QVA149 Phase II data presented at the European Respiratory Society annual meeting

- Promising Efficacy and Tolerability For Novel Combination COPD Therapy -

Chippenham, UK – 15 September 2009: Vectura Group plc ("Vectura"; LSE: VEC), announce that Novartis have presented the results of their two Phase II studies evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of QVA149 at the annual congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in Vienna. QVA149 is a novel once-daily, dry powder fixed dose bronchodilator combination of the once-daily beta2–agonist QAB149 (indacaterol) and the LAMA, NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide), for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

NVA237 was licensed to Novartis by Vectura and Sosei in 2005 in a deal in which the two companies could receive up to US$375 million in milestones as well as royalties on product sales.

One of the randomised, cross-over double-blind, placebo-controlled studies compared inhaled administration of QVA149 300/50 (QAB149 300µg + NVA237 50µg) with two doses of QAB149 (300µg, 600µg) to evaluate bronchodilatory effect in terms of trough FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) after 7 days of therapy. One hundred and thirty-five patients with moderate to severe COPD completed the study with an observed clinically relevant mean improvement in trough FEV1 between QVA149 and placebo on Day 7 of 226 mL. Similarly, the estimated mean treatment differences between QVA149 and QAB149 300µg and 600µg were 123 mL and 117 mL, respectively. Similar results were observed on Day 1 of the study and both QVA149 and QAB149 were well tolerated.

The other placebo-controlled trial evaluated the safety and tolerability of 3 doses of QVA149 (600/100, 300/100 and 150/100) and QAB149 (300µg) in 255 patients during 14 days of treatment. In this study, QVA149 had no significant effect on change in 24 hour mean heart rate from baseline to Day 14, there was no clinically relevant effect on QTc interval at 1, 7, or 14 Days and QVA149 was well tolerated with overall adverse event rates similar to placebo.

Dr Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive of Vectura commented: "These positive results endorse the value of Vectura’s respiratory pipeline and it continues to be our belief that QVA149 has the potential to be the first once-daily LAMA/LABA combination available to patients."

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Notes for Editors:

About the NVA237 Licence Agreement with Novartis
NVA237 was licensed to Novartis in April 2005 by Vectura and its co-development partner Sosei. Novartis intends to launch NVA237 as a once-daily, long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) monotherapy for COPD and also in combination with their investigational once-daily, long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) indacaterol (QAB149), which was filed for approval with the regulatory authorities as a monotherapy treatment for COPD at the end of 2008. The combination of NVA237 and indacaterol is known as QVA149. NDA submissions are expected to be filed by Novartis for both NVA237 and QVA149 in 2011.

NVA237 entered Phase III trials in July 2009 which triggered a $7.5million milestone payment to both Vectura and Sosei. Under the terms of the agreement, Vectura and Sosei will each receive up to $172.5 million for achieving pre-agreed clinical, regulatory and commercialisation targets for both the monotherapy and combination product. These milestones total up to $375 million. In addition, royalties on product sales will be paid for the monotherapy and the combination product. If additional combination products are developed by Novartis using NVA237, further milestones and royalties will be payable.

About COPD
COPD is a chronic obstruction of the airways which affects 210 million people worldwide and is projected to be the third leading cause of death by 2030. It is a progressive lung disease with symptoms including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema, which slowly progresses and eventually leads to a largely irreversible loss of lung function. While there is no cure, bronchodilators such as LABAs and LAMAs make breathing easier by enlarging the patient’s airways, and are recognised in international guidelines as an integral part of the treatment for COPD.

About Vectura
Vectura Group plc is a product-focused Group that develops inhaled therapies principally for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Vectura’s main products target diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); a growing market that is currently estimated to be worth $20 billion. Vectura also develops products for other lung pathologies and non-respiratory diseases.

Vectura has eight products marketed by its partners and a portfolio of drugs in clinical and pre-clinical development, some of which have been licensed to major pharmaceutical companies. Vectura seeks to develop certain programmes itself where this will optimise value. Vectura’s formulation and inhalation technologies are available to other pharmaceutical companies on an out-licensing basis where this complements Vectura’s business strategy.

Vectura has development collaborations with several pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Sandoz (the generics arm of Novartis), Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Mylan, UCB and Otsuka. Vectura has been included in the FTSE 250 index since 23 March 2009. For further information, please visit Vectura’s website at www.vectura.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements", including statements about the discovery, development and commercialisation of products. Various risks may cause Vectura’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including adverse results in clinical development programmes; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialise products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialisation activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Posted: September 2009

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