Market Newsdesk

PETALUMA, Calif., Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (“Hydrofarm”) (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading independent branded hydroponics company with a comprehensive distribution platform, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 9,966,667 shares of common stock, including the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase 1,300,000 additional shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $20.00 per share. The shares are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “HYFM.” The net proceeds to Hydrofarm from the offering, after deducting the underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, were approximately $182.5 million.

J.P. Morgan and Stifel served as lead book-running managers for the offering and as representatives of the underwriters. Deutsche Bank Securities, Truist Securities and William Blair served as book-running managers for the offering.

A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 9, 2020. A final prospectus relating to the offering was filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (866) 803-9204; or Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Attention: Prospectus Department, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94104 or by telephone at (415) 364-2720 or by email at [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, 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 registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

Hydrofarm is a leading independent distributor and manufacturer of hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture, including high-intensity grow lights, climate control solutions, and growing media, as well as a broad portfolio of innovative and proprietary branded products. For over 40 years, Hydrofarm has helped growers make growing easier and more productive. The Company’s mission is to empower growers, farmers and cultivators with products that enable greater quality, efficiency, consistency and speed in their grow projects.

Contacts:

Media Contact

Cory Ziskind / ICR
(646) 277-1232
[email protected]

Investor Contact

Fitzhugh Taylor / ICR
[email protected]

BOSTON, Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP) (“Ziopharm” or the “Company”), today announced that Satyavrat “Sath” Shukla, CFA, Chief Financial Officer, has informed the Company of his intention to step down from the role effective December 31, 2020 to pursue another opportunity. The Company has initiated a search for a new Chief Financial Officer.

Laurence Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ziopharm, said, “On behalf of everyone at Ziopharm, I would like to thank Sath for his strong commitment and valuable contributions towards helping the Company advance its therapies through development and closer to patients in need. During his tenure, Sath has been instrumental in successfully building a robust balance sheet and a strong team. I am grateful for his support and partnership and wish him well on his future endeavors.”

Mr. Shukla added, “It has been a privilege to work with Laurence and the outstanding team of professionals at Ziopharm and I wish them nothing but success in their important work for cancer patients in need.”

About Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.

Ziopharm is developing non-viral and cytokine-driven cell and gene therapies that weaponize the body’s immune system to treat the millions of people globally diagnosed with a solid tumor each year. With its multiplatform approach, Ziopharm is at the forefront of immuno-oncology with a goal to treat any type of solid tumor. Ziopharm’s pipeline is built for commercially scalable, cost effective T-cell receptor T-cell therapies based on its non-viral Sleeping Beauty gene transfer platform, a precisely controlled IL-12 gene therapy, and rapidly manufactured Sleeping Beauty-enabled CD19-specific CAR-T program. The Company has clinical and strategic partnerships with the National Cancer Institute, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and others. For more information, please visit www.ziopharm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the business strategy, plans and objectives of Ziopharm management and expectations as to and beliefs about the Consent Solicitation initiated by WaterMill. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts, and can be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the impact and results of the Consent Solicitation and other shareholder activism activities by WaterMill and/or other activist investors, the risks and uncertainties disclosed in Ziopharm’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in any subsequent filings by Ziopharm with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All information in this press release is as of the date hereof, and Ziopharm undertakes no duty to update the information, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Adam D. Levy, PhD, MBA
EVP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(508) 552-9255
[email protected] 

Media Relations Contact:

LifeSci Communications
Patrick Bursey
(646) 876-4932
[email protected]  

NORTON, Mass., Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CPS Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: CPSH) today announced that Michael E. McCormack II is joining CPS in the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January 4, 2021.

Grant Bennett, CEO indicated, “The CPS Board of Directors has been conducting a search for a chief operating officer with the track record of accelerating growth, forming partnerships with customers to create new products, and taking new technology into the marketplace. Michael fits the bill perfectly – we are delighted he is joining CPS.

CPS today has a compelling and impressive pipeline of opportunities; most of which are in the early stages of commercialization and market penetration. Michael brings the skills, the drive, and the mindset to accelerate the commercialization and growth of these opportunities.”

Michael McCormack indicated, “I am excited to join CPS where my background in business development and new product expansion is so closely aligned with CPS’ strategic direction, and the opportunities CPS is pursuing.”

Michael joins CPS from AirBoss Defense Group where he was an Executive Vice President responsible for delivering urgently needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Federal agencies to combat COVID-19. AirBoss Defense Group previously merged with Critical Solutions International where Michael was CEO. Prior to that, Michael was the Executive Vice President for Mission Solutions Group responsible for Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions. After Mission Solutions Group purchased Marshall Communications Corporation Michael also served as President of Marshall Communications Corporation.

A native of Massachusetts, earlier in his career he was a program manager at General Dynamics Communications Systems in Taunton, Massachusetts, Senior Business Development Manager at Foster-Miller, Inc. of Waltham Massachusetts, and Executive Vice President, Land Systems Division of QinetiQ North America. He has also held several senior leadership positions in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

At Foster-Miller and QinetiQ, Michael led the effort to take developments in armor and robotics out of the laboratory, create real products addressing real problems, and build revenue streams of hundreds of millions of dollars. At Mission Solutions Group, Marshall Communications Corporation and Critical Solutions International, Michael identified opportunities, created partnerships, identified and led mergers and acquisitions, and very successfully sold, marketed, built and specified products into the defense, aerospace and communications markets; these are markets in which CPS has a growing presence.   

Michael has a BS degree in Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point, and master’s degrees from the National Defense University in Washington DC, and the Sawyer School of Management at Suffolk University in Boston.

About CPS
CPS Technologies Corporation is a global leader in producing metal-matrix composite components used to improve the reliability and performance of various electrical systems. CPS products are used in motor controllers for hybrid and electric vehicles, high-speed trains, subway cars and wind turbines. They are also used as heatspreaders in internet switches, routers and high-performance microprocessors. CPS also develops and produces metal-matrix composite armor.

Safe Harbor
Statements made in this document that are not historical facts or which apply prospectively, including those relating to 2020 financial results, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “will,” “intends,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates” and similar expressions. Investors should not rely on forward looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company’s expectation. Additional information concerning risk factors is contained from time to time in the company’s SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this release. Subsequent events or circumstances occurring after such date may render these statements incomplete or out of date. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this release.

CPS Technologies Corporation                                                                                     
Chuck Griffith, Chief Financial Officer                                
111 South Worcester Street                        
Norton, MA 02766
Telephone: (508) 222-0614
Web Site: www.alsic.com

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel oncology therapies, today announced the closing of its previously announced public offering on a firm commitment basis of 19,161,667 shares of common stock of the Company, including the exercise in full by the underwriter of its option to purchase an additional 2,495,000 shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $4.50 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

The gross proceeds to Oncternal, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were approximately $86.2 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including expenses related to the clinical and preclinical development of cirmtuzumab and TK216, preclinical development of its ROR1 CAR-T program, and for working capital.

The shares of common stock were offered by Oncternal pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-222268) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 22, 2017 and declared effective by the SEC on January 5, 2018. The offering of the shares of common stock was made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock offered has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.   Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by phone at (646) 975-6996 or e-mail at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other 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 other jurisdiction.

About Oncternal Therapeutics

Oncternal Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel oncology therapies for the treatment of cancers with critical unmet medical need. Oncternal focuses drug development on promising yet untapped biological pathways implicated in cancer generation or progression. The clinical pipeline includes cirmtuzumab, an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the ROR1 pathway, a type I tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor, that is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in combination with ibrutinib for the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and in an investigator-sponsored, Phase 1b clinical trial in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of women with HER2-negative metastatic or locally advanced, unresectable breast cancer. The clinical pipeline also includes TK216, an investigational targeted small-molecule inhibitor of the ETS family of oncoproteins, that is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial for patients with Ewing sarcoma alone and in combination with vincristine chemotherapy. In addition, Oncternal has a program utilizing the cirmtuzumab antibody backbone to develop a CAR-T therapy that targets ROR1, which is currently in preclinical development as a potential treatment for hematologic cancers and solid tumors. More information is available at www.oncternal.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Oncternal cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negatives of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on Oncternal’s current beliefs and expectations.  Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intended use of net proceeds from the offering. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Oncternal that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Oncternal’s business, including, without limitation, risks described in Oncternal’s prior press releases as well as in public periodic filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are current only as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable law, Oncternal undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Oncternal Contacts:

Company Contact

Richard Vincent
858-434-1113
[email protected]

Investor Contact

Corey Davis, Ph.D.            
LifeSci Advisors                 
212-915-2577                   
[email protected]

Source: Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Opiant”) (NASDAQ: OPNT) today announced an additional commitment of up to $3.5 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“BARDA”), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to advance the clinical development of OPNT003, nasal nalmefene, for opioid overdose. The contract modification increases the total potential value of the BARDA contract to $8.1 million.

“We thank BARDA for their ongoing support of OPNT003, nasal nalmefene,” said Roger Crystal, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Opiant. “We believe OPNT003, nasal nalmefene, has the potential to be a best-in-class rescue agent for preventing opioid overdose deaths, particularly from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. We remain on track to file a New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2021.”

An earlier award from BARDA for up to $4.6 million, combined with a $7.4 million grant Opiant received from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (“NIDA”), also supports the clinical development and U.S. regulatory submission of OPNT003. The additional BARDA support will fund both a planned pharmacodynamic study in healthy volunteers and development work associated with the use of Aptar Pharma’s Unit Dose System.

Opioid overdose is a significant public health crisis that has been exacerbated by the increased availability and abuse of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50-fold more potent than heroin, far easier and less expensive to produce, and has a significantly longer half-life. Fentanyl and related synthetic opioids were linked to more than 75% of the nearly 51,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2019 in the U.S. The contract with BARDA allows for development of OPNT003 as a medical countermeasure in a chemical attack using synthetic opioids.

This project has been supported in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under Contract No. HHSO100201800029C.

About OPNT003

OPNT003, nasal nalmefene, is in development as a potent, rapid-onset, long-acting opioid antagonist for the treatment of opioid overdose. OPNT003 is designed as a rescue medication that could be especially useful in treating overdose by high-potency synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. OPNT003 is also being considered as an antidote in a civilian mass casualty event. The development of OPNT003 is supported by grants from the NIH and BARDA. Opiant intends to pursue a 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for OPNT003.

About Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the company that developed NARCAN^® Nasal Spray, is building a leading franchise of new medicines to combat addictions and drug overdose.
For more information visit: www.opiant.com.

Forward-Looking Statements


This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed, implied or inferred by these forward-looking statements, and among other things, our ability to maintain cash balances and successfully commercialize or partner our product candidates currently under development. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 2020, including under the caption titled “Risk Factors.”  These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. We undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform those statements to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law.

For Media and Investor Inquiries:
Ben Atkins, Opiant
(310) 598-5410
[email protected]

Louisville, CO, Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rab, an industry leader in merging the development of quality outdoor gear and apparel with sustainability and environmental awareness, announced today that it has named Ryan Krusemark as the company’s first-ever National Sales Manager as it looks to build on its success and expand its North American footprint in 2021.

Krusemark will be based out of his hometown of Livingston, Mont., and will oversee all U.S. sales for Equip, the parent company of both Rab and Lowe Alpine, placing a proven outdoor industry veteran atop the companies’ vast network of regional sales representatives.

“We are thrilled to have Ryan join the Equip US team and I cannot think of a better fit for the Rab and Lowe Alpine brands,” said Rab US Country Manager Jon Frederick. “Ryan is highly regarded throughout the industry and he brings a wealth of sales experience to the team along with a passion for providing true support for our retail partners. Ryan will be leading our team of independent reps as we continue to introduce premium and sustainable products to specialty retailers and customers across the country.”

A respected sales professional with deep wholesale connections, Krusemark joins Rab after 14 years with outdoor apparel company Kuhl, including the past 10 as the company’s Director of Sales. 

“I’m really excited to be working for an independently owned company, and I’m excited to be working for a company that has the kind of integrity that Rab has,” Krusemark said. “It seems like every retailer I speak with really wants Rab to win in this industry, and retailers really respect the brand. And to have all of those things in one company is pretty rare. I’m very excited to join the team.”

Kursemark will be tasked with introducing a robust new line of technical, eco-approved jackets and pants as Rab continues to expand its “Masters of Insulation” category. Chief among the new lines are the Cubit and Xenair jackets, which have already drawn rave reviews. The Cubit stretch down jacket (above, right) is a light and packable down hoody combines Pertex® 3DWeave pre-woven baffle technology with recycled hydrophobic down and stretch fabric, while the Xenair Alpine jacket (below, right) offers intelligent synthetic insulation and controlled air permeable fabric, and is built for varied mountain conditions.

Rab also further cemented its commitment to long-term sustainability when its parent company Equip received certification as a Climate Neutral Company in November, and the company has also committed to achieve Net Zero by 2030. Climate Neutral means Rab will reduce emissions and balance any remaining emissions through carbon credits, while Net Zero means Rab will not release more non-avoidable Greenhouse Gas Emissions into the atmosphere than it neutralises with actual carbon removal.

Equip companies have already switched to 100 percent renewable energy in their head office and UK distribution center, and switched their sales fleets to plug-in hybrids or full electric vehicles. Rab has also switched to recycled fabrics and insulation both with synthetics and to P.U.R.E. down with some of the company’s Cirrus and Micolight lines, and the company has pledged to remove plastic or switch to a minimum of 50 percent recycled plastic packaging by Spring/Summer 21.

About Rab®

It was here in Northern England in 1981 that celebrated climbing innovator, and adventurer Rab Carrington set up the equipment company that bears his name today. His goal was simple: to make an honest, rugged climbing kit that could perform at the highest level. Every Rab® piece was created by hand and rigorously tested by the man himself or friends and fellow climbers encountering the most extreme conditions. We make rugged, high-performance mountain clothing and equipment that give you absolute protection, comfort, and freedom on the hill, crag, or peak. We use cutting edge materials as well as time-tested ones such as premium quality European down. Nothing fancy or over-engineered – just honest, hard-working pieces that you’d rather repair than replace. By climbers for climbers.

Media contact Eric Henderson | [email protected] | 307.690.2984 | 

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Eric Henderson
Rab Equipment
307-690-2984
[email protected]