Kringle Pharma : Appoints Hideyuki Okano, M.D., Ph.D. as Scientific Advisor

Press release

1 March, 2022

Kringle Pharma Appoints Hideyuki Okano, M.D., Ph.D. as Scientific Advisor

Kringle Pharma, Inc. (Head office located in Ibaraki, Osaka; President & CEO, Kiichi Adachi; "KRINGLE") is pleased to announce the appointment of Hideyuki Okano, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, as a scientific advisor, effective March 1, 2022.

Professor Hideyuki Okano has long been a global leader in the research of development and regeneration of the central nervous system and a world-renowned researcher in the field of molecular neurobiology, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. He is leading clinical research on the use of iPS cells to treat spinal cord injuries with Professor Masaya Nakamura, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine. He also extends his efforts to drug discovery using iPS cells for incurable neurological diseases such as ALS. His wealth of experience and expertise will bring diverse perspectives and valuable advices to KRINGLE in the research and development of new innovative medicines. KRINGLE is delighted to welcome Professor Okano and looks forward to benefiting from his insights as it continues advancing the HGF programs for patients suffering from neurological diseases including spinal cord injury.

Biography

1983 M.D. Keio University School of Medicine

1983 Instructor, Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine

1985 Instructor, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University

1988 Ph.D. (Dr. of Medical Science), Keio University

1989 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

1992 Instructor, Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo

1994 Professor, Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, University of Tsukuba

1997 Professor, Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine

2001 Professor, Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine (Up to the present date) 2007 Dean, Keio University Graduate School of Medicine (to 2015)

2015 Dean, Keio University School of Medicine (to 2017)

2017 Visiting Professor, Peking University

2017 Chairman Keio University Graduate School of Medicine Research Division (to 2021)

2017 Specially Invited Professor, Ochanomizu University

About Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)

HGF was originally discovered as an endogenous mitogen for mature hepatocytes. Subsequent studies demonstrated that HGF exerts multiple biological functions based on its mitogenic, motogenic, anti-apoptotic,

morphogenic, anti-fibrotic and angiogenic activities, and facilitates regeneration and protection of a wide variety of organs including not only liver, but also kidneys, heart, lungs, nerve tissues and skin. Therapeutic effects of HGF administration in model animals of intractable diseases have been reported in many scientific papers, and expectations for HGF as a novel therapeutic agent for intractable diseases are increasing.

About Kringle Pharma, Inc.https://www.kringle-pharma.com/en/

Kringle Pharma is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company established in December 2001 to develop novel biologics based on HGF. Currently, Kringle's clinical programs with recombinant human HGF are: 1) Phase 3 ongoing in acute spinal cord injury, 2) investigator-initiated Phase 2 ongoing in ALS, 3) Phase 2/3 in preparation in vocal fold scar, and 4) Phase 1a and 1b completed in acute kidney injury. Kringle's mission is to contribute to societal and global healthcare through the continued research, development and commercialization of HGF drug for patients suffering from incurable diseases.

For more information, please contact：

Daichika Hayata

Director, Pharmaceutical Development

Kringle Pharma, Inc.

• +81-72-641-8739

• kpinfo@kringle-pharma.com