ALS Therapy Development Institute and
Oxford
BioMedica Begin Second Phase of Collaboration to Develop Gene Therapies for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
CAMBRIDGE,
Mass. & OXFORD, UK– January 27, 2010
– The ALS Therapy Development Institute and Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB)
announced today the extension of their collaboration following successful
completion of the first phase. The
extended collaboration, which is funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association,
aims to advance the development of Oxford BioMedica’s preclinical gene therapy
candidate, MoNuDin, and to evaluate
other gene-based strategies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
“ALS
is a debilitating disease that takes so many of our best and brightest from us
without warning and without reason. This
collaboration adds yet another important element to our burgeoning drug
development pipeline. Gene therapy is a
crucial, emerging therapeutic option for diseases such as ALS and Oxford
BioMedica has the experience and commitment for excellence needed in a
partner,” said Steven Perrin, Ph.D.,
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of the ALS Therapy
Development Institute (ALS TDI).
The collaboration combines Oxford
BioMedica’s advanced LentiVector® gene delivery technology with the ALS TDI’s
extensive gene expression database and drug screening capabilities. The first
phase of the collaboration included the development of new techniques to
evaluate and identify gene therapy candidates at the ALS TDI’s research
facility in Cambridge.
In this second next phase, the ALS TDI
will conduct preclinical efficacy studies of Oxford BioMedica’s
LentiVector-based product, MoNuDin, which is designed to protect the motor
neurons susceptible to degeneration from ALS by targeted delivery of the
neuroprotective gene, vascular endothelial growth factor. Furthermore, the joint team plans to evaluate
other potentially therapeutic genes that inhibit or regulate specific genetic
pathways associated with disease onset or progression.
Oxford BioMedica‘s Chief Executive
Officer, John Dawson, commented: “The successful completion of the first phase
of the collaboration is testament to the quality of the scientific teams at the
ALS TDI and Oxford
BioMedica. Our LentiVector technology has unique capabilities to deliver genes
safely and efficiently to neuronal cells and our product candidate, MoNuDin,
has shown promising results in preclinical models of ALS. The extension of our
collaboration with the ALS TDI enables us to accelerate MoNuDin’s development
and to explore new disease pathways as potential targets for genetic
intervention. We are delighted to have ongoing support from the Muscular
Dystrophy Association for our collaboration with the ALS TDI, which underscores
our shared goal to develop new treatment options for patients suffering from
ALS.”
The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s
Augie’s Quest Initiative is a major donor to the ALS TDI and provided the
critical funding needed to execute the collaboration between Oxford BioMedica
and the ALS TDI.
Media Contact:
Robert
Goldstein, ALS TDI, rgoldstein@als.net,
617-441-7295