OXFORD BIOMEDICA

RECEIVES GRANT TO ACCELERATE ITS ANTI-CANCER PROGRAMME

Teaching Company Scheme Funds Research into the Application of Novel Anti-Cancer Technology

Oxford BioMedica plc, a world leader in the development and application of gene-based therapeutics using advanced retroviral gene delivery technologies, has, in association with Sheffield University, received a Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) grant for £140,020 to fund two post-doctoral research associates. Awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), this grant will allow for these associates, who will be based in Oxford, to contribute to the development of the Group's novel macrophage anti-cancer technology for the treatment of solid tumours.

The tumour targeting technology, recently acquired from Sheffield University, utilises macrophages to carry therapeutic genes directly into the heart of solid tumours and establish at these sites 'factories' for the production of anti-cancer therapeutics. The funding will provide the means of both accelerating the development of this technology by Oxford BioMedica and promote its integration into the Group's clinical programme for gene-based anti-cancer therapeutics.

Commenting on the award, Dr Susan Kingsman, Research Director, said: 'The funding will accelerate the integration of this technology into Oxford BioMedica's product pipeline and as a result will help to bring this exciting new approach to cancer therapy closer to clinical trials.'

Dr Claire Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Cellular and Molecular Pathology at Sheffield University, said: 'We are pleased to be able to extend our work in gene therapy by our collaboration with the excellent team of scientists at Oxford BioMedica to realise and exploit the potential of this new technology.'

Notes to Editors

1. Oxford BioMedica, established in 1995, specialises in the development and application of gene-based therapeutics using advanced retroviral gene delivery technologies for the treatment of disease in the areas of: oncology, viral infection, neurobiology and genetic deficiency. Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on the UK Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 1996.

2. Dr Claire Lewis is an internationally recognised authority in the development and application of macrophages for the treatment of human tumours and her extensive expertise will be applied in the TCS programme.

3. The Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) aims to help businesses, especially small firms with potential for growth, to access the knowledge, skills and technology in Universities through partnerships between academia and industry.

4. Sheffield University Medical School, in collaboration with scientists at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford, developed the macrophage anti-cancer technology. Oxford BioMedica signed an agreement with Sheffield University to acquire this technology and announced this deal on 23rd April 1997.