Cenix BioScience and Schering AG Sign Research Agreements to Advance Several Disease Programs
Monday February 28, 4:00 am ET
DRESDEN, Germany, February 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Cenix BioScience GmbH (Dresden), the leading specialist in advanced RNA interference (RNAi)-based research services, and Schering AG (Berlin, Germany), one of the leading pharmaceutical companies worldwide, announced that they have signed research service agreements to accelerate the latter's target discovery and validation efforts in several human disease programs.
Both projects, which started in the last quarter of 2004, focus on the cell-based validation by Cenix of collections of candidate genes previously identified by Schering AG as possible therapeutic drug targets. Cenix is applying its industry-leading expertise in combining high throughput (HT) RNAi with high content (HC) phenotype analyses in mammalian cells to deliver an efficient, detailed characterization of target-specific loss-of-function phenotypes. These data, along with associated insights into the functions of these targets, will provide Schering AG with the solid, patho-physiologically relevant criteria needed to prioritize targets for advancement in their drug development programs.
"Having already recognized Schering AG's leading research efforts in several major disease areas, as well as their very strong internal RNAi research capabilities, we were delighted to get this opportunity to assist them by enhancing and accelerating their target selection processes through our own HT-RNAi offerings" said Dr. Christophe Echeverri, CEO/CSO of Cenix BioScience.
Cenix will apply streamlined HT validation of RNAi reagents and proprietary HT-RNAi assays including functional readouts based on rich, multi-parameter analyses. The project, which will make use of several human and mouse cell lines, will advance research programs at Schering AG. No financial terms were disclosed.
About Cenix BioScience GmbH
Cenix BioScience GmbH is a pioneer and leader in high throughput (HT), genome-driven applications of RNA interference (RNAi) for the discovery and validation of new therapeutic drug targets. Founded in 1999 as the first biotechnology company specializing exclusively in HT-RNAi, Cenix has accumulated unparalleled depth and breadth of experience in this field, combining high content phenotypic analyses with proprietary genome-wide RNAi libraries for use in key experimental systems, including a wide range of human and rodent cells. Cenix is now making its unique expertise accessible to industry and academic researchers through highly customizable research services. Please contact Cenix or visit the company's web site www.cenix-bioscience.com for more information. |
