Aelis Farma Announces the Success of its Initial Public Offering and Raises Approximately €25 Million on Euronext Paris

Aelis Farma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of treatments for brain diseases (the “Company”), announces today the successful completion of its initial public offering on compartment B of the regulated market of Euronext Paris, by way of an open price offering (the “OPO”) and a global offering (the “Global Offering”, together with the OPO, the “Offering”).

Aelis Farma is developing a new class of drugs: Signaling Specific inhibitors of the CB₁ receptor (CB₁-SSi) of the endocannabinoid system that provide access to several therapeutic areas without available treatments.

These unique drug candidates, by reproducing a recently discovered natural defense mechanism of the brain, appear to be able to treat various brain pathologies without disrupting normal behavior. A first in pharmacology.

Two initial drug candidates are already in clinical trials in indications with high unmet medical needs:

• AEF0117, to treat disorders due to excessive cannabis use, has already provided evidence of efficacy in a phase 2a clinical study and will enter a phase 2b clinical trial in Q2 2022.
• AEF0217, to treat various cognitive deficits, including those associated with Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), is currently being evaluated in phase 1 clinical trials, with no major adverse effects observed in the three patient cohorts treated to date. Phase 1/2 clinical studies with AEF0217 in Down syndrome subjects are expected to start in Q4 2022. These studies could provide initial efficacy results in H1 2023.

Given the involvement of the CB1 receptor in numerous pathologies, Aelis Farma is also developing several new CB₁-SSi with differentiated pharmacological properties to target other brain pathologies.

Dr. Pier Vincenzo Piazza, co-founder and CEO of Aelis Farma, said: “We are delighted to announce the successful IPO of Aelis Farma on Euronext Paris. This is a major milestone not only for our Company, but also for many people suffering from central nervous system disorders. Thanks to the funds raised, Aelis Farma will be able to accelerate the development of its new generation of drugs, CB1-SSi, which have the potential to redefine how several brain diseases are managed. Our first two drug candidates, which are already in clinical trials, AEF0117 and AEF0217, target indications with a high societal impact and without treatment to date: disorders due to excessive cannabis use and various cognitive deficits, including those associated with Down syndrome. In addition, this funding will support the selection and development of other drug candidates through to the clinical stage from our innovative research platform for the treatment of some of the many brain disorders associated with dysregulation of the CB1 receptor’s activity. We would like to thank our existing shareholders for their long-standing support as well as all of the new shareholders, including our partner Indivior, who have joined us during this transaction in order to establish Aelis Farma as a leading player in the field of brain diseases.”