23 Mar 2016 07:00
Embargoed: 0700hrs 23 March 2016
Akers Biosciences, Inc.
US Patent Granted for Akers' Heparin/PF4 Antibody Detection
Akers Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKER) (AIM: AKR.L), ("Akers Bio" or the "Company"), a developer of rapid health information technologies, announces that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed a patent covering Akers Bio's proprietary methods for detecting heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies (the "Patent").
Akers Bio's flagship PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay and PIFA PLUSS PF4 tests were designed to quickly determine if a patient being treated with the blood thinner heparin may be developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia ("HIT"). This clinical syndrome reverses the heparin's intended therapeutic effect and transforms it into a clotting agent. Patients suffering HIT are at risk of developing limb- and life-threatening complications, so the timely test result provided by the Company's Heparin/PF4 devices is paramount to effective and cost-efficient clinical decision making.
Akers Bio's Heparin/PF4 devices determine if a patient may be developing HIT by identifying the presence of heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies. The newly allowed Patent covers Akers Bio's proprietary protein preparation which serves as the antigen and biologically active component of the tests.
"Having developed the only FDA-cleared rapid manual assays for determining if a patient may be developing HIT, it is essential to ensure the Company has multi-faceted, robust patent protection that further underpins their future value," said Raymond F. Akers, Jr. PhD, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. "This Patent is particularly important because it protects the antigen that gives our tests their superior accuracy. With published studies that demonstrate that our tests never deliver a false positive result, we believe them to be the most accurate available way to rule out HIT," continued Dr. Akers.
About Akers Biosciences, Inc.
Akers Biosciences develops, manufactures, and supplies rapid screening and testing products designed to deliver quicker and more cost-effective healthcare information to healthcare providers and consumers. The Company has advanced the science of diagnostics while responding to major shifts in healthcare through the development of several proprietary platform technologies. The Company's state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic assays can be performed virtually anywhere in minutes when time is of the essence. The Company has aligned with major healthcare companies and high volume medical product distributors to maximize product offerings, and to be a major worldwide competitor in diagnostics.
Additional information on the Company and its products can be found at www.akersbio.com. Follow us on Twitter @AkersBio.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the intended terms of the offering, closing of the offering and use of any proceeds from the offering. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "target", "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Akers Biosciences, Inc., its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.
For more information:
Akers Biosciences, Inc.
Raymond F. Akers, Jr. PhD
Executive Chairman
Tel. +1 856 848 8698
Taglich Brothers, Inc. (Investor Relations)
Chris Schreiber
Tel. +1 917 445 6207
Email: cs@taglichbrothers.com
finnCap (UK Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Adrian Hargrave / Scott Mathieson (Corporate Finance)
Steve Norcross (Broking)
Tel. +44 (0)20 7220 0500
Vigo Communications (Public Relations)
Ben Simons / Fiona Henson
Tel. +44 (0)20 7830 9700
Email: akers@vigocomms.com