SLN.L Regulatory News (SLN)

31 Jul 2007 10:27

Silence Therapeutics plcTotal Voting Rights

London 31 July 2007 - In conformity with the Transparency Directive's transitional provision 6, the Company notifies the market of the following:

As at the date of this announcement, the Company's issued share capital consists of 119,383,536 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 1p each ('Ordinary Shares'), with voting rights. The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in Treasury.

Therefore, the total number of Ordinary Shares with voting rights is 119,383,536.

The above figure of 119,383,536 Ordinary Shares may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FSA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

- Ends - Notes to Editors

Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)

Silence Therapeutics plc 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 over conventional siRNA molecules as they show increased stability against nuclease degradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary systemic delivery system, AtuPLEX. This enables the delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, whilst increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake.

In July 2007, Silence Therapeutics formed a research and development collaboration with Astra Zeneca to develop AtuRNAi against five targets in respiratory indications. The Group's AtuRNAi technology has also been sublicensed to Pfizer by Quark Pharmaceuticals, through Quark's license of the compound RTP-801i-14 for the treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and a number of other indications. This compound entered the clinic in early 2007. Silence Therapeutics has licensed a further AtuRNAi compound, AKIi-5, to Quark Biotech Inc. This compound has been granted an IND for acute kidney injury and is expected to enter the clinic in 2007. In addition, Silence Therapeutics expects to begin the clinical development of its proprietary AtuRNAi therapeutic molecules for systemic cancer indications, such as gastrointestinal and non-small lung cancer, in 2008.

Silence Therapeutics is based in London, UK, and Berlin, Germany, and is listed on AIM.

About RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi), a Nobel Prize winning technology, is one of the most exciting areas of drug discovery today. It represents a completely new approach to selectively "silence" or inactivate disease relevant genes and as such it has the potential to create a new class of therapeutic products. RNAi could therefore offer a therapeutic approach to a broad range of diseases (cancer, infectious diseases, inherited diseases), many of which have been 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 to risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Enquiries:

For further information, please contact the following:

Silence Therapeutics plc Investor Relations +44(0)20 7307 1620 Citigate Dewe Rogerson Iain Ross, Chairman +44(0)20 7638 9571

Melvyn Davies, Finance Director David Dible

Yvonne Alexander +49(0)30 9489 2800

Thomas Christĩly, Chief Operating Officer Nominated Adviser Dr. Klaus Giese, Chief Scientific Officer Grant Thornton Corporate Finance

+44 (0) 20 7383 5100 Gerry Beaney Colin Aaronson