24th Oct 2005 07:01
Oxford Biomedica PLC24 October 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 24 OCTOBER 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA SIGNS LENTIVECTOR(R) LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH FORTUNE 500 BIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY Oxford, UK: 24 October 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading genetherapy company, announced today that it has signed its seventh licenceagreement for its LentiVector technology with a Fortune 500 globalbiopharmaceutical company. The agreement provides the licensee with use of theCompany's proprietary LentiVector gene delivery system for research activities.Under the terms of the agreement, Oxford BioMedica will receive an upfrontlicence payment and an annual maintenance fee. Further financial details werenot 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. The Company has an active licensing programme providing access toits LentiVector technology on a non-exclusive basis primarily. Licensees andpartners include Biogen Idec, Merck & Co, Pfizer and Viragen. Oxford BioMedicarecently entered a strategic alliance with Sigma-Aldrich for commercialisationof the LentiVector technology for the research and reagents market. Commenting on the news Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice President CommercialDevelopment, Peter Nolan, said: "We are delighted to have secured our seventhlicensee for the LentiVector gene delivery technology. The pharmaceutical andbiotechnology industry increasingly recognises our gene delivery technology asthe system of choice in research and drug discovery, which is reflected by thequality and growing number of licensees". -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 5000CommunicationsScientific/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 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,Sigma-Aldrich, Viragen, MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to anumber of companies including 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. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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