For immediate release: 28 May 2008, 07:00
VALIRX PLC
("ValiRx" or the "Company")
Second Australian GeneICE Patent Granted
ValiRx (AIM: VAL), the cancer therapeutics and diagnostics company, today
announces that its proprietary gene-silencing technology, GeneICE, has secured
a second patent from the Australian Patent Office.
This additional Australian patent, along with the similar European patent
granted in August 2007, protects the design of the GeneICE molecules used by
the Company. It supplements the original Australian patent, granted in January
2008, which - in line with the US patent issued in April 2007 - protects the
underlying GeneICE technology platform.
ValiRx holds the worldwide exclusive commercial rights to GeneICE through its
subsidiary, Cronos Therapeutics Ltd ("Cronos").
Dr Satu Vainikka, CEO of ValiRx, commented:
"This second Australian patent adds a further layer of protection for our
GeneICE technology in that market, widening the potential global opportunities
that exist for our epigenetic based approach to treat cancer."
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About ValiRx plc
ValiRx is a biopharmaceutical company that is building a portfolio of
complementary cancer-related diagnostic and therapeutic products based on
patented technologies.
The Company's products are rooted in the epigenomic analysis and treatment of
cancer. Epigenetics is the emerging science of how, when and why genes are
switched "on" or "off" in the body. By knowing which genes are responsible for
a specific disease, doctors can target the therapy to that particular gene. At
the same time, the technology has the potential to also be used for screening
purposes in identifying individuals at risk of developing disease based on
their epigenetic make-up.
ValiRx currently holds a worldwide exclusive license for Nucleosomics, the
early stage oncology diagnostics technology, and has majority stakes in Cronos
Therapeutics Ltd ("Cronos") and ValiBIO SA:
* Cronos holds worldwide exclusive licenses to two innovative and potentially
market changing technologies, GeneICE and HyperGenomicsTM, and is
developing further novel cancer therapies;
* ValiBIO SA is a Belgium joint venture between ValiRx and BIO.be focusing on
the development and commercialisation of products in the epigenomics
sector, the first products to be put into development being HyperGenomics
and Nucleosomics. ValiRx has a 77% majority holding in the company.
ValiRx is headquartered in London, England. Further information can be found at
www.valirx.com
Contact Details:
For Further Information, please contact:
ValiRx Plc WH Ireland GTH Communications
Dr Satu Vainikka David Youngman Toby Hall / Brooke Paul
+44 (0) 203 008 4416 +44 (0) 161 832 2174 +44 (0) 20 7153 8039/8035