IGEN Introduces HTS Method For Gene-Regulating Drugs

IGEN International, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD) has completed development of a new high-throughput screening (HTS) method that can be used to discover drugs whose mode of action is gene regulation. Among the possible therapeutic leads identified by this method will be drugs for cancer, cardiovascular, inflammation, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The new method is intended for use with IGEN's Origen High Throughput Drug Discovery System for chemical and biological libraries.

Origen chemiluminescence is based on proprietary bis-ruthenium complexes

Existing methods for testing gene-regulating drug candidates are time consuming and far less sensitive than they should be, and certainly not suitable for high throughput screening formats. IGEN's proprietary, patent-pending format provides high sensitivity and precision. IGEN has previously announced agreements with major pharmaceutical companies on its Origen system, which the new test format complements.

IGEN Chief Executive Officer, Sam Wohlstadter, stated that the new screening method adds an "exciting" angle to Origen. "We're focused on enabling the pharmaceutical industry to identify new drug candidates and bring those products more quickly to market, with the products based on Origen addressing every step from discovery to distribution. In addition to our instrumentation, tests, and services, this breakthrough gives IGEN the opportunity to identify drug targets ourselves, adding another component of great value to this business unit."

IGEN's bead formats permit direct detection, as well as sandwich and competition assays

Products using the Origen technology include systems marketed by IGEN and its licensees, Roche-Boehringer Mannheim, Organon Teknika and Eisai.

IGEN will present this new format as well as its entire technology product line on Monday, September 21, 1998 at the annual meeting of the Society for Biomolecular Screening in Baltimore.

For more information: George Migausky, vice president and chief financial officer, IGEN International, Inc., 16020 Industrial Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Tel: 301-984-8000.