NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Longevity
Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: LOAC) (the "Company"), a
publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, announced
today that on December 18, 2020, 4D
pharma plc (AIM: DDDD) ("4D pharma"), a pharmaceutical company
leading the development of Live Biotherapeutic products ("LBPs") -
a novel class of drug derived from the microbiome, and a business
combination target of LOAC, has joined the Parkinson's Progression
Markers Initiative ("PPMI") as an industry partner. PPMI is a
landmark study sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation to better
understand Parkinson's disease and accelerate the development of
new treatments.
4D pharma representatives will contribute to the efforts of the
PPMI by joining the Partner Scientific Advisory Board closely
involved in the design and execution of the study. In addition, 4D
pharma will also join a variety of PPMI Working Groups that provide
a forum to discuss PPMI data and address Parkinson's clinical trial
challenges with other PPMI industry and non-profit partners.
"The Michael J. Fox Foundation has made considerable
contributions to the development of therapeutic solutions for the
millions of people with Parkinson's disease. Joining the PPMI
Scientific Advisory Board will enable 4D pharma to bring its
leading expertise in Live Biotherapeutics and the gut-brain axis to
the pioneering joint effort that is the PPMI," said Alex
Stevenson, Chief Scientific Officer, 4D pharma. "This is an
excellent forum in which to share our knowledge and scientific
approach and to help shape the future of high-quality research into
Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, while
continuing to learn from leading experts in the field across
industry, academia and non-profit organizations. 4D pharma will
play an important role as PPMI considers the microbiome as an area
of focus, following a growing body of evidence pointing to the gut
microbiome as a new frontier in our understanding and treatment of
Parkinson's disease."
"We are pleased to welcome 4D pharma as a partner on the
Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. It is only with diverse
expertise on the various aspects of this complex disease that we
will better understand it and find solutions for patients," said
MJFF Deputy CEO, Sohini Chowdhury.
"There is a significant and growing interest in the field in
understanding the role of the microbiome in Parkinson's disease and
opportunities for therapeutic intervention. 4D pharma brings
expertise in this novel area of research to our Scientific Advisory
Board, and we look forward to their insights and
contributions."
In addition to its contribution to PPMI, 4D pharma continues to
make progress with regards to its own pipeline of Live
Biotherapeutic candidates for Parkinson's disease. 4D pharma has
previously published pre-clinical data demonstrating the
neuroprotective effects of Live Biotherapeutics in an animal model
of Parkinson's disease, and work investigating the mechanisms of
these therapeutic effects. 4D pharma continues to make progress in
the planning and design of a first-in-human clinical trial in
Parkinson's disease patients; this would be the first clinical
trial of a Live Biotherapeutic in the treatment of Parkinson's.
About LOAC
LOAC is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a
Special Purpose Acquisition Company, or SPAC, formed for the
purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share
reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially
all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or
engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more
businesses or entities. LOAC is contemplating a proposed business
combination with 4d pharma plc (AIM: DDDD), a public limited
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales pursuant to an agreement and plan of
merger dated October 21, 2020 as
disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 22, 2020. LOAC
is sponsored by Whale Management Corporation, a BVI business
company with limited liability.
About the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative
PPMI is a landmark observational longitudinal clinical study
launched by MJFF in 2010 to help identify, develop, and validate
biomarkers of Parkinson's disease progression to further the
development of disease-modifying therapies. PPMI is funded by MJFF
and a consortium of key industry players, non-profit organizations
and private individuals, and involves active participation of
stakeholders from government, the biopharmaceutical industry and
academia to collectively design, implement and fund this
comprehensive and pioneering research program.
PPMI collects and analyses a suite of clinical, imaging and
biological data over time to measure and track disease risk, onset
and progression, to establish new biomarkers for use in clinical
trials of disease-modifying therapies. The study is building on its
33 clinical sites and 1,400 enrolled volunteers, with plans to grow
to more than 50 clinical sites in 13 countries and more than 4,000
participants.
For more information and to see 4D pharma's PPMI consortium
peers visit
https://www.ppmi-info.org/about-ppmi/who-we-are/study-sponsors/
About 4D pharma
Founded in February 2014, 4D
pharma is a world leader in the development of Live
Biotherapeutics, a novel and emerging class of drugs, defined by
the FDA as biological products that contain a live organism, such
as a bacterium, that is applicable to the prevention, treatment or
cure of a disease. 4D has developed a proprietary platform,
MicroRx®, that rationally identifies Live Biotherapeutics based on
a deep understanding of function and mechanism.
4D pharma's Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs) are orally
delivered single strains of bacteria that are naturally found in
the healthy human gut. The Company has six clinical programmes,
namely a Phase I/II study of MRx0518 in combination with KEYTRUDA
(pembrolizumab) in solid tumours, a Phase I study of MRx0518 in a
neoadjuvant setting for patients with solid tumours, a Phase I
study of MRx0518 in patients with pancreatic cancer, a Phase I/II
study of MRx-4DP0004 in asthma, a Phase II study of MRx-4DP0004 in
patients hospitalised with COVID-19, and Blautix® in Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which has completed a successful Phase II
trial. Preclinical-stage programmes include candidates for CNS
disease such as Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative
conditions. The Company has a research collaboration with MSD, a
tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, to discover and develop
Live Biotherapeutics for vaccines.
In October 2020 4D pharma
announced its intention to merge with Longevity Acquisition
Corporation (NASDAQ: LOAC), a special purpose acquisition company
(SPAC), and seek a NASDAQ listing.The merger is expected to be
completed and the NASDAQ listing of 4D pharma American Depositary
Shares (ADSs) under the ticker symbol 'LBPS' is currently expected
to become effective in early 2021, subject to approval of 4D
Shareholders and Longevity Shareholders, and the SEC review
process.
For more information, refer to https://www.4dpharmaplc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and the exhibits hereto include
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and 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. Any actual results may differ from expectations,
estimates and projections presented or implied and, consequently,
you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as
predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate,"
"project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan,"
"may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts,"
"potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, LOAC's expectations with
respect to future performance, anticipated financial impacts of the
proposed business combination, approval of the business combination
transactions by security holders, the satisfaction of the closing
conditions to such transactions and the timing of the completion of
such transactions.
Additional Information About the Proposed Business
Combination and Where To Find It
The proposed business combination will be submitted to
stockholders of LOAC for their consideration and approval at a
special meeting of stockholders. 4D pharma has filed a preliminary
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") with the SEC
on November 25, 2020, and LOAC filed
a preliminary proxy statement in connection with LOAC's
solicitation of proxies for the vote by LOAC's stockholders in
connection with the proposed business combination and other matters
as described in the proxy statement, as well as the preliminary
prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to
LOAC's stockholders in connection with the completion of the
business combination. After the Registration Statement has been
declared effective, LOAC will mail a definitive proxy statement and
other relevant documents to its stockholders as of the record date
established for voting on the proposed business combination. LOAC's
stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the
preliminary proxy statement and any amendments thereto and, once
available, the definitive proxy statement / consent solicitation /
prospectus, in connection with LOAC's solicitation of proxies for
its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among
other things, the proposed business combination, because these
documents will contain important information about LOAC, 4D pharma
and the proposed business combination. Stockholders may also obtain
a copy of the preliminary proxy statement / prospectus, or
definitive proxy statement / prospectus once available, as well as
other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed business
combination and other documents filed with the SEC by LOAC, without
charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing
a request to:
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Advantage Proxy,
Inc.
P.O. Box 13581
Des Moines, WA 98198
Attn: Karen Smith
Toll Free: (877) 870-8565
Collect: (206) 870-8565
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or
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Longevity Acquisition Corporation
Yongda International Tower No. 2277
Longyang Road, Pudong District, Shanghai
People's Republic of China
(86) 21-60832028
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This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation
of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of 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. 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.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY
AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS
OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
Contact:
Matthew Chen
Longevity Acquisition Corporation
+ (86) 21-60832028
mchen@lonacq.com
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SOURCE Longevity Acquisition Corporation