Exclusive access to antibody technology

The antibody technology covers the general concept of genetic delivery of antibodies for use in the treatment of a wide range of diseases including cancer.

It complements technology that BioMedica has developed in-house, aimed at developing gene-based products to create, in a patient, a cellular factory that produces therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.

Antibodies are a key component of the immune response to disease, and increasingly, pharmaceutical companies are developing therapies using externally delivered antibodies targeted at specific diseases.

Important new drugs such as Genentech/Roche's Herceptin for breast cancer and Rituxan for lymphoma, and American Home Products's Mylotarg for leukaemia are already being sold on the market, and other new products are being developed.

The new gene-based technology being developed by Oxford BioMedica is designed to circumvent some of the problems, particularly related to manufacture and delivery of antibodies, that have been associated with the development of therapeutic antibodies.

If successful, it should lead to an increase in the number of new antibody products and should be applicable in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, inflammation or infectious diseases.

Commenting on this agreement Alan Kingsman, chief executive of Oxford BioMedica said: "We are delighted to have established a link with CNRS and the University of Montpellier.

"BioMedica is already active in immunotherapy and has commercial alliances with American Home Products and Nycomed Amersham in the antibody field.

"This agreement further strengthens the company's commercial position in gene-based antibody technology."