Age-related chronic inflammation induced by activation of
NLRP1 inflammasomes is implicated in development and progression of
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
diseases
IC 100 research was conducted at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine by
acclaimed experts in immunology, and leaders at the forefront of
inflammasome research
IC 100, a novel monoclonal antibody inflammasome ASC
inhibitor, targets multiple types of inflammasomes, including
NLRP1, to block initiation and perpetuation of damaging chronic
inflammation
WESTON,
Fla. and BRIDGEWATER,
N.J., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZyVersa
Therapeutics, Inc. ("ZyVersa"), a clinical stage specialty
biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drugs for
treatment of inflammatory and renal diseases, and Larkspur Health
Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LSPR or "Larkspur"), a blank-check
special purpose acquisition company, are pleased to announce that
data published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
demonstrate that ZyVersa's inflammasome ASC inhibitor, IC 100, is
effective in reducing inflammation in the brains of aged mice.
Age-related chronic inflammation is implicated in development and
progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases. The research was conducted by renowned
scientists from the University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Juan Pablo
de Rivero Vaccari and Dr. Robert W.
Keane.
ZyVersa's Inflammasome ASC Inhibitor, IC
100, Reduced Brain Inflammation in a Preclinical Model of
Aging.
"Inflammasome-mediated inflammation leads to devastating
neurodegenerative diseases of aging that affect millions of people
(e.g., Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), yet there are no
effective treatments for these conditions," stated Dr. Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari, Associate
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and The Miami Project
to Cure Paralysis, and Distinguished Faculty Member of the Center
for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "Our
research indicates that inflammasome ASC inhibition with a mAb we
developed, IC 100, shows potential as a treatment option. Our data
demonstrate that NLRP1, ASC, and caspase-1 form a multiprotein
inflammasome complex in the cortex of aged mice leading to
activation of IL-1β and formation of ASC specks. IC 100
administration reduced levels of NLRP1, ASC, caspase-1, activated
IL-1β, and ASC specks to levels comparable to those seen in young
mice."
"Our research also provides new evidence for a second
inflammasome pathway contributing to age-related inflammation (a
non-canonical pathway)," indicated Dr. Robert W. Keane, Professor, Physiology and
Biophysics, Neurological Surgery and Microbiology, and Immunology,
University of Miami Miller School of
Medicine. "We demonstrated that NLRP1, ASC, and caspase-8 formed a
non-canonical inflammasome in the brain of aged mice, leading to
activation of caspase-1 and IL-1β. This non-canonical inflammasome
was also inhibited by IC 100, demonstrating potential for IC 100 to
control age-related neuroinflammation by inhibiting both canonical
and non-canonical inflammasome activation, strengthening its
potential as a treatment option."
To review the publication, Click Here.
About IC 100
IC 100 is a novel humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that
inhibits the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC. IC 100 attenuates
both initiation and perpetuation of the inflammatory response. It
does so by binding to a specific region of the ASC component of
multiple types of inflammasomes, including NLRP1, NLRP2, NLRP3,
NLRC4, AIM2, and Pyrin. Intracellularly, IC 100 binds to ASC
monomers, inhibiting inflammasome formation, thereby blocking
activation of IL-1β early in the inflammatory cascade. IC 100 also
binds to ASC in ASC Specks, both intracellularly and
extracellularly, further blocking activation of IL-1β, and the
perpetuation of the inflammatory response that is pathogenic in
inflammatory diseases. Because active cytokines amplify adaptive
immunity through various mechanisms, IC 100, by attenuating
cytokine activation, attenuates the adaptive immune response as
well.
About ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc.
ZyVersa is a clinical stage specialty biopharmaceutical company
leveraging advanced, proprietary technologies to develop
first-in-class drugs. Our focus is on patients with inflammatory or
renal diseases who have significant unmet medical needs. Our
development pipeline includes a novel inflammasome ASC inhibitor
with potential to treat multiple CNS and other inflammatory
diseases. It also includes phase 2a-ready VAR 200, a cholesterol
efflux mediator for treatment of rare kidney disease, focal
segmental glomerulosclerosis. VAR 200 has potential to treat other
kidney diseases, such as Alport Syndrome and Diabetic Kidney
Disease. For more information, please visit www.zyversa.com.
About Larkspur Health Acquisition Corp.
Larkspur is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company formed to
identify a biopharmaceutical company that can develop and thrive as
a newly formed public company and benefit from Larkspur's
operational expertise and a significant infusion of capital. Each
of Larkspur's management team and board of directors have been
former management and executive leadership of private and public
biopharmaceutical companies and have over 50+ years of aggregate
investment and operational experiences. The team strongly believes
in the growth opportunities in the biotechnology industry. They are
experienced operators who seek to partner with top innovators and
thinkers in the biopharmaceutical field. As operators, their
entrepreneurial approach enables support for management teams in
making impactful decisions with an eye toward growth and
operational excellence. For more information, please visit
www.lsprhealth.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to
certain product candidates that will be the subject of a proposed
transaction between Larkspur and ZyVersa. All statements other than
statements of historical facts contained in this press release,
including statements regarding Larkspur or ZyVersa's future results
of operations and financial position, the amount of cash expected
to be available to ZyVersa after the closing and giving effect to
any redemptions by Larkspur's stockholders, ZyVersa's business
strategy, prospective product candidates, product approvals,
research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success,
plans and objectives of management for future operations, future
results of current and anticipated product candidates, and expected
use of proceeds, are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words
"believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend,"
"strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should,"
"will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result,"
and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
including, but not limited to, the following risks relating to the
proposed transaction: the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the
Business Combination Agreement; the risk that the transaction may
not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely
affect the price of Larkspur's securities; the occurrence of any
event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the
termination of the Merger Agreement; the inability to complete the
Transactions, including due to failure to obtain approval of the
shareholders of Larkspur or other conditions to closing in the
Merger Agreement; the inability to obtain or maintain the listing
of Larkspur's common stock on NASDAQ following the Transactions;
the risk that the Transactions disrupt current plans and operations
of ZyVersa as a result of the announcement and consummation of the
Transactions; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of
the Transactions, which may be affected by, among other things,
competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage
growth economically and hire and retain key employees; the risks
that ZyVersa's product candidates in development fail clinical
trials or are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
or other applicable authorities; costs related to the Transactions;
changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that
Larkspur or ZyVersa may be adversely affected by other economic,
business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and
uncertainties to be identified in the proxy statement/prospectus
(when available) relating to the Transactions, including those
under "Risk Factors" therein, and in other filings with the SEC
made by Larkspur.. Moreover, ZyVersa operates in a very competitive
and rapidly changing environment. Because forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some
of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are
beyond Larkspur's and ZyVersa's control, you should not rely on
these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, and except as required by law. Larkspur and ZyVersa
assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise. Neither Larkspur nor ZyVersa gives any
assurance that either Larkspur or ZyVersa or the combined company
will achieve its expectations.
Important Information for Investors and Stockholders and
Where to Find It
Larkspur intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4
that will include a proxy statement with respect to the stockholder
meeting of Larkspur and a prospectus with respect to securities of
the combined company. After the registration statement is declared
effective by the SEC, the proxy statement/prospectus will be sent
to all Larkspur and ZyVersa stockholders. Larkspur will also file
other documents regarding the proposed business combination with
the SEC. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND
SECURITIES HOLDERS OF LARKSPUR AND ZYVERSA ARE URGED TO READ THE
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED
OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
BUSINESS COMBINATION AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE SINCE THEY WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS
COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS
COMBINATION.
Investors and securities holders will be able to obtain free
copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant
documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Larkspur
through the website maintained by the SEC at https://sec.gov/. In
addition, the documents filed by Larkspur may be obtained free of
charge from Larkspur's website at www.lsprhealth.com or by written
request to info@lsprhealth.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
Larkspur, ZyVersa, and their respective directors and executive
officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies from Larkspur's stockholders in connection with the
proposed transaction. Information about Larkspur's directors and
executive officers and their ownership of Larkspur's securities is
set forth in Larkspur's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2021, filed with
the SEC, as modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed
with the SEC since the date of such filing. Other information
regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy
solicitation will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus
pertaining to the proposed Transactions when it becomes
available.
No Offer or Solicitation
This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be
any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or
jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means
of a prospectus.
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SOURCE Larkspur Health Acquisition Corp.; ZyVersa Therapeutics,
Inc.