Late-stage biotechnology company Akari Therapeutics, Plc has announced the appointment of experienced life sciences entrepreneur Dr. Samir R. Patel to its Board of Directors. Dr. Patel, who is a long-time investor in Akari, brings broad life sciences experience and a track record of successful startup companies. Akari Chairman, Dr. Ray Prudo, welcomed Dr. Patel to the board, stating that his expertise is crucial at this important stage of the company’s development. Dr. Patel, founder and principal of PranaBio Investments, LLC, provides consulting, strategic advisory, and investment services for small cap biotech firms and also serves as a consultant to GE Global Research.
With over 20 years of experience in life sciences, Dr. Patel has co-founded companies such as Digital Therapeutics, LLC and SPEC Pharma, LLC. He holds multiple patents, has been an author on several publications, and has conducted numerous clinical research studies. Dr. Patel obtained his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio and completed his internal medicine internship and residency, as well as a rheumatology fellowship, at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals.
Akari Therapeutics is a biotech firm focused on developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its lead asset, investigational nomacopan, is a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of complement C5 activation and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) activity. The company’s pipeline includes a Phase 3 clinical trial program investigating nomacopan for severe pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA), and it has received various regulatory designations for its treatment. Additional clinical programs and pre-clinical research are also being developed by Akari Therapeutics.