Product Update

Oxford Biomedica PLC
15 December 2003

Embargoed until 00.01 on 15 December 2003





                 OXFORD BIOMEDICA PRESENTS PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE DATA
FOR ITS INNUREXTM NERVE REPAIR PROGRAMME AT THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON
                                NEURAL REGENERATION



Oxford, UK: 15 December 2003 - Oxford BioMedica announced today that interim
preclinical data from the InnurexTM nerve repair programme are being presented
by Prof. Malcolm Maden of King's College London at the 10th International
Symposium on Neural Regeneration which is being held at the Asilomar Conference
Center, Pacific Grove, California.  The data, which will shortly be sent for
peer-reviewed publication, show that InnurexTM is able to induce nerve re-growth
at the site of injury in a model of nerve damage. These results strongly support
the technical principle of InnurexTM, which is designed for nerve repair and the
treatment of spinal injury.



Within the field of neurobiology nerve repair has been a long sought goal for
the treatment of nerve damage and spinal injury. The aim is to induce nerve
cells to regrow and bridge sites of injury thereby reconnecting the nerve fibres
and restoring function. Results obtained to date by other groups based on
different mechanisms of nerve repair have shown only inefficient induction of
regrowth of nerves and very limited restoration of function.



InnurexTM is a product comprising Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector delivery system
carrying the RAR B2 gene. The Company acquired exclusive rights to the RAR B2 
gene from King's College London where the initial observation that this gene 
could programme nerve cells to regrow in vitro was made. The new data are the 
first in vivo data to come from the InnurexTM programme and they indicate that 
InnurexTM has the potential to be a first-in-class product for nerve repair.


Commenting on the results Prof. Maden said 'The combination of the RAR B2
gene and the very efficient LentiVector delivery system has produced a high
level of axon (nerve) regrowth. There is every chance that this is enough for
restoration of function to damaged nerves and the Company should have functional
data shortly'.



Prof. Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive said 'The InnurexTM
programme has gone from initial observation to proof of principle in a good
animal model in less than two years. This is a remarkable achievement by the
King's team and the Oxford BioMedica staff. InnurexTM is on course for clinical
development within the next 12 months'.





-Ends-


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]




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
approximately 70 patent families.



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. A further Phase II trial in Renal cancer is
awaiting final approval in the US, having already received approval from the
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC). Further Phase II trials are planned
for colorectal and breast 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 is awaiting final
approval to start further clinical trials in pancreatic cancer, having already
received approval from the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC).



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



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





2. King's College London


King's is one of the oldest and largest colleges of the University of London
with some 13,400 undergraduate students and some 5,000 postgraduates in ten
schools of study.  The College had 24 of its subject-areas awarded the highest
rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an
international level.  It is in the top group of five universities for research
earnings and has an annual turnover of £320 million and research income from
grants and contracts of some £90 million
(2001-2002). King's is a member of the Russell Group, a coalition of the UK's
major research-based universities.


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