20th Jun 2007 07:01
Henderson Morley PLC20 June 2007 20 JUNE 2007 HENDERSON MORLEY PLC (AIM:HML) SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME UPDATE The Board of Henderson Morley plc ("Henderson Morley" or "the Company"), the AIMlisted drug discovery company, is pleased to provide the market and theirshareholders with an update detailing the current status of the Company'sactivities and its scientific pipeline. HIGHLIGHTS • Discussions with a pharmaceutical partner regarding Koi Herpes vaccine at an advanced stage; • Internationally renowned consultant retained to assist the development of PREPS and L-particles; • It is envisaged that a final injectable formulation of ICVT will be ready for Pre-IND discussions with the FDA by December 2007; • A specialist animal health Contract Research Organisation contracted to undertake field studies to examine the use of ICVT topical drops in the treatment of Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) conjunctivitis; • The first phase of the Henderson Morley's laboratory expansion is now complete - resulting in a newly formed Molecular Virology Lab, enhanced virus growth capabilities Executive Chairman Andrew Knight said: "We are continuing to see strong interestacross the portfolio as it develops. We look forward to further updating themarket in due course." ---ENDS--- ENQUIRIES: HENDERSON MORLEY PLC 0121 442 4600Andrew Knight, Chairman BISHOPSGATE COMMUNICATIONS LTD 0207 562 3350Maxine BarnesNick Rome BREWIN DOLPHIN SECURITIES LTD 0113 241 0126Neil Baldwin SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME UPDATE Koi Herpes vaccine The Company is pleased to announce that it is in late stage discussions with apharmaceutical partner in respect of a licence for the vaccine. The initial immunogenicity studies regarding the Company's proprietary vaccineagainst Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) demonstrated potent antibody responses. Furtherstudies using a virus neutralising assay have shown that not only wereantibodies produced by the vaccine, but these demonstrated virus neutralisingeffects. A reliable immunofluorescence assay has now also been developed, as well aslarger scale virus production and a variety of standardisation and qualitycontrol measures. Further announcements will be made in due course. PREPS and L-particles This technology, which uses non replicating virus particles that totally lackDNA, was presented to an International Congress on Protein Therapeutics inBoston (PEGS Summit, Boston InterContinental Hotel, 16 May 2007). Thisgenerated considerable interest within the scientific community and therefore afurther presentation will be made in August at the 2007 Cancer ImmunotherapiesConference in Cambridge Mass., USA. To advise on the development of this technology, the Company has retainedinternationally renowned consultant Professor Lemoine. Professor Lemoine holdshis chair at Queen Mary's School of Medicine (at Barts and the London Hospital)and is Director of both the Institute of Cancer, and the Cancer Research UKClinical Centre. He also leads the Centre for Molecular Oncology. Laboratory based studies are progressing well, using state of the art virusengineering techniques to produce viruses that express marker proteins forimmunogenicity studies - a precursor to pre-clinical and clinical studies. Other in-house studies are also making good progress in exploring the use ofthese particles as candidates for human herpes virus vaccines. ICVT formulation The development of an injectable formulation of ICVT in conjunction with theUniversity of Aston, Pharmaceutics department, is nearing completion.Standardised assays have been developed and initial chemistry and releasestudies have also been completed. It is envisaged that a final formulation willbe ready for Pre-IND discussions with the FDA by December 2007. Feline Herpes Previous in-vitro studies completed in-house have demonstrated that the FelineHerpes Virus (FHV) is extremely sensitive to the effects of ICVT. Consequently,Henderson Morley is pleased to announce that a specialist animal health ContractResearch Organisation has now been contracted to undertake field studies toexamine the use of ICVT topical drops in the treatment of FHV conjunctivitis. The studies are expected to start within 60 days, with results of the studyanticipated within Q1 2008. The studies will examine animals that are already infected by FHV. The animalswill be given drops to be applied by their owners or by veterinary health careprofessionals. No animals will be harmed in these studies, ethics committeeapproval will be gained, and the studies will be supervised by independentveterinary advisers. The drops to be used in this study have been shown to be safe and well toleratedin human studies. If the cats were not enrolled into this study it is likelythat they would remain untreated. If the treatment proves successful, it islikely therefore that the welfare of the cats treated in this study will besignificantly enhanced, with potential future benefit for the wider felinecommunity. Feline herpes virus infections are very common, and represent a major cause ofmorbidity in animal care institutions, the wild feline population and domesticcats, especially at times of breeding. A recent sero-epidemiolgical study demonstrated that in wild cat populationsfeline herpes incidence was as high as 75%. Also in approximately one third ofclinically normal cats, it was possible to isolate virus from their respiratorytract, and that over 97% of the whole study group had antibodies against FHV-1by ELISA. This indicates that the infection is extremely common and is prone torecurrence, even in those animals that are clinically normal. There is currently no anti-viral treatment licensed to treat feline herpesinfection in the UK or any of the major markets, so a significant marketopportunity exists. Laboratory Expansion The first phase of the HML laboratory expansion has now been completed. This hasresulted in a newly formed Molecular Virology Laboratory with enhanced virusgrowth capabilities. Virus handling and purification, sterilisation,inactivation and quality control measures have also been enhanced. Preliminary Results The Company will be announcing its results for the year to 30 April 2007 before30 September 2007. ---ENDS--- ENQUIRIES: HENDERSON MORLEY PLC 0121 442 4600Andrew Knight, Chairman BISHOPSGATE COMMUNICATIONS LTD 0207 562 3350Maxine BarnesNick Rome BREWIN DOLPHIN SECURITIES LTD 0113 241 0126Neil Baldwin Notes to Editors: Henderson Morley was founded in 1996 with the objective of developing its anti-viral application (Ionic Contra Viral Therapy (ICVT). ICVT is the Lead Platformand has been developed in-house and Henderson Morley wholly owns the patent IPR. Further information on Henderson Morley plc can be accessed through theCompany's website at www.henderson-morley.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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