 2023 following a successful appeal of the trial court’s summary judgment ruling. In the second quarter of 2022, the Company also recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment of $19.1 million.
Six Month Financial Results
R&D expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $6.7 million, compared with $5.2 million for the first six months of 2022. G&A expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were unchanged at $2.7 million.
During the first six months of 2022, the Company recorded a $19.1 million non-cash goodwill impairment. There was no comparable impairment charge during the first six months of 2023.
The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $9.4 million, or $1.03 per share. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $28.6 million, or $3.48 per share, and reflected the litigation expense and non-cash impairment charge described above.
Cocrystal reported unrestricted cash as of June 30, 2023 of $32.4 million, compared with $37.1 million as of December 31, 2022. Net cash used in operating activities for the first six months of 2023 was $8.7 million. The Company had working capital of $34.1 million and 10.2 million common shares outstanding as of June 30, 2023. During the second quarter of 2023, the Company raised $4.0 million in a private placement offering of common stock that was priced “at-the-market” under Nasdaq Listing Rules.
About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.
Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), noroviruses and hepatitis C viruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our plans for the future development of preclinical and clinical drug candidates, our expectations regarding future characteristics of the product candidates we develop, the expected time of achieving certain value-driving milestones in our programs, including, preparation, commencement and advancement of clinical studies for certain product candidates in 2023 and beyond, the viability and efficacy of potential treatments for coronavirus and other diseases, expectations for the markets for certain therapeutics, our ability to execute our clinical and regulatory goals and deploy regulatory guidance towards future studies, the expected sufficiency of our cash balance to advance our programs and fund our planned operations, and our liquidity. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties arising from the risks arising from interest rate increases in response to inflation, uncertainty in the financial markets, the possibility of a recession and the Ukraine war on our Company, our collaboration partners, and on the U.S., U.K., Australia and global economies, including manufacturing and research delays arising from raw materials and labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and other business interruptions including any adverse impacts on our ability to obtain raw materials and test animals as well as similar problems with our vendors and our current and any future CROs and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), the ability of our CROs to recruit volunteers for, and to proceed with, clinical studies, our reliance on Merck for further development in the influenza A/B program under the license and collaboration agreement, our and our collaboration partners’ technology and software performing as expected, financial difficulties experienced by certain partners, the results of any current and future preclinical and clinical trials, general risks arising from clinical trials, receipt of regulatory approvals, regulatory changes, development of effective treatments and/or vaccines by competitors, including as part of the programs financed by the U.S. government, potential mutations in a virus we are targeting which may result in variants that are resistant to a product candidate we develop, and the outcome of the ongoing litigation with the insurance company. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net (including $72 and $99 respectively, to related party)
167
274
Total assets
$
35,419
$
40,840
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
1,421
$
976
Current maturities of finance lease liabilities
–
7
Current maturities of operating lease liabilities (including $62 and $59 respectively, to related party)
166
233
Total current liabilities
1,587
1,216
Long-term liabilities:
Operating lease liabilities (including $10 and $42 respectively, to related party)
10
57
Total liabilities
1,597
1,273
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022; 10,174 and 8,143 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022
10
8
Additional paid-in capital
341,957
337,489
Accumulated deficit
(308,145
)
(297,930
)
Total stockholders’ equity
33,822
39,567
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
35,419
$
40,840
COCRYSTAL PHARMA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Operating expenses:
Research and development
3,661
2,361
7,568
5,233
General and administrative
1,538
1,375
2,742
2,708
Legal settlement
–
1,600
–
1,600
Impairments
–
19,092
–
19,092
Total operating expenses
5,199
24,428
10,310
28,633
Loss from operations
(5,199
)
(24,428
)
(10,310
)
(28,633
)
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense), net
140
–
140
(1
)
Foreign exchange loss
33
(1
)
(45
)
(14
)
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
–
1
–
12
Total other expense, net
173
–
95
(3
)
Net loss
$
(5,026
)
$
(24,428
)
(10,215
)
(28,636
)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted
$
(0.50
)
$
(3.00
)
(1.12
)
(3.48
)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
