2nd May 2006 07:03
Oxford Biomedica PLC02 May 2006 For Immediate release 2 MAY 2006 OXFORD BIOMEDICA REPORTS ENCOURAGING PRECLINICAL DATA WITH RETINOSTAT(R) IN RETINOPATHY AND DEMONSTRATES THE POTENTIAL OF LENTIVECTOR(R) IN OTHER OCULAR DISEASES - Data presented at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting Oxford, UK - 2 May 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene therapycompany, and its collaborators at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,Baltimore, Maryland, USA, are presenting three posters at the Association forResearch in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, which is being heldfrom 30 April to 4 May 2006 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. These postersdescribe positive preclinical results of RetinoStat in wet age-related maculardegeneration and the potential application of the LentiVector system in cornealendothelial disorders. RetinoStat is a gene-based medicine based on Oxford BioMedica's proprietaryLentiVector system, delivering two anti-angiogenic genes that halt the aberrantgrowth of blood vessels that leads to vision loss in wet age-related maculardegeneration (AMD), a leading cause of adult blindness in developed countries.The preclinical data presented at ARVO confirm that RetinoStat providesstatistically significant efficacy in an industry-standard in vivo model of wetAMD. In addition, by precisely engineering gene switches in the product, theCompany has achieved highly specific gene expression in the target cells of theretina. This substantially enhances the potential safety and efficacy ofRetinoStat. The new data also confirm that the optimised configuration ofRetinoStat, with two anti-angiogenic genes (endostatin and angiostatin), hasefficacy superior to configurations based on single genes. Oxford BioMedica's collaborators at Johns Hopkins University also showed datafrom an in vitro study demonstrating that the Company's LentiVector system canbe used to deliver therapeutic genes safely and effectively to human cornealendothelial cells. Hence, the LentiVector system may have application in thedevelopment of gene-based therapies for the treatment of corneal endothelialdisorders such as Fuchs' dystrophy. This inherited disease affects about 1% ofthe population, and leads to gradual loss of vision as the inner layer of thecornea degenerates. Today, the only real cure for Fuchs' dystrophy is a corneatransplant. Oxford BioMedica and Johns Hopkins University, with support from the FoundationFighting Blindness and its translational-oriented subsidiary, the NationalNeurovision Research Institute (NNRI), are conducting further preclinicalstudies with RetinoStat and commencing manufacturing scale-up and non-clinicalstudies to support the start of clinical trials. The Company is on track withits objective to start clinical trials of RetinoStat in wet AMD in 2007. "We are very encouraged by the results of this successful collaboration," saidStephen Rose, Ph.D., Foundation Fighting Blindness' Chief Research Officer. "Wecreated the National Neurovision Research Institute subsidiary to work with bothcommercial and academic institutions to move promising treatments likeRetinoStat into clinical trials. As a constituent-driven organisation, we have astrong commitment to getting treatments to market and the people that need them.We look forward to further collaborations with Oxford BioMedica on this andother projects to bring treatments and cures to patients with a variety ofretinal degenerative diseases." Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive Officer, Professor Alan Kingsman, commented:"The data being presented at ARVO not only demonstrate the potential ofRetinoStat as a treatment of retinopathy but also highlight the potential of ourLentiVector system to treat other ocular diseases. Oxford BioMedica is pleasedto be working with Johns Hopkins University and also to have the support of theFoundation Fighting Blindness. The new data suggest that a single injection ofRetinoStat could provide long-term shut-down of aberrant blood vessel growth,and hence, could offer a safe, effective and more convenient treatment thancurrent approaches for wet AMD as well as diabetic retinopathy, another leadingcause of blindness. Given the world's aging population, there is a growing needto find better treatments for these conditions." -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc: Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief ExecutiveCity/Financial Enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000 Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson BuchananCommunicationsScientific/Trade Press Enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150 Katja Stout/ Emma BradleyNorthbank 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. RetinoStat(R) RetinoStat is Oxford BioMedica's novel gene-based treatment for wet age-relatedmacular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The product uses theLentiVector system to deliver genes to the retina that block the formation ofnew blood vessels. Oxford BioMedica has exclusive rights to two proprietaryanti-angiogenic genes, angiostatin and endostatin, for use in treatments ofocular diseases under a licensing agreement with Entremed Inc. The Company hasevaluated both genes in its RetinoStat programme. The optimised version of theproduct, which will proceed to clinical development, carries both theangiostatin and endostatin anti-angiogenic genes and shows significantly greaterefficacy than versions containing single genes. Preclinical development is beingconducted in collaboration with the Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK, andJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, withsupport from the Foundation Fighting Blindness. The Company plans to startclinical trials with RetinoStat in wet AMD in 2007. 3. Age-related macular degeneration and other retinopathies Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are majorcauses of blindness in the developed world. AMD affects an estimated 25-30million people in the western world and DR affects approximately 50% of allAmericans diagnosed with diabetes. It is estimated that there are 17 milliondiabetics in the USA. AMD is the most common cause of visual loss in theelderly. DR is the most common cause of visual loss in the working populationand is the most common cause of acquired blindness in people under 60 in thedeveloped world. Both wet AMD, the form of AMD which accounts for 90% of all severe vision lossfrom the disease, and DR are caused by aberrant growth of leaky and disruptiveblood vessels in the retina. This growth is caused by a hyper-response tolocalised regions of low oxygen arising from compromised blood supply within theretina. Oxford BioMedica has shown that its LentiVector technology can targetthese regions of the eye with great accuracy and deliver anti-angiogenicproteins to treat these diseases. Analysts' estimates, published in the Wall Street Journal, suggest that sales ofan effective treatment for macular degeneration could exceed US$1 billion perannum. 4. The Foundation Fighting Blindness The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc. (FFB) has a mission to drive theresearch that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affectedby retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entirespectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. The Foundation has funded thousandsof research studies at hundreds of prominent institutions. The Foundation fundsleading-edge research in promising areas such as genetics, gene therapy, retinalcell transplantation, artificial retinal implants, and pharmaceutical andnutritional therapies. Since its inception in 1971, the Foundation has raisedover US$240 million. FFB is ranked as a "Top-Rated" charity by the AmericanInstitute of Philanthropy and was named one of Worth Magazine's "100 BestCharities." Further information is available at www.fightblindness.org This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Oxford Biomedica