Paul Durrands Appointed as Commercial Director

Oxford Biomedica PLC
21 March 2000



For further information, please contact:       

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

City/Financial Enquiries:
David Simonson/Melanie Toyne Sewell
Merlin Financial Communications                  Tel: [phone]

Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:
Sue Charles/Sarah Pattinson, HCC De Facto Group  Tel:  [phone]


OXFORD BIOMEDICA APPOINTMENT OF 
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Oxford, UK - 21 March 2000: Oxford BioMedica is pleased to announce that Dr
Paul Kenneth Durrands has agreed to join to the Board of Oxford BioMedica as
Commercial Director with special responsibility for new corporate
opportunities. 

Paul (37) trained as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand and has a
PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Bath. After qualifying as an
accountant he joined BOC's distribution division for 5 years in which time he
was involved in two acquisitions and was instrumental in winning several major
contracts. He subsequently spent 3 years as Group Finance Director for the Pig
Improvement Company (PIC), a division of Dalgety, during which time his
combination of technical and financial expertise enabled him to integrate the
newly acquired business of the National Pig Development Company. Paul was
closely involved in the expansion of PIC into Asia and Central Europe and in
two acquisitions in Canada and Brazil. In his most recent role as Finance
Director of the joint venture between Yoplait and Dairy Crest (YDC), Paul has
been working on the strategy and integration of the Raines Dairy Foods
business acquired by YDC prior to his appointment in 1998.

Commenting on the appointment, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive, Professor
Alan Kingsman said:

'We are delighted to have attracted someone of Paul's calibre to BioMedica.
His strong commercial background combined with his scientific experience and
his proven track record in implementing mergers and acquisitions in both the
UK and abroad will be major assets for the Company as it moves into a new era
of corporate development'.

Background Information

1. Oxford BioMedica: Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the
development and application of gene-based therapeutics using advanced gene
delivery technologies for the treatment of disease in the areas of oncology,
viral infection and neurodegenerative disease. Oxford BioMedica plc was
floated on the UK Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange
in December 1996.

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