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2005/OB/33
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OXFORD
BIOMEDICA ANNOUNCES PRESENTATION BY WYETH PHARMACEUTICALS
OF PRECLINICAL EFFICACY DATA WITH ANTIBODY-TARGETED THERAPY
FOR CANCER
Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading gene
therapy company, today announced that the Company’s
licensee Wyeth Pharmaceuticals presented preclinical efficacy
data with its 5T4 antibody-targeted therapy for the treatment
of solid tumours at the 10th World Congress on Advances in
Oncology and 8th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine
in Crete, Greece on 13-15 October 2005.
The presentation was made by Dr. Erwin Boghaert
of Wyeth Research. It included preclinical data showing that
the targeted therapy is cytotoxic against tumour cells expressing
the antigen, 5T4; and that the product inhibited tumour growth
in in vitro models of various human 5T4-expressing cancers.
In one preclinical model of lung cancer, 100% of mice treated
with the 5T4-targeted immunoconjugate survived through an
observation period of 150 days, whereas those treated with
vehicle or a nonbinding immunoconjugate had a median survival
of 40 to 60 days. In this presentation, the unique characteristics
of the 5T4 tumour antigen were highlighted, including its
broad expression on most solid tumours throughout the evolution
of disease. Wyeth concluded that the above preclinical evidence
supports clinical evaluation of the 5T4-targeted immunoconjugate.
The presentation was titled “Tumour
Targeted Chemotherapy with Calicheamicin Immunoconjugates”
and was presented during a session on Clinical and Molecular
Oncology. The 10th World Congress on Advances in Oncology
and 8th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine is a
joint conference organised by the Medical School University
of Crete and three leading oncology journals: International
Journal of Oncology, Oncology Reports and International Journal
of Molecular Medicine.
The 5T4 antibody-targeted cancer therapy is
being developed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which licensed rights
to Oxford BioMedica’s antibody against the tumour antigen
5T4. Wyeth has used Oxford BioMedica’s agent to develop
an antibody-conjugate based on its expertise with the anti-cancer
agent calicheamicin. The license agreement with Wyeth is valued
at $24 million in upfront and milestone payments, plus royalties
on product sales. Like Oxford BioMedica’s novel cancer
immunotherapy, TroVax®, the 5T4 antibody-targeted cancer
therapy could, in principle, be used to treat a wide range
of cancers and could, therefore, command a substantial market.
Oxford
BioMedica’s Chief Executive, Professor Alan Kingsman
said: “The preclinical data generated by Wyeth with
this targeted chemotherapy approach using Oxford BioMedica’s
anti-5T4 antibody are very promising. The presentation also
highlights the unique profile of our 5T4 tumour antigen as
a target for anti-cancer approaches. We are delighted by Wyeth’s
progress and look forward to the initiation of clinical development
with the product”.
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ends -
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Notes
| 1. |
Oxford
BioMedica |
|
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.
Oxford BioMedica has core
expertise in gene delivery, as well as in-house
clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how.
In oncology, the pipeline includes an immunotherapy
and a gene therapy in multiple Phase II
trials, and a preclinical targeted antibody
therapy in collaboration with Wyeth. In
neurotherapy, the Company’s lead product
is a gene therapy for Parkinson’s
disease, which is expected to enter clinical
trials in 2006, and four further preclinical
candidates. The Company is underpinned by
over 80 patent families, which represent
one of the broadest patent estates in the
field.
The
Company has a staff of approximately 70
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, Viragen, MolMed and Kiadis; and
has licensed technology to a number of companies
including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and
Pfizer. |
| 2. |
5T4
Antibody-Targeted Therapy |
|
The
5T4 antibody-targeted therapy is composed
of a recombinant humanised anti-5T4 antibody
conjugated with a cytotoxic anti-tumour
antibiotic, calicheamicin. The antibody
binds specifically to the tumour antigen
5T4, which is expressed on the surface of
a wide range of solid tumours throughout
the evolution of disease. Binding of the
anti-5T4 antibody portion of the conjugate
with the 5T4 antigen results in the formation
of a complex that is internalised. Upon
internalisation, a calicheamicin derivative
is released, which causes cell death. Wyeth
has successfully demonstrated the concept
of antibody-targeted chemotherapy through
the development and registration of its
product Mylotarg®, which targets the
CD33 antigen present on myeloid leukaemia
cells.
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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
Lisa
Baderoon/Mark
Court/Mary-Jane
Johnson
Buchanan Communications |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000
|
Scientific/Trade
Press Enquiries
Sue
Charles, Katja
Stout
College Hill - Life Sciences |
Tel:
+44 (0)20 7886 8150 |
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