Initiation of Second CART Programme for Novartis

RNS Number : 3770N

Oxford Biomedica PLC

29 January 2016

 

Oxford BioMedica Announces Initiation of Second CART Programme for Major Pharmaceutical Company

Oxford, UK - 29 January 2016: Oxford BioMedica plc ("Oxford BioMedica" or "the Group") (LSE: OXB), a leading gene and cell therapy group, announces today that the Group has initiated work on a second Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CART) programme for an undisclosed indication. Under an agreement signed with Novartis in October 2014, Oxford BioMedica will undertake process development and manufacturing for the lentiviral vector associated with the new programme.

Oxford BioMedica is currently manufacturing lentiviral vector expressing CTL019 for Novartis and carrying out process development work to establish the next-generation manufacturing process.  The Group also granted Novartis a non-exclusive licence in oncology under the Group's LentiVector^® platform and an exclusive licence for the worldwide development and commercialisation of all CART cell products arising from the process development collaboration. In return, Oxford BioMedica will receive undisclosed royalties on potential future sales of CART products covered by the agreement.

Commenting on the announcement, John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioMedica, said: "We are excited to be providing Novartis with the licence, process development and manufacturing that they require for CTL019 and now for a second CART programme. Oxford BioMedica is recognised as a world leader in the field of lentiviral vectors and we are delighted to be supporting clinical programmes where the need for this type of medical intervention is vital."

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For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc: John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer Tim Watts, Chief Financial Officer	Tel: [phone]
Financial and corporate communications enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal/Chris Welsh/Laura Thornton	Tel: [phone]

Notes for editors

About Oxford BioMedica^®

Oxford BioMedica plc (LSE: OXB) is a leading gene and cell therapy group with an unrivalled portfolio of gene therapy products in development and a platform of exclusive and pioneering technologies with which it designs, develops and manufactures unique gene-based medicines for some of world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Leveraging its proprietary LentiVector^® IP and gene delivery system technology platform and unique tumour antigen (5T4), Oxford BioMedica is advancing its pipeline of seven gene therapy products addressing diseases for which there are currently no treatments or that are inadequately treated today, including ocular and central nervous system disorders. OXB Solutions, the Group's industry-leading manufacturing and development business, provides services to collaborators and partners working in gene and cell therapy, including Novartis and Immune Design Corp.  In addition, the Group has licenced products and IP to Sanofi, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, MolMed, Sigma-Aldrich, Biogen Idec, Emergent BioSolutions and ImaginAb. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk.

 

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