Drug Makers Talk of Collaboration on Gene Research, WSJ Says
Bloomberg News
March 4, 1999, 8:24 a.m. ET
New York, March 4 (Bloomberg) -- Some 12 and 15 unnamed drug
companies are discussing a joint venture whose goal would be to
create a genetic map that identifies variations in human DNA that
predispose people to illness, the Wall Street Journal reported,
citing unnamed people familiar with the talks. While the unnamed
drugmakers hold discussions, major drugmakers including Merck &
Co., Glaxo Wellcome Plc, SmithKline Beecham Plc, Pfizer Inc., and
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., are working individually to build the
genetic maps, and the U.K.'s Wellcome Trust is involved in the
partnership negotiations, spurred by concerns that biotech
companies will patent their genome research and monopolize the
information. Genset SA, the biggest French genetic-research
company which has said it plans to patent two genes that
predispose men to prostate cancer, won't be affected by the
negotiations, Chief Executive Pascal Brandys told the paper.
Monsanto Co., the world's No. 2 maker of crop-protection
chemicals, is in preliminary talks to merge with DuPont Co.,
people familiar with the talks told Bloomberg yesterday.
(WSJ 3/4 A1 wsj.com)
--Tara Beecham in the Princeton newsroom (609) 279-4104 /jjs
news.com
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