SAN DIEGO, June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: ATMS), ("Artemis" or
the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company developing new therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases, including
cytomegalovirus and malaria, today announced that new data on its lead product candidate, Artemisone, shows it is a potent
inhibitor of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in preclinical assays, including a human placental tissue model. The
company's chief medical officer, Dana Wolf, M.D., Ph.D., will share the data in an oral
presentation on June 14 during the 31st annual International Conference for Antiviral Research (ICAR)
June 11-14 in Porto, Portugal.
"To have these new data accepted at two important international conferences within a short time underscores the interest in
and urgent need for improved therapies for CMV and reflects positively on the potential of our drug candidate. The results we've
seen in preclinical studies to date are encouraging, and we intend to advance Artemisone into the clinic for HCMV next year,"
said Brian Culley, CEO of Artemis. "We are grateful to Dr. Wolf for ensuring these data are shared
with multiple international audiences and look forward to reporting additional results soon."
Dr. Wolf's presentation will provide data that show Artemisone more effectively inhibits HCMV infection than ganciclovir in an
ex vivo model of human placental tissues maintained in organ culture to mirror the maternal-fetal spread of virus in
vivo. Artemisone recently has been reported to effectively inhibit laboratory-adapted and low-passage clinical strains
of HCMV as well as drug-resistant HCMV strains. Further, its antiviral efficacy is not only comparable to ganciclovir, but also
approximately 10-fold greater than artesunate in all cell lines studied. The data indicates Artemisone is a reversible HCMV
inhibitor, targeting an earlier phase of the viral replication cycle than does ganciclovir, suggesting a novel mechanism of
action.
The ICAR conference series aims to be a key forum for the presentation, exchange, and dissemination of information and
experiences on anti-microbial strategies. It covers topics on antimicrobial resistance, detection, enhancement of innate defenses
against pathogens, as well as various methods and techniques. The 31st annual congress will be held at the
Alfândega Congress Centre in Porto, Portugal.
About Artemisone
Artemis' lead product candidate, Artemisone (ar-tem-iss-ohn), is being developed as a best-in-class treatment for
malaria and first-in-class treatment for CMV. Artemisone is a semi-synthetic 10-alpha-amino derivative of artemisinin, the
discovery of which shared one-half of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Artemisone was selected as a therapeutic
product candidate based on properties that distinguish it from other artemisinin derivatives, including greater potency, lower
predicted neurotoxicity, better stability, half-life, and solubility. Notably, Artemisone relies on a non-DHA metabolic pathway,
which distinguishes it from currently used artemisinins. This feature may provide important clinical advantages in terms of
fighting resistance, blocking disease transmission, or treating severe and/or cerebral malaria. Additionally, recent laboratory
research has shown that the antiviral potency of Artemisone against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is as robust as the current
FDA-approved agent, ganciclovir, and approximately ten times greater than that of a related compound,
artesunate. Further in vitro studies with Artemisone have demonstrated efficacy against drug-resistant
strains of CMV with evidence for a novel mechanism of action.
About Artemis Therapeutics
Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new therapies for the
treatment and prevention of severe and life-threatening infectious diseases. The Company's lead product candidate, Artemisone, is
a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative with potent antiviral and antiparasitic properties. The Company currently is evaluating
Artemisone for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, including stem cell
transplant CMV, solid organ transplant CMV, and congenital CMV. Artemis also plans to evaluate Artemisone for the treatment of
additional viral and parasitic diseases. More information is available on the Company's website: www.artemis-therapeutics.com and Twitter: @ArtemisThera.
Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those
relating to the Company's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position,
possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statement that
are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and
projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's current beliefs and assumptions.
These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect,"
"anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar
expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Such factors include those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press
release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Investor Relations
(ir@artemis-therapeutics.com)
Media
Jules Abraham
JQA Partners, Inc.
jabraham@jqapartners.com
917-885-7378
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SOURCE Artemis Therapeutics, Inc.