MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - April 8, 2013) - Epistem Plc. (LSE:EHP), the UK biotechnology and personalised medicine company, today announced it will be presenting advances in two independent research platforms at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Washington DC on Tuesday 9^th April.

Dr Gino Mele, Operations Director of Epistem's Biomarker Division, will present data from Epistem's plucked hair biomarker platform during the 'Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics' poster category (abstract # 3350). Epistem's ex vivo plucked hair model has demonstrated identification of biologically relevant RNA transcripts resulting from pharmacologic inhibition of a commonly dysregulated cancer pathway. The genes identified in this study may be used to provide further mechanism of action information in clinical settings and can be used to monitor pharmacodynamic responses in plucked scalp hair obtained from cancer patients.

Epistem Senior Scientist Mike Batey will present Epistem's AML model during the "Preclinical and Experimental Imaging" poster category (abstract # 3921). Epistem have validated clinically relevant models of leukaemia for the preclinical assessment of novel therapeutics and combination treatment regimens. Epistem have used optical imaging to generate novel models with more reliable disease presentation, earlier identification of disease, and an extended drug treatment window over traditional models of leukaemia. These data demonstrate a robust AML model in which disease is ameliorated by chemotherapeutic treatment.

Matthew Walls, Epistem CEO commented "Epistem are at the forefront of preclinical and biomarker research and continue to invest in the development of innovative models to assist the drug development industry. These developments in leukaemia and further exploitation of our biomarker technologies strengthen our position as the preferred partner of choice for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Notes to Editors:

About Epistem

Epistem is a biotechnology and personalised medicine company commercialising its expertise in epithelial stem cells and pharmacogenomics in the areas of oncology, gastrointestinal, dermatological and infectious disease.

Epistem develops innovative therapeutics, biomarkers and diagnostics alongside providing preclinical services to drug development companies. Epistem's core expertise is focused on the regulation of adult stem cells located in epithelial tissue which includes the gastrointestinal tract, skin, hair follicles, breast and prostate. Epistem also has a range of proprietary amplification (RNA and DNA) technologies for use in drug discovery, development and diagnostics. [ www.epistem.co.uk ].

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