metaGen
and RNAx Announce Target Validation Agreement
Berlin,
Germany, March 25, 2003
– metaGen Pharmaceuticals and RNAx announced today the signing of a
target validation agreement. Under the terms of the agreement RNAx
provides metaGen with access to RNA interference validation technology (RNAi).
metaGen will employ this technology to validate proprietary gene targets
relevant for cancer and will own the derived results. Financial details of
the agreement were not disclosed.
The
collaboration is based on a technology platform developed by RNAx that
allows the validation of gene targets for therapeutic use. Supported by
automation technology RNAi is employed to specifically inhibit gene
expression. Cancer relevant gene function can then be elucidated in
semi-automated cell-based assays.
“We
are glad to be able to provide our automated gene knockdown technology to
metaGen. Target validation still is a major bottleneck in the drug
development process. Our automated approach helps solve this problem at
high speed, in a reliable way and makes target validation affordable also
for large numbers of targets,” commented Joerg Poetzsch, Chief Executive
Officer of RNAx. “This technology will soon make RNAi and target
validation a truly routine procedure.”
Jürg
Ambühl, metaGen’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “RNAi technology
is emerging as an important tool in establishing a therapeutic rationale
for specific drug targets. Screening for gene function in a semi-automated
fashion will provide us with a significant time advantage by moving some
of our targets into the drug development process at an earlier stage.”
About
metaGen Pharmaceuticals GmbH
metaGen
is a biopharmaceutical company based in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to the
development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of patients suffering
from the most prevalent and aggressive forms of cancer. metaGen’s
integrated genomics-based technology platform enables the identification
of novel gene targets relevant for cancer. Through extensive validation of
the identified cancer targets in
vitro and in vivo metaGen
ensures a high probability of discovering novel avenues of cancer
treatment. metaGen has filed patent applications for approximately 1000
gene sequences and established a patent portfolio focussed on several
advanced therapeutic cancer targets for prostate, breast, colon, lung,
ovary, and bladder cancer. metaGen develops jointly with partners small
molecules and monoclonal antibody based drugs against the identified novel
cancer targets.
www.metagen.de
About
RNAx GmbH
RNAx
is a functional genomics service company. RNAx's know-how is based on many
years of research and development of high-throughput validation
technologies using RNA interference at the Max Planck Institute for
Infection Biology. RNAx offers its customers automated, and thus rapid and
cost effective validation of siRNA’s and targets. RNAx was founded by
scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin in
December 2002.
www.RNAx.de
metaGen
Pharmaceuticals
Dr.
Lilian Vakalopoulou, Chief Business Officer
RNAx
Dr.
Joerg Poetzsch, Chief Executive Officer
Media
Contact
Northbank
Communications, Fiona Brown
Phone:
+49 (0)30 45082 0
lilian.vakalopoulou@metagen.de
Phone:
+49 (0)30 48 63 73 89
info@RNAx.de
Phone:
+44 (0)20 7321 3875
f.brown@northbankcommunications.com
