- Findings of study published in PLOS One found a highly
significant correlation between temperature and the rate of
increase in COVID-19
- An estimated one degree increase in temperature is associated
with a 1% decrease in COVID-19 transmissions, and a one degree
decrease in temperature is associated with a 3.7% increase in
transmission rate
Akers Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKER), with its proposed merger
partner MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“MyMD”), a clinical stage
pharmaceutical company committed to extending healthy lifespan by
focusing on developing two therapeutic platforms, today announced a
new study published in PLOS ONE authored by Adam Kaplin, M.D.,
Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of MyMD Pharmaceuticals, which
demonstrates rising temperatures during spring and summer months
are associated with slower rates of COVID-19 transmission,
consistent with the behavior of a seasonal respiratory virus.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
(COVID-19) belongs to a large family of human coronaviruses, most
of which display increased transmission in cooler, less humid
months, and decreased transmission in warmer and more humid
months.
A study to determine the relationship between COVID-19
transmission rates and rising local temperatures was conducted
among 50 representative Northern Hemisphere countries that meet
specific criteria, such as having sufficient COVID-19 cases and
meteorological data for analysis. The results concluded that boreal
summer months are associated with slower rates of COVID-19
transmission, showing highly significant and robust correlation
between temperature and the rate of increase in COVID-19. Data
suggested that between the range of 30 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a
one-degree temperature increase is associated with a 1% decrease in
the rate of transmission and a one-degree temperature decrease is
associated with a 3.7% increase in the rate of transmission.
Knowledge of COVID-19 seasonality could prove useful in local
planning for phased reductions, social interventions and preparing
for the timing of possible pandemic resurgence during cooler
months.
“The present findings of this research suggest that, like other
seasonal viruses, SARS-CoV-2 could prove to be extremely difficult
to contain over time, unless there is a concerted and collaborative
global effort to work to end this pandemic,” said Adam Kaplin,
M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of MyMD Pharmaceuticals and
adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins -- previously Clinical Director
and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for
Johns Hopkins Psychiatric Esketamine Clinic and Director of the
Neuropsychiatry Multiple Sclerosis Consultation Clinic. “There is a
continuing need to develop more effective therapeutics to treat
COVID-19 in the coming months, until eradication takes place on a
global level, and we continue to look at leading institutions as
partners for our upcoming Phase II trial of MyMD-1 in Covid.”
For more information, visit the following link to the PLOS One
study.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0246167
About MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
MyMD is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to
extending healthy lifespan by focusing on developing two
therapeutic platforms. MYMD-1 is a drug platform based on a
clinical stage small molecule that regulates the immunometabolic
system to control TNF-α and other pro-inflammatory cytokines.
MYMD-1 is being developed to treat autoimmune diseases, including
those currently treated with non-selective TNF-α blocking drugs,
and aging and longevity. SUPERA-1R is a drug platform based on a
novel (patent pending) synthetic derivative of cannabidiol (CBD)
that targets numerous key receptors including CB2 and opioid
receptors and inhibits monoamine oxidase. SUPERA-1R is being
developed to address the rapidly growing CBD market, that includes
FDA approved drugs and CBD products not currently regulated as a
drug. For more information, visit www.mymd.com.
About Akers Biosciences Inc.
Akers Biosciences is pursuing rapid development and
manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in collaboration with
Premas Biotech PVT Ltd.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in
any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No public offer of
securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting
the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
Important Additional Information Will be Filed with the SEC
In connection with the proposed transaction between Akers and
MyMD, Akers has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form
S-4 that includes a preliminary joint proxy statement of Akers and
MyMD that also constitutes a prospectus of Akers and the definitive
joint proxy statement statement/prospectus will be mailed to
shareholders of Akers and MyMD. Akers and MyMD also plan to file
other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed
transaction. AKERS URGES INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THESE
MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
AKERS, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and
shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy
statement, prospectus and other documents filed by Akers with the
SEC (when they become available) through the website maintained by
the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders
will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement,
prospectus and other documents filed by Akers with the SEC by
contacting Investor Relations by mail at Akers Biosciences, Inc.,
Attn: Investor Relations, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor,
New York, New York USA 10036. Investors and stockholders are urged
to read the proxy statement, prospectus and the other relevant
materials when they become available before making any voting or
investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.
Participants in the Solicitation
Akers and MyMD, and each of their respective directors and
executive officers and certain of their other members of management
and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information
about Akers’ directors and executive officers is included in Akers’
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019,
filed with the SEC on March 25, 2020, as amended on October 21,
2020, and the proxy statement for Akers’ 2020 annual meeting of
stockholders, filed with the SEC on July 29, 2020. Additional
information regarding these persons and their interests in the
transaction will be included in the proxy statement relating to the
transaction when it is filed with the SEC. These documents can be
obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this communication regarding
matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, known as the PSLRA. These include
statements regarding management’s intentions, plans, beliefs,
expectations or forecasts for the future, and, therefore, you are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. No forward-looking
statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ
materially from those projected. Akers and MyMD undertake no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except to the extent required by law. We use words such as
"anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "projects,"
"future," "intends," "may," "will," "should," "could," "estimates,"
"predicts," "potential," "continue," "guidance," and similar
expressions to identify these forward-looking statements that are
intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.
Such forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and
involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may
differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements
due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, risks
relating to the completion of the merger, including the need for
stockholder approval and the satisfaction of closing conditions;
the cash balances of the combined company following the closing of
the merger; the ability of Akers to remain listed on the Nasdaq
Capital Market in connection with the merger; and expected
merger-related cash outlays, including the timing and amount of
those outlays. Risks and uncertainties related to MyMD that may
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in any forward-looking statement include, but are not
limited to: the timing of, and MyMD’s ability to, obtain and
maintain regulatory approvals for clinical trials of MyMD’s
pharmaceutical candidates, the timing and results of MyMD’s planned
clinical trials for its pharmaceutical candidates, the amount of
funds MyMD requires for its pharmaceutical candidates; increased
levels of competition; changes in political, economic or regulatory
conditions generally and in the markets in which MyMD operates;
MyMD’s ability to retain and attract senior management and other
key employees; MyMD’s ability to quickly and effectively respond to
new technological developments; MyMD’s ability to protect its trade
secrets or other proprietary rights, operate without infringing
upon the proprietary rights of others and prevent others from
infringing on MyMD’s proprietary rights; and the impact of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on MyMD’s results of operations, business
plan and the global economy.
New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for
us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the impact of
each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor,
or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
These risks, as well as other risks associated with the
combination, are more fully discussed in the proxy
statement/prospectus that is included in the registration statement
that was filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed
transaction. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and
discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Akers’ Annual Report on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed
from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements included
in this release are based on information available to Akers and
MyMD as of the date of this release. Neither Akers nor MyMD
undertakes any obligation to update such forward- looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this release.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210218005243/en/
Investor Contact: Brett Mass 646-536-7331
brett@haydenir.com www.haydenir.com
Media Contact: Will Johnson 201-465-8019
MYMD@antennagroup.com www.antennagroup.com
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