Sareum Regulatory News (SAR)

13 May 2005 07:01

Sareum Holdings PLC13 May 2005 For Immediate Release 13 May 2005 SAREUM HOLDINGS PLC and RIGAKU/MSC ("Rigaku/MSC" and "Sareum") First UK Installation of Next Generation Protein Structure Determination Technology Sareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR), the structure-based drug discovery and servicesbusiness, and Rigaku/MSC, a world leader in X-ray instrumentation, are pleasedto announce the first UK installation of Rigaku/MSC's new HiFlux HomeLab(TM),based on the latest generation micro-focus X-ray diffractometers. This equipment enables Sareum to significantly increase the quality andthroughput of the protein structure determination capability of its unique drugdiscovery platform by providing full-time access to the state-of-the-art inlaboratory X-ray diffraction. The Rigaku/MSC HiFlux HomeLab(TM) system providesup to six times greater useable X-ray flux than traditional X-ray machines. Commenting on the announcement, Sareum's Chief Executive Officer, Dr TimMitchell, said: "We are extremely excited to have the first UK installation ofthis new standard in X-ray technology. This major extension of our capabilitiesin protein structure determination will greatly benefit both our customers andour internal research." Commenting on the announcement, Rigaku/MSC's European Sales Manager, RichardTyrrell, said: "Sareum's choice to install a state of the art next generationMicroMax(TM) 007HF generator and VariMax(TM)HF optics gives them a highlyflexible and stable machine." The versatility of the VariMax(TM)HF optics,allowing structure determination over a wide range of unit cell lengths,combined with the ultra bright microfocus source means virtually any project canbe tackled with ease. This optimum combination will give Sareum the ability tocollect rapid high resolution data in-house and offers many major advantagesover existing rotating anode generators." For further information: Sareum Holdings 01223 497700 Tim Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer Rigaku/MSC 01732 763367 Richard Tyrrell, European Sales Manager Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000 Tim Anderson, Mary-Jane Johnson Notes for editors: About Sareum Holdings plc Sareum Holdings plc is a structure based drug discovery business headquarteredin Cambridge, UK. The Company was formed in August 2003 to discover new drugsfor the treatment of cancer and inflammation and to provide a range of drugdiscovery services to the pharmaceutical industry. Sareum's unique approach aimsto halve the time it takes to discover new drug candidates. Structure-based drug discovery involves the determination of a disease causingprotein's three-dimensional structure. Once the structure is known, novelchemical entities are designed to 'lock-in' to the protein with the aim ofreversing or arresting a disease's progression. Sareum's approach to structure based drug discovery is to produce multiplerecombinant proteins primarily through a baculovirus expression system;determine their structure using x-ray crystallography; and then use theCompany's template-molecule x-ray screening technology to identify new chemicalentities that interact with the target protein. Sareum then uses itshigh-throughput medicinal chemistry platform to rapidly synthesise furthermolecules and develop the most promising into potential drug candidates. Sareum offers its accelerated drug discovery capabilities on a fee basis to thepharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and also intends to license out anyinternally generated drug candidates at the Phase I or Phase II clinical trialsstage. Sareum joined the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange inOctober 2004 and trades under the symbol SAR. For further information, pleasevisit www.sareum.co.uk About Rigaku/MSC Rigaku/MSC is a leading producer of crystallographic hardware, software andcontract research. As a division of the Rigaku Corporation, Rigaku/MSC acts as adistributor and manufacturer for all of Rigaku's product lines (including singlecrystal and general X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and semiconductormetrology) throughout the world. With over 1100 employees worldwide, the RigakuGroup has the technical strength and resources to continue providing innovativeand reliable products for the crystallographic community far into the future.Rigaku is the world's largest analytical X-ray instrument producer. More than just a distributor, Rigaku/MSC designs and manufactures manyperipherals to enhance the performance of Rigaku generators, detectors andgoniometers. Examples of Rigaku/MSC products include X-ray optical systems,cryogenic devices, an Xe derivative device, as well as single and multiple taperCCD detectors. In addition, Rigaku/MSC has a strong scientific developmentprogram for data acquisition, processing and structure solution software as wellas a core-tool software development group that develops instrumentation softwarein conjunction with the whole Rigaku Group. Finally, Rigaku/MSC offers contractresearch services for small and macromolecular crystallography. The ability toprovide research services has a synergistic effect with the development of newproducts in that new ideas for software and hardware are constantly generatedand tested in the same application laboratory. Headquartered in The Woodlands, TX USA, Rigaku/MSC is housed in a new 40,000 sq.ft. custom-designed building. This facility contains a large and fully equippedapplication laboratory, customer service facility, engineering and manufacturingfacility as well as housing sales, marketing, financial and crystallographic R&Dgroups. European operations are managed from the Rigaku/MSC Europe branch officelocated outside of London, while Rigaku/MSC's core-tool software developmentgroup is located in Provo, Utah, USA. Rigaku/MSC's sister company, Osmic, amajor producer of X-ray and neutron optics and instrumentation, is located inAuburn Hills, Michigan. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange