For immediate release: 0700hrs 4th April 2007
VALIRX PLC
("ValiRx" or the "Company")
University of Surrey Collaborative- Agreement
ValiRx plc (AIM: VAL), the cancer therapeutics company, today announces that
its subsidiary company, Cronos Therapeutics Ltd ("Cronos"), has signed an
agreement with the University of Surrey's Postgraduate Medical School to
co-develop prostate and bladder cancer diagnostics based on Cronos' proprietary
HyperGenomics technology.
Professor Pandha of the University of Surrey is a leading scientist in the
field of oncology focusing on integrating clinical and basic research to
evaluate new targets for the treatment of urological and prostate cancers.
Dr Satu Vainikka, CEO of ValiRx, said:
"We are looking to introduce a technology that reliably detects prostate cancer
even when it's in the early stages and determine from the outset whether the
cancer is benign or malignant. We believe these diagnostic capabilities would
assist oncologists in the management of the disease to deliver better treatment
outcomes. Current products are unable to do this. Cronos' HyperGenomics
technology has potentially an important role to play and we look forward to our
collaboration with Professor Pandha and the University of Surrey, an excellent
research base, to achieve our goals."
Professor Pandha of the University of Surrey adds:
"By combining the HyperGenomics technology with the data we are generating from
our ongoing programmes with patients, we are looking towards taking a
significant step forward in the creation of a diagnostic platform for the early
stage detection of prostate cancer."
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Notes to Editors:
HyperGenomics is a rapid, high-throughput and extremely sensitive diagnostic
technology that can be used to characterise any particular cell, disease or
differentiation state using a patented PCR-based method for mapping the open
areas of chromatin on a chromosome.
HyperGenomics represents the first use of chromosome structure as an indicator
of epigenetic status on a global (throughout the genome) scale. The technology
can be automated for the highly parallel analysis of thousands of genes in
thousands of samples. HyperGenomics thus provides a similar type of information
to that of DNA chips but in a few hours and at a fraction of the cost. The
epigenetic patterns produced can be used for:
* Diagnostics
* Pharmacogenomics
* Stem cell applications
* Drug development
* Research purposes
Cronos' HyperGenomics technology was developed by Dr Weinzierl at Imperial
College, a world leading Science, Engineering and Medicine University
Information on ValiRx
ValiRx is a biopharmaceutical development company that is building a portfolio
of complementary cancer-related therapeutic and diagnostic technologies. It
currently holds stakes in Cronos and Morphogenesis Inc;
* Cronos holds licences to two innovative and potentially market changing
technologies, GeneICE and HyperGenomics;
* Morphogenesis Inc. is developing a portfolio of cell therapy products for
the treatment of chronic disorders. Its most advanced product is ImmuneFxâ„¢
for which it recently received a patent from the US patent office.
ValiRx is headquartered in London, England.
Information on the University of Surrey
The University of Surrey has a reputation for excellence in teaching and
research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit
to all spheres of life - helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and
creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the
environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science
and technology have gained widespread recognition. In addition to the campus on
150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs
the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing
2,700 staff.
Contact Details:
ValiRx Plc WH Ireland University of GTH Communications
Surrey
Dr Satu Vainikka David Youngman Stuart Miller Toby Hall / Jade
Mamarbachi
+44 (0) 207 408 +44 (0) 161 832 +44 (0) 1483 +44 (0) 20 7153 8035
5400 2174 689314