MECHELEN, Belgium, Nov. 14, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Galapagos Genomics NV, the Belgian functional genomics company, today announced that it has entered into a broad functional genomics collaboration with Pharmacia Corporation (PHA) involving the use of Galapagos' PhenoSelect(TM) expression platform for gene target identification and validation applications.
Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos will construct a gene library for Pharmacia in order to identify and validate novel drug targets in a broad range of disease areas.
"This deal is the first project with Pharmacia, and we are expecting this relationship to develop into a long term strategic partnership," said Onno van de Stolpe, Chief Executive Officer of Galapagos. "We are proud of the confidence that Pharmacia has expressed in our technology platform, and we feel strongly that this collaboration will result in an expedited identification and validation of novel drug targets for Pharmacia."
Background information on the Galapagos PhenoSelect(TM) expression libraries:
-- Human gene collections packaged in high quality, replication
deficient and minimally disruptive adenoviruses.
-- Valuable libraries in an arrayed ('one gene one well') and
miniaturized (384 well) format.
-- High throughput automation platform for library construction
(10,000 viruses per week) and screening (15,000 viruses per week).
-- Highly informative, versatile, cell-based assay system, including
proprietary image analysis (algorithms), focused on direct
association of human genes with phenotypic changes such as
morphology, signal transduction, enzyme and transport activity in
a broad range of therapeutic areas.
Galapagos Genomics is a privately held company headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium. The Company was established in 1999 as a joint venture between Crucell NV (Nasdaq:CRXL)(Leiden, The Netherlands), and Tibotec-Virco NV (Mechelen, Belgium). The Company has built a functional genomics platform using arrayed adenoviruses containing human genes to identify drug targets and therapeutic genes. Galapagos technology is based on the patented PER.C6TM human cell line expression platform. Galapagos has an exclusive license to use PER.C6 for functional genomics applications. It's PhenoSelect libraries are in a format that enable high-throughput screening using cellular assays. The Company currently employs 70 people, including 18 PhD's, and occupies a 15,000 sq.f. research and production facility in Mechelen, with additional research laboratories in Leiden, The Netherlands. Galapagos' current partners include Bayer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Incyte Genomics, Procter&Gamble Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharma, Organon (Akzo Nobel), Isotis, VIB and the Netherlands Cancer Institute.