New Technology Developed 04/12/2000 07:00:51
Oxford Biomedica PLC4 December 2000
For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive
Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000
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NEW LENTIVECTOR(R) TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED
POSSIBLE WIDE APPLICATIONS FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES
Oxford, UK - 4 December 2000.
Oxford BioMedica ("BioMedica" or the "Company")announced at a major neurobiology conference this weekend, that it has developed a new gene delivery technology, based on its Lentivector(R) gene delivery system. The new version of Lentivector(R) not only delivers genes to nerve cells or "neurones" but, as a result of a modification on its outer surface, transports the genes along the neurone to other parts of the nervous system. This is the first time this transporting technology has been demonstrated. Dr. Nick Mazarakis, Oxford BioMedica's Head of Neurobiology, presented BioMedica's latest Lentivector(R) technology at the Winter Biotechnology Conference on "Therapeutic Opportunities in Neurodegenerative Diseases" held in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. The Company already has a focus on developing therapeutic products for the treatment of neurological diseases - the Company is currently in preclinical development with its Lentivector(R) gene therapy product, ProSavin(R), to treat Parkinson's Disease. However, the Directors believe this transport technology has significant implications for the development of treatments for a wider range of neurological conditions, such as the treatment of motorneurone diseases. The technology also opens the way to analyse gene function in neuro-genomics - the process of elucidating the function of genes specific to the brain and nervous system - which could provide new commercial opportunities for BioMedica. Commenting on the results, Professor Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's ChiefExecutive said: "These results, presented at one of the top neurobiology meetings in the USA,are further evidence of BioMedica's ability to develop novel technologies forunmet medical needs. We believe that the Company's neurodegenerative disease programme and its neuro-genomics activity is poised for some very exciting developments."
Notes to Editors
1. Oxford BioMedica plc. Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the development and application of gene-based therapeutics and immunotherapeutics for the treatment of disease in the areas of Oncology, Viral Infection, andNeurobiology and in gene discovery. Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on theAlternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 1996. Currently Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Aventis, AstraZeneca, IDM, Modex Therapeutics, Nycomed Amersham and Virbac. On 6November 2000 BioMedica reported positive initial results from a Phase I/II clinical trial of its gene therapy MetXia(R) in late-stage breast cancer(BC1). MetXia(R) is also in a Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment ofovarian cancer (OC1). A Phase I/II clinical trial of BioMedica's cancer vaccine TroVax(TM) in colorectal cancer is expected to commence shortly.
2. Lentivirus vector systems for gene transfer to the brain. In gene therapy, the aim is to deliver a gene and its necessary regulatory elements (the gene construct) to the target cell, using a vector to mediate the transfer across the cell membrane and, in some cases, into the nucleus.Vector systems based on lentiviruses offer many advantages and have great commercial potential. They have similar features to retroviruses in their ease of manipulation, predictable integration and reliable gene expression and regulation. They do not take any viral genes into the target cell. The main advantage of lentiviruses over retroviruses is the ability to function in non-dividing cells or cells that are dividing slowly - a feature of many clinically important tissues including the central and peripheral nervous system. In contrast to some other gene delivery systems, BioMedica's retroviral and lentiviral vector systems produce no detectable adverse inflammatory effects. For therapies requiring delivery of genes to braincells, this is an essential requirement.
3. Neuro-genomics. BioMedica's gene discovery division has developed Smartomics(TM), aproprietary 'knowledge-based' system using BioMedica's gene delivery systems,to improve the output of genomic and proteomic screens. The technology works by selectively amplifying the activity of genes of interest. This makes thegenes easier to identify and it provides more information on their function. Oxford BioMedica has adapted this technology to identify genes specific to the diseases of the brain and nervous system. The Company is calling this 'neuro-genomics'. The improved screening process allows the rapid identification of a select group of genes, of which a significant proportion is expected to be relevant to neurological diseases or processes, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. This should provide a faster route to product development, and products derived from the genes should be patented more effectively, providing a powerful new route to extracting value from the genomics field. Efficient gene delivery is a key part of Smartomics(TM), and BioMedica's leading position in gene delivery to cells of the nervous system gives the Company a particular advantage in this area.
4. World Wide Web.This release is also available on the World Wide Web athttp://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.ukENDMSCILFLFFILFIII |
