Specialist contract research organisation (CRO) Open Orphan announced on Monday that its subsidiary hVIVO has signed a £10.4mln contract with a top-five global pharmaceutical client to manufacture a new batch of H1N1 influenza challenge virus.
The AIM-listed company will develop a new influenza challenge strain then conduct a human challenge trial to test the client’s oral antiviral candidate.
Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd (LSE:RBW, OTC:RBWRF) said it entered it an agreement with OCP SA, a Moroccan state-owned producer of phosphate products, and a Moroccan university to further investigate and develop the best technique for extracting rare earth elements from phosphogypsum and then processing them into separated elements.
Phosphogypsum contains rare earths as a by-product of phosphoric acid production.
NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd (LSE:NESF) has reported a 7.2% increase in its quarterly unaudited net asset value (NAV) to 121.7p per ordinary share, a record high for the investment and asset manager.
"Today's reported NAV is the highest that NESF has ever released and it is encouraging to see that NESF's share price has started to strengthen in line with peers,” Kevin Lyon, chairman of NESF said in a quarterly NAV and operational update. “We believe the current share price continues to offer investors an attractive entry point to a compelling investment opportunity. The team at NextEnergy Capital continue to work hard to deliver NESF's outstanding performance and exciting future growth pipeline."
Power Metal Resources PLC (AIM:POW) has started reverse circulation drilling at its 100% owned Tati pold project within the Tati Greenstone Belt near Francistown, Botswana.