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Senomyx Receives Generally Recognized As Safe
(GRAS) Determination for Savory Enhancers
LA JOLLA, CA
March 3, 2005
Senomyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNMX) announced today the company has been
notified by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA)
that its savory enhancers S807 and S336 have been determined to be
Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under the provisions of the Federal
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, administered by the United States Food
and Drug Administration. In addition, two of the companyÍs other savory
enhancers, S263 and S976, which are related to S336, were also determined
to be GRAS. These savory enhancers, discovered and developed by Senomyx,
are intended to provide for the reduction or elimination of monosodium
glutamate (MSG) and to augment the flavor of naturally occurring glutamate
found in many food and beverage products. The GRAS determination will
enable incorporation of SenomyxÍs savory enhancers into a variety
of food products including sauces, frozen foods, processed cheese
and snack foods.
Extensive scientific safety data were submitted by Senomyx to the
expert panel of FEMA for GRAS determination. In 1960, FEMA established
the FEMA Expert Panel as an independent group of scientific experts
to review the safety of flavoring substances and ensure that such
substances added to foods are safe for their intended use. The Expert
Panel has operated continuously since it was first appointed in 1960
and has determined more than two thousand substances are GRAS.
"Receiving GRAS determination for our savory enhancers represents
a very important milestone for Senomyx as we move towards the commercialization
phase of our company,î stated Kent Snyder, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Senomyx. ñNow that we have received the GRAS determination,
consumer acceptance testing of our savory enhancers can begin. We
anticipate that the first commercial sale of products that include
our savory enhancers will occur during the first half of 2006, which
would result in royalty payments to Senomyx.î
About Senomyx
Senomyx is a biotechnology company using proprietary taste receptor-based
assays, screening technologies, and optimization chemistry to discover
and develop novel flavor enhancers and taste modulators for the packaged
food and beverage industry. SenomyxÍs current programs focus on the
development of flavor enhancers and taste modulators in four taste
areas: savory, sweet, salt and bitter. Senomyx has entered into product
discovery and development collaborations with four of the worldÍs
leading packaged food and beverage companies: Campbell Soup Company,
The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods Global, Inc. and Nestl³ SA.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that
are not historical facts are ñforward-looking statementsî within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because
such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding: the companyÍs ability to commercialize its savory enhancer
products, including the anticipated timing of commercial sales and
the receipt of royalties; the extent to which the companyÍs collaborators
or other packaged food and beverage manufacturers will incorporate
the companyÍs savory enhancers into packaged food and beverage products;
consumer acceptance of the companyÍs flavors and flavor enhancers;
and the ability of the companyÍs savory enhancers to reduce or eliminate
MSG and enhance the flavor of naturally occurring glutamate in food
and beverage products. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature
of the forward-looking statements include: the companyÍs dependence
on its collaborators to commercialize its flavors and flavor enhancers;
the companyÍs dependence on its product discovery and development
collaborators for its revenues for the foreseeable future; the risk
that the companyÍs flavors and flavor enhancers may never be commercially
successful; and the other risks and uncertainties that are described
more fully in SenomyxÍs most recently filed SEC documents, including
its Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 22, 2004 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2004. All forward-looking statements contained
in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were
made. Senomyx undertakes no obligation to update such statements to
reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date
on which they were made.
Contacts
Scientific æ
Mark Zoller, Ph.D
Sr. Vice President of Research & CSO
Senomyx, Inc.
858-646-8307
Investor Relations æ
Susan Neath æ
Atkins + Associates æ
858-527-3486 æ æ æ æ æ
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