Notice of Allowance
Oxford Biomedica PLC
29 March 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 MARCH 2005
OXFORD BIOMEDICA RECEIVES NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE FOR US LENTIVECTOR(R) PATENT
Oxford, UK: 29 March 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene
therapy company, announces today that they have received a Notice of Allowance
from the US Patent Office for a Patent containing broad claims covering
modifications to lentiviral vectors that improve safety and efficacy.
Oxford BioMedica owns an extensive portfolio of broad patents and patent
applications covering many aspects of the composition of matter and use of gene
delivery systems based on lentiviral vectors. This patent estate underpins the
Company's neurotherapy pipeline of five products and is the subject of recent
commercial deals with a number of companies including Merck and Biogen Idec.
The Notice of Allowance, announced today, adds significantly to Oxford
BioMedica's dominating patent estate. Claims cover specific genetic alterations
in the vectors' genome, which prevent them interfering with cellular functions
in the target cells. This ensures that the vectors have a safety profile
compatible with their use in therapeutic products, and possess the ideal
properties required for drug discovery applications and the production of
transgenic animals. Therefore, the claims broadly cover important modifications
of lentiviral vectors and, as such, dominate a large part of the field. These
alterations are included in the Company's LentiVector(R) technology which forms
the basis of its products for Parkinson's disease, age-related macular
degeneration, motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy and nerve repair.
Commenting on the news, Peter Nolan, Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice President
for Commercial Development said: 'Our LentiVector patent estate goes from
strength-to-strength and is attracting significant interest from pharmaceutical
and large biotech companies. The LentiVector platform has formed the basis of
four deals since our technology licensing initiative commenced in early 2004 and
is currently the subject of five further negotiations'.
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc:
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000
Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial Development
City/Financial Enquiries:
Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Communications
Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries
Sue Charles/ Katja Stout/ Ashley Lilly Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150
Northbank Communications
Notes to editors:
1. Oxford BioMedica
Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the
development of novel gene-based therapeutics with a focus on the areas of
oncology and neurotherapy. The Company was established in 1995 as a spin out
from Oxford University, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Oxford BioMedica has core expertise in gene delivery, as well as in-house
clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how. In oncology, the pipeline
includes an immunotherapy and a gene therapy in multiple Phase II trials, and a
preclinical targeted antibody therapy in collaboration with Wyeth. In
neurotherapy, the Company's lead product is a gene therapy for Parkinson's
disease, which is expected to enter clinical trials in early 2006, and four
further preclinical candidates. The Company is underpinned by over 80 patent
families, which represent one of the broadest patent estates in the field.
The Company has a staff of approximately 65 split between its main facilities in
Oxford and its wholly owned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in San Diego, California.
Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Wyeth, Intervet, Amersham,
Viragen, MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companies
including Merck & Co and Biogen Idec.
Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk.
2. LentiVector(R) technology
Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector gene delivery technology, based on lentiviral
vectors, is arguably the most potent system currently available for treating a
range of diseases, particularly those of the central nervous system. Oxford
BioMedica has shown that its lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes with
high efficiency to a variety of both dividing and non-dividing cells, including
neurons in the brain.
Oxford BioMedica has five issued US patents and two European patents for its
LentiVector technology, which supports the LentiVector-based pipeline and its
technology licensing activities. The Company has established a neurotherapy
pipeline of product candidates based on the technology, which includes ProSavin
(R) for Parkinson's disease, RetinoStat(R) for retinopathy, MoNudin(R) for motor
neuron disease, SNM-1G for spinal muscular atrophy and Innurex(R) for nerve
repair. In addition to its application in therapeutic products, the LentiVector
technology is an effective tool for genomics-based target validation, screening,
production systems, and the creation of transgenic animals.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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