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Openlight is another company in this field, but, agreed, we have a lack of expertise re this technology.
https://openlightphotonics.com/newsroom/openlight-partners-with-jabil-to-address-accelerating-demand-for-optical-components-in-ai-ml-and-datacenter-applications
>>> China’s top copper smelters agree on rare joint production cuts
Reuters
March 13, 2024
https://www.mining.com/web/chinas-top-copper-smelters-agree-on-rare-joint-production-cuts-sources-say/
Chinese top copper smelters on Wednesday came to a rare agreement to jointly embark on production cuts at some loss-making plants as they seek to cope with a shortage of raw material, according to sources with knowledge of the plans.
There were no specific rates or volumes set for the cuts and each smelter will make their own assessment of reductions they want to implement, said the sources who were not authorized to speak on the matter and declined to be identified.
The agreement, made at a meeting in Beijing, comes as fees to process copper concentrate on the spot market have dropped to their lowest in more than a decade.
Chinese top producers Jiangxi Copper, Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group, Jinchuan Group and China Copper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chinese smelters have been rapidly expanding their capacity over the past year to get ahead of an expected surge in copper demand from sectors related to the green energy transition such as electric vehicles or wind and solar energy.
But several mine disruptions globally, including the shutdown of the big Cobre mine in Panama owned by First Quantum, have meant copper concentrate is now in short supply.
Spot copper treatment charges (TCs) in China tumbled to $11.20 per metric ton on Friday, representing a 76% drop in just two months and the lowest level since 2013, when pricing rating agency Fastmarkets started publishing the weekly index.
“I think this is a turning point for the continued sharp decline in spot TC/RCs over the last few months,” said Brian Peng, a copper analyst at research and consultancy firm CRU.
Cutting production and extending maintenance shutdowns would help to ease tightness in concentrate supply over the coming months, he said.
“But it’s important to note that there are around 1.7 million tons per year new ex-China smelter projects that is expected to come online in the second half, which will put more pressure on global concentrate supply,” Peng added.
The sources also said that other measures, including using more copper blister in production to lower consumption of copper ore concentrate, were also discussed during the meeting.
Top smelters, acknowledging the shortages, proposed production cuts in a meeting in January but no action took place, according to people familiar with the matter.
China’s refined copper output in the first two months this year climbed 9.2% to 1.75 million metric tons, according to a survey by research house Antaike of 22 producers covering over 80% of China’s total capacity.
Imports of copper concentrate came in at 4.66 million tons for the first two months of the year, up 0.6% compared to the same period a year earlier, customs data showed.
The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange hit a 22-month high on Wednesday following the news.
<<<
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You aren't getting the idea... The physical properties of the patented LWLG polymer will allow them to increase speed and lower temperature and power consumption. It can't be done any other way, no matter who you are or what you know.
I forget what those ampakines were supposed to treat. Do you remember? We didn't really understand the science at all - naive investors.
Ombow, A key lesson learned from the Cortex debacle was to not be mesmerized by the cool science -
She blinded me with science -
Ombow, I see Lebby mentioned 3 technologies to watch within this space (see below), and it looks like Lumiphase and Hyperlight are still privately held. So who will win? Who knows.
On the other hand, if LWLG had a nice looking stock chart, I might be interested despite of my complete ignorance of the science. For example, I own a little NVDA and some semi stocks like AVGO, KLAC, not because I understand them, but because their business is obviously thriving, as evidenced by their great long term charts. A 10 year chart I can analyze. The science and competitive landscape within 'electro optical photonics', forget it.
- Barium titanate (BTO) (Lumiphase)
- Thin-film lithium niobate (Hyperlight)
- Electro-optic polymers (LWLG)
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=174134080
>>> Meanwhile, he says that the market is beginning to warm to new approaches towards component development as the industry grapples with how to support future optical transmission rates and chip I/O requirements. He pointed to the attention being given to barium titanate (BTO) and thin-film lithium niobate approaches alongside electro-optic polymers as evidence of this trend.<<<
---
Some of the info in this post is misleading. Dec. 13, 2023 is the date of the quote, but Ayar Labs was founded in 2015.
"About Ayar Labs
The company was founded in 2015 and is funded by a number of domestic and international venture capital firms, as well as strategic investors such as GlobalFoundries, Hewlett Packard Pathfinder, Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures and NVIDIA."
I don't think you're getting the idea.
If you don't mind me asking, how much money do you have invested in this turkey?
So he would know how to use LWLG's polymer to lower operating temperatures..
Uh-huh,
"Who is the founder of Ayar Labs?
Wade is recognized as a photonics technology pioneer. Before he founded Ayar Labs, Wade led the team that designed the optics in the world's first processor to communicate using light. Wade and his co-founders invented technology at MIT and UC Berkeley from 2010-2015, leading to the formation of Ayar Labs.Dec 13, 2023"
https://ayarlabs.com/
https://ayarlabs.com/leadership/
Oops - I misspelled Ayar (Ayer) in my search..
Here is a more recent response:
I suggest you post any questions on the LWLG board... Ayar is expected to be a customer.
Ayar Labs -
https://ayarlabs.com/supernova/?utm_campaign=240223-feb-newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=300177285&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8z4xhyY3xHxST6-qu4ZZSjl1wKB8c9HaHbGPZDQL1cMMz-oeACwpHipE5G4hJG-3ojySI3tnwwIx9qk-qca06SnOi_qGm1666cmtJ-tHgmRRpZxaQ&utm_content=300177285&utm_source=hs_email
https://ayarlabs.com/revolutionary-optics-glass-waveguide-redefine-ai-telecom-data-center-infrastructures/?utm_campaign=240223-feb-newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=300177285&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_oM4mlZx2rz37cFUxGi0inwLlYX-2lRAS8iq_DZBuwl_E_Ke219j2CQ4gjfZHexKFIXaOgP-YHXrTT_5-plNz2JaV6P_g_BTmFlOrVqCU36dz3k60&utm_content=300177285&utm_source=hs_email
LWLG is about to change computers as we know them. It's not "just one arrow".
It is a volcano of IP and cutting edge tech.
"Ubiquitous" is the term used by C.E.O. Lebby to describe their market penetration.
The guy playing lead did a really fine job. Do you know his name?
It looks like it's just an early stage company with just one arrow in the quiver right now. Might be worth following what they do in the future.
Ombow, >> biotech <<
I figure the problem with biotech is that it's so advanced and specialized, none of us can understand it enough to base an informed decision on. Other areas of science (LWLG) are similar -- just too advanced and complex to evaluate the winners and losers, unless you work in the field directly and have a PhD, and even then it would be difficult.
Warren Buffett says us mere mortals should stay in our 'circle of competency' when it comes to investing. He recommends we use an index fund (S+P 500) for the bulk of our stock allocation. That's what I do, and then have small positions in a lot of companies that have proven track records (as evidenced by their nice long term charts). I also have some 'turnarounds' - nice long term stocks that have hit some headwinds but should bounce back. Beyond that are some tiny positions in somewhat riskier stocks to keep things interesting, but these are minute amounts and for fun / general interest. Anyway, so far it seems like a pretty good balance, and the stock allocation is only 28% of the portfolio, so enough to participate, but not to require daily Tagamet :o)
OK, maybe I'll try to understand the science.
Yeah, that's the Rain I was referring to. And I've seen the other one.
Ombow, With IVVD you might want to run it by the bio guys on Dew's board (link below). A Covid related stock might only elicit a collective groan, but there may be someone following that general area. These days I mostly just follow the sector out of general interest -
Biotech Values - https://investorshub.advfn.com/Biotech-Values-1418
Another bio guy (Bladerunner) currently likes IOVA and CRDF -
Biotech Ideas - https://investorshub.advfn.com/Biotech-Ideas-37829
Bigworld and I are following ACXP, but I decided to watch from the sidelines
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Ombow, Here's one with Rain, but check out this other one of I'm Only Sleeping - amazing artwork / animation -
try going here and looking for it - https://www.youtube.com/@TheBeatlesVEVO - or just go to YouTube and search for Rain - it's 3 minutes and 8 seconds long
So what about the stock? What do you think about the science? Do you communicate with any biotech enthusiasts?
Ombow, >> IVVD <<
The chart looks interesting, so might be worth checking out. I see they have $200 mil in cash (Dec) and almost no debt, share count is 118 mil, burn rate is fairly high, with net income minus $169 mil. Shorts are under 4%. It's a Covid stock (yikes) and I've been trying to avoid bio stocks, but it might be worth watching the chart setup for a breakout if it can get back up to 5.
Btw, I can't get that song link to work, but with Rain I think they slowed down the lead vocal, similar to Strawberry Fields. Here's an interesting extended cover of Tomorrow Never Knows -
(starts 1:15)
Bigworld, Just curious how your knee aspiration and culture went? Hope everything went OK and you can now schedule the new surgery on schedule :o)
Btw, my sister had her knee replacement done in Jan, but ended up with a blood clot in the calf area (discovered in March), so she's on Eliquis for 3 months. Otherwise it's been going fairly well. Fwiw, I started taking a supplement for 'joint health' containing glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, etc, figuring an 'ounce of prevention' is better than the pound of cure. Some people / families are just prone to it I guess. I knew a guy who ran marathons a lot and he ended up with knee and back problems. Over time he just wore out the cartilage from overuse. For the back compression he devised his own 'quasi traction' method of hanging upside down like a bat for a period of time each day. It helped the back a lot, be he just kept on running, probably hooked on the 'endorphin rush' I guess, lol.
Anyway, hope everything is OK with your knee :o)
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Copper surge --> China cutting production was the main catalyst for the current pop in copper -
>>> These Copper Stocks Shine At A New High As Prices Soar
Investor's Business Daily
by KIMBERLEY KOENIG
03/18/2024
https://www.investors.com/research/copper-prices-southern-copper-freeport-mcmoran-scco-fcx-stock/?src=A00220
Copper prices have rallied to levels not seen since April 2023. That's led industry players such as Southern Copper (SCCO) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) to pop and reach new highs.
Copper prices continue to rise, with the current price around $4.15 per pound. The recent boost came after news on March 13 that Chinese smelters will cut production at some facilities.
Copper is used in industries ranging from coin production to crude oil exploration. China and India are large consumers of copper used in infrastructure and transportation industries, while the U.S. uses it in homebuilding.
Copper stocks lead IBD's metal ore mining group, which contains 46 stocks in copper, gold, uranium and other mineral mining industries. The group ranks 177th out of the 197 industry groups tracked by Investor's Business Daily.
Prices Lift Southern Copper To New High
Southern Copper ranks No. 1 in the group. The stock reached an all-time high on Monday in heavy volume, and has gained 28% this month thus far as copper prices rise.
Shares are extended from a flat-base buy point of 88.40. Southern Copper stock retook its 50-day moving average on March 7. The stock gapped up 10% and broke out of the base on March 13, after news of a China production cut. Volume has been strong as the stock has climbed.
The copper stock is on track for its longest winning streak since Jan. 13, 2023, when it rose for nine straight trading days, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
On Monday, IBD upgraded the stock's EPS Rating to 91 from 88. Southern Copper holds a best-possible A+ IBD Accumulation/Distribution Rating, indicating very heavy institutional buying over the last 13 weeks. Its relative strength line has also made a sharp increase thanks to copper prices. Analysts forecast 10% full-year earnings growth in 2024 and 19% in 2025.
Freeport-McMoRan In A Buy Zone
Freeport-McMoRan reached a 52-week high on Monday. The copper and gold miner also broke out of cup-with-handle base with a 43.42 buy point in heavy trading on March 13, according to the weekly MarketSurge chart. Shares are in the 5% buy zone reaching to 45.59.
Shares have gained 18% in March thus far with rising copper prices. Freeport-McMoRan specializes in mining for gold, copper, silver, molybdenum, oil and natural gas.
Among others in the industry, Teck Resources (TECK) dipped on Monday but is holding a good portion of gains from Wednesday's 8% gap-up. The stock is flirting with a resistance around the 45 price level. Shares have gained 16% this month so far. Teck Resources is a miner of copper, zinc, cadmium and other metals and minerals.
Finally, Hudbay Minerals (HBM) also eased on Monday after reaching a 52-week high on Friday. The stock has climbed off a low of 3.94 on Nov. 10, and is nearing its 52-week high of 7.01. Thanks to increases in copper prices, the stock is up about 17% thus far in March. The Canadian miner focuses on copper.
<<<
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Wall Street has a problem with LWLG - the chart reflects a shakedown by the "Street" in order to get shares. The stock is in strong hands, mostly in the EU, and the "street" wants more. That is why the price is so low. It has nothing to do with fundamentals. Revenue is going to begin shortly, and it will be huge.
Xena, Thanks. With LWLG, it sounds like their science is cutting edge, but not having a background in this area (zip), I'd mainly have to go by the stock chart (which looks vulnerable), and the lack of revenues, etc. I try to follow Buffett's advice to stay within one's 'circle of competency', which unfortunately doesn't include advanced photonics. On the other hand, positive news flow could override the bearish chart, which is what Wall St is likely waiting for --> more deals to confirm the first one from last year. The chart suggests that investors are tiring from the wait, so I'd say watch that $4 support area closely.
With these tech stocks there's always the risk of being 'blinded by the science', which is common among tech oriented investors. It's easy get mesmerized by cool science, but dangerous since so few people have the specialized background to analyze the stocks. I sure don't, but a nice 10 year stock chart I can understand, so that's what I mainly stick to :o)
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>>> Trump's Truth Social stock soars in first day of trading
Yahoo Finance
by Alexandra Canal
March 26, 2024
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trumps-truth-social-stock-soars-in-first-day-of-trading-133705717.html
Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social (DJT) surged more than 30% in its first day of trading on the Nasdaq early Tuesday.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, Truth Social's parent company, were trading above $65 under the ticker symbol "DJT," Trump's initials, around mid-morning.
The company merged with special purpose vehicle Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC) in a deal approved by shareholders last week. Prior to the merger, DWAC had been on the public market since 2021.
Trump founded Truth Social after he was kicked off major social media apps like Facebook and Twitter, the platform now known as X, following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots in 2021. He has since been reinstated on the platforms.
Trump will maintain a roughly 60% stake in Truth Social, with nearly 79 million shares. That translates to a valuation of more than $5 billion based on current trading levels.
The merger comes as the former president faces a $454 million fraud penalty and grapples with a campaign fundraising shortfall as he gears up for a 2024 presidential rematch against current commander-in-chief Joe Biden.
But Trump will have to wait before cashing in his shares.
According to the terms of the merger, stakeholders are subject to a six-month lockup period before selling or transferring shares. The only exception would be if the company's board votes to make a special dispensation.
According to an SEC filing from Digital World, Trump Media lost $49 million in the first nine months of last year and brought in $3.4 million in revenue.
As Yahoo Finance's Rick Newman pointed out, short interest in DWAC stock — bets that the stock price will fall rather than rise — was about 11% of outstanding shares. To note, average short interest in public companies sits in the 3% to 4% range.
<<<
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Goldman likes gold - >>> Gold’s 'record march higher set to continue,' Goldman says
Yahoo Finance
Ines Ferré
March 25, 2024
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/golds-record-march-higher-set-to-continue-goldman-says-164325765.html
Gold’s roughly 8% month-to-date rally has room to grow with the precious metal poised to hit $2,300 an ounce by year-end, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.
On Monday futures gained to trade as high as $2,182 an ounce. The precious metal is considered a safe haven during times of geopolitical tensions and when interest rates decrease. Last week, the Federal Reserve continued to signal that it would lower interest rates three times this year.
The Fed meeting “reinforced the market’s (and ours) expectations that three cuts are likely this year, lending renewed support to gold to test and surpass March’s earlier record high,” wrote a team of analysts led by Samantha Dart.
Goldman Sachs analysts upgraded their average gold price forecast for 2024 from $2,090 to $2,180 per ounce, targeting a move to $2,300 by the end of the year.
The analysts forecast gold prices in the near term will move toward another consolidation phase, barring any geopolitical surprise. However, “a substantive retracement lower will likely also be limited by resilience in physical buying channels,” wrote Dart, citing Chinese imports of the precious metal.
“Nonetheless, in the midterm we continue to hold a constructive view on gold underpinned by eventual Fed easing, which should crucially reactivate the largely dormant ETF buying,” wrote Dart.
Bullion's price increases have been disconnected from recent outflows seen in gold-related ETFs. Strategists believe investors have been rotating money into bitcoin ETFs as the token roared toward new highs earlier this month.
Central banks have been buying up gold at historic levels, helping to drive up demand over the past couple of years.
Adjusted for inflation, gold hit a record in 1980 when it hit $850 per ounce, which would equal almost $3,200 in today's dollars.
<<<
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Bigworld, Btw, it looks like that DWAC transition has occurred, and DJT is having a good market reception so far. The Donald stands to get a huge payday, so we'll see what happens. He'll need that money for all the lawsuit related stuff. I think there's a 6 month lock up period on his shares, though there may be a workaround to allow an earlier cash out.
Things were already bizarre, but these Trump years have been like a never ending Twilight Zone episode. And the ongoing legalization of pot and psychedelics will help put the public into an even deeper stupor. A long strange trip it's been..
---
Bigworld, Thanks for that Kunstler update. Victoria Nuland is out (hooray), so perhaps sanity has prevailed. But not so fast -> the Europeans are now sending troops into Ukraine, yikes. So a very grim development, as we bungle ever closer to WW 3. Between Ukraine and the M. East, it's hard to imagine this ending well.
The 'official' US administration is now trying to back away from these disasters, but as in The Godfather --> 'someone keeps pulling me back in'. That 'someone' won't be satisfied until the 'US bombs Iran' scenario occurs, but it could be much worse than that, and WW 3 may be the goal. Hard to believe, but this is what you get when enough incompetent and/or insane leaders take over.
>>> Meanwhile, Polish, French, and German regular army troops have moved directly by rail and air inside Ukraine to Cherkassy, south of Kiev. The mental defectives running Poland, France, and Germany seem avid for NATO to jump with both feet into ground action in Ukraine, that is, go directly to war with Russia. <<<
Inbred leaders --> insanity
Bigworld, With Acurx, I figure there's a good chance Ibeza ultimately reaches the market, but if Acurx has to do the first Phase 3 itself, without a pharma partner, it could be a long wait for investors to reach the payoff. There's still a chance Luci can get a partner prior to the Phase 3, but I figure the odds are higher that he has to go it alone until at least the interim analysis stage of the first Phase 3, so a good year or more to wait. But Luci seems like a smart cookie, and motivated, so he might get a deal sooner.
>> Oklahoma City <<
Yes, that was a clearly an orchestrated false flag, no doubt about it. I researched it in depth back when the info was still widely available on the internet. Ah, remember those pre-censorship YouTube days? It's like a distant memory now, but the 'powers that be' took way too long to impose censorship (10-15 years), so tens of millions of people already know all about 9-11, Oklahoma City, etc. So the cat is out of the bag, and once people know the official version is total BS, there's no going back. Btw, the slimy Merrick Garland was point man for the Oklahoma City cover up, and other high profile 'domestic terrorism' cases (link below).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrick_Garland
>>> Garland's responsibilities included the supervision of high-profile domestic-terrorism cases, including the Oklahoma City bombing, Ted Kaczynski (also known as the "Unabomber"), and the Atlanta Olympics bombings.[3][27]
Garland insisted on being sent to Oklahoma City in the aftermath of the attack, in order to examine the crime scene and oversee the investigation in preparation for the prosecution.[28] He represented the government at the preliminary hearings of the two main defendants, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.[28] Garland offered to lead the trial team, but could not because he was needed at the Justice Department headquarters. Instead, he helped pick the team and supervised it from Washington, D.C., where he was involved in major decisions, including the choice to seek the death penalty for McVeigh and Nichols.[28] Garland won praise for his work on the case from the Republican Governor of Oklahoma, Frank Keating.[3] <<<
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A lot of things that have happened in America are no accident. The Kennedy Assassination. Bobby Kennedy's murder. TWA 800. 9/11. The whole COVID saga. January 6th. The Las Vegas massacre stunk to high heaven. Now there is a lot coming out that the Oklahoma City bombing had government imbeds involved. I would bet on it. There is no limit to the evils that the Deep State are capable of.
https://headlineusa.com/breaking-attorney-sues-fbi-for-records-about-cia-asset-who-funded-okc-bombing/
gfp: Thanks. I jumped the gun too soon. Which is typical for me. I will keep ACXP in my portfolio and nibble some more at these low prices. If I have to wit a few years to cash in so be it. I have more confidence that ACXP will eventually prove to be a winner than I have confidence that the country will survive beyond the election.
gfp, this is an awesome video. It really captures the essence of The Bestles at that time. And the clarity and excellence of the instruments can blow your mind.
DWAC - >>> Donald Trump is set for a $3 billion paper windfall. It may not solve his current cash crunch.
Yahoo Finance
by Ben Werschkul
March 22, 2024
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-is-set-for-a-3-billion-paper-windfall-it-may-not-solve-his-current-cash-crunch-150305891.html
Donald Trump could net a $3 billion paper windfall after shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC) voted Friday to merge with his media business.
It comes at a critical time for the former president as he struggles with hundreds of millions in legal judgments and a 2024 campaign fundraising shortfall ahead of his rematch with President Joe Biden this fall.
The deal may not, however, solve that immediate cash crunch for Trump, who may not be able to quickly convert his shares to cash.
Stakeholders are likely to be subject to a lock-up period of about six months where they are not allowed to sell or transfer shares unless the company's board votes to make a special dispensation.
The vote to merge the blank check company with the Trump Media & Technology Group came during a special meeting of DWAC stockholders. The now-approved plan will allow Trump's company, which operates the Truth Social social media site, to take over DWAC's listing on the Nasdaq within days or weeks.
The combined company is set to be renamed after Trump’s company and change its ticker symbol from DWAC to DJT, the former president's initials.
Trump himself is set to receive a stake in the combined company valued at over $3 billion. Digital World's current stock price, which ticked down Friday, has nonetheless more than doubled this year as Trump has become the presumptive GOP presidential nominee for the third time in a row.
Friday’s meeting was led by Eric Swider, the chief executive officer at Digital World Acquisition Corp., who said he was excited to see the combined company "provide a home for free speech and a platform to promote those values."
Trump himself didn't immediately react to the decision but posts dozens of times daily on his social media site and often touts the business's prospects. He said just yesterday that Truth Social is "the real voice of America!!"
Can Trump use the windfall to pay his legal bills?
What remains to be seen is how much access Trump will have to the cash during the coming campaign season. The New York Attorney General is taking steps to seize his assets if he fails to pay $464 million, plus interest, to appeal the recent financial fraud conviction of his company.
Trump could see assets at risk of seizure as early as next Monday if he doesn't have the cash by then.
The expected windfall also comes as the latest 2024 campaign filings from the Federal Election Commission show Biden's reelection campaign significantly out-raising Trump. As of the end of February, the current president has raised $71.2 million in cash on hand versus Trump’s $33.5 million.
One option for Trump to get at the cash more quickly would be for the company's board votes to make a special dispensation.
Such a move could be possible with the seven board members of the combined company set to be populated by close Trump allies like Devin Nunes, the former congressman and current CEO of the Trump Media & Technology Group; Linda McMahon, a former Trump cabinet official; and Donald Trump Jr., his son.
Trump could also try to use the expected forthcoming windfall to secure a loan before the lockup period ends. That's seen as a more complicated option, as it would require a bank to offer him the money up front.
A potential return to Wall Street
The two companies first announced their merger plans back in October 2021 but the merger was long delayed by issues such as investigations into the deal by the SEC and a federal grand jury investigation.
The merger also faced a lawsuit from the founders of Trump's media group, who alleged a scheme to water down the value of their shares.
But with these hurdles apparently cleared, Friday’s vote also marks a return to Wall Street, which Trump has courted throughout his career with mixed success.
In 1995, Donald Trump bought 40 Wall St., down the street from the New York Stock Exchange, but the property has proven to be his most durable connection to public markets in recent decades.
One Trump foray into public markets began in 1995 when Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts began to trade.
"This is such a big day for us, it's the New York Stock Exchange," Trump said at the time.
But the adventure was short-lived, with the stock falling below its IPO price by 1997 and being delisted a few years later.
But one legacy of that effort could live on. The ticker symbol for Trump's company in the 1990s and early 2000s? DJT.
<<<
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>>> The great central bank policy reversal kicks off
Reuters
by Balazs Koranyi and Howard Schneider
March 22, 2024
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-great-central-bank-policy-061353930.html
FRANKFURT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The world's biggest central banks are on the starting line of reversing a record string of interest rate hikes but the way down for borrowing costs will look very different from the way up.
There will be no floodgates or fireworks. Instead, banks on opposite sides of the Atlantic are likely to move in the smallest increments with periodic pauses, fearing that ultra-low unemployment could rekindle inflation rates still above their targets.
The eventual bottom for interest rates is also set to be far higher than the historic lows of the last decade and mega-shifts in the structure of the global economy could put borrowing costs on a higher path for years to come.
Central banks started to jack up rates from late 2021 as post-pandemic supply constraints and surging energy prices on Russia's war in Ukraine sent inflation into double-digit territory across much of the world.
This seemingly synchronized response tamed prices and inflation will be just above or already at target - 2% for most big economies - this year.
"The bottom line is that across the OECD, central banks... are softening up again, or are about to do so," investment bank Macquarie said in a note to clients.
Indeed, the Swiss National Bank became the first major central bank (to) ease policy on Thursday with a surprise 25 basis point cut to its key rate as inflation is already in the 0% to 2% target range.
The move also ends rampant investor speculation that policymakers will be hesitant to move before the U.S. Federal Reserve since any rate cut is certain to weaken a currency and push up imported inflation.
The European Central Bank is bound to be next in June after incessantly repeated references to that meeting painted the bank into a corner.
The Fed and the Bank of England both hinted they could be next but have kept their language sufficiently vague to make moves in either June or July possible, provided data do not upset plans.
Still, investors expect the Fed, the ECB and the BoE to each deliver only 75 basis points of cuts by the end of this year, in three 25 basis point moves, tiny changes compared to rate hikes in 2022 when they sometimes increased rates by that much in a single day.
The pricing also suggests cuts at just three out of the five meetings each will hold between June and the end of the year, so pauses are also on the cards.
To be sure, these banks are not the first to cut rates. Some emerging market economies, like Brazil, Mexico, Hungary and the Czech Republic have all cut rates already, but financial markets take their cue from the major central banks, so their influence on financial instruments is oversized.
OUTLIER
The Federal Reserve could in fact end up being the outlier this time.
The U.S. economy is chugging along and the Fed even upgraded its growth projections this week, meaning it may end up cutting rates when growth remains strong, or delaying cuts if inflation proves stubborn. In Europe, data continues to paint a bleak picture, with activity stabilizing at a low level.
The U.S. election in November adds to the Fed's dilemma.
Policymakers do not want to be seen interfering with the vote, so if they cut, they need to do it well clear of November.
"Traditionally, the Fed would not pivot rates policy to cushion inequality," Societe Generale strategist Albert Edwards said. "But growing inequality has been a key issue ever since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis triggered a backlash against ‘The Establishment’ - most evident in the rise in popularism."
"Might the unfolding inequality crisis force the Fed to bow to intense political pressure to cut rates faster and deeper? I think that is entirely plausible," Edwards said.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell in congressional testimony earlier this month said policymakers would "keep our heads down and do our jobs" ahead of the elections.
All the while Europe continues to struggle. Germany is in recession, Britain is barely growing after a recession, and the rest of the continent is staying in positive territory mostly from unexpectedly strong data out of Southern Europe, traditionally the euro zone's weak spot.
Where rate cuts could end in either 2024 or 2025 remains far too uncertain but policymakers appear confident that the ultra low rates - negative in some cases - will not be revisited.
In fact, some argue that the world is undergoing such profound changes that the historic downtrend in the so-called neutral rate, which neither stimulates nor slows growth, could reverse.
"We may now be facing such a turning point," ECB Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel said this week.
"The exceptional investment needs arising from structural challenges related to the climate transition, the digital transformation and geopolitical shifts may have a persistent positive impact on the natural rate of interest."
<<<
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Ombow, With LWLG, just curious if the holdup in their getting sales / revenues is due to -- 1) LWLG's product not ready yet, or - 2) industry not needing the product yet? (or some combination) If the industry is moving to 800 GB, but isn't quite there yet, that could explain the lack of interest in LWLG's technology.
So a few questions would be -- when is the transition to 800 GB due to begin? And -- will the industry have an alternative to use for 800 GB instead of Lightwave's technology?
Thanks for any insights :o)
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>>> Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACXP) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Published March 19, 2024
by INSIDER MONKEY TRANSCRIPTS
https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/acurx-pharmaceuticals-inc-nasdaqacxp-q4-2023-earnings-call-transcript-1276747/#q-and-a-session
Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACXP) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript March 18, 2024
Operator: Greetings and welcome to the Acurx Pharmaceuticals Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Earnings Results and Business Update Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to your host, Robert Shawah, Chief Financial Officer for Acurx Pharmaceuticals. Thank you. You may begin.
Robert Shawah : Thank you, Melissa. Good morning, and welcome to our call. This morning we issued a press release providing financial results and company highlights for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, which is available on our website at acurxpharma.com. Joining me today is David Luci, President and CEO of Acurx; as well as Robert DeLuccia, Executive Chairman. David will give a corporate update and outlook. After that, I’ll provide some highlights of the financials from the quarter and year end of December 31, 2023, and then turn the call back over to Dave for his closing remarks. As a reminder, during today’s call, we’ll be making certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current information assumptions, estimates and projections about future events that are subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements.
Investors should consider these risks and other information described in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K, which we filed on Friday, March 15, 2024. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and Acurx disclaims any obligations to update such statements at any time in the future. This conference call contains time sensitive information that’s accurate only as of the date of this live broadcast today, March 18, 2024. I’ll now turn the call over to Dave Luci. Dave?
David Luci : Thanks Rob. Good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining us to review our financial results for the fourth quarter of 2023 and also to hear some very exciting recent updates. Then we’d be pleased to take any questions. First, I’ll summarize some of our key activities for the fourth quarter of ‘23 or in some cases shortly thereafter. On October 2, 2023, we ended enrollment in our Phase IIb clinical trial of ibezapolstat or IBEZ, our lead antibiotic candidate for the treatment of patients with C. difficile infection or CDI. On November 2, 2023, we reported top line data from the Phase IIb clinical trial including overall results from the full Phase II study, demonstrating and ibezapolstat clinical cure rate at end 10 days oral treatment or EOT of 96%, 25 of 26 patients, which included 100% cure in Phase IIa and 94% cure in Phase IIb compared with vancomycin control arm the standard of which was 14 for 14 or a 100% at end of treatment and 94% was sustained cures.
No safety concerns were reported in either arm of the Phase IIb clinical trial and ibezapolstat was well tolerated in all patients in both the Phase IIa open-label trial and the Phase IIb vancomycin control segment. In consultation with our scientific advisors, the company determined that based on review of aggregate blinded data, the Phase IIb vancomycin control trial segment was terminated early due to success showing high observed clinical cure rates with no emerging safety concerns, clinical comparability was established. We also stated at that further data would be provided as it becomes available on secondary and exploratory endpoints for the Phase IIb trial segment, including sustained clinical cure data at 30 days after EOT and extended clinical cure data 94 days after EOT as well as comparative data on the impact on the patient’s microbiome.
On December 11 ‘23, we announced the sustained clinical cure data. These data showed that in the Phase IIb trial segment 100% or 15 out of 15 of our advantaged patients who were cured at EOT remained cured with no reinfection 30 days later, while vancomycin experienced a reinfection rate of 14.3%, 2 of 14 patients were reinfected.
On January 17, 2024, we announced positive comparative microbiology and microbiome data for the ibezapolstat in CDI patients from the Phase IIb clinical trial segment. Ibezapolstat to outperformed vancomycin showing eradication of fecal C. difficile at day three of treatment in 15 of 16 treated patients versus vancomycin, which had eradication of fecal C. difficile in just 10 of 14 treated patients. Additional data from the Phase IIb clinical trial showed ibezapolstat but not vancomycin consistently observed and allowed regrowth of key gut bacterial species believed to confer health benefits including prevention of recurrent C.difficile infection.
We anticipate that additional data from the secondary and exploratory endpoint will provide further favorable separation these two therapeutic options in our Phase III clinical trial program and ultimately in the marketplace if approved. Additional analysis, regarding other secondary and exploratory endpoints will be forthcoming as data become available. We remain particularly excited about the dual impact of ibezapolstat to treat acute C. difficile infection while appropriately managing the long-term care of each patient’s microbiome, which we believe is exceptional for antibiotic therapy. Having robust preclinical — clinical and manufacturing data to date, we submitted a formidable information package in early February to FDA along with a request for an end of Phase II meeting, which was granted by FDA on Feb 26, and is scheduled to occur in April.
We anticipate discussing our Phase III clinical trial mandate at this meeting and would anticipate documented meeting minutes from FDA sometime in the second quarter this year. We also announced that the European Medicines Agency approved their application to be designated as a small to medium sized enterprise or SME in Europe, which provides for certain benefits including fee reductions and other support from the European Medicines Agency for seeking a marketing authorization in Europe. In November, 2023, we filed an amendment to our shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and put up a $17 million at the market or ATM facility with Alliance Global Partners acting as sales agent to the company. Proceeds from the ATM will be used for general corporate purposes going forward, including our plan Phase III clinical trial mandate.
In October, 2023, at ID Week, Dr. Kevin Garey presented on our behalf with selective spectrum of activity data from our Phase IIa clinical trial. Many of you may recall, Dr. Gary is Professor and Chair University of Houston, College of Pharmacy and the Principal Investigator for our microbiome aspects of the ibezapolstat clinical trial program. Also at ID Week, Bob DeLuccia, our Executive Chairman, presented our new class of novel DNA pol IIIC inhibitors in our preclinical pipeline at the symposium entitled new antimicrobes in the pipeline. Now that’s a lot of activity to digest. So I’ll summarize further as to where we are today. As we speak, we’re preparing to advance ibezapolstat into Phase III clinical trials and anticipate a favorable outcome from our upcoming FDA meeting regarding readiness to proceed and also to obtain agreement on the regulatory pathway for a new drug application filing for marketing approval in the U.S. once Phase III is completed.
We’ve also officially started the regulatory process in Europe will add other territories to the list later this year. The Phase III trials will include U.S. and international sites to enhance overall enrollment and to support international regulatory filings for marketing approval. This will save us a lot of time and money and allow us to expand our ultimate commercial reach. To ensure Phase III clinical trial and enrollment as quickly as possible, we’re adding substantially more clinical trial sites, way above the number we used to conduct our U.S.-only Phase II trials. We’re now getting our arms around the costs and time lines, but our plan is to conduct the required two Phase III registration trials consecutively not concurrently given the size of our company and need to use our financial resources most efficiently.
The time line for conduct of our Phase III trial is not a concern since ibezapolstat will have a rolling 10 years of regulatory exclusivity in the U.S. from the FDA approval date with similar legislation in Europe, the U.K. and Japan. We will continue to seek strategic transaction for the company, including a potential partner for the further development and potential commercialization of ibezapolstat as well as a potential sale merger third-party ex U.S. territorial or licensing arrangement or our strategic transaction alongside in parallel with our preparation for Phase III clinical trials. At this time, we have no commitments from potential partners or others to provide the company with capital, but we started this initiative only recently in February after our Phase IIb data was released.
So basically, we have two formidable plans going forward, and we’re equally excited about partnering M&A and Phase III enrollment as next steps over the next 12 months. As we’ve consistently reported, ibezapolstat continues to outperform in a series of potentially life-threatening infectious disease called C. difficile that the U.S. CDC categorizes as an urgent threat and there’s a need for new classes of antibiotics for initial treatment but also has a low incidence of recurrence. Ibezapolstat also has FDA Fast Track designation for treatment of C. difficile infection. Additionally, we believe ibezapolstat, if approved, could make a favorable impact by reducing the cost burden of current C. difficile infection in our U.S. health care system, which is estimated at $4.7 billion annually.
We do believe the best is yet to come. And now back to our CFO, Rob Shawah to guide you through the highlights of our financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023. Rob?
Robert Shawah : Thanks, Dave. Our financial results for the fourth quarter and 12 months ended December 31, 2023, were included in our press release issued earlier this morning. The company ended the year with cash totaling $7.5 million compared to $9.1 million as of December 31, 2022. Subsequent to year-end, the company sold an additional 1,121,793 shares under its ATM financing program with gross proceeds of approximately $4.5 million. Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2023, were $1.9 million compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase was due to timing of Phase IIb trial related costs and an increase in consulting costs. For the year ended December 31, 2023, research and development expenses were $6 million, which is $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The increase to due primarily the Phase IIb costs and an increase in consulting costs. General and administrative expenses for three months ended December 31, 2023 were $3.2 million compared to $1.8 million, where the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase was due primarily to $800,000 increase in professional fees, a $0.1 million increase in share based compensation and a $0.3 million increase in employee compensation costs. For the year ended December 31, 2023, general and administrative expenses were $8.5 million versus $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The amounts reflect an increase in professional fees of $0.5 million, an increase of $0.3 million in share based compensation and an increase of $0.3 million in employee compensation costs.
The company reported a net loss of $5.1 million or $0.37 per diluted share for a three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to an net loss of $3.3 million or $0.28 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and the net loss of $14.6 million or $1.15 per share for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to a net loss of $12.1 million or $1.12 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2022, the reasons previously mentioned. The company had 14,468,229 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023. With that, I’ll turn the call back over to Dave.
David Luci : Thanks Rob, and to all of you for joining us today. I’ll now ask Bob DeLuccia our Executive Chairman to provide his perspective given Bob manages our R&D program and when Bob is finished, operator, please open the call for questions. Bob?
Robert DeLuccia : Thanks Dave and Rob for updating our stakeholders and thanks to all for the continuing support as we advance ibezapolstat into Phase III clinical trials. It is a very exciting time and really it’s the final step to commercialize ibezapolstat for patients in need of a promising new antibiotic with a novel bactericidal mechanism of action to treat CDI, and many of you will remember that approximately 30,000 people die each year in the U.S. alone from CDI and the annual incidence is more than about 500,000 per year in the United States. But the bottom line here is that if the outcome of our Phase III trials are consistent with our Phase II experience, we’ll have an approvable new drug in our hands. The data are solid, the market is large and our manufacturing cost is low.
We do have a robust preclinical — clinical microbiome safety and CMC evidence package that we’ve submitted to the FDA and as Dave mentioned, they’ve determined it acceptable to grant us an end of Phase II meeting next month to discuss trial design, patient enrollment targets and to confirm our readiness to go forward. So to complete our Phase II international Phase III trials, which will be done sequentially as Dave mentioned and as quickly as possible, we’ve already initiated steps to advance screen potential clinical trial sites, which in addition to North America will cover sites in about 17 other countries, including several in Eastern Central, Northern and Western Europe, totaling about 100 sites, which we believe will accelerate overall enrollment.
We’ll also be including several high enrolling trial sites from the fast enrolling Summit Phase III CDI trial, which was conducted during the height of COVID-19. In addition to global scope of the program compared to Phase II and the strength of our Phase II data, the Phase III protocol will allow more flexibility for inclusion and exclusion criteria as a standard for CDI pivotal registration trials. So we anticipate faster enrollment. Then once we have results from our FDA meeting and documented meeting minutes from the FDA, our next priority will be to submit our plans to the European Medicines Agency or EMA for conducting Phase III clinical trials in Europe. So if approved, we’ll have the first new class of antibiotics approved by FDA in over 30 years with only confirmatory Phase III trials between now and market introduction.
Ibezapolstat as Dave mentioned is fast tracked by FDA, it’s fully patented and with regulatory exclusivity 10 years post-market introduction in the U.S. and similar opportunities for regulatory exclusivity in other geographies to pursue at the appropriate time. And also with recent focus on minimizing effects on the microbiome to lower recurrence of infection, we stand out from other antibiotics since we’ve shown no reinfection in Phase III patients (note - I think he meant Phase 2) who were initially cured of their infection. So in my over 50 years of experience in antibiotic development and marketing. I think, I have got a great rear view mirror and a clear vision to say that we have a winner here for patients with CDI and in general for better public health as well as for our shareholders.
Thanks for letting me comment, Dave.
Robert Shawah : Thank you, Bob. Melissa, we’re now ready to go to Q&A.
Operator: [Operator Instructions] First question is from the line of Jason McCarthy with Maxim Group.
Michael Okunewitch: This is Michael Okunewithch for Jason. I guess to start off, I’d like to see if you could give an idea of what sort of time line you are expecting between getting those meeting minutes back from the FDA and actually launching the first of those Phase III studies?
David Luci: So we think that we will be ready to enroll the first patient in for the international Phase III in the fourth quarter of this year.
Michael Okunewitch: And then, I guess, regarding the international component to the study, could you talk a little bit more about the path to actually getting those sites online? And is this something that you would look to have in place ahead of the launch? Or would you start with what do you have when you usually enroll the study like you are in these international sites as they were approved?
David Luci: We will be a little bit on both. We have a number of the sites already kind of ready to go from the international list. There won’t be any hold up from the international aspect of it. We actually have a consultant who is extremely familiar with Phase III C. diff international trials who’s been guiding us in this regard. But yes, clearly, when our manufactured product is ready, we’ll be ready to go with a large wedge at the very least of the hundred sites.
Michael Okunewitch: And then one last one from me, and I’ll hop back in the queue. With regards to securing international partnerships, do you think this is something with your existing body of data that is compelling enough that you could really progress those conversations now and get a partner or would you expect it to be more after you get that first slot of Phase III data?
David Luci: No, I would expect that the prime time for us to find, I’d say a European partner or a Japanese partner would be — when we start enrolling the first of the two Phase III trials, once we have the Phase III trial mandate completed and we’re ready to find or to file a new drug application, if we haven’t had a partnership by then, I think it would probably not occur until a year after the market introduction, because folks will want to see how well we do. I think that the time is right now. I’ll make one additional comment on the territorial partnerships to carry Michael’s question response a little bit further. As we look at strategic alternatives, there’s M&A full stop and there’s territorial licensing and co-development agreements that I have entered into in the past.
With our share price being where it is, the territorial licensing is a bit easier to consummate because it’s all about the intrinsic value of your drug as opposed to M&A, which you can’t in my view, wholly divorce yourself of your NASDAQ share price. So it may be a more attractive option for our board of directors and but we’ll see what term sheets present themselves.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of James Molloy with Alliance Global Partners.
James Molloy : The Phase III trials, I know that obviously a lot to go here, but can you walk through expectation which we should expect to see coming out of the end of Phase II? And then the trial designed to sort of the length of time to run is about two years start to finish. So Phase IIb, I know we we’re dealing with COVID then as well. Is that seem reasonable to run these two Phase IIIs from start to finish?
David Luci: So we’re going to address one Phase III and then the idea would be to either do a strategic transaction after that first Phase III or with positive data on the first Phase III, if it’s the same or consistent with our Phase II, get a share price rise and then raise capital for the second Phase III. So we’re targeting a year and a half from start to finish for the first Phase III, and that would have us completing the first Phase III in the second quarter of ‘26. Now I can tell you that we spent a lot of time looking at the Summit Therapeutics experience and Summit enrolled in the teeth of COVID, 750 or so patients in about two years time largely in Eastern Europe, where the behavior patterns weren’t dramatically changed apparently, like they were here in the U.S. So, that’s a public list on clinicaltrial.gov.
So we were able to see exactly the heat patterns from their enrollment. So that’s gone a long way to helping us get comfortable with fixing the enrollment issues we had during COVID with our U.S. only trial.
James Molloy : I thought I’d heard you say earlier in the call that you’re going to run the two trials at the same time obviously misheard that, you’re running back to back.
David Luci: No. Our going in plan is to do them consecutively instead of concurrently for the financial reasons that we discussed. But if we get a partnership, say a European licensing agreement and that brings in and enough money to call an audible along the way and at that point then we would certainly start the second Phase III accordingly.
Operator: [Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from the line of Ed Arce with H.C. Wainwright.
Ed Arce : So a couple from me, firstly on the end of Phase II next month and I apologize I joined late, so maybe you went over this already, but wanted to make sure to review sort of the key objectives in particular what do you not have agreement with the agency yet on that you would seek to get agreement on next month in that meeting? And then secondly, I think you made mention of a wider inclusion exclusion criteria for the Phase III relative to the prior Phase II. And so just wanted to get a little more clarity on that in particular that a view to concerns there might be around the risk that you could change the sort of design of the trial and there could be some disruption from a slightly different patient population.
David Luci: Thank you, Ed. I’ll answer the first part of your question and ask Bob to provide a response for the inclusion and exclusion criteria part of your question. So for the first part of your question, what we hope to agree on with the FDA is the overall protocol designed for our Phase III trial, including the number of patients to be enrolled the notion that we’re going to have a vancomycin control arm like we had in our Phase IIb. Largely, the trial design is 90% plus of what the trail design was for our Phase IIb. So we don’t expect a real lot of drama, but it’s a necessary step in order to kind of be allow to into Phase III, so we’re looking forward to our valuation point that we have to get through. Bob, did you want to add some comment on the inclusion and exclusion criteria?
Robert DeLuccia: I think really two things, which is standard fair for going forward in Phase III is that we’ll have additional patients beyond mild and moderate that are included in the trial. So this is not severe CDI, but a little bit more than moderate according to the IDSA criteria for patient entry into a trial in the study. So we’ve already submitted a framework to the FDA in the meeting package. It’s very straightforward. I’d even say a higher percentage that they’ve said at 90%. We’re pretty much there with the design. It’s the same design basically, it’s Phase II and very standard according to the FDA guidance from October 2022, I believe it is, as to what needs to be included in the Phase III clinical trials. So we’ll be discussing final numbers of patients, as I said before and statistical analysis plan will be finalized at that upcoming FDA meeting as well. Anything else? Does that answer your question?
Ed Arce: Yes, that’s helpful.
Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our question-and-answer session. And this concludes our call today. We thank you for your interest and participation. You may now disconnect your lines.
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Bigworld, Here's the recent Acurx conference call transcript (next post). Apparently there isn't an audio replay available, but only the transcript. These almost always have some mistakes, misspellings, but at least we can get the gist of it.
A big omission is that they didn't mention the 94 day extended durability data, which was previously reported in a Jan 29 press release (link below). The problem is that only 5 patients (out of 15) had agreed to be monitored for the full 94 days (!). All 5 had no recurrence, so that's good, but what about the other 10?? If even one of them experienced C Dif recurrence, that could be massive, especially since the Vanc arm surprisingly had no recurrence either (though only 7 out of 14 Vanc patients had agreed to be followed for 94 days).
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=173728795
Anyway, I figure this piddly amount of 94 day data may not be enough to get an acceptable partnering offer from a big pharma, in which case Acurx will have to do the first Phase 3 inhouse, raise the money, etc, yikes. When that Jan 29 press release came out, I decided to not get back into the stock, and just watch from the sidelines.
A deal later this year is not impossible, but the odds have dropped without that 94 day data. The trend had been looking good from the 30 day data, with 2 or the 14 Vanc patients having recurrence, vrs none of the 15 Ibeza patients with recurrence. But that trend needed to be confirmed by the 94 day data. In the Phase 2b, Ibeza already had one patient who failed to respond to treatment (vrs a perfect 100% for Vanc), which tanked the stock back in Oct. Anyway, bottom line there's no substitute for a larger trial to determine what Ibeza can really do. A lot of promise, but we really need to see the data from a few hundred patients, and potential pharma partners may come to that same conclusion. So.. the prospect of more dilution and the ATM piranha for several years, ugh. That's what has tanked the stock.
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gfp: I have been smacked down so many times in the past that I continue to expect it. Every time I get encouraged that the metals will finally break out and reflect the insane money creation of the last 4 years they get monkey hammered with naked shorting by the bullion banks. I am encouraged long term due to the Central Banks continuing acquisition of tons of gold. They probably know a lot more than we do. And some big Mining firms like Newmont have stated that they are no longer hedging part of their production. They will rely on market pricing going forward. They must be seeing production and demand number that warrant some degree of bullishness.
But I fully expect a drop off to shed the gold and silver market of the initial speculators on the recent run up. Then a resumption of the upward move.
gfp: I'm disappointed ACXP fell so far. But I'm still solid behind their chances. They are doing everything right. I should have some dividend income for the 1st quarter coming in. I'll use it to buy more I think. Lower my average acquisition cost.
Kennedy's decision had to be because of money. She is loaded as the ex-wife of Sergei Brin. She's loaded and a Progressive. Most of Kennedy's support was coming from libertarian minded fringe Republicans like myself. Putting a Progressive on his ticket, with no experience whatsoever, is going to kill his candidacy. He might not even make it to the November election. If he's not on the ballot in all 50 states what's the point. The Deep State wants no outside competition. They want their selected candidate no matter what. They certainly don't want real democracy, or real freedom of speech. We can say anything as long as it's preapproved by the puppet masters. And we can vote as long as we are selecting between 2 Deep State owned figureheads. Trump doesn't fit the narrative. Thus has he suffered greatly as America reverts to banana republic conditions of political persecution. May we live in interesting times. The Empire of Lies on life support.
Bigworld, Looks like gold futures are over 2200 tonight, and silver is close to $26 (25.88). So wonders never cease. I don't want to jinx it, but after the big recent breakout, gold looks like it could really do some open field running to he upside :o) The miners have lagged so far, but they should play catch up as the gold bull market continues. So far no smackdown from the price suppression mechanism.
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Bigworld, That VP selection seems somewhat disappointing, but will need to check her out further. She should have plenty of $, which would help with campaign funding I guess. He isn't going to win anyway, but could get enough votes to swing a close election. Rickards had an interesting analysis on 3rd Party elections generally - https://dailyreckoning.com/third-party-candidates-will-swing-the-election/
Btw, With Acurx, it looks like it may continue to drift until there is more clarity on the Phase 3, and whether they can get a pharma partner or not. I'll have to listen to yesterday's Q4 earnings conf call playback, but from the transcript it sounds like there are no pharma offers yet (not at 'term sheet' level), and Acurx is in the process of lining up US and Intl sites to run the first Phase 3. They estimate first patient dosing could start in Q4, with the first Phase 3 finishing approx Q2-26.
So a long haul, which is typical in biotech, what I call 'instant forever' lol. They talked about potentially partnering for the international markets first, but I'll have to listen to the audio replay. Anyway, looks like the stock cratered today close to 20%.
Fwiw, I basically gave up on the idea of owning the stock in Jan, after the extended durability data included only 5 patients (!), figuring it wouldn't be enough data to justify an acceptable offer from a large pharma. Plus the ATM funding mechanism is like being slowly nibbled by a pirahna, lol.
But who knows, by summer they could still get a pharma deal for the Phase 3, anything is possible. In the past (pre Phase 2b data) Luci said publicly that his preference would be M+A / selling the company pre Phase 3. So he could go that route if a decent offer appears. Otherwise it's going to be a long wait for the Phase 3 data, even the interim analysis stage. And how to pay for it all? Lots of dilutive ATM pirahna. But that's the wonderful world of biotech..
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Hi Bigworld, It's great to hear that the knee is progressing :o) I was starting to think something dire had happened, but great to see you posting again :o)
Yes, after the big rebound in recent months, I figure the stock market is probably due to take a breather. It was a big meal, so now some time to digest. Looks like the Fed's pivot to begin easing % rates has been pushed back to June, or possibly later, but we'll see what 'Jerome' has to say tomorrow. Either way, falling % rates should provide a tailwind for the markets over the next several years. That leaves geopolitical landmines and the election to worry about, plus anything else that happens to come along. The Houthis reportedly claim to have some hypersonic missiles, so that will provide some background 'quicksand' to keep investors on edge. But as the saying goes - 'a bull market climbs a wall of worry'.
GL with the knee on the 25th. Hopefully in April you can get the new hardware and be back in business :o) And this time, go easy on it - no lumberjacking or 30 K marathons, at least for a while :o)
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gfp: He selected Sergei Brin's ex wife I think. He has no chance, unfortunately. The Deep State and their lap dog, the Democrat Party, have conspired against him from Day. We no longer have freedom of speech in this country. Sadly. Nor do we have a functional representative republic. We have a kleptocracy. The illusion of a democracy. George Carlin laid out the truth decades ago. If voting made any difference they wouldn't allow it.
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