RNS Number:8019Q
CeNeS Pharmaceuticals PLC
13 October 2003

     CeNeS announces additional data supporting the potential of M6G as an
                alternative to morphine in the treatment of pain

Cambridge, UK, 13th October 2003 - CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE: CEN) today
announced additional data produced by external academic groups. This data
strongly supports the potential of M6G (morphine-6-glucuronide) for the
treatment of post-operative pain. The data is being presented at three major
European and North American pain conferences. M6G is currently in phase III of
its clinical development programme for the treatment of post-operative pain. The
results from the first phase III study will be available in mid 2004.

Key findings from six academic presentations are shown below:

   *In healthy volunteer studies, M6G was shown to produce potent and long
    lasting analgesia with similar potency in both men and women. Compared to
    morphine, M6G produces significantly fewer side effects such as respiratory
    depression, nausea and vomiting.
   *In 3 post-operative patient studies (272 patients in total), M6G was
    shown to produce equivalent analgesia to morphine. Trends were observed
    indicating the beneficial effects of M6G compared to morphine, including
    respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting.
   *The pharmacokinetics of M6G is discussed, for example that the apparent
    longer duration of action of M6G compared to morphine is due to M6G reaching
    higher concentrations in the brain ECF (extra cellular fluid) and CSF
    (cerebrospinal fluid).

Commenting on these presentations, Neil Clark, Chief Operating Officer and
Financial Director of CeNeS said, " This new data support our own clinical
findings and our belief in the potential of M6G as a new drug for the treatment
of acute pain with significant advantages over morphine and other opiates."

The conferences at which the M6G data has been presented are:

   *2nd-4th September; Congress of the European Federation of the
    International Association of the Study of Pain Chapters - Prague
   *10th October; 4th International Symposium for Nociceptive/Neuropathic
    Pain - King's College London
   *13th-14th October, American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting,
    San Francisco


Full details of the data presented will be available in academic papers to be
issued in due course.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's
current expectation regarding future events. Forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those
projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the
Company's research strategy, the applicability of the discoveries made therein,
the successful and timely completion of clinical studies and the uncertainties
related to the regulatory process.

For more information please contact:


CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc
Neil Clark
Tel: +44 (0)1223 266466
Fax: +44 (0)1223 266467



Notes to Editors:

CeNeS is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development and
commercialisation of drugs for pain control. The company has development assets
targeting pain and has a portfolio of carried interests in assets that it has
divested. The company is based in Cambridge, England. For further information
visit www.cenes.co.uk.


M6G
M6G, a natural metabolite of morphine, is in development by CeNeS for the
treatment of moderate to severe pain. Morphine is a highly effective analgesic
that has been used for many years despite the unpleasant side effects of nausea
and vomiting and the potential dangers of respiratory depression.


M6G has undergone several Phase II clinical trials with more than 450 patients
receiving the compound. The most recent Phase II trials were designed to
establish the analgesic effects of different doses of M6G administered at
different times compared to a standard morphine treatment regime. Phase III
efficacy studies are currently being undertaken: a pivotal, dose-ranging placebo
controlled study is scheduled to commence as a multi-centre study in Europe in
2003 in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery with spinal anaesthesia. It
is planned that this will be followed by a second Phase III trial in Europe
comparing M6G and morphine treatment in patients with postoperative pain
following gastrointestinal and gynaecological surgery. Side-effect profiles of
M6G will be investigated in both studies. If these trials are successful then
M6G will be on target to be launched in Europe in 2006.


Opiate Analgesia
Analgesia is the process of pain-relief and any pain-relieving drug is called an
analgesic. The most potent known class of analgesics are the opiates, derived
from the opium poppy, which confer a high degree of pain-relief for severe pain.
Opiates, like morphine and codeine, act centrally in the brain in an area called
the periaqueductal grey area where they mimic the actions of neuromodulators
called endogenous opiates and 'switch off' the sensation of pain centrally.


The markets for M6G
M6G has potential as an analgesic for two types of pain, post-operative pain and
chronic pain, both of which are currently treated with morphine. The global
market for narcotic analgesics is estimated at $4 billion.



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