OXFORD
BIOMEDICA PLC
Oxford BioMedica Develops Vector System for Gene Transfer
in Therapy for Neural Diseases
Oxford
BioMedica reports important preclinical results for its Parkinson's
disease product, ProSavin™ in the current issue of the
scientific journal 'Gene Therapy'. The paper reports, for
the first time, efficient transfer of genes to the brain using
the Company's proprietary LentiVectorTM system, which is based
on the horse virus, equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV).
Commenting
on the results Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive said: "Our neuroscientists
have been able to deliver genes to the exact point in the
brain that is defective in a Parkinson's disease patient.
We are now moving into preclinical models where therapeutic
genes will be delivered to this site in the hope that we can
treat the cause of this disease."
The potential
market for gene therapy approaches to the treatment of Parkinson's
disease is estimated to be over US $1 billion in the US and
Europe.
Andrew
Wood, Oxford BioMedica's Finance Director commented: "This
new technology has many commercial applications beyond Parkinson's
disease. These include other neurodegenerative diseases, such
as Alzheimer's disease, and blood disorders such as leukaemia.
In addition, the Company is in discussion with a number of
pharmaceutical companies who are interested in using the technology
for their internal drug discovery programmes." |
Return
to the News
| Notes
to Editors
| 1. |
Oxford
BioMedica plc
Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the
development and application of gene-based therapeutics
using advance 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.
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| 2.
|
Lentivirus
vector systems
In gene therapy, the aim is to deliver a gene and its
necessary regulatory elements (the gene construct) to
the cell surface, using a vector to mediate the transfer
across the cell membrane and, in some cases, into the
nucleus. A new and potentially very powerful vector
system is based on lentiviruses, which have similar
features to retroviruses in the ease of manipulation,
predictable integration and reliable gene expression
and regulation. However, their main advantage over retroviruses
is the ability to function in non-dividing cells or
cells that are dividing slowly - a feature of neural
cells.
|
| 3.
|
Types of lentiviruses
Lentivirus vectors are constructed from two sources:
- primate viruses e.g. human or simian immunodeficiency
virus (HIV or SIV) - non-primate viruses e.g. feline
and bovine immunodeficiency viruses (FIV and BIV), and
one of the most simple, equine infective anaemia virus
(EIAV).
|
| 4. |
Move
away from HIV-based vectors
Most lentiviral vector development has focused on the
HIV-1-derived system as HIV is the most thoroughly characterised
of the lentiviruses. However concerns over the use of
HIV-based vectors for diseases other than HIV infection
are leading to the use of non-primate viruses.
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| 5. |
Research
paper
To read the original research paper, please see Gene
Therapy (1999) 1808-1818 or go to www.stockton-press.co.uk/gt
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| For
further information please contact: |
|
|
Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan
Kingsman, Chief Executive |
Tel:
+44 (0)1865 783000 |
| City/Financial
Enquiries
David
Simonson / Melanie Toyne Sewell |
Tel:
+44 (0)171 606 1244 |
| Scientific/Trade
Enquiries
Michaela
Mahon / Sarah Pattinson,
HCC•De Facto Group |
Tel:
+44 (0)171 496 3300 |
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