Proteome Regulatory News (PRM)

Proteome Sciences plc

Novel In-Vitro Assays Developed for Mandatory EU-wide Allergen Testing

Significant progress towards goal of replacing animal testing for key allergens

24 November 2011 - Proteome Sciences today announces that it has developed a number of novel in-vitro tests for chemical compounds and substances that induce allergies when they come into contact with the skin or the respiratory system. Testing for these allergens in products including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and detergents will become mandatory under EU legislation.

Proteome Sciences are presenting data from eight assays at the Sens-it-iv Scientific Congress in Brussels, 24-25 November 2011, showing excellent performance. Sens-it-iv is a European Commission project which began in 2005 and brings together companies and academic institutions with the aim of developing in vitro alternatives to animal tests, which are currently used for the risk assessment of potential skin or lung sensitizers. As well as reducing the use of animal testing, the programme is aimed at improving consumer safety and benefiting the environment.

Proteome Sciences was invited to join the Sens-it-iv project in 2009 to introduce a new proteomic biomarker approach to allergy testing. Progress has been rapid, with over 200 novel biomarkers discovered and patents filed for allergy testing in the immune system and skin cells. Development of the first eight TMT-SRM assays was completed in November 2011 in only four weeks. The assays have shown excellent performance and correlation with the discovery data.

The Sens-it-iv project has delivered outstanding results, with important commercial implications for Proteome Sciences. The Company has started to implement a full development process in accordance with the new European regulatory requirements. TMT-SRM assays will be made initially for the most important biomarkers for allergies to the skin and respiratory system and will be marketed to industrial manufacturers producing a wide range of products and substances to confirm the safety of their products. Proteome Sciences expects the biomarkers it has identified to lead to a range of novel industrial testing products and service contracts with potential future revenues for PS Biomarker Services™ using TMT-SRM assays for industrial applications and routine testing.

Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive of Proteome Sciences, commented:

"Although we came relatively late to the Sens-it-iv project, we have made a considerable contribution in a short period of time. Using the PS Biomarker Services™ platform, we identified and filed patents for over 100 biomarkers from cells in the immune system and more than 100 more from skin cells. We selected eight of these and developed TMT-SRM assays in just four weeks and these have shown excellent results.

"The Sens-it-iv programme demonstrates the output and performance of our biomarker services capabilities in a complex and groundbreaking application. Most importantly, the biomarker assays developed provide an 'in-vitro' alternative to animal testing that will become mandatory across the EU. This opens up major new commercial opportunities for our biomarker content and assays."

Ends

For further information please contact:

Notes to Editors:

About Proteome Sciences

Proteome Sciences is a global leader in applied proteomics and peptidomics offering high sensitivity, proprietary technologies for protein and peptide biomarker discovery, validation and assay development.

Its PS Biomarker Services™ uses isobaric and isotopic Tandem Mass Tag® (TMT®) workflows developed on the latest Orbitrap Velos and TSQ Vantage mass spectrometers to deliver rapid, robust and reproducible biomarker assay development for customers in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology sectors. Services are provided from its ISO 9001: 2008 accredited facilities in Frankfurt, Germany. By combining Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) and TMT workflows highly multiplexed assays can be developed rapidly and are suitable for screening hundreds of candidate biomarkers in larger validation studies and can be transferred for immunoassay development. The Company's own research has discovered a large number of novel protein biomarkers in key human diseases and is focused mainly in neurological/neurodegenerative conditions and in cancer. It has discovered and patented blood biomarkers, including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, brain damage and lung cancer for diagnostic and treatment applications that are available for license or are already outlicensed. Proteome Sciences, based in Cobham, UK, with facilities in London and Frankfurt, delivers outsourced proteomics services and proprietary biomarkers/biomarker assays to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics companies.

Visit: http://www.proteomics.com.