NA Proactive news snapshot: Auryn Resources, Esports Entertainment Group, Fireweed Zinc, PyroGenesis Canada, Pressure BioSciences UPDATE …

Roth Capital is repeating its Buy rating on Auryn Resources Inc (TSE:AUG) (NYSEAMERICAN:AUG) after the miner released a “better than expected” preliminary economic assessment on its Homestake Ridge project earlier this week. The new preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on Homestake Ridge boasts a net present value of US$108 million with an internal rate of return of 23.6% at an all-in sustaining cost of US$670 per ounce using a conservative US$1,350 per ounce gold price scenario. Roth maintained its US$3.25 price target on Vancouver-based Auryn’s stock, saying that the results “significantly exceeded” prior expectations. Esports Entertainment Group Inc (NASDAQ:GMBL) said it closed its previously announced $8.4 million public offering. The company offered 1,980,000 units — each containing one share of common stock, a Unit A warrant and a Unit B warrant — at a price of $4.25 per unit. The stock and Unit A warrants began trading on the Nasdaq on April 14, under the symbols GMBL and GMBLW, respectively. Esports received gross proceeds of around $8.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses. Fireweed Zinc Ltd (CVE:FWZ) announced the appointment of financial and mining industry veteran Peter Hemstead to the company’s board of directors. Hemstead is currently CFO of Bluestone Resources Inc, where he holds a crucial role in moving the Cerro Blanco gold project toward production. He is also a director and audit committee chair at Fiore Gold Ltd, a growth-oriented gold producer. In turn, Fireweed accepted the resignation of Richard Hajdukiewicz from the board. The company thanked Hajdukiewicz, a founder of the company, for his years of service. PyroGenesis Canada Inc (CVE:PYR) (OTCMKTS:PYRNF) said that it has received the second payment of roughly C$1.4 million from its client, waste management company Drosrite International LLC. On March 24, PyroGenesis received the first payment of C$1.4 million which kicked off a deal which licenses PyroGenesis to manufacture and sell aluminum dross processing DROSRITE systems and technology to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Aluminum dross is a byproduct of smelting, that, with treatment, can be recycled. “Due to an unprecedented number of inquiries from investors, we decided to confirm receipt of the second payment of C$1.4 million,” said PyroGenesis CEO Peter Pascali. As previously disclosed, Drosite will pay PyroGenesis around C$25 million over the first 12 months as well as C$3 million per year for the next two years, together with a variable amount for the subsequent 18 years based on certain benchmarks. Pressure BioSciences Inc (OTCQB:PBIO) announced the creation of a powerful new platform for biotherapeutic drug development made by combining its patented Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) with RedShiftBio’s Microfluidic Modulation Spectroscopy (MMS). PCT-enhanced MMS offers a workflow that allows scientists to study mechanisms of protein aggregation and perturb protein structure on demand to promote aggregation events for accelerated stability tests. This allows companies to test specific chemical formulations that stabilize the protein drug and prevent aggregation, which should ultimately result in faster-developed and higher quality drugs. Mackie Research on Thursday upped its rating on Mandalay Resources Corporation (TSE:MND) (OTCQB:MNDJF) to a Buy with an increased price target thanks to upbeat production figures from its Australian and Swedish gold operations. The Toronto-based miner produced a consolidated 25,677 saleable ounces of gold equivalent in its first quarter, up from the 21,940 ounces produced during the same three-month period a year ago. Overall, the production increase was propelled by the high-grade Youle vein at Costerfield in Australia, which saw gold production lift by 36% and antimony increase by 62% compared to the most recent quarter. As a result of what Mackie called a “fantastic start to 2020,” analysts upgraded their rating to Buy from Speculative Buy and hiked their price target to $2.75 a share from $2.15 a share. Quantum Computing Inc (OTC:QUBT), an advanced technology company developing quantum-ready applications and tools, said it is helping state and local governments with analytic solutions to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Leesburg, Virginia-based firm said it is assisting Mayor Scott Conger and the city of Jackson, in Tennessee in their fight against COVID-19 by providing advanced analytic capabilities to track and predict the spread of the disease. Paul Taylor, city council member of the city of Jackson, said Quantum is working with delayed geo-location data combined with input from local authorities to answer “complex questions regarding trends” related to the contacts, spread, and concentration of the virus. Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc (CVE:TBRD) (OTCMKTS:THRBF) said its flagship animated series The Last Kids on Earth will launch this Friday on Netflix. The series, produced by Thunderbird’s Atomic Cartoons division, will launch its second season with 10 new episodes on the streaming platform in 190 countries in 28 different languages. Earlier this year, Atomic marketed a global toy and merchandise line based off of the charaters in The Last Kids on Earth, and children’s clothes retailer Hot Topic recently debuted a collection of print-on-demand t-shirt line. Fireweed Zinc Ltd (CVE:FWZ) announced the appointment of financial and mining industry veteran Peter Hemstead to the company’s board of directors. Hemstead is currently CFO of Bluestone Resources Inc, where he holds a crucial role in moving the Cerro Blanco gold project toward production. He is also a director and audit committee chair at Fiore Gold Ltd, a growth-oriented gold producer. Before that, he served as a senior financial executive at Capstone Mining Corp, where he helped the company transition from a development-stage mining company to an intermediate producer. Co-Diagnostics Inc (NASDAQ:CODX) announced that a certified laboratory has validated a coronavirus detection (COVID-19) test based on the company’s CoPrimer technology that uses saliva samples rather than the more invasive nasal swab.  The facility, OralDNA Labs, has informed the US Food and Drug Administration that it plans to use the validated test. OralDNA is an accredited lab by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and has met the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards. Allot Ltd (NASDAQ:ALLT), the smart network intelligence solutions company, said Thursday that it has inked a slew of security deals, delivered new products, and supported customers remotely, which has boosted revenue during the first quarter despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.   For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, management expects Allot to post revenue of around $29 million, compared to $25.3 million in the first quarter of 2019. Capstone Turbine Corporation (NASDAQ:CPST), the maker of clean-energy microturbines, has announced its first 800 kilowatt (kW) C800 Signature Series order for a new and innovative biogas project in Japan. The project will utilize organic biomass in the form of agricultural and animal waste to generate clean and efficient energy for the Biokurasix Handa biogas power generation facility, Capstone said in a statement. LexaGene Holdings Inc (OTCQB:LXXGF) (CVE:LXG) said it has filed a provisional patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for expanding the testing capabilities of its pathogen-detecting LX Analyzer technology, which includes coronavirus (COVID-19) and other clinical lab testing. The company plans to launch its flagship LX Analyzer in the third quarter with an eye on decentralized testing facilities in the clinical, veterinary, and food safety markets.  Mineworx Technologies Ltd (CVE:MWX) (OTCQB:MWXRF) is pairing up with a US recycling company to advance catalytic converter recycling, it told shareholders on Thursday. The Surrey, British Columbia-based company said it has signed a letter of intent with Tennessee’s Davis Recycling Inc to develop, build and operate a commercial pilot plant to recover platinum group metals from catalytic converters. Codebase Ventures Inc (CSE:CODE) (OTCQB:BKLLF) announced on Thursday that it has finalized a definitive agreement securing the rights to an innovative drug delivery system for hydroxychloroquine that could have a positive impact on the current global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The early-stage investor said it is "actively pursuing" pharmaceutical opportunities for hydroxychloroquine, a drug that has been touted by President Donald Trump as a "game changer" for coronavirus patients. Champignon Brands Inc (CSE:SHRM) (OTCMKTS:SHRMF) has appointed Jim Bailey, the former president of Red Bull Canada, to its special advisory committee. Vancouver-based Champignon said Bailey will champion the marketing, distribution and commercialization of the company’s Novoformulations-branded novel delivery systems for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and psychedelic medicine industries. Loop Insights Inc (CVE:MTRX), a provider of transformative artificial intelligence solutions, has named Teresa Taylor to its board of advisors. The Vancouver company noted that Taylor, a long-time resident of Ferndale, Washington, is deeply involved in local and tribal governments. She is also the owner/manager of Strategic Development Northwest LLC, including a retail business. Most recently, she served a four-year term on the Ferndale City Council and is currently a member of the executive board for the Washington State Democrats, representing the 1st Congressional District.  GR Silver Mining Ltd (CVE:GRSL) (OTCQB:GLYXF) is boosting its board with the addition of veteran mining analyst Eric Zaunscherb. Zaunscherb, a trained geologist, has over 32 years of experience as a mining analyst and most recently served as Managing Director, Research – Metals & Mining Analyst at Canaccord Genuity. Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) has said it will host a conference call on May 12, 2020 at 4.30pm EDT (2.30pm MDT) to report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, and provide an update on recent corporate highlights. To participate in the conference call, please dial 1 (833) 729-4776 (inside the US) or 1 (830) 213-7701 (outside the US) and reference the access code 9973468# or through the event weblink. The archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of Gevo's website at www.gevo.com. Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQCM:GMBL) (NASDAQCM:GMBLW), a licensed online gambling company with a focus on esports wagering and 18+ gaming, announced that its CEO, Grant Johnson is participating as an industry panel expert in Eventus International’s “The Convergence of Gambling and eSports” webinar on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 8.00am ET (12:.00pm GMT). The group said  “The Convergence of Gambling and eSports” webinar is expected to be a lively debate exploring the ultimate merger of two powerhouse industries: gambling and eSports. It said Johnson will be joined in the discussion by moderator Keith McDonnell, CEO of KMigaming, as well as James Coxon, Business Development Director at SBTech, and Marek Suchar, Head of Partnerships at Oddin. To register for the webinar, click here. Valens GroWorks Corp. (TSX:VLNS) (OTCQX:VLNCF) - which has rebranded as The Valens Company - a global leader in the end-to-end development and manufacturing of innovative, cannabinoid-based products, announced that its common shares and certain warrants have commenced trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols "VLNS" and "VLNS.WT," at which time they were delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange. Information Services Corporation (TSX:ISV) has advised shareholders that due to the current public health restrictions arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic containment effort and in consideration of the safety and well-being of its employees and other stakeholders, it's board of directors has postponed the company’s Annual and Special Meeting which was scheduled for May 13, 2020. The group said that shareholders will be advised of further details regarding the rescheduled meeting date in a separate notice. The International Speculator, in its March 26, 2020, issue has said 'buy' Pure Gold Mining Inc. (CVE:PGM) (LON:PUR) (OTCMKTS:LRTNF) at 61 cents, and up to 75 cents. Previously, on September 23, 2019, the newsletter said 'buy' Pure Gold at 58 cents. Assuming an investment of $1,000 at that date, the holding is worth $1,041. The new ‘buy’ comes without elaboration. OTC Markets Group Inc (OTCQX:OTCM) said that it featured Kannalife Inc (OTCQB:KLFE) CEO Dean Petkanas on its OTCQB Podcast to discuss the role of the cannabinoid industry in battling the opioid epidemic. In the podcast, Petkanas explained how the company’s patented lead drug candidate, KLS-13019, may reduce the use of opioids in the treatment of neuropathic pain. While opioids are considered the standard of care to treat neuropathic pain in the US, Petkanas spoke of the company’s published preclinical results showing that KLS-13019 may be a viable non-addictive, non-opioid option to prevent and reverse neuropathic pain. Additional research results have shown that KLS-13019 showed little to no inhibition to six known human opioid targets, whereas CBD did show marked and significant inhibition to the same opioid targets. Antibe Therapeutics (CVE:ATE) (OTCMKTS:ATBPF) CEO Dan Legault will be appear in an innovation-related interview on Bloomberg TV in the United States at 5 pm Eastern Time, on Saturday, Apr 18. The company said the interview will also air on BNN in Canada at time still not confirmed so far.