OXFORD
BIOMEDICA
Oxford Biomedica Presents Discovery of Novel Genes Relevant
to Cancer, Heart Disease and Inflammatory Disease at Drug
Discovery Conference
Oxford,
UK - 15 August 2000. Oxford BioMedica plc (AIM-OXB) today
presented the discovery of a range of potentially valuable
novel genes at an international conference entitled 'Drug
Discovery Technology 2000' held in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr Paul Durrands, the Company's Commercial Director and head
of BioMedica's newly created Gene Discovery Division presented
results which show significant up-regulation of potentially
important genes expressed in macrophages in hypoxic conditions
which are associated with pathological conditions such as
cancer, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases.
BioMedica
has identified 23 previously unknown genes and has also identified
several known genes that had not previously been linked to
these diseases. These are the first genes to be identified
using BioMedica's proprietary Smartomics™ technology.
This is a major achievement for the Company's Gene Discovery
Division for which BioMedica recently raised funds.
Macrophages
are cells of the immune system that also play key roles in
the pathogenesis of cancer, atherosclerosis and inflammatory
diseases such as arthritis. Common to all these diseases is
that the macrophages act in regions of low oxygen concentration
(hypoxia). The genes that BioMedica has identified are excellent
targets for the development of new drugs.
Commenting
on the results, BioMedica's CEO, Professor Alan Kingsman said:
"We are very happy to be presenting the discovery of these
genes at such an important US conference. This first application
of our proprietary SmartomicsT technology has yielded very
valuable information on novel genes, for which we are filing
patents. We believe these genes will be of significant commercial
interest."
"The
speed and success with which we have been able to identify
these disease associated genes, is an important validation
of our SmartomicsT technology. Now that we have our funding
in place for gene discovery, BioMedica will be using SmartomicsT
and the core LentiVector® gene transfer technology to accelerate
the identification and validation of a significant number
of valuable target genes for a range of diseases including
cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease
and arthritis." |
