Licence/ Supply by Rentschler

Synairgen plc
28 September 2007



                                  SYNAIRGEN PLC
                         ('Synairgen' or the 'Company')


     Synairgen Announces Exclusive Licence And Supply Agreement For A Novel
                         Formulation Of Interferon-Beta


Southampton, UK - 28 September 2007: Synairgen plc (LSE:SNG), the drug discovery
company focused on asthma and COPD, today announces it has signed an exclusive
agreement with the Rentschler Group ('Rentschler') for the licence and supply by
Rentschler of a patent-protected novel formulation of Interferon-beta
('IFN-beta') for the treatment of respiratory diseases by inhalation.


In addition to supplying IFN-beta, Rentschler, a specialist international
developer and manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, will work in collaboration
with Synairgen on the next stages of its proprietary development programme. In
return, Rentschler will be paid milestone payments dependent upon Synairgen
taking on a commercial partner for the product. Further financial details have
not been disclosed.


This agreement with Rentschler supports Synairgen's lead programme to develop an
inhaled formulation of the drug to help asthmatics and COPD sufferers fight off
the debilitating effect of common cold viral infections, which trigger a
significant proportion of hospitalisations related to these respiratory
diseases. Building on a successful Phase I safety study, which was completed
this year, Synairgen anticipates commencing a safety study of inhaled IFN-beta
in asthma early in 2008.


Richard Marsden, Managing Director of Synairgen, said:

'We are delighted to have Rentschler on board as a collaborative partner with
enormous expertise in the manufacture and development of biological products.
Following on from our successful first Phase I study, this agreement adds
significant value to our lead programme. The exclusive licence of a proprietary
formulation of IFN-beta, which offers advantages over other currently available
formulations, complements our own intellectual property relating to its use in
asthma and COPD. With Synairgen and Rentschler working together on this
programme, we are well placed to attract a commercialisation partner.'


                                      Ends


For further information, please contact:

Synairgen                                             Tel: + 44 (0) 2380 512 800
Richard Marsden, Managing Director
John Ward, Finance Director
Rentschler                                            Tel: + 49 (0) 7392 7010
Dr Wieland Wolf, Director Strategic Cooperation
The Hogarth Partnership (Synairgen Media Enquiries)   Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7357 9477
Melanie Toyne-Sewell



Notes for Editors


About Synairgen

Synairgen is a drug discovery company founded by Professors Stephen Holgate,
Donna Davies and Ratko Djukanovic, focused on identifying and out-licensing new
pharmaceutical products which address the underlying causes of asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Synairgen is listed on AIM (LSE: SNG).


For more information about Synairgen please see www.synairgen.com.


About Rentschler

The Rentschler Group is based in Laupheim, Germany. Its biotechnology division,
Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH, is an international full-service contract
manufacturer with in excess of 300 employees, and has more than 30 years of
experience in the development, production and approval of biopharmaceuticals in
compliance with international GxP standards. Regulatory advice and fill & finish
are part of the company's service range. As a pioneer in the development and
production of biopharmaceuticals, Rentschler was the first company in the world
to gain market authorisation for an interferon-containing drug. In 2006,
Rentschler announced an investment program of €50 million for the expansion
of its production systems. Its first new 500 litre system went into operation in
mid-2007. For more information, please see www.rentschler-biotechnologie.de and
www.rentschler.de.


Interferon Beta ('IFN-beta') in rhinovirus-induced asthma and COPD exacerbations
Synairgen is investigating a novel application of inhaled IFN-beta to reduce
cold virus-induced exacerbations in both asthma and COPD. This virus is a major
trigger for the worsening of both asthma symptoms (with up to eight out of ten
asthma related emergency department visits being associated with these viral
infections) and COPD exacerbations (up to 60% of all COPD exacerbations are
preceded by the common cold). Currently there are limited satisfactory
treatments available to address either of these significant unmet needs.


Asthma statistics

   • There are approximately 22 million asthmatics in the USA(1)
   • The economic cost to the USA is $19.7 billion per year(2)
   • Asthma accounts for 1,770,000 emergency department visits per year in
     the USA(1)
   • The cost of emergency department visits and in-patient care in relation
     to asthma in the USA is $4.7 billion(2)
   • Up to 80% of asthma exacerbations which result in emergency department
     visits are associated with RV infections(3)
   • 50% of the total cost of the asthma is apportioned to 10% of the
     asthmatic population with the severest disease(4)


COPD statistics

   • COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the USA: 118,171 (2004)(5)
   • The economic cost to the USA of COPD is $42.6 billion(2)
   • Direct health expenditure on COPD in the USA is $26.7 billion
     (asthma $14.7billion)(2)
   • Research by the SUPPORT investigators estimated the average cost of a
     hospitalisation for a severe COPD patient to be $7,100(6)
   • The global market for COPD drugs is forecast to increase from $4 billion
     to $7 billion by 2010(7)



Information about common colds and rhinovirus ('RV')

   • Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between
     September and May(8)
   • Young children suffer from an average of six to eight colds per year(8)
   • Asthmatics have similar upper respiratory tract (nose and throat)
     symptoms as non-asthmatics(9)
   • Asthmatics frequently suffer lower respiratory tract (the airways in the
     lung) infections(9)


References

1. American Lung Association. Trends in Asthma Morbidity and Morality. 2007
   www.lungusa.org

2. Morbidity & Mortality: 2007 Chart Book on cardiovascular, lung and blood
   diseases produced by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

3. S. King et al, Persistence of Rhinovirus RNA after asthma exacerbations
   in children. Clin Exp Allergy 2005 May 35 (5) 672-8

4. P.J. Barnes, B. Johnson, J.B. Klim. The Costs of Asthma. Eur Respir J
   1996 9, 636-642

5. National Center for Health Statistics. Deaths: Final Data for 2004
   (August 2007)

6. Connors AF Jr et al. Outcomes following acute exacerbation of severe
   chronic obstructive lung disease. The SUPPORT investigators. Am J Respir Crit
   Care Med 1996; 154:959-967

7. Espicom Business Intelligence: New Drug Futures: Respiratory Chapter 2006

8. Cold and Flu Guidelines: The Common Cold www.lungusa.org

9. J.M. Corne et al Frequency, severity and duration of rhinovirus
   infections in asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals: a longitudinal cohort
   study. Lancet 2002 Mat 9; 359 (9309):831-4




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