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Press release Communiqué de presse


February 10, 2020 10 February, 2020

Sernova Announces Positive DSMB Review and Recommendation for Continuation of Phase I/II Diabetes Clinical Trial of Cell Pouch


Ongoing Safety of Sernova’s Clinical Trial Confirmed

February 10, 2020 9:00 a.m. EDT

LONDON, ONTARIO – February 10, 2020 – Sernova Corp (TSX-V:SVA)(OTCQB:SEOVF)(FSE:PSH), a clinical- stage company and leader in regenerative medicine therapeutics is pleased to announce that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) completed its first interim analysis of the ongoing Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy Study of Sernova's Cell Pouch™ for Clinical Islet Transplantation Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with severe hypoglycemia unawareness.

The DSMB did not raise any concerns regarding safety and recommended the continuation of the study. “We are very pleased with the recommendation of the DSMB. In light of this positive assessment, Sernova continues the trial as we carry on compiling safety and efficacy results from our treated patients along with advancing further patient enrollment at the University of Chicago,” said Dr. Philip Toleikis, President and CEO of Sernova. “We thank the DSMB for its diligence, guidance, and support as we continue moving forward with our mission to provide people suffering from diabetes and other chronic diseases improved treatment options and a better quality of life.”

The DSMB is an independent group of clinical research experts who review the accumulated safety data throughout the clinical trial to safeguard the safety and interests of participating patients while ensuring the scientific validity and integrity of the trial. This interim analysis was the first of three planned DSMB reviews of this clinical trial.

ABOUT SERNOVA’S CLINICAL TRIAL

Sernova is conducting a Phase I/II non-randomized, unblinded, single-arm, company-sponsored trial to assess the safety and tolerability of islet transplantation into the company’s patented Cell Pouch in diabetic subjects with hypoglycemia unawareness. The secondary objective is to assess efficacy through a series of defined measures. Patients enrolled in Sernova’s clinical trial are incapable of producing c-peptide, a biomarker for insulin produced by islet cells.

Eligible subjects are implanted with Cell Pouches. Following the development of vascularized tissue chambers within the Cell Pouch, subjects are then stabilized on immunosuppression and a dose of purified islets, under strict release criteria, transplanted into the Cell Pouch.

A sentinel pouch is removed for an early assessment of the islet transplant. Subjects are followed for additional safety and efficacy measures for approximately six months. At this point, a decision will be made with regards to the transplant of a second islet dose with subsequent safety and efficacy follow up. Patients will be then further followed for one year to assess longer-term safety and efficacy.

For more information on this clinical trial, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03513939. For more information on enrollment and recruitment details please visit www.pwitkowski.org/sernova.

ABOUT SERNOVA’S CELL POUCH SYSTEM

The Cell Pouch system including the Cell Pouch, which is a novel, proprietary, scalable, implantable macro- encapsulation device solution designed for the long- term survival and function of therapeutic cells. The device is designed to incorporate with tissue, forming highly vascularized tissue chambers for the transplantation and function of therapeutic cells which then release proteins and hormones as required to treat disease. The Cell Pouch along with therapeutic cells has been shown to provide long-term safety and efficacy in small and large animal models of diabetes and has been proven to provide a biologically compatible environment for insulin- producing cells in humans. In early assessments of its ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial, Sernova has shown presence of blood levels of c-peptide both during glucose tolerance tests as well as under fasting conditions. Clinical testing is ongoing at the University of Chicago.

ABOUT SERNOVA CORP

Sernova Corp is developing regenerative medicine therapeutic technologies using a medical device and immune protected therapeutic cells (i.e. human donor cells, corrected human cells and stem cell-derived cells) to improve the treatment and quality of life of people with chronic metabolic diseases such as insulin-dependent diabetes, blood disorders including hemophilia, and other diseases treated through replacement of proteins or hormones missing or in short supply within the body. For more information, please visit www.sernova.com

For further information contact: Dominic Gray Sernova Corp Tel: (519) 858-5126 dominic.gray@sernova.com www.sernova.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This release may contain 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. Although Sernova believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of Sernova’s management on the date such statements were made, which include our beliefs about the conduct and outcome of clinical trials. Sernova expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.