BRANFORD, Conn., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Genomics Inc. (CGI)
today announced the expansion of its ongoing joint kinase discovery program
with Serono to now include the study of an additional kinase drug target of
interest to Serono. Under the original collaborative research agreement
announced in October of 2002, CGI is applying its proprietary chemical
genetics technologies to four kinase drug targets selected by Serono.
"We are very proud of the partnership we have established with Serono and
are pleased that this industry leader in developing innovative therapeutics
has elected to expand our current collaboration," said Louis Matis, President
and Chief Executive Officer of CGI. "We look forward to further applying our
unique chemical genetics technologies to enhance Serono's kinase programs, and
to continuing to build upon our highly productive relationship."
CGI's cutting-edge chemical genetics approach is based on the discovery of
Analog Sensitive Kinase Alleles (ASKAs). ASKAs are genetically modified
kinases that retain all the functions of normal kinases, but can be potently
inhibited with exquisite selectivity and specificity by a specially designed
proprietary small molecule analog inhibitor. This enables researchers to
quickly understand the pharmacological consequences of inhibiting a chosen
single kinase. Therefore, early in the discovery program, researchers can
evaluate the likely therapeutic benefit of inhibiting the normal kinase target
with a small molecule drug. CGI holds the exclusive worldwide license to this
broadly enabling chemical genetics technology, which is being directly applied
to multiple facets of the drug discovery process. These include: cell pathway
based target identification; rigorous, pharmaceutically relevant in vivo
target validation; proprietary high-content drug screens; and in vivo systems
that provide key therapeutic index and drug safety information to guide the
selection of optimal drug candidates for clinical development.
Under the terms of the amended agreement, CGI will use its ASKA technology
to produce the modified kinases for Serono. In addition, CGI's P-inhibitor
technology will be utilized to study the consequences of potent, selective
kinase inhibition in vivo, and CGI will apply its P-target technology for
in-depth mapping of clinically important kinase signaling pathways of interest
to Serono.
About CGI:
Cellular Genomics Inc. (CGI) is a privately held genomics-based
biopharmaceutical company that is pioneering a unique, highly integrated
chemical genetics platform to discover and develop kinase and other signal
transduction inhibitors for multiple clinical indications. CGI has
established state-of-the art small molecule drug discovery capabilities,
including proprietary chemical libraries generated through the company's
High-throughput Accelerated Lead Optimization (HALO) platform. CGI has
generated potent, selective lead candidates in three drug discovery and
development programs in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, cancer, and
angiogenesis that are advancing rapidly toward the clinic. CGI's proprietary
chemical genetics technologies have broad applications across all phases of
drug discovery, which the company is leveraging both to advance its own
internal drug development programs as well as to establish partnerships with
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Within the past year, the Company
announced research collaborations with Serono SA, Schering AG, and Pfizer
Inc., all of which are implementing CGI's chemical genetics technologies for
partners' kinase drug discovery programs. Please visit
http://www.cellulargenomics.com for additional information.
SOURCE Cellular Genomics Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.cellulargenomics.com
CONTACT:
Louis A. Matis, M.D., President and CEO of
Cellular Genomics, Inc., +1-203-315-1222; Rhonda Chiger,
Investors, +1-917-322-2569, or Pete Holmberg, Media,
+1-917-322-2164, both of Rx Communications Group, for Cellular
Genomics Inc.
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