THOROFARE, N.J., April 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akers Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKER) (AIM: AKR.L), (“Akers Bio” or the "Company"), a developer of rapid health information technologies, announces the engagement of two leading Independent Sales Representative (ISR) organizations to increase US sales and marketing capabilities for the Company’s rapid test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

The agreements with Opto-Systems, Inc. (“Opto-Systems”) and Herzog Surgical, Inc. (“Herzog Surgical”) are in line with Akers Bio’s strategy to create platelet factor 4 awareness amongst surgeons - principally orthopaedic and cardiac surgeons - and to expand the utilization of the Company’s point-of-care PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay product platform.

Opto-Systems, based in Newtown, PA, has a 39-year history in medical device sales and distribution, with expertise in surgical specialties, including orthopaedic surgeons. Opto-Systems has a team of highly trained representatives based in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, calling on physicians, hospitals and medical offices. Following a period of training in the sales and associated support for PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay products, Opto-Systems will broaden Akers Bio’s US sales coverage in the northeast with a specific focus on the clinical end-users of the Company’s rapid test.

Herzog Surgical, based in Sacramento, CA, has a 30-year track record serving the healthcare community as a distributor of specialized products with applications in all areas of medicine. Herzog Surgical’s sales team members have on average over 13 years of tenure. They bring significant relationships with cardiac surgeons as well as with hospitals and Integrated Delivery Networks within California and northern Nevada. Following a period of training in the sales and associated support for PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay products, Herzog Surgical will broaden Akers Bio’s US sales coverage across northern Nevada and the entire state of California, also with a specific focus on the clinical end-users of the Company’s rapid test.

John J. Gormally, Chief Executive Officer of Akers Bio, commented: “The development of Akers Bio’s Independent Sales Representative organization is a key component of our strategy to increase awareness and sales of PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay products in the US. It represents the third wave of our commercialization strategy which included value captured in price, a strategy to target Integrated Delivery Networks and now, a strategy to influence the clinical pathway by educating the clinical end-users on the critical medical benefits of adopting this rapid test for heparin platelet factor 4 antibodies.

“We are thrilled to be working with Opto-Systems and Herzog Surgical whose respective specialized capabilities will bolster our sales efforts and allow our test to gain substantial additional regional coverage at a clinical level. We are looking forward to working with them – and other ISR organizations with whom we expect to engage in due course – to effect real change in the clinical pathway for the diagnosis of HIT.”

About Akers Biosciences, Inc.

Akers Bio develops, manufactures, and supplies rapid screening and testing products designed to deliver quicker and more cost-effective healthcare information to healthcare providers and consumers. The Company has advanced the science of diagnostics while responding to major shifts in healthcare through the development of several proprietary platform technologies. The Company's state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic assays can be performed virtually anywhere in minutes when time is of the essence. The Company has aligned with major healthcare companies and high volume medical product distributors to maximize product offerings, and to be a major worldwide competitor in diagnostics.

Additional information on the Company and its products can be found at www.akersbio.com. Follow us on Twitter @AkersBio.

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Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the intended terms of the offering, closing of the offering and use of any proceeds from the offering. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "target", "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Akers Biosciences, Inc., its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.