Ixico Regulatory News (IXI)

29 September 2010

Phytopharm to present data on Coganeä at upcoming scientific conferences

·; World Parkinson Congress, Glasgow, Scotland

·; 4th World Congress on Controversies in Neurology (CONy), Barcelona, Spain

·; Neuroscience 2010, San Diego, USA

Phytopharm plc announces today that it will be presenting data on various aspects of Coganeä (PYM50028), which it is developing as a novel, potentially disease modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease, at a number of upcoming scientific conferences. 

Three posters will be presented at the World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland:

Wednesday 29 September 2010 (12:30-14:30 local time)

P10.02 PYM50028 (Coganeä), an orally active neurotrophic factor modulator enhances the effect of L-DOPA in MPTP-Lesioned Macaques

Thursday 30 September 2010 (11:30-13:30 local time)

P10.07 PYM50028 (Coganeä), a neurotrophic factor modulator, increases dopaminergic receptor density and BDNF and tyrosine hydroxylase levels in aged rats

P19.24 Pharmacokinetic modeling of PYM50028 (Coganeä) predicts once daily dosing can achieve plasma levels in PD patients associated with preclinical Efficacy

For more information please visit: http://www.worldpdcongress.org/Abstracts/latebreaking.cfm#thur

An oral presentation will be given at the 4th World Congress on Controversies in Neurology (CONy) in Barcelona, Spain:

Friday 29 October 2010 (18:00-18:30 local time)

New Players in Neurodegenerative Diseases: PYM50028 (Coganeä)

For more information please visit: http://comtecmed.com/cony/2010/scientific_prog.aspx

One poster will be presented at Neuroscience 2010 in San Diego, USA:

Wednesday 17 November 2010 (11:00-12:00 local time)

P749.20  PYM50028, an orally active neurotrophic factor inducer, restores and protects against loss of striatal dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the MPTP-lesioned mouse model of Parkinson's disease

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Phytopharm is focused on the development of its pharmaceutical programmes and has a residual portfolio of functional foods. The Company has focused its research and development activities on areas of high unmet health needs to deliver cures and relieve suffering for longer healthier lives.

As a virtual company, the Company's business model is centred on a lean cash burn with all laboratory, manufacturing and clinical work outsourced to specialists, while core competencies such as strategy and management are maintained in-house. Close collaboration with charitable organisations enhances the Company's interaction with scientists and clinicians, who lead and develop expert opinion.

Cogane™ is a novel, small molecule, orally bioavailable neurotrophic factor modulator that readily crosses the blood brain barrier and is currently in development for Parkinson's disease. In preclinical studies, Cogane™ stimulates the release of neurotrophic factors and increases neurite outgrowth. Importantly, Cogane™ also reverses dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and behavioural impairments in models of Parkinson's disease in vivo. The neuroprotective and neurotrophic actions of Cogane™ suggest potential beneficial effects in other neurodegenerative diseases including motor neurone disease.

Phytopharm is listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange. Further information on Phytopharm is available from the Company's website www.phytopharm.com

Forward-looking statements

Certain information included in these statements is forward-looking and involves risk and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections relating to results of operations and financial conditions, market estimates, the Company's plans and objectives for future operations, including future revenues, financial plans and expected expenditures and divestments. All forward-looking statements in this report are based upon information known to the Company on the date of this announcement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

It is not reasonably possible to itemise all of the many factors and specific events that could cause the Company's forward looking statements to be incorrect or that could otherwise have a material adverse effect on the future operations or results of the Company.