BUSINESS
Amyris Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRS) And ImmunityBio (NASDAQ: IBRX) Close Joint Ventures Agreement To Accelerate Next-Gen COVID-19 Vaccine Development
Amyris Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRS) and ImmunityBio (NASDAQ: IBRX) have announced the closing of a previously announced JV agreement to expedite the commercialization of a flagship next-gen COVID-19 vaccine.
JV combines Amyris and ImmunoBio’s vaccine capabilities
The joint venture brings together critical vaccine technologies and production capabilities from Amyris and ImmunityBio. The goal joint venture is to commence delivery of the second-gen vaccine in 2022 as soon as practical after successful human clinical studies and regulatory authorization, with the intent of giving COVID-19 immunity and availability to underserved regions of the globe where present vaccine innovation is challenged because supply chain and cost limitations.
ImmunityBio Executive Chairman and Globa Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Patrick Soon-Shiong said, “We are pleased to combine our expertise in human trials, T-Cell technology, and our access to RNA manufacturing capacity with the Amyris and Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) RNA technology platform and Amyris’ adjuvant technology. Combined, we have a real opportunity to provide true immunity against COVID-19 variants along with a platform that can quickly adapt to a future potential respiratory virus.”
Amyris to combine its RNA tech with ImmunityBio’s expertise
Amris, the CEO and President, John Melo, said, “Combining our RNA technology with ImmunityBio’s expertise and access has the potential to significantly accelerate and de-risk our time to market for a much-needed second-generation COVID-19 vaccine. We are very pleased with the progress our teams have made in the short time we’ve been working together and remain focused on completing successful human trials as quickly as possible.”
IDRI CEO Corey Casper commented, “Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become abundantly clear that next-generation vaccines will be required to put the pandemic behind us. Vaccines that are accessible to every person across the globe, broad in their protection against current and future variants of concern, and invoke durable protective immunity are now within our reach. The ability to ‘mix and match’ vaccine platforms through this new joint venture and ImmunityBio’s multiple COVID vaccine platforms represents one of the most exciting approaches to ending COVID-19.”
BUSINESS
Trulieve Cannabis Corp (OTCMKTS: TCNNF) Announces a Listening and Education Tour
Trulieve Cannabis Corp (OTCMKTS: TCNNF) will host a Listening and Education Tour. The tour aims to meet with local leaders and exchange ideas. It will cover topics like expungement, agricultural, economic, and medical opportunities in the cannabis industry.
Champ Bailey will moderate the event
Champ Bailey, a football Hall of Famer and the chief diversity officer at Trulieve Georgia, will moderate the event. Additionally, Trulieve will hold its first event at the Carolyn Harris Performing Arts Center, Adel.
According to Bailey, a resident and native of Georgia, he is excited to meet experts and teach people the medical benefits of cannabis. He adds that Trulieve will make several tour stops to meet with community leaders. With the help of these leaders, the company will teach locals about how the cannabis industry could change the community. It will also create local support programs.
Experts that will be at the events
Moreover, the programs will have various industry experts, including Jim Wernick, the Director of State Expansion at Trulieve; Dr. James Lillard, the lead researcher at more house school of Medicine; Chase Daughtrey, a Cook County Judge, Heather Green, the president of the Adel-cook County Chamber of Commerce, and Luther Duke, the Mayor of Adel.
Trulieve is asking communities to submit questions before each stop through its emails. After the sessions, the company will also try to develop ways to help the community.
Trulieve is a cannabis company that operates in 11 U.S states. It has leading operations in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Arizona. Its other locations are Maryland, West Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and California.
Trulieve focuses on logistics, cultivating, processing, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail of cannabis and cannabis-infused products. It sells these products through Trulieve branded retail stores. It also has an online website where customers can purchase its products.
Trulieve products include nasal sprays, tinctures, vapes, edibles, dissolvable powders, capsules, topicals, concentrates, and flowers. It sells them through the Roll One, Modern Flower, Loveli, Co2lors, Avenue, Alchemy, Sweet Talk, Muse, Momenta, and Cultivar Collection brands.
The company also has 161 dispensaries, 112 of which are in Florida. Its headquarters are in Quincy, Florida.
BUSINESS
Medical Marijuana Inc’s (OTCMKTS: MJNA) Subsidiary, HempMeds Brasil, Will Sponsor an Obesity Medicine Symposium
HempMeds Brasil, a subsidiary of Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS: MJNA), will sponsor the first Obesity Medicine Symposium for the Brazilian Society of Obesity. This event will take place on March 3-6, 2022.
The symposium will educate people on the benefits of cannabidiol
The Symposium will be at the Centro South Convention Center, Santa Catarina. It aims to bring together medical professionals, wellness organizations, and educators to talk about technological innovations and techniques that have emerged in treating obesity. HempMeds is sponsoring the event to spread awareness on how cannabidiol can be a crucial step in wellness routines.
According to Matheus Patelli, the Managing Director at Hemp Meds Brasil, the event gives the company a chance to educate people on cannabidiol. It will also highlight the benefits of cannabinoids in wellness, how people can use them, and the research surrounding them.
Patelli adds that the event will benefit both the people and the company as cannabidiol is legal in the country. Moreover, the government subsidizes it, so people know how and when to use it.
HempMeds will also give a presentation
Besides providing sponsorship for the event, HempMeds will also give a presentation on cannabidiol and medical cannabis on March 4. The presentation will touch on products in Brazil, their safety, legality, and applications.
Blake Schroeder, the CEO of Medical Marijuana, states that the company has had high revenue and operational growth in the last few years. Furthermore, its brand presence enabled it to host and sponsor the event. Schroeder adds that it has partnered with high-profile researchers and doctors. This move has allowed Medical Marijuana to educate and be transparent with its customers.
HempMeds Brasil was among the first cannabis companies which the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency has approved to import cannabidiol-based products. The company’s license allows it to supply products to various medical centers.
These products treat multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy. HempMeds is developing products for other diseases.
HempMeds’ parent company, Medical Marijuana, is a cannabis company that operates under various subsidiaries. Other than HempMeds, or also owns Kannaway. The company also partners with companies like Neuropathix and Axim Biotechnology Inc. Its headquarters are in San Diego, California.
BUSINESS
Fire & Flower Holdings Corp’s (OTCMKTS: FFLWF) Subsidiary, Pineapple Express Delivery Inc, Will Offer Delivery in Metro Vancouver
Pineapple Express Delivery Inc, a subsidiary of Fire & Flower Holdings Corp (OTCMKTS: FFLWF), will offer next business day delivery via e-commerce websites owned by British Columbia Cannabis stores in Metro Vancouver. This will start on February 28, 2022.
Pineapple express makes fast deliveries
Pineapple Express is the most prominent cannabis delivery company. It does over 40,000 deliveries monthly to medical and adult-use cannabis customers in Canada. This company has become an essential part of Fire & Flower holdings since its acquisition on January 25, 2022.
According to the President of Pineapple Express, Randy Rolph, the company recognizes its customers’ need for fast delivery. Cannabis users in the Metro Vancouver area will now take advantage of the subsidiary’s services as it will begin offering next-day delivery services in British Columbia.
Ralph adds that Pineapple Express is very efficient with the fastest and highest scale in the country. The company can also make cost-effective deliveries.
Fire & Flower is a cannabis retailer that has over 100 stores. It uses Hifyre, a technology development subsidiary, to improve its operations and increase revenues. It also educates its customers on cannabis use.
Fire & Flower stores
Fire & Flower sells cannabis products through numerous stores. One of its first stores is Friendly Stranger, which opened in 1994 in Canada. This store has been advocating for cannabis legalization for years.
Friendly Stranger has worked to educate people on the benefits of using cannabis. It has also fought for people who were unfairly charged with cannabis use and made safe hemp products available for the people.
Another store that Fire & Flower owns is Happy Dayz which opened in 2007. The store now has 9 locations in Ontario. Unlike Friendly Stranger, these stores are smaller with an engaging team to give customers a more personalized experience.
HotBox Cannabis is a store that serves customers in Toronto. It also comes with a cannabis consumption lounge at 204 Augusta Street. This lounge, which was the first in Toronto, is near its 206 Augusta store, making it more convenient for cannabis customers. The lounge also sells accessories.
Fire & Flower also uses the Open Field Distribution logo to distribute wholesale products in Saskatchewan.