Revelation Biosciences Inc. Appoints Joseph A. Bellanti, M.D. to Scientific Advisory Board
- Dr. Bellanti is Director of the International Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Immunology and Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Immunology at Georgetown University
San Diego, CA – December 6, 2021 – Revelation Biosciences Inc. (Revelation), a clinical-stage life sciences company that is focused on the development of immunologic‑based therapies for the prevention and treatment of disease, today announced it has appointed Joseph A. Bellanti, M.D. to its scientific advisory board.
Dr. Bellanti is a Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the International Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Immunology (ICISI) at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Bellanti’s investigative efforts have focused on antimicrobial research, evaluation of new vaccine strategies and developmental immunology. This work resulted in a succession of seminal research contributions including the characterization of the IgM response of the newborn, the identification of the antiviral role of secretory IgA in respiratory secretions and the cellular immune responses to viral infections following immunization or natural infection.
Dr. Bellanti is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious E. Mead Johnson Award for Research in Pediatrics for outstanding scientific contributions, the Humanitarian Award from the American College of Allergists for “excellence and service and teaching of clinical immunology”, the Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award from the State University of Buffalo, New York and the Founder’s Day Award of Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is also the recipient of Honoris Causa degrees from the University of Palermo, Italy, Georgetown University and recently, the CEA Universidad San Pablo, Madrid, Spain.
“Over the past several decades, my work has centered around generating new knowledge in immunology and translating it to clinical use,” said Dr. Bellanti. “We have seen so many advancements and innovations in this area, but still have a long way to go. The work Revelation Biosciences is doing could change the way we look at, prevent and treat stubborn and recurring infections, like influenza and COVID-19. I look forward to working with the team to develop new prevention and treatment options for the infections that impact so many people around the world each and every year.”
During the 2019-2020 season, the CDC estimates that influenza was associated with 38 million illnesses, 18 million medical visits, 405,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths. Globally, COVID-19 is responsible for more than 5 million deaths, with thousands of people dying every day.
“Dr. Bellanti represents the ‘triple threat’ academician; he’s proficient in teaching, research, and patient care,” said James Rolke, Chief Executive Officer of Revelation. “He has had a tremendous impact on our understanding of immunology and will be an invaluable voice as we work to build on the foundation he has laid.”
Dr. Bellanti has published more than 500 scientific articles and abstracts, as well as numerous textbook chapters and his widely acclaimed textbook in immunology, “Immunology IV: Clinical Applications in Health and Disease.”
For more information on Revelation, please visit www.RevBiosciences.com.
About Revelation Biosciences Inc.
Revelation Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the development of immunologic-based therapies for the prevention and treatment of disease. Revelation has several product candidates in development. REVTx-99, the lead therapeutic candidate, is an intranasal immunomodulator to prevent or treat infections caused by various respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, including its variants, influenza A and B, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, and RSV. REVTx-99 is also being developed for other indications such as: allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal congestion. REVTx-200 is an intranasal immunomodulator adjunct to be used in combination with an intramuscular vaccination for more complete immunity. REVTx-200 is based on the same technology used in REVTx-99. In addition to Revelation’s therapeutic pipeline, Revelation is also developing REVDx-501, a rapid home use diagnostic that can be used to detect any respiratory viral infection, regardless of virus type or strain, without the need for specialized instrumentation.
Revelation recently announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement (Merger Agreement) with Petra Acquisition, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAICU, PAIC, & PAICW), a special purpose acquisition company, for a business combination that will result in Revelation becoming a publicly traded company (Business Combination). After the close of the merger the combined company will be listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “REVB.”
For more information on Revelation, please visit www.RevBiosciences.com.
About Petra Acquisition, Inc.
Petra Acquisition, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAICU, PAIC, & PAICW) is a blank check company organized for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, with an initial focus on target businesses in the healthcare or a healthcare-related industry.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the future business and financial condition of the company post-closing and expected financial impacts of the transaction, the satisfaction of closing conditions to the transaction, the level of redemptions of Petra’s public stockholders; the market opportunities for Revelation’s product candidates; and the potential for regulatory approval for Revelation’s product candidates. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "plan", "outlook", and "project" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. We caution investors that forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: risks relating to the successful completion of RVL-CLR01 clinical study; the risk that we may not fully enroll our RVL-CLR01 clinical study or enrollment will take longer than expected; risks relating to the occurrence of adverse safety events and/or unexpected concerns that may arise from data or analysis from our RVL-CLR01 clinical study; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to an amendment or termination of the Merger Agreement and the proposed transaction contemplated thereby; the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Petra or Revelation or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; the inability to project with any certainty the amount of cash proceeds remaining in the Petra trust account at the closing of the transaction; the uncertainty relative to the cash made available to Revelation at the closing as a result of redemption requests be made by the Petra stockholders; the inability of the company post-closing to obtain or maintain the listing of its securities on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; the amount of costs related to the Business Combination; Revelation’s ability to yield sufficient cash proceeds from the transaction to support its short-term operations and research and development efforts since the Merger Agreement requires no minimum level of funding in the trust fund to close the transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the Business Combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability of Revelation to meet its post-closing financial and strategic goals, due to, among other things, competition; the ability of the company post-closing to grow and manage growth profitability and retain its key employees; the possibility that the company post-closing may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; risks relating to the successful development of Revelation’s product candidates; the clinical utility of an increase in intranasal cytokine levels as a biomarker of viral infections; the ability to complete planned clinical studies of REVTx-99; expected initiation of the clinical studies, the timing of clinical data; the outcome of the clinical data, including whether the results of such study is positive or whether it can be replicated; the outcome of data collected, including whether the results of such data and/or correlation can be replicated; the timing, costs, conduct and outcome of our other clinical studies; the anticipated treatment of future clinical data by the FDA, the EMA or other regulatory authorities, including whether such data will be sufficient for approval; the success of future development activities for REVTx-99 and expanded indications, REVTx-200, REVDx-501, or any other product candidates; potential indications for which product candidates may be developed; the potential impact that COVID-19 may have on Revelation’s suppliers, vendors, regulatory agencies, employees and the global economy as a whole; the expected duration over which Revelation’s balances will fund its operations; and other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with the SEC by Petra.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press 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 states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
Important Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed Business Combination described herein, Petra has filed relevant materials with the SEC, including a Registration Statement on Form S-4, that includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and when available, will file a definitive proxy statement and final prospectus. Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, Petra will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Special Meeting relating to the transaction. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF PETRA ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION THAT PETRA WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PETRA, REVELATION AND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION. The definitive proxy statement, the preliminary proxy statement and other relevant materials in connection with the transaction (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Petra with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).
Participants in the Solicitation
Petra and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Petra’s stockholders with respect to the Business Combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Petra will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed Business Combination and be available at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement for the proposed Business Combination when available. Information about Petra’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Petra common stock is set forth in Petra’s prospectus, dated October 7, 2020, 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 pertaining to the proposed Business Combination when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).
Revelation and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Petra in connection with the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed Business Combination will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed Business Combination.
Company Contacts
Sandra Vedrick
Vice President, Investor Relations & Human Resources
Revelation Biosciences Inc.
Email: svedrick@revbiosciences.com
and
Chester Zygmont, III
Chief Financial Officer
Revelation Biosciences Inc.
Email: czygmont@revbiosciences.com
Media contact:
Kristin Faulder
kristin@heurisay.com