19th Oct 2005 07:01
Oxford Biomedica PLC19 October 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19 OCTOBER 2005 OXFORD BIOMEDICA ANNOUNCES PRESENTATION BY WYETH PHARMACEUTICALS OF PRECLINICAL EFFICACY DATA WITH ANTIBODY-TARGETED THERAPY FOR CANCER Oxford, UK: 19 October 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading genetherapy company, today announced that the Company's licensee WyethPharmaceuticals presented preclinical efficacy data with its 5T4antibody-targeted therapy for the treatment of solid tumours at the 10th WorldCongress on Advances in Oncology and 8th International Symposium on MolecularMedicine in Crete, Greece on 13-15 October 2005. The presentation was made by Dr. Erwin Boghaert of Wyeth Research. It includedpreclinical data showing that the targeted therapy is cytotoxic against tumourcells expressing the antigen, 5T4; and that the product inhibited tumour growthin in vitro models of various human 5T4-expressing cancers. In one preclinicalmodel of lung cancer, 100% of mice treated with the 5T4-targeted immunoconjugatesurvived through an observation period of 150 days, whereas those treated withvehicle or a nonbinding immunoconjugate had a median survival of 40 to 60 days.In this presentation, the unique characteristics of the 5T4 tumour antigen werehighlighted, including its broad expression on most solid tumours throughout theevolution of disease. Wyeth concluded that the above preclinical evidencesupports clinical evaluation of the 5T4-targeted immunoconjugate. The presentation was titled "Tumour Targeted Chemotherapy with CalicheamicinImmunoconjugates" and was presented during a session on Clinical and MolecularOncology. The 10th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 8th InternationalSymposium on Molecular Medicine is a joint conference organised by the MedicalSchool University of Crete and three leading oncology journals: InternationalJournal of Oncology, Oncology Reports and International Journal of MolecularMedicine. The 5T4 antibody-targeted cancer therapy is being developed by WyethPharmaceuticals, which licensed rights to Oxford BioMedica's antibody againstthe tumour antigen 5T4. Wyeth has used Oxford BioMedica's agent to develop anantibody-conjugate based on its expertise with the anti-cancer agentcalicheamicin. The license agreement with Wyeth is valued at $24 million inupfront and milestone payments, plus royalties on product sales. Like OxfordBioMedica's novel cancer immunotherapy, TroVax(R), the 5T4 antibody-targetedcancer therapy could, in principle, be used to treat a wide range of cancers andcould, therefore, command a substantial market. Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive, Professor Alan Kingsman, said: "Thepreclinical data generated by Wyeth with this targeted chemotherapy approachusing Oxford BioMedica's anti-5T4 antibody are very promising. The presentationalso highlights the unique profile of our 5T4 tumour antigen as a target foranti-cancer approaches. We are delighted by Wyeth's progress and look forward tothe initiation of clinical development with the product." -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 CommunicationsSue Charles/ Katja Stout/ Ashley Lilly Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150 Notes to editors: 1. Oxford BioMedicaOxford 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, Viragen,MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companiesincluding Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. 5T4 Antibody-Targeted TherapyThe 5T4 antibody-targeted therapy is composed of a recombinant humanisedanti-5T4 antibody conjugated with a cytotoxic anti-tumour antibiotic,calicheamicin. The antibody binds specifically to the tumour antigen 5T4, whichis expressed on the surface of a wide range of solid tumours throughout theevolution of disease. Binding of the anti-5T4 antibody portion of the conjugatewith the 5T4 antigen results in the formation of a complex that is internalised.Upon internalisation, a calicheamicin derivative is released, which causes celldeath. Wyeth has successfully demonstrated the concept of antibody-targetedchemotherapy through the development and registration of its product Mylotarg(R), which targets the CD33 antigen present on myeloid leukaemia cells. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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