RNS Number:6140U
Proteome Sciences PLC
26 January 2004


                                 PRESS RELEASE

                                                              26th January, 2004


                         GRANT OF US CANCER PATENT FOR

                       NEUROBLASTOMA AND GLIOMA IN BLOOD


Proteome Sciences plc ("Proteome Sciences") is pleased to announce that a
further US Patent has been granted to the University of Michigan in another area
of cancer research funded by Proteome Sciences. The patent for the diagnosis of
neuroblastoma and glioma in blood is exclusively licensed to Proteome Sciences
for product commercialisation.


This award follows shortly after the US patent grant issued in November for the
diagnosis and treatment for lung, breast and oesophagus cancer in blood.


Neuroblastoma


Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, a nerve network
throughout the body which carries messages from the brain. It is a solid,
malignant tumour which manifests as a lump or mass in the abdomen or around the
spinal cord in the chest, neck or pelvis and is often present at birth but is
most often diagnosed much later when a child begins to show symptoms of the
disease. Despite its relatively low incidence, neuroblastoma is a serious
disease with long term consequences, in particular increased risk of developing
other tumours later in life.


As a consequence, many countries are investigating routine screening for
neuroblastoma using a test that measures catecholamine, a metabolic product of
the tumour cell. In Japan alone, approximately 1 million tests per year are
performed with similar numbers occurring in Germany. In a single study in
Quebec, approximately 500,000 children were tested in a 12 month period. These
studies are showing that the catecholamine test over- diagnoses neuroblastoma
with little evidence of improved clinical outcome, and clearly endorses the need
for a more specific and sensitive test.


Unlike the catecholamine test, the tumour specific protein markers discovered in
Ann Arbor by Proteome Sciences collaborators have considerable potential as
specific, sensitive, early diagnostic markers of neuroblastoma.


Key statistics


   *5-7% of all childhood tumours
   *about 1 in 6,000 children will be diagnosed
   *1 in 100,000 clinical cases per year in US
   *the average age at diagnosis is 2 years
   *about 25% of newly diagnosed neuroblastoma cases are in children under
    the age of one
   *children diagnosed under the age of one have a cure rate around 90%


Proteome Sciences is actively pursuing licensing partners to co-develop and
commercialise new diagnostic and prognostic tests for neuroblastoma.


Commenting on the announcement, Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive of Proteome
Sciences said:


"The grant of this patent for neuroblastoma and glioma so soon after the award
of the US patent 'Annexin Proteins and Autoantibodies as Serum Markers for
Cancer' in November for diagnosis and monitoring of three major cancers - lung,
breast and oesophageal - in blood, confirms the utility and importance of
proteomics to provide a new generation of products in human disease and, in
particular in the case of neuroblastoma, the global requirement for a more
sensitive and specific test.


We have focussed our research programme to target major areas of unmet need in
cancer, neurosciences, diabetes/obesity and cardiovascular disease using
ProteoSHOP, our proprietary high output protein toolbox. This will enable us to
accelerate the discovery and commercialisation of novel protein biomarkers for
diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications."


                                    - ENDS -



For further information please contact:


Proteome Sciences plc

Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive        Tel:  +44 (0)1932 865065                        

Email:                                     christopher.pearce@proteomics.com

Website:                                   www.proteomics.com

Public Relations for Proteome Sciences

IKON Associates

Adrian Shaw                                Tel:    +44 (0)1483535102

Mobile:                                    +44 (0)797 9900733

Email:                                     adrian@ikonassociates.com



Notes to Editors:


Proteome Sciences plc applies high sensitivity proteomics to identify and
characterise differential protein expression in diseases for diagnostic,
prognostic and therapeutic applications. It has to date developed sensitive
blood assays for stroke, nvCJD, BSE and solid organ transplant rejection.


The main focus of its research currently addresses neurological,
neurodegenerative, diabetes/obesity, oncology and cardiovascular conditions.
Commercialisation of these programmes will be effected through strategic
alliances and licensing agreements.


Proteome Sciences is headquartered in Cobham, Surrey in the UK and has
laboratories at Kings College Hospital, London and in Frankfurt. It employs 40
full time scientists in addition to its corporate and business development
staff. The Company has been listed on the Alternative Investment Market since
1995.






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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