Press release

Deutsche Biotech Innovativ AG: Barrier function of blood vessels as therapeutic target in life-threatening COVID-19 patients: Adrenomed's Antibody Adrecizumab from shows positive effect

Henningsdorf, July 24, 2020 - Adrenomed AG, an investment of Deutsche Biotech Innovativ AG (DBI AG) (WKN: A0Z25L/ ISIN: DE000A0Z25L1), today announced a peer-reviewed publication in the journal "Biomolecules" reporting on the treatment of eight life-threatening COVID-19 patients with Adrecizumab. Therapy with Adrecizumab (HAM8101) showed positive results in this limited case series. Within the observation period, seven out of eight patients survived the severe disease. This is the first treatment trial with a drug candidate that addresses the restoration of vascular integrity in extremely severe COVID-19 patients who required mechanical ventilation and for whom no other treatment option was available.

Adrecizumab is Adrenomed's drug candidate and is currently in clinical development for the treatment of septic shock. Sepsis is an overreaction of the body's immune system during the fight against a bacterial or viral infection, as in this case SARS-CoV-2, which leads to blood vessel permeability, severe disruption of organ function and ultimately death.

The patients were treated at the Clinic for Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. In contrast to other recently published case reports, all eight patients were highly affected by pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. At the time of treatment, all patients were mechanically ventilated due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and received vasopressors for shock therapy. Six patients experienced acute renal failure at baseline.

In this case series, seven of eight patients survived the disease. In five out of seven patients, Adrecizumab therapy resulted in an improvement in organ function within a short period of time (indicated by the SOFA score) and subsequently in a disease severity score within 12 days of administration. One patient died on day 4 due to non-treatment related severe pulmonary embolism. During the reported follow-up periods of 13 and 27 days, four patients were stable in the ICU and three were transferred to normal wards. Adrecizumab was well tolerated by all patients and again showed a good safety profile.

Ralf Jakobs, CFO of DBI AG, commented: "Even though only eight patients were included in this external study, we are pleased with the now officially published results. It strengthens our conviction regarding the chances of success of our investment Adrenomed AG".

This release expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the business activities of DBI AG or the performance of its shares. These forward-looking statements reflect the opinion of DBI AG as of the date of this release and involve certain known and unknown risks. DBI AG's actual results or the development of its share price may differ materially from future results or developments implied by the forward-looking statements. DBI AG is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.