Vernalis PLC Initiates Phase Ib/II POC Study of V81444

WINNERSH, UK--(Marketwired - July 12, 2013) -

12 July 2013
LSE: VER


         Vernalis Initiates Phase Ib/II Proof-of-Concept Study
                               with V81444



Vernalis plc today announces that it has dosed the first subjects in a
Phase Ib/II proof-of-concept (PoC) study of V81444, anA2Aantagonist
which has potential applications for the treatment of Parkinson's
disease and other disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).



The randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study will evaluate
the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of V81444 after twice
daily administration for 14 days in 24 subjects. As the study is being
conducted in subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of one of the
potential indications, the aim is also to provide initial proof of
concept for use of V81444 as a potential treatment for this CNS
indication. The trial is being conducted at a single US site under an
approved Investigational New Drug (IND) application.
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Enquiries:


Vernalis Contacts:
Ian Garland, Chief Executive Officer   +44 (0) 118 938 0015
David Mackney, Chief Financial Officer


Nomura Code Securities Limited:        +44 (0) 20 7776 1200
Juliet Thompson
Jonathan Senior


Brunswick Group:                       +44 (0) 20 7404 5959
Jon Coles


Notes to Editors

About Vernalis
Vernalis is a revenue generating development stage pharmaceutical
company with significant expertise in drug development. The Group has
one marketed product, frovatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine,
an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialise multiple
novel products focussed on the US prescription cough/cold market as
well as seven programmes in its NCE development pipeline. Vernalis has
significant expertise in fragment and structure based drug
discoverywhich it leverages to enter into collaborations with larger
pharmaceutical companies. The Company's technologies, capabilities and
products are endorsed by collaborations with Endo, Genentech, Lundbeck,
Menarini, Novartis, Servier and Tris.

For further information about Vernalis, please visit www.vernalis.com

Vernalis Forward-Looking Statement
This news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect
the Company's current expectations regarding future events including
the clinical development and regulatory clearance of the Company's
products, the Company's ability to find partners for the development
and commercialisation of its products, as well as the Company's future
capital raising activities. Forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those
projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the
success of the Company's research strategies, the applicability of the
discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of
clinical studies, the uncertainties related to the regulatory process,
the ability of the Company to identify and agree beneficial terms with
suitable partners for the commercialisation and/or development of its
products, as well as the achievement of expected synergies from such
transactions, the acceptance of frovatriptan and other products by
consumers and medical professionals, the successful integration of
completed mergers and acquisitions and achievement of expected
synergies from such transactions, and the ability of the Company to
identify and consummate suitable strategic and business combination
transactions.







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