HOPE Therapeutics to acquire 49% of Cohen and Associates clinic.

• HOPE Therapeutics to acquire 49% interest in Cohen and Associates clinic • Cohen to serve as foundational clinic in Sarasota-Bradenton area • Expected to be immediately accretive to revenue and EBITDA • Cohen is a highly respected neuropsychiatry clinic in western Florida • Offers treatments for suicidal depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions • HOPE Therapeutics is a clinical care delivery organization and subsidiary of NRx Pharmaceuticals

HOPE Therapeutics, a subsidiary of NRx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: NRXP), has signed a binding Letter of Intent to acquire a 49% interest in Cohen and Associates, a premier interventional psychiatry clinic in western Florida. The acquisition aims to enhance revenue and expand NRx's healthcare delivery footprint in the state's mental health market.

Cohen and Associates, founded by Dr. Rebecca Cohen, specializes in treating suicidal depression, PTSD, and other CNS disorders through various treatments including ketamine, Spravato, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). The clinic, established in 2014, brings a wealth of treatment capabilities to HOPE Therapeutics.

The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to revenue and EBITDA, indicating a positive financial impact for investors. This move aligns with the growing trend of pharmaceutical companies establishing direct patient care channels. For NRx, this acquisition offers multiple benefits, including direct revenue from clinical services, real-world data collection opportunities for their pharmaceutical development pipeline, and established distribution channels for future approved therapies in the mental health space.

The Florida location is strategically significant due to the state's large retirement population and corresponding mental health needs. By establishing Cohen as a "foundational clinic" in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, NRXP appears to be pursuing a hub-and-spoke expansion model in demographically favorable regions. The retention of Dr. Cohen, with her credentials from Tufts, Boston University, and Georgetown, provides continuity of leadership and clinical expertise during this transition.

This acquisition represents a calculated vertical integration strategy, combining NRx's pharmaceutical development with direct clinical service delivery. The move is a strategic expansion for HOPE Therapeutics and NRx Pharmaceuticals, positioning them to capitalize on the growing demand for mental health services in Florida.

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/NRXP/hope-therapeutics-inc-and-n-rx-pharmaceuticals-inc-nasdaq-nrxp-oja3aatiatb8.html