Stockwinners Market Radar for May 18, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:35 EDT Quidel's Lyra gets emergency use authorization from FDA as COVID-19 test - The company states: "Quidel announced that it has received Emergency Use Authorization for the Lyra Direct SARS-CoV-2 Assay from the FDA to allow direct sample processing. Under the new EUA, the Lyra Direct SARS-CoV-2 Assay no longer requires an up-front sample extraction. The Lyra Direct SARS-CoV-2 Assay uses a reformulated buffer that replaces the extraction step with a simple 10-minute heat step, saving approximately 50 minutes in processing time. Separately, the Lyra Direct SARS-CoV-2 Assay received CE Mark on May 8, 2020. The CE Mark allows Quidel to market and sell the Lyra(R) Direct SARS-CoV-2 Assay in Europe, as well as other countries that accept the CE Mark. The assay is currently available for sale in the United States under EUA."

19:36 EDT Flotek acquires JP3 for $34.4M - Flotek Industries announced it has acquired 100% ownership of JP3 Measurement, a privately held leading data and analytics technology company, in a cash-and-stock transaction. The transaction is valued at approximately $34.4M, comprised of $25M in cash and 11.5M shares in Flotek common stock, with the assumption of $1.3MM of debt and an additional $5M earn-out based on appreciation of Flotek's share price. In conjunction with the transaction, Flotek will create a new Analysis & Data division, which will be led by Thomas as Flotek Executive Vice President, in addition to his continuing role as President of JP3. Additionally, JP3's Chief Data Officer James Dixson will serve as Senior Vice President of the Analysis & Data Division. JP3 will continue to be headquartered in Austin, Texas. As a part of the transaction, the sellers of JP3 have the right to nominate one member to Flotek's Board of Directors, subject to approval by the company's Governance & Nominating Committee.

19:19 EDT New Mountain Finance CEO buys 300K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, New Mountain Finance disclosed that its CEO Steven Klinsky bought 300K shares of common stock on May 14th. The total transaction size was $2.4M.

19:01 EDT The Pennant Group acquires Arizona hospice agencies - The Pennant Group announced that it has acquired two affiliated hospice agencies in Arizona: Prime Hospice, operating in the Phoenix metro area; and Harmony Hospice of Arizona, located in Kingman and serving northwestern Arizona. Pennant expects to close on the acquisition of a third affiliated hospice agency also located in the southwestern United States on or before July 1, 2020, subject to standard closing conditions.

18:18 EDT T-Mobile falls 3% after CNBC says SoftBank looks to sell part stake in offering - Shares of T-Mobile (TMUS) are down 2.84% in post-market trading after a CNBC report that SoftBank (SFTBY) is selling part of its stake in T-Mobile through a secondary offering. CNBC's David Faber reported Monday ,that the secondary offering is in addition to the sale to T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom (DTEGY), sources told CNBC. Reference Link

18:06 EDT Rexnord CEO sells 80.6K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Rexnord disclosed that its CEO Todd Adams sold 80.6K shares of common stock on May 18th in a transaction valued at over $2.35M.

17:47 EDT Essential Properties Realty Trust CEO sells 45K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Essential Properties Realty Trust disclosed that its CEO Peter Mavoides sold 45K shares of common stock on May 14th-15th in a transaction valued at over $510K.

17:43 EDT Datadog's Ittycheria sells 45,000 class A common shares - In a regulatory filing, Datadog director Dev Ittycheria disclosed the sale of 45,000 class A common shares of the company on May 14 at a price of $66.3215 per share.

17:36 EDT GameStop says 'Dissident Stockholders' moves detrimental to 'Reboot' - GameStop issued a letter to stockholders highlighting the significant progress that it has made advancing GameStop Reboot, its business transformation plan, and the critical importance of having a stable, skilled, and informed Board for continued diligent execution of the plan and the company's long-term success. The letter notes that Hestia Capital Partners, and Permit Capital Enterprise Fund or collectively, the "Dissident Stockholders" campaign distracts from leadership's ability to continue to execute GameStop Reboot and deliver returns to all stockholders. The letter urges stockholders to use the to vote for all of of GameStop's 10 highly qualified director nominees in connection with the company's upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders. GameStop said in part in the letter: "The Dissident Stockholders' campaign is unnecessary and detrimental to GameStop's long-term success...On September 10, 2019, GameStop's leadership outlined a comprehensive strategy named "GameStop Reboot" to improve the financial performance of the business and implement a series of initiatives to create value for stockholders. This compelling new strategic plan is intended first to optimize and stabilize the business, directly addressing critical areas of the business, and next to enable leadership to transform the business and support long-term success.

17:25 EDT Booz Allen awarded $800M Joint Artificial Intelligence Center contract - Booz Allen has been awarded a five-year, $800M task order contract to deliver the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, or JAIC, artificial intelligence enabled products to support warfighting operations and play a rolel in embedding AI decision-making and analysis at all tiers of Department of Defense, or DOD, operations. This is a General Services Administration, or GSA, Alliant 2 government-wide acquisition contract for AI products. Specific tasks of this order will encompass a mix of technical services and products across the full spectrum of technical support to the JAIC Joint Warfighter National Mission Initiative. This will include data labeling, data management, data conditioning, AI product development and the transition of AI products into new and existing fielded programs and systems across the DOD. The task order contract award has a base period through May 2021 with option years that run through May 2025. GSA Federal Systems Integration and Management Center is the contracting activity.

17:23 EDT Helmerich & Payne to replace J.C. Penney in the S&P 600 at open on 5/22 - Helmerich & Payne (HP) will replace J.C. Penney Company(JCP) in the S&P SmallCap 600. J.C. Penney filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and is no longer eligible for continued inclusion in the S&P SmallCap 600.

17:20 EDT Lockheed Martin awarded $485M ceiling Air Force contract - Lockheed Martin has been awarded a ceiling $485M indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Department of Defense and Foreign Military Sales sniper, infrared search and track, or IRST, and low altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night, or LANTIRN, navigation pod hardware production. This contract provides the necessary resources required for the management, fabrication, upgrade/retrofit, integration support and testing and shipping of its non-developmental item, or NDI, sniper advanced targeting pods system, NDI LANTIRN fixed image navigation set upgrades and the NDI IRST system as it relates to the requirements document associated with each specific delivery order placed under this contract. The work is expected to be completed by May 2025. This contract involves FMS to Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $34.9M are being obligated at the time of award under delivery order for the country of Morocco. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.

17:13 EDT Northrop Grumman awarded $2.38B Air Force contract modification - Northrop Grumman has been awarded a not-to-exceed $2.38B undefinitized contract modification to a contract for next generation overhead persistent infrared polar space vehicles 1 and 2. This modification adds Phase One for design/development, critical path flight hardware procurement, and risk reduction efforts leading to a critical design review to the basic contract. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, California and is expected to be completed by December 2025. FY20 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $70.5M are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $2.42B. Space and Missile Systems Center is the contracting activity.

17:06 EDT Mercury General chairman Joseph acquires 41,418 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Mercury General chairman of the board George Joseph disclosed the acquisition of 41,418 common shares of the company on May 15 at a price of $37.80 per share.

16:51 EDT Youngevity receives additional noncompliance letter from Nasdaq - Youngevity announced that it received an additional letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that Youngevity's is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250 because its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31 and annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have not been filed on a timely basis with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In accordance with the Nasdaq letter, Youngevity has until June 1, to submit a plan to regain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements and if Nasdaq accepts the plan, it can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the filing due date, of September 28, to regain compliance. Youngevity can also regain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements at any time before September 28, by filing the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any subsequent periodic financial reports that may then become due. The notification letter has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of Youngevity's common stock on the Nasdaq Market.

16:46 EDT Amerant Bancorp names Carlos Iafigliola CFO - Amerant Bancorp Inc. announced that Carlos Iafigliola has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Iafigliola has served as interim CFO since March 16, 2020 and has been with Amerant since 2004. Prior to being appointed interim CFO, Mr. Iafigliola served in various management positions, including Senior Vice President and Treasury Manager since 2015. He has been responsible for balance sheet management and overall supervision of the Company's treasury functions, including management of the investment portfolio, professional funding, and relationships with regulatory agencies and financial markets participants. "Carlos has an exceptionally broad range of expertise in all facets of the financial arena," said Millar Wilson, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Amerant. "He has been an integral part of our organization for 16 years, working with the executive management team to advance our strategic vision. He has done an outstanding job as interim CFO, and we look forward to his leadership in this new role."

16:41 EDT Cabaletta Bio presents data supporting MuSK-CAART development at AAN 2020 - Cabaletta Bio announced that in vivo data demonstrating specific engagement and elimination of anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase, or MuSK, antibody-expressing target cells by Chimeric AutoAntibody Receptor, or CAAR, T cells was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 2020 Science Highlights Virtual Platform by the laboratory of Aimee Payne, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and co-founder at Cabaletta Bio. Cabaletta Bio has exclusively licensed the MuSK CAAR T cell technology from and has developed the therapy in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania. In preclinical studies, MuSK CAAR T cells demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity towards a B cell line expressing anti-MuSK antibodies, but no observed cytotoxicity when the anti-MuSK antibody was not expressed. In addition, MuSK CAAR T cells also targeted and eliminated a panel of B cells targeting different MuSK epitopes. In an in vivo mouse model, MuSK CAAR T cells, but not control CAAR T cells, showed biological activity by blocking the growth of B cell lines expressing an anti-MuSK antibody. This study demonstrated that MuSK CAAR T cells were able to deplete B cells expressing anti-MuSK antibodies. Cabaletta plans to initiate Investigational New Drug -enabling studies for MuSK-CAART in 2020.

16:39 EDT Disney trades lower after former executive Kevin Mayer to become CEO of TikTok - Shares of Disney are down 1% or $1.15 per share tp $115.70 in after-hours trading.

16:36 EDT ByteDance names former Disney executive Kevin Mayer COO - ByteDance announced it has named Kevin Mayer Chief Operating Officer of ByteDance, effective June 1. Kevin will report directly to ByteDance Founder and Chief Executive Officer Yiming Zhang, and will be charged with driving the global development of ByteDance, as well as overseeing corporate functions including corporate development, sales, marketing, public affairs, security, moderation, and legal. In his role as COO, Kevin will lead music, gaming, Helo, emerging businesses, and will serve as CEO of TikTok, leading the rapidly growing platform as it continues to build its global community of creators, users, and brands. Kevin said, "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join the amazing team at ByteDance. Like everyone else, I've been impressed watching the company build something incredibly rare in TikTok - a creative, positive online global community - and I'm excited to help lead the next phase of ByteDance's journey as the company continues to expand its breadth of products across every region of the world. On a personal note, I'm thankful to the entire Disney team for the tremendous accomplishments we achieved together. Reference Link

16:34 EDT Eastside Distilling names Joseph Giansante CMO - Eastside Distilling announced the promotion of Joseph Giansante as the Company's new Chief Marketing Officer. Giansante initially joined Eastside Distilling as part of the acquisition of the Azunia Tequila brand from Intersect Beverage, where he was the CEO and oversaw all aspects of the operation of Azunia Tequila. Under his leadership and in collaboration with owners Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny, at Intersect, Mr. Giansante re-invented the company management structure, sales and marketing approach, and brand positioning, management, and development. Under his leadership, the Azunia Tequila brand more than doubled in size in just three years. Prior to Intersect, Mr. Giansante served as the Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer at Vivature Sports Solutions of Dallas, Texas after a long career in collegiate sports. Joe served as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director-and was later named Chief Revenue Officer of Syracuse athletics, where he renegotiated and quadrupled the Orange's marketing and multimedia rights revenues. He also led the rebrand of the athletic department and overhauled the department's digital enterprises.

16:33 EDT Disney names Josh D'Amaro chairman of Parks, Experiences, Products - Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, announced a new Disney Parks, Experiences and Products leadership team that will be led by Josh D'Amaro, who has been named Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. D'Amaro, who most recently served as President, Walt Disney World Resort, succeeds Mr. Chapek as Chairman, Parks, Experiences and Products. In conjunction with Mr. D'Amaro being named Chairman, the following key appointments have been made to the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products executive leadership team: Jeff Vahle, formerly President, Disney Signature Experiences, has been named President, Walt Disney World Resort; Ken Potrock, who had served as President, Consumer Products, becomes President, Disneyland Resort; Kareem Daniel, formerly President, Walt Disney Imagineering Operations/Product Creation/Publishing/Games, has been named President, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing; Thomas Mazloum, who was Senior Vice President of Resort and Transportation Operations at Walt Disney World Resort, becomes President, Disney Signature Experiences.

16:32 EDT Facebook's Instagram adds Guides for recommendations on wellness content - Facebook's Instagram said in a blog posting: "We want Instagram to be a place where you can easily find reliable information and inspiration from your favorite accounts. That's why we are introducing Guides, a way to more easily discover recommendations, tips and other content from your favorite creators, public figures, organizations and publishers on Instagram. We know many people are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are first focusing Guides on wellness content. We'll enable creators to connect with expert organizations to share resources during this time, including tips on how to look after your well-being, maintaining connection with others or managing anxiety or grief. When viewing a Guide, you can see posts and videos that the creator has curated, paired with helpful tips and advice. If you want to learn more about a specific post, you can tap on the image or video to view the original Instagram post. You can also share a Guide to your story or in Direct by tapping on the share button in the upper right corner.To view a Guide, visit the profile of participating creators or organizations like @afspnational, @heads_together, @vitaalere, @klicksafe, @headspace_aus, @deepikapadukone, @sudahdong and @eenfance. Then, tap the middle icon to view their Guides. In the coming days, you'll also be able to access Guides within the Explore tab."

16:21 EDT Greenbrier CEO buys 100K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Greenbrier disclosed that its CEO William Furman bought 100K shares of common stock on May 15th. The total transaction size was $1.65M.

16:19 EDT Fannie Mae to hire underwriting financial advisor for ending conservatorship - Fannie Mae announced that it will issue a request for proposals to hire an underwriting financial advisor who will assist in developing and implementing a plan for recapitalizing and responsibly ending its conservatorship. The financial advisor will work closely with the company and FHFA to consider business and capital structures, market impacts and timing, and available capital raising alternatives, among other items. "While we are fulfilling our mission and helping to keep people in their homes during this national emergency, we also remain committed to ensuring a responsible exit from conservatorship," said Hugh R. Frater, Chief Executive Officer, Fannie Mae. "Today's announcement is a significant step on that path, and we look forward to making a timely selection in the competitive process." Reference Link

16:17 EDT Luxor Capital reports 5.68% passive stake in Liberty Global - Luxor Capital Partners disclosed a 5.68% stake in Liberty Global, which represents over 23.3M shares. The filing does not allow for activism.

16:17 EDT Mirati Therapeutics appoints Joseph Leveque Chief Medical Officer - Mirati Therapeutics announced that Joseph Leveque, M.D. has been named Chief Medical Officer effective May 18. Isan Chen, M.D., will step down as Chief Medical and Development Officer to lead an early-stage biotech company, however, Dr. Chen will continue to act as an advisor to Mirati.

16:16 EDT Sempra subsidiary begins production at third train of liquefaction facility - Sempra LNG, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, announced that Cameron LNG has begun producing liquefied natural gas from the third and final liquefaction train of its Phase 1 liquefaction-export project in Hackberry, Louisiana.

16:13 EDT Myovant Sciences says all publicly announced milestones remain on track

16:10 EDT Arbutus Biopharma reports AB-729-001 trial follow-up data - Arbutus Biopharma reported follow-up data from its Phase 1a/1b clinical trial AB-729-001 in chronic HBV subjects on nucleoside therapy who received a single subcutaneous injection of 60 mg of AB-729, a proprietary GalNAc delivered RNAi compound. AB-729-001 is an ongoing first-in-human clinical trial consisting of three parts: In Part 1, three cohorts of healthy subjects were randomized 4:2 to receive single-doses of AB-729 or placebo. In Part 2, non-cirrhotic, HBeAg positive or negative, chronic HBV subjects on a background of nucleoside therapy with HBV DNA below the limit of quantitation received single-doses of AB-729. An additional cohort in Part 2 is designed to include 90 mg single-dose of AB-729 in HBV DNA positive chronic HBV subjects. In Part 3, chronic HBV subjects, HBV DNA negative first and HBV DNA positive later, will receive multi-doses of AB-729 for up to six months. William Collier, president and CEO of Arbutus, stated, "These new data further demonstrate the robust activity of AB-729. At week 12, the 60 mg single-dose achieved equivalent reductions in HBsAg as the 180 mg single-dose. We are currently dosing chronic HBV subjects in a multi-dose cohort with 60 mg of AB-729. These data keep us on track for achieving our goal of delivering a combination therapy that includes HBsAg reduction in chronic hepatitis B subjects."

16:06 EDT Parsons to develop digital coronavirus detector - Parsons Corporation announced that the company has partnered with Fraunhofer USA to develop and commercialize a diamond electrode biosensor for direct and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus, or COVID-19. Initial testing and development of the prototype is anticipated this summer, in time to help mitigate concerns of a lingering pandemic or a possible rebound.

16:05 EDT Adams Resources subsidiary to acquire CTL Transportation - Adams Resources & Energy announced that Service Transport Company, Adams' transportation subsidiary, has executed a definitive agreement with Comcar Industries to acquire substantially all of the assets of Comcar's subsidiary, CTL Transportation. CTL is a liquid bulk chemical carrier that owns approximately 160 tractor trailer trucks and 320 trailers with primary operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Service Transport's anticipated purchase of CTL's assets is part of Comcar's Chapter 11 bankruptcy process as announced on May 17.

16:04 EDT Kirkland's provides update on store opening, e-commerce sales - Kirkland's provided an update on store openings, e-commerce sales and its liquidity in light of most states in the company's store base beginning to lift their stay-at-home orders. Of the company's 405 stores, 301 are now open to customer traffic and another 95 stores offer contactless curbside pickup. The company is unable to predict when all of its stores can reopen to customer traffic, but it will continue to follow the guidance of the CDC, as well as local and state government officials. In the period since the stores closed on March 19, the company's e-commerce demand has increased 96% to $23.7M. As of May 18, 2020, the company had approximately $29M of cash on hand and another $23M available on its revolving credit facility. The company expects to report results for Q1 in early June. The COVID-19 pandemic is complex and evolving rapidly, and the company's plans may change.

16:02 EDT Ardelyx appoints Susan Rodriguez Chief Commercial Officer - Ardelyx announced the appointment of Susan Rodriguez, an industry veteran with over 25 years of global pharmaceutical experience, as the company's first Chief Commercial Officer. Rodriguez will be responsible for leading the commercial organization, including launch planning and strategy, as well as alliance management and business development. Previously, Rodriguez served as the founding CEO of Tolmar Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. commercial entity of marketed products, that was later merged with sister companies where she served as president of the branded division.

15:32 EDT Roche announces fifth indication for Tecentriq in lung cancer approved by FDA - Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tecentriq as a first-line treatment for adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, whose tumors have high PD-L1 expression, as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development, said, "Today marks the fifth approval of Tecentriq in lung cancer, as we remain committed to providing an effective and tailored treatment option for every person diagnosed with this disease." In the U.S., Tecentriq has received four approvals across NSCLC, including as a single agent or in combination with targeted therapies and/or chemotherapies. It is also approved in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for the first-line treatment of adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

14:47 EDT Fiat Chrysler says 12,000 U.S. workers back at U.S. manufacturing facilities - Fiat Chrysler said that, after welcoming back nearly 12,000 employees to its U.S. manufacturing facilities today, it "successfully" resumed production of its vehicles under a comprehensive, multi-layered program of health and safety measures designed with the single purpose of safeguarding employees. "We were pleased with today's restart. Everyone followed the new protocols and our plants were fully staffed to start production," the company said. "We expected nothing less from FCA's incredible employees. We are very confident that we have all the right protection measures in place to keep them all safe. We also want to thank our dedicated team of employees whose leadership and ingenuity helped prepare our facilities for today's successful restart."

14:37 EDT Muddy Waters' Block says GSX Techedu 'doesn't really educate that many people' - Muddy Waters Capital founder and CIO Carson Block is being interviewed on CNBC to discuss his short report published earlier today on China's GSX Techedu.

13:42 EDT Thyssenkrupp weighs steel, marine systems options as part of realignment - Thyssenkrupp announced that it is continuing to press ahead with the strategic realignment it has initiated "despite the current challenges resulting from the coronavirus crisis." Based on the potential of each individual business, the following portfolio decisions were taken: "On the basis of its own market position and competitive strength, thyssenkrupp sees persistently good development potential in Materials Services and Industrial Components - Forged Technologies and Bearings. The company will continue to develop these businesses on its own in the future. thyssenkrupp will keep the Automotive Technology business within the Group. In line with the industry trend for collaboration, alliances and development partnerships are also conceivable on a selective basis. Given the specific market and industry situation for Steel, thyssenkrupp is pursuing performance improvement measures under a stand-alone development within the company while, at the same time, exploring possible partnerships and consolidation options. The same two-way approach applies to Marine Systems. Those businesses for which thyssenkrupp sees no sustainable future prospects within the Group for various and very specific reasons will be managed separately. These units will be combined in the 'Multi-Tracks' segment under the leadership of Dr. Volkmar Dinstuhl, Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at thyssenkrupp AG. For Plant Technology, the stainless steel plant in Terni, Italy, including the associated sales organization, Powertrain Solutions and Springs and Stabilizers, thyssenkrupp is seeking partnerships or a sale. Restructuring will continue at the Springs and Stabilizers business. For Infrastructure, Heavy Plate and Battery Solutions, thyssenkrupp is examining the option of a sale or the closure of sites. Employing a total of some 20,000 people, the Multi-Tracks businesses account for annual sales of around EUR 6B. In the previous fiscal year, the businesses recorded a negative business cash flow of around EUR 400M. From the next fiscal year, separate financial reporting is planned for this segment." Reference Link

13:18 EDT Comcast launches 5G plans for Xfinity mobile customers - Comcast announced that Xfinity Mobile is launching new data plans with 5G services included free, regardless of how customers choose to pay for data, whether its unlimited or by the gig. Xfinity Mobile is the only mobile provider to offer 5G speeds across all new data plans at no additional charge. Further, no other provider gives consumers the freedom and flexibility to modify their data plans throughout the month between 1GB, 3GB, 10GB or Unlimited, all now with 5G capabilities. Xfinity Mobile customers already have access to the fastest Internet at home with Xfinity Internet service, and starting today, Xfinity Mobile customers can access 5G when they are ready to safely be out on the go. Existing Xfinity Mobile customers can opt-in to a 5G data option through the Xfinity Mobile app through an all-digital experience. 5G phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra are already available for purchase on xfinitymobile.com, and additional devices will continue to be added in the future. "From day one, Xfinity Mobile has been proud to be the only provider to empower customers to design a mobile plan that fit their needs, as well as have the flexibility to seamlessly switch between unlimited or per gig to save money. We're excited to now extend that benefit with 5G data plans," said Rui Costa, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Customer Value Propositions, Comcast Cable.

13:04 EDT Open Orphan issues comment regarding collaboration with Quotient Limited - Open Orphan plc noted an increase in the company's share price and media comment regarding its collaboration with Quotient Limited. Furthermore, it also notes the substantial increase in interest in antibody testing for Covid-19 following recent announcements by the UK Government. "The company confirms that the MosaiQ COVID-19 Antibody Microarray machine is on site at hVivo's laboratory in East London and is undergoing testing. It is expected to be fully operational within two weeks following which it will have capability to undertake up to 3,000 tests a day, in line with expected performance as stated by Quotient Limited. The company intends to enter into discussions with channel partners to secure testing volumes with pricing to be determined as part of these negotiations. It is not the company's intention to deal directly with consumers and while there can be no certainty on pricing until such time as terms are agreed, the company notes current market prices ranging from c.GBP 70 for home testing kits and upwards towards c.GBP 150. It is the intention to supply testing capability to channel partners, who will in turn deal with the end users and the final price points. The company will update shareholders in due course," Open Orphan stated. Reference Link

12:59 EDT Hexo announces early conversion option for debentures - EXO Corp. announced that holders of $29.86M aggregate principal amount of the vompany's 8% unsecured convertible debentures maturing December 5, 2022 have accepted an opportunity offered by the company to voluntarily convert all or a portion of their Debentures for conversion units. Upon completion of the early conversion option, electing debentureholders will receive for the principal amount of their debentures to be converted, units of the company issued at a price of $0.80 per conversion unit, instead of common shares otherwise issuable on conversion of the debentures at the existing conversion price of $3.16 per share or, at the option of the debentureholders, at the market price at the time of maturity, in each case as currently provided for under the debentures. Each conversion unit will consist of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant of the company. Each conversion warrant will be exercisable by the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $1.00 per share for a period of three years from issuance. The conversion shares will be subject to restrictions against resale for a period of one year from issuance as part of the terms of the early conversion option. In addition, the conversion warrants and shares will be subject to resale restrictions ending 4 months and one day from issuance of the conversion warrants under applicable securities laws. The implementation is subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The company said it believes the completion of the early conversion option will provide the company with balance sheet flexibility and will reduce annual debt servicing costs.

12:26 EDT Aegion awarded contract at ExxonMobil Billings, Montana refinery - Aegion Corporation (AEGN) announced that a subsidiary of the Energy Services segment, Brinderson has been awarded a contract as the primary onsite mechanical and electrical services contractor for ExxonMobil (XOM) at the Billings, Montana, refinery, providing a variety of embedded services, including daily onsite maintenance and small capital projects. The transition is expected to be completed in the first half of 2020. Brinderson will provide overall management and provision of mechanical and electrical services. Brinderson will also implement several of its proprietary performance improvement tools, including DelayTrak and TimeTrak, which have a proven track record of delivering significant customer savings.

12:02 EDT First United Corp urges shareholders to vote for director nominees - First United Corporation issued a statement and released a presentation "to address certain misleading statements advanced by Driver Management Company in connection with the Company's upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders" to be held on June 11, 2020. The presentation - "What Driver Got Wrong" - can be viewed at https://www.sec.gov/. The Board of Directors commented: "Driver continues to advance false narratives and misinformation in an attempt to mislead shareholders, and we had no choice but to set the record straight. We believe our shareholders deserve the truth, and urge them to review our presentation and consider the facts when voting their shares at the rapidly approaching Annual Meeting. First United's highly qualified and independent nominees - John W. McCullough, John F. Barr, Brian R. Boal and Marisa A. Shockley - remain focused on overseeing management's execution of a successful business strategy and delivering value to shareholders. We humbly ask for your support, and remain committed to serving our shareholders and our communities."

12:00 EDT Scor ADR falls -17.1% - Scor ADR is down -17.1%, or -$5.58 to $27.07.

12:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN falls -25.4% - VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN is down -25.4%, or -$77.90 to $229.37.

12:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN rises 25.8% - VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN is up 25.8%, or $3.92 to $19.13.

11:58 EDT Driver evaluating legal claims against First United, board and advisors - Driver Management said, "Documents that we received on Friday from the Maryland Commissioner pursuant to our PIA request clearly show that: First United instigated the Maryland Commissioner's investigation into Driver's purchase of the Company's common shares with the express intent of invalidating our nomination of director candidates and stripping our voting rights for five years; First United affirmatively sought to hide its collusion with the Maryland Commissioner while publicly lying about the extent of its lobbying and coordinated actions with state regulators; First United contemplated reporting other shareholders to regulators after they expressed their discontent through public and private channels, and; First United fundamentally fails to understand what it means to be a public company and to be accountable to shareholders. It is almost hard to believe that First United's dismal corporate governance and poor treatment of shareholders is actually far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. The e-mails between First United's attorney-Mr. Bulgin-and the Maryland Commissioner paint the picture of a paranoid, self-interested Board far more focused on retaining power and harming Driver than anything else. Since the fall, First United has been in constant dialogue with the Maryland Commissioner regarding its coordinated effort to violate Driver's rights by prohibiting us from voting our shares without due process. In hindsight, it is obvious why First United blithely rejected shareholders' calls for First United to explore a sale this past fall when the Company's share price was near its all-time high: the Board knew it had a friendly regulator at its disposal, one it hoped would use taxpayers' resources to harass shareholders and director nominees while trying to strip them of their voting rights. First United's efforts to lobby the Maryland Commissioner to undermine corporate democracy represents an extreme example of entrenchment and a blatant misuse of corporate resources. In addition, the facts revealed by this new trove of documents raise fundamental questions regarding whether the Board breached its fiduciary duties of good faith and loyalty as well as the incumbent directors' fitness to serve at a public company. The communications sent by Mr. Bulgin clearly contradict First United's recent claims about not having influence over the Maryland Commissioner's investigation.1 As reported, Driver's first notice of the supposedly non-public investigation was via a letter dated January 21, 2020, sent by first-class mail and received by us several days later. It is more than coincidental that on January 22, 2020, Mr. Bulgin e-mailed the Maryland Commissioner's office asking whether Driver had yet received the non-public inquiry letter, and suggesting that officials send Driver a copy by e-mail at an address provided by Mr. Bulgin.2 Over a period of weeks, First United's representative repeatedly offered to forward documents as they were filed, spoon-fed the staff the Company's self-serving legal theories and inquired repeatedly (now also including the Assistant Director of Enforcement) as to Driver's response to the inquiry. All the while, the Maryland Commissioner declined to even sit down for an interview with us and seemingly ignored compelling evidence-including multiple legal opinions from Maryland's Attorney General-demonstrating that First United's interpretation of this obscure filing requirement was wildly off base...We find it equally disturbing that First United obviously had Mr. Bulgin attack other shareholders in his communications with the Maryland Commissioner and raise that the Company considered reporting those investors to the SEC.4 The notion that aggrieved shareholders should be secretly reported to regulators runs completely counter to First United's long-standing claim that it appreciates and values investor feedback. Evidently, that claim just represents another one of the many fabrications that First United has been peddling to shareholders. We are currently evaluating all legal claims that Driver may have against First United, its Board, its advisors , and others. Given that the facts uncovered by our PIA request confirm our long-standing suspicions regarding First United's attempts to collude with the Maryland Commissioner-and the Maryland Commissioner's apparent comfort engaging in routine dialogue about the non-public investigation-we may commence litigation to discover whether our suspicions regarding other instances of the Company's faithless actions are similarly well founded, including with respect to the highly-suspect "strategic review" processes paid for by shareholders. In addition, we intend to raise this matter with the SEC and relevant Maryland authorities, so that a proper investigation of potential wrongdoing can take place. The Maryland Commissioner's apparent complicity in First United's machinations raises serious questions about its objectivity with regard to First United and the rigor of its safety and soundness of its examinations."

11:41 EDT Uber stopping some non-core investments, reducing workforce by about 3,000 - In a regulatory filing, Uber Technologies announced plans to further reduce its operating expenses "in response to the economic challenges and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the company's business." As part of this restructuring, the company expects to reduce its workforce by approximately 3,000 full-time employee roles. In connection with these actions, the company estimates that it will incur approximately $175M-$220M of charges. These estimated costs include approximately $110M-$140M related to severance and other termination benefits and up to approximately $65M-$80M related to site closures, including approximately $25M-$30M for write-offs of the leasehold improvements related to site closures. These charges are primarily cash-based, and the majority are expected to be recognized in the second quarter of 2020, the company said. On May 6, the company previously announced plans to reduce its customer support and recruiting teams by approximately 3,700 full-time employee roles. In connection with these actions, the company estimates that it will incur approximately $35M-$40M of charges related to severance and other termination benefits. The actions described above, together with actions already taken to reduce the company's overall cost structure, were designed to generate an aggregate cost savings of at least $1B annually versus the company's original Q4 2020 planned cost structure. "We do not believe these cost-saving measures will impair our ability to conduct any of our key business functions. There is no guarantee that we will achieve the cost savings that we expect," Uber said. In connection with the foregoing, all members of the company's board of directors agreed to forego 100% of their annual cash retainer for serving on the board for the remainder of 2020. In a statement, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, said: "Given the dramatic impact of the pandemic, and the unpredictable nature of any eventual recovery, we are concentrating our efforts on our core mobility and delivery platforms and resizing our company to match the realities of our business. That's led us to some painful decisions today: we are stopping some of our non-core investments and reducing the size of our workforce by around 3,000 people, each of whom I want to personally thank for their contributions to Uber. As I said to our teams today, we are making these hard choices now so that we can move forward and begin to build again with confidence."

11:01 EDT Sorrento CEO says COVID-19 antibodies could be used for treatment and prevention - Sorrento Therapeutics Chairman and CEO Dr. Henry Ji appeared on CNBC to speak about the company's news, announced Friday, that its anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, STI-1499, demonstrated 100% inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in an in vitro virus infection experiment at a very low antibody concentration. Asked about whether the company's antibody cocktail could be used for treatment or prevention, Dr. Ji said he thinks both are possible. Asked when he thinks the cocktail could be available, Ji responded potentially in the next two to three months. Sorrento shares, which had surged on Friday, are up another 30% to $8.74 in Monday morning trading.

10:10 EDT Delta Air Lines to return 'several major routes' to service in June - Delta's summer schedule continues to be shaped by customer demand, CDC guidelines and government travel regulations, but "while the June schedule is significantly reduced in comparison to last year, customers will see the return of several major routes, both U.S. domestic and international, which were previously suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic," the company stated in a post to its news hub site. "Customers traveling with Delta can feel confident in a safe flying experience. In addition to requiring customers and employees to wear face coverings throughout the travel journey, Delta has implemented policies like capping seating between 50 and 60 percent to ensure customer spacing on all aircraft, elevated its cleaning measures to deliver a new standard of clean, and streamlined its in-flight services to decrease touch points on board. Customers also have added flexibility if they need to change their plans," Delta added. Reference Link

10:01 EDT BAE Systems awarded prime position on $26.7M NAWCAD task order - The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Aircraft Prototyping Systems Division has awarded BAE Systems a prime position on a $26.7M task order to install, integrate, and test the Department of the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures system on KC-130J aerial transport and refueling aircraft. The DoN LAIRCM advanced missile warning system improves aircraft capability and survivability by countering advanced infrared missile system threats. The BAE Systems turnkey solution provides program management, inventory control, engineering support, installation, and system testing of the DoN LAIRCM upgrade. Aircraft maintenance and support activities will also be provided as required. This is the second task order awarded to BAE Systems under the Prototyping and Limited Production indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract. The DoN LAIRCM installation will be performed on up to 19 KC-130J aircraft over the next five years; the work will take place in Crestview, Florida in partnership with Vertex Aerospace Aircraft Integration & Sustainment Division.

10:00 EDT Small Cap Bear 3x falls -16.0% - Small Cap Bear 3x is down -16.0%, or -$5.86 to $30.85.

10:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN rises 19.0% - VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN is up 19.0%, or $2.90 to $18.11.

10:00 EDT Aurora Cannabis rises 44.0% - Aurora Cannabis is up 44.0%, or $4.93 to $16.13.

09:47 EDT Small Cap Bear 3x falls -14.1% - Small Cap Bear 3x is down -14.1%, or -$5.16 to $31.55.

09:47 EDT Spirit Airlines rises 16.9% - Spirit Airlines is up 16.9%, or $1.35 to $9.36.

09:47 EDT Aurora Cannabis rises 21.6% - Aurora Cannabis is up 21.6%, or $2.42 to $13.62.

09:39 EDT PerkinElmer confirms subpoenas, not aware of wrongdoing implied by Reuters - PerkinElmer said in a statement that it "supports government efforts to identify and prevent abusive practices in healthcare." The company added, "PerkinElmer has received subpoenas from the government regarding investigations into third parties, and has fully cooperated with authorities and will continue to do so. The Company is not aware of, and has not received any information regarding, wrongdoing by PerkinElmer, as implied by Reuters, nor does PerkinElmer have any information that the Company or any of our personnel are the target of a government investigation." Shares of PerkinElmer are up 24c to $93.10 in early trading.

09:35 EDT Sorrento Therapeutics trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:34 EDT VistaGen Therapeutics submits proposed protocol for PH94B study - VistaGen Therapeutics announced that the company has submitted its proposed protocol for a Phase 2A study of PH94B, its investigational anti-anxiety drug, for treatment of adjustment disorder with anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic to the FDA through the FDA's new Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program, or CTAP. Adjustment disorder is an emotional or behavioral reaction considered excessive or disproportionate to a stressful event or major life change, occurring within three months of the stressor, and/or significantly impairing a person's social, occupational and/or other important areas of functioning. The proposed Phase 2A study will be conducted in New York City, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., on an open-label basis and involve approximately 30 patients suffering from adjustment disorder with anxiety from stressors related to the pandemic.

09:33 EDT PerkinElmer received no information regarding wrongdoing, as implied by Reuters - PerkinElmer supports government efforts to identify and prevent abusive practices in healthcare. PerkinElmer has received subpoenas from the government regarding investigations into third parties, and has fully cooperated with authorities and will continue to do so. The company is not aware of, and has not received any information regarding, wrongdoing by PerkinElmer, as implied by Reuters, nor does PerkinElmer have any information that the company or any of our personnel are the target of a government investigation.

09:32 EDT ICL to supply 410,000 metric tons of potash to IPL - ICL announced that it has signed a contract with Indian Potash Limited, or IPL, India's largest importer of potash, to supply an aggregate 410,000 metric tons of potash, with mutual options for an additional 30,000 metric tons, to be supplied through December. The selling price stipulated in the contract is $50 per ton below the previous contract and are in line with the recent contract prices in India. The contract is part of the five-year supply agreements signed in 2018 between ICL and IPL.

09:30 EDT Natera, Illumina settle patent infringement action - Natera (NTRA) and Illumina (ILMN) announced that they have settled their patent infringement action concerning Illumina's 831 patent and Natera's 592 patent. The settlement resolves and dismisses all of the claims in the action, including claims that relate to non-invasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, occurring before the settlement date. Natera will receive a license to Illumina's intellectual property for use in NIPT using the Illumina sequencing platform. Terms of the settlement benefit both parties, and the supply agreement has been extended until 2030. Additionally, Natera has granted Illumina a non-exclusive license to Natera's '592 Patent family. The license is limited to Illumina's current technology used for massively parallel sequencing in the fields of NIPT and PGS/PGD.

09:28 EDT Sundance Energy reports FY19 net sales 13.2MBOE/d vs. 9.6MBOE/d in FY18 - In its 10-K filing on Friday, the company also announced that it operated 97% of production for FY19. Reference Link

09:24 EDT The Bancorp announces release from constent order - The Bancorp announced that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, the prudential regulator of The Bancorp Bank, has terminated the 2014 consent order in reference to the Bank's Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions programs. The State of Delaware's Office of State Bank Commissioner concurred with the FDIC in taking this action. The Bancorp has made significant investments to create a sustainable AML compliance management ecosystem focused on technology, people, and processes. The core capabilities of the Bank's platform is tailored to the unique risks and opportunities in the sponsor bank arena. As a result of the termination of the consent order, any restrictions related to growth or expansionary activities within The Bancorp's Payments businesses are immediately removed.

09:19 EDT Professional Holding reports Q1 adj. EPS 2c, consensus 7c - Reports Q1 CET1 capital ratio 10.9%. "This was an exciting quarter for the company. We completed our initial public offering and closed our acquisition of Marquis Bancorp, Inc.," said Daniel Sheehan, Chairman and CEO of the company. "While the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the greater economy, our business model has enabled us to address the needs of our clients and community."

09:16 EDT Neurotrope trading resumes

09:11 EDT Eagle Point Income Company announces 38c per share special distribution - Eagle Point Income Company announces the declaration of distributions on shares of the company's common stock. Since the company's taxable income for the tax year ending December 31, 2019 exceeded aggregate distributions paid to common stockholders with respect to such tax year, the company today declared a special distribution of 38c per share of common stock payable in two special distributions. The first special distribution of 19c will be payable on July 31, to stockholders of record as of July 13. The second special distribution of 19c will be payable on October 30, to stockholders of record as of October 13.

09:09 EDT EE signs multi-year renewal with Evolving Systems - Evolving Systems announced the signing of an extended multi-year Managed Services contract with Tier 1 mobile operator, EE. The contract extension significantly expands Evolving Systems' collaborative engagement with the mobile operator. In July 2018, EE initially turned to Evolving Systems to provide a team of expert resources. The team was to work exclusively for EE to develop its embedded Tertio Service Activation, a solution sourced from Evolving Systems. EE wanted to develop and build market-leading activation services, and bespoke network interfaces with additional IMSI resource management capabilities. As a result of the success of that project, EE decided to expand and renew the original Managed Services contract for a further two years. EE's decision to continue the relationship with Evolving Systems was driven by witnessing cost savings as compared to alternative methods, one of which included the recruitment of an in-house team.

09:08 EDT Comtech receives $8.4M in orders for cyber training - Comtech Telecommunications announced that its Mission-Critical Technologies group, which is part of Comtech's Government Solutions segment, recently received $8.4 million in additional orders from the Federal Government for its Joint Cyber Analysis Course, or JCAC, Training solutions. The $68M contract has been funded $60.2M to date.

09:05 EDT Inuvo says client CTV demand increases over 300% amid pandemic - Inuvo announces a 300% increase in clients signing on to run Connected TV to message their IntentKey identified audience segments. AdWeek reported last week that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, advertisers are planning to spend up to 33% less on traditional TV advertising in lieu of online Connected TV. The report cited cancelation of sporting events and shelter-in-place orders as the catalyst for the shift. COVID-19 is accelerating advertisers budget reallocations from traditional media like billboard, radio, and print. CTV offers an attractive digital alternative where the intelligence of the IntentKey audience building can be leveraged as part of an overall strategy to increase campaign performance. This has been of particular interest to small and mid-tier agencies, where access to this kind of artificial intelligence has heretofore been out of reach.

09:03 EDT State Farm, Trupanion partner for pet insureance - State Farm has partnered with Trupanion to provide medical coverage for your pet and pocketbook. Trupanion's medical coverage is designed for the life of the pet. Trupanion pets are never penalized for being "unlucky" and incurring claims. Nor do they raise rates just because a pet ages. Trupanion is the only provider that can pay the veterinary invoice at the time of check-out, often in seconds, eliminating the need for pet owner reimbursement. The option to enroll puppies and kittens from birth, with as few pre-existing conditions as possible, means even better coverage. Since 2018, State Farm has offered medical insurance for pets through Trupanion in six states: Arizona, Oregon, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado. Beginning May 18, it is expanding its alliance with Trupanion. Customers in 49 states and the District of Columbia can now enroll for Trupanion medical insurance online through statefarm.com. While the short-term focus of this expansion is the online channel, work is underway to enable expansion of the agent channel in all other states.

08:57 EDT Virtu Financial announces debt paydown on term loan facility - Virtu Financial announced that it has made a prepayment of approximately $188 million in principal towards its senior secured first lien term loan. The debt prepayment was funded with excess cash generated from strong results in the first quarter, and will save approximately $7.3 million in annual interest expense. As a result of this prepayment, the Company reduced its outstanding principal amount to $1.769 billion as of May 15, 2020. This loan matures in March 2026.

08:53 EDT Tandy Leather furloughs or lays off 395 workers, permanently closes 8 stores - The company said, "Tandy Leather Factory has aggressively cut costs in the face of huge uncertainty over the duration and ongoing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to protect liquidity, we have furloughed or laid off 395 employees, permanently closed 8 stores, reduced, abated or deferred rents, substantially cut discretionary spend that does not drive web sales, and taken significant executive and senior staff pay cuts. Because the Company's ability to raise capital remains limited by the ongoing accounting restatements, Tandy Leather is taking every precaution to ensure the Company survives the pandemic while protecting long-term value for shareholders. As of April 30, the Company had no debt and $17.2 million of cash and cash equivalents. We own our flagship Fort Worth retail store, our corporate headquarters, and our manufacturing facility and distribution center on approximately 30 acres of land. We do not currently intend to borrow against this property. As states and localities begin to lift shelter-in-place orders, we are carefully planning the re-opening of our stores where possible. Four of our stores are currently testing curbside pickup, our Fort Worth flagship store will open to customers this week in compliance with the guidance given by state and local authorities, and more store openings will phase-in over the coming weeks. In the meantime, our online sales have been robust. Total sales for April 2020 on a retail calendar were approximately $2.0-2.3 million, down about 60% from prior year. Online sales for April this year were up about 200% over last year's online sales, with virtually all of this year's sales coming from the web channel. With our Memorial Day sale now underway, May sales to-date are trending down about 40% to last year. We now have the ability to ship over 1,500 direct-to-consumer orders from our warehouse each day, and we are ramping up our digital and social marketing efforts to drive sales."

08:49 EDT Eros Now enters partnership with Allianz Holdings - Eros Now, the over-the-top, or OTT, South Asian entertainment platform owned by Eros International, announced its association with Allianz International Holdings Limited, a holding company and investment house with a significant presence Middle East, Africa, Asia and North America. "The company has a strong understanding of the local culture and through its investment in various sectors, it has a diverse service offering that make it one of the leading organisations in the region." As part of the collaboration, Allianz Holdings will distribute the video-on-demand service, Eros Now in Bangladesh.

08:44 EDT Progenics says Phase 3 CONDOR trial of PyL met primary endpoint - Progenics Pharmaceuticals announced that the results from the Phase 3 CONDOR trial evaluating the diagnostic performance and clinical impact of PyL in men with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer will be presented in an oral session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 Virtual Scientific Program. PyL is the Company's PSMA-targeted small molecule positron emission tomography imaging agent designed to visualize prostate cancer. The Phase 3 CONDOR trial is a prospective, multi-center, open label pivotal trial in which 208 patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer and uninformative baseline imaging based on conventional modalities, including Axumin, Choline PET, CT/MR and/or bone scan, were dosed and imaged with PyL at 14 sites in the United States and Canada. The trial achieved its primary endpoint, with a correct localization rate of 84.8% to 87.0% among the three blinded independent readers. CLR is based on positive predictive value, defined as the percentage of patients with a one-to-one correspondence between localization of at least one lesion identified on PyL and a composite truth standard comprised of histopathology, conventional imaging and/or a greater than or equal to 50% decline in PSA levels following radiation therapy. Median CLR in patients with baseline PSA less than0.5 ng/mL, 0.5 to less than1.0 ng/mL, and 1.0 to less than2.0 ng/mL were 73.3%, 75.0%, and 83.3%, respectively, which are promising results in a patient population with non-informative baseline findings based on available approved imaging modalities. 63.9% of patients in the CONDOR trial had a change in intended disease management plans due to PyL imaging results, a key secondary endpoint of the trial. The most frequent changes to treatment management plans due to the PyL results included salvage local therapy to systemic therapy, observation to initiating therapy, noncurative systemic therapy to salvage local therapy, and planned treatment to observation. Consistent with the Phase 2 OSPREY trial results, safety results showed that PyL was well tolerated. There was one serious adverse event of hypersensitivity reported as related to the study drug in a patient with significant allergic history.

08:42 EDT NantKwest announces FDA authorization of IND application for MSC product - NantKwest announced it has received authorization from the FDA for an Investigational New Drug application to treat patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, caused by COVID-19 with BM-Allo.MSC, an allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell, or MSC, product derived from human bone marrow. NantKwest has entered into an agreement with the National Marrow Donor Program to provide donor material and has developed automated proprietary methods to expand and generate multiple dose forms utilizing a modular, closed system from NantKwest affiliate ImmunityBio, Inc., to expand BM-Allo.MSCs, enabling the scalable manufacture and immediate distribution of cryopreserved BM-Allo.MSC product.

08:41 EDT Occidental says Total not interested in Ghana assets 'in current circumstances' - Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) issued the following statement regarding its agreement with Total (TOT) to acquire Anadarko's assets in Africa: In August 2019, Total and Occidental entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement in order for Total to acquire Anadarko's assets in Africa. Under this agreement, Total and Occidental have since completed the sale and purchase of the Mozambique and South Africa assets. The purchase and sale agreement provided that the sale of the Ghana assets was conditional upon the completion of the Algeria assets' sale. Occidental has informed Total that, as part of an understanding with the Algerian authorities on the transfer of Anadarko's interests to Occidental, Occidental would not be in a position to sell its interests in Algeria to Total. Total has informed Occidental that it is not interested in purchasing Anadarko's interests in Ghana in the current circumstances. Because the purchase and sale agreement expires in September, Total and Occidental have executed a waiver of the obligation to purchase and sell the Ghana assets, so that Occidental can begin marketing the sale of the Ghana assets to other third parties.

08:38 EDT ChemoCentryx, VFMCRP announce data from Phase II ILUMINA-1 trial - ChemoCentryx and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma announced topline data from a forty-six patient Phase II dose-ranging trial in the orphan kidney disorder, primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. The LUMINA-1 trial tested CCX140, an orally-administered selective inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, in primary FSGS subjects. In the study, CCX140 did not demonstrate a meaningful reduction in proteinuria relative to the control group after 12 weeks of blinded treatment. LUMINA-1 was a dose-ranging Phase II study enrolling 46 patients with primary FSGS. The primary efficacy measure was a change in proteinuria from baseline to week 12. At week 12, all subjects including those in the placebo group were then treated with the highest dose of CCX140, 15 mg twice-daily for an additional 12 weeks of treatment, after which UPCR changes from week 12 to week 24 were also assessed. In the intent to treat analysis of UPCR changes at week 12 relative to baseline, the 15 mg BID CCX140 group exhibited the greatest reduction of UPCR, but that did not differ significantly from the placebo group. Also, after crossover of the blinded portion of the trial to 15 mg BID active dosing, the previous placebo group did not appear to exhibit an additional reduction of UPCR. CCX140 at all doses was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events during the blinded trial and a numerically lower rate of treatment-emergent adverse events in the CCX140 treatment groups than in the placebo group. A full analysis of the LUMINA-1 data is underway and expanded results are expected to be announced at a medical meeting later this year.

08:34 EDT BWX Technologies-led team receives $13B award for DOE's Hanford TCC - A team led by a subsidiary of BWX Technologies has been awarded the Tank Closure Contract, or TCC, at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site. The total estimated value of the contract is up to approximately $13B over a 10-year period. The DOE announced the award of the contract to Hanford Works Restoration, which is a joint venture within BWXT and Fluor Corporation. The team includes two pre-selected small businesses, DBD and INTERA, who provide specialized modeling and regulatory expertise, respectively.

08:33 EDT Hertz CEO Kathryn Marinello to step down, Paul Stone succeeds - Hertz announced that its board has named Paul Stone president and CEO, effective immediately. Stone, most recently Hertz's executive VP and chief retail operations officer, North America, also has been elected to the Hertz board. Stone succeeds Kathryn Marinello, who plans to continue with the company in a consulting position for up to one year to support a smooth transition. Prior to Hertz, Stone served as senior VP and chief retail officer at Cabela's. Over the course of his career, he has delivered strategy, service, people development and full-scale retail operations leadership. Stone joined Hertz in March 2018 to lead the company's North American car rental operations, which encompassed approximately 4,500 locations and 27,000 employees.

08:31 EDT GSX Techedu drops 5% after Muddy Waters calls 'near-total fraud'

08:30 EDT Mack-Cali Realty sends letter to shareholders regarding Bow Street communication - Mack-Cali Realty announced that it has mailed a letter to shareholders to address "the misstatements and self-serving claims" included in Bow Street Special Opportunities Fund XV, LP and certain of its affiliates' proxy materials and recent communications to Mack-Cali shareholders. In addition, the Company raises critical questions regarding Bow Street's proposed plan, the motives of its recent actions, and the independence of its nominees and their ability to commit to their fiduciary duties. The company said, "Mack-Cali's letter to shareholders highlights serious concerns with Bow Street's claims and the integrity of its nominees, including: Bow Street's vague "plan" that demonstrates a lack of understanding of key aspects of Mack-Cali's business and operating environment, and that we believe would delay and disrupt the Company's transformation while burdening shareholders with added costs; Bow Street's skewed "analysis" of the Company's recent performance ignores evidence that supports our strong belief that our simplified portfolio of high-quality assets will enable the Company to deliver superior near-term value and maximize value in a strategic transaction; False claims regarding alleged proposals to acquire the Company and Bow Street's criticism of the Board's decision to not pursue the Rizk Ventures LLC ("Rizk Ventures") proposal, even though four of its own nominees approved the Board's decision; Bow Street's puzzling claim that its nominees "have the backbone to challenge the status quo" given that the four directors nominated by Bow Street and elected in 2019 (the "Bow Street Directors") voted in unanimity with the Board on every issue since their election and never raised any of the concerns that are now central to Bow Street's plan; The Bow Street nominees' conflicts of interest and actions by the Bow Street Directors that we believe constitute a breach of their fiduciary duties to shareholders; and Blatant disregard for the significant steps the Mack-Cali Board has taken to respond to shareholder feedback, refresh its membership and enhance the Company's governance profile. In addition, the Company outlines the actions it has taken under the leadership of Mack-Cali CEO Michael DeMarco to transform the Company's portfolio. The letter also highlights key metrics demonstrating that the Company's strategy is bearing fruit and that Mack-Cali is on the right path to maximizing shareholder value in the near-term."

08:22 EDT Proxy advisors recommend Conatus shareholders vote in favor of Histogen merger - Conatus Pharmaceuticals announced that Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, two leading independent research and proxy advisory firms that provide institutional investors with voting assessment and recommendations, have recommended that Conatus stockholders vote "FOR" Conatus' proposed merger with Histogen and "FOR" Conatus' proposed reverse stock split, both of which are to be considered at Conatus' upcoming special meeting of stockholders to be held on May 21, 2020. In making its recommendations, ISS concluded: "The strategic rationale for the transaction is sound, the process was reasonably thorough, and the stock consideration provides opportunity in the upside potential of a Company with three clinical-stage product candidates and sufficient near-term capital. As such, a vote for the merger and the share issuance is warranted."

08:16 EDT CNS Pharmaceuticals stock halted by Nasdaq pending additional information - CNS Pharmaceuticals announced that pending the receipt of additional information from the company, Nasdaq has halted the trading in the company's common stock. The company is actively working with the staff of Nasdaq to provide it with all requested information and hopes to begin trading as soon as possible.

08:14 EDT Wix.com announces business partnership with Turk Telekom - Wix.com announced a new business partnership with telecommunication and technology service provider, Turk Telekom. As a result of this partnership, Wix is offered as part of Turk Telekom's bundled premium package for small and medium-sized businesses, or SMBs, which includes more than 48M subscribers, of which over 1.5M are active SMBs. Now Turkish SMBs will be able to take their businesses and visions online using Wix. As part of this joint effort, Turk Telekom now offers Wix subscriptions, including domain and hosting packages, to current and new customers, such as entrepreneurs, businesses and freelancers serving multiple sectors.

08:13 EDT Cue Biopharma to present preclinical data on CUE-102/A02, CUE-102/A24 - Cue Biopharma announced a poster presentation featuring pre-clinical data on CUE-102/A02 and CUE-102/A24, the company's second and third drug candidates from the CUE-100 series at the American Association for Cancer Research Virtual Annual Meeting II. CUE-102 biologics are Immuno-STATs designed to selectively target and expand Wilms' tumor 1 specific T cells for the treatment of patients with solid and hematological cancers. The research presented highlights the description, characterization and bioactivity of CUE-102/A02 and CUE-102/A24 from the company's proprietary Immuno-STAT platform to selectively engage and modulate targeted T cells directly in the patient's body. CUE-102 Immuno-STATs represent the company's second drug program with CUE-102/A02 and CUE-102/A24 as the second and third drug candidates from the IL-2 based CUE-100 series designed to directly engage and activate T cells to target WT1-positive solid and hematological cancers in patients having the HLA-A*02 or HLA-A*24 alleles. In preclinical studies, CUE-102 Immuno-STATs demonstrated selective binding, activation and expansion of WT1-specific CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the expanded T cells exhibited polyfunctional responses to WT1-presenting target cells including effective cytolytic activity.

08:12 EDT ISS recommends GCP shareholders vote for Starboard's board nominees - Starboard Value, one of the largest shareholders of GCP Applied Technologies, with an ownership interest of approximately 9% of the company's outstanding shares, announced that Institutional Shareholder Services. or ISS, has recommended that GCP shareholders vote on Starboard's white proxy card for the election of six of Starboard's nominees, Kevin Brown, Peter Feld, Clay Kiefaber, Marran Ogilvie, Linda Welty and Robert Yanker, to the GCP board at the upcoming 2020 annual meeting of shareholders.

08:10 EDT Vera Bradley, Shawn Johnson East launch capsule collection - Vera Bradley and Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson East have partnered to create a limited-edition capsule collection.. The star-spangled styles are designed to help you take on the day and make a difference, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the nonprofit organization, Blessings in a Backpack. The Vera Bradley + Shawn Johnson collection includes a ReActive Deluxe Tote and ReActive Ditty Bag, each available in three colorways - Dark Blue Heather, Black, and Star Power, an exclusive pattern inspired by Shawn's signature starry touch. An elevated extension of Vera Bradley's ReActive sustainable product line made from recycled PET bottles, the consciously crafted bags are lightweight, durable and water-repellent. For every product purchased, a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Blessings in a Backpack - a friend and partner of both Vera Bradley and Shawn Johnson East - and a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger. The proceeds will help the organization's ongoing commitment to get food to kids in need, which is more vital now than ever before as schools across the country remain closed due to COVID-19. The Vera Bradley + Shawn Johnson collection retails for $30 - $140 and will be available online and in select Vera Bradley full line stores starting today.

08:08 EDT Delek US announces agreement to dropdown trucking assets to Delek Logistics - Delek US Holdings (DK) and Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL) announced an agreement for the dropdown of certain trucking assets to Delek Logistics for total consideration of $48M in cash. The transaction is effective May 1, 2020, and is expected to be immediately accretive to Delek Logistics' distributable cash flow per unit. These assets and services are projected to generate incremental annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of approximately $8M to $9M. Approximately 80 - 85% of this EBITDA guidance is supported by a minimum revenue commitment from Delek US. Delek Logistics will finance this dropdown through cash on hand and borrowings from its revolving credit facility. Post-closing of this transaction, Delek Logistics will have approximately $107M available on the Revolver. Asset and other information to consider: The trucking assets are comprised of approximately 150 tractors and 150 trailers, which are primarily leased and owned, respectively. The Assets currently transport crude oil, asphalt and other refined products. Prior to the dropdown, Delek Logistics owned or leased 123 tractors and 174 trailers. Minimum Revenue Commitment: Delek US, through a 10-year services agreement, will provide a trucking services agreement to Delek Logistics on the trucking assets.In connection with the closing of the transaction, Delek Logistics and various of their subsidiaries entered into various long-term agreements for these assets. The transaction and related agreements were approved by the Conflicts Committee of Delek Logistics' general partner, which is comprised solely of independent directors. The Conflicts Committee engaged Baird to act as its financial advisor and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher L.L.P. to act as its legal counsel. Delek US engaged Baker Botts L.L.P. to act as its legal counsel.

08:08 EDT Thermo Fisher receives contract to provide VTM for COVID-19 sample collection - Thermo Fisher announced it has received a contract from the U.S. government to provide highly specialized viral transport media, or VTM, for COVID-19 sample collection. The VTM is used during collection of patient samples for proper transport to laboratories that can test for the presence of the virus. To ensure accuracy of COVID-19 test results, VTM must be manufactured and dispensed into tubes in an aseptic environment. Thermo Fisher currently produces VTM at its site in Lenexa, Kansas, which meets this requirement, and has ramped production from 50,000 to more than 1M VTM-filled tubes per week. Given the significant demand for COVID-19 testing and associated sample collection, Thermo Fisher will expand capacity in Lenexa with a new $40M facility dedicated to VTM production and quality control. The added capacity and increased efficiencies will allow the company to scale production to more than eight million VTM-filled tubes per week. The company plans to complete the new Lenexa facility in Q3 and expects that it will create approximately 300 new full-time jobs.

08:06 EDT ForeScout says Advent not proceeding to consummate acquisition on May 18 - Forescout Technologies provided an update regarding its pending acquisition by affiliates of Advent International Corporation. On May 15, 2020, Advent provided notice to Forescout that it would not be proceeding to consummate the acquisition of Forescout on May 18, 2020, as scheduled. Forescout and Advent are engaged in ongoing discussions regarding timing to close and the terms of the transaction. There can be no assurance that Forescout and Advent will be able to reach agreement on terms. Forescout and Advent have received all necessary approvals to complete transaction. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Forescout and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is serving as legal counsel.

08:04 EDT Abercrombie & Fitch announces earnings date change - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. announced that it has changed the date of its previously announced quarterly earnings conference call to Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. ET. On May 28, a press release detailing the company's first quarter results is expected to be issued shortly after 7:30 a.m. ET. In addition, a presentation of the first quarter results will be available on the company's website at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET.

08:03 EDT Children's Place to reopen stores in ten states on May 19 - On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, The Children's Place is planning to reopen stores in 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah. The Company will continue to reopen stores on a phased timeline, as state and local guidelines and conditions permit, taking an informed, measured approach based on a number of factors. Currently, over 40 percent of the Company's U.S. stores are in states and counties that have not yet been authorized to reopen to the public.The health and safety of our customers and our associates remains our highest priority, and we have put the following measures in place in our stores: Opening with reduced hours and actively monitoring the flow of customers in stores; Installing signage throughout the store encouraging customers to observe social distancing guidelines; Installing plexiglass health guard partitions at checkout areas; Associates participating in health screening checks before every shift; Supplying all associates with face masks to wear during shifts and encouraging customers to wear a face covering while shopping; Implementing rigorous cleaning routines and providing hand sanitizer stations in every store; Temporarily closing fitting rooms, restrooms and water fountains; and Implementing a new return policy whereby returned items are held off the sales floor for a 24 hour period before being eligible for resale.

07:51 EDT Biohaven Pharmaceutical to present Nurtec data at AAN virtual platform - Biohaven Pharmaceutical announced that it will present data from 25 accepted abstracts demonstrating the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacoeconomic value of Nurtec on the 2020 American Academy of Neurology, or AAN, virtual platform. Nurtec ODT is the first and only calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP, receptor antagonist in an orally disintegrating tablet, or ODT, approved by the FDA for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. Notably, Biohaven will be presenting results from the rimegepant Phase 3 and long-term safety clinical trials highlighting rimegepant's rapid onset and sustained duration of action, favorable long-term safety profile, concomitant use with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies, efficacy in triptan-experienced patients, reduction in monthly migraine days and improvements in productivity. A total of 25 posters/presentations will be presented as part of the AAN virtual platform. Concomitant use of rimegepant with anti-CGRP mAbs was evaluated in a subgroup of patients in the rimegepant long-term safety study. Thirteen patients who experienced two to eight moderate-to-severe monthly attacks while taking a stable dose of an FDA-approved anti-CGRP mAb were included and instructed to treat attacks of any pain intensity with oral rimegepant 75 mg as needed up to once daily for 12 weeks. The study demonstrated favorable tolerability and no safety issues when using rimegepant as an oral acute treatment in adults with migraine while also receiving an injectable anti-CGRP mAb preventive treatment. A pooled analysis from three Phase 3 clinical trials evaluated the efficacy of rimegepant 75 mg in patients who had a history of triptan treatment failure or who were using triptans at the time of trial enrollment. Results demonstrated that in both groups of triptan-experienced patients, rimegepant was more effective than placebo on pain freedom, MBS freedom, and pain relief at two hours post-dose as well as other clinically meaningful secondary endpoints. Pooled results from three Phase 3 clinical trials with 3,507 patients evaluating the efficacy of rimegepant for the acute treatment of migraine showed that a single oral dose of rimegepant 75 mg without repeat dosing or rescue medication was superior to placebo for sustained pain relief and ability to function normally from two to 48 hours post-dose. Additionally, rapid onset of action was demonstrated with rimegepant ODT with some patients experiencing pain relief as early as 15 minutes post-dose; effects were statistically superior to placebo on pain relief and ability to function normally at 60 minutes post-dose. A pooled, post-hoc analysis of long-term safety data demonstrated that acute treatment of migraine with rimegepant 75 mg provides significant improvements to absenteeism, presenteeism and improves lost productivity time by 44% reflecting improvements in workplace productivity. In the study, patients were instructed to treat migraine attacks of any pain intensity with up to one dose of rimegepant 75 mg as needed, up to once daily, for 52 weeks. ABS, PRE and LPT were assessed at baseline and at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 52 using the validated Migraine Disability Assessment instrument. Results from post-hoc, pooled analysis of long-term safety data showed a reduction in monthly migraine days, or MMD, across three rimegepant patient groups: Group 1 had 2-8 MMD and received as needed dosing, Group 2 had 9-14 MMD and also received PRN, and Group 3 had 4-14 MMD and dosed every other day plus PRN. Results showed that treatment with rimegepant 75 mg was associated with notable reductions in MMD. The magnitude of MMD reduction was associated with the range of reported historic migraine frequency and the migraine frequency assessed during the 30-day pre-treatment observation period.

07:41 EDT Moderna jumps 18% to $78.97 after Phase 1 coronavirus vaccine data

07:37 EDT Acreage Holdings announces sale of certain non-core assets - Acreage Holdings announced the sale of certain non-core assets as part of an update to its overall strategic plan to focus on key, profitable operations. The Company expects this shift in focus will lead to immediate margin improvements and accelerate its pathway to achieve positive pro-forma adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2020. The strategic shift is a direct response to significant changes in capital markets, and in anticipation of continued historic pressure on consumer sentiment and regional and national economic uncertainties. In addition to the sale of some non-core and other under-performing assets, Acreage intends to operate with a more optimized overhead cost structure and corporate team to adapt to an ever-changing cannabis landscape. Based on anticipated potential operational changes, the Company expects to record a pre-tax, non-cash charge of $80M to $100M in the quarter ending March 31, 2020. The Company expects to report improved margins in 2020 through additional operational optimization efforts, accelerating its pathway to profitability to achieve positive pro-forma adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2020. To date, Acreage has already taken the following actions in support of this new focused strategy: Massachusetts: Divested undeveloped real estate in Nantucket. North Dakota: Divested Acreage North Dakota, LLC, which operated one medical cannabis dispensary.

07:36 EDT Conagra Brands to provide additional $7M in cash bonuses to eligible employees - Conagra Brands announced it will provide an additional $7M in cash bonuses to eligible employees at each of the company's 50 production and distribution facilities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. This additional bonus is in recognition of these team members' continued, unwavering commitment to make Conagra Brands food available to consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the company has committed more than $13M in special bonuses for front-line employees. Since the COVID-19 epidemic began, Conagra Brands has implemented additional preventative measures beyond its existing health and safety procedures to help reduce the spread of the virus. The company implemented social distancing practices, such as installing plexiglass barriers between work stations where people work less than six feet apart. The company is also staggering shift start and stop times, screening employee temperatures using face masks and shields in the company's facilities and reformatting breakrooms while limiting conference room usage. CThe company is maintaining plant maintenance and sanitation processes. In addition, Conagra Brands is continuing to pay any employee who needs to be away from work due to a COVID-19-related production suspension or illness.

07:35 EDT Zai Lab doses first Chinese patient in Phase 3 ATTACK trial - Zai Lab announced dosing of the first Chinese patient in the global ATTACK Phase 3 registrational trial evaluating the combination of sulbactam and durlobactam for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections. ATTACK is a global, two-part Phase 3 registrational trial enrolling approximately 300 patients with pneumonia and bloodstream infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The data readout is expected in early 2021. Zai Lab and its partner, Entasis Therapeutics, will cooperate in conducting the trial in China with Zai Lab taking the operational lead by conducting the screening, enrollment and treatment of patients and coordinating development, registration and commercialization of SUL-DUR in specified countries in the Asia-Pacific region including Japan.

07:32 EDT Moleculin Biotech stock halted by Nasdaq pending additional information - Moleculin Biotech announced that pending the receipt of additional information from the company, Nasdaq has halted the trading in the company's common stock. The company is actively working with the staff of Nasdaq to provide it with all requested information, and hopes to begin trading as soon as possible.

07:30 EDT Engine Capital issues letter to CIM Commercial Trust shareholders regarding sale - Engine Capital, a stockholder of CIM Commercial Trust, with ownership of approximately 6.2% of the company's outstanding shares, issued an open letter to the company's board. In the letter, Engine expressed its concerns that the board may be favoring the interests of the company's external operator and administrative services provider to the detriment of the Company's stockholders. Given the significant discount to net asset value that the company's shares trade, Engine called on the board to immediately stop any plans to raise equity at this point in time, and expressed its belief that a liquidation or a sale represents the best risk-adjusted path forward for stockholders.

07:20 EDT IBM collaborates with GreyCampus to launch data science, AI certificate programs - GreyCampus has announced a collaboration with IBM to launch a certificate program in data science and a certificate program in artificial intelligence, or AI. Designed for working professionals and graduates, these programs combine IBM's advanced online labs and course content along with GreyCampus's training delivery and instructors. Key features of these programs include interactive live classes from practicing experts, hands-on labs, 24/7 access to teaching assistants, online resources, capstone projects and certificates. These programs are structured to take the students from foundational concepts to advanced hands-on projects, along with continuous reinforcements in the form of quizzes, assignments and guidance from instructors. Programs are hosted on GreyCampus's learning management platform which also provides online access to resources, teaching assistants and discussion forums. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive certificates from GreyCampus and IBM.

07:16 EDT Can-Fite BioPharma reports additional findings from Phase II NASH study - Can-Fite BioPharma announced additional findings from its Phase II study of Namodenoson in the treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, with or without non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. On April 7, the company reported topline results from the Phase II study indicating Namodenoson had achieved its efficacy endpoints in a dose dependent and statistically significant manner, while continuing to demonstrate a good safety profile. Most significantly, a more recent in-depth review of the Phase II data reveal 25 mg of Namodenoson was found to resolve significantly all cases of NASH, representing 25% of the 25 mg treated group, as compared to an increase in new NASH cases in the placebo group from a baseline of 0 to 5.9%. In the Phase II study, 25 mg of Namodenoson was shown to reduce hepatic fibrosis (scar tissue in the liver resulting from the liver trying to repair itself), reduce steatosis, and improve the FAST score, a measure for NASH. "The data show that Namodenoson reversed and eliminated NASH, and may prevent the progression of NAFLD into NASH. We are very pleased and impressed by these results. Given the clear need for approved drugs in this indication, we believe Namodenoson is a strong candidate for advanced stage clinical development as a treatment for both NAFLD and NASH," stated Prof. Rifaat Safadi of Hadassah Medical Center, the Principal Investigator of the study.

07:15 EDT XPO Logistics donates supply chain services to Soles4Souls - XPO Logistics is pleased to support nonprofit Soles4Souls in its mission to disrupt the cycle of poverty by creating economic impact. XPO will provide multinational logistics services free of charge by shipping four ocean containers full of shoes from China to Soles4Souls distribution hubs in the US, Canada and the Netherlands. The shoes, donated by Skechers, will go to children living below the poverty line.

07:13 EDT Chembio Diagnostics signs U.S. distribution agreement for DPP COVID-19 test - Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (CEMI) announced it has signed a multi-year, non-exclusive agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific's (TMO) healthcare channel, to distribute Chembio's DPP COVID-19 System in the United States. The DPP COVID-19 System is a rapid serological test and analyzer that provides numerical readings for both IgM and IgG antibody levels within 15 minutes from a finger stick drop of blood. The DPP COVID-19 System can include either Chembio's Micro Reader 1 or Micro Reader 2 analyzer.

07:12 EDT AstraZeneca reports Bevespi Aerosphere approved in China - AstraZeneca's Bevespi Aerosphere has been approved in China as a maintenance treatment to relieve symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema, the company announced. "This was the first approval by the NMPA for a maintenance, fixed-dose, long-acting dual bronchodilator combination therapy in a pMDI, which uses the innovative Aerosphere delivery technology," AstraZeneca stated. Bevespi Aerosphere is already approved in the US, EU, Japan and other countries for the long-term maintenance treatment of moderate to very severe COPD.

07:10 EDT EyePoint presents data showcasing DEXYCU at ASCRS 2020 - EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced the presentation of positive retrospective case study data supporting DEXYCU 9% for the treatment of post-operative inflammation following ocular surgery. The data were presented in three electronic posters and one oral paper session at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting on May 16-17, 2020. The ongoing retrospective study is designed to provide large-scale, real-world data from surgeons based on their early experiences with DEXYCU. The study is expected to enroll up to 600 patients at approximately 40 study sites. Each time point of data in the real-world study reflects patient chart data and frequency of measurement by participating physicians. DEXYCU administration technique was also featured during the ASCRS Scientific Film session in a video by Michael A. Saidel, M.D., Corneal Specialist and Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, North Bay Eye Associates, entitled, "Evolution of an Administration Technique for Dexamethasone Intraocular Suspension 9%." Summaries of the ASCRS presentations are as follows: Paper Session Title: Retrospective Case Study Data on Dexamethasone Intraocular Suspension 9% for Inflammation Control after Cataract Surgery: Interim results presented were from 31 patients administered DEXYCU from Dr. Weinstock's practice. The proportion of patients with complete anterior chamber cell clearing, a measurement of inflammation, was 45.2%, 90.0%, 90.0% and 100.0% at postoperative day 1, 8, 14 and 30, respectively. The proportion of patients with no anterior chamber flares, another measurement of inflammation, was 87.1%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% at postoperative day 1, 8, 14 and 30, respectively. Mean intraocular pressure at postoperative day 1 was 17.4 mmHg, with levels decreasing through to postoperative day 30. Title: Real-World Efficacy of Dexamethasone Intraocular Suspension 9%: Data from a Retrospective Case Study: Interim results presented were from 271 patients administered DEXYCU with average age of 72. The proportion of eyes with complete anterior chamber cell clearing, a measurement of inflammation, was 51.2%, 60.9%, 86.2% and 90.5% at postoperative day 1, 8, 14 and 30, respectively. The proportion of patients with no anterior chamber flares, another measurement of inflammation, was 85.9%, 97.1%, 99.1% and 99.1% at postoperative day 1, 8, 14 and 30, respectively. Mean intraocular pressure at postoperative day 1 was 18.4 mmHg, with levels decreasing through to postoperative day 30. Poster Title: Analysis of Performance and Best Practices with Dexamethasone Intraocular Suspension 9%: Data from a Retrospective Case Study: Interim results presented were from 25 patients administered DEXYCU from Dr. Matossian's practice. The proportion of eyes with complete anterior chamber cell clearing, a measurement of inflammation, was 71.4%, 64.7%, 66.7% and 100.0% at postoperative day 1, 8, 14 and 30, respectively. The proportion of patients with no anterior chamber flares, another measurement of inflammation, was 97.1%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% at postoperative day 1, 8, 14 and 30, respectively. Mean intraocular pressure at postoperative day 1 was 19.4 mmHg, with levels decreasing through to postoperative day 30. DEXYCU was well tolerated. Poster Title: Surgeon and Patient Satisfaction with Sustained-Release Dexamethasone Intraocular Suspension 9% for Post-Cataract Inflammation Control: Surgeons participating in the retrospective study were asked a series of questions related to their experience using DEXYCU. In 91.3% of cases, surgeons were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with their use of DEXYCU on a per-patient basis. In 93.6% of cases, surgeons were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the ease of use of DEXYCU on a per-patient basis. 79.0% of surgeons believed the efficacy of DEXYCU was superior to topical steroids. In 90.6% of cases, patients were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with their use of DEXYCU according to surgeon reports.

07:08 EDT VBL Therapeutics to present data on MOSPD2 bispecific antibody program - VBL Therapeutics announced that new data suggesting the potential of its proprietary bi-specific antibodies for immune-mediated targeting of solid tumors will be presented at the Annual American Association for Cancer Research Virtual Annual Meeting II, to be held June 22-24, 2020. VBL's data show that MOSPD2 bi-specific antibodies induce T-cell activation and significantly extend the survival of mice carrying established metastatic cervical cancer, with no evidence of toxicity. VBL's research has identified MOSPD2 as a protein involved in cell motility, whose expression is highly elevated in various solid tumors. The proprietary bi-specific antibodies developed by VBL have two separate arms - one arm binds to MOSPD2 on tumor cells and the second recruits host T-cells that attack the tumor. The new data to be presented at AACR highlight the potential of bi-specific mediated immuno-oncology investigational therapy for the treatment of various MOSPD2-expressing solid tumors.

07:07 EDT NuCana reopens enrollment in multiple studies following temporary pause - NuCana announced it has re-commenced enrollment of new patients in multiple clinical studies following the temporary pause necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. NuCana previously announced the re-opening of its global Phase III study of Acelarin plus cisplatin in patients with biliary tract cancer on May 5, 2020. NuCana has now also re-opened the Phase I and Phase Ib clinical studies of NUC-3373 and the Phase I clinical study of NUC-7738. The following clinical studies have re-opened to new-patient enrollment NuTide:121, the Phase III study of Acelarin plus cisplatin in patients with biliary tract cancer. The re-opening of NuTide:121 has begun in certain geographies including Australia, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. NuTide:302, the Phase Ib study of NUC-3373 in combination with other agents typically combined with 5-fluorouacil in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The re-opening of NuTide:302 has begun in the United Kingdom. NuTide:301, the Phase I clinical study of NUC-3373 in patients with advanced solid tumors. NuTide:701, the Phase I clinical study of NUC-7738 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

07:04 EDT Teva announces China approval of AUSTEDO - Teva Pharmaceutical announced that the China National Medical Products Administration, or NMPA, has approved AUSTEDO for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease, or HD, and Tardive Dyskinesia, or TD, in adults, after a priority review. China is the second country in the world after the U.S. to have approved AUSTEDO. As part of the expedited review process, the NMPA placed AUSTEDO on the List of Overseas New Drugs Urgently Needed in Clinical Settings and granted it priority review, ultimately completing the approval process in four months for the benefit of Chinese patients. This is the second approval and expected launch in China of a Teva specialty medicine, following the recent launch of TREANDA. Teva will commercialize the medicine in China independently.

07:03 EDT Kamada expects to resume enrollment in Phase 3 InovAATe trial in 3Q

06:37 EDT NextDecade confirms capital resources sufficient to sustain operations - NextDecade reported its Q1 results. The company is also confirming its strong financial position and providing an update on progress made during 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting current liquefied natural gas, or LNG, market conditions and a final investment decision, or FID, for RGLNG is now expected in 2021. Considering this change in the expected timing of FID, NextDecade has implemented measures to manage costs which the company believes will ensure that it has sufficient pre-FID liquidity to operate through year-end 2021. The long-term fundamentals of the global LNG market and the Permian and Eagle Ford producing basins that will supply RGLNG have not changed. NextDecade continues to progress LNG opportunities with a significant number of prospective LNG customers that reflect the global nature of the LNG business and with U.S. producers interested in supplying natural gas to RGLNG. Currently, RGLNG has a 2 million tonnes per annum, 20-year sale and purchase agreement with Shell. NextDecade believes it can achieve FID with an additional 9 mtpa of RGLNG capacity sold under long-term contracts. NextDecade believes the above-listed measures will ensure that it can sustain pre-FID development activities through year-end 2021. Beginning in the second quarter of 2020, NextDecade expects pre-FID development spending to average just over $2 million per month. NextDecade believes that the measures taken to manage costs will not negatively affect its ability to successfully deliver RGLNG and will create value for stockholders.

06:25 EDT Total discontinues acquisition of Occidental Petroleum's assets in Ghana - Total (TOT) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement in order for Total to acquire Anadarko's assets in Africa. Under this agreement, Total and Occidental have since completed the sale and purchase of the Mozambiqueand South Africa assets. The PSA provided that the sale of the Ghana assets was conditional upon the completion of the Algeria assets' sale. Occidental has informed Total that, as part of an understanding with the Algerian authorities on the transfer of Anadarko's interests to Occidental, Occidental would not be in a position to sell its interests in Algeria. Given the extraordinary market environment and the lack of visibility that the Group faces, and in light of the non-operated nature of the interests of Anadarko in Ghana, Total has decided not to pursue the completion of the purchase of the Ghana assets and, as a consequence, to preserve the Group's financial flexibility. "This decision not to pursue the completion of the purchase of the Ghana assets consolidates the Group's efforts in the control of its net investments this year and provides financial flexibility to face the uncertainties and opportunities linked to the current environment," said Patrick Pouyann, Total Chairman and CEO.

06:12 EDT Sen. Klobuchar calls on Trump administration to block GrubHub, Uber deal - Senator Amy Klobuchar said via Twitter on Sunday: "If Uber (UBER) takes over Grubhub (GRUB) it isn't good for competition and it isn't good for you. When big companies corner the market it usually means more for them and less for you, especially in a pandemic. That's why I'm challenging the Trump antitrust enforcers to do something about it." Reference Link

06:10 EDT Centric Brands voluntarily files for Chapter 11 - Centric Brands announced that it has entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement with substantially all of the company's secured lenders, led by certain funds managed by Blackstone, Ares Management Corporation, and HPS Investment Partners, to recapitalize the company, provide $435M in debtor-in-possession financing and allow the company to operate without interruption throughout the restructuring process. Additionally, the agreement contemplates a timely emergence from the process with a plan to substantially reduce the company's funded second lien indebtedness by approximately $700M, thereby positioning the business for future growth and success. As part of the agreement, the company has voluntarily filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, White Plains Division. Centric Brands intends to continue operating in the ordinary course. The debtor-in-possession financing secured enables the company to continue to meet its financial obligations throughout this process to employees, licensors, suppliers, and vendors. Upon completion, the company plans to emerge from the reorganization as a private company, under the supportive ownership of its current lenders. Under the terms of the RSA, Centric Brands expects to emerge from Chapter 11 as a private company. Blackstone will exchange second lien debt for equity interests in the reorganized company. Existing senior lenders Ares and HPS will retain their senior loan positions and will receive equity interests in the reorganized company. For a majority of its operations, the Chapter 11 process will not impact the company's decision to reopen relevant locations.

06:07 EDT Zoom Viideo: Team investigating cause of issues joining Zoom Meetings - Zoom said via Twitter: "Our team is investigating the root cause of issues joining Zoom Meetings. These issues appear to be limited to a subset of users." It later added: "Zoom users impacted by this issue should now be able to host, join & participate in Zoom Meetings & Zoom Video Webinars if they restart their sessions. We continue to assess & monitor. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused." Reference Link

05:46 EDT Vir Biotechnology announces publication of COVID-19 antibody research - Vir Biotechnology (VIR) announced the publication of research findings from the company's efforts to develop therapeutics for COVID-19 in the May 18 issue of the journal Nature. The paper, entitled "Cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2 by a human monoclonal antibody," details the identification and characterization of S309, an antibody isolated from a patient who recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, which has been shown to prevent SARS-CoV-2 live virus infection of cells. Vir is advancing two clinical development candidates based on the S309 antibody as potential therapeutics for COVID-19, VIR-7831 and VIR-7832, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

05:25 EDT Accenture acquires Byte Prophecy, terms not disclosed - Accenture has acquired Byte Prophecy, an automated insights and big data analytics company based in Ahmedabad, India. The acquisition will add nearly 50 data science and data engineering experts, with a particular focus on insight automation, to Accenture Applied Intelligence. The move will deepen existing consulting and technology capabilities that help clients in areas such as data foundations and advanced analytics. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.