SUMM.L Regulatory News (SUMM)

25 Apr 2007 07:02

VASTox plc25 April 2007 VASTox plc ("VASTox" or "the Company") TUBERCULOSIS PROGRAMME UPDATE VASTOX IDENTIFIES NOVEL COMPOUNDS THAT KILL TUBERCULOSIS BACTERIA Oxford, UK, 25 April 2007 - VASTox plc (AIM: VOX), a leading UK biotechnologycompany, reports positive results in its tuberculosis ("TB") drug discoveryprogramme. The Company has identified from its proprietary screening librariesseveral novel series' of small, drug-like molecules that show high levels of invitro efficacy against the bacterium that causes TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.The results from these efficacy studies against M. tuberculosis have beenvalidated in three world-class laboratories in both the UK and US. TB remains a serious global health issue with over one third of the World'spopulation suspected to be infected with the disease. It is over 30 years sincethe last new medicine to treat TB was launched and there is an increasinglyurgent need for the development of new medicines. VASTox's TB programme targets N-acetyltransferase ("NAT"), an enzyme implicatedin the growth of M. tuberculosis. VASTox has shown that compounds which inhibitthe target enzyme are also active against M. tuberculosis resulting in celldeath and therefore these positive results provide support for the Company'snovel approach towards the development of new TB medicines. VASTox's TB programme is part of its anti-infectives focus, which is one of theCompany's core areas of expertise. Following the success of these initialscreens, a chemical optimisation programme has begun with the aim of furtherenhancing the efficacy of the identified compounds. VASTox has alreadyincreased the value of the active compounds through safety and toxicityscreening in the Company's market-leading zebrafish technology platform, inadvance of a series of in vivo studies planned for Q4 of 2007. The Company is also protecting its intellectual property in this programme bythe filing of a number of patents that will create a strong patent estate aroundthis increasingly valuable programme. VASTox is actively seeking both commercial and charitable organisations to helpsupport and fund the development of this discovery programme. Steven Lee, PhD, CEO of VASTox, commented: "This programme is making excitingprogress and to have identified novel compounds that kill the bacteria thatcauses TB is a positive step towards the development of new therapies to treatthis disease. The results from these in vitro experiments and compound screenswill add to the commercial attractiveness of this programme as we seek fundingopportunities to support the future development of the programme." - ends - For more information please contact: VASTox Steven Lee, PhD, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +44 (0)1235 443951Richard Storer, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: +44 (0)207 638 9571Mark Swallow / David Dible / Valerie Auffray About VASTox plc VASTox is a leading UK biotechnology company that discovers and developsproprietary new drugs. The Company's internal drug development programmes areunderpinned by its advanced chemistry and drug screening (chemical genomics)technology platforms, which it also provides on a collaborative orfee-for-service basis to the pharmaceutical industry. VASTox has a broad range of drug discovery programmes in the clinical,pre-clinical and discovery stages of development, which target serious diseaseswith a high unmet medical need. These therapeutic areas include neuro-disorders(neurodegenerative and neuromuscular), anti-infectives, ophthalmic diseases,oncology and regenerative medicines. VASTox's in-house drug development capabilities combine world-class expertise inboth medicinal and carbohydrate chemistry with high-volume, high-contentscreening using its proprietary zebrafish and fruitfly technologies (chemicalgenomics). These whole organism screens have the potential to dramaticallydecrease the time and cost of drug discovery and development by delivering datathat are highly predictive of the efficacy and toxicity of potential drugcompounds in humans. The company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in October2004 - symbol: VOX Further information about the company is available at www.vastox.com This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of theU.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-lookingstatements can be identified by words such as "anticipates", "intends", "plans","seeks", "believes", "estimates", "expects" and similar references to futureperiods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations andassumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions.Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, theyare subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances thatare difficult to predict. The Company's actual results may differ materiallyfrom those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company cautionsyou therefore that you should not rely on any of these forward-lookingstatements as statements of historical fact or as guarantees or assurances offuture performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differmaterially from those in the forward-looking statements and regional, national,global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatoryconditions. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange