Seelos Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Composition of Matter Patent for SLS-007

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SEEL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for central nervous system disorders and rare diseases, announced that it has been issued U.S. patent number 10815271 (application number 16/311,593) from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) covering the composition of matter for SLS-007, a potentially disease-modifying gene therapy focused on intracellular alpha-synuclein (?-synuclein) aggregates in Parkinson's disease (PD).

This patent covers the composition of matter comprising at least one inhibitory peptide that inhibits ?-synuclein aggregation by binding to residues 68-78 of ?-synuclein. The patent also covers a method of use for reducing or inhibiting ?-synuclein aggregation, comprising contacting ?-synuclein amyloid fibrils with an inhibitory peptide in an amount sufficient to reduce or inhibit ?-synuclein aggregation plus a method of modulating the size or rate of growth of ?-synuclein amyloid fibrils.

As previously announced, Seelos is currently conducting an in vivo preclinical study of SLS-007.

"The alpha-synuclein approach to treating Parkinson's disease has been of great interest recently and we look forward to completing this study and evaluating the results," said Raj Mehra, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Seelos. "Successful delivery of this peptide by a gene therapy approach could yield a valuable tool in slowing the progression of Parkinson's by stopping the seeding and potential propagation of alpha-synuclein aggregates."

Seelos is currently delivering SLS-007 via an adeno-associated virus (AAV) that is designed to target the non-amyloid component core (NACore) of ?-synuclein to inhibit protein aggregation in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The preclinical study is designed to establish the in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and target engagement parameters of SLS-007.

Preliminary data from the study is currently expected in Q1 2021.

About SLS-007

SLS-007 is a family of rationally designed peptidic inhibitors that target the NACore of ?-synuclein to inhibit protein aggregation in patients with PD. The overexpression of ?-synuclein leads to the formation of ?-synuclein aggregates which comprise Lewy bodies and neurites which are the hallmarks of the pathogenesis of PD. Recent in vitro and cell culture research have shown that SLS-007 has the potential to stop the propagation and seeding of ?-synuclein aggregates.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release, which are not historical in nature, constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, among others, those regarding the potential for SLS-007 to be a disease-modifying gene focused on intracellular ?-synuclein aggregates in PD, the initiation and completion of the preclinical study of SLS-007, the ability of SLS-007 and related peptides to slow the progression of PD by stopping the seeding and potential propagation of ?-synuclein aggregates, the ability of SLS-007 delivered via an AAV to target the NACore, expectations regarding the results of the study, including the establishment of the in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics profiles and target engagement parameters of SLS-007 and the expected timing for releasing preliminary data regarding the study. These statements are based on Seelos' current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risks associated with Seelos' business include, but are not limited to, the risk of not successfully executing its preclinical and clinical studies and not gaining marketing approvals for its product candidates, the risk that prior test results may not be replicated in future studies and trials, the risks that clinical study results may not meet any or all endpoints of a clinical study and that any data generated from such studies may not support a regulatory submission or approval, the risks associated with the implementation of a new business strategy, the risks related to raising capital to fund its development plans and ongoing operations, risks related to Seelos' current stock price, risks related to the global impact of COVID-19, as well as other factors expressed in Seelos' periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, even if subsequently made available by us on our website or otherwise. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Contact Information:
Anthony Marciano
Head of Corporate Communications
Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SEEL)
300 Park Ave., 12th Fl
New York, NY 10022
(646) 293-2136
[email protected] 
www.seelostherapeutics.com
https://twitter.com/seelostx
https://www.linkedin.com/company/seelos

SOURCE Seelos Therapeutics, Inc.