Stockwinners Market Radar for June 22, 2021 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

17:54 EDT Restaurant Brands CFO Dunnigan sells over $666K in company shares - Restaurant Brands CFO Matthew Dunnigan disclosed in a filing that he had sold 10,000 shares of company stock at $66.64 per share on June 18, for a total transaction amount of $666,400.

17:26 EDT SeaChange chairman buys 100K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, SeaChange disclosed that its Executive Chairman Robert Pons bought 100K shares of common stock on June 21st in a total transaction size of $106K, boosting his stake by about 25%. Shares of SeaChange are up over 14% after-hours at $1.20.

17:15 EDT Valaris announces jackup contract award from North Oil Company - Valaris Limited announced it has been awarded a three-year contract with North Oil Company offshore Qatar for VALARIS JU-110, a heavy-duty modern jackup. The contract is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021.

17:11 EDT Camping World executes purchase pacts for development of Ohio RV SuperCenters - Camping World Holdings announced that it has executed purchase agreements for the planned development of two new RV SuperCenters on approximately 15 acres of land in Sunbury, Ohio off of I-71 N and Hwy 36 and 15 acres of land in Madison, Ohio near I-90 W and Hwy 528. Camping World currently has four locations in the state of Ohio and plans to open the new locations for business in the fall of 2022. "We are eternally grateful for the support of both communities as we expand our RV network, bringing job opportunities and commerce for the hard-working people of Ohio," said Marcus Lemonis, CEO and Chairman of Camping World Holdings. "Each location we open across the U.S. represents significant economic impact for the communities and convenient customer service and products for the 5.3 million active customers we serve." Once the two locations are open for business, Camping World will have six locations in the state of Ohio; all featuring a wide range of new and used RVs from top manufacturers, in addition to a full assortment of RV and outdoor products and accessories and the entire portfolio of Good Sam insurance, products and services. The Company currently has operating dealerships, agreements to acquire existing RV dealerships, is under new construction or has a land acquisition pending in 45 of the 48 contiguous states.

17:03 EDT Boeing receives $580.6M Special Operations Command delivery order - Boeing received a delivery order in the amount of $580.6M on a previously negotiated option under a basic ordering agreement for 14 H-47 extended range rotary wing aircraft that satisfy the United Kingdom's requirement for heavy assault, rotary wing aircraft. This modification exercises an option that was awarded on an existing delivery order. Foreign Military Sales funding from the United Kingdom in the amount of $580.6M is being obligated at the time of award. The majority of the work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by July 2026. This is a non-competitive award and is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. U.S. Special Operations Command is the contracting activity.

17:02 EDT CatchMark Timber to sell Bandon property for $100M - CatchMark Timber Trust announced a definitive agreement to sell 18,063 acres of prime Oregon timberlands, known as the Bandon property, for $100M in cash, or approximately $5,536 per acre, to Roseburg Resources. CatchMark purchased the property in August 2018 for $88.8M, or $4,916 per acre, exclusive of transaction costs. The company expects to recognize a gain on the sale in excess of $20M in the Q3. As of June 17 CatchMark has harvested approximately 70% of its targeted 2021 volume for the Pacific Northwest and expects to reach approximately 75% to 80% of its target 2021 harvest volume for the region by transaction close. The sale is expected to close in the Q3, subject to customary closing conditions. AFM Real Estate acted as CatchMark's broker for the transaction.

17:01 EDT KKR to invest in edtech company Education Perfect - Australian and New Zealand education technology company Education Perfect, global investment firm KKR, and Australia-based private equity firm Five V announced the signing of definitive agreements pursuant to which KKR will acquire a majority stake in the company. KKR makes its investment from its Global Impact Fund. KKR's Global Impact strategy is focused on investing in market-leading companies whose business contributes toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. EP's business directly contributes towards SDG 4 by providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to students around the world. Alex Burke, CEO of Education Perfect, said, "An investment by KKR's Global Impact Fund validates EP's stand-out position and exceptional track record in the fragmented education technology industry. COVID-19 has put education technology in the spotlight, and our amazing team and world-class data, technology and content have been the foundation of our success. I welcome KKR's investment, which marks a key moment in the Company's journey and sets EP up for its next phase of global growth. I'm excited by what the investment represents, and how it validates the quality of the product that we are offering to teachers, students, parents and school leaders, and the exceptional work the entire EP team is doing."

16:41 EDT Second Sight falls about 10% to $5.72 after equity offering

16:35 EDT DermTech enters skin disease study with University of Barcelona researchers - DermTech announced a collaboration with researchers from the University of Barcelona, led by lead investigator Luis Santamaria-Babi to investigate the modulatory effect of targeted therapies in models of inflammatory skin disease. The research study will use DermTech's Smart Sticker-enabled platform to interrogate inflammatory pathways underlying the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, or AD, and psoriasis. In vitro models of AD and psoriasis will also be used to evaluate the modulatory effect of targeted therapies on these inflammatory pathways. The research collaboration highlights DermTech's commitment to using precision genomics and personalized dermatology approaches to improve the identification of effective therapies and better understanding of dermatological diseases. AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense itching that affects approximately 15%-20% of children and up to 10% of adults in the U.S. and Europe. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by red, scaly skin lesions formed by the hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes, and it affects approximately 3% of the adult population in the U.S. and Europe. Both AD and psoriasis have significant negative social and economic impacts on patients and their families. The increasing number of therapies for AD and psoriasis in clinical development add to a growing armamentarium for physicians and support the need for more personalized approaches to patient care.

16:18 EDT Magna reports 7.4% stake in Fisker after vesting of warrants - Magna International (MGA) reports a 7.4% passive stake in Fisker, which represents over 12.9M shares. As of June 12, Magna may be deemed the beneficial owner of 12,969,986 Shares. The amount consists entirely of shares that Magna has the right to acquire upon exercise of 12,969,986 warrants. The warrants vest in three steps, upon the achievement of three separate milestones, as described in more detail in Fisker's annual proxy statement on April 27. The first milestone was met on December 31, 2020, at which point 6,484,993 Warrants vested. The second milestone was met on June 12, 2021, at which point another 6,484,993 Warrants vested. The third milestone, at which point 6,504,468 Warrants will vest, has not been met yet and so such warrants are not included in Magna's beneficial ownership reported. The warrants will vest in full upon a change of control of Fisker.

16:16 EDT Keros announces preliminary data from trial evaluating KER-050 for anemia - Keros Therapeutics announced preliminary results from Cohorts 1 and 2 of its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating KER-050 for the treatment of anemia and thrombocytopenia in patients with very low-, low-, or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes MDS who either have ring sideroblast or do not have ring sideroblasts and who either have or have not previously received treatment with an erythroid stimulating agent. The ongoing trial is designed as an open-label, two-part, multiple ascending dose trial to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of KER-050 in patients with MDS. As of May 14, 12 patients had received at least one dose of KER-050, nine of whom had completed eight weeks of treatment. Patients in Cohort 1 and 2 received 0.75 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg doses of KER-050, respectively, once every four weeks for 12 weeks. Preliminary results from Cohorts 1 and 2 of the trial, as of the data cut-off date, include: Five patients that completed eight weeks of treatment with KER-050 as of the data cut-off date met at least one of the following endpoints: Increase in hemoglobin greater than or equal to 1.5 g/dL for eight weeks, or 50% reduction in transfusion requirements over eight weeks, or Transfusion independence for at least eight weeks..."These preliminary results are encouraging, as we observed increases in hematological parameters in the two lowest Part 1 dose cohorts, dosed monthly, in both RS positive and non-RS patients with MDS," said Jasbir S. Seehra, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Keros. "We believe these initial results demonstrate proof-of-concept of KER-050 in patients with very low-, low- to intermediate-risk MDS, and support the potential of KER-050 as a treatment for diseases associated with ineffective hematopoiesis."

16:11 EDT Cedar Realty Trust closes sale of the Camp Hill Shopping Center for $89.7M - Cedar Realty Trust announced that yesterday it closed on the sale of the Camp Hill Shopping Center in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, a 97% leased, 423,671 square foot grocery-anchored shopping center, anchored by a Giant supermarket, Boscov's, LA Fitness and Barnes & Noble. The asset was sold for approximately $89.7M at a cap rate of approximately 6.5%.

16:09 EDT Aveanna to be added to Russell 2000 Index - Aveanna announced that it is set to join the Russell 2000 Index at the conclusion of the 2021 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the U.S. market opens on June 28, 2021, according to a preliminary list of additions posted earlier this month.

16:08 EDT Talkspace to begin trading on Nasdaq on June 23 - Talkspace (TALK) and Hudson Executive Investment Corp. (HEC) announced the completion of their previously announced business combination. Beginning on June 23, the combined entity named Talkspace and its shares of common stock and warrants will begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the new ticker symbols "TALK" and "TALKW," respectively. The pro-forma entity is expected to have $250M of available cash, which will be used to grow its user base, add partnerships and expand internationally. HEIC shareholders approved the transaction during an extraordinary meeting held on June 17.

16:07 EDT Tradeweb says all required approvals obtained for Nasdaq Fixed Income deal - Tradeweb Markets Inc. announced that all required regulatory and self-regulatory approvals have been obtained for the company's previously announced acquisition of Nasdaq Fixed Income, Nasdaq's U.S. fixed income electronic trading platform. Tradeweb expects the closing of the proposed NFI transaction to occur on or around June 25, 2021.

16:06 EDT Thoma Bravo Advantage shareholders approve business combination with IronSource - Thoma Bravo Advantage announced that shareholders of TBA voted to approve the proposed business combination with ironSource, a leading business platform for the App Economy, at its Extraordinary General Meeting held on June 22. More than 96% of the votes cast at the meeting voted to approve the business combination. Holders of approximately 86% of TBA's issued and outstanding shares cast votes at the Extraordinary General Meeting. A Form 8-K disclosing the full voting results will be filed by Thoma Bravo Advantage with the SEC.

16:06 EDT Fintech Acquisition Corp. IV stockholders approve Perella Weinberg deal - FinTech Acquisition Corp. IV, a special purpose acquisition company, announced that in a special meeting held today, its stockholders voted to approve the previously announced proposed business combination with Perella Weinberg Partners, a global independent advisory firm. Approximately 99.9% of the votes cast at the meeting, representing approximately 79.24% of FinTech IV's outstanding shares, voted to approve the business combination. In addition, stockholders of FTIV approved all other proposals put before stockholders at the special meeting. All regulatory approvals related to the proposed business combination have been received, and the transaction is expected to close on June 24, 2021, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain other closing conditions. Additionally, the deadline for electing redemptions has passed and no stockholder has elected to redeem its shares in connection with the business combination. Upon consummation of the transaction, the combined company will operate as Perella Weinberg Partners and will be listed on NASDAQ under the new symbol "PWP."

16:03 EDT Nutanix names Virginia Gambale chair of the board - Nutanix announced the election of Virginia Gambale as Chair of the Nutanix Board, effective June 16, 2021. Gambale joined the Board in June 2020 and became Lead Independent Director in December 2020. Gambale currently serves as the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as a member of the Audit Committee. In her new role as Chair, Gambale will lead the agenda for the board including governance and oversight, as well as focus on helping the company achieve its next phase of growth. Gambale succeeds Dheeraj Pandey, who served as Chair until his departure in December 2020. "Virginia's insights, dedication, commitment and advice have contributed meaningfully to Nutanix, and we are eager to benefit from her continued leadership in this expanded role," said Rajiv Ramaswami, President and CEO of Nutanix. "In addition to bringing a deep knowledge of our business, market landscape and technology from her experience as a prior CIO, Virginia has extensive board experience advising technology companies, and her thoughtful and structured approach to governance will help advance our leadership in hybrid multicloud, as well as help drive growth, profitability and value creation for our shareholders."

15:58 EDT Delta confirms plans to accelerate hiring as customers return to travel - Delta said in a post to its news hub that it is working quickly to increase staffing in Reservations and Customer Care, Airport Customer Service and Cargo, Flight Operations and Tech Operations in support of customers' speedy return to travel. "Our outstanding colleagues have worked so hard over the last year to ensure not only Delta's survival but our long-term success. As we shift gears toward recovery, we know we need reinforcements to help us serve our customers this summer. We're excited to add more talented professionals to the Delta family who share our passion for connecting the world," said Joanne Smith, Delta's E.V.P. and Chief People Officer. Delta Air Lines' aim to hire more than 1,000 pilots by next summer and to add other staff was previously reported last night by Reuters. Reference Link

15:05 EDT FTC settles with fertility-tracking app Flo Health that shared sensitive data - The Federal Trade Commission finalized a settlement that will require Flo Health to obtain the affirmative consent of users of the company's fertility-tracking app before sharing their personal health information with others and to obtain an independent review of their privacy practices, the FTC announced. In a complaint first announced in January, the FTC alleges that despite promising to keep users' health data private, Flo shared sensitive health data from millions of users of its Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker app with marketing and analytics firms, including Facebook (FB) and Google (GOOGL). As part of the settlement, Flo Health must notify affected users about the disclosure of their health information and instruct any third party that received users' health information to destroy that data. Flo also is prohibited from misrepresenting: the purposes for which it collect, maintain, use, or disclose the data how much consumers can control these data uses its compliance with any privacy, security, or compliance program; and how it collects, maintains, uses, discloses, deletes, or protects users' personal information. After receiving five comments, the Commission voted 4-0-1 to finalize the settlement and to send responses to the commenters. FTC Chair Lina Khan did not participate in the vote. Reference Link

14:24 EDT Nutanix expects operating profit by second half of FY23 or first half of FY24 - Nutanix said in investor day presentation slides earlier that it expects operating profit by the second half of fiscal 2023 or the first half of fiscal 2024. The company also said in slides presented during its investor day meeting that it expects revenue growth to accelerate and sees 20%+ CAGR through FY25. In afternoon trading, Nutanix shares are up $1.90, or 5%, to $38.24. Reference Link

13:50 EDT Halozyme says Janssen receives EU authorization for DARZALEX SC - Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO) announced that the European Commission has granted the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) two marketing authorizations for the subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab, known as DARZALEX SC in the European Union. The first authorization is for the use of DARZALEX SC in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed systemic light-chain amyloidosis. The approval makes the DARZALEX SC based regimen the first approved therapy for AL amyloidosis in Europe. The second authorization is for the use of DARZALEX SC in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma who have received one prior therapy containing a proteasome inhibitor and lenalidomide and were lenalidomide refractory, or who have received at least two prior therapies that included lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor, and have demonstrated disease progression on or after the last therapy. "We are pleased that Janssen received European Commission marketing authorizations for these important new indications," said Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer at Halozyme. "These authorizations will provide new treatment options for certain AL amyloidosis and multiple myeloma patients in Europe." DARZALEX SC is co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20, Halozyme's ENHANZE drug delivery technology.

13:30 EDT DigitalBridge Group Inc (Class A Stock) trading resumes

13:18 EDT Bitcoin back above $32,000 after dropping below $30,000 earlier - The price of bitcoin recovered losses from earlier in the day and is now hovering around positive territory. After dropping below $30,000, the bitcoin is little changed in afternoon trading at $32,163.62.

12:08 EDT Peloton up 7% after Bloomberg report of push into wearables

12:00 EDT Onion Global falls -10.1% - Onion Global is down -10.1%, or -39c to $3.46.

12:00 EDT Skillsoft rises 12.8% - Skillsoft is up 12.8%, or $1.20 to $10.55.

12:00 EDT 3D Systems rises 27.7% - 3D Systems is up 27.7%, or $8.01 to $36.89.

11:50 EDT uniQure trading resumes

11:47 EDT Epic Games has over 500M accounts across games and store - Epic Games said it now has over 500M accounts with 2.7B friend connections across Fortnite, Rocket League, and the Epic Games Store. Investors in Epic include Tencent (TCEHY), KKR (KKR), Disney (DIS), and Sony (SONY).

11:36 EDT uniQure says 'aligned' with FDA on primary endpoint analysis after meeting - uniQure and its partner, CSL Behring, have had recent communications with U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including a pre-biologics licensing application, or BLA, submission meeting held on June 4, the company announced. "The FDA confirmed that the primary evidence of durability of effect to inform regulatory decision-making will come from patients followed for at least a 52-week period beginning when etranacogene dezaparvovec-derived FIX levels have achieved steady state, rather than when etranacogene dezaparvovec is administered. This feedback was based upon review of statistical analysis plans, as no clinical data was provided or discussed. All patients in the HOPE-B pivotal study achieved steady-state FIX activity levels by 26-weeks after administration of etranacogene dezaparvovec. As a result, uniQure will now conduct as the sole primary endpoint a non-inferiority analysis of annualized bleeding rates at 78 weeks after the administration - approximately 52-weeks after steady-state is achieved. The company expects all patients to complete their 78-week follow-up visits by the end of the third quarter of 2021, and the company and CSL Behring expect to submit the BLA in first quarter of 2022," uniQure said.

11:34 EDT uniQure announces 'positive' 52-week data from HOPE-B trial - uniQure announced "positive" 52-week clinical data on all patients from its pivotal, Phase III HOPE-B gene therapy trial of etranacogene dezaparvovec, an investigational adeno-associated virus five-based gene therapy for the treatment of patients with severe and moderately severe hemophilia B. These are the first clinical data to be reported from a Phase III gene therapy study in hemophilia B and, with 54 patients, the largest set of hemophilia B patients receiving a single gene therapy investigational product to date, the company said. Data from the HOPE-B pivotal study showed that participants continued to demonstrate durable, sustained increases in Factor IX, or FIX, activity at 52-weeks post-infusion with a mean FIX activity of 41.5% of normal, as measured by a one-stage APTT-based clotting assay, compared to a mean FIX activity of 39.0% of normal at 26-weeks of follow-up. There continued to be no clinically significant correlation between pre-existing neutralizing antibodies to AAV5 and FIX activity in patients with NAb titers up to 678.2, a range expected to include more than 93% of the general population. During the 52-week period, a single dose of etranacogene dezaparvovec significantly reduced the annualized rate of bleeding requiring treatment by 80% from a prospectively collected 3.39 at baseline to 0.68 bleeding episodes per year. The annualized rate of spontaneous bleeding requiring treatment was also significantly reduced by 85% from a prospectively collected 1.16 at baseline to 0.18 bleeds per year during the 52-week period. Usage of FIX replacement therapy in all patients declined 96 percent during the 52-week period, with 52 of 54 patients successfully discontinuing their prophylactic infusions. As previously announced, of the two non-responders, one patient only received a partial dose due to an infusion reaction and a second patient had an unusually high pre-existing NAb titer of 3,212, which is expected in less than 1% of the general population. Etranacogene dezaparvovec continues to be generally well-tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events. No inhibitors to FIX have been reported and no consistent relationship between safety and pre-existing NAb titers has been observed.

11:29 EDT NIH says cannabis may be associated with suicidality in young adults - An analysis of survey data from more than 280,000 young adults ages 18-35 showed that cannabis use was associated with increased risks of thoughts of suicide, suicide plan, and suicide attempt. These associations remained regardless of whether someone was also experiencing depression, and the risks were greater for women than for men. For their analysis, NIDA researchers examined data from the 2008-2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH, which is conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, collects nationally representative data among the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population age 12 or older on cannabis use and use disorder, depression, suicidality, and other behavioral health indicators. In addition to determining the associations between these factors, the researchers examined whether the associations varied by gender. They examined data from 281,650 young adults ages 18 to 35 years - the age range when most substance use and mood disorders emerge-with an almost even number of women and men. The researchers compared four levels of past-year cannabis use: no cannabis use; nondaily cannabis use; daily cannabis use, which was defined as use on at least 300 days per year; and presence of cannabis use disorder, which was assessed in the survey and involves meeting specific criteria for a pattern of continued cannabis use despite negative consequences. To determine the presence of depression, they assessed the prevalence of major depressive episodes based on specific diagnostic criteria measured through the survey. To identify suicidality trends, the investigators separately assessed the trends in the prevalence of past-year suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt as reported in the 2008-2019 NSDUH surveys. The results of the study indicated that even people who used cannabis nondaily, fewer than 300 days a year, were more likely to have suicidal ideation and to plan or attempt suicide than those who did not use the drug at all. These associations remained regardless of whether someone was also experiencing depression. Among people without a major depressive episode, about 3% of those who did not use cannabis had suicidal ideation, compared with about 7% of those with nondaily cannabis use, about 9% of those with daily cannabis use, and 14% of those with a cannabis use disorder. Among people with depression, 35% of people who did not use cannabis had suicidal ideation, compared to 44% of those with nondaily cannabis use, 53% of those who used cannabis daily, and 50% of those who had a cannabis use disorder. Similar trends existed for the associations between different levels of cannabis use and suicide plan or attempt. Moreover, the researchers found that women who used cannabis at any level were more likely to have suicidal ideation or report a suicide plan or attempt than men with the same levels of cannabis use. For example, among individuals without major depressive episode, the prevalence of suicidal ideation for those with vs. without a cannabis use disorder was 13.9% vs. 3.5% among women and 9.9% vs. 3.0% among men. Among individuals with both cannabis use disorder and major depressive episode, the prevalence of past-year suicide plan was 52% higher for women than men. Publicly traded companies in the space include Aurora Cannabis (ACB), CV Sciences (CVSI), CannTrust Holdings (CTST), Canopy Growth (CGC), Cronos Group (CRON), General Cannabis (CANN), India Globalization Capital (IGC), Tilray (TLRY), Trulieve Cannabis (TCNNF) and Zynerba (ZYNE).

11:20 EDT Westwater Resources trading resumes

11:03 EDT Westwater announces incentives for 'first-of-its-kind' graphite plant in Alabama - Westwater Resources joined Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and other state and local leaders at a press conference in Montgomery to announce the governor's signing of incentives agreements that will bring a" first-of-its kind, advanced graphite processing plant" to the state. The plant will be built in the Kellyton area in Coosa County, near Alexander City, by Alabama Graphite Products, a subsidiary of Alabama Graphite Corp. and its parent company, Westwater Resources. Alabama Graphite plans to make an initial investment of $80M or more, with a second phase pushing the total to $124M, in the graphite processing plant. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the plant operating by the end of 2022. The agreements signed by the governor will provide Alabama Graphite Products with jobs and tax credits under the Alabama Jobs Acts, totaling up to an estimated $29.9M over 15 years. In addition, Alabama Industrial Development and Training will provide Alabama Graphite Products up to $925,000 in job-training and employee recruitment incentives. "This plant not only will make Alabama the U.S. leader in graphite production, the go-to place for this important resource in battery manufacturing, it also will elevate our standing even more as a major player in the fast-growing electric vehicle sector. We're home to four major auto plants, and the ability to source precious materials in state for the lithium-ion batteries used in electric and hybrid vehicles will be a big plus in attracting other manufacturing jobs to the state," Ivey said.

10:58 EDT Tellurian files application for new pipeline project serving southwest Louisiana - Tellurian (TELL) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Driftwood Pipeline LLC has submitted a formal application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissionto construct and operate Line 200 and 300, an approximately 37-mile, dual 42-inch diameter interstate pipeline that will originate near Ragley in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana and end near Carlyss in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The new pipeline has been designed and routed to connect the supply located 21 miles north of Lake Charles to the demand located within and south of Lake Charles, bypassing what has become a constrained, complex and expensive transportation pathway. As part of the design, Driftwood Pipeline is proposing to deploy Baker Hughes (BKR)-supplied electric-driven compression, thereby reducing the pipeline's carbon dioxide emissions by more than 99%. The proposed pipeline project, coupled with other strategic steps Tellurian is taking, will lead to nearly a one million tonne reduction per year in direct greenhouse gas emissions. President and CEO Octavio Simoes said, "This new and completed pipeline design provides definitive and measurable results for emissions reduction and is another step in Tellurian's overall strategy to support and balance the world's energy needs and environmental concerns."

10:44 EDT Pinterest, Snap shares sold by ARK Fintech Innovation ETF - ARK Investment Management disclosed in its daily update on portfolio adjustments made by the ARK investment team that on June 21 the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) sold 321,235 shares of Pinterest (PINS) and sold 360,507 shares of Snap (SNAP). The daily update also noted that on June 21 the ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) bought 27,754 shares of Alibaba Group (BABA) and bought 122,609 shares of Blade Air Mobility (BLDE).

10:39 EDT LexinFintech announces partnership with Huawei for Chinese consumer market - LexinFintech announced its partnership with Huawei in a number of areas to "jointly tap the opportunities in the Chinese consumer market." The two companies will collaborate in membership services, joint marketing, fintech product development, and buy-now-pay-later services to provide enhanced consumption solutions for the Chinese consumers. "Lexin's multi-level strategic partnership with Huawei will enable us to reach a wider group of quality users, whom we'll provide an array of services for, including consumer finance and consumption services. n the meantime, Lexin hopes to enhance users' experience and product offerings together with Huawei, and help Huawei connect with more financial institutions by offering diversified consumer products and services," said Jay Wenjie Xiao, Lexin's CEO.

10:34 EDT FDA considers delaying decision on Incyte's retifanlimab - The FDA is considering delaying a decision on retifanlimab for the treatment of advanced or metastatic squamous carcinoma of the anal canal until further data are available from clinical trial POD1UM303. Retifanlimab is an investigational, humanized, proprietary anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody being developed for use as monotherapy as well as in combination with other potential cancer therapeutics and was licensed to Incyte in 2017 under a global collaboration and license agreement. Reference Link

10:31 EDT Blackstone hires Devin Glenn as Global Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion - Blackstone announced that Devin Glenn has joined as Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "Glenn will be a Managing Director responsible for continuing to implement policies and initiatives that will help Blackstone achieve a more diverse and inclusive workplace at Blackstone and its portfolio companies," the company said. Glenn joins from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom where she was the Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

10:06 EDT Taboola announces long term strategic partnership with Sliide - Taboola announced a long-term partnership with Sliide. Under the deal, Taboola will be the exclusive provider of content recommendations across Sliide's offerings, which are embedded within "tens of millions of mobile devices in 187 countries, the majority of which are in the U.S." Adam Singolda, CEO and founder of Taboola, said, "Teaming with an innovator such as Sliide brings us closer to making news truly ubiquitous. Their scale and access to the world's largest carriers and manufacturers, coupled with our scale of publisher relationships are a great match. Sliide's customers benefit with an ability to offer end users a massive publisher network that keeps users engaged, while supporting quality journalism." As previously reported, Taboola is going public via a merger with ION Acquisition Corp. 1 (IACA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. In connection with the closing of the transaction, subject to approval, which is expected in the second quarter, Taboola's ordinary shares are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "TBLA."

10:00 EDT Rayonier Advanced Materials falls -9.4% - Rayonier Advanced Materials is down -9.4%, or -66c to $6.30.

10:00 EDT Sally Beauty rises 8.8% - Sally Beauty is up 8.8%, or $1.72 to $21.16.

10:00 EDT Tupperware Brands rises 13.6% - Tupperware Brands is up 13.6%, or $2.76 to $23.10.

09:57 EDT Adial Pharmaceuticals plans to enter genetic testing market - Adial Pharmaceuticals announced plans to enter the genetic testing market after it received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office related to use of the company's genetic diagnostic panel in combination with the company's lead product, AD04, for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. The patent covered by the Notice of Allowance also pertains to the company's use of its genetic diagnostic panel in combination with AD04 for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder.

09:50 EDT County Bancorp trading resumes

09:47 EDT SOS Limited falls -4.8% - SOS Limited is down -4.8%, or -16c to $3.24.

09:47 EDT Rayonier Advanced Materials falls -8.6% - Rayonier Advanced Materials is down -8.6%, or -60c to $6.36.

09:47 EDT Sally Beauty rises 8.3% - Sally Beauty is up 8.3%, or $1.61 to $21.05.

09:39 EDT Taronis Fuels director Wilbur Ross reports 7.8% stake - Wilbur Ross reported a 7.8% stake in Taronis Fuels, which represents over 1.3M shares. The filing with the SEC allows for activism. Ross bought Taronis on the belief that the shares, when purchased, "represented an attractive investment opportunity," the filing states. Ross is a director of the company.

09:31 EDT Galecto reports topline results from trial of GB0139 - Galectoannounced preliminary topline results from an investigator-initiated trial examining Galecto's inhaled galectin-3 inhibitor. This trial included 41 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection who did not require mechanical ventilation, of which 20 were randomized to the GB0139 arm. GB0139, dosed at 10 mg twice a day for 2 days and subsequently once a day for up to 14 days, showed a favorable safety profile with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported. GB0139 had a positive trend on acute lung injury related to COVID-19, as patients who received GB0139 showed signs of improved lung function with a significant decline in oxygen flow requirements compared to patients only receiving standard of care, which included dexamethasone, remdesivir and anticoagulant therapy. GB0139 showed target engagement by reducing galectin-3 levels compared to SOC. Patients with COVID-19 were able to inhale GB0139 and achieve consistent exposure of GB0139 at levels previously associated with systemic biomarker responses in IPF patients. Patients showed improved inflammation and coagulation biomarkers, including CXCL10, thrombocytes and reduced D-dimers, as well as improved biomarkers of liver function and tissue damage. While the severity of the disease at baseline was worse in patients receiving GB0139, these patients had similar outcomes to patients receiving only SOC.In a post-hoc subgroup analysis of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection, there was a 21% reduction in mortality in patients treated with GB0139 vs SOC. Furthermore, patients had reductions in CXCL10, IL-6, IL-10 and TNFalpha, suggesting that GB0139 has the potential to counter the cytokine storm and prevent acute respiratory distress syndrome and multi-organ failure. GB0139 also reduced PAI-1 and YKL-40 levels - as previously observed in Galecto's phase 2a trial in IPF patients. These markers are associated with a high risk of thrombosis and fibrosis, suggesting that GB0139 may reduce lung fibrosis seen in COVID-19 patients. This data together suggests GB0139 could result in clinical improvement in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients by reducing inflammation, improving lung and other organ function and reducing the risk of cytokine storm and micro-thrombosis. It is anticipated that additional data from this trial will be released at a scientific conference later in 2021.

09:26 EDT CareCloud included in Russell Microcap Index - CareCloud announced that FTSE Russell, which manages the widely-followed Russell 2000 Index and other indices based on market capitalization and style orientation, has included CareCloud in the Russell Microcap Index for the fourth straight year.

09:23 EDT SurgePays expands sales activities through launch of BLITZ - SurgePays announces the expansion of sales activities by strategically centralizing its sales operations through the appointment of two national sales managers and the launch of the Company's proprietary, blockchain-supported sales funnel, customer relationship management and business intelligence platform, BLITZ. BLITZ, the Company's proprietary blockchain supported sales funnel, customer relationship management and business intelligence platform, was developed entirely and is owned entirely by SurgePays and maintains a database of more than 34,000 retail stores. The platform supports and activates new store from first contact to live transactions over the SurgePays network, while also targeting messaging to specific stores based on data collected. BLITZ, which also includes a ticketing system, is the single point of access for customer relationship management, providing a fluid, searchable knowledge base that allows the support team to provide accurate, uniform responses to merchants with escalation alerts at specified intervals to ensure tickets are handled quickly. Finally, it provides a multi-channel business intelligence engine featuring actionable BI dashboard analytics to track objectives and key results, all using a blockchain supported database to ensure data utilization, integrity, and security.

09:21 EDT Nuvei, Discover Global Network sign acquiring agreement - Nuvei Corporation (NUVCF) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has signed an acquiring agreement with Discover Global Network, the payment brand of Discover(DFS). Nuvei has secured the partnership at a critical time as the shift to eCommerce continues to surge, satisfying the demand for greater connections between online merchants and Discover Global Network. The enhanced card acceptance offering allows businesses to provide an improved online shopping experience that can help increase sales and attract more clients from across the globe. The partnership provides Nuvei's merchants with greater growth opportunities by allowing them to operate within the Discover Global Network, which includes Discover Card issued in the U.S., Diners Club International cards issued in more than 55 countries, and cards from its network partner alliances in countries such as Turkey, India, South Korea and Brazil. This partnership enables Nuvei's clients to benefit from higher transaction acceptance rates and greater worldwide reach. Merchants from all industries can enjoy the benefits, including online retail, travel, marketplaces, social gaming, iGaming and regulated financial services.

09:20 EDT VivoPower announces binding LOI for electric vehicle partnership with Toyota - VivoPower International (VVPR) announces that the company has entered into a binding Letter of Intent with Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (TM) to create a collaboration program between VivoPower and Toyota Australia for electrification of Toyota Landcruiser vehicles using conversion kits designed and manufactured by VivoPower's wholly-owned electric vehicle subsidiary, Tembo e-LV B.V. The binding LOI sets out the terms for the purchase of preliminary goods and services and the basis upon which a Master Services Agreement is expected to be finalized to govern an electric vehicle conversion partnership between VivoPower and Toyota Australia. Final terms of the MSA are under negotiation, but upon completion, it is intended that VivoPower would become Toyota Australia's exclusive partner for Landcruiser 70 electrification for a period of five years, with a further two-year option. Kevin Chin, Executive Chairman and CEO of VivoPower, said: "We are extremely pleased to be collaborating with Toyota Motor Corporation Australia, part of the world's largest original equipment manufacturer on the electrification of their Landcruiser vehicles with our Tembo conversion kits. The Landcruiser is the vehicle of choice worldwide for mining and other ruggedized industries. This partnership with Toyota Australia is a testament to the outstanding potential of Tembo's technology to decarbonize transportation in some of the world's toughest and hardest to decarbonize industries. More importantly, it is a tremendous opportunity for us to work directly with Toyota Australia to optimize the Tembo product and deliver it to more customers around the world, helping them to achieve their net zero carbon objectives in the process." While the MSA is still to be finalized, the LOI is a binding agreement between VivoPower and Toyota Australia to begin collaboration on Landcruiser electrification efforts.

09:18 EDT AMD announces availability of AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution - AMD announced availability of its cutting-edge spatial upscaling solution, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution. AMD FSR is an open-source, cross-platform technology designed to boost framerates and deliver high-quality, high-resolution gaming experiences. More than 40 game developers announced support for FSR in their games and/or game engines, and today seven games are adding support for FSR - 22 Racing Series, Anno 1800, Evil Genius 2, Godfall, Kingshunt, Terminator: Resistance and The Riftbreaker - with more expected by the end of this year, including DOTA 2, Far Cry 6 and Resident Evil Village.

09:17 EDT Daqo New Energy subsidiary completes IPO registration with CSRC - Daqo New Energy Corp. is in the process of applying for an initial public offering of the company's major operational subsidiary, Xinjiang Daqo New Energy, on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech innovation board. According to the information published by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinjiang Daqo has completed its IPO registration process with the CSRC and will soon enter the issuance process for its IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech innovation board. The issuance process is estimated to be completed within four weeks.

09:16 EDT Borqs Technologies begins delivery of cellular CTA-2045 products to SkyCentrics - Borqs Technologies announced that it has started the delivery of cellular CTA-2045 EcoPort products to SkyCentrics. These units are being used by utility companies in grid interactive water heater programs in the states of Colorado and California. Michigan is following suit and recently announced request for quotations to acquire similar products. As a start in the development of a smart city, mobile connected CTA-2045 devices are chosen by utility companies across the U.S. as the platform for smart controlling of water heaters. "Smart and connected CTA-2045 controls can optimize the on/off schedule based on each household's usage pattern, grid prices and carbon emissions. It is estimated that the energy savings as well as carbon emission reduction by CTA-2045 controlled residential water heaters can produce staggering results, with each one million CTA-2045 equipped water heaters equating to the removal of 100,000 gasoline powered cars from the highways," the company said. Early adoption of CTA-2045 EcoPort enabled water heaters has been underway in low-income multi-family solar and storage communities in Hawaii. SkyCentrics is working with major commercial building industrial equipment manufacturers to provide them retrofit kits that will enable their embedded base of existing equipment to be retrofit to have a CTA-2045 EcoPort which will provide an inexpensive way to create the Grid Interactive Efficient Buildings that were recently promoted by the Biden administration.

09:15 EDT SharpSpring trading halted, news pending

09:13 EDT Antares Pharma announces submission of IND application for ATRS-1902 - Antares Pharma announced that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study of ATRS-1902 for adrenal crisis rescue. The IND application for ATRS-1902, and its corresponding development program, supports a proposed indication for the treatment of acute adrenal insufficiency, known as adrenal crisis, in adults and adolescents, using a novel proprietary auto-injector platform to deliver hydrocortisone. Robert Apple, President and CEO of Antares Pharma, commented, "This IND submission represents a key milestone for Antares as we continue to advance our proprietary pipeline. With a novel expansion to our device technology platforms, we believe ATRS-1902 could potentially offer a better solution for patients in need of rescue therapy compared to current standard of care. Positive results from an initial user study and payer survey further highlight the key advantages and opportunity for this rescue therapy. We look forward to providing more detail on the timeline and market opportunity following FDA acceptance of the IND." The FDA will review the IND application and determine the acceptability of the submission before Antares can commence the proposed phase 1 trial for ATRS-1902. After this study is completed, a second study will then be conducted utilizing proprietary auto-injector technology. The company believes these two studies will be the basis of our anticipated 505b2 NDA filing with the FDA towards the end of 2022.

09:11 EDT Nvidia announces general availability of Nvidia Fleet Command - NVIDIA announced general availability for its NVIDIA Fleet Command managed edge AI services platform, which helps companies solve the problem of securely deploying and managing AI applications on NVIDIA-Certified Systems across thousands of locations. NVIDIA Fleet Command's remote management software lets businesses securely roll out and manage their AI applications without sacrificing the real-time processing of edge computing. Specifically engineered to ease a company's IT burden, Fleet Command helps democratize AI everywhere by letting users quickly install, update and manage software from a central location.

09:11 EDT Philips announces first patient enrollment in DEFINE GPS study - Royal Philips announced the official start of the DEFINE GPS study, with the first patient being enrolled by the study's Principal Investigator, Dr. Allen Jeremias, at St. Francis Hospital, New York. The global, multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled DEFINE GPS study will investigate if guidance by instantaneous wave-free ratio measurements co-registered on the angiogram demonstrates superior outcomes and improves the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures to open blocked coronary arteries. DEFINE GPS employs an adaptive study design, estimated to include up to 3,200 participants across 100 sites worldwide and will be one of the largest studies ever sponsored by Philips.European and U.S. clinical guidelines already endorse the use of physiological measurement of coronary function in PCI procedures, with iFR and fractional flow reserve measurements being used to diagnose the significance of a narrowed coronary artery and determine patient selection for treatment. While iFR uses the same pressure guide wires and equipment as FFR, it avoids the use of hyperemic agents such as adenosine that can adversely affect some patients. The DEFINE GPS study will evaluate the use of iFR measurements in combination with Philips Image Guided Co-Registration System - SyncVision - to enhance PCI guidance and provide superior treatment outcomes. DEFINE GPS is a follow-up to the DEFINE PCI study - a one-year trial sponsored by Philips that evaluated the potential of treating residual ischemia in order to improve clinical outcomes for coronary stent patients.

09:09 EDT Rush Street Interactive, The Chicago Bears enter multi-year partnership - The Chicago Bears and Rush Street Interactive announced that they have agreed to a multi-year exclusive partnership. The agreement is the Bears' first multi-year exclusive deal in the Sportsbook and Casino categories and makes BetRivers the Bears' Official Sportsbook Partner and Rivers Casino the Bears' Official Casino Partner. As part of the partnership, BetRivers and Rivers Casino will receive a mix of prominent in-stadium signage, and digital, social and print assets. Additionally, BetRivers will be the Title Partner of the team's customized Free to Play Game on the Chicago Bears Official App brought to you by Verizon. BetRivers.com players will see collaborative promotions for exclusive Chicago Bears prizes and experiences while betting on their favorite team.

09:08 EDT Moderna announces EC purchase of additional 150M doses of COVID-19 vaccine - Moderna announced that the European Commission, or EC, has purchased an additional 150M doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, including the ability to purchase other COVID-19 vaccine candidates from Moderna's pipeline. This purchase brings the European Commission's confirmed order commitment to 460M doses. Under the terms of the agreement, delivery of Moderna's updated variant booster vaccine candidate will begin in 2022. Purchase under this agreement is subject to regulatory approval of the booster vaccine candidates by the European Medicines Agency.

09:08 EDT O2Micro granted patent for module for LED, mini-LED applications - O2Micro International announced the patent grant of a Controller for controlling light source module. O2Micro was issued 11 claims under U.S. Patent No. 11,032,881 on June 8th, 2021. for the invention of a system controller for controlling light source modules. This breakthrough technology controls multiple arrays of LED light sources in time sequence with a single controller. "The invention provides a high-performance, cost-effective solution to drive arrays of LEDs in a display system in particular where mini-LEDs are used," said Dr. Yung Lin, Executive Vice President, O2Micro. "This technology can affordably allow manufactures to control thousands of local dimming backlit zones in LCD displays such as TV's, monitors, notebooks and tablets, etc. resulting in a significant increase in backlight control for improved contrast and black levels."

09:07 EDT AptarGroup enters exclusive negotiations to potentially acquire Voluntis - AptarGroup announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with respect to a potential acquisition of all outstanding shares of Voluntis, a digital therapeutics company. By acquiring Voluntis, Aptar would have immediate access to a proprietary platform and algorithms that would drive future digital solutions provided to pharmaceutical and biotech customers as well as other healthcare stakeholders including payers and providers. Voluntis's proprietary Theraxium platform supports patients in the management of their treatment in collaboration with their healthcare providers. The company has secured fourteen regulatory clearances in the U.S. and EU markets, supported by its ISO13485- and Medical Device Single Audit Program-certified quality management system. Founded in 2001, Voluntis employs over 75 people at its offices in Paris and Boston, and would continue to operate from these locations. Under the contemplated transaction, and subject to the conditions described below, Aptar would acquire from certain members of the management and certain shareholders the entirety of their shares representing approximately 64.6% of the share capital of Voluntis at a price of EUR 8.70 per share for approximately EUR 50.8M, or $61.5M. This values the full company equity at approximately EUR 78.8M, or $95.3M. Signature of the final acquisition agreement would occur following completion of the consultation procedure of the employee representative bodies of Voluntis. The completion of the transfer of the block of shares would be subject to customary conditions and notably the approval of the French Ministry of Economy under the foreign investment clearance regulations. The board of directors of Voluntis welcomed the proposed transaction, and Aptar and Voluntis have entered into a tender offer agreement under which Voluntis has agreed to support the tender offer described below and not to solicit other offers. Upon completion of this acquisition, Aptar will launch a mandatory cash simplified tender offer to acquire Voluntis's remaining shares for the same price of EUR 8.70 per share. The tender offer would be filed with the French Markets Authority after completion of the block acquisition and the issuance by Voluntis's board of directors of its reasoned opinion on the tender offer, in light of the work of an independent expert appointed to opine on the financial terms of the tender offer and the squeeze-out described below. The filing of the tender offer is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2021 and completion of tender offer and squeeze-out is expected to take place before the end of Q4. The tender offer will be subject to the regulatory clearance from the AMF. If the regulatory conditions are met upon completion of the tender offer, Aptar intends to implement a mandatory squeeze-out on the remaining outstanding shares of Voluntis. Aptar intends to finance the transaction with existing cash on hand. Upon closing, the transaction is expected to have a dilutive impact on Aptar's adjusted earnings per share in the range of 1c-2c per quarter for FY22.

09:07 EDT Nvidia announces AI LaunchPad for infrastructure for enterprises - NVIDIA (NVDA) unveiled NVIDIA AI LaunchPad, a comprehensive program delivered through hybrid-cloud providers that gives enterprises immediate access to NVIDIA-powered infrastructure and software to streamline the entire AI lifecycle. Equinix (EQIX) will be the first in the AI LaunchPad program, providing NVIDIA-powered hybrid-cloud solutions globally on Platform Equinix. "The Equinix infrastructure deploys in minutes, allowing enterprises to access an entire spectrum of NVIDIA resources that support virtually every aspect of AI, from data center training and inference to full-scale deployment at the edge," the company said. With AI LaunchPad, Equinix customers can develop advanced AI on NVIDIA DGX SuperPODs managed by NVIDIA Base Command Platform, an AI development hub. Enterprises will also be able to use Base Command Platform on NVIDIA-Certified Systems from leading manufacturers including Dell Technologies (DELL) and Lenovo (LNVGY). "By using AI LaunchPad at an interconnected hub like Equinix, enterprises can have secure, high-speed access via Equinix Fabric to an ecosystem of companies that operate their digital infrastructures at Equinix. The global reach of Platform Equinix, which includes more than 220 data centers strategically located in more than 60 metros spanning across five continents...Key to AI LaunchPad is NVIDIA AI Enterprise... With AI Enterprise and VMware vSphere running on NVIDIA-Certified Systems, enterprises can easily deploy AI in Equinix data centers with near bare-metal performance across multiple nodes to power large, complex training and machine learning workloads," the company said. The first AI LaunchPad offerings at Equinix are expected this summer.

09:06 EDT BancorpSouth renews strategic business alliance with Liberty Financial Services - BancorpSouth Bank and Liberty Financial Services jointly announced the continuation of and the expansion of a strategic business alliance. BancorpSouth will continue to provide certain advisory services to Liberty through this strategic mentor-bank relationship. Such services include, but are not limited to, advice on information technology management; strategies for the design, development and implementation of new banking products and services; recommendations for talent recruitment, associate training and development; and guidance on loan originations.

09:06 EDT Nicolet Bankshares to acquire County Bancorp in cash and stock deal

09:00 EDT Fentura Financial to acquire Farmers State Bank for $15.5M - The boards of directors of Fentura Financial and Farmers State Bank announced the execution of a definitive agreement by which Fentura Financial will acquire Farmers State Bank for $15.5M in cash consideration. Based on current shares outstanding, shareholders of FSB will receive $103.33 in cash for each share. The Boards of Directors of both financial institutions have unanimously approved the purchase, which will include the acquisition of all FSB's stock by Fentura. Excluding transaction costs, Fentura expects earnings per share to be enhanced by 12-14% in each of the first two years following closing. The transaction is expected to dilute tangible book value by 6.1% at closing but anticipates earn back of the tangible book value dilution in less than four years using the crossover method. As of March 31, 2021, FSB reported $104M in assets, $45M in loans and $95M in deposits. The State Bank's branch offices will increase to 20 locations, with the addition of FSB's offices in Munith, Stockbridge and Grass Lake. Upon completion of the transaction, Jeanne Richter, president and CFO of FSB, will join the senior management team of The State Bank and FSB chairman and CEO Craig Goodlock will retire. The transaction is contingent on approval by the shareholders of FSB, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. It is anticipated that closing of the transaction will occur during the fourth quarter of 2021.

08:52 EDT Beam Global added to the FTSE Russell Microcap Index - Beam Global announced it has been added to the FTSE Russell Microcap Index.

08:45 EDT SilverSun Technologies declares special cash dividend of 60c per share - SilverSun Technologies announced that its board of directors has declared a special cash dividend on the company's common stock of $0.60 per share. The record date will be July 9 and the payment date will be July 16. "As we continue to successfully execute on our business plan, we believe this special cash dividend is an appropriate way to reward our shareholders for their support. We are fortunate to be able to share the financial success of the company with our owners, and look forward to more such distributions in the future, business conditions permitting," said Mark Meller, Chairman and CEO.

08:43 EDT GreenBox POS launches stablecoin token COYNI - GreenBox POS announced the pilot launch of its COYNI to registered early adopters. To fund the pilot launch, the Company deposited $5M as initial seed capital with its token custodian bank and plans to rapidly scale capital in the token revolver. Attestations are set to begin the first week of July in preparation for onboarding of additional large-scale volume. COYNI, deployed on the Company's blockchain ledger, offers enhanced scalability combined with secure instant settlement for transactions as well as the required consumer protection capabilities like transaction deletions and reversals. We believe this is a distinct advantage versus all other tokens that also allows for blockchain ledger security without the price volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies and while transacting in full regulatory compliance. COYNI provides instant liquidity through direct exchange connectivity allowing for exit into any fiat or crypto media. In addition, COYNI technology can be adopted by all financial institutions that wish to process stablecoin payments capabilities as governed by the OCC.

08:42 EDT Oramed set to join Russell 2000, Russell 3000 indexes - Oramed Pharmaceuticals announced that it is set to join the U.S. small cap Russell 2000 and broad-market Russell 3000 Index at the conclusion of the 2021 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the U.S. market opens on June 28, according to a preliminary list of additions posted by FTSE Russell on June 4.

08:39 EDT 3D Systems, CollPlant sign co-development agreement 3D bioprinted soft tissue - 3D Systems (DDD) and CollPlant Biotechnologies (CLGN) announced they have signed a co-development agreement for a 3D bioprinted regenerative soft tissue matrix for use in breast reconstruction procedures in combination with an implant. The soft tissue matrix is intended to support the lower portion of the breast while expanding the implant pocket and providing increased coverage of the implant. Using 3D bioprinting, these matrices can be designed to match the patient's anatomy to support the breast implant. Through this co-development agreement, 3D Systems and CollPlant - with combined expertise in 3D printing, healthcare, bioprinting and bioinks - will develop 3D bioprinted soft tissue matrices using rhCollagen. The 3D bioprinted soft tissue matrix product in development is designed to meet the required physical and mechanical properties while promoting cell infiltration and proliferation by using bioink formulations based on rhCollagen that promote tissue regeneration. "The companies believe their efforts will result in tissue matrices that offer superior performance, consistency and safety due to their plant origin and identical match with natural human collagen which does not elicit an adverse immune response in humans," the company said. "In January of this year, we announced our intention to increase the investment in regenerative medicine and focus on developing and commercializing solutions to change how healthcare is delivered and bring substantial benefits to patients," said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president & CEO, 3D Systems. "Through this project we're embarking on with CollPlant, we're exploring a novel application that could offer a new reconstruction treatment for breast cancer survivors. It's inspiring to be involved in a project that has the potential to have such a positive impact on the human condition."

08:37 EDT Corcept Therapeutics plans to initiate pivotal trial of relacorilant in 1Q22 - "All of the cancers we are studying are aggressively lethal and we will not pursue an approval unless we believe our candidate therapy offers a substantial benefit," added Joseph K. Belanoff, MD, Corcept's Chief Executive Officer. "Our development program in solid tumors continues to advance. Based on the positive results of our controlled Phase 2 trial of relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, we are very excited to initiate a pivotal trial for that indication in the first quarter of 2022. Our trials of relacorilant plus pembrolizumab in patients with adrenal cancer and of exicorilant plus enzalutamide in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer continue to enroll. Based on the promising clinical trial results we have observed across our oncology programs, we are evaluating relacorilant as a potential treatment for patients with earlier stages of pancreatic cancer and with other glucocorticoid receptor-expressing tumors."

08:36 EDT Splunk to receive $1B investment from Silverlake - Splunk announced that Silver Lake will make a $1B investment in convertible senior notes to support the continued transformation of its business. Splunk expects to use the proceeds from the new investment to fund growth initiatives and manage its capital structure, including a newly authorized share repurchase program of up to $1B that will be executed over time. Earlier this month, Splunk reported cloud annual recurring revenue of $877M for Q1, an increase of 83% year-over-year. Splunk finished its first quarter with 56% of its software bookings from Cloud and 203 customers with Cloud ARR greater than $1M, up 99% year-over-year. In connection with Silver Lake's investment, Kenneth Hao will be appointed to Splunk's board of directors. With Hao's appointment, Splunk's Board will comprise 11 members, 10 of whom are independent. Under the terms of the investment, Silver Lake will purchase $1B in aggregate principal amount of Splunk's convertible senior notes. The notes will have an initial conversion price of $160.00 per share of Splunk's common stock, subject to customary anti-dilution and other adjustments. The initial conversion price of $160.00 represents a 30% premium to the volume-weighted average closing price of the common stock over a 10-day period ending on June 21. The notes will mature in July 2026, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The notes will bear interest at 0.75% per year. In connection with this transaction, Splunk's Board has authorized the repurchase of up to $1B of its common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions. The repurchase is intended to offset the dilutive effect of the notes.

08:35 EDT Cellenkos selects Cryoport to provide logistics solution for COVID-19 shipments - Cryoport announced that Cellenkos has selected Cryoport to provide a staged, on-demand, logistics solution for COVID-19 therapy shipments for patients in need. Working in concert, Cryoport Systems, CRYOPDP and CRYOGENE will provide the highest possible available level of tracking and proactive management for the therapies, including continuous monitoring of each step from scheduling, collection, confirming courier pickups/deliveries, and monitoring transport. Under the terms of the agreement, Cryoport Systems delivers its Cryoport Express Shippers to Cellenkos' manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, on a weekly basis. When a patient is identified, the team at Cellenkos places their therapy inside the shipper and notifies Cryoport Systems. The Cryoport Express Shipper is collected and delivered to the patient the same day or the next day for longer journeys. During the entire process, Cellenkos has full visibility and oversight through the cloud based Cryoportal Logistics Management Platform which provides near real-time tracking and monitoring of the shipment and the SmartPak II Condition Monitoring System, supported by the Cryoport Systems' 24/7 customer support team. Furthermore, CRYOPDP provides some of the logistics support and CRYOGENE provides biostorage services for Cellenkos at its nearby state-of-the-art facility.

08:34 EDT Fifth Third to acquire digital platform for healthcare practices Provide - Fifth Third Bancorp announced a definitive agreement to acquire Provide, a digital platform for healthcare practices. In 2018, Fifth Third was an early investor in Provide, and the bank began funding loans through the company's platform in 2020. Provide will maintain its brand identity and operate as an independent business line as it continues to scale and expand product offerings for healthcare practices and the doctors who own them nationwide. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. "The healthcare industry is one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy. Over the last decade, Fifth Third's healthcare team has expanded its presence and expertise to become one of the top healthcare banking platforms for middle-market and corporate clients. Together, we can deliver a client experience that enables healthcare providers to focus on what they do best-providing the care their patients need while we make their banking experience convenient and efficient," said Greg Carmichael, chairman and CEO for Fifth Third Bancorp.

08:32 EDT ImmunoPrecise Antibodies, Eurofins enter antibody discovery platform deal - ImmunoPrecise Antibodies announced a commercial collaboration. The company said, " Leveraging complementary strengths in Eurofins Discovery's in vitro pharmacology services and ImmunoPrecise's in vivo characterization and discovery technologies, this collaboration provides greater access to solutions that empower scientists to pursue life-changing medicines in a diverse range of indications. Eurofins Discovery's global clients will have access to ImmunoPrecise's end-to-end antibody discovery capabilities using wild type and best-in-class in vivo antibody discovery technologies that are optimized to deeply mine antibody repertoires. This collaboration supports Eurofins Discovery's biotherapeutics strategy to extend their capacity and capability to develop new biologic entities, guiding clients from target validation through preclinical development, production, and beyond with the expertise required to address the unique challenges of each discovery project."

08:31 EDT Splunk announces $1B investment from Silver Lake

08:30 EDT LabCorp adopts Molecular Loop's SARS-CoV-2 Research Sequencing Panel - Molecular Loop Biosciences announced that its SARS-CoV-2 Research Sequencing Panel has been deployed by Labcorp to help sequence thousands of complete coronavirus genomes each week from positive patient samples. This sequencing is being performed as part of a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention effort to identify and track the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants throughout the country.

08:25 EDT QOMPLX announces general availability of Scratchpads tool - QOMPLX announced the general availability of "Scratchpads", a new built-in data analysis tool that allows customers to better harness the power of their data. The company said, "Scratchpads continues to expand the set of advanced analysis and risk management tools within the QOMPLX:OS. It allows QOMPLX customers in sectors including banking, insurance, legal services, and beyond to seamlessly carry out advanced analytics over data assets ingested into Q:OS, gaining the insights they need to keep pace with the rapidly increasing risks and enormous volumes of data that today's organizations must swiftly manage."

08:24 EDT Medirom Healthcare serves 66,604 customers in May - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies announced its major Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, updated for the month of May 2021. Data is provided for all salons for which comparative financial and customer data is available and excludes certain salons where such information is not available. The following monthly KPIs provide insight into the business fundamentals and progress of the Company, updated for the month of May 2021. The number of salons was 313 in May 2021, up from 289 in the year-ago period, primarily because of the acquisition of another brand. Total customers served were 66,604 in May 2021 versus 19,451 in May 2020, an increase due to a recovery from the COVID-19 impact. Sales per customer slightly increased to JPY 6,370 in May 2021, up from JPY 6,244 in May 2020. The increase from the previous month is due to the promotion of value-added optional services. Our repeat ratio, a measure of repeat customers, was 80.6% in May 2021, down from 84.5% in May 2020. The repeat ratio in May 2020 was higher due to fewer new customers during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Our operation ratio recovered from the COVID-19 impact to 48.7% in May 2021, increasing from 29.0% in the year-ago period.

08:23 EDT Cathie Wood's ARK Investment discloses 35K shares of Alibaba bought yesterday

08:21 EDT Microchip integrates BlueSky GNSS Firewall with TimePictra 11 - Microchip Technology announced it has integrated its BlueSky GNSS Firewall with its TimePictra 11 synchronization monitoring and management platform to protect 5G networks and other critical timing infrastructure from Global Positioning System signal jamming and spoofing while providing single-console visibility across the entire timing architecture.

08:20 EDT Biocept announces laboratory testing collaboration with Quest Diagnostics - Biocept (BIOC) announced a collaboration with Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to provide laboratory testing services to Quest patients for its Target Selector NGS-based liquid biopsy targeted lung cancer panel. The Biocept Target Selector NGS-based liquid biopsy assay is a less invasive, lab developed test that can be used for genomic profiling in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, to help qualify them for advanced targeted therapies and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. With a physician order, patients will be able to provide a blood specimen for testing at one of Quest's 2,200 located patient service centers across the United States. The two parties expect the service to be available to Quest Diagnostics' providers and patients in Q4.

08:19 EDT Digital Media Solutions set to join Russell 3000 Index - Digital Media Solutions has been selected to join the broad-market Russell 3000 Index at the conclusion of the 2021 Russell indexes annual reconstitution. The newly reconstituted indexes take effect after the U.S. market opens on June 28. "We are thrilled to have been selected to join the Russell 3000 Index almost a year after our listing on the NYSE. The addition of DMS to this prestigious list marks another step forward for the Company and will continue to expand our visibility within the investment community," said Joe Marinucci, DMS CEO.

08:18 EDT Artelo Biosciences announces two poster presentation at ICRS Symposium - Artelo Biosciences announced that a poster featuring the ART27.13 Cancer Appetite Recovery Study will be presented today, June 22, at the 31st Annual International Cannabinoid Research Society, ICRS, Symposium, which is being held virtually from June 21-24, 2021. Artelo's cannabinoid agonist, ART27.13, is being developed as a therapy for cancer patients suffering from anorexia and weight loss. The company also announced that a poster featuring the latest ART12.11 data will also be presented on June 23 at ICRS. ART12.11 is Artelo's proprietary cannabidiol:tetramethylpyrazine solid state composition, the first and only CBD cocrystal to have an issued composition of matter patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office. Title: Study Protocol for a Dose-Ascending, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Phase 1/2 Trial of ART27.13 in Patients with Cancer Anorexia and Weight Loss. The CAReS poster forms the first of a series of publications on the Phase 1/2 study, which describes the study design and the background rationale of using ART27.13, a peripherally selective CB1/CB2 receptor agonist, in this cancer population suffering from anorexia. CAReS is a two stage, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to investigate the utility of ART27.13 in cancer anorexia and weight loss. The first stage of the study will determine the optimal dose of ART27.13 to be used in the Phase 2 randomized study. As previously announced, the first patient was enrolled and initiated daily dosing on April 12, 2021, and the study continues to enroll. Artelo expects to report the Phase 1 results of the CAReS trial in the fourth quarter of 2021. According to the poster's authors, ART27.13 represents a novel mechanism-based strategy to stimulate appetite and weight gain known to arise from CB1 receptor activation that could significantly benefit patients with cancer anorexia. Title: The Effects of CBD and TMP Coadministration in Cancer. Cannabidiol and tetramethylpyrazine have anti-cancer properties in vitro and in vivo. However, both suffer from poor oral bioavailability. ART12.11, a cocrystal of CBD and TMP, could confer the new solid form with a more desirable pharmacokinetic profile, with the added potential for positive pharmacodynamic interactions. In this cell-based study, the effects of CBD and TMP coadministration were investigated in cancer cell lines. The investigation found that there were synergistic and additive interactions between CBD and TMP in their ability to prevent cancer cell growth and to kill cancer cells. There was a small reduction in the anti-migratory effect of CBD when TMP was present.

08:18 EDT Oshkosh announces South Carolina facility to build USPS' NGDV - Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh announced it will open a dedicated facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina where it will build the United States Postal Service USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle NGDV. The Company expects to hire over 1,000 local team members at the Spartanburg facility, and on-site supply chain partners are expected to have additional hiring needs. The USPS selected Oshkosh Defense for the multi-billion-dollar NGDV contract in February at the end of a competitive process that began in 2015. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract provides for the delivery of between 50,000 and 165,000 vehicles over a period of 10 years. These vehicles will replace the existing fleet of delivery vehicles, many of which have been in service for more than 30 years. Oshkosh's winning solution will provide a modern fleet of both zero-emission battery electric vehicles and fuel-efficient low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles, with the option of producing any combination of models. "Oshkosh Corporation's advanced engineering capabilities have been driving the Company for more than a century," said John Pfeifer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oshkosh Corporation. "That innovation has included a commitment to engineering and delivering a wide range of electric vehicles featuring new sustainable technologies. Now the Company's innovative NGDV will bring these sustainable technologies into more American neighborhoods."

08:17 EDT Small Pharma engages LifeSci Advisors for investor relations - Small Pharma announced that it has retained LifeSci Advisors to provide investor relations services. LSA has agreed to comply with all applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange in providing the services to the Company. LSA will receive a monthly fee of U.S.$19,500 plus applicable taxes. The agreement between the Company and LSA dated June 20, 2021 is for an initial term of six months and shall be automatically renewed for successive six month periods unless either the Company or LSA provides written notice of termination at least 30 days prior to the end of the Term. No stock options or other compensation are being granted in connection with the engagement.

08:15 EDT PowerFleet launches Vista, an advanced vehicle video solution - PowerFleet announced the launch of Vista, a best-in-class in-vehicle video solution that leverages artificial intelligence to analyze and proactively manage risky driving situations across fleets. With Vista, PowerFleet is expanding its image technology portfolio, which includes the patent-pending LV-710 freight camera for trailers and containers and the CP4 System designed for the industrial truck market. Recorded video events provide additional contextual insights around hard braking and turning events, vehicle accidents as well as vehicle and content theft. Vista delivers real-time, high-definition video from both road and driver facing cameras to bolster safety and training programs, help exonerate drivers, prevent accidents, and lower insurance costs. "We have seen strong demand from customers in our vertical and geographic markets for additional video solutions that provide visual proof to improve safety and operations,'' said Elizabeth Elkins, Chief Product Officer at PowerFleet. "As a leading IoT solutions provider, it made sense to add Vista to our portfolio of technology solutions focused on keeping drivers safe, protecting assets, and reducing insurance premiums. Whether you have a fleet of over-the-road trucks, cars or service and delivery vans, Vista can play a valuable part of a world-class safety program. The Vista video platform supports safe driving with the ability to auto-detect unsafe driving conditions while delivering real-time driver audio feedback and warnings to help correct risky driving behaviors as they occur."

08:13 EDT Pacira announces EXPAREL distribution agreement with Eurofarma in Latin America - Pacira BioSciences announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Eurofarma Laboratories S.A. for the development and commercialization of EXPAREL in Latin America. "Through this distribution agreement with Eurofarma, Pacira is significantly expanding its global footprint in one of the fastest growing international markets. This partnership is a key achievement in our global expansion strategy and supports our mission to bring EXPAREL to patients around the world who are in need of a safe and effective opioid alternative for managing postsurgical pain and reducing length of stay," said Max Reinhardt, president ROW for Pacira BioSciences. "The Eurofarma team has considerable experience introducing and marketing innovative medical products throughout Latin America and we are confident they will be an ideal partner in this region." Under the terms of the agreement, Eurofarma obtains the exclusive right to market and distribute EXPAREL in 19 countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. In addition, Eurofarma will be responsible for regulatory filings for EXPAREL in these countries. Pacira will receive royalties based on Eurofarma's future commercialization of the product and is also eligible to receive milestones payments that are triggered by the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial events.

08:12 EDT Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust to acquire Home Partners of America - Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Home Partners of America , valuing the company at $6B. HPA's unique, resident-led business model expands housing access and choice, while providing a clear path to homeownership to individuals and families across the United States. BREIT's investment in HPA will be supported by its perpetual capital, enabling a truly long-term approach to the management of the properties. Furthermore, Blackstone's substantial experience with rental residential properties and commitment to acting responsibly to support residents will bring valuable perspective and best-in-class operating standards to the ownership and maintenance of these homes. HPA has a high-quality portfolio of over 17,000 homes across the United States. Its strong and experienced management team is committed to responsible ownership and seeks to provide potential residents flexibility, choice and control when deciding where and how to live. By purchasing homes on behalf of residents, HPA has helped thousands of home seekers live in a home they otherwise are not yet ready to purchase, under terms that best fit their needs. Furthermore, HPA's program is built on transparency and can provide more optionality while lowering risk for residents as compared to a typical home purchase. BREIT will support the HPA management team as it explores opportunities to expand access to high-quality housing for lower income households, including by formally launching its Choice Lease program. Choice Lease is intended to provide a direct and tangible opportunity to help address housing affordability challenges for families across the U.S. Additionally, BREIT is committed to continuing and expanding the financial planning assistance program offered to all residents, free of charge.

08:11 EDT Medtronic announces first patient procedure with the Hugo RAS system - Medtronic announced the first patient procedure with the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system. The robotic prostatectomy was performed June 19 by urological surgeon Ruben Olivares, M.D., at Clinica Santa Maria in Santiago, Chile. The first patient procedure marks the beginning of the Hugo RAS system patient registry, which will collect clinical data to support regulatory submissions around the world. The Hugo RAS system is not cleared or approved in the U.S. or Europe. Regulatory requirements of individual countries and regions will determine availability and approval or clearance timelines.

08:10 EDT BioCardia to present CardiAMP cell therapy trial data - BioCardia announces data from its CardiAMP Cell Therapy Heart Failure pivotal trial, which are being presented at the virtual European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Annual Meeting 2021.The data demonstrate the high CD34+ cell dosing is being achieved in the ongoing CardiAMP cell therapy heart failure trial. CardiAMP cell therapy is an investigational therapy being studied at 24 centers in the United States where patients believed to have compelling biologic signatures in their own bone marrow cells are having these cells processed at their bedside and delivered to targeted regions of damage in their hearts. Data on the CardiAMP Cell Therapy platform were outlined in the abstract for the poster presentation and made available to the public online today. The full poster will be available to ESC HF conference participants beginning Tuesday, June 29. High doses of CD34+ cells delivered to patients in the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial: Key takeaways include: CardiAMP cell therapy achieves a mean therapeutic dosage of 627,000,000 total nucleated cells, inclusive of mean number of 4,500,000 CD34+ cells in the ongoing pivotal trial for patients with ischemic heart failure. Despite symptomatic heart failure, patient selection and point of care cell processing produces a high TNC and CD34+ cell dose. When paired with improved intramyocardial cell retention, the retained CD34+ dose exceeds those used in prior trials of enriched CD34+ cell therapy, the results of which supported clinical efficacy.

08:09 EDT Peloton announces Peloton Corporate Wellness - Peloton announced Peloton Corporate Wellness, a new way to bring Peloton content or connected fitness products to businesses and organizations operating in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, with Australia coming later this year. The same Peloton experience loved by more than 5.4M Members is now available to organizations who are committed to providing employees access to innovative mental and physical health resources. Starting June 22, organizations can offer subsidized access to Peloton Digital and All Access Memberships, as well as exclusive benefits on Connected Fitness products. Corporate Wellness partners will receive access to tailored enterprise features to help drive strong engagement, reduce administrative workload and measure impact, all via an easy to use and secure platform. Each Corporate Wellness partnership will benefit from Peloton's brand and marketing expertise, extensive knowledge of member engagement, and community-building tools.

08:08 EDT Opko Health appoints Katherine Stueland as GeneDx president, CEO - OPKO Health (OPK) announced the appointment of Katherine Stueland as President and CEO of GeneDx, Inc., the global genomics subsidiary of OPKO's BioReference Laboratories. Ms. Stueland joins GeneDx from Invitae Corporation (NVTA), where she served most recently as Chief Commercial Officer, establishing the corporate brand as Invitae evolved from a private company to a public entity with a market capitalization exceeding $6B.

08:07 EDT Caladrius to assess CLBS201 CD34+ cell therapy in DKD - Caladrius Biosciences announced that the Food and Drug Administration has authorized its investigational new drug application for the study of CLBS201, a CD34+ cell therapy for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease, or DKD. "Our latest development program, CLBS201, is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of CD34+ cell therapy as a treatment for diabetic patients with reduced kidney function. Specifically, we will be targeting patients with later stage chronic kidney disease. Based on a wealth of published preclinical and early clinical data, it appears that the innate ability of CD34+ cells to promote the growth of new microvasculature could be a means to attenuate the progression, or even reverse the course, of DKD," stated David Mazzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of Caladrius. "We plan to initiate a phase 1/2 proof-of-concept study of CLBS201 within the next several months. Kidney disease remains a largely unmet medical need, especially as the general population ages and the incidence of diabetes and hypertension increases."

08:06 EDT Inari Medical appoints Outset Medical executive Rebecca Chambers to board - Inari Medical (NARI) announced the appointment of Rebecca Chambers to its board of directors. Chambers also will serve as a member of the Audit Committee. Chambers, currently Chief Financial Officer of Outset Medical (OM) brings more than a decade of healthcare experience.

08:06 EDT Nuwellis appoints George Montague as CFO, Neil Ayotte as general counsel, CCO - Nuwellis announced the appointment of George Montague as CFO, effective June 28, 2021. Neil P. Ayotte, Esq. also joined the Company as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer on June 7, 2021. Most recently, Montague served as the CFO and COO of Smiths Medical, a $1.1 billion device manufacturer. Ayotte was formerly Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary for Bluestem Group, Inc. a $1.8 billion, private equity sponsored, e-commerce and mail order retailer of seven distinct consumer brands.

08:05 EDT Danimer Scientific done debottlenecking Kentucky facility - Danimer Scientific announced the successful completion of debottlenecking initiatives within its Winchester, Ky., manufacturing facility. The achievement positions the company to accelerate production of Nodax, its signature polyhydroxyalkanoate, towards its expectation of reaching 100% of the facility's current annual run rate capacity of 20 million pounds of Nodax- based resins by the end of 2021. "As expected, we have completed our debottlenecking initiatives on time, which will enable us to significantly scale up production from previous levels," said Danimer Scientific CEO Stephen Croskrey. "After taking steps to optimize our processes and equipment, the facility was brought back online in late May, and we used early June to confirm that both fermentation and downstream processing of our material is running at the projected levels, which are higher than before these initiatives. We look forward to delivering the high volumes of PHA our partners and customers need to create products that will help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics waste."

08:04 EDT Augmenta, TFF Pharmaceuticals select AUG-3387 to develop against COVID-19 - Augmenta Bioworks and TFF Pharmaceuticals announced that AUG-3387 has been selected as the first lead monoclonal antibody for clinical development against COVID-19 under their Joint Development and Collaboration Agreement. Targeting the SARS-Cov2 spike protein, AUG-3387 was isolated from an asymptomatic patient and then identified through Augmenta's platform in less than two weeks. Augmenta and TFF Pharmaceuticals plan to develop AUG-3387 as an inhaled therapy for the treatment of COVID-19 disease in two types of individuals: those already infected with SARS-CoV2 who are at high risk for severe disease but who have not yet been hospitalized, and for the prevention of SARS-CoV2 infection for individuals who are at high-risk for severe disease. Notably, in in vitro preclinical testing, AUG-3387 effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV2 and has demonstrated activity against all variant strains tested to date, including the major COVID variants of concern, including the previously identified UK, South African, Brazil and India variants. TFF and Augmenta have an ongoing commitment to monitor activity of AUG-3387 against emerging SARS-CoV2 variants and will be completing in vivo preclinical efficacy studies in the coming weeks.

08:03 EDT Ondas receives purchase order from European rail customer - Ondas Holdings announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Ondas Networks , received its first purchase order from a major European rail customer for its FullMAX MC-IoT private wireless network technology. "Ondas has been focused on driving market adoption of its mission-critical IoT MC-IoT technology across industrial and government markets with an initial focus on the large North American Rail markets", said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings Inc. "Our success here with the Class 1 Railroads is allowing for new adoption outside of North America. Rail operators in Europe face many of the same challenges as our Class 1 rail customers. We look forward to working closely with this customer by providing crucial new data capacity and network flexibility through our next-generation FullMAX industrial wireless platform." Mr. Brock concluded, "Ondas' FullMAX MC-IoT technology is key to unlocking the high performance and secure industrial networks of the future by optimizing valuable spectrum assets already available to our customers."

08:03 EDT Canacol Energy announces precautionary measures for annual meeting - Canacol Energy announced that due to public health restrictions on mass gatherings implemented by the Government of Colombia and taking into account the health and safety of our employees, shareholders, service providers, other stakeholders and the community, Canacol strongly encourages shareholders NOT to attend the meeting in person. Shareholders are instead encouraged to vote by proxy on the internet. To this end, only registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be permitted to attend the meeting in person. Further restrictions with regard to the meeting may be implemented by the Corporation as required in accordance with applicable laws and to comply with public health restrictions. At the meeting, the Corporation may adopt screening or other measures for identifying Covid-19 symptoms or risk factors as may be recommended or required by applicable health authorities. These measures may include requiring registered shareholders or duly appointed proxy holders still wishing to attend the meeting in person to sign a confirmation letter at the meeting that they are not a confirmed case of Covid-19 or a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19, they are not experiencing cold or flu-like systems, including fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat or runny nose, and that they have not travelled outside of Colombia for a period of two weeks preceding the meeting date.

08:02 EDT Histogen, Amerimmune announce results from Phase 1 study of emricasan - Histogen and its partner Amerimmune announced results from its Phase 1 study of emricasan in mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients to assess safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy. The study demonstrated that emricasan was safe and well tolerated during the 14 days of dosing and at the day 45 follow-up, as compared to placebo with no reports of serious adverse events. Patients who completed treatment with emricasan had a complete resolution of the symptoms most commonly associated in mild COVID-19, such as cough, headache and fatigue at day 7 and continued through day 45. Patients in the placebo arm who completed the study did not experience COVID-19 symptom resolution at any time point out to day 45. In addition, a number of observations were made related to clinical outcomes, laboratory findings and drug target related biomarkers. These improvements were seen in all subjects in the active drug group that showed decreases in caspase biomarkers, whereas patients in placebo group continued to have COVID-19 related symptoms and laboratory findings. "These positive results further reinforce the extensive clinical safety database of emricasan and strongly suggest that emricasan can potentially be developed as a therapeutic treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19, as well as other viral inflammatory diseases," said Richard W. Pascoe, Histogen's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to working with our colleagues at Amerimmune as we chart a strategic course for emricasan and its clinical development options and partnering opportunities."

07:56 EDT Inovalon, Homecare Homebase enter multi-year exclusive agreement - Inovalon and Homecare Homebase announced that HCHB would exclusively offer the EASE All-Payer application to their customers, representing more than 25% of the nation's home health providers, to deliver greater administrative efficiencies and increased accuracy of payment processes.

07:48 EDT Intema to acquire Team BloodHounds esports team for up to C$621,000 - Intema Solutions announced that it has entered into an arm's length letter of intent dated June 21, 2021, with Matteo Di Penta with respect to a proposed transaction whereby Intema will acquire all of Mr. Di Penta's interest in the capital of Team BloodHounds. In turn, Mr. Di Penta will ensure that the other TBH shareholders sell all of their TBH Securities to Intema. Mr. Di Penta holds 95% of all the issued and outstanding securities of TBH, directly and indirectly. "The acquisition of Team BH brings another major complementary component to our esports ecosystem," said Laurent Benezra, President and CEO of Intema. "Matteo built Team BH in 2018 from scratch and has grown it rapidly to 23 influencers/players and counting, with a combined 8.8 million followers across all of its influencer platforms. Team BH is known as the second most-followed Fortnite esports team out of Canada, with 775,000+ followers across its main social platforms. It has also been successful at promoting its brand through collaborations and sponsorships with leading brands such as Roots, Champion and G Fuel Energy, generating increased revenue over the years. We believe that Team BH will play a large-scale role in Intema's future success." The letter of intent stipulates that the Corporation and the TBH Shareholders will negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the Proposed Transaction providing for Intema to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of TBH Securities for a consideration of up to CA$621,000, subject to adjustment, payable to the TBH Shareholders on a pro rata basis in accordance with their interests in TBH. Intema will pay a cash consideration of CA$121,000, the whole to be disbursed as follows: On the closing date of the Proposed Transaction, Intema will pay CA$60,500 to the TBH Shareholders; and Three months after the closing date, Intema will pay CA$60,500 to the TBH Shareholders. The balance of CA$500,000 will be payable through the issuance of 1,000,000 Intema common shares at a deemed price of $0.50 per Share. In addition to any mandatory hold period, the Shares issued on the Closing Date will be subject to the following voluntary resale restrictions: 25% of the shares will be subject to a resale restriction of nine months after the Closing Date; 25% of the shares will be subject to a resale restriction of 12 months after the Closing Date; and The final tranche of 25% of the shares will be subject to a resale restriction of 15 months after the Closing Date. The purchase price has been negotiated on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Any debt outstanding, net of cash at the closing date, will be subject to an adjustment of the cash payable at the closing date. The Proposed Transaction is subject to completion of mutual due diligence, execution of a Definitive Agreement and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

07:42 EDT Calibre Mining CFO John Seaberg to depart, Paulo Santos named interim CFO - SVP and CFO John Seaberg is departing the organization. The Company's VP Finance, Paulo Santos, CA has been appointed interim CFO. Immediately prior to joining Calibre, Mr. Santos was CFO of Northern Empire Resources.

07:41 EDT Calibre Mining appoints David Londono as GM, Limon Mine Complex - Calibre is pleased to announce the appointment of David Londono as the new General Manager for the Limon Mine Complex. Londono's most recent roles were General Manager of the Detour Lake Gold Mine, and later Vice President of Projects for Kirkland Lake Gold post the Detour acquisition. The incumbent General Manager at Limon, Felix Bermudez, will become the General Manager of Pavon, with Nestor Concha continuing as General Manager of the Libertad Mine Complex.

07:38 EDT DD3 Acquisition Corp. II, Codere Online to host investor presentation - Codere Online and DD3 Acquisition Corp II will host an investor presentation to discuss their recently announced business combination. Investors may access the event this morning, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 8:30 am ET.

07:35 EDT RumbleON names Michael Francis as General Counsel - RumbleOn announced that Michael Francis, a seasoned legal professional and the Company's outside counsel, will be joining RumbleOn as General Counsel. Michael has worked with RumbleOn from the beginning, leading the Company's outside legal team at Akerman LLP. Michael has a long history working with RumbleOn's management team, and was a trusted legal advisor to the Company's late CFO, Steve Berrard, for nearly 25 years. Michael began and built his professional career working with and learning from Mr. Berrard, starting as a young associate helping AutoNation build a dominant national brand through dealership acquisitions and through its spinoff of Republic Services. Michael continued his work with Mr. Berrard, contributing to the growth of Blockbuster and Jamba Juice. Later Michael took the reins as Steve's outside counsel through many other business endeavors over the years, leading up to his work with Steve at RumbleOn from inception through today.

07:34 EDT Anavex down over 10% in pre-market at $22.50 after pricing $50M direct offering

07:32 EDT Baidu targets carbon neutral operations by 2030 - Baidu announced its goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030, using advanced technology and innovative mechanisms to minimize its ecological footprint. With 2020 as the starting point, Baidu is eyeing six different operational aspects to fulfil carbon neutral targets, including data centers, office buildings, carbon offsets, intelligent transportation, AI cloud and supply chains. Baidu is taking a scientific approach based on existing green practices with reference to Scope I and II of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to attain these goals. After 2030, Baidu will collaborate with its ecological partners to work towards becoming carbon negative, joining hands to further China's pledge to become carbon neutral by 2060 and to limit the global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

07:32 EDT vTv Therapeutics, Cantex Pharmaceuticals announce licensing agreement - vTv Therapeutics and Cantex Pharmaceuticals announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement under which Cantex has obtained exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize azeliragon, vTv's novel antagonist of RAGE. Stephen Marcus, M.D., president and CEO of Cantex, stated: "RAGE has been implicated in several serious cancer complications associated with increased mortality and decreased quality of life. Our team has deep expertise and a successful track record in transforming known drugs into innovative products with large clinical and commercial potential. As such, the opportunity to develop azeliragon, a phase 2-ready oral medication administered once daily, which has demonstrated a good safety profile in several Alzheimer's disease trials, is an excellent fit for Cantex. We intend to move rapidly to prepare for clinical trials assessing the potential of azeliragon for the treatment of a number of complications associated with cancer." Under the terms of the agreement, Cantex will be responsible for the development and commercialization of azeliragon and the companies will allocate downstream profits under a tiered arrangement.

07:30 EDT Prospect Capital funds $55M fsenior secured floating rate term loan to Enseo - Prospect Capital Corporation announced that Prospect has funded a $55M first lien senior secured floating rate term loan to support the acquisition of Enseo Holdings by an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital.

07:28 EDT Lightbridge urges shareholders to vote at annual meeting - Lightbridge Corporation reminded stockholders that the virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders is scheduled for Monday, June 28th, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time and urges all stockholders to vote now. Shareholders are advised that because one of the voting proposals involves a proposed amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of outstanding common shares must approve such a proposal.

07:22 EDT Acasti Pharma expects descision on Nasdaq compliance within 30 days of hearing - On May 11, 2021, the Company received notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department indicating that, based upon the Company's non-compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a) as of May 10, 2021, the Company's shares were subject to delisting unless the Company timely requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel. The Company requested and was granted a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearing Panel on June 17, 2021, which has stayed any further action by Nasdaq pending the conclusion of the hearing process. At the hearing, the Company presented a detailed plan of compliance for the Panel's consideration, including the Company's commitment to implement a share consolidation concurrently with the completion of its proposed acquisition of Grace. Acasti expects to receive the Panel's decision within 30 days of the hearing and is prepared to take definitive action to regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price rule to ensure the Company's continued listing on Nasdaq.

07:20 EDT Acasti Pharma evaluating strategic options for CaPre - CEO Jan D'Alvise continued, "In parallel with progressing the acquisition of Grace, we have received interest and are evaluating a variety of strategic options for CaPre. We remain highly encouraged by the outlook for our overall business prospects and look forward to providing further updates to shareholders on our strategic processes as it relates to both the Grace acquisition as well as our plans for CaPre."

07:19 EDT Fisker to join Russell 3000 Index - Fisker will join the broad-market Russell 3000 Index on June 28, after the U.S. market opens, according to a preliminary list of additions posted June 18.

07:17 EDT Blackstone commits $250M toward new CAR-T company with Intellia Therapeutics - Blackstone (BX) announced that funds managed by Blackstone Life Sciences have committed $250M towards the launch of a new autologous and allogeneic universal chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, T-cell therapy company, along with Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) and Cellex Cell Professionals, the parent company of GEMoaB, a clinical-stage cell therapy company. The new company will combine GEMoaB's world-leading clinical-stage universal CAR-T platforms with Intellia's differentiated allogeneic cell platform and CRISPR cell engineering. Intellia Therapeutics is a clinical stage, leading genome editing company focused on developing curative therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Cellex Cell Professionals GmbH holds the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company GEMoaB, which is focused on the development of next-generation immunotherapies and cell therapies for hard-to-treat cancers. The new company will be headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and will acquire Cellex's subsidiary GEMoaB GmbH with established offices and labs in Dresden, Germany. GEMoaB is developing a switchable universal platform to improve the therapeutic window of CAR T-cell therapies. This approach enables increased efficacy and safety across a range of cancers, including solid tumors, that are currently a challenge for existing cell therapies. In addition, the new company and Intellia will gain access to Cellex's established cell therapy manufacturing capabilities to accelerate their respective ex vivo programs. Andrew Schiermeier, current executive VP and COO of Intellia, will lead the launch as president and CEO. The new company will have an exclusive license to combine Intellia's CRISPR/Cas9 allogeneic platform with GEMoaB's switchable, universal CAR T-cell platforms. GEMoaB will become a subsidiary of the newly established company and will continue to advance its clinical stage CAR T-cell programs. The new company and Intellia will also simultaneously enter into a co-development and co-funding agreement to develop an allogeneic universal CAR T-cell product for an immuno-oncology indication. Intellia will have one additional option to enter into a second Co-Co agreement from selected allogeneic universal CAR T-cell therapy products that the parties will develop under the collaboration. Blackstone Life Sciences, Intellia and Cellex will each have equal ownership of the new company.

07:13 EDT SPAC Thimble Point Acquisition in combination to create Pear Therapeutics - Pear Therapeutics and Thimble Point Acquisition (THMA), a special purpose acquisition company, SPAC, whose management team is associated with the Pritzker Vlock Family Office, announced they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, upon closing of the Business Combination, the combined company will be named Pear Holdings (PEAR) , the "Combined Company" and will be led by Pear's current management team. The Combined Company's common stock is expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbol "PEAR." "At Pear, we set out to transform healthcare through the use of PDTs, a new class of clinically validated, software-based therapeutics that we pioneered to improve patients' outcomes across many therapeutic areas, alone and in combination with pharmaceuticals. With our end-to-end PDT platform, we are executing on our vision to redefine how patients, clinicians and payors can better navigate and benefit from a healthcare system so in need of disruption," said Corey McCann, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. "In our view Pear is at a commercial inflection point, with the potential for rapid expansion. We believe this transaction will allow us to drive widespread usage of PDTs to treat major medical conditions and overcome significant barriers to patient care." "As the category creator and leader in PDTs, Pear is at the forefront of revolutionizing healthcare. Pear's impressive team of healthcare and technology leaders have built development, regulatory and commercial roadmaps for this new sector and have gained early market traction, creating a pathway to rapid scalability," said Elon Boms, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Thimble Point Acquisition Corp. and Managing Director of PVFO. "Thimble Point sought to collaborate with a high-growth, tech-enabled company with the potential to disrupt large and established industries. We chose to invest in Pear because we believe it has the opportunity to become the primary commercial platform through which patients and prescribers access PDTs. Our growth capital comes at an inflection point for Pear, as the team works towards expected near-term value creation milestones." "We believe prescription digital therapeutics are creating a new category of medicine with applications worldwide," said Kirthiga Reddy, Partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers. "As the lead investor of Pear's last private financing round, we are pleased to support the company's mission and their journey to becoming a publicly traded company."

07:11 EDT XPO Logistics selected by Electrolux to provide logistics in France - XPO Logistics has been awarded a multiyear contract by Electrolux Logistics to manage its logistics operations in France. The agreement marks the start of Electrolux's outsourcing strategy for distribution to its trade customers in France, after previously managing these channels in-house from its distribution center in Marly-la-Ville. XPO is managing the logistics activities at the site using technology-enabled solutions integrated on its proprietary warehouse management platform. Approximately 90% of the inventory is comprised of refrigerators, washing machines and other large products, with the remainder being smaller appliances and parts. All logistics processes - receipt of goods, storage, tracking and order preparation - have been customized by XPO to deliver greater efficiencies for Electrolux. The two companies will also partner on Electrolux's upcoming launch of its direct-to-consumer e-commerce site this year. XPO will provide this additional fulfilment from the same 58,000-square-meter distribution center in Marly-la-Ville, which is staffed in part by 46 colleagues who transferred from Electrolux Logistics.

07:08 EDT Points International partners with Bilt Rewards for loyalty program for renters - Bilt Rewards, and the global leader in loyalty commerce, Points announced a partnership to provide a rewards program for people paying rent. With Bilt, renters have a way to start earning on this monthly expenditure and use their points towards a wide range of products and services. One of the key ways that Bilt Rewards customers can redeem points is by using their points for future travel bookings. Members can link their Bilt Rewards loyalty account to that of their preferred airline or hotel partner. Members can then convert their Bilt Rewards points 1:1 into the miles or points of their program of choice. Rob MacLean, CEO of Points, said: "We are pleased to be partnering with Bilt Rewards and playing an integral role in this industry-first loyalty program. Our Exchange service provides loyalty programs the ability to add new partners into their reward suite quickly and easily; in turn, increasing currency utility and value for members. We look forward to extending our collaboration as we continue to enhance the Bilt Rewards program with the integration of additional travel loyalty partners."

07:06 EDT AvalonBay teams with Bilt Rewards to offer rent points rewards program - AvalonBay announces a partnership with Bilt Rewards to offer the first and only rewards program for residents to earn points on rent. Bilt Rewards will roll out at AvalonBay communities later this year. Residents at all AvalonBay communities will be invited to join the free program where they can start earning points when paying rent through the Bilt Rewards app. Additionally, AvalonBay residents will receive an invitation for the Bilt Mastercard, an extension of Bilt Rewards and the first credit card that allows users to pay their rent with no annual fee and without burdening the building owner with ongoing fees. With the card, AvalonBay residents can also earn points on non-rent purchases, enabling them to maximize rewards potential. "Rent is the single largest expense for many Americans, so we are always looking for opportunities to enhance the value our customers derive from living at an AvalonBay community," says AvalonBay COO Sean Breslin. "With the Bilt Rewards program, our residents will not only earn points for travel and retail purchases, but also accrue financial benefits to support their purchase of a home just by paying their rent. We are proud to serve as a launch partner and look forward to providing new value to our residents in the future."

07:05 EDT Shutterstock announces editorial partnership with Meredith - Shutterstock (SSTK) announced an exclusive editorial partnership with media company Meredith (MDP) to exclusively represent the iconic LIFE Picture Collection, one of the most significant photographic archives in the world, featuring over 800,000 of the most recognizable photos, magazine covers and historical moments chronicling the 20th century. The collection will form part of Shutterstock Editorial's archive, The Vault, which has over 60 million assets across photo and video, making it one of the largest photo and video archives in the world. As part of the partnership, Shutterstock and LIFE Picture Collection will work together to bring new, never before available images from the archive to market, making them available to Shutterstock's global customer base. As one of the world's most prestigious brands, LIFE Picture Collection is an incomparable library of stunning visuals that provide a glimpse into significant events, from Neil Armstrong's moon walk, to Martin Luther King Jr. marching for equality, as well as distinctive LIFE magazine covers featuring Diana, Princess of Wales, Winston Churchill, and Marilyn Monroe. These prolific moments were captured by some of the greatest photographers, including Alfred Eisenstaedt, Margaret Bourke-White, Andreas Feininger, John Dominis, Nina Leen, and Gjon Mili.

07:03 EDT Kaixin Auto announces cooperation with leading Chinese RV retailer - Kaixin Auto announced that the company is in discussion with a leading Chinese RV retailer about cooperation and joint venture in exploring the fast growing RV market in China. The leading RV retailer operates its own RV dealerships and host a leading RV owner community website and RV expositions across China. The Company and RV retailer intend to collaborate in sales and rental of RV vehicles and explore opportunities in development and production of electric RV vehicles.

07:01 EDT Equinox Gold announces illegal blockades at Los Filos Mine - Equinox Gold reports that mining activities at its Los Filos Mine in Mexico have been temporarily suspended as the result of illegal blockades by a group of unionized employees and members of the Xochipala community, both of whom are demanding payments in excess of their contractual agreements. The company is working to achieve a long-term solution that will allow the mine to operate effectively.

06:55 EDT Lineage Cell Therapeutics' OPC1 cell therapy to return to clinical testing - Lineage Cell Therapeutics provided an update on the clinical advancement of OPC1, its investigational allogeneic oligodendrocyte progenitor cell transplant therapy for the treatment of spinal cord injury. Following feedback received from an interaction held with the U.S. FDA last week under the FDA's Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy program, Lineage intends to submit an amendment to its Investigational New Drug application for OPC1 to support a Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate the safety and performance of Neurgain Technologies Inc.'s Parenchymal Spinal Delivery System to deliver OPC1 cells to the spinal cord. In February, the company entered into an exclusive option and license agreement with Neurgain to evaluate its novel PSD system in both preclinical and clinical settings. The IND amendment is expected to be submitted to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2021. The data from the Phase 1 clinical study is intended to validate the Neurgain PSD system for use in a late-stage clinical study, expected to begin in 2022 following the completion of the Phase 1 study.

06:49 EDT Velodyne Lidar, MADD partner on autonomous vehicle technology - Velodyne Lidar announced it is partnering for the third year with Mothers Against Drunk Driving on a public education initiative, focusing on the safety benefits of autonomous vehicle technology. The Velodyne and MADD partnership includes educational programs, awareness campaigns and co-sponsored events to continue to build public acceptance of autonomous technology with the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating impaired driving collisions.

06:47 EDT Merck says Phase 3 KEYNOTE-826 trial met dual primary endpoints of OS - Merck announced that the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-826 trial investigating KEYTRUDA, Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab, met its primary endpoints of overall survival and progression-free survival for the first-line treatment of patients with persistent, recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Based on an interim analysis conducted by an independent Data Monitoring Committee, KEYTRUDA plus platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in OS and PFS compared to the same platinum-based chemotherapy regimens with or without bevacizumab alone, regardless of PD-L1 status; KEYTRUDA is the first anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy to demonstrate this. The safety profile of KEYTRUDA in this trial was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies. Results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and will be submitted to regulatory authorities.

06:17 EDT E.U. grants AstraZeneca/Merck's Koselugo conditional approval for PN treatment - The company states: "AstraZeneca (AZN) and MSD's (MRK) Koselugo, or selumetinib, has been granted conditional approval in the European Union for the treatment of symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas , or PN, in paediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 aged three years and above. The approval by the European Commission was based on positive results from the SPRINT Stratum 1 Phase II trial sponsored by the National Institute of Health's National Cancer Institute Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. This trial showed Koselugo reduced the size of inoperable tumours in children, reducing pain and improving quality of life.7,8 This is the first approval of a medicine for NF1 PN in the EU and follows the positive recommendation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency in April 2021. Safety and efficacy data from the SPRINT Phase II trial with longer follow up will be provided as one of the conditions of approval. The SPRINT Stratum 1 Phase II trial showed Koselugo demonstrated an objective response rate, or ORR, of 66% in paediatric patients with NF1 PN when treated with Koselugo as twice-daily oral monotherapy.8 ORR is defined as the percentage of patients with confirmed complete or partial response, or at least 20% reduction in tumour volume. Results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Reference Link

06:05 EDT Fennec announces FDA approval of NDA resubmission for PEDMARK - Fennec Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. FDA has accepted for filing the resubmission of its New Drug Application for PEDMARK for the prevention of ototoxicity induced by cisplatin chemotherapy in patients one month to less than 18 years of age with localized, non-metastatic, solid tumors. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date has been set for November 27, 2021.

05:44 EDT P&O Cruises announces expected deployment and phased re-start plan - P&O Cruises, part of Carnival, has announced its expected deployment and phased re-start plan for the remainder of 2021 and into early 2022. Britannia will begin the planned western Mediterranean itineraries on September 25 and Iona will start her Atlantic coast holidays from the same date. These cruises will follow the series of UK coastal cruises beginning in June. Ventura's first cruises will be the planned program of Atlantic islands holidays from October 3. Following the Mediterranean season, running until October, Britannia will reposition to the Caribbean for her winter season as scheduled, followed by Azura which will begin Caribbean fly/cruises slightly later than published from December 10. The length and complexity of Arcadia and Aurora's planned long haul cruises from January next year has forced their cancellation and these two ships will not begin sailing until next year. However a replacement itinerary for Aurora, with winter sun appeal, will be announced shortly. In addition, following ongoing guest feedback P&O Cruises has reviewed its vaccination policy. For all cruises departing from September 25 to December 31, all guests 18 years old and over will be required to have completed their vaccination course a minimum of 14 days prior to sailing. All guests 17 years old and below will need to have completed their vaccination course a minimum 14 days prior to sailing or will require a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel. All guests will also require a negative COVID-19 test at the terminal. The PCR and COVID-19 test at the terminal will be provided on a complimentary basis. This vaccination and testing policy will be reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve. The vaccination policy for the UK coastal cruises until September 24 remains that all guests travelling, of all ages, must have completed their vaccination course a minimum of seven days prior to sailing.

05:39 EDT Brookfield Infrastructure Partners files notice of variation to acquire IPL - Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP) has filed a second notice of variation and extension in respect of the offer commenced on February 22, as varied pursuant to a notice of variation, change and extension date June 4, to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Inter Pipeline, or IPL. The second notice of variation and related documents have been filed with the Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR and will be mailed to all IPL shareholders. Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the offer, as varied by the second notice of variation, each IPL shareholder will have the ability to elect to receive, per IPL share, C$19.50 in cash or 0.225 of a Brookfield Infrastructure (BIPC) class A exchangeable share. The cash consideration available pursuant to the offer is not subject to pro-rating. The BIPC Shares available pursuant to the offer will be subject to pro-rating based on a maximum of 23M BIPC shares issuable to IPL shareholders. The offer also continues to include an option for eligible Canadian shareholders to access a tax deferred rollover in respect of any BIPC shares received pursuant to the offer, including an additional 8M BIPC Shares available to be issued to eligible shareholders who elect to receive 100% of their consideration under the Offer in BIPC shares on a tax-deferred rollover basis. The expiry time of the offer has been extended and is open for acceptance until July 13.

05:27 EDT Dada Group announces record sales for 6.18 Shopping Festival - Dada Group announced record sales during the 2021 6.18 Shopping Festival, China's major mid-year online shopping event, held from June 1 to June 20. Dada's on-demand retail platform, JDDJ, reported that transaction volumes doubled from June 1 to June 18 compared to the same period last year. Sales in several categories, including mobile phones, digital devices, cosmetics products and home appliances, all increased by more than double over last year. At the festival's peak, June 18, JDDJ exceeded RMB 300M, setting a single day record for fresh sales. On the same day, the number of orders delivered by Dada Now, Dada's on-demand delivery platform, far exceeded last year. Of note, digital devices and catering were the fastest growing categories. Dada Now achieved an overall delivery fulfillment rate of more than 99%.Sales of digital devices, health care products, baking gifts, pet toys, and cosmetics in lower-tier cities, all increased by more than 400% compared with last year on the JDDJ platform.

05:20 EDT Dr. Reddy's launches Icosapent Ethyl Capsules - Dr. Reddy's announced the launch of Icosapent Ethyl Capsules, one gram approved by the FDA. Dr. Reddy's Icosapent Ethyl Capsules, one gram is approved for the following indication: as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride levels in adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.

05:14 EDT Teva, St. Josef present Copaxone study data at EAN congress - The COBRA study, a new real world evidence study undertaken by Teva and St. Josef Hospital in Germany, was presented at EAN congress and provided new insight on the use of Copaxone by mothers with multiple sclerosis, or MS, who are breastfeeding. The study, which represents the largest analysis of child outcomes breastfed by mothers under GA, assessed 120 mothers with MS and their infants. It concluded that no evidence exists to suggest that infants were adversely affected by maternal exposure to glatiramer acetate while breastfeeding with regard to hospitalizations and antibiotic treatments, developmental delay, or growth in the first 18 months of life. Safety outcomes in 18 months of postpartum follow up showed similar between cohorts, offspring frequency and incidence of hospitalizations. Annualized number of hospitalizations was 0.20 in the GA cohort vs the control. Frequency and incidence of antibiotic use were similar between cohorts. Growth parameters were also comparable between cohorts at birth as well as at each time point studied. Paediatrician check-ups at 12 months identified three offspring with developmental delays; all in the control cohort.

05:08 EDT Nouveau Monde, Caterpillar sign agreement for Matawinie graphite mine solution - Nouveau Monde (NMG) and Caterpillar (CAT) announced that they have signed an agreement pursuant to which Caterpillar will develop, test and produce Cat "zero-emission machines" for the Matawinie graphite mine with a view to becoming the exclusive supplier of an all-electric mining fleet for deployment at Nouveau Monde's Matawinie mine by 2028.

05:03 EDT Nokia announces updated flexible working practices following COVID-19 pandemic - Nokia has announced that it is updating its flexible working practices following the COVID-19 pandemic. The updated guidelines, which apply to all Nokia employees and are planned to come into effect January 1, 2022, will provide flexibility for employees to work up to three days a week remotely, as well as increased support for flexible working hours and fully virtual working. Nokia's existing COVID-19 work from home policy remains in effect globally until the end of 2021. In addition to strengthening flexible working practices, Nokia plans to rethink and redesign office spaces to better reflect post-COVID working arrangements and support collaboration. Many sites will see up to 70% of office space allocated to teamwork and meetings, with less space reserved for concentrative workspaces. Some pilot sites, including offices in Dallas, Singapore and Budapest, have already been reconfigured in 2021, with further sites expected to be completed by the end of the year. By the end of 2021, Nokia also plans to launch a smart office solution, allowing employees to book workspaces and office amenities, as well as toolkits and guides aimed at helping people managers and teams to establish better, more flexible and sustainable working models. The move to a new hybrid model and refurbishments of offices will proceed on a country-by-country basis, taking into consideration local needs, legal requirements and the COVID-19 situation.