Anadys Announces Annotation of The Riboproteome; RiboBase To be Used To Identify and Prioritize Novel RNA-Related Drug Targets.

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SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--March 13, 2002

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Anadys") announced today the annotation of the Riboproteome(TM)- the portion of the human genome that encodes for proteins that interact with RNA. The information is available in a proprietary relational database known as RiboBase(TM). The database currently contains over 1000 nucleic acid-binding proteins that have been extensively annotated. This proprietary tool will accelerate the identification and prioritization of novel drug targets that interact with nucleic acids and exemplifies Anadys' commitment to maintaining a dominant position in the field of Riboproteomics(TM).

Riboproteomics(TM) is the systematic characterization and annotation of RNA-protein interactions that affect RNA metabolism including transcription, transport, splicing, translation and decay and their application to drug discovery based on RNA-related drug targets. RNA-related targets present new opportunities for discovery and development of novel drugs with high selectivity and specificity and the opportunity to address many different diseases. The Company believes that compiling these proteins into RiboBase(TM) has created a powerful vehicle to empower researchers to harness value from these underexploited drug targets. Additionally, drugs discovered against RNA-related targets could be used in combination with existing or future drugs developed against traditional protein targets.

RiboBase(TM) contains a wealth of both proprietary and publicly available information of this important class of proteins. The database includes information on gene name, homologues, chromosomal localization, function, binding site(s), biophysical properties, protein modification, 3D structure, expression data, intracellular interactions, and literature links. "The goal was to capture all the relevant information for these potential drug targets and annotate them in a way that was easily and rapidly accessible by our scientists," said Steve Worland, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Anadys. "Our intent is to use this information to direct our internal target selection and to help guide the efforts of our collaborators through discovery partnerships."

Most of the annotation was completed at Anadys Pharmaceuticals Europe GmbH in Heidelberg, Germany. "This database builds on the strengths of our scientific advisors at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory," said Silke Schumacher, Ph.D., the Managing Director of Anadys' Heidelberg operation. "RiboBase(TM) was built as part of Anadys' computational science platform integrating bio- and cheminformatics." The database application for RiboBase(TM) was configured in Oracle(R) by phase-it AG in Heidelberg, Germany.

About Anadys Pharmaceuticals

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Anadys" or the "Company") is a new generation drug discovery company committed to applying an integrated approach that combines biology and chemistry to develop new small molecule therapeutics. The Company's initial therapeutic focus is in anti-infectives. Anadys has developed and implemented proprietary technologies (GATE(TM)) to identify novel antibacterial targets. The Company augments this set of targets with additional antibacterial and antiviral targets using its dominant expertise in Riboproteomics(TM), a phrase coined by the Company to describe the systematic study of RNA-related targets. RNA and RNA-protein complexes have been validated as targets for the treatment of infectious diseases with approved drugs such as neomycin, Zyvox(R), and Zithromax(R). The Company can screen targets for small molecule effectors using a proprietary ultra high-throughput affinity-based method for protein targets (ATLAS(TM)) and a proprietary method for RNA targets (SCAN(TM)). Compounds identified in screening are then advanced to drug development candidates using the Company's proprietary cheminformatics tools (including PROTOS(TM)) combined with a world-class high-output medicinal chemistry platform. Anadys intends to harness this integrated suite of technologies to propel a strong and continual pipeline of drug candidates into the clinic.

For more information, please visit www.anadyspharma.com.