Silence Therapeutics And Quark Pharmaceuticals Expand Strategic Licensing
Agreement.
London, England and Freemont, CA. 30 July 2007
Silence Therapeutics plc and Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ('Quark'), announced
today an expansion of their current strategic technology licensing agreement.
In April 2005 the companies signed an Option and Licence Agreement, which
provided Quark with access to Silence Therapeutics' novel proprietary siRNA
technology, AtuRNAi. The first outcome of the companies' relationship was the
development of the AtuRNAi technology-based compound RTP801i, which was
licensed to Pfizer Inc in 2006 by Quark and is currently in a phase 1 clinical
trial in patients with wet age related macular degeneration. Quark's product
portfolio includes one additional siRNA molecule with a structure covered by
patents licensed from Silence Therapeutics.
The expanded agreement provides Quark with options to non-exclusive licenses to
develop additional molecules against 3 specific targets using Silence
Therapeutics' proprietary AtuRNAi technology. The terms of the amendment signed
today will entitle Silence Therapeutics to milestone payments and a royalty on
product sales after exercise of the options by Quark. Further financial details
were not disclosed.
Danny Zurr, Chief Executive Officer of Quark Pharmaceuticals: 'We are pleased
to extend our relationship with Silence Therapeutics. We believe extending this
relationship provides Quark with opportunities to further develop its pipeline
of clinical product candidates targeted at indications with significant unmet
medical needs.'
Iain Ross, Chairman of Silence Therapeutics stated: 'This is a long-standing
relationship for us and we are pleased we have been able to broaden it. The
goal in the RNAi sector is to advance clinical development and Quark has
already proven it can utilise our proprietary AtuRNAi technology and take
products into the clinic. This agreement forms part of our continuing strategy
of signing target-specific collaboration and license agreements with
pharmaceutical and biotech companies which will lead to a broader clinical
application of our AtuRNAi product platform outside of our internal programs
for systemic applications in oncology.'
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
Quark Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
discovering and developing novel therapeutics based on its proprietary gene
discovery science and technology, with an initial focus on drug candidates that
work through the natural mechanism in the cell known as RNA interference, or
RNAi, for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress. Quark
believes that its proprietary target gene discovery platform, BiFARTM, combined
with its ability to design and successfully deliver synthetic molecules of the
new class of RNAi therapeutics known as small-interfering RNA, or siRNA, to
specific organs in the body, enables the Company to rapidly develop drug
candidates. Quark has two internally discovered and developed lead product
candidates: RTP801i-14 in phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of wet
age-related macular degeneration, and AKIi-5 for the prevention of acute renal
failure. The Company has licensed RTP801i-14 to Pfizer on an exclusive
worldwide basis. Quark corporate product development teams are based in
Fremont, CA and research facilities in Ness-Ziona, Israel. Additional
information is available at www.quarkpharma.com
Notes to Editors
Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)
Silence Therapeutics plc (LSE:SLN) is a leading RNAi company. RNA interference
(RNAi) can selectively 'silence' genes linked to the onset of disease.
Silence Therapeutics has developed novel, proprietary short interfering RNA
('siRNA') molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages over
conventional siRNA molecules as they show increased stability against nuclease
degradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary systemic
delivery system, AtuPLEX. This enables the delivery of siRNA molecules to
targeted diseased tissues and cells, whilst increasing their bioavailability
and intracellular uptake.
In July 2007, Silence Therapeutics formed a research and development
collaboration with Astra Zeneca to develop AtuRNAi against five targets in
respiratory indications. The Group's AtuRNAi technology has also been
sublicensed to Pfizer by Quark Pharmaceuticals, through Quark's license of the
compound RTP-801i-14 for the treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration
(AMD) and a number of other indications. This compound entered the clinic in
early 2007.. Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has developed a further compound,
AKIi-5, having AtuRNAi structure under the existing licence from Silence
Therapeutics. This compound has been granted an IND for acute kidney injury and
is expected to enter the clinic in 2007. In addition, Silence Therapeutics
expects to begin the clinical development of its proprietary AtuRNAi
therapeutic molecules for systemic cancer indications, such as gastrointestinal
and non-small lung cancer, in 2008.
Silence Therapeutics is based in London, UK, and Berlin, Germany, and is listed
on AIM.
About RNAi
RNA interference (RNAi), a Nobel Prize winning technology, is one of the most
exciting areas of drug discovery today. It represents a completely new approach
to selectively 'silence' or inactivate disease relevant genes and as such it
has the potential to create a new class of therapeutic products. RNAi could
therefore offer a therapeutic approach to a broad range of diseases (cancer,
infectious diseases, inherited diseases), many of which have been regarded as
incurable and are not addressed by current therapeutics, therefore providing a
large market opportunity.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to
risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties could
cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the
forward-looking statements. All forward--looking statements are based on
information currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence
Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements.
Enquiries:
For further information, please contact the following:
Silence Therapeutics plc Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
+44(0)20 7307 1620 +1-510-402-4020
Iain Ross, Chairman Rami Skaliter, Chief Operating
Officer
Melvyn Davies, Finance Director
+49(0)30 9489 2800
Thomas Christély, Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Klaus Giese, Chief Scientific Officer
Investor Relations Investor Relations
Citigate Dewe Rogerson The Ruth Group
+44(0)20 7638 9571 +1-646-536-7033 / 7025
David Dible Janine McCargo / Jason Rando
Yvonne Alexander jmccargo@theruthgroup.com
jrando@theruthgroup.com
Nominated Adviser
Grant Thornton Corporate Finance
+44(0)20 7383 5100
Gerry Beaney
Colin Aaronson
END