Cytomyx and Purely Proteins to develop informatics led protein-based tools for pharmaceutical development
03 February 2003, –
Cytomyx, (Cambridge, UK) (AIM:CYX) and
Purely Proteins Ltd (Cambridge, UK) have today announced a set of
initiatives that will lead to the development of a series of protein-based
tools designed to accelerate and enhance the drug development process.
The companies have
forged a broad based alliance, which covers the development of a unique
bioinformatics and reagent product package, as well as a joint marketing
alliance whereby both companies will actively promote each other’s
product and service capabilities.
The focus of this
collaboration will be the G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) protein
family. Central to the collaboration will be Purely Proteins’ TargetBASE®Plus
GPCR database. This sophisticated informatics system contains detailed
information about, and defines relationships between all the known members
of the GPCR family. Using TargetBASE®Plus pharmaceutical companies will be able to better understand the
links between different GPCRs that are the focus of their drug discovery
efforts. Allied to this will be a large collection of biochemical tools,
developed by Cytomyx, which will be used to demonstrate experimentally the
relationships between the GPCRs derived from the use of TargetBASE®Plus.
The GPCRs are proven
targets for drug discovery with more than 30% of
the drugs currently on the market targeting GPCR function. In addition, of
the top 100 best selling pharmaceutical products in 2000, greater than 25%
are active against GPCR targets, accounting for over $20 billion in sales.
Cytomyx will utilise Purely Proteins’ extensive experience
in GPCR biology and the strengths of TargetBASEâPlus
along side its internal capabilities in cloning and protein purification
to develop a range of novel high value tools.
The joint marketing
programme will be launched with immediate effect and will extend awareness
and use of TargetBASE®Plus
to a commercial audience as yet untapped by Purely Proteins, whilst
Cytomyx will benefit from the high level links within the pharmaceutical
industry possessed by the Purely Proteins team.
Speaking about the
collaboration Cytomyx’ CEO Mike Kerins commented, “This new
collaboration will accelerate our ongoing efforts to become the leading
provider of protein-based research tools to the pharmaceutical industry.
Access to TargetBASE®Plus will enable us to develop a series of reagents that meet the
industry’s needs in discovery and development. Working with Purely
Proteins will help us to reach this goal faster, both through the value of
the information contained within TargetBASE®Plus as well as through the extensive industry knowledge and
experience of the Purely Proteins team. I am looking forward to a long and
productive collaboration with them”.
Dr. David Bailey CEO of
PP said “Cytomyx is the ideal partner for Purely Proteins in the
discovery-rich GPCR signaling field. Their experience in molecular and
cell biology provides a powerful platform for reducing Purely Proteins
comprehensive informatics-led drug discovery approach to practice.
Understanding the way drugs work at the molecular level is best achieved
by studying many targets simultaneously. Access to reagents covering the
entire GPCR gene family, which this collaboration provides to Purely
Proteins and other partners of Cytomyx, will them to develop new drugs
with defined and unique specificities.”
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ends –
About Cytomyx
Cytomyx (AIM: CYX)
provides a wide range of services and products, which support and enhance
early stage drug discovery efforts within the pharmaceutical industry. The
company has developed a gene and protein based technology platform that
enables it to undertake contract research for its partners in
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. In addition the
company is using its technology platform to develop a range of high value
pharmaceutically relevant research products. In October 2002 the company
acquired Cambridge BioScience, a leading distributor of research products
to life science researchers in the UK. Formed in 1996, Cytomyx, based in
Cambridge, UK, is publicly listed on London’s Alternative Investment
Market.
Purely Proteins is an
informatics-based drug discovery company located in Cambridge, UK. Drawing
on its links with Cambridge University’s Institute of Biotechnology and
its own proprietary informatics programs, Purely Proteins uses both its
affinity purification technologies and proprietary computational software
for information integration, to identify novel relationships between
discovery targets and their corresponding chemical ligands. Purely
Proteins' databases house both public domain and proprietary information
of direct relevance to drug discovery, linking proteomics to established
areas such as structural biology and medicinal chemistry, thereby
maximising value within a pharmaceutical partner's research portfolio.
Contact:- Purely Proteins
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David
Bailey Ph.D.
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Tel:
+44 1223 210197
Fax:+44
1223 244506
48
Regent Street
Cambridge
CB2
1FD
UK
email:
david.bailey@purelyproteins.com
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