IP Group news 0

IP Group plc (LSE: IPO) ("IP Group" or "the Company" or "the Group"), the developer of intellectual property based businesses, is pleased to note that Synairgen plc ("Synairgen") has today announced positive data from its Phase II clinical trial that has been described by Asthma UK as having the potential to be one of the biggest breakthroughs in asthma treatments in the past 20 years.

Synairgen is a spin-out company from the University of Southampton in which IP Group and its managed funds together hold an 18.2% beneficial interest. IP Group has a 10.8% beneficial interest, while IP Venture Fund, a specialist venture capital fund managed by the Group, holds a further 7.4%.

Synairgen's trial investigated the potential for SNG001 (inhaled interferon beta) to protect asthmatics from respiratory virus infections (principally the common cold) that can spread to the lung, which are a major cause of worsening asthma symptoms. It is estimated that viral infection is associated with up to eight out of ten asthma-related emergency department visits.

The study investigated SNG001 in a population of 134 adult asthma patients, representing 'mild-moderate' through to 'severe' asthmatics, who caught a cold. Patients with 'difficult to treat' asthma, being approximately half of the patients in the trial, benefited significantly from SNG001 treatment. This category of patient is estimated to represent between 10% and 20% of all adult asthma sufferers.

There are 5.4 million asthmatics in the UK (Asthma UK) and 25.7 million in the USA (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

For the full announcement, please see RNS.