Agreement with Biogen Idec

Oxford Biomedica PLC
05 January 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        5 JANUARY 2005


   OXFORD BIOMEDICA SIGNS LENTIVECTOR(R) LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH BIOGEN IDEC

Oxford, UK:  5 January 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene
therapy company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to
license its LentiVector technology to Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) for use in
research activities. Under the terms of the agreement, Oxford BioMedica will
receive an upfront licence payment and an annual maintenance fee.  Further
financial details were not disclosed.

LentiVector, a lentivirus-based system, is one of the most powerful technologies
available for gene delivery to a wide range of cell and tissue types.  The
technology has applications both in therapeutic products and drug discovery, as
a tool for target validation and the creation of targeted disease models.  It
has also been shown to enhance the efficiency of developing transgenic birds and
mammals. Oxford BioMedica has a comprehensive portfolio of US and European
patents covering the LentiVector technology.

Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice President Commercial Development, Peter Nolan,
said: 'We are delighted to add Biogen Idec to our list of licencees for the
LentiVector technology. This agreement is a further demonstration of the
technology's superiority and broad utility. We expect Oxford BioMedica's
LentiVector technology to become the system of choice for safe and effective
gene delivery in drug discovery and transgenics.'


For further information, please contact:

Oxford BioMedica plc:                                   Tel: [phone]
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive

Peter Nolan, SVP Commercial Development

City/Financial Enquiries:                               Tel: [phone]
Lisa Baderoon/ Mark Court/ Mary-Jane Johnson Buchanan
Communications

Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:                       Tel: [phone]
Sue Charles/ Katja Stout/ Ashley Lilly

Northbank Communications


Notes to editors

1. 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; two
neurotherapy products in advanced preclinical development for Parkinson's
disease and retinopathy; and three further preclinical neurotherapy products.
The Company is underpinned by an extensive preclinical and research portfolio
and over 80 patent families, which represents one of the broadest patent estates
in the field.

The Company has established a neurotherapy pipeline of product candidates based
on its LentiVector technology, which includes ProSavin(R) for Parkinson's
disease, RetinoStat(R) for retinopathy, MoNuDin(R) for motor neuron disease,
SMN1-G for spinal muscular atrophy and Innurex(R) for nerve repair. Current
licencees of the LentiVector technology for drug discovery and transgenic
applications include Merck & Co and Viragen.


Further information is available at http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk


2. LentiVector technology

Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector gene delivery technology, based on lentiviral
vectors, is arguably the most potent system currently available for treating a
range of diseases, particularly those of the central nervous system. Oxford
BioMedica has shown that its lentiviral vectors are able to deliver genes with
high efficiency to a variety of both dividing and non-dividing cells, including
neurons in the brain.

Oxford BioMedica has three issued US patents and a European patent for its
LentiVector technology. These include broad composition of matter claims and
methods of production claims for lentiviral vector gene delivery systems of both
human and non-human origin.  The patents also 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.


3. Biogen Idec

Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in oncology and immunology. As a
global leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel
therapies, Biogen Idec transforms scientific discoveries into advances in human
healthcare. For product labeling, press releases and additional information
about the company, please visit http://www.biogenidec.com/



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