17th Jun 2005 11:12
Oxford Biomedica PLC17 June 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17 JUNE 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA TO CHAIR GENE AND RNAI DELIVERY PANEL AT THE BIO 2005 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION Oxford, UK: 17 June 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene therapycompany, announced today that it will chair and speak in a panel entitled "NovelDelivery Systems for Genes and RNAi" at the BIO 2005 Annual InternationalConvention at 9:30AM (Eastern Time) on Monday, 20 June 2005, in Room 110A/Blocated in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, USA. The session will feature panelists from leading experts in the field and willfocus on revolutionary technologies for the delivery of genes and RNAi fortherapeutics and drug discovery. The panel will discuss proprietary deliverytechnologies including lentiviral vectors and liposomal systems. Speakerdetails are below: Chair: Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial Development, Oxford BioMedicaSpeakers: Klaus Giese, CSO & VP Research, Atugen Scott Ralph, Senior Scientist, Oxford BioMedica Sara Cunningham, CEO, Benitec Barry Greene, COO, Alnylam In this panel discussion, Oxford BioMedica will present details on itslentivirus-based gene delivery technology, known as LentiVector, which is one ofthe most powerful technologies for the delivery of genes and RNAi to a widerange of cell and tissue types. The LentiVector technology has applications bothin therapeutic products and as a drug discovery tool for target validation andthe creation of targeted disease models. It has also been shown to enhance theefficiency of making transgenic birds and mammals. Oxford BioMedica has acomprehensive portfolio of US and European patents that cover the LentiVectortechnology. Commenting on the upcoming Breakout Session at BIO 2005, Oxford BioMedica'sSenior Vice President Commercial Development, Peter Nolan, said: "We lookforward to showcasing our LentiVector technology at this unparalleledinternational event. An increasing number of companies are using the LentiVectortechnology, which is becoming the system of choice for gene target validation inthe drug discovery process as well as for direct therapeutic applications". Oxford BioMedica representatives will be available at exhibit booth #2311. Formore information on BIO 2005, please visit www.bio.org. -Ends- For further information, please contact: Oxford BioMedica plc:Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial Development City/Financial Enquiries:Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000Communications Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:Sue Charles/ Katja Stout/ Ashley Lilly Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150Northbank 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 early 2006, and fourfurther preclinical candidates. The Company is underpinned by over 80 patentfamilies, which represent one of the broadest patent estates in the field. The Company has a staff of approximately 65 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, Amersham,Viragen, MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companiesincluding Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at http://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 and RNAi with highefficiency to a variety of both dividing and non-dividing cells, includingneurons in the brain. 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. Currentlicensees of the LentiVector technology include Merck & Co, Biogen Idec andPfizer. 3. RNA interference RNA interference (RNAi) is a novel method of gene silencing. RNAi may offer anew approach for effective target validation in drug discovery and for thedevelopment of novel therapeutics. The discovery of RNAi is potentially a majorbreakthrough since it enables specific gene targeting "upstream" of proteinsynthesis at the cellular level. Genes provide cells with the instructions formaking proteins, and when a gene is silenced, the cell stops making the proteinspecified by that gene. One of the challenges for the development of RNAiapproaches is effective delivery, which can be addressed using viral deliverysystems such as Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector technology. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Oxford Biomedica