ONCOTELIC TO PRESENT AT THE 20TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG DISCOVERY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc (OTCQB:OTLC) announced today its CEO- Dr. Vuong Trieu will speak at the 20th Annual Congress of International Drug Discovery Science & Technology (IDDST) (Europe), June 17-19, 2024 at Budapest, Hungary.

Title: TGFB2 therapeutic for the treatment of CRC, GBM, and PDAC

Anirudh Kolanu, K. Khuranu, A. Mehta, T. Sanil1, G. Trieu, and Dr. Vuong Trieu*

Abstract: OT-101, an antisense against TGFB2, is being tested in phase 3 clinical trials for pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma. It was previously reported to have robust clinical activity in those indications as well as in melanoma. Here, we explore the potential application of OT-101 in colorectal cancer (CRC) through the analysis of CRC patients treated with OT-101 during its clinical development, as well as through bioinformatic. Intravenous therapy with OT-101 in melanoma, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer was evaluated in P001- a phase I/II study. A total of 62 patients were enrolled; 38 patients with pancreatic cancer, 19 patients with melanoma, and 5 patients with colorectal cancer. Full pharmacokinetic evaluation of these patients demonstrated a drug effect with improved progression-free survival (PFS) with increased drug exposure defined by AUClast. The CRC patients were heavily pretreated with multiple lines of previous therapies (4,5,5,6,8), reflected in short overall survival times (2.1, 2.5, 3.0, 5.7, 7.3 months). High AUC exhibited a doubling of PFS to 84 days versus 40 days. A sample of 4259 colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer patients from cbioportal was analyzed. The low expression of two genes: TGFB2 and TGFM6 improved OS. The combination of TGFB2 and TGFM6 was superior to TGFB2 or TGFM6 alone, with TGFB2 being the dominant factor. There was strong but not overlapping sexual dimorphism among the two genes separately but not when used together. The TGFB/TGM6 impact was most significant on Mesenchymal CMS- increasing median survival from 42 months with high TGFB2/TGM6 to 132 months with low TGFB2/TGM6- a threefold improvement with a highly significant p-value of 1.4e-5. Statistical significance was not observed when the genes were used separately. Suppression of TGFB2, i.e., through OT-101, is a potential approach for the treatment of CRC.especially OT-101 treatment of TGM6 low patients.

“It is gratifying to identify what we think is the fundamental role of TGFM6 and TGFB2 in cancer,” said Dr. Vuong Trieu, CEO and Chairman of Oncotelic. “Considering the work done here by our interns drawn from local high schools through Brush&Key Foundation for Young Artist, I am impressed at the quality of their outputs.”

Supporting publications are as below:

1) Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2 (TGFB2) mRNA Levels, in Conjunction with Interferon-Gamma Receptor Activation of Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) and Expression of CD276/B7-H3, Are Therapeutically Targetable Negative Prognostic Markers in Low-Grade Gliomas.Trieu V, Maida AE, Qazi S. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Mar 19;16(6):1202. doi: 10.3390/cancers16061202. PMID: 38539537.

2) Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2 (TGFB2) and Interferon Gamma Receptor 2 (IFNGR2) mRNA Levels in the Brainstem Tumor Microenvironment (TME) Significantly Impact Overall Survival in Pediatric DMG Patients. Qazi S, Talebi Z, Trieu V. Biomedicines. 2024 Jan 15;12(1):191. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12010191. PMID: 38255296.

3) High Intra-Tumor Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2 Level as a Predictor of Poor Treatment Outcomes in Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Uckun FM, Qazi S, Trieu V. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Mar 9;15(6):1676. doi: 10.3390/cancers15061676. PMID: 36980562.

About Oncotelic

Oncotelic (f/k/a Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.), was formed in the State of New York in 1988 as OXiGENE, Inc., was reincorporated in the State of Delaware in 1992, and changed its name to Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. in 2016, and Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. in November 2020. Oncotelic is seeking to leverage its deep expertise in oncology drug development to improve treatment outcomes and survival of cancer patients with a special emphasis on rare pediatric cancers. Oncotelic has rare pediatric designation for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (“DIPG” through OT-101) through its 45% joint venture, GMP Biotechnology Limited, melanoma (through CA4P), and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (through OXi 4503). Oncotelic acquired PointR Data Inc. in November 2019 to build an AI driven biotechnology company. Further, Oncotelic acquired AL-101, during the 4th quarter of 2021, for the intranasal delivery of apomorphine. We intend to develop AL-101 for the treatment of Parkinson Disease, erectile dysfunction, female sexual disorder and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. All these ailments have a very large population suffering from them and there is a need for treatments for each. For more information on AL-101, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 19, 2023.

Oncotelic’s Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may”, “expect”, “anticipate” “hope”, “vision”, “optimism”, “design”, “exciting”, “promising”, “will”, “conviction”, “estimate,” “intend,” “believe”, “quest for a cure of cancer”, “innovation-driven”, “paradigm-shift”, “high scientific merit”, “impact potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans related to the operations of the JV, taking the JV into an initial public offering or the success thereof, the progress, timing of clinical development, scope and success of future clinical trials, the reporting of clinical data for the Company’s product candidates and the potential use of the Company’s product candidates to treat various cancer indications as well as obtaining required regulatory approval to conduct clinical trials and upon granting of approval by the regulatory agencies, the successful marketing of the products; building and the success of our nanoparticle platform and the related success of launching the platform, the development of the Company’s AI suite including but not limited to AI Chatbots, the public access to the Company’s AI suite, the success of the development of the AI suite or any other AI technologies and whether if any or portion thereof the Company’s AI suite or technologies will be commercialized and launched for sale. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements or may not occur at all. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes, taking the Company or its affiliates through initial public offerings. These risks are not exhaustive, the company faces known and unknown risks, including the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 19, 2023 and in the company’s other periodic filings. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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