OXFORD BIOMEDICA AND PARTNER SIGMA-ALDRICH PURSUE PROTECTION OF RNAi-RELATED IP AGAINST OPEN BIOSYSTEMS

Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading gene therapy company, announces that its partner, Sigma-Aldrich issued the following announcement yesterday at 16:00 EST (BST:21:00).

SIGMA-ALDRICH AND OXFORD BIOMEDICA PURSUE PROTECTION OF RNAi–RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; FILE SUIT AGAINST OPEN BIOSYSTEMS

ST. LOUIS, MO – Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ: SIAL), a $1.7 billion Life Science company, and Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading gene therapy company, have announced today that they have filed a lawsuit against Open Biosystems, Inc. for infringement of key patents that cover key lentiviral-based systems for delivery of foreign DNA to a broad array of mammalian cells. The complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, alleges that Open Biosystems is infringing U.S. Patent Nos. 6924123 and 7056699. Rights to the patents, both entitled Lentiviral LTR Deleted Vector, were exclusively licensed for research use to Sigma-Aldrich by Oxford BioMedica in October 2005.

The suit states that, among other products, Open Biosystems’ Lentiviral shRNAmir Library is marketed and sold to researchers and research institutions for incorporation into viral particles that infringe one or more claims of the patents.

Sigma-Aldrich has invested in its RNAi program through significant intellectual property and licensing activities. The lawsuit filed against Open Biosystems is a result of Sigma-Aldrich’s desire to actively protect its intellectual property in this field.

Oxford BioMedica’s LentiVector^® system has broad applications in gene delivery and can be used to deliver shRNA-encoding DNA to cells to enable RNA Interference (RNAi) experiments. RNAi is a natural cellular process that is involved in the regulation of gene expression. In recent years scientists have developed methods that allow RNAi to be exploited as a research tool to decipher the function of particular genes. Over the course of the last 12 months Sigma-Aldrich has made several investments in technology and intellectual property in the rapidly evolving area of RNAi through its membership in The RNAi Consortium (TRC), the acquisition of Proligo to solidify its capabilities in RNA synthesis and by obtaining exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to a broad portfolio of RNAi related patents for the research field.

“Sigma-Aldrich has made significant investments in creating the most comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property to allow our customers freedom to operate in the cutting-edge arena of RNA
Interference,” said Shaf Yousaf, President of Sigma-Aldrich's Research Biotechnology Business Unit. “Our actions will be to defend our investments and the valuable intellectual property.”

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has 7,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at www.sigma-aldrich.com.

About Oxford BioMedica: Oxford BioMedica is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel gene-based therapeutics with a focus on 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. 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, Sigma-Aldrich, Viragen, MolMed, VIRxSYS and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companies including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk.

Cautionary Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Companies’ current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Companies’ research strategy, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies and the uncertainties related to the regulatory process.

SIGMA-ALDRICH INQUIRIES TO:
Christina Bailey
+314-713-5784

Sean Battles
+314-286-7616