Oxford
,
UK
–
7 June 2004
: Oxford BioMedica (LSE OXB), the leading gene therapy
company, announced today that it has signed an agreement with the Chiron
Corporation to acquire certain patent families from Chiron’s gene therapy
patent portfolio. The agreement includes taking assignment of Chiron’s
interest in a license agreement with an undisclosed university. Financial
terms have not been disclosed.
Chiron’s
patent portfolio contains some early gene therapy technology that complements
Oxford BioMedica’s substantial gene therapy patent estate. The technology
acquired includes:
- The
use of human cell lines for the production of gene therapy products
- Gene-directed
enzyme pro-drug therapy (GDEPT)
- The
use of the envelope protein of the vesicular stomatis virus (VSV-g) for
increasing the ability of gene therapy vectors to transduce a broad range
of human cell types
Under
a separate agreement also signed today, Chiron has made an equity investment
in Oxford BioMedica subscribing for a total of 316,026 ordinary shares of 1p
each at 17.23 pence per share.
Commenting
on these agreements the Company’s Senior Vice President for Commercial
Development, Peter Nolan, said: “We are delighted to have concluded this
agreement with Chiron and welcome them as shareholders in the Company.
Securing this intellectual property will enhance our competitive position in
gene therapy and in the use of our technology in drug discovery.”
-Ends-
|
For
further information, please contact:
|
|
|
Oxford
BioMedica plc:
Professor
Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive
|
Tel:
+44 (0)1865 783 000
|
|
City/Financial
Enquiries:
Lisa
Baderoon/
Mark Court
: Buchanan
Communications
|
Tel:
+44 (0)20 7466 5000
|
|
Scientific/Trade
Press Enquiries:
Katja
Stout, Ellen Marriage: Northbank Communications
|
Tel:
+44 (0)20 7886 8150
|
Notes
to editors
Oxford
BioMedica
Oxford
BioMedica (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the
development of novel gene-based therapeutics with a focus on the areas of
oncology and neurotherapy. The Company was established in 1995 as a spin out
from
Oxford
University
, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In
addition to its technical expertise in gene delivery, Oxford BioMedica has
in-house clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how. The development
pipeline includes two novel anti-cancer products in clinical trials; and two
neurotherapy products in advanced preclinical development for Parkinson’s
disease and retinopathy. The Company is underpinned by an extensive
preclinical and research portfolio and about 70 patent families, which
represents one of the broadest patent estates in the field.
The
Company has a staff of approx. 65 split between its main facilities in
Oxford
and its wholly owned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in
San Diego
,
California
. Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Wyeth,
Intervet, Merck & Co, Amersham and Kiadis.
Further
information is available at http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk
