Serina Therapeutics, Inc. (referred to as "Serina"), a clinical-stage biotechnology firm dedicated to developing therapies for Parkinson's Disease and other neurological disorders, has entered into a merger agreement with AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE), a publicly traded biotechnology company, on August 29, 2023. The merger entails Serina merging with a wholly-owned subsidiary of AgeX in an all-stock transaction. The resulting entity will retain the name "Serina Therapeutics" and will prioritize advancing Serina's pipeline of small molecule drug candidates designed for central nervous system (CNS) indications, utilizing the company's exclusive POZ Platform™ delivery technology. Alongside advancing Serina's proprietary pipeline assets, the company is collaborating with players in the pharmaceutical sector that are currently engaged in pre-clinical studies exploring POZ polymer lipid-nanoparticles (LNPs) in next-generation RNA vaccines.

Milton Harris, PhD, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Serina, emphasized that the merger with AgeX presents a strategic path for Serina to further develop its CNS pipeline assets and broaden opportunities for platform collaborations. He anticipates that the merger will facilitate accessing transformative capital to propel the platform technology forward. As a board director of the combined entity, Harris expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with AgeX and Juvenescence, as they endeavor to translate scientific advancements into innovative therapeutic solutions.

Joanne M. Hackett, PhD, Chairperson and Interim Chief Executive Officer of AgeX, conveyed excitement regarding the merger with Serina, emphasizing the comprehensive assessment of strategic alternatives undertaken by the AgeX team. She noted the compelling potential of the transaction with Serina to create substantial value for AgeX stockholders and recognized the innovative prospects of generating novel drug candidates through Serina's POZ Platform™ delivery technology.

Richard Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of Juvenescence Limited, highlighted the significance of the merger between Serina and AgeX, underlining the collaborative objective of leveraging the POZ Platform™ to develop novel medicines and innovative treatment modalities. Marshall conveyed Juvenescence's commitment to leveraging its pharmaceutical expertise and network to support the combined company in maximizing value for its stockholders.

The combined company's primary focus will be the advancement of Serina's lead drug candidate, SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine), designed for advanced Parkinson's Disease. The company aims to progress through pre-clinical studies with the intention of submitting an investigational new drug submission to the Food and Drug Administration to initiate a Phase I clinical trial by the fourth quarter of 2024. Furthermore, Serina's two other pipeline assets, SER-227 (POZ-buprenorphine) for specific post-operative pain indications and SER-228 (POZ-cannabidiol) for refractory epilepsy indications, are positioned for IND enabling studies. The combined company will also work on expanding Serina's partnerships related to LNP and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) developments.