Re Joint Venture

Oxford Biomedica PLC
28 August 2003


28 August 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]



CANCER RESEARCH UK SUPPORTS ADDITIONAL TROVAX PHASE II TRIAL IN COLORECTAL
CANCER


Oxford, UK: 28 August 2003 - Oxford BioMedica announced today that Cancer
Research UK has agreed to conduct and sponsor an open label Phase II trial with
Oxford BioMedica's leading cancer immunotherapy product, TroVax(R), in
colorectal cancer patients who have liver metastases. The decision by Cancer
Research UK follows extensive review of the successful Phase I/II data of TroVax
in colorectal cancer patients.  This study is in addition to the two ongoing
Phase II trials with TroVax in colorectal cancer alongside chemotherapy, and the
planned trials in renal and breast cancer.


The patient population in the Cancer Research UK Phase II trial will comprise
twenty Stage IV colorectal cancer patients who are to undergo surgery for
resectable liver metastases. Patients will receive injections of TroVax followed
by surgery approximately two weeks later.  Biopsies of the tumour will be taken
at surgery and analysed for TroVax stimulated immune activity. Further
vaccinations will be given after surgery. Patients' management will then
continue as standard, usually including adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients will be
followed after the final vaccination to assess immune responses and toxicity and
then monitored over the longer term for clinical benefit.



Commenting on the announcement, Oxford BioMedica's chief executive, Professor
Alan Kingsman said, 'Cancer Research UK is one of the world's leading cancer
research organisations and is committed to the development of better cancer
treatments for patients. Their involvement in this project provides further
validation of Oxford BioMedica's advanced cancer immunotherapeutic'



Ends-



Notes to editors



1.   Oxford BioMedica



Based in Oxford, UK, Oxford BioMedica is a biopharmaceutical company
specialising in the development of novel gene-based therapeutics for the
treatment of cancer, neuro-degenerative disease and other disorders with major
unmet clinical needs. The Company was established in 1995 as a spin out from
Oxford University, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.



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. The
Company is underpinned by an extensive preclinical and research portfolio and
over 70 patent families, about quarter of which are issued.



TroVax(R), which is Oxford BioMedica's lead cancer immunotherapy product, is in
Phase II trials for colorectal cancer (see below). MetXia(R) is Oxford
BioMedica's lead gene-based cancer therapeutic. The product is based on a highly
engineered retrovirus gene delivery system expressing a specific human
cytochrome P450 gene. MetXia converts the tumour into a 'drug factory', enabling
increased local production of the anti-tumour, cytotoxic derivative of the
pro-drug cyclophosphamide. MetXia is potentially useful in the treatment of all
solid tumours and their metastases, particularly those where cyclophosphamide is
commonly used. MetXia is being investigated in a Phase I/II trial in breast
cancer, and regulatory submissions are under review for trials in pancreactic
cancer.



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



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



2.   TroVax



TroVax is Oxford BioMedica's leading cancer immunotherapy product. It is
designed specifically to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response and has
potential application in most solid tumour types. TroVax targets the tumour
antigen 5T4, which is broadly distributed throughout a wide range of solid
tumours. The presence of 5T4 is correlated with poor prognosis. The product
consists of a poxvirus (MVA) gene transfer system, which delivers the gene for
5T4 and stimulates a patient's body to produce an anti-5T4 immune response. This
immune response destroys tumour cells carrying the 5T4 protein.



Two Phase I/II trials with TroVax have been completed in the UK in late-stage
colorectal cancer patients. Following these successful Phase I/II trials, TroVax
has entered two Phase II trials in Stage IV colorectal cancer patients receiving
5FU plus either oxaliplatin or irinotecan. The product is also on target to
enter further trials in colorectal, renal and breast cancer. The renal and
breast cancer trials are to be conducted in the United States under an
Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Data from the first TroVax Phase II
trial is expected to be available by the end of 2003, in readiness for Phase III
trials in colorectal cancer.



3. Cancer Research UK



Cancer Research UK began operating on 4 February 2002 as a result of the merger
between The Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its
vision is to conquer cancer through world-class research. It is the largest
volunteer-supported cancer research organisation in the world with a dedicated
team of 3,000 scientists and an annual scientific spend of more than £176
million. Its objectives, amongst others, are to: carry out world class research
into cancer; develop better treatments for cancer patients; improve the quality
of life of cancer patients; reduce the number of people getting cancer; improve
training and support of cancer research workers; and provide authoritative
information and advocacy on cancer.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange