Oxford Biomedica Regulatory News (OXB)

21 Dec 2006 07:01

Oxford Biomedica PLC21 December 2006 For immediate release 21 DECEMBER 2006 Oxford BioMedica AND SIGMA-ALDRICH ISSUE JOINT LICENCE FOR LENTIVECTOR(R) TECHNOLOGY TO GLAXOSMITHKLINE Oxford, UK - 21 December 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading genetherapy company, and Sigma-Aldrich, a leading $1.7 billion life science and hightechnology company, today announced that they have signed a joint licenceagreement for the LentiVector technology with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), whichprovides GSK with access to the technology for research activities.Sigma-Aldrich is Oxford BioMedica's strategic partner and exclusive licensee inthe commercialisation of the LentiVector technology for research use. Financialdetails were not disclosed. Oxford BioMedica's lentivirus-based gene delivery technology, known asLentiVector, is one of the most powerful technologies for the delivery of genesto a wide range of cell and tissue types. The LentiVector technology hasapplications both in therapeutic products and as a drug discovery tool fortarget validation and the creation of targeted disease models. Oxford BioMedicahas a comprehensive portfolio of US and European patents and applications thatcover the technology. The Company has an active licensing programme providingaccess to its LentiVector technology on a non-exclusive basis primarily.Licensees include Biogen Idec, Merck & Co and Pfizer. Commenting on the news Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice President CommercialDevelopment, Peter Nolan, said: "We are delighted to have secured anotherlicensee for the LentiVector gene delivery technology and we welcomeGlaxoSmithKline to our portfolio of users. The industry is adopting ourtechnology as the gold standard for various applications in research and drugdiscovery. With our strategic partner, Sigma-Aldrich, we are well positioned forfurther penetration of the research field with our technology." Shaf Yousaf, President of the Sigma-Aldrich Research Biotechnology business unitsaid: "This is the first joint licensing agreement with Oxford BioMedica and weexpect this to be a model for other such agreements under our strategicalliance. As market leader in this field, we believe Oxford BioMedica'sLentiVector technology has a substantial commercial opportunity as a researchtool." -Ends- For further information, please contact:Oxford BioMedica plc: Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000City/Financial Enquiries: Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000CommunicationsScientific/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 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 clinical candidates and a preclinical targeted antibody therapy,which is being developed in collaboration with Wyeth. The Company has startedPhase III development of its lead cancer immunotherapy product, TroVax, in renalcancer and multiple Phase II trials in various cancer settings are ongoing orplanned. In neurotherapy, the Company's lead product, ProSavin, is expected toenter clinical trials in Parkinson's disease in 2007. The preclinical pipelineincludes gene-based products for vision loss, motor neuron disease and nerverepair. 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 70 split between its main facilities in Oxford and its whollyowned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in San Diego, California. Oxford BioMedica hascorporate collaborations with Wyeth, Intervet, Sigma-Aldrich, Viragen, MolMed,Virxsys 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. 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 with high efficiencyto a variety of both dividing and non-dividing cells, including neurons in thebrain. 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. 3. Sigma-Aldrich Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Itsbiochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific andgenomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis ofdisease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technologymanufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, universityand government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one millionscientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35countries and has 7,200 employees providing excellent service worldwide.Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadershipin Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information aboutSigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning website at www.sigma-aldrich.com. 4. GlaxoSmithKline GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical andhealthcare companies and is committed to improving the quality of human life byenabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For more information,visit GlaxoSmithKline on the World Wide Web at www.gsk.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange