Cambridge Discovery Chemistry Limited

CAMBRIDGE DISCOVERY CHEMISTRY^TM (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CAMBRIDGE COMBINATORIAL) SIGNS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH LANCASTER SYNTHESIS TO DEVELOP NOVEL MONOMERS AND PROVIDE SYNTHESIS SCALE UP

Cambridge, UK … Cambridge Discovery Chemistry, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Molecular Group plc (London Stock Exchange: OMG), today announced it has entered a strategic alliance with Lancaster Synthesis Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BTP plc. The agreement is aimed at the development of novel monomers and building blocks but will also give Cambridge Discovery Chemistry access to Lancaster’s proven expertise in chemical synthesis scale-up.

Cambridge Discovery Chemistry and Lancaster will work initially with a select consortium of pharmaceutical companies and offer the monomers on an exclusive basis. Following the period of exclusivity, selected monomers will become available through the Lancaster catalogue.

Dr Allan Marchington, Chief Executive of Cambridge Discovery Chemistry said, "This agreement immediately strengthens the company’s offering to the pharmaceutical industry, adding scale-up to our experience in novel chemistries, molecular design, targeted libraries, and integrated informatics. Of equal significance, however, is our commitment to increasing the power of discovery chemistry through the development of novel monomer building blocks."

The development of novel monomers and building blocks is seen as a key issue for modern drug discovery and development, offering increased flexibility in molecular design and synthesis. In market research commissioned by Cambridge Discovery Chemistry and carried out by Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, a consistent view expressed by R&D directors was the need for pharmaceutical R&D departments to be able to access unique monomers that are more suited to drug discovery.

Steve Woodland, International Commercial Director of Lancaster said: "This alliance will allow Lancaster to further tailor its monomer supply to the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. In the shorter term, the link will also bring significant benefits to Lancaster’s clients, who will be able to gain access to Cambridge Discovery Chemistry's experience and expertise in computational design, novel chemistries and drug discovery."

For further information, please contact:
Cambridge Discovery Chemistry
(Formerly known as Cambridge Combinatorial)
David T Phillips, Vice-President, Business Development
Tel: +44 1223 722400

Lancaster Synthesis
Steve Woodland, International Commercial Director
Tel: +44 1524 36101

HCC·De Facto Group plc
Chris Gardner, HCC·De Facto Group plc
TEL: +44 171 496 3300

Notes to editors

Cambridge Discovery Chemistry (formerly known as Cambridge Combinatorial Limited)
Cambridge Discovery Chemistry provides world-class, innovative chemistry services to accelerate discovery and process research, servicing the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and biotechnology industries. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Molecular Group Plc. Cambridge Discovery Chemistry has developed leading technologies for discovery research including innovative molecular design, novel chemistries, new synthetic chemistry platforms and a comprehensive integrated informatics system. The company acts as an extension to the resources of its collaborators with solutions for discovery research including medicinal and combinatorial chemistry for lead generation, validation, optimisation and technology transfer as required.

Cambridge Discovery Chemistry supplies the molecular design and synthesis arm of Oxford Molecular’s Collaborative Discovery. Collaborative Discovery acts as a central point for multi-disciplinary research projects involving both chemistry and biology research. Cambridge Discovery Chemistry has secured many discovery collaborations with a range of pharmaceutical, agrochemical and biotechnology companies spanning the US, Japan and Europe these include: Merck & Co. Inc., Pfizer, Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rohm & Haas, Alizyme, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Yamanouchi and Fujisawa.

Oxford Molecular Group plc
Oxford Molecular is a leading provider of discovery and software solutions to the life sciences market. The Company seeks to deliver excellence in all its products and services and to help its customers benefit from the synergy that is created from the integration of state-of-the-art chemistry, biology and information technology infrastructure.

The Discovery Solutions Division offers discovery research through collaboration, by providing world-class innovative technologies in chemistry and biology which intimately match customer needs and add value to their research programmes. The Software Solutions Division supplies enterprise-wide software and information technology solutions for research across the entire drug discovery process. Innovative and superior products target customer needs for excellence in each area of discovery research; and together they form integrated solutions that add value to the flow of information through the customer’s research process.

The Company has its headquarters in Oxford, England and has operations throughout the USA as well as sales offices and agents around the world.

Lancaster Synthesis Limited
Lancaster Synthesis Ltd is a custom manufacturer to the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. At the leading edge of technology with an active semi-bulk service the company also focuses on the supply of a wide range of organic chemicals to industry and academia via its catalogue. Highly regarded as a reference document the catalogue offers over 14,000 products, many of which are produced in-house.

Lancaster Synthesis is part of the Archimica Division of BTP plc with international offices in UK, US, Germany, France and India and a worldwide distribution network.