Agilent Technologies and ExonHit Therapeutics to Collaborate; Companies Working to Optimize Microarray Technology for Splice Variant Analysis.PALO ALTO, Calif. & PARIS Paris, in Greek mythology Paris or Alexander, in Greek mythology, son of Priam and Hecuba and brother of Hector. Because it was prophesied that he would cause the destruction of Troy, Paris was abandoned on Mt. -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A) and ExonHit Therapeutics, a private drug discovery company, today announced a research collaboration to combine Agilent's microarray platform and ExonHit's alternative RNA splicing RNA splicing n. See splicing. RNA splicing, n the process by which base pairs that interrupt the continuity of genetic information in deoxyribonucleic acid are removed from the precursors of messenger technologies and expertise. This collaboration explores the development of a microarray-based solution that will enable scientists to properly monitor the expression of splice variants. Splice variants are variable sequences of RNA RNA: see nucleic acid. RNA in full ribonucleic acid One of the two main types of nucleic acid (the other being DNA), which functions in cellular protein synthesis in all living cells and replaces DNA as the carrier of genetic produced from the same gene in DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. , resulting in the creation of different proteins potentially affecting cellular regulation. Scientists developing therapeutics are increasingly interested in this emerging field as the expression of splice variants can provide novel targets, may indicate disease states, and can be altered by exposure to drugs and toxins. Agilent and ExonHit are working together to optimize microarray design, reagent protocols and data analysis methods for splice variant studies. As a pioneer in alternative RNA splicing, ExonHit realized that the proper characterization of splice variant expression required dedicated profiling platforms. The company has received notice of the allowance of its patent, which broadly claims nucleic acid nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replication of hereditary information and in the expression of this information through protein synthesis. arrays that enable the detection of alternative RNA splicing events via either intron Intron In split genes, a portion that is included in ribonucleic acid (RNA) transcripts but is removed from within a transcript during RNA processing and is rapidly degraded. or exon Exon In split genes, a portion that is included in the ribonucleic acid (RNA) transcript of a gene and survives processing of the RNA in the cell nucleus to become part of a spliced messenger RNA (mRNA) or structural RNA in the cell cytoplasm. and splice junction-specific probes. Agilent is a leader in the gene expression field, providing researchers highly flexible and sensitive printed microarrays. Initial results from an experimental splicing splicing /splic·ing/ (spli´sing) 1. the attachment of individual DNA molecules to each other, as in the production of chimeric genes. 2. RNA s. array of G-protein coupled receptors, designed by ExonHit and produced by Agilent pursuant to the collaboration, were presented at Splicing 2004, an annual symposium on alternative RNA splicing, by Richard Einstein, vice president of R&D North America at ExonHit. The array detected multiple isoforms of several genes, and showed good reproducibility and specificity. The companies are expected to work with early test sites to generate additional experimental results. "Our mutual goal is to better enable alternative RNA splicing analysis using microarray technologies," said Fran DiNuzzo, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Integrated Biology Solutions business unit. "ExonHit Therapeutics has developed an impressive process for the identification of splicing patterns that point to specific targets for therapeutic intervention. By collaborating, we can define methods that deliver more informative splice-variant expression analysis for drug research and development." "We are pleased to collaborate with such an innovative leader in microarray products as Agilent, which has recognized the value in splice-related information and wants to facilitate this type of research," said Bruno Tocque, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of ExonHit Therapeutics. "We are confident that our collaboration will result in scientists being able to conduct cutting-edge genomic research and to study more thoroughly the gene families and signaling pathways important for their research. The effectiveness of Agilent's microarray platform, combined with ExonHit's pioneering alternative RNA splicing technology and strong intellectual property position, will ultimately provide an ideal expression-profiling solution for researchers worldwide." About ExonHit Therapeutics ExonHit Therapeutics is a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. committed to advancing the treatment of serious diseases with unmet medical needs, with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases neurodegenerative diseases diseases characterized by neurodegeneration. Lesions are microscopic only but in chronic disease with massive involvement there may be grossly visible atrophy of affected nervous tissue. and cancer. ExonHit has discovered and developed in-house a clinical stage therapeutic pipeline using its unique drug discovery engine based on the analysis of alternative RNA splicing, an untouched area of biology. Alternative splicing is a crucial element of gene expression that enables the expression of several proteins from a single gene. The analysis of alternative splicing provides a unique tool to efficiently and precisely identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention. In addition, ExonHit's profiling technology is utilized in broader applications by several external therapeutic and diagnostic collaborators. Founded in 1997, ExonHit is headquartered in Paris, France, and has a U.S. facility in Gaithersburg, Md. More information is available at www.exonhit.com. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: Press releases, photography and other information can be accessed on the Agilent Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis newsroom at www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/lsca. Further technology, corporate citizenship Corporate Citizenship The extent to which businesses are socially responsible in meeting legal, ethical and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim it to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the community in which it operates, while and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news. |
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