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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Trega Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRGA)
today announced the successful achievement of the final consortium milestone
in the development of the absorption module of its IDEA(TM) (In Vitro
Determination for the Estimation of ADME) simulation system. IDEA is now
being commercially introduced to potential customers.
IDEA is a quantitative, predictive system under development by Trega as
part of its iDiscovery(TM) technology to facilitate the rapid screening of
compounds for ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion)
characteristics. It is a physiologically based model of oral drug absorption
and the first module enables the prediction of human in vivo drug absorption
from in vitro data. The value of this system is its early use in the
discovery process to evaluate compounds for their behavior in humans, without
the time and cost of traditional animal-based methods, and as an aid in the
selection of drug candidates for clinical development.
This first module of IDEA was developed in collaboration with a consortium
of prominent pharmaceutical companies including SmithKline Beecham, Genentech,
Warner-Lambert and Schering-Plough. The module utilizes a unique proprietary
database of human and in vitro data from a diverse set of clinically tested
compounds with a broad range of physicochemical and in vivo performance. The
data set includes both marketed drugs and compounds which have been tested in
humans but failed to become drug products.
The final milestone in the consortium development effort focused on the
evaluation of the predictive capability of IDEA and represents a unique effort
to measure such predictive capability of a simulation model for ADME. IDEA
exceeded the performance requirements set out by the consortium.
Subsequently, data produced from the absorption module of IDEA will serve as
inputs for the metabolism module currently in development.
"The completion of the first module of IDEA creates an exciting commercial
opportunity for Trega," said Michael G. Grey, president & CEO of Trega. "The
introduction of IDEA is also a key milestone in the development of Trega's
iDiscovery strategy. The synergy of IDEA with Chem.Folio(TM) and our
expanding distribution channels, such as ChemNavigator.com, are broadening
Trega's business as a critical supplier of information technologies to the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. We expect the revenues from the
absorption module will become a significant part of Trega's business in the
coming year. This is the first of a series of ADME simulation systems which
Trega plans to develop and commercialize in the near future."
"Trega is addressing the ADME bottleneck, which is a major challenge in
drug discovery," said George M. Grass, Ph.D., president of Trega's NaviCyte
subsidiary. "Our predictive technology is unique in the pharmaceutical
industry, and enables the characterization of compound performance in humans
early in the discovery process. Early characterization of ADME will
accelerate drug discovery and facilitate the selection of drug candidates with
the greatest chance of success in development. It will also help to identify
compounds which should not be taken forward as clinical candidates."
"Trega has demonstrated that this model can accurately predict the
absorption of compounds in the body," continued Dr. Grass. "The successful
development of this module of IDEA is due to the interaction of the consortium
members and Trega scientists. The creation of this unique and proprietary
database, in combination with the modeling techniques developed and utilized
at Trega, have created a very valuable drug discovery tool. We are continuing
to utilize this approach to expand our simulation capabilities in other ADME
areas."
Trega Biosciences is an information-driven technology company focused on
accelerating the process of drug discovery from target identification to
qualification of clinical candidates by using small molecule combinatorial
chemistry, high throughput screening and predictive bioinformatics to rapidly
create novel drug candidates having greater chances of clinical success. In
combination with its wholly owned subsidiary, NaviCyte, Trega offers
integrated products and services spanning the drug discovery process --
beginning with synthesis of novel compounds to delivering uniquely qualified
drug leads -- to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Trega
also uses its drug discovery technologies in internal development programs,
which are focused on discovering small molecules acting on melanocortin
receptors for the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including whether the Company's resources are
sufficient to enable it to reach its objectives as described above, whether
the IDEA(TM) software will be successfully completed, operated or
commercialized, whether any research to be conducted as described will be
successful, any additional collaborations, alliances, or consortia will be
agreed to, formed or expanded, whether regulatory approvals can be obtained
for products so discovered and developed, if any, whether any such products
can be successfully marketed, the impact of competitive products and pricing,
in marketing success, whether any other corporate collaborations or alliances
will be successful, and other risks detailed from time to time in Trega's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements
represent Trega's judgment as of the date of this release. Actual results may
differ materially from those projected. Trega disclaims, however, any intent
or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Trega's releases are on the World Wide Web at http://www.trega.com and PR
Newswire's fax-on-demand service at 1-800-758-5804, extension 374050.
SOURCE Trega Biosciences, Inc.
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http://www.trega.com
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http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/374050.html or fax,
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CONTACT:
Gerard A. Wills, V.P. Finance & CFO,
858-410-6695, or Cynthia Reindal, Corp. Communications & Investor
Relations, 858-410-6601, both of Trega Biosciences, Inc.
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