Virios Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIRI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing novel antiviral therapies to treat diseases associated with virally triggered or maintained immune responses, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

“Our team has made significant operational progress to ensure the commencement of our landmark Phase 2b fibromyalgia clinical trial, referred to as FORTRESS (Fibromyalgia Outcome Research Trial Evaluating Synergistic Suppression of HSV-1), with top line results projected in mid-2022,” stated Greg Duncan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to see the research community’s growing excitement about IMC-1 as a potential treatment for fibromyalgia, as evidenced by the rapid sign up of more than 40 clinical trial sites and the acceptance of new analyses from our Phase 2a study results to be presented in June at two major medical meetings, the European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), and the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) World Congress.”

Key Highlights

• Prepared more than 40 research sites to commence recruitment of the FORTRESS Phase 2b study in Q2 2021;
• Reported that the gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy study highlighting the role of active HSV-1 replication was accepted for oral presentation at the 2021 Digestive Disease Week medical conference, the largest GI focused meeting in the U.S.;
• Commenced chronic toxicology program to support dosing of IMC-1 for intervals of 1 year or more;
• Advanced collaboration with Dr. Michael Camilleri of the Mayo Clinic to explore the role of antiviral therapy in managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); and
• Presented at HC Wainwright Global Healthcare and BioConnect Conferences, BIO CEO & Investor Conference and Needham Healthcare Conference.

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Research and development expenses for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 were $1.71 million, compared to $0.03 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. The $1.68 million increase was primarily attributable to increases in expenses for the FORTRESS clinical trial and chronic toxicology program.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 were $1.35 million, compared to $0.35 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. The $1.0 million increase was primarily attributable to legal and accounting fees and other costs associated with being a public company.

Net loss for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $3.1 million, or ($0.37) basic and diluted per share, compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or ($0.10) basic and diluted per share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

As of March 31, 2021, Virios Therapeutics cash totaled $24.6 million. The Company believes it will have sufficient resources to fund its planned operations through the end of 2022.

Conference Call & Webcast Details

Virios Therapeutics management will host a webcast and conference call on May 13, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the results and provide a corporate update. The live and archived webcast of the call may be accessed on the Virios Therapeutics website under the Investors section: Events and Presentations. The live call can also be accessed by dialing (877) 407-8133 (domestic) or (201) 689-8040 (international) and asking to be connected to the "Virios Therapeutics Conference Call".

About Virios Therapeutics

Virios Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VIRI) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing novel, dual mechanism antiviral therapies to treat conditions associated with virally triggered or maintained immune responses, such as fibromyalgia (“FM”). Immune responses related to the activation of tissue resident Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (“HSV-1”) have been postulated as a potential root cause triggering and/or sustaining chronic illnesses such as FM, irritable bowel disease (“IBS”), chronic fatigue syndrome and other functional somatic syndromes, all of which are characterized by waxing and waning symptoms with no obvious etiology. Our lead development candidate (“IMC-1”) is a novel, proprietary, fixed dose combination of famciclovir and celecoxib designed to synergistically suppress HSV-1 replication, with the end goal of reducing virally promoted disease symptoms.

Evidence of IMC-1’s efficacy on a broad spectrum of FM outcome measures was previously demonstrated in a Phase 2a clinical trial. These trial results are suggestive that IMC-1 may represent a new and novel treatment for fibromyalgia. IMC-1 has been granted fast track designation by the FDA and is currently being tested in a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b trial (“FORTRESS”) designed to set the stage for registrational studies. The company is led by an executive team highly experienced in the successful development and commercialization of novel therapies. For more information, please visit www.virios.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” "will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Virios Therapeutics’ current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including risks related to the completion and timing of the Phase 2b trial. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Virios Therapeutics, Inc. (VIRI) undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

-Financial Tables Follow-

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