NEURACTHEL(Clinuvel)

MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Executive summaryPositive Results in the Half Year to 31 December 2022 19% increase in revenues from clinical demand for SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg).94% increase in NPAT; 67% increase in EBIT.Net assets increased by 11%; 16% growth in cash to $140.7 million since the start of the reporting period. Increases year on year compared to six months to 31/12/21, unless stated otherwise. All figures reported in Australian dollars, $. 31 December 202231 December 2021ChangeRevenues, $29,355,04224,631,266+19.2%Profit after tax, $11,387,6655,870,380+93.9%Basic Earnings per share, $0.2300.119+93.3%Cash, $140,703,376 +15.8%* *Increase from 30 June 2022. For the six months ended 31 December 2022, CLINUVEL is pleased to record a 19% increase in its revenues, and 94% increase in net earnings after tax, or $11.39 million. “Today’s excellent figures are the result of years of focus and financial discipline, while operationally facilitating supply of SCENESSE® to patients in Europe and the USA,” CLINUVEL’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Darren Keamy said. “The number of prescriptions for, patients receiving, and expert centres administering the therapy have all increased over the period. “The performance exceeds our expectations, thereby precipitating the financial basis to expand our portfolio of melanocortins, diversify markets, and become a self-sufficient company. “Working within our set budgets, we are now focused on bettering our results for the financial year end. It is an exciting moment in the history of the Company.” Alongside the revenue result, CLINUVEL contained its expenses during the half year period to achieve a negligible rise of 1%, furthering its balance sheet. As of 31 December, CLINUVEL held cash and cash equivalents of over $140 million, a 16% increase from 30 June, with total assets above $160 million. “We have actively managed CLINUVEL’s commercial programs, translating to a steady increase in liquid assets, as well as earnings per share,” Mr Keamy said. “In parallel, we have made necessary investments to advance clinical research and new product development, while placing emphasis on cost control. There is not much debate around prudent fiscal management in a climate of macroeconomic uncertainty, therefore we keep a balance between strengthening the Group’s commercial basis and expansion. Most of all, I am pleased for patients and our shareholders, as our financial record and stability provides options for pursuing our long-term objectives.” Financial performance The 67% increase in net profit before tax was the fourteenth consecutive half year profit since the commencement of CLINUVEL’s commercial operations in June 2016. The 94% rise in net profit after tax achieved is the highest recorded by the Group for a December half year. CLINUVEL is on track to remain within its projected overall expenditures of $175 million for the five financial years ending June 2025, excluding investments of a capital nature. Half-way along this timeline, total expenditures have reached approximately 41% of the Group’s target. The Company maintained a balance sheet free from external borrowings, with a rise in total assets of 11.4% to $160.3 million. CLINUVEL will report its full financial year results in August 2023. CLINUVEL’s Appendix 4D Half Yearly Report is available on the Company’s website, www.clinuvel.com. About CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITEDCLINUVEL (ASX: CUV; ADR LEVEL 1: CLVLY; BÖRSE FRANKFURT: UR9) is a global specialty pharmaceutical group focused on developing and commercialising treatments for patients with genetic, metabolic, systemic, and life-threatening, acute disorders, as well as healthcare solutions for the general population. As pioneers in photomedicine and the family of melanocortin peptides, CLINUVEL’s research and development has led to innovative treatments for patient populations with a clinical need for systemic photoprotection, DNA repair, repigmentation and acute or life-threatening conditions who lack alternatives. CLINUVEL’s lead therapy, SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg), is approved for commercial distribution in Europe, the USA, Israel and Australia as the world’s first systemic photoprotective drug for the prevention of phototoxicity (anaphylactoid reactions and burns) in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, CLINUVEL has operations in Europe, Singapore and the USA. For more information, please go to https://www.clinuvel.com. SCENESSE®, PRÉNUMBRA®, and NEURACTHEL® are registered trademarks of CLINUVEL. Authorised for ASX release by the Board of Directors of CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD Media EnquiriesMonsoon CommunicationsMr Rudi Michelson, 61 411 402 737, rudim@monsoon.com.au Head of Investor Relations Mr Malcolm Bull, CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD Investor Enquiries https://www.clinuvel.com/investors/contact-us Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the current beliefs and expectations of CLINUVEL’s management. Please see the full disclaimer on CLINUVEL’s website. www.clinuvel.com Level 11, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3000, T +61 3 9660 4900, F +61 3 9660 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5b11aca8-a262-48df-8297-ddb65974ca1c

Study in healthy volunteers shows single dose of afamelanotide reduces erythema caused by ultraviolet radiationMELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Results released today from a clinical study have shown that the drug afamelanotide can reduce critical skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a leading factor in skin cancer and photoaging. The CUV151 study, conducted by Australian company CLINUVEL, treated nine fair-skinned volunteers with the photoprotective drug afamelanotide and showed that treatment could significantly reduce artificially provoked “sunburn damage” after just six days. “Frequent and intense sunburn is recognised as a primary risk factor for skin cancer, with fair skinned individuals – known as Fitzpatrick phototypes I-III – at high-risk,” CLINUVEL’s Head of Clinical Operations, Dr Pilar Bilbao said. “Showing that we can objectively reduce erythema, sunburn DNA damage, under controlled clinical conditions after a single dose of afamelanotide provides our team with valuable data on how this drug, and other similar molecules, can reduce the burden of UV-induced damage. Further clinical work is ongoing to assess the properties and influence of afamelanotide on other parts of cellular DNA,” Dr Bilbao said. Between five and six million cases of skin cancers are diagnosed in the USA alone every year, with UV exposure and fair skin proven to increase an individual’s lifetime risk.1 An estimated US$8.1 billion is spent annually treating skin cancers in the USA, suggesting more effective preventative measures are required. CLINUVEL is evaluating afamelanotide as a photoprotective and DNA repair treatment for individuals at highest-risk of UV and light damage, focusing first on patients with the DNA repair disorder xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). The CUV151 study followed a parallel protocol to clinical trials for XP patients, assessing biomarkers of UV-induced skin damage in healthy volunteers following provocation of UV damage before and after afamelanotide treatment. The first results showed a statistically significant decrease in UV-erythema dose response, the redness indicative of first DNA damage, which was provoked by incremental doses of UV light (p=0.018). An increase in the minimal erythemal dose – a measure of intensity of UV light to provoke sunburn – was also found. Earlier results in XP patients showed that afamelanotide could reduce UV-induced DNA damage, with analyses of skin samples (biopsies) from CUV151 ongoing to assess DNA damage in the healthy volunteers. “Today’s results build upon the decades of research CLINUVEL has conducted into the use of afamelanotide to protect skin from light, with the first evidence that a single dose of the drug has a photoprotective effect in healthy volunteers. These data add to our regulatory dossier for XP while further developing our specialised healthcare products for wider populations at highest risk of UV-induced damage and skin cancer,” Dr Bilbao said. Final results from the CUV151 study and further results from CLINUVEL’s DNA Repair Program are expected later in 2023. Media enquiries: Monsoon Communications, Mr Rudi Michelson, +61 411 402 737, rudim@monsoon.com.au Note to media: CLINUVEL has released further investor and technical releases on results from the CUV151 study. For more details, go to www.clinuvel.com. 1 Skin & Cancer Foundation – Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics, https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/; American Academy of Dermatology – Skin Cancer https://www.aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer. About Afamelanotide Afamelanotide belongs to the family of melanocortins, hormones and their analogues, which are recognised to activate human pigmentation, reduce oxidative damage, inflammation and swelling, and optimise the response of skin cells to UV-induced damage. CLINUVEL is already marketing a controlled-release formulation of afamelanotide – known as SCENESSE® – as the world’s first photoprotective drug for the rare disorder erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Further results from the Company’s DNA repair program are expected later in 2023. About CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED CLINUVEL (ASX: CUV; ADR LEVEL 1: CLVLY; BÖRSE FRANKFURT-DAX: UR9) is a global specialty pharmaceutical group focused on developing and commercialising treatments for patients with genetic, metabolic, systemic, and life-threatening, acute disorders, as well as healthcare solutions for specialised populations. As pioneers in photomedicine and the family of melanocortin peptides, CLINUVEL’s research and development has led to innovative treatments for patient populations with a clinical need for systemic photoprotection, assisted DNA repair, repigmentation and acute or life-threatening conditions who lack alternatives. CLINUVEL’s lead therapy, SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg), is approved for commercial distribution in Europe, the USA, Israel and Australia as the world’s first systemic photoprotective drug for the prevention of phototoxicity (anaphylactoid reactions and burns) in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, CLINUVEL has operations in Europe, Singapore, and the USA. For more information, please go to https://www.clinuvel.com. SCENESSE®, PRÉNUMBRA®, NEURACTHEL®, and CYACÊLLE® are registered trademarks of CLINUVEL. Head of Investor Relations Mr Malcolm Bull, CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD Investor Enquiries https://www.clinuvel.com/investors/contact-us Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the current beliefs and expectations of CLINUVEL’s management. Please see the full disclaimer on CLINUVEL’s website. www.clinuvel.com Level 11535 Bourke StreetMelbourne - Victoria, Australia, 3000 T +61 3 9660 4900 F +61 3 9660 4909