Market Newsdesk

DURHAM, N.C. and BEIJING and SAN FRANCISCO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brii Biosciences (“Brii Bio”), Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIR), and VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating BRII-835 (VIR-2218), an investigational small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV), in combination with BRII-179 (VBI-2601), an investigational HBV immunotherapeutic, for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. This is the first clinical trial in the field to evaluate the combination of these two HBV mechanisms of action.

The multi-center, randomized, open-label study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BRII-835 (VIR-2218) compared to the combination of BRII-835 (VIR-2218) and BRII-179 (VBI-2601) with and without interferon-alpha as a co-adjuvant. Both agents have demonstrated proof of mechanism in HBV patients (NCT04507269 BRII-835 China study and ACTRN12619001210167 BRII-179 APEC study). Brii Bio has led the design and implementation of this functional cure proof-of-concept study with the support of VIR and VBI, and is the sponsor of the Phase 2 study (NCT04749368). The study will be conducted at sites in Australia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand.

Li Yan, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Brii Bio, said: “Sustained seroclearance of HBV surface antigen, also known as a functional cure, occurs rarely in the natural history of HBV infection or during the current standard of care treatment. We believe that both viral antigen knockdown with BRII-835 (VIR-2218) and sustained induction of HBV-specific host immune responses by BRII-179 (VBI-2601) are required to remove viral immunosuppression and subsequently break immune tolerance. The combination of these two agents is a step toward developing a functional cure for HBV.”

Phil Pang, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Vir, said: “This new combination trial represents an important addition to our HBV portfolio approach of combining VIR-2218 with various immunomodulators, including pegylated interferon alpha, VIR-3434 and with a TLR8 agonist, via our previously announced collaboration with Gilead. We look forward to determining if such combinations can stimulate an effective immune response that may result in a finite duration of treatment.”

Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, M.D., Ph.D., VBI’s chief medical officer, said: “We believe that a functional cure for HBV is possible, and will require restoration of HBV-specific immunologic control in addition to viral suppression mechanisms. Data from our previous study suggest BRII-179 (VBI-2601) was able to restimulate both antibody and T cell responses specific to HBV. This combination study represents the first combination of a therapeutic HBV vaccine to restore HBV-immunity with antivirals designed to reduce the levels of HBV surface antigens. We look forward to seeing the outcome of the trial, a milestone that will be meaningful in our collective efforts to provide an effective solution for patients with such a complex and highly infectious virus.”

About BRII-835 (VIR-2218)

BRII-835 (VIR-2218) is an investigational subcutaneously administered HBV-targeting siRNA that has the potential to stimulate an effective immune response and have direct antiviral activity against HBV. It is the first siRNA in the clinic to include Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry Plus (ESC+) technology to enhance stability and minimize off-target activity, which potentially can result in an increased therapeutic index. VIR-2218 is the first asset in the Vir Biotechnology’s collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to enter clinical trials. Brii Bio licensed exclusive rights to develop and commercialize VIR-2218 for the greater China territory from Vir in 2020.

In addition to the Phase 2 combination trial with BRII-179 (VBI-2601), VIR-2218 is being evaluated in two ongoing trials: as a monotherapy for HBV, and in combination with pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-α). Two additional Phase 2 trials of VIR-2218 are expected to start in 2021.

About BRII-179 (VBI-2601)

VBI-2601 (BRII-179) is a novel recombinant, protein-based HBV immunotherapeutic candidate that builds upon the 3-antigen conformation of VBI’s prophylactic 3-antigen HBV vaccine candidate, and is designed to target enhanced B-cell and T-cell immunity. VBI-2601 (BRII-179) is being developed in collaboration with Brii Biosciences in the licensed territory of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as part of a potential functional cure for chronic hepatitis B infection.

About Brii Biosciences

Brii Biosciences (Brii Bio) is a multi-national company committed to serving patients’ needs and improving public health by accelerating the development and delivery of breakthrough medicines through partnerships, best-in-class research and development, and the disruptive application of digital and data insight. With operations in the People’s Republic of China and the United States, Brii Bio is poised to serve as a bridge to carry transformative medicines to patients, help create significant growth for our partners and establish an innovation engine to help improve the public health and wellbeing of patients around the world. Brii Bio is developing treatments for illnesses with significant public health burdens, including infectious diseases, liver diseases, and CNS diseases. For more information, visit www.briibio.com.

About Vir Biotechnology

Vir Biotechnology is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on combining immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Vir has assembled four technology platforms that are designed to stimulate and enhance the immune system by exploiting critical observations of natural immune processes. Its current development pipeline consists of product candidates targeting COVID-19, hepatitis B virus, influenza A and human immunodeficiency virus. For more information, please visit www.vir.bio.

About VBI Vaccines Inc. 

VBI Vaccines Inc. (“VBI”) is a biopharmaceutical company driven by immunology in the pursuit of powerful prevention and treatment of disease. Through its innovative approach to virus-like particles (“VLPs”), including a proprietary enveloped VLP (“eVLP”) platform technology, VBI develops vaccine candidates that mimic the natural presentation of viruses, designed to elicit the innate power of the human immune system. VBI is committed to targeting and overcoming significant infectious diseases, including hepatitis B, coronaviruses, and cytomegalovirus (CMV), as well as aggressive cancers including glioblastoma (GBM). VBI is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with research operations in Ottawa, Canada, and a research and manufacturing site in Rehovot, Israel. For more information, please visit www.vbivaccines.com.

Vir Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “potential,” “aim,” “could” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Vir’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding the potential benefits of VIR-2218, BRII-179, pegylated interferon-alpha, and VIR-3434 (individually or in combination), the expected timing of commencement of clinical trials and availability of clinical data, our goals with respect to the prophylaxis and/or treatment of HBV, the potential ability of our product candidates (individually or in combination with other agents) to functionally cure HBV and change the standard of care, the potential of ESC+ technology to enhance the therapeutic index of VIR-2218, and the potential benefits of Vir’s collaboration with Brii Biosciences and other partners. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data or results observed during clinical trials, difficulties in obtaining regulatory approval, difficulties in collaborating with other companies, challenges in accessing manufacturing capacity, clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrollment rates that are lower than expected, successful development and/or commercialization of alternative product candidates by our competitors, changes in expected or existing competition, delays in or disruptions to Vir’s business or clinical trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical changes or other external factors, and unexpected litigation or other disputes. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Vir’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled “Risk Factors” contained therein. Except as required by law, Vir assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.

VBI Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this press release that are forward-looking and not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). The Company cautions that such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company’s results of operations. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to, the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally; the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our clinical studies, manufacturing, business plan, and the global economy; the ability to establish that potential products are efficacious or safe in preclinical or clinical trials; the ability to establish or maintain collaborations on the development of therapeutic candidates; the ability to obtain appropriate or necessary governmental approvals to market potential products; the ability to obtain future funding for developmental products and working capital and to obtain such funding on commercially reasonable terms; the Company’s ability to manufacture product candidates on a commercial scale or in collaborations with third parties; changes in the size and nature of competitors; the ability to retain key executives and scientists; and the ability to secure and enforce legal rights related to the Company’s products. A discussion of these and other factors, including risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company, is set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC and the Canadian securities authorities, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2021, and filed with the Canadian security authorities at sedar.com on March 2, 2021, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Given these risks, uncertainties and factors, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All such forward-looking statements made herein are based on our current expectations and we undertake no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

 

Contact:
Lisa Beck
Brii Biosciences
[email protected]

Cara Miller
VP, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
+1-415-941-6746

Nicole Anderson
Director, Corporate Communication & IR
[email protected]
(617) 830-3031 x124

NEW YORK, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vengo Media Network, the leading place-based marketing tech platform, announced its content partnership with Gallery Media Group, bringing its leading online brands PureWow and ONE37pm into the real world and onto big screens.

After a year of quarantine and life at home, people are ready to get out and experience the real world. With the reemergence, consumers who engage with Vengo’s growing network of 1,500 digital kiosks and screens around college campuses, fitness centers, hotels, and more will not only find products they need in their daily journey, but also entertaining, relevant, and beautiful lifestyle content that resonates from Gallery Media Group’s key brands, PureWow and ONE37pm.

Experiencing digital-first brands in new ways on-the-go, enables PureWow and ONE37pm to engage consumers across multiple platforms and reach new audiences.

“As a digital innovator, Gallery Media Group has always been a market leader, quickly adapting and ensuring relevance,” said Kevin Stetter, Chief Operating Officer of Gallery Media Group. “Our partnership with Vengo extends our approach and puts our lifestyle videos in front of audiences in new and exciting ways, keeping them entertained with the latest features on lifestyle and youth culture while they are out and about.”

Brian Shimmerlik, CEO & Co-Founder of Vengo added, “For years, Vengo has connected brands with consumers in the real world, at relevant moments in their day. The partnership with Gallery Media Group establishes the Vengo Media Network as delivering best-in-class entertainment across the Digital Out-Of-Home ecosystem.”

With the addition of content, the Vengo Media Network is now available to select screen owners through its CMS and API integration.

Visit www.vengolabs.com or email [email protected] for more information about adding Vengo kiosks to your locations or if you would like to advertise or distribute your products through Vengo’s network.  For a preview of Vengo Media Network click here.

About Vengo Labs

Vengo Media Network is an innovative marketing tech solution, delivering entertaining content, DOOH media, and consumer products to consumers on the go, in the places they spend time via kiosks and screens. The Vengo platform offers a flexible on-demand advertising network that engages consumers digitally, collects actionable opt-in data, and can drive trial of physical products with instant gratification. Today, more than 1,500 Vengo kiosks and screens, in major US markets, meet consumers in the places they spend time, including fitness centers, universities, hotels and transit hubs to provide the right products and information at the right moment. For more information, visit www.vengolabs.com.

About Gallery Media Group

Gallery Media Group is a rapidly growing publishing company that includes women’s lifestyle brand, PureWow, a youth culture brand, ONE37pm, a podcast arm featuring Mom Brain, The CMO Podcast with Jim Stengel, Card Talk, The GaryVee Audio Experience, and a large scale social media portfolio across Instagram and TikTok. It is part of the VaynerX group of companies. 

Media contact:

Vengo Labs
Marci Weisler
Chief Commercial Officer
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36154345-f0f4-4815-9d6a-e08275b94324

 

NEW YORK, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Digital Asset, the creators of the Daml multi-party application platform, announced today it has raised over $120 million in Series D funding from 7RIDGE and Eldridge.

Leading organizations across the world rely on Daml to transform disparate data silos into synchronized networks, eradicating latency and errors by guaranteeing consistent data. Digital Asset’s customer base includes organizations across financial services, healthcare and insurance, such as the Australian Securities Exchange, BNP Paribas, Broadridge, Change Healthcare, and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing.

“In 2020, Digital Asset tripled its customer base, with 50% of new business coming from non-blockchain deployments,” said Emnet Rios, CFO & COO at Digital Asset. “We saw significant demand for Daml to solve internal challenges of data silos within an organization. As a result, we expanded our product portfolio to support 10 different underlying ledgers, including traditional databases.”

Digital Asset will use this financing to continue to expand its team globally by 50% this year. The company will also enhance its product portfolio with a new interoperability protocol that enables data to seamlessly interact across blockchains and traditional databases, creating an interoperable data network across systems of record.

“Without Daml, workflows cannot be shared privately and securely within and across organizations, leading to inconsistent data, expensive to adapt architectures, and a lack of common interfaces,” said Yuval Rooz, Co-Founder and CEO at Digital Asset. “This latest financing validates our vision of a global economic network that enables interoperable systems of record regardless of the underlying technology.”

The company also announced that Carsten Kengeter and Veronica Augustsson of 7RIDGE have joined the Digital Asset Board.

“Complex and ever-growing data requires transparent and reliable multi-party data access and sharing founded on one canonical source of truth. Using Daml, organizations can move to a data-centric business model. Write Once, Run Everywhere, Connect to Anything,” said Carsten Kengeter. “We look forward to working with the visionary Digital Asset team.”

“Data is vital to the core of business operations,” said Michele Trogni, Operating Partner at Eldridge. “Digital Asset has the expertise to build the future of data management, creating a trusted ecosystem of data sharing and synchronization that spans organizations, both internally and externally. We are excited to be on this journey with Digital Asset.”

The latest round of financing follows a $45 million Series C round in 2020, which included participation from technology giants Salesforce, Samsung and VMware, as well as existing investors. Digital Asset is backed by a range of strategic investors, including leading financial and technology companies Accenture, Citi, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and J.P. Morgan, among others.

About Digital Asset

Digital Asset helps companies of all sizes and across industries get distributed applications to market faster, and stay there longer. At the core of our service offering is Daml, an application platform unconstrained by organizational boundaries. Companies can create new multi-party solutions that transform disparate silos into synchronized networks, eradicating latency and errors by guaranteeing consistent data. Digital Asset works with leading organizations in financial services, healthcare and insurance, including 5 of the top 10 stock exchanges in the world. In 2020, CB Insights named Daml as one of the top blockchain networks for capital markets. To learn more about Digital Asset, please visit www.digitalasset.com and for more information about Daml, please visit www.daml.com . Click here to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

SHENZHEN, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taoping Inc. (NASDAQ: TAOP, the “Company”), a provider of Internet-based smart display screens, and a new-media ecosystem that enables targeted advertising and online retail, today announced that it established a wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, Taoping Capital Limited (“Taoping Capital”), to provide capital support for the growth of TAOP’s blockchain and digital asset business and the Company’s cloud desktop, cloud rendering and cloud gaming business.

Mr. Jianghuai Lin, the Chairman and CEO of TAOP, will concurrently serve as Chairman of Taoping Capital. Mr. Qian Wang, Chief Investment Officer of TAOP, will serve as CEO of Taoping Capital. Mr. Huaqiao Zhang, a top-ranking analyst by Institutional Investor (institutionalinvestor.com) for multiple years, has joined Taoping Capital as the Chief Advisor and Chairman of the Research Institute of Taoping Capital.

Most of the funds provided by Taoping Capital will be invested in TAOP projects for the purchase of bitcoin mining machines and general-purpose servers suitable for Ethereum and cloud desktops. At the same time, Taoping Capital will support the Company with operation management consulting. Taoping Capital will also actively seek investment opportunities in the blockchain industry.

Huaqiao Zhang has been the Chairman of The Slow Bull Capital Group since June 2017. Mr. Zhang has more than 20 years of working experience in the investment banking industry since 1994. He served as head or co-head of China research team of UBS AG Hong Kong Branch from June 1999 to April 2006 and deputy head of its China investment banking division from September 2008 to June 2011. Mr. Zhang worked as a principal staff member with the People’s Bank of China in Beijing between July 1986 and January 1989. Mr. Zhang graduated from the Graduate School of the People’s Bank of China with a master’s degree in economics in 1986, and the Australian National University with a master’s degree in economics in January 1991.

“The rapid development and sustained growth of TAOP relies on excellent talents. We welcome Mr. Zhang as a visionary leader for Taoping Capital,” said Mr. Jianghuai Lin, the Chairman and CEO of TAOP.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About
Taoping
Inc.

Taoping Inc. (TAOP), is a leading provider of smart display terminals and solutions for targeted advertising and online retails. The Company provides the integrated end-to-end digital advertising solutions enabling customers to distribute and manage ads on cloud-based ad display screens. Connecting owners of Taoping screens, advertisers and consumers, it builds up a resource sharing “Smart IoT Screen Network- Taoping App – Taoping Go (e-Store)” media ecosystem to ultimately achieve the mission “our technology makes advertising and branding affordable and effective for everyone.” To learn more, please visit http://www.taop.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” relating to the business of Taoping Inc., and its subsidiaries and other consolidated entities. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, are “forward-looking statements” in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, often identified by the use of forward-looking terminologies such as “believes”, “expects” or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company’s periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company and its subsidiaries and other consolidated entities or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:

Taoping
Inc.

Chang Qiu
Email: [email protected]
http://www.taop.com/
or

Dragon Gate Investment Partners LLC

Tel: +1(646)-801-2803
Email: [email protected]

DALLAS, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) (the “Company”), an owner and operator of entertainment and dining venues, today announced the appointment of Atish Shah to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective April 16, 2021.

Since April 2016, Mr. Shah has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Xenia Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:XHR), a lodging REIT that owns a select, curated portfolio of luxury and upper-upscale hotel properties.

“We are pleased to welcome Atish as a new independent director,” said Kevin Sheehan, newly elected Board Chair. “He brings deep financial and upscale hospitality industry experience to the Board that will be extremely relevant as we work to create lasting value for our stakeholders.”

Brian Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Dave & Buster’s is emerging from the challenges of the past year as a stronger, more competitive company. Atish’s hospitality expertise and business acumen will be invaluable as we work to fortify our leading position in the dining and entertainment industry.”

Mr. Shah commented, “I am delighted to join Dave & Buster’s Board of Directors and am a big believer in the Company’s unique brand positioning and its four culture pillars. I look forward to applying my prior experience and working closely with my fellow Directors and the management team to guide Dave & Buster’s on its path to higher levels of success for all stakeholders.”

About Atish Shah

Atish Shah joined Xenia Hotels & Resorts as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in April 2016. Prior to Xenia, Mr. Shah was with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Strategy, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Investor Relations. He joined Hyatt in 2009 and was Interim Chief Financial Officer from April 2015 to March 2016. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President – Portfolio Management at Lowe Enterprises, a private real estate company with nearly $6 billion in assets under management. From 1998 to 2007, Mr. Shah worked for Hilton Hotels Corporation in a variety of finance roles. He began his career in the hospitality consulting practice of Coopers & Lybrand, LLP. Mr. Shah earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University, and a B.S. with honors from Cornell University.

About Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc., is the owner and operator of 141 venues in North America that combine entertainment and dining and offer customers the opportunity to “Eat Drink Play and Watch,” all in one location. Dave & Buster’s offers a full menu of entrées and appetizers, a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events. Dave & Buster’s currently has stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company cautions that this release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the impact on our business and operations of the global spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and, consequently, could be affected by the uncertain and unprecedented impact of the coronavirus on our business and operations and the related impact on our liquidity needs; our ability to satisfy covenant requirements under our revolving credit facility; the duration of government-mandated and voluntary shutdowns; the speed with which our stores safely can be reopened and the level of customer demand following reopening; the economic impact of the coronavirus and related disruptions on the communities we serve; our overall level of indebtedness; general business and economic conditions, including as a result of the coronavirus; the impact of competition; the seasonality of the Company’s business; adverse weather conditions; future commodity prices; guest and employee complaints and litigation; fuel and utility costs; labor costs and availability; changes in consumer and corporate spending, including as a result of the coronavirus; changes in demographic trends; changes in governmental regulations; unfavorable publicity, our ability to open new stores, and acts of God. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements, and the Company therefore cautions you against relying on such forward-looking statements. Dave & Buster’s intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this release and does not undertake to update or revise them as more appropriate information becomes available, except as required by law.

For Investor Relations Inquiries:
Scott Bowman, CFO
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.
972.813.1151
[email protected]

Sonic’s Nominees Lack Experience and Qualifications to Advance Adverum’s Commercialization Progress or Deliver Global Access to Vision-Saving Gene Therapy

Urges Stockholders to Vote the


WHITE


Proxy Card “FOR” ALL of Adverum’s Three Highly Qualified, Diverse and Independent Directors: Dawn Svoronos, Reed V. Tuckson, M.D. and Thomas Woiwode, Ph.D.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADVM), a clinical-stage gene therapy company targeting unmet medical needs in ocular and rare diseases, today announced that it is mailing a letter to stockholders in connection with its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) urging them to vote the WHITE proxy card “FOR” ALL of Adverum’s three highly qualified directors standing for election – Dawn Svoronos, Reed V. Tuckson, M.D. and Thomas Woiwode, Ph.D. The Annual Meeting will be held on May 12, 2021 and Adverum stockholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2021 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

The full text follows and can be found on the investor section of the Company’s website at https://investors.adverum.com/shareholder-services/annual-meeting.

April 21, 2021

Dear Fellow Stockholder,

Adverum has taken significant and deliberate steps in recent years to establish a world-class, highly qualified, independent and diverse Board of Directors. Your Board has the right mix of skills and experience as we move toward commercialization of ADVM-022, our one-time, in-office advanced gene therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (“wet AMD”) and diabetic macular edema (“DME”), which are two of the leading causes of blindness impacting nine million people globally.

As Adverum has progressed to late stage development in 2021, identifying the right talent and skillsets required to bring ADVM-022 to millions of patients worldwide, so too has the quality of our Board. Simply put, our Board is extremely well-positioned as we accelerate our development and commercialization strategy and drive value for our stockholders.

VOTE THE

WHITE

PROXY CARD “FOR” ALL OF ADVERUM’S THREE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS: DAWN SVORONOS, REED V. TUCKSON, M.D. AND THOMAS WOIWODE, PH.D.

Meet Your Board Nominees

A graphic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1385167-dcab-4192-9443-02f9602e567e

OUR THREE DIRECTOR CANDIDATES BRING CONSIDERABLE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AND CRITICAL SECTOR EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL COMMERCIAL LAUNCH OF
ADVM-022

Not only is Adverum’s Board slate ideally qualified to advance our strategy towards a Biologics License Application filing in 2024, we are committed to continuous improvement. In the last two years, the Board has appointed seven new independent directors, three in May 2019 and four thereafter, including Ms. Svoronos and Dr. Tuckson in December 2020 and February 2021, respectively. And we’re not stopping there. The Board is continuing its refreshment efforts and has already begun a process to recruit a high-quality independent director with commercial gene therapy experience to be named in 2021. As part of this process, we have been actively engaging with our stockholders about top candidates and already interviewed candidates to fill this slot.

A vote on the WHITE proxy card is a vote FOR:

A graphic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d7b3f1e-48ab-46d4-97c6-a58a929f1dd0

SONIC’S NOMINEES ARE NOT ADDITIVE TO THE ADVERUM BOARD

As you know, The Sonic Fund II, L.P. has proposed nominees that, if elected, together with its two designees appointed in 2019, would constitute more than half of the Board. Sonic’s nomination of three candidates for election to the Board is not in the best interest of our stockholders – their election would diminish the diversity and the needed skills and experience represented on our Board, and there is no reason to believe they would enhance our efforts to advance ADVM-022 toward commercialization and deliver global access to our vision-saving gene therapy.

Not only would the resulting loss of Ms. Svoronos, Dr. Tuckson and Dr. Woiwode from your Board significantly harm our ability to generate value, we strongly believe that your Board’s current process to identify a new director with commercial gene therapy experience is superior to relying solely on input from one stockholder who is trying to control the Board.

Importantly, Sonic has not presented any meaningful strategy or articulated any plan that would advance Adverum’s mission or increase value to our stockholders. Lawrence Kam, Sonic’s principal, has no drug development experience whatsoever and has done nothing other than disparage members of our team with no substantiation and has presented arbitrary ideas that would destroy stockholder value, including inferences that improved communication rather than scientific rigor and transparent presentation of data at peer-reviewed conferences is the solution. Put simply, Sonic is putting at risk Adverum’s laser focus on commercializing our gene therapy technology and credibility, even suggesting to reunite a leadership team that led Avalanche Biotechnologies, one of the two companies that merged in 2016 to form Adverum. Our stockholders should not allow Sonic to impede our momentum and threaten the development and eventual commercialization of the first mass market gene therapy product.

This is all against the backdrop of Adverum making tremendous progress and already delivering meaningful stockholder value. Adverum has delivered five, three and two-year total stockholder return of 91%, 70% and 88% respectively, significantly outperforming gene therapy peers.

¹

Please protect your investment in Adverum and vote “FOR” ALL three of Adverum’s nominees listed on the

WHITE

proxy card: Ms. Svoronos, Dr. Tuckson and Dr. Woiwode

We are confident that Adverum’s Board and our 2021 nominees possess the expertise, operational and industry experience, knowledge and skills to support the continued execution of Adverum’s strategy and drive long-term stockholder value.

Simply follow the easy instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote by telephone, by internet or by signing, dating and returning the WHITE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please disregard any green proxy card you get from Sonic.

We appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

The Adverum Board of Directors

Advisors

Cooley LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP are serving as legal advisors, and Centerview Partners LLC is serving as financial advisor to Adverum.

About Adverum Biotechnologies

Adverum Biotechnologies (Nasdaq: ADVM) is a clinical-stage gene therapy company targeting unmet medical needs in serious ocular and rare diseases. Adverum is advancing the clinical development of its novel gene therapy candidate, ADVM-022, as a one-time, intravitreal injection for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. For more information, please visit www.adverum.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding the events or results that may occur in the future are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Adverum’s expectations that it will submit a Biologics License Application in 2024 and that its commercial facility in Durham, North Carolina is expected to be production-ready by the end of 2023. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include risks inherent to, without limitation: Adverum’s novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product candidate development and obtaining regulatory approval; the results of early clinical trials not always being predictive of future results; the potential for future complications or side effects in connection with use of ADVM-022, and the possibility of unexpected delays in the completion of its commercial facility in Durham, North Carolina. Risks and uncertainties facing Adverum are described more fully in Adverum’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and any subsequent filings with the SEC under the heading “Risk Factors.” All forward-looking statements contained in this letter speak only as of the date on which they were made. Adverum undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Important Information

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (“Adverum”) has filed a definitive proxy statement and form of associated WHITE proxy card with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for Adverum’s 2021 Annual Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”). Adverum, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees will be participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in respect of the 2021 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of Adverum’s directors, executive officers and employees and their respective interests in Adverum by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in the Proxy Statement. Details concerning the nominees of Adverum’s Board of Directors for election at the 2021 Annual Meeting are included in the Proxy Statement. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF ADVERUM ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC, INCLUDING THE ADVERUM’S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and stockholders can obtain a copy of the Proxy Statement and other relevant documents filed by Adverum free of charge from the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Stockholders may also contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated with questions or requests for additional copies of the proxy materials by calling toll free at (877) 750-9496. 

¹ FactSet as of March 31, 2021; Gene Therapy peers reflect median of Abeona, AGTC, Amicus, AVROBIO, Gensight, Homology, Krystal, MeiraGTx, Orchard, Passage Bio, REGENXBIO, Rocket, Sangamo, Solid Biosciences, uniQure and Voyager.

Investor Relations Contact
Myesha Lacy
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.
T: 650-649-1257
E:
 
Or

Scott Winter / Gabrielle Wolf
Innisfree M&A Incorporated
T: 212-750-5833
 
Media Contact
Andrea Cohen
Sam Brown Inc.
T: 917-209-7163
E:
 
Or

Dan Moore
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
T: 212-355-4449

CHICAGO, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With an unrelenting focus on information security and consumer privacy, TransUnion (NYSE:TRU) continues to build and invest in technology to help businesses and consumers transact in an increasingly digital marketplace. The company is advancing this goal with a preferred equity investment and strategic cooperation agreement with Spring Labs, an advanced cryptography and blockchain based financial technology firm transforming the exchange of sensitive data. Together, Spring Labs and TransUnion aim to increase access to Spring Labs’ data exchange network and products, while enabling TransUnion to expand protection of sensitive consumer data and promote transformative technology in its business.

“Spring Labs built a state-of-the-art technology protocol that cryptographically transforms and anonymizes data to unlock new data and products,” said Steve Chaouki, President of U.S. Markets at TransUnion, who is joining the Spring Labs Board of Directors. “The ability to securely exchange information without revealing the underlying data and identity of network participants creates opportunities for our customers and the consumers they serve through sharing of historically siloed data.”

Spring Labs is revolutionizing the way consumer financial data is stored and shared among financial services institutions with a network foundation known as the Spring Protocol. This privacy-preserving information exchange returns control and value to data owners, unlocking new data sources and enabling competitively sensitive parties to collaborate for the common good.

Spring Labs’ advanced cryptography allows strict control of information visibility, and its permissioned blockchain provides a time-stamped, immutable record and audit trail. This approach offers a rare combination of transparency and privacy, uniquely suited to data exchanges in instances where participants may be concerned about sharing with competitors. For example, lenders can exchange information to identify fraud or verify identities without disclosing underlying data.

“We are thrilled to announce TransUnion’s investment and related cooperation agreement. With tens of thousands of customers, TransUnion is the ideal partner for Spring Labs as a respected global information and insights company that shares our commitment to stewarding sensitive data. We see multiple avenues for collaboration, including the extension of our products, services and network to TransUnion’s customers,” said Adam Jiwan, co-founder of Spring Labs. “Additionally, by joining our Board, Steve will help drive continued growth for Spring Labs through his deep understanding of the business, data and analytics needs of Financial Services and other industries.”

At the core of this relationship, TransUnion will help expand existing Spring Labs’ networks to new organizations, as well as develop new networks based on customer needs and interests.

“Our core promise is to make trust possible between businesses and consumers,” said Marko Ivanov, Senior Vice President at TransUnion and Spring Labs partnership lead. “Spring Labs resolves the challenge of information sharing among competitors without inhibiting competition, while providing regulatory transparency and protecting consumer privacy. In addition, the flexibility and ease of integration of the Spring Protocol will enable rapid design and deployment of new networks in numerous industries across multiple use cases including credit risk, fraud and marketing. We are excited about the possibilities.”

Spring Labs recently demonstrated the potential of its technology by deploying a network for data sharing among Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing providers, launched in Q4 2020. Network participants estimate it could save up to $10 million in fraud or 1% of total industry loan transactions.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good^®.

A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences, and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.

http://www.transunion.com/business

About Spring Labs

Spring Labs creates and oversees anonymous, decentralized data networks that vastly increase the amount, quality, and security of information available to market participants. Spring Labs leverages sophisticated cryptographic tools and blockchain technology to provide data and metadata integrity guarantees, tamper-evident workflows, and privacy-preserving tokenization that allow for the corroboration of information without the exchange of underlying data. These interlocking technologies help mitigate fraud, improve verification capabilities, and securely provide access to previously unavailable data in the financial services industry. Based in Marina Del Rey, California, Spring Labs was founded in 2017 by Adam Jiwan, John Sun, and Anna Fridman. Spring Labs has approximately 50 employees and prior to the current funding round has raised over $38m from investors including GreatPoint Ventures, August Capital, GM Ventures, and others. Learn more at www.springlabs.com.

Press Contacts

Spring Labs:

  –    Otto Pohl, [email protected]
  –    Daniel Mason, [email protected]

TransUnion:

  –    Dave Blumberg, [email protected], 312-972-6646

 

GREENSBORO, N.C., April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qorvo^® (Nasdaq: QRVO), a leading provider of innovative RF solutions that connect the world, will host a conference call to review fiscal 2021 fourth quarter financial results on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. (ET). The conference call will be webcast live on the Company’s website at the following URL: http://www.qorvo.com (under “Investors”).

A telephone playback of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call’s completion and can be accessed by dialing 719-457-0820 and using the passcode 6818780. The playback will be available through the close of business May 12, 2021.

Qorvo will distribute fiscal 2021 fourth quarter financial results at approximately 4:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

About Qorvo

Qorvo (Nasdaq: QRVO) makes a better world possible by providing innovative Radio Frequency (RF) solutions at the center of connectivity. We combine product and technology leadership, systems-level expertise and global manufacturing scale to quickly solve our customers’ most complex technical challenges. Qorvo serves diverse high-growth segments of large global markets, including advanced wireless devices, wired and wireless networks and defense radar and communications. We also leverage unique competitive strengths to advance 5G networks, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and other emerging applications that expand the global framework interconnecting people, places and things. Visit www.qorvo.com to learn how Qorvo connects the world.

Qorvo is a registered trademark of Qorvo, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions, and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included herein represent management’s current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as is required under U.S. federal securities laws. Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those relating to fluctuations in our operating results; our substantial dependence on developing new products and achieving design wins; our dependence on a few large customers for a substantial portion of our revenue; a loss of revenue if contracts with the United States government or defense and aerospace contractors are canceled or delayed or if defense spending is reduced; the COVID-19 pandemic, which has and will likely continue to negatively impact the global economy and disrupt normal business activities, and which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations; our dependence on third parties; risks related to sales through distributors; risks associated with the operation of our manufacturing facilities; business disruptions; poor manufacturing yields; increased inventory risks and costs due to timing of customer forecasts; our inability to effectively manage or maintain evolving relationships with platform providers; risks from international sales and operations; economic regulation in China; changes in government trade policies, including imposition of tariffs and export restrictions; our ability to implement innovative technologies; underutilization of manufacturing facilities as a result of industry overcapacity; we may not be able to borrow funds under our credit facility or secure future financing; we may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our debt; restrictions imposed by the agreements governing our debt; volatility in the price of our common stock; damage to our reputation or brand; fluctuations in the amount and frequency of our stock repurchases; our recent and future acquisitions and other strategic investments could fail to achieve financial or strategic objectives; our ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees; our reliance on our intellectual property portfolio; claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights; security breaches and other similar disruptions compromising our information; theft, loss or misuse of personal data by or about our employees, customers or third parties; warranty claims, product recalls and product liability; and risks associated with environmental, health and safety regulations and climate change. Many of the foregoing risks and uncertainties are, and will continue to be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and any worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in Qorvo’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.

At Qorvo^®
Doug DeLieto
VP, Investor Relations
1- 336-678-7968

 

LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PLBY Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLBY), a leading pleasure and leisure lifestyle company and owner of Playboy, one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world, will report financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 after the U.S. stock market closes. Management will host a conference call and webcast on the same day at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the results.

Listeners may access the live webcast on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.plbygroup.com/investors. A replay will be made available following the event.

About PLBY Group, Inc.

PLBY Group, Inc. (“PLBY Group”) connects consumers around the world with products, services, and experiences to help them look good, feel good, and have fun. PLBY Group serves consumers in four major categories: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming. PLBY Group’s flagship consumer brand, Playboy, is one of the most recognizable, iconic brands in the world, driving more than $3 billion in global consumer spend annually across 180 countries. Learn more at http://www.plbygroup.com.

Contact:
Investors: [email protected]
Media: [email protected]

AUSTIN, Texas, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SmallCapVoice.com Inc. (“SCV”) announces the availability of a new interview with Bill Williams, M.D., President and CEO of BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ: BCTX, BCTXW) (TSX-V: BCT) (“the Company”), to discuss the Company’s targeted immunotherapies for breast cancer and its unique position as a clinical-stage biotech company.

BriaCell develops novel targeted therapies for the management of cancer. Speaking with SCV’s Stuart Smith, Dr. Williams discusses BriaCell’s drug pipeline, highlighting lead candidate, Bria-IMT™, for advanced breast cancer.

As the second-leading cause of cancer in women, breast cancer kills 43,000 women in the U.S. each year. With Bria-IMT™, BriaCell sees the potential to change these statistics; Bria-IMT™ has achieved positive proof-of-concept (POC) in one of our clinical programs, where it improved the survival rate of women with advanced-stage breast cancer.

While the positive data was an obvious win for BriaCell in 2020, the year also delivered challenges. Dr. Williams describes how he and the Company’s board of directors and advisors were able to lead BriaCell through the hardships of the COVID 19 pandemic.

“We had a very difficult year in 2020, but because of our perseverance and our belief in our technology and the exciting clinical results we’ve obtained, as well as our diversified pipeline, we forged ahead,” he says. “Now we’re getting the trains running again. We’re very excited that we’re in a position to really make a major contribution in the area of breast cancer and all cancers in general.”

Despite the headwinds of last year, BriaCell uplisted its shares to the Nasdaq in February 2021 and concurrently raised $28.7 million in equity required to achieve its corporate objectives. The Company now aims to: advance Bria-IMT™ to a registration study; move the Company’s off-the-shelf personalized immunotherapy cell lines into the clinic; and to develop other immunotherapy cell lines for other cancers.

“As a clinical-stage biotech company whose lead candidate has already achieved positive proof of concept,” says Dr. Williams, “BriaCell’s valuation should be reconsidered.”

“I look around at the biotech space and I see many companies that are not even in the clinic yet, but that have valuation much higher than ours,” Dr. Williams continued. “I think with our leadership team, with our technology, with our positive POC, and now that we’re listed on the Nasdaq, I’m very excited to get our story out there to the investing public so that people can take notice of where we are and realize that there is a lot of value to be gained in investing in BriaCell. Our proof of concept data is preliminary and we will need to complete the Phase I/IIa study and additional clinical studies before the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, assesses the efficacy, safety and tolerability of this product candidate and determines whether it will be approved for commercial sale.”

The full interview can be heard at: https://www.smallcapvoice.com/interview-briacell-therapeutics-corp-btcx/

About BriaCell Therapeutics Corp.

BriaCell is an immuno-oncology focused biotechnology company developing targeted and effective approaches for the management of cancer.

For additional information on BriaCell, please visit: https://briacell.com/.

About SmallCapVoice.com

SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. is a recognized corporate investor relations firm, with clients nationwide, known for its ability to help emerging growth companies, small cap and micro-cap stocks build a following among retail and institutional investors. SmallCapVoice.com utilizes its stock newsletter to feature its daily stock picks, podcasts, as well as its clients’ financial news releases. SmallCapVoice.com also offers individual investors all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the stocks in which they are interested. Tools like stock charts, stock alerts, and Company Information Sheets can assist with investing in stocks that are traded on the OTCMarkets. To learn more about SmallCapVoice.com and its services, please visit https://www.smallcapvoice.com/small-cap-stock-otc-investor-relations-financial-public-relations/.

Socialize with SmallCapVoice and their clients at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallCapVoice/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallcapvoice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallcapvoice/

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on BriaCell’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s SEC filings. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information

Company Contact:

William V. Williams, MD
President & CEO
1-888-485-6340

Media Relations:

Jules Abraham
Director of Public Relations
CORE IR
917-885-7378
[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

CORE IR
[email protected]

SmallCapVoice.com Contact:

Stuart T. Smith
512-267-2430
[email protected]

Source: SmallCapVoice.com