OXFORD BIOMEDICA (OXB): MODERATED CHART AND DISCUSSION THREAD

Oxford Biomedica GSK Lentivector Licence

RNS Number:3841O
Oxford Biomedica PLC
21 December 2006


For immediate release 21 DECEMBER 2006




Oxford BioMedica AND SIGMA-ALDRICH ISSUE JOINT LICENCE FOR LENTIVECTOR(R)
TECHNOLOGY TO GLAXOSMITHKLINE

Oxford, UK - 21 December 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), a leading gene
therapy company, and Sigma-Aldrich, a leading $1.7 billion life science and high
technology company, today announced that they have signed a joint licence
agreement for the LentiVector technology with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which
provides GSK with access to the technology for research activities.
Sigma-Aldrich is Oxford BioMedica's strategic partner and exclusive licensee in
the commercialisation of the LentiVector technology for research use. Financial
details were not disclosed.



Oxford BioMedica's lentivirus-based gene delivery technology, known as
LentiVector, is one of the most powerful technologies for the delivery of genes
to a wide range of cell and tissue types. The LentiVector technology has
applications both in therapeutic products and as a drug discovery tool for
target validation and the creation of targeted disease models. Oxford BioMedica
has a comprehensive portfolio of US and European patents and applications that
cover the technology. The Company has an active licensing programme providing
access to its LentiVector technology on a non-exclusive basis primarily.
Licensees include Biogen Idec, Merck & Co and Pfizer.



Commenting on the news Oxford BioMedica's Senior Vice President Commercial
Development, Peter Nolan, said: "We are delighted to have secured another
licensee for the LentiVector gene delivery technology and we welcome
GlaxoSmithKline to our portfolio of users. The industry is adopting our
technology as the gold standard for various applications in research and drug
discovery. With our strategic partner, Sigma-Aldrich, we are well positioned for
further penetration of the research field with our technology."



Shaf Yousaf, President of the Sigma-Aldrich Research Biotechnology business unit
said: "This is the first joint licensing agreement with Oxford BioMedica and we
expect this to be a model for other such agreements under our strategic
alliance. As market leader in this field, we believe Oxford BioMedica's
LentiVector technology has a substantial commercial opportunity as a research
tool."



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