Deal Signed on Novel Tumour Vaccine

Oxford Biomedica PLC
21 February 2000



For further information, please contact:       
Oxford BioMedica plc       
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive             Tel: [phone]

City/Financial Enquiries:
David Simonson/Melanie Toyne Sewell
Merlin Financial Communications                      Tel: [phone]

Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:
Sue Charles/Sarah Pattinson, HCC De Facto Group      Tel:  [phone]

Media contact: Virbac S.A.
Philippe Marniquet, Corporate Communication Manager  Tel:  [phone]
      


OXFORD BIOMEDICA SIGNS DEAL ON NOVEL TUMOUR VACCINE 

Oxford, UK, and Paris, France - 21 February 2000: Oxford BioMedica announced
today that it has signed a license agreement with Virbac S.A. of France
('Virbac') to develop, manufacture and market Oxford BioMedica's cancer
vaccine technology for use in pet or 'companion' animals, such as cats and
dogs. 

Under the terms of the license agreement, Oxford BioMedica will supply its
tumour associated antigens that will be delivered in a pox-virus system.  In
turn, Virbac will make upfront and milestone payments, and staged equity
investments in Oxford BioMedica, and it will pay royalties on sales of
products.  Virbac will also fund the pre-clinical data preparation, clinical
trials, and regulatory dossier preparation, and will support research and
development on the vaccine to be carried out by Oxford BioMedica. 

Cancer is a major cause of death in pet cats and dogs, with an estimated
prevalence of 10 million cases worldwide. There is no equivalent cancer
vaccine available at present, and the adoption of this vaccine may open up a
substantial new market in veterinary pharmaceuticals, potentially worth over
$200 million in the US and Europe. In addition, since companion animals are
now enjoying a longer life span, this market is predicted to grow further.  

Professor Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive commented
'This deal represents the first of several that we are negotiating with
pharmaceutical companies worldwide on our novel tumour-combating antigens. In
particular, strong interest is being shown in the human version of this
vaccine. This license allows Oxford BioMedica to share in revenue streams
outside of its core human therapeutic markets.  

'Virbac is a long-established veterinary company with a particular emphasis on
vaccines for companion animals and has considerable expertise in developing
vaccines based on recombinant technology. The company represents an ideal
partner for Oxford BioMedica for the veterinary aspects of its oncology
vaccine programme.'

Eric Maree, President of Virbac, commented 
'Oxford BioMedica's therapeutic vaccine approach is a novel solution to the
treatment of cancer that is particularly applicable to small animals. By
developing this innovative cancer vaccine in collaboration with Oxford
BioMedica we could open up a valuable new market in small animal vaccines'.  


Notes to Editors

1. Oxford BioMedica: Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the
development and application of gene-based therapeutics using advanced gene
delivery technologies for the treatment of disease in the areas of oncology,
viral infection and neurodegenerative disease. Oxford BioMedica plc was
floated on the UK Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange
in December 1996.

2. Virbac S.A. is a private company based in Nice, France. Virbac specialises
exclusively in veterinary biologicals and pharmaceuticals. It is involved in
research and development, manufacture and distribution throughout the world.
Virbac is listed on the Second Market of the Paris Stock Exchange.  

3. This release is also available on the World Wide Web at: 
http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk and http://www.virbac.fr