EX-99.1
Published on December 27, 2018
Exhibit 99.1
For Immediate Release
December 27, 2018
OPKO Health and OPKOs CEO and Chairman, Dr. Phillip Frost, Announce Proposed Resolution of SEC Action
Frost to continue as CEO and Chairman of Opko
MIAMI( PR NEWSWIRE)Dec. 27, 2018 In a settlement, subject to court approval, OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) and OPKOs CEO and Chairman, Dr. Phillip Frost, have agreed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve the action brought against them in SEC v. Honig et al., 18 Civ. 08175 (S.D.N.Y).
We have reached agreement with the SEC that will end a potentially expensive, contentious and time-consuming litigation and I am happy that we can focus on an exciting and productive 2019 for OPKO Health, said Dr. Frost.
Without admitting or denying the SECs allegations, OPKO agreed to an injunction from certain violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act); a $100,000 penalty; and will perform certain undertakings related to the Exchange Act. Dr. Frost agreed to, without admitting or denying the SECs allegations, injunctions from certain violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act; approximately $5.5 million in penalty, disgorgement, and prejudgment interest; and a prohibition, with certain exceptions, from trading in penny stocks.
Dr. Frost will continue to serve as OPKOs CEO and Chairman.
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About OPKO Health, Inc.
OPKO Health is a diversified healthcare company. In diagnostics, its BioReference Laboratories is the nations third largest clinical laboratory; GeneDx is a rapidly growing genetic testing business; the 4Kscore® prostate cancer test is used to confirm an elevated PSA to help decide about next steps such as prostate biopsy; Claros® 1 is a point of care diagnostics platform with PSA and testosterone as the most advanced in development. In our pharmaceutical pipeline, RAYALDEE is our first pharmaceutical product to be marketed. OPK88003, a once weekly oxyntomodulin for type 2 diabetes and obesity in Phase 2 clinical trials, is among a new class of GLP-1 glucagon receptor dual agonists. OPK88004, a SARM (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator) for treating BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy), urinary incontinence, and other conditions, is in clinical trials. The Companys most advanced product utilizing its CTP technology, a once weekly human growth hormone for injection, is in Phase 3 trials, and is partnered with Pfizer. OPKO has research, development, production and distribution facilities abroad. More information is available at www.opko.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as expects, plans, projects, will, may, anticipates, believes, should, intends, estimates, and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding the outcome of the SEC lawsuit and the Companys business, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.
CONTACTS:
Ian Prior
IPrior@mercuryllc.com
571-639-6711
Brooke Clemency
BClemency@mercuryllc.com
609-287-3695