Hong Kong, 29 Apr 2022

Essex Bio-Technology Ltd (“Essex” or the “Group”, Stock Code: 1061.HK) announced that the Group will be presenting the results from their research titled “Oxidative Stress Induces Apoptosis and Inflammation in in vitro Dye Eye Models Which Can Be Reversed by Antioxidant SkQ1” at the annually held meeting of Association and Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Date and time: 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM CST on Thursday, May 5
Location: Virtual
Type: Poster
Authorship: Daoqi Tang and Malcolm Ngiam, et. al.
Link：https://arvo2022.arvo.org/meetings/ELY2sfnwN5gXcaPWK

Research Summary：

Our finding indicates that the level of ROS in in vitro models of DED was widely increased and companied with cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses. An antioxidative agent, SkQ1, protected cell from oxidative stress and induced apoptosis, offering an universal therapeutic potential. 4-HNE and MDA, as widely accepted biomarkers in oxidative stress, were significantly upregulated in dry eye patients' tears, suggesting a perspective clinical application of antioxidant agent for DED.
 

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About SkQ1

SkQ1 addresses DED through a novel mechanism of action, acting on the mitochondria at a cellular level. Unlike current standards of care, which act primarily as anti-inflammatory agents, SkQ1 has been shown to not only relieve inflammation but also improve tissue degeneration and tear quality deficit by targeting oxidative stress within the eye. In VISTA-1 -  a Phase 2b/3 clinical study in the United States (NCT03764735) and VISTA-2 - a Phase 3 clinical study in the United States（NCT04206020）- SkQ1 showed evidence of efficacy in reducing both the signs and symptoms in dry eye subjects.
 
About ARVO

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc. (ARVO) is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Its members include nearly 12,000 researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. The ARVO 2022 Annual Meeting will have the theme as “Accelerating Discovery through Team Science”.
 
About Essex

Essex Bio-Technology Limited is a bio-pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercialises genetically engineered therapeutic rb-bFGF (FGF-2), having six commercialised biologics marketed in China since 1998.  Additionally, it has a portfolio of commercialised products of preservative-free unit-dose eye drops and Shilishun(適麗順^®)(Iodized Lecithin Capsules) etc.. The products of the Company are principally prescribed for the treatment of wounds healing and diseases in Ophthalmology and Dermatology, which are marketed and sold through approximately 10,500 hospitals and managed directly by its 43 regional sales offices in China. Leveraging on its in-house R&D platform in growth factor and antibody, the Company maintains a pipeline of projects in various clinical stages, covering a wide range of fields and indications.