SLN.L Regulatory News (SLN)

4 May 2007 07:01

Silence Therapeutics PLC04 May 2007 Silence Therapeutics plc - a leading European RNAi Therapeutics Company SR Pharma Completes Name Change to Silence Therapeutics plc London, UK, 4 May 2007 - Silence Therapeutics plc, a leading European RNAitherapeutics company, today announces that the Company's name change from SRPharma plc has been completed. The new company name, Silence Therapeutics, andcorporate identity have been put in place to better reflect the Company's corefocus on RNAi, a therapeutic approach which seeks to 'silence' disease relevantgenes. Silence Therapeutics is developing a broad pipeline of RNAi therapeutics basedon its novel proprietary AtuRNAi molecules and systemic delivery system,AtuPLEX. Silence Therapeutics' in-house RNAi therapeutic programmes, which arein late-stage pre-clinical development, are focused on systemic cancerindications such as gastro-intestinal and non-small lung cancer. In addition,Silence Therapeutics has AtuRNAi molecules in clinical development via itscollaborators Quark Biotech and its sublicensee Pfizer. Further information on Silence Therapeutics and its core RNAi technology isavailable on its new website www.silence-therapeutics.com. The Company is now trading under the ticker SLN on the AiM market. - Ends - Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com) Silence Therapeutics plc (LSE:SLN) is a leading RNAi company. RNA interference(RNAi) can selectively "silence" genes linked to the onset of disease. Silence Therapeutics has developed novel, proprietary short interfering RNA("siRNA") molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages overconventional siRNA molecules as they show increased stability against nucleasedegradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary systemicdelivery system, AtuPLEX. This enables the delivery of siRNA molecules totargeted diseased tissues and cells, whilst increasing their bioavailability andintracellular uptake. Silence Therapeutics has sublicensed the AtuRNAi compound RTP-801i to Pfizerthrough its collaboration partner Quark Biotech Inc. for the treatment ofAge-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and a number of other indications. Thiscompound entered the clinic in early 2007. Silence Therapeutics has alsolicensed a further AtuRNAi compound, AKIi-5, to Quark Biotech Inc. This compoundhas been granted an IND for acute kidney injury and is expected to enter theclinic in 2007. In addition, Silence Therapeutics expects to begin the clinicaldevelopment of its proprietary AtuRNAi therapeutic molecules for systemic cancerindications, such as gastrointestinal and non-small lung cancer, in 2008. Silence Therapeutics is based in London, UK, and Berlin, Germany, and is listedon AiM. About RNAi RNA interference (RNAi), a Nobel Prize winning technology, is one of the mostexciting areas of drug discovery today. This is because it represents acompletely new approach to selectively "silence" or inactivate disease relevantgenes and as such it has the potential to create a new class of therapeuticproducts. RNAi could therefore offer a therapeutic approach to a broad range ofdiseases (cancer, infectious diseases, inherited diseases), many of which havebeen regarded as incurable and are not addressed by current therapeutics,therefore providing a large market opportunity. Forward-Looking Statements This 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 Silence Therapeutics and Silence Therapeuticsassumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Enquiries: For further information, please contact the following:Silence Therapeutics plc Citigate Dewe Rogerson+44(0)20 7307 1620 +44(0)20 7638 9571Iain Ross, Chairman David DibleMelvyn Davies, Finance Director Yvonne Alexander +49(0)30 9489 2800 Grant Thornton Corporate FinanceThomas Christely, Chief Operating Officer +44 (0) 20 7383 5100Dr. Klaus Giese, Chief Scientific Officer Gerry Beaney Colin Aaronson This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange