OGS and Glaxo Wellcome Enter Proteomics Alliance
Oxford Glycosciences PLC
4 December 2000
For further information, please contact:
Oxford GlycoSciences Plc
Michael Kranda, Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Parker, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 208000
WorldWide Web: ogs.com
OGS and Glaxo Wellcome enter proteomics alliance
Oxford, UK 4 December 2000 - Oxford GlycoSciences Plc (LSE: OGS) today
announced the formation of a multi-disease bio-marker collaboration with Glaxo
Wellcome plc based on OGS's industrial scale high throughput proteomics
technology platform.
OGS will use its proteomics technology to discover novel bio-markers in a
series of diseases in which Glaxo Wellcome currently holds or is building
major franchises. Bio-markers discovered through this collaboration may be
applied by Glaxo Wellcome to the development of new drugs. Under the terms of
the alliance, Glaxo Wellcome will fund OGS's proteomics research in the
discovery of disease associated proteins. OGS retains the rights to
commercialise bio-markers and any diagnostic products emerging from this
alliance. Glaxo Wellcome may obtain an exclusive right to negotiate for the
acquisition of OGS's diagnostic rights.
Michael Kranda, CEO of OGS, said, 'We are delighted to enter into this
alliance with Glaxo Wellcome given its research leadership and commitment to
innovation in drug discovery. This is another important bio-marker deal
exploiting our technology advantage in proteomics.'
Allan Baxter, Group Discovery Director of Glaxo Wellcome, said, 'All major
pharmaceutical companies are searching for ways of accelerating the
development of their drug pipelines. The ability to discover and develop new
drugs and bio-markers in parallel is an important strategy for increasing
efficiency and addressing attrition in the discovery and development cycle.'
Notes to Editors
OGS
OGS is in the emerging field of proteomics, the comprehensive study of
proteins. OGS has successfully integrated proteomics with genomics to create
an innovative drug discovery platform. In addition to the Glaxo Wellcome
collaboration, OGS's proteomics collaborations with major pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies include Pfizer, Merck, Bayer, Pioneer Hi-Bred/DuPont,
Medarex, and Incyte Genomics. OGS has technology development collaborations
with the Applied Biosystems (a division of PE Corporation), Cambridge Antibody
Technology and Packard BioScience.
OGS has drug research discovery programmes in cancer, infectious disease and
glycolipid storage disorders. OGS's most advanced drug candidate, VevescaTM,
is currently undergoing human clinical trials for the treatment of Gaucher's
disease. VevescaTM has received 'fast track' designation from the US Food and
Drugs Administration (FDA) and has been granted orphan drug status by both the
FDA and the European Commission for the treatment of Gaucher's disease.
Bio-markers are proteins that are present in a disease state and can be
observed or measured in order to determine the efficacy of a drug or the
status of the disease.
This release contains forward-looking statements, such as OGS's use of its
proteomics technology to discover novel bio-markers and the commercialization
of bio-markers or diagnostic products. Factors that could cause actual results
to vary significantly from those expressed or implied by these and other
forward looking statements include the success of OGS's research and
development strategy, the applicability of its discoveries, the validity of
its technologies, its intellectual property position, the successful and
timely completion of clinical studies, the uncertainties related to the
regulatory process and the successful commercialisation of products to the
extent that marketing authorisation is obtained. VevescaTM (formerly OGT 918)
is an investigational drug and has not received approval for marketing in any
country.
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