Vectura and UCB to collaborate and share expertise in severe inflammatory disease

Brussels, Belgium and Chippenham, UK – 30 September 2013: UCB (EBR: UCB; “UCB”) and Vectura Group plc (LSE: VEC; “Vectura”) today announced that they have entered into a collaboration for the development of an innovative biologic immunomodulatory product in the area of severe inflammatory respiratory disease.

The collaboration aims to leverage Vectura’s expertise in the pharmaceutical and clinical/regulatory development of inhaled therapeutics with UCB’s biologics and immunology assets. The collaboration will focus on bringing to clinical proof-of-concept a UCB-generated biological therapy targeting a key molecule in the immune system.

The companies will jointly manage the programme, with UCB focusing on bioprocess and preclinical development and Vectura taking responsibility for the pharmaceutical and clinical development of the dry powder product through to clinical proof-of-concept.

Financial terms of the collaboration have not been disclosed.

Dr Mark Bodmer, Vice President UCB New Medicines, Head of Immunology said: “There is significant unmet need that is driven by disorders of the immune system. By bringing together UCB’s biologics and immunology expertise and Vectura’s disease know-how and technologies, we hope to bring relief to people suffering from these severe illnesses worldwide. We are very pleased to be working with Vectura for the unique opportunity created by combining our expertise.

Dr Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive of Vectura commented: “Vectura’s growth depends in large part on its ability to remain at the cutting edge of development of products targeting airways-related disease. This is a significant collaboration that combines the innovative and development strengths of Vectura and UCB, and mitigates the cost and risk of development of novel products, in line with our stated strategy.”

For further information (UCB)

• France Nivelle, Global Communications, UCB
  T +32 2 559 9178, france.nivelle@ucb.com
• Laurent Schots, Media Relations, UCB
  T +32.2.559.9264, Laurent.schots@ucb.com

For further information (Vectura)

• Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive, Vectura
• T +44 (0)1249 667700
• Karl Keegan, Corporate Development Director, Vectura
  T +44 (0)1249 667700

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With 9000 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.4 billion in 2012. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).

About Vectura

Vectura Group plc and its subsidiaries (“Vectura” or the “Group”) is a product development company that focuses on the development of pharmaceutical therapies for the treatment of airway-related diseases. This growing market includes asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is estimated to be worth in excess of $30 billion worldwide.

Vectura has seven products marketed by its partners and a portfolio of drugs in clinical development, a number of which have been licensed to major pharmaceutical companies. Vectura has development collaborations and licence agreements with several pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Sandoz (the generics arm of Novartis), Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Tianjin King York Group Company Limited (KingYork).

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. For further information, please visit Vectura’s website at www.vectura.com.

Forward looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, political, regulatory or clinical results and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws and hiring and retention of its employees. UCB is providing this information as of the date of this press release and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report a change in its expectations.

There is no guarantee that new product candidates in the pipeline will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences between the partners. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products after they are marketed.

Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement.