20th Oct 2005 07:01
Oxford Biomedica PLC20 October 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 OCTOBER 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA AND SIGMA-ALDRICH ENTER STRATEGIC ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCIALISATION OF LENTIVECTOR(R) TECHNOLOGY Oxford, UK and St Louis, Missouri, USA: 20 October 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE:OXB), the leading gene therapy company, and Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ: SIAL), aleading life science and high technology company, today announced an agreementfor Sigma-Aldrich to commercialise Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector technology forthe reagent and research tool market. The announcement was made at the CambridgeHealthtech Institute's Third Annual 'Discovery on Target' conference, being heldin Boston from 18 - 21 October, where both Companies are sponsoring sessions andpresenting data. This strategic alliance identifies Sigma-Aldrich as Oxford BioMedica's exclusiveglobal partner in the development and marketing of research products based onthe LentiVector technology. Sigma-Aldrich plans to develop a range of high valueLentiVector research products for its extensive customer base in thepharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic sectors. Under the agreement, which gives Sigma-Aldrich the exclusive right to sublicensethe technology for research purposes, Oxford BioMedica will receive an upfrontpayment, annual minimum payments and royalties on sales. In additionSigma-Aldrich has first rights to negotiate for a license to develop a new rangeof products based on Oxford BioMedica's EIAV-based LentiVector technology.Furthermore, Sigma-Aldrich has committed to an equity investment of $5 millionin Oxford BioMedica, to be completed before 31 January, 2006. Other financialterms were not disclosed. Oxford BioMedica's lentivirus-based gene delivery technology, known asLentiVector, is one of the most powerful technologies for the delivery of genesto a wide range of cell and tissue types. The LentiVector technology hasapplications both in therapeutic products and as a drug discovery tool fortarget validation and the creation of targeted disease models. Oxford BioMedicahas a comprehensive portfolio of US and European patents that cover thetechnology. Existing licensees and partners for the LentiVector technologyinclude Biogen Idec, Merck & Co, Pfizer and Viragen. Commenting on today's announcement, Peter Nolan, Senior Vice President of OxfordBioMedica said: "We are delighted to work with Sigma-Aldrich as our chosenpartner for commercialisation of the LentiVector technology in the researchreagent market. Through its broad scientific customer base and membership of theinternationally renowned RNAi Consortium, Sigma is a clear leader in this area.This partnership will allow Oxford BioMedica to derive maximum benefit fromresearch applications of the technology, while keeping the primary businessdevelopment focus on the commercialisation of our therapeutic product pipeline". Shaf Yousaf, President of the Sigma-Aldrich Research Biotechnology business unitstated: "Over the course of the last 12 months Sigma has made a number of strategicmoves, including formation of a research collaboration with The RNAi Consortium(TRC), acquisition of Proligo, and the licensing of key intellectual propertyfrom MIT and Alnylam, designed to enable us to become a dominant player in thearea of RNA Interference. The addition of the Oxford BioMedica patents to theSigma RNAi intellectual property portfolio further solidifies our position inthis important field of research. Additionally, the equity stake in OxfordBioMedica ensures our ability to capitalise on their extensive knowledge in thisarea and clears the way for a collaborative effort that we expect to result ineven more innovative tools for the biopharmaceutical industry." -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc: Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial DevelopmentSigma-Aldrich: Christina Shasserre Tel: +1 314 286 7676 Joan Suda Tel: +1 314 286 7626City/Financial Enquiries: Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000CommunicationsScientific/Trade Press Enquiries: Sue Charles/ Katja Stout/ Ashley Lilly Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150 Northbank Communications Notes to editors: 1. Oxford BioMedica Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in thedevelopment of novel gene-based therapeutics with a focus on the areas ofoncology and neurotherapy. The Company was established in 1995 as a spin outfrom Oxford University, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Oxford BioMedica has core expertise in gene delivery, as well as in-houseclinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how. In oncology, the pipelineincludes an immunotherapy and a gene therapy in multiple Phase II trials, and apreclinical targeted antibody therapy in collaboration with Wyeth. Inneurotherapy, the Company's lead product is a gene therapy for Parkinson'sdisease, which is expected to enter clinical trials in 2006, and four furtherpreclinical candidates. The Company is underpinned by over 80 patent families,which represent one of the broadest patent estates in the field. The Company has a staff of approximately 70 split between its main facilities inOxford and its wholly owned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in San Diego, California.Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Wyeth, Intervet, Viragen,MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companiesincluding Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. LentiVector technology Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector gene delivery technology, based on lentiviruses,is arguably the most potent system currently available for treating a range ofdiseases, particularly those of the central nervous system. Oxford BioMedica hasshown that its lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes with high efficiencyto a variety of both dividing and non-dividing cells, including neurons in thebrain. Oxford BioMedica has three issued US patents and a European patent for itsLentiVector technology. These include broad composition of matter claims andmethods of production claims for lentiviral vector gene delivery systems of bothhuman and non-human origin. The patents also cover derivatives of lentiviralvector systems that, unlike many versions of lentiviral vectors, have realclinical utility because of their safety. The Company has established a neurotherapy pipeline of product candidates basedon its LentiVector technology, which includes ProSavin(R) for Parkinson'sdisease, RetinoStat(R) for retinopathy, MoNudin(R) for motor neuron disease,SMN1-G for spinal muscular atrophy and Innurex(R) for nerve repair. 3. Sigma-Aldrich Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. TheCompany's biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used inscientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, thediagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other hightechnology manufacturing. It has customers in life science companies, universityand government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one millionscientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35countries and has over 6,800 employees providing excellent service worldwide.The Company is committed to the Accelerating the success of its Customersthrough leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award- winningwebsite at www.sigma-aldrich.com This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance,goals, strategic actions and initiatives, and similar intentions and beliefs andother statements regarding the Company's expectations, goals, beliefs,intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding Company operationsand conditions in the markets the Company serves. The Company does not undertakeany obligation to update these forward-looking statements. 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