RNS Number:8381K
Theratase PLC
08 May 2003


For Immediate Release:                                            8 May 2003



                                 THERATASE PLC



 THERATASE'S JOINT VENTURE PARTNER SUCESSFULLY COMPLETES PHASE I AND PHASE IIa
                   CLINICAL TRIALS WITH ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE



Theratase plc ("Theratase"), one of the UK's leading manufacturers and suppliers
of enzymes and biochemicals to the diagnostic healthcare sector, is pleased to
announce today that its Dutch joint venture partner, AM-Pharma Holding BV
(AM-Pharma), in which Theratase is a founding investor, has successfully
completed Phase I and Phase IIa clinical trials of its drug alkaline phosphatase
(AP).



The AP used in the trials is supplied exclusively by Biozyme Laboratories
Limited, a subsidiary of Theratase. AP plays an important role in the body's
natural defences against invading harmful bacteria. It does this by being able
to detoxify Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the toxins released by certain bacteria
which can cause life threatening reactions in patients with infections. Broadly
characterised under the term sepsis, such conditions carry a high mortality rate
and consume several billion dollars of healthcare costs in the USA alone,
representing a key area of largely unmet medical need.



In the Phase I study, the safety of the compound was studied following injection
of either placebo or increasing doses of AP in a total of 32 human volunteers.
In the Phase IIa study, 10 subjects received a low dose of LPS, together with
either AP or placebo. In this way, valuable data about the efficacy of AP, which
would normally only be collected in Phase II/III clinical studies, was obtained
at an early stage of clinical development. AM Pharma announced that following
administration of 7.5, 22.5, 67.5 and 200.0 units of AP per kg body weight
subjects did not show any adverse effects that could be attributed to study
medication. In the Phase IIa study, subjects receiving placebo in addition to
LPS had clear symptoms of endotoxaemia (fever-like symptoms) and high plasma
levels of inflammatory markers, such as TNFa. Subjects treated with AP
and LPS were either symptom free, or showed only minor symptoms of endotoxaemia,
and had strongly inhibited levels of inflammatory markers.



Phase II trials are due to start in the second half of 2003. Theratase will
continue to be the exclusive supplier of AP for these clinical trials and for
five years following commercialisation.



Commenting on the successful completion of the trials, Dr John Chesham, CEO of
Theratase said,



"The rate of progress on the sepsis project continues to be impressive. The
successful completion of these studies and the excellent data will facilitate
commencement of full Phase II trials ahead of schedule."



                                    - ENDS -



For further information, please contact:


Theratase
John Chesham, Chief Executive Officer                Tel:  +44 (0) 1495 790 678
Colin Anderson, Finance Director                     Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7863 8819

Buchanan Communications                              Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Nicola How / Louise Bolton



Notes to Editors:



Theratase:  a specialist in the development, manufacture and marketing of
enzymes and biochemicals to the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries.
Floated in 1993, its core business, Biozyme Laboratories Ltd., was set up in
1971 and has nearly 30 years' experience in the field of enzyme production.



AMP:   AMP was founded in July 2000 by, amongst others, ABN AMRO and Free
University of Amsterdam. It is developing a new generation of therapeutics for
the treatment of life threatening infectious diseases, including those that have
become resistant to existing antibiotic treatments in addition to developing a
new class of in vivo diagnostics.



AMP is focusing its development on its proprietary human antimicrobial peptides.
These compounds are considered to be safer and easier to manufacture than those
from competitors in this field who are either developing peptides from animal
origin or larger modified human peptides. The efficacy of AMP's lead compounds
has been established both in vitro and in vivo and have shown potent
antimicrobial properties with a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria,
fungi and viruses, including multi resistant strains, so called "Super-bugs".



Web address:    www.am-pharma.com


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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