Anyone (Rman?) got any views on CRGN? Oodles of cash, stock price is low and they seem to be chugging along nicely. Of course no-one knows how much of this stuff is already discovered by INCY etc. I don't hold any myself, but I'm looking at them.
Peter
Wednesday November 18, 2:21 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: CuraGen Corporation
CuraGen Announces Discovery of over 60,000 cSNPs
-- Human Genetic Variations Associated With Mutations Responsible For
Human Disease And Drug Responses --
BOSTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- CuraGen Corporation (Nasdaq: CRGN -
news) announced today that through its
proprietary SeqCalling™ process, it has discovered greater than 60,000
human genetic variations that may be responsible for the development of
certain diseases. These single nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) are
variations in DNA that have accumulated over time in the general
population. Recently, cSNPs have become of increasing interest to
scientists because they are believed to be useful markers in the
identification of disease genes and genetic differences which may
determine the response of a patient to disease and to drug treatment.
Richard Lifton, M.D., Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Investigator and Professor at Yale University School of
Medicine, said, ''SNPs are the most frequent type of genetic variation
found in the human genome. Although most SNPs are found outside expressed
genes, cSNPs are found in coding regions of genes and may provide
important predictions about responses to drugs and disease predisposition.
Currently, there are approximately 5,000 publicly known SNPs and these
were derived from random genomic DNA. Therefore, by identifying vast
numbers of cSNPs, CuraGen is well-positioned for discovering key
variations associated with specific human diseases and drug responses.''
Gregory T. Went, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of CuraGen stated, ''By
creating a high density cSNP map, we are further expanding our genomics
capabilities enabling us and our partners to identify critical disease and
response genes. Ultimately, by incorporating this cSNP information into
our integrated genomics process suite, we hope to establish clear
connections between cSNPs, disease pathways and therapeutic intervention
which may accelerate our internal and collaborative product discovery and
development efforts.''
Speaking today at the Cambridge Healthtech Institute Conference
entitled: Implications of Human Genetic Variation: SNPs,
Polymorphisms, Diseases & Treatment, Richard Shimkets, Ph.D., Senior
Research Scientist at CuraGen emphasized that
variations between individuals caused by changes in DNA sequences are of
particular interest because they have the potential to be directly
involved in common disease traits. Dr. Shimkets noted, ''It is currently
believed that there are approximately 3 million SNPs in the human genome,
and 200,000 of these are anticipated to be within the coding regions of
genes. Of these cSNPs, about 10% will significantly affect protein
sequence, and a fraction of these may determine disease predisposition and
drug response. CuraGen's goal is to construct a high density cSNP map of
the expressed human genome and use this cSNP information to better
understand disease and treatment options.''
CuraGen Corporation is revolutionizing the discovery and development of
life science products through the systematic application of genomics.
CuraGen's fully-integrated genomics technologies, processes, and
information systems are designed to rapidly generate comprehensive
information about gene expression, biological pathways, and potential
products that affect these pathways, each on a scale not previously
undertaken. CuraGen is headquartered
in New Haven, CT, with additional facilities in Branford, CT, and
greater-
Gainesville, FL. The Company employs over 280 people. Additional Company
information is available at www.curagen.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the
expected effects of the Company's technology. Such statements are based on
management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements. The Company
cautions investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or
business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or
suggested in such forward- looking statements as a result of various
factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's early
stage of development, technological uncertainty and product development
risks, uncertainty of additional funding, reliance on research
collaborations, competition, the Company's ability to protect its patents
and proprietary rights and uncertainties relating to commercialization
rights.
SOURCE: CuraGen Corporation
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