3rd Dec 2007 07:00
Henderson Morley PLC03 December 2007 3 December 2007 HENDERSON MORLEY PLC (AIM) Collaborative Research Agreement and Material Transfer Agreement Signed The Board of Henderson Morley ("Henderson Morley" or "the Company") announcesthat it has signed a Collaborative Research Agreement and Material TransferAgreement with Systems Biology Laboratory UK Ltd (formerly Ribostem Limited) ("SBL"), to develop PREPS and L-particles as cancer vaccine candidates when usedwith dendritic cell based immunotherapies for an initial 12 month period.Following the completion of this 12 month period there is an option to extendfor a further 12 months. Under the terms of these agreements, the studies will be funded by SBL, and willuse PREPS and L-particles produced and provided by Henderson Morley. All newintellectual property rights created will be owned by Henderson Morley. PREPS and L-particles are novel technologies that utilise virus like particlesproduced by herpes simplex virus - the virus responsible for cold sores andgenital herpes. The significant advantage over existing viral basedimmunotherapies, is that these particles are sterile "empty shells" that do notcontain viral DNA, yet contain all of the virus proteins. They can thereforeproduce a potent stimulation of dendritic cells, without the risk of the virusreplicating. The initial studies will be examining dendritic cell responses toimportant cancer antigens from the skin cancer, malignant melanoma. Commenting, Executive Chairman, Andrew Knight said: "This is the first ofseveral planned collaborations to develop PREPS and L-particles as vaccinecandidates in the multi-billion dollar cancer immunotherapy market. We are verypleased to be working with SBL who are experts in the development of dendriticcell based therapies - a growing area of research that has already demonstratedsignificant benefits to patients globally." SBL has two current areas of research, both utilising expertise in geneticmaintenance of stem cells and dendritic cell-based immunotherapy. They have astate-of the art GLP compliant laboratory and well funded research facility inAbingdon Oxfordshire. Current collaborators include a variety of academicgroups, government institutions, biotechnology and smaller pharmaceuticalcompanies. Justin John, SBL's Scientific Project Manager commented: "We are pleased to havethe opportunity to work with Henderson Morley on the development of a combinedPREPS / L- particle and dendritic-cell based vaccine. We believe that ourcombined efforts should generate a novel class of vaccine for the treatment ofvarious types of cancer." Ends ENQUIRIES: HENDERSON MORLEY PLC Tel: 0121 442 4600Andrew Knight, Chairman BISHOPSGATE COMMUNICATIONS LTD Tel: 020 7562 3350Maxine Barnes Mobile: 07860 489571Nick Rome BREWIN DOLPHIN SECURITIES LTD Tel: 0113 241 0126Neil Baldwin Further information on Henderson Morley plc can be accessed through theCompany's website at www.henderson-morley.com Notes to editors. About SBL Contact: Justin John PhD Scientific Projects ManagerSystems Biology Laboratory (UK) Ltd.127 West Central, Unit 7Milton ParkAbingdonOXONOX14 4SA www.sbl-uk-ltd.com Tel: +44(0)1235 827405Fax: +44(0)1235 834965 SBL is a not for profit research company funded by the Fischer Family Trust, acharity-based organisation. SBL's vision is to support the advancement of noveltherapies for the treatment of cancer through scientific collaboration, and togenerate a panel of treatments that offer superior clinical benefits withimproved quality of life. Dendritic cells are specialised cells of the human immune system that are foundin highest quantities when the body is in contact with the exterior environment- the skin, nose, mouth and gut etc. Their function is to engulf a foreignprotein, migrate to a local lymph node and then present this foreign protein(antigen) to the immune system. This gives them their other name- "antigenpresenting cells". As herpes viruses are very potent stimulators of dendriticcells, the studies will examine the effects of administering PREPS orL-particles at the same time as cancer antigens. If successful, these studiescould lead rapidly to further studies involving more complex disease models,with the goal of rapid clinical development. Malignant melanoma (data from Cancer Research UK) Worldwide the incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing faster than anyother cancer, with an approximate doubling of rates every 10-20 years incountries with white populations. World melanoma incidence rates reflect the high risk for white populations insunny climates with Australia and New Zealand leading the world withage-standardised rates between 30-40 per 100,000 population. Worldwide, WHO says, there are an estimated 132,000 cases of malignant melanoma(the most dangerous form of skin cancer) annually, and an estimated 66,000deaths from malignant melanoma and other skin cancers. These figures continue torise: in Norway and Sweden, the annual incidence rate for melanoma is estimatedto have more than tripled in the last 45 years, while, in the United States, therate has doubled in the last 30 years. Growth in the use of sunbeds, combinedwith the desire and fashion to have a tan, are considered to be the primereasons behind this fast growth in skin cancers. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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