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Biotech / Medical : TITAN PHARMACEUTICAL (TTP) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (92)	10/5/1999 7:03:00 PM
From: scaram(o)uche	Respond to of 362

[ off topic ] Tuesday October 5, 4:30 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Genset Genset and Janssen Identify a Novel Candidate Gene Associated with Schizophrenia Reaching a Milestone Towards the Understanding of This Complex CNS Disorder PARIS, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Genset (Nasdaq: GENXY; Nouveau Marche: GENSET) announced today that it and the Janssen Research Foundation, a subsidiary of the US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, reached an important milestone in their schizophrenia research collaboration. Less than two years after receiving a comprehensive collection of clinical samples, Genset successfully identified and delivered to Janssen a novel candidate gene associated with schizophrenia. Financial terms were not disclosed. Said Pascal Brandys, Chairman & CEO of Genset: ''This gene, for which we have filed patent applications, represents an important advance towards understanding the underlying genetic causes of this highly complex and heterogeneous mental disorder. It also provides evidence of the quality of our franchise in gene discovery for CNS disorders. We hope this gene will prove to be a critical proprietary target for our pharmaceutical partner for the rapid development of new and better diagnostic and therapeutic options for schizophrenia, and we are intending to undertake its complete functional characterization in close cooperation with the Janssen Research Foundation.'' In September l996, Genset and the Janssen Research Foundation entered into a strategic research agreement to identify and clone genes associated with schizophrenia. As a follow-up to positive initial research results and the discovery of this first candidate gene, the two partners have initiated negotiations to extend the term and scope of the agreement. Several proprietary genomic regions thought to contain genes associated with schizophrenia were identified by Genset and other third parties cooperating with Janssen. Using its integrated genomics technologies, Genset pinpointed the precise location of a gene in one of the regions of interest and established its association with schizophrenia through extensive genotyping and advanced biostatistical analysis. This association was confirmed in a different population using an additional, well-characterized clinical collection from schizophrenic cases and controls. Schizophrenia is a severe chronic mental disorder that is estimated to affect approximately one percent of the world's population. The schizophrenia market worldwide is currently valued in excess of $2.5 billion and estimated to grow to $5 billion in 2002. Schizophrenia is characterized by disturbances of mind and personality, including delusions, hallucinations and deterioration in psychosocial functioning. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Although a new class of anti-psychotics that combine a superior efficacy with reduced side effects is gradually replacing conventional neuroleptics, current treatments are symptomatic and, they are not a cure for this devastating disease, which remains a major world health problem. Understanding the underlying genetic basis for schizophrenia offers hope for the development of new, more effective and more specific treatments. Genset, a global genomics company is engaged in providing pharmaceutical companies with patented genomics information relevant for the discovery, development and marketing of drugs. The Company's objective is to enter into focused strategic partnerships to assist pharmaceutical companies throughout the drug life cycle. Genset's portfolio of commercial opportunities available for partnership includes its ongoing gene discovery programs in CNS disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and metabolic disorders and osteoporosis; pharmacogenomics programs for drug response and its secreted proteins gene library. Genset's news releases are available on the Company's Web site at genxy.com. Janssen Pharmaceutica, and its affiliate, the Janssen Research Foundation, is headquartered in Beerse, Belgium, and has operating companies in 32 countries, including the United States. A wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, it is a leader in central nervous system research. Other areas of research focus include allergy, analgesia, oncology, gastroenterology and mycology. SOURCE: Genset

To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (92)	10/7/1999 10:04:00 AM
From: scaram(o)uche	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 362

not holding my breath, but.... interesting, if nothing else, interesting........ Thursday October 7, 9:42 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Titan's Parkinson's Disease Therapy Receives NIH Grant Accelerated Phase I/II Fast Track Grant Targeted To Support Preclinical and Clinical Development SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 7, 1999--Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: TTP - news) today announced that the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the NIH has awarded to Titan Phase I of a combined Phase I/ Phase II Fast Track SBIR Grant, to support development of Titan's Spheramine(TM) therapy for Parkinson's disease. A Phase I/ Phase II Fast Track Grant is designed to accelerate access to a Phase II Grant, based upon achievement of Phase I objectives. ''We appreciate this support from NIH and NINDS for our Parkinson's disease therapeutic program,'' stated Dr. Louis R. Bucalo, President and CEO of Titan. ''In aggregate, this Phase I/ Phase II grant would fund the majority of direct costs of our initial clinical study of Spheramine.'' ''We are moving very rapidly toward completion of the Phase I objectives, and the potential opportunity of Phase II of this grant,'' continued Dr. Bucalo. ''In addition, we look forward to the opportunity of initiating clinical testing of Spheramine in the near future.'' The Phase I grant in the amount of $120,000 is targeted toward completion of primate studies and preparation of an IND for clinical testing. The Phase II grant would be directed at support of initial Phase I/II clinical testing. Spheramine is a cell therapy intended to help replace the function of dopamine producing cells which are lost in Parkinson's'disease through neuronal degeneration. Spheramine utilizes retinal pigmented epithelial cells, which produce dopamine, and can be obtained in large numbers through cell culture producing methods, offering the potential for a standardized, readily available restorative cell therapy. Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary therapeutics for the treatment of nervous system disorders, cancer, and other serious and life threatening diseases. ''Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements which are not historical fact in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the results of research and developmental efforts, the results of pre-clinical and clinical testing, the effect of regulation by the FDA and other agencies, the impact of competitive products, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Contact: Company: Louis R. Bucalo, M.D. President & CEO Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc Tel: 650-244-4990 or Investors: Sandra O'Keefe Senior Account Executive Ruder Finn, Inc. Tel: 212-593-6420 or Media: Ken Garcia Account Executive Ruder Finn, Inc. Tel: 212-583-2722