New INCY proteomics database program announced today
biz.yahoo.com
Tuesday June 29, 4:01 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Oxford GlycoSciences plc and Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Incyte and Oxford GlycoSciences Announce Launch of Toxicology and Pharmacology Proteomics Database
OSLO, Norway, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Oxford GlycoSciences plc, Oxford, England (London: OGS), and Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Palo Alto, CA (Nasdaq: INCY - news) at the Eurotox'99 conference in Oslo, Norway, announced the launch of a new program -- PharmacoProgram(TM) -- focused on the application of proteomics technology to study compound efficacy and safety. The PharmacoProgram will enhance the drug development process by better defining the molecular basis of drug action. The Eurotox'99 meeting was also used to announce the European launch of the powerful new protein analysis software package -- LifeProt(TM).
Pharmaceutical partners will be able to purchase multi-year access to the PharmacoProgram. Partners will have access to the expanding, non-exclusive database content and will also receive the LifeProt software. In addition, partners will be able to purchase a pre-determined level of customer-driven gene and expression analysis experiments.
The PharmacoProgram is the second of three programs to result from the new integrated gene and protein expression technology platform. It provides new ways to understand molecular-level toxicology and pharmacology and facilitates lead compound optimization in drug development and discovery.
The joint Incyte and OGS proteomic project integrates genomic and proteomic technologies, creating the world's first integrated gene and protein expression technology platform. This platform allows pharmaceutical companies to:
oDiscover novel protein and novel peptide sequences.oIdentify protein cellular and subcellular locations.oAssess how messenger RNA expression levels correlate to protein expression levels.
o Assign function through analysis of co-expression and subcellular localization.
The two other proteomics programs are:
-- PathoProgram (available since April, 1999). It provides expression
data from thousands of uniquely identified and characterized proteins
from Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans to facilitate the
discovery and selection of new anti-infective drugs.
-- LifeProgram will be launched in the coming weeks. It facilitates the
identification, selection, and validation of new drug screening targets
and protein therapeutics relevant to human diseases. LifeProgram data
includes several thousand uniquely identified and characterized
proteins from a range of human systems.
The LifeProt software is a joint software product developed by Incyte and OGS for the management of proteomics data. Together with Incyte's LifeArray(TM) and LifeTools(TM) software, LifeProt provides a unique platform for integrating genomic RNA expression data and protein expression data in a single environment. LifeProt will give researchers these capabilities:
oStore, retrieve, mine, and subset protein data.oResearch specific proteins in-depth.oMap proteins to other types of Incyte data.oInterface directly with other Incyte databases and analysis tools.oIdentify potential targets for further research.
''This new generation of databases will accelerate drug discovery and development programs by improving the process of target selection and lead optimization,'' states Randy Scott, President and CSO at Incyte.
''With LifeProt, our protein expression databases and technology have the scale, sensitivity, and reproducibility to help our pharmaceutical partners find and validate new therapeutic targets, undertake real-time drug mechanistic studies, and evaluate potential toxicology much earlier in the drug discovery process,'' says Michael Kranda, CEO of OGS. ''We are extremely pleased with the progress that Incyte and OGS have made in developing these products. The power of integrating our respective expression-based technologies in a single platform through the LifeProt software is truly impressive. We are equally excited that our pharmaceutical partners have expressed such an early level of interest in these products.''
Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading provider . . . . [etc.]
Oxford GlycoSciences (OGS) is an established biotechnology company founded by Oxford University to identify and analyze glycoproteins. OGS is today recognized as a world leader in proteomics technology . . . . . [etc.]
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