Patent Grant

 

TIDMPYN 
 
 
Phynova Group PLC 
26 January 2009 
 
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26 January 2009 
 
 
Phynova Group PLC 
("Phynova" or the "Company") 
 
 
Phynova Announces Notification of Patent Grant for Potential Non Alcoholic Fatty 
Liver ("NAFLD") Treatment, PYN22 
 
 
Phynova (AIM: PYN), the developer of prescription pharmaceuticals derived from 
plants used in Chinese medicines, today announces that the UK Patent Office has 
granted the Company a patent on its botanical drug candidate PYN22. The drug is 
in preclinical development as a potential treatment for NAFLD. 
 
 
NALFD is now believed to be the most common liver disorder in the developed 
world, affecting up to one third of the population. It is closely linked with 
features of the metabolic syndrome, particularly obesity and diabetes. It can 
progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure and is now an increasingly 
common indication for liver transplantation. There have been very few large 
scale clinical studies on which to establish evidence based treatment 
recommendations for NAFLD and treatment is currently mainly directed at the 
individual components of the metabolic syndrome, for example, with diet, 
exercise and, in some cases, bariatric surgery. Preclinical studies in both the 
UK and China suggest that PYN22 may have a direct effect on body weight, liver 
and blood fat levels. 
 
 
Dr Tony Mills, CEO of Phynova Limited, commented: 
"Phynova is especially pleased to receive news of this new patent at a time when 
the industry has seen several high profile withdrawals of drug candidates in the 
metabolic syndrome therapeutic area. We believe PYN22 may offer a 
viable treatment for NAFLD and may therefore contribute to the overall treatment 
of the metabolic syndrome. The grant of the Company's first patent on PYN22 will 
certainly help us with commercial discussions which are ongoing on PYN22. It is 
the fourth botanical drug patent that the Company has been granted in the last 
12 months." 
 
 
For further information, please contact: 
 
 
+------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+ 
| Phynova Group plc                                    |       Tel: [phone] | 
| John Pool (Executive Chairman)                       |                         | 
| Tony Mills (CEO Phynova Limited)                     |                         | 
| Robert Miller (CEO Phynova China Limited)            |                         | 
|                                                      |                         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+ 
| John East & Partners Limited                         |      Tel: [phone] | 
| John East/Bidhi Bhoma                                |                         | 
|                                                      |                         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+ 
| Capital MS&L                                         |     Tel: [phone] | 
| Mary Clark/Anna Mitchell                             |                         | 
|                                                      |                         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+ 
 
 
Notes to editors: 
 
 
About Phynova 
 
 
Phynova is a UK company developing new 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. Two further products, for fatty 
liver disease and post-operative ileus, are targeted for entry to the clinic and 
there are a further four products in preclinical development. 
For further information please visit www.phynova.com. 
 
 
  About PYN 22 
NAFLD is a common and increasing problem world wide. It encompasses a spectrum 
of liver disorders ranging from fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis 
("NASH"), the latter being associated with liver inflammation and fibrosis. 
NAFLD may progress through NASH to cirrhosis and heptocellular carcinoma. 
Currently there is no effective drug therapy in use for NAFLD/NASH. Treatment 
focuses on reducing body weight by diet and exercise and for more severe cases 
associated with morbid obesity, bariatric surgery. PYN22 is a single plant 
extract that has been selected as a candidate for the treatment of NAFLD/NASH, 
based on preclinical work in both China and the UK that suggests PYN22 may have 
a direct effect on body weight, liver and blood fat levels. 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
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