Stockwinners Market Radar for July 13, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:09 EDT Crowdstrike CEO sells $28M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Crowdstrike disclosed that its CEO George Kurtz sold 28M in common stock on July 9th.

17:47 EDT Galera Therapeutics completes enrollment of ph1b/2a clinical trial of GC4419 - Galera Therapeutics announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its pilot Phase 1b/2a safety and anti-cancer efficacy clinical trial of avasopasem manganese in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Galera's investigational, highly selective small molecule superoxide dismutase mimetics are designed to rapidly and selectively convert superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. These dismutase mimetics have potential anti-cancer synergy supported by positive results in multiple preclinical models. The randomized Phase 1b/2a trial is evaluating the safety, progression-free survival and overall response rate of GC4419 in combination with SBRT, compared with SBRT and placebo, in LAPC patients. The trial is also assessing safety and tolerability to determine the recommended dose of SBRT when combined with GC4419 or placebo.

17:26 EDT Triumph Group names Tom Blakely group CTO - Triumph Group announced that Tom Blakely will join the company as Chief Technology Officer, reporting to Vice President of Operations, Nick Drazic. Blakely has led the development, certification, and transition to production of dozens of advanced military and commercial aircraft as well as complex subsystems and components over the last four decades. In this new role, Blakely will chair Triumph's Innovation and Technology Council and oversee technical matters across the company's 36 factories including both original equipment and aftermarket contracts. Blakely will also prioritize and manage the company's research and development efforts as it develops intellectual property in alignment with its business strategy. "Development of proprietary products and processes is key to Triumph's growth on new platforms and profitability," said Drazic. "As we expand our military backlog, Tom will play a critical role in partnering with our military customers to offer solutions for current and future platforms."

17:24 EDT Invitae CMO sells 29.8K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Invitae disclosed that its Chief Medical Officer Robert Nussbaum sold 29.8K shares of common stock on July 9th in a total transaction size of $1.0M.

17:13 EDT Medley Capital announce one-for-twenty reverse stock split - Medley Capital announced that, following the company's annual meeting of stockholders, the company's board of directors determined that it is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders to effect a reverse stock split of its common stock, par value $0.001, of 1-20 and reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock by the reverse stock split ratio. Accordingly, on July 13, the company filed a certificate of amendment to the certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the reverse stock split and the authorized share reduction, which will be effective on July 24. Pursuant to the certificate of amendment, effective as of July 24, each 20 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, immediately prior to the effective time, will automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one share of common stock. In connection with the reverse stock split, the certificate of amendment provides that the number of authorized shares of common stock will be reduced proportionately from 100M to 5M shares of common stock. No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the reverse stock split. Instead, any stockholder who would have been entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the reverse stock split will receive cash payments in lieu of such fractional shares. The common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on the NYSE at the market open on July 27. As previously disclosed, the reverse stock split is intended to bring the company into compliance with the $1.00 minimum average closing share price requirement for continued listing on the NYSE. The company will regain compliance with the minimum share price requirement if the price per share of common stock promptly exceeds $1.00 per share and remains above that level for at least the following 30 trading days.

16:46 EDT Invacare sees increase in inventory in Q2, sees Q3 quotes for mobility improving - The company says: "As a result of the sudden shift in product mix and our long-lead supply chain, we also expect a temporary increase in inventory. However, we anticipate this inventory will convert to cash in the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. At the start of Q3, quotes for mobility and seating products have improved compared to Q2 on a global basis. However, the magnitude of the recovery is different by region as result of different shutdown actions in each country. While it is difficult to estimate the shape of the recovery, consolidated net sales are expected to increase sequentially with the resumption of access to clinics, but remain at a lower level than the same periods in 2019. The company continues to launch new products such as the Group 3 eligible standing wheelchair system, the AVIVA front- and rear- wheel drive power chairs, and the recently FDA-cleared SMOOV one power add-on. Demand primarily for respiratory products is expected to continue with continued elevated COVID-19 cases."

16:33 EDT Vanda granted FDA authorization for Individual Patient Expanded Access Protocol - Vanda Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has authorized a single patient in an Individual Patient Expanded Access protocol. This patient had previously participated in a randomized study of tradipitant in gastroparesis for 12 weeks. The patient and treating physician requested expanded access to continue treatment beyond 12 weeks, as the treating physician had judged that tradipitant was the only treatment that effectively managed the patient's gastroparesis symptoms. The FDA's Division of Gastroenterology has authorized expanded access to tradipitant for this patient for an additional 6 months under this protocol with the potential to renew upon written request containing additional safety information collected during those 6 months. The 12-week randomized placebo-controlled Phase III study of tradipitant in patients with gastroparesis that this patient originally participated in is ongoing. In December 2018, Vanda reported results of a Phase II study of tradipitant in gastroparesis where tradipitant was shown to be effective at reducing nausea and other cardinal symptoms of gastroparesis and well tolerated.

16:31 EDT Interxion acquires freehold to land under Frankfurt campus - Interxion, a Digital Realty company, has acquired the freehold to the land under its Hanauer Landstrasse campus in Frankfurt. The site includes nine Interxion data centres previously subject to leasehold agreements with approximately nine years of remaining lease term, along with Interxion's German headquarters office as well as several buildings currently leased to other customers. Interxion now owns the freehold to all 15 data centres on its Frankfurt campus. Separately, Interxion has reached an agreement to acquire an expansion parcel, formerly known as the Neckermann property, within approximately one kilometre of the Hanauer Landstrasse campus. The expansion parcel totals 107,000 square metres that will support the development of up to 180 megawatts of additional IT capacity and will be fully connected to the existing campus. The Neckermann property acquisition is expected to close in two stages, with final transfer of ownership in early 2021.

16:28 EDT America's Car-Mart opens new dealership in Cabot, AR - America's Car-Mar announced the opening of a new dealership located in Cabot, AR. This will be the thirty-eighth dealership in Arkansas, the first dealership opening in fiscal year 2021 and our 149th dealership. The dealership will be managed by Dennis Johnson, with the assistance of Chris Martin. This will be the second dealership managed by Mr. Johnson as we look to expand the number of customers served by our top performing general managers.

16:21 EDT AllianceBernstein reports preliminary AUM $600B as of June 30 - Up from $596B at the end of May. The 0.7% increase was due to market appreciation, partially offset by firmwide net outflows. By channel, net outflows from Institutions and Private Wealth exceeded Retail net inflows.

16:18 EDT INmune Bio announces interim phase 1B data on XPro1595 in Alzheimer's - INmune Bio reported clinical data demonstrating that its lead drug candidate, XPro1595, decreases neuroinflammation in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Interim results from a Phase Ib clinical trial show that treatment with XPro1595 decreases white matter free water, a biomarker of neuroinflammation measured by MRI. XPro1595 is a next-generation inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor that selectively neutralizes soluble TNF, an inflammatory cytokine implicated in Alzheimer's pathology, without affecting transmembrane TNF or the TNF receptors. Specifically, INmune compared biomarker data obtained from six patients treated with XPro1595 for 12 weeks with data from 25 Alzheimer's patients from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative that are part of a natural history database in patients with Alzheimer's. Over a 12-week period, whole brain inflammation increased by 5.1% in the ADNI patients compared to an increase of 1.7% and a decrease of 2.3% in patients treated weekly with 0.3mg/kg or 1.0mg/kg of XPro1595, respectively. A more detailed analysis revealed a 40.6% reduction in neuroinflammation in the Arcuate Fasciculus in patients treated with XPro1595. By contrast, the ADNI cohort had a 4.6% increase in Arcuate Fasciculus neuroinflammation.

16:17 EDT Town Sports receives Nasdaq notice over listing standard non-compliance - Town Sports International Holdings received a notice on July 7, 2020 from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that as a result of the company's failure to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2020, the company no longer complies with the continued listing requirements as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the company's common stock, which will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject to the company's compliance with other applicable continued listing requirements. The notice advises that under Nasdaq rules, the company has 60 calendar days, or until September 8, 2020, to submit a plan to regain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements. If Nasdaq accepts the plan, Nasdaq can grant an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the filing due date, until December 28, 2020, to regain compliance. If Nasdaq does not accept the plan, the company will have the opportunity to appeal that decision to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel.

16:16 EDT Jefferies Financial Group names Matthew Larson CFO - Jefferies Group LLC announced that, effective August 24, 2020, Matthew Larson will become Jefferies Group's Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Teresa Gendron, who has been Jefferies Group's Interim Financial Officer since the untimely illness and death of its former CFO, Peg Broadbent. Larson is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Barclays Americas, as well as CFO of Barclays PLC's Global Markets business. Previously, Mr. Larson was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs where he held several roles in the Finance Division. Mr. Larson, a Certified Public Accountant, graduated from Idaho State University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

16:09 EDT Grinrod Shipping re-delivers Doric Breeze to owners - Grindrod Shipping announced that the company re-delivered the 2013-built chartered-in medium range tanker Doric Breeze to her owners at the conclusion of her charter. The vessel had been on charter to Grindrod Shipping for the past seven years.

16:06 EDT Ramaco Resources announces partial closure at Berwind mine complex - Ramaco Resources announced a partial closure of its Berwind low volatile development mine complex on the border of Virginia and West Virginia. Ramaco has taken this reduction measure to align current production to the weakened metallurgical coal market. Approximately 44 miners will be impacted. These personnel reductions are effective immediately. "The continued deterioration of both the domestic and export metallurgical coal markets, driven in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic have led us to make this difficult decision," said Randall Atkins, Ramaco's Executive Chairman. "We remain committed to the completion of our Berwind slope development to full capacity when the market has more clarity. We want to recognize the efforts of all of our coal miners who have advanced this project to date." "We believe that ultimately the Berwind mine will be amongst the lowest cost, high-quality low volatile coal in the Central Appalachian region," said Michael Bauersachs, CEO and President of Ramaco. "Once the coal markets stabilize and return to rational pricing levels, the full development and production at the Berwind mine can be restarted." The Berwind mine will continue to run at a reduced rate to service existing customer commitments.

16:04 EDT Immunomedics expands collaboration with Roche to evaluate Trodelvy and Tecentriq - Immunomedics (IMMU) announced an extension of its current clinical collaboration with Roche (RHHBY) to evaluate Trodelvy, Immunomedics' anti-Trop-2 ADC, in combination with Tecentriq, Roche's programmed cell death ligand 1, or PD-L1-blocking, checkpoint inhibitor, or CPI, in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer, or mUC, and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, or mNSCLC. Under the terms of the extension, Roche will be conducting two open-label, multicenter, randomized Phase 1b/2 studies using its MORPHEUS platform. The MORPHEUS-mUC study will randomize CPI-naive mUC patients who have failed platinum-containing chemotherapy to receive the Tecentriq plus Trodelvy combination or Tecentriq alone. The second study, Morpheus-Lung, will enroll CPI-experienced mNSCLC patients after failure with platinum-based regimen to receive either Tecentriq and Trodelvy or docetaxel alone. Separately, Immunomedics also announces that the new Phase 2 NeoSTAR study initiated by Aditya Bardia at Mass General Cancer Center has enrolled the first patient with localized triple-negative breast cancer to receive Trodelvy before surgery to remove the tumor. Pathological complete response rate is the primary endpoint of this study, with disease-free survival and overall survival serving as secondary endpoints.

16:02 EDT Patriot National names Robert Russell President and CEO - Patriot National Bancorp announced that Robert G. Russell, Jr. has been named President and CEO of both the Bank and its parent company, Patriot. Mr. Russell joins Patriot from Millington Bank of Morris and Somerset Counties of New Jersey, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Russell has more than 30 years of community banking experience. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of NJM Bank, and before that, as its Chief Financial and Investment Officer. Mr. Russell has led both institutions to achieve significant growth and increases in profitability.

14:14 EDT Disney+ orders new animated series 'Star Wars: The Bad Batch' - Disney+ said it ordered its next animated series from Lucasfilm, "Star Wars: The Bad Batch." Fresh off of the series finale of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," the Disney+ original series will premiere on the streaming service in 2021. The series follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch, first introduced in "The Clone Wars," as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch - a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army -- each possess a singular exceptional skill which makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew. In the post-Clone War era, they will take on daring mercenary missions as they struggle to stay afloat and find new purpose. "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" is executive produced by Dave Filoni, Athena Portillo, Brad Rau and Jennifer Corbett with Carrie Beck as co-executive producer and Josh Rimes as producer. Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer. Reference Link

14:06 EDT easyJet pilots call for vote of no confidence in COO Peter Bellew - Following easyJet's notification of 727 UK pilot redundancies and that they would be closing their bases at Newcastle, Southend and Stansted , pilots have demanded a 'vote of no confidence' in the airline's Chief Operating Officer, Peter Bellew, who joined easyJet from Ryanair in January, the British Airline Pilots Association said. BALPA, which represents over 90% of easyJet pilots, will therefore be carrying out a secret ballot this week closing at noon on Friday. Reference Link

13:26 EDT Eldorado Resorts gets Indiana HRC approval for Caesars deal - Eldorado Resorts (ERI) announced that at a meeting today, the company received approval from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission in connection with its pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CZR), subject to applicable conditions.

13:11 EDT UnitedHealth launches new Level2 digital health therapy - UnitedHealth Group earlier announced that it has launched an innovative new therapy that combines wearable technology and customized personal support to help improve the health of people living with type 2 diabetes. The company said the therapy - known as Level2 - helps eligible participants gain real-time insights about their condition and, for some, successfully reduce spikes in blood sugar levels or even achieve type 2 diabetes remission. "Level2 equips eligible participants with integrated tools that include a mobile continuous glucose monitor, activity tracker, app-based alerts and one-on-one clinical coaching to help encourage healthier lifestyle decisions, such as food choices, exercise and sleep patterns. In the future, UnitedHealth Group may offer the Level2 model to support people with other chronic conditions beyond type 2 diabetes."

12:00 EDT Studio City falls -11.7% - Studio City is down -11.7%, or -$1.84 to $13.95.

12:00 EDT American Medical Laboratories Inc falls -40.2% - American Medical Laboratories Inc is down -40.2%, or -$8.18 to $12.15.

12:00 EDT Herbalife Nutrition rises 14.5% - Herbalife Nutrition is up 14.5%, or $6.63 to $52.27.

11:04 EDT El Pollo Loco rolls out vegan chicken alternative system-wide - El Pollo Loco rolled out its own vegan chicken alternative system-wide. Following the success of the Chickenless Pollo launch earlier this year and positive customer feedback, El Pollo Loco reformulated its fan favorite, plant-based chicken alternative for vegan palates to further the company's long-term commitment to diversifying the menu with better-for-you options. Customers can now "Make It Vegan" when ordering a Chickenless Pollo Taco or Burrito at all 485 restaurant locations upon request, which removes the cheese as well as the Creamy Cilantro Dressing on the burrito.

11:02 EDT Microsoft, Samsung collaborate on real estate, smart property management - Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) and Microsoft (MSFT) announced a global collaboration focused on digitally transforming the real estate development and property management industries. This collaboration, combining smart appliances and digital cloud technologies, aims at helping to drive improved building operations and maintenance, along with creating better experiences for both service technicians and residents. This new strategic alliance, with pilots currently under development, brings together the power of Microsoft's Azure IoT platform and productivity cloud services with Samsung's smart devices and SmartThings platform, to help optimize building operations, equipment maintenance, energy management, asset performance, and new tenant experiences for commercial, hospitality and residential buildings as well as mixed-use developments. The companies will leverage Samsung's smart home appliances, HVAC systems and smart TVs integrated with SmartThings, together with Microsoft's Azure Digital Twins technology and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service, to improve building maintenance and management by aggregating and analyzing IoT data from building systems and connected appliances. For example, with this new capability building managers can not only create an integrated dashboard for handling building issues in real time but potentially before failure, saving time and resources.

10:40 EDT Comtech awarded $54M contract for 911 technologies, services - Comtech Telecommunications was awarded a statewide contract valued up to $54M to design, deploy, and operate Next Generation 9-1-1 services for the State of South Carolina through the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Total contract value includes multiyear contract extension options. Initial funding for the contract is $16.9M. The award, which was won during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, is for implementation of Comtech's NG9-1-1 services that will provide citizens with advanced communication capabilities when calling for emergency services, including police, fire and emergency medical services. Through use of Comtech's Next Generation Core Services, the State of South Carolina will be able to offer a seamless, coordinated and efficient NG9-1-1 system to all the state's local 9-1-1 centers. In addition, all these centers and their associated counties will have the option of purchasing state-of-the-art Solacom Call Handling Equipment as part of the contract.

10:01 EDT ServiceMaster launches new anti-microbial service - ServiceMaster Brands has entered into an exclusive agreement with Goldshield Technologies, maker of proprietary antiseptic and anti-microbial products that actively kill microorganisms on surfaces for up to 90 days. This new service offering will be available to all 1,200 ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Clean franchises nationwide. Goldshield products are EPA approved for a wide variety of applications, including hospitals, daycares, schools, senior living facilities, gyms, salons and restaurants.

09:49 EDT RTW Retailwinds voluntarily files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - RTW Retailwinds announced that it and its subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company has filed customary motions with the Bankruptcy Court that will authorize, upon Bankruptcy Court approval, the Company's ability to maintain operations in the ordinary course of business, including, among other things, the payment of employee wages and benefits without interruption, payment of suppliers and vendors in the normal course of business, and the use of cash collateral. These motions are typical in the Chapter 11 process and the Company anticipates that they will be approved shortly after the commencement of its Chapter 11 case. Details on the Company's Chapter 11 process and go-forward strategy are as follows: The Company expects to close a significant portion, if not all, of its brick-and-mortar stores and, in connection therewith, the Company has launched a store closing and liquidation process. The Company, however, will continue to operate its business in the ordinary course in the near term, including continuing to re-open its previously temporarily closed brick-and-mortar stores, when and where appropriate; and The Company is evaluating any and all strategic alternatives, including the potential sale of its eCommerce business and related intellectual property. As previously announced, on July 2, 2020, the Company entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement and Joinder with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender. Under Amendment No. 3, the Company anticipates the full repayment of the approximately $12.7M remaining outstanding balance under the Loan Agreement by August 31, 2020.

09:43 EDT Yelp to return 'many' furloughed employees in August, parts with 63 employees - CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said in a filing, "As local economies begin their recovery, we remain cautious but optimistic in the face of continued uncertainty. Some states that opened early have unfortunately seen spikes of COVID-19 cases leading them to pause or reverse their phased reopening. We expect to see a continued fluctuation in business openings and closures during the course of the pandemic as communities respond to local outbreaks. While the pacing and duration of the recovery are still unknown, the executive team and board feel confident in our ability to withstand the challenges and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. The hard steps we took early on have put us in a stronger position, allowing us to follow through on the plan we outlined in April. I'm thrilled to share that we are bringing back nearly all of our furloughed colleagues, and will be restoring employees to 100% pay and time beginning August 10. Of the more than 1,000 furloughed employees, many will return in August as planned, while our sales force is returning on a staggered timeline over a four month period starting this month. I want to acknowledge all of you for sharing in the sacrifice that got Yelp through this period. Your dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed. Sadly, this pandemic will remain part of our lives for some time. As I mentioned in my email last week, we expect to continue our remote work posture into the first half of 2021. Our extended office closures have resulted in the elimination of some roles, which means that today we are parting ways with 63 employees, primarily in Workplace and Recruiting. While the number of impacted individuals may seem small compared to what we went through in April, it doesn't make it easier to say goodbye to colleagues who have poured their talents and energy into making Yelp the company it is today. I want to sincerely thank those who are leaving us for all they've contributed during their time here. We're committed to supporting them through this transition with severance pay and health insurance reimbursement."

09:21 EDT Seaboard announces passing of CEO Steven Bresky - Seaboard issued the following statement: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of Steven Bresky, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Seaboard. The entire Seaboard family mourns this loss. On behalf of our Board of Directors, management team and employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to Steve's wife, Ellen, and children, Elizabeth and Jack. Steve was the third generation Bresky to lead Seaboard in its 102-year history and was appointed as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board in 2006. Steve led and grew the company substantially to where Seaboard is today. His exceptional work ethic, long term commitment to Seaboard's partners and businesses, mandate that the company produce quality products, and unwavering desire to always do the right thing were integral to the company's success and made him truly one of a kind. He built and nurtured an able and long-tenured management team. Steve's children, Jack and Elizabeth, and Steve's nephew David Steinbrink, are proud members of the Seaboard team. Seaboard's Board of Directors expects to name a successor President/CEO in the near future."

09:19 EDT Stereotaxis announces publication highlighting robotic technology in COVID-19 - Stereotaxis announced a publication in the European Heart Journal highlighting the benefits of Stereotaxis' robotic technology in a COVID-19 patient. The publication concludes that catheter ablation "should be performed preferably with a remote navigation system in order to minimize the infectious risk of the staff of the electrophysiology laboratory." Dr. Giovanni Forleo and colleagues at Luigi Sacco Hospital at the University of Milan presented the case of a 68-year-old patient diagnosed with COVID-19 who was admitted to the emergency department with multiple episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia and electrical storm. COVID-19 has been associated with cardiovascular manifestations including life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The patient's arrhythmia was treated using catheter cardiac ablation with Stereotaxis' robotic magnetic navigation system. The publication states, "We used a remote magnetic navigation system since it has been thought to be superior to manual navigation for VT ablation and in order to minimize unnecessary exposure of the electrophysiology laboratory staff to a likely COVID-19 patient." The procedure was successful and the patient did not experience ventricular tachycardia recurrence. The patient also recovered from COVID-19.

09:18 EDT Opes Acquisition says BurgerFi's June delivery sales up 65% y-o-y - OPES Acquisitionrecently announced plans to combine with BurgerFi International, one of the nation's fastest-growing restaurant concepts, with nearly 125 locations spanning across 23 states and two countries internationally. The better burger concept has been on a strong growth trajectory, with plans to open 15 restaurants this year. BurgerFi's resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic showcases the company's strengths for off-premise dining through tech-driven delivery platforms. Year-Over-Year Delivery Sales: 2019 vs 2020; January +41%; February +30%; March +35%; April +61%; May +111%; June +65%. Totals in 3rd Party Delivery YTD + In-House App: January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020; 428,000+ orders; $10.9 million total sales; +32% in order volume; +60% in sales volume .In addition to partnerships with DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates and UberEats, as a technology-enhanced brand, BurgerFi has developed its own app for third-party delivery. BurgerFi has been able to connect with customers in a meaningful way through the app's bespoke loyalty program tailored to reward users with personalized offers based on their preferences and order history. The app's delivery is fueled by Olo, whose on-demand delivery network has enabled BurgerFi to lower delivery fees for its customers and have greater control over transit time and delivery providers. By utilizing the integrated network of third-party delivery vendors, BurgerFi has allowed third-party delivery apps that do not feature BurgerFi to be included in the pool to bid for their business. This ensures customers have access to the best available delivery couriers for the quickest service. OPES announced last week it reached a definitive agreement to merge with BurgerFi and anticipates closing the transaction in the third quarter of 2020.

09:15 EDT Endra Life Sciences announces new Chinese patents - Endra Life Sciences has recently been issued Chinese Patents ZL 2016 8 00267289 and ZL 2019 3 04324291 from the Chinese Intellectual Property Office. "The granting of these patents further expands the protection of our platform technology in the key international market of China, where an estimated 29.2% of the population is affected by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, according to a recent study published in Hepatology," said ENDRA's CEO, Francois Michelon. "We now have six issued patents in China and a total of 31 international IP assets. We plan to continue to expand and broaden this protection for our disruptive diagnostic technology, as commercialization begins this year."

09:14 EDT Avalon GloboCare establishes Avalo Combat COVID-19 Taskforce - Avalon GloboCare, has established the Avalon Combat COVID-19 Taskforce to expand and accelerate scientific/clinical development on multiple fronts to help combat the COVID-19 global pandemic through a strategic combination of therapeutic and vaccine approaches as follows: AVA-Trap: Avalon has engaged with Massachusetts Institute of Technology to co-develop a QTY therapeutic platform against the "cytokine storm" which causes lung damage and other organ failure associated with COVID-19. Cytokines are small protein molecules in the body required to regulate and maintain proper physiological functions. In some life-threatening diseases, however, cytokines are released in vast excess leading to devastating damage to vital tissues and organs. A prime example is the widely recognized SARS-CoV-2-induced "cytokine storm," which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung fibrosis, multi-organ failure and death. The pre-clinical result has been published in the journal QRB Discovery. Three USPTO provisional patents have been filed based on the unique QTY code protein design platform that uses six water-soluble variant cytokine receptors which have been successfully designed and tested to show binding affinity to the respective cytokines. Avalon's AVA-Trap therapeutic program is currently entering animal model testing followed by expedited clinical studies with the goal of providing an effective therapeutic option to combat COVID-19 and other life-threatening conditions involving cytokine storms. Intranasal and Oral COVID-19 Candidate Vaccine: Formed a strategic partnership program between Avalon GloboCare and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria. The goal is to co-develop an S-layer vaccine that can be administered by an intranasal or oral route against SARS-CoV-2. This partnership is led by BOKU's Professor Uwe B. Sleytr, an eminent member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, who is a pioneer of applied surface layer nanotechnology, based on the repetitive protein structures that make up the outer surface of microbial cells. This vaccine strategy has the dual advantages of ease of manufacturing and delivery. The candidate vaccine is derived from a fusion of an S-layer viral particle mimic with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and could be delivered non-invasively via the nasal or oral passageways, rather than a needle-based injection into the muscle or under the skin. The S-layer protein-based vaccine is expected to both decrease the severity of a SARS-CoV-2 infection-preventing the more severe respiratory inflammation and organ damage seen in many COVID-19 patients-and build immunity against the virus. Substantial progress has been made by developing the proprietary techniques necessary to synthesize conjugate vaccines consisting of an S-layer artificial viral envelope linked to a viral antigen, eliciting immune-protective antibody responses. Avalon plans to complete the proof-of-concept pre-clinical studies in 2020, followed by first-in-human clinical study of this candidate vaccine during 2021. In addition, Avalon plans to utilize S-layer technology to accelerate additional vaccine programs for other respiratory infections including different strains of the flu, respiratory syncytial virus and other viruses. Avalon is also actively exploring other practical uses of S-layer technology including targeted drug delivery, diagnostic devices, and therapeutic applications.

09:12 EDT Avalon GloboCare expects to begin first-in-human trial with AVA-011 in 1Q21 - Avalon's FLASH-CAR uses next generation CAR technology to modify patients' T-cells and natural killer cells using a ribonucleic acid-based platform rather than a viral vector. Avalon's RNA-based CAR technology is designed to rapidly create personalized CAR therapies in 1 to 2 days compared to the 10- to 14-day bio-manufacturing time necessary to generate currently available CAR-T cellular immunotherapy. Avalon's FLASH-CAR(TM) technology is also designed to reprogram the immune cells to hone in on multiple crucial cancer cell targets, called tumor antigens, to potentially achieve superior therapeutic effect. Avoiding the use of viral vectors and complicated bio-processing procedures significantly reduces manufacturing costs, resulting in a more affordable and potentially breakthrough therapy for cancer patients. The FLASH-CAR technology can also be used to generate "off-the-shelf," universal cell therapy that has the potential to reach even more patients. Avalon's first FLASH-CAR platform candidate, AVA-011, targets both CD19 and CD22 tumor antigens on cancer cells. Pre-clinical research on AVA-011, including tumor cytotoxicity studies, has been successfully completed and Avalon is immediately entering the process development stage to generate clinical-grade CAR-T and CAR-NK cells for use in human clinical trials. Avalon expects to begin a first-in-human clinical trial with AVA-011 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the first quarter of 2021. The goal is to apply AVA-011 as a bridge to bone marrow stem cell transplant therapy with curative potential for patients with these blood cancers.

09:10 EDT Universal Health pays $117M to DOJ to settle whistleblower lawsuits - Atlanta and New York-based Moss & Gilmore announced that they are among one of eighteen separate false claims whistleblower lawsuits against United Health Services and affiliates resolved by the United States Department of Justice and various States. According to the Department of Justice website, UHS, while not acknowledging wrongdoing, will pay to DOJ $117M to resolve allegations that it violated the FCA and the various State false claims statutes by knowingly submitting false claims for payment to the Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Federal Employee Health Benefit programs for inpatient behavioral health services that were not reasonable or medically necessary and/or failed to provide adequate and appropriate services for adults and children admitted to UHS facilities across the country. The government alleged, among other things, that between January 2006 and December 2018, UHS facilities admitted as patients federal healthcare beneficiaries who were not eligible for inpatient or residential treatment because their conditions did not require that level of care, while also failing to properly discharge appropriately admitted beneficiaries when they no longer required inpatient care. The government further alleged that UHS facilities billed for services not rendered, billed for improper and excessive lengths of stay, failed to provide adequate staffing, training, and/or supervision of staff, and improperly used physical and chemical restraints and seclusion. In addition, UHS facilities allegedly failed to develop and/or update individual assessments and treatment plans for patients, failed to provide adequate discharge planning, and failed to provide required individual and group therapy services in accordance with federal and state regulations.

09:07 EDT Nvidia appoints John Dabiri to board of directors - NVIDIA announced that it has named to its board of directors John Dabiri, the Centennial Professor of aeronautics and mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology, where he previously served as dean of Students and chair of the Faculty Board. Dabiri recently returned to Caltech after four years at Stanford University, where he was a professor of civil and environmental engineering and of mechanical engineering. He heads the Dabiri Lab, which conducts research at the intersections of fluid mechanics, energy and environment, and biology.

09:03 EDT Legg Mason reports preliminary AUM $783.4B as of June 30

09:03 EDT Ovid Therapeutics, Angelini Pharma enter license agreement to develop OV101 - Ovid Therapeutics and Angelini Pharma S.p.A announced an agreement in which Angelini Pharma will be responsible to develop, manufacture and commercialize OV101 for the potential treatment of Angelman syndrome in the European Union, other countries in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Russia. Angelini Pharma will execute the agreement through its new affiliate Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG. OV101 is believed to be the only delta (delta)-selective GABAA receptor agonist in development, and is currently being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 NEPTUNE trial in Angelman syndrome, with topline results expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, Ovid will receive an upfront payment of $20M and is eligible to receive up to an additional $212.5M in payments upon the achievement of development, manufacturing and sales milestones for the initial indication, as well as double-digit royalties on net sales if OV101 is successfully commercialized. Ovid will retain all U.S. and rest-of-world commercial rights to OV101.

08:47 EDT Amdocs announces strategic partnership with Cellcom Israel - Amdocs (DOX) announced a new agreement with Cellcom Israel (CEL) expanding the collaboration between the two companies. As part of the agreement, Amdocs will help Cellcom simplify and consolidate its technology operations on an integrated, modern platform with advanced digital capabilities in support of its cellular, fixed, TV and broadband internet services for both retail and enterprise customers.The agreement expands on nearly two decades of collaboration between the two companies, where Cellcom has been using different Amdocs business and operational support systems.

08:43 EDT Kandi affiliate Fengsheng Automotive announces release of Maple 30X 'City SUV' - Kandi Technologies Group announced that its affiliate company Fengsheng Automotive launched sales of its first pure electric SUV, the Maple 30x. The Maple 30x comes in five styles and five different colors. In addition to the four styles offered in pre-sales earlier this year, Fengsheng also launched its "mobility version" customized for the urban mobility market. The sales price after subsidy starts at RMB 68,800 and goes up to RMB82,800 for the premium package.

08:42 EDT Phathom Pharmaceuticals appoints Todd Branning as CFO - Phathom Pharmaceuticals (PHAT) announced that it has appointed Todd Branning as CFO. Interim CFO, David Socks, will continue with the company as a strategic advisor and remain a member of the Board of Directors. Branning was most recently with Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) where he served as SVP and CFO.

08:40 EDT Schmitt Industries Inc to remain listed on Nasdaq - Schmitt Industries, Inc. announced that Schmitt's Board of Directors has unanimously passed a resolution for Schmitt to remain listed on the NASDAQ market. In conjunction with the acquisition of the assets of Ample Hills Creamery and its subsidiaries, and in consideration for a potential SEC rule that would make delisted companies highly illiquid, the Board has announced that it will remain listed on the Nasdaq markets. To provide shareholders additional time to make an informed decision on the announced tender offer, the Board has approved an extension of the tender offer to July 20.

08:39 EDT OpGen, Menarini Silicon Biosystems enter co-promotion partnership - Menarini Silicon Biosystems announced that it has entered into a strategic co-promotion partnership for its CELLSEARCH Circulating Endothelial Cell Kit, relevant to study progression of COVID-19 disease, and other COVID-19-related products, with OpGen. Effective immediately, Menarini's CELLSEARCH system, CELLSEARCH CEC kit and COVID-19 related products will be marketed and sold by OpGen to infectious disease healthcare providers and researchers in North America through its dedicated team of sales and marketing experts. The partnership will focus on promoting Menarini's CELLSEARCH system for CEC application, for the enrichment and enumeration of CEC from whole blood. CEC count is useful in studying the progression of COVID-19 and potentially in identifying patients at risk of developing more severe complications. Both parties intend to expand the portfolio of COVID-19 products and platforms available over the coming months as they become available for sale. The OpGen commercial team will offer these products to its infectious disease contacts in hospitals, labs, research centers, along with distributors and other relevant stakeholders in the COVID-19 testing space.

08:37 EDT Nexstar transfers option to buy E.W. Scripps' CW affiliate WPIX to Mission - The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) has been informed that Nexstar Media Group (NXST) has transferred its option to purchase Scripps' New York CW affiliate WPIX to Mission Broadcasting and that Mission has exercised its option to purchase the station. The option price is $75M plus accrued interest, to be calculated on the period between the Sept. 19, 2019, purchase date of WPIX by Scripps and the option sale closing date. Scripps purchased WPIX as part of its acquisition of eight television stations in seven markets from Nexstar. Those stations were being divested in connection with Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media in September 2019. In its purchase agreement with Nexstar, Scripps granted Nexstar the option to buy back WPIX. The option was exercisable from March 31, 2020, through the end of 2021. Nexstar assigned its option to Mission Broadcasting, and Mission has exercised the option. Pending execution of a definitive purchase agreement and FCC approval, the transaction is expected to close later this year. Scripps will remain the nation's fourth-largest independent TV station owner, with 59 stations in 41 markets. The company intends to use cash from the sale of Stitcher, the presidential election year political ad revenue and the sale of WPIX to pay down debt, Scripps Executive Vice President and CFO Lisa Knutson said.

08:35 EDT Wrap Technologies to train seven new agencies on BolaWrap in Maryland - Wrap Technologies is scheduled to train seven new agencies on the BolaWrap in Maryland on July 14. Landover Hills Police Department will host the "Train the Trainer" session for 16 trainers from seven different local agencies. Following the training session, Chief Robert Liberati of Landover Hills Police Department will be hosting a press conference for local Maryland and Washington D.C. media to discuss the BolaWrap. Since June 1, the company has conducted 14 "Train the Trainer" sessions for 18 new agencies in 12 states, including California, Texas, Arizona, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Alabama, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Kansas and Michigan.

08:34 EDT T. Rowe Price reports preliminary AUM $1.22T at June 30 - Client transfers from mutual funds to other portfolios, including trusts and separate accounts, were $1.1B in June, and $4.4B for the quarter-ended June 30. This brings total client transfers for the year-to-date period ended June 30 to $8.8B.

08:33 EDT Net Element amends merger LOI with Mullen to extend exclusivity period - Net Element provides an update on the pending merger with Mullen Technologies. The Company has amended the original Letter of Intent, or LOI, to reflect an extended exclusivity period of 30 days, until August 10. "We are working earnestly on due diligence and other matters in the hope of bringing this merger to fruition for the benefit of our shareholders. The EV industry continues showing robust growth and if consummated, we believe the merger can increase shareholder value," commented Oleg Firer, Executive Chairman and CEO of Net Element.

08:32 EDT Celsion says IDMC recommends considering stopping Phase III OPTIMA study - Celsion announced that it has received a recommendation from the independent Data Monitoring Committee to consider stopping the global Phase III OPTIMA Study of ThermoDox in combination with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, or primary liver cancer. The recommendation was made following the second pre-planned interim safety and efficacy analysis by the DMC on July 9, 2020. The DMC analysis found that the pre-specified boundary for stopping the trial for futility of 0.900 was crossed with an actual value of 0.903. However, the 2-sided p-value of 0.524 for this analysis provides uncertainty, subsequently, the DMC has left the final decision of whether or not to stop the OPTIMA Study to Celsion. There were no safety concerns noted during the interim analysis. The OPTIMA Study is a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessing the efficacy of ThermoDox in combination with RFA, which was standardized to a minimum of 45 minutes for treating patients with a lesion 3-7 cm in size, versus standardized RFA alone. The OPTIMA Study enrolled 554 patients at 65 clinical sites in North America, Europe, China and Asia Pacific. In addition to the primary overall survival endpoint, progression-free survival, time to disease progression, and safety are key secondary endpoints. The statistical plan for the OPTIMA Study included two interim efficacy analyses by the DMC. The first interim analysis was announced in November 2019 following data lock in August 2019 after the prescribed minimum number of 128 patient events was reached, and the second interim analysis was conducted in July 2020 following data lock in April 2020 after the prescribed minimum number of 158 events was reached.

08:22 EDT Tracon Pharmaceuticals to host KOL webinar on envafolimab - TRACON Pharmaceuticals announced that it will host a key opinion leader webinar on envafolimab for the treatment of sarcoma on Friday, July 17, 2020, at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. The KOL webinar will feature a presentation by Robert Maki, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who will discuss the current treatment landscape and unmet medical need in treating patients with sarcoma. Dr. Maki will be available to answer questions at the conclusion of the event. TRACON's CEO Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., will also provide an update on the Company's lead product candidate, envafolimab, for treating patients with sarcoma. Envafolimab is a novel, single-domain antibody against PD-L1 that is administered by subcutaneous injection without the need for an adjuvant. Envafolimab is currently being studied in China in a Phase 2 registration trial as a single agent in MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer patients, in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in a Phase 3 registration trial in biliary tract cancer, as well as in several Phase 1 trials in the U.S. and Japan. Having agreed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on trial design, TRACON intends to initiate the ENVASARC pivotal study of envafolimab in the sarcoma subtypes of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and myxofibrosarcoma in the second half of 2020.

08:19 EDT cbdMD files new patent application with USPTO - cbdMD said in a release, "cbdMD announced that it has filed a new patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office which will allow it to pursue patented protection in several key areas, including novel formulations and delivery systems, as well as methods of manufacturing and use. The recent submission by the company is part of its ongoing intellectual property strategy to ensure appropriate protection around its product lines and to be forward-thinking as to the direction of the CBD market."

08:18 EDT PepsiCo spent nearly $400M on incremental COVID-related costs in Q2 - Comments provided in pre-recorded comments.

08:18 EDT Vector Group appoints David Ballard as Chief Technology Officer - Vector Group announced that it has appointed veteran industry operations and technology leader David Ballard as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Efficiency and Chief Technology Officer. In this newly-created role, Mr. Ballard will be responsible for seeking out new technologies and operational efficiencies for the Company and its subsidiaries. Mr. Ballard has served as a consultant to the Company since February. Most recently, Mr. Ballard served as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Services of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services.

08:16 EDT TriMas announces new strategic customer relationship - TriMas said in a release, "TriMas announced that its Rieke business has partnered with INEOS Hygienics, a new INEOS business focused on the global consumer healthcare market, in an effort to help provide products that are essential to minimize the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. INEOS recently awarded Rieke with a contract to produce dispenser pumps for its new hand sanitizers."

08:15 EDT Allscripts, Microsoft extend strategic alliance to - Allscripts (MDRX) and Microsoft (MSFT) announced the extension of their long-standing strategic alliance to enable the expanded development and delivery of cloud-based health IT solutions. The companies said in a release, "The five-year extension will support Allscripts' cloud-based Sunrise electronic health record, making Microsoft the cloud provider for the solution and opening up co-innovation opportunities to help transform healthcare with smarter, more scalable technology. The alliance will enable Allscripts to harness the power of Microsoft's platform and tools, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Teams and Power BI, creating a more seamless and highly productive user experience. Cloud-based Sunrise will offer many added benefits beyond the on-premise version that will improve organizational effectiveness, solution interoperability, clinician ease of use and an improved patient experience. Client benefits include a subscription model delivering faster implementations and lower annual upgrade costs, helping organizations leverage the software without increasing burdens on their internal IT resources. The cloud-based Sunrise solution will provide enhanced security, scalability and flexibility, as well as the opportunity to add new capabilities quickly as business needs and the cloud evolve. The cloud-based solution will also include expanded analytics and insights functionality that can quickly engage with the Internet of Things. Finally, the cloud-based Sunrise solution will include a marketplace that enables healthcare apps and third parties to easily integrate with a hospital EHR. Allscripts clients will begin to see these updates by the end of 2020."

08:15 EDT Investors issue letter to Leaf Group shareholders regarding strategic review - Investors owning over 40% of the issued and outstanding shares of Leaf Group issued a letter to the company's board highlighting their concerns regarding the company's recently completed strategic review process and corporate governance. The list of signatories to the letter includes Osmium Partners, PEAK6 Investments, Boyle Capital Opportunity Fund, Oak Management, Generation Capital Partners, Generation Partners II, Spectrum Equity and Spectrum V Investment Managers' Fund and is comprised of several of the company's largest and longest-standing shareholders. The letter said, "On Friday, we asked you to disclose to shareholders the serious conflicts of interest and governance breaches that have affected the independence of the Board and its objectivity in evaluating management, the Company's operations and its strategic alternatives. You have said nothing...In our conversation last week, the independent committee of the Board claimed the recently completed strategic review process had "integrity" and was "fully thorough." To the contrary, we believe the process was fatally flawed as a result of serious conflicts of interest. We do not believe shareholders can - or do - trust that the process was thorough or reached a proper conclusion. It is evident to us that CEO Sean Moriarty does not want to sell the Company. Despite the significant destruction of shareholder value and poor Company performance under his watch, Mr. Moriarty appears to relish his position as CEO and the trappings of his office, including an inappropriate and lavish annual compensation package that exceeds the total value of his stock in Leaf Group. Facing a potential proxy contest in early 2019, the Board reluctantly agreed (likely over Mr. Moriarty's objection) to "comprehensively" review the Company's strategic alternatives. To add credibility to the effort, the Board added a new director, Charles ("Lanny") Baker, and appointed him to Chair a new Strategic Review Committee. As the Board undoubtedly intended, the proxy fight was averted with this promise of an objective and comprehensive review of alternatives... We have therefore asked the Board to allow two former Leaf Group directors, who on behalf of their investment firms are signatories to this letter, to provide shareholders an objective description of the strategic alternatives process as they witnessed it firsthand. So far, you have refused to release them from their confidentiality obligations. Given the deeply flawed committee composition and process, we believe you will continue to insist these two former directors remained muzzled. We nevertheless ask you again to release them so that shareholders can learn whether the strategic review process in fact had "integrity" and was fully thorough... In our opinion, a fundamentally flawed business strategy combined with an entrenched CEO and Board has led to a massive gap between Leaf Group's intrinsic value and its market value. A new CEO, working on behalf of all shareholders with integrity, would make an enormous difference. Clearly, we are not alone in this view. Since our first letter was released, Roumell Asset Management publicly stated that it owns approximately 4.8% of the Company and is "supportive of unlocking shareholder value" at Leaf Group, and PenderFund Capital Management disclosed a 5.77% ownership stake stating that there are "numerous operational and strategic opportunities to maximize shareholder value" at the Company. All told, shareholders that own approximately 50% of the Company's shares have publicly indicated they are seeking changes or attempting to influence the direction of the Company. The status quo is therefore untenable. The Board should do the right thing now and take immediate action to terminate Mr. Moriarty, modify the composition of the Board to ensure direct input from shareholders, and start a legitimate strategic review process..."

08:14 EDT Lipocine regains Nasdaq compliance - Lipocine announced that it has received a letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market on July 9 indicating that Lipocine has regained compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2).

08:13 EDT Capstone Turbine secures follow-on sale from Southern CA oil and gas producer - Capstone Turbine announced that it closed a follow-on sale of a C600 Signature Series microturbine from a premier Southern California oil and gas producer. Capstone said in a release, "Cal Microturbine, Capstone's exclusive distributor in California, Hawaii and Nevada and non-exclusive in Washington and Oregon secured the order, which is expected to be commissioned this fall. The follow-on C600S microturbine order adds an additional 600 kilowatts of generation capacity to the customer's existing Capstone fleet. The microturbines, fueled by minimally processed wellhead gas, will produce electricity and provide prime power for the end-user's Southern California location and on-site equipment. Capstone's microturbines can run on a wide range of fuels with various BTU content, requiring minimal treatment when compared to reciprocating engines, helping reduce the overall cost of the project while improving system reliability. The C600S microturbine system will ship this summer in a four-bay enclosure that allows the customer to add an additional 200 kW microturbine and expand on-site generation capacity from 600 kW to 800 kW as more associated gas becomes available in the future. The customer, a leading oil and gas producer in the United States, selected Capstone microturbines again because of their demonstrated ability to lower operating costs while also requiring significantly less maintenance. Capstone microturbines are recognized in the industry for their proven reliability in the field and superior product engineering."

08:12 EDT Chipotle to test cilantro-lime cauliflower rice in select markets - Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it will test Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice at 55 restaurants in Denver and throughout Wisconsin starting July 15. Chipotle's latest plant-based option is made with real, grilled cauliflower, seasoned with fresh-chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt, prepared fresh in-restaurant every day. As many brands look to limit menu offerings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chipotle is continuing to explore menu innovations that align with its Food with Integrity standards.

08:11 EDT Schmitt Industries Inc announces extension of Dutch tender offer - Schmitt Industries announced that it has extended the offering period of its previously announced cash tender offer to purchase up to $2.5M of Schmitt's common stock at a price per share not less than $3.00 and not greater than $3.25. The Offer is now scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 20 unless the Offer is further extended or earlier terminated. The Offer was originally scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 10.

08:09 EDT EnLink Midstream names Pablo Mercado as new CFO - EnLink Midstream (ENLC) announced the appointment of Pablo Mercado as its new Executive Vice President and CFO and a member of EnLink's Executive Leadership Team, effective immediately. Mercado has over 20 years of experience in finance and corporate development in the energy industry. Most recently, he was CFO for Forum Energy Technologies (FET).

08:08 EDT Avaya contact tracing solutions to be utlized by Mexico City government - The Government of Mexico City and its Digital Agency for Public Innovation have implemented a Detection, Protection and Safeguard program to address COVID-19, featuring contact tracing solutions from Avaya to help enable the city and its citizens to emerge from the pandemic. The program is implemented in conjunction with Locatel, the government contact center committed to informing and guiding the citizens of Mexico City and the Metropolitan Area. Communications, collaboration and contact center solutions are key to enable global organizations to scale contact tracing capabilities. The Detection, Protection and Safeguard program is a coordinated effort of government resources and consists of a system of notification, tracing and mitigation including SMS, early care protocols, testing and other services. It's supported by the Locatel contact center which has been optimized to scale quickly and address the communications requirements of this massive effort. The program is conducting 2,700 tests each day across 117 health centers in Mexico City, with Avaya's tracing, notification and monitoring system in place to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

08:05 EDT Jungheinrich extends global technology agreement with PowerFleet - PowerFleet will be expanding its partnership with Jungheinrich AG. After just one year into a multi-year contract with the leading provider of intralogistics to collaborate on product development, sales and support for their telematics needs, PowerFleet is proud to announce an extension to its existing agreement with Jungheinrich. PowerFleet was originally tapped by Jungheinrich to develop a highly integrated telemetry platform for its vehicles combined with sophisticated fleet management software in Europe. Through this evolving partnership, PowerFleet will continue to help Jungheinrich expand their market penetration in EMEA and North America by enabling Jungheinrich customers to run safer, more cost-effective intralogistics operations. The collaboration between PowerFleet's best-in-class technology and Jungheinrich's comprehensive portfolio of material handling equipment, logistics systems and services has generated strong momentum for both companies.

08:04 EDT Catalyst Biosciences presents data at ISTH Virtual Congress - Catalyst Biosciences presented two posters at the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis Virtual Congress being held July 12-14, 2020. The first poster entitled: "Phase 1 study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of ascending doses of subcutaneous marzeptacog alfa in adult subjects with hemophilia", included the final data from MAA-102 and was presented by Linda Neuman, M.D., M.B.A., vice president, clinical development, Catalyst Biosciences. This study was conducted in adult subjects with Hemophilia A or B, with or without inhibitors to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of a single IV dose and ascending S) doses of MarzAA. The final data demonstrated the potential of subcutaneous marzeptacog alfa to rapidly achieve and maintain therapeutic levels to treat acute bleeding events in hemophilia and confirms the dosing regimen chosen for the upcoming Phase 3 trial, Crimson 1. The second poster, entitled: "Marzeptacog alfa population pharmacokinetics: Simulations for dose selection in Phase 3 trials," was presented by Tom Knudsen, DVM, Ph.D., vice president of translational research, Catalyst Biosciences. A population PK model was developed and used for clinical trial simulations. Based on simulating PK for SQ MarzAA in 1000 subjects, the model confirmed that target levels for hemostasis may be rapidly achieved and sustained for over 24 hours in the upcoming Phase 3 Crimson 1 trial using 60 undefined/kg dosed SQ once, twice or three times at 3-hour intervals.

08:02 EDT Sirius XM to acquire Stitcher - SiriusXM (SIRI) announced that it has entered an agreement with The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) to acquire Stitcher, a pioneer in podcast production, distribution, and ad sales. The transaction will advance and deepen SiriusXM's position in podcasting, the fastest-growing sector in the audio entertainment ecosystem. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, at the closing, SiriusXM will make a cash payment of $265M to Scripps. The agreement provides that SiriusXM will potentially make up to $60M in additional contingent payments based on Stitcher achieving certain financial metrics in 2020 and 2021. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020, subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

07:52 EDT HP Enterprise to acquire Silver Peak for $925M - HP Enterprise announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Silver Peak, a software-defined wide area network, or SD-WAN company, in a transaction valued at $925M. Silver Peak will be combined with HPE's Aruba business unit. By combining Silver Peak's SD-WAN with Aruba's SD-Branch solutions customers can utilize branch office and WAN deployments to empower remote workforces and enable cloud-connected distributed enterprises. The companies expect the combination to create opportunities for economic upside through enhanced growth and profitability by providing a value proposition to joint customers through integrated offerings that addresses a greater set of customer requirements The company said bringing together Aruba and Silver Peak will result in an enhanced financial profile for HPE's Intelligent Edge business. HPE expects the combination to drive revenue opportunities and to be accretive to Intelligent Edge segment revenue growth and gross margin. The company expects the transaction to be neutral to non-GAAP EPS in FY21. The transaction is expected to close in Q4, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

07:47 EDT OpGen, Menarini Silicon Biosystems partner for CELLSEARCH distribution - OpGen announced that it has entered into a strategic co-promotion partnership with Menarini Silicon Biosystems, for its CELLSEARCH Circulating Endothelial Cell Kit, relevant to study progression of COVID-19 disease, and other COVID-19-related products. Effective immediately, Menarini's CELLSEARCH system, CELLSEARCH CEC kit and COVID-19 related products will be marketed and sold by OpGen to infectious disease healthcare providers and researchers in North America through its dedicated team of sales and marketing experts. The partnership will focus on promoting Menarini's CELLSEARCH system for CEC application, for the enrichment and enumeration of CEC from whole blood. CEC count is useful in studying the progression of COVID-19 and potentially in identifying patients at risk of developing more severe complications. Both parties intend to expand the portfolio of COVID-19 products and platforms available over the coming months as they become available for sale. The OpGen commercial team will offer these products to its contacts in infectious disease hospitals, labs, research centers, along with distributors and other relevant stakeholders in the COVID-19 testing space.

07:45 EDT Cytokinetics participates in launch of Kainomyx - Cytokinetics announced that it is participating in the launch of Kainomyx, Inc., a new biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of parasitic diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Cytokinetics will transfer certain compounds identified at Cytokinetics to be selective inhibitors of a cytoskeletal protein in parasites that may enable Kainomyx research directed to investigational therapies for global diseases. In exchange for the compounds and enabling know-how, Cytokinetics will receive an equity position in Kainomyx and will be eligible for potential single-digit royalties on the sale of products that may arise from Kainomyx research with the compounds. In addition, Kainomyx will incubate at Cytokinetics' facilities in South San Francisco, CA, subject to a separate sublease agreement.

07:42 EDT Just Energy announces correction to record date for recapitalization plan - Just Energy Group announced on July 8, 2020, it will be seeking, as part of the interim order, a revision of the previously announced July 8, 2020 record date for voting of securityholders, to July 23, 2020. The record date for the new equity subscription opportunity described in the July 8, 2020 announcement remains unchanged at July 23, 2020.

07:40 EDT Harrow Health announces publication of study on ImprisRx's eyedrops - ImprimisRx announced the findings from a randomized contralateral eye study comparing patient outcomes and preferences for a combination therapy with individual eye drop medications after ocular surgery. The prospective study was conducted at a single site where patients underwent cataract surgery with both eyes and each eye was randomly selected for the test and control group. Subjects were evaluated at day 1, 15 and 30 measuring visual acuities, refraction, intraocular pressure, macular thickness, patient pain and overall patient satisfaction. According to the study, the ImprimisRx combination drop showed similar health outcomes to multiple separately dosed drops, and that the combination drop was unanimously preferred by patients as it was easier to manage. The results of the study were recently published in Clinical Ophthalmology, Volume 14, 2020, a peer-reviewed journal focused on the clinical advancements in ophthalmology. The study followed 33 patients who underwent cataract surgery and received the combination drop in one randomly selected eye, while the other eye received the same individual eye drop medications post-surgery. It was noted by the investigator, "Enrollment for this study was relatively slow, as it was difficult to find eligible patients willing to use the three different drops instead of the combination drop; the latter is the standard of care in our clinic."

07:37 EDT BSE Ebix announces beta launch of life insurance - BSE Ebix Insurance Broking Private announced the beta launch of Life insurance on its state-of-the-art hi-tech platform by enrolling two of India's leading Life Insurance Companies, namely - Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Co Ltd & Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co Ltd. With this launch, BSE Ebix - a high-tech venture of BSE and a subsidiary of Ebix, now has the ability to handle insurance sales across the three key insurance verticals of Life, Health and Auto insurance; using its omnichannel digital presence supplemented by the "Phygital" pan India physical presence of BSE Ebix's thousands of Point of sale Persons. The launch of Life insurance products by BSE Ebix is a major development from the Company's perspective, since Life insurance is traditionally one of the fastest growing insurance segments in the country. New business premiums in Life Insurance in India amount approximately at 2 trillion rupees, with 30 million policies being written annually. The life insurance segment has been growing at a CAGR of 10% annually and as per industry analysts, this growth is expected to continue for the next many years. The business sourcing in the life insurance segment in India is largely dominated at present by Individual agents and the Bank assurance channel. With the Insurance Brokers accounting for less than 2% of the business in 2018-19. BSE Ebix with its technology and country wide expanse sees an opportunity to change this scenario in India. BSE Ebix's strategy is to have an unrivalled 'Phygital' pan India reach by combining the physical presence of tens of thousands of PoSPs with an omnichannel digital channel, thereby allowing its PoSPs to have access to extensive real-time quotes from insurance companies and to complete the entire transaction online on behalf of their customers. Through its technology, BSE Ebix empowers PoSPs to deliver best of the Insurance products and provide comfort to the end customers by transacting physically at the speed of digital technology. This presents a huge opportunity for BSE Ebix to build its Life insurance portfolio. n order to offer a full bouquet of insurance to meet the diverse needs of the end customer, BSE Ebix also plans to offer other insurance products for Commercial Vehicles like Trucks, Tractor, Auto, Taxi; Commercial Products like fire, liability, shopkeeper insurance; and other Personal lines of business like Home, Personal accident, travel Insurance etc.. BSE Ebix also plans to add many more insurance companies in each insurance vertical in coming days and months, while ensuring that their integration with BSE Ebix is state of the art for each vertical.

07:34 EDT Alnylam announces UK MHRA grants early access to lumasiran - Alnylam announced that the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA, has granted lumasiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1, or PH1, a positive scientific opinion through the Early Access to Medicines Scheme, or EAMS. With this decision, eligible PH1 patients in the UK, many of whom are children, can gain access to lumasiran before the drug is granted marketing authorization by the European Commission, or EC. The aim of EAMS is to provide early availability of innovative, unlicensed medicines to UK patients who have a high degree of unmet clinical need. The medicines included in the scheme are those that are intended to treat, diagnose or prevent seriously debilitating or life-threatening conditions where there are no adequate treatment options. PH1 is an ultra-rare orphan disease characterized by excessive oxalate production, which can lead to end-stage kidney disease, or ESKD, and other systemic complications.

07:34 EDT Mateon Therapeutics to fund observational studies of artemisinin - Mateon Therapeutics announced that it will fund observational studies for Artemisinin, an herbal supplement, that demonstrated potent in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus. By collecting data from multiple clinical observational studies globally, the company expects to establish Artemisinin efficacy against COVID-19 as an affordable front-line treatment for this pandemic in low resources countries. The company is inviting nonprofits such as non-government organizations to participate in this trial if they have the logistics to participate in observational trials and to distribute the Artemisinin in their home countries. The trial is expected to accrue a minimum of 3,000 patients. Artemisinin is derived from an abundantly grown herb Artemisia annua L. and has been used medicinally to treat fevers for centuries in eastern countries. Like other potential COVID-19 therapeutic agents, the efficacy of Artemisinin remains to be tested in well-controlled and sufficiently powered clinical trials. However, given the known safety profile and the widespread use of Artemisinin, the company anticipates that it can be used as frontline therapy in countries with less developed healthcare systems. Previously, the company's in vitro laboratory tests revealed that Artemisinin is highly potent at inhibiting the ability of the COVID-19 virus to multiply, similar to Remdesivir while also having an excellent safety index. The reported results indicated that Artemisinin had an EC50-0.45 ug/ml and Safety Index = 140. By targeting the host protein TGF-beta that is essential for virus replication, Artemisinin may avoid future drug resistance mutations associated with the virus. By downregulating TGF-beta, it can act as both an anti-viral and anti-lung damage agent. This potential mechanism of action is similar to the company's leading drug candidate OT-101 which is also being developed to target the COVID-19 virus.

07:30 EDT Mesa Air signs five-year cargo contract with DHL Express - Mesa Air Group (MESA) announced plans to begin providing air cargo service for DHL Express with Boeing (BA) 737-400F cargo aircraft. Under the agreement, Mesa will operate two cargo aircraft from DHL Express Americas global hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for a five-year term. The company will lease the aircraft from DHL with the first scheduled to be in service this October.

07:23 EDT Summit announces publication of Phase 2 analyses of gut microbiome health - Summit Therapeutics announces the publication of data from the Phase 2 clinical trial of the company's precision antibiotic, ridinilazole, in development for the treatment of C. difficile infection in the American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. The data published in collaboration with researchers at Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center demonstrated that ridinilazole's microbiome preservation resulted in a gut environment expected to inhibit the growth of C. difficile. In contrast, vancomycin treatment resulted in a gut environment that may more highly favor the growth of C. difficile. The difference in gut environment could explain the approximately 60% relative reduction in recurrence observed in patients treated with ridinilazole over vancomycin in the Phase 2 trial. The Phase 2 clinical trial enrolled 100 patients, half of whom received ridinilazole and the other half vancomycin. The publication, "Ridinilazole, a narrow spectrum antibiotic for treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection, enhances preservation of microbiota-dependent bile acids," was authored by X. Qian, K. Yanagi, A. Kane, N. Alden, M. Lei, D. Snydman, R. Vickers, K. Lee and C. Thorpe. In the published data, there was a higher ratio of pro-C. difficile to anti C.-difficile bile acids at the start of treatment for both ridinilazole- and vancomycin-treated patients. This was expected, as patients who get CDI have perturbed microbiomes. However, during treatment, patients treated with vancomycin showed a further decrease in anti-C. difficile bile acids and had stools dominated by pro-C. difficile bile acids. In contrast, this did not occur in ridinilazole-treated patients. By the end of the study period, ridinilazole-treated patients' bile acid ratios trended towards a healthy, non-CDI state. These results support the data from the Phase 2 clinical trial, in which patients receiving ridinilazole showed a statistically significant improvement in sustained clinical responses.

07:22 EDT Cyclacel announces publication of peer-reviewed study of fadraciclib - Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals announced publication of a peer-reviewed study of fadraciclib, in PLOS ONE. The publication, authored by scientists from Cyclacel and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, describes the discovery of fadraciclib and shows its ability to target CDK2 and CDK9, leading to broad therapeutic potential. Cyclin-dependent kinases exist in many isoforms and as key cell cycle regulators can play a critical role in cancer growth. This preclinical characterization of fadraciclib includes its potency and selectivity against CDK2 and CDK9 in vitro and in a broad range of cancer cell lines including AML, breast and colorectal. Further in vivo efficacy was demonstrated in leukemia xenograft models. Experimental results support fadraciclib's anti-cancer activity through CDK2/9 inhibition. In breast cancer cell lines, short-pulse treatment with fadraciclib showed preferential activity against transformed cells over normal cells. This finding supports the compound's potential benefit in cancers addicted to cyclin E which can be rationally targeted by CDK2 inhibition. In AML models, fadraciclib was effective in inhibiting CDK9 and suppressing the MCL1 protein to induce apoptosis or programmed cell death of leukemia cells. Fadraciclib also demonstrated synergy with BCL2 inhibitors such as venetoclax in AML cells. In subcutaneous mouse xenograft models of AML and MLLr-AML, nearly 100% tumor growth inhibition was achieved with oral administration of fadraciclib at pharmacological doses. Cyclin-dependent kinases are critical for cell cycle regulation and transcriptional elongation. Dysregulated CDKs have been linked to the cancer hallmarks of uncontrolled proliferation and increased survival. Fadraciclib is a potent orally and intravenously available inhibitor of CDK2 and CDK9. CDK9 regulates transcription of genes through phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain. Inhibition of CDK9 by fadraciclib suppresses CDK9-dependent gene expression and reduces the level of MCL1, a key anti-apoptotic protein. Fadraciclib is in an ongoing Phase 1, first-in-human study in patients with advanced solid tumors. In this all-comer study, target engagement and durable suppression of the MCL1 biomarker were observed after a single dose of fadraciclib. Tumor shrinkage and stable disease were observed in five patients with cyclin E, MCL1 or MYC amplified advanced cancers. In the ongoing part 2 of the study evaluating a more intensive dosing regimen, a durable partial response has been observed in a heavily pretreated patient with MCL1-amplified endometrial cancer. Fadraciclib is also being evaluated in Phase 1 combination studies with venetoclax in relapsed or refractory CLL and in relapsed or refractory AML or MDS. Preclinical data suggest that fadraciclib may benefit patients with adult and pediatric hematological malignancies such as CLL, AML, ALL, B-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma and certain cyclin E-addicted or MYC-amplified solid tumors, including certain forms of breast cancer, neuroblastoma, ovarian cancer and uterine serous carcinoma.

07:19 EDT electroCore announces FDA EUA for use of gammaCore Sapphire CV - electroCore announced that the FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization authorizing the use of gammaCore Sapphire CV non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation at home or in a healthcare setting to acutely treat adult patients with known or suspected COVID-19 who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related dyspnea and reduced airflow, and for whom approved drug therapies are not tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief. The EUA is based on preliminary data from two prospective studies of use of VNS or nVNS to treat asthma.

07:16 EDT EyePoint appoints Jay Duker as chief strategic scientific officer - EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of Jay Duker, M.D., as Chief Strategic Scientific Officer. In this newly created role, Dr. Duker will lead the strategic advancement of our research and development efforts, beginning with our lead development candidate EYP-1901 for wet age-related macular degeneration and new pipeline expansion opportunities under evaluation. In conjunction with this appointment, Dr. Duker has stepped down from the Company's Board of Directors after four years of service to focus on this newly created role. Dr. Duker will serve in this role on a part time basis while continuing his ongoing retinal practice and serving as the Chair of Ophthalmology at Tufts Medical Center and the Tufts University School of Medicine. Duker is the Director of the New England Eye Center. He is also Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. In connection with the hiring of Dr. Duker, the Compensation Committee of Eyepoint Pharmaceutical's Board of Directors granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 shares of common stock as an inducement award material to Dr. Duker entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The stock options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of EyePoint's common stock on July 13, 2020, and will vest as follows: 25% on the first anniversary and monthly through the fourth anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the terms of grant.

07:15 EDT Calithera Biosciences initiates Phase 1b trial of CB-280 - Calithera Biosciences announced that it has dosed the first patients in its Phase 1b clinical trial of the arginase inhibitor CB-280 in adult patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic airway infection. The study will evaluate the safety and optimal dose range of CB-280 when added onto existing therapies for CF patients, including CFTR modulators. Research in CF patients has demonstrated that increased arginase activity correlates directly with worsened lung function, and reduced expiratory nitric oxidelevels. Pre-clinical studies conducted by Calithera and collaborators have shown that arginase inhibition increases systemic arginine levels, decreases airway bacterial colonies, and improves lung function in CF mouse models of infection. Inhibiting arginase may reduce infection and improve lung function in people with CF. Chronic poly-microbial infection remains a major area of unmet need in CF. The Phase 1b randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation trial will evaluate multiple ascending doses of CB-280 compared to placebo in 32 adult CF patients to determine a safe dose range for CB-280, dosed orally twice daily for 14 days. The study follows the completion of a Phase 1 trial that evaluated the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of CB-280 in healthy volunteers, which was conducted under a United States Food and Drug Administration Investigational New Drug application. In October 2017, Calithera entered into a global collaboration agreement with Incyte, focused on research, development and commercialization of a first-in-class arginase inhibitor in hematology and oncology. As part of this agreement, Calithera retained the rights to develop additional arginase inhibitors in specific non-oncology indications, including CF. The molecule being evaluated in these clinical trials, CB-280, is wholly owned by Calithera.

07:13 EDT Yamana Gold says cash on hand sufficient to fully manage business - During the second quarter, the Company brought funds into treasury from both the sale of its Equinox Gold shares for C$120 million and the sale of its royalty portfolio, which included cash consideration of $10 million. Consequently, given these corporate sales and the generation of free cash flows in the quarter, the Company made the decision to repay $100 million of the drawn funds with cash on hand, allowing it to continue to maintain roughly $200 million in excess of its customary minimum cash position. Cash as at the end of the quarter was in excess of $320 million. The Company expects to repay the remaining $100 million of the drawn funds before the end of 2020. As previously disclosed, these funds were drawn, and maintained, as a precautionary measure given some uncertainties created by COVID-19. As also previously disclosed, the Company does not intend to use these funds. The Company has sufficient cash on hand and available credit and liquidity to fully manage its business. At the present time, the Company has no pending scheduled debt repayment or significant capital commitments. Net debt decreased during the quarter by approximately $100 million with net debt now below $769 million. This compares to first quarter net debt of $869.1 million and represents a further improvement of over $15 million as compared to the pro forma net debt that was disclosed to account for the sale of the Company's shares of Equinox Gold, which closed on April 15, 2020. Net debt would have been further reduced if certain costs associated with COVID-19 had not been incurred, and as some of those costs will no longer be incurred, net debt is expected to decline further in the upcoming quarters which also coincides with higher production in those quarters.

07:10 EDT Yamana Gold continues to advance studies related to Canadian Malartic - Canadian Malartic resumed operations on April 15, 2020, following the Government of Quebec's decision to designate mining activities as an essential service. The remobilization occurred with full attention to the health and safety of returning employees, contractors, and suppliers and complied with the recommendations of the Quebec Department of Public Health and the province's Committee on Standards, Equity, and Occupational Safety. The ramp-up progressed faster than expected and mill throughput in both May and June exceeded 60,000 tpd, partially offsetting the impacts from the downtime and lower production rates during the ramp-up in April. The Company continues to advance studies related to the underground mineral resources at Canadian Malartic, and it is continuing exploration efforts with 10 diamond drill rigs to define and expand underground mineral resources. The resources have increased and the Company, along with its partner, have increased the exploration budget. Installation of surface infrastructure and development of an exploration ramp into Odyssey and East Malartic, with the purpose of eventually mining their respective upper zones and providing further exploration access to allow drilling in tighter spacing, remains on track to begin in 2020.

07:09 EDT Computer Task Group opens delivery center in Bogota, Colombia - CTG announced the opening of a delivery center in Bogota, Colombia to enhance the company's support capabilities and service offerings. CTG chose Colombia as the location for the company's next delivery center for several reasons, including a favorable economic environment, U.S. time zone compatibility, a strong technology infrastructure that will support reliable connectivity, competitive labor costs, and a growing community of Spanish-speaking IT talent.

07:08 EDT Yamana Gold ses 2H20 ASIC $1,020-$1,060 per GEO - Production was delivered at costs better than plan for the second quarter. All-in sustaining costs for the quarter were $1,125 per GEO sold on higher production and, as previously indicated, were impacted in the second quarter by the demobilization and ramp-ups of Cerro Moro and Canadian Malartic along with the implementation of precautionary safety measures related to COVID-19 across all operations. This impact was partially offset by the ongoing benefits from weaker foreign exchange rates. AISC steadily improved during the quarter to $1,061 per GEO in June as the ramp up of operations after the temporary suspensions and implementation of COVID-19 protocols and new safety and health protocols, continued. The Company also indicated that it would update its costs guidance as the impacts of COVID-19 were better understood. With a better understanding of those impacts, the Company now updates AISC guidance for the second half of the year to be in the range of $1,020 to $1,060 per GEO. Further, the fourth quarter is expected to have the best cost profile, in line with the strongest expected production. At Cerro Moro, the ongoing interprovincial travel restrictions and its impact on a reduced workforce may further impact consolidated costs. However, improvements to these logistical matters in the second half of the year and better than planned performance from other mines due to cost improvements is expected to offset those impacts. COVID-19 related costs, which are not included in AISC, can be divided into two major categories: Temporary suspension and standby costs, including those associated with placing certain mines in care and maintenance and subsequent ramp-up of those operations, and the underutilization of labour and contractors in relation to the pre-COVID mine plans. Incremental costs resulting from COVID-19 including community support, additional personal protective equipment acquisitions, higher transportation costs, and overtime costs resulting from lower headcount levels on site to accommodate social distancing. The Company anticipates that suspension and standby costs will be minimized prospectively for the balance of the year as the mines return to full production levels anticipated at the beginning of the year. Further, the Company is assessing if any incremental COVID-19 costs are expected to become normal-course in a COVID-19 world. However, those costs are expected to be at levels lower than those experienced in the second quarter. The Company also anticipates that some of these increases may be offset by efficiencies gained during the period.

07:07 EDT Yamana sees Q2 gold productio 164,141 ounces, silver production 2.01M ounces - YAMANA GOLD announces preliminary second quarter 2020 results, with gold production of 164,141 ounces and silver production of 2.01 million ounces. Total gold equivalent ounce production during the quarter was 183,582 GEO. Overall production and production from most mines exceeded plan and the production for the quarter implied in the Company's annual guidance. The quarter was highlighted by exceptional operational performances from Jacobina, El Penon, Canadian Malartic, and Minera Florida, all of which exceeded planned production targets. Furthermore, in line with prior guidance, the Company expects to generate increasing production, improving costs and significant cash flows in the second half of the year, sequentially increasing over the third and fourth quarters. As previously guided, production is expected to weight into the second half of the year, with 54% of production expected in the second half compared to 46% in the first half. The Company reiterates its 2020 production guidance, which was revised on April 30, 2020, to reflect the temporary suspensions at Canadian Malartic and Cerro Moro due to government restrictions related to COVID-19. Production is currently tracking above guidance and, as the year progresses, the Company will evaluate further updates to production guidance, likely in the third quarter. The Company further strengthened its balance sheet by continuing to lower net debt by approximately $100M, and repaid $100M borrowed in March 2020 on the Company's revolving credit facility in connection with COVID-19 matters. Net debt at the end of the quarter was below $769M.

07:04 EDT Fisker to list on NYSE via merger with Spartan Energy Acquisition - Fisker and Spartan Energy Acquisition (SPAQ), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management (APO), announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination that would result in Fisker becoming a publicly listed company. "Fisker is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable and eco-friendly electric vehicles on Earth, supported by advanced mobility solutions. The proposed transaction is anticipated to provide Fisker the necessary funding to bring its first product, the Fisker Ocean, to production in late 2022. The Fisker Ocean is a fully electric SUV with premium styling and features and has been designed to be the world's most sustainable vehicle, including extensive use of environmentally friendly and recycled materials. The Fisker Ocean will be available to consumers through an innovative leasing package, optimized for driver convenience and accessibility," the company stated. The business combination values Fisker at a $2.9B pro forma equity value, at the $10.00 per share PIPE price and assuming minimal redemptions by Spartan shareholders. The boards of directors of both Spartan and Fisker have unanimously approved the proposed transaction, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020, subject to, among other things, the approval by Spartan's shareholders, satisfaction of the conditions stated in the definitive agreement and other customary closing conditions.

07:03 EDT Fisker to list on NYSE via merger with Spartan Energy Acquisition

07:02 EDT Roche, Summit Cancer Centers to collaborate on use of new digital healthcare - Roche announced the formation of a collaboration with Summit Cancer Centers to explore the use of clinical decision support tools and artificial intelligence-type approaches to the management of patient health information to bring a distinctly personalized approach to care for patients with cancer. Spokane, Washington-based Summit is an independent, physician-run integrated cancer care network with cancer treatment and imaging services at multiple locations throughout eastern Washington and Idaho. The initial phase of the collaboration will be to implement Roche's NAVIFY Tumor Board software to automatically pull relevant patient health data and other information from fragmented sources and compile a single, holistic patient dashboard to facilitate Summit's multidisciplinary tumor board discussions. The implementation of the cloud-based NAVIFY software will also include, for the first time, integration with the OncoEMR electronic medical record system, which Summit employs across its network, to include comprehensive, longitudinal patient health information in the tumor board review.

06:58 EDT Mednax board appoints five new directors - The company announced that its Board has appointed five new directors: Thomas A. McEachin, Ordan, Guy P. Sansone, John M. Starcher, Jr. and Shirley A. Weis. Commensurate with these appointments, current directors Cesar L. Alvarez, Michael B. Fernandez, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Carlos A. Migoya and Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D. have stepped down from the Board. Sansone has succeeded Alvarez as Chair of the Board. These changes are effective immediately.

06:57 EDT Mednax names Mark Ordan CEO, succeeding Roger Medel, M.D - Mednax announced that the company's Board of Directors has appointed Mark Ordan as CEO, succeeding Roger Medel, M.D., the company's founder. Dr. Medel will remain a member of the Board until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Ordan previously served as CEO of Quality Care Properties.

06:50 EDT Document Security announces three-year contract valued at $6M per year - Document Security Systems announced its Premier Packaging Corp. subsidiary signed a three-year contract with one of the world's largest retailers to supply photo mailing envelopes and folding cartons for prints, posters, canvas decors, photo books, passport photos, and business printing. The contract is valued at approximately $6M per year and may be renewed for a fourth year. Production on this contract will begin in the third quarter. Finished goods will ship to the customer's more than 9000 locations. The retailer expects to open an additional 550 stores over the next 12 months, which will potentially increase the value of the contract.

06:47 EDT Waddell & Reed reports preliminary AUM $65B as of June 30 - Compared to $64B on May 31.

06:43 EDT PepsiCo sees Q3 organic revenue up in low-single digit range - Expects Q3 core operating margin to contract, albeit at a less severe rate than what it experienced during Q2. Sees foreign exchange translation headwinds to negatively impact net revenue and core EPS performance by (3) percentage points.

06:41 EDT PepsiCo sees overall North America business performing well - Looking ahead for North America, PepsiCo expects its overall business to perform well, "assuming there is no large-scale disruption in economic activity or population mobility as a result of the recent surge in COVID-19 infections in many markets." It expects its snacks and foods businesses to remain resilient, albeit with some moderation in growth. The company says international business trends began to improve during the month of May as some businesses and economies reopened. However, it expects an uneven recovery in international markets as a greater level of macroeconomic uncertainty will likely persist.

06:38 EDT PepsiCo: March and April were 'particularly challenging' - PepsiCo saw improvement in business performance and channel dynamics in May and June.

06:27 EDT Kronos Advanced Technologies files for U.S. patent protection for new face mask - Kronos Advanced Technologies proudly announced USPTO filing of a provisional patent protection application that could revolutionize healthier and more useful face masks. The invention covers an attractive, antibacterial face mask combined with cellphone radiation protection features. The provisional patent application Nr 63/049,984 was submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office under the COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program, which is designed to accelerate the development of solutions targeting the global pandemic.

06:21 EDT HeadHunter board approves secondary listing of ADSs on Moscow Exchange - HeadHunter Group announced its Board of Directors has approved secondary listing of the company's American Depositary Shares on the Moscow Exchange. The company's Board of Directors has approved the secondary listing of the company's ADSs on the Moscow Exchange, with the aim to expand the company's investor base, including Russian investors who are not present on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Considering the time required for the preparation and registration process, and, subject to approval by the Moscow Exchange, trading of the company's ADSs on the Moscow Exchange is expected to commence in the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2020. Quotation and settlement will be in Russian rubles.

06:18 EDT Analog Devices, Maxim Integrated deal seen accretive to adj. EPS in 18 months - This transaction is expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS in 18 months subsequent to closing with $275M of cost synergies by the end of year two, driven primarily by lower operating expenses and cost of goods sold. Additional cost synergies from manufacturing optimization are expected to be realized by the end of year three subsequent to closing. ADI expects the combined company to yield a stronger balance sheet, with a pro forma net leverage ratio of approximately 1.2x4. This transaction is also expected to be accretive to free cash flow at close, enabling additional returns to shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the summer of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of U.S. and certain non-U.S. regulatory approvals, and approval by stockholders of both companies.

06:15 EDT NextCure provides interim update on Phase 2 NC318 monotherapy phase 1/2 trial - NextCure provided an interim update for the Phase 2 portion of its NC318 monotherapy phase 1/2 trial. Based on the current enrollment criteria and clinical response data, at this time the company does not plan to advance the non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer cohorts into the stage 2 portion of the Simon 2-stage trial. The analysis of biomarker data for these cohorts has been delayed and is not yet complete. The company will evaluate whether to pursue additional monotherapy studies in NSCLC and ovarian cancer after a review of that information. The company continues to enroll in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and triple-negative breast cancer cohorts. One confirmed partial response has been observed in HNSCC and this indication has been advanced to the stage 2 portion of the Simon 2-stage trial. The company is continuing to assess Siglec-15 biomarker data as a basis for patient selection. "While the monotherapy data in the NSCLC and ovarian cancer cohorts are disappointing, we continue to evaluate patient selection criteria for our ongoing NC318 clinical trials," said Michael Richman, NextCure's president and CEO. "We expect to provide an NC318 clinical data update and additional biomarker data in the fourth quarter of 2020." NextCure also announced that Kevin Heller, M.D., the company's chief medical officer, has resigned, effective August 4 to pursue a new opportunity. Dr. Heller will serve as a consultant to the company. The company has initiated a search for a new chief medical officer.

06:10 EDT CytoDyn gets Refusal to File letter from FDA on BLA for leronlimab - CytoDyn announced it has received a Refusal to File letter from the U.S. FDA regarding its Biologics License Application for leronlimab as a combination therapy with HAART for highly treatment experienced HIV patients. CytoDyn is confident it can provide all information requested by the FDA. CytoDyn previously announced it submitted all remaining parts of its BLA for leronlimab on May 11. Pursuant to FDA guidelines, CytoDyn informed the FDA it had submitted a complete BLA for rolling review. In its comments on May 13, CytoDyn stated as a next step after receiving the BLA, the FDA would start reviewing the BLA for completeness and would make a filing decision. The FDA has informed the company its BLA does not contain certain information needed to complete a substantive review and therefore, the FDA will not file the BLA at this time. CytoDyn intends to request a Type A meeting with the FDA to discuss its request for additional information. The FDA's request does not require any additional clinical trials to be conducted, rather the company will conduct additional analysis of completed trials.

06:05 EDT Himax names Jessica Pan as CFO, Eric Li as Chief IR/PR Officer - Himax Technologies announced the appointments of Jessica Pan as CFO and Eric Li as Chief IR/PR Officer and Spokesperson, effective immediately. Both Pan and Li will report directly to CEO Jordan Wu. Pan and Li succeed Ms. Jackie Chang who has resigned from the company to pursue other professional endeavors. Prior to joining Himax, Jessica worked as Assistant Finance Manager for Advanced Semiconductor Engineering from 2002 to 2006 and as Auditor at Arthur Andersen LLP in Taiwan from 1998 to 2001.

06:04 EDT PepsiCo CEO: Business performed 'relatively well' during Q2 - "I'm very pleased with the way our organization has protected our associates and served the needs of our customers, consumers and communities throughout these incredibly difficult times," said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta. "Despite being faced with significant challenges and complexities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our businesses performed relatively well during the quarter, with a notable level of resiliency in our global snacks and foods business. Encouragingly, as restrictions and closures eased and population mobility improved as the quarter progressed, we also saw an improvement in our business performance and channel mix dynamics. However, the environment has remained volatile and much uncertainty remains about the duration and long-term implications of the pandemic."

06:03 EDT Analog Devices to acquire Maxim Integrated in all stock transaction - Analog Devices (ADI) and Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM) announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which ADI will acquire Maxim in an all stock transaction that values the combined enterprise at over $68B. The transaction, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, will strengthen ADI as an analog semiconductor leader with increased breadth and scale across multiple attractive end markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Maxim stockholders will receive 0.630 of a share of ADI common stock for each share of Maxim common stock they hold at the closing of the transaction. Upon closing, current ADI stockholders will own approximately 69% of the combined company, while Maxim stockholders will own approximately 31%. The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Upon closing, two Maxim directors will join ADI's Board of Directors, including Maxim President and CEO, Tunc Doluca. The transaction is expected to close in the summer of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of U.S. and certain non-U.S. regulatory approvals, and approval by stockholders of both companies.

05:52 EDT Ubisoft announces executive departures after misconduct accusations - Ubisoft announced personnel changes that are a part of the "comprehensive work the Company is doing to improve and strengthen its workplace culture. " The company said, "These departures come following the initiation of a rigorous review that the Company initiated in response to recent allegations and accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior." Serge Hascoet has chosen to resign from his position as Chief Creative Officer, effective immediately. This role will be taken by Yves Guillemot, CEO and Co-Founder of Ubisoft, in the interim. Yannis Mallat, Managing Director of Ubisoft's Canadian studios, will be stepping down from his role and will leave the company, effective immediately. "The recent allegations that have come to light in Canada against multiple employees make it impossible for him to continue in this position," the company said in a statement. Additionally, Ubisoft will be appointing a new Global Head of HR to replace Cecile Cornet, who has decided to step down from this role, "as she believes it is in the best interest of the Company's unity." In parallel, Ubisoft is "restructuring and strengthening its HR function in order to adapt it to the new challenges of the video game industry. Ubisoft is in the final steps of hiring a top international management consulting firm to audit and reshape its HR procedures and policies, as previously announced. These changes are part of a comprehensive set of initiatives announced to employees on July 2, 2020. These initiatives are guiding Ubisoft's renewed commitment to fostering an environment that its employees, partners and communities can be proud of - one that reflects Ubisoft's values and that is safe for everyone."

05:31 EDT Equillium says itolizumab 'significantly' reduced COVID-19 mortality - Equillium announced that as reported by its partner, Biocon Limited, a clinical trial conducted in India by Biocon demonstrated that itolizumab significantly reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Equillium said in a release, "Biocon has announced that the Drugs Controller General of India, or DCGI, the regulatory agency that oversees drug approvals, has granted restricted emergency use of itolizumab for the treatment of cytokine release syndrome, or CRS, in COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, in India. Based on the encouraging topline results of the study reported by Biocon and subsequent DCGI approval to treat COVID-19 patients, Equillium is planning to conduct a global randomized controlled clinical trial of itolizumab in COVID-19 patients for which it will file a U.S. investigational new drug application, or IND. Biocon conducted a randomized, controlled, open-label study at four hospitals in India, enrolling a total of 30 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe ARDS. Twenty patients were randomized to receive itolizumab plus best supportive care, while 10 patients received best supportive care alone. The primary endpoint was mortality at one month. As reported by Biocon: In the itolizumab arm there were no deaths and all patients have recovered; in the control arm three patients died and the remainder have recovered; The mortality benefit observed in the itolizumab arm was statistically significant; Consistent with the observed clinical improvement, patients who received itolizumab also experienced significant reductions in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNFalpha."

05:10 EDT 360 Finance appoints CFO Jiang Wu as Chief Strategy Officer, Alex Xu as CFO - 360 Finance said in a release, "360 Finance announced the appointment of Mr. Alex Xu as the CFO of the Company in replacement of Mr. Jiang Wu, and the appointment of Mr. Jiang Wu as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Upon taking the new position, Mr. Jiang Wu will focus on assisting the CEO of the Company in making mid to long-term strategic planning and in facilitating the comprehensive cooperation between the Company and its important ecosystem partners such as banks in strategic cooperation relationship with us. Alex Xu has been serving as our Senior Advisor since October 2019. The Company also announced that Mr. Yan Zheng and Mr. Zhiqiang He, current Vice Presidents of the Company, have been promoted as the Chief Risk Officer of the Company and the Senior Vice President of the Company, respectively, effective immediately."

04:50 EDT Churchill Capital to merge with MultiPlan, contribute up to $1.1B of cash - Public investment vehicle Churchill Capital Corp III and MultiPlan, a provider of end-to-end healthcare cost management solutions, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The combined company will operate as MultiPlan and will be listed on the NYSE. The transaction implies an initial enterprise value for MultiPlan of approximately $11B or approximately 12.9x estimated 2021 adjusted EBITDA. The transaction will bring to MultiPlan up to $3.7B of new equity or equity linked capital to substantially reduce its debt and fund new value-added services. MultiPlan will continue to operate its business. The existing management team, led by CEO Mark Tabak, CFO David Redmond and Chief Revenue Officer Dale White, will continue to lead the business, and Hellman & Friedman affiliates will remain MultiPlan's largest shareholder. Churchill will contribute up to $1.1B of cash raised during its initial public offering in February 2020. Further, additional investors have committed to participate in the transaction through PIPE commitments to a $2.6B new private capital raise consisting of a $1.3B common stock at $10 per share and $1.3B of 6% interest convertible debt, with a conversion price of $13 per share. The convertible debt provides flexible capital, including a non-cash pay option. In connection with the transaction, Churchill's sponsor has entered into an agreement to amend the terms of its founder equity to align with the long-term value creation and performance of MultiPlan. Churchill 's sponsor has agreed that a portion of its equity will vest only if the share price of the Company exceeds $12.50 per share over a period between the first and fifth anniversaries of the closing of the transaction, and have agreed not to transfer unvested equity. Churchill has received commitments from its investors and the new PIPE investors for funding that is sufficient to close the transaction. The boards of both Churchill and MultiPlan have unanimously approved the proposed transaction. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of October 2020.