RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and PITTSBURGH, March 19
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM) and
TissueInformatics.Inc. announced today that they intend to enter into a
collaboration to discover novel biomarkers for chronic liver disease.
Under the proposed agreement, Paradigm would perform metabolomics studies
on tissue, urine and plasma to identify disease-specific biochemical profiles
and TissueInformatics would perform automated, quantitative analyses of tissue
histopathology to identify disease-specific changes in tissue structure.
Together, the companies would integrate and analyze these data with the goal
of identifying novel biomarkers that signal the presence and progression of
liver disease. Additionally, Paradigm and TissueInformatics would market the
combined capabilities of their technologies to pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies in the areas of toxicology, drug discovery and
clinical trials. In addition to the above agreement, Paradigm has also
entered into a Service agreement with TissueInformatics whereby
TissueInformatics will provide tissue image analysis services for an upcoming
toxicology study. The financial terms of these agreements were not disclosed.
"This relationship represents an important step in the building of
Paradigm's healthcare business and strengthens our offerings in predictive
toxicology and disease staging," said Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D., president and
CEO of Paradigm Genetics. "While our proven expertise in gene expression
profiling, biochemical profiling and data integration contribute important
insights into drug action, the ability to analyze high quality histology data
in an unbiased, automated manner places the diagnosis of disease and the
assessment of drug safety on solid, practical ground, and bridges the gap
between traditional pathology and next generation in silico diagnostic tools.
We access these capabilities by partnering with TissueInformatics, which we
recognize as a world leader in this area."
"We are pleased to provide Paradigm Genetics with our expertise in the
quantitative analysis of tissue," said TissueInformatics' CEO, Peter C.
Johnson, MD. "We are excited about combining forces to discover novel
biomarkers for liver disease."
According to the American Liver Foundation, cirrhosis and other liver
diseases take the lives of more than 25,000 Americans each year and rank
eighth as a cause of death in the United States. Cirrhosis is currently
diagnosed based on symptoms, laboratory tests, medical history, and a physical
examination, and confirmed by liver biopsy. Laboratory tests measure certain
enzymes released by damaged liver cells into the bloodstream, and reductions
in a serum protein called albumin. Elevated levels of liver enzymes and a low
level of albumin suggest possible liver damage. However, some healthy
patients may show elevated enzyme and low protein counts, whereas other
patients with cirrhosis or hepatitis may show normal levels, indicating the
need for additional tests and markers in making a reliable diagnosis.
About Paradigm Genetics
Paradigm is a biotechnology company aiming to increase R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle, from target discovery to subsequent enhancement of the safety and
efficacy profiles of development candidates in agriculture and human health.
Paradigm chooses a systems biology approach to understand gene function in the
context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for molecular
diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of our partners. For more
information, visit http://www.paradigmgenetics.com.
Paradigm was recently awarded a five-year toxicogenomics contract of up to
$23.8 million by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The
contract is focused on determining how toxicants work and cause damage at the
cellular level. The research may result in better methods of risk assessment
and compound optimization for both the pharmaceutical and agricultural
chemical industries.
About TissueInformatics
TissueInformatics is the pioneer of automated hyperquantification analysis
of normal and pathological tissue. TissueInformatics has revolutionized the
tissue analysis process by enabling automated quantitative analysis of tissue
and this enables the company to provide the industry with both
TissueAnalytics(TM) Software and TissueAnalytics(TM) Services.
TissueInformatics industry-wide expertise in tissue image capture and
analysis, thorough scientific understanding of tissue morphology and extensive
experience in performing daily slide analysis in its own TissueAnalytics(TM)
Laboratory, allows TissueInformatics to provide high capacity tissue
analytical services and provide a complete TissueAnalytics(TM) software
solution for implementation within its clients own laboratories. For more
information, visit http://www.TissueInformatics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding the effect of executing Paradigm's strategic plan on
increasing shareholder value going forward. Such forward-looking statements
are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of
risks, factors and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and
performance to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking
statements. These risks, factors and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, Paradigm's early stage of development, history of net losses,
technological and product development uncertainties, reliance on research
collaborations, uncertainty of additional funding and ability to protect its
patents and proprietary rights. Certain of these and other risks are
identified in Paradigm's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend
to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release
to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our
expectations, except as may be required by law.
SOURCE Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Matson, Manager of Corporate
Communications of Paradigm Genetics, Inc., +1-919-425-3000, or
media, Prateek Patnaik, or investors, Amy Garay, +1-212-845-4200,
both of Noonan Russo Presence Euro RSCG, or Todd A. Joron, Senior
Vice President of Sales & Marketing of TissueInformatics.Inc.,
+1-412-327-4354, or e-mail, TJoron@TissueInformatics.com
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