CohBar Continues Exploration Of Mitochondrial Genome And Expansion Of Its IP Portfolio With Filing Of 29 New Provisional Patents

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CohBar, Inc. (OTCQX: CWBR and TSXV: COB.U), a preclinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing mitochondria based therapeutics (MBTs) to treat age-related diseases, today announced the discovery of a number of new biologically active peptides encoded within the mitochondrial genome and the filing of 29 additional related provisional patent applications. The provisional patent applications also cover novel analogs developed by CohBar that are based on the biologically active peptides. During 2016, the Company filed over 50 provisional patents related to its mitochondrial peptide discoveries and novel analogs.

“Our ongoing exploration of the mitochondrial genome continues to identify new peptides with potential for metabolic regulation and protection”

“Our ongoing exploration of the mitochondrial genome continues to identify new peptides with potential for metabolic regulation and protection,” stated CohBar’s CEO Simon Allen. “We believe that the new biologically active peptides we’ve discovered to date help advance the development of drug candidates to address the metabolic dysfunction underlying age-related diseases. Our related provisional patent filings support our strategy to establish and secure a leading intellectual property position in mitochondrial peptides, as we continue to evaluate these compounds and their analogs for possible addition to our clinical development pipeline.”

About the Mitochondrial Genome and CohBar’s MBTs
Mitochondria, the only parts of the cell other than the nucleus that have their own genome, produce energy and regulate cell death in response to signals received from the cell. Until recently, scientists believed the mitochondrial genome contained a limited number of genes and, as a result, it had been relatively unexplored as a focus of drug discovery efforts. Research by CohBar founders and their academic collaborators revealed that the mitochondrial genome contains significantly more potential new genes that encode various peptides. In preclinical models of age-related diseases, a number of these mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) have shown potential disease-modifying effects including metabolic regulation, neuro-protective, cyto-protective and anti-inflammatory activity. CohBar’s proprietary platform technology involves exploring the mitochondrial genome for new peptides that exhibit biological activity, and optimizing their structures using cell based and preclinical models to develop proprietary MBTs with the potential to treat a range of age-related diseases. To date, the Company and its founders have discovered more than 50 biologically active mitochondrial peptides.

About CohBar’s Clinical Development Program
CohBar’s lead clinical development program is based on MOTS-c, an MDP 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 optimized analogs of the MOTS-c peptide and identified two of these analogs, CB42009 and CB4211, as drug candidates for advancement into IND-enabling activities. The drug candidates have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in preclinical models for the treatment of obesity, with additional ongoing studies to determine their therapeutic potential for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an advanced form of fatty liver disease, and as an add-on to other drugs for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes.

About CohBar
CohBar (OTCQX: CWBR and TSXV: COB.U) is a preclinical stage 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 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 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, Type-2 diabetes, and some types of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

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

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including: statements concerning CohBar’s plans, prospects, resources and capabilities, including statements regarding its research and development activities, expectations regarding the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial-derived peptides, potential for additional discoveries, and expectations regarding future development of our intellectual property portfolio. 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 the possibility of unfavorable research results and CohBar’s ability to obtain capital, retain key personnel, expand its research operations, and successfully advance its drug discovery and development 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.