New Technology Developed

Oxford Biomedica PLC
4 December 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/Chris Gardner, HCC.De Facto Group       
Tel: [phone]

NEW LENTIVECTOR(R) TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED  
POSSIBLE WIDE APPLICATIONS FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES

Oxford, UK - 4 December 2000. Oxford BioMedica ('BioMedica' or the 'Company')
announced at a major neurobiology conference this weekend, that it has
developed a new gene delivery technology, based on its Lentivector(R) gene
delivery system. The new version of Lentivector(R) not only delivers genes to
nerve cells or 'neurones' but, as a result of a modification on its outer
surface, transports the genes along the neurone to other parts of the nervous
system. This is the first time this transporting technology has been
demonstrated.

Dr. Nick Mazarakis, Oxford BioMedica's Head of Neurobiology, presented
BioMedica's latest Lentivector(R) technology at the Winter Biotechnology
Conference on 'Therapeutic Opportunities in Neurodegenerative Diseases' held
in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. 

The Company already has a focus on developing therapeutic products for the
treatment of neurological diseases - the Company is currently in preclinical
development with its Lentivector(R) gene therapy product, ProSavin(R), to
treat Parkinson's Disease.   However, the Directors believe this transport
technology has significant implications for the development of treatments for
a wider range of neurological conditions, such as the treatment of motor
neurone diseases.  The technology also opens the way to analyse gene function
in neuro-genomics - the process of elucidating the function of genes specific
to the brain and nervous system - which could provide new commercial
opportunities for BioMedica.

 Commenting on the results, Professor Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's Chief
Executive said:
'These results, presented at one of the top neurobiology meetings in the USA,
are further evidence of BioMedica's ability to develop novel technologies for
unmet medical needs. We believe that the Company's neurodegenerative disease
programme and its neuro-genomics activity is poised for some very exciting
developments.'


Notes to Editors

1. Oxford BioMedica plc
Established in 1995, the Company specialises in the development and
application of gene-based therapeutics and immunotherapeutics for the
treatment of disease in the areas of Oncology, Viral Infection, and
Neurobiology and in gene discovery. Oxford BioMedica plc was floated on the
Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 1996. 

Currently Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Aventis,
AstraZeneca, IDM, Modex Therapeutics, Nycomed Amersham and Virbac. On 6
November 2000 BioMedica reported positive initial results from a Phase I/II
clinical trial of its gene therapy MetXia(R) in late-stage breast cancer
(BC1). MetXia(R) is also in a Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of
ovarian cancer (OC1). A Phase I/II clinical trial of BioMedica's cancer
vaccine TroVax(TM) in colorectal cancer is expected to commence shortly.

2. Lentivirus vector systems for gene transfer to the brain
In gene therapy, the aim is to deliver a gene and its necessary regulatory
elements (the gene construct) to the target cell, using a vector to mediate
the transfer across the cell membrane and, in some cases, into the nucleus.
Vector systems based on lentiviruses offer many advantages and have great
commercial potential. They have similar features to retroviruses in their ease
of manipulation, predictable integration and reliable gene expression and
regulation. They do not take any viral genes into the target cell. 

The main advantage of lentiviruses over retroviruses is the ability to
function in non-dividing cells or cells that are dividing slowly - a feature
of many clinically important tissues including the central and peripheral
nervous system. In contrast to some other gene delivery systems, BioMedica's
retroviral and lentiviral vector systems produce no detectable adverse
inflammatory effects. For therapies requiring delivery of genes to brain
cells, this is an essential requirement. 
 
3.       Neuro-genomics
BioMedica's gene discovery division has developed Smartomics(TM), a
proprietary 'knowledge-based' system using BioMedica's gene delivery systems,
to improve the output of genomic and proteomic screens. The technology works
by selectively amplifying the activity of genes of interest. This makes the
genes easier to identify and it provides more information on their function.
Oxford BioMedica has adapted this technology to identify genes specific to the
diseases of the brain and nervous system.  The Company is calling this
'neuro-genomics'.

The improved screening process allows the rapid identification of a select
group of genes, of which a significant proportion is expected to be relevant
to neurological diseases or processes, such as Alzheimer's disease or
Parkinson's disease. This should provide a faster route to product
development, and products derived from the genes should be patented more
effectively, providing a powerful new route to extracting value from the
genomics field. 

Efficient gene delivery is a key part of Smartomics(TM), and BioMedica's
leading position in gene delivery to cells of the nervous system gives the
Company a particular advantage in this area.
 
4. World Wide Web
This release is also available on the World Wide Web at
http://www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk