Bionik Laboratories Corp. (BNKL)

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Definitely worth a look
IMHO the state-of-the-art innovative ARKE offers real hope for mobility for thousands of wheelchair-bound patients.

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Advantages of Bionik's ARKE
Bionik has one lead product in development, a lower body exoskeleton called ARKE. At first glance, Bionik may seem a little behind the curve that ReWalk is spearheading, with ARKE currently still in clinical development and not yet generating revenues for the company. However, the ARKE has some advantages over ReWalk, in addition to the fact that Bionik's being behind in clinical development may actually work to its advantage.

As ReWalk is demonstrating, it is a drawn out and costly process to forge a new industry. ReWalk is bearing the brunt of this cost with its current revenue generation efforts, and Bionik may benefit from a slightly later entry into a somewhat more established space. The company reported a net loss of $2.4 million last quarter, but raised $13 million earlier this year and as a result, shouldn't have any issues carrying through to production, which just began in mid September.

Bionik's advantages over ReWalk are, first and foremost, its technology. The ReWalk system is based on 2001 technology, while the ARKE operates on modern software. Second, the ARKE has a targeted price point 33% lower than the ReWalk. The ReWalk retails for about $75,000 while the ARKE is targeting $50,000. A third advantage may be its executive staff. Bionik's CEO Peter Bloch was the CFO and once the Co-CEO of Sanofi Canada, with extensive knowledge of the connection between healthcare and the medical insurance industry. Cultivating relationships with insurers will be key for any company in this space, and Bionik's top executive comes from that very background.

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Arke Product Details
• Constructed with carbon fiber,
aluminum and steel
• Fully customizable to fit patients of all
heights and weights
• Connects to Bionik’s cloud software
where data is analyzed and displayed
back to the physiotherapist in real-time

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Market potential
Up to $20b if all converted - even a small percentage would be huge for the company

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Approximately 10 million wheelchair users in developed countries
Rehabilitation Market Represents Huge Opportunity
• Initial target is approximately 50% of developed market
• 5 million wheel chaired paraplegics can be directly affected by
ARKE rehabilitation

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Significant unmet medical needs met by Arke
• Rehabilitation and home use
• Potential to replace and augment current methods of rehabilitation
• Patient and therapist controlled with integrated feedback
• Clinical trials expected to demonstrate:
• Reduction in bone density loss/muscle atrophy due to inactivity
• Reduction in secondary illness due to being in a wheelchair
• Reduction in frequency of re-hospitalization
• Increased blood flow and nutrient delivery throughout the body

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Approximately 10 million wheelchair users in developed countries
Rehabilitation Market Represents Huge Opportunity
• Initial target is approximately 50% of developed market
• 5 million wheel chaired paraplegics can be directly affected by
ARKE rehabilitation

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Bionik featured on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square, New York
After receiving the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Resource Prize at the Kairos Global Summit - how cool is that?

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Business summary
Bionik Laboratories Corp., a medical device company, designs, develops, and commercializes physical rehabilitation technologies, prosthetics, and assisted robotic products. The company offers ARKE, a lower body exoskeleton for wheelchair bound individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries, strokes, and other mobility disabilities to restore gait and walk again during the rehabilitation process. It also provides APOLLO, a microprocessor prosthetic knee that allows user to walk naturally by increasing and decreasing the dampening in the knee joint; and CHRONOS, a cloud based intelligent patient queuing system that allows patients to check in with their health care provider through their smartphone, as well as allows them to monitor the number of patients ahead of them. The company was formerly known as Drywave Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Bionik Laboratories Corp. in February 2015. Bionik Laboratories Corp. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Michal Prywata - Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Prywata is the co-founder of Bionik Laboratories and has served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer since March 2013, and was previously the company’s Chief Executive Officer. He studied biomedical engineering at Ryerson University and has a proven track record of inventing and winning technology showcases. While attending Ryerson, Mr. Prywata co-invented the world’s first robotic, prosthetic arm that is controlled by brain signals. Equally impressive is his strong understanding of developing technologies that address significant and untapped markets. He is responsible for raising the initial capital to found Bionik and turn numerous concepts into products.

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Potential market for rehabilitation products
• Approximately 10 million wheelchair users in developed countries
• Initial target is approximately 50% of developed market
• 5 million wheel chaired paraplegics can be directly affected by
ARKE rehabilitation

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Arke exoskeleton
..is a lower body exoskeleton that offers paraplegics and
other wheelchair bound individuals the ability to
rehabilitate and to walk
Functions by externally mounting to the patient’s
lower body and through a serious of sensors and
algorithms, the system is able to learn and anticipate
an individual’s walking gait. This information is routed
through the onboard monitor system that activates a
series of motors to artificially create a walking pattern
and enable the patient to walk
Initially be used in a rehabilitation environment, with
the goal of being made available for home use
Approximately 5 million wheel chaired individuals can
be directly affected by ARKE™ rehabilitation

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Arke exoskeleton
..is a lower body exoskeleton that offers paraplegics and
other wheelchair bound individuals the ability to
rehabilitate and to walk
Functions by externally mounting to the patient’s
lower body and through a serious of sensors and
algorithms, the system is able to learn and anticipate
an individual’s walking gait. This information is routed
through the onboard monitor system that activates a
series of motors to artificially create a walking pattern
and enable the patient to walk
Initially be used in a rehabilitation environment, with
the goal of being made available for home use
Approximately 5 million wheel chaired individuals can
be directly affected by ARKE™ rehabilitation

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Transformational technologies
Bionik is dedicated to building a pipeline of transformational technologies and solutions to help patients with neurological disorders. Neurological disorders affect a person's brain, spine or nerves and can be characterized by paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation and a number of other symptoms. The treatment for many of these disorders that affect a person's mobility is often lifestyle changes, rehabilitation and physical therapy. Bionik is developing solutions that allow patients the ability to potentially speed up the rehabilitation process with the use of advanced robotics that allow a therapist to completely customize and track a patient’s treatment plan.

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Bionik’s lead product, ARKE™, is a comprehensive lower body exoskeleton which allows paraplegics and other wheelchair bound individuals the ability to rehabilitate and to walk. Currently in clinical development, ARKE will initially be used in a rehabilitation environment, with the goal of being made available for home use.

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Bionik Laboratories Presented at BIO Investor Forum
Bionik Laboratories Corp. a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders gave a presentation at the 14th Annual BIO Investor Forum held October 20-21, 2015 at the Parc 55 in San Francisco, California.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, presented a corporate overview. As part of his presentation he reviewed the Company's plans for the clinical development and commercial deployment of its primary product ARKE, a proprietary lower-body exoskeleton robotic device that is designed to allow paraplegics as well as other wheelchair users the ability to rehabilitate through walking and other motion. Mr. Bloch also discussed Bionik's near-term strategy to expand and develop a robust product portfolio both internally and by acquiring or licensing synergistic products and technologies.

A live webcast of the presentation is available on Bionik's IR Calendar in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A webcast replay is available and will be archived for 30 days.

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BNKL up 5% - beginning to see some trading volume

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Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Resource Prize Awarded to Bionik Laboratories at Kairos Global Summit
Award recognizes K50 entrepreneurial companies tackling world issues by building scalable solutions to the world's most complex problems
Bionik Laboratories Corp. has been awarded a Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center resource prize at the seventh annual Kairos Global Summit.

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Bionik Laboratories to Present at the 8th Annual LD Micro Main Event on December 3, 2015

TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX: BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it will present at the 8th Annual LD Micro Main Event on Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time at the Luxe Sunset Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Peter Bloch, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, will provide a corporate overview and an update on the development progress of its primary product, ARKE™, a robotic lower-body exoskeleton device designed to allow paraplegics as well as other wheelchair users the ability to rehabilitate through walking and other motion. Mr. Bloch will also discuss the Company's plans to advance its growth strategy focused on acquiring, licensing and partnering synergistic products and technologies to supplement its internal product pipeline.

The Company recently commenced production of the first rehabilitation units of ARKE GEN2, the second generation of its proprietary robotic device. Following assembly and production testing, Bionik expects to initiate shortly clinical testing with patients in Canadian rehabilitation centers and report initial findings from the use of ARKE by mid-2016.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available on Bionik's IR Calendar in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website

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Advantages of the Bionik Exoskeleton
Bionik has one lead product in development, a lower body exoskeleton called ARKE. At first glance, Bionik may seem a little behind the curve that ReWalk is spearheading, with ARKE currently still in clinical development and not yet generating revenues for the company. However, the ARKE has some advantages over ReWalk, in addition to the fact that Bionik's being behind in clinical development may actually work to its advantage.

As ReWalk is demonstrating, it is a drawn out and costly process to forge a new industry. ReWalk is bearing the brunt of this cost with its current revenue generation efforts, and Bionik may benefit from a slightly later entry into a somewhat more established space. The company reported a net loss of $2.4 million last quarter, but raised $13 million earlier this year and as a result, shouldn't have any issues carrying through to production, which just began in mid September.

Bionik's advantages over ReWalk are, first and foremost, its technology. The ReWalk system is based on 2001 technology, while the ARKE operates on modern software. Second, the ARKE has a targeted price point 33% lower than the ReWalk. The ReWalk retails for about $75,000 while the ARKE is targeting $50,000. A third advantage may be its executive staff. Bionik's CEO Peter Bloch was the CFO and once the Co-CEO of Sanofi Canada, with extensive knowledge of the connection between healthcare and the medical insurance industry. Cultivating relationships with insurers will be key for any company in this space, and Bionik's top executive comes from that very background.

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Bionik presented at 14th Annual BIO Investor Forum

Bionik Laboratories Corp. a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders gave a presentation at the held October 20-21, 2015 at the Parc 55 in San Francisco, California.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, presented a corporate overview. As part of his presentation he reviewed the Company's plans for the clinical development and commercial deployment of its primary product ARKE, a proprietary lower-body exoskeleton robotic device that is designed to allow paraplegics as well as other wheelchair users the ability to rehabilitate through walking and other motion. Mr. Bloch also discussed Bionik's near-term strategy to expand and develop a robust product portfolio both internally and by acquiring or licensing synergistic products and technologies.

A live webcast of the presentation is available on Bionik's IR Calendar in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A webcast replay is available and will be archived for 30 days.

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Bionik CEO Peter Bloch, CPA, CA
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Mr. Bloch has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since March 2013, and was previously the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bloch is a Chartered Accountant with a track record of building both public and private technology companies, mainly in the Life Sciences industry. His past 25 years of executive management experience includes CFO and Joint Interim CEO of Sanofi Canada Inc., CFO of Intellivax and Founder of Tribute Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Bloch also served as CFO of Gennum and Just Energy, both TSX listed Companies. These companies have ranged in size from start-ups to revenues of over $2 billion. In these roles Mr. Bloch has secured significant funding for both private and public companies, including experience with Initial Public Offerings. Mr. Bloch has been on a number of both public and private company’s board of directors.

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Check out the website:

http://www.bioniklabs.com

[nyctraydr]

Bionik awarded Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Resource Prize
The award recognizes K50 entrepreneurial companies tackling world issues by building scalable solutions to the world's most complex problems
Bionik Laboratories Corp. has been awarded a Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center resource prize at the seventh annual Kairos Global Summit.

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Bionik participates in prestigious Kairos Society Global Summit
- Bionik co-founders presented on innovative ARKE™ robotic lower-body exoskeleton at the Kairos Global Summit

Bionik Laboratories Corp. a medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders participated in the Kairos Society's 2015 'Kairos 50' (K50).

The Kairos Society identifies, qualifies, connects, and empowers young entrepreneurs who are building scalable solutions to the world's most complex problems. Each year 50 of the most promising startups from all over the world are selected for inclusion in the Kairos 50.

The seventh annual Kairos Global Summit took place in Hollywood, California. The Global Summit was comprised of a VIP demo day and conversations with leading VCs and industry thought-leaders.

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ARKE system linked to physicians through smartphone
Bionik Laboratories Corp., a medical device company, designs, develops, and commercializes physical rehabilitation technologies, prosthetics, and assisted robotic products. The company offers ARKE, a lower body exoskeleton for wheelchair bound individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries, strokes, and other mobility disabilities to restore gait and walk again during the rehabilitation process. It also provides APOLLO, a microprocessor prosthetic knee that allows user to walk naturally by increasing and decreasing the dampening in the knee joint; and CHRONOS, a cloud based intelligent patient queuing system that allows patients to check in with their health care provider through their smartphone, as well as allows them to monitor the number of patients ahead of them. The company was formerly known as Drywave Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Bionik Laboratories Corp. in February 2015. Bionik Laboratories Corp. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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2nd Generation Industrial-designed Robotic Lower-Body Exoskeleton
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has completed the design of its second generation robotic lower-body exoskeleton ARKE GEN2 and initiated production of the first rehabilitation units.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, stated, "I am very pleased with the significant advancements we have made with ARKE GEN2 and believe it is a clear example of our team's expertise and strong commitment to advancing our product development strategy."

The ARKE GEN2 is a completely new industrial designed exoskeleton with novel walking gait trajectories and has significantly smaller mechanics and actuator components than the Company's previous versions. It has the highest possible energy and efficiency through both improved battery density and the power-to-weight ratio of the actuators. ARKE GEN2 utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, one of the most powerful robotic devices as compared to similar systems. The second generation system has a significantly improved and more cost effective electronics system with modular form key components that can be easily maintained and allow for future software expansions and other technology applications. LessGeneration Robotic Lower-Body Exoskeleton
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has completed the design of its second generation robotic lower-body exoskeleton ARKE GEN2 and initiated production of the first rehabilitation units.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, stated, "I am very pleased with the significant advancements we have made with ARKE GEN2 and believe it is a clear example of our team's expertise and strong commitment to advancing our product development strategy."

The ARKE GEN2 is a completely new industrial designed exoskeleton with novel walking gait trajectories and has significantly smaller mechanics and actuator components than the Company's previous versions. It has the highest possible energy and efficiency through both improved battery density and the power-to-weight ratio of the actuators. ARKE GEN2 utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, one of the most powerful robotic devices as compared to similar systems. The second generation system has a significantly improved and more cost effective electronics system with modular form key components that can be easily maintained and allow for future software expansions and other technology applications

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Launch of digital corporate communication channels
PR Newswire Bionik Laboratories Corp.
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX: BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has launched a suite of online corporate communication channels to maintain ongoing and direct communication with shareholders and other interested parties. The Company has launched official digital portals on social medial channels including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and The Chairman's Blog.

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ARKE GEN2 utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has completed the design of its second generation robotic lower-body exoskeleton ARKE GEN2 and initiated production of the first rehabilitation units.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, stated, "I am very pleased with the significant advancements we have made with ARKE GEN2 and believe it is a clear example of our team's expertise and strong commitment to advancing our product development strategy."

The ARKE GEN2 is a completely new industrial designed exoskeleton with novel walking gait trajectories and has significantly smaller mechanics and actuator components than the Company's previous versions. It has the highest possible energy and efficiency through both improved battery density and the power-to-weight ratio of the actuators. ARKE GEN2 utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, one of the most powerful robotic devices as compared to similar systems. The second generation system has a significantly improved and more cost effective electronics system with modular form key components that can be easily maintained and allow for future software expansions and other technology applications. LessGeneration Robotic Lower-Body Exoskeleton
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has completed the design of its second generation robotic lower-body exoskeleton ARKE GEN2 and initiated production of the first rehabilitation units.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, stated, "I am very pleased with the significant advancements we have made with ARKE GEN2 and believe it is a clear example of our team's expertise and strong commitment to advancing our product development strategy."

The ARKE GEN2 is a completely new industrial designed exoskeleton with novel walking gait trajectories and has significantly smaller mechanics and actuator components than the Company's previous versions. It has the highest possible energy and efficiency through both improved battery density and the power-to-weight ratio of the actuators. ARKE GEN2 utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, one of the most powerful robotic devices as compared to similar systems. The second generation system has a significantly improved and more cost effective electronics system with modular form key components that can be easily maintained and allow for future software expansions and other technology applications

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Suite of online corporate communication channels launched
PR Newswire Bionik Laboratories Corp.
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX: BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has launched a suite of online corporate communication channels to maintain ongoing and direct communication with shareholders and other interested parties. The Company has launched official digital portals on social medial channels including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and The Chairman's Blog.

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FDA approval eyed
Top-line data from clinical testing should hit markets during the second half of next year. From there, and assuming the tech gets the thumbs up from one or all of the FDA, the EMA and Canada Health, Bionik expects to start shipping to health centers initially in Canada. We are looking at the second quarter 2017 as a target for this development. Once commercialization commences, Bionik expects to file for an uplisting, which should draw some level of institutional attention as the company ceases to be over the counter.

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Website

definitely worth a look:
http://www.bioniklabs.com/

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Reimbursement for Bionik product sales will come from private Insurance plans, managed care programs, public programs (e.g. VA, Workers’ Compensation, OHIP, and Medicare/Medicaid, etc.

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Revenue Streams:
...include revenue-share/product leasing, capital
expenditure, & individual use sales.

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Potential ARKE customers: Hospitals, Rehabilitation Institutions, Clinical Centers,and individuals. Channels include direct sales & 3rd party distributors

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Gearing up for marketing strategy
Build-out Sales & Marketing Infrastructure
• Hire lean marketing team, including experienced marketing
director, in-house physiotherapists for training and educational
outreach and associates focused on company visibility via
trade shows & conferences
• Initial focus creates repeatable and scalable selling systems for
rehabilitation markets

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Keep your eye on Bionik
Innovative technology designed to meet a growing need in medical rehabilitation and a robust business plan - what's not to like?

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Leveraging Bionik partnerships
Clinical studies will provide key opinion leader exposure, market
awareness, and future sales channels. The company's synergistic product acquisition/licensing provides established, active sales channels, pipelines and infrastructure

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How the company plans to engage early customers
Regulatory approvals will indicate the timing and geography of product
adoption – first customers will be research centers in Canada. Clinical trials will focus on establishing “standard of care” and defining treatment protocols with rehabilitation experts. The results from early adopters will be utilized to horizontally scale product leasing and revenue-share model.

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The ARKE GEN2 is a completely new industrial designed exoskeleton with novel walking gait trajectories and has significantly smaller mechanics and actuator components than the Company's previous versions. It has the highest possible energy and efficiency through both improved battery density and the power-to-weight ratio of the actuators. ARKE GEN2 utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, one of the most powerful robotic devices as compared to similar systems. The second generation system has a significantly improved and more cost effective electronics system with modular form key components that can be easily maintained and allow for future software expansions and other technology applications. LessGeneration Robotic Lower-Body Exoskeleton
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has completed the design of its second generation robotic lower-body exoskeleton ARKE GEN2 and initiated production of the first rehabilitation units.

Peter Bloch, CEO of Bionik, stated, "I am very pleased with the significant advancements we have made with ARKE GEN2 and believe it is a clear example of our team's expertise and strong commitment to advancing our product development strategy."

[trendmkr]

company presentation on website

worth a look - lots of info about products and markets

[trendmkr]

Bionik Laboratories Launches Digital Corporate Communication Channels
PR Newswire Bionik Laboratories Corp.
TORONTO /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX: BNKL), a pioneering medical device and robotics company with a focus in developing technologies and solutions for individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that it has launched a suite of online corporate communication channels to maintain ongoing and direct communication with shareholders and other interested parties. The Company has launched official digital portals on social medial channels including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and The Chairman's Blog.

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Strong Alignment with Strategic Manufacturing Partners

Bionik uses manufacturers in Toronto, Canada to produce all steel metal precision parts

Gear transmissions are precision engineered by manufacturer in Denmark

Standard simple metal CNC machined parts are manufactured in China

Electronic manufacturer in California uses Bionik technologies combined with their expertise to develop electronics

Motors are designed and manufactured in Switzerland

Experienced fabrics textile manufacture in Turkey manufactures Bionik’s braces and padding.

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Future developments of ARKE technology:
o Walking gait online profile generation for patients
o Fully adjustable parameters with progress tracking
o Bluetooth communication with tablet interface and cloud
o Faster sampling rates of sensors and processing technologies
o Dense mechanics, reducing the overall weight of the product
o Partial assist mode for Post stroke recovery patients and other indications
o Potential to out-license technology in military and industrial markets

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$100 market cap
with up to $20b potential market

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Bionik Makes For An Intriguing Exposure To The Nascent Exoskeleton Space

Posted at Seeking Alpha

Nov. 9, 2015 11:21 AM ET |

The average cost of rehabilitation for wheelchair-bound patients is $150,000.

There have been few major advances in rehabilitation equipment since the advent of the wheelchair in 1933.

Exoskeletons enable a paraplegic to walk with robotic assistance, cutting down rehab time and potentially saving both clinic and patient time and money. 53% of rehab cost is hospitalization.

FDA approval of exoskeletons is much simpler and straightforward than new drugs. Five companies look set to compete for market share in the coming decade.

The most affordable exoskeleton looks to be Bioink’s (BNKL) ARKE at a price point of $50,000, one third the average cost of rehab.

The crossover between robotics and healthcare has become the cutting edge of the rehabilitation space. The industry is nascent, and the companies involved small, but the potential for future revenue generation is anything but.

Surprisingly few advances have been made in the rehabilitation and treatment/care of spinal injury patients - specifically paraplegic and quadriplegics. We've been using wheelchairs for centuries, but the wheelchair's form as we know it came into existence when two mechanical engineers, one of whom had broken his back in a mining accident, built and patented a steel collapsible model in 1933. Since then, all major developments have focused on comfort, maneuverability and weight. Electrical versions at their core are the same design. Enter exoskeletons.

Exoskeletons are detachable constructions that fit to a patient's legs and torso, allowing the patient to replicate his or her walking gait with robotic assistance. Target patients for this type of tech therapy include spinal injury and stroke victims. Why would a therapist choose to use an exoskeleton to aid rehabilitation over traditional methods? Traditional physiotherapy is a costly and drawn-out process, both in terms of time and human capital. Oftentimes, therapy involves two or more physicians holding up a patient while another moves the legs to mimic the patient's walking gait. For the 21st century, this seems a bit crude. (article continues at Seeking Alpha)

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Clinical trials expected to demonstrate:
• Reduction in bone density loss/muscle atrophy due to inactivity
• Reduction in secondary illness due to being in a wheelchair
• Reduction in frequency of re-hospitalization
• Increased blood flow and nutrient delivery throughout the body

[nyctraydr]

Company Advisors
• Dr. Isador Lieberman, MD MBA FRCSC
Medical Director, Clinical Advisor; Texas Back Institute Orthopedic and Spinal Surgeon
• Dr. Edward Lemaire
Clinical Trial Advisor & Investigator; Clinical Investigator, Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research
Institute
• Dr. Wendy Cukier
Grant Advisor; Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Ryerson University
• Dr. Kaamran Raahemifar
Control Systems & Electronics Advisor; PhD in Biomedical Engineering; Electrical & Computer Eng. professor at Ryerson University
• Dr. Dany Gagnon
Clinical Trial Advisor & Investigator; Clinical Investigator: Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en readaptation du Grand Montreal

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Here's hoping for a great week!
Innovative products for those with limb impairment and paralysis - could be a huge market

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Hope for stroke patients
In the US, heart attack and stroke costs are estimated at over $300 Billion per year, with over $35 Billion per year in direct post care costs. ARKE has the potential to address 100% of all survivors who suffered lower limb impairment due to stroke; a portion in wheelchairs.