Spotlight Innovation Obtains Exclusive, Worldwide License from Florida State University Research Foundation to Commercialize Therapeutics for Zika Virus Infection

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotlight Innovation Inc. (OTCQB: STLT), a pharmaceutical company advancing technologies designed to address rare, emerging and neglected diseases, today announced that the Company has obtained from the Florida State University Research Foundation exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize certain compounds for the treatment of viral infections, including Zika virus infection. Included among the licensed compounds are those identified in a study¹ co-authored by Florida State University Professor Hengli Tang that was published in Nature Medicine in August of this year. Prof. Tang and his research team collaborate with Spotlight Innovation as part of an existing sponsored research agreement (SRA), and he is a member of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board.

About Spotlight Innovation Inc.

Spotlight Innovation Inc. (OTCQB: STLT) identifies and acquires rights to innovative, proprietary technologies designed to address unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on rare, emerging and neglected diseases. To find and evaluate unique opportunities, we leverage our extensive relationships with leading scientists, academic institutions and other sources. We provide value-added development capability to accelerate development progress. When scientifically significant benchmarks have been achieved, we will endeavor to partner with proven market leaders via sale, out-license or strategic alliance. For more information, visit www.spotlightinnovation.com or follow us on www.twitter.com/spotlightinno.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements herein include statements regarding Spotlight Innovation's efforts to develop and commercialize its various technologies, and to achieve its stated benchmarks. Actual outcomes and actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: risks and uncertainties, such as the inability to finance the planned development of the technologies; the inability to hire appropriate staff to develop the technologies; unforeseen technical difficulties in developing the technologies; the inability to obtain regulatory approval for human use; competitors' therapies proving to be more effective, cheaper or otherwise more preferable; or, the inability to market a product. All of which could, among other things, delay or prevent product release, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in Spotlight Innovation's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with Spotlight Innovation's periodic filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release and Spotlight Innovation undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

¹ Miao X, Lee EM, Wen Z, Cheng Y, Huang W-K, Qian X, TCW J, Kouznetsova J, Ogden SC, Hammack C, Nguyen HN, Itkin M, Hanna C, Shinn P, Allen C, Michael SG, Simeonov A, Huang W, Christian KM, Goate A, Brennand K, Huang R, Menghang X, Ming G-L, Zheng W, Song H, Tang H. Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Zika Virus Infection and Induced Neural Cell Death Via a Drug Repurposing Screen. Nature Med. 2016 Aug 29.  
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nm.4184.html

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SOURCE Spotlight Innovation Inc.