12th Jan 2006 07:02
Sareum Holdings PLC12 January 2006 For Immediat Release 12 January 2006 SAREUM HOLDINGS PLC ("Sareum" or "The Company") Sareum Adds Bcl-2, an Important Oncology Protein Structure, to its Crystal BankSareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR), the specialist structure-based drug discoveryand services business, is pleased to announce the addition of the structure ofBcl-2, an important cancer research target protein, to its "Crystal Bank"resource of rapidly accessible protein structures. Bcl-2 is a protein that promotes the survival of many types of cancer cell.Drugs that inhibit the action of Bcl-2 may be developed into novel cancertherapeutics. Knowledge of the structure of Bcl-2 in complex with potential drugcandidates can be used to accelerate the discovery of new and improved cancertreatments. This is the first reported determination of the structure of Bcl-2 by X-raycrystallography and thus marks a major scientific achievement for Sareum. TheCompany intends to publish the structure in due course. Crystal Bank protein structures, including Bcl-2, are available topharmaceutical and biotechnology company clients in complex with their potentialdrug candidates on a fee-for-service basis. This information assists clientsaccelerate their drug discovery by providing a valuable insight into the precisenature of the interaction between these potential drug candidates and theirtarget proteins. Commenting on the announcement, Sareum's Chief Executive Officer, Dr TimMitchell, said: "We are extremely pleased to announce the first reported X-raystructure of this important protein in cancer research. To date, we have enteredinto two collaborations based on this Bcl-2 protein structure, and are pursuinginquiries from several other companies. Fee-for-service agreements with CrystalBank proteins such as Bcl-2 are providing an important source of revenues tosupport our in-house cancer research programs." For further information: Sareum Holdings 01223 497700Tim Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000Tim Anderson, Mark Court Notes for editors: About Crystal BankSareum's Crystal Bank is a highly valuable resource for clients requiring fastturnaround of structural data that shows how their compounds bind with selectedprotein targets. Such information accelerates the validation and selection ofnovel lead compounds and is therefore invaluable at both the hit-to-lead and thelead optimisation stages of drug discovery research. Crystal Bank is a unique and expanding collection of important protein targetsthat are known to be of significant therapeutic relevance. These proteins comefrom a range of protein classes and have all been analysed and understood to alevel where we can rapidly and cost-effectively generate ligand co-complexstructural data for our clients' compounds. The co-complex structural data, andthe associated understanding of the Structure-Activity Relationship, help ourclients to: • Prioritise leads based on actual and potential interactions with proteins • Boost ligand potency • Overcome selectivity issues • Identify sites to attach PK-modifying groups without affecting potency or selectivity • Identify lead hopping opportunities Sareum's Crystal Bank currently comprises 17 structures, including Bcl-2, GSK3beta, p38 MAP kinase, CDK2/Cyclin A2, Zap-70, Erk2 and PPAR delta. The full listis available on request. About Sareum Holdings plcSareum Holdings plc is a specialist structure-based drug discovery and servicesbusiness headquartered in Cambridge, UK. The Company was formed in August 2003to discover new drugs for the treatment of cancer and to provide a range of drugdiscovery services to the pharmaceutical industry. Sareum's unique approach aimsto halve the time it takes to discover new drug candidates. Structure-based drug discovery involves the determination of a disease causingprotein's three-dimensional structure. Once the structure is known, novelchemical entities are designed to 'lock-in' to the protein with the aim ofreversing or arresting a disease's progression. Sareum's approach to structure-based drug discovery is to produce multiplerecombinant proteins primarily through its unique baculovirus expression system;determine their structure using x-ray crystallography; and then use itsinnovative template-molecule x-ray screening technology to identify new chemicalentities designed to interact with the target protein. Sareum then uses itshigh-throughput medicinal chemistry platform to rapidly synthesise furthermolecules and develop the most promising into potential drug candidates. Sareum provides its specialist drug discovery capabilities to partners in thepharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The Company aims to successfullydeliver: Programmes for complete gene-to-candidate structure-based discovery;projects to accelerate or improve the productivity of specific activities; anddrug candidates for licensing at the Phase I or Phase II clinical trials stage. Sareum joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2004 andtrades under the symbol SAR. For further information, please visitwww.sareum.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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