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Antisoma plc: Antisoma and Bryan Oncor announce deal for anti-cancer drug P2045

^{Published on 2009-08-11 04:24:05, Last Modified on 2009-08-11 04:24:14 - Market Wire}
 

LONDON and CAMBRIDGE, MA, and SOMERVILLE, MA--(Marketwire - August 11, 2009) -

Antisoma plc (LSE: ASM; USOTC: ATSMY) and Bryan Oncor, Inc., a privately held US biotechnology company, announce the assignment to Bryan Oncor of all rights to P2045, a novel radiolabelled somatostatin analogue that has completed a phase I trial in non-small cell lung cancer. P2045 had been added to Antisoma's portfolio through the acquisition of Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in June 2008.

P2045 co-inventor and former Antisoma scientist Dr. John Lister James will continue with the clinical development of P2045 as Chief Technology Officer at Bryan Oncor.

Glyn Edwards, Antisoma's CEO, said: "We are pleased that Bryan Oncor will be taking P2045 forward, building on promising initial data from a phase I trial. We believe that successful development of this product is best achieved by a company like Bryan Oncor that has specialist expertise in radiolabelled pharmaceuticals."

Chris Adams, CEO of Bryan Oncor, Inc, said: "As an early stage company Bryan Oncor will focus its efforts on developing this potentially important cancer therapeutic. There is a significant medical need for drugs to treat lung cancer".

 Enquiries: Glyn Edwards Chief Exective Officer Antisoma plc +44 (0)20 3249 2144 Mark Court/Lisa Baderoon/Rebecca Skye Dietrich Buchanan Communications +44 (0)20 7466 5000 Brian Korb The Trout Group +1 646 378 2923 Chris Adams Chief Executive Officer Bryan Oncor, Inc. +1 617 957 9858 [ info@bryanoncor.com ]

Background on P2045

P2O45 is a radiopharmaceutical that comprises a high-affinity somatostatin receptor binding peptide and the high-energy beta-emitting radionuclide rhenium-188 and has been shown to be effective in cancer animal models and was well tolerated by patients in a phase I clinical study.

Background on Antisoma

Antisoma is a London Stock Exchange-listed biopharmaceutical company that develops novel products for the treatment of cancer. The Company has operations in the UK and the US. Please visit [ www.antisoma.com ] for further information about Antisoma.

Background on Bryan Oncor, Inc.

Bryan Oncor is an early stage Massachusetts based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of oncology therapeutics.

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