[ phenotyping companies ]
Sangamo BioSciences, Artemis Pharmaceuticals and Exelixis Initiate Collaboration to Create New Way of
Generating Knock-Out Mice For Drug Discovery
Proprietary Mouse Genetic Technologies and Novel Gene Regulation Technologies
To be Combined
RICHMOND and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and COLOGNE, Germany, Oct. 2
/PRNewswire/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO), Exelixis, Inc.
(Nasdaq: EXEL), and Artemis Pharmaceuticals GmbH announced today that the
companies will work together to develop a new way to produce knock-out mice
for functional gene validation. The collaboration will combine their unique
proprietary technologies to create powerful new models in which specific
disease-related genes may be turned on and off in a regulated fashion. This
compelling new methodology may allow knock-out mice to be generated much more
quickly than is currently possible, allow a more complete gene function
validation in mice and provide better results, supporting and increasing the
efficiency of the drug discovery process.
Sangamo's expertise in gene regulation can be applied to turn on or turn
off a specific gene among the vast number that exist in virtually every
organism. Exelixis and Artemis are collectively focused on the development of
genetic modeling systems for a variety of animal species, including fruit
flies, nematode worms, zebrafish, and mice. The study of these simple
organisms, which have shorter life cycles and well characterized biology, can
be used to improve the understanding of more sophisticated biological systems.
"We are excited about working with Artemis and Exelixis to extend the
utility of our ZFP platform into their proprietary systems in mice," said
Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and chief executive officer. "Having the
power to exquisitely manipulate and examine the genomes of multiple organisms
provides tremendous insights that can guide the drug discovery process."
"We believe that the combination of Artemis' unique CONDITIONAL(TM) knock-
out expertise, with Sangamo's powerful ZFP technology, can bring functional
gene validation with mice to a new level of efficiency," said George A.
Scangos, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Exelixis. "Together,
these technologies and the technology we recently licensed from the Wisconsin
Alumni Research Foundation gives us an extremely powerful suite of
methodologies that will allow us to answer questions that are otherwise
difficult to address and shorten the time currently required to generate
knock-out mice."
About Sangamo
Sangamo is focused on the research and development of novel transcription
factors for the regulation of gene expression. Sangamo's Universal Gene
Recognition(TM) technology enables the engineering of transcription factors
known as zinc finger DNA binding proteins, or ZFPs. By engineering ZFPs so
that they can recognize a specific site on a specific gene, Sangamo has
created ZFP transcription factors that can control gene expression and,
consequently, cell function. The company intends to establish Universal Gene
Recognition as a widely used technology for commercial applications in
pharmaceutical discovery, human therapeutics, clinical diagnostics,
agriculture and industrial biotechnology.
Leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies utilizing ZFPs include:
AstraZeneca, Bayer Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, DuPont Pharmaceuticals,
Genset SA, Glaxo Wellcome, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Immunex, The R. W. Johnson
Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Japan Tobacco, Merck, Merck KGaA,
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Procter & Gamble
Pharmaceuticals, Schering AG, SmithKline Beecham, Warner-Lambert, and Zaiya.
In addition, Sangamo has a strategic alliance with Edwards Lifesciences
Corporation to develop novel therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular
disease. For more information about Sangamo, visit the company's web site at
sangamo.com.
About Exelixis
Exelixis, Inc. is a leading biotechnology company focused on the life
sciences industries and product development through its expertise in
comparative genomics and model system genetics. These technologies provide a
rapid, efficient and cost-effective way to move from DNA sequence data to
knowledge about the function of genes and the proteins that they encode. The
company's technology is broadly applicable to all life science industries
including pharmaceutical, diagnostic, agricultural biotechnology and animal
health. Exelixis has partnerships with Bayer, Pharmacia, Bristol-Myers Squibb
and Dow AgroSciences and is building its internal development program in the
area of oncology. For more information, please visit the company's web site
at exelixis.com.
Exelixis and the Exelixis logo are registered U.S. trademarks.
About Artemis
Artemis, a leading genetics and functional genomics company, uses
zebrafish and mice as genetic model organisms to identify and functionally
validate novel genes in vivo. These genes can be used as novel screening
targets, or as the basis for secreted proteins in clinically and commercially
relevant diseases. The technology is based upon the pioneering work of the
co-founders Prof. Christiane Nusslein-Volhard and Prof. Klaus Rajewsky.
Artemis has a strong strategic alliance with Exelixis Inc., and together the
companies provide the most comprehensive array of genetic model systems
currently available. For more information on Artemis, visit the company's web
site at artemis-pharmaceuticals.de.
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbors created by those
sections. Those forward-looking statements include statements related to the
ability of Sangamo BioSciences and Exelixis to collectively develop successful
technology from the collaboration, enter into collaborations or other
commercial arrangements using this technology, to address existing or new
intellectual property rights of third parties with respect to the proposed
research and to continue to meet marketing, technology, and customer demands
as it relates to their products. Actual results may differ materially due to
a number of factors, including numerous technological, operational and
financial challenges associated with the regulation of genes and
identification of new transgenic modeling systems. The matters discussed in
this press release also involve risks and uncertainties concerning the
companies' products and services described in Sangamo's and Exelixis' filings
on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In particular,
see the risk factors described in Sangamo's Prospectus on Form S-1 and Sangamo
and Exelixis' most recent Form 10-Q. Sangamo and Exelixis assume no
obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press
release.
SOURCE Exelixis, Inc.; Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
Web Site: exelixis.com |
