Oxford GlycoSciences Partners with Cellular Genomics
Under the terms of the agreement, OGS and CGI will jointly pursue a program that includes exclusive access to CGI's dendritic cell and T-cell populations, including sub-cellular fractions obtained using CGI's proprietary technology. Proteome mapping and analysis will be carried out by OGS, leading to the discovery of new molecular targets.
Michael Kranda, CEO of OGS, said, "This collaboration combines CGI's pre-eminent position in cell biology and cellular fractionation techniques with OGS's leading position in high throughput protein characterization technology ('proteomics'), to map key new immune system proteins and to chart the key biochemical pathways of the immune system. OGS and CGI intend to use maps as a springboard to the discovery of novel molecular targets."
Ira Mellman, professor of Cell Biology and Immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine and a founder and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of CGI said, "The initial phase of the collaboration will center on dendritic cells and gamma delta T-cells… Proteomics focuses on understanding the important relationship between gene expression, protein expression, and the correlation of these events, provides the potential to make real progress in our efforts to understand the molecular basis of human disease."
Oxford GlycoSciences (OGS) is a proteomics-based drug discovery and development company. Its proteomics capability centers on its proprietary ProteoGraph and Rosetta technologies, which allow automated high throughput, direct protein identification and sequencing to link genes, proteins and disease processes. ProteoGraph separates and characterizes proteins using a high-throughput, automated process to develop a profile of the expressed proteins and their post-translational modification within a cell, tissue or body fluid. This information is then managed and analyzed by OGS's proprietary bioinformatics system, Rosetta.
Cellular Genomics Inc. is a privately held functional genomics company founded by Yale University professor Ira Mellman and the venture capital firm of Collinson, Howe, and Lennox. CGI possesses proprietary technology related to cell culturing, cell fractionation, and cell biology techniques; several patent (pending) protein analysis technologies; and novel target validation strategies. The company's objective is to provide efficient and comprehensive target validation capabilities to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Research will be directed by a scientific committee including Mellmann and Raj Parekh, OGS' research director. Protein processing and analysis will be carried out using OGS' ProteoGraph technology and its Rosetta bioinformatics software.
For more information: Michael Kranda, CEO, Oxford GlycoSciences Plc,10 The Quadrant, Abingdon Science Park, Abingdon OX14 3YS UK. Tel: +44 1235-543200. Fax: +44 1235-543250.