RNS Number:6749P
BioFocus PLC
12 September 2003





                    BIOFOCUS AND BIOVITRUM ANNOUNCE PROGRESS
                      OF CHEMOGENOMIC GPCR COLLABORATION

                    Companies Launch Lead Partnering Programme



Chesterford Research Park, UK, 12th September, 2003 - BioFocus plc (AIM: BIO), a
world leader in collaborative drug discovery, today provided the following
update on the progress of its chemogenomic-based GPCR collaboration with
Biovitrum, a leading European biotech company.

GPCRs are implicated in a broad range of disease states, including diseases such
as obesity, diabetes, cancer and depression.  Over 40% of drugs currently on the
market act through GPCRs.



Since beginning the collaboration in September 2002, twenty-two disease targets
have entered the programme.  High quality hits capable of progression to lead
series have been found in over 60% of targets screened, compared to an industry
average of around 25%.  In addition, the approach used by the programme has cut
the time for lead optimisation significantly, with the first lead partnering
candidates expected to be available for out-licensing by the end of 2003.



BioFocus and Biovitrum established the G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) drug
discovery program to jointly identify novel drug molecules against multiple
GPCRs in September of 2002.



The collaboration exploits BioFocus' novel chemogenomic approach to GPCR drug
design in parallel with Biovitrum's GPCR target expertise.



Under the terms of the collaboration, the companies plan to generate a number of
project opportunities that will be developed up to the stage of late hit-to-lead
/lead optimization.  The resulting lead series not pursued by Biovitrum,
BioFocus or the collaboration will be offered to third parties for partnering.



Commenting on these developments, BioFocus Chief Executive, Geoff McMillan,
said, "This combined programme is exceeding our expectations in terms of its
efficiency and speed as well as the quality of the leads being discovered.  The
ability to generate a portfolio of quality out-licensing candidates adds a new
dimension to our business and is a great credit to the scientists of both
companies as they strive to discover novel therapeutics."



Biovitrum CEO, Mats Pettersson, reinforced by adding, "The combined capabilities
of BioFocus and Biovitrum generate leads of a quantity and quality surpassing
our expectations.   Only a minor part of the assets generated by the programme
will be needed for a strong addition to our respective companies' project
portfolios, opening up a large number of opportunities for third party
collaborations."



About BioFocus



BioFocus is a leading drug discovery company working in partnership with major
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.  Additionally it is developing a
portfolio of internal drug discovery programmes aimed at providing drug leads
for partnering.  The company was founded in 1997 and is quoted on the
Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.  BioFocus works with
a wide range of global clients and in 2002 provided services and/or products to
22 leading pharmaceutical companies.



About Biovitrum



Biovitrum is a privately-held biotech company active in the discovery and
development of drugs to treat metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and
obesity, and in the contract process development and manufacturing of protein
therapeutics. The company has a strong intellectual property and technology
platform, with a number of compounds in pre-clinical and clinical development.
Biovitrum is one of the largest biotech companies in Europe with more than 575
employees. Annual revenues, including royalties and contract service fees,
finance the major part of the annual research budget. For more information,
please visit Biovitrum's website at www.biovitrum.com.



For further information:



BioFocus                                                      +44 (0)1799 533500

Geoff McMillan, Chief Executive
John Kamins, Vice President Business Development & Marketing

Buchanan Communications                                      +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Mark Court/Rebecca Skye Dietrich




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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