Research Update

24 May 2006 07:01

Synairgen plc24 May 2006 23 May 2006 SYNAIRGEN PLC ('Synairgen' or the 'Company') New research signals second indication for Interferon beta programme in COPD 24 May 2006, Southampton, UK - Synairgen, the drug discovery company focused onthe underlying causes of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease('COPD'), today announces new research signalling a second indication for itsinhaled interferon beta ('IFN-beta') programme. This new discovery is beingpresented today at the American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego, USA,the largest annual international conference of respiratory physicians. COPD, which is predominantly caused by smoking, is the fourth leading cause ofdeath worldwide and is an area of significant unmet clinical need. Its totalannual economic cost to the United States exceeds $35 billion, twice the cost ofasthma. It is forecast that the global market for COPD drugs will double to $10billion per annum over the next five years. The common cold (Rhinovirus) is amajor factor behind the worsening of COPD symptoms and resultanthospitalisations. Preliminary data presented by Synairgen today, derived fromits in vitro models of airway cells from smokers, indicates that these areunusually susceptible to the common cold virus and that the addition of IFN-betaimproves their natural defence system. This suggests that IFN-beta treatment hasthe potential to reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation of COPD patients as aconsequence of common cold infections. Following this discovery, Synairgen will utilise its in vitro models of COPD tofurther validate this target. The Company's inhaled IFN-beta programme forasthma is currently in Phase I trials. It is anticipated that the successfulcompletion of these trials will help to accelerate clinical studies for thisadditional indication. Richard Marsden, Managing Director of Synairgen, said, "Pharmaceutical andbiotechnology companies are increasingly focusing on speciality drugs thataddress specific patient types which are under-treated within large diseaseareas. Synairgen's focus is on the under-served severe segments of asthma andCOPD. With the addition of COPD to our interferon programme, we now have twodistinct indications where successful drugs could achieve annual sales in excessof $1 billion." -Ends- On Friday 26 May, Professor Stephen Holgate will be giving a short briefing topress and analysts on his views of the most exciting developments in asthmapresented at the May 2006 American Thoracic Society and a brief update onSynairgen's IFN- beta programme. For more information, please contact NatalieBarone on tel: 020 7357 9477. For further information, please contact: SynairgenRichard Marsden, Managing Director Tel: 02380 512 800Hogarth PartnershipMelanie Toyne-Sewell / Georgina Briscoe / Charlie Field Tel: 020 7357 9477 Notes to Editors 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 million net of expenses) to enhance its research and developmentcapabilities and invest in its proprietary programmes. For more information, please visit Synairgen's website at: www.synairgen.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange