Cellular Genomics Establishes Research Collaboration With Lilly
18 December 2003 - 2:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Cellular Genomics Establishes Research Collaboration With Lilly
BRANFORD, Conn., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Genomics Inc.
(CGI), a chemical genetics based biopharmaceutical company, today
announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with
Eli Lilly and Company, under which CGI will apply its chemical
genetics Analog Sensitive Kinase Allele (ASKA) technology to the
study of kinase drug targets selected by Lilly. "We are extremely
pleased that Lilly has chosen to collaborate with CGI to further
enhance their kinase drug discovery programs," said Dr. Louis
Matis, President and Chief Executive Officer of CGI. "This marks
the fifth collaboration we have established with a major
pharmaceutical or biotechnology company based on our patented
chemical genetics technologies, demonstrating their value and
utility." CGI's cutting-edge chemical genetics approach is based on
the discovery of Analog Sensitive Kinase Alleles (ASKAs). ASKAs are
genetically modified kinases that retain all the functions of
normal kinases, but can be potently inhibited with exquisite
selectivity and specificity by a specially designed proprietary
small molecule analog inhibitor. This enables drug discovery
scientists to quickly understand the pharmacological consequences
of specific kinase inhibition and, therefore, the likely
therapeutic benefit of inhibiting the normal kinase target with a
small molecule drug. CGI holds the exclusive worldwide license to
this broadly enabling chemical genetics technology, which has
powerful applications to multiple facets of the drug discovery
process. These include: cell pathway based target identification;
rigorous, pharmaceutically relevant in vivo target validation;
proprietary high-content cell-based drug screens; and in vivo
systems that provide key therapeutic index and drug safety
information to guide the selection of optimal drug candidates for
clinical development. Under the terms of the agreement, CGI will
use its ASKA technology to generate modified kinases for Lilly.
CGI's P-inhibitor technology will be utilized to design and
validate unique cell-based assays specific for the kinases of
interest to Lilly. These assays have the potential to accelerate
Lilly's lead identification efforts against the kinase targets.
About CGI: Cellular Genomics Inc. (CGI) is a privately held
chemical genetics-based biopharmaceutical company that is
pioneering a unique, highly integrated chemical genetics platform
to discover and develop kinase and other signal transduction
inhibitors for multiple clinical indications. CGI has established
state-of-the art small molecule drug discovery capabilities,
including proprietary chemical libraries generated through the
company's High-throughput Accelerated Lead Optimization (HALO)
platform. CGI has generated potent, selective lead candidates in
three drug discovery and development programs in autoimmune and
inflammatory disease, cancer, and angiogenesis that are advancing
rapidly toward the clinic. CGI's proprietary chemical genetics
technologies have broad applications across all phases of drug
discovery, which the company is leveraging both to advance its own
internal drug development programs as well as to establish
partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The
Company has established research collaborations with several
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Please visit
http://www.cellulargenomics.com/ for additional information.
DATASOURCE: Cellular Genomics Inc. CONTACT: Louis A. Matis, M.D.,
President and CEO of Cellular Genomics, Inc., +1-203-315-1222;
Rhonda Chiger (Investors), +1-917-322-2569, or Pete Holmberg
(Media), +1-917-322-2164, both of Rx Communications Group for
Cellular Genomics, Inc. Web site: http://www.cellulargenomics.com/
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