4th Jul 2005 07:00
Oxford Biomedica PLC04 July 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4 JULY 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA IS GRANTED KEY LENTIVECTOR(R) PATENTS IN CHINA Oxford, UK: 4 July 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene therapycompany, announced today that the Patent Office of the Peoples' Republic ofChina has granted two patents to the Company that have broad claims coveringvectors derived from lentiviruses. These are the first patents covering thecommercial use of the Company's LentiVector technology in China, the onlycountry in the world with an approved gene therapy product and a country whereopportunities for innovative pharmaceutical development is widely predicted togrow substantially over the next decade. These patents add further strength to Oxford BioMedica's existing intellectualproperty covering lentiviral vector systems that, unlike many versions, havereal therapeutic utility because of their safety. The Oxford BioMedica team wasthe first to construct lentiviral vectors that contain no viral genes at all,and which comprise the minimum number of viral components in the viralparticles. It is this minimisation of the vectors that confers the safety and isthe subject of these patents. The LentiVector technology forms the delivery system for the Company'sneurotherapy pipeline, including products for Parkinson's disease, age-relatedmacular degeneration, motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy and nerverepair. ProSavin(R), for Parkinsons disease, is Oxford BioMedica's most advancedprogramme that uses the LentiVector system, and clinical trials are expected tostart in 2006. In addition, the Company has shown that the technology can beused for other disease areas such as anaemia, haemophilia and AIDS. Commenting on the new patents, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive, ProfessorAlan Kingsman said: "We are delighted to add these two patents to oursubstantial intellectual property portfolio. Having these patents in place nowenables us to commercialise our products in China. Towards the end of the yearwe will be seeking partners for the Chinese market, which is set to grow fasterthan any other territory in the next ten years.". -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:Sue Charles/ Katja Stout/ Ashley Lilly 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 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, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. LentiVector technology Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector gene delivery technology, based on lentiviruses,is arguably the most potent system currently available for treating a range ofdiseases, particularly those of the central nervous system. Oxford BioMedica hasshown that its lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes and RNAi with highefficiency to a variety of both dividing and non-dividing cells, includingneurons in the brain. Oxford BioMedica has three issued US patents and a European patent for itsLentiVector technology. These include broad composition of matter claims andmethods of production claims for lentiviral vector gene delivery systems of bothhuman and non-human origin. The patents also cover derivatives of lentiviralvector systems that, unlike many versions of lentiviral vectors, have realclinical utility because of their safety. The Company has established a neurotherapy pipeline of product candidates basedon its LentiVector technology, which includes ProSavin(R) for Parkinson'sdisease, RetinoStat(R) for retinopathy, MoNudin(R) for motor neuron disease,SMN1-G for spinal muscular atrophy and Innurex(R) for nerve repair. Currentlicensees of the LentiVector technology include Merck & Co, Biogen Idec andPfizer. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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