22nd Jun 2007 12:43
Oxford Biomedica PLC22 June 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 JUNE 2007 Oxford BioMedica viragen update Oxford, UK - 22 June 2007: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading gene therapycompany, today announces that Viragen Inc (AMEX: VRA) has halted development ofthe OVA(TM) System, Viragen's avian transgenic programme for the manufacture oftherapeutic proteins in the whites of eggs laid by transgenic hens as part ofits efforts to 'streamline its research focus'. In halting all further development of the OVA(TM) System, Viragen has notifiedRoslin Institute and Oxford BioMedica of its intent to terminate its researchand license agreements, respectively. Professor Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive Officer commented:"It is disappointing that Viragen's streamlined research no longer includesinvestment in the avian transgenic programme. Over the coming weeks OxfordBioMedica and Roslin Institute will be exploring ways to advance this excitingtechnology, which has come from some truly superb science." -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc: Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000Viragen, Inc: Director of Communications, Doug Calder Tel: (954) 233 8746City/Financial Enquiries: Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000Buchanan CommunicationsScientific/Trade Press Enquiries: Gemma Bradley/ Holly Griffiths/ Katja Stout Tel: +44 (0)20 3008 7550 Northbank Communications Notes to editors 1. Oxford BioMedica Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in thedevelopment and commercialisation of novel therapeutic vaccines and gene-basedtherapies with a focus on oncology and neurotherapy. The Company was establishedin 1995 as a spin-out from Oxford University, and is listed on the London StockExchange. The Company has a platform of gene delivery technologies, which are based onhighly engineered viral systems. Oxford BioMedica also has in-house clinical,regulatory and manufacturing know-how. In oncology, the lead product candidateis TroVax(R), an immunotherapy for multiple solid cancers, which is licensed tosanofi-aventis for global development and commercialisation. A Phase III trialof TroVax in renal cancer is ongoing and sanofi-aventis is implementing adevelopment plan for colorectal cancer. Oxford BioMedica's oncology pipelineincludes a specific immunotherapy candidate, Hi-8(R) MEL, for melanoma, whichhas completed two clinical trials. In neurotherapy, the Company's lead product,ProSavin(R), is expected to enter clinical development for Parkinson's diseasein 2007. The neurotherapy pipeline also includes preclinical gene-basedtherapeutics for vision loss, motor neuron disease and nerve repair. The Company is underpinned by over 80 patent families, which represent one ofthe broadest patent estates in the field. The Company has a staff ofapproximately 75 split between its main facilities in Oxford and its whollyowned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in San Diego, California. Corporate partnersinclude sanofi-aventis for TroVax and Wyeth for a targeted antibody therapy. TheCompany also has collaborations with Intervet, Sigma-Aldrich, MolMed andVirxsys. Technology licensees include Merck & Co, Biogen Idec, GlaxoSmithKlineand Pfizer. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. Avian Transgenics The avian transgenic technology is designed to develop the chicken into apharmaceutical bioreactor, one that can meet the growing need for protein-basedhuman therapeutics. Based on the creation of lines of transgenic hens which havebeen engineered to produce a target protein in their eggs using OxfordBioMedica's LentiVector(R) gene delivery system, this technology is beingdeveloped as an efficient and economical alternative to standardbio-manufacturing techniques, having many apparent advantages in ease ofscale-up, lower costs of production and quality of product produced. 3. Viragen, Inc. With international operations in the US, Scotland and Sweden, Viragen is abiopharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, manufacture andcommercialisation of therapeutic proteins for the treatment of cancers and viraldiseases. The product portfolio includes: Multiferon(R) (multi-subtype, humanalpha interferon) which is uniquely positioned in valuable niche indications,such as high-risk malignant melanoma, and other select cancers and infectiousdiseases; VG102, a novel monoclonal antibody that binds selectively to anantigen that is significantly over-expressed on nearly all malignant tumours;and VG106, a novel cytokine targeting difficult-to-treat cancers. For more information, please visit: http://www.Viragen.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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