VRP.L Regulatory News (VRP)

11 Sep 2009 16:57

11 September 2009 Verona Pharma plc ("Verona Pharma" or the "Company") Further re: Board Appointment

Further to the announcement earlier today of the appointment of Dr Patrick Humphrey and a grant of options to him, the exercise price of Dr Humphrey's option has been determined at 17.5 pence per Verona Pharma ordinary share.

--END-- For more information please contact: Professor Clive Page 07971 504 931 Chairman, Verona Pharma plc Barry Saint / Tim Redfern / Esther Lee 020 7071 4300 Evolution Securities Limited Nick Rome / Robyn Samuelson 020 7562 3350 Bishopsgate Communications Veronapharma@bishopsgatecommunications.com

About Verona Pharma plc (www.veronapharma.com)

Verona Pharma plc (AIM:VRP) is an AIM-quoted life sciences company dedicated to the research, discovery and development of new therapeutic drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and other chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as chronic inflammatory diseases.

The Company currently has two other potential drug projects under development and continues to look for other possible drug development opportunities aimed at the respiratory and inflammatory diseases markets.

Globally, treatment of these diseases cost an estimated US$20 billion per annum. Despite such diseases being among the most prevalent diseases in the industrialised world, many of the current treatments have unwanted side effects, and/or limited effectiveness.

Verona Pharma was admitted to AIM in September 2006, and is run by two world experts in pharmacology and drug discovery. Michael Walker is Emeritus Professor of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia, and a founder of other biotech, and biotech related companies. Chairman Dr Clive Page is a Professor of Pharmacology at King's College London, and an internationally-recognised authority in lung diseases and inflammation.

Verona Pharma is also seeking to develop an anti-tussive drug that works to suppress the generation of a cough signal at the nerve endings in the lungs. The Company's longer term focus is to develop novel polysaccharides (NAIPS) as potential anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of respiratory allergies, asthma and other inflammatory diseases.