Gunsynd Regulatory News (GUN)

26 Jun 2006 07:01

Syntopix Group plc26 June 2006 For immediate release 26 June 2006 SYNTOPIX GROUP PLC ("Syntopix" or "the Company") APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Syntopix Group plc (AIM: SYN), the drug discovery and development companyfocused on dermatological diseases, is pleased to announce that Stephen PhilipJones BSc (Hons) Pharm, PhD, MRPharmS, has been appointed to the Company andwill join the Board on 1 July 2006 in the newly formed position of ChiefOperating Officer. Stephen, aged 48, is a highly experienced pharmaceutical industry executive witha track record in both branded medicines and consumer healthcare and asuccessful history of new product development. At Syntopix, he will co-ordinateoperational activities and commercial relationships. Stephen was most recently at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where he held the position ofVice President and Director of Consumer Healthcare Research and Development.Stephen joined GSK in 1997 as a Senior Director of New Product Development wherehe was responsible for sixty staff and for the development of semi-solid dosageforms. Prior to joining GSK Stephen worked for companies including Scherer DrugDelivery Systems, Sterling Winthrop, Beecham Pharmaceuticals Research Division,Merck Sharp & Dohme and Amersham International. Stephen is a pharmacist by training, and his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences isfrom the University of Nottingham. Commenting on the appointment, Rod Adams, Syntopix' Chief Executive Officer,said: "I am delighted that Steve has chosen to join the team at Syntopix andthat we have been able to attract someone of his calibre to our business.Stephen brings to the Company an excellent track record in drug development andconsumer healthcare which we believe will help drive our business forward." The Company has today granted, for nil consideration, 289,472 options overordinary shares of 10p each ("Ordinary Shares") to Stephen Jones, representing5% per cent of the Company's current issued share capital. These options vestsubject to Dr Jones meeting certain performance criteria and will becomeexercisable at an exercise price of 180p per Ordinary Share between two yearsand ten years after vesting. Dr Jones' option holding following thisnotification is 289,472. There are no further disclosures to be made in accordance with Schedule 2 (g) ofthe AIM rules. ENDS For further information please contact: Syntopix Group plc 0845 1259204 Gwyn Humphreys, Chairman Rod Adams, Chief Executive Officer www.syntopix.com KBC Peel Hunt Ltd 020 7418 8900 Megan MacIntyre Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000 Mark Court, Tim Anderson, Mary-Jane Johnson Notes to editors About Syntopix Group plc Syntopix, a company focussed 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 Company currently has seven pending UK patentapplications. Syntopix is currently focussed on acne and Staphylococcus aureus infections andhas identified a pipeline of lead drug candidates that it intends to takethrough pre-clinical and, as appropriate, clinical trials. The Company intendsto out-license products to commercial partners on obtaining proof of principleand to seek co-development partnerships. The Company 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 Ltd and Ridings Early Growth Investment Company Limited. Syntopixjoined 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