OXFORD
BIOMEDICA
Oxford Biomedica Obtains Gene Therapy Patent In The USA
Oxford,
England - 28 February 2000. Oxford BioMedica announced today
that it had received a Notice of Allowance from the US Patent
Office for a patent covering broad aspects of retroviral and
lentiviral vector systems. The technology covered by the patent
enables BioMedica to create hybrid viruses that can be used
in Gene therapy products for a wide range of diseases.
Commenting
on the news BioMedica's Chief Executive, Prof. Alan Kingsman
said:
"We are, of course, pleased with the granting of this patent
in the US although the news came as no surprise. The Company
is a leading player in this field and this patent is one of
a large family of patents covering many aspects of gene therapy
vector design and use. As our patents proceed through the
examination process we expect many more similar successes"
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Return to the News
| 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, Viral Infection,
Neurobiology and Genetic Deficiency. Oxford BioMedica
plc was floated on the UK Alternative Investment Market
of the London Stock Exchange in December 1996.
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| 2. |
Lentivirus vector 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 new and potentially 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.
However, 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.
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| 3. |
Types
of lentiviruses
Lentivirus vectors are constructed from two sources:
-
primate viruses e.g. human or simian immunodeficiency
virus (HIV or SIV)
-
non-primate viruses e.g. feline and bovine immunodeficiency
viruses (FIV and BIV), and one of the most simple,
equine infective anaemia virus (EIAV)
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| 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
|
Tel:
+44 (0)171 606 1244 |
| Scientific/Trade
Enquiries
Sue
Charles/ Sarah
Pattinson, HCC•De Facto Group |
Tel:
+44 (0)171 496 3300 |
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