COO & Board Appointment

Syntopix Group plc
26 June 2006


For immediate release                                               26 June 2006


                              SYNTOPIX GROUP PLC
                         ('Syntopix' or 'the Company')

                     APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER


Syntopix Group plc (AIM: SYN), the drug discovery and development company
focused on dermatological diseases, is pleased to announce that Stephen Philip
Jones BSc (Hons) Pharm, PhD, MRPharmS, has been appointed to the Company and
will join the Board on 1 July 2006 in the newly formed position of Chief
Operating Officer.

Stephen, aged 48, is a highly experienced pharmaceutical industry executive with
a track record in both branded medicines and consumer healthcare and a
successful history of new product development. At Syntopix, he will co-ordinate
operational activities and commercial relationships.

Stephen was most recently at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where he held the position of
Vice President and Director of Consumer Healthcare Research and Development.
Stephen joined GSK in 1997 as a Senior Director of New Product Development where
he was responsible for sixty staff and for the development of semi-solid dosage
forms.  Prior to joining GSK Stephen worked for companies including Scherer Drug
Delivery Systems, Sterling Winthrop, Beecham Pharmaceuticals Research Division,
Merck Sharp & Dohme and Amersham International.

Stephen is a pharmacist by training, and his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences is
from the University of Nottingham.

Commenting on the appointment, Rod Adams, Syntopix' Chief Executive Officer,
said: 'I am delighted that Steve has chosen to join the team at Syntopix and
that we have been able to attract someone of his calibre to our business.
Stephen brings to the Company an excellent track record in drug development and
consumer healthcare which we believe will help drive our business forward.'

The Company has today granted, for nil consideration, 289,472 options over
ordinary shares of 10p each ('Ordinary Shares') to Stephen Jones, representing
5% per cent of the Company's current issued share capital. These options vest
subject to Dr Jones meeting certain performance criteria and will become
exercisable at an exercise price of 180p per Ordinary Share between two years
and ten years after vesting. Dr Jones' option holding following this
notification is 289,472.

There are no further disclosures to be made in accordance with Schedule 2 (g) of
the AIM rules.

                                     ENDS

For further information please contact:

 Syntopix Group plc                                              0845 1259204
 Gwyn Humphreys, Chairman
 Rod Adams, Chief Executive Officer
 www.syntopix.com

 KBC Peel Hunt Ltd                                               020 7418 8900
 Megan MacIntyre
 
 Buchanan Communications                                         020 7466 5000
 Mark Court, Tim Anderson, Mary-Jane Johnson


Notes to editors

About Syntopix Group plc

Syntopix, a company focussed on the discovery and development of drugs for the
topical treatment of dermatological diseases, was founded in 2003 as a spin-out
from the University of Leeds by Dr Jon Cove and Dr Anne Eady, two of the leading
experts in skin microbiology, with initial funding from The Wellcome Trust.

Syntopix' strategy is to seek to reduce the risks and costs of drug discovery
and development by discovering novel uses for known compounds; by concentrating
on compounds and combinations of compounds that have a history of safe use; and
working with compounds that have known properties, for example antimicrobials
and anti-inflammatories. The Company currently has seven pending UK patent
applications.

Syntopix is currently focussed on acne and Staphylococcus aureus infections and
has identified a pipeline of lead drug candidates that it intends to take
through pre-clinical and, as appropriate, clinical trials. The Company intends
to out-license products to commercial partners on obtaining proof of principle
and to seek co-development partnerships.

The Company is based at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation in Bradford,
giving access to the expertise in skin biology, formulation and toxicology at
the universities of Bradford and Leeds.

Syntopix' shareholders include Techtran Group Limited, a subsidiary of IP Group
plc, The Wellcome Trust Limited, University of Leeds Limited, White Rose
Technology Ltd and Ridings Early Growth Investment Company Limited.  Syntopix
joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in March 2006.

For further information please visit www.syntopix.com.




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