Tenax Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TENX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing products for the critical care market, today announced that it has become a national event partner for Sepsis Alliance in 2015 and 2016.

"Sepsis Alliance is the top organization in North America promoting improved sepsis awareness and treatment, and we are excited to support their efforts to raise the visibility of this deadly condition," said John Kelley, CEO of Tenax Therapeutics.

As part of this collaboration, Tenax will be the second Lead Sponsor of Sepsis Alliance’s Sepsis Challenge National Events program during the remainder of 2015 and 2016. In addition, the company will be a sponsor at the Sepsis Heroes event, taking place in New York City on September 17, 2015, during Sepsis Awareness Month.

"We are very excited to have Tenax Therapeutics join us as a national event partner," added Tom Heymann, President and Executive Director of Sepsis Alliance. "Their commitment to improving outcomes and saving lives will help bring valuable innovation to the fight against sepsis.”

Sepsis, sometimes called blood poisoning by the general public, is a medical emergency that occurs when the body's response to infection begins to injure its own tissues and organs. It is estimated that 258,000 people in the U.S. die every year from sepsis, an often preventable and largely treatable condition requiring early diagnosis and rapid treatment.

Tenax is currently collaborating with Imperial College London to support the ongoing LeoPARDS trial evaluating their lead candidate levosimendan in septic shock. The LeoPARDS trial is designed to determine whether levosimendan reduces the incidence and severity of acute organ dysfunction in adult patients who have septic shock, as well as evaluate its safety profile. As of September 10, 2015, the trial had enrolled 420 out of an estimated 516 patients. This project is funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, an MRC and NIHR partnership.

“As a physician and clinical researcher who treats septic shock patients, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating this condition really is,” said Dr. Anthony Gordon, chief investigator of the LeoPARDS trial and a critical care physician and septic shock expert at Imperial College London. “Despite this significant unmet need, many people still have no real awareness of the disease and its potentially lethal consequences.”

About Sepsis Alliance

Sepsis Alliance is the leading nonprofit patient advocacy organization in North America promoting awareness of sepsis. Sepsis Alliance's mission is to save lives by raising awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency. The organization hosts national and community events, distributes educational information, and promotes training and education of sepsis and its devastating effects. Sepsis Alliance also provides support by giving patients and family members information about sepsis and Post Sepsis Syndrome, as well as a community forum to share their experiences. Sepsis Alliance, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is a GuideStar Gold Rated Charity and a founding member of the Global Sepsis Alliance. For more information, please visit www.sepsis.org.

About Tenax Therapeutics

Tenax Therapeutics, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing products for the critical care market. The Company owns the North American rights to develop and commercialize levosimendan, and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track status for levosimendan for the reduction of morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery patients at risk for developing Low Cardiac Output Syndrome (LCOS). The Company is currently enrolling a Phase 3 trial with levosimendan in that indication, and is also supporting Imperial College London’s ongoing LeoPARDS trial for levosimendan in septic shock. For more information, visit www.tenaxthera.com.

About NHS and the National Institute for Health Research

1. The project is managed by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme, an MRC and NIHR partnership, that supports later-phase “science-driven” clinical trials and evaluative studies, which seek to determine whether a health intervention (e.g. a drug, diagnostic technique or device) works and in some cases how or why it works. The programme is funded by the MRC and NIHR, with contributions from the CSO in Scotland, NISCHR in Wales and the HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland. www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/eme

2. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Since its establishment in April 2006, the NIHR has transformed research in the NHS. It has increased the volume of applied health research for the benefit of patients and the public, driven faster translation of basic science discoveries into tangible benefits for patients and the economy, and developed and supported the people who conduct and contribute to applied health research. The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. For further information, visit the NIHR website (www.nihr.ac.uk).

3. The Medical Research Council has been at the forefront of scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers’ money in some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health. Twenty-nine MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed. Today, MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating micro-organisms. www.mrc.ac.uk

This article presents independent research supported by an MRC and NIHR partnership. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the MRC, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements by the company that involve risks and uncertainties and reflect the company’s judgment as of the date of this release. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to matters beyond the company's control that could lead to delays in the clinical study, delays in new product introductions and customer acceptance of these new products, and other risks and uncertainties as described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on September 9, 2015, and annual report on Form 10-K filed on July 14, 2015, as well as its other filings with the SEC. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this release. Statements in this press release regarding management’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.


Contacts

Sepsis Alliance
Scott Carr, 619-232-0300
Scarr@sepsis.org
or
Tenax Therapeutics
Stern Investor Relations
Jesse Baumgartner, 212-362-1200
jesse@sternir.com
or
Porter Novelli
Chad Hyett, 212-601-8242
chad.hyett@porternovelli.com