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2004/OB/18
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OXFORD
BIOMEDICA SIGNS LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL
HOSPITAL, BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE
Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the cancer and
neurobiological gene therapy company, announced today that
it has signed an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute extending
the field of Oxford BioMedica’s exclusive access to
the family of cytochrome P450 enzymes in cancer gene therapy.
The P450 enzyme is used in Oxford BioMedica’s novel
cancer gene therapy product, MetXia®. The extension of
the license covers the development of MetXia as a treatment
for pancreatic cancer.
Under a separate agreement, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Boston University and Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute have subscribed for a total of 352,887 ordinary
shares of 1p each at 15.78 pence per share.
The P450 enzyme is naturally expressed in
the liver and activates the chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide.
By delivering a specific P450 gene, MetXia promotes activation
of cyclophosphamide directly in the tumour and thereby enhances
its potency as an anti-tumour treatment. Oxford BioMedica
licensed the rights to the P450 enzyme for cancer gene therapy
from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston University and
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 1997 and extended the agreement
previously in 2000.
Oxford
BioMedica has demonstrated proof of concept with MetXia in
two Phase I/II trials in patients with accessible tumours,
primarily in breast cancer. In April 2004, the Company reported
that recruitment had started in a Phase I trial, rolling into
a Phase II trial in patients with pancreatic cancer. The safety
stage of this trial is on-track to complete by the end of
the year.
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| Notes
| 1. |
Oxford
BioMedica plc |
|
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.
In
addition to its technical expertise in gene
delivery, Oxford BioMedica has in-house
clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how.
The development pipeline includes two novel
anti-cancer products in clinical trials;
two neurotherapy products in advanced preclinical
development for Parkinson’s disease
and retinopathy; and three further preclinical
neurotherapy products including MoNuDin®
for the treatment of ALS. The Company is
underpinned by an extensive preclinical
and research portfolio and about 70 patent
families, which represents one of the broadest
patent estates in the field.
The
Company has a staff of approx. 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, Merck & Co, Amersham, Viragen
and Kiadis. |
| 2. |
MetXia®
gene therapy for cancer |
| |
A common strategy for the treatment of cancer
is to administer cytotoxic (or cell killing)
drugs in an attempt to destroy the tumour.
Cyclophosphamide is one of a group of drugs
that is taken by the patient in the form of
an inactive prodrug. The prodrug travels through
the body to the liver where enzymes convert
it to the active, cytotoxic form. This approach
affects the whole body and leads to the familiar
adverse side effects of cancer chemotherapy
because the cytotoxic drug destroys normal
cells on its way from the liver to the tumour.
In addition, because the activating enzymes
are present only in the liver, high doses
of prodrug must be given to achieve therapeutic
levels of the cytotoxic drug at the tumour
site. Often the therapeutic effect is compromised
by the toxicity. Oxford
BioMedica’s MetXia addresses these
problems by delivering a specific human
cytochrome P450 gene (CYP2B6) directly to
the tumour using a highly engineered retrovirus
gene delivery system. Once incorporated
into the genetic material of the tumour
cells, this gene produces the liver enzyme
that converts the cyclophosphamide prodrug
to its active form within the tumour. The
aim is to achieve high concentrations of
activated cyclophosphamide locally in the
tumour while minimising circulating levels
of the drug. This could increase the sensitivity
of the tumour to the drug and reduce the
dose of cyclophosphamide, thereby reducing
adverse side effects.
Two
Phase I/II trials have been completed in
patients with accessible tumours, principally
breast cancer. MetXia was safe, well tolerated
and there was observable clinical benefit.
In addition to local effects on tumour nodules
that had been treated with MetXia, there
was evidence of induction of systemic anti-tumour
immune responses. The current clinical trial
of MetXia in pancreatic cancer is a Phase
I trial rolling into a Phase II trial. Recruitment
commenced in April 2004. This trial is designed
for direct administration of the both MetXia
and cyclophosphamide to the tumour via arterial
infusion.
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| 3. |
Massachusetts
General Hospital |
| |
Founded
in 1811, the Massachusetts General Hospital
(MGH) is the third oldest general hospital
in the US and the oldest and largest in New
England. The 895-bed world-renowned medical
centre offers sophisticated diagnostic and
therapeutic care in virtually every specialty
and subspecialty of medicine and surgery.
The
MGH conducts the largest hospital-based
research programme in the US, with an annual
research budget of more than $400 million.
It is the oldest and largest teaching hospital
of Harvard Medical School, and nearly all
of the hospital's active staff physicians
are on the Harvard Medical School faculty.
MGH is part of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare,
a collaborative programme for adult oncology
that also involves Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
and Brigham and Womens Hospital. |
| 4 |
Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute |
| |
Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate
of the Harvard Medical School and is among
the leading cancer research and care centers
in the United States. It is a founding member
of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC),
and is designated as a comprehensive cancer
centre by the National Cancer Institute. |
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| For
further information please contact:
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|
|
Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan
Kingsman, Chief Executive
Nick Woolf, SVP Corporate Strategy
|
Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 |
| City/Financial
Enquiries
Lisa
Baderoon/Mark
Court
Buchanan Communications |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000
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Scientific/Trade
Press Enquiries
Sue
Charles, Katja
Stout
College Hill - Life Sciences |
Tel:
+44 (0)20 7886 8150 |
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