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Biotech / Medical : Celera Genomics (CRA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: gao seng who wrote (354)	5/11/2000 11:19:00 PM
From: gao seng	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 746

Human Genome Sciences CEO Disputes Gene Sequence Worth By Beth M. Mantz 05/11/2000 Dow Jones News Service (Copyright (c) 2000, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.) NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- For those in the business of discovering gene-based medicines, sequencing the human genome is no doubt a milestone, but it may not be the watershed event for the industry the public thinks it is. "It is more of a 'techno-folly' than a significant advance" for drug-discovery companies, said Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI) Chairman and Chief Executive William Haseltine in a meeting with Dow Jones Newswires and Wall Street Journal reporters Thursday. Like man landing on the moon, sequencing the human genome is more a "psychological milestone." The information gathered doesn't explain where the genes are found, what their functions are and what proteins the genes secrete. Without this information, developing gene-based drugs is difficult at best, if not impossible. So while PE Corp.- Celera Genomics Group (CRA) and the government-funded Human Genome Project are racing to sequence the human genome, their findings alone won't change Human Genome Sciences' business, because for the past five years the company has been using a working set of genes to discover drugs. Scientists at Human Genome Science have researched tissues themselves to locate the genes and then have isolated and characterized the genes. The genes tell cells whether to secrete proteins. Proteins, in turn, can either stimulate or inhibit a cell's growth. The proteins, or their antibodies, form the basis of medications. Human Genome's method has helped it to "dramatically improve efficiency to drug discovery," Haseltine said. Not every company develops drugs this way. Although many have alliances with genomics companies, traditional pharmaceutical companies are resistant to discovering drugs the way Human Genome does, according to Haseltine. Traditional pharmaceutical companies have historically developed medications from chemicals. "It is not (that the pharmaceutical companies) do not appreciate the importance of these discoveries ... they just do not (find) it workable to follow both" chemical medications and gene-based medications, Haseltine said. -- I think they are describing the value assembly adds.