AMED Amedeo Res

RNS No 8781n
CHIROSCIENCE GROUP PLC
15th September 1997
 
               CHIROSCIENCE AND GERON FORM JOINT RESEARCH
             COLLABORATION AROUND GENE FOR PREMATURE AGEING
 
Chiroscience   Group  plc,  through  its  subsidiary  Darwin   Molecular
Corporation,   and   Geron  Corporation  today   announce   a   research
collaboration agreement focusing on diseases associated with the process
of  ageing.  The collaboration capitalises on Darwin's earlier discovery
of  the  Werner's Syndrome gene, the first discovered human  gene  which
directly affects the ageing process.
 
The biochemical pathways in the cells affected by Werner's Syndrome will
be  the major scientific focus for the collaboration.  Werner's Syndrome
models  the  ageing  process in that the gene for this  rare  hereditary
disease  causes patients to exhibit the physical features  of  premature
ageing  such as greying of hair and wrinkles.  They also have  lifespans
that are significantly reduced and they prematurely develop a number  of
ageing-related diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer, treatment
of which costs the US healthcare systems around $200 billion per annum.
 
The  collaboration  will be directed at discovering and  developing  new
therapies  and  diagnostic  tools  for these  and  other  ageing-related
diseases.    Darwin   Discovery,  Chrisocience's  drug   discovery   and
development  business formed after the acquisition of Darwin  Molecular,
will provide Geron with access to its intellectual property and research
in  this  area,  as  well as ongoing support using  its  sequencing  and
bioinformatic  capabilities.  Geron will receive exclusive  licences  in
exchange for payments in Geron common stock at set milestone points.  In
addition,  Chiroscience  will share in Geron's commercial  returns  from
products arising from the research.
 
"The  Werner's  Syndrome  gene is an important  discovery,  and  we  are
delighted   to  team  up  with  Geron  to  exploit  our  knowledge   and
intellectual property in this area.  Geron has strong research expertise
in  this  unique  field and by working together,  we  can  maximise  the
commercial  opportunities,"  said David  Galas,  executive  director  of
discovery research for Darwin Discovery.
 
Michael  Kozlowski,  program director for genomics of  ageing  at  Geron
commented: "The Werner's gene is a particularly important research  tool
because  it produces advanced ageing not only at the macroscopic  level,
but  also at the level of the cell.   That property of the Werner's gene
makes  this  collaboration a valuable addition to  Geron's  genomics  of
ageing  program,  which is focused on treating age-related  diseases  by
preventing or reversing the effects of cellular ageing".
 
The  Werner's  Syndrome  gene  was cloned and  characterised  by  Darwin
scientists  and  Dr. Gerard Schellenberg's team at the Seattle  Veterans
Administration  Medical Research Center.  This  team  also  studied  the
Werner's  Syndrome  gene  in  collaboration  with  scientists   at   the
University of Washington.
 
For further information contact:
Dr  Andy  Richards, Executive Director,             David  L.Grennwood
Pharmaceutical   Business   Development        Chief Financial Officer
Andy  Burrows,  Media  Relations               VP  Corporate Development
Rebecca Iveson, Investor Relations                     Geron Corporation
Chiroscience Group plc                            Tel: + 1 650-473-7700
Tel:  +44 1223 420430
http://www.chiroscience.com
Giles Sanderson
Financial Dynamics
Tel: + 44 171 831 3113
NOTES TO EDITORS
 
Chiroscience Group plc
 
Chiroscience is an emerging pharmaceutical company operating in the UK
and USA, which uses its diverse technology platform to discover and
develop novel medicines for improved healthcare.  The Group has two
principal activities, operating as Darwin Discovery and ChiroTech.
Chiroscience is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
 
Darwin Discovery embraces activities in Cambridge, Seattle and
Stevenage, including gene-based research and molecular biology, through
chiral-based, combinatorial, medicinal and process chemistries, to
clinical development.  It is engaged in the discovery and development of
innovative small molecule drugs and related diagnostics with a
therapeutic focus on autoimmune disease, cancer, inflammation, pain and
osteoporosis.
 
ChiroTech provides chiral technology services to customers within the
pharmaceutical and related industries and in support of Darwin
Discovery's research and development programs.
 
 
Geron Corporation
 
Geron  Corporation is a Nasdaq-quoted California-based biopharmaceutical
company  exclusively  focused on discovering and developing  therapeutic
and   diagnostic  products  based  upon  common  biological   mechanisms
underlying  cancer  and  other  age-related  diseases.   The   company's
strategy  combines:  a  focus on fundamental  biological  mechanisms  of
cellular ageing and cellular immortality to treat cancer and other  age-
related  diseases  and  conditions; building therapeutic  discovery  and
diagnostic programs on its common scientific platform; selective pursuit
of  strategic collaborations; retention of rights to develop and  market
products  independently; and continued enhancement  of  its  proprietary
leadership position in the field.
 
Recently  Geron scientists discovered a new protein which makes  up  the
core of the enzyme called human telomerase, which keeps cells healthy as
they divide.  Telomerase is essential for normal human development,  but
shuts  off  when cells are mature.  Without telomerase, cells  gradually
become old and die.
 
 
Werner's Syndrome
 
Werner's  Syndrome is considered to be a model of the ageing process  in
that Werner's patients exhibit the physical features of premature ageing
like  greying  and  loss of hair, wrinkled skin  and  other  changes  in
physical appearance, have life spans that are significantly reduced  (to
an  average of 47 years), and prematurely develop a number of major age-
related   diseases.    These   diseases   include   several   forms   of
atherosclerosis,  cancers, osteoporosis, type  II  diabetes  and  ocular
cataracts.  The discovery of the Werner's gene, reported in Science (vol
272,  pp 258-262), is expected to lead an understanding of the molecular
and  cellular  basis of the ageing process and to the identification  of
novel  components  of  the  pathways  that  lead  to  these  age-related
diseases, against which small molecule drugs can be designed.
 
 

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