RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM) today announced that genes analyzed
and confirmed as "hits" in its Arabidopsis thaliana GeneFunction Factory(TM)
platform have moved into Monsanto Company's corn and soybean research-and-
development testing pipeline. These genes may affect valuable agronomic
traits, such as increased growth rates and stress resistance.
"We have been very pleased with the results from Paradigm's research and
the success of our collaboration thus far," said Stephen Padgette, Ph.D., Vice
President, Biotechnology, Monsanto Company. "The fact that we've received
confirmed hits from Paradigm means the process of moving promising genes into
crop testing at Monsanto is substantially expedited."
"This is a tremendous success for Paradigm," said Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D.
"Over the years, we have demonstrated our leadership in determining the
function of genes in plants. Now that Monsanto is incorporating genes
analyzed by Paradigm into its crop trait pipeline, the potential for the
commercial value of our research has clearly increased. This exciting step
strengthens our current collaboration and open new doors in our relationship
with Monsanto."
In its collaboration with Monsanto, Paradigm is running thousands of genes
through its Gene Function Factory(TM) platform for the purpose of discovering
those that can affect commercially relevant traits. As part of its recently
restructured research plan, Paradigm also reanalyzes a select subset of the
genes, a step that provides statistically rigorous confirmation of the genes'
ability to affect valuable agronomic traits.
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. Paradigm's
proprietary Gene to Cell to System(TM) approach has three major components:
gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling (also known as metabolomics)
and data integration and coherence. For more information, visit
http://www.paradigmgenetics.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 year ended March 31, 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, Director of Corporate
Communications, +1-919-425-3000, or Mark Vincent of Noonan Russo
Presence Euro RSCG, +1-212-845-4200, for Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
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