Ray Dirks Research

OTI Enters Bitcoin Market: Will Process Bitcoin at Physical Retailers Around the World

OTI Global, a leader in processing cashless payment solutions, will soon process payments in Bitcoin. As a visionary innovator in cashless payment technologies and solutions, OTI's move into cryptocurrencies should not come as a surprise to those following the company.

Look to CEL-SCI to Deliver Phase III Results in 2018 for Worldwide Approval of Head & Neck Cancer Immunotherapy

Top line results may soon be in at CEL-SCI, which concluded patient enrollment and dosing in the world's largest Phase III trial in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Between 2011 and 2016, 928 patients were enrolled and treated. According to the study's protocol, the effectiveness of CEL-SCI's drug in prolonging life can only be judged after 298 of the enrolled patients have died, since the FDA wants to see survival benefit. The number of deaths, or 'events', as they are termed in clinical trials, is unfortunately how and when the primary endpoint of most cancer studies are determined.

Rexahn to Give Celgene a Boost with New Combination Trial

In a recent clinical landmark, Rexahn Pharmaceuticals dosed its first patient in a Phase II pancreatic cancer study using its unique oral biologic RX-3117 together with Celgene Corp.'s Abraxane. A combination of Abraxane and RX-3117, based on former solid data, can change the face of treating cancer, thanks to Rexahn's tumor targeting technology.

U.S. Senate's National Defense Authorization Act Gives Pentagon the Power to Immediately Approve Pluristem's ARS Antidote

The U.S. Department of Defense may soon be armed with the right to approve drugs and devices that it deems essential to protecting U.S. troops, according to a recent Politico article. To date, the U.S. FDA has been the only government agency with the authority to approve drugs and devices. Section 732 of the National Defense Authorization Act, currently in the Senate, could change this fact. Such a seismic shift in healthcare regulation could have a huge impact on Pluristem Therapeutics' pipeline of cell therapies. Pluristem's PLX-R18 product has shown efficacy in the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) and is currently being evaluated by both the Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health as a countermeasure for nuclear catastrophes including a potential nuclear attack, a dirty bomb, on a Fukushima-like accident.

Stem Cell Industry Inflection Point Is Standardization and Cellect Has the Solution

Standardization marks the turning point in an emerging industry when it goes from promising good idea to established way of doing things. The standard gauge did it for the railroad industry in the 19th century. At the end of the 20th century, Wi-Fi was adopted as a standard for local area networks and now in the 21st century WiFi is used by billions of wireless devices worldwide. The emergent cell therapy industry needs a standard for harvesting stem cells from donor tissue. Cellect Biotechnology's novel stem cell collection technology, ApoGraft™ is the solution. If adopted as an industry standard, the ApoGraft™ platform could be used in every cell therapy treatment center in the world. The FDA's recent moves point to the need for standardization.

U.S. Department of Defense Turns to Pluristem for Preemptive Radiation Antidote as North Korea Threats Escalate

The United States Department of Defense (DOD) will fund a study of Pluristem's cell therapy PLX-R18 evaluating its use as an antidote for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) when administered prior to, or within 24 hours of, exposure to deadly radiation. Studies will be led by the DOD's Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) whose mission is to protect the U.S. military from ionizing radiation.

Pluristem's Radiation Antidote Addresses $11 Billion Hematologic Indication in Human Trials

Proven efficacious as an antidote for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) with data recently published from studies conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Pluristem Therapeutics' PLX-R18 cell therapy addresses an even more substantial, $11 billion market in hematology. Boosting blood cell production, PLX-R18 is a cell therapy that shows promise for damaged bone marrow resulting from high levels of radiation from a nuclear or dirty bomb and for the treatment of cancer related hematology indications.

Health & Wellness Products Innovator TechCare Forges Alliance with Distribution Powerhouse HoMedics

Up to 12 million Americans, mostly children, get head lice each year causing indirect damages estimated at $4-8 billion annually in the United States including 24 million schools and work days lost. Products that aim to eliminate head lice amount to an enormous $1.8 billion global market. The market needs a new product that is safe and effective. Current treatments are ineffective and toxic.