THOROFARE, N.J., Dec. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akers Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKER) (AIM:AKR.L), (the "Company"), a leading designer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic screening and testing products, has entered into its first European distribution agreements since the installment of its international vice president in August 2014. The Company has entered into multi-year distribution agreements for PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay products with Cryopep SARL, covering France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; and DiaLine AG, covering Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
The Company's PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay and PIFA PLUSS PF4 are the only US and EU cleared rapid manual assays that quickly determine if a patient being treated with the blood thinner heparin may be developing a drug allergy. This clinical syndrome known as heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia ("HIT") 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, clinical decision making. Millions of patients are exposed to heparin around the world each year and 1% to 5% of those patients receive a HIT diagnosis. The largest at-risk populations are patients undergoing major cardiac or orthopedic surgical procedures.
Cryopep (headquartered in Montpellier, France) and DiaLine (headquartered in Lausen, Switzerland) are both leaders in the field of haemostasis, which includes coagulation disorders such as HIT. Cryopep's managing director, Norbert Benattar, has been involved in the sale of haemostasis related products since 1987, including as a director of marketing and sales for Diagnostica Stago and Horiba ABX Biogenic; while DiaLine has been distributing haemostasis related products for over 17 years.
"Cryopep and DiaLine's respective expertise in the coagulation business makes us confident that we have selected strong partners to launch the PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay products into these European territories," said Nicolas Daurel, the Company's Vice President Sales and Marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa. "I look forward to supporting their marketing strategies."
"Growing international distribution, particularly of the Company's flagship PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay products, is a core component of Akers Biosciences' growth strategy," said Raymond F. Akers, Jr. PhD, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Board. "I am delighted to see the first pieces of the European network established, adding to the already established distribution channels in the US, China, India, Australia and the Middle East."
ABOUT AKERS BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Akers Biosciences develops, manufactures, and supplies rapid, point of care screening and testing products designed to bring healthcare information both rapidly and directly to the consumer or healthcare provider. 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 products 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 on our website at www.akersbiosciences.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.