Ω-NaBen, the Ultimate and Supreme Sodium Benzoate

　　SyneuRx (TT6575) presents an important progress report in the “2021 Joint Spring Congress & Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Workshop” (2021.02.27.), held by Taiwanese Society of Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology (TSBPN), with the title of “The Omega Form of Sodium Benzoate (Ω-NaBen), a Novel Polymorphic Form, Shows Improved Solubility, Bioavailability and Antipsychotic Effects.”

　　SyneuRx has confirmed that benzoate is an inhibitor of D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO). Sodium benzoate increases the synaptic D-serine level via inhibiting DAAO to enhance NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission and therapeutically improve the symptoms of schizophrenia and cognition of dementia. Nevertheless, the therapeutic effect is not dose-efficient, which requires large dosages. 

　　Benzoic acid plays a significant role in the long history of human civilization. It was first discovered in the 16th century by the ingenious French priest Nostradamus (1556), describing the dry distillation of benzoin gum. It was later confirmed by Alexius Pedemontanus and Blaise de Vigenère in 1560 and 1596, respectively. In 1875, Salkowski discovered the antifungal effects of benzoic acid. Furthermore, benzoic acid and its sodium salt, sodium benzoate, are commonly used as food preservatives. But no therapeutic effect is observed when taking into account only the daily intake of food.

　　NMDA receptor dictates cognition, memory, thinking and emotion of the human brain. Human proof of principle studies of sodium benzoate reveal therapeutic benefits for dementia and schizophrenia. To improve the therapeutic efficacy of sodium benzoate, SyneuRx discovers the Ω-sodium benzoate (Ω-NaBen) is a new active pharmaceutical ingredient that has better physicochemical properties and bioavailability than all the other forms of sodium benzoate. Ω-NaBen surpasses the other sodium benzoate and becomes a new generation innovative CNS drug with stronger therapeutic effects.

　　The naming of Ω-NaBen, according to SyneuRx’ CEO, Emil Tsai, MD, PhD, MAS, is due to the fact that all the other crystal forms of sodium benzoate will convert to Ω-NaBen under the challenge of stability stress test. Ω (omega) is the last alphabet of Greek. Ω-NaBen reflects the ultimate supreme value of the Nostradamus compound he first discovered and purified in 1556.

　　Ω-NaBen is protected by the global patent portfolio: US10336679, US10098861, US16/393762, PCT/CN2017/107436, CA3041389, CN201780072982.7, EP17865685.6, HK62020003145.3, IL266210, IN201917017013, JP2019-521650, KR10-2019-7014543, MX/a/2019/004734, RU2019113765, TW106136543.
Global trademark protections: NaBen, Clozaben
　　USFDA Breakthrough Therapy Designations include: Naben for general schizophrenia and Clozaben for refractory schizophrenia.

About SyneuRx International (Taiwan) Corp.
　　SyneuRx is a global biotech company listed at Taiwan (TT 6575), undergoing clinical development of new classes of drugs for major CNS disease conditions and COVID-19. Several early and late phase clinical trials are currently in global progress for multiple indications, including schizophrenia, dementia, depression and COVID-19.

Forward Looking Statements
　　This press release does not constitute any invitation or offer to purchase or subscribe for the stocks of SyneuRx. The forward-looking statements in the press release are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which may cause huge deviation from the expected results in those forward-looking statements. SyneuRx has no obligation to amend or update this press release to respond to any events that occur after the publication of this article. New drug development takes a long time and high investment costs; however, without guarantee of success. All these unpredictabilities may put the investment at risk. SyneuRx does not encourage short-term investment. Investors should make diligent judgments and invest carefully.　　SNB011 plans to enroll COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms within 48 hours of diagnosis confirmed by a positive PCR test. Pentarlandir® are oral capsules, which allows patients to administer the medication at the convenience of their homes, avoiding the need of hospitalization or quarantine. If developed successfully, Pentarlandir® is to COVID-19 will be what Tamiflu is to flu. Such treatment is likely to  fill the void arising from unequal distribution of vaccines, low vaccination rates, and inconsistent vaccine efficacies, and to lessen the disease burdens on patients, their family, and friends, and on the health care system as a whole. 

　　SyneuRx’s Chairman and CEO, Emil Tsai, MD, PhD, MAS, pointed out that ”Both Pentarlandir® and Pfizer’s PF-07321332 are designed as oral capsules, have  the same mechanism of action working against the Main protease of SARS-CoV-2, and carry the potential in inhibiting  SARS-CoV-2 variants. To date, SyneuRx and Pfizer are the only two companies whose experimental Mpro inhibitors are in human testing.  I hope both drugs can be successfully launched, to resolve the predicament of lacking COVID-19 drug  treatment.” 

　　Pentarlandir® has a long history in human use,  which has demonstrated a high level of safety. SyneuRx’s preclinical work has shown that Pentarlandir® can work against SARS-CoV-2 in 3 mechanisms of action : (1) inhibiting the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 to suppress virus replication, (2) inhibiting the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) of human cells to block virus entry to human cells, and (3) providing anti-inflammatory effect against cytokine storm that can lead to the deterioration of the illness. Thus, Pentarlandir® can be applicable to a wide majority of COVID-19  patients who typically have mild symptoms. 
　　In addition, Pentarlandir® is an efficacious D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitor which modulates NMDA receptors and protects neurons in human brain. Therefore, Pentarlandir® can also treat the common post-COVID-19 conditions such as depression, anxiety, and memory deterioration, killing two birds with one stone. 
　　“Unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is the main reason of the sustained spread of pandemic worldwide. Apparently, Taiwan is suffering geopolitical impacts caused by such unequal distribution. SyneuRx will do its best to help resolve the global pandemic,”  added Dr. Emil Tsai. 

About COVID-19 and its available therapies 
　　To date, more than 170 million people across the globe are infected by SARS-CoV-2 and more than 3.7 million have died. Remdesivir has been approved by US FDA for hospitalized patients. In addition, two monoclonal antibody-based cocktail therapies bamlanivimab plus etesevimab and casirivimab plus imdevimab have also been issued EUA for patients with mild symptoms. However, WHO does not recommend the use of remdesivir, and the use of monoclonal antibodies is inconvenient as the antibodies need to be injected intravenously.  

About SyneuRx International (Taiwan) Corp.  
　　SyneuRx is a global biotech company listed in Taiwan (TWSE: 6575), undergoing clinical development of new classes of drugs for multiple major CNS disease conditions and COVID-19. Several early and late phase clinical trials are currently in progress for multiple indications globally, including schizophrenia, dementia, depression and COVID-19. 

Forward-Looking Statements 
　　This press release does not constitute any invitation or offer to purchase or subscribe for the stocks of SyneuRx. The forward-looking statements in the press release are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which may cause huge deviation from the expected results in those forward-looking statements. SyneuRx has no obligation to amend or update this press release to respond to any events that occur after the publication of this article. New drug development takes a long time and high investment costs, without guarantee of success. All these unpredictabilities may put the investment at risk. SyneuRx does not encourage short-term investment. Investors should make diligent judgments and invest carefully.