Akston Biosciences Corporation, which invents, develops and manufactures breakthrough protein therapeutics for Companion Animal Health, received the 2023 Innovation Award at the just-concluded Animal Health Summit in Kansas City, MO.

Akston was selected from a highly competitive field of Animal Health companies that participated in the “Emerging Company Presentations,” The Selection Committee stated it was the most qualified group of applicants since the program's inception in 2009. Of the 51 companies that applied, the committee chose 14 companies to present at the Summit and compete for the Innovation Award.

The judges that selected Akston included Brian Axe, Managing Director, NovaQuest Capital Management; Fabian Kausche, Ph.D., Owner, FK Consulting, LLC; Linda Rhodes, VMD, Ph.D., Independent Consultant; Karine Sellam, Senior Director, Business Development, Zoetis; and Craig Wallace, Owner, C.S. Wallace Animal Health Investments + Strategy.

“We are honored to receive the 2023 Most Innovative Award,” said Todd Zion, Ph.D., president and CEO of Akston. “The Summit was a wonderful opportunity for us to share what we have achieved and our plans for the future with potential corporate partners and investors. This is an exciting time for Animal Health and I want to thank everyone at the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor for bringing together such a large group of industry leaders.”

In his presentation, Dr. Zion underscored the transformative potential of the company’s Ambifect™ Fc-fusion platform. This enables the invention of novel, high-value, and species-specific therapeutics. Dr. Zion also highlighted Akston’s integrated capabilities, from invention to development and commercial production, and why this can be the key to bringing new products to market faster and at lower cost.

Akston’s most advanced candidates are AKS-321d and AKS-425c, groundbreaking once-a-week insulins to treat canine and feline diabetes. Both are licensed to and are being developed in partnership with Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Plc, a global veterinary pharmaceuticals company. These can significantly improve the standard of care, enhancing the quality of life for pets and their owners by replacing the current twice daily injection regimen. Other candidates in Akston’s development pipeline include AKS-544d, which targets chronic pain in canines, and AKS-197d, an insulin receptor down-regulator for treating canine cancers.

About Akston Biosciences

Akston Biosciences Corporation invents, develops, and manufactures breakthrough protein therapeutics for Companion Animal Health. It was founded by the team that developed the world’s first clinical glucose-responsive insulin at SmartCells, Inc. (sold to Merck & Co.). Akston uses its Ambifect™ Fc-fusion platform to design its own novel candidates and operates a multi-kilogram-scale cGMP biologics clean-room factory dedicated to Animal Health therapeutic production. The company also provides Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services for other Animal Health companies. Additional information is available at www.akstonbio.com.

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