China National Intellectual Property Administration Grants New Patent Covering DUET-02, One of Three Key CpG-STAT3 Inhibitors Comprising the Duet Platform

New patent covers compound and composition and methods of use for
CpG-STAT3 Antisense inhibitor (CpG-STAT3ASO)

New patent positions Scopus BioPharma’s Subsidiary — Duet Therapeutics — to pursue opportunities arising from China’s burgeoning biotech market

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scopus BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: “SCPS”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformational therapeutics for serious diseases with significant unmet medical need, announced today that the China National Intellectual Property Administration has granted a new patent covering DUET-02, one of three key CpG-STAT3 inhibitors comprising the Duet Platform.

The new patent covers the compound and composition, including phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotide, and methods of use for CpG-STAT3ASO, Duet’s CpG-STAT3 Antisense inhibitor.

Alan Horsager, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Duet and President — Immuno-Oncology for Scopus, stated, “This is an important milestone for Duet Therapeutics as we continue to build our patent portfolio. The Chinese biotech market is an important and integral part of the global biotech industry. As referenced in a September 2021 Reuters article, the combined market value of Chinese biotech firms listed in Hong Kong, on Shanghai’s STAR board, and on Nasdaq had a combined value of approximately $180 billion as of May 2021, compared to just $1 billion in 2016. This rapid growth has been driven by an increasing number of Chinese biotechs raising significant amounts of capital in IPOs over the last several years.”

Dr. Horsager added, “Duet continues to receive inbound inquiries regarding the Duet Platform from interested companies in Asia, including China. We believe China, as well as Asia more broadly, will be a key market for immuno-oncology therapeutics. The new patent positions Duet Therapeutics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scopus, to pursue opportunities arising from China’s burgeoning biotech market.”

The new patent strengthens the patent portfolio for DUET-02. DUET-02 is also covered by a granted patent in the United States. Additionally, patent applications for DUET-02 are in process for the European Union, Canada, and Japan.

The patent granted in China, entitled "Compounds and Compositions Including Phosphorothioated Oligodeoxynucleotide, and Methods of Use Thereof," relates to the isolated compound, including a phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) sequence conjugated to an antisense oligonucleotide sequence (ASO), compositions of such a compound, and method of treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases (with or without stimulating immune response), method of immune stimulation, and method of reducing activity of STAT transcription factor, by one of the disclosed compounds or compositions.

About the Duet Platform

Duet Therapeutics integrates the immunotherapy assets of Scopus and Olimmune, creating the Duet Platform. Olimmune was acquired by Scopus in June 2021. Duet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scopus.

The Duet Platform is comprised of three distinctive, complementary CpG-STAT3 inhibitors:

DUET-01 is in a Phase 1 clinical trial, as a monotherapy, for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Duet expects to file two INDs for DUET-02 in Q4 2022 in genitourinary and head & neck cancers, with Phase 1 clinical trials beginning in Q1 2023 in the United States. Duet is also evaluating combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors.

About Scopus BioPharma

Scopus BioPharma Inc., both directly and through subsidiaries, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformational therapeutics for serious diseases with significant unmet medical need. The company’s lead drug candidate is a novel, targeted immuno-oncology RNA therapy for the treatment of multiple cancers. This drug candidate is highly distinctive, encompassing both RNA therapy and immunotherapy by synthetically linking siRNA to an oligonucleotide TLR9 agonist, creating the potential for targeted gene silencing with simultaneous TLR stimulation and immune activation in the tumor microenvironment. Additional STAT3-targeting immunotherapy drug candidates include bifunctional antisense and DNA-binding inhibition therapies. In addition, the company is developing additional drug candidates that target the endocannabinoid system, including MRI-1867 for the treatment systemic sclerosis. The company also seeks to identify additional compelling technologies for potential acquisition, in-licensing and/or other similar transactions. Receive updates by following Scopus BioPharma on Twitter here.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks (including those set forth in the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as amended, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)) and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Investors should realize that if our underlying assumptions for the projections contained herein prove inaccurate or that known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from our expectations and projections. Further, there can be no assurance that the company will identify and/or consummate any transaction relating to any additional technologies.

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