AMED Amedeo Res

RNS No 5922v
CHIROSCIENCE GROUP PLC
29th September 1998

 
           CHIROSCIENCE ANNOUNCES DISCOVERY OF GENE THAT ACTIVATES
                           HUMAN AUTOIMMUNE SYSTEM
                                      
                  Provides novel target for drug discovery
 
SEATTLE,  WA  and  CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND -- September 29, 1998  --  Chiroscience
Group  plc (London Stock Exchange:  CRO) announced today the discovery  of  a
gene that is responsible for the control of an immune response.  The gene has
been  discovered in both mice and humans, and the gene product regulates  the
activity  of CD4 T-cells, a cell-type central to many immune responses.   The
company  has  filed patents for the gene, which provides a novel, proprietary
target  for  drug  discovery  for  a number of  autoimmune  and  inflammatory
diseases,  as  well  as cancer.  The announcement was made  today  in  London
during the company's Research and Development Update.
 
"We have validated that this gene is a virtual 'off/on switch' for the immune
system," said Robert Jackson, PhD, Chiroscience Director of Research,   "and,
depending  on the disease,  there are times when we need to turn  the  system
off, and times when we need to turn it on.  We now have a new pathway to  use
in the discovery and development of drugs for unmet medical need."
 
Diseases  in  which the immune system must be turned down include  rheumatoid
arthritis,  diabetes,  psoriasis,  Crohn's disease,  ulcerative  colitis  and
allergy.   Diseases  in which the immune system should be  increased  include
cancer and AIDS.
 
Chiroscience researchers studied a unique strain of mice to isolate the  gene
that  causes a lethal, progressive autoimmune disease in that population.   A
defect  in  this  gene  results in such a severe  effect  that  it  would  be
difficult  to  identify  in  man without the prior  identification  in  mice.
Company  researchers cloned the gene this year and went on  to  identify  the
corresponding  human  gene.  Chiroscience researchers are  now  studying  the
human  gene's mechanism of action to determine methods to activate or inhibit
immune responses.
 
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.  It has three businesses: Chiroscience  R&D;  Rapigene;
and ChiroTech.
 
Chiroscience  R&D's focus is on innovative small molecule drugs  and  related
diagnostics   in  the  therapeutic  areas  of  cancer,  inflammation,   pain,
osteoporosis  and  autoimmune diseases.  Its technology platform  allows  the
conception  and  development  of receptor-based and  enzyme-inhibiting  small
molecule drugs with high selectivity of action.  Rapigene is involved in  the
creation  and  provision  of genomic technologies  and  services  to  partner
companies  and  to  Chiroscience R&D's drug discovery programmes.   ChiroTech
provides  chiral  technology  services,  catalysts  and  chiral  products  to
customers   within  the  pharmaceutical  and  related  industries,  including
Chiroscience R&D.
 
Chiroscience Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is based in
Cambridge and Stevenage, UK and Seattle, Washington, USA.
 
 
For further information contact:
Dr John Padfield, Chief Executive    Giles    Sanderson/Victoria
Dr Robert Jackson, Director R&D      Springett
Rebecca Iveson, Investor and  Media  Financial Dynamics
Relations                            Tel: +44 (0)171 831 3113
Tel: +44 (0)1223 420430              
Http://www.chiroscience.com
 

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