[ off topic ]
Tuesday October 5, 4:30 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Genset
Genset and Janssen Identify a Novel Candidate Gene
Associated with Schizophrenia
Reaching a Milestone Towards the Understanding of This Complex CNS Disorder
PARIS, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Genset (Nasdaq: GENXY; Nouveau Marche: GENSET) announced today that it and the
Janssen Research Foundation, a subsidiary of the US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, reached an important
milestone in their schizophrenia research collaboration. Less than two years after receiving a comprehensive collection of clinical
samples, Genset successfully identified and delivered to Janssen a novel candidate gene associated with schizophrenia. Financial
terms were not disclosed.
Said Pascal Brandys, Chairman & CEO of Genset: ''This gene, for which we have filed patent applications, represents an
important advance towards understanding the underlying genetic causes of this highly complex and heterogeneous mental
disorder. It also provides evidence of the quality of our franchise in gene discovery for CNS disorders. We hope this gene will
prove to be a critical proprietary target for our pharmaceutical partner for the rapid development of new and better diagnostic
and therapeutic options for schizophrenia, and we are intending to undertake its complete functional characterization in close
cooperation with the Janssen Research Foundation.''
In September l996, Genset and the Janssen Research Foundation entered into a strategic research agreement to identify and
clone genes associated with schizophrenia. As a follow-up to positive initial research results and the discovery of this first
candidate gene, the two partners have initiated negotiations to extend the term and scope of the agreement.
Several proprietary genomic regions thought to contain genes associated with schizophrenia were identified by Genset and
other third parties cooperating with Janssen. Using its integrated genomics technologies, Genset pinpointed the precise location
of a gene in one of the regions of interest and established its association with schizophrenia through extensive genotyping and
advanced biostatistical analysis. This association was confirmed in a different population using an additional, well-characterized
clinical collection from schizophrenic cases and controls.
Schizophrenia is a severe chronic mental disorder that is estimated to affect approximately one percent of the world's
population. The schizophrenia market worldwide is currently valued in excess of $2.5 billion and estimated to grow to $5 billion
in 2002. Schizophrenia is characterized by disturbances of mind and personality, including delusions, hallucinations and
deterioration in psychosocial functioning. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Although a new class of anti-psychotics that
combine a superior efficacy with reduced side effects is gradually replacing conventional neuroleptics, current treatments are
symptomatic and, they are not a cure for this devastating disease, which remains a major world health problem. Understanding
the underlying genetic basis for schizophrenia offers hope for the development of new, more effective and more specific
treatments.
Genset, a global genomics company is engaged in providing pharmaceutical companies with patented genomics information
relevant for the discovery, development and marketing of drugs. The Company's objective is to enter into focused strategic
partnerships to assist pharmaceutical companies throughout the drug life cycle. Genset's portfolio of commercial opportunities
available for partnership includes its ongoing gene discovery programs in CNS disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and
metabolic disorders and osteoporosis; pharmacogenomics programs for drug response and its secreted proteins gene library.
Genset's news releases are available on the Company's Web site at genxy.com.
Janssen Pharmaceutica, and its affiliate, the Janssen Research Foundation, is headquartered in Beerse, Belgium, and has
operating companies in 32 countries, including the United States. A wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, it is a
leader in central nervous system research. Other areas of research focus include allergy, analgesia, oncology, gastroenterology
and mycology.
SOURCE: Genset |
