Awarded Research Grant

Oxford Biomedica PLC
25 July 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              25 JULY 2005

OXFORD BIOMEDICA IS AWARDED GRANT FOR MONUDIN(R) FROM THE MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE
                                  ASSOCIATION

Oxford, UK: 25 July 2005 - Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene therapy
company, announced today that the UK Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has
awarded a research grant to support preclinical evaluation of MoNuDin for the
treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor
neurone disease. The grant is initially for £350,000, which will fund a key
preclinical efficacy study and support preparations for clinical trials. The
Company is targeting the start of clinical development in 2006-07.

MoNuDin is a novel gene therapy product, which delivers a vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) gene, a neuroprotective factor, using the Company's
proprietary LentiVector system. A previous preclinical study of MoNuDin showed
that both onset and progression of disease was slowed and that life expectancy
was extended by 30%, representing one of the most effective therapies reported
in the field to date. These results were published in May 2004 in Nature
magazine (Volume: 429, Issue: 6990 pp: 413-417).

Oxford BioMedica has previously secured financial support for MoNuDin from the
US ALS Association. The MND Association and other US and UK charitable
organisations are considering further sponsorship that could fund initial
clinical trials of MoNuDin in ALS patients. ALS causes adult-onset, progressive
motor neuron degeneration in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in paralysis
and death three to five years after onset in most patients. There is currently
no known cure for motor neurone disease, a condition that affects approximately
100,000 people in Europe and the USA.

Commenting on the grant from the MND Association, Oxford BioMedica's Chief
Executive, Professor Alan Kingsman said: 'We are very pleased to have received
sponsorship from another leading charity. This grant from the MND Association
provides further endorsement of MoNuDin's potential as a treatment of ALS, for
which there is currently no effective therapy. There is considerable interest in
this programme from charities and other organisations, which could lead to
additional financial support'.

                                     -Ends-


For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc:
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive               Tel: [phone]

The Motor Neurone Disease Association:
Sarah Fitzgerald, Head of PR & Media                      Tel: [phone]

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

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


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.

Oxford BioMedica has core expertise in gene delivery, as well as in-house
clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how. In oncology, the pipeline
includes an immunotherapy and a gene therapy in multiple Phase II trials, and a
preclinical targeted antibody therapy in collaboration with Wyeth. In
neurotherapy, the Company's lead product is a gene therapy for Parkinson's
disease, which is expected to enter clinical trials in early 2006, and four
further preclinical candidates. The Company is underpinned by over 80 patent
families, which represent one of the broadest patent estates in the field.

The Company has a staff of approximately 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, Amersham,
Viragen, MolMed and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companies
including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer.
Further information is available at http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk

2. MoNuDin(R) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
MoNuDin comprises a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene delivered by
the Company's proprietary LentiVector system. The product is designed to be
injected into muscle, where it enters motor neurons via the neuromuscular
junctions. It then travels along the nerves to the spinal cord by a process
known as retrograde transport and mediates its therapeutic effect within the
body of the nerve cells in the spine.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is the name given to a group of related diseases
affecting the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is the most common form of
MND. Motor neurons are the nerve cells along which the brain sends instructions,
in the form of electrical impulses, to the muscles. Degeneration of the motor
neurons leads to weakness and wasting of muscles. This generally occurs in arms
or legs initially, some groups of muscles being affected more than others. MND
is generally a steadily progressive disease, but the rate of progression varies
greatly from one person to another.

MND can affect any adult at any age but most people who have MND are over the
age of 40 and the highest incidence is in the 50-70 age range. Men are affected
slightly more often than women.

The precise figures for the incidence and prevalence of MND are still uncertain.
In the UK, three people are diagnosed and three people die from MND every day.
The average life expectancy of a patient is two to five years from time of
diagnosis, but half the number of people with MND will die within 14 months of
diagnosis. The estimated number of people living with MND in the UK is 5,000 at
any one time. There are about 100,000 patients in Europe and the USA.

3. The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association
The MND Association was established in 1979. It provides care and support for
people with MND and their families, and funds vital research into causes,
treatments and a cure for MND. The Association funds 14 Care Centres across the
UK - providing co-ordinated care under one roof for people with MND - and plans
to expand that number over the next five years. The Association has around 100
staff, including 25 regional staff working with volunteers and families affected
by MND out in the community. It has 85 Branches, providing support to people
locally, over 2,000 volunteers and 300 Association Visitors.



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