Peter, Here's the 1992 announcement on the STAT technology (originally called RAFT):
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS LICENSES GENETIC TECHNOLOGY FROM ROCKEFELLER
UNIVERSITY SAN DIEGO (OCT. 8) BUSINESS WIRE - Ligand
Pharmaceuticals has licensed a novel transcription factor
technology from Rockefeller University which the company believes
will be important in its research efforts to discover drugs to
control cellular gene expression, according to David E. Robinson,
Ligand's president and chief executive officer.
The agreement gives Ligand exclusive worldwide rights to any
patents and other proprietary rights covering the technology
discovered by James Darnell, M.D., at Rockefeller University, and
his colleague David Levy, Ph.D., now at New York University.
Darnell, a member of the National Academy of Science, has been a
key figure in explaining how cells control gene expression. He
serves as a member of Ligand's scientific advisory board and as an
exclusive consultant to the company.
Darnell and Levy have discovered, cloned and characterized the
first members of a novel transcription factor superfamily. These
related proteins transmit signals from interferon receptors on the
cell surface to the cell nucleus, bringing about specific changes
in the pattern of gene activity in the cell and therefore in how
the cell functions.
These new receptor-activated factors of transcription (RAFTs) were
recently described in Science (Volume 257, Aug. 7, 1992).
The licensed technology affords the potential to develop small
organic molecules which can be administered orally to mimic or
block the actions of the polypeptides interferon-alpha and
interferon-gamma. Possible therapeutic applications for such drugs
include cancer, inflammation and various infectious diseases.
Robert B. Stein, M.D., Ph.D., Ligand's vice president of research
and preclinical development, said Darnell and Levy unraveled a
central problem in biology -- explaining for the first time how
interferons make cells resistant to viral infection and control
cell growth.
Other polypeptide bioregulatory molecules, including cytokines,
lymphokines, interleukins and various growth factors may also
control gene expression through related members of the RAFT
superfamily, he said.
Ligand's current drug discovery efforts focus on intracellular
receptors (IRs), a superfamily of transcription factors activated
by small organic hormones such as sex steroids, glucocorticoids and
retinoids.
"The work of Drs. Darnell and Levy is widely acclaimed to be a
scientific tour de force," Stein said.
"The RAFT technology is highly complementary to our core technology
from both a technical and biological perspective. The IR and RAFT
technologies provide Ligand significant, novel opportunities to
discover drugs reprogramming gene expression using the body's
intrinsic regulatory mechanisms to restore and maintain healthy
cellular function."
According to Robinson, "This agreement with Rockefeller University,
together with our core IR technology, gives Ligand an opportunity
to establish a long-term technological leadership position in
controlling cell behavior."
In addition to the agreement with Darnell and Rockefeller
University, Ligand has strong ties to leaders in the control of
gene expression at the Salk Institute and Baylor College of
Medicine.
Ligand has also established collaborative drug discovery and
development programs with Pfizer Inc. (osteoporosis) and Glaxo Inc.
(cardiovascular disease), and has formed a joint venture with
Allergan Inc. in the area of retinoids.
San Diego-based Ligand Pharmaceuticals, founded in 1987, is a
privately held company at the forefront in discovering drugs acting
on the intracellular receptors for non-protein hormones. Combining
modern molecular and cell biology with traditional pharmaceutical
approaches, Ligand seeks to discover non-peptide small molecule
drugs for the treatment of human diseases, including cancer,
gynecological disease, osteoporosis and atherosclerosis.
CONTACT: Daum Weigle, San Diego
Cindy Weigle or Jon Daum, 619/453-7700
Transmitted: 92-10-08 08:20:00 EDT
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