Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories

TORONTO, June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arch Biopartners Inc., (“Arch” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: ARCH and OTCQB: ACHFF), announced that Dalton Pharma Services (Dalton) has completed the good manufacturing practice (GMP) glass vial filling stage for cilastatin, the Company’s second drug candidate for preventing acute kidney injury (AKI). Over the next six to eight weeks Dalton will be completing the quality control process which will culminate with the release of a first-ever, stand-alone cilastatin drug product to be used in a Phase II trial targeting drug toxin related AKI in hospitalized patients. Arch has agreed to be an industry partner with a group of Canadian clinical researchers in a planned Phase II clinical trial targeting drug toxin-related AKI, which is expected to start in late 2024. The Company will be acting as a study partner for grant funding opportunities, providing cilastatin drug product and providing scientific and regulatory advice. Arch has method of use patents in several jurisdictions including North America and Europe for repurposing cilastatin as a treatment for AKI. The patents are proprietary and/or exclusively licensed to Arch. Today’s announcement marks the completion of an important milestone in the Company’s plans to repurpose cilastatin as a new treatment to prevent toxin related AKI. About Cilastatin Cilastatin is an enzymatic dipeptidase-1 (DPEP1) inhibitor originally developed in the early 1980´s by Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories to limit the renal metabolism of imipenem, a β-lactam antibiotic used for the treatment of systemic infections. Cilastatin was approved for use as fixed combination with imipenem for IV administration to treat different types of bacterial infections. This fixed combination is currently marketed under different names, including Primaxin® (USA, UK, Australia, Italy), Tienam® (Spain, Belgium) or Zienam® (Germany). The combination imipenem/cilastatin was approved by the FDA in 1985. Patents for imipenem and cilastatin have expired and the combination drug is currently in a generic phase. There is no commercial history of cilastatin as a stand-alone drug product. Cilastatin has a slightly different mechanism of action compared with Arch’s novel drug candidate, LSALT peptide (Metablok) a non-enzymatic DPEP1 inhibitor. Whereas LSALT peptide specifically blocks DPEP1-mediated inflammation in the kidney, lungs and liver, cilastatin also has off target-effects that prevent toxin uptake in the kidneys. Thus, cilastatin is particularly effective for toxin-related AKI, but not suitable for other forms of non-toxin related AKI targeted by LSALT peptide. Cilastatin as a potential treatment for AKI AKI reflects a broad spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from mild injury to severe injury that may result in permanent and complete loss of renal function. Clinically, the causes of AKI include sepsis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and various endogenous as well as exogenous (drug) toxins. There is no specific therapeutic treatment available in the market today that prevents AKI. In the worst cases, the kidneys fail, requiring kidney dialysis or kidney transplant for survival. Exogenous toxins include a wide range of pharmaceutical drugs such as antibiotics (vancomycin, aminoglycosides), chemotherapeutic agents and radiographic contrast. Drug toxin-induced AKI represent approximately 30% of all AKI in hospitalized patients. As stated above, cilastatin is particularly suited to preventing AKI caused by drug toxins due to a unique off-target effect that blocks their uptake into the kidney tissue. Several in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that cilastatin prevents AKI induced by multiple nephrotoxic drugs (exogenous toxins). About Arch Biopartners Arch Biopartners Inc. is a late-stage clinical trial company focused on preventing inflammation and acute organ injury. The Company is developing a platform of new drugs to prevent inflammation in the kidneys, liver and lungs via the dipeptidase-1 (DPEP1) pathway and are relevant for many common injuries and diseases where organ inflammation is an unmet problem. For more information on Arch Biopartners’ science and drug platform, please visit: www.archbiopartners.com/our-science For investor information and other public documents the company has also filed on SEDAR+, please visit www.archbiopartners.com/investor-hub The Company has 64,250,633 common shares outstanding. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws regarding expectations of our future performance, liquidity and capital resources, as well as the ongoing clinical development of our drug candidates targeting the dipeptidase-1 (DPEP1) pathway, including the outcome of our clinical trials relating to LSALT peptide (Metablok) or cilastatin, the successful commercialization and marketing of our drug candidates, whether we will receive, and the timing and costs of obtaining, regulatory approvals in Canada, the United States, Europe and other countries, our ability to raise capital to fund our business plans, the efficacy of our drug candidates compared to the drug candidates developed by our competitors, our ability to retain and attract key management personnel, and the breadth of, and our ability to protect, our intellectual property portfolio. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, including certain factors and assumptions, as described in our most recent annual audited financial statements and related management discussion and analysis under the heading “Business Risks and Uncertainties”. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, or other unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. The words “believe”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Additional information relating to Arch Biopartners Inc., including our most recent annual audited financial statements, is available by accessing the Canadian Securities Administrators’ System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) website at www.sedarplus.ca. The science and medical contents of this release have been approved by the Company’s Chief Science Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

Dr. Boger is the founder, and retired CEO and Board Chair, of Vertex Pharmaceuticals CervoMed on track to complete enrollment in 1H 2024 in its RewinD-LB Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating neflamapimod in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies; topline data expected in 2H 2024 BOSTON, Feb. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CervoMed Inc. (NASDAQ: CRVO), a clinical-stage company developing treatments for degenerative diseases of the brain, today announced the appointment of Joshua Boger, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors (Board) and as Chair of the Board. Dr. Boger is an innovative scientist and highly successful business executive who brings extensive drug development and biopharmaceutical company leadership experience to CervoMed as it progresses toward an important inflection point. Topline data from the RewinD-LB Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating neflamapimod in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is expected in the second half of 2024. The Board Chair position was formerly held by CervoMed co-founder Dr. Sylvie Gregoire, who will continue to serve as a director. “It is a pleasure to welcome Joshua, the founder of Vertex and an esteemed industry leader, to our Board of Directors,” said John Alam, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of CervoMed. “Our lead program, neflamapimod, was licensed from Vertex and has the potential to offer a highly differentiated, first-to-market treatment option for DLB. This is an ideal time for Joshua’s appointment, and we look forward to leveraging his extensive experience and strategic insights as we progress towards topline efficacy results in RewinD-LB, which has transformational potential for the company. We remain on track to fully enroll RewinD-LB within the first half of this year, followed by topline efficacy results in the second half of 2024.” Dr. Boger added, “I am thrilled to join the team and Board of CervoMed, as neflamapimod has the potential to fundamentally change the lives of patients with DLB and their caregivers. As an investor I’ve closely followed neflamapimod since 2016. The dramatic progress in the last two years in understanding the mechanism of action against cholinergic degeneration, and the Phase 2a clinical results in DLB, gives me great confidence in neflamapimod’s potential to successfully advance through Phase 2b and eventually to approval in DLB. I look forward to working closely with CervoMed’s outstanding team and Board, to lay the foundation for sustained growth and advance the Company’s mission." Dr. Joshua Boger is an industry veteran who has served in multiple scientific and business leadership roles in his 40+ year career. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Alkeus Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Boger founded Vertex in 1989 and was the Chief Executive Officer from 1992 until 2009. He continued to serve on the Vertex Board and Chair Vertex’s Science & Technology Committee until 2017. Prior to founding Vertex, Dr. Boger was Senior Director of Basic Chemistry at Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories in Rahway, NJ, where he headed both the Departments of Biophysical Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry of Immunology & Inflammation. During his 10 years at Merck, Dr. Boger developed an international reputation in the application of computer modeling to the chemistry of drug design and pioneered the use of structure-based rational drug design as the basis for drug discovery programs. Dr. Boger holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Philosophy from Wesleyan University and a Master's and Doctorate Degree in Chemistry from Harvard University. His postdoctoral research in molecular recognition was performed in the laboratories of the Nobel-prize winning chemist, Jean-Marie Lehn, in Strasbourg, France. He has authored over 50 scientific publications and holds 32 issued U.S. patents in pharmaceutical discovery and development. About Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)DLB is the third most common degenerative disease of the brain (after Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease), with approximately 700,000 individuals in each of US and EU. Patients with this disease accumulate protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, in the brain’s nerve cells. This negatively affects cognitive ability, including attention, judgement, and reasoning, along with motor function. Patients with DLB incur higher healthcare costs, have longer hospitalizations, report lower quality of life, and have caregivers with higher levels of distress when compared to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. No treatments for DLB have been approved by the U.S. FDA or European Medicines Agency, and there are limited drugs in development. The current standard of care is cholinesterase inhibitor therapy, which is approved for use in Alzheimer’s disease, but in DLB patients only transiently improves cognition and does not impact motor component. About Neflamapimod Neflamapimod is an investigational, orally administered small molecule brain penetrant that inhibits p38MAP kinase alpha (p38a). In preclinical studies, neflamapimod reversed synaptic dysfunction, including and particularly within the part of the brain most impacted in DLB – the basal forebrain cholinergic system. In Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies involving more than 300 participants, neflamapimod has been shown to be generally well tolerated. Results from the AscenD-LB Phase 2a clinical study demonstrated that neflamapimod significantly improved dementia severity (assessed by Clinical Dementia Rating Sum-of-boxes, or CDR-SB) compared to placebo and significantly improved functional mobility (assessed by Timed Up and Go Test, or TUG test) compared to placebo. At the highest dose evaluated, neflamapimod also improved cognition. The treatment response in AscenD-LB in patients without Alzheimer’s-related co-pathology (evaluated by a blood test, plasma ptau181) was substantial (effect size > 0.7) and greater than the overall patient population. The combined preclinical and clinical data are consistent with neflamapimod treating the underlying DLB disease process. About the RewinD-LB Phase 2b Study in Dementia with Lewy BodiesCervoMed’s ongoing Phase 2b study, RewinD-LB, is a randomized, 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating oral neflamapimod (40mg three times per day) in up to 160 patients with prodromal DLB or mild dementia due to DLB. Patients completing the 16-week placebo-controlled study period will be able to continue in the study while receiving open label neflamapimod treatment for an additional 32 weeks. Patients with AD-related co-pathology, assessed by a blood biomarker (plasma ptau181), will be excluded. The primary endpoint in the study is change in CDR-SB, and secondary endpoints include the TUG test, a cognitive test battery, and the Clinician’s Global Impression of Change. The RewinD-LB study is funded by a $21 million grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging, which will be disbursed over the course of the study as costs are incurred. The study includes 41 sites (30 in the United States, 8 in the United Kingdom, 3 in the Netherlands), all of which have been initiated. More information on the RewinD-LB study, including contact information on active clinical trial sites, is available at clinicaltrials.gov. About CervoMedCervoMed Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for degenerative diseases of the brain. The company is currently developing neflamapimod, an investigational, orally administered small molecule brain penetrant that inhibits p38MAP kinase alpha (p38a). Neflamapimod has the potential to treat synaptic dysfunction, the reversible aspect of the underlying neurodegenerative processes that causes disease in DLB and certain other major neurological disorders. Neflamapimod is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b study in patients with DLB. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes express and implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, regarding the intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future of the Company, including, but not limited to, the therapeutic potential of neflamapimod and anticipated timing of clinical milestones. Terms such as "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should," "approximately," "potential" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes may identify these forward-looking statements. Although there is believed to be reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained herein, forward-looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, many of which are beyond the Company's control and, as a result, actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. Particular risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those related to: the Company's available cash resources and the availability of additional funds on acceptable terms; the results of the Company’s clinical trials; the likelihood and timing of any regulatory approval of neflamapimod or the nature of any feedback the Company may receive from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations in the future; general economic, political, business, industry, and market conditions, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical conflicts; and the other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended September 30, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 13, 2023, and other filings that the Company may file from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof (or such earlier date as may be identified). The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except to the extent required by law. Investor Contact: PJ KelleherLifeSci AdvisorsInvestors@cervomed.com617-430-7579 Media Contact: Tressa Frankel Health+Commercetressa@healthandcommerce.com

Abstract, titled “HPV16-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell activation and functionality in patients receiving combination PDS0101 immunotherapy,” highlights data generated from VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 studyFLORHAM PARK, N.J., Feb. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, today announced that an abstract investigating the ability of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) to induce HPV16-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell activation and functionality has been accepted for presentation at the ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Congress 2023 (ESMO TAT) in Paris, March 6-8, 2023. PDS Biotech’s HPV-targeted immunotherapy, PDS0101, is being studied in combination with KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in the Phase 2, VERSATILE-002 clinical trial (NCT04260126) in patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer. Measurement of antigen-specific activation of endogenous T cells is critical to understanding drug-induced, T cell based immunity and its association with observed clinical outcomes. Abstract Number: 246Abstract Title: HPV16-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell activation and functionality in patients receiving combination PDS0101 immunotherapyAuthors: Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Dr. David Schaaf, Nathalie Riebel, and Sally Jones from PDS Biotech and Stephen McCarthy, Dr. Adam Cotty and Dr. Julie Bick from FlowMetric About PDS Biotechnology PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted Versamune® and PDS0301 based candidates have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech. Forward Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to our currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control, including unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to COVID-19. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in the Company’s annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Versamune® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology. KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA. Investor Contacts:Deanne RandolphPDS BiotechPhone: +1 (908) 517-3613Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com Rich CockrellCG CapitalPhone: +1 (404) 736-3838Email: pdsb@cg.capital Media Contacts: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.Dave Schemelia Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325 dschemelia@tiberend.com Bill Borden Phone: +1 (732) 910-1620 bborden@tiberend.com