On March 28, 2011, we issued an Executive Informational Overview (EIO) on WordLogic Corp. (WLGC-OTCBB). WordLogic has recently made several announcements critical to its business. On May 11, the Company announced that Dell Inc. (DELL-NASDAQ) has become an official reseller for WordLogic’s products, such as the WordLogic Predictive Keyboard. Further, on April 26, the Company issued a release stating that it had selected Kaye Scholer LLP, an international law firm, to help advise WordLogic on its portfolio of patent-protected predictive text and search-based software used in input and Internet search applications. Alan Fisch, ESQ, a partner and co-chair in the Kaye Scholer Intellectual Property Practice is expected to serve as lead counsel.

From January through November 2010, there were over 21,000 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) agreements worldwide, representing more than $1.9 trillion in total volume, which is a 12% increase compared to 2009 levels (Source: Bloomberg’s 2011 M&A Outlook, December 2010). As previous years have shown a downfall in M&A activity, reports suggest that this year could show an important change. Total volume for M&A is forecast to increase to $3 trillion in 2011 (Source: New York Times’ “M&A To Hit $3 trillion in 2011, Reports Say,” November 15, 2010).

Last week, several companies within our coverage universe released financial results and corporate updates, including CEL-SCI Corporation (CVM-NYSE Amex), Pro-Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PRWP-OTC), and Advaxis Inc. (ADXS-OTC). In addition, Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR?-NYSE Amex)? announced a breakthrough in its clinical trials that it believes could greatly influence the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease—a potentially fatal neuromuscular disorder.

Yesterday morning, Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY-NYSE) released its 2010 financial results. Among other news, the company reported that emerging markets represented €9 billion in sales for the group, accounting for 29.9% of total sales and now representing the largest contributor to sales, by region. Sanofi-Aventis has previously reported an annual growth rate of 22.8% from 2005 to 2009 in emerging markets. In 2010, the company established Hangzhou Sanofi Minsheng Consumer Healthcare Co. in order to better access the consumer healthcare market in China. Currently, Sanofi-Aventis has three manufacturing facilities in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen (Source: MedAdNews’ “Cardio Marketers Look East,” January 2011).

As we kick off the New Year, many companies within our Coverage Universe are showing a positive start to 2011. For example, Canadian biopharmaceutical company Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (BNC-TSX) recently raised A$12.5 million in Australia. Biotechnology company Xoma Ltd. (XOMA-NASDAQ) signed a development and licensing agreement potentially valued up to $505 million for an anti-inflammatory drug candidate. In addition, Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ([“ACT”] ACTC-OTC.BB), a regenerative medicine company, announced that the FDA has cleared its Investigational New Drug application (IND) to test a therapy made from embryonic stem cells in patients with macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss. Further, the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) approved the inclusion of Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.’s (PSTI-NASDAQ) ordinary shares on four TASE equity indexes: Tel-Tech, TA Composite, MidCap TA, and Biomed.

We hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe December, with happy, relaxing holidays. As 2011 approaches, a plethora of finance gurus have begun issuing their tips and recommendations for the new year. This morning alone, we’ve seen positive articles come out from Seeking Alpha (“4 Reasons Why Stocks Will Rally Again in 2011?), The Street and CNBC’s Jim Cramer, who expects the DOW to increase 16% next year, and Bloomberg News’ John Dorfman (“…Top 10 List for 2011?), among many others. But while many are optimistic over the economy for 2011, others are taking a more cautious approach, as suggested by this morning’s Business Insider article, “5 Stocks Due for a Pullback.” Netflix, Amazon, and stocks tied to the health of the Chinese market (e.g., Baidu) are addressed.

News from our coverage universe this week includes Johnson & Johnson’s bid to buy Crucell for $2.3 billion, the distribution of two of Bioniche’s cattle reproduction products in Australia, the latest advances in CEL-SCI’s Multikine^® manufacturing and laboratory operations, and the upcoming release of Peregrine’s 2Q2011 financial results.

Unilife Corp. (UNIS-NASDAQ) has recently announced its financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2010, which marked the end of the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2011. During the quarter, Unilife continued to advance the industrialization program for its Unifill™ glass-barreled, prefilled safety syringe. The Company intends to move into a new global headquarters and production facility during December 2010. As a result, supply of the Unifill™ Syringe to sanofi-aventis SA (SNY-NYSE) could begin in early 2011 (one year ahead of schedule), with high-volume manufacturing likely to be in place by the end of 2011.

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Congress established a program known as the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) to offer tax credits or grants for projects that show significant potential to produce new and cost-saving therapies, support jobs, and increase the U.S.’s competitiveness. Under the program, a total of $1 billion is allocated for credits and grants.

Several companies within our Research Library this week reported financial results, including Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PRWP-OTC), Authentidate Holding Corp. (ADAT-NASDAQ), Antares Pharma, Inc. (AIS-NYSE Amex), and Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (BNC-TSX).

Today, Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (BNC-TSX), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, announced that it was named among the Top 50 Best Small and Medium Employers in Canada. Ranked 14^th, Bioniche believes that its employees, who are also shareholders, are among the Company’s greatest assets. The rankings were determined using employee opinion surveys, an assessment of organization practices, and perspectives from the leadership team. More than 160 companies across Canada registered to participate in the study, which was conducted by the Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing, the Queen’s University School of Business, and Aon Hewitt.

Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR-NYSE Amex) announced on Monday of this week that it would begin enrolling the next group of patients into its ongoing Phase I ALS clinical trial. This trial seeks to demonstrate the safety of surgically injecting stem cells into the spinal cords of patients who are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. To date, six non-ambulatory individuals have received stem cell injections in the lumbar spinal cord, and the trial’s Safety Monitoring Board has unanimously approved enrolling the next group of patients. The trial’s next patients will be ambulatory, which represent earlier stages of the disease than have been tested thus far. Ultimately, 18 ALS patients are expected to be enrolled in the Phase I trial, which is underway at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

TapImmune Inc. (TPIV-OTC.BB), a developer of immunotherapeutics for cancer and infectious disease, yesterday provided investors with a corporate update of the Company’s progress during 2010. This year, TapImmune has announced important strategic collaborations with Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation and the Mayo Clinic. As well, the Company expects to start clinical trials in early 2011 of its immunotherapy for HER-2/neu-positive breast cancer patients. In September 2010, TapImmune strengthened its technical and strategic team through the appointments of new individuals, including Dr. Martin Cheever, a scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington. Dr. Cheever was recently awarded a $14 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network to run clinical trials of the most promising new cancer immunotherapy treatments in development. TapImmune intends to continue enhancing its corporate leadership as well as seeking further beneficial partnerships.

CEL-SCI Corporation (CVM-NYSE Amex) is advancing its Phase III clinical trial of Multikine^®, CEL-SCI’s lead immunotherapy product. Multikine^® is being developed as a first-line standard-of-care treatment for head and neck cancer. In previous Phase II trials, this therapy was safe and well-tolerated, and had increased patient survival by 33% at a median of 3.5 years after treatment. Multikine^® was also credited with eliminating head and neck cancer tumors in 12% of patients less than a month into treatment. On average, CEL-SCI’s new cancer therapy kills about 50% of tumor cells before patients have surgery or begin chemotherapy, which improves the likelihood of success of these standard treatments.