Oxford BioMedica – TroVax Clinical Trial PR and Website

Oxford BioMedica is a UK-listed biotech company developing gene-based therapeutics primarily for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The Company's lead product, TroVax, is a novel therapeutic cancer vaccine with potential application in most solid tumour types. Oxford BioMedica began recruiting into a Phase III clinical trial of TroVax in kidney cancer in November 2006. The TRIST trial will recruit 700 patients with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma from 120 centres in 10 countries. The Company is aiming for registration of TroVax in USA and Europe in 2009.

Our task:

• Raise profile of the Company as a leader operating in the field of cancer vaccines
• Support partnering discussions by raising profile via trade and national media
• Raise awareness of TRIST trial amongst clinicians, patients and support groups in order to support trial recruitment

Our methods:

• Ensure journalists and trade press were aware of product and its progression by following up news announcements throughout 2006
• Liaise with clinicians to secure their commitment to talk to media around the trial commencement announcement
• Edit announcements and create additional media-briefing material
• Update website and create new section focused on trial for patients and clinicians (www.trovax.co.uk)

Results:

• Secured news piece on forthcoming Phase III trials in The Observer and coverage in BioCentury, Scrip, Pharmafocus, PharmaMarketletter
• Start of Phase III trial, in conjunction with Phase II data reported in Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express, and Manchester Evening News.
• Follow-up pieces featured on radio and websites around the world including in Spain, Poland, Greece, India, Japan and Vietnam.
• Oxford BioMedica signed a global licensing agreement with sanofi-aventis in March 2007 to develop and commercialise TroVax for the treatment of cancer.

Client Endorsement:

Dr Mike McDonald, Oxford BioMedica's Chief Medical Officer said: "Northbank has helped to boost the profile of our Phase III trial of TroVax in patients with renal cancer. We now have over 40 centres recruiting patients at sites in the USA, European Union, Russia and Ukraine, amongst others. The TRIST study is the first definitive survival trial of our novel cancer immunotherapy product candidate, TroVax, which could provide a safe and effective treatment option for cancer patients. Northbank assisted in constructing the TRIST website together with the production of educational and promotional material, which are proving valuable tools for the rapid recruitment of patients into the trial."

November 2006

To discuss our capability in this area please contact:
Katja Stout, Partner, Life Sciences
+44 (0)20 7457 2020
katja.stout[at]collegehill.com

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