Bio Screening Industry News

Though Mumie has been used in folk medicine of different countries for almost two thousand years, there are still many legends regarding its mysterious origin. In Russia serious research has been conducted on Mumie since 1910. This research became even more intense during the past twenty years Government financing supported research that was conducted at major laboratories within the national science and medicine academies of the republics from Mumie’s origin (Middle Asia region of the former USSR (Kirgysia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).

Health organizations aren’t the only groups interested in Mumie. In Russia and many of the former USSR republics, Mumie is considered a strategic material and is used extensively as a performance enhancer within the armed forces (Spetnaz and other elite fighting groups) to help prepare cosmonauts before and during space travel, and as an important part in the restoration programs of national and Olympic-level athletes. It was surprising to me that Mumie was unknown to American athletes until recently when it was introduced by a Russian/American company in 1991.

To locate the origin for the word Mumie, one would have to go back 2,500 years to the time of the ancient philosopher and scientist Aristotle. He proposed the first procedures for testing the compound as well as its initial preparation in grape juice, honey and milk. Mumie is often used by ordinary persons to treat bone fractures and strains of muscles and ligaments, stomach disorders, nervous and cardiovascular problems, the inflammation of joints, and impotence. It is a good bio-stimulator, serves to elevate the immune system and neuro-hormonal regulation, controls oxidation-reduction processes, and has a positive influence on mineral metabolism. The most recent survey of the practical applications of Mumie have come from Moscow through the efforts of Drs. A.A. Altamyshev and B.K. Kortshubelkov and supported by the Russian Committee of Cosmonautics. To date, several hundreds research investigations have been conducted on Mumie which clearly point to its mechanisms of action and its usefulness.

Article about Mumie

Gossypol:

• is a polyphenolic aldehyde that permeates cells and acts as an inhibitor for several dehydrogenase enzymes.
• is antimalarial being the selective inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum (pfLDH over hLDHs), an essential enzyme for energy generation within malarial parasite.
• posesses proapoptotic properties, probably due to the regulation of the Bax and Bcl2.
• reversibly inhibits Calcineurin and binds to calmodulin.
• inhibits replication of the HIV-1 virus.
• an effective protein kinase C inhibitor.

Read more about Gossypol

MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd (MerLion) of Singapore, the world’s leading natural products based drug discovery company, announces that it has completed a merger by exchange of shares with Combinature Biopharm AG (Berlin, Germany) and Athelas SA (Geneva, Switzerland).

SINGAPORE, Singapore | Aug 21, 2006 | MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd (MerLion) of Singapore, the world’s leading natural products based drug discovery company, announces that it has completed a merger by exchange of shares with Combinature Biopharm AG. (Berlin, Germany) and Athelas SA (Geneva, Switzerland). Both European companies become 100% subsidiaries of MerLion whose headquarters and drug discovery research centre is based in Singapore. Drug development of its anti-infective programmes and nuclear magnetic resonance screening activities will be conducted from Berlin.

Dr Tony Buss, CEO of MerLion said “This major expansion of our capabilities, combined with proven drug discovery technologies and promising clinical candidates, position MerLion for its next exciting phase of growth. The company will continue its lead discovery activities in a range of therapeutic areas and will focus on the clinical development of anti-infective drugs.”

Dr Harald Labischinski, CEO of Combinature Biopharm and the new Chief Scientific Officer of MerLion, said “Combinature is very pleased to enter into such a strategic agreement with the leading natural compound research company and is now for the first time in the position to forward the new company’s most advanced antibiotic compounds from late stage pre-clinical development through phase I and phase II clinical. We expect to start our first clinical programmes with a novel mode of action resistance breaker antibiotic as well as with a new subclass of a broad spectrum antibiotic class within a few months from now.”

Dr Christine Deuschel, CEO of Athelas, said “MerLion offers Athelas an exceptional opportunity to progress the development of our novel anti-pathogenicity platform. The integration of Athelas’ DiVi Technology will provide MerLion with a broad and completely novel way of discovering new molecules based on a mechanism of action unexploited to date”.

The company has also completed the first closure of US$ 25M from a US$30M round of financing, which will be completed in full during the fourth quarter of 2006. This funding will propel the company towards an initial public offering within two years. The round, led by Aravis Venture of Switzerland and Bio*One Capital Pte Ltd of Singapore, represents one of the largest private rounds of funding raised for a drug discovery and development company in the region.

Ms. Swee Yeok Chu, CEO of Bio*One Capital and Mr. Jean-Philippe Tripet, Managing Partner of Aravis stated: “We believe that this cross border merger and financing is a landmark deal in Asia that confirms the ability of biotechnology companies to successfully develop from Singapore, capitalising on international alliances, funding from international investors, as well as strong local infrastructure that supports the growth of the company. With this financing and acquisitions, MerLion has now built a profile that compares with the best emerging biotechnology companies globally.”

Other participants in this round of funding include Nomura Research and Advisory, Aurelia Private Equity, Brandenburg Capital, Bioveda Capital, Novartis Venture Fund Mitsubishi Corporation and 3i Group Investment LP.

Michael Toenes of BC Venture GmbH , Juergen Leschke, Management Partner Aurelia Private Equity, Dr. Clemens Doppler of 3i Group Investment LP and Dr Dirk Honold, former CFO of Combinature stated: “The new company is now in the exciting position to further fill and advance the pipeline and to start clinical testing with very promising antibiotic drugs which have already shown exciting profiles. By the transaction the combined entity will have a strategic position to enter into the highly attractive and growing markets in the important area of novel anti-infectives.” In addition to progressing at least two anti-infective candidates into clinical proof of concept studies and developing the growing portfolio of earlier candidates towards the clinic, MerLion will retain its strong partnership alliances in natural products drug discovery and will expand in two main areas;

Novel Anti-Infectives Discovery The acquisition of the anti-infectives DiVi discovery platform of Athelas, which received an award at the 2005 Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), provides MerLion with strong target generation capabilities and proprietary drug discovery screening systems in the area of bacterial pathogenicity.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Screening The experienced NMR screening group based in Berlin will continue to utilise their expertise and technology with existing partners and in support of ongoing MerLion portfolio projects. This technology is the subject of increasing interest to the industry and is capable of advancing discovery by closely identifying how active compounds interact with drug targets and how these interactions may be optimised. MerLion would like to recognise the professional services provided during this complex transaction by Jones Day, CMS, Wong Partnership, Schellenburg-Wittmer, Vischer, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and Maidavale Consulting.

For more information, please visit http://www.merlionpharma.com Contact Chris Molloy, MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd, The Capricorn #05-01, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528 Tel: +65 6829 5606 Fax: +65 6829 5601 enquiries@merlionpharma.com

SOURCE: MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd

San Ramon, CA, May 8, 2006 - Elsevier MDL, producer of the MDL® Available Chemicals Directory and MDL® Screening Compounds Directory databases, and Key Organics Ltd., a leading supplier of screening compounds and chemical building blocks, have partnered in an effort to provide improved access to timely, accurate information for chemical sourcing and procurement for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemistry researchers.

Through its Bionet Research Intermediates catalog, Key Organics supplies novel building blocks for customers to utilize within their discovery chemistry programs. “By working closely with Elsevier MDL, we’re able to ensure that customers are viewing accurate information in Available Chemicals Directory, the most widely used sourcing database,” says Dr. Colin Piper, Business Development Manager, Key Organics.

“Chemists rely on the unmatched coverage of MDL Available Chemicals Directory to find compounds from suppliers, including specialty suppliers, from around the globe,” said Trevor Heritage, Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer at Elsevier MDL. “For this reason, currency and accuracy are paramount. Our partnership with Key Organics facilitates regular updates of their latest products, including unique compounds that aren’t available elsewhere.”

The partnership between the companies includes an exchange of information that makes it easy and quick for mutual customers to order products from Key Organics using the MDL number from the databases.

The structure-searchable Available Chemicals Directory and the Screening Compounds Directory databases from Elsevier MDL compile detailed product and pricing information for millions of chemical products from hundreds of suppliers around the globe. The databases are accessible via the online DiscoveryGate® platform (allowing researchers to view chemical sourcing information linked with synthetic methodology, bioactivity, metabolism, toxicity, and health and safety information) and are available for in-house installation. Researchers can also leverage the value of Available Chemicals Directory and close supplier relationships with companies like Key Organics through the new MDL® Logistics application, a cradle-to-grave solution for sourcing reagents and managing in-house chemical inventories.

About Key Organics Ltd.

Key Organics was formed in 1986, supplying schemes of novel small-molecule chemistry to customers under confidentiality agreements. Over the last 20 years Key has provided companies worldwide with screening compounds, building blocks and chemistry services. In recent years custom and contract synthesis and lead optimization programs have become an increasingly important part of Key Organics business for clients worldwide. Based at a well-equipped multi-lab site in Camelford, Cornwall, UK, Key Organics employs graduate and Ph.D. chemists, including medicinal chemists, with experience in a wide range of chemical techniques and technologies. Key Organics is able to supply milligram to kilogram quantities of compounds to a high specification. For more information visit www.keyorganics.ltd.uk.

About Elsevier MDL

Elsevier MDL provides informatics, database and workflow solutions that accelerate successful life sciences R&D by improving the speed and quality of scientists’ decision making. Researchers around the world depend on Elsevier MDL for innovative and reliable discovery informatics software solutions and services augmented by 400 Elsevier chemistry and life sciences journals and related products. For more information, visit www.mdl.com. Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. For more information visit www.elsevier.com.

Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider. Reed Elsevier’s ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange). For more information visit www.reedelsevier.com.

###

MDL, DiscoveryGate and Available Chemicals Directory are registered trademarks or trademarks of MDL Information Systems, Inc. (‘Elsevier MDL’) in the United States. All rights reserved. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

After screening hundreds of phytochemicals found in a variety of plants, an ARS scientist has identified, characterized, and synthesized two potentially heart-healthy natural compounds.

These compounds, either in foods or as dietary supplements, may be important for alleviating the symptoms of heart disease related to blood clots. Rigorous testing and regulatory approval is prerequisite.

The research was conducted by ARS biochemist Jae B. Park at the Beltsville ( Maryland) Human Nutrition Research Center’s Phytonutrients Laboratory. Park presented the findings at the 2005 annual meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, in San Diego, California. The chemical structures of the compounds and their biological activities were filed in a 2005 patent application.

The natural compounds that were synthesized are N-caffeoyldopamine and N-coumaroyldopamine, and their analogs, which are found in sweet peppers, Chinese wolfberry, and cocoa. When tested in larger quantities than likely found in foods, these compounds suppress the mechanism whereby blood platelets stick to blood vessel walls.

Platelets play an important role in blood clotting. They release chemicals that cause the cascade of events that form plugs at the site of injury within blood vessel walls.

Park found that the compounds significantly suppress an adhesive molecule, P-selectin, that glues platelets to white blood cells and blood vessel walls. White blood cells, or leukocytes, move through vessel walls to damaged areas, where they surround and isolate dead tissue and foreign bodies and also produce antibodies.

During the aging process, fatty substances in blood plasma can accumulate inside blood vessel walls. These fat deposits trigger cells to release molecules that cause a chain of events in which immune cells, proteins, and calcium in the bloodstream also adhere to the blood vessel’s inner wall. All these substances combine to form plaque.

Plaque buildup can obstruct arteries and lead to blood clotting. “Blood clotting causes the artery to narrow even more, and in some cases, prevents the blood from supplying the heart muscle, which results in a condition called ¡®acute coronary syndrome,” says Park.

To test the biological activities of the compounds, Park collected blood from mice and exposed it to the compounds. He then studied the compounds’ effects on P-selectin expression and platelet-leukocyte interactions.

“The compounds were found to be potent in their ability to inhibit chemical reactions that lead to blood clotting, such as platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte interaction,” says Park.

While it’s long been known that plant chemicals promote health, they have not been measured in foods to the extent that the essential vitamins have. Therefore, it is unknown whether the quantity of the newly studied compounds normally present in foods is enough to elicit the suppression response. Park is now measuring the compounds in plant sources using newly developed analytical methods. - By Rosalie Marion Bliss, Agricultural Research Service Information Staff.

This research is part of Human Nutrition, an ARS National Program (#107) described on the World Wide Web at www.nps.ars.usda.gov.

Jae B. Park is with the USDA-ARS Phytonutrients Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Bldg. 307-C, Room 133, Beltsville, MD 20705; phone (301) 504-8365, fax (301) 504-9456.

Source: ARS USDA

What is it?

Gossypol is an herbal medicine used to treat cancer and a female problem called endometriosis. It may also be used by women and men to prevent pregnancy.

Other names for Gossypol include: Gossypium hirsutum and Cottonseed oil.

Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you need more information about this medicine or if any information in this leaflet concerns you.

Before Using: Tell your doctor if you.

* are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement)
* are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine
* are breastfeeding
* have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease

Dosage: There are many doses for this medicine. The most common doses for Gossypol are listed below. Ask your doctor if your health problem is not on the list or if the dose is not given for a product you want to use.

* Cancer (adrenal), tablet: 40 to 60 milligrams daily, by mouth (1)
* Cancer (glioma), tablet: Racemic Gossypol 10 milligrams twice daily, by mouth (2)
* Female birth control, gel: put application of a Gossypol acetic acid gel 0.5 milligram/milliliter into vagina before having sex (3)
* Male birth control, tablet: 10 to 20 milligrams (mg) daily for 75 to 180 days or until adequate reduction in sperm count is reached, followed by 35 to 65 mg weekly, by mouth (4-8)

To store this medicine: Keep all medicine locked up and away from children. Store medicine away from heat and direct light. Do not store your medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down and not work the way it should work. Throw away medicine that is out of date or that you do not need. Never share your medicine with others.

Drug and Food Interactions: Do not take Gossypol without talking to your doctor if you are taking:

* Chloroquine (9)
* Digoxin (1,7,10-12)
* Diuretic (1,7,11)
* Ethanol (13-15)
* Iron (16)
* Isoproterenol (10,17,18)
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (1,19,20)
* Potassium (7,11,12)

Warnings:

* Do not take Gossypol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Side Effects: Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.

* Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
* Chest pain
* Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin
* Severe tiredness (21)
* Muscle weakness or paralysis (21)
* Dry mouth or skin, nausea (upset stomach), vomiting (throwing up), hair loss, bowel problems (1)

References:
1. Flack MR, Pyle RG, Sullen NM et al: Oral gossypol in the treatment of metastatic adrenal cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993; 76:1019-1024.
2. Bushunow P, Reidenberg NM, Wasenko J et al: Gossypol treatment of recurrent adult malignant gliomas. J Neuro-Oncology 1999; 43(1):79-86.
3. Ratsula K, Haukkamaa M, Wichmann K et al: Vaginal contraception with gossypol: a clinical study. Contraception 1983; 27(6):571-576.
4. Coutinho EM, Athayde C, Atta G et al: Gossypol blood levels and inhibition of spermatogenesis in men taking gossypol as a contraceptive. A multicenter, international, dose-finding study. Contraception 2000; 61(1): 61-67.
5. Gu ZP, Mao BY, Wang YX et al: Low dose gossypol for male contraception. Asian J Androl 2000; 2(4):283-287.
6. Coutinho EM & Melo JF: Clinical experience with gossypol in non-Chinese men: a follow-up. Contraception 1988; 37(2):137-151.
7. Liu GZ, Lyle KC & Cao J: Clinical trial of gossypol as a male contraceptive drug. Part I. Efficacy study. Fertil Steril 1987; 48(3):459-461.
8. Liu GZ, Lyle K & Cao J: Experiences with gossypol as a male pill. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1987a; 157(4 pt 2):1079-1082.
9. Nwoha PU & Aire TA: The effects of gossypol and chloroquine interaction on serum electrolytes of protein-malnourished rats. Contraception 1995a; 52(4):255-259.
10. Ye YX, Akera T & Ng YC: Modification of the positive inotropic effects of catecholamines, cardiac glycosides and Ca2+ by the orally active male contraceptive, gossypol, in isolated guinea pig heart. Life Sci 1989; 45(20): 1853-1861.
11. Liu GZ, Ch’iu-Hinton K, Cao J et al: Effects of potassium salt or a potassium blocker on gossypol-related hypokalemia. Contraception 1988; 37(2):111-117.
12. Shaozhen A, Guangwei J, Xiaoyun W et al: Gossypol related hypokalemia: clinicopharmacologic studies. Chin Med J 1980; 93:477-482.
13. Akingbemi BT, Rao PV & Aire TA: Chronic ethanol intake may delay the onset of gossypol-induced infertility in the male rat. Andrologia 1997; 29(4):201-207.
14. Messiha FS: Effect of gossypol on kinetics of mouse liver alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase. Gen Pharmac 1991; 22(4):573-576.
15. Messiha FS: Behavioral and metabolic interaction between gossypol and ethanol. Toxicol Lett 1991a; 57(2):175-181.
16. Herman DL & Smith FH: Effect of bound gossypol on the absorption of iron by rats. J Nutr 1973; 103(6):882-889.
17. Wu DF, Yu YW, Tang ZM et al: Pharmacokinetics of (+/-)-,(+)-, and (-)-gossypol in humans and dogs. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1986; 39(6):613-618.
18. Ye YX, Akera T & Ng YC: Direct actions of gossypol on cardiac muscle. Eur J Pharmacol 1987; 136(1):55-62.
19.Wagner H, Hikino H & Farnsworth NR (eds): Economic and Medicinal Plant Research. Academic Press, London, England; 1985.
20. DeSmet PAGM, Keller K, Hansel R et al (eds): Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 2. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany; 1993:195-208.
21. Wooley RJ: Contraception-a look forward, part II: Mifepristone and gossypol. Contraception 1991; 4:103-113.

Source: Health Library
The information contained in this health library is for reference purposes only. Some services or procedures listed here may not be provided by Genesis Health System entities. Please consult your medical professional for further information.

BioPlanta GmbH and AnalytiCon Discovery GmbH announce their cooperation in the plant-based search for active ingredients.

Leipzig, 09/06/2005 - The aim of the cooperation between BioPlanta and AnalytiCon is to find and to develop new plant-derived active ingredients for use in medicinal therapy. The potential for continuous production of these plant-derived pure compounds - independent of seasonal variation - is of vital importance!

Cell and organ cultures of rare plant species featuring an interesting pattern of substances are produced in bioreactors under clean room conditions. The most promising species are identified by means of a meaningful analytical profiling program in combination with selected biotests and a database comparison of the results. Potential drug candidates contained in these species are efficiently purified and identified. The main focus of interest in this cooperation is on substances with antitumoral properties.

First tests have already shown that in vitro cultures can produce more active agents than plants from wild collections or greenhouse cultures and frequently also yield new ones. The two cooperation partners have combined their technologies, to create an exceptionally effective in vitro production and screening platform.

BioPlanta has gained reputation within the scientific community for the development of its worldwide unique bioreactor technology for the production of plants under clean room conditions and their commercial exploitation. In collaboration with AnalytiCon, this technology is now being used to produce entirely novel groups of natural active ingredients in premium quality and with reliable availability. Innovative active agents can now be rapidly identified and provided in amounts needed for preclinical studies.

For AnalytiCon, the cooperation with BioPlanta represents another significant step towards strengthening the company´s position as leading provider of natural product-based pure compound libraries and collections. From AnalytiCon´s point of view, the reliable resupply which is independent of seasonal variation is a crucial requirement which will considerably boost the attractiveness of herbal ingredients as starting points in the search for active agents.

About AnalytiCon.
AnalytiCon a brand and at the same time successful company is world’s first address for all needs in connection with natural product drug discovery. From prospecting for biosources, via fermentation, extraction and isolation to high throughput structure elucidation, the company provides a vast portfolio of first class services. Beyond that, AnalytiCon produces pure natural compound collections and libraries of synthetic, natural product based molecules carrying relevant bioactive structure elements. The natural product drug discovery platform is complemented by a portfolio of medicinal chemistry services.
For further information see www.ac-discovery.com.

About BioPlanta.
BioPlanta is one of the leading companies in applying bioengineered approaches for discovery, development, and commercialisation of fine chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds using it’s proprietary platform technology. This technology - the BioPlant-System - is particularly suitable for manipulating plant metabolism to generate active compounds with higher value than field plants. The control and variation of cultivation conditions enables customized content and spectra of the specific compounds. This innovative platform technology was installed to manufacture plant derived chemical compounds for pharmaceutical, flavour, and food related industries. It allows the production of high-quality drugs, cost-effective scale up, an efficient screening of new active compounds, and the design of novel drugs.
For further information see www.bioplanta-leipzig.de.

Contact Details:
BioPlanta GmbH
Contact Person: Dr. Dirk Wilken
Deutscher Platz 5
D-04103 Leipzig
Tel.: +49 341 224 58 30
Fax: +49 341 224 58 31
info@bioplanta-leipzig.de
www.bioplanta-leipzig.de

AnalytiCon Discovery GmbH
Contact Person: Dr. Lutz Müller-Kuhrt
Hermannswerder Haus 17
D-14473 Potsdam
Tel.: +49 331 2300 300
Fax: +49 331 2300 333
info@ac-discovery.com
www.ac-discovery.com

Metal complexes that mimic the shapes of natural products show unique properties

Natural products are classic inspirations for, and indeed sources of, therapeutic agents, but they are scarce and often painstaking to make by synthetic means. At the American Chemical Society national meeting this week in Washington, D.C., Eric Meggers of the University of Pennsylvania demonstrated that simple metal complexes could replicate the unique activities of natural products.

more…

Cape Biotech is investigating a possible bio-prospecting partnership which would enable South Africa, Brazil and India to share each other’s resources in order to capitalize on their rich biodiversity.

Bio-prospecting is the search for valuable compounds in nature - plants, animals or micro-organisms - that can assist in the development of new drugs or industrial products.

Dr Mark Fyvie, Managing Director of Cape Biotech recently attended an India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) trade delegation where he met with his counterparts in New Delhi, and where a bio-prospecting memorandum of understanding was signed. Fyvie believes the three countries have “huge tracts of biodiversity” that can benefit each other, particularly sharing and collaborating on information platforms.

Biotechnology is one of the core focus areas of the IBSA agreement and representatives from government and industry met to discuss, among other issues, setting up tangible collaborations in the areas of functional genomics and high throughput biology.

“We are starting off very pragmatically and see this as a process that will gradually align the biodiversity objectives of the three countries,” he said.

Fyvie adds that they would like to create the ability for a powerful screening presence for the three countries, thereby enabling access to samples that are being poorly managed.

“This partnership is an agreement to work together going forward and is one of a number of areas of co-operation, where we could optimally exploit value from biodiversity and potentially embark on a joint bio-diversity project,” he says.

“The rollout is envisaged in three stages: sharing and learning, exchanging technologies and technology transfer, and eventually shared facilities among the three countries, but this will only be potentially possible once the alignment of national policies has begun.”

Fyvie was very impressed with India’s investment in skills development.

“There are many highly skilled people in India, which has contributed enormously to the country’s success in the biotech industry. The message is that you cannot over-invest in skills. This coupled with the strong IT industry, as biotech is becoming more information rich, will sustain the future expansion of the biotech sector of the Indian economy.”

Where South Africa is at an “advantage” says Fyvie, is that our infrastructure is better developed, our business culture is more westernised and the language barrier is less of an issue for foreign investors.

“What we don’t have is as big a local market to justify working on and developing expensive products like India, and this is probably why they are the 12th largest biotechnology entity in the world.” he said.

Fyvie hopes that this cooperative effort will allow all three countries to maximize their biodiversity by capitalising on each country’s areas of strength and experience.

Cape Biotech is the Western Cape-based Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centre (Bric) an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology.

I-Net Bridge

AnalytiCon to provide a highly purified, fully elucidated natural product compound library

Potsdam, Germany (July 12, 2005) - AnalytiCon Discovery GmbH (AnalytiCon), a specialist in all aspects of natural product drug discovery, announced it has signed an agreement that will provide Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. (J&JPRD), with full access to the unique chemical diversity contained within AnalytiCon’s extensive natural products biological collection. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

According to the agreement, AnalytiCon will apply its proprietary MEGAbolite® technology to isolate and characterize small molecule compounds from a variety of biosources to find novel and pharmaceutically active compounds on behalf of J&JPRD. AnalytiCon will profile both its own extensive proprietary biological collections and biomaterials provided by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Tibotec) that are described in ethno-botany for active compounds. In addition, AnalytiCon will carry out all tasks beginning with the acquisition of plant and microbial material, and the isolation and fractionation of the contained natural product compounds up to their analytical characterization. AnalytiCon expects to deliver more than 500 highly purified compounds with fully elucidated structures to J&JPRD and Tibotec for drug discovery screening activities. AnalytiCon also expects to establish the resupply protocol in order to guarantee compound supply for J&JPRD’s follow-up discovery work on an as-needed basis.

“We have had a long business relationship with J&JRPD and we are excited to continue this relationship,” said Dr. Lutz Müller-Kuhrt, CEO of AnalytiCon Discovery GmbH. “We expect to supply a number of novel compounds and we look forward to working with J&JPRD within their discovery process.”

The internationally operating AnalytiCon Discovery GmbH is a worldwide market-leader in the field of structurally fully elucidated natural product libraries. On the basis of its ready-to-screen technology in the field of natural products (MEGAbolite®) and natural product analogues (NatDiverseTM) the company enjoys an exceptional market positioning. AnalytiCon has direct access to roughly a quarter of all known natural compounds worldwide, i.e. in their pure and structurally fully elucidated form. The company is able to offer its clients a complete Supply-Chain-Management from the initial biomaterial to the final lead compound.

About AnalytiCon
AnalytiCon a brand and at the same time successful company, is world’s first address for all needs in connection with natural product drug discovery. >From prospecting for biosources, via fermentation, extraction and isolation to high throughput structure elucidation, the company provides a vast portfolio of first class services. Beyond that, AnalytiCon produces pure natural compound collections and libraries of synthetic, natural product based molecules carrying relevant bio-active structure elements. The natural product drug discovery platform is complemented by a portfolio of medicinal chemistry services. For further information see www.ac-discovery.com.