Oxford BioMedica: against COVID-19 ^Company

Entity: Oxford BioMedica

Category: Vaccine Development

Description: Oxford BioMedica is a pioneer of gene and cell therapy, with a leading industry position in lentiviral vector and cell therapy research, development and manufacture. Gene therapy is the treatment of disease by delivering therapeutic DNA into a patient’s cells. This can be either in vivo or ex vivo, the latter encompassing the field of cell therapy whereby genetically modified cells are put back into the body. Their pipeline of seven gene and cell therapy therapy products addresses diseases for which there is currently no treatment or that are inadequately treated today, including ocular and central nervous system disorders. Their product candidates have the potential to transform treatment landscapes. Their strategy is to develop their product candidates to their next value inflection points whilst continuing to build OXB Solutions into a valuable revenue-generating manufacturing and development services business.

Project: Vaccine ChAdOx1 nCov-19

Summary: UK-based gene and cell therapy group Oxford Biomedica has become part of a consortium focussed on the development, scale-up and production of a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine candidate. Led by Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, the consortium involves the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC), Cobra Biologics, Pall Life Sciences and Halix. Vaccine ChAdOx1 nCov-19, studied in a trial in the UK, will assess vaccine candidate’s safety and ability to induce an immune response against the novel coronavirus. Based on ChAdOx1 adenoviral vector technology developed at the Jenner Institute, the vaccine candidate was able to induce a strong immune response from one dose in preclinical and clinical trials to date. The group is a collaboration of the public sector, private sector companies, academia and universities, and the Vaccine Manufacturing Taskforce - building on the UK’s world leading science base and is chaired by Ian McCubbin OBE, former VP for Global Manufacturing and Supply at GlaxoSmithKline. AstraZeneca is also part of the association, as well as BioIndustry Association, and there is a constant dialogue with UKRI.