30th Mar 2006 07:03
Oxford Biomedica PLC30 March 2006 For Immediate Release 30 MARCH 2006 OXFORD BIOMEDICA AND ITS COLLABORATORS TO REPORT TROVAX(R) CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS AT AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY MEETING Oxford, UK - 30 March 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading genetherapy company, and Cancer Research UK are scheduled to deliver two posterpresentations, describing results from Phase II trials of TroVax in colorectalcancer, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, tobe held on 2-6 June in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The Company's US clinicalcollaborators have had a further two abstracts, covering preliminary resultsfrom clinical trials of TroVax in renal cell carcinoma, selected for publicationin the ASCO Proceedings. The two colorectal cancer poster presentations and the two renal cell carcinomaabstracts include new data from five clinical trials of TroVax. The titles ofthe presentations/abstracts are set out below: "Open label Phase II studies of Modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing the tumourantigen 5T4 given in conjunction with IFL and FOLFOX chemotherapy regimens:final analysis of safety and immunogenicity of MVA 5T4 given before, during andafter chemotherapy", to be presented by Dr Richard Harrop, Director ClinicalImmunology at Oxford BioMedica. "A vaccinia-based vaccine (TroVax) targeting the oncofetal antigen 5T4administered before and after surgical resection of colorectal cancer livermetastases: Phase II trial", to be presented by Dr Adam Dangoor of the ChristieHospital, Manchester, UK. This investigator-initiated trial is sponsored byCancer Research UK. "A Phase I clinical trial of MVA vaccine expressing 5T4 and high-doseinterleukin-2 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma". The principal investigatorfor this trial and lead author of the abstract is Dr Howard Kaufmann of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA. "A Phase II trial to assess the activity of MVA-5T4 plus interleukin-2 inpatients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma". The principal investigator forthis trial and lead author of the abstract is Dr. Robert Amato of the MethodistHospital, Houston, Texas, USA. Oxford BioMedica's CEO, Professor Alan Kingsman, said: "We are delighted thatthe Scientific Program Committee of ASCO has accepted all of the abstracts thatwere submitted for TroVax, and that two abstracts have been selected forpresentation. The exposure of TroVax at this prestigious clinical oncologymeeting increases year by year, which reflects the expansion of the clinicalprogramme and the encouraging results from these trials." -Ends- For further information, please contact: Oxford BioMedica plc: Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44)1865 783 000 City/Financial Enquiries: Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Tel: +44 (0)207466 5000Buchanan Communications Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries: Katja Stout/ Emma Bradley 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 two candidates in multiple Phase II trials, and a preclinical targetedantibody therapy in collaboration with Wyeth. A Phase III trial in renal cancerwith TroVax, the lead cancer immunotherapy candidate, is planned for 2006. Inneurotherapy, the Company's lead product is a gene therapy for Parkinson'sdisease, which is expected to enter clinical development in 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 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,Sigma-Aldrich, Viragen, MolMed, VIRxSYS and Kiadis; and has licensed technologyto a number of companies including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. TroVax(R) cancer immunotherapy TroVax is Oxford BioMedica's leading cancer immunotherapy product. It isdesigned specifically to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response and haspotential application in most solid tumour types. TroVax targets the tumourantigen 5T4, which is broadly distributed throughout a wide range of solidtumours. The presence of 5T4 is correlated with poor prognosis. The productconsists of a poxvirus (MVA) gene transfer system, which delivers the gene for5T4 and stimulates a patient's body to produce an anti-5T4 immune response. Thisimmune response destroys tumour cells carrying the 5T4 protein. TroVax is currently in five Phase II trials, including an investigator initiatedtrial sponsored by Cancer Research UK. Over 100 patients have been treated withTroVax (collectively over 400 doses) in five clinical trials in colorectalcancer and renal cell carcinoma. Clinical results have shown that the product issafe and stimulates an anti-tumour immune response against 5T4 in the majorityof patients. Data from the completed Phase I/II trial and ongoing Phase IItrials suggest that the magnitude of the immune response induced by TroVaxcorrelates with clinical benefit including tumour responses and time to diseaseprogression, both of which have exceeded expectation based on publishedhistorical data. Preliminary analysis of data from Phase II trials in colorectalcancer with chemotherapy indicates a potential survival benefit. A Phase IIItrial in renal cell carcinoma is planned to start in 2006. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Oxford Biomedica