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Sigma-Aldrich and Procognia Enter
Exclusive Partnership for Commercialization of Functional Human Protein Arrays
St Louis, MO and Taufkirchen, Germany, 9th
November 2004 – Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (NASDAQ: SIAL) and Procognia have an
exclusive agreement that calls for Sigma-Aldrich to market novel arrays of
functional human proteins developed by Procognia. This agreement will
significantly expand Sigma-Aldrich’s pipeline of products for the advancement of
proteomic research.
Procognia has developed a proprietary tag technology to create the first arrays
of biologically-related human proteins that retain their native functions in the
array format. The first protein array in the pipeline of products will contain
wild type human p53 and its important germline SNP variants. The p53 protein is
implicated in most cancers when its normal function to suppress tumor growth is
reduced or lost through variation in its sequence. Procognia’s functionally
arrayed SNP variant proteins will be the first tool that enables researchers to
investigate the mechanism of cancer progression on many proteins in parallel.
Additional protein arrays to be launched in the coming months will contain
selected sets of biologically related human proteins including collections of
proteins associated with key diseases including cancer and signal transduction.
These arrays will enable understanding of biological pathways and the rapid
screening of inhibitors of specific proteins in those pathways. These products
are expected to become broadly used tools by most pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies to increase the speed and output of their drug discovery
programs.
Other terms of the exclusive relationship between Sigma-Aldrich and Procognia
were not released. In addition, Procognia has raised new financing totaling
$23.5 million. Participants to support its development efforts included lead
investor Apax Partners Funds, as well as other existing investors Evergreen
Partners and Koor CVC, and new investor Star Ventures.
David Harvey, Chairman and CEO of Sigma-Aldrich, remarked, “I am pleased that
Sigma-Aldrich will have the opportunity to exclusively market a product with the
power to finally deliver functional arrays of human proteins. This proprietary
technology represents a significant advancement over existing protein array
technologies, which do not orient nor confer functionality of proteins on the
array. This leading achievement will dramatically advance proteomic research to
further uncover the mechanisms of human disease by enabling researchers to
conduct functional assays on large numbers of proteins in a parallel manner. We
feel that the technology developed by Procognia is the most innovative protein
array technology available and the only technology that allows true functional
analysis of proteins in parallel.”
Ron Long, Procognia’s CEO and former CEO of Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, said,
“Sigma-Aldrich is emerging as the strongest force in leading edge proteomic
tools for the life sciences market today, and I feel that they are the best
partner for Procognia’s protein function arrays. With the human p53 SNP arrays,
we will mark a first in functional protein array development and open the door
for rapid uptake of the future protein array products that will follow.”
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High
Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical kits are used in
genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of
disease and chemical manufacturing. We have customers in life science companies,
university and government institutions, hospitals and in industry. Over one
million scientists and technologists use our products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in
34 countries and has 6,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. We
are committed to the success of our Customers, Employees and Shareholders
through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service.
For more information on Sigma-Aldrich, please visit
www.sigma-aldrich.com
About Procognia: Procognia, a 2004 World Economic Forum Technology
Pioneer award winner, is focused on developing and commercializing its cutting
edge proprietary technologies that will enable the unraveling of disease
mechanisms and the discovery and development of drugs to treat those diseases.
In addition to developing protein function arrays, Procognia has also developed
and is marketing a lectin array based platform that enables the high throughput,
automated analysis of protein glycosylation. Glycosylation is the major post
translational modification of protein drugs, and it is the most difficult aspect
to analyze, monitor and control during the discovery and development of biologic
medicines. Procognia’s glycanalysis technology will increase the probability of
success of glycoprotein drugs.
Procognia was formed in April 2002 with a corporate headquarters and
manufacturing in Maidenhead, United Kingdom. Commercial operations are run from
the United Kingdom and Exton, PA, United States, and supported by R&D facilities
in Maidenhead, United Kingdom and Ashdod, Israel.
www.procognia.com
Media enquiries to Northbank Communications
English language enquiries to:
Sue Charles, +44 (0)20 7886 8152,
s.charles@northbankcommunications.com
German language enquiries to:
Katharina Winterstein, +49 (0)89 2425 7312,
k.winterstein@northbankcommunications.com
At Sigma-Aldrich:
Michael Hadjisavas, +1 314 286 7431
At Procognia:
Johanna Griffin, +1 610 321 2520
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