iQ-008 Accepted into NIH Preclinical Screening Platform for Pain (PSPP)

Delaware – May 2021, iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a company dedicated to the development of new pain management therapeutics, is proud to announce that its lead asset iQ-008, has been accepted into the prestigious NIH PSPP (part of the NIH HEAL InitiativeSM) program to identify and profile non-addictive therapeutics for pain.

iQ-008, a Triple Action Agent, is a promising therapeutic candidate being developed for the treatment of Neuropathic Pain. iQ-008 is a rationally designed multitargeting compound which in preclinical efficacy screening showed very promising profile in all in vivo pain models.

The Helping to End Addiction Long-term InitiativeSM, or NIH HEAL InitiativeSM, is an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. The PSPP is an efficient, rigorous, one-stop screening resource to accelerate discovery of effective, non-addictive, non-opioid pain therapies. The program consists of a fully NIH-funded, stepwise testing approach, including an assessment of in vitro binding studies and pharmacokinetic profiles, side effect profiles, abuse liability, and efficacy in models relevant to human pain conditions.

Company signed Agreement with University of Arizona for non-opioid treatment of post-operative pain

Delaware – February 2021, iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics in the area of pain management, entered into a Patent Option Agreement to evaluate a University of Arizona technology for novel non-opioid treatment aiming to replace opioid treatments for post-operative pain.

University researchers, led by professor of chemistry and biochemistry Robin Polt, Ph.D., and with significant contributions from John Streicher, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and neuroscience, have developed a series of potent oxytocin analogues. Initial results show the technology’s potential for pain management in treating post-operative pain, lower back pain as well as pain experienced under PTSD-like conditions. Under the agreement, iQure Pharma has the right to exercise the option, followed by a negotiation period to complete the license.

iQure worked with Tech Launch Arizona, the office of the University of Arizona that commercializes inventions stemming from university research and innovation, to execute the option.

Pawel Zolnierczyk, Chief Executive Officer:

We are extremely excited about this technology, its potential and unique prospect for becoming a non-opioid alternative to morphine or fentanyl, which we all know is fuelling the opioid crisis here in the US. Moreover, we would like to thank the University, the inventors and the Tech Launch Arizona team for their welcoming spirit of collaboration by agreeing to partner with us.

This opportunity for academia and industry to collaborate at such an early stage in the process, increases the chances of clinical and commercial success for this novel therapeutic. We know that patients and clinicians are desperate for novel treatment options to use as alternatives to potent opioids. At iQure Pharma, we are looking forward to working closely with the University and its researchers in the spirit of true global cooperation.

Preliminary Subchronic Toxicology Study Results Indicate iQ-007 Has Favorable Safety Profile

Delaware – September 2020.iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a company dedicated to preclinical and early clinical development of new therapeutics, received its first data from a subchronic toxicology study with iQ‑007.

We are pleased to announce that the first assessment of an in vivo subchronic toxicology data looks positive. Seven days of dosing with iQ‑007 at 80 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg per day, were studied in mice after intragastric injection. The aim of the study was to assess blood morphology along with the status of vital organs including liver, kidney and spleen. Initial reading of the data indicates that there are no statistically significant changes in blood or obvious alteration of organs after subchronic administration of iQ-007 at the three dose levels.

Dr Joe Wettstein, Chief Scientific Officer

Although this data is encouraging, we are treating the study with caution as we await the final report. Results show that iQ‑007 appears safe when given once daily over a seven-day period. This is especially important for patients who need long-term treatment, which is common in treating neuropathic pain. Moreover, as the data indicate a good safety profile across all doses, there is potential for a wide therapeutic index given its efficacy at 90 mg/kg p.o. as seen in pain-related experiments. Combining efficacy in pain and epilepsy models with the safety profile emerging from this study provides solid ground for iQ‑007 as a prospective new medicine to treat neuropathic pain and epilepsy.