Ipsen to develop Spirogen’s novel anti-tumour agent

Paris and London, 22 May 2003. The "Beaufour Ipsen" pharmaceutical group, renamed "Ipsen", has acquired worldwide rights to develop a new and novel antitumour agent SJG-136, from Spirogen, a London-based biotechnology company. The agreement also provides Ipsen with exclusive access to three, selected gene targets as a platform for the synthesis and development of further anti-cancer drug candidates and a 20 percent equity stake in Spirogen.

SJG-136 spans six base pairs of DNA and has significant activity in a number of human tumour xenograft (animal) models including brain melanoma, breast, ovarian and colon tumours. The agent is currently in pre-clinical development with Cancer Research, UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States of America (USA). Phase I clinical trials are planned for the third quarter of 2003 in the United Kingdom and the fourth quarter in the United States of America (USA).

Commenting on the agreement, Dr Alistair Stokes, Ipsen’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Development said: "We believe that SJG-136 has the potential to be an important addition to the anti-cancer therapeutic armoury. This agreement, after the one concluded with Roche last December, reflects the Group’s policy of seeking alliances that will help us gain access to new products and technologies in our core therapeutic areas".

Dr Chris Martin, CEO of Spirogen said: "The development of chemotherapeutics which target specific genes represents the cutting edge of molecular research. We are delighted to be working with Ipsen to develop such compounds for the oncology market. This agreement is in line with Spirogen’s strategy of developing drug candidates and its gene targeting technology in partnership with pharmaceutical companies while taking forward its own anti-cancer DNA sequence binding agents".


Notes to editor

Ipsen

Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and hematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centers Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group’s website is www.ipsen.com

Spirogen

Spirogen is a privately owned UK company, founded in 2001 by Professor David Thurston and Dr Phillip Howard (now at the School of Pharmacy, University of London), Professor John Hartley (University College London) and Dr Chris Martin. The company is pioneering the discovery and development of a unique class of low molecular weight sequence-specific DNA-interactive drugs designed to treat gene-mediated diseases.

Spirogen’s proprietary combinatorial chemistry-based platform technology forms the basis of a research effort that began over a decade ago to develop novel therapeutics with potential application in a number of markets. Spirogen’s initial investors were: Cambridge Research Bioventures (lead investor), Xenva Ltd, CRIL and Bloomsbury Bioseed Fund.

Spirogen's website is www.spirogen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Agreement between Beaufour Ipsen and Novartis Pharma for the marketing of two anti-hypertensive drugs, Nisis® and Nisisco® in France

Paris, May 14, 2003 — The Beaufour Ipsen Group announced today the singning in France of a marketing agreement with Novartis Pharma for two antihypertensive drugs Nisis® (valsartan) and Nisisco® (valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide). Since March 31, 2003, Beaufour Ipsen Pharma, the French subsidiary of the Group, promotes these products in France, its overseas departments and territories and in the Principalities of Monaco and Andorra. These two drugs were previously distributed by Aventis.

Already involved in the treatment of hypertension with Tenstaten® (cicletanine), this agreement reinforces Beaufour Ipsen’s expertise in cardiovascular diseases in these territories. This is also consistent with the Group’s strategy to strenghten its international development based on a solid position in France.

According to Christophe Jean, Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer, Beaufour Ipsen Group "We are pleased to collaborate with Novartis Pharma, one of the world leaders in the treatment of arterial hypertension, a disease which affects 7.5 million people treated in France today. This agreement adds two major innovative medicines to our portfolio that have significant medical and scientific vcardiovascular field".

In 2002, Nisis and Nisisco had a turnover of more than €24 million (source : GERS), enhanced by the launch of Nisisco® 160-25 (160 mg of valsartan and 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide) last February, which complements the product line already available to physicians.

These drugs are being further evaluated in a broad based clinical program with the participation of more than 38,000 patients. The purpose of the ongoing studies is to extend the present indications to hypertension post-infarct, and arterial hypertension associated with cardiovascular risks.


Notes to editor

Nisis®/Nisisco®

Nisis® and Nisisco® belong to the family of angiotensin II antagonists, representing the leading edge in the treatment of hypertension with the prospect of expanding their use.

Nisis® (active ingredient: valsartan) is indicated in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension (40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg, packs of 28). Nisisco® 80 - 12,5 (80 mg of valsartan and 12,5 :mg of hydrochlorothiazide, packs of 28) is indicated after failure of a monotherapy by an angiotensin II antagonist or by hydrochlorothiazide and Nisisco 160 – 25 is indicated when a monotherapy by Nisis 160 or by the combination Nisisco 80 - 12.5 is insufficient.

Beaufour Ipsen

Present in over 80 countries with a total staff of 3423, the Beaufour Ipsen Group had a turnover of €704 million in 2001, 57% of which was outside France.

The Group specialises in oncology, haematology, neurology and endocrinology and has a portfolio of 30 products which are either peptides, derived from biotechnology, or based on natural sources. In 2001, 16.4% of Beaufour Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development (R&D).

The Group’s website is www.beaufour-ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Christophe Jean, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Beaufour Ipsen Group

Paris, May 13, 2003 — Mr Christophe Jean is nominated Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Beaufour Ipsen Group. Christophe Jean, 47 years old and a Harvard graduate, joined the pharmaceutical industry with Ciba-Geigy where he successively occupied Marketing (Brazil & Sweden) and General Management positions at an international level. He was subsequently nominated Worldwide Head of Financial Control and Information Technology and was a Member of the Pharmaceuticals Executive Committee. He held that position until after the merger between Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz to form Novartis and was then nominated Head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In 2000 he became President and CEO for the pharmaceutical activities of the Pierre Fabre Group.

In September 2002 he joined the Beaufour Ipsen Group where he was initially in charge of creating the Corporate Strategic Planning and Strategic Marketing departments. He is a Member of the Executive Committee and also oversees commercial operations and the development of the US and Japan markets.

About Beaufour Ipsen

Present in over 80 countries with a total staff of 3423, the Beaufour Ipsen Group had a turnover of €704 million in 2001, 57% of which was outside France.

The Group develops products for four targeted disease area franchises: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and haematology. It currently has a portfolio of 30 products on the market which are either peptides, derived from biotechnology, or products based on natural sources. In 2001, 16.4% of Beaufour Ipsen's turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, which is carried out in four research centres (Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London) by an international network of around 500 scientific staff.

The Group’s website is www.beaufour-ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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