Research Update

Oxford Biomedica PLC
15 August 2000

                                                                  2000/OB/18

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 /Katja Stout, HCC.De Facto                Tel: [phone]


OXFORD BIOMEDICA PRESENTS DISCOVERY OF NOVEL GENES RELEVANT TO CANCER, HEART
DISEASE AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASE AT DRUG DISCOVERY CONFERENCE

Oxford, England - 15 August 2000. Oxford BioMedica plc (AIM-OXB) today
presented the discovery of a range of potentially valuable novel genes at an
international conference entitled 'Drug Discovery Technology 2000' held in
Boston, Massachusetts. Dr Paul Durrands, the Company's Commercial Director and
head of BioMedica's newly created Gene Discovery Division presented results
which show significant up-regulation of potentially important genes expressed
in macrophages in hypoxic conditions which are associated with pathological
conditions such as cancer, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. 

BioMedica has identified 23 previously unknown genes and has also identified
several known genes that had not previously been linked to these diseases.
These are the first genes to be identified using BioMedica's proprietary
Smartomics(TM) technology. This is a major achievement for the Company's Gene
Discovery Division for which BioMedica  recently raised funds.

Macrophages are cells of the immune system that also play key roles in the
pathogenesis cancer, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases such as
arthritis. Common to all these diseases is that the macrophages act in regions
of low oxygen concentration (hypoxia). The genes that BioMedica has identified
are excellent targets for the development of new drugs. 

Commenting on the results, BioMedica's CEO, Professor Alan Kingsman said:
'We are very happy to be presenting the discovery of these genes at such an
important US conference. This first application of our proprietary
Smartomics(TM) technology has yielded very valuable information on novel
genes, for which we are filing patents. We believe these genes will be of
significant commercial interest.'

'The speed and success with which we have been able to identify these disease
associated genes, is an important validation of our Smartomics(TM) technology.
Now that we have our funding in place for gene discovery, BioMedica will be
using Smartomics(TM) and the core LentiVector(TM) gene transfer technology to
accelerate the identification and validation of a significant number of
valuable target genes for a range of diseases including cardiovascular
disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease and arthritis.'



 Notes to Editors

1. Oxford BioMedica plc
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,
Immunotherapy, Neurobiology and Viral Infection.  The Company raised £8.5m
through a placing on 9 August 2000 to fund its new Gene Discovery Division.
Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on the UK Alternative Investment Market of
the London Stock Exchange in December 1996.

2. Smartomics(TM) 
Smartomics(TM) is a 'knowledge-based' system using BioMedica's gene delivery
systems to improve the output of genomic and proteomic screens. The technology
works by selectively amplifying the activity of disease-related genes. This
makes these important genes easier to identify and it provides more
information on their function. The improved screening process allows the rapid
identification of a more select group of genes, of which a much larger
proportion are relevant to a particular disease. This should provide a faster
route to product development, and products derived from the genes should be
patented more effectively. In short, the Directors of BioMedica believe that
Smartomics(TM) offers a powerful new route to extracting value from the
genomics field. 

3. LentiVector(TM) gene delivery  systems
In gene therapy, the aim is to deliver a gene and its necessary regulatory
elements (the gene construct) to the cell surface, using a vector to mediate
the transfer across the cell membrane and, in some cases, into the nucleus.  A
very powerful vector system is based on lentiviruses, which have similar
features to retroviruses in the ease of manipulation, predictable integration
and reliable gene expression and regulation. They do not take any viral genes
into the target cell, and no inflammatory or other side effect is detectable.
Their main advantage over retroviruses is the ability to function in
non-dividing cells or cells that are dividing slowly - a feature of many
clinically important tissues.

4. Worldwide web
This release is also available on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk