29th Mar 2005 07:00
Oxford Biomedica PLC29 March 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 MARCH 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA RECEIVES NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE FOR US LENTIVECTOR(R) PATENT Oxford, UK: 29 March 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading genetherapy company, announces today that they have received a Notice of Allowancefrom the US Patent Office for a Patent containing broad claims coveringmodifications to lentiviral vectors that improve safety and efficacy. Oxford BioMedica owns an extensive portfolio of broad patents and patentapplications covering many aspects of the composition of matter and use of genedelivery systems based on lentiviral vectors. This patent estate underpins theCompany's neurotherapy pipeline of five products and is the subject of recentcommercial deals with a number of companies including Merck and Biogen Idec. The Notice of Allowance, announced today, adds significantly to OxfordBioMedica's dominating patent estate. Claims cover specific genetic alterationsin the vectors' genome, which prevent them interfering with cellular functionsin the target cells. This ensures that the vectors have a safety profilecompatible with their use in therapeutic products, and possess the idealproperties required for drug discovery applications and the production oftransgenic animals. Therefore, the claims broadly cover important modificationsof lentiviral vectors and, as such, dominate a large part of the field. Thesealterations are included in the Company's LentiVector(R) technology which formsthe basis of its products for Parkinson's disease, age-related maculardegeneration, motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy and nerve repair. Commenting on the news, Peter Nolan, Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice Presidentfor Commercial Development said: "Our LentiVector patent estate goes fromstrength-to-strength and is attracting significant interest from pharmaceuticaland large biotech companies. The LentiVector platform has formed the basis offour deals since our technology licensing initiative commenced in early 2004 andis currently the subject of five further negotiations". -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc: Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial DevelopmentCity/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 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 and Biogen Idec. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk. 2. LentiVector(R) 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 five issued US patents and two European patents for itsLentiVector technology, which supports the LentiVector-based pipeline and itstechnology licensing activities. The Company has established a neurotherapypipeline of product candidates based on the technology, which includes ProSavin(R) for Parkinson's disease, RetinoStat(R) for retinopathy, MoNudin(R) for motorneuron disease, SNM-1G for spinal muscular atrophy and Innurex(R) for nerverepair. In addition to its application in therapeutic products, the LentiVectortechnology is an effective tool for genomics-based target validation, screening,production systems, and the creation of transgenic animals. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Oxford Biomedica