Cytomyx launches new Reagent Development Partnership Program
09 September 2002, –
Cytomyx (Cambridge, UK), announced today that it has launched a new
collaborative initiative through which it will develop a range of novel
reagent products for use in early stage drug discovery research.
The initial focus of the program is on the development of tools
that will enable the study of ion channels.
Each Reagent
Development Partnership Program will bring together a small group of
partner companies who will share with Cytomyx the costs of developing
novel high-value reagent tools, such as functionally validated cell lines.
Partner companies will each benefit from early and enhanced access to
these reagents and preferential treatment in licensing any novel IP that
results from the development process, as well as gaining substantial cost
savings resulting from the co-development approach.
The first such program
will lead to the creation of a series of cell lines expressing functional,
human, voltage-gated sodium channels. These are an important class of
membrane proteins responsible for the initiation and propagation of nerve,
skeletal muscle, and heart action potentials and as such are recognised as
attractive targets for drug discovery programs in a number of areas, such
as pain management, cardiac arrhythmia, epilepsy and other neurological
diseases. Cytomyx will undertake the development of novel recombinant cell
lines, which express these proteins in a functional form, as validated by
both electrophysiology and pharmacological techniques.
Other similar programs
focusing on potassium channels and kinases are scheduled to start this
year. See the partnership page on the Cytomyx website www.cytomyx.com
or link directly through www.ion-channel.com
for an up-dated list of projects.
Commenting on the
launch, Cytomyx CEO Mike Kerins, said
“Ion channels are significant targets in the drug discovery
process, and products relating to them generate over 6 billion dollar in
sales per year. Developing a series of reagent tools that enable research
in this area will be of great value, both to Cytomyx and our partners in
this venture. We expect that this initiative will spark great interest
amongst our customers and will enhance Cytomyx’ position as a highly
valued partner in drug discovery.”
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About Cytomyx
Cytomyx
Holdings (AIM:CYX) provides a range of services to support early stage
drug discovery. The company’s core business is to provide a complete
‘target-to-screen’ platform of services that span Target Discovery, via proteomics and isolation of novel and known
cDNAs, through to services to support Target
Validation & Functional Studies, such as quantitative gene
expression profiling, recombinant protein production and mammalian cell
line production.
Core
business activities are accessed through partnerships with biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Existing partners include many
leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The company also plans
to use its technology platform to develop an intellectual property
portfolio through its own Discovery Research Program in collaboration with
leading academic and medical research groups. Formed in 1996, Cytomyx,
based in Cambridge, UK, is publicly listed on London’s Alternative
Investment Market.
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Contact:-
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Karen
Chandler-Smith
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Tel: +44 1223 508
191
Fax:+44 1223 508
198
email: karen@cytomyx.com
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