NOTIFICATION OF PATENT ALLOWANCE

    RNS Number : 5135Y
  Phynova Group PLC
  08 July 2008
   




    08 July 2008



    Phynova Group PLC

    ("Phynova" or the "Company")


    PHYNOVA ANNOUNCES NOTIFICATION OF PATENT ALLOWANCE

    Phynova (AIM: PYN), the developer of prescription pharmaceuticals derived from plants used in Chinese medicines, announces that the
United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued the Company a notice of allowance for a patent on its lead drug candidate PYN 17, for
the treatment of the symptoms of chronic hepatitis C. A notice of allowance is a written notification that a patent application has cleared
an internal review and is nearing issuance 

    The issuance of the new patent will allow Phynova to enter the world's largest pharmaceutical market. PYN 17 has successfully completed
its Phase I trial in a multi-centre US study in chronic hepatitis C patients.

    Phynova is developing strong IP protection around its portfolio of botanical drug candidates. It has already been awarded a patent for
PYN17 in the UK and has additional UK patents on its compound for treating the respiratory diseases SARS and RSV.

    Robert Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Phynova, said 'We are delighted to receive this news. We are now confident of protecting our
botanical drug candidates in the world's largest pharmaceutical market. It provides further validation to our business model as we prepare
for the next clinical phase of development with PYN17 in the US.


    -END-




    For further information, please contact: 

 Phynova Group PLC              Tel: [phone]
 Tony Mills

 John East & Partners Limited  Tel: [phone]
 John East/Simon Clements

 Capital MS&L                  Tel: [phone]
 Mary Clark/Anna Mitchell


    Notes to editors:

    About PYN 17 

    In November 2007, Phynova announced successful Phase I/II preliminary results for its lead candidate, PYN 17, for the treatment of the
symptoms of chronic hepatitis C. The results confirmed that the trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating safety and tolerability. 

    Hepatitis C affects over 170 million people worldwide, including over four million people in the US. PYN 17 is the only drug currently
in development specifically for the treatment of the debilitating symptoms, impaired health related quality of life ("HRQoL") and liver
inflammation associated with the disease. Currently available antiviral treatments with pegylated interferon and ribavirin are only
effective in approximately 50 per cent of patients treated, often with significant associated toxicity and side effects. As a result, it is
estimated that the market for treatments for hepatitis C will grow to around US$9 billion by 2010, and the Directors believe that the
Company is well placed to participate in this market growth. 


    About Phynova

    Phynova is a UK incorporated company developing prescription pharmaceuticals derived from plants used in Chinese medicines. The Company
is focused on viral and bacterial diseases, metabolic diseases and cancer. Phynova´s lead product for hepatitis C has now completed a Phase
I/II trial in the US and the Company is planning a further Phase II efficacy trial in 2008. Two further products, for fatty liver disease
and post-operative ileus, are targeted for entry to the clinic over the next six months and there are a further four products in preclinical
development. 

For further information please visit www.phynova.com.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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