Oxagen Announces the Appointment of David U'Prichard as Non-Executive Chairman

Abingdon , UK , 7 May 2004… Oxagen Limited, the drug discovery company focused on target identification and validation through human genetics, announces that Dr David U’Prichard is to join its board of directors at the end of May as Non-Executive Chairman. He replaces David White who will step down from the Oxagen board at that time.

David U’Prichard brings significant and directly relevant R&D experience to the Company, in line with Oxagen’s strategic focus. Based in Philadephia , USA , Dr U’Prichard is President of Druid Consulting LLC, providing consulting services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and is a Venture Partner with Apax Partners Ltd. From 1999 to 2003 he was CEO of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is now part of Johnson & Johnson. Previously he was Chairman of R&D at SmithKline Beecham and International Research Director for ICI/Zeneca.

David has overseen the entry of many compounds into global development, early and late stage clinical trials and the international registration of the leading diabetes drug Avandia®. He has held academic appointments at Northwestern University, John Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow. He also serves on the boards of directors of Invitrogen Corp, Guilford Pharmaceuticals Corp, Lynx Therapeutics, Inc., Predict, Inc, Exsar Inc. and Genematrix, and is Chairman of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association.

Dr Mark Payton, CEO of Oxagen said: “I am delighted to welcome David U’Prichard to our Board at this point of transition for the Company. His expertise in drug research and development, and contacts in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, will, I am sure, be of immense benefit to Oxagen. I would also like to thank David White for his contribution to the development of Oxagen over the past 5 years, including overseeing its major financing in 2000 and subsequent change in strategic emphasis.”

David White brought considerable experience to Oxagen from his successful career with the major pharmaceutical outsourcing company Innovex, later acquired by Quintiles Transnational, and previously ICI Pharmaceuticals. Having joined Oxagen’s board in 1999 and as Chairman since 2000, he chaired Oxagen through its transition from a population-genetics focused business to an emerging drug discovery business.

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Notes to Editors

About Oxagen Limited

Oxagen is a biopharmaceutical company building a novel drug pipeline that is focused on disease,  using its unique family-based clinical genetics resources. The initial focus is on the GPCR  family in inflammatory diseases. The Company specialises in target identification and validation in inflammatory and metabolic diseases and is creating a pipeline of novel, highly validated drug targets for licensing to partner companies and for in-house development. Oxagen’s genetics platform has also generated panels of molecular diagnostic markers, which, when linked together with information relating to the genetic pre-disposition to developing a disease, can lead to early detection of disease susceptibility and early treatment to restrict disease progression. 

Oxagen was established in April 1997 and has built an extensive technical and analytical capability with some 90 members of staff all based in Milton Park, south of Oxford . Oxagen has established partnerships with a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, and Incyte Genomics.

For more information on Oxagen, please visit www.oxagen.co.uk

Media enquiries:

Northbank Communications

Dr Rebecca Todd, Account Manager

Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8157

Email: r.todd@northbankcommunications.com

Sue Charles, CEO

Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8152

Email: s.charles@northbankcommunications.com

At Oxagen:                                                                                            

Dr Mark Payton, Chief Executive Officer/Scientific Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1235 443300

Email: m.payton@oxagen.co.uk          

Ms Christine Soden, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1235 443300

Email: c.soden@oxagen.co.uk