VASTox plc
13 July 2006



                  VASTOX STRENGTHENS GLOBAL PATENT POSITION IN
                          DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY



Oxford, UK, 13 July 2006 - VASTox (AIM: VOX), a leading chemical genomics
company, announces today that the Australian Patent Office has granted a
wide-ranging patent (number 783950) relating to the application of VASTox' novel
approach to the development of therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
This patent has already been granted in the US and EU. The approach VASTox uses
is to identify and develop small molecule drugs that up-regulate (increase) the
production of a protein called utrophin to compensate for dystrophin, which is
lacking in DMD patients.



DMD is the company's most advanced drug development programme. Recently, the
European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommended awarding orphan drug designation
for the company's lead candidate and in February this year, VASTox raised
#10.45m in a placing to accelerate the development of its DMD therapeutic
programme.



Steven Lee, PhD, CEO of VASTox said: "A key strategic objective for VASTox is to
fully protect its intellectual property relating to its novel chemical genomics
technologies thereby enabling the company to capture the value created by their
application in drug discovery and development programmes. This new patent, which
relates to the mechanism of utrophin up-regulation, is essential at the early
stage of drug discovery. It adds to patents already granted in the US and EU
thereby reinforcing our global patent portfolio in DMD."



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.



                                    - ends -





For more information please contact:


VASTox

Steven Lee, PhD, Chief Executive Officer                 Tel: +44 (0)1235 443910
Darren Millington, Chief Financial Officer


Citigate Dewe Rogerson                                  Tel: +44 (0)207 638 9571
David Dible / Mark Swallow / Valerie Auffray




About VASTox plc



VASTox is a chemical genomics technology company that discovers and develops
proprietary novel drugs and provides services to the pharmaceutical industry.
The company's most advanced drug development programme is focused on developing
a new treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy based on the up-regulation of
utrophin. A second drug development programme for spinal muscular atrophy is
also progressing rapidly. VASTox has three additional programmes focused on
osteoarthritis, cancer and tuberculosis that are expected to be out-licensed
prior to entering the clinic.



The company's technology platform, which uses zebrafish and fruitflies, has the
potential to dramatically decrease the time and cost of drug discovery and
development. This is because using whole organisms allows it to carry out high
volume, high content screening that delivers data which is highly predictive of
the efficacy and toxicity of potential drug compounds in humans. VASTox is
growing revenues based on marketing its unique technology platform and its
chemistry expertise.  The company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange in October 2004.



Further information about the company is available at 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
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