OXFORD
BIOMEDICA PLC
Appointment of CEO to Oxford Biomedica US Subsidiary
Oxford,
UK - 29 May 2001 Oxford BioMedica plc, the gene-based therapeutics
company, announced today the appointment of Dr. Doug Jolly
as CEO of the Company's US operation, BioMedica Inc. Dr. Jolly
has been appointed to the Board of Oxford BioMedica plc
and will have overall responsibility for Gene Therapy within
the Company. Professor Susan Kingsman remains responsible
for Gene-based Immunotherapy and Gene Discovery.
Dr. Jolly
is a leading figure in gene technology in the USA. Most recently,
he held the position of Vice President for Scientific Affairs
at Chiron Corporation's Center for Gene Therapy where he was
directly involved in a number of gene-based product development
programmes, intellectual property management and clinical
and regulatory strategies. Prior to that he was founder and
Vice-President of Research of Viagene Inc. He is named
inventor on more than 20 issued US and European patents and
he has advised the US National Institutes of Health and the
FDA on scientific strategy and regulatory issues. At both
Chiron and Viagene Dr. Jolly contributed to business
development and corporate strategy and is well connected with
major financial institutions in the US.
Commenting
on Dr. Jolly's appointment, BioMedica's Chief Executive, Professor
Alan Kingsman said
"In my opinion, Doug's appointment is a major coup
for BioMedica. Attracting someone of his ability and reputation
is a strong endorsement of the growing credibility of the
Company on both sides of the Atlantic. He will undoubtedly
make a substantial contribution to BioMedica by leading our
clinical and business development in the USA, the biggest
pharmaceutical market in the world. We will also use his world-class
technical ability and experience to drive forward the Company's
product pipeline."
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| Notes
to Editors
| 1. |
Oxford
BioMedica plc
Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the
application of gene-based technology to the development
of novel therapeutics. Its three principal activities
are in the fields of gene therapy, immunotherapy and
genomics, and its principal therapeutic areas are in
cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxford BioMedica
plc was floated on the Alternative Investment Market
of the London Stock Exchange in December 1996, and upgraded
to the United Kingdom Listing Authority Official List
in April 2001 following a successful £35.5 million
fund-raising.
Currently
Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Aventis,
AstraZeneca, IDM, Modex Therapeutics, Nycomed Amersham,
Valentis, Virbac and Wyeth. BioMedica has two products
in Phase I/II clinical trials. MetXia®
is in clinical trials for late-stage breast cancer (BC1)
and ovarian cancer (OC1) and TroVax™ is in clinical
trials for late-stage colorectal cancer.
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| 2. |
BioMedica
Inc.
A key part of Oxford BioMedica's strategy for growth following
its recent upgrade to the UKLA Official List and the successful
£35.5 million fund-raising is to establish a significant
business unit in the USA. BioMedica Inc. is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Oxford BioMedica plc, and it plans to establish
offices and laboratories on the US west coast. The appointment
of Dr Doug Jolly and CEO of BioMedica Inc. is an important
first step in implementing this strategy.
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| For
further information please contact: |
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Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan
Kingsman, Chief Executive |
Tel:
+44 (0)1865 783 000 |
| City/Financial
Enquiries:
Melanie Toyne Sewell / Fiona Noblet
Financial Dynamics
|
Tel:
+44 (0) 207 831 3113 |
| Scientific/Trade
Press Enquiries:
Chris
Gardner , HCC De Facto Group |
Tel:
+44 (0)20 7496 3300 |
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