Silence Therapeutics to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

LONDON, May 11, 2010 - Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) ("Silence" or the "Company")
announces that Philip Haworth, Ph.D., chief executive officer, will present
corporate updates at two upcoming industry and financial conferences. Dr.
Haworth's presentations will focus on Silence Therapeutics' comprehensive RNA
interference (RNAi) therapeutics platform, broad clinical-stage pipeline and
multiple ongoing collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies.

    Upcoming conferences at which the Company will present include:
    Rodman & Renshaw 6th Annual Global Healthcare Conference
    May 16-18, 2010
    Grosvenor House Hotel, London, UK
    Silence's presentation: 9:25 a.m. (BST) on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
    A live webcast of the presentation will be available at
    www.silence-therapeutics.com and will be archived for 90 days.

    BioEquity Europe 2010
    May 19-20, 2010
    Swissotel Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
    Silence's presentation: 1:30 p.m. (CEST) on Thursday, May 20, 2010.

About Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)

Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) is a leading global biotechnology
company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of targeted,
systemic RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of serious
diseases. The company possesses multiple proprietary siRNA delivery
technology platforms including AtuPLEX(TM), a system that enables the
functional delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and
cells, while increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake. A
second, complementary delivery technology known as PolyTran(TM) uses a
library of novel peptide-based biodegradable polycationic polymers for
systemic siRNA administration. Additionally, the company has a platform of
novel short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a
number of advantages over conventional siRNA molecules, including increased
stability against nuclease degradation. Silence's unique RNAi assets also
include structural features for a next generation of RNAi molecules and
additional proprietary siRNA sequences against more than 50 highly valued
oncology and other disease targets.

The company's strong and diverse intellectual property portfolio includes
exclusive licenses from the University of Massachusetts on three patent
families associated with the Zamore "Design Rules," which cover broad
structural features of siRNA design for more potent next generation siRNA
sequences.

Silence Therapeutics is headquartered in London, UK, with research and
development operations in Berlin and Palo Alto, CA.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject
to risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties
could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the
forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on
information currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence
Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements.

Phil Haworth of Silence Therapeutics, +1-650-855-1514, p.haworth at silence-therapeutics.com; or Richard Potts, or Jonathan Senior, both of Nomura Code Securities, +44-020-7776-1200, for Silence Therapeutics; or media, Tim Brons, +1-415-675-7400, tbrons at vidacommunication.com, or investors, Stephanie Diaz, +1-415-675-7400, sdiaz at vidacommunication.com, both of Vida Communication for Silence Therapeutics