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Henry Kawabe

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  • Stevia Growers And Processors Need To Develop For The Food Industry To Reach Full Potential [View article]
    I can’t speak for any other person who writes about Stevia First or any other company for that matter, but what peaked my interest in Stevia First as an investment was that there is a great profit potential for stevia products. I also use stevia in my own life. I buy Starbucks Refreshers as my energy drink and I drink Monster’s Blue Sky sodas at home. I think you may be missing the point on what direction Stevia First is going. They are planning on bringing stevia to market with two SEPARATE methods. An organic stevia, which is needed since according to Stonyfarm, which uses organic stevia in its sugar free yogurt, there is at this time only one organic stevia farm, and that’s in China. The second method they plan on bringing stevia to market is through an industrial size fermentation process. So yes, they don’t need to use organic stevia for its fermentation process, nor did I read anywhere where they were going to use organic stevia for its fermentation method. And BTW, a fermentation method in creating extracts is no mystery. Companies have been utilizing that method for years in creating extracts.
    As for what the officers of the company paid for their stocks or how much they may or may not have been enriched is not what I focus on. I focus on what I see as the future of its product and whether it can be successful as a company once it begins to sell its product. This is a very speculative company, and I understand the risks, but if they can develop a stevia product in the US on an industrial scale they can be a very successful company. And given the price of the stock, once they begin to produce product I think the stock has a great chance to rise significantly.
    The company has been very forthright in its disclosure of the relationship of the land lease. The Stevia First Corp website has pictures that seem much more recent than those that have been referenced by previous writers.
    Dec 3 11:08 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Stevia Growers And Processors Need To Develop For The Food Industry To Reach Full Potential [View article]
    I like the prospects of all the stevia producers. STVF has a business model that separates themselves from the others though, and that separation is where I believe the long term benefits and gains will come into play. The lock down period is also very encouraging to me that was built into the last financing that you mentioned.
    Dec 3 02:09 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • The Other Side Of Galena Biopharma [View article]
    The fact remains that Galena has a product in NeuVax, that through multiple studies under the watchful eye of the FDA and under the supervision of some of the most respectful doctors and scientists in oncology, is a quality treatment and a breakthrough in medicine. The trial data has been released and peer reviewed by those in the medical field. As a successful investor in the stock market, attacks like this are nothing new to me. I will continue to remain long and add to my position.
    Nov 15 09:10 AM | 9 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Neuralstem Swinging For The ALS Fences [View article]
    Neostem doesn’t even have a treatment related to ALS! So why would it be included in an article focused on ALS? You mention Neostem’s decline and “reference” a link to “99.68%” however did you even take the time to check your sources? The “bogus link” you provided goes to a Google Finance page on Apple!!!

    The bottom line is that these companies have promise. Each company is using a technology to treat degenerative diseases that have very few hopes of a cure outside of cell therapy. Your incorrect statements, one-sided views, and then your failure to respond to previous comments shows, in my opinion, an ulterior motive in writing this bogus article.

    My advice to you, seeing as how this is your first Seeking Alpha article, is research, get your facts right, spell correctly, add the correct links, and avoid discussing topics you don’t understand. Oh… and read the filings.

    Mfm401kvp provided you with some very good information that you should address. NBS is not facing litigation, but did settle the “litigation” as the previous comment mentioned, which was with one holder of just 200 shares!!!

    You need to understand the industry of cell therapy, the fact that Neostem not only has a Phase 2 product with recent data, but a VSEL Technology with its own rat study (similar to Neuralstem) where the Technology created bone in rats. The company does not need financing. It has a manufacturing segment and just redeemed Series E stock, along with the pharmacy divesture to create financial wellbeing. Therefore, Neostem is in a much better financial position, and has a far superior clinical program, along with a revenue producing manufacturing segment.

    I’m not saying that you are not knowledgeable, or that you don’t have the necessary experience to cover biotechnology, but please stay within your comfort zone to avoid such garbage.
    Oct 30 01:06 PM | 2 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Investors Take Note: Dr. Oz Touts Stevia As The Best Of The Sugar Alternatives [View article]
    Truly tragic the circumstances surrounding those that have suffered a loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected.
    Oct 25 11:21 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Investors Take Note: Dr. Oz Touts Stevia As The Best Of The Sugar Alternatives [View article]
    Rockie,

    I appreciate your comments and understand some of your concerns. Yes, I understand the company’s cash position and see that as of June 30th it had $917,146 in cash as a result of “May 22, 2012, the Company received an advance payment of $850,000 from the investor under the Subscription Agreement” and “May 24, 2012, the Company entered into Note Exchange Agreements…. with each of two holders of an aggregate of eleven outstanding promissory notes issued by the Company, pursuant to which the outstanding principal, totaling $196,800”. Please see the company’s last quarterly statement here for more details:
    http://1.usa.gov/Sb0iS1

    This is a development-phase company, like many/most currently trading on the OTCBB. Its value is not in its current financial situation but rather its progression and its potential. I’m not certain about the financial transaction in which the Stevia First purchased the fermentation licensing, but I do not remember seeing anywhere in which the company had to bid against “other companies like Coke, Pepsi, P&G, JNJ, MON, ADM, MSTR…..”. Great deals are made frequently by small capitalization and flexible companies, such as Stevia First, that later turn into profitable or acquisition-quality entities. For example, how many great medical devices, therapies and drugs come out of the small pharmaceutical sector with its diversity, flexibility and creativity… something often quenched in large capitalization and sometimes rigid “Big Pharma”.
    I’m not certain yet as to why the company hasn’t gone through the necessary paperwork to reclassify themselves as a food additive or other type of company. Perhaps it has better use of shareholder money in mind, like purchasing technology to give it growth potential, before it focuses on the smaller things, such as entity reclassification. As far as the 70% cost reduction, I can certainly relate to that type of savings. Time is money, and a fermentation process that can run continuously 24-hours per day and manufacture consistent, high-quality active ingredients is likely much more efficient and cheaper than paying for land, fertilizer, irrigation, and farm equipment or waiting for crops to mature, hiring farm employees and finally being at the mercy of “mother nature”.
    New shareholders immediately recognized the potential in the fermentation process that will likely develop side-by-side with the agricultural process as evident by the huge share price increase the day the licensing agreement was announced, as well as the days that followed. I advise interested shareholders to view the actual patent the company bought the rights to, as it makes for some interesting (and sometimes boring) reading:
    http://bit.ly/TdvxXX
    Yes, I believe Stevia First does utilize Weinberg & Company, P.A. of Boca Raton FL as its auditor. Regardless of any “bad apple” customers it may have had the misfortune of dealing with, the company is one of the top 100 accounting firms in the U.S. Please see this link with the following statement in it “The report, released by Who Audits America, Menlo Park, California, based its research on three categories: a weighted ranking of total clients, total sales audited, and average sales per public client audited.”

    Thanks for your questions, and I hope I have been of assistance.
    Oct 25 11:20 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • NeoStem: The Best Upside In An Innovating Space [View article]
    I agree, it is definitely a long-term investment. However, I am surprised at the lack of movement
    Oct 15 02:50 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Clinical Data Separate 3 Hopeful Cancer Candidates [View article]
    I don't think anyone suggests a "cure" but when standard of care is often months then there is hope for better options. A product that extends life by 4 months may be approved if current treatment extends life by only 3 months. This is unfortunate, but it is progress and with a disease such as cancer all we can ask for is progress.
    Oct 15 02:49 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • Clinical Data Separate 3 Hopeful Cancer Candidates [View article]
    I think they have a better chance at being acquired. I don't think the FDA will respond with kindness to their mishap, and they won't have the cash. I don't know how they can gain back the trust of investors
    Oct 11 03:27 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • NeoStem: The Best Upside In An Innovating Space [View article]
    Too early? How is it too early? The company has a manufacturing segment that is growing. It just proved its VSEL Technology creates bone from cells in mice, which was similar to CUR (led to large rally), and you just mentioned the Phase 2 data. This company just got a lot more valuable, and didn't perform with large gains. I think it's big time value.
    Oct 11 12:14 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • NeoStem: The Best Upside In An Innovating Space [View article]
    I think CUR more than outperformed its news. We'll see what happens in a large patient trial
    Oct 11 12:12 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Clinical Data Separate 3 Hopeful Cancer Candidates [View article]
    I wouldn'y say "it should cost nothing" but you can't trust the management or the conduct of its study.. How do you think the FDA will respond? I am guessing a new study and now the company has limited cash
    Oct 11 11:19 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • NeoStem: The Best Upside In An Innovating Space [View article]
    So far it has only seen positive results on rats! Humans and rats are much different. It would be great for the industry but I am still skeptical, at this point
    Oct 9 12:07 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • NeoStem: The Best Upside In An Innovating Space [View article]
    I think you are forgetting the company's sale of the generic pharmacy. $12.3 million in cash and $35 million eliminated in debt, so where are you getting your numbers? Financially the company is fine. Shouldn't need to raise money in the near future
    Oct 9 12:06 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • NeoStem: The Best Upside In An Innovating Space [View article]
    I don't think so. I look for a reverse-split. The company meets the market cap requirements, so it should be fine.
    Oct 9 12:05 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
COMMENTS STATS
31 Comments
18 Likes