Licensed product candidate update

ABZENA PLC

("Abzena", the "Company" or the "Group")

Abzena provides an update on the clinical development of one of the humanized antibodies created using its Composite Human Antibody™ technology

13 May 2015

Cambridge, UK - Abzena plc (AIM:ABZA), a life sciences company providing services and technologies that enable the development of biopharmaceutical products, provides an update on GS-5745, an antibody humanized using Antitope's Composite Human Antibody™ technology and being evaluated in clinical studies by Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Foster City, CA, USA).

Based on promising safety and efficacy data, Gilead Sciences has indicated1 that it plans to move its anti-MMP9 antibody GS-5745 directly into a Phase III clinical study in gastric cancer in the third quarter of 2015. This product is also currently under evaluation for pancreatic cancer in a Phase Ib study.

A Phase II study in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease is also being initiated2.

John Burt, CEO of Abzena, said: "We are encouraged by the clinical progress that Gilead is making with GS-5745 across a range of indications."

1Gilead Sciences Q1 2015 Earnings Conference Call (30 April 2015)

2Clinicaltrials.gov; accessed 01 May 2015

About Abzena

Abzena provides proprietary technologies and complementary services to enable the development of better biopharmaceuticals. The Group comprises PolyTherics and Antitope which have established a broad suite of services and technologies that are designed to improve the chances of successful development of antibodies and proteins with enhanced therapeutic benefits.

Antitope provides immunogenicity assessment, protein engineering to create humanized antibodies and deimmunised therapeutic proteins, and cell line development for manufacture.

PolyTherics specializes in proprietary site-specific conjugation technologies for antibody drug conjugate development and solutions for optimization of the therapeutic properties of biopharmaceuticals.

The Group has built a global customer base over the past decade which includes the majority of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies, many large and small biotech companies, and academic groups.

Abzena is quoted on the AIM segment of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol ABZA.

www.abzena.com

For more information, please contact:

John Burt (Chief Executive Officer)

Julian Smith (Chief Financial Officer)

Abzena plc

Tel: +44 (0)1223 903498

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Christopher Golden and Bobbie Hilliam

Cenkos Securities (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7397 8900

Mark Swallow or Chris Gardner

Citigate Dewe Rogerson (Corporate and Financial PR)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7638 9571

Email: [email protected]