Oxford, UK & London, UK– 29 November 2016: Oxford BioMedica plc (“Oxford BioMedica” or “the Group”) (LSE: OXB), a leading gene and cell therapy group, today announces it has entered into a strategic alliance with Orchard Therapeutics (“Orchard”), a biotechnology company dedicated to bringing transformative ex-vivo stem cell based gene therapies to patients with serious and life-threa tening orphan diseases.
As part of the agreement the Group will develop and supply lentiviral vectors used by Orchard for the manufacture of ex-vivo gene therapy products in primary immune deficiency disorders and inherited metabolic disorders, including adenosine deaminase severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID), Mucopolysaccharidosis-IIIA (MPS-IIIA or Sanfilippo Syndrome type A) and undisclosed follow-on indications. Orchard will lead the global clinical development and commercialisation of collaboration programmes in Europe, the United States and in other regions.
Under the terms of the collaboration and licence agreement, Oxford BioMedica will receive a 1.95% equity stake in Orchard and will be entitled to royalties on future sales of products covered by the collaboration. The Group will provide process development services and manufacture clinical and commercial GMP-grade lentiviral vectors for Orchard. The process development arrangements include performance-related incentives through which Oxford BioMedica could receive a further 1.95% equity stake in Orchard. The Group has also granted an exclusive intellectual property licence to Orchard for collaboration programmes.
John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioMedica, commented: “We are delighted to initiate a Strategic Alliance with Orchard Therapeutics and look forward to working with them to develop and launch much needed treatments for patients in desperate need of better treatment options. The alliance combines Oxford BioMedica’s world-leading capabilities in lentiviral vector process development and bioprocessing expertise with Orchard’s expertise in the development and commercialisation of gene therapies for orphan diseases. This further demonstrates Oxford BioMedica’s position as a “go to” partner for companies and academic institutions working with lentiviral vector based products.”
Stewart Craig, Chief Manufacturing Officer of Orchard Therapeutics Ltd., commented: “Orchard is a leader in bringing transformative gene therapies to patients with serious and life threatening orphan diseases. This alliance with Oxford BioMedica represents a key element of the supply chain for manufacture of our ex vivo gene-modified stem cell products. We expect that Oxford BioMedica’s expertise in the development and manufacture of lentiviral vectors, along with their proven experience of working with global pharma companies will accelerate our ability to potentially address a series of devastating genetic diseases. We are excited about the potential for this alliance to deliver real patient benefits.”
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