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Press release Communiqué de presse


April 28, 2021 28 April, 2021

Sernova KOL Event Highlights Novel Cell Therapy Approach for the Potential Treatment of Thyroid Disease


April 28, 2021 9:00 AM ET

LONDON, ONTARIO – April 28, 2021 – Sernova Corp. (TSX-V:SVA)(OTCQB:SEOVF)(FSE/XETRA:PSH), a leading clinical-stage regenerative medicine therapeutics company, announced today the highlights of its first virtual Key Opinion Leader (KOL) event on thyroid disease.

The KOL event featured a presentation by Dr. Sam Wiseman, a leading surgeon and internationally recognized expert in the management of thyroid and parathyroid disease. In his presentation, Dr. Wiseman discussed current treatment options and the potential for a novel cell therapy approach for the treatment of postoperative hypothyroidism using Sernova’s Cell Pouch™. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with attendees.

“I’m very excited about this program because as surgeons, we will be able to offer our patients a treatment option that could allow for avoidance of postoperative hypothyroidism requiring life-long dependence on thyroid medication,” said Dr. Sam Wiseman. “Our preclinical study evaluating transplantation of human thyroid tissue into Sernova’s Cell Pouch has shown promising results. I believe this very exciting new approach represents a critical step towards an entirely new treatment option for post-thyroidectomy hypothyroidism."

Dr. Wiseman's presentation and the subsequent Q&A session are now available on Sernova's website at www.sernova.com and on Sernova’s social media channels.

ABOUT SERNOVA'S THYROID PROGRAM

Sernova's approach for treating postoperative hypothyroidism is to transplant a portion of the thyroid gland being removed into a pre-implanted vascularized Cell Pouch™ to recover thyroid function. In collaboration with Dr. Wiseman, preclinical proof of concept study conducted under a grant from the British Columbia Transplant Foundation is contributing to advancing Sernova's plans to conduct clinical assessment of this novel approach. Sernova's overall treatment goal is to preserve thyroid function, and improve patient quality of life, relative to current treatments.

Thyroidectomy is commonly performed for management of cancer, and for treatment of benign (non- cancerous) disease that includes nodules, goitre and hyperthyroidism. It is estimated that about 150,000 thyroidectomies are performed in the US annually, with most individuals undergoing thyroid surgery eventually being diagnosed with benign conditions. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, and many patients undergoing partial thyroidectomy, require life-long oral postoperative thyroid hormone replacement.

Post-surgical thyroid hormone replacement therapy, if monitored carefully, can be effective; however, some patients may suffer from deleterious side-effects including body weight gain, fatigue, and depression, with a resultant negative impact on quality of life, and significant costs to the healthcare system. We believe Sernova's development of new therapeutic strategies to treat post-surgical hypothyroidism has the potential of addressing an important unmet medical need.

ABOUT SERNOVA

Sernova is developing regenerative medicine therapeutic technologies using a medical device and immune protected therapeutic cells (i.e. human donor cells, corrected human cells, stem cell-derived cells and tissues) 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, PLEASE 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.