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16/07/2008

Key Retroscreen presentation at the European Respiratory Society Congress, 2008

Retroscreen Virology Limited, global leaders in anti-viral research, clinical trials and experimental challenge studies, are pleased to announce that Clinical Director Dr Tom Wilkinson, will be giving a key presentation at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Berlin 2008 Congress.

Dr Wilkinson will talk through data resulting from a collaboration between Retroscreen and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. The project was established to develop a unique challenge model for human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults, and to apply this for the development of novel therapeutics based on a technique known as RNA interference (RNAi). RSV is highly contagious and can lead to serious respiratory illnesses including pneumonia, bronchitis and even death. As such there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics to treat patients who become infected with the virus. In a later clinical study the challenge model was used to prove, for the first time, that RNAi is an effective technique for treating RSV infection.

The ERS meeting is Europe’s largest annual scientific gathering in respiratory medicine, bringing together leading experts in lung disease. Over 17,000 participants are expected to attend the event in Berlin. Retroscreen’s presentation will be held on Tuesday 07 October at 9.15am.

For more information about ERS, including details of how to register for the Berlin 2008 Congress, please visit http://dev.ersnet.org/.

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Notes to Editors
Retroscreen are global leaders in anti-viral research, clinical trials and experimental challenge studies. Based in London, the Company currently employs over 50 people, generating a turnover (2006/7) of approximately £5 million. Retroscreen conducts virucidal and virustatic testing, pre-clinical and clinical trails for global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are developing antiviral drugs and vaccines. The Company is ISO9001 accredited and is partnered with a number of leading UK universities, including Queen Mary, University of London.

Clinical trials: Retroscreen conducts approximately five clinical trails each year, which involve several hundred candidates each, carefully selected from a database of over 4000 people. The Company offers a comprehensive service from protocol and case report form design through to effecting and co-ordinating the study, and it is currently expanding into data management and monitoring. The Company is especially renowned for its unique experimental challenge studies, conducted under strict quarantine conditions at its UK Flu Camps (see www.flucamp.com).

Pre-clinical: Retroscreen has invested in the development and optimisation of in vitro antiviral assay techniques for preclinical studies. The Company specialises in assays for respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV, and rhinovirus (the common cold), as well as gastrointestinal viruses and HIV among others.

Retroscreen is also part of a consortium led by QinetiQ Nanomaterials Limited, a wholly owned QinetiQ subsidiary, which is developing a range of viral treatments from nanomaterials. The two year programme, which was completed recently, was funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) who allocated £2 million to the project.

Furthermore, Retroscreen is the lead participant in the European Surveillance Network for Vigilance against Viral Resistance (VIRGIL), which was established with a grant of £9 million from the European Union. Virgil is a network of excellence that aims to integrate and coordinate the activities of doctors and scientists from institutions across Europe who are investigating viral resistance.

For more information on Retroscreen please visit www.retroscreen.com

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