Stockwinners Market Radar for October 11, 2019 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

18:26 EDT Wendy's CEO: We are really focused on the long term - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Wendy's CEO Todd Penegor said: We have a breakfast menu that can compete... We have a three-person labor model for breakfast... We need to hire 20,000 people... At the end of the day, it's all about taste... We are comfortable making fun of ourselves and also calling out the competition... We continue to work on speed and delivery... Delivery continues to be a great growth engine for us... We plan to expand into Europe during the next 12-18 months... We are currently exploring meat alternatives.

18:08 EDT White House releases letter from China's Xi to President Trump - The White House posted on its official website a translation of a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to U.S. Donald Trump. In the letter, Jinping told Trump he attaches "great importance" to the president's concerns on agricultural products, saying it is "important" that both sides address each other's concerns over agricultural products "properly" and make "positive headway" in other trade areas as well. "A healthy and steady China-US relationship serves the interest of our two countries and the world at large," the letter reads. "I hope the two sides will act in the principle and direction you and I have agreed to, and work to advance China-US relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability. Let us work together to manage differences on the basis of mutual respect and expand cooperation for mutual benefit, so as to bring our relations forward along the right track." Reference Link

17:10 EDT AMC Entertainment appoints Sean Goodman CFO - AMC Entertainment (AMC) announced the hiring of Sean Goodman, currently CFO of Asbury Automotive Group (ABG), who will commence working with AMC as executive VP - Finance on December 2. Current AMC CFO Craig Ramsey will retire on February 28, 2020, in a long-envisioned move. During the overlap, the two executives will work closely together, and Goodman will assume the CFO title upon Ramsey's retirement.

16:51 EDT Asbury Automotive CFO Sean Goodman to depart - Asbury Automotive Group announced that Sean Goodman provided notice of his intention to resign from the position of senior VP and CFO effective November 15, to accept the position of CFO of another publicly-traded company outside of the auto retail industry. The company also announced that William Stax, VP, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the company, was appointed interim Principal Financial Officer effective November 16, while the company conducts a search for a new Chief Financial Officer.

16:09 EDT Fox News' Shepard Smith to step down as Chief News Anchor - Fox News Channel's Shepard Smith will step down from his role as Chief News Anchor and Managing Editor of the network's breaking news unit and Anchor of Shepard Smith Reporting, announced Fox News Media. This afternoon's edition of Shepard Smith Reporting was Smith's final show, during which he addressed his decision. A series of rotating anchors will host the 3PM/ET time slot until a new dayside news program is announced.

16:07 EDT Four Corners Property Trust acquires Krystal restaurant property for $1.4M - Four Corners Property Trust announced the acquisition of a corporate-operated Krystal restaurant property for $1.4M via a sale and leaseback transaction. The property is located in Alabama and is occupied under a triple-net lease with a fifteen-year term. The transaction is the third of a three-property transaction and was priced at a capitalization rate consistent with previous acquisitions of similar restaurants.

15:49 EDT Eli Lilly announces FDA approval of REYVOW - Eli Lilly and Company announced that the U.S. FDA has approved REYVOW, an oral medication for the acute treatment of migraine, with or without aura, in adults. REYVOW has a unique mechanism of action and is the first and only FDA-approved medicine in a new class of acute treatment for migraine.

14:53 EDT Akorn subsidiary granted approval for ANDA for betamethasone dipropionate - Akorn subsidiary Hi-Tech Pharmacal was granted FDA approval for its abbreviated new drug application ANDA for betamethasone dipropionate on October 11, according to a post to the agency's website. Reference Link

14:01 EDT Cracker Barrel acquires Maple Street Biscuit Company for $36M in cash - Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced it has acquired Maple Street Biscuit Company in an all-cash transaction for $36M. Maple Street Biscuit Company was founded by Scott Moore and Gus Evans in Jacksonville, FL in 2012. It currently has 28 company-owned and five franchised fast casual locations across seven states. Maple Street Biscuit Company has targeted AUVs of $1M+ and targeted store-level EBITDA of 17%+ of net sales. The company plans to convert its Holler & Dash Biscuit House units into Maple Street Biscuit Company locations in the coming months. Scott Moore will remain CEO of Maple Street Biscuit Company and will report directly to Sandra B. Cochran, President and CEO of Cracker Barrel. "[Maple Street Biscuit Company] is a proven brand with attractive unit economics and strong growth potential, and it is positioned to become a leader in this category. The acquisition accelerates our penetration in this segment and provides growth for delivering shareholder value. I look forward to working with Scott and his team as we further grow this brand together," said Sandy Cochran.

13:31 EDT Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count up 1 to 856 rigs - Baker Hughes reports that the U.S. rig count is up 1 rig from last week to 856, with oil rigs up 2 to 712, gas rigs down 1 to 143, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. The U.S. Rig Count is down 207 rigs from last year's count of 1,063, with oil rigs down 157, gas rigs down 50, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is unchanged at 24 and up 1 rig year-over-year. The Canada Rig Count is up 2 rigs from last week to 146, with oil rigs down 3 to 102 and gas rigs up 5 to 44. The Canada Rig Count is down 49 rigs from last year's count of 195, with oil rigs down 25 and gas rigs down 24.

13:04 EDT Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count up 1 to 856 rigs

12:03 EDT Elizabeth Warren says has 'a plan' to hold private equity firms 'accountable' - Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren tweeted: "Private equity firms are sucking value out of our companies, putting people out of work, and wiping out newspapers and digital news outlets like @Splinter_News. I have a plan to hold these firms accountable." Senator Warren's tweet linked to a story titled "The Working Person's Guide to the Industry That Might Kill Your Company". Publicly traded private equity companies include Blackstone (BX), KKR (KKR), Apollo Global (APO) and Carlyle Group (CG). Reference Link

12:00 EDT Small Cap Bear 3x falls -7.7% - Small Cap Bear 3x is down -7.7%, or -$3.88 to $46.44.

12:00 EDT Valaris rises 12.3% - Valaris is up 12.3%, or 56c to $5.08.

12:00 EDT Spirit MTA REIT rises 1619.0% - Spirit MTA REIT is up 1619.0%, or $8.10 to $8.60.

11:09 EDT Second 'Hearthstone' broadcaster quits Grandmasters after Blizzard bans player - Nathan "Admirable" Zamora, a broadcaster of Blizzard's "Hearthstone" esports events, said he will not be part of the broadcast team for the game for the remainder of this Grandmasters season, for the Masters Tour in Bucharest, or for Blizzcon. Zamora said he made his decision in light of recent events regarding pro player "Blitzchung," who received several penalties from Blizzard for voicing support for Hong Kong protestors during an official stream. "Blitzchung's actions to support Hong Kong speak to me far more than I could have imagined," Zamora said in a statement posted to Twitter. "It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in, and to make sacrifices in the process. His actions are inspiring to me, and I support him wholeheartedly." The move comes after Brian Kibler, another "Hearthstone" broadcaster, announced he would not participate in Grandmasters following Blizzard's one-year ban of Blitzchung. Reference Link

10:50 EDT Wendy's sees global restaurant growth of ~3% annually from 2020-2024 - Comment taken from Wendy's 2019 Investor Day slide presentation.

10:40 EDT Wendy's exploring 'alternative protein' burgers - In its Investor Day presentation slides, Wendy's said it was exploring 'alternative protein' menu items, noting that there was "high consumer appeal for black bean." The company said it was currently testing in market, and it could be launched next year if proven out. The company added that it was also exploring other forms of alternative protein.

10:29 EDT Cigna expands $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans to New Jersey - Cigna announced it will extend its Medicare Advantage plans to New Jersey. The new MA HMO plans have benefits such as $0 monthly premiums and no referrals required. Cigna's MA plans will first be available during Medicare's Annual Election Period, which begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7. These plans will be effective Jan. 1, 2020. Additionally, Cigna is offering its first MA PPO plans in the Philadelphia market while continuing to offer a full suite of HMO plans there that include traditional plans as well as plans tailored to people with diabetes or people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. "At Cigna, we are dedicated to providing our customers with a choice of Medicare Advantage health plans for every budget," said Tom Kowalczyk, Market President, Maryland and Pennsylvania area, Medicare Advantage. "We are pleased to expand our offerings to residents in New Jersey and to connect new customers with providers and services that promote their overall health and wellness, both body and mind."

10:00 EDT Borr Drilling rises 10.5% - Borr Drilling is up 10.5%, or 60c to $6.30.

10:00 EDT Spirit MTA REIT rises 1614.0% - Spirit MTA REIT is up 1614.0%, or $8.07 to $8.57.

09:47 EDT Small Cap Bear 3x falls -5.0% - Small Cap Bear 3x is down -5.0%, or -$2.50 to $47.82.

09:47 EDT Borr Drilling rises 9.4% - Borr Drilling is up 9.4%, or 54c to $6.24.

09:47 EDT Spirit MTA REIT rises 1610.0% - Spirit MTA REIT is up 1610.0%, or $8.05 to $8.55.

09:31 EDT AZZ Inc. says 'unable' to timely file quarterly report on Form 10-Q - In a regulatory filing, AZZ Inc said earlier that it is unable to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended August 31 without unreasonable effort and expense. The company's delay in filing the Form 10-Q is due to its need for additional time to finalize its income tax accounting for the quarter, which has been impeded by an ongoing analysis of certain historical deferred tax balances, it said in the filing. The company is working diligently and expeditiously towards completion of the review, it added.

09:24 EDT Clovis receives NICE recommendation for rucaparib access through CDF - Clovis announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE, has recommended that women with relapsed ovarian cancer in England have access to rucaparib through the Cancer Drugs Fund, or CDF. Rucaparib is available for use within the CDF as an option for the maintenance treatment of relapsed, platinum-sensitive high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer that has responded to platinum-based chemotherapy in adults, based on the conditions outlined in the managed access agreement. The European Union conditional marketing authorization is based on data from the pivotal Phase 3 ARIEL3 clinical trial. ARIEL3 successfully achieved its primary endpoint of extending investigator-assessed PFS versus placebo in all patients treated, population, regardless of BRCA status.

09:15 EDT Ferroglobe announces closing of $100M asset-based revolving credit facility - Ferroglobe announced the closing of a new, five-year $100M North American asset-based revolving credit facility between Globe Specialty Metals and QSIP Canada ULC, each a subsidiary of the Company, as borrowers and PNC Bank, National Association, as lender and agent. The ABL Revolver replaces the Company's revolving credit facility. At closing, the initial drawing under the ABL Revolver together with cash from Ferroglobe's balance sheet will be used to discharge in full the Company's obligations under the RCF, repurchase certain accounts receivable from the Company's accounts receivable securitization program and pay associated fees and expenses. Going forward, drawings under the ABL Revolver will be used to fund working capital needs of Globe and its subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes. At the current drawn amount, the ABL Revolver bears interest of L+3%, versus L+3.5% in the RCF. It also has a minimum liquidity requirement of $32.5M, compared to a $150M pledged cash requirement under the RCF prior to September 30, 2019. The maximum amount available under the ABL Revolver is subject to a borrowing base comprising North American inventory and accounts receivable of Globe and certain of its subsidiaries. Finally, it contains no leverage-based or financial ratio-based covenants. The credit agreement governing the ABL Revolver contains customary covenants, representations and warranties and events of default for financings of this type. The subsidiaries of the Company other than Globe and its subsidiaries will not be restricted under the negative covenants in the Credit Agreement.

09:04 EDT RedHill Biopharma reports results from MAP US Phase 3 study of RHB-104 - RedHill Biopharma announced full Week 52 results for all subjects in the previously announced Phase 3 randomized, controlled study of RHB-104 in Crohn's disease and supportive top-line results from the open-label extension Phase 3 study. The full Week 52 results of blinded treatment in the MAP US Phase 3 study with RHB-104 were consistent with the previously reported positive outcomes of the study. The study continued to meet its primary endpoint of clinical remission at week 26, key secondary endpoints of maintenance of remission at weeks 16 and 52 and, notably, durable clinical remission on all visits, week 16 through 52. In the analysis of the complete safety information for the study, a top-line electrocardiogram monitoring report for the MAP US study recently received and shared with FDA, demonstrated evidence of progressive prolongation of the QTcF interval across visits, with the largest placebo-correcteddQTcF of 30.6 ms at Week 52 of treatment with RHB-104. None of these QT abnormalities resulted in adverse cardiac events. Clofazimine, as well as clarithromycin, are known to be associated with QT prolongation. RedHill continues to analyze the data from the RHB-104 studies, including QT prolongation findings and various pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models and, as previously announced, intends to meet with the FDA again in the coming months to discuss the RHB-104 program, including these data. The MAP US2 open-label extension Phase 3 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of RHB-104 in subjects from the MAP US study with persistent active Crohn's disease after 26 weeks of blinded study therapy. A total of 54 subjects entered the open-label extension study and 30 subjects completed 52 weeks of treatment. Interim top-line results from the MAP US2 study demonstrated 27.8% clinical remission with RHB-104 at week 16 and 22.2% remission at week 521. Of the MAP US2 subjects who were previously randomized to the placebo arm in the MAP US study and treated with RHB-104 for the first time in the MAP US2 study, 31.6% achieved remission at week 16 and 26.3% achieved remission at week 52. These results further support the potential clinical benefit of treatment with RHB-104 in Crohn's disease patients. RHB-104 was found to be generally safe and well tolerated. The incidence of treatment emergent adverse events, serious adverse events and reported adverse events leading to discontinuation in the MAP US2 study were lower than in the active arm of the MAP US study/ Similar trends were observed in MAP US2 subjects who received concomitant anti-TNFs, consistent with the safety of treatment with RHB-104 in combination with anti-TNF agents. The top-line results and subsequent analyses were provided to RedHill by an independent third party following an independent analysis and remain subject to completion of the independent review and analysis of the underlying data, including all safety, secondary and other outcome measures, and completion of the Clinical Study Report.

09:02 EDT Fly Intel: Pre-market Movers - HIGHER: Synthesis Energy (SES), up 90% after an agreement whereby Australian Future Energy will merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of SES to become a wholly owned subsidiary of SES. SES currently holds approximately 35% of the issued capital of AFE. Upon closing and subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, SES will issue 3,875,000 new shares of SES common stock for the acquisition of AFE... SAP (SAP), up 8% after announcing Bill McDermott has decided not to renew his contract and is stepping down from his position as CEO. Executive board members Jennifer Morgan and Christian Klein have been appointed co-CEOs, effective immediately... UP AFTER EARNINGS: Fastenal (FAST), up 10%... Infosys (INFY), up 3%. LOWER: Crowdstrike (CRWD), down 3% after Goldman Sachs analyst Heather Bellini downgraded shares to Sell from Neutral with a price target of $66, down from $83. While CrowdStrike is very well positioned in the market for endpoint security, and can continue to post upside to estimates, a "blue sky analysis" suggests this is likely priced in at current share levels, Bellini tells investors... Canopy Growth (CGC), down 2% after Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett downgraded the stock to Underperform from Hold with a price target of $18.80. Despite the recent selloff in shares, Canopy is the most expensive name across the cannabis space, Bennett contends... Terex (TEX), down 2% after Barclays analyst Adam Seiden downgraded shares to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $20, down from $33. The analyst expects the rental equipment market to move from equilibrium to oversupplied by 2020.

08:55 EDT Kitov announces amended marketing, distribution agreement with Coeptis - Kitov Pharma announced the amendment of the marketing and distribution agreement with Coeptis Pharmaceuticals and provided an update on the upcoming launch of Consensi in the U.S: Marketing and distribution agreement with Coeptis Pharmaceuticals for commercialization of Consensi in the U.S has been amended. Kitov will receive up to $99.5M in milestone and reimbursement payments plus 20% in royalties, with a minimum aggregate of $7M in the next 3 years. Coeptis has engaged a distribution partner with an established sales network and access to thousands of pharmacies to drive the launch of the drug. In addition, a marketing plan and pricing strategy have been finalized. Manufacturing of the initial commercial batches is now in its latest phases and will soon be ready for packaging and shipping to the U.S. Under the terms of the amended agreement Kitov will receive 20% in royalties on net sales of Consens with minimum royalties of $4.5M over the next 3 years. In addition, Kitov is entitled to receive up to $99.5M in milestone and reimbursement payments, of which $1M was previously received, $1.5M is expected before the end of the year in connection with the manufacturing of the initial commercial batches, an additional $1M is due following the first commercial sale of Consensi in the U.S. and $96M which is subject to certain pre-defined commercial milestones.

08:51 EDT IAC does not currently intend to pursue Angi Homeservices separation - In a regulatory filing earlier, IAC (IAC) noted that on August 7, the company announced its intention to explore the possibility of a transaction resulting in a separation of IAC from its interests in either or both of Match Group (MTCH) and Angi Homeservices (ANGI). As publicly disclosed, IAC has made a proposal to a special committee of the board of directors of Match with respect to a potential transaction involving its ownership interest in Match. IAC stated in the filing that it does not currently intend to pursue a separation transaction with respect to Angi during the negotiation or execution of a transaction related to Match. "However, IAC is evaluating its ownership interest on an ongoing basis. IAC may or may not pursue a transaction involving ANGI in the future...IAC reserves the right to, and may in the future choose to, take such actions as it deems appropriate in light of the circumstances including, without limitation, to dispose of, in the open market or in a private transaction, all or a portion of the shares of the ANGI Class A Common Stock or ANGI Class B Common Stock which IAC now beneficially owns or may hereafter acquire," the filing added.

08:45 EDT IAC proposes full separation of Match Group - In a regulatory filing earlier, it was disclosed that on October 10, a representative of IAC (IAC), as authorized by the IAC board of directors, conveyed to a special committee of disinterested directors formed by the board of directors of Match Group (MTCH) a preliminary proposal for a transaction that would result in the full separation of Match Group from the remaining businesses of IAC. The proposed separation transaction would result in two independent public companies, referred to herein as "New Match" and "New IAC." IAC would no longer have an ownership stake in Match Group following the separation, and IAC stockholders would receive shares of both New Match and New IAC in the transaction. The transaction, which would be structured to be tax-free to IAC, Match Group and their respective stockholders, would also eliminate the dual-class common stock structure at New Match, with all pre-transaction stockholders of Match Group and IAC receiving a single class of "one share/one vote" capital stock of New Match. Pre-transaction stockholders of IAC would receive stock in New IAC replicating their current interest in IAC. "As of the date of this filing, IAC owns shares representing 80.5% of the outstanding capital stock of Match Group. The proposal contemplates that the net liabilities being assumed by New Match would effectively reduce the number of shares of New Match to be received by IAC's current stockholders in the transaction. In addition, IAC's proposal contemplates that, prior to the Separation, IAC may sell securities representing a post-transaction equity interest solely in New Match, and contribute the proceeds of such offering to New IAC," the filing stated.

08:34 EDT Menlo Therapeutics announces results from Phase 2 trial of serlopitant - Menlo Therapeutics presented results from its Phase 2 clinical trial of serlopitant for the treatment of pruritis in patients with psoriasis in an oral presentation at the 28th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. The results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pruritis in patients treated with serlopitant, compared to placebo, and further demonstrated consistent benefit favoring serlopitant when evaluating response rates across patient demographic categories assessed in this study. Pruritis is reported by patients to be one of the most severe and troublesome symptoms of psoriasis. The psoriasis trial reported at EADV successfully met its primary endpoint, showing a statistically significant reduction in pruritus based upon a 4-point improvement responder analysis. In the trial, 33% of patients treated with serlopitant 5 mg daily achieved a 4-point or greater improvement on the worst-itch numeric rating scale, or WI-NRS, at week 8 compared to baseline vs. 21% of patients treated with placebo. Additionally, the 4-point responder rate at week 8 was higher in serlopitant-treated patients than in patients in the placebo group when evaluating groups segmented by baseline characteristics: age, gender, weight, percentage of body surface area affected by psoriasis lesions, itch severity, or severity of psoriasis. Serlopitant was well-tolerated in this clinical trial. No serious adverse events were reported for serlopitant-treated patients. Treatment-emergent adverse events assessed as likely related to treatment were observed with similar frequency in both groups.. No serious adverse events were observed in patients treated with serlopitant. The Phase 2 clinical trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial which evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of serlopitant for the treatment of pruritus associated with psoriasis. The trial enrolled patients between 18 and 80 years of age with the diagnosis of plaque psoriasis for at least 6 months prior to randomization and with plaques covering less than or equal to 10% body surface area. In addition, patients had pruritus of at least 4 weeks duration prior to screening and a WI-NRS score consistent with severe pruritus at screening. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either serlopitant 5 mg or placebo orally once daily and were not allowed to use any other psoriasis therapy, other than bland emollients, for the duration of the trial. The primary efficacy endpoint was a responder analysis of the proportion of patients in each group achieving a 4-point WI-NRS improvement at week 8 compared to baseline. As a randomized Phase 2 trial, the pre-defined statistical threshold for significance was a p-value of less than 0.05.

08:31 EDT Auris Medical announces interim results from Phase 1b trial with AM-201 - Auris Medical Holding announced interim results from its Phase 1b trial with AM-201 in antipsychotic-induced weight gain and somnolence. The study demonstrated good safety and tolerability of AM-201 over the four-week treatment period and revealed relevant reductions in olanzapine-induced weight gain and daytime sleepiness. In female study participants, who overall showed more pronounced changes than male participants, a reduction in weight gain of 1.1 kg against placebo was observed at the highest tested dose of 20 mg three times per day. The study will now proceed to the next higher and final dose level of 30 mg to be tested on 30 healthy volunteers. The Phase 1b trial with AM-201 in antipsychotic-induced weight gain and somnolence is being conducted at a single trial site in Europe and has enrolled 50 healthy volunteers to date. Participants received either AM-201 or placebo three times a day in parallel with oral olanzapine once a day for four weeks. The primary efficacy outcome for the trial is the reduction in olanzapine-induced weight gain; the secondary efficacy outcome is the reduction in olanzapine-induced daytime sleepiness.

08:17 EDT CommScope to acquire base station antenna technology from Fractus, ends dispute - CommScope has agreed to a technology transfer agreement as a result of a settlement with Fractus, a Spanish company that developed antenna technology for use in wireless base station antennas. Fractus licenses its antenna and base station patents to some of the handset and base station antenna manufacturers. The settlement includes a technology transfer of Fractus's entire worldwide portfolio of base station antenna patents to CommScope, adding to an already 15,000 patents worldwide, including more than 700 related to base station antenna technology. As a result of the technology transfer to CommScope, the pending dispute between the parties has been dismissed.

08:11 EDT NeuBase Therapeutics appoints Steven Dowdy to scientific advisory board - NeuBase Therapeutics announced the addition of Steven Dowdy, Ph.D., to its scientific advisory board. Dowdy is a cancer biologist, specializing in the development of RNA therapeutics and in understanding cell cycle controls. He is a professor of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

08:06 EDT Amag Pharmaceuticals announces publication of Phase 3 Vyleesi data - AMAG Pharmaceuticals announced that the data from its two pivotal, double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials and its voluntary open-label one year extension studies were published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. These publications are currently available online and will appear in the November print issue. In both randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials, Vyleesi met the pre-specified co-primary efficacy endpoints of improvement in desire and reduction in associated distress as measured by validated patient-reported outcome instruments. These endpoints are the hallmark symptoms of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. The RECONNECT data from approximately 1,200 women was the basis for the June 2019 U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Vyleesi, the first and only as-needed treatment for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized HSDD. While patients were still blinded to their treatment assignment, they were asked via a validated, questionnaire, "Compared to the start of the study to what degree do you think you have benefited from treatment?" Nearly 60 percent of patients taking Vyleesi reported feeling "better" to "very much better" compared to 36 percent of patients in the placebo group. Among those who completed the placebo-controlled, double blind portion of the study, approximately 80 percent of those women chose to continue to the voluntary open-label extension phase where all patients received study drug. Data from this 52-week open-label extension showed sustained efficacy for patients who had received study drug in the initial study and no new safety signals were observed. Additionally, patients who began taking study drug during the extension phase for the first time showed similar improvements in desire and reductions in associated distress to those seen during the randomized portion of the study in patients treated with study drug. In the pivotal trials, the most common adverse events were nausea, flushing, injection site reactions, headache and vomiting. The majority of events were reported to be transient and mild-to-moderate in intensity. In the clinical trials, Vyleesi caused small, transient increases in blood pressure, and is contraindicated in women with uncontrolled high blood pressure or known cardiovascular disease.

08:03 EDT Kratos says Unmanned Systems Division awarded a $3.3M contract - Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced that its Unmanned Systems Division has been awarded a $3.3M contract for 10 production jet target drone aircraft and related systems. This order represents a periodic recurring need/request for Kratos' target systems as part of a multi-year basic ordering agreement with this key international customer. Kratos is a leading provider of high performance unmanned aerial drone systems for threat representative target missions to exercise weapon, radar, and other systems; and tactical aerial drone systems for strike/ISR and force multiplication missions. Work under this contract award will be performed primarily at the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division production facilities in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Due to competitive, customer related and other considerations, no additional information will be provided related to this new contract award. Steve Fendley, President of Kratos' Unmanned Systems Division, said, "As our Oklahoma City facility has established and ramped up production capability based on our forecasts, these recurring production orders validate our planning and enable the "machine" to be in full swing. We are excited to increase our production rates in Oklahoma City, and are fully committed to supporting our international customer base in addition to our domestic customers."

08:02 EDT Pattern Energy to acquire Henvey Inlet and Grady Wind Facilities - Pattern Energy Group announced agreements to acquire ownership interests in two operating wind power facilities, the Henvey Inlet Wind facility in Ontario and the Grady Wind facility in New Mexico. The company has also entered into an agreement for a $260M private placement of perpetual preferred stock with certain institutional investors and intends to use a portion of the net proceeds to finance the two acquisitions. Pattern Energy is committing to pay C$242.4M at closing to acquire 100% of PEG LP's 50% equity ownership interest (equating to a 50% owned interest or 150 MW of owned capacity) in the 300 MW Henvey Inlet Wind facility. Following purchase price adjustments to be made at term conversion, the estimated economic cost to the company for such interest will be C$252M. Nigig Power owns the remaining 50% interest in the facility. Henvey Inlet Wind is located on the northeast shore of the Georgian Bay in Ontario and commenced commercial operations in September 2019. The facility utilizes 87 Vestas 3.45 MW turbines and has a 20-year PPA with the Independent Electricity System Operator for 100% of its production. The acquisition is expected to close in the next 15 days. As part of the acquisition, Pattern Energy is purchasing from PEG LP a C$97M loan outstanding with Nigig Power. The loan was made to Nigig Power to allow the partner to fund a portion of the construction cost and is expected to be repaid in less than 12 months. Prior to the refinancing, Pattern Energy will receive all distributions from Nigig Power's ownership interest until the loan is repaid. The loan pays an interest rate of 10% per annum. Pattern Energy acquired 51% of Pattern Development's Class B member interest in the 220 MW Grady Wind facility for $99.45M for an owned interest of 101 MW. Grady Wind is located in Curry County, New Mexico and commenced commercial operations in the third quarter of 2019. The Public Sector Pension Investment Board is acquiring the remaining Class B member interest. The facility utilizes 84 Siemens Gamesa 2.625 MW turbines and has a 25-year PPA with Sacramento Municipal Utility District for 100% of its production up to 200 MW.

07:40 EDT Sabre expands partnership with Eirad International Tours and Travels - Eirad International Tours and Travels has signed a new technology agreement with Sabre to expand its reach in the region and enrich the customer experience through unrivaled service levels. The agreement provides Eirad International Tours and Travels with continued access to Sabre's portfolio of innovative technology across the region, including its industry-leading workflow Sabre Red 360 and the latest mobile, data analytics, personalization and automation capabilities. Using this technology, the agency is able to differentiate its offering, compete more effectively and grow faster in the region.

07:15 EDT Summit Therapeutics says IND-enabling studies of SMT-571 'ongoing' - The company said, "Presented data at ASM Microbe and STI & HIV World Congress that showed our new class antibiotic SMT-571 had consistently high potency across over 200 clinically relevant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including numerous multi-drug resistant and extensively-drug resistant strains. IND-enabling studies are ongoing, with the development of SMT-571 being supported by an award of up to $4.5M from CARB-X."

07:11 EDT Summit Therapeutics sees cash, cash equivalents sufficient through Jan. 2020 - As at 31 July 2019, total cash and cash equivalents held were GBP20.9M. The company said, "The Group believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents, anticipated payments from BARDA under its contract for the development of ridinilazole and anticipated payments from CARB-X under its contract for the development of its gonorrhoea antibiotic candidate, will be sufficient to enable the Group to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through to at least 31 January 2020."

06:55 EDT Teekay Corp. announces 3.5 year contract for Hummingbird Spirit FPSO - Teekay Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Chestnut Joint Venture, a joint venture between Spirit Energy Ltd. and Dana Petroleum Ltd., to extend the employment of the Hummingbird Spirit FPSO unit on the Chestnut field in the North Sea until March 2023. This contract extension was done in conjunction with the Chestnut Joint Venture's plan to drill a new well at the Chestnut field. The new Hummingbird contract took effect on October 1 and is based on a fixed charter rate instead of the previous fixed charter rate plus oil production/price tariff.

06:51 EDT Fastenal reports Q3 daily sales increased 6.1% - Management said, "Net sales increased $99.3, or 7.8%, in the third quarter of 2019 when compared to the third quarter of 2018. Adjusting for the one additional selling day in the current period, our daily sales increased 6.1% from the third quarter of 2019 when compared to the third quarter of 2018. This increase was driven by higher unit sales related primarily to our growth drivers, most notably contribution from industrial vending and Onsite locations, compared to the third quarter of 2018. The general slowing in economic activity that we experienced in the second quarter of 2019 continued in the third quarter of 2019. A lesser contributor to our sales growth in the third quarter of 2019 was higher product pricing as a result of increases implemented in late 2018 and throughout 2019 to mitigate the impacts of general and tariff-related inflation in the marketplace. Sales of our fastener products grew 3.0% on a daily basis over the third quarter of 2018 and represented 33.7% of sales in the third quarter of 2019. Sales of our non-fastener products grew 8.0% on a daily basis over the third quarter of 2018 and represented 66.3% of sales in the third quarter of 2019."

06:33 EDT GoPro begins shipments of HERO8 Black - GoPro announced that it has begun fulfilling pre-orders of HERO8 Black for customers from GoPro.com, ahead of the announced shipping date of October 15. In addition, GoPro also began shipments of HERO8 Black to retail and channel partners. Also this week, GoPro.com turned on the Trade-Up program for HERO8 Black cameras.

06:13 EDT Kodiak Sciences to give update for KSI-301 at R&D day in San Francisco - Kodiak Sciences will host an R&D Day in San Francisco to highlight significant progress in the development of its lead therapeutic candidate KSI-301. The R&D event, including a live video stream, will be held on Monday, October 14. The R&D Day, Kodiak senior management, leading retina specialists, and market analysts will provide an in-depth look at Kodiak's Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate platform for high-prevalence retinal diseases, the market opportunity including the evolving commercial landscape, the latest KSI-301 clinical data, and the company's clinical development and filing strategy. "In addition to sharing the most recent KSI-301 clinical data in patients with retinal vascular diseases at the AAO Retina Subspecialty Day, we are excited to be bringing together a group of experts to offer their individual and shared perspectives on the unmet needs for patients, the potential benefits of a medicine like KSI-301 offering long-interval dosing, and a view into the commercial opportunities," said Victor Perlroth, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Kodiak Sciences. "We also look forward to sharing more about Kodiak's development plans and path to potential licensure for KSI-301."

06:08 EDT Ford reports Q3 China sales down 30.3% to 131,060 vehicles - Ford Motor Company and its joint ventures in China announced third quarter sales in China of 131,060 vehicles, a 30.3% decrease compared to the same period last year. China automotive industry sales slowed during the third quarter following an elevated second quarter sales period, primarily driven by China V Emission Standard stock clearance actions. Ford China third quarter sales reflect these market conditions, as well as actions taken to continue to build sales momentum moving forward. The National Distribution Services Division held a series of brand events nationally to promote the "extraordinary driving experience" of Ford. In addition, Ford China launched a series of new models in the third quarter that better meet the needs and preferences of Chinese customers, including the Focus Active, new Edge ST and ST-Line, new Taurus and Territory EV. These actions delivered sales growth through the quarter, providing a platform for ongoing recovery moving forwards. Ford China remains focused on its business transformation following the launch of the "Ford China 2.0" strategy. Ford Motor Company and Changan Automobile recently announced their commitment to strengthening their strategic cooperation and will strive to innovate the business models and increase cooperation efficiency.

05:54 EDT Aridis Pharmaceuticals names Paul Mendelman, MD as Interim Chief Medical Officer - Aridis Pharmaceuticals announced that it has appointed Paul Mendelman, MD as interim Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Mendelman replaces Dr. Wolfgang Dummer who has departed the company for personal reasons.

05:50 EDT Best Inc announces launch of express parcel delivery in Vietnam - Best Inc announced the official launch of its express parcel delivery in Vietnam with a kick-off ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City. Best's entry into Vietnam follows its launch of nationwide express delivery services in Thailand earlier this year and marks another significant step for the company's expansion into Southeast Asia. With plans to operate a total of seven sortation centers across the country, the company is currently building a flagship sortation center in partnership with BW Industrial in Ho Chi Minh, which is expected to be completed in April 2020. The 4.5-hectare facility will have cutting-edge automation including high-speed automated sorting lines and dimension-weight-scanning system. It will also offer Best's smart warehousing services.

05:48 EDT Kodiak Sciences treats first patients in DAZZLE pivotal study of KSI-301 - Kodiak Sciences announced that the first patients have been treated in the DAZZLE pivotal study of Kodiak's anti-VEGF antibody biopolymer conjugate, KSI-301, in patients with treatment-naive wet age-related macular degeneration.