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2005/OB/01
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OXFORD
BIOMEDICA SIGNS LENTIVECTOR® LICENSING AGREEMENT
WITH BIOGEN IDEC
Oxford
BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene therapy company, announced
today that it has entered into an agreement to license its
LentiVector technology to Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) for use
in research activities. Under the terms of the agreement,
Oxford BioMedica will receive an upfront licence payment and
an annual maintenance fee. Further financial details were
not disclosed.
LentiVector,
a lentivirus-based system, is one of the most powerful technologies
available for gene delivery to a wide range of cell and tissue
types. The technology has applications both in therapeutic
products and drug discovery, as a tool for target validation
and the creation of targeted disease models. It has also been
shown to enhance the efficiency of developing transgenic birds
and mammals. Oxford BioMedica has a comprehensive portfolio
of US and European patents covering the LentiVector technology.
Oxford
BioMedica's Senior Vice President Commercial Development,
Peter Nolan, said: "We are delighted to add Biogen Idec
to our list of licencees for the LentiVector technology. This
agreement is a further demonstration of the technology’s
superiority and broad utility. We expect Oxford BioMedica’s
LentiVector technology to become the system of choice for
safe and effective gene delivery in drug discovery and transgenics."
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| Notes
| 1. |
Oxford
BioMedica plc |
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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. The Company is underpinned
by an extensive preclinical and research
portfolio and over 80 patent families, which
represents one of the broadest patent estates
in the field.
The
Company has established a neurotherapy pipeline
of product candidates based on its LentiVector
technology, which includes ProSavin®
for Parkinson’s disease, RetinoStat®
for retinopathy, MoNuDin® for motor
neuron disease, SMN1-G for spinal muscular
atrophy and Innurex® for nerve repair.
Current licencees of the LentiVector technology
for drug discovery and transgenic applications
include Merck & Co and Viragen.
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| 2. |
LentiVector
technology |
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Oxford BioMedica’s LentiVector gene
delivery technology, based on lentiviral vectors,
is arguably the most potent system currently
available for treating a range of diseases,
particularly those of the central nervous
system. Oxford BioMedica has shown that its
lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes
with high efficiency to a variety of both
dividing and non-dividing cells, including
neurons in the brain.
Oxford
BioMedica has three issued US patents and
a European patent for its LentiVector technology.
These include broad composition of matter
claims and methods of production claims
for lentiviral vector gene delivery systems
of both human and non-human origin. The
patents also cover derivatives of lentiviral
vector systems that, unlike many versions
of lentiviral vectors, have real clinical
utility because of their safety. The Oxford
BioMedica team was the first to construct
lentiviral vectors that contain no viral
genes at all, and which comprise the minimum
number of viral components in the viral
particles. It is this minimisation of the
vectors that is the subject of these patents.
This work was done using vectors based on
HIV and Equine Infectious Anaemia Virus
(EIAV), a horse virus that is not linked
to any disease in humans.
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| 3. |
Biogen
Idec |
| |
Biogen
Idec creates new standards of care in oncology
and immunology. As a global leader in the
development, manufacturing, and commercialization
of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transforms
scientific discoveries into advances in human
healthcare. For product labeling, press releases
and additional information about the company,
please visit http://www.biogenidec.com/ |
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| For
further information please contact:
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Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan
Kingsman, Chief Executive
Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial Development
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Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000 |
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Enquiries
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Court/Mary-Jane
Johnson
Buchanan Communications |
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Stout, Ashley
Lilly
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