Silence Therapeutics Announces Board Changes And Appointment Of New Chief Executive Officer

LONDON, February 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

-- Tony Sedgwick steps up to Chief Executive Officer from Chief Business Officer --

-- Thomas Christély resigns as a Director of the Company --

Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) ("Silence" or "the Company"), a leading RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics company, announces today the promotion of Tony Sedgwick PhD, FRCPath to the role of Chief Executive Officer from Chief Business Officer with immediate effect and the departure of Thomas Christély who has resigned as a Director of the Company for personal reasons but will ensure a smooth transition.

Dr Anthony David Sedgwick (aged 56) joined Silence in September 2011 to lead a new business development team and has been instrumental since then in helping shape the Company's future strategy and in discussions with partners, investors and other stakeholders.  Tony has extensive experience from European life science companies including more than fifteen years at Roche.  Prior to joining Silence, Tony was CEO of Novacta and Chairman of the Norwegian biotech company Plastid AS.  He was also previously CEO of two successfully acquired companies, Daniolabs Ltd. and Cambridge Biotechnology Ltd.

Commenting on the announcement  Jerry Randall,  Chairman of Silence Ther apeutics, said:  " Tony has  a great deal of relevant experience gained from the global pharmaceutical industry.  He has  made a very positive impact on  Silence  since joining in September last year  and has demonstrated t he right leadership skills needed  as the Company continues to gain momentum .  On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Thomas for his  many years of  valuable  service  to Silence and wish  him  well  with his future endeavours.  I am delighted that Tony has agreed to take on the CEO role. He has impressed us since joining and I am sure he will continue to do so. "

Tony Sedgwick , n ewly  promoted  Chief Executive Officer, added:  " Since joining Silence Therapeutics in  September  2011, I have been excited by the Company and the opportunities that lie ahead.    We have a unique proprietary position in  RNAi  therapeutics and  their  delivery. I am confident that this will be further strengthened and will be the basis upon which investors and pharmaceutical partners alike will take an increasing  interest in this Company.  We have already strengthened the business development team with the appointment of Dr Georg Buchner who will now take full responsibility for business development.  The C ompany ' s pipeline  including   Atu027    is  making good progress  and is  endorsed by external partners.  I look forward to  taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer  and working with the staff at Silence to strengthen the  C ompany ' s pipeline . Over the next few years, I intend to increase the commercial focus of the Company, harness the   RNAi therapeutics    opportunity  and, as a result,  create  substantial  shareholder value. "

Tony Sedgwick holds 1,108,108 shares (0.19%) of the issued share capital in the Company.  No further disclosures are required under Rule 17 and Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules.

Notes for Editors