Gunsynd Regulatory News (GUN)

Syntopix Group plc

("Syntopix" or "the Company")

Board Restructure

Syntopix Group plc (AIM:SYN), the speciality research and development company focused on the discovery of topical antimicrobials for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications, today announces the following restructuring of the Board effective immediately.

Dr Rod Adams will step down as non-executive Chairman and will be replaced by Tom Bannatyne. In addition, Dr Anne Eady and Dr Helen Shaw will step down as non-executive Directors although Dr Eady will continue in her capacity as Scientific Director of Syntopix.

Mr Bannatyne (47) has over 20 years' experience of the investment industry. Following nine years at S.G. Warburg Group (since acquired by UBS), where he became Director of European Equities, Tom joined the Tudor Group, a privately-owned major international hedge fund, establishing and managing its European Equities business. At Tudor he was a Partner, member of the Management Committee, and Chairman of the group's UK operation, as well as of the UK branch of the group's charitable foundation. Since retiring from Tudor at the end of 2007, he has been pursuing his own investment interests.

Stephen Jones, CEO of Syntopix commented: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Rod Adams for his contribution to Syntopix over the last five years. He has helped to drive the Company to become a successful commercial entity, taking it from an academic proposition to a listed company which has developed strong partnerships with global healthcare companies. I would also like to thank Helen Shaw for her help guiding Syntopix though its formative early clinical studies and medical direction, and for her constructive contribution and challenge to the development of the strategy. Both Rod and Helen leave Syntopix on the best of terms and with our warm wishes."

"2010 will be a pivotal year for Syntopix, building on the encouraging progress in 2009 and I am delighted that Tom will be joining the Board of Syntopix at this important time. His impressive investment experience will be extremely valuable, providing Syntopix with a stronger City presence and strategic guidance as it enters a new phase of heightened commercial development, targeting a multi-billion global consumer healthcare market. The Syntopix team looks forward to working with him." 

This announcement sets out the disclosures required pursuant to Schedule 2, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of that appointment.

Mr Bannatyne is currently a partner of Tudor Group Holdings LLP and Tudor Capital (UK) LP but holds no other directorships.

There is no other information which needs to be discussed pursuant to Schedule 2, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

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Notes to editors

Syntopix is a specialised research and development business, focusing on topical antimicrobial innovations for products in consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical markets. The Group was founded in 2003 as a spin-out from the University of Leeds by Dr Jon Cove and Dr Anne Eady, two of the world's leading experts in skin microbiology.

The Group's development focus is on its three leading, core compounds SYN0126, SYN1113 and SYN0017. Each has multiple potential uses across a number of large consumer healthcare markets including skincare, hair-care and oral health. Syntopix has developed strong working relationships with a number of major consumer healthcare companies including Proctor & Gamble and is now actively seeking to out-license these products to commercial partners.

Syntopix has a robust pipeline, with a growing library of over 2,200 compounds. Its strategy is to seek to reduce the risks and costs of drug discovery and development by discovering novel uses for known compounds and combinations of compounds, which have established safety profiles. The Group adopts an ongoing filing process that has resulted in 22 core patents/applications.

The Group is based at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation in Bradford, giving access to the expertise in skin biology, formulation and toxicology at the universities of Bradford and Leeds.

Syntopix' shareholders include Techtran Group Limited (a subsidiary of IP Group plc), The Wellcome Trust Limited, University of Leeds Limited and Ridings Early Growth Investment Company Limited. Syntopix joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in March 2006.

For more information, please visit our website at www.syntopix.com.

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