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CuraGen in Drug-Development Alliance
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tech briefs health news
1/10/2000
By: BNH
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NEW HAVEN - Abgenix Inc., an antibody-based biopharmaceutical company, and CuraGen Corp. (NASDAQ: CRGN) of New Haven have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to develop and commercialize genomics-based antibody drugs using XenoMouse technology. The five-year alliance has been established to identify up to 120 fully human antibody drug candidates intended for treating a broad range of diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Antibodies to cancer antigens in CuraGen's database will be generated exclusively with Abgenix' XenoMouse technology during this alliance.
Under terms of the agreement, Abgenix will purchase $15 million of CuraGen common stock and CuraGen will provide research support payments of $1.5 million annually. In addition, both companies will receive reciprocating milestone and royalty payments for products resulting from the drug-development alliance.
"Abgenix is impressed with CuraGen's technical capabilities with integrated genomics-based drug discovery and development," said R. Scott Greer, president and CEO of Abgenix. "This strategic alliance complements our existing relationship with Human Genome Sciences and significantly expands our presence in the genomics field. We are pleased to be joining Biogen and Genentech as corporate partners with equity stakes in CuraGen."
"This strategic alliance changes the drug-development landscape by establishing a powerful platform for producing genomics-based antibody drugs over a shorter period of time," said Jonathan M. Rothberg, founder, chairman and CEO of CuraGen. "Through this partnership, both companies will leverage CuraGen's suite of genomics technologies and databases to systematically mine the genome to discover appropriate drug targets against which to use the XenoMouse technology for developing antibody drugs."
Genaissance Earns Patent for Gene Collection
NEW HAVEN - Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced that the U.S. Patent ‡ Trademark Office issued a patent on novel methods for generating gene anthologies - collections of candidate genes from both chromosomes from multiple individuals in different world population groups. The patent broadly protects Genaissance's propietary approach for enabling the systematic analysis of gene variation in key pharmaceutical targets, important in tailoring drugs to individual patients.
The Genaissance approach is based on organizing SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, into meaningful units or haplotypes (HAP markers) to offer a more powerful method of connecting gene variation with drug response than that afforded by analysis of individual SNPs alone. Collections of HAP markers or gene anthologies may be used to isolate gene targets for drug development, to identify haplotypes for specific genes, to determine sensitivities to drugs based on underlying genetic variation found in patients and to make important connections between gene variation and individual responses.
"This patent represents the fundamental intellectual property for Genaissance's approach to analyze the variation found in gene targets of pharmaceutical significance," said Gualberto Ruafio, Genaissance CEO. "We have found that gene-specific HAP markers provide unparalleled precision for extracting the core variation data critical for making the important connection to drug response. A key advantage to our approach is that it can be used on small patient groups of less than 200, the typical size of a Phase I or II clinical study, thereby empowering pharmaceutical companies to conduct more successful clinical trials."
Yale Professor Makes Fun of Radiology at Epcot
NEW HAVEN - Bruce McClennan, M.D., professor and chairman of diagnostic radiology at the Yale School of Medicine, has collaborated with Walt Disney World to create an interactive exhibit on radiology at Epcot. McClennan helped plan the exhibit, Radiology: Medicine's New Vision, with colleagues from the Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA). He says the display, which opened in October, showcases the role of radiologists in today's medicine and helps to explain the many new uses of radiology for both treatment and therapy.
The exhibit features an arcade with several video games, including "Cell Smash," in which a guest can blast a cancer cell, and "Brain Game," which offers a virtual ride through the brain as its parts are identified. Another display allows guests a realistic try at performing an angioplasty. "I crashed the computer on my first try," reports McClennan.
RSNA, the largest professional radiology society in the world, made initial contact with Disney to conceive the exhibit and invested $3 million in the project.
"Since radiology has all the high-tech bells, whistles and tools for clinicians, we believed it would make a good story," explains McClennan. "The Disney engineers - they call themselves 'imagineers' - took the advice of the advisors seriously. Several radiologists helped train the Disney guides. The exhibit demystifies radiology and shows just what is at our fingertips in radiology at the end of this Millennium. The key premise was accomplished: to showcase the role of the radiologist separate from the technology."
Food Bank Thankful for Business as Usual
NEW HAVEN - The New Haven Savings Bank Foundation made a $2,500 grant to Connecticut Food Bank to help defray costs associated with Y2K compliance. Y2K readiness was vital to maintaining smooth operations for Connecticut Food Bank. Like financial institutions, hospitals and other businesses, the food bank relies upon computers to maintain billing, inventory, food distribution and other accounting systems. Serous complications might have arisen related to the organization's food distribution if CFB's computer system had not been Y2K compliant. For example, computer chips maintain constant temperatures in the food bank's refrigerators and freezers, ensuring the food product is kept safe and ready for distribution.
"Computers have been wonderful in helping us to maintain inventory and track distribution, and we have grown increasingly reliant upon them," said CFB executive director director Nancy Carrington. "That reliance, in the face of the Y2K bug, was a genuine cause for concern. We are very grateful to the New Haven Savings Bank Foundation for granting us this award, enabling us to ensure that in January 2000 Connecticut Food Bank will be able to conduct 'business as usual.'"
New England Mechanical Services Merges
VERNON - New England Mechanical Services Inc. of Vernon and Consolidated Engineering Services of Arlington, VA. have announced that the companies have merged operations. New England Mechanical will retain its name and management personnel and will operate as a regional affiliate of Consolidated Engineering.
Commenting on the merger, Charles P. Reagan, president of New England Mechanical, said: " This is an opportunity to join forces with a like-minded organization that has a focused, regional growth strategy that centers on customers, not utility regulators. Consolidated is a strong operating company with a solid existing business base. In addition, Consolidated's corporate and financial backing strengthens our own position in the Northeast market. We are in a superb position to grow and expand our lines of business while better serving our current customers."
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