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27/05/2002

Antisoma plc R & D Update

London, UK: Antisoma plc (LSE: ASM, Nasdaq Europe: ASOM), the biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer, will today present an overview to analysts and investors of three of its key development programmes: pemtumomab, DMXAA and targeted apoptosis.

Announced today

• Recruitment of patients for the pilot Phase II study of pemtumomab in gastric cancer achieves target
• Addition of a third enzyme, caspase, further strengthens the targeted apoptosis programme, supplementing RNase and DNase
• Additional evidence of DMXAA's potential in combination with chemotherapy

Pemtumomab
Pemtumomab is a radiolabelled monoclonal antibody designed to treat intra-abdominal cancers, currently in Phase III studies for the treatment of ovarian cancer and Phase II studies for gastric cancer. Antisoma announces today that the planned recruitment target for the pilot Phase II study in the treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer has now been met. It is expected that the initial data from this study will be reported in the third quarter of this year.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer overall after lung, breast and colorectal.

Targeted apoptosis
Antisoma today announces a further strengthening of its targeted apoptosis programme with the addition of a third enzyme, caspase. These enzymes are central to the activation of apoptosis, the natural mechanism of cell death which is absent in cancer cells. Antisoma is working with scientists at Imperial College on the targeted introduction of these potent enzymes to tumour cells. In vitro experiments have demonstrated that antibody-targeted caspase can target, bind to, and kill tumour cells.

DMXAA
Earlier this year Antisoma announced promising data on the combination of DMXAA with paclitaxel. Today the Company will present further encouraging data on the combination of DMXAA with six other commonly used cancer drugs, including carboplatin and doxorubicin.

Program Overview

At a seminar for analysts and investors today, external experts in the field of oncology and Antisoma's own scientists will deliver an overview of three of the Company's programmes.

Pemtumomab
Mrs. Victoria Hird of St Mary's Hospital, London, lead investigator in the Phase II study of pemtumomab in ovarian cancer, will present an overview of current treatments for ovarian cancer patients and outline the need for new approaches. Dr. Alan Skene of Nottingham Clinical Research will discuss the design of the Phase III study and the impact of tightening the study criteria. Prof. Wim Oyen, an expert in nuclear medicine at the University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, will give a presentation on radioimmunotherapy and prospects for radiolabelled antibodies in the treatment of cancer.

DMXAA
Dr. Lloyd Kelland, who recently joined Antisoma from the Institute of Cancer Research, will summarise recent pre-clinical work on DMXAA and Prof. Gordon Rustin, Director of Medical Oncology at Mount Vernon Hospital, Middlesex, will give an overview of clinical experience with vascular targeting agents.

Targeted apoptosis
Antisoma will also give an insight into targeted apoptosis, one of its most promising early stage programmes. Dr Mahendra Deonarain of Imperial College will discuss work to create a new generation of immunotoxins designed to harness the specific targeting properties of antibodies to enzymes which induce cell suicide. The objective is to develop products which are highly toxic to cancer cells but which have little or no effect on normal cells. Dr. Deonarain will summarise the new work using caspase enzymes and put it in the context of the previously announced programmes with DNase and RNase.

Glyn Edwards, Antisoma's Chief Executive Officer commented:
"With our financial position secured, today's presentations will underline the breadth and depth of our portfolio and the strength of our external links. We are pleased to announce an important milestone with the achievement of our recruitment target for the pemtumomab pilot Phase II study in gastric cancer, and to present further evidence of the potential of our vascular targeting agent DMXAA in combination therapy.”

Enquiries:

Antisoma plc
Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive Officer		+44 (0)20 8799 8200
Financial Dynamics:
Jonathan Birt/Ben Atwell		+44 (0)20 7831 3113

 

Except for the historical information presented, certain matters discussed in this statement are forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and development, including statements regarding the company's clinical development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially.