ABSCIENCES (EPA:AB) AB SCIENCE - AB Science and its partners receive €10m from OSEO

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29/06/2010 17:45

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                              Canada, Australia or Japan

                                               Paris, 29 June 2010- 5.45 pm

                       AB Science and its partners receive EUR10m from OSEO

    as part of the APAS-IPK project for the development of a new generation
                                                       of anti-cancer drugs

AB Science SA (NYSE Euronext - FR0010557264- AB), pharmaceutical company
specialised in research, development and marketing of protein kinase
inhibitors (PKI), Bull, specialist in information technologies and
particularly high performance computing solutions, Genomic Vision SA,
biotechnology company specialised in molecular diagnosis, and Skuld-Tech,
biotechnology company specialised in the discovery of biomarkers and the
development of diagnostic tools and companion tests, established formed
a partnership for the development of new targeted cancer treatments.

The partnership will carry-out of the APAS-IPK (Amélioration de la
Prédictivité de l'Activité et de la Sélectivité des Inhibiteurs de
Protéines Kinases en Oncologie [I mp rovement in Pred ictiveness of the
Activity and Selectiveness of Protein Kinase Inhibitors in Oncology]) project,
supported by OSEO's Industrial Strategic Innovation (ISI) programme.

OSEO, through its programme supporting Industrial Strategic Innovation, will
grant the project a total amount of EUR10m (including notably EUR6.2m to AB
Science, EUR2m to Bull, EUR0.7m to Genomic Vision and EUR0.3m to Skult-Tech)
in the form of repayable advances and subsidies.

                                        ***

The objectives of the APAS-IPK project are to devise tools to improve
understanding of the protein kinase (PK) family and their role in the
development of cancers and the acquisition of resistance to treatments, and
the provision of new treatments enabling targeted and personalised treatment of
patients.

PKs are enzymes involved in the cell signalling paths. They act as regulators
of cell function. The unregulated activation of these enzymes, due to
mutations for examples, may lead to several forms of cancer.

Inhibition of these proteins is an important area of research in the battle
against cancer. Currently the kinase inhibitors on the market or under
development are principally competitive inhibitors of ATP, the principal
ligand of the kinases. They nevertheless demonstrate a low level of
selectiveness explained by a limited functional understanding of these
proteins, hence a lack of more specific and less toxic molecules.

The complexity of the proteins, their structures and their mechanisms of action
renders the current in silico and in vitro models insufficiently effective. The
major challenge of the APAS-IPK project and the partners involved is to develop
high performing and predictive models of the interactions and biological
effects of the Protein Kinase Inhibitors (PKI) and to use them to develop a
new generation anti-tumour therapy, with a low level of toxicity, targeted and
personalised accordingto patients' predispositions.

AB Science, leader of this project, is focused on the discovery and development
of new PKIs in the fields of oncology and inflammatory and neurodegenerative
diseases. Its principal molecule, Masitinib, shows antitumour effects and can
re-sensitise tumours to chemotherapy according to the results obtained in
several preclinical and clinical trials.

The large amount of biological data on Masitinib and other PKIs developed by
AB Science and the additional data acquired within the framework of the project
with the collaboration of the public laboratories of the CNRS and Inserm (U8147
and U891) will feed the creation of in silico models developed in partnership
with Bull. Moreover, biological samples collected during Masitinib clinical
trials will be used to establish companion tests predictive of the therapeutic
response of the molecule and the potential associated toxicity (Skuld-Tech,
Genomic Vision).

One of the key measures of the project is based on a strategy of innovative and
high performing molecular modelling making it possible to access an extremely
broad body of information connecting the 3D dynamic structure of the kinases,
the stability and specificity of the ligand-kinase complexes and the biological
data available.

In order to enable complete and effective in silico modelling of the protein
kinases and their inhibitors, a very high computing capacity is required. Bull
is a French company with a globally recognised know-how in the construction of
supercomputers and has the role in this programme of creating a high
performance computer (HPC - "High Performance Computing") with an innovative
architecture specially adapted to the field of Life Sciences.

UMR 8113 will offer its molecular dynamics expertise in order to improve the
modelling of the interactions. Historically, UMR 8113 was a pioneer laboratory
in the use of molecular modelling enabling access to the three-dimensional
structure of biological objects (DNA and proteins). From this point of view,
the laboratory has participated in the development of the Amber force field.
The laboratory was also among the first to integrate molecular dynamics
enabling the evolution of the structures to be studied.

The in silico models will thus be important tools for predicting the potential
anti-tumour effects of the AB Science PKIs under development.

The computer models, once finalised, will make it possible to select, from
among the thousands of molecules of the AB Science PKI library, a new PKI
having both a specificity and a high level of efficacy, thus aiming at
minimal toxic effects.

Lastly, Genomic Vision and Skuld-Tech, specialised in the development of new
technologies in genomic engineering, will use biological samples taken during
the clinical phases conducted by AB Science. Predictive companion tests, based
on biomarkers (respectively detecting genomic rearrangements and modifications
to transcriptional profiles) will make it possible to predict the response or
non-response to the treatment and the toxic effects associated to the treatment
in the patients treated.

About protein kinase inhibitors
Protein kinases (PK) correspond to a large family of proteins (~seven hundred
proteins) conserved during evolution of the species, which thus demonstrates
their functional importance in the physiology of a cell. Their principal
function consists of adding phosphate ions to other proteins. This
phosphorylation entails modifications to the activity of the enzyme proteins
in the cell and leads to activation ofthe phosphate protein which engenders
many cell functions such as proliferation, survival, differentiation,
migration and activation. This chemical reaction requires ATP (energy source
for the cell) which interacts specifically with the protein kinases via
a specific binding site called the ATP pocket.
The discovery of oncogenes, and then the deregulated
the nature oftheir activity in some tumours, as observed with PKs, changed the
nature and the objectives of the projects for development of certain
anti-cancer drugs. Indeed, since the activity of the molecular target of
these drugs differs in normal and cancerous cells, it became conceivable
to identify powerful and selective inhibitors of this enzyme activity:
protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs).
PKIs are almost all small chemical molecules which mimic ATP without
contributing the energy necessary to the reaction. This interaction between
kinase and inhibitor leads to the inactivation of this enzyme, the cessation of
any signalling which could lead to cell death, and the cessation of
proliferation or migration (for example in the process of formation of
metastases).

During the last ten years significant advances have been made in identifying
pharmacological targets and creating new active PKI molecules. These advances
have been possible thanks among other things to the growth of genomics and the
structural proteomics, to molecular modelling, to the elucidation of the main
signalling paths, to combinatory chemistry linked to molecular optimisation
techniques and to high speed screening techniques. The implementation of these
techniques results in obtaining more specific and more active molecules in
major pathologies, notably cancers and infectious diseases. Nevertheless, after
a few years of experiments, it appears that this type oftreatment very often
induces the onset of acquired resistances. Moreover, in spite of the
"targeted" concept of this type of therapy, these treatments induce toxic
side effects such as cardiotoxicity or neurotoxicity. These toxicities are
the result either of the inhibition itself of the function of the protein
of interest, or an "off target" effect on an unidentified kinase.

The detailed understanding of the roles played by all of these molecules in
cancers and in the acquisition of the mechanisms of resistance is crucial for
the development of therapies better adapted to the needs of each patient.

About Molecular Combing
Molecular Combing is a process devised by Dr Aaron Bensimon. It consists of
fixing the ends of DNA molecules in solution onto a glass surface, then
uniformly stretching the molecules by retracting the meniscus (air/water
interface). Long strands of DNA are thus aligned and fixed irreversibly over
the whole surface. The use of fluorescent probes then enables direct viewing
on each combed DNA molecule of rearrangements which can be undetectable by
other technologies (deletions, duplications, inversions, etc.). The
technology is thus capable of exploring the whole genome at high resolution
(1kb) in one simple analysis.

About OSEO's "Industrial Strategic Innovation" Programme
The "Industrial Strategic Innovation" programme (ISI) encourages the emergence
of European champions. It supports ambitious collaborative innovative projects
with an industrial purpose, run by companies of a medium size (fewer than
5,000 employees) and SMEs (fewer than 250), all innovative. These projects are
highly promising in the event of success: they aim to market the products of
breakthrough technologies and could not succeed without public support. The
aid is generally of an amount between 3 and 10 million euros in the form of
repayable advances and subsidies.

About AB Science
Founded in 2001, AB Science is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the
research, development and commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors
(PKIs), a new class of targeted molecules whose action is to modify
signalling pathways within cells. Through these PKIs, the Company targets
diseases with high unmet medical needs (cancer, inflammatory diseases and
central nervous system diseases), in both human and veterinary medicines.
Thanks to its extensive research and development capabilities, AB Science
has its own portfolio of molecules. Masitinib, a lead compound, has
already been registered in veterinary medicine in Europe and is pursuing
three on-going phases 3 in human medicine in pancreatic cancer, GIST
and mastocytosis.

AB Science is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (Compartment B) - ISIN:
FR0010557264- Ticker: AB
Further information is available on AB Science's website: www.ab-science.com

About Bull
Bull is an information technology company. Our mission is to be the preferred
partner of our clients, corporate and administration, by optimising the
architecture of their Information System, operating it and making it
profitable, to support their activity and the critical processes linked
to their business line.
Bull is a specialist in open and secured systems, the only European company on
one of the principal links of the IT value chain.
In the field of Extreme Computing, Bull designs and develops solutions used by
many research and industrial laboratories. In the United States in 2009, the
Bullx supercomputer developed by Bull was voted the best supercomputer in the
world by HPCwire, the biggest professional magazine in the field. In June 2010,
Bull announced the most powerful supercomputer in Europe and n° 3 in the
world.

For further information visit: www.bull.fr and www.bull.fr/extremecomputing
Bull press relations: Barbara Coumaros - Tel: 06 85 52 84 84 -
barbara.coumaros@bull.net

About Genomic Vision SA
Genomic Vision develops molecular diagnostic tests to meet unmet needs in the
fields of genetic diseases and oncology. The company exploits a proprietary
technology, Molecular Combing, which enables direct viewing of genomic
rearrangements in single molecules of DNA. The devising of companion tests to
stratify populations of patients or monitor the efficacy of the treatments, in
collaboration with the pharmaceutical laboratories, is a major area of
development of the company.
Genomic Vision markets its tests directly to leading diagnostic laboratories
and disseminates to the academic market a range of tools to implement the
Molecular Combing technology for research purposes in the fields of
cytogenetics, oncogenetics and DNA replication.
Based in Paris, Genomic Vision has raised EUR10m since its creation in 2004.
For further information visit: http://www.genomicvision.com

About Skuld-Tech
Skuld-tech is a biotechnology company specialised in the discovery and
exploitation of biological markers (or biomarkers) characteristic of a disease
or a determined physiopathological situation. The company exploits its patents
and its technological know-how in the form of provision of services and in the
form of products: diagnostic tools such as "companion" tests or tests making
it possible to stratify or segment patients according to "typical profiles".
Skuldtech is thus positioned in the field of "personalised" medicine which
takes account of everyone's biological or physiological differences in order
to administer the most effective treatments, since they are adapted to the
profile of each patient.
Further information can be found about the company at the website:
www.skuldtech.com

AB Science - Financial Communication & Press Relations

Citigate Dewe Rogerson contacts:
Agnès Villeret - Tel: +33 1 53 32 78 95 - agnes.villeret@citigate.fr

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