Market Highlights: Federal Reserve Rate Cut, Record Russell Rally, Top Stocks & IPO Watch – 9/17/25 – ( $AAPL $EPRX $MCD $MODD $OPEN $TDOC $TSLA Rise!)

By John F. Heerdink, Jr.

U.S. stocks settled near record highs in subdued trading as the Federal Reserve delivered its long-awaited first interest rate cut of 2025. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% to 6,600.35, while the Dow climbed 0.57% (up 260 points) to 46,018.32 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq finished off 0.33% at 22,261.33. The Russell 2000 surged intraday, crossing its first record since 2021, but ultimately closed up modestly by .18% to 2,407.34, buoyed by revived appetite for small caps as rate cut hopes broadened the recent rally,

Macroeconomic Reports

Economic data today painted a mixed picture. The ISM Manufacturing PMI for August remained in contraction at 48.7, underscoring ongoing factory weakness, whereas the S&P Global Services PMI posted 52.3, suggesting moderate expansion. Building permits and housing starts figures were released where U.S. single-family homebuilding fell significantly in August by 7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 890k in a sea of unsold new homes, but proved secondary to the Fed announcement. Markets also noted continued divergence between manufacturing softness and services’ resilience amid persistent inflation concerns. Stable energy prices helped contain headline CPI, but supply bottlenecks remain a drag on some sectors. Overall, investors focused primarily on the Fed’s policy pivot.

Federal Reserve, Yield Curve & Interest Rates

The Federal Open Market Committee lowered its policy rate by a quarter point to a 4%–4.25% range, the first such cut since late 2024, while emphasizing the persistence of above-target inflation and moderating job gains. Policymakers’ “dot plot” reinforced their cautious stance, anticipating roughly two additional quarter-point cuts by the end of 2025, with a strong focus on balancing inflation against a softening labor market. The 2-year Treasury yield closed at 3.559%, and the 10-year declined to 4.086%, slightly flattening the curve. Markets will be digesting Chair Powell’s forward guidance in coming sessions.

Gold, Silver, Oil and Bitcoin

Gold traded to$3,693.90/oz, .84% as investors hedged bets post-FOMC, while silver closed at $42/oz, -2.15%.
Oil (WTI) settled at approximately $64.07/barrel,-.70% as OPEC signals and inventory data competed with currency and global macro narratives.
Bitcoin (BTC) traded to $115,970, -.96%.

Blue Chip & Tech Stock Highlights

Apple (AAPL):
Apple shares showed modest gains closing at $238.99, +.35% as initial preorder demand for the new iPhone 17 line appeared robust, especially for higher-end models. Nonetheless, future growth is clouded by concerns over margin pressures from U.S. tariffs on China-sourced components, increased regulatory scrutiny of the App Store, and debates about whether AI integration can reinvigorate its upgrade cycles. A recent analyst downgrade cited muted near-term innovation, even as Apple’s services and hardware businesses remain resilient.

Broadcom (AVGO):
Broadcom shares fell over 3% following news that Chinese regulators directed major tech firms to halt orders of certain U.S. AI chips—a move triggered by wider trade tensions and regulatory efforts to bolster domestic industry. AVGO, which recently posted record Q3 results on strong AI-driven demand, is now trading just below recent highs, with volatility following sector-wide weakness in semiconductors.

NVIDIA (NVDA):
NVIDIA dropped 2.60% to $170.29 after China banned top tech companies from buying its new AI chips, raising concerns about its position in a lucrative market. The company acknowledged ongoing U.S.–China trade friction but maintains robust global demand. CEO Jensen Huang stated the firm “can only serve a market if a country wishes for us to do so”, underscoring the tense geopolitical backdrop.

Tesla (TSLA):
Tesla shares charged higher closing at $425.86/share, +1.01% now up +28.83% over the last month. Momentum was fueled by Elon Musk’s surprise $1 billion share purchase, ongoing AI/robotics developments, and production ramp-up at its German plant. Musk’s renewed leadership focus has bolstered investor confidence, helping the stock recover from earlier year lows despite lingering competitive and margin pressures.

Meta Platforms (META):
Meta continued to ride post-earnings optimism after a blockbuster Q2; the stock closed at $775.72, -.42% as aggressive AI integration powered a 22% jump in revenue and strong ad platform results. The Meta Connect event today showcased new smart glasses and AI-first strategies, with broad investor enthusiasm despite sectoral concerns about AI-related capital expenses.

McDonald’s (MCD, $304.97, +.55%):
McDonald’s introduced a major policy overhaul in Japan for Happy Meal promotions to curb food waste and scalping after summer toy frenzies. In the U.S., the chain announced a $200 million seven-year investment to help American ranchers adopt regenerative practices, underscoring its commitment to supply chain sustainability. The firm also welcomed new senior executives this week.

Intel (INTC):
Intel close at $24.90, -2.46%. Investor optimism is growing as management focuses on cost efficiency, monetizing non-core assets, and attracting new capital, signaling a promising, if cautious, pivot under renewed leadership.

MongoDB (MDB, $315.38,-3.66%):
MongoDB unveiled next-generation AI functionality at its developer event, launching vector search and full-text search for self-managed platforms. The company reported robust customer and revenue growth, driven by deepening AI integration—a trend expected to further accelerate enterprise adoption.

Oracle (ORCL):
Oracle closed down 1.71% at $301.41 after its recent AI-led rally, with shares advancing on cloud momentum and strong forward bookings. The company remains central to ongoing U.S.–China negotiations over TikTok, and its role as TikTok’s cloud provider provided additional tailwinds. Recent accolades include being named a global leader in loan origination by IDC.

Opendoor (OPEN):
Opendoor shares rallied closing at $10.21, +14.46% after the company announced nationwide expansion plans in the U.S., leveraging new leadership and innovative options for home selling. The stock saw increased volatility, driven by high short interest and retail investor buzz.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR):
Palantir declined 1.13% to $168.33 as investors locked in profits after a stellar run—up over 350% this year—bolstered by major U.S. Army contracts and robust revenue growth. Despite short-term volatility, Palantir’s new government and industrial wins keep long-term growth prospects strong.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO, $62.99, -.71%):
Rio Tinto is undergoing a structural overhaul under new CEO Simon Trott, consolidating core divisions and initiating strategic reviews of non-core mineral assets amid lower profits and weak prices in iron ore and lithium. Reorganization aims to boost efficiencies while dealing with ongoing market challenges.

Eli Lilly (LLY, $760.13, -.60%):
Eli Lilly advanced yesterday after unveiling a $5 billion investment in a new Virginia manufacturing plant focused on cancer therapies, expanding domestic production in response to potential pharma tariffs. Clinical updates highlighted the company’s experimental GLP-1 pill outperforming a key Novo Nordisk competitor, further reinforcing its innovation pipeline.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and IPOs

No significant S&P 500 buyouts or mergers were announced today. In IPO news, online ticketing giant StubHub (STUB) debuted on the NYSE at $25.35 per share, raising $800 million after pricing at $23.50, in a sign of improving risk appetite for tech listings following earlier postponements due to tariff-related volatility, however shares closed lower art 22, -6.38%.

Tariff & Trade Developments

U.S. tariff headlines remained active as President Trump’s administration doubled import duties on Indian goods—aimed at providing leverage in ongoing U.S.-India and U.S.-China trade talks. Active litigation regarding reciprocal and emergency tariffs moves through the courts, with key decisions expected later in the fall. U.S. pharma firms, including Eli Lilly, announced expanded domestic investment as hedge against potential drug import duties.

Vista Partners Watchlist Highlights & Updates

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (EPRX, $5.38, +.94% and is up +69.72% YTD) is clinical-stage biotechnology firm headquartered in Victoria, Canada, that is leveraging its proprietary Diffusphere™ technology designed to optimize local, controlled drug delivery for applications with significant unmet need & has quietly become one of the more intriguing stories on both sides of the border in 2025. The company’s shares now trade under the ticker EPRX on both the Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange, following its U.S. market debut in April 2024. This dual listing has broadened its investor base at a time when the company’s clinical and financial narrative is gaining momentum. All covering analysts currently rate the stock as a “Buy” or better, with not a single “Hold” or “Sell” recommendation in sight. In a sector defined by binary outcomes and frequent disappointment, such unanimity is striking. Overall, analysts cite Eupraxia’s strong clinical pipeline and revenue growth potential as key drivers behind their bullish outlook.

On Sept. 2, Eupraxia announced additional positive clinical data from its ongoing Phase 1b/2a RESOLVE trial evaluating EP-104GI for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (“EoE”), including the first clinical data measured 52 weeks after patients were treated with EP-104GI. Dr. James A. Helliwell, Chief Executive Officer of Eupraxia stated, “We believe the prolonged duration of symptom response that we are seeing with EP-104GI is truly a unique clinical result and will potentially provide a once-a-year therapy to patients with EoE. And overall, we continue to see that the more drug we deliver to the tissues, the better the results. Independent market research has shown that the majority of patients with EoE undergo a routine endoscopy at least once a year to monitor the progress of their disease, which is also consistent with national guidelines. Based on this, leading KOLs in EoE see a potential treatment regimen where EP-104GI is administered during this routine annual procedure, in contrast to current standards of care which are inconvenient and involve swallowing oral steroids daily or injecting themselves weekly with a biologic. As a result, we believe EP-104GI has the potential to significantly enhance the current standard of care for patients with EoE. We look forward to reporting additional 12-month data from a larger patient set later this year.”

On August 12, Eupraxia announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025 and provided a business update. All dollar values are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise. Dr. James A. Helliwell, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eupraxia, stated, “The expansion into the placebo-controlled, Phase 2b portion of the RESOLVE trial represents a key clinical milestone for Eupraxia, as we seek to advance EP-104GI for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. Recent data updates support the potential of EP-104GI as a durable treatment option. In the most recent data update, all three patients demonstrated a sustained or improved treatment outcome after nine months of therapy. We look forward to announcing more results from the Phase 1b/2a portion of the RESOLVE trial in October. As we continue to survey the treatment landscape for EoE, we are increasingly confident in the potential of EP-104GI to fundamentally transform the therapeutic management of EoE. We are off to a strong start with respect to enrollment in the Phase 2b study and we are looking forward to reporting topline results in the second half of 2026.”

On July 24, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Eurpaxia with an Overweight rating and a $11 Price Target. Their report is titled “Set It and Forget It” Approach to EOE & Beyond.” Here are the other analysts that cover Eupraxia currently:

HC Wainwright: Initiated Covrage on EPRX with a “Strong Buy” on June 26, 2025.
Canaccord Genuity: Initiated coverage with a “Speculative Buy” rating in June 2025.
Raymond James Ltd.: Maintains a “Strong Buy” rating as of June 2025, with a history of upgrades from “Outperform” to “Strong Buy” over the past year.
Research Capital Corporation: Maintains a “Buy” rating, consistently reaffirming its positive stance throughout 2024 and 2025.

Eupraxia announced on July 8 that the first patient dosed in their Phase 2b randomized, placebo-controlled portion of the RESOLVE clinical trial evaluating EP-104GI, an investigational treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (“EoE”). EP-104GI is injected directly into the affected tissues of the esophagus to reduce inflammation with stable, localized, and long-duration drug delivery, while minimizing unwanted systemic adverse events and side effects often associated with steroid-based therapies. The Phase 2b portion of the RESOLVE study will enroll a minimum of 60 participants randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive one of two doses of EP-104GI or placebo. After six months, eligible patients initially dosed with placebo may elect to receive EP-104GI. The primary objective is to assess the efficacy of EP-104GI in improving tissue health, as measured by the Eosinophilic Esophagitis Histology Scoring System (“EoEHSS”). Secondary and exploratory objectives include evaluating symptomatic improvement through patient-reported outcomes — Straumann Dysphagia Index score (SDI) and Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ), endoscopic and histologic changes (including Peak Eosinophil Count, “PEC”), pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of the selected dose regimens. Up to 25 sites globally are expected to participate in the trial.The Phase 2b portion of the study employs an innovative adaptive design to select the doses of EP-104GI that are administered to patients. The first active dose selection was based on available data from cohorts 1 to 8 of the Phase 2a portion of the study. Based on the previously reported safety, pharmacokinetic, and efficacy data from cohorts 1 to 6, and additional one month data from cohorts 7 and 8, the 120 mg dose (20 injections of 6 mg per site) from cohort 8 was selected for the first treatment arm in the dose optimization phase. A second dose will be selected for evaluation after enrollment in the first arm is complete, based on additional long-term data from the Phase 2a portion of the study. James Helliwell, CEO of Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals stated, “Entering into the Phase 2b stage of the RESOLVE trial is a significant event for Eupraxia. This is an important step for us before proceeding towards the pivotal trials necessary for submitting an application for regulatory approval. We are optimistic that EP-104GI has the potential to significantly advance the standard of care and offer a meaningful new treatment paradigm for patients living with EoE.”

Tribe Public hosted a CEO Presentation and Q&A Webinar Event on Wednesday, May 14th with James A. Helliwell, Director and CEO of Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: EPRX). The event is titled “Hard To Swallow: An Underdiagnosed Condition Rising To Surface (EOE).” You may view it now at https://youtu.be/tCtY_27EJG4?si=0PJIp-oyGDEpzxzR

Modular Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: MODD, $.7252, +3.64%) is an insulin delivery technology company with the first FDA-cleared patch pump designed specifically to target the estimated $3 billion dollar adult “almost-pumpers” market with its user-friendly and affordable design. Using its patented technologies, the company seeks to eliminate the tradeoff between complexity and efficacy, thereby making top quality insulin delivery both affordable and simple to learn. Their mission is to improve access to the highest standard of glycemic control for people with diabetes taking it beyond “superusers” and providing “diabetes care for the rest of us.” Modular Medical was founded by Paul DiPerna, a seasoned medical device professional and microfluidics engineer. Prior to founding Modular Medical, Mr. DiPerna was the founder (in 2005) of Tandem Diabetes and invented and designed its t:slim insulin pump. More information is available at https://modular-medical.com.

On Sept. 15, Modular Medical announced Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) approval to conduct an in-house feasibility study of its next-generation Pivot insulin delivery system using sterile saline (the “Study”). Pursuant to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) regulations, an IRB is a group that has been formally designated to review and monitor biomedical research involving human subjects. The Study will simulate real-world conditions by delivering sterile saline to adult participants for up to 90 days to gather critical data on device usability, extended wear performance and user feedback.

On September 11, Modular Medical announced the successful completion of a clinical study with the MODD1 pump. The MODD1 was worn by nine clinicians with Type 1diabetes who currently wear a continuous glucose monitor (“CGM”) and other pumps to provide the Company with real-world experience and feedback to make further refinements for the launch of its next-generation Pivot pump product. This MODD1 study was conducted to test and refine its ease of use for converting multiple daily injectors to this system and will continue as we prepare for the Pivot launch.

On August 26, Modular Medical announced that the MODD1 product cartridge production run has been completed and its manufacturing line is being converted to production for its Pivot product.“I want to congratulate our operational team for the successful validation of our MODD1 manufacturing process and production of human use cartridges,” said Jeb Besser, CEO of Modular Medical. “We will now begin converting our cartridge line to Pivot production, and we expect it to be ready to produce cartridges for our Pivot product upon receipt of clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”). We expect to submit the Pivot product to the FDA for clearance in October 2025. The Pivot will be the first tubeless, removable 3 milliliter patch to be available to the consumer when it is cleared. Along with these features, the ability to scale production is a key differentiator in the pump space, especially given the much higher volumes required for a patch pump. Modular Medical’s simple, low-cost platform was designed from the ground up for high volume manufacturing.”

On August 8, Modular Medical announced its participation at the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (“ADCES”) Conference, which is being held in Phoenix, Arizona from August 8 to August 11, 2025. With over 11,000 members, the ADCES is a national network of diabetes care and education specialists working to optimize clinical outcomes for people with diabetes. “The ADCES conference is an ideal location for us to showcase our next-generation patch pump, branded as Pivot, for which we plan to file for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) clearance in October 2025. Diabetes care and education specialists are crucial in offering and prescribing pumps to achieve improved clinical outcomes, and we believe they will appreciate the user-friendly design of the Pivot pump and our focus on making diabetes care simpler to learn and manage for our targeted audience of Almost Pumpers,” stated Jeb Besser, CEO of Modular Medical. Modular Medical will also showcase the first playable level of the new Pivot pump gamified training module, which is being developed by Level Ex. Level Ex (powered by Relevate) is the developer of numerous medical games, including Level One, a game designed to teach the basics of caring for diabetes. Level One is endorsed by Breakthrough T1D, a leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. Gamification has been proven to make medical training more effective, be more efficient for the clinician and dramatically improve retention of knowledge. Complexity, including support for technology, is a key issue in pump uptake and continues to serve as a barrier to adoption, impacting both the patient and provider.

On August 6, Modular Medical, Inc. announced the first human use of the MODD1 pump to deliver insulin to a person with diabetes in a real-world setting. The MODD1 is delivering insulin to a clinician with Type 1 under institutional review board approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration, which is necessary because the reusable controller line is being validated for human use.

On August 4, Modular Medical announced that the MODD1 cartridge line has been validated for human-use production in the United States. “This is an important milestone for scaling up our manufacturing infrastructure to support our commercial pilot for MODD1 and, eventually, our 3ml Pivot tubeless patch pump launch,” stated Jeb Besser, CEO of Modular Medical. “While we encountered significant delays with the initial shipment of equipment for the manufacturing line to our contract manufacturing site in Mexico, all equipment for the controller line has been installed and validation is underway. We continue to target controller line validation in October for MODD1 with the commercial pilot for MODD1 to follow immediately thereafter.” The ability to scale production is a key differentiator in the pump space, especially given the much higher volumes required for a patch pump. Modular Medical’s simple, low-cost platform was designed from the ground up for high volume manufacturing.

On June 16, Modular Medical announced its participation in the American Diabetes Association (“ADA”) 85th Scientific Sessions, that took place June 20-23, 2025, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Company featured a poster, number 783-P, titled “Elucidating the potential benefit of pump-delivered subcutaneous GLP-1R agonist: an exploratory study in the diet-induced obese mouse,” to be presented by David Maggs, MD, FRCP during the General Poster Session on Sunday, June 22, 2025, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm in the Poster Hall. The presentation highlighted data from an exploratory study evaluating the effects of pump-delivery of a short-acting GLP-1RA on weight, food intake, and glucose tolerance in a diet-induced obese (“DIO”) mouse.“We are excited to share our findings from this novel study in the DIO mouse comparing the pump delivery of exenatide to intermittent dosing of semaglutide,” said Jeb Besser, CEO of Modular Medical. “Given the high rate of gastrointestinal tolerability challenges and resultant discontinuation that is characteristic of GLP-1 therapy, we believe that a personalized approach to GLP-1 titration and dosing, including a mealtime bolus option, would give patients an opportunity to reach their treatment goals, while experiencing easier therapy initiation and a more tolerable maintenance regimen.”

After the close May 28, Modular Medical announced the appointment of Jeff Goldberg to its Board of Directors. Mr. Goldberg brings decades of experience in health care, life sciences, and medical device leadership, including development of generic insulin. Mr. Goldberg began his work in medical technology alongside pioneering medical entrepreneur, and founder of MiniMed, Alfred E. Mann. Mr. Goldberg currently serves as Chairman of Lannett Company, Inc., a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer where he has helped execute a post-restructuring turnaround. During his tenure, Lannett has made significant strides in launching a generic insulin product – progress that aligns closely with Modular Medical’s commitment to innovation and affordability in diabetes care. In addition to his work at Lannett, Mr. Goldberg previously served as President and CEO within Alfred E. Mann’s incubator, IncuMed, where he oversaw multiple portfolio companies focused on drug-device combination products, including an insulin patch-pump program. His tenure with Mr. Mann’s enterprises included pivotal roles in regulatory strategy, operations turnaround, and successful exits, underscoring his ability to guide early-stage technologies to commercial viability. Mr. Goldberg also serves on the boards of several health-care and consumer-focused companies, including ATI Physical Therapy, Cano Health, and Eating Recovery Centers. He holds a JD from UCLA School of Law and an AB from Harvard College. Mr. Goldberg stated, “Modular Medical is advancing a truly disruptive approach to insulin delivery. I’m excited to join the board and contribute to the Company’s journey toward simplifying treatment for people living with diabetes, particularly as the industry shifts toward more accessible and patient-friendly solutions.”

Shares of ADT Inc. (ADT, $8.61, -.81%) is a leading provider of monitored security and automation solutions for residential and small business customers in the United States and Canada.

ADT released Q1, 2025 results on Thursday, April 24 and highlighted the following: Continued strong financial results with record recurring monthly revenue and customer retention, GAAP operating cash flows up 28%, Adjusted Free Cash Flow including interest rate swaps up 105%, Returned $445 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, and that they are on track to achieve full year 2025 guidance metrics.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX, $.68, -2.48%) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases.

On Sept. 15, GeoVax Labs showcased positive interim results for its lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate, GEO-CM04S1 at the XXI International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL 2025) in Krakow, Poland.

On Sept. 12. GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX) discussed positive interim clinical results for its lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate, GEO-CM04S1, presented at the 6th ESCMID Conference on Vaccines in Lisbon, Portugal.

On Sept. 8, GeoVax Labs announced that its Chief Medical Officer and clinical collaborators will present data highlighting the cross-variant antibody and robust cellular immune responses induced by the Company’s next-generation COVID-19 vaccine (GEO-CM04S1) in immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies at two upcoming scientific meetings in September.

On Sept. 3, GeoVax announced that its Chairman and CEO, David Dodd, will present a company overview and host investor meetings during the H.C. Wainwright 27th Annual Global Investment Conference, taking place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City, September 8-10, 2025. A webcast of Mr. Dodd’s presentation will be available beginning at 7:00 am ET on Monday, September 8, during which he will discuss recent progress and upcoming milestones across GeoVax’s pipeline.

On August 20, GeoVax Labs announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 17/888,131, titled “Vaccines and Uses Thereof to Induce an Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2.” The allowed claims broadly cover recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) viral vectors encoding multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins – including Spike (S), Membrane (M), and Envelope (E) antigens – configured to generate virus-like particles (VLPs) upon expression. These constructs are designed to induce both antibody and T-cell responses, providing durable and broad immune protection against current and emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.

On August 7, GeoVax Labs today issued a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to terminate nearly $500 million in BARDA-funded mRNA vaccine development contracts. This action reflects a policy shift, underscored by HHS Secretary Kennedy addressing fundamental concerns around mRNA vaccines. In a post on X, Secretary Kennedy stated: “mRNA vaccines don’t perform well against viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract”. The Secretary added that this is due to a concept known as “antigenic shift, meaning that the vaccine paradoxically encourages new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics as the virus constantly mutates”. GeoVax’s vaccine candidates, including GEO-CM04S1 for COVID-19, are designed to induce immunity using multiple antigens. GEO-CM04S1 expresses both the Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins of SARS-CoV-2, enabling broader and more durable protection – even as the virus mutates. Data from clinical studies have demonstrated that GEO-CM04S1 induces immune responses across variants, from the original Wuhan strain through Omicron, even in immunocompromised patients.

On July 30, GeoVax renewed its call for decisive U.S. action on pandemic preparedness and biodefense. With escalating outbreak risks, public health system strain, and growing bipartisan consensus for domestic solutions, GeoVax underscored the urgent need to modernize the nation’s countermeasure infrastructure and end foreign vaccine dependency. GeoVax’s Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine platform anchors two front-line candidates: GEO-MVA for Mpox/smallpox, designed to protect against both Clade I and II Mpox strains. GEO-CM04S1, a multi-antigen, next-generation COVID-19 vaccine targeting the 40 million U.S. immunocompromised through robust, durable, antibody and T-celldriven immune protection.

On July 29, GeoVax announced an expedited development strategy for its GEO-MVA Mpox vaccine candidate, following newly reaffirmed global emergency status by the World Health Organization (WHO), a record-setting surge in Mpox cases across Africa, and recent favorable scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) supporting an expedited development path for GEO-MVA.

Teladoc Health (TDOC, $7.90, +.38%) is the world leader in virtual care. Teladoc Health uses proprietary health signals and personalized interactions to drive better health outcomes across the full continuum of care, at every stage in a person’s health journey. Teladoc Health leverages more than two decades of expertise and data-driven insights to meet the growing virtual care needs of consumers and healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit www.teladochealth.com.

On Aug. 14, Teladoc Health announced it has acquired Telecare, an innovative, Australian tech-enabled provider of specialist and allied health care via virtual delivery. Telecare operates Australia’s leading virtual care clinic and provides software solutions to the healthcare sector. With over 300 virtual specialists in over 30 specialties, supporting both GP-referred appointments as well as providing virtual care services to public hospitals across Australia, Telecare helps reduce patient wait times and increases access to speciality care in underserved areas. Teladoc Health is the global virtual care leader, with revenues over $2.5 billion in 2024 and nearly 5,000 employees. The company provides access to care for more than 100 million people and its technology enables virtual care across leading hospitals and health systems, including many of the US leading healthcare institutions, the NHS in the United Kingdom, Charité in Germany, as well as the Canadian health system and the French Social Security. The acquisition supports Teladoc Health’s enterprise strategy, which includes expanding its international business. With a 15-year history in Australia, Teladoc Health already provides millions of Australian members access to virtual health services through relationships with insurers and hospitals. Additionally, Teladoc Health has recently deployed innovative virtual care solutions into the Australian hospital market, including a virtual neonatology solution at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and a virtual telesurgery support system with Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.

Teladoc, (July 29), reported financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2025 (“Second Quarter 2025”). Unless otherwise noted, percentage and other changes are relative to the three months ended June 30, 2024 (“Second Quarter 2024”). Highlights:

Second Quarter 2025 revenue of $631.9 million, down 2% year-over-year
Second Quarter 2025 net loss of $32.7 million, or $0.19 per share
Second Quarter 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $69.3 million, down 23% year-over-year
Integrated Care segment revenue of $391.5 million, up 4% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.7%
BetterHelp segment revenue of $240.4 million, down 9% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA margin of 4.9%
Paid $550.6 million using cash on hand to retire convertible senior notes due in Second Quarter 2025
On July 17, 2025, they entered into a credit agreement providing for a five-year, $300.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility to preserve and enhance our financial and operational flexibility

Serina Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: SER, $4.72), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing its lead IND candidate, SER-252, for advanced Parkinson’s disease, enabled by its proprietary POZ Platform™ drug optimization technology. Serina’s POZ PlatformTM provides the potential to improve the integrated efficacy and safety profile of multiple modalities including small molecules, RNA-based therapeutics and antibody-based drug conjugates (ADCs). Serina is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology. For more information, please visit https://serinatherapeutics.com.

On Sept. 10, Serina Therapeutics announced that it has entered into an agreement to access up to $20 million in financing led by Serina Board Director Greg Bailey, MD. The financing also includes the issuance of warrants which, if fully issued and exercised, could result in additional proceeds of up to $20 million. “This financing provides the resources to advance SER-252 through critical clinical milestones on the path toward registration,” said Steve Ledger, Chief Executive Officer of Serina Therapeutics. “Importantly, the structure allows us to deploy capital in step with trial progress, while maintaining flexibility to access additional non-dilutive and strategic funding. We believe SER-252 has the potential to transform treatment for those with advanced Parkinson’s disease.”

On August 25, Serina Therapeutics announced that following a recent Type B meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FDA’s written feedback supports advancing SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine) in a registrational clinical study program in advanced Parkinson’s under the 505(b)(2) NDA pathway. In its discussions with the FDA, Serina outlined a program designed to leverage prior knowledge of apomorphine utilizing the company’s POZ-enabled profile. Serina plans to include a pharmacokinetic (PK) bridging component to an approved apomorphine product, consistent with a 505(b)(2) NDA strategy. The FDA’s feedback indicates that Serina’s initial study may be designed and conducted as a component of a registrational trial program, subject to standard clinical and nonclinical requirements and finalization of documentation at the time of IND submission.

On August 11, Serina announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, along with key recent updates. Steve Ledger, CEO of Serina Therapeutics, stated, “We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built across our development programs. With SER-252 on track to enter the clinic later this year and the recent advancement of SER-270 for tardive dyskinesia, we are demonstrating how the POZ Platform can enable differentiated, long-acting therapies across neurological conditions with high unmet need. We believe our proprietary polymer technology can unlock best-in-class treatment profiles and improve patient outcomes in ways not achievable with existing drug delivery approaches.”

Recently, serene announced that its Board of Directors has established November 7, 2025, as the date of its 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The time and location of the Annual Meeting will be set forth in the Serina’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Because the date of the Annual Meeting represents a change of more than 30 days from the anniversary of Serina’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, the deadline for stockholder proposals to be submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), for inclusion in Serina’ proxy materials for the Annual Meeting will be 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday, August 15, 2025, which Serina’s Board of Directors has determined to be a reasonable period of time before Serina expects to begin to print and send its proxy materials for the Annual Meeting. Stockholder proposals submitted in accordance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act must also comply with the remaining requirements of Rule 14a-8 in order to be included in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting. Serina is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of wholly owned drug product candidates to treat neurological diseases and other indications.

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“Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.” –

Paul Tournier

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