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Update email today……
Dear Rob Zimmerman
Reference: FOI2021/00455
I am writing in regard to your Freedom of Information request of the above
reference number received by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on 1
October.
I can confirm that UKRI hold some of the information in scope of your
request; however, we believe that some of the information may be exempt
under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
As we are considering the application of section 43 Commercial Interests,
UKRI is required to apply a Public Interest Test in relation to these
matters and is permitted to extend the response date by an addition 20
working days to do so.
As this is the case UKRI will endeavor to provide a response to you as
soon as possible and no later than 26th November.
Further information from the Information Commissioners' Office on the FOIA
exemptions can be found on the below link:
[1]https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/gui...
Kind regards,
Samantha Bloxham
Information Governance
Information Rights Team
UK Research and Innovation
Robs reply…
Dear Samantha Bloxham,
Against the backdrop of a worldwide pandemic with few effective treament options for patients with cytokine storm related illness/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, there can be absolutely no question that it is in the public interest to know how SDC-1801 is to be progressed.
The pre-clinical study reported by Sareum Holdings on 1st July 2021 noted: "The results of the project found that SDC-1801 reduced the levels of cytokines associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in human lung cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated a profile that was superior to the anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone and similar to baricitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor.
Subsequent completed in-vivo studies support the initial cellular results and indicate:
Strong evidence that expression of Type 1 interferons (IFNa and IFNb) is reduced by SDC-1801 treatment in a dose-responsive manner; and that Viral loads did not increase after SDC-1801 administration, a potential concern when anti-inflammatory agents are used to dampen down an over-active immune response
Dr John Reader, CSO of Sareum, commented:
“The results from our Covid-19 research project are very encouraging and provide clear evidence of the potential of SDC-1801 to reduce the excessive inflammatory response seen in severe Covid-19. We are keen to progress this project to the next stage and will now explore our options to find the best way to fund these next steps. This could include the UK government’s AGILE clinical development platform, which was established to fund Phase 1 trials and fast-track the development of potentially ground-breaking Covid-19 treatments. These activities are expected to run in parallel with the broader SDC-1801 development plan targeting autoimmune diseases. We look forward to providing updates on our progress as we reach key milestones in the development of SDC-1801.”
http://www.sareum.com/news/press-release...
I look forward to receiving the requested information without further delay.
Yours faithfully,
Rob Zimmerman
Section 43 ……
What exemptions are contained in section 43 of FOIA?
Section 43(1) provides an exemption from disclosure for information which is a trade secret.
Section 43(2) exempts information whose disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any legal person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity).
Section 43(3) provides an exemption from the duty to confirm or deny whether you hold information, if doing so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the interests protected by section 43(2).
All of the exemptions are subject to the public interest test.
How do we apply section 43(1)?
FOIA does not define the term ‘trade secret’. However, with reference to The Trade Secrets (Enforcement, etc.) Regulations 2018, the Commissioner considers that, to be a trade secret, information should:
be secret, in the sense that it is not generally known among, or readily accessible to, people within the circles that normally deal with that kind of information;
have a commercial value, because it is secret. Its disclosure should also be liable to cause real (or significant) harm to the owner or be advantageous to any rivals; and
be subject to reasonable steps under the circumstances, taken by the owner, to keep it secret.
A trade secret is the property of its owner. Clauses in employment contracts often prevent an ex-employee from disclosing a trade secret.
A trade secret may be a technical secret or a business secret.
Give the repetition a rest dessy lad
If there’s nothing to conceal why be so opaque concerning the FOI request. There could be some interesting developments going on behind the wall of non disclosure of information.
Great FOI research Rob/Desamax. Just don’t rock the UKRI boat too much though! Thanks for all your digging. Totally agree with Thoth2 too. We are in for some interesting news flow. We might also be in for a bit of “Fomo Friday” today ahead of the update from Sareum on Monday.
It is becoming pretty clear that SDC1801, SDC1802 and SRA737 are rapidly becoming very attractive to HNWI’s. The latest HNWI buying £1million Sareum shares is going to be wanting to make at least 5 - 10 million profit from their £1 million investment in Sareum I would have thought. That would suggest that they have a share price of 40p - 70p in mind (at least). The only question is will it be a takeover or block buster licencing deal that takes us there? An interesting few weeks ahead coming up.