further instalment of grant

RNS Number : 5869K
Immupharma PLC
22 December 2008

For Immediate Release
22 December 2008

ImmuPharma plc
ImmuPharma receives further instalment of grant for developing cancer drug
ImmuPharma PLC (LSE:IMM), ("ImmuPharma or the "Company") the specialist drug discovery and development company, is pleased to announce
that it has been awarded a further instalment of a grant (see press release dated 12 November 2008) from French government organisations
bringing the total received to EUR1.15m. The grants are to be used for the development of ImmuPharma's cancer drug candidate IPP-204106.
Dr. Robert Zimmer, President & Chief Scientific Officer said: "We are both delighted and honoured to have been chosen for the grant by
this prestigious French government organisation. Together with the company's internal resources, this grant will fund the development of our
exciting cancer compound to the completion of Phase I trials, which we expect to start during 2009."

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
Panmure Gordon & Co
Andrew Burnett +44 151 243 0963

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 five 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 four address 1) cancer, 2) moderate to severe pain (such as that experienced by cancer sufferers and post-operative
patients), 3) MRSA and similar severe hospital-acquired resistant infections and 4) inflammation.
All five 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 five 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 (LupuzorTM)
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.
Cancer (IPP-204106)
IPP-204106 has a dual mechanism of action, acting both in preventing angiogenesis as well as proliferation. IPP-204106 is a nucleolin
antagonist, the lead molecule in a family of pseudopeptides designed to block the activity of a protein called nucleolin. Located
essentially in the nucleus of normal cells where it is protected, nucleolin is much more abundant at the surface of the cells which are
proliferating as well as the surface of active endothelial cells where it can be a target for antagonist peptides.
Cell surface expressed nucleolin is involved in the proliferation processes as well as in cell transformation. It is also a receptor for
many growth factors and plays a key role in angiogenesis. Nucleolin antagonists have therefore both anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative
properties.
Preclinical data have shown that nucleolin antagonists inhibit the growth of tumours and metastasis in many cancer types. They prevent
the implantation of tumours and block angiogenesis. They also inhibit the proliferation of certain types of leukaemia cells. Based on the
mechanism of action nucleolin antagonists are active as long as surface nucleolin is present, irrespective of the type of cancer.
Preliminary data have also shown the absence of toxicity.
Severe pain relief (IPP-102199)
ImmuPharma is developing a non-addictive compound for relieving moderate to severe pain, such as experienced by cancer sufferers and
post-surgical patients. Most existing treatments are opioid-based (explain) 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 counter the effects of 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 uniquely uses an
electrical charge rather than biochemical methods against MRSA and other bacterial strains. It is hoped this novel approach will reduce
their potential to become resistant.

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

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