Re Alliance
September 12 2000 - 7:00AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:7953Q
Oxford Glycosciences PLC
12 September 2000
Oxford GlycoSciences plc and Cambridge Antibody Technology
Announce Strategic Alliance in Protein Microarrays
Oxford, UK 12 September 2000 - Oxford GlycoSciences plc (LSE: OGS) and
Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT: LSE) today announced the formation of a
collaboration to develop "protein chip" technology for detection of proteins
using antibody based microarrays.
The companies will combine their respective technologies, to develop a new
protein detection and screening technology based on antibody microarrays.
OGS's human protein libraries and CAT's human antibody libraries will be
analysed, paired proteins and antibodies selected and microarrays developed
based on OGS's current protein microarray prototype format. The goal is to
create a new generation of protein detection technology with the speed,
throughput and sensitivity to serve the development of research tools,
diagnostics and novel therapeutics. Each party will fund its own research
contribution.
Michael Kranda, CEO of OGS said, "With the Human Genome map in hand the
spotlight has shifted to proteins, proteomics and antibody technology. The
CAT/OGS Protein Chip project will focus on combining our expertise to explore
the next generation of high throughput proteomics technology. We see the
field of analytical proteomics maturing similarly to genomics. OGS pioneered
industrialised proteomics based on 2D gels and mass spectrometry, for
discovery of human proteins. We currently have over 800 patent filings
covering disease specific proteins, with the number growing. Our technology
team has used our expertise in proteomics, micro-engineering and informatics,
to develop the prototype of an antibody-based protein detection microarray.
The alliance with CAT provides us access to their high throughput antibody
technology to bring our prototype micro arrays to an industrial scale for
developing protein chips as screening and diagnostic tools. We are very
pleased to link up with the acknowledged antibody technology expertise at
CAT".
David Chiswell, CEO of CAT said, "Understanding the expression, processing,
modification and activity of proteins is fundamental to the development of
revolutionary diagnostics, prognostics and therapies for human disease
management. We at CAT believe that antibody-based microarrays will be a core
tool for unlocking this understanding. CAT's extensive pioneering work on
high throughput antibody isolation, which has included the world's first fully
automated, high throughput antibody selection and screening processes
developed three years ago, makes CAT the partner of choice to develop Protein
Chips. Teaming up with the world-leading proteomics expertise at Oxford
GlycoSciences is CAT's first collaboration designed to help solve the
technological and commercial challenges in developing Protein Chips and to
unlock the strategic value in this new market".
Notes to Editors
OGS
OGS is the world's leading proteomics based drug discovery and development
company headquartered in Oxfordshire, UK, applying its proteomics technology
to pharmaceutical research and development. OGS has proteomics collaborations
with a number of major pharmaceutical companies, including programmes with
Pfizer in Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis, with Merck in diabetes, and
in respiratory disease with Bayer. OGS also has a proteomics programme with
Pioneer Hi-Bred/DuPont. Furthermore, in a joint venture with the genomics
company, Incyte Genomics Inc., OGS is building expression databases for
licence to pharmaceutical companies, to which Astra Zeneca became the first
subscriber in 1999.
OGS has drug discovery programmes in oncology, inflammation, and infectious
disease, and a growing clinical and pre-clinical pipeline. OGT 918 (Vevesca)
is in late stage clinical trials for the treatment of glycolipid storage
disease.
CAT
CAT is a UK biotechnology company using its proprietary technologies in fully
human monoclonal antibodies for drug discovery and drug development. Based in
Melbourn, 10 miles south of Cambridge, England, CAT currently employs around
180 people. CAT is listed on the London Stock Exchange, having raised #41m in
its IPO in March 1997. A Secondary Offering in March 2000 raised #93m. CAT
has a world leading platform technology for rapidly isolating fully human
monoclonal antibodies using proprietary phage display systems. CAT has an
extensive phage display antibody library, currently incorporating around 100
billion distinct antibodies. This library, forms the basis for the company's
strategy to develop a portfolio of clinical development programmes and for
discovering new drug leads using functional genomics. Four fully human
therapeutic antibodies developed by CAT are at various stages of clinical
trials.
CAT has a number of license and collaborative agreements in place with
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including: Eli Lilly, Pfizer, BASF
Pharma, Genentech, ICOS Corporation, Genetics Institute, Wyeth-Ayerst, Human
Genome Sciences, AstraZeneca and Pharmacia.
Microarrays
A microarray is a chemically modified surface (chip) onto which a high density
of probes have been precisely applied in an ordered manner.
Protein Chip
A protein chip is a chemically modified surface onto which a high density of
protein-based probes have been precisely applied in an ordered manner.
Some important facts that could cause actual results to vary significantly
from management's expectations noted in these forward looking statements
include government approvals, intellectual property positions and costs. OGT
918 is an investigational drug and has not received approval for marketing in
any country.
For further information, please contact:
Oxford GlycoSciences plc
Michael Kranda, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 543200
WorldWide Web: http://www.ogs.com
Financial Dynamics
David Yates - Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 7156
Sarah Mehanna - Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 7236
CAT
Dr David Chiswell, Chief Executive Officer
John Aston, Finance Director
Rowena Gardner, Communications Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1763 263233
HCC De Facto (Europe)
Nikul Odedra (trade)
Sue Charles (city/finance)
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7496 3300
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