SLN.L Regulatory News (SLN)

23 Jun 2006 15:15

SR Pharma plc welcomes the European Patent Office decision to limit the scopeof Kreutzer-Limmer RNAi Patent claimJune 23 2006 - London - SR Pharma plc (London LSE: SPA) announces that withothers it has successfully opposed the Kreutzer-Limmer patent in Europeresulting in a significant narrowing of its claims.European patent No: EP1144623B1 was opposed by Atugen AG (a subsidiary of SRPharma plc), Sanofi-aventis, Sirna Therapeutics Inc, Janssen PharmaceuticaN.V., and AstraZeneca PLC.Iain Ross, Chairman of SR Pharma plc commented on the decision:"The RNAi sector is very exciting and the intellectual property landscape isextremely complex. Whilst we welcome this decision by the European PatentOffice we recognize that there are a number of key patents pending andtherefore we will continue to work with our patent advisers to maintain ourfreedom to operate in the sector."SR Pharma (www.srpharma.com)SR Pharma plc is a European biopharmaceutical company, listed on AIM. TheCompany has two operating subsidiaries Atugen AG (www.atugen.com) based inBerlin, Germany and Stanford Rook Ltd based in London, UK.Atugen is a leader in RNAi therapeutics. This Company has developed novel,chemically modified proprietary siRNA molecules ("AtuRNAi") and a proprietarydelivery system ("AtuPLEX") both of which have advantages over conventionalsiRNA molecules and their delivery systems. Currently Atugen and itscollaboration partners have lead molecules in pre-clinical development for avariety of therapeutic indications. Clinical development of AtuRNAi therapeuticmolecules for systemic applications in Atugen's oncology programs are targetedto start in 2007. Other AtuRNAi therapeutic programs of Atugen's collaboratorsare scheduled to commence in 2H 2006.Stanford Rook Ltd is an immunotherapy based company which owns a proprietaryMycobacterium vaccae-based technology and related products, which have beenevaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of asthma, cancer andtuberculosis. In addition this Company has a number of other proprietaryimmunotherapeutic compounds and related intellectual property. Currently theCompany is in discussions with third parties regarding the co-development andout-licensing of M. vaccae and related products.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject torisks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties couldcause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in theforward-looking statements. All forward--looking statements are based oninformation currently available to SR Pharma and SR Pharma assumes noobligation to update any such forward-looking statements.Enquiries:For further information, please contact the following:SR Pharma plc Atugen AG +44(0)20 7307 1620 +49(0)30 9489 2800 Iain Ross, Executive Chairman Thomas Christĩly, CEO Melvyn Davies, Finance Director Dr. Klaus Giese, CSO Northbank communication +44(0)20 7886 8150 Sue Charles Justine Lamond Rowan Minnion ENDSR PHARMA PLC