28th Mar 2006 12:40
SR Pharma plc announces Licence with Merck & Co. 28 March, 2006 - London - SR Pharma plc ("SR Pharma") is pleased to announcethat Merck & Co., Inc. ("Merck") has signed an agreement to in-license know howfrom SR Pharma's subsidiary Atugen AG, a leader in RNAi therapeutics.Extensive research over the past years at Atugen has created the aggregatedknow how on an undisclosed disease relevant target gene and its relatedpathway. Atugen has granted a non-exclusive, worldwide license which will allowMerck to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of this target gene. Theterms of the agreement have not been disclosed.Iain Ross, Chairman of SR Pharma, said "We are excited that Merck will commencestudies around this proprietary target gene and we are confident that Merck'sresults will advance the research in this area."About SR Pharma (www.srpharma.com)SR Pharma plc is a European biopharmaceutical company, listed on AIM. TheCompany has two operating subsidiaries Atugen AG based in Berlin, Germany andStanford Rook Ltd based in London, UK.Atugen is a leader in RNAi therapeutics. This Company has developed novel,chemically modified proprietary siRNA molecules ("AtuRNAi") and a proprietarydelivery system ("AtuPLEX") both of which have advantages over conventionalsiRNA molecules and their delivery. Currently Atugen and its collaborationpartners have lead molecules in pre-clinical development for a variety oftherapeutic indications. Clinical development of an AtuRNAi therapeuticmolecule is targeted to start in 2006 for a local/topical formulation and in2007 with a systemic formulation in advanced cancer.Stanford Rook Ltd is an immunotherapy based company which owns a proprietaryMycobacterium vaccae-based technology and related products, which have beenevaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of asthma, cancer andtuberculosis. In addition this Company has a number of other proprietaryimmunotherapeutic compounds and related intellectual property. Currently theCompany is in discussions with third parties regarding the co-development andout-licensing of M. vaccae and related products.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject torisks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties couldcause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in theforward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based oninformation currently available to SR Pharma and SR Pharma assumes noobligation to update any such forward-looking statements.Enquiries:For further information, please contact the following:SR Pharma plc Atugen AG +44(0)20 7307 1620 +49(0)30 9489 2800 Iain Ross Executive Chairman Thomas Christĩly, CEO Melvyn Davies Finance Director Dr. Klaus Giese, CSO Northbank communication +44(0)20 7886 8150 Emma Palmer Rowan Minnion ENDSR PHARMA PLCRelated Shares:
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