BioFlorida Names AIM ImmunoTech CEO Thomas K. Equels as Entrepreneur of the Year
October 30 2020 - 10:00AM
BioFlorida has announced Thomas K. Equels, Chief Executive Officer
of AIM ImmunoTech Inc. (NYSE American: AIM), as its Weaver H.
Gaines Entrepreneur of the Year. The Entrepreneur of the Year Award
recognizes an entrepreneur who has made extraordinary contributions
to the growth of life sciences in the leadership of a company or
institution. BioFlorida represents 6,700 establishments and
research organizations in the biopharmaceuticals, medical
technology, healthIT and bioagriculture sectors.
Thomas K. Equels is the CEO of AIM ImmunoTech
Inc., an Ocala, Fla.-based immuno-pharma company focused on the
research and development of therapeutics to treat multiple types of
cancers, immune disorders and viral diseases, including COVID-19,
the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Equels’ successful
legal career included extensive experience in the pharma sector. He
has over the years served as a court-appointed receiver turning
around businesses in a number of different fields. Equels received
his J.D. with high honors from Florida State University. He is also
a summa cum laude graduate (Bachelor of Science) of Troy University
and obtained his Master of Science Degree from Troy. He also
received Troy’s “Scholarship Award” as one of two graduates with a
perfect GPA. Equels is also a highly decorated combat aviator,
twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and awarded the
Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and 15 Air Medals, including three
for extraordinary valor. In 2012, he was knighted by Pope Benedict
as a knight of the Papal States.
“We are pleased to present Thomas K. Equels with
this award for his contributions to the Florida life sciences
industry and his ongoing passion and commitment to find solutions
for the treatment of seriously debilitating disorders — including
their work to fight COVID-19,” said Nancy K. Bryan, President and
CEO of BioFlorida.
“Tom Equels is a deserving recipient of
BioFlorida’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award. Tom left a highly
successful legal practice in 2016 to assume the leadership role at
AIM. In less than four years he has positioned Ampligen — its
principal lead drug — in a large number of promising clinical
trials, as well as established financial stability at AIM. Tom’s
progress in proving the enormous potential of Ampligen has been
remarkable,” said William Mitchell, MD, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of AIM.
AIM’s flagship products are Ampligen
(rintatolimod) and Alferon N Injection. Ampligen is being evaluated
as a potential therapeutic for COVID-19, myalgic
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), for multiple
types of cancers and as a viral vaccine adjuvant. Alferon is a
natural interferon that is approved in the U.S. and Argentina.
In a potential breakthrough, Ampligen has
demonstrated the potential for standalone efficacy in the clinical
setting in pancreatic cancer. In this regard, AIM recently
announced receipt of statistically significant positive pancreatic
cancer survival results from a multi-year Early Access Program
conducted at Erasmus University Medical Center in the
Netherlands.
Safety and efficacy of Ampligen is also being
studied in several immuno-oncology clinical trials at highly
respected NCI-Designated Cancer Centers; two of which are in
combination with the checkpoint blockade drug pembrolizumab. The
National Cancer Institute has awarded $14.5 million to Roswell Park
to fund five immuno-oncology clinical trials. In addition, two
Dept. of Defense "Breakthrough Awards" totaling approximately $15
million to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Moffitt
Cancer Center for Ampligen studies are expected to commence in
2020-21 in brain-metastatic breast cancer.
AIM recently signed a clinical trial agreement
with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center supporting an
FDA-authorized Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Ampligen combined with
Interferon Alfa-2b (clinicaltrials.gov/NCT04379518) to test the
safety and effectiveness of the combination regimen to clear the
SARS-CoV-2 virus from the upper airway in patients with cancer and
mild-to-moderate COVID-19. AIM also recently signed a material
transfer and research agreement with Japan's National Institute of
Infectious Diseases and Shionogi, a leading global pharmaceutical
company, to test Ampligen as a potential vaccine adjuvant for
COVID-19. The pre-clinical testing and research is being conducted
by their laboratories in Japan.
About
BioFloridaBioFlorida is the voice of Florida’s
life science industry, representing 6,700 establishments and
research organizations in the biopharmaceutical, medical
technology, and bioagriculture sectors that collectively employ
87,000 Floridians. [Source: The Value of Bioscience Innovation in
Growing Jobs and Improving Quality of Life (TEConomy/BIO, 2016)]
BioFlorida’s member driven initiatives provide a strong business
climate for the advancement of innovative products and technology
that improve lives and promote economic benefits to the state. Link
to their website
About AIM ImmunoTech Inc.AIM
ImmunoTech Inc. is an immuno-pharma company focused on the research
and development of therapeutics to treat multiple types of cancers,
immune disorders and viral diseases, including COVID-19, the
disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For more information on AIM
ImmunoTech, please visit www.aimimmuno.com.
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA)
of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan,"
"anticipate" and similar expressions (as well as other words or
expressions referencing future events or circumstances) are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Many of these
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. For example, significant additional testing and
trials will be required to determine whether Ampligen will be
effective in the treatment of COVID-19 or COVID-19-induced CFS-like
cases or immuno-oncology in humans and no assurance can be given
that it will be the case. Additionally, no assurance can be given
as to whether the current or planned trials will be initiated and
the trials are subject to many factors including lack of regulatory
approval(s), lack of study drug, a change in priorities at the
institutions sponsoring other trials or will require additional
funding. Even if these clinical trials are initiated, we cannot
assure that the clinical studies will be successful, or yield any
useful data or require additional funding. Among other things, for
those statements, we claim the protection of safe harbor for
forward-looking statements contained in the PSLRA. We do not
undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof.
Human clinical trials will be necessary to prove whether or not
Ampligen will be efficacious in humans. No assurance can be given
that future studies will not result in findings that are different
from those reported in the studies referenced.
BioFlorida Contact:
Courtney Cox, PR Counsel(850)
559-0708CourtneyC@TheMooreAgency.com
AIM Contact:Crescendo
Communications, LLCPhone:
212-671-1021Email: aim@crescendo-ir.com
AIM ImmunoTech IncPhone:
800-778-4042Email: IR@aimimmuno.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b36f596a-c136-491f-b1bc-c45c02f778d9
AIM ImmunoTech (AMEX:AIM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
AIM ImmunoTech (AMEX:AIM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024