26th Jun 2006 07:01
Oxford Biomedica PLC26 June 2006 For immediate release 26 JUNE 2006 Oxford BioMedica OXFORD BIOMEDICA RECEIVES NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE FOR KEY US PATENT COVERING PARKINSON'S DISEASE PRODUCT, PROSAVIN(R) Oxford, UK - 26 June 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE:OXB), a leading gene therapycompany, announced today that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the USPatent Office for a key patent application, which significantly extends theprotection of ProSavin, the Company's lead product candidate for Parkinson'sdisease. It is expected that the patent will be issued during 2006. This patentdescribes the genetic composition of ProSavin, and as such is an importantaddition to the portfolio of patents that protect the product. The product comprises the Company's LentiVector(R) gene delivery system carryingthree genes that programme cells to produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter thatis lost during the course of Parkinson's disease. The assembly and configurationof the three genes to achieve the optimal dopamine production were majortechnical achievements, and these form the basis of this key ProSavin patent. Importantly, the claims allowed by the US Patent and Trademark Office are broadand not only cover the Company's LentiVector-based genetic configuration ofProSavin but also cover the basic gene constructs central to the development ofProSavin. In addition, the claims cover any LentiVector-based neurodegenerativedisease product that uses the same general configuration with any therapeuticgenes. Hence, the patent provides protection for new product candidates that theCompany may develop for the treatment of other neurodegenerative conditions suchas Alzheimer's disease. ProSavin is the lead product in Oxford BioMedica's neurotherapy pipeline and hasshown promising, long term efficacy in industry-standard preclinical models ofParkinson's disease. The Company has initiated regulatory consultation for thestart of Phase I/II trials in patients with the disease. Commenting on the news, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive, Professor AlanKingsman said: "ProSavin is one of the major value drivers for Oxford BioMedicaafter TroVax. This patent secures our control of the intellectual property forthe product, which has shown exceptional preclinical efficacy." -Ends- For further information, please contact: Oxford BioMedica plc:Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 City/Financial Enquiries:Lisa Baderoon/Mark Court/Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000Communications Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:Katja Stout/Gemma Bradley/Susan Yu 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 oncology andneurotherapy. The Company was established in 1995 as a spin out from OxfordUniversity, 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 expected to start inthe second half of 2006. In neurotherapy, the Company's lead product is a genetherapy for Parkinson's disease, which is expected to enter clinical developmentin 2006, and four further preclinical candidates. The Company is underpinned byover 80 patent families, which represent one of the broadest patent estates inthe 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. ProSavin(R) ProSavin is Oxford BioMedica's lead neurobiology candidate product for thetreatment of Parkinson's disease. ProSavin uses a LentiVector(R) system todeliver the genes for three enzymes that are required for the synthesis ofdopamine. The three genes are AADC (aromatic amino acid dopa decarboxylase), TH(tyrosine hydroxylase) and CH1 (GTP-cyclohydrolase 1). The product isadministered locally to the striatum, where these genes are able to reprogrammetransduced cells to manufacture and secrete dopamine. Gene expression issustained over several months, a key requirement for the product to beclinically successful. This new endogenous source of the neurotransmitterreplaces the patient's own lost source of dopamine. The Company had demonstrated preclinical efficacy with ProSavin in an industrystandard in vivo model of Parkinson's disease. The preclinical studies suggestthat a single treatment with ProSavin has a therapeutic effect after two weeks,and restores almost normal movement after five to eight weeks, which is thenmaintained. This effect is seldom achieved in this model according to theliterature. The clinical manufacturing process has been finalised and theCompany has commenced regulatory consultation for the start of clinical trialsof ProSavin. 3. Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease affects 1% of the over 50 population and about 10% of theover 60s. It is a progressive disease requiring care over a period of 10-15years. The current worldwide market for Parkinson's disease products is aboutUS$2 billion. None of the currently available products provide long-term relieffrom symptoms. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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