InMed appoints Anderson to Scientific Advisory Board
INMED PHARMACEUTICALS STRENGTHENS SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
2015-03-31 – News Release – InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IN:CSE) has appointed Dr. Paul C. Anderson, PhD, to its scientific advisory board. Dr. Anderson is a pharma industry veteran who brings significant drug discovery and development expertise to InMed.
Dr. Anderson is a synthetic organic chemist by training with more than 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development. Following postdoctoral studies in bioorganic chemistry at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Anderson began his career in the pharmaceutical industry at Merck Frosst Canada Inc. He subsequently joined Boehringer Ingelheim and in more than 20 years with the company, held positions of increasing responsibility in the research organization including more than 12 years as head of the Boehringer Ingelheim research centers in Canada and in the United States. While in Canada, Dr. Anderson and his team introduced several anti-viral drugs into pre-clinical and clinical development, including the first HCV protease inhibitor to be tested in humans. As head of research for Boehringer Ingelheim in the United States, Dr. Anderson and his team carried out research on autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, advancing several compounds into pre-clinical development. He received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Alberta.
Mr. Anderson is also a Consultant for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN).
We are delighted to have Paul join our Scientific Advisory Board. Paul brings exceptional medicinal chemistry expertise and vast experience in drug discovery research in several therapeutic areas like CNS, immunologyA & inflammation and metabolic diseases,a said Craig Schneider, President and CEO of InMed.
In addition, InMed announced the appointment of Dr. Sazzad Hossain to its Board of Directors. Dr. Hossain is the current Chief Scientific Officer of InMed and a co-founder of the company. He developed the a IDPa drug discovery platform and is leading all R&D activities of InMed Pharmaceuticals.
We seek Safe Harbor.
- Published in Blog, Life Sciences, Medical Marijuana
DealNet to Provide International Messaging to Gateway Provider
International Messaging Gateway Provider Chooses DealNet for Connectivity Into Canada
2015-03-31 -News Release- DealNet Capital Corp. (DLS:CSE) is pleased to report that its mobile engagement subsidiary, Impact Mobile Inc., has signed an agreement to provide messaging connectivity into Canada for a major international messaging gateway provider. The gateway provider currently routes millions of SMS messages per month into Canada for banks, consumer brands, mobile marketing corporations, and other enterprise clients. The contract with Impact Mobile includes the migration of this existing messaging as well as future traffic, which is expected to expand to include multimedia messaging (MMS).
“Impact Mobile is already a leader in providing gateway services into Canada, routing traffic for several of the world’s largest international messaging companies. The Company’s strong carrier relationships and quality of service are recognized in the market, and this contract with yet another global leader is further testament to that leadership,” stated Michael Hilmer, COO of DealNet.
Traffic migration and revenue recognition will begin in April, 2015.
About DealNet Capital Corp.
DealNet Capital Corp. focuses on two key vertical markets, Engagement and Consumer Finance. Through acquisitions, the Company has become a leader in the Engagement space helping their corporate customers ‘speak’ to their consumers they way they want to be spoken to using live Voice, Chat, Text, Email and Proximity based engagement solutions. The Company has leveraged its engagement business to offer home improvement financing solutions to consumers, which offer attractive yields and low default rates. The Company continues to seek acquisitions in these key markets.
We seek Safe Harbor.
Oil Prices Paint an Ugly Picture for Oil Industry
By: Frehiwote Negash –
With oil prices hitting a six-year low this week, the prevailing thought among industry buffs is that the commodities downturn has entered a new phase as many speculate on what 2015 will hold for oil. The collapse in oil prices has forced companies to slash spending on new exploration projects and thousands of job losses in Alberta leading Premier Jim Prentice to inform Albertans that billions of dollars in public spending cuts are coming with the possibility of a provincial tax on the table. In light of the upcoming provincial budget on March 27, the weak projections being made for oil prices increases the odds of a deeper plunge into the red for Albertans. The lack of consensus overall from strategists and the increasingly volatile geo-political situation in the Middle East has certainly exacerbated the issue. With OPEC’s refusal to cut production at the end of 2014, the possibility of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the U.S, and the current rate of oil production in the U.S, many are speculating that there might be millions of barrels in surplus on the market driving oil prices even lower.
As Nexen Energy, acquired by China’s CNOOC Ltd. announced another 400 cuts jobs in Alberta yesterday and the price of oil hovers just above the $42 per barrel mark, many investors are reluctant to invest oil and from a psychological standpoint are wary of the what the future holds. That raises questions about how low oil prices can fall. OPEC members like Venezuela, Nigeria, Iran and Libya are suffering economically because of low oil prices sending some of these countries into deficit and even potentially defaulting in the case of Venezuela. While Iran’s case is aggravated by sanctions, Russia, a non-OPEC producer, is in a similar dilemma as its economy is being crushed due to the combinations of low oil prices and international sanctions. These countries need OPEC to cut production not only for economic reasons but also their standing internationally as these countries’ fortunes, particularly Russia, are inextricably linked to the price of oil.
As OPEC refuses to cut production, American production has skyrocketed and the surplus has forced producers to stockpile their reserves which are currently at record levels and adding to the problem. When American storage units are filled to capacity, the surplus of oil will have to be sold on the spot market driving prices even lower than they currently are. The view here is pessimistic as cuts in production and drilling have not diminished the global supply but the sentiment here is that oil is poised to return to a bear market.
Source: Toronto Star, Financial Post, Globe and Mail
- Published in Blog, Business, Oil and Gas
Aurora Cannabis forms Australis Capital Subsidiary
2015-03-25 – News Release – Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB:CSE) has established its new subsidiary, Australis Capital Inc., a company focused on opportunities in the United States with respect to production, processing, extracting of derivatives, and sale of both medicinal and recreational cannabis.
Further to the Company’s news release dated March 18, 2015, it has retained the services of Electrum Partners, LLC, from Las Vegas, Nevada to assist in this process. In synergy with Aurora’s market strategy, Electrum Partners, LLC specializes in providing consulting, development, and management services in emergent State-legal opportunities.
With the U.S. market still in its nascent phase, the Company believes its experience in the Canadian regulatory environment (implemented as the “Aurora Standard”) has the potential for broad market defining impact.
Subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, the Company intends to spin out Australis under a Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Arrangement”), pursuant to which 100{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of the outstanding common shares of Australis will be distributed to the holders of common shares of Aurora on a pro-rata basis. The directors of the Company believe that the creation of two separate public companies, one focused in Canada and one focused in the U.S., will enhance their respective business operations and provide holders of Aurora securities with diversified investment choices. The Company will announce the details of the Arrangement in due course. There can be no assurances or guarantees that the Arrangement will be completed.
We seek Safe Harbor.
- Published in Blog, Medical Marijuana
Iconic Minerals (ICM:TSXV) begins sampling at Hercules Project
ALTERATION MAPPING COMPLETED AND SURFACE GOLD/SILVER SAMPLING INITIATED AT HERCULES PROJECT, NEVADA
2015-03-25 – News Release – Iconic Minerals Ltd. (ICM:TSXV) has commenced rock chip channel and trench geochemical sampling at its Hercules project, located approximately 17 kilometres, east-southeast of the Comstock district in Lyon county, Nevada.
Iconic’s current exploration program included completion of alteration mapping, which found extensive outcrops of potential gold/silver mineralization. All surface samples were collected and logged in accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines, and could be used to define a new resource at Hercules. Environmental permits were obtained for the trenching.
Data collected from mapping of the quartz-calcite-adularia-sulfide alteration has defined an open-ended target area. 2.7 km (1.7 miles) long and 1 km (0.6 miles) wide, with four veins within the target area ranging between 200-400 metres (650-1,300 feet) in width.
The outcropping alteration currently being surveyed is logged and chip channel sampled, using 0.7-3.0 metre (2-10 feet) sample lengths. Trenches will be sampled in a similar manner. To ensure quality control, blanks and standards are added to each sample line before they are securely shipped to an ISO accredited geochemical laboratory. Sampling is expected to take two to three months for completion, and will be used along with previous drill results to target a planned and permitted drilling program (refer to Iconic’s January 7, 2015 News Release).
Hercules is a Comstock-type target, with strong potential for bulk minable, heap leachable gold/silver mineralization (+0.2 g/t Au) at surface, as well as potential high-grade (+10 g/t Au, to bonanza-grade (+68 g/t Au) at depth. Analogous to Comstock, the level of erosion at Hercules is slightly less than at Comstock as shown by a higher gold/silver ratio at Hercules. Therefore, any potential of high grade veins can be expected at greater depths than at Comstock.
Richard Kern, Certified Professional Geologist (#11494) and CEO of Iconic is the Qualified Person who has prepared and reviewed this press release in accordance with NI 43-101 reporting standards.
We seek Safe Harbor.
InMed Gains Health Canada Exemption for Cannabinoid Use
2015-03-23 08:12 ET – News Release (Marketwired)
INMED RECEIVES EXEMPTION STATUS FROM HEALTH CANADA
InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE:IN, OTCQB:IMLFF) has received a notice from Health Canada dated March 12, 2015, approving InMed’s application for an exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
This exemption allows InMed to use a specified quantity of selected cannabinoid compounds including Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Importantly this exemption allows InMed to possess the controlled substances and to administer them for research and development purposes, which include in vitro studies as well as the use of these compounds in animal models of human diseases.
Craig Schneider, president and chief executive officer, states, “Obtaining this exemption is a critical milestone for InMed as we prepare for human clinical studies for our lead programs in glaucoma (CTI-085) and arthritis (CTI-091) moving towards the clinical development of their respective proprietary delivery systems.”
The Office of Controlled Substances’ licensed dealer has also been notified so that it may import the controlled substances on behalf of InMed.
About InMed
InMed is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing cannabis based therapies through the research and development into the extensive pharmacology of cannabinoids coupled with innovative drug delivery systems. InMed’s proprietary platform technology, product pipeline and accelerated development pathway are the fundamental value drivers of the company.
We Seek Safe Harbor
- Published in Blog, Life Sciences, Medical Marijuana
InMed Begins Preclinical Work on Orofacial Pain
2015-03-18 – News Release – InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IN:CSE) has initiated a program to identify and evaluate cannabinoid compounds for the treatment of chronic orofacial pain. Initial drug discovery and preclinical development are currently under way in collaboration with members of the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia. The work is being funded by a grant from Mitacs, a leading Canadian organization that accelerates innovative projects through strategic academic and industry collaboration.
Dr. Sazzad Hossain, chief scientific officer, stated: “Pain in the orofacial region is one of the more complex and difficult-to-treat conditions for patients and clinicians. Current treatments are limited in terms of efficacy and are fraught with considerable side effects. Recent advances in cannabinoid pharmacology have renewed hope for these patients with the exciting prospect of safer, more effective cannabis-based treatments. Under this collaboration, Inmed will investigate the role of cannabinoid receptors in chronic orofacial pain, including neuropathic pain, muscle pain and arthritis of the jaw joint.”
A Mitacs grant was awarded to Dr. Hayes Wong, a PhD-level researcher, with extensive experience in developing orofacial models of pain. Dr. Wong will be working with Prof. Brian Cairns, a specialist in research for chronic pain above the neck. In conjunction with InMed, the Mitacs grant will be utilized to screen selected InMed compounds in orofacial pain models.
About Mitacs
Mitacs is a national, private, not-for-profit organization that develops the next generation of innovators with vital scientific and business skills through a suite of unique research and training programs, such as Mitacs Accelerate, Elevate, Step, Enterprise and Globalink. In partnership with companies, government and universities, Mitacs is supporting a new economy using Canada’s most valuable resource — its people.
We seek Safe Harbor.
- Published in Blog, Life Sciences, Medical Marijuana
Patients vs Government -The Battle for Medical Marijuana
By: Frehiwote Negash –
It’s been nearly a year since the Medical Marijuana Purposes Regulation has gone into effect and the debate over who has the “right to grow” has shift into a legal battle about patients’ rights and accessibility versus government oversight. The fight for medical marijuana has taken a decidedly different tone here in Canada compared to our southern neighbor. While U.S senators from both parties are fighting to get medical marijuana passed into law at the federal level, patients in Canada are battling their own government to continue to grow their own cannabis without having to turn to commercially licensed producers. The Harper government lost its latest appeal to prevent registered medical marijuana users from growing their own pot at home. The Federal Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the injunction that allows these exempted patients from purchasing medical marijuana under the new system. That means while the government gears up for another round in the courts, these patients will still be able to produce their own medicine. However, the recent arrest of Bob Dillman and his wife in Dartmouth, N.S has added fuel to the fire. Dillman, who was allowed to produce his own medicine under the old regime, was charged along with his wife with production and possession of marijuana. The take away for users reliant on their own production is that the new regulations view them as criminals, not patients.
The previous medical marijuana system, which came into effect in 2001, allowed patients to either grow their own pot or designate someone to grow it for them should they choose not to purchase their cannabis through Health Canada. The new system allows for patients to purchase their pot from through producers who have been sanctioned by Health Canada while phasing out the home cultivation option. Patients have argued that the new regulations violate Section 7 of the Canadian Charter which protects “life, liberty and security of the person.” They argue that the under the new system, prices for medical marijuana are expensive for the amount they consume. It isn’t just a question of affordability but also of quality control and choice as patients want to decide for themselves what to consume and not have to worry about the limitations on possession. Another issue with the current system is whether there is enough supply to meet the demand as only a handful of the 23 licensed producers have already begun large scale production. With the number of registered users expected to grow ten-fold within the next decade, the system needs revamping but it is not without its merits.
The government argues that with the new system it reduces the need of Health Canada monitoring grow –ops and reduces safety concerns in communities. The process of acquiring a license is difficult as wannabe producers are required to go through a number of security checks. While there are a number of issues with the long wait times, the sense here is that Health Canada’s rigorous process is better for the patient and places license holders under stringent quality control regulations forcing them to be accountable. If medical marijuana is to become a $ 1 billion industry, then government oversight is essential for the safety of the patient. There are merits to both arguments but the crux of the issue how to more clearly define Health Canada’s mandate on the issue.
Source: CBC, Yahoo News
- Published in Blog, Life Sciences
DealNet Capital Secures Financing for HVAC Operations
By: Frehiwote Negash
DealNet Capital Corp. (DLS:CSE) announced Thursday that they have closed the first tranche of its senior secured debenture offering. The offering was initially announced on December 12, 2014. All funds raised thus far will be available immediately to One Dealer Financial, DealNet’s wholly-owned subsidiary and will be used to finance the consumer leases for the company’s HVAC operations. A sole investment of $3 million was made by a wealth management branch of one of Canada’s biggest life and health insurance companies with the option to invest up to $50 million through this offering. The commitment made by the insurance company is an encouraging sign for investors looking at the company as DealNet Capital expects to attract more institutional investment with their foray in the HVAC industry.
Under their subsidiary, One Dealer Financial, DealNet will provide financing and services to dealers as well as offering water heater rentals to consumers. Smaller companies in the HVAC space are less likely to receive assistance from financial intuitions that are already reluctant to invest. In this sense, DealNet has created a niche market by offering their expertise and enable these dealers to compete in a market controlled by a few players. The company will provide small dealers with loans and the use of its facilities to help expand their businesses. By identifying the need for these types of services in the HVAC industry, DealNet Capital has the opportunity to tap into an under-serviced market as small companies particularly those in the Ontario need and welcome companies that can offer a full range of services. There are currently 4 million households that rent their water heaters in the province with the majority of that market share held by a handful of providers and are squeezing out smaller players. That means fewer options for consumers to choose from and makes it difficult for smaller companies attempting to service the market and gain traction on their bigger competitors. Expansion into the American market is defiantly a part of the company’s plans – especially when you consider that there are 84 000 dealers in North America in the HVAC market making it a lucrative business opportunity.
With the closing of the first tranche, DealNet Capital is one step closer to opening up that market and providing the consumer with more options and dealers with the ammunition to compete in the space.
Source: DealNet Capital, Small Cap Power, Proactiveinvestors.com
DealNet Closes Secured Debenture for HVAC Financing
2015-03-12 – News Release – DealNet Capital Corp.‘s (DLS:CSE) consumer financing subsidiary, One Dealer Financial Services Inc., has closed the first tranche of the senior secured debenture offering previously announced on Dec. 12, 2014. The funds will be available immediately to One Dealer Financial, and are to be used exclusively to finance consumer leases for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) equipment.
The first closing consisted of a single subscription for $3-million by the wealth management arm of one of Canada’s largest life and health insurance companies. The investor has the option to invest up to $50-million under the offering.
The senior secured debentures mature on March 12, 2018, and bear interest at the rate of the three-month Canadian dealer offered rate (CDOR) plus 10 per cent, or 12 per cent, per annum, whichever is greater. One Dealer Financial, the investor and the company (acting as a guarantor for the senior secured debentures) entered into a trust indenture with Computershare Trust Company of Canada, acting as trustee. One Dealer Financial is able to securitize or refinance its consumer leases through term debt at a lower cost of financing at any time. DealNet will be required to maintain a minimum cash balance in One Dealer Financial equal to 10 per cent of the outstanding senior secured debentures during the term of the debentures.
The current financing will replace One Dealer Financial’s existing $2-million revolving loan facility. A portion of the funds received ($250,000) will be used immediately to repay the amount outstanding on the revolving loan facility. One Dealer Financial will also pay a prepayment fee of $75,000 to the lender to terminate the facility 14 months prior to maturity.
“After extensive due diligence, One Dealer Financial has demonstrated to the investor the quality of our consumer lease portfolio, our lending practices and the management supporting the business,” says Michael Hilmer, chief operating officer of One Dealer Financial. “The consumer leasing space is a lucrative and secure business model, and we expect to attract additional institutional support throughout 2015, which will allow us to continue to deploy capital and grow our lease portfolio.”
We seek Safe Harbor.
- 1
- 2