CytoTools examines the effectiveness of its patented active substance DPOCL in COVID-19 infections

- Novel therapeutic approach for easy treatment of COVID-19 with DPOCL
- Proven active ingredient is delivered directly to the lungs as an inhalable aerosol
- Anti-viral effect of DPOCL demonstrated in first cellular test systems

Darmstadt, 17 September 2020 - CytoTools AG (ISIN DE000A0KFRJ1), a biotechnology holding company specializing in pharmaceutical and medical products, has started studies on the efficiency of its active substance DPOCL in COVID-19 through its subsidiary CytoPharma. The test series will be carried out in cooperation with the renowned German university working group Virology of the University Hospital Frankfurt.

On 15 September 2020, a patent application was filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office, Munich, for the novel therapeutic procedure for COVID-19, in which the highly disinfectant, but at the same time almost side-effect-free active substance DPOCL is introduced into the lung as an inhalable solution. The antibacterial properties of the DPOCL solution have already been proven and documented in numerous wound treatments, particularly in the context of the approval process for the active ingredient in India for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer, which was completed at the end of 2019. In the meantime, the antiviral properties of DPOCL have also been demonstrated in initial cell culture experiments using a standard virus test. "In internal test series we have already been able to prove that DPOCL also has a strong virucidal, i.e. virus-destructing effect", explains Dr. Mark-André Freyberg, CEO of CytoTools AG. "So there is every indication that DPOCL also has this property in relation to the so-called Corona virus. We will therefore now check this fact in cooperation with the Virology Department of the University Hospital Frankfurt".

The aim of the novel treatment is to offer the active ingredient DPOCL in the form of an inhalation solution, e.g. combined with a simple saline solution, which can be nebulized in commercially available inhalers. Tests with freely available inhalers have already been successfully completed. This would enable the virus to be controlled directly in the lungs or in the bronchial region and the upper respiratory tract, at the barrier of entry of the virus into the body, at a very early stage. The known extraordinarily good tolerability of the active ingredient solution offers the advantage here that comparatively complication-free treatment can be started at a very early stage of an infection.

"This is a very interesting and promising approach", comments Dr. Dr. Kaiser, "not only with regard to corona viruses, but also with regard to the influenza virus, which is also being tested, we are very excited about the results of our test series". CytoTools expects the first meaningful results of the tests within the next four to six weeks. Due to the intensively researched safety profile of DPOCL in previous human studies and the current intensive worldwide search for effective drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, the company is aiming for a short-term out-licensing of the project in the event of positive results.

Contact:
CytoTools AG
Ingo Middelmenne
Investor Relations
Mobile: +49-174-9091190
Email: middelmenne@cytotools.de

About CytoTools:

CytoTools AG is a German biotechnology holding company which translates results from basic cell biological research on cell growth and programmed cell death into new forms of therapy for the causal treatment of disease and healing. CytoTools' versatile product pipeline includes self-developed chemical compounds and biopharmaceuticals which have the potential to offer new treatment options in dermatology, cardiology, urology and oncology. CytoTools is structured as a technology holding and investment company and has holdings in the subsidiaries DermaTools Biotech GmbH (62 %) and CytoPharma GmbH (50 %).

Disclaimer

This release contains certain forward-looking statements. These reflect the opinion of CytoTools as of the date of this release. The results actually achieved by CytoTools may differ considerably from the statements made in the future-oriented statements. CytoTools is not obliged to update forward-looking statements.