Agreement Signed with Nycomed Amersham Imaging
Oxford Biomedica PLC
20 March 2000
For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000
City/Financial Enquiries:
David Simonson/Melanie Toyne Sewell
Merlin Financial Communications Tel: +44 (0)171 606 1244
Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:
Sue Charles/Sarah Pattinson, HCC De Facto Group Tel: +44 (0)171 496 3300
OXFORD BIOMEDICA SIGNS DEAL WITH NYCOMED AMERSHAM IMAGING
Oxford, and Amersham UK - 20 March 2000: Oxford BioMedica announced today that
it has signed an agreement with Nycomed Amersham plc ('Nycomed Amersham') to
develop Oxford BioMedica's technology for use in imaging of tumours.
Prompt and accurate diagnosis is vital for the effective treatment of all
cancers. However, certain cancers, such as lung cancer, are difficult to
image even with currently available techniques, and therefore agents that
assist in the imaging of tumours may have important applications.
This collaboration between Oxford BioMedica and Nycomed Amersham is seeking to
develop a novel imaging agent suitable for detecting a wide range of tumour
types, assisting in the diagnostic process, and therefore speeding the
commencement of restorative or palliative treatment.
Under the terms of the license agreement, Oxford BioMedica will supply
antibody fragments (scFv's) to its tumour associated antigen, OBA-1. Nycomed
Amersham will evaluate a radiolabelled version of the scFv as an imaging
agent.
This imaging agent could be applicable to many types of cancer because it
would target OBA-1, a marker that is known to exist on the majority of human
tumours. There is no equivalent imaging agent on the market at present, hence
the adoption of this agent could open up a substantial new market in imaging.
Professor Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive, commented:
'This is the second deal with the pharmaceutical industry arising from our
novel tumour-combating antigens. Like the deal signed with Virbac SA last
month, this collaboration with Nycomed Amersham allows Oxford BioMedica to
share in revenue streams outside its core gene therapy markets.
'Nycomed Amersham is the world leader in imaging with worldwide manufacturing,
marketing, sales and distribution activities. It is an ideal partner for
Oxford BioMedica, and if the imaging programme is successful, it may lead to
our developing therapeutic applications. In addition an imaging product could
be used to select patients for treatment with the tumour vaccine TroVax which
is currently being developed by Oxford BioMedica.'
Background Information
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. Nycomed Amersham plc which is based in Buckinghamshire, UK is the world
leader in the development, manufacturing and supply of in-vivo diagnostics
imaging agents and radiotherapy products. Nycomed Amersham's imaging agents
improve pictures of tissues, organs and structures in the body obtained
through medical scans, enabling an early, accurate detection of illness such
as cancer or heart disease. Company information is available on
www.nycomed-amersham.com
3. This release is also available on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk
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