In the News

Read the full story hereSolar energy system pricing is at an all-time low, according to recent reports by the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.Read the full story hereCleanTechnica reports that the U.S. electrical grid continues to get cleaner and cleaner. Renewable energy accounts for a large percentage of new electricity generation capacity quarter after quarter, while old coal power plants continue to shut down.Read the full story hereRepliCel Life Sciences has announced that its patented hair loss treatment has been cleared by the Japanese regulatory authorities for use in a clinical research study in Japan.Read the full news release hereOntario's Independent Electricity Operator (IESO) has completed its review of the FIT 4 procurement applications and is now prepared to offer contracts. A total of 935 new FIT renewable energy contracts will be rewarded representing 241.430 MW of power. Solar PV projects account for 97 percent of the contracts on offer.Solar Flow-Through submitted a significant number of FIT 4 applications to the IESO on behalf of its 2013, 2014 and 2015 limited partnerships. The company expects to announce contract offers in the coming days.Solar Flow-Through is also preparing to submit applications for the upcoming FIT 5 procurement for which the IESO has set a target of at least 150 MW. The FIT 5 application window will open in November 2016.Global solar energy capacity rose 26% in 2015, reports The Economist , as solar pv installations in developing countries like China, India, South Africa and even Jordan are on the rise. Analysts credit government incentives and the dramatic 80% drop in the cost of solar panels since 2010.Last year, China overtook Germany to become the world's leading producer of solar energy. The Asian nation is expected to install as much as 12 GW of solar power in the first half of 2016. Come 2022, India is looking to increase its solar energy capacity by 20 times its current level, raising solar's share in the country's energy mix to 12.5% by 2025 (at 1% today). This summer, Jordan is set to launch its first foray into the solar energy movement with the opening of a 160 MW solar park in an effort to reduce its reliance on fossil-fuel imports.Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is opening a second phase of its competitive Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) process, which replaced the large FIT program. In March 2016, the agency awarded contracts to 16 LRP applicants for a total of nearly 455 MW of renewable energy capacity.This second procurement round will begin August 1, 2016 for 930 MW from renewable energy sources including a target of up to 250 MW for solar photovoltaic projects. "The next phase of the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP II) will ensure Ontario remains a global leader in clean energy development," stated the Ontario Ministry of Energy. "Since 2003, Ontario's clean energy initiatives have attracted billions of dollars in private sector investment and it is estimated that they have generated over 42,000 jobs in the clean technology sector. There are more than 30 solar and wind manufacturers operating in communities across the province." The Financial Post reports that global clean energy investment, including solar and wind, was double that of fossil fuels in 2015. The main reason is that production costs for renewables are decreasing substantially. The cost of solar power has plummeted to 1/150th of its level in the 1970s. In that same time period, the total amount of installed solar has skyrocketed 115,000-fold."We're in a low-cost-of-oil environment for the foreseeable future," said Michael Liebreich during his keynote address at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Summit. "Did that stop renewable energy investment? Not at all." The BNEF Council has noted that every time solar power installations double, costs go down by 24 percent.Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is slated to award FIT 4 contracts this quarter. The agency reports it received 1,968 renewable energy (solar, wind, waterpower and bioenergy) project applications representing a total of 582 megawatts (MW) during the October 2015 procurement window. Applications are currently under review and the IESO expects to award contracts up to the procurement target of 241.438 MW.RepliCel Life Sciences' Japanese partner Shiseido will soon be launching the next-phase clinical trial of RCH-01 for the treatment of pattern baldness. The trial is expected to take 20 months and has the potential to lead to a market launch for the product candidate in Japan in 2018. Also in 2016, RepliCel will be releasing clinical data from both its RCT-01 treatment for chronic tendon injury and RCS-01 for aging and sub-damaged skin. A CE mark application for its dermal injector (RCI-02) is underway for permission to sell the device in Europe with label approval for the injection of hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers.Market research firm HIS expects the global solar PV market to reach 69GW in new installations for 2016, up 17 percent from 2015. The key markets this year will be the U.S., India and China. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently reported that in 2016 solar will add more new electricity-generating capacity to the nation's energy mix than will natural gas or wind. According to the EIA, planned installations for 2016 in the United States include 9.5 GW of utility-scale solar. "If actual additions ultimately reflect these plans, 2016 will be the first year in which utility-scale solar additions exceed additions from any other single energy source," said the U.S. agency.RepliCel Life Sciences recently announced the completion of first injections in its Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the use of RCS-01 for skin aging and UV-damage skin. RCS-01 is a patient-specific cell-based dermal rejuvenation product-meaning the patient's own replicated fibroblast cells are used to rebuild collagen, elastin and other glycoproteins. RepliCel's goal with RCS-01 is to develop a longer-lasting and more natural alternative to the dermal fillers currently on the market.The ongoing clinical trial, conducted in Germany, is evaluating the safety and tolerability of RCS-01 injections. RepliCel expects completion of the recruitment phase of the trial in early 2016.Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, RepliCel's Chief Medical Officer, stated, "The treatment of our first participants in this trial is a significant step in the clinical development of RCS-01 as we explore the product's ability to restore the dermal matrix of the skin."RepliCel has also developed a propriety injection device (RCI-02) optimized for the administration of its products and licensable for use with other dermatology applications.Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has released its 18-month Outlook report covering the period from January 2016 to 2017. Over that time period, IESO expects the amount of grid-connected solar generation to increase by about 380 MW while distribution-connected solar generation is expected to increase to 2,150 MW. "Growth in embedded solar and wind generation capacity and on-going conservation initiatives reduce the need for energy from the bulk power system, while also putting downward pressure on peak electricity demands," stated the report's authors.The Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) has named RepliCel Life Sciences to its list of the Top 20 Public Tech Companies in Canada. This group of Canada's "hottest and most innovative public technology companies" was selected by the CIX and its advisory board. Lee Buckler, RepliCel's VP Business & Corporate Development, will be speaking at CIX's Public Investor Day on November 18 in Toronto."We are honored to have been selected as one of this year's 20 most innovative public Canadian technology companies by the CIX organizing committee, and to be the only life sciences company within the group," stated Buckler. "We look forward to presenting our next-generation dermal injector and innovative platform of cellular therapies to the attendees of the CIX event."Also on November 18, RepliCel will be hosting an online event with Buckler presenting on "Advances in Stem Cell Research". That same week, Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, RepliCel's Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Kevin McElwee, RepliCel's Chief Scientific Officer, will be presenting at the World Congress for Hair Research in Miami Florida.Significant catalysts are on the horizon for the company with clinical data expected out of the coming months, the anticipated CE mark authorization to market its dermal injector in Europe, and the potential for transformative partnerships currently being pursued.As of the end of Q3 2015, Solar Flow-Through has brought into commercial nearly all its 18 FIT 2 Projects, totaling 5.5MW DC of installed capacity. These projects are expected to be granted final approval from Ontario's infrastructure regulators on Q4 2015. Information on these projects can be viewed here Solar Flow-Through is currently in the pre-construction development phase for its more than 100 FIT 3.5 Projects. The company expects to complete this phase to be complete by early Q2 2016. These projects are anticipated to achieve commercial operation by the end of 2016.RepliCel Life Sciences has a busy schedule of presentations and partnering meetings for this month of October . The company presented at the annual Partnering Forum at the Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa held October 7-9 in La Jolla, California. The sector's premier forum is co-hosted by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.Last week, Lee Buckler, RepliCel's VP Business and Corporate Development, presented at BioJapan 2015, Asia's largest biotechnology partnering event. While in Japan, RepliCel met with select interested partners and investors, members of the team at Shiseido Company, and members of Japan's Pharmaceuticals & Medical Device Agency.Next week, Mr. Buckler will present at the Cavendish Global Health Impact Forum---hosted by prominent institutions around the world---and the 12th annual BioProcess International Conference & Exhibition, the premier bioprocessing event in the United States.RepliCel further established itself in the sector with the addition of industry leader Mr. Geoff MacKay to its board of Directors. Mr. MacKay is a veteran of the biopharmaceutical industry with years of experience in the key areas of cell therapy and device industries. "I look forward to working with such a talented and passionate team and believe strongly in the scientific and commercial potential of our technology," said MacKay.RepliCel Life Sciences recently announced it has begun recruiting participants for its European Phase 1 clinical trial of RCS-01 for the treatment of aged and sun damaged skin. The study will evaluate the safety of RepliCel's intradermal injections of RCS-01 as well as its impact on skin markers related to aging.The RCS-01 clinical trial will take place at the IUF Leibniz-Institut für umweltmedizinische Forschung GmbH in Germany. RepliCel's Chief Medical Officer & Director, Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, expects to have 6-month data from the study in autumn 2016.RCS-01 has the potential to be a game-changer in the dermal products market currently dominated by products that only temporarily reverse signs of aging with fillers and hyaluronic acids. RepliCel's RCS-01 targets skin damage at a cellular level to promote natural cell-based production of type 1 collagen and other important matrix molecules."This RCS-01 trial initiation represents the second clinical trial of RepliCel's non-bulbar dermal sheath fibroblast (NBDS) platform to be initiated this year, the first being RCT-01 in Canada for chronic tendinosis," stated Lee Buckler, Vice President Business and Corporate Development. "Both clinical trials are designed to provide the company with much data to support our current NBDS platform licensing discussions as well as demonstrate a basis for the potential expansion into other medical indications."RepliCel Life Sciences has received the go-ahead for its RCS-01 skin rejuvenation trial from the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), the regulatory agency responsible for approving all cell-based clinical trials in Germany. PEI's approval was the third and final approval needed to begin the RCS-01 trial. Results of the trial are expected for release in the second half of 2016."RepliCel's autologous cell therapy uses a subject's own replicated fibroblast cells to rebuild the collagen, elastin and other glycoproteins that provide structural support and stability to the extra cellular matrix -- potentially returning skin back to its youthful appearance," commented Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, Chief Medical Officer. "We believe RepliCel's autologous product will be preferred by most patients who would rather inject a filler comprised of their own fibroblast cells into their skin."According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 5,497,212 injectable procedures were performed in 2014 costing $2,317,396,347.A new report from the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) explains that by 2020 a significant drop in solar equipment costs combined with rising electricity costs will make roof-top solar installations a win-win for Ontario's homeowners.Without any need of a subsidy, says the CanSIA, homeowners will save enough cash from generating their own electricity to pay for the solar equipment over its lifespan. "There has been a 50-per-cent drop in the price of residential solar already," said CanSIA president John Gorman. "We're going to see continued drops over the coming years, and that means not only diminishing subsidies, but an actual payback starting in five years time."By 2025, it will also be economic for homeowners to purchase a battery system to store solar power which will allow for an uninterrupted supply of electricity.RepliCel Life Sciences' Japanese partner, Shisiedo plans to make the RepliCel Hair-01 (RCH-01) hair regeneration technology commercially available in 2018, reports Global Cosmetics News. RCH-01 has been proven safe for human application in clinical trials.The treatment uses dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells derived from the hair follicle. DSC cells regulate the volume of dermal papillae cells which are responsible for thickness and growth of hair fibers. RCH-01 is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.Shiseido has built a cell-processing facility in Japan to conduct RCH-01 clinical trials in partnership with RepliCel.Solar Flow-Through preparing for upcoming FIT 4 applicationsThe IESO recently announced the procurement window for FIT 4 applications will run from September 30, 2015 to October 23, 2015. In preparation, Solar Flow-Through is securing leases with landlords and landowners and proceeding with other development work to ready projects for the application submission. Contracts for FIT 4 are expected to be awarded in Q2 2016.RepliCel Life Sciences recently completed a financing worth total gross proceeds of $2,038,278.83 to be used for clinical trials, research and development and general working capital. The Company recently received approval to conduct its Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendinosis at the University of British Columbia. Patients are currently being recruited for the trial.Earlier this month, RepliCel presented at the 23rd World Congress of Dermatology hosted in Vancouver, B.C. "We are pleased Vancouver is host to this year's World Congress of Dermatology and excited to be participating among the world's leading experts advancing science and technology in dermatology," stated David Hall, CEO of RepliCel. "We congratulate the event organizers, and in particular Drs. Jerry Shapiro, Harvey Lui and David McLean, who were amongst the visionary founding group of our company, on putting together what promises to be an outstanding program and world-class event."More than 300 delegates from Canada, the United States, Europe and China attended the Solar Ontario 2015 Annual Conference hosted by the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA). Canada's Deputy Minister of Energy, Serge Imbrogno, addressed the delegates and shared that the province of Ontario has 1550 MW of solar power installed with another 825MW contracted and under development, or enough to power about 300,000 homes. He also noted that Ontario has three procurements underway: a large renewable procurement that targets up to 140MW; the FIT4 that has a target of just over 240 MW; and the microFIT program with a target of 50 MW.On May 29, RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. will present on its autologous cell treatment for chronic Achilles tendinosis (RCT-01) at the International Society for Cellular Therapy conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The RCT-01 therapy is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial at the University of British Columbia."Based on our animal studies and predicate clinical trials done by collaborators using dermal fibroblasts for tendinosis, we believe delivering collagen producing cells directly to the site of injury will address the underlying cause of tendinosis which will be superior to currently available treatments," stated RepliCel's Director of Research and Development, Dr. Hisae Nakamura.Ontario's Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO) is currently finalizing documents for the FIT 4 "Rules, Contract & Support" materials. The final version is expected to be posted to the agency website by May 28, 2015. The FIT 4 application window is scheduled to run from July 13 to July 30, 2015.Solar Flow Through 2013 and 2014 Limited Partnerships have begun preparations for the upcoming FIT 4 application window including securing leases and site development work. Projects that receive FIT 4 Contracts will be developed and built out over 2016 and 2017.RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. received approval this month to conduct a Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of its regenerative medicine therapy for chronic Achilles tendinosis (RCT-01). The trial, known as the ReaCT study, will be conducted at the University of British Columbia Hospital. Dr. Rob Lloyd-Smith of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) will be the lead researcher of the study."VCHRI is very pleased to be supporting biotechnology in British Columbia and play a role in the development of a potential technology in cell therapy," said Dr. Robert McMaster, Executive Director of VCHRI and Vice-President of Research with Vancouver Coastal Health.Data from the study is expected by early 2016. RepliCel is also expected to begin a clinical trial of its product candidate for the treatment of aged and UV-damaged skin (RCS-01) in Germany this year.Also this month, BNN aired a Market One Minute interview with Lee Buckler, RepliCel VP of Business Development. Video of the interview is available on Youtube.Solar Flow-Through has released first quarter updates regarding their FIT2 and FIT 3.5 Projects, preparations for the upcoming FIT 4 application window, and dividend payments for LP subscribers.FIT 2 Projects are currently under construction with several expected to be generating revenue by mid-2015. The construction of FIT 3.5 Project will begin this year and revenues are expected to start by the end of 2016. Preparations are now underway for the upcoming FIT 4 procurement expected to open in June 2015.The updates are available on the homepage of the Solar Flow-Through website.RepliCel Life Science reports that it has submitted its Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to the German Competent Authority, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI), requesting clearance to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the use of RCS-01 to treat patients suffering from aged and UV-damaged skin.The study will address the inherent deficit of active fibroblasts required for the production of type 1 collagen, elastin and other critical extracellular dermal matrix components found in youthful skin. Once cleared, the proposed trial will be conducted at the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Germany.We believe that RCS-01 has the potential to reverse the signs of aging by delivering RepliCel's UV-naïve collagen-producing fibroblast cells directly into affected areas of the skin. "This trial is an important step toward the development of a cell-based treatment for fine wrinkle lines which are typically seen in the face, hands and other UV-affected areas," commented Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, RepliCel's Chief Medical Officer.SolarCity announced this week it has created a fund to finance $750 million in residential solar projects with an investment of $300 million from Google. The residential solar fund, the largest of its kind, will cover the upfront cost of solar panel installations for thousands of homeowners in 14 states and the District of Columbia. The program allows recipients to pay less for solar power than for electricity generated by fossil fuels."We're happy to support SolarCity's mission to help families reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs," said Sidd Mundra, Renewable Energy Principal at Google. "It's good for the environment, good for families and also makes good business sense."