FUL.L Regulatory News (FUL)

5 Apr 2006 07:01

Fulcrum Pharma PLC05 April 2006 For immediate release 5th April 2006 FULCRUM PHARMA PLC ("Fulcrum" or "the Group" or "the Company") Strategic Partnership with NanoCarrier Co., Ltd Fulcrum Pharma plc (AIM: FUL), the drug development and strategic outsourcingservices company, is pleased to announce the signing of a strategic partnershipagreement with NanoCarrier Co., Ltd (NanoCarrier), the Japanese R&D drivenventure biotechnology company. NanoCarrier raised 400 million yen by allocationof new shares to its business partners including Fulcrum Pharma DevelopmentsLimited. With this increase in capital, NanoCarrier will strengthen and pursueits R&D Pipelines in close cooperation with strategic partners, as well as itsin-house R&D project NC-6004 (New Platinum Compound) and others. Under the terms of this agreement Fulcrum will be responsible for the provisionof drug development resources and expertise to support NanoCarrier to developcertain of its products. Currently Fulcrum is executing the phase I developmentof NC-6004 in Europe under contract to NanoCarrier. Jon Court, CEO, of Fulcrum Pharma, commented: "We are delighted to become astrategic partner with NanoCarrier Co., Ltd after our drug developmentspecialists in Japan and Europe have successfully supported the development oftheir key products for testing in the clinic in Europe. This agreementrepresents another step in the development of Fulcrum's partnership strategy andstrengthens our business in Japan." Dr Ichiro Nakatomi, President and CEO of NanoCarrier, said: "The objective ofthis financing was to strengthen our relationships with our business partners. Iam very hopeful that this new advancement in our relationship would bear newfruits and take our companies to a continuous path of development and growthworldwide. NanoCarrier's vision is to continuously develop new targetedmedicines that would contribute to the welfare of the society by not onlyenhancing the quality of life (QOL) but life itself. I am extremely thankful toour partners for having confidence in our capabilities." For further information, please contact: Fulcrum Pharma PLC Tel: 0870 710 7152Jon Court, Chief Executive Buchanan Communications Tel: 020 7466 5000Mary-Jane Johnson Notes for editors About Fulcrum Pharma plc Fulcrum Pharma plc is an independent, drug development company that is the firstto offer global virtual drug development and strategic outsourcing services tothe pharmaceutical industry. The Group has expertise in the design, executionand delivery of drug development programmes and relies on state of the artinformation technology and infrastructure in the supply of its services. Through Fulcrum's services to its clients, the Directors believe that there isthe capacity to deliver products faster and more efficiently to the globalpharmaceutical market. Fulcrum does this by using its skills in the design ofdrug programmes that deliver the necessary information for decision-making andproduct registration. In so doing, Fulcrum works closely with its clients tomeet their strategic R&D goals. Fulcrum Pharma is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the LondonStock Exchange having successfully floated in March 2000. About NanoCarrier Co., Ltd NanoCarrier is an R&D-driven venture company established to commercializepolymeric micellar nanoparticles drugs incorporating a wide variety ofpharmaceuticals, genes, and diagnostic products. Drug-incorporating polymericmicellar nanoparticles show long and stable drug retention in the blood streamand concentration in target sites for longer periods, which is aimed to showimproved pharmacological performance and diminished adverse effects. Apaclitaxel formulation has achieved good efficacy/safety results in pre-clinicaland Phase-I clinical studies. A new platinum entity has also shown good efficacy/safety results in pre-clinical studies and has recently entered Phase-Iclinical study. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange