New name for Oxford Genome Sciences
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Oxford Genome Sciences has changed its name to Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT). OBT said the new name reflected the company's focus on the discovery and development of targeted antibody medicines to address large and unmet patient needs in oncology. The company is co-developing its lead programmes with Medarexon a 50:50 cost and profit share basis, and it is collaborating with other companies. The Medarex agreement, signed in May 2006, uses OBT's Oxford Genome Anatomy Project database to provide novel colorectal cancer targets, against which Medarex hopes to generate fully human monoclonal antibodies using its UltiMAb human antibody development system. The new name marks a key turning point in OBT's development, as it grows into an oncology-focused clinical development organisation, Dr Christian Rohlff, the company's CEO, said.