News:
(PR Wires) DJ: CuraGen Announces Discovery of over 60,000 cSNPs
DJ: 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) announced
today that through its proprietary SeqCalling(TM) 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.
/CONTACT: Gregory T. Went, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of CuraGen
Corporation, 203-401-3330, or Marcia A. Kean or Lucy Morrison of Feinstein
Kean Partners Inc., 617-577-8110/
14:21 EST
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