AKR.L Regulatory News (AKR)

22 Feb 2005 07:00

Embargoed: 0700hrs, 22 February 2005 Akers Biosciences Inc. Akers Biosciences Signs Agreement with Alco Industries for Distribution of its Rapid Diagnostic Products into US Retail Markets Thorofare, NJ, USA-21 February , 2005--Akers Biosciences Inc. ("Akers," LSE:AKR) announced today that it has signed an agreement establishing an alliancewith Alco Industries ( "Alco") to distribute certain of Akers' rapid diagnostictests to US retail markets. Akers has already begun shipments of product toAlco; the size of the re-orders will be determined by the response from theseinitial orders.Alco Industries (www. alcoindustries.com) has specialized in the US retailindustry for 27 years, and distributes a diverse line of products to over 7,000retail clients. Alco's significant growth rates over the past ten years havebeen built on the company's commitment to superior customer service which hasled to long-term partnerships with many of their clients. Leveraging the talentof in-house creative professionals, top independent designers, and customerdriven projects, Alco introduces thousands of new products each year. Aprivately held company, Alco's corporate headquarters is in Cranbury, NewJersey, USA. Alco maintains over one million square feet of storage space atits distribution centers in New Jersey, Tennessee, and California.Akers believes that its partnership with Alco represents a significant step inits efforts to penetrate a large segment of the US healthcare market. Dr. RayAkers, CEO of Akers Biosciences said, "The broad reach of Alco into the USretail marketplace provides us with a powerful route to distribute many of ourproducts. We are fortunate to form an alliance with a partner with provenabilities in creating a significant impact with its products and services inmany different market segments." -Ends- Enquiries:Dr. Ray Akers Chief Executive Officer, Akers 020 7917 9476 Biosciences, Inc. Paul Freedman 001 856 848 8698 Chief Financial Officer, Akers Biosciences, Inc. Bill Roberts CTC, Inc. 001 937 434 2700 Ben Simons Hansard Communications 020 7245 1100/ 07713 090135 Notes to EditorsAkers Biosciences, Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies rapid, point ofcare screening and testing products designed to bring healthcare informationboth rapidly and directly to the patient or healthcare provider. The Companyhas advanced the science of diagnostics while responding to major shifts inhealthcare through the development of several proprietary platformtechnologies. The company's state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic assays can beperformed virtually anywhere in minutes when time is of the essence. Akers hasaligned with major healthcare companies and high volume medical products distributors to maximize product offerings, and to be a major worldwidecompetitor in diagnostics. Additional information on the Company and itsproducts can be found at www.akersbiosciences.comEND