Oxford, UK – 29 January 2016: Oxford BioMedica plc (“Oxford BioMedica” or “the Group”) (LSE: OXB), a leading gene and cell therapy group, announces today that the Group has initiated work on a second Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CART) programme for an undisclosed indication. Under an agreement signed with Novartis in October 2014, Oxford BioMedica will undertake process development and manufacturing for the lentiviral vector associated with the new programme.
Oxford BioMedica is currently manufacturing lentiviral vector expressing CTL019 for Novartis and carrying out process development work to establish the next-generation manufacturing process. The Group also granted Novartis a non-exclusive licence in oncology under the Group’s LentiVector® platform and an exclusive licence for the worldwide development and commercialisation of all CART cell products arising from the process development collaboration. In return, Oxford BioMedica will receive undisclosed royalties on potential future sales of CART products covered by the agreement.
Commenting on the announcement, John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioMedica, said: “We are excited to be providing Novartis with the licence, process development and manufacturing that they require for CTL019 and now for a second CART programme. Oxford BioMedica is recognised as a world leader in the field of lentiviral vectors and we are delighted to be supporting clinical programmes where the need for this type of medical intervention is vital.”
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