Orchid Announces Major SNP Collaboration With GlaxoSmithKline
PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Orchid BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ORCH - news) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK - news) to collaborate on a genome-wide validation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for pharmacogenetic studies. As part of the collaboration, Orchid will develop SNP assays using well-established human DNA panels and will conduct ultra high throughput genotyping analyses.
``This collaboration focuses on one of the most promising areas of SNP research -- the whole genome mapping studies that are setting the stage for the practical application of SNPs,'' said Michael Boyce-Jacino, Ph.D., vice president of research and development of the Life Sciences Group and chief technology officer at Orchid. ``We expect that this collaboration will strengthen Orchid's rapidly growing portfolio of SNP assays and will contribute significantly to our development of a genome-wide SNP haplotype map, as well as our ability to rapidly analyze entire chromosomes.''
As part of the collaboration, GSK will select SNP candidates from Orchid's design database and Orchid will provide ultra high throughput genotyping. Data generated by this agreement can be used in genetic association and LD whole genome studies. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
``Orchid is the only company now conducting major genotyping studies with four of the leading global pharmaceutical firms,'' said Dale Pfost, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief executive officer at Orchid. ``We believe that this reflects our unique ability to provide rapid, accurate, cost effective SNP genotyping products and services on a variety of platforms and at an unprecedented scale, as well as the expertise gained from our work with The SNP Consortium and other top genomics researchers. We are especially pleased to enter into this new collaboration with GSK, a pharmaceutical industry pioneer in incorporating genetic data into drug discovery and development.''
Orchid expects to conduct the work in two phases -- phase one will be completed before the end of the year and phase two will be conducted in 2002. In phase one, the SNPs will be selected and validated. In phase two, SNP assays will be screened in additional DNA samples for utility in genome-wide LD studies. SNPs have the potential to impact every phase of the drug discovery and development process. Uncovering important genetic variations is expected to enable the development of improved therapeutic targets and more effective and safer pharmaceuticals.
Orchid will perform this work for GSK in its MegaSNPatron(TM) facilities that provide medium to ultra high volume SNP scoring services for a variety of genotyping customers. MegaSNPatron facilities offer Orchid's SNP-IT(TM) technology on several platforms, including the SNPcode(TM) system that will be used for the GSK collaboration. Using Orchid's ``next generation'' tag array SNP technology, SNPcode leads the industry in high density SNP processing power. This system generates high quality SNP analyses in record time and at an affordable cost. Orchid intends to add a second array-based, ultra high throughput platform to its MegaSNPatron facilities early next year -- the SNPstream® UHT system for low to medium genotyping of large numbers of samples... |
