NeuroVive’s novel strategy for treatment of mitochondrial disease published in Nature Communications

Lund, Sweden, August 9, 2016 - NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (Nasdaq Stockholm:
NVP, OTCQX: NEVPF), the mitochondrial medicine company, today announces that
research results from the NVP015 program investigating a novel pharmacological
strategy for the treatment of mitochondrial disease has been published in Nature
Communications, the third highest ranked multidisciplinary scientific journal in
the world. The research was performed in collaboration between NeuroVive and
Lund University, Newcastle University, Selcia/Mitopharm Ltd and Isomerase
Therapeutics Ltd.
In the Nature Communications (http://www.nature.com/ncomms/index.html) article,
the team presents results from a novel therapeutic strategy in which succinate
is delivered to cells with mitochondrial complex I dysfunction, a potential
therapy for patients who suffer from mitochondrial disease related to complex I
dysfunction.

Succinate, succinic acid, is normally not cell membrane-permeable and has
limited uptake into cells. In the presented novel pharmacological strategy,
succinate was, by using a prodrug technology, modified to become cell-permeable
and thereby made available for the mitochondrion to use as fuel once inside the
cell. In the study, isolated cells from healthy individuals and from a patient
with Leigh’s syndrome caused by complex I dysfunction were reported to increase
energy production when treated with prodrugs of succinate.

“The Nature Communications publication is a significant achievement for our team
involved in mitochondrial disease research aiming at developing new therapeutic
options for these serious diseases and reinforces the strength of our
partnerships in advancing the research,” commented NeuroVive’s CSO Eskil Elmér.
“A new generation of succinate prodrugs is currently in development and we are
very excited to see continued development of these drugs aiming at offering
mitochondrial disease patients a beneficial treatment.”

The current compounds described in the Nature Communications publication are not
suitable for use in more complex experimental models or in humans, due to low
stability in plasma. To overcome this, the team at NeuroVive and Isomerase has
developed a new series of succinate prodrugs within the NVP015 research program
with increased plasma stability. The most promising lead compounds from this
chemical series are currently being tested in various experimental models.

About NeuroVive’s discovery program NVP015

The NVP015 discovery program is based on a concept developed by NeuroVive’s CSO,
Dr. Eskil Elmér and his co-workers to create a cell-permeable prodrug of the
endogenous energy substrate succinate. A prodrug is an inactive drug which is
activated first when entering the cell and the chemical structure is altered. A
successful candidate from this discovery program in mitochondrial disorders
could classify as an orphan drug.

About complex I dysfunction

One of the most common causes of mitochondrial diseases relates to complex I
dysfunction, i.e. that the energy conversion in the first of the five protein
complexes in the mitochondrion that are involved in effective energy conversion
does not function normally. This is apparent in disorders including Leigh’s
Syndrome and MELAS, both of which are very serious diseases with symptoms such
as muscle weakness, epileptic fits and other severe neurological manifestations.
These diseases usually present early in life and deteriorate progressively.

About Nature Communications

Nature Communications is an open access journal that publishes high-quality
research from all areas of the natural sciences and has an Impact Factor of 11.3
according to the 2015 Journal Citation Reports® Science Edition (Thomson
Reuters, 2015). This places Nature Communications third among all
multidisciplinary science primary research journals, with Nature being first and
Science the second. Papers published by the journal represent important advances
within each field.

About NeuroVive

NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: NVP, OTCQX: NEVPF) is a pioneer
in mitochondrial medicine and a company committed to the discovery and
development of highly targeted candidates that preserve mitochondrial integrity
and function in areas of significant therapeutic need. NeuroVive's business
approach is driven by value-adding partnerships with mitochondrial research
institutions and commercial partners across the globe.

NeuroVive's portfolio consists of two clinical projects, one in acute kidney
injury (CicloMulsion®) and one in traumatic brain injury (NeuroSTAT®). The
candidate drug NeuroSTAT has orphan drug designation in Europe and in the US for
treatment of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and is currently being
evaluated in the CHIC study. CicloMulsion is being evaluated in an on-going
study, CiPRICS, in acute kidney injury during major surgery. Furthermore, the
R&D portfolio consists of two late stage discovery programs and one compound in
preclinical development.

NeuroVive is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden, Small Cap, under the ticker
symbol NVP. The share is also traded on the OTC Markets Group Inc market in the
US. NeuroVive Pharmaceutical (OTC: NEVPF) trades on the OTCQX Best Market.

For investor relations and media questions, please contact:
Cecilia Hofvander, NeuroVive, Tel: +46 (0)46 275 62 21 or ir@neurovive.com

NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (publ)
Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)46 275 62 20 (switchboard)
Fax: +46 (0)46 888 83 48

www.neurovive.com

This information is information that NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (publ) is
obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The
information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact
person set out above, at 11.00 CEST on August 9, 2016.