direct/ Antisoma plc (UK) - Antisoma strategy update - joint statement from the Chairman and CEO

Future opportunities
Today´s AS1404 licensing deal with Novartis is a great achievement. It is also an important step along the way to making Antisoma a significant and self-sustaining bio-pharmaceutical company. Our recent successes have provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to take our business forward. This will involve further expansion and diversification of our product pipeline. It will also entail a transition towards a business with a substantial role in commercialising its own products.

Expanding and diversifying the pipeline
The Board believes that the Company´s risk-reward profile could be significantly enhanced by further expansion of its pipeline. To this end, the Board plans an active programme of in-licensing and to examine opportunities to acquire other oncology companies.

Building a sales and marketing operation
An attractive feature of the deal announced today is the opportunity for Antisoma to participate in selling its own products in the USA. Should AS1404 reach the market, the agreement includes the potential for Novartis to fund certain of Antisoma´s commercialisation costs. This could make it easier for Antisoma to bring other products to market, allowing the Company to retain more of their value. The Board intends to continue to develop AS1411 independently with this possibility in mind. It will also consider potential sales synergies when seeking new assets for the pipeline.

Maximising the support of capital markets
Antisoma appreciates the strong support it has received from its investors through its listing on the London Stock Exchange. As stated previously, the Board also sees attractions in taking an additional listing in the United States. This would broaden the capital base supporting the Company´s development. Many of the products Antisoma would like to acquire are owned by US companies. Dollar-denominated stock would be a valuable currency for licensing and acquisitions. The Board will continue to evaluate the potential for a US listing and when this would best be timed.

Attachment of the complete press release:
http://www.directnewsroom.de/servlets/LoadBinaryServlet/1886673/attachment__190407.pdf

The announcement distributed by directnews.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

This release was published on openPR.