Synairgen plc

('Synairgen' or the 'Company')

Board Changes

Southampton, UK - 29 September 2022: Synairgen plc (LSE: SNG), the respiratory company developing SNG001, an investigational formulation for inhalation containing the broad-spectrum antiviral protein interferon beta, today announces the appointment of Dr Felicity ('Flic') Gabbay to the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Simultaneous to this announcement, Theodora Harold is stepping down from the Board with immediate effect.

Flic has extensive experience within the life sciences sector including holding several senior and CEO positions in big pharma, biotech and CROs in both Europe and North America. As Founder and Managing Partner at TranScrip LLP, founded in 2008, she has overseen drug development work with companies at all stages of the drug development cycle, as well as securing private equity investment and the acquisition of Real Regulatory.

Starting her career as a medical doctor, Flic held various medical posts across Europe before moving into the biotechnology sector. She is the current President of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine for the three Royal Colleges of Physicians.

In 2020, Flic was awarded the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Science and is passionate about bringing pharmaceutical medicine into mainstream medical science and its application to public health.

She completed a BSc in Pharmacology and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree at the University of Manchester.  

In the ordinary course of business, Synairgen contracts outsourced medical affairs and clinical development services from TranScrip, which are conducted on an "arm's length" basis. The Board is satisfied that the provision of services by TranScrip does not impact on Flic's independence as a non-executive director.

Simon Shaw, Chair of Synairgen, said: "Flic is highly experienced with a deep understanding of drug development and pharmaceutical medicine. Over her distinguished career, she has gained invaluable experience in supporting companies to progress their candidate drugs through the clinic and we look forward to benefitting from her insights as we continue the clinical development of SNG001. I wish to thank Theo for her contributions during the period of her service and wish her well with her future endeavours."

Flic Gabbay commented: "I am pleased to join the Board of Synairgen as it works towards the next milestones for SNG001 as a potential therapeutic for severe respiratory viral infections. I look forward to working closely with the Synairgen Management team and Board on the next steps for the Company's clinical development."

Relevant disclosures

The following disclosures are required under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

Mrs Felicity Jane Gabbay, aged 70, has held no previous directorships and/or partnerships in the past five years, but currently holds the following directorships:

Current directorships:

·    Transcrip Limited

·    Project Altair Midco Limited

·    Project Altair Holdco Limited

·    Transcrip Partners International Limited

·    Transcrip Partners LLP

·    The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom      

Felicity does not have any beneficial interest in the ordinary shares of the Company.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR').

For further enquiries, please contact:

Synairgen plc

Brooke Clarke, Head of Communications

[email protected]

Tel: + 44 (0) 23 8051 2800

finnCap (NOMAD and Joint Broker)

Geoff Nash, Charlie Beeson (Corporate Finance)

Alice Lane, Sunil de Silva (ECM)

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7220 0500

Numis Securities Limited (Joint Broker)

James Black, Freddie Barnfield, Duncan Monteith

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7260 1000

Consilium Strategic Communications (Financial Media and Investor Relations)

Mary-Jane Elliott, Namrata Taak, Lucy Featherstone

[email protected]

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700

MKC STRATEGIES, LLC (US Media Relations)

Mary Conway

[email protected]  

Tel: +1 516-606-6545

Notes for Editors

About Synairgen

Synairgen is a UK-based respiratory company focused on drug discovery, development and commercialisation. The Company's primary focus is developing SNG001 (inhaled interferon beta) for the treatment of severe viral lung infections, including COVID-19, as potentially the first host-targeted, broad-spectrum antiviral treatment delivered directly into the lungs. SNG001 has been granted Fast Track status from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Founded by University of Southampton Professors Sir Stephen Holgate, Donna Davies and Ratko Djukanovic in 2003, Synairgen is quoted on AIM (LSE: SNG). For more information about Synairgen, please see www.synairgen.com.