Appointment of finance director

15 Oct 2012 07:00

Appointment of finance director

London, 15 October 2012 - Silence Therapeutics plc has appointed Tim Freeborn, 53, as its finance director. A chartered accountant, he joined the company from Xcap Securities where he was head of research.

Tim Freeborn said: `Silence's area of biotech is moving incredibly quickly. The company could play a big role and I'm delighted to be joining at this time.'

No further disclosures are required under Rule 17 and Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules.

Silence Therapeutics Ali Mortazavi (+44 7768 694739 /Tim Freeborn (+44 20 7491 6520) Email: a.mortazavi@silence-therapeutics.com t.freeborn@silence-therapeutics.com

Singer Capital Markets M:Communications Shaun Dobson/Jenny Wyllie Mary-Jane Elliot / Sarah MacLeod / +44 20 32057500 Claire Dickinson

shaun.dobson@nplus1singer.com +44 20 7920 2342 jenny.wyllie@nplus1singer.com silencetherapeutics@mcomgroup.com

Notes for editors

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

Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of targeted, systemic RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases. Silence offers one of the most comprehensive short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic platforms available today based on a strong intellectual property portfolio and large clinical safety database. Silence's clinical siRNA product pipeline is one of the broadest in the industry. The Company possesses multiple proprietary siRNA delivery technology platforms including AtuPLEXâ„¢, DACC and DBTC. AtuPLEX enables the broad functional delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, while increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake. The DACC delivery system allows functional delivery of siRNA molecules selectively to the lung endothelium with a long duration of target mRNA and protein knock-down. The DBTC delivery system enables functional delivery of siRNA molecules selectively to liver cells including hepatocytes. Additionally, the Company has a platform of novel siRNA molecules based around its AtuRNAi chemical modification technology, which provides a number of advantages over conventional siRNA molecules. Silence's unique RNAi assets also include structural features for RNAi molecules and specific design rules for increased potency and reduced off-target effects of siRNA sequences.

The Company's lead internal drug candidate is Atu027, a liposomal formulation in clinical development for systemic cancer indications and one of the most clinically advanced RNAi therapeutic candidates in the area of oncology. Atu027 incorporates two of the Company's technologies, AtuRNAi and AtuPLEXâ„¢.

The Company's RNAi therapeutic platform has received key validation through multiple partnerships with pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Dainippon Sumitomo, Pfizer/Quark, and Novartis/Quark. Silence is actively pursuing the establishment of additional partnerships. Silence Therapeutics has operations in both Berlin and London.