Epistem to Present Erlotinib Biomarker Data at ...

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - April 14, 2009) - Epistem
plc (LSE: EHP), the UK biotechnology and contract research company,
will present results from its recently completed preclinical plucked
hair biomarker study at the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) 100th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado on Sunday 19th April
2009 at 1pm (abstract number 1753) This study was completed
successfully on Erlotinib, commonly known as Tarceva®, a small
molecule designed to target the Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor 1
(HER1/EGFR) pathway and a treatment for small cell lung and prostate
cancer.

Data will be presented by Dr. Ged Brady to demonstrate that
drug-induced changes in gene expression are observed in plucked hairs
following Erlotinib treatment, as early as 6 hours after the first
administration. Using DNA array analysis of plucked hairs the
Biomarker Division at Epistem have identified a "core gene set" which
are changed in response to treatment. These gene changes are
biomarkers which provide expression based analysis of pharmacodynamic
(PD) change in response to Erlotinib.

This biomarker expression data can assist the drug development
process by providing a quantitative measure of drug exposure, and
drug effects downstream of the target. There is potential to also
study the differential effect of new compounds in development versus
Erlotinib in the clinical setting.

"Epistem's proprietary plucked hair biomarker platform provides a
simple and effective means of measuring biological response in
epithelial tissue. These results provide further support to the
clinical relevance of hair as surrogate tissue that is readily
accessible in early clinical studies," said Lydia Meyer-Turkson,
Director of the Biomarker Division at Epistem. "We are pleased that
the data demonstrate the relevance of plucked hair as a PD biomarker
for compounds in development that are designed to inhibit tyrosine
kinase activity" she added.

The abstract will be available on request following the presentation
at AACR.

Notes to Editors:

About Epistem

Epistem is a biotechnology company commercialising its expertise in
epithelial stem cells in the areas of oncology, gastrointestinal
diseases and dermatological applications. Epistem develops innovative
therapeutics and biomarkers and provides contract research services
to drug development companies. The Group's expertise is focused on
the regulation of adult stem cells located in epithelial tissue,
which includes the gastrointestinal tract, skin, hair follicles,
breast and prostate. Epistem does not conduct research in the areas
of embryonic stem cells or stem cell transplantation.

Epistem operates three distinct business divisions, Contract Research
Services, Novel Therapies and Biomarkers.

Biomarkers

The Biomarker division provides services to drug development
companies using its plucked hair biomarker technology. The Company's
knowledge of the behaviour of epithelial cells and drug-induced gene
expression change is used to measure drug effects during treatment.
Changes in gene expression can be detected within hours and at low
levels of chemotherapy or radiation. The highly sensitive Biomarker
technology is based on using mRNA extracted from the bulb of cells at
the base of a single hair follicle as a minimally invasive process to
measure gene expression changes in epithelial tissue.

Contacts:
Epistem plc
Dr. Danielle Hargreaves
Public Relations
[phone] or [phone]
[e-mail]
www.epistem.co.uk

De Facto Communications
Mike Wort
Financial PR/IR
[phone]

De Facto Communications
Anna Dunphy
Financial PR/IR
[phone]


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