ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmAthene, Inc. (NYSE MKT: PIP), a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against anthrax, today announced that it is set to join the broad-market Russell 3000(®) Index at the conclusion of the Russell U.S. Indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the U.S. market opens on June 27.

Annual reconstitution of the Russell U.S. indexes captures the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the U.S. all-cap Russell 3000(®) Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000(®) Index or small-cap Russell 2000(®) Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes by objective, market capitalization rankings and style attributes.

Indexes provided by FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider, are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell U.S. indexes.

About PharmAthene

PharmAthene is a biodefense company engaged in the development of next generation medical countermeasures against biological threats. The Company's development portfolio includes two next generation Anthrax vaccines that are intended to improve protection while having favorable dosage and storage requirements compared to other Anthrax vaccines.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a global index leader and data provider that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $10 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance, and embraces the IOSCO principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and client collaboration as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering.

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "potential"; "believe"; "anticipate"; "intend"; "plan"; "expect"; "estimate"; "could"; "may"; "should"; "will"; "project"; "potential"; or similar statements are forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include risks associated with our ability to successfully develop next generation medical countermeasures against biological threats; the ability of our two next generation anthrax vaccines to improve protection while having favorable dosage and storage requirements compared to other anthrax vaccines; and other risks detailed from time to time in PharmAthene's Forms 10-K and 10-Q under the caption "Risk Factors" and in its other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. PharmAthene disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

Copies of PharmAthene's public disclosure filings are available on our website under the investor relations tab at www.PharmAthene.com.

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SOURCE PharmAthene, Inc.