Sareum Holdings plc

("Sareum" or the "Company")

European Patent Granted for Sareum's SDC-1802, a Novel Small Molecule TYK2/JAK1 Inhibitor, for the Treatment of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Cambridge, UK, 11 April 2022 - Sareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR), the specialist drug development company, announces that, further to its announcement on 15 December 2021, the European Patent Office has now issued a formal notification of grant for a patent in respect of an invention associated with Sareum's proprietary SDC-1802 TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor programme. The patent will come into effect on 4 May 2022.

The patent (EPO Patent no. EP3528806) will protect the SDC-1802 molecule and pharmaceutical preparations thereof as a therapeutic to treat T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL - a cancer of a particular type of white blood cell called a T lymphocyte) and other cancers that are dependent on TYK2 kinase for survival. This programme is in preclinical development.

Sareum's CSO, Dr John Reader, commented:

"This newly issued European patent for SDC-1802 expands our already broad and robust patent portfolio covering both our novel TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor candidates and further supports their commercial potential as new treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer. Building a strong intellectual property portfolio around our TYK2/JAK1 assets is a core strategic focus for Sareum that we believe is creating important value for our shareholders."

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About Sareum

Sareum is a specialist drug development company delivering targeted small molecule therapeutics to improve the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The Company aims to generate value through licensing its candidates to international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies at the preclinical or early clinical trials stage.

Sareum is advancing internal programmes focused on distinct dual tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) / Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitors through preclinical development as therapies for autoimmune diseases, including the 'cytokine storm' immune system overreaction to Covid-19 and other viral infections, (SDC-1801) and cancer immunotherapy (SDC-1802).

Sareum also has an economic interest in SRA737, a clinical-stage oral, selective Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitor that targets cancer cell replication and DNA damage repair mechanisms. Preliminary Phase 2 and comprehensive preclinical data suggest SRA737 may have broad application in combination with other oncology and immune-oncology drugs in genetically defined patients.

SRA737 was discovered and initially developed by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research in collaboration with Sareum, and with funding from Sareum and Cancer Research UK. SRA737 was licensed by CRT Pioneer Fund (CPF) to Sierra Oncology Inc. Sierra continues to explore options that would enable the development of SRA737 to advance.

Sareum Holdings plc is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, trading under the ticker SAR. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.sareum.com 

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