CuraGen and COR Therapeutics Enter Product Discovery and Pharmacogenomics Collaboration
CuraGen to Apply Genomics Technologies to Cardiovascular Product Candidates
NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- CuraGen Corporation (Nasdaq: CRGN - news) today announced a product discovery and pharmacogenomics agreement with COR Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CORR - news), a recognized innovator in the development of products for the treatment and prevention of severe cardiovascular diseases. Under the terms of this agreement, CuraGen will apply its SeqCalling(TM), GeneCalling®, and PathCalling(TM) technologies, related services, and pharmacogenomics expertise to identify new drug targets and develop novel cardiovascular drugs. CuraGen retains rights to newly discovered protein therapeutics for use in the Company's internal drug development programs, while COR retains the rights to small molecule and inhibitory antibody therapeutics emanating from this agreement. This renewable collaboration is valued at approximately $2.6 million for an initial period of 18 months. CuraGen may also receive milestone and royalty payments for products developed by COR as a result of this collaboration.
''CuraGen is successfully applying its genomics expertise on behalf of collaborators spanning the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and biotechnology fields. Our agreement with COR Therapeutics further demonstrates the versatility and precision of CuraGen's Internet-based genomics technologies,'' remarked Jonathan M. Rothberg, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of CuraGen Corporation.
CuraGen's business strategy includes augmenting the efforts of its strategic partners, continuing the enhancement of its integrated genomics technologies, and continuing to invest in its own proprietary drug development program. ''CuraGen is entering into partnerships, such as those with Glaxo Wellcome and Hoffmann-La Roche, that provide for significant milestone and royalty potential, while enabling the Company to retain the rights to certain protein discoveries,'' stated Peter A. Fuller, Ph.D, Vice President of Business Development for CuraGen Corporation. CuraGen's internal development programs focus upon the creation of products for complex disease states and are concentrated in the areas of oncology; diabetes; obesity; hypertension and stroke; osteoporosis; autoimmune-based and CNS disorders.
CuraGen Corporation is revolutionizing the discovery and development of life science products through the systematic application of genomics. CuraGen's fully integrated, Internet-based 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. CuraGen's research collaborators include Biogen, Genentech, Glaxo Wellcome, Hoffmann-La Roche, and Pioneer Hi-Bred International. The Company employs over 300 people and is headquartered in New Haven, CT, with additional facilities in Branford, CT, and Alachua, FL. Additional Company information is available at curagen.com .
This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. 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. |