Oxford BioMedica–United Kingdom (govt): grant, 201811 Innovate UK grant £2m to support digitallisation of gene/cell therapy production

	Period	2018-11-23
	Region	United Kingdom (GB)
	Money taker	Oxford Biomedica plc (LSE: OXB)
	Group	Oxford Biomedica (Group)
	Money source	Innovate UK
	Group	United Kingdom (GB) (govt)
	Product	contract manufacturing (biologicals)
	Product 2	business development (state/region)

Oxford Biomedica plc. (11/23/18). "Press Release: Oxford BioMedica Announces New Digital Framework Initiative to Streamline the Production of Next-generation Medicines with Cash Injection from Innovate UK". Oxford.

Oxford BioMedica plc (“OXB” or “the Group”), a leading gene and cell therapy group, today announces the formation of a new digital framework initiative to streamline the production of next-generation medicines.

OXB will invest a total of £4 million, supported by a £2 million grant from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, in building digital and robotics capabilities that are designed to drive improvements in analytical methodology, supply times and cost of goods. The goal is to increase capacity, reduce the cost of manufacturing and reduce waste.

The aims of the project are aligned with the UK Government’s Life Sciences Sector Deal to help ensure that the next wave of breakthrough treatments, innovative medical research and technologies, and high skill jobs are created in Britain.

OXB is committed to investing in the UK and has recently announced the expansion of its manufacturing capacity to create an additional 82,398 sqft facility near its headquarters in Oxford. This new facility secures Oxford as a bioprocessing centre for OXB and will create up to 100 new, highly skilled positions at the Group over the next two years.

John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioMedica, commented: “With demand for advanced therapy medicinal products expected to grow at unprecedented levels, underlined by the interest received from our current and future potential partners at OXB, it is imperative that we continue to invest in our technology, capacity and innovation.

“This new initiative will provide us with digital and robotic enhancements to maintain our global leading position in the development and manufacture of lentiviral vector products. This is important for our own R&D pipeline as well as for our blue-chip partners as we continue to support the delivery of life-altering gene therapies to patients around the world.”

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Notes to editors

About Oxford BioMedica

Oxford BioMedica (LSE:OXB) is a leading gene and cell therapy group focused on developing life changing treatments for serious diseases. Oxford BioMedica and its subsidiaries (the "Group") have built a sector leading lentiviral vector delivery platform (LentiVector®), which the Group leverages to develop in vivo and ex vivo products both in-house and with partners. The Group has created a valuable proprietary portfolio of gene and cell therapy product candidates in the areas of oncology, ophthalmology and CNS disorders. The Group has also entered into a number of partnerships, including with Novartis, Bioverativ, Sanofi, Axovant, Orchard Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim/UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium/Imperial Innovations, GC LabCell and Immune Design, through which it has long-term economic interests in other potential gene and cell therapy products. Oxford BioMedica is based across several locations in Oxfordshire, UK and employs more than 320 people. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk.

For further information please contact

Oxford BioMedica plc
John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer
Stuart Paynter, Chief Financial Officer
Sarah MacLeod, Head of Communications
Tel: +44 (0)1865 783 000

Financial and corporate communications enquiries:
Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal/Olivia Manser/Laura Thornton
Tel: +44 (0)20 3709 5700