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Biotech / Medical : Kosan BioSciences -- KOSN -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LJM who wrote (585)	8/10/2005 2:47:44 PM
From: tuck	Respond to of 933

[KOS-1806, another geldanamycin analog] >>Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005 Aug;71(8):4862-71. Insights into the biosynthesis of the benzoquinone ansamycins geldanamycin and herbimycin, obtained by gene sequencing and disruption. Rascher A, Hu Z, Buchanan GO, Reid R, Hutchinson CR. Kosan Biosciences, Inc., 3832 Bay Center Place, Hayward, CA 94545. andreas.rascher@gmail.com. Geldanamycin and the closely related herbimycins A, B, and C were the first benzoquinone ansamycins to be extensively studied for their antitumor properties as small-molecule inhibitors of the Hsp90 protein chaperone complex. These compounds are produced by two different Streptomyces hygroscopicus strains and have the same modular polyketide synthase (PKS)-derived carbon skeleton but different substitution patterns at C-11, C-15, and C-17. To set the stage for structural modification by genetic engineering, we previously identified the gene cluster responsible for geldanamycin biosynthesis. We have now cloned and sequenced a 115-kb segment of the herbimycin biosynthetic gene cluster from S. hygroscopicus AM 3672, including the genes for the PKS and most of the post-PKS tailoring enzymes. The similarities and differences between the gene clusters and biosynthetic pathways for these closely related ansamycins are interpreted with support from the results of gene inactivation experiments. In addition, the organization and functions of genes involved in the biosynthesis of the 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA) starter unit and the post-PKS modifications of progeldanamycin were assessed by inactivating the subclusters of AHBA biosynthetic genes and two oxygenase genes (gdmM and gdmL) that were proposed to be involved in formation of the geldanamycin benzoquinoid system. A resulting novel geldanamycin analog, KOS-1806, was isolated and characterized.<< I haven't seen KOS-1806 before. A new one. Maybe not an important one? Cheers, Tuck

To: LJM who wrote (585)	8/11/2005 2:45:35 PM
From: mopgcw	Respond to of 933

Kosan Announces Pricing of Common Stock Offering Wednesday August 10, 9:30 pm ET HAYWARD, Calif., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kosan Biosciences Incorporated (Nasdaq: KOSN - News) today announced the pricing of its public offering of 4,500,000 shares of common stock at a price of $8.75 per share. All of the shares are being offered by Kosan. The underwriters have an option to purchase up to an additional 675,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on August 16, 2005. ADVERTISEMENT Credit Suisse First Boston is acting as sole book-runner of the offering. SG Cowen & Co., LLC and CIBC World Markets Corp. are acting as co-managers. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities. A prospectus supplement relating to these securities will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This offering of shares of common stock may be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus can be obtained from Credit Suisse First Boston, Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629 (Telephone number 212-325-2580). About Kosan Kosan Biosciences currently has two first-in-class anticancer agents in Phase II and Phase Ib clinical trials: KOS-862 (Epothilone D) and 17-AAG, an Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) inhibitor and geldanamycin analog. Kosan's most advanced compound, KOS-862, which is in two Phase II clinical trials and multiple Phase Ib clinical trials, and its follow-on compound, KOS-1584, which is in Phase I clinical trials, are partnered with Roche through a global development and commercialization agreement. Kosan is developing 17-AAG and a second-generation geldanamycin analog, KOS-1022 (DMAG), that is in Phase I clinical trials, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute. Kosan is also conducting Phase I and Phase Ib clinical trials of its proprietary formulation of 17-AAG, KOS-953. Kosan has generated a pipeline of additional product candidates for gastrointestinal motility, infectious diseases and cancer based on its proprietary technologies for discovering, developing and manufacturing polyketide analogs. All of Kosan's product candidates, including those in clinical development, are polyketides. Polyketides are an important class of natural products that have yielded numerous pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, high cholesterol, transplant rejection and other diseases. For additional information on Kosan Biosciences, please visit the Company's website at www.kosan.com.