Cocrystal Pharma Presentation at the reimagine Health Research Symposium Features Overview of Platform Technology and Four Antiviral Case Studies

BOTHELL, Wash., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Nasdaq: COCP), (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication machinery of influenza viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses, provides the following summary of today’s upcoming presentation by Cocrystal President Sam Lee, Ph.D. at the virtual 3^rd Annual reimagine Health Research Symposium, University of Arizona College of Medicine. A live webcast of Dr. Lee’s presentation, titled “Application of Structure-Based Drug Design Platform Technology for Developing Broad Spectrum, COVID-19, Influenza, and HCV Antivirals,” will be available at 9:50 a.m. Pacific time (12:50 p.m. Eastern time) by registering . Dr. Lee’s presentation will be available on the Cocrystal website beginning Friday, January 22, 2021.

Dr. Lee will provide an overview of the Company’s drug discovery platform technology, including its unique ability to develop broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics and its advantages compared with the traditional drug discovery and development process. He will emphasize that the technology platform focuses on well-validated antiviral drug targets and review four case studies on the following compounds:

• CC-31244, a pan-genotypic hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-nucleoside inhibitor that has shown superior activity against all known HCV drug-resistant polymerases, exhibits a high barrier to drug resistance and has successfully completed a Phase 2a clinical trial;
• Pan-genotypic HCV inhibitors bind to a highly conserved CBP-1 binding pocket of HCV NS3 helicase and inhibit the viral replication;
• CC-42344, a broad-spectrum pandemic and seasonal influenza A inhibitor that binds to the highly conserved m7GTP binding pocket of PB2, has exhibited a favorable preclinical safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties, and is expected to enter into Phase 1 clinical trials in 2021; and
• SARS-CoV-2 direct-acting antiviral 3CL (or main) protease inhibitor is in preclinical development for the treatment of COVID-19.

“The traditional route for drug discovery and development requires target identification and validation, making for a slow process with a high rate of attrition,” said Dr. Lee. “Cocrystal’s unique platform technology has the ability to provide 3D structures of inhibitor protein complexes at near-atomic resolution, allowing us to identify novel drug-binding pockets essential for viral replication and transcription. We then design and develop broad-spectrum viral inhibitors that have the added benefit of providing a high-barrier to drug resistance.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the potential of our structure-based drug discovery platform technology in developing a diverse pipeline of antiviral compounds that could have meaningful impact on multiple high-value indications,” he added.

About the reimagine Health Research Symposium

The 3^rd Annual reimagine Health Research Symposium will focus on current topics in the areas of intervention and prevention of important diseases that are impacting humankind. It will emphasize approaches for a variety of diseases and crises—including COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, cancer, opioid addiction and the need to develop novel antibiotics. Attendees will learn from and engage with leading experts who will present and discuss contemporary treatment and prevention strategies in the areas of drug discovery, vaccine development, addiction management and the use of artificial intelligence, as well as the ethical and social factors contributing to these approaches. The reimagine Health Research Symposium is co-sponsored and planned by the , the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and the . More information about the symposium is available .

About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including our beliefs regarding the potential of our structure-based drug discovery platform technology. The words "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "could," "target," "potential," "is likely," "will," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the results of preclinical and clinical studies. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as updated and supplemented by the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and the Prospectus Supplement dated August 26, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact:

LHA Investor Relations

Jody Cain

310-691-7100

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