Stockwinners Market Radar for July 17, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

21:01 EDT MoneyLion CEO sells $1.53M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, MoneyLion disclosed that its CEO Diwakar Choubey sold 17.6K shares of common stock on July 16th in a total transaction size of $1.53M.

20:01 EDT Moody's to participate in MAS' Project Guardian on 'asset tokenization' - Moody's "announced its involvement in the fixed income workstream of the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Project Guardian, a collaborative initiative between the public and private sectors launched in 2022 to enhance liquidity and efficiency of financial markets through asset tokenization while managing risks to financial stability and integrity. Under Project Guardian's fixed income workstream, Moody's plans to provide risk analysis for tokenized fixed income products. This may involve fixed-income securities, fund units, stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and other components of the digital finance ecosystem. Moody's independent risk assessment is intended to enhance market transparency, reduce systemic risks, and facilitate the growth of the tokenization industry."

19:50 EDT Senti Biosciences Inc trading halted, news pending

19:50 EDT ZIOPHARM Oncology trading halted, news pending

19:24 EDT Meta Platforms exec sells $454K in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Meta Platforms disclosed that its General Counsel Jennifer Newstead sold 905 shares of common stock on July 16th in a total transaction size of $454K.

18:46 EDT First Horizon CEO: We're seeing a tremendous amount of competition - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Bryan Jordan said the company's customer base is very strong despite the fact that the national deposit base continued to shrink in Q2. He's "very cautious" about protecting client relationships. He expects the economy to accelerate once the Fed starts its rate cutting cycle and the Presidential election is over.

18:00 EDT Pinnacle Financial names Charissa Sumerlin chief credit officer - Pinnacle Financial Partners has named Charissa Sumerlin the firm's chief credit officer effective immediately. She succeeds Harvey White, who served as interim chief credit officer following the sudden death of Tim Huestis in late 2023. The Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve Sumerlin's appointment at its meeting on July 16, 2024. "Charissa was the clear choice for this role, and we welcome her to Pinnacle's senior leadership team," Pinnacle President and CEO M. Terry Turner said. "She has been a critical leader for our credit team as we've bolstered our processes to scale for growth. Charissa was also deeply involved in our major re-rating project in the spring of 2022, which gave her a granular understanding of our portfolio. She has the rare combination of experience with both CRE and C&I credit, which gives her a strong understanding of how all our lending and credit teams work. We offer her our sincere congratulations and gratitude for taking this new role."

17:25 EDT Alaska Air sees Q3 capacity up 2%-3% y/y - Sees Q3: CASM-ex up high single digits; RASM flat to positive; Economic fuel cost per gallon $2.85-$2.95.

17:17 EDT Auna launches first oncology insurance in Mexico - Auna announced the launch of the first oncology insurance in Mexico, fully integrated through its hospital network in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.

17:13 EDT LCNB Corp.'s Chief Lending Officer Matthew Layer retiring - LCNB Corp announced that Matthew Layer, EVP and Chief Lending Officer, will retire from the company effective September 30. As part of the established succession plan, Jeff Meeker, current SVP and Chief Credit Officer, will assume the role of EVP and Chief Lending Officer at September 30. Meeker joined LCNB in 2013 through the acquisition of Citizens National Bank, and he has 38 years of banking experience. Since September 2021, Meeker has served as LCNB's Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer. In January 2021, he was appointed LCNB's Head of Loan Operations. Prior to 2021, Meeker held additional positions of increasing responsibility in the Bank's lending areas. Prior to joining LCNB, Meeker was the CFO of the Citizens National Bank of Chillicothe.

17:01 EDT Vertex Energy COO James Rhame retiring, CCO Doug Haugh named Interim COO - Vertex Energy announced that James Rhame will be retiring as COO effective July 25th. Rhame has agreed to continue supporting Vertex in a consulting role through the end of 2024. Upon Rhame's retirement, Doug Haugh, Vertex's Chief Commercial Officer, will also assume the role of interim COO.

16:44 EDT F.N.B. down 7% at $14.15 after Q2 results

16:35 EDT Scorpius Holdings announces 1-for-200 reverse stock split - Scorpius Holdings announced that the company's board of directors approved a 1-for-200 reverse stock split of the company's common stock, to increase the selling price of the company's common stock in order to regain compliance with the requirements and policies of the NYSE American. However, there can be no assurance that that the reverse stock split will increase the company's stock price sufficiently in order to meet any requirements and policies of the NYSE American.

16:32 EDT Americas Gold and Silver reports Q2 silver production 0.51M oz - The company states: "Q2-2024 consolidated attributable silver production of 0.51 million ounces compared with approximately 0.48 million ounces in Q1-2024. The Company also produced 8.9 million attributable pounds of zinc and 4.4 million attributable pounds of lead during Q2-2024. Galena Complex quarterly production was the highest on record since 2013 with silver production of 560,000 ounces on a 100% basis and attributable production of 336,000 ounces as the operation benefitted from contributions to production from new mining areas in the Upper Country Lead Zone between 2400 and 2800 levels and a strong quarter from the 52-198 Silver Hanging Wall Vein. The Cosala Operations focused on mining the Main Zone at the San Rafael mine given its higher-grade zinc stopes to take advantage of the Q2-2024 increase in zinc prices. The Cosala Operations produced approximately 170,000 ounces of silver, 8.9 million pounds of zinc and 2.6 million pounds of lead during the quarter, including preproduction contribution from the 100%-owned El Cajon and Zone 120 silver-copper project. As the operation transitions to higher-grade silver zones through the rest of the year, silver production from the Cosala Operations is expected to increase quarter-over-quarter. Preliminary cash costs and all-in sustaining costs for Q2-2024 are estimated to be approximately $12.40 per silver ounce and $19.60 per silver ounce, respectively. These figures compare with cash costs and all-in sustaining costs of $20.57 per silver ounce and $30.04 per silver ounce in Q1-2024 representing decreases of ~40% and ~35% quarter-over quarter, respectively."

16:31 EDT Regions Financial raises quarterly dividend to 25c per share from 24c - The Regions Financial Corporation Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of 25C on each share of outstanding common stock of the Company, payable on Oct. 1, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 3, 2024. The dividend of $0.25 represents a 1c increase over the most recent quarterly common dividend.

16:28 EDT Village Super Market announces passing of chairman William Sumas - Village Super Market announced the passing of William Sumas, chairman of the board, member and leader in the Wakefern Food Corp. cooperative. Robert Sumas, CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors, will be the interim chairman of the board until the board meets to appoint a new chair.

16:24 EDT Amarin gets reimbursement approval for Vazkepa in Portugal - Amarin announces that the Portuguese Ministry of Health has approved VAZKEPA or icosapent ethyl, for national reimbursement to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adult statin-treated patients at high cardiovascular risk and elevated triglycerides and established cardiovascular disease, or diabetes and at least one other cardiovascular risk factor1. The national reimbursement will now allow Amarin to begin commercialization efforts of VAZKEPA across Portugal as of August 1...According to Statistics Portugal , the prevalence of established cardiovascular disease in the adult population between 45 and 79 years of age in Portugal is 10.7%2. The growing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the country has resulted in more than 35,000 annual deaths from cardiovascular disease, constituting 29% of the total mortality in 20173. These figures demonstrate a clear need for action to reduce the immense burden of this disease on patients, their families, and the Portuguese healthcare system.

16:22 EDT Opko Health in $250M note purchase pact with HCRx - Opko Health(OPK) announces it has entered into a $250M non-dilutive note purchase agreement with HealthCare Royalty HCRx secured by OPKO's profit share payments from Pfizer received pursuant to its license agreement relating to NGENLA a once-weekly treatment currently marketed to treat pediatric growth hormone deficiency. "This transaction with HCRx allows OPKO to retain a significant portion of NGENLA's profit share payments in the near term and provides upside over the long term. It also permits OPKO to maintain the full benefit of the $100M of remaining potential milestone payments from Pfizer PFE ," said Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO. "Additionally, it provides non-dilutive capital and financial flexibility to advance our research and development activities including our multispecific antibody programs, as well as potentially to repurchase shares of our common stock and convertible notes." The $250 million note issued under the Note Purchase Agreement bears interest at the 3-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) subject to a 4.0% per annum floor, plus 7.5% per annum. The note has a final maturity date of July 2044 with the first four years requiring interest-only payments.

16:17 EDT Allison Transmission signs contract with BAE Systems - Allison Transmission has signed a contract with BAE Systems Hagglunds, one of Europe's most successful producers of tracked combat vehicles, to provide the new Allison 4040 MX propulsion solution for ongoing CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle programs with production expected to begin in 2028. The 4040 MX extends Allison's medium weight offering in its cross-drive product portfolio as an uprated variant of the proven 3040 MX cross-drive transmission found in the U.S. Army's M10 Booker Combat Vehicle. This latest collaboration represents a continuation of a longstanding relationship between BAE Systems Hagglunds and Allison and represents an opportunity for continued growth in Allison's Defense end market above the many programs expected to drive $100 million of incremental annual revenue. Both BAE Systems' BvS10 and Beowulf tracked vehicles are equipped with the Allison 3000 Specialty Series transmissions.

16:16 EDT Ingevity names Ryan Fisher as new general counsel - Ingevity announced the appointment of Ryan C. Fisher as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary and Terry Dyer as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Fisher has held various leadership positions during his 18-year tenure with Ingevity and its predecessors. Most recently, he served as vice president, deputy general counsel and chief compliance officer, as well as interim chief human resources officer.

16:16 EDT Union Pacific raises quarterly dividend 3% to $1.34 per share - Union Pacific Corporation announced that its board of directors voted to increase the quarterly dividend on the company's common shares by 3% to $1.34 per share. The dividend is payable September 30, 2024, to shareholders of record August 30, 2024. Union Pacific has paid dividends on its common stock for 125 consecutive years. "Union Pacific has a strong track record of delivering cash returns to its shareholders," said Jennifer Hamann, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We're building on that record with a 3% increase in the third quarter, our 18th consecutive year of increased annual dividends per share."

16:13 EDT GE Vernova sinks after wind turbine incident off Nantucket - Shares of GE Vernova fell Wednesday after the federal government ordered the Vineyard Wind farm to shut down until further notice because of a turbine blade failure this weekend. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement issued a statement regarding an incident involving blade damage on a Vineyard Wind offshore turbine: "Following the July 13, 2024, blade failure incident at Vineyard Wind, BSEE has issued a Suspension Order to Vineyard Wind to cease power production from all its wind turbine generators until it can be determined whether the blade failure affects any other VW turbines. The Suspension Order suspends power production on the lease area and suspends installation of new wind turbine generator construction: Those operations will remain shut down until the suspension is lifted. BSEE has also issued a Preservation Order to safeguard any evidence that may be relevant to determining the cause of the incident." The town of Nantucket said today that the majority of the debris has been cleared. Shares of GE Vernova, which makes the Haliade-X turbines involved in the accident, dropped 9%, or $16.91, to $165.83 in trading Wednesday. Reference Link

16:12 EDT Alcoa expects FY24 Alumina segment production, shipments to remain unchanged - Alcoa expects 2024 total Alumina segment production and shipments to remain unchanged from the prior projection, ranging between 9.8 and 10.0 million metric tons, and between 12.7 and 12.9 million metric tons, respectively. The difference between production and shipments reflects trading volumes and externally sourced alumina to fulfill customer contracts due to the curtailment of the Kwinana refinery. Alcoa expects 2024 total Aluminum segment production and shipments to remain unchanged from the prior projection, ranging between 2.2 and 2.3 million metric tons, and between 2.5 and 2.6 million metric tons, respectively. Within third quarter 2024 Alumina Segment Adjusted EBITDA, the Company expects sequential unfavorable impacts of $10 million related to bauxite grade in Australia. Within third quarter 2024 Aluminum Segment Adjusted EBITDA, the Company expects favorable raw material prices of $10 million. Interest expense in the third quarter 2024 is expected to increase by approximately $5 million due to the assumption of Alumina Limited debt at acquisition closing. Based on current alumina and aluminum market conditions, Alcoa expects third quarter operational tax expense to approximate $60 million to $70 million, which may vary with market conditions and jurisdictional profitability. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest will be reported through the closing of the Alumina Limited acquisition in the third quarter and is expected to approximate $20 million.

16:10 EDT Darden to acquire Chuy's for $605M - Darden (DRI) and Chuy's (CHUY) have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Darden will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Chuy's for $37.50 per share, in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $605M. Chuy's had 101 restaurants in 15 states as of July 16, 2024, and in the latest twelve months ending March 31, 2024 generated total revenues over $450M, and average annual restaurant volumes of $4.5M. The purchase price represents a 10.3x implied multiple of Chuy's latest twelve months ending March 31. Darden expects pre-tax net synergies of approximately $15M by the end of its FY26. Total acquisition and integration-related expenses are expected to be $50M-$55M, pre-tax. The transaction is expected to be neutral to Darden's diluted EPS for its FY25, excluding acquisition and integration-related expenses, and accretive by 12c-15c in its FY27. The transaction is expected to be completed in Darden's Q2. Darden has sufficient liquidity to complete the all-cash transaction.

16:08 EDT Bank OZK announces $200M stock repurchase program - The Bank's Board recently approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $200 million of outstanding common stock through expiration of the program on July 1, 2025. In evaluating stock repurchases, management will consider a variety of factors including the Bank's stock price, expected growth, capital position, alternative uses of capital, liquidity, financial performance, current and expected macroeconomic environment, regulatory requirements and other factors.

16:05 EDT United Airlines CEO says margins near top of industry - "The revenue diversity advantages that we've built with our premium customers, Basic Economy customers, and domestic road warriors, on top of the world's best loyalty program and leading customer service, have propelled our margins to near the top of the industry," said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. "Looking forward, we see multiple airlines have begun to cancel loss-making capacity, and we expect leading unit revenue performance among our largest peers in the second half of the third quarter. United has long been preparing for the moment when industry wide domestic capacity would adjust - it's now clear that inflection point is just 30 days away. At United, we have been effectively managing costs, cash and capacity against a challenging industry backdrop because we're focused on doing what's necessary to hit our financial targets. Thank you to leaders across the company for embracing a 'no excuses' approach to running our business. It gives me confidence in our ability to achieve our $9-$11 EPS goal for 2024, despite the challenges the industry has faced this year "

16:02 EDT Pfizer, Valneva announce vaccination series completion in VALOR trial - Pfizer (PFE) and Valneva (VALN) announced that the participants of the Phase 3 trial "Vaccine Against Lyme for Outdoor Recreationists", or VALOR, have completed the primary vaccination series of Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15. Participants will be monitored for the occurrence of Lyme disease cases until the end of the Lyme disease season in 2025.

16:01 EDT Ford Pro rolls out EV chargers to businesses in California - The company states: "Ford Pro(TM), Ford Motor Company's commercial division, introduces the Ford Pro Smart Charging Bundle to California, one of America's larger commercial fleet markets. Charging operations for electric vehicle fleets can be complex. The Ford Pro Smart Charging Bundle aims to help California businesses with electric vehicles in their fleet while improving operations and reducing upfront and ongoing EV charging costs. The bundle offers a complimentary Ford Pro Level 2 48-amp charger or a Level 2 80-amp charger for depot and workplace charging to businesses subscribed to Ford Pro Charging software. The new automated demand-to-grid response solution in Ford Pro's Charging Software reacts to grid events in California such as high local demand by automatically pausing charging, alerting the customer, and resuming charging when the event is over. This can help reduce the burden on the grid and reduce the risk of brownouts and blackouts for a more resilient power system. Ford Pro will manage the enrollment process for customers in California grid demand response programs that manage grid capacity, energy programs, and emergency load programs as well as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard carbon credits program."

15:36 EDT Rexford Industrial slips, down 1% after apparent leak of Q2 results, guidance

14:41 EDT Spotify debuts AI DJ to Spanish-speaking music fans globally - In a blog posting, on its For the Record news page, Spotify (SPOT) said in part, on Wednesday: "When we launched our AI DJ in English last year, it gave listeners a new way to connect with and discover music on Spotify. DJ is a personalized AI guide that knows you and your musical tastes so well it can choose what to play for you. It combines a curated lineup of songs with an AI-powered voice that provides commentary about those recommendations. This is all created through the powerful combination of Spotify's personalization technology, generative AI in the hands of our expert music editors, and a real and relatable AI voice. Now it's time to bring our AI DJ, in beta, to Spanish-speaking Spotify Premium users around the world. ...Premium Users who listen to DJ listen to more Spotify. We see an increase in listenership the week after a user first listens to the DJ compared to the week before. You may know Xavier Jernigan (his friends call him "X") as the very first AI voice model of DJ, in English. Other publicly traded companies in the space include: Companies in the radio space include: Sirius XM (SIRI), Alphabet, (GOOG), Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL) and iHeartMedia (IHRT). Reference Link

14:34 EDT FirstEnergy receives remaining $1.2B in proceeds from FET subsidiary sale - FirstEnergy (FE) announced that it received the remaining $1.2B in proceeds from the $3.5B sale of a 30% ownership interest in its FirstEnergy Transmission, or FET, subsidiary to Brookfield Super-Core Infrastructure Partners (BIP). FirstEnergy received the initial proceeds of $2.3B from Brookfield when the transaction closed in March. The remaining $1.2B in interest-bearing notes were extinguished with Brookfield's final payment on July 17. "FirstEnergy is deploying these proceeds in a credit-accretive manner, consistent with the company's plan to further transform its balance sheet and support its five-year, $26 billion Energize365 grid investment program. Since late 2021, FirstEnergy has completed approximately $7 billion in strategic equity financings at an equivalent share price of $87 per share, or 36x trailing price-to-earnings valuation. Following the closing of this transaction in March, FirstEnergy's corporate credit rating was upgraded by Moody's and S&P, restoring it to investment grade at all three ratings agencies. The credit ratings at the company's subsidiaries were also upgraded," the company stated. "With the successful execution of these strategic transactions, FirstEnergy now has a strong balance sheet to support important investments in our regulated businesses that enhance service reliability, the customer experience and the transition to a more electrified economy. FirstEnergy has a straightforward, transparent operating model and a culture focused on continuous improvement and driving results, making us well-positioned to become a premier electric company benefiting our customers, investors, communities and employees," added Brian Tierney, FirstEnergy President and Chief Executive Officer.

13:47 EDT Caterpillar exec Johnson sells 1,508 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Caterpillar chief HR officer Cheryl Johnson disclosed the sale of 1,508 common shares of the company on July 16 at a price of $350 per share.

13:26 EDT North American rail traffic up 3.3% for the week ending July 13 - The Association of American Railroads or AAR, reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 13. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 483,806 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3% compared with the same week last year. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included grain, up 5,557 carloads, to 21,606; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 736 carloads, to 17,137; and forest products, up 427 carloads, to 8,401. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 included coal, down 9,415 carloads, to 55,673; nonmetallic minerals, down 3,119 carloads, to 30,872; and motor vehicles and parts, down 2,910 carloads, to 11,763...North American rail volume for the week ending July 13, on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 318,065 carloads, down 3.8% compared with the same week last year, and 349,079 intermodal units, up 10.9% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 667,144 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3%. North American rail volume for the first 28 weeks of 2024 was 18,448,275 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.4% compared with 2023. Publicly traded companies in the space include CSX (CSX), Canadian National (CNI), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Union Pacific (UNP), Wabtec (WAB),Trinity Industries (TRN), Greenbrier (GBX), FreightCar America (RAIL), and Rail Vision (RVSN). Reference Link

12:58 EDT Stardust Power Inc trading resumes

12:48 EDT Kronos Worldwide trading resumes

12:33 EDT Kronos Worldwide expects 2024 sales volumes to exceed 2023 - The company said, "During the second quarter of 2024 customer demand continued to improve across all major markets, although overall demand levels remain below historical averages. Based on the recently improved demand and Kronos' expectation that demand will continue to improve in 2024, along with the severe demand contraction Kronos experienced during most of 2023, Kronos expects sales volumes in 2024 to exceed 2023 sales volumes. Kronos has increased production rates in line with the current and expected near-term improved demand and believes its production rates for the remainder of 2024 will continue to be higher than comparable periods in 2023. Kronos has implemented TiO2 selling price increases, which need to continue to be realized to achieve margins more in-line with historical levels."

12:28 EDT Kronos Worldwide cuts quarterly dividend to 5c from 19c per share - Kronos Worldwide said its has declared a quarterly dividend of 5c per share, a decrease of 14c per share as compared to Q2, payable on September 19, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 6. Commenting on the dividend, the company said, "The reduced dividend rate will allow Kronos to focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet while continuing to evaluate strategic investment opportunities. In addition to strengthening liquidity and providing the flexibility to absorb increased debt service costs, working capital needs and capital improvements from the acquisition of the 50% interest in the LPC joint venture, the new dividend rate will give Kronos an opportunity to focus on reducing leverage. Going forward we will continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the dividend based on progress towards these priorities, results of operations and other relevant factors."

12:02 EDT a.k.a. Brands rises 7.6% - a.k.a. Brands is up 7.6%, or $1.32 to $18.65.

12:01 EDT Four Seasons Education rises 11.8% - Four Seasons Education is up 11.8%, or $1.40 to $13.23.

12:00 EDT Nuscale Power falls -11.1% - Nuscale Power is down -11.1%, or -$1.73 to $13.83.

11:47 EDT Roche announces new, four-year data from RHONE-X extension study - Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced new, four-year data from the RHONE-X extension study. The study met all primary endpoints, showing that Vabysmo was well tolerated in people with diabetic macular edema, or DME, who received treatment for up to four years. Exploratory results from the long-term study showed that Vabysmo continued to preserve vision, dry retinal fluid that can impair sight and allow extended time between treatments in people with DME. These data were presented in a late-breaking oral presentation at the American Society of Retina Specialists, or ASRS, 2024 Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. "These four-year data build on our pivotal studies and reinforce Vabysmo's potential to become standard of care treatment for diabetic macular edema, which affects 29 million people worldwide. We are especially pleased to see that 9 out of 10 patients showed no sign of DME after four years of treatment with Vabysmo, which is an incredible long-term outcome for people living with this condition," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Genentech's chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development.

10:35 EDT Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk slip after Roche reports weight loss pill data - Shares of Eli Lilly (LLY) are down nearly 4% to $908.23 in early trading, while those of rival Novo Nordisk (NVO) are down about 4% in New York trading as well, after Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (RHHBY), announced topline results from two arms of an ongoing multi-part Phase I clinical trial for CT-996, an investigational, once-daily, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The data showed that treatment with CT-996 in participants with obesity and without type 2 diabetes resulted in a clinically meaningful placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of 6.1% within four weeks, according to the company, which noted that the full study data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

10:06 EDT Simplify Business, Employers partner to expand workers' compensation offering - Simply Business announced a collaboration with EMPLOYERS. This expansion of Simply Business' offering supports the company's ability to digitally quote and bind workers' compensation policies for over 300 different types of small businesses across all eligible states.

10:03 EDT Instacart, Northwell Health partner to expand access to food for patients, staff - Northwell Health announced a partnership through the Instacart Health initiative that leverages Instacart's platform and products to expand access to nutritious food, inspire sustainable healthy choices, and scale food as health programs to reach diverse Northwell communities.T hrough the partnership, Northwell will use Instacart Health tools to support unique programs that address social determinants of health including access to healthy food and transportation.

10:01 EDT Skillsoft rises 9.7% - Skillsoft is up 9.7%, or $1.65 to $18.70.

10:00 EDT Onto Innovation falls -6.2% - Onto Innovation is down -6.2%, or -$14.71 to $223.32.

10:00 EDT Elevance Health falls -6.6% - Elevance Health is down -6.6%, or -$36.27 to $516.87.

09:48 EDT Vistra falls -5.6% - Vistra is down -5.6%, or -$4.77 to $81.10.

09:47 EDT TSMC falls -6.1% - TSMC is down -6.1%, or -$11.30 to $174.74.

09:47 EDT Gates Industrial rises 4.6% - Gates Industrial is up 4.6%, or 78c to $17.75.

09:47 EDT Bloom Energy rises 7.5% - Bloom Energy is up 7.5%, or $1.13 to $16.21.

09:28 EDT Johnson & Johnson says continues to see China as a 'growth driver' - Remains "absolutely committed" to China.

09:24 EDT Lear completes acquisition of WIP Industrial Automation - Lear has completed its acquisition of WIP Industrial Automation. Lear entered into a definitive agreement to acquire WIP on April 29. WIP, based in Valladolid, Spain, develops, integrates, and deploys cutting-edge technologies to create customized automation solutions for production applications. WIP brings robotics and AI-based computer vision capabilities to Lear. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

09:24 EDT Capital One announces $265B community benefits plan - Capital One (COF) announced a community benefits plan that commits more than $265B in lending, investment, and philanthropy over five years as part of its proposed acquisition of Discover Financial Services (DFS). The plan was developed in partnership with the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, NeighborWorks America, the Opportunity Finance Network and the Woodstock Institute.

09:19 EDT Thumzup welcomes Soda Bossa to Adtech platform - Thumzup Media welcomes Soda Bossa as one of its most recent advertising partners on its proprietary social media AdTech platform. Inspired by the flavors of Brazil, Soda Bossa is a low-calorie, guilt-free beverage without sacrificing on flavor. Available in four different flavors, the brand was created with the intention to be vibrant and fun in a way no other soda has accomplished. Those seeking a healthier version of soda will now have the unique opportunity to earn money by sharing their favorite flavor of Soda Bossa through the Thumzup app.

09:11 EDT FDA clears Hyperfine software update for low-field brain images - Hyperfine announced the clearance of the ninth generation of AI-powered Swoop system software. This advanced software significantly reduces scan times across multiple MR sequences without sacrificing image quality. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA, clearance of this software further solidifies Hyperfine as a leader in AI-powered health technology. These scan time reductions may enable Swoop system images to help speed up the diagnostic process in acute care settings, which is crucial for time-sensitive medical conditions such as stroke, where every second counts. Reducing the overall acquisition time for sequences can also decrease the negative impact of patient motion on image quality.

09:10 EDT Carlyle, KKR to purchase $10.1B portfolio of student loans from Discover - Carlyle (CG) and KKR (KKR) announced that one or more strategic partnerships comprised of funds and accounts managed by Carlyle and KKR's respective credit businesses have agreed to purchase an approximately $10.1B portfolio of prime student loans from Discover Financial Services (DFS). The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2024 subject to customary closing conditions.

09:08 EDT Flywire expands its capabilities in India by partnering with HDFC Credila - Flywire Corporation announced that it has expanded its capabilities in India to streamline and digitize student loan payments for Indian students studying abroad. As part of this broader initiative, Flywire is partnering with HDFC Credila, the largest independent student loan provider in India, to enable Indian payers to seamlessly and digitally disburse their loan payments in their local currency directly to higher education institutions all over the world. The partnership builds on Flywire's existing success in India and helps the company capitalize on the significant market opportunity around Indian student loans, which Flywire estimates to be approximately $3+ billion in annual payment volume.

09:08 EDT Johnson & Johnson sees Innovative Medicine sales growth lower in 2H24 vs. 1H24 - Cites expected entry of Stelara biosimilars in Europe towards end of July.

09:07 EDT Kartoon Studios announces further expansion of service outside the U.S. - Kartoon Studios' announces the further expansion of the service outside the U.S., with its launch on a leading provider of high-speed next generation broadband and cable TV in Indonesia, Link Net, reaching a potential audience of nearly 300 million in the world's fourth most populous country.

09:05 EDT Scilex entered into a MOU for collaboration agreement with ACEA - Scilex Holding announced that that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, for collaboration agreement with ACEA, a China-based company focused on the development of innovative treatments for high unmet needs. Under the terms of the MOU, ACEA may receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize of ZTlido in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, including the current formulation and a right of first negotiation for a future next generation formulation of a 3X version of ZTlido, SP-103. The MOU provides Scilex with the opportunity to expand collaboration with ACEA across other products in Scilex's non-opioid pain management portfolio in the Greater China region. "This joint collaboration effort with ACEA reflects on our mission to bring our innovative non-opioid medicines to acute and chronic pain patients in greater China region. This agreement is an important step toward our shared goal of bringing safe and effective pain management to people worldwide, to ensure more patients are able to benefit from these innovative medicines," said Jaisim Shah, Chief Executive Officer and President of Scilex.

09:03 EDT Nuwellis announces first commercial sale of QUELIMMUNE - Nuwellis announces its first commercial sale of QUELIMMUNE, a novel therapy developed by SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation for pediatric patients suffering from an uncontrolled inflammatory response triggered by their immune systems, to Cincinnati Children's. Nestor Jaramillo, President and CEO of Nuwellis, emphasized the company's dedication to advancing pediatric healthcare through strategic collaborations and innovative solutions: "The first commercial sale of QUELIMMUNE marks a significant achievement in our pediatric business development strategy. We are excited to collaborate with SeaStar Medical to deliver this life-saving therapy to critically ill patients, reinforcing Nuwellis' commitment to driving positive change in pediatric critical care."

09:02 EDT Ageagle Aerial Systems announces drone sale to DNIT in Brazil - AgEagle Aerial Systems has secured a purchase order to deliver 10 eBee X lightweight mapping drone systems, batteries, backpacks, and limited spares, to a leading distributor in Brazil, Santiago & Cintra, the selected supplier for the National Department of Transport Infrastructure. The eBee X drones will be used in projects to monitor highway rights-of-way and support construction control and inspection for Brazil's road network, currently the fourth largest in the world with a total infrastructure of over 1.7 million kilometers.

08:54 EDT Complete Solaria announces $10M investment from StarCharge - Complete Solar announced that StarCharge has made a $10M investment in the convertible debenture previously announced by Complete Solar on June 17, 2024.

08:47 EDT Sypris Solutions subsidiary awarded long-term contract extension with truck OEM - Sypris Technologies, a subsidiary of Sypris Solutions, announced that it has entered into a long-term, sole-source extension to its current supply agreement with one of the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturers. The agreement provides for a continuation of Sypris' Ultra Axle Shafts for use in the assemblies of the customer's branded drive axles for medium and heavy-duty trucks. The components produced by Sypris are essential to the performance of the drive axles of heavy-duty vehicles. The new agreement is effective immediately and once completed represents over 25 years of continuous supply of products to this customer and its subsidiaries.

08:47 EDT Oklo completes successful end-to-end demonstration of fuel recycling process - Oklo announced the successful completion of the first end-to-end demonstration of the key stages of its advanced fuel recycling process, in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory. This achievement marks a significant step forward in Oklo's efforts to scale up its fuel recycling capabilities and deploy a commercial-scale recycling facility to increase advanced reactor fuel supplies, and enhance fuel cost effectiveness. Supported by a $5M cost-share award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy under the Optimizing Nuclear Waste and Advanced Reactor Disposal Systems Program , this project aims to facilitate the deployment of a commercial-scale advanced fuel recycling facility. "We know that recycling is an important path to reduce high-level waste, and advance nuclear energy with safe and sustainable domestic fuel stocks," said ARPA-E Director Evelyn N. Wang. "Through ARPA-E's ONWARDS Program, Oklo is working to achieve these goals. This milestone marks an important step forward in the team's progress as they work towards economically viable nuclear fuel recycling." Oklo's fuel recycling technology is engineered to extract over 90% of the remaining potential energy from used fuel, which is expected to be utilized in Oklo powerhouses to generate clean energy. It incorporates unique proliferation-resistant features, including maintaining the consolidation of transuranic materials.

08:42 EDT Tharimmune appoints David Clarke as strategic advisor - Tharimmune announces the appointment of David Clarke as a Strategic Advisor to the Company's executive management team. Clarke brings to Tharimmune extensive valuable experience, including leading and serving on the Boards of Directors of several international and U.S.-based organizations. His comprehensive understanding of corporate governance, financial and strategic planning, and leading and investing in multiple industries, including biotechnology, enhances Tharimmune's commitment to deliver innovative treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. Currently Mr. Clarke oversees various business interests through his family holding company and is an active investor in private and public biotechnology companies.

08:39 EDT Canadian Net REIT announces sale of five gas station properties in Quebec - Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust announced thesale of five gas station properties in Quebec, Qc. Total consideration from those sales was approximately $12.8M, excluding closing costs. Following those dispositions, the Trust owns 93 properties, including those in joint ventures.

08:38 EDT Yield10 Bioscience grants Nufarm a commercial license to Omega-3 assets - Yield10 Bioscience announced that the Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, and License Agreement with Nuseed Nutritional US, granting Nufarm a commercial license to certain Omega-3 intellectual property assets, materials and know-how for producing oil in Camelina. Under the License Agreement, Nufarm will pay Yield10 up to USD $5 million. Nufarm and Yield10 have additionally agreed to immediately negotiate exclusively with each other for the sale of Yield10's remaining assets to Nufarm. The asset sale will require an affirmative vote from the shareholders of Yield10, and a special meeting of shareholders will be convened to seek that vote following execution of the asset purchase agreement. "Yield10 camelina assets and know-how in both omega 3 and bioenergy sectors have a unique fit with Nufarm's Value Beyond Yield and platform strategies," said Greg Hunt, CEO and Group Executive of Nufarm. "While the program still requires further development time and investment before achieving revenue, it offers a broadened portfolio of solutions for our customers both at the farm-gate and with end-use customers."

08:37 EDT AmpliTech Group issues letter to shareholders - AmpliTech Group announced the release of a Letter to Shareholders from its CEO/CT Fawad Maqbool. "I am addressing all current and potential shareholders of AMPG to update you on recent developments concerning our company... I would like to inform you all that I am quite cognizant of your concerns... I would like to take the opportunity to assure you that the company does not have any investments in digital currencies, nor do we make it a practice to do so. It was a one-time occurrence as mentioned in our public 8K statement, and it will not recur... Our trajectory remains the same. We have developed and released several disruptive new products for Public and Private 5G, LEO Satellite constellations, MMICs, quantum computing, satellite ground stations, drones, etc...We continue to: Advance technology development and maintain a leadership position in 5G, Quantum computing, Satellites, Ground stations, Base stations, Teleports, Drones, missiles, and more. See a robust pipeline of leads. Sell new products in our online store... In closing, as we move forward, we will remain vigilant and proactive in identifying opportunities for growth and value creation. We will leverage our strengths, learn from our experiences, and adapt to changing market conditions. Together, we will navigate any challenges, seize opportunities, and emerge even stronger."

08:35 EDT Verb's MARKET.live to offer exclusive simulcast stream of "The Collab: - Verb Technology Company will offer the exclusive simulcast stream of "The Collab," an innovative event featuring David Meltzer and Dane Cook, on July 19th at the YouTube Theater. This live Q&A and audience-driven event promises a unique blend of humor and inspiration as Dane Cook's sharp wit intersects with David Meltzer's insightful business and personal development advice. Hosted by comedian Rob Riggle, attendees will enjoy engaging discussions and heartfelt conversations with special guests including NBA star Baron Davis and NFL legend Marshall Faulk among many others from various industries, including thought leaders, billionaires, millionaires, entrepreneurs, celebrities, athletes, and entertainers.

08:34 EDT Byrna Technologies equips Buenos Aires with 500 Byrna SDs - Byrna Technologies announced the city of Buenos Aires has purchased 500 Byrna SDs for its police force. This large order was highlighted in a recent demonstration held by the City of Buenos Aires and Mayor Jorge Macri, where they demonstrated the training of police officers with these new less-lethal devices at the Higher Institute of Public Security, ISSP. The City Police will integrate 500 Byrna SDs into their operations next month, with personnel already undergoing training.

08:33 EDT Kairous announces additional contribution to extend period for combination - Kairous Acquisition announced today that Kairous Asia Limited, the Company's initial public offering sponsor, has deposited into the Company's trust account an aggregate of $50,000, in order to extend the period of time the Company has to complete a business combination for an additional one month period, from July 16, 2024 to August 16, 2024. The Company issued a promissory note to Sponsor with a principal amount equal to the amount deposited. The promissory note bears no interest and will be converted into the Company's ordinary shares at a price of $10.10 per share at the closing of a business combination by the Company. The purpose of the extension is to provide time for the Company to complete a business combination.

08:32 EDT La Rosa Holdings reports 15% increase in transaction volume in Q2 vs Q1 - La Rosa Holdings reported that is has achieved a 15% sequential increase in transaction volume in Q2 2024 compared to Q1 2024. Additionally, the transaction aggregate value increased by approximately 21%, reaching just under $110 million. Joe La Rosa, CEO of the Company, commented, "We are thrilled to announce this significant growth in transaction volume and value. This 15% sequential increase in Q2 2024 compared to Q1 2024 is a testament to our strategic initiatives, the hard work of our dedicated team, and an increase in transaction volume due to a significant rise in our agent count. Last month, we achieved a historic milestone and onboarded numerous new agents to the La Rosa team. We believe our success reflects our unique, innovative, and agent-friendly revenue share model. In our view, our model revolutionizes existing revenue share structures in the real estate industry by enabling agents to earn revenue immediately without restrictions. We believe that it is transparent, easy to understand, and highly agent-centric, offering unparalleled opportunities for agents to thrive and succeed in the competitive real estate market."

08:31 EDT Globus Medical receives FDA 510k clearance for ExcelsiusFlex, ACTIFY - Globus Medical announced it recently received 510(k) clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, for ExcelsiusFlex with Total Knee Arthroplasty, TKA, application. This new robotic navigation platform joins the already best-in-class Excelsius ecosystem, designed to offer surgeons control, resection accuracy, and procedural flexibility in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Additionally, ACTIFY 3D Total Knee System, the latest in implant technology that will pair with ExcelsiusFlex, has also received 510(k) clearance. "With the addition of ExcelsiusFlex and ACTIFY 3D, we look forward to introducing next generation robotic technology along with the next generation of implant technology to the orthopedic market," commented Dan Scavilla, president and CEO of Globus Medical. "The precision, efficiency, and flexibility these systems offer will help to provide surgeons a best-in-class solution for treating patients."

08:23 EDT Sphere 3D to no longer seek to impose liability for impersonation of CFO - Gryphon Digital Mining (GRYP) is providing an update regarding its ongoing litigation with Sphere 3D (ANY). On June 27, 2024, during a court conference in the litigation proceedings between Gryphon Digital Mining and Sphere 3D Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Sphere conceded that it was no longer seeking to impose any liability against Gryphon for events that occurred in early 2023 in which a hostile threat actor impersonated Sphere's CFO in an email sent to both Sphere and Gryphon's personnel and requested the transfer of twenty-six bitcoin from a Sphere wallet controlled by Gryphon. As background, Sphere filed an action against Gryphon on April 7, 2023. Sphere's claims were, in part, predicated on allegations that Gryphon was responsible for the hostile threat actor's conduct in early 2023. After the incident, Gryphon engaged a third-party to perform an independent forensic investigation, which concluded that Gryphon's internal security systems were not breached. Sphere's concession during the June 27, 2024 court conference means that Gryphon is no longer subject to liability on the basis of these allegations. Gryphon believes that Sphere's remaining allegations also lack merit and will vigorously defend against them. Meanwhile, Gryphon continues to aggressively pursue its own claim against Sphere, which is predicated on Sphere's flagrant and repeated breaches of the MSA. Gryphon is seeking approximately $45M in damages from Sphere for Sphere's breaches of the MSA. The parties are in the early stages of discovery in this action.

08:18 EDT Oxbridge Re Holdings announces strategic partnership with Zoniqx - Oxbridge Re Holdings announced that its Web3-focused subsidiary, SurancePlus has signed a partnership agreement with Zoniqx, a pioneer in digital asset management who previously announced a partnership with Ripple and PwC as part of their Tokenization & Digital Assets Scale program. This collaboration aims to further expand the footprint of SurancePlus as it revolutionizes the reinsurance industry by leveraging blockchain technology to tokenize reinsurance contracts and facilitate their deployment on blockchain ecosystems. Additionally SurancePlus, a subsidiary of Oxbridge, completed a private placement of 287,705 Participation Shares represented by the digital tokens, EpsilonCat Re under a 3-year Participation Share Investment Contract, raising approximately $2.88 million. The offering is the second year of the Cat Re series. The tokens have been issued on the Avalanche blockchain and have a targeted 42% return.

08:17 EDT Meristem Communities announces agreement with Envoy Technologies - Meristem Communities has announced an agreement with Envoy Technologies, a Blink Charging entity and leading provider of electric vehicle car-sharing services and community-based electric vehicles. Under the agreement, Envoy will deploy EV carsharing services at Indigo, a new 235-acre neighborhood in Fort Bend County, Texas. Envoy integrates with multi-resident communities to provide turnkey EV sharing and charging stations as an amenity. Residents of Indigo will have access to Envoy's Rivian R1T vehicle via the Envoy mobile app, and can book their vehicle by the minute, hour, or day. Residents can also charge the vehicles at dedicated ground-level stations on-site at no additional cost

08:15 EDT Cassava Sciences CEO Remi Barbier resigns, Rick Barry named Executive Chairman - Cassava Sciences announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Richard Barry as Executive Chairman of the Board and as the Company's principal executive officer, effective immediately. The Company is undertaking a search for a new permanent CEO. Mr. Barry succeeds Remi Barbier, the Company's Chairman, President and CEO, who resigned from the Company and the Board. Mr. Barbier will remain employed by the Company until September 13, 2024 in a non-executive capacity, without duties or responsibilities. Lindsay Burns, Ph.D., SVP, Neuroscience, at Cassava is also leaving the employ of the Company. Cassava and Dr. Burns have agreed that she step down from her role with the Company, effective immediately. Following her separation from the Company and for a one-year period, Dr. Burns will furnish consulting services as, and to the extent, reasonably requested by Cassava for purposes of providing information and support for scientific research and/or obtaining governmental approval for the Company's products. Cassava may, in its sole discretion, extend the term of the consulting agreement for up to an additional year. Mr. Barry has served as a director of Cassava since June 2021. He was a founding member of Eastbourne Capital Management LLC and served as a Managing General Partner and Portfolio Manager from 1999 to its close in 2010. In addition to the leadership changes, the Board has added Pierre Gravier as the Chair of the Audit Committee and Robert Anderson, Jr. as the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

08:13 EDT Processa Pharmaceuticals appoints Skibsted as CFO - Processa Pharmaceuticals (PCSA) announces the appointment of Russell Skibsted as Chief Financial Officer, CFO, effective immediately. Skibsted succeeds James Stanker, who is retiring and staying on in an advisory role to assist in the transition. Most recently, Skibsted served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Alimera Sciences (ALIM).

08:11 EDT Verizon, Washington Nationals announce new partnership - Verizon and the Washington Nationals announced a new marketing and philanthropic partnership, solidifying Verizon as a proud partner of the Nationals. This strategic alliance unlocks significant potential for both partners to build and enhance an unforgettable experience for Nationals fans, as well as bolster contributions to the community in the District of Columbia and beyond. "We are incredibly proud of our sponsorship of the Nationals and how it will bring together two organizations with winning traditions," said Chris Flood, Atlantic North Market President, Verizon. "We look forward to how we will show up both inside and outside of Nationals Park, and how this partnership will allow both Verizon and The Nationals to have an even greater impact on this vibrant community through our combined dedication to local philanthropy."

08:10 EDT Priceline, Cover Genius announce global partnership - Booking Holdings' Priceline and Cover Genius have announced a new North American partnership to introduce enhanced travel protection for flights, hotels, rental cars and packages booked with Priceline. By integrating with Cover Genius' global distribution platform, XCover, Priceline's customers enjoy several customer-centric features that elevate the travel protection experience. "We're excited to collaborate with Priceline to bring our customer-centric protection to their travelers," said Angus McDonald, CEO and Co-founder of Cover Genius. "We avoid 'off-the-shelf' offerings and build technology-driven solutions that we constantly test and iterate for the best possible insurance experience. This helps develop meaningful touchpoints with customers and drives additional revenue for our partners - in fact, after launching with us, Priceline saw an increase in insurance attach rates."

08:08 EDT Vaccinex to report topline data for SIGNAL-AD Phase 1b/2 trial of Pepinemab - Vaccinex, announced that it will present topline data for its randomized, double-blind, phase 1b/2 SIGNAL-AD study of pepinemab treatment for Alzheimer's disease at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Philadelphia, July 28- Aug 1, 2024. Eric Siemers, MD, Principal Investigator, will present results of the study in a Featured Research Session. Vaccinex scientists discovered and published that SEMA4D, a molecule that binds to high affinity plexin-B1 receptors predominantly expressed on astrocytes in the brain, is highly upregulated on stressed or damaged neurons during progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Key outcomes of the SIGNAL-AD study will include safety and tolerability and the impact of pepinemab treatment on brain metabolic activity determined by FDG-PET and astrocyte reactivity as detected by plasma levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a molecule known to be released into blood by reactive astrocytes and believed to be a key biomarker of disease progression

08:08 EDT Anixa Biosciences announces Japanese patent on breast cancer vaccine technology - Anixa Biosciences' collaborator Cleveland Clinic has received a "Decision to Grant" notice from the Japan Patent Office for the patent application titled "Vaccine Adjuvants and Formulations." The vaccine is currently being studied in a phase one clinical trial at Cleveland Clinic. This vaccine technology was invented in the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute. Cleveland Clinic exclusively licensed this technology to Anixa Biosciences.

08:05 EDT InMode announces additional FDA 510(k) clearance for the Morpheus8 technology - InMode is pleased to announce an additional FDA 510(k) clearance for the Morpheus8 technology. Morpheus8 is the first and only fractional radiofrequency microneedling technology cleared for contraction of soft tissue. The U.S. FDA has cleared the use of the Morpheus8 Applicators for the delivery of fractional radiofrequency use in dermatologic skin procedures where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue or hemostasis is needed. This FDA action expands Morpheus8's existing FDA clearance, emphasizing the versatility of the technology for physicians and patients.

08:03 EDT Longeveron receives Fast Track Designation for Lomecel-B in mild Alzheimer's - Longeveron announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designation to Lomecel-B for the treatment of mild Alzheimer's Disease. Lomecel-B is a proprietary, scalable, allogeneic, investigational cellular therapy being evaluated across multiple indications, including Alzheimer's Disease, Aging-related Frailty and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

08:02 EDT IBM awarded five-year contract from USAID - IBM announced that it has secured a five-year contract with $26M in initial funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development to support its Cybersecurity Protection and Response program aimed to expand and enhance the agency's cybersecurity response support for host governments in the Europe and Eurasia region. IBM's multidisciplinary team will provide the continuous assistance needed to help USAID strengthen the ability of host government agencies and critical infrastructure operators to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks.

07:38 EDT Mattr Corp. commences production at two new Composite Technologies facilities - Mattr Corp. has completed the establishment of two new Composite Technologies manufacturing sites. In April 2023 the Company announced its intent to direct approximately $60M of growth capital to establish an additional production facility for its Flexpipe business, located in Rockwall, Texas and an additional production facility for its Xerxes business, located in Blythewood, South Carolina. Each of these new sites were substantially completed during the first half of 2024, with both locations commencing production early in July, consistent with original budget and schedule. These facilities will be initially populated with approximately 50% of the production equipment that their footprints are ultimately capable of accommodating and are expected to approach normalized levels of production in 2026. In combination, the Company continues to believe that these facilities, with initial equipment installations, have the potential to enable over $100M of incremental annual revenue generating capacity as they approach efficient utilization levels. The Company retains the option of adding further production equipment to each site in a phased manner in future years. In addition to these two new facilities, the Company's total capital spend in 2023 and guidance for 2024 included a variety of incremental modernization, expansion and optimization initiatives. Within the Composites Technologies segment, among these investments is a dedicated, fully automated storm water chamber production line, co-located within the Rockwall, Texas facility; expansion of Xerxes production capacity within the Company's existing Edmonton site; and modernization of the Company's existing Xerxes production site in Seguin, Texas. Collectively these additional enhancements to the segment's production footprint are expected to further improve total output, elevate efficiency and contribute to higher segment margins over time. The Company continues to progress on the relocation, bifurcation and modernization of its Connection Technologies segment North American production footprint, with two new production sites in Fairfield, Ohio and Vaughan, Ontario still expected to be completed by mid-2025.

07:33 EDT Gauzy implements 'Smart-Vision' CMS in portion of buses in city of Paris - Gauzy announced the implementation of its cutting-edge 'Smart-Vision' Camera Monitoring System, CMS, on a portion of the city of Paris's buses, beginning with the 2024 Olympics. According to Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee and Ile-de-France Mobilites, the key goal this year is to enable every spectator to get to the Olympic and Paralympic venues using public transport. With an expected 11.3 million visitors according to Je t'aime, Paris' official tourism board, including athletes, tourists, and spectators from around the world, Gauzy's innovative technology aims to play a crucial role in reducing the risk of on road accidents to enhance public safety with its products that mitigate blind spots and optimize drivers' visibility in city buses.

07:32 EDT Lilium reaffirms 2026 target for first customer deliveries - Lilium confirmed its delivery schedule allowing first customer deliveries in 2026 and provided additional program details. This confirmation is based on a recent program review that considered the testing and validation requirements needed prior to first manned flight, which is now scheduled for early 2025, and the readiness of its support organization and training devices for its customers. Lilium is currently building the first two aircraft at its production facility in Gauting, south of Munich, Germany. The company has been working with FlightSafety International on an engineering simulator which will be delivered early next year. The simulator will be used to support the type certification program. Lilium Jet MSN 2, now scheduled to perform the first manned flight in early 2025, is being assembled with its fuselage, landing gear, wing, canard, and electric harnesses. This change, driven by the delivery of certain parts of flight-testing equipment, component parts of the aircraft, and software, is due to the indirect effects of the ongoing industry-wide supply chain constraints. This shift has no material impact on customer deliveries, program planning, or total program costs. Assembly of MSN 3 will start later this year and the aircraft will join the certification flight test campaign in 2025.

07:30 EDT Alterity Therapeutics reports interim data from ATH434-202 Phase 2 trial in MSA - Alterity Therapeutics announced positive interim data from the ATH434-202 open-label Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with multiple system atrophy. ATH434 has been shown preclinically to reduce alpha-synuclein pathology and preserve neuronal function by restoring normal iron balance in the brain. The interim analysis included clinical and biomarker data on 7 participants treated with ATH434 for 6 months and neuroimaging data on 3 participants who were treated for 12 months. After 6 months of treatment, 43% of participants showed improvement on the UMSARS1, indicating reduced disability on activities of daily living. Over the same period, 29% of participants had stable or improved neurological symptoms as assessed by both the treating physician and the patient. Importantly, the clinical responders on average had reduced accumulation of iron on MRI in the substantia nigra, putamen and globus pallidus and stable levels of NFL, a marker of axonal injury, when compared to participants who declined. A total of 10 participants have been enrolled in the trial. The interim data reported today is from the 7 patients who have completed six months of treatment with ATH434, 3 of whom have also completed 12 months of treatment. Only neuroimaging data are available from month 12. The participants in the trial were diagnosed with MSA using a multimodal approach and treated with oral ATH434 75 mg twice daily. Clinical, biomarker and safety assessments were conducted during the study. While the data are preliminary, the Company sees a positive trend with the current participant patient outcomes. Clinical Assessments at Month 6: Unified MSA Rating Scale Part I, historical review: 43% of participants had lower scores on the UMSARS that assesses activities of daily living affected in MSA, such as speech, swallowing, walking and urinary/bowel function. In the trial, mean UMSARS scores increased from baseline to 6 months by 1.7 points. These study data compare favorably to historical data in a similar MSA population that demonstrated an increase of 3.9 points over 6 months. Global Impression of Change: 29% of participants stabilized or improved on the Clinical Global Impression of Change scale, which asks the investigator to evaluate overall neurological symptoms as compared to immediately before starting therapy. 29% of participants also stabilized or improved on the Patient Global Impression of Change scale which asks the patient to evaluate their overall neurological symptoms as compared to immediately before starting therapy. Safety: In general, ATH434 was well tolerated by study participants and most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. No serious adverse events related to study drug were reported. Biomarker Assessments at Month 6 and Month 12: MRI Biomarkers: Brain Volume: At Month 6, there were similar declines in brain volume, as assessed by the MSA-atrophy index in all participants consistent with the nature of MSA. However, in the clinical responders, brain volume assessed by the MSA-AI was stable between Month 6 and Month 12. Iron content in the substantia nigra was stable over 12 months in the clinical responders. Myoinositol is an exploratory biomarker of glial cell pathology in MSA. Treatment with ATH434 led to smaller increases in myoinositol in clinical responders compared to participants who worsened. Fluid Biomarkers: Neurofilament Light Chain is a marker of axonal injury in neurons and has been shown to correlate with disease severity in many neurological diseases. In the trial, clinical responders had stable spinal fluid NfL levels on average whereas those who declined clinically had increased spinal fluid NfL levels.

07:20 EDT Opthea forms Medical Advisory Board with retinal disease experts - Opthea announces the formation of its Medical Advisory Board composed of 10 retina thought leaders from countries around the world including the US, Argentina, Australia, China, France, Germany, and Israel. Chaired by Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, Chief Medical Advisor of Opthea, the MAB's role is to advise the Company on opportunities to address the unmet medical needs of patients with retinal diseases and to inform the Company's development efforts, such as the sozinibercept clinical program in wet AMD. The formation of the MAB comes at a crucial stage for the Company as it prepares for Phase 3 topline data read-out of its two pivotal trials of sozinibercept in wet AMD and continues to advance BLA and go-to-market preparations. Opthea's newly formed MAB consists of the following members: David S. Boyer, MD, is a Board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in the treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous, and a leading clinical researcher for new treatments in macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. He is Senior Partner at the Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, and an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology with the University of Southern California/Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. Andrew Chang, AM, MBBS, PhD FRANZCO, FRACS, is a vitreoretinal surgeon and ophthalmologist. He holds academic appointments of Conjoint Professor of the Department of Surgery UNSW and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. He is a consultant ophthalmologist and the Head of Ophthalmology at the Sydney Eye Hospital, and the Medical Director of Sydney Retina Clinic, Australia. Frank G. Holz, MD, FEBO, FARVO, is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Bonn, Germany. Anat Loewenstein, MD, MHA, is Professor and Director of the Division of Ophthalmology at the Tel Aviv Medical Center, VP Ambulatory Services at the Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sidney Fox Chair of Ophthalmology at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, Israel, and President of EURETINA. Dante Pieramici, MD, is a Managing Partner at California Retina Consultants and a member of the Medical Leadership Board of the Retina Consultants of America. Carl Regillo, MD, is the Director of the Retina Service Unit of Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine, as well as founder and former Director of the Wills Eye Clinical Retina Research Unit. Patricio G. Schlottmann, MD, is Ophthalmology Director and Retina Specialist at the Medical University, as well as Head of Clinical Research at the Charles Research Center of Ophthalmology, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tien Y Wong, MD, PhD, is a practicing retinal specialist with a research portfolio on retinal diseases, ocular imaging, artificial intelligence and digital technology. He serves as Chair Professor and the Founding Head of Tsinghua Medicine at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Eric Souied MD, PhD, is the Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Intercommunal Hospital of Creteil and Henri Mondor Hospital. He is also Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Paris-Est Creteil.

07:14 EDT Vicinity Motor receives follow-on orders for three Vicinity Classic buses - Vicinity Motor announced the receipt of new follow-on purchase orders from two Quebec, Canada transit operators for three Vicinity Classic buses. Per the terms of the supply agreements, Robert Paquette Autobus et Fils Inc. ordered one, and Les Autobus Transcobec ordered two Vicinity Classic Clean Diesel buses, which will be in service with Canadian public transit agency EXO. The Vicinity Classic buses - for delivery in 2025 - will service the communities of Mirabel and Saint-Jerome.

07:12 EDT Rockwell Automation announces Christian Rothe as CFO - Rockwell Automation (ROK) announced that Christian Rothe will join the company as senior vice president and chief financial officer on August 19. He will report to Rockwell chairman and CEO Blake Moret. He joins Rockwell after spending 13 years at Graco (GGG).

07:07 EDT MindMed announces issuance of new patent for MM120 ODT - Mind Medicine announced the issuance of a new patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office USPTO covering MM120 or lysergide. MM120 is currently in clinical development for adults with generalized anxiety disorder GAD and presents opportunities for treating a range of additional brain health disorders. The newly issued patent includes claims covering the pharmaceutical formulation, methods of manufacturing and method of treatment for MM120 ODT, MindMed's proprietary and pharmaceutically optimized form of lysergide or LSD . The pharmaceutical formulation patent is the first US patent issued on the MM120 ODT formulation and extends the Company's intellectual property protection for MM120 through 2041..."We have adopted an effective, multi-pronged strategy to protect MM120 and its potential uses across a number of large therapeutic indications like GAD and other brain health disorders," said Rob Barrow, Chief Executive Officer of MindMed. "The issuance of this patent extends our IP protection for MM120 to at least 2041 and, more importantly, covers the unique properties of our MM120 ODT formulation. These clinical features underscore our dedication to creating treatments that are effective and optimize the patient's experience. Our PK bridging study reported earlier this year demonstrated these advantageous properties and support this formulation's use in our Phase 3 clinical trials, and, if ultimately approved, for clinical use."

07:04 EDT CytoSorbents to present at inaugural AAPI World Health Congress - CytoSorbents Corporation will present at the 1st Annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin World Health Congress, taking place on July 18-22, 2024 at the Mariott Marquis Hotel in New York, NY. This event will host over 3,000 physicians, healthcare professionals, and leaders from across the world for a dynamic exchange of ideas and a collaborative effort to shape the future of healthcare on a global scale. Dr. Phillip Chan, CEO of CytoSorbents, will make a company presentation to the audience and was invited to separately participate in a panel discussion entitled "Convergence of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare" on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Dr. Chan commented, "I am pleased to have an opportunity to discuss, with my medical colleagues at AAPI, the important role that CytoSorb and our other blood purification technologies are playing in the treatment of critically ill and cardiac surgery patients around the world. I am particularly excited to increase the awareness of CytoSorbents and our therapies amongst so many innovators in so many different fields of medicine. In addition, I look forward to sharing some thoughts during the panel discussion on how artificial intelligence can impact the field of critical care - one of the most challenging and costly areas of medicine today. For example, although AI is currently the prevailing buzz word, back in 2012 we were selected by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as part of an academic and industry consortium to participate in its ambitious Dialysis-Like Therapeutics program to treat sepsis - the overwhelming immune response to an infection that is responsible for one in every five deaths worldwide each year. At that time, DARPA was already looking to develop a "smart" machine that could diagnose sepsis and its various causes, and selectively implement blood purification to remove the offending agents such as pathogens, cytokines, and bacterial toxins, to treat the disease. As part of the initial selection process, CytoSorbents and major industry collaborators in critical care that had access to an abundance of real-time patient data, worked together to propose a system that could not only diagnose and treat the disease, but could also correlate physiologic responses and clinical outcomes data, and through machine learning and AI, learn how to improve treatment with each successive patient. Although AI technology and computing power were not sufficient back then to do this effectively, it is a much different story today. This is just one of a number of exciting potential applications of AI in critical care that we see in the future."

07:04 EDT Unicycive Therapeutics granted patent on UNI-494 from USPTO - Unicycive Therapeutics announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,036,211 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO, for UNI-494. The patent, valid until 2040, secures protection of a method of treating a disease or a condition selected from acute kidney injury or contrast induced nephropathy by administering the UNI-494 compound. The UNI-494 compound covered in the method of use claims is not limited to a particular salt, dose or type of administration. "We are pleased to receive this patent from the USPTO, which ensures intellectual property protection for many years to come," said Shalabh Gupta, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Unicycive. "This Method of Use patent for UNI-494 is an important component of our strategy to become a leader in the development of drugs that target kidney disease. UNI-494 is currently in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial and recently received Orphan Drug Designation in Delayed Graft Function, a form of acute kidney injury. This patent helps protect our approach and expands our portfolio as we look to develop novel treatments for kidney diseases."

07:03 EDT Acurx granted new patent for ibezapolstat to treat CDI - Acurx announced that a new patent has been granted by the USPTO on July 16 relating to ibezapolstat and its use to treat C. difficile Infection - CDI - while reducing the recurrence of the infection, as well as improving the health of the gut microbiome. This is the latest in the series of granted patents and pending patent applications that Acrux has filed to protect its proprietary technologies in the field of antimicrobials. Acurx previously had a successful FDA End-of- Phase 2 Meeting and Phase 3 Readiness for ibezapolstat for the Treatment of C. difficile Infection. Agreement with FDA was reached on key elements to move forward with its international Phase 3 clinical trial program. Agreement was also reached with FDA on the complete non-clinical and clinical development plan for filing of a New Drug Application for marketing approval. Planning continues to advance ibezapolstat into international Phase 3 clinical trials for treatment of C. difficile Infection. Acurx is also now preparing to submit requests for guidance to initiate clinical trials in the EU, the UK, Japan and Canada.

07:02 EDT Cytomed Therapeutics acquires cord blood bank license, assets - CytoMed Therapeutics has, through its wholly owned subsidiary, IPSC Depository Sdn Bhd acquired the licence and certain assets of Cellsafe International Sdn Bhd, CISB, a Malaysian cord blood bank for a cash consideration of approximately RM 2.3 million or US$ 490,000 to be funded from internal cash resources. The price consideration includes a cord blood banking licence issued by Malaysia's Ministry of Health, cryopreservation equipment with more than 12,000 cord blood units and two freehold real estate properties totalling 189 square metres in which the operation is situated. The Company is only acquiring certain assets of CISB, free from encumbrances and will not be responsible for, amongst other things, the quality and/or viability of the CBUs or past liabilities. As such, the financial impact of the acquisition is not expected to be material. The Company intends to seek strategic partners in the future to jointly develop and grow this subsidiary as a specialised umbilical cord blood-derived immune cell bank offering cancer-fighting gammadelta T cells and NK cells.

06:52 EDT U.S. Bancorp backs FY24 NII view $16.1B-$16.4B - Sees mid single digit growth in noninterest income in FY24 vs. FY23. Sees noninterest expense $16.8B or less in FY24.

06:49 EDT U.S. Bancorp reports Q2 net interest margin 2.67% vs. 2.90% last year - Average total loans increased 1.0% and average total deposits increased 2.2% on a linked quarter basis. Net interest income, linked quarter, increased 0.9% on a taxable equivalent basis. Noninterest income increased 2.4% from the second quarter of a year ago and increased 4.3% on a linked quarter basis, as adjusted. *Return on tangible common equity of 18.6%, return on average assets of 0.98%, and efficiency ratio of 60.7%, each as adjusted. CET1 capital ratio of 10.3% at June 30, 2024, compared with 10.0% at March 31, 2024.

06:33 EDT Aditxt and Evofem restate merger agreement towards September 30 closing - Aditxt (ADTX), its wholly owned subsidiary Adifem, and Evofem (EVFM) amended and restated their Merger Agreement. This amended and restated Merger Agreement, among others, addresses pre-closing issues critical, including interim financing needs. The other revisions to the Merger Agreement, alongside additional interim financing for Evofem, include substituting cash for Aditxt's common stock as the consideration for Evofem's common stock in the merger and additional changes relating to it. Aditxt and Evofem are working to close the contemplated transaction in the second half of 2024. The closing of the transaction between Aditxt and Evofem remains subject to the successful satisfaction of a number of closing conditions, including, but not limited to, Aditxt securing sufficient financing to fund its obligations at closing. No assurance can be given that all of the conditions to closing will be obtained or satisfied or that the transaction will ultimately close. Evofem recently acquired Solosec oral granules from Lupin. Under the transaction terms, Lupin can receive a potential total consideration of up to $84M based on future contingent milestones.

06:05 EDT XPO, Inc launches expansion of cross-border Mexico LTL service - XPO announced an expansion of its cross-border service between the US and Mexico with the launch of XPO Mexico+. The company has added more capacity, coverage and technology to its long-standing cross-border routes in response to growing customer demand, as supply chains shift from overseas to North American production. XPO Mexico+ builds on XPO's four decades of experience with US-Mexico transport.

05:52 EDT Fulton Financial sees FY24 NII $925M-$950M vs. prior view $790M-$820M - Sees FY24 provision for credit losses $40M-$60M vs. prior view $45M-$65M, non-interest income $240M-$260M vs. prior view $235M-$250M, and non-interest expense $750M-$770M vs. prior view $670M-$690M. Sees FY24 effective tax rate 16%-18% vs. prior view 17%-18%. Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call presentation slides.

05:45 EDT EssilorLuxottica to acquire Supreme from VF Corp. for $1.5B in cash - EssilorLuxottica (ESLOY) and VF Corporation (VFC) announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for EssilorLuxottica to acquire the Supreme brand from VF for $1.5B in cash. The transaction is expected to close by the end of CY2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The Supreme brand runs a digital-first business and 17 stores in the U.S., Asia and Europe. The sale of Supreme is expected to be dilutive to VF's earnings per share in fiscal 2025. J.P. Morgan and Latham and Watkins are serving as exclusive financial and legal advisors to EssilorLuxottica on the transaction, respectively. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as lead financial advisor and UBS Investment Bank is serving as financial advisor to VF. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal advisor to VF. Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO and Paul du Saillant, Deputy CEO at EssilorLuxottica said: "We see an incredible opportunity in bringing an iconic brand like Supreme into our Company. It perfectly aligns with our innovation and development journey, offering us a direct connection to new audiences, languages and creativity." Reference Link

05:37 EDT Genentech announces results from two arms of CT-996 trial - Genentech, a member of Roche, announced topline results from two arms of an ongoing multi-part Phase I clinical trial for CT-996, an investigational, once-daily, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The data showed that treatment with CT-996 in participants with obesity and without type 2 diabetes resulted in a clinically meaningful placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of -6.1% within four weeks. The full study data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting. CT-996 was well tolerated, with mostly mild or moderate gastrointestinal-related adverse events, consistent with the safety profile of the incretin drug class. There were no treatment discontinuations related to the study drug. The study results also showed that blood levels of CT-996 were largely unaffected either during fasting or after a standardized high-fat meal. Thus, CT-996 could potentially be dosed without regard to meal timing, thereby affording greater dosing flexibility for patients. Based on the study data, CT-996 is anticipated to be used not only as a therapy for achieving glycemic control and inducing weight loss, but also potentially for oral weight maintenance therapy following weight loss induced by injectables.

05:32 EDT Adverum Biotechnologies presents 26-week interim analysis of Ixo-vec trial - Adverum Biotechnologies announced results from the landmark 26-week interim analysis of the ongoing LUNA Phase 2 trial of Ixo-vec in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. These data are being presented by Charles Wykoff at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Retinal Specialists in Stockholm, Sweden. Both the 6E10 and 2E11 doses demonstrated maintenance of visual and anatomic outcomes. Notably, both doses resulted in a potentially best-in-class percentage of patients remaining free of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, injections and reduction in annualized anti-VEGF injections and, with data trending similar to or better than the OPTIC study. Ixo-vec demonstrated a significant proportion of patients injection free at both doses at week 26. 6E10: 76% of patients injection free; 2E11: 83% of patients injection free; Ixo-vec demonstrated a significant reduction in mean annualized anti-VEGF injections at week 26. 6E10: 90% reduction in mean annualized anti-VEGF injections and 2E11: 95% reduction in mean annualized anti-VEGF injections. Visual, or BCVA, and Anatomic, or CST, Outcomes: Visual acuity was maintained at both dose levels - least squares mean BCVA change from baseline at week 26: 6E10: -1.1, 2E11: -2.2. Fluid control was maintained at both dose levels - least squares mean CST change from baseline at week 26: 6E10: -12.6, 2E11: -12.0. Sub-group with CST greater than 300 microm at baseline: -30.2. Ixo-vec was well tolerated at both doses. No Ixo-vec-related serious adverse events. No episcleritis, vasculitis, retinitis, choroiditis, vascular occlusion, or hypotony. All Ixo-vec-related adverse events were either mild or moderate. The most common Ixo-vec-related adverse events were dose-dependent anterior inflammation responsive to local corticosteroids and anterior pigmentary changes with no impact on vision. Improved inflammatory profile observed with enhanced corticosteroid prophylaxis in LUNA as compared to OPTIC. Oral prednisone did not demonstrate incremental benefit. Ozurdex without difluprednate did not provide adequate prophylaxis. All of the patients receiving the difluprednate-alone prophylactic regimen have completed their prophylaxis, enabling evaluation of this regimen at the interim analysis. Inflammation was dose-dependent and, when present, was responsive to local corticosteroids. 6E10: 100% of patients have no or minimal inflammation at the 26-week timepoint. No participants at 6E10 received corticosteroids for treatment of inflammation beyond the scheduled prophylaxis. 2E11: 90% of patients have no or minimal inflammation at the 26-week timepoint. Topical difluprednate effectively managed inflammation when present. For the LUNA interim analysis, a pre-specified Patient Preference Survey was performed at week 26 to understand patient preferences after receiving Ixo-vec, including whether patients preferred Ixo-vec, along with the accompanying prophylactic regimen, over prior treatments and whether patients would elect to receive Ixo-vec in the fellow eye. At the 26-week landmark analysis, 88% of the entire LUNA patient population responded that they would prefer Ixo-vec therapy over the prior treatment(s) they received, and 93% responded that they would want to receive Ixo-vec in the fellow-eye if they had bilateral disease. Of the patients receiving 6E10 and the difluprednate-alone prophylactic regimen: 100% responded that they would prefer Ixo-vec therapy over the prior treatments received; and, 100% responded that they would want to receive Ixo-vec in the fellow eye.

05:22 EDT RTX business establishes new customer service center in Bengaluru - Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced the establishment of its new customer service center in Bengaluru. The new center will be part of Pratt & Whitney's India Capability Center and will drive customer service and operations support for Pratt & Whitney Canada's 68,000 engines in service. The facility is expected to employ more than 150 aerospace experts and engineers who will support a global customer service ecosystem.

05:18 EDT 4D Molecular announces interim data from PRISM trial - 4D Molecular announced initial interim 24-week landmark data from the population extension cohort of the PRISM Phase 2 clinical trial, which evaluated intravitreal 4D-150 in a broad wet AMD patient population. The data were presented by Raj Maturi in an oral presentation titled, "Phase 2 Population Extension Cohort in the PRISM Trial Evaluating 4D-150 in Adults with Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration," at the American Society of Retina Specialists, or ASRS, annual scientific meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden. The 4D-150 Phase 2 PRISM Population Extension Cohort evaluated 4D-150 in wet AMD patients with broad disease activity. The trial enrolled 45 patients at two dose level arms of 4D-150: 30 at 3E10 vg/eye and 15 at 1E10 vg/eye. The dose arms enrolled in the cohort were generally well-balanced. Mean CST was 329 microm and mean number of actual injections in the prior 12 months was 4.4. 4D-150 was safe and well tolerated: Intraocular inflammation analysis: planned phase 3 dose; mo anterior chamber inflammation; no significant vitreous inflammation; all 30 patients completed local steroid prophylaxis on schedule and did not resume; low dose; no significant anterior chamber inflammation; no vitreous inflammation in 14 of 15 patients, one patient with mild to moderate inflammation; vitreous cells also observed in untreated fellow eye; no 4D-150-related serious adverse events or study eye SAEs; no hypotony, retinal vasculitis, choroidal effusions, retinal artery occlusions; 24-week landmark analysis for key efficacy endpoints: planned Phase 3 dose- robust anti-VEGF treatment reduction: 89% reduction in mean annualized injection rate. 93% received 0 or 1 injection, 77% injection-free; dose response evident. Visual acuity and retina anatomic outcomes: improved BCVA in 3E10 vg/eye arm patients: +4.2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter improvement from baseline overall, and +4.7 letter improvement observed for injection-free patients. BCVA dose response demonstrated in favor of 3E10 vg/eye dose: +5.7 letter improvement in BCVA for patients in planned Phase 3 dose arm vs low dose arm. CST: sustained and greater anatomic control without fluctuations for the 3E10 vg/eye dose arm; improvement in CST from baseline greater in supplemental injection-free patients than in overall population. All three Phase 1 patients treated with 3E10 vg/eye previously reported as injection-free beyond 52 weeks remain injection-free through ~2 to 2.5 years of follow-up. Mean BCVA remains unchanged from baseline through ~2 years. Mean CST remains stable, without fluctuations, and decreased from baseline through ~2 years. Safety results maintained in all 15 patients treated to the cutoff date with no new inflammation and no change in steroid status. 4D-150 continues to be safe and well tolerated across all patients dosed to date in both PRISM and SPECTRA clinical trials. 51 patients treated in the PRISM and SPECTRA studies at 3E10 vg/eye dose and topical corticosteroid prophylactic regimen had no significant inflammation, hypotony, retinal vasculitis, choroidal effusions or retinal artery occlusions with up to 2.5 years of follow-up; no recurrent inflammation post steroid taper. 22 DME patients treated in the SPECTRA study had no inflammation, hypotony, retinal vasculitis, choroidal effusions or retinal artery occlusions with up to 36-weeks of follow-up; completed topical corticosteroid prophylactic regimen on schedule and did not resume. Phase 3 planning: phase 3 clinical trial alignment ongoing with FDA and EMA under RMAT and PRIME designations. Update on final Phase 3 clinical trial design expected in September. First Phase 3 clinical trial initiation expected in Q1 2025. PRISM wet AMD Phase 2 additional landmark analyses: 52-week landmark analyses for both severe disease activity/high treatment burden and broad wet AMD disease activity cohorts expected in February 2025. SPECTRA DME Phase 2 initial landmark analyses: interim 24-week landmark analysis from Part 1 Dose Confirmation cohort expected in Q4.