Dr. Andrew Hamer reports

CARDIOL THERAPEUTICS ANNOUNCES STUDY RESULTS PRESENTED AT THE 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY WORKING GROUP ON MYOCARDIAL AND PERICARDIAL DISEASES

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. has released study results demonstrating an experimental model of pericarditis induces mesothelial to mesenchymal transition (MMT) and that this process is inhibited by cannabidiol treatment, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in CardiolRx. An abstract summarizing these results was submitted by the company's international research collaborators from the University of Virginia and Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center to the 2023 annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases (MPD2023) held on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, 2023, in Belgrade, Serbia.

The poster, entitled "Cannabidiol Inhibits the Mesothelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Experimental Pericarditis," was presented for general viewing within the poster sessions of the MPD2023 scientific program. The results presented are a continuation of a research collaboration between Cardiol and the University of Virginia, which previously reported at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2022 that cannabidiol reduces pericardial effusion and thickness in the same experimental model of pericarditis.

"We are intrigued by these new findings that further support an anti-fibrotic benefit of CardiolRx, in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties that were previously reported in this preclinical model," commented Dr. Andrew Hamer, Cardiol Therapeutics' chief medical officer and head of research and development (R&D). "Fibrosis is the basis of more severe long-term complications of recurrent pericarditis, for which no specific anti-fibrotic therapies are currently available, suggesting a potentially broader therapeutic benefit of CardiolRx."

MMT is a complex and step-wise biological process whereby a mesothelial cell, the main cell type lining internal organs and several of the body's internal cavities, including the pericardium, undergoes molecular reprogramming. This alters its characteristics toward a mesenchymal cell, such as a myofibroblast, which are the primary cells during wound healing and fibrosis. Mounting evidence indicates the transition to mesenchymal cells is involved in adult cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure. Pericarditis leads to pericardial effusion and thickening that may evolve to fibrosis, and by limiting MMT and the ensuing fibrosis, CardiolRx may also represent a novel strategy to prevent pericarditis complications.

The 2023 annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases brings together a collaborative group dedicated to advancing knowledge, research and clinical practices related to myocardial and pericardial diseases. Comprising an interdisciplinary team of cardiologists, researchers and health care professionals, the meeting focuses on fostering a deeper understanding of the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions affecting the heart muscle and its surrounding protective layer. The working group aims to develop and disseminate guidelines, recommendations and advancements in the field, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes for individuals affected by myocardial and pericardial diseases within the European and global medical community.

About Cardiol Therapeutics Inc.

Cardiol Therapeutics is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The company's lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis and heart failure.

Cardiol has received investigational new drug application authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx in two diseases affecting the heart: (i) a phase 2 multicentre open-label pilot study in recurrent pericarditis (the MAvERIC-pilot study -- NCT05494788), an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits and hospitalizations; and (ii) a phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (the Archer trial -- NCT05180240) in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults, and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age.

Cardiol is also developing a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation of cannabidiol intended for use in heart failure -- a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated health care costs in the United States exceeding $30-billion annually.

We seek Safe Harbor.