The MiningNewsWire Podcast

Globally, the world is focused on COVID-19, but the real challenge facing the healthcare industry may be something much less obvious: accessibility and affordable. Runaway prescription costs and access to quality healthcare are the predominant underlying issues of a system that likely will be severely tested by global COVID-19 pandemic.

While COVID-19 runs rampant worldwide, experts agree that science and technology will eventually find ways to deal with the ravaging disease. However, the pandemic has only exacerbated America’s real healthcare challenge — affordable healthcare and prescription medicines. The only sensible solution may be to marshal the forces of innovation and technology to improve and expand healthcare services, streamline operating expenses, expedite deliveries and mitigate runaway costs. At the epicenter of a multibillion-dollar opportunity, Trxade Group Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDS) (MEDS Profile) is delivering on a unique business strategy that makes healthcare and prescriptions more accessible, affordable and convenient, delineating Trxade in a fractured, inefficient industry. In testament to market opportunity, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has entered the space with its PillPack platform to simplify the prescription process for consumers. McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK), one of the largest pharmaceutical providers in the United States, serves both public and private sectors. Teladoc Health Inc. (NYSE: TDOC) provides virtual health solutions to millions of patients around the world, allowing round-the-clock access to doctors. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) goes beyond the corner drugstore and plays a role in everything from care-management to cost-management systems, allowing quick responses to changing patient needs.

Despite causing a global economic turmoil and negatively affecting some sectors, such as hospitality and travel, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp increase in demand for certain industries, like online gaming and ecommerce. Quarantines and lockdowns are driving huge spikes in online traffic in China, and digital marketing — already on the rise — may be more effective than ever. iClick Interactive Asia Group (NASDAQ: ICLK) is among the leading providers of independent online marketing and enterprise SaaS solutions in China, supplying integrated tools for analyzing and improving advertising and marketing performance. One of the biggest players in online marketing in the region is Tencent Holdings Ltd. (OTC: TCEHY) whose multipurpose messaging, social media and payments application, WeChat, has reached a monthly active user base of over 1.1 billion. iClick has been a Platinum Service Partner of Tencent Social Ads, and has effectively captured the high growth of WeChat. Signifying tremendous market growth and opportunity, foreign companies have recently been targeting the East Asian market as well. American-based The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ: TTD) is moving digital-marketing services into east Asia, starting with a partnership in Indonesia. Cloud-based software company Salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM) recently improved the partnership program it uses to provide marketing and other digital tools, and HubSpot Inc. (NYSE: HUBS) has been recognized as a leader in marketing automation, thanks to its suite of online services.

While COVID-19 runs rampant worldwide, experts agree that science and technology will eventually find ways to deal with the ravaging disease. However, the pandemic has only exacerbated America’s real healthcare challenge — affordable healthcare and prescription medicines. The only sensible solution may be to marshal the forces of innovation and technology to improve and expand healthcare services, streamline operating expenses, expedite deliveries and mitigate runaway costs. At the epicenter of a multibillion-dollar opportunity, Trxade Group Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDS) is delivering on a unique business strategy that makes healthcare and prescriptions more accessible, affordable and convenient, delineating Trxade in a fractured, inefficient industry. In testament to market opportunity, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has entered the space with its PillPack platform to simplify the prescription process for consumers. McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK), one of the largest pharmaceutical providers in the United States, serves both public and private sectors. Teladoc Health Inc. (NYSE: TDOC) provides virtual health solutions to millions of patients around the world, allowing round-the-clock access to doctors. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) goes beyond the corner drugstore and plays a role in everything from care-management to cost-management systems, allowing quick responses to changing patient needs.

Champignon Brands Inc. (CSE: SHRM) (OTC: SHRMF) (FWB: 496) is one of the innovators in this field, expanding through acquisitions and outside funding to support R&D and a growing product line focused on artisanal medical mushroom formulations and mushroom-infused functional beverage CPGs. It’s a range of products set to appeal to markets similar to Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. (NYSE: HLF), which provides nature-based products for physical and mental health. Biopharmaceutical company Axsome Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM) is also tackling serious depression, with a new drug currently undergoing trials. Allergan (NYSE: AGN) has recently announced a new drug to tackle bipolar disorder, with a single treatment for both manic and depressive phases. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is showing the power of previously scorned drugs with a ketamine-based depression treatment.

The successful rise of fintech has inspired a similar wave of technological innovation in the insurance sector, as more companies are looking for ways to serve their customers.

InsuraGuest Technologies (TSX.V: ISGI) is one of the companies in this arena, providing software that eases the provision of insurance for specialist sectors. W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is adapting through the reorganization of its business, combining divisions and creating new ones as insurance necessitates change. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A), like many other insurers, relies on data and analytics to constantly improve its understanding of the market and of insurance customers’ needs. Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (OTC: FRFHF) is invested in a range of insurance companies around the world, providing the financial support for insurtech innovations. And AON plc (NYSE: AON) is experimenting with disruptive technology, such as blockchain in its insurance products, and has gained industry recognition for its work on cyber insurance.

InsuraGuest Technologies (TSX.V: ISGI) is one of the companies in this arena, providing software that eases the provision of insurance for specialist sectors. W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is adapting through the reorganization of its business, combining divisions and creating new ones as insurance necessitates change. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A), like many other insurers, relies on data and analytics to constantly improve its understanding of the market and of insurance customers’ needs. Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (OTC: FRFHF) is invested in a range of insurance companies around the world, providing the financial support for insurtech innovations. And AON plc (NYSE: AON) is experimenting with disruptive technology, such as blockchain in its insurance products, and has gained industry recognition for its work on cyber insurance.

The full promise of 3D metal printing is imminent as long-sought quality-control systems provide newfound ability to scale additive metal manufacturing.

From its inception by scientists at Los Alamos, Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) has led the world in developing software that addresses serious quality-assurance issues in 3D metal printing. Now the company has moved from beta development and third-party validation to commercialization in an untapped $2 billion market as the only known provider of in-process, quality-assurance software to the commercial, 3D-metal-printing industry able to work across the majority of printers. Sigma Labs’ commercial launch was recently announced in a joint sales agreement with Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS), a giant in the 3D printing industry. Materialise has built a 30-year reputation in 3D printing on an open system that integrates with hardware and software vendors to provide needed tools in the additive-manufacturing space. 3D printing is an integral part of business at software behemoth Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), which makes 3D software tools for almost every industry, encompassing rapid prototyping, industrial manufacturing, architecture and more. ANSYS Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS), a leader in engineering software, offers a complete simulation workflow for additive manufacturing that allows the transition of R&D efforts for metal additive manufacturing into a successful manufacturing operation. HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ), a recognized leader in the printing industry, now provides both 3D-metal-printing hardware and software with the introduction of its HP Metal Jet technology.

As global tourism soars, integrated support services are increasingly important for both travelers and providers.

InsuraGuest Technologies Inc. (TSX.V: ISGI) is a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) company leading the way on insurtech integration, with a software platform that covers both insurance and the technology mechanisms to book that insurance in the hospitality industry. Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) makes bookings easier through platforms covering accommodation, transport and other aspects of travel. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) also supports bookings, providing diverse and innovative services to draw customers’ attention. Many of the users of these sites end up at hotels run by Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), the world’s third-largest hotel chain, or Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), both of which have been expanding their portfolios of large mainstream hotels and more unusual properties.

InsuraGuest Technologies Inc. (TSX.V: ISGI) is a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) company leading the way on insurtech integration, with a software platform that covers both insurance and the technology mechanisms to book that insurance in the hospitality industry. Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) makes bookings easier through platforms covering accommodation, transport and other aspects of travel. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) also supports bookings, providing diverse and innovative services to draw customers’ attention. Many of the users of these sites end up at hotels run by Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), the world’s third-largest hotel chain, or Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), both of which have been expanding their portfolios of large mainstream hotels and more unusual properties.

From its inception by scientists at Los Alamos, Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) has led the world in developing software that addresses serious quality-assurance issues in 3D metal printing. Now the company has moved from beta development and third-party validation to commercialization in an untapped $2 billion market as the only known provider of in-process, quality-assurance software to the commercial, 3D-metal-printing industry able to work across the majority of printers. Sigma Labs’ commercial launch was recently announced in a joint sales agreement with Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS), a giant in the 3D printing industry. Materialise has built a 30-year reputation in 3D printing on an open system that integrates with hardware and software vendors to provide needed tools in the additive-manufacturing space. 3D printing is an integral part of business at software behemoth Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), which makes 3D software tools for almost every industry, encompassing rapid prototyping, industrial manufacturing, architecture and more. ANSYS Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS), a leader in engineering software, offers a complete simulation workflow for additive manufacturing that allows the transition of R&D efforts for metal additive manufacturing into a successful manufacturing operation. HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ), a recognized leader in the printing industry, now provides both 3D-metal-printing hardware and software with the introduction of its HP Metal Jet technology.

Demand for electric vehicle batteries is pushing up production of nickel, especially in Indonesia, where the government is moving to benefit from its natural resources.

One of the companies on the leading edge of this upward momentum is Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (CSE: BOLT) (OTCQB: PCRCF) (XFRA: NXFE), which is setting out a bold expansion plan following a successful exploration and development season in Indonesia last year. Other companies with interest in nickel production include Honda Motor Company Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) (OTC: HNDAF), which will be looking for more nickel as it increases its EV range. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) also continues to push the boundary for EV and has seen its stock rise as the market grows. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) (OTC: TOYOF) is moving into EV, with millions of alternative fuel vehicles sold in the United States. Panasonic Corp ADR (OTC: PCRFY) is working with several of these companies to keep up the EV battery supply.

One of the companies on the leading edge of this upward momentum is Bolt Metals Corp. (CSE: BOLT) (OTCQB: PCRCF) (XFRA: NXFE), which is setting out a bold expansion plan following a successful exploration and development season in Indonesia last year. Other companies with interest in nickel production include Honda Motor Company Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) (OTC: HNDAF), which will be looking for more nickel as it increases its EV range. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) also continues to push the boundary for EV and has seen its stock rise as the market grows. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) (OTC: TOYOF) is moving into EV, with millions of alternative fuel vehicles sold in the United States. Panasonic Corp ADR (OTC: PCRFY) is working with several of these companies to keep up the EV battery supply.

Ceylon Graphite Corp. (TSX.V: CYL) (OTC: CYLYF) (FSE: CCY) announced that Don Baxter has joined the Board of Directors of the company. Don Baxter is one of the premier graphite experts outside of China, having built one of only two producing graphite mines in North America. He is presently Chief Executive Officer and Director of Applied Graphite Technologies Corp. Prior to this, Don served as President, CEO and Executive Director of Alabama Graphite Corp, successfully completing the company’s disruptive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and introducing a new, battery-focused strategy.

InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”), an innovative corporate communications agency, content distributor and wire-grade press service via NetworkNewsWire, has completed its coverage of the 12th annual LD Micro Main Event, one of the largest and most influential independent conferences in the small-cap space. A five-year sponsor of LD Micro, IBN attended this year’s Main Event to engage with executives from the 275+ public companies that presented at the conference. IBN also provided widespread exposure through published corporate overviews and delivered real-time social media coverage for participating companies.

While big streaming companies battle it out for supremacy, the real winners of an epic battled dubbed the “streaming wars” may have already emerged: the production companies that stand to profit in a big way from the exploding demand for SVoD content. As digital streaming steadily eclipses all other forms of in-home entertainment delivery, an entertainment war has erupted among leading subscription video on demand (SVoD) providers. These streaming wars have opened the gate for newer production companies to step up and cash in by funneling fresh content to hungry SVoDs. The battle has already resulted in some big winners, including film-production companies, such as Wonderfilm Media Corporation (TSX.V: WNDR) (OTCQB: WDRFF), that are lining up to satisfy the voracious content appetite of these SVoD giants. As on-demand media streaming continues to rival — and in some cases supplant — every other form of entertainment delivery, major streaming service providers such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) are also duking it out for dominance.

3D-printing technology has arrived and appears ready to beneficially disrupt every field it touches. Additive manufacturing, better known as three-dimensional or 3D printing, has potential to change the world. However, the full promise of the technology has been stymied due to the high costs and complexities of end-product inspection and quality control. With its pioneering PrintRite3D(R) software, Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) appears to be ready to help unleash the transformative forces of 3D printing and usher in what’s been called the fourth industrial revolution. Aerospace has embraced 3D printing and, for the first time in the industry, Sigma Labs’ software makes possible nondestructive quality assurance during the 3D printing of metal parts, uniquely allowing errors to be corrected in real time. The sector has been searching for just such a validated tool and method to raise quality and cut costs, scale production, and bring 3D printing even more into mainstream manufacturing. Using 3D printing, Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX), delivered the first entry-into-service jet-engine parts ever produced. Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) has qualified more 3D-printed aircraft parts with the FAA than any of its rivals, noting that “3D printing technology is real and it’s fantastic.” Achieving design solutions that have been inconceivable in the past, Boeing (NYSE: BA) has applied the technology to airplanes, missiles, satellites and spacecraft. These amazing achievements are made possible by 3D-printing technology, guided and directed by advanced-engineering simulation software from companies such as ANSYS (NASDAQ: ANSS) and now, it appears, significantly accelerated, enhanced and simplified by the quality assurance software of Sigma Labs.

Heralded as the fourth industrial revolution, 3D printing is about to transform the $12 trillion global manufacturing sector. Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) is on the verge of unleashing the dynamic forces of additive metal manufacturing that have been restrained. Long heralded as the fourth industrial revolution, 3D metal printing and its full potential have been stalled due to the high cost and complexities of end-product inspection and quality control. Sigma Labs’ PrintRite3D(R) software represents a seismic shift in the quality-assurance process in the manufacture of 3D-printed metal components, and the entire sector is poised for extraordinary growth. Software giant Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) has aggressively moved into the space developing software across a range of uses in 3D printing. With nearly three decades of experience, Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS) has integrated Sigma Labs’ PrintRite3D technology with its Materialise MCP controller, and the companies will jointly demonstrate the latest version of the software platform to the global elite of additive manufacturing at the Formnext exhibition. Siemens AG (OTC: SIEGY) is a global leader in industrializing 3D printing and assisted Sigma in evolving the early version of PrintRite3D INSPECT version 2.0 towards 5.0. Even more momentous, General Electric’s (NYSE: GE) Baker Hughes division has begun the final phase of the PrintRite3D rapid-test and evaluation program, the last step before commercial orders.

IBN's communication director, Jonathan Keim, presented "IR and the Importance of Content Strategies" on November 13, 2019, at the Westin in Times Square during the National Investment Banking Association (NIBA) conference. Thousands of investment professionals are involved with NIBA, representing more than 60 key industry services, along with 8,800+ registered representatives that have in excess of $78 billion in assets under management. To date, the association’s members have raised over $17 billion and are responsible for 90% of all Initial Public Offerings under $20 million.

IBN's communication director, Jonathan Keim, presented "IR and the Importance of Content Strategies" on November 13, 2019, at the Westin in Times Square during the National Investment Banking Association (NIBA) conference. Thousands of investment professionals are involved with NIBA, representing more than 60 key industry services, along with 8,800+ registered representatives that have in excess of $78 billion in assets under management. To date, the association’s members have raised over $17 billion and are responsible for 90% of all Initial Public Offerings under $20 million.

Despite the enormous progress made in the war against cancers, ovarian cancer has proved to be a tenacious foe. Progress is being made, however, as AI predictive models are being used to better target deadly ovarian cancers.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to treat and lethal, with survival rates much lower than other cancers that affect women. Recently, the battle against ovarian cancer has shifted strategy, and new optimism has come to the fore. Predictive models using artificial intelligence on large data sets of patient drug-treatment protocols and historical outcomes are now providing actionable intelligence for pharma to develop targeted therapeutics and for oncologists to prescribe the best course of treatment to improve individual patient outcomes. Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) is laser focused on providing the molecular information critically needed to improve the lives of women stricken with ovarian cancer. The company has begun sequencing ovarian cancers as part of its CancerQuest2020 project and is building the largest ovarian multi-omic database in the world, designed to speed the development of new drugs and provide better therapeutic choices. The rest of pharma is also racing to find solutions. Roche Holdings AG (OTCQX: RHHBY) acquired a molecular information company, is researching new ovarian specific drugs and is finding ways to identify the patients who will benefit most from detailed molecular information. GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE: GSK) has developed a long-term approach to finding new cancer treatments by focusing attention in four key areas. AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) recently announced a new first-line maintenance treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. And Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has entered into clinical collaborations to evaluate drug combination therapeutic regimens for ovarian cancers.