Euroscreen Receives Key US Patent Covering Screening Methods Using Human P2Y11 Purinergic Receptor

Euroscreen SA today announced that it was awarded a US patent that covers the use of a G-Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) known as the human P2Y11 receptor.

Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- Euroscreen SA today announced that it was awarded a US patent that covers the use of a G-Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) known as the human P2Y11 receptor. The new Euroscreen's US patent (7,264,940) protects screening methods to single out compounds that modulate, either up or down, the biological activity of the P2Y11 receptor.

The P2Y11 receptor was cloned and characterized in collaboration with the Université Libre de Bruxelles. The group of Professor Jean-Marie Boeynaems has shown that the activation of the P2Y11 receptor leads to the differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells into neutrophil-like cells, suggesting that P2Y11 agonists might be used for the treatment of some forms of leukemia. In addition, its role in neutrophil maturation makes it a potential target for the treatment of neutropenia.

Commenting on the announcement, Jean Combalbert, Chief executive Officer of Euroscreen, said: "This new US patent in the field of purinergic receptors represents an additional stone to our growing portfolio. It will enable Euroscreen to generate revenues from companies wishing to use the human P2Y11 receptor as target for innovative drugs, through licence fees and milestones in the short term, and royalties on sales of any products generated in the longer term."

This new patent is extending the P2Y11 patent family, Euroscreen having already obtained a similar European patent and awaiting the issuance of equivalent patent applications in Japan and Canada, whose pending claims relate to similar subject matter.

About Euroscreen SA
Euroscreen, a privately held company based in Brussels, Belgium, is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and partnering of small molecule drugs for unmet medical needs. Euroscreen is developing a pipeline of compounds targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) using over 12 years of experience in research and commercialization of this critical class of drug targets. Initially, Euroscreen was a spin-off company of the "Université Libre de Bruxelles" based on GPCRs reagents development and commercialization. Euroscreen is now developing drugs on internal targets such as CCR5 and multiple additional targets as well as several preclinical-stage collaborations with partners.

The Company has developed a broad target portfolio for licensing to biopharmaceutical companies. Such patents address GPCRs such as CCR5, Chemerin receptor, GPR43, GPR7/8, FPRL2, purinergic receptors (P2Y4, P2Y11 and P2Y13) and SHIP2 for type II diabetes. Euroscreen is able to offer intellectual property rights to companies for the development of therapeutic drugs that act through these targets.

Euroscreen pursues a dual platform strategy of combining its internal drug discovery programs with its fully dedicated Custom Screening Business Unit (EuroSCREEN FAST), providing GPCR customized screening, GPCR antibody development and other services to serve biotech and pharmaceutical companies around the world. The company has research and licensing partnerships with Alchemia, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cephalon, GNF, HGS, ICOS, Medarex, Novartis and Pfizer. (www.euroscreen.com)

For further information, please contact:

Euroscreen S.A..
Tel: +32 71 348 500

Al Gray, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development

Vincent Lannoy, Ph.D.
Business Development and Licensing Manager

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