Market Newsdesk

LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MeiraGTx Holdings plc (Nasdaq: MGTX), a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company, today announced 12-month data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03252847) of AAV-RPGR, an investigational gene therapy in development for the treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). Statistically significant vision improvement in the dose escalation phase of the trial was sustained one year after treatment. These data were presented today as a late-breaker oral presentation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting.

MeiraGTx and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, are jointly developing AAV-RPGR as part of a broader collaboration to develop and commercialize gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases.

In the ongoing Phase 1/2 MGT009 clinical trial, each patient was treated with subretinal delivery of AAV-RPGR in one eye and the patient’s other eye served as an untreated control. The primary endpoint of the trial is safety, with secondary endpoints assessing changes in visual function at pre-specified timepoints post-treatment. Baseline values were determined in triplicate.

In the dose escalation phase of the trial, data at the 12-month time point demonstrated statistically significant improvement in retinal sensitivity in treated eyes in both the low (n=3) and intermediate (n=4) dose cohorts, with six of seven patients demonstrating improved or stable vision in the treated eye one year after treatment.

“Significant vision improvement in XLRP patients was sustained one year after treatment with this novel gene therapy,” said Michel Michaelides¹, BSc MB BS MD(Res) FRCOphth FACS, MGT009 trial investigator, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology, University College London. “XLRP is a degenerative disease that progresses to blindness in working-age adults. These findings suggest AAV-RPGR has the potential to not only stabilize vision, but to actually improve vision in patients who have no current therapeutic options.”

AAO


Data Summary


:

Retinal sensitivity

XLRP is characterized by progressive deterioration of the visual field. Octopus 900 full-field static perimetry and MAIA microperimetry were employed to determine change in retinal sensitivity following intervention.

Perimetry is a sensitive, standard-of-care measure of retinal function that reproducibly determines retinal sensitivity both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, thereby accurately evaluating disease progression over time.

At the 12-month analysis, compared to baseline:

• Six out of seven patients in the low (n=3) and intermediate (n=4) dose cohorts demonstrated improvement or stability in retinal sensitivity in the treated eye.
• Statistically significant differences in mean retinal sensitivity were observed between treated and untreated eyes in the intermediate dose cohort: 1.05 dB; (90% CI: 0.81, 1.29).
• Statistically significant differences were observed in central visual field progression rate (V30) between treated and untreated eyes in the low: 1.10 dB-sr/year; (90% CI: 0.10, 2.10) and intermediate: 1.26 dB-sr/year; (90% CI: 0.65, 1.86) dose cohorts.
• Efficacy signals were observed at the first post-treatment assessments at three months, with improvements sustained or increased at 12 months.

Vision-guided mobility

Markedly impaired mobility in low illumination is a hallmark symptom of XLRP. As part of the trial, patients completed a vision-guided mobility maze at baseline and nine months to assess their ability to navigate across a broad range of controlled light levels (1 lux = deep twilight, 4 lux = residential street lighting, 16 lux = twilight conditions, 64 lux = car park and 256 lux = office work). These results were first presented at the EURETINA 2020 Virtual Congress in October 2020.

At the nine-month analysis, compared to baseline:

• Five of six patients demonstrated improvement in walk time for the treated eye at lux levels 1, 4 or 16.
• Significant improvement was observed between treated and untreated eyes in the low and intermediate dose cohorts (n=6) at 1 lux, -16.1 seconds (90% CI: 9.91, 22.1) and 4 lux, -3.71 seconds (90% CI: 2.83, 4.96); with the greatest improvement at the lowest light level (1 lux).
• Vision-guided mobility assessment was not carried out in the high dose cohort at the nine-month timepoint due to a protocol revision implemented to align with the dose-expansion cohort assessment schedule.

Safety and tolerability

Safety data obtained to date continue to suggest AAV-RPGR is well-tolerated. No dose-limiting events occurred. As previously presented, signs of inflammation were observed in two of three patients in the high dose cohort, which may have been associated with decreased activity of the AAV-RPGR treatment in these patients. Inflammation was effectively managed with an extended steroid protocol.

Based on the safety and efficacy profile, the low and intermediate doses are being evaluated in the ongoing randomized, controlled expansion portion of the Phase 1/2 study, which completed enrollment in the first half of 2020.

MeiraGTx and development partner Janssen are preparing to initiate the pivotal Phase 3 Lumeos clinical trial of AAV-RPGR for the treatment of patients with XLRP.

About AAV-RPGR

AAV-RPGR is an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of patients with XLRP caused by disease-causing variants in the eye-specific form of the RPGR gene (RPGR ORF15). AAV-RPGR is designed to deliver functional copies of the RPGR gene to the subretinal space in order to improve and preserve visual function. MeiraGTx and development partner Janssen are currently conducting a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AAV-RPGR in patients with XLRP with disease-causing variants in RPGR ORF15. AAV-RPGR has been granted Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and PRIME, ATMP and Orphan designations by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

About the Phase 1/2
MGT009
Clinical Trial

MGT009 is a multi-center, open-label Phase 1/2 trial (NCT03252847) of AAV-RPGR gene therapy for the treatment of patients with XLRP associated with disease-causing variants in the RPGR gene. MGT009 consists of three phases: dose-escalation, dose-confirmation, and dose-expansion. Each patient was treated with subretinal delivery of AAV-RPGR in the eye that was more affected at baseline. The patient’s other eye served as an untreated control. In the dose-escalation phase (n=10), adults were administered low, intermediate, or high dose AAV-RPGR. The primary endpoint was safety. Visual function was assessed at baseline, three, six, nine and 12 months with Octopus 900 full-field static perimetry and mesopic fundus-guided microperimetry (MP); mean retinal sensitivity, visual field modeling and analysis (VFMA; Hill-of-vision volumetric measure), and pointwise comparisons were examined.

About X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP)

XLRP is the most severe form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a group of inherited retinal diseases characterized by progressive retinal degeneration and vision loss. In XLRP, both rods and cones function poorly, leading to degeneration of the retina and total blindness. The most frequent cause of XLRP is disease-causing variants in the RPGR gene, accounting for more than 70% of cases of XLRP, and up to 20% of all cases of RP. There are currently no approved treatments for XLRP.

About 
MeiraGTx

MeiraGTx (Nasdaq: MGTX) is a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company with six programs in clinical development and a broad pipeline of preclinical and research programs. MeiraGTx has core capabilities in viral vector design and optimization and gene therapy manufacturing, as well as a potentially transformative gene regulation technology. Led by an experienced management team, MeiraGTx has taken a portfolio approach by licensing, acquiring and developing technologies that give depth across both product candidates and indications. MeiraGTx’s initial focus is on three distinct areas of unmet medical need: inherited retinal diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and severe forms of xerostomia. Though initially focusing on the eye, central nervous system and salivary gland, MeiraGTx intends to expand its focus in the future to develop additional gene therapy treatments for patients suffering from a range of serious diseases.

For more information, please visit www.meiragtx.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the development and efficacy of AAV-RPGR, plans to advance AAV-RPGR into Phase 3 clinical trial and anticipated milestones regarding our clinical data and reporting of such data and the timing of results of data, including in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our incurrence of significant losses; any inability to achieve or maintain profitability, raise additional capital, identify additional and develop existing product candidates, successfully execute strategic priorities, bring product candidates to market, expansion of our manufacturing facilities and processes, successfully enroll patients in and complete clinical trials, accurately predict growth assumptions, recognize benefits of any orphan drug designations, retain key personnel or attract qualified employees, or incur expected levels of operating expenses; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the status, enrollment, timing and results of our clinical trials and on our business, results of operations and financial condition; failure of early data to predict eventual outcomes; failure to obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for product candidates within expected time frames or at all; the novel nature and impact of negative public opinion of gene therapy; failure to comply with ongoing regulatory obligations; contamination or shortage of raw materials or other manufacturing issues; changes in healthcare laws; risks associated with our international operations; significant competition in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; dependence on third parties; risks related to intellectual property; changes in tax policy or treatment; our ability to utilize our loss and tax credit carryforwards; litigation risks; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, unless required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Thus, one should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contacts

Investors:

MeiraGTx
Elizabeth (Broder) Anderson
(646) 860-7983
[email protected]

or

Media:

W2O pure
Christiana Pascale
(212) 257-6722
[email protected]

¹ Professor Michaelides is a scientific founder of and consultant to MeiraGTx.

NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada on behalf of those who acquired Las Vegas Sands Corp. (“Las Vegas Sands” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LVS) securities during the period from February 27, 2016 through September 15, 2020, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Investors have until December 21, 2020 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Marina Bay Sands, a Las Vegas Sands resort in Singapore, casino’s control measures pertaining to fund transfers had weaknesses; (2) the Marina Bay Sands’ casino was consequently prone to illicit fund transfers that implicated, among other issues, the transfer of customer funds to unauthorized persons and potential breaches in the Company’s anti-money laundering procedures; (3) the foregoing foreseeably increased the risk of litigation against the Company, as well as investigation and increased oversight by regulatory authorities; (4) Las Vegas Sands had inadequate disclosure controls and procedures; (5) consequently, all the foregoing issues were untimely disclosed; and (6) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

If you acquired Las Vegas Sands securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney at 212-371-6600, by email at [email protected], or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you.

Kirby McInerney is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, and whistleblower litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney’s website: www.kmllp.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contacts

Kirby McInerney LLP
Thomas W. Elrod, Esq., (212) 371-6600
[email protected]
www.kmllp.com

WESTPORT, Conn., Nov. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HMG Strategy, the world’s #1 digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is excited to have launched its HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel webinar series. The webinar series connects enterprise CISOs and security leaders with the top emerging cybersecurity companies that are solving the most critical cyber challenges facing companies today.

“CISOs, CIOs and executives with a stake in
cybersecurity need help in protecting their organizations from an ever-increasing scale and complexity of cyber threats and attacks
,” said Hunter Muller, President and CEO at HMG Strategy. “The HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel series enables security leaders to look around the corner at the technologies that can help them to better protect their companies while delivering innovation to the CEO and the business.”

HMG Strategy’s inaugural Security Innovation Accelerator Panel discussion on November 11 featured Glenn Chisholm, Co-Founder and CEO, Obsidian Security; Nikhil Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, ArmorCode; Nayeem Islam, CEO, Blue Hexagon Inc.; and Patrick Sweeney, President and CEO, Area 1 Security. These entrepreneurs shared how their companies are differentiated in the market, the specific challenges they address for their clients, along with the white space they saw in the market which they and their teams used to develop their unique products and services.

Here are some examples of the insights they each shared during the 60-minute webinar:

Glenn Chisholm, Co-Founder and CEO, Obsidian Security: We saw this adoption for SaaS and began asking how one goes about securing SaaS and addressing breaches and posture management. We’re utilizing SaaS along with protecting SaaS.

Nikhil Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, ArmorCode: We started our company right in the middle of COVID. There’s a big opportunity happening with digital disruption. There is a gap in addressing security across various platforms and ecosystems.

Nayeem Islam, CEO, Blue Hexagon: You have hybrid enterprises that have workloads in the cloud with APIs available from major cloud providers. It’s all fairly uniform – whether on-prem on in the cloud – and we allow you to view all of this infrastructure with deep learning. We can prevent attacks before they become a problem in the enterprise.

Patrick Sweeney, President and CEO, Area 1 Security: For us, there’s been a major disruption with Office 365 dominating mail in the cloud and 95 percent of security threats coming in through email. Any company that does business is subject to fraud and nefarious attacks. We have stopped a half billion dollars in fraud payments in the last six months alone for our clients.

HMG Strategy will be hosting its next HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel on December 8. Featured speakers will include George Avetisov, Co-Founder and CEO, HYPR; Glenn Chisholm, Co-Founder and CEO, Obsidian Security; Nikhil Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, ArmorCode Inc.; and Ali Golshan, Co-Founder and CTO, StackRox.

To learn more about this webinar and to register for the event, click here.

Click here to view HMG Strategy’s complete calendar of upcoming and on-demand webinars.

About HMG Strategy

HMG Strategy is the world’s leading digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. Our regional and virtual CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven research from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent. The HMG Strategy global network consists of over 400,000 senior IT executives, industry experts and world-class thought leaders.

To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy’s unique business model, click here.

HMG Strategy: Your #1 Trusted Digital Platform Connecting Technology Executives to Reimagine the Enterprise and Reshape the Business World.

Tom Hoffman
203-221-2702
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd9f3cbb-22b3-4f11-9d5c-15cbbc357766

NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP reminds investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of those who acquired Wrap Technologies, Inc. (“Wrap” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: WRTC) securities during the period from April 29, 2020 through September 23, 2020, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Investors have until November 23, 2020 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

In December 2019, the Company announced that the Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) would train its officers on the BolaWrap and deploy 200 devices in the field for a 90-day pilot program beginning in January 2020.

On July 22, 2020, White Diamond Research published a report alleging that the BolaWrap had limited use in the field and therefore Wrap has a very small total addressable market. The report also alleged that it was likely Wrap did not secure a contract with the LAPD. On this news, the Company’s share price fell $0.55, or 4.6%, to close at $11.34 per share on July 22, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume.

On August 25, 2020, after the market closed, an article by Los Angeles Times reported that “[s]ince the initial 180-day pilot began in February, LAPD officers have used the BolaWrap a total of nine times[, and it] was deemed ‘effective’ in six instances.” As a result, the LAPD sought a 180-day extension to continue evaluating the device. On this news, the Company’s share price fell $0.50, or 5.7%, to close at $8.27 per share on August 27, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume.

On September 23, 2020, White Diamond Research published a second report, alleging that, despite previously touting the LAPD pilot program, Wrap failed to disclose the key findings from the initial 180-day testing period because it was “bad news.” The report described the nine incidents in which the BolaWrap had been used, thereby highlighting its limited utility. On this news, the Company’s share price fell $2.07, or 25%, close at $6.07 per share on September 23, 2020, thereby damaging investors.

The Complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that there were limited instances in which Wrap’s BolaWrap could potentially be used because it requires a minimum of 10 feet between the officer and the suspect; (2) that, as a result, the BolaWrap was reasonably unlikely to be effective in most situations; (3) that the LAPD sought extensions of the pilot program because they needed a larger sample size to assess the effectiveness of the BolaWrap; (4) that the LAPD had not found the BolaWrap to be useful or effective during its pilot program; (5) that, as a result, Wrap had not received positive feedback from the LAPD about the BolaWrap and therefore it was unlikely that the Company would secure a sizeable contract with the LAPD; and (6) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

If you acquired Wrap securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney at 212-371-6600, by email at [email protected], or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you.

Kirby McInerney is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, and whistleblower litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney’s website: www.kmllp.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contacts

Kirby McInerney LLP
Thomas W. Elrod, Esq., (212) 371-6600
[email protected]
www.kmllp.com

Montreal, Nov. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Montreal, Quebec, November 13, 2020 – Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce its interim financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

 

Quarterly Highlights

• Production of 113,655 oz of silver  
• Sales of 81,423 oz of silver
• 26,034 tons of ore processed at an average grade of 217 g/t Ag
• Average realized silver price of $25.04/oz vs $24.39/oz average silver spot price in the quarter
• Successful closing of a private placement offering of C$26,225,000
• Launch of a feasibility study for the expansion of the Zgounder Silver Mine
• Commencement of 15,000-meter exploration program at Zgounder
• Ongoing maintenance program at flotation and cyanidation plants

 

“As expected, this was a transition quarter for Aya that sets the table for stronger operations in the coming quarters. Despite operational challenges, revenue grew by 14% compared to the same quarter in the prior year due to a favourable silver pricing environment. We are well positioned following our recently oversubscribed private placement to roll out our optimization plan, fund our exploration programs and complete the feasibility study to expand operations at the Zgounder Silver Mine,” said Benoit La Salle, President and CEO.

		Three-month periods ended September 30,
Key Performance Metrics		Q3-2020	Q3-2019	% Variation
Operational
Ore Processed (tons)		26,034	31,352	(17%)
Average Grade (g/t Ag)		216.9	222.5	(3%)
Mill Recovery (%)		62.6%	68.6%	(9%)
Silver Ingots Produced (oz)		93,691	25,118	273%
Silver in Concentrate for Sale Produced (oz)		19,964	153,841	(87%)
Total Silver Produced (oz)		113,655	178,959	(36%)
Silver Ingots Sold (oz)		81,423	33,831	141%
Silver in Concentrate for Sale Sold (oz)		–	79,740	(100%)
Total Silver Sales (oz)		81,423	113,571	(28%)
Average Realized Silver Price per Ounce ($/oz)		25.04	14.26	76%
Financial
Revenues		1,748,191	1,533,754	14%
Operating (Loss)		(1,597,495)	373,306	(-528%)
Net (Loss) Earnings		(1,784,504)	345,242	(617%)
Operating Cash Flows		(1,411,976)	26,309	(5,467%)
Cash and Restricted Investments		31,082,155	16,089,403	93%
Change in Working Capital		(887,213)	(779,101)	14%
Shareholders
(Loss) Earnings per Share (“EPS”) – basic & diluted		(0.021)	0.004

Financial Highlights Q3-2020 vs Q3-2019

• In the third quarter, revenue from silver sales totaled $1,748,191 (Q3-2019 – $1,533,754). More silver was produced than sold in the quarter as a result of shipment delays due to COVID-19 and lower silver prices. 
• Net loss for the quarter was $1,784,504 (EPS of ($0.021)), compared to a net gain of $345,242 (EPS of $0.004) for the same period of 2019. Net loss for the quarter was attributable to the vesting of share purchase options yielding an expense of $2,404,283. Excluding this non-cash expense, the net gain would have been $619,779.
• Operations generated a gross margin of $185,387 compared to $413,250 in Q3-2019.
• Comprehensive loss for the quarter of ($1,952,103), compared to $(211,017) in the same quarter of last year. Most of this loss is attributable to a foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $167,599 compared to a foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $556,259 in Q3-2019.
• Cash flows used by operating activities for the quarter of ($1,411,976), compared to $26,309 used in operating cash flows for Q3-2019.
• Cash and restricted investments of $31,082,155 as at September 30, 2020 compared to $16,089,403 at September 30, 2019.

Zgounder Silver Mine

In the quarter, the Zgounder Silver Mine dealt with a number of operational challenges that have since been fixed including a temporary ball mill shutdown at the flotation plant for five weeks. As a result, availability of the concentrator reached 69.7% with silver recovery of 62.6%. Silver grade feed to the mill was 217 g/t Ag compared to 222 g/t Ag in Q3-2019. COVID-19 continues to impact our operations, limiting movement within the country and making it difficult to bring contractors to site. This situation will persist until the pandemic is controlled.

A new operational management team arrived on site in the first week of September. The on-site team is implementing new human resource, operations, health and safety and maintenance plans. Seven key new hires were made with an additional four hires before year-end.

The 12-month maintenance plan includes significant repair of mining equipment, tailings facilities, living quarters, flotation plant, cyanidation plant and surrounding infrastructure, to improve and optimize operations. Once completed, we expect production to increase to one million ounces of silver annually. Management plans to announce 2021 guidance in parallel with its 2020 year-end financial results.

The initial phase of the plan involved fixing and upgrading the tailings facilities. Accordingly, water diversion canals were constructed in the quarter to prevent spillover during the rainy season, which begins in mid-November and lasts until the end of January. In addition, improvement of the employee base camp began in the quarter and is expected to be completed at the end of Q1-2021. The well-being of our employees, along with the new realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, made the refurbishment of the employee base camp a priority. To date, no cases of COVID-19 have been reported at the mine site.

Finally, work has commenced on both the flotation plant and the cyanidation plant. The flotation plant ball mill was the first critical piece of equipment repaired in Q3-2020. The ball mill repairs lowered production at the flotation plant during the quarter, but the cyanidation plant continued to treat concentrate that was in inventory. Additionally, our current mining equipment will undergo major repairs. New parts have been ordered, and we are awaiting their delivery to begin maintenance work.

 

Zgounder Exploration

On July 14, the Corporation announced a 15,000-meter exploration drilling program at the Zgounder Silver Project. The goal of the program is to increase and further define resources within the east zone of the deposit and to confirm and define mineralization below the current underground mine. Drilling at the mine started on September 19, 2020 with two drilling contractors. Four diamond drills (“DDH”) are currently operating at surface, and two electric drills operating within the mine. The Corporation is also using localized definition drilling using T28 “Jackleg” drills (“T28”) to improve the definition.

As of October 31, 2020 the Corporation had completed 7,225 meters of DDH and 428 meters of T28 drilling. African Laboratory for Mining and Environment (“Afrilab”) is responsible for sample preparation and analysis, while ALS Séville is acting as the check laboratory. Initial exploration results are expected before year-end.

 

Boumadine Polymetallic Project

Drilling at the property was halted in Q2-2019. The next step for the Boumadine project is to carry out metallurgical test work with the goal of improving gold, zinc and lead recovery. Sampling is currently underway to support the metallurgical test work.

 

Azegour, Amizmiz, Toulkine Properties

As of September 2, 2020, the Corporation has received mining permits for each property. The permits for the Toulkine and Amizmiz properties expire on May 16, 2029, while the expiration date for the Azegour property is June 1, 2030. All the permits are renewable after the initial term.

An exploration program for these properties will be determined by year-end.

 

About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian company focused on the operation, exploration, acquisition and development of silver and gold deposits. AYA is currently operating mining and milling facilities at its Zgounder Silver Mine, an 85%-15% joint venture between its subsidiary, ZMSM, and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (“ONHYM”) of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Its mining portfolio also includes the Boumadine polymetallic deposit located in the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Eastern Morocco which is also a joint venture with ONHYM wherein AYA retains an 85% ownership. Additionally, the Corporation’s portfolio includes the Amizmiz and Azegour properties, both being 100% owned, with gold, tungsten, molybdenum and copper occurrences covering over 100 square kilometres in a historical mining district of Morocco.

 

For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.

 

Or, contact:

Benoit La Salle, FCPA FCA President & CEO Tel: +1 (514) 951-4411 [email protected]

Alex Ball Corporate Development & IR Tel: +1 (647) 919-2227 [email protected]

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “strong”, “grow”, “continue”, “roll-out”, “fund”, “expect”, “increase”, “will”, “continue”, “provide”, “present”, “reasonable”, “established”, “has”, “demonstrate”, “potential”, “expect” or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would” or “might”. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits including the accuracy of the current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Corporation (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade estimates) and mine plans for the Corporation’s mining operations (including, but not limited to, throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics); (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets including permitting, development, operations and production from the Corporation’s operations being consistent with expectations and projections; (vi) fluctuations in commodity prices and other risks and factors described or referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the MD&A of the Corporation and which is available at www.sedar.com, all of which should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release

Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Corporation’s business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is given as of the date of this press release, and the Corporation does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Attachment

• Aya Q3 2020 results final

Alex Ball
Aya Gold & Silver Inc.
1 (647) 919-2227
[email protected]

TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — INV Metals (“INV Metals” or “Company”) (TSX: INV) reports its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020. The Company recorded a total loss of $1,036,097 or $0.01 per share for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, compared to $549,560 or $0.01 per share for the corresponding period in 2019, an increase of $486,537 or 89% from the prior year. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded a total loss of $5,158,484 or $0.04 per share, compared to $1,890,682 or $0.02 per share for the corresponding period in 2019, an increase of $3,267,802 or 173% from the prior year. The Company’s unaudited cash balance as at November 13, 2020 was approximately $3.9 million.

For additional financial information please see INV Metals’ unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis filed on www.sedar.com and on the Company’s website at www.invmetals.com.

About INV™
 
Metals

INV™ Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INV™ Metals’ primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold exploration and development property in Ecuador, and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including the Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina exploration projects.

For further information, please contact:

Sunny Lowe
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (416) 703-8416
E-mail: [email protected]

Forward
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Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management’s expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “may”, “shall”, “will”, or “would”. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions made by management and qualified persons in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management and the qualified persons believe are appropriate in the circumstances. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the results of future applications or referendums to differ from the results contained in this news release and the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to grade or recovery rates, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory, capitalization and liquidity risks. Please refer to management’s discussion and analysis, the Annual Information Form dated April 14, 2020 and other disclosure documents filed and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for other risks that could materially affect the Company. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.