Rob Bazemore Appointed to the Board of Directors of Akari Therapeutics

BOSTON and LONDON, Sept. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an innovative biotechnology company developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, announces the appointment of Rob Bazemore, experienced life sciences leader, to the Akari Board of Directors effective September 17, 2024.

"I am very honored to have the opportunity to work with this distinguished board of directors to advance the portfolio opportunities, " said Mr. Bazemore. "Focusing on Akari's novel lead asset, nomacopan, as well as Peak's innovative antibody-drug-conjugate $(ADC)$ platform in oncology, has the opportunity to bring significant value both for patients and for shareholders."

"I have great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Rob Bazemore to the Akari Board of Directors. Rob will add deep strategic and management expertise to the Board having extensive pharma and biotech experience in both public and private companies. This includes service as a Board Director, President, CEO and COO," said Ray Prudo, M.D., Akari's Chairman. "His experience extends over multiple therapeutic areas including immunology/autoimmune disease and oncology, two areas where Robert's leadership, strategic planning and innovative portfolio development will be invaluable as we continue on our mission to develop transformative treatments."

Rob Bazemore has spent his career of over 30 years on the development and commercialization of novel medicines. From 2015 to 2021, Mr. Bazemore served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Epizyme, Inc., developing and launching TAZVERIK$(R)$ for patients with Follicular Lymphoma and Sarcoma while building on the company's pipeline of promising epigenetic candidates in oncology. Prior to that, from September 2014 to June 2015, Mr. Bazemore served as the Chief Operating Officer of Synageva BioPharma Corp., where he established the company's global commercial and medical organization to support the first product launch, helping lead the broader transition to a sustainable commercial enterprise through the company's acquisition by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in July 2015. Prior to joining Synageva, Mr. Bazemore served in increasing levels of responsibility at Johnson & Johnson including Vice President of Centocor Ortho Biotech Sales & Marketing from 2008 to 2010 and President of Janssen Biotech from 2010 to 2013, where he led the successful launches of numerous products and indications, including the US launches of the oncology therapies ZYTIGA(R) and IBRUVICA(R) . He was also Vice President of Global Surgery at Ethicon from 2013 to 2014. Prior to Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Bazemore worked at Merck & Co. Inc. from 1991 to 2013, where he served in a variety of roles in medical affairs, sales and marketing, including supporting the launch of SINGULAIR(R) in the US. Mr. Bazemore previously served on the board of Neon Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by BioNTech and served as Board Chairman for Pennsylvania BIO. Mr. Bazemore currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ardelyx, Inc. since June 2016 and as the Lead Independent Director of Nuvation Bio, Inc. since July 2020. Mr. Bazemore received a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Georgia.

About the Merger

On March 5, 2024, Akari and Peak Bio announced a definitive agreement to merge as equals in an all-stock transaction. The combined entity will operate as Akari Therapeutics, Plc, which is expected to continue to be listed and trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market as AKTX. Under the terms of the agreement, Peak stockholders will receive a number of Akari ordinary shares (represented by American Depositary Shares) for each share of Peak stock they own, as determined on the basis of the exchange ratio described in the merger agreement. The exchange is expected to result in implied equity ownership in the combined company of approximately 50% for Akari shareholders and approximately 50% for Peak stockholders on a fully diluted basis, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances, including based on each party's relative level of net cash at the closing of the proposed transaction. The transaction is expected to close by the third quarter of this year subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by the shareholders of both companies.

About Akari Therapeutics

Akari Therapeutics, plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) is a biotechnology company developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Akari's lead asset, investigational nomacopan, is a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of complement C5 activation and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) activity. The company is conducting pre-clinical research of long-acting PAS-nomacopan in geographic atrophy (GA). For more information about Akari, please visit akaritx.com.

About Peak Bio, Inc.

Peak Bio (OTC: PKBO) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics addressing significant unmet needs in the areas of oncology and inflammation. The Peak Bio pipeline includes an antibody-drug-conjugate $(ADC.AU)$ platform that includes novel toxins and linkers coupled with important cancer antibody targets and a Phase 2-ready neutrophil elastase inhibitor for alpha1 anti-trypsin deficiency disorder (AATD). For more information about Peak Bio, please visit peak-bio.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication relates to the proposed transaction pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, by and among Akari, Pegasus Merger Sub, Inc., and Peak Bio. This communication includes express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), about the proposed transaction between Peak Bio and Akari and the operations of the combined company that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Akari and Peak Bio. Actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "future," "opportunity" "will likely result," "target," variations of such words, and similar expressions or negatives of these words are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding: the business combination and related matters, including, but not limited to, satisfaction of closing conditions to the proposed transaction, prospective performance and opportunities with respect to Akari or Peak Bio, post-closing operations and the outlook for the companies' businesses; Akari's, Peak Bio's or the combined company's targets, plans, objectives or goals for future operations, including those related to Akari's and Peak Bio's product candidates, research and development, product candidate introductions and product candidate approvals as well as cooperation in relation thereto; projections of or targets for revenues, costs, income (or loss), earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure, net financials and other financial measures; future economic performance, future actions and outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings; and the assumptions underlying or relating to such statements. These statements are based on Akari's and Peak Bio's current plans, estimates and projections. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. A number of important factors, including those described in this communication, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect future results and may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include, without limitation: uncertainties as to the timing for completion of the proposed transaction; uncertainties as to Peak Bio's and/or Akari's ability to obtain the approval of Akari's shareholders or Peak Bio's stockholders required to consummate the proposed transaction; the possibility that competing offers will be made by third parties; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of Akari and Peak Bio to terminate the merger agreement; the possibility that various closing conditions for the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or waived on a timely basis or at all, including the possibility that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay, or refuse to grant approval, if required, for the consummation of the proposed transaction (or only grant approval subject to adverse conditions or limitations); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of consents or regulatory approvals or actions, if any; the possibility that the proposed transaction may not be completed in the time frame expected by Akari and Peak Bio, or at all; the risk that Akari and Peak Bio may not realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction in the time frame expected, or at all; the effects of the proposed transaction on relationships with Akari's or Peak Bio's employees, business or collaboration partners or governmental entities; the ability to retain and hire key personnel; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; significant or unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the potential impact of unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, costs, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition and losses on the future prospects, business and management strategies for the management,

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