Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : AXYS Pharmaceuticals Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (361)	12/2/1999 9:20:00 AM
From: bob zagorin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 455

PPD Inks Deal to Provide PPGx Pharmacogenomics Solutions(TM) For Pharmacia & Upjohn WILMINGTON, N.C., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) and PPGx, Inc. today announced an agreement to provide pharmacogenomic services to Pharmacia & Upjohn (NYSE: PNU). PPD is the exclusive marketer for the comprehensive pharmacogenomic services and products from PPGx provided under the brand name, Pharmacogenomics Solutions(TM). PPGx is a joint venture formed in February 1999 between PPD and Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AXPH). Pharmacogenomics is the science of using genetic information to predict the safety, toxicity and/or efficacy of drugs in individual patients or groups of patients. Under the terms of the agreement, Pharmacogenomic Solutions products and services will be applied to prescreen healthy volunteers for potential enrollment in future Phase I clinical trials. Through August 2002, volunteers will be screened for genetic markers, such as those that predict drug metabolism. "PPGx is delighted to be working with Pharmacia & Upjohn in applying pharmacogenomics across a broad Phase I program," said Josh Baker, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of PPGx. "Our collaboration represents an important validation for the PPGx business model." According to Fred Eshelman, chief executive officer of PPD, "Pharmacogenomics is becoming widely adopted as an essential drug discovery and development tool. The routine use of pharmacogenomics in Phase I clinical trials is a key to accelerating the drug development process. We also foresee its application becoming a commonly-integrated component in future diagnosis and treatment regimens." Through collaborative and service relationships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, PPGx, Inc. provides technical and consulting expertise in the application of pharmacogenomics to optimize and accelerate drug discovery and development. Combining GLP/CLIA global laboratory services with genetic research technologies and a comprehensive informatics platform, PPGx provides genotyping, genome banking, assay development, polymorphism discovery, clinical trial design and analysis simulation technology and a comprehensive suite of proprietary GeneTrial(TM) software products and consulting services to support drug discovery and development. PPGx pharmacogenomic services and products are exclusively marketed by PPD, Inc. under the brand name, Pharmacogenomic Solutions(TM). PPD, Inc. is a leading global provider of contract and consulting research and development services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. With a corporate mission to provide services that maximize the return on clients' R&D investments, PPD provides innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and comprehensive services for drug discovery, clinical development and post- market support. The company employs more than 3,500 professionals in 47 offices in 19 countries around the world. Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions, including expectations and assumptions contained in the foregoing, including the value of this service agreement to PPD, are forward- looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although PPD has used best efforts to be accurate in making those forward-looking statements, it is possible that the assumptions made by management may not materialize. In addition, other important factors which could cause results to differ materially include the following: economic conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; risks associated with acquisitions, loss of large contracts; competition within the CRO and pharmaceutical industries; continued success in sales growth; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; and the risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings by PPD, copies of which are available upon request from the investor relations department. Editor's Note: For more information on Pharmacogenomic Solutions products and services, please visit the web site at pgxsolutions.com . For more information about PPD, please visit the company web site at ppdi.com . SOURCE PPD, Inc. CO: PPD, Inc.; Pharmacia & Upjohn; PPGx, Inc.; Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ST: North Carolina IN: MTC SU: 12/02/1999 08:35 EST prnewswire.com