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Biotech / Medical : Indications -- Psoriasis/Chronic Inflammation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Miljenko Zuanic who wrote (147)	12/10/2001 11:03:48 PM
From: Miljenko Zuanic	Respond to of 631

Interesting, SAN RAMON, Calif., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at Odyssey Pharmaceuticals have succeeded in visualizing the protein network representing the TNF response pathway in living cells. TNF (tumor necrosis factor) signaling is implicated in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other diseases, and Odyssey's results suggest new strategies for therapeutic intervention. Despite the importance of the TNF pathway, it has never before been observed in living cells, and the results show that novel components interact with the network in ways that could not have been predicted. Key findings of the study were as follows: * The process combines genomics, biology and pharmacology. The scientists introduced genes directly into TNF-responsive cells, and used cell survival and fluorescence of live cells as a sensitive and rapid detector of interactions among network components. * The responses of individual proteins to TNF could be seen under a microscope within minutes of adding the hormone, and the TNF-induced movement of protein complexes from the cell membrane to the cytosol, and from the cytosol to the nucleus, could be observed. * The process was equally sensitive and specific for a wide variety of proteins, including proteins representing druggable targets such as receptors and kinases. * Novel interactions were found among proteins participating in the TNF signaling pathway, with implications for new therapeutic strategies for arthritis and other diseases. Validation of novel drug targets demands a comprehensive understanding of the biological functions of the proteins themselves, including their roles in cell behavior. Odyssey utilizes an integrated process for drug discovery that combines cells appropriate to disease models with a precise way to map proteins and small molecules directly to their site of action in the cell. The company's mission is to rapidly and rationally identify therapeutic targets, and to simultaneously identify small molecule inhibitors for these targets. Visit Odyssey on the web at odysseypharma.com .