CombiMatrix Launches Express Track, a siRNA-Based Drug Discovery Program
Tuesday June 3, 7:32 am ET
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2003--Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX - News; Nasdaq:ACTG - News) announced today that its subsidiary CombiMatrix Corporation has launched CombiMatrix's Express Track(sm), a drug discovery program which integrates advanced bioinformatic design applications with CombiMatrix's proprietary chip-based synthesis technologies to rapidly produce pools of siRNA molecules. The initial focus of Express Track(sm) is common viral diseases.
CombiMatrix's chip and bioinformatic technology provides a unique platform for identification and synthesis of multiple potential therapeutic siRNA compounds as well as testing the initial efficacy of those compounds. CombiMatrix plans to leverage the capabilities of its platform technology to co-develop siRNA drugs with partners. This new initiative is in addition to existing alliances with Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Toppan, and other ongoing business activities.
The following is the initial group of viruses that have been targeted:
Virus Genome Accession #(a)
Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 NC_001802
Human Immunodeficiency virus type 2 NC_001722
West Nile virus NC_001563
Human Papillomavirus type 16 NC_001526
Human Herpes 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma) NC_003409
Smallpox (Variola) NC_001611
Influenza virus A NC_002023
Influenza virus B NC_002204
Hepatitis C NC_004102
Leishmania RNA virus NC_002063
(a) Full genome sequence reference number from National Center for
Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database.
CombiMatrix's approach to viral inhibition focuses on targeting the entire genome of the virus with a pool of siRNA compounds, rather than focusing on a single gene and a single compound. For each virus, the published genomes and CombiMatrix's Express Track(sm) siRNA Discovery Software were utilized to design key compounds that could function as inhibitors of viral replication and function in humans. These sequences were analyzed by our software against the human genome in an effort to ensure they would interfere minimally with the function of human genes. These analyses and drug designs collectively yielded several hundred siRNA compounds.
"Our technology allows for the rapid design and preparation of siRNA molecules which could act as potential drugs. The effort reported here is an extension of the work we did on the corona virus responsible for SARS. We have begun a collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) to test our SARS compounds," commented Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO of CombiMatrix. "Our initial focus is on viruses, since their genomes are small and there are few good anti-virals on the market. The small viral genomes enable us to target all of the genes of the virus at once, thus making it more likely that effective inhibition of the virus is achieved, even if the virus rapidly mutates. Other programs will be disclosed in the future."
Conference Call Tuesday, June 3, 2003
A conference call is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern), Tuesday, June 3, 2003 to discuss the Express Track(sm) drug discovery program.
To listen to the presentation by phone, dial (800) 915-4836 for domestic callers and (973) 317-5319 for international callers. A replay of the audio presentation will be available for 30 days at (800) 428-6051 for domestic callers and (973) 709-2089 for international callers, both of whom will need to enter the code 296539 when prompted.
The call is being webcast by CCBN and can be accessed at Acacia's website at www.acaciaresearch.com. |
