AMED Amedeo Res

RNS No 4254n
CHIROSCIENCE GROUP PLC
18 May 1999

 
                    CHIROSCIENCE DISCOVERS NOVEL BONE GENE:
          POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP NEW TREATMENTS TO REVERSE OSTEOPOROSIS
 
(SEATTLE,  WA/CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND, May 18, 1999) - Chiroscience R&D,  the  drug
discovery  and  development business of Chiroscience Group plc, announces  the
discovery of a gene that may prove a turning point in the development  of  new
treatments for osteoporosis.
 
Chiroscience R&D scientists based in Seattle have succeeded in identifying a
novel gene coding for a protein that appears to be involved in the control of
bone density.  This bone mass gene is altered in all patients suffering from
the rare bone growth disorder known as sclerosteosis.  Sclerosteosis causes
bones to continue to gain mass throughout the affected individual's life.
This results in a bone density many times greater than normal, making their
bones nearly impossible to break or fracture.  Sclerosteosis appears only with
frequency among the Afrikaaner population in South Africa.
 
The discovery of the bone mass gene is the result of many years of painstaking
collaborative  work  between  the Chiroscience scientific  team  and  academic
researchers  at  the  University  of  Cape  Town  in  South  Africa.   Leading
researchers  Dr.  Peter Beighton and Dr. Herman Hamersma in South  Africa,  in
collaboration with Chiroscience, laid the foundation for the discovery of  the
gene  through  interviewing  and  collecting  samples  from  the  families  of
individuals with sclerosteosis.
 
"The  research  by our colleagues in South Africa led us to believe  that  the
gene responsible for sclerosteosis was a very exciting target," said Jeff  Van
Ness,  one of the project's founders.  "We felt that this could be the key  to
restoring bone loss, and potentially help millions around the world who suffer
from osteoporosis."
 
The  genetic samples collected in South Africa provided the starting point for
the  Chiroscience scientists' search for the sclerosteosis gene.  The  initial
step  was  to  extract  genetic markers from the  chromosomes  of  individuals
carrying  the gene using a genome wide scan. A genetic map of the  region  was
then  developed  and  compared to similar maps from the  DNA  samples  of  non
affected families. This comparison allowed the Chiroscience team to narrow the
area of DNA that was sequenced in order to find the gene.
 
Over  the  last  six  months the scientists in Seattle have  worked  to  fully
characterise  one  gene that contained a single base  pair  of  DNA  that  had
mutated,  with  the same mutation occurring among all affected patients.  This
mutation is believed to cause the gene to dysfunction and lead to an inability
to correctly regulate bone growth.
 
Dr.  John Padfield, Chief Executive of Chiroscience Group plc, commented: "The
discovery  of  the  bone mass gene provides Chiroscience  with  a  proprietary
biological target from which to develop novel treatments for osteoporosis. Our
next  goal  is  to design a compound that mimics the action of this  gene  and
create  a drug that can actually stimulate bone growth.  This discovery  is  a
major  breakthrough  for the company and provides the  ideal  opportunity  for
Chiroscience to fully capitalize on its 'gene-to-drug' development expertise."
 
Osteoporosis occurs when an individual loses bone matter more rapidly than  it
is  replaced.   This results in low bone mass and structural deterioration  of
bone  tissue leading to bone fractures. Most sufferers only first realize that
they  have  osteoporosis  when  they break a  bone.  Current  treatments  have
limitations  as  they  only  help  to  slow  bone  loss  and  prevent  further
development  of  the  disease; at present there are  no  treatments  that  can
substantially reverse the effects of osteoporosis.
 
In  the  U.S. alone, 10 million people have osteoporosis, and 18 million  have
low  bone  mass,  increasing  their risk for  the  disease.   Osteoporosis  is
responsible for more than 2.5 million bone fractures each year in the U.S. and
Europe.  Estimated direct expenditure (hospital and acute inpatient costs) for
osteoporosis and related fractures is $14 billion annually in the U.S., and in
Europe exceeds $10 billion.
 
"We believe that this bone mass gene controls bone mineral density in humans,"
added Dr. John Latham, the project leader at Chiroscience R&D.  "Based on this
finding,  there  is a real opportunity for a novel treatment to  be  developed
that  will actually build strong bone.  For Chiroscience and our international
research  partners,  this is an exciting discovery; for those  suffering  from
osteoporosis, this is the best news in years."
 
Chiroscience is an emerging pharmaceutical company with two distinct parts:
Chiroscience Research and Development, the company's core pharmaceutical
products business, and the specialist service businesses, ChiroTech and
Rapigene.
 
Chiroscience R&D uses its "gene-to-drug" skills base to discover and develop
innovative small-molecule pharmaceuticals for the treatment of inflammation,
pain, cancer, osteoporosis and auto-immune disease.  Chirocaine, its long-
acting local anaesthetic, is close to market.
 
ChiroTech is a profitable business that is a world leader in the provision of
specialist chiral chemistry services and products. Its customer base of major
pharmaceutical companies is growing rapidly. Strategic alliances with a number
of global partners have broadened the range of products and services that
Chirotech can offer.
 
Rapigene is commercialising its Masscode system for high-throughput genetic
measurement and analysis. Rapigene intends to use Masscode to offer a rapid,
cost-effective analytical service to life science customers.
 
 
For further information contact:
Dr John Padfield, Chief Executive           Giles Sanderson
David Dible, Head of Media and Investor     Financial Dynamics
Relations                                   Tel: +44 (0)171 831 3113
Chiroscience Group plc
Tel: +44 (0)1223 420430
http://www.chiroscience.com                 
 
 
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