Positive Clinical Trials

Oxford Biomedica PLC
11 July 2002



OXFORD BIOMEDICA'S TROVAX(R) POISED TO ENTER PHASE II TRIALS


Positive Results for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine

Oxford, United Kingdom - 11 July 2002. Oxford BioMedica plc (LSE:OXB) will today
release additional data from its Phase I/II clinical trial of TroVax(R) at the
Society for Cancer Gene Therapy Conference in London.

The data, from colorectal cancer patients receiving medium and high doses show
that they tolerated the product well with no adverse reactions being observed.
In addition, the results demonstrate that TroVax(R) is extremely efficient at
inducing the appropriate immune response with all of the ten immunocompetent
patients analysed to date in the trial mounting a specific response against the
tumour antigen OBA1, the active component of TroVax(R), and some patients
showing reductions in levels of circulating tumour marker proteins that are used
as indicators of tumour load. The new data reinforces the observations
previously reported for the low dose group. The trial has been a complete
success and TroVax(R) will proceed to the next stage of clinical development.

TroVax(R) is a gene-based therapeutic vaccine that is designed to stimulate the
patient's immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. The product is
based on a gene that encodes a protein, OBA1, that exists on the surface of
tumour cells and not on normal cells - such proteins are known as Tumour
Associated Antigens (TAAs). When the OBA1 gene is expressed by Oxford
BioMedica's highly engineered virus-based delivery system, it induces an
anti-tumour response. OBA1 is present on a wide range of tumours, thus whilst
the first clinical trials of TroVax(R) have been conducted in colorectal cancer
patients, TroVax(R) is also expected to be applicable to many other solid
tumours.

The Phase I/II study described today was designed primarily to assess safety and
immunogenicity of TroVax(R) in twelve patients. As is the case with all early
stage cancer trials, the patients were at a relatively advanced stage in the
disease. All twelve patients have been recruited and treated with TroVax(R). As
reported previously, one of the patients in the low dose group was unable to
mount an immune response to any test antigen during the study and so was not
included in the immunological evaluation of TroVax(R). One other patient is
part-way through their treatment and their immune responses have not been
analysed fully to date. The remaining 10 patients all responded to TroVax(R) by
mounting an immune response to the tumour protein OBA1. It is this response that
is anticipated to have a beneficial effect. In several patients the induction of
the immune response was correlated with reductions in circulating markers of
tumour load.

In the current trial patients were recruited after they had completed
chemotherapy treatment. In the next trial it is likely that the product will be
tested on patients who are at a somewhat earlier stage in the disease process.
Although still in the planning stage, it is likely that the next trial will be a
phase II study, in which TroVax(R) will be assessed in colorectal cancer
patients while they are undergoing chemotherapy. This patient group would be the
first target market for TroVax(R). Subsequently the therapy may be used in other
tumours and at an earlier stage.

The market potential for TroVax(R) is substantial as an addition to existing
cancer treatment regimens.  Approved drugs such as irinotecan, which have been
shown to extend survival by a few months, have achieved global sales in excess
of $500 million as an addition to standard 5-FU chemotherapy.

Commenting on the results presented today Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive,
Prof. Alan Kingsman said:

'We are delighted that the TroVax(R) trials have been so successful with such
encouraging results. It is unusual for a vaccine, particularly a cancer vaccine,
to elicit an immune response in all patients. We believe that we have achieved a
significant step towards TroVax(R) progressing successfully to the market'.



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

Mike Wort, James Chandler: Beattie Financial          Tel: [phone]
Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:

Sue Charles, Katja Stout: Charles consultants         Tel: [phone]



Notes to Editors

Oxford BioMedica plc

Established in 1995 as a spin out from Oxford University, Oxford BioMedica is an
international biotechnology company with a diverse portfolio of products and
technology, specialising in gene-based products and technology in the areas of
cancer, neurological disease, cardiovascular disease and blood disorders. This
is underpinned by over 60 patent families, about quarter of which are issued.
Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the
London Stock Exchange in December 1996, and was promoted to the United Kingdom
Listing Authority Official List in April 2001 following a successful £35.5
million fund-raising.

Oxford BioMedica is headquartered in Oxford, UK and has a wholly-owned
subsidiary in San Diego, USA.  Currently Oxford BioMedica has corporate
collaborations with Aventis, IDM, Nycomed Amersham, Valentis, Virbac and Wyeth.
BioMedica has two products in Phase I/II clinical trials: MetXia(R) for
late-stage breast cancer, and TroVax(R) for late-stage colorectal cancer.



World Wide Web

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www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk



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