RNS Number:3589I
Alizyme PLC
06 March 2003


Immediate Release                                            6 March 2003



                     ALIZYME COMPLETES PATIENT RECRUITMENT

                        FOR ITS PHASE IIb OBESITY TRIAL



Cambridge UK, 06 March 2003: Alizyme plc (LSE:AZM) is pleased to announce the
completion of patient recruitment in its Phase IIb clinical trial of ATL-962 for
the treatment of obesity.



The multi-centre trial, in which 370 clinically obese patients have been
enrolled, is being performed in specialist clinics in 5 European countries
including the UK. It is a randomised, double-blind, parallel group trial
comparing three doses of ATL-962 with placebo over three months. The objectives
of the study are to determine the effect of ATL-962 on weight loss together with
its safety and tolerability profile in clinically obese patients. In addition, a
number of other parameters associated with obesity, including markers for
diabetes and cardiovascular disease, will be determined.



Preliminary results of this trial, which are anticipated to be announced in
October 2003, are expected to provide valuable information to define the product
profile relating to efficacy, safety and tolerability and will assist in the
design of the Phase III programme. Positive results would also facilitate
Alizyme's commercial exploitation of ATL-962 through out-licensing.



ATL-962, an inhibitor of gastro-intestinal lipases, is designed to cause weight
loss by reducing the digestion and thus the absorption of fat from the diet. The
incidence of obesity, and the closely related disease of Type II diabetes,
continues to escalate worldwide. Conservative estimates of the economic costs of
obesity range from 2% to 8% of the total costs of healthcare of the developed
world.



Dr. Richard Palmer (Chief Executive Officer) commented:



"The completion of recruitment in this large Phase IIb study of ATL-962 in
clinically obese patients is an important milestone in the development of this
drug. The size of the trial is such that it should provide robust Phase IIb data
to establish ATL-962's product profile with a view to exploiting the product
through a commercially attractive out-licensing deal."



For further information, please contact:


Dr Richard Palmer, Chief Executive Officer
Mr Tim McCarthy, Finance Director
ALIZYME plc                                    Tel No: + 44 (0)1223 896000

Lisa Baderoon/ Tim Anderson
BUCHANAN COMMUNICATIONS                        Tel No: + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000



Further information on Alizyme can be found on the Company's website:
www.alizyme.com



Editor's Note



Alizyme plc



Alizyme is a biopharmaceutical company, based in Cambridge, UK, targeting the
treatment and management of gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and diabetes. It
has a portfolio of products, which, in addition to ATL-962, includes
COLAL-PRED(TM) (Phase III for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative
colitis), renzapride (Phase IIb for irritable bowel syndrome) and ATL-104
(completed Phase I for mucositis). At the appropriate time Alizyme intends to
license products to established pharmaceutical companies, which will complete
development, gain marketing approval and commercialise the products.



Background to ATL-962



ATL-962 arose from an Alizyme initiated collaborative drug discovery programme.
This involved Cambridge Discovery Chemistry Ltd, which was subsequently acquired
by Millennium Inc, the US-based biopharmaceutical company. The compound is a
member of one of four new chemical families of lipase inhibitors for which
patent filings have been made by Alizyme.



Obesity Incidence



The incidence of obesity has shown a substantial increase over the past twenty
years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified obesity as an epidemic
and as the largest global, chronic health problem in adults. Worldwide, over 120
million people are estimated to be clinically obese (Body Mass Index over 30 -
see below for definition), while 210 million are overweight. Figures for the UK
show the problem is increasing with 13.2% and 17.0 % of men and 16.4% and 19.7 %
of women, in 1993 and 1997 respectively, being classified as clinically obese.
Although the disease is becoming high profile, the market is currently largely
unsatisfied and has a substantial unmet medical need.



Health Implications



Obesity is a poorly understood disease. It is considered to be a complex
syndrome involving many different physiological processes. What is clear is that
health risks increase as the degree of obesity increases. In particular, there
is an increased risk of Type II diabetes, cardiovascular and joint diseases.
These health risks are substantially reduced with loss of weight. Obesity and
these associated conditions are chronic, and therefore, have major consequences
for healthcare spending. Conservative estimates of the economic costs of obesity
range from 2% to 8% of the total costs of healthcare of the developed world. The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicate that healthcare costs attributable
to obesity in the US are approximately $100 billion annually.



Drug Treatment of Obesity



Drug treatment is being recommended for individuals with a Body Mass Index of
over 30 (see definition below). In the past, treatments have included appetite
suppressants or bulking agents. Meridia(R)/Reductil(R), an appetite
suppressant that acts on the central nervous system (centrally acting), was
launched by Abbot (previously Knoll/BASF) in the USA in 1998, is now approved in
Europe and was launched in the UK during 2001.



Roche's Xenical(R) inhibits lipase (a fat splitting enzyme in the digestive
tract) to reduce fat absorption. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed,
thus resulting in weight loss. Xenical(R) was first approved in 1997 and is now
marketed in more than 100 countries with current sales of approximately $500
million per annum.



Weight loss with Xenical(R) significantly improves various risk factors for
cardiovascular and metabolic disease, including elevated cholesterol and insulin
levels. Roche has received approval to extend the use of Xenical(R) to the
treatment of Type II diabetes in obese patients in some countries. This has the
potential to greatly enhance the market opportunity for lipase inhibitors and
thus the potential for ATL-962.



Body Mass Index: Definition



The classification of overweight and obesity is based on the Body Mass Index
(BMI) measurement, calculated as:


BMI                 =            Weight (kg)
                                 Height (m)2



Body Mass Index Ratios (BMI) and classification of obesity


BMI                           Medical Classification
> 30                          Clinical obesity leading to a dramatic rise in likelihood of
                              suffering
                              Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease,
                              osteoarthritis etc.
                              Mortality increases significantly.
25-29.9                       Overweight.  There is a significant increase in obesity related
                              diseases.
20-25                         Most appropriate for long term health.



The identification of compounds for successful research, their progress through
development and the obtaining of regulatory approvals or authorisations before
marketing, manufacture and/or distribution of products is not certain or a
formality.




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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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