Claritas (formerly Kalytera Therapeutics) Announces Additional Program to Reduce the Rate and Spread of COVID-19 with Prophylactic R-107 Nasal Spray Designed to Provide Sustained Release of Nitric Oxide in the Nasal Cavities

SAN FRANCISCO and TORONTO, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Claritas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Kalytera Therapeutics, Inc.) (TSX VENTURE: KLY and OTC: KALTF) (the "Company" or "Claritas") today announced that it has initiated a second development program with R-107, the Company’s proprietary nitric oxide-releasing compound. The Company is currently developing R-107 as a therapy for vaccine-resistant COVID-19, influenza and other viral infections. The additional program that the Company is announcing today will develop R-107 as a nasal spray designed to be used prophylactically to prevent viral infections.

Hundreds of peer reviewed publications have documented that naturally occurring nitric oxide in the nasal cavities is a primary defense against invading viruses. Nasal nitric oxide prevents and reduces the rate and severity of various viral infections, including viruses responsible for the flu, the common cold and coronavirus.¹

When a viral threat is present, and has entered cells in the nasal cavities, the body’s white blood cells engulf the virus and release a burst of nitric oxide to destroy the virus. However, in cases of fulminating, or rapidly replicating viruses, the viral load can overwhelm the ability of naturally occurring nitric oxide to eliminate the virus.

The R-107 nasal spray that Claritas is developing is designed to increase the level of nitric oxide present in the nasal cavities to kill the invading viruses, thereby reducing the rate, severity and spread of viral infections.

The Company believes that its R-107 nasal spray could potentially be used as a preventative measure to reduce the rate and severity of the symptoms of COVID-19 or as an early intervention to prevent viral infection from spreading beyond the nasal cavities.

Professor Salvatore Cuzzocrea, President of the University of Messina and former President of the European Shock Society is working with Claritas, and has read and approved of the scientific disclosure in this news release. Professor Cuzzocrea has significant expertise regarding the medical use of nitric oxide and nitric oxide donors, and has published more than 600 peer reviewed papers on nitric oxide. He has conducted research and experiments with nitric oxide and nitric oxide donors since 1994, and worked closely as an advisor with the Salzman Group team that designed and invented R-107.

The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure, or contain the Covid-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time.

About Claritas Pharmaceuticals
Claritas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with significant unmet medical needs. Claritas focuses on areas of unmet medical need, and leverages its expertise to find solutions that will improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives.

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Cautionary Statements
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation in respect of its product candidate pipeline, planned clinical trials, regulatory approval prospects, intellectual property objectives, and other statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risk that future clinical studies may not proceed as expected or may produce unfavorable results. Claritas undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Claritas believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking information in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking information has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Claritas’ control. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date hereof. Claritas disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information
Robert Farrell
President, CEO
(888) 861-2008
info@claritaspharma.com

¹ Nathan C., Xie Q.W. Nitric oxide synthases: roles, tolls, and controls. Cell. 1994;78:915–918. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(94)90266-6. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]