Patent Granted
12 Aprile 2007 - 11:03AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:7365U
VASTox plc
12 April 2007
VASTox plc
("VASTox" or "the Company")
PATENT GRANTED IN THE US WHICH FURTHER INCREASES VALUE OF
DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY PROGRAMME
Oxford, UK, 12 April 2007 - VASTox plc (AIM: VOX) today announced that the US
Patent Office has granted a patent (US Application No.10/089,928/Utrophin Gene
Promoter) which provides additional protection to the Company's drug discovery
programme in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
The granting of this patent in the largest global pharmaceutical market
significantly increases the value of VASTox's DMD programme as it further
protects the Company's unique approach to finding new medicines to treat this
fatal disease. This patent has also been filed in other territories including
Europe and is in addition to an earlier DMD related patent that has already been
granted in the US, Europe and Australia.
The DMD programme, entirely developed internally by VASTox, continues to make
excellent progress as illustrated by the granting of this patent and the Company
remains on target to announce a drug candidate to take forward into pre-clinical
development by the end of H1 2007.
VASTox's unique scientific approach involves using small drug like molecules to
increase the body's levels of a protein called utrophin to replace a very
similar protein called dystrophin which is missing in DMD patients. The absence
of dystrophin leads to severe muscle wasting and is ultimately fatal for all DMD
sufferers.
In recent months, VASTox has sought to further strengthen the patent estate
around its DMD programme through the filing of a significant number of patents
which cover several classes of active compounds which have been identified
during the development of the DMD programme.
Steven Lee, PhD, CEO, commented: "The award of this patent in the world's
largest pharmaceutical market is excellent news for VASTox's DMD programme as
the Company moves closer to selecting a pre-clinical development candidate.
Ensuring we having a strong patent position which protects our unique
therapeutic strategy for the development of new medicines to treat DMD is a
vital aspect of generating value, both in this and in all drug discovery
programmes."
- ends -
For more information, please contact:
VASTox
Steven Lee, PhD, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +44 (0)1235 443951
Darren Millington, Chief Financial Officer
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Mark Swallow / David Dible / Valerie Auffray Tel: +44 (0)207 638 9571
About VASTox's DMD programme
DMD is a devastating disease that affects young males for which there is
currently no effective treatment. Patients rarely survive beyond the age of 25.
VASTox has demonstrated in vivo up-regulation (increased production) of the
protein utrophin by a number of small molecules from their proprietary chemical
library. This is a significant development as utrophin has been demonstrated to
replace the function of dystrophin, which is missing in DMD patients.
Up-regulation of utrophin is widely viewed by the scientific community as a
highly promising avenue for the development of an effective treatment for DMD.
About VASTox plc
VASTox is a leading UK biotechnology company that discovers and develops
proprietary new drugs. The Company's internal drug development programmes are
underpinned by its advanced chemistry and drug screening (chemical genomics)
technology platforms, which it also provides on a collaborative or
fee-for-service basis to the pharmaceutical industry.
VASTox has a broad range of drug discovery programmes in the clinical,
pre-clinical and discovery stages of development, which target serious diseases
with a high unmet medical need. These therapeutic areas include neuro-disorders
(neurodegenerative and neuromuscular), anti-infectives, ophthalmic diseases,
oncology and regenerative medicines.
VASTox's in-house drug development capabilities combine world-class expertise in
both medicinal and carbohydrate chemistry with high-volume, high-content
screening using its proprietary zebrafish and fruitfly technologies (chemical
genomics). These whole organism screens have the potential to dramatically
decrease the time and cost of drug discovery and development by delivering data
that are highly predictive of the efficacy and toxicity of potential drug
compounds in humans.
The company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in October
2004 - symbol: VOX
Further information about the company is available at www.vastox.com
This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates", "intends", "plans",
"seeks", "believes", "estimates", "expects" and similar references to future
periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections.
Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and
assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions.
Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they
are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that
are difficult to predict. The Company's actual results may differ materially
from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions
you therefore that you should not rely on any of these forward-looking
statements as statements of historical fact or as guarantees or assurances of
future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (factors
included in this presentation) and regional, national, global political,
economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCIIFIASLIFLID
Grafico Azioni Vox Valor Capital (LSE:VOX)
Storico
Da Apr 2024 a Mag 2024
Grafico Azioni Vox Valor Capital (LSE:VOX)
Storico
Da Mag 2023 a Mag 2024
