OXFORD, UK, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford GlycoSciences Plc
(LSE: OGS, Nasdaq: OGSI) today announced that its Marketing Authorisation
Application ("MAA") for Vevesca(TM) (OGT 918) for the oral treatment of type 1
Gaucher disease has been submitted to the European Agency for the Evaluation
of Medicinal Products ("EMEA") and accepted for review.  The submission
includes data on the use of Vevesca (OGT 918) as oral monotherapy, in
combination with Cerezyme (R) and switch/maintenance after Cerezyme(R).  The
Company confirmed that it is currently submitting its New Drug Application
("NDA") to the US Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") as a Step-Wise
submission (Rolling NDA).  This began in March 2001, and the Company expects
to complete this submission in the coming weeks.
    Dr Chris Moyses, Clinical and Development Director of OGS, said, "Vevesca
(OGT 918) has been developed in an international programme involving leaders
in the clinical investigation of glycolipid storage disorders.  The package
contains data on 82 patients in three separate studies in type 1 Gaucher
disease and additional safety data collected on more than 200 patients in the
USA in other indications.  OGS plans a series of presentations and
publications on the data in the autumn."
    Michael Kranda, Chief Executive Officer of OGS, commented, "We are
extremely pleased to have hit our deadline.  I am very proud of the team's
work, which has elevated us into the elite group of biotech companies that
have submitted a drug for regulatory approval."

    Notes to Editors
    OGS has developed a proprietary technology platform in the emerging field
of proteomics, the comprehensive study of proteins, integrating proteomics
with genomics to create an innovative drug discovery platform.  OGS'
proteomics collaborations with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies include Bayer, Pioneer Hi-Bred/DuPont, Medarex, GlaxoSmithKline, and
Pfizer.  OGS has technology development collaborations with Applera, Cambridge
Antibody Technology and Packard BioScience.
    OGS recently announced a joint venture with Marconi plc, called
Confirmant.  Confirmant will provide broadband managed hosting facilities to
biotech companies and will market OGS' proteomics databases, notably the
Protein Atlas of the Human Genome(TM).  OGS also recently announced a high
throughput "targets to leads" collaboration with NeoGenesis Inc., of
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
    OGS has drug research discovery programmes in cancer, infectious disease
and glycosphingolipid ("GSL") storage disorders.

    Gaucher disease
    Gaucher disease is a GSL storage disorder in which individuals have a
specific genetic abnormality (enzyme defect) in their metabolism that leads to
accumulation of un-metabolised material in tissues within structures known as
lysosomes.  This disease is sometimes referred to as a lysosomal storage
disease.  Gaucher disease causes a range of debilitating symptoms and in some
cases premature death.

    Treating glycolipid storage diseases with Vevesca
    Vevesca (OGT 918) has a novel mode of action as an oral inhibitor of
glucosylceramide synthase, a key enzyme involved in GSL biosynthesis.  The
rationale for the use of Vevesca (OGT 918) is to help balance the overall
level of GSLs by inhibiting the production or synthesis of GSLs.  A wide
variety of preclinical studies have demonstrated that Vevesca (OGT 918)
provides an effective control over the rate of GSL synthesis.

    Orphan Drug Designation for Vevesca (OGT 918)
    In the European Union (EU), Vevesca (OGT 918) has been designated as an
Orphan Medicinal Product for the treatment of Gaucher disease by the European
Commission.  Designation of Vevesca (OGT 918) as an Orphan product in the EU
allows direct access into the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal
Products' Centralised Procedure for Marketing Authorisation Application and
may provide for a partial or total application fees waiver.  Also, the
designation allows for a ten-year marketing exclusivity period in the EU,
following approval of Vevesca (OGT 918).

    Fast Track Designation for Vevesca (OGT 918)
    Fast Track designation is granted by the FDA to potential new drugs in
order to facilitate their development and expedite subsequent regulatory
review of compounds that are intended to treat serious or life threatening
conditions, and that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs.
The US FDA policy 21 CFR 314.106b specifically covers the use of foreign data
as the sole basis for approval and this has been successfully achieved for a
variety of products since the early 1990s, e.g. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical
Haldol(R)(haloperidol decanoate).

    Miglustat is the proposed INN (International Non-proprietary Name) for
Vevesca (OGT 918).

    Cerezyme (R) is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corp.

    This release contains forward-looking statements, such as OGS' plan to
complete its NDA filing for Vevesca (OGT 918), the preparations for marketing
of Vevesca (OGT 918) once approved and Vevesca (OGT 918) providing effective
control over the rate of GSL synthesis.  Factors that could cause actual
results to vary significantly from those expressed or implied by these and
other forward-looking statements include the success of other trials and
research involving Vevesca (OGT 918), acceptance by the scientific and medical
communities of OGS' conclusions as to the results of trials, the validity of
the technologies and medical conclusions on which Vevesca (OGT 918) is based
and uncertainties related to the regulatory process.  Vevesca (OGT 918) is an
investigational drug and has not received approval for marketing in any
country.

     Oxford GlycoSciences Plc
     Michael Kranda, Chief Executive Officer
     Dr Chris Moyses, Clinical and Development Director
     Dr Stephen Parker, Chief Financial Officer
     Tel: +44 (0) 1235 208000

     UK: Financial Dynamics
     Melanie Toyne-Sewell - Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 7297
     Sarah Mehanna - Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 7236

     USA: Feinstein Kean
     Michelle Linn - Tel: +1 (508) 869-6146

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