Appointment of Director

Oxford Pharmascience Group plc

("Oxford Pharmascience" or the "Company")

Appointment of Director

Oxford Pharmascience, the Company that redevelops medicines to make them better, safer and easier to take, today announces the appointment of Mr Anand Sharma as a Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect.

Mr Sharma has worked in the pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare industry for more than 40 years and was most recently the Global Category Director for New Business Development at Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare including the 'power brands' Nurofen and Mucinex. During his time at Reckitt Benckiser, Mr Sharma had a significant leadership role in the acquisition and integration of Boots Healthcare UK, Adams Respiratory USA and Paras Labs India. He was a member of the Reckitt Benckiser Global Healthcare Leadership Team for more than 15 years and has a deep understanding of the commercial aspects of the OTC ('over the counter') healthcare industry, including brand strategy, product innovation and geographical expansion strategy.

In his capacity as an external consultant, Mr Sharma has been advising the Company on its commercialization efforts for the past six months. His appointment to the Board as a Non-Executive Director will enable him to continue to assist the Company in the area of commercialization strategy for the OXPzeroTM NSAID(1) assets in a more dedicated manner and also to have input regarding the future strategic direction of the Company.

Mr Sharma has previously held senior management roles with Warner Lambert, Ranbaxy, Unichem and Tata. Mr Sharma is currently a director of Growth Angle Ltd, a marketing and executive coaching consultancy company.

Commenting, David Norwood, Non-executive Chairman, said: 

"I am delighted to welcome Anand to the board as he brings solid and impressive experience from within one of the best known OTC consumer healthcare companies. His knowledge of the sector and awareness of the issues facing OTC healthcare brands will be of great help to the Company as it looks to commercialise the OXPzeroTM assets."

Commenting, Anand Sharma, said: 

"I am excited to join the Oxford Pharmascience board as I believe OXP has a tremendous potential to deliver unique, breakthrough and consumer-relevant innovation to the OTC consumer health care industry. I look forward to working with the board and the management team to add value and help the Company achieve its full potential."

(1) Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Anand Parkash Sharma (aged 60) 

There is no other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies.

For further information:

Oxford Pharmascience Group Plc

Marcelo Bravo, Chief Executive +44 20 7554 5875

N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser & Broker)

Aubrey Powell/Jen Boorer +44 20 7496 3000

About Oxford Pharmascience Group Plc

Oxford Pharmascience Group Plc uses a range of proprietary technology platforms to re-develop existing medicines to make them better, safer or easier to take. The Company does not manufacture or sell its own pharmaceutical products direct to consumers, but instead seeks to license its technologies and dossiers to a network of partners, mainly leading pharmaceutical companies with Rx (prescription) and OTC (over the counter) branded portfolios. 

Oxford Pharmascience Group Plc focuses on existing medicines that are proven to be safe and effective but nevertheless still have associated issues and side effects often affecting compliance. By working with such medicines, the Company is able to develop new innovative products for a fraction of the cost, in much quicker timescales and without the high risk of failure associated with developing new drugs.