Whaddya mean No major news in sight? This is pretty big, and what I expect much more of.
Celera Inks 5-Year Genomics Pact With Immunex 06/27/00
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ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 2000 JUN 27 (NB) -- By Michael P Bruno,
Washtech. Celera Genomics Group [NYSE:CRA], already coming off a huge
announcement on Monday that it completed the entire mapping and
sequencing of one human's genome, said it inked a five-year genomics
pact with Seattle-based Immunex Corp. [NASDAQ:IMNX]. The agreement
includes a subscription to all four of Celera's genetic code databases.
"The database subscription for Immunex gives its researchers access to
four databases developed by Celera until 2005," the companies said in a
statement. Financial terms were not provided and Celera representatives
could not immediately be reached for more information this morning.
Reuters reported, though, that several companies that have previously
taken five-year subscriptions have each committed to paying Celera $50
million for access.
The four databases are:
Celera's Human Gene Index, which provides customers with the set of
human genes derived from sequencing programs;
Celera's Human Genome Database, which is expected to provide the
complete sequence of the human genome and the entire collection of
human genes with links to associated biological and disease information;
The Drosophila Genome Database, which provides the complete
sequence of the Drosophila melanogaster genome sequence generated by
Celera's whole genome shotgun sequencing strategy, and is annotated
with gene, protein and biological information;
The Mouse Genome Database being generated by Celera should allow
for comparative analysis with the human genome that may be significant
for the identification of genes and gene regulatory regions of
importance to understanding human biology.
All four of Celera's databases include Celera proprietary information
as well as publicly available data, Celera said. Access to the
databases also provides Immunex with associated comprehensive
bioinformatics systems and tools for viewing, browsing, and analyzing
genomic information, the company said.
Immunex, whose shares are majority owned by U.S. drug maker American
Home Products Corp [NYSE:AHP], sells the top-selling arthritis drug
Enbrel. Celera, based in Rockville, Md., captured the world spotlight
Monday when it announced it had sequenced about 99 percent of the
roughly 3.1 billion chemical pairs that make up the human "Book of
Life." The publicly funded Human Genome Project concurrently also
announced it mapped 97 percent of the genome and sequenced 85 percent
of it.
Celera shares were off $9.438, or 8.28 percent to $104.562 apiece
around 11:30 a.m. EDT today -- which was just above the low reached so
far in the trading day.
Reported by Washtech.com, washtech.com .
(20000627/WIRES PC, BUSINESS/) |
