Summit Corporation PLC : New Data Reported from OGA Inhibitor Programme

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March 11, 2013 03:00 ET

Summit Therapeutics plc

Summit Therapeutics plc

Summit Corporation plc

('Summit' or 'the Company')

NEW DATA REPORTED FROM PRECLINICAL EFFICACY STUDY OF OGA INHIBITORS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED TAUOPATHIES

Improvement in symptoms of motor impairment, increased survival recorded

New data presented at International conference on dementia

Oxford, UK, 11 March 2013 - Summit (AIM: SUMM), a drug discovery and development company, reports new data from its OGA (O-linked N-acetylglucosaminidase) inhibitor programme for the treatment of tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Alzheimer's disease.  The OGA inhibitors were evaluated in an in vivo disease model, with results showing trends to a positive impact on motor impairment symptoms and improved survival rates following daily oral dosing.  These new data were presented at AD/PD(TM) 2013, the international conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases held in Florence, Italy, 6-10 March.

"Following the strategic refocusing of Summit to commit all resources into advancing our two clinical-stage programmes, the completion of this study represents the natural conclusion of our involvement in this programme," commented Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Summit.  "The inhibition of the enzyme OGA has emerged as a potential new treatment paradigm for Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies.  These encouraging results further highlight the promise of the approach and of our OGA inhibitors, and will add greater depth to the scientific data package as we talk with perspective collaborators about taking this programme further into development."

Summary of Results from Preclinical Efficacy Study

The study evaluated the OGA inhibitors, previously identified using Seglin(TM) technology, in a transgenic tauopathy disease model to determine the effect that prolonged dosing had on motor impairments related to the disease and survival rates.  The tauopathies are also characterised by reduced levels of O-GlcNAcylated tau protein and raised levels of hyper-phosphorylated tau protein.  In summary, the results of daily oral dosing with the Seglin inhibitors for 10 weeks were:

A clear trend for reduced clasping, a clinical sign indicative of motor impairment, and improved survival rates compared to the untreated cohort;

A statistically significant increase in O-GlcNAcylated  protein levels in the brain with the increased global levels maintained on repeat dosing to demonstrate that the OGA inhibitor accessed the brain compartment at therapeutically relevant concentrations;

No observed change in tau protein phosphorylation levels although this is consistent with precedent from the scientific literature;

No associated toxicity or adverse effects from prolonged dosing observed.

The full results were reported at AD/PD(TM) 2013 held in Florence, Italy, 6-10 March 2013, and a copy of the presentation is available from www.summitplc.com.

The tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases which includes Alzheimer's disease and a number of rare disorders such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Frontotemporal Dementia.  The tauopathies are characterised by the formation in the brain of neurofibrillary tangles ('NFTs'), derived from aggregation of aberrant forms of tau, which contribute to the death of nerve cells in the brains of patients.  A greater emphasis is being placed on the importance of tau and NFTs in the cause and spread of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. An emerging hypothesis is whether  that inhibition of  the enzyme O-linked N-acetylglucosaminidase ('OGA') may prevent aggregation of aberrantly forms of tau  and hence the formation of NFTs, confirming it as a target for the development of potential disease modifying drugs to treat Alzheimer's and related tauopathies.

About Seglin(TM) Technology

In human biology the function of physiological systems is dependent on proteins, fats and carbohydrates. While the importance of proteins as targets in drug discovery is well established, carbohydrate targets have remained largely unexploited. Seglin(TM) technology is an innovative drug discovery platform that aims to address this by using new chemistry to access these carbohydrate drug targets. Seglins are orally available small molecules with intrinsic biological activity and excellent drug properties that makes them highly attractive for the development of new medicines. The platform is expected to have broad use in a range of major diseases.

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.

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Forward Looking Statements

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