Pascal Biosciences Confirms Specific Cannabinoids Combat Coronavirus

SEATTLE, WA and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Pascal Biosciences Inc. (TSXV:PAS)(OTC PINK:BIMUF) (“Pascal” or the “Company”) today announced the Company has confirmed an earlier report that certain cannabinoids block replication of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Four different laboratories have now experimentally verified the antiviral activity of a cannabinoid. In addition, several cannabinoids have been tested, and the optimal compound has been chosen for further study. The best cannabinoid had potency similar to remdesivir in two different assays. Remdesivir is an approved drug from Gilead that improves recovery time for COVID-19 patients.

“We previously reported that our preliminary results would be confirmed with additional assays, and these studies validate our plans to develop a cannabinoid treatment for COVID-19,” said Dr. Patrick Gray, CEO of Pascal Biosciences. “Other groups have suggested cannabinoids such as CBD could benefit COVID-19 patients because of its immunomodulatory activity. We believe Pascal is the first to demonstrate direct antiviral activity for a cannabinoid.”

The four laboratories testing Pascal compounds are Southern Research, Institut Pasteur Korea, and two independent University of Washington academic groups. Three of the laboratories used the African green monkey kidney epithelial cell line, Vero E6, a common model system for testing coronaviral infectivity. In all three of these assays, the lead cannabinoid had good potency (antiviral activity in the range of 1 to 10 micromolar, similar to remdesivir). The fourth laboratory measured the antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2 on the human lung cell line, Calu-3, and found the cannabinoid to be nearly 100-fold more potent in inhibiting virus-mediated cell death than it was in the Vero E6 experiments. This is an important observation, as the human respiratory tract represents the first point of contact with the virus. Pascal scientists are very encouraged by the reproducibility of the cannabinoid’s protective activity in different experimental systems and in different laboratories. These results support rationale for testing in animal models of COVID-19, both in single agent and in combination with other antiviral compounds such as remdesivir, and Pascal is currently planning these experiments.

“Because most cannabinoids can be safely administered and have favorable pharmacological properties, we are hopeful that this discovery will provide therapeutic benefit for COVID-19,” commented Dr. Patrick Gray, CEO of Pascal Biosciences. “This disease continues to destroy lives and economies across the globe, so new therapeutic options are urgently needed.”

There are many efforts to create a vaccine or therapeutic drug for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pascal’s cannabinoid has the potential to limit the severity and progression of the disease. Typically, multiple drugs are required to provide effective antiviral therapy. For example, other viral diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C require two or three drugs for effective treatment. The novel discovery by Pascal scientists suggests a cannabinoid may well become an essential component of an effective drug cocktail for the treatment of COVID-19. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the Covid-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time.

About Pascal Biosciences Inc.
Pascal is a biotechnology company targeting innovative therapies for serious diseases, including COVID-19. Pascal is also developing treatments for cancer with targeted therapies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and cannabinoid-based therapeutics. Pascal’s leading portfolio also comprises a small molecule therapeutic, PAS-403, that is advancing into clinical trials for the treatment of glioblastoma, and PAS-393, an immuno-stimulatory cannabinoid to be used in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapy. For more information, visit www.pascalbiosciences.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Patrick W. Gray, CEO
Investors:
invest@pascalbiosciences.com

Media Contact:
Julie Rathbun
info@pascalbiosciences.com
Tel: 206-769-9219

DISCLAIMER:
Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words “believe”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, events or developments, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, events or developments express or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include, among others, our stage of development, lack of any product revenues, additional capital requirements, risk associated with the completion of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market our products, the ability to protect our intellectual property, dependence on collaborative partners and the prospects for negotiating additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements and their timing. Specifically, certain risks and uncertainties that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from any future events or results expressed or implied by such statements and information include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties that: products that we develop may not succeed in preclinical or clinical trials, or future products in our targeted corporate objectives; our future operating results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; we may not be able to raise additional capital; we may not be successful in establishing additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements; we may not be able to establish marketing and the costs of launching our products may be greater than anticipated; we have no experience in commercial manufacturing; we may face unknown risks related to intellectual property matters; we face increased competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and other factors as described in detail in our filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on our current expectations and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such forward- looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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SOURCE: Pascal Biosciences Inc.

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