RNS Number:3388H
EiRx Therapeutics PLC
08 November 2007


For immediate release                                            8 November 2007


                             EIRX THERAPEUTICS PLC

                           ("EiRx" or "the Company")
       Patents filed on two new series of candidate cancer drug compounds

EiRx issues update on product development - expansion of EnPAD(TM) drug discovery
    platform leads to potential new drugs targeting major cancer indications

Cork, Ireland - EiRx Therapeutics plc (AIM: ERX), the drug discovery company
developing targeted therapies for cancer, is pleased to provide an update on its
key drug development programmes.  The Company also announces the filing of new
patent applications describing novel drug candidates with potential value as
treatments for a range of cancers including colorectal and breast tumours.  The
progress detailed below is expected to have a major impact on the Company's
prospects of developing value-enhancing licensing and collaborative
relationships with Pharmaceutical companies  These developments follow the
announcement on 13th August of a grant-funded alliance between the Company and
Professor Anita Maguire of the Analytical and Biological Chemistry Research
Facility (ABCRF) at University College Cork, which establishes a medicinal
chemistry capability and advances EiRx's operational platform from drug
discovery to drug development.  Compounds from chemical series covered by the
new patent applications will now be advanced to the ABCRF collaborative work
programme for further development.


Patent claiming specific inhibitors of AKT signalling pathway

The first patent application filed by EiRx on the 11th October seeks to protect
a series of related chemical compounds that share an ability to inhibit
activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, an intracellular signal transduction
mechanism which is overactive in more than 60% of all cancers.  These compounds
were discovered through application of the Company's proprietary Engineered
Pathway Dependence (EnPAD(TM)) technology.  In this instance, an apoptosis-
resistant phenotype was induced by deliberate overexpression of the AKT protein
isoform 2 in order to generate a cellular screening model targeting the PI3K/AKT
pathway.  In laboratory tests, exemplar compounds from the hit series potently
and specifically induced apoptosis in breast and colorectal cancer cell lines,
and have been shown by EiRx researchers to prevent the activation of the protein
kinase AKT, an event which is central to signal transduction by the targeted
pathway.  This success further demonstrates the EnPAD(TM) technology's ability
to deliberately focus the selection of biologically active compounds against a
chosen aspect of tumour cell biology.  Compounds from this AKT signalling
inhibitor series will now be advanced to further mechanism-of-action ("MOA"),
toxicology and in vivo efficacy studies.  Once in vivo activity and MOA have
been confirmed, it is anticipated that this compound series will be the subject
of an optimization effort conducted as part of the Company's medicinal chemistry
collaboration with the ABCRF.


Patent claiming hit series compounds from Beta-catenin EnPAD(TM) model

As previously reported, EiRx's first EnPAD(TM) model was specifically designed
to identify compounds that kill cancer cells by interfering with the Wnt / Beta
-catenin signal pathway, which is known to be overactive in >85% of late-stage
colorectal cancers as well as in breast cancers, and is now though to play a
role in both melanoma and leukaemia.  This was achieved by engineered
overexpression of the protein FRAT2, a proprietary target identified by EiRx as
a regulator of apoptosis in the course of its ALIBI(TM)  functional genomics
research.  The compounds identified by EiRx in the course of screening this
model (such as ERX3722) are believed to work by a novel mechanism that
intersects with, but is not central to, the canonical Wnt / Beta-catenin
pathway.  The Company therefore wished to focus additional resources on drug
discovery targeted at Wnt / Beta-catenin signalling.  By directly engineering
overexpression of the Beta-catenin protein, in both its normal form and a
mutated form commonly seen in colorectal cancers, we have succeeded in modelling
the overactivity of the canonical Wnt Beta-catenin pathway that is such a common
clinical feature of this disease.  Screening of this EnPAD(TM)  model has
identified a series of related chemical compounds that exhibit potent and
specific induction of apoptosis in breast and colorectal cancer cell lines. A
second patent application was filed on the 11th October claiming the medicinal
utility of these compounds in tumours exhibiting enhanced activity of the Wnt /
Beta-catenin signalling mechanism.  EiRx researchers are presently investigating
the ability of these putative Wnt / Beta-catenin signal inhibitors to synergize
with compounds from the ERX3722 series, and will shortly advance these compounds
into MOA, toxicology and in vivo efficacy studies.  Upon successful confirmation
of in vivo efficacy and MOA, these compounds will be advanced into the Company's
lead optimization collaboration with the ABCRF.

Commenting on the new patent filings, Dr Finbarr Murphy, Managing Director of
EiRx's Cork research laboratory, said: "EiRx's EnPAD(TM) technology has again
uncovered novel and potently active small molecule drug candidates which are
specifically targeting signal pathways know to become dysregulated in cancer
cells.  We look forward to working with our medicinal chemistry collaborator
Professor Anita Maguire to develop these compound series into clinical
candidates with optimized potency and bioavailability."



Expansion of the EnPAD(TM) platform - 30 models in development and screening

Encouraged by the success of the first EnPAD(TM) screening programme, which
resulted in the discovery of the ERX3722 compound series targeting aspects of
Wnt / Beta-catenin signalling, EiRx scientists have over the last 12 months
instigated a rapid expansion of the EnPAD(TM) technology platform.  Cancerous
cells typically display overactivity in one or more of the intracellular
signalling pathways that control growth and division (so-called "gain of
function" mutations and amplifications).  The expanded EnPAD(TM) platform,
currently numbering 30 engineered screening assays in development or active use,
models many of the most important gain-of-function mutations underlying such
pathway overactivity in major cancer indications, and also incorporates novel
apoptosis pathway targets selected from EiRx's ALIBI(TM) study of the regulatory
mechanisms controlling apoptosis.

The other major mechanism underlying the loss of growth control seen in tumour
cells is inactivating mutation of so-called "tumour suppressor" genes.  Such
genes normally act to hold cellular growth and division in check, and mutations
which render them inactive ("loss of function" mutations) result in a loss of
control over growth.  Loss of function mutations in tumour suppressor genes are
extremely common in cancer; two such genes, p53 and PTEN, are amongst the most
commonly mutated in all cancers.  The Company is now adapting the EnPAD(TM)
system to include "loss of function" assays that mimic this aspect of cancer. 
This is being achieved by the use of "short hairpin RNA" (shRNA) technology,
which enables the generation of cell lines in which a single target gene is
permanently silenced.  Such "loss of function" EnPAD(TM) models will allow the
Company to screen its compound library for small molecules whose biological
activity is targeted against the cancerous phenotype induced by inactivating
mutations in tumour suppressor genes.

At the present time EiRx has completed screening of its discovery compound
library in 4 distinct EnPAD(TM) models, and has successfully identified hit
compound series with the specified biological selectivity in three of these four
screens.  The Company knows of no reason why a high success rate cannot be
repeated across the entire EnPAD(TM) assay battery, delivering an extensive set
of active and biologically targeted hit compound series which can be cherry-
picked for product candidates and advanced into lead optimisation and
preclinical studies.  The EiRx management team believes the EnPAD(TM) screening
effort underpins the future success of the Company, and is the central feature
of our strategic realignment from a research licensing model to a drug
development enterprise.


Progression of ERX3722 compound series

In the months since the release of the Company's previous research update,
EiRx's apoptosis-inducing anticancer compound ERX3722 has been accepted for
evaluation by the Developmental Therapeutics Programme of the National Cancer
Institute, in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.  Acceptance criteria include issues of
structural novelty, drug-likeness and likely suitability to further
optimisation, and EiRx is pleased to inform investors that ERX3722 has satisfied
these criteria.  Initial screening in the NCI 60 panel of sixty diverse tumour
cell lines confirmed patterns of biological activity of sufficient interest to
the DTP evaluators to prompt advancement to more extensive studies.  EiRx hopes
that this will provide a mechanism for broad evaluation of the potential
clinical uses of optimised molecules derived from the ERX3722 compound series.
In addition, activity data will be submitted to the DTP's COMPARE software
analysis programme, to assist in assigning a precise molecular mechanism of
action for the ERX3722 series.  It should be noted that any work that the DTP
determines to undertake is conducted at its own expense, and that EiRx retains
full ownership and commercial control over the product.

In addition to evaluation by the DTP, the ERX3722 series has been selected as
the first hit series to be advanced into our medicinal chemistry collaboration
with the ABCRF at University College Cork.  Under the scientific leadership of
Dr Anita Maguire, ERX3722 and related analogues will be the subject of mechanism
of action studies and medicinal chemistry optimisation, intended to advance the
project towards formal preclinical studies and selection of a clinical
candidate.

Commenting on recent developments, Dr Colin Telfer, Chief Executive Officer,
said: "We have invested in rapid expansion of our EnPAD(TM) platform, which is
now a powerful resource for drug discovery encompassing a whole battery of
screening tools aimed at the major signalling pathway perturbations seen in
cancer.  The new patent filings lodged this month further vindicate our high
expectations of the EnPAD(TM) technology and the support our investors have
shown us.

We have previously informed investors that our goal of value enhancement is best
served by concentrating on developing our own cancer drug candidates at least as
far as readiness for clinical evaluation, and that the major obstacle standing
in the way of our achieving this goal was securing access to world-class
medicinal chemistry capabilities.  Our recently announced medicinal chemistry
alliance with Professor Maguire and the ABCRF provides us with the means to
advance from the biology-driven research and discovery phase to the higher
value, chemistry-driven drug development phase.  We believe the EnPAD(TM)
platform gives us a significant competitive advantage in the race to develop new
cancer medicines, and the rewards of success in these endeavours will repay our
investors for their vision and persistence.


For further information, please contact:
EiRx Therapeutics plc                                                                        +353 (0)21 432 0847
Colin Telfer PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Grant Thornton Corporate Finance                                                             +44 (0)20 7383 5100
Philip Secrett / Colin Aaronson
Buchanan Communications                                                                      +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Tim Anderson / Mary-Jane Johnson


ENDS


About EiRx

EiRx Therapeutics (AIM: ERX) is a research-driven healthcare company developing
cutting-edge targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer.  EiRx is
headquartered in Cork, Ireland, conducts drug discovery from its laboratories in
Cork and in Aberdeen, Scotland.  The Company has an initial focus on tumours
arising due to anomalies in apoptosis and cellular growth regulatory pathways,
with particular relation to breast and colorectal tumours, currently two of the
four leading causes of death from cancer world-wide.

EiRx is built on leading scientific expertise in the areas of apoptosis biology,
cancer pathway biology, biomarker technologies and the metabolic basis of drug
resistance in tumours.  It has established technical capabilities in target
identification, validation and cell-based screening, and is combining unique
resources such as the ACCRI-BANK clinical tissue bank, the ALIBI(TM) functional
genomics platform and the Engineered Pathway Dependence ("EnPAD(TM)") isogenic
cellular screening technology to create a product development engine
specialising in discovery and development of small-molecule targeted cancer
therapies and the discovery and validation of cancer biomarkers.


Notable achievements in 2006/7 include:
     
*    Development of the EnPAD(TM) drug screening technology to enable
     identification of compounds that specifically target cell survival 
     pathways.

*    Filing of patent applications on first series of potential anti-cancer 
     compounds identified using EnPAD(TM), which target the b-catenin signalling 
     pathway to selectively kill colorectal and breast cancer cells in vitro.

*    Collaborative research agreement with international diagnostics major
     bioMerieux SA.

*    A total of #2.2M raised for research and development by issue of new
     shares, comprising three placements of #1.2M, #0.5M and #0.5M on 31st March
     2006, 21st September 2006 and 4th January 2007 respectively.

*    An R&D alliance with the Analytical & Biological Chemistry Research 
     Facility ("ABCRF") at University College Cork, to apply the medicinal 
     chemistry expertise of Professor Anita Maguire and her team to the 
     optimisation of potential new cancer drugs from EiRx's EnPAD(TM) discovery 
     platform.

*    A Euro362,000 grant from Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership 
     programme, to support the collaborative drug development alliance with 
     Professor Maguire and the ABCRF.

For further information please see our website at http://www.eirx.com



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