• Data to be presented at Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress in Denver March 17-20, 2023
• Animal study shows effective attenuation of osteoarthritis progression and functional improvement in mice treated with DNMT3B mRNA nanoparticles based on Altamira's SemaPhore™ delivery technology

HAMILTON, BERMUDA / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2023 / Altamira Therapeutics ("Altamira" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:CYTO), a company dedicated to developing RNA-based therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs, today announced the upcoming presentation of animal data generated by a leading US-based osteoarthritis research group. The data show effective attenuation of osteoarthritis progression through treatment with an mRNA therapeutic, delivered in nanoparticles based on the Company's SemaPhore™ delivery platform.[1]

The data will be presented in a late-breaking poster at the 2023 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress in Denver CO.

The research group from the Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO), and University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) tested the delivery of DNA-methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B) mRNA with Altamira's peptide-based SemaPhore nanoparticles to boost DNMT3B expression in a mouse model of meniscal injury. DNMT3B is a protein coding gene which provides instructions for the making of the DNMT3B enzyme which plays a key role in the homeostasis and metabolism of chondrocytes (the cells responsible for cartilage formation). Previous studies have suggested that a deficiency in DNMT3B accelerates joint degeneration and may trigger osteoarthritis.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees. With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change. These changes usually develop slowly and get worse over time. OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases, it also causes reduced function and disability. CDC estimates that OA affects over 32.5 million US adults; its prevalence is increasing steadily due to the aging population and rising obesity.

The research group treated mice with meniscal injury by local (intra-articular) administration of DNMT3B mRNA nanoparticles or controls once every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Active treatment resulted in strong induction of DNMT3B protein as well as significantly reduced bone sclerosis, cartilage degeneration, and synovitis (inflammation of the connective tissue lining the inside of a joint capsule). Functional studies showed significantly decreased pain sensitivity and improved weight bearing in active treated mice compared to controls. The research group concluded: "Overall, these findings suggest that DNMT3B mRNA delivery with peptide-based nanoparticles could be a viable treatment to reverse/mitigate OA disease."

Samuel Wickline, M.D., Altamira's Chief Scientific Adviser and a co-author of the study, commented: "As of today, there is no cure for osteoarthritis, and current treatment options are mostly limited to increased physical activity, weight loss or intake of pain-relieving medication. RNA therapeutics targeting the progression of OA may provide disease-modifying effects. The latest results obtained with our SemaPhore nanoparticles appear very promising and further demonstrate the delivery technology's versatility, and great performance and tolerability under inflammatory conditions."

About OARSI

The Osteoarthritis Research Society International is the leading medical society for advancing the understanding, early detection, treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis (OA) through its exclusive dedication to research. OARSI's passion and area of focus is on OA, a debilitating disease affecting more than 600 million people around the world. With more than 30 years of experience serving the OA community, OARSI provides the necessary framework, expert resources and support for its international constituents to address the challenges of OA so that the knowledge gained can ultimately be used to help improve patient care and patient outcomes. For more info, please visit: https://oarsi.org/

About SemaPhore

SemaPhore is a versatile platform for safe and effective delivery of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) into target cells. It is based on a patented 21-amino acid peptide that can engage any type of RNA in rapid self-assembly into a polyplex. The polyplex has a size, charge, and other physical features that allow it to escape hepatic clearance and thus to reach other target tissues than the liver. SemaPhore protects the RNA payload from degradation in the circulation and allows for rapid cellular uptake, while enabling pH-dependent nucleotide endosomal escape and cytoplasmic delivery. Effective delivery of mRNA and positive treatment outcomes have been demonstrated in various murine models of disease, including osteoarthritis (WNT16), atherosclerosis (p27^Kip1) and aortic aneurysm (SOD2).

About Altamira Therapeutics

Altamira Therapeutics (Nasdaq:CYTO) is dedicated to developing RNA-based therapeutics for extrahepatic targets (OligoPhore™ / SemaPhore™ delivery platforms). The Company currently has two flagship siRNA programs in preclinical development beyond in vivo proof of concept: AM-401 for KRAS driven cancer and AM-411 for rheumatoid arthritis. The versatile delivery platform is also suited for mRNA and other types of RNA therapeutics and shall be leveraged via out-licensing to pharma or biotech companies. In addition, Altamira is in the process of divesting and/or licensing-out its legacy assets in allergology and viral infection (Bentrio® OTC nasal spray; commercial) and inner ear therapeutics (AM-125 nasal spray for vertigo; post Phase 2; Keyzilen® and Sonsuvi® for tinnitus and hearing loss; Phase 3). Founded in 2003, Altamira is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, with its main operations in Basel, Switzerland. For more information, visit: https://altamiratherapeutics.com/

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[1] Kucharski A. et al., Nanoparticle based DNMT3B gene therapy attenuates arthritis progression in a murine injury model, poster 500.