Bioinformatics: On the Cutting Edge of Drug Discovery.

Health & Medical Writers

NEWTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000

The genomic revolution, though now in its infancy, is certain to change the way diseases are diagnosed and treated.

Researchers believe that being able to identify genetic differences between individuals may lead to drugs tailored to the unique genetic makeup of each patient. Because of this, pharmaceutical companies are allying with firms that specialize in genomic research and applied technologies.

These so-called "bioinformatics" firms combine cutting-edge molecular biology with supercomputer capabilities to help drug companies develop new products. Alliances between major pharmaceutical companies and bioinformatics firms represent a significant industry trend, according to the fall 2000 issue of Scott-Levin's Pharmaceutical Quarterly.

Bioinformatics companies take different approaches to collecting, analyzing and distributing genomic information. Some are even beginning to develop drugs themselves.

This issue of Pharmaceutical Quarterly looks at recent advances by the leading bioinformatics firms and how their achievements -- from sequencing the human genome to creating gene-based medicines -- are dramatically affecting the pharmaceutical industry.

Other stories covered in the current Pharmaceutical Quarterly:

-- Wyeth-Ayerst -- taking HRT to heart: An estimated 10 million women take
Premarin to relieve symptoms of menopause. Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT)
also is thought to be heart-protective in healthy postmenopausal women. But
whether this is true -- and whether it is true for some women but not others --
will not be known until an ongoing federally sponsored study is completed.
Unexpected interim results have spurred intense interest in the study, for
which Wyeth-Ayerst is supplying both the hormone therapy and placebo.

-- The new Pfizer: By merging with Warner-Lambert, Pfizer Global Research and
Development became the largest private biomedical R&D operation in the world.
The organization boasts 12,000 researchers and an annual budget of $4.7 billion
-- more than the National Science Foundation's entire budget request for 2001.

-- TNKase delivers 5-second knockout: When treating heart attacks, time is
critical. Genentech's newly approved TNKase drops the time required to
administer a "clotbuster" in the emergency room from 90 minutes (to infuse an
older-generation thrombolytic) to just 5 seconds, in a single dose. This gives
TNKase the potential to significantly change treatment of patients with
myocardial infarction.

Each issue of Pharmaceutical Quarterly also includes roundups of major activity by brand-name, generic, biotechnology and bioinformatic companies. For more information, please contact Theresa Regan (marketing) or Sharon Bender (media) at 215/860-0440; fax: [phone].

Scott-Levin provides consulting services used by more than 100 U.S. and international pharmaceutical clients. These services monitor key areas such as product promotion, industry trends, retail pharmacy activity, market performance, managed care and government affairs. You can visit Scott-Levin online at www.scottlevin.com.

Scott-Levin is part of the Quintiles Informatics group of Quintiles Transnational Corp., the global leader in helping pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies market and sell their products. Quintiles also provides insightful market research solutions and strategic analyses to support health care decisions.

Headquartered near Research Triangle Park, N.C., Quintiles employs a global workforce operating from offices in 38 countries.