Corbus Pharmaceuticals Expands Intellectual Property Portfolio with Patent Issuance Covering the Use of Anabasum for the Treatment of Rare Fibrotic Diseases

Anabasum is a first-in-class therapy targeting multiple rare inflammatory and fibrotic diseases with clear unmet needs and significant morbidity and mortality


NORWOOD, MA--(Marketwired - November 27, 2017) - Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRBP) ("Corbus" or the "Company"), a clinical stage drug development company targeting rare, chronic, serious inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") issued U.S. Patent No. 9,820,964 to the Company with claims covering the use of pharmaceutical compositions comprising anabasum for the treatment of multiple fibrotic diseases, including the Company's lead indications: systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, cystic fibrosis as well as others. The patent provides intellectual property protection in the United States for the use of anabasum through 2034. This patent follows the recently issued patent 9,801,849 covering uses of anabasum in multiple inflammatory diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and others.

This patent is part of an expanding and comprehensive portfolio of patents, patent applications and other intellectual property covering the synthesis, manufacturing, formulation and uses of anabasum for a variety of indications including the Company's lead indications: systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, cystic fibrosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Anabasum is a synthetic oral endocannabinoid-mimetic drug candidate designed to resolve chronic inflammation and fibrosis through the activation of the CB2 receptor to stimulate production of specialized pro-resolving mediators.

Mark Tepper, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Corbus, stated, "The issuance of this specific patent reaffirms the unique properties of anabasum to treat systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, cystic fibrosis and other rare fibrotic diseases for which there are limited therapeutic options for patients. This issued patent, along with the Company's other recently issued U.S. Patent No. 9,801,849 covering the use of anabasum for multiple inflammatory diseases, provides Corbus with broad intellectual property rights to anabasum to 2034."

Yuval Cohen, Ph.D., CEO of Corbus, stated, "The issuance of this second key patent this year is a reflection of our success in creating and expanding a robust intellectual property portfolio around anabasum."

About Anabasum

Anabasum is a synthetic oral endocannabinoid-mimetic drug that preferentially binds to cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) expressed on activated immune cells and fibroblasts. CB2 activation triggers physiologic pathways that resolve inflammation, speed bacterial clearance and halt fibrosis. Nonclinical and human clinical studies to date have shown anabasum has favorable safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profiles. It has also demonstrated promising potency in nonclinical models of inflammation and fibrosis. Anabasum is designed to trigger the production of "Specialized Pro-resolving Lipid Mediators" that activate an endogenous cascade responsible for the resolution of inflammation and fibrosis, while reducing production of multiple inflammatory mediators. Anabasum also is designed to have a direct effect on fibroblasts to halt tissue scarring. In effect, anabasum is believed to trigger endogenous pathways to turn "off" chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes without causing immunosuppression.

About Corbus

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. is a Phase 3 clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare, chronic, and serious inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The Company's lead product candidate, anabasum, is a novel synthetic oral endocannabinoid-mimetic drug designed to resolve chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes. Anabasum has generated positive data in Phase 2 studies in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and dermatomyositis. Additionally, the Company is evaluating anabasum in open-label extension studies in systemic sclerosis and skin-predominant dermatomyositis. The Company expects to commence a Phase 2 study in systemic lupus erythematosus, a Phase 3 study in systemic sclerosis and a Phase 2b study in cystic fibrosis in the fourth quarter of 2017.

For more information, please visit www.CorbusPharma.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statement that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's current beliefs and assumptions.

These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:

Investor Contact
Jenene Thomas
Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC
Phone: (908) 938-1475
Email: jenene@jenenethomascommunications.com

Media Contact
Nic DiBella
JPA Health Communications
Phone: (617) 657-1307
Email: Nic@jpa.com

Company ProfileCorbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.Industry: Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology