Compound Discovery

Immupharma PLC 22 August 2007 For Immediate Release 22 August 2007 ImmuPharma PLC ImmuPharma discovers new lead drug candidate for inflammation ImmuPharma PLC (LSE:IMM), ('ImmuPharma' or the 'Company'), the specialist drug discovery and development company, announced today that following its discovery activities on its chemical library, it has discovered a new molecular series with potential application in inflammatory/allergic conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. These molecules, in the programme code-named IPP-201007, have utility as selective phospholipase A2 subtype inhibitors and are already patented through ImmuPharma's library broad patent. ImmuPharma's long-term pipeline includes a proprietary library or over 300,000 small molecules with a 70% drug likeness. These large number of molecules are all patent-protected, with the patent already having been issued in a number of countries including the United States. The present discovery is also paving the way for newly patented additional chemical libraries expanding thereby the scope of our primary proprietary library. Dr Robert Zimmer, MD, PhD, ImmuPharma's Chief Scientific Officer commented: 'The discovery of these exciting molecules and their derivatives validates our long-term pipeline prospects and are just the first of other potential lead drugs to be discovered from our libraries of molecules. IPP-201007 further augments our pipeline of lead drugs in building a pharma company'. For further information please contact: ImmuPharma PLC: Dimitri Dimitriou, Chief Executive Officer +44 20 7152 4080 Dr Robert Zimmer, President & Chief Scientific Officer + 33 389 32 7650 Richard Warr, Chairman +44 20 7152 4080 Buchanan Communications + 44 20 7466 5000 Lisa Baderoon Rebecca Skye Dietrich Landsbanki Securities (UK) Limited Thilo Hoffmann +44 20 7426 7710 For company information, visit www.immupharma.com Notes to Editors: About ImmuPharma ImmuPharma PLC is a drug discovery and development company headquartered in London, UK and quoted on AIM of the London Stock Exchange (LSE:IMM). It has research operations in France (ImmuPharma (France) SA) and Switzerland (ImmuPharma AG). ImmuPharma is dedicated to the development of novel drugs, largely based on peptide therapeutics, to treat serious medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases characterised by: * blockbuster potential in niche markets * low promotional costs in few specialised physicians and centres and * lower risk of drug development and lower development costs ImmuPharma is a currently developing drug candidates for three different medical conditions, each of which would represent a significant breakthrough in its field. The furthest advanced drug candidate targets Lupus, a disease for which there is currently no cure or specific treatment. The other two address moderate to severe pain (such as that experienced by cancer sufferers and post-operative patients), and MRSA and similar severe hospital-acquired resistant infections. All three have significant sales potential as well as low marketing costs and a relatively low risk of development failure. One or more have the potential to be fast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration according to 'Guidance for Industry: Fast Track Drug Development Programs - Designation, Development and Application Review' issued July 2004 and could therefore obtain their market authorization by 2010. Key to the potential success of ImmuPharma is its unique collaborative agreement with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France's scientific research institution. This agreement grants ImmuPharma worldwide exclusive rights to exploit certain key discoveries. In addition to its three leading drug candidates, ImmuPharma has a drug development pipeline using its rights to a virtual chemical library of hundreds of thousands of molecules as well as an innovative technology for converting peptides to drug candidates. ImmuPharma has the option to commercialise its assets itself or to license them to other pharmaceutical companies at an earlier stage. The products Treatment of Lupus (IPP-201101) This is a long-term treatment for Lupus, a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells. There is currently no cure and existing medications only treat the symptoms whereas ImmuPharma's drug candidate has the potential to produce remission of the disease in a substantial proportion of patients. Based on independent forecasts, the value of ImmuPharma's Lupus drug is estimated to be 'substantial' with peak annual sales forecast to generate in excess of $4 billion. Severe pain relief (IPP-102199) ImmuPharma is developing a potential non-addictive compound for relieving moderate to severe pain, such as experienced by cancer sufferers and post-surgical patients. Most existing treatments are derived from the opiate morphine and tend to have serious side effects. ImmuPharma's new treatment is based on met-enkephalin, the body's internal analgesic. IPP-102199 is being developed to have major advantages over morphine such as longer pain relief duration and reduced side effects. The market for chronic opioids in the US currently exceeds $3.5 billion and is growing by more than 10 to 20 per cent a year. Antibiotic for MRSA and similar highly resistant infections (IPP-203101) This is a novel antibiotic to combat MRSA and other severe hospital-acquired, resistant infections which affect some two million people in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ImmuPharma's drug candidate is targeted at disrupting the membrane potential of the bacterial pathogens. It is hoped this novel approach will reduce their potential to become resistant. PLA2 inhibitor for inflammatory and allergic disorders (IPP-201007) Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phospholipids. This catalytic reaction is essential in the production of lipids during various processes in the body, involving prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, platelet activation factor and others. In certain cases, such lipids mediators cause allergic reactions and a number of inflammatory conditions such as asthma and other respiratory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, septic shock and acute pancreatitis are characterized by a significant increase in PLA2 activity. Selective inhibition of PLA2 subtypes can therefore reduce some of these allergic reactions and inhibitors of PLA2 have already been shown to have positive effect in inflammatory conditions. ImmuPharma believes this new molecule has potential in becoming a drug for certain inflammatory conditions and intends to progress its development. The drug could be in clinical trials as early as 2009. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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