MONTREAL, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - AKELA Pharma Inc., , a drug development company focused on developing therapies for the inhalation and pain markets, today announced that it is undertaking a public offering in the United States of 5,250,000 shares of its common stock. Akela has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 787,500 shares at the public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. Proceeds from the offering will be used to further the research, development and expansion of Akela’s product candidates and for other working capital and general corporate purposes.
Akela has applied to list its common shares on the NASDAQ(TM) Global Market under the symbol “AKLA.” Akela’s shares are currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AKL.”
Lazard Capital Markets LLC will act as the sole book-running manager for the offering. Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. and Broadpoint Capital, Inc. will act as co-managers for the offering. A copy of the preliminary prospectus may be obtained by contacting Lazard Capital Markets LLC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Syndicate Department, 60th Floor, or by phone at (212) 632-6717.
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Akela Pharma Inc.
Akela Pharma is an integrated drug development company focused on developing therapies for the growing multi-billion dollar inhalation and pain markets. Its lead product, for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain, is a fast-acting fentanyl formulation delivered using the Company’s TAIFUN(R) dry powder inhaler platform. Its pipeline also includes therapeutics for asthma, COPD, growth hormone deficiencies and controlled substance abuse deterrent formulations.
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of AKELA Pharma Inc. with respect to its performance, business and future events. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results and events may vary significantly.
CONTACT: Frederic Dumais, Vice-President, Investor Relations, (514)
315-3330 ext. 106, Fax: (514) 315-3325; Tina Posterli, (U.S. Media), (917)
322-2565, tposterli@rxir.com; www.akelapharma.com