Granuloma Annulare

Company and Yale University Hospital seeking participants with GA for Phase 1 trials of medicine FDA-approved for other ailments NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TWi Biotechnology (TWiB), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in development of repositioned drugs for unmet medical needs, is currently seeking participants for a Phase 1 clinical trial of a topical gel called tofacitinib for the treatment of granuloma annulare (GA). The TWiB team and collaborating physicians invite eligible individuals to participate in this groundbreaking study at Yale University Hospital. Individuals with GA or friends and family members can find study information at: . For further information, please contact: Nicole Olszewski Study Coordinator +1-203-785-5505 [email protected] GA is a rare skin condition affecting approximately 330,000 cases in the US, predominantly in women. It is characterized by raised bumps in a ring pattern, most commonly on the hands and feet, and while it is neither contagious nor causes pain, it can cause a high degree of self-consciousness. This can be particularly detrimental to patients with long-term cases or a highly visible rash, who can suffer from emotional distress. The disease is poorly understood and has no effective treatment, Dr. William Damsky, MD, PhD of Yale School of Medicine — the clinical trial's principal investigator — has already conducted a small-scale study showing that oral tofacitinib, a type of medicine called a JAK inhibitor, shows promise for GA — treatment with tofacitinib both improved skin disease and reduced circulating inflammatory biomarkers in all GA patients. The current trial, using a topical treatment already approved for oral use to treat other, more common ailments, represents a significant step towards addressing this unmet medical need. Repurposing an FDA-approved medicine The oral formulation of tofacitinib has already been FDA approved to treat such ailments as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The topical gel formulation of tofacitinib (AC-1101), which is being tested in this clinical trial, is applied topically to the skin and tends to have lower systemic exposure compared to the oral route. Addressing gaps in treatment Channeling science and integrity to alleviate the suffering of patients, TWi Biotechnology specializes in rare diseases and dermatological diseases associated with inflammation or inflammatory conditions — typically helping patients that have been left behind by the larger pharmaceutical industry. TWi Biotechnology's specialty of developing drugs for unmet medical needs focuses on drug repositioning — repurposing already-approved treatments for a different ailment. In particular, the company has demonstrated leadership in developing treatments for rare skin diseases, including epidermolysis bullosa simplex and GA. About TWi Biotechnology TWi Biotechnology, Inc (TWi Biotechnology) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in Taipei, Taiwan specializing in the development of repositioned drugs for unmet medical needs, especially in rare diseases associated with inflammation or inflammatory conditions. Established in July 2010, TWi Biotechnology is expanding its product pipeline through in-licensing and internal research. TWi Biotechnology's product development pipeline includes two drug candidates for treating epidermolysis bullosa simplex and immunodermatology diseases. With its extensive experience in clinical, pre-clinical, animal pharmacology/toxicology studies, domestic and international regulatory standards, and deep knowledge in international patent protection and the specialty drug market in the US, TWi Biotechnology is in a leading position to develop new treatments in these therapeutic areas. For more information, please visit: . Media Contact: Michelle Chen, [email protected] SOURCE TWi Biotechnology,Inc

SAN MATEO, Calif. and SINGAPORE, March 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd (Nasdaq: ASLN), a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients, today announced that it will be hosting a virtual research and development day on Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am ET. The event will feature Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Brett King, MD PhD (Yale University School of Medicine) who will discuss the unmet medical need and current limited treatments for patients suffering from alopecia areata (AA), a common autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune privilege (IP) in the hair follicle, and is driven by the activation and proliferation of interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-secreting immune cells which mediate the attack of hair follicles, resulting in complete or partial hair loss on the scalp and body. ASLAN’s leadership team including Carl Firth PhD (CEO), Stephen Doyle (Chief Business Officer), Alex Kaoukhov MD (Chief Medical Officer) and other members of the senior R&D management team will then provide an update on its recently announced clinical program to investigate farudodstat, a novel, oral inhibitor of the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial, as a potential first-in-class treatment for AA. Farudodstat has been shown to inhibit IFN-γ secretion, reduce immune cell proliferation, and potentially protect hair follicles from IP collapse in a human AA disease model. ASLAN plans to initiate a proof-of-concept study of farudodstat in AA in the second quarter of 2023. A live question and answer session will follow the formal presentations. To register for the event, please click here. A replay of the event and presentation materials will be available on the Investor Relations section of ASLAN’s website. Brett King, MDPhD, is Associate Professor of Dermatology at Yale University, specializing in inflammatory skin diseases. He has pioneered the use of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in dermatology, in particular for alopecia areata, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, granuloma annulare, sarcoidosis, erosive lichen planus, and other disorders. About farudodstat Farudodstat is a potent, oral DHODH inhibitor that suppresses immune cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion by blocking de novo production of pyrimidines required for DNA replication. Compared to first-generation DHODH inhibitors, farudodstat has been shown to be approximately 30 times more potent in its inhibition of DHODH and limiting T cell activity and has a well-tolerated safety profile. ASLAN has generated data showing that farudodstat can protect against the loss of immune privilege in hair follicles, supporting its potential as a first-in-class, safe and effective treatment option for alopecia areata (AA). About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ASLN) is a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients. ASLAN is currently evaluating eblasakimab, a potential first-in-class antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor, in the global Phase 2b TREK-AD trial in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and the Phase 2 TREK-DX trial in dupilumab-experienced AD patients. ASLAN is also developing farudodstat, a potent oral inhibitor of the enzyme DHODH, in alopecia areata and plans to initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in the second quarter of 2023. ASLAN has a team in California and in Singapore. For additional information please visit or follow ASLAN on LinkedIn. Forward looking statements This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the “Company”). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the timing, terms and completion of the proposed private placement; the expected gross proceeds from the proposed private placement and any additional proceeds that may be received by the Company upon exercise, if any, of the warrants issued in the private placement; statements regarding the Company’s business strategy and clinical development plans; the Company’s plans to develop and commercialize eblasakimab and farudodstat; the safety and efficacy of eblasakimab and farudodstat; the Company’s plans and expected timing with respect to clinical trials, clinical trial enrolment and clinical trial results for eblasakimab and farudodstat; the potential of eblasakimab as a first-in-class treatment for atopic dermatitis and of farudodstat as a treatment for autoimmune disease; and the Company’s cash runway. The Company’s estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company’s business, strategy, operations, or financial performance, and inherently involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of many risks and uncertainties, which include, unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies; clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrolment rates that are lower than expected; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia on the Company’s business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape; and the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund its strategic and clinical development plans. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements are described in the Company’s SEC filings and reports (Commission File No. 001- 38475), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 25, 2022. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements. Estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection, or forward-looking statement. ASLAN Media and IR contacts Emma Thompson Spurwing Communications Tel: +65 6206 7350 Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com Ashley R. Robinson LifeSci Advisors, LLC Tel: +1 (617) 430-7577 Email: arr@lifesciadvisors.com