22nd Nov 2005 07:01
Oxford Biomedica PLC22 November 2005 Immediate Release 22 November 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA RECEIVES NOTICE OF PATENT ALLOWANCE EXTENDING TROVAX(R) PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES Oxford, UK: 22 November 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a gene therapycompany, announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued aNotice of Allowance for a key patent application (USSN 09/533,798), whichsignificantly extends the protection of TroVax, the Company's lead cancervaccine. It is expected that the patent will be issued during 2006. This patentis one of several granted and pending patents that protect the Company's use ofthe 5T4 tumour antigen. The Notice of Allowance covers immunotherapy approachesdirected against the 5T4 tumour antigen. 5T4 is a tumour associated antigen that is expressed at high levels on a widerange of tumour types, including colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma andbreast cancer, amongst others. 5T4 expression is frequently correlated with poorprognosis and metastatic spread. Although present on tumour cells, 5T4 is notfound on any essential organs. These and other unique characteristics make 5T4an ideal target for immunotherapy treatment in a wide range of cancer types. Commenting on the Notice of Allowance news, Peter Nolan, Oxford BioMedica'sSenior Vice President for Commercial Development said:"We are delighted to have been allowed such broad claims for this key US patent.This Notice of Allowance, together with several other granted and pendingpatents, provide clear protection in most major territories for our leadproduct, TroVax, as well as next generation cancer vaccines based on the 5T4antigen. Today's news further strengthens our negotiating position withpotential partners for TroVax as we progress into Phase III development." -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc:Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 City/Financial Enquiries:Buchanan CommunicationsLisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000 Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:Northbank Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150Katja Stout/ Hannah Carter 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 2006, and four furtherpreclinical candidates. 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 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 and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to anumber of companies including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer.Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. TroVax(R) cancer immunotherapy 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 protein. TroVax is currently in five Phase II trials, including an investigator initiatedtrial sponsored by Cancer Research UK. Over 85 patients have been treated withTroVax (collectively over 350 doses) in five clinical trials in colorectalcancer and renal cell carcinoma. Clinical results have shown that the product issafe and stimulates an anti-tumour immune response against 5T4 in the majorityof patients. Data from the completed Phase I/II trial and ongoing Phase IItrials suggest that the magnitude of the immune response induced by TroVaxcorrelates with clinical benefit including tumour responses and time to diseaseprogression, both of which have exceeded expectation based on publishedhistorical data. A Phase III trial in renal cell carcinoma is planned to startin 2006. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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