OptiKira, Leader in Unfolded Protein Response Therapeutics to Present at the BIOTECH SHOWCASE, January 13, 2020

OptiKira, LLC, a privately-held biotechnology company developing drugs that inhibit the unfolded protein response (UPR), announced today that it has scheduled a company presentation at the upcoming Biotech Showcase being held in San Francisco from January 13-15, 2020, during the most important week in healthcare.

Dr. Tim Pelura, President and Chief Executive Officer of OptiKira, will be presenting at the Biotech Showcase as follows:

Date: Monday, January 13, 2020
Time: 2:45 p.m. PST (5:45 p.m. EST)
Room: Franciscan B (Ballroom Level)
Venue: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA

About Biotech Showcase

Biotech Showcase, produced by Demy-Colton and EBD Group, is an investor conference focused on driving advances in therapeutic development by providing a sophisticated networking platform for executives and investors that fosters investment and partnership opportunities. The conference takes place each year during one of the industry's largest gatherings and busiest weeks.

About OptiKira

OptiKira was formed in 2015 by BioMotiv, the for-profit drug development accelerator of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Washington.

OptiKira and its founders have defined the critical role of inositol-requiring enzyme-1? (IRE1?) in directing the cellular unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR allows cells to manage dysfunctional, misfolded proteins produced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

The adaptive or "housekeeping" UPR enables cells to respond to low levels of misfolded proteins by various adaptive mechanisms that support cell survival. However high levels of unfolded proteins trigger a terminal UPR response that results in apoptosis, or cell death, and activation of a variety of inflammatory and profibrotic pathways. IRE1? is the master regulator of the UPR, directing the cellular response toward the adaptive or terminal pathways.

OptiKira and its academic founders made the seminal discovery that proprietary small molecule IRE1? kinase inhibitors can effectively block the terminal pathway while maintaining the adaptive UPR pathway. We have demonstrated that these compounds, named kinase-inhibiting RNase attenuators (KIRAs), can protect cells from degeneration in preclinical models of pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis, diabetes, and retinitis pigmentosa and hence may have broad clinical potential. OptiKira is planning to enter the clinic soon to evaluate its first drug candidate in IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis).

IPF is a serious chronic disease that results in scarring and fibrosis of the lung tissues, resulting in progressive shortness of breath. IPF is characterized by substantial unmet clinical need despite available therapy.

Click here to learn more about OptiKira.

About BioMotiv

BioMotiv is the mission-driven accelerator associated with The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, a $340 million initiative for advancing medicine centered at University Hospitals in Cleveland. The focus is to accelerate breakthrough discoveries from research institutions into therapeutics for patients through an innovative model that efficiently aligns capital and collaborations. The company leverages an experienced team and advisory board to select, fund, and actively manage and advance a portfolio of drug development programs.

For more information, go to: www.biomotiv.com.

About The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development

The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development (The Harrington Project) is a $340 million national initiative built to bridge the translational valley of death. It includes the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland and BioMotiv, a for-profit, mission-aligned drug development company that accelerates early discoveries into medicines for benefit of society.

For more information, go to: HarringtonDiscovery.org.