GENE RESEARCH FIRMS RECRUIT PARTNERS TO CREATE NEW DRUGS.Byline: Steve Sakson Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Two companies researching human genes to treat cancer, prevent heart attacks and cure other diseases said Tuesday they have so many new drug possibilities that they have enlisted two more partners to share the work. Human Genome Sciences Human Genome Sciences NASDAQ: HGSI is a biopharmaceutical corporation founded in 1992. Its stated purpose is to "discover, develop, manufacture and market innovative drugs that serve patients with unmet medical needs, with a primary focus on protein and antibody drugs. Inc. and SmithKline Beecham PLC - partners in the gene project since 1993 - announced research collaborations with U.S. drug maker Schering Plough Corp. and Synthelabo, a big French drug company. Schering and Synthelabo will pay Human Genome The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is composed of 24 distinct pairs of chromosomes (22 autosomal + X + Y) with a total of approximately 3 billion DNA base pairs containing an estimated 20,000–25,000 genes. and SmithKline a total of $90 million over five years in exchange for access to Human Genome's massive computer database of nearly all of the roughly 100,000 human genes. They join two other companies, Japan's Takeda Chemical Industries and Germany's Merck KGaA This article needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. , which have signed similar deals in the past year. The four new partners will conduct separate research projects, perhaps in competition with each other. If they come up with new drugs, they will have to share the proceeds with Human Genome and SmithKline. ``Working together, Human Genome Sciences and SmithKline Beecham have created more opportunities to develop pioneer pharmaceutical products than either company can develop on its own,'' William Haseltine, Human Genome Sciences' chairman and chief executive said at a news conference. ``We have decided to share this opportunity with other companies and to share the benefit of the expanded collaboration.'' Human Genome Sciences, based in Rockville, Md., is a small, 4-year-old research company. It bought commercial rights to the gene database from its creator, the Creator, the common sobriquet for God. [Pop. Usage: Misc.] See : God Institute for Genomic genomic pertaining to a genome. genomic clone see clone. genomic DNA the DNA sequences making up the genome of an individual. genomic library see gene bank. Research, a nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. group in nearby Gaithersburg, Md. SmithKline, the big British-owned drug manufacturer, signed a $125 million collaboration deal with Human Genome in 1993. Today, roughly half of SmithKline's early-stage drug research programs involve use of genomics, said J.P. Garnier, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. . The use of human genes to create new drugs is still in its early stages and remains unproved. No products are expected on the market for several years at the earliest. However, Haseltine said this work differs from traditional drug research because it aims to use the body's own substances to cure the underlying causes of disease, not just treat symptoms. ``Ultimately, healthy genes will be used to replace missing or damaged genes before disease occurs, and naturally occurring proteins will be used to replace missing and damaged proteins,'' he said. Genes instruct in·struct v. in·struct·ed, in·struct·ing, in·structs v.tr. 1. To provide with knowledge, especially in a methodical way. See Synonyms at teach. 2. To give orders to; direct. v. each cell of the body to perform a specific function. They can tell a cell to become part of the liver, produce proteins that help digest food or turn the hair blond and the eyes blue. In disease, some proteins can perform unwanted tasks, Haseltine said. Human Genome and its collaborators try to identify the protein causing a problem, then use a computer to search Human Genome's database to find the gene that creates the protein. The protein can then be reproduced in a lab and researchers can test molecules that influence its behavior. |
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