VRP.L Regulatory News (VRP)

12 Oct 2012 09:00

For immediate release

Verona Pharma plc ("Verona Pharma" or the "Company") Data from Phase I/IIa study of Verona Pharma's dual PDE 3 and 4 inhibitor RPL554 demonstrated safety and efficacy in healthy subjects and asthmatics Oral presentation at ISAF 2012 meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden

12 October 2012 - London, UK - Verona Pharma plc (AIM: VRP.L), the drug discovery and development company with first-in-class drugs to treat respiratory diseases, today presents data at the International Severe Asthma Forum in Gothenburg demonstrating that the novel inhaled medicine RPL554 is well tolerated and produces a pronounced bronchodilator response in subjects with asthma.

The oral presentation entitled "A Combined Phase I/IIa Study of the Safety, Bronchodilator and Bronchoprotective Effects of Nebulized RPL554, a Dual PDE3/ 4-inhibitor, in Healthy Subjects and Asthmatics" is the first release of full data from the original Phase I/IIa study announced in September 2009. It is being presented by Professor Zuzana Diamant, who was the Principal Investigator at CHDR in Leiden, Holland.

Professor Diamant said: "RPL554 showed a substantial bronchodilator response in this placebo-controlled, randomized and double-blind study in asthmatics and was well tolerated by all the subjects. This could become the first drug in a completely new class of bronchodilators for the treatment of asthma patients."

Jan-Anders Karlsson, CEO of Verona Pharma said: "RPL554 was well tolerated and without the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects that have been common with many other PDE 3 and PDE 4 inhibitors. In addition, we observed a pronounced bronchodilator response with RPL554 in asthmatics that is similar to the bronchodilation we recently reported in COPD patients. Together these data make RPL554 a unique and very promising new type of bronchodilator drug for patients with asthma and COPD."

RPL554 is a novel long acting bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory drug that acts by simultaneously inhibiting both phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and 4. Verona Pharma is investigating its use for the treatment of respiratory diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

ISAF 2012, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Abstract Reference: 2171418 Oral Abstract Session 13.00 - 15.00, Friday 12 October 2012

"A Combined Phase I/IIa Study of the Safety, Bronchodilator and Bronchoprotective Effects of Nebulized RPL554, a dual PDE3/4-inhibitor, in Healthy Subjects and Asthmatics"

In the asthmatics, RPL554 0.018 mg/kg produced a rapidly progressive, sustained bronchodilation with a mean maximal increase in FEV1 of 520 mL (95% CI: 320-720 mL; p=0.0061), or 15% increase from baseline. Furthermore, a single dose of RPL554 increased PC20(MCh) by a mean of 1.46 doubling doses (95% CI: 0.63 - 2.28; p=0.004) versus placebo. Adverse events were mild, transient and generally of equal frequency in RPL554 and placebo treated groups. No significant changes in heart rate or systemic blood pressure were noted with RPL554 when compared to placebo. RPL554 was well-tolerated in the healthy subjects and asthmatics studied. In patients with mild asthma, a rapid, potent and long-lasting bronchodilator response was produced. The maximum bronchodilator effect appeared at least comparable to published values of inhaled salbutamol. RPL554 has the potential to become a first-in-class bronchodilator for airways obstruction.

-Ends- Notes to EditorsAbout Verona Pharma plc

Verona Pharma plc is developing first-in-class drugs to treat respiratory disease, such as COPD, asthma and chronic severe cough. The Company has three drug programmes, two of which are in Phase II. The lead programme, RPL554, is an innovative dual phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and 4 inhibitor with both bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory properties. VRP700 is an innovative product for suppressing chronic severe cough in patients with underlying lung disease. In its third programme, Verona Pharma is investigating novel anti-inflammatory molecules, called NAIPs, for a wide range of respiratory and inflammatory diseases. Verona Pharma is based in London, U.K. For more information, visit: www.veronapharma.com

For more information please contact:

Verona Pharma plc Tel: 020 7863 3300 Clive Page, Chairman info@veronapharma.com Jan-Anders Karlsson, CEO WH Ireland Group Plc Tel: 020 7220 1650 Chris Fielding Chris.fielding@WH-Ireland.Co.UKJessica Metcalf College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020 Melanie Toyne Sewell verona@thecollegegroup.com Stefanie Bacher Donia Al Saffar