17 March 2017
Oxford BioDynamics Plc
("OBD" or the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Group")
Oxford BioDynamics announces collaboration to identify biological factors that trigger disease relapses in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Collaboration awarded £2.8 million from the Medical Research Council
Oxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM: OBD), a revenue-generating biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel epigenetic biomarkers for use within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, announces its participation in a collaboration to identify the biological factors that trigger disease relapses, known as flares, in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), entitled the BIO-FLARE study (Biological factors that limit sustained remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis).
Oxford BioDynamics is one of six consortium partners to examine and address why immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) remit and relapse, with a particular focus on RA. The consortium, which consists of three UK universities, one German commercial company, the NHS and Oxford Biodynamics, has been awarded a £2.8 million from the Medical Research Council (MRC).
Around 10 million people in the UK have a form of arthritis, of which almost 700,000 have RA. There is no known cure for the condition, which causes joint pain and swelling, stiffness and fatigue. Without adequate therapy, the average life expectancy for a patient with RA may be shortened by 3-7 years, and those with severe forms of RA may die as much as 10-15 years earlier than expected.1
Oxford BioDynamics' role within the consortium is to use its technology platform, EpiSwitch™, to identify epigenetic biomarkers in a RA patient population that are associated with impending relapse in RA. Any resultant IP generated by Oxford BioDynamics will be retained by the Company with the aim of developing a prognostic test that has the potential to accurately predict patients that are likely to have RA flares.
Christian Hoyer Millar, CEO of Oxford BioDynamics, commented:
"Whilst a considerable amount is understood about RA aetiology and pathogenesis, nothing is known of the factors that trigger disease relapses, changing the disease from an inactive to an active state. We are pleased to be a part of this consortium, working together to gain a greater understanding of the relapsing and remitting aspect of RA. The work we will undertake as part of the BIO-FLARE study has the potential to lead us to the development of an epigenetic-based prognostic test for RA flares, an important unmet medical need."
1 The British Society for Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org.uk
For further details contact:
Oxford BioDynamics Plc +44 (0)1865 518910
Christian Hoyer Millar, CEO
Katie Long, CFO
FTI Consulting +44 (0)20 3727 1000
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Julia Phillips
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Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited +44 (0)20 7710 7600
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Notes for Editors
About Oxford BioDynamics Plc
Oxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM: OBD) ("Oxford BioDynamics") is a revenue‐generating biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel epigenetic biomarkers for use within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
The Company's award-winning, proprietary technology platform, EpiSwitch™, aims to accelerate the drug discovery and development process, improve the success rate of therapeutic product development and take advantage of the increasing importance of personalised medicine.
In particular, EpiSwitch™ can reduce time to market, failure rates and the costs at every stage of drug discovery. Additionally, the technology provides significant insights into disease mechanisms for drug discovery and product re‐positioning programmes, and enables the personalisation of therapeutics for patients in the context of challenging pricing environments where improved clinical outcomes are critical.
Oxford BioDynamics is headquartered in the UK, and listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM under the ticker "OBD". For more information please visit www.oxfordbiodynamics.com.
