L.V. Prasad Eye Institute

PDAT clinical outcomes for infectious keratitis from Brazil and Mexico KNOXVILLE, TN, May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provectus Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (“Provectus” or the “Company”) (OTCQB: PVCT) today announced that clinical and non-clinical data on rose bengal photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (“RB PDAT”) were presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (“ARVO”), held May 5-9, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The ARVO annual meeting brings together approximately 10,000 vision researchers, clinicians, and scientists from around the world for scientific sessions, poster presentations, and invited speaker sessions. Provectus entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the University of Miami (the “University”) in April 2024 for its intellectual property related to RB PDAT for treating bacterial, fungal, and parasitic (acanthamoeba) eye infections. The Company and University plan to form a start-up biotechnology company (e.g., “Eyecare NewCo”), potentially in the third quarter of 2024, aimed at commercializing the University’s PDAT light source medical device in combination with a drug formulation of Provectus’s proprietary pharmaceutical-grade rose bengal active pharmaceutical ingredient (“RB API”). The Company would contribute the RB PDAT license to and have an exclusive RB API supply arrangement with Eyecare NewCo. RB PDAT emerged under the leadership of Jean-Marie Parel, IngETS-G, Ph.D., FARVO, Director of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s (“BPEI’s”) Ophthalmic Biophysics Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Parel and the OBC team have spent more than ten years advancing RB PDAT technology against different types of infectious keratitis. ARVO 2024 RB PDAT presentations included: Evaluating the Safety of Rose Bengal Photodynamic Therapy, Huang et al., BPEI (Poster no. B0448, Session: Cornea), Rose Bengal Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy as an Adjuvant Treatment for Infectious Keratitis, Eskenazi-Betech et al., Instituto de Oftalmologia Fundacion Conde de Valenciana IAP (Mexico) (B0338, Cornea), Assessment of photosensitizer concentration with a Singlet Oxygen luminescence dosimeter for Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy, Carrera et al., BPEI (B0570, Cornea), Clinical outcome in patients with infectious keratitis treated with Rose Bengal Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy (RB-PDAT) at the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Tabuse et al., Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Brazil) (B0575, Cornea), Enhanced Fungal Inhibition with High-Dose Rose Bengal Photodynamic Antimiocrobial Therapy, Merikansky et al., BPEI (B0580, Cornea), Inhibition of Fungal Isolates via Singlet Oxygen Generation from Erythrosin B and Rose Bengal Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy, Ahmed et al., BPEI (Paper no. 4917, Cornea), Arginine-Mediated Enhancement of Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy to Target the Oxygen-Independent Pathway, Gonzalez et al., BPEI (B0005, Immunology/Microbiology), and Preclinical/Poster: Exploring the Combination of Rose Bengal Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy and Existing Antifungals, Krishna et al., BPEI (B0010, Immunology/Microbiology). RB PDAT is the subject of two international Phase 3 randomized controlled trials for acanthamoeba and fungal (NCT05110001) and bacterial (NCT06271772) keratitis, and has been used to treat infectious keratitis patients in four countries to date: U.S.: BPEI (first clinical reporting: Naranjo et al. 2019), India: LV Prasad Eye Institute (Bagga et al. 2022) and Aravind Eye Care System (NCT05110001 data readout planned in Q4 2024), Brazil: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (ARVO 2024), and Mexico: Instituto de Oftalmología FAP (ARVO 2024). About Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Bascom Palmer Eye Institute serves as the Department of Ophthalmology for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The mission of BPEI is to enhance the quality of life by improving sight, preventing blindness, and advancing ophthalmic knowledge through compassionate patient care and innovative research. For 2023-2024, U.S. News & World Report (“U.S. News”) ranked BPEI as the nation’s best in ophthalmology, marking the 22nd time and 20th consecutive year that BPEI has received the No. 1 ranking since U.S. News began surveying American physicians for its annual “Best Hospitals” rankings 34 years ago. About Provectus Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapy medicines for different diseases that are based on a class of synthetic small molecule immuno-catalysts called halogenated xanthenes. Provectus’s lead HX molecule is named rose bengal sodium. Provectus’s medical science platform includes clinical development programs in oncology, dermatology, and ophthalmology; proof-of-concept in vivo development programs in oncology, hematology, full-thickness cutaneous wound healing, and canine cancers; and in vitro discovery programs in infectious diseases, tissue regeneration and repair, and proprietary targets. Information about the Company’s clinical trials can be found at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) registry, ClinicalTrials.gov. For additional information about Provectus, please visit the Company’s website at . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The information provided in this press release may include forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to the business of Provectus and its affiliates, which are based on currently available information and current assumptions, expectations, and projections about future events and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such statements are made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “aim,” “likely,” “outlook,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “budget,” “plan,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “project,” “projection,” “predict,” “potential,” “targeting,” “intend,” “can,” “could,” “might,” “should,” “believe,” and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. The safety and efficacy of Provectus’s drug agents and/or their uses under investigation have not been established. There is no guarantee that the agents will receive health authority approval or become commercially available in any country for the uses being investigated or that such agents as products will achieve any revenue levels. Due to the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or as of the date specifically specified herein, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Risks, uncertainties, and assumptions include those discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in Item 1A of: The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023. ##### Contact: Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Heather Raines, CPA Chief Financial Officer Phone: (866) 594-5999

MUMBAI, India, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, HelpMeSee has announced a new partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Initiative to train 100 new cataract specialists to help restore sight to India's cataract blind. Through this agreement, ASHA has provided funding to deploy two HelpMeSee eye surgery simulators to facilitate training at the HelpMeSee Mumbai Centre of Excellence for Simulation-Based Training. Continue Reading HelpMeSee and USAID: a partnership focused on restoring the gift of sight for people blind or visually impaired due to cataract. Currently, untreated cataract is the cause of 66 percent of all blindness in India, according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. India has approximately 20,000 ophthalmologists, equating to an average of eight for every million people, which is considerably lower in comparison with higher-income economies. This is compounded by the fact that ophthalmologists are not equally distributed throughout the nation. The cataract blind and visually impaired face significant challenges in finding well-trained specialists to treat them. "The National Medical Commission, India, and The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education share a common goal – to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes through competency-based education as a key component of Best Practices in Medicine," said Saro Jahani, president and CEO of HelpMeSee. "HelpMeSee's simulation-based training brings this innovation to life in India, through technology that allows trainees to practice surgical steps to perfection in a virtual environment with no risks to a live patient. We value our partnership with ASHA as we work together to help restore sight for people in India who are blind due to cataract. With their commitment, we're working to build sustainable solutions that can change lives and restore sight for people suffering from cataract. "For people with treatable cataract blindness, the humanitarian impact of this work cannot be overstated," Jahani said. "Untreated cataract disproportionately impacts the lives of women in rural India. Restoring sight restores their ability to engage in economic opportunities and relieves family members to work full time. The gift of restored sight is priceless. We are proud to be part of this effort to ensure access to care. HelpMeSee's simulator offers full procedural training in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery, as well as complications management and suturing. We have recently launched training in Phacoemulsification. In near future, HelpMeSee will be able to offer training in anterior vitrectomy, pediatric cataract, and other surgical procedures for the eye." In India, HelpMeSee has established partnerships with LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad to train government hospital doctors and Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, empowering local communities to restore sight. "HelpMeSee's virtual reality, simulation-based training delivers the authentic feeling of touch and visuals that are experienced in live surgery, and the ability to practice over and over, without the risk of mistakes that could permanently damage the sight of a patient," explained HelpMeSee Chief Medical Officer Dr. Van Lansingh. "The technology has applications for both the higher-income economies and the developing world as the next generation of cataract specialists is trained to deliver care for the rapidly aging world population. Seasoned surgeons who have had limited access to live surgery can use it to keep skills fresh." ABOUT HELPMESEE In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee works to eradicate cataract blindness using virtual reality and simulation-based training. The nonprofit was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who saw the opportunity to end suffering by delivering innovation from the aviation industry to the fight against cataract blindness. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry, devoted to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. Today, his legacy lives on through HelpMeSee. The organization trains cataract specialists to ensure that all communities, especially those with severe economic hardship, have access to cataract treatment as a human right to sight. With more than 40 simulators and 11 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities, and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis. For more information, visit . ABOUT USAID USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. For more information, visit . Media Contact: Kelley Denny 412-352-9240 [email protected] SOURCE HelpMeSee

HelpMeSee medical officers partner with Aravind Eye Care System and LV Prasad Eye Institute to publish series highlighting new scientific evidence NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New scientific evidence demonstrating the value of simulation-based training for cataract surgery has been showcased in a series of articles published in the peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, as led by medical officers of HelpMeSee and their partners around the world. Fueled by the innovation of virtual reality, HelpMeSee is a global nonprofit that uses instructor-led simulation-based training to help eradicate cataract blindness. Continue Reading "The new articles released by the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology include fresh data on the impact HelpMeSee's instructor-led simulation-based training can have on training ophthalmologists to fight cataract blindness around the world," said Dr. Van Charles Lansingh, chief medical officer of HelpMeSee. "At a time when simulation-based training is being incorporated into the curricula of many hospitals around the world, scientific evidence is consistently validating the impact simulation can have on surgical training, as it reduces the learning curve involved in developing surgical skills." Scientific evidence is consistently validating the impact simulation can have on surgical training. Tweet this Collectively, the articles demonstrate how simulation-based training is transforming the training landscape in ophthalmology and can reduce complication rates for those who train using this method. Released in the November 2022 issue, the four original articles were written by HelpMeSee medical officers and partners from institutions in India, namely Aravind Eye Care System and LV Prasad Eye Institute, and include the following topics: Face, Content and Structure Validity Led by a team in Mumbai, this paper utilizes as a basis analyses from the structured feedback of expert cataract surgeons who used the HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator. As cited, many of the experts felt the visual representation of the surgery on the simulator was extremely realistic. Showcasing extremely favorable outcomes, the article involves a face, content and structure validity study. Led by HelpMeSee partners and medical officers Akshay Gopinathan Nair, Chetan Ahiwalay, Ashish Bacchav and Lansingh, the article can be viewed at PubMed. Report on Trainee Performance Medical officers at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai — one of the first hospitals in India to incorporate simulation training into its structured training program — authored this paper. The paper presents data from the officers' pilot study, which evaluated simulated surgical outcomes among surgical trainees using the HelpMeSee eye surgery virtual reality simulator. HelpMeSee medical officers Lansingh, Bacchav and Ahiwalay, among other partners, authored this article. It can be viewed at PubMed. The Way Forward — Embracing Technology in Cataract Surgical Training This editorial is a consensus statement by Indian ophthalmic education thought leaders. Led by HelpMeSee medical officers Lansingh and Nair, this collaborative editorial identifies the lacunae in ophthalmic residency training and highlights how technological tools such as surgical simulators can be incorporated into ophthalmic training — even in limited resource settings — with good results. The article can be viewed at PubMed. Cataract Surgical Risk Stratification Models Partnering with LV Prasad Eye Institute, HelpMeSee's Lansingh led this study, which focused on developing a risk stratification system that predicts outcomes in patients undergoing cataract surgery. The predictive capability of these learning models was based on a large, real-world cataract surgical data set to determine which patients would benefit most from sight-restoring surgery. The article can be viewed at PubMed. "HelpMeSee's leadership and team of medical officers have shared important insights regarding the importance of research to validate and accelerate the adoption of simulation-based training," said Saro Jahani, president and CEO of HelpMeSee. "Collectively, these papers showcase the pivotal impact instructor-led simulation-based training can have on the eradication of cataract blindness around the world." About HelpMeSee In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataracts, HelpMeSee works to eradicate cataract blindness using virtual reality and simulation-based training. The nonprofit was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who saw an opportunity to end suffering by delivering innovation from the aviation industry to the fight against cataract blindness. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry, devoted to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. Today, his legacy lives on through HelpMeSee. The organization trains cataract specialists to ensure all communities, especially those with severe economic hardship, have access to cataract treatment as a human right to sight. With more than 40 simulators and 11 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis. For more information, visit . Media interested in speaking with one of HelpMeSee's medical officers as sources can contact [email protected] or call 412-352-9240. SOURCE HelpMeSee