21st Aug 2006 07:01
Oxford Biomedica PLC21 August 2006 For Immediate Release 21 AUGUST 2006 LEADING US CLINICIAN TO PRESENT ON OXFORD BIOMEDICA'S TROVAX(R) AT CANCER CONFERENCE - Principal Investigator for TroVax Phase II trials to present at Cancer Immunotherapuetics & Vaccines meeting on 22-23 August 2006 - Oxford, UK - 21 August 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading gene therapycompany, announces that Dr. Robert Amato of the Genitourinary Oncology Centre,the Methodist Hospital in Houston, USA, will make a presentation on TroVax atthe third annual Cancer Immunotherapeutics & Vaccines meeting in Cambridge,Massachusetts, USA on 22 August 2006 at 14:45 EST (http://www.healthtech.com/2006/cvc/index.ASP). The presentation will include previously reported data froma Phase II trial of TroVax in renal cell carcinoma. Dr Amato will present, indetail, the design of the study and preliminary safety, immunological andefficacy data. Dr Amato is the Principal Investigator for an ongoing Phase II trial of TroVaxin renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in approximately 25 patients. The trial isdesigned to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of TroVax in conjunction withlow dose interleukin-2, which is commonly used in the treatment of RCC. Initial results from this Phase II trial were presented at the American Societyof Clinical Oncology meeting in June 2006, confirming that TroVax is safe andwell tolerated with early indications of significant tumour responses. Dr. Amato is an internationally recognised opinion leader in the treatment ofRCC. He is the Principal Investigator for three of the five ongoing Phase IItrials of TroVax in RCC and also the Phase II trial of TroVax in prostatecancer. Oxford BioMedica expects to commence patient recruitment in its Phase III trialin RCC, designated as TRIST (TroVax Renal Immunotherapy Survival Trial), duringthe second half of 2006. Oxford BioMedica has a Special Protocol Assessmentagreement from the US Food and Drug Administration for the TRIST study. Furthertrials are also planned in colorectal cancer and other cancer types. -Ends- For further information, please contact: Oxford BioMedica plc: Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive City/Financial Enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan Communications Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150 Katja Stout/ Susan Yu/ Gemma 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 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. TroVax(R) TroVax is Oxford BioMedica's leading cancer immunotherapy product. It isdesigned specifically to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response and haspotential application in most solid tumour types. TroVax targets the tumourantigen 5T4, which is broadly distributed throughout a wide range of solidtumours. The presence of 5T4 is correlated with poor prognosis. The productconsists of a poxvirus (MVA) gene transfer system, which delivers the gene for5T4 and stimulates a patient's body to produce an anti-5T4 immune response. Thisimmune response destroys tumour cells carrying the 5T4. TroVax has attractedexternal support from Cancer Research UK and the US National Cancer Institute.Over 120 patients have now been treated with TroVax in eight clinical trials(collectively over 450 doses). The Company is targeting colorectal cancer andrenal cell carcinoma as lead indications for the development of TroVax. Renalcell carcinoma is an indication where TroVax might achieve a rapid route toproduct registration. A clinical trial in prostate cancer is also underway and atrial in breast cancer is planned. 3. Renal Cell Carcinoma Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer and thetenth most common cancer in the United States. More than 150,000 people arenewly diagnosed with RCC worldwide each year. Prognosis is very poor. If RCC hasmetastasised to other organs at the time of first diagnosis, the five-yearsurvival rate is less than 5%. In the United States and Europe, RCC accounts formore than 33,000 deaths each year. About 40% of patients with RCC developmetastases after surgery. Analyses of sample tissues from patients with RCC have shown that the 5T4 tumourantigen is present at high levels on approximately 90% of tumours. Hence, RCC isa logical target for a 5T4-targeted immunotherapeutic. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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