Clinical data presented at ERS

Verona Pharma plc ("Verona Pharma" or the "Company") Clinical data presented at ERS Annual Congress further highlights significant bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activity of novel dual PDE3/4 inhibitor RPL554 London, UK, 10 September 2013 - Verona Pharma plc (AIM: VRP), the drugdevelopment company focused on "first-in-class" medicines to treat respiratorydiseases, announces that two presentations discussing results from successfullycompleted RPL554 clinical trials were presented the European RespiratorySociety (ERS) Annual Congress in Barcelona, Spain 7-11 September 2013. Theabstracts for these presentations are reproduced below. The ERS Annual Congress is the largest respiratory meeting in the world, withdelegates attending from more than 100 countries. All abstracts and details ontimings can be accessed through the ERS website: http://www.erscongress2013.org. Poster Number: P708 Title: Bronchodilator effect of a novel inhaled dual PDE3/4 inhibitor, RPL554, in mild allergic asthma & rhinitis Authors: Z. Diamant, L. Franciosi, N. Morelli, R. Zuiker, I. Kamerling, M. de Kam, K. Burggraaf, A. Cohen, M. Walker, C. Page (Lund, Sweden; Groningen, Leiden, Netherlands; London, United Kingdom; Vancouver, Canada) Abstract: Background: RPL554 is a novel inhaled dual phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 & 4 inhibitor with long-acting bronchodilator & anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical models. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate RPL554 safety & efficacy in mild allergic asthma & rhinitis. Methods: In 2 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trials, 10 mild allergic asthmatics (M; 20-50y; FEV1: 82-112%prd; PC20Mch: 0.07-1.49mg/mL; SABA prn only) and 10 allergic rhinitics (M; 19-44y; 6 with co-existing asthma; FEV1: 83-128%prd) were studied. In asthmatics, a methacholine challenge (PC20Mch) was done 1h from nebulisation start to assess bronchoprotection. Using a jet nebuliser, RPL554 0.018mg/ kg was inhaled 10min via an oro-nasal mask. Standard safety & pharmacokinetic measurements were at predetermined times from nebulisation start with spirometry at pre-dose & regularly for 24h. Bronchodilation was assessed by FEV1 changes. Results: RPL554 was well-tolerated. Adverse events were mild, transient & generally of equal frequency in RPL554 & placebo groups with no significant changes in heart rate or systemic blood pressure noted. In asthmatics, RPL554 produced rapid, sustained bronchodilation, with a mean maximal FEV1 increase of 520mL (95%CI: 320-720mL; p