SLN.L Regulatory News (SLN)

7 Apr 2008 16:12

Silence Therapeutics PLC07 April 2008 Silence Therapeutics plc Holding in Company London 7 April 2008 - Silence Therapeutics plc (the "Company") announces that itreceived notification on 4 April 2008 that, following a disposal of ordinaryshares on 3 April 2008, Deutsche Bank AG no longer holds a notifiable interestin the ordinary shares of the Company. - Ends - Enquiries: For further information, please contact the following: Silence Therapeutics plc Citigate Dewe Rogerson+44(0)20 7307 1620 +44(0)20 7638 9571Jeff Vick, Chief Executive Officer David DibleMelvyn Davies, Finance Director Emma Palmer Nominated AdvisersNomura Code Securities Limited+44(0)20 7776 1200Chris CollinsGerard Harper Notes to Editors Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com) Silence Therapeutics plc (LSE:SLN) is a leading RNAi company. RNA interference(RNAi) can selectively 'silence' genes linked to the onset of disease. Silence Therapeutics has developed novel, proprietary short interfering RNA('siRNA') molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages overconventional siRNA molecules as they show increased stability against nucleasedegradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary systemicdelivery system, AtuPLEX. This enables the delivery of siRNA molecules totargeted diseased tissues and cells, whilst increasing their bioavailability andintracellular uptake. In July 2007, Silence Therapeutics formed a research and developmentcollaboration with AstraZeneca to develop AtuRNAi against five specific targetsincluding those in respiratory indications. The Company's AtuRNAi technologyalso has been sublicensed to Pfizer through Quark's license to Pfizer of thecompound RTP-801i-14 for the treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)and a number of other indications. This compound entered the clinic in early2007. Silence Therapeutics also has licensed to Quark rights to the AtuRNAistructure for its proprietary compound AKIi-5. This compound is in a Phase Ihuman clinical study for treatment of acute kidney injury. In addition, SilenceTherapeutics expects to begin the clinical development of its own proprietaryAtuRNAi therapeutic molecules for systemic cancer indications in 2008. Silence Therapeutics is based in London, UK, and Berlin, Germany, and is listedon AIM. About RNAi RNA interference (RNAi), a Nobel Prize winning technology, is one of the mostexciting areas of drug discovery today. It represents a completely new approachto selectively 'silence' or inactivate disease relevant genes and as such it hasthe potential to create a new class of therapeutic products. RNAi couldtherefore offer a therapeutic approach to a broad range of diseases (cancer,infectious diseases, inherited diseases), many of which have been regarded asincurable and are not addressed by current therapeutics, therefore providing alarge market opportunity. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject torisks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties couldcause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in theforward-looking statements. All forward--looking statements are based oninformation currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence Therapeuticsassumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange