Hørsholm, Denmark, May 4, 2020 - Today, ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS ("ExpreS2ion"), a fully owned subsidiary of ExpreS2ion Biotech Holding AB, announces that its SARS-CoV-2 antigen is being applied across multiple research and development projects, including an on-going diagnostic antibody test program that Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen and Novo Nordisk jointly develop to support the diagnosis of COVID-19 in Denmark on a national level.

ExpreS[2]ion and its joint venture partner AdaptVac are engaged in the development of a unique capsid virus-like particle (VLP) COVID-19 vaccine. In this Horizon 2020 EU-sponsored PREVENT-nCoV program ExpreS[2]ion recently (https://news.cision.com/expres2ion-biotechnologies/r/expres2ion-announces-selection-of-agc-biologics-as-manufacturing-partner-for-the-covid-19-vaccine-an,c3094798) announced its ability to produce the SARS-CoV-S2 protein antigen with sufficient purity and quality for animal testing and further continuation of the rapid development towards clinical studies before the end of 2020.

Since the beginning of the vaccine program, the ExpreS[2]-made antigen has been in demand from a variety of groups worldwide. In compliance with the WHO (https://news.cision.com/expres2ion-biotechnologies/r/expres2ion-s-cso-dr--wian-de-jongh-co-signs-who-sanctioned-statement-from-83-covid-19-vaccine-resear,c3088606)'s pledge to strengthen worldwide collaboration, cooperation and sharing of data in the scientific community (see WHO statement (https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-04-2020-public-statement-for-collaboration-on-covid-19-vaccine-development)), ExpreS[2]ion is also committing to support research and development projects that are synergistic to the current COVID-19 vaccine focus. Most recently ExpreS[2]ion is engaged in an on-going COVID-19 diagnostic test program that Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen and Novo Nordisk jointly develop to support a quick and accurate diagnosis of a COVID-19 antibody response on a national level in Denmark. The Carlsberg  Foundation (https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/en) has supported the development of a COVID-19 antibody test. The ability to produce the COVID-19 antigens and to quickly "tailor" them to suit the assay is a key advantage of the ExpreS[2]-platform.

Rigshospitalet's Professor of Clinical Molecular Medicine Dr. Peter Garred comments:

"I am leading a team of experts that focus on bringing a quick and accurate antibody test for COVID-19 as fast as possible to the general public in Denmark. The support of Novo Nordisk and ExpreS[2]ion is of outmost importance to proceed with this goal. So far, their contribution strongly supports the further clinical development that started last week. I hope an antibody test is fully developed and ready to use by the summer 2020."

ExpreS[2]ion's CEO Bent Frandsen comments:

"I find it very encouraging that our unique SARS-CoV-2 antigen can be used even beyond the COVID-19 vaccine program. Of the multiple R&D projects we support in this field, I find it especially motivating that a diagnostic test also can be developed by the ExpreS[2] platform. It will be exciting to follow the progression of Prof. Garred's diagnostic development project."

The COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak

A novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China in late December 2019 and declared a pandemic by WHO on March 11[th], 2020. The COVID-19 Coronavirus is a part of the same family as SARS and MERS, and there have been more than 3.2 million confirmed cases and over 230 000 deaths reported as of May 2[nd], 2020. The latest situation updates are available on the WHO web page: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.

Rigshospitalet's Centre of Diagnostic Investigation

The Centre (https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/english/departments/centre-of-diagnostic-investigation/about-us/Pages/about-the-centre-of-diagnostic-investigation.aspx) is a collection of highly specialised departments working with laboratory analyses including image diagnostics, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, pathology, immunology, blood donation, blood products and biobanking as well as providing medical advice to clinicians. The research ranges from patient-focused clinical research to molecular biological studies of disease processes.

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