Immupharma Regulatory News (IMM)

22 Aug 2007 07:00

Immupharma PLC22 August 2007 For Immediate Release 22 August 2007 ImmuPharma PLC ImmuPharma discovers new lead drug candidate for inflammation ImmuPharma PLC (LSE:IMM), ("ImmuPharma" or the "Company"), the specialist drugdiscovery and development company, announced today that following its discoveryactivities on its chemical library, it has discovered a new molecular serieswith potential application in inflammatory/allergic conditions such as asthmaand rheumatoid arthritis. These molecules, in the programme code-namedIPP-201007, have utility as selective phospholipase A2 subtype inhibitors andare already patented through ImmuPharma's library broad patent. ImmuPharma's long-term pipeline includes a proprietary library or over 300,000small molecules with a 70% drug likeness. These large number of molecules areall patent-protected, with the patent already having been issued in a number ofcountries including the United States. The present discovery is also paving theway for newly patented additional chemical libraries expanding thereby the scopeof our primary proprietary library. Dr Robert Zimmer, MD, PhD, ImmuPharma's Chief Scientific Officer commented: "The discovery of these exciting molecules and their derivatives validates ourlong-term pipeline prospects and are just the first of other potential leaddrugs to be discovered from our libraries of molecules. IPP-201007 furtheraugments our pipeline of lead drugs in building a pharma company". For further information please contact: ImmuPharma PLC: Dimitri Dimitriou, Chief Executive Officer +44 20 7152 4080Dr Robert Zimmer, President & Chief Scientific Officer + 33 389 32 7650Richard Warr, Chairman +44 20 7152 4080 Buchanan Communications + 44 20 7466 5000Lisa BaderoonRebecca Skye Dietrich Landsbanki Securities (UK) LimitedThilo Hoffmann +44 20 7426 7710 For company information, visit www.immupharma.com Notes to Editors: About ImmuPharma ImmuPharma PLC is a drug discovery and development company headquartered inLondon, UK and quoted on AIM of the London Stock Exchange (LSE:IMM). It hasresearch operations in France (ImmuPharma (France) SA) and Switzerland(ImmuPharma AG). ImmuPharma is dedicated to the development of novel drugs,largely based on peptide therapeutics, to treat serious medical conditions suchas autoimmune diseases characterised by: * blockbuster potential in niche markets * low promotional costs in few specialised physicians and centres and * lower risk of drug development and lower development costs ImmuPharma is a currently developing drug candidates for three different medicalconditions, each of which would represent a significant breakthrough in itsfield. The furthest advanced drug candidate targets Lupus, a disease for whichthere is currently no cure or specific treatment. The other two address moderateto severe pain (such as that experienced by cancer sufferers and post-operativepatients), and MRSA and similar severe hospital-acquired resistant infections. All three have significant sales potential as well as low marketing costs and arelatively low risk of development failure. One or more have the potential to befast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration according to "Guidance forIndustry: Fast Track Drug Development Programs - Designation, Development andApplication Review" issued July 2004 and could therefore obtain their marketauthorization by 2010. Key to the potential success of ImmuPharma is its unique collaborative agreementwith Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France's scientific researchinstitution. This agreement grants ImmuPharma worldwide exclusive rights toexploit certain key discoveries. In addition to its three leading drug candidates, ImmuPharma has a drugdevelopment pipeline using its rights to a virtual chemical library of hundredsof thousands of molecules as well as an innovative technology for convertingpeptides to drug candidates. ImmuPharma has the option to commercialise its assets itself or to license themto other pharmaceutical companies at an earlier stage. The products Treatment of Lupus (IPP-201101) This is a long-term treatment for Lupus, a chronic, life-threatening autoimmunedisease where the immune system attacks healthy cells. There is currently nocure and existing medications only treat the symptoms whereas ImmuPharma's drugcandidate has the potential to produce remission of the disease in a substantialproportion of patients. Based on independent forecasts, the value of ImmuPharma's Lupus drug isestimated to be "substantial" with peak annual sales forecast to generate inexcess of $4 billion. Severe pain relief (IPP-102199) ImmuPharma is developing a potential non-addictive compound for relievingmoderate to severe pain, such as experienced by cancer sufferers andpost-surgical patients. Most existing treatments are derived from the opiatemorphine and tend to have serious side effects. ImmuPharma's new treatment isbased on met-enkephalin, the body's internal analgesic. IPP-102199 is beingdeveloped to have major advantages over morphine such as longer pain reliefduration and reduced side effects. The market for chronic opioids in the UScurrently exceeds $3.5 billion and is growing by more than 10 to 20 per cent ayear. Antibiotic for MRSA and similar highly resistant infections (IPP-203101) This is a novel antibiotic to combat MRSA and other severe hospital-acquired,resistant infections which affect some two million people in the US, accordingto the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ImmuPharma's drugcandidate is targeted at disrupting the membrane potential of the bacterialpathogens. It is hoped this novel approach will reduce their potential to becomeresistant. PLA2 inhibitor for inflammatory and allergic disorders (IPP-201007) Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis ofphospholipids. This catalytic reaction is essential in the production of lipidsduring various processes in the body, involving prostaglandins, leukotrienes,thromboxanes, platelet activation factor and others. In certain cases, suchlipids mediators cause allergic reactions and a number of inflammatoryconditions such as asthma and other respiratory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis,septic shock and acute pancreatitis are characterized by a significant increasein PLA2 activity. Selective inhibition of PLA2 subtypes can therefore reduce some of theseallergic reactions and inhibitors of PLA2 have already been shown to havepositive effect in inflammatory conditions. ImmuPharma believes this newmolecule has potential in becoming a drug for certain inflammatory conditionsand intends to progress its development. The drug could be in clinical trials asearly as 2009. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange