Summit Appoints Dr David Roblin as Chief Medical Officer

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June 12, 2013 02:00 ET

Summit Therapeutics plc

Summit Therapeutics plc

Summit Corporation plc

('Summit' or 'the Company')

SUMMIT APPOINTS DR DAVID ROBLIN AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Oxford, UK, 12 June 2013 - Summit (AIM: SUMM), a drug discovery and development company advancing therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ('DMD') and C. difficile infection ('CDI'), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr David Roblin as the Company's Chief Medical Officer ('CMO').  During an extensive career in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr Roblin has successfully developed drugs through clinical trials and market launch across several therapy areas including infectious and metabolic diseases.

"As one of Europe's leading experts in translational medicine, I am delighted David has joined Summit as Chief Medical Officer to strengthen our clinical development team", commented Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Summit.  "David brings considerable expertise in all aspects of drug development having been instrumental in the successful development of a number of important medicines.  As our DMD and CDI drug programmes go through patient clinical trials, David will make a major contribution to their successful development."

Summit's new Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Roblin, added, "SMT C1100 and SMT 19969 are promising new drugs, based on innovative science, that have the potential to address medical and patient need and, as a result, become breakthrough treatments for two devastating diseases.  I look forward to working with the high quality team at Summit and supporting the development of these programmes as they progress through patient clinical trials."

About Dr David Roblin MBBS, BSc, FRCP, MFPM

Dr David Roblin is a qualified medical doctor who after practicing medicine entered the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.  He has extensive experience from an 18-year career in the industry during which he has been involved in the successful development of a number of important medicines in a range of therapy areas including infectious and metabolic diseases.

David has held a number of senior leadership roles at Pfizer and Bayer where he was involved in research, development and commercialisation.  At Pfizer, he was Head of Research, Site Director and CMO for Europe R&D and he and his units were responsible for the development of several important and successful medicines.  At Bayer, he was Head of Therapy Area for Anti-infectives where he was involved in the successful development of a number of antibiotics, including Avelox(TM) and Cipro(TM).

Having held a number of Executive and Non-Executive Board positions, David also has experience in commercial and R&D strategy, fundraising and securing non-dilutive grants from a various UK, European and US government bodies.  He will divide his time between Summit and Creabilis SA where he is also CMO.  He is currently a Director of Destiny Pharma and Bio-Industry Advisor to the National Office of Research Infra-structure in the Department of Health.

David previously practiced medicine at St George's and St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, holds a degree in Biochemistry (University of London) and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Physicians.

Summit is an Oxford, UK based drug discovery and development Company targeting high-value areas of unmet medical need including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and C. difficile infection.  Summit is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and trades under the ticker symbol SUMM. Further information is available at www.summitplc.com and follow Summit on Twitter (@summitplc).

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Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements", including, but not limited to, statements about the discovery, development and commercialisation of programme assets. These forward-looking statements are statements based on the Company's current intentions, beliefs and expectations, which include, among other things, the Company's results of operations, financial condition, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.  Forward-looking statements and information by their nature involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These include but are not limited to: adverse results in clinical or preclinical development studies; delays in obtaining regulatory approval; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; being unable to secure partnership agreements to develop and commercialise programme assets; being unable to secure the necessary funding to conduct any proposed research and development studies; and the ability to retain and recruit key personnel.  The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement to reflect any changes in expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by applicable law.