TroVax Notice of Allowance
Oxford Biomedica PLC
22 November 2005
Immediate Release 22 November 2005
OXFORD BIOMEDICA RECEIVES NOTICE OF PATENT ALLOWANCE EXTENDING TROVAX(R)
PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES
Oxford, UK: 22 November 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a gene therapy
company, announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a
Notice of Allowance for a key patent application (USSN 09/533,798), which
significantly extends the protection of TroVax, the Company's lead cancer
vaccine. It is expected that the patent will be issued during 2006. This patent
is one of several granted and pending patents that protect the Company's use of
the 5T4 tumour antigen. The Notice of Allowance covers immunotherapy approaches
directed against the 5T4 tumour antigen.
5T4 is a tumour associated antigen that is expressed at high levels on a wide
range of tumour types, including colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma and
breast cancer, amongst others. 5T4 expression is frequently correlated with poor
prognosis and metastatic spread. Although present on tumour cells, 5T4 is not
found on any essential organs. These and other unique characteristics make 5T4
an ideal target for immunotherapy treatment in a wide range of cancer types.
Commenting on the Notice of Allowance news, Peter Nolan, Oxford BioMedica's
Senior Vice President for Commercial Development said:
'We are delighted to have been allowed such broad claims for this key US patent.
This Notice of Allowance, together with several other granted and pending
patents, provide clear protection in most major territories for our lead
product, TroVax, as well as next generation cancer vaccines based on the 5T4
antigen. Today's news further strengthens our negotiating position with
potential partners for TroVax as we progress into Phase III development.'
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc:
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000
City/Financial Enquiries:
Buchanan Communications
Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:
Northbank Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150
Katja Stout/ Hannah Carter
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 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 70 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,
Sigma-Aldrich, Viragen, MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a
number of companies including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer.
Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk
2. TroVax(R) cancer immunotherapy
TroVax is Oxford BioMedica's leading cancer immunotherapy product. It is
designed specifically 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 poxvirus (MVA) gene transfer system, 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 protein.
TroVax is currently in five Phase II trials, including an investigator initiated
trial sponsored by Cancer Research UK. Over 85 patients have been treated with
TroVax (collectively over 350 doses) in five clinical trials in colorectal
cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Clinical results have shown that the product is
safe and stimulates an anti-tumour immune response against 5T4 in the majority
of patients. Data from the completed Phase I/II trial and ongoing Phase II
trials suggest that the magnitude of the immune response induced by TroVax
correlates with clinical benefit including tumour responses and time to disease
progression, both of which have exceeded expectation based on published
historical data. A Phase III trial in renal cell carcinoma is planned to start
in 2006.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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