Polyplus-transfection unveils a new technology that improves intracellular delivery of small interfering RNAs in vivo...

...and opens the way to new therapeutic possibilities

The "STICKY SIRNA"^TM technology is already being tested in vivo by academic laboratories and biotech companies

Strasbourg, April 24th, 2008 — Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in research, development and commercialization of innovative reagents for delivery of biomolecules, today announces the development of a new technology that improves in vivo delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) when they are associated with a cationic polymer. This technology is based on a new class of small interfering RNAs the company has developed: "STICKY SIRNA"^TM (ssiRNAs^TM).

The technology involves extending the opposite ends of interfering RNAs with short complementary A(5-8)/T(5-8) 3' sequences that are able to form concatemers in the presence of a cationic polymer such as in vivo-jetPEI^TM (also developed by Polyplus-transfection) and thus form complexes as stable as with genes. With this new technology, small interfering RNAs stay connected to their delivery reagent during the whole journey to the target cells, and induce the RNA interference mechanism. This innovation is applicable to therapeutic siRNAs, and a wide variety of pathologies could benefit from it such as cancers, allergies and viral diseases.

Up to now, the market for the delivery of therapeutic siRNAs has been dominated by the use of cationic lipids. Thanks to this ssiRNA^TM technology, cationic polymers such as in vivo-jetPEI^TM have now entered the market with clear advantages in specific areas.

"We are proud of having developed this new technology, for which we have filed a broad patent application as well as a trademark application," said the C.E.O. of Polyplus-transfection," Joëlle Bloch. "Within a few months, we have succeeded in offering our customers two major therapeutic advances: a GMP-compliant delivery reagent, in vivo.jetPEI^TM, and a new means of delivering siRNAs associated with this reagent. Our customers have already shown a keen interest in these two developments, and ssiRNAs^TM are starting to be tested in vivo by several academic laboratories and biotechnology companies."

Polyplus-transfection's new technology was outlined in an article published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America in October 2007 under the title "Sticky overhangs enhance siRNA-mediated gene silencing", volume 104, pages 16,050-16,055, Bolcato-Bellemin et al.


RNA interference (RNAi)

RNA interference is a natural mechanism that operates in cells and makes it possible to selectively silencing or regulating specific gene expression. The mechanism of RNA interference is a major discovery in biology, whose potential therapeutic impact was recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2006. As many diseases are the result of the inappropriate activity of some genes, the ability to control these genes selectively through RNA interference has speeded up the understanding of the roles of these genes and their interrelations.

Since then, it has been shown that RNA interference could be a means of treating a large number of diseases. In effect, RNA interference can be induced by small, double-stranded RNA molecules called small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Delivering these chemically synthesized molecules into cells is one of the means of activating RNA interference for therapeutic purposes, by targeting the messenger RNA of a gene to be knocked down. This process has the effect of stopping the production of a protein encoded by the target gene.

About Polyplus-transfection

Polyplus-transfection is focused on developing innovative solutions for delivery of biomolecules. The company has been marketing its transfection reagents worldwide since 2001 and is reinvesting most of its revenues in research and development.

Transfection consists in introducing a gene or a small interfering RNA into cells. This technique makes it possible to cross the cellular barriers and deliver such biomolecules into the cells for research or therapeutic purposes.

Customers of Polyplus-transfection's products and services include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as well as life science academic laboratories. Polyplus-transfection offers high quality consultancy, personalized scientific support and expertise in regulatory affairs related to the use of its reagents in clinical trials. Phases I/II cancer gene therapy and AIDS trials are underway in Israel, USA, Sweden and Germany using GMP-compliant reagents from Polyplus-transfection.

The Strasbourg-based company is recognized as a leading innovator in the transfection market, with ISO 9001:2000 certification, exclusive licenses from the CNRS and numerous patent applications pending.

Polyplus-transfection R&D has well-established partnerships with biotech companies and is also involved in several European research collaboration networks, such as GIANT (Gene Therapy, an Integrated Approach to Neoplastic Treatment) and RIGHT (RNA Interference Technology as Human Therapeutic Tool).

Polyplus-transfection recently extended its field of expertise to the development of new cationic oligonucleotides for molecular biology and diagnostics and is leading the corresponding OligoPlus research program.

For more information, visit: http://www.polyplus-transfection.com


Source: Polyplus-transfection

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Appointment of Dominique Bridon, PhD as Vice President, Discovery

Paris (France), 1st April 2008 — Ipsen (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN) announced the appointment, of Dominique Bridon as Vice-President, Discovery of the Ipsen Group, effective today. He will report to Jacques-Pierre Moreau, Ipsen’s Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer. Based in the research center of Ipsen in Boston, he will have under his responsibility the drug discovery teams (medicinal chemistry, endocrinology and oncology research, pharmacogenomics and genetics) and also be responsible for overseeing external research partnerships and collaborations.

Dominique Bridon, 49, is a graduate, from the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie and joined the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Barton at Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles at Gif-sur-Yvette (France) where he was awarded a Doctorate in Science. For his post doctoral studies in organic chemistry, he moved to the University of California Berkeley with Pr. William Dauben.

His professional career started in 1989 at Abbott Laboratories within the Diagnostics Division; he was also associated with Bioinformatic Venture and Peptide Engineering. In 1997, he joined the start-up company Conjuchem in Montreal as V-P Research and Chief Technology Officer. While at Conjuchem, Dominique originated the discovery and development of in situ conjugates as a mean to achieve controlled release of peptides and proteins. More recently, he served as a member on the Board of Directors and on the Scientific Board of Directors for several start-up companies; he has also been an advisor to several biotech companies and venture capital funds.


About Ipsen

Ipsen is an innovation driven international specialty pharmaceutical group with over 20 products on the market and a total worldwide staff of nearly 4,000. The company’s development strategy is based on a combination of products in targeted therapeutic areas (oncology, endocrinology and neuromuscular disorders) which are growth drivers, and primary care products which contribute significantly to its research financing. This strategy is also supported by an active policy of partnerships. The location of its four Research and Development centres (Paris, Boston, Barcelona, London) gives the Group a competitive edge in gaining access to leading university research teams and highly qualified personnel. In 2006, R&D expenditure was €178.3 million, i.e. 20.7% of consolidated sales, which amounted to €861.7 million while total revenues amounted to €945.3 million (in IFRS). 700 people in R&D are dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative drugs for patient care. Ipsen’s shares are traded on Segment A of Eurolist by Euronext^TM (stock code: IPN, ISIN code: FR0010259150). Ipsen’s shares are eligible to the "Service de Regrave;glement Différé" ("SRD") and the Group is part of the SBF 120 index. For more information on Ipsen, visit our website at www.ipsen.com.

Ipsen Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements and targets contained herein are based on Ipsen's management's current views and assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. Moreover, the Research and Development process involves several stages at each of which there is a substantial risk that the Group will fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts in respect of a product in which it has invested significant sums. Thus, in order to develop a product which is viable from a commercial point of view, the Group must demonstrate, by means of pre-clinical and human clinical trials, that the molecules are effective and not dangerous to human beings. Therefore, the Group cannot be certain that favourable results obtained during pre-clinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the product concerned, or that the regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the data and the information provided by the Company. Ipsen expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward looking statements, targets or estimates contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. Ipsen's business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its information documents filed with the French Autorité des marchés financiers.


Source: Ipsen

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