(Image via Theralase Technologies Inc.)
Clinical-stage pharmaceutical company
Theralase Technologies Inc. (TSX-V: TLT, Forum) has demonstrated proof-of-concept for its Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine.
In collaboration with the University of Manitoba (UM), the company demonstrated that its photodynamic compound (PDC),
TLD-1433, was effective in the rapid destruction of various viruses, including H1N1 Influenza, Zika, and a Biological Safety Level-2 coronavirus.
Further research with UM also identified that the spike protein responsible for coronavirus transmission into a host cell remained intact after light-activated TLD-1433 inactivation, suggesting that the PDC could potentially stimulate an antibody immune response in a mammalian host.
Dedicated to the research and development of light-activated photodynamic compounds, the company and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory are currently collaborating on a COVID-19 vaccine by inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus with light-activated TLD-1433.
The partners are reporting that the light-activated compound was effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 by up to 99.99% compared to the control in an in-vitro study.
The result has laid the groundwork for evaluating if the vaccine prevents animals from contracting COVID-19.
“Based on this encouraging data,” stated Arkady Mandel, Theralase’s Interim CEO, “the company intends to move forward in the research, development and commercialization of the Theralase COVID-19 vaccine.”
Global cannabis lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company
Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY, Forum) announced the launch of
Tilray Medical this week, a global medical platform that unifies the company’s medical cannabis brands.
Denise Faltischek, Head of International and Chief Strategy Officer commented on the launch.
“Tilray is the global leader in the advancement of cannabinoid-based medicine, with a focus on providing research-backed medical cannabis products to physicians, pharmacies, and patients. By unifying the global medical divisions of Tilray and Aphria under a cohesive strategy and mission, Tilray Medical emerges as the premier global supplier of a portfolio of high-quality, effective medical cannabis brands and products for patients in need around the world.”
Under the Tilray Medical consolidation, patients in Canada will have the broadest access to Tilray’s medical cannabis brands and product choices globally, including Tilray, Aphria, Broken Coast, and Symbios.
Subject to local regulatory approvals, Tilray Medical’s global portfolio of medical cannabis products includes high-quality and GMP-certified flower, oils, vapes, edibles, and topicals.
Looking ahead, Tilray Medical will continue to expand its offering to patients worldwide.
Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSX-V:RHT, Forum) specializes in developing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions for remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and care collaboration. Reliq’s iUGO Care platform supports care coordination and community-based virtual healthcare. iUGO Care provides real-time access to remote patient monitoring data, allowing for timely interventions by the care team to prevent costly hospital readmissions and ER visits.
Reliq Health announced this week that it had signed
three new contracts with orthopaedic practices in Texas and California.
“The demand for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring for orthopaedic patients continues to grow beyond our expectations,” said Dr. Lisa Crossley, CEO of Reliq Health.
“With Medicare’s recent expansion of their virtual care programs to include Remote Therapeutic Monitoring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, clinicians are now able to use our iUGO Care platform to track vital signs, movement and medication adherence, update care plans, deliver content including videos of prescribed exercises, coordinate care with allied health providers such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists and conduct virtual visits with their patients who have musculoskeletal issues. We are very pleased to be adding three new orthopaedic practices to our platform. These practices are expected to add over 2,000 new patients to Reliq’s iUGO Care platform this year. These new clients will be using Reliq’s iUGO Care Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) and Principal Care Management (PCM) software to provide proactive virtual care for their osteoarthritis patients. We expect to begin onboarding new patients this month and to generate revenues of over $50 per patient per month through these contracts.”
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX-V.PYR, Forum) and
HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. (TSX-V: HPQ, Forum) have signed an
NDA to produce silicon material.
The identity of the third company and other parties involved is confidential. HPQ will make the dedicated samples using material produced by the PUREVAP Quartz Reduction Reactor pilot plant. The plant is scheduled to start producing at the end of Q1 2022. What is known is that the 4N silicon material will be tested for usage as a potential feedstock for the manufacturing of silicon nitride ceramics.
In 2018, HPQ was advised that silicon nitride was one of the specialty materials that needed 4N silicon in its manufacturing.
Silicon nitride is used in advanced high-tech materials to make components with specific requirements such as electrical insulators, resistant to wetting by non-ferrous metal melts, and able to withstand corrosive and high wear environments.
All these properties must be maintained at high temperatures. Silicon nitrate can also be found in wind turbines, bicycles, and high-end cars.
Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon, commented,
“High Purity Silicon’s (4n+) potential is undeniable… we are still in the early stages and will continue to apply the methodical approach that has put us in this position, with this sample request confirming the potential for new and exciting advances by HPQ in the high purity silicon space.”
A technology-focused company with exposure to Artificial Intelligence and machine learning,
Datametrex AI Ltd. (TSX-V:DM, Forum) has graduated from Tier 2 to
Tier 1 on the TSX Venture Exchange.
The company also reports that it has completed initial work on the development of an app that utilizes its proprietary AI engine to address the growing EV charging market.
Tier 1 is the TSXV’s premier tier and is reserved for the TSXV’s most advanced issuers with the most significant financial resources. Becoming a Tier 1 issuer will provide Datametrex with further exposure and awareness for investors.
The
EV charging app, developed using the company’s proprietary AI, will advise users of the best course of action to charge their vehicle based on time, cost, location, and destination. Once launched, both privately owned and commercial charging stations will be able to register as a provider on the app.
Additional details will be provided as the initiative progresses.
Data Intelligence company
Fobi AI Inc. (TSX-V: FOBI, Forum) is launching its latest mobile wallet innovation,
Fan Pass.
Fobi’s Fan Pass is a new fan engagement platform built off PassPro, Fobi’s new enterprise-grade SaaS platform.
The Fobi Fan Pass will be officially launched with top Canadian PGA golfer Adam Hadwin. The partnership will include several key rights for Fobi, including having their logo on his shirt collar which should increase Fobi’s overall global brand awareness. Adam will also be promoting Fobi’s new Fan Pass platform with the Adam Hadwin Fan Pass that will be available for download on the fobi.ai website on March 7th to coincide with The Players Championship Tournament that week in Florida.
The Fan Pass Platform will help accelerate the transformation from paper and plastic to digital by digitizing traditional playing cards. Fan Pass will also enable competitive players to broaden their fan base, increase revenue via their sponsors, provide NFT capabilities and deliver exciting new immersive fan experiences.
Hadwin commented on the partnership with Fobi.
“I’m proud to align with a home-grown Vancouver company like Fobi and I look forward to working with the team to create and deliver thoughtful and engaging content to fans via the Fan Pass.”
Fobi CEO Rob Anson added,
“This latest release truly exemplifies the versatility and limitless potential that our wallet pass technology delivers. As we look to continue driving digital and experiential innovation in the sports and entertainment industry and as a proud Canadian, I am very excited about the opportunity to partner and work with Adam.”
In the mining space,
Three Valley Copper Corp. (TSX-V: TVC, Forum) is focused on copper production on its 95.1% owned, 46,000-hectare
Minera Tres Valles complex in Chile. Minera Tres Valles’ senior secured lenders have confirmed their continued support for TVC.
TVC intends to bring the property’s Papomono block caving mine into production this year. It has completed initial construction and the operation is ready to begin.
That said, the company and its lenders have chosen to temporarily halt the operation until finalizing a solution for Papomono’s ramp-up.
To this end, consultants are currently undertaking a technical optimization study, which will ensure responsible production, full stakeholder support and full realization of the mine’s robust economics.
Three Valley and its lenders remain committed to restarting operations at Papomono as soon as possible.
Base-metals mining Company headquartered in Vancouver,
Trevali Mining Corp. (TSX: TV, Forum) assured investors recently that its 90%-owned Perkoa Mine, which is located approximately 120 kilometers west of Burkina Faso's capital city of Ouagadougou,
continues to operate unaffected by the ongoing political situation. The company added that supply chains have not been affected to date and our workforce remains safe. The team continues to monitor developments ….
In other major mining news,
Wallbridge Mining (TSX: WM, Forum) recently announced that it had entered into an agreement with BMO Capital Markets and underwriters have agreed to buy, on a bought deal basis, 27,300,000 charity flow-through common shares of the company for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately
$15 million (CAD).
Wallbridge has also announced that it will be completing a non-brokered private placement of National flow-through common shares and Quebec flow-through common shares for aggregate gross proceeds of at least $12 million (CAD).
In our Investor Pulse Poll last week, we asked for your thoughts on the recent market turbulence and if you think now is a good time to invest. Here is how you responded:
This week, we want to know if you think things are easing around COVID and the investing world. Restrictions and mandates have started to lift in some regions, people want to get back to business, is the light at the end of the tunnel finally visible?
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Next week we’ll be able to see how the economy is faring as winter turns to spring. Where does cannabis stand? Is this resource surge for real? What small cap companies are Stockhouse Bullboard users going crazy for? Find out all this and more on next week’s Buzz on the Bullboards.
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FULL DISCLOSURE: Datametrex AI Ltd. and PyroGenesis Canada Inc. is a client of Stockhouse Publishing.