1st Jun 2011 07:00
Silence Therapeutics Post-Fundraising Update
London, June 1, 2011 - Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) ("Silence", the "Group" or the "Company"), a leading global RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics company, today provides a progress update following completion of its recently announced £5.9m fundraising.
Fundraising
On 16 May 2011, Silence successfully raised £5.9m (£5.5m net of expenses) through a placing and open offer. The fundraising was supported by both existing and new shareholders and puts the Group on a substantially improved financial footing. This will enable Silence to:
i. Complete the ongoing Phase I trial of Atu027 for treatment of advanced
solid cancer (H2 2011)
ii. Initiate a Phase Ib trial of Atu027 in particular tumour types (mid-2012)
iii. File an investigational new drug application (IND) with the US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) for Atu134 for the treatment of solid tumours (H2
2012)
iv. Advance preclinical development of the Atu111 program for systemic delivery
to the lung for the treatment of pulmonary disease
Atu027
Atu027, Silence's most advanced internal drug candidate, is a liposomal siRNA formulation targeting PKN3 for the treatment of advanced solid cancer that incorporates Silence's proprietary AtuPlex delivery technology. Atu027 has been shown to work by an anti-angiogenic process: inhibiting the growth of blood vessels, thereby inhibiting blood supply to the tumour.
Atu027 is currently the subject of a Phase I clinical trial in cancer patients with solid tumours. Interim results from the trial, which demonstrate disease stabilisation and potential anti-tumour activity, are encouraging and, to date, Atu027 has been shown to be safe and well tolerated. Silence will present updated interim results from the ongoing Phase I study at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (`ASCO') on 6 June 2011. Silence expects to complete the Phase I trial in H2 2011 and announce results before year-end. A Phase Ib/IIa trial is expected to commence in mid-2012.
Silence plans to partner Atu027 during the course of 2012.
Atu134
Atu134 is Silence's second potential cancer therapy. Similarly to Atu027, Atu134 is also an anti-angiogenic drug that incorporates the AtuPlex technology. Atu134 specifically targets CD31, a target that has proved intractable to small molecule and antibody approaches to date. Silence has now completed studies in multiple preclinical cancer models which demonstrated that Atu134 has a profound impact on slowing the progression of solid tumours. Production of Good Manufacturing Practice materials for final preclinical toxicology studies is due to start soon. Toxicology studies are planned for H1 2012 and Silence plans to file an IND application to the FDA to initiate a Phase I trial of Atu134 in H2 2012.
Atu111
Atu111, for the treatment of acute lung injury, is the Company's most advanced drug development candidate outside oncology. Atu111 combines Silence's recently developed DACC drug delivery system with AtuRNAi. The target for this RNAi therapeutic is undisclosed. However, preclinical models using the DACC delivery system have shown sustained knockdown of up to three weeks in the lung endothelium.
Silence believes Atu111 is an attractive opportunity for potential pharmaceutical partners.
Partnerships and collaborations
Silence continues to work closely with its partners and looks forward to the initiation of a Phase IIb trial of PF-`655, licensed to Quark Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc., in diabetic macular oedema expected to commence in H2 2011. In addition, Silence expects Quark Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc. to report results from the Phase II trial of PF-`655 for the treatment for age-related macular degeneration later in 2011.
Quark Pharmaceuticals is also developing QPI-1002 for the treatment of delayed graft function and acute kidney injury in partnership with Novartis. In September 2010, Quark initiated a Phase II trial of QPI-1002 for the treatment of delayed graft function and plans to initiate a second Phase II trial of QPI-1002 in acute kidney injury during the course of 2011.
Silence's collaborations with AstraZeneca and Dainippon Sumitomo are ongoing.
Restructuring
In conjunction with the recent fundraising, Silence announced plans to close its US operations. Actions have now been implemented to close the US facility in Q3 2011. As part of the reorganisation, Phil Haworth will step down as CEO once a successor is identified, as previously announced. Recruitment of a new CEO is ongoing, and Silence anticipates an orderly transition of management.
Annual General Meeting
Silence's Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 13 June 2011. The meeting will be held at Silence's offices at the Royal Institute of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, commencing at 11.00am BST. A corporate presentation will be made to attendees after the meeting and will be available to download from www.silence-therapeutics.com/corporatepresentation.
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For further information, please contact:
Silence Therapeutics Singer Capital Markets Phil Haworth/Max Herrmann Shaun Dobson/Claes Sp¥ng +1 (650) 855-1514/+44 20 7491 6520 +44 20 32057500 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Vida Communication (US) M:Communications (Europe) Tim Brons (media)/Stephanie Diaz Katja Toon / Emma Thompson
(investors) +44 20 7920 2345 / +44 20 7920 2342 +1 (415) 675-7400 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Notes for editors
About Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)
Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) is a leading global biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of targeted, systemic RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases. The company possesses multiple proprietary short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery technology platforms including AtuPLEXâ„¢, a system that enables the functional delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, while increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake. A second, complementary delivery technology known as DACC enables the functional delivery of siRNA molecules to the lung vasculature via systemic administration. Additionally, the company has a platform of novel siRNA molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages over conventional siRNA molecules, including reduced cytokine induction and decreased manufacturing costs. Silence's unique RNAi assets also include structural features for a next generation of RNAi molecules and additional proprietary siRNA sequences against more than 50 highly valued oncology and other disease targets.
The Company's lead internal drug candidate is Atu027, a liposomal AtuRNAi formulation in clinical development for systemic cancer indications and one of the most clinically advanced RNAi therapeutics in the area of oncology. Silence is currently conducting an open-label, single-centre, dose-escalation Phase I study with Atu027 in patients with advanced solid tumours involving single, as well as, repeated intravenous administration. The study is expected to be completed in the second half of 2011.
The Company's RNAi therapeutic platform has received key validation through multiple partnerships with pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Dainippon Sumitomo, Pfizer and Quark. Silence is actively pursuing the establishment of additional partnerships.
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.
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