Open Orphan #ORPH – Notice of AGM

Open Orphan plc (ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist CRO pharmaceutical services company which is the world leader in the testing of vaccines and antivirals using human challenge study models announces that its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019 and the notice of the 2020 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”), will be posted to shareholders later today , and will shortly be available on the Company’s website, https://www.openorphan.com/.

The Company’s AGM will be held at the offices of Arden Partners PLC, 125 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1AR on 22 July 2020 at 12 noon.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19

In light of the UK Government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which includes banning most non-essential travel and gatherings of more than two people, the Company and the Executive Chairman have determined that the Resolutions to be proposed at the AGM shall be voted on through a poll rather than on a show of hands. The Company believes that this is the best and fairest way to ensure that the votes of all shareholders can be taken into account, whilst also preventing the Company and shareholders breaching applicable regulations. Accordingly, the Company encourages all shareholders to either submit their Form of Proxy or use the CREST Proxy Voting Service, rather than attend the meeting in person. In accordance with the Company’s articles of association, whilst completion and return of the Form of Proxy or using the CREST Proxy Voting Service would not preclude shareholders from attending, speaking and voting in person at the AGM should they so wish, shareholders are reminded that to do so would potentially be in breach of UK Government regulations in relation to the containment and control of COVID-19 and accordingly shareholders are strongly encouraged to either submit their Form of Proxy or use the CREST Proxy Voting Service, rather than attend the AGM in person.

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Notes to Editors – Open Orphan:

Open Orphan is a rapidly growing niche CRO pharmaceutical services group which is a world leader in the testing of vaccines and antivirals through the use of human challenge clinical trials. Conducted from Europe’s only 24-bedroom quarantine clinic with onsite virology providing individually isolated rooms and connected to our specialist laboratory facility. Which offers highly specialised virology and immunology laboratory services to support pre-clinical and clinical respiratory drug, antiviral, and vaccine discovery and development.  Reliable laboratory analysis underpinned by scientific expertise is essential when processing and analysing clinical samples. Robust quality processes support our team of scientists in the delivery of submission ready data.

The Group has a leading portfolio of 8 viral challenge study models which are: 2 FLU, 2 RSV, 1 HRV, 1 Asthma, 1 cough and 1 COPD viral challenge models. As announced in early March, Open Orphan is rapidly advancing a number of Coronavirus challenge study models and expects to be helping many COVID-19 vaccine development companies to test their vaccines. No other company in the world has such a portfolio, with only two competitors globally having 1 challenge study model each.  In June 2020 hVIVO COVID Clear Test was launched, the most accurate antibody test available to UK employers, helping them to get their people back to work.

Open Orphan comprises of two commercial specialist CRO services businesses, hVIVO and Venn Life Sciences, and is developing an early stage orphan drug genomics data platform business. This platform captures valuable genetic data from patient populations with specific diseases with designated orphan drug status and incorporating AI tools. In June 2019, Open Orphan acquired AIM-listed Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc in a reverse take-over and in January 2020 it completed the merger with hVIVO plc. Venn, as an integrated drug development consultancy, offers CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and controls), preclinical, Phase I & II clinical trials design and execution. The merger with hVIVO created a European full pharma services group broadening the Group’s customer base and with complementary specialist CRO services, widened the range of the Group’s service offerings.