Silence Therapeutics Appoints New Vice President of Research

LONDON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) ("Silence" or the "Company") announces the promotion of Jorg Kaufmann, Ph.D., to the position of vice president of research.  In this new position, Dr. Kaufmann, who previously served as senior director, technologies at Silence, will play a key role in overseeing the Company's broad range of RNA interference (RNAi) research activities, including those focused on advancing Silence's novel small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery technologies.  Dr. Kaufmann will continue to be based at Silence's Berlin research center, where the Company recently announced it is consolidating all research activities related to its novel RNAi therapeutic platforms.

Dr. Kaufmann possesses more than 13 years of biotechnology industry experience in both the United States and Europe.  Since joining Silence in 2000, he has served as both senior and associate director, technologies at the Company's Berlin location.  Prior to joining Silence, Dr. Kaufmann was a senior scientist at Chiron Corporation, where he was responsible for leading one of the company's molecular biology research groups focused on breast cancer.  From 1996-1997 he served as a group leader at the Institute of Tumour Biology (IMT) in Marburg, Germany.  Dr. Kaufmann was a postdoctoral fellow at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles and received his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the Philipps University Marburg.

"In his time at Silence Dr. Kaufmann has proven himself a valued member of our research team, playing a significant role in advancing a number of our novel RNAi technologies including proprietary RNAi delivery platforms and innovative approaches siRNA structural modification," stated Klaus Giese, Ph.D., Silence Therapeutics' chief scientific officer.  "The ongoing successes achieved by our team of scientists in Berlin combined with the consolidation of all research activities to our Berlin location, has created a need to continue to strengthen our research organization.  To this end, we are pleased to have him assume the role of vice president of research and look forward to his continued contributions to strengthening Silence's position as a leader in the RNAi sector."

About Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)

Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) is a leading global biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of targeted, systemic RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases.  The company possesses multiple proprietary siRNA delivery technology platforms including AtuPLEX™, a system that enables the functional delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, while increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake.  A second, complementary delivery technology known as PolyTran™ uses a library of novel peptide-based biodegradable polycationic polymers for systemic siRNA administration.  Additionally, the company has a platform of novel short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages over conventional siRNA molecules, including increased stability against nuclease degradation.  Silence's unique RNAi assets also include structural features for a next generation of RNAi molecules and additional proprietary siRNA sequences against more than 50 highly valued oncology and other disease targets.

The company's strong and diverse intellectual property portfolio includes exclusive licenses from the University of Massachusetts on three patent families associated with the Zamore "Design Rules," which cover broad structural features of siRNA design for more potent next generation siRNA sequences.

Silence Therapeutics is headquartered in London, UK, with research and development operations in Berlin and Palo Alto, CA.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Silence Therapeutics plc

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