News / 15 December 2003

Oxford BioMedica Presents Proof-of-Principle Data for its Innurex™ Nerve Repair Programme at the 10th International Symposium on Neural Regeneration

Oxford BioMedica announced today that interim preclinical data from the Innurex™ nerve repair programme are being presented by Prof. Malcolm Maden of King's College London at the 10th International Symposium on Neural Regeneration which is being held at the Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California. The data, which will shortly be sent for peer-reviewed publication, show that Innurex™ is able to induce nerve regrowth at the site of injury in a model of nerve damage. These results strongly support the technical principle of Innurex™, which is designed for nerve repair and the treatment of spinal injury.

Within the field of neurobiology nerve repair has been a long sought goal for the treatment of nerve damage and spinal injury. The aim is to induce nerve cells to regrow and bridge sites of injury thereby reconnecting the nerve fibres and restoring function. Results obtained to date by other groups based on different mechanisms of nerve repair have shown only inefficient induction of regrowth of nerves and very limited restoration of function.

Innurex™ is a product comprising Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector delivery system carrying the RARß2 gene. The Company acquired exclusive rights to the RARß2 gene from King's College London where the initial observation that this gene could programme nerve cells to regrow in vitro was made. The new data are the first in vivo data to come from the Innurex™ programme and they indicate that Innurex™ has the potential to be a first-in-class product for nerve repair.

Commenting on the results Prof. Maden said "The combination of the RARß2 gene and the very efficient LentiVector delivery system has produced a high level of axon (nerve) regrowth. There is every chance that this is enough for restoration of function to damaged nerves and the Company should have functional data shortly".

Prof. Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Executive said "The Innurex™ programme has gone from initial observation to proof of principle in a good animal model in less than two years. This is a remarkable achievement by the King's team and the Oxford BioMedica staff. Innurex™ is on course for clinical development within the next 12 months".