CuraGen receives second NIST ATP Award this year.BRANFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 1994--CuraGen Corp. announced today that its joint venture with American Cyanamid has been awarded an Advanced Technology Program (ATP ATP: see adenosine triphosphate. ATP in full adenosine triphosphate Organic compound, substrate in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions (see catalysis) in the cells of animals, plants, and microorganisms. ) grant by the National Institute of Standards and Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology, governmental agency within the U.S. Dept. of Commerce with the mission of "working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards" in the national interest. of the Department of Commerce. The grant is for the development of "molecular recognition technology for the precise design of protein-specific drugs." The ATP award is for $2.4 million of the program's total three-year projected cost of $5.3 million. CuraGen is the first small company to receive two of these highly competitive ATP awards in a single year. In October, NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, DC, www.nist.gov) The standards-defining agency of the U.S. government, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. It is one of three agencies that fall under the Technology Administration (www.technology. awarded an ATP grant to CuraGen's joint venture with Soane Technologies Inc. (Hayward, Calif.) for the development of an integrated DNA analysis DNA analysis Any technique used to analyze genes and DNA. See Chromosome walking, DNA fingerprinting, Footprinting, In situ hybridization, Jeffries' probe, Jumping libraries, PCR, RFLP analysis, Southern blot hybridization. device to identify genes involved in complex genetic disorders, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. "These two projects uniquely position CuraGen to develop the first generation of selective cancer therapeutics," said Dr. Jonathan Rothberg, 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 CuraGen. The molecular recognition technology will be directed at gaining very precise information about molecules that inhibit the protein-protein interactions involved in specific diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. The strategy has two components, first, short protein segments, called peptides, that interfere, block, or otherwise inactivate in·ac·ti·vate v. 1. To render nonfunctional. 2. To make quiescent. in·ac  ti·va the problematic protein-protein interactions will be identified. Second, unique computational and structural analysis techniques will be used to determine the salient chemical and physical features of the selected peptides that contribute to their ability to bind to to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife s>.See also: Bind the disease-related proteins. "This information will be used to guide the discovery and development of small organic molecules that interfere with the disease-causing interactions," stated Dr. Gregory T. Went, Vice President of CuraGen. "These improvements will make the overall drug development process more precise," added Dr. Babu ba·bu also ba·boo n. pl. ba·bus also ba·boos 1. Used as a Hindi courtesy title for a man, equivalent to Mr. 2. a. A Hindu clerk who is literate in English. b. Venkataraghavan, Director of Structural Biology of American Cyanamid. "This project addresses the critical need to bridge the gap between the identification of disease-specific genes and the development of selective therapeutics for those diseases," stated Dr. Leonard Bogarad, Director of Molecular Biology of CuraGen. "It is a key element of CuraGen's overall corporate objective of going from gene to drug." CuraGen, a private biotechnology company located in Branford, is developing methods for systematically identifying from the human genome those disease-related genes for which therapeutics can be most readily designed. The company has assembled a scientific staff and advisory board with expertise in molecular biology, engineering, nanofabrication nan·o·fab·ri·ca·tion n. Any technique used to create objects or mechanisms on the scale of nanotechnology. , advanced computation and medicine, and has on-going collaborations with Cornell's National Nanofabrication Facility and Yale University. Funding for CuraGen's research and development programs has been provided in part by the National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Human Genome Research. The company was founded in 1992 by Drs. Rothberg, Went and Bogarad. CONTACT: CuraGen Corp. Gregory T. Went, 203/481-1104 ext. 31 |
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