26 February 2015
ValiRx Plc
("ValiRx" or "the Company")
New Endometriosis Patent Grant for ValiRx
"ValiRx receives new patent grant for additional indication
in endometriosis or hormone induced abnormal cell growth in women"
ValiRx Plc (AIM: VAL), a life science company with a focus on cancer diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised medicine, is pleased to announce that it has received patent approval by the UK Patent Office regarding its lead therapeutic compound VAL201 for a further indication in endometriosis or hormone induced abnormal cell growth in women. This follows on from and complements ValiRx's earlier announcement this week of the successful first results from VAL201's clinical trial (announced 24.02.15).
Based on results in endometrial models, VAL201 has been shown to reduce abnormal endometrial growth, whilst leaving other hormone-induced activities working normally.
Endometriosis is a gynaecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones. These endometrial-like cells in areas outside the uterus (endometriosis) are influenced by hormonal changes and respond in a way that is similar to the cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms often worsen with the menstrual cycle. Endometriosis is excessively debilitating, typically seen during the reproductive years and represents one of the major causes of female infertility.
It has been predicted that the global endometriosis market will reach $1.3billion by 2017 and endometriosis remains a common health problem among women, with an estimated 170 million sufferers globally. This estimate is widely considered to be an under estimation of the true situation with respect to this condition.
The patent provides protection for the Company for this indication and is entitled; "Inhibitors of the interaction between a src family kinase and an androgen receptor of estradiol receptor for the treatment of endometrioses."
The granting of this latest patent to the Company follows the recent NAV3 Biomarker European patent grant, which we announced earlier this month (11.02.15) and it means that ValiRx now has patent protection for its therapeutic technologies in the UK, Japan, Europe and Australia and much of the rest of the world.
Dr Satu Vainikka, CEO of ValiRx, commented:"The granting of this latest patent not only further extends our global geographic patent coverage, but it also complements our announcement earlier this week on the successful first results from our lead compound, VAL201 in its Phase I/II clinical trial."
"The market for treatments against endometriosis and hormone induced tumour growth is substantial and with significant unmet clinical need and I am seeing from a number of quarters increasing interest in endometriosis therapeutics. I believe new methods of treatment are increasingly being accepted for the benefit of all parties and the granting of this latest patent assists in this".
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For more information, please contact:
ValiRx plc |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3008 4416 |
Dr Satu Vainikka |
www.valirx.com |
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser) |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7148 7900 |
Liam Murray / Avi Robinson |
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Daniel Stewart & Company Plc (Broker) |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 6550 |
Martin Lampshire |
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Peckwater PR |
Tel: +44 (0) 7879 458 364 |
Tarquin Edwards |
[email protected] |
Notes for Editors
ValiRx Plc
ValiRx Plc is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel technologies and products in oncology therapeutics and diagnostics. The product focus is in the epigenomic analysis and treatment of cancer, but the technologies can be applied to other fields as well, such as neurology and inflammatory diseases.
The Company listed on AIM in October 2006 and is creating a portfolio of innovative products through investment in specific development projects. It actively manages projects within this portfolio as a trading company and is not an investment vehicle. The ValiRx business model spreads the risks of life science technology developments by minimising financial exposure and running a set of projects to defined commercial endpoints. This maximises returns to shareholders by adding value at the earlier stages where value increases per investment unit are the greatest.
The Company operates through the following divisional companies:
1. ValiFinn is the biomarkers and diagnostic development division
2. ValiPharma is the therapeutics division with two embedded technologies primarily directed at the treatment of cancers.
