Statement re: product update

Oxford Biomedica PLC
6 June 2002

6 June 2002

OXFORD BIOMEDICA: SUCCESSFUL PRECLINICAL RESULTS FOR NEW ANAEMIA PRODUCT

Oxford, United Kingdom - 6 June 2002. Oxford BioMedica plc (LSE:OXB) 
('BioMedica') announced today that it had added a new product RepoxygenTM, 
to treat anaemia, to its development portfolio. Preclinical data showing that 
the product cured anaemia in mice are being presented by Dr. Katie Binley of 
Oxford BioMedica  at the American Society for Gene Therapy ('ASGT') meeting in 
Boston this week.

Anaemia is a pathological reduction in the number of red blood cells in the
bloodstream leading to the lowering of the ability of the blood to deliver
oxygen to the body.  It is a relatively common condition particularly in
patients with kidney disease and those being treated with AZT for AIDS or
undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The market for the treatment of anaemia is
approximately $2.0 billion and is currently dominated by recombinant
erythropoietin (EPO). However, the use of the recombinant product has some
disadvantages, particularly in determining the accurate dosing level. The data
presented to ASGT show that BioMedica's gene therapy approach has the potential
to solve such problems.

BioMedica has constructed a viral gene delivery vector carrying the human EPO
gene under the control of the Company's hypoxia control element ('HRE'). The HRE
senses low oxygen concentrations and will switch a gene on in response. When the
oxygen concentration returns to normal the HRE will then  switch the gene  off
providing an exquisite control mechanism for the production of EPO in situ.
RepoxygenTM is designed to be delivered by injection into muscle. Here it
produces EPO when the underlying  anaemia results in low systemic oxygen
concentrations. This will lead to the selective increase in the number of red
blood cells, which carry oxygen round the body. As the red blood cell count
reaches normal levels and the systemic oxygen concentration reaches normal
levels, the EPO gene is switched off. No further release of EPO occurs until the
patient becomes anaemic once more and the cycle is repeated. In this way the
product should allow the patient to maintain a normal red blood cell count,
thereby curing the anaemia.

Data presented by Dr. Binley, Principal Scientist at Oxford BioMedica, at the
ASGT meeting shows unequivocally that RepoxygenTM functions exactly as
anticipated and has cured anaemic mice via simple injections into muscle.


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

'This is an exciting product that builds on our core competencies and underlines
our determination to extend BioMedica's product portfolio beyond cancer where we
have already achieved considerable clinical success. The preclinical efficacy
data for RepoxygenTM are excellent and we are considering the clinical
development of the product, probably with a partner.'



For further information, please contact:

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


City/Financial Enquiries
Mike Wort
Beattie Financial
Tel: [phone]

Scientific/Trade Press Enquiries
Chris Gardner,
HCC•De Facto Group
Tel: [phone]



                                     -Ends-

Notes to Editors



1.                   Oxford BioMedica plc


Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the application of gene-based
technology to the development of novel therapeutics. Its three principal
activities are in the fields of gene therapy, immunotherapy and genomics, and
its principal therapeutic areas are in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the
London Stock Exchange in December 1996, and was promoted to the United Kingdom
Listing Authority Official List in April 2001 following a successful £35.5
million fund-raising.

Oxford BioMedica is headquartered in Oxford, UK and has operating centres in
Oxford and San Diego, USA

Currently Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Aventis, IDM,
Nycomed Amersham, Valentis, Virbac and Wyeth. BioMedica has two products in
Phase I/II clinical trials: MetXia(R) for late-stage breast cancer, and TroVax
(R) for late-stage colorectal cancer.



2.                   Hypoxia Response Element

The hypoxia response element (HRE) is a segment of DNA that switches genes on in
low oxygen, a condition found in a variety of diseases including cancer and
cardiovascular disease as well as anaemia. BioMedica has extensive experience
working with the biology of hypoxia responses, and has issued patents covering
the use of HRE. In addition to its application in anaemia, BioMedica is also
using the HRE in a product development programmes for age-related macular
degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

3.                   World Wide Web

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




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