附件99.1

Akari Treateutics和Peak Bio宣布达成最终协议,将平等合并,创建一条扩展的管道
一个新的抗体药物结合物(ADC)工具包

马萨诸塞州波士顿和加利福尼亚州PLEASANTON-2024年3月5日(环球通讯社)-阿卡里治疗公司(纳斯达克:AKTX),一家开发自身免疫和炎症性疾病先进疗法的晚期生物技术公司,与匹克生物公司(场外交易代码:PKBO),一家专注于开发炎症和肿瘤学领域治疗药物的临床阶段生物制药公司,宣布了一项最终协议,将在全股票交易中平等合并。合并后的实体将以阿卡里治疗公司的名称运营,预计该公司将继续以AKTX的名称在纳斯达克资本市场上市和交易。

完成交易后, 公司将拥有一个扩展的渠道,其中包含跨越早期和后期开发阶段的多个引人注目的资产。 计划对渠道进行评估,包括计划优先顺序、更新的时间表、短期价值创造机会和其他考虑因素。合并的主要亮点包括:

匹克的创新ADC工具包和领先计划

·合并后的管道具有强大的ADC工具包,具有新的有效负载和链接器技术。通过将化疗与免疫治疗策略相结合,合并后的公司旨在为癌症患者开发尖端解决方案。此外,该计划还包括一种新的针对trop-2的临床前ADC候选药物。

跨越早期和后期的多种引人注目的资产

·Akari公司的诺马可潘是补体C5和白三烯B4(LTB4)的双特异性重组抑制剂,正在进行儿童造血干细胞移植相关血栓性微血管病(HSCT-TMA)的3期临床试验。它有可能成为首个被批准的治疗HSCT-TMA的方法,HSCT-TMA是干细胞移植的一种罕见并发症,在重症成人和儿童患者中死亡率高达80%。

·Akari的长效诺马可潘(PASylated-Nomacopan)正处于治疗地理萎缩(GA)的临床前开发的最后阶段。它有可能解决患者尚未满足的重大需求 包括玻璃体内注射之间的更长剂量间隔和降低脉络膜新生血管(CNV)风险,这与目前GA治疗中已批准的仅限补体抑制剂有关。

·匹克生物公司的第二阶段就绪PHP-303计划针对的是阿尔法-1抗胰蛋白酶 缺乏(AATD)。该计划获得了拜耳医疗保健公司的许可,是5这是生成针对AATD炎症方面的中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶抑制物(NEI),这是一种罕见的情况。

战略重点

·合并后的公司预计将强调业务开发和许可 ,对患者具有广泛的潜在影响。

成熟的领导力

·领导力具有丰富的战略和运营经验。HoYoung Huh,医学博士,博士预计将担任合并后实体的即将上任的董事会主席。许博士目前是柔韧治疗公司的董事会主席和BridgeBio Pharma的联合创始人。他是Geron Corporation、CytomX Treateutics、Epichyme的前董事长,也是麦肯锡公司的前合伙人。

合并后的董事会将 由每家公司选出的三名董事和一名独立的董事共同选出。

交易细节

根据协议条款,匹克股东每持有匹克股票 股,将获得一定数量的阿卡里普通股(以美国存托股份为代表),这是根据协议中描述的交换比例确定的。预计此次交换将在完全稀释的基础上,使Akari股东和Peak股东在合并后的公司中分别拥有约50%和约50%的隐含股权,在某些情况下可能会进行调整,包括基于双方在拟议交易完成时的相对净现金水平。

您可以免费获得S-4表格中的注册声明、联合委托书/招股说明书和其他相关文件(如果可以获得),这些文件是 或将免费提交给美国证券交易委员会的,网址为www.sec.gov。阿卡利提交给美国证券交易委员会的文件的副本将在阿卡里的网站http://investor.akaritx.com/上免费获取,或联系阿卡里的投资者关系部 http://investor.akaritx.com/investor-resources/contact-us.。匹克生物提交给美国证券交易委员会的文件副本将 在匹克生物的网站https://peak-bio.com/investors上免费提供,或联系匹克生物的投资者关系部 https://peak-bio.com/contact.。

征集活动的参与者

Akari、匹克生物及其各自的董事和高管以及管理层和员工的其他成员可被视为就拟议交易征集 委托书的参与者。有关AKARI董事和高管的信息,包括对他们直接或间接利益的描述,包括对他们通过持有证券或其他方式的直接或间接利益的描述,已在2023年5月1日提交给美国证券交易委员会的AKARI截至2022年12月31日的20-F年度报告、随后分别以FORM 10-Q 和-K表格提交的季度报告和当前报告中阐述,以及可能不时提交给美国证券交易委员会的其他文件。匹克生物董事和高管的信息,包括对其直接或间接利益的描述,包括所持证券或其他方式的描述,载于匹克生物2022年10月19日提交给美国证券交易委员会的2022年股东特别大会委托书、2023年6月29日提交给美国证券交易委员会的截至2022年12月31日的截至2022年12月31日的10-K表格年度报告、随后分别提交给美国证券交易委员会的10-Q表格和8-K表格的后续季度报告和当前报告,以及可能不时提交给美国证券交易委员会的其他文件。有关委托书征集参与人的其他信息,以及对他们直接和间接利益的描述, 通过证券持有或其他方式,将包含在 S-4表格登记说明书中的联合委托书/招股说明书中,以及在获得此类材料后提交给美国证券交易委员会的有关拟议交易的其他相关材料。 证券持有人、潜在投资者和其他读者在做出任何投票或投资决定之前,应仔细阅读S-4表格登记 说明书中包含的联合委托书/招股说明书。您可以使用上述来源从Akari或Peak Bio获得这些文档的免费副本 。

了解更多信息

投资者联系方式:

Mike·莫耶

生活科学顾问

邮箱:mmoyer@lifescivisors.com

媒体联系人:

伊莱扎·施莱夫斯坦

施莱夫斯坦公关

邮箱:eliza@schleifsteinpr.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, expansion and growth of the combined business after the consummation of the proposed transaction; potential negative effects related to this announcement or the consummation of the proposed transaction on the market price of Akari’s American Depositary Shares or Peak Bio’s common stock and/or Akari’s or Peak Bio’s operating or financial results; uncertainties as to the long-term value of Akari’s American Depositary Shares (and the ordinary shares represented thereby), including the dilution caused by Akari’s issuance of additional American Depositary Shares (and the ordinary shares represented thereby) in connection with the proposed transaction; unknown liabilities related to Akari or Peak Bio; the nature, cost and outcome of any litigation and other legal proceedings involving Akari, Peak Bio or their respective directors, including any legal proceedings related to the proposed transaction; risks related to global as well as local political and economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; potential delays or failures related to research and/or development of Akari’s or Peak Bio’s programs or product candidates; risks related to any loss of Akari’s or Peak Bio’s patents or other intellectual property rights; any interruptions of the supply chain for raw materials or manufacturing for Akari or Peak Bio’s product candidates, the nature, timing, cost and possible success and therapeutic applications of product candidates being developed by Akari, Peak Bio and/or their respective collaborators or licensees; the extent to which the results from the research and development programs conducted by Akari, Peak Bio, and/or their respective collaborators or licensees may be replicated in other studies and/or lead to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials, therapeutic applications, or regulatory approval; uncertainty of the utilization, market acceptance, and commercial success of Akari’s or Peak Bio’s product candidates, and the impact of studies (whether conducted by Akari, Peak Bio or others and whether mandated or voluntary) on any of the foregoing; unexpected breaches or terminations with respect to Akari’s or Peak Bios’s material contracts or arrangements; risks related to competition for Akari’s or Peak Bio’s product candidates; Akari’s or Peak Bio’s ability to successfully develop or commercialize Akari’s or Peak Bio’s product candidates; Akari’s, Peak Bio’s, and their collaborators’ abilities to continue to conduct current and future developmental, preclinical and clinical programs; potential exposure to legal proceedings and investigations; risks related to changes in governmental laws and related interpretation thereof, including on reimbursement, intellectual property protection and regulatory controls on testing, approval, manufacturing, development or commercialization of any of Akari’s or Peak Bio’s product candidates; unexpected increase in costs and expenses with respect to the potential transaction or Akari’s or Peak Bio’s business or operations; and risks and uncertainties related to epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises and their impact on Akari’s and Peak Bio’s respective businesses, operations, supply chain, patient enrollment and retention, preclinical and clinical trials, strategy, goals and anticipated milestones. While the foregoing list of factors presented here is considered representative, no list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction or any other transaction described above will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Akari’s and Peak Bios’s respective filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including each of their Annual Reports on Form 20-F and 10-K, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022, subsequent periodic reports, and other documents that may be filed from time to time with the SEC. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, will be more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction, which joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed or otherwise disseminated to Akari’s shareholders and Peak Bio’s stockholders when it becomes available.

Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and are made based on the current beliefs and judgments of Akari’s and Peak Bio’s management, and the reader is cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements made by Akari or Peak Bio. Unless required by law, neither Akari nor Peak Bio is under no duty and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement after the distribution of this document, including without limitation any financial projection or guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of, or offer to sell or buy, 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. This communication is for informational purposes only. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, Akari and Peak Bio expect to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4. The Registration Statement on Form S-4 will include a prospectus of Akari and a joint proxy statement of Akari and Peak Bio, and each party may also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO AND ANY DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN, IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, RELATED MATTERS AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

You may obtain a free copy of the Registration Statement on Form S-4, joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents (if and when they become available) that are or will be filed with the SEC for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Akari will be available free of charge on Akari’s website at http://investor.akaritx.com/ or by contacting Akari’s Investor Relations Department at http://investor.akaritx.com/investor-resources/contact-us. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Peak Bio will be available free of charge on Peak Bio’s website at https://peak-bio.com/investors or by contacting Peak Bio’s Investor Relations Department at https://peak-bio.com/contact.

Participants in the Solicitation

Akari, Peak Bio and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Akari, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Akari’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on May 1, 2023, subsequent quarterly and current reports on Form 10-Q and -K, respectively, and other documents that may be filed from time to time with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Peak Bio, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Peak Bio’s proxy statement for its 2022 Special Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on October 19, 2022, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on June 29, 2023, subsequent quarterly and current reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, respectively, and other documents that may be filed from time to time with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials become available. Security holders, potential investors and other readers should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus, included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decision. You may obtain free copies of these documents from Akari or Peak Bio using the sources indicated above.

For more information

Investor Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
(617) 308-4306
mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:

Eliza Schleifstein
Schleifstein PR
(917) 763-8106
eliza@schleifsteinpr.com