Oxford Biomedica obtains further fundamental patent for lentiviral gene therapy technology

Oxford, UK: 13 August 2003. Oxford BioMedica plc announced today that it has received allowance from the US Patent Office for a further patent covering its proprietary LentiVector technology. This additional patent compliments the US patent 6,312,682 issued in November 2001 and both include broad composition of matter claims and methods of production claims for lentiviral vector gene delivery systems of both human and non-human origin. 

This patent adds further strength to Oxford BioMedica’s existing patents that cover derivatives of lentiviral vector systems that, unlike many versions of lentiviral vectors, have real clinical utility because of their safety. The Oxford BioMedica team was the first to construct lentiviral vectors that contain no viral genes at all, and which comprise the minimum number of viral components in the viral particles. It is this minimisation of the vectors that is the subject of these patents. This work was done using vectors based on HIV and Equine Infectious Anaemia Virus (EIAV), a horse virus that is not linked to any disease in humans. The EIAV system is Oxford BioMedica’s system of choice because of its superior safety profile.

Oxford BioMedica’s LentiVector gene delivery technology is arguably the most potent system currently available for treating diseases of the central nervous system, particularly chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Oxford BioMedica has shown that minimal lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes to a wide range of dividing and non-dividing cells, including neurones in the brain. 

This technology forms the delivery system for several of the Company’s products that are approaching the clinical development stage. ProSavin is Oxford BioMedica’s most advanced programme for Parkinson’s disease that uses the proprietary LentiVector gene delivery system. In addition to ProSavin, there are three further research/preclinical stage programmes using the LentiVector system: RetinoStat™, for retinopathy (vision loss), Innurex™, for nerve repair in spinal cord injury, and MoNuDin™, for motor neuron disease. 

"Oxford BioMedica’s LentiVector technology is a powerful gene delivery platform that out-performs other vector systems in terms of its combination of high gene transfer efficiencies, duration and regulation of gene expression, ease of production and safety. This is reflected in the range of existing interactions and further discussions that are underway related to this taking our first LentiVector-based product into clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease,” said Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive of Oxford BioMedica.

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Notes to Editors

Oxford BioMedica
Established in 1995 as a spin out from Oxford University, Oxford BioMedica plc specialises in the development of novel gene-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, neuro-degenerative disease and other disorders with major unmet clinical needs. The development pipeline includes two novel anti-cancer products in clinical trials and a gene therapy treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which is in late preclinical studies. This is underpinned by a broad research pipeline and over 70 patent families, about quarter of which are issued. 

Oxford BioMedica’s products use genes as the mediators of a therapeutic effect and/or immune response. The Company’s gene therapy products deliver therapeutic molecules in vivo whilst its gene-based immunotherapy products deliver genes that recruit the patient’s immune system to mediate a therapeutic effect. The genes are delivered by the Company’s highly engineered viruses or cells.

BioMedica’s lead product TroVax® is an anti-cancer therapeutic vaccine expected to be useful against a broad range of tumour types. It is entering Phase II trials in a number of indications including colorectal and renal cancer, and is expected to be ready for Phase III trials at the end of 2003. The Company’s second cancer product, MetXia®, is completing Phase I/II studies in breast cancer.

Oxford BioMedica is headquartered in Oxford, UK and has a wholly-owned subsidiary in San Diego, USA. BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Wyeth, IDM, Intervet, Aliga Pharmaceuticals, Amersham, Arius Research and Viragen. 

Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 1996, and was promoted to the United Kingdom Listing Authority Official List in April 2001 following a successful £35.5 million fund-raising. 

Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 

For further information, please contact:

Oxford BioMedica plc: Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive, +44 (0)1865 783 000

City/financial enquiries: Mike Wort/James Chandler, Beattie Financial, +44 (0)20 7398 3300

Scientific/trade press enquiries: Katja Stout/Sue Charles, Northbank Communications, +44 (0)20 7886 8150