Keele, UK, 25 February 2005 – Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc (AIM:CBF.L), the international manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, announces today that it has signed a long term manufacturing agreement with Neovacs SA to supply clinical trial material for a protein biopharmaceutical, TNFa Kinoid. This novel active immunization therapy against the human cytokine, Tumour Necrosis Factor a (TNFa), will be tested for its efficacy in auto-immune and inflammatory diseases.  The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed.

Overproduction of protein cytokines, such as TNFa, is the cause of many inflammatory diseases. Neovacs Kinoid technology involves inactivating cytokines and conjugating them to a carrier.  The resulting cytokine protein complex (Kinoid) serves as an active immunization therapy that induces a natural and potent antibody response by the patient’s immune system.  This enables the harmful cytokines to be neutralised and the disease treated. In addition to TNFa Kinoid, Neovacs is developing other active immunization therapies against numerous human cytokines to treat a range of diseases.

Alain Huriez, CEO of Neovacs, commented:

“We were impressed with Cobra’s expertise and track record in protein process development.  We feel confident that Cobra will deliver us quality Kinoids on schedule for our Phase I clinical trials.”

David Thatcher, CEO of Cobra, said:

“We are pleased to be selected by Neovacs to produce this novel cytokine protein complex for European clinical trails. This long term agreement recognises Cobra’s expertise in producing emerging protein therapies and vaccines.”

-Ends-

For further information please contact:

David Thatcher, Chief Executive Officer

Cobra Biomanufacturing

Tel: + 44 (0) 1782 714181

Alain Huriez, Chief Executive Officer
Neovacs SA

Tel: +33 (0) 1 53 10 93 00

Media enquiries: 

Eileen Paul
Northbank Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 1260 296500

Tim Anderson/Mark Court/Rebecca Dietrich

Buchanan Communications

Tel: +44(0) 207 466 5000


About Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc

Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc is a leading international manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals to the lifescience industry. Founded in 1992, Cobra provides innovative manufacturing solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry covering DNA, virus, cellular therapeutics and recombinant protein products. Cobra was the first company to develop GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standard DNA manufacture in Europe, with specific expertise in DNA medicines.
A range of unique, patented technologies, underpins this revenue generating business.

Cobra floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in June 2002 raising £7 million and raised a further £5.2 million in May 2003 in order to further expand capacity in Oxford UK

www.cobrabio.com

About Neovacs SA

Neovacs, a spin-off company from Pierre and Marie Curie University, was founded in 1993 by Professor Daniel Zagury, MD, one of the best known French immunologists and AIDS scientists. Neovacs has a broad portfolio of patents and develops several products to treat AIDS, cancers, autoimmune and allergic diseases. Neovacs is recognized as the pioneer in the development of new anti-cytokines (kinoids) and immunosuppressive viral proteins immunogens (toxoids) for polyclonal antibody therapy. Currently, humanized monoclonal antibodies are widely used to neutralize cytokines and treat patients with cytokine-related diseases. In contrast to exogenous monoclonal antibody therapies, Neovac's kinoid approach induces a natural and potent polyclonal antibody response by the patient and represents major potential clinical benefits. In 1999, Neovacs signed a licensing agreement with Sanofi Pasteur for the development of its therapeutic anti-Tat vaccine for the treatment of HIV infections.

www.neovacs.com