• Professors Einar Stefánsson and Thorsteinn Loftsson, Oculis’ co-founders, nominated in ‘Research’ category of prestigious European Patent Office awards
  
  
• Nominated in recognition of research developing the OPTIREACH solubilizing formulation technology
  
  
• OPTIREACH is behind Oculis’ lead candidate OCS-01, currently in development in patients with diabetic macular edema and for treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery
  
  
• Voting now open for “Popular Prize” award ahead of ceremony on July 4 via dedicated link: https://popular-prize.epo.org/i/i/thorsteinn-loftsson-and-einar-stefansson/#inventor-thorsteinn-loftsson-and-einar-stefnsson

ZUG, Switzerland and BOSTON, May 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oculis Holding AG (Nasdaq: OCS) (“Oculis”), a global biopharmaceutical company purposefully driven to save sight and improve eye care, today announced the nomination of its co-founders, Professors Einar Stefánsson and Thorsteinn Loftsson, as finalists in the ‘Research’ category of the European Inventor Award 2023.

The European Inventor Award is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes. Launched by the European Patent Office in 2006, the award honours individuals and teams who have come up with solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time.

Professors Stefánsson and Loftsson, who co-founded Oculis, have been nominated in recognition of their research developing Oculis’ OPTIREACH solubilizing formulation technology. OPTIREACH was created to solve the limitations of conventional eye drops, including the limited solubility of drugs in eye drop formulations, quick removal by tear flow and inability to deliver drugs to the retina.

The technology is one of the proprietary platforms underpinning Oculis’ highly differentiated pipeline of innovative product candidates, including lead candidate OCS-01, a novel, high concentration, preservative-free, topical formulation of dexamethasone, currently in development in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and for the treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. The technology is also being leverage in other ongoing formulation projects.

Riad Sherif, M.D., CEO of Oculis, said: “I’m delighted that Einar’s and Thorsteinn’s research has been recognised by the European Patent Office. This technology is key to our efforts to develop novel treatments that can help prescribers to improve patients’ eyesight and enhance their quality of life. With OPTIREACH, we have the opportunity to develop eye drops that can reach the back of the eye at therapeutic concentrations, changing the ophthalmology treatment paradigm and reducing the need for more invasive treatments.”

Professors Einar Stefánsson and Thorsteinn Loftsson have been named as one of three finalists in the ‘Research’ category of the European Inventor Award 2023, which recognises outstanding inventors with successful inventions patented in Europe. 

The winners of the 2023 edition of the EPO’s awards will be announced at a hybrid ceremony on 4 July 2023 in Valencia, Spain and broadcast online here. 

Further information about the European Inventor Award 2023 and how to vote are available here.

About Oculis

Oculis is a global biopharmaceutical company (Nasdaq: OCS) purposefully driven to save sight and improve eye care. Oculis’ highly differentiated pipeline comprises multiple innovative product candidates in development. It includes OCS-01, a topical eye drop retinal candidate for diabetic macular edema (DME); OCS-02, a topical eye drop biologic candidate for dry eye disease (DED); and OCS-05, a disease modifying candidate for acute optic neuritis (AON) and other neuro-ophtha disorders such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, geographic atrophy, and neurotrophic keratitis. Headquartered in Switzerland and with operations in the US, Europe, and China, Oculis’ goal is to deliver life-changing treatments to patients worldwide. The company is led by an experienced management team with a successful track record and is supported by leading international healthcare investors.

For more information, please visit: www.oculis.com

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This press release contains forward looking statements and information. For example, statements regarding expected future milestones and catalysts; the initiation, timing, progress and results of Oculis’ clinical and preclinical studies; Oculis’ research and development programs, regulatory and business strategy, future development plans, and management; Oculis’ ability to advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials; and the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, are forward looking. All forward looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Oculis and its management, are inherently uncertain and are inherently subject to risks, variability and contingencies, many of which are beyond Oculis’ control. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, assurance, prediction or definitive statement of a fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected and/or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Oculis, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Oculis’ proxy statement and the prospectus for Oculis’ offering, and any other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Copies of these documents are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Oculis undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.