BURLINGAME, Calif., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- BioSeek, Inc., a leader in
applying integrated human biology systems for developing new therapeutics,
announced today that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with
UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader based in Belgium. Under the
collaboration, BioSeek will apply its BioMAP(R) Systems to evaluate a
number of UCB compounds across several target classes, in support of target
differentiation, lead development, and drug candidate selection activities
at UCB.
"We are excited to be working closely with UCB, an innovative
biopharmaceutical company combining distinctive strengths in chemistry and
biology, and focusing on severe diseases in three important therapeutic
areas, CNS, inflammation and oncology," commented Michael C. Venuti, Ph.D.,
CEO of BioSeek. "This collaboration leverages the power of our systems
biology technology across multiple disease areas and multiple phases of the
drug development process."
"The BioMAP(R) platform represents a very promising approach to
applying the promise of whole-systems biology to the drug discovery and
development process," stated Dr. Mark Bushfield, VP, NCE Research, UCB.
BioSeek's BioMAP(R) Systems are a series of human primary cell-based
assay systems designed to replicate the intricate cell and pathway
interactions present in human disease biology. Depending on their mechanism
of action, compounds induce specific patterns of changes in these systems
(BioMAP profiles) that can be compared to a large number of reference
profiles in BioSeek's database. BioMAP profiling can provide in-depth
characterization of drug function, including defining mechanism of action
and secondary activities, and can provide insights into potential clinical
applications. In addition to characterizing previously identified lead
compounds, BioSeek is using BioMAP Systems for primary screening, to
rapidly generate lead compounds that have novel activity in a particular
disease setting.
About BioSeek
BioSeek is improving the success rate of pharmaceutical research and
development by integrating human biology from the early stages of drug
discovery onward. The Company's BioMAP(R) Systems incorporate predictive
human cell-based disease models that generate uniquely informative activity
signatures for each potential drug, driving the selection and development
of new drug candidates. BioSeek is leveraging BioMAP(R) Systems technology
in collaborations to enhance the productivity of its pharmaceutical
partners' pipelines, and in the Company's internal programs to identify
promising compounds for proprietary development in the fields of
inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, and related
indications.
For more information, go to http://www.bioseekinc.com
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (http://www.ucb-group.com) is a global leader in the
biopharmaceutical industry dedicated to the research, development and
commercialisation of innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology products
in the fields of central nervous system disorders, allergy/respiratory
diseases, immune and inflammatory disorders and oncology. UCB focuses on
securing a leading position in severe disease categories. Employing more
than 10,000 people in over 40 countries, UCB achieved revenue of 3.5
billion euro in 2006 on a pro forma basis. UCB S.A. is listed on the
Euronext Brussels Exchange and, through its affiliate, owns approx. 89% of
the shares of SCHWARZ PHARMA AG. SCHWARZ PHARMA (Monheim, Germany) is a
member of the UCB Group.
BioSeek Contacts:
BioSeek, Inc.
Michael Venuti, Ph.D.
CEO
Tel: 650.552.0754
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Jennifer Greenleaf
Tel: 781.235.3060
SOURCE BioSeek, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.bioseekinc.com
http://www.ucb-group.com
CONTACT:
Michael Venuti, Ph.D., CEO of BioSeek, Inc.,
+1-650-552-0754, or Jennifer Greenleaf of MacDougall Biomedical
Communications, +1-781-235-3060
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