TROVAX® SELECTED AS ONE OF TO

RNS Number : 0773T

Oxford Biomedica PLC

22 September 2010

 



TROVAX^® SELECTED AS ONE OF TOP 10 ONCOLOGY PROJECTS TO WATCH

-- Development plan on track, recruitment underway for Phase II prostate trial --

Oxford, UK - 22 September 2010: Oxford BioMedica ("the Company") (LSE: OXB), a leading gene therapy company, today announces that TroVax^®, its therapeutic cancer vaccine, has been selected by Windhover and Campbell Alliance as one of the "Top 10 Most interesting Oncology Projects to Watch".  TroVax^® was nominated by a committee that included Windhover Information and the publishers of In Vivo and Start Up industry publications.

TroVax^® is Oxford BioMedica's therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to stimulate the immune system to destroy cancerous cells expressing the 5T4 tumour antigen, which is broadly distributed throughout a wide range of solid tumours.  There are a number of upcoming development initiatives for TroVax^® including a Phase II study in patients with progressive hormone refractory prostate cancer led by Professor Anna Ferrari, NYU Clinical Cancer Center, in five centres across the US.  Recruitment for this study is underway, subject to patients meeting the enrolment criteria.  The Company also anticipates two sponsored studies in mesothelioma and ovarian cancer to start in Q1 2011.

David Cassak, Vice President, content, Windhover Conferences, a division of Elsevier Business Intelligence, said:"Selected companies have been screened using a strict set of judging criteria for the Top 10 award and represent what our committees considered the most attractive oncology opportunities the industry has to offer.  Winners have met rigorous criteria, including: unmet medical need, market potential, diversity of indications, strong science, multi-level partnering opportunities (biotech and pharma), potential for new opportunities beyond initial indications and corporate stability."

John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioMedica, said: "The fact that TroVax^® has been recognised as one of the top oncology projects in the industry emphasises its potential to improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide. 

"As part of our TroVax^® clinical programme, we look forward to working with Professor Ferrari and our collaborators on the continued development of this important product."

Along with inclusion in the "Top 10 to Watch" list, Oxford BioMedica has been selected to present at Windhover's Therapeutic Area Partnerships meeting which will be held on 2-4 November 2010 at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, MA.  More information on the meeting can be found at www.tapartnerships.com.

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For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc: Lara Mott, Head of Corporate Communications	Tel: [phone]
Media/Financial Enquiries: Emma Thompson/Rob Newman/Ben Simons M:Communications	Tel: [phone]
US Enquiries: Thomas Fechtner The Trout Group LLC	Tel: [phone]

Notes to editors

1. OxfordBioMedica^®

Oxford BioMedica plc (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative gene-based medicines and therapeutic vaccines that aim to improve the lives of patients with high unmet medical needs. The Company's technology platform includes a highly efficient gene delivery system (LentiVector^®), which has specific advantages for targeting diseases of the central nervous system and the eye; and a unique tumour antigen (5T4), which is an ideal target for anti-cancer therapy. Through in-house and collaborative research, Oxford BioMedica has a broad pipeline and its partners include sanofi-aventis, Sigma-Aldrich and Pfizer.  Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk.

2. TroVax^®

TroVax^® is Oxford BioMedica's therapeutic cancer vaccine which is designed to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response and has potential application in most solid tumour types.  TroVax^® targets the tumour antigen 5T4, which is broadly distributed throughout a wide range of solid tumours. The presence of 5T4 is correlated with poor prognosis.  The product consists of a Modified Vaccinia Ankara vector, which delivers the gene for 5T4 and stimulates a patient's body to produce an anti-5T4 immune response.  This immune response destroys tumour cells carrying the 5T4 antigen.

3. Windhover

Windhover Information Inc., an Elsevier company, has provided analysis of the healthcare industry to decision-makers at all levels since the founding of its flagship publication, IN VIVO: The Business & Medicine Report, in 1983.  Windhover provides its information and analysis in many formats, including print, electronic databases, international conferences and webinars.  For more on the company's products and services, please see www.windhover.com.

4. Campbell Alliance

Campbell Alliance is the leading management consulting firm specializing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.  The firm's clients include most of the world's top-20 pharmaceutical companies, as well as numerous emerging and midsize firms.  Campbell Alliance is organized into practice areas, each specializing in a critical industry function:  Brand Management, Business Development, Clinical Development, Managed Markets, Medical Affairs, Sales, and Trade and Distribution.  From its locations in Raleigh, NC, Parsippany, NJ, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Atlanta, and London, the firm serves clients throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.  For more information on Campbell Alliance, please visit http://www.campbellalliance.com.

 

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