31 January 2003

ChemOvation and LeadDiscovery have entered into a cooperative agreement in the field of new target selection and development.

LeadDiscovery and ChemOvation will support each other to provide pharmacology and medicinal chemistry reports on emerging biological targets. ChemOvation will also offer highly focused chemical libraries specific to the therapeutic target.

For the past 3 years, LeadDiscovery has been producing DiscoveryDossiers, detailed appraisals of selected high impact biological targets. A key feature of the collaboration will be the ability to integrate these reports with expert opinion on the chemistry and technical feasibility for drug development. Further to this, chemical libraries will be available to provide potential lead compounds or pharmacological tools.

Dr Keith Menear, Director of Chemistry and Operations, ChemOvation Ltd commented, "This collaboration provides an exciting opportunity to evaluate a drug target with the benefit of a dossier of information and expert analysis. Coupled to this will be the ability to access therapeutically targeted libraries of compounds which have been generated using ChemOvation's state of the art design and synthesis capabilities."

Dr Jon Goldhill, CEO, LeadDiscovery Ltd commented, "LeadDiscovery originally set out to provide full and multi-disciplined analyses of emerging pharmaceutical targets and preclinical development guidance. Combining these services with ChemOvation's medicinal chemistry and library construction platform now provides a powerful resource to run seamlessly from target selection through lead identification to down-stream product development."

Continues Dr Goldhill "In the past we have endeavoured to demonstrate to our readers why selected targets may represent emerging drug discovery projects. Our collaboration with ChemOvation will take this process one step forwards. Our most recent DiscoveryDossier explores the therapeutic and pharmaceutical potential of the endogenous inhibitors of apoptosis. The ability to read this report and then move rapidly and cost-effectively towards the development of lead compounds for this field exemplifies just how powerful this resource could be"

For further details of the services provided under the umbrella of this collaboration please go to:
www.leaddiscovery.co.uk/target-discovery/pharmaceuticalsolutions.html

Lead Discovery Ltd

LeadDiscovery is a UK based pharmaceutical consultancy company supported by a web platform (www.leaddiscovery.co.uk) offering four key services:

· DailyUpdates is a first of its kind tracking service that delivers breaking scientific articles validated for their drug development potential via free and subscription based feeds
· TherapeuticAdvances is a twice monthly bulletin offering pharmaceutical comment on cutting edge research with commercial potential
· DiscoveryDossiers & PharmaReports represent in depth analyses of breaking drug discovery areas. Reports are produced to provide a framework for decision making related to the selection of drug discovery programs or licensing opportunities.
· PharmaceuticalSolutions is a client-lead service through which LeadDiscovery is able to offer advice and project management relating to pre-clinical target selection and drug development.

For more information, please visit www.leaddiscovery.co.uk or contact:

Dr Jon Goldhill
LeadDiscovery Ltd
Unit 4
Quarry Farm
East Susses
TN32 5RA

Phone: +44 (0) 1580 831877
Fax: +44 (0) 1580 831877
Email: leaddisc@leaddiscovery.co.uk

ChemOvation Ltd

ChemOvation is a leading provider of drug discovery services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. It provides a fully integrated service specialising in:

· Medicinal chemistry
· Organic chemistry
· Computational chemistry
· Screening
· ADME and early Toxicology

ChemOvation offers clients a wealth of scientific knowledge and expertise to ensure success in their drug discovery projects. Whether it's for lead optimisation, hit expansion or custom synthesis, ChemOvation provides the complete outsourcing solution for drug discovery projects.

For more information, please contact

Dr Keith Menear
ChemOvation Ltd
Foundry Lane
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5PX

Phone: +44 (0) 1403 248844
Fax: +44 (0) 1403 248855
Email: keith.menear@chemovation.com