Research Update

Oxford Biomedica PLC
27 November 2003




For immediate release                                               2003/OB/21

                                                              27 November 2003
For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc
                                                              
Professor Alan Kingsman, Chief Executive                Tel: [phone]
City/Financial Enquiries:

Mike Wort, James Chandler: Beattie Financial            Tel: [phone]
Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries:

Sue Charles, Katja Stout: Northbank Communications      Tel: [phone]



OXFORD BIOMEDICA SECURES FUNDING FROM THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS FOR ITS
                      RETINOSTATTM PRODUCT FOR VISION-LOSS



Oxford, UK: 27 November 2003 - Oxford BioMedica announced today that the US
non-profit organisation, The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), has agreed to
fund preclinical proof-of-principle studies for the Company's vision-loss
product RetinoStatTM. The product is comprised of Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector
gene delivery system expressing an angiostatic gene under the control of its
proprietary gene switch that promotes gene expression specifically in ischaemic
(low oxygen) ocular tissue. The preclinical studies will be carried out at the
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, under the
direction of one of the world's leading clinical ophthalmologists, Prof Peter
Campochiaro. Data from these studies will be pivotal to moving the product into
clinical trials and will also provide the Company with a powerful marketing
package with which to attract partners.



Prof Campochiaro is a world leader in the development of preclinical models for
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of vision-loss in
the developed world.  These preclinical models will be used to help define the
safety and efficacy of RetinoStatTM. Prof Campochiaro has shown already that
endostatin, the angiostatic gene in RetinoStatTM, is effective in treating
choroidal neovascularisation, the major cause for severe vision-loss in patients
with AMD.


Commenting on the news, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive, Prof Alan Kingsman
said 'We are delighted to be working alongside the FFB who have unrivalled
expertise in facilitating the development of novel products for vision-loss.
Support from the FFB will help RetinoStatTM   move more quickly towards clinical
evaluation. RetinoStatTM is the fourth product in Oxford BioMedica's pipeline
that has achieved financial backing from independent expert research
organisations'.


Dr Gerald J. Chader, Chief Scientific Officer of the FFB commented 'The urgent
mission of the FFB is to prevent, treat or cure retinal degenerations such as
AMD. For this purpose, we seek collaborations with the best biopharmaceutical
companies. With its excellent leadership, innovative technology and clinical
trial experience in the cancer field, Oxford BioMedica is certainly such a
company. Most importantly, because of its novel vector, gene cargo and response
element used to control gene expression, RetinoStatTM has all the
characteristics of a successful angiostatic product.'



-Ends-


Notes to editors


1.   Oxford BioMedica


Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the
development of gene-based products for a range of unmet medical needs with an
emphasis on new cancer products, which combine novel mechanisms of action with
very low side effects, and innovative neurotherapy products, which address large
and, in several areas, untapped markets. The products are all protected by
multiple patents comprising a total intellectual property portfolio of some 69
patent families, which represents one of the broadest patent estates in the
field.


In addition to its technical research skill-base, Oxford BioMedica has in-house
clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how. The development pipeline
includes two novel anti-cancer products in clinical trials and a gene-based
treatment for Parkinson's disease, which is in late preclinical studies.


TroVax(R), Oxford BioMedica's lead cancer immunotherapy product, is in Phase II
trials for colorectal cancer. Further Phase II trials are planned for breast and
renal cancer. MetXia(R), Oxford BioMedica's lead gene-based cancer therapeutic,
is based on a highly engineered retrovirus gene delivery system expressing a
specific human cytochrome P450 gene. MetXia is being investigated in a Phase I/
II trial in breast cancer, and regulatory submissions are under review for
trials in pancreatic cancer.


Oxford BioMedica has a wholly owned subsidiary in San Diego, USA. Oxford
BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Wyeth, Intervet, Amersham, Arius
Research, Kiadis and Viragen.


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


2.   RetinoStatTM for Vision-Loss


The main causes of vision-loss in the developed world are age-related macular
degeneration ('AMD') and diabetic retinopathy ('DR'). These conditions affect
approximately 30 million people in the US and Europe and the market potential is
in excess of $1.0 billion. In both AMD and DR, blindness is caused by the
defective formation of new blood vessels in the retina. In AMD, new blood
vessels extend from the inner retina beyond the inner limiting membrane, which
leads to haemorrhaging and distortion of the specific area of the retinal
surface responsible for sharp, central vision. In DR, a similar process occurs
however, the new blood vessels appear on the vitreous surface of the retina
causing excessive accumulation of fluid or 'oedema', which blurs vision and
causes retinal haemorrhage.


RetinoStatTM is designed to halt this aberrant growth of blood vessels and
prevent it recurring. The current treatments for AMD and DR tend only to slow
the diseases' progression. RetinoStatTM comprises a LentiVector gene delivery
system expressing an angiostatic gene under the control of Oxford BioMedica's
Hypoxia Response Element, which promotes gene expression under low oxygen
conditions. The Company has an exclusive licence to use EntreMed's proprietary
angiostatic proteins, endostatin and angiostatin, for the treatment of ocular
diseases via localised gene delivery. Endostatin and angiostatin both target
multiple stages of the angiogenesis process, specifically targeting aberrant
blood vessels, leaving normal vessels unaffected.


3.   Foundation Fighting Blindness


The Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.blindness.org) is the largest
non-governmental source of funding for retinal degenerative disease research in
the world. The Foundation funds more than 150 research projects at more than 55
prominent institutions around the world. With an 'A' rating, The Foundation
Fighting Blindness (FFB) is ranked as a 'Top-Rated' charity by the American
Institute of Philanthropy.


4.       The Wilmer Eye Institute


Named after William Holland Wilmer, M.D., who in 1925 left his Washington, D.C.,
practice to establish a comprehensive eye center at Johns Hopkins, the Wilmer
Eye Institute is home to faculty who are credited with the development of one of
the original argon lasers used to halt vision loss caused by diabetes,
age-related macular degeneration and other diseases; showing that blindness in
premature infants could be prevented by reducing excess oxygen in incubators;
perfecting extended-wear contact lenses and pioneering the specialty of
neuro-ophthalmology as well as establishing the country's first centers for
genetic eye disease and preventive ophthalmology.  Wilmer has been ranked as the
country's #1 eye department by US News & World Report and Ophthalmology Times
magazines, and has the highest level of funding from the National Eye Institute
of any ophthalmology department in the US.






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