• Poxel has also established a Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo
• Both events are strategic commitments to the Japanese and Asian markets

Lyon, France, September 13, 2018 – POXEL SA (Euronext – POXEL - FR0012432516), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative treatments for metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), today announced that Takashi Kaneko, MD, PhD, has joined Poxel as Senior Vice President Medical and President of Poxel Japan K.K., effective September 1, 2018, to lead the Company’s drug development and medical affairs activities as well as the team in Japan. In addition, the Company has established a wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo.

“Japan has been a strategic focus for Poxel and we have made significant progress in the development of Imeglimin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes for this market. This includes a robust Phase 2b program, which resulted in the strategic partnership with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma for Japan, China and eleven other Asian countries. We are also advancing the Imeglimin Phase 3 TIMES program in Japan, with our partner Sumitomo, for which we expect the first data results in the first half of 2019,” said Thomas Kuhn, CEO of Poxel. “The addition of Dr. Kaneko to our team with his medical affairs and clinical development expertise and knowledge of the Japanese market is of great importance to Poxel today and moving forward as we continue to expand our efforts in Japan through our newly established subsidiary in Tokyo.”

Dr. Takashi Kaneko commented: “I am very excited to be working with the Poxel team and supporting the completion of the Imeglimin Phase 3 TIMES program. I am looking forward to working closely with our partner Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma on the market access and medical plan for patients and health care providers and making Imeglimin, a first-in-class drug candidate, available to the Japanese and Asian markets. In addition, I am looking forward to contributing to other programs and new opportunities for Poxel in Japan.”

Dr. Kaneko brings to Poxel over 33 years of experience including pharmaceutical industry experience with a focus on medical affairs and clinical development ranging from product evaluation, development and post-commercial launch, and clinical practice and medical research experience. Dr. Kaneko joins Poxel from Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., where he was Head of Medical Affairs. Prior to Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., he was the Department Head of the Medical Excellence Department in the Medical Division at Novartis K.K. Dr. Kaneko also held several senior-level positions at Santen, which included the areas of Compliance, Global Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Head of Global Research and Development as well as other research and development-related positions. In addition, Dr. Kaneko was a Vice President, Medical Director at Sanofi-Aventis K.K., and served in clinical development roles at Bristol-Myers K.K., BMS, Japan. Dr. Kaneko holds an MD and PhD degree from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. 

About Imeglimin
Imeglimin is the first clinical candidate in a new chemical class of oral agents called Glimins by the World Health Organization. Imeglimin has a unique mechanism of action (“MOA”) that targets mitochondrial bioenergetics. Imeglimin acts on all three key organs which play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: the liver, muscles and the pancreas, and it has demonstrated glucose lowering benefits by increasing insulin secretion in response to glucose, improving insulin sensitivity and suppressing gluconeogenesis. This MOA has the potential to prevent endothelial and diastolic dysfunction, which can provide protective effects on micro- and macro-vascular defects induced by diabetes. It also has the potential for protective effect on beta-cell survival and function. This unique MOA offers the potential opportunity for Imeglimin to be a candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in almost all stages of the current anti-diabetic treatment paradigm, including monotherapy or as an add-on to other glucose lowering therapies.

About Poxel
Poxel uses its development expertise in metabolism to advance a pipeline of drug candidates focused on the treatment of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We have successfully completed the Phase 2 clinical program for our first-in-class lead product, Imeglimin, which targets mitochondrial dysfunction, in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Together, with our partner Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, we are conducting the Phase 3 Trials of IMeglimin for Efficacy and Safety (TIMES) program for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Japan. Our partner Roivant Sciences is responsible for Imeglimin’s development and commercialization in countries outside of Poxel’s partnership with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, including the U.S. and Europe. PXL770, a first in class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, is advancing into a Phase 2a proof-of-concept program for the treatment of NASH. PXL770 could also have the potential to treat additional metabolic diseases. DRX-065 (deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone), a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), is in Phase 1 and being developed for the treatment of NASH. Poxel also has additional earlier-stage programs, including deuterated drug candidates for metabolic, specialty and rare diseases. We intend to generate further growth through strategic partnerships and pipeline development. (Euronext: POXEL, www.poxelpharma.com)

Contacts
Poxel SA

Jonae R. Barnes
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Public Relations
jonae.barnes@poxelpharma.com

+1 617 818 2985

Investor relations / Media - EU/US
Trophic Communications
Gretchen Schweitzer or Stephanie May
may@trophic.eu
+49 89 238 877 34 or +49 171 185 56 82

Investor relations / Media - France
NewCap
Alexia Faure/Nicolas Merigeau
poxel@newcap.eu
+33 1 44 71 98 55

Public relations / Media – Japan/Asia
COSMO Public Relations Corporation
Kondoh/Fujisaki
poxel@cosmopr.co.jp
+81 3 5561 2915

Released September 13, 2018