EpiStem Ltd's Biomarker Focus in the US

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - October 19, 2009) - Epistem Plc (LSE: EHP), the leading UK biotechnology company, will open a US office based in Boston, MA to increase its presence in the all important North American Market. The US office ('Epistem Inc') will maximise the awareness of Epistem Plc's technology offering as well as support the commercialisation of the recently launched proprietary GenetRx™ biomarker platform in oncology.

GenetRx™ is the company's cDNA gene expression profiling technology which has the ability to analyse individual plucked hairs, blood and other tissue samples which are traditionally difficult or too small to analyse by other methods. This proprietary technology is used by clinicians and research scientists to study target engagement and pharmacodynamic effects of a drug and to establish dose scheduling, drug effect, and patient response.

Epistem Plc has been successful in applying its know-how and expertise in adult epithelial stem cells to the areas of oncology and gastrointestinal disease, as well as other applications in dermatology. Epistem's biomarker collaborations in North America will focus on preclinical and clinical oncology drug development providing a means of translating drug effect in specific oncology pathways such as Hedgehog, WNT, Notch, Beta Catenin, PI3 kinase and androgen signalling as well as providing an ideal platform for evaluating therapies aimed at specific RNA targets. The Biomarker Laboratory services will be delivered within a regulatory framework to comply with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GcLP).

Epistem Inc's new US offices will be based at the heart of the Boston biotechnology community at;

Epistem Inc
1 Broadway,
14th Floor, 
Cambridge, 
MA 02142
Tel: 001 617 401 2157
Fax: 001 617 401 3608
www.oncology-biomarkers.com
www.epistem.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Epistem is a biotechnology company commercialising its expertise in epithelial stem cells in the areas of oncology, gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases. Epistem develops innovative therapeutics and biomarkers and provides contract research services to drug development companies. The Group's expertise is focused on the regulation of adult stem cells located in epithelial tissue, which includes the gastrointestinal tract, skin, hair follicles, breast and prostate. Epistem does not conduct research in the areas of embryonic stem cells or stem cell transplantation.