Genome Therapeutics Delivers Vaccine Antigens to Astra in Helicobacter Pylori Alliance
PR Newswire - October 27, 1997 07:58
GENE %MTC V%PRN P%PRN
WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Genome Therapeutics Corp.
(Nasdaq: GENE) today announced it has provided multiple vaccine antigens to
Astra Research Center Boston in their alliance to identify and develop novel
anti-infectives and vaccines to treat Helicobacter pylori, the primary cause
of peptic ulcers. Genome Therapeutics will receive a milestone payment for
delivering the vaccine antigens, which are proteins used in a vaccine to
stimulate an immune response, although financial terms were not disclosed.
"This is the first milestone in the vaccine segment of our H. pylori
alliance with Astra. With such widespread human infection, pursuing a vaccine
approach to address H. pylori has tremendous merit," said Robert J. Hennessey,
Chairman, President and CEO of Genome Therapeutics. "This vaccine effort
demonstrates the breadth of our alliance with Astra and complements the small-
molecule drug discovery program that entered high-throughput screening for
drug candidates earlier this year."
H. pylori bacteria have been associated with the onset of most peptic and
duodenal ulcers and certain stomach cancers. Nearly half of the world's
population is infected with H. pylori. Each year in the United States,
500,000 persons develop ulcers, and $7 billion is spent on treating ulcers
worldwide.
Established in September 1995, this $22 million agreement between Astra
and Genome Therapeutics to develop novel treatments and vaccines against H.
pylori has met four important milestones, including the commencement of high-
throughput screening for small-molecule drug candidates in April 1997. In
July 1997, Astra extended the initial agreement at least through September
1998.
Genome Therapeutics Corporation is a leader in the field of genomics --
the identification and functional characterization of genes. The Company's
commercial gene discovery strategy is to identify and characterize human genes
associated with major diseases and elucidate bacterial genes responsible for
many serious infectious diseases. Together with its strategic partners,
Genome Therapeutics is using genomic information to develop a new generation
of pharmaceuticals. In May, the Company launched its non-exclusive database
of microbial organisms, PathoGenome(TM).
Astra Research Center Boston (ARCB) is a new drug discovery company
established in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by the Swedish pharmaceutical
company, Astra AB. The research at ARCB is focused on the development of
small-molecule drugs and vaccines to improve current therapies for H. pylori.
Astra's ulcer treatment Prilosec(TM) is the leading selling pharmaceutical
product in the world.
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are
"forward looking" statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The actual results may differ from those projected in the
forward looking statement due to risks and uncertainties that exist in Genome
Therapeutics' operations and business environment, described more fully in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
SOURCE Genome Therapeutics Corp.
/CONTACT: Christopher Taylor, Investor Relations of Genome Therapeutics,
617-398-2466 or Doug MacDougall of Feinstein Kean Partners, 617-577-8110/
/Web site: genomecorp.com
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