1st Feb 2005 07:00
Oxford Biomedica PLC01 February 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1 FEBRUARY 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA SIGNS LENTIVECTOR(R) LICENSING AGREEMENT Oxford, UK: 1 February 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading genetherapy company, announced today that it has signed a further licence agreementfor its LentiVector technology with a large biopharmaceutical company. Forcommercial reasons, the identity of the counterparty is not disclosed. Theagreement permits the use of the Company's proprietary LentiVector gene deliverysystem for research activities. Under the terms of the agreement, OxfordBioMedica will receive an upfront licence payment and an annual maintenance fee.Further financial details 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. It has also beenshown to enhance the efficiency of making transgenic birds and mammals. OxfordBioMedica has a comprehensive portfolio of US and European patents that coverthe LentiVector technology. Commenting on the news Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice President CommercialDevelopment, Peter Nolan, said: "The versatility and safety of lentiviralvectors make them the system of choice for gene target validation in the drugdiscovery process as well as for the direct therapeutic applications inneurotherapy that Oxford BioMedica is pursuing. We are pleased that anincreasing number of companies are using the LentiVector technology and weexpect to establish a number of new partnerships around the technology in thenear future." -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc:Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial DevelopmentCity/Financial Enquiries:Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane JohnsonBuchanan Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000Scientific/Trade Press EnquiriesSue 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 preclinical gene therapy forParkinson's disease. 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 approx. 65 split between its main facilities inOxford and its wholly owned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in San Diego, California.Oxford BioMedica has collaborations with Wyeth, Intervet, Amersham, Viragen,MolMed and Kiadis, and has technology license agreements with Merck & Co andBiogen Idec. Further information is available at http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. LentiVector technology Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector gene delivery technology, based on lentiviralvectors, is arguably the most potent system currently available for treating arange of diseases, particularly those of the central nervous system. OxfordBioMedica has shown that its lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes withhigh efficiency 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 Oxford BioMedica team was thefirst to construct lentiviral vectors that contain no viral genes at all, andwhich comprise the minimum number of viral components in the viral particles. Itis this minimisation of the vectors that is the subject of these patents. Thiswork was done using vectors based on HIV and Equine Infectious Anaemia Virus(EIAV), a horse virus that is not linked to any disease in humans. The Company has established a neurotherapy pipeline of product candidates basedon its LentiVector technology, which includes ProSavin(R) for Parkinson's disease,RetinoStat(R) for retinopathy, MoNudin(R) for motor neuron disease, SMN1-G forspinal muscular atrophy and Innurex(R) for nerve repair. Current licensees of theLentiVector technology for drug discovery and transgenic applications includeMerck & Co and Biogen Idec. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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