Oxford Biomedica PLC OXB and Santen enter R&D collaboration
June 26 2019 - 2:00AM
RNS Non-Regulatory
TIDMOXB
Oxford Biomedica PLC
26 June 2019
Oxford Biomedica and Santen enter R&D collaboration and
Option & Licence Agreement for development of gene therapy
vectors for inherited retinal disease
June 26, 2019, Oxford, UK and Osaka Japan-Oxford Biomedica plc
(LSE:OXB), a leading gene and cell therapy group, and Santen
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Santen), the market leader for
prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in Japan with a global
presence in over 60 countries, today announced that they have
entered into an R&D collaboration and Option & Licence
Agreement to research and develop gene therapy products for the
treatment of an inherited retinal disease. Inherited retinal
diseases are a group of rare disorders caused by one of more than
260 different genes, where mutation results in vision loss or
blindness, often disproportionally affecting children and young
adults(1) .
Inherited retinal diseases are ideal candidates for gene therapy
because many of the responsible genetic mutations have already been
identified. In addition, the eye is a readily accessible organ
conducive to direct delivery of gene therapy vectors to the
diseased tissue. A key advantage with lentiviral vectors is their
ability to deliver large therapeutic genes, which is technically
challenging with other vector systems.
The aim of the R&D collaboration is to generate pre-clinical
proof of concept to treat an inherited retinal disease with
lentiviral vectors developed and manufactured by OXB. The
collaboration includes a licence to use OXB's LentiVector(R)
platform and access to its industrial-scale manufacturing
capabilities. Oxford Biomedica is entitled to an undisclosed
milestone payment on exercise of the option to the LentiVector(R)
platform as well as development milestones and up to a 10% royalty
on net sales. Santen has worldwide commercial rights to the
programme, while OXB retains an option to co-fund and participate
in development and commercialisation in the US and Europe.
John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Biomedica,
said:
"We are delighted to have formed our first collaboration in
Japan. Santen is a leading, multi-national ophthalmology company
developing an innovative gene therapy product for the treatment of
a significant inherited retinal disease affecting patients with few
or no therapy options. We believe that our LentiVector(R) platform
is particularly well-suited to the delivery of large genes to the
eye. We look forward to working together with Santen in a true
parternship that will bring to bear our respective capabilities in
gene therapy vectors and inherited retinal diseases to maximise the
value of this important R&D programme."
Naveed Shams, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Head of
Global R&D at Santen, said :
"We are excited to partner with Oxford Biomedica and leverage
their lentiviral vector platform to develop innovative therapeutics
for an inherited retinal disease. A gene therapy approach to
treating inherited retinal diseases will allow Santen to meet the
needs of patients suffering from inherited retinal dystrophies.
This important collaboration builds on Santen's ongoing research
efforts as part of the CiCLE Programme from the Japan Agency for
Medical Research and Development, and further strengthens our
commitment to addressing challenges in ophthalmic care. "
(1) Source: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes
of Health
Translational Vision & Science Technology
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6052953/
-Ends-
Enquiries:
Oxford Biomedica plc
John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer T: +44 (0)1865 783 000
Stuart Paynter, Chief Financial Officer T: +44 (0)1865 783 000
Catherine Isted, Head of Corporate T: +44 (0)1865 954 161 / E:
Development & IR ir@oxb.com
Sarah MacLeod, Head of Communications T: +44 (0)7747 602 739 / E:
media@oxb.com
Consilium Strategic Communications
(financial PR for OXB) T: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Christopher Hohman, General Manager,
Corporate Communications Group T: +81-6-4802-9360 / E: ir@santen.com
Notes to editors
About Santen
As a specialised company dedicated to ophthalmology, Santen
carries out research, development, marketing and sales of
pharmacecuticals, over-the-counter products, and medical devices.
Santen is the market leader for prescription ophthalmic
pharmaceuticals in Japan and its products now reach patients in
over 60 countries. With scientific knowledge and organisational
capabilities nurtured over a nearly 130-year history, Santen
provides products and services to contribute to the well-being of
patients, their loved ones and consequently to society. For more
information, visit www.santen.com.
About Oxford Biomedica
Oxford Biomedica (LSE:OXB) is a leading gene and cell therapy
group focused on developing life changing treatments for serious
diseases. Oxford Biomedica and its subsidiaries (the "Group") have
built a sector leading lentiviral vector delivery platform
(LentiVector(R) ), which the Group leverages to develop in vivo and
ex vivo products both in-house and with partners. The Group has
created a valuable proprietary portfolio of gene and cell therapy
product candidates in the areas of oncology, ophthalmology and CNS
disorders. The Group has also entered into a number of
partnerships, including with Novartis, Sanofi, Axovant Gene
Therapies, Orchard Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, the UK
Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium and Imperial Innovations,
through which it has long-term economic interests in other
potential gene and cell therapy products. Oxford Biomedica is based
across several locations in Oxfordshire, UK and employs more than
430 people. For more information, visit www.oxb.com
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END
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