Early detection of cancer is the key to using the medicines available today to battle cancer and give the patient the best chance of beating this horrible disease and getting back to a normal life. Avant Diagnostics (AVDX) has undertaken this heroic challenge with its OvaDx Pre-Symptomatic Ovarian Cancer Screening Test.

OvaDx is a sophisticated microarray-based test that measures the activation of the immune system in blood samples in response to early stage ovarian tumor cell development.

Each year, cancer costs the world more money than any other disease, according to the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR).

Cancer costs $895 billion annually. Comparatively, heart disease costs $753 billion. Nothing else comes close, with traffic accidents and diabetes each costing about $204 billion. More than half a million Americans die of cancer, the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., every year.

Cancer is like any disease, ailment, or problem in that the earlier you correctly identify and get to work on fixing it, the better your chances are… Let’s just use Peyton Manning as a good example of what to do. When he throws an interception, he immediately goes to the sideline, talks to coaches, studies stills of defensive alignments and identifies what he could have done better to throw a touchdown instead of the interception.

Using a product like OvaDx would be the best way to identify the exact nature of the problem, so experts and doctors can recommend the best treatments to ensure your survival. Cancer does not discriminate, as you can see from the above study, and takes very few prisoners, especially when you sit back and do nothing. Companies developing state of the art technology like AVDX give patients the best chance at beating this horrible disease and living a long and happy life.

In conclusion, put AVDX on your radar, especially considering recent FDA developments. It would be well worth your time to educate yourself a little more on early cancer detection and participate in the battle affecting everyone in the world today.

For more information, visit www.avantdiagnostics.com

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Crowdfunding is a rapidly growing industry. In 2010, the global online crowdfunding market was valued at roughly $880 million, led by a relatively small audience of early adopters. Just four years later, crowdfunding platforms accounted for approximately $16 billion in total investments, and that figure is expected to exceed $34 billion by the end of this year. To better illustrate the scale of this growth, consider the venture capitalism industry, which has traditionally served as the ‘go-to’ source of capital for startups and other pre-revenue companies.

Currently, the VC industry invests an average of $30 billion each year, led by global firms such as Fortress Investment Group (NYSE: FIG), American Capital (NASDAQ: ACAS) and Apollo Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: AINV), but industry growth is expected to remain relatively flat in the coming years. In other words, the crowdfunding industry is on track to account for more funding than the VC industry as early as next year.

One of the primary benefits of crowdfunding is its versatility. Companies such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe have captured market share through the implementation of a simple rewards-based system. Using this model, investors gain access to varying levels of rewards corresponding to the amount they pledge to the business or project. However, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act – which was signed into law by President Obama in April 2012 – set the stage for a crowdfunding model based on a more traditional investment incentive: equity.

Equity crowdfunding is just one of the many investment models offered by Symbid Corporation (OTCQB: SBID) through its proprietary investment platform, The Funding Network™. Founded in 2011, Symbid was one of the first companies to identify the rising need for data-driven SME finance and invest in the development of advanced investing, monitoring and data tools. Leveraging this early mover advantage, Symbid launched The Funding Network in March 2015 in order to give entrepreneurs direct access to all forms of financing while offering investors complete transparency on the potential risks and returns of their portfolios.

In the third quarter of 2015, Symbid demonstrated the marketability of its platform by recording a 30 percent year-over-year increase in total revenues. In its first six months of operation, The Funding Network has seen a total transactional volume of nearly $400 million. In July, Symbid successfully added roughly 2,000 new investors to its crowdfunding community and recorded its first success fees stemming from the introduction of its innovative loan crowdfunding product, effectively paving the way for additional growth in the months to come.

“The diversified product portfolio of The Funding Network has delivered promising results in the first six months since its launch in March and is creating real value for investors and entrepreneurs,” Korstiaan Zandvliet, co-founder and chief executive officer of Symbid, stated in a news release. “Clearly there is huge potential to further commercialize our transaction volume. The consistent growth in revenue we’ve been seeing in 2015 gives us the foundation to do just that while we continue to innovate at the forefront of online funding.”

For more information, visit www.symbid.com

Being a top dog in the pet industry means more scalability to reach a wider customer base. That’s why OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO) gives two brand options to its niche customers. The OurPets brand focuses on specialty customers while the Pet Zone Brand centers on food/drug/mass-market channels. Each has its own website where pet owners can get the latest products in safety, health, waste management, and fun.

OurPet’s designs, produces, and markets a variety of innovative, high quality accessory and consumable pet products in the United States and overseas. It began with the Big Dog Feeder product that improves posture and comfort for canines. Most of their award-winning products are patented and boast being the only ones of their kind on the market. Cat owners can get their own consumable Kitty Cat Grass to grow at home or the EZ Scoop Litter Box with Odor Control Spray. Felines can also frolic with the Hide and Go Squeak Interactive Toy. Dogs can have the Buster Food Cube and the WonderBowl for their eating needs. The company’s products aim at bringing out a pet’s natural instincts for a healthier lifestyle.

In 2006, OurPet’s purchased all of the assets of its chief competitor, Pet Zone. The company now has a platform for its own products while integrating those of Pet Zone in another. Pet Zone products and accessories aim at improving the health, vitality, and safety of pets. Its goal is to offer high-end products at affordable rates. Feline friends can purchase the Mini Food-N-Fountain Deluxe or the Purr-Ivacy Place Pop-Up Litter Box Canopy along with many scratchers and toys. Dog owners can buy the Cozy Cottage Dog House, treat dispensers, and other food bowl accessories.

The pet industry has grown from $17 billion in 1994 to $74.23 billion in 2014. That number is expected to increase to $77.03 billion this year alone. During this time, OurPet’s has grown 3-5 times faster than the overall industry and has no plans of slowing down. The company gives investors the opportunity to participate in this expanding market while offering consumers the chance at buying multiple products through multiple brands.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ourpets.com

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Late last month, Dominovas Energy Corp. made headlines when it secured a landmark commitment of $1.2 billion in project financing to fund the initial phase of production and deployment of its proprietary RUBICON™ solid oxide fuel cell technology. The company’s chairman and chief executive officer, Neal Allen, hailed the commitment as further validation of Dominovas Energy’s business model and “an undeniable endorsement of the technical prowess of the RUBICON™.” Earlier this week, Dominovas Energy successfully built on this progress when it announced a new commitment from Nevada-based GHS Capital for up to $7.5 million over the next 36 months.

“This commitment from GHS Capital serves as a catalyst for maintaining operational momentum established this year,” Eric Fresh, senior vice president of finance and investments with Dominovas Energy, stated in a news release. “Moreover, it solidifies the platform for continued business development and implementation of the company’s strategic vision for expansion and development of the RUBICON™ into the global frontier markets in 2016.”

Thus far in 2015, Dominovas Energy has implemented an aggressive growth strategy that should provide a solid platform for strong financial performance in the years to come. Since announcing its first power purchase agreement (PPA) for the City of David in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) earlier this year, the Company has committed to an ambitious goal of securing the project financing needed to support the deployment of over 200 megawatts of signed and guaranteed PPAs in the DRC while continuing to target other emerging markets throughout sub-Saharan Africa as part of President Obama’s Power Africa Initiative.

For prospective shareholders, emerging power generation markets in sub-Saharan Africa could represent an opportunity for Dominovas Energy to realize considerable financial growth moving forward, particularly as it continues to build an increasingly sizable foothold throughout the region. According to a report by market research firm McKinsey & Company, there are nearly 600 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa without access to electricity. In the DRC, just 20 percent of the population currently has average grid access. However, by 2040, the report suggests that more than 70 percent of the region will have access to reliable power generation, outlining the substantial opportunity for Dominovas Energy as it continues to pursue additional project financing.

“[W]e have put in place the building block that supports our innovation in engineering this next generation technology for the commercial production of clean and sustainable base load power via the proprietary RUBICON™,” added Allen. “Dominovas Energy actively demonstrates that the funding of power infrastructure projects in global and emerging markets is not only possible, but feasible.”

For more information, visit www.dominovasenergy.com

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Legacy Ventures International was recently highlighted in an article by a contributor at the investment research platform Seeking Alpha. The overview studied the company’s potential as a disruptive force in the multibillion dollar Canadian bottled water market.

Legacy is a Nevada-based multinational conglomerate focused on the acquisition of proven and high-potential businesses across a variety of sectors. With a list of corporate objectives circling around the concept of disruptive brands and ideas, Legacy seeks to deal in category game changers that provide maximized market impact and traction while promoting rapid and sustainable growth. A few months ago, the company implemented this strategy through the acquisition of Toronto-based RM Fresh Brands, and, along with it, the Canadian distribution rights to one of the most innovative and promising brands in the bottled water space – Boxed Water.

Boxed Water is a fresh approach to remedying the environmental nightmares associated with the ubiquitous plastic water bottle. To get a better idea of the problem, consider the current scale of the U.S. bottled water market. In 2013, wholesale revenues from bottled water approached $12.3 billion, led by major beverage brands such as Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), Pepsico (NYSE: PEP) and Nestle (OTC: NSRGY). However, among the billions of bottles of water consumed each year, only 27 percent are recycled. As a result, more than two million tons of discarded water bottles have already been deposited into U.S. landfills.

Instead of plastic bottles, Boxed Water is packaged in a biodegradable box that’s reminiscent of a milk carton. The box is also key to the product’s brand identity. Carrying a simple message of ‘Boxed Water is Better’, this inconspicuous packaging effortlessly explains the concept of Boxed Water while attracting the attention of ecologically-aware consumers. The current challenge for Legacy is putting this message in front of its target audience. For that reason, the company is implementing a viral, event-driven marketing campaign throughout pivotal Canadian markets.

In recent months, Legacy has showcased Boxed Water at major events such as the Toronto Film Festival and Holt Renfrew’s Holiday Kick Off. These partnerships, in combination with Boxed Water’s straightforward packaging, are expected to play a key role in getting the word out about the product by getting it into the hands of celebrities and other influencers.

Boxed Water represents an opportunity for Legacy to disrupt the Canadian bottled water industry with an eco-friendly, easy-to-ship, deceptively simple solution. As the company continues to identify and target additional disruptive brands in both domestic and international markets, Boxed Water represents the first step in a long term strategic plan to maximize shareholder value for the foreseeable future.

To view the full Seeking Alpha article, visit http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/344872-jay-currie/4558426-legacy-ventures-disruption-in-a-box

For more information, visit www.legacyventuresinc.com

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The true forefront in medicine today is a broad offensive where medical and research professionals are now pulling out all the stops in a never-ending war against broad-spectrum degenerative diseases like cancer or degenerative diseases of specific tissues, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, which severely cripple a patient’s central nervous system (CNS). Unfortunately, there is very little in the way of truly therapeutic options for patients with degenerative CNS diseases.

In the case of Parkinson’s, dopamine-generating neurons in the midbrain (substantia nigra) progressively die off, resulting in a variety of motor control issues (dyskinesia) at first, with dementia, insomnia, and severe depression or emotional problems typically following in later stages. There is no currently known cure for Parkinson’s and the standard of care consists primarily of medications designed to manage and/or provide relief from the symptoms.

The main family of drugs used to offset Parkinson’s symptoms is Levodopa (L DOPA, which metabolizes into dopamine), but MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) and dopamine agonists have seen a significant increase of use in recent years as a first choice, in order to prolong the start of L DOPA treatment. For you see, prolonged use of L DOPA typically results in dyskinesia that is equivalent to the long-term effects of Parkinson’s itself.

Because less than 10 percent of L-DOPA actually makes it through the blood-brain barrier, the vast majority of it is metabolized elsewhere in the body, resulting in numerous side effects like nausea and joint stiffness, in addition to the aforementioned Parkinson’s-like motor control problems. MAOIs, historically already in wide usage as a treatment for atypical depression, are pretty effective at delimiting the primary monoamine oxidase that degrades dopamine, MAO-B, and thus are able to somewhat offset the lack of dopamine that is being caused by neuronal loss.

As you can see, the only solutions for Parkinson’s patients which are currently available aren’t really solutions at all, and carry with them the looming inevitability of a lost battle against this degenerative disease. A truly disheartening reality for patients and their families. Long-term options for Parkinson’s patients and their families are severely limited as well and include invasive surgery, or palliative care designed merely to improve quality for end of life patients. Reasonable extrapolations from official Parkinson’s Disease Foundation data indicates that the number of people on earth currently suffering from the disease is likely close to, or over 10 million. Some 60,000 or more people in the U.S. alone are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year, meaning the real number is likely much higher, after factoring in all the cases that go undiagnosed, and unreported.

Hence the undisputable potential value of the proprietary, scalable and ethical human parthenogenetic (asexual reproduction from unfertilized egg) stem cell (hpSC) technology currently being developed by International Stem Cell Corp. (OTCQB: ISCO). Because hpSCs are self-renewing multipotent cells, they represent an as-yet essentially untapped goldmine of therapeutic developments which could provide solutions for countless degenerative diseases, and do so across multiple tissue types. The company’s hpSC platform for chemically stimulating eggs to reproduce, which uses a series of different activation techniques in order to create sizeable batches of healthy adult cells that are HLA/immune-matched (human leukocyte antigen) either to the individual or to the general population, has led to an exciting novel therapeutic cellular product consisting of human parthenogenetic neural stem cells (hPNSCs).

Because hPNSCs have been shown to be able to actually differentiate into dopaminergic neurons, therapy using these injected cells represents a wholly-new approach to the problem of Parkinson’s, wherein the root cause of the disease is addressed directly. Moreover, transplanted hPNSCs have been shown to express powerful brain-protecting neurotrophic factors in pre-clinical animal model studies, meaning that not only does this product hold the potential to simply grow new dopamine-producing cells, it can also help shield the remaining healthy cells from degeneration and/or death. ISCO’s recent announcement that the company is now moving full steam ahead towards phase I/IIa human clinical trials in Australia, subsequent to a meeting with the Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration and signage of an LOI with the conducting facility, Royal Melbourne Hospital, is a major milestone for the company. A milestone that puts ISCO squarely in the pole position for developing the first true Parkinson’s therapy.

TGA approval for the phase I/IIa clinical trials is expected sometime this month, with enrollment commencing shortly after, and ISCO could have a real winner on its hands depending on whether the results jog with those generated by the preceding nine-month safety GLP study of 300 rodents, which showed zero tumor growth in any of the subjects receiving transplanted cells. ISCO seems to have overcome the two major stumbling blocks that have hindered other developers in this field: immune-related tissue rejection and tumor formation.

The chemically close-to-nature methodology whereby the company generates its hpSCs is likely a main reason its therapies have had such preclinical successes, and one need look no further than the results for the other candidates (such as those for metabolic liver and degenerative eye diseases) in ISCO’s therapeutic pipeline in order to get a good idea of where the Parkinson’s therapy is headed. A savvy observer will note that the probability of success for ISCO with its hPNSC phase I/IIa clinical trials is telegraphed readily by the demonstrated versatility of the platform in allowing for a robust pipeline of several promising indications. The hpSC platform looks solid and ISCO could have one or two disruptive commercial breakthroughs on its hands in the near future.

Unlike many preclinical biopharma developers, ISCO has a cash pipeline already in place to help fund the expensive work of drug trials, with two wholly-owned subsidiaries that benefit from the company’s hpSC platform: Lifeline Cell Technology and Lifeline Skin Care. Respectively engaged in the sale of human cell culture products/reagents, as well as cosmeceuticals based on a proprietary extract derived from hpSCs, these two profitable subsidiaries not only help feed the R&D machine that is ISCO, they represent promising long-term opportunities in and of themselves. Quarterly financial data out as of November 16 from ISCO shows that Lifeline Cell Technology sales were up handsomely in Q3 (ended September 30), climbing 22 percent compared to the same quarter last year, alongside a nine percent jump in the company’s total consolidated revenue over the same period. Having wound down its multiple preclinical studies during the first six months of 2015, ISCO has managed to slash its cash burn rate and the company is now eager to see the fruits of its labor emerge from human clinical trials of hPNSCs in Parkinson’s.

The ability to grow functional, immune-matched adult human stem cells without the need to fertilize an egg is as ground-breaking a revolution in medicine as it sounds. And ISCO is basically the tip of the spear here too, alongside a tiny handful of other companies, many of whom lack the crucial IP and pre-clinical success story to deliver on a platform solution that could eventually hit hard and fast across the gamut of degenerative and similar diseases.

To find out what the buzz is all about, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Hemp, Inc., today announced a 58.3-percent increase in third-quarter sales for the period ended September 30, 2015, as compared to the second quarter.

“The industrial hemp industry is really booming. More states are beginning to realize it is more advantageous for them to legalize it. As you know, North Carolina, home to our industrial hemp commercial decortication facility, legalized hemp. Farmers in North Carolina now have the option to cultivate hemp crops with easy access to Hemp, Inc.’s (OTC PINK: HEMP) multipurpose industrial hemp commercial processing facility,” Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin stated in the news release.

Hemp, Inc. calls the legalization of industrial hemp in North Carolina a “game changer” for the company, directing it toward more advanced processing in the milling line. Perlowin said the company will continue to market its hemp-based cosmeceutical and nutraceutical product line and that “In terms of generating profit, our multipurpose industrial hemp processing facility in Spring Hope, North Carolina, by far outweighs any sales revenue generated from our product line, which is why we feel it best to shift focus.”

As the industry continues to grow, Hemp, Inc. said it expects to generate millions of dollars per year pending the completion of its multipurpose industrial hemp processing plant that vertically integrates growing, decortification, milling, and more.

For more information visit www.hempinc.com

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Over the past 20 years, Fuling Global has grown from a small manufacturer of plastic household articles and baskets into one of China’s largest exporters of disposable serviceware. Today, the company operates precision manufacturing facilities in both the United States and China that specialize in the production of a wide variety of plastic serviceware products – including disposable cutlery, drinking straws, cups and plates. Fuling’s products are primarily sold to customers throughout the U.S. and Europe and include some of the world’s most recognizable brands, such as Wendy’s (NASDAQ: WEN), Burger King (NYSE: QSR), KFC (NYSE: YUM), Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and McKesson (NYSE: MCK).

According to market research firm The Freedonia Group, the U.S. foodservice disposables industry, of which Fuling is a part, accounted for roughly $18 billion in 2014, and steady growth is expected to continue in the years to come. By 2019, the report estimates that the industry will grow to $21.9 billion, spurred by rising demand in both the retail and hospitality segments. In order to better capitalize on this growth, Fuling completed an initial public offering of its ordinary shares and commenced trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on November 4, 2015.

“Our IPO on NASDAQ is an important step toward becoming a significant player in the global plastic serviceware market,” Guilan Jiang, chairwoman of Fuling, stated in a news release. “We expect the increased publicity and name recognition that come with being a NASDAQ-listed company, combined with our access to new sources for capital, position us well for growth.”

Following its IPO, Fuling is in a strong position to build on its recent financial performance. In the third quarter of 2015, the company leveraged a significant drop in raw material costs in order to achieve a 17 percent year-over-year increase in net income. In European markets, Fuling recorded revenues in excess of $2 million for the period, an increase of 45 percent over the previous year. As it continues to focus on increasing its penetration in pivotal global markets and expanding its production capacity, Fuling will look to promote sustainable growth moving forward.

“We are encouraged by this quarter’s results, which show improved gross and operating margins, net income and sales volume,” stated Xinfu Hu, chief executive officer of Fuling.

With a roster of multinational customers and an expanding product line, Fuling is in a favorable position to increase its market share in the global disposable serviceware market. Look for the company to lean on the marketability of its IP portfolio – including nearly 30 patents focused on environmentally-friendly materials and technology – in order to fulfill its vision of becoming an international leader in the production of disposable cutlery, straws and other serviceware.

For more information, visit www.ir.fulingglobal.com

ContentChecked Holding today issued a press release announcing that one of its degreed nutritionists, Tara Zamani, provided valuable insight in a recent ValuePenguin article on employment as a dietician/nutritionist.

“Los Angeles is full of food gurus, raw foodies, vegans, vegetarians and nutrition-savvy individuals. I love working in L.A. as a nutritionist because many of my clients already have a good understanding of nutrition and are very open-minded when it comes to holistic health. L.A. is a hub for holistic nutrition, alternative medicine and many people here prefer to use natural remedies for healing, rather than traditional methods,” Zamani stated in the article. “Nutritionists are in demand, which makes it a great city for a new nutritionist to start a career. L.A. also offers many healthy restaurants, farmers’ markets, co-ops, health food stores and wellness centers, and guiding clients to choose healthier eating places is easy.”

ValuePenguin currently has an audience of approximately 350,000 monthly viewers, and the article published (http://www.valuepenguin.com/getting-job-as-dietitian) links back to ContentChecked’s website where readers can learn more about the company’s offerings.

Contributing nutritional expertise is an important part of ContentChecked’s efforts to raise awareness of its family of health apps and help Americans better manage their food allergies, migraines and overall health.

“Each ContentChecked employee is highly valued for their strong contributions and hard work that firmly roots our company in the marketplace,” says Kris Finstad, CEO of ContentChecked, the developer of MigraineChecked, SugarChecked and ContentChecked, a family of health apps for people with dietary restrictions and/or food preferences. “It’s always a pleasure to see the expertise of one of our team members being sought after and published in a well-recognized and read publication like ValuePenguin.”

For more information on the company, visit www.contentchecked.com

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QualityStocks today announced the availability of a new audio interview with Patrick Bertagna, CEO of GTX Corp (OTCQB: GTXO), an IoT platform and leading provider of personal location GPS wearable technology and wandering assistive technology. The interview can be heard at http://www.QualityStocks.net/interview-gtxo.php.

Interview host Stuart Smith starts off the interview by asking Bertagna for a description of the company’s business model, target markets and technology.

“We’re basically an IoT company (Internet of things) and we use GPS, cellular and blue tooth — low energy Bluetooth — as our transportation and communication protocols to basically enable people to find other people or high-value assets… tracking people with cognitive disorders is the ‘sweet spot’… currently there’s approximately 2% of people on earth that have some form of memory disorder — think Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, traumatic brain injury — and most of these people have one thing in common: they wander. They can just wander off and disappear and if not found within 24-48 hours it could be very dangerous or even perilous,” Bertagna says.

He further explains that GTX’s solution to this danger is its award-winning, patented GPS Smart Sole, which is a non-intrusive, invisible tracking device inserted into the sole of a shoe so caregivers and/or family members can track the individual via a smartphone.

“That has become our flagship product; that’s what everybody knows us for. It’s not our only product — we’re not a one-trick pony — we certainly have other products and solutions, but that’s the one that’s garnering the most attention… We’ve got a really great product for a very big global market and it’s protected with IP… We sell the product but where we make our money is on the recurring revenues,” says Bertagna, also describing the company’s target market and extensive IP portfolio.

The interview also highlights GTX’s goals for the upcoming year, which include product launches, expanding its distribution channels, implementing corporate initiatives and the development of new technologies.

“We’ve put significant resources into product development, really gearing ourselves up for 2016… we’re currently selling in 20 countries… and we want to continue developing those relationships outside of the United States,” says the CEO, before providing greater insight into the company’s strategy for increasing its distribution reach.

Concluding the interview, Bertagna explains the company’s rapidly expanding presence in the European market and its strategic partnership with Telefonica, the world’s fifth largest wireless provider, which enables GTX to provide seamless connectivity to its overseas customers.

“That is a very significant relationship with us and it has enabled us to unleash our product throughout the whole European market,” he says.

For more information about GTX Corporation, visit www.gtxcorp.com

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