TORRANCE, Calif., April 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmy Award-winning NFL broadcaster Solomon Wilcots and Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. today announced the launch of Sideline Sickle Cell, an educational campaign designed to raise awareness and drive discussion about recent and future treatment innovations for sickle cell disease (SCD) among physicians, patients and their family members as well as other members of the SCD community in the United States.

The campaign launch, which coincides with the start of National Minority Health Month, will include a national media tour led by Wilcots followed by a series of local market media relations activities and town hall-type meetings that bring together members of the disease community. Sideline Sickle Cell event markets will include Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Atlanta and others as the campaign rolls out in 2019. People can follow the campaign and join the conversation by connecting with @EmmausLifeSci on Twitter and using the hashtag #SidelineSickleCell. Patients and family members are encouraged to sign up for campaign updates, including meeting locations and dates. 

Wilcots is an internationally acclaimed NFL television and radio analyst who currently works with SiriusXM and Sky Sports. Across six seasons in the NFL, Wilcots played for the Bengals, Steelers and Vikings. In1989, Wilcots played for the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII.

Wilcots, who has experienced firsthand the impact of SCD on friends, family and teammates said, "Sickle cell is a devastating disease that has left an indelible mark on the African-American community. I've seen family members and friends beset by pain and unable to live full lives. But there is hope because of innovative treatments. I want to use my voice to bring awareness to sickle cell disease and the therapies that can provide relief right now. I encourage other athletes, celebrities and thought leaders to join me in shining a spotlight on sickle cell disease, because together we can help take this illness out of the game."

SCD is an inherited, genetic blood disorder characterized by rigid and misshaped red blood cells. Patients with SCD often suffer from painful episodes, called "crises," that occur when sickled red blood cells block blood vessels and blood flow. Sickle cell crises deprive the body's tissues and organs of oxygen, which can cause long-term tissue and organ damage. SCD is a significant unmet medical need, affecting approximately 100,000 patients in the U.S., and disproportionately affects people of African descent. An estimated 1-in-365 African-American children is born with sickle cell disease.

Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., CEO and founder of Emmaus Life Sciences said, "There has been great progress in the development of new therapies for sickle cell disease. We have developed a prescription drug for sickle cell disease -- Endari^®, specifically, it is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older. However, the availability and pipeline of treatments like ours are not always known by patients in need. The mission of this campaign is to raise awareness of both current and potential future therapies."

About Endari^® (L-glutamine oral powder)

Indication

Endari is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older.

Important Safety Information

The most common adverse reactions (incidence >10 percent) in clinical studies were constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in extremities, back pain, and chest pain.

Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation included one case each of hypersplenism, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, burning sensation, and hot flash.

The safety and efficacy of Endari in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease younger than five years of age has not been established.

For more information, please see full Prescribing Information of Endari at: www.ENDARIrx.com/PI.

About Emmaus Life Sciences

Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies primarily for rare and orphan disease. Its lead product, Endari, demonstrated positive clinical results in the completed Phase 3 clinical trial for sickle cell anemia and sickle ß0-thalassemia and has received U.S. FDA approval. Visit: http://www.emmauslifesciences.com.

Additional Information about the Proposed Merger of Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. and Where to Find It
This communication is deemed to be made in respect of the proposed business combination involving MYnd Analytics, Inc. ("MYnd") and Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. ("Emmaus"). In connection with the proposed transaction, MYnd and Emmaus have filed documents with the SEC, including a Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by MYnd on February 13, 2019 containing a preliminary Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and each of MYnd and Emmaus plan to file with the SEC other documents regarding the proposed transactions. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF MYND AND EMMAUS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PRELIMINARY JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE FINAL JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE, FILED WITH THE SEC BY MYND AND EMMAUS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS. Investors and security holders may view these documents and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov and security holders are urged to read the final Joint Proxy Statement/ Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC before making any voting or investment decision in connection with the proposed transactions.

MYnd, Emmaus and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the proposed transaction. Information regarding the interests of these directors and executive officers in the proposed transaction will be included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above. Additional information regarding the directors and executive officers of MYnd is included in the proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018, as updated in MYnd's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, and additional information regarding the directors and executive officers of Emmaus is included in Emmaus' Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2019.

No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction 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 of 1933, as amended.

Company Contact:

Kurt Kruger
CFO, Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.
(332) 877-3956
kkruger@emmauslifesciences.com

Media Contacts:

Caitlin Vander Weele or Juliette Gorson
Russo Partners
(646) 942-5626
(212) 845-4235 ­
caitlin.vw@russopartnersllc.com
juliette.gorson@russopartnersllc.com

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SOURCE Emmaus Life Sciences