Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca Announce C...

LONDON, March 13 /PRNewswire/ --

    Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) today announces a collaboration with
AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN), focused on the development of a range of novel
approaches for the delivery of siRNA molecules. The deal builds on Silence
Therapeutics' leading expertise in the delivery of siRNA molecules, in
particular its success with the functional systemic delivery of siRNA in vivo
using its proprietary AtuPLEX technology. The financial details of this
collaboration, in which both parties will contribute expertise and know-how,
have not been disclosed.


    This new deal is independent of the parties' three-year collaboration
signed in July 2007, whose aim is to develop novel siRNA therapeutics against
specific targets exclusive to AstraZeneca.


    As a result of today's agreement, Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca
will work together to develop new and improved approaches for the delivery of
siRNA molecules. The successful delivery of siRNA molecules to different
tissue sites is critical to realize the exciting potential of siRNA to treat
a broad range of diseases. Under the terms of the agreement both Silence
Therapeutics and AstraZeneca will be allowed to commercialise the truly novel
delivery systems that they develop together.


    Jeff Vick, CEO of Silence Therapeutics, commenting on today's
announcement said, "We are delighted to enter this new collaboration with
AstraZeneca for the development of novel approaches for the delivery of siRNA
molecules. This agreement highlights the significant progress we have made
with our AtuPLEX platform, following our early realization of the importance
of delivery to the development of successful RNAi therapeutics. This deal
also reflects the strong working relationship we have developed with
AstraZeneca and the progress of our ongoing collaboration in the development
of AtuRNAi molecules against a number of their targets."


    Mr. Vick continued, "We look forward to continuing our work with
AstraZeneca in this important therapeutic area, and are extremely excited
about the potential of our AtuPLEX delivery technology today and its ability
to be developed further so that it can become an even more significant value
driver for Silence Therapeutics."


    Silence Therapeutics will retain the right to sign further 'delivery'
deals to capture value from its current AtuPLEX delivery technology as well
as any improvements to this technology that it generates either independently
or as part of this collaboration.


    Claude Bertrand, Global VP, Discovery Respiratory & Inflammation, at
AstraZeneca said, "We are very happy with the working relationship we have
developed with the team at Silence Therapeutics and the progress made over
the last six months via our agreement to develop siRNA therapeutics against a
number of our targets. Today's announcement is designed to generate the novel
delivery approaches that are needed if this exciting class of novel drugs is
to realize fully its potential. Based on Silence Therapeutics' significant
current expertise in siRNA delivery we are confident that we have found a
strong partner to achieve our ambitions in this area."



Notes to Editors

About Silence Therapeutics plc (http://www.silence-therapeutics.com)

    Silence Therapeutics plc (LSE: SLN) is a leading RNAi company. RNA
interference (RNAi) can selectively 'silence' genes linked to the onset of
disease.


    Silence Therapeutics has developed novel, proprietary short interfering
RNA ('siRNA') molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages over
conventional siRNA molecules as they show increased stability against
nuclease degradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary
systemic delivery system, AtuPLEX. This enables the delivery of siRNA
molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, whilst increasing their
bioavailability and intracellular uptake.


    In July 2007, Silence Therapeutics formed a research and development
collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop AtuRNAi against five specific
targets including those in respiratory indications. The Company's AtuRNAi
technology also has been sublicensed to Pfizer through Quark's license to
Pfizer of the compound RTP-801i-14 for the treatment of Age-related Macular
Degeneration (AMD) and a number of other indications. This compound entered
the clinic in early 2007. Silence Therapeutics also has licensed to Quark
rights to the AtuRNAi structure for its proprietary compound AKIi-5. This
compound is in a Phase I human clinical study for treatment of acute kidney
injury. In addition, Silence Therapeutics expects to begin the clinical
development of its own proprietary AtuRNAi therapeutic molecules for systemic
cancer indications in 2008.


    Silence Therapeutics is based in London, UK, and Berlin, Germany, and is
listed on AIM.



About AstraZeneca

    AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription
pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US$29.55
billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular,
neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is
listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the
FTSE4Good Index.


    For more information about AstraZeneca please visit:
http://www.astrazeneca.com



About RNAi

    RNA interference (RNAi), a Nobel Prize winning technology, is one of the
most exciting areas of drug discovery today. This is because it represents a
completely new approach to selectively 'silence' or inactivate disease
relevant genes and as such it has the potential to create a new class of
therapeutic products.


    
    Web site: http://www.silence-therapeutics.com
              http://www.astrazeneca.com