Interim Results

Proteome Sciences PLC 28 September 2001 Proteome Sciences plc PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 28 September 2001 INTERIM STATEMENT FOR THE 6 MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2001 Proteome Sciences plc (Proteome Sciences), the AIM listed proteomics and modification of gene expression company, announces its interim results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2001. HIGHLIGHTS Corporate * $7m fund raising for Intronn expected to complete later today, against difficult market conditions. * Europroteome, a company in which Proteome Sciences converted IP into an equity investment, closed a Euro 9.5m funding. Proteomics * Laboratory at King's College, London now operational. * CJD/nvCJD blood assay now in B testing. * New biomarkers identified for BSE infected cattle and for acute rejection. Gene Expression * Full length repair of Factor VIII (Haemophilia) mRNA in a mouse model system demonstrated and patent application filed. * SMaRT technology utilised in a therapeutic capacity in the tissue of cystic fibrosis patients, bringing this research a step closer to the pre-clinical stage. * Third patent application filed relating to synthetic oligonucleotides for monitoring levels of impurity and length on DNA chips. Financial * Cash balance at 30 June 2001 at £2.3million, in line with budget. Commenting on the Company's progress and prospects, Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive of Proteome Sciences said:- 'We continue to make excellent progress on all fronts across both the proteomics and gene expression areas of our business with a number of significant and strategically important developments having taken place in the first half of the year; the outlook for the second half is equally exciting. 'The fact that Intronn Inc is raising $7m in these very tough market conditions, a larger amount than was planned, is a reflection of the quality of this business and of the value of the technologies it has developed. The funding that Intronn is concluding and Europroteome has concluded allow them to exploit their leading technology capabilities to a wide range of disease applications in areas of unmet need at an early stage. 'We remain focussed on progressing opportunities to commercialise the platform technologies that underpin Proteome Sciences and are committed to ensuring that value for our shareholders will be fully optimised.' ENDS Enquiries:- Proteome Sciences plc Tel: +44 (0) 1932 865065 Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive Public Relations Ikon Associates Tel: +44 (0) 1483 271291 Adrian Shaw Mobile: +44 (0) 797 9900733 E-mail: adrian@ikonassociates.com Set out below is the full text of the Chairman's statement. INTERIM STATEMENT Dear Shareholder, The six months to 30th June, 2001 have seen the transformation of Proteome Sciences Plc from being a virtual company into becoming a leading edge proteomics company through the opening of its own research facility in London. Over the same period, the announcement in February that the human genome sequence contained 30,000 genes has created unprecedented interest and activity in both genomics and proteomics from commercial and academic quarters, in particular in the USA and Europe. Proteomics technology is now more readily appreciated as a robust technology which has high application potential. This has provided a most appropriate platform for the research projects and results generated from the two principal research activities at Proteome Sciences; proteomics and modification of gene expression. In spite of the most difficult market conditions for raising funds and against the sharp declines in global stock markets in particular in the technology sector, we are delighted to announce that Proteome Sciences is expected to complete later today a $7m funding for Intronn Inc in the USA. At the same time, Europroteome AG, in which Proteome Sciences converted an interest in some intellectual property into an equity stake earlier this year, has also closed a Euro 9.5m funding. This provides both entities with a strong financial position to exploit and implement an expanded business strategy based on the exciting technology platforms that they have developed. The main events of the year to date can be summarised as follows : Proteomics * The CJD/nvCJD blood assay successfully completed testing on 24 samples and currently B testing is in progress. Data from the programme will be collated and further results will be available in the fourth quarter of the year. * Applying similar proteomic methodologies, Proteome Sciences has identified new biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of BSE infected cattle. Further patents have been filed and alpha testing is underway using bovine blood samples. * A new series of protein markers have been discovered in blood for acute rejection. This follows on from the research programme in solid organ transplant rejection where chronic rejection markers have already been identified. Further patent applications have been filed. * The building works at the company's laboratory at King's College, London were completed in July and research commenced at the advanced proteomics facility at the end of the month. The high quality data generated has already resulted in a patent application. * Key recruitment for the King's laboratory has been completed and the facility and equipment will be fully functional in the fourth quarter of the year. A range of grant applications and strategic research partnerships are being actively pursued. The objective for 2002 is to obtain sufficient research grant contributions and third party processing income to make the cost of the KCL facility cash flow neutral. * Commercialisation of the biomarkers for CJD/nvCJD, stroke and transplant rejection are the primary targets as are the projects in diabetes/obesity and cancer. Suitable partners are now being sought to develop the BSE assay. * Proteome Sciences was awarded a £450,000 grant with Mindset BioPharmaceuticals Ltd. to discover new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's Disease. Modification of Gene Expression * Chris Walsh, Intronn's collaborator for Factor VIII (haemophilia) at the University of North Carolina, presented results at the National Haemophilia foundation meeting in the US which demonstrated a full length repair of Factor VIII mRNA in a mouse model system. A paper has been submitted for publication and a US patent application was lodged in advance of public disclosure. * SMaRT was utilised by John Walsh at the University of Iowa to correct the endogenous defect in human bronchial xenographs from cystic fibrosis patients. This in vivo tissue model brings the cystic fibrosis research a step closer to the pre-clinical stage. * Intronn LLC confirmed a new event, double splicing of pre-mRNA using SMaRTTM at the Keystone Symposium USA in January. This has profound implications for gene delivery and demonstrates that the complexity of delivery through different vectors can now be achieved with simple chemistry using SMaRT. * Intronn signed a CRADA (co-operative research and development agreement) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the USA to develop fast track therapeutics for human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. * A third patent application was filed at the end of June by Intronn LLC and Proteome Sciences relating to synthetic oligonucleotides and their utility for monitoring the levels of impurity and length on DNA chips. Corporate * Dr. Gunter Schmidt has been appointed as a non executive Director. He was founder and executive director of Brax Group Limited a company specialising in high throughput genomic/proteomic technology which was sold to Aventis Research and Technology GmbH last year. He was an associate director of biochemistry at Merck, Sharp and Dohme Inc., USA and prior to that Head of Mammalian Genetics at Glaxo Group Research Ltd., UK. He is also acting in a strategic business development capacity as a consultant to the Company. Financial Results The financial results for the six months to 30th June, 2001 show a loss before taxation of £509,108 compared with £606,799 in the corresponding period in 2000. This includes a favourable movement in realised exchange gains of £225,778 (2000 : £238,044). Cash at the 30th June, 2001 stood at £2.3m Future Outlook Following the news earlier this year relating to the sequence information from the human genome, Proteome Sciences is poised to play a key role in unlocking value from functional genomics. This particularly applies to the two platform technologies - proteomics and modification of gene expression, with substantial funding obtained for Intronn Inc and Europroteome AG against the most difficult market conditions. Innovative leading edge research projects have been converted into fully funded corporate entities with outstanding opportunities to exploit the multiple applications that the technologies provide. The opening of the proteomics facility in London gives us for the first time the capability 'in house' to enter into high value strategic research programmes and partnerships with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Future prospects look most encouraging and the Directors are confident that the results from across our research programmes will be converted into significant commercial value. Unaudited consolidated profit and loss account for the six months ended 30th June, 2001 Six months ended Six months ended Year ended 31st 30th June 2001 30th June 2000 December 2000 £ £ £ Administrative (574,118) (652,392) (1,149,995) Expenses (Note 4) Realised exchange 225,778 238,044 303,158 gains Research and (205,566) (234,887) (695,018) Development expenses Other operating - (139) (35) expenses Operating Loss (553,906) (649,374) (1,541,890) Interest receivable 62,260 47,923 158,135 Interest payable and (17,462) (5,348) (21,692) similar charges Loss on ordinary (509,108) (606,799) (1,405,447) activities before taxation Tax on loss on - - - ordinary activities Accumulated deficit (509,108) (606,799) (1,405,447) for the period Loss per share/Basic 0.56p 0.71p 1.59p and diluted Notes to the Financial information 1. There has been no change to any of the accounting policies set out in the 2000 statutory accounts. 2. Following the loss of £509,108 incurred in the period, the Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend. 3. a) The calculation of the loss per share for the six months ended 30th June 2001 is based on the loss for the financial period of £509,108 and on 91,538,400 Ordinary Shares, being the number of shares in issue and ranking for dividend during the period (six months ended 30th June 2000 - loss £606,799, weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue and ranking for dividend, 85,533,704). b) The calculation of the loss per share for the year ended 31st December 2000 is based on the loss for the year of £1,405,447 and on 88,552,458 Ordinary Shares, being the weighted average number of share in issue and ranking for dividend during the year. 4. Administrative expenses for the six months ended 30th June 2000, include £219,000 for costs associated with the Placing and Open Offer in March 2000. 5. The preceding financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the year to 31st December 2000 is based on the statutory accounts for that year. These accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, and which did not contain any statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
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