April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford GlycoSciences Plc (LSE: OGS, Nasdaq: OGSI) and the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) today announced a collaboration to develop an industrial-scale proteomics platform based on the Isotope Coded Affinity Tag (ICAT) method developed by the ISB's Dr. Ruedi Aebersold for identifying and quantifying proteins in complex mixtures. The collaboration will be aimed at enabling higher throughput of protein sequencing and quantification and better understanding proteins and their roles in diseases.
OGS will contribute research and technical support to advance the new ISB platform from the research level to commercial scale. OGS expects to implement and deploy rapidly an industrialised ICAT platform for protein identification to complement its current 2-D gel based platform for the discovery of disease- related proteins. The ISB has agreed to work exclusively with OGS to develop this industrial, high-throughput proteomic platform and its related technologies for a period of five years.
``The quantitative, automated ability to detect protein expression differences between normal and disease states is critical to drug discovery,'' said Dr. Leroy Hood, President and co-founder of the ISB. ``Oxford GlycoSciences is a world leader responsible for important advances in the industrial application of proteomics, and we are very pleased about the opportunity to work together on this momentous initiative.''
``ICAT technology has the potential to revolutionise the efficiency of protein identification and analysis in drug development,'' said Michael Kranda, CEO of Oxford GlycoSciences Plc. ``Following the release of the first full draft of the human genome, the spotlight shifts to proteomics as the key technology to transform this vital information into pharmaceutical products,'' he said. ``Coupled with our proprietary 2-D gel platform and our established high-throughput facility, ICAT promises to accelerate drug discovery and development in the post-genome era for both OGS and our pharmaceutical partners. We are delighted to enter a new relationship with the ISB and continue our collaboration with Ruedi Aebersold and Lee Hood, who are true pioneers in genomics and proteomics technology development.''
``This relationship will enable OGS and the ISB to work together toward establishing state-of-the-art facilities that will be very valuable to both of our organisations,'' said Dr. Ruedi Aebersold, ISB professor and co-founder. ``At the ISB, the high-throughput, quantitative proteomics technologies we develop will be made available to support important academic research, fulfilling a key ISB mission of ensuring cutting-edge technologies are available to academic researchers.''
Both Dr. Aebersold and Dr. Hood have a long-standing relationship with OGS and serve on the OGS Scientific Advisory Board.
* Note to Editors
* About OGS
* OGS has developed a proprietary proteomics technology for the
comprehensive study of proteins, integrating proteomics with genomics to
create an innovative drug discovery platform. OGS' proteomics collaborations
with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies include Bayer, Pioneer
Hi-Bred/Du Pont, Medarex, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Incyte Genomics. OGS has
technology development collaborations with Applera, Cambridge Antibody
Technology and Packard BioScience.
OGS has drug research discovery programmes in cancer, infectious disease and glycolipid storage disorders. OGS' most advanced drug candidate, Vevesca(TM), is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of Gaucher disease. Vevesca(TM) has received ``fast track'' designation from the FDA and has been granted orphan drug status by both the FDA and the European Commission for the treatment of Gaucher disease. OGS expects to file a new drug application for the oral treatment of Gaucher disease in mid-2001.
About the ISB
The ISB, based in Seattle, Washington, USA, was co-founded by Dr. Ruedi Aebersold, Dr. Leroy Hood and Dr. Alan Aderem in January 2000 as a public research institute devoted to systems biology, an emerging field made possible by rapid advancements in genomic, proteomic and computer technologies. Unlike traditional scientific approaches that examine single genes or proteins, systems biology focuses on studying the complex interaction of vast numbers of biological elements. The ISB is pioneering new approaches to science education and increasing public awareness of biotechnology issues. The ISB is also committed to establishing partnerships advancing systems biology and disseminating new technologies. To disseminate the ICAT technology and to complement the relationship with OGS, the ISB has established an ICAT-related partnership with Applied Biosystems, which has exclusive, worldwide rights to manufacture and sell ICAT reagents.
Dr. Aebersold, who is internationally recognised for his work in analytical protein biochemistry and proteomics, leads a research group at the ISB that is focused on developing new methods and technologies for understanding the structure, function and control of complex biological systems. Dr. Hood, who co-developed the automated genetic sequencing technology that enabled the Human Genome Project, was among a small group of scientists who first advocated for the international effort in 1985. Dr. Aderem, an internationally recognised immunologist and cell biologist and pioneer in the study of innate immunity, has provided scientists with fundamental insights into the functioning of the macrophage... |
