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Tuesday February 10, 11:50 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals
ARIAD Appoints Noted Bioinformatics Expert as Vice President, Chief Information Officer
Rainer Fuchs, Ph.D. Will Also Direct Bioinformatics for the Hoechst-ARIAD Genomics Center
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARIA - news) today announced that Rainer Fuchs, Ph.D. has joined the company as vice president, chief information officer and director of bioinformatics for the Hoechst-ARIAD Genomics Center, LLC. Dr. Fuchs, formerly director of bioinformatics at Glaxo Wellcome, will direct information technology at ARIAD and will design and lead the Genomics Center's bioinformatics effort, including computational, informatic and computing components.
Dr. Fuchs is a recognized expert in the field of bioinformatics -- the application of sophisticated computer analysis tools and databases to biomedical research. While at Glaxo Wellcome, he established and directed the bioinformatics group. Prior to Glaxo, Dr. Fuchs was staff scientist in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Data Library program in Heidelberg, Germany. He holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals in the genomics field.
Dr. Fuchs has successfully solved problems of scientific data organization, integration and analysis, information discovery, and the use of genetic information for drug target identification and validation. He has led project teams in the analysis of sequence and genetic mapping data, development of integrated genomics information systems and advanced laboratory automation systems, and design of intelligent systems for information discovery and data mining in large data sets.
''We are delighted to welcome Rainer Fuchs to ARIAD and the Hoechst-ARIAD Genomics Center,'' said Harvey J. Berger, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of ARIAD and co-chair of the Genomics Center Management Committee. ''His pioneering work in the field of bioinformatics and his experience in managing a department of this magnitude will enhance our speed and efficiency in identifying potential therapeutic proteins and drug targets.''
''The appointment of Dr. Fuchs is a key milestone in building a first-tier Genomics Center aimed at finding innovative therapies in areas of unmet medical need,'' said Norbert Riedel, Ph.D., head of Global Biotechnology at Hoechst Marion Roussel and co-chair of the Genomics Center Management Committee.
The Hoechst-ARIAD Genomics Center, founded in March 1997, is a joint venture between ARIAD and Hoechst Marion Roussel. The Center combines the resources of one of the largest global pharmaceutical companies with the entrepreneurial environment of a leading discovery research organization to create a preeminent position in the field of functional genomics. Located at ARIAD's corporate headquarters in Cambridge, MA, the Center uses advanced technologies to analyze gene function and to identify novel drug targets for small-molecule drug discovery and therapeutic proteins. The Center currently is using functional genomics to identify genes that play a critical role in osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis.
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the discovery and development of orally administered therapeutics based on signal transduction technology. ARIAD is developing diverse products in multiple businesses, including signal transduction inhibitors, gene and cell therapy and functional genomics.
Hoechst Marion Roussel, a world leader in pharmaceutical-based health care, is dedicated to extending and enhancing human life through the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical products. The company's major products are among the world's leading therapies for cardiovascular, allergic, metabolic and central nervous system disorders and infectious diseases. The company is conducting research and development in these fields as well as in oncology, rheumatology and bone diseases. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Hoechst Marion Roussel is the pharmaceutical company of Hoechst, an international company focusing on life sciences.
Some of the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties regarding the success of the company's preclinical studies, the ability of the company to commence clinical trials and the success of such clinical trials, as well as economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting ARIAD's operations, markets, products, services and prices, and other factors discussed under the heading ''Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements'' in ARIAD's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals |
