Re Agreement

Proteome Sciences PLC 24 November 2003 For further information please contact: Proteome Sciences plc Tel: +44 (0) 1932 865065 Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive Email: christopher.pearce@proteome.co.uk www.proteome.co.uk Public Relations of Proteome Sciences Ikon Associates Adrian Shaw Tel: +44 (0) 01483 271291 Mobile: + 44 (0) 797 9900733 Email: adrian@ikon-associates.com Notes to Editors Medical Research Council The Medical Research Council (MRC) is a national organisation funded by the UK tax-payer. Its business is medical research aimed at improving human health; everyone stands to benefit from the outputs. The research it supports and the scientists it trains meet the needs of the health services, the pharmaceutical and other health-related industries and the academic world. MRC has funded work which has led to some of the most significant discoveries and achievements in medicine in the UK.. About half of the MRC's expenditure of over £413 million is invested in its 40 Institutes, Units and Centres, where it employs its own research staff. The remaining half goes in the form of grant support and training awards to individuals and teams in universities and medical schools. Web site at http://www.mrc.ac.uk 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 transplantation. 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 partnerships. Proteome Sciences is also the largest shareholder in Intronn Inc., the US Company that has developed SMaRT TM, a technology able to modify gene expression at the mRNA level. PRESS RELEASE 24 November 2003 Proteome Sciences Announces Collaboration with Medical Research Council Prion Union on CJD and vCJD Proteome Sciences plc ('Proteome Sciences'), a global leader in applied proteomics, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement today (24 November 2003) to enter into collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC). Proteome Sciences will work closely with the MRC Prion Unit ('MRCPU') to identify differential protein expression in CJD and vCJD patients. Using samples from age and sex matched patients with CJD and vCJD, Proteome Sciences will undertake protein separation, identification and characterisation to search for biomarkers for new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications. CJD and vCJD are fatal diseases for which there are currently no effective diagnostics or therapies. Identifying markers which could form the basis of these applications remains a research priority. Commenting on the announcement, Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive of Proteome Sciences said: 'We are very pleased to be working with the MRCPU in CJD and vCJD. By combining our proprietary proteomics toolkit (ProteoSHOPTM) with the expertise and resources of the MRCPU we believe we have established an unparalleled collaboration for the discovery and development of biomarkers for CJD and vCJD across a range of diagnostically relevant timepoints. Proteome Sciences' London Laboratory will look for biomarkers of CJD and vCJD across a range of diagnostically relevant body fluids. We will apply our proprietary methodologies to optimise the conditions for protein separation and identification in search of new biomarkers. The is complementary to the CJD research that we have undertaken to date in Switzerland and further validates the strategy of applying a high sensitivity proteomic approach to enhance the understanding of differential protein expression in this most complex and debilitating disease'. -- ENDS -- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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