U.S. stock market futures shifted lower on Tuesday as investors look for more clues on any tapering of the Federal Reserve’s easing program. Two Fed presidents with voting rights on the interest-rate setting committee are due to speak later in the day. Futures for the Dow industrials rose less than 0.1 percent to 15,323,00 while those for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index was little changed at 1,664.60 and the Nasdaq 100 index futures slipped less than 0.1 percent to 3,018.25.

U.S. markets rose on Friday after positive economic reports that boosted investor sentiment to recover losses from the previous session, with benchmark indexes set to record their fourth straight week of gains and close at another set of record highs. 

With a fresh round of financing at its disposal, Sirona Biochem (CVE: SBM) is poised to follow through with its strategy of pursuing patent opportunities, partners and joint ventures. Earlier this month, the Vancouver-based biotechnology firm announced it had raised nearly $1 million, which brings its total debt and equity financing to $2.4 million so far this year.

Soligenix (OTCQB:SNGX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on products for inflammatory diseases and biodefense countermeasures, has taken yet another step toward advancing one of its drugs, saying it has started the first clinical study for the development of SGX203, its treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease.

Pivotal Therapeutics (OTCQX:PVTTF) (CNSX:PVO), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on Omega-3 therapies for cardiovascular disease (CVD), revealed today results from its Vascazen "Reveal" clinical trial, saying the product was "highly effective" in correcting an Omega-3 deficiency.