7 Mar 2022 09:00
Ovoca Bio plc
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("Ovoca" or the "Company")
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Statement regarding Russian business operations
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Dublin, Ireland, 7 March, 2022 - The Board of Ovoca Bio, an international biopharmaceutical company focusing on women's health, today issues a statement in response to events in Ukraine and Russia.
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Ovoca is an Irish incorporated and headquartered company, whose shares are admitted to trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Growth Dublin. Ovoca has a truly international team and operations, with a presence in Ireland, the UK, Australia and Russia. Ovoca has no operations or activities in Ukraine.
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Over 90% of Ovoca's 2021 cashflow is international and originated outside of Russia. In 2021, 60% of the Company's operating cash flow fell under subsidiaries in Australia and Ireland - these entities are not exposed to Russia and are not materially affected by current events.
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OVB (Ireland) Ltd, an Irish subsidiary of Ovoca, holds the rights to all international Intellectual Property outside of Russia.
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The Ovoca Bio group of companies has two subsidiaries registered in Russia:
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Β· IVIX LLC, a subsidiary of Ovoca, which holds Russian Marketing Authorization and patents for Orenetide (BP-101) in the Russian market. IVIX LLC was accountable for only 10% of the total Ovoca operating cash flow in 2021. The IVIX R&D office is operating as usual.
Β· Comtrans LLC, a dormant Ovoca subsidiary, with no operations or assets.
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Neither of the Ovoca subsidiaries registered in Russia are state or government-funded and are not currently subject to EU/US/International sanctions or restrictions. The Company confirms that no member of the Board, management or its substantial shareholders are on the list of sanctioned individuals.
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Ovoca's current strong cash position with over US$ 9.5 million (in cash and cash equivalents) is held in UK, Irish and Australian banks, and supports the Company in pursuing its ongoing and planned R&D activities throughout 2022. Ovoca also has a holding of 125,000 shares in Polymetal International PLC ("Polymetal"), a Jersey registered company, headquartered in Cyprus and quoted on the London Stock Exchange.
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The Board of Ovoca is concerned about the situation in Ukraine and Russia and the tragic consequences unfolding there and is hopeful for a peaceful resolution as soon as possible. The Board is closely monitoring the situation and its impact on Ovoca and will provide a timely update should any additional risks to the business be identified.
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End
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For further information:
Ovoca Bio plc
Kirill Golovanov (Chief Executive)
Tel +353 1 661 9819
info@ovocabio.com
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Davy (Nominated Adviser, Euronext Growth Advisor and Broker)
John Frain / Daragh O'Reilly
Tel: +353 1 679 6363
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Consilium Strategic Communications
Chris Gardner, Chris Welsh
ovocabio@consilium-comms.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
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About Ovoca Bio
Ovoca Bio is a European-based biopharmaceutical company with a focus on women's health. The Company is currently developing a novel treatment for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), a condition characterized by a distressing lack or loss of sexual desire affecting an estimated ~4 million premenopausal women in the US alone.
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The Company's lead product, Orenetide (BP-101), a novel synthetic peptide administered through a nasal spray, is clinically validated, with Phase II and Phase III studies conducted in Russia demonstrating statistically significant improvement in a number of key efficacy outcomes, including an increase in female sexual desire and reduction of symptoms of distress associated with HSDD.
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Ovoca Bio has been granted marketing approval in the Russian Federation and is seeking to develop the drug for major global markets - in particular the United States and Europe.
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