RNS No 4827p
CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC
8th August 1997 
 

The issuer has made the following alteration to the
Cambridge Antibody Technology Group PLC
announcement released today.


PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING RELEASE REPLACES THE ONE
PUT OUT EARLIER. THE COMPOUND THAT HAS RECEIVED APPROVAL 
IS TGFBeta2 NOT TGFa2 AS IT APPEARED ON THE SCREEN
 
 
         Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc
                            
          Approval to start clinical trials for
          human anti-TGFbeta2 monoclonal antibody
                            
Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc ("CAT") announces
that  it  has  received approval from  the  UK  Medicines
Control  Agency to commence a Phase I/IIa clinical  trial
with  its  anti-TGFbeta2  antibody in  patients  with  early
proliferative  vitreo retinopathy. The antibody  will  be
administered by direct intravitreal injection at the time
of surgery.
 
Patient  enrolment is expected to commence next month  at
three  major ophthalmology centres in the UK.  Up  to  45
patients  will be enrolled in the trial.   The  trial  is
designed as a placebo controlled rising single dose study
primarily  to establish safety and to identify doses  for
subsequent efficacy studies.
 
This  will be the first clinical trial initiated by  CAT.
Trials   of  the  human  anti  TNF  monoclonal   antibody
developed  by Knoll (BASF) in conjunction with  CAT  were
initiated  by  Knoll earlier this year in  patients  with
rheumatoid  arthritis.   Patient  recruitment  into  that
trial is proceeding as planned.
 
Dr David Chiswell, CAT's Chief Executive Officer, said:
 
     "The   proposed  use  of  the  anti-TGFb2   antibody
     addresses a significant medical need.  It is a  step
     forward  for CAT to move into the clinical phase  of
     product  development, and pleasing to  achieve  this
     within  the  timescale we set at  the  time  of  our
     listing on the London Stock Exchange in March 1997."
 
                            
For further information, please contact:
 
Cambridge Antibody Technology              01763 263233
David Chiswell   Chief Executive Officer
John Aston       Finance Director
 
Ludgate Communications                     0171 253 2252
Andrew Nicolls
Nicola How
 
 
Notes to Editors
 
CAT
 
CAT's  business  is  based on a  world  leading  platform
technology  for  the rapid isolation of human  monoclonal
antibodies.  This technology has applications both in the
development of antibody-based human therapeutic  products
and as a drug discovery tool, particularly in the context
of functional genomics.
 
TGFbeta2
 
TGFbeta2 is a multifunctional cytokine that appears in three
isoforms  in  mammals: TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2 and  TGFbeta3. In the
human  eye the TGFbeta2 isoform predominates.  Of  the  many
biological activities associated with TGFbeta, much interest
has  focused  on  its  role in tissue repair  mechanisms.
TGFbeta  induces  the  deposition of  extracellular  matrix.
Over   production   of  TGFbeta  can   lead   to   excessive
extracellular matrix production which is the hallmark  of
tissue fibrosis.
 
Anti TGFbeta2 - opthalmic indications
 
CAT   is   developing  the  human  anti-TGFbeta2  monoclonal
antibody for a number of ophthalmic indications; for  the
prevention  of  the  recurrence of  proliferative  vitreo
retinopathy  ("PVR")  following  PVR  surgery,  for   the
prevention   of   PVR  following  surgery   for   retinal
detachment and as an adjunct to glaucoma drainage surgery
to prevent fibrosis at the operated site.
 
PVR  is  characterised by the formation of fibrous tissue
in, and in front of, the retina following trauma, retinal
detachment,   or   in   the  late  stages   of   diabetic
retinopathy.   There  is no approved treatment  for  PVR.
Surgery  may be attempted but unfortunately the condition
almost  inevitably progresses leading to traction on  the
retina  causing  it to be pulled from its attachment  and
thus result in permanent loss of vision or blindness.  In
North  America  and  Western  Europe  combined,  CAT  has
estimated  that surgery to try to prevent the  recurrence
of,  or  to  remove, PVR, and/or to re-attach a  detached
retina is undertaken on 100,000 patients per year.
 
CAT's  strategy  is first to establish the  principle  of
using anti-TGFbeta2 antibodies in acute indications where a
single  dose/course of treatment may be  sufficient.   If
this  principle is established, further clinical  studies
will  be  undertaken to extend their use with the  longer
term  objective of addressing other ophthalmic conditions
where fibrosis can lead to permanent blindness.
 
 
END
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