Oxford and Sigma license LentiVector to US biotech major

UK biopharmaceutical firm Oxford BioMedica, a specialist in the field of gene therapy, and US life science research group Sigma-Aldrich have signed a joint license agreement for the former's LentiVector technology with an unnamed major US biotechnology company. Sigma is Oxford's exclusive licensee and commercialization partner for application of the LentiVector system in clinical research. Financial terms of the deal were not made public.

Oxford BioMedica's senior vice president of commercial development, Peter Nolan, said: "we are delighted to have secured another licensee for the LentiVector technology." Established licensees include Biogen Idec, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co and Pfizer.

Mr Nolan added that "with [BioMedica's] strategic partner, Sigma-Aldrich, we believe that the technology has significant commercial potential as a research tool, which is in addition to its application in gene-based therapies."