• Drs. Daniel C. Cattran and Fernando C. Fervenza join ZyVersa's distinguished group of Scientific Advisors
• VAR 200 is a phase 2a-ready cholesterol efflux mediator in development to ameliorate renal lipid accumulation that damages the kidneys' filtration system, leading to progression of kidney disease

WESTON, Fla., Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZVSA; "ZyVersa"), a clinical stage specialty biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drugs for treatment of renal and inflammatory diseases, announces that two leading nephrologists have joined ZyVersa's Renal Scientific Advisory Board.

Daniel C. Cattran, MD 
Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Senior Scientist, Toronto General Research Institute

Fernando C. Fervenza, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Director of the Nephrology Collaborative Group

"We are honored that nephrologists with the accomplishments of Drs. Cattran and Fervenza are joining our Scientific Advisory Board," stated Dr. Pablo Guzman, ZyVersa's Chief Medical Officer, and Chairman of the Renal Scientific Advisory Board. "Their clinical and research expertise have earned them global distinction as key thought-leaders in the field of nephrology. We look forward to their invaluable contributions that will help drive the timely success of our clinical development program for our cholesterol efflux mediator, VAR 200," continued Dr. Guzman.

Drs. Cattran and Fervenza join ZyVersa's current team of prominent Scientific Advisors, Sharon G. Adler, MD: Professor of Medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA; Chief, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; and Program Director, Nephrology Fellowship Training Program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; Alessia Fornoni, MD, PhD: Professor of Medicine and Chief of Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Debbie S. Gipson, MD, MS: Professor, Department of Pediatrics at University of Michigan and Director of the Kidney Research Network Coordinating Center; Marlene Haffner, MD, MPH: Principal and Founder of Orphan Solutions and former Director of Orphan Products Development at FDA; and Pablo A. Guzman, MD, FAAC: Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of Renal Scientific Advisory Board at ZyVersa Therapeutics.

"Enlisting the insights and strategic guidance of our renowned scientific advisory board is key to achieving our mission to develop transformative drug therapies for patients with renal disease," said Stephen C. Glover, ZyVersa's Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman. "We appreciate their expertise and time to support our mission," added Mr. Glover.

VAR 200 (2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, 2HPβCD) is a cholesterol efflux mediator in development to ameliorate renal lipid accumulation that damages the kidneys' filtration system, leading to kidney disease progression. VAR 200 passively and actively removes excess lipids from the kidney.

Preclinical studies with VAR 200 in animal models of FSGS, Alport syndrome, and diabetic kidney disease demonstrate that removal of excess cholesterol and lipids from kidney podocytes protects against structural damage and reduces excretion of protein in the urine (proteinuria).

The lead indication for VAR 200 is orphan kidney disease focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). VAR 200 has potential to treat other glomerular diseases, including orphan Alport syndrome and diabetic kidney disease.

ZyVersa is a clinical stage specialty biopharmaceutical company leveraging advanced, proprietary technologies to develop first-in-class drugs. Our focus is on patients with renal or inflammatory diseases who have significant unmet medical needs. Our development pipeline includes phase 2a-ready VAR 200, a cholesterol efflux mediator in development to alleviate damaging accumulation of cholesterol and lipids in the filtering system of the kidneys. The lead indication is treatment of rare kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. VAR 200 has potential to treat other kidney diseases, including Alport syndrome and diabetic kidney disease. Our pipeline also includes a proprietary inflammasome ASC inhibitor that blocks initiation and perpetuation of damaging inflammation associated with a multitude of inflammatory diseases. IC 100 has potential to treat many different CNS and other inflammatory diseases. For more information, please visit www.zyversa.com.

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