NAPA, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Senetek PLC , (www.senetekplc.com), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and co-marketing products in the key skincare and dermatological categories worldwide, today announced the signing of a cooperative research agreement with two noted Researchers in Greece, Dr. Efstathios S. Gonos, Director of Research of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Ageing, Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, and his colleague Dr. Ioanna Chinou, Associate Professor of the Division of Pharmacognosy-Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, of Athens University.
Doctors Gonos and Chinou are investigating a class of plant extracts and various analogs for their proteasome activation and damaged protein scavenging bioactivity. The agreement gives Senetek exclusive access to all of the Researchers’ scientific data within this category and provides for Senetek to participate in funding the testing and development of those compounds it may select and in filing and prosecuting new patents covering related inventions, with Senetek having the option to enter into exclusive global licenses under the Researchers’ existing patent applications and future jointly developed patents for all applications.
Dr. Gonos received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow in 1989 and since 2002 has been the Director of Research of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Ageing within the Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, which focuses on the genetic and environmental factors affecting human ageing and longevity. It is financed by competitive research grants from the European Union and other governmental and private agencies. He has published more than 60 research articles in eminent journals, is author of several monographs, and is a patent holder. He was Organizer of the Second EuroConference on Biological Ageing and will organize the 12th Congress of the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology in 2007. Dr. Gonos has received fellowships from the University of Glasgow and the Royal Society of Great Britain. He is an Editorial Board member of the leading ageing journals “Aging Cell,” “Biogerontology,” “Experimental Gerontology” and “Mechanisms of Ageing & Development.” He is Deputy National Representative of Greece in the European Union in the thematic area “Genomics and Biotechnology for Health.”
Dr. Chinou received her Ph.D. from the University of Athens in 1988 and has been Associate Professor of the Division of Pharmacognosy-Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, of the University of Athens since 2002, focusing on the phytochemistry of biologically active antimicrobial and cytotoxic natural products. She is the author of over 75 research articles in peer-reviewed phytochemical journals as well as several monographs. Her work is financed by competitive research grants from the European Union and the Hellenic General Secretariat of Research and Technology. She was Organizer of the First EuroConference on Marine Natural Products and the Second EuroConference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and, since 2005, has been the Deputy National Representative for Greece to the European Medicines Agency Herbal Medicinal Products Committee.
Prof. Brian F. C. Clark, Senetek’s Chief Scientist, stated, “Senetek PLC is pleased to announce this further step in its plan to become a leader in the development and commercialization of proprietary, plant-derived compounds offering differential advantages in addressing the effects of aging on human skin. This agreement, which closely follows the pattern of Senetek’s cooperative research and development agreement with the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, opens the door on a whole new group of plant-derived active ingredients for assessment and development by Senetek’s Aarhus, Denmark, laboratories and its academic and commercial research partners. We are most happy to welcome Doctors Gonos and Chinou into Senetek’s growing network of innovators in this exciting field.”
Senetek PLC is a life sciences-driven product development and licensing company focused on the high growth market for dermatological and skin care products primarily addressing photodamage and age-related skin conditions. Senetek’s patented compound Kinetin is a naturally occurring cytokinin that has proven effective in improving the appearance of aging skin with virtually none of the side effects associated with acid-based active ingredients. Senetek has licensed Kinetin to leading global and regional dermatological and skin care marketers including Valeant Pharmaceuticals, The Body Shop and Revlon, and recently announced the grant to Valeant Pharmaceuticals of an exclusive global license for Zeatin, a promising analogue of Kinetin. Senetek’s researchers at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, are also collaborating with the Institute of Experimental Botany, Prague to identify and evaluate additional new biologically active compounds for this high growth field. Senetek has developed its patented Invicorp(R) erectile dysfunction product, gaining marketing authorizations in Denmark, England and New Zealand, and exclusively licensed Invicorp(R) to Ardana Bioscience for the European Community in 2003. www.senetekplc.com
Visit Senetek PLC’s web site: http://www.senetekplc.com. Senetek PLC Investor Relations Contact: 1-707-226-3900 ext. 102 E-Mail: Pknopick@eandecommunications.com Safe Harbor Statement:
This news release may contain statements that may be considered “forward-looking statements” under the federal securities laws, including statements concerning the Company’s financial stability, its expectations of continued growth and profitability and its intent to expand its overseas business. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial uncertainty and there can be no assurance that actual results or events will not differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and Quarterly Reports of Form 10-Q for the subsequent calendar quarters of 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, while the Company has attempted to identify in those filings the principal factors that it believes could result in such material differences, there can be no assurance that it has identified all of such factors or all of the ways in which such factors may affect future results or events.
Senetek PLC
CONTACT: Investor Relations, +1-707-226-3900, ext. 102,Pknopick@eandecommunications.com, for Senetek PLC
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