NEW YORK and BOSTON, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (NASDAQ:AKTX), a late-stage biotechnology company developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of experienced life sciences entrepreneur Samir R. Patel, M.D. to the Akari Board of Directors.
"Samir is a long-time investor in Akari and brings to us broad life sciences experience and a track record of multiple successful startup companies. I am pleased to welcome him to our Board of Directors at this important time in our company's development," said Ray Prudo, M.D., Akari Chairman.
"I am truly honored to have this opportunity to further demonstrate my commitment to advance Akari by partnering with other Board members and management to help realize the promise of the company's novel lead asset, nomacopan, on behalf of patients and our shareholders," said Dr. Patel.
Dr. Patel currently serves as founder and principal of PranaBio Investments, LLC, a firm providing consulting, strategic advisory, and investment services for small cap biotechnology companies. He is also a consultant to GE Global Research, GE's innovation engine that is creating novel products and solutions across several sectors including biomanufacturing and biotechnology.
He has more than 20 years of experience in life sciences including co-founding Digital Therapeutics, LLC, a startup advancing a therapy for scleroderma and other rheumatic diseases, and SPEC Pharma, LLC, a company that develops and manufactures injectables used in rheumatology applications. Previously, Dr. Patel held multiple roles in Medical Affairs with Centocor, Inc. (now Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, part of Johnson & Johnson). He holds multiple patents, has been an author on several publications and has been an investigator in numerous clinical research studies.
Dr. Patel received his medical degree from ...