Magainin has hired one of the most prominent scientist in the field of asthma. He is in charge of the asthma program...
From Magainin's home page:
Asthma
is the initial disease focus of the Company's genomics program. The Company
has identified two genes which it believes may be critical in the pathogenesis of
asthma. These genes, Asthma Associated Factor 1 ("AAF1") and Asthma Associated
Factor 2 ("AAF2") are the subject of pending patent publications. AAF1 and AAF2
appear critical in determining the allergic and inflammatory response characteristic of
bronchial asthma. These genes regulate mediators of the allergic response, including
serum IgE molecules. Variant forms of these genes occur widely and appear to be
significant in susceptibility to asthma. The Company has conducted confirmatory
analysis in animals, and is engaged in the early stages of a compound development
program.
Asthma Genomics Program
New techniques in molecular biology have significantly enhanced the ability of
scientists to clone and sequence human genes, and more closely study genetic
variations between individuals. This, in turn, has allowed for an examination of the
genetic influences on many human diseases. This field of research is called genomics,
or the study of the genome. Genomics has led to an increasing acceptance that genes,
in addition to factors such as lifestyle and environment, play a fundamental role in
human disease.
A genome is the total DNA content of an organism that is identically present in each of
its cells. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule comprised of four compounds, or
nucleotides, that contain the genetic instructions for living organisms. These genetic
instructions are specified by the order of the nucleotides. Genes represent a segment
of DNA that codes for a protein that is responsible for the structure and function of all
living things. The cloning and sequencing of DNA, made possible by recombinant
DNA technology in the 1970s, fueled the significant expansion of the genomics field.
Scientists could, for the first time, extensively study how differences in order of amino
acids affect protein function and, therefore, human health. Mutations in amino acid
sequences can decrease the ability of a protein to perform its proper function, causing
a disease or an increased susceptibility to a disease.
In 1996, the Company initiated a research program in the genomics of asthma. The
Company's research initiative in this area is based principally on the concept of
positional cloning, or the analysis of disease inheritance patterns. Positional cloning
refers to a collection of tagging and sequencing techniques that are used to localize and
identify genes associated with particular diseases. For example, DNA may be
collected from family groups where a particular disease is more prevalent than in the
general population. Analysis of the sequence of such DNA should then allow for
insight into the pathogenesis of the disease. While a number of companies in the
genomics field are primarily focused on sequencing without regard to function, the
Company's focus is to locate specific genes in a particular disease. The Company
believes that identification of disease genes will provide insight into the causes of
disease, and facilitate the development of therapeutic products against that disease.
The Company's research and development strategy in genomics involves:
Defining the genetic pathways that underlie susceptibility to disease
Defining the therapeutic target in the pathway
Developing compounds to alter clinical outcome
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