CohBar Presents Preclinical Data on CB4209/CB4211 Program for NASH at the AASLD Liver Meeting® 2017

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CohBar, Inc. (OTCQX:CWBR) (TSXV:COB.U), an innovative biotechnology company focused on developing mitochondria based therapeutics (MBTs) to treat age-related diseases, today announced the presentation of preclinical data on its lead CB4209/CB4211 program for NASH at the 2017 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Liver Meeting, taking place October 20-24, 2017 in Washington DC. NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) affects as many as 12% of adults in the US and there is currently no approved treatment for the disease.

The new data were presented in a poster entitled: “CB4209 and CB4211 Reduce the NAFLD Activity Score in the STAM Model of NASH, Reduce Triglyceride Levels, and Induce Selective Fat Mass Loss in DIO Mice.”

In the poster, CohBar scientists and their collaborators provided in vitro evidence that CB4209 and CB4211 inhibit adipocyte lipolysis, a process that is foundational in the development of liver steatosis. These data corroborate previous in vivo evidence of anti-steatotic effects of the peptides on livers of mice on a high fat diet, where a corresponding reduction in circulating fat and biomarkers of liver damage was observed.  Reduction of excess body weight was confined to obese animals and was not seen in healthy animals even at much higher doses. The in vivo effects on steatosis and body weight in obese mice were further shown to be synergistic with the activity of concomitant liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In the widely-studied STAM® mouse model of NASH, significant reductions in the NAFLD activity score (NAS) were seen for CB4209 (24% reduction) and CB4211 (33% reduction) (P<0.01).  Positive effects of these peptides were detected on all three components of the NAS score (steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning). Levels of liver triglycerides and circulating ALT, a marker of liver damage, in the STAM mice were significantly improved by treatment with these peptides.

"The preclinical data for CB4209 and CB4211 demonstrate the therapeutic potential of novel analogs derived from peptides encoded in the mitochondrial genome," said Kenneth C. Cundy, Ph.D., CohBar’s Chief Scientific Officer. "The peptides have a regulatory effect on the secretion of free fatty acids from fat cells, a process that is overactive in obese subjects and a potential contributing factor in many of the pathological consequences of metabolic dysregulation. We believe our peptides affect a foundational event in the etiology of NASH and potentially other metabolic diseases. CB4209/CB4211 may also offer a complementary approach to other mechanisms of action currently being explored in the emerging field of NASH therapeutics. We look forward to further testing the potential of our MBTs in clinical studies."

“Lipotoxicity is a key mechanism in a number of metabolic diseases and is thought to be responsible for the progression of NAFLD to NASH,” said CohBar advisor, Dr. Rohit Loomba, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Adjunct Professor in the Division of Epidemiology at UC San Diego and Director, NAFLD Research Center. “A drug that addresses the underlying process of lipid secretion from visceral fat cells could potentially provide a new option for treating this major liver disease.”

About CohBar’s Lead Program
CohBar’s lead preclinical development program is based on MOTS-c, a mitochondrial-derived peptide discovered in 2012 by the Company’s founders and their academic collaborators, whose research has shown that MOTS-c plays a significant role in the regulation of metabolism. The Company has developed novel, improved analogs of the MOTS-c peptide, CB4209 and CB4211, which have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in preclinical models of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

About CohBar
CohBar (OTCQX:CWBR) (TSXV:COB.U) is an innovative biotechnology company focused on the research and development of mitochondria based therapeutics (MBTs), an emerging class of drugs for the treatment of age-related diseases. MBTs originate from the discovery by CohBar’s founders of a novel group of peptides within the mitochondrial genome which regulate metabolism and cell death, and whose biological activity declines with age. CohBar’s efforts focus on the development of these mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) into clinically relevant MBTs that offer the potential to address a broad range of age-related diseases, including obesity, fatty liver disease (NASH), type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. To date, the Company and its founders have discovered more than 100 MDPs.

For additional company information, please visit www.cohbar.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements (statements which are not historical facts) within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include CohBar’s plans and expectations for its CB4209 and CB4211 candidate program, including statements regarding the therapeutic potential of these and other mitochondria based therapeutics and anticipated initiation of clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by CohBar. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated commencement and completion dates for IND-enabling and initial clinical studies, as well as the possibility of unfavorable study results, including unfavorable new data and additional analyses of existing data; risks associated with initial data, including the risk that results of additional pre-clinical or clinical studies may be different from (including less favorable than) the earlier data results and may not support further clinical development; whether and when any investigational new drug application may be filed with regulatory authorities for CB4209 or CB4211; whether and when regulatory authorities may approve any such applications, and other decisions by regulatory authorities that could affect the availability or commercial potential of CB4209 or CB4211. Additional risks and uncertainties include CohBar’s ability to retain key personnel, expand its research operations, and obtain financing necessary to continue its operations and fund its candidate programs. Additional assumptions, risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our registration statements, reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators, which are available on our website, and at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com.

You are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and CohBar does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. 

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investor and Media Contact:
Jon Stern, COO
CohBar, Inc.
(650) 446-7888 ext. 111
jon.stern@cohbar.com

Released October 23, 2017