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Strategic financing by an affiliate of CK Life Sciences Int’l., (Holdings) Inc., results in working capital of approximately $23 million to fund operations and advance Phase 2b Halneuron® development into 4Q25 Expanded pipeline includes a potential first-in-class non-opioid, NaV1.7 inhibition pain treatment, Halneuron®, currently in Phase 2b development for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, with an expected interim readout 2H25Near-term catalyst with top-line results from the IMC-2 Long-COVID Phase 2a study expected in early 4Q24 Existing VIRI stockholders to be granted a contingent value right (“CVR”) tied to potential milestone payments associated with any future corporate partnering transactions for IMC-1 and IMC-2 Company announces 25-for-1 reverse stock split of its common stock to be effective on October 9, 2024 to enable business combination and Nasdaq listing complianceWebcast today, October 7, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time ATLANTA and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virios Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIRI) (the “Company”), and Wex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“WEX”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CK Life Sciences Int’l., (Holdings) Inc. (“CKLS”), today announced that Virios has entered into a definitive share exchange agreement with Sealbond Limited, an indirect parent of Wex, pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction (the “Combination”). The combined company’s new name will be Dogwood Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: DWTX) (“Dogwood”) and it will be focused on the clinical development of three assets: Halneuron®, currently in Phase 2b development for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (“CINP”); IMC-1, poised for Phase 3 development as a treatment for fibromyalgia (“FM”); and IMC-2, currently in Phase 2 development to treat Long-COVID (“LC”) sequelae. In connection with the Combination, the Company announced that it is raising $19.5 million in a committed debt financing by an affiliate of CKLS in two tranches with $16.5 million funding at closing and an additional $3 million funded in 1Q25, subject to certain customary conditions. This financing is expected to fund research and operations through several key milestones, including the release of results from the Halneuron® Phase 2b interim analysis assessment expected in 2H25. “This transaction represents our deep commitment to delivering value to stockholders by expanding our pipeline with a synergistic, novel program while also providing the upside opportunity for existing Virios stockholders to receive future cash payments through CVRs for potential licensing partnerships relating to IMC-1 and IMC-2,” said Greg Duncan, Chief Executive Officer. “With the anticipated funding and an accomplished management team, we believe Dogwood is well-positioned to advance its programs by leveraging its FDA Fast Track designations for IMC-1 and Halneuron®.” “Both preclinical and clinical data support sodium channel inhibition as a non-opioid approach to treat CINP, which can be a long-term condition affecting approximately one in three patients following chemotherapy,” said Mike Gendreau, M.D., PhD, Chief Medical Officer. “Halneuron® is a voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitor that modulates transmission of pain signals, a mechanism proven to treat pain, with the potential to serve as a non-opioid treatment for both acute and chronic pain, including CINP, for which there are currently no FDA approved treatments.” Dogwood will be led by industry veterans, including Chief Executive Officer Greg Duncan; Chief Medical Officer Mike Gendreau, M.D., PhD; Senior Vice President Operations Ralph Grosswald; Chief Financial Officer Angela Walsh and Vice President Manufacturing Meng Zhou. The combined Board of Directors consists of Rick Keefer; John Thomas; Richard Whitely, MD; Abel De La Rosa, PhD; Alan Yu; Melvin Toh, MBBS; and Chairman Greg Duncan. Effective October 9, 2024, the Company will change its name from “Virios Therapeutics, Inc.” to “Dogwood Therapeutics, Inc.” The Company’s common stock will cease trading under the ticker symbol “VIRI” and will begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “DWTX” as of the commencement of trading on October 9, 2024. Dogwood Therapeutics Proprietary Pipeline Halneuron® is in Phase 2b development as a non-opioid, Nav 1.7 inhibitor to treat the neuropathic pain associated with chemotherapy treatment. Halneuron® has been granted Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of CINP. Next milestone: Interim data from the ongoing Phase 2 CINP study are expected in 2H25. IMC-2 (valacyclovir + celecoxib) is in Phase 2 development as a combination antiviral treatment for Long-COVID. Next milestone: Topline data from an investigator led, double blind controlled proof of concept study, assessing two doses of IMC-2 vs placebo, are expected in early 4Q24. IMC-1 (famciclovir + celecoxib) is Phase 3 development ready as a combination antiviral treatment for FM. IMC-1 has been granted fast track designation by the FDA. Next milestone: Dogwood is exploring partnerships for IMC-1 to execute the Phase 3 FM program as agreed with the FDA. Company Announces Reverse Stock Split In connection with the Combination, the Company is announcing a reverse split of 25-for-1. The reverse stock split will be effective on October 9, 2024, resulting in outstanding shares of common stock of 1,110,317 prior to the issuance of shares pursuant to the share exchange agreement. The 25-for-1 reverse stock split will automatically result in the conversion of twenty-five current shares of the Company’s common stock into one new share of common stock. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split. In lieu thereof, each stockholder who would be entitled to receive a fractional share will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the fair market value of such fractional share. The Company expects its common stock to begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on the Nasdaq Capital Market as of the commencement of trading on October 9, 2024 with a new CUSIP number of 92829J203 and under the symbol “DWTX”. About the Business Combination and Financing Pursuant to the definitive share exchange agreement, immediately following the reverse stock split, Sealbond, the sole stockholder of Wex and an indirect wholly-0wned subsidiary of CKLS, will receive an aggregate of 211,383 shares of common stock and 2,108.3854 shares of non-voting convertible preferred stock (with a conversion ratio of preferred to common at 1:10,000) (the “Preferred Stock”) which represents, on a fully diluted basis, approximately 94% for Sealbond and approximately 6% for the pre-Combination stockholders of Virios Therapeutics and a combined fully diluted equity value of approximately $105 million (excluding transaction fees). In connection with the Combination, the Company entered into a loan agreement with an affiliate of CKLS for a cash investment of $19.5 million, which will be funded in two tranches with $16.5 million funded at closing and an additional $3 million funded in 1Q25, subject to certain customary conditions. The issuance of shares of common stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock issued in the Combination shall be subject to stockholder approval in compliance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. A non-transferrable CVR will be distributed to Dogwood stockholders of record as of October 17, 2024 to receive certain proceeds received by Dogwood, if any, related to future upfront, development or regulatory milestone payments resulting from corporate partnering transactions of IMC-1 and IMC-2. Tungsten Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor and placement agent to VIRI. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP is serving as legal counsel to VIRI. Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal counsel to CKLS and its affiliates. Webcast Presentation The Company will host a webcast presentation to discuss the proposed transaction today, October 7, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors Dial-in: Toll Free: 888-506-0062 International: 973-528-0011 Participant Access Code: 138827 A replay of the webcast will also be available via the investor website after the call’s conclusion. About Halneuron® Halneuron® (“TTX”), a selective sodium channel blocker, produces analgesia either by decreasing the propagation of action potentials by sodium channels and/or by blocking ectopic discharges associated with chronic pain. Halneuron® is an injectable formulation of Tetrodotoxin, a novel small molecule with action exclusively on the peripheral nervous system. Halneuron® does not cross the blood-brain barrier and, therefore, is without the common side effects of euphoria, addiction, tolerance, sedation, and confusion experienced by patients treated with opioids and other analgesics. Pharmacology studies revealed that TTX is a more potent analgesic than standard analgesic agents such as aspirin, morphine, or meperidine, with potential applications in many moderate to severe neuropathic pain conditions. Halneuron® demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain reduction in a cancer-related pain trial (p-value 0.046), with no evidence of addiction, withdrawal symptoms, or euphoria and no build of up of tolerance over time. Most Halneuron® reported adverse events (AEs) are mild or moderate in severity and there were no reported serious drug related AEs. Halneuron® has been tested in over 700 people in multiple clinical trials and has been granted Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of CINP. About IMC-2: IMC-2 is a novel, proprietary combination of valacyclovir and celecoxib designed to synergistically suppress herpes virus replication and convert activated herpes virus back to a dormant state, with the end goal of reducing virally promoted LC symptoms. A positive prior investigator-initiated LC proof of concept study demonstrated that combination treatment with valacyclovir and celecoxib improved fatigue, pain, orthostatic symptoms, anxiety and overall patient health when compared with an untreated control group of patients matched by age, gender, COVID vaccination rates and duration of illness. About IMC-1: IMC-1 is a novel, proprietary, fixed dose combination of famciclovir and celecoxib designed to synergistically suppress herpes virus replication, with the end goal of reducing virally promoted disease symptoms. The Company has reached agreement with the FDA on its proposed IMC-1 FM Phase 3 development program. IMC-1 has been granted fast track designation by the FDA as a potential new treatment for FM. About Virios Therapeutics, Inc. Virios Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VIRI) is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing novel antiviral therapies to treat diseases associated with a viral triggered abnormal immune response such as fibromyalgia (“FM”) and Long-COVID (“LC”). Overactive immune response related to activation of tissue resident herpesvirus has been postulated to be a potential root cause of chronic illnesses such as FM, irritable bowel syndrome, LC, chronic fatigue syndrome and functional somatic syndromes, all of which are characterized by a waxing and waning manifestation of disease, often triggered by events which compromise the immune system. The Company’s lead development candidates are novel, proprietary, fixed dose combinations of an antiviral compound and celecoxib designed to synergistically suppress herpesvirus replication, with the end goal of reducing virally promoted disease symptoms. IMC-1 (fixed dosage combination of famciclovir and celecoxib) has been granted fast track designation by the FDA. About Wex Pharmaceutical, Inc. WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a private biopharmaceutical company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, developing a new class of non-opioid analgesics. WEX’s proprietary platform and the lead product is Halneuron®. The active pharmaceutical ingredient in Halneuron® is Tetrodotoxin (“TTX”) which is a proven sodium channel blocker known to be effective for pain relief. About CKLS CK Life Sciences Int’l., (Holdings) Inc. is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Bearing the mission of improving the quality of life, CK Life Sciences is engaged in the business of research and development, manufacturing, commercialisation, marketing, sale of, and investment in products and assets which fall into three core categories – nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals & diagnostics, and agriculture-related. CK Life Sciences is a member of the CK Hutchison Group. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “suggest,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” "will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including risks related to the completion, timing and results of current and future clinical studies relating to the Company’s product candidates. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Important Additional Information and Where to Find It The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers are deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Company’s expected special meeting seeking stockholder approval of conversion of the Preferred Stock and other matters related to the conversion of the Preferred Stock and the Combination. Information regarding the names of the Company’s directors and executive officers and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise can be found in Virios Therapeutics, Inc.’s proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024. To the extent holdings of the Company’s common stock have changed since the amounts set forth in Virios Therapeutics Inc.’s proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company intends to file a proxy statement and accompanying proxy card with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Company stockholders in connection with the Company’s expected special meeting seeking stockholder approval of conversion of the Preferred Stock and other matters related to the conversion of the Preferred Stock and the Combination. Additional information regarding the identity of participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for such special meeting, including the schedules and appendices thereto. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ ANY SUCH PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO AS WELL AS ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders will be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement, the accompanying proxy card, and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC for no charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s corporate website at https://ir.DWTX.com/ or by contacting Investor Relations at Dogwood Therapeutics, Inc., 44 Milton Avenue, Alpharetta, GA 30009, by emailing Dogwood’s Investor Relations at IR@dwtx.com or calling Dogwood’s Investor Relations at (866) 620-8655. Contact: IR@dwtx.com

连日来我国多地陷入高温天气，随着上海、杭州等地开启“烧烤”模式，各大医院也切换至“战高温”模式。据悉，部分医院急诊已迎来一波就诊小高峰。 近日，43岁的广东游客周女士和家人一起到雷峰塔旅游，因为天气太热中暑突然晕倒。 周女士在网上记录了这段经历：“应该是中暑了，在二楼就晕倒了，被我爸叫醒后，其实意识是清醒的，只是睁不开眼睛，头晕。感觉旁边有3个弟弟给我冰宝贴和藿香正气水，还有一家三口给我拿帽子扇风，给我捏穴位，还有个妈妈把扇子给了我爸让他给我扇风，我爸说路过的人都过来问要不要帮忙。我老公说有个很壮的肌肉大哥也过来给藿香正气水。120也相当专业，从电话里的询问到来了把我抬下塔，一路狂飙送到杭州市第一人民医院，急诊的医生和护士都好温暖热心……” 上海市第四人民医院急诊科主任李岩介绍，在近期收治的热射病患者中，有一名快递小哥，因在户外工作时未做好充分的防暑降温措施，加之自身身体调节机能相对较弱，导致中暑情况急剧恶化，发展为热射病。    “入院时，患者的核心体温超过42℃，深度昏迷，全身皮温滚烫、无汗。我们立即采用冰毯、冰帽、冰盐水灌肠、冷水擦身等方式，力求在最短时间内降低核心体温，同时为患者建立人工气道、中心静脉通路，补充循环容量。”李岩介绍，经过长达6天的紧张抢救，这名快递小哥的生命体征才逐渐平稳，目前已脱离生命危险。 7月8日下午，松江区中心医院接诊了一名61岁男性患者，因舍不得在家里开空调，子女下班后才发现他昏倒在地，已经大小便失禁，体温达到42℃。由于在家昏倒时间较长，身体接触高温地面，患者入院后还被发现身体烫伤。好在抢救及时，这名患者后续体温降到了37.8℃，恢复了正常的生命体征。 受持续高温影响，上海经历了一轮“中暑、热射病”急诊高峰。与去年同期相比，今年中暑病例出现了增长趋势。浦东医院的统计显示，出梅至今两周左右，共收治了23例重症中暑患者。其中"热射病"达到21例，年龄从40岁到90岁，八成都是户外工作者。经过抢救，目前基本都脱离了生命危险。 一、急诊热射病院内治疗 1、治疗原则 急诊热射病救治需遵循两大原则：    （1）首先维持生命体征稳定，减少不必要的转运、搬动、有创检查或操作； （2）完成实验室检查，评估病情，多学科协诊，尽快送入重症监护室。 2、持续体温监测 建议使用直肠温度来监测核心温度。如患者不能配合，需进行有效束缚，避免体温计断裂，遗留体内；如使用可弯曲的测温设备，推荐插入肛门深度15 cm。 热射病患者在病情稳定前应持续监测核心温度，或者至少每10 min测量一次。 核心温度管理的目标是维持直肠温度在37.0~38.5 ℃ 3、有效控制体温 选择适合急诊空间有限、人员流动大、方便转运等特点的降温措施，可单用或联用，如冰敷降温、控温毯、体内降温（生理盐水胃管灌洗或直肠灌洗等）、血液净化等。 4、气道管理与呼吸支持 建议早期气管插管及机械通气；设置合适水平的呼气末正压通气（PEEP）。 开放气道的患者需加强管道护理，避免脱管、堵管等。 未插管的患者可选择鼻导管吸氧或面罩吸氧，但需密切关注其病情变化，做好随时开放气道准备。 5、循环监测与液体管理 尽可能建立中心静脉通路，通过连续监测血压、心率、呼吸频率、血氧饱和度、中心静脉压、动脉血气、乳酸、每小时尿量及尿液颜色等指标评估循环状态和组织灌注情况，并给予充分的液体复苏，纠正水电解质紊乱及酸碱失衡。 如果患者在充分的液体复苏后仍存在组织低灌注表现，应尽早使用血管活性药物，尽可能使平均动脉压 > 65 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)，药物可首选去甲肾上腺素（中心静脉用药），若仍不达标可联合使用肾上腺素、多巴胺。    6、脑保护 给予患者甘露醇脱水、激素治疗以缓解水肿程度，并使用依达拉、醒脑静和纳洛酮等药物对患者大脑进行保护。如果患者存在抽搐现象，迅速给予有效镇痛镇静，可选苯二氮卓类药物或苯妥英钠至癫痫发作停止。 当格拉斯哥评分在8分以下时，要第一时间给予患者气管插管，保持机械通气，在治疗早期可以适当的给予呼气末正压通气（PEEP）进行治疗。 7、肝损伤 现阶段对该病引发的肝功能障碍患者治疗，主要以使用传统保肝药物为主，对高胆红素血症必要时可行血浆置换或吸附治疗。 8、肾损伤 应及时进行液体复苏，大约在第一个3~6 h内补充患者总缺水量的一半，其余的在接下来的6~9 h内得到补充。同时要密切监测电解质水平，这可以反过来指导液体复苏的策略。也可采取连续性肾脏替代疗法，能更有效地降低体温，抑制炎性级联反应，降低血清有毒代谢物浓度，更快地纠正水电解质紊乱，减轻酸碱失衡。 9、胰腺损伤 针对伴有器官功能衰竭的重症急性胰腺炎，要采取积极的救治措施，包括针对循环衰竭的早期液体复苏、针对呼吸或肾脏衰竭的支持，以及针对腹腔内高压的处理； 液体复苏在保障初期快速扩容的同时也应避免过度的液体复苏，否则可能加重组织水肿并影响脏器功能；肠内营养的时机视病情的严重程度和胃肠道功能的恢复情况来定， 只要患者胃肠动力能够耐受，建议尽早实行肠内营养（入院后24~72 h）；根据病情慎重选择止痛药物，可在严密观察病情下注射盐酸布桂嗪（强痛定）、盐酸哌替啶（杜冷丁）等。 10、胃肠功能损伤     早期有效降温和积极液体复苏是减轻或防止胃肠损伤的最重要措施。 如患者无休克、消化道出血及麻痹性肠梗阻等禁忌证，可早期给予肠内营养。选用鼻饲肠内营养治疗。肠内营养输注遵守由少到多、由慢到快、由稀到浓、循序渐进的原则，温度宜保持在37~40℃。 11、横纹肌溶解综合征 有效的降低核心温度及控制肌肉抽搐是防止肌肉持续损伤的关键，同时给予液体治疗及碱化尿液：初始液体可选择生理盐水或0.45%盐水（5%葡萄糖液与生理盐水1∶1混合），初始输液速度常需500 mL/h以上，以保持尿量（非肾损伤患者）在200~300 mL/h；输注5% NaHCO3注射液以维持尿液pH在6.5以上，但动脉血气pH不应 > 7.5。 12、凝血功能障碍 每4h查一次凝血功能，凝血物质按需补充。 可采取替代治疗和抗凝治疗。替代治疗包括补充凝血因子、补充血小板及补充重组凝血因子Ⅶ。抗凝药物宜选择胃肠外抗凝药物，以静脉用药为宜。 供选择的药物包括普通肝素和低分子肝素，肝素总量60~100 U/(kg·24 h)，可多次皮下注射或微量泵泵入。 当凝血功能基本纠正，血小板可自行维持在正常水平，凝血指标基本正常时即可停用抗凝药物。 13、心功能障碍       有心功能障碍补液速度不宜过快，用量适宜，以免加重心脏负担，诱发心力衰竭。建议超声动态检测心功能及容量反应性。 14、亚低温治疗 可显著改善心肺复苏早期的心功能指标及微循环效果，能够降低心脏舒张功能，增强心脏收缩能力，以此可改善器官组织血流状态，有利于预后若出现心脏呼吸骤停，应立即实施心肺复苏术。    撰文 | Anna.An 编辑 | Swagpp ● 惊讶！规培招生断崖式下降？年轻人不想规培，医院补录难招满！院领导发动医生朋友圈宣传！同等对待难落实，医生：我干嘛要浪费这3年？ ● 要想活得久，还得管住嘴！Science：饭吃七分饱，能延寿35%！但要注意吃饭的时间 ● 那声“救命”刺痛所有人的心！当李晟医生被浑身砍伤去世一天后，全社会的怒火都被点燃！网友：我的好医生，到饭点了，你为什么还要加班呀 版权说明：梅斯医学（MedSci）是国内领先的医学科研与学术服务平台，致力于医疗质量的改进，为临床实践提供智慧、精准的决策支持，让医生与患者受益。欢迎个人转发至朋友圈，谢绝媒体或机构未经授权以任何形式转载至其他平台。 点击下方「阅读原文」 立刻下载梅斯医学APP！