Sigma-Aldrich to market Oxford BioMedica’s gene technology

Sigma-Aldrich will commercialize the technology for the reagent and research tool market, becoming Oxford BioMedica’s exclusive global partner in the development and marketing of research products based on the LentiVector technology. Sigma-Aldrich plans to develop a range of high value LentiVector research products for its customer base in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic sectors.

Under the agreement, which gives Sigma-Aldrich the exclusive right to sublicense the technology for research purposes, Oxford BioMedica will receive an upfront payment, annual minimum payments and royalties on sales. In addition Sigma-Aldrich has first rights to negotiate for a license to develop a new range of products based on Oxford BioMedica’s EIAV-based LentiVector technology.

Furthermore, Sigma-Aldrich has committed to an equity investment of $5 million in Oxford BioMedica, to be completed before 31 January, 2006. Other financial terms were not disclosed.

Oxford BioMedica’s lentivirus-based gene delivery technology, known as LentiVector, is described as one of the most powerful technologies for the delivery of genes to a wide range of cell and tissue types. The LentiVector technology has applications both in therapeutic products and as a drug discovery tool for target validation and the creation of targeted disease models.