10th Jul 2007 12:56
Silence Therapeutics plcHolding in Company
London 10 July 2007 - Silence Therapeutics plc (the Company) announces that it has received notification today that following a recent disposal of shares, Morgan Stanley Securities Limited are the beneficial owners of 4,276,123 shares in the Company, representing 3.58% of the Company's total voting rights.
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Notes to Editors
Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)
Silence Therapeutics plc is a leading RNAi company. RNA interference (RNAi) can selectively "silence" genes linked to the onset of disease.
Silence Therapeutics has developed novel, proprietary short interfering RNA ("siRNA") molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages over conventional siRNA molecules as they show increased stability against nuclease degradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary systemic delivery system, AtuPLEX. This enables the delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, whilst increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake.
Silence Therapeutics has sublicensed the AtuRNAi compound RTP-801i to Pfizer through its collaboration partner Quark Biotech Inc. for the treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and a number of other indications. This compound entered the clinic in early 2007. Silence Therapeutics has also licensed a further AtuRNAi compound, AKIi-5, to Quark Biotech Inc. This compound has been granted an IND for acute kidney injury and is expected to enter the clinic in 2007. In addition, Silence Therapeutics expects to begin the clinical development of its proprietary AtuRNAi therapeutic molecules for systemic cancer indications, such as gastrointestinal and non-small lung cancer, in 2008.
Silence Therapeutics is based in London, UK, and Berlin, Germany, and is listed on AIM.
About RNAi
RNA interference (RNAi), a Nobel Prize winning technology, is one of the most exciting areas of drug discovery today. This is because it represents a completely new approach to selectively "silence" or inactivate disease relevant genes and as such it has the potential to create a new class of therapeutic products. RNAi could therefore offer a therapeutic approach to a broad range of diseases (cancer, infectious diseases, inherited diseases), many of which have been regarded as incurable and are not addressed by current therapeutics, therefore providing a large market opportunity.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All forward--looking statements are based on information currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Enquiries:
For further information, please contact the following:
Silence Therapeutics plc Investor Relation +44(0)20 7307 1620 Citigate Dewe Rogerson Iain Ross, Chairman +44(0)20 7638 9571
Melvyn Davies, Finance Director David Dible
Yvonne Alexander +49(0)30 9489 2800
Thomas Christĩly, Chief Operating Officer Nominated Advisers Dr. Klaus Giese, Chief Scientific Officer Grant Thornton Corporate Finance
+44 (0) 20 7383 5100 Gerry Beaney Colin Aaronson
SILENCE THERAPEUTICS PLCRelated Shares:
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