Archive for May, 2005

Pharmaceutical Profiles’ Expert Presents at International Drug Delivery Conference

Last Updated on Monday, 13 June 2005 04:40 Written by admin Tuesday, 31 May 2005 07:46

NOTTHINGHAM, England, May 31, 2005–One of Nottingham’s leading scientific experts is to address an international audience in Miami at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Controlled Release Society from 18th-22nd June 2005.

Professor Ian Wilding, a founder and scientific adviser to early phase drug development success story Pharmaceutical Profiles, is very much in demand at this keynote conference. On the second day of the event, he will be presenting at a workshop entitled Using Scintigraphy to Visualize the in vivo Targeting Properties of Colonic Delivery Systems and giving a podium presentation focusing on University Spin-Out Companies – forget the lifestyle option and go for gold. Professor Wilding recently sold Pharmaceutical Profiles, a ‘spin-out’ company from the University of Nottingham, for ? million, so has personal experience of translating academic excellence into commercial success. He is also chairing a conference session and on the last day of the conference is giving a keynote address Overcoming Developability Problems in Oral Drug Delivery Using Human Absorption and Scintigraphic Studies.

Prof. Wilding said: “The Controlled Release Society annual meeting is one of the first events we put in our corporate calendar – it is a must-attend event.”

“We are also taking part in the exhibition at CRS 2005 alongside my presentations in order to maximise the benefit of the event. It is an excellent opportunity to network with industry figures, learn about new drug delivery techniques and promote the unparalleled expertise Pharmaceutical Profiles has in early drug development.”

Pharmaceutical Profiles is a unique early phase contract research organization (CRO) which provides novel solutions in early clinical development. Since its inception in 1990, Pharmaceutical Profiles’ mission has been to improve the decision-making process by offering innovative services to the global pharmaceutical industry.

Around 30% of drug candidates fail to progress beyond Phase I healthy volunteer studies and these failures can be attributed mainly to inappropriate human biopharmaceutical properties. Human microdosing studies allow the administration of microgram quantities of drug candidates in man. This enables safer and more ethical screening studies in man prior to entering Phase I trials and the earlier selection of the optimal compound to advance in development. Human microdosing studies lead naturally into human drug absorption studies. Pharmaceutical Profiles utilizes the proprietary and patented Enterion(tm) capsule to effectively establish the optimal development strategy for today’s compounds with their complex oral biopharmaceutical properties.

Scientific expertise remains at the heart of Pharmaceutical Profiles. The company remains the world’s leading CRO resource for sophisticated medical imaging techniques, such as 2D gamma scintigraphy and 3D SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). These imaging modalities are incorporated into the oral scintigraphy and inhaled and nasal studies undertaken for the global pharmaceutical industry.

The company has its headquarters located in Ruddington near Nottingham, United Kingdom, and representative offices in the USA, and Japan. Further information on Pharmaceutical Profiles can be found at www.pharmprofiles.com

Posted under Europe, Europe, Industry News, USA and Canada | Comments Off

Protein ATF2â€™role in DNA repair

Last Updated on Friday, 3 June 2005 07:43 Written by admin Tuesday, 31 May 2005 07:42

Researchers at the Burnham Institute found that a protein known for its role in gene regulation has another important function, that of initiating DNA repair.

The study has been published in Molecular Cell.

Ze’ev Ronai, director of the Institute’s Signal Transduction Program, and his colleagues found that the protein ATF2 ( Activating Transcription Factor-2 ) is activated by a protein kinase called ATM ( Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated ), which stimulates DNA repair.
ATF2′s role in regulating expression of proteins that control cell cycle and programmed cell death is well established.

The current study is the first to demonstrate ATF2′s role in DNA repair, an intracellular process that prevents formation of genetic mutations, including those that lead to cancer.

” This is the first time we’ve seen a protein which has been implicated in gene regulation possess an independent function–in DNA repair–while both functions are uncoupled from one another,” said Ronai.
Ronai’s laboratory has been studying ATF2 with the goal of understanding its role in regulation of cell cycle and programmed cell death.
These studies evolved from the finding that ATF2 has an important role in the development and progression of melanoma tumors.
Inhibition of ATF2 was found to sensitize melanoma to various treatments, both in tissue culture and in animal models.

” Melanoma is usually resistant to chemotherapy, but we found that by inhibiting ATF2, it became more sensitive to treatment,” Ronai said. Consequently, his laboratory developed a small peptide that interferes with ATF2 function, efficiently blocking melanoma growth in mouse models.

Ongoing studies are devoted to screening for compounds that mimic the peptide’s actions and to allow for further development of the peptide toward clinical assessment.

” Until our recent studies, we were certain that the mechanism by which ATF2 affects melanoma growth was primarily through its established function in the regulation of proteins important in cell cycle and cell death control. We were therefore most surprised to find an uncoupled function for the same protein,” said Ronai.

The finding of ATF2′s novel function in DNA repair was serendipitous.
As Shoichi Takahashi, a postgraduate researcher, was testing for the changes in ATF2 in human cancers, he ” lost the signal ” for ATF2. ” Later,” Ronai said, ” we did experiments that showed the signal was lost because a protein kinase, ATM, modified ATF2 enough to interfere with detection of the ATF2 signal.
Soon, work performed by Anindita Bhoumik confirmed that ATF2 is regulated by ATM and that this regulation is central to the cell’s ability to initiate DNA repair processes following ionizing irradiation or other exposures that cause breaks in DNA.
A likely way in which ATF2 works is to halt the cell’s cycle to allow repair of damaged DNA before such damage becomes permanent.”

Ronai and his colleagues are now determining how molecules like ATF2 can balance their dual roles. “High doses of radiation, as well as changes that take place in cancer and pathologic situations, can activate both functions of ATF2, which is expected to disturb the otherwise conserved balance between its role in gene regulation and the DNA damage response. We need to find out which of the two functions is more dominant under these circumstances in order to devise ways to regain the proper balance,” he said.

Source: Burnham Institute, 2005

Posted under Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Europe, Research Projects | Comments Off

New understanding of DNA repair processes may pave way to cancer treatments

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 May 2005 01:28 Written by admin Tuesday, 31 May 2005 01:28

A Burnham Institute study has found that a protein known for its role in gene regulation has another important function, that of initiating DNA repair. The study, published in the May 27th edition of Molecular Cell, points to new targets for treatment of cancer.

Ze’ev Ronai, Ph.D., Director of the Institute’s Signal Transduction Program, and his colleagues found that the protein ATF2 (“Activating Transcription Factor-2″) is activated by a protein kinase called ATM (“Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated), which stimulates DNA repair. ATF2′s role in regulating expression of proteins that control cell cycle and programmed cell death is well established. The current study is the first to demonstrate ATF2′s role in DNA repair, an intracellular process that prevents formation of genetic mutations, including those that lead to cancer.

“This is the first time we’ve seen a protein which has been implicated in gene regulation possess an independent function–in DNA repair–while both functions are uncoupled from one another,” said Ronai. Dr. Ronai’s laboratory has been studying ATF2 with the goal of understanding its role in regulation of cell cycle and programmed cell death. These studies evolved from the finding that ATF2 has an important role in the development and progression of melanoma tumors. Inhibition of ATF2 was found to sensitize melanoma to various treatments, both in tissue culture and in animal models.

“Melanoma is usually resistant to chemotherapy, but we found that by inhibiting ATF2, it became more sensitive to treatment,” Ronai said. Consequently, his laboratory developed a small peptide that interferes with ATF2 function, efficiently blocking melanoma growth in mouse models. Ongoing studies are devoted to screening for compounds that mimic the peptide’s actions and to allow for further development of the peptide toward clinical assessment.

“Until our recent studies, we were certain that the mechanism by which ATF2 affects melanoma growth was primarily through its established function in the regulation of proteins important in cell cycle and cell death control. We were therefore most surprised to find an uncoupled function for the same protein,” said Ronai.

The finding of ATF2′s novel function in DNA repair was serendipitous. As Shoichi Takahashi, a postgraduate researcher, was testing for the changes in ATF2 in human cancers, he “lost the signal” for ATF2. “Later,” Dr. Ronai said, “we did experiments that showed the signal was lost because a protein kinase, ATM, modified ATF2 enough to interfere with detection of the ATF2 signal. Soon, work performed by Anindita Bhoumik confirmed that ATF2 is regulated by ATM and that this regulation is central to the cell’s ability to initiate DNA repair processes following ionizing irradiation or other exposures that cause breaks in DNA. A likely way in which ATF2 works is to halt the cell’s cycle to allow repair of damaged DNA before such damage becomes permanent.”

The Ronai lab’s work on ATF2 was started at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, from which Dr Ronai and his colleagues recently relocated to the Burnham Institute. This study was carried out in collaboration with Wolfgang Breitweiser and Nic Jones of the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester, England, and Yosef Shiloh, of Tel Aviv University, Israel. The study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

http://www.burnham.org

Posted under Cancer Research, North America, Research Projects | Comments Off

Kiadis BV and NV Organon Enter Into a Discovery Collaboration

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 May 2005 03:00 Written by admin Thursday, 26 May 2005 03:00

GRONINGEN and OSS, The Netherlands, May 25 /PRNewswire/ — Kiadis BV and
NV Organon announced today that both companies have entered into an
evaluation agreement centered around the use of Kiadis’ core on-line
screening technology, the BioSelact(TM), for the Reproductive Medicine
discovery program at Organon.
Under the terms of the collaboration, Organon will supply Kiadis with a
proprietary target. Financial details of the collaboration are not disclosed.
Kiadis will deliver Organon with novel active compounds against the target
utilizing its BioSelact(TM) technology. Organon is particularly interested in
the ability of Kiadis’ BioSelact(TM) technology to efficiently characterize
bioactive compounds present in complex chemical mixtures.
Ton Rijnders, Vice President Research Oss at Organon, said: “Organon has
selected the BioSelact(TM) technology because it may accelerate the discovery
programs by rapid on-line confirmation of new novel active compounds. This is
a great opportunity for Organon to evaluate the potential of the Kiadis
technology to identify new leads.”
Manja Bouman CEO of Kiadis, commented: “We are very pleased to start this
project together with Organon. We are excited and encouraged by the
confidence that Organon has shown by entering into this evaluation of
BioSelact(TM). This collaboration can be seen as a further validation of the
successful commercialization strategy of Kiadis and value of Kiadis’
technology.”
About Kiadis
Kiadis has developed the unique and proprietary BioSelact(TM) platform
technology, allowing for a revolutionary drug discovery approach which
greatly enhances lead discovery and optimization programs. The BioSelact(TM)
platform allows the highly efficient screening of every Compound source of
synthetic or natural origin on virtually all pharmaceutical target classes.
Kiadis has successfully applied its technology to pharmaceutical and
nutraceutical discovery programs.
About Organon
Organon – with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The
Netherlands – creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that
improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of
independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or
become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core
therapeutic fields: reproductive medicine, psychiatry and anesthesia.
Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60
have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of
Akzo Nobel.

http://www.kiadis.com

http://www.organon.com

SOURCE Kiadis BV

Posted under Collaborations, Europe, North America | Comments Off

Animal Pharm: In Vivo Models in Drug Development

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 May 2005 02:58 Written by admin Tuesday, 24 May 2005 02:57

By John Hallock
Bio-IT World

(05/24/05)â€”With the costs of populating drug pipelines rising sharply, drug companies are exploring new in vivo animal models to guide early pre-clinical drug development. Despite a plethora of available technologies to discern biological mechanisms, the relevance of such technologies is only as good as the physiological models to which they are applied. A complete picture of the biological interactions occurring in drug action and toxicity requires the examination of intact multicellular organisms.

One scientist leading the charge for emerging surrogate in vivo models in drug development is Randall Peterson, assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. After obtaining his Ph.D. from Harvard University in the laboratory of Stuart Schreiber, where he first demonstrated the feasibility of small-molecule screens in zebrafish, Peterson joined the lab of Mark Fishman (now the president of NIBR). Peterson is on the Scientific Advisory Board of Montigen Pharmaceuticals, and is a founder of Teleome Labs.

Petersonâ€™s group is currently using zebrafish for an entirely new application: pre-clinical drug development. This zebrafish model is allowing phenotype-based discovery of lead compounds that can suppress disease phenotypes (see Nature Biotechnology, May 2004), as well as new approaches for testing compound safety. Bio-IT World contributor John Hallock spoke with Peterson about the key issues surrounding the use of in vivo surrogate models in drug development and drug safety.

more…

Posted under Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, North America, Research Projects | Comments Off

Praecis to Cut 60 Percent of Its 182-Person Work Force, Stop Promoting Cancer Treatment

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 May 2005 01:33 Written by admin Friday, 20 May 2005 01:33

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — Praecis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Friday it is cutting 60 percent of its 182-person work force and halting U.S. promotion of a prostate cancer treatment and development of a medication for Alzheimer’s disease.

The moves are part of a cost-cutting campaign that Praecis said will refocus its efforts “on its most promising assets.” Those include development of an oral compound for treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and technology to aid drug discovery.

Praecis said it will reduce its work force to 75 employees, with about 100 workers losing their jobs immediately and a smaller number leaving in the coming months. The company said it will also consider relocating from its headquarters and research building in Waltham to a smaller facility.

The company said it is suspending U.S. promotion of its prostate cancer therapy Plenaxis and will work with the Food and Drug Administration to make the drug available to patients already on the therapy. Praecis will continue seeking approval to market the drug in Europe.

In December, Praecis said it was having continuing problems persuading U.S. doctors to prescribe Plenaxis, in part because of concerns about insurance reimbursement.

The company also said Friday it is suspending clinical trials for its Alzheimer’s treatment, called Apan.

“We believe that through these actions we have positioned the company for future success,” said Kevin McLaughlin, Praecis’ president and chief executive officer.

The company’s stock traded around $6 a share last spring but has since steadily declined.

Praecis shares rose 5 cents, or 7 percent, to close at 76 cents in Friday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, near the bottom of the stock’s 52-week range of 63 cents to $5.27.

Posted under Cancer Research, North America | Comments Off

PharmaGap completes acute toxicity tests for lead cancer drug

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 May 2005 06:38 Written by admin Tuesday, 17 May 2005 06:19

OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ – PharmaGap Inc. (TSX-V: GAP) (“PharmaGap” or
“the Company”) today announced the formal completion of acute toxicity testing
in mice for its lead cancer drug, PhG alpha 1. Testing took place in Ottawa at
accredited facilities operated by the Institute of Biological Sciences, part
of the National Research Council of Canada, under the supervision of an
independent veterinarian. The drug was delivered to test groups of mice by
intravenous injection, orally and by direct application to the skin.
PharmaGap’s novel lead cancer drug, PhG alpha 1, is designed to
selectively target and inhibit the activity of Protein Kinase C alpha (PKC
alpha) in cancer cells. As verified by numerous researchers worldwide, there
is a clear link between the over-expression of PKC alpha and certain solid
tumours. In bench studies (in vitro) undertaken by PharmaGap researchers, PhG
alpha 1 has demonstrated effectiveness in controlling growth and killing
cancer cells that have aberrant levels of PKC alpha, including non-small cell
lung cancer, breast cancer (HER+) and neuroblastoma (a children’s cancer). The
drug also has shown effectiveness in reducing the effect of multi-drug
resistance arising from chemotherapy treatment on colon cancer cells.
Dr. Jennifer Arnold, the senior research scientist at PharmaGap
responsible for the tests, commented that: “We are very pleased with the
outcome of the acute toxicity studies. We were able to establish the toxic
dose and the efficacy dose maximum. The efficacy dose maximum is completely
lacking in deleterious side effects on behaviour and body weight and will
provide us with a broad and safe range for future efficacy studies”.
Robert McInnis, President and C.E.O. commented that: “These results
provide PharmaGap researchers with the necessary data to design the next
series of in vivo testing in mice, which will be to test for the effectiveness
of PhG alpha 1 in human cancer cells grown in mice. These efficacy studies are
anticipated to take place over the course of the summer. Completion of these
efficacy studies, along with the toxicity studies just completed, are a key
step in our discussions with large pharmaceutical companies who are
prospective licensees for PharmaGap compounds.”

About PharmaGap Inc.
——————–
PharmaGap Inc. (TSX-V: GAP), based in Ottawa, ON, a spin-off of the
National Research Council of Canada, is a biotechnology company with a core
focus developing novel therapeutic compounds for the treatment of cancer.
PharmaGap’s research platform targets the modulation of gap junction-mediated
intercellular communication by signaling pathways such as those controlled by
the Protein Kinase C isoforms. Based on its expertise in cell to cell
communication the Company has also developed innovative cell-based assays and
models designed for compound screening for drug development (ADMET) and for
immune-system profiling in animals and humans, and has developed an animal-
free skin cell growth medium.

Posted under Cancer Research, North America, Research Projects | Comments Off

Odyssey Thera Initiates Project With Pfizer Inc.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 May 2005 01:24 Written by admin Tuesday, 17 May 2005 01:22

SAN RAMON, Calif., May 17 /PRNewswire/ — Odyssey Thera, Inc. announced today an expanded agreement with Pfizer Inc. to profile compounds across Odyssey Thera’s panel of cell-based assays in order to characterize mechanism of action and pathway activity in human cells.

Odyssey Thera’s patented Protein-fragment Complementation Assay (PCA) technology measures pathway activity within living cells and is applied across signaling pathways relevant to drug discovery in key therapeutic areas. Odyssey Thera probes the intricate biochemical networks of living cells to identify on-target and off-pathway activities of drugs and lead compounds. The company has validated this approach in its Known and Unknown Drug Optimization Strategy (KUDOS) program, which analyzed the mechanism of action of known drugs and known toxicants across distinct signaling nodes in human cells.

The project with Pfizer will focus on 500 compounds from multiple therapeutic areas. “By screening compounds across our panel of assays, we can identify and eliminate unanticipated activity much earlier in the drug discovery and development process, before significant resources are invested in pre-clinical and clinical activities,” says Dr. John Westwick, Odyssey Thera’s Chief Scientific Officer. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About Odyssey Thera

Odyssey Thera, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company that utilizes a pathway-based approach to drug discovery in order to greatly improve the effectiveness and productivity of the drug development process. With an initial focus on anti-cancer agents, Odyssey Thera uses its proprietary Protein-fragment Complementation Assay (PCA) process and high throughput systems biology to improve the quality of information available about targets and lead compounds early in drug discovery and development. PCA combined with the use of living human cells instead of isolated proteins strengthens the predictive value of preclinical screening, significantly reducing the number of failures in drug discovery and improving pipelines and treatments for cancer and other diseases. For more information, please visit the company website at www.odysseythera.com.

Posted under Collaborations, North America, Research Projects | Comments Off

Magellan Biosciences buys TekCel

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 May 2005 06:37 Written by admin Monday, 16 May 2005 06:36

Chelmsfordâ€™s Magellan Biosciences has acquired TekCel, a Hopkinton-based maker of sample-management and assay-automation systems for biomedical research. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

TekCel employs approximately 35 people, all of whom are expected to remain with the company, according to Magellan.

According to Robert J. Rosenthal, president and chief executive officer of Magellan, the acquisition of TekCel and its product line will allow the company to reach a market beyond the smaller enterprises.

Founded in 1998, TekCel’s modular, scalable family of products includes sample-management automation, liquid handling, software, and proprietary consumables addressing the researchers’ needs from archive compound storage through screening result.

Magellan Biosciences develops advanced instruments, automated systems, point-of-care products, and consumables for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.

Boston Mass High Tech, MA

Posted under Mergers and Acquisitions, North America | Comments Off

BioSpace Launches 5th Edition Of BioCapitalâ„¢ Hotbed Campaign For Mid-Atlantic’s Life Science Industry

Last Updated on Monday, 13 June 2005 04:42 Written by admin Thursday, 12 May 2005 04:47

NAPLES, FL, May 12, 2005 – BioSpace, the leading online information source for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, unveiled last night the 5th edition of the BioCapital Hotbed Campaign during a special reception at PharmaDiscovery 2005 Conference & Exhibition at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.

2005 BioCapital Hotbed Map

http://www.biospace.com/hotbed/9/biocapital_map.cfm

2005 BioCapital Hotbed Homepage:

http://www.biospace.com/hotbed.cfm?RegionID=9

In addition to PharmaDiscovery 2005, BioSpace partnered with Maryland Biotechnology Association (MdBio), Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Technology Council of Maryland (TCM) and Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBio) to promote and highlight the rich life science industry in the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

“We are pleased to be supporting BioSpace’s mission and the BioCapital campaign. BioCapital’s partnerships with professionals from within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and PharmaDiscovery’s strong focus on the vital challenges affecting drug discovery productivity in those industries, makes for a unique and mutually beneficial relationship,” said Kevin Richards, Vice President, Life Sciences, Reed Exhibitions.

The 5th edition of BioCapital showcases a variety of biopharmaceutical companies located within the Mid-Atlantic region including AstraZeneca, Celera, Gene Logic and Wyeth. Other companies participating in the campaign include technology service providers PPD Development and Medifacts International. The BioCapital Hotbed map also highlights research institutes, non-profit organizations and universities within the area.

“BioSpace is grateful for all of the support we have received from the various organizations and members of the Mid-Atlantic life science community. We would also like to thank the participants of the 2005 campaign, especially PharmaDiscovery, who have made the 5th edition of BioCapital a huge success,” said Brian Vacanti, Division Manager, BioSpace.

The campaign features a BioCapital Hotbed Map, created by BioSpace’s professional artist, which displays the corporate logos and facilities of participating organizations. Copies of the map are available through BioSpace. The map is further enhanced through the integration of many functional components including a BioCapital Hotbed Homepage, on BioSpace’s industry leading Website, BioSpace.com.

The original 1985 Biotech Bayâ„¢ Map for the San Francisco Bay Area hangs on permanent display in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. BioCapital was first launched in 1996.

About BioSpace

BioSpace is globally recognized as the leading provider of web-based resources and information to the life science industry. For 20 years BioSpace has helped to accelerate communication and discovery among business and scientific leaders in the biopharmaceutical market. With a well-established site infrastructure and loyal online audience of over 1.5 million unique monthly visitors, BioSpace.com offers an unparalleled distribution channel for recruitment, investment, product, event and other life science industry messages.

BioSpace promotes and adds online functionality to distinct regional clusters of bioscience industry through their world renowned Hotbed Campaigns. Current campaigns include BioCorridorâ„¢, Biotech Bayâ„¢, BioGardenâ„¢, Pharm Countryâ„¢ and others. Additionally, BioSpace offers an online life science career center, live career events and a clinical trials database, CCISâ„¢.

BioSpace, a Career Innovations company, is headquartered in Naples, FL.

Related companies:

Accelovance, American Type Culture Collection, American University, Arkios BioDevelopment International, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Baxter BioScience Corporation MD, BioSpace, Celera Genomics Group-an Applera Corp. Business, Delaware State University, EMINENT, Services Corporation, EntreMed Inc., Gene Logic Inc., George Washington University, Georgetown University, Human Genome Sciences Inc., Johns Hopkins University, Kforce Professional Staffing, MdBio Inc., Medifacts, International, MedImmune Inc., Montgomery College, New Jersey Biotechnology and Life Sciences Coalition, Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., PPD Piedmont Research, Center, Quest Pharmaceutical Services, Reed Exhibition Companies, SAIC-Frederick Inc., Southern Research Institute, Tech Council of Maryland, Timtec Inc., Towson University, University of Baltimore, University of Delaware, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Virginia Biotechnology Association, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, Wyeth (Richmond VA)

Posted under Events, North America, USA and Canada | Comments Off

GALAPAGOS NV & ASINEX LTD. INITIATE DRUG DISCOVERY COLLABORATION IN BONE AND JOINT DISEASES.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 May 2005 01:32 Written by admin Thursday, 12 May 2005 01:31

Mechelen, Belgium & Moscow, Russia, 12 May 2005 – Galapagos NV, a genomics-based drug discovery company and ASINEX Ltd, a worldwide leader in lead generation and optimization announce that they have initiated an integrated drug discovery collaboration in bone and joint diseases. The collaboration will result in a set of optimized leads for Galapagos’ validated bone and joint disease drug targets. Financial details have not been disclosed.

In the first phase of the collaboration, Galapagos’ biologists will work closely with ASINEX’s medicinal chemists, using ASINEX’s computational chemistry expertise and proprietary chemical compound libraries to generate new leads for Galapagos’ proprietary targets. The second phase will consist of the design and optimization of the lead structures. ASINEX’s aim is to provide Galapagos with a patentable candidate drug series.

“Galapagos has identified a set of proteins that play a pivotal role in bone formation through its functional screening platform.” said Graham Dixon, Galapagos’ Chief Scientific Officer “ASINEX’s expertise in computational and medicinal chemistry complements Galapagos’ strong disease biology expertise and it will extend our small molecule drug candidate portfolio in our core disease areas. Therefore, this collaboration will ensure maximum chances of success for Galapagos’ drug discovery programs.”

Dmitry Genis, ASINEX’s CEO stated, “We are delighted that Galapagos have chosen ASINEX in order to initiate their drug discovery programs. We believe that ASINEX’s integrated drug discovery services are very hard to surpass. We are fully committed to providing Galapagos with a high value set of lead compounds and to develop a successful and long-term relationship.”

About ASINEX
ASINEX is a provider of ‘Intelligent Chemistry’ for lead generation and optimization. ASINEX is an innovative creator of novel high quality compound libraries for screening, and has more than 400,000 drug-like small molecules. With a total of 151 chemists (54 PhD), 9 computational chemists (7 PhD) and 38 biologists / biochemists (24 PhD), ASINEX is establishing itself as a company of choice for integrated drug discovery services.
For more information: www.asinex.com

About Galapagos
Galapagos is a publicly traded, genomics-based drug discovery company (Euronext Brussels, GLPG; Euronext Amsterdam, GLPGA) that has successfully discovered and validated novel targets in the bone and joint diseases – osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in asthma and Alzheimer’s disease. Proprietary targets and compounds resulting from these programs are used for Galapagos’ internal drug discovery programs, combined with selected out-licensing and partnering of projects during development. Galadeno, Galapagos’ services unit, provides reagents and functional screens to leading pharmaceutical, biotech and nutraceutical companies for rapid identification and validation of novel drug targets. Galapagos currently employs 68 people, including 16 PhDs, and occupies facilities in Mechelen, Belgium, and Leiden, The Netherlands. Partners include Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Vertex and Wyeth.
For more information: www.glpg.com

Posted under Collaborations, Europe | Comments Off

Emerging Drug Discovery Technologies: Building Competitive Advantage Through Lab-on-a-Chip, Nanotechnology and RNAi

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2005 08:19 Written by admin Tuesday, 10 May 2005 10:12

DUBLIN, Ireland, May 6 /PRNewswire/ — Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c17061 ) has announced the addition of Emerging Drug Discovery Technologies: Building competitive advantage through lab-on-a-chip, nanotechnology and RNAi to their offering.

Emerging Drug Discovery Technologies: Building competitive advantage through lab-on-a-chip, nanotechnology and RNAi, is a new report which provides an in-depth analysis of three technological innovations that are being heralded to revolutionize the drug discovery process by rapidly expediting drug discovery research. This report focuses on lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices, nanotechnology and RNA interference drug discovery technologies that are increasingly being used to identify novel drug targets and to successfully reduce R&D timelines.

This report also provides:
– In-depth analysis of the market forces
– Current and future technological advances
– Detailed company profiles

- Eight year forecasts of market size for LOC devices, nanotechnology in drug discovery and RNA interference technologies and therapeutics

Key Findings of the Report:

- The markets for LOC devices, nanotechnology, and RNAi technologies and therapeutics are set to experience phenomenal growth rates, driven by novel product developments and new market entrants.

- The nanotechnology market is forecast to reach $955m by 2012, a CAGR (2004-2012) of 28.3%, while the LOC/microfluidics market is projected to generate sales of $1,530m in 2012, a CAGR of 35.5%. The larger RNAi market is predicted to be worth $1.1bn in 2012, although its CAGR is lower at 16.1%.

- Some of the major factors driving growth and expansion of the LOC device market include: high throughput screening, increased automation, reduction in sample requirement, reduced exposure to hazardous materials, and the increased rate at which potential drug targets are screened.

- At an embryonic stage of development, nano-enabled drugs are already bringing clinical benefits to thousands of patients. Two examples are Abraxane for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and RenaZorb, which provides phosphate control in kidney dialysis patients

- The resolution of several patent and licensing disputes, which threatened to halt the growth and expansion of the RNAi field, is now allowing more companies to enter the RNAi field. This is expected to further boost RNAi market growth in the future.

Key questions answered in this report

- What will the market for lab-on-a-chip (LOC), nanoenabled drug discovery and RNAi technology be worth in 2012?

- How can these three technologies be effectively applied in the drug discovery process?

- What are the major factors driving and restraining market expansion of these technologies in drug discovery?

- Who are the leading players within each of the three markets and how competitive or fragmented are the markets?

- Which pharmaceutical and biotech companies are investing in lab-on-a- chip (LOC), nanotechnology and RNAi, and what strategic alliances, partnerships and agreements have been formed during the last few years?

Top five reasons to read this report today:

1.) Gain insight into new technological developments in LOC devices, nanotechnology and RNAi and their applications in the pharmaceutical industry to develop new drugs.

2.) Improve productivity and reduce R&D expenditure by understanding how LOC devices, nanotechnology and RNAi technology can be applied to all stages of the drug development process.

3.) Review in-depth analysis of strategic alliances, acquisitions and agreements between pharmaceutical/biotech companies and LOC, nanotechnology and RNAi vendors.

4.) Understand where LOC devices, nanotechnology and RNAi have already impacted the identification of new drug targets and biomarkers for diagnosis screening.

5.) Highlight the efficacy and potential long-term cost effectiveness of LOC devices, nanotechnology and RNAi for drug discovery.

Companies mentioned inside this report include the following:-

– Aclara BioSciences
– Advion BioSciences, Inc.
– Agilent Technologies
– BioMicro Systems
– BioTrove Inc.
– Caliper Life Sciences
– Cepheid
– CombiMatrix Corp.
– Eksigent Technologies
– Epigem Limited
– Fluidigm Corp.
– Gyros AB
– Nanogen
– Nanostream Inc.
– Protiveris
– Sequenom
– Zyomyx
– 3DM Inc.
– Alnis Biosciences Inc.
– American Pharmaceuticals Partners Inc.
– BioCrystal Ltd.
– BioForce NanoSciences Inc.
– CrystalPlex Corp.
– C Sixty Inc.
– Evident Technologies, Inc.
– NanBio Corp.
– Nanosphere
– PharmaSeq, Inc
– Quantum Dot Corp.
– Ambion

– Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
– Benitec Ltd
– CytRx Corp.
– Cenix BioScience
– Devgen
– Dharmacon, Inc.
– Eurogentec (EGT)
– Imgenex Corp.
– Immusol Inc.
– Invitrogen Corp.
– InvivoGen
– MWG Biotech
– Proligo
– Promega
– Qiagen.
– Sirna Therapeutics

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c17061

Source: Research and Markets

Posted under Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Europe, Industry News | Comments Off

In-Silico Modeling Leads Growth in Drug Discovery Informatics Market

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 May 2005 09:53 Written by admin Tuesday, 10 May 2005 09:52

NEW YORK, May 10 /PRNewswire/ — According to a new report released today from Kalorama Information, the world market for drug discovery informatics products will top $1 billion in the next three years. Leading growth in the area is the still nascent in-silico modeling tools segment, which promises to provide valuable structural, screening, and validation information at a fraction of the costs of traditional methods.

The new study, Informatics in Drug Discovery: The Evolving Information Technology Marketplace, found that the more established areas of bioinformatics and cheminformatics still represent the largest revenues over the next few years. However, the very dynamic area of computer modeling will increasingly make its impact on drug discovery.

“Researchers are divided on the usefulness of in-silico approaches,” notes Jack Gardner, the author of the study. “Nay-sayers point to the spotty results of the current models, but proponents note that the tools can provide fast results which are extremely cost-effective especially for decision support in target validation and binding.”

Regardless of the ongoing debate on in-silico approaches, improvements in computer power and modeling technology will be major drivers of the informatics marketplace. According to the study, informatics promises to shorten the discovery process by at least 15%.

In addition to in-silico modeling, the study details the market for bioinformatics, cheminformatics, and hardware and systems, segmenting the market by application within each category. The report provides market size and growth in each subsegment, forecasts revenues to 2008, and estimates market shares of the major competitors. Profiles of more than 30 companies are included, as are responses to a survey of industry experts from the suppliers and users.

Priced at $3,000, Informatics in Drug Discovery: The Evolving Information Technology Marketplace can be purchased directly from Kalorama Information by clicking http://www.kaloramainformation.com/pub/1005790.html . It is also available at MarketResearch.com .

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, an imprint of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent market research for the life sciences. For more information, contact Steven Heffner at 212-807-2634 or sheffner@kaloramainformation.com, or visit http://www.KaloramaInformation.com .

About MarketResearch.com

MarketResearch.com is the leading provider of global market intelligence products and services. With over 91,000 research publications from 350 research publishers, the world’s most extensive database of expert insights on global industries. For more information, contact Irina Frukhtbeyn at 301-468-3650 x.203 or ifrukhtbeyn@marketresearch.com, or visit http://www.MarketResearch.com .

Source: Kalorama Information

Posted under Business and Investment, North America | Comments Off

Southern Research Institute Announces Joint Drug Discovery Program With Schering-Plough to Seek Novel Drug Compounds

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 May 2005 06:13 Written by admin Monday, 9 May 2005 10:01

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 9 /PRNewswire/ — Southern Research Institute today announced that it has entered into a joint collaborative research program with Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP – News) to discover novel compounds as potential new products to treat infectious disease.

Building on leads generated from Southern Research’s proprietary compound repository, scientists from both companies will interact closely as a drug discovery team in a lead expansion and optimization program. Southern Research Institute will share in intellectual property and receive milestone payments gained from the efforts.

“We have conducted drug discovery work for decades through self-funded research and various government contracts and grants, and have been successful,” said John A. Secrist III, Ph.D., vice president of the Drug Discovery Division at Southern Research. “We welcome this opportunity to work with Schering-Plough, a world leader in the discovery and development of innovative therapies. We will be able to combine the strengths of two successful scientific teams in drug discovery with a singular focus to bring new drugs to market to treat unmet medical needs.”

Southern Research has a proven track record in the early discovery and synthesis of anticancer drugs. Its medicinal chemists have discovered and synthesized six of the FDA approved cancer drugs now on the market with Clofarabine being the most recent to win approval in late 2004. The company also creates and tests drugs for neurodegenerative disorders and infectious diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis, Herpes, Tuberculosis, SARS, Hantavirus, Avian influenza and West Nile virus.

“While our organization is unique in the drug discovery and development environment we have created, all of our efforts are focused on finding new compounds that show promising activity against disease targets, and doing what’s necessary to get those drugs to market,” said David R. Harris, director of Drug Discovery business development at Southern Research Institute. “Being able to work with Schering-Plough complements their strategic efforts and expertise.”

About Southern Research Institute

Southern Research is a diversified network of collaborative centers for scientific discovery and technology development. Southern Research is a recognized leader in leveraging more than 60 years of achievement to create innovative solutions for public and private sector clients in the pharmaceutical, health, biotechnology, chemical and biological defense, homeland security, automotive, environmental, energy, aerospace and engineering industries. Southern Research is based in Birmingham, Ala., with other major research operations in Frederick, Md. and Research Triangle Park, NC. For more information, visit www.southernresearch.org .

Media Contact

Rhonda Jung, Southern Research Institute, 205-581-2317, jung@sri.org

Source: Southern Research Institute

Posted under Collaborations, Drug-Like Compounds, Education, North America, Research Projects | Comments Off

Definiens and Cenix BioScience Enter Into Licensing and Co-Marketing Agreement in High-Content Screening

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2005 08:11 Written by admin Monday, 9 May 2005 09:24

The two companies’ offerings are ideally complementary and the agreement will therefore build on their inherent synergies. Cenix is providing research services for the life science industry and academic groups, focusing on the combination of high throughput (HT) RNAi with high content (HC) assays in human and rodent cells. For those groups capable of carrying out such large scale studies themselves, Definiens is providing its uniquely powerful image analysis software system, CellengerÂ®, based on Definiens’ Cognition Network Technology.

As Cenix has constantly sought to further strengthen its capabilities in microscopy-based screening and automated image analysis, its scientists have tested a wide range of third party solutions from academia and industry efforts alike. Its early analysis of CellengerÂ® software in the context of genome-scale RNAi-based screens in human cells convinced Cenix to invest further efforts in assisting Definiens with the development and marketing of this world-class package.

“The combination of these technologies will be crucial to solidify Cenix’ leadership in providing the best and most efficient high content read-out capabilities to our customers” said Christophe Echeverri, CEO/CSO of Cenix BioScience.

Definiens, having recognized Cenix’s leading global position in the field of HT/HC-RNAi based experimentation, has welcomed such specialized input on precisely those cell-based applications that have now emerged a key driver for a wide range of life science research fields.

“Through this alliance, we begin realizing the strong synergies that exist between Definiens and Cenix in the field of high-content screening”, said Thomas Heydler, Chief Executive Officer of Definiens. “With our leading-edge CellengerÂ® HCS solution we offer a comprehensive application for automated image analysis and our collaboration with Cenix will allow us to reach a new form of excellence in the HCS market.”

Cenix BioScience is using CellengerÂ® for the development and implementation of multi-parameter assays for HT-RNAi studies in cultured human and rodent cells for target discovery and validation, as well as analyses of drug modes of action. Under the terms of the agreement Cenix gets broad access to CellengerÂ® software, which will be integrated into its existing HT/HC-RNAi-based research infrastructure, enabling the widest possible range of advanced microscopy-based assays in the context of its research service offerings.

The Definiens CellengerÂ® HCS solution is an advanced software system for the powerful automated high-content analysis of cell-based assays that enable reliable and fully automated data extraction. The CellengerÂ® HCS solution allows detailed analysis of structures of interest even in complex image data and the extracted objects are counted and morphometrically measured. Definiens will receive product development and marketing assistance from Cenix through beta-testing feedback, data sharing and reference site support. Commercial terms of the worldwide, non-exclusive agreement were not disclosed.

About Cenix BioScience

Cenix BioScience GmbH is a pioneer and leader in high throughput (HT), genome-driven applications of RNA interference (RNAi) for the discovery and validation of new therapeutic drug targets. Founded in 1999 as the first biotechnology company specializing exclusively in HT-RNAi, Cenix has accumulated unparalleled depth and breadth of experience in this field, combining high content phenotypic analyses with proprietary genome-wide RNAi libraries for use in key experimental systems, including a wide range of human and rodent cells. Cenix is now making its unique expertise accessible to industry and academic researchers through highly customizable research services. Please contact Cenix or visit the company’s web site www.cenix-bioscience.com for more information.

About Definiens

Definiens is a leading provider of high-content image analysis solutions. Based on Definiens Cognition Network TechnologyÂ®, a fundamental technology which models human thought, Definiens products enable the extraction of objects of interest from biomedical images. Main applications are in drug research and other biopharmaceutical processes. Definiens more than 100 customers in the field of life sciences are companies such as Altana, Aventis, Intervet, Merck, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk as well as Academia & Research Institutions such as NGFN and NIH. Founded in 1994 by Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Dr. Gerd Binnig, Definiens today has 40 employees and is based in Munich, Germany. For further information regarding the company and its products please visit www.definiens.com.

More Information:

Cenix BioScience GmbH
Zisi Fotev, Ph. D.
Tatzberg 47
01307 Dresden, Germany
Tel: +49-(0)-351-4173-0
Fax: +49-(0)-351-4173-197
Email: fotev@cenix-bioscience.com

Definiens AG
Andrea Muller-Beilschmidt
Tel : +49-(0)89-23-11-80-36
Mobile : +49-(0)171-76-66-518
Fax : +49-(0)89-23-11-80-90
Email: pr@definiens.com

Source: Cenix BioScience GmbH

Posted under Collaborations, Europe | Comments Off

Corning ANNOUNCES NEW CorningÂ®CellBINDÂ® Surface PRODUCTS for Enhanced Cell Attachment

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 May 2005 09:46 Written by admin Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:30

The Corning CellBIND Surface is a patented technology using a microwave process to improve cell attachment by modifying the polystyrene and incorporating more oxygen into the cell culture surface, rendering it more hydrophilic and increasing surface stability. The increased stability of the surface allows for more consistent cell attachment as cells are less likely to be removed during washing steps and media changes.

â€œAt Corning we are focused on innovative market leadership, product quality and performance, and collaborative development efforts to ensure our customersâ€™ needs are met,â€ said Lydia Kenton, Business Manager, Cells, Corning Life Sciences. â€œOur latest Corning CellBIND Surface technology clearly demonstrates our commitment to research and development and to working closely with our customers to understand what technologies they require to best do their jobs.â€

The Corning CellBIND Surface is a nonbiological surface and does not require special handling or storage. Additional Corning CellBIND Surface products include roller bottles, flasks, and CellSTACKÂ® Culture Chambers and , 96 and 384 microplates..

Corning Life Sciences helps customers succeed by providing innovative, high-quality products and service in the areas of polymer science, biochemistry and molecular biology, glass melting and forming, surface modification and characterization science. The businessâ€™ dedication to quality, technology, and innovation has enabled it to produce a comprehensive line of plastic laboratory disposables and reusable glassware that exceeds American Standard Testing Method (ASTM) standards for life science research.

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is a diversified technology company that concentrates its efforts on high-impact growth opportunities. Corning combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties of light, with strong process and manufacturing capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize significant innovative products for the telecommunications, information display, environmental, semiconductor, and life sciences industries.

Source: Corning Incorporated

Posted under News by Subject, North America | Comments Off

The World Pharmaceutical Congress

Last Updated on Thursday, 5 May 2005 12:57 Written by admin Thursday, 5 May 2005 12:57

The World Pharmaceutical Congress
May 24-26, 2005
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cambridge Healthtech Instituteâ€™s Fourth Annual World Pharmaceutical Congress will be held May 24-26, 2005 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. The World Pharmaceutical Congress is the premier R&D event, where pharmaceutical leaders will gather to discuss the industry challenges of bringing new drugs to market with tighter timelines and stricter regulatory scrutiny. To Register or for More Event Details Visit www.WorldPharmaCongress.com

Posted under North America, USA and Canada | Comments Off

Accelrys Announces 2005 Product Launch

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 May 2005 09:45 Written by admin Tuesday, 3 May 2005 09:36

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 3, 2005–Accelrys, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL – News), today announced the launch of a number of next-generation products across its entire portfolio of software for pharmaceutical, chemical, and materials researchers. Additionally, the company announced its Open Integration Platform, which will integrate Accelrys and SciTegic software in order to enable tailor-made, role-based solutions as well as enhanced intra- and inter-domain productivity.

In this launch, Accelrys is introducing over 15 enhanced or new products. Among the highlights are new functionality for molecular biologists, new science for computational chemists, and enhanced platform support. These new offerings put Accelrys on the trajectory to deliver integrated product and service solutions that provide customers with a wide choice of new and improved capabilities.

“The launch of this latest suite of products from Accelrys shows our commitment to delivering new science and tools to our clients, extending the broadest & deepest product portfolio in the industry” said Mark J. Emkjer, president and CEO of Accelrys. “By taking our point-products and identifying toolsets that can enable scientists and engineers in various disciplines, we aim to deliver solutions that address the priority requirements for our clients.”

Extending Discovery Studio

Accelrys continues to invest in its Discovery Studio (DS) line of products for life science research. This launch includes the latest release of DS GCG-a package of over 100 powerful sequence analysis tools for bioinformaticians. Also included is DS MedChem Explorer, a tool for designing and optimizing lead compounds at the desktop that has now been enhanced with new ADME/Tox models and support for Linux. DS ViewerPro, which provides desktop access to tools for generating, sharing, and analyzing high quality molecular information, now includes a 2D viewing option, as well as an automatic field fitting option for easier superimposition of molecules. DS Accord for Excel, an Excel spreadsheet that allows display and calculation of chemical information, can now retrieve data from Oracle-based Accord Enterprise Informatics products through a simple-to-use data analysis wizard.

Enhanced Linux Offerings

QUANTA, Accelrys’ leading software environment for X-ray crystallographers also features a Linux port and certification on IBM Thinkpads and IntelliStations running Red Hat Linux. Additionally, a number of new methods and algorithms have been added, including an automated model re-building method that substantially reduces model re-building time.

Insight II, a molecular modeling and simulation environment for protein modelers, computational chemists and structural biologists now allows seamless integration between Linux and IRIX. Insight II is also certified and optimized on IBM IntelliStations running Red Hat Linux. New science in Insight II includes a new protein-protein docking program called ZDOCKpro.

Improved Chemistry

For chemists and screening biologists, Accord Enterprise Informatics (AEI) provides a robust solution for storing and managing drug discovery data. AEI now incorporates a new version of the Accord Chemistry Engine, which includes new calculators, Markush support, and enhanced stereochemistry support.

New for Materials Science

Materials Studio (MS) Modeling, Accelrys’ suite of modeling and simulation products for computational researchers in chemicals and materials R&D, has a number of important new features and upgrades. New functionality is available for polymer chemists in the form of Blends – which allows calculation of miscibility for binary polymer and solvent systems. MS Modeling now features the first of set of tools derived for the current Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium, including nano-builders. Platform support has been added for HP Cluster Platform 4000 based on AMD Opteron, HP Cluster Platform 3000 based on Intel Xeon, and the Cluster Platform 6000 based on Intel Itanium 2 processors.

More Information

For full details on all the enhancements and new products available, please see http://www.accelrys.com/info/launch/

About Accelrys

Accelrys, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL – News) is a leading provider of software for computation, simulation, and the management and mining of scientific data used by biologists, chemists and materials scientists, including nanotechnology researchers, for product design as well as drug discovery and development. Accelrys technology and services are designed to meet the needs of today’s leading research organizations. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information about Accelrys, visit its website at http://www.accelrys.com/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Such forward looking statements, including statements regarding the future success of Accelrys products launched in 2005 and of its open integration platform, are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risk that the platform or products will not be successfully completed or achieve market acceptance, and other risks and uncertainties described in documents Accelrys has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this document are qualified entirely by the cautionary statements included in this document and such filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in this document. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Accelrys claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act, and disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Contact:

Accelrys
Ian Clements, 858-799-5440
iclements@accelrys.com

Source: Accelrys

Posted under ChemInformatics, North America | Comments Off

Maxim Pharmaceuticals Announces 2005 Second Quarter Financial Results

Last Updated on Thursday, 9 June 2005 05:29 Written by admin Monday, 2 May 2005 05:25

SAN DIEGO, May 02, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MAXM)(SSE:MAXM) today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, the second quarter of its fiscal year. The net loss applicable to common stock for the quarter totaled $6.6 million or $0.23 per share, compared to a net loss applicable to common stock of $8.9 million or $0.32 per share, for the prior-year quarter.

The net loss applicable to common stock for the six months ended March 31, 2005 totaled $16.2 million or $0.57 per share, compared to a net loss applicable to common stock of $18.8 million or $0.67 per share for the same period in the prior year. The decrease in the net loss for the period resulted primarily from a decrease in Research and Development expense resulting from the wind-down of the Company’s Ceplene(TM) clinical trials and a reduction in expenses resulting from the October 2004 and February 2005 work force reductions.

The Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments totaling $32.6 million at March 31, 2005. Maxim used net cash of $7.3 million in its operations during the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

“During the quarter we further realigned our resources with our corporate objectives,” said John D. Prunty, Maxim’s Chief Financial Officer. “Our apoptosis modulator platform continues to progress and we were pleased to recently announce the achievement of a $1.0 million development milestone under an agreement with Myriad Genetics based on the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical program. We also continue to work with Piper Jaffray & Co. to identify and evaluate our strategic options.”

Maxim Overview

Maxim Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapeutics. Maxim’s lead drug candidate is Ceplene(TM) (histamine dihydrochloride), which has shown a statistically significant improvement in leukemia free survival in a Phase 3 clinical trial as a remission maintenance therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Maxim is currently seeking a strategic partnership to complete commercialization and further development of Ceplene in AML and other indications. Maxim is also discovering and developing small-molecule apoptosis inducers to treat cancer using its proprietary high-throughput screening technology and its chemical genetics approach. This program has identified four lead oncology candidates that are proceeding to clinical trials independently and through collaborations.

Apoptosis compounds and Ceplene are investigational drugs and have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any international regulatory agency.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding attempts to identify new strategic opportunities which may include a strategic transaction, the efficacy, safety and intended utilization of the Company’s apoptosis compounds and Ceplene, the conduct and results of the Company’s clinical trials, and the Company’s plans regarding regulatory filings, future research and clinical trials and plans regarding partnering activities. Such statements are only predictions and the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include the risk that the Company may not be able to identify acceptable strategic opportunities or conclude any strategic transaction which it does identify, the risks associated with the Company’s diminishing cash resources and reliance on outside financing to meet is capital requirements, the risk that products that appeared promising in early research and clinical trials do not demonstrate safety or efficacy in larger-scale or later clinical trials, the risk that the Company will not obtain approval to market its products, and the risks associated with the Company’s reliance on collaborative partners for further clinical trials, development and commercialization of product candidates. These factors and others are more fully discussed in the Company’s periodic reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note: The Maxim logo is a trademark of Maxim.

Editor’s Note: This release is also available on the Internet at http://www.maxim.com.

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Posted under Business and Investment, North America | Comments Off

QIAGEN Acquires RNAtureâ€™s Portfolio of Nucleic Acid Purification Products from Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Inc.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 May 2005 06:25 Written by admin Monday, 2 May 2005 06:24

Products Address High-Throughput mRNA Purification for Gene Expression Analysis

Venlo, The Netherlands â€“ May 2, 2005 – QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt, Prime Standard: QIA), the world’s leading provider of innovative enabling technologies and products for the separation, purification and handling of nucleic acids and proteins today announced the acquisition of the world-wide, exclusive rights and licenses to manufacture and market the complete portfolio of RNAtureâ€™s nucleic acid isolation products from Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Inc. RNAture, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Inc. Pursuant to the companiesâ€™ agreement Hitachi Chemical Research will transfer all current commercial operations to QIAGEN.

QIAGEN believes the RNAture product line and associated technology to be a natural extension of QIAGENâ€™s world leading technology portfolio for preanalytical sample preparation. QIAGEN today markets a broad portfolio of preanalytical solutions for RNA analysis and the RNAture product line addresses a unique segment of this large market. In combination with QIAGEN consumable and automation technologies, the RNAture solutions have the potential to provide a new dimension of value to QIAGEN customers in high-throughput gene expression analysis and siRNA in research and drug development. Financial details were not disclosed. QIAGEN does not expect a material change to its outlook for 2005 based on this transaction as the products are still in an early stage of introduction.

RNAtureâ€™s product portfolio focuses on mRNA isolation products and comprises solutions for rapid, efficient and specific capture of cellular poly(A)+ RNA in the wells of specially-treated microplates. The products for medium, high and ultra high-throughput demands are currently marketed under the brand name GenePlateÂ®. GenePlateÂ® employs a unique immobilization technology to coat surfaces with oligonucleotides which allow rapid and direct capturing of target mRNA. The direct selection of poly(A)+ RNA provides researchers with a more defined mRNA sample, which leads to improved sensitivity and reproducibility. The technology allows mRNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and PCR in the same well in three different formats: 8-well stripes, 96-well and 384-well plates. RNAtureâ€™s products provide an easy-to-use and cost effective method for direct mRNA isolation and cDNA synthesis in an automation-friendly design for simplify high-throughput target validation, gene-expression analysis and compound screening.

Gene Silencing, or RNA interference (RNAi) uses target-specific sequences of short interfering RNA molecules (siRNA molecules) to knock-down, or ‘silence’ targeted genes to infer their function. RNAi is a developing technology used for target validation and compound screening in drug development as well as for studying gene expression analysis in academic and clinical research. The new product line based on RNAtureâ€™s purification technology for mRNA also is expected to seamlessly integrate into QIAGENâ€™s broad gene silencing product portfolio. The speed and ease-of-use of mRNA isolation with this technology makes it a perfect tool for simple and reproducible medium- to ultra high-throughput RNAi experiments.

‘We are very pleased to add an attractive platform technology for specific RNA molecule selection to our leading product portfolio in preanalytical sample management,’ said Dr. Ulrich Schriek, QIAGENâ€™s Vice President Corporate Business Development. ‘The technology is highly automation-friendly, minimizes well-to-well and plate-to-plate variability and standardizes the purification and assay procedure in these applications as preparation and assay are possible in the same plate.’

QIAGEN Group (Nasdaq: QGEN, Frankfurt: QIA)

Posted under Europe | Comments Off

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