Company to use its GeneFunction Factory(R) platform to identify plant genes
that influence crop traits
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Paradigm
Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM), a biotechnology company, today announced that
it has signed a collaboration agreement with Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, to identify
plant genes that influence important crop traits for use in Pioneer's crop
variety development program.
For this collaboration, Paradigm will use its high throughput GeneFunction
Factory(R) platform to analyze genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model
organism, and identify those genes that will enable Pioneer to accelerate the
product breakthroughs and improvements it brings to its customers worldwide.
"We are delighted to collaborate with Pioneer as we strive to provide high
throughput, cutting edge research results to our agricultural partners.
Pioneer is a leader in commercializing agricultural biotechnology, and we are
proud to utilize our GeneFunction Factory(R) as part of their genomics-based
trait discovery process," said Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D., president and CEO of
Paradigm Genetics. "This collaboration demonstrates that our strategy for
expanding and extending our agricultural customer base of partners is both
sound and effective. It also demonstrates our continuous efforts to improve
our multiple technology platforms for obtaining a greater understanding of
biological systems are paying off."
"We are pleased to collaborate with Paradigm and use its functional
genomics capabilities," said Bill Niebur, vice president of research, product
development for Pioneer. "We believe that discoveries made through this
collaboration will complement our established trait discovery programs and
will allow us to continue to develop new products that bring value to our
customers."
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 the 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, and 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 four major
components: gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling (also known as
metabolomics), phenotypic profiling and data integration and coherence. For
more information, visit http://www.paradigmgenetics.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding Paradigm's ability to increase R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle; and to use 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 its partners. 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 annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2002 and in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, each 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, Corporate
Communications of Paradigm Genetics, Inc., +1-919-425-3000; or
Brian Ritchie or Mark Vincent of Noonan Russo Presence Euro RSCG,
+1-212-845-4200
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