SurroMed and Callida Genomics Sign Agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to Develop Genome-Wide SNP Scoring System
- Agreement to Utilize SurroMed's Proprietary Nanobarcodes(TM) Particles and Callida's Universal Probes Technology -
Tuesday October 1, 7:30 am ET
MOUNTAIN VIEW and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ --- SurroMed, Inc. and Callida Genomics, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYSQ - News), announced today a collaboration funded in-part by a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant.
The grant supports the development of a high throughput universal genotyping system, combining SurroMed's Nanobarcodes(TM) particles technology with Callida's universal probes technology. The companies expect to develop a system capable of rapidly scoring more than 100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) per patient using a solution array approach.
The three-year grant provides funding for both companies, approximately $4.4 million for SurroMed and $3.2 million for Callida. This grant is a reinstatement of an ATP grant originally awarded to SurroMed in October 2001.
SurroMed will contribute more than 1,000 different "flavors" of Nanobarcodes(TM) particles, instrumentation for read-out and software for particle identification and analysis. Callida will contribute molecular biology and chemistry to amplify genomic DNA and to identify and read the SNPs.
SurroMed's Nanobarcodes(TM) particles are cylindrically shaped, "striped" metal nanoparticles in which the stripes comprise different metals such as gold, silver, platinum and nickel. Analogous to conventional barcoding, this technology enables the creation of extremely large numbers of unique and identifiable particles by varying the width and composition of the stripes. Individual particles can be identified by reading the stripe patterns using microscopes or other optical instruments. Nanobarcodes(TM) particles can be used to simultaneously carry out large numbers of biological assays in a small volume. This parallel approach to biological analysis is known as "multiplexing."
Callida's universal probes are sets of short synthetic DNA molecules that can be used to analyze the sequence of any DNA sample from any source. Unlike most DNA probes, they are designed using various statistical principles, and are not based on the particular DNA sequence or sequences to be tested. One universal probe set allows detection of all possible mutations and SNPs in any gene. These probe sets and their uses, are covered by various patents owned by Callida, including U.S. Patent number 6,451,996 recently issued on September 17, 2002.
"This NIST-ATP grant will allow us to develop our Nanobarcodes(TM) particles for extremely high levels of multiplexing in genetic analysis," said Dr. Michael Natan, chief technology officer of SurroMed and inventor of the Nanobarcodes(TM) particles technology. "We are very excited to combine our efforts with those of Callida Genomics to bring revolutionary SNP analysis products to the market."
"We are pleased to join forces with SurroMed to expand Callida's universal probe product portfolio and DNA analysis capabilities," said Dr. Radoje Drmanac, chief scientific officer of Callida Genomics and inventor of the universal probes technology. "The NIST funding will enable us to combine our universal technology with the efficiency of SurroMed's, resulting in cost- effective products able to detect any SNP."
About SurroMed, Inc.
Headquartered in Mountain View, California, SurroMed is pioneering biomarker enabled drug discovery and development. The Company focuses on discovering and applying biomarkers to improve the drug discovery and development process and enable the precise diagnosis and personalized treatment of disease. SurroMed's research process yields biological markers and information that enable accelerated, cost-efficient discovery and development of new therapeutic products, as well as development of diagnostic tests for early disease detection, disease staging, patient stratification, and guiding and monitoring therapy.
About Callida Genomics
Callida Genomics, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYSQ - News), is focused on the development, commercialization and use of advanced DNA sequence analysis systems based upon its sequencing-by-hybridization technology. The company's core business is based on universal DNA probe products that are applicable to any gene or genomic application, including DNA sequencing, genotyping and gene expression. The versatility and simplicity of Callida's universal probe technology allows researchers to quickly and easily adapt assays to their particular research needs. Callida also offers licenses to other established companies that utilize probes in non-universal DNA analysis products. Information about Hyseq Pharmaceuticals and Callida Genomics is available at hyseq.com or by phoning 408-524-8100.
Hyseq-Callida Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding the business of Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiary, Callida Genomics, Inc. which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in Hyseq's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
Contacts:
August Moretti
SurroMed, Inc.
650-230-1564
amoretti@surromed.com
Nicole Estrin
Callida Genomics, Inc.
408-746-4572
nestrin@hyseq.com
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Source: SurroMed, Inc. |
