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The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

Investor Relations CEO Says IR Will Never Be the Same at Most Recent Virtual Investor Conference

Small Cap

ACUIF

ADVZF

ALMTF

AMXEF

ANACONDA MINING INC by Anaconda Mining Inc.

ANXGF

ASCOT RESOURCES LTD by Ascot Resources Ltd.

AOTVF

BRGGF

CCHWF

CHPGF

CRECF

CTSDF

CXBMF

DSVMF

DYLLF

FTSSF

GBTC

GDLC

GLOBAL ATOMIC CORP by Global Atomic Corp.

GLATF

GLGDF

GTBIF

HEOFF

HUTMF

HVBTF

ISENF

KNTNF

LMGDF

MDRPF

NMGRF

NNXPF

NTTHF

NXGWF

PBNC

PBTHF

PFBX

PLNHF

POETF

QTRHF

RIOFF

SGSVF

SILEF

SKREF

STLHF

STWRY

TAKOF

TGCDF

TRSSF

VQSLF

WLMS

XEBEF

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

OTC Markets recently released its newest installment of the OTCQX Best 50 list. Released annually, the OTCQX Best 50 is a list of the 50 top-performing companies on the OTCQX Market, its top market tier. 

These Were The 50 Best-Performing Companies On The OTCQX Market In 2020

Management

AAPL

HLYK

TSLA

VERB

NVNXF

AVCNF

TSX:AVCN

MMDDF

YNVYF

TSXV:YNV

WPNNF

CSE:WPN

NRIFF

TSX:NRI

HDSLF

CSE:HS

IMEXF

CSE:IME

SNNSF

BABYF

TSXV:BABY

HYHDF

CSE:SIX

FLYLF

TSXV:FLY

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

One of the challenges of investing in small and micro-cap companies has always been access to information—or lack thereof. 

How To Research For Small-Cap Stocks

Mace Security International Inc

Macerich Co

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ekHSHvgr27k">Bogomil Mihaylov</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a>
The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga&rsquo;s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.
Has the pandemic changed investor relations forever? At the most recent <a href="https://bit.ly/3pFip6S">Virtual Investor Conference</a> hosted by <a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com">OTC Markets Group</a>, the answer was a resounding yes.
&ldquo;The pandemic forced the investor relations industry to essentially become virtual,&rdquo; said Scott Powell, president and CEO of Skyline Corporate Communications. &ldquo;Conducting virtual roadshows for IPOs and secondary offerings would&rsquo;ve been unfathomable just a few years ago, but is completely acceptable today and has been enabled principally by technological advances.&rdquo;
Powell&rsquo;s comments were made at the Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference, where he outlined who is benefitting the most from this change. Discussing topics crucial for investors such as how the pandemic has changed IR, how it has changed for the better, and how individual and retail investors may now be in a better position than ever before, gaining valuable information and access to management.
According to Powell small and micro-cap companies are probably receiving some of the biggest benefits from these changes in IR. &ldquo;This new virtual world of investor relations gives these smaller public companies a much-needed resource and many new tools to have their voices more widely heard by a more diverse investor audience.&rdquo;
Powell&#39;s remarks were highlighted by the 15 virtual investor presentations and live Q&amp;A that followed. Here are a few takeaways:
<ul>
<li>Meritage Hospitality Group, Inc. (OTCQX: MHGU, MHGUP): Meritage, the largest Wendy&#39;s Co (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wen#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) franchisee in the world, guided it would hit $91.7 million EBITDA by 2025. That represents a 96% gain from last year&#39;s EBITDA. They also expect to operate 600 restaurants by the end of 2025, up from 346 at the end of 2020. Additionally Meritage is the world&rsquo;s largest Wendy&#39;s Co (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wen#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) franchisee.</li>
<li>Mace Security International, Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mace#OTCQX">MACE</a>): The non-lethal personal defense company presented statistics and forward-looking targets. Mace President &amp; CEO Gary Medved said that Mace became debt free on June 30, had already introduced multiple new products in the last few quarters, is releasing more throughout the year and is approaching its goal of a 15% minimum EBITDA. The company is leaning into omni-channel sales. Digital sales increased 60% in the first half of 2021 compared to 2020, and the company is targeting direct-to-consumer growth of 200-500%. Mace is additionally a member of the <a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/files/2021_OTCQX_Best_50.pdf?utm_source=Homepage&amp;utm_medium=OTCM%20Website&amp;utm_campaign=Best%2050">2021 OTCQX Best 50</a>, a ranking of the top-performing OTCQX companies in the prior calendar year.</li>
<li>Gaucho Group Holdings (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vino#NASDAQ">VINO</a>): Gaucho, owns a number of luxury brands in South America. The company touted that its Algodon properties now accept bitcoin as payment.</li>
</ul>
For investors and traders interested in small-cap companies, the conference seemed to be a great way to become better informed and offered a unique way to access and interact with the presenters. Full recordings and slides for all presentations from the small-cap growth conference and all previous VICs can be found by registering <a href="https://bit.ly/3pFip6S">here</a> and accessing any conference.
You can register now for the next Virtual Investor Conference, the <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/AMHQCn5zOPFG6WAJU9bvQ5?domain=bit.ly">Green Energy and Precious Metals Investor Conference</a> from Tuesday, July 27 to Thursday, July 29, 2021.
The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga&rsquo;s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga&rsquo;s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.
OTC Markets recently released its newest installment of the OTCQX Best 50 list. Released annually, the OTCQX Best 50 is a list of the 50 top-performing companies on the OTCQX Market, its top market tier.&nbsp;
The OTCQX not only includes companies from the U.S. but from all over the globe. As such, companies featured on this list are also listed on various stock exchanges around the world.
The companies on this list are ranked based on their performance during the 2020 calendar year. In addition, the list is based on an equal weighting of one-year total return and average daily dollar volume growth.
According to OTC Markets, the 50 companies on the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 list traded an aggregate of $30.7 billion in dollar volume in 2020, delivering an average total return of 235% to investors.
Coming in as the top-performing company for 2020 is Canadian technology and advertising company AcuityAds Holdings Inc (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acuif#OTCQX">ACUIF</a>); much of the company&rsquo;s growth came during the last quarter of the year.&nbsp;
The second top-performer for 2020 is mining company Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nmgrf#OTCQX">NMGRF</a>). Similar to AcuityAds, Nouveau&rsquo;s also experienced the majority of its growth in the last quarter of the year.
Yet, Nouveau Monde Graphite is not the only mining company to grace this year&rsquo;s list. In fact, half of the companies on the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 list belonged to the mining and resources industries. Among some of these companies were Skeena Resources Limited (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/skref#OTCQX">SKREF</a>), Amex Exploration Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amxef#OTCQX">AMXEF</a>), Calibre Mining Corp. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cxbmf#OTCQX">CXBMF</a>), and Neo Lithium Corp. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ntthf#OTCQX">NTTHF</a>).
Two of the mining and resources companies on the list, K92 Mining Inc (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kntnf#OTCQX">KNTNF</a>) and Teranga Gold Corporation (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tgcdf#OTCQX">TGCDF</a>), made their third consecutive appearance on the OTCQX Best 50.&nbsp;
In addition to K92 Mining and Teranga Gold Corporation, there are four companies from last year&rsquo;s ranking that made their second appearance on this year&rsquo;s list. These four companies are Chesapeake Gold Corp. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/chpgf#OTCQX">CHPGF</a>), Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC) (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>), H2O Innovation Inc. OTCQX: HEOFF), Skeena Resources Limited (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/skref#OTCQX">SKREF</a>).
Two community banks, PB Financial Corporation (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pbnc#OTCQX">PBNC</a>) and Peoples Financial Corp. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfbx#OTCQX">PFBX</a>) were also featured on this year&rsquo;s list.
Companies from emerging and trending sectors such as gaming, crypto, and cannabis also made an appearance on the Best 50 list. Among these companies were Bragg Gaming Group Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brggf#OTCQX">BRGGF</a>), Columbia Care Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cchwf#OTCQX">CCHWF</a>), Planet 13 Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/plnhf#OTCQX">PLNHF</a>) Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund LLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gdlc#OTCQX">GDLC</a>), HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hvbtf#OTCQX">HVBTF</a>), and Hut 8 Mining Corp (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hutmf#OTCQX">HUTMF</a>).
Out of the 462 companies that were on the OTCQX at the time of ranking, the following criteria were applied in order to be eligible for the Best 50 list: companies were required to have a closing share price of at least $0.25 or greater on December 31, 2020, a closing share price on December 31, 2020, greater than on December 31, 2019, traded at least $500,000 in dollar volume for the year, not be a &quot;penny stock&quot; as defined under SEC Rule 3a51-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and be a member of the OTCQX Composite Index.
Below is the complete list of companies on the 2021 OTCQX Best 50:
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rank</td>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Symbol</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>AcuityAds Hldgs Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acuif#OTCQX">ACUIF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nmgrf#OTCQX">NMGRF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund LLC</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gdlc#OTCQX">GDLC</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hvbtf#OTCQX">HVBTF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>PointsBet Holdings Limited</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pbthf#OTCQX">PBTHF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Converge Technology Solutions Corporation</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ctsdf#OTCQX">CTSDF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Skeena Resources Limited</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/skref#OTCQX">SKREF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Bragg Gaming Group Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brggf#OTCQX">BRGGF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Nanoxplore Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nnxpf#OTCQX">NNXPF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>VIQ Solutions Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vqslf#OTCQX">VQSLF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Hut 8 Mining Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hutmf#OTCQX">HUTMF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Amex Exploration Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amxef#OTCQX">AMXEF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Calibre Mining Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cxbmf#OTCQX">CXBMF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Columbia Care Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cchwf#OTCQX">CCHWF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>IsoEnergy Ltd.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/isenf#OTCQX">ISENF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Lumina Gold Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lmgdf#OTCQX">LMGDF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>RIO2 Limited</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rioff#OTCQX">RIOFF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Neo Lithium Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ntthf#OTCQX">NTTHF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Standard Lithium Ltd.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stlhf#OTCQX">STLHF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>PB Financial Corporation</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pbnc#OTCQX">PBNC</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Mace Security International, Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mace#OTCQX">MACE</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Planet 13 Holdings Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/plnhf#OTCQX">PLNHF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>TerrAscend Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/trssf#OTCQX">TRSSF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Global Atomic Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/glatf#OTCQX">GLATF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>H2O Innovation Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/heoff#OTCQX">HEOFF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Discovery Metals Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dsvmf#OTCQX">DSVMF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>K92 Mining Inc</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kntnf#OTCQX">KNTNF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Xebec Adsorption Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xebef#OTCQX">XEBEF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC)</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Midas Gold Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mdrpf#OTCQX">MDRPF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>GoGold Resources, Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/glgdf#OTCQX">GLGDF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>Anaconda Mining Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anxgf#OTCQX">ANXGF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Ascot Resources Ltd.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aotvf#OTCQX">AOTVF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Almonty Industries Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/almtf#OTCQX">ALMTF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Peoples Financial Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfbx#OTCQX">PFBX</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>Software AG</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stwry#OTCQX">STWRY</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>37</td>
<td>First Cobalt Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ftssf#OTCQX">FTSSF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>38</td>
<td>Teranga Gold Corporation</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tgcdf#OTCQX">TGCDF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>39</td>
<td>Critical Elements Lithium Corporation</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/crecf#OTCQX">CRECF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40</td>
<td>SILVER ELEPHANT MNG CORP.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/silef#OTCQX">SILEF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>41</td>
<td>Next Green Wave</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nxgwf#OTCQX">NXGWF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>42</td>
<td>POET Technologies Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/poetf#OTCQX">POETF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>43</td>
<td>Sabina Gold &amp; Silver Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sgsvf#OTCQX">SGSVF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>44</td>
<td>Chesapeake Gold Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/chpgf#OTCQX">CHPGF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>45</td>
<td>Adventus Mng Corp.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/advzf#OTCQX">ADVZF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>46</td>
<td>Quarterhill Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qtrhf#OTCQX">QTRHF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>47</td>
<td>Deep Yellow Ltd.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dyllf#OTCQX">DYLLF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>48</td>
<td>Green Thumb Industries Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gtbif#OTCQX">GTBIF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>49</td>
<td>Drone Delivery CDA Corp</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/takof#OTCQX">TAKOF</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50</td>
<td>Williams Industrial Services Group Inc.</td>
<td>(OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wlms#OTCQX">WLMS</a>)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga&rsquo;s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga&rsquo;s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.
One of the challenges of investing in small and micro-cap companies has always been access to information&mdash;or lack thereof.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There tends not to be a lot of information about these companies publicly available,&rdquo; said Scott Powell, president, and CEO of Skyline Corporate Communications Group, an investor relations firm. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like household names like Apple Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) or Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), which have so much information so readily available. Investors have to work harder to find information about these small public companies.&rdquo;
Though Powell said reaching out to investor relations firms like his can be helpful, he also advised that the best way to learn about a smaller publicly traded company is to hear directly from the company via earnings reports and conference calls.&nbsp;
Technology has helped in this regard. Resources like arnings presentations, transcripts, and press releases for small-cap companies are available on most company websites and platforms like <a href="http://otcmarkets.com">OTC Markets</a>. But Powell said investors don&rsquo;t always make use of this information.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Sometimes investors aren&rsquo;t using the resources available to them, like press releases, like earnings conference calls. A lot of times I&rsquo;ll get calls about XYZ company and the information is clearly there in the most recent earnings press release.&rdquo;
Another valuable tool for investors is virtual conferences, which have also increased public access to executives&mdash;particularly during COVID-19.&nbsp;
This week&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com/events/event-details/october8-investor-conference-?utm_source=Article&amp;utm_medium=Benzinga&amp;utm_campaign=10%2008%2020">Growth Opportunities Investor Conference</a> is one such example. Representatives from 15 small-cap growth companies will provide investors with updates on operations and future plans, as well as take questions from investors and analysts.&nbsp;
The conference will also feature a keynote presentation from Powell and Doug Gerlach, editor-in-chief of SmallCap Informer, which will cover how to research for small-cap stocks.&nbsp;
Below is the schedule for the conference. Each presentation is also available on demand.
To register for the free conference, <a href="https://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com/events/event-details/october8-investor-conference-?utm_source=Article&amp;utm_medium=Benzinga&amp;utm_campaign=10%2008%2020">click here</a>.
9:15 AM ET Keynote Presentation: Top Tips and Resources for Researching Small-Cap Stocks 
Speakers: Scott Powell, President &amp; CEO, Skyline Corporate Communications Group; Doug Gerlach, Editor-in-Chief, SmallCap Informer
10:00 AM ET Novonix Ltd. (OTCQX: NVNXF | ASX: NVX) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Chris Burns, CEO
10:30 AM ET Avicanna Inc. (OTCQX: AVCNF | TSX: AVCN) 
Industry: Biopharma 
Speakers: Aras Azadian, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder; Dr. Justin Grant, Executive Vice President, Scientific Affairs
11:00 AM ET Mirriad Advertising plc (OTCQB: MMDDF | LON: MIRI) 
Industry: Advertising Technology 
Speaker: Stephan Beringer, CEO, David Dorans, CFO
11:30 AM ET VERB Technology Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/verb#NASDAQ">VERB</a>) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Rory J. Cutaia, Founder - President &amp; Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
12:00 PM ET Ynvisible Interactive Inc. (OTCQB: YNVYF | TSX-V: YNV) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Michael Robinson, COO &amp; Director
12:30 PM ET First Responder Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: WPNNF | CSE: WPN) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Robert F. Delamar, Chief Executive Officer
1:00 PM ET Nuvo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQX: NRIFF | TSX: NRI) 
Industry: Biopharma 
Speaker: Jesse Ledger, President &amp; Chief Executive Officer
1:30 PM ET HealthSpace Data System Ltd. (OTCQB: HDSLF | CSE: HS) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Silas Garrison, CEO/Director
2:00 PM ET Mace Security International, Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mace#OTCQX">MACE</a>) 
Industry: Personal Safety and Security 
Speaker: Gary Medved, President &amp; Chief Executive Officer
2:30 PM ET Imagin Medical Inc. (OTCQB: IMEXF | CSE: IME) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: E. James Hutchens, Chief Executive Officer
3:00 PM ET SenSen Networks Limited (OTCQB: SNNSF | ASX: SNS) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Subhash Challa, Executive Chairman &amp; CEO
3:30 PM ET HealthLynked Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hlyk#OTCQB">HLYK</a>) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: Michael Dent, CEO
4:00 PM ET Else Nutrition Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: BABYF | TSX-V: BABY | FSE: 0YL) 
Industry: Food and Nutrition 
Speaker: Hamutal Yitzhak, Founder CEO &amp; Director
4:30 PM ET Hydro66 Holdings Corp. (OTCQB: HYHDF | CSE: SIX) 
Industry: Technology 
Speaker: David Rowe, Founder and CEO
5:00 PM ET Flyht Aerospace Solutions, Ltd. (OTCQX: FLYLF | TSX-V: FLY) 
Industry: Aviation Technology 
Speaker: Bill Tempany, Interim CEO
The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga&rsquo;s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/anth#NASDAQ">ANTH</a>), today announced financial results and business highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. 

Financial Results: 

Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011 were $28.4 million, as compared to $12.9 million for the same period in 2010. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2011, total operating expenses were $93.1 million, as compared to $35.8 million for the same period in 2010. Increased operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2011 and for the full calendar year compared to the same periods in 2010 are primarily due to increased research and development expenses associated with our Phase 2b PEARL-SC clinical study in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or lupus, and our VISTA-16 clinical study in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome, or ACS. 

Anthera ended the fourth quarter of 2011 with approximately $67.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. This is compared to $93.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. 

In conjunction with the release of the fourth quarter 2011 financial report, Anthera will host a conference call at 1 p.m. Eastern Time today, February 21, 2012. U.S. and Canadian participants may dial (877) 312-8807; international participants may dial (253) 237-1190. The Conference ID is 47038854. To access the 24-hour audio replay, U.S. and Canadian participants may dial (855) 859-2056; international participants may dial (404) 537-3406. The conference ID for the replay is 47038854. The audio replay will be available until February 28, 2012.

Recent Business Highlights and Upcoming Events:

Clinical

In December 2011, the VISTA-16 Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) met for the fifth time to review the available safety data and recommended the study continue without change. VISTA-16 is a Phase 3 pivotal clinical study evaluating the benefit of early varespladib treatment in high-risk ACS patients. As per a Special Protocol Assessment with FDA, the primary endpoint of the VISTA-16 study is a reduction in Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/mace#">MACE</a>) as defined by FDA draft guidance to include cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke or documented unstable angina with objective evidence of ischemia requiring hospitalization. Details regarding the study can be found at <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.">http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.</a>

In the fourth quarter of 2011, the VISTA-16 study accrued the requisite one hundred and ninety-three (193) adjudicated primary endpoint events required for the pre-specified interim efficacy analysis. Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter, the DSMB scheduled a meeting for the second week in March 2012 to review all available safety data and to conduct the formal interim efficacy analysis. The interim efficacy analysis plan for the VISTA-16 clinical study allows for a recommendation by the DSMB to stop the study should there be sufficient evidence of overwhelming treatment benefit in the varespladib arm after approximately 193 of the primary events have been accrued. Overwhelming benefit is defined as a treatment effect in favor of the varespladib arm resulting in a p-value of less than 0.001 (p&lt;0.001).

Enrollment in the Phase 2b PEARL-SC clinical study was completed (N=547) in the fourth quarter. The PEARL-SC study is examining the therapeutic benefit of monthly and weekly subcutaneous doses of blisibimod in patients with lupus. The primary endpoint of PEARL-SC requires patients to demonstrate a greater than or equal to five (&gt;/=5) point reduction in the SELENA-SLEDAI clinical assessment score, no worsening in physician global assessment, and no new BILAG A or two new BILAG B organ domain scores. Details regarding the study can be found at <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.">http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.</a>

After the completion of enrollment in the PEARL-SC study, an independent statistician confirmed that weekly and monthly subcutaneous doses of blisibimod resulted in statistically significant reductions of B-cells. Elevations in these B-cells have been associated with an increased risk of disease activity in lupus patients. These findings are consistent with data from previous clinical studies of blisibimod. The Company remains blinded to primary efficacy data.
Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter, the 350th enrolled patient in the PEARL-SC study reached the 24-week time point, triggering an interim efficacy analysis to be conducted in the first week of March 2012. The interim efficacy analysis plan for PEARL-SC allows for a recommendation by the independent statistician to stop the study should there be a statistically significant improvement in the pooled blisibimod arm versus the pooled placebo treatment arm (p&lt;0.0108) at the 24-week primary efficacy endpoint and at least one other time point, including week 16, 20 or 28, using the SLE responder index. The SLE responder index is a composite responder index evaluating various patient and physician reported clinical disease activity including a SELENA/SLEDAI* improvement of five (5) points or greater, no increase in a physician's global assessment of more than 0.3 points, and no new BILAG A or two new BILAG B organ domain flares. In conjunction with the interim analysis, the DSMB will meet for the fourth time to evaluate all available patient safety data.

Earnings

ANTH

Anthera Pharmaceuticals Reports 2011 Fourth Quarter Financial Results and Provides Clinical Progress Update

Mace Security International, Inc. (Nasdaq: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mace#Nasdaq">MACE</a>) announces the election of Michael E. Smith to the Mace Board of Directors. 
Mr. Smith is an independent consultant and the founder of Chesterbrook Growth Partners which provides companies in the security, RFID, auto-identification and electronic components industries with strategic assessment and implementation advice for revenue and profit enhancement. Michael has developed and directed several organizations in advanced technologies worldwide.

Michael E. Smith Is Elected to the Board of Directors of Mace Security International

Abbott (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/abt#NYSE">ABT</a>) today announced positive nine-month results from the first 45 patients enrolled in the second stage of the ABSORB trial. 
At nine months, Abbott's bioresorbable vascular scaffold demonstrated strong results that remained consistent with the six-month data from the same 45-patient group, with the rate of major adverse cardiac events (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/mace#">MACE</a>) unchanged at 4.4 percent and no reports of blood clots. 
These results were presented during the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's 22nd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in Washington, D.C.

Abbott's Technology Continues to Demonstrate Strong Clinical Results (ABT)

Abbott’s (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/ABT">ABT</a>) XIENCE V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System recently received approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Abbott is looking to launch the product shortly. 
  
In our opinion, the launch of XIENCE V in Japan should bring in significant incremental revenues for the company’s Vascular Product division which posted sales of $2.2 billion in 2008. Japan is the second-largest drug eluting stent market in the world after the United States. With the approval in Japan, XIENCE V will be available in every Asia-Pacific market. 
  
We believe XIENCE V’s launch in Japan in early 2010 could potentially add another $500 million market opportunity. According to the company, about 200,000 stent procedures are performed every year in Japan. 
  
Following the launch of XIENCE V, Abbott has become a major player in the drug-eluting stent (DES) market. XIENCE V has been taking significant domestic and international share from Boston Scientific’s (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/BSX">BSX</a>) Taxus (paclitaxel-eluting system), Medtronic’s (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/MDT">MDT</a>) Endeavor, and Johnson &amp; Johnson’s (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/JNJ">JNJ</a>) Cypher (sirolimus-eluting system) drug-eluting stents. 
  
Data on XIENCE V compared to both Taxus and Cypher shows XIENCE V to be the best available product on the market with respect to reducing rates of target revascularization, reducing rates of stent thrombosis, and providing a reduction in risk of major cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. 
  
Abbott is currently working on a next-generation drug coated stent called XIENCE PRIME. PRIME is already available in Europe and other countries throughout Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and is currently in a large scale clinical program called SPIRIT PRIME in the U.S. If approved, PRIME could hit the U.S. market in the first half of 2012. 
  
Abbott’s Vascular Products segment should continue posting robust growth mainly due to the strong performance of XIENCE V. We have a Neutral recommendation on Abbott. <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=ABT">Read the full analyst report on "ABT"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=BSX">Read the full analyst report on "BSX"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=MDT">Read the full analyst report on "MDT"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=JNJ">Read the full analyst report on "JNJ"</a> <a href="http://www.zacks.com" alt="Investment Research">Zacks Investment Research</a>

WisdomTree Trust WisdomTree SmallCap Dividend

New Market for Abbott's XIENCE V - Analyst Blog

Following a failed Christmas Day attack attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow-up a Detroit-bound airplane, investors this week have bid-up any stock remotely related to airport security. These are hot-button stocks that make for great speculation, but once the hype fades, so may their share prices. Here is the run-down on how various security stocks performed this week:
OSI Systems (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/osis#NASDAQ">OSIS</a>), which makes airport screening systems, up 24%.
Intellicheck Mobilisa (AMEX: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/idn#AMEX">IDN</a>), which makes gear for scanning ID, up 219%.
Mace Security International (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mace#NASDAQ">MACE</a>) up 29%.
American Science &amp; Engineering (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/asei#NASDAQ">ASEI</a>), which makes x-ray inspection systems, up 5.6%.
Optelcom-NFK (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/optc#NASDAQ">OPTC</a>), which makes surveillance systems, up 49.8%.
ICx Technologies (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/icxt#NASDAQ">ICXT</a>) up 95%.
Whether you decide to go long or short, be careful!

Long Ideas

Short Ideas

Barron's

Rumors

Intraday Update

Movers

Tech

ASEI

ICXT

OPTC

OSIS

Charting Airport Security Stocks

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – November 23, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Pozen (<a onclick="quotepop('POZN')" href="javascript:void(0)">POZN</a>), Sanofi-Aventis (<a onclick="quotepop('SNY')" href="javascript:void(0)">SNY</a>), Bristol-Myers (<a onclick="quotepop('BMY')" href="javascript:void(0)">BMY</a>), AstraZeneca (<a onclick="quotepop('AZN')" href="javascript:void(0)">AZN</a>) and ADC Telecommunications Inc. (<a onclick="quotepop('ADCT')" href="javascript:void(0)">ADCT</a>).
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: <a href="http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513">http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513</a>
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: 
Pozen Initiates New Phase III 
This morning, Pozen (<a onclick="quotepop('POZN')" href="javascript:void(0)">POZN</a>) initiated phase III studies on PA-325/40, a fixed-dose combination of 325mg enteric coated aspirin and 40mg of immediate release omeprazole. The phase III program will consist of two pivotal trials conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreed upon with the U.S. FDA, and one long-term safety study.
The two pivotal programs will enroll approximately 500 patients per study at over 100 sites around the U.S. The primary endpoint of the pivotal studies is the cumulative incidence of gastric ulcers over the six-month treatment period for PA32540 versus 325 mg of enteric-coated aspirin. The long-term study will enroll approximately 400 patients and assess safety over a period of one year.
Pozen is developing PA-325/40 for use in the secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes in patients at risk for associated gastric ulcers. Aspirin is the No. 1 recommended agent for at-risk patients, with some 50 million Americans take daily aspirin therapy for secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
However, according to data presented at the American College of Gastroenterology and at the American Heart Association meeting, the use of low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease prophylaxis is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increase in gastro-intestinal (GI) complications, including gastric ulcers. Enteric coating is not a sufficient to reduce the risk of GI bleeding, and thus the majority of patients that should be taking 325mg aspirin are non-compliant or taking suboptimal low-dose (81mg) "baby" aspirin instead.
Pozen’s PA-325/40 is designed to provide immediate-release omeprazole as a GI-protectant for patients taking full-dose 325mg daily aspirin therapy. If the phase III trials meet the primary endpoint of reduction in cumulative incidence of gastric ulcers, we expect PA-325/40 to be approved by the U.S. FDA with the full cardiovascular label claims of regular enteric-coated aspirin. This is a significant market opportunity in our view, considering less than 15% of the 50 million Americans on daily aspirin therapy are taking a GI-protectant such as omeprazole.
Recently, data from a retrospective analysis of patients that use Sanofi-Aventis (<a onclick="quotepop('SNY')" href="javascript:void(0)">SNY</a>) / Bristol-Myers’ (<a onclick="quotepop('BMY')" href="javascript:void(0)">BMY</a>) Plavix (clopidogrel) showed an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by as much as 50% while taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as AstraZeneca’s (<a onclick="quotepop('AZN')" href="javascript:void(0)">AZN</a>) omeprazole (Prilosec) or esomeprazole (Nexium). The data included analysis of outcomes from 16,700 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and continued Plavix for 12 months after the procedure.
ADC Dips on Weak Outlook 
Yesterday, after market close, ADC Telecommunications Inc. (<a onclick="quotepop('ADCT')" href="javascript:void(0)">ADCT</a>) declared financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Earlier, the Board of Directors of ADC had taken a decision to change its fiscal year from Oct 31 to Sep 30. As a result, fiscal year 2009 ended on Sep 30, 2009, which means the company got only two months as its fourth quarter. The fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 would, therefore, not be comparable to either the prior-year quarter or the previous quarter. For this reason, management has presented pro forma results for the three month period ending Sep 30 and its comparable quarter.
Actual revenue of fourth quarter 2009 was $183.9 million, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $189 million. Quarterly pro forma revenue was $293.6 million, down 17.5% year-over-year. This significant decline in revenue is the result of the global economic recession across all the three business segments.
On a GAAP basis, net loss in the quarter was $19.8 million or a loss of 20 cents per share compared to a net loss of $5.6 million or a loss of 5 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. However, adjusted net income (excluding $25.5 million special charges and $0.6 million loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes) in the reported quarter was $6.3 million or an income of 6 cents per share, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of an income of 4 cents per share.
Pro forma gross margin for the quarter was 34.6% compared to 33% in the year-ago quarter. This reflects the aggressive cost cutting measures taken by management during the past one year. Pro forma quarterly operating expenses were $113 million compared to $106.2 million in the prior-year quarter.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: <a href="http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515">http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515</a>.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: <a href="http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517">http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517</a>
About Zacks 
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at <a href="http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518">http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518</a>.
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Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Pozen, Sanofi-Aventis, Bristol-Myers, AstraZeneca and ADC Telecommunications Inc. - Press Releases

This morning, Pozen (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/pozn">POZN</a>) initiated phase III studies on PA-325/40, a fixed-dose combination of 325mg enteric coated aspirin and 40mg of immediate release omeprazole. The phase III program will consist of two pivotal trials conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreed upon with the U.S. FDA, and one long-term safety study.
The two pivotal programs will enroll approximately 500 patients per study at over 100 sites around the U.S. The primary endpoint of the pivotal studies is the cumulative incidence of gastric ulcers over the six-month treatment period for PA32540 versus 325 mg of enteric-coated aspirin. The long-term study will enroll approximately 400 patients and assess safety over a period of one year.
Pozen is developing PA-325/40 for use in the secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes in patients at risk for associated gastric ulcers. Aspirin is the No. 1 recommended agent for at-risk patients, with some 50 million Americans take daily aspirin therapy for secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
However, according to data presented at the American College of Gastroenterology and at the American Heart Association meeting, the use of low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease prophylaxis is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increase in gastro-intestinal (GI) complications, including gastric ulcers. Enteric coating is not a sufficient to reduce the risk of GI bleeding, and thus the majority of patients that should be taking 325mg aspirin are non-compliant or taking suboptimal low-dose (81mg) "baby" aspirin instead.
Pozen’s PA-325/40 is designed to provide immediate-release omeprazole as a GI-protectant for patients taking full-dose 325mg daily aspirin therapy. If the phase III trials meet the primary endpoint of reduction in cumulative incidence of gastric ulcers, we expect PA-325/40 to be approved by the U.S. FDA with the full cardiovascular label claims of regular enteric-coated aspirin. This is a significant market opportunity in our view, considering less than 15% of the 50 million Americans on daily aspirin therapy are taking a GI-protectant such as omeprazole.
Recently, data from a retrospective analysis of patients that use Sanofi-Aventis (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/sny">SNY</a>) / Bristol-Myers’ (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/bmy">BMY</a>) Plavix (clopidogrel) showed an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by as much as 50% while taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as AstraZeneca’s (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/azn">AZN</a>) omeprazole (Prilosec) or esomeprazole (Nexium). The data included analysis of outcomes from 16,700 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and continued Plavix for 12 months after the procedure.
Approximately 9,900 were not given a PPI at any time during Plavix treatment and 6,800 were given overlapping PPI therapy. The analysis showed a 12-month MACE event rate of about 25% among PPI users, compared with 18% of patients who were not given PPI (MACE hazard ratio of 1.50 for PPI users versus nonusers).
The current Plavix label discourages use of a PPI due to this potential limiting effect on the drug’s effectiveness. The majority of Plavix use for secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes is with enteric-coated aspirin.
Strengthening this label warning by the U.S. FDA could work to greatly limit the potential uptake for Pozen’s PA-325/40 product. However, we note the retrospective analysis that potentially showed a reduced effectiveness for Plavix while on a PPI was with commercially available delayed release PPIs dosed at the same time as taking Plavix. Pozen is currently conducting a drug-drug interaction study with their immediate release omeprazole doses both at the same time and 12 hours apart from Plavix.
The omeprazole used in PA-325/40 is an immediate release formulation, not the commercially available delayed-release found in Prilosec or Nexium. We suspect that dosing an immediate release omeprazole 12 hours apart (say at night) from Plavix (in the morning) will dramatically reduce the potential negative interactions between the two drugs.
We are optimistic on the development plans for PA-325/40. Besides the potential use as a secondary preventative agent for cardiovascular disease, significant literature exists showing a potential reduction in risk for developing precancerous adenomas on high-dose aspirin regimen.
Four separate government-funded randomized controlled trials concluded that aspirin is a benefit in the prevention of adenomas and significantly reduces the risk of colon cancer. However, the dangerous GI tolerability has greatly limited large outcome-based clinical studies or wide-spread use of high-dose aspirin in colon cancer prevention. We believe that Pozen’s PA-325/40, and phase II PA-650/40, have the potential to be a game-changer with respect to colon cancer prevention. This also helps mitigate the potential downside risk to pushing forward with development despite the recent negative Plavix/PPI headlines. <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=POZN">Read the full analyst report on "POZN"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=SNY">Read the full analyst report on "SNY"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=BMY">Read the full analyst report on "BMY"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=AZN">Read the full analyst report on "AZN"</a> <a href="http://www.zacks.com" alt="Investment Research">Zacks Investment Research</a>

Pozen Initiates New Phase III  - Analyst Blog

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Mace Security International, a Global Leader in Personal Self-Defense Sprays, Announces Additional Unsecured Subordinated Funding

Mace(R) Security International, a Global Leader in Personal Self-Defense Sprays, Announces Additional Unsecured Subordinated Funding

Mace(R) Security International, a Global Leader in Personal Self-Defense Sprays, Announces 2Q24 Financial Results

Mace(R) Security International, a Global Leader in Personal Self-Defense Sprays, Announces Agreement and Plan of Merger

Mace(R) Security International, a Global Leader in Personal Self-Defense Sprays, Announces Postponement of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Mace(R) Security International, a Global Leader in Personal Self-Defense Sprays, Announces Preliminary 3Q24 Financial Results and Notification of Late Filing

Mace(R) Security International, Inc. Reminds Stockholders to Cast Their Vote for the Upcoming Special Meeting

Mace(R) Security International, Inc. Announces Stockholder Approval of Merger with W Electric Intermediate Holdings, LLC

Mace(R) Security International, Inc. Announces Completion of Going Private Merger with W Electric Intermediate Holdings, LLC

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