Stockwinners Market Radar for March 13, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:50 EDT Outlook Therapeutics Inc trading halted, news pending

18:57 EDT Armour Residential REIT says Gordon Harper to succeed James Mountain as CFO - Armour Residential REIT announced the appointment of Vice President of Finance and Controller Gordon Harper as CFO and Secretary, effective March 11. He will remain Controller of the company. Harper succeeds James Mountain, who was removed as CFO and Secretary. Harper has served as the Vice President of Finance and Controller for the company as well as its external manager, ARMOUR Capital Management LP, since 2015. The company is continuing to work toward filing its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, on or before March 15.

18:00 EDT Mirum Pharmaceuticals' Livmarli receives FDA approval - Mirum Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LIVMARLI (maralixibat) oral solution for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients five years of age and older with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). Mirum has also submitted an additional supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to introduce a higher concentration formulation of LIVMARLI, used during the MARCH study, to enable label expansion for younger patients with PFIC, later this year. LIVMARLI is also approved for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS) in the U.S. (three months and older), Europe (two months and older), in Canada and other regions globally. "LIVMARLI has the potential to have a transformational impact for patients with cholestatic pruritus associated with PFIC, and importantly, offers an option for those patients with the rarest of subtypes," said Chris Peetz, chief executive officer at Mirum. "Thank you to the patients, families, and clinicians whose study participation made this approval possible."

17:42 EDT Bakkt notified by NSE of non-compliance with NYSE price listing rule - Bakkt Holdings announced that the New York Stock Exchange notified the company that the company is not in compliance with Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual because, as of March 12, 2024, the average closing price of the company's Class A Common Stock was less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30-day trading period. The notice does not result in the immediate delisting of the Common Stock from the NYSE. On March 13, 2024, the company notified the NYSE that it intends to cure the stock price deficiency and to return to compliance with the NYSE continued listing standard. The company can regain compliance at any time within the six-month period following receipt of the NYSE notice if the company has a share price of at least $1.00 on the last trading day of any calendar month within the six-month cure period and an average share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. Under the NYSE's rules, if the company determines that it will cure such average stock price deficiency by taking an action that will require stockholder approval, it must so inform the NYSE, and the noncompliance with the price condition will be deemed cured if the price promptly exceeds $1.00 per share and the price remains above that level for at least the following 30 trading days. The company intends to consider all available alternatives to resolve this issue, including but not limited to a reverse stock split, subject to shareholder approval.

17:40 EDT Maia Biotechnology Inc trading resumes

17:37 EDT DHC Acquisition expects to close business combination with Brand Engagement - DHC Acquisition expects to close its previously announced business combination with Brand Engagement Network - BEN -, an emerging provider of personalized customer engagement AI, on March 14. DHC shareholders approved the transaction at DHC's extraordinary general meeting held on March 5. The combined company will be named Brand Engagement Network and expects to begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on Friday, March 15, under the ticker symbol "BNAI" for its common stock and "BNAIW" for its publicly traded warrants.

17:26 EDT BAE Systems awarded $754.34M Army contract modification - BAE Systems was awarded a $754.34M modification to a contract to procure Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of February 28, 2027. FY23 and FY24 weapons and tracked combat vehicle procurement, Army funds in the amount of $754.34M were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command is the contracting activity.

17:07 EDT Paramount to sell Viacom 18 equity interest to India's Reliance for $517M - On March 13, certain subsidiaries of Paramount Global (PARA) entered into a transfer agreement with Reliance Industries under which the Paramount subsidiaries agreed to sell, and Reliance agreed to purchase, the Paramount subsidiaries' entire 13.01% equity interest in Viacom 18 for an aggregate purchase price of 42,86,00,00,000 Indian rupees, which is equivalent to approximately $517M based on the current foreign exchange rate..The closing of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, as well as the completion of a previously announced joint venture involving Reliance, Viacom18, and Star Disney (DIS). After the closing, Paramount will continue to license its content to Viacom18. This information was taken from a company 8K filing. Reference Link

17:03 EDT Guardant Health's ECLIPSE study data demonstrates efficacy of Shield blood test - The company states: "Guardant Health announced that results from the ECLIPSE study showing the effectiveness of its ShieldTM blood test for detecting colorectal cancer in average-risk adults will be published in the March 14 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. One of the largest studies of its kind, ECLIPSE is a 20,000+-patient registrational study to evaluate the performance of Shield compared to a screening colonoscopy. The Shield test detects colorectal cancer signals in the bloodstream from DNA that is shed by tumors, called circulating tumor DNA". Co-CEO AmirAli Talasaz says: "Over 50 million eligible Americans do not get recommended screenings for colorectal cancer, partly because current screening methods are inconvenient or unpleasant. We believe the publication of the ECLIPSE study in The New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world's leading medical journals, is an endorsement of the quality of our clinical data and the potential value of the Shield test. We are confident that offering an accurate blood test has the potential to significantly reduce preventable colorectal cancer deaths."

16:48 EDT Dutch Bros COO sells $1.2M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Dutch Bros disclosed that its COO Brian Maxwell sold 37.5K shares of common stock on March 12th in a total transaction size of $1.2M.

16:40 EDT Spruce Biosciences Inc trading resumes

16:38 EDT Boyd Gaming co-founder William Boyd sells $7.9M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Boyd Gaming disclosed that its co-founder William Boyd sold 125K shares of common stock on March 12th in a total transaction size of $7.9M.

16:37 EDT Under Armour appoints Kevin Plank as CEO - Under Armour announced that Kevin Plank will become President & CEO, effective April 1. Plank will succeed Stephanie Linnartz, who will be stepping down as President & CEO and member of the Board. In connection with Plank's appointment, Mohamed El-Erian, an independent director since 2018 and Lead Director since 2020, will become the non-executive Chair of the Board. Plank, who will transition from Executive Chair of the Board, will remain a director. Linnartz will remain an advisor to the company through April 30. Plank founded Under Armour in 1996, and from 1996 to 2019, he served as Under Armour's CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors. In January 2020, Plank was appointed Executive Chair and Brand Chief.

16:34 EDT Lennar reports Q1 new orders increased 28% to 18,176 homes - Reports Q1: New orders dollar value increased 21% to $7.7B; Backlog of 16,270 homes with a dollar value of $7.4B; Deliveries increased 23% to 16,798 homes.

16:30 EDT Travel + Leisure raises quarterly dividend to 50c from 45c per share - The dividend is payable March 29, 2024 to shareholders of record as of March 21, 2024.

16:22 EDT MDU Construction Services Group rebrands to Everus Construction Group - MDU Resources Group announced that its construction services business, MDU Construction Services Group, has rebranded to Everus Construction Group, in preparation for the planned tax-free spinoff of the business, expected to be complete late this year. MDU Resources announced on Nov. 2, 2023, that it plans to spin off the construction services business, which will result in two independent, publicly traded companies. The spinoff remains on track for late 2024.

16:20 EDT Spruce Biosciences to resume trading at 4:40 pm ET - Spruce Biosciences is scheduled to resume trading at 4:40 pm ET, with quotation set to resume at 4:35 pm ET, according to Nasdaq. Shares had been halted as the company disclosed that its CAHmelia-203 study did not meet efficacy endpoint, announced that it is cutting 21% of staff, and reported FY23 results.

16:19 EDT Realty Income increases monthly dividend to 25.7c per share - Realty Income declared an increase in the company's common stock monthly cash dividend to 25.7c per share from 25.65c per share. The dividend is payable on April 15 to stockholders of record as of April 1. The ex-dividend date for April's dividend is March 29. The new monthly dividend represents an annualized dividend amount of $3.084 per share as compared to the prior annualized dividend amount of $3.078 per share.

16:18 EDT Spruce Biosciences says 'eager' to report CAHmelia-204 topline results in Q3 - CEO Javier Szwarcberg stated: "Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2024, we are eager to report topline results from CAHmelia-204, which is focused on assessing GC reduction, a potentially registrational endpoint, in a different population of adult CAH patients with relatively controlled A4 levels and historically better adherence to GC therapy. Assuming positive results from CAHmelia-204 and CAHptain-205, we plan to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and comparable foreign regulatory authorities in early 2025 to outline the design of a registrational clinical program in adult and pediatric classic CAH. Finally, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to streamline our operations and implement cost reduction measures, which has extended our cash runway through the end of 2025. I want to thank all of our employees, including those departing Spruce, for their dedication to advancing our mission of bringing forward novel therapies for CAH and other rare endocrine disorders."

16:16 EDT GrowGeneration explores strategic opportunities for MMI business - GrowGeneration announced that it is exploring strategic opportunities for its benching, racking, and storage solutions business, MMI, which was acquired by the Company in late 2021 and currently constitutes the Company's Storage Solutions segment. Lampert commented, "MMI has continued to exceed our expectations, with full year 2024 revenue of $31.4 million and $8.9 million in operating profit, reflecting the tremendous strength and potential of this business. We believe MMI is now in a place where it makes sense to consider strategic opportunities for the business, and we recently engaged Lake Street Capital Markets to advise us in this process. While we are happy having MMI within our portfolio, we also believe that the right strategic opportunity for MMI would better position GrowGen to build upon its achievements and capitalize on additional opportunities within its core Cultivation and Gardening business."

16:11 EDT Turtle Beach names Cris Keirn CEO - Turtle Beach Corporation announced announced that Turtle Beach's Board of Directors has appointed Cris Keirn as Chief Executive Officer and to the Board of Directors, effective immediately. The appointment concludes a comprehensive CEO search process, launched by the Board in the second quarter of 2023, with the mandate to appoint a highly qualified leader with extensive product innovation, operational and transformational experience, and capable of delivering strong financial and operational results to drive future growth across the business. Keirn joined Turtle Beach in 2013 and has been a key contributor in the transformation of Turtle Beach's product portfolios, including in his role as Vice-President of Business Planning and Strategy prior to his executive role in sales. Mr. Keirn has also led sales operations, customer care and market analytics teams for the Company. Prior to joining Turtle Beach, Cris held leadership positions over a 17-year span in multiple divisions at Motorola across engineering, product management, operations, quality and customer relations. "I'm honored to work with the amazing team at Turtle Beach, now including our new colleagues from PDP, as we continue to deliver fantastic new products for gamers and value to our shareholders," said Keirn. "Working with our industry partners, and with the combined expertise of our teams, we will drive a transformational change to the company's scale and execution with innovation and expansion of our leadership positions across gaming accessory categories."

16:10 EDT Robinhood reports February assets under custody $118.7B - Robinhood reported selected monthly operating data for February: Funded customers at the end of February were 23.6M, up approximately 130,000 from January. Assets under custody, or AUC, at the end of February were $118.7B, up 16% from January. Net Deposits were $3.6B in February, translating to a 42% annualized growth rate relative to January AUC. Over the last twelve months, net deposits were $21.6B, translating to an annual growth rate of 29% relative to February 2023 AUC. Trading volumes in February were higher across all asset classes relative to January. Equity notional trading volumes were $80.9B. Options contracts traded were 119.1M. Crypto notional trading volumes were $6.5B. Margin balances at the end of February were $3.8B, up 6% from the end of January. Total cash sweep balances at the end of February were $18.1B, up $1.3B or 8% from the end of January. Total securities lending revenue in February was $13M, up 8% from January.

16:10 EDT Spruce Biosciences cuts workforce 21%, terminates CAHmelia-203 study - Spruce Biosciences said it intends to implement cost savings initiatives, including termination of the CAHmelia-203 study and a workforce reduction of approximately 21%. The company currently has over $81M in cash and cash equivalents, which is anticipated to fund its current operating plan through the end of 2025, including through the CAHmelia-204 topline results and CAHptain-205 topline results from additional dosing cohorts.

16:09 EDT ICF International awarded new $58M contract from California State Lottery - California State Lottery has recently expanded its collaboration with ICF through a new $58M contract award to continue supporting the Lottery's website. The base contract term is five years, with three optional extensions (two two-year extensions and one one-year extension). The contract was awarded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

16:07 EDT Pixie Dust announces CFO transition - Pixie Dust appointed Nobuhiro Takagi and Nobufusa Tarumi as co-CFO, effective March 13. Takagi and Tarumi succeed Mamoru Miwa, whose resignation was not the result of any disagreement or conflict with the company, its operations, policies, or practices. The role of Chief Accounting Officer, previously held by Nobuhiro Takagi, will be assumed by the co-CFOs. Takagi has served as CAO since November 2023, and previously served as an audit manager at KPMG AZSA LLC, Tokyo from July 2017 to September 2020. Takagi graduated from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan in March 2003.

16:06 EDT Spruce Biosciences says Phase CAH study missed efficacy endpoint

16:01 EDT Worthington Steel JV, TWB Company, signs licensing deal with ArcelorMittal - The company states: Worthington Steel announced that its tailor welded blanking joint venture, TWB Company, LLC, has signed a licensing agreement with ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks for use of its patented ablation technology in the production of hot formed tailored blanks. This technology expands TWB's hot formed tailored blanking capabilities in North America. Along with this agreement, TWB plans to install a fully automated ablation line at its Monroe, Michigan, facility. TWB plans to install the new fully automated ablation line in its flagship facility in Monroe, Michigan. The 300,000 square foot facility currently produces traditional tailored blanks, tailored aluminum blanks and tailor welded coils. Following the ablation line installation, the company expects to spend 12-15 months undergoing OEM qualifications before beginning full production."

16:00 EDT Spruce Biosciences Inc trading halted, news pending

15:41 EDT McDonald's slips after CFO calls U.S. consumer trends 'challenging' - At the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference earlier this morning, McDonald's CFO Ian Frederick Borden said that the company is currently seeing a "challenging consumer environment" in the U.S., as consumers are dealing with inflation that's "kind of hitting their pocketbook across all the areas of spend." Borden added that higher interest rates are also "having an impact," and that "eroded COVID savings" that are "largely gone" are particularly hitting lower-income consumers. Additionally, the executive said that a lot of midsized markets in EUrope are continuing to perform "really, really well." Shares of McDonald's are down about 4% in afternoon trading.

15:38 EDT McDonald's slips 3.6% after CFO calls U.S. consumer trends 'challenging' - At the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference, McDonald's CFO Ian Frederick Borden said that the company is currently seeing a "challenging consumer environment" in the U.S., as cnosumers are dealing with inflation that's "kind of hitting their pocketbrook across all the areas of spend." Borden added that higher interest rates are also "having an impact," and that "eroded COVID savinsg" that are "largely gone" are particularly hitting lower-income consumers. Additionally, the executive said that a lot of midsized markets in EUrope are continuing to perform "really, really well." Shares of McDonald's are down 3.6% in afternoon trading.

14:17 EDT Senator Hawley asks Justice Department to investigate FICO - Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, asking for an investigation into FICO. The letter reads in part, "The Fair Isaac Corporation appears to be using its monopolistic power over the credit scoring market to increase costs for mortgage lenders - an increase that will be passed on to consumers. FICO's recent actions demand that you investigate the company for these anticompetitive practices. The credit score market is dominated by FICO, a for-profit company operated under a sweetheart deal from the federal government. FICO's credit scores are required for loans originated with government entities such as the Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. This means that most home buyers are forced to obtain their mortgage from a lender who uses FICO's services...Accordingly, I urge you to investigate FICO's potentially anticompetitive practices at the earliest opportunity." Reference Link

13:59 EDT North American rail traffic up 4.1% for the week ending March 9 - The Association of American Railroads, AAR, reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 9. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 472,662 carloads and intermodal units, up 5% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending March 9 were 214,585 carloads, down 3.7% compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 258,077 containers and trailers, up 13.5% compared to 2023. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included chemicals, up 1,916 carloads, to 33,713; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,399 carloads, to 9,930; and metallic ores and metals, up 685 carloads, to 18,882. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 included coal, down 8,963 carloads, to 55,963; nonmetallic minerals, down 2,691 carloads, to 28,505; and miscellaneous carloads, down 726 carloads, to 7,791. North American rail volume for the week ending March 9, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 321,441 carloads, down 3.2% compared with the same week last year, and 342,181 intermodal units, up 12% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 663,622 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1%. North American rail volume for the first 10 weeks of 2024 was 6,467,217 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.4 % compared with 2023. Publicly traded companies in the space include CSX (CSX), Canadian National (CNI), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP), Kansas City Southern (KSU), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Union Pacific (UNP), Trinity Industries (TRN), Greenbrier (GBX), Wabtec (WAB), Rail Vision (RVSN) and FreightCar America (RAIL). Reference Link

13:30 EDT Maia Biotechnology Inc trading halted, news pending

13:08 EDT Browning West addresses media reports highlighting 'failures' of Gildan's board - Browning West, LP, which is a long-term shareholder of Gildan Activewear Inc. and beneficially owns approximately 5.0% of the Company's outstanding shares, issued the below statement. "Recent media coverage and an independent research report suggest the Board has presided over an egregious failure of due care and judgement by overlooking Mr. Tyra's seemingly inappropriate relationship with a subordinate - who is currently an executive at Gildan - during his time as CEO of Broder Bros. We question if the Board uncovered this deeply troubling information during its CEO search process and how the sitting directors got comfortable appointing and retaining a CEO who felt it was acceptable to maintain such a relationship with someone who worked under him. We also question if the Board considered that the historical relationship between these two executives creates undue conflicts and risk for Gildan shareholders and employees. No amount of deflecting and downplaying will allow the Board to succeed in sweeping this inexplicable lapse in diligence and judgement under the rug. To be clear, Browning West had absolutely no role in the independent research report referenced in recent media coverage and will pursue legal action against any parties that claim otherwise. We believe it is important to emphasize this point given that the Board has ramped up its PR machine and is proactively contacting media in an effort to push blame onto Browning West and shareholders, who have every right to be concerned about their investments in Gildan and to scrutinize the selection of a seemingly unfit CEO. We urge Chairman Donald Berg and the Board, as well as Mr. Tyra, to recognize that it is in the best interest of all Gildan stakeholders to commence an orderly resignation process and work with Browning West to reconstitute the majority of the Board. The current directors have clearly failed in their assessment of Mr. Tyra in light of his record of value destruction, lack of critical manufacturing experience, and apparent decision to carry on a relationship with a subordinate while he was CEO of Border Bros. Now is the time for Gildan to agree to appoint all of the highly qualified director candidates proposed by Browning West to the Board, so that this unfortunate chapter in the Company's history can end. This will allow for Gildan to once again focus on growing and strengthening its business and creating value for all of its shareholders."

12:55 EDT U.S. Steel sinks 7% to $43.66 after FT report on Biden takeover concerns

12:06 EDT Capcom says 'Resident Evil 4' remake has sold over 7M units - Capcom (CCOEY) announced that the multiplatform title "Resident Evil 4," a remake of the 2005 game of the same name, has sold over 7M units worldwide approximately one year after its release. Cumulative sales of the games in the series now exceed 154M units as of December 31, 2023, since the first title debuted in 1996. The game is available on PlayStation 4 (SONY), PS5, Xbox Series X/S (MSFT), PC, iOS (AAPL), and Mac.

12:00 EDT ZIM Integrated falls -13.3% - ZIM Integrated is down -13.3%, or -$1.55 to $10.11.

12:00 EDT Getty Images rises 13.5% - Getty Images is up 13.5%, or 67c to $5.63.

12:00 EDT Flotek rises 17.8% - Flotek is up 17.8%, or 50c to $3.31.

11:39 EDT Waymo says Waymo One to offer rides to public in four major cities this year - In a blog post, the Waymo Team stated: "Later this year, Waymo One will be offering rides to the public in four major cities. Starting tomorrow, March 14, our fully autonomous ride-hailing service will be available to select members of the public in Los Angeles. And after starting initial rider-only testing in Austin last week, we plan to offer Waymo One to Austinites later this year. This exciting news was shared by Waymo co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, during a featured session at SXSW today in Austin, Texas." Reference Link

11:04 EDT Textron awarded contract by U.S. Army Contracting Command - Textron Aviation announced the award of a contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL, for two Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop aircraft. The aircraft will be owned and operated by the Djiboutian Air Force. This acquisition is the third delivery order under a recently established indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract that allows up to $100 million U.S. dollars for the acquisition of Textron Aviation aircraft over a five-year period.

10:45 EDT Solowin Holdings Ltd trading halted, volatility trading pause

10:00 EDT ZIM Integrated falls -13.7% - ZIM Integrated is down -13.7%, or -$1.60 to $10.06.

10:00 EDT ADC Therapeutics falls -20.2% - ADC Therapeutics is down -20.2%, or -90c to $3.55.

10:00 EDT Full Truck Alliance rises 9.3% - Full Truck Alliance is up 9.3%, or 65c to $7.61.

09:47 EDT ZIM Integrated falls -8.3% - ZIM Integrated is down -8.3%, or -97c to $10.69.

09:47 EDT ADC Therapeutics falls -15.3% - ADC Therapeutics is down -15.3%, or -68c to $3.77.

09:47 EDT Getty Images rises 7.7% - Getty Images is up 7.7%, or 38c to $5.34.

09:45 EDT Critical Elements Lithium completes drill program at Rose West Discovery - Critical Elements Lithium announced completion of a 31-hole, 3,670-meter drill program on its 100% owned Rose West Discovery with multiple spodumene-rich pegmatites intersected. The Rose West Discovery is situated within the Rose and Rose South property blocks, which constitute 395 km2, or only 38% of the total 1,050 km2 in the Corporation's highly prospective exploration portfolio in Quebec. The 2024 winter drill campaign successfully completed 3,670 meters of drilling in 31 holes on the spodumene-bearing pegmatite showings discovered during the 2023 summer prospection campaign, herein referred to as Rose West. Drilling results demonstrated the continuity of a mineralized pegmatite body thus far over 450m strike, 370m down dip and to a vertical depth of 140m. In the west, the body is comprised of multiple near surface mineralized pegmatites that range up to an apparent thickness of 12.4m individually. These bodies appear to coalesce into a more substantial spodumene-bearing pegmatite in the east with an apparent width of up to 40.4m. The near surface pegmatites appear to strike northwesterly with a gentle dip of 15 degrees , while the thicker pegmatite appears to strike easterly with a near-horizontal dip of 13 degrees . The body is still open in all directions, while the greatest exploration potential appears to be to the east. Initial assay results from the drill program have been received for the first two holes, RD-24-01 and RD-24-02. Both drill holes returned high grade results with 1.61% Li2O and 135ppm Ta2O5 over 6.9m, including 2.17% Li2O over 4.3m in hole RD-24-01, and 1.00% Li2O and 285 ppm Ta2O5 over 8.65m, including 1.34% Li2O and 376 ppm Ta2O5 over 4.4m in hole RD-24-02. In addition to these early intersections of lithium-rich pegmatites, the program also discovered a different style of mineralization associated with an aplite dyke with high grade tantalum values, including 571 ppm Ta2O5 over 1.1m.

09:42 EDT Minim Inc trading resumes

09:40 EDT J.P. Morgan Asset Management appoints Jon Maier as chief ETF strategist - J.P. Morgan Asset Management announced that industry-veteran, Jon Maier, is joining as Chief ETF Strategist, effective March 18. In the role, Maier will lead ETF Insights, a global program of actionable thought leadership and resources for the rapidly growing and evolving ETF universe. He previously served as Chief Investment Officer of ETFs for Global X

09:37 EDT Draganfly to integrate drones with Knightscope autonomous security robots - Draganfly (DPRO) and Knightscope (KSCP) announced that Knightscope has selected Draganfly to jointly develop an autonomous security solution that combines Draganfly drones with Knightscope Autonomous Security Robots, emergency communications devices & Knightscope Security Operations Center user interface & remote monitoring platform. "Partnering with Draganfly marks a significant milestone in Knightscope's journey towards redefining public safety and security. By integrating our cutting-edge autonomous security robots with Draganfly's innovative drone technology, we are setting a new standard for comprehensive, AI-driven security solutions," William Santana Li, CEO of Knightscope, said. "This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to utilizing the latest technologies to advance safety and operational efficiency."

09:36 EDT Gaxos.AI Inc trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:35 EDT Mullen Automotive announces update on U.S. CBP application for Class 1 EV vans - Mullen Automotive announces an update on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection application for Class 1 EV cargo vans. On March 5, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed Rapid Response Defense Systems counsel that a final determination on the ruling request needs to be issued by the U.S. General Services Administration. Based on CBP advice, Mullen and RRDS are now proceeding with the GSA in order to finalize qualification of Mullen to sell Class 1 EV cargo vans to all branches of the U.S. government.

09:33 EDT Ageagle Aerial Systems chairman optimistic about company's future potential - AgEagle Aerial Systems announced a letter to shareholders from Chairman Grant Begley, which read in part, "I want to begin by thanking you, our shareholders, for your ongoing support as we continue to expand our market footprint and focus on building sustainable long-term shareholder value. As AgEagle's Chairman of the Board of Directors since October 2023 and Interim CEO since January 1, 2024, I have been privileged to engage with AgEagle's superb professionals, resulting in my objective assessment of AgEagle's excellent future potential that I share with you now. Sharing AgEagle's past is foundational to understanding AgEagle's value of today and future potential. I first met AgEagle's founder in 2010 at the world's largest drone conference, AUVSI's North America. Since then, AgEagle has evolved from a Privately Held company offering simple fix-winged drones constructed in the founder's barn in Kansas for sale to his fellow farmers. Those heritage drones provided agricultural support, ultimately proving to be foundational to the company name AgEagle. Today, AgEagle is proud to offer best-in-class products; eBee X, eBee TAC, and newly available eBee VISION. AgEagle's eBee family of drones are a globally recognized brand, now used for missions that include Agriculture, Construction, Defense, Environmental Monitoring, Conservation, Forestry, Mining, Quarries, Public Safety, Research and Education, Surveying, Mapping, Geographic Information Systems, Utilities Engineering, Security, and Military Operations...AgEagle's market is expanding with the recent introduction of eBee VISION. The eBee VISION is designed to provide defense and security capabilities to quickly detect, track, and geo-locate objects in collaboration with special forces. The initial five production eBee VISIONS were delivered to 5 different potential key customers last quarter, resulting in superb reviews and ongoing follow-up. ..Within the past 2-months, AgEagle has nearly doubled its sensor production capacity with no additional personnel or equipment required. Again, I am pleased to provide you with this shareholder update and I thank you for your AgEagle investment. Your AgEagle Team is extremely and objectively optimistic about AgEagle's future potential."

09:23 EDT SEALSQ introduces SEALDATA service - SEALSQ introducse SEALDATA, a service designed to empower clients to monetize their Internet of Things data through SEALCOIN, the cryptocurrency expected to be available end Q2 2024. In an era where data is as valuable as gold, SEALDATA is set to transform how businesses and individuals realize the value of their data assets by leveraging the untapped potential of IoT data. SEALDATA offers a groundbreaking approach to data monetization, particularly for IoT product owners who are looking to capitalize on the vast amounts of data generated by their devices. With the world increasingly connected through IoT, from wearable devices to smart vehicles, the potential for data collection and utilization is enormous. SEALDATA recognizes this potential and provides a platform for turning data into revenue.

09:22 EDT Twin Vee PowerCats announces May dealer meeting to launch 2025 product line - Twin Vee PowerCats announced its upcoming dealer meeting on May 19-20, 2024, at The Ben Hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida. The annual event will bring together representatives from Twin Vee's nationwide dealer network to unveil the Company's Model Year 2025 offerings. Dealers attending the meeting will have the exclusive opportunity to explore and experience firsthand AquaSport's all-new 280 Super Boat, the first boat model to adopt Avikus' advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous boat technology. The Super Boat is a 28-foot monohull built in partnership with Avikus, which aims to provide a new level of safety and convenience. Specifically, the all-new AquaSport will boast, among other things, advanced route planning, "smart" autopilot navigation that can identify objects and avoid potential collisions, and, most importantly, autonomous self-docking capability.

09:20 EDT Freddie Mac announces results of tender offer for certain STACR notes - Freddie Mac announced the tender results of its previously announced offer to purchase any and all of the STACR Notes. Certain of the classes of Notes subject to the Offer were issued by the STACR trusts. Freddie Mac is the holder of the owner certificate issued by each Trust and, as a result, the sole beneficial owner of each Trust. The Company has conducted the Offer in accordance with the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated March 6, 2024 and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery dated March 6, 2024. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Press Release have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Offer Documents. As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, approximately $1.49 billion aggregate original principal amount of the Notes had been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn.

09:18 EDT Cadence Design announces collaboration with Arm on automotive chiplet ecosystem - Cadence Design (CDNS) announced a collaboration with Arm (ARM) to deliver a chiplet-based reference design and software development platform to accelerate software-defined vehicle, or SDV, innovation. The automotive reference design, initially for advanced driver assistance system, or ADAS, applications, specifies a scalable chiplet architecture and interface interoperability to foster industry-wide collaboration, enable heterogeneous integration and expand system innovation.

09:16 EDT Rumble Cloud enters partnership with Qinshift - Rumble announced a strategic partnership with Qinshift. By teaming up with Qinshift, Rumble Cloud will bring together the expertise, resources, and industry insights of both companies while leveraging Qinshift's highly skilled workforce, expertise, and global footprint to address customer demand for Rumble Cloud. Rumble Cloud aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to deliver premium cloud services and drive growth through a) enhanced customer onboarding with Qinshift's highly skilled workforce to grow enterprise customers at scale, b) market expansion with Qinshift's global network and expertise, c) expanded service offerings by tapping into Qinshift's extensive portfolio of managed IT services and solutions.

09:13 EDT NeuroMetrix reports over 2000 patients prescribed Quell Fibromyalgia - NeuroMetrix announced that over 2000 fibromyalgia patients have been prescribed Quell Fibromyalgia since its strategic commercial launch in December 2022.

09:11 EDT Boston Beer launches Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka - Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, the brand-new spirits-based hard iced tea innovation from The Boston Beer Company, is made with real iced tea, real vodka and really delicious flavor for a sip that's so smooth you can't help but go back for more. Sun Cruiser is refreshing and easy to drink with 4.5% ABV, just 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar per 12oz. serving. Even better, Sun Cruiser has no bubbles, which makes it the perfect drink for sipping all day long. Available in Classic Iced Tea, Lemonade + Iced Tea, Raspberry, and Peach, Sun Cruiser's got a flavor for the whole crew. Perfect for outdoor hanging with friends, Sun Cruiser is rolling out now across 17 markets, with national distribution coming later this year. Available in four-packs in Classic Iced Tea and Lemonade + Iced Tea, plus an eight-pack Variety Pack with each flavor, Sun Cruiser is hitting shelves now across New England, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Arizona, Atlanta and Southern California.

09:09 EDT Broadcom expands leadership on AI optical components - Broadcom announced several major accomplishments extending its market leadership with an expanded portfolio of optical interconnect solutions for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Broadcom's optics technologies facilitate high speed interconnects for front-end and back-end networks of large-scale generative AI compute clusters. Key Announcement Highlights: production release of 200-Gbps per lane electro-absorption modulated laser to pair with next generation GPUs; Demonstration of the industry's first 200G/lane vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; Demonstration of continuous wave laser with high efficiency and high linearity for silicon photonics modulation at 200G; Shipment of more than 20 million channels of 100G/lane high speed optical components used in AI/ML systems. VCSEL and EML technologies play a crucial role in enabling high-speed interconnects for AI and ML systems. Broadcom's 200G VCSEL and EML products follow up on successful deployment of 100G/lane VCSEL and EML chips into first-generation generative AI networks and will provide unrivaled bandwidth and interconnect density for next generation interconnects. Both product families from Broadcom represent trusted and reliable technologies that will enable integration partners to use existing capacity as end users progress to 1.6T optical transceivers and usher in the era of terabit connectivity.

09:08 EDT Comtech appoints CCDO John Ratigan as interim CEO - Comtech announced that its Board of Directors has appointed John Ratigan, Chief Corporate Development Officer, CCDO, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Ratigan succeeds Ken Peterman, who has been terminated as President and CEO and will cease to serve on the Board. Mr. Peterman's termination was for conduct unrelated to Comtech's business strategy, financial results or previously filed financial statements. Mr. Ratigan, a former Chief Executive Officer, is an accomplished executive who brings over three decades of experience and senior leadership expertise across the global satellite technology sector. He has an extensive background in satellite communications, as well as a deep familiarity with Comtech, having spent ten years at EF Data Corp. prior to its acquisition by Comtech in July 2000, driving significant revenue growth over the course of his tenure. As CCDO at Comtech, Mr. Ratigan has proven himself an instrumental member of the executive team, identifying and optimizing market shifts currently underway and executing on the Company's One Comtech strategy. In addition, the Board has elected current Board member Mark Quinlan as Chair of the Board.

09:07 EDT LeddarTech announces collaboration with Arm - LeddarTech Holdings announced a collaboration with Arm with a view to delivering the next generation of advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, and autonomous driving, or AD, technology for software-defined vehicles based on leading-edge Arm Automotive Enhanced, or AE, technology. Frantz Saintellemy, President and CEO of LeddarTech, said, "This partnership, leveraging the unique capabilities of both organizations, is poised to enhance CPU capabilities for ADAS, accelerate time-to-market and facilitate the rollout of software-defined vehicles. The potential benefits of this collaboration for automotive OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers are significant, promising accelerated innovation and deployment in the automotive industry."

09:06 EDT Orbit's Electronics Group reports February bookings in excess of $2M - Orbit International announced that its Electronics Group reported bookings for the month of February 2024 in excess of $2,000,000. Deliveries for the February 2024 orders have already commenced and are expected to continue through the first quarter of 2026. In addition, the Company's Power Group reported that it received an order in March 2024 totaling more than $1.0 million for power supplies used in a significant multi-year military program. Furthermore, the OEG reported that in March 2024 it also received an order for approximately $1,668,000 for a product used in a military aircraft program. Approximately $143,000 of this order, covering the order of long lead items, was previously recorded in a prior period. Deliveries for these awards will commence in the fourth quarter of 2024 and continue through the third quarter of 2025.

09:05 EDT Cintas has acquired Paris Uniform Services, no terms - Cintas Corporation has acquired Paris Uniform Services, a Pennsylvania-based, family-owned supplier of uniform and facility services. "I am pleased to partner with a company that has the resources and culture to carry on the legacy we have created at Paris Uniform Services" Paris Uniform Services was founded in 1978 as a subsidiary of Paris Cleaners. Prior to the acquisition, David Stern served as CEO of the company. Paris serviced customers in a four-state region, including Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and West Virginia."I am pleased to partner with a company that has the resources and culture to carry on the legacy we have created at Paris Uniform Services," said David Stern, CEO of Paris Uniform Services. "Cintas allows us to do this and values their employee-partners. I know that our organization is in great hands."

09:05 EDT VCI Global to open offices in New York, London later this year - VCI Global announced its strategic expansion of its global footprint from Asia by opening offices in New York and London later this year, as well as setting up an AI Research and Development Center in Frankfurt to better serve our growing pipeline of consulting clients and ambitious technology ventures. These New York and London offices will be led by the recently appointed Group Executive Director, Marco Baccanello. His highly experienced background in Silicon Valley and New York and his past experience with PwC in the UK and US brings valuable expertise and Capital Market relationships to the Company. He is an accomplished Corporate Finance and Private Equity executive, specializing in advising fast growing technology companies on financing, growth strategies and merger and acquisitions. His prior experience includes work in the mobile games and technology sectors, overseeing multiple transactions with companies such as Adobe, GameStop, and Cox Communications in the US. VCI Global's AI R&D Center in Frankfurt, Germany, will be headed by the Company's newly appointed Chief AI Officer, Pascal Lauria, who brings over 23 years of experience as a veteran technology entrepreneur specializing in AI and machine learning. Pascal previously founded Cogia Intelligence, serving as CTO and CEO for over a decade, delivering cutting-edge AI solutions to Fortune 500 companies like BMW, Audi, VW, and Lufthansa. Pascal will be responsible for overseeing the Company's portfolio of technology businesses, and the Frankfurt office will also serve as VCI Global's European office.

09:03 EDT La Rosa Holdings acquires 51% interest in La Rosa Realty Georgia - La Rosa Holdings Corp. acquired a 51% interest in the Company's franchisee - La Rosa Realty Georgia, located in Gainesville, Florida and Alpharetta, Georgia. La Rosa Georgia generated revenue of $3.4 million and reached break-even in 2023. The franchisee provides residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. It also provides coaching and support services to agents on a fee basis.

09:02 EDT Skipify announces partnership with Synchrony - Skipify, a financial technology company, announced its partnership with . The technology partnership leverages Skipify's payment infrastructure to provide simplified and enhanced checkout for Synchrony cardholders, improving the experience for shoppers and delivering higher authorization rates, conversion, and security for Synchrony merchants. As part of the partnership, Skipify, a Synchrony Ventures portfolio company, will add Synchrony Mastercard to its Connected Wallet product, a digital wallet embedded by merchants to ease many checkout challenges. Skipify's identity-powered wallet recognizes Synchrony cardholders on a merchant's website automatically, autofilling payment details, surfacing available cards, and offering instant access to points, rewards, and Synchrony financing.

09:00 EDT Innodata withdraws proposal to acquire Appen - INNODATA has withdrawn a previously submitted confidential, non-binding, indicative proposal to acquire all the shares of Appen Limited. The Proposal was made public by Appen on March 12, 2024 after the Australian Stock Exchange, at the request of Appen, halted trading in Appen stock and required disclosure of any business activities which impacted recent trading in Appen's stock. Innodata had submitted the Proposal to Appen's board on February 13, 2024, a condition of which was that the Proposal remain confidential. Innodata also confirmed that it believes it remains on track to outperform the 20% revenue growth target it set for 2024.

08:56 EDT CMC Metals cancels private placement, acquisition of Gavilanes Project - CMC Metals announces cancellation of the $1.2 million private placement announced on February 28, 2024 due to the failure of the property owner of the silver-gold-polymetallic Gavilanes project in Durango, Mexico to achieve an extension of the exploration permit with SEMARNAT, Mexico's permitting authority. In addition, CMC has subsequently served notice of its intent to terminate the agreement with Sailfish Royalty Corp. to acquire the Gavilanes project but remains interested in securing exclusivity rights until October 2024. CMC now intends to revert its attention to its flagship Silverknife Property in British Columbia which has considerable exploration potential for high grade silver-lead-zinc carbonate replacement and skarn deposits.

08:51 EDT PodcastOne extends rights, distribution agreement with A+E Networks - PodcastOne has extended its agreement with A+E Networks for the exclusive sales and distribution rights to popular true crime podcasts "Cold Case Files" and "I Survived." As part of the agreement, the two thriving media companies will expand their relationship and introduce two new podcasts based on A&E's long-running television programs, "American Justice" and "City Confidential."

08:49 EDT Expion360 achieves UL 1973 compliance for EX1 SmartTalk Bluetooth batteries - Expion360 announced that its EX1 SmartTalk Bluetooth batteries are now UL 1973 compliant. This significant milestone not only reaffirms Expion360's commitment to safety and innovation but also positions the Company at the forefront of the rapidly growing lithium battery industry.

08:47 EDT Global IT company selects Bridgeline's HawkSearch High-performance Hosting - Bridgeline Digital announced an agreement with a leading global information technology company. The contract, which secures $72 thousand in annual recurring revenue (ARR), will leverage Bridgeline's HawkSearch High-performance Hosting services to enhance the enterprise's websites across the United States and Asia.

08:45 EDT Lilium, Atlantic Aviation partner to electrify regional air mobility - Lilium has teamed up with Atlantic Aviation to prepare Atlantic's network of more than 100 FBOs for the Lilium Jet's regional upcoming air mobility service launch in the United States. This strategic partnership will work to ensure seamless compatibility between the Lilium Jet and Atlantic's network of aviation assets across North America, enabling Advanced Air Mobility operations at current and future locations. Atlantic operates sites at more than 30 airport locations within Lilium's planned launch markets in Florida, Southern California, the Northeast corridor, and Texas. Lilium and Atlantic will focus on infrastructure deployment and operations, with an eye toward passenger experience, at existing and upcoming sites. Strategic planning will revolve around key drivers including aircraft flight paths, charging capabilities, passenger facilities, operations forecasting, and more. This comprehensive approach will ensure Lilium Jet operators have access to strategic points within Atlantic's network of aviation facilities, working to both optimize the passenger experience and usher in a new era of air travel.

08:43 EDT NetSol Technologies signs $12M agreement with global automotive company - NETSOL Technologies signed an agreement with a major global automotive company for its operations in China. The $12 million, five-year contract is for the deployment of NETSOL's premier technology platform NFS Ascent. NETSOL commenced implementation in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and realized a portion of this contract in licensing fees during that quarter.

08:41 EDT Gaxos.AI acquires rights to AI-enabled tech from biohacking app - Gaxos.ai had acquired the rights to use certain AI-enabled technology from a top biohacking app, "Ultiself," in order to facilitate the development of its tech for Gaxos Health. The integration of Ultiself's proprietary technology into Gaxos Health's proposed product offering will enable enhanced customization and user experience aligning with modern-day consumer's demands for custom and efficient solutions. This move is expected to accelerate Gaxos Health's development and help solidify its position in the health and wellness industry. The integration process will commence immediately, with both teams working closely to ensure a smooth transition. Gaxos is committed to leveraging this new technology to provide value to its customers and stakeholders.

08:39 EDT SoundThinking announces seven new customers, expanded coverage areas - SoundThinking announced a total of 7 new customers and expanded coverage areas for its flagship ShotSpotter gunshot detection system. In the first quarter of 2024, the company secured multiple agreements with municipalities implementing ShotSpotter for the first time or significantly increasing their existing coverage areas, while other cities also went live with newly deployed ShotSpotter technology. In New Jersey, 4 municipalities either expanded or went live with ShotSpotter. These include expansions in Paterson, Camden County and Newark, where coverage areas significantly increased. Additionally, Bergen County has implemented ShotSpotter for the first time, further expanding the technology's footprint to 14 total municipalities across the state. These bookings are being funded by a $7 million New Jersey state funding initiative specifically for acoustic gunshot detection in order to improve law enforcement agencies response to community gunfire. This momentum is not limited to the Northeast as SoundThinking has seen growing adoption on the West Coast as well. The city of Lancaster, California recently joined Pico, Hawaiian Gardens, and Pasadena in deploying ShotSpotter's acoustic gunshot detection capabilities in the greater Los Angeles area. Finally, SoundThinking is pleased to announce a new ShotSpotter deployment in New Bern, North Carolina.

08:35 EDT PaxMedica releases lastest company presentation - PaxMedica announced the release of its latest company presentation. This comprehensive overview showcases PaxMedica's strategic direction, recent advancements in ASD therapeutics, and its commitment to addressing unmet needs within the ASD community. The new presentation, available on the PaxMedica website, outlines the company's focused pipeline, including its leading investigational drug, PAX-101. With its approach to targeting the core symptoms of ASD, PaxMedica is leading the way in developing treatments that offer hope to millions of families seeking effective interventions. The presentation details PaxMedica's mission to bridge the gap in ASD treatment options through innovative research and development. It also provides insights into the anticipated company's milestones, upcoming clinical trials, and the broader impact its therapies could have on public health.

08:33 EDT Ocugen announces dosing completion of Cohort 1 in OCU410 Phase 1/2 trial - Ocugen announced that dosing is complete in the first cohort of its Phase 1/2 ArMaDa clinical trial for OCU410, a modifier gene therapy candidate being developed for geographic atrophy, an advanced stage of dry age related macular degeneration. GA affects approximately 1 million people in the United States alone. Up to 13 leading retinal surgery centers across the United States are participating in the ArMaDa clinical trial. The enrollment in the first cohort is now complete and 3 subjects received 200microL single subretinal administration of the low dose of OCU410.

08:28 EDT Fresh Vine says Notes Live chooses McKinney, Texas for ampitheater - Fresh Vine Wine announced that its merger partner Notes Live will build the largest venue in its collection - a 20,000-capacity, world-class $220-million-dollar open-air amphitheater - in McKinney, Texas. One of America's fastest-growing cities and a major hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, McKinney has it all - besides a first-rate place to see a concert - and this amphitheater is going to change that. Called the Sunset Amphitheater, it will put McKinney on the map as a prime touring destination for the biggest national acts coming through the South, and it will also set a new standard for what Texas music venues can be. Bringing this world-class venue to McKinney was a joint effort by the city, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, and the McKinney Community Development Corporation. Sited to be built just northeast of U.S. 75 and S.H. 121, at the Sunset Amphitheater, every seat will be comfortable with a direct sightline to the stage, the sound will be crystal clear, the food and drinks will be gourmet, and the views when the sun is setting over the stage will be breathtaking. Modeled after Notes Live's thriving food and music center in Colorado Springs, the project will be built over 46 acres and will feature over 250 luxury fire pit suites, traditionally reserved seating, a landscaped grass berm and custom-built Owners Club suites.

08:26 EDT Orchestra BioMed announces presentations on Virtue SAB, AVIM therapy - Orchestra BioMed Holdings announced two oral presentations were given at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies 2024 Meeting in Washington, D.C. One presentation featured new preclinical pharmacokinetic data on Virtue Sirolimus AngioInfusion Balloon, a novel drug-eluting balloon angioplasty system designed to deliver a proprietary, extended-release formulation of sirolimus, SirolimusEFR to the vessel wall during balloon angioplasty without any coating on the balloon surface. A second presentation featured recently reported clinical data on atrioventricular interval modulation therapy, an investigational therapy delivered via standard dual-chamber pacemakers designed to immediately, substantially and persistently lower blood pressure. The AVIM presentation also outlined the design of the currently enrolling BACKBEAT global pivotal study evaluating AVIM therapy in hypertensive pacemaker patients in collaboration with Medtronic. Virtue SAB Oral Presentation, presented by Dean Kereiakes, M.D., President and Medical Director of The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute and Professor of Clinical Medicine at The Ohio State University: Dr. Kereiakes' presentation, focused on the role of drug-coated and drug-eluting balloon angioplasty systems for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis, outlined key points of differentiation and potential advantages for Virtue SAB, including: No surface drug coating and, therefore, no drug loss in-transit to a target arterial lesion or creation of large particulates during balloon inflation; Focal uptake and extended release of sirolimus at tissue concentrations greater than the 1 ng/mg tissue concentration known to be required for effective control of cellular proliferation through the critical healing period. Supported by published preclinical data of over 750 coronary artery balloon treatments; New preclinical PK data demonstrating that SostenocelTM, the proprietary polymer system enabling Virtue SAB's SirolimusEFR, was shown to be eliminated in SirolimusEFR-treated stented arteries without detectable degradation, which can lead to localized tissue inflammation. Specifically, the presented PK data showed that: Sostenocel was undetectable at 90 days in treated arteries and at 3 days in all non-target tissues; Molecular weight of Sostenocel remained unchanged prior to elimination, showing no evidence of in-vivo degradation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Orchestra BioMed a conditional Investigational Device Exemption to initiate the Virtue ISR-US pivotal study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Virtue SAB for the treatment of patients with coronary ISR. Orchestra BioMed and Terumo, the Company's strategic partner for the development and commercialization of Virtue SAB in coronary and peripheral artery disease, are currently working to update operational plans and financial arrangements for execution of this and other pivotal studies in the future. AVIM Therapy Oral Presentation, presented by Dan Burkhoff, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Heart Failure, Hemodynamics, and MCS Research, Cardiovascular Research Foundation: Dr. Burkhoff presented an overview of the AVIM therapy program in hypertensive pacemaker patients, including: The BACKBEAT global pivotal study design; Recently reported clinical results from a long-term follow-up study showing sustained reductions of 8.9 mmHg in 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure at a mean of 3.6 years from treatment activation in AVIM-treated patients; Results from a new clinical study evaluating the impact of AVIM therapy compared to standard pacing using invasive pressure-volume loop analysis in 16 hypertensive pacemaker-indicated patients. AVIM therapy demonstrated: Consistent favorable hemodynamic effects using both conduction system, as well as traditional right ventricular lead placements. Statistically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, intra-cardiac volumes, total peripheral resistance and stroke work, with no significant changes in stroke volume or contractility. Orchestra BioMed is actively enrolling patients in the BACKBEAT global pivotal study of AVIM therapy in pacemaker-indicated patients who also have hypertension despite the use of antihypertensive medications.

08:22 EDT BranchOut Food to debut new products at Natural Products Expo West - BranchOut Food will debut a brand refresh and launch two new product lines at its exhibit at the Natural Products Expo West, held in Anaheim, CA from March 13-15, 2024. This year's Expo expects to host more than 100,000 attendees and will showcase the newest natural and organic products in foods and beverages, clean beauty and home products, supplements and ingredients. Natural Products Expo West is the industry's largest trade show and works to satisfy consumer demand for products that align with their values, while supporting retailers looking to find the newest trending products to bring to store shelves.

08:20 EDT authID, Verified partner to launch 1-Click identity verification - authID and Verified announced a partnership to launch 1-Click identity verification. Through the convergence of authID's patented biometric identity platform and Verified Inc.'s identity wallet, the companies jointly provide instant, secure, and automated customer onboarding with the highest identity assurance.

08:19 EDT Imunon files IND application to begin human testing of IMNN-101 - MUNON filed an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for IMNN-101 for a Phase 1 clinical study with a seasonal COVID-19 booster vaccine. Following acceptance by the FDA, enrollment in this human proof-of-concept study is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024. IMNN-101 utilizes the company's PlaCCine platform, a proprietary mono- or multi-valent DNA plasmid that controls the expression of pathogen antigens and is delivered via a non-viral synthetic DNA delivery system. The primary objectives of the Phase 1 study are to evaluate the vaccine safety, tolerability and neutralizing antibody response and its durability in healthy adults. The secondary objectives of the study are to evaluate the ability of the IMNN-101 vaccine to elicit IgG and T-cell responses and their durability. Based on reported preclinical data, durability of immune expression is expected to demonstrate superiority over published mRNA vaccine data. As currently planned, the Phase 1 study will enroll 24 subjects evaluating three escalating doses of IMNN-101. IMMN-101 for this study has been designed to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB1.5 variant in accordance with the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee's June 2023 announcement of the framework for updated COVID-19 doses.

08:16 EDT LivePerson and Infinity announce partnership - LivePerson and Infinity announced a partnership to help brands better personalize digital experiences through the power of conversational data and intelligence. The new partnership drives enhanced personalization and measurable ROI by making it easy to connect attribution data across voice calls and digital messaging conversations. This bi-directional attribution - inclusive of conversations handled with AI and automation - makes it easier to understand a customer's end-to-end, omnichannel journey with a brand.

08:16 EDT Booking Holdings, Peerspace form new partnership - Peerspace announced a new partnership with Booking.com to help event organizers bring their visions to life. Any event organizer who books a venue on Peerspace, plus all of their confirmed attendees, will now receive an exclusive discount on hotels and rental cars on Booking.com. This discount applies to any Peerspace customer who has a confirmed production, meeting, or event booking, and invites their attendees through the Peerspace platform. This discount is valid for customers in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the U.K., and Spain.

08:14 EDT Metals Company 'commends' Congress on RUSRA bill - TMC the metals company welcomed the introduction of legislation by members of the House of Representatives calling for the U.S. to "support international governance of seafloor resource exploration and responsible polymetallic nodule collection by allied partners" and to "provide financial, diplomatic, or other forms of support for seafloor nodule collection, processing and refining." Sponsors of the bill, entitled the Responsible Use of Seafloor Resources Act, find that the "United States is falling behind in competitiveness within supply chains for critical defense and clean energy technologies", and recognize that "the collection of seafloor nodules is integral to ensuring the United States does not continue its over-dependence" on adversarial nations. Gerard Barron, Chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said, "With commercial deep-sea nodule operations expected to begin soon, Congressional action to lay the foundation for processing and refining this remarkable resource is a game-changer. Additionally, we eagerly await the forthcoming Pentagon report on nodules as directed by the House Armed Services Committee. The Pentagon's ability and willingness to support a feasibility study for a domestic refinery could help establish mineral independence for the U.S. in nickel, cobalt and manganese. The rising wave of support within Congress gives me confidence that there are multiple pathways for the country to support and potentially fund allied supply of nodule-derived critical minerals." The bill, introduced by Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV) and John Joyce (R-PA), notes: "Investing in the development of mineral resources and processing infrastructure quantitatively proven to reduce ESG impacts, such as seafloor nodules, is integral to ensuring the raw materials that underpin our domestic industrial base and transition to clean energy do not have adverse planetary impacts." In addition to TMC, the bill is endorsed by the National Ocean Industries Association, the Breakthrough Institute, the Critical Ocean Minerals Research Center, Deep Reach Technology, Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc., Global Seabed Resources NV, Ocean Minerals LLC, Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. and Moana Minerals.

08:10 EDT BeiGene announces first doses of Brukinsa administered - BeiGene announced that the first doses of Brukinsa have been administered for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, to patients in Armenia and Nepal, as part of a three-year collaboration to provide access to the medicine in 29 low- and middle-income countries.

08:07 EDT CalciMedica presented preclinical data from studies of Auxora in acute AKI - CalciMedica presented data from preclinical studies of Auxora in acute kidney injury, or AKI, at the 29th International Acute Kidney Injury and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Conference, or AKI & CRRT, in San Diego, CA. David Basile, Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology at Indiana University, gave an oral and poster presentation entitled "The Store-Operated Calcium Channel Inhibitor Auxora Improves Renal Function Following Ischemia-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Rats." "At AKI & CRRT, Prof. Basile discussed the most recent preclinical study of Auxora in an acute kidney injury model that used a treatment regimen of three daily doses of drug started six hours after ischemic injury, which resembles the dosing in our clinical protocol. The positive results from this study build on prior preclinical data and indicate that inhibiting Orai1 activity in an AKI model improves kidney function," said Kenneth Stauderman, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CalciMedica. AKI is a serious acute critical illness and denotes a sudden reduction in kidney function, or the organ's ability to clean and filter the blood, that results from a complication of critical illness. These animal model studies support observations from CalciMedica's clinical trials, particularly CARDEA, the Company's Phase 2 trial in patients with severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia, where AKI was a relatively common co-morbidity or a common sequela of the disease. Compared to placebo-treated patients, Auxora-treated patients in CARDEA had lower levels of key biomarkers associated with kidney injury, lower incidence of treatment-emergent AKI and reduced mortality in those patients with decreased kidney function at the time of treatment.

08:05 EDT vTv Therapeutics expects cash to fund operations through Phase 3 study data - The Company's cash position as of December 31, 2023, was $9.4 million compared to $12.1 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company believes that its cash position, including the proceeds of the $51 million private placement completed on February 28, 2024, will be sufficient to fund operations through the release of top-line data from its first Phase 3 study of cadisegliatin.

08:03 EDT NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals cleared to continue Phase 2a trial of DA-1241 - NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals announced receipt of Safety Review Committee approval, recommending that the two-part Phase 2a trial of DA-1241, a novel G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 119 agonist for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, continue without modification following a blinded safety review of the first six months of study conduct. The Phase 2a clinical trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DA-1241, for the treatment of MASH. The company anticipates a full data readout from the trial in the second half of 2024. "The SRC's recommendation that the trial continue without modification based on no findings of significant adverse safety trends during the first six months of study conduct, is an early indication of the safety of our most advanced cardiometabolic asset, DA-1241, for patients with presumed MASH, a disease with no currently approved treatment options," stated Hyung Heon Kim, President and CEO of NeuroBo. "Based on the pre-clinical and clinical evidence generated to date, DA-1241 has demonstrated reduced hepatic steatosis, hepatic inflammation and liver fibrosis, while also improving glucose control, and was shown to be well tolerated in both healthy volunteers and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We continue to believe that the mechanism of action of DA-1241 will translate into a safe and effective treatment for MASH and look forward to another blinded SRC analysis once the first 50% of patients have been randomized and dosed."

08:01 EDT AB Science announces publication of results for masitinib - AB Science announced the publication of new preclinical results for masitinib in neurodegenerative diseases. Findings have been published on the bioRxiv preprint service as an article entitled, 'Masitinib limits neuronal damage, as measured by serum neurofilament light chain concentration, in a model of neuroimmune-driven neurodegenerative disease'. This article is freely accessible online from the bioRxiv site. The neuroprotective action of masitinib was studied in an animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalitis. EAE is a model of neuroimmune-driven chronic neuroinflammation and importantly, neuronal damage, or prevention thereof, can be rapidly assessed by measuring serum neurofilament light chain concentration in EAE-induced mice. Results showed that masitinib can significantly lower serum NfL levels, and by extension therefore, neuronal damage, in a neuroimmune-driven neurodegenerative disease model, with concomitant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines and slowing of clinical symptoms. Key points from this research article include: Masitinib treatment significantly limited NfL production in EAE mice with respect to the control group, at various timepoints during the 15-day treatment period and in a dose dependent manner. Masitinib significantly lowered several well-established pro-inflammatory cytokine biomarker concentrations in EAE mice. A beneficial effect of masitinib on functional performance was also observed, with significantly less relative deterioration in grip strength as compared with the control group. The measurement of NfL in biological fluids has been proposed for monitoring the therapeutic effect of drugs aimed at reducing axonal damage in various NDDs, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. EAE is a model of neuroimmune-driven chronic neuroinflammation and therefore highly relevant to masitinib's mechanism of action in NDDs. Data was derived after disease onset, which is of greater relevance because such models more closely simulate the clinical condition of NDD patients and therefore better represent their therapeutic needs.

07:51 EDT ARway announces new student plan subscriptions - ARway.ai announced multiple new student plan subscriptions with universities around the globe. As part of these new global student plan subscriptions, senior post-secondary students, masters students and Ph.D students enrolled in accredited educational institutions will have access to the ARway Student Plan. These students have funding from their universities for specific courses and advanced degrees including computer science, spatial computing, and more. This plan, designed to enhance their research and educational experiences, requires a valid student ID and student email for enrollment. The ARway Student Plan offers a comprehensive suite of ARway's innovative tools and resources and is valid for 6 months from the activation date, providing students ample time to explore the possibilities of augmented reality in their academic pursuits.

07:49 EDT Jacobs selected as subcontractor for MacDill Air Force Base support services - Jacobs was awarded as the major subcontractor and supporting partner to the $249M contract for the Chugach Logistics and Facility Services Joint Venture, for MacDill Air Force Base support services. Under this contract, Jacobs will perform facility engineering, asset management and planning services for MacDill, leveraging critical expertise to deploy its intelligent asset management framework by improving operational availability and enhancing the sustainability of critical infrastructure at MacDill. The project work is expected to be completed by February 2034.

07:45 EDT Aclara Resources announces up to $80M investment by CAP - Aclara Resources has entered into an investment agreement with CAP pursuant to which, amongst other things, CAP will make a $29 million strategic investment in REE Uno SpA, Aclara's Chilean subsidiary, which owns the Penco Module. Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, CAP also has an option to invest an additional US$50 million in REE Uno and a three-year option to subscribe a 19.9% interest in Aclara, and the parties have also agreed to form a joint venture company to develop metals and alloys for the rare earths permanent magnet industry. The Transaction reflects the parties' shared view that the future will require innovative mineral extraction methods, a strong focus on environmental and social sustainability, and the understanding that our planet requires cleanly produced rare earths metals in its urgent fight against climate change. A US$29.1 million capital contribution by CAP into REE Uno, Aclara's Chilean subsidiary which owns the Penco Module and all of Aclara's mining concessions in Chile, in exchange for a 20% equity participation in REE Uno. Payments will be made in three tranches with the initial tranche of US$9.7 million to be made upon closing of the Transaction, the second payment of US$12.5 million in January 2025 and the remaining balance of US$6.9 million to be made in January 2026. This initial investment represents a pre-money valuation of REE Uno of US$116.5 million. An option to invest an additional US$50 million in REE Uno for an additional 20% equity interest in REE Uno once the requisite environmental permit is secured for the Penco Module. Upon completion, this additional investment would allow CAP to attain a 40% equity interest in REE Uno. This second investment represents a pre-money valuation of REE Uno of US$150 million. A three-year option to invest up to 19.9% in Aclara by participating in any private placement or public offering of shares that Aclara may make during the next 36 months, including a residual top-up right to maintain pro rata voting rights. Any subscription to such private placement or public offering will be made on the same terms offered by Aclara to other investors. CAP will have the right to nominate one board member upon attaining and for so long as its equity interest in Aclara amount to at least 15% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Aclara. In addition, CAP holds a one-time demand subscription right to invest up to an aggregate of 19.9% in Aclara, exercisable upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and continuing for a maximum period of 18 months counted from the end of the initial 3-year option. The formation of a 50/50 joint venture to develop metals and alloys for the rare earths permanent magnet industry. CAP will invest US$3.0 million in exchange for its 50% of the shares of the newly established joint venture company. Aclara will own the other 50% of the shares. Closing of the Transaction is subject to the performance of certain customary closing conditions, which the parties expect to complete within the next 30 days.

07:42 EDT Ur-Energy to build out Shirley Basin Mine - Ur-Energy announces the decision to build out the wholly owned, fully permitted and licensed Shirley Basin Project in Carbon County, Wyoming. This decision was based on our growing uranium sales contract book, a strong uranium market price, and an expectation of growing demand for uranium as nations increasingly move toward clean nuclear power. The satellite plant will be designed with a flow rate of up to 6,000 gallons per minute and capacity to produce up to 1.0 million pounds of U3O8 per year. Ur-Energy's permits and license allow for the construction of the elution, precipitation and drying circuits should it become economically advantageous. No amendments to the existing permits or licenses would be required. The satellite plant will be a relatively low-cost facility consisting of ion exchange, wastewater and groundwater restoration circuits. The ion exchange resin at Shirley Basin will be loaded with uranium from the mine and shipped to the Company's operating Lost Creek ISR Facility for processing before being recycled back into operations at Shirley Basin. This satellite approach will help minimize initial facility capital costs to approximately $24.4 million and pre-operational wellfield development costs to $16.3 million. Sustaining capital expenditures over the life of the project are estimated to be $9.2 million. Operating expenditures before taxes and royalties are estimated to be $24.40 per pound. The royalty burden is minimal and is estimated to be $0.05 per pound U3O8. A detailed economic analysis can be found in the Technical Report Summary "Shirley Basin ISR Uranium Project, Carbon County, Wyoming, USA" as amended, March 11, 2024, that was filed with the Company's 10-K/A Annual Report for 2023, March 12, 2024. The estimated time to finalize designs, order materials and construct the satellite plant and initial wellfield is approximately 24 months. Work has already been initiated on long-lead items and, as a result, the ion exchange vessels have been designed and ordered as our Board approved their purchase.

07:36 EDT Tilt Holdings enters brand partnership with LEVEL - TILT Holdings announced a new brand partnership to distribute LEVEL's targeted, effects-based infused tablets to patients in Pennsylvania. Beginning in April, TILT will roll out LEVEL's signature PROTAB 25mg 10-count box, and PROTAB 100TM 100mg 10-count pack. PROTABs provide a classic high formulated by combining THC and terpenoids, and include Sativa, Indica, and hybrid varieties to target the mind and body. Later this year, the Company has plans to roll out LEVEL's cannabinoid enhanced PROTAB+ tablets.

07:35 EDT Agrify enters turnkey extraction equipment deal with Justice Cannabis - Agrify Corporation announced the signing of a Turnkey Hydrocarbon Extraction and Lab Equipment Package with Justice Cannabis Co., a licensed multi-state operator with 14 dispensaries around the Country now expanding into the New Jersey market. Justice Cannabis has purchased Agrify's Turnkey Hydrocarbon Extraction and Lab Equipment Package, which includes a X10 Hydrocarbon Extractor, Filtration Equipment, a Solvent Recovery System, a 20L Decarboxylation Package, a Diamond-Miner, and a Thin-Film Distillation System. In addition, Justice Cannabis has also purchased Agrify's UL-Compliant C1D1 Explosion Proof Room to operate and extract quality products in. Agrify's safe and easy to install C1D1/C1D2 extraction rooms are designed to be easily set up in less than one day and are equipped with a PSI technical report certification for professional engineers to field verify in all 50 states.

07:33 EDT Guru Organic Energy unveils new website, brand design - GURU Organic Energy announced the launch of its redesigned website featuring a sleeker interface, simplified navigation, and an overall enhanced user experience. This includes an improved subscription program that offers more choices to consumers and is easier to navigate and customize. The website also showcases GURU's upcoming newly-design cans, as part of its evolving branding strategy.

07:32 EDT Dollar Tree falls 8% to $138 after Q4 results missed estimates - The mid point of the company's FY24 guidance also trailed consensus.

07:28 EDT NovaBay, Eyenovia to co-promote prescription ophthalmic products - NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NBY) and Eyenovia (EYEN) announced the signing of a co-promotion agreement to commercialize prescription ophthalmic products to eyecare professionals across the U.S. Under the agreement, NovaBay will market Eyenovia's clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05%, a steroid indicated for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery, through its U.S. physician-dispensed channel. Eyenovia will market NovaBay's prescription Avenova Antimicrobial Lid & Lash Solution through its Mydcombi and Clobetasol sales representatives strategically located across the U.S. Clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05%, developed by Formosa Pharmaceuticals, was granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval on March 4, 2024, based on clinical results showing nearly nine out of ten patients achieving complete absence of post-surgical pain and six out of ten achieving total absence of inflammation within 15 days post-ocular surgery. Eyenovia acquired the U.S. commercial rights to clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05% from Formosa Pharmaceuticals in August 2023. Clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05% is expected to receive a tradename as soon as this summer.

07:26 EDT Tilray introduces CBG-infused non-alcoholic seltzers - Tilray Brands announced the expansion of its cannabis beverage portfolio with the latest release by its MOLLO brand, introducing a lineup of new cannabis-infused non-alcoholic seltzers featuring the qualities of high cannabigerol minor cannabinoid content, reminiscent of consumer favourite go-to low ABV beverages. Mollo's seltzers will be available nationwide in select retailers starting next month.

07:23 EDT IBM 'applauds' EU Parliament's approval of EU AI Act - IBM applauds the EU Parliament's decision to adopt the EU AI Act, a significant milestone in establishing responsible AI regulation in the European Union. The EU AI Act provides a much-needed framework for ensuring transparency, accountability, and human oversight in developing and deploying AI technologies. While important work must be done to ensure the Act is successfully implemented, IBM believes the regulation will foster trust and confidence in AI systems while promoting innovation and competitiveness. "I commend the EU for its leadership in passing comprehensive, smart AI legislation. The risk-based approach aligns with IBM's commitment to ethical AI practices and will contribute to building open and trustworthy AI ecosystems," said Christina Montgomery, Vice President and Chief Privacy & Trust Officer at IBM. "IBM stands ready to lend our technology and expertise - including our watsonx.governance product - to help our clients and other stakeholders comply with the EU AI Act and upcoming legislation worldwide so we can all unlock the incredible potential of responsible AI."

07:22 EDT Century Aluminum, MX Holdings to form JV for low carbon secondary billet - MX Holdings and Century Aluminum have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a new joint venture focusing on the manufacture and marketing of low-carbon secondary billet. This new organization will deliver expertly engineered and technically advanced alloys, composed of increasingly high levels of recycled content produced with low-carbon processes. The company expects to begin initial production in 2026, ultimately scaling output to 250 million pounds per year. This new venture will be the largest American-owned secondary billet supplier, worldwide. The leadership team is currently considering several locations for the facility in the Ohio Valley region.

07:18 EDT Bread Financial reports February net loss rate 8.9% vs. 7.8% last year - Reports end-of-period credit card and other loans $18.4B vs. $18.1B last year. Reports delinquency rate 6.7% vs. 6% last year.

07:15 EDT Fits Cargo Partners with WebCargo by Freightos - Freightos announced a partnership of WebCargo by Freightos with Fits Cargo, an innovative carrier that combines a physical airline operation and interline agreements with over 160 airlines. This collaboration enables Fits Cargo to extend its service across WebCargo's extensive network of thousands of freight forwarders and dozens of airline carriers. Based in Sri Lanka, Fits Cargo flies over 4 million kilograms of air freight annually, with a direct presence in Dubai, India, Hong Kong and the Maldives, as well as GSA and CSA's set up in over 70 countries. They have begun offering capacity to freight forwarders on WebCargo's platform on popular lanes, such as Chennai - Colombo, Colombo - Dubai and India - selected destinations worldwide.

07:12 EDT Silence Therapeutics announces ALPACAR-360 met primary endpoint - Silence Therapeutics announced topline 36-week data from the ongoing ALPACAR-360 phase 2 study of zerlasiran in 178 subjects with baseline lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), levels at or over 125 nmol/L at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, events. Zerlasiran is a siRNA designed to lower the body's production of Lp(a), a key genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease affecting up to 20% of the world's population. In the double-blind placebo-controlled treatment period, zerlasiran was administered at 300 mg subcutaneously every 16 or 24 weeks and 450 mg every 24 weeks to patients with a median baseline Lp(a) of approximately 215 nmol/L. These data demonstrated a highly significant reduction from baseline in Lp(a) compared to placebo to 36 weeks. Median percentage reduction in Lp(a) of 90% or greater were observed for both doses at week 36. No new safety concerns were identified during this treatment period. The 60-week study is ongoing and secondary endpoints, including change in Lp(a) from baseline to 48 weeks, 60 weeks and potential effects on other lipids/lipoproteins, will be evaluated. Silence plans to report topline 48-week data from the ALPACAR-360 study in the second quarter of this year.

07:12 EDT Church & Dwight selects Rockwell Automation for 'cybersecurity resilience' - Rockwell Automation (ROK) announced it has been selected by Church & Dwight (CHD) to strengthen the consumer goods company's cybersecurity program. Church & Dwight chose Rockwell specifically to help build resiliency and minimize risks in its operational technology OT manufacturing security practices. The number of cyberattacks against manufacturing and critical infrastructure continues to rise. A recent report found critical manufacturing was one of the most frequently attacked verticals in the OT/industrial control system ICS sector. With several global consumer brands under its umbrella, Church & Dwight recognized the critical impact and importance of a strong OT security posture and enlisted Rockwell. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of its manufacturing risk profile by identifying critical assets, vulnerabilities and security gaps. After examining and prioritizing risk, Rockwell collaborated with Church & Dwight to develop a remediation roadmap, new security policies, and other measures to minimize risks. "We selected Rockwell Automation because we were looking for a new partner to help us uplevel our OT and manufacturing security posture. We knew we needed the best of the best who understood our vision," said David Ortiz, chief information security officer CISO at Church & Dwight. "Throughout our work with Rockwell Automation on our OT cybersecurity program, we've gained a thorough understanding of our cybersecurity landscape and the tools needed."

07:10 EDT Ionis announces results from Phase 2 study of ION224 - Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from a Phase 2 study of ION224, an investigational DGAT2 antisense inhibitor in development for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, previously referred to as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. The study met its primary endpoint at both doses, achieving liver histologic improvement, and also met the important secondary endpoint of MASH resolution. Key highlights from the 160-patient study at 51 weeks included: ION224 achieved statistically significant liver histologic improvement as measured by at least a 2-point reduction in NAFLD Activity Score, or NAS; dubgroup analysis indicated that significant improvements in the primary endpoint were observed in patients with both F2 and F3 fibrosis; ION224 achieved statistically significant MASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis, as measured by biopsy; 44% of patients treated with 120 mg achieved greater than or equal to50% relative reduction in liver steatosis as measured by MRI-PDFF compared to 3% for placebo; 32% of patients treated with 120 mg achieved a greater than or equal to1 stage improvement in fibrosis without worsening steatohepatitis as measured by biopsy compared to 12.5% for placebo; ION224 was safe and well-tolerated in the study. ION224 is an investigational LIgand-Conjugated Antisense medicine designed to reduce the production of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 to treat patients with MASH.

07:09 EDT Novartis acquires IFM Due - IFM Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system, announced that Novartis has exercised its option to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of IFM Due, a subsidiary company of IFM. Launched in February 2019, with a focus on developing small molecules that inhibit the cGAS-STING pathway, the company entered into an option and collaboration agreement with Novartis in September, 2019 whereby Novartis made fixed payments sufficient to fully finance IFM Due's research and development costs for the cGAS-STING program in exchange for the option to acquire the IFM Due subsidiary. Under the terms of the option exercise, IFM received $90M in upfront payment and will be eligible for up to $745M in milestone payments, adding up to $835M in total consideration.

07:08 EDT Entrada Therapeutics expects cash to fund requirements through 2Q26 - Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $352.0 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $188.7 million as of December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to the proceeds received to date from the Vertex Agreement. Entrada anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2023, together with ongoing research support and the anticipated achievement of certain milestones pursuant to the Vertex collaboration, will be sufficient to fund the Company's operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the second quarter of 2026.

07:07 EDT FDA grants PureTech Health an ODD to LYT-200 for AML treatment - PureTech Health announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has granted orphan drug designation to LYT-200 for the treatment of AML. "The current long-term survival rates of patients with relapsed or refractory AML are very poor, and there remains a tremendous unmet need for more effective therapies," said Amir Fathi, MD, Director of the Leukemia Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and lead investigator of the trial. LYT-200 is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody or mAb, targeting galectin-9, a potent oncogenic driver in leukemia cells and an immunosuppressive protein. LYT-200 has demonstrated direct cytotoxic, anti-leukemic effects through multiple mechanisms and is being developed as a potential novel treatment for hematological malignancies, such as relapsed/refractory AML and high-risk MDS, as well as locally advanced/metastatic solid tumors that have poor survival rates, including head and neck cancers. LYT-200 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial in relapsed/refractory AML and MDS, both as a single agent and in combination with standard-of-care venetoclax and hypomethylating agents HMA. Initial findings from this trial were announced in 2023, and additional data are expected to be presented in a scientific forum in 2024. "Orphan drug designation from the FDA validates our belief that targeting galectin-9 with LYT-200 is a novel, promising approach that may offer patients a better tolerated, more effective treatment," notes Aleksandra Filipovic, MD, PhD, Head of Oncology at PureTech.

07:04 EDT Archer Daniels announces $1B accelerated share repurchase program - ADM announced that it has entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with delayed share delivery with Merrill Lynch International, an affiliate of BofA Securities, Inc., to repurchase $1B of ADM's common stock.

06:52 EDT Fiserv names Ajei Gopal to Board of Directors - Fiserv (FI) announced the appointment of Ajei Gopal to its board of directors. Gopal has served as president and CEO of engineering simulation solution provider Ansys (ANSS) since 2017, helping accelerate the company's growth and revenues both organically and through strategic acquisitions. He joined the company in 2016 as president and COO and has served as a director since 2011.

06:40 EDT Dollar Tree expects to close ~600 Family Dollar stores in 1H24 - "During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company announced that it had initiated a comprehensive store portfolio optimization review which involved identifying stores for closure, relocation, or re-bannering based on an evaluation of current market conditions and individual store performance, among other factors. As a result of this review, we plan on closing approximately 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of fiscal 2024. Additionally, approximately 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores will close over the next several years at the end of each store's current lease term. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we incurred $594.4 million of charges in connection with the store portfolio review. Additionally, we incurred a goodwill impairment charge of $1.07 billion and a trade name intangible asset impairment charge of $950 million."

06:35 EDT Dollar Tree expects to close ~600 Dollar stores in 1H24 - "During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company announced that it had initiated a comprehensive store portfolio optimization review which involved identifying stores for closure, relocation, or re-bannering based on an evaluation of current market conditions and individual store performance, among other factors. As a result of this review, we plan on closing approximately 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of fiscal 2024. Additionally, approximately 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores will close over the next several years at the end of each store's current lease term. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we incurred $594.4 million of charges in connection with the store portfolio review. Additionally, we incurred a goodwill impairment charge of $1.07 billion and a trade name intangible asset impairment charge of $950 million."

06:05 EDT Greenwich LifeSciences extends lock-up of directors and officers - Greenwich LifeSciences announced that its Board of Directors has extended the lock-up of the shares owned by the Company's directors, officers, and existing pre-IPO investors to June 30, 2025 which is approximately 57 months from date of the Company's IPO. During this period, current officers, directors and certain shareholders will not be able to sell their shares of the Company's common stock unless otherwise modified by the Board of Directors.

06:02 EDT Cybin receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for CYB003 - Cybin announced that the FDA has granted BTD to CYB003, its proprietary deuterated psilocybin analog in development for the adjunctive treatment of MDD. If approved by the FDA, CYB003 would be the first known adjunctive psychedelic-based therapeutic for the treatment of MDD. The company also announced that its Phase 2 trial of CYB003 in MDD demonstrated robust and sustained improvement in depression symptoms at four months with 75% of participants receiving two 16mg doses achieving remission and no longer showing signs of depression. These significant milestones reflect the company's commitment to advancing cutting-edge treatment options for MDD, marking a transformational moment in the pursuit of regulatory approval.

05:31 EDT Tesla falls $2.64 to $174.90 after Wells Fargo downgrade to sell

05:24 EDT Standard Lithium installs DLE column at Demonstration Plant in Arkansas - Standard Lithium announced that it has successfully installed a commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction, or DLE, column at its Demonstration Plant near El Dorado, Arkansas. The column is a LiPRO Lithium Selective Sorption unit, supplied by Koch Technology Solutions.

05:14 EDT Pfizer announces EC grants marketing authorization for Prevenar 20 - Pfizer announced that the European Commission, or EC, has granted marketing authorization for the company's 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, marketed in the European Union under the brand name Prevenar 20, for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia and acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants, children and adolescents from six weeks to less than 18 years of age.

05:05 EDT HII receives order to build REMUS 620 - HII has received an order for a REMUS 620 unmanned underwater vehicle, or UUV, from an international customer in the Indo-Pacific Region. The customized, medium-class REMUS 620 UUV will be built and delivered in 2024 by HII's Mission Technologies division and will be used for monitoring and data collection missions. Unveiled in 2022, the REMUS 620 has a battery life of up to 110 hours and a range of 275 nautical miles.