GeneTether Therapeutics Announces Issuance of New US Composition of Matter Patent for its Innovative Platform Technology Focused on Gene Editing Efficiency

• U.S. Pat. No. 11,339,385 was issued on May 24, 2022, by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the composition of matter of the GeneTether™ platform technology
• The patent has an expiration date of July 14, 2040

SAN LORENZO, Calif. and VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2022 /CNW/ - GeneTether Therapeutics Inc., ("GeneTether" or the "Company") (CSE: GTTX) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent #11,339,385 entitled "Modified Nucleic Acid Editing Systems for Tethering Donor DNA" related to its GeneTether platform technology. The claims cover a composition of matter for tethering a donor DNA template to a fusion protein of a nuclease and the lac repressor DNA binding domain, in particular where the donor DNA includes the lac operator sequence.  GeneTether is an early-stage genetic medicine company focused on developing its disruptive, proprietary GeneTether™ platform technology, which is designed to significantly increase the efficiency of DNA insertion into the genome.

With the 477-day patent term adjustment received, the patent term is scheduled to expire on July 14, 2040.

Roland Boivin, CEO of GeneTether, commented: "We are very excited about the grant of this composition of matter patent, which significantly strengthens our wholly owned intellectual property portfolio. We believe that our technology, which showed a 7x higher gene editing efficiency in our proof-of-concept study, applies to most gene correction/gene complementation strategies, regardless of organ or disease. Further, the broad claims are not limited to any particular nuclease. They provide protection for the GeneTether platform technology as it relates to Cas nucleases such as cas9, but also other nucleases, including TALENs, meganucleases and zinc fingers. This reinforces the commercial potential for GeneTether, both internally and with potential external collaborators. There are 625 known monogenic disorders associated with kidney and urological traits. We believe our technology may allow us to develop treatments for common subtypes of both autosomal dominant tubulo-interstitial kidney disease (ADTKD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)."

In addition to the patents issued in the U.S. and Australia, GeneTether also has several pending patent applications, including for compositions comprising alternate DNA binding domains.

About GeneTether

Founded by EGB Ventures founder and managing partner, William J. Garner, M.D., and veteran gene editing researcher, R. Geoffrey Sargent, Ph.D., GeneTether is focused on developing its disruptive proprietary platform technology to significantly increase the efficiency of DNA insertion into the genome for gene correction and complementation strategies. The Company's wholly-owned GeneTether™ platform technology uses a proprietary method to "tether" donor DNA templates to the genome editing complex, making the template readily available for use during the genome editing repair stage. The Company is leveraging its platform technology to develop curative therapies for the treatment of rare genetic diseases. GeneTether's proof of concept study demonstrated an approximately 7x higher gene editing efficiency as compared to the same gene editing payload without application of GeneTether's technology.

For more information, visit www.genetether.com.

Forward-Looking Disclaimer

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause GeneTether's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements in this document include the expectation that the Company will significantly advance its research and development plan, expectations that the Company will develop collaboration opportunities with other genetic medicines companies, the expectation that the GeneTether™ platform technology applies to most other gene correction/gene complementation strategies regardless of organ or disease, and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact.

Although GeneTether believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. By their nature, these statements involve a variety of assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the ability of GeneTether to implement its business strategies; competition; the ability of GeneTether to obtain and retain all applicable regulatory approvals and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's final prospectus dated March 21, 2022.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD- LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

The Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service has approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

SOURCE GeneTether Therapeutics Inc.

Roland Boivin, CEO, [phone] ext. 1, [email protected]; Jean Jen, CFO and Corporate Secretary, [phone] ext. 2, [email protected]