Acquisition of Novel Antibody Technology Complete

Oxford Biomedica PLC
21 December 1999



For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive              Tel: [phone]
City / Financial Enquiries:
David Simonson / Melanie Toyne Sewell                 Tel: [phone]
Scientific / Trade press Enquiries
Michaela Mahon / Sarah Pattinson, HCC de Facto        Tel: [phone]


OXFORD BIOMEDICA COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF NOVEL ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY

Oxford, England - 21 December 1999. Oxford BioMedica plc (AIM-OXB) today
announced that it has strengthened its cancer immunotherapy programme through
the acquisition of rights to a novel human antibody, called OBAb2. 

The antibody has significantly higher specificity for tumours than many
so-called tumour specific antibodies.  The rights for it have been acquired
from a leading research group led by Dr Hennie Hoogenboom at the University of
Maastricht in the Netherlands.   

Oxford BioMedica is establishing a world-wide reputation for advanced
gene-based immunotherapy for cancer. Its first product in this area,
TroVaX(TM), has entered clinical development and will be tested in Phase I/II
trials in colorectal cancer. In addition, the Company is developing gene-based
antibody therapies to be used alongside the TroVaX(TM) vaccine. The OBAb2
antibody is part of the Company's armoury of engineered antibodies that are to
be delivered by gene therapy. 

Commenting on the agreement, Alan Kingsman, CEO of Oxford BioMedica said: 
' Oxford BioMedica has accumulated a powerful set of technologies that target
the treatment of cancer by recruiting the immune system to destroy the tumour.
There is substantial interest in these technologies from the pharmaceutical
industry and I am confident OBAb2 will be a major deal-driver in the future.'   
    

Notes to Editors

1. Oxford BioMedica plc
Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the development and
application of gene-based therapeutics using advance gene delivery
technologies for the treatment of disease in the areas of Oncology, Viral
Infection, Neurobiology and Genetic Deficiency.  Oxford BioMedica plc was
floated on the UK Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange
in December 1996.

2. Worldwide web
This release is also available on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk