Gunsynd Regulatory News (GUN)

13 Dec 2006 07:01

Syntopix Group plc13 December 2006 For immediate release 13 December 2006 SYNTOPIX GROUP PLC ("Syntopix" or "the Group") BOARD CHANGES Syntopix Group plc (AIM: SYN), the drug discovery and development group focusedon dermatological diseases, is pleased to announce that Stephen Philip Jones BSc(Hons) Pharm, PhD, MRPharmS, (aged 49), has been appointed as Chief ExecutiveOfficer (having been Chief Operating Officer since 1 July 2006). The appointmentis effective from 1 January 2007. At the same time Rod Adams (Chief ExecutiveOfficer) has been appointed as Chairman of the Company and Gwyn Humphreys hasbeen appointed as the Company's senior non-executive Director. There are no further disclosures to be made in accordance with Schedule 2 (g) ofthe AIM rules. Commenting on the Board changes, Rod Adams, said: "I am delighted that Stephenhas taken the position of Chief Executive. Stephen has grown into this rolehaving spent six months working at Syntopix and I believe that his experience atGSK in drug development and consumer healthcare will stand him in good stead totake the business forward. I am pleased to be taking over as Chairman and lookforward to continuing to work alongside Stephen and the Syntopix managementteam. We are all delighted that Gwyn is staying on the Syntopix Board as asenior non-executive Director and I would like to thank him for his hard workand support as Chairman. We have a solid management team in place to take theCompany and the exciting products within our portfolio through clinicaldevelopment." ENDS For further information please contact: Syntopix Group plc 0845 125 9204Stephen Jones, Chief Executive officerRod Adams, Chairman KBC Peel Hunt Ltd 020 7418 8900Megan MacIntyre Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000Mary-Jane Johnson Notes to editors About Syntopix Group plc Syntopix, a group focused on the discovery and development of drugs for thetopical treatment of dermatological diseases, was founded in 2003 as a spin-outfrom the University of Leeds by Dr Jon Cove and Dr Anne Eady, two of the leadingexperts in skin microbiology, with initial funding from The Wellcome Trust. Syntopix' strategy is to seek to reduce the risks and costs of drug discoveryand development by discovering novel uses for known compounds; by concentratingon compounds and combinations of compounds that have a history of safe use; andworking with compounds that have known properties, for example antimicrobialsand anti-inflammatories. The Group currently has seven pending UK patentapplications. Syntopix is currently concentrating on acne and Staphylococcus aureus infectionsand has identified a pipeline of lead drug candidates that it intends to takethrough pre-clinical and, as appropriate, clinical trials. The Group intends toout-license products to commercial partners on obtaining proof of principle andto seek co-development partnerships. The Group is based at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation in Bradford,giving access to the expertise in skin biology, formulation and toxicology atthe universities of Bradford and Leeds. Syntopix' shareholders include Techtran Group Limited (a subsidiary of IP Groupplc), The Wellcome Trust Limited, University of Leeds Limited, White RoseTechnology Limited and Ridings Early Growth Investment Company Limited.Syntopix joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in March 2006. For further information please visit www.syntopix.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange