EANS-News: SYGNIS Pharma AG / SYGNIS strengthens its KIBRA-Project: first Patents announced for Europe and the USA

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Patents, Copyright & Trademarks

Heidelberg (euro adhoc) - SYGNIS strengthens its KIBRA-Project: first
Patents announced for Europe and the USA

Heidelberg, May 5, 2011 - SYGNIS Pharma AG (Frankfurt: LIOK; ISIN
DE000A1E9B74; Prime Standard), a clinical stage biotech company
researching and developing innovative CNS treatments, announced
that both the European Patent Office (EPO) and the US Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) have given notice that they expect to
issue elementary KIBRA-patent-applications.

Dr. Frank Rathgeb, CMO of SYGNIS commented: "We are encouraged to
receive the notification from the EPO and the USPTO regarding
the issue of our first patents in the field of memory disorders,
which is of growing importance. As the clear scientific progress
of our KIBRA-project, which we have shown over the past few
months via our in vivo "Proof of Principle" studies, also the
improved patent position strengthens the overall value of our
KIBRA-project and increases awareness amongst potential partners."

With its KIBRA-program SYGNIS has entered a completely new kind of
approach for the development of novel treatments of memory disorders
such as dementia. In numerous studies, the direct relationship
between the KIBRA gene and the memory performance has been confirmed
and shown that the differences in the nucleotide sequence, i.e. the
order of the building blocks of the KIBRA gene, has a
significant effect on the human memory performance.

Apart from the clinical efficacy trial with AX200 for the treatment
of acute stoke (AXIS 2) KIBRA is the second key project in SYGNIS´
pipeline. With this regard, SYGNIS made good progress in
developing drugs, which significantly improve memory performance
by modulating the KIBRA-pathway in pharmacological therapy. Based
on the already established in vitro and in vivo Proof of
Principle for the role of KIBRA in learning and memory, SYGNIS has
started a screening program, applying one of its proprietary
assays, for the identification of suitable compounds, which could
have an effect on the KIBRA activity. SYGNIS expects to have the
results of the screening program and nominated candidates during
the third quarter of 2011. Based on these findings SYGNIS will look
to further strengthen its intellectual property position
regarding KIBRA in addition to numerous patent applications already
filed.

About KIBRA Modulators

Impairment of human memory is a hallmark symptom of many
nervous system diseases including Alzheimer´s disease,
schizophrenia and traumatic brain injuries. In order to identify
genes that have an impact on human memory, US and Swiss
researchers carried out a Genome Wide Association Study
(GWAS) approach on healthy volunteers. They identified the so-called
KIBRA gene, which was originally found in the kidney and brain, to
have the largest single effect on episodic human memory performance.
The importance of the KIBRA gene for human memory was further
confirmed by demonstrating that the KIBRA genotype affects the
risk of Alzheimer´s disease and that the KIBRA gene is expressed in
the hippocampus - an important structure for memory formation. In
preclinical studies it was shown that the modulation of KIBRA has an
impact on learning and memory performance. In in vivo studies, an
increase in KIBRA levels improves memory performance whilst a
down-regulation has a deteriorating effect.

Based on research findings related to a series of novel patentable
genes and pathways that play a fundamental role in memory
performance in humans SYGNIS was able to establish an active
programme to identify and develop proprietary

compounds that improve the human learning and memory performance. As part of
the related examinations an entirely new approach regarding the treatment of
memory impairments was identified. SYGNIS will continue to pursue the
therapeutic development of these compounds which look promising in the field of
age-related memory impairment, Alzheimer´s disease and other neurological
diseases.

About SYGNIS Pharma

SYGNIS Pharma AG, headquartered in Heidelberg, is a specialty
pharmaceutical company listed in the Prime Standard of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The Company is focused on the research
and development of innovative therapies for the treatment of
disorders of the Central Nervous System. SYGNIS´ core projects are
currently Acute Stroke for which SYGNIS´ lead clinical programme is
AX200, as well as the preclinical KIBRA-project for the treatment of
different forms of dementia. All these disorders are characterized
by the fact that, as the disease progresses, nerve cells are
damaged and die. Although there is great medical demand, there
are currently no or only inadequate treatment options available.
Furthermore, a key element of the sustainable value creation of the
Company is the expansion of the product pipeline, which will be
secured through its own developments as well as in-licensing and
acquisitions.

For further information please contact:
SYGNIS Pharma AG:

|Dr. Franz-Werner Haas |
|Senior Vice President Operations |
|+49 (0) 6221 454 812 |
|franz-werner.haas@sygnis.de |

Media-Contact:
Julia Phillips
Financial Dynamics
Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7269 7187

### Disclaimer Some statements included in this press release,
relating neither to proven financial results nor other historical
data, should be viewed as forward- looking, i.e. not definite.
Such statements are mainly predictions of future results, trends,
plans or goals. These statements should not be considered to be
total guarantees since given their very nature they are subject to
known and unknown risks and imponderability and can be affected by
other factors as a consequence of which the actual results, plans
and goals of SYGNIS Pharma AG may deviate greatly from the
established conclusions or implied predictions contained in such
statements. SYGNIS does not undertake to publicly update or revise
these statements in the light of new information or future results
or for any other reason. ###

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: SYGNIS Pharma AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Dr. Franz-Werner Haas
Senior Vice President Operations
+49 (0) 6221 454 812
franz-werner.haas@sygnis.de

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A1E9B74
WKN: A1E9B7
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
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