AMED Amedeo Res

RNS No 7858p
CHIROSCIENCE GROUP PLC
3rd March 1998 
 
             CHIROSCIENCE CREATES NEW SUBSIDIARY, RAPIGENE,
             AS FOCUS FOR GROUP'S DNA ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGIES
 
Chiroscience  Group plc announces that it has created a  new  subsidiary,
Rapigene  Inc.,  which will provide a focus for the Group's  technologies
which   are   applicable  to  DNA  analysis.   These  new  DNA   analysis
technologies  currently  form  part  of  Chiroscience's  drug   discovery
business   in  Seattle  and  moving  these  activities  into  a  separate
subsidiary will create a business focused exclusively upon the commercial
opportunities arising from the technologies.
 
These   technologies  form  DNA  analysis  systems  which  comprise   DNA
hybridization, DNA arrays and mass spectrometry tags.  They can  be  used
in  many different applications including genotyping patients in clinical
trials (in order to exclude patients who are genetically unsuitable to be
studied)  and  diagnostics for disease management (so offering  tests  to
determine patient suitability for a particular drug, thus cutting down on
healthcare  costs).  Furthermore, they can be used for gene  mapping  and
gene expression profiling for drug target discovery and validation.   All
the  applications are distinguished by their need for high  accuracy  and
throughput  which the Rapigene system offers.  Increasingly  applications
are emerging also in agricultural research and human forensics.
 
The market for such applications is growing rapidly.  DNA analysis will
form the basis of a pharmacogenomic clinical trials market expected to
exceed $750 million by 2005 and may take a large share of the $19 billion
in vitro diagnostic market.
 
The business will operate from Seattle and will be distinct from the gene-
based  drug discovery research which will continue to have access to  the
technologies  for  its  own programmes.  The Chief Executive  Officer  of
Chiroscience  Group  plc,  Dr  John Padfield,  will  also  be  the  Chief
Executive  Officer of the Rapigene subsidiary, but a President and  Chief
Operating  Officer  is being sought to provide direct management  of  the
business  in  Seattle.  Dr David Galas, Executive Director  of  Discovery
Research of Chiroscience will also be the Chief Scientific Officer of the
new subsidiary.
 
Discussions are ongoing with a number of potential partners in key  areas
of the business, such as diagnostics, instrumentation, pharmaceutical R&D
and  contract research.  The research agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb
announced  on  11 February 1998 involves the application  of  certain  of
these technologies to oncology and illustrates one type of capability for
the new Rapigene business.
 
Dr  John  Padfield,  Chief Executive Officer of Chiroscience  Group  plc,
said:
 
"The business opportunities in the analysis of DNA in all aspects of drug
R&D  are immense.  We believe that we have a competitive edge because  we
have  flexible,  rapid DNA analysis systems which  can  provide  a  high-
quality  service.  These new technologies created in Seattle now  require
their  own  'space' and will be best developed as a stand-alone  business
which  is  expected  to generate its own profit stream,  contributing  to
Chiroscience's  broader  drug  discovery  activities.   ChiroTech  is  an
existing  example  of  the  Group's ability to build  such  a  successful
business and we are confident that we can develop value in Rapigene."
 
For further information contact:
 
Dr John Padfield, Chief Executive            Giles Sanderson
Christine Soden, Finance Director            Financial Dynamics
Rebecca Iveson, Media and Investor Relations Tel: +44 (0) 171 831 3113
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 420430
http://www.chiroscience.com
 
Notes For Editors:

DNA hybridization: the four bases (known as A,T,G,C) of a double-stranded
DNA molecule are chemically configured to be complementary to each other
in a specific code (order): A pairs with T, G with C.  Hybridization is a
chemical joining of two DNA strands that depends for its specificity on
just this base-pairing code.  Thus two complementary DNA strands
hybridize and two non-complementary strands do not.
 
DNA array: one of two systems for DNA analysis.  An arrangement of a
specific set of components of DNA on a solid surface, such as glass or
silicon wafers, which can be used in DNA analysis to join (hybridize)
with samples of DNA extracted from a blood or tissue sample.  They are
translated into genetic information by analysis in a standard mass
spectrometer.
 
Mass spectrometry tags: another system for DNA analysis.  Small molecules
which are attached to specific components of DNA which can be used in DNA
analysis to join (hybridize) with samples of DNA extracted from a blood
or tissue sample.  They are then separated from the DNA and are
translated into genetic information by analysis in a standard mass
spectrometer.
 
Genotyping: determining some of the genetic characteristics of an
organism to identify the variant form of the genes that the organism has
inherited.  Genotyping patients for clinical trials to identify a certain
set of genes should allow patients to be excluded who are genetically
unsuitable for the trial or treatment to be studied.
 
Diagnostics: tests used in disease management which would enable
determinations to be made that would determine patient suitability for a
particular drug, thus potentially reducing overall healthcare costs,
increasing the effectiveness and reducing the side effects of the
medicines received by patients.
 
Gene mapping: the process of identifying and locating the position of a
gene within the full complement of genes within an organism.
 
Gene expression: the process of converting the order (sequence) of DNA in
a gene into the protein that it produces.
 
Chiroscience Group plc
 
Chiroscience Group plc is an emerging pharmaceutical company  which  uses
its  diverse technology platform to discover and develop novel  medicines
for  improved healthcare.  The Group has three principal activities; drug
discovery  and  development;  Rapigene; and ChiroTech.   Chiroscience  is
listed on the London Stock Exchange.
 
The  drug discovery and development activities are based in Cambridge and
Stevenage,  England,  and Seattle, Washington, and  encompass  gene-based
research  and  molecular  biology, through  chiral-based,  combinatorial,
medicinal, and process chemistries, to clinical development.   The  focus
of  activities  is  on the discovery and development of innovative  small
molecule  drugs  and  related diagnostics with  a  therapeutic  focus  on
cancer, inflammation, pain, osteoporosis and autoimmune disease.
 
ChiroTech  provides  chiral technology services to customers  within  the
pharmaceutical   and  related  industries  and  in  support   of   Darwin
Discovery's research and development
programmes.
 

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