Stockwinners Market Radar for July 21, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

18:24 EDT Okta CEO: Our customers are the greatest endorsement of our brand - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Todd McKinnon said Okta (OKTA) is all about helping customers be successful with their own identity. We're happy to have FedEx (FDX) as a customer, he said. The beauty of the cloud is that there is no infrastructure to mess with. Companies have to balance security with ease of use, he noted.

18:02 EDT IQVIA appoints Ron Bruehlman interim CFO - IQVIA Holdings (IQV) announced the appointment of Ron Bruehlman as executive VP and interim CFO, succeeding Mike McDonnell who is leaving the company to become CFO of Biogen (BIIB). Bruehlman was previously the CFO of IMS Health from 2011 until the merger of IMS Health and Quintiles in 2016.

17:53 EDT Snap falls after daily active users lagged, social media peers lower - Shares of social media companies are trading a bit lower on Tuesday evening after Snap (SNAP) reported second quarter results. REPORTS AMID COVID-19: Snap reported a Q2 adjusted net loss per share of (9c) on revenue of $454.16M, against analyst estimates for a loss of (9c) on revenue of $438.09M. The company reported 238M daily active users, but is not providing expectations for revenue or adjusted EBITDA for Q3. Snap said, "daily active users at its Snapchat social media app lagged behind the company's forecast in Q2 as audience growth notched in the early weeks of the coronavirus peaked off." CEO'S COMMENTARY: "We continued to grow our community and business in a challenging and uncertain environment," said Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. "I am proud of our team for innovating on new experiences for our community and driving value for our partners, demonstrating the importance of our service in people's lives. We are grateful that the resilience of our business has allowed us to remain focused on our future growth and opportunity." PRICE ACTION: Snap is down 6%, in after-hours trading to $23.25 per share. OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA STOCKS FALL: Shares of Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR), Pinterest (PINS), and Zoom (ZM) were lower following Snap's report.

17:41 EDT Snap seeing 'productive returns' from investments in premium content - Says has access to $4B in working capital.

17:39 EDT Booz Allen, others awarded $247M government contract - Booz Allen Hamilton, Calibre Systems Inc., Janus Research Group LLC, Tec-Masters Inc., and Yorktown Systems Group Inc., will compete for each order of the $247,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide support to the Fires Center of Excellence; all commands on Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and Army Futures Command, to develop and produce training strategies, doctrine, concepts, instruction and products for the current and future force. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 20, 2025. U.S. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

17:31 EDT Aurinia Pharmaceuticals: FDA accepts NDA, Priority Review for voclosporin - Aurinia Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. FDA has accepted the filing of its New Drug Application for voclosporin, as a potential treatment for lupus nephritis, a serious inflammation of the kidneys caused by the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. The FDA has granted Priority Review for the NDA, which provides an expedited six month review, and has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of January 22, 2021. The FDA has also informed the company that they are not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. The FDA has the option to change this decision based on review of the pending NDA.

17:24 EDT Teradyne jumps 5% to $94.00 after Q2 results, Q3 guidance beat estimates

17:17 EDT Snap says fundamentals of business remain strong - Says seeing strong growth in core markets. Seeing increasing engagement with company's camera. Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call.

17:07 EDT Teradyne says stronger than expected System on a Chip test shipments in Q2 - "Stronger than expected System on a Chip test shipments driven by accelerated demand for mobility-related test capacity, combined with success in navigating supply constraints, led to revenue and profits above the high end of our guidance range in the second quarter," said CEO and President Mark Jagiela. "Industrial Automation sales, while down from the year ago period due to the global slowdown in business activity, improved monthly through the quarter. Guidance for the third quarter reflects increased memory and storage test shipments along with production ramps of new product design wins in SOC test."

16:59 EDT Intuitive Surgical sees Da Vinci surgeries declining further in July - Sees Da Vinci surgeries declining further in July as hospitals dedicate more efforts to COVID-19 instead of other procedures. Says impact of COVID-19 varied "widely" in Europe during the quarter. Says lease buyout revenue has fluctuated quarter-to-quarter. Says will work with customers to handle lower Da Vinci utilization.

16:46 EDT Intuitive Surgical sees recovery tail for surgery likely lasting many quarters - Says surge of COVID-19 has led to fewer hospital visits for other illnesses. Sees recovery tail of surgery likely to be a long one, likely to last many quarters. Says seeing return to cases as clinical partners come through. Says working with South Korea regulators on expansions to indications. Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call.

16:39 EDT iRobot down 5% to $81.50 following Q2 results, outlook

16:37 EDT Summit Materials CEO Thomas Hill to step down, Anne Noonan to succeed - Summit Materials (SUM) announced that Thomas Hill plans to step down from his role as President and CEO and as a member of the Board effective September 1. At that time, Anne Noonan will be appointed President and CEO and as a member of the Board. Hill will serve as a Senior Advisor through the end of the year. Commencing on January 1, 2021, Hill will transition into a consulting role through July 2023. Most recently, Noonan served as President and CEO of OMNOVA Solutions (OMN).

16:35 EDT iRobot sees second half gross margin 39%-40% - The company said in prepared earnings call remarks, "In terms of gross margin expectations, as Colin said, we don't know whether an extension to our tariff exclusion will be granted. While we are hopeful, the vast majority of Section 301 extension requests have been denied thus far. Whereas our first-half gross margin was 46%, we expect second-half gross margin, on both a GAAP and nonGAAP basis, to be in the 39% to 40% range. That is slightly above our original full-year 2020 target and assumes the reinstatement of the 25% tariff next month. This would imply a full-year gross margin in the low 40% range. We expect our third-quarter gross margin to be better than our second-half average as we benefit from inventory not subject to Section 301 tariffs and execute various Q4 holiday promotions consistent with historical practices."

16:34 EDT Encompass Health to build 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hsopital in Lakeland - Encompass Health Corp. announced it has placed land under contract and plans to build a freestanding, 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Lakeland, Florida, to be named Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Lakeland. Complementing local acute care services, the hospital will care for patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. The hospital will provide physical, occupational and speech therapies that aim to restore functional ability and quality of life and 24-hour care by registered nurses, many of whom are certified in rehabilitation nursing. "The hospital we will build in Lakeland is a freestanding, state-of-the-art physical plant. The design is specific to caring for rehabilitation patients and is based off our experience operating 12 hospitals in Florida and 136 hospitals throughout the nation," said Linda Wilder, president of Encompass Health's southeast region. "Additionally our staff is dedicated to, trained and singularly focused on the specialty practice of physical rehabilitation, which will make the services we bring a high-quality complement to the existing strong healthcare services in the area. We are very glad to have the opportunity to serve the patients and community of Lakeland and the surrounding area."

16:29 EDT FirstEnergy receives subpoenas regarding Ohio House Bill 6 investigation - FirstEnergy issued the following statement: "This afternoon, FirstEnergy received subpoenas in connection with the investigation surrounding Ohio House Bill 6. We are reviewing the details of the investigation and we intend to fully cooperate."

16:25 EDT Boston Scientific receives FDA approval for WATCHMAN FLX LAAC device - Boston Scientific announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the WATCHMAN FLX Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device. The next-generation WATCHMAN FLX device is indicated to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who need an alternative to oral anticoagulation therapy by permanently closing off the left atrial appendage - the area of the heart where stroke-causing blood clots commonly form in NVAF. This technology, which is built upon the most studied and implanted LAAC device in the world, features a new, fully rounded design that offers physicians the ability to safely enter, and maneuver within, the left atrial appendage. It is the first LAAC device that can be fully recaptured, repositioned and redeployed for precise placement, and the new frame design allows for optimal device engagement with the tissue for long-term stability and a faster, more complete seal. The WATCHMAN FLX device is available in broader size options than the previous generation device and can treat a wider range of patient anatomies. "We've been very pleased with the real-world clinical outcomes and positive physician feedback for the WATCHMAN FLX device in Europe and are excited to extend availability of this next-generation technology to patients and clinicians throughout the U.S.," said Joe Fitzgerald, president, Interventional Cardiology, Boston Scientific. "Our WATCHMAN technology was the first FDA-approved LAAC device on the market and has been implanted in more than 100,000 patients worldwide, and now with the WATCHMAN FLX device, we are taking the clinical benefits of the technology to the next level for more patients while further differentiating our structural heart portfolio in the U.S."

16:22 EDT United Airlines sees FY20 CapEx approximately $3.7B

16:18 EDT Transcat sees Q2 operating income $2M - The company said: ""Encouragingly, Service demand strengthened through June and into July, although we are cautious with our outlook given the trend in new cases of COVID-19 across North America. For the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we expect Service revenue to grow modestly versus last fiscal year's second quarter, and anticipate improved gross margin. Distribution is likely to remain relatively unchanged sequentially. We expect operating income to grow sequentially from the first quarter of fiscal 2021 by approximately $1 million and to be in the range of $2 million for our second quarter of fiscal 2021. Overall, we believe we are managing and navigating this pandemic well, while continuing to advance our technology in support of our growth and profitability strategy."

16:18 EDT Fluor awarded engineering, design contract for CRC carbon capture project - Fluor Corporation (FLR) announced that it was awarded a front-end engineering and design contract for California Resources Corporation's (CRC) carbon capture and sequestration project, Cal Capture, at the 550-megawatt, natural gas-powered Elk Hills Power Plant in Tupman, California. The FEED is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute as part of a larger initiative to advance carbon capture technology development. "Fluor's commitment to helping clients achieve their clean energy goals continues with this recent award from CRC," said Mark Fields, group president of Fluor's Energy & Chemicals business. "We are honored to be selected by CRC to help them design and permit California's first carbon capture and sequestration system."

16:18 EDT United Airlines says cash burn during Q2 averaged $40M/day - Cash burn during the second quarter averaged $40M a day, including $3M of principal payments and severance expenses. The company currently is forecasting average daily cash burn to be approximately $25M during the third quarter of 2020 including $6M of principal repayments and severance expenses. United believes it did the best job of matching actual capacity to demand among its largest network peers. The company also expects to finish the quarter with the lowest average daily cash burn among large network carriers.

16:12 EDT Intuitive Surgical shipped 178 da Vinci Surgical Systems in Q2 - Second quarter 2020 systems revenue decreased by 24% to $261 million, compared with $344 million in the second quarter of 2019. The Company shipped 178 da Vinci Surgical Systems in the second quarter of 2020, compared with 273 systems in the second quarter of 2019. The second quarter 2020 system shipments included 52 systems shipped under operating lease and usage-based arrangements, compared with 88 systems in the second quarter of 2019.

16:09 EDT Healthcare Services board declares quarterly dividend of 20.38c per share - The company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 20.375c per common share, payable on September 25, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2020. This represents the 69th consecutive quarterly cash dividend payment, as well as the 68th consecutive increase since the initiation of quarterly cash dividend payments in 2003.

16:07 EDT Capital One reports Q2 Provision for credit losses decreased 22% to $4.2B - Reports Q2: Net charge-offs of $1.5B, $2.7B reserve build.

16:06 EDT Capital One reports Q2 net interest margin 5.78%, down 100 bps

16:05 EDT Interactive Brokers in talks with FINRA, SEC, CFTC on reviews - Interactive Brokers said in a statement: "The Company has provided information to FINRA, the SEC, and the CFTC concerning its historical anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act practices and procedures, and these agencies have indicated that they believe that these historical practices and procedures were inadequate. The Company periodically reviews these practices and procedures to make them more robust and to respond to changing regulatory standards; and we have been enhancing and augmenting them, including hiring additional personnel, over the past several years. We are in discussions with these agencies to settle matters arising from their reviews, and while no agreements have been finalized, we believe that such settlements will entail monetary payments and the retention of an independent consultant to review the implementation of the Company's enhanced practices and procedures. The Company has established a reserve that it deems adequate for such settlements. The Company is also cooperating with a Department of Justice inquiry concerning these matters, and while its outcome cannot be predicted, we do not believe that this inquiry is likely to have a materially adverse effect on the Company's financial results."

16:03 EDT Waterstone Financial announces share repurchase program - Waterstone Financial announced that on July 21, its board authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which the company intends to repurchase up to 2M of its issued and outstanding shares, representing approximately 7.7% of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The repurchase program will commence on or about July 29. This share repurchase program follows the completion of the previous repurchase program during which the company repurchased a total of 2M shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $15.65 per share.

15:43 EDT AIG to relocate global headquarters in New York City - American International Group earlier announced that it will relocate its global headquarters in New York City to 1271 Avenue of the Americas, where it will occupy 8 floors and 325,000 square feet. The company will also consolidate its remaining New York City area footprint into approximately 450,000 square feet divided between two new locations at 28 Liberty Street in Manhattan and 30 Hudson Street in Jersey City, New Jersey. The company plans to move into the three new offices in 2021. "By optimizing and modernizing our New York City area real estate footprint, we will align our workplaces with the objectives of AIG 200, our global, multi-year effort to position AIG for the future," said Peter Zaffino, AIG's President and Global COO. "We are designing offices in these three class A buildings that will allow our teams to work more effectively and collaboratively with high-quality infrastructure. Our people are our most important asset, and we remain committed to providing a safe and productive work environment while incorporating key learnings that have emerged while working remotely."

15:07 EDT FirstEnergy trading resumes

14:41 EDT Microsoft Teams now allows third-party apps to integrate into meetings - In an earlier blog post on Tuesday, Microsoft said in part: "We're excited to announce new meetings extensibility points that will enable developers to expand the Teams meeting experience. With this new capability, developers will be able to build apps or integrate their existing ones within the meeting surface and provide a richer collaboration experiences for users across the entire meeting lifecycle - covering events and actions from before, during, and after a meeting. These new extensibility points will be available soon for developer preview over coming weeks. Until today, developers could integrate their Teams apps within the constructs of channels, 1:1 chats, and group chats - but not meetings. Now, these new meetings extensibility points provide an opportunity to enable their apps within the scope of a meeting as tabs, in new surface areas like the app panel, through in-meeting app signals for notifications, and access to critical APIs to enable powerful app experiences. Developers will be able to enable these capabilities by configuring their Teams app to be available in meeting scope within their app manifest.Developers will be able to design how their Teams app uses the app panel (right pane) within a meeting." Reference Link

14:19 EDT Tellurian surges as Petronet reportedly renews investment agreement - Tellurian (TELL) shares surged after Reuters reported that India's Petronet renewed its initial deal to consider an investment of $2.5B in Tellurian's Driftwood Project. The two parties now have until the end of December to finalize an agreement, Reuters says, noting that developers have delayed "numerous" North American LNG projects this year due to a sharp downturn in global gas prices. Shares of Tellurian rose 37.6% after the news.

14:08 EDT Canadian Pacific raises quarterly dividend roughly 15% to 95c per share - The board of directors of Canadian Pacific Railway declared a quarterly dividend of 95c per share on the outstanding Common Shares, an increase of approximately 15% to the previous dividend of 83c per share. "This dividend increase illustrates the resiliency of our operating model and our continued dedication to creating value for our shareholders," said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. "As part of our long-term commitment to sustainable, profitable growth, CP has increased its quarterly dividend in five consecutive years. Over that period, we've led the industry in dividend growth with a 171 percent increase."

13:16 EDT Velodyne Lidar announces patent license agreement with Hesai - Earlier, Velodyne Lidar announced a long-term global licensing agreement with Hesai Photonics Technology Co., encompassing 360 degrees surround-view lidar sensors. "As a result of this agreement, Velodyne and Hesai have agreed to dismiss current legal proceedings in the U.S., Germany and China that exist between the two companies," Velodyne stated. On July 2, Graf Industrial announced an agreement with Velodyne Lidar and its founder David Hall, pursuant to which Graf will combine with Velodyne through a merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graf with and into Velodyne, with Velodyne surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graf. Upon the closing of the transaction, Graf will be renamed "Velodyne Lidar" and will remain NYSE-listed under the new ticker symbol VLDR. Reference Link

12:46 EDT Netflix now available on Google's Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max - Starting today, Netflix (NFLX) is available on Google's (GOOG) Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, according to a blog post from Kate Whittington, product marketing manager at Google Nest. Netflix is rolling out on Nest smart displays globally wherever the service and Nest devices are currently available. "If you have a Netflix subscription, simply link your account in the Google Home or Assistant app and you can play Netflix movies, TV shows and documentaries by using your voice," Whittington said. "Say, "Hey Google, play Queer Eye" to start streaming instantly, or try, "Hey Google, open Netflix" to scroll through select content and start watching with a simple tap. Hands tied up while you're cooking? Just pause, play or skip forward with a simple ask. Or if you're watching on your Hub Max while doing the dishes or making dinner, Quick Gestures lets you easily pause or resume your video-just look at the dev ice and raise your hand." Reference Link

12:00 EDT Emergent BioSolutions falls -9.6% - Emergent BioSolutions is down -9.6%, or -$9.79 to $92.27.

12:00 EDT Nabors Industries rises 24.0% - Nabors Industries is up 24.0%, or $7.44 to $38.38.

12:00 EDT Owens & Minor rises 69.8% - Owens & Minor is up 69.8%, or $5.55 to $13.49.

11:40 EDT Lockheed Martin comfortable with guidance, despite COVID

11:30 EDT Lockheed Martin sees double digit growth in F35s

11:18 EDT Ball Aerospace selected to develop prototype antenna for U.S. Navy - Ball Corp. said in a release, "Ball Aerospace was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit, or DIU, to develop a prototype of a new multi-band, low-observable satellite communications antenna to be installed on the U.S. Navy's newest stealth ships, the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers. Ball is leveraging its portfolios of electronically steerable phased array antenna technologies and high-performance stealth technologies to design a solution that can operate over multiple frequency bands, meet existing signature requirements and integrate into the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer."

11:10 EDT RingCentral, Atos expand strategic partnership, launch co-branded UCaaS solution - Atos SE (AEXAY) and RingCentral (RNG) announced earlier the expansion of their strategic partnership with the launch of a co-branded UCaaS solution called Unify Office by RingCentral. "In addition to the system integrator relationship announced previously, the expanded partnership will now include Unify Office as the exclusive UCaaS offering for the 40 million user installed base of the Atos Unify product family. Unify Office is expected to be available starting August 31," the companies stated. Vlad Shmunis, Founder, Chairman and CEO of RingCentral, said, "By bringing Unify Office to the 40 million users of Atos Unify's family of products, we will provide organizations with the ability to accelerate digital transformation across their entire enterprise."

10:59 EDT Spotify launches video podcasts with select creators - The company said, "Many podcast fans love watching their favorite podcasts as much as they enjoy listening to them. Through these visuals, fans can get to know their favorite podcast hosts even better, and creators can more deeply connect with their audiences. That's why today, Spotify is unveiling the first version of our new video podcast feature with select podcasts. Now listeners in all markets where podcasts are supported will be able to listen to or watch those podcasts as the feature rolls out. Video podcasts build upon and enhance our existing audio experience, allowing Free and Premium users to connect more deeply with their favorite podcasts with video content. Listeners can tune into podcasts like Book of Basketball 2.0, Fantasy Footballers, The Misfits Podcast, H3 Podcast, The Morning Toast, Higher Learning with Van Lathan & Rachel Lindsay, and The Rooster Teeth Podcast for a visual and audio feast...The new feature allows select creators to bring both audio and video content to Spotify, enabling them to connect more meaningfully with their listeners, expand viewership, and deepen audience engagement. It's a way to enrich the audio experience-for fans and creators alike." Reference Link

10:18 EDT Walmart to close Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations on Thanksgiving - Walmart announced that it has made the decision to close Walmart stores on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, this year. Sam's Club locations will also be closed again this year on this day.

10:00 EDT Studio City falls -6.8% - Studio City is down -6.8%, or -$1.01 to $13.90.

10:00 EDT Ashford Hospitality falls -17.0% - Ashford Hospitality is down -17.0%, or -$1.03 to $5.03.

10:00 EDT Guess rises 13.2% - Guess is up 13.2%, or $1.22 to $10.46.

09:50 EDT Safe-T, Softprom announce distribution agreement - Safe-T Group and Softprom Distribution GmbH, a leading Value Added IT distributor in the Commonwealth of Independent States and European countries, announced the signing of a distribution agreement, according to which Softprom will promote Safe-T's Zero-Trust Network Access solutions in Central and Eastern Europe, CIS countries, Georgia and Ukraine.

09:47 EDT Studio City falls -7.0% - Studio City is down -7.0%, or -$1.04 to $13.87.

09:47 EDT ProShares Ultra Silver rises 10.0% - ProShares Ultra Silver is up 10.0%, or $3.51 to $38.48.

09:47 EDT Owens & Minor rises 29.1% - Owens & Minor is up 29.1%, or $2.31 to $10.25.

09:27 EDT JanOne receives confirmation from FDA for IND covering nitrite tablets - JanOnehas received confirmation from the FDA for the investigational new drug, or IND, sponsorship transfer covering its sodium nitrite tablets previously held by Soin Neuroscience. The sodium nitrite sustained release tablet is the clinical candidate TV1001SR, formulated to treat PAD and other vascular conditions. Manufacturing of TV1001SR is underway and phase 2b trials for PAD are expected to begin later this year. There is no current treatment for PAD and over 8.5 million Americans suffer from the disease.

09:22 EDT Tyler Technologies signs agreement for school transportation solutions with SCDE - Tyler Technologies announced that it has signed a five-year agreement with the South Carolina Department of Education, or SCDE, Administration for Tyler's Traversa transportation management solution including Tyler Telematic GPS units and Tyler Drive tablets for school bus drivers. Tyler Technologies said in a release, "This agreement marks the first ever statewide agreement for both routing software and telematics for K-12 transportation and is also Tyler's largest contract for its transportation solutions group. The state of South Carolina is the only state that owns all its school buses rather than the districts owning their buses. The responsibility of owning such a large fleet requires the state to find ways to efficiently deploy its transportation assets. Tyler's software-as-a-service solutions will allow the state to cost-effectively deploy critical routing technology to all districts in South Carolina. Tyler's solutions will also facilitate the gathering and analysis of important data like ridership, vehicle engine performance, and driver behavior. SCDE selected Tyler after surveying the available solutions in the market during a competitive procurement process."

09:19 EDT Aptevo engages Piper Sandler to sell RUXIENCE, IXINITY royalty streams - Aptevo Therapeutics said in a release, it "has engaged Piper Sandler to sell its RUXIENCE and IXINITY royalty streams and milestone payments."

09:19 EDT Coca-Cola says worst period 'behind us in most of the world' - Says second waves of COVID-19 pandemic don't look as bad as the first wave.

09:17 EDT Rafael crosses midpoint of enrollment to first interim analysis in CPI-613 trial - Rafael Pharmaceuticals announced that it has crossed the midpoint to its first interim analysis in enrollment for its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of CPI-613 for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. The multicenter, open-label, randomized pivotal trial is evaluating the efficacy and safety of its lead compound devimistat in combination with high dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone in older patients. The Food and Drug Administration worked closely with Rafael to make changes to the protocol to help address enrollment challenges; the trial protocol modifications significantly increased patient enrollment. The global study is currently active across more than 60 sites in countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, India, South Korea and Australia. While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many clinical trials, Rafael has expanded safety protocols to continue enrollment, maintaining the safety and wellbeing of patients as the company's foremost priority. Jorge Cortes, M.D., Director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, is the principal investigator on this Phase 3 clinical trial. Dr. Cortes developed the rationale and design of the trial and is supervising the conduct of the ongoing clinical investigation.

09:15 EDT Home Depot accelerates investments in outdoor power categories - The Home Depot announced that it is accelerating its investments in resets of its outdoor power categories, as it also refines and simplifies its primary brands across the category. The enhanced assortment will include The Home Depot's top brands of innovative cordless outdoor power - Ryobi, Makita, DeWalt, and Milwaukee - as well as the most trusted brands of gas-powered products in the industry - Toro, Echo, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Honda, and Troy-Bilt. As part of this merchandise reset, the company has made the decision to discontinue the Ego line of outdoor power equipment. The company expects to complete the resets in all remaining stores through spring of 2021.

09:14 EDT Seanergy Marine announces closing of refinancing resulting in $5.6M gain - Seanergy Maritime announced the closing of the previously announced refinancing of a credit facility secured by two of its Capesize vessels, M/V Geniuship and M/V Gloriuship, with a new credit facility secured by the same vessels. The outstanding balance of the Previous Facility was $29.1M, was retired for an amount of $23.5M following a reduction accepted by the previous lender. The settlement resulted into a material $5.6M gain and equity accretion for the Company that will be recorded in its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ending September 30, 2020. The settlement amount was funded by a combination of proceeds from the New Facility and cash on hand. The New Facility has an initial balance of $22.5M, a five-year term and reduced quarterly repayments that will positively impact the break-even rates of the underlying vessels, as well as less restrictive financial covenants and value maintenance provisions enhancing the Company's financial flexibility. This refinancing and the settlement achieved with the outgoing lender will result in a $6.6M aggregate reduction in the Company's debt. Seanergy is in advanced discussions with other lenders of the Company with maturities falling due in 2020 with the objective of extending the maturities and improving the financing terms of these facilities.

09:11 EDT Drinkworks signs licensing agreement for Elijah Craig Bourbon, Deep Eddy Vodka - Drinkworks and Heaven Hill Brands announced a partnership to develop cocktails for use in the Drinkworks Home Bar system. Through the new licensing agreement, consumers will be able to enjoy signature Elijah Craig Bourbon and Deep Eddy Vodka cocktails from Drinkworks Pods, with the initial selection expected to hit the market in late 2020. The new co-branded cocktails will be produced by Drinkworks and be available on drinkworks.com and at select retailers across the country. The initial menu of signature cocktails - featuring an Elijah Craig Old Fashioned and a Deep Eddy Texas Mule - will join the Drinkworks portfolio of over two dozen beverages. This partnership marks the second premium spirits company to be included in Drinkworks' open system, following the announcement of a similar partnership last fall.

09:08 EDT URW enhances digital out-of-home media network capabilities - For the first time in the DOOH industry, brands will be guaranteed real-time impressions and complete campaign transparency when advertising on The Westfield Network, a digital out-of-home media network located in Westfield shopping centers in the U.S., Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield announced. Currently available across 471 digital media screens in 18 digitally powered centers, the network's enhanced capabilities will provide even more accuracy and clarity into campaign reporting.

09:07 EDT Philip Morris estimates 15.4M IQOS users at end of Q2 - Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call.

09:04 EDT University TMS offers Brainsway's Deep TMS therapy - University TMS is now offering BrainsWay's Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder. BrainsWay's Deep TMS administers magnetic waves through a cushioned helmet to target deep structures of the brain that impact a patients' depression and OCD symptoms. The treatment is both noninvasive and medication-free, and patients can return to normal activities, such as driving, immediately following the session. Because Deep TMS penetrates deeper and broader in the brain than traditional TMS, it enables stimulation of the deep brain structures that are involved in mental health illnesses. BrainsWay has been treating depression with Deep TMS for more than 10 years and received FDA clearance to target OCD in 2018.

09:03 EDT Boyd Gaming launchs its Stardust Social Casino app - Boyd Gaming announced the relaunch of its iconic Stardust brand with the debut of the all-new Stardust Social Casino app. The Stardust Social Casino mobile app features a regularly updated selection of popular slot titles from Boyd Gaming casino floors across the country. The game is free to play and is now available for download on iOS and Android mobile platforms.

09:02 EDT Coca-Cola says 'pandemic not behind us, good reason to be cautious' - Says not providing FY20 guidance due to uncertainty from COVID-19 pandemic.

09:02 EDT Seelos Therapeutics receives positive opinion from EMA for SLS-005 - Seelos Therapeutics announced it has received a positive opinion on European Orphan Drug Designation for SLS-005 in Sanfilippo syndrome from the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, or COMP. The positive opinion issued by COMP will be sent to the European Commission, which is expected to grant the orphan designation within 30 days. Under orphan designation in the European Union, Seelos stands to benefit from several incentives such as protocol assistance, reduced regulatory fees and market exclusivity. European guidelines for Orphan Drug Designation are for diseases affecting not more than five in 10,000 people in the EU.

08:55 EDT Coca-Cola says exited Q2 with 'promising signs' the worst is over

08:49 EDT Sinclair Broadcast appoints Scott Shapiro as Chhief Strategy Officer - Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI) announced that Scott Shapiro has assumed the newly-created role of Chief Strategy Officer/Sports in addition to his current role of Chief Development Officer. In his new role, Shapiro will be responsible for managing and executing large strategic initiatives, formulating and vetting organic opportunities, and working closely with RSN, Stadium, Broadcast and Tennis Channel leadership to create value across the entirety of Sinclair's sports platform. Shapiro has served as Senior Vice President/Chief Development Officer since the beginning of 2020. He joined Sinclair in 2011 and after fulfilling various roles in finance, launched the Corporate Development team in 2015 where he was promoted to Vice President in 2016 and to Senior Vice President in 2019. Previously he worked in Institutional Equity Research at Morgan Stanley (MS) and Prudential Equity Group.

08:47 EDT Arcturus, Duke-NUS receive approval to procceed with LUNAR-COV19 trial - Arcturus Therapeutics and Duke-NUS Medical School announced that the Clinical Trial Application for COVID-19 vaccine candidate LUNAR-COV19 has been approved to proceed by the Singapore Health Sciences Authority. Arcturus and Duke-NUS partnered to develop a coronavirus vaccine using Arcturus' STARR technology and a unique platform developed at Duke-NUS allowing rapid screening of vaccines for potential effectiveness and safety. Arcturus & Duke-NUS will initiate human dosing of LUNAR-COV19 as soon as possible. The healthy volunteer study will evaluate several dose levels of LUNAR-COV19 in up to 108 adults, including older adults. Follow-up will be conducted to evaluate safety, tolerability and the extent and duration of the humoral and cellular immune response. The STARR Technology platform employed in LUNAR-COV19 combines self-replicating mRNA with LUNAR, a proprietary nanoparticle delivery system optimized for mRNA molecules. The efficiency and self-replicating nature of the approach were designed to enable very low doses, and a potential single vaccine administration. Prior animal data has demonstrated robust humoral and cellular immunity elicited at doses as low as 0.2 microgram of LUNAR-COV19. Additionally, Arcturus demonstrated 100% seroconversion for anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies with a very low single dose. New preclinical data demonstrate that neutralizing antibody levels in response to a single administration of LUNAR-COV19 continue to increase over 50 days. The increasing antibody levels are attributed to the self-replicating mRNA of LUNAR-COV19. These results were obtained using a Luminex bead assay. A 1/2000 serum dilution was assayed for neutralizing IgG antibodies in the mouse serum every 10 days for 60 days post vaccination.

08:45 EDT Huntington Ingalls forms Defense and Federal Solutions business group - Huntington Ingalls Industries' Technical Solutions division announced changes to the organization and alignment of its business groups. Following a series of strategic acquisitions and major contract awards, coupled with a review of existing capabilities and the division's organizational structure, Technical Solutions reconstituted its internal organization in order to better serve existing and future customers while achieving support function efficiencies. The previous Fleet Support group and Mission Driven Innovative Solutions group were merged to form the Defense and Federal Solutions group. Garry Schwartz, former president of MDIS, will lead Defense and Federal Solutions. Schwartz retired from the Marine Corps as a senior officer in 2004. The three Technical Solutions business groups are now: Defense and Federal Solutions, focused on solving tough national security challenges for the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, federal civilian agencies, and commercial customers around the globe. The group's expertise includes maritime fleet sustainment; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; cyber operations; secure enterprise information technology engineering and operations; advanced modeling, simulation and training; and logistics management. Unmanned Systems, creating advanced unmanned maritime solutions for defense, marine research and commercial applications. Serving customers in more than 30 countries, Unmanned Systems provides design, autonomy, manufacturing, testing, operations and sustainment of unmanned systems, including unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vessels. Nuclear and Environmental Services, supporting the national security mission of the Department of Energy through the management and operation of national nuclear laboratories, as well as environmental remediation at legacy cleanup sites. Through decades of experience in safe nuclear operations, the group is also postured to serve the growing commercial nuclear power plant decommissioning market.

08:43 EDT Lockheed Martin raises FY20 Aeronautics sales view to $25.3B-$25.8B - Prior view was $24.55B-$25.3B. Now sees FY RMS sales $15.6B-$16B from $15.5B-$15.9B, Space sales $11.65B-$11.95B from $11.25B-$11.55B. Lockheed still sees MFC sales $10.95B-11.25B. Now sees Aeronautics segment operating profit $2.75B-$2.77B, Space segment operating profit $1.145B-$1.175B, RMS segment operating profit $1.5B-$1.545B, MFC segment operating profit $1.525B-$1.555B. Previously forecast Aeronautics segment operating profit $2.67B-$2.72B, Space segment operating profit $1.13B-$1.165B, RMS segment operating profit $1.47B-$1.51B, MFC segment operating profit $1.515B-$1.555B.

08:40 EDT Lockheed Martin boosts FY20 segment operating profit view to $6.9B-$7.05B - Previous view was $6.8B-$6.95B. Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call presentation slides.

08:38 EDT Aimmune pivotal Phase 3 EU ARTEMIS trial of PALFORZIA published in The Lancet - Aimmune Therapeutics announced that complete results from its pivotal phase 3 European ARTEMIS trial of PALFORZIA] have been published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Aimmune Therapeutics said in a release, "ARTEMIS met all primary, secondary and safety endpoints, and demonstrated that participants treated with PALFORZIA (known as AR101 outside of the United States) experienced a high degree of desensitization to peanut with an increasingly well-understood, anticipated, and manageable safety profile over nine months. Additionally, improvements in quality-of-life measures in PALFORZIA-treated participants were reported, most notably in how treatment affected the perceived likelihood of future accidental exposure and risk of severe reactions. ARTEMIS is the third of three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials within the PALFORZIA development program. The three trials comprise the largest clinical dataset in children and teens with peanut allergy and are the only phase 3 clinical trials to meet their primary endpoints."

08:38 EDT Hill International to develop research campus for Indian Oil Corporation Limited - Hill International announced it has been selected by Indian Oil Corporation Limited to provide project management consultancy services for the development of the corporation's new $275M, approximately 60 acre research campus, the Indian Oil Technology Development and Deployment Center. The IOCL's current research and development facility, which opened in 1972, lacks space for further expansion. Given expansive trends in the company's research interests, more room is necessary to engage with the myriad of scientific disciplines critical to the company's future business plans. The IOCL envisions a campus that, in addition to ambitiously serving research and development, surpasses global standards of occupational health and safety as well as environmental sustainability. The company wants the world's largest and most sustainable net-zero campus. The new campus will contain a center for alternative and renewable energy; a nanotechnology center; industrial laboratories for the study of carbon nanotubes/batteries, biotechnology, pipelines, petrochemicals, catalysts, and applied metallurgy; refinery infrastructure; as well as commercialization and demonstration units. In addition, the campus will feature recreational, administrative, dining, and utility facilities. The total build-up area will be approximately 194,554 SM.

08:35 EDT Gilead secures exclusive option to acquire Tizona Therapeutics for $300M - Gilead Sciences announced that it will invest $300 million to acquire a 49.9% equity interest in Tizona Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held company developing first-in-class cancer immunotherapies. Gilead said in a release, "Gilead will also receive an exclusive option to acquire the remainder of Tizona for up to an additional $1.25 billion, including an option exercise fee and potential future milestone payments. Gilead can exercise its option to acquire the remainder of Tizona following the readout of a Phase 1b study of Tizona's investigational antibody, TTX-080, or earlier if Gilead decides to do so. TTX-080, discovered by Tizona, is a potential first-in-class medicine that targets HLA-G, a novel and emerging immune checkpoint expressed across multiple tumor types. Under the terms of the agreement, Tizona equity holders will receive $300 million upon closing. Gilead will obtain a 49.9 percent equity stake and an exclusive option to purchase the remaining equity exercisable following the completion of Phase 1b studies for TTX-080, or earlier if Gilead chooses. Tizona equity holders will be eligible to receive up to $1.25 billion in an option exercise fee and potential future milestone payments. Gilead will also provide funding to support Tizona's ongoing research and development to advance its novel pipeline. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year and is subject to antitrust clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions. Gilead will have the right to appoint two individuals to Tizona's Board of Directors upon closing of the transaction. Tizona will spin off TTX-030, the company's investigational, first-in-class anti-CD39 antibody partnered with AbbVie, into a separate entity prior to closing of this transaction. TTX-030 is not subject to this agreement. TTX-080 is investigational and not approved anywhere globally. Its efficacy and safety have not been established. Cowen is acting as financial advisor and Ropes & Gray is acting as legal counsel to Gilead. Latham & Watkins is acting as legal counsel and Squire Patton Boggs is acting as IP counsel to Tizona."

08:32 EDT Wendy's launches 'Wendy's Rewards' loyalty program across the U.S. - Wendy's announced the national launch of 'Wendy's Rewards' loyalty program, allowing customers the opportunity to earn points to unlock rewards for their favorite menu items. To kick off Wendy's Rewards, fans can get double points on their first order for a limited time.

08:24 EDT Graphic Packaging up 3.5% after reporting Q2 results - In pre-market trading, shares are up 3.5% to $14.70.

08:21 EDT Comerica up 4.8% after reporting Q2 results - In pre-market trading, shares are up 4.8% to $36.60.

08:18 EDT Gamida Cell names Michele Korfin Chief Operating and Chief Commercial Officer - Gamida Cell announced the appointment of Michele Korfin as chief operating and chief commercial officer. Gamida Cell said in a release, "Ms. Korfin brings over 20 years of experience in oncology, focused on business operations and commercialization of novel therapies. In this role, she will have oversight of manufacturing and commercialization as Gamida Cell advances its clinical development candidates: omidubicel, an advanced cell therapy in Phase 3 clinical development as a potentially life-saving treatment option for patients in need of bone marrow transplant, and GDA-201, an investigational, natural killer cell-based cancer immunotherapy in Phase 1 development in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Prior to joining Gamida Cell, Ms. Korfin served as COO at TYME Technologies."

08:14 EDT Arlo Technologies announces agreement with Securitas Services USA - Arlo Technologies announced an agreement with Securitas Security Services USA, the global leader in protective security services, to integrate Arlo SmartCloud into the Securitas USA monitoring platform. Arlo SmartCloud, the SaaS version of Arlo Smart that is currently deployed as part of Arlo's award-winning security camera solutions, will enable Securitas to bolster its protective guarding services by adding Arlo cameras for centralized remote guarding of its high volume of assets. Securitas' commercial clients can also rely on Arlo SmartCloud AI-enabled security cameras including Arlo Pro 3 or Arlo Go to efficiently provide Remote Guarding services to sites that should have little to no unknown traffic, with advanced push notifications that allow users to quickly know whether people, vehicles, packages or even animals may be trespassing. Securitas intends to use Arlo's SmartCloud capabilities to deploy its new Remote Guarding Go, or RGGo, service.

08:13 EDT Homology Medicines appoints Jeff Poulton to board of directors - Homology Medicines (FIXX) announced that Jeff Poulton has been appointed to the Board of Directors. Poulton is the CFO at Alnylam (ALNY).

08:09 EDT Hormel Foods' Fontanini Foods announces return of furloughed team members - Fontanini Foods announced it has been bringing back furloughed team members over the last few weeks and now all 150 furloughed team members have been offered the opportunity to return. Fontanini Foods employs approximately 500 employees and is part of the Hormel Foods' family of companies.

08:07 EDT Chipotle names Mary Winston, Gregg Engles to board of directors - Chipotle Mexican Grill announced two new additions to its board of directors, Mary Winston and Gregg Engles. The changes to the board composition come after Chipotle appointed Brian Niccol, the company's CEO, to the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors in early March, as well as the departure of three directors. With the Board composition changes, the Chipotle Board will now be comprised of nine directors, eight of whom are independent. The Board is committed to ongoing director refreshment and continues to consider new, qualified independent directors. Mary Winston is the Founder and President of WinsCo Enterprises, a consulting firm providing financial and board governance advisory services since 2016. Gregg Engles is the founder and managing partner of Capitol Peak Partners, a capital investment company since April 2017.

08:06 EDT Mindsay and Sabre launch service automation solution for travel industry - Mindsay and Sabre announced the official launch of a customer service automation solution for airlines, online travel agencies, or OTAs, and travel management companies, or TMCs. As the only conversational AI technology to integrate seamlessly with Sabre, Mindsay's intelligent virtual agents are fully connected with Sabre's APIs, giving them the ability to automatically resolve a variety of requests, from simple FAQs to complex booking modifications. This unique integration allows travel companies to automatically resolve up to 70% of customer requests, significantly reducing call and live chat volumes.

08:04 EDT Aditx Therapeutics appoints Corinne Pankovcin as CFO - Aditx Therapeutics (ADTX) announced that it has appointed Corinne Pankovcin as CFO, effective as of July 2, 2020. Prior to joining Aditxt, Ms. Pankovcin was the CFO and Managing Director of Business Development Corporation of America, a business development company, from December 2015 to July 2019. At BDCA, Ms. Pankovcin was responsible for strategic planning, financial forecasting, and financial reporting, in addition to being a trusted advisor and resource to BDCA leadership. From January 2011 to August 2015, Ms. Pankovcin was the CFO and Treasurer of BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation (BLK), and a Managing Director of Finance at BlackRock Investment Management.

07:51 EDT 9 Meters Biopharma doses first patients in Phase 1b/2a clinical trial in SBS - 9 Meters Biopharma announced that the first patients have been dosed in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial to assess NM-002 in adults with short bowel syndrome, or SBS. 9 Meters said in a release, "BS is a life-threatening orphan disease caused by a significant shortening of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to impaired nutrient absorption. Many SBS patients rely at least partly on parenteral support, an intravenous method of providing hydration, essential nutrients and electrolytes. NM-002 is a long-acting injectable glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, receptor agonist designed specifically to treat gastric motility in SBS patients by slowing digestive transit time, which may reduce reliance on parenteral support. The Phase 1b/2a clinical trial is an open-label, single-center study evaluating the safety and tolerability of three escalating doses of NM-002 in adult patients with SBS. Patients in each of three cohorts will receive two doses of NM-002 two weeks apart. Change in daily urine output volume is designated as the primary endpoint, as an inversely related proxy for usage of parenteral support. NM-002,which utilizes Amunix's proprietary XTEN technology to extend the circulating half-life of the GLP-1 peptide has demonstrated acceptable safety and a half-life of up to 30 days in a 70-patient clinical study and has been granted Orphan Designation by the FDA."

07:45 EDT OptimizeRx appoints Greg Wasson to board of directors - OptimizeRx (OPRX) has appointed Greg Wasson, former president and CEO of Walgreen Boots Alliance (WBA), to its board of directors.

07:42 EDT Lockheed Martin jumps 4% after Q2 results beat estimates, FY20 outlook raised - In pre-market trading, shares are up 4% to $379.80.

07:38 EDT Biogen to initiate Phase 4 study of SPINRAZA in patients treated with Zolgensma - Biogen announced it plans to initiate a global Phase 4 clinical study, RESPOND, to examine the clinical benefit and assess the safety of SPINRAZA in infants and children with spinal muscular atrophy who still have unmet clinical needs following treatment with gene therapy Zolgensma. People with SMA do not produce enough survival motor neuron protein, which is critical for the maintenance of motor neurons that support sitting, walking and basic functions of life, including breathing and swallowing. The RESPOND study will seek to understand if the proven efficacy of SPINRAZA and its continuous production of SMN protein may also benefit patients previously treated with gene therapy. In the long-term study of Zolgensma, it has been reported that, to date, 4 out of 10 patients have been subsequently treated with SPINRAZA. Based on the planned study design, RESPOND will be a two-year, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SPINRAZA in SMA patients previously treated with Zolgensma to further inform treatment decisions. Efficacy will be assessed by change from baseline on motor function measures, additional clinical outcomes and caregiver burden. Neurofilament levels, an exploratory endpoint, will also be evaluated as a marker of biological disease activity. The primary study group aims to include 40 infants aged 9 months or younger who have 2 copies of SMN2 and received Zolgensma at 6 months old or younger. A second study group will include 20 children and will generate data in patients with a broader age range. After a screening period, participants will receive the approved 12 mg dose of SPINRAZA, which is four loading doses followed by maintenance doses every four months, over the two-year study period. The company plans to submit the study protocol to the regulatory authorities in the coming months and aims for the first eligible patients to be enrolled in the RESPOND study in Q1 2021. The study is projected to enroll 60 children up to 3 years old who are determined by the investigator to have the potential for additional clinical improvement after receiving Zolgensma. Physicians will evaluate children for participation using criteria that may include one or more of the following: suboptimal motor function; the need for respiratory support; abnormal swallowing or feeding ability; or other factors deemed relevant by the investigator.

07:36 EDT InflaRx to enter Phase III development of IFX-1 in COVID-19 induced pneumonia - InflaRx announced that the Company has decided to continue development with IFX-1 in severe COVID-19 induced pneumonia. The Company plans to initiate a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III trial that will be adequately powered for statistical analyses. In the Phase III part of the study, subject to regulatory approval, the Company plans to enroll approximately 360 early intubated, critically ill patients with COVID-19 induced pneumonia. InflaRx plans to conduct the study at sites in the US, Europe, South America and potentially other regions. An interim analysis is currently planned after enrollment of 180 patients, with the potential for an early stop for efficacy or futility. In addition to the primary endpoint of 28-day all-cause mortality, other planned key endpoints include assessments of organ support and assessment of disease improvement on the ordinal scale. The Phase II part of the study evaluated IFX-1 treatment plus best supportive care compared to best supportive care alone for up to 28 days. The Phase II part was randomized and enrolled a total of 30 patients. The 28-day all-cause mortality rate was 13% in the IFX-1 treatment arm compared to 27% in the best supportive care arm. All deaths in the best supportive care arm occurred in COVID-19 induced multi-organ failure. In the IFX-1 treatment arm, one patient died after an acute ventilator tube complication leading to hypoxia and one patient who met an exclusion criterion with a history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which was not known at time point of enrollment, died of pulmonary failure. In the IFX-1 treatment arm fewer patients experienced renal impairment assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rates and more patients showed reversal of blood lymphocytopenia and a greater lowering of lactate dehydrogenase concentrations as a sign of reduction in tissue damage. A temporary, but statistically significant increase of D-dimer levels in the first days following IFX-1 administration was noted, as a potential signal for induction of blood clot lysis. No statistically significant group differences on the chosen primary endpoint of relative change from baseline to day 5 in oxygenation index were detected. The Phase II results have been submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed medical journal along with a preprint server.

07:35 EDT Lockheed Martin reports Q2 cash from operations of $2.2B

07:34 EDT MyoKardia, Fulcrum collaborate on therapies for genetic cardiomyopathies - MyoKardia (MYOK) and Fulcrum Therapeutics (FULC) announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration and license agreement to discover, develop and commercialize novel targeted therapies for the treatment of genetic cardiomyopathies. Under the agreement, MyoKardia will access Fulcrum's unique, proprietary target discovery engine to identify therapeutics that control the expression of genes that are known to be underlying drivers of genetic cardiomyopathies. The collaboration focuses joint discovery efforts on certain undisclosed genetic targets. MyoKardia will be responsible for all development and commercialization activities for, and will have global rights to, any potential therapeutics identified through this collaboration. Fulcrum will receive a payment of $12.5M at the close of the transaction and may be eligible to receive research, development and commercial milestone payments and additional research reimbursement of up to $302.5M for a first product to progress through development and commercialization. If MyoKardia chooses to develop and commercialize products directed to additional targets under the collaboration, Fulcrum may be eligible for up to $150M in milestone payments. Fulcrum may also be eligible to receive tiered royalty payments in the mid-single-digit to low double-digit range on net sales for any products under the collaboration that are commercialized. MyoKardia intends to select targets for further exploration under this collaboration informed by its integrated research and development engine, which includes capabilities in translational research, proprietary and novel disease models, clinical development, and patient engagement and identification. Potential diseases associated with such undisclosed targets are expected to share common characteristics with indications currently being pursued by MyoKardia: strong and genetically-validated mechanistic rationale, high unmet patient need, potentially efficient pathway to approval, and synergy with the commercial organization that MyoKardia is building.

07:32 EDT Moleculin Biotech announces new round of testing of WP1122 against coronavirus - Moleculin Biotech announced that a second round of independent laboratory testing has confirmed the antiviral activity of WP1122 against coronavirus. Moleculin Biotech is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a broad portfolio of oncology drug candidates for the treatment of highly resistant tumors. Moleculin contracted with IIT Research Institute for additional in vitro testing of its drug candidate, WP1122, in development as a possible treatment for COVID-19. The testing involved a cell viability assay in the VERO E6 cell line infected with SARS-CoV-2 and compared the therapeutic effects of 2-DG alone with those of WP1122, a 2-DG prodrug.

07:29 EDT Intrepid Potash announces early paydown of Series C senior notes - Intrepid Potash announced it paid down its Series C senior notes on July 17, 2020. Total payment to Series C noteholders was $17.1M, which included $15M in remaining principal, a reduced make-whole payment, and accrued interest. Intrepid made the payment entirely from cash on hand. After the payment, Intrepid has approximately $14M in cash on hand, $30M outstanding under its revolving credit facility, $15M remaining on its Series B senior notes due in 2023, and $10M outstanding from the Paycheck Protection Program. Intrepid has $44M of availability remaining under its $75M credit facility. Intrepid has used the entire $10M of its loan under the Paycheck Protection Program for eligible payroll expenses and expects the majority, if not all, of the loan will be forgiven.

07:25 EDT ProQR Therapeutics adds members to Scientific Advisory Board - ProQR Therapeutics announced the strengthening of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board with new members. The SAB members serve as strategic advisors to the Company as it continues to advance its pipeline of RNA therapeutics and its proprietary technology platforms. ProQR's SAB is comprised of: James Shannon, MD, Chair of the SAB, has served on ProQR's Supervisory Board since 2016. Mike Cheetham, PhD, is a Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology. Thaddeus Drija, MD is the former Global Head of Ophthalmology Research at Novartis. Donald Fong, MD, MPH, is Chief of Ophthalmology and Director of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Eye Monitoring Center. Art Levin, PhD is the Chief Scientific Officer at Avidity Biosciences. Martin Maier, PhD is Vice President Research at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals where he heads the RNAi Discovery group. Tim Stout, MD, PhD, MBA is an Inherited Retinal Disease specialist and the Sid W. Richardson Professor and Margarett Root Brown Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Director of the Cullen Eye Institute at Baylor College of Medicine. Phil Zamore PhD is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Gretchen Stone Cook Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and Chair of the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

07:22 EDT Pluristem sees results from Phase I study of PLX-R18 in 1Q21 - CEO Yaky Yanay said, "Our Phase I study of PLX-R18 in hematology, specifically for incomplete hematopoietic recovery following HCT, is enrolling patients in the U.S. and in Israel. Following discussions with our advisory board, we intend to complete enrollment with 20 patients. We expect to meet this milestone by the end of the third quarter of calendar 2020, and subsequently provide top line results in the first quarter of calendar 2021."

07:19 EDT Pluristem sees results from PLX-PAD study in muscle regeneration in 3Q21 - CEO Yaky Yanay said, "For our Phase III trial of PLX-PAD in muscle regeneration following hip fracture in the U.S., Europe and Israel, we have enrolled more than 60% of the 240 patients planned for the study and we expect to complete enrollment by the end of calendar 2020. Top line results are expected in the third quarter of calendar 2021."

07:18 EDT Pluristem expects interim data analysis from Phase III study of PLX-PAD in Q4 - CEO Yaky Yanay said, "Over the last few months, we held discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to reaffirm understandings related to the interim readout of our global pivotal Phase III study of PLX-PAD in CLI. We expect to announce top line interim data analysis results during the fourth quarter of calendar 2020. The interim process and possible outcomes: An analysis of the interim data will have three possible outcomes: a) an earlier than planned end-of-study may be achieved if the top line interim data analysis achieves overwhelming efficacy (p less than or equal to0.01), b) the study may be declared futile if there is no probability of successfully achieving the primary endpoint on the full data set after enrolling all patients, or c) the study is in line with the protocol assumptions and considered to be in a promising zone for success. If the third possible outcome results, Pluristem will continue to enroll patients, and will analyze the data again on the full data set. Following the FDA's and EMA's advice and recommendations, the following are the main items implemented in the study design and the interim readout: The primary endpoint for the interim analysis will be identical to the full study endpoint, a comparison between the PLX-PAD treated group and the placebo treated group of the number of days from randomization to occurrence of major amputation of the index leg or death. We believe that meeting this endpoint in the interim readout will potentially enable us to start a discussion with the FDA and EMA regarding filing of a Biologics License Application and Marketing Authorisation Application, respectively. The original protocol design was to enroll 246 patients, with the protocol assumptions expecting 82 amputation or death events upon completion of one-year follow-up. Based on the regulators' recommendations, and in order to secure the statistical power for success, the full study analysis will be based on 82 events, rather than enrollment of 246 patients. We do not expect a significant change in the number of enrolled patients required to complete the 82 events. The interim readout will be conducted based on a minimum of 45 events, which have already occurred. After a slowdown in enrollment due to COVID-19, we currently expect the pace of enrollment to accelerate and forecast to complete enrollment of the study population in the U.S., Europe and Israel by the fourth quarter of calendar 2020. This expectation takes into consideration the impact of COVID-19 on the access to treatment and follow up sites while maintaining the safety of the patients, as we continue to follow FDA and EMA guidelines for conducting clinical studies during COVID-19."

07:15 EDT Cerecor enrolls first patient in multicenter PoC study of CERC-002 - Cerecor announced the first patient has been enrolled in a proof-of-concept trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the anti-LIGHT monoclonal antibody, CERC-002, in patients with COVID-19 cytokine storm-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The proof-of-concept, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will enroll approximately 82 subjects hospitalized with COVID-19 ARDS. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate that treatment with CERC-002 results in fewer instances of respiratory failure and death versus the standard of care. Patients in the CERC-002 arm will receive a single dose of drug and be followed for 28 days. Key secondary endpoints include intensive care unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, and oxygen saturation at the end of the study. Top-line data are expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. The scientific rationale for the study is supported by positive results from Cerecor's and Myriad Genetics' recent biomarker study, conducted with Hackensack Meridian Health Network, which demonstrated elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokine LIGHT in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 cytokine storm-induced ARDS. In the patients studied, LIGHT levels were significantly elevated in the serum of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 versus healthy controls. The highest LIGHT levels were found in patients who required ventilator support, particularly in patients over 60 years of age. Importantly, the data demonstrated elevated LIGHT levels were also strongly linked with mortality. The data suggest that LIGHT might play a key role in cytokine storm that leads to ARDS. CERC-002 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeted against the inflammatory cytokine LIGHT. It is the only anti-LIGHT therapy in clinical development and has the potential to be a treatment option for this patient population in critical need.

07:12 EDT Lexicon says all four Phase 3 sotagliflozin studies met primary objectives - Lexicon Pharmaceuticals announced topline data from four Phase 3 sotagliflozin studies in type 2 diabetes: SOTA-MONO, SOTA-SU, SOTA-GLIM and SOTA-INS. The final results of these studies will be preserved for upcoming medical congresses and publications. All four Phase 3 sotagliflozin studies met their primary objectives of lowering A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes. The observed safety profile of sotagliflozin in these studies was generally consistent with that of approved SGLT2 inhibitors. Diarrhea, an event consistent with gastrointestinal SGLT1 inhibition, was generally more common on sotagliflozin than placebo, although it was not a meaningful cause of treatment discontinuation. Genital mycotic infections were dose-related. The absolute increase in the incidence of genital mycotic infections over placebo ranged from 0% to 3.7% in studies of the 200 mg dose and from 3.2% to 6.3% in studies of the 400 mg dose. In one study, sotagliflozin showed less hypoglycemia than glimepiride, and in the other three studies, the incidences of hypoglycemia in patients on sotagliflozin were similar to those on placebo. Lexicon does not intend to pursue any regulatory approvals of sotagliflozin for type 2 diabetes in the absence of a strategic partnership for the commercialization of sotagliflozin in such indication. In the Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled SOTA-MONO study, sotagliflozin 400 mg and 200 mg as monotherapy was tested for superiority versus placebo in reducing A1C after 26 weeks of treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control. The study enrolled 142 patients on sotagliflozin 400 mg, 107 patients on sotagliflozin 200 mg and 150 patients on placebo. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that sotagliflozin 400 mg and 200 mg significantly reduced A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise alone. Safety results were similar to those in other studies of sotagliflozin in type 2 diabetes, with similar incidences of hypoglycemia on sotagliflozin and placebo. SOTA-SU was a 507-patient, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter Phase 3 study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of sotagliflozin 400 mg added to a sulfonylurea, alone or in combination with metformin, in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycemic control on a sulfonylurea or metformin alone. The primary endpoint was the change in A1C from baseline to Week 26. Patients were followed for a total of 79 weeks. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that sotagliflozin 400 mg significantly reduced A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes who were on sulfonylurea alone or in combination with metformin with inadequate glycemic control on a sulfonylurea or metformin alone at Week 26. Importantly, A1C reduction persisted through 79 weeks. Safety results were similar to those in other studies of sotagliflozin in type 2 diabetes. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was estimated at Week 79, and was similar for sotagliflozin and placebo. Despite the presence of sulfonylurea background therapy, the incidences of hypoglycemia were similar on sotagliflozin and placebo. SOTA-GLIM was a 954-patient, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active- and placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter Phase 3 study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of sotagliflozin 400 mg compared to glimepiride or placebo added to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycemic control with metformin therapy. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate the non-inferiority of sotagliflozin 400 mg compared to glimepiride on A1C at Week 52. Patients were followed for a total of 52 weeks. The study met its primary objective, as the change from baseline in A1C reduction to Week 52 was the same on sotagliflozin 400 mg and glimepiride, and the 95% confidence interval excluded the pre-specified margin of non-inferiority. Safety results were similar to those in other studies of sotagliflozin in type 2 diabetes, with less hypoglycemia on sotagliflozin than glimepiride. SOTA-INS was a 571-patient, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter, 52-week Phase 3 study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of sotagliflozin 400 mg and 200 mg or placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycemic control on basal insulin alone or in addition to oral antidiabetic agents. The primary endpoint was a change in A1C from baseline to Week 18. Patients were followed for a total of 52 weeks. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that sotagliflozin 400 mg and 200 mg significantly reduced A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycemic control on basal insulin alone or in addition to oral antidiabetic agents. Importantly, A1C reduction persisted at the same magnitude at 52 weeks. Safety results were similar to those in other studies of sotagliflozin in type 2 diabetes. Despite the presence of background insulin therapy, the incidences of hypoglycemia were similar on sotagliflozin and placebo.

07:10 EDT Houston American Energy announces 1-for-12.5 reverse stock split - Houston American Energy announced that the Company will effect a 1-for-12.5 reverse stock split of its common stock on July 31, 2020. The Company's common stock is expected to begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on the NYSE American exchange at the market open on August 3. The reverse stock split is intended to increase the per share trading price of the Company's common stock to satisfy the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the NYSE American exchange.

07:08 EDT LiveXLive Media and an Allied Esports subsidiary announce plans for shows - LiveXLive Media (LIVX) and a subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment (AESE), announced plans to develop an entertainment program that merges live music and competitive gaming. The new show concept will use Allied Esports' popular mobile esports entertainment facility, the HyperX Esports Truck, as the production studio and main stage as chart-topping artists, including Trippie Redd who has over 15 million social media followers will star in the pilot, and DJs face off in music-based battles and then drop the mic and pick up the controller for an intense gaming showdown. As part of the deal, LiveXLive will also produce ancillary content from the show for its streaming platform and will promote the format across its other existing original programs like LiveZone, Music Lives ON and the recent virtual Spring Awakening Music Festival 2020.

07:07 EDT Murphy sees 2020 retail fuel volumes 217,500-222,500 average gallons/store month - In the first quarter 2020 earnings release, management withdrew the Company's retail fuel volume guidance due to the ongoing pandemic and an inability at that date to project volume recovery for the remainder of 2020. The company expects New Stores: 25 to 27; Raze-and-Rebuild: 28 to 30; Total fuel contribution: 24 to 25; Retail fuel volume per store K gallons APSM: 217.5 to 222.5; Merchandise contribution: $455M to $460M; Retail station OPEX excluding credit cards: Up 1-3%; SG&A: $150M to $155M; Effective Tax Rate: 24% to 26%; Capital expenditures: $250M to $275M Based on the gradual recoveries of volumes seen since the mid-April time frame the Company is now able to project an estimated full year year guidance of 217,500 to 222,500 average gallons per store month for our retail fuel volumes. Strong tobacco performance has led to higher overall merchandise margins than expected previously. Organic growth has experienced a slight shift but we still expect total combined store count to be near 55 for the full year. To reach those store counts and be prepared for future growth we expect to raise the low end of our capital expenditures range by $25 million. All of these guidance changes are predicated on continuing the slow ramp of fuel volumes that we have experienced since the middle of second quarter and that continues into July. The Company has not recently provided a projected range of all-in fuel margin, Net Income, or Adjusted EBITDA. In the spirit of increased transparency consistent with the current health pandemic, the Company has decided to provide an expected full year total fuel contribution in cents per gallon. For modeling purposes only, if all-in fuel margins approximate 24.5 cpg, management would expect the business to generate Net Income of $383 million and Adjusted EBITDA of about $719 million for full year 2020 using the midpoint of the updated retail fuel volume guidance combined with the midpoint of the other original guidance metrics that have not changed since issuance.

07:06 EDT Ironwood reaches alignment with FDA on updates to IW-3718 Phase III program - Ironwood Pharmaceuticals announced that it has reached alignment with the FDA on certain updates to its Phase III clinical program evaluating IW-3718 in adults with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Ironwood said in a release, "The updates are as follows: The primary endpoint for the two identical trials - IW-3718-301 and IW-3718-302 - has been changed from the previous responder endpoint to a continuous endpoint. Ironwood plans to stop enrollment of study subjects into IW-3718-302 and to conduct a blinded early assessment of efficacy in that trial; the company expects to report the outcome of this assessment in the fourth quarter of 2020. Ironwood is also in discussions with the FDA regarding its request for long-term safety data for IW-3718 in refractory GERD patients. Ironwood has provided a detailed overview of the existing long-term safety data for colesevelam and is working closely with the FDA to determine whether any additional data is needed in connection with a New Drug Application, or NDA, submission for IW-3718. Ironwood's Phase III program comprises two identical randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trials of IW-3718, its gastric retentive formulation of a bile acid sequestrant, for the potential treatment of patients with refractory GERD. Patients evaluated in these trials must demonstrate evidence of pathological acid reflux. Patients enrolled in the trials continue to take proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, and are randomized to placebo or IW-3718 1500 mg twice a day for eight weeks. The primary endpoint for the Phase III trials is now the assessment of change from baseline to week 8 in weekly heartburn severity scores. The original primary endpoint was an overall heartburn responder (defined as a patient who experiences at least a 45% reduction from baseline in heartburn severity for at least four out of eight weeks, including at least one of the last two weeks), which has been moved to become one of the key secondary endpoints, along with a change in weekly regurgitation frequency and the proportion of heartburn-free days. Ironwood's decision to change the primary endpoint was primarily based on recent FDA guidance indicating the FDA's preference for continuous endpoints over responder endpoints. The new endpoint is very similar to the primary endpoint in the IW-3718 Phase IIb clinical trial and the previous key secondary endpoint in the Phase III trials, which both assessed percent change from baseline to week 8 in weekly heartburn severity score."

07:03 EDT Coca-Cola reports Q2 free cash flow $2.3B, down 40% - Year-to-date cash from operations was $2.8B, down 38%. Free cash flow was $2.3B, down 40%.

07:00 EDT Xylem appoints Sandra Rowland as CFO - Xylem (XYL) announced it has appointed Sandra Rowland as Senior Vice President and CFO effective October 1, reporting to Xylem President and CEO Patrick Decker. Rowland will succeed Mark Rajkowski, who will retire from the Company at the end of the year, allowing for an orderly and smooth transition. Since January of 2015, Rowland has served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Harman International Industries, an $8.6B leader in the design and engineering of electronic and audio products, connected solutions and automated systems for enterprise, automotive and consumer markets. She is also a member of the Board of Directors and Audit and Human Resources Committees of industrial manufacturer Oshkosh Corporation (OSK). Rowland will be based at Xylem's headquarters in Rye Brook, N.Y. Mark Rajkowski, Xylem's CFO since 2016, will retire from the Company in December. Rajkowski came out of a previous retirement to lead Xylem's global Finance organization, setting the finance strategy and structure that has underpinned the Company's growth and transformation. Rajkowski will remain with the Company in an advisory capacity between October and the end of the year, working with Rowland to provide for an orderly and smooth transition.

06:59 EDT Coca-Cola reports Q2 global unit case volume declined 16%

06:56 EDT Comstock Mining reports investments in Mercury Clean Up increased to $1.75M - Comstock Mining announced selected strategic and financial updates, unaudited, for the Q2 and year to date: Investments in Mercury Clean Up increased to $1.75M in cash and stock to date with the Comstock mercury remediation system completed and shipping this week; committed to investing in MCU Philippines after MCU agreed to a definitive joint venture agreement with Clean Ore Solutions OPC, to partner in a landmark mercury remediation project in the Philippines; Committed up to $3M in debt and equity investments, for 62.5% of the newly created MCU Philippines, with the new mercury remediation system ready for shipment; and consummated the April acquisition of 25% of PELEN, owner of the historic Sutro Tunnel Company.

06:48 EDT Tailored Brands identifies 500 stores for closure - Tailored Brands has safely welcomed customers back to 96% of its retail stores in full compliance with CDC and government requirements. At the same time, the Company has re-evaluated the forecasted profitability and strategic value of every store in its fleet relative to current and anticipated trends in consumer demand and has identified up to 500 stores for closure over time. The Company has not yet quantified the expense savings and costs related to potential store closures and the corresponding store organization and supply chain infrastructure and organization realignment.

06:47 EDT Tapestry CEO Jide Zeitlin resigns, Joanne Crevoiserat named interim CEO - Tapestry announced that effective immediately, Jide Zeitlin, Chairman and CEO, has resigned from the company and its Board of Directors for personal reasons. As a result, Joanne Crevoiserat, CFO, has been appointed Interim CEO of Tapestry. Todd Kahn, President, Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary, will serve as Interim CEO and Brand President of Coach, and Andrea Shaw Resnick, Global Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, has been named Interim CFO of the company. Additionally, Susan Kropf, the company's Lead Independent Director, has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors. The company is commencing a search for a permanent CEO, which will include internal and external candidates.

06:45 EDT PermRock Royalty Trust declares no monthly cash distributions for July - PermRock Royalty Trust said in a release, "PermRock Royalty Trust declared there will be no monthly cash distribution to record holders of its trust units representing beneficial interests in the Trust as of July 31. The net profits calculation was based principally upon production during the month of May and includes $84,265.24 in net profits income to be distributed to the Trust, which amount will be used to cover Trust administrative expenses."

06:37 EDT Commercial Metals acquires substantially all assets of GalvaBar from AZZ Inc. - Commercial Metals (CMC) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, CMC Steel Oklahoma, LLC, has acquired substantially all of the assets of AZZ's (AZZ) Continuous Galvanized Rebar business which, through a proprietary process, produces GalvaBar. Commercial Metals said in a release, "GalvaBar is galvanized rebar with a zinc alloy coating that provides both superior corrosion protection and exceptional post-fabrication formability. GalvaBar operates out of a dedicated facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its products are sold throughout the United States and the Caribbean."

06:36 EDT Commercial Metals acquires substantially all assets of GalvaBar - Commercial Metals announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, CMC Steel Oklahoma, LLC, has acquired substantially all of the assets of AZZ's Continuous Galvanized Rebar business which, through a proprietary process, produces GalvaBar. Commercial Metals said in a release, "GalvaBar is galvanized rebar with a zinc alloy coating that provides both superior corrosion protection and exceptional post-fabrication formability. GalvaBar operates out of a dedicated facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its products are sold throughout the United States and the Caribbean."

06:35 EDT Teleflex announces data from three studies of UroLift System - Teleflex announced that data from three studies of the UroLift System were presented at the European Association of Urology, or EAU, 2020 virtual congress, underscoring the safety and effectiveness of the minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, among broad patient groups. "The UroLift System is a standard of care treatment that provides rapid symptom relief and recovery for patients suffering from the burdensome symptoms of BPH, said Dave Amerson, president of Teleflex Interventional Urology business unit. "Results from these studies are largely consistent with those found in previous clinical studies of the UroLift System, further supporting the safety and lasting benefits of this minimally invasive treatment in the real-world and among difficult-to-treat patient populations." Oliver Kayes, M.D. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, presented Prostatic Urethral Lift Real-World Study Confirms Effectiveness and Safety in a Broad Array of Patient Groups. A presentation entitled 12-month symptom and urodynamic outcomes of the prostatic urethral lift in patients with acute urinary retention was presented by Mark Rochester, M.D., Norwich & Norfolk University Hospital. The study examined the feasibility of the UroLift System to treat patients with acute urinary retention. A third study - Meta-analysis comparison of sexual function outcomes after treatment with prostatic urethral lift or medical therapy - was presented by Claus Roehrborn, M.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

06:15 EDT Opko Health's BioReference Laboratories in pact for NFL COVID-19 testing - On July 20, Jon Cohen, M.D., Executive Chairman of BioReference Laboratories, a subsidiary of OPKO Health, publicly announced as a guest on the CNBC program, "Mad Money," that BioReference had reached an agreement in principle with the National Football League to provide COVID-19 testing for the NFL. The foregoing agreement in principle with the NFL remains subject to definitive documentation and the parties' execution and delivery thereof.

06:07 EDT Interpace Biosciences announces publication of peer-reviewed paper - Interpace Biosciences announced that a peer-reviewed manuscript describing results from a seminal clinical validation study of the combination of ThyGeNEXT and ThyraMIR has been accepted for publication in the highly respected journal, Diagnostic Cytopathology. The study, led by Dr. Mark Lupo from the Thyroid and Endocrine Center of Florida, reported on the ability of the combination of ThyGeNEXT/ThyraMIR tests to successfully stratify nearly 200 indeterminate thyroid nodules for risk of malignancy. Sites participating in this multicentered study included Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Jackson Thyroid & Endocrine Clinic, University of Michigan, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

06:03 EDT State Auto Financial sees Q2 net catastrophe losses $90M - State Auto Financial announced its preliminary estimate of the impact of catastrophe losses on its Q2 results. The company estimates the Q2 results will include approximately $90M, or 26.5 points, of net catastrophe losses, primarily driven by wind and hail events that impacted the South and Midwest. Approximately 60% of the catastrophe losses for the quarter were in the homeowners line of business. The estimate does not include COVID-19-related exposures which are not expected to be material to the Company's second quarter results and will be reported in non-catastrophe losses and ALAE. STFC expects to release its Q2 results on Thursday, August 6.

05:52 EDT Vodafone enters partnership with Accenture - Vodafone Business (VOD) is teaming with Accenture (ACN) to deliver managed security services to small to medium enterprises, or SME, and national corporate customers in Europe. Vodafone said in a release, "Vodafone will bring enterprise-grade cybersecurity along with access to leading cyber talent and expertise to organisations that do not have the experience, time or resources to keep up with the rapidly evolving threat landscape. As a result of this strategic relationship, businesses in Europe will have access to world-class security services in simple, pre-defined packages designed specifically for their needs from a provider they trust. Accenture and Vodafone Business also intend to jointly invest in security innovation to help keep organizations safe as new threats emerge. The agreement is a key step forward in Vodafone Business' strategy to offer enterprise-grade cybersecurity to businesses of all sizes. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, more organizations are conducting business online and working to secure their supply chains. This shift has highlighted gaps between small to medium enterprises at different levels of digital readiness that are very vulnerable to cyberattacks. While larger enterprises improve their cybersecurity defense, cybercriminals are increasingly turning their attention to less well defended organisations. Vodafone Business is committed to helping customers emerge stronger and safer from the crisis."

05:47 EDT eBay sells Classifieds Group to Adevinta for $9.2B

05:09 EDT GrubHub signs agreement with Franklin Junction - Franklin Junction is announcing a new agreement with Grubhub. Franklin Junction said in a release, "The partnership will center on Franklin Junction's fast-growing list of host kitchens and popular food concepts, with Grubhub agreeing to fund Q3 marketing support for two Franklin Junction brands, The Captain's Boil and Order XOXO. The Captain's Boil has achieved early success on the platform, with more than 250 stores currently in operation and hundreds more expected to launch by the end of the year. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite restaurants, Grubhub strives to elevate food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Global franchise and restaurant expert Aziz Hashim first launched Franklin Junction in April 2020, introducing an innovative concept in response to restaurants that were struggling to monetize excess kitchen and storage capacity amid closures and other limitations."