MORRISVILLE, N.C., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- PPGx, Inc., a leading
international developer and supplier of research-based pharmacogenomic
services and products, announced today that Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
(NYSE: BMY) will incorporate its breakthrough GeneTrials(TM) Bioinformatics
Platform into its pharmacogenomics research and development program.
The agreement is part of PPGx's GeneTrials Partner Program, a framework
through which PPGx grants pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies early
access to its bioinformatics technology and pharmacogenomics expertise.
Through the program, PPGx software developers and pharmacogenomic consultants
work jointly with partner scientists to customize GeneTrials to meet the
client's specific project needs and to identify opportunities for technical
enhancement.
PPGx has made a significant investment in developing the GeneTrials
Platform to overcome the dual challenges of managing the vast amount of
clinical and genomic data available publicly and from in-house and
collaborative genetic studies and turning that information into usable
scientific knowledge. The GeneTrials Platform provides unique capabilities
that enable scientists to quickly and efficiently browse, query and mine the
diverse and increasingly large data sets encountered in pharmacogenomic
research.
"As we lead research into the era of personalized medicine, the ability to
integrate research data across a variety of disciplines becomes a critical
capability. PPGx's GeneTrials allows us to combine our genomic, clinical and
preclinical data sets to enable exciting new opportunities for our
pharmacogenomics program," said Nicholas Dracopoli, Ph.D., executive director
of pharmacogenomics with Bristol-Myers Squibb.
"We are delighted to join the Bristol-Myers Squibb team and help the
company capitalize on the advantages offered by the GeneTrials Platform," said
PPGx President and CEO Josh Baker, Ph.D. "PPGx brings to the table an
advanced software technology and a unique understanding of how to apply
bioinformatics and pharmacogenomics to drug development. It's an ideal
partnership, with both companies looking toward speeding time-to-market and
maximizing patient outcomes. We look forward to expanding this strategic
relationship in the future."
PPGx makes available a suite of advanced bioinformatics software products,
tools and services through the GeneTrials Partner Program, including access to
PPGx's GeneTrials Data Warehouse and GeneTrials Explorer software products.
GeneTrials Data Warehouse is a highly scalable Oracle-based repository that
employs sophisticated commercial data warehousing technology to integrate,
manage and organize complex pharmacogenomic data. GeneTrials Explorer
provides scientists with an extremely powerful user interface for browsing,
querying, annotating and analyzing information stored within the GeneTrials
Data Warehouse.
Pharmacogenomics is the science of using genetic information to predict
the variable response of patients to drug therapy. PPGx researchers have been
working in pharmacogenomics for more than seven years to develop genetic tests
and tools to enable patients and physicians to predict individual drug
response and to help drug developers discover safer medicines, reduce
development costs and speed time to market.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a $20 billion diversified global health and
personal care company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.
Visit Bristol-Myers Squibb on the World Wide Web at http://www.bms.com.
About PPGx
PPGx (http://www.ppgx.com ) provides technical and consulting expertise in the
application of pharmacogenomics to optimize and accelerate drug discovery and
development. Combining genetic research technologies from its computational
and research divisions, GLP/CLIA global laboratory services and a
comprehensive bioinformatics platform, PPGx provides pharmacogenomic solutions
for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. A joint venture formed in
February 1999 between PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) and Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq: AXPH), PPGx is committed to the discovery of predictive genetic
markers for use in clinical trials to result in delivery of therapeutic and
life-saving medicines. PPGx pharmacogenomic services and products are
exclusively marketed by PPD.
SOURCE PPGx, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ppgx.com
CONTACT:
Roger Friedensen of Epley Associates, Inc.,
919-877-0877, or friedensen@epley-ral.com , for PPGx, Inc.
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