RNS Number:0514M
Medical Marketing Int'l Group PLC
09 June 2003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               9 JUNE 2003



                  MMI IN NOVEL AIDS THERAPY JOINT VENTURE WITH
                          LONDON'S KING'S COLLEGE AND
                        QUEEN MARY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

          "Potential breakthrough in preventing cellular entry of HIV"


Medical Marketing International Group plc, (MMI) the UK based technology
management company listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: MMG) has today
announced that it has signed a joint venture agreement with London's King's
College (Kings) and Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) to develop a new and
potential breakthrough treatment for HIV.


The new therapy will be developed in MMI's anti-viral company, Viratis and is
different to existing treatments that slow down the multiplication of the
viruses as it removes the presence of HIV receptors on the surface of the cell.
Importantly, the therapy targets two different receptors that are essential for
the virus to enter the host cell thus reducing the likelihood of resistance.
Researchers at Kings and QMUL have discovered a way of removing these receptors.
The new therapy will enable the host cells to manufacture an enzyme known as a
ribozyme, which in turn will disrupt the cells chemical messengers that enable
the cells to produce these receptors.


Dr Janette Thomas, R&D Manager at MMI Group explains that: "The use of specific
ribozymes to prevent the cellular entry of HIV is an exciting and new area of
science. Existing treatments are designed to attack the virus, usually when it
has already invaded the host cell. It's a bit like'locking the stable door after
the horse has bolted'!. The ribozyme technology locks all the doors and prevents
the virus from getting in".


"MMI, Kings and QMUL have been working together successfully for the last 18
months. During this period they have shown in laboratory tests that the ribozyme
technology significantly reduces viral load in human blood. This is a good
indicator that viruses are being eliminated and this is obviously good news for
the patient. The team has since gone on to develop an in-vivo model which will
soon be used to provide further evidence that this discovery is likely to work
in humans. Once we have this data, we will be confident enough to commence
clinical trials".


The joint venture, based on MMI's anti-viral company, Viratis, will be 50% owned
by MMI with the remaining 50% split 18% Kings, 20% QMUL and inventing scientists
12%. David Best, Chairman of MMI, will initially be Chairmain of Viratis.


Dr Malcolm Sims, Managing Director of KCL Enterprises: "This partnership between
Kings, QMUL and MMI, is an exciting way of developing Kings world class science
so that it benefits patients."


Dr Robert Oliver, Head of Innovation and Enterprise at Queen Mary added: "We are
delighted with this joint-venture agreement. Not only will it enable us to
progress this discovery to clinical trials, through the support of MMI's
industry experienced development team and through MMI's funding network it is
also a clear demonstration of university colleges working together with industry
in the best interests of the 42 million patients with HIV or AIDS".



For further information, please contact:

David Best, Executive Chairman
Dr Janette Thomas
MMI Group plc                                            Tel:      01223 477677

Dr Malcolm Sims
KCL Enterprises
                                                         Tel:     020 7848 3322
Dr Robert Oliver
Queen Mary University of London                          Tel:     020 7882 5707

Lisa Baderoon
Buchanan Communications                                  Tel:     020 7466 5000




Notes for Editors


Current WHO data shows that worldwide 42 million people have HIV or AIDS. Of
these, 29.4 million are in sub-Saharan Africa, 38.6 million are adults and 3.2
million are children under the age of 15. 5 million new infections with HIV
occurred in 2002 and 3.1 million people died of AIDS related causes in that
year. Existing medicines, which aim to prevent virus replication once the HIV
virus has infected the hosts cells, can be effective when used in combination.
This "triple therapy" slows down the HIV virus multiplication delaying the onset
of full-blown AIDS. The very recent therapy to be approved, Fuzeon, inhibits
proteins on the surface of the HIV virus to prevent viral entry into the cell.
However the rapidly changing HIV virus can become resistant to the current
treatments.



Web links for further information:

www.mmigroup.co.uk

www.kcl.ac.uk

www.qmw.ac.uk

www.who.int/hiv/en/



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

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