Oxford BioMedica had been awarded a grant of more than £900,000 to support its immunotherapy programme
The award was made in February 2003 by the UK Department of Trade and Industry under the pan-European Eureka initiative.
Oxford BioMedica received the award following its recently announced collaboration with Intervet SA to develop TroVax-VET for the treatment of cancer in companion animals.
The grant is to support Oxford BioMedica's development of a broad range of applications for 5T4, its proprietary tumour-associated antigen.
5T4 is the active immunogenic component of the company's lead cancer product TroVax, which is entering a number of Phase II clinical trials this year.
In addition, an antibody against 5T4 is the subject of Oxford BioMedica's immunotoxin collaboration with Wyeth, a deal worth $24 million in upfront and milestone payments.
Eureka is a pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R+D.
Eureka supports the competitiveness of European companies through international collaboration, in creating links and networks of innovation.
The objective is to bring high quality research and development efforts to the market and to use the multiplying effects of co-operation.
The aim is to advance and improve the quality of life.
Commenting on the award of this grant, Oxford BioMedica's CEO, professor Alan Kingsman said: "It is particularly pleasing to receive a substantial grant from the DTI following substantial peer review of our technology and product rationale.
"This provides a very strong external endorsement of the technical and commercial potential of BioMedica's immunotherapy programme."
