Research work
 

News

4 July 2007 Press Release - Epidyme Presents at Venturefest with OION

Epidyme Ltd, the Pangbourne-based company researching new treatments for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, was selected by the Oxford Investment Opportunity Network to present at the prestigious Venturefest meeting on 2nd July 2007.

Dr Ian McEwen, CFO, gave a short presentation to an audience of angel investors and others interested in early stage, high growth potential companies.  "We were very pleased to be selected by OION to present", commented Dr McEwen, "since OION has a lot of particularly relevant experience with companies in the life sciences arena.  I really enjoyed the Venturefest conference and made many useful contacts to follow up".

Epidyme's patented technology platform is designed to modify the response of the immune system when it mistakenly attacks normal structures within the human body leading to autoimmune conditions of which rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are two examples.  The Company's "condition-specific" approach should, in theory, avoid compromising the normal activities of the immune system that can lead to "immuno-compromised" patients who are more susceptible to infections.

The Company is currently raising second-round finance in order to fund pivotal pre-clinical studies and to support corporate development.  The Board of Directors was recently strengthened by the appointment of Prof Russell Smith as Chairman and the Company expects to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer before the Autumn.

Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)

 Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION) was established in 1995 as one of the UK's first business angel networks.  It focuses on innovative technology companies with high growth potential.  In the five years from 2001-2006, 92 deals were closed raising £19.1m.

Venturefest

 Now in its ninth successful year, Venturefest attracts an audience of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, scientists and their professional advisers.  The event is especially suited to high technology and knowledge-based sectors.

For further information:

Dr Ian McEwen, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Tel: 07770 854518
Email: Ian (@epidyme.com)

Full text of press release.

6 June 2007 Press Release - Epidyme Announces New Chairman

Epidyme, the Pangbourne-based company researching new treatments for auto-immune conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, today announces the appointment of Professor Russell Smith as Chairman. Professor Smith joined the Board of Epidyme and took up the Chairmanship following the Annual General Meeting on 5th June 2007.  He has a track record of building successful biotech companies and an impressive business background.

Dr Len McEwen, stepping down from his role as Chairman, welcomed Professor Smith by commenting: "I'm delighted that we have found someone with the ideal experience to take Epidyme onto its next stage of growth."  Dr McEwen will continue his involvement in the company as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board.  Professor Smith added: "Epidyme owns a very interesting portfolio of intellectual property and I am pleased to become part of the team.  I shall look forward to helping Epidyme move forward with its research and development programme and its commercial aspirations.  There is no doubt that autoimmune conditions represent exciting targets for new treatment modalities."

Prof Russell Smith

Russell, the founder of Business Boffins Ltd, has 25 years experience in business and academia. He co-founded Avidex Ltd, a spin-out company from the Universi of Oxford, raising £1.7m of equity finance in their first year of operations.  Russell left the company in December 2000, following the successful completion of a £10m finance round that valued the company at £25m, to become Chief Executive Officer of Prolysis Ltd, another University of Oxford spin-out company.  In 2001 he restructured Prolysis and refinanced the company with a successful equity round. Russell also writes a monthly page on business matters for "The Independent".  His first book, "How to start a successful business" is published in July.

For further information:

Dr Ian McEwen, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Tel: 07770 854518
Email: Ian (@epidyme.com)

Full text of press release.

5 June 2007 - Second Epidyme Annual General Meeting, 2 pm

The Swan Hotel, Streatley-on-Thames

The Chairman, Dr Len McEwen, welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Apologies had been received from Ms Bradfield, Mr Greenaway, Mrs Markus, Mr Stafford and Dr Yeadon.  Including proxies 88% of the issued share capital was represented at the meeting.

The accounts were approved and Mr David Hobby of David Jones & Co. re-appointed as auditor for the year.

Professor Russell Smith was introduced to the shareholders and he expressed his pleasure at joining the board of the company.

The secretary explained the background to the resolutions requiring a 75% majority to waive transfer restrictions on a gift of shares from McEwen Laboratories and on a pool of shares which would be made available for management incentive options in the next stage of the company‘s growth.  Mr Lee pointed out that in the notice of the meeting the second resolution referring to management incentive shares had not been mentioned.  The secretary admitted that this had been due to an oversight on his part, although as the intention was for options over shares to be granted to incentivise members of the management team, the issue of transfer would not arise for some period.  The two resolutions received unanimous support from those shareholders represented at the meeting.

Simon McEwen explained that the plan for the next phase of scientific research was to perform two pre-clinical studies in models of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.  These studies would use identified peptide sequences as antigens which should enable a much clearer regulatory and manufacturing track to commercialisation and patient benefit.

Professor Smith introduced the business plan.  The company believes it has identified a high calibre individual to take up the role of CEO.  An analysis of the potential for treatments in the field of autoimmunity and in particular MS and RA shows that they are commercially exciting prospects as well as areas of real patient need.  Epidyme‘s approach is novel and has the advantage of the well established safety profile of EPD for allergy.  The business plan requires the company to raise an additional £577,500 by way of new shares and the directors expect these will qualify for investor tax benefits under the Enterprise Investment Scheme.

The secretary explained the position of shareholders with respect to pre-emptive rights.  Since McEwen Laboratories was not in a position to subscribe for its rights under the issue there would be additional shares available for either existing or new shareholders.  Documentation would be sent to all shareholders shortly.

Dr Len McEwen thanked the shareholders for their support and announced that he would step down from the role of Chairman in favour of Professor Smith, although he will remain actively involved as chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board.

Mr Peter Davies proposed a vote of thanks for Dr McEwen’s work and commitment which received universal approval.

Ms Eunice Rose added the thanks of the National Society for Research into Allergy.

The meeting closed at 3pm.

12 October 2006 - Epidyme TVLSN Presentation

The Thames Valley Life Sciences Network (TVLSN) is an network of companies and individuals run by Reading university offering information, events and networking, training and business development opportunities.   On October 12 it held a meeting on Autoimmune Diseases.   Ian McEwen, Epidyme Acting CEO, presented the Epidyme mission and research findings.   The agenda also included a review of clinical experience of treating autoimmune diseases from a consultant from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, and a speaker from UCB Celltech giving details of Certolizumab pegol, UCB's latest treatment for Crohn's disease which will be licensed shortly.

Here is a link to the Epidyme presentation slides, including early results from Epidyme's latest rheumatoid arthritis pre-clinical trial.