Licenses novel Peptide

15 Nov 2006 07:02

Synairgen plc15 November 2006 15th November 2006 Synairgen plc ('Synairgen' or 'the Company') Synairgen licenses novel Peptide for Treatment of Asthma Southampton, UK - Synairgen plc (LSE: SNG), the drug discovery company focusedon targeting the underlying causes of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease ('COPD'), has obtained an exclusive licence to intellectual propertyrelating to a novel peptide with potential to treat asthma. The discovery wasmade at the University of Southampton by Dr Allison Lynn Andrews, Dr JohnHolloway and Professor Donna Davies (a co-founder of Synairgen) in researchfunded by Asthma UK. In preliminary in vitro studies the peptide has been shownto suppress the effects of both IL-4 (interleukin-4) and IL-13 (interleukin-13),the inflammatory proteins considered central to the development of allergicasthma. Current research strongly suggests that IL-4 and IL-13 are responsible not onlyfor inflammation, but also for the increase in smooth muscle and mucusproduction, which are the hallmarks of chronic asthma. Therapies targeting theseproteins are being progressed by a number of biotechnology and pharmaceuticalcompanies. Most of these strategies involve the development of interleukinblocking mechanisms such as antibodies or 'decoy' receptors, but the Southamptonpeptide mimics the body's natural mechanism already employed by cells to dampdown the effects of both inflammatory proteins. The novel research by theSouthampton team, which underpinned this discovery, was recently published inThe Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006; 118:858-865). Synairgenwill initially use its proprietary disease models to work closely with DrAndrews and Professor Davies to validate the discovery, and to develop andoptimise this novel peptide in order to progress it into the clinicaldevelopment stage. In addition, Synairgen is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Phillip Monkas Head of Bioscience Development. Phillip was previously Director of theRespiratory and Inflammation Biology group at Cambridge Antibody Technology('CAT') and led the scientific development of CAT-354, an anti-IL-13 antibodybeing developed for the treatment of severe asthma. Prior to joining CAT, heworked at Bayer AG within the respiratory disease therapeutic area, focusing onthe development of novel therapies for asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis. AtSynairgen, Phillip will be responsible for the translation of discoveries fromthe laboratory to the clinic. Richard Marsden, Managing Director of Synairgen said, "This is a potentiallyvery significant discovery in our mission to find the next generation of asthmatherapy. The industry has invested significant resource into individual andcombined anti IL-13 and IL-4 approaches, and our proprietary peptide appears tosuppress both proteins in a unique way. We are also delighted that, in PhillMonk, we have recruited an individual with great experience in this field toguide the commercial development of this programme." -Ends- For further information please contact: Synairgen Tel: 02380 512 800Richard Marsden, Managing Director Hogarth Partnership Tel: 020 7357 9477Georgina Briscoe / Charlie Field Notes to Editors 1. Background to the Company Synairgen was founded by Professors Stephen Holgate, Donna Davies and RatkoDjukanovic (the 'Founders'), a world-renowned respiratory research team from theUniversity of Southampton (the 'University'), and spun-out from the Universityin June 2003. In October 2004 the Company floated on AIM, raising £10.0 million (£9.0 millionnet of expenses) to enhance its research and development capabilities and investin its proprietary programmes. The Company's lead proprietary programme forinhaled interferon beta, which seeks to protect severe asthmatics from thedebilitating attacks and frequent hospitalisations induced by the common cold(rhinovirus), has progressed into its Phase I clinical trial. More information about Synairgen may be found at www.synairgen.com. 2. Asthma • In the United States, there are approximately 20 million asthmatics and the annual economic cost is $16 billion. • There are 1,900,000 emergency department visits due to asthma per year in the US. • The cost of emergency department visits and in-patient care in relation to asthma in the US is $4.1 billion. • In the UK, about a fifth of children (21%) and 15% of adults have a diagnosis of asthma. 3. Asthma UK Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. For up-to-datenews on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK websitewww.asthma.org.uk. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange