Efficacy of DPOCL in COVID-19 confirmed by the Institute of Medical Virology at Frankfurt University Hospital

- Virus-killing effect of DPOCL on SARS-CoV-2 pathogens confirmed in test series
- New therapeutic approach to protect against infection by repeated daily inhalation
- Search for project partner for Fast Track approval and market launch started

Darmstadt, 13 November 2020 - CytoTools AG (ISIN DE000A0KFRJ1), a biotechnology holding company specializing in pharmaceutical and medical products, has today received the preliminary results of the test series with the active substance DPOCL, carried out in cooperation with the Institute for Medical Virology at the University Hospital Frankfurt. The test results confirm the clearly virucidal ("virus-killing") effect of the active ingredient on the COVID-19-triggering SARS-CoV-2 pathogen.

In the cell culture experiments of the university working group Medical Virology, the efficacy of DPOCL on the virus SARS-CoV-2 was investigated in combination with human CaCo-2 cells. A dose-dependent effect was found, which confirmed a more than 90 percent efficacy with the highest dose. Thus a virucidal efficacy of DPOCL on the virus SARS-CoV-2 has been proven.

The test results underline the very good efficacy of DPOCL and, together with already available data on DPOCL, suggest that the drug is well tolerated. With the pre-clinical data of DPOCL already available, the first human trials can now be started shortly. In this human study, the use of DPOCL as a multiple daily inhalation component with physiological saline solution via commercially available inhalers will be investigated in order to bring the product to market quickly in an easily applicable form.

In the company's internal test series with commercially available inhalers, the nebulization of DPOCL in saline solution has already been successfully tested. The company therefore assumes that the positive results can also be replicated in the human study that is now being conducted. This would allow the virus to be controlled directly in the lungs or in the bronchial region and the upper respiratory tract, i.e. at the virus' entry barrier into the body, at a very early stage. The good tolerability of the drug solution offers the advantage that comparatively complication-free treatment can be started at a very early stage of an infection.

DPOCL is already approved as a wound healing product for the indication diabetic foot in the Indian market and is currently in the beginning of a Phase III clinical trial in Europe. "With this active substance, we could now have a very promising therapeutic approach in the short term, which can prevent COVID-19 disease by disinfecting the lungs very gently. Corona viruses which are inhaled into the lung would be killed directly by the active substance", explains Dr. Mark-Andre Freyberg, CEO of CytoTools. "In order to bring the active substance to market as quickly as possible within the framework of a fast track, we have now already begun the search for a suitable partner. We hope to finalize this already in the first quarter of 2021 in order to start the approval process as soon as possible".

In addition to the effect of DPOCL on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Institute of Medical Virology is also investigating its virucidal effect on influenza viruses. Should the results prove a similarly high efficacy, DPOCL could be a fundamentally new therapy for viral influenza infections - beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Management Board of the company will be available to provide further information to interested investors at the German Equity Forum on 16^th and 17^th November. Further information about CytoTools AG, its affiliated subsidiaries and the active substance pipeline of the holding company is available on the company website at www.cytotools.de.

Contact:
CytoTools AG
Ingo Middelmenne
Investor Relations
Mobile: +49-174-9091190
Email: [email protected]

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.