MetrioPharm AG: MetrioPharm Signs European Commission Grant Agreement for €7.9 Million

Zürich (pta017/24.11.2021/11:00 UTC+1)

• European commission funds COVID project iMPact with 7.9 million euros
• MetrioPharm will receive a total of 7.5 million euros of the provided sum
• iMPact project aims to research COVID-19 therapies

Zurich, November 24, 2021. MetrioPharm AG, a pharmaceutical company developing drugs for inflammatory diseases, announces that it has signed a contract for funding coming from the HERA Incubator of the European Commission. In July 2021, MetrioPharm had been nominated by the European Commission to the shortlist of funded projects. Under grant agreement number 101046182, the COVID project iMPact will now receive funding totaling €7.9 million. MetrioPharm, as the project’s consortium leader, will receive €7.5 million of this amount.

The iMPact project is one of the 6 initiatives selected by the Commission to work on drug candidates for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. In this project, MetrioPharm has joined forces with three consortium partners, ImmunoLogik, Catalyze, and MC Toxicology Consulting, in preparation for an international COVID-19 research project. The project includes the conduct of a Phase II clinical trial with MetrioPharm’s lead compound MP1032 against COVID-19, as well as preclinical studies on the effect of MP1032 on mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2. MP1032 has already demonstrated both, strong immunomodulatory and specific antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical studies.

MetrioPharm CEO Thomas Christély commented, "We are pleased with the European Commission’s confidence in our compound MP1032 and in the work of the MetrioPharm team. We are currently observing in the U.S., as well as in Western Europe, how the delta variant continues to be responsible for high case rates. In the U.S. this corresponds to approximately 95% of all new infections, despite a 69.0% first dose vaccination rate. In this context, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s chief medical advisor warns, ‘The demand for therapies will remain urgent and strong, including those deployed early in infection to stop replication of the virus and those that can be administered to address extreme illness.’ The provision of the grant will enable us to advance the pharmaceutical development of our immunomodulator MP1032 for COVID-19 patients. We aim to use MP1032 to help alleviate COVID-19 symptoms in both, early and later stages and shorten hospitalizations."

About the European Commission funding

The European Commission’s funding program was launched in April 2021 to support urgently needed research and development to combat the corona virus and its variants, across Europe. 

The HERA project is part of a broad range of European Commission research and innovation activities to combat the corona virus. 

https://ec.europa.eu

In July 2021, the iMPact project was shortlisted by the European Commission for funding under the HERA Incubator.

About MetrioPharm AG

MetrioPharm AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical development company focused on therapies for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. 

MetrioPharm is developing a novel class of self-regulating immunomodulators targeting activated macrophages and inflamed tissues. 

MetrioPharm's lead compound MP1032 acts at the top of the inflammation cascade, where elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger cellular oxidative stress and thereby a variety of disease processes. 

MP1032 is a novel small molecule ROS scavenger. As a first-in-class immunomodulator, MP1032 does not suppress the immune system. The molecule targets cellular oxidative stress and thereby reduces inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-12, while ROS are maintained at physiological levels essential for normal cellular function. 

Due to its molecular structure, MP1032 is only activated when it is exposed to elevated levels of ROS. The molecule then changes from its inert state (inactive) to a deprotonated form (activated). This activated form of MP1032 has pronounced immunomodulatory properties and neutralizes only excess levels of ROS. Thus, the effect of MP1032 remains limited to the site of inflammation. 

MP1032 has demonstrated broad anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties as well as an excellent safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies. Currently, MetrioPharm is conducting a Phase II clinical trial in COVID-19 patients.

MetrioPharm AG is headquartered in Zurich and has a subsidiary for R&D activities in Berlin. 

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and are consistent with MetrioPharm AGs assessment as of the date of this release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. No liability or warranty, and no claim, if any, is made with respect to the timeliness, accuracy or completeness of such data and information, and no reliance should be placed on such data and information, either explicitly or impliedly. 

Disclaimer

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commision. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. An EU Framework Horizon Europa Programme under grant agreement n° 101046182.

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Emitter:	MetrioPharm AG Bleicherweg 10 8002 Zürich Switzerland
Contact Person:	Lia Petridou
Phone:	+49 30 33 84 395 53
E-Mail:	l.petridou@metriopharm.com
Website:	www.metriopharm.com
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