ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: RNN) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today the initiation of a Phase IIa clinical proof-of-concept trial to study the safety and efficacy of Archexin® in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Archexin was previously granted Orphan Drug Designation for the RCC indication.

The Phase IIa Archexin proof-of-concept clinical trial is a multi-center study designed to evaluate the efficacy of Archexin in combination with everolimus (Afinitor®) to treat metastatic RCC patients and will be conducted in two stages. Stage 1 will be dose ranging with up to 3 cohorts of 3 RCC patients to determine its maximum tolerated dose in combination with everolimus. Based on previous clinical data the target dose of Archexin is anticipated to be no more than 250 mg/m2 per day. The decision to enroll the next group of patients and escalate the dose will be made after completion of the first 21 day cycle of treatment. Patient assessments will include safety, pharmacokinetics, laboratory and physical exams. Once the maximum tolerated dose of Archexin in combination with everolimus has been determined, thirty RCC patients will be randomized to either Archexin in combination with everolimus or everolimus alone, in a ratio of 2:1.

The primary endpoint will be the percentage of progression free patients following eight cycles of therapy. Patients will be scanned (CT or MRI) for the assessment of tumor progression after every 2 cycles of therapy. Secondary endpoints include pharmacokinetic profile, incidence of adverse events, changes in clinical laboratory tests and vital signs over time, tumor response, duration of response, time to response, and response rate. Exploratory endpoints will include blood levels of AKT pathway biomarkers, tumor apoptosis biomarkers or other relevant biomarkers.

Peter D. Suzdak, Ph.D., Rexahn’s Chief Executive Officer commented, “The start of the Phase IIa clinical-proof-of-concept trial in RCC patients represents an important milestone for the Archexin clinical development program. The combination of strong scientific data, unmet clinical need, and our Orphan Drug Designation were all driving factors for choosing this indication.”

Archexin is a specific inhibitor of the cancer cell signaling protein Akt-1. The activated form of Akt-1 (phospho-Akt-1) has been shown to be involved in cancer cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Phospho-Akt-1 has been shown to be significantly increased in more than 12 different human cancer cell lines including human renal cell carcinoma cells. Archexin has shown to inhibit the growth of human RCC cells in tissue culture and produce a substantial survival benefit in animal xenograft models of RCC. Archexin also exhibits additive anti-tumor effect when combined with other cancer drugs in inhibiting the growth of human RRC cells in tissue culture. In addition, resistance to the anti-cancer effects of clinically used mTOR inhibitors such as everolimus (Afinitor®), which is used as second line therapy in RCC patients, has been attributed to an increase in Akt-1 activity. Thus, treatment with Archexin may both inhibit the growth/proliferation of RCC and overcome the resistance to mTOR inhibitors such as everolimus, resulting in an increase in efficacy.

Dr. Neeraj Agarwal MD, Director, GU Medical Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, “The treatment of patients with metastatic RCC remains a significant unmet medical need. Selective Akt-1 inhibition represents a very promising new mechanism for the treatment of metastatic RCC. The potential to both inhibit the growth of RCC cells and affect the underlying mechanism responsible for the development of tolerance to second line therapies such as everolimus is very promising.”

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwired – Jan 14, 2014) – SmartMetric, Inc. (OTCQB: SMME), a developer of patented payment card technology and in-card biometric products, announced today that its soon-to-launch SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card, the world’s first biometric, fingerprint secured, off-line storage platform for bitcoins, will enable in-person Peer-to-Peer (P2P) transfer of bitcoins through its payment card.

“We believe our card will be the world’s first to enable in-person, P2P transfer of bitcoins through a payment card. This is made possible by our patented nano-computing technology that puts the power of PC’s computing capacity onto a payment card. Bitcoins can be stored and transferred, all on the card, and with a level biometric fingerprint security never before possible. We’re very excited about the possibilities for bitcoin use and adoption powered by SmartMetric’s nano-computing and biometric security capabilities,” stated SmartMetric President and CEO Chaya Hendrick.

The SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card has taken a quantum leap beyond smartcards. This is an intelligent card that combines patented nano-computing technology, an internal ARM 9 processor, processing power equal that of a PC, and up to 128 gigabytes of memory, matching the maximum memory capacity of current iPads.

The card comes equipped with a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, which is the key to enabling the in-person P2P transaction. NFC chips are used in smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them into proximity. Cards are able to be connected to a computers USB or following the fingerprint scan and subsequent activation of the NFC (Near Field Communication) chip following the match of the card holders fingerprint, the SmartMetric bitcoin card can communicate directly with NFC smartphones and tablets. In order to protect the card owners privacy their fingerprint is stored inside the card and never leaves the card.

Bitcoins have grown to a global circulation of $11 billion driven by the digital currency’s appeal as a P2P currency without a central bank, financial institution, or central server at its core. SmartMetric takes bitcoin one step further by enabling in-person P2P transfers through a payment card. The SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card is slated for launch during the first quarter of 2014.

About SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card

The SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card is the world’s first biometric, fingerprint secured, off-line storage platform for bitcoins. The card offers the benefits of bitcoins such as peer-to-peer transactions and card-to-card direct bitcoin sending anywhere in the world, while enabling real-time, in-person standard payment transactions at merchants and compatibility with standard ATMs around the world. Advanced patented payments card technology combines with the world’s first fingerprint technology to use the cardholder’s unique biometrics to lock and unlock the SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card, providing safety and discrete portability.

WILMINGTON, Mass., Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Implant Sciences Corporation (IMSC), a high technology supplier of systems and sensors for homeland security and defense markets, announced today that Mercury Air Cargo, a division of the Mercury Air Group, has placed a follow-on order for the QS-B220™ desktop explosives trace detector (ETD), after having already purchased and deployed the QS-B220 in June. Mercury is deploying its QS-B220 systems at its air cargo screening facility at Los Angeles International Airport, one of the highest volume airports in the world.

“At Mercury Air Cargo, we are honored to work with some of the biggest names in the sky. These companies look to us because of our strong reputation and experience in cargo handling and screening. As such, having an ETD system that provides a low-cost, easy-to-use solution is of the utmost importance,” said Darrin Naughton, ICSF Cargo Security Manager at Mercury Air Cargo. “We are pleased to work with Implant Sciences, and have been impressed by their training, service, and support team.”

“Having a non-radioactive source was another important factor for Mercury and our QS-B220 is the only TSA-qualified ETD that offers this benefit. The ease of use and smaller number of consumables required relative to competing products were other factors that drove the customer’s repeat purchase decision,” commented Implant Sciences’ VP of Sales and Marketing, Darryl Jones. “We look forward to a long-term relationship with Mercury Air Cargo.”

Mercury Air Cargo is a TSA Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF), and as such is required to use TSA qualified systems when screening air cargo packages for explosives before they are loaded onto airplanes.

About the QS-B220 Desktop Explosives Trace Detector

The QS-B220 uses Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) to rapidly detect and identify trace amounts of a wide variety of military, commercial, and homemade explosives. With significantly lower maintenance requirements than competing systems, the QS-B220 can be deployed for a much lower total cost of ownership than other approved products. Featuring a radioactive material-free design, push-button maintenance and diagnostics, and a patented inCal™ internal automatic calibration system, the QS-B220 brings new levels of performance and convenience to desktop trace detection users with unsurpassed ease of use.

About Implant Sciences

Implant Sciences is the leader in next generation Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) technology. In January 2013, the Company became only the third ETD manufacturer, and the sole American-owned company, to have product approval from the US Transportation Security Administration. Implant Sciences has developed proprietary technologies used in its commercial explosives and drugs trace detection systems, which ship to a growing number of locations domestically and internationally. Implant Sciences’ QS-H150 portable explosives trace detector has received Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology Designation and, in addition to receiving TSA qualification for air cargo screening, the Company’s QS-B220 has also received STAC certification, a Developmental Testing & Evaluation (DT&E) Designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology Act of 2002 (the SAFETY Act), and the GSN 2013 Homeland Security Award for “Best Explosives Detection Solution”. For further details on the Company and its products, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.implantsciences.com.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwired – Jan 10, 2014) – SmartMetric, Inc. (OTCQB: SMME), a developer of patented biometric products, announced today it has developed and will soon launch the SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card, the world’s first biometric, fingerprint secured, off-line storage platform for bitcoins.

“SmartMetric’s bitcoin card can significantly accelerate the growth and rate of adoption for bitcoins as the new global currency. By applying our patented biometric technologies to a bitcoin payment card, we offer the world’s first fingerprint-secured method to safely store and use bitcoins,” stated SmartMetric President and CEO Chaya Hendrick.

The SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card uses the Company’s patented biometric fingerprint technology, the world’s smallest fingerprint reader. The card offers the benefits of bitcoins such as peer-to-peer transactions and card-to-card direct bitcoin sending anywhere in the world, while enabling real-time, in-person standard payment transactions at merchants and compatibility with standard ATMs around the world. Advanced patented fingerprint technology uses the cardholder’s unique biometrics to lock and unlock the SmartMetric Biometric Bitcoin Card, providing safety and discrete portability.

Bitcoins are becoming more widely used around the world, driven by government non-intervention and merchant and consumer demand. In the U.S., Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently sent a letter to the Senate noting that bitcoin may “hold long-term promise… if the innovations promote a faster, more secure and more efficient payment system.” Japan, Germany, and Singapore have also recently taken an open stance on bitcoin, choosing to keep the digital currency unregulated for the time being.

According to www.blockchain.info there are an estimated 12 million bitcoins in circulation today. With Bitcoins trading at approximately $925 per bitcoin on January 6, 2013, there is an estimated $11 billion worth of bitcoins in circulation.

About SmartMetric

SmartMetric, Inc. (OTCQB: SMME) develops patented biometric technologies used for security and identification, including the world’s smallest fingerprint reader. The Company’s proprietary advanced miniature electronics technology uses sub-micro computers to create fingerprint and security applications that were not previously possible. The world’s smallest fingerprint reader is designed to fit inside standard payments cards as well as ID cards. Because of the miniature size of the electronics it is ideal for use in a broad array of products requiring an enhanced identification system. SmartMetric’s products include biometric credit card and biometric debit card technologies, a medical emergency biometric card, and a MedicalKeyring™. For information on SmartMetric and its technology please go to www.smartmetric.com.