Release issued 1st June 2003

Aberystwyth, Wales - June 1st, 2003 - MolecularNature Ltd., a UK-based drug discovery company, today announced the launch of its glycobiology-based cancer research programme. Using its proprietary Phytoquest process, MolecularNature is able to regularly isolate novel imino sugars of low molecular weight. The use of imino sugars provides a new approach for cancer therapy research.

Studies have shown that sugar-like compounds (imino sugars) can selectively affect cell-to-cell recognition. This attribute, when combined with a stimulation of the immune system, could provide a powerful new approach in cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the limited number of known potent molecules has frustrated studies on compounds that mimic sugars. Conventional analytical methods fail to detect these compounds from natural sources. Several synthetic programmes are in place but these are complex as the chemistry behind the activity is hard to predict.

MolecularNature has developed a series of compounds that increase both dendritic cell and macrophage IL-12 production. Significantly and unusually these compounds also induce IL-2 production by dendritic cells as well as other cell populations. Furthermore, MNL's imino sugars are able to enhance a protective antigen specific type-1 response in an infectious disease model.

"These imino sugars enhance the ability of the immune system to recognize aberrant cells and to bring about their destruction," said Professor Robert Nash, MolecularNature's Research Director. "Such compounds have the potential to provide therapy for cancer and infectious disease, although the compounds themselves are not cytotoxic."

These molecules can be produced synthetically to include or exclude enzyme inhibition. Such inhibition can selectively change cell surface glycans in aberrant cells and aid the immune response.

MolecularNature is currently evaluating this series in pre- clinical trials for metastatic melanoma. If successful, the approach will lead to an expansion of the programme to a number of cancer types. The stimulation of IL-12 and IL-2 could also be used to boost the efficacy of certain cancer vaccines. MolecularNature will feature the new cancer programme at BIO 2003, stand #445 in the UK Pavilion.

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