Summit Corporation PLC : Research Update on Alzheimer's Disease Programme

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March 06, 2012 02:00 ET

Summit Therapeutics plc

Summit Therapeutics plc

Summit Corporation plc

('Summit' or 'the Company')

RESEARCH UPDATE ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PROGRAMME

Seglin OGA enzyme inhibitors gain access to the brain in in vivo studies

Neurodegeneration expert Dr. Ann Hayes appointed as consultant

Oxford, UK, 6 March 2012, Summit (AIM: SUMM), a UK drug discovery company, today reports new positive data from in vivo studies in its drug discovery programme targeting Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.  The programme has been developed using Summit's proprietary Seglin(TM) technology drug discovery platform.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and is a progressive, debilitating disorder with symptoms including memory loss, change in mood and personality, and a decline in cognitive abilities.  One of the main characteristics of the disease is the formation of neurofibrillary tangles ('NFT'), which are toxic aggregates of tau protein that contribute to the death of nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Recent independent scientific publications have placed greater emphasis on the importance of tau and NFTs in the cause and spread of Alzheimer's disease. Additional studies have highlighted how inhibiting the enzyme O-linked N-acetylglucosaminidase ('OGA') can prevent tau from aggregating and forming NFTs, confirming it as a target for the development of potential disease modifying drugs to treat Alzheimer's.

New positive data generated

Using Seglin(TM) technology, Summit has identified, as previously reported, potent and highly selective Seglin inhibitors of OGA and has established in vitro efficacy in human cell models of Alzheimer's disease.

However, the latest in vivo, non-clinical studies evaluated the pharmacokinetic properties (or properties pertaining to the movement of drugs within the body) of these potent Seglin inhibitors and the results showed that they were able to penetrate the Blood Brain Barrier ('BBB') and enter the central nervous system ('CNS').  This is an important prerequisite for treating CNS disorders as delivery of drugs to the brain represents the major challenge when developing medicines for their treatment.

Furthermore the Seglins also displayed excellent bioavailability with the compounds being rapidly absorbed when administered orally.  Importantly, no adverse effects were reported from these in vivo studies.  These data represent a significant step forward in the development of this programme.

To support the development of the Alzheimer's programme, Summit is pleased to announce that Dr. Ann Hayes has joined the Company as a consultant.  Dr. Hayes brings a wealth of scientific expertise in the area of neurodegeneration having held a number of senior positions within the pharmaceutical industry including Therapeutic Director of CNS Drug Discovery at GlaxoWellcome (now part of GlaxoSmithKline).

Ann Hayes, PhD commented: "Alzheimer's disease remains an area of high unmet medical need and I am delighted to be working with Summit to support the development of their exciting scientific programme.  Tau plays an important role in the progression of the disease and Summit's scientific approach is highly promising and has the potential to prevent formation of the toxic tau protein tangles that are characteristic of the disease."

Barry Price, PhD, Executive Chairman of Summit added: "We are very pleased Ann is joining the Company as a consultant to support the future development of our Alzheimer's disease programme.  The identification of Seglin OGA inhibitors that are able to achieve penetration of the Blood Brain Barrier is very promising, especially given the growing acceptance of OGA as a target for Alzheimer's following the recent high-profile publication of new scientific data.

"In addition, the positive results further demonstrate how Seglin(TM) technology can produce potent, selective Seglins with attractive drug-like properties to reinforce our belief about the platform's potential as a major source of new medicines."

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About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common form of dementia.  In 2010, it was estimated that there were 35 million people suffering from dementia globally.  Symptoms of Alzheimer's include memory loss, change in mood and personality, and a decline in cognitive abilities.  The greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's is advancing age with most patients being 65 or over.  One of the characteristics of the disease is the formation of neurofibrillary tangles ('NFT') in the brain which are caused by the aggregation of a protein called tau.  Alzheimer's disease is one of a number of neurodegenerative diseases where NFTs are found in the brain and collectively these diseases are known as tauopathies.

Summit is an Oxford, UK based drug discovery Company with an innovative Seglin(TM) technology platform for the discovery of new medicines and a portfolio of drug programme assets.  Summit's programme portfolio consists of a number of drug programmes 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.

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.

Forward Looking Statements

This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "believes", "estimates", "expects" and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you therefore that you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as statements of historical fact or as guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and regional, national, global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions.